Fresh from tour, (including opening for the legendary 1960's British band "The Yardbirds" on their reunion tour) bliss is back in Nashville gigging and working on songs for a new album.
"I love Lisa's voice whether it's the longing sweetness of 'Closer' or combined with the witty sarcasm of Shane's lyrics in 'Wear Me Out.' Together they invoke the best of Aimee Mann and Sarah McLachlan, in voice and songwriting, soaring over the sparse and elegant arrangements on love & let down."
- Lee Swartz, Creative Services, Sony Music Publishing, Nashville
"Nashville isn't just country music, and bliss is proof. The insightful lyrics and convincing vocals of their first CD hold the promise for two singer/songwriters on the threshold of success."
- Nick Hunter, President of Audium Entertainment, Nashville, TN
"Bliss' freshman effort shows a tremendous amount of talent from these two artists. Their sense of perspective in the lyrics and arrangements is a clear indication of the thoughtfulness and attention to detail ever-present in this project."
- Mike Doyle, Nashville Membership Representative, ASCAP
"love & let down is exactly what I look for when pitching songs to film and TV. Solid writing, excellent production and musicianship -- overall a wonderful project with a great vibe."
- Anthony Gast, owner, sideRoad Music Group
"I personally guarantee they will sell lots of tickets and fill lots of seats."
- Matt Svobodny, Production Manager and Front of House sound for Steve Earle
Imagine the horizon of western Minnesota-its endless sky, soothing to some, unnerving to others... infuse the forsaken beauty of the South Dakota Badlands and the alluring power of the Black Hills. These impressions permeate the songwriting of South Dakota and Minnesota natives Shane Lamb & Lisa Briggs - moody, poignant pop and rootsy rock. Their music, described as "Tom Petty and Sheryl Crow, broken down on Highway 61," is fitting considering Highway 61 originates just north of Bob Dylan's birthplace in northern Minnesota. After pursuing music degrees at Minnesota State University at Moorhead (MSUM) Shane and Lisa moved to their current home of Nashville, TN, where they have recently written and released their debut rock/pop album, love & let down.
About the album: love & let down reflects the experiences of lovers, traitors, family and friends and the blurred lines between them. The focus is realizations of relationships - good and bad, past and present and some yet to unfold. Not sappy, the songs are honest as Polaroids with Lisa and Shane's vocals capturing both male and female perspectives. Instrumentation ranges from lush layers of strings and vocal harmonies to straight ahead rock 'n' roll guitars and driving drums. Keyboard and percussion textures add color to several tracks - Hammond organ, Rhodes, Wurlitzer, congas, djembe, lap steel, slide guitar and piano--creating a polished yet organic musical landscape. love & let down is sure to appeal to fans seeking some "meat-on-the-bones" lyrics and catchy hooks.
bliss is...Lisa Briggs & Shane Lamb
Lisa's career as a solo performer included the release of her debut solo album coffee & gifts by Fargo indie label Barking Dog Records in 1996. She has performed in several Minneapolis/St. Paul area venues, the WE-Fest in Detroit Lakes, MN before a crowd of 36,000, onstage with Garrison Keillor, and entertained audiences from coffeehouses to festivals. While a student at MSUM, Lisa's various musical endeavors included singing, playing, writing, and audio engineering - she was featured annually on CD recordings and earned a scholarship for commercial vocal performance. Upon moving to Nashville, Lisa quickly acquired a regular gig on Lower Broadway at Gibson's Café and Guitar Gallery, and has performed numerous times at the famed Bluebird Café.
Shane recently spent a year touring North America with Lee Roy Parnell and the Judds as an acoustic guitarist and guitar tech playing everything from 15,000 seat amphitheaters to Texas honky-tonks, and the famous "Mountain Stage Radio Show." Shane has also worked the clubs in Nashville, often performing as a duo with Lisa. While at MSUM, Shane performed in a wide variety of major productions as an electric guitarist-from fully-staged tributes to Pink Floyd and the Beatles to guitar recitals in classical, jazz, and rock genres to contemporary concerts of avant-garde pieces written by composers from around the world. He also performed as a faculty member of Valley City State University (ND), where he taught guitar and songwriting.
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