Kansas City Live

Expectations exceeded on every level........ 

MERIDIANWEST headlined Kansas City Live’s new venue located in the
heart of the Power and Light District in downtown KC. Joining them were
over 3 thousand extremely attentive and appreciative fans that night.

“This was easily one of my favorite shows to date.......there is something
about an open air venue that lights us up......... we will be back to KC Live
in the near future that is for sure!”, says David.

The Guys had several comments from the venue staff and sound
team stating that they were the most enjoyable professional band
they have had to date. “Our fans are very important to us, but to get
complements from a professional crew of soundmen that it was one
of there favorite shows, was such a huge compliment” says David.
Put MERIDIANWEST on a big stage with big sound and hold on tight,
they will explode with such a staggering musical force, you will think
there are six of them on stage.......

Photo Credit . Max Mellenbruch . renderplex.com

Blue October July 4th...

Blue October has invited us to join them on July 4th at the WhiteWater Amphitheater. Blue October has been on break after their last tour for quite awhile and are just as excited as we are to showcase some new music.

stay tuned for photos and some fancy blogging from this event.....

HOB May 30th......You wont want to miss this show!

NCAA "Pontiac Garage" Final Four March Madness 2008

Hello all...... we have been busier than ever getting ready for this summer. We have tons of new surprises coming your way this summer and fall!!!! 

Everything about the Pontiac Garage show was great.... the crowd was fantastic and the crew in San Antonio were more than welcoming. We joined Puddle of Mudd and Kid Rock to bring in the big game that evening. It was overwhelming to see how many of you guys traveled down to see us in San Antonio, we thank you all so very much for your support and can't wait to come back and play some of the new material..... see you all very soon.

Stay tuned....

 

THE ROAD TO SUNDANCE……………………………From A to Z

To fully talk about what we all saw and experienced during our drive from Austin to Park City would take a novel. So I am going to provide you with a checklist for the trip. Enjoy! ~Mark

Clock in over thirty hours of driving time: check
Drive through a major snowstorm between 3am and 6am: check
Weave through mountains with certain death around every corner: check
Successfully dodge 87 highway de-sensitized deer: check
See the most beautiful National Park in the world (Zion) illuminated by a gigantic full moon: check
Watch the sun rise: check
Arrive in Salt Lake City so late/early that we had our continental breakfast before
we went to sleep: check
Make the beautiful drive from Salt Lake City to Park City: check
Have tons of fun and get closer as a band: check


One of the coolest experiences of our SUNDANCE experience was actually the day before the big concert on Main Street. We got invited by the local television station, Park City TV to come and play 3 of our songs “live to tape” and then do a short interview. As soon as we got to the studio everyone was extremely warm and welcoming and made us feel completely at home. As we finished up our first song it was apparent that they weren’t used to bands that had energy like us – because we were all over the stage.

Most of the crew and staff made their way to the front as soon as they heard the exact opposite of their usual singer-song writer guests. An extra camera attached to a large sweeping boom lift was brought in. I’d like to believe it was because two cameras just weren’t enough to capture all the rock that was happening on that tiny stage. Afterwards the host, Ori Hoffer (who is super cool by the way), sat us down for a very laid back interview in which we got a chance to tell all of Park City who we were. As we left everyone of the crew and staff got a signed CD and I think we were just as excited to give them as they were to get them. For me it was definitely one of the highlights of the week – we hope to make another appearance at Park City TV the next time we visit the village of Park City. Special shout out to all of our new friends at Park City TV – Ori, Todd, JR, Catherine, Mickey, Jenn!!! ~Ryan
When we walked into the small broadcast room of KPCW, the first thing we saw was three mics and three chairs setup. At first glance the mics seemed intimidating. We have never done a radio interview before, and the mics made clear that every “uhh” and “like” were going to be broadcasted throughout the airwaves to thousands of listeners. Like all moments in our career the interview seemed to pass by at light speed. All I remember is a blurry collage of the three tunes he played on air, Revolution, Static, and Burn, and our comments about our history and music. I think the most memorable moment was when the interviewer, Randy Barton, switched over from his natural speaking voice to his “radio voice”. It took everything in us not to crack up during the first line of questioning. After it was over we all felt like it was a huge success. Mwest finally took a trip into radio land! ~Mark
MUSIC ON MAIN

We had the amazing opportunity to headline “Music on Main” at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. First of all we’ve all grown accustomed to the mild climate in Austin and were a bit shell shocked to say the least when on the day of the show it was 1 (one) degree outside and snowing harder than I’ve seen in years. We carefully loaded our equipment on stage and continued to watch the snow get higher and the temperature get lower for the next few hours. Even with the edition of on stage heating it was a real concern how all of our hands and feet (David) would hold up. So about 2 hours before the show we got to hang out in one of the nicer green rooms (they’re never green by the way) that we’ve had to date.

And then before we knew it we were huddled up with our manager and publicist for our pep talk that we usually do before a big show as we get the call from the guys on stage. Our walk to the stage was pretty memorable as we walked by a crowd that had more than tripled in size since the first two bands and wasn’t standing in the freezing cold to be let down. So around 9pm we took the stage in front of large crowd and did what we do best; played our hearts out. We opened up with two of our new songs and immediately had the crowd hooked. By the end of the 3rd song we hit a stride where earlier anxieties of frozen fingers and toes went out the window and was replaced with the excitement of fans that were jumping up and down and more enthusiastic than could be expected for the conditions. Even Robert Redford himself was spotted in the crowd enjoying the show and taking in some MWEST tunes.
We had some amazing visuals and lights that seemed to solidify a great stage performance. Of course in the world of MERIDIANWEST with every big show something has to go wrong. And by the second to last song Mark was having some technical issues with his guitar -- but because of the warmth of the crowd they were very patient while we sorted everything out and went on to close the show with an electric performance of Gone with a sliver of U2’s Bullet to Blue Sky. Every single person at the show went home with a free copy of MERIDIANWEST LIVE thanks to our dear friend Brian Blackman. The experience of playing at Sundance was an unforgettable one that undoubtedly will contribute in shaping the rest of our career.

Special thanks to the Sundance Institute, Maxwell Morrill, Kelly Green and Max Joseph. On Friday night we were invited to play an acoustic set at the STAR Bar -- the infamous Park City "live" music venue on Main Street. The STAR Bar is the location for SUNDANCE's official "Music Cafe" during the festival. Our good buddy, Maxwell Morrill, invited us to take part in the evening of music. We were able to play with some other great bands, like Ruby Release, Oliver Future and the Roman Numerals. The crowd was really cool and responsive too!!

THE ROAD HOME……………………From Z to A

Here is the checklist for the way home. Enjoy!

Clock in over thirty hours of driving time… again: check
Drive through a major snowstorm… again: check
Drive down icy declines without ending up on the side of the highway: check
Count all the semi trucks (24) laying on their side or upside down: check
Drop Manager and Publicist off in Denver to catch a plane because the drive was driving them crazy: check
Watch the sun rise… again: check
Make the entire trip without stopping to sleep: check
Make a pit stop at David’s parents’ house in Oklahoma City for a home cooked meal: check
Roll into Austin completely exhausted and disorientated: check
Have tons of fun and become closer as a band: check

~Mark

House of Blues

Photo Credit: Will Bolton

The show last Friday at The House of Blues was awesome. Our friend Kristin Leigh opened the show and did a wonderful job. For those of you guys that don’t know her you should definitely check her out live. After Kristin finished her beautiful set, we took the stage for the middle slot of the night. I thought we had a fantastic show, and our performances were pretty dead on. All three of us had a lot of fun on stage. It was a pleasure to play for such an energetic and receptive audience. Since we’ve been a band, we’ve longed to play in concert halls like The House of Blues. The reason is that the audiences are there for us and that concept alone heightens the show. Sure, some might have other intentions as well, like falling in love with the girl across the room, but ultimately they are there for the music. This is one of many jumps a band must safely maneuver in order to continue on. To will your self out of bars and into concert halls is no small feat. It’s essentially switching from background noise to the reason why people leave their homes. I’m proud that we have made the jump. The only down side of the show for me was that I busted my knee open when I was being a little too crazy on a particular guitar solo. Ah well… I guess that’s rock n’ roll. Odis closed the night with their fun and energetic set. They were great guys with a great sound. We look forward to future shows with them. Thanks to everyone that made last Friday a special night. ~Mark

Every now and then you come across people in your life that can really put things in perspective. Someone who has faced and overcome events in their life that make you realize what you have and what is truly important. On Wednesday we got a chance to play with a true musician and a great soul. We met Mr. Saxophone at our ME! Live premiere where he was recording a Christmas special. We quickly learned that he wasn’t just another musician trying to make it here in Austin. He’d already had a lifetime of experiences and an impressive resume including playing at Live Aid, assisting Bruce Springsteen and the E street Band, BB King and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers. But recently he lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. He was forced to find work in Austin and was blessed with another saxophone from ME! Television. From the minute we met him we knew he was not only an amazing musician but a great spirit. We told him that we’d be honored if he played with us at Lucky Lounge in the following weeks. So, on a very special Wednesday night Mr. Saxophone taught us a thing or two about perseverance, musicianship and playing from your soul. We had a blast letting Mr. Saxophone display over 30 years of experience and dedication to his craft in front of the fans of Lucky Lounge. We felt honored to be able to give something back to someone who had lost so much. We were also very lucky to have our friend Candy on stage for several songs to belt out some soulful background vocals – she is amazing!! Special thanks to Candy and Mr. Saxophone for making this a magical musical adventure!!

House of Blues

MERIDIANWEST at Antones

Parish Show Review

By alistdavid

as seen on Austin360.com

Some great acts — Kristin Leigh, Jonathan Clay and headliner Meridian West — came together Thursday night at The Parish. Kristin Leigh warmed up the crowd. She’s a poet/songwriter with a great voice. Her latest offering is the “Kristen Leigh Project,” featuring songs that are a solid blend of pop with some Texas songwriter mystique mixed in. She has lots of potential, so keep an eye — and ear — open for her in the future. It’s only a matter of time till she signs a deal. Jonathan Clay is well-known nationally for his work on MTV’s “The Real World,” which helps attract listeners to live shows. The crowd was not disappointed with his set featuring ballads and great rock vocals.

The evening finished up with Austin’s own MeridianWest. How come these guys aren’t with a big label? Until that happens, this is one of the great, accessible Austin rock bands you should see this band while ticket prices are still reasonable.

MWEST "Live" at the PARISH Ballroom

As I vocally warmed up with a cheap keyboard that I have had since I was 14, I heard the crowd cheering from outside the green room. At that moment I realized that in the two years we have been a band we have never had a show like this. Yeah, we have packed out some local bars in Austin, but never have we been the headliner at an actual music venue. The great light show and a massive screen that played videos synced up to our songs only added to the grandness of this show. I could tell that it was a defining moment in our career. It was a small taste of the type of shows we will be playing next year.

When David, Ryan, and I stepped on the stage, I felt like my entire body became numb. The show seemed to go by like the flashes of memories a movie character sees before they die. And that is exactly how a show like this goes. It is born. It is beautiful. Then it passes. I am honored to have shared this show with such a great audience. They lifted us up to a level we can only reach with their grace. It was also an honor to share the stage with my band mates, my friends, Ryan and David. I won’t ever forget that night.

~Mark

MERIDIANWEST

MERIDIANWEST in SPIN Magazine

Check out MERIDIANWEST in the December Issue of SPIN Magazine. MWEST appeared at the Belvedere Lounge for the ACL Festival hosted by SPIN Magazine. We were asked to play an acoustic set at the opening day of the lounge that was set up at the Hotel San Jose.

ME LIVE

Last night we celebrated the television premiere of our hour long performance on ME Live! A performance of an “in studio” show that we did back in June. We really have a lot of respect for the ME TV staff -- for their dedication and hard work to help launch the music careers of emerging artists from all over the world and for providing great programming.

It is super cool to be able to turn on the television and see music videos again. A truly instrumental part of the landscape of music. And thanks to all of our friends and fans that came out to show support.

South Padre Island International Music Festival

This past weekend we were honored to be a part of the inaugural South Padre Island International Music Festival. We arrived on the island Friday afternoon just in time for an amazing sunset. We were astonished to see how beautiful the island was – the beach was great with aqua colored water. We were lucky because the weather was perfect – nice and warm – so warm we were all able to swim in the ocean. Something none of us have gotten to do in a very long time.
Saturday night we played the Pelican West Stage – the show was a lot of fun and we were very happy to meet and make some new fans. We were also lucky enough to see some other great shows while we were on the island. Our good friends Patrice Pike and her sister Joy Davis both had great shows. And Saturday after our show we had a lot of fun jamming to the groove of Austin’s own BOOM BOX. We also made a lot of great new friends like Ryan Doer of White Kat Productions and Ginger Leigh. And let’s not forget our Michael Jackson Karaoke singing cab driver that shuttled us around on the island all weekend.
A special thanks to the gang at Game Plan (the festival promoters) Tim Hayden, Chris Thies and Dawn Wellington…….and a very special THANK YOU to Jenny Andrews for taking such good care of us all weekend long!!! A special shout out to Brian, Lorie and Stu – we love you guys!!!!

Photos courtesy of: Lorie Siegele

UT Campus Fusion

I think we all got a nice surprise when we arrived on the campus of University of Texas last night. The last time we played on campus last fall we had to set up our own PA and equipment on the top of a staircase and try and transform it into a stage for our performance.
This time we returned to virtually the same location under the infamous UT Tower in support of Campus Fusion, which commends and promotes diversity on campus, and we were greeted with a huge stage, lots of lights, and some amazing sound men and technicians.

All the student organizers involved were so nice and treated us with the utmost respect and kindness. The show was great and our music was exposed to so many eager fans. We feel that these same students will be huge supporters of MERIDIANWEST in the future and look forward to getting back on campus as soon as possible.

~Ryan

MERIDIANWEST

Andy Roddick Foundation Gala

Photos by Ron Angle

I think it’s a common attitude to feel like we will give back to society once we actually have something to give back. I know I have caught myself having that same thought, but there is a very underrated commodity that we all have, and that is our time. Most of us spend a lot of our time to make money, so in a way we can break down the hours and minutes of our lives to dollar bills. Capitalism does not value our time equally, but charity does. This concept crystallized in my mind when I was able to witness the shear selflessness at the Annual Andy Roddick Foundation Charity Event.

David, Ryan, Clif, and I were fortunate enough to be Andy’s personal guest at his event this year. The amount of money that was raised was staggering, and I must confess that I felt bad that we had nothing more to give than the tips we raised at our show the night before at Lucky Lounge. But then Elton John took the stage and it all became clear. I saw a man giving a moment of his life in the name of charity... in the name of love. His performance was outstanding and an inspiration for the guys and me to give back with our music. Our friend Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band was also a major contributor at the event. It was great for us to be able to hang out with him again, and to walk the red carpet with him and Andy. Boyd is a very gracious man who gives himself to so many great causes, including Andy’s foundation.

Finally, there is Andy. Andy and I are virtually the same age, yet he has given so much more to others than I have ever dreamed of. The work that him and his foundation have done for children is immeasurable. He inspires the whole MWEST family to give more and to become more involved in what we believe in. All I can give right now is my time, but because of Andy, Boyd, and Elton, I’m starting to realize that “time” is a whole lot.

~Mark

MERIDIANWEST

Giving Back

Photos by: Ron Angle

Nothing compares to the feeling of being on stage in a room packed wall to wall with people cheering “one more song!!” All the while the exuberant crowd singing the words to songs that you and your best friends have written and composed. Being close enough to them that they could reach out and touch you while you are on stage living out the dreams of every kid that has ever sang a note, picked up a guitar or a pair of drum sticks. Nothing comes close -- except for the feeling we had during our performance of “Sing for Love.” During a very special Lucky Lounge gig, we got to give back to children far less fortunate than us. Our friend Andy Roddick has been hosting his annual charity dinner for the Andy Roddick Foundation in Austin the last 3 years. Last night was sort of an unofficial pre-party held at Lucky Lounge. We were graciously invited by Andy to the event the next day and wanted to show our appreciation by raising money to donate to his amazing charity. We asked everyone in Lucky Lounge that night to donate what they could while we dedicated a song to Andy and all of the children of his organization. We ended up raising over $1000 in just a few minutes!

That was icing on the cake after an amazing night that ended with 4 encores and a room filled with fans whose energy lifted each of our songs to a new level. It was definitely one of the most amazing shows we have played to date.

~Ryan

"Live" from Studio 1A

It is sometimes hard to accurately express your emotions to an audience that is not present (i.e. in the studio or “ON AIR” in a radio station) but the KUT performance “Live in Studio 1A” was easy to convey to our listeners these emotions because of the environment created by the KUT staff. We are very grateful for the opportunity to spread our music throughout the airwaves to new potential fans and friends and to our already loyal family of MWEST listeners. To those who caught the show thank you for listening and supporting us the amazing KUT Austin’s own local public radio station. We would also like to thank Corey, Walter, Ryan, Lauren, and all the other staff at KUT for making us feel so at home in their studio. We are working with KUT to play a few singles from the new “LIVE” album soon and will be sure to let you all know when this happens.

~David

MERIDIANWEST

On the Road with the Dave Matthews Band

As our rented tour bus shook us like we were on the deck of a ship sailing through the angriest of storms, the memories of the past weekend started to play back in my mind like an old black and white movie. Opening up for the Dave Matthews Band in Houston and Dallas was the longest and most defining three days of our musical lives.

One of my most vivid memories was watching hordes of people running to get the best possible spot on the giant lawn hills of the amphitheaters, only to stop and listen to a band on a small side stage that they have never heard before. The strides that were broken those two days set my heart in motion on stage. A big reason why were able to join DMB on their tour was because of the extremely talented violinist Boyd Tinsley. So to seem him take the time to come and watch part of our set in Dallas, and then graciously invite us onto his bus after our show to sit and visit with him was a monumental moment for us. It gave us a chance to thank him for giving us this amazing opportunity – an experience that will forever be emblazoned in our hearts. It was an honor to meet such a grounded and talented musician – we have become a huge fan of Boyd’s and the entire DMB crew. Another highlight for us happened when we were sound checking our song “Love is On Fire” in Dallas. In the middle of the song, Dave Matthews stepped away from the main stage for a moment to get a closer listen to our music. The echoes that shot throughout the grounds of the amphitheater must have intrigued him enough to step away from his busy day and find the source of the sounds that filled the air.

Not all the chance meetings happened in Dallas. An amazing occurrence happened in Houston as well. The president of LiveNation, Bob Roux, (one of the most successful concert promoters in the world) saw our performance and was so impressed he made a point to introduce himself after the show. We were all really ecstatic that such a respected man in the industry would take the time to meet with us. He also caught our show in Dallas as well. The best thing of all was that I could tell that he was simply a true fan of the music.

Not every moment was as significant as I mentioned above, but memorable all the same. There are certain novelties of living on a tour bus for three days. At first it was great to have a mobile bathroom, but once it started randomly over flowing it became a geyser of inconvenience and stank. It quickly became "No Man’s Land" and the stops at gas stations became much more frequent. The shocks were something special too. A couple of times I had to look out the window to see if we were driving on the highway or an old gravel road. The saving grace about the bus was that we were fortunate enough to have a professional driver named John Wynn. That way we didn’t have to mess with driving the shaky behemoth. Thanks John for getting us there and back safely.

Making such an important weekend work means that there is a lot of thanks to be said. We were graced with the presence of photographer Cambria Harkey, who brilliantly documented the entire DMB experience. Because of her we will be able to relive the journey over and over. Thank you Cambria! We would also like to give a huge thanks to DMB and their team for bringing us on the tour, and making the experience so wonderful. None of this could have happened without the many countless hours and weeks of hard work by our managers Clif Loftin and Chris Fritz, and our fabulous publicist Ginger Roddick. Thanks guys for sharing your talents, energy, and lives with us. Finally, I would like to thank all of our families, friends, and fans who made the long drives to see us perform for these two paramount shows. You know our hearts are always with you.

~Mark

MERIDIANWEST

MERIDIANWEST was asked to be the house band for the Belvedere Music Lounge hosted by SPIN Magazine and ME Television at the Hotel San Jose for Austin City Limits Music Festival weekend. The event was produced to by BMF Media -- special shout and thanks to Taylor Choi and the entire crew from BMF and Elaine Garza from SPIN Magazine for making it such a special day for the band.

Clif Notes

Hello MWEST fans, my name is Clif – and for those of you that do not know me I am the manager of MERIDIANWEST.

The band has had an extremely busy summer and so many wonderful things have happened. The guys ask me to re-cap the many milestones from this summer, so here it goes………
In late June we assembled a production crew to help us transform an empty soundstage with arena sound and lights. MERIDIANWEST would put on the biggest show of their career – and they did. The show was magical and we were lucky enough to have been able to record it and video the show with several high definition cameras. We had such an amazing crew to help us make our vision a reality – we thank all of you for your contribution. From this show we have a great “live” CD that we will be releasing very soon. We will eventually release a DVD of the concert as well. SO STAYED TUNED………
The band was asked to play the Fourth of July extravaganza benefiting the Austin Firefighters. The concert was held on top of the Plaza at Whole Foods Corporate Headquarters – the event SOLD OUT 800 tickets. We all had a blast at this show, and MERIDIANWEST made a lot of new fans of all ages, and the fireworks that exploded in the sky were spectacular.
In August we journeyed to El Paso to record some studio produced singles at SONIC Ranch. MERIDIANWEST’s partner in crime Michael Havens, producer/engineer extraordinaire joined us there. Sonic Ranch and its owner Tony Rancich are first class all the way. Tony and his staff made us feel so at home and the studio facilities are some of the best in the country. The studio is a magical place that provides the perfect setting to create. The studio sets in the middle of a 2000 acre working pecan orchard and borders Mexico nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains. These tracking sessions were some of the most challenging – yet became the most rewarding to date. We are very excited to finish these three singles so we can release them shortly after the debut of the new “Live” album. We were very fortunate to have talented photographer, Jeff Stockton along for the SONIC ride, we got a few photo shoots in between sessions. MERIDIANWEST would like to thank Lorie, Jeff and Ginger for all of their help in making these sessions so special and possible. We could NOT have done it without you!!!!

“The truth is in your lungs”……………………….finds itself immersed in our thought process as well as in our new song “Revolution.”

“When we get signed, then we can,” was used here and there to provide HOPE in times when we didn’t have quite what we wished did. That thought was a crutch that quickly changed somewhere months ago and more so recently.

Something glowed stronger in the core of our spirit that I believe was always there. You don’t care much at all of the success determined by which major label signs you and what pseudo benefits come from it. You find your music, relationships and perspective manifest a newfound wisdom when you let go of everything but what is true to music.

Inspiring those who have lost inspiration at that moment is all that is true and rewarding. This helps all that you do take on a much more monumental shaping of what will be inspirational and glorifying for yourself as well. This has always been what we have willed and wished to do with meridianwest; it has just recently been growing stronger.

We have a team of people who work side by side with us each day to help us do so, which in turn transpires through our music to you. These people that work with us behind the scenes have also become our family and we look forward to two things: 1) continuing to create more powerful and moving songs 2) to inspire -- and to do so with this family for the rest of our lives together.

All of you out there, who call yourself a friend or fan of meridianwest, THANK YOU. Thank you for motivating us each and every show to play harder. You have also become our family and allowed us to do what we do each day, and we are so grateful for this. Clif, Ginger, Chris, Fred, Friends, Fans and immediate family consider yourselves all a part of our extended family from here on out.

With you we need nothing else but each other and the truth in our lungs will set us free.

~meridianwest

David

Mix 94.7 Beach Party

I would just like to take a moment to thank all of our fans that weathered the heat Saturday to watch our three sets at the Mix 94.7 Beach Party at Carlos & Charlie’s. I would also like to thank all of the people that maybe came for a bigger name act, but still took the time to watch our sets and cheer like crazy. We met so many great people after the sets that had nothing but amazing things to say about our music. We had such a great time and would love to come back next year........ on the big stage of course!! :)

One last thing, order the key lime pie the next time you are at Carlos & Charlie’s. I ordered it between sets and it was ridiculous. If you are a dessert freak like me, you’ll thank me for it later… trust me.

~Mark

Rehearsal -- BIG Summer

As all you dedicated mwest fans know, we have taken a little time off from shows to practice.

The rehearsals have gone really smoothly this time around. Usually, we all tend to crash our ideas together and then have to sort out the chaos, but lately we have really been working together in the practice room.

We have accomplished more in the past couple of weeks than we have in the past couple of months. Parts seem to be flowing out us as apposed to the extractions of the past due to over analyzation.

I think the major change is that we all have a lot of hope in our hearts......................

We finally have shows that we can truly work towards.

Like....................... I don’t know.....................being one of the opening acts for the Dave Matthews Band in Houston and Dallas for starters! I’ve always been such a fan of DMB, so to be associated with them is very inspiring. A lot of things are going to happen between now and then (i.e. live CD and DVD, studio recording sessions), but one thing is for sure; we will be ready. ~Mark

Carlos & Charlie's 04-29-07

The Return to Hi-Lo 04-28-07

MAGIC

Apple Bar has always been a special venue for us. Not only is it where our manager Clif Loftin first saw us play, but it has also played host for numerous great meridianwest performances. Last night was no exception. From the intro of “Feather” to the last chord of “Revolution," the entire set had an inescapable energy that consumed both the band and the audience. The show transformed the small, wood and brick second story of Apple Bar, into a massive concert hall. Even though it was just David, Ryan, and I, at certain parts of the night I swear I could hear an orchestra behind us. The crowd was unbelievable as well. For one of the first times, the people in the audience that had never heard us before were clapping and cheering just as loud as the faithful. We even got a standing ovation with the audience screaming, "ENCORE, ENCORE!!!!" Personally, the show will always have a special meaning, because it was the first show in several months that I felt like my old self vocally. Thank you to everyone that came out that night and helped make it such a great moment in the timeline of meridianwest. ~Mark

Sometimes we need to be careful what we wish for. On Wednesday we were invited to the Parish to play with two other great bands on a big stage with big lights -- big sound in a big room. The only problem was that we were sandwiched in between these two bands with 15 minutes to set up, no soundcheck in a big room that seemed to go on for miles. Our fans are so great because they came out to a place we had never played before on the side of town that we hardly ever play and paid a cover charge to which they aren’t used to paying. But even with a lot of our fans there, the room felt somewhat like a ghost town to us. It’s funny because the one thing that we would normally complain about was not really an issue. The sound at the Parish is one of the best rooms (acoustically) in Austin and I think we got a small glimpse of what the kind of sound we will have in the future. But, with that said there is just something about a smaller more intimate room that really brings out the best in meridianwest. Now don’t get me wrong, when we are able to fill a large room like that it will be amazing, but playing in a venue where the crowd is close enough for us to reach out and touch will always feel a bit magical for us.

I think we played very well for the situation and as always it is a learning experience. We had some friends of ours shooting video of the show and hopefully it turned out good. I think we looked good up on a big stage with some proper lights and sound. I think we could get used to it. And we were so glad to have met the guys from Live Oak Decline and Moses Mayfield. Both bands were a class act and had nothing but good things to say. We want to thank those guys and our fans for a great night and for supporting meridianwest. ~Ryan

early morning....................

So today was a little bit different than a typical day for us. We started the day a good 6 hours before we normally do. We were invited to play the Fox News morning show this morning --severally disrupting our normal routine of sleeping in until at least 11 a.m.

Come on, we are muscians in a band............so we’re supposed to sleep late!! Right??

But as hard as it was to get up before sunrise, it was worth it to get to play in front of potentially thousands of people as they got ready for work. I honestly don’t know how they do it that early in the morning, but the men and women who work at the station were there at the studio well before we were; and they looked like they had been up for hours. I guess that’s what coffee is good for. It’s funny seeing a place that you’ve seen on T.V. so many times and then seeing it in person. It kind of takes the magic away from it, even though it is just a news station. But you’d think it would have a kind of glitz and glamour to it, however, in actuality it was a very normal low key place with normal people just doing their job. It was smaller than you’d think and much brighter than it should be at 6’oclock in the morning. It kind of felt more like a large basement than a place where people tune in for the news.

Anyway, we had done this one other time, so we were kind of ready for the 8 second sound check and the "on the spot" 4 count from the production manager cuing us to play because that was all the time we had to prepare. We played “Static” to promote the release of the “Austin Unsigned” CD. We were kind of disappointed because we didn’t have time to play any other songs. We were hoping to play “Revolution” as they were finishing up but the show was over during what they call a “wrap”. So, by the time we packed up and got out of there we had spent a good hour or two setting up for a 5 minute “show." But all in all this was just another step in the grand scheme of things to prepare us for performances (hopefully not as early) in the future.
So naturally after the show we headed to eat like we normally do and then off to bed. I guess it was a real gig after all!

Sidelined

For the past few months it has been difficult for me to sing. I kept on trying to hide it, but the more I did the harder it became to sing. With the occasional crack in my voice during a show, I felt like I was deconstructing in front of audiences. I had spent years of my life perfecting my singing and priding myself in my vocal power and range. Tragically, both those qualities were starting to slip away. With the encouragement of loved ones, I went to go see a doctor. It was one of the best decisions of my life. She told me that because of a combination of allergies, acid reflux, and vocal strain, my vocal cords were very swollen and irritated. So needless to say, I have been taking it easy (and a lot of medicine) for the last couple of weeks so I could heal. The good news is that the doctor assured me with a few weeks rest and the proper medication I would be good as new!!

Life has a way of breaking you down before you can get stronger. I’m happy to say that in a few weeks I will be stronger than I ever was, because even at my best I was still struggling with acid reflux and allergies, I just didn’t know it. I can’t wait to sing this Friday night at the Belmont. My voice is going to soar. ~Mark

SXSW Music Festival

Every year in March Austin is transformed into a city filled with over a thousand ambitious and wide-eyed musicians looking to make their mark and cause a ripple in what feels like a giant ocean -- the complex world of today’s music industry. The streets are littered with music-lovers looking to experience that magical performance from either their favorite well-known act or rather one that has seemed to slip between the cracks.

Whether you are a band “officially” apart of SXSW or one of the many whom go it alone, there is much to be excited about when this highly anticipated week of opportunity arrives. For meridianwest it was the route of going it alone. There was no invite to SXSW this year, but with the hustle and bustle of festival rules, guidelines and regulations, it seemed to be a blessing that we were able to produce our own showcases. We ended up playing a total of 5 shows, which started on Tuesday night at Gruv and ended on Saturday afternoon at Moonshine. These were no half hour slots filled with our 4 or 5 best songs, but rather ones that were no less than an hour each. To say the least, at the end of the week we were exhausted.

But through all of the loading and unloading night after night it was very much worth it after each show to see that when the smoke cleared we were left with new fans that seemed to embrace us warmly after experiencing our performances. All week it seemed like wherever we played everyone had yet to truly be fulfilled by “live” music even though it was all around them. It’s a beautiful thing when the crowd that stands in front of you is like a sponge waiting to soak up your creativity. This made us feel worthy of giving our audiences everything we had no matter how tired we seemed to be.

I think we have learned that this week wasn’t just about that “chance” encounter with a record executive or just about how much networking wecould do before and after a show, but it was about the people who stoodbefore us listening to our music. The ones that filled the streets inhopes of finding a new artist that moved them. The ones that are thedriving force behind so many successful bands. It is the people who thirst for that connection with ours and so many others’ music that we should not forget about. We want to thank everyone who supported us this week and let them know that we played for them and no-one else.

Austin Monthly Feature

Enchanted ROCK

Enchanted Rock

Nearly two thousand feet above the world it is easy to feel fragile and insignificant, but while standing on top of Enchanted Rock I felt like neither. The summit has a spiritual presence that seeped into my soul, making me believe I could be something greater than I am. It had such a peaceful grace. The only thing I could hear was the wind and the distant footsteps of Ryan, David, and Clif. Many people have come to Enchanted Rock in hopes of a cure for their illnesses. As I walked across the summit, I imagined tired bodies resting upon the rock, exhausted from the chemo and the two thousand ft. hike they just undertook. This imagery made me realize how blessed I am to be alive and to have the ability to follow my dreams. I love what I do. Sometimes it takes getting away from the things that you love for a moment to realize why you so intensely loved them in the first place. It also made me realized that we are all looking for cures. Some of us gravitate towards anything to not make us feel normal, while others would give anything to just feel normal for one more day.

The trip was not just spiritual it was also comical. We all stayed in a couple of old houses that dated back to the 1800’s. That factored in with the old, winding, tree-covered roads, made for a perfect atmosphere to try and scare the living crap out of each other. Although we did not manage to freak each other out as much as we wanted too, we got a lot of laughs out of the process. I won’t name any names but someone did not want to get out of their bed because of the “scary noises outside”. Ultimately, the trip brought us together as a band. With no instruments to hide behind, we had nothing but each other to rely on. The longer I am in this band the more I realize how great and powerful a concept that really is.

~Mark

Live?

It’s hard to be absolutely perfect when you perform “live.” Whether it is an instrument out of tune or a musician out of time, it is rare that a band can capture perfect takes of their songs.

It is even rarer when there is no audience.

That was the environment we faced in recording some of our new songs in a “live” environment. We tracked together live on stage, with only the echoes of cheers kept fondly in our minds from the past shows. With no external forces to help uplift us, we found ourselves digging deep within to extract the necessary emotions to pull off performances for each song.

The whole experience seemed like a sleep-deprived, stress-induced haze that did not clear until the morning after we go back in Austin. The emotional hangover was staggering. Between rehearsing and the process of recording in Dallas, we had spent a dozen 12 hour days in a row playing music non-stop.

When we arrived back in Austin it was time to catch up on some much needed rest. Needless to say, the sleep was fantastic! ~Mark

Well, we returned to the scene of the crime, the place where the three of us laid down our first recordings together. It seemed like such a long time ago that we made “A Fire is Missing” and then we performed on the soundstage before an audience of some of our fans for the recording of a live DVD/CD.

Maximedia Studios in Dallas, Texas.

We’ve returned, this time determined to get yet another live recording -- bigger and better than the last, with some new songs -- never before recorded tracks from our latest meridianwest set list.

It started as is always does, slow and frustrating. Then it moves to even slower………and more frustrating with NO hope in sight. But, as always we find a way at the last minute to pull it all together and avoid disaster, but not before……of course that we have countless meetings and arguments to figure out the best resolve for the situation. However, in the end we do what we do best -- create music that we feel will represent meridianwest in a positive way in a “live” atmosphere.

So, we set up on the ‘live’ soundstage late on a Sunday night and over the next 3 days we worked, worked and then worked even harder. It was much more difficult than we had anticipated -- trying to recreate a ‘live’ atmosphere when there was no energy from an audience lifting our spirits when things got tough.

It’s just “us” in a big empty room on a giant stage left with our songs.

It is these songs that we believe in……..and feel when we perform them. And it is these songs that can be full of frustration, but at the same time carry lots of patience.

Songs that overflow with passion, yet still have a distinct feel of heartbreak. And the ones that test us as a band……..they push us to the limit……..put us on the very edge……..and ultimately draw us closer together as musicians and most importantly………friends.

And in the end, it always turns out to be enough. ~Ryan

So we have never really locked ourselves away in rehearsals before until this week. I think it is safe to say we feel a bit confined in what feels like a 10X10 room. However, through all of the hours of striping down the songs, writing and re-writing parts all the while stricken with insomnia -- we've not only been writing some of our best music to date -- but we have gotten tighter as a band.

Our muscianship will undoubtedly get better over time with just playing shows every week and growing as guitar players, drummers and vocalists -- but it is the friendships and bonds created on the smallest of platforms like this one that hold everything together and make us stronger. So this experience will result in better written songs and tighter shows. But, more importantly it will bring the 3 of us one step closer to being the band the we strive to be. So stay tuned on all the exciting things unfolding for meridianwest.

~Ryan, Mark and David

Antones

On Thursday we were fortunate enough to experience playing on a stage that is somewhat legendary in Austin. Antones has been the epicenter of the "live" music experience here in Austin for several decades. You can feel the energy when you walk into the room. We feel honored that another up and coming band from Austin, Damesviolet, thought of us when deciding on a supporting act for their official CD release party. We had a blast playing in front of all the fans that braved the cold -- and we thank you all for that. We really hope that Antones will have us back some time in the very near future -- because it truly is one of the best places for "live" music in the city of Austin.

UT Rocks the VOTE

Today we played the University of Texas campus to promote the last day of early voting on campus. We had a great time playing the UT Campus and would like to thank the UT Votes Committee for inviting us to play this special event. Also, we would like to encourage all of our fans to use their voice and go out there and cast your vote on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Michael Thad Carter Photoshoot

On 10.19.06 we had a photo shoot with Michael T. Carter. It was our favorite shoot to date. We had nearly eight hours with Michael, which allowed us to capture real moments in time instead of just three guys posing in random places. From rooftops to bridges, all the locations that we chose reflected the connection that our music has with city life. We now truly have pictures that show us as we are; a rock band with depth and attitude. We’ve included some unpolished behind the scenes shots so you can see us at our less than perfect states, which in our opinion is us at our best. Enjoy.

Welcome

Welcome to the meridianwest blog site! Here you’ll be able to find exclusive insights and updates about shows, recording sessions, TV appearances, photo shoots, and much more. We know that you guys can’t make every show or be a part of every event that happens, so we are going to do our best to recapture those moments with our blog entries. You’ll also be able to post comments about our blogs and view exclusive photos. We will be updating it on a weekly basis so make sure to visit frequently. ~meridianwest: David, Mark & Ryan

Photo/ Jeremy Craig

On April 27th 2004, drummer David Kittredge walked into a small pub in Oklahoma City to see singer/guitarist Mark Gibson perform. David had left his previous touring band a few months before and was looking to join another. After numerous false leads, Kittredge had decided that this would be the last attempt in his search before he left to study music at North Texas University. Kittredge took a seat while a 21 year old college kid took the stage. Although Gibson only performed by himself, David heard the potential for a much larger sound. Ironically Gibson shared the same vision and in the summer of 2004 the pair began to develop numerous songs in the living room of David’s house. Out of those practices and live performances came five songs in particular that they recorded as their debut EP, The Sun Forgets.

At the turn of the year, it became apparent that they would not find any additional members in Oklahoma so they started searching for the right city to relocate. In June of 2005, they moved to Austin, Texas and immediately started looking for other band mates. In late August they found an ad in the Austin Chronicle that would lead to the addition of Bassist Ryan Magnani. Ryan had moved to Austin from South Carolina a year before in the same pursuit of music. He too was tired of a music scene that seemed to be lacking honesty and emotion. Kittredge, Gibson and Magnani met to discuss the importance of music in each of their lives and the elements that they felt were missing from the music industry. It was in this initial meeting that their new concept of sound was born. They also began to form ideas of “how” they could ultimately help change the face of music today. After just a few rehearsals, it was apparent that the chemistry and drive that the trio shared would soon develop into the kind of working relationship that most bands only dream of.

As in the start of any self-made endeavor, venues with live music were quick to toss their EP in a box without ever listening to it. They also began to realize that certain venues were not equipped for the design of meridianwest. The trio began to envision their music in immeasurable spaces. Armed with a new vision for “live” performance, they sought out a venue that most bands pass up due to a lack of smoke and lights; outside of Seattle’s Best Coffee located on the ground floor of a skyscraper located in the heart of downtown Austin’s warehouse district. The colossal sound of this undiscovered amphitheater would define the new energy created by the band’s live show. meridianwest’s music shot through the streets of downtown Austin unchained and piercing -- developing a strong fan base in their new hometown of Austin.

meridianwest’s sound began to evolve directionally and technically to the point that they felt like their EP did not represent them anymore. The need to express this new progression and evolution materialized in the recording of their new EP, A Fire is Missing, which better illustrates their ever evolving sound. With the addition of industry veterans Clif Loftin and Chris Fritz as their management team and the new EP they gather more pen and paper for the next chapter of meridianwest.