John Sheehan Notes From Suburbia CD

John Sheehan plays the guitar like a man in mid-conversation. On Notes From Suburbia he picks, strums, and sings his way through 13 audio lectures, on topics ranging from self-made men, to imported beer and mushrooms. Sheehan is first and foremost an instrumentalist, and his gifted fingers flip through the pages of six-string history with a dexterity that rivals heroes like Doc Watson and Leo Kottke. His love for classical, jazz, blues, and folk finds its way into almost every piece, allowing for a worldly breadth of emotion that causes self-penned tunes, such as "Cabin Fever," to resonate with the same personality as traditional pieces like "Five Ricercars." As a vocalist, Sheehan employs a dusty croon that brings to mind a less mumbly Mark Knopfler -- an obvious influence on his electric guitar work -- and filters his wry observations into an easy matter-of-fact dialogue with the listener. The nostalgic "Imprint," a sweet salute to the inspired and inspiring, is among the record's finest offerings, and "It Don't Come Easy" features a first-rate melody and fine harmonies from Jessie Holladay. While "Last Night In a Dream," with its subtle percussion and moody atmospherics, showcases Sheehan's bluesy roots -- and is strangely reminiscent of "Books of Moses" by Moby Grape casualty Skip Spence -- it's the Celtic-tinged "Lord Inchiquin," and the remarkable "Bader's Field" that place him in the top tier of contemporary folk artists. ~ James Christopher Monger

John Sheehan is a Composer/Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter from Ringwood, NJ. Two of John's compositions have been used as backdrops for videos: "Buggy Ride", in a short film on safety called "The Eddie Adams Tragedy", put out by the Weyerhauser corporation and Rocket- Pictures of Seattle Washington and "Cliffs of Moher" for a promotional film for the Emily Williston Memorial Library of Easthampton, Massachusetts. "Landrush", a banjo instrumenal is used to open and close Dave Bryce's 'Rural Delivery' show on 88 Country in Christchurch New Zealand every Sunday evening. Sincere listeners of his music have compared him to such diverse artists as; Leo Kottke, Jorma Kaukonen, Mark Knophler, Michael Hedges, John Prine, Steve Earle, and Jimmy Buffett. John gives credit to J.S.Bach and John Fahey as well as many more . He has opened for, and/or performed with guitar greats Tal Farlow, Jorma, John Renbourne, and Adrian Legge; as well as, singer/songwriters Chris Smithers, Jonathan Edwards and Dave Malett. His Modern Man cd has been nominated three times for indie cd of the year, most recently from Just Plain Folks.com. He has won awards from NomaMusic and Kweevak .com . His third cd ,"Notes from Suburbia" is due out in 2003. Robert Hicks, All Music guide/Bergen Record said "On the Northeastern folk circuit, guitarist John Sheehan establishes himself as an independent thinker and a rugged individualist who champions finger-style techniques. "His vocal songs show simple humor, yet say something profound about humanity". His tongue-in-cheek songs such as "Modern Man", "Thursday Night Open Mic", "Beyond Your Means", and "My Habits Are Killing Me" tell something of his sense of values as well as humor. He mixes compassion , gratitude and wonder into his performances, also, with "Come Here Friend", "As I Stand" "Life Song", "Self Made Man" and "Last night in a dream". John's guitar instrumentals are steeped in the traditions of European classical and American contemporary styles. Most requested are "Jump into the Fire" , "The Villain", "Hog Farm" and "Cliffs of Moher". As First Place winner of the 1991 Candi-Creek Banjo Works Guitar Competition, he was awarded a new D-16 Martin Guitar, autographed and presented by C.F. Martin, IV. Performing original tunes on the Banjo, he took First Place in the Banjo Contest at the Old Mill Village Music Competitions in August, 1997. Gigging three and four days a week, John also teaches the art and cra