When 2009 began, Bobby Long was one of the many singer-songwriters haunting London's open-mic scene looking to build an audience of his own. When the new decade begins in a few short weeks, he will have that to his credit and more. Since last spring, Long has played some 100 shows in packed clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada. This Saturday (December 19) night's sold-out show at New York's Mercury Lounge promises a fitting close to the young performer's Dangerous Summer into fall seven-month North American tour.While it's true that Long had a head start on a fanbase-a song he co-wrote (but didn't sing) was featured in the first "Twilight" film-it's even more relevant that it is his haunting vocals, intricately woven lyrics and intriguing guitar work that is winning him new fans and filling rooms night after night. His spare DIRTY POND SONGS, the CD he recorded in his London bedroom to have something for fans during the Dangerous Summer tour, has sold over 10,000 copies on the road. Selections from the CD have also found their way onto the playlists of key Triple A radio stations, among them Philadelphia's WXPN. It was the first to embrace the poignant opening track "Who Have You Been Loving," and showcased Long as its World Café Next Artist of the Week in late November. A brief live appearance on XPN was quickly followed by station visits to KBCO in Denver, KUT in Austin and WFPK in Louisville, building anticipation for Long's first real studio recording due in 2010.
Long, in fact, began working with producer Liam Watson, who produced "Elephant" by the White Stripes, on tracks for that debut outing during a short break from touring this past fall. In addition to recording the tracks live with a band for the CD, Long expects to also record some tracks in his signature solo acoustic style. He will return to Watson's Toe Rag Studios in London, known for its collection of vintage analog equipment, in January to continue recording before hitting the road for a series of European shows. Current plans are for an early summer release.
For Bobby Long, these past months on the road have been a challenging opportunity to hone his craft. He's been able to practice perfecting his more familiar material, experiment with new songs and add to his store of tall tales-all the while experiencing more of America than many Americans ever get to do. As for the new year, Long is poised for much more Stateside touring, beginning with his debut at SxSW in Austin in March.
