FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metsa to produce companion CD to his memoir BLUE GUITAR HIGHWAY

Press Release Date: 2012-04-24T00:00:00

From Metsa's Kickstarter page:

About the artist

"Like the Iron Range itself-and Dylan for that matter-Metsa is a hodge-podge of people, a melting pot of different characters and performers. He’s a folk singer, a blues singer, a social activist, a Finn, a storyteller, a comedian, a philosopher, a conspiracy theorist, and a lounge lizard.” MN Law and Politics, Oct. 1997.

Paul Metsa has been releasing original recording projects starting with his first band, Cats Under the Stars in 1982. In 1984 he released “Paper Tigers” his first full length vinyl album under his own name. Since then he has released over a dozen original recording projects on several different formats (45rpm singles, cassette tapes, an album, and several CD’s.) His music has received glowing reviews in Boston Rock, Spin, Billboard, and the Austin Chronicle among others. He has been a featured performer at Farm Aid V, in Dallas, Texas, the Tribute to Woody Guthrie at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, and the Million Mom March in Washington, DC in 1999. He has won 7 MN Music Awards, the latest was Americana Artist of the Year in 2005.

In October 2011, the University Of MN Press published his memoirs Blue Guitar Highway. It has received great reviews in literary publications such as Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus Review. The Minneapolis Star Tribune said, “Blue Guitar Highway has so many compelling stories, it is hard to put down.”

About The Project

Paul would like to put out a compilation CD to promote in tandem with the book. The CD would include songs from all phases of Paul’s career, and would include his recordings with such great musicians as Bucky Baxter (Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Ryan Adams), Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen), George Marinelli (Bruce Hornsby, Bonnie Raitt) as well as legendary Minneapolis musicians such as Peter Ostroushko, Prudence Johnson, Willie Murphy, and members of Cats Under the Stars. Paul would also like to record a couple of new songs, including one titled “Blue Guitar Highway”, to go along with the package.

The Cost

We are trying to raise $7,500. This roughly breaks down to $2,500 for mixing and mastering of previous recordings, $2,500 for artwork and production of the CD’s, and $2,500 to record a couple of new songs. Any money we raised beyond the $7,500 would go toward marketing expenses, and if things went really well, recording a few more songs as well.

If you have lived in Minnesota, chances are you have seen Paul perform at one of the thousands of clubs gigs he has done, or at one of the hundreds of benefits he has performed for various progressive causes, environmental groups, and people in need over the last 30 years. He is hoping that part of his outreach with his upcoming book tour, along with the companion CD, would enable him to hit the road to publicize the book and record, while raising money for many worthy and deserving groups of folks along the way.

Above and beyond having the record as a marketing tool for the book, we believe that the songs that will be included on the companion CD (many of which are mentioned in the book) will shed more light on the stories within and give a deeper understanding of Blue Guitar Highway, which Discorder Magazine calls “a convincing testament to the strength that a performer can draw on by remaining in touch with his or her roots.”

We really appreciate your time, and consideration, and any donations you can afford. Besides the introductory video, we have recently produced a video that features Paul’s song “Stars Over the Prairie” (which was included on the debut album and will be a part of the companion CD.)

You can view the new Video here

We hope you enjoy it. And like Willie Nelson says, “stay strong and positive.”