Industry News
Joshua Panda's Interactive Website Allows Fans to Support Indie Tour
Joshua Panda's Interactive Web ‘Guitar Case’ Allows Fans to Donate Online and Support Indie Band’s Tour
25 Year-Old Phenom Preps Summer Dates in VT, CO, MO, NC, KS, NM, NY, NC, MD, WV, TN and more
Joshua Panda’s Preacher-Like Presence Drives Americana/Soul/Country/Folk CD, Out August 28th
Wild Cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Come On Up to the House’ is One of Album’s Many Highlights
25-year old phenom Joshua Panda is a combustible on-stage presence, and his performances have been known to convey a preacher-like fervor that draws audiences to their feet. A Summer tour is in the works to preview the August 28th release of his eponymous CD, as Panda takes his soulful band from coast-to-coast, with stops including VT, CO, MO, NC, KS, NM, NY, NC, MD, WV, TN and more. See a full itinerary, below.
A new, interactive website launched on July 3rd, the day Panda’s U.S. Tour kicked-off. The site, www.joshuapanda.com, features live footage of the band on the road (busking, venue shows, any other randomness they get themselves into), and it will also include a ‘virtual guitar case’ where fans can make donations via Paypal to help fund the band’s threadbare tour. The new site will also allow fans to pre-order the album, which will only be available via joshuapanda.com until its release on August 28th, at which point it will be available on itunes and in locals stores in Burlington, Panda’s home town.
Get a sense of the infectious music via these recent clips:
http://www.youtube.com/joshuapanda#p/u/7/lVBi96Wpwc8 http://www.youtube.com/joshuapanda#p/u/1/rbY2s6p_An0 http://www.youtube.com/joshuapanda#p/u/2/EoW2H4Io6e0
Drawing upon varied influences, from Kris Kristofferson and Townes Van Zandt’s Country to Sam Cooke’s soulful vocals to Otis Redding’s stage presence, Panda delivers a hard-to-box-in style and a rich new album that evokes Van Morrison’s gruff swagger and Patsy Cline’s swoon. A promising new artist whose talent belies his years, Panda started singing gospel music at Rockwell Baptist Church in Huntersville, NC at the ripe age of three, and his passion remains invigorating.
A wild cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Come On Up to the House’ is one of the many highlights on the upcoming Pandarue Productions CD. Listen to that track and others, here: http://press.joshuapanda.com/ Panda’s album features 13 tracks: 12 original compositions, and the abovementioned Tom Waits cover. The album’s opener, ‘Masquerade’, suggests the confidence and drama of a seasoned storyteller; ‘Rosie’ is an infectious Creole mash-up; on ‘Pastor’, the Country spirit overtakes Panda; ‘Are You Hurting At All’ channels Patsy Cline; and ‘Weight in Gold’s’ cinematic details craft one of the many highlights of the CD.
MELODIC INTERVIEW FEATURE By Rickard Holmgren, 7/13/10
http://melodic.net/interviewsOne.asp?interviewId=324
Melodic.net had the opportunity to ask Joshua Panda some questions about him and his music, here is what he had to say.
Hi Joshua and welcome to Melodic.net. How are you?
Happy to be here. Doing quite well, in the car out on tour en route to St. Louis at the moment.
Can you tell us about yourself?
My name's Joshua Panda, and I'm a sing-aholic. Twenty-five years young, born and raised in Huntersville, NC, been singing and dancing as far back as I can remember. Blessed to be able to do what I love for a living and live out the good ol' American dream every day. I am a firm believer in suspenders over belts. I think Worcestershire sauce on toast is a great poor man's steak, and I'm in search of the country's best Rueben.
What can you tell us about your record?
The recording of my second, self-titled album is a great accomplishment for me. Recorded in the best of scenarios, with the greatest and most down to earth musician/brothers in arms; in one of the finest cities in the world, Montreal; and, in my opinion, the only way to record...reel to reel. We had six days to record 13 tracks during a blizzard. It was a very real and also surreal experience, that I could not compare to anything I've yet been apart of. Just beautiful really. The feel of the music itself is a mash of all of my favorite flavors of American music. We're following in the foot steps of what any great and serious rock & roll band does and that is blend what moves you. Classic country, zydeco, gospel, and outlaw attitude.
Who are your main influences?
Main you say, hmmmm. The Band, no contest. True representation of what rock & roll is. The Grateful Dead, seminal. Often pigeon-holed as a "hippy band" and too jammy, but the writing is some of the best of all time. They really did what I most look to do and that is as I said before, blend country and blues and rock & roll and stretch the boundaries of popular music. And then of course the Stones. Still together, still rocking, still the greatest.
How do you write songs, what does the creation process look like?
vomit. It just comes out man. I'm in...insert random location.. and all of a sudden something will trigger the muse and I have to find a pen and a napkin. And I try desperately to hold the melody til I can reach a guitar or piano. I liken it to a kettle on the stove. The watched pot never boils, you gotta let that sh*t simmer and it will let YOU know when it's ready. Diggez- vous?
What is the biggest challenge for you as an up and coming artist?
The current music industry and its greed and unyielding mass push and production of embarrassingly pathetic music. In short, it's hard to get wide spread exposure as a grassroots and independent artist when the people are bombarded with so much nonsense.
Who is the best artist/band you have ever shared a stage with?
Tower of Power. That was a real dream.
Who would be a dream artist/band to share a stage with?
Levon Helm. Wow, yeah that would be something. Or, oh yes, or Sharon Jones. I'd love to soul battle/duet with Ms. Sharon Jones. Is there a song that you wish you had written? Man, what a beast of a question. I really think "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers. That song literally fell from Heaven. Feels like it's always been there. As warm and familiar as your mama's embrace.
Name one record everyone should know.
I really tried to chew on this one and after changing my mind about 40 times, honestly, I'm going with "Eat a Peach" by the Allman Brothers. Is there a bad time to listen to that record? What does the nearest future hold for you? A good night sleep I hope. Being on the road is tough on the body. I look forward to some rest. And I suppose if the fates blow my way some more people will get down with our thing and hop on board the Panda party train. Cause that's what we try to do everywhere we go and play-- ensue a moment in time. Something that everyone present can vibe on. Line up the energy in the room and knock it out of the park. Ask the good folks in Columbus, OH if we know how to throw a party.
What is your take on piracy and illegal downloads? All bad or actually helpful sometimes?
Well hell man, I haven't paid for music since 2005. Why would you? Sure, make the music free. Yes it costs thousands and thousands of dollars to make that recording available, but sure let the people have it. IF, and big if here, they come to the shows. And pay $15-25 for a ticket and buy a t-shirt and bring some friends who buy t-shirts and tickets. That's a system we can work with.
Thanks for answering the questions, any last word for our readers?
Thank you to all of the wonderful people we meet across the globe that share a smile and a song with us. You can check out all of our videos and antics from the road and also make a contribution at joshuapanda.com
Panda’s band includes musicians from Vermont, Montreal, New York and North Carolina, and features guitar, mandolin/piano, accordion, drums, electric guitar, pedal steel, and upright bass. Panda’s regular musicians include Lowell Thompson, Brett Lanier, Brian Axford, Ed Grasmeyer, Dan Davine, and Pete Weiss.
Joshua Panda on Tour: July 16 Auntie Mae’s Manhattan, KS July 17 The City Market Kansas City, MO (farmers market) July 19, 20, 21 Quixote's Denver, CO July 23 Aspen Brewery Aspen, CO July 25 Mountain Sun Brew Pub Boulder, CO July 29, 30 Cowgirl BBQ Santa Fe, NM July 31 Oskar Blues Lyons, CO August 7 Helen Day Art Center Burlington, VT August 14 Lake Champlain Maritime Festival Burlington, Vermont August 28 Nectar’s Burlington, VT September 3 Border Bash Bristol, TN September 4 Evening Muse Charlotte, NC September 8 WDVX Blue Plate Special Knoxville, TN September 18 Private Event Montreal October 7 Purple Fiddle Thomas, WV October 8 Café Nola Frederick, MD October 9-10 Sunflower Fest Cumberland, MD October 17 Private Event Charlotte, VT November 6 Shifty’s Syracuse, NY
Additional tour dates will be announced soon.
Visit: http://www.joshuapanda.com/
Visit: http://www.myspace.com/joshuapanda
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25 Year-Old Phenom Preps Summer Dates in VT, CO, MO, NC, KS, NM, NY, NC, MD, WV, TN and more
Joshua Panda’s Preacher-Like Presence Drives Americana/Soul/Country/Folk CD, Out August 28th
Wild Cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Come On Up to the House’ is One of Album’s Many Highlights
25-year old phenom Joshua Panda is a combustible on-stage presence, and his performances have been known to convey a preacher-like fervor that draws audiences to their feet. A Summer tour is in the works to preview the August 28th release of his eponymous CD, as Panda takes his soulful band from coast-to-coast, with stops including VT, CO, MO, NC, KS, NM, NY, NC, MD, WV, TN and more. See a full itinerary, below.
A new, interactive website launched on July 3rd, the day Panda’s U.S. Tour kicked-off. The site, www.joshuapanda.com, features live footage of the band on the road (busking, venue shows, any other randomness they get themselves into), and it will also include a ‘virtual guitar case’ where fans can make donations via Paypal to help fund the band’s threadbare tour. The new site will also allow fans to pre-order the album, which will only be available via joshuapanda.com until its release on August 28th, at which point it will be available on itunes and in locals stores in Burlington, Panda’s home town.
Get a sense of the infectious music via these recent clips:
http://www.youtube.com/joshuapanda#p/u/7/lVBi96Wpwc8 http://www.youtube.com/joshuapanda#p/u/1/rbY2s6p_An0 http://www.youtube.com/joshuapanda#p/u/2/EoW2H4Io6e0
Drawing upon varied influences, from Kris Kristofferson and Townes Van Zandt’s Country to Sam Cooke’s soulful vocals to Otis Redding’s stage presence, Panda delivers a hard-to-box-in style and a rich new album that evokes Van Morrison’s gruff swagger and Patsy Cline’s swoon. A promising new artist whose talent belies his years, Panda started singing gospel music at Rockwell Baptist Church in Huntersville, NC at the ripe age of three, and his passion remains invigorating.
A wild cover of Tom Waits’ ‘Come On Up to the House’ is one of the many highlights on the upcoming Pandarue Productions CD. Listen to that track and others, here: http://press.joshuapanda.com/ Panda’s album features 13 tracks: 12 original compositions, and the abovementioned Tom Waits cover. The album’s opener, ‘Masquerade’, suggests the confidence and drama of a seasoned storyteller; ‘Rosie’ is an infectious Creole mash-up; on ‘Pastor’, the Country spirit overtakes Panda; ‘Are You Hurting At All’ channels Patsy Cline; and ‘Weight in Gold’s’ cinematic details craft one of the many highlights of the CD.
MELODIC INTERVIEW FEATURE By Rickard Holmgren, 7/13/10
http://melodic.net/interviewsOne.asp?interviewId=324
Melodic.net had the opportunity to ask Joshua Panda some questions about him and his music, here is what he had to say.
Hi Joshua and welcome to Melodic.net. How are you?
Happy to be here. Doing quite well, in the car out on tour en route to St. Louis at the moment.
Can you tell us about yourself?
My name's Joshua Panda, and I'm a sing-aholic. Twenty-five years young, born and raised in Huntersville, NC, been singing and dancing as far back as I can remember. Blessed to be able to do what I love for a living and live out the good ol' American dream every day. I am a firm believer in suspenders over belts. I think Worcestershire sauce on toast is a great poor man's steak, and I'm in search of the country's best Rueben.
What can you tell us about your record?
The recording of my second, self-titled album is a great accomplishment for me. Recorded in the best of scenarios, with the greatest and most down to earth musician/brothers in arms; in one of the finest cities in the world, Montreal; and, in my opinion, the only way to record...reel to reel. We had six days to record 13 tracks during a blizzard. It was a very real and also surreal experience, that I could not compare to anything I've yet been apart of. Just beautiful really. The feel of the music itself is a mash of all of my favorite flavors of American music. We're following in the foot steps of what any great and serious rock & roll band does and that is blend what moves you. Classic country, zydeco, gospel, and outlaw attitude.
Who are your main influences?
Main you say, hmmmm. The Band, no contest. True representation of what rock & roll is. The Grateful Dead, seminal. Often pigeon-holed as a "hippy band" and too jammy, but the writing is some of the best of all time. They really did what I most look to do and that is as I said before, blend country and blues and rock & roll and stretch the boundaries of popular music. And then of course the Stones. Still together, still rocking, still the greatest.
How do you write songs, what does the creation process look like?
vomit. It just comes out man. I'm in...insert random location.. and all of a sudden something will trigger the muse and I have to find a pen and a napkin. And I try desperately to hold the melody til I can reach a guitar or piano. I liken it to a kettle on the stove. The watched pot never boils, you gotta let that sh*t simmer and it will let YOU know when it's ready. Diggez- vous?
What is the biggest challenge for you as an up and coming artist?
The current music industry and its greed and unyielding mass push and production of embarrassingly pathetic music. In short, it's hard to get wide spread exposure as a grassroots and independent artist when the people are bombarded with so much nonsense.
Who is the best artist/band you have ever shared a stage with?
Tower of Power. That was a real dream.
Who would be a dream artist/band to share a stage with?
Levon Helm. Wow, yeah that would be something. Or, oh yes, or Sharon Jones. I'd love to soul battle/duet with Ms. Sharon Jones. Is there a song that you wish you had written? Man, what a beast of a question. I really think "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers. That song literally fell from Heaven. Feels like it's always been there. As warm and familiar as your mama's embrace.
Name one record everyone should know.
I really tried to chew on this one and after changing my mind about 40 times, honestly, I'm going with "Eat a Peach" by the Allman Brothers. Is there a bad time to listen to that record? What does the nearest future hold for you? A good night sleep I hope. Being on the road is tough on the body. I look forward to some rest. And I suppose if the fates blow my way some more people will get down with our thing and hop on board the Panda party train. Cause that's what we try to do everywhere we go and play-- ensue a moment in time. Something that everyone present can vibe on. Line up the energy in the room and knock it out of the park. Ask the good folks in Columbus, OH if we know how to throw a party.
What is your take on piracy and illegal downloads? All bad or actually helpful sometimes?
Well hell man, I haven't paid for music since 2005. Why would you? Sure, make the music free. Yes it costs thousands and thousands of dollars to make that recording available, but sure let the people have it. IF, and big if here, they come to the shows. And pay $15-25 for a ticket and buy a t-shirt and bring some friends who buy t-shirts and tickets. That's a system we can work with.
Thanks for answering the questions, any last word for our readers?
Thank you to all of the wonderful people we meet across the globe that share a smile and a song with us. You can check out all of our videos and antics from the road and also make a contribution at joshuapanda.com
Panda’s band includes musicians from Vermont, Montreal, New York and North Carolina, and features guitar, mandolin/piano, accordion, drums, electric guitar, pedal steel, and upright bass. Panda’s regular musicians include Lowell Thompson, Brett Lanier, Brian Axford, Ed Grasmeyer, Dan Davine, and Pete Weiss.
Joshua Panda on Tour: July 16 Auntie Mae’s Manhattan, KS July 17 The City Market Kansas City, MO (farmers market) July 19, 20, 21 Quixote's Denver, CO July 23 Aspen Brewery Aspen, CO July 25 Mountain Sun Brew Pub Boulder, CO July 29, 30 Cowgirl BBQ Santa Fe, NM July 31 Oskar Blues Lyons, CO August 7 Helen Day Art Center Burlington, VT August 14 Lake Champlain Maritime Festival Burlington, Vermont August 28 Nectar’s Burlington, VT September 3 Border Bash Bristol, TN September 4 Evening Muse Charlotte, NC September 8 WDVX Blue Plate Special Knoxville, TN September 18 Private Event Montreal October 7 Purple Fiddle Thomas, WV October 8 Café Nola Frederick, MD October 9-10 Sunflower Fest Cumberland, MD October 17 Private Event Charlotte, VT November 6 Shifty’s Syracuse, NY
Additional tour dates will be announced soon.
Visit: http://www.joshuapanda.com/
Visit: http://www.myspace.com/joshuapanda
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