“The poet laureate of Louisiana’s fertile roots music scene”
(Guitar Player Magazine)
“... fiery anthems and dark confessional songs.
It sounds like a cry of thanks from a rescued man.”
(USA Today)
Since the release of his 2010 Alligator Records debut, American Patchwork and his 2012 follow-up, Black Eye Galaxy, Osborne has earned hordes of new fans. He has toured virtually non-stop, either with his road-tested trio, as a solo artist, or as a guest with his countless musical admirers, including Toots And The Maytals, Stanton Moore, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Keb Mo, and The Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh.
In late 2012, Osborne recorded his latest six-song EP, Three Free Amigos, a semi-acoustic collection cut in a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere, with friends joining him in various combinations, creating true musical magic.
Anders Osborne will make his Capital Region debut in this showcase “unplugged/acoustic” format at Putnam Den in downtown Saratoga Springs on Friday, May 31.
Osborne collaborator Clarence Bucaro will also perform, as will local trio the Tim Herron Corporation.
Tickets are $15 in advance at www.PutnamDen.com or $17 at the door for the 9 p.m. start.
Since his recording debut in 1989, Osborne has written virtually all of his own material and contributed memorable songs to a wide variety of artists. Two tunes co-written by Osborne appear on Keb Mo’s Grammy-winning 1999 release “Slow Down.” Country superstar Tim McGraw scored a #1 hit with Anders’ song “Watch The Wind Blow By.” Osborne’s compositions have been covered by artists as diverse as Brad Paisley, Tab Benoit, Jonny Lang and Kim Carnes. His song “What’s Going On Here” appeared in the 1996 feature film “Fled,” and Osborne, along with Ivan Neville, wrote and recorded the title track for the 2010 Kate Hudson film “Earthbound.” He can also be seen performing in a recent episode of HBO’s New Orleans-based drama “Treme.”
When Osborne planted his roots in New Orleans almost 30 years ago, he could not have realized that he would become one of the city’s favorite sons. He was born in Uddevalla, Sweden in 1966. With a love of music, a knack for the guitar and a serious case of wanderlust, Anders began traveling on his own at 16. He wrote constantly, soaking up life experience and honing his craft. In 1985, after landing in New York with only five dollars in his pocket, Osborne hitchhiked to New Orleans to meet up with a friend.
“Once I got to New Orleans, everything I heard in my head-the music, the way people treated each other-was happening. I knew I was home.” He naturally absorbed the spirit of the Crescent City into his soul, as he was fully embraced by the city’s vibrant music community. “I just knew I was where I was supposed to be,” Osborne says.
Anders spent his first few years in New Orleans writing and developing his sound and style, all the while continuing to soak up the music of the city. He cut his first two albums for the independent New Orleans-based Rabadash Records. The excitement surrounding those releases led to a major label deal with Sony’s Okeh imprint in 1995. Osborne released a series of critically-acclaimed albums on the Shanachie and MC labels before joining forces with Alligator Records.
With the 2010 release of American Patchwork, Osborne’s fame suddenly reached a whole new level. Critics went wild, with OffBeat saying, “The record is a focused and tuneful triumph. Osborne’s gifts as a guitar player are significant. His voice is so emotionally intense it feels like an explosion. He writes with remarkable eloquence...this is the living definition of great art.” 2012’s Black Eye Galaxy raised the bar even higher. USA Today said, “Black Eye Galaxy contains fiery anthems and dark confessional songs punctuated with incessant, penetrating guitar runs. It sounds like a cry of thanks from a rescued man.”
With Three Free Amigos, Anders Osborne shares his passion for life with his friends and fans. The melodic, accessible songs are lyrically deep, instantly memorable, and soulfully satisfying. With a full album expected later in 2013, Anders Osborne has no plans to slow down.
