A Thousand Torches (tumblelog)

Bad ass Brooklynite (by way of Tucson, Arizona) songstress, Emily Long, is celebrating the self-release of her debut LP, When I was in Love With, at Pianos in NYC on Saturday, April 17th at 10PM (sharp). The record is already up for preview and download on iTunes in addition to her 2007 Cosmetics Liquor Love Songs EP.  The show doubles as Emily’s birthday party, so there will be cake! (and buttons, but don’t eat those too.)  New songs will also be unleashed, being as she’s 8 songs deep into writing follow-up record.  2 previously unheard songs, “The Body” and “The End” were performed last month during Emily Long and her band’s appearance on WXCI’s Smorgasbord.  Also during that appearance she stated production for her next album could begin in the fall.  The record is on her own, Tiger Blanket Records.

This celebratory show comes after Emily Long and her band’s inaugural venture out to SXSW.  Emily, herself, also just wrapped up a session at the famed Applehead Studio in Woodstock, New York where she recorded a track for DJ Dirty Ern (Weerd Science) and Chris Bittner (Bad Brains, Soulive, King Crimson, John Mayer, Codeseven, Anadivine, Four Letter Lie, Coheed and Cambria, Straylight Run, The Sleeping)’s hip-hop inspired Flannel Channel record.

Initially When I Was in Love With began when Emily Long and her band traveled up to Kingston, NY to record some scratch demos for the purpose of handing venues and whatnot an example of their work.  After a session with David “Wavis” Parker (Weerd Science, original live Coheed and Cambria keyboardist) when they managed to track a whopping 9 songs in one day, Emily felt the recordings were much more special than mere demos.  She took a trip back to her hometown, tracks in tow, and polished them up with Producer John Turi (who’s worked with Jimi Hendrix, Ronnie Spector, Bulldog, Aerosmith, The Crests and The Aquatones, but mostly known for his collaboration with Cyndi Lauper- Blue Angel) in her favorite, Loveland Studio.

Emily first picked up the guitar at age 10 and joined numerous punk bands during her teenage years.  In 2001 she contributed vocals to fellow Tucsonians, The Bled, for the song “My Cyanide Catharsis” off their self-titled DIY EP.

Her music has been featured in Prom Queen (web series), WB’s “Sorority Forever,” Jason Priestly’s “The Lake” and on the Bad Girls Don’t Cry compilation (along with Amy Winehouse and Duffy).  I’ve read articles that draw comparisons to Blondie, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, Katy Perry, Wendy James, Concrete Blonde, Stevie Nicks, Martha Davis, John Waite, Joan Jett, The Runaways, and Joy Division.  Emily Long’s influences are much more diverse.  She states her influences as Queen, Blondie, Ronnie Spector, The Breeders, Liz Phair, The Gossip, Nirvana, The Comas, PJ Harvey, The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Wanda Jackson, Elvis, Hole, The Beatles, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright, T. Rex, Celebration, Tammy Wynette, Gene Pitney, The Crystals, Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Tyler, Antony and The Johnsons, Ryan Adams, The Pretenders, The Cars expressing a love for punk, folk, indie rock, electronica and even disco.  Emily Long truly has a sound of her own.

1. Anyone Else
2. Ringing Bells
3. Home
4. Long Enough
5. Near
6. Shoulda Run
7. The Truth
8. Joey (Concrete Blonde cover song)
9. Can’t Let Go
10. The Blackout
11. Cry Some More

April 17 - Pianos - New York
April 20 - Crash Mansion - New York (ReThinkPopMusic showcase with Haakon’s Fault, Average World, Ambassadors, The Glorious Veins - $5, open bar from 7-9PM)
May 28 - Lit Lounge - New York (with Devin & Little Angels - $6, 9pm)

> myspace.com/emilylongrocks

> @emilylongrocks

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