Howlin Rain

"Howlin Rain has announced the release of a new album, Mansion Songs, due out on Easy Sound Records January 27th, 2015. The album features Howlin Rain front man and songwriter Ethan Miller with a brand new revolving group of musicians backing him and a new, smaller record label. Like many musicians who've been around a long time, Miller was burned out. He explains in the press release:

"I walked out of the back end of my major label run and the first 9 years in Howlin Rain with no band, no label, no foreseeable immediate move forward and a figurative suitcase full of songs, my talent, invigorated by having nothing else to lose, exhausted by the bulls-- and grind of the music business, this musical life, and all it's absolute bulls-- and f-- tests, cynical but not bitter. I still wanted to make more records. I wanted to track the journey from nothingness back to creation in musical form in a set of three albums and rock bottom was the perfect place to start from. There's nothing to fake down here! It's a dark and beautiful and pure cave to create something truthful from. The first album in the trilogy is Mansion Songs."

All music lovers know that some great music comes out of dark places. Whether it is punk, blues, folk, jazz, or even classical, dark passions can inspire either whiny, self-indulgent works or brilliant explorations of the soul that resonate with listeners. Judging by the first sample we get to hear, "Big Red Moon," this album promises to be the quality music that Howlin Rain has been known for in the past, It's blues-infused Americana, with Miller's scratchy voice perfectly suited to convey weariness and dark but not total despair. Thank the fates that as long as musicians are writing and performing, they are not giving into total despair, no matter how close they may be.

Live Rain was recorded by David Streit, mixed by Tim Green and produced by Ethan P. Miller. In addition to the 2XLP, a cassette version, CD package and digital download is also available."