<--press kit   <--- reviews

June 27, 2003

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Hear Now:  gb Leighton
by Rob Hubbard

Personnel:
Brian Leighton, vocals, guitars and harmonica; Luke Kramer, guitars and lap steel; Jason Perri, saxophone and violin; Gary D, piano and organ; Jr. Flom, bass; Randall Baugher, drums

Background: You could say gb Leighton is king of the Twin Cities bar bands. Having played roughly four nights a week for more than a decade now, the band taps into the same mix of joy and despair that Bruce Springsteen has put into his working-class anthems.

"Everyone has their influences and Bruce is my guy," the band's 32-year-old leader and namesake, Brian Leighton, said from his New Brighton home last week.  "I'm not trying to copy him, but he's always been an inspiration to me as a writer and performer."

Leighton formed the band 14 years ago, and it has developed into a staple of the local scene with it's layered, Jersey-flavored rock 'n' roll.  A week has rarely gone by in recent years when the band hasn't played Bunkers, O'Gara's or the soon-to-reopen Fine Line.

"We usually play four shows a week," said Leighton, "but this summer, with all of the festivals going on, we're adding Sundays, as well.  So, we're staying very busy."

Most members of the band have been playing together for six to eight years, with guitarist Luke Kramer the elder statesman of Leighton's collaborators, logging 10 years onboard.

Concept:
The band is touting the release of its new album "This Life,” which hits stores Tuesday and will receive its official coming out Wednesday at Bunkers.  In the past, the band has recorded on Leighton's private label and sold the CDs at their live shows.  Now, they've linked up with Minnetonka-based Liquid 8 Records.

"It all started with (former Prince drummer) Bobby Z introducing me to 'If You Go," a song he co-wrote with Colin Hay (former Men at Work front man)," Leighton said.  "Bobby wanted us to record it, and then he offered to produce an album for us and shop it around a little, too. Then he came back and said, 'There's a small new company in town, Liquid 8, that wants to put some money behind some good local acts, and they're willing to put some money out there for marketing.'  And that's something that gb Leighton has never had before."

Eight of the CD's 11 songs are Leighton originals, with the Hay/Z song, one by local songwriter Phil Solem and Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love" the lone covers.

"In the studio is where you lay it down for life," Leighton said. "Onstage, you can change things around, but, when you're in the studio, it's set in stone.  And it's fun to do that."

gb Leighton Recordings:
"One Time... One Life" (Moonsong, 1994); "Come Alive" (Oarfin, 1996); "Live From Pickle Park" (Moonsong, 1998); "Acapulco Night" (Moonsong, 2000); "It's All Good" (Moonsong, 2000); "This Life" (Liquid 8, 2003).

Review:
Leighton's band has grown more polished over the years, and this album does justice to the chemistry they've developed, with Bobby Z doing an admirable job of playing to the- band's strengths.  And Leighton has matured greatly as a songwriter, clearly taking his craft more seriously than in years past.

The album's strongest songs occur early, with "If You Go," "All I Want Is You." and "Perfect Timing" standing out as ideal examples of gb Leighton's hook-heavy style. The album also boasts the most accomplished and emotional singing Leighton has yet to record, particularly on the title track and the cabaret-flavored power ballad "Shout It Out."