Jared Costa: News

Skope Magazine selected me as their Artist to Watch through Sonicbids! I am very proud and love to be part of a magazine that I enjoy both as an artist and as music fan!
Here's the Q&A:
Skope: What were you doing when you found out you were selected for Skope A2W April 2010?
Jared Costa: I was sitting in bed leafing through some lyric notebooks when I decided to take a short break. The choice to slack off clearly paid off when I recieved Skope’s confirmation that I was going to be featured in the mag. I’m really psyched to be part of something that I read and enjoy as music fan myself!

Skope: Now that the weather is nice will you be out playing live this summer & spring & where?
Jared Costa: Absolutely, I will be doing some festivals and gigs. It’s so much better to gig out while the weather is nice. Hauling gear, staying in tune, and generally just not having to brave any elements make for extra incentive to get out and about. I’m in Lancaster, PA for Launch Music Conference on April 15th headlining at Annie Bailey’s for the kick-off night. It’s my 2nd year there and I had a blast last year. I’m also in the process of booking the rest of Spring and Summer right now after just coming back from a nearly 20 city tour that started at the end of February and ended on the last weekend of March.

Skope: What motivates you everyday to get up and create and work on your music?
Jared Costa: Motivation might not even be the right word. I think it’s more of a compulsion. I feel like something is missing if I don’t have the time or opportunity to work on music. I feel like I am constantly inspired to create and write. I even catch myself during sound check sometimes starting to mess with arrangements that I’ve been kicking around! So I am driven to write and create all the time.

Skope: What bands & musicians before you heavily influenced your sound?
Jared Costa: I am influenced by so much music. The stuff that is probably the heaviest though, would be songwriters like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Adam Duritz, Steve Forbert, John Popper, Johnny Cash, Jim Morrison, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Jim Croce. I am obsessed with other songwriters! I can listen and analyze and characterize countless times over. As far as bands go, I listen to alot again, but these are some that really struck a chord with me: The Band, Smashing Pumpkins, The Doors, The Counting Crows, Blues Traveler and many, many more.

Skope: What is coming up for you and where can readers learn more about you?
Jared Costa: Well, as I said before, I am just coming off of an incredible tour that was a blast! So right now I am booking up for the coming months and taking on requests from venues, festival promoters, and fans. I am also really excited to be working on writing new material for my second album to follow-up “Onwards & Upwards” which I released last year. I am hoping to be in the studio by mid-summer and have a winter release. In the meantime, readers can learn more about me at JaredCosta.com. I also have a site at Myspace, Facebook, Reverbnation, and even a few other music providing networks. So, if you’re on a site, search my name and I’m probably on it. Also my album, “Onwards & Upwards” is available at CD Baby, Itunes, Amazon, and almost every other major music sites. Lastly, I love being in contact with fans! So please, sign up for a mailing list and don’t be shy about contacting me as well if you have some feedback or something to say. Keep your ear out for more news, music, and shows!

We woke up in Portland and spent the day hanging out and relaxing before a show at Slainte, an Irish bar in the downtown area of Maine. It was incredible and the crowd was great. The manager was a guy that grew up in the Philadelphia area. So we talked about some Philly venues and joked around a bit. It was such a great time and it gave Andrea and I plenty to talk about and laugh about on the drive back on Sunday. It’s been a great tour so far and I’m going to be sad when it wraps up. But for now, all I can do is think about Cape May and how much fun it will be to reunite one more time to as a great culmination to the festivities!

I drove up the Jersey Turnpike to meet Andrea Nardello. We headed up to New Hampshire and arrived in the awesome town of Keene, New Hampshire. It was an unbelievable place with great bars and restaurants. We played at The Fritz. It was so much fun and the crowd was a rowdy crew of folks that really seemed to enjoy Andrea, Jared, and I. We sold a few albums and hung around for some great food and a few beers. After that, we went down to Keene State University radio station WKNH on 91.3FM. We met a DJ named Eric. He was such a cool guy and was very gracious on and off the air. We had a great time and made plans to play at Keene State University in the spring!

• Friday, March 5th, we were off to Shepherdstown, West Virginia. I was a little ambivalent about this one because while I wanted to get on stage for another evening, I was sad to play the last night for a few days. The idea of not being on stage for almost a week made me think that I am going to have find something to do with my time! We arrived at the Blue Moon and enjoyed a few beers while setting up and talking to the crowd. We both played for an hour and a half and it was so much fun! They have great ownership and staff at this place and they sure treat the musicians well. I’m sure we’ll be back there again on our next tour.

• Thursday, March 4th, Jared McCloud and I went into Yardley, PA for a show at the Continental Tavern. The place was packed and there is nothing like a hometown crowd! We played for a few hours and we had such a blast! The owners at the Continental are some great people and Jared M. and I agreed that we would be back for another show soon!

• Wednesday, March 3rd, I met Jared McCloud and Andrea Nardello at the Twisted Tree in Asbury Park. I always enjoy Asbury Park. The people in this town are true music people. The crowd was into the the music and I felt all three of us really played well. We had a chance to hang out, talk music, and really listen to each other. It was great to get back on stage after the day off. It made me realize something: what am I going to do when this tour is over? It’s strange that what I thought at first was going to be so tough, is, in actuality, a reaffirmation of my desire to play for the rest of my life!

• Monday, March 1st, we woke up in Chesapeake, VA for a radio show on 670 AM hosted by J.P. Godsey. He is great guy that is known as “the happiest man in America” and aside from hosting the show, he has written 2 books and even appeared on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. We talked about the tour, played some songs live, and even had some of the songs played from the album. It was a great time and we had a blast just joking with J.P. and his producer, Chris. And best of all, I was able to get back home for a night of sleep in my own bed!

• Sunday, February 28th, we once again headed off, and this time, to Richmond, VA. We were pretty psyched for this one for a couple reasons. The first was that our friend, fellow musician Andrea Nardello was joining us for this one. She is an awesome songwriter and performer! And we always have a great time when we hang out. Leo Blais, another musician on the bill was from Boston and he was a very good performer as well. The second reason was the venue. The Camel is a very cool bar with a great listening room and incredible stage! We had a great night and everyone sounded great. One amazing set after another made the night go by too quickly. At about midnight, we were bound for more driving, but we were recharged after a great night of hanging out.

• Saturday, February 27th, we reluctantly left Tennessee for Nicholasville, a small town just outside Lexington, KY. We drove for about 4 hours to the Main & Maple. We were slotted to play for 45 minutes a piece. After a warm reception, we were packing up to leave when the owner asked us to keep performing for the rest of the night. We played for another couple of hours and shut down the place! We were graciously asked to come back anytime and we were so grateful for the evening.

• Friday, February 26th, I woke up excited about so much going on around me: warm weather, playing that night in Memphis and driving to Sun Studios that day! Jared McCloud and I left for Sun Studio in the early afternoon. We were so excited to see the awesome, historical building that was the beginning of the musical careers of some of my favorite artists such as Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Howlin’ Wolf. It was everything I had hoped it would be. It is a Mecca that every music lover and musician should make at least once in their lives. There is so much to tell that I could on forever about this one trip. I am still trying to compute the gravity of this incredible time! That night, we saw a lot of Memphis including Beale Street. This is an area that gets blocked off for hours in order for folks to go from venue to venue with open alcohol containers, checking out all of the many bands, and just taking in all of the fun that takes place. And there is a ton of fun all over the place. We played the Edge and had a great host by the name of Frank. The crowd was very receptive and we played for about an hour and a half each! The people of this town truly love music and we were so grateful for all of them!

• Thursday, February 25th, we were on to Olive Branch, Mississippi in the morning snow of New York State and Pennsylvania. We hoped the roads wouldn’t be too difficult and we were lucky in that respect. I wasn’t all that worried though; as we had gotten a lot of snow in Philadelphia and I had a feel for less than ideal winter road conditions. 13 hours of driving and then to sleep in the hotel. Jared and I are hoping that, if all goes well, we’ll be able to check out Sun Studio the next day, which happened to be Johnny Cash’s birthday! It’s all I could think of each time I start to feel the fatigue of these hours of driving.

• Wednesday, February 24th, we woke up in Buffalo and spent the day with our host, Tim Emerrick. It was nice to relax, talk music, and not have to do any driving after such a busy few days. And knowing that tomorrow was going to bring a 13 hour car drive, made the relaxation even more appreciated!
The night was going to be held at Clarence Center Coffee Co. and be a “songwriters in the round” format where musicians would split the evening bill with groups of three separate performers taking the stage at once. They then take turns speaking about the song and the story of thought process behind it before performing that song. This happens around a few times and then the next group takes the stage. I have heard a lot about these shows, but this was my first. I was really looking forward to it!
Tim, Jared, and I were sharing the evening with three members of a group called Just Plain Folks: Rick, John, and Rich. I was in the second group and I enjoyed listening to everyone and was really impressed with the instrument playing, genres that were spanned, and the songwriting styles of each and every musician. The night went great and we found ourselves once again packing up equipment and loading the cars.

• Tuesday, February 23rd, we found ourselves in Erie, PA for the next show at Presque Isle Gallery. Driving down the small highway to the venue, an amusement park is located on either side of the road. An antique wooden roller coaster was to the right with a crotchety wooden frame. To the left, a dilapidated Ferris wheel laid motionless in disrepair. As I approached nearer, an old steel footbridge, painted a cross between teal and blue, crossed overhead. It was a great place with an amazing owner named Lori that treated Jared and I with such hospitality. The venue was a coffee shop and restaurant that was filled with the wares if local artists. It had a great ambiance to it and we were treated very well by a few members of the audience who stayed around to talk afterwards and we even snapped a few photos with them! Then we packed it up and left for Buffalo.

• Monday February 22nd, I left for Cleveland, Ohio in the afternoon and reached The Barking Spider on the campus of Case Western Reserve University by 8PM or so to meet up with Jared McCloud. The other Jared and I caught up a bit, after he finished on stage, to talk about the tour and the coming days. The venue was very laid back with an old baby grand piano tucked in one corner. The room was a curious one with low ceilings and very old aged wood trim throughout. A wood burning stove glowed in another corner. I asked our Cleveland host, Van, about the room. He explained that it was an old carriage house from long ago. It was quaint and tucked right in the midst of the campus.
I was able to play a few tracks from the album to the bar crowd and the set went well. I always enjoy hearing people’s feedback after playing and this night I got some real positive comments. From there, we went downtown. The streets were a stark contrast to where we had come from as they were largely bare. But we found ourselves in bar that had some friendly folks and we enjoyed a few pints that turned into a few more as the hours passed. All in all, Cleveland was an absolute blast and a great kickoff to the tour outside of PA!

• Sunday, February 21st, I arrived back in the Philly area to play a benefit for Haiti at the Trocadero Theatre and again, had a great time meeting some nice folks and playing a very nice set. The audience was very attentive and I had a great time for such an excellent cause! Rose, the coordinator was so nice and really put together a great mix of eclectic music.

• Saturday February 20th, I drove out to Harrisburg, PA to play Millennium Music Conference. My venue for the conference was the Midtown Scholar. It was an amazing, two-story bookstore in the downtown area. The stage was set up with an incredible sound system and bookshelves as high as the building climbed up behind me to serve as a beautiful backdrop. The crowd was very receptive and I received some great words of encouragement from the audience, including a particularly kind young girl named Katie that is just starting to play guitar and picked up a copy of my album. I am definitely in for Millennium next year!

This where the tour will be so far!

~Onwards & Upwards Tour Log~

{2/20/10 to 3/27/10}

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania // Philadelphia, Pennsylvania//
Cleveland, Ohio // Erie, Pennsylvania // Buffalo, New York // Memphis, Tennessee // Chesapeake, Virginia //
Nicholasville, Kentucky // Richmond, Virginia //
Asbury Park, New Jersey // Shepherdstown, West Virginia //
Portland, Maine // Boston, Massachusetts //
Cape May, New Jersey // Yardley, Pennsylvania //
Keane, New Hampshire // Portland, Maine //
Boston, Massachusetts

I am in the stages of putting together a tour with fellow musician, Jared McCloud. We are setting out in support of our albums and to gain some fans in other places!

I've been meaning to post these lyrics for some time. So after quite a few requests and a little research into my song book, here they are. Enjoy!

ONWARDS & UPWARDS
1)State of Affairs:
Music: my religion; religion: my fate. I need a movement, a movement to create. I've been soul searching without absolution. I keep on searching; there's no revolution. So give me a glimpse if not the answer. Or give the reason we're in such disaster.
(chorus:) We've been searching such a long time and its bound to set us free!
Some say "dog eat" but I say pergatory. I need a moral, or a moral to this story. 'Cause I want a big dream and I need fruition. Just give me a road less travelled or a road to perdition.
*chorus
So take one chance to dance in the moonlight, in this twilight, in this high life!

2)Love
You can't look down on another man unless you intend on helping him up. And the Lord above says a window's always open whenever the door is shut. Well, I don't mind spending my time talking with the angels, drinking their wine. It all comes down to be: we gotta have sympathy.
(chorus:) So get up and everybody say. Get up there's another way with love! So give me love.
We all gotta fight back against the loaded guns: be it fear, be it hate, be it any of our addictions. 'Cause when it rains, it pours and there's gonna be more. We gotta lean on the love to get through for sure. We're all sinners and saints that gotta get through with faith.
*chorus

3) To Mine
Prophesize, philosophize: just keep your eye on the prize, my joy my boy. And you're gonna be fine.
Some may say your path's been made before you're even named, my one my son. You've gotta pave your own way before they stick you in the grave.
With dark set nights, its no suprise wjy most never try, my love my blood. The years can turn you gun-shy.
While you're young find what you want, and let me be blunt, and true with you; before my end comes. And it comes for everyone.
(chorus:) So let your voice be heard from mountaintops around the world; just let your voice be heard!
Most equate a life's been made through acquiring estate, you know to grow, youvan't make this mistake.
So pick your path and do the math because it's hard to extract, the truth in youth. Noone's handing out maps, but don't follow the pack.
No follow streets to your own beats and go create your own heat. My song lifelong, has made me complete.
But it's occured, dreams massacred when visions are blurred, the light of my life. I hope everything's been heard, but I'll repeat to you these words.
*chorus

4)Stronger
I see a man standing on the street corner. I can see he's drank his fill. Toppled over, stumbling drunk, but he tips the bottle still. He damns the drop that made him lose his wife before he ever made a stand. He curses the days that still remain 'cause things have gotten out of hand.
(chorus:) And I say hey man don't you understand: all your drinking's wrong? He says the desire's gone but the need is strong.
I see a man lying bloody in the street: clothes torn off his back. He lies there in silent pain, begging to be cut some slack. Now the man comes to collect on the bet he was so sure was a sure thing. But he pissed away every cent he had saved and now he wants double or nothing.
(chorus:) So I say hey man don't you understand all your gamblings wrong? He says the desire's gone, but the need is strong. And I say hey man don't you understand, self-destruction's wrong? He says the desire's gone, but the need is strong?

5)No Revolution
In the days we lived ways that changed only those who can't dance or find romance against the stance of their foes. We only seem to fall or flee but find no harmony in that this is the only thing we have to show for evolution. But we don't see, don't speak, don't hear a revolution.
Satan comes to defend his only friend who tends to be void of sense. But if the glove don't fit you must acquit and then sit at his defense. And nothing seems to prevail that's right. There's just no reason to fight for anything at all if there's never going to be any resolution. But we don't see, don't speak, don't hear a revolution.
Rumors fly 'cause the FBI wants to try to look on top. Exchanging blows to and fro and noone knows if it will stop. Pin-point the first guy we want something from. Say he's a killer: so cold and numb. But it's them who says bloodshed is a solution. But we don't see, don't speak, don't hear a revolution.
We burned our minds way past the lines only to find there's nothing there. The evil here in fancy dress swears he hears the duress of those with nothing left sleeping in the winter air. They'll claim they got nothing left to give, but won't live simply so that others may simply live. It's been said that the bleeding heart starts with a contusion. But we don't see, don't speak, don't hear a revolution.
And the radio waves transmit fakes who don't make this world a place to live in peace and harmony. We only get to see a pretty face. And the green backs seem to be the line at the bottom and there ain't nothing to find. And they're looking in back alleys for a contribution. But they don't see, don't speak, don't hear no... And we don't see, don't speak, don't hear no...
And nobody sees, nobody speaks, nobody hears...
No revolution

6)Take It All
There's nobody knocking on my door, not even a phone call for an easy cure. I'm fighting through the motions and what for? Once bit twice shy and I can't take anymore!
(chorus:) So take it all away from me. Just take it all away.
Staring in the corner of any empty room. Smoke bellows from my lungs, all consumed with these songs of torture that barely carry tune. I don't want a tunnel light or love. Just pull the trigger soon!
*chorus
And please no more crying choulders. I have numbness now and the room's getting colder. It's too late for me, wish I wasn't getting older. Well this ain't a plea for help. It's a call to be bolder so I can: Take it all away!

7)Onwards & Upwards
Living in fear and cast into sin, I don't know where I fell or how I far I fell in.
Elders speak of better times. Things were simple live free or die. I'm gonna hold my breath and try.
Spinning into the cyclone of things I couldn't keep, but I once owned. Always searching for a bit of more time. As it slipped through my fingers, I knew it was mine. And I need to rewind!
So say goodbye to sweet dreams 'cause they were things you were never gonna need. Let me reslove into a solid state where my bomb-shell baby, maybe you'll appreciate: my life's sealed in this fate.
I've been living in fear and cast into sin. I don't know when I fell. Man, how long has it been since I said goodbye to all my sweet dreams 'cause you you said they were things I was never gonna need: Like a little peice of me!

8)Departure
I wrote this for the ones we've lost along the way.
I sing it for the part of us we're losing everyday.
I know this from the words the good ones say.
I hold everything in my heart and hope they smile as they lay.
And if we meet again somewhere around the bend; well if we meet again, we'll know there is no end.

9)No Man's Land
It's been a hard day. Please believe me! I got nothing from nothing and nothing is all I see.
It's been a hard day. Won't you believe me? I need an end to this. It's gettinf too dark to see.
(chorus:) So won't you come along to this no man's land? Won't you walk this path with me? Yeah, and com along to this no man's land. Help to set me free!
It's been a hard day. C'mon believe me. I want to make it through and I need someone to agree.
It's been a hard day. Oh, please believe in me! My strength is dropping. I need to make this plea.
*chorus

10)Rainmaker's Waltz
Do you chase the rainmaker,
the tambourine shaker wherever he goes on the path that he chose?
Do you wish on the light flicker step with the drum kicker and dream in his dreams for whatever life means?
I do...
And down on main street there's a break from this mean heat.
And just as it ends it comes back again, but now there is repreive for the puddles, they relieve 'cause the sun's back to bake all the hours we wake.
And how we came to this place and aged into this face is contention to most but no point to boast. We said goodbye to our brothers and then kissed our mothers. We promised we'd pray and return someday.
I do...
Oh, we set out in chorus to see what life was for us and when we payed due, the many was few. The path twisted and frayed confusion was made. By the time we were done, the few turned to one.
Do you chase the rainmaker, the tambourine shaker wherever he goes on the path that he chose? Do you wish on the light flicker, step with the drum kicker and dream in his dreams for whatever life means?
I do...

11) Sad Song
They tore down the willow where I kissed you last Spring. For a moment of time, it was my everything. Now it makes me want to sing a sad, sad song.
The rain fell so hard; your shirt soaking wet; your fingers through my hair: I'll never forget. Gently to the ground, I held you under leaves. Blissful through the rain drops mor than I can believe. And it makes me want sing a sad, sad song.
And the memory is the only thing that helps me get along.
But it make me want to sing a sad, sad song.

12) Once Upon A Time
Once upon a time, I saw your face. So take my hand. I'll take you to that place.
Once upon a time, I heard your name. So hold me now. I may fall from your grace.
For once in my life, I'll feel safe.
Once upon a time, everything was in place. We, as vigins, danced and our spirits were in flames.
Cut across the sky, I knew the winds of change came. And for onc in my life, I felt safe. But the melodies never dissipate. No, I have to fight for the memories that will someday, erase.
Once upon a time, I saw you face. So hold me now. I may fall from your grace. And just once I'll feel safe.
Oh, I can feel it now. I feel safe!
And yes, just once, I feel safe.

Well, I'm happy to post the album's first review! Just click on the press section and scroll down. It is courtesy of the very generous Peter J. Brown, an overseas music critic from the UK. "Toxic Pete" gives an excellent critique of the album and I could not be more proud to post this! So have a look and let me know if you agree with Pete!
Also, I have received some requests to post lyrics on the site; I am more than happy to oblige. I'll post lyrics soon. I'm looking forward to the holidays and I'll be posting the lyrics as soon as I can!
Peace,
--Jared