Just in time for Valentine's Day, New Orleans' own soulful blues quartet Mississippi Rail Company releases their new music video for the single "Milky Way" via ArtistDirect today. Singer/songwriter/pianist for the band, Travers Geoffray, explains the concept behind this beautifully constructed video, produced and created by one of New Orleans' best photographers/ videographers, Rob Davis. Geoffray explains, "'Milky Way' is a reverie or fantasy of traveling with your partner around the world and across the universe. Or more simply, love takes you everywhere, it can even take you beyond the limits of your imagination. In the video, we simply wanted to capture real couples, in their element, as they are." Watch the new video, here: http://bit.ly/ADMissRailCo.
Mississippi Rail Company is one of New Orleans' most prominent rising local acts. The band's unique blend of soulful blues breathes fresh, youthful energy into classic New Orleans roots music - moving music forward via a vehicle of the past. Mississippi Rail Company just sold out their headlining Launch Party on January 30th and followed it up landing an opening slot for the Soul Rebels Rebels Brass Band at the legendary Tipitina's just one week later on February 7th. The sold out Launch Show revealed the band's 2014 Singles Project, for which the band is releasing one new track every month of 2014.
Mississippi Rail Company's acclaimed live performance style has landed them impressive festival slots at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Voodoo Fest, Hogs for the Cause, and Crawfest at Tulane University, plus supporting gigs across the southern U.S. with Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Papa Mali, The Revivalists, Flow Tribe, and Lost Bayou Ramblers.
Led by singer/pianist/songwriter Travers Geoffray, Mississippi Rail Company attributes their band name to the Delta Blues region that inspires them. "Mississippi is essentially the birthplace of American music, and that's what we like to play: American music," Geoffray says. "The 'rail company' aspect is based off our journey, traveling throughout the South and picking up all the different sounds and influences along the way."
The complex songwriting style Geoffray exercises is rooted in years of studying New Orleans piano under the great Tom McDermott, featured prominently playing himself in HBO's Treme Season 1. Under McDermott, Geoffray studied the styles of New Orleans' renowned pianists - soaking up everything the music of Fats Domino, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Scott Joplin and James Booker could teach.
Along with Geoffray, Mississippi Rail Company features an always suit-wearing lineup consisting of Sam Shahin (drums), Calvin Mourin-Martin (upright bass) and Robin Clabby (tenor saxaphone). The upcoming Gasa Gasa show will also feature a 3-piece horn section, new material, and more.
The band's 2014 Singles Project is a follow up to their debut full-length release, Coal Black Train. Geoffray sees the goal of the singles project as a means to create songs without the confines that albums present. "We want listeners to hear each track individually rather than hear the songs in relation to each other off a collective work" explains Geoffray. With 12 months of new tunes, the band will have the opportunity to explore new ground and feature various instrumentation and genres; blues, swing, gospel, big band and more.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Feb 13 - Oxford, MS @ Proud Larry's
Feb 14 - Starkville, MS @ Dave's Dark Horse
Feb 15 - Ocean Springs, MS @ Government Street Grocery
Feb 21 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea's Cafe
Mar 2 - New Orleans, LA @ Prytania Bar w/ Rebirth Brass Band
Mar 4 - Gulfport, MS @ Irish Coast Pub
Mar 13 - Key West, FL @ The Green Parrot
Mar 14 - Orlando, FL @ Universal Studios Mardi Gras
Mar 15 - Orlando, FL @ Universal Studios Mardi Gras
Mar 28 - Lafayette, LA @ Artmosphere
