The David Martinez Band: Press

This is Corpus Christi, Texas' David Martinez. A Math and Technology teacher by trade, a musician by desire. At age 15 he started belting out Hendrix and Zeppelin on his first guitar, soon after he got some friends together and started writing music. Sounds like music from a template, but his work sure isn't. Along with drummer & percussionist Johnny Ramos and new bassist Johnny Mitchell, this trio to be known as the David Martinez Band has something many bands wish they had: a genre-crossover sound you'll never get tired of. Some southern rock, some classic rock, some soul and country, lots of storytelling from a very talented singer with excellent songwriting talents to boot. Lyrics placed precisely into instruments that don't overwhelm, taking advantage of Martinez' many influences. Aided in production along the way by L.A.'s awesome Leroy, the band's debut studio album is due for release on January 20th. The music this trio creates is just a treat to listen to, doesn't matter if it's at your local club or on your iPod, driving the Gulf Coast or sitting around a knotted bar table at Lefty's, with friends or by yourself. Their music will keep you in good company. Without a doubt, a band to keep an ear out for. Highly recommended.

David's publicity consultant:
Don Cudd
(361) 877-6484
don@doncudd.com

Texas Singer/Songwriter Releases Much Anticipated Debut CD

Project produced by Smash Mouth Guitarist Leroy
(www.myspace.com/leroymusic)


David Martinez of Corpus Christi, Texas has developed a loyal, world-wide following since 2006, being featured on numerous websites and podcasts, playing gigs across the American Northwest and Pacific Coast, and finding time to stay connected to his own city's music scene by showing up to plenty of open mic jam sessions, as well as his own solo acoustic shows.

Now David's self-titled debut record will be released January 20th via major Internet music retail sites and in select music stores. David wrote all the songs on the record, with the exception of one, which was revamped and co written with Leroy.

"I'm very proud of this record, and we've spent a long time working on it. A lot of people have been patiently waiting for me to get it out, and that day is finally here. This is very exciting," Martinez said.

This record was produced and recorded in March, June, and July of 2007 in the Hollywood studio of Leroy Miller (known throughout the music world as simply "Leroy") who, in 2008 became the lead guitarist for the nearly legendary band, Smash Mouth. Leroy's other credits include a number of songs featured on television shows such as Scrubs and Arrested Development, as well as movies like 10 Things I Hate About You, Black Sheep, and Driven. Leroy has also worked with the likes of Bob Cavallo, Jack Joseph Puig, John Mayer, Steve Jordan, and Pino Palladino. He has been signed to Geffen records with his former band Hog and Hollywood Records as a solo act.

Leroy became involved with the record after Martinez's tour of the United States West Coast in the summer of 2006. Martinez had long been influenced by Leroy's music and was able to meet up with him at Jerry's Famous Deli in West Hollywood during the tour. After that meeting, the two became regular correspondents and during the Spring Break of 2007, David flew to Los Angeles to record a song from the album, "Can't Find You", with Leroy.

"Having guidance from someone like Leroy is exactly what I needed to take my music to the next level. It was an amazing experience and making this record with a professional attitude and high level of energy is what it takes to reach that pinnacle," Martinez said.

To produce the record, Martinez and Leroy had plenty of contributions from veteran Los Angeles musicians such as Kane McGee(Drums) of The Northstar Session, Adam Macdougall(keys and organ) from The Black Crowes, Steve "Cha Chi" Mitchell on percussion, as well as Leroy on Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar and more. Now, drummer and percussionist Johnny Ramos and bass player Johnny Mitchell -- both of Corpus Christi -- have signed on to join Martinez in the official David Martinez Band. Ramos' father, Johnny Ramos Sr, is also playing lead guitar for the band.

"The Los Angeles sessions were great and I worked with some great musicians. Now with both Johnny Mitchell and Johnny Ramos in the lineup, the game is on and these two guys are both professionals, which is needed in order to achieve our musical goals," Martinez said.

The group is currently booking shows in support of the new record. For an up-to-date schedule, fans should stay connected to www.DavidMartinezMusic.com.

Until now, fans who wanted recordings of David's energetic and soulful music had to be content with a five song demo set he put together on a shoestring in a friend's home studio in Austin, Texas.

"I am very proud of what we did with my demo CD, definitely, but, based on the feedback I've been getting about my music, which includes America and other parts of the world, made it vital to step up and do something of a higher caliber, and that's definitely what the new record has. Leroy is one of the best in the business, and it's amazing that I was able to get someone like him to work on my debut record," Martinez said.

As a thank you to all who supported his earliest work, Martinez has promised to send a free copy of the new record to everyone who bought his demo collection, and he is especially excited that the new album will be available in a vinyl version sometime in 2009.

"I'm really glad to be able to help preserve that part of the world's music heritage," he said.

Because of Martinez's eclectic musical influences -- one MySpace blog says he has been listening recently to everything from Herbie Hancock to the Black Crowes -- describing his music as diverse and different, which is good. Those just discovering him would definitely do well by looking him up on MySpace, which has new cuts from the debut record.

The new record will be available on CDBaby.com, iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic and other similar sites. The album, along with autographs, posters and other merchandise, will also be available on Martinez's own website: www.DavidMartinezMusic.com. Locally, the record will be available at Disc Go Round and Surf Club Records, as well as others to be announced later.

Update: David and the band will have an in store performance on January 31st at 3 p.m at Disc Go Round in Corpus Christ, Texas. For more info visit www.davidmartinezmusic.com or call Disc Go Round at 361-980-0440.

Disc Go Round website (www.welovecds.com)

Don Cudd - Don Cudd of www.hosstheboss.com (Jan 14, 2009)
© 2009 David Martinez Band

“It’s startling enough when a debut album is packed with quality songwriting and musicianship. David Martinez takes you on a journey with such great care, you’ll want to go again.” –Maggie DiPietra, WMNF 88.5 FM Tampa

In 2008, Martinez released his second CD, entitled David Martinez. Produced by Leroy Miller (guitarist - Smash Mouth, Hog), David Martinez is 10 songs of acoustic based folk/rock. Nine songs are all Martinez, and Leroy Miller helped revamp one of the tunes, but it quickly becomes clear why Martinez has generated so much attention.

Wildy Haskell



Visit the link below to read the entire article

"Pop Rock with Classic Rock overtones, ala the middle ground between Los Lonely Boys, Jack Johnson, and the Allman Bros...." -TAXI A&R Taxi.com

CD REVIEW: David Martinez

April 10, 2009 11:53 AM


It's past time for a new CD review ... so let's keep it local and see what the new Dave Martinez CD is all about.
The rating system:
5 stars=seek out at all costs
4 stars=just shy of greatness
3 stars=some good ideas in there
2 stars=not bad . . . work on it
1 star=you need a better record collection
no stars=sell the amps today




David Martinez, David Martinez (David Martinez)

This review is a bit tardy. David Martinez passed a copy along after an in-store gig at the Disc Go Round several months back but freelance projects have lately had to take priority and so the blog has suffered a bit of undue negligence.

But Amped Up! has kept the album's tracks on rotation on his TFC Podcast Show and there's been plenty of buzz on the net about the disc. So what can this blogger add to the collective discussion about the David Martinez disc? How about a shot of perspective and a raucous round of hell yeahs?!

David's a relatively recent addition to the Corpus Christi rock scene. In high school though, Dave could be found with his pal Mike D. at various underground punk and metal shows. A decade later, Martinez emerged as a self-contained singer-songwriter with an evolving songbook of solid folk pop tunes and an insatiable drive to make it happen for himself. David worked all sorts of rooms and events just to be heard. Some nights, it was just David and a handful of observers; other nights were better.

Several years ago, David joined forces with a pair of local singer-songwriters and the trio formulated a plan to caravan across the United States and be heard by anyone who was listening. The tour was hardly a runaway success but it did give Martinez plenty of experience working distant stages in front of complete strangers.

Sometime in '07, Martinez mentioned to Amped Up! that he was planning a recording session in LA. It seemed like a crazy idea but Amped Up! has heard far nuttier ideas and so it seemed that if anyone could pull off a stunt like that, Dave could.

Fast-forward to 2009.

The eponymous disc is here and the digipack design is -- in a word -- gorgeous. Far too many bands skimp on design and packaging but Martinez spared no expense to express his vision both in content and packaging.

With regard to the music, Amped Up! can safely say Martinez made the record most musicians can only hope to make. The album was produced by guitarist/producer Leroy Miller, who joined Smashmouth in 2008, and is all the better for it. There's plenty of snap in the snare and crunchy buzz in the power chords amid tight harmonies that never waver and thoughtful leads that enhance the set.

Heavy on the pop, Martinez occasionally veers into jam-rock territory as laid down by the Black Crowes when he kicks it up on a notch on tunes like "Visions" or drops the tempo such as on "Waiting." Martinez's sun-baked melodies sparkle with a familiarity that's comfortable, not redundant -- case in point "Can't Find You" and "Where Could I Go." But the album closer ("Salvation") wins the most points for offering the sweet southern soul only hinted on in "Visions." Its tasteful classic rock flavor adds a great deal of depth to an album heavy on the hook-based pop that rules the pop rock radio world.

And the great news is that Martinez is now sporting a new band featuring local musicians -- drummer Johnny J. Ramos Jr., lead guitarist Joseph Flores and bassist Rusty Sanders. The band opened for Bob Schneider in March and has some Corpus Christi dates for June on its Myspace.

All in all, it's a fine full-length debut from a promising Corpus Christi singer-songwriter whose star will most certainly continue its ascension should he continue to make records with the same spirit and attention to detail that he put into making his eponymous disc. Beers to you, Dave!

Amped Up! sez: ****

NOTE: This CD is available at Disc Go Round in Corpus Christi or through iTunes or CD Baby.

David Martinez was chosen as Artist of the Month in May of 2008 by Peter Harper. Peter Harper is an artist and has a great page displaying his art. He is also an music fan and featured bands and songwriters on his website. He is also the younger brother of musician Ben Harper. Check it Out.

David Martinez and The David Martinez Band has taken the Classic Texas Rock sound that dominates the music scene of their hometown of Corpus Christi and has given it a soul.

David, along with Johnny Ramos, Joseph Flores and Johnny Mitchell have come together with a style that not only attracted a sponsorship from AXE, but has taken them to the stage of KLRU Studios of Austin, Texas for the Land Shark Lager's Battle of the Bands 2009, which they hold the honor of being the only small market band to play the finals.

David's debut album, simply called David Martinez, was produced by the legendary Leroy (Miller)of Smashmouth and Hollywood Records, whom David cannot say enough about. "Leroy is a wonderful guy and I learned so much from him. One thing he taught me is how to trim the fat off of my songs, he would tell me, 'get to the point David, and sometimes it is best not to give them every detail.'" David tells of going out to California to record under Leroy's supervision " I went there to record a few songs and make a Demo. After we cut a couple of songs, I asked Leroy if they would make a good demo and he said 'I don’t do demos, I do records.' That gave me a whole new outlook on my music."

David returned to Texas, not only armed with his debut CD, but with a new determination to follow Leroy’s advice to "go above" where he was musically.

David has a band now that is solid talent, and all have the same drive to push the envelope with every performance.

"As a drummer, Johnny Ramos is awesome. People are always awed by his performances. He and I are writing a few new songs together too. Joseph Flores is a pure pro. The guy started playing out at concerts when he was about 14. And Johnny Mitchell on Bass, well, you can't beat him. It is like he knows what I have in mind. I don't have to do anything but show him what I am working on and he adds in the bass perfectly."

The David Martinez Band is gearing up for 2010, with shows throughout Texas, looking to tour some of the USA, and working towards the next CD. " Of course we want to work again with Leroy" says David.
David Martinez Band shows are 90% original material, with a few covers sprinkled in, so to hear them live is sure to be an evening one will enjoy. "Most bands play a lot of covers and sneak in an original song, we do it the other way around so that our music gets heard and people can discover what we are all about" says David.

And Just what is David Martinez Band about? They are about music that has a soul. Songs that tell you about having ‘Visions’ ,about ‘What you need’ , and about ’ The Other side’ . Music that you find yourself humming for days, songs that take you along for the ride. And it is all performed by an group of guys that , while are all great musicians in their own right, are pure magic together.
So what are you ‘Waiting’ for?

Very nice melody line and lyrics, as well as production. Voice is workable, nothing to be scared of. I don't really have anything bad to say, you have a winner here David! Congratz!

Frankie Biggz Record Producer Rama Music (Record Label) Tempo USA (Production/Publishing)

ramamusic.com northavenuestudios.com myspace.com/frankiebiggz

On a scale of 1 to 5 stars
Composition 4 stars
Production 5 stars
Arrangement 4 stars
Performance 3 stars
Hit Potential 5 stars

That's 21 out of 25 or 84%

Hi David, I really enjoyed 'Visions'. You've got a great voice, and this song does a great job of hitting a tight rock n' roll groove. The melody is very memorable and the instrumentation is very fitting to drive the upbeat nature of the song