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| Paolo Nutini Returns Atlantic recording artist Paolo Nutini recently sold out the first leg of his North American headline tour and kicked off the second batch of dates on August 31st, at the Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale. The tour will continue through a September 19th performance at the Showbox in Seattle (see itinerary below). The dates celebrate the recent release of the Scottish-born troubadour's acclaimed second album, "Sunny Side Up." Joining Paolo on all dates is Chop Shop/Atlantic recording artist Anya Marina. "SUNNY SIDE UP" - which includes the single, "Candy" - is proving an international success, having debuted at #1 in the UK, where the album also earned instant gold certification and has since been certified platinum. What's more, the album premiered at #2 on the Irish chart, and in the top 20 in the Netherlands and Italy (where it was the week's highest new international entry). Nutini and his crack band have just been booked to perform "Candy" live on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, " set for Thursday, September 10th (check local listings). A companion video for "Candy" - filmed in Cuba under the direction of Nez (Lily Allen, Kano) - is currently in "Medium" rotation at VH1, where it has been a fixture on the network's Top 20 Countdown. "SUNNY SIDE UP" has earned ecstatic praise from critics both here and abroad: "(Nutini) has made a leap of Olympic proportions, " raved Jim Farber in the New York Daily News. "In both breadth of genres, and maturity of perspective, it sounds more like a fourth effort than a second... If Nutini can communicate all that ache and beauty at 22, imagine all that can come from him next." "Nutini's gravelly voice recalls... that of such singers as Otis Redding, " noted Billboard, "and the soulful sounds of the American South pulse through his music." People saluted Nutini for "stretching out stylistically" while "(continuing) to show a flair for music from way before his time." The British press has already waxed rhapsodic about "SUNNY SIDE UP, " with the Independent awarding the album four-out-of-five stars, hailing it as "joyous, engaging... a revelation." "(Nutini's) joyous second album organically blends soul, country, folk and the brash, horny energy of ragtime swing, " declared the Telegraph in its five-out-of-five starred review. "The result is an eccentric blast, like some obscure lost classic from the Seventies." "(Nutini) displays a confidence in his sound and a unique sense of self that sets him apart, " raved OK!, while the Observer commended Paolo's "undeniable talent, " calling "SUNNY SIDE UP" "a spirited rattling of his teenybopper chain." Produced by Paolo Nutini and Ethan Johns (Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne), "SUNNY SIDE UP" sees Nutini continuing to mine his arresting brand of soulful modern pop. Songs such as "10/10" and "Coming Up Easy" display the gifted tunesmith's ever-growing knack for irrepressible melodies melded with insightful and intimate lyricism, all held together by Paolo's gritty and unpredictable vocal stylings. Paolo Nutini's 2007 debut album, "THESE STREETS, " proved an international phenomenon, earning the Paisley, Scotland-born troubadour a cornucopia of critical praise and worldwide sales in excess of two million. A uniquely talented live performer, Nutini toured nearly non-stop following the release of "THESE STREETS, " headlining countless shows and appearing at some of the world's biggest festivals, including Live Earth, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Isle of Wight Festival 2007 - where Paolo dueted with Mick Jagger on "Love In Vain" during The Rolling Stones' festival-closing set. What's more, Nutini served as support act on one of the biggest concerts in recent memory - Led Zeppelin's now-legendary 2007 reunion show at London's O2 Arena, benefiting the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund. He has since shared stages with a range of other musical icons, including a 2008 soul spectacular at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl which saw Paolo more than holding his own alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Etta James and Solomon Burke. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |