September Gurl - Clients

KAISERCARTEL http://www.kaisercartel.com/ Co-manager: John Porter (Mood Indigo) Publicity: Cara Wodnicki at Press Here, cara at pressherepublicity.com Booking: Craig Grossman at Green Room Music Source, greenroomcraig at gmail.com Label: www.bluhammock.com [BIOGRAPHY] [PHOTOS] [PRESS] [TOUR DATES] [AUDIO]

BIOGRAPHY PRESS RELEASE (Brooklyn. NY): Boy-girl duo Kaiser Cartel will be following up their successful debut album March Forth with a darker, more experimental collection entitled Secret Transit (June 8th). Produced by Matt Hales (aqualung) and recorded in an old folkloric church around London, the styles and sounds explored on this album run the musical gamut – from the road trip-perfect first single "Ready To Go" to the Kate Bush-evoking ethereal opening track "Riverboat Dream" to the melancholy folk-tinged "Minefield," there is something for everyone. Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel began writing songs together in 2004, creating a musical partnership crafting luscious harmonies and infectious melodies. Prior to forming Kaiser Cartel, Courtney toured as a back up singer for John Mellencamp and both of their desires for creative variability currently finds Benjamin additionally fronting his self-titled side project band and Courtney occasionally moonlighting for Sean Lennon's band as well as lending her vocals to choral arrangements on the upcoming Sufjan Stevens' album. The past year has seen songs of theirs grace the small screen appearing on NBC's "Private Practice" as well as the first two episodes of the HBO dark comedy "Bored to Death." They also wrote four original songs for the non-profit organization Art of Conservation. Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel have logged thousands of miles, lost continents, parted ways with rock stars, formed and broken up bands -- all for you to hear March Forth, the debut from the duo. They live in Brooklyn, the part of Brooklyn where melody reigns, whistling is compulsory and anything (like a milk frother) could be considered an instrument. Rather than conjure the twee miasma that those ingredients could create, KaiserCartel have constructed a gorgeous album of songs about living and loving, something they know about, as their musical and romantic lives are so entangled, it's difficult to say where one starts and the other begins. But March Forth and the romance that nourished it might not have occurred. Placed on the same bill one evening at the Knitting Factory, each missed the other's show, but chatted briefly. Months later, they would meet again at yet another show, then struck up a correspondence in earnest. "Then, finally, on March 4th, we hung out for the first time. We played music that we recorded but never put out, and traded ideas," explains Kaiser. The pair decided to hit the road with little more than a car and their instruments, and traveled the country spreading the gospel of Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel, each playing on the other's songs. When they returned, they began writing songs together. "We go back and forth between writing on our own and writing together. But I feel like we're so influenced at this point, even if [Ben] wasn't there, you'd be able to feel the song is - something about the song is very 'us' together," explains Kaiser. That something is the confluence of the two, apparent on March Forth. Honed in the home they share, Kaiser's dulcet tones ring out like clarion calls against Cartel's solid timbre. And while it's only the two of them throughout their recordings and on stage, they give the impression several more people are involved in each song. "What is 'us' is being able to make something very simple sound very big," Cartel explains. "When you close your eyes, you assume it's a whole band of people. You look up, and it's just the two of us." Recorded in Los Angeles over eight days with producer Matt Hales (aka aqualung) and mixed by Hales and Ken Thomas (Sigur Ros), March Forth is the marriage of the band's inventive instrumentation to the subjects closest to their hearts. "Season Song," is a playful, jangling ode to the four seasons, somewhere between a lullaby and a schoolyard chant, complete with handclaps, xylophones and whistling. The warm warning of album opener "Oh No" builds until it crests into perfect harmony, and elsewhere "Okay" starts starkly, then barrels forth as Kaiser gives permission and the band's arsenal of instruments (organ, tambourine, drums, guitars) burst in. Who Benjamin Cartel and Courtney Kaiser were as past selves is very much alive in the music make. Kaiser's extensive vocal training in the choirs of Indiana (and as a back-up singer for John Mellencamp) and Cartel's years of playing in DIY bands imbued in KaiserCartel the ability to do a lot with little; they are inveterate professionals on shoestring budgets, musicians so technically proficient they seamlessly switch instruments throughout the course of a show. Both Courtney and Benjamin spend their days ensconced in music and the arts. Courtney is an elementary music school teacher and Benjamin is an early childhood art teacher, their day jobs are centered on inspiring creativity and then, in turn, they take that inspiration and weave it breathlessly and beautifully into their own music. The strength of KaiserCartel doesn't lay in the fact that they are a couple; it lays in the fact that they are musicians and friends who work symbiotically. Whereas some couples invite you into their bedroom, KaiserCartel invite you into their living room, where the full scope of their lives can be seen. "I always liked the idea, when you meet a couple, and there's something about them—and you wonder what it is they do at night. I feel like because we're comfortable just being real and how we are, and there's no artifice, you get to know what it's like in our house," says Kaiser. "Seeing looks that we give, or music that we write - it's seeing us in our living room."

PHOTOS Click on a thumbnail to download that hi-res JPEG (suitable for publication):

TOUR DATES 7/6 - Old Rock House, St. Louis, MO - supporting Kate Miller-Heidke 7/7 - Schubas, Chicago, IL - supporting Kate Miller-Heidke 7/8 - Cowboy Monkey, Champaign, IL 7/9 - The Life, Dubuque, IA 7/12 - The Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ 7/13 - Low Spirits, Albuquerque, NM 7/16 - Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR 7/17 - High-Dive, Seattle, WA *NOTE- Matinee Show 7/19 - Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles, CA 7/20 - Echo, Los Angeles, CA 7/22 - Shugas, Colorado Springs, CO 7/23 - Road 34, Ft. Collins, CO 7/24 - Hi-Dive for Underground Music Showcase (UMS), Denver, CO 7/27 - JJ's Bohemia, Chattanooga, TN 7/28 - The Basement, Nashville, TN 7/29 - Zanzabar, Louisville, KY 7/30 - Schenley Plaza for WYEP 's Final Friday Series, Pittsburgh, PA

PRESS Kaiser Cartel South By Southwest, Day 1: Asleep at the Wheel Pittsburgh City Paper By Aaron Jentzen After retrieving my credentials at the convention center and meeting up with the friends who are hosting me here in Austin, it was time to hit the first day party. The day parties in Austin are typically unofficial events -- not part of SXSW proper -- sponsored by various corporations and music-related businesses. The one I started with was A Breath of Fresh Air, an outdoor, wind-powered showcase of indie bands at the Threadgills venue, sponsored by PR companies Organic Entertainment and September Gurl. As the boy-girl duo KaiserCartel began their set, with drums, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel and folky vocal harmonies, I spotted famed Austin singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo, leaving the club and making his way out to an enormous pickup truck. KaiserCartel's set was just about perfect for the outdoor, garden-like venue and a couple of frosty late-afternoon Lonestar brews. Kaisercartel played Brillobox in February, and should be returning to Pittsburgh in the next couple of months, according to their publicist (no date is posted online yet). But by the time The Damnwells started their set, it felt like time to move a long -- there are priorities, after all. Kaiser Cartel Now headlining, KaiserCartel makes triumphant return - Thursday, February 19 Brattleboro Reformer By Dave Madeloni One of the most satisfying concerts in recent memory was the Winterpills' CD release show at The Iron Horse back in October. The headliners were exquisite on their home turf, performing with verve every cut from their winning third release "Central Chambers," along with a smattering of old favorites served up with passion and just the right amount of playfulness. But it was KaiserCartel's revelatory opening slot that made the show one of 2008's most rewarding. The Brooklyn-based couple, consisting of Courtney Kaiser and Ben Cartel, won over the crowd with their sublime harmonies, catchy songs, infectious onstage chemistry and musical versatility (he played drums and xylophone simultaneously, she used a hand-held milk frother on her xylophone). A perfect appetizer to the fulfilling Winterpills main course. KaiserCartel's set was indeed a tasty surprise, though I had a notion that the full house was in store for a distinctive warmup while waiting on the line where I caught some buzz going around about the pair. Right next to me I overheard an exuberant young girl -- who looked to be about 11 -- gush that she couldn't wait to see her "music teacher play." After eavesdropping on her conversation, it became clear that she and her family had driven all the way up from New York City to see "Miss Kaiser" and her pal harmonize. By the time their 40-minute set capped triumphantly with a strolling serenade through the mesmerized audience, I completely understood why that family made the long trek to Northampton. And I wasn't alone. KaiserCartel were impressive enough to the folks that run the Iron Horse that they quickly booked them again -- this time to headline the venue on Saturday for a 10 p.m. show -- much to the delight of the duo. "We are so excited to be playing there again," said Kaiser in an e-mail. Cartel added "It is right up there in our favorite venues list." Last year was a fruitful one for the pair of singer-songwriters who released both a full CD ("March Forth") in June and an EP ("Okay & Other Things We Feel"). They also found a number of friendly venues and new fans as they zig-zagged their way across the country. "We played a lot of shows ... but we like it that way," said Kaiser. "When we play live, we try to reach every person intimately through our music. We want something to change for them after the show has finished. We love touring and playing for as many people as possible." Before they were KaiserCartel, Courtney and Ben were separately pursuing solo careers when they happened to meet at a gig in the Big Apple. "We met at the Knitting Factory show that our two separate bands were playing," recalled Cartel. "We struck up a friendship and started playing shows together. Our audiences liked the music so much, we continued. ... As we play and record, we always become more familiar and comfortable with what we are doing. Our chemistry was very natural from the start, and it is strongest when we are in performance mode." KaiserCartel's goal in performing is as simple as it is lofty. "When we play live, we try to reach every person intimately through our music," said Kaiser. "We want something to change for them after the show has finished. This is why we end the set with the serenade. It is a wonderful thing to look in each person's eyes and sing to them so close. It breaks the audience and performer barrier, and helps us have a personal connection with our audience." KaiserCartel RIFFS: Vocal valentines - February 6, 2009 Washington Times By Andrew Leahey As Valentine's Day approaches, the musicians of KaiserCartel look forward to their homecoming show in Brooklyn - at Pete's Candy Store, the first place they ever played in New York. "Our first show at the venue was great," says Benjamin Cartel, who is half of the endearing duo. "We had only been together for a few months and were still learning each other's songs. We kept going back there month after month. Eventually, it became so packed that they had to open up the doors so people could watch us from the other room." Pete's Candy Store enabled KaiserCartel's music to flourish, but it also provided a setting in which Mr. Cartel and vocalist Courtney Kaiser quickly fell in love. Although both had initially pursued solo careers, they later crossed paths at a Manhattan venue and began performing together, forging a romantic bond in the process. With Miss Kaiser's gorgeous, woozy voice and Mr. Cartel's inventive musicianship (a multitasker, he often plays drums and xylophone at the same time) the band found a loyal audience in New York. A full-length album, "March Forth," followed in June 2008, and subsequent tours across the country helped expand their New York fan club into a national following. There's plenty of love to be found on "March Forth," whose title alludes both to the inaugural date of the musicians' relationship and their "onward and upward" mentality. Unlike many couple bands, however, KaiserCartel takes a universal approach to the emotion, emphasizing its effect on the public as well as the songwriters. "Okay" pledges trust and acceptance of a partner's faults, while "Season Song" sings the praises of summertime with hand claps and whistled accompaniment. In keeping with the album's communal appeal, KaiserCartel concludes most performances with an acoustic serenade. The members unplug their instruments and walk into the audience, armed with a guitar and their bare voices. Then they sing directly to members of the audience, many of whom are genuinely touched by the unexpected move. "Starting with our second or third show, we used to do this thing where we'd process into the venue and out of the venue," Miss Kaiser explains. "We'd make eye contact with people, but it would just be us walking down the middle of the crowd. Eventually, we started weaving in and out of the audience and really trying to interact with people. It came out of this idea to share ourselves to the fullest extent possible with the audience." Mr. Cartel admits that some attendees become uncomfortable with the prospect of standing face to face with a singing musician. "We'll pass by people if they obviously don't want that kind of attention," he explains, "but the majority of people have been very into it. It makes them lifelong fans." • KaiserCartel will bring the love to the Black Cat on Tuesday. Local musician Andy Zipf headlines the show, which begins at 9 p.m. to the tune of $10. KaiserCartel CL's picks for the week's best shows - July 25, 2007 Creative Loafing - Atlanta, Georgia KAISER-CARTEL: Playful openers Brooklyn-based Kaiser-Cartel give away a small pack of crayons with the purchase of their new EP, Double Standard. Presumably, the duo hopes its listeners will fill in the stark black-and-white line drawing on the cover, but inside the package, they do their own coloring, slightly out of the lines, of course, with their take on catchy, minimalist folk rock. Atlanta's Melancon knows a thing or two about catchy (and he probably knows about crayons, too). Backed by the Arts and Sciences, he continues to reign as the Apostle Paul of the city's singer/songwriter scene, letting his startling visions guide his muse. $10. 9 p.m. Eddie's Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. -- LEE VALENTINE SMITH KaiserCartel London, Betsy Trotwood, Farringdon - June 15, 2007 Whisperin & Hollerin - United Kingdom Ladies and gentlemen, in the words of the truly magnificent KAISER CARTEL, come, join us and warm up by the fire… Playing in the tomb-like confines of the Betsy Trotwood in Farringdon, London, this Brooklyn-based duo introduced us into their wonderful world of DIY cool music. Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel function as an inside-out White Stripes - lady on the guitar and lead vocals, man on the drums - with less emphasis on the 'RnB'. They opened with a slow, Verucca Salt tinged acoustic pop number that was proof positive that 'less is more', with the power and beauty of the song shining through the sparse arrangement. Ms Kaiser's vocals were sweet with a hard edge. When singing the epic "Dog Star", she mixed the purity of Emmylou Harris with the magical gothic of Tanya Donnely. But perhaps the most striking comparison would be Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays. It's hard to say though, there was a genuine honesty behind Kaiser's vocals, they were really beautiful. To say there were so few instruments being played - guitar, drum, xylophone, and tight harmony vocals - they managed to encompass a nice basket of styles, from the sounds of the West coast, Alt.Country, Steeleye Span-esque heavy folk rock (who'd've thunk it?!), to cherry-flavoured indie pop. And there was a fair amount of instrument swapping, not to mention Benjamin Cartel taking centre stage for some of the numbers. In all, the set was utterly captivating. But without a doubt, the highlight of the evening was their final song, where they stepped away from the stage and sang a haunting duo, as they walked through and serenaded the audience. We were snuggled in one of the alcoves next to the stage (prime seating area!) and amazingly both Kaiser and Cartel popped their heads around the corner, and in a moment of true sincerity they sang to us for what seemed like the entire chorus. Apart from the fact that the acoustics sounded great, it was a very personal warm, glowing feeling. Honestly, we couldn't wipe the grins off our faces for ages afterwards. In breaking down the barriers between themselves and the crowd they gave everyone a really moving experience. We were nearly in tears and I felt compelled to give Courtney Kaiser a massive hug afterwards. It's easy to imagine that most people in the room felt the same way. This mini-tour was Kaiser Cartel's first time round in London, but us at W&H truly hope to see them at this side of the pond again very soon. Fabulous stuff. KaiserCartel EP - Double Standard Toxicpete.com Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel originate from Brooklyn. They got together in 2004 to lay down the foundations for this intriguingly laid back musical union that was to become KaiserCartel. They are a surprisingly low-key sounding duo that keep things really simple - modest rather than lo-fi but with mouth-watering results that sound liberated and down-home honest. KaiserCartel do the minimalist nu-folk/country/rock thing with massive sensitivity. Instrumentally challenged (seemingly no more than acoustic guitar, snare drum, cymbal, two voices and the occasional percussive 'jingling'), KaiserCartel bring a whole new feel to contemporary music. Relying heavily on their impressive songwriting and massively effective and very tasty vocal attributes (individual and combined), the intrepid twosome take the listener on a gentle voyage through their delicate but wholesome musical world of new-age acoustic wonderment. Although 'Double Standard' is an EP, there's actually seven great tracks to sit back and enjoy. And, 'Double Standard' does make you want to just sit and listen - it draws you in, slowly and very gently it works its way into you and leaves you feeling suitably chilled and positively refreshed. 'Double Standard' comes complete with a small pack of crayons - so as you relax you can colour in the charming line drawing on its cover - more originality, more simplicity, more under-statement! I really like 'Double Standard' by KaiserCartel - they're doing something a bit different and doing it extremely well! The two work superbly well together vocally. Their songs are nicely proportioned, well crafted and sensitively handled. At a time when much of the music we hear tends to be very cluttered and complex, Kaiser Cartel have brought things back down to ground, almost to basics, and deigned to bring the world the gift of 'Double Standard' - and what fine gift it is too. 'Double Standard' is musical simplicity, homeopathic stimulation and aural splendour. (Rhythm & Booze rating 9) KaiserCartel *Unusual duo draws comparisons to other historic units* Nashville City Paper By Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com June 27, 2006 The music, approach and sound of the Brooklyn duo KaiserCartel, who play the Basement tonight, is so unusual and different from a lot of rock, pop or even singer/songwriter material that they've been compared to everyone from Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris to the White Stripes. Courtney Kaiser, one-half of the versatile and unusual two-member unit, finds these comparisons flattering, but cautions fans not to take them too seriously. "It's almost like I've found myself being linked to whatever's hot at the moment since I got started singing as a teenager in Indiana," Kaiser laughed. "At various times people have said that my voice reminds them of Sheryl Crow or Natalie Merchant. Last night we heard people talking about the White Stripes again. Certainly the Parsons/Harris thing gets your attention because they are such fantastic artists, but what we're doing really isn't so much folk or pop, nor necessarily what people expect with singer/songwriter tunes. There's more of punk-rock thing coming from Benjamin's [Cartel] influences, plus some of the more unorthodox things that I can of bring into my songs." Indeed, KaiserCartel tunes can be adventurous or straightforward, fun/novelty things or more serious and provocative, depending on the mood and directions of Kaiser and Cartel. Both veterans of other bands before they joined forces 18 months ago, Kaiser not only sings but also plays guitar, recorder and xylophone. Meanwhile Cartel plays guitar, floor tom and snare drum, and xylophone. The two continually alternate instruments and roles in their material, creating a sound that can be loose or tight, with a montage of textures, melodies and rhythms that come together thanks to the hearty harmonizing and consistently clever and catchy songwriting. They're currently dividing their time between touring, with tonight's concert among a series of 11 shows that's taken them from their Brooklyn residence to the Midwest and then through the South before returning home to continue work on their forthcoming new release. Kaiser adds that the vast amount of time they've logged on the road since the duo's formation has proven creatively profitable, if at times quite strenuous. "Last summer we did 25 shows in 30 days with a whole bunch of 14-hour drives in between," Kaiser remembered. "You really start to notice under those conditions when someone's getting tired or when things aren't working as well. There were all kinds of adventures with things flying out of windows, animals popping up in the road, and other things happening that generated quite a few discussions. A lot of those things sometimes ended up in pretty good songs, and we also got a real good feel for knowing that our decision to join forces and make our own band rather than staying with our previous groups was a good one." View the online article: www.nashvillecitypaper.com KaiserCartel Double Standard The Onion, Madison, WI edition A duo from Brooklyn, Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel take a purely organic approach to bittersweet, melodic indie-folk. KaiserCartel's 2005 album Double Standard contains not much more than an acoustic guitar, brushes on a snare drum, and two voices intermingling in splendorous harmony. This simple approach serves them well, and it should appeal to fans of the quieter sides of Yo La Tengo and Mary Lou Lord. We've been compared to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris," says Courtney Kaiser of the harmony-laced homespun duo KaiserCartel. "I think we're more like Lucy and Ricky." After listening to "Double Standard," the fine little seven-song EP CD by Kaiser and her musical partner Benjamin Cartel, I'll add a comparison of my own -- Sam Phillips and T Bone Burnett. The disc is charmingly lo-fi, but the original songs are solid, and even the lone cover song, Lisa Germano's "Small Heads" is a perfect fit. - Albany Times Union

AUDIO Click on a track below to listen/download an audio clip: KaiserCartel - Secret Transit [2010] KaiserCartel - Ready To Go [mp3] KaiserCartel - Falling [mp3]