Lansdale Station featuring Judge & Lauren Murphy: Articles & Reviews

JUDGE MURPHY: SOLID SURVIVOR

In January of this year one of the great veterans of the Bay Area rock scene, Judge Murphy was diagnosed with liver cancer after a gig with his band Lansdale Station. This year has been an ongoing challenge to Judge and his longtime partner Lauren Murphy, who helm Lansdale, but there are friends gathering to help the Murphys through this stretch. For the next two nights, March 4 & 5, Judge will rejoin his mates in Zero at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco for a pair of benefit shows for the Judge Murphy Wellness Fund.

The challenges continue with Judge’s fight with cancer, and right now a transplant remains the best option. He starts a new round of treatment in a few days. For those that can’t make the Zero shows this weekend, Lansdale Station will perform two sets on March 20th at an event co-presented by the Artista Gang, who will hold a silent auction for their works and offer a limited edition poster by Pat Ryan. Tickets can be purchased here, and here’s the details:

Artista Spring Equinox Benefit Party for The Judge Murphy Wellness Fund featuring Landsdale Station & Very Special Guests

Sunday, March 20th - 6-10pm
George's Night Club
San Rafael, CA

Special guests are: Barry "The Fish" Melton (Country Joe & the Fish), Carlos Reyes (Steve Miller/Norton Buffalo), Pete Sears, Barry Sless, Banana (Youngbloods), Ryan Scott of the Monophonic Horns, Brad Jenkins on sax (Jerry Miller Band), Michael Hinton (Merl Saunders Rainforest Band) and a secret guest surprise.

Last weekend Zero and their friends gathered at the Great American Music Hall to make music and raise funds for their ailing comrade Judge Murphy, who is currently in a battle with liver cancer. Find out more about Judge’s situation and how you can help here.
http://www.jambase.com/Articles/26396/Judge-Murphy-Solid-Survivor

"The reaction was the strongest of any artist I have had on. Thank YOU, " as he refers to the interview & music with Lauren Murphy Entertainer & Judge Murphy Vocalist & Producer of Lansdale Station this past Tuesday. The Show Rocketed TO #1! Thank YOU, Artie and listeners~

The crystal connotations simply imply the frailties along the long and winding road of rock n’ roll icons. One is perceived as a Shaman of the noted past of San Francisco folklore and the other an ingénue of obvious genetics and augmented with the innate ability to write and play the songs of the heart. The collective efforts of Judge & Lauren Murphy are the collaboration of storied past with a glimpse of an untapped future, a rebirth of the sensationalized San Francisco sound of sixties glory.

Read on and see his wonderful images from the Robert Minkin, Richard Pechner, Bruce Steinberg "Rock of Our Ages" Gallery Opening at the Osher JCC Marin.
See link

By: Dennis Cook/ Jambase Chief Editor
This sweeps you up with a readiness and confidence that takes your feet out from underneath you. Opener "Family Asylum" could be the greatest Johnny Cash/June Carter gem you've never heard, packed with crazy relatives, cool turns of phrase, death bed worry and a vibe the boys at Folsom Prison would've loved. From there, the wind whips us westward into the "Blue," with ringing guitars and manly energies suggesting both surf rock and the Los Angeles rough boy rock of The Blasters. And so it goes for the remaining five cuts, shifting wildly yet grounded in something solid. When most people reference "roots music" or "Americana" it's often a cheap way of saying rock 'n' roll with a touch of twang. However, there's some bands that fully embrace a wide sweep of American bred possibilities – blues, rock, country, zydeco, folk, etc. – and Lansdale Station throws their arms around homegrown possibilities with infectious relish.

Led by the powerful singing duo of Judge Murphy (Zero) and spouse Lauren Murphy, Lansdale Station is what I call a "fundamental pleasure," a group that has all the basics down cold and then fills in the right details and delivers performances that still feel very much of the moment - think Buddy & Julie Miller or Gillian Welch & David Rawlings as prime examples. From the dead solid songwriting to the crisp musicianship, there's sturdy bedrock to each cut, which Lauren and Judge use as platforms for their spirited, character-filled voices to soar. There's wonderful boy-girl energy to the pair, though each sings with serious oomph on their own, too. Trying to describe voices like theirs is akin to cataloging the flavors of fine wine. Better to just roll it around for a while and let the bouquet saturate your senses.

If country radio had any real taste or guts the breathlessly rockin' "Hired Hand" would already be a smash, while "Houselevelers" moves with killer restraint, capturing the floating menace of being really broke but also the pleasure and freedom of living on the ragged edge. Closer "Mercy" is marvelous R&B with a fab rock itch, something The Meters might've stumbled upon in their heyday, and they further sweeten the deal with a pitch perfect cover of Fairport Convention's "Come All Ye." This debut is a terrific calling card, and one hopes it puts them onstage with folks like Gillian and Buddy. These are kindred spirits, musician's musicians who've retained the palpable excitement of music making. It's rare for seasoned veterans to resonate such unbridled enjoyment, and better still when that mojo can be anchored to such maturely crafted fare

Click link below to see the profanely fabulous photo by Bill Towner

Lansdale Station; brought to you by Dennis Cook & Dirty Impound

Northern California’s Lansdale Station come on like a heady rush, rock ‘n’ roll felt down in your bones and delivered like this music still matters and might change the world (though happily free of the hippie stink that ignores the harsh realities of daily existence). Folks that get off on Little Feat, Fairport Convention, Grayson Capps & The Stumpknockers and other quality, rootsy stuff will surely dig Lansdale Station. Loved their kickass debut and impatiently awaiting the next chapter. We thank the band for being our second contributors to The Free Bird Project and hope that long may their rebel spirit rage.


http://www.dirtyimpound.com/2010/06/the-free-bird-project-lansdale-station/

World famous drummer, Gary Allen, who has held down the drum chair for The Charlie Daniel's Band, JJ Cale, & Opry Star Stonewall Jackson, has picked Lansdale Station's Song, "Family Asylum", in his Song Contest!
Out of thousands of entries, while we didn't win 1st place, we did get in the healthy top 10 slot!
It is estimated Gary is played on the radio every 5 seconds.The man knows his music and Lansdale Station is really honored.
Thanks Gary!

The roving rock reporter, Moon Mama, takes in an important Lansdale Station concert prior to lead singer, Judge Murphy's cancer procedure.

"Once upon a time, there was Faith, Hope & Love, and they wanted to become manifest in corporeal form. So they found a home in the likes of a young woman with song on her lips, words and lyrics in her Louisiana Heart and grit on her stylish high-heeled shoes. She played a mean guitar and made great waves for All Things Feminine in the game of music......." read on at the link

DON ATERS - Rock & Roll Historian, Photographer, Lecturer, & best friend of charismatic entrepreneur of the counter culture and psychedelia, Chet Helms, weighs in on Lansdale Station

***Read Full Article with photo gallery at the link Below***

Resurrection of Faith - Lansdale Station

"Lansdale Station is by definition, a throwback, a band with all the members being cogs in a musical wheel with Lauren and Judge exuding the aura of the past with an eye on the future. They are collectively the fuel of contemporary creative fire. The tawdry approach of current bands making millions of dollars for inferior live performances cannot mirror the hours spent to hone the crisp, energetic demeanor of this band as they saunter across the stages of the west coast. The psycho babble of the past has given way to stage charisma, crowd rapport and exudes the love and passion for what they excel in doing. The mystery and mystique of the past is still a mirrored image but they are on the verge of compiling a legacy that brings San Francisco back to it’s rightful place in the pantheons of a musical epi-center, and who better to perpetuate the folklore than Lauren, Judge and the band?

We aren’t trying to digress and relive those halcyon days of yesteryear but more of who is capable of songs of the heart and lyrics that are feasible of once again uniting the masses. Enter Lauren and Judge Murphy and the members of Lansdale Station with songs that could be those of epic proportions once exposed to the music fans across the globe. An ingenue and band revered in the bay area, the group brings a touch of sunshine with vibrant performances that resonate throughout the west coast and The Ghosts of Avalon are rising from the ashes. Lauren brings the elegance of Diana, the genetics of Grace without the bravado and provocative demeanor and the passion that mirrors all great songwriters and performers.
Songs of life, love and universal peace, much like Teach Your Children, Sweet Baby James and Almost Cut My Hair are those musical beacons that float in a sea of banality and Lauren, Judge and Lansdale Station are the heirs to the throne that separates them from all others.

We’ve waited for a myriad of years and the timing is critical so, when access can be allocated, we, the collective musical family need to clap our hands and stomp our feet so that the gifts brought by Lauren & Judge don’t dissipate into the sunset.

As the adage goes, the likes of this talent may never pass this way again”.

For the survivors of those golden days long ago, for Lauren, Judge and Lansdale Station, bless us all.

Keep the faith

Cheers"
Don Aters - 2010
Editor Haight Street Music News
www.haightstreetmusicnews.com
Fillmore-East.com (artifact/image provider)
Music Historian / Photo-Journalist / MLA / Indiana University
Holding Together Fanzine (England)

"Lansdale Station voted one the Top 10 Debut Albums of 2009"

"I listened to a lot of music this year, approximately two new albums per day, give or take. Some might call this 'heroic,' others 'ludicrous,' and others still 'grotesque.' But, all this listening isn't some sort of record geek machismo; it's an honest-to-god drive to find the best, coolest, most enriching music that can be found... and then share what truffles I've sniffed out with y'all. Music can be a skeleton key for unlocking the universe, starting with our own lil' cosmos. Here then is a big, jangling ring of possible tumbler turners for your consideration.
Top 10 Debut Albums of 2009
To my ears, this is the graduating class for this past year - artists one would be wise to keep tabs on because they're likely to be making amazing music in the years ahead based on the evidence of their respective opening salvos.....and Landing at a Hearty # 7 slot is Lansdale Station: Lansdale Station ."

Thanks to Moon Mama, our music, along with many other knock out acts from the San Francisco Bay Area, are heading to the land down under, to Brisbane, Australia, and will be played appropriately on Astrid Navel Gazer's Radio show, "Zed Poets Society"

"Zero vocalist Judge Murphy and singer-songwriter Lauren Murphy blend country blues with Bay Area psychedelia, reminding us of what made the S.F. Sound so special to begin with... " read on at the below link

10/22/2008 by PAUL LIBERATORE THE MARIN IJ

MUSIC
PRESS PLAY
Reviews of releases by local artists

Lansdale Station
Lansdale Station
(independent)

Lansdale Station, a Marin band, spotlighting the husband and wife team of Judge & Lauren Murphy, takes its name from what was once the first San Anselmo stop of the old Northern Pacific Railroad. It’s a hip historical reference for a band whose understanding of rock’s past is evident on their eponymous debut CD, showcasing six original songs and one very cool cover in a traditional guitar-driven style that mixes Southern rock with a fresh take on the San Francisco Sound.
Raised in Marin, Judge Murphy sang for years with Zero, the Marin progressive rock aggregation that included the late Quicksilver Messenger Service guitar slinger John Cipollina. One of the more impassioned moments on this independent CD is Murphy’s rugged baritone on a respectful rendition of Cipollina’s driving rocker “Hired Hand.” Lauren Murphy, previously featured with her husband on her solo CD, “Magnolia Heart,” comes from New Orleans and brings her Southern sensibility to songs like “Family Asylum,” the medium tempo rocker that opens the album with some righteously raw guitar work from Danny Uzilevsky , one of the young hot shots on the Marin club scene, and slide guitarist Jimmy Cucuzella (Swamp Thang).
Dana Miller (The Mother Truckers, Chrome Johnson) and Rayner Brock (King Perkoff) form a flexible rhythm section on evocative story songs like Lauren Murphy’s “Houselevelers.”
Proving once and for all that Lansdale Station is an authentic Marin band with respect for its roots, the Murphy’s dedicate their album to the memory of the charismatic tenor saxophonist Martin Fierro, who died in March.
Buy it: “Lansdale Station” at cdbaby.com or oder an autographed copy by sending a money order to Lansdale Station, P.O. Box 221, San Anselmo, Ca. 94979. $12.50
-PAUL LIBERATORE Marin IJ “Here”

These guys were sooooooo good! And you can tell that they really love what they do.

I would have to describe them as rock with a back-woods county flavor that leaves a good taste in your mouth. A mix of Allman Bros. riffs, Grateful Dead jam, and vocals that combine George Thorogood with Joni Mitchell. These guys capture the Fairfax vibe and turn it up to 11. To quote Lauren, "Let your mind go and your ass will follow".

"TAXI A&R REVIEWS 'FAMLY ASYLUM' TO HIGH SCORES!

Taxi A & R judge's songs on a number of components and grades on a grid . Overall , on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest, the Judge's gave us a solid 8. Please keep in mind as you read, that while the comments noted are basic, they were the top of the line for scoring!

Here is what they have to say .

Song title: Family Asylum

Title rating: "Innovative & Different"

Style : "Country Rock with influences al la Emmylou Harris"

Melody rating" Good Music in verses. Good Music is choruses." with side note "Nice musical choices with a solid backing track"

Song Structure rating: "Well written"

Lyric Structure rating: "Unique" with side note " Interesting picture created around this scenario".

Overall Comments: " I like the raw energy that comes across in this tune. This is also a very inventive perspective/viewpoint for this type of situation. I recommend looking into film/TV placement, as Music supervisors are looking for material such as this".

Music 8, Lyrics 8, Arrangement 8, Production 8, Engineering 8

Thanks!

"Lauren & Judge Murphy w/ Lansdale Station are one of the best unsigned bands in the Bay Area..."

XXXXX
I appeared on KGO-AM’s (810) Ronn Owens on Friday Dec. 21, playing two hours of Bay Area music for a show entitled “The Best Music You’ve Never Heard.”

For five years I did the show with Pete Wilson, who died last July, and Ronn wanted to revive it in his honor. It worked. Something was shining down on us. Must have been the oversized image of Wilson’s head they put on his old studio chair.

For two hours we got no turkeys, just really great unsigned bands, including Sherry Austin, Mighty Mike Schermer, Colby Pollard, Lauren and Judge Murphy, the Attila and Dave Project and the Wicked Sons.

You can get the list and links to their sites at www.kgo.com. You’ll be surprised at how much great talent there is in the area, and how many great musicians can’t get signed to major labels anymore.

We’ll do the show again in 2008.

Okay, I really, really, REALLY hate moustache blues bands. You know, weekend warrior washups who haven’t been told they possess not a shred of talent, except the talent for sucking all the soul and passion out of my favorite delta blues songs. That said, I am TOTALLY feeling what Lansdale Station have going on. Can’t stand this genre, but they are throwing down the blues-rock with balls and vulva (respectively). If I were at a festival, walking around an open air market and dodging the terrible bands, this would be the one group I could hang with; And drink hella beer listening to. Brewery Rock, you’ve never been more right on! Kudos!

"Excellent!"

Lauren & Judge and band have been very busy this winter doing what Lauren calls “heavy construction”; working, molding, choppin’ & wood sheddin’ new compositions for their upcoming recording sessions at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, Ca. This new material is bawdy , yet poignant,with some truly off handed subject matter; insane asylums’, a train to hell, golden rolling hills, house levelers, and hired hands all appear in Lansdale Station’s landscape through Americana. Noted for their powerful simpatico vocal harmonies, this group expresses a deep soulful commitment to the material, as well as an understanding of humanity.

All this is served up by a 5 foot 10 leggy Louisiana blond , a strapping mustached blues man, and their band of men that look like Billy the Kids’ Gang. Big Ed Michaels (Roy Rogers / Alvin Youngblood Hart) is rockin the drum chair with his explosive percussive talents. Lansdale Station is also charged about the return of Jim Cucuzella on slide guitar. “Jim is a fabulous slide guitar player that can roar like a chain saw, or shoot you out the stratosphere. He’s become one of the most proficient slide players in the area, & rivals anyone that you’ve seen,” says lead vocalist Judge Murphy. “It’s great to have him back w/ the band.”

For those classic Lansdale Station &/or Judge Murphy/Zero fans, you’ll also get your full helping of the Robert Hunter material,’ End of the World Blues ‘,’Catalina’, and ‘Home on the Range’. Either way, this will be a night not to miss, with a ....read full article at link

Lauren & Judge ~ Thank you for your willingness to be part of the Bread & Roses family bringing joy, hope and healing to those who are isolated. You are making a difference in the lives of so many and it IS appreciated.

Kurt ~ Thank you for hosting this show and bringing the show to us through your words.

Lauren & Judge Murphy at New Bridge
February 17, 2008
Host: Kurt Huget

Essence Story by Kurt Huget:

It’s Sunday night and the crowd at New Bridge is eager for a show, something
to break up the regimen of the day and lift their spirits. Luckily for them, Bread & Roses has scheduled Lauren & Judge Murphy for their first performance here, and this duo is just as eager to sing their songs for this crowd.

Right from the get-go, they establish a warm rapport with members of the audience, chatting with those seated in the first few rows. Lauren kicks off most of the songs with a story or revelation about how the song came to be,
what it’s about and the emotions and experiences that define it. Her original songs are creations that this group can easily find a connection with and share in the sentiments, be they profound or humorous.

Singing together, their simpatico harmonies express a deep soulful commitment to the material, as well as an understanding of the ups and downs that listeners like these have experienced in their lives. The crowd responds with gusto to this performance, and will not let this duo leave the stage until they do an encore number.

"Hurricane Katrina laid waste to the Delta region, but Magnolia Heart proves just as boldly that the music of that place lives on, as strong as ever."

By Todd Beemis

read full review at link below ....... (it will highlight when you scroll)

The 6 piece group, Lansdale Station, came about after 3 recording sessions at The Plant Studios in Sausalito. Coming from the jazz/rock/electric band, Zero, which broke up in 2000, the lead vocalists, husband & wife Judge and Lauren Murphy, created their own style of 'bluesiana rock'. "The music is a blend. It is quite artsy, very versatile, and has a widely varied and diverse sound," Judge Murphy said. Sam Johnston, of Box Set, plays the pedal steel, keyboards, accordion, and harmonica. Brent Rampone, who played with Commander Cody & New Riders of the Purple Sage, is on the drums. Sam Price, the bassist, played with John Boutte in New Orleans. Jim Cucuzella is the lead guitarist.

Lauren Murphy writes most of the lyrics. Originally from New Orleans, she is schooled in dance, theatre, and music, and has her degree in English from Louisiana State University. "She is an excellent poet and wordsmith, and a lot is generated in the writing about New Orleans and the Mississippi Delta," Judge Murphy said. The group's first CD, "Magnolia Heart", came out last October. CD's & T-shirts will be for sale at the Hoedown; 10% of the band's proceeds from merchandise sales will go to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund for Musicians ( Sam Price, Lansdale Station's bassist, is among the thousands displaced by the disaster.) Tickets to the Humboldt Hills Hoedown are on sale at regular Humboldt & Mendocino outlets and online at www.inticketing.com for $25. $30 at the gate.

Music in the Park
By Chris Rooney
Ross Valley Reporter
As part of the town’s ongoing centennial celebration, the San Anselmo Arts Council presents folk musicians Lansdale Station in the first concert of the Music in the Park Concert Series. Lansdale Station features the vocal harmonies of husband-and-wife team Judge and Lauren Murphy. Their collaboration melds Southern roots music and the “San Francisco Sound.” The free show takes place on Sun., July 22, at Creek Park, San Anselmo, 2:30-4 p.m.

A great line-up of talent featuring original music from 12-6 PM that will leave the audience wanting more! A Rockin' Line up with the sweet sounds of Bay Area local, Singer-Songwriter and founder of Rockin' Moms will get you moving with the Tiffany Petrossi Band, come listen to the mighty vocal harmonies of husband & wife team, Judge & Lauren Murphy of Lansdale Station, see local fav, featured on KFOG's local scene, pop/ rock songstress, Stacy Kray,

Lauren Murphy, lead singer of Lansdale Station, http://www.LansdaleStation.com , one of the bands performing at the festival, says she feels honored to be part of an event that is working to support these undervalued societal roles.