Lansdale Station featuring Judge & Lauren Murphy: Articles & Reviews

Another Hoedown band, Lansdale Station, jams Southern-style Friday at Humboldt Brews and Saturday at Benbow. Fronted by New Orleans-born Lauren Murphy and her husband, Judge Murphy, both Zero alums, the S.F.-based band also includes Sam Johnston from Box Set on keys and pedal steel, and drummer extraordinaire, Brent Rampone, from the New Riders playing something they call "bluesiana country rock." If you get up early enough (8:30 a.m.) you can also catch them on KHUM Friday morning.

Lansdale Station rocks the North Bay before departing on their NW Tour w/ their down home Bluesiana Country Rock!

Lansdale Station was formed by virtue of collective enthusiasm during 3 recording sessions at The Plant Studios in Sausalito during 2005. Filled w/ legendary Bay Area players, "Bluesiana Country Rock" was born.

Lansdale Station's line-up spotlights the talents of Zero Alumni Judge Murphy (ZERO & GOODMAN-MURPHY) on lead vocals, Liam "the hammer hand" Hanrahan on bass (ZERO /FRANKIE LEE ), New Orleans composer, vocalist, guitarist, Lauren Murphy (DELPHINIUM BLUE, THE HOUSELEVELERS & ZERO), Soulful Sam Johnston (BOX SET, BUFFALO ROAM) on keys & pedal steel, drummer extrordinare, Brent Rampone (NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE) , & Jim Cucuzella (SWAMP THANG) on slide/bottleneck & lead guitar. Their new CD, "Magnolia Heart" , is already garnering airplay throughout California, as well as in Europe, and the band is proud to have a 1/2 page spread in the Fall Issue #51 of the Oxford American Magazine Southern Arts & Architecture Issue. Indie-Music.com calls Lansdale Station's "Magnolia Heart" "triumphant" & a "direct musical hit".

Lansdale Station bring's Down Home Style with their Hip Shakin Harmony Makin' Bluesiana Country Rock!

"Lauren Murphy's Magnolia Heart is a fresh dose of Americana performed by an authentic delta lady. Murphy's heartfelt songs about the bayou and the big muddy river harken back to her roots in Louisiana where failed love and broken dreams are washed away along the banks of the mighty Mississippi."

J.C. Juanis
Gritz Magazine

Lauren Murphy came to the Bay Area, by way of New Orleans, in the mid-90's. Skilled in Music, Art, Literature, Theatre' , & Dance, she moved to the coastal hamlet of Arcata, where she became a sensation in the Folk Rock Band 'Delphinium Blue'. A very gifted singer/songwriter/guitarist , she has been heralded by a number of Bay Area Greats. Her band, 'The House Levelers' , achieved fame in the late 90's , gigging at notable West Coast Venues like: 'The Maritime Hall', 'Sweetwater', 'Oregon Country Fair', 'The Fairfax Festival', & 'Mystic Theater', w/line-ups including Terry Haggerty (Sons of Champlain), Vince Littleton (Merl Saunders), Doug Harman (Bela Fleck), and Judge Murphy (ZERO). Lauren also sang vocals aside her husband, Judge, in ZERO from 1998 to 2000.

Following her bliss, Lauren has chosen a Raw Solo vocal-guitar medium, singing her Gumbo-Celtic cross of California Creole Americana Roots Music. A woman of impressive stature, Lauren Murphy truly stands up to the critics, where chops and originality live. Her style is varied , and her writing ability vast.

Lauren is currently working on her next CD at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, & gracing the summer festival circuit. While many compare her to Sarah McLaughlin, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, and Allison Krauss, Lauren Murphy is like no other in her Psychedelic Folk Style of brassy, sensitive , and powerful songs.

"Lady Will Power, Marin Songbird, Lauren Murphy, has been turning heads w/her original prolific inspired music ... Lauren is quite a singer/guitarist who exudes great stage presence and charm. Her songs come alive w/passion and emotion, and her gift as a songwriter is unsurpassed. Songs such as 'Wandering Two', 'Time Across', and 'Child's Fire', have the potential to bring greatness to the Louisiana born artist ... " J.C. Juanis Relix Magazine.

www.laurenmurphymusic.com

Martin Fierro, Pete Sears, Chris Rowan, J.C. Flyer, Grapefruit Ed, The Murphys and "Special Guests" To Perform at Fundraiser :

This coming Sunday, June 26 a number of Bay Area musicians will come together to raise funds for medical expenses of their friend Rod Green. The event will take place at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center Courtyard from 1 – 5 PM (Tickets are $20.00 and kids under 12 and babes in arms accompanied by a ticket-holding adults are free). Slated to perform is Grapefruit Ed which features members of the Vicious Hippies, Box Set, Shakey Zimmerman, Buffalo Roam, and Dog Named Blue. Joining in will be numerous other artists including Martin Fierro, Pete Sears, Chris Rowan, J.C. Flyer, Grapefruit Ed and unnamed "Special Guests." Opening will be husband and wife duo of Lauren and Judge Murphy (Lauren is from Delphinium Blue and The House Levelers while Judge at one time was the lead vocalist of Zero).

Thu. July 23. LAUREN (MILLER) MURPHY AND THE HOUSE LEVELERS
Louisiana-born LAUREN MILLER has a terrific new CD called "OUT OF THE BLUE," which really caught my attention. Her folk-rock style of music is very original—she is a solid acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter, exuding a strong stage presence. LAUREN has assembled a band of legendary Bay Area musicians to join her tonight—DOUG HARMON (BELA FLECK) on bass and cello, TERRY HAGGERTY (SONS OF CHAMPLIN) on guitar, VINCE LITTLETON (MERL SAUNDERS) on drums and CHIP ROLAND (ZERO) on keyboards. 9:00 p.m.

'Lady Willpower: Marin songbird, Lauren (Miller) Murphy, recently released her debut CD, Out Of The Blue (Can Road Music). Miller has been turning heads with her original, prolific and inspired music, performing throughout Northern California. Backing up Miller are Terry Haggerty from the Sons Of Champlin on guitar, Vince Littleton from Merl Saunders and The Rainforest Band on drums and Doug Harman on cello. Miller is quite a singer/guitarist who exudes great stage presence and charm. Her songs come alive with passion and emotion, and her gift as a songwriter is unsurpassed as evidenced by the original material on her new CD. Songs such as “Wandering Two,” “Time Across” and “Child’s Fire” have the potential to bring greatness to the Louisiana-born Miller. '

Opening for the legendary Little Feat, Legion Of Mary was also joined by another Zero offshoot band, the House Levelers. Led by Louisiana songbird Lauren (Miller) Murphy, the band featured the sure-handed drumming of Zero vocalist Judge Murphy, bassist Liam Hanrahan, guitarist Joe Diehl and cellist and keyboardist Doug Harmon. Beginning with “Wandering Two,” the House Levelers showcased songs from Lauren Miller’s wonderful debut album, Out Of The Blue (Can Road Music).

Judge Murphy Vocals
Born in Marin County in 1950, Judge began playing in bands at the age of 15 locally at frat parties, rec halls, and bars and developed his own distinct blues style. During the '80's, Judge was the drummer-singer for Murphy's Law and occasionally jammed with John Cipollina who was playing with Zero. John was impressed with Murphy and told Martin Fierro about Judge's vocal ability. Martin later recommended Judge for an audition for the new Robert Hunter songs. Judge joined Zero in January 1992 touring and singing "Home on the Range", "Chance in a Million", "Catalina", and "Roll me Over". Hunter liked Judge's style and wrote more songs that summer with Murphy in mind; "Horses" "End of the World Blues", "Pits of Thunder", "Spoken For" and "Did I Mention".

FOREVER IS NOWHERE: Zero has released a new recording titled Live At The Great American Music Hall (Whirled Records). The legendary Bay Area band recorded the sessions at the venerable San Francisco landmark and featured some of their special musical friends. Zero (consisting of drummer Greg Anton, guitarist Steve Kimock, keyboardist Pete Sears, vocalist Judge Murphy and bassist Bobby Vega) is joined by Nicky Hopkins and Vince Welnick on keyboards, and John Kahn on bass. The recording also features five new songs penned by Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter: "Chance In A Million," "Home On The Range," Catalina," "Horses" and "End Of The World Blues." Recorded by Grateful Dead sound man Dan Healy with help from the team at Ultra Sound, this release further benefits from the out-of-this-world mastering by the Sebastapol-based Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, which has set the standard in the industry in recording reproduction. Known up until now as primarily an instrumental band, Zero is propelled by the powerhouse vocals of Judge Murphy, who breaths life into some of the finest Robert Hunter lyrics in years. Zero fans will not, however, be disappointed with the group's two instrumental excursions, "Forever Is Nowhere" and "Roll Me After." Rounding out the release is a rollicking rendition of the K.C. Douglas classic "Mercury Blues." Live At The Great American Music Hall begins a new chapter for Zero but, as always, it's the music that speaks volumes from this great band. 1994