Putnam Murdock
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Posts
- Apr 06, 12"I was raised on a strict diet of folk, country and bluegrass. The Centre Streeters were my mentors. Every Thursday night they would gather in circle in a living room in Dover, MA and evoke every damn lost, drunk, and brokenhearted song known to man... in four part harmony of course. Always harmonies. That was the constant. Each rehearsal that I witnessed brought me closer and closer... to the point of knowing no other way of life. Doesn't every family or circle of friends act like this? Well it seems this is my bio. It is nowhere near finished, but I have been gifted with humility. Sitting in a circle, playing songs is where the real music exists."Putnam Murdock got his start as a professional musician touring with the successful rock and roll band Chief Broom. With Murdock as front man, the group achieved a slot on the 1997 H.O.R.D.E. tour, appeared in festivals at Red Rocks Amphitheater and sold out venues throughout the western U.S. Upon completion of this type of "music school of life" in 1999, Murdock attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated with a songwriting degree in 2002. Since then, Murdock has been performing across the country with artists such as Reed Foehl (of Acoustic Junction), Ben Taylor, Martin Sexton, Gregory Alan Isakov, William Topley, and Kaki King.
In addition to his live performances, he has also established his songwriting career by co-writing songs that have been featured in the television shows "Joan of Arcadia," "Dawsons Creek," "MTV's Made," and "The Biggest Loser." The song "When it Comes Around" appeared in the motion picture "Just Friends" and is also included on the soundtrack. In 2009, the song "Jersey Whiskey" won an Honorable Mention in the Americana category of the International Songwriting Competition and his debut album, Fiction, along with the track "Bright Future" were placed on the Official Ballot for the Grammy Awards in five categories. Recently, the song "When I Die," off his record Brand New Widow, was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2012 International Songwriting Competition.
After a stint in Brooklyn, where Murdock performed and co-produced the debut records for Kenny Cambre The Guy You Cheer For, and Kara Suzanne Aumsville, he now resides in southern Massachusetts. Currently, he is recording music for several documentary films by Ken Burns as well as touring the northeastern U.S. in support of his recent release, Brand New Widow, recorded and co-produced by Bryan Pugh at Dreamland Recording Studios in West Hurley, NY.
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PRESS
- April 29, 2012
....the way he weaves words translates into something not heard since Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
-Melissa Kucirek
Suite101.com (Read entire review here)
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April 12, 2012
.....the vocal presence of Murdock is breathtaking and infectious.
-Cyrus Rhodes
The Muse's Muse (Read entire review here)
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April 10, 2012
Brand New Widow is nothing less than a shining set of examples of the talent and appreciation for a long-lived genre Putnam Murdock brings to the table. A lifetime of musical inclination has led him to one of the more interesting and enjoyable folk albums you're going to hear in 2012, and, perhaps, long after.
-Kevin Sellers
Musicemissions.com (read entire review here)
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April 6, 2012
Putnam Murdock strikes me as a strong artist for many reasons, the most rare being that his expression is free of the shackles of ego that most artists are completely lost in. With this being taken care of, the music and lyrics themselves become vehicles for change. “Brand New Widow” is a beautiful album that I would recommend to fans of Paul Simon, Jeff Buckley, Tom Waits, and John Prine.
-James Moore
Skopemag.com (read entire review here)
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April 3, 2012
Wages of Hope is a track that attempts to redefine what folk is as a genre...Murdock’s work on Brand New Widow will draw listeners in by innovative arrangements and masterful production....This is what folk should be.
-James McQuiston
Neufutur.com (read entire review here)
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February 15, 2009
Although he was on the official ballot for the Grammys this year, Murdock didn’t make the cut as one of the top five nominees in his categories. That’s too bad, because the South Dartmouth-based singer-songwriter’s latest, “Fiction,” is a sturdy set of introspective folk indebted to his influence, John Prine.
-James Reed
The Boston Globe
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Albums
- 10 tracks (00:00)
BuyBrand New Widow was recorded live to 24 track analog tape at Dreamland Studios in upstate New York. David Cieri, Jordan Scannella, Jay Frederick, Bryan Pugh and I had seven days to finish writing, record and mix this album. In the confines of an old church, we created a space that seemed to match our moods and the environment of West Hurley, NY in late July. The recording is dusty and patient. It creeps along with substance and weight and asks the listener to be a part of the experience. So listen and listen loudly. - 15 tracks (00:00)
BuyWhat is Fiction? Is it the half-truths, exaggerations and outright lies that certain types of love demand? Stories we make up while walking the city blocks to give identity to people we will never know? A man standing before a trunk full of masks, trying them on and discarding them in an attempt to show who he thinks he should be? All the nastiness of existence hidden in the voice of a smooth-talking troubadour? Things left unsaid that will return to burn up our happy little homes? Guilt pretending to be love, love wrapped up in guilt, fear of loneliness above all else? - 6 tracks (00:00)
BuyThis self-titled album is Murdock's maiden voyage into songwriting. An acoustic, dreamy rock record on a folky path from Boston to New York.
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PURCHASE
- Brand New WidowFiction
Putnam Murdock
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Posts
- UPCOMING SHOWS
Sat, June 16 • Radio Bean • Burlngton, VT • 7-7:45 PM • Free
Fri, June 29 • Rockwood Music Hall • NYC • 9 PM • Free
Sun, July 8 • New Bedford Summerfest • New Bedford, MA • Time TBA • Free
Sat, July 14 • Cape Cod Chat House • Dennis, MA • 7-9 PM • Free
Sun, July 15 • The Back Eddy • Westport, MA • 4-7 PM • Free
Fri, Aug 3 • Westport Rivers Vineyard • Westport, MA • 6-8 PM • $5
- Past Shows
Fri • 2012-4-6 • 10 PM • No Problemo • New Bedford, MA • 10 PM • with The Insatiables
Thurs • 2012-4-5 • 9:45 PM •The Whiskey Republic • Providence, RI • with The Insatiables
Sat • 2012-3-17 • 9:00 PM • Rockwood Music Hall • NYC • with The Insatiables
Thu • 2011-12-29 • 9:00 PM • Elbo Room • Chicago, IL • solo
Fri • 2011-12-23 • 8:00 PM •The Back Eddy • Westport, MA • with the Insatiables
Fri • 2011-12-02 • 8:00 PM • The Narrows Center for the Arts • Fall River, MA • solo • opening for Lake Street Dive
Fri • 2011-11-22 • 9:00 PM • The Whiskey Republic • Providence, RI • with Barry Gross
Fri • 2011-11-18 • 7:00 PM • Dedee Shattuck Gallery • Westport, MA • with Barry Gross
Sat • 2011-11-12 • 8:00 PM • Rockwood Music Hall • New York, NY • with the Insatiables
Fri • 2011-11-04 • 9:00 PM • Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • with Reed Foehl
Fri • 2011-10-14 • 7:00 PM • Friends Academy • N. Dartmouth, MA • with Shannon McNally
Fri • 2011-10-07 • 8:00 PM • The Back Eddy • Westport, MA • solo
Sat • 2011-08-20 • 7:00 PM • Mini-fest • with Centre Streeters
Fri • 2011-08-12 • 6:00 PM • Westport Rivers • Westport, MA • solo
Sun • 2011-08-07 • 4:00 PM • The Back Eddy • Westport, MA • solo
Thu • 2011-07-28 • 8:00 PM • Gramercy Theatre • New York City, NY • with Jay Frederick
Fri • 2011-07-15 • 6:00 PM • Westport Rivers • Westport, MA • solo
Wed • 2011-06-08 • 8:00 PM • Precinct • Sommerville, MA • solo
Sat • 2011-04-23 • 9:00 PM • Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • with Reed Foehl
Fri • 2010-08-06 • 6:00 PM • Westport Rivers • Westport, MA • solo
Fri • 2010-07-30 • 9:00 PM • Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • with Reed Foehl
Sat • 2010-07-17 • 2:00 PM • Comcast Center (Great Woods) • Mansfield, MA • solo
Fri • 2010-07-16 • 6:00 PM • Westport Rivers • Westport, MA • solo
Sat • 2010-01-16 • 8:00 PM • New Moon Coffeehouse • Haverhill, MA • opening for Mark Erelli
Sat • 2009-12-12 • 7:00 PM • Rockwood Music Hall • New York CIty, NY • with the Insatiables
Sun • 2009-11-29 • 8:00 PM • Toad • Cambridge, MA • solo
Sat • 2009-10-03 • 11:00 AM • Westport Rivers • Westport, MA • solo
Wed • 2009-09-30 • 7:00 PM • The Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • with the Insatiables and Kara Suzanne
Sun • 2009-09-20 • 8:00 PM • Toad • Cambridge, MA • solo
Fri • 2009-09-18 • 7:00 PM • Westport Rivers • Westport, MA • solo
Fri • 2009-09-04 • 9:00 PM • The Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • opening for Ari Herstand
Fri • 2009-08-21 • 9:00 PM • Freddy’s Back Room • Brooklyn, NY • with Kenny Cambre
Thu • 2009-08-20 • 7:00 PM • The Gap • Kingston, MA • solo
Wed • 2009-08-12 • 9:00 PM • Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • opening for Mieka Pauley
Sat • 2009-08-01 • 12:45 PM • Edaville • Carver, MA • solo
Fri • 2009-07-10 • 2:45 PM • Buttonwood Park • Bedford, MA • solo
Tue • 2009-07-07 • 6:00 PM • Dover Town Hall • Dover, MA • with the Centre Streeters
Sat • 2009-07-04 • 11:00 AM • Needham Town Gazebo • Needham, MA • with the Centre Streeters
Mon • 2009-06-29 • 7:00 PM • Blender Theatre at Gramercy • New York, CIty, NY • with the Insatiables
Thu • 2009-06-18 • 8:00 PM • Owsley’s Golden Road • Denver, CO • opening for Great American Taxi
Tue • 2009-06-16 • 8:00 PM • The Fox Theatre • Boulder, CO • opening for Greensky Bluegrass / Todd Shaeffer (of Railroad Earth)
Sun • 2009-06-14 • 8:00 PM • Boulder Draft House • Boulder, CO • opening for Jefferson Hamer
Sat • 2009-06-13 • 8:00 PM • The Walnut Room • Denver, CO • solo
Tue • 2009-06-09 • 8:00 PM • Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • with the Centre Streeters
Sat • 2009-05-16 • 9:00 PM • Lizard Lounge • Cambridge, MA • opening for Reed Foehl
Fri • 2009-05-15 • 8:00 PM • Rockwood Music Hall • New York, CIty, NY • solo
Sun • 2009-04-05 • 8:00 PM • Toad • Cambridge, MA • solo
Wed • 2008-10-08 • 9:00 PM • The Mint • Los Angeles, CA • with Bryan Titus
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Posts
- Exclusive Interview with Singer Songwriter Putnam Murdock
- ISC Semi-Finalist
The Song When I Die has been selected as a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.
Candace Avery, Founder/Director ISC
Putnam co-hosted Cool 102’s the Cheap Seats with Cat Wilson. Listen to it if you missed out!
Listen to all the other great artists featured on the show Part1 & Part2.
Attention New England Cable News Morning Show viewers - The songs “The Promise” and “Wages of Hope” have been selected for the Morning Show Soundtrack Segment airing 7-9am January 16, 2012.
Update:
Watch this amazing clip of Purdum Murdoch at NECN. Make sure to read the video transcription while listening to the video.
Tune in this Sunday, October 23, 2011 at 9pm EST to hear an interview with Putnam “LIVE” on the Writer’s In The Round Radio Network presented by Acoustic Roundtable. A weekly showcase of Independent music created to help foster the growth of Independent musicians through in-depth interviews and music play.
Update: Listen to the broadcast right here!
- ISC Honorable Mention
Jersey Whiskey won an Honorable Mention in the Americana category of the International Songwriting Competition 2009.
Candace Avery, Founder/Director, ISC
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Photos
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FRIENDS
Kara Suzanne one of my favorite singers
David Cieri inspiration from the ether
Reed Foehl mentor, guide, brother from the Centre.
Kenny Cambre my gluten-free, lyrical counsellor
Bryan Pugh producer, mixer, engineer
Baptiste Ibar a gift
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