Lee Gallagher - Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah (2015)

'Lee Gallagher and his band, The Hallelujah provide a 'teaser' on their website for their debut album. It is one minute and 30 seconds long and it is aggravating as hell. It is way too short, incredibly enticing, igniting a hunger that dwells in many of us; that longing for something real, fresh and exciting, like music used to be.' --Coachella Valley Weekly 'Critics are raving about Lee Gallagher & The Hallelujah, particularly Gallagher's Neil Young and Robert Plant-esque vocal intonations, framed by the band's "hazy, folk-rock, Americana style." --Red Dirt Reporter, OK 'Can I get a Hallelujah?'--Flagstaff Live top picks 'Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah's self titled album not only has charisma, but like Steve Marriott's time with both Humble Pie and The Small Faces, the sexual lyrical allure and driving passion of Bon Scott and Jim Morrison and the intrigue and real human life stories that binds together John Dexter Jones work are mixed with fruitful conviction throughout the 11 songs on offer by Kirby Lee Hammell, Jacob Landrey, Kevin Grapski, Joe Miller and of course Lee Gallagher.'--Liverpool Sound and Vision "When music fans think of great singer-songwriters, they might think of Neil Young and when they think of powerful voices they might think of Robert Plant. Perhaps the generation of today and tomorrow, they might think of Lee Gallagher as both." --Bay Area Examiner "Hazy folk rock-Americana that gives a serious nod to the musical aesthetics of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, but Gallagher's voice upholds a particularly recognizable nod to Neil Young." --The Deli Their Unique Brand Of Psychedelic Gospel Pushes The Roots Music Envelope San Francisco, CA October 2014-- San Francisco based psych Americana band, Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah, are an organ/guitar driven rock band whose shows transport the audience out of a traditional music venue and into a hazy, hip shaking psychedelic tent revival. Described as "An obvious walking, talking lead singer" by City Beat Magazine, Gallagher has rapidly risen to the top of San Francisco's rock scene. His EP, Valley of a Dying Breed features acclaimed singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, a champion of Gallagher's work and an artist he credits as an influence. On the heels of Valley, Gallagher, along with his band, The Hallelujah are now embarking on tour as they gear up for the release of their first, full-length, self-titled record. Bonding over a love of Bobby Charles (among many other influences) The Hallelujah are a group of like-minded musicians comprised of Kirby Hammel on piano/organ, Jacob Landry on lead guitar, Kevin Grapski on bass and Joe Miller on drums. Along with Gallagher the band is a group of people who are constantly playing and evolving together. The band has been together for a year and claims the turning point was when they booked studio time without knowing what the album was going to be. "I essentially brought all my notebooks to rehearsal and just started playing-arranged about 20 songs and narrowed it down from there," said Gallagher, "We had 3 weeks before the first session, and it was the first time I have ever worked on a 'deadline' musically. It was a testament to the energy and devotion of the band. It also created a cohesiveness that one tries to obtain while making an album. The most exciting thing is how the band continues to develop that cosmic connectivity that all musicians strive for when playing together." "The Hallelujah Prelude" eases the listener into the music with Gallagher's hazy, dreamlike vocals and leads to "Sugartown" which layers cosmically sublime music that will weave throughout the album. The song, "Gloryland" takes it's name from the title of an old hymn and the band kicks it into high gear with their gospel-rock sound. "Shallow Grave" takes that same energy and adds a little voodoo, while "Feel Like Going Home" is a lament framed by wailing guitars. The song was recorded live and captures the band at their finest. The psychedelic song, "That's How The Light Gets In" borrowed it's name from a line in Leonard Cohen's "Anthem". Gallagher was inspired after playing a show with known rock author, Sylvie Simmons, who had just finished her book on Cohen. The album ends with an anthemic rock number, "1935" which Gallagher said was inspired by reading a lot of Zora Neale Hurston. "I decided to have my own version of a Sunday afternoon in 1935." For the new kids on the block, the band has had an incredible welcome, opening for well-known bands such as Living Colour, The Doobie Brothers, Boston and The Tubes. They've also played the legendary Haight-Ashbury Street Fair and the first annual Not Dead Yet Fest, along with working with the folks at Light Rail Studios and having Betty Cantor (legendary Grateful Dead recording engineer) stop by one of their sessions. Gallagher and the Hallelujah recently released their debut video & single to "Ready for the Mountain" which was recorded on Jerry Garcia's tape machine. They've also released a video and single for the song, "American Flags", a hazy folk-rock track that merges easily into the Americana music genre. After taking a brief hiatus from playing this summer (keyboardist Kirby Hammel joined Sun Kil Moon on tour), the band is back and taking their electrifying live show on the road in support of their first full-length record. "I think this band has a ton of soul," said Gallagher, "We are punk rock without playing 'punk' music."