Singer-songwriter Mason Reed calls Tucson home now, but his heart is still very much in the Los Angeles area as evidenced by his planned "Mason Reed Presents" show series to take place Friday nights at Enterprise Fish Company in Santa Monica. Kicking off the partnership, Reed will be performing on April 16, 2010, as part of a "Mason Reed and Friends" bill which also includes Elle King, D. Henry Fenton, and other special guests. Future nights, even when he doesn't play, will be curated personally by Reed and will serve as an off-shoot to his internet series, "Legends of La La" (www.legendsoflala.com), which he co-writes with filmmaker Matthew Arnold.
Says Reed: "Because of shooting 'Legends of La La,' I have been able to meet some spectacular artists. When the Enterprise Fish Company contacted me about doing a Friday night gig there, I thought it would be a perfect place to showcase this talent that I'm fortunate enough to be surrounded by. These are some of the best up and coming songwriters in LA. The only condition I had is I get to pick the artists." "Mason Reed Presents" is sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon, and there will be PBR and Jack Daniels specials, great tunes, and a very cool vibe every Friday night.
Reed's ties to LA date back to 2005 when he gave away everything he had except his writings, his guitar, and a small bag of clothes, broke his lease in Denver, Colorado, and moved to California to pursue his dreams. "I decided to invent my own life," Reed says. He's been after it ever since. His CD "Witches & Whiskey" came out that same year, and featured Max Bennett (Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa) on bass. Reed spent the next four years touring, writing daily, honing his craft and connecting with audiences everywhere he's played. His latest EP, "You Can't Come Back From Heaven," was released on his own label on February 23, 2010, and is available online via all download portals, with hard copies will be available at shows and at www.masonreedmusic.com. Recorded over five days in January 2010 in Los Angeles, California, and produced by Reed and engineer Steve Holroyd (Ryan Adams, Tom Petty), the new EP features an appearance by bass master Jorgen Carlsson of the band Gov't Mule on three of the tracks, including the first single, "Not Perfect."
Reed's "Never Ending Tour" continues across the country (see tour schedule below). The tour starts on February 17th in Los Angeles. "I'm a work horse for sure," says Reed. "Road, studio, road, studio. This is the schedule we have, and I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way." As Reed sings on the first track on the EP: "I don't love nobody, but I love that road."
4/16 – Enterprise Fish Company, Santa Monica, CA
4/20 – The Talking Stick, Venice, CA
4/23 – Everyday Joe's, Ft. Collins, CO
4/25 – The Loft, Colorado Springs, CO
4/28 – Gabe's, Iowa City, IA
4/29 – Vollrath Tavern, Indianapolis, IN
5/1 – Uncommon Ground, Chicago, IL
5/2 – The Horseshoe, Chicago, IL
5/7 – Art Bar, Milwaukee, WI
5/9 – Lanhuck's Bar, Evansville, IN
5/12 – The Acoustic, Johnson City, TN
5/13 – Kingsport Grocery, Kingsport, TN
7/30 – Heartland Café, Chicago, IL
...more dates to come!