Boulder, Colorado rock-fusion sextet Eminence Ensemble are embarking on a nationwide tour in support of their upcoming new album, Real News.
Due out on February 5, the Colorado guys are releasing 13-tracks of new studio material that will give fans a new sound to the band and will be the band’s first studio release with added guitarist Taylor Frederick and keyboardist Johnny Bosbyshell.
“The band has grown and matured musically and personally since our first album in 2014, Mouse Hunt. This album is a cultivation of all of our lives and so many experiences that have led us to write new lyrics and riffs. It’s kinda a whole new sound for the band that we’ve settled into and expanded upon,” guitarist and vocalist Justin Neely said.
With having Justin Neely, Nick Baum, Zac Flynn and Tanner Bardin attending elementary, middle, high school, and college together, Real News is a true life musical interpretation of the band and is set to give listeners some real music in times of when deception can be eminent.
“We’re in the realm of progressive rock that a whole song is one main idea with a theme. I’m seeing a lot of distraction and people worrying about the wrong things. Real News comes from our real experiences that we’ve lived. Everyone in the band has written a least one song on this album, so it’s about real emotions that aren’t influenced by the media. The music is dense and you have to kinda pick it apart. It’s like looking at an intricate painting. Every time you look at it you’ll see something new. I encourage fans to really dig deep into the music and read the lyrics and create their own interpretation of it. It’s real news and we want people to think about it,” Neely said.
A new album isn’t the only new and exciting thing these guys have to look forward to in 2019. The band is also teaming up with Hi-Line Merchandising to give fans a whole new line of merch for the upcoming tour. If that weren’t enough, Eminence Ensemble is also donating $1 of every ticket sold at most shows on tour to Conscious Alliance’s “Art That Feeds” food drive.
“We’ve always seen Conscious Alliance’s amazing art everywhere and just knowing the concept of helping artists spread their art and directly helping people and kids who are in need is amazing. We’re in a position to spread a good message to people and make an impact. It takes $0.50 to donate a meal, it’s a huge circle of epicness,” Bardin said.
Kicking off their tour with three nights in Texas, the band is especially excited for four shows with funk band Turkuaz and touring the East Coast since 2015, including a debut at the iconic Brooklyn Bowl.
“We’re supporting Turkuaz in the middle of our tour, two nights in Montana and two nights in Colorado. It’ll be a big hometown show for us at the Ogden Theatre on February 16, so we’re really stoked. We’re really excited to go back to the East Coast and play our first Brooklyn Bowl show for our East Coast fans,” Bardin said.
Real News is set out to be released on all streaming services on February 5 before the band begins their nationwide tour on February 7. For a full list of tour dates and tickets, click here.
*All photos from the band's Facebook
Published Live for Live Music article here