SEAN COSTELLO "WE CAN GET TOGETHER" Liner Notes by Scott Dirks

Sean Costello is a bluesman for the 21st century. Young, articulate, creative, and a man with his own voice and vision, his roots are nonetheless anchored in the traditional sounds of the generations who preceded him. Every time he performs, echoes of the soulful and funky sounds of the legends who laid the groundwork of the blues are in every phrase. And like the best of those who came before him, he takes the framework of the blues and adapts it to make his own statement. Costello manages to balance that fine line between ‘edgy and new’, and ‘familiar and comfortable’, and he does it in a way that is uniquely his own. His music is soulful and funky in the tradition of the masters, while sounding fresh and relevant in this century.

Born in Philadelphia in 1979, Costello moved with his family to Atlanta, GA at the age of 9. Shortly thereafter, he picked up the guitar. “I love playing the guitar,” he says. “As a kid I was definitely obsessive over the instrument, and for years I felt I could express myself better through the guitar than with my own voice.” Within a few short years of picking up the guitar, he’d won the Memphis Blues Society’s new talent award, and while his classmates were worrying about who they’d take to the high school prom, he was already on the road with his own band. In 1996, the precocious 17 year-old released his first album, “Call The Cops”. Around this time Costello joined up with fellow blues guitarist Susan Tedeschi, touring with her and laying down some tasteful lead guitar work on her Gold-certified Tone-Cool debut “Just Won’t Burn”.

Costello followed up with three more widely acclaimed CD releases between 2000 and 2005, plenty of high-profile press exposure, and an almost constant schedule of gigs and roadwork, which gave him opportunities to jam with blues legends such as B.B. King, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins, and Bo Diddley among many others. Along the way he’s also developed into an excellent original songwriter, and while his incendiary guitar skills certainly haven’t taken a backseat, he says, “…right now I’m equally driven towards writing songs and expanding my vocal direction.”

All the evidence that’s needed of his newfound focus is on display in this CD. “I feel like I’ve found my voice again. I wanted to create something that was new and interesting to me, and comes from my heart. There was no special concept, other than trying to do what’s natural for me, in an organic way that wasn’t forced or calculated. This was really a home-grown thing, a real hometown project, done with the guys I love playing with. And I’m very proud of the results.” From the hard-driving “Anytime You Want”, “Same Old Game” and “How In The Devil”, to the strutting “Can’t Let Go” and “Hard Luck Woman”, from the dark Tom Waits-ish vibe of “Little Birds” (a traditional song Sean learned from the legendary Levon Helm, who in turn had learned it from his parents), to the hard-to-categorize “Told Me A Lie”, Sean Costello proves that he’s developed into a fully mature artist with an appealing musical vision all his own. He tips his hat to many of his influences in blues, rock & roll, funk, contemporary music and even gospel, but there’s never any doubt that Costello is his own man musically. “I’ll never play the old blues better than the people who invented it…I’m 28 years old, and I need to make my own statement.” And with this release, Sean Costello does exactly that.

Sean Costello Thank Yous:
Debbie and Glenn Smith, Marla Altendorfer, Stephanie Trubic, Jennifer Campanella, Erik Ford, Jeff Bakos, Dar Lopez, Ray Hangen, Oliver Wood, Jon Liebman, Donnie McCormick, Dave Roth, Rich Ianucci, Neal Wauchope, Chris Uhler, Adam Mewherter, Paul Linden, Steve Rosenthal, Iain Martin, Ellyn Webb and The Northside Tavern, Matt Harper, Magic Fred, Stephen Talkovich, Richard Goodsell, Peter Jones, Piedmont Talent, Peters Management Syndicate, The French Connection(you know who you are), The City of Atlanta, The City of Buffalo and all the fans, everywhere. Special thanks to Randy Chortkoff and the Delta Groove Music staff for believing in me and supporting my creativity.

Randy Chortkoff (Delta Groove C.E.O.):
I love the job Sean did in the studio. In addition to being a very gifted songwriter and performer, he’s developed into an excellent producer. He knows his sound and his strengths better than anyone, and did a great job. Special thanks to Carol Peters and the Peters Management Syndicate staff - Sacha & Sue.

Sean Costello Endorses:
Goodsell Amplification, Dean Markley Strings and Hagstrom Guitars.

Paul Campanella Endorses:
Silverfox drumsticks exclusively and endorses Grover Pro Custom Drums.

Booking Sean Costello:
Piedmont Talent, Inc. / Steve Hecht [Director/Agent]
PO Box 680006 / Charlotte, NC 28216
Phone: 704.399.2210
Fax: 704.399.2261
email: info@piedmonttalent.com
web: www.piedmonttalent.com