Caffe Lena Welcomes Back Singer-Songwriter Griffin House
When Springfield Ohio born and raised Griffin House left for college, he shocked his family by turn turning down a sports scholarship to focus on music. The talented high school athlete took his $100 guitar and taught himself how to play and write songs. It's proved to be a good choice. Over ten years later, House has definitely learned how to play and write a song!
After graduating, House moved to Nashville and independently released his first album, Upland (2003). His music attracted national attention leading House to sign with Vancouver based label, Nettwerk, and he released LOST & FOUND in 2004. In Aug of that year, CBS SundayMorning Music Journalist, Bill Flanagan (MTV/VH1) raved about the album, "I was knocked out." Several self-released albums followed - most on Griffin's imprint-Evening Records. He's toured extensively, opening for artists such as Ron Sexsmith, Patti Scialfa, Josh Ritter, John Mellencamp, Mat Kearney, and The Cranberries. In 2007, House put out Flying Upside Down, produced by Jeff Trott and featuring Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, elevating him to headliner status and garnering commercial and critical acclaim with his intelligent, heart-felt lyrics and melodies in such songs as "The Guy Who Says Goodbye to You Is Out of His Mind" and "Better Than Love." House followed with 2010's Learner and 2013's BALLS. His song "The Way I Was Made" from '04s Lost and Found was featured in ESPN's Fan Hall of Fame Commercial (Watch it here ) - fitting for the athletically gifted House who was included in GOLF DIGESTS Oct '14 issue tied at #6 in their TOP 100 in MUSIC poll -- Golf Digest 'Top 100 in Music' . Late in 2014, House released "Songs for a Prisoner" (Griffin House LIVE from Prison), a 5-song EP recorded LIVE inside a TN Prison. PREVIEW Songs for a Prisoner..."I had no illusions that my performance would be anything like Johnny Cash's 'Live at Folsom Prison.' It turned out I was wrong. They were hopping and hollering and singing along and really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I'm glad we recorded it." The always busy House also completed a series of theater shows in the past few years - The Cash Legacy: A Musical Tribute to the Man in Black StudioTenn:The Cash Legacy ;contributed to the Jackson Browne Tribute album 'Looking Into You' with his amazing cover of Barricades of Heaven. "Griffin House, who transforms a Browne deep cut, "The Barricades of Heaven," into a riveting tour de force that makes the song sound like an unearthed treasure." ~Sam Gnerre, LA DailyWhile steadily on the road, Griffin also took time to record his next studio album. So On and So Forth is a collection of original tunes that old and new fans will consider some of his best work: the beautifully pennedPARIS CALLING - Sweet Sensation, a love song to Paris which Griffin pre-released in Dec 2015 after the Paris attacks to the to-live-by anthem ofEASY COME EASY GO and feature track YESTERDAY LIES, So On and So Forth is certain to 'knock you out'.
Photo Credit: McConnville Studio
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Come From Away Chattanooga Theatre Centre (9/01-9/30) |
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Mean Girls the Musical Playhouse on the Square (8/21-9/13) |
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The Unexpected Guest Playhouse 615 (7/17-8/02) |
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Nashville Ballet: Paul Vasterling's Nashville's Nutcracker Andrew Jackson Hall (11/27-11/27) |
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Ain't Too Proud Playhouse on the Square (3/26-4/18) |
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Misery Ramsey Theatre Company (3/19-3/20) |
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An Enemy of the People The Circuit Playhouse (9/11-10/04) |