"It's a beautiful thing to have full ownership of your art."

Photo: Crackerfarm

The Pageant, St. Louis

MARTIN SEXTON

Saturday, April 26

Special guest:  GEORGE STANFORD

Doors: 7:00 PM   Show: 8:00 PM

General Admission - Limited Seating:  $20.00

All Ages  

Minors (those under 21): Restricted to non-alcohol section

$2.00 Surcharge for Minors at the Door 

Blue-eyed, soulful singer-songwriter Martin Sexton returnsto The Pageant in St. Louis this Saturday night to share his unique blend of mellow jams with local fans. Following the release last year of his most recent studio album, Seeds, Sexton is currently touring and working on writing some songs for his next release. But he's in no hurry. Like his laid back personality, he's just taking it all in, looking for inspiration.

"Writing is such a slow process for me," he says. "I don't have a method. I wish did sometimes. Each song just happens in a different way, in a different place, in a different time."

With a sound all his own but clearly influenced by many forms of American music, Sexton's smooth and soulful voice is penetrating -sometimes happy and sad all at once. Seeds, perhaps his most diverse record to date has tones and influences from blues to soul to gospel to country and folk. Or perhaps, it may just be uniquely Martin Sexton, as the artist says he rarely listens to music when he's not making itand isn't even familiar with many of the finer musicians of the craft.

"I honestly couldn't even name any gospel artists. Even soul or old-time country, I could only name some of the very most famous ones," he says. "For me, that true American music was heard in a certain time, and when Iheard it, it was just love at first sight and it soaked into me. I never really studied it. Even the blues I got second-hand through bands like Led Zeppelin and Eric Clapton. I don't even own any records."

Seeds is the first album Sexton recorded that wasn't done live, with the vocals and the music laid down on one take together. "The music was written first, and I didn't have lyrics except maybe a hook or something. Then I wrote the lyrics over the music," he says.

Seeds is also Sexton's first major studio release on his independent label, Kitchen Table Records, which he launched in 2002 after exiting his major label contract with Atlantic Records. With the support of a dedicated fan base and management team, he has never looked back.

"It's a beautiful thing to have full ownership of your art, "he says. "Getting the big record deal was a dream come true for me at that timein my life; but after a couple records, I discovered that it was sort of like for me being in a very large family - hard to get the attention you need to get to that next level. I figured that if I could just get a decent distributor, I could put out the record myself and cut out the middle-man, so I did just that. I actually sold more records."

Sexton recently enjoyed a spot on the first-ever "Mayercraft Carrier" cruise to the Bahamas hosted by John Mayer and featuring such artists as Soulive, Colbie Caillat and Brandi Carlile playing for three days in the Caribbean sun. "It was a good hang; a good party," he says.

Opening for Sexton at the Pageant will be newcomer and Island Records artist George Stanford, a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia with a pop sensibility akin to Maroon 5's Adam Levine or Coldplay's Chris Martin. But for those who want to hear beautiful notes soaring through the venue, then falling into a deep, soft lullaby, Martin Sexton is your man. He is without a doubt one of the most unique singer-songwriters playing today, and seeing him live is a memorable music experience worth checking out. | Amy Burger