OLD WEST MEETS HIGH TECH ON NEW HANG JONES WEB SITE

Date: Jun 15, 2008

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Contact:

http://www.hangjones.com
415-307-8935
3555 17th st San Francisco, CA 94110

Indie band Hang Jones offers Outlaw storytelling and free MP3 downloads online

Monday June 16, 2008 (San Francisco, California)

Independent Americana band Hang Jones has launched their new web site (www.hangjones.com) featuring free MP3 downloads of songs off their forthcoming outlaw concept album, The Ballad of Carlsbad County. The 12-song album chronicles the life and fall of the outlaw William Bishop, with each song serving as a chapter in the character's downward spiral. The band's web site will feature a new MP3 and an accompanying Legend entry that details for the listener how the songs tie together in the overall story arc of the album. Stephen Grillos, the singer and songwriter for Hang Jones believes "The best Americana songs all have one thing in common – someone has to get shot." The result is a dark and haunting album, reminiscent of the classic country style of Johnny Cash and Steve Earle, with a healthy dose of the storytelling prowess of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. The album is scheduled for release in early September.

The band decided to release the songs one by one on their website, like an old time radio serial, so that listeners could immerse themselves in the album's storyline. In addition, Grillos decided to allow fans to download MP3s after watching recent music industry trends. "Traditional music distribution is failing, and the record companies are having a tough time finding a business model that works," said Grillos. Direct digital marketing using the internet has worked for bands like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, and Grillos believes it can work for indie artists too. "In this internet world, the fans, not the record labels, decide what they want to listen to. But, with so many bands trying to cut through the static, you've got to give the people something worth noticing."

"Chapter 1: The fall of Caroline" is available now on www.hangjones.com. The second chapter is scheduled to be released this July.


For more information contact:
Stephen Grillos
Hang Jones
3555 17th st
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-307-8935, stephen@hangjones.com

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