Nashville.About.Com - February 2008 Putting labels on musical artists isn't always an easy thing, especially when you're dealing with artists from the eclectic Nashville Noir digital distribution label. Such is the case with the duo of Stephen Flatt and Shane Alvis. The Flatt and Alvis sound is clearly rooted in the bluegrass made famous by Flatt's legendary great-uncle, Lester Flatt. But it also incorporates a little country, a little Gospel, some Simon and Garfunkel and Everly Brothers harmonies, and even an occasional suspended chord of the type used by the Stones or Tom Petty. In other words, this ain't your grandpa's bluegrass. Flatt and Alvis have known each other for about 25 years, and have been playing and writing together off and on for more than half that time. Flatt is the guitarist/vocalist, and Alvis is the pure singer whose voice is the perfect complement to Flatt's more traditional Nashville/Appalachian approach. But if they had to be summed up in a few words, they are basically the Simon and Garfunkel of Nashgrass. "I guess we do approach every song kind of like Simon and Garfunkel," Alvis said. "If it's got more of a Southern rock or Southern Gospel sound, then I'll lead; if it's got more of a straight bluegrass thing, then Steve will lead. But nine times out of 10 it's a combination of us harmonizing pretty much continuously." The duo is making noise with their CD "Fields of Fire," available through their website or digitally through the Nashville Noir site. On this CD, mandolins, fiddles and pedal steels weave in and out of near-constant vocal harmonies that are both traditional and contemporary. "We want to do digital distribution and get it into as many people's hands as possible," Flatt said. "We just mostly like doing what we do, and if other people like it, that's great too. We grew up in Nashville around a lot of people in the music business, and we know how hard it is. But if we do get a chance to play live because of people hearing us (through the Internet), that's great too." Flatt never really knew his famous great-uncle. "I was three or four when he passed away," he said. "I remember going to his funeral and going to see him in the hospital, but that's it. But at my house we listened to a lot of bluegrass growing up, along with Johnny, Waylon and Willie, and then I got into the folk stuff and some rock and roll." It was a slightly different story for Alvis. "I grew up Church of Christ singing a cappella," he said. "But Steve grew up Baptist and surrounded by instruments, and he started taking the same path as his family." One thing they have in common with such duos as Simon and Garfunkel, or even the Louvin Brothers, is a natural communication that gives them a recognizable vocal blend. It may not be long before Flatt and Alvis are on the playlist of the iPods of contemporary bluegrass fans everywhere. Rick Moore - nashville.about.com Bluegrass Now Magazine, May 2007 Don’t worry: Flatt & Alvis is not some cross-pollinated parody of Flatt & Scruggs and Elvis Presley. Rather, it’s a young Nashville duo with a spirited debut release — Fields of Fire. Singer/songwriter Stephen Flatt is the great-nephew of Lester Flatt and naturally, a guitarist. He met singer Shane Alvis in school, and they forged a musical partnership, honed their harmonies, and racked up enough failed romances to amass a repertoire before they entered college. Fields of Fire finds them fronting a standout studio cast consisting of Mike Headrick (pedal steel), Peter Hyrka (fiddle, mandolin), Dave Roe (bass), Guthrie Trapp (guitar, mandolin) and Mike Walters (drums). The backing bolsters an Americana mix that begins with the rockin’ road song “Rollin’ Down the Highway” and proceeds to country and newgrass hit-the-road songs “Not with Me” and “Sister Pain “ In between, the memories range from the jamband-flavored “Yesterday’s Gone” to ballads, “Fallen Rain” and “Calling of the Crows.” “Carry On” captures a coal miner faced with the mine’s closing, and affords momentary respite from the heartache and broken dreams that eventually run together like the liner notes’ nearly illegible lyrics. Nonetheless, Flatt & Alvis should carry on and command a devoted following. TW Ron Wynn - Nashville City Paper Dec 1, 2006 The Nashville duo of Stephen Flatt and Shane Alvis dip into country, folk and bluegrass with equal fervor and quality on Fields of Fire . Whether doing conversational tunes (“Rollin’), introspective pieces (“Yesterdays Gone, “Calling Of The Crows”) or more emotional and intense material (“Where Were You,” “Sister Pain,” “Fallen Rain”) their leads and harmonies are appropriately tough, tender, anguished or sentimental. They’re assisted by a fine band whose members include violinist, mandolin ace and accordionist Peter Hyrka, bassist Dave Rorick, drummer Mike Walter, acoustic/electric guitarist Guthrie Trapp and pedal steel player Mike Headrick. Flatt and Alvis will have you deep in thought one moment, and then engaged and dancing the next in this fine set that merges several styles, while featuring solid originals, polished and proficient vocals and topflight playing. Uncle Billy Dunbar - Country Unplugged Bluegrass Radio - June 10, 2007 This Album has it’s merits but it is not in the fact that it’s a tradional bluegrass. The listing on its group information flyer as a sub/genre bluegrass told me that. But having heard their tune Rollin’ released as a single on Prime Cuts of Bluegrass compilation disc I was kind of drawn to it. Or maybe it was because of one of the artist is a Flatt, yes Shephen Flatt is the great-nephew of the legendary Lester Flatt kind of forgave the bit of the percussion in the tune. However, the guys are more of a Jam band or maybe even straight up country. And the first listing on the genre listing is country so there you have it. Ah, but then there is the merit side of the album "Field Of Fire", there are some stand out acoustic and old mountain ballad’s and that is the redeeming factor. "Fallen Rain", with it’s lead in acoustic guitar run, Mandolin and fiddle and some great harmony and lyrical vocal singing from Shephen Flatt and Shane Alvis told me that is would find more good work from these two young songwriter’s and musicians I would like and want to play, and I did. Shephen and Shane met as early teens and are now doing a fine job making music. Other stand out cut’s for Bluegrass folks are "Calling of The Crows" and "Fields Of Fire" the album’s title tune is a nice sonnet, with a almost Renaissance or mountain flavor to it, and I’m not sure if it is the recording that I have but it has a sound like you would be playing a old vinyl lp record to it. For you folks who are also tradional country or what I call real country will like " Old House" it even a little steel in it. I guess you would say the recording has,a little bit for everyone on it. Charles Martin - www.indie-music.com. Nov, 4 2006 Flatt & Alvis have this country thing figured out. Fields of Fire is a virtual study on how to make modern day country and western. The two youngsters show flairs of musical ingenuity, such as in the travelogue opener “Rollin’,” but not so much that it becomes inaccessible to the mainstream consumer. They traipse a line between good ol' boy and sensitive county crooner deftly with impressive harmonies and careful instrumentation. Kathy Coleman - about.com Take two guys with some impressive talent, give them a chance to stretch their skills as singers, pickers, and songwriters, give 'em some awesome backup players, and what you end up with is one sharp debut disc. It's easy to believe this is a duo who have been working together for several years, writing up an impressive catalog of original music before even entering college. These two, Stephen Flatt and Shane Alvis, are boys to watch. Nashville Music Guide These boys offer contemporary country music with a definite Southern Rock influence. Their harmonies are stand-out as well as their song-writing abilities, ten of the album's twelve tunes were penned by Flatt with "Rollin' Down the Highway" co-written with Alvis. Excellently produced by Dustin Michael for the independent Nashville Noir label, the CD showcases talent that should be commercially viable and headed for stardom. You'll want to own this one, so look for it at your favorite record store. Brad Fischer 6/7 Stars Fields of Fire is Truly Wonderful By: Barbara Mandrell "Fields of Fire" is truly wonderful. It's got such fantastic variety, and the artistic style is so fresh. Flatt & Alvis Break the Rules Sony Acid Planet For nearly a century, the city of Nashville has been known as the “Music City of the World” - home to the Grand Ole Opry, the Ryman Auditorium, and the magnificent sound of Country Music itself. But more than anything else, Nashville is known for its unending succession of artists that always seem to break every rule in the book – and Nashville certainly has a lot of rules to break! In 2006, there is a new chapter being written in the pages of Nashville’s lengthy music history. Our story begins as two young artists are poised on the brink, taking one final breath before the biggest plunge of their lives - Two artists that have the weight of a family legacy on their shoulders… Nashville born and raised singer/songwriters Stephen Flatt and Shane Alvis have just completed their long-awaited debut album entitled “Fields of Fire” (Nashville Noir 2006) with the help of celebrated producer/director Dustin Michael. Using traditional live/acoustic recording techniques, and focusing on the duo’s ingenious harmonies and presence, the album presents Flatt & Alvis’ dark and soulful music in a most unforgettable way. Also accompanying Flatt & Alvis on “Fields of Fire” is an all-star cast of legendary Nashville musicians: Peter Hyrka (Human Radio, Sixpence None the Richer), Dave Roe Rorick (Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam), Mike Headrick (Conway Twitty, Jerry Lee Lewis), and Guthrie Trapp (Patty Loveless). Flatt & Alvis are already packing-out venues in the region (even before their first CD is released) and it seems that the duo have a long road ahead of them.
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