Blues I Shall Keep

Listeners have hailed Anthony Neff as "a songwriter's songwriter". Originally from West Virginia (born in the same small town where Hank Williams was pronounced dead), Anthony has been based out of the Raleigh, NC area for the last several years. With the release of his debut CD, "Generation X-istential Blues", music fans around the country and overseas are being introduced to his catchy brand of Americana-based rock.

"Generation X-istential Blues," released in October 2002 on Porch Glow Records, has been praised as a "solid collection of songs" that is very "friendly to the ears" (Rick Cornell, Independent Weekly). With songs that have been described as "half Band and half Little Feat," the CD has been praised for the diversity of its arrangements. Mike Plumbley of Ragamuffin Radio raves that it

"Begins with lots of promise and never lets up...Gritty, gutsy rocking with smooth vocals and infectious backbeats...I love the twists and turns of tempo and style on this album...oughtta be a classic."

Produced by Kenny Roby (6 String Drag) and Rob Farris (Big Bang Theory, the Backsliders), the CD features several veterans of the NC Triangle area music scene. In addition to contributions from Roby and Farris, members of 6 String Drag, the Countdown Quartet, and the Backsliders participated in the recording. The result is a CD that goes back and forth between several musical styles - Americana, folk, country rock, pop and the blues - all the while maintaining a sense of consistency with a solid framework of strong lyrics and melodies.

Anthony is a self-professed "music geek," with a long list of favorite artists - from songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, to bands like the Kinks, the Beatles, and the Clash. A quick glance at his album and CD collection will find multiple selections from artists as diverse as Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane and Ray Charles to Bob Marley, Black Sabbath, Charlie Rich and Pearl Jam. As a result, Anthony's songs tend to cross the lines between various musical genres.

Often performing as a solo acoustic act in bars and coffee shops, listeners are treated to the "stripped down" versions of Anthony's songs. It's those songs (the thought-invoking lyrics and hook-filled melodies) that are at the heart of the beauty of "Generation X-istential Blues".