Artist description Started as a bunch of 4-track recordings for friends and family, put together a band with Walter Schleisman and Dameun Strange in 1998 to record the first cd release Audio Magazine Volume 5: Way Out.

Music Style Indie Rock

Musical Influences Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, John Lennon, Tom Waits,

Similar Artists Ezra Hale, Guided By Voices, Pavement, Superchunk, Ween, Sonic Youth, Lou Barlow, Folk Implosion, The Clash, Modest Mouse, Bob Dylan, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Sea and Cake, Matthew Sweet, Tom Waits

Artist History Ezra has been writing music since 1988 and playing with many groups in the Twin Cities for the last ten years including, Deformo, The Speed Limit Five, Dylan Hicks, The Mafia, The Odd. Tracks from Way Out were picked up by 161 college radio stations nationwide in 1998 and 1999, ten of which reported it in their top 40.

Group Members On "Volume Five, Way Out": Ezra Hale (guitar, vocals, trumpet, bass, drums, percussion), Walter Schleisman (drums, trombone, vocals, guitars, keys), Dameun Strange (keys, saxophone, vocals, bass keys), also on select tracks, Jeff Budin (guitars), Dana Nelson (lap steel), Steve Price (bass guitar), Steve Salett (vocals).

Instruments guitar, drums, bass, organ, trombone, trumpet, saxophone, lap steel,

Albums Way Out

Press Reviews (Way Out) made me homesick. I thought it was really smart midwestern rock familiar but not cliché. The horn arrangements are right on --- like on “I’m Comin’ Up,” they give the songs a nice, tweaked kinda swagger… -- Will Hermes, Spin Magazine ***** Hale’s clear, melodic voice and hooky guitar lines shine on Matthew Sweet-esque numbers like “Straight As An Arrow” and “Hollywood.” The infectious “Jetfighter,” with its broken-hearted-guy-as-a-jet metaphor, is a clever, catchy hit waiting to be discovered. Audio Magazine gets high marks for its sublime pop… -- Jennifer Undis, Twin Cities Sidewalk ***** (On a bill with The Odd and Deformo) Audio Magazine has the brightest future of the three, with Deformo trumpeter Ezra Hale singing songs of angels and jet-fighters at least as catchy as any the headliners have produced. -- Peter Scholtes, City Pages ***** There were plenty of fine live cameos at this year’s Minnesota Music Awards, but Dylan Hick’s “Rocket Ship” (April 21, 1999, First Avenue) – given wings by Ezra Hale’s supple trumpet solo – was the one that soared the highest. -- Jim Walsh, St. Paul Pioneer Press

Location Minneapolis, MN - USA

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