Anyone who’s been reading Popdose over the last decade should be familiar with the name Sean Kelly.  As one-fourth of A Fragile Tomorrow (singer – guitarist) and as a solo artist, Sean has been a long-time favorite and friend.  He’s now adding “publicist” and (more importantly) “published author” to his resume, the results of which are a wonderfully ambitious project dedicated to the brilliant work of The Continental Drifters.

September 27th will see the release of a band biography, written by Mr. Kelly, White Noise & Lightning:  The Continental Drifters’ Story and a tribute album of Drifters’ songs, We Are All Drifters: A Tribute to the Continental Drifters, performed by some very fine/talented people, produced by Mr. Kelly and David Jenkins along with Tim Lee (The Windbreakers) and Susan Bauer Lee through their Cool Dog Sound label, which will also be publishing the book.

Taken directly from the band’s website:
“Sean Kelly’s biography, White Noise & Lightning: The Continental Drifters Story, tells the decade-long journey of the Continental Drifters from their buzz band beginnings at Raji’s in Hollywood to their demise in New Orleans a decade later, and everything in between. Lineup changes, record label woes, drugs and alcohol, marriage and divorce all followed the Drifters from L.A. to LA, but one thing never changed: their passion for making music together, no matter what stood in their way.

We Are All Drifters: A Tribute to the Continental Drifters is a 25-song, two-disc celebration of Drifters music, featuring contributions from Marshall Crenshaw, The Iguanas, Rosie Flores, Don Dixon,  John Cowsill, Garrison Starr,  Jolene, Robbie Rist, Debbi Peterson & The Minus 5, Kim Richey & Kettle of Hawks , Rob Laufer, George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Steve Wynn and many more.”

As someone who appreciates the works of The Continental Drifters, many of the artists mentioned above and Sean Kelly’s own previous efforts, this is something I am truly looking forward to – and I think you, the reader/listener will as well.

AND – to whet your appetites for all this, please give a listen to an EXCLUSIVE premiere (below) of Danielle Howle & Mark Bryan (yes, of Hootie &  The Blowfish) doing “Meet Me In The Middle” – this will be streaming exclusively (as the official “single”)  on Bandcamp on Friday, September 20th with all download proceeds going to benefit the Wild Honey Foundation:

White Noise & Lightning:  The Continental Drifters’ Story will be available as of Friday, September 27th, 2024.

https://www.continentaldriftersbook.com/

https://continentaldrifters.com/

https://cooldogsound.square.site/product/white-noise-lightning-we-are-all-drifters-bundle/49

 

 

About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

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