Loretto,TN-based duo Grace & Tony, the husband-and wife pair who create a progressive blend of musical styles in a genre known as punkgrass, are world premiering their new video for Chameleon” on May 5, 2014, on ZUUS Country (www.zuus.com). The video will be broadcast as part of an episode of “On The Rise” (which will air at 7 p.m. in all time zones), with the episode featuring the duo guest VJ’ing as well. Fans can go to http://www.zuus.com/where-to-watch to find local listings or they can also watch the live stream broadcast of the episode at7 p.m. EST here: http://www.zuus.com/music-videos/zuus_country_tv. “The Chameleon” will then air at the top of every hour during video blocks for an entire day after “On The Rise” airs.
The video tells the story of a down-and-out guy who discovers and falls in love with Grace—who looks shockingly like his late wife—after seeing her in a tour poster. The clip incorporates some alternately disturbing and funny twists and turns, including a foot chase, live performance clips, and an identity shift that is a nod to the song’s title. Co-directed by Lloyd Aur Norman and Tony White, with the story created by Tony as well, the video was shot in various locations in Lawrence and Wayne counties in Tennessee.
Says Tony of the clip: “I had the idea for this video while riding down the road on tour. Neither of us wanted to be the star of this video, and from that came the concept of making someone else The Chameleon. I thought that approaching this story from a completely different angle would be fun. Our guy (Kyle Kelly) actually does become another person in a way. There were a ton of laughs on the set, and I couldn’t imagine a video shoot being more fun than this one.”
“We have been big fans of Grace & Tony for some time now and when we heard they were doing a video for ‘The Chameleon’ we jumped at the chance to be the first to air it,” says ZUUS Country Program Director Kent Bailey. “A big part of our network is built on introducing viewers to fresh, new, exciting artists, and I can’t wait to show them this great video!”
Grace & Tony White released their full-length debut album, November, on November 11, 2013, via Rock Ridge Music, which follows the 2011 EP, Inside a 7-Track Mind. Exposed to music early on in their lives by family (Grace’s liked the Southern styles from gospel all the way to rock, while Tony learned from his brother, John Paul White of The Civil Wars fame), Grace & Tony experimented with an unlikely blend of genres by mixing punk, folk, bluegrass, and Texas swing.
Since then, doors have opened, and they have succeeded in their goal to be heard by bigger audiences by headlining the historic Crockett Theater (Lawrenceburg, TN), appearing at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and performing twice on the legendary “Daytrotter Sessions,” as well as performing for Balcony TV, “Jimmy Lloyd’s Songwriter Showcase,” and Knoxville’s “Blue Plate Special” programs. In addition, two of their videos (“Let You Down,” “November”) are being played in regular rotation on ZUUS Country. They’ve also scored airplay on CMT Edge and GAC.
No Depression praised the album, saying: “Telling universal stories about love and loss through the perspective of larger-than-life characters gives November a literary feel. Place that in the setting of a musical genre that opens up traditional forms of musical communication to the adventurous nature of punk and even a little swing, and Grace & Tony has produced an album in November that is not only a lot of fun, but provides the music lover with musical substance that demands repeat listening.”
More opportunities for Grace & Tony wait on the horizon; their dance card is filling up quickly as shows are added to their schedule on a regular basis (recently, they’ve shared the stage with folks like the Lone Bellow, Billy Joe Shaver, Dom Flemons, and Carolina Chocolate Drops, as well as hitting the high seas on the Cayamo music cruise, playing alongside the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Ricky Scaggs, Bruce Hornsby, and Lyle Lovett). They will also be performing at the Winnipeg Folk Festival in July 2014.
In April 2014, they launched a video series called “Greenroom Sessions with Grace & Tony,” which features backstage/on the road video performances with fellow musicians of Grace & Tony songs and covers shot on an iPhone. Partner site TheBoot.com is world premiering new clips on the 1st and 15th of every month. Past sessions have included performances with Malcolm Parson (Carolina Chocolate Drops), Christian Lopez, and Misty Mountain String Band.
