Kurt Baker

Kurt Baker is a singer, songwriter and rock n’ roll performer from Portland, Maine who has always gone by the famous saying “Have a Good Time All the Time”. He is a founding member of the notable pop/punk outfit the Leftovers, who formed in 2002 and released many acclaimed records and toured all over North America and Europe. Kurt Baker’s signature unique blend of ultra catchy Beach Boys/Beatles styled melodies under a relentless wall of high energy guitars and pounding rhythms have earned him the praise of Larry Livermore (founder of Lookout Records), Ben Weasel (Screeching Weasel) and Jaret Reddick (Bowling For Soup).

Kurt emerged as a solo artist with a “labor of love” solo EP, “Got It Covered”, (2010 Oglio Records). Produced by Los Angeles based pop genius, Linus of Hollywood, “Got It Covered” featured Baker’s take on some of his favorite Power Pop songs of the 70’s and 80’s and featured guest appearances from Kay Hanley (Letters To Cleo) and Adam Marcello (Katy Perry). Kurt’s love of these classic songs all had one thing in common- “a key sense of melody.. and melody has always been the most important aspect of music to me. If you have a catchy hook in your song, you can do no wrong. I’ve always strived to write music that is catchy and fun.. that will be stuck in your head for hours after listening”

After a successful solo-tour of Europe in the fall of 2010, backed by Italy’s best Power Pop band, The Radio Days, Baker focused on taking his solo act back to the USA. A brief stint of shows throughout the Midwest brought together a group of musicians featuring Mike Bryne (the Methadones), Wyatt Funderburk (Second Saturday), Geoff Useless (the Guts) & Craig Sala (Planeside), to make up the Kurt Baker Band.

By January 2011, Baker had recruited longtime friends Josh Malia (The Taxis, Hi Fivin White Guys) and Kris Rodgers (Goodnight Process) into the fold. They soon returned to the studio to record the new “Rockin’ For A Living”, Kurt’s debut full-length solo album, due out October 25th 2011 on Oglio Records. As a special favor to Kurt’s European fans, “Rockin” For A Living” will be released as a limited-edition vinyl by Stardumb Records (Holland) and Torreznetes Entertainment (Spain). A tour of Europe has been booked as well as dates in the US to support the record.

When looking at what drives Kurt’s musical passion, he can pinpoint the second his life was changed by music. “The first record I ever loved was “Rubber Soul” by the Beatles. I must have been 5 years old when my uncle played me his cassette tape in his gigantic van as we drove through the rolling hills of Wisconsin. I’ll never forget the feeling that I felt when I first heard the opening chords of “Drive My Car” and the rockin’ shuffle of “The Word”.. even the melodic 12 string intro of Harrison’s “If I Needed Someone” hit me as something totally new and foreign. The songs in “Rubber Soul” just struck something in me.. it was exciting, and almost indescribable. I finally felt like I understood something.”

Online:
http://www.kurtbakermusic.com
http://www.facebook.com/KurtBakerMusic
http://www.myspace.com/kurtbakermusic