Caudill, Jeff
Voice B/w Wishing Well
Not many artists stay relevant to their fanbase over a sustained period of time, but California singer-songwriter, Jeff Caudill, is one such rarity. Fronting and writing for poppunk band Gameface in the early 1990s, his voice and knack for a memorable hook and melody quickly established a dedicated following. He led the band around the globe, gradually shedding youthful exuberance for a string of increasingly mature releases, before finally abandoning the tour van in 2003. It wasnt long before Caudill reappeared, acoustic guitar in hand. The new earthier sound was a logical progression from his punk roots. The release of acclaimed debut album, Heres What You Should Do, confirmed this was an artist equally comfortable mixing pop, indie and alt-country to create something fresh. A steady stream of releases followed, including his second full length, Try To Be Here and the aptly titled companion EP, Had To Be There. The trademark pop sensibility burns as bright as ever, and his lyrics connect with his loyal fan-base, confirming him as a man comfortable in his own skin. Never one to sit still, Caudill teamed up with his longtime friend, Popeye Vogelsang (Farside) for a project called Your Favorite Trainwreck and released a self-titled album in 2012. In 2014 Gameface reunited and released their strongest and most deeply felt batch of material to date, Now is What Matters Now, which was very well received by fans. After the death of his friend Jon Bunch, Jeff was asked to perform the Sense Field track "Voice" with the surviving members at the east coast memorial concert and shorty afterward decided to record the track and release it (with the Black Sabbath song "Wishing Well" on the b side) as a benefit for Jons family. "Voice" is a straightforward but different take on the the original, with a more subdued twang than normally heard on his solo work. "Wishing Well" is a ambitious adaptation of the original that shifts much the sonic heaviness to the weight of the words and chords giving the song a new dimension.