ROD PICOTT " Rock Blues " With his latest release, Girl from Arkansas, Rod Picott continues to thrive and expand as a storyteller and singer. Slated for release November 2nd on his Welding Rod Records label, Girl from Arkansas brings Picott's eye for lyric detail and whiskey-voiced delivery together with a newfound intimacy. Assembling a small crack band that included Dave Jacques [John Prine, Patty Griffin] on bass and Paul Griffith [Buddy Miller, Mindy Smith] on drums, producer/engineer David Henry [Cowboy Junkies, Guster] and Picott set out with a mission to capture the most honest and heartfelt performances they could find. Recorded live in the studio Girl from Arkansas was made with minimal overdubs. The vocals were recorded live as the tracks were laid down with an effect of intimacy and immediacy mostly missing from today’s recordings. Without the fussiness and formality of layering the recording, something special was revealed -- the heart of the songs. Lyrically and musically, Girl from Arkansas finds Picott with his most personal group of songs yet. From the gritty, real-life details of the title track to the dark poetry of "Last Goodbye", this group of songs stands as a testament to artistic self-revelation. Growing up in the small mill town of South Berwick, Maine, Picott was exposed to a surprising mix of musical influences. His father, a former marine had a record collection that spanned from the marches of John Philip Sousa to Ray Charles and Johnny Cash. An older brother, an avid record collector, introduced Rod to the punk poetry of Patti Smith and The Clash, finishing the groundwork of influences that Rod would draw from later in his own music. Picott's debut release, Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues, announced his arrival as an artist of note. The album was well received, and Music Row magazine’s Robert Oermann called the debut, "the birth of a major, major artist". 2002's Stray Dogs displayed even finer skills as a writer and vocalist and featured guest appearances from Alison Krauss and frequent co-writer Slaid Cleaves. The album was embraced by Americana radio and found it's way onto the chart for a time without the help of hired radio promotion - a surprise to some in the industry. It also found it's way onto many year’s-best lists in both the States and Europe. Girl from Arkansas is a fitting addition to the Welding Rod catalog and features some of Rod Picott's sharpest writing and inspired singing to date. Highly personal and fiercely honest in it's delivery the new album is a brave new chapter in an unfolding story. www.RodPicott.com