About this project
September 1, 2011: Just a quick update. 25 days till the end of the already successful campaign. I can't thank you folks enough! Still floating in the clouds from the knowledge that this project will indeed happen. For anyone who still wants to contribute before the end of the campaign, ie., 9/26/11, the entry $25 contribution will still get you the signed cd, bonus cd, poster, lyric sheet and 2 Christmas song downloads.These extras won't be available after the campaign ends. Any funds over the original goal, I will use for promoting the cd and paying the musicians who offered to play for nothing in this year's sessions. They clearly deserve it. Also, I wanted to add a few photos from some recent recording sessions.
Engineer FJ Ventre recording at my house.
Greg Bower on baritone guitar on "Put Out a Fire" with FJ Ventre.
Chad Johnson on Telecaster for "Won't Stop at Anything" and "Mr. Lonely".
Jeff Hart with Greg Bower at recent studio session.
August 5, 2011: We're funded! Thank you to all of you kind and generous people this project will be a reality. Though the goal is met, anyone can still get on the Ghost Train and contribute at the $25 level and get their pre-order in and with that comes the signed poster, signed custom lyric sheet and the digital downloads of the two original Christmas songs. As I mentioned to someone on Friday, you've made me feel like George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life.
When asked why this is my first studio cd in 16 years, I like to respond with "One thing I've been reminded about these songs over and over is that these are the ones that have stood the test of time." And after 16 years, the time has come for me to share them with you.
I'm so proud of this record. Being a lifelong Tar Heel native, all of these songs were born, inspired and crafted here. So the CD is appropriately entitled Ghosts of the Old North State. The first book I ever read as a first grader was a book about NC ghosts.
I've been working with various recording engineers over several years and have saved up the songs that I consider my best over a long period of time. Some are more recent and some have been in the vault and unheard for over a decade. I had over 50 songs to choose from, but these made the cut. My passion has been more about playing live in the last decade, much like an actor who prefers the stage as opposed to film making. So the time went by without these well-recorded songs ever being released to the world. Now that I'm pulling this project to completion, I have ignited a new passion. It's hard to put into words how much these songs mean to me. And it's worth noting that Brad Magner's art design for this cd package is going to be really special and in step with the Ghosts of the Old North State theme that runs through the songs.
Here's a clip of me playing some of the tunes in their most intimate form, ie. just me and a guitar. As the tracks are mixed later in August, I'll also link some sound clips from the sessions. Turn it up loud!
August 3 update: Here are some demo versions of some early mixes of two of the songs. I've since tweaked them some more this summer since these clips:
http://www.myspace.com/jeffhoo/albums/ghosts-of-the-old-north-state-7275314
I'm putting the final touches on some overdubs in Carrboro with FJ Ventre at the board and hope to get it to the final step, ie. mastering and pressing next. That's where you come in. As you may know, Kickstarter is an all or nothing proposition. If I don't make the funding goal, you won't be charged. But I'm confident there is strong support out there for this kind of project and together we'll make this happen. I'm shooting for an early December 2011 release and I'm making the campaign a little shorter than others I've seen to allow ample time for the mastering and pressing once the goal is met.
It's based on a pledge and reward system for patrons of the arts, and it's like pre-selling cd's merchandise, house concerts, etc. Supporting me on Kickstarter is very similar to buying a book or cd online. And I have included a lot of special touches like signed lyric sheets, signed posters, a bonus rarities cd, guitar lessons, house concerts and a home cooked meal by a culinary wizard who happens to be one of my fellow musicians.
I've carefully estimated the budget for the mastering and pressing and I have arrived at $2350. Though this amount doesn't cover all of the project, I have other costs outside of the Kickstarter campaign such as promotion, mixing, session musicians, artwork and postage. I've budgeted to meet those on my own. The recording sessions have all been paid for and / or budgeted on my own. With your support come some well crafted rewards. Hopefully, one of them will work best for you. It's my wish to return the highest quality for your contribution. I am humbled and forever indebted to you for your support of both my music and local music in general. Thank you a hundredfold.
I'm confident this project will live up to some of the past reviews I've gotten for my work.
“ His prize possession is a guitar signed by over a dozen of his heroes including Paul Westerberg, John Hiatt, Robert Earl Keen, and Matthew Sweet - with a combination of that foursome providing a decent description of Hart's sound ... and from a Byrds-eye view, the pre-Clarence White Byrds. ” - Rick Cornell - No Depression
"Among its cuts ... one shoulda-been career maker, a gritty waltz called “Rose of Sharon” ... As always, Hart’s attention-to-detail songwriting is on display" - No Depression
Lesser artists have made careers of such songs. ” - Record Exchange Monitor
“Like mid/late era Graham Parker w/ an early 80s new wave pop approach but it throws in Costello, Byrds, Brinsley Schwartz/Burritos country hybrid and LOTS of Freedy Johnston/Joe Henry. Haunting, other times straight forward; an austere and well grounded pastiche. Rustic, idiosyncratic, inventive.” - Bruce Brodeen - Not Lame
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on September 26, 2011.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
A signed copy of the CD when released, a signed poster and a custom designed & signed lyric sheet. Also a digital copy of Jeff's two Christmas singles (in keeping with the spirit of the December release date).
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
A signed copy of the CD, a signed CD of unreleased rarities, demos and live tracks, a custom designed & signed lyric sheet, a signed poster, and a guitar or beginner ukulele lesson at Jeff's home in Carrboro NC. Digital copy of Jeff's two Christmas singles .
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
Signed copies of the CD and rarities CD, a signed poster and a “thank you” in the CD credits. And two guitar or beginner ukulele or songwriting lessons at Jeff's home in Carrboro NC. Digital copy of Jeff's two Christmas singles .
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
Signed copies of the CD and rarities CD, a signed poster , a “thank you” in the CD credits, guest list privileges for 5 upcoming shows and two guitar or beginner ukulele lessons.
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
Signed copies of the CD and rarities CD, a signed poster , a “thank you” in the CD credits, guest list privileges for 5 (you and a guest) upcoming shows . plus a solo acoustic house concert and “executive producer” credit in the CD liner notes.
Pledge $750 or more Pledge $750 or more
Signed copies of the CD and rarities CD, a signed poster , a “thank you” in the CD credits, gig guest list privileges (you and a guest) for a year . Plus a solo acoustic house concert and “executive producer” credit in the CD liner notes. Add in an exquisite dinner prepared by David Harrison for the hosts of the acoustic house concert. David will join me on various instruments for this concert.
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
All of the above rewards as the $750 level, but Jeff will write a song and record it for you based on a questionnaire he will send you.
Pledge $1,250 or more Pledge $1,250 or more
Yard or house party: all of the rewards of the $1000 level, plus Jeff will play one set solo acoustic and one of his bands will play the second set. Free guest list privileges (you and a guest) for two years.
Project By
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American (North Carolina) guitarist, singer and songwriter. Has led or co-led several groups in the last 25 years in NC, namely The Brown Mountain Lights, The Nervous Grooms, The Panther Branch Boys, The Hanks, The Frosted Sugar Bombs & his own rock combo Jeff Hart & The Ruins. He's played bass and guitar with other NC standouts such as the Two Dollar Pistols, Chris Stamey's Big Band and Robert Kirkland & The Hanks following the breakup of Arrogance. He currently drums with Sad Magazine. A 25 year veteran of the NC music scene, primarily in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill clubs. Though original in his pop-craft, his indie-roots guitar influences can be traced to the Flying Burrito Brothers, The Beatles, The Byrds, Neil Young, The Kinks, Tom Petty, the Replacements and even Television.
