Live music with James Coates

“Union Pacific, won’t you take me away?” muses songwriter James Coates of the trains that pass his home an hour south of Seattle. And appropriately so: Traveling has done him well. He frequently ventures north to Seattle and south to Tacoma to perform as an active member of the Pacific Northwest’s burgeoning music scene. And during the summer of 2012, he embarked on a tour across the U.S., traveling more than 8,000 miles to perform in places like Chicago, New York, Nashville, Austin, and Los Angeles to name a few, in support of his debut album Land of Fame and Glory.

Influenced by ’60s pop icons like the Beatles and Beach Boys as well as folk/rock revolutionaries like Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, Coates has crafted a 9-song love letter to the music that inspired him. From the 12-string jangle of “Man of Faith” to the orchestral strings of “A Real Rock and Roller” and the confessional lyrics of “If You Should Ever Leave Me,” the album is a diverse work of passion that sounds both modern and classic.

Approaching recording as art rather than music, he set his sights on connecting with the listener emotionally rather than aesthetically. The result is a raw, beautiful album that will appeal both to your ears and your heart. James is currently recording new songs that will materialize in the form of a new album.

Eleven Winery open 11am-5pm; Live music from 1-4pm.