Will an Amazon Prime Video show provide a needed spotlight for Wilmington music?

The Runarounds

[Repost from StarNews Online; by John Station, March 24, 2025]

For decades, Wilmington's music scene, while vibrant, has rocked out in relative obscurity.

Even as venues like Live Oak Bank Pavilion and Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre have brought more big-name touring acts to town in recent years than ever before, for the most part Wilmington bands have struggled to gain much notice outside the Port City.

It's not for lack of talent or productivity, as one could easily create an hours-long Spotify playlist using only the best songs of Wilmington artists.

But with a Wilmington-shot TV series, "The Runarounds" — about a young band with an infectiously jangly sound trying to make it big — set to hit the Amazon Prime Video streaming service later this year, many have high hopes that the Wilmington scene could soon have something it's long lacked: lots and lots of attention.

Wilmington has had hit TV shows before, from "Dawson's Creek" to "The Summer I Turned Pretty," and fans still come to town to visit the place "One Tree Hill" was made. And while no one knows for sure whether "The Runarounds," will be a hit with viewers — it hasn't yet been given a release date more specific than "2025" — the signs are encouraging.

For one, show creator Jonas Pate, who lives in Wilmington and whose daughter, Lilah Pate, is one of the stars of "The Runarounds," has a proven track record with his Netflix mega-smash "Outer Banks," which will air its fifth and final season in 2026.

Pate said "The Runarounds" will feature music by Wilmington bands in the show and on its all-important soundtrack and playlists.

Veteran Wilmington indie rock band Summer Set, along with the poppy rock act Kicking Bird, both of whom have albums out on Wilmington's Fort Lowell Records, will have multiple songs on the show, Pate said.

Other Wilmington acts with music in "The Runarounds" include Tres Altman and indie-folk band The Paper Stars, and Max Agee of Wilmington band Lawn Enforcement and Wilmington's Suck Rock Records, something Agee called "a nice bit of validation."

Also with a song in the show is former Wilmington musician Kim Ware, who records for Fort Lowell.

The Runarounds have gigged at several Wilmington venues in the past couple of years — the band consists of William Lipton, Axel Ellis, Zende Murdock, Jesse Golliher, and Jeremy Yun — and they played an event for Amazon Prime Video on March 7 at the taste-making South by Southwest festival in Austin. Lilah Pate was there cheering them on.

They have a slot at Charlotte's massive Lovin' Life Music Fest May 3, and their next Wilmington gig is May 17 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater with another young rock band, The Stews.

Perhaps most important for Wilmington's music scene, however, not only will "The Runarounds" feature lots of Wilmington locations and some Wilmington-born songs, but its setting isn't some fictional place like Tree Hill, Capeside or Cousins Beach but Wilmington itself.

That's key, said Robin Wood of beloved Wilmington punk rock act Tercel, because "not only does it represent the Wilmington scene visually, but it puts the whole idea that there's a music scene in Wilmington out there on the screen."

With multiple talented bands packing out Wilmington rooms on a regular basis, from midtown rock club Reggie's to Fifth Avenue juke joint The Rusty Nail, "There's something to shine a light on," said Tercel singer Savannah Wood. "We have fans. There's an audience that wants music and is willing to go out and pay money to see it."

Robin Wood did some work on "The Runarounds" via Wilmington production company Lighthouse Films, whose founder, Brad Walker, is the show's director of photography. Tercel pedal steel player Chris Vinopal also works for Lighthouse (a pedal steel player in a punk band? Only in Wilmington), and Savannah Wood had worked with some of "The Runarounds" costumers on another locally shot show, "The Summer I Turned Pretty."

All those connections helped the band land one of their distinctive T-shirts — with an alligator screaming "Tercel!" — on Runarounds band member Jeremy Yun during a scene on the show's upcoming first season, Robin Wood said.

It might seem like a small thing for a band to have a T-shirt, or even a song, featured on a TV show. Then again, every little bit of attention can add up, especially if "The Runarounds" attracts an audience similar to the millions worldwide who watched Pate's show "Outer Banks."

"We're on the cusp," said Altman, of Wilmington band The Paper Stars. "Once the show hits, those playlists get a lot of views, and people are going to want to learn more about those bands."

Wilmington DJ and producer RizzyBeats is a regular presence at shows and behind the counter at Castle Street's Gravity Records, and has released music with Fort Lowell.

"Anything on a national scale that will keep Wilmington’s name in people’s minds will be helpful," he said. "The scene here is very vibrant with a ton of incredibly talented individuals that could rival any big city, in my opinion. There are a lot of creators here that are producing quality music."

Sean Thomas Gerard is a 15-year veteran of the Wilmington scene both as solo artist (he has a gorgeous 2021 album, "Finally Found a Paradise," on Fort Lowell Records) and with his previous band, Onward, Soldiers.

"It's crazy to me the scene here doesn't get more attention," Gerard said. "It's as good as anywhere. Maybe not as many bands as the bigger markets, but there's something for everybody. You just gotta look for it."

In 2012, Gerard was featured playing one of his songs on "One Tree Hill," and his band Onward, Soldiers' song "Stick to Your Guns" was used to score a key scene on the show.

"It still gets tons of streams. It's kind of been the gift that keeps on giving," he said. "It just shows the potential of what a TV show can do for a town, or for a scene."

Notes on a scene

"Potential" is probably a good word for what Wilmington's music scene possesses.

More attention could only help a young Wilmington band like the poppy rock act Fudge, which packs out Reggie's on a regular basis and scored a slot at Charlotte's Lovin' Life Music Fest in May, joining The Runarounds as the only other Wilmington act on the bill alongside such acts as The Dave Matthews Band, Weezer, Gwen Stefani and Ludacris.

"It's pretty exciting" that the show could give a boost to the Wilmington music scene, said Fudge's singer, Patrick Riesmeyer. "There are so many bands right now. The original music scene is really growing."

Fudge is an independent band, and while they've made certain inroads, Riesmeyer said, like scoring steady gigs playing college fraternity parties around the state, they spend a lot of time marketing themselves on social media and elsewhere. A hit show about a band from Wilmington could potentially make that easier for a group like Fudge, even if they're not directly involved with "The Runarounds."

It's not like no bands have ever broken out of Wilmington. Hard rock acts like ASG, He Is Legend and Weedeater have fans all over the world, while indie rock acts like The Rosebuds and The Love Language started in Wilmington before going on to sign with Merge Records. Tercel and Wilmington post-punk trio Exercise played the esteemed Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh this year.

Some say the Wilmington scene is already better than it gets credit for.

"We're spoiled. A lot of people take it for granted," said Delia Stanley, a Wilmington singer who can be found playing covers and originals at venues around town. "I'm an old punk rocker, so, the way I look at it, once everybody knows about something," the scene will inevitably change, and not necessarily for the better.

Others aren't certain that the Wilmington scene, vibrant as it is, is ready for prime time.

"There's definitely talent," said Altman, of The Paper Stars. "But something's missing."

One thing that's missing, Altman said, is a midsize indoor venue that could host both local and touring acts year-round. Right now, most Wilmington venues that host concerts are either big and/or outdoors, like Greenfield Lake (1,200) and Live Oak (7,200), or much more intimate, like Reggie's, Bourgie Nights downtown or The Palm Room at Wrightsville Beach, all of which hold 200 or less.

Notable exceptions might be the Brooklyn Arts Center, which hosts more events and weddings than it does concerts, and Bowstring Burgers & Brewyard on Princess Street, which has made inroads booking touring jam and tribute bands.

"We're lacking a serious indoor venue," said Altman, who cut his musical teeth on the scenes in Denver and Boulder, Colorado, before moving here about 15 years. "We need a Fox Theatre," like the one in Boulder, which has a capacity of about 625 and regularly hosts both local and touring acts.

Altman said he'd also like to see better promotion of Wilmington music locally; some kind of big annual music festival with a mix of local bands and touring acts; and more Wilmington bands as openers at Live Nation-run venues Greenfield Lake and Live Oak.

Local acts only rarely get to open for touring bands in Wilmington, but when they do it provides a boost. When The Paper Stars opened for St. Paul and The Broken Bones at Greenfield Lake, "We sold some records, got some social media hits," Altman said. "It lasted like two weeks, then it's over.

"There is a recognizable music thing happening in this town, but it needs some cohesion," he added. "Maybe 'The Runarounds' would be a unifying force, but if there's not a tangible brick and mortar place, that momentum will also be lost."

Wilmington DJ and producer Rizzy Beats echoed Altman's call for "more music-centric and music-focused venues for the artists to build their brand and following."

"Wilmington’s best strength has always been its tenacity, making lemonade out of lemons," he added, noting how the Wilmington scene has faced adversity in losing multiple venues over the past 10 to 15 years, including the legendary Soapbox in 2013. "But there are still so many musicians, artists and DJs here. We’ve got artists representing jazz, hip-hop, folk, rock, metal, punk and so much more. And they’re producing original material at a high level."

This time next year, if "The Runarounds" ends up being a spotlight for Wilmington music, it could be that a lot more people will be listening.

‘An eggnog’s-a-flowin’ party:’ Justin Lacy, Tracy Shedd among 12 musicians to play Bourgie Nights’ annual Christmas show

[Repost from Port City Daily; by Shea Carver, December 1, 2021]

WILMINGTON – When ILM Unplugged started a decade ago at Bourgie Nights, it welcomed numerous local musicians and singer-songwriters each month to take the mic and test-drive their original tunes in front of an audience. Then, each December, the unplugged series got the tinsel treatment. Performers would sing their fave holiday carols and one original song, while spiked eggnog and general camaraderie fueled the most celebratory concert of the season. 

“I consider this the ‘Office Holiday Party’ for singer/songwriters in the area,” Bourgie Nights manager Sean Thomas Gerard said.

After a Covid-19 hiatus, Christmas Unplugged returns. The tradition takes place Friday night, featuring 12 local musicians, each performing two holiday songs and one original tune as part of their set.

“I leave the holiday aspect of the show open to interpretation,” Gerard said. “Singers are allowed to play anything that reminds them of the holidays, and obviously it is open to the celebration of all faiths.” 

A local musician and founder of rock outfit Onward, Soldiers, Gerard said he went back to a group chat he started in 2019 to cull this year’s holiday lineup. He reached out to performers who take the stage annually, including Justin Lacy, Tres Altman, and Jason Andre. Gerard also folded in newer faces to the lineup. 

It will be Tracy Shedd’s first time joining the shindig. Though Shedd moved to Wilmington a few short years ago, she has had ties to the area since the ‘90s, as her songs were featured on “One Tree Hill” and “Dawson’s Creek,” both filmed locally. 

She and her husband, James Tritten, have recorded with local artists as well on their label, Fort Lowell Records, which started in 2009 in their then-hometown of Tucson, Arizona. The couple now lives in downtown Wilmington.

Shedd has chosen to play the holiday song “I’d Like You for Christmas” by Julie London, of whom she has been a lifelong fan. She also will pay homage to her favorite decade of sounds in “Just Like Christmas” by Low.

“James and I both adore the band,” Shedd said. “They are the definition of ‘90s music for us, and we were very fortunate to perform with them in the late ‘90s when we lived in Boston, MA.”

Joining the alt-rock musician onstage will be James Sardone (Brickbat) and Brian Weeks (De La Noche, Summer Set), who will back her as well during her original song “Holding Space.” Shedd recorded it for the “GROW” compilation released by Fort Lowell in 2020, as a fundraiser and awareness campaign for Black Lives Matter.

“The lyrics mean a lot to me,” Shedd said. “It’s about being present, listening, and holding space for others.”

The song felt apropos for the return of Bourgie’s holiday concert. The last Christmas Unplugged was held December 13, 2019 and the downtown’s venue final show took place held Feb. 28, 2019 before the Covid-19 shutdown. 

“Our first show back was August 1, 2021,” Gerard confirmed.

For artists, performing live music throughout the health crisis was heavily altered. Many deferred to livestreams and other creative ways to reach audiences. Gerard utilized his downtime to create the LP “Finally Found a Paradise” in his home studio. He will perform the song “Sail off in the Sunset” at Christmas Unplugged, as well as “The Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas.”

“As musicians, it’s always hard to catch each other playing live throughout the year,” Gerard said. “We’re always gigging or working, and rarely find the time to see our peers play. This is the one gig each year where a lot of us are in one room and can experience a show together.”

Justin Lacy has been a part of every Bourgie holiday soiree since its inception. Last year, upon the concert’s cancelation, he turned his attention to creating a lo-fi Covid Christmas album, “The Clampamp Parade,” with his favorite local indie bands all recording a track from home. 2021’s return to the stage is a touch more special, as there is a greater need to embrace a face-to-face reunion among colleagues.

“This is my very first time performing my songs in public since the pandemic,” Lacy said. “In fact, the last time I performed was the 2019 holiday showcase at Bourgie. I miss it, and I’m looking forward to getting back up there.”

Having to play only three songs instead of a full set, Lacy said, presented a feasible way to ease back into the swing of things. He also called it the most “heart-warming show of the year,” filled with vibrancy and palpable support. 

“It’s kinda like all the musician egos are (somewhat) stripped away, and everyone opens up for this playful, holly jolly, sometimes corny extravaganza,” he said. “Or maybe it’s just the eggnog.”

First performed over a decade ago at the Soapbox, Lacy’s holiday standard, “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” has become an expected treat any time he takes a stage in December. “I am obligated to perform it every single year. Some kind of Faustian bargain with the late Dr. Seuss, I think,” he said. 

Lacy also recorded an original holiday tune in 2017, “Christmas on TV,” which he looks forward to dusting off the jingle bells for, even if it means he has to relearn it each holiday season. “Every year I’m like, ‘What the hell are these chords again and how did I come up with this?’” he quipped. 

The musician will debut a new track, “Honest Honey,” to appear on his solo album, slated for release in 2022. Lacy also just released the 11-track LP  “Hands” with his band Library Baby a few weeks ago; however, come Friday he only will perform solo — well, until he manages to pull friends onstage to join him, something he said he does every holiday showcase.

“[I’m] usually trying to incorporate some kind of odd Christmastime instrumentation,” he said. “This year it’s handbells.” 

The sounds reverberating throughout the venue usually culminate in a community singalong of some sort, though Gerard won’t “confirm or deny” such is the case for 2021.

“[B]ecause it’s the holidays, there is a whole lot of cheer going around,” Lacy promised. “Of all the shows I play and work every year, this one is the most fun to be part of. … The first year I attended, I prepared a solo set and some Christmas banter. When I got there, it was clear … it was more of an eggnog’s-a-flowin’ party atmosphere, not an audience sitting down ready for a story. So now I bring the Christmas party.”

Doors to Bourgie Nights (127 Princess St.) open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3. The concert is also a Toys for Tots fundraiser, with a $10 suggested donation or an unwrapped, new toy. Christmas Unplugged, presented in collaboration with Modern Legend, will feature performances by: Justin Lacy, Mike Blair, Tracy Shedd, Kicking Bird, Julia Rothenberger, Sean Thomas Gerard, Billy Heathen, Travis Shallow, Mark Jackson, Tres Altman, Kyle Lindley, and Jason Andre.

Modern Legend & Bourgie Nights presents 'Christmas Unplugged'

Fort Lowell Records is proud to share with you that Sean Thomas Gerard, Kicking Bird, and Tracy Shedd, along with many other fantastic local Wilmington, North Carolina based musicians, will be performing live in concert this coming Friday, December 3rd at Bourgie Nights for the annual Christmas Unplugged: A Holiday Songwriters Showcase event -- which is ultimately a fundraiser for Toys For Tots.  Each artist will perform two holiday tunes and one original song, all acoustic. $10 donation for entry, or simply bring a 'toy' to donate to Toys For Tots.  See y'all at the show!

Sean Thomas Gerard 'Finally Found a Paradise' Vinyl LP

Thanks to help of our friends at Modern Legend, Wilmington NC's Sean Thomas Gerard's brilliant sophomore album Finally Found a Paradise is now available 140-gram black vinyl record!  Don't wait, this release is limited to only (100) hand-numbered copies, so be sure you order your record today!

PLACE ORDER HERE

Happy Birthday, Sean Thomas Gerard!

Sean Thomas Gerard 'Finally Found a Paradise' Vinyl Announcement

Well, since this has been a weekend chock-full-o announcements and celebrations, we figured now is a good time to share this with you: Thanks to the support of Modern Legend, as well as a few amazing individuals who simply want to see Wilmington NC continue to grow and remain the beautiful community it already is... Fort Lowell Records is very proud to report that Sean Thomas Gerard's stellar sophomore album -- Finally Found a Paradise -- will soon be made available on vinyl record! Jackets are printed, and vinyl lacquers have been cut, so records are soon to be pressed and we hope to have wax in hand sometime in the late summer / early fall. Can't wait to see Chris Frisina's artwork on 12inch format! Stay tuned, and enjoy your Sunday Funday!

ILM Music Outpost presents: Sean Thomas Gerard

ILM Music Outpost is the brainchild of a handful of local Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM) locals who came together to bring life to their local music scene. Inspired by NPR's Tiny Desk Series, ILM Music Outpost is a team that includes The Plant Outpost as the location, Boot Scrap with the video footage, Garion Worldslayer behind the photography, Tom Michels making sure it all sounds good as heck, and Modern Legend helping with booking and promoting. 

Watch Fort Lowell Records' own Sean Thomas Gerard perform three songs -- "Walking On Air", "Jovie", and "Miles We Didn't Drive" -- from his latest album -- Finally Found a Paradise  -- on ILM Music Outpost:

OUT NOW: Sean Thomas Gerard 'Finally Found a Paradise' [Digital LP]

Available now on all digital music download and streaming platforms, Sean Thomas Gerard's sophomore solo album Finally Found a Paradise is officially out today: Tuesday, March 30th!  Receive a *BONUS TRACK* when you download the album through Bandcamp, by printing out the Black & White artwork [PDF] included to make and share your own version of the album cover! 
Original artwork by Chris Frisina, of Sleepy Cat Records.

LISTEN NOW on Bandcamp

Wilmington musician Sean Thomas Gerard finds 'Paradise' on dreamy new rock album

[Repost from StarNews Online; by John Staton, March 23, 2021]

A dozen years ago, Sean Thomas Gerard burst on to the Wilmington music scene with folk-rock outfit Onward, Soldiers, winning fans with such sharply written rockers as "Cinder Blocks" and, later, dreamy ballads including "Gentle Man."

Now an elder statesman of the local scene at just 33, Gerard is preparing to release his second full-length solo album. "Finally Found a Paradise" -- a textured, nuanced expression of domestic bliss -- comes out March 30 on Wilmington-based label Fort Lowell Records.

"I used to struggle to write happy songs. I wanted to write happy songs," Gerard said during a phone interview. "I'm happier with myself now, with my life. Having a kid gave me purpose."

That kid would be Jovie, his daughter with wife Heather. Gerard's fans met his now-20-month-old daughter a year ago in a song he named for her. "Jovie" comes off like a lushly melodic ray of sunshine, and it serves as a touchstone of sorts on "Finally Found a Paradise."

The song "Loser" -- about a former friend who fell from Gerard's good graces -- is the only one of the album's eight tunes to carry anything like a discontented edge. The rest are warm and fuzzy in the best possible way, smile-inducingly potent expressions of love and happiness.

"This record has got to be my most personal," Gerard said. "It's just a reflection of where I am in my life. I used to write about a lot of darker subjects. I was in a darker place ... If I start to write dark songs again, maybe come check on me."

In the hands of someone less eloquent, domestic bliss could sound cliche or even cheesy. On "Finally Found a Paradise," however, Gerard renders moments in ways that are both poetic and profound, paired with a sound that lilts along dreamily, like thoughts that are walking on air.

Speaking of which -- the song "Walking on Air" has a lazily bouncy Beatles feel with lyrics about finding that missing puzzle piece. "Strange & Electrifying," while less twangy than some of Gerard's output with Onward, Soldiers, maintains an arena-worthy pop-rock vibe, with an anthemic chorus and lyrics that are less than straightforward but that conjure the picture of a rewarding relationship.

Gerard, who grew up in Pittsburgh, said his lyrics used to be "more vague. I thought that was cool or something."

Now, he's found a way to deliver meaning without being too obvious about it, an approach that works with the upbeat yet cool rock sound displayed throughout "Finally Found a Paradise."

"My stuff in the past has been a little more all over the place" sound-wise, Gerard said. "I wanted something that tied together," which led to the keyboard-heavy approach he uses on much of the new album.

It's a sound that can fit in with, and is made from, any number of genres, from folk and rock to pop and plenty of blue-eyed soul.

Making appearances on the album are Wilmington's "one-take wonder," Bob Russell, on pedal steel, and Gerard's childhood friend Kim Greenwood, who Gerard calls one of the best technical guitarists he's ever known.

No release show for the album is planned yet, but Gerard said he'd like to give the record a proper celebration in a live setting later this year if possible.

"I thinking maybe something outdoors," he said.

Sean Thomas Gerard "Sail off in the Sunset" Digital Single, OUT NOW!

Sean Thomas Gerard's new single "Sail off in the Sunset" is out now on all digital music platforms!

Sean Thomas Gerard "Sail off in the Sunset" Video Premiere

[Repost from Blood Makes Noise; by KL Martin, March 15, 2021]

If you haven’t heard of or seen Sean Thomas Gerard, you are robbing yourself of perhaps one of the more talented musicians in the indie game right now.  

I had to get that out of the way. I am big on blunt and often superlative language when I am excited about an artist, music or film. It’s the verbal equivalent of getting chills …while also getting chills.  

“Sail off in the Sunset” is easily one of those moments. It should comfortably  become the song of the summer. As a filmmaker, I have a deep appreciation for the true artistry in regard to music and conveying that via visual medium. Music videos are, for all intent and purposes, a dying form of musical expression. It seems like forever ago, when MTV, The Box and other channels that existed in the time of Napster, that music videos were the main form of expression.  

Sean Thomas Gerard’s almost ethereal beach feel and look made me immediately excited but also reminded me of those days. The super 8 like feel and coloring along with the song makes it, in my eyes, the theme song of a post pandemic summer that will exemplify an appreciation for the season that, at least in part, was taken away from coastlines here to SoCal.  

The silky vocal stylings of STG set to the visual of people frolicking along the pristine coastline and in the vast ocean will leave listeners sprinting to the beach, begging for ill placed sand in their shoes that never ends and sunburns.  

Below is the actual video directed by STG himself. Enjoy.

Finding ‘Paradise’: Sean Thomas Gerard talks new music, fatherhood and upcoming release of his LP

[Repost from Port City Daily; by Shea Carver, February 23, 2021]

Sean Thomas Gerard has spent the last year creating eight new tracks for his latest LP, “Finally Found a Paradise,” coming out on Fort Lowell Records in March.

WILMINGTON – Though 2020 will be marked by loss and hardship for many, for local musician Sean Thomas Gerard, he managed to create paradise — at least in some form. Gerard will release his upcoming LP, “Finally Found a Paradise,” next month after spending a year prolifically recording and writing.

Despite losing the majority of his live gigs from the pandemic — not to mention going on hiatus from booking and running shows at downtown’s Bourgie Nights — Gerard gained something even more blissful in the last year: the title “stay-at-home dad” to his baby girl, Jovie.

“The good thing for me is that she’s fairly predictable with her naps,” Gerard said. “So, you know, about 12:30 every day, she goes down for two hours, and that’s my time to either go out for a bike ride or work on music.”

Most days over the last year he’s focused on the latter. Gerard has completed eight songs as part of “Paradise” and already has begun tracks for his next LP. First things first, “Paradise” will be a mix of new and old songs, some that Gerard even played with his band Onward, Soldiers throughout the years.

Usually, he begins his writing process on acoustic guitar or piano. When he gets into his home recording studio, he lays down the drum track first, then the guitar, then the vocals.

“It becomes a whole experimental process,” Gerard said. “I don’t write super complicated music — I’m more about layers.”

While most stuff turns out the way he envisions it, a few manage to appear in better form. Take “Wild Inside,” for example, which contains lyrics that bestowed the album’s title “Finally Found a Paradise.”

“Initially, I wrote that on piano, and I thought it was just going to be a ballad,” Gerard explained. “It ended up with a couple synthesizer sounds and instead became this whole ‘80s track. My wife says it sounds like a song that would be played at an ‘80s prom, like in a slow-dance shot in a movie.”

Color your own paradise

It’s been four years since Gerard’s last album, “Avalon.”

“I’ve given people plenty of time to forget me,” the musician quipped.

The journey of “Paradise” began in 2019, in all fairness. Gerard started picking away at his most personal tune yet, “Jovie,” written for his first child. He created it during his wife’s pregnancy, and played it for her for the first time the night before Jovie was born.

“I was in tears, she was in tears,” Gerard reflected, “and the next day she had Jovie. When we brought her home from the hospital, that was the first thing I played for her. Her eyes just lit up like she knew it.” 

Gerard released the pedal-steel folk song last April — a sleepy tune that could have been birthed from Wilco and George Harrison combined. Nine months later it has received more than 10,000 streams on Spotify.

Though “Jovie” took the longest to write, Gerard said some of his other songs for the album came rather quickly. “Sail Off in the Sunset” was written in 30 minutes. The song was inspired from living in the doldrums of a pandemic and needing escape.

“You’ve gone through hell and you’re coming out on the other side,” Gerard described. “That’s the hopeful vibe of it.”

Gerard even made a video from public domain footage of beach scenes, sailboats, surfers and other sunny-day good vibes. Gerard ran the imagery through a Super-8 app, did some time-lapse shots and filtered it to look grainy like an old movie.

“I showed it to my mom and sister, and they’re like, ‘Wow, that was really just three-and-a-half minutes of being totally relaxed watching something,’” Gerard said.

The video will premiere on March 15 on the Blood Makes Noise blog, while “Finally Found a Paradise” will come out on Fort Lowell Records on March 30 — though Gerard will drop his third single on March. 19. Gerard has worked with Lowell founders James Tritten and Tracy Shedd for years, including last year, contributing a track to their “GROW” compilation.

Gerard said he’s doing a rather unusual release for “Paradise,” shifting as necessary in the world of Covid-19, since hosting live release parties can’t be done. He’s not doing a livestream either, something many musicians have turned to in today’s unrelenting market.

“I don’t love streaming,” Gerard admitted. “I did a live stream when I put the ‘Jovie’ single out — and I was so much more nervous than I’ve ever been playing.”

To celebrate the release, Gerard teamed up with artist and musician-friend Chris Frisina (Sleepy Cat Records) to do the album cover. When folks buy the digital download, they’ll get a poster of the album and a vinyl sticker. They can choose the poster in color or black and white. 

“My whole idea is that you color your own paradise on the black-and-white one,” Gerard said. “So I’m encouraging people to either give it to their kids or be creative with it — to draw, color, paint their own version of the album cover.”

He’s also encouraging fans to post their creations and tag him by using #finallyfoundaparadise. When they do, they will get a special gift from Gerard, like an unreleased song or an acoustic version of one of his tracks from “Paradise.”

“I have a kid now, so I understand they need things to do, and I’m hoping that somebody gives the poster to the kid and puts it on on their Instagram, and we can have a good laugh about how funny it looks, or how amazing their kid is,” Gerard said. “Hopefully, it becomes a little thing for people to have some fun with.”

The first two singles, “Jovie” and “Strange & Electrifying,” from “Finally Found a Paradise” can be streamed on Sean Thomas Gerard’s Soundcloud or Spotify.

Wilmington love songs for Valentine's Day

[Repost from StarNews Online; by John Staton, Feb 11, 2021] - Edited*

Most songs are love songs in one way or another: what love feels like, what NOT having it feels like, and all of the infinitely complex feelings and shades of gray in between.

So, with Valentine's Day on Sunday, let's take a look at a few love songs that have been written by Wilmington artists over the years -- at 14, it's just a fraction of what's out there, with dozens more worthy entries that will have to go unmentioned in this story.

*NOTE: This repost of the original StarNews Online post has been edited to highlight the (4) artists out of the total fourteen who were featured on Fort Lowell Records' GROW: A Compilation in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter.  Please view the original post here to learn about all fourteen artists that were included.

The Rosebuds: "Wishes for Kisses"

This soaring, anthemic song is from The Rosebuds' 2003 Merge Records debut, "The Rosebuds Make Out." Much of it was written (and, early on, performed) in Wilmington before the band (Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp) moved to Raleigh. "Wishes for Kisses" captures the nervous hopefulness of a love, or a crush, in its early stages, a dream both unfulfilled and much-ruminated on. Lovely lyric: "But he's thought of everything/ The songbooks, the songs they would sing/ He's makin' his wish list/ And wishin' for kisses tonight."

Sean Thomas Gerard: "Jovie"

The love of a parent for a child is among the emotion's purest forms. Sean Thomas Gerard, known for his work with Wilmington rockers Onward, Soldiers, wrote this dreamy soft-rock tune for his daughter the day before she was born last year. It'll be on his upcoming album "Finally Found a Paradise," set to be released March 30 on Wilmington's own Fort Lowell Records. Lovely lyric:"Jovie/ Hope you let me down slowly/ When you feel like you're fenced in/ Call my name and I'll be there in an instant."

More: New Wilmington song ‘Jovie’ will lift your spirits

Tracy Shedd: "Valentine"

Short and sweet, with a hint of darkness, like chocolate. Wilmington-based singer Shedd's vocals are on time here, dreamy and delicate like a memory of long-lost love. Lovely lyric: "Take me back to the place I can dream/ And I'll dream all day."

Pinky Verde: "Antacid 750s"

Heather Jensen, who records and performs moody indie rock under the moniker Pinky Verde, released the song “Antacid 750s" last year. It's about the intense emotion conjured by a new love affair, and slyly compares those feelings to a different kind of heartburn. Jensen's laid-back delivery makes it all sound like no big deal, but her lyrics give away her true feelings. Lovely lyric: "Days so content with you spent/ Haven't felt a hunger/ Haven't eaten for days/ Don't need to when I'm here with you."

More: Wilmington band Pinky Verde releases song from the heart

"Love is a complex emotion, as shown by this heart-shaped graffiti in Smith Alley between Market and Princess streets -- and as shown by the love songs written by Wilmington musicians." [Photo By Paul Stephen]

Pre-Order Sean Thomas Gerard's sophomore album now

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Wilmington, North Carolina's own indie folk rocker Sean Thomas Gerard's new Digital LP titled Finally Found a Paradise will be released on all digital music platforms.  However, you can pre-order Gerard's sophomore solo album now on Bandcamp and you will receive two tracks from Finally Found a Paradise -- "Strange & Electrifying" and "Jovie" -- immediately.

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER NOW

New album from Sean Thomas Gerard, coming soon!

Ladies & Gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that we share with you Fort Lowell Records will be releasing Sean Thomas Gerard's (of Onward, Soldiers) second full length studio album -- 'Finally Found a Paradise' -- as a Digital LP in March 2021! Gerard's sophomore solo release is a reflection on the ups and downs of his life over the past ten years, and we could not be more excited to be a part of his life this year. Stay tuned here for more info!