Craig Cummings

CRAIG CUMMINGS is a Baltimore urban cowboy, who sings loudly and clearly enough to give people pause in Nashville and Austin… http://www.craigcummingsmusic.com/ I always list him as Craig “THE VOICE” Cummings, not simply because of his powerful pipes, but because his songs are going somewhere and saying something – he gives a voice to the guy driving back to his hometown, or going to kick back at the beach, or missing home and his wife in a hotel room far away. Small topics, you might think, but not really – the stuff of life! That’s why his songs seem so comfortable and familiar – a little country, part Americana, a touch of folk – all driven by Craig’s big old Gibson, sometimes booming, sometimes a gentle strum behind thoughtful lyrics. He has good CDs, too!

Craig often comes to play a few songs for us at Brewer’s Alley Songwriters’ Showcase in Frederick MD on Monday nights – this coming Monday, September 16, we get to hear a full set of his well-written songs, excellently performed! Why not come out and give him a listen?


I’ve got my notebook
I’ve got my Gibson
And a t-shirt that’s tattered and worn
A sandwich, some whiskey
And two cups of coffee
Couldn’t ask for anything more…

(from “Country Style” by Craig Cummings) - The Frederick News Post

CRAIG CUMMINGS is a Baltimore urban cowboy, who sings loudly and clearly enough to give people pause in Nashville and Austin… http://www.craigcummingsmusic.com/ I always list him as Craig “THE VOICE” Cummings, not simply because of his powerful pipes, but because his songs are going somewhere and saying something – he gives a voice to the guy driving back to his hometown, or going to kick back at the beach, or missing home and his wife in a hotel room far away. Small topics, you might think, but not really – the stuff of life! That’s why his songs seem so comfortable and familiar – a little country, part Americana, a touch of folk – all driven by Craig’s big old Gibson, sometimes booming, sometimes a gentle strum behind thoughtful lyrics. He has good CDs, too!

Craig often comes to play a few songs for us at Brewer’s Alley Songwriters’ Showcase in Frederick MD on Monday nights – this coming Monday, September 16, we get to hear a full set of his well-written songs, excellently performed! Why not come out and give him a listen?


I’ve got my notebook
I’ve got my Gibson
And a t-shirt that’s tattered and worn
A sandwich, some whiskey
And two cups of coffee
Couldn’t ask for anything more…

(from “Country Style” by Craig Cummings) - The Frederick News Post

Why or how did you choose your band name?

I just use my name.

What inspired you to pursue a music career?

I've been a performing musician since my early teens. I've always loved writing songs and I've always loved performing. There is nothing better than being able to share something new that I've written with listeners who appreciate the songs.

Can you recall any particular moment or experience that may have moved you to persue a music career? If so, please explain:

Seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show was life changing. Seeing Dylan live sometime later gave me more direction in terms of the kind of music I wanted to make.

Any memorable experiences while performing live or while touring "on the road"?

I remember playing at a huge private affair many years ago way out in the country on the eastern shore of Maryland. People were drinking moonshine and a really nasty fight broke out right in front of the stage. One guy was getting beaten pretty badly so I jumped off of the stage on to the back of the guy who was winning to save the loser from an even worse fate. Don't ask me why I did it - it was just instinct. I got right back on the stage and kept on playing and singing. When I think about it now, it was pretty crazy because the only people I knew at the job were the band members.

What kind of feedback have you received from your current release?

I've gotten lots of very positive responses. I think the CD is one that is easy to listen to and gets better the more you hear it. One of the nicest compliments someone shared was that they just leave it in their CD player in the car and listen to it over and over. As compliments go, it doesn't get any better.

What is the inspiration behind your current release?

For Road Trips and Relationships, I had written a number of songs during 2007-08 and I spent some time reflecting on what I had written, looking for themes in my work and trying to figure out what these themes might be telling me. I decided that the songs, like me, were very relationship-oriented and that the topic of relationships was kind of played out against a backdrop of wanting to travel and spend some time on the road thinking about my life and getting away from some things that were getting me down. The title Road Trips and Relationships just seemed to describe what was going on in my head.

Why should potential fans be turned on to your music?

I think my songs are melodic - that the music sticks in your head, and that the lyrics are worth considering. The musicianship on the CD is top notch and I think my vocals have always drawn people into the songs.

What sites can fans find you at online?

My website is www.craigcummingsmusic.com
I have a myspace page at www.myspace.com/craigcummings1
My electronic press kit is at www.sonicbids.com/craigcummings

What can fans expect from you in the near future?

I am planning on releasing an EP sometime in 2010 and I will be continuing to perform live in the mid-Atlantic area. I'll also be working on marketing my songs for TV and film.

Anything else you may want to inform our readers?

I'd just like to encourage readers to buy/download my music. It is available on iTunes and CD Baby among other sites. I also encourage listeners to contact me and tell what what they think about my music. I love to consider feedback from people who I don't know. There is an email link on my websites that allows listeners to contact me.


- NextMusicBlog

Why or how did you choose your band name?

I just use my name.

What inspired you to pursue a music career?

I've been a performing musician since my early teens. I've always loved writing songs and I've always loved performing. There is nothing better than being able to share something new that I've written with listeners who appreciate the songs.

Can you recall any particular moment or experience that may have moved you to persue a music career? If so, please explain:

Seeing the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show was life changing. Seeing Dylan live sometime later gave me more direction in terms of the kind of music I wanted to make.

Any memorable experiences while performing live or while touring "on the road"?

I remember playing at a huge private affair many years ago way out in the country on the eastern shore of Maryland. People were drinking moonshine and a really nasty fight broke out right in front of the stage. One guy was getting beaten pretty badly so I jumped off of the stage on to the back of the guy who was winning to save the loser from an even worse fate. Don't ask me why I did it - it was just instinct. I got right back on the stage and kept on playing and singing. When I think about it now, it was pretty crazy because the only people I knew at the job were the band members.

What kind of feedback have you received from your current release?

I've gotten lots of very positive responses. I think the CD is one that is easy to listen to and gets better the more you hear it. One of the nicest compliments someone shared was that they just leave it in their CD player in the car and listen to it over and over. As compliments go, it doesn't get any better.

What is the inspiration behind your current release?

For Road Trips and Relationships, I had written a number of songs during 2007-08 and I spent some time reflecting on what I had written, looking for themes in my work and trying to figure out what these themes might be telling me. I decided that the songs, like me, were very relationship-oriented and that the topic of relationships was kind of played out against a backdrop of wanting to travel and spend some time on the road thinking about my life and getting away from some things that were getting me down. The title Road Trips and Relationships just seemed to describe what was going on in my head.

Why should potential fans be turned on to your music?

I think my songs are melodic - that the music sticks in your head, and that the lyrics are worth considering. The musicianship on the CD is top notch and I think my vocals have always drawn people into the songs.

What sites can fans find you at online?

My website is www.craigcummingsmusic.com
I have a myspace page at www.myspace.com/craigcummings1
My electronic press kit is at www.sonicbids.com/craigcummings

What can fans expect from you in the near future?

I am planning on releasing an EP sometime in 2010 and I will be continuing to perform live in the mid-Atlantic area. I'll also be working on marketing my songs for TV and film.

Anything else you may want to inform our readers?

I'd just like to encourage readers to buy/download my music. It is available on iTunes and CD Baby among other sites. I also encourage listeners to contact me and tell what what they think about my music. I love to consider feedback from people who I don't know. There is an email link on my websites that allows listeners to contact me.


- NextMusicBlog

Feb 5, 2010 1:19 AM
Interview with Craig Cummings

Ch.L.: Country Music has many new fans in Europe, who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you before.

C.C.: I call my music “east coast Americana.” In the same way that Gram Parsons tried to blend musical styles to create his cosmic American music, my experiences playing rock, soul, country, and the blues have resulted in a hybrid of Americana sounds unique to the east coast.

Ch.L.: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?

C.C.: The highlight of last year was releasing my CD and playing the shows that I booked just after it’s release. I also had a terrifically productive summer. I wrote a lot of new music and I am planning to released another CD in the spring of 2010.

Ch.L.: What’s your latest CD and how’s it doing?

C.C.: My latest CD is Road Trips and Relationships. It is selling well considering that I am an indie DIY artist.

Ch.L.: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?

C.C.: When I was trying to think about a title for the CD, I was walking through the woods one day when the title just popped into my head. Many of the songs on the CD describe road trips through different part of the country and all of them comment on the importance of relationships and how our relationships with others define who we are.

Ch.L.: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?

C.C.: I write all of the songs that I record.

Ch.L.: Please tell us about the songs on your album.

C.C.: Most of the songs were written between 2007 and the end of 2008. They explore the important relationships in my life and how these relationships help me to navigate the challenges in my life. The road trip songs cast the relationship dynamic against the back drop of the American experience and examine how relationships sustain us as we move from place to place – and as we alternate between feeling apart from, and a part of something special.

Ch.L.: What’s the difference between your last CD and the current one?

C.C.: This is my debut CD.

Ch.L.: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?

C.C.: I like to record all kinds of songs.

Ch.L.: What’s your favorite song among all the songs you’ve recorded and what’s the story behind it?

C.C.: I think the best song on the CD is Tallahassee. I visited Tallahassee and fell in love with the place. I loved the weather, the flowers and trees, and the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a piece of the old south with the beach nearby… The best of all worlds.

Ch.L.: How much creative control do you have over your music?

C.C.: As an indie DIY artist, I have full creative control over my music.

Ch.L.: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?

C.C.: I have a song that I wrote after the CD was released called “Barcelona.” It’s a song about being fed up with your life as it is and wanting to go elsewhere and start over. People always tell me that they can relate to that feeling and it is a song that is always requested when I play live.

Ch.L.: Who do you look up to musically and how deep do your musical roots run?

C.C.: I have a deep affection for the music of Gram Parsons. He was an artist who took chances with country music. He refused to allow the traditionalists to limit him. He recorded traditional sounding songs like “She Once Lived Here,” but he also played and recorded R&B songs such as “Do Right Woman” which was popularized by Aretha Franklin. I love Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello. The write country songs with intelligent, clever lyrics and they ignore the contemporary country nonsense. This is what I try to do.

Ch.L.: What do you think about today’s Country Music versus its roots and where do you see it going in the future?

C.C.: Listening to a lot of today’s country music is no different than listening to top 40 radio – it just has more twang. I find it hard to listen to most contemporary country stations for very long. If I’m listening to country radio, I want to hear Roseanne Cash, George Jones, Lucinda Williams, and the Texas songwriters like Hayes Carll, Slaid Cleaves, and Robert Earl Keen.

Ch.L.: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between „traditional“ and „new“country music?

C.C.: Much of the difference is in the lyrics. The story in a song like George Jones’ “She Thinks I Still Care” is a whole different thing from much of the shallow ideas found in the lyrics of contemporary country. I don’t want to criticize any specific artist or songwriter but if you listen to contemporary country lyrics it is not hard to see what I am saying. Generally, the lyrics in these songs lack maturity and a sense of worldliness.

Ch.L.: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?
- Christian Lamitschka

Feb 5, 2010 1:19 AM
Interview with Craig Cummings

Ch.L.: Country Music has many new fans in Europe, who may be hearing about you for the first time. How would you describe yourself and the music you play to someone who has never seen or heard you before.

C.C.: I call my music “east coast Americana.” In the same way that Gram Parsons tried to blend musical styles to create his cosmic American music, my experiences playing rock, soul, country, and the blues have resulted in a hybrid of Americana sounds unique to the east coast.

Ch.L.: How was the last year for you? What were the highlights?

C.C.: The highlight of last year was releasing my CD and playing the shows that I booked just after it’s release. I also had a terrifically productive summer. I wrote a lot of new music and I am planning to released another CD in the spring of 2010.

Ch.L.: What’s your latest CD and how’s it doing?

C.C.: My latest CD is Road Trips and Relationships. It is selling well considering that I am an indie DIY artist.

Ch.L.: How did you choose the title for the CD, is there a story behind it?

C.C.: When I was trying to think about a title for the CD, I was walking through the woods one day when the title just popped into my head. Many of the songs on the CD describe road trips through different part of the country and all of them comment on the importance of relationships and how our relationships with others define who we are.

Ch.L.: Do you write the songs yourself and if not, how do you go about finding the songs for the your CD?

C.C.: I write all of the songs that I record.

Ch.L.: Please tell us about the songs on your album.

C.C.: Most of the songs were written between 2007 and the end of 2008. They explore the important relationships in my life and how these relationships help me to navigate the challenges in my life. The road trip songs cast the relationship dynamic against the back drop of the American experience and examine how relationships sustain us as we move from place to place – and as we alternate between feeling apart from, and a part of something special.

Ch.L.: What’s the difference between your last CD and the current one?

C.C.: This is my debut CD.

Ch.L.: What kind of songs do you like to record the most?

C.C.: I like to record all kinds of songs.

Ch.L.: What’s your favorite song among all the songs you’ve recorded and what’s the story behind it?

C.C.: I think the best song on the CD is Tallahassee. I visited Tallahassee and fell in love with the place. I loved the weather, the flowers and trees, and the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s a piece of the old south with the beach nearby… The best of all worlds.

Ch.L.: How much creative control do you have over your music?

C.C.: As an indie DIY artist, I have full creative control over my music.

Ch.L.: Do you have any interesting stories about how fans have been affected by your music?

C.C.: I have a song that I wrote after the CD was released called “Barcelona.” It’s a song about being fed up with your life as it is and wanting to go elsewhere and start over. People always tell me that they can relate to that feeling and it is a song that is always requested when I play live.

Ch.L.: Who do you look up to musically and how deep do your musical roots run?

C.C.: I have a deep affection for the music of Gram Parsons. He was an artist who took chances with country music. He refused to allow the traditionalists to limit him. He recorded traditional sounding songs like “She Once Lived Here,” but he also played and recorded R&B songs such as “Do Right Woman” which was popularized by Aretha Franklin. I love Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello. The write country songs with intelligent, clever lyrics and they ignore the contemporary country nonsense. This is what I try to do.

Ch.L.: What do you think about today’s Country Music versus its roots and where do you see it going in the future?

C.C.: Listening to a lot of today’s country music is no different than listening to top 40 radio – it just has more twang. I find it hard to listen to most contemporary country stations for very long. If I’m listening to country radio, I want to hear Roseanne Cash, George Jones, Lucinda Williams, and the Texas songwriters like Hayes Carll, Slaid Cleaves, and Robert Earl Keen.

Ch.L.: In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between „traditional“ and „new“country music?

C.C.: Much of the difference is in the lyrics. The story in a song like George Jones’ “She Thinks I Still Care” is a whole different thing from much of the shallow ideas found in the lyrics of contemporary country. I don’t want to criticize any specific artist or songwriter but if you listen to contemporary country lyrics it is not hard to see what I am saying. Generally, the lyrics in these songs lack maturity and a sense of worldliness.

Ch.L.: If you had the chance to change something about the music industry, what would it be?
- Christian Lamitschka

"...Folk and country songs with pedal steel and acoustic guitar sounds constitute the bulk of the songs on "Road Trips And Relationships". With a healthy focus on the melodic content of the songs, Craig's songs sound very fresh and contemporary, even though many songs probably have their roots somewhere in the "sweet sixties." The songs are about the everyday relationships of everyday people.
One of the strongest songs on the CD, "No Strings Attached," is full of emotion and feelings. The listener has the impression that the song washes over him. In the ballads, Craig's voice is at its best such as on the tracks "Whiskey Girl", "Tallahassee", "Sweet Summer Daydreams" and "I Know You're Leaving Me." All these songs feature a grieving pedal steel guitar that adds to the emotion of the song. But the uptempo songs are also worth the effort: "I Just Want to Be Loved By You", "Letters From Your Past" and even a good old rocker like "Smother Me" sound fresh and immediate.
Road Trips And Relationships is a very entertaining disc that will provide enjoyment to Americana-lovers who also have a soft spot for good lyrics.
(Note: This article was translated into English for inclusion in this press kit.)
- Rootstime Magazine - Belgium

"...Folk and country songs with pedal steel and acoustic guitar sounds constitute the bulk of the songs on "Road Trips And Relationships". With a healthy focus on the melodic content of the songs, Craig's songs sound very fresh and contemporary, even though many songs probably have their roots somewhere in the "sweet sixties." The songs are about the everyday relationships of everyday people.
One of the strongest songs on the CD, "No Strings Attached," is full of emotion and feelings. The listener has the impression that the song washes over him. In the ballads, Craig's voice is at its best such as on the tracks "Whiskey Girl", "Tallahassee", "Sweet Summer Daydreams" and "I Know You're Leaving Me." All these songs feature a grieving pedal steel guitar that adds to the emotion of the song. But the uptempo songs are also worth the effort: "I Just Want to Be Loved By You", "Letters From Your Past" and even a good old rocker like "Smother Me" sound fresh and immediate.
Road Trips And Relationships is a very entertaining disc that will provide enjoyment to Americana-lovers who also have a soft spot for good lyrics.
(Note: This article was translated into English for inclusion in this press kit.)
- Rootstime Magazine - Belgium

"...His melodies are not only reminiscent of The Beatles, but there are strains of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Poco, a generous representation of the Southern California sounds of the era. What makes this a 5-star deal to me is that Cummings is also a melodic and lyrical brother to the late-Byrd and powerful, but underrated, singer/songwriter, Gene Clark...Despite the fact that Cummings' sound conjures the memories of a rich musical past, the record is an original creation of a tasteful singer/songwriter keeping the spirit alive." - CD Baby - Richard Baker

"...His melodies are not only reminiscent of The Beatles, but there are strains of The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and Poco, a generous representation of the Southern California sounds of the era. What makes this a 5-star deal to me is that Cummings is also a melodic and lyrical brother to the late-Byrd and powerful, but underrated, singer/songwriter, Gene Clark...Despite the fact that Cummings' sound conjures the memories of a rich musical past, the record is an original creation of a tasteful singer/songwriter keeping the spirit alive." - CD Baby - Richard Baker