Demos Papadimas

Youngstown troubadour Demos Papadimas warmed things up earlier with a batch of tunes from his latest indie CD, Wandering Through the Wilderness. Equal parts Dylan, Neil Young, and Stephen Stills, Papadimas turned in a strong set with just his voice, resonator guitar, and harmonicas, adjusting the capo on his guitar neck as needed. “How Long,” “Blackwater Rising,” “Wasted Days,” and “Double Knots” were standouts. - Cleveland Music Examiner

“Barrier Doors”
Demos Papadimas
Warren, Ohio - American Songwriter Magazine

"Wanderin’ Through the Wilderness is an exceptionally consistent album, with well conceived, unflinching lyrics of more than average depth and music that adeptly moves from powerful and rollicking to reserved and reflective, tying together all of its varied influences into a package that is unique and beguiling. For fans of Americana and roots music, it is an album that shouldn’t be missed, reminiscent of so many sounds from the past but quite unlike anything you’ve ever heard before." - Jason "Diesel" Hamad-The No Surf Review

"Demos Papadimas isn't quite local to Pittsburgh, but almost — the Americana songwriter hails from closer to Cleveland. He's been widening his horizons lately, though, and with good reason: He and his band are uniquely talented and garnering positive attention from the press." - Pittsburgh City Paper

http://www.vindy.com/videos/2013/apr/01/2274/ - Vindy Talk Radio

At 3 p.m. today, singer-songwriter Demos Papadimas, who will perform this Saturday night at 9 p.m. at The Lemon Grove.

Papadimas and his three-piece band consisting of Andre Ptichkin (upright bass), Sandi Quotson (violin), and Ralph Rich (drums) create a distinct stylistic synthesis. They intertwine American roots music with Mediterranean in?uences.

It is sure to be a performance worth watching, and to get the full details, tune in to Vindy Radio for the hour long chat with Harver and Papadimas today at 3.

Go to www.vindy.com/radio to listen to the show live, or vindy.com/mobile/vindy-radio to listen from your smartphone. - Vindy Talk Radio

http://www.vindy.com/videos/2013/apr/01/2274/ - The Vindicator

http://www.vindy.com/videos/2013/apr/01/2274/ - The Vindicator

By John Benson

entertainment@vindy.com

These days if you use the word Americana to describe your music, odds are Mumford & Sons will somehow sneak into the conversation.

For Demos Papadimas, a 2003 Howland High School graduate, his new album “Wanderin’ Through the Wilderness” is Americana but less like the zeitgeist banjo-fueled band and more like Old Crow Medicine and, even better, Bob Dylan.

“I play Americana, sort of folk rock-Americana with some Mediterranean influences here and there,” said Papadimas, who these days calls Warren home.

“Mostly it’s still a singer- songwriter’s album and that’s more apparent on the full-length than on the EP I put out at the end of 2011. Overall, on the new album there’s a lot of musical territory explored.”

Formerly of local act Smokestack Horizon, Papadimas (vocals, guitar and harmonica) left Northeast Ohio in 2010 and moved to New York City where he pursued music. He also recorded the EP and then later “Wanderin’ Through the Wilderness” in an Ithaca, N.Y., studio.

When Papadimas returned to Youngstown a year ago, he joined up with former Smokestack Horizon member Andre Ptichkin (upright bass) and added Sandi Quotson (violin) and Ralph Rich (drums) into the fold.

Compared to his Smokestack Horizon, which jumped around genre-wise, even tackling jazz-oriented grooves, his new material is more defined.

“The song ‘Barrier Doors’ is sort of a gypsy tango and it fuses some of the Mediterranean influences with sort of the American singer-songwriter perspective,” Papadimas said. “That’s probably one of the most danceable songs. And then there’s ‘If I Had Religion,’ which is sort of a Bob Dylan-esque ballad.”

With the album now out, Papadimas is looking ahead to a busy year that includes a number of shows this spring with Jones for Revival, as well as regional solo shows and even a mini tour including a Chicago date in the summer.

In talking to Papadimas, it’s obvious he’s not affected by the idea of returning back home after a nearly two-year stint in the Big Apple.

In fact, there’s no tail between his legs. You better believe he didn’t return a broken man.

“No, I learned a lot with being away,” Papadimas said. “It was a good school in a way. It really opened my eyes to the whole music thing. You can really do it from anyplace. You have to get out there and play out of town shows, you can’t just live in a small area and do the same thing all of the time but I think you can really do it from anywhere.”

And right now, that anywhere for Papadimas is Youngstown.

He laughed, “I guess so.” - The Vindicator

Demos Papadimas

Howland musician Demos Papadimas successfully intertwines the rootsy folk of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Old Crow Medicine Show with some Mediterranean influences. Papadimas recorded an EP during the fall of 2012 at Electric Wilburland Studios in Newfield, N.Y., where he has just recorded his upcoming full-length album, which will be released in February. Papadimas is considering using the title "Wandering Through The Wilderness," which is one of the tracks on the album.

"My music also includes some Gypsy violin and Greek Bouzouki. I've given it some thought and although the album explores varied musical territory, including back porch Americana, Bob Dylan-esque ballads, Gypsy Tango, and Greek Rembetiko, it is still very much a songwriter's album. The lyrics certainly take the spotlight, even though there are rich musical arrangements and diverse stylistic twists from track to track. I think this is the best I can summarize my style and the approach," Papadimas said.

Papadimas, who opened for the Womack Family Band last month at Cleveland's Brothers Lounge, said the upcoming album is an excellent showcase of his music. - Tribune Chronicle

Demos Papadimas

Howland musician Demos Papadimas successfully intertwines the rootsy folk of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Old Crow Medicine Show with some Mediterranean influences. Papadimas recorded an EP during the fall of 2012 at Electric Wilburland Studios in Newfield, N.Y., where he has just recorded his upcoming full-length album, which will be released in February. Papadimas is considering using the title "Wandering Through The Wilderness," which is one of the tracks on the album.

"My music also includes some Gypsy violin and Greek Bouzouki. I've given it some thought and although the album explores varied musical territory, including back porch Americana, Bob Dylan-esque ballads, Gypsy Tango, and Greek Rembetiko, it is still very much a songwriter's album. The lyrics certainly take the spotlight, even though there are rich musical arrangements and diverse stylistic twists from track to track. I think this is the best I can summarize my style and the approach," Papadimas said.

Papadimas, who opened for the Womack Family Band last month at Cleveland's Brothers Lounge, said the upcoming album is an excellent showcase of his music. - Tribune Chronicle

Written by Anthony Hill

It’s been a long time coming for Demos Papadimas. The Northeast Ohio based singer-songwriter has been busy traveling the United States as well as Europe, bringing together an eclectic blend of Mediterranean, European and American music to create his own roots-folk sound. This has led to the recording of a new studio album, titled “Wandering Through The Wilderness”, which will be released with a concert on February 8 at Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom. En route to the album’s release, Papadimas will be making a stop in Kent for a show at the Stone Tavern with local act the Hive Robbers.

Papadimas spent a few years in Europe, including countries such as France, Spain, and Greece, and cites these travels as a major influence on his music. He said he wrote many of his songs while traveling, and many of his lyrics include references to travel. He spent time playing with what he says was a “hippie commune” in France, where Cajun music was played in abundance. This is another influence that caries into the music he makes today. Yet another major influence is Rembetiko. Papadimas, of Greek heritage, grew up with this “hard livin’” style of music, which is the Greek equivalent of the American blues. His exploration of this varied musical territory is evident in his work.

Demos Papadimas. Photo courtesy of demospapadimas.com

Papadimas cut his teeth playing in parks and clubs in New York City and eventually embarked on a successful solo acoustic tour across the East Coast. His tireless work ethic has not gone unnoticed, as he was recently ranked number two on Cleveland Scene magazines’s list of “13 Bands to Watch in 2013”. Papadimas has put his own stamp on Americana, creating a sound that is unique to him and cannot be labeled. His music belongs to no specific genre, but rather takes elements of everything from folk to bluegrass to world music and combines them to formulate a genre all his own.

Papadimas, along with his band (members included below), will bring this sound to Kent on Saturday, January 26 with a 9 p.m. performance at the Stone Tavern along with local favorites the Hive Robbers. The stop is one in a series of performances leading up to the “Wandering Through the Wilderness” release show on February 8 in Cleveland. With Demos already drawing comparisons to the likes of Bob Dylan and Justin Townes Earl, the album is sure to garner him even more buzz than he already has gained. It may only be a matter of time before the name Demos Papadimas becomes well-known to the public. - KSU Buzz

Written by Anthony Hill

It’s been a long time coming for Demos Papadimas. The Northeast Ohio based singer-songwriter has been busy traveling the United States as well as Europe, bringing together an eclectic blend of Mediterranean, European and American music to create his own roots-folk sound. This has led to the recording of a new studio album, titled “Wandering Through The Wilderness”, which will be released with a concert on February 8 at Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom. En route to the album’s release, Papadimas will be making a stop in Kent for a show at the Stone Tavern with local act the Hive Robbers.

Papadimas spent a few years in Europe, including countries such as France, Spain, and Greece, and cites these travels as a major influence on his music. He said he wrote many of his songs while traveling, and many of his lyrics include references to travel. He spent time playing with what he says was a “hippie commune” in France, where Cajun music was played in abundance. This is another influence that caries into the music he makes today. Yet another major influence is Rembetiko. Papadimas, of Greek heritage, grew up with this “hard livin’” style of music, which is the Greek equivalent of the American blues. His exploration of this varied musical territory is evident in his work.

Demos Papadimas. Photo courtesy of demospapadimas.com

Papadimas cut his teeth playing in parks and clubs in New York City and eventually embarked on a successful solo acoustic tour across the East Coast. His tireless work ethic has not gone unnoticed, as he was recently ranked number two on Cleveland Scene magazines’s list of “13 Bands to Watch in 2013”. Papadimas has put his own stamp on Americana, creating a sound that is unique to him and cannot be labeled. His music belongs to no specific genre, but rather takes elements of everything from folk to bluegrass to world music and combines them to formulate a genre all his own.

Papadimas, along with his band (members included below), will bring this sound to Kent on Saturday, January 26 with a 9 p.m. performance at the Stone Tavern along with local favorites the Hive Robbers. The stop is one in a series of performances leading up to the “Wandering Through the Wilderness” release show on February 8 in Cleveland. With Demos already drawing comparisons to the likes of Bob Dylan and Justin Townes Earl, the album is sure to garner him even more buzz than he already has gained. It may only be a matter of time before the name Demos Papadimas becomes well-known to the public. - KSU Buzz

2. Demos Papadimas

Singer-songwriter Demos Papadimas says he "feels better than ever" about his forthcoming full-length, Wandering Through the Wilderness. "I finally feel like I got the sound I always wanted," he says. The Howland-based musician plays a mix of American roots and Mediterranean rhythms based on his Greek heritage. On his 2011 self-titled EP, he moves from mid-'60s-era Bob Dylan influences to a song like "Soul of a Man" that conjures up a celebratory hora (aka circle dance) while the lyrics reveal his "cynical optimist" worldview. Papadimas grew up on a musical diet of Dylan, Grateful Dead and Neil Young — artists that followed traditions before tearing them apart. "Hearing songs like 'Cocaine Blues' done live by Dylan really made me want to dig into the roots of American folk music and interpret it with a youthful approach," he says. He's found a kinship with modern twisters of American sounds like Old Crow Medicine Show, who blend foot-stompin' bluegrass with a rock 'n' roll attitude. "They're expressing what I'm feeling, the whole idea of being young and jumping back into the roots and making something new out of that." —John Patrick Gatta

- Scene Magazine

December 6, 2012
By JOHN PATRICK GATTA Tribune Chronicle correspondent , Tribune Chronicle | TribToday.com

Being a part of the blossoming roots movement doesn't interest singer songwriter Demos Papadimas, but moving the music toward new directions that relate to the sound he hears in his head does.

Discovering what that is took the 2003 Howland High School graduate through the pop punk world during his teens, solo acoustic performances in college, work in France and, most importantly, a voracious appetite for listening that spanned the early country and blues of the 20th century through contemporary acts rewriting the rules that defined music traditions.

"I was always interested in playing music. I was 4 years old when I had my first toy guitar and made family members pretend they were playing instruments, and they were my band and I was telling them what to do," said Papadimas.

On his self-titled EP and upcoming full-length album, due in February, he's merged his American homeland and his Greek heritage by using resonator guitar and harmonica with bouzouki and subtle Mediterranean rhythms.

Another recording session took place at Youngstown's Ampreon Studio and can be heard on his website, www.demospapadimas.com.

"I used to do straight up blues or folk and then something with a Greek influence on it. I feel that now I can combine all of that in my own synthesis and it's more my sound," he said.
Fact Box

If you go

WHO: Demos Papadimas, Blue Through Branches and Ralph Rich

WHEN: 10 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Cedars Lounge, 23 N. Hazel St., Youngstown

COST: $5

"I've got my own vision musically. Right now, I feel better than I have ever about it, especially with this new record coming out. I finally feel like I got the sound I always wanted."

The discussion of his music occurred a day before he returned to Electric Wilburland Studios near Ithaca, New York to work on overdubs and final mixes for the album.

A preview of that release occurs when Papadimas leads his three-piece band - Andre Ptichkin (upright bass), Sandi Quotson (violin) and Ralph Rich (drums) - this Saturday at Cedar Lounge.

He also credits two moments in 1999 that inspired him to follow what feels like his true musical path. Within a three-day span he met the Ramones at a record-release signing in New York and attended his first Bob Dylan concert. "It defined my interest in mixing somewhat unrelated styles of music.

"The Dylan concert was the summer tour he did with Paul Simon that year. Hearing songs like 'Cocaine Blues' done live by Dylan really made me want to dig into the roots of American folk music and interpret it with a youthful approach."

The opening track on the EP bears the influence of mid-'60s Dylan while the other numbers show a deft mix of the singer songwriter approach with Greek and back porch ramble elements. He even offers his own interpretation of "Cocaine."

Teaching English in France three years ago gave him the free time to reflect on the direction of his songwriting. "That was a turning point for me because I was out of my element and thinking about life, things I wanted to do." The seclusion of a being in a small town there allowed him to develop a stronger concentration on melodies and his "cynical optimist" lyrical viewpoint.

Growing up on a diet of Dylan, Neil Young, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Papadimas incorporated what he learned from those acts with the Mediterranean elements found in Leonard Cohen's recent live ensembles as well as newer tradition-breaking groups.

He credits Old Crow Medicine Show's blend of foot-stompin' bluegrass with a rock 'n' roll attitude for influencing his approach.

"This is where I see myself, in line with these guys. They're expressing what I'm feeling, the whole idea of being young and jumping back into the roots and making something new out of that." - Tribune Chronicle