(Photo: John Lynner Peterson) |
Reviews
★★★★★ "Wow! Rupert can wow an audience with his amazing voice and his astonishing guitar skills. Rupert Wates has the four magical keys to being a superb singer/songwriter; he has a pitch-perfect voice that's soothing as well as enticing, his lyrics are pure literature. Rupert's tunes will hook you after a few notes and his hands pull melodies out of a guitar that seem almost magical. But there's no slight of hand, it's all Rupert. His songs will keep you coming-back for more. Two thumbs WAY up!" (Customer review of (At The) Losers' Motel, iTunes)
★★★★ "A treasure – Provocative lyrics and unforgettable melodies." (Customer review of Coast To Coast, iTunes)
★★★★★ "Golden – This guy is unbelievable." (Customer review of Coast To Coast, iTunes)
★★★★★ "An excellent guitarist, a fantastic singer, a poetic lyricist... and a gifted English gentleman." (Customer review of Sweet Or Bitter Wine, iTunes)
"I'm not sure which to praise more: Rupert Wates' marvellous lyrics, the spotless music, or that streetside cabaret folk voice of his, a crafted instrument which seduces as it gently reproves...This is one gifted S.O.B., throwing off song after affecting song with what appears to be complete ease... If you're not hip to this guy, you're missing a lot." (Mark S. Tucker on Rupert Wates' latest album (At The) Losers' Motel. Read the full review at FAME.)
"Everyone loved him! A real hit." (Becky Abel, Among Friends Music House Concerts, Florida)
"...a prime figure in American music who's just biding his time until he's discovered." (Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange)
"A songwriter of great emotional depth." (Sandi Durell, Times Square Chronicles)
"Another solid effort from the ever-reliable Wates. He's written some truly affecting song and gets great support from the band. 'Fools' Parade' is a strong song with a powerful lyric about the follies of humanity. 'Why I Had to Leave' is a reflective song of love lost that gets a lovely treatment. 'Be Near Me' is a warm, comforting song that shows Wates at his best. He's made another fine album." (A review of Rupert Wates' latest album (At The) Losers' Motel in The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music)
"...More compelling, more sympathetic and more emotionally accessible than many other modern performers." (Ryan Moore, AMP The Magazine)
"Beautiful, exceptionally beautiful...From the first number you are unarguably on his side... When Love Came To Stay and Be Near Me hit you in the depths of your being... And as Bird Of Dawn emerges from the speakers, you can't resist accompanying the songsmith on his journey... I can without doubt affirm that this is one of the most beautiful discs I have heard this year... Is it because of the top musicians who accompany the disc, or is it that the arrangements are so modest that it charms one? Is it Wates' voice, fragile at times, his finely tuned and perfectly measured lyrics and his flawless guitar playing that make At The Losers' Motel a top disc? I think you will agree that this CD has everything a good disc should have." (Preach on Rupert Wates' latest album (At The) Losers' Motel. Read the full review in Dutch at www.rootstime.be. Translation from Dutch by V. De Waal)
"Rupert is one of those rare artists who leaves an audience better than he found them." (Wayne Slater-Lunsford, Concerts In Your Home reviews, June 24, 2012)
"...One of the best songwriters I've ever heard, bar none." (Singer-songwriter Jon McAuliffe)
"Rupert Wates did a terrific concert here this afternoon. I highly recommend him... He's a wonderful singer, plays great guitar and writes some truly inspiring songs." (Mark Kaufman, Concerts In Your Home reviews, June 24, 2012)
"He is amazing! We had the pleasure of hosting him a few weeks ago and would gladly have him back any time." (Denise Clayton, Concerts In Your Home reviews, June 24, 2012)
"What a performance... His vocal charms combined with his deft guitar skills made this ArtMusic concert one of the most memorable in the series. It was a sheer delight to hear him play and share the stories associated with many of the tunes... It was as if Mr. Wates was standing at the well of humanity and drawing up the emotions and experiences of mankind to the surface where they could nourish those who partook of them from his vocal and musical instruments." (Full review at The Forwardian Arts Society July 9, 2011)
"Our audience was spellbound for the duration of his performance." (C. Murphy, Concerts In Your Home reviews, April 2012)
"Beautiful, arresting, heartwarming and soulful storytelling set to music." (San Francisco Fringe Reviews, 2011)
"What a privilege to explore the musical and poetic mind of this profound songwriter... He's a wonderful guitarist and singer, and presents an immensely appealing repertoire. But his songs are not merely beautiful -- they also satisfy on a deep, authentic level, as only the best material can. These songs will go straight to your heart." (M. McLeod, Concerts In Your Home reviews, January 2012)
"Emotionally rich original songs with meaningful historical elements...the CD (JOE'S CAFE) is absolutely indispensable. Moments of celebration, humor, moments of bittersweet melancholy, and everything in between, sometimes all at once." (San Francisco Fringe Reviews, 2011)
"[His] narrative storytelling is superb -- even by the highest folkmusic standards."
(Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel)
"Completely accessible at several levels, Rupert is a thinking man's songwriter... You just want to listen to every word of every song."
(Don Ash, Black Eyed Susan's Acoustic Cafe, Angelica, NY)
"Man, this guy sings from the heart and then some!...Each song yanks the listener fully into the story and rhythms, not to mention an emotionality imbuing Wates's plaintively melodic voice. Every cut is a gem, completely absorbing, enthralling, and thus we have a new and unique songwriter-musician already in the front ranks...Trust me, Rupert Wates is an exceedingly rare talent."
(Mark S. Tucker, FAME)
"Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling, witty messages. An inspirational artist."
(Leith FM Radio 98.8 FM Scotland)
"A fantastic song writer and a mesmerizing guitar player."
(Christine Sampson, Port Jefferson Patch)
"Potent melodies and strong hooks...delivered by a seasoned hand."
(CD Universe)
"Robust folk music with lyrics that are sometimes dark, sometimes light but always clever and insightful."
(The Ectophiles' Guide To Good Music)
"Uniformly excellent in both performance and creation."
(James Haag, Port Jefferson Patch)
"A delight to listen to...These are songs crafted with care and imbued with sincerity and conviction."
(Rob Quicke, Britsound Radio New Jersey)
"A songwriter of the very highest quality."
(Stefan Schmoe, Online Musik Magazine, Germany)
"A singer who makes you think while he entertains... Rupert Wates manages that tricky tightrope with great skill."
(Chris Kocher, PressConnects.com)
"[Wates] made us all sit up pop-eyed at what he could do with six strings."
(Keith Harrelson, Moonlight On The Mountain) |
