Push Play + Emily Osment + Phil Bensen  

November 23, 2009

Monday 7:00pm

Detail: After seeing Emily Osment for years on TV and film, most notably as Lilly Truscott in the phenomenally successful "Hannah Montana" franchise, fans will now get their first chance to truly hear her. On "All the Right Wrongs," Osment arrives as a fully formed singer/songwriter so accomplished that it's hard to believe she is only 17. From sounds that get you up on your feet to wrenching ballads, her songs are anchored by her keen, observational lyrics; instantly memorable melodies and Osment's wonderfully expressive vocals. "It's my first album so I want so much out of it. I want to cram everything I've been doing for the past 17 years into it," Osment says. Influenced by her parents, both of whom are musically inclined, and her brother, Oscar nominee Haley Joel Osment, Osment grew up in a household surrounded by music-much of it classic rock and roll. "My brother got his first electric guitar when he was 13 and the house was never quiet again," she laughs. Osment, who also plays guitar, recalls writing her first song when she was three. It was about a tree. The first album she ever bought was either the Monkees' greatest hits or The Beatles' Abbey Road. (She can't remember). Now, her tastes run more toward Animal Collective, Led Zeppelin, REM, the Pixies, Portishead and fellow emotional truth teller, Alanis Morissette. "I went through a big Alanis period," she says. Like Morissette, Osment wants to strip away any distance between her and the listener. "She was an inspiration for a lot of the songs I wrote with Max and Tony." Now, she's eager for others to hear her songs and is thankful she funneled her passion into this musical expression. "I wanted to put that energy to good use. Making this record has been so much fun and has allowed me to be the most creative I have ever been in my life." The world is rife with next big things, the majority of which come and go in a cloud left behind in hype and false hopes. Some build followings, left soon after to wallow for years in obscurity. There is occasionally the rare moment in time when hard work, perseverance and pursuing the simple path of artist development yields a viable, fan-fueled career that can last for decades. Push Play is on their way towards cementing their status as a band that has built their foundation via the latter. Nothing is more important than the fan for this band of four. From the beginning, they have nurtured each and every voice of passion that acts as the fuel in this constantly expanding fan base which simply borders on phenomenon. Singer CJ Baran shares, "As a band, we have focused on building a relationship with the fans. One by one, we have prided ourselves in making the time to get to know them, on a personal level whenever possible." Drummer Derek Ries adds, "They have been really loyal, and we try to make it a real experience for them. Push Play provides an intimacy in the fan experience from the moment we pull in to town, play the gig, and then interact with every one who came out after the show. It is all about them, and without their interest we ultimately have nothing."