Carl Thomas Gladstone

History

Carl began his musical career as a part of Still Listening, a band made up of 5 friends from a Detroit church and a northern Michigan school. Near the end of high school Carl, Jason Hill, Greg Ryckman, and Mike Mayo all began to write music and play instruments. They started playing small gigs for youth groups, retreats, and camps, including their memorable debut performance for an all-girls retreat that went over “very well,” hooking the guys on “this band thing.”  After their first years in college they met drummer Brad Stott and Still Listening, the band, was born. The five enjoyed driving ten hours between their two schools to play gigs at local bars, churches, and coffee houses while recording their first album (self titled Still Listening) in 1998.

In 2001, while Still Listening was still performing, Carl wrote and produced Tales Scratched Out, a solo project that continued to open up his own Christian experience for his listeners. Two of the songs on Carl’s debut solo CD (Echoes in Dreams and Girl) were written by Still Listening and members of the band provided backup instrumentation for the CD.

Throughout his career with Still Listening and on his own, Carl has opened for such acts as The Waiting, Smalltown Poets, Clear, and Shane Barnard (w/ Katie Monaghan). These gigs and other feature performance have taken Carl to stages at such venues as Albion College, Albion, MI; The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI; Trinity House, Farmington, MI; Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; Common Grounds, Waco, TX; The Door, Dallas, TX; and 313.Jac, Detroit, MI. Carl has recieved radio airplay on WDET FM's Ann Delisi's Essential Music, on the “Local Music Corner” segment of Chicago Public Radio’s [WBEZ, 91.5 FM] Eight Forty-Eight program, and on WNUR FM, Evanston-Chicago’s Folk Show. Carl has also provided worship leadership for Albion College's Wednesday Night Chapel, and various church gatherings.

Artist Perspective

Carl writes music as a discipline of justice-seeking and disruptive discipleship.  He writes to engage people of faith and of no faith in deep questions and engaging stories that matter for the world. 

Recently Carl has focused his artistic efforts on projects to bring about good in the face of evil.  The Abolitionist Hymnal is a collection of 19th Century freedom songs set to new tunes, and is a benefit for the Not For Sale Campaign to end human-trafficking today.  Upcoming projects will explore violence done to friends by religious institutions and the beauty those same friends make regardless.   Carl hopes that his artistic work will be this kind of catalyst for good everytime he sits down to write or perform.

Carl listens to and is inspired by the images of Scott Erickson, the skills of Shane Barnard, the passion of Patti Griffin, the smarts of Toad the Wet Sprocket, the funk of Stevie Wonder, the emotion of Chris Whitley, the words of Lyle Lovett, the sincerity of David Crowder, the drive of Pedro the Lion, the brashness of Steve Earle, the intentionality of Sufjan Stevens, the wildness of the Avett Brothers, the sound of Wilco, the spirituality of The Welcome Wagon, the groove of Tinariwen, and the melody of Sandra McCracken.

Discography

MOTOR CITY HYMNS, 2018
TWENTYSEVENTEEN, 2017
THE WESLEY PROJECT - ADVENT HYMNS 3, 2013
MATCHSTICK, 2013
THE WESLEY PROJECT - ADVENT HYMNS 2, 2012
THE ABOLITIONIST HYMNAL, 2011
THE WESLEY PROJECT - ADVENT HYMNS, 2010
THE WESLEY PROJECT - VOLUME NUMBER ONE, 2009
OFT BROKE ECHO, 2006
LONG ROAD TO GO W/ STILL LISTENING, 2001
TALES SCRATCHED OUT, 2001
LIVE FROM THE ATTIC, W/ KATE MONAGHAN, 2000
ALBION COLLEGE CHAPEL CD, 2000
STILL LISTENING W/ STILL LISTENING, 1998

 

still listening

Listen to Still Listening on Soundcloud

Listen to Still Listening on Soundcloud

At the beginning was a group of guys who decided that writing music together was a great way to spend time, and was a great excuse for road trips up and down Michigan and throughout the country.  We've all moved on to other things, but wanted to share this with anyone interested in the early days.  Also, so sorry for that first show in Ishpeming - we really owe you guys for that one.

Listen to Long Road To Go on SoundCloud​

Listen to Long Road To Go on SoundCloud​

 

one band, one room, one take, live and raw from detroit, mi. recorded and filmed at groovebox studios grooveboxstudios.com

The Wesley Project - Advent Hymns 3

Thanks to Groovebox Studios, a collection of wonderful Backers, and some fine musical collaborators we are pleased to release The Wesley Project - Advent Hymns 3.  This third and final installment of Charles Wesley texts gleaned from his "Hymns on the Nativity" has been a treat to work with and brings an intensity to this season befitting the message of the Christmas story.  Purchase through Bandcamp and check out Wesley Advent 1 & 2 below.


Music and mischief maker
on the prophetic edge.

His music is made up of tales found, scratched out, nurtured into harmonies.  He writes to rebel, reconcile, rescue, and reveal.  These are songs found in community, written collectively, and shared together.   Also, Carl is one to tell a tall tale. So beware.  He hopes that his songs will be part of an engine of goodness in the world, so get ready become a conspiritor with your visit today.

Albums

Social

 

Collective

More Info

Conversation

carl's best music is made among conspiritors and collaborators.  check out the developing collective of musicians, poets, and writers over on Facebook.

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Hey friends and collaborators,

Please find below some demos, charts, and a short form to help organize our studio time.  Thanks.

- Carl

If I'd Known You

CHART

A little droney, maybe some electric slide if we can swing it.

Talking To Calm

CHART

Love Shall Rule, And Heaven Come Down

CHART

Motor Boats

CHART

Apophatic Monsters

CHART

With some driving brushes on snare, add some nice pickin' and harmonies, I hope this can be a real sing-along.

Night of Pines

CHART

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