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Hello, ACE fans, and welcome to 2014!  It’s time to look back at all the major things that happened with The Aaron Clift Experiment in 2013 and look ahead at where we’re going in 2014.

While 2012 marked the beginning of The Aaron Clift Experiment (with the release of “Lonely Hills” and our first live shows), if there’s one word I would use to describe 2013 for the band, I would say “transition.”  We began the year at a major crossroads: with Jim Ragland leaving the band, we had a major hole to fill in ACE’s sound.  Fortunately, in February, Danny Brymer joined on guitar and more than delivered on the promise of revamping the band’s sound.  We spent several months working with Danny, delivering some exciting live shows (including our show at One 2 One Bar in May) and beginning to write new songs.

However, surprise would hit us again when Danny told us in August that he would be moving out of state to pursue a music professorship job.  For the second time in a year, we were back to the drawing board of finding a new guitarist for the band.  But, luckily for us, Danny introduced us Eric Gutierrez, his guitarist friend and fellow classmate at Texas State University.  Eric joined the band in September, and like Danny before him has taken the band’s sound to a new level.

Besides the changes in personnel, 2013 was a transitional year for ACE in that it marked our emergence on the international progressive rock scene.  From our feature in the prestigious industry publication, Prog Magazine to our appearance in compilations like Progstravaganza, ACE has been making waves all around the globe.  We can’t wait to see what 2014 brings!

Speaking of 2014, I want to give you all a preview of what to expect from us this year.  A year ago, I promised that we would start writing and performing new songs in 2013.  With all the delays from the changes in guitarists, we didn’t reach this goal, but the good news is that the wait for new songs will soon be over.  As I write this post, all of us in ACE are hard at work writing and practicing new songs for a second album that we plan to record late this year and release around April of 2015.  Throughout 2014, we’ll be premiering these songs at our live shows so you can get a taste of what’s to come.

All of us at ACE want to thank you so much for all the love and support you’ve given us this past year.  Happy 2014, and we’ll see you around soon!

–Aaron

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Today, our chapter with Danny Brymer has ended and a new chapter begins.  Danny has accepted a music professorship job out of state and has decided to leave the band to pursue his new direction.  Danny, we wish you the very best of luck.  You’re an incredible guitarist, and we’ll miss you a lot!

Danny is a really tough act to follow, but the great news is that our new guitarist is more than up to the task.  Introducing, Eric Gutierrez:

An accomplished composer and performer of rock and classical music, Eric brings experience, versatility and serious chops to the band.  He’s a beast on guitar, so watch out world!

Our live shows with Eric start this month, and in the coming months, he’ll be working with the band on writing, recording, and performing new songs.

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Today, a chapter of The Aaron Clift Experiment has ended and a new chapter begins.  Jim Ragland has decided to leave the band to pursue a new musical direction.  We wish Jim the best of luck with his solo career and thank him for the excellent guitar work he’s done with the band.

Jim left some big shoes to fill, but the great news is that our new guitarist is more than up to the task.  Introducing Danny Brymer:

When we auditioned Danny, we knew right away he was the man for the job.  Danny brings a wealth of experience performing progressive rock,  jazz, and classical music.  Besides his versatility, Danny is a monster on guitar and a great composer.

In the coming months, you’ll get to see just how much Danny lives up to the hype as we resume our live shows and begin to write, record, and perform new songs.