ESPN, Rosario Dawson and CMJ are on the “California Run”

Starting today, you can have Neil Nathan’s “California Run” video in one of three flavors: Original recipe, featuring Rosario Dawson, co-star of the upcoming Unstoppable with Denzel Washington and Chris Pine; Light Acoustic version, filmed at Riley McMahon's New Warsaw Studio at Brooklyn Fireproof in East Williamsburg for a Playtime! Session during CMJ; or Sporty edition, where the song was featured on ESPN. All three videos can be viewed at http://neilnathan.com/videos.


The original “California Run” video was filmed in Topanga Canyon and features Nathan’s former roommate, and co-star of Unstoppable, Rosario Dawson. Hip Video Promo (She & Him, Black Mountain, Pearl Jam) spread the word for Nathan and loved the song so much, they recently had him play their 10th Anniversary CMJ Party at Maxwell’s. Nathan played two gigs during CMJ, the other at Knitting Factory, where he was joined by Riley McMahon, who also joins him in the Playtime! Session video on mandolin.

Neil Nathan is no stranger to making music videos. Next up is “Highways” featuring an animated version of himself driving a flying ‘67 Corvette convertible. It was directed by Postage, Inc.. His cover of ELO’s “Do Ya,” which was also featured on the Californication soundtrack, has been viewed 20,000 times on YouTube. “Highways,” along with “California Run” and “Do Ya” can be found on Nathan’s latest full-length, The Distance Calls which was released in August.

The Distance Calls was produced by The Go’s Bobby Harlow and combines the talents of Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather, QOTSA), Kenny Tudrick and Joey Mazzola (Detroit Cobras), John Krautner (The Go), and Ross Westerbur (Deadstring Brothers). The album effortlessly merges jangly pop rock with Nathan’s mellower singer/songwriter side. With a dash of NYC glitter and some good old Detroit fuzz and stomp, it showcases a musician clearly influenced by the ‘70s (without being cliché).