Ashley and the Xs host Halloween CD release party at songbirds WEDNESDAY

Nineteen months after heading into The Compound studio to record their second CD, Ashley and the Xs will unveil that long-promised work at a CD release party in Songbirds.

And what better night to unveil an album titled “The Black Cat Sings” than Halloween?

“The difference in this album [and the first in 2013] is that our musical ability has grown exponentially,” says Matt Shigekawa, guitarist and manager for Ashley and the Xs. Vocalist Ashley Hicks fronts the band, Eric Parham plays bass and Dan Walker is the drummer.

“We definitely took a more studio approach to this album with more overdubs and layers, exploring different sounds and textures. We get deeper within our own creativity.”

The first single, “Red,” was released last summer; “Hold Me Down” is their current single off the ninetrack CD.

Playing on the black cat theme even further, Shigekawa says the band is sponsoring a contest for the best, most creative cat costume worn to the Halloween release party.

Shigekawa says Ashley and the Xs will play the first half of the show; after intermission, Dr. B and The Ease will close out the night.

“We wanted to do things backwards,” Shigekawa explains. “Usually people have openers, but we wanted to showcase our album release and be the opener. Then we can sit back, relax and have fun at the party. It kind of changes things up a little.

“We are really excited to finally have this out to the public,” he says of “The Black Cat Sings.”

“It’s the work we are most proud of, and we hope it gets spread nationwide and we take off from here.”

MARK HERNDON PHOTOGRAPHY Ashley and the Xs