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 Max Creek, a regional phenomenon is one of the most electrifying live acts on the Eastern seaboard today. Max Creek brings to the stage a wide variety of musical experience, from the blues to ballads to hard- edged rock n' roll, to early San Francisco era improv. This five man band has a unique style, and their blend of original songs and classic covers has gained them remarkable respect and a large following which continues to grow. To see Max Creek in concert is to fall under their unique spell. A Max Creek concert-- whether in a packed nightclub or outdoor arena-- is an electrifying and magical experience; just ask those who travel hundreds of miles to listen and dance. Blues ballads blend into jazzy barroom piano and a jumping, frenetic energy fuled by the audience. An hour later, there's a full fledged jam at work, combining contemporary and jazz idioms and soaring into freeform flight. Even later, a reggae- tinged stunner will blend right into a folksy blues intro. Each night is different-- you can't predict Max Creek's direction. Rock, jazz, reggae, folk, bluegrass-- it's all there in a special blend that entices listeners to go back again, and again. Max Creek inspires loyalty, and anyone can get hooked-- quickly. When the Creek magic is in full swing, amazing things happen. The guys in the band call it "reciprocal energy" and there's no better way to describe the bond that develops between performers and audience. This is a Creek specialty, and each night can be described as an incredible journey that band and the audience take together. more...

"With every album, I’m trying to figure out what I don’t have to say, while still giving each song its due," Dar Williams says. Of her new album, Promised Land, Williams commented, "On this one, I was paring the stories down to their core. I wanted the songs to sound simple and down to what they were meant to be, which is hard to do. It takes a lot of knowledge to get to the point where you can say what you need to say — no more, no less." To peel her insightful, melodic story-songs down to their essence, as well as inject them with the energy and momentum they clearly called for, Williams enlisted Brad Wood, a Grammy-nominated producer and musician known for his work with rock singer-songwriters Liz Phair, Pete Yorn, and Ben Lee. "Dar was looking to try something different and get out of her comfort zone," Wood says. "She had made a number of records and it seemed like a good time, career-wise, for her to make a change. I was flattered that she thought to ask me to help. Her voice is so great that you can do just about anything behind her and it’s going to sound cool!"  more...

 

"Seasons change, but Williams remains both ambitious and pleasingly plain-spoken... And importantly, she seems more at ease than ever." -Rolling Stone
 

"Williams has a beautiful singing voice, and most of the tunes, their poetic images and warm melodies effectively demonstrate her talents." -Associated Press

 

“lush soundscapes breathing wetly beneath her elegant, operatic groove and seductively conversational vocals“feels like one long, loving lullaby for lives in trouble, peppered with useful wisdom." -Boston Globe

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Though he enjoyed singing during his childhood in Cleveland, OH, Joshua Radin never intended to be a professional musician. Instead, he studied drawing and painting at Northwestern University, following his college years with stints as an art teacher, screenwriter, and art gallery employee. Eventually, he took a stab at songwriting and played one of his early compositions, "Winter," for his friend Zach Braff. The burgeoning actor/director took an immediate liking to the song, and "Winter" soon found its way onto Braff' TV show, Scrubs, in early 2004. After fans began to request more of his music, Radin decided to pursue a songwriting career and signed with Columbia Records, who issued his debut album We Were Here in 2006.  more...

 

"Radin's music is frail and delicate, the sound of Simon & Garfunkel tooled for today." -Columbus Dispatch

 

Check out Joshua on CNN.com

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Feel, the seventh album from Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jesse Harris, makes two important points. First, it confirms that Harris possesses a distinctive voice, both as a performer and composer. Think of the album as intimate, gently romantic, wistful, and/or humorous, and above all, equipped to stimulate those who appreciate craftsmanship and touch all who take time to listen. The second point stems from the first: Jesse Harris has a history and a talent that goes beyond the impact he made as author of "Don’t Know Why," the song that helped launch Norah Jones’ phenomenal career.  That song, exceptional as it is, reflects Harris’ standard level of accomplishment as a composer. It’s no accident that those who have covered his work – Madeleine Peyroux, Pat Metheny, Lizz Wright, and Jones – are masters of interpretation, artists who work best when working with the best material.
Nor is it a coincidence that Harris’s evocative talents have led him into film work, most recently as composer and producer of the soundtrack to Ethan Hawke’s The Hottest State (out on Think Films in August 2007), where Harris’ songs are interpreted by the likes of Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Brad Mehldau, Cat Power, Feist and other major artists. more...

 

“The Grammy-winning writer makes a most lasting impression with these warm, wistful tunes.” - People Magazine

 

“Jesse Harris has learned how to keep an audience interested - and wanting more.” - Rolling Stone

 

“Harris’ hardy sunbursts of day-tripping song - the stringy swirl of “Gone, Gone, Gone,” the cornet-guided “More” - feels like an Astral Week.” - NY Press

Since their inception 9 years ago, the Sim Redmond Band has been steadily on the rise, forging new ground in roots music. Traveling around the globe, playing with the likes of moe., the Neville Brothers, the Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, and Habib Koite, in some of the most beautiful venues in the U.S. and Japan, the world has taken notice. SRB's unique blend of roots-rock, Afro-Carribean, and reggae music continues to spread like wild fire. They are based in Ithaca, NY but their magnetic pole is Africa, particularly the sounds eminating from West & South Africa. This magnetic pole has served as a pivot for the Sim Redmond Band to spring into straight rock grooves and pumping reggae. The vocal teamwork of Sim Redmond, Jen Middaugh, and Nate Silas Richardson creates a male/female chemistry that is rare and beautiful. Lyrically, they explore dreams, truth, and matters of the heart. The music of the Sim Redmond Band has reached the hearts of people all around the world. They have toured extensively, selling over 10 thousand records in the U.S and over to 20,000 in Japan, where SRB has toured numerous times. Their latest CD "Room in These Skies" has caused quite a buzz already. The skies are the limit for SRB and there is plenty of room in these ones.  more...

Voted Rochesters BEST Original Band! The BuddhaHood blazes it's own path with a fresh-sounding arsenal of musicians and original music. The 10 members of this World-ternative Orchestra are of vastly different musical backgrounds, creating a frothing melting-pot of ideas in which diverse musical influences converge to form sonic washes with innovation, nuance, and pure groove power. This could be the reason their music as a whole completely defies labels. Their latest release (Toasty-Live at The Park Ave Fest 2007) gives the listener a 2 CD, double live album of all original music ripe with influences of rock, funk, jazz, Latin American, Caribbean, African, and Middle Eastern sources. All this variety contributes to a dynamically powerful, electric show that continues to attract an audience as eclectic as the band itself. Each performance bubbles along with unstoppable rhythm, and flow until the whole joint is dancing ensuring the groove never stops.  more...

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One of the most critically acclaimed guitarists and the youngest musician to be named in Rolling Stone's list of the Top Hundred Guitarists of All Time, Derek Trucks has completed his much anticipated sixth studio album with The Derek Trucks Band, entitled "Already Free," available January 13, 2009 on Sony/Legacy. The album was self-produced by Trucks and recorded in his Jacksonville, Florida home studio. Nearly a year in the making and brimming with a newfound focus on creating original material, "Already Free" is the band's latest endeavor in the natural evolution of integrated musicality. Featuring guests such as Susan Tedeschi, Doyle Bramhall II, Oteil Burbridge and others, the collective effort resulted in an exploration of previously uncharted musical territory, blended into the unmistakable DTB sound. The organic way in which the album came together is but one indication of its creative and musical strength. As Derek said, "this album was completely organic. We had no expectations. We just came down and started writing. Then one thing led to the next. I had all this time off so I just started calling up friends. And once the process started rolling and once we realized that we were onto something, we were writing tunes and all the sounds we were getting were amazing and it was starting to feel great. It felt like something was happening and we wanted to keep throwing musicians on the fire." more...
 

"Derek's playing is stunning, unlike anything I'd ever heard before." -Eric Clapton

 

"His electric slide work is so human and stabbing it is more like amplified breath" - Rolling Stone

"Trucks just might be this generation¹s greatest rock guitarist, a player of distinct tastefulness and ravenous music appetite." -Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY

Few bands are as outspoken and thought-provoking as State Radio, the musically inventive, socially and politically charged trio fronted by Chad Stokes. With its sophomore album, Year Of The Crow, the group–rounded out by bassist Chuck Fay and drummer Mad Dog–matches its conscience-raising messages with an inspiring amalgam of rock, punk and reggae that is as distinctive as it is sublime. For U.S. concert-goers, Stokes was first known as the voice behind agit-prop outfit Dispatch, a band that sold a whopping 600,000 albums by word of mouth. Although the outfit's six-year tenure ended in 2002, its members have reunited for noble causes, including 2007's epic three-night sold-out stand at Madison Square Garden to benefit the plight in Zimbabwe. In lieu of college, Stokes lived in Zimbabwe during his eighteenth year, and the experience not only galvanized his songs, but it also shaped his life with a commitment that is as strong as ever. Simply stated, it is impossible not to be moved by the sounds emanating from State Radio, whether it's the genocide in Darfur, which is told through the eyes of a young boy on the alluring, rhythmic "Sudan," the explosive, edgy, reggae-laden "C.I.A." or the steamrolling rallying cry for justice known as "Unfortunates."  more...

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"See, we can still sit in a distant haze and watch rain clouds pour thoughts of greatness and help our troubles sail far away/Well, its a struggle — everyday we stressing, but whats a life without dedication? / Im trying to pick up the souls intention to soak in music relaxation." — from "Feeling Alright." The visual and emotional picture painted by the preceding words aptly describes the Rebelution experience. The Santa Barbara-based reggae quartet is on a mission to spread positivity, unity and awareness to any and all who will listen, and, lately, it seems as if the number of interested parties may never stop growing. more...

Dan Reed has had an interesting journey throughout the entertainment world. His first band named Dan Reed Network was signed to Polygram Records in 1987 by Derek Shulman, known for signing such acts as Bon Jovi, Pantera, and Nickleback to name a few. With Bill Graham managing the first album release Dan and his band toured extensively around the world touring with such acts as Eddie Money, Run DMC, UB40, and David Bowie. Q-Prime Management picked up the reigns for the second and third release and helped secure the coveted slots opening for Bon Jovi and then the Rolling Stones Urban Jungle European Tour. Between 1988 and 1992 Dan Reed Network sold over 2 million copies of their three Polygram releases worldwide. In 1993 Dan created the opportunity to travel to India and interview the Dalai Lama for Spin Magazine. He and Bob Guccione Jr., the publisher of Spin, made the trip to Dharamsala together and it was here that Reed discovered he was searching for more than success in the music industry, but also saw that the world was in need of more work in the activist field. Dan began writing articles on the Homeless in the US, Tibetan Independence, Native American Rights, Animal Rights, as well as became actively involved with Peta and Young Audiences of America as their spokesperson, raising awareness to the dying arts programs in middle schools of America. Dan disbanded the Network, and began acting in theater, film and television, doing many roles for such directors as Gus Van Sant, Zalman King, and eventually co-produced a film Reed also wrote and acted in called 'Zigzag' which charted on Billboards top 20 video rentals. This led to Reed's desire to build a nightclub named 'OHM' in Portland, Oregon that would blur the lines between rock and roll and electronic music. The Ohm quickly became the most cutting edge club in the Northwest, hosting international acts from both genres. After 5 years of guiding the success of Ohm Dan decided it was time for another change and headed back to India. more...

What makes a band truly remarkable? Insightful lyrics? Memorable melodies? Blow-your-mind live performances? The truth is that it takes all of those things along with a boundless enthusiasm, an infectious energy and a supreme devotion to the fans. With this rare combination, a band may ascend past good, or even the record industry's Holy Grail, "marketable" and reach sublime. Drawing on the hardships and joys of their own lives and a musical history ranging from old world Celtic to modern day punk rock, the seven members of Flogging Molly do just that, and they do it with a charm and an ease that makes them one of the most accessible bands performing today. "We're not a traditional band,?" explains Dublin born singer/songwriter, Dave King. "We are influenced by traditional music and inspired by it, and we put our own little twist on it."  Founded in Los Angeles in 1997 by the expatriate King, Flogging Molly got its start and its name from a local bar called Molly Malone's where the band played and grew and laid down the blueprint for its eventual success. As every member of Flogging Molly will emphatically explain, there were no predetermined expectations for the band's sound. From night to night playing to a packed house at Molly Malone?s, the sound evolved organically. Traditional Celtic instruments like violin, mandolin and accordion blended seamlessly with grinding guitars and pounding drums. Without consciously attempting it, Flogging Molly merged the music of King's childhood in Dublin with the music of his adulthood in L.A. more...