Location: Kingston NY

Is there another songwriter so fearless and inventive?  Bending decades of pop music into new shapes, Neko Case wields her voice like a kiss and her metaphors like a baseball bat. She has cast the fishing net of her career wide—from Seattle and Vancouver to Chicago and Stockholm, setting up her home base on a farm in New England.

Gathering power year after year, Neko sings with the fierce abandon of a newborn infant crying in a basket in the woods. Since escaping the labels of country and Americana, the gorgeous train-whistle vocals of her early career sit submerged in her later style, where their ghost can appear any minute. When her voice jumps an octave, it’s almost visible, like sparks at night. “I never knew where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do with my voice,” she says, “but I just wanted to do it so bad.”

With a career spanning over twenty years, she has famously collaborated with The New Pornographers and Case/Lang/Veirs in addition to releasing many critically acclaimed solo albums, including ‘Fox Confessor Brings The Flood’, ‘Middle Cyclone’ and most recently 2018’s ‘Hell-On’.  

She’s doing it on her own terms, but the legacy she’s building is one that can stand up to music made by any other solo artist in her lifetime. Don’t look away; you never know what might happen. “I’m just trying,” she says, “to be myself as hard as I can.”

https://nekocase.com

There is no voice as distinctive in alt-dance-rock than Kate Pierson’s. Just ask Iggy Pop, Jack  White, and R.E.M., all of whom enlisted her vocal contributions for such memorable tracks as “Candy,” “Venus,” and “Shiny Happy People,” respectively. Best-known as a founding member  of the singular, trailblazing B-52s, Pierson is beloved for her soaring vocals and ear-catching keyboards, at the forefront of the group for nearly 50 years. And now, nine years after her solo debut, 2015’s Guitars and Microphones, Pierson has crafted a diverse collection of her most  personal songs yet on the infectious, emotive Radios and Rainbows (SVR Music). “It’s an eclectic group of songs,” says Pierson, “anthems, dance things, a disco song… Overall, the  album has an upbeat vibe because I wanted to put out something positive in these dark times. I  wanted to make it fun!” 

Songwriting is nothing new to Pierson. As far back as her teens, she “had a folk group in high  school called the Sun Donuts,” she recalls. “We wrote our own folk protest songs. I was very influenced by the folk movement in the ‘60s – that’s how I became politicized – hearing songs  by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, and Phil Ochs.” Fast forward to the madcap B-52s,  formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976, which turned New Wave music on its head, eventually  scoring multiplatinum success and gaining millions of fans.  

Yet between B52s recording sessions, movie appearances, and lengthy tours, Pierson longed to  cut her own songs she’d been writing. “When the Bs were touring all the time and doing so much  work, it felt like such a family dynamic,” Pierson explains. “To me, it would’ve been a betrayal if I’d done something on my own outside the B-52s. It was a prison created by my own mind.”  Finally, during the band’s brief hiatus in the late ‘90s, she wrote and recorded enough songs for a solo album. “But our manager put the kibosh on it,” she says, “because he worried that our label  Warner Bros. would object.”  

Some of the songs found their way onto her 2015 release, for which she first collaborated with songwriters and producers like her friend, avant-pop star Sia. The collaborative process energized Pierson. “Collaboration is an adventure,” she enthuses. “You’re seeing how creativity  can connect you with someone – even if you’ve never met them before walking into that studio. If people would create together more, it could bring different types together. That spark that  connects you to another creative force, that’s the spark of the universe, the spark of life. It was  really great to find out that I could connect to almost anyone!” 

To fulfill her musical vision across a dozen tracks on Radios and Rainbows, Pierson collaborated  with a variety of songwriters and producers to bring her lyrics and sonic ideas to life. She and  Sia, along with producer/bassist Samuel Dixon, cooked up the spooky, rockin’ “Every Day Is Halloween,” originally released as a single with a haunting video on Friday the 13^th of October  2023. The catchy, singalong melody features a beautiful blend of the women’s voices, angular guitar, and a propulsive beat. 

Another evocative video – think Lana Turner gone punk – captures the essence of the album’s  second single, “Evil Love,” with a Song of the Summer vibe that makes it “a feel-good song about revenge,” says Pierson. “A film-noir style short story. It’s atmospheric – and it’s danceable!” Her partner-in-crime on the earworm of a track is singer-songwriter Bleu, who’s produced artists ranging from Big Freedia to Selena Gomez.  

Just as danceable is the irresistible “Take Me Back to the Party,” a cowrite with Jimmy Harry, known for his work on Madonna’s “Masterpiece” and Pink’s “Sober,” among other hit tracks. “I wanted this song to connect with B-52s fans,” says Pierson, who likens its sound to “Planet  Claire” and “Dance This Mess Around.” “It’s a disco song that conjures a younger Kate back in the day when I just couldn’t wait to get into clubs,” she says. “It takes me back to my Party Girl  past! I just love a good dance song.” That same spirit radiates in the ‘80s-synth-style dance number, “Wings,” a cowrite with producer JD Walker (Cher, Kylie Minogue). 

Longtime collaborator Chris Braide woodshedded with Pierson on four songs, including “the most personal song I’ve ever written,” she confides. “Chris did an instrumental track for ‘Beauty of It All,’ and the lyrics just poured out of me,” she says of the soaring ballad. “That song surprised me, how it came out. It is about my wife, Monica, and our relationship. When I met her, I was at a low point and in a bad relationship. Then getting together with Monica was so  grounding and empowering – as the lyrics say, ‘walking on treetops, you’ll never fall.’” With Pierson’s layered, luminous vocals, the song conveys a rapturous joyfulness. “I love harmonizing  with myself,” says Pierson, “and I love a shimmering, dog-whistle high harmony.” Similarly, the uplifting ballad, “Higher Place,” is “another of my most personal songs,” Pierson relates, “about when I ended that verbally and emotionally abusive relationship and got together with Monica. I knew there was a better place, but I was really shattered then. Monica helped me recover from that and feel strong again. There’s a line in the song – ‘the battle that incites a riot in us’– you have to find the power, the joy, to get yourself out of that internal anger.” 

Another person dear to Pierson, the late artistic genius Jeremy Ayres, is the focus of a compelling cowrite with Chris Braid: the gorgeous, lush “Give Your Heart to Science.” “Jeremy was a spark of life,” she says. “I met him early on when I moved to Athens. He was inventive and curious and had been a Warhol superstar. He was very pivotal on the Bs and R.E.M. He always lived like everything was art.” 

The album’s anthemic title track personifies Pierson’s social activism. “Chris and I jammed on that one, and those lyrics with a political bent came out. It’s an antiwar song, a song of peace.” The lyrics reference those of heroes like John Lennon and Yoko Ono and folk-era Dylan. She cowrote the call to disarmament, “Dream On,” with bassist Tracy Wormworth, guitarist/keyboardist Ken Maiuri, and drummer Sterling Campbell, who’ve accompanied the Bs on numerous tours. “I said to the band, ‘Let’s write a song together,’ and we came up with ‘Dream On.’ I was inspired by Patti Smith’s ‘People Have the Power,’ which I’ve always loved.” 

Radio and Rainbows is rounded out by tracks populated by intriguing characters: the dub-tinged  “Pillow Queen,” “a bouncy flirty summer song about someone who’s beautiful but doesn’t really respond,” says Pierson. “It’s a sex song – sexy and frothy.” “Always Till Now,” propelled by chiming guitars and a rocking rhythm section, details her decade-long coupling with a boho beau she fell for at a laundromat. The funky “Living in Monet” is the album’s sole cover. Penned by Pierson’s pal songwriter Cal Ellis, it spotlights 1970s Athens scenesters, and features bass and harmony vocals by Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie).

A portrait of the many sides of Kate Pierson, Radios and Rainbows has compelled the singer songwriter “to do more live shows,” she says. With stripped-down accompaniment, Pierson plans to perform at intimate venues and “let the emotions and the feelings of the songs come through, showcasing my vocals.” 

“My creativity has been unlocked!” Pierson adds. “I still have a lot more songs in me, and I’m already looking forward to recording my next album!”

Rhett Miller is a singer-songwriter known for fronting the popular rock band Old  97’s which Miller formed in 1993. After two independent releases, Miller and the 97’s signed to Elektra Records and released the critically acclaimed Too Far to Care. Their new album American Primitive drops April 5th and will be their 13th  studio album. Between projects with the Old 97’s Miller has released eight solo albums, most recently 2022’s The Misfit. 

In addition to his songwriting, Miller has branched out to write fiction and  nonfiction. He has authored short stories, essays and articles that have been  featured in Rolling Stone, Bookforum, Sports Illustrated, McSweeny’s, The Atlantic and Salon. He has also published two children’s books via Little Brown Young Readers.  

Rhett’s podcast, Wheels Off: Conversations about Creativity, which just hit 200  episodes, features well-known guests from all areas of the arts. Rhett has appeared  in films, most recently Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the Guardians of the  Galaxy Holiday Special, in which he performs a song he cowrote with director  James Gunn. His songs have been used in countless movies, television shows and  commercials.  

Rhett has long been involved in mentorship, and over the last decade has begun  teaching songwriting, primarily with his own Songwriting Is Magic retreat in the  Catskills. He’s conducted workshops elsewhere, notably at the Sanibel Island Writers Conference, Chicago’s historic Old Town School Of Folk Music, and just  this year a Visiting Artist Residency at the Herberger Institute for Design and the  Arts at Arizona State University. He is currently at work expanding his  Songwriting Made Simple essay (No Depression, 2018) into a book.  When not on tour, Rhett Miller resides in New Paltz, New York with his wife Erica  and two children. He can be followed on Instagram and X (both @rhettmiller).  Information about his solo music projects can be found at www.rhettmiller.com,  while information about Old 97’s can be found at www.old97s.com.

The Minorikeys are a groovy, head-banging, 3-part harmony party band. They play a wide variety of genres, inspired by artists spanning from Amy Winehouse to Queen, and from Benny Goodman to System of a Down! Based in the Hudson Valley, The Minorikeys bring the party energy to venues and special events throughout NJ, NYC, and upstate NY. Along with weddings and private events, they have also performed at many famous local venues such as The Chance Theater, Rosendale Theater, and District Social.

The Minorikeys are made up of a dynamic, multi-talented 6-piece group. The lead guitarist is Dr. Andrew Chen, who also doubles on the trumpet. Alex Bean is the band’s lead singer and screamer, rhythm guitarist, and vibraslap player. The female lead vocalist and keyboardist is Rebecca Satcher. Steven Lam is the band’s brass lead, with alto sax lines that range from silky jazz melodies to growling rock solos. The band’s drummer is Seth Beverly, who is also a DJ and backup vocalist. Filling the low end is Will Halpern, who plays bass guitar, trombone, and bass vocals.

ROCK ACADEMY’S SHOWBAND is an advanced touring group of young musicians between the ages of 12 and 18 who have been selected for their musical dedication, showmanship, love of performing, and ability to share the stage with professional musicians as they tour the world. Sets range from an eclectic mix of rock, punk, high energy funk and dance to psychedelic deep cuts. A standing ovation from Blondie’s crowd, or holding a room on their own, this band delivers a great show that makes audiences feel great about the past, and raving about the future of rock and roll.

The spirit of Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder era lives on through The Bob Cats.

Based in Bob’s old stomping grounds of Woodstock NY, The Bob Cats bring to life the rock ’n’ roll spirit of the Dylan songbook, and the rich history he’s made in this area.

After performing together in various configurations at the Woodstock Bob Dylan Birthday Celebrations, The Bob Cats formed officially in 2021, quickly becoming  a regular attraction in Woodstock – packing rooms with enthusiastic audiences of locals and tourists.

Legendary rock drummer Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Hall & Oates) propels The Bob Cats with his undeniable groove, while life-long Dylan interpreters Doug Yoel and Kyle Esposito dig deep into the lyric and vocal performance of these classic tunes.  Kyle is the band’s resident guitar hero, whose roots-rock style contains echoes of Jerry Garcia and Robbie Robertson, with epic dynamics that are all his own.  Bruce Jay Milner (Every Mother’s Son) plays piano and organ, and sings beautifully in the group.  Rob Stein (The Mammals, Bob Dylan band) adds a layer of dreaminess with his pedal steel mastery, and Chuck Cornelis (Chris Isaak) lays down an authoritative bass groove.   

Together, The Bob Cats explore Dylan’s best loved tunes and deep cuts, and all of the sonic variations that made Bob’s concerts so engaging throughout the decades.  

Bottom line – The Bob Cats deliver a most satisfying rock ’n’ roll celebration of the brilliant Bob Dylan songbook!

Hannah Cohen has arrived home. From the title of her new album to the depth and beauty of the music, the Woodstock, NY-based singer-songwriter’s third album for Bella Union, Welcome Home, displays a new level of confidence and comfort with the many creative tools at her disposal. Cohen’s remarkably evocative voice is surrounded by dreamy, swooning incantations, from the rippling ‘This Is Your Life’ and the slow-burning, forthright statement of ‘All I Want,’ to the soul swagger of ‘Get in Line’ and dramatic vocal leaps of ‘Wasting My Time.’ Produced by Cohen’s partner Sam Owens, the producer/writer who performs as Sam Evian, the artist began developing the material that became Welcome Home in 2017. Taking her time with the songs, she wrapped herself in the fulfilling quiet of a new home, and a new creative partnership that supported the clarity in her writing and vocals. Listeners will find echoes of folk and R&B, radiating with vocal-powered pop production, electronic accents, and bursts of pulsing guitar/bass/drums energy. Irresistible echoes of soul enchanters such as Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers and their friend and sometime collaborator Nick Hakim blend with the reflective shadings of singer/writer forebears such as Carole King and Harry Nilsson. As Cohen explains, “A lot of the album is about checking in with reality and taking the wheel, being honest with myself and my intentions. Being transparent as much as possible. They’re about exploring why I’m here. And the songs question love – if it’s real or something else, finding love that’s healthy, mature and supportive.”

His infectious Rhythms and Catchy choruses have people from New York City to Ibiza running to shake their groove thang. This Singer, Dancer, Billboard Chart Topper is an All around Entertainment Powerhouse.

Eric began his Childhood career on Television’s well-known dance show, “Soul Train”

He has parlayed his initial success as a teen-age regular on the show into a Illustrious career that includes the Billboard chart club hits, “Push” (2019) “Right Time”(2017) and “Breathe” (2010)

With the help of TV host, Don Cornelius, Eric was one of the first Black Ballet dancers to grace European stages. From there he arrived on London’s Famed West End, to successfully tackle a string of Andrew Lloyd Webber hit shows, including featured parts in the renown shows, “Cats” and “Starlight Express”

Jive Records UK took notice, and his recording artist career began. Never losing his love of stage he returned to America and became an opening act for artists as diverse as KD Lang, Coolio, Ani Difranco and Stevie Wonder. He was then asked by legendary drummer, Danny Seraphine of the famed rock group “Chicago” to join California Transit Authority with some of the legendary band. They knew he had the pipes to deliver the rock classic, “25-6 to 4”

Within the next few years, Eric traveled the world guesting with all star acts, writing for feature films and television, all while continuing to create a dance music catalog for himself on various celebrated record labels worldwide.

Finally after years of globe trotting, exploring various sounds and playing for thoughts of adoring fans, he found his own sound…. Electronic Soul.

In 2022 and 2023 his consecutive full albums “ Tears Don’t Cry” and “Life….with Subtitles” were both Grammy short-listed proving he’s obviously found the formula that keeps people on the dance floor and screaming for more.

http://www.ericredd.com/