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In 1984, a six-song platter of pop perfection titled Places That Are Gone (Dolphin) put Tommy Keene onto the CMJ charts and atop the Village Voice EP of the Year poll. Blatantly romantic, unapologetically melodic, bittersweet but absolutely invigorating, it was the sort of record that you could put on before you went out on a Saturday night, or sit around and mope to if you didn't feel like facing the world. It still stands as a powerful statement, not only establishing Tommy as a unique singer-songwriter, but also as a guitarist with a sound as distinctive as Pete Townshend or Johnny Marr.
Tommy made enough noise in the early '80s to get the majors involved, and in 1986 he released Songs From the Film on Geffen. Produced by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, the album featured two MTV videos, "Listen To Me" and a re-recording of Places That Are Gone's title track, and spent 12 weeks on Billboard's Top 200. The 1998 CD reissue of Songs also includes one of the all-time great Keene rockers, "Run Now," with inspired rhythm section work from drummer Doug Tull and bassist Ted Niceley, plus a terrific extended guitar solo. The singer as well as the song appeared in the Anthony Michael Hall movie Out of Bounds. Rent it today and catch Tommy's 15 seconds of celluloid glory.

After releasing the Run Now EP in 1986, the original Tommy Keene group, which also included guitarist Billy Connelly, disbanded. Without a group, Keene headed down to Ardent Studios in Memphis to record with producers John Hampton and Joe Hardy. The result was Based on Happy Times (Geffen, 1989).

As suggested by the bittersweet title, Happy Times is the darkest album in the Keene catalog. Although his best material has always been infused with melancholia, Happy Times' tracks like "The Biggest Conflict" and "A Way Out" reveal a more fatalistic outlook. The guitars are heavier, there is less jangle, and there aren't as many hooky vocal harmonies. Unlike much of his earlier work, Based on Happy Times by no means can be tagged with the dread title of power pop. It is a beautifully crafted, if sometimes brooding, arty rock record.

Based on Happy Times would also be the first time and, so far, last time Keene would work with another songwriter on an album. "When Our Vows Break," written with Jules Shear, has long been a live favorite and is one of the record's standout tracks. The album's leadoff track, "Nothing Can Change You," can be heard as a cover version by the Goo Goo Dolls on the B-side of the Australian version of their single, "Slide." And while we're name dropping, R.E.M fans should note that Peter Buck appears on two tracks, lending some Marc Bolan-style guitar on the Beach Boys cover, "Our Car Club," and mandolin on "A Way Out." In support of Based on Happy Times, Keene put together a new rhythm section, John Richardson on drums and Brad Quinn on bass, and hit the road for a month-long tour with the Replacements. The tour found the Keene group playing for receptive audiences and would eventually lead to Tommy joining Replacements leader Paul Westerberg as a sideman on Westerberg's 1996 solo tour.

In 1996, Keene released Ten Years After (Matador), his first full-length album of all-new material in seven years. Produced by Keene and recorded by pop music wunderkind Adam Schmitt, the album contains classic pop hooks and the loudest guitars to date. The album probably comes closest to the sound of a live Tommy Keene show, which, if you've never seen one, can be a pretty thunderous affair.

While Ten Years After revealed that Keene had stored up a lot of creative energy in the years between full length LPs, his next effort, Isolation Party (Matador), showed that he could do just as well if not better on much shorter notice. Released in 1998, Isolation Party is more focused than its predecessor (Perhaps due to its being recorded over a few months as opposed to a few years). For the album, Tommy recruited an all-star cast, getting some fine instrumental and vocal performances from former Gin Blossom Jesse Valenzuela and Wilco's Jay Bennett and Jeff Tweedy. The album's opener, "Long Time Missing," ranks among the best songs he's ever written, and that's saying a lot when put in the company of "Back To Zero," "My Mother Looked Like Marilyn Monroe," "Highwire Days," and "Silent Town," all of which, coincidentally, can be heard in sizzling versions on Keene's next effort, a live disc called Showtunes (Parasol), released in 2000.

Tommy followed up his live album in 2001 with The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down for the SpinArt label. Produced by Keene and recorded primarily in Tempe, Arizona, at the Gin Blossoms outpost, the album leads off with the rousing rocker "Begin Where We End" before branching out into some new terrain with the roadhouse boogie of "Man With Out a Soul" and the 16-minute opus, "The Final Hour."

Tommy used his next release, Drowning: A Tommy Keene Miscellany (Not Lame), to clean out his closets of 20 years' worth of rarities, demos and unreleased sessions. One of the best hodgepodge records you'll ever hear, more than one critic felt Tommy's spring-cleaning LP bested many greatest hits packages.

Back on the road in 2004, Keene and band joined Guided By Voices on the East and West Coast legs of their farewell tour. Apart from some great gigs, the shows also led to Keene joining Pollard as a member of his post GBV band, The Ascended Masters, for their 2006 U.S. Tour and a limited edition live LP, Moon (Merge).

The year also saw the release of Crashing the Ether (Eleven Thirty), which was performed and recorded primarily by Tommy himself at home with drums by John Richardson and contributions from regular Keene band members and friends. Sonically, the album is dazzling, with big drums and open, ringing guitars. Lyrically it was arguably Tommy's great leap forward, with subject matter ranging from a nostalgic, black and white snapshot of New York to Warren Beatty to mixed signals via "Texas Tower #4."

Tommy quickly followed up Crashing the Ether with Blues and Boogie Shoes. an LP with Robert Pollard under the Keene Brothers moniker. Although side projects can sometimes be less than wholehearted efforts, tracks such as "The Naked Wall" or "Death of the Party"--as good a song as Keene or Pollard have written together or separately--show that neither artist was holding anything back. Among the LPs many rave reviews, The Big Takeover magazine called the album a magical "balancing act" between Keene's straightforward songwriting and Pollard's more outré moments.

In October 2008, Tommy joined Pollard again as a member of Boston Spaceships, touring in support of the album Brown Submarine.]]> 1283922000 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1139
Imbued early in life with a love of music, art, drama, comedy and incisive writing, Dan Navarro has spent the past 30 years of his life working and playing as a singer, songwriter, recording and touring artist, voice actor and media activist.

Dan Navarro has long been known as one half of the acoustic duo Lowen & Navarro, who, for the past 20 years, barnstormed the country in support of their 11 albums, many of them radio staples. In June, 2009, Eric Lowen retired from the concert stage as a result of his six-year struggle with ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's Disease. Dan has now stepped out on his own, playing to exuberant houses all over the country eager to hear his new material and L&N chestnuts. The distinguishing marks are the same for Dan solo as they were with Eric Lowen all these years -- songs of insight and experience, delivered straight up with honesty, passion and grace. His songs (written with Eric Lowen, with other collaborators and on his own) have been recorded by artists as diverse as Pat Benatar (the Top Five smash "We Belong"), The Bangles, Dionne Warwick, Dave Edmunds, and many more.

In addition to his activity as a recording artist, Dan also lends his voice to movies, TV shows, commercials and albums, both in English and in Spanish. Some of his better credits have included Happy Feet, Ice Age 2 & 3, Prison Break, Family Guy, American Dad, commercials for McDonald's, Ford, Nationwide Insurance, Nissan, Shakey's and countless others, and albums for Neil Young, Luis Miguel, John Batdorf and both Julio and Enrique Iglesias.]]> 1284008400 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1136
It's an adjective used to describe a person or event. Someone is acting cheap, arrogant, self-centered, superior to others, snobbish, or as a jerk, they are a Floog.

The most common stereotype of a rock band?

But in reality Floog is an awesome combination of Reggae, Folk, Rock and Pop. They are a band that prides themselves on a perfect balance of entertainment and musicianship. Another important item of their live performance is that there is very little down time between songs and a sincere focus on keeping the crowd lively. A good core group of fans that are fun but not rowdy has really done them well where they have played packed shows at Sly Fox in Wheatland, Mickey Finns in Libertyville and the Brat Stop in Kenosha as well as many other venues. They have established a good working relationship with all of these places, especially Sly Fox and The Brat Stop.

Leading the charge is singer/songwriter Jeff Pflueger (you can see where they got the name). A talented guitarist whose poignant yet sometimes whimsical lyrics cascade over choppy reggae rhythms and smooth acoustic guitar parts. Jeff has been playing guitar and singing for 10 years.

Then there is the quirky and lovable lead guitarist Jim Walski. Jim is a purest when it comes to the Six String Olympics of lead guitar playing. Classic lead guitar playing, all killer no filler, Jim also brings a great landscape of textures to compliment the primary rhythm guitars in there songs and solid backing harmony vocals. He is the utility man of the band. Jim has been playing guitar for 28 years.

Drummer Kevin Welker supplies the pulse of the band. This guy always keeps his eye on the prize by supplying a groove that moves. Kevin pulls from many styles of drumming such as funk, hip-hop, New Orleans line, classic rock, zydeco, and Latin. Tasteful and talented is the mark of a good drummer and he is definitely both. Kevin has been playing drums for 23 years.

Last but not least, let us end with the low end. Bassist Tony Emond is glue that connects all the elements of Floog. Tony's bass lines can be in your face, laid back funky or purely melodic. The essence of bass playing straight from the heart is his motto. This guy is no guitar player turned bassist. Tony has been playing bass for 17 years.

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Recalcitrant is a music family that started back around 2002. We started out as a Hip-Hop group and released 1 album in that genre.After some time we graduated into a live band. We have been jamming ever since. We are dedicated to making original music. But we do not limit ourselves to one style . We are all music fans with various and different influences. We love music and that is why we make music! With years of experience in and out of the studio Recalcitrant has always strived towards making something different. Something that you cant quite put your finger on.]]> 1284094800 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1133
The members of Bascom Hill admit they have a tough time when someone asks them what kind of music they play. Usually, after attempting a few lame comparisons, they throw up their hands and say, "Have you heard of rock and roll?"

No, it's not "rap-rock," "indie-rock," "dance-rock" or any other hyphen-happy subgenre. Unlike many of their contemporaries, Bascom Hill plays a brand of music that does away with endless categorization and pigeonholing while embracing anything that's good--all while delivering effortless sounding hooks and instantly memorable choruses.

And really, to play spot-the-influence or name-the-genre is to miss the point. Just wade into the crowd and let the music carry you until you find yourself singing along. You'll be in good company.

While coming across as a quartet of good-natured, lager-loving lads from Kenosha, Wisconsin (setting of TV's That '70s Show and not far from where Richie, Ralph and The Fonz once held court), the band--vocalist Charlie Victor, guitarist Jason Sheridan, bassist Quin Stickler and drummer Tom Reschke--is more accomplished and seasoned than their unpretentious Midwestern demeanor might indicate. For starters, the irresistible songwriting is theirs, not that of hired guns, and the core Sheridan/Victor team has been together more than 15 years now, predating the band's formation. (All four band members have played together, on and off, for more than 12 years.)

The songwriting partnership got rolling nearly instantaneously just after Sheridan and Victor met, while in a choir together during high school--yes, no kidding. "The story goes that there was a battle of the bands, and I was a pretty good guitar player, and Charlie was obviously a good singer, so we got together and wrote a couple of songs for it," Sheridan recalls. "Instantly--at 16 years old--we were able to write songs together without ever doing it before. And we've been doing it ever since."

Bassist Quin Stickler, who worked with Sheridan at a local music store, was the next to come aboard, adding bass lines to duo's growing list of songs (forming an increasingly busy trio in the process). Following Quin came drummer Tom Reschke, who was a natural choice. He was widely known as the best drummer in southeast Wisconsin and they had all played together during their high school years. Tommy would later leave the band for a period to tour with others, only to return in 2007.

After solidifying the lineup, one thing led to another and eventually the quartet recorded two albums independently. Meanwhile, the band went to work building a loyal word-of-mouth following through well-attended shows--both close to home and around the Midwest. (The name comes from a landmark on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, where the band cut its teeth and is now based.)

Through the independent success of prior album Maybe, Bascom Hill has graduated to bigger stages, touring and sharing bills with the likes of Augustana, The Fray, Hanson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Lifehouse, as well as performing at festivals across the country including the world's largest music festival and Milwaukee's own Summerfest, Sturgis' Harleyfest, and others.

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The release of Jayme Dawicki's piano driven pop/rock gem "Shatter Queen" has resulted in much success since spring of 2008. 5 of the 10 songs have been used on MTV's "The Real World Hollywood and Brooklyn" along with Lifetime's "Mom's Cooking". Milwaukee native Jayme, alongwith her band, have toured across the country including Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Hollywood, Vegas, Denver, and Madison. She has been featured on the cover of MKE's Summerfest (the "World's largest music fest") special along withperforming at the festival for the past three summers. The disc was produced and engineered by Daniel Mendez (Dashboard Confessionals, Lit, Duran Duran, Heart, Meg and Dia) at Imperative Studios (Seattle, WA). In addition, she is teamed up with song manager Wayne Ledbetter (EGMINC) and GoDIY Records. In the past Jayme has opened for major label acts The Fray and Ferras. She also was awarded the 2006 WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) Female Vocalist of the Year.]]> 1284181200 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1128
Think of a hibachi chef flipping a raw egg high in the air with the spatula. While in the air, he manages to successively chop fresh veggies and slice his meats with precision with plenty of time to turn his spatula up to the air and perfectly catch the egg shell on its edge while the whites and yolk splash perfectly onto the skillet. There a lot of tasks involved within short pockets of time, but each piece fits precisely together into an energetic crowd-pleasing performance. Coordination is everything.

Categorization be damned, the Madison-based five piece, Steez, consisting of Matt Williams (keyboards/synthesizers/accordion), Steve Neary (guitar and vocals), Rob Bessert (drums), Chris Sell (bass), and Andrzej Benkowski (saxophone, oboe, and violin) is -- in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions -- a funk band, a jamband, a fusion band, a disco-fanged multi-beast, and a basket case.

Churning out their self-described Creepfunk, a high energy, danceable variety of funk -- one uniquely laced with electronic and improvisational sensibilities – Steez has garnered a loyal following throughout the Midwest, winning contests to perform at both the 2008 Summer Camp and Rothbury Festival and performing to capacity crowds at rapidly growing venues . After receiving repeated acclaim for their live performances, which typically include a seamless weaving of thoughtfully composed originals and crowd pleasing covers spanning from Madonna to clever obscurities like Genialistid (Estonia), Steez is ready to take Creepfunk into the studio for their first full length LP.

Hoping to carve out a niche in the competitive jamband landscape, what really sets Steez apart is the camaraderie and endearing sense of humor. The band's humble beginnings include getting banned for life from a venue after their first ever live performance, maneuvering a moped accident involving a parked car, and cruising the Midwest in the inspired 35 foot band bus, "Big Brown." While it's the original songs and taut musicianship that initially grab both fans' and critics' attention, the band's personality keeps it.]]> 1284699600 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1131
Tea Party Recording Artists 2MorroW EvR AfteR return to Shank Hall September 18th with their 'Rock & Roll Nouveau' for a night of Rock & Roll Mayhem, and 2 shoot footage for a video for their latest single 'ProVoCaTiVe'. Come join the fun and be a part of their video shoot! 'Provocative' has charted as high as #12 on the internet & satellite radio charts and is currently getting strong airplay on Sirius-Octane, MTV Rock, VH1 Rock, AOL Rock, Yahoo Rock, Live 365, Pitt Radio, iHeart Radio, Europe FM and many more. 2MorroW EvR AfteR's (TEA) debut CD 'INDIVISIBLE', has been the featured album on a number of UK stations and, their song 'Goodbye My Little Lie' was ranked this summer in the top 10 most played songs on podcasts according to Mevio. Most recently, TEA signed a Marketing-Management deal with Black Mountain Productions out of Las Vegas... As one reviewer put it 'TEA's music is desperately passionate, courageously optimistic & recklessly honest, it is truly a new energy for a new era.' Come see the next big thing in Rock & Roll!]]> 1284786000 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1134
Since forming in 1988, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys have emerged as one of the world's most respected practitioners of American roots music, western swing, rockabilly, and traditional country--playing it like they invented it. "I think of us as just a rock and roll band, a rock and roll band that's letting the roots show," says bandleader Big Sandy. Whether they're playing the Grand Ole Opry, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, or simply climbing out of a bus after rolling into your town, these guys are bringing us some great old-time rock and roll.]]> 1284872400 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1158
Seven Nations is not your father's Celtic band. With a passionate, tender, and rollicking style that winningly veers from roots and folk to dance and fusion-rock, Seven Nations has earned a growing reputation as an adventurous band with a charismatic stage presence.

"Seven Nations -- the name refers to the seven original Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Galecia, Isle of Man, and Brittany -- officially began in 1993 in New York City with a standard line-up of drums, guitars, and bass," notes lead singer and guitarist Kirk McLeod.

"We soon introduced bagpipes into the show, and over time the number of songs utilizing bagpipes grew until it became obvious that they were integral to our emerging sound," says McLeod. "Most of the band members grew up playing Celtic music, and we've been performing original compositions since we began. Our instrumentation, and bagpipes and fiddle mostly, give us a distinctive sound and that's what makes us different."

Seven Nations has been touring full-time since 1994 with successful stops in Europe, Canada, Puerto Rico, and virtually every state in the US. The band has recorded a number of albums with over a quarter million units in sales. The band's latest album, Time as the Enemy has been praised for "having the appeal of the original albums, yet a mature songwriting style. The lyrics are relatable, surprising, and the pipe/fiddle hooks stir a desire to listen to the album over and over."

Its versatile and dynamic style has stamped Seven Nations as a highly book-able band, with an ever increasing and loyal fan base. The group has performed at a variety of venues, from nightclubs and pubs to festivals and street fairs. They've done it all. Recently, garnering the attention of the Orchestra world by including dates with several American orchestras, most notably the multi-Grammy-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony, and the South Carolina Philharmonic. They also became the first Celtic rock band to bring this exhilarating collaboration to the stage at an outdoor Irish festival, when they performed an entire show with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at the Dublin Irish Festival.

In addition, Seven Nations has played the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, a New Year's Eve performance at Scotland's Royal Mile for some 40,000 people, and at the New York City Marathon.

Seven Nations has been the subject of a multi-million dollar advertising campaign and appeared in over 20 major publications including Rolling Stone, Billboard, Playboy, Maxim, GQ, Stuff, and FHM.

It's been over a decade and close to a million miles logged on the road for Seven Nations since their inception and they're just getting started. With a highly anticipated return to their roots of festivals, touring and recording, this indie band is poised for another amazing decade.]]> 1285218000 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1127
Performing all of Presence and Houses Of The Holy Formed in 2002, Milwaukee's No Quarter has been trampling underfoot crowds all over Wisconsin with pinpoint recreations of the music of Led Zeppelin. The band covers all areas of Zep's music including many songs rarley featured on radio and songs that were seldom or never played live. The band specializes in recreating specific dates of live shows that Zep performed as well as sets that feature the exact running of complete albums which helps to keep each show different. No Quarter captures the power of Led Zeppelin while retaining the subtle nuances that helped make the band one of the greatest of all time.]]> 1285304400 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1130
A singer and demon guitarist whose raucous blend of country and rock & roll helped make him a successful crossover act, Junior Brown was born in 1953 and raised in the backwoods of Kirksville, IN. He first learned to play the piano from his pianist father, and was exposed to country through radio and TV, becoming a fan of Ernest Tubb's music and television program. He became a professional musician at the tail end of the '60s, while still in his teens.

After honing his guitar skills in relative anonymity throughout the '70s, Brown became an instructor at the Hank Thompson School of Country Music, an affiliate of Rogers State College in Oklahoma. There, while teaching under the auspices of steel guitar legend Leon McAuliffe, a onetime member of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Brown met "the lovely Miss Tanya Rae," a student whom he would later marry in 1988 and who eventually joined his band as a rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist. At the same time, a dream prompted him to set about creating an instrument fusing a six-string guitar with its steel counterpart. After contacting guitar maker Michael Stevens, in 1985 he developed the "guit-steel," a double-necked guitar combining the standard instrument with the steel. (A decade later, the two men reunited to update the "guit-steel," and Brown's cherry axe "Big Red" was born.)

After moving to Austin, TX, Brown and his group became the house band at the city's Continental Club, where strong word-of-mouth eventually earned them a record deal. He made his long-awaited album debut in 1993 with 12 Shades of Brown, which featured a tribute to his biggest influence, "My Baby Don't Dance to Nothing but Ernest Tubb." Guit With It followed later in the year, and like its predecessor, was met with considerable critical acclaim. After a five-song stopgap EP, 1995's Junior High, Brown returned in 1996 with Semi Crazy. The Long Walk Back followed two years later.
Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide]]> 1285390800 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1159
Oakhurst has had a reputation for torching bar and theater stages throughout the US with its unique sound and unbridled stage energy for years. But lately, the band has also created a stir on major festival stages, cruise ships and European tours. The band's adept picking, sweet harmonies, and citybilly swagger have clearly come from playing 200+ shows a year in such varied environments. Oakhurst's unpretentious, go-for-it interpretation of a genre that's often handled too reverently sparks interest in bluegrass by folks who don't know Doc Watson from Doc Holliday. Along the way Oakhurst has shared stages with very diverse national talent such as John Hiatt, Nickel Creek, The Flaming Lips, Emmylou Harris, Barenaked Ladies, Yard Dogs Roadshow, Bela Fleck, The Ditty Bops, The Radiators, Junior Brown, Lyle Lovett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Lang, Guster, Yonder Mountain String Band, Devotchka, Rose Hill Drive, Drew Emmit, Billy Nershi and Vince Herman.]]> 1285477200 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1145
Born and raised in New Orleans, Stanton Moore is a dedicated drummer and performer especially connected to the city, its culture and collaborative spirit. Driven and inspired by the thriving music scene of his hometown which includes such greats as Professor Longhair, Doctor John and The Meters, Moore's name is now mentioned amongst these Big Easy mainstays. In the early '90s, Moore helped found the New Orleans-based essential funk band Galactic. Their first album, 1996's widely acclaimed Coolin' Off, led to an intense tour schedule of nearly 200 gigs a year for the next ten years. Building on their fan base by adding an esteemed list of all-star collaborations to the six albums that followed, Galactic continues to amass a worldwide audience via recording and touring globally. Moore launched his solo career in 1998 aided by eight-string guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter and saxophonist Skerik (Les Claypool, John Scofield, Roger Waters). The group recorded All Kooked Out! featuring a handful of local New Orleans musicians as well. In the midst of these recording sessions yet another concept was taking shape. Outtakes turned into the first Garage a Trois release, Mysteryfunk (1999). In 2000 the trio, led by Moore behind the drum kit, was joined by percussionist Mike Dillon (Les Claypool, Ani DiFranco) and has since released three more albums -- Emphasizer in 2003, Outre Mer in 2005 and Power Patriot in 2009.

Moore extended his solo discography with the release of Flyin' the Koop (Verve/Blue Thumb) in 2001, and III (Telarc) in 2006. Following the latter Modern Drummer called Moore's trademark sound "infectious, jazz-meets-Bonham, nouveau second-line." Recorded at the legendary Preservation Hall in New Orleans, III featured organist Robert Walter (Greyboy Allstars, The Head Hunters) and guitarist Will Bernard (T.J. Kirk, Doctor Lonnie Smith) as the Stanton Moore Trio, with special guests Skerik and trombonist Mark Mullins (Galactic, Bonerama, Harry Connick, Jr., Better Than Ezra). In 2008, Moore looked to continue his scaled back session crew with Walter and Bernard to record Emphasis! (on parenthesis). Says Moore, "When it came time to do another record, I had already known for a while that I wanted to build on the momentum of this band -- three musicians who were becoming a unit unto themselves -- and I wanted to get a little more adventurous with the music itself."

In April 2010, Moore releases Groove Alchemy. The 12-track set is the culmination of Moore's multimedia project that also includes an instructional book and DVD of the same name. All three facets of the project are designed to explore the roots of funk drumming by examining the work of pioneers like Jabo Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, and Zigaboo Modeliste -- each of whom made their mark at different times throughout the 1960s as the engines driving James Brown's and the Meters' legendary rhythm sections -- and in turn tracing their influences back to the rhythms coming out of New Orleans in the earlier part of the 20th century. Recorded at Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock, NY, this project is the follow up to the widely acclaimed Take it to the Street DVD and book that focused specifically on New Orleans drumming styles.

Showing his outstanding versatility, Moore has appeared on Heavy Metal Grammy nominees Corrosion of Conformity's In the Arms of God, Irma Thomas' After the Rain (winning a grammy in the process), Robert Walter's Super Heavy Organ, Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) and Boots Riley's (the Coup) Street Sweeper Social Club, Will BernarDiane Birch's Bible Belt, Alec Ounsworth's (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) Mo Beauty. He continues to play dates globally with an ever-evolving cast of musicians including John Scofield; Karl Denson; George Porter, Jr., and Leo Nocentelli (of the Meters); Charlie Hunter; Warren Haynes; John Medeski and Chris Wood (of Medeski, Martin and Wood); Donald Harrison Jr.; Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dr. John, Tab Benoit, Robert Walter; the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to name a few.

With a bachelor's degree in music and business from Loyola University, Moore stays involved in education by constantly giving clinics and teaching master classes and private lessons all over the world. He has been a contributing writer for Drum!, Modern Drummer, and DownBeat magazines here he was featured on the covers of more than six drum publications. In 2005, he launched a signature line of cymbals with Bosphorus Cymbals and a signature drumstick with the Vic Firth stick company. In 2009, Moore developed his own drum company to introduce his signature titanium snare drum that he designed in conjunction with Ronn Dunnett.

Deeply affected by Katrina and its aftermath, New Orleans' native son was quick to lend a hand by spearheaded the Tipitina's Music Workshop, free Sunday seminars that cater to children and a rotating cast of well-known professionals to promote the preservation of New Orleans music. He also set up the Staletta Fund, a scholarship started by he and his wife Aletta to help cover costs for aspiring students to attend jazz camps, auditions and further their education.

Moore stays active as a spokesperson for the Gulf Restoration Network and is a regular proponent of and player with the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars. Additionally he serves on the board of directors for the Roots of Music, a free music education and academic mentoring program founded by Derrick Tabb, drummer for Rebirth Brass Band and recent nominee for CNN's Heroes awards.

Galactic's latest record Ya-ka-may was released in February, 2010, and Moore steps into the role of producer on Anders Osborne's next record due out this Spring.]]> 1285736400 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1114
Welcome to Preston Reed's guitar revolution. Everything you thought you knew is wrong. All the rules you thought applied have gone. For one night only, logic and reason have left the building and musical magic fizzes in the air, as the New York visionary credited with reinventing the acoustic guitar takes you on a six and twelve string thrill-ride through the impossible and unforgettable. Night after night, venue after venue, Reed's growing army of converts are unanimous. He came. He soared. He conquered. Pass it on.

He can't be doing that. It's a familiar reaction to the one-man symphonies on Reed's 15 studio albums, as the maestro fuses chord-based grooves, soaring melodic runs and polyrhythmic percussion with his breathtaking two-handed style. Yet this is not guitar wizardry for its own sake. Unlike many instrumentalists, the power and depth of Reed's original song writing is as unique as the man's execution, as blues, rock, funk and jazz meet, embrace, interlock and attack to create a sonic brew quite unlike anything you've heard before. Ears prick up. Heads turn. Feet tap. Hearts melt.

But live is where Preston Reed really comes alive. Walking onstage, he is one man armed with a single ordinary guitar. Then it happens. Before your eyes, Reed morphs into a fully-formed rock 'n' roll band, engaging acoustic, electric and resophonic guitars with a visceral display of slaps, taps, harmonic tickles and fretboard pyrotechnics that shred the rulebook and leave audiences breathless across the globe.

Preston Reed is changing the music scene one venue at a time. Lend him your ears.]]> 1285822800 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1148
Alpha Transit is an all original instrumental jam band that takes the usual elements of rock, jazz, blues, and funk and the not so usual elements of electronic music and puts them in the blender with a double shot of improvisation.

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all veterans of the milwaukee music scene... the members of choir fight perform(ed) with the following bands: de la buena, kings go forth, clamnation, willy porter, hudson, the westfall, growning nation, to name just a few. musically speaking... tasty originals float delicately amongst carefully chosen jazz interpretations of rock & pop standards from the likes of bjork, coldplay, mos def, death cab for cutie, willy wonka, nirvana, the beatles, sufjan stevens, rufus wainwright, and cyndi lauper...seasoned with an undercurrent of late 60's/early 70's miles davis (think in a silent way > bitches brew).

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Kevin Hayden is a drummer who is known to articulately translate speech through musical notes on the drums. Born on May 25, 1980, in Fort Wayne IN, he began to take an interest in drums at the age of 2. Coming from a long line of family drummers to include his father, Tracey Hayden, it is no wonder that he loves his craft so much. Kevin was brought up in church where he had the opportunity to play the drums for various choirs. When he was 13, he was noticed at his church by a visiting community choir director, which led to his involvement in hundreds of local performances, a live recording and tours in Georgia and Texas.

Kevin Hayden decided to fulfill his musical dreams by starting his own band in November 2009. KHB is formed in the likes of jazz mixed with fusion and hints of experimental expressions. Joined by Milwaukee greats, Theo, Dwayne and Tobias, KHB has become one of the city's premiere acts. With music full of emotion and heart warming dynamics, KHB is always sure to captivate and please its listeners.]]> 1285909200 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1151
Chicago's Down The Line continues to demonstrate that you don't need electricity to generate real power. Their music delivers mighty hooks and harmonies within smart writing and truly shining vocals. It's an acoustic mix--guitar, mandolin, violin, harmonica and djembe, driven by a lone-electric bass--that the Chicago Sun-Times praised as "an organic blend of rollicking pop." The group prefers to describe their sound more simply: acoustic pop. (Although when pressed, they explain, "If The Cars had kids with Fleetwood Mac, well, they'd probably sound like us.") However you label them, Down The Line creates music that's pure, unique and unforgettable.

Down The Line has earned a reputation for intense, energetic performances that feature unparalleled live vocals--a reputation that has secured them a regular place on tour with legendary acts including Peter Frampton, America, Ben Folds, Gin Blossoms, Colin Hay and others. Richard Milne of Chicago's WXRT Radio exclaimed, "These guys can sing, they can play, and they can light up a stage!" In 2010 Down The Line released Open The Door, a stirring EP of new originals. The band took advantage of their recording sessions in Nashville--indulging in plenty of world-class BBQ and working with a talented, new team including producer Glenn Rosenstein (Talking Heads, Ziggy Marley), mixer George Massenburg (Lyle Lovett, Dixie Chicks), and percussionist Chad Cromwell (Neil Young, Mark Knopfler). Open The Door is an intense reminder that bold acoustic music can be downright electrifying.

Band members Levi Britton (acoustic guitar, vocals), Derek Fawcett (djembe, vocals), Dan Myers (harmonica, mandolin, violin, vocals), and Dave Rothkopf (acoustic guitar, bass, vocals) formed Down The Line in Chicago in 2001. Although none were originally from the city (upstate Michigan, Detroit, Wisconsin, and New York, respectively), they now can show you the best food at any Chicago intersection...though they may lead you to four different corners. Down The Line is currently on tour in support of Open The Door and their shows feature music from their whole catalog: Home Alive (2008), For All You Break (2007), Please Remember My Name (2005) and Welcome To Flavortown (2002). They are not to be missed.

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A front man who won the Summerfest Pepsi Talent Search performing an original song at age thirteen: that's Ian. A stellar rhythm section with harmonized backing vocals: that is The Dream. In 2008, Ian & The Dream garnished an already impressive reputation, securing national management and a steadily increasing audience in the Midwestern U.S. Competing in the nationwide Bodog Battle of the Bands, Ian & The Dream wowed judges coming in first place over twenty-four bands in two rounds of shows in their hometown, Milwaukee. Ian & The Dream established their name outside their hometown, defeating several Chicago bands at the Metro in the next round of competition, and made the front page of their hometown news outlet, the Waukesha Freeman, prior to their performance at the House of Blues. "Those were great gigs, yet what´s important is what's happening now" Ian told The Freeman. Anger Management & Entertainment (Mudvayne, Second Soul) signed the band in 2008 and sent them to the studio, the results of which have delighted several professionals in the music industry. Butch Vig (record producer/drummer) says the band´s song Anna Belle is "a catchy tune." Grammy nominated music video director Thomas Mignone says Ian & The Dream have "great songs that will definitely be on a record someday." The band is currently performing throughout the Midwestern U.S. in anticipation of showcases for major labels later in 2009.

"When the neighborhood kids were playing outside, I sat inside dissecting Beatles songs," Ian joked. The Beatles have been the greatest influence on the band's sound, and as others have noticed, Ian & The Dream has an arresting, immediately recognizable sound as the Fab Four did. Also like the Beatles, Ian & The Dream can play a piano ballad or a hard rocker and still sound like the same band. Ian graduated from Carroll University in 2008 with a Bachelor's degree in Music, and is now thrilled to be exclusively devoted to Ian & The Dream. Bassist Chivo has been playing with Ian since the eighth grade. Chivo's dynamic personality in the band is exemplified through his simultaneous love of metal music while performing in what is essentially a pop rock band. Drummer Terry Schroeder joined the group in 2008. His rudimental prowess behind the kit is augmented by his charm and sense of humor.

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Based in Chicago and born in Iowa, singer/songwriter Dick Prall comes to his easygoing -- and sometimes goofy -- manner quite naturally. In person, he's charming, often peppering his conversations with clever asides wherever possible. Though he readily admits to enjoying the embrace of company, it was Prall's exploration of what he calls "autonomy" that brought a whole new spin to his latest work.

After the release of the critical and audience favorite Fizzlebuzzie in 2005, most of the musicians Prall recorded with went their separate ways. It was an amicable split, but one that put him in the familiar position of starting over. His first album, 1998's rootsy Somewhere About Here, was recorded under the name The Dick Prall Band, but the group disbanded within a year. 2001's Dressing Up The Failure was a hard-driving pop record that found Prall recording with a different set of musicians under the name Starch Martins. Despite the new approach, he says the album left him creatively exhausted.

Though always quick to praise the musicians who help fuel his sharp, observational songwriting, Prall found himself turning away from the madness of crowds as he began work on his next album. No longer surrounded by the familiar, one might have expected Prall to write songs that explore all his inner demons. Instead, he found comfort in being alone, and sought to preserve that intimacy. The product of that exploration is Weightless.]]> 1285995600 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1146
Faun Fables began in 1997, when Dawn 'the faun' McCarthy left the bands and cabarets of NYC for the wider world. She grew up in eastern Washington state enjoying drawing, dance, and make-believe amongst a large family. On EARLY SONG (1999) she sang with "a voice as haunting as an abandoned coal mine, while it dances with the even tempo guitar that seems to pluck itself," (CMJ). MOTHER TWILIGHT (2001) was called "A collection of songs that seem to rove wondrously through the mountain pines at dusk," (SF Weekly).

Dawn performs Faun Fables most often as a soloist or with frequent collaborator Nils Frykdahl of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. But she also enjoys working with other artists, musical and otherwise; THE TRANSIT RIDER, a Faun Fables full length musical inspired by her years in NYC, premiered 2002 in San Francisco with a cast of thirteen. (Its soundtrack will be released in 2004.) Faun Fables tour the world regularly, studying landscape, culture and the art of feasting with locals. In the years to come, Dawn hopes to combine studies in rural housekeeping with songcraft in various countries. She is based in Oakland, CA.]]> 1286514000 Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1137
Chicago singer/songwriter Alice Peacock was immersed in performing at an early age. Her grandfather Fritz Gnass was an actor in Germany, appearing in many films including Fritz Lang's M; her grandmother was a cabaret composer; her father acted in repertory theater in the 1960s; and her mother acted in film and television. Growing up in a big family, Peacock was exposed to diverse musical styles; she listened to one sister's '70s hard rock and another sister's country-rock, as well as her mother's Burl Ives and Johnny Cash records. While attending college at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, she joined the university jazz band and also performed with a cover band and did some jingle work. It was during this period that Alice discovered a passion for classic jazz, blues, and standards; she also found herself interested in folk and bluegrass. After college, she moved to San Francisco and sang backup vocals with an R&B band called E.C. Scott and Smoke; however, she felt musically stifled and moved to Chicago. After several failed attempts to put a band together, Peacock started playing by herself and composing her own highly personal material, drawing inspiration from Joni Mitchell and Carole King. It's difficult to label Peacock a folk, rock, or country performer, since she is really a bit of everything. She released her debut CD, Real Day, on her own label, Peacock Music, in early 1999; strong word-of-mouth and favorable press led to the album being picked up for wider distribution in 2000 by Aware/Columbia. She made her major-label debut in 2002 with a self-titled effort that found John Gorka, John Mayer, and Indigo Girl Emily Saliers making guest appearances. In 2006, the ambitious album Who I Am found her back on Peacock Music, but this time in cooperation with the major label Universal.]]> 1286600400 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1147
The position that Foster enjoys in the country music landscape is remarkable. Mainstream country music and independent Americana tend to occupy separate orbits. Yet for 24 years Foster has thrived in both as a songwriter, recording artist, live performer and producer. His songs--solo, with Foster and Lloyd and recorded by other artists--have topped the country, Texas, Americana, and AAA charts alike. At the same time, he's earned the respect of his peers and a devoted audience as intent on listening as they are eager to dance.

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Jim Hoehn is a Milwaukee-based journalist, author and songwriter who discovered early that putting pen to paper was a legitimate way of avoiding any form of manual labor, leading to a career path that has included newspapers, magazines and wire services. As a songwriter he has performed at numerous festivals and events around the country and has opened for a wide variety of national artists, including the likes of Warren Zevon, Jerry Jeff Walker, Junior Brown, Robert Earl Keen, Don McLean, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a memorable evening with songwriter-turned-mystery novelist Kinky Friedman.]]> 1286946000 Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1140
Legendary keyboardist Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors, teams up with slide guitar master Roy Rogers for special engagements. Music fans will dig these two consummate musicians' new takes on The Doors' classics, as well as blues and jazz standards.

Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, is one of the most influential keyboard players in the history of rock. Manzarek grew up in the Chicago area where he was influenced by the boogie-woogie pianists of the '50s. After his groundbreaking work as keyboardist for The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Manzarek produced Los Angeles band X, recorded a rock adaptation of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana with composer Phillip Glass, played with Iggy Pop, backed San Francisco poet Michael McClure's poetry readings, and directed the film Riders of the Storm.

As the modern master of electric slide guitar, Roy Rogers has stunned audiences on several continents, garnering sensational reviews at such prestigious festivals as the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland) and Notodden Blues Festival (Norway), and recently toured China and Scandinavia. The multi-talented, Grammy-nominated guitarist, songwriter and producer (John Lee Hooker, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, movie soundtracks for Dennis Hopper's The Hot Spot and Tim Rhys' Men In Scoring Position), "is one of the rare guitar heroes," raved Rolling Stone magazine, "who values feeling over flash." For more on Roy's discography, details on his work with Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Bonnie Raitt, Norton Buffalo and more, check his website.]]> 1287032400 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1160
With a look and sound that captures The Who at the height of their 70s peak, Substitute plays the songs that have become part of rock legend. From the hits (Pinball Wizard, Who Are You and Won't Get Fooled Again) to lesser-known classics (The Seeker, Bargain and The Real Me), Substitute is becoming a regular at some of the Midwest's most prestigious venues and festivals!

The Milwaukee-based band was formed by Wisconsin by-way-of Seattle bassist Tom Branigan in 2005, when he found three people who shared his love of Who music and could faithfully replicate the playing styles of its four original members. Featuring veteran musicians Andy Potocic on guitar, Andy Pagel on drums, vocalist Dave Stevens and Branigan, the result is a no-frills sonic attack that brings back the very best of the 60s and 70s.

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Aaron Heffernan - Vocals and Harmonica
Aaron Heffernan ("Milwaukee Mick") is no stranger to the Rolling Stones' material. For over a decade he's gone to Denmark once a year to prance about the rock stages of Copenhagen. Aaron pours every ounce he's got into Shattered's set list, and insists on "leavin' 'em sweatin'" every time.

Johnny Majdalani - Guitar
Yet another member with an international music background. After playing in college in a group called Blanket, Johnny packed up and moved to England where he founded Laughing Sam's Dice, a group influenced by Free, the Faces and Thin Lizzy. He also performed in an acoustic duo for a while in London.

Dave Vegafria - Bass, Background Vocals
A veteran of the Milwaukee rock scene, Dave's credits include Compound Red, Koala, the Nerve Twins and Bondo Camaro. Dave is the newest member of Shattered, and looks more like Sid Vicious than enybody else in the band.

Kurt Weber - Drums
The voice of reason at rehearsal, Kurt has played and/or recorded with the Rules, the Texas Trailer Trash, Fat Ass Barbie, the Plums, the King Comets, the Tele's and John Steffes. Kurt is ALWAYS in the pocket, and yes, he does that weird little Charlie Watts thing with the high-hat.

Chris Conrad -- Guitar
Called "iron-fisted, pigheaded and grossly incompetent", Chris has appeared on over 90 recordings as a multi-instrumentalist, produced a half-dozen albums for other bands, has appeared as a musical guest on television and radio, and produced the opening song for the cult regional indie flick, "The Retarded Way," scheduled for deput at Sundance in January. Chris has made a study of the particular guitar tunings that Keith Richards uses, helping further separate Shattered from other tribute acts.

"Rodeo" Rob Pfeiffer - Keys
The final piece of the puzzle, Rob's credits would take up so much bandwidth that their listing would likely crash a Cray CX1. The perfect balance of talent, creativity and levity, Rob is our hero. Worship him.]]> 1287118800 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1153 Greg Koch has been called a "twisted guitar genius" and "eclectic virtuoso" by guitar pundits. The towering Koch has moved beyond local hero status in the upper Midwest by becoming an internationally renowned guitarist, session ace, top-selling guitar instructional book and DVD star, magazine columnist, radio personality, comedian and in-demand world class guitar clinician for Fender Musical Instruments and Hal Leonard Publishing Co. His work with music publishing giant Hal Leonard has resulted in an extraordinarily successful catalog of guitar instructional materials. His guitar fascination began early. After getting his first guitar at age 12, Koch learned by copying records. He studied jazz guitar at the University of Wisconsin, and his Milwaukee-based band became one of the region's most popular and acclaimed bands.

Koch has 5 internationally released and acclaimed CDs; 2 with Steve Vai's Favored Nations label, 2 with Europe's Mascot-Provogue Records, 1 currently out on Peppercake/ZYX Records along with the recently released CD Nation Sack.]]> 1287205200 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1162
Guitarist/singer/songwriter Bob Mould was initially a member of Hüsker Dü, one of the most influential American bands of the '80s. Hüsker Dü was a post-hardcore punk band that helped define the sound and ideals of alternative rock. After Hüsker Dü broke up, Mould signed a solo contract with Virgin Records in 1988. The following year, he released his first solo album, Workbook, which represented a major shift in sonic direction. Workbook was an introspective collection, featuring keyboards, acoustic guitars, and even strings. The album received excellent reviews and spent 14 weeks on the charts, peaking at 127; "See a Little Light" became a Top Ten modern rock hit. Mould returned to loud, guitar-driven rock on his second solo album, 1990's Black Sheets of Rain. Featuring the Top Ten modern rock hit "It's Too Late," Black Sheets of Rain received mixed reviews.

Frustrated with the business operations of major record labels, Mould left Virgin after the release of Black Sheets of Rain; they would later release a compilation of the two albums, Poison Years. Mould then formed an independent record company, SOL (Singles Only Label), which released 45s from new, developing bands as well as cult bands. In 1992, he formed a new trio, Sugar, with bassist David Barbe and drummer Malcolm Travis; the band signed with Rykodisc in the U.S., Creation in the U.K. Sugar's first album, Copper Blue, was released in the fall of 1992 to enthusiastic reviews and became Mould's most successful project to date. Copper Blue nearly went gold and spawned several alternative radio and MTV hits, including "Helpless" and "If I Can't Change Your Mind." In the spring of 1993, Sugar released the mini-LP Beaster, a more abrasive collection than Copper Blue that was recorded at the same sessions. Around the time of the release of Beaster, Mould was forced out of the closet by various gay publications, with hopes that he would embrace their political cause; he rejected their requests.

Mould wrote the material for the second Sugar album during 1993. The band began recording in the spring of 1994, but the sessions ground to a halt and the tapes were erased. Mould decided to give the album one more try, and it was recorded quickly late that spring. The album, File Under: Easy Listening, appeared in the fall of 1994. Although it received good reviews and was moderately successful commercially, it didn't match the performance of Copper Blue. In the spring of 1995, it was announced that Sugar was on hiatus. Besides, a collection of rarities and B-sides, was released that summer. By the fall, Mould had broken up the band and begun to work on a third album entirely by himself. Mould played all of the instruments on his self-titled third album, which was released in the spring of 1996. The Last Dog and Pony Show followed in 1998. In 2002, after a long period of musical inactivity, Mould returned with the electronics-heavy Modulator, followed by the more conventional Body of Song in 2005. After a dance project with Richard Morel (Blowoff Project), Mould returned to his guitar roots and paired up with Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty to record District Line in 2008]]> 1287550800 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1164
Hailing from Libertyville, Arkansas, but yet to fully establish where home really is, James Apollo is one of life's romantic journeymen. Rolling up the Mississippi before he could register his first emotion, it is a life drawn out upon a well-worn map that informs his next album 'Til You Feet Bleed'. Apollo's dusty vistas are ensconced in a weary, whisky-toned knowing. Life hasn't been tough, but relentless to this lost western soul. Leaving home at 16, Apollo settled on the long road west, and when his money and land began to run out, he took to a docked boat in San Francisco simply to put a rusty roof over his head, "I'd write these songs about beauty and sadness and love and loss, but what did I know? I was captain of a sinking ship." -- James Apollo

It was just one of a multitude of makeshift stop-offs for Apollo, from the backseats of cars to newly swept diner floors in conclusion of another evening strumming lonesome in a smoke-filled back-room until the last finger of scotch had been sunk. Joining dots from each city-to-city, one fateful night Apollo broke both legs in a motorcycle accident. Waking in a haze of 'pain, fear, and opiates', Apollo was placed in a cast from the waist down and couldn't walk for six months. He describes the event as the best moment of his life. It was time re-evaluate. And it was the time he needed. Informed by the imagery of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor's Southern prose, Apollo's music also recalls Ennio Morricone's spaghetti-western themes akin to fellow countrymen Calexico and Giant Sand, all grizzled in a lush baritone years beyond this young soul. It's a curious combination, but one that's never sounded so sweet

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The name "Conrad Plymouth" began as a buzzed up joke among friends at the Joynt in Eau Claire, WI. Los Angeles Lakers historian/Megafaun bass player Brad Cook dubbed Christopher Porterfield as such (same initial letters- get it? That's the kind of wholesome fun you have in Eau Claire) in 2004. It became the nom de plume of the burgeoning songwriter, who took the name with him to Milwaukee. What began as the creative mantle of one man has become the nomenclatural umbrella for an ensemble.]]> 1287637200 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1126 Pat McCurdy is a singer/song writer from Wisconsin. He tours the mid-western part of the USA, his shows usually consisting of just him and his guitar. While the majority of his audience is made up of a college-age crowd, McCurdy manages to appeal to a large number of people of all ages with his interactive shows. Performing well over 300 shows a year, his large catalog of original songs (nearly 600 and growing) covers a variety of topics such as lost loves, politics, family vacations, the joys of Asian cuisine, and the sex organs of long-dead French Emperors.

Classifying McCurdy's style has long been a problem since he tends to follow wherever his muse takes him. Many of his songs could be classified as rock/pop, though he's been known to wander into folk, jazz, country and even Gilbert and Sullivan. Whatever style he chooses, his songs often include memorable lyrics.]]> 1287723600 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1129
Tyrone Wells is a singer/songwriter in the folk-pop genre from Spokane, Washington. His songs have been featured in television shows (Intervention, Grey's Anatomy, Rescue Me, One Tree Hill, North Shore, What About Brian, Numb3rs, The Mountain, Windfall, Wildfire, Ghost Whisperer, The Bedford Diaries, Three Moons Over Milford, Meet the Barkers, The Vampire Diaries) and film (Everyone's Hero, My Sister's Keeper, Rails & Ties).

Tyrone set a record in 2006 at the National Association for Campus Activities for most college and university bookings in the history of the Convention from a single showcase.

Tyrone was born in Seattle and raised in Spokane, Washington. He has said in interviews that he was inspired by his older sisters who "brought out the music in me" but did not begin songwriting until his move to California. While attending Hope International University in Southern California Tyrone joined the band Skypark. Skypark worked with producers Ed Stasium and Thom Roy.

In 2000 Tyrone launched his solo career, playing regular acoustic shows in Orange County, California, where he and a small movement of folk, pop and urban folk artists including Mike Barnet, Danny Vasquez and Jaycob Van Auken formed a loose coalition called True American Records.

In 2006 Tyrone signed a recording contract with Universal Records. They re-released his independent album Hold On on the internet in 2006, and released it in stores on Feb. 6th 2007. On Hold On, Tyrone has worked with producers Chris Karn and Marc Ford.

Tyrone released his latest solo album Remain on January 27, 2009. The first single from Remain, "More," reached #13 on the Triple A radio charts. The second single "Sink or Swim" was used in promos for the season 6 premiere of Grey's Anatomy. Wells is currently touring nationally behind Remain.

On May 2, 2010 Tyrone's EP Metal and Wood was released to the public. Going back to his acoustic roots, Wells aimed at bringing back a folk vibe that can be found in his earlier albums such as Snapshot and Hold On. Along with touring, showcasing both Remain and Metal and Wood, Wells avidly participates in charity acts such as benefit concerts in Santa Barbara, California for Haiti survivors.]]> 1287810000 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1152
Tristan Prettyman, a San Diego native, has come a long way since she discovered her dad's guitar and taught herself to play at age 15.

After catching some local attention, she was asked to contribute a song to the 2001 surf film "Shelter". Soon Prettyman was performing at clubs and bars around San Diego, selling her EP, The Love EP, at shows and on her website.

From there, the major labels came calling and Prettyman signed with Virgin Records, who released Twentythree in August of 2005. Critics praised its low-key acoustic folk-pop with Rolling Stone leading the pack, calling Prettyman "one of the more promising young pop folkies."

Her sophomore album, Hello, was released in April of 2008 and entered the Billboard Top 200 sales chart at No. 27. The first single "Madly" was the iTunes Single of the Week and the complete Hello album download immediately spiked to the No. 2 position in overall iTunes album sales.

After having taken almost a year off from touring and recording, Tristan is getting ready for a 20-city tour throughout the U.S as well as working on her third Virgin Records release with famed producers Sacha Skarbek and Martin Terefe.]]> 1288155600 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1132
Carl Palmer is a drummer's drummer. A consummate professional, a brilliant technician and a dynamic showman, he has thrilled listeners and audiences alike for nearly four decades with some of music's most memorable bands including Atomic Rooster, The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Asia and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Along the way his dazzling speed and mastery of the drums, combined with his infectious stage personality, have secured for him a respected place in history as one of Rock and Roll's greatest drummers.

Not one to sit around, Palmer set out on a schedule that included instructing drum clinics & master classes and once again set out to create his own new band and along with bassist STUART CLAYTON and guitarist extraordinare PAUL BIELATOWICZ he formed the progressive trio "Palmer". The thought of Carl Palmer assembling a progressive trio might seem like he was relying on formula, especially since the band's material consisted mainly of ELP classics, but this was indeed a new direction. Purely guitar driven, this band put a new face on such tracks as "Toccata", "Hoedown" and Fanfare For The Common Man" and performed them with dizzying complexity and an energy perhaps not heard since the earliest days of ELP.

Fans fortunate enough to see the group live immediately embraced their raw power and virtuosity and critics were quick to agree. Malcolm Dome of Classic Rock Magazine wrote, "The venerable Palmer, who is still great Drummer, leads his current line up though impressive reworkings of ELP music" and added, "There's an energy and edge here that belongs to (today) 2003. The music might go way back, but the musicianship is most certainly from here and now." Tim Jones of Record Collector magazine observed, "If you like instrumental virtuosity this should sit well with you." Palmer, the band, began touring at will.

In 1991, Carl Palmer released his much-anticipated two-disk anthology Do Ya Wanna Play, Carl. The collection showcased Palmer's greatest recordings with ELP, Asia, Atomic Rooster plus and several rare and never-before-released tracks from every professional group had ever been in. Highlights included cuts from sessions with British rock artist Mike Oldfield, and a live track featuring Carl with his childhood idol, drum jazz icon Buddy Rich and his Orchestra. Perhaps the biggest gem for fans was the inclusion of the piece fans had been asking for since the seventies. "Concerto for Percussion" made its debut fifteen years after it had been recorded. In a 1991 interview he said, "The album has been in the works since 1976, when ELP took its hiatus to do solo projects. What came of it was the WORKS double LP, with one band side and three solo sides. It was then that I did the "Percussion Concerto." It didn't make it to Works, Vol. 1 or Works Vol. 2. I have always wanted to release it and now it has finally come out."

The current Carl Palmer Band lineup did a highly successful US tour in 2006 and continues to tour throughout the world. Details of the upcoming 2010 Spring/Summer tour will be coming soon!! In 2006, Carl also regrouped for the long awaited reunion of the original ASIA, with Steve Howe, Geoff Downes and John Wetton. The band has done four world tours and recorded a new studio album, PHOENIX, released on Frontiers and EMI Records. Says Palmer: "I have the best of both worlds now. I have an active schedule with The Carl Palmer Band, and I continue to tour and record with my friends in the original line up of ASIA. It is very satisfying and gratifying to know the fans are still out there and willing to support and enjoy the music I create. I hope to keep doing this for many more years to come."]]> 1288242000 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1150
October Soul goes beyond blues. High energy by nature, they showcase their own original work, along with a set list packed with country and rock. Sometimes unplugged, their acoustic work explodes with just as much intensity.

Formed in October 2009, the Soul's all-star line-up consists of multi-award winning vocalist Jamie Brace (Red Sage), veteran guitarist Joe Barborich (Red Sage, formerly The Katz Sass), and bassist Tony Bremer (Red Sage).

October Soul is a proud member of the Grafton Blues Association and the Wisconsin Area Music Industry.

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Robert Allen Jr. and the Zoot Suits are formerly known as the Zoot Suit Boogie Band, a 3 time WAMI nominee, and 2001's best blues artist award winner. the Zoot Suits music starts with smooth vocal harmonies, filled with fluid guitar solos, strolling and rolling bass lines, and tempos in the perfect rhythmic pocket, this is good time, high energy, jump blues! One critic called it Blues-a-billy boogie. Fronted by singer/guitarist Robert Allen Jr. this band puts on a dazzling show full of music that is going to get your next party or event on the dance floor and boogieing all night long. From 1930's and 40's jump blues to 50's rock-n-roll, churned with snaky Chicago blues and even some modern pop dance grooves, the Zoot Suits lay down a special blend of bluesy swinging boogie music that will draw you in and never let you go. So get your next party or event started with Robert Allen Jr. & the ZOOT SUITS, cause we can promise one thing for sure... you won't be disappointed!!

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Formed in November of 2006, The Dots of Wisconsin are three (relatively) young women who want the audience, cats or crickets to have as much fun listening to the music as we have playing it.

On a good day? We sound like a million volts of electricity running through a Les Paul and a 100 foot tall stack of Marshalls.

On a bad day? We don't sound very good. How's that for honesty?]]> 1288328400 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1154
Paul Cebar cut his teeth musically in the coffeehouse folk scene of the mid-'70s in Milwaukee. First paying gigs took place in late '76 with an emphasis on solo recasting of small combo jump-blues and other early R & B. Upon graduation from New College in Sarasota, Florida, with a thesis addressing rhythm & blues varieties featuring a hearty emphasis on Louis Jordan and Buddy Johnson, Cebar dedicated himself to trodding the boards in earnest and spent substantial amounts of time testing the waters out New York way while exploring band dynamics with a soul and New Orleans-minded crew called the R&B Cadets back home. The Cadets ranged about from 1980 to 1986 and featured the grand original tunes of John Sieger alongside the winning assortment of B sides and obscurities that were the fruits of Cebar's research. Concurrently, he kept alive the spark of his solo work with a small group which came to be known as The Milwaukeeans. Throughout the early 80s, this combo featured Rip Tenor on tenor sax, Alan Anderson on upright bass, Robyn Pluer on vocals and Paul on acoustic guitar and vocals, and drew most of its repertoire from '30s, '40s and '50s jazz and R&B.

With the demise of the Cadets in mid-1986, Cebar and Pluer, Tenor and Anderson welcomed drummer Randy Bayhen and early Cadet saxophonist/vocalist Juli Wood to a new dance-floor fortified verson of The Milwaukeeans which reflected Paul's ongoing and deepening fascination with African, Latin American and Carribean rhythm & blues analogues. Rambling about the Midwest for the remainder of the '80s with occasional forays east and south, The Milwaukeeans began to rely more and more upon the original material that began to emerge in the aftermath of years of interpolation and grappling with favorites.

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The Mike Benign Compulsion celebrates the arrival of the "Rollicking Musical" LP, which most agree will go triple-titanium in the first six months of its release.

TMBC's music is best described as a chocolate-covered feather floating on a downy bed of sausage through rivers of time, with short breaks every three or four minutes so people can stretch their legs or go to the bathroom if they'd like because my God, we're all human beings aren't we? Instantly familiar, TMBC's songs include multiple chords and notes and also words.

As a live act, TMBC promises standout songs played by good humans with minimal wanking, medium volume and maximum conviction.]]> 1288414800 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1124
Animation has been headlining as "A Tribute to RUSH" since the first show in March, 1987 at "Chances R" in Palatine, IL. We've mostly played Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin but we'll drive up to six (or so) hours to play a gig. Do you have a favorite venue that needs a RUSH tribute band? We WANT to hear from you. MN, MI, IA, OH, KY, WI, IN, IL, MO, Canada! Drop us a note and tell us about it. EVERY show is ALL RUSH music. We've played a lot of different RUSH tunes over the years. The list on the Songlist link reflects every song Animation has EVER played out. We're currently proficient with about 5.5 hours of the list. We are ALWAYS working on improving and adding songs. On average, you'll see about 26 songs per show. About 10 of those will be in (almost) every show. We carefully rotate the remaining songs to plan a new and different set-list for each show. We try to include one EPIC tune (or album side/ medley), per show, in the first set.]]> 1289019600 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1125
Milwaukee's nationally-touring, award-winning, festival-adored AmeriCeltRock Troubadours hit the stage going ninety to the dozen. The Sandcarvers have been hailed as one of the best Celtic rock bands in the country. Their exuberant live show and exhilarating fan interaction have earned them top billing in the music festival circuit and live venues across the country.

Combining strong solo voices and vocal harmonies with equally strong instrumental skill, the raucous six-piece are currently playing dates across the country in support of their latest full-length release, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot." The Sandcarvers' write original songs that brilliantly tell stories from real life. They also put a wicked spin on Irish traditionals from o'er the Pond, turning them inside-out and upside-down.

"Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" means exactly what you think it means. For the full story behind the title, you should catch a show and ask the band. They love to tell the tale.

Following up the huge critical and commercial success of 2006's release "Dealin' Craic" was no small task, but these hardworking midwesterners were not only up to the challenge, they have surpassed expectations.

Fans of the band will be pleasantly surprised with the new direction the band has taken. The Sandcarvers have embraced a lot more of the rock half of the "Celtic Rock" label. This is thanks to the new personnel who have joined the band since "Dealin' Craic" was released. Chris Trotier, on bass guitar, really knows how to lay down the grooves that keep the music flowing. Aaron Fasting, on drums, brings ferociousness to the rhythm section that is impossible to ignore. Jason Dove, on electric guitar, provides the last piece of the puzzle with the chops and the energy possessed by the finest lead guitarists around. Combined, these three have completely transformed the band from where they were three years ago to the group that plays on this release.

The core of the band has not changed and that is what will bring longtime fans back for more of what they already love about The Sandcarvers. A.J. Laird (vocals and percussion), Jeffrey Miller (guitars and vocals) and Raven (recorders, keyboards, bassoon, vocals) continue the songwriting and musicianship that put the band in high demand all around the world.]]> 1289541600 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1163
Ike Reilly has been called a raconteur. Just give his latest solo album, Hard Luck Stories, a listen, and you'll discover a rich, tour-de-force collection of tales that sound so authentic you'd swear they were all true.

The Illinois-born musician delivers them with course, soulful lyrics and a sound that meets at the intersection of groovy blues, folk and plain ol' classic rock. In 2003, with mates Tommy O'Donnell, Ed Tinley, Dave Cottini and Phil Karnats, he created the Ike Reilly Assassination, and has moved back and forth between band and solo incarnations since.]]> 1290146400 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1157
Chris Scott and Pete Kostrivas had played music together since high school, but nothing too serious, until 2008. The duo Pete was in at the time, Art Is For Amateurs, was going through personnel changes. Chris joined up with Pete to play a show that was already booked, just to fill in. They quickly discovered that they wanted to keep going, the project was completely different and new from Art Is For Amateurs, so they changed the name to Sharking Hour and began working on a new album. North Of Nippon was their first album together, self-released in February of 2009. At the release show at Yield (March 11, 2009), their friend Justin Spaller attended. The topic of adding a live drummer was brought up (at the time Sharking Hour was 2 guitars and a drum machine). Talk of Matt Fiss, mutual friend, came up; Justin offered to play bass. A couple of practices later, Sharking Hour was playing their first show as a four piece band at Stonefly Brewery in Milwaukee on March 26, 2009. They have gone on to play Bay View's Chill on The Hill concert series, Summerfest. They released their first album as a full band in January 2010.

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Micah Olsan has been an active performer on both the Madison and Milwaukee music scenes for the last four years. He is well known as a unique and creative singer-songwriter, and has played to packed crowds at some of Milwaukee and Madison's hottest night spots. (The Annex, The Gig, The Groove, King Club, The Great Dane, and Ho-Chunk Casino. He is a diverse guitar player, which allows him to incorporate many different styles into his writing.

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Formed as a veritable reunion tour in 2009, Herman Astro is a four-piece, Milwaukee band whose recent formation has been a long time coming. After diverse musical wanderings, stepbrothers Zachary Pluer (vocals/guitar) and Cody Calderon (drums) joined childhood friend and former garage-band slasher Eric LeMieux to create the eclectic sound they'd individually been forming for years. Adding a dose of bass (Adam Dosemagen), this lively bunch hit the ground running.

Combining elements from every genre under the Kuiper Belt, Herman Astro is a welcome return to good, old-fashioned groove. Driven by soul vocals, jazzy, locked-in drums and bass, and soaring guitar work, these boys genuinely combine Radiohead with Otis, Miles with the Talking Heads, hell, your grandpa's cap with your uncle's handlebar mustache. Herman Astro's members focus on giving new life to what's been done (and should have been done), infusing the tried-and-true with their new.]]> 1290578400 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1143
John Sieger has led two popular midwest bands, The R&B Cadets (in collaboration with Paul Cebar), who recorded for Twintone Records in the R&B Cadets (1980-86) and the critically acclaimed band Semi-Twang (1986-91). In 1988, "Salty Tears" by Semi-Twang was released with much praise and even landed the band a major label with Warner Brothers. whose Warner Brothers debut "Salty Tears" was hailed by critics as precursor of alternative country.

Artists who have found their way to John's songs include country star Dwight Yoakam, (I Don't Need It Done), The BoDeans, (The Strangest Kind), Talking Head Jerry Harrison (Rev It Up and two others), the late Tex-Mex superstar Flaco Jimenez, (I Found Out), alt-country tricksters Robbie Fulks, (You Break It You Pay) and Phil Lee (Neon Tombstone) and folk-rocker Greg Trooper (My Blue Belle and many others).

Salty Tears has recently been covered in a ferocious way by rising Alligator Record's Michael Burke and exists somewhere in frustratingly unreleased form by the Queen of The Blues, Etta James.]]> 1290751200 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1155 Pat McCurdy is a singer/song writer from Wisconsin. He tours the mid-western part of the USA, his shows usually consisting of just him and his guitar. While the majority of his audience is made up of a college-age crowd, McCurdy manages to appeal to a large number of people of all ages with his interactive shows. Performing well over 300 shows a year, his large catalog of original songs (nearly 600 and growing) covers a variety of topics such as lost loves, politics, family vacations, the joys of Asian cuisine, and the sex organs of long-dead French Emperors.

Classifying McCurdy's style has long been a problem since he tends to follow wherever his muse takes him. Many of his songs could be classified as rock/pop, though he's been known to wander into folk, jazz, country and even Gilbert and Sullivan. Whatever style he chooses, his songs often include memorable lyrics.]]> 1290837600 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1122
Covering material from "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" through "Division Bell", THINK FLOYD USA, takes the listener on a musical and visual flight through the Pink Floyd galaxy. Recognized as THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD SHOW, THINK FLOYD USA comes ready to impress. Performing all of Pink Floyd's classic hits from legendary albums in their entirety, such as The Wall, Wish You Were Here, Animals and the all time classic Dark Side of the Moon. Wrap all that great music up with one of the most stunning light shows anywhere, THINK FLOYD USA - THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD SHOW is your #1 choice!

Features include: dynamic sound effects, original video projections, dazzling choreographed lighting design, full laser production, and nine of USA's finest musicians, you'll "THINK" FLOYD was right there playing in front of you.

THINK FLOYD USA has performed on some of America's finest stages including The Surf Ball Room, Milwaukee Summerfest, Chicago's legendary Kinetic Playground, Shank Hall, Schwagstock and many more. From Green Bay to Tampa FL, TFUSA is truly THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD SHOW!!!]]> 1291356000 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1123
Covering material from "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" through "Division Bell", THINK FLOYD USA, takes the listener on a musical and visual flight through the Pink Floyd galaxy. Recognized as THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD SHOW, THINK FLOYD USA comes ready to impress. Performing all of Pink Floyd's classic hits from legendary albums in their entirety, such as The Wall, Wish You Were Here, Animals and the all time classic Dark Side of the Moon. Wrap all that great music up with one of the most stunning light shows anywhere, THINK FLOYD USA - THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD SHOW is your #1 choice!

Features include: dynamic sound effects, original video projections, dazzling choreographed lighting design, full laser production, and nine of USA's finest musicians, you'll "THINK" FLOYD was right there playing in front of you.

THINK FLOYD USA has performed on some of America's finest stages including The Surf Ball Room, Milwaukee Summerfest, Chicago's legendary Kinetic Playground, Shank Hall, Schwagstock and many more. From Green Bay to Tampa FL, TFUSA is truly THE AMERICAN PINK FLOYD SHOW!!!]]> 1291442400 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1161
U2Zoo is a four piece concert caliber band that celebrates the full U2 Concert Experience. Founded in 2003, U2Zoo has built its fan base by playing the biggest festivals and headlining concert venues throughout the Midwest region. This band of U2 fans continues to pay tribute to the music and soul of U2 with their powerful vocals and well studied sounds. They bring with them all the vintage equipment and top notch touring crew to bring the concert experience alive.

Close your eyes and it's the music you've come to love. Open your eyes and live the full Concert Experience of U2Zoo.]]> 1292047200 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.shankhall.com/details.php?1156 Pat McCurdy is a singer/song writer from Wisconsin. He tours the mid-western part of the USA, his shows usually consisting of just him and his guitar. While the majority of his audience is made up of a college-age crowd, McCurdy manages to appeal to a large number of people of all ages with his interactive shows. Performing well over 300 shows a year, his large catalog of original songs (nearly 600 and growing) covers a variety of topics such as lost loves, politics, family vacations, the joys of Asian cuisine, and the sex organs of long-dead French Emperors.

Classifying McCurdy's style has long been a problem since he tends to follow wherever his muse takes him. Many of his songs could be classified as rock/pop, though he's been known to wander into folk, jazz, country and even Gilbert and Sullivan. Whatever style he chooses, his songs often include memorable lyrics.]]> 1293084000 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500