The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's artists are David Wyatt and Katrina Bello.
Over the last few years David Wyatt has performed with many artists, including number one guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, opening for him in the Newcastle opera house and the Belfast Waterfront. He has also played alongside top slide guitarist Johnny Dickenson and James Morrison to name a few. Most recently Wyatt has been involved with two major record labels and recorded with top producer James Sanger, who has worked with the likes of Brian Eno and Keane. Soon to be released will be David's second album You Will Rise, where he teamed up with John Butler from Diesel Park West.
Katrina Bello is an emerging soul/r&b vocalist and songwriter from the D.C. metropolitan area. Bello decided to transfer to Berklee College of Music in her second year of college at the University of Pittsburgh, to continue working towards perfecting her craft. Currently in Boston, she is studying music and working with an array of producers in hopes of expanding her sound and honing her skills as both a singer and songwriter.
The Boston music community is home to a number of characters, genres, and tastemakers. Red Eye at the Red Room gathers and strengthens that community by showcasing some of Boston's top acts and photographers. This show features the bands Neutral Uke Hotel and the Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library, along with an exhibit by photographer 5342 Studios, who has been featured in the local music blog Ryan's Smashing Life.
Neutral Uke Hotel’s mission statement is simple: to unite obsessed fans of Neutral Milk Hotel for a live performance of their critically acclaimed In the Aeroplane Over the Sea album, played in its entirety on ukulele by Shawn Fogel with accompaniment from members of Golden Bloom and the Motion Sick.
The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library is the new project fronted by Michael Epstein of the Motion Sick and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling. The band features Epstein and nine women with a lot of group singing and a focus on clever, quirky indie songs performed on acoustic instruments to create a campfire singalong feel. This show is the band's much-anticipated debut.
A wonderful evening of local, international, and Berklee bands and songwriters. Each of these artists is a “one to watch,” and each brings his polished musical styles to the 939 stage for one awesome night.
Indie-rock singer/songwriter Brad Byrd's sound is often compared to the likes of Pete Yorn, Wilco, the Wallflowers, and Snow Patrol,with a classic songwriting style à la modern-day Tom Petty or Neil Young. Byrd's songs have been featured on numerous television shows and recently on Boston's 92.5 The River.
The show also features performances by Justin Rutledge and Zac Taylor.
Sharp enough to make you nervous but infectious enough to keep you singing along, Keep Me Conscious has been played regularly on a variety of college and internet radio stations in Boston, including WAAF's Bay State Rock and WZLX's Boston Emissions. Since forming in March 2009, Boston-based Keep Me Conscious has built a fiercely loyal fan base by offering a unique brand of melodic alt-rock and an intense stage performance. Bob Bowser (vocals), Daniel Maleck (guitar), John Wiley (guitar), Maty Vamp (bass) and Rob B Wu (drums) are passionate songwriters committed to delivering their music live with the same precision found on their recordings. Keep Me Conscious has quickly become a "must-see" live band. In just under a year, they have proven to be road-worthy by booking more than 100 dates, including an East Coast tour, a Hot Topic "in-store" acoustic tour, CMJ Festival in NY, SXSW and Red Gorilla Festival in TX, showcases in LA, countless regional shows, and even multiple sets at New England Patriots games . . . all without label or management support.
Check them out with Halfway to Avalon. Halfway to Avalon was formed in September of 2009 after recording their four-song self-titled EP with original members Ryan Gavin (guitar/vocals), Jacob King (guitar), and Geoff Bahre (drums). After recording, the band and Geoff parted ways. Matthew Wiles then joined on drums, and Michael Martins on bass. As passionate songwriters and performers, the band works hard to deliver emotional and powerful performances with the same fervor and quality found on their record.
Since Jeffrey Gaines's self-titled debut was released, this expressive and dynamic singer, guitarist, and songwriter has been heralded for his soul-searching confessional lyrics and his powerful live performances. His accolades include Emmy nominations, Pollstar's best live solo artist, and worldwide theater, club, and arena tours.
The H.5 Collective was born in the late nights of New England Conservatory's dorm life when five friends from all across the country (and even outside of it) decided to give in to their insomnia and jam. It was then that Charles Burchell, Gus Carns, Kimberly Mayo, Parker McAllister, and Aquiles Navarro realized that the ease and fun of their friendship translated to their group sound as well.
All students of jazz at NEC, the H.5 Collective aims to first serve the music's tradition by honoring those that have influenced them most, such as Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Sarah Vaughan, among many others. However, the band is careful not to turn influence into plain plagiarism, and they tastefully mix the heavy influence of "traditional" jazz with the courage to shirk convention and infuse their own voices into the music of their idols.
With sounds as diverse as New Orleans, New York, Seattle, Panama, and Chicago coming together, the results are always exciting. Burchell keeps the music swinging with his powerful, spring-loaded drumsticks. McAllister holds it down with bass lines that blaze both supportively and creatively. Carns inspires dream-like states with piano work pretty enough to paint; Navarro brings Panamanian fire to his bebop-minded trumpet playing; and Mayo sails on top with the earthy, rich singing that invokes the emotion of vocalists from decades past, while staying true to her young, original voice.
Christoph Huber was born 1988 in Aarau, Switzerland. With his father being a professional pianist, composer, and arranger, he grew up in a very musical environment. After starting out with a recorder and Swiss melodeon, he began taking lessons on drums at 8 and tenor saxophone at 9 years of age. His first saxophone teacher was the Polish saxophonist and clarinetist Witek Kornacki. Huber had his first public appearances as an improviser at the age of 11. From 2004 to 2009 he studied with former Berklee faculty member Fritz Renold. During this period he started to focus on tenor saxophone as his principle instrument and the intention to pursue a career as a professional musician became clear. From 2005 to 2009 he regularly participated in the annual festival Jazzaar Concerts in Aarau, where he had the opportunity to perform with and learn from artists such as Christian Jacob, Buster Williams, Victor Lewis, Adam Nussbaum, Barry Lee Hall Jr., Tommy Smith, Donny McCaslin, Tierney Sutton, Mark Gross, Tia Fuller, the Whitney Houston Rhythm Section, Steve Reid, Tom Garling, Gildas Boclé, and many more. In addition to his practice as a performer, Huber is also developing his skills as a composer and arranger for different musical formations and instrumentations. He's currently attending Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship. His saxophone teacher is Ed Tomassi.
Italo Cunha—a 17-year-old jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, student, and teacher from Brasilia, Brazil—attends Berklee on a scholarship. He started playing piano at age 4, guitar at 9, and was performing professionally by 12. Cunha was chosen by the Escola de Musica de Brasilia to play for Brazil's Minister of Education as part of Young Artist Revelation. He received a contemporary musical education degree from the Toque de Classe Institute in 2007—becoming the youngest recipient ever. Relating his song to the album title, Cunha says, "I think Birds of a Feather means friendship. My song reflects that. 'Stories' is about good times and memories with my friends, that's how I got the inspiration. Friendship is one of the most valuable things we have in life."
Jazz Revelation Records is a student-run, artist-driven record label created to present the top jazz composers and performers from the Berklee College of Music. Gathered from all over the globe, JRR artists speak the traditional language of jazz in a new way. Their youth, their passion, and their commitment are the launching pad for a sound that gets inside your head, your heart, and yes, you'll tap your feet and maybe hum along after a while.
Join us for night one of this mini-residency with Brian Wright. "When people ask what I sound like I usually say I'm somewhere between Woody Guthrie and the Velvet Underground," says Wright. It's true-along with hints of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark fused with a bluesy slide guitar and simple but enchanting Paul McCartney-like bass. Also appearing: local artist Coyote Kolb.
Today, when too much space is spent talking about what is going to happen to the music business, Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies are like thieves in the night, sneaking into town to steal the thunder right out from under the media glare of despair. With their new album, Bluebird, released on the new Breakout Music label, the group is poised to plant a flag in their Los Angeles home—one band that isn't prepared to settle for less than greatness. The way they make that claim is at the heart of their strength.
Local act Coyote Kolb will be bringing some honest country and Americana to the show. Authentic guitar tones exchange the spotlight with the vocalist, whisking you miles from the busy city to places much simpler.
When Julian Lage '08 emerged on the music scene 13 years ago, the young San Francisco Bay Area musician was not only deemed a guitar-playing prodigy but offered record deals on numerous occasions. Playing a unique style that melded blues, classical, folk, and jazz influences, Lage decided to wait for the right moment to document his own music. He chose instead to become a sideman with established instrumentalists like Gary Burton and to collaborate with contemporaries such as pianist Taylor Eigsti. Along the way, Lage received recognition from musical luminaries, including Herbie Hancock and Béla Fleck, and patiently waited until he was ready to go into a studio with a band of like-minded players to realize his own musical vision.
Now the time has come. At the age of 21, the Boston-based Lage released his debut album, Sounding Point, on EmArcy Records, an imprint of Universal Records. The music ranges from composed works and impromptu improvisations in duo and trio settings to solo excursions and a finale capped by a masterful rendering of Miles Davis's "All Blues." Lage also delivers impressively original covers of Elliott Smith 's "Alameda" and Neal Hefti's "Lil' Darlin'."
Every so often, a band comes along that blurs the lines of musical genres. With hints of pop, soul, and rock 'n' roll, Dear Havanah is that band. The Boston-based group is celebrating the release of its second album, The Whole Way Home, produced by Alan Evans of Soulive.
Drawing from a multitude of styles is easy for Dear Havanah, because each member comes from his own unique musical background. Citing influences that include Dave Matthews, the Black Crowes, and Grace Potter, Dear Havanah has no problem offering listeners something diverse and original.
2009 proved to be a successful year for the band. With their Veggie Co. Records debut on iTunes, Dear Havanah toured clubs and college campuses from the Northeast to the Midwest, making a name for themselves across the country.
Opening act Mark Hopkins weaves a lively tapestry with his groovy tunes, sewing in threads of blues and funk. With personal lyrics emphasizing imagery, his opening won’t be one to miss.
Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys are a musical alchemy descending into the rabbit hole of performance art. With their toys and voices they create a death-folk, steamcrunk, organic-industrial experience.
The award-winning film The Why features music by Walter Sickert. The Why draws from the evil tones of early Polanski with inspired dialogue and linearity, while shocking the viewer with gritty vignettes of Hooper-like violence. Although the film is more arthouse than horror, viewers are still caught in a metaphysical mélange absent of love, absent of hate, and absent of reason.
Armed with drop-dead catchy melodies, boyish good looks, and a charm equal to or greater than that of Paris Hilton, Jer Coons is poised for national recognition. Speak, his debut album, was released last September. You may have heard his song “Legs” when your iPod broke and you had to listen to the radio. It is also possible that you heard it while buying some fresh digs at Hollister, grabbing some fresh produce at various chain supermarkets, picking out fresh paint at Home Depot, taking a nap on a comfy mattress at Big Lots or even while eating the Endless Lunch for only $6.99 at T.G.I. Fridays. Basically, the only way you could have not heard “Legs” is if you shop at Whole Foods or Lowe's. Download Coons's cover of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back."
Seth Glier will grab you—if not with his powerful falsetto or his melodic prowess, then with what Performer Magazine calls his “intoxicating groove.” The 20-year-old singer, pianist, and guitarist aims straight for the gut on his MPress Records debut, The Trouble with People.
Jesse Ruben’s story begins in the heart of a musical family. His father and grandfather were both professional musicians, performing at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, corporate events, and other gatherings in Philadelphia and its environs. Ruben recalls watching in awe as his dad’s band rehearsed rock, pop, and r&b hits. He began taking piano lessons, but lost interest during his adolescence. “I had told myself I couldn’t play guitar because that was my dad’s instrument,” he says. “Then I realized how stupid that was.” His father bought him a cheap guitar with the promise of a better instrument if he made progress; the guitar felt right in Ruben’s hands, and by age 16 he was writing songs.
Join us for night two of this mini-residency with Brian Wright. "When people ask what I sound like I usually say I'm somewhere between Woody Guthrie and the Velvet Underground," says Wright. It's true—along with hints of Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, fused with a bluesy slide guitar and a simple but enchanting Paul McCartney-like bass line. Also appearing: local artist Drew O'Doherty.
Today, when too much space is spent talking about what is going to happen to the music business, Brian Wright and the Waco Tragedies are like thieves in the night, sneaking into town to steal the thunder right out from under the media glare of despair. With their new album, Bluebird, released on the new Breakout Music label, the group is poised to plant a flag in their Los Angeles home—one band that isn't prepared to settle for less than greatness. The way they make that claim is at the heart of their strength.
"I was glad to see Drew's name appear solo on local live calendars, even happier to discover that he was as talented a songwriter as he was a guitarist. I didn't know what to expect the first time I caught him, and was immediately drawn in by his gentle acoustic playing, his warm voice, and his somber songs that evoked a little Eitzel, a little Springsteen, a little Tweedy. Some lyrics may have come from his past, some told the sad yet beautiful tales of others, but all were both intimate and captivating." —Bradley's Almanac
The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's artists are Sam Schultz and Jen Hoyt.
Native New Yorker, London resident, former kindergarten gym teacher, and one-time Parisian street sweeper, Julian Velard is a true original—the kind of character in a Wes Anderson or Quentin Tarantino film with whom you’d like to grab a drink. He fuses effortless cool with self-deprecating humor, serving up old-school pop perfection with a raised eyebrow.
After releasing three records independently, in 2007 Velard garnered UK major-label attention and was plucked from relative obscurity off MySpace. He signed a deal and promptly moved to England. Since then, he has straddled the Atlantic, writing songs for himself and others, and playing shows alongside Jamie Cullum, Kate Nash, Ben Kweller, Shelby Lynne, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, among others. He is currently working towards the release of his label debut.
Mikey Wax and Jeff LeBlanc round out the bill.
The Red Room @ Cafe 939 is proud to welcome back Tyrone Wells with special guest Andrew Belle. Ticket packages for both shows are available.
The Red Room @ Cafe 939 is proud to welcome back Tyrone Wells with special guest Andrew Belle. Ticket packages for both shows are available.
The Chapin Sisters have been busy touring as part of She & Him's band and opening many of their shows. They have also begun headlining their own club shows. Their forthcoming album Two will be released this fall on their own label, Lake Bottom Records (Thirty Tigers/RED).
Liz Longley has received the kinds of accolades and awards that recognize her as one of the finest new talents writing songs today. In 2010, Longley took the Overall Grand Prize in the International Acoustic Music Awards amongst 9,000 entries. Last summer she garnered three of the top honors on the acoustic music scene: 2009 cowinner of the Mountain Stage New Song Contest, finalist in the 2009 Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition, and Grand Prize Winner of the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival's Songwriter Showcase.
Want to know what happens after students leave Berklee? They move to Nashville and become incredibly successful. This show features alumni Joey Bennet, Felix Dowsley, Joe Giotta, Chris Miller, Julian Saporiti, and Kristin Weber of the Young Republic. Joining them will be Adrien Saporiti of Adrien and the Fine Print and Annie Lynch of Annie and the Beekeepers.
The Young Republic is a Nashville quintet signed in Europe to End of the Road Records. Since 2004, these highly skilled musicians have been praised by the likes of Mojo, the BBC, and the Guardian for their extraordinary take on American music. Classical training blends into a love of jazz, blues, and folk and is all packaged in one helluva rock 'n' roll band.
Annie Lynch is the lead singer and songwriter for Annie and the Beekeepers, and a voice in the Boston and Brooklyn acoustic music scenes. Lynch has shared concert bills with such notable acts as Josh Ritter, Scott McMicken of Dr. Dog, Justin Townes Earl, The Low Anthem, and more.
The program is intended to introduce young children to a variety of musical activities essential to a well-rounded music education. These include singing and sound exploration; moving; playing rhythm instruments; creating, listening and responding to music; as well as learning about a variety of musical concepts and instruments.
Sessions are limited to 20 children. Email kidsjam@berklee.edu for registration and program information.
Nobody bridges the gap between generations or musical genres like Sweet Plantain, a refreshingly new string quartet. Artfully fusing the Western classical traditions in which they were trained with the hip-hop, jazz improv, and Latin rhythms on which they were raised, their original writing and live shows educate and entertain. Separately hailing from the South Bronx, New Jersey, and Venezuela, together these musicians give voice to a sound that is contemporary, multicultural, and very New York.
The program is intended to introduce young children to a variety of musical activities essential to a well-rounded music education. These include singing and sound exploration; moving; playing rhythm instruments; creating, listening and responding to music; as well as learning about a variety of musical concepts and instruments.
Sessions are limited to 20 children. Email kidsjam@berklee.edu for registration and program information.
Take a clear and powerful voice, add a memorable melody and set it to unique, sophisticated harmonies, and what emerges is Elizabeth and the Catapult’s singular sound.
The title of Elizabeth and the Catapult's Verve Forecast debut album Taller Children reflects the unique blend of pop playfulness and grown-up introspection that defines Berklee alumna Elizabeth Ziman's distinctive songwriting. Such memorable originals as "Rainiest Day of Summer," "Apathy," "The Hang Up," and "Hit the Wall" embody a vibrant mix of open-hearted wonder, whimsical humor and forthright emotional insight, merging classic pop melodicism with an array of acoustic textures, jazz twists, and orchestral flourishes.
With his sharp ear for memorable melodies, keen lyrical insights, and husky, engaging voice, Tyler Hilton has already connected with people in a big way with his 2004 major-label debut, The Tracks Of Tyler Hilton.
Josiah Leming plays music as if his life depended on it, because for him, it does. Leming has begun recording his debut album for Warner Bros. Records, with whom he signed a recording and publishing deal not long after appearing on Season 7 of American Idol.
The program is intended to introduce young children to a variety of musical activities essential to a well-rounded music education. These include singing and sound exploration; moving; playing rhythm instruments; creating, listening and responding to music; as well as learning about a variety of musical concepts and instruments.
Sessions are limited to 20 children. Email kidsjam@berklee.edu for registration and program information.
The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's artists are Naomi Gillies and Erika Cole.
The program is intended to introduce young children to a variety of musical activities essential to a well-rounded music education. These include singing and sound exploration; moving; playing rhythm instruments; creating, listening and responding to music; as well as learning about a variety of musical concepts and instruments.
Sessions are limited to 20 children. Email kidsjam@berklee.edu for registration and program information.
Curtis Peoples is a songwriter who knows how to create dynamic pop songs that fans of rock, acoustic folk, and pop can enjoy equally. With a mix of free-spirited choruses and addictive rhythms, Peoples's style of "coffeeshop arena rock" is genuinely his own unique musical fingerprint.
23 years old, fresh off tours of Europe and the United States, and with a EP fresh under his belt, Zach Comtois is ready to take on the world. His blend of clever lyrics, contagious hooks, and six-string prowess will hypnotize audiences into buying millions of records. Seriously, it's going to happen.
The program is intended to introduce young children to a variety of musical activities essential to a well-rounded music education. These include singing and sound exploration; moving; playing rhythm instruments; creating, listening and responding to music; as well as learning about a variety of musical concepts and instruments.
Sessions are limited to 20 children. Email kidsjam@berklee.edu for registration and program information.
The program is intended to introduce young children to a variety of musical activities essential to a well-rounded music education. These include singing and sound exploration; moving; playing rhythm instruments; creating, listening and responding to music; as well as learning about a variety of musical concepts and instruments.
Sessions are limited to 20 children. Email kidsjam@berklee.edu for registration and program information.
The Red Room at Cafe 939 presents Fresh Prospects, a showcase of the best up-and-coming Berklee artists reworking their favorite songs into intimate acoustic performances. This month's performers are Will Wells and Karmin.
For additional details on Cafe 939 shows, visit the Berklee.edu events calendar.
Cafe 939 | 939 Boylston Street | Boston MA 02215 | © 2010 berklee college of music
