If you’re looking for a hefty injection of guts and soul, Brophy’s your woman. She’s a woman’s woman and a man’s woman in one. Sassy, sexy and with (quite a lot) to say. She’ll keep up with the best of them, both musically and with her characteristic ability to make herself heard. Nicole Brophy has a voice and style compared to the likes of PJ Harvey, Lucinda Williams & La Roux. Stylistically it fits somewhere between gritty rock, hoedowns and moody, bluesy numbers, all brought together by a raw charismatic rockin’ earthy voice and boundless energy.
‘Empty Tin’ is the much anticipated first single release from Nicole Brophy’s latest album. With natural onstage charisma, bangin’ guitar skills and come-hither-smokey vocals it’s not hard to understand why she was kidnapped by Kate Miller Heidke’s band for a few years!
Lucky for us Nicole is now bottling that “whiskey soaked” voice into some darn tasty brew that deserves to be heard and shared. The first single ‘Empty Tin’ received consistent airplay through Australian Community Radio & reached Number 5 on the AMRAP AirIt Regional Charts. The track ‘Empty Tin’ was also featured on the soundtrack & trailer of the internationally acclaimed film ‘Undertow’ which premiered at the Byron Bay Film Festival.
Recent festival performances include Splendour in The Grass (Byron Bay), Meatstock Festival (Sydney), BBQ & Blues Festival (Port Macquarie), Bendigo Blues Roots Festival, Mitchell Ck Rock & Blues Festival, Byron Bay Guitar Festival, Double Baked (Gold Coast) & Maleny Music Festival.
The 2020 pandemic sent shockwaves through the music industry and devastatingly wiped out tours, live gigs & festivals. During these quieter times it has allowed more time to ponder, write & reflect on life … stay tuned for some post apocalyptic releases later this year.
Desi Ramone is a far cry from your typical singer-songwriter act. Standing at 6.2 and decked out in classic western wear, he plays his Gibson J-100 through Marshall Acoustic Amp, unleashing a unique live performance that blends the sounds of Surf, Bo Diddley, Hooker Blues Power Pop and Honky Tonk. He has one purpose – to make you dance. “I only play three styles – Johnny Cash, Johnny Ramone and Johnny B Goode.”
Born just North of Modesto CA, Desi grew up listening to Honky Tonk on forgotten jukeboxes, Mexican Folk and Classic 50’s on am radio then later English New Wave and LA Punk on late night Berkley College Radio. After spending some time in NYC , Desi has called Southern California his home for quite some time now.
As a drummer, Desi worked in various Surf and Rockabilly bands around LA area, before moving over to acoustic guitar, playing rhythm guitar in a variety of Bluegrass and Country bands. Then on 12/31/12 (the anniversary of country music legend Hank Williams death) Desi decides it is time to front his own project, which led to the release of “Waiting”.
“I wanted to honor Hank Williams by playing my songs the way I want to play em” Ramone Says.
Desi has been featured on radio station, KXLU 88.5FM, www.radiovenice.tv and Internet Show, LAartstream.com. He has also appeared live on the Venice Pop-Up Open Mic Night on Wednesday nights. He frequently plays/busk on Abbott Kinney and Windward Circle where he sets up PA, amp, fog machine with stage lighting and a flying saucer looking platform to stand on just to make it official. “I figure more people will see me and remember me doin my act on the street than in a club”. His single “Red and Yellow Roses”, featuring the great Chris Lawrence on pedal steel and was mixed by Marty Rifkin available on www.cdbaby.com.
News Flash! Desi Ramone has just released his latest recording “Rockin’ Robin”. With deep roots in rockabilly, blues and country music, Ramone has reshaped the 1958 Bobby Day classic into a unique sound somewhere between Link Wray and The Cramps with a great rocking beat that makes you want to get up and jump around the room. Recorded at (our very own) Breakwater Studios, Desi surrounded himself with some of the best talent in southern California including producer, Christopher Hazard, engineer Michael Jost and mixed by multi-talented Marty Rifkin. Available on Bandcamp … follow the link in the box below.
My name is Drew Stiles.
I healed a few years ago in a way hard to describe.
I was in Switzerland, music poured through me for a year.
I’m sharing this music now as Drew’z Jayzeuss Guackamoley, with bands and alone.
Virtual Tips for Drew’z Jayzeuss Guackamoley
Venmo: @Drew-Stiles-3
Jeremy Parker born in Upland California July 16 1975 grew up playing music and singing in church. His father was a pastor that led the worship on Sunday’s so Jeremy would often play guitar or drums and sing along with the church worship band. At age 14 he joined a Christian death metal band call Revelator. At age 16 he played in a high school party band called Entente.
He got a track n field scholarship pole vaulting at a Baptist College in Lynchburg VA called Liberty. Jeremy was a surf punk from Southern California and didn’t realize what he was getting into, so after being submerged in this ultra right wing culture he formed a counter culture punk band called Liberty Noise. They played all of the “forbidden” underground parties at Liberty that would’ve gotten everyone there expelled. Those were the best parties and it fueled a rebellious side of Jeremy just wanted to have fun and play music.
After 2 years in Virginia, Parker moved back to California and attended USC and then Cal Poly Pomona where he formed a 10 piece Ska band called “Skeeball”.
After college Jeremy met his life long friend Mike Sullivan (Sully) who together along with Jack Carlos formed the popular band “Meet Me at the Pub” in 1999. They would go on to travel the world and played shows from England to Japan and every backyard party in Venice Beach they could find.
It was in Venice after college that Jeremy found his voice and his sound. In 2016 Jeremy was made “King of Venice” at the annual Neptune festival in Venice Beach, a great honor given to one person every year who has made a positive impact in the Venice community.
He’s performed solo shows in England and Sweden and ran the popular “Acoustic Tuesday” night at the Venice Whaler.
In 2018 Jeremy moved to West Chester PA to work on television as a chef on QVC. He married Shannon McKernan in October 2020 who he met on a party bus at a Meet Me at the Pub show in 2016. She’s a local a Venice girl but claims she had never heard of Jeremy before they met which Jeremy finds hard to believe. Parker still has an apartment in Venice though he primarily presides on the east coast.
Virtual Tips for Jeremy Parker
In lieu of direct tips, Jeremy asks that you donate to Radio Venice instead (thanks Jeremy!) PayPal.me/RadioVeniceTV
The band consists primarily of husband and wife Darren and Sally Long who play and collaborate with various other musicians depending on their location. In the UK the band includes Dr John Maddock, a luthier, mandolin and banjo player, Anna Crabtree on violin and Ian Stewart on bass.
Josiah J, their producer has also added much to their sound with his exceptional multi-instrumentalist skills. In Los Angeles they enjoy collaborating with Steve McCormick and Heather Donavon of Love Me In The Dark among others. In Germany they have connections playing with a Rockabilly band.
Darren is the primary songwriter of the band, his style is gritty, historical and storytelling in nature along with a few fast upbeat bluegrass/ rockabilly style numbers. His colourful past surviving years of drug addiction and street homelessness give his songs a unique authenticity with an inspirational message of survival. Likewise his later years working recovery voyages at sea on a traditional gaff ketch bring some nautical/sea shanty-esque themes into play.
The vocals have been described as sweet and sour with a blend of Darren’s gritty and Sally’s sweet harmonies. As a guitar player Darren is a 6 string picker whose rhythm hand is rooted strongly in the brush picking style. He also carries strong gypsy jazz and finger style blues influences.
Alarma is known for their one of a kind Neo-Latin sound and high-energy live performances, inventively mixing styles in Reggae, Cumbia, and EDM.
The lyrical undertone of self-empowerment, healing, unity and community transcends into human emotions connected by contagious groves/melodies that get the people moving/dancing in self-rediscovery and release.
With their bilingual English/Spanish style Alarma has been interviewed and their music played on many radio stations across the country while receiving many positive reviews from music sites/magazines. They have performed in many festivals numbering in the thousands of music fans.
With a live performance on Fox 11’s Good Day LA and more new song releases coming out soon, this band is taking their sound out to the world.
After leaving New England and spending years on the road living out of cars, chasing fiddle festivals, and writing music across the country, he linked up with a rag-tag collective of street buskers in Los Angeles, CA and adopted his Great-Grandfather’s cattle brand as a name–Bar Jay Bar. With a sound honed in front of square dances and sidewalk passersby alike, Bar Jay Bar’s music is born from a love of harmony rich Old-Time country, and features thoughtful originals and reinterpreted classics played on guitar, fiddle, and upright bass. He resides in El Sereno, CA.
“What a gorgeous voice and stunning performer, Zaynab’s sense of humour and wit engages the listener in such an honest way. Her gentleness and humility in her songs quietens your spirit. When I heard her songs and voice it reminded me of a young Aretha Franklin. Truly amazing performer and as Zaynab has been supporting others on their musical journey, the time is now for this young performer with a huge career ahead of her.” – Shellie Morris, Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter
Zaynab, a Canadian-Trinidadian multi-instrumentalist, is slow and steady with her creative and personal expansion. She explores the details and depths of her story through her dynamic music style and passionate expression, and transmutes the raw material of her experiences and voice into songs that “quietens your spirit”. With a diverse musical input ranging from Bob Marley to Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding and Billie Holiday, Zaynab’s output flows with elements of improvisation influenced by Jazz, Soul, R&B and Afro-Caribbean.
At six years old and the youngest of six children, Zaynab began performing regularly with her family, Salah & Family or “the Von-Trapps of Steelpan”, around Montréal and at steelpan Panorama competitions in Toronto and Trinidad. In addition to her cultural music roots, Zaynab’s creative evolution illuminates her sensitive, dynamic, and well-rounded musicianship as a percussionist, vocalist, songwriter, drummer, and workshop facilitator.
Over the years, Zaynab has had the opportunity to perform with a variety of Canadian and international artists including Lorraine Klaasen, Alysha Brilla, Jason Wilson, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick and Pee Wee Ellis, and performed at notable festivals including Woodford Folk Festival (Australia), Hillside Festival (Canada) and Celtic Connections (Scotland). She has performed her original music project in live venues across Canada, in the US, and Australia, thriving in the more intimate settings.
In March 2020, Zaynab released her first single, “Golden”, and, in due time, trusts the release of her new body of work will resonate with kindred ears and hearts of the world.
With no formal music education, DLee’s innate musical talent manifested itself, from a young age, as he began singing in the church choir. A love for bass playing ensued, aged ten, which organically led to creating tunes and writing lyrics.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, and with strong familial roots in the deep south, his exposure to the world of music was intense, from Gospel and high school jazz band to a home life filled with musical culture, encouraged by his family. DLee was able to hone his musical gifts for melody and lyrics, influenced by such greats as Otis Redding, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield.
Self-taught in various instruments, he continually developed his own unique sound, while concurrently excelling in basketball at Loyola Marymount University, which took him professionally to Europe. There, a major modeling agency also scouted his look, and launched a successful modeling career, appearing in over hundred national commercials, affording him time to further hone his craft, in his first love, music. Guitar in hand, along the way, his prolific flair for singing/songwriting became recognized by the industry.
Dedicated and passionate, DLee was able to establish himself as a fulltime musician/producer, working with the likes of Macy Gray, Kim Hill, Monk, Medusa, Keaton Simons. DLee has also collaborated with Leon Ware ( Marvin Gaye ‘I want you’) and James Gadson, written lyrics and shared vocals with Adrian Younge and Will Hart of The Delfonics, and composed music for film and TV commercials. Screen work has included musical supervision and composition for Cassidy Way, The Road to Redemption, A Scanner Darkly and The Making of 300 the movie.
Together with actor/singer Gary Dourdan as Sugar Free the Band, DLee has toured the US, the West Indies, France, Morocco and Dubai, including a number of charity performances. The album ‘Soul Revival’ was DLee’s first episode as a solo artist, featuring ten songs that are a pure expression of his heart and soul. Currently, DLee is putting the finishing touches on his follow-up album – release date to be advised.
