Born in Dreieich, just outside of Frankfurt Germany, guitarist Michael Jost (pronounced ‘yoast’), found his way to the bohemian Venice Beach boardwalk, in Los Angeles California, where he now lives and makes music.
Owing to Michael’s unique European heritage, his rigorous classical training, and his 21st Century American experience, you can hear something very different in his passionate, Spanish-style guitar. Michael’s travel companion is Miss Lucy, a Flamenca guitar built by Tomas Delgado of Candelas Guitars. She has a strong character, with a warm and beautiful sound.
Michael has a unique sound. His music is a journey in time and space fueled by his passion for music and his instrument. His influences are very multicoloured and involve different styles, continents and time periods from Paco De Lucia and Stravinsky to Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd.
No two of Michael’s live performances are ever the same, drawing from his recent albums, Zeitlos and California Burning, as well as unreleased songs from his upcoming album, Concierto.
Zeitlos is a timeless and unique blend of acoustic, classical and flamenco styles, entwined with the sounds and soul of Venice, California. His earlier album, California Burning, is a psychedelic fusion of electric and acoustic guitar.
Years on the road as a nomad eventually brought Drew Dolan to the realization of his purpose: to connect people through music. This approach has combined a genuine need for cathartic creation that simultaneously draws a thread to the listener. With story-telling lyrics that are delivered with a soulful voice that travels from silky smooth to as gritty as gravel, his “true stories” matched with his keyboard playing groove their way into the ears and hearts of whoever listens.
With a style that has a firm foundation in his Chicago roots, Drew Dolan draws influences from all over the map. With hints of Bill Withers, Leon Russell, Dr. John, Ray Charles, The Meters to name a few, he bridges the gap between yesteryear and present day.
Dolan was the former lead singer/writer of The Proof., who released an EP called “Bang Bang” (leading single “Happy Street”), enjoyed success online with features on Jam in the Van and Sofar Sounds and quickly attracted a Soundcloud following that reached over 200,000 spins in less than two years. The music found a home on terrestrial radio as well on esteemed stations such as KCRW (featured release on “Morning Becomes Eclectic”) and many other non-com/college stations across the country. After years of playing some of LA’s most renowned stages (The Troubadour, The Hotel Cafe, Harvelle’s, Mrs. Fish) the band recently decided to move in different directions.
He is currently writing, playing as a soloist and collaborating with a new cast of talented musicians. Whether playing solo or with his new project “The Council,” Dolan’s sonic offering is to be experienced and shared.
Barry Conley is a professional recording engineer, producer and musician. In his formative years, Barry studied electronic and experimental music composition with Earle Brown (cohort of John Cage) and Morton Subotnick.
Barry’s professional career started with an engineering position at Baby’O Recorders in Hollywood where he worked with George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Barry went on to work at Sunset Sound and Paramount Recording Studios with such artists as Miles Davis, B.B. King, Ike Turner, and The Stray Cats.
Barry Conley’s band “The Aliens That Ate Hollywood” was featured on The Desert Sessions volume 6 “Black Anvil Ego” record put out by Josh Homme (Queens of The Stone Age).
While waiting for the members of Cypress Hill to arrive at a recording session for their “Stoned Raiders” record, Barry invented and devised a portable joystick/photo optically controlled analog synthesizer/effects processor named the “OutofControl-atron”. Seven years in the making and played on many records including Black Label Society’s “Mafia”.
Barry currently plays in several combos including Liquid Owsley, Splotch, Spiel, and The Aliens. Barry has been known to do solo “abductions”, sometimes known as “sonic colonics”, with his various Buchla synthesizers and the OutofControl-atron.
Barry currently owns Outer Space, a recording studio in Venice, California where he has recently worked with Luicidal and Robert Trujillo (Metallica).
Barry Conley on Radio Venice
Barry and his Outofcontrol-atron have become a regular feature on the couch of Radio Venice … click here to see all the archived shows
