The Vigils
2 tone/ska punk
The spirit of 50s rock 'n' roll, the attitude of 70s punk, and the sensibility of the 80s new romantics, The Vigils have culminated their varied influences to create a timeless sound, unique in any decade.
Strangely reminiscent, guaranteed to strike a few heavy nostalgic chords, and yet at the same time, unabashedly original, unpredictable, and uncompromising.
Rock and Roll's for rebels again...
Marissa Lamar of Highland Kites
Indie anti-folk/rock
Highland Kites’ confessional anti-folk could easily be misconstrued as indie rock. With their angular grooves, new wave leanings and sharp-witted lyrics, the LA-based three piece exude an off-the-cuff coolness that is effortlessly backed by a hard earned substance.
The band is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Marissa Lamar who spent the majority of her 20’s very ill with Lyme disease. As the symptoms progressed, Lamar's medication increased and she found herself stagnating as the years passed her by. She watched friends fall away and became resigned to her predicament; not entirely sure she was going to make it. Music emerged as her saving grace; giving her a reason to persevere and ultimately share her life-affirming strength as she overcame her illness.
By weaving hope, positivity and closure into her songs, Marissa was able to create compelling and often dark content that ultimately felt uplifting. She still maintains her “goal with music is to make people feel better even though most of my songs are themed around painful experiences.” With a few original tunes under her belt, Lamar began gigging solo around LA and finally formed Highland Kites in 2014 with drummer Neil Briggs. Their first EP, So Vicious, caught the attention of producer Raymond Richards (Local Natives, honeyhoney, etc) who reached out to the duo about working together.
They all clicked immediately and Richards ended up producing their first full length album All We Left Behind which climbed the college radio charts in 2015, with over 70 stations putting it in heavy rotation, and garnered notable mentions in local press including a glowing article in Buzzbands LA.
Marissa and Neil teamed up with producer Richards for their last EP, “Let Me Run”, which was released in July 2016. While they felt free to dive into a more into varied pallet of sounds, Lamar is admittedly a staunch purist about her work and kept it is as close to its original state as possible. “I feel like parts of my past that I have had trouble talking about come out in waves and end up resulting in these songs and albums” Lamar asserts. “It’s a form of closure for me and after writing Let Me Run I felt like a million bricks were lifted off my shoulders.”
They have since added lead guitarist (Alex Edwards) to the band and are currently in the studio recording their next EP titled “I’m Not Weak” due to release in the summer.
Emmitt James and the Feel Goods
Midwestern Hip-Hop/Jazz
Milwaukee born emcee and poet Emmitt James fuses lyrical poetry with modern hip-hop stylings, all over the funky live instrumentals provided by the rotating line up of The Feel Goods, whose composition ranges from drums and electric bass to saxophone and violin. Resistant to the idea of being labelled a rapper, Emmitt's live show is relatable, mindful, and present. The group has been gaining momentum in LA, performing twice at Sofar Sounds to crowded rooms, as well as a The hip hop jazz outfit has been gaining momentum in LA making their Low End Theory debut July 2017 and opening for acts such as R.LUM.R, Jay Prince, Cuco, & Jesse Baez. They have also been billed for Echo Park Rising Festival August 17th at Semi Tropic at 11:30pm.
Emmitt James has always had a way with words. Influenced by lyricists and creative geniuses from Kanye West to Marvyn Gaye to Toro y Moi, James' music is a menagerie of passion, dreams, and reality. From stringing along stanzas and performing at the international poetry slam Brave New Voices twice, to bringing crowds to life on numerous stages, the creative king is nothing less than a flare of life.
Color Me Home
indie/close harmony/jazz
Rachel Lindley and Madison Johnson are a duo from Los Angeles known as Color Me Home. They bring a heavy jazz and folk influence into their indie singer-songwriter music. Harmonies are a key part to their song arrangements and like nothing you have heard.
"Their voices sound like one," is a common observation made by fans. Some of their main influences include Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder and Simon and Garfunkel.
The Herbert Bail Orchestra
folk/rock/Americana/blues/country
From the depths of the modern American folk movement comes the vast musical journey known as the Herbert Bail Orchestra. Singer-songwriter Anthony Frattolillo leads a ten piece ensemble incorporating elements of folk-rock-Americana-blues and country music.
"A fusion of past and present, frontier and adventure, psyche and soul. Full sounds and powerful live performances pull listeners into their timeless dimension." says M. Duwe of The Huffington Post.
"A danceable Wild West showdown, if sheriffs and outlaws resorted to dance-offs instead of gun duels." says K. Beachum of Violent Success (which gave the debut album a 9 out of 10).
L.A. Hootenanny
RAUNCHABILLY/Outlaw-Country/Rock/Rap-Grass
What started as a bunch of friends playing music every week for fun became the most fun experience in L.A.
A wide range of influences from Hank Williams and Willie Nelson, Blondie and Beyonce, New Order and Ween, with a whole lot in between.
Janani Shankar
Alternative Indie
Janani Shankar is an indie singer/songwriter who plays guitar, bass, and was also trained in violin when she was younger. She has been singing since the age of 3. She had training in opera at the age of 9. Janani has been performing since she was little. She attended Santa Susana High School, a performing arts magnet high school for singing, in California. She got accepted into the Carnegie Hall Honors Choir in New York in just her sophomore year of high school. Janani went to Girl's Rock Camp in LA two years in a row and got the opportunity to work with and have mentors like Patty Schemel from Hole, Meg Toohey from The Cold and Lovely, Sara Bareilles, all of Rainging Jane, and others. She has sung with Gingger Shankar, onstage many times, once being at the World Peace Music when she was only 9. She also sang onstage with The Smashing Pumpkins at The Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles in 2008. In 2009, she sang in a choir in Vegas at The Sgt. Pepper Live Beatle's Tribute show with Cheaptrick and other amazing artists.
Janani has had her music licensed out to films like Circumstance by Maryam Keshavarz and sold on soundtracks. Janani has had many musical influences in her life including Gingger Shankar, Norah Jones, her great grandmother Lakshmi Shankar and Ravi Shankar. She has grown up around musicians and has always loved going to concert as well. She even got to go see Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters, Krist Novoselic, Rick Nielson from Cheaptrick, Ving Lee from Fear, Rick Springfield and other amazing musicians perform on Hollywood Blvd and hang out with them backstage in the Jimmy Kimmel greenroom. She has been writing her own music for years, which consists of 90s rock, alternative, indie, jazz, pop and other influential genres. She is also influenced by artists like Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Kills, The Dead Weather, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Oasis, PJ Harvey, Hole, Josephine Baker and others.
Sam Marine
ROCK/ROOTS-ROCK
Sam Marine is a Los Angeles Based, singer-songwriter, with a 5 piece rock n' roll band.
From New York City by the way of Gainesville, Florida, and now fairly new to Los Angeles, Sam Marine has already made himself an integral part of the LA roots-rock music scene. Playing alongside up and comers Rod Melancon, Jaime Wyatt and Sam Morrow, it makes sense that he tapped former Dwight Yoakam sideman and producer of Melancon’s Southern Gothic, Brian Whelan, to produce his new EP, Big Dark City.
Big Dark City is Marine’s 3rd CD. His first two, Lacktown and New Home were both mixed by heavyweight producer John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Kurt Vile, Drive By Truckers) and mastered by Greg Calbi (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty). His raspy, urgent vocals often earn him favorable comparisons to Springsteen, Tom Petty and Paul Westerberg. A Thousand Guitars music blog has described his songwriting imagery as “…recalling a dust-choked, windblown existence that somehow still manages to look up from the gutter.”
Big Dark City is simple, classic, personal and honest. It’s sure to establish Sam Marine’s footing in the roots-rock genre while finding it's own place in any listener's heart.
Jevin Lamar
Rap/Hip-Hop
Born August 4, 1994 in Dayton, Ohio. Ever since he could remember he loved music. His family often reminds him how he was singing at six months,There always was a passion for music with him. He grew up listening to Ja Rule, Rick Ross and Tupac. His biggest inspiration is his younger brothers and sisters. Jevin, had a tough life growing up he would grab a note book and write the pain away. He got his big break when he meet investigative news reporter/Author Greg Palast on Thanksgiving Day in 2015. Jevin was working as a server at a burger joint, when he came across Palast he knew Jevin was a star in the making. months went by then, Palast contacted Jevin, And gave him a Job as an assistant producer of the film "The Best Democracy money can buy"Which became sold out two weeks straight in LA theaters. Jevin is now living in Los Angeles California chasing his dreams to become an historic music figure. "Take this musical journey with me" Jevin Lamar
Bobby Soul
DJ/LAtin Soul/Samba
Bobby Soul is a DJ, Graphic Artist & Vocalist for West Coast latin soul band Boogaloo Assassins on Fania Records. His career has spanned over twenty years, and his passion for Deejaying & record collecting has allowed him to perform at many of LA & OC's top music venues. He has shared the stage with the likes of Joe Bataan, Lee Fields, Nick Waterhouse, Gabriel Roth (Daptone Records) and salsa legend Roberto Roena. He has guest deejayed at world famous soul/funk clubs Funkmosphere, Funky Sole, Do-Over, Descarga and The Rootdown!
In his spare time Bobby distills "Whisquila", a unique blend of whiskey & tequila made from locally-raised goat milk & corn. Just playin'.
King Steady Beat
DJ/Ska/Hip-Hop
Started Djing in backyard parties in 1983 with DJ Sky, before hip hop was hip hop, it was called electro boogie, ended up spinning high energy and "New Wave" in 87 and moved to house music in 88, discovered the Manchester scene in '89, I went Shoegazer, then started up in back yard parties with an outfit called the Blackpool in So. cal. in 1992, the ska period. Started producing shows in 1993 @ The Hong Kong cafe in China Town, introduced fresh new Ska acts such as YESKA, SEESPOT, OCEAN 11, Mobtown, King Willy.
I started Steady Beat Recordings in 1993 to produce some of the great bands that had no music out at the time. I produces various Records and Cd's. took a break in 2003 because the "scene" was dying, Chris Murray took over the Ska torch and started the Blue Beat lounge. I came back like a phoenix from the ashes in 2008. and I'm back with a vengeance.
Umbral 2.0
Latin Jazz/Rock n' Roll/Fusion
Umbral 2.0 creates their unique musical sound by combining elements of Latin American rhythms, Rock ‘n Roll and Acoustic Jazz. They are influenced by the traditional music of Puerto Rico, Nuevo Trova Cubana, and other Caribbean styles, including Reggae and Calypso. Umbral 2.0’s music reflects the sentiments of the Chicano/Latino people and their experiences in the United States, writing a new chapter in the Nuevo Cancion Latinoamericano movement.
Umbral 2.0 is the brain child of Jesus “Chuy” Perez. This multi-talented performer is the band’s front man, song writer and lead singer. He authored the song “Como Vez”, recorded and made famous by the legendary Los Angeles band, Ozomatli, in the 1990’s. Chuy has also acted in several film and video projects, including “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Bread and Roses.”
Inspired by the traditional Latin American songs of struggle and hope, it is Umbral 2.0’s desire to perform their music to entertain and raise awareness for the people of our community, all immigrants worldwide, and the rest of the 99% that do not have a voice of their own. We look forward to sharing our music with La Gente (The People.)
David Alberto Holguin
Spanish Guitar/Flamenco
My name is David Alberto Holguin. I was born in Medellin, Colombia on August 14 1991. At age 2, my mother and I traveled to Los Angeles and settled down in the North East. At age 16 I began a novice in guitar music. At 18 I attended Pasadena City College and learned a Variety of fields all sharing one single component which is Entertainment. I am an actor, writer, musician, salesman but most of all I am an Educator.
At 16 years old I began studying with Maestro Raul Martinez over at Ramona Hall at the Sycamore Grove Park Recreation Center. At age 19 I studied Under Maestro Kai Narezo at Pasadena City College.
Since then I have dedicated 7 strong years of diligent practice and determination to learn all that I can and thus share the knowledge with novice guitar players.
I just finished touring in Memphis, Tennessee playing at a variety of different venues from Old Folks Homes, Farmers Markets, high-end galleries restaurants and special musical venues that promote the arts and education. In May, I had an Opportunity to participate in the famous Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis.
I am currently living in Los Angeles Studying under scholarship at the Herb Alpert music Conservatory located at Los Angeles City College. I play every weekend at private events, Art walks, and Farmers Markets strumming away emotion through musical sounds.
