Jackie Venson Shreds the Stage at Rockwood Music Hall

 
Jackie Venson live at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3.

Jackie Venson live at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3.

Austin-based guitarist and singer-songwriter, Jackie Venson, ripped the stage at Rockwood Music Hall last week with an explosive performance that blew us away with electrifying amps, growling rifts and sensual vocals. Rockwood’s serene and tranquilly intimate Stage 3 was the perfect feeding ground for harvesting Venson’s powerful guitar solo that savored our appetite with a mix of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll.

The warm candle-lit venue brought us closer to each other, as we sipped on our brews and cocktails while Venson rock out on her 45-minute set. Performing usually with a full set band, Jackie came up to New York as a solo act, giving us New Yorkers a mouthful of that Texas southern soul that blended beautifully with bluesy rock elements and a distinctive sound of pop.

Jackie Venson on guitar at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3.

Jackie Venson on guitar at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3.

Exposed to music since eight years old, Jackie Venson is a young musician/guitarist that has captivated the hearts and minds of her audiences through her music. Coming off an impressive summer tour with guitarist/singer-songwriter, Gary Clark, Jr., Jackie has become a household name in the independent blues and rock scene. Her mastery of blending the genres blues, soul and rock together speaks to her profound musicianship that’s coupled with her lyrical depth and gripping storytelling.

With local shows and tours performed across Austin, TX, Jackie has toured extensively throughout the south and the west coast, enthralling audiences that capture the Jackie Venson experience through the raw power and vibrant soul of her guitar. As a powerful and passionate artist, Jackie Venson illustrated these traits last week with an invigorating performance that elicited those gritty bayou blues and southern rock ‘n’ roll.  

Jackie Venson on vocals at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3.

Jackie Venson on vocals at Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 3.

Jackie’s new EP Transcends released earlier this month and was on hand for that weekend as she performed several hit songs from the record. Her solo acts to “Flying,” “Fight” and “Transcends” exemplified Jackie’s versatile compositions and her complexity as an artist to span across genres. On “Flying,” Jackie gave us a flawless mix of pop and rock elements that provided enhanced lyrical ability and stellar musicianship. Her impressive command on stage held audiences in their seats, as Jackie’s guitar rifts fueled a smooth, yet dominating sound. Her play on “Fight” and “Transcends” spoke to Jackie’s ruthlessness on the guitar, while also assembling those 80’s pop kicks and savvy guitar licks that conquered the grasps of the rock ‘n’ roll and blues genre.

Her opening song, “Don’t Lie to Me,” as well as her incredible cover to Tab Benoit’s, “Nice and Warm,” were essential memories from Jackie’s NYC visit. On her opener, Jackie displayed a fantastic guitar solo that wowed audiences and provided an alluring sound that drew audiences thirsty for more. On the Tab Benoit cover, Jackie informed us of how Benoit’s song was one of the artists’ many influences for picking up the guitar. Jackie’s act breathed a fresh air of classic bayou blues and American rock ‘n’ roll that took stage 3 by storm, delivering a simmering guitar play, decadent licks and Orleans style amps.

Jackie Venson mesmerizing audiences at Rockwood Music Hall.

Jackie Venson mesmerizing audiences at Rockwood Music Hall.

Jackie Venson is a guitarist that has mastered the raw and gritty southern blues with each note her fingers find on the neck and body of her guitar. Her mesmerizing voice, delicate, yet cool attitude and shear talent on the strings are but of the few components that allow her musical expression to be so powerful. Her dominance on the guitar, musical depth and command of her audience has placed Jackie as one of the top emerging guitarists in the independent scene.

Her innate ability to blend the genres produces a rich sound of passion and emotion that establishes a connection with her audiences, as well as illustrates the complexities with her musicianship. She has certainly become a driving force for indie-guitarists today and has our recommendation for anyone’s playlist.

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Hollis Brown Captures the Essence of American Rock & Roll at Berlin NYC

 

New York City rock & roll band, Hollis Brown, played in front of a packed-house at Berlin NYC last Wednesday during the second performance of their Berlin NYC residency. We've been fortunate to lay eyes on this emerging five-piece band for the fifth time, as they continue to raise our eyebrows with compelling melodic content, compassionate lyrics and mastery in live performance. The group's roaring sound, blended with roots of classic rock influences, resonated across the crowd-filled venue. With our ears full of the phonic notes of rock & roll, blues and Americana, it's no surprise Hollis Brown has a place as one of the leading independent bands in the genre.

Stemming from their Record Store Day release, Cluster Of Pearls, Hollis Brown began their month long residency at Berlin NYC on May 4, 2016. As in their first performance, their second date gave us a touch of both their older and latest works, jamming out songs such as "Ride on The Train," "Faith & Love", "Sweet Tooth," "Rain Dance" and "Cold City" as well as their iconic finale with "John Wayne". Each song exemplified Hollis Brown's raw, yet heart-felt, sonic arrangements that illustrate the band's vivid lyrical style and versatile songwriting ability. Hollis Brown's jeering and rapturous melodies capture the essence of rock & roll, inviting us into a realm where classic and contemporary rock blends together perfectly.

Lead singer/songwriter, Mike Montali, crooned the intimate LES venue with commanding, yet subtle vocals, enticing the crowd to draw closer towards him - mesmerized by the band’s jaunty and bluesy western-esque melodies. Standing up front side-stage, the crowd pushed us closer to lead guitarist Jonathan Bonilla as he demonstrated his stormy guitar skills filled with affirmation and ferocity. Bonilla’s muscular work on the strings, along with balancing touches from pianist Adam Bock, drummer Andrew Zehnal and bassist Scott Thompson, offered audiences with a complex and firmly rooted rock & roll sound that portrayed a heart-felt authenticity that radiated off stage.

International front-man, Tony Wright of VerseChorusVerse, kicked off the showcase with his musical brilliance that has spanned across the UK, Ireland and Europe. His polarizing lyrics and keen musical experimentation in the rock & roll space, offered a rare treat for the early birds that flocked to see Hollis Brown perform. Renowned alternative-country and folk-twang singer/songwriter, Don DiLego, followed putting on a spectacular show that drove audiences away from the cold Lower East Side and into a raw-boned saloon in middle-america - bringing bourbon, old tales and lost loves to mind. His mastery of the genre harnesses a melodious craft of fine-tuned musical skill, truly making Don DeLego one of the leading emerging artists to come out of the indie-rock and alternative country space.

As curators of classic rock, Hollis Brown is spearheading the modern rock & roll movement in a city that thirsts for an American-born sound. Their ambition to combine both classic and contemporary rock is a catalyst of their own music individuality that has garnished not only a revival in the genre, but a dedicated fan-base that seeks good-old fashioned rock & roll. Make sure to not miss your opportunity to see this incredible band perform live during their residency at Berlin NYC before it's too late. 

 

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