#WomenInRock: Back to the Bowery with Revel In Romance

Revel In Romance at The Bowery Electric. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Last month we kicked off our first ever #WomenInRock showcase at The Bowery Electric, recognizing both women in music and the female-led independent bands making waves throughout New York City and further.

With the second installment of the series hosted at The Bowery again last week, we featured two phenomenal bands that offered a rock/alternative sound coupled with an unparalleled stage presence and electrically driven compositions.

DD White opened the show in front of an early Friday evening crowd, offering versatile sounds fueled with an energizing appetite, dynamic vocals and an intuitively robust drum set. The Detroit-based/NYC-living band was an instant hit among audiences, as DD White portrayed a riveting performance charged with influences of alternative-rock, soul and cabaret. Along with an energetic and in-your-face instrumentation, DD White’s performance was fantastically catchy, intimate and exciting. Lead singer, Tiffany Wiesend, dominated a league of charming yet powerful vocals that ushered DD White’s alluring, raw charisma on stage.

L to R: Collin Stanley (Guitar), Tiffany Wiesand (Lead Vox), and Chris Agar (Bass) Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Tiffany Wiesand of DD White on Lead Vox. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Collin Stanley of DD White on Guitar. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Guitarist Collin Stanley and bassist Chris Agar were the backbone of this five-set band turned trio (as two members were unable to perform). Collin’s work on the strings was ultimately explosive. His blend of classic rock’ n’ roll and mid-90’s punk, provided edgy and addictive guitar riffs that blended perfectly with the bands overall pop-soul and cabaret-esque notes.

The bands performance of their latest singles “Even a Girl” and “Blame You” was an exhilarating and captivating experience that kept audiences struck. Tiffany’s roaring vocals were complimented beautifully with Agar’s funky play on bass and Stanley’s dynamic style on guitar. DD White’s opener was epic; another example of the soaring vibes, genuine talent and eclectic stage presence that many indie female-led bands have today.

Coming all the way from Atlanta, GA, Revel in Romance headlined our #WomeninRock showcase with an alternative-pop sound infused with hints of early 00’s rock. This five-piece band was loaded with an arsenal of gorgeous electric riffs, in-depth beats and profound rock melodies that quickly packed the room at The Bowery Electric.

Devin Maier and Saxony Raine of Revel In Romance. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Award-winning vocalist, Saxony Raine, lead the performance with poetically soothing harmonies that were rich with emotional lyrics, crushingly reckless pop vocals and enchanting arrangements that gave a breath of life to Revel’s tight instrumentation. Saxony’s voice on “Echoes” and “Dust” were a prime example of lyrical depth and thematic storytelling filled with passionate sentiment that propelled Revel In Romance into a powerful and invigorating performance elicited with the themes of love, pain, passion and sex.

Guitarists Parker Rehklau and Devin Maier were an essential component of the bands alternative-pop inspired sound bursting with galvanizing strings, pulse-jolting rhythms and punk-rock swag. Rehklau and Maier were the highlights of the performance as they illustrated their strong guitar play in front of the crowd as they drew closer to the embolden rock melodies piercing sharply through the Bowery’s amplifiers. 

Devin Maier and Saxony Raine of Revel In Romance. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Mark Robinson of Revel In Romance on Drums. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

L to R: Devin Maier (Guitar), Mark Robinson (Drums), Saxony Raine (Lead Vox), Remington Rehklau (Bass), and Parker Rehklau (Guitar). Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Revel In Romance complex sound and measured instrumentation offered us an overall sound that fit beautifully throughout the night, displaying how female-led indie-bands not only emerging with great music, but also by providing incredible experiences that fans can remember.

With the second installment of our #WomenInRock show behind, we're already well underway to planning the next series' installments. The artists we've had the pleasure of working with thus far are a clear sign as to just how many hard working bands fly under the radar. With this series, we hope to highlight more with each months show. Stay tuned for our next segment!

DD White | Facebook | Twitter

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Revel In Romance | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram | YouTube | SoundCloud | Apple Music

#WomenInRock: A Music Series Kick-off at The Bowery Electric

Danielle Minch at guitar during our #WomenInRock show. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

We launched our very first “Women In Rock” show at The Bowery Electric’s last week, featuring some of the rising female-led bands that are re-defining today’s independent music throughout New York City.

Singer-songwriter/guitarist, Nessa Dove, kicked off our show with a vibrant performance that filled the Map Room with airy licks, sonic rips and electrifying strings, drawing audiences towards the dimmed-light Map Room on that dreary Tuesday night. The Queens-based musician was inviting, gripping and energized with heavy doses of rhythm and soul. Performing songs from her latest EP “Here We Go,” as well as upcoming music releasing later this summer, Nessa portrayed a mean guitar play, catchy vocals and indulging arrangements that blended the genres of alternative, blues and pop for us to experience beautifully on stage.  Her performances to the smooth riding titled EP song “Here We Go” and the rock heartbreaking tune “Last Cigarette” left us captivated and mesmerized by Nessa’s firm, yet delicate strings, soft melodies and easy-riding rifts. 

Nessa Dove on vocals at our #WomenInRock show. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Multi-instrumentalist, Katie Zaccardi, was the second act on our bill that provided us with a gentle performance bounding the elements of indie-folk, country and alternative beautifully together. Her crooning vocals and compelling lyrics expressed vibrantly on stage, as she played alongside her four-piece band performing some of her new songs and selected covers throughout the set. Equipped with a unique alternative sound that mirror the pillars of Americana and alternative-folk music, Zaccardi’s musicianship and songwriting ability were illustrated profoundly through her songs “Cave” and “Crazy.” Both compositions were a testament to Zaccardi’s artistry, dynamic lyrics and quilted arrangements stuffed with pop and rock mixtures.

Katie Zaccardi crooning the night away at our #WomenInRock show. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Talullah Ruff and Behind The Façade closed out the night with a dazzling rock and singer-songwriter finale that wowed the Bowery Electric audience to their feet. Talullah’s vocals and play on the keys was elegant, mesmerizing and hauntingly glowing. Her detailed compositions and heartfelt songwriting hushed the Map Room crowd, as she performed graciously with an uncanny approach that was gentle, collected and refine. As confident as she was anxious, Talullah expressed her artistry with a measured sense of love and reflection through a unique piano and bluesy alternative sound. Her performances to “Hungry” and “In Love With My Paper Skin” flowed majestically throughout the quiet space with powerful harmonies and beautiful keys.

Talullah Ruff on keys at our #WomenInRock show. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Female-fronted alternative-pop and rock band, Behind The Façade, headlined our “Women in Rock” show with an all-star jam fest that had Map Room audiences on their feet, bobbing their heads and pumping their fists. Straight from the inner boroughs of New York City, Behind The Façade provided an awesome show-stopping experience that filled the Bowery Electric with ear-shattering amps, ferocious rifts and explosive beats.  The hardcore punk-pop band howled loudly through our ears offering a rush of crushing attitude, absolute command and daring confidence.

The band’s lead vocalist/guitarist, Danielle Minch, put on a superb performance for us with clean and rejuvenating vocals, entrenched guitar play and thriving lyrical ability. Danielle maybe small in stature, but it’s her demeanor and musicianship that maintained a grand and invigorating presence on stage that magnified the band’s dominating poise and tenacity. Guitarist Louie Baerga and bassist Nick Quiles provided the backbone to the band’s wild and airy presence. Baerga’s energized performance on strings and reverberating vocals were exhilarating: a perfect one-two punch and pairing to Danielle’s dynamic presence. Along with drummer Christian Estrella, the band kept jamming throughout the set – never letting the energy suck out of the room. We all were trapped to BTF’s realm of punk-infused pop and heavy-hitting rock music.

Danielle Minch and Louie Baerga on vocals. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Nick Quilles on bass and Danielle Minch at the mic. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Christian Estrella on drums at our #WomenInRock show. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

The band’s performances to “Good Intentions,” “Hypochondriac” and “Things to Believe In” was a roaring amplified diary that put us in the middle of a late afternoon Vans Warped Tour set or an evening jam fest from the old Bronx Underground days. The sonic echo that pulverized the Map Room speakers was tantalizing and made us hungry for more, as we lost ourselves to the adrenaline and electrified velocity of alternative-punk music.

With the lasting presence of female-fronted bands in the independent music scene, female artists have always adopted a unique approach with how they have merged their various genre and songwriting skills. Whether it’s through early 90’s punk, southern blues, powerful ballads or mid-60’s activism, these female icons have been able to adopt a holistic sound that has re-defined the way we view and listen to music both then and now in today’s evolving society.

The artists who performed during our #WomenInRock show exemplify not only poise, confidence and charisma, but more importantly that quality musicianship goes beyond sex, gender, ethnicity or background. Their unconventional sound spans across genres to develop a hearty following of fans that fall in love with the artist and their music just the same. With future records, bigger shows and more touring to come, it's safe to say that these musicians will undoubtedly hold their spot in the New York City music scene with much more to come. 

Behind The Façade | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music

Talullah Ruff | Twitter

Instagram | SoundCloud

Nessa Dove | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram | Band Camp | SoundCloud

Katie Zaccardi | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram | YouTube | SoundCloud | Apple Music

Don DiLego Puts on a Foot-Stomping Performance at The Bowery Electric

Don DiLego & band at The Bowery Electric. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Alt-country artist, Don DiLego, gave us a foot-stomping performance at the Bowery Electric this month during his impressive record release show for his new album Magnificent Ram A. Along with a bottle of bourbon and a few bales of hay, DiLego’s astonishing seven-piece band rocked the stage as they wooed the sounds of western Americana and some feel good rock n’ roll in front of a packed-audience.

Coupled with fellow indie-folk artists, Linda Draper and Emily Duff, the Velvet-Elk crooner commanded an impression collection of musical arrangements that gently carried the crowd through a cowboy’s journey – synonymous with the old whiskey saloons and boot strapping jamborees of the great west. DiLego’s outstanding performance provided a collage of rich complex melodies that had us both moving our hips and singing along to the indie-folk singer’s dynamic vocals paired masterfully with a gritty acoustic sound.

Don DiLego performs at his record release show. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

DiLego performed the majority of his songs from Magnificent Ram A throughout that steamy Thursday evening, portraying his innovative delicacies both on stage and in his new record. DiLego’s music provided a range of indie-folk harmonies, graceful melodies and the pride of blue-collar heartland rock. DiLego’s mastery was illustrated perfectly on stage with the harmonious beauty “Go Pack Your Suitcase” and the soothing gospel-esque tune of “Running in Place with a Desperate Heart.” With every heart-felt note, DiLego’s caressing vocals and comforting rhythms passionately embraced the crowd, encouraging us to follow his carefully orchestrated compositions that profoundly detail DiLego’s precise musicianship.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

DiLego’s complex sound and on stage depth, however, howled for audiences to jump on their feet during DiLego’s alt-country jams, “Drive Like a Pirate” and “I’m on Fire.” Here, we witnessed a contrast to DiLego’s phonic sound with a gritty savory arrangement to his music along with an his incredible relationship with his already endearing fans, mustering them together as they sung and dance to his Americana tunes. DiLego’s country anthem, “The Westside Oak” had us all stomping our feet and clapping, revealing the versatility that exists with DiLego’s on-stage presence.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Linda Draper and Emily Duff provided a perfect mesh for DiLego’s record release show portraying both indie-folk harmonies and gospel-esque chords to the brewing audience for DiLego’s headline set. Draper’s tranquil vocals and in-depth storytelling delighted the on-hands crowd, drawing them closer to her tender musical arrangements that soothed listeners as they eased their way into the Bowery’s main stage.

Linda Draper performs at The Bowery Electric. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

Duff’s acoustic trio provided an incredible blend of folk, gospel and heartland rock n’ roll throughout their impressive set. Along with guitarist Scott Aldrich and Skip Ward on the “gut bucket bass,” Duff’s sensational compositions and powerful lyrical ability provided audiences with an array of bible-belt blues and Americana novelties.

Emily Duff performs at The Bowery Electric. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

After witnessing Don DiLego's incredible performance, it is safe to say that the indie-folk rocker is in a class of his own. Gathering amongst the sounds of old country and contemporary rock, DiLego has set the bar for how the sound of modern country should be. His ingenious lyrical ability and savvy storytelling technique places us, as an audience, in the boots of the modern cowboy, and within the heart and pride of blue-collar Americana, in each of his works.

Don DiLego at The Bowery Electric. Photo courtesy of Kevin Vallejos.

DiLego’s dynamic energy on-stage and the utilization of his flourished cohesive sound, makes him one of the best singer-songwriters in the genre. DiLego’s emerging status within the alt-country scene has made him a must-see act whose music we highly recommend for you to listen. His new album, Magnificent Ram A, is out now on digital, streaming and vinyl via Velvet Elk Records/One Little Indian. Follow and listen to Don DiLego today!

Listen to Don DiLego on...

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