The wait is nearly over

Today is the last day to vote online for Black Rep's Sound Sessions 2009.

Tomorrow, June 11, is the grand finale and we'll be counting up the final votes. If you are on Facebook, you can RSVP for the event here.

Remember, today is the last day to vote online!

Best of luck to all of the artists.

Artist Profile: The Buzzard Blue Band

From the artist's MySpace:

The Buzzard Blue Band began at the end of 1987 in Wareham, MA. as The Buzzards Bay Blues Band. We played one gig under that name and thought it was just too damn lame. So over drinks and other inspirational menu items we sat around one practice night and came up with Buzzard Blue, and it stayed that way for years! We were a four piece band in the beginning, featuring John Kelly on guitar, Paul Kelly on drums, John woodtsett on bass, and Dan Alexander on Vocals and Harmonica. After a year and a half the line up changed when John Woodtsett and Dan Alexander left the band to be replaced by Dave Wakefield on second guitar and Bill Pires on bass. Vocals were now shared by all. Through most of the nineties the band consisted mainly of three main players; John "Diamond Jack" Kelly on guitar and lead vocals,Bill "Willy T." Pires(jr. the III)on bass guitar and vocals, and Paul "The Mad Dog" Kelly on drums and vocals, with other players coming and going at various times along the way. We had the opportunity to record our first cd entitled "Addicted to the Blues in 1999, and enjoyed some small success with that. The band unnofficially took a 5 year break in 2002 and restarted the train rolling again in the summer of 2007. The band grew during it's haittas to seven members, now inluding a three piece brass section and percussion. Willy T. doesn't play with us all the time any more because he just doesn't have the time these days, but he still comes out to sit in for the night every once in a while! We are planning a new cd project in the very near future. I'd like to say that it would be completly original,but there are so many favorites to choose from that one or two might make their way onto the recording. You'll just have to wait and see and get a copy of the cd when it comes out!! Thanks for checking us out - Diamond Jack

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Artist Profile: Adam Payne

From the artist's MySpace, written by Amanda Crump:

WHO IS ADAM PAYNE?

The problem with rising acoustic talents is that a lot of them sound the same; but there is no mistaking the sultry sounds of Adam Payne. With a smile and sound as big as his Afro, Adam entertains full crowds with his fusion of Funk, R&B, Folk, and Acoustic. There's no denying his musical talents so the question is, who is he?

Adam is about as eclectic as his sound. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to an Italian mother and African American father. In the late eighties, Adam and his family moved to Sarasota, Florida. By the age of 8, Adam drew his musical inspiration not from haughty music teachers, such as Mozart or Beethoven, but from Saturday morning cartoons, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario. Adam picked up the piano as he mimicked the music from cartoons and video games. During his senior year of High School he took on the drums, and later in college, he picked up the guitar. Although music is a major part of who he is, there's much more to him than that.

Adam earned a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Statistics and was a founding father of the Eta Psi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Central Florida. He continued on to earn a M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Payne was featured three times on CBS Channel 4 Boston's 'Sundays with Liz Walker' and he was also generously recognized in the Boston Globe. "Recognition is not something I strive for..." says Payne - "Connecting with the audience and putting on a good show is more important to me than that. But, it's always nice to get a tip of the hat from people whom you respect."

These days, Adam can be found vibing out solo, with full band 2ADAM12 or even with his beatboxing compadre Adrian Reid. His solo show is always entertaining, with Adam making up songs on the spot with words from the audience, doing on-the-fly guitar, vocal, and percussion loop arrangements, or simply delivering the message of an original tune or eclectic cover. The full band presents some of the finest players in the Greater Boston area, with pieces ranging from the standard four to the gargantuan eight. Adam's performances with Adrian Reid are a testament to the power of communication through music, with Adrian holding down the beat while Adam sings, raps and plays guitar. No matter the line-up, an Adam Payne show is surely one to remember.

So who is Adam Payne? He'll make you dance, make you smile, and help you with your homework all in one day. He's the Northeast's resident father of Soul Rock and he's coming to a venue near you.

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Artist Profile: THUNK

From the artist's official site:

Jimi (drums) and Steve (keys) are friends who also are musicians. They wanted to start their own band, as they've played together many times in other people's bands. The Idea of a "jam band" sounded like fun. Steve knew an awesome bass player (who had played with him in the Mourning Wood band), and Jimi knew a wicked guitarist (who had recently joined The Dancing Dogs band with him), and thus with Pete and Felix, respectively, THUNK was hatched. Their immediate chemistry, both musically and personally is evident. Within, one can expect to experience music performed by seasoned professionals who offer an extensive musical menu for both the simple and epicurian appetite. Envision a southern rock jam band, a la Little Feat, Gov't Mule, Allman Bros. and the Dead, with a little progressive Yes, Jeff Beck, and Gong thrown in, tweeked with some contemporary and vintage funk - and that's what we're THUNKing! Weaving improvisation with three-part harmonies and funky dance grooves over originals and covers, THUNK will focus and rage on!

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Artist Profile: The Thaddeus Hogarth Band

From the artist's official site:

Thaddeus Hogarth continues his musical evolution as an award-winning singer/songwriter, balancing it with the career of guitar faculty at Boston's famed Berklee College of Music. Born in England and raised in St. Kitts, West Indies, multi-instrumentalist, Thaddeus Hogarth brings a diverse set of musical influences to his current Boston-based project. His current brainchild is a powerhouse unit delivering a collection of serious funk-rock R&B tunes that make you stop, listen and groove. The line-up includes drumkit and percussion virtuoso Joey Scrima (Connie Stevens, David Benoit), David Buda on Bass (Boston Pops) and David Sparr (Little Dog Studios) on keyboards and background vocals. This band holds nothing back and the live shows are electrifying. Thaddeus has shared the bill with the likes of such legends as Tower of Power, Average White Band, Fred Wesley, Johhny Winter and James Montgomery.

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Artist Profile: Hope Road

From the artist's MySpace:

Hope Road is a tribute band recreating the music, the passion, and the vibe of Bob Marley & The Wailers. Each member of this group has a deep respect for the music and the group we are paying tribute to. Bob Marley & The Wailers created music that inspired, empowered and sometimes overwhelmed audiences. Our mission is to bring that music to listeners with an intensity and a positive energy that they can’t help but enjoy and embrace. About Jason Jarvis (Vocals & Percussion) Jason has been writing and performing music continually since 1984. His family came to the United States from the Bahamas and settled in Westerly, RI, which is where lives and is currently raising his own family. Jason embodies the spirit of Reggae music, the rhythm, the passion and the positive energy it creates. Jason is a seasoned musician playing percussion, guitar, harmonica and flute in various bands including long time New England favorite Green Tea. Throughout the years Jason has honed the ability to connect with an audience and “share the vibe”. His tone and depth as a musician are evident as he entertains audiences on a journey through the expansive Bob Marley catalogue. About Greta Frost (Vocals, Guitar & Percussion) Greta Frost has been writing and playing her original music since the age of 13. Prior to that she studied classical piano for 5 years and found the voice that has evolved into what you hear today. Born and raised in the cradle of love that is Rhode Island, she traveled the country playing music coast to coast before sewing seeds in the state of Vermont. The mystical mountains and the cities she visits give the many songs she writes and performs a unique sound, uplifting as they are relaxing. Creative thinking and positive progression are a crucial part of her music and passion for life. Whether she is playing an acoustic guitar or chatting on the microphone, her love for music and humanity shine through. Peace to all who are passing through~ About Krissy Carlson (Vocals & Percussion) Krissy Carlson is a producer/board operator for Clear Channel Communications in Providence, RI, working for stations such as WHJJ 920AM, 93.3CoastFM and B101FM. Krissy co-hosts a radio show called OFF THA TOP on 88.1FM on Friday nights at 10pm. Krissy has a long list of songwriting credits as well as working with such artists and producers as Cee Knowledge aka Doodlebug of Digable Planets, Erick Sermon of EPMD, Jawge Hughes of Tosh meets Marley Tour and Andrew McIntyre, guitarist for Sean Paul Tour. Her voice is sweet and powerful and her passion for reggae music truly shines through when re-creating the music of Bob Marley & The Wailers About Mel Corcino (Drums) Mel was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the great Town of Juncos. My lovely wife is Meliza Jimenez and my daughter is Natasha Nicole. He was student of the percussion department in the "Escuela Libre de Musica" (Caguas, Puerto Rico) under the supervision of well-known percussionist Jose "Pepe" Torres. Currently, he is continuing his drumming education with Drumming Global Ambassador Dom Famularo. Mel has been playing drums since 1985. He had the opportunity to play in great bands growing up back in Puerto Rico. These bands were Orbe Azul (Latin Pop Rock; 1996-1998), Sweet Spirit (Christian R&B), Nueva Identidad (Christian Pop Rock), Orlando Pabellon Latin Jazz Quintet (Latin Jazz). He relocated with his family to CT, USA on March 2004. Currently, he resides in the Town of Salem. Mel teaches drums at The Music Bureau, Salem, CT. If you want to contact Mel for lessons or substitute work, please email mmcorcino@yahoo.com or call (860) 287-7584. About Brian Lauri (Vocals, Organ, Piano, Synth) Brian is the backbone of Hope Road and brings the “it” factor you have heard about. Recreating the music of Bob Marley requires headspace and feel and that is what Brian brings to the group. He is an accomplished pianist/organist and draws from nearly twenty years of live performance, music education and life lived to the fullest. Brian has recently had the opportunity to perform with legendary Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh and has taken every ounce of inspiration and poured it back into his music. Brian is well connected in the northeast and has performed throughout New England in hundreds of venues to literally thousands of listeners. He currently resides in Memphis, NY and runs a recording studio where he handles engineering and production. Please contact us here for rates, availability and information regarding the studio. About David Allen (Vocals, Bass) David is the veteran in this group of seasoned players. He currently resides in Richmond, RI with his wife Cathy and son Paul. He holds down the groove with masterful syncopation and arranges the sweet harmonies and melodies that make Bob’s music so special. Dave, like the rest of this group, has played in hundreds of venues across New England and has focused his energy on vocal harmony & groove. “Keep it simple, keep it moving & sing it sweet”. About Jamie Conroy (Vocals, Guitar) Jamie has been performing, writing and recording music since 1985. He currently resides in Ashaway, RI with his family. Jamie keeps the roots, rock, reggae chucking and recreates the beautiful guitar lines and textures as Bob and the Wailers did so well. There is always something about those first few guitar notes of a song that just take you there and that’s what Hope Road is all about. “You’ve got to dig to get it” but when you get it its usually magic.

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Artist Profile: Tem Blessed

Tem Blessed is an indie rap artist performing out of New Bedford, MA. There is a wide variety of music that can be found on his MySpace page, however he can also be found on Facebook, and on his official web site.

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