I first heard Derek's voice while listening to Telling On Trixie, and I was instantly a fan. I had seen the video on LOGO, and couldn't help but send a fan message on MySpace. I haven't stopped since. Here is the video for Orion's Light, and incredible song he co-wrote and sang perfectly.
I look forward to whatever he has on the schedule next. For more on Derek, check out his website here.
Come on, we all do it. The sound of a plaintive guitar wails on the radio, Richie Sambora from just about any 'it's all the girls fault' songs from the 8os or 90s, when you hear the first strums from the amazing fingers of The Edge, or hear the first chords from any of those great Janet songs from Rhythm Nation, or even when you heard the songs from the first Daughtry album. You almost feel the muscles in your face tighten involuntarily, your lips and teeth part as you just out your jaw, you turn your head to the side, and it starts to keep time with the beat, bobbing back and forth. That, my friends, is the start of you making your very own ROCKFACE. Add a whole bunch of talent, good looks and a touch of humor, and you see how Derek Nicoletto and Sammi Garett make their ROCKFACE.
Or you can buy their debut EP, which starts off with the amazing Hustler With A Rescue Plan. As you can tell from the video, it is all kinds of hooky and catchy, sounding like something that should be playing on my radio in a regular rotation. The second track is You, a rock song with anthemic overtones, only pulled back by the personal nature of the song. Sammi sings the lead on this one. Track number three throws me off, in a fantastic way. Suddenly is a synth-based song, tugging memories of Yaz at their height, yet maintains a current sound and feel, more homage than reproduction. Next on the list is Lucky Lola, an interesting melange of styles, incorporating classic rock, a bit of Pop with R&B stylings, and a strong portion of alternative rock catered by the strong vocals from Sammi. Alabaster Sky is the final cut, with Derek singing an acoustic lullaby, and about halfway through, the strings kick in, offering further testament to a greater level of Pop music, lifting a strong song to greatness.
All in all, I can't tell you how much I love this EP. I knew I loved Derek's voice as a rock singer - his vocals in Telling On Trixie were amazing - and wasn't sure about him in a new project. Well, those worries were nothing more than wasted energy. He is, of course, fantastic, and the incorporation of Sammi's voice often borders on genius. While the tonality of their voices is very different, they blend so well together. So I say run, don't walk, or at least click away, and get ROCKFACE from iTunes here. Buy it now!
With less than a week from the official drop date of Rockface, the debut release from Derek & the Darling, Derek Nicoletto and Sammi Garett unveiled the video for Hustler With A Rescue Plan. The bold and striking imagery of the video were shot by Julian Rad of Works Productions in Chinatown, NYC and Port Washington, Long Island. With imaginative use of paint, paper mache, costuming and the workroom of an artist, the video stands out like few could. Sammi looks gorgeous, ready for a photoshoot, a wind-blown model with a serious guitar habit. Derek look ranges from stunningly handsome to somewhat-disturbed-on-the-brink-of-serial-killer, sometimes within frames of one another. The songs glistens with life and vitality, begging anyone listening to dance, or, more to the point, daring them not to.
Rockface is released on April 27th, and I will be back with a review. I can already tell you I am enjoying all the tracks, and it will be a must-have collection for your summer listening. You can check out more about Derek & the Darling at their official website here.
I just got a press release about the upcoming release from Derek & the Darling, the exciting new group featuring the always exciting Derek Nicoletto and the beautiful Sammi Garett. I became a fan of Derek when he was with Telling On Trixie, the rock band with strength, heart and smarts. Derek's soaring vocals on Orion's Light and Halfway Back To Sane drew me in, and the musicianship of the boys kept me happy. But those days are now over, and Derek has teamed up with Sammi to bring new thrills.
"It's a gritty electric popsicle," says Derek Nicoletto, one half of the New York City-based Derek and the Darling, describing his band's sound. "It's electric/indie/pop/rock," smirks Sammi Garett, the other half. "That’s a mouthful. Huh?" Hoping that this gritty electric popsicle generates a lot of mouthfuls, the duo (which is rounded out to a fourpiece live) is gearing up for the debut of their EP Rockface on April 27, 2010 via 7 Trick Pony Records. In celebration of its release, they have also set a party in NYC on Thursday, May 6th at Bowery Electric (327 Bowery, NYC) at 9:00pm.
No strangers to the stage, both Derek and Sammi decided to start the band not in the typical locations like at a concert or through Craigslist or even during a drunken night in a basement. They met while performing comedy at the acclaimed Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB), the improvisation school founded by a troupe of comedians including SNL and Comedy Central alumni Amy Poehler and Matt Besser. Noticing that not only did their chemistry click, but their voices as well, they uncovered a musical need that they both had unfulfilled. "The timing was right," explains Derek. "I had just ended my former band Telling on Trixie and looking to start fresh. Sammi had just graduated from Berklee College of Music and wanted a fresh start too. After some musically-inspired scene work at UCB, we realized we both were in the market to start a new band. It was incredibly organic." Adds Sammi, "The stars aligned, Derek and I met, and I found my musical soul mate."
Produced by Jamie Siegel (Taking Back Sunday, Kid Cudi, The Roots), DATD combines big melodic hooks with driving rock rhythms and electronic beats on Rockface. From the big anthemic kickoff of Hustler with a Rescue Plan to the propulsive midtempo rhythm of Suddenly to the sweet ballad Alabaster Sky, the EP displays the different facets of the band without losing any of its cohesion. "Each song exudes unique qualities," comments Sammi. "They have a different vibe, a different feel, each telling a different story. But all of the songs have a common thread that weaves them together." Adds Derek, "It's nonstop comedy when we're not actually recording or in the midst of creating a song. Sammi and I were so goofy and during our sessions that our producer Jamie texted me after getting home one night, saying he was going to go on a 'Xanax drip'." Adding some extra oomph, Taking Back Sunday bassist Matt Rubano makes a cameo on the propulsive track You. Continues Derek, "We really wanted a driving bass line and invited Matt to add his touch. As expected, his playing really made the song kick." Rockface will be released on April 27, 2010 on 7 Trick Pony Records and Derek and the Darling are planning late Spring and Summer tour dates. "I've placed a lot of stock in Sammi," says Derek, looking toward the future. "I hope she doesn't end up some crack-addicted rock whore... unless that helps the band succeed, of course."
You can check them out on MySpace here, and listen to Hustler With A Rescue Plan, the first single. You can also find them on FaceBook here, and Twitter here.
Aiden James, Christopher Dallman, Eric Himan, Eric & the Adams, Garrin Benfield, and Tom Goss have started putting Spring tours together, so I thought I would give everyone heads up on them. Also, Derek & the Darling have schedule the CD Release Party, so they are here, too. While the schedules below are screencaps, you can click on the names above them to be taken to the interactive schedules. I will try to update as changes occur, but you should check the artist or venue schedule to be sure. I know sometimes these schedules will overlap - Aiden & Christopher will have some shows together, and there might be more. If you get a chance, I would highly recommend seeing any of these talents! I know I will, any chance I get.
Derek Nicoletto and Sammi Garett have come together to form Derek & the Darling, a new musical force to be reckoned with. They have their first single available on iTunes, and you can buy it here. The song is on the video below, but the 'real' music video is in the works. The words and music are by Derek
You can also check them out on their Myspace page here. It is so exciting to see new music grow!
How better to celebrate a Sunday afternoon than to talk about random acts of kindness. It seems Western Union has sponsored a Random Act of Kindness Tour, and it includes giving away $50 gift certificates. Check out their FaceBook page here.
Derek and the Darling frontman thanks Western Union, Wyclef Jean and director Julian Rad for the $50 gift card. Music: "Alabaster Sky" from the upcoming Derek and the Darling debut release here.
How exciting! The very first song and video from the new group Derek and the Darling! Derek is Derek Nicoletto, lead singer of one of my favorite former bands, Telling On Trixie, and Darling is Sammi Garrett. According to the biography on their MySpace page:
Derek Nicoletto 's new, not-so semi-solo project. The former lead singer of Telling on Trixie was gonna start a solo project after the band's fizzle. In the interim, he began the improv program at Upright Citizens Brigade to sharpen the skills he learned a few years ago at Second City in Chicago. There, he met his new partner in crime, vocalist and guitarist Sammi Garett , a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, and overall hottie. Although they both remain in the Upright Citizens Brigade program, they formed a rock band rather than an improv troupe because it's way less nerdy.
Derek and the Darling are now in the studio with platinum-selling producer Jamie Siegel (Lauryn Hill, Taking Back Sunday, Joss Stone, Whitney Houston) , for a 2010 release.
So, the first song they are working on together has leaked out, and here is Hustler With A Rescue Plan. A Dance/Rock/Pop tune, with Derek's clear and clean vocals on the lead, it had me immediately doing some dance moves in my chair! I can't wait for more from them!
So, get on the mailing list for Derek and the Darling, and you can get this first single free! To sign up, click here. You can check out their MySpace page here, and their Twitter page here.
