LOS ANGELES (JetSpeed Records) - JetSpeed Records/Red Galaxy Records will hold its second
Industry Showcase July 27th 2005. This time, it will be for Unsigned Bands to show us what they can do.
Here is a review by Nitram Nworb of our last Showcase held at The Key Club on The Sunset Strip.
"An industry showcase is always a hit or miss event. You know the story, invite 200 people and be eternally grateful if 50 of them show up. Usually the ones who do show up are friends of other people, just there for a free show. So, on this Wednesday night in an extremely congested Hollywood, I was skeptical. But hey, I am one of the reliable ones, so off I went.
"First, I have to say that the turn out was magnificent, someone knew what they were doing for this show. I personally saw and/or spoke to representatives from Virgin, Sony, WEA, as well as 4 or 5 smaller indies. Also writers from
Music Connection, LIVE, and All
Access (duh!) There were agents from CAA, a handful of attorneys, top-notch producers. I was impressed.
"First up was
Orange County diva,
Vanessa Zarate. This stunning performer, classically trained in opera, delivered a brief set of 4 songs. What her set lacked in time it more than made up for with emotional intensity and songwriting talent. The songs were deeply disturbing lyrically, with a sparse arrangement of keyboards and drums. Think
Portishead meeting
Norah Jones at a
Leonard Cohen reunion show! The beautiful, waif-like Zarate,
smiled as she sang about control, emotional depravity and need. The incongruity of this was impressing everyone in the room and she was doing her job for the night. It can only be a matter of time before she is snapped up and on her way to stardom.
"Next was Andy McCutcheon. Andy has been a stellar songwriter in Los Angeles for awhile. Tonight's set highlighted his desire to be a rock star. He looks the part, the band was tight and the material was catchy, poppy and infectious. The cover of the Car's Best Friend's Girl typified the musical direction that McCutcheon is taking and I was a lot of smiles in the crowd as he delivered his punchy 25 minute set. Chelsea Coy is another
Orange County girl with a voice to die for. She looked slightly uncomfortable on stage, which she shouldn't, as she has the voice and the look to succeed.
"The material featured in her set was a little weak, but the showcase was for her, not the songs, and she certainly delivered. With a rapturous reception to every song, she seemed to have the room packed with friends and family, she loosened up as the set progressed. In the pop arena, I could definitely see her progressing.
"To round out the night was Illinois band Krescent 4. Their brand of hard-edged rock and roll will always have a place on the Sunset Strip. While they may not necessarily have anything to distinguish them from the herd, they certainly have their chops down and delivered a powerful set of bombastic rock.
"All in all this was an extremely enjoyable way to spend a Wednesday night and congratulations to JetSpeed for organizing a superb show."
JetSpeed Records/Red Galaxy Records invites unsigned bands to send their demos now for a chance to be part of an award winning team. Demos need to be received no later than July 1, 2005 to be eligible for review for this upcoming showcase.
Send demos or questions to:
JetSpeed Records
1626 Wilcox Suite #605
Hollywood, CA 90028
or to
Red Galaxy Records
1626 Wilcox Suite #940
Hollywood, CA 90028
