January  Indie Artist of the Month:

Dan Reed Biography
Dan Reed was born in Portland, Oregon, but in early childhood moved to South Dakota after his mother remarried the owner of a cattle ranch. Growing up on 2000 acre's of land as an only child gave Dan plenty of time to daydream and it was here, riding tractor in the summer sun that Dan first fantasized about becoming a musician while listening to the Doobie Brothers, Kiss, Cheap Trick and Van Halen blaring on the tractor cabs' AM radio. All through his high school years he played trumpet in the school band, while studying Shoto-Kan Karate, and participating in every sport he could get his hands and feet in to, but it wasn't until a Japanese exchange student named Tsutomu Oki taught him how to play guitar that Dan realized that this was what he was searching for... the world of writing songs. After graduating from Aberdeen, South Dakota's Central High School, he packed his bags and headed west to Portland, Oregon, his place of birth and the closest 'big city' he could find near the ocean, a place he held in his childhood memory and missed dearly living in the Midwest. The Dan Reed Network Although there were many incarnations of bands Dan performed with in South Dakota and in Portland it was in December of 1985 where he truly first began his musical journey as the lead singer of a band called “The Dan Reed Network”. Garnering huge local support the band signed to PolyGram Records in the summer of 1987. Home of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Tears For Fears. The Dan Reed Network released three very successful albums to much critical and commercial success between 1988 and 1992. The band had the honor of 'seeing the world', opening for such bands as RUN DMC, UB40, David Bowie and Bon Jovi, eventually becoming the supporting act for the Rolling Stones’ 1991 European tour. It was at this time Dan journeyed to India with Bob Guccione Jr. to interview the Dalai Lama for Spin Magazine. It was during this trip that Dan began to hunger for more than the pop/rock music scene had to offer. This was the catalyst for the long journey that Dan has taken, bringing him back in 2008 where he belongs, writing and performing new music with experiences wth the “rock star image” behind him. In the 1990’s he started an independent record company in his hometown of Portland, Oregon to help promote local Northwest bands, while at the same time studying acting. Dan was cast in a number of plays and small role's in television and film projects, and was given great reviews for his performances, which gave him confidence to take it to the next logical step- screenplay writing. 'Zigzag', a script penned by Dan, caught the eye of a local production company in Portland and was produced in 1997 with Mr. Reed playing the leading role. The film reached the Top 20 in Billboard's home video rental category. OHM Nightclub IIn 1999 Dan became a partner in an established blue's and rock music nightclub in Portland called Key Largo, the same club DRN played regularly and where Bill Graham first discovered the band. Realizing that the electronic music scene was primarily to date confined to warehouses, special events and outdoor parties, he saw an opportunity to turn Key Largo into a 'hybrid club', having live bands from 9pm to midnight and then switching gears from midnight to 4am with local and international DJ's. Renamed 'OHM Nightclub", the venue became the premier spot to check out cutting edge music, while at the same time introducing the future of music to the rock audience. After attending the Burning Man festival in late 2004 Dan realized that being pinned down in the nightclub world had it's dangerous side, for not only did he help create a great success with OHM, but he also succumbed to the darker side of the nightclub business fueled by alcohol and drugs. He realized his talent and his energy were being drained from the constant parties, substance abuse and endless late nights. With his father Thomas Reed being diagnosed with cancer and passing away shortly thereafter, Dan rallied his energy and left the Nightclub, did construction work for a year to clear his head, then headed back to India. Ironically the same place that gave him the courage to leave the music business 15 years before, was soon to become the inspiration to return to the music. Immediately upon arriving in Dharamsala, India in 2005 Dan sought out the Tibetan monks, feeling a need to connect with their philosophy and lifestyle. After befriending two monks Lobsang and Sonam, Dan was invited to live in a monastery guesthouse and with that came the ability to attend the daily prayer meetings and rituals. India During a year long journey in India, Dan had met many Israeli musicians and artists vacationing throughout the country and became fascinated with the stories of Israeli life, the hope and the tragedies, and after meeting a fashion designer turned energy healer named Adi Hadani, he decided he would venture to the Middle East to see what he could learn about the beauty and the conflict of this most interesting and enigmatic part of the world. Upon visiting Kfir Shtivi in Jerusalem, an Israeli musician he met in Varanasi, India, Dan made the decision to re-locate his recording studio and his life from Portland to the ancient city of Jerusalem in 2006. It was here that he found the renewed spirit to channel his energies to his first love. MUSIC. Coming Up For Air IIt was at this time Max Wasa, an old friend, musical producer and creator of LIQUID MUSIC GROUP, offered to take Mr. Reed out of the home studio and bring his music back in to the light of the public. Max enlisted her long time associate Clay Ostwald of Miami Sound Machine and with his partner Tommy Anthony of RED ROCK PRODUCTIONS, they collaborated with Max and co-produced the tracks Dan had begun tracking back in Jerusalem, working with Israeli and Palestinian musicians alike. This process was the beginning foundation of how half of the new album was created. The second stage was 'coming back home' to Portland and working with producer/artist Rob Daiker at 'The Commune' studios which culminated in producing 6 more tracks and creating the finished product- 'Coming Up For Air'. Zero One Dan now lives in Paris, where he has created the new label 'ZERO ONE' where his debut solo album will be released, as well as many other artist will be represented. With 'Coming Up For Air' Dan presents a group of songs that mirror his life journey and the search for that elusive deeper resonance we all hunger for at some point in our lives. With songs composed from Hong Kong to New Delhi, Jerusalem to London, he has come full circle to do what he has always done best- create and to perform to all who will listen.
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Band of  the month for January

BARNABY BYE

In case you're asking yourself who the @#%&*^% is Barnaby Bye and you really want to know, here's the low down dirty truth about a band who recorded two LP's back in the 70's that captured hearts and inspired fans around the world, but let's start at the beginning.      Billy and Bobby Alessi aka the Alessi Brothers, but not officially yet although they are identical twins, were enjoying singing, dancing and doing a lot of jumping around at the Biltmore Theater in the Broadway cast of "Hair" in 1970.  On of the cast members introduced them to Peppy Castro. "I'll never forget that day, Bobby" recalls, "he was wearing dungeree overalls and was so full of energy."  The cast of Hair was made up of mostly Broadway singers and dancers and partly of non Broadway types like us.  After the show closed most of the other cast members went on to  shows like "42nd Street", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Chorus Line", Cats etc.   Peppy, Billy and Bobby went on to form "Barnaby Bye", but it wasn't "Barnaby Bye" yet.      Bobby was restoring 2 classic cars, a 1949 and 1951 Mercedes 170vs at the time "Hair" closed (Summer of 1972).  Parts were hard to come by and his search led him to the fact that the only way to get them was to go to Germany.      Peppy was going to Germany to spend a little time with Mary Kelly, his former wife(who were very close and still are today). With the flight only three days away they needed to do some creative pulling rabbits out of hats which involved some lies, a doctors note a pair of crutches and a neck brace.  They managed to get Bobby  a passport and a ticket on the same flight as Peppy to Munich and they all planned to meet on the plane.  But Peppy missed the flight.     Bobby was on his way to Germany with no idea whether or not Mary even knew he was invited.  All he knew was that she was a beautiful fashion model and that her name was Mary.  After waiting for several flights from New York, hoping that Peppy would show, Bobby noticed a girl that had been hanging around the same arrival gate and decided to take a chance and approach her.  Mary didn't know that he was coming with Peppy, but insisted he stat with her in her penthouse on Leoapold Strasser, a very upscale part of Munich.  When they got to her car (it was a Classic Mercedes 170-V1 Bobby was playing  his guitar and Mary started writing lyrics to what would become the first  song for "Barnaby Bye", "Laneya".  Mary ia a very gifted writer and wrote "Jessie Girl" with Peppy and also wrote the Poem which can be found on the back of the groups "Touch" LP.  This poem refers to "Barnaby Bye" which is where the groups name came from.      Peppy Finally showed up the next day, and later their friend Jonathan Stewart, who later became Barnaby Bye's manager.  Peppy, Jonathan and Bobby would take their guitars to the sidewalk cafe's and do some sidewalk entertaining.  A club  agent asked if they would be interested in playing at a club. They were. When they were asked what the groups name was , they used the name from the poem "Barnaby Bye"      Meanwhile back in the States Billy had written a great song "Carrie" that the the group recorded at the Warehouse Recording Studio in New York.  The magic was there.      Jonathan arranged for a performance at a small club on the upper east side called "Home".  The band was acoustic at the time  and a talent scout for Atlantic Records was very impressed and suggested that the band do a showcase so she could bring a record executive to see them perform      Peppy had a friend of a friend that was Bubby Rich's protégé, Jack Scarangelia, he became the groups drummer and performed at "Kenny's Cataway" where the real history of the band began.      Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, showed up along with many other record giants including Clive Davis.  After the show Ahmet came into the dressing room and said "take a ride to my house, I want to talk to you guys".  The band agreed but insisted that he ride with them in Jonathan's 1950 Dodge.  They all climbed in and went to Ahmet's town house with his limo and body guards following close behind.  While at his house he explained that the boys would undoubtedly get plenty of offers, but no one in the business had the knowledge and the experience that he had.  The group signed with Atlantic.      Although Jack Scarangelia, was an excellent drummer the group decided that they should look for a more rock oriented drummer.  Mike Riclardella was the drummer for the famous Long Island band "The Illusion"  who had many hit records and had influenced  many musicians including Billy and Bobby .  The band asked Mike if he would be interested and since "The Illusion" was heading in a more jazz oriented direction and he liked Barnaby Bye's songs with their warm harmonies  and Peppy's infectious guitar riffs, he answered without any hesitation...."I'm in"      They recorded their first album "Room To Grow" at Atlantic Recording Studios on West 60th Street.  They shared the studio with Bette Midler, Hall an Oats and Donny Hathaway, just to name a few.  The first album took 14 months and  700 cheese burgers to record.  The second LP "Touch" was recorded in Toronto with Jack Richardson producing .  The third is called "Thrice Upon A Time" and can be purchased below or on Amazon.com.      After all these years the group is still performing and selling out concerts around the world and the rest is still to be written.

Barnaby Bye Website	Alessi Website	VIDEOS