Pete Donnelly Residency featuring Pawnshop Roses, Gift Horse (Scott Silipigni)

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Pete Donnelly Residency featuring Pawnshop Roses, Gift Horse (Scott Silipigni)
Event on 2012-02-08 21:00:00

Pete Donnelly

December 2011 saw the release of When You Come Home, the debut solo CD from Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey based musician, producer and songwriter Pete Donnelly. Donnelly, who recently became a member of the legendary band NRBQ, writing and performing on the band's well-received 2011 release Keep This Love Goin' (Clang), is also a founding member of the tried and true power-pop band The Figgs, which has a world-wide fan base, a hearty discography, and has toured and recorded several times with Graham Parker. An active member of The Figgs, founded in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., since the rock outfit's inception in 1987 (the band will be dropping a new double-disc set in 2012, the band's 11th album), Donnelly has spent the better part of the past 20-plus years touring with the band, as well as a number of other artists such as Soul Asylum, Mike Viola & The Candy Butchers, Tommy Stinson (The Replacements, GNR), Graham Parker, and in recent years, NRBQ. Living in the Philadelphia area for the past decade, when not on the road, Pete Donnelly has been writing, recording, engineering and/or producing for a variety of artists, including John Legend (bass on 2008's Evolver) and Sub Pop act Death Vessel. He has done the same for a plethora of Philadelphia-based artists – such as G. Love & Special Sauce, Carsie Blanton, The Capitol Years, Amos Lee, and Ben Arnold, to name a few. The critics have already regarded When You Come Home as a killer album, with famed WFMU DJ Bob Brainen including it (along with the latest NRBQ record) among his album picks for 2011 and Premier Radio's Steve Reynolds including it in his Top 20 albums for 2011. Meanwhile the Internet "radio show" Bubbles in the Think Tank also included When You Come Home in its list of favorite albums of the 2011, stating: "….dig the vibe that Pete puts down throughout this disc. It's got the Philly sound on top of the one that is Pete's very own." When You Come Home is a watershed record in Pete Donnelly's prolific music career. The 14 tracks were recorded over a period of two years in a different cities and studios, and with an assortment of top-notch players – including Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), Britta Phillips (Luna, Dean and Britta), Fred Berman (Amos Lee), Jonn Savannah (Van Morrison, Squeeze) and Mike Gent (the Figgs, The Gentlemen) Built upon catchy and sturdy melodies, and played with a genuine sense of care, Donnelly's new songs are testaments to his artistry, each inspired in part by all of the musicians he's had an opportunity to work with.

Pawnshop Roses

Pawnshop Roses are Paul Keen, Kevin Bentley, Justin Monteleone, Mike Walsh and Zil. Their sound is comprised of well crafted songs in the singer/songwriter vein, laced with Saturday night guitars and swagger, played by guys with nothing to lose and everything to prove. In 2004 the band released its first EP "Dead Man's Radio" taken from a line in Keen's song "Here We Go," and sold out its first few pressings rather quickly due to a solid following and grass roots marketing. In 2005 they were selected out of hundreds of bands by legendary Philly radio station WMMR to open for Velvet Revolver and Hoobastank. WMMR (heard in PA, NJ and DE) has graciously helped the band by frequently playing their song "Fading Out" having them perform on-air and promoting their shows. In 2006 the band won the YouTube Underground Video contest for Best Live Video for their video of "Gets so Hard". TV appearances: As a result of winning the You Tube award, the band appeared on ABC's Good Morning America. They have also played live on the local NBC and CBS morning shows. Their song "All the Way Down" was recently featured on MTV's the Real World XX. Live accomplishments Opened for: Velvet Revolver, Hoobastank, Robert Randolph and Molly Hatchet. This summer they played with Radio Head, Jack Johnson and slew of others at the All Points West festival. Print interviews: Interviews with Time Magazine, Relix magazine, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. On the radio: Cuts from Let It Roll and Versions have been played on radio stations across America. Special live on-air performance on 104.5 fm Philadelphia Record label: Signed to Earvolution Records, a small indie label that shares the same ideas and visions as the band. The first full length record on Earvolution, "Let it Roll" was produced by Pete Donnelly of the Figgs (Amos Lee/G-Love/Graham Parker) at Milkboy Recording (Gomez/Townhall) with a couple song co-arrangements by noted alt-country artist Tom Gillam. Pete Donnelly adds some vocal, guitar and bass backing on a few tracks while Jonn Savannah (Van Morrison, Joe Cocker, Squeeze) sits in for piano on "Here We Go" and "Planning Out Your Heart." The band recently recorded at the legendary Sun Recording Studios in Memphis. New EP "Versions" and the album "Let It Roll are currently available online at all major digital music stores (Itunes, Rhapsody, etc.) Let it Roll Reviews: "On other standouts like opening track "Here We Go", the band proves it can keep time with contemporaries like Ryan Adams and Jesse Malin." Pop Matters "The rock 'n roll of the enthusiastic and non-cynical…Let It Roll may be the record that 'brings the biggest smile to your face' this year." Americana UK Their latest release "Versions" also sees the return of Pete Donnelly at the producer helm for two tracks. "Second Hand Love" exemplifies the Versions theme by appearing twice, once as a retro soul throwback and the other pure Americana. Both get some outside help from members of Robert Randolph's Family Band. Lenesha Randolph lends backing vocals to the soul version and Jason Crosby adds some piano and fiddle to the Americana track. Versions also includes three songs recorded live at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and a raucous live version of "Statesboro Blues." Highlights: • Over 225,000 YouTube video views of "Gets So Hard" • Let It Roll hit #21 on the HomeGrown Radio charts, passing such established touring acts as moe and Umphreys McGee. • "All The Way Down" featured on MTV's "The Real World" Read more: http://www.myspace.com/pawnshoproses#ixzz14XRo3xIz

Gift Horse (Scott Silipigni)
Scott Silipigni has been a roots rock fixture in the Philly music scene for some time now. Having left the corporate world around 2005 Scott began playing and writing his own music, and hasn't looked back since. Scott has toured Germany as a support act for Joseph Parsons, and has shared the stage with the like of Justin Townes Earle, and American Idol Southern Rocker Bo Bice. He has been compared to Tom Petty, Neil Young and Jeff Tweedy, delivering that tattered heartfelt vocal surrounded by a simple "tap your foot" melody. Having released two full length albums (Simple View 2003) and (Carriage House Chronicles 2007) Scott had completed a third studio album, when the band decided to take a hiatus. Scott say's "I'm hoping that material will be heard someday because I'm really proud of the record the band and I made, the timing just hasn't been right." Although Scott has a record under his belt that remains to be heard, he continues to make new music for a project he calls Gifthorse, slated for a spring 2012 release. The Gifthorse project is being produced by one of Scott's longtime musical influence's Pete Donnelly (The Figgs, NRBQ, Tommy Stinson) Scott say's "I'm really excited about this record with Pete, it's very different than anything I have done before. Just a bunch of guys in a room playing songs. I think it's the most true representation of how I sound to date" Scott will be playing a bunch in 2012 to support the Gifthorse project. His first gig with band will be on Wed. February 8th, 8:00 pm at Milkboy (1100 Chestnut St., Phila, PA) supporting Pete Donnelly and Pawnshop Roses.

at Milkboy Philly
1100 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, United States