The LA-based indie rock band Red Ink formed in 2007 in a college town just outside of Washington D.C. Drawing on the creative prowess of singer/songwriter Barry “B†Addison, guitarist Tony Sheppard, and drummer Mike Cuffe, the band blends elements of rock, funk, soul, and R&B. Released in 2008, Red Ink’s debut recording ('The E.P.') highlights the band’s range with tracks that reflect their musical influences while still representing their individuality.
B (originally from New York) and Tony (a Virginia native) met as students at Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia. The two formed a strong friendship and stayed in touch when college took them in separate directions. While Tony returned to VA to study Music at the University of Virginia, B remained in Pennsylvania, attending Gettysburg College. When B and Mike, also from New York, met at a party at Gettysburg, Mike already had several years experience making music as a bassist with one band, drummer with another, and producer on his own time. They both planned to get involved with music professionally after school, but had no idea they would end up bandmates in D.C. just a few years later.
Tony and B reconnected when B moved to Washington D.C. in 2007. Tony was living in Northern Virginia and had spent the years since they’d seen each other last furthering his education in music. The pair immediately began writing music together and recruiting musicians to form the band Red Ink. Mike was called in from New York to help with production on the band’s initial recordings. What started out as a weekend trip down I-95 to run a marathon recording session turned into a spur-of-the-moment relocation – Mike moved to DC the following month to join the band permanently.
With this trio locked in place, Red Ink continued recording while playing shows up and down the east coast. The EP was released June 2008 and that summer the band continued gigging, primarily in DC and New York. When the weather started to turn and the northeast began preparing for another cold winter, Red Ink was preparing as well, but not for temps in the teens. The band was getting set to hit the road for their first extended tour – a cross country road trip that would take them through a dozen cities including Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin, and Vegas.
Five thousand miles later, Red Ink rolled into Los Angeles with their instruments, their dogs, and two months worth of stories and inspiration from the tour. The band currently resides in California and is playing shows in the LA area while working on recordings for their next project.
Travel Log: 06.12.09 - 9:21pm: We have recently added a new bass player and are extremely excited to introduce him into our live show and to our fans. Alex Koke, an incredible multi-instrumentalist from L.A. will be joining us for his second show on bass. Come through and party with us in Torrance on June 19th at The Crest!
