"Nikki's songwriting is a breath of fresh air. She breaks the mold
without moving outside the boundaries of popular music. Her songs are
infectious and satisfying and her solos are tasty and melodic. I always
feel better after hearing her play."
- Ron Manus, Executive Vice President, Alfred Publishing
"Nikki O'Neill is like listening to Chrissie Hynde singing to John Lennon in Otis
Redding's kitchen. She takes everything she's learned about life, puts it in a blender and pours out a glass of soul!"
- Will Ray (The Hellecasters, Solomon Burke, Steve Earle)
Get the single that Will Ray reviewed here!
NIKKI O'NEILL BAND BIO
Nikki O'Neill is a singer, lead guitar player and songwriter in LA. Her band appeals to fans of Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Susan Tedeschi, George Harrison, and Blues, R&B and Americana fans worldwide.
What sets her apart is her prominent lead guitar playing, soul shouter vocals, and a band sound that blends retro Memphis soul with classic British rock. They're like a more soul-flavored version of The Black Crowes and Gov't Mule. One fan also decribed Nikki as "Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart all in one person with the voice and guitar chops."
Her band includes drummer Rich Lackowski , bass player Joshua "Cartier" Cutsinger , and Hammond-player Harold Branch.
"Starting Over", "It's Simple (But It's Not Easy)", and "Some Day", feature Nikki on vocals and all guitars. The production and arranging was also handled by her in collaboration with Dapo Torimiro -keyboardist with Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder.
Through 2008, they're playing festivals, fairs and club shows, as well as more intimate acoustic shows.
NEWS! Nikki was recently interviewed for Sue Foley's book "Guitar Woman," which includes an impressive who's-who list of great female guitar players of every genre such as Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Wilson, Deborah Coleman, and more.
Info: www.guitarwoman.com
NIKKI O'NEILL BAND ACCOLADES:
2008 - Winter-NAMM live performance
2008 - feature in the book "Guitar Woman" by Sue Foley
2007 - song placement on NBC The Today Show for "Starting Over"
2007 - live performances on NBC The Today Show, KTLA, KUSI Good Morning San Diego
2007 - endorsement with Seymour Duncan pickups
2007 - endorsement with Kustom Amplifiers
2006 - endorsement with Daisy Rock Guitars
2005 - endorsement with G&L Guitars (no longer active)
FESTIVALS:
2008 International Pop Overthrow Festival
2008 Wheeling 4th of July Freedom Fest
Chicago, IL
2008 Make Music Pasadena Festival, CA
2008 Los Angeles Marathon
ADDITIONAL FACTS ABOUT THE BAND:
Nikki moved to LA from NYC, but grew up in Sweden and Poland. She's featured in Sue Foley's upcoming book "Guitar Women"; is the founder of Women's School of Rock; taught the only university-level guitar class in the U.S. on women's contemporary rock guitar at The New School in NYC, and she's been a guest clinician at an all-female rock college in Sweden. She auditioned as the lead guitarist for Courtney Love's band in 2003. Courtney loved her playing and writing, but the suggested Goth/New Wave image change didn't work for Nikki.
Rich is from Chicago. He's the author of smash hit drum instruction book "On The Beaten Path," which won the 2008 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll Award for best drum book. He also won the 2008 Drummy Reader's Poll Award for best drum book.
Josh is also from Chicago. He is a Grammy-nominated producer and engineer, and his long client list includes Rachael Yamagata, members of The Smashing Pumpkins, and many other major label artists.
Harold is from the Boston area. He believes nothing can substitute the real Hammond and Leslie sound, so they follow him wherever he goes in his big van... He's a huge fan of gospel music and the band Gov't Mule.
Some Day - live 05/03/08
..
ALBUM INFO:
Get our single tracks "Starting Over" and more here:
Produced and Arranged by Dapo Torimiro and Nikki O'Neill at Dapomiro Productions in Studio City, CA
Mixed & Recorded by Carmen Grillo at Big Surprise Studios, Encino, CA
Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering , Hollywood, CA
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