Dena Tauriello - ProfilesArchive

About Me

New Jersey native Dena Tauriello began drumming at a very early age. She fell in love with the music of the Carpenters and the notion of becoming a drummer after seeing a concert and meeting Karen Carpenter backstage. Dena spent some time banging on pots and pans before parental harassment took hold - she began private lessons at age eight.Dena studied privately until she was 16. She also joined several 'garage' bands, the first of which when she was 13. She played her first paying gig within the year and was hooked. Dena also played in school bands, orchestras and area select bands from grammar school into high school. It was during this time that she cultivated her taste for rock & roll, collecting hundreds of records and playing along to the classics.Music was put on hold while Dena attended Penn State University, earning a B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies. Upon returning home to New Jersey, she worked her way back into music, performing with local theatre productions, cover bands and original projects. While earning her post-graduate degree from Seton Hall University (M.A. Education/Counseling Psychology), she worked consistently throughout New Jersey and Manhattan, doing both live shows and studio work. This experience proved invaluable in 1998 when she received a call to audition for New York City-based female rockers Antigone Rising.The band consistently toured for several years, racking up 260 show per year. They were signed by Lava/Atlantic and released "From the Ground Up" in conjunction with Starbucks' Hear Music Debut series. It has sold well over 250,000 copies. Other opportunities included a VH1 special, appearances on the Today Show, Tonight Show, Emeril Live and A&E's Breakfast With the Arts, as well as opening slots for the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Allman Brothers, Rob Thomas and Joan Jett.Some of Dena's other recent projects include sessions with Lisa Loeb and Robert Randolph, live appearances with local acts, African hand drumming school workshops (NJ After 3) and wellness workshops (Greystone Psychiatric Hospital, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center).While continuing her own private studies, Dena is a certified drum therapist with the DAD program (Drums and Disabilities), a freelance writer for Modern Drummer magazine, clinician and private teacher.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/13/2006
Band Website: www.antigonerising.com
Band Members:

Antigone Four is
Dena Tauriello - Drums
Jen Zielenbach - Bass Guitar
Cathy Henderson - Lead Guitar/Vocals
Kristen Henderson - Rhythm Guitar/Vocals

Influences: The Carpenters. yes, I said the Carpenters. The Beatles (my boys), the Pretenders, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Concrete Blonde; in a nut shell, classic rock, cheesey, 1-hit wonder 70's & 80's tunes & a smattering of other random stuff. I could go on for days, but I'll spare you all...Drummers who influenced me: Karen Carpenter, Ringo, Steve Smith, Jeff Porcaro, Ronnie Tutt, Martin Chambers, Hal Blaine, Liberty DeVitto, Simon Phillips, Stan Lynch, Bun E. Carlos, Myron Grombacher, Danny Seraphine, Stewart Copeland.Drummers who continue to inspire me: Billy Ward, Shawn Pelton, Chad Smith, Josh Freese, Steve Gadd, Thomas Lang, Charlie Mills, Karl Latham, Joe Bergamini, Karen Teperberg.
Record Label: none at this time

My Blog

Antigone Rising featuring Shannon McNally 5/2/09 - Sullivan Hall, NYC

Just a quick note to let you all know that Antigone Rising, featuring the amazing voice of Shannon McNally, will hit the stage tomorrow night at 8pm. For more information and tickets, go to:AR info...
Posted by on Fri, 01 May 2009 13:40:00 GMT

this friday @ Mexicali Blues

This friday, March 20, I'll be doing a show with Sam Sherwin at Mexicali Blues in Teaneck, NJ. Show time is 8pm. Jane Getter Band (with Anton Fig on the drums!) to follow. For more info:Mexical...
Posted by on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:17:00 GMT

It was 26 years ago today.....

February 4, 1983 marks one of my saddest days; the day I lost my idol & inspiration. Still hard to believe, even after all these years. My Dad & I came in from a basketball game and were about to sit...
Posted by on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:56:00 GMT

The Early Years

When I was in 7th grade, I had an awesome English teacher by the name of John Soriano. We did all the boring, standard grammar stuff, but we also ventured into much cooler territories. He thought, as...
Posted by on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:01:00 GMT

Antigone Four with joan jett & the blackhearts this friday!

Just got word that we will be opening for Joan Jett this friday at the Morristown Community Theatre (NJ). We hit at 8pm SHARP .... and then, I will be bolting up to Pearl River, NY to make my Pump Ci...
Posted by on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:01:00 GMT

Lucid Culture review - Cutting Room 10/8/08

Southpaw guitarist Sam Sherwin and his all-girl band were a fixture of the Lower East Side scene back in the 90s; after that, he did a stint as the lead player in brilliant New York noir rockers DollH...
Posted by on Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:11:00 GMT

upcoming shows

hello again!I've got some shows coming up next week, for those of you looking for something to do....Wednesday, October 8 - 8:30 pm at the Cutting Room, NYC (W. 24th Street) with the Sam Sherwin Band...
Posted by on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:26:00 GMT

10.11.08 Troy, NY Rev Hall Antigone Four w/ The Hamiltons!

Be sure to get your tickets in advance for Antigone Four's first Capital region appearance as A4! It will likely be Antigone Four's final performance this year as the band is planning to head into the...
Posted by on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:11:00 GMT

more things to keep me busy .....

I have posted more dates to my page, as I will begin working with another cover band Oct. 2, called Pump City. It's an all-rock format (yay!) & the guys are cool (and talented!) .... Dennis, Maz & Jo...
Posted by on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:17:00 GMT

Sam Sherwin - upcoming shows!

I know I've mentioned him in prior blogs, but I'm excited to be doing some shows with my former band mate, Sam Sherwin. We go back quite a ways .... Sam's band, back in the day, was my first entree b...
Posted by on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:02:00 GMT