Mecca

Mecca is signed to Frontiers Records Europe. Some of Mecca's label mates are Toto, Survivor, Journey and Styx to name a few. Started in 2002 by Joe Vana the group garnered more than one can mention in the way of magazine covers and enormous critical acclaim abroad since 2002. Mecca's self titled first release received scores of 96/100 or above on almost 60 separate websites and was the album of the year on many more for 2002. Melodicrock.com, the industry's top website gave Mecca a 100/100 and only 7 other albums in their history have achieved that status. The first album had the rhythm section from Hell with Drummer Shannon Forrest (Toby Keith, Brooks and Dunn, Faith Hill & many many others) and Multiple Grammy Award Winning Bass Legend David Hungate (Cher, Boz Scaggs, Chet Atkins, Brooks and Dunn, and many more) to drive the band. Jimmy Nichols (Reba & Faith Hill's musical director) played all keys and piano...as well as helped arrange some parts of certain songs...although uncredited. His patented sound and smoothness helped immensely in creating Mecca's "sound". For the second album Mecca wanted to switch gears a bit...ok, alot. "I wanted a definite Peter Gabriel meets Mecca vibe....so, a more percussive feel to the drums were needed". Joe knew only one guy could pull off what the new material that Joe and his co-writer wrote called for....So along with Hungate and Nichols we have the amazing Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and former Mr. Mister drumming madman. "I was honored when Pat said after listening to the demos he would do it. I used to spend countless hours listening to his percussive prowess, now I was going to be working with him creating musical landscapes together...pretty mind blowing. Bobby Kimball the Amazing Lead singer of Toto has signed on as the other bookend to compliment Joe Vana's smooth vocal tone and finesse. It will definitely result in quite a few legendary vocal performances!!! Joe is honored to have his close friend at his side during the recording of this album. Rounding out the line up is Christian Wolff, Dave Uhrich and Valkir. Christian is an amazing songwriter and guitar player. Dave Uhrich is widely recognized worldwide as one of the fastest guitar platers in the world....Classic Rock magazine just posted their list of 100 greatest guitar players ever, and Dave was 31....Jimi Hendrix was of course 1. Valkir has been an amazing addition to the Mecca family as well. He has re-arranged the tunes on Mecca 2 with Joe, and really reshaped what this album is to become.Mecca is currently in the studio preparing for their second album to be released worldwide the third quater of 2007, again through Frontiers Records Europe.