Kara Suzanne

Were there any doubt as to whether Rock & Roll and Country music was still promisingly alive, Kara Suzanne is wailing, kicking proof of its everlasting relevance. Her lyrics and vocal delivery bare the influence of songwriters such as Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, and Dolly Parton, and hearken even further back into the well of the folk tradition. Yet, with an innate, almost predestined sense, she manages to do it with an undeniably classic but updated sensibility. Of Kara Suzanne and the brawny, ever-formidable Gojo Hearts, people have been taking notice for some time. Band members include guitarist/songwriter/singer Steve Lewis, pianist/composer Dave Cieri, bassist Jordan Scannella, and percussionists Bill Mead and J.Frederick. Aside from garnering increasing popularity from their shows at the Sundance, Nantucket, and Hampton Film Festivals, and in esteemed New York venues (Irving Plaza, Gramercy Blender Theater, The Living Room, Southpaw, and Luna Lounge), Kara's debut album "Aumsville" recently won Best Album of the Year Vox Populi from the Independent Music Awards. This band, simply put, is a veracious force.
- Craig Levinski