MONIQUE ORTIZ PERFORMING "SUN BURNS OUT" AT TOAD (with Steve Breman and R.L. Hulsman)
Former Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley collaborates with Bourbon Princess’ front woman / bassist Monique Ortiz and Larry Dersch of Binary System on A.K.A.C.O.D’s debut record, Happiness. Creating a darkly psychedelic sound that is sensual, cinematic and otherworldly, Colley & Co pay homage to the “low rock” sound created by his former band while pushing musical boundaries and forging new ground.
Fusing Colley’s unique electric guitar influenced baritone saxophone playing with experimental percussion and an unforgiving voice that compares to such greats as Jim Morrison, Nico and Patti Smith, A.K.A.C.O.D, have been packing rooms and garnering rave reviews in their native Boston for their mesmerizing live shows.
"Local vets Dana Colley, Monique Ortiz, and Larry Dersch (also known as Colley/Ortiz/Dersch — get it?) make for a low-rock supergroup if there ever was one. Hearing former Morphine saxophonist Colley’s beefy bari lines with Ortiz’s glassy, heavy-groove bass and low-register croon prompts comparisons with Colley’s old band. But more important is the songwriting on the trio’s 2007 debut, Happiness, particularly Ortiz’s distinctively dense lyrics and snaky melodies. Haunting stuff." -Will Spitz, Boston Phoenix (from Will's Top Ten Boston Bands Of The Year)
“Her smoky, velvet voice entwines naturally with Colley's legendary saxophone. Ortiz and the band grooved through a low, driving set of rolling deep bass, a ghostly Morphine-like essence inevitably discussed by those who were there to see.” -Boston Noise
"The comparisons of A.K.A.C.O.D with Morphine are obvious: the "low rock" groove of sax, slide bass, and drums, the presence of Morphine saxman Dana Colley as player, producer, and songwriter. But that would discount singer/bassist Monique Ortiz's own distinctive songwriting chops, macho-woman deep alto vocals, and frank sexuality. With Larry Dersch on drums, A.K.A.C.O.D. ("also known as Colley/Ortiz/Dersch") are working their new Happiness, which mixes Morphine sexbeat and Sabbathy distorted stomps."-Boston Phoenix
Ortiz met Colley in May of 1996 at the Trocadero in Philadelphia, when he was touring with Morphine. After a brief but fateful conversation with front man Mark Sandman, she decided to pack her bags and move to
Morphine's home base of Cambridge, MA, in search of a better creative environment. Within a few months of moving to Cambridge she began
performing solo, and within a year she formed Bourbon Princess. In 2003 Dana agreed to record, co-produce, and perform on the second Bourbon Princess LP Black Feather Wings.
Monique and Dana knew Larry through the "Morphine circle" (he played on the Morphine LP Like Swimming), and last fall when they began writing and recording material together they invited him in to complete the line-up of what is Also Known As Colley, Ortiz, and Dersch. The trio are garnering rave reviews for their live performances as well as their c.d.HAPPINESS. Currently Monique Ortiz is working on her follow-up to "Reclining Female".
BOOKING: If you are interested in booking A.K.A.C.O.D. please send an email to this page or to akacod@akacod.com.
SNAIL MAIL A.K.A.C.O.D. c/o Monique Ortiz P.O. Box 400544 Cambridge, MA 02140
WHAT FANS ARE SAYING...
Lowrock Lives
"Came across AKACOD on Morphine's MySpace page of all places, and was blown away. The CD does not disappoint on any level. The combination of Colley's sax and Ortiz' sultry contralto is incredible. Long story short, lowrock has a future, and it's looking pretty damn bright."-Chris Lindhorst
It's About Time
"Woohoo! The Low Rock sound lives on and grows new wings- Combining Monique's vocals, bass, textures and absolutely fearless lyric style with Dana's briiliant wall of sound, experimentation and effects rig and Larry's spot-on, rock solid drumming was a f-ing brilliant idea and I'm glad I was on the planet to hear it. I think that Mark would have gotten a big grin out of Happiness and Cheer You On. Excellent work, guys! See you at the show-"
-Clint Gordon
hey guys well done last night - wish I could have been there - I would have flown over to see it it but I would have been underage! Love your best Australian fan
Camper Van Beethoven: Opening Theme Alice Cooper: Mr and Misdemeanor The Doors: Queen of the Highway (Jazz Version) MePhI: Crystal Night Sad Bastard Book Club: Eviction Party in the United State of Nebraska Walter Sickert & THe ARmy of BRoken TOys: Viktagraph Smoldering Ashes: A Comedy of Arrows Synthetic Dream Foundation with Hannah Fury: Trapeze The Scarring Party: Eat Your Young A.K.A.C.O.D.: Happiness Aranis: Vala Midnight Serenaders: Swing Brother Swing Demonika and the Darklings: Hecate Magnetic Fields: Bitter Tears
yea, thanks for letting the machine on board. very inspiring material here. i will definitley check out the myspace and when i overcome my dislike of facebook i'll be sure to say hello.
Walter Sickert & THe ARmy of BRoken TOys: Crowns Make Pigs A.K.A.C.O.D.: Happiness The Dad Horse Experience: Too Close to Heaven Baby Gramps: Teddy Bears' Picnic Piñataland: El Niño Those Poor Bastards: A Curse OldBoy: Death Sons of Perdition: Psalm of Nod ghostfire: Ghostways of Paris Abney Park: Breathe Christian Williams: Born Again What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?: The Gospel of Beauty Katzenjammer Kabarett: Sunlight Sanatorium Joe Buck Yourself: Devil is on His Way Emperor Norton's Stationary Marching Band: Bella Ciao Bakelite 78: Ballad of the Parson's Boy Peanut Albinos: Cartiheyna Black Tape for a Blue Girl: Overwhelmed Beneath Me Veronique Chevalier/Polka Haunt Us: Kalkajaka Polka Janis Siegel: Bel Mir Bist du Schon Luminescent Orchestrii: La Tarde Cult with No Name: She B.C. Squeeze-bot: Behind Blues Eyes Lonesome Wyatt & the Holy Sppoks: Ballerina's Twirl Ghost Witch: Too Far Gone Blackmore's Night: Streets of London Lux Interna: Distance Marie-Josee Houle: Cruelle Poetesse The Doors: Alabama Song Tarantella: Dark Horse
