Becki: vocals, acoustic guitars, bass (sometimes).
John Wedemeyer: electric guitars.
Endre Tarczy: bass guitar, keyboards, some vocals, psychedelic support.
Randy Hayes: drums & percussion.
Other musicians:
Dave Gregory: electric & acoustic guitars, keyboards.
Lyle Workman: electric guitars, psych sitar, keyboards.
Don Lax: violin.
Rick Walker: drums, middle-eastern percussion, open-flame riq tuning.
Michael Masley: cymbalom.
Uncle Mafufo: middle-eastern percussion.
With special thanks to:
Vince Sanchez - producer & engineer extraordinaire.
Influences
Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin, Page/Plant, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, CSN, Donovan, Jason Falkner, Ambrosia's first album, Judee Sill, The Pink Floyd, Orange Bicycle, Revolver-era Beatles, July, 101 Strings, Cream, McGough & McGear, The Status Quo.
Sounds Like
“…a thrilling haze of retroscented sounds through which her Grace Slickisms plunge and soar.”
-Joe Cushley, MOJO Magazine, UK
“god's empty chair is divine, magic, potent, and rich in fascination. Becki is a superb singer with a particularly unique voice.”
-Lino Terlati, Drive Magazine, Savona, Italy
“Once again, you amaze! Your talent should be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Great stuff you got there, lady…”
-Grace Slick, Jefferson Airplane/Starship
"Congratulations, it's a fabulous record - excellent writing and singing, and some great performances, particularly from John on guitar (Lyle too!). It sounds like a hit record, and Vince has done a fabulous job on the board."
-Dave Gregory, Britain's XTC
“I've been listening to Becki's latest CD - God's Empty Chair - nonstop this week. Man, what a great album. Her work reminds me a great deal of Workbook-era Bob Mould... and for fans of *that* album, you know what a compliment that is. Becki's voice is incredible and the guitars are RAWKIN! - Dave Gregory (XTC) and Lyle
Workman (Frank Black, Todd Rundgren, Beck). Andy Partridge's Dukes-penned Susan Revolving gets the full psychedelic treatment here... and it's wonderful. I highly recommend both this album, and her prior one - Seven Worthies Of The Bamboo Grove. Why she's not signed to a major label is beyond me... check her out, you won't be disappointed.”
-Wes Long, creator of the XTC-dedicated website “Optimisms Flames”
“Speaking of great music, I've got to throw my hat into the reviewing ring in support of god's empty chair, the new CD from Becki diGregorio. 'nuff has already been written about the fine songwriting and playing ... I'll only add that Becki's voice is as beautiful and compelling as ever, and MY GAWD John Wedemeyer can play the geetar! I mean, everyone on this album can pick and hit, and do it good, but that boy does make a body sit up and take notice.”
-Todd "Providing Glimmers of XTC Content since 1995" Bernhardt
“I too would like to say that Becki diGregorio's new CD god's empty chair is filled with divinity. Gorgeous melodies, psychedelic palettes of friendly paisley rock, superb vocals and playing and Becki's patented wonderful disposition."
-Mitch Friedman
Becki diGregorio was drawn to music very early on and grew up playing an assortment of different instruments including zither, baritone uke, electric chord-organ, clarinet and banjo. She first picked up an acoustic guitar in sixth grade and began to discover her own unique chording style. Two years later she strummed a Takamine 12-string hanging in a music store and instantly fell in love. “It sounded like heaven.”
In 1983 Becki took up bass and began playing in a local country band (“I made enough to go to India that year”), and soon helped form a group that would eventually become “Seventh Wave,” a rock trio based in Santa Cruz. The band scored coveted opening slots while headlining clubs and festivals around the San Francisco Bay Area.
With her interest in songwriting developing, Becki joined the Northern California Songwriters Association and began playing solo acoustic shows of original music. She won several “Best Song” awards from this organization, and was also awarded a “Certificate of Achievement” from Billboard’s Song Contest for her song “on the edges now.”
After singing on a number of other people’s recording projects, she soon decided to record a CD of her own music. Released in 1996, “seven worthies… of the bamboo grove” featured a collection of original songs and a cover of the sixties psychedelic hit “Open My Eyes” by The Nazz. The album became popular in Europe and was picked up for distribution by Jarmusic in Germany. “seven worthies…” garnered excellent reviews from as diverse places as Italy, Brazil, England and Japan.
Becki was also fortunate to have the guitarist of one of her favourite bands add his talents on the album. Dave Gregory of Britain’s XTC plays guitar and keyboards on four of the tunes, including “inside the dream” where his mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar drives the song from ethereal beginning to climactic end.
In 2002 Becki released her second CD, "god's empty chair" (a quote from a Jack Kerouac novel). Edgier and more cohesive, the disc sold briskly both in the states and abroad. She once again offers a cover tune, but this one had never before been released. "Susan Revolving" was a 30-second sketch written by XTC's Andy Partridge which Becki had managed to hear from a "secret source." She fell in love with the song and its psychedelic possibilities. Andy was keen enough to finish writing the song for her to record, asking only that she "listen to Pink Floyd's first album over and over before going into the studio."
Becki likes to refer to her CD’s as “five-inch pieces of plastic of what I hear in my head.” Of the songs she's written and recorded, she says “cats in the aviary” is one of the most meaningful. “It’s about the struggle to maintain your balance and sense of self despite those who make you question and doubt what's most important in your life. These people are like cats in an aviary – sitting, waiting, a constant reminder of life’s uncertainty; they take the ‘flight’ away from those who dream...”
The nucleus of Becki's band is a group of three amazingly talented musicians from the San Francisco Bay Area: John Wedemeyer on guitar, Randy Hayes on drums, and Endre Tarczy on bass and keyboards. Collectively known as "W.H.a.T.," the band also has a strong following in addition to their own individual touring and side projects. Special guests include Lyle Workman (Jellyfish, Beck) on guitar and keyboards (and the occasional sitar), and Don Lax (Camper Van Beethoven) on violin.
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