STOLIE
More at www.stolie.com or myspace.com/stolie
Hailing from Chicago's Northshore, Stolie's world of music began when she was six, and ran to the piano after Sunday services to plunk on the ivories. Eight years of lessons later, her best friend taught her two chords on the guitar and she wrote her first original song. Since 1996, she's released 3 solo albums (including "Satire-Laden Melodies" which found regular play on 93XRT) and one with all-gal supergroup Tres Femmes, toured the country several times, opened for cool people, and maxed out her credit cards. Now, the singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, publicist, socialite and entertainer has dedicated herself to being her own Renaissance Woman, sticking around Chicago, but willing to follow wherever intuition may lead. Currently, that means hosting 4 weekly Open Mics, teaching guitar lessons, recording vocal tracks, playing solo cover gigs or with Gina as The G Strings or with Scott Schaefer as The Acoustic Sideshow, and occasionally promoting her own stuff -- Stolie's working on a new CD for release in 2007.
GINA GONZALEZ
More at www.ginagonzalez.com or myspace.com/ginagonzalez
Born and bred in Milwaukee, this cheese-head started performing in 1995 as back-up singer for a John Cougar Mellencamp cover band in Boston, Massachusetts. Upon returning to the Midwest, she enrolled in Columbia College's prestigious Marketing program focusing on Public Relations, and simultaneously set her solo career in motion. While she played, and promoted, regular weekly shows in and around Chicago and opened for local bands, Gina remembers: "The first time I was on stage alone was an eye opener; you are so vulnerable and if you can capture an audience like that, you can do just about anything." In 2001, Gina released her first solo album which was featured on Chicago’s 93 WXRT Local Anesthetic program. The recognition and her busy performance schedule allowed her the opportunity to meet and work with many amazing musicians. In 2004, she was invited to join a brand new group, the Lt. Dan Band, featuring actor/director Gary Sinise, which has since performed throughout the U.S., including performances at the Bla Blah Shell for a nationally-televised Memorial Day celebration, as well as dozens of overseas shows coordinated by the USO (United Service Organization). Gina's original song, “A Letter Home,” inspired by her USO tours and written for the troops, is currently in rotation on radio stations across the country and featured on Gina's most recent CD, "Dream," available at CDBaby.com.
Sounds Like
Sheryl Crow, Janis Joplin, Men at Work, Jewel, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Patty Griffin, The Cranberries, Lucinda Williams, Alanis Morissette, Cyndi Lauper, Juliana Hatfield, Eminem, Vanilla Ice, Tom Petty, Weezer...
"I didn't get a chance to mention to you how great the G-Strings sounded. It was a real treat to listen to you two. But in any event both Fia and I were particularly impressed by the G-Strings so thanks for putting on such a strong performance." - Art
"You are very talented and a great pleasure to listen and watch. I will come by and see another one of your shows. Actually I think I will become one off your groupies." - Terry
THE G STRINGS
Sometime in the early 2000s, Stolie and Gina played in the Monkey Room. They wish they could say this literally, but the truth is, this performance space really existed, in the basement of a pizza parlour in Chicago. They continued to run into each other (usually at Dave Tamkin's shows or open mics), and were constantly impressed by each other's talent and fortitude as they individually payed their dues and made names for themselves in Chicago's expansive music scene.
During the summer of 2005, Gina was asked to play at a different pizza place in Crystal Lake, and since they insisted on having a cover DUO and a strong repertoire of contemporary music, she invited Stolie along to help get the job done. The two spent long, hot summer hours learning song after song in preparation for the big gig, and when the day came, they arrived on time, set up their mounds of equipment, tuned their expensive guitars, and, with great excitement and smiles on their faces, played their first amazing set to about a dozen jovial youths who knew every word and who clapped and sang along to every song even though this set was mostly filled with the slower tunes in anticipation of building throughout the night and later introducing the requested, and apparently mandatory contemporary tunes. However, during their first break, the bartender told Gina and Stolie that the owner, who had heard only the first few tunes before leaving for the night without a word to the band, "didn't think it was working out" and would like them to stop playing!
But now, with a few dozen songs in the arsenal, Gina and Stolie decided they'd rework their set list and continue this endeavor. They knew they were just plain good enough individually, and together? A complete juggernaut. Someone would get it. Then, just a few weeks later, they were called in for a last minute show in Wheeling, but as they made the drive from the city it began to rain, and upon their arrival, the manager told the girls the show was cancelled and there was no room for them indoors. Gina and Stolie told them to "Ram" it up their butts, and decided to name their duo KICKED OUT.
After several gigs, Gina and Stolie decided "Kicked Out" probably wasn't sending the message they hoped for, and telling their sad stories wasn't going to get them anywhere. So, with tongue in cheek, they named their group THE G STRINGS after the one that breaks all the time but keeps right on playing.
Now, with over 100 songs worked up together (and another 200 individually that they can pretty much whip out on request, you drunkies), The G Strings are tight, tight, tight. This is fun, high quality musical entertainment by two girls who have been at it for a long time. Their voices blend together so naturally -- think Indigo Girls, Fleetwood Mac, Dixie Chicks. You can think Wilson Phillips, but we didn't tell you to, ok? Both accomplished singer/songwriters and talented self-taught guitar players... Once you've tried on The G Strings for size, you won't wanna take them off!
Hello there Gina & Stolie, I just wanted to congratulate you both on the upcoming release of your first album recording. Looking forward to seeing your next show at DUFFY's TAVERN (02/26/08); and simply wished to point out, that there doesn't appear to be any mention of these show, or any UPCOMING SHOWS on your page. Nor any info about the release of your new album.
Killer Show last night @ 'GRAND CENTRAL.' Thanks again for the invite and the chance (opportunity) to watch you enchanting, harmoniuous, lovely girls perform LIVE! - KEEP ON ROCKIN' - RAUL
The previous 3 comments are hillarious! I think the only thing I can add is: even though I've never seen the 2 of you perform together, you really can't go wrong with a name like the G strings. I hope to see you in action soon! ;)
Thanks!!! You 2, for the ADD. Can't wait to hear you two performing LIVE! STOLIE: "You ROOOOCK!!!! 'Gina' looks like the next 'Lt.Band' performance it's gonna be the BOMB!!! THANKS AGAIN U-2 !!!!
Amazing!!! Stolie, you voice is awesome and you complement each other beautifully. My favorite singer is singing with my new second favorite singer...does life get any better??? I think not! If Im not playing on the 21st of July Ill try to make it out to the Alumni Club, Its not to far from me.
