In the spring of 1999, Irina Yalkowsky was already playing out in several different groups, both on guitar and theramin. However, she was intrigued by the gritty reality of street busking, and busy Harvard Square was the logical place to try out the dream. Kate Frend, a veteran singer and bass player herself, teamed up with Irina and the two started performing that summer in the Cambridge, MA's own Harvard Square with a soulful batch of blues standards and originals. Katie and Irina's full yet laid-back sound captivated everyone that walked by, and soon they had fans from all over the world. They played as often as they could, and quickly made a debut CD entitled "Playin' The Fly", selling hundreds.
By the fall of 1999, Irina (sometimes spelled "Arina") booked the act into the Davis Square, Somerville venue The Burren. The audience and staff fell in love, and from then on, the duo played about once a month, usually backed by "Little Wolf & The Mojos". Some of the Boston-area based musicians that joined the duo on stage included the late, great "Mayor of Central Square" Henry Lee Spencer, "Boston's Queen of the Blues" singer Shirley Lewis, singer/guitarist/harmonica player Dennis Brennan, singer Dave Kulund, saxophonists John Aruda, Mario Perez and Gordon Beadle, drummers Mike Pheil, Nicky Kulund and Brian Butler, bassist Bob Abruzzi, along with original "Little Wolf & The Mojos" members bassist Kate Seavey & keyboardist Don Reed.
Katie and Irina recorded a second CD, "Sugar And Rain", in early 2001, and continued to play Harvard Square, The Burren, The House of Blues, Les Zygomates Wine Bar and private parties. The duo continued to wow the fans up until October of 2002, when Irina moved to New York City to pursue her life and music there. Katie moved with her family to Southern New Hampshire in June of 2003, is the mother of two children as well as an amazing hair stylist, and continues to ponder her next musical project.
-Kate Seavey
Get "Sugar & Rain", a 13 song CD, for $13 (includes shipping and handling)
*Irina is now offering guitar lessons, specializing in blues, for anybody in the NYC area. For more details, send her a message here or to irinaexplosion@yahoo.com. Begginers welcome!
holy cow youre not going to believe me...i did this deal to receive an AUTHENTIC name-brand purse through Coach 100% FREE and it truly came!! since i KNOW its no joke now, i'm gunna go back real fast and snag a few more to send out as goodie..you should go snag some too ROFL! isnt this one that came hot?
you know that feeling you get when you come home from a long day of shopping with bags packed with new gear and accessories? now picture that feeling knowing you got it all for free! thats how i feel right now! i'm just hittin you up, as a friend, to fill you in on this exclusive deal to get a FREE $500 Macy's Gift Card, yes, FREE! just answer a question or two and BOOM you got a shopping spree lol! i got like 5 cards already, its too easy, check out this one i got..
