This page is dedicated to recordings and solo/acoustic shows, but Maria's shows with her weekend band, The Visitors, are now being included on her calendar here and also at http://www.thevisitorsband.com. Original music shows that are listed here feature Maria in intimate/acoustic settings playing her songs--usually in acoustic venues and small theatres.
The video below is with Maria's former band, Buffalo Rising, when Charlie Quill was on guitar with them. It is one of a set of songs recorded live at Sportsmen's Tavern in Buffalo.
Influences
Freedy Johnston, Rosanne Cash, Liz Phair, Ben Folds, Travis, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Aimee Mann, Tom Petty, The Waifs, Linda Ronstadt, Radiohead, Cowboy Junkies, Harry Nilsson, Eric Bazilian, The Gin Blossoms, Sloan, Gurf Morlix, John Lennon, Neil Young, Matt Dorrien, and seven billion others....
BIO: Maria began performing live while in high school on Buffalo's West Side. At 17, she began performing at the former Club Utica -- a renowned country club in its prime. When she wouldn't sleep with the band leader, she was told that "country music probably isn't for her," but she already knew that.
She later joined various rock cover bands to polish her presence and develop her guitar skills. She performed solo in her hometown while writing and recording with 1996-born original band (later named In From the Cold) based in Buffalo and Los Angeles. The group featured world-class drummer Gary Mallaber (Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison) and ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper guitarist Jack Sherman. Though logistical issues stalled the band's live schedule, their unique Pop/Rock songs are currently being pitched for television and film (clients to date include CBS, Discovery Channel, and Hoggard Films). More on their unique sound at their myspace page.
Independently, Maria has recorded four CDs since In From the Cold. Her newest disc, Yellow Envelope, is her most eclectic work to date. It recently won the Buffalo Spree Magazine Best Local Album award for 2009, and the Hudson Valley's Freeman Online says she "has a great record on here hands here." Maria began writing some of the songs on the disc while still in high school. She put them off while fronting rock bands for the next 18 years because they didn't fit the format of a rock artist. She added songs from the rock era, and new songs written under the influence of today's best Americana artists, and the result is a mixed genre CD with modern rock, contemporary folk, Americana, and uncategorizable songs including "Wings" -- a Faulkneresque tale about life in a dying town.
Maria has included on her web site a link to "song gossip" where listeners can read interesting clips about the stories and inspirations behind the songs on that disc, including the title track, which came from a song her father wrote on an envelope and sent to her mother while he was in prison for some of the 1970s. He was the subject of a brutal robbery in 1995 that left him in a challenging circumstance before he died in 2003, and "Yellow Envelope" is a story of how her mother waited for him through various stages of his complicated life. The rest of the disc explores stories about ghosts (Snow), women who would consider jail time a break (Happily), love (Everything Reeks of You), and loss (Hearts Don't Break).
Maria is a mother of two, and she teaches English at various WNY colleges. She performs live regularly either solo, as a duo, or with her weekend band, The Visitors, which features Jerry Augustyniak of 10,000 Maniacs fame on drums, and she has shared shows with: The Byrds' Roger McGuinn, Richie Havens, Los Lonely Boys, The Gin Blossoms, Malcolm Holcombe, Collective Soul, Sarah Harmer, Jackyl, The Tea Party, Hothouse Flowers, Jess Klein, Vance Gilbert, Honeymoon Suite, Eddie Money, Missy Higgins, Eric Hutchinson, Pal Shazar, Head East, Harum Scarum and dozens of others.
AWARDS:
2009 Buffalo Spree, Best of WNY for CD, "Yellow Envelope"
Buffalo Music Awards:
1993 - New Band
1994 - Rock Band
1995 - Female Rock Vocalist
1996 - Female Rock Vocalist
1996 - Rock Band
1997 - Rock Band
2003 - Solo Artist
2004 - Female Rock Vocalist
2008 - Original Acoustic Solo
Western New York's People's Choice Award: (Temporary Award Organizers)
The Dollies crashed and burned! Boyfriend issues, mainly. But I still keep in touch with the band members becos (a) I got smitten and, (b) I'm a dork. Haha!! In fact, I am going down to North Carolina again next week to see Jennifer ("Jai Dollie") which is where she now lives. I will tell her you said hi (she and I actually talked about you recently; TRUE). Jai is in a new band down there, but things aren't going very well. If at all interested, you can see recent pix of her, Carina, Jena, etal. on my wonderfully fabulous MyS page!
Haha! Thanks Maria. Yeah, you don't prob know me but I've seen/heard you v. often. How many times? Now then, "FU, Daddy" (sorry for the implied profanity) has to do with a song the Voodoo Dollies wrote about me years ago -- VERY long story, y' know? My real name is Tim. See you around.
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Hey Maria Sebastian, I just took this quiz, Which Country Music Superstar Are You?. Check out my result on my profile, then go take the quiz and then see what you get!
Yeah that sounds like a great idea. Rose is coming with me, her b-day is on the 10th, so we can all pile in the Explorer :). Doesn't the guy who books John St get us extra coffeehouse gigs in the area too?
hahahaha thats funny! yup you are my cuz haha! :) well dad still lives in buffalo me and alyssa live with my mom here in corning ny we go visit are dad every other weekend :)
i am little johnys son .lol john and mary ann sebastian john is my dad mary ann is my gradma and chuck and arleane are my aunts and uncles i dont no if your thinking of the right person lol =] but i know were related.
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