Nikki O'Neill: lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
Joshua "Cartier" Cutsinger: bass, vocals
Rich Lackowski: drums, percussion, vocals
Also special guest Ed Lyon on keyboards and Hammond organ on the 2010 recordings.
Influences
Hi Records & Stax/Volt... Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Ray Charles, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin...... Albert King, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Randolph, Derek Trucks, Quincy Jones, Sly Stone, Black Crowes, Phish, Greatful Dead, The Meters, Galactic, Gov't Mule...
Sounds Like
"Nikki O'Neill is like listening to Chrissie Hynde singing to John Lennon in Otis Redding's kitchen."
- Will Ray (The Hellecasters)
"Nikki's songwriting is a breath of fresh air. She breaks the mold
without moving outside the boundaries of popular music. Her songs are
infectious and satisfying and her solos are tasty and melodic. I always
feel better after hearing her play."
- Ron Manus, CEO, Alfred Music Publishing
"Your song 'Starting Over' is so good it is unfair to call it indie. It is head and shoulders better than anything mainstream I have heard in five years. Wishing you tremendous success with your career"
- Mike from SonicJive.com
"Nikki O'Neill is like listening to Chrissie Hynde singing to John Lennon in Otis
Redding's kitchen. She takes everything she's learned about life, puts it in a blender and pours out a glass of soul!"
- Will Ray (The Hellecasters, Solomon Burke, Steve Earle)
Get the single that Will Ray reviewed here!
NIKKI O'NEILL BAND BIO
Nikki O'Neill is a singer, lead guitar player and songwriter in LA. She has co-written songs with Sly & Robbie, which will be released in the spring of 2010. Her band appeals to fans of Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Susan Tedeschi, Chrissie Hynde and Amy Winehouse... fans of soul, blues and classic rock n roll.
The band started releasing their 2010 recordings in March with the single "Say What You Think," featuring guest keyboardist Ed Lyon (from Californian Grateful Dead-tribute Cubensis.)
In 2007, Nikki and Rich released a three-track EP with the songs "Starting Over," "It's Simple (But It's Not Easy)," and "Some Day," produced by Nikki and Dapo Torimiro (Stevie Wonder).
Since the band formed in the fall of 2008 with Josh on bass, they've played numerous clubs, acoustic shows, red-carpet events and festivals, including International Pop Overthrow Festival (IPO); the LA Marathon; NAMM, a city festival in Chicago and summer concert events in Southern California.
Nikki is featured in "Guitar Woman" - Sue Foley's upcoming book with top players like Orianthi, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Batten, and more. She has been awarded with a Martin Guitar scholarship, and is a popular guitar instructor in Los Angeles. She also taught the only university-level class in the U.S. in women's contemporary rock guitar at New School University's Guitar Study Center in NYC.
Rich is the author of the "On The Beaten Path" drum instruction book series, which have won multiple reader's polls in major drum magazines.
Josh is a producer and engineer, with a client list including Sting, Bob Dylan, Pink, Ry Cooder, kd lang, Mavis Staples, and more.
Band member endorsements include Daisy Rock Guitars, Seymour Duncan pickups, Vic Firth drumsticks and Evans drumheads.
Saw the comment and stopped by. Congrats on the new single! Gutsy sound & I can even feel a Pretenders' vibe in there (of course, that's just me - I'm not at all trying to box you in or anything). Keep rockin! I sent a link to your MySpace Page via Facebook. : ) On my end, my second album is dropping on April 16...would love your feedback on the sampler over at http://merchandise.manishamusic.com - hope all is well otherwise in your world, too!
Hey Nikki, congrats on the new release-love the guitar work, production-everything. We have a lot of simlar influences. When I'm out that way I'd love to do a show together. Best, Patty Reese
I love Say What You Think! Let me "give it to you straight" while I "say what I think." It's a hard-driving tune with very groovy guitar tones. And your voice sounds really great. Nice work!
How great to hear from you! And how happy I am to hear that you've taken that concept with you.
Actually, I missed out on studying with Lennie Tristano-- I was just making up my mind about it when he died. My teacher was Connie Crothers, who passed that idea along to me, along with so much else. I got very close to two of Lennie's kids though, the drummer Carol Tristano, and guitarist Bud, who, as it happens, is (or was anyway) a big Satriani fan.
I'm gonna take a few minutes now and listen to you!
Hi Nikki O'Neill! "Meet the Meatbats," the debut release from Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith's new group is a TOP 10 Jazz/Funk Album on iTunes! The CD is a sexy and loud, sonic funk experience that fuses together styles as diverse as funk, punk and 70's R&B! GET IT NOW ON ITUNES, along with Free banner and wallpapers downloads on the MySpace page! Please help spread the word with your friends and thanks for supporting Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats!!!
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Hi My Friend :) Hope all is goin great!!! Your music really is fantastic....great to listen to. You are so talented...proud to have you on my myspace!!!! Take care Peace n Harmony KB
Thank you for adding me to your list of friends. I really appreciate it.
I am thrilled that my romance suspense novel 'Love On a Carousel' with it's 12-song CD soundtrack is due out this fall. 5 of the songs are uploaded on myspace. A short description of the book can be found on my blog. A limited number of CD's are now available through PayPal on my profile page.
Wishing you continued success and a great musical summer.
Hi Nikki O'Neill! Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers & Chickenfoot) presents the Bombastic Meatbats, a sexy and loud, sonic funk experience that fuses together styles as diverse as funk, punk and 70's R&B! The CD will be in stores on September 15th and is available for PREORDER NOW, along with Free banner and wallpapers downloads! Please help spread the word and thanks for supporting Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats!!!
Online Now!
It's a hard-driving tune with very groovy guitar tones. And your voice sounds really great. Nice work!
