Nikki O'Neill: lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitar
Joshua "Cartier" Cutsinger: bass, vocals
Rich Lackowski: drums, percussion, vocals
Harold Branch: Hammond organ, vocals
Influences
Stax, Hi, Motown, Aretha, Ann Peebles, Etta James, Tina Turner, Al Green, Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Black Crowes, Mavis Staples, Sly Stone, Phish, Greatful Dead, Gov't Mule, early Santana, Amy Winehouse, Sharon Jones, John Lee Hooker, Sue Foley, Cindy Cashdollar, Ann & Nancy Wilson, Wendy Melvoin, and so many more...
Sounds Like
"Nikki O'Neill is like listening to Chrissie Hynde singing to John Lennon in Otis Redding's kitchen."
- Will Ray (The Hellecasters, Solomon Burke, Steve Earle)
"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, Executive Vice President, Alfred Publishing
"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. Her band appeals to fans of Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Susan Tedeschi, Gov't Mule, Black Crowes, and fans of Soul, Blues, British Invasion and 70's Rock worldwide.
The Nikki O'Neill Band's unique flavor lies in Nikki's soul shouter vocals and lead guitar playing, and a sound that blends Memphis soul, Beatlesque pop and an Austin-style twang. One fan decribed Nikki as "Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart all in one person with the voice AND the guitar chops..."
"Starting Over", "It's Simple (But It's Not Easy)", and "Some Day", feature Nikki on vocals and all guitars. The production and arranging was also handled by her in collaboration with Dapo Torimiro -keyboardist with Lauryn Hill and Stevie Wonder.
Through 2008, they're playing festivals, fairs and club shows, as well as more intimate acoustic shows. They're playing at International Pop Overthrow Festival "Girls Night Out!" at The Derby in LA on Aug. 4. They were asked to play at the 2008 W.C. Handy Festival in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They played in Chicago at the Wheeling 4th of July festival, with The Gin Blossoms and Verve Pipe.
Nikki was recently interviewed for Sue Foley's book "Guitar Woman," which features great female guitar players like Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Wilson, Jennifer Batten, and many more.
Info: www.guitarwoman.com
NIKKI O'NEILL BAND ACCOLADES:
2008 - Winter-NAMM live performance
2008 - feature in the book "Guitar Woman" by Sue Foley
2007 - song placement on NBC The Today Show for "Starting Over"
2007 - live performances on NBC The Today Show, KTLA, KUSI Good Morning San Diego
2007 - endorsement with Seymour Duncan pickups
2007 - endorsement with Kustom Amplifiers
2006 - endorsement with Daisy Rock Guitars
2005 - endorsement with G&L Guitars (no longer active)
FESTIVALS:
2008 International Pop Overthrow Festival "Girls Night Out!"
2008 Wheeling 4th of July Freedom Fest
Chicago, IL (with The Gin Blossoms and Verve Pipe)
2008 Make Music Pasadena Festival, CA
2008 Los Angeles Marathon
ADDITIONAL FACTS ABOUT THE BAND:
Nikki moved to LA from NYC, but grew up in Sweden and Poland. She's featured in Sue Foley's upcoming book "Guitar Women"; is the founder of Women's School of Rock; taught the only university-level guitar class in the U.S. on women's contemporary rock guitar at The New School in NYC, and she's been a guest clinician at an all-female rock college in Sweden. She played on Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra's 2002 debut album "Fuss And Fight", which was produced by Gabe Roth of The Dap-Kings. She also auditioned as the lead guitarist for Courtney Love's band in 2003. Courtney loved her playing and writing, but the suggested Goth/New Wave image change didn't work for Nikki.
Rich is from Chicago. He's the author of smash hit drum instruction book "On The Beaten Path," which won the 2008 Modern Drummer Reader's Poll Award for best drum book. He also won the 2008 Drummy Reader's Poll Award for best drum book.
Josh is also from Chicago. He is a Grammy-nominated producer and engineer, and his long client list includes Rachael Yamagata, members of The Smashing Pumpkins, and many other major label artists.
Harold is from the Boston area. He believes nothing can substitute the real Hammond and Leslie sound, so they follow him wherever he goes in his big van... He's a huge fan of the band Gov't Mule and of gospel music, and he writes gospel music as well.
You're the sh*t! Can't wait to play a show with you. If we're not playing, we're going to come to your 14 Below show. peace deLUXE p.s. if you're around, we're live this sat night @ good hurt @ 8pm: come check us
Hello Nikki. Im so Glad you found me!And yes I Like Susan Tedeschi a lot.You add so much feelings to you're music and I enjoy that,cuz thats what music is All about...feelings:)Thanks again my new talented friend.Hug Lise.
Hey, thanks for adding Kickin' Bear to your friends. Your music is great, im so happy that roots music is catching on again. Hope all is well in CA, keep up the good work. -Rob Swift
We will be giving away 10 of the new Warren Haynes Presents: The Benefit Concert Vol 8 DVDs We will also have 5 GRAND PRIZE winners that will receive The Benefit Concert Vol 8 DVD & one of each of the other Evil Teen Releases, Vol. 1, Vol,2, & Live at Roseland!!!!
We will also be giving away other great prizes to be announced at the beginning of the week only at.... www. MuleArmy. com
hi nikki! crack band and really nice tune- i hope to make it up your way someday and catch you live. thats a sweet guitar youre playing, is that a daisy rock? (im partial to f holes and bigsbys...)
