With her slightily twanged and swallowed vowel vocals giving her an easy listenin’ sound akin to Norah Jones, acoustic-guitar-playing singer/ songwriter Rebecca Rego’s "Learnin to be Lonley" is a highly polished six-song debut...
-- David C. Eldredge Illinois Entertainer
"Rebecca Rego is a wonderful singer/songwriter with a hauntingly beautiful voice."
"On her six-song debut, Milwaukee native and current Chicagoan Rebecca Rego is about as introspectively folkie as an independent singer-songwriter can be. Her youthful tone and occasionally unexpected phrasing make all that inward reflection more appealing than it might be in lesser hands. The couple of occasions where she exhibits a slight country twang serve her well. Anyone seeking a CD that spans the appeal of Ani DiFranco and Sarah McLachlan may do themselves a favor by learning to be lonely with Rego." - Jamie Lee Rake Milwaukee Shepherd Express
"GREAT!!!!.....Solid Songs.." -Michael Fernandez The Patriot News Harrisburg, PA
"Delivered with poignant patience, bouncy buoyancy and anything in-between, lady folkster Rebecca Rego has justly attracted comparison to the likes of Patty Griffin & Emmylou Harris with her song-writing and execution. What really shines though is her vocal similarity to Norah Jones and her quirky likeness to Regina Spektor"--Ant Standring Glasswerk Media UK
Learning To Be Lonely is the promising debut EP from Chicago based singer/songerwriter Rebecca Rego............Apart from an assured and literate songwriting style, the most appealing thing about Learning To Be Lonely is Rego’s voice, which is by turns warm, intimate and playful. -Just a Modern Rock Blog
Influences
Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Patty Griffin, Tom Waits, Indigo Girls, Neutral Milk Hotel, Wilco, Stars, Josh Ritter (of course), Company of Thieves, Colin Hay, Rodrigo y Gabriella, ect......
PAST SHOWS-----------
Sidewalk Cafe- New York City
Millennium Music Confrence-Harrisburg,PA
Shadow Lounge- Pittsburgh, PA
Whiskey Road- Chicago, IL
Uncommon Ground- Chicago, IL
Jerry’s-Chicago, IL
Heartland Cafe-Chicago, IL
Elbo Room-Chicago, IL
Grafton Pub-Chicago,IL
Argo Tea-Chicago,IL
Double Door , Chicago IL
The Fixx -Chicago, IL
Tea Gschwendner- Chicago,IL
Art Bar- Milwaukee, WI
Gallery Cabert-Chicago, IL
Subteranian open mic showcase performer-Chicago,IL
Evanston Farmers Market-Evanston, IL
Silvies Lounge-Chicago, IL
Black Coffee-Chicago, IL
Resturant Magnus-Madison, WI
Acoustic Cafe-Eau Clair, WI
Baazare Cafe- San Francisco, CA
The Pint-Chicago, IL
Mojo’s hothouse-Chicago, IL
Art Bar-Milwaukee, WI
Steel Horse- Milwaukee, WI
Coffee House-Milwaukee, WI
Rebecca Rego likes to think of herself more as a writer than a musician. “Songwriters always amazed me. They still do. Nothing seems to make sense about where songs come from,” says Rebecca. “As a kid I would always keep these notebooks and fill them with short stories and interesting things that people said. It’s something I still do. I like to say that good songwriting is just good record keeping.”
While Rebecca likes to put more emphasis on her lyrics than melodies she does have a diverse musical background. She really learned to love music in kindergarten from her best friends father who played in a variety of blues and jazz bands. Rebecca would sit and watch him weekend afternoons as he would bang on a piano or launch into a slide solo on a vintage Dobro.
At age 6 Rebecca began guitar lessons after her mother found cheap guitar at a garage sale. She continued to take lessons at local music stores through grade school and eventually under the advice of her mother, who was a classical cellist, began studying classical guitar at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Rebecca studied at The Conservatory for 4 years learning soft finger-stylings and arpeggios. Which helped her develop the unique playing style that she has today.
In 1999 at the age of 16 Rebecca left The Conservatory. She had found a new love for folk music after a long summer of singing around campfires in Canada and driving around the Eastern seaboard seeing acoustic acts. Rebecca soon began writing her own songs, and singing them alone at night in her room. It wasn’t until college at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee when she played songs that she had written for close friends. After lots of positive encouragement she soon began performing in the Milwaukee area. She joined Milwaukee Singer/Songwriters, began playing at open mics and opening for local bands.
Since graduating from college Rebecca has worked hard to start here musical career in Chicago, IL. During the last year she has taken bold moves with her music releasing her first EP “Learning to be Lonely,” starting a band, and playing at prestigious Chicago music venues like: The Double Door, The Elbo Room and Uncommon Ground. She has been receiving rave reviews and quickly building her fan base in the Mid-West.
The EP features genius guitar and piano player Joe Drennan, the amazing Ryan Suzuka on harmonica, some sweet background vocals from Heather Styka, and Graham Green who helped out with some funky tambourine. All of these great musicians helped to make the EP something that she can really be proud of.
GET "LEARNING TO BE LONELY" ON ITUNES.
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I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)
look what happened to my page! there's a new audio clip! it's not me singing! it's awesome! green peppers taste like bubble gum! (seriously, why haven't you clicked the picture to the left yet?)
Hey Rebecca, I think your new tracks sound fantastic. Sorry I've been missing your shows--mostly it's because I'm old and lame and antisocial. Keep up the great work with the new band. Can't wait to hear more!
Ay, my dear, I wish I could come! I haven't heard you with a band yet, and I'm sure it's amazing. Please please keep letting me know when your shows are. One of these days I'm going to be able to make it out. Love!
Not only do we gladly accept your kind friend request but we now insist that we remain best pals for ever and ever. We don't take such things lightly, as you can tell by the quality of our new record, "Everybody Be Cool" (nice segue, huh?). So leave us plenty of comments (you know we'll write back), come to our show at MMC and dance with us and be sure to tell your parents about how incredibly close we've all become. Rock 'n Roll
Listen for "Home" - our first single now top 10 on FMQB Magazine Radio Charts! And if ya get a chance, grab our new CD on iTunes or Amazon - we'd love your opinion. Rock On!