Olga Watkins: Vocalist, Songwriter,
Jay Weaver, guitar, back up vocals, writer-arranger
Mason Embry: Pianist, Keyboardist, Arranger, Back up vocalist,
Jason Hollar: Bassist, Arranger, Booking Agent, Back up vocalist,
Subha Das: Drummer, Percussionist, Groove Guru
Influences
Olga's influences are Eta james, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin
Band's original music now available on itunes: search Olga Watkins
Sounds Like
Olga Watkins;band has developed unique sound; olga has strong Etta James likeness at times
Record Label
live recording, demo only, unsigned,new cd pending
The Soul Kitchen Band has been performing together since 2003.
Vocalist, Olga Watkins has studied music privately since age five. She worked briefly as an opera singer before studying culinary arts then went back to music and started singing and writing blues, soul, r&b & reggae. She sings the National Anthem for local sporting events, including Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Passion games. She manages the Monterey Pub in the historic Mexican War Streets section of Pittsburgh's northdside, is a caterer, culinary teacher, restaurant consultant, diva, bombshell, kitchen goddess and vocalist extraordinaire! Olga can sometimes be seen on local television shows and on food industry-related demonstration stages everywhere; as both chef and singer. Olga is getting married to bartender-manager-turned chef-turned bartender-manager, Mark S. Miller. Visit her at www.olgawatkins.com
Guitarist Jay Weaver is an outstanding addition to the Soul Kitchen stew. He effortlessly moves from one style to another and wows audiences everywhere he performs. Part of Jay's intense appeal is a result of his modesty and unwillingness to acknowledge his potential to become Pittsburgh's number one guitar hero. Jay owns and operates Sound Color Productions in Mt. Lebanon, a recording and teaching studio. More info about Jay is available at www.soundcolorpro.com (And he's single, ladies!)
Pianist and arranger, Mason Emby graduated from Louisville University in KY. He arranges for, records and tours with contemporary Christian artist David DeMarco. He also plays with Donna bailey and Sputzy and the Soul Providers. He is regarded as one of the best, most diverse, young, up & coming pianists in the area. He is currently working on his Masters at middle Tennessee State and will perform on the new Soul Kitchen CD, slated for recording beginning August, 2008. He can be found at www.myspace.com/masone81
Bassist, Jason Hollar studied music at Temple University. He has performed in over 2000 club, concert and festival venues. He is also responsible for successfully planning the music for over 500 events. He resides in the Greensburg, PA area with his wife and two daughters. His website is www.cadillacjazz.com. Jason also performs regulalry with the Tony Janflone Jr. band, Donna Bailey, as well as the Seton Hill University Faculty Jazz Band.
Check him out at www.cadillacjazz.com
Drummer, Subha Das has studied and played with the best; including Dr. John Wilson, Jay Ashby, and New York Voices. He, like Mason, plays with Donna Bailey and Sputzy and the Soul providers on occasion. He is the Principal Assistant Director of the award-winning percussion program for Mt. Lebanon, PA schools. His website is www.subhadas.com
Come and party with Squonk Opera on Friday May 22nd at 8:00 pm at the Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ Melwood Screening Room for the Galaxy Premiere of Astro-rama!
Astro-rama is a joyous large scale outdoor event that unifies an audience in creating humanity’s message for far-flung galaxies. The show features live music, dynamic video, 3 stories of scaffolding, a 40' radio telescope, cherry pickers, scissor lifts and a giant robot. Astro-rama was filmed over 2 chilly nights in October 2008 at Pittsburgh's Schenley Plaza.
Astro-rama premiere and party with the Squonkers. Friday, May 22, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. for $25 Pittsburgh Filmmakers’ Melwood Screening Room 477 Melwood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Squonk Opera and the Lively Arts College of Fine Arts Performance Plus present Indiana County: The Opera.
Come celebrate Indiana County with a new installment in our ‘Hometown Series’, a show that has been called “noisy, colorful, funny, outrageous” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and “a quirky, playful, music- and image-driven piece of performance art “ by the Tribune Review.
Our show is not exactly ‘opera’, but a multi-media live concert that weaves music with video projections, props and puppets. To see more of what we do, check out our website at http://www. squonkopera. org.
Indiana County: The Opera includes amazing Indiana based dance and choral groups, and lots of video interviews with Indiana County residents.
Friday, January 30 at 8:00 pm Fisher Auditorium IUP Performing Arts Center
Tickets are available in advance at the Hadley Union Building, at iuptickets. com, the door starting at 7:00 p.m. or call (724) 357-2547 for information
Come join us and say Hi! Hope to see you there! Squonk Opera
10pm, SATURDAY Nov. 22, 2008
Shadow Lounge, 5972 Baum Blvd., East Liberty
VIPERS SOUL CLUB presents THE SOUND OF YOUNG AMERICA
DJ's Juddy 'n' Gordy spinning 1960s R&B, Motown, and Northern Soul
18+/21+ to sup the stuff of life, $4
"UNION PROJECT'S OFFICIAL UNWRAPPED AFTER PARTY"
(Free admission w/ Unwrapped ticket purchase!)
What people have been whispering about is TRUE! Strange sightings… Unexplained phenomena. . . scientific anomalies… Squonk Opera will be responding to the cover-ups with… ASTRO - RAMA!
With 3 stories of scaffolding and a 40 ft radio telescope, Squonk Opera will take you on a wild visual and musical celebration of the universe and our place in it.
Part symphony, part cacophony, Astro-Rama dares to go where no multi-media/theater/performance group has gone before.
Rising in scissor lift platforms and cherry pickers, Squonk will compose a proud message from our species, power up and transmit.
Stand with us, and the truth will be revealed.
Pittsburgh, PA at Schenley Plaza, Oakland October 15-18, 2008
Weather permitting, all broadcasts begin at 8:00 p.m., are outdoors and are FREE for all bipedal primates!
VIPERS SOUL CLUB presents THE WILD PARTY II
9pm, Sat., May 30
Shadow Lounge, (5972 Baum Blvd. East Liberty)
18+ / 21+ to drink / $4.00 ($3 before 10)
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