Elio Schiavo: Mandolin, Vocals Elio is a founding member of The Five Deadly Venoms, and a Philadelphia native. Elio moved to central California where he started playing music and attended Cabrillo College. He studied Jazz improvisation, arranging and theory with Ray Brown, as well as classical theory and ear training. During his ten years in California, Elio earned a reputation as a talented singer, instrumentalist, composer, and producer while working with David Tucker(Maria Muldaur), Dale Ockerman(Doobie Brothers, Zigaboo Modeliste), Will Russ(Mavis Staples), Tyran Porter(Doobie Brothers) and many other prominent Bay area musicians. In 2000 Elio moved to New Orleans, where he formed touring band Van 6 and released his first album "Child of Orbit"(Louisiana Red Hot Records 2001). He also worked as guitarist and producer for Cyril Neville and worked in pre-production with The Neville Brothers. He co-wrote and produced the title track for Cyrill's 2001 Tipitinas, "Just For The Funk Of It". After moving to New York City in 2002, Elio found his true calling in singing bluegrass an dplaying the bluegrass mandolin. In a short time he became a first-call player for many local bands in New York City's exploding bluegrass scene.
Rick Snell: Guitar, Vocals Rick started playing blues, jazz and bluegrass guitar at an early age. A New York Native, he has a BFA in Jazz Guitar and Composition from Purchase College Conservatory of Music. There he studied with some of the greatest living jazz musicians: Steve Khan, Mike Stern, Art Farmer and John Faddis, to name a few. Rick has performed and recorded with Dufus (ROIR), Blue Harvest, and Only Son (Cassette Recordings). His work with the McCabes and the David Munnelly Band has brought him acclaim as a picker well-versed in traditional Irish music, and has brought him before most of the major Irish festivals throughout the U.S. including the Kansas Irish Festival, the East Durham Irish Festival and the Newport Kentucky Irish Festival. He's involed with musical theatre, most notably in his role as first chair shred guitar for "Steel Pterodactyl" at New York's Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
Rob Hecht: Fiddle Rob grew up playing Bluegrass and Country music with father Bill Hecht (pianist, composition graduate from Berklee College of Music, pastor) in central Illinois. Mark O'Connor's Fiddle Camp and mentor Casey Driessen played a big part in Rob's musical development. Rob then attended Downbeat award-winning Decatur MacArthur High School, where he played first tenor saxophone in their band, as well as violin and saxophone in the jazz combo. Rob also performed with the Heartland Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Doug Tidaback and Thomas Shabda Noor. Rob attended the William Patterson University in New Jersey where he pursued a degree in Jazz Studies. He resides in Brooklyn and performs regularly with Jeff Taylor, The Defibulators, Clay Ross and The Priggs. Rob Has recorded and/or performed with Vassar Clements, Casey Driessen, Noam Pikelny, Blue Merle, Elizabeth and the Catapult, and many other New York artists.
James Kerr: Dobro, Vocals. James is a New York native, and received formal training at the University of Michigan and Columbia University. He studied Jazz and music education with jazz greats Reggie Workman, Donald Walden and Rodney Whitaker. James was drawn to the sound of the Dobro listening to Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge. He has now become a Dobro and steel fixture on the New York Bluegrass scene performing and recording as a full time member of The Five Deadly Venoms. He also performs regularly with Citigrass and has shared the stage with Mike Gordon (Phish), Michael Travis(String Cheese Incident), jazz great Gene Bertoncini, and the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. James has enjoyed the opportunity to share bills with several of his musical heroes, including; Ricky Skaggs, Tony Rice, Mark O'connor, Junior Brown, Double trouble, and Darol Anger. He recently won a top prize at the 2006 Roxbury Flatpick guitar contest.
Ian M. Riggs: Upright Bass Ian has sustained a diverse musical career as both a bassist and composer/arranger in New York City. He's performed and recorded with various ensembles, orchestras and musicians, including guitarist Doug Wamble, vocalist Jane Monheit, and legendary trombonist Roswell Rudd. He's lent his talents to theatre productions such as "Baal" by Berthold Brecht at the Flea Theatre, and "The Dinner Party" by Gabriella Barnstone, for which he was the musical director. His television appearances include the ESPN2 show; "Cold Pizza" in early 2004, playing with the band Gaelic Storm (featured in the film Titanic). Ian grew up in a musical family near Washington DC, attended the Oberlin Conservatory for two years, and then graduated from the Mannes College of Music/New School University in 1999 with a BFA. He has composed music for the independent feature film "Bloodsworth" and continues to work with many emerging artists in New York City.
The Five Deadly Venoms have earned a reputation at the top of New York City’s vibrant bluegrass scene. The band is built on the virtuosity of award winning pickers and singer/songwriters who have come together to carve a fresh and exciting new vision for bluegrass and new acoustic music.
The Venoms are a national touring act, featuring "standout musicians with two distinctive front men" (Durango Herald). After making the finals in the 2009 Telluride Bluegrass Band Competition the band took to the road for a tour of the southwest. Later in the summer fiddler Rob Hecht took home one of the biggest honors in bluegrass by winning the 2009 Rockygrass Fiddle Competition. NYCbluegrass.com calls the Five Deadly Venoms "Awesome!"
To capture the immediacy of their live sound, the band called on three-time Grammy winner Dave Sinko. Their self-titled debut album showcases the talent that surges through this young unit. The ballads of lonesome heartache delicately framed by this master string ensemble reach deep into the history of American Soul and classical chamber repertoire to find sublime new soundscapes for restless fans of traditional music.
"The debut album...is full of delicately executed musicianship and beautifully written ballads, many of which feel destined to be standards" (Verde Valley News).
voss enter the boggus the kid is fucked up legend blaine lark 50 jacks wendys taco bel rio condogawk drunken ministers of soul ed the man absinthe dublin pool sharks "I LOVE YOU JARED" Muna skaggs religious bluegrass hour jesus for jews drop kick me jesus through the field goal of life hmmmm idiot check conkerr carlisle reverb soaked dobro foopa loud ass, great songs by millie in the morning, tea coffee, egg sandwich, van seat in ricky car, corned beef and hash, the police cover in 6/4, equanimous shite sound faggot shack takin it down south salman rushdie run-on sentences brien darrel scott bela practice seat bubbular
hey there, gentlemen. it was right nice hanging out the other night! i hope the rest of your trip is going well. hopefully our paths will cross again soon. :) -millie
you fellows gonna play at the Telleride bluegrass fest this year, you should, or the string summitt, or hell come play in texas, just saw "Railroad earth", now its your turn....please
Hello Brooklyn!...my trio is playing in Brooklyn this Sunday night @ The Jalopy Theater (315 Columbia St, Red Hook, Brooklyn). Show starts at 8, we play at 9:30. Come by if you can.
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