On February 16th, 2008, four of Reno's top singer-songwriters performed together in a rare concert event at Maytan Music Center. Justin McMahon, Seth Horan, Kate Cotter, and Joel Ackerson played in a variety of combinations to showcase their widely acclaimed talents in a local setting. Each performer had received accolades far beyond the boundaries of Washoe County, and though the four are friends, have shared stages together, and have played on each other's albums for years, they had never all performed on the same bill on the same night until this concert. The show's slogan came from the running joke among them that they'd do a concert together one day "when the stars align", but as these are arguably Reno's four most recently reputed talents, the double entendre of "stars" was entirely appropriate.
Justin McMahon, one of the two Reno natives on the bill, has earned himself an esteemed reputation on the local music scene. "His voice rasps like autumn leaves raked across a parking lot", said the Reno News & Review, and this, combined with his unorthodox approach to harmony, has garnered him comparisons to a young Tom Waits. He started performing years ago via the open mic scene, built a loyal local following, and released two records, the most recent of which, "Worth The Wait", was co-produced by Ackerson and Horan.
Joel Ackerson moved to Reno in 2003, and since then has gained notoriety as a solo artist, as a first call sideman for other musicians, and as the mastermind of local band The Novelists. Ackerson mixes deft storytelling into his songs, and his boyish looks belie a rich, husky voice and stark, emotional performances which have drawn comparisons to Elvis Costello, Glen Phillips and Martin Sexton. Ackerson enjoys a national reputation as well, having performed more than 1500 shows in 30 states.
Seth Horan began his career years ago as a sideman in the RCA band Vertical Horizon, but today is known internationally as one of the world's only songwriters to accompany himself with a bass guitar. He began touring through the region in 2002, then opted to record his album "Conduit" here in 2003 (with producer Robert Gilmer of the band 1272), and finally moved to Reno in early 2005. He travels frequently around the U.S. and abroad both as a recording artist and giving masterclasses for Warwick basses.
Kate Cotter has been a popular Reno favorite for years, known for her soaring, angelic voice and her humble stage demeanor. She released her second album, "August", to a packed house in John Ascuaga's Celebrity Showroom just this past summer, and soon after it was voted Best Album for 2007 in the Reno News & Review, also making the KTHX FM "Top 100 for 2007." To top it off, Cotter was voted Best Local Musician for 2007 (RNR). Cotter and Horan were the back-to-back recipients of the Nevada Arts Council's prestigious Fellowship Awards in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
So any of the Joel Justin, Kate, and Seth fans who did not make it to the Starz Align concert Sat nite...sorry, big mistake. Get yourself on an email list and be there the next time - nothing short of fantabulous - we, the audience, were the big winners... :o) S of G&S
