April, 2008 - Style Weekly Article

Style Weekly Features Pennyshaker in the Music Issue

Style Weekly hooked us up and featured us again in the 2008 Music Issue. Check out the interview from us and a lot of other great bands in Style Weekly's 2008 Music Issue.

May, 2006 - Update

New Demo Available

Pennyshaker has completed pressing our new demo featuring three previously unreleased tracks. The songs were recorded and mastered right here in Richmond. Thanks to Lance at Minimum Wage Recording and Adam at In Your Ear Studios for all of the great work. Go here to download the songs now.

Headed Back to NYC

To our friends in NYC, we'll be back at Kenny's Castaways on Bleecker on Sat., June 10th. We hope to see all of you again!

June, 2005 - Update

CD Release Party at Bogart's

Despite the fact that it was long over due, the CD Release Party on the the 24th was awesome. Thanks to everyone who made it out to pack Bogart's backroom and special thanks to Sam Shaber for opening. Man, that girl is talened! Great voice, great songs...and as a guitar player, I have to give her extra credit for this: she broke a string during her third song or so, and rather than take a quick break to fix it, she sang a song a cappella while she put a new string on, in an Irish accent no less. Good stuff Sam!

Pennyshaker plays live on WTVR Channel 6

Ticia and I got to perform live on the 12pm news of the local CBS affiliate on Friday the 24th to promote the CD release party. Special thanks to Cheryl Miller of WTVR for setting the performance up and giving us the opportunity. We did a brief interview (Ticia was on the spot, I wasn't mic'ed :o) and play a few minutes of Special. We were a little nervous once the rolled they aimed the cameras, but after the first chord, it's like riding a bike.

CD Review at Richmond.com

John Cocktrell of Richmond.com wrote a very cool review of our new CD. Check out the review in the music section of Richmond.com. Thanks to Rob and John of Richmond.com for helping us get the name out.

Thanks for everyone's support this month! Hope to see at Alley Katz on July 16th.
-- Darren

May, 2005 - Update

Hey everyone,

The last couple of months have been very exciting for us. Lots of stuff going on...

Shows...

April was a great month of really great shows around town, including a killer one at Bogart's a couple of Saturdays ago. Everyone there seemed to be having such a good time that it definitely rates as one of our favorite gigs in a long, long time. To all of you who were there: I don't know how you people could possibly generate all that noise. I'm serious. Let's do it again on June 30 at the CD release party!

Potter's Battle Of The Bands

Even though we came in 2nd, the Potter's battle has to be considered a success. First of all, you gotta understand... BOBs really suck to play. The whole idea of competing against other bands is insane. Besides, how any judge can possibly choose between a band like Sin City Revival and us is beyond me. Why should they have to anyhow? But the good part is that we met a lot of great people and got to see a lot of bands (some great, some downright horrible) in the process...and in the end, isn't that what it's all about?

Style Weekly Music Issue and Party

Ah, yes...the Style Music Issue... many thanks to the editors for reviewing the CD, and printing our picture... Also thanks to Jay Smack and the guys from Inside Track for the shout in the same issue.

Tuesday, May 10th was the Style Music Issue Party at Banditos. Pretty much someone from every Richmond band, studio, venue, etc was there. We had a great time, getting wasted old-skool-style with some old friends. It's amazing how tight the music community in Richmond is. Definitely a cool thing. Plus, the Rising Sons played, and that was reason enough for me to be there. Before we left, we ended up ripping a couple of shots with a Carter(old friend) from Carbon Leaf, who I can't believe was actually in town. Have you seen their tour schedule? It's ridiculous.

Randolph-Macon with Carbon Leaf

Carbon Leaf played a show at Randolph-Macon in April and we were fortunate enough to open for them. As mentioned before, Dave, Darren and I go way back with those guys, so it's always great to see them when they roll through town. We hadn't seen their show in a long time, and they were flawless. But the real highlight was playing on the huge stage for all their fans.

That day we also got another chance to see Jamie and her band, The Atkinsons. Man, those guys are a great example of another emerging Richmond band that you probably haven't seen yet. Roots rock that is definitely worth your $5.

New Music

For any of you who haven't seen us in a couple of months...and for those of you who have... we're working on a lot of new music. There's a ton of stuff that's half done...and a lot that's ready to go. Look for a couple of new originals on June 30, and maybe a couple of surprise covers...

Cover suggestions?

Speaking of covers, we want to know what you guys think we should play! Email us and let us know if you have any ideas. While we won't make any guarantees , if you send in your suggestions, we'll definitely consider learning them. Why not?

See you at Alley Katz on June 4...
-- j.g.

April, 2004 - Update

Pennyshaker has advanced to the final round of the Battle of the Bands at Potter's Pub in Richmond, VA. The final rounds will be held on June 6 and June 13th to decide the winner.

We've nearly completed re-mastering all of our recently recorded material and will be pressing a cd for release sometime in June of 2004. Stay tuned for more information.

January, 2004 - Pennyshaker takes Finalist Honors in 2003 John Lennon Song Writing Contest

Pennyshaker's song, All I Want has taken finalist honors in the 2003 John Lennon Song Writing Contest in the R & B category. As a finalist, we have won 1000.00 and some possible performance/showcase opportunities. More to come on these later. The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting Contest that began in 1997. The Contest is open to amateur and professional songwriters who submit entries in any one of 12 musical categories.

October 25, 2003 - Pennyshaker completes recording at Sound of Music.

During the weekend of October 25th, Pennyshaker entered Sound of Music Studios in Richmond, VA to track two new songs. Working with engineer Alan Weatherhead, Pennyshaker recorded and produced 'About Me' and 'Salvation'. The songs mark a slightly different direction for the band, with a darker and more sombre sound. We're very happy with the how these tracks turned out and we invite you to download them from the music page.

June 11, 2003 - Pennyshaker Appears on TV!

On Wednesday, June 11 at 10:00pm, WCVE will broadcast Pennyshaker's recorded performance from back in Sept. 2002. For those of you who have not been able to make it to any shows recently, this broadcast will feature, along with favorites like "Be Blue" and "Coz I'm Free", early performances of our newer songs "About Me" and "Salvation". Be sure not to miss it!

March 6, 2003 - Pennyshaker takes Track of the Day honors at www.garageband.com

Both All I Want and Be Blue have received Track of the Day honors at garageband.com! See 'Be Blue' as the funk/soul/r&b track of the day on 3/13/03.

March 1, 2003 - Pennyshaker makes first round cuts on Soul City Cafe's Music Quest Contest

Pennyshaker, after the preliminary round of judging for Soul City Cafe's Music Quest contest, is still in the running to open for Jewel on her 2003 tour. Artists from five regions of the United States are presently competing for this grand prize. There will be both a champion band and solo artist. The final artists will be selected, in part, by online voting. If Pennyshaker makes it to the final round, we will need your support!

October 29, 2002 - Pennyshaker Wins The Recording Academy's Demo Review Contest

Pennyshaker is proud to announce that our single, All I Want, took first place in the NARAS' Washington, D.C. Chapter's Demo Review Contest. Included among the judges were David Lowery of Cracker, local Richmond musician Susan Greenbaum, and Andy Martin of Deep South Records. The prizes for this contest, among other things, include studio time at Lowery's Sound of Music Recording Studios and radio play on XM Radio's Unsigned channel (XM 52). If you're an XM Radio subscriber, keep an ear out for us...or better yet, email Billy Zero (billy@xmradio.com) at XM Radio and request to hear Pennyshaker.

September 14, 2002 - Pennyshaker for PBS Broadcast of the Music Scene

Saturday, September 14th, Pennyshaker performed at the Canal Club in Richmond, VA along with other local bands such as The Shiners and Half Brother Sid, for the video taping of an upcoming broadcast of PBS' The Music Scene. The program should be aired sometime in February or March of 2003. Keep an eye out for an email update from Pennyshaker on that broadcast.