Brendan Velasquez

At Nineteen, Brendan Velasquez knows what he wants. He has set out to reach his goal: a career in the music business. With his determination, ambition, and talent there is not much that can stop this young man from reaching and moving people through music.

It all started when he was old enough to vocalize. From elementary school through high school, Brendan performed in choir and multiple musical productions. Music became a natural part of life. He began writing music at age sixteen. Soon he got into music production with the help of his step dad, who introduced him to the wonderful world of home studio.

At the age of 16, Brendan started producing his own fusion of electronica, rock, and pop. His demos were heard by artist manager Raymon Smiley. Impressed by the music, Raymon began working with Brendan on a full length CD that will be released summer 2008. Filled with more than 15 songs ranging from pop/dance with a hint of rock to R&B with a techno flavor there is something for everyone who loves great music.

Brendan is not your average teenager. After the tragic loss of his father in 2006 to AIDS he decided then at that moment to share his story with the youth of the world. One of his hopes is to educate others on the importance of this issue and to help enlighten young people about safer sex practice.

With looks that equal Zac Efron and Ashton Kutcher, and a voice reminiscent of Justin Timberlake and George Michael, Brendan Velasquez is an artist that you will be seeing a lot of in 2008.

Odd Girl Out

The DIY ethic of punk rock; the melodic character of pop rock; the rhythmic quality of hard rock: throw them in a blender with a bunch of girls, and that's what you get with Odd Girl Out, Baltimore's premiere all-female, all-lesbian powerpop/rock band.

OGO is Tawni on lead vocals, Bethany Petr on drums and vocals, Eva Blackmer on bass guitar and vocals, and Selena Benally on guitar and vocals.

Eric Himan

From Eric, about himself!

I can't remember the first five years of my life but this is what I was told growing up by my Grandfather (Jerome):

"You were born in Charleston, South Carolina, Grandma and I came to live with you, your Father and sister after your Mom and Sister passed away when you were 4. I taught you to read your horoscope every day though you didn't understand what you were talking about."

When I was eight, my Dad bought me my very first guitar and tried to teach me how to play. I had no interest, though when I got in trouble, the only "toy" I was left with was that guitar. I picked it up and learned a few chords, then a few songs, and finally wanted to perform at the age of 14 at my high school. I was told, if I play my first show and did well, I would get my first acoustic guitar (what I really wanted all along, thanks Dad). I did just that winning most-talented in what turned out to be a beauty pageant for guys called Striking Viking. It was more of a joke with the format but my talent did shine enough for me to get my first acoustic guitar. I played out more and more, joining a band in college and getting a great following in the area. When it started to become an episode of "Behind The Music"(what a great show!), I went my own way with my best friend/manager at the time, Cassandra and started releasing my own music. I started looking for jobs in NYC to get my music more nationally heard, the day of my last interview for the job, was the day the interviewer's parent passed away. My meeting was canceled and the original day and time was Tuesday morning of September 11th.

After that day, the job market in NYC was bleak, so I moved back to Penn State and started making my own music and touring around. I got recognition in local papers and some LGBT press and more and more folks came out to the shows. Eventually, I went further and further away from Pennsylvania touring all the way to the west coast and back. Releasing more CDs led to bigger opportunities sharing the stage with folks like Cyndi Lauper, Duncan Shiek and India Arie. After 5 years, I didn't know if I was going to stay in music. I released five cds previously and all of them had their own lives and accolades. My first self-titled cd, got great reviews in Penn State local press. 2002's I Go On received attention for the song, "No Urgency" which was requested to be on the HRC's Love Rocks compilation alongside Melissa Etheridge, Christina Aguilera, Dixie Chicks and many more musical heavyweights. In 2003, All For Show launched me into LGBT media with reviews in national publications like Out Magazine, Genre, and Instinct. I also was featured on the front page of gay.com that ended up flooding my email for months after with folks interested in the music. After an attempt at working with hit making producers that wanted to make me some Frankenstein of what they thought I was about, I released 2005's Dark Horse independently to even more press in and out of the LGBT press, including being listed in the 2005 OUT 100 list!

In 2006, Everywhere All At Once contained the song, Bartender, that became an instant hit with listeners and "Thanks" ended up at number 1 for five weeks on Sirius Radio's OutQ station. I released a five song EP There's Gotta Be Something that became the first music video I've ever done. The video spent six weeks at the #1 spot on the Click List, MTV LOGO's request countdown.

In 2007, I was burned to a crisp from driving all over the country going strong for many years. It took about a month or two for me to go through my past and present to start writing my newest release, Resonate. Bringing my life out in the forefront, with references to my family, friends, and those I met on the road, the songs just seemed to write themselves. 2008's Resonate is sure to bring light on songs such as "Little Boy Blue", "For Me", and "Protest Song" reaching new folks and touring even further than before. My best friend said, "Make the cd that is going to change your life", and I think I just did.

24 Karat

Pasadena, MD is a strange town on the verge of Glen Burnie and like a deep water oyster; occasionally produces odd, eccentric and musically-gifted pearls such as "24 Karat Rock".

Who is "24 Karat Rock" you ask?

Well... "Imagine Dido's birthday party being crashed by Jefferson Airplane, No Doubt and Blondie. Or Cyndi Lauper refereeing a battle between Missing Persons, Green Day, Ashlee Simpson, Beatles and the Bangles. That's 24 Karat Rock. Hard to figure out? Yep, but it works well. Their stuff is diverse, butt shakin' and fresh.

24 Karat Rock is known to give great live performances. 24 Karat Rock has only been around for a short time now and they have gone from 0 to 60 in nothing flat, expanding musically over a broad range of material. We are ever evolving, unique; and draw from a combination of backgrounds of classic rock, folk, modern rock and a touch of grunge thrown in for good measure. Rich flowing melodies supported with plenty of harmonies; you are also treated to well crafted productions which are admittedly on the light, happy side, but also very moving because you'll find you just can't stand still or not sing along when they are playing. 24 Karat Rock is beginning to make a mark in the Maryland music scene. Keep an eye and ear out for them.

Mara Levi

Mara Levi is a Smart Pop musician who specializes in transcending musical genres and building live multi-layered loops to accompany her songs. Her music is catchy and intelligent, and mixes bluegrass, hip-hop, folk, pop, and jazz. Classically trained, Mara grew up listening to folk music, studied jazz composition, and fell in love with Rock and Roll. Mara has been touring nationally for six years, and has had great success with her CD, What Are You? which features songs like The Homo Song, and Angelina. Come see Mara live and ask about being included in her Installation Art project, The What Are You? Project or check it out on her website! (coming soon)

More about Mara:

Mara Levi (Mah' ruh Lee' vee) was born in Ohio where music was a part of her life from an early age. Mara went to Amherst College where she studied jazz composition and arranged popular music for her a cappella group, sang in the choir, all the while playing bass in a rock and roll band (kid sampson).

Mara began her solo musical career in 2002 after Kid Sampson broke up. Her first solo CD, "Life's a Ball," reflects her rock and roll upbringing as well as her folk sensibilities. Mara's music has evolved to encompass not only pop and folk music, but her jazz and classical roots as well. Mara plays Smart Pop Music: Music that is catchy and accessible, but also intricate and smart. She sings about politics, love, and stalking celebrities, all with characteristic wit and signature complexity.

Mara's second solo CD, "What Are You?" is a departure from the style of her first solo release. Intentionally eclectic, the album and its title directly confront the notion that anyone can be easily defined, or that people should be expected to have an answer to the question, "What Are You?" Mara recorded every track on the album from her home in DC, using only instruments that she could play herself. The result is an album that sounds less like top-40 radio, and more like a reflection of Mara's varied musical interests. Many of the background vocals were arranged to mimic vocal groups from the '40s and '50s; bass parts run the gamut from simple bluegrass to actual countermelodies; improvised trumpet and vocal parts join open voicings of common chords to add elements of jazz; one song takes its structure and background vocals directly from Johannes Brahms; old and new voicings and sounds combine to give the album a complex and very human range and diversity.

The Degenerettes

The Degenerettes are Baltimore's all-grrrl underground garage rock trio. These gals have been stomping the East Coast with queered raw primitive rock & roll since 2005 and now they're coming for you!

The Degenerettes have played: LoFi Social Club, Talking Head, Ottobar, 14 Karat Cabaret, Shattered Wig, Creative Alliance, Charm City Kitty Club, Phase 1 (DC), Velvet Lounge (DC), AS220 (Providence), the Living Room Lounge (Brooklyn), Hamilton Arts Collective, Stolen Heart Cabaret, Hole in the Wall Cabaret, and more!

They have shared stages with: Pansy Division, The Avengers, Pariah Piranha, Lesbians On Ecstasy, The Shondes, Boyskout, Nicky Click, The TunaHelpers, Baby Aspirin, Odd Bones, Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad, South Carey, Even So, The Headwounds, The Falsies, Odd Girl Out, Celia Kipp & the Last Ditch, The Jennifers, The Way Outs, Savory James, Mr. Moccasin, and Trixie Little & the Evil Hate Monkey.

Rahne Alexander (guitar, vocals) is the primary songwriter for the Degenerettes. She's a driving force behind the Charm City Kitty Club cabaret and a frequent contributor to local publications, including City Paper and Baltimore Gay Life. Rahne also been featured at The Stoop Storytelling Series. In her spare time, Rahne helps manage Video Americain and the Artmobile online arts community. In 2005, she recorded and released her debut solo CD, Blonde On A Bum Trip. More info: www.rahne.com

Kristen Anchor (drums) is a media artist whose work has screened in film festivals across the country. Kristen books films and shows at the Creative Alliance (Baltimore). She is also a founding member of Charm City Kitty Club, a long-running Baltimore-based cabaret showcasing queer performance.

Chrissy Howland (bass), she's sassy.

Tom Goss

Tom grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He spent his childhood in the gym with his gymnast parents and brothers, but switched to wresting in junior high—a better outlet for some serious teenage aggression—and stuck with it through college.

Music was another, more enduring passion. His mom bought him a guitar as a high-school graduation present, and he quickly taught himself to play. Inspired by Dave Matthews and David Gray, he soon started writing songs of his own.

Through it all, Tom felt a strong spiritual calling. While at the University of Central Missouri, studying to become a teacher, Tom decided that he was meant to be a priest instead. He moved to Washington, DC in 2004 to enter Catholic seminary. It didn’t go as planned and, disillusioned by the institution in which he had placed his faith, he chose to abandon religious training—but not his quest.

Back in secular life, Tom sought new ways to work toward social justice, the issue that had led him to the church in the first place. He took a job running a breakfast program for the homeless. He began to build a life with his partner Mike. And he channeled his message of love, hope and reconciliation through his music.

Don’t expect hymns. Tom offers up dynamic acoustic rock featuring muscular guitar, hooky melodies and a uniquely powerful voice. If the 26-year-old has any patron saints, they are Jack Johnson, Damien Rice, Ben Folds, and Joss Stone.

Since April 2006, when he released his self-produced debut, Naked Without, Tom has played scores of coffeehouses, bars, gay pride festivals and other events—honing his skills along the way. With the January 2008 release of his second CD, Rise, Tom demonstrates just how far he’s come. The six songs showcase his stylistic flexibility, from the urgent growl of “Morning Sun” to the sweet and unadorned “King of Something Right.”

Across Tom’s songs echo themes of rebirth and renewal, of love and loss and what lies beyond. It’s a playlist for anyone on a journey from darkness to light.

Tom just completed his first music video, for the title track on Rise. (Watch it at www.tomgossmusic.com or www.youtube.com/tomgossmusic.)