The Bergamot

Artist Information

Biography

"Following in the footsteps as such duos as Simon & Garfunkel and Hall and Oates The Bergamot co-founders Jillian Speece and Nathan Hoff create seamless musical tapestry that span the genres of the pop music spectrum." (ICON Magazine). After hosting their highly anticipated AOL Listening party and being featured in BuzzFeed, CMJ, The Aquarian Weekly, The Chicago Tribune and opening for acts such as Brad Paisley, Young the Giant, Whiz Khalifa, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Young the Giant, Gavin DeGraw, and The All American Rejects this group has set the stage for a breakout 2013. Watch for this group as they hit the global music scene this year with tour dates set for the U.S. and Europe.

This groups dynamic can not be matched. The Bergamot tours as both a duo and a 6 piece band. Lighting up both intimate spaces and festival stages. The Aquarian Weekly referred to this group as "Unbelievably Talented!" The live show will not disappoint.

South Bend, Indiana duo The Bergamot sport a fitting name. Much like the native Italian Bergamot orange - which, despite it's lemon-like color is orange-sized and tends to bloom in winter - classically-trained musicians vocalist Jillian Speece and guitarist/vocalist Nathan Hoff are an eclectic pair that challenge normal categorization. Vocals this pure, songwriting chops this bright and a drive this unstoppable don't often come from bands bubbling just below the radar, let alone those with Division I athletics in their blood.

With a strong EP (2010's Smile) and an even more impressive full-length (2011's Haven) already under the belts, the brand new Static Flowers is a whole new ballgame, thanks to a talented, experienced roster of seasoned session players, fleshing out an already polished catalog of tunes. Throughout the 10-song disc, Speece and Hoff are joined by guests like Jimmy Clark, Tim Marks and Jimmy Johnson (whose resumes include stints with stars as diverse as The Rolling Stones, Loretta Lynn and Aretha Franklin). If that weren't enough, Tom Coyne lends his expertise - having been lead mastering engineer on blockbuster albums like Adele's 21 and Beyonce's I Am... Sasha Fierce - giving Static Flowers a radio-ready sound without sacrificing any heart.

Static Flowers is a record bursting at the seems with memorable hooks and honest-to-goodness smiles, all the while flaunting the potential to catch like wildfire. Speece's lilting vocals on cuts like the peppy opener "Linen," the blue-eyed soul of "Candy Wrappers" or the honky-tonk valentine of "The Southern Line" are worth the price of admission alone, while Hoff's guitar mastery and live injections of kick-drum and keyboards lay a stellar blueprint. Their repertoire is canyon-wide, but whether they're letting loose with a party anthem ("Shake Ur Brotha" is a funky live favorite) or presenting intimacy close to the vest (the hushed R&B ode "Amy"), The Bergamot wear each hat proudly, and more importantly, like it's been a part of them since birth.

Nationally, The Bergamot have been gaining fans at a rapid pace, thanks to consistent touring and a huge break this year in the form of winning a battle-of-the-bands set up by Bud Light. Surviving a painstaking 6-step voting process, the group were chosen play as part of the brewing company's Port Paradise Music Festival in the Bahamas, alongside the likes of Pitbull, Flo Rida, and more. In front of a staggering 8,000 screaming fans, The Bergamot proved again why they stand out, and deserve to stand among music's elite.

Instrumentation

Jillian Speece - Vocals
Nathan Hoff - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Synth, and Harmonica
Neil Carmichael - Lead Guitar
Sean Norris - Drums
Kevin Krizmanich - keyboard
Nathan Miller - Bass

Discography

Static Flowers - Both Records 2012
Wishing Well - Single - Both Records 2012
Early Grey - Both Records 2011
Haven - Both Records 2011
Smile - Bergamot Records 2010
Beautiful April - Single
Winter Anthem - Single
You + Me - Single

Official Website

http://www.thebergamot.com

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• MySpace
• Last.fm
• YouTube
• Both Records

Audio

• It's Gunna Be Me
  Listen  
• Smoke & Fire
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• Wishing Well
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• Amy
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• Linen
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• Railroad
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• Haven
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• Amy
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• In Between
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Sale of the Ground
• But I Do
• You + Me
• In My Life
• Railroad
• Amy
• In Between`
• In Between

Video

The Bergamot Bud Light Port Paradise Music Festival Broken Hearted.mp4

The Bergamot Smoke & Fire.mp4

Photo Gallery

Press

• The Bergamot in The Aquarian Weekly [+ Show ]
  

  This duo is unbelievably talented. Indiana singer-songwriter Jillian Speece has the vocal chops of a...This duo is unbelievably talented. Indiana singer-songwriter Jillian Speece has the vocal chops of a professional. Her country twang mixed with crisp pop vocals give her the edge above other females in her field. Once you add Nathan Hoff into the mix, you’ve got a force to be reckoned with. Hoff dabbles in vocals, guitar, kick drum, and the keys. Both musicians are classically trained, but they have an element of rawness that is difficult to explain. It’s unpolished, yet refined at the same time.
  
  Both South Bend, Indiana natives, the two met in 2003 and created The Bergamot in 2008. Their 2012 album, Static Flowers, is a compilation of country, rock and pop. Static Flowers is the pair’s third release, following 2010’s EP, Smile, and 2011’s full-length, Haven.
  
  “Linen” is a soft rock jam with a bit of country. The two switch on and off with lead vocalist position throughout the album, but you’d never realize it. They both seem to have such an incredible vocal presence, whether they be showcased or behind the lead. That’s what makes “Linen,” “Smoke & Fire,” “Wishing Well” and “Broken Hearted” such diverse tracks. With the start of each song, you never label one person as being the leader. They are true partners in this musical affair.
  
  The only downfall of this record is “Shake Ur Brotha.” Imagine you’re enjoying this album, only to be interrupted by this annoying song about halfway through. “Shake shake ur brotha/Shake shake your friend/Shake shake your lova” sings Speece repetitively. It seems very juvenile and out of place for this well developed compilation. They are redeemed by “In Between” later on, as the guitar picking by Hoff is superb.
  
  I’d be willing to look past the awful “Shake Ur Brotha” incident due to the fact that the remainder of the album is fantastic. Speece and Hoff make you feel alive throughout their musical endeavor, and that’s what almost every musician dreams of.
  
  In A Word: Lively
  
  —by Sara Fazio, September 17, 2012

• The Bergamot "Static Flowers" Review [+ Show ]
  

  "Following in the footsteps as such duos as Simon & Garfunkel and Hall and Oates The Bergam..."Following in the footsteps as such duos as Simon & Garfunkel and Hall and Oates The Bergamot co-founders Jillian Speece and Nathan Hoff create seamless musical tapestry that span the genres of the pop music spectrum."
  
  -ICON Magazine

• 10 Great Music Covers That Are So Close to the Real Thing [+ Show ]
  

  Move over pop stars! These amateur singers are here to blow your mind. You know what else is mind-bl...Move over pop stars! These amateur singers are here to blow your mind. You know what else is mind-blowing? Campbell's Go™ soups. They're so close to the real thing.

• CMJ Download This - The Bergamot
  

  Download the song that has gone viral from The Bergamot called "In Between".

• MM Shorts 217: The Bergamot [+ Show ]
  

  Written while on tour, The Bergamot’s latest single of raw, fleet-fingered folk In Between speaks of...Written while on tour, The Bergamot’s latest single of raw, fleet-fingered folk In Between speaks of the life of a traveling musician. The single was tracked live and is meant to give the listener a sense of the disarray that is a life on the road. (4 Stars)
  
  

• Top 70 Albums of 2012
  

  57) The Bergamot - Static Flowers

• The Bergamot wins the Bud Light Contest [+ Show ]
  

  The South Bend based band, The Bergamot, has won one of the top 3 spots in the "Bud Light Battle of ...The South Bend based band, The Bergamot, has won one of the top 3 spots in the "Bud Light Battle of the Bands" and will head to the Bahamas to share the stage with Brad Paisley, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Whiz Khalifa, The All American Rejects, Young the Giant, and The Far East Movement.

• The Bergamot Offer MP3 To “Amy” Via Amy Winehouse [+ Show ]
  

  One year after her death, the shockwaves of Amy Winehouse’s death are still reverberating. In The Be...One year after her death, the shockwaves of Amy Winehouse’s death are still reverberating. In The Bergamot’s heart-rending “Amy,” one can hear the pain, which addiction can cause for the addicted person’s loved ones. Fittingly, the song begins in A minor (Am, for short), and with solo acoustic guitar accompanying Jillian Speece and Nathan Hoff’s beautifully harmonizing vocals.
  
  Hoff, who wrote the song, took inspiration from a family member’s descent into alcoholism and death. “Although I had no personal experience with Amy,” says Hoff, “I did feel the same palpable pain and feeling of loss when she passed due to her relapse and final collapse to addiction and alcohol.” “Amy” takes the form of a love song from the perspective of the person who hopes their love can save the addicted person, but knows that they must ultimately let that person make their own decisions.

• Free Music Friday [+ Show ]
  

  The Bergamot's song "Amy" is offered as a free download on the music blog "Free Music Friday" by Abs...The Bergamot's song "Amy" is offered as a free download on the music blog "Free Music Friday" by Absolute Punk.

• The Bergamot Releases "Amy" - Amy Winehouse-Inspired Song Available For Download Now [+ Show ]
  

  One year after her death, the shockwaves of Amy Winehouse's death are still reverberating. In The Be...One year after her death, the shockwaves of Amy Winehouse's death are still reverberating. In The Bergamot's heart-rending "Amy," one can hear the pain, which addiction can cause for the addicted person's loved ones. Fittingly, the song begins in A minor (Am, for short), and with solo acoustic guitar accompanying Jillian Speece and Nathan Hoff's beautifully harmonizing vocals.
  
  Hoff, who wrote the song, took inspiration from a family member's descent into alcoholism and death. "Although I had no personal experience with Amy," says Hoff, "I did feel the same palpable pain and feeling of loss when she passed due to her relapse and final collapse to addiction and alcohol." "Amy" takes the form of a love song from the perspective of the person who hopes their love can save the addicted person, but knows that they must ultimately let that person make their own decisions. The song is on The Bergamot's upcoming LP, Static Flowers. Download "Amy" now!

• Pick Your Poison Tuesday
  

  The Bergamot's single "Amy" is featured by music blogger Faronheit based out of Chicago, IL.

• The Bergamot Wins Sweetwater Song Writing Competition [+ Show ]
  

  The Bergamot original song was the winner of the Sweetwater Song Writing Competition. Their song, O...The Bergamot original song was the winner of the Sweetwater Song Writing Competition. Their song, On and On, will be featured on a cd produced by the company.

• WhatzUp Magazine Review [+ Show ]
  

  It’s a tricky thing to pull off something that’s fresh and retro without turning into a novelty act....It’s a tricky thing to pull off something that’s fresh and retro without turning into a novelty act. The Bergamot pull that off quite nicely with Smile. It’s a snapshot of their 60-plus song repertoire, an easy, satisfying EP experience that mixes the indie genre with classical guitar licks, Motown treatments, James Taylor and the Beatles, not to mention some of that Over The Rhine feel. The Bergamot are songwriting duo Jillian Speece and Nathan Hoff, both from South Bend, supported by Andrew Teeple on bass and Grant Inman on drums. Hoff is classically trained. You can hear it in the arrangements, which are layered and orchestrated without being over-produced. Speece grew up singing with her family, though never in public, as she was painfully shy. She gradually blossomed into a vocal confidence that is on par with Sunny Taylor, and one of the great strengths of The Bergamot.
  
  “Sale of the Ground” begins the disc with an intriguing, finger-pluck intro on the guitar. Speece enters with an easy vocal that is rich and smoky, strong and spontaneous. It’s hope versus inevitability here: a summer lake house is in danger of corporate encroachment. It’s perhaps a metaphor for life, a call to retain individuality in the face of conformity. “But I Do” has the strong melodies and sonic landscapes that smack a bit of Beatles meets 70s-era Chicago, with some of the whimsy and dynamic shifts you might expect from Andrew Bird. The lyrical repetition works for rhythmic effect, not just as song filler. The varying timbres weave into a culmination then back to an easy canter.
  
  “You & Me” has a satisfying and familiar melody with a classic Motown feel supported by a nice organ line. The notion of love gets a surface treatment lyrically, but the point of this song is experience, not illumination. Speece and Hoff don’t seem pressured to always be profound, which is refreshing. They know when to just let the music be the music. The result is infectious in the best Motown tradition. You sing along, and you dance without a care about who may be watching. “In My Life” is a mellower mix of carefree and contemplative elements. We’re in the moment, the spontaneity, the musical magic, rather than any sort of analytical or practical place. “Railroad” begins with a magical a capella that Speece calls “eerie optimism.” It’s my favorite spot on the disc. The retro-soul feel works to paint memories of earlier days of idealism and escapism and the realization that we don’t live free like we used to. “Oh, the way we thought we’d change the world when we were standing on the railroad feeling free from the world / our thoughts shattered like glass.” The sense of loss is palpable musically and lyrically. It brings an understated optimism that uses memory to fortify our present for the better. The EP ends with another arrangement of “You & Me” to keep you singing for hours.
  
  Smile gave me many smiles, as well as a hunger for more. This summer, expect to see an acoustic CD, Haven, along with a full release next year called Static Flowers. (Mark Turney)
  
  Copyright 2010 Ad Media Inc.
  
  

• Greg Jarrett from WGN Chicago's "The Greg Jarrett Show" [+ Show ]
  

  "Wow! The Bergamot...The heck with American Idol, the heck with the Grammys...That is a fantastic so..."Wow! The Bergamot...The heck with American Idol, the heck with the Grammys...That is a fantastic sound! Remember you heard them first here on WGN Chicago."

• Chicago's Southside on the Town: The Bergamot Live Review [+ Show ]
  

  SouthSide highly recommends checking out Bergamot while currently on their national tour. This duo a...SouthSide highly recommends checking out Bergamot while currently on their national tour. This duo acoustically rocked the Elbo Room stage with a powerful yet soulful R&B/alternative performance. This set had everything, blogspot readers, spunk ...passion ...vibrant guitar rhythms and female vocals (Jillian) which completely stole the entire show. Accompanied by Nathan (on guitar) and his deep (sometimes low) voice during certain songs, SouthSide could feel Bergamot's storytelling lyrics coming to life inside her ears while grooving to the lively music. This reviewer was totally vibin' what was wafting from the stage as she observed Jillian "owning" the sage with her expressive body language and dancing. Plus she liked how Jillian and Nathan had this natural interaction going on with each other as if he was the Yang to her Ying or vice versa especially during the song But I Do. SouthSide at times found herself lost inside the vivid imagery of Bergamot's lyrics (as found in The Traveller or Haven, title track off their upcoming album) or feeling the heartfelt tenderness of emotions (as found in Hannah or You and Me, in which SouthSide dubbed as the wedding song). Blogspot readers can check out the video for You and Me on YouTube. There were fun moments hearing about Bergamot's wild experience at a party in On The Boulevard or enjoying the sigts at Newport Bay. This duo even rocked the stage with danceable yet soulful cover versions of B.B. King's classic Stand By Me (a lively upbeat swing inside a gentle downtempo pace) and Stevie Wonder's Superstition (which rocked out their performance). For more information about Bergamot and tour dates, visit http://www.thebergamot.com or http://www.myspace.com/thebergamot.

• The Bergamot on The Brian Noonan Show
  

  "Incredible"

• The Bergamot takes on Benton Harbor [+ Show ]
  

  A bergamot is an Italian orange used to induce happiness and relieve stress. The Bergamot is a fr...A bergamot is an Italian orange used to induce happiness and relieve stress.
  
  The Bergamot is a fresh, soulful sound originating out of South Bend, Indiana. Coincidentally, the eclectic singing duo – like the orange – also tend to induce happiness and relieve stress. This was made evident by the obvious pleasure of the crowd that turned out to hear them perform this weekend at The Livery in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
  
  The Bergamot is Jillian Speece and Nathan Hoff, and the on-stage chemistry they exude suggests a pair that has made music together for years – eight years, in fact. As a little girl, Jillian learned to sing and write songs at home; Nathan picked up a guitar at the age of 13. They met in 2003 as high school students, and have been writing extraordinary music together ever since.
  
  If you can imagine Jack Johnson playing and Adele singing a jazzed-up version of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” then you’re just beginning to tap into The Bergamot’s signature sound. They’re one part jazz, one part blues, and infused with just a touch of Motown. Pair that retro mood with some lovely lyrical imagery and you’ve got a fresh, fervent sound just waiting to burst at the seams.
  
  And while they may be from Indiana, it’s clear that their hearts lie in southwest Michigan: “Haven,” the title track on their latest album, is “a profession of love for Lake Michigan,” says Jillian. The song “Railroad,” was written for another favorite summertime spot in New Buffalo, and even makes reference to the abundance of this small-town, agricultural region, with lyrics like “apricot was the jam we would take / and honey was our relinquishing grace / the sky our unending fate / when we would escape to the old tracks.”
  
  Such prolific poetry and powerful vocals have taken them as far as LA, Nashville and back. “When she hits those notes,” quips Nathan, “it’s like a train comin’ through. Ain’t nothin’ stopping her!”
  
  “Oooh, watch out, I’m a-chuggin’,” counters Jillian … chugging all the way to New York, the next stop on their journey. But not before they grace southwest Michigan with their presence at least once more: if you missed them on Saturday, you can plan to see them again on March 5th at the Union Coffee House in Buchanan.
  
  The Livery hosts live concerts every weekend and Open Mic nights every Monday. Check out their Calendar of Events for the next performance to favor their stage in Benton Harbor.

• Blue Star Highway On 98.3 The Coast - Reviews The Bergamot
  

  "This duo is amazing!"

• Eddie's Attic: My March Visit [+ Show ]
  

  The Bergamot, a male-female folk duo from Chicago (very Sam & Ruby-esque) started the night off with...The Bergamot, a male-female folk duo from Chicago (very Sam & Ruby-esque) started the night off with two AWESOME songs. I can’t remember the title of the first song but their lyric “we’re gonna go down on that rocky mountain side and finish all the words to this song” stayed with me. The second was a new one they had recently written called “Candy Wrapper.” I couldn’t find them after the shindig but had I done so, I would have purchased their CD and when I get on a normal internet connection tonight, I am going to buy the heck out of their record on iTunes. You can find them at http://www.thebergamot.com/

Setlist

The Bergamot plays originals and introduces new mixes of your favorite tunes. Sets range from 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

The Bergamot Rider

Calendar