Victoria & Zeta Five

Artist Information

Biography

Biography
ONLINE INTERVIEW: Zeta Five has Coffee with Tim (Streaming Audio) - befuddled.typepad.com/rock/interviews/index.html

Victoria Hammill (Lead Violin / Lead Vocals): "I love the creative process, and it is joy to perform and create with other artists - listening to and co-creating on the fly, working with the unique expression of each individual, complimenting and harmonizing, soloing freestyle, and expressing feeling through tone, melody, rhythm and lyric, that's what I love. The whole thang - it's all very healing for me and the little girl inside me - it brings out enthusiasm for life - its a gift - and it is so very beautiful when it is free-flowing and spontaneous and when the listeners, through their presence, are part of the process.

So, having a jam band that draws on blues, rock, rhythm and blues, and jazz fusion makes perfect sense due to the very nature and structure of these influences - it's "feeling" — it's "free-flowing" — it's "spontaneous" — it's "electric".

I am a native Texan - "Stevie Ray Vaughan" country - and I play violin gunslinger style - very high energy. So, as you may have already guessed, my unique signature and style has Stevie Ray and Hendrix influences, and other rock & blues greats like Roy Buchanan, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Carlos Santana, and more.

Since relocating from a 10 year stay in Nashville, Tennessee, to the Austin, Texas area, Victoria has played in Fort Worth at Stingray's Sports Cafe, and Key West; in Dallas at the Media Tech's Dallas Sound Lab; in San Marcos at the Cheatum Warehouse, Cancun Rob's Fajita Hut, Gold Crown Billiards, and the Tantra Coffee House; in San Antonio at Sam's Burger Joint, the VFW on Austin Hwy, and Make My Day; and in Austin and the nearby surrounding area at Giddy Ups, Nunos, Victory Grill, Jovitas, Antone's, Scoots Inn, Momos, The 311 Club, Mi Casa Tamales Cantina, Kick Butt Coffee, Green Pastures, Detour Bar & Grill (Lakeway), The Pier (Venture Point), On The Rocks (Cottonwood Shores), and Hanover's Draft Haus (Pflugerville).

With her Nashville-based band, Victoria performed at "The Clarksville Riverfest", and at well-known Nashville area blues clubs, such as; the "Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar", "B.B. Kings Blues Club", "Bluesboro Rhythm & Blues Company, Inc., "The Hard Rock Café", "Mercy Lounge", "Lipstick Lounge", "The Boardwalk Cafe", “The French Quarter”, and others. She has also shared the stage with Shannon de Bayou, Don Kendrick, Patio Daddio, Brannon Lane, and Tom Larson (Delicious Blues Stew); James "Nick" Nixon (The Imperials), Mungo (former Drummer for Bo Diddley), Waldo Weathers & The Mix (former sax player for James Brown & Charlie Pride), Steve Rossi (keyboardist for Peter Frampton), Marion James (Nashville’s Queen of the Blues), Johnny Jones, Mississippi Millie, Dave McKenzie, Miranda Louise, to name a few.

Prior to Nashville, Victoria performed with "The Brett Allen Jazz Trio" and with Edward T Hammill in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Texas, who are now partners who make a strong song-writing team.

Original material includes a broad range of musical styles, ranging from blues, to rhythm and blues, to jazz, and to fusion with latin, brazilian and classical influences.

"I have been playing violin for nearly 18 years - 7 years of formal classical training, 2 years training of Texas Style Fiddling and 8+ years experience as a blues violinist with rock, rhythm and blues, and jazz influences."

Instrumentation

Victoria Hammill - Electric Violin / Vocals / Writer
Edward T Hammill - Rhythm Guitar / Co-Writer
Eric Kent - Lead & Rhythm Guitar / Vocals
Omar Molina - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Luiz Coutinho - Percussion
Charles Irwin - Bass
Harold McMillan - Bass
Gil De Los Santos - Drums

Discography

Our new CD titled "To Be Announced" is now available for purchase online at CDBaby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/victoriazetafive

Digital downloads of individual tracks, as well as the complete album, are available for purchase through iTunes and Rhapsody.

Official Website

http://www.zetafive.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Last.fm

Audio

• Peter Gunn LIVE @ Palms Lounge.MP3
  Listen  
• Let Me Go
  Listen  
• That Was Then, This Is Now - Electric Violin Lead & Rhythm Guitar - VZ5 - The Dynamic Duo - Crop_converted
  Listen  
• Down By The River
  Listen  
• To Be Announced
  Listen  
• He Makes Me Feel So Good
  Listen  
• Bendin' Like A Willow Tree
  Listen  
• It's A Lazy Morning Rain (V. & E. Hammill)
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Let Me Go
• Quiet Storm / New Americas
• It's A Lazy Morning Rain
• He Makes Me Feel So Good

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• UNSIGNED - JULY 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  Have you ever heard an electric violin sound like an electric guitar? Better yet, a child whining? T...Have you ever heard an electric violin sound like an electric guitar? Better yet, a child whining? These are some of the amazing things Victoria makes her “fiddle ” sound like on the band ’s CD "To Be Announced". Victoria and the band do a great job of delivering some down home blues influenced/jazz inspired material. The band is composed of some brilliant musicians, but dare I say the things Victoria does with her violin are simply magnificent ... the music is phenomenally good, especially the 10:49 long Voodoo Child. I would love to hear an all-instrumental CD from V and ZF.

• INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL RADIO AIRPLAY & INTERNET RADIO PLAY [+ Show ]
  

  "ROCK & BLUES & "MINISTERIO" SHOWS - JULY 2006 CORDOBA (2nd largest city in REPUBLICA ARGENTINA, ...
  "ROCK & BLUES & "MINISTERIO" SHOWS - JULY 2006
  CORDOBA (2nd largest city in REPUBLICA ARGENTINA, population 1.5 million) (July 2006)
  
  VooDoo Child (Slight Return) Airplay www.975rock.com.ar
  
  The day 07/07/06. I have received your pkg and I'm very impressioned for your material. In my opinion is very interesant and original. Today, sunday, in our program will be present the track 10 and in the next edition, others 3 new tracks. Thank for your sending and waiting for news.
  
  SalUdos y abrazo-blues.
  CARLOS
  
  The radio program, "ROCK & BLUES", is emitted every Sunday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. from FM 97.5 ROCK. The program is more than 11 years old and it is practically one of the few what, in your genre, are emitted inside the city and the country.
  
  The other program called "MINISTERIO" is also emitted on FM 97.5 ROK on Thursdays from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. This program is dedicated, with more extensive criterion, to difusse blues,rock-fusion jazz,etc.
  
  Carlos Luis Rubin is the PRODUCER and CONDUCTOR of both radio programs.
  
  _____________________________
  
  
  GOOD TIME BLUES SHOW (JULY 2006)
  BUENES AIRES, ARGENTINA
  
  2 hours of the best blues and jazz music!
  Live broadcast every Friday night 22:00 pm on FM Arinfo www.arinfo.com.ar/vivo.htm !!!
  
  "I´ve received your great cd a few days ago! I really love your music and I´ll play in our show soon! I will send the playlist too."
  
  Thanks for your amability,
  Gustavo Rozenberg
  
  _____________________________
  
  
  PULSIONS 70 RADIO ARIA (JUNE 2006)
  France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany
  
  "It's A Lazy Morning Rain" Airplay
  
  "My name is RUER Michel and I work in a radio (Radio Aria) in France. I realize an emission on the blues (Pulsions 70) during one hour on Tuesdays and one hour on Sundays. My emission is diffused in the east of France, in Belgium, in Luxembourg and in the south of Germany.
  
  I would like my listeners to discover your music. I am also a member of the Collectif of Radios Blues headed by Francis Rateau. I will send you my playlist. "
  
  RUER Michel
  Emission Pulsions 70 Radio Aria
  LONGWY France
  
  _____________________________
  
  
  THE ON THE HORIZON NETWORK SHOW - JUNE & JULY 2006
  
  Terrestrial Airplay & Internet Radio Play & Interview
  
  "Bayou's Blues Jam (Wild Turkeys)" - www.theothnetwork.com
  
  Affiliates Include:
  · Special Radio for Special People, Russia - Wednesday Nights ( www.specialradio.ru)
  · Garage Radio - Everynight, 8p to 9p EST (www.garageradio.com)
  · Iradio LA 104.7fm Los Angeles, California - Monday & Friday, 7a PST (www.iradiola.com)
  · Quality Beats Radio QB106FM Portsmouth, UK (www.qualitybeatsradio.com)
  · Tapp Out Radio, London, UK - Friday 9p 2100 GMT (www.tappoutradio.co.uk)
  · Blast 1386 Radio Station, Thames Valley University, UK (www.blast1386.com)
  · WRAJ Internet Radio, Bohemia, New York - Sundays, 7a EST (www.wrjaradio.com)
  · WDYN FM 100.1 Rochester, New York
  Thursdays, 3p & Saturdays, 9p EST (http://www.tappoutradio.co.uk/)
  · ERO Play, Mondays 5p PST & 8 PST (www.eroplay.com)
  · Worcester Tunes, Sundays 2p, Mondays 10a, & Thursdays 4p
  (www.worcestertunes.com)
  · ISON Live Radio, Austrailia - Distribution to 113 stations (www.isonliveradio.com)
  

• iSOUND.com RADIO - DECEMBER 2006 thru NOVEMBER 2007 [+ Show ]
  

  "He Makes Me Feel So Good" included on an unsolicited regular rotation from a playlist of 20 on iSO... "He Makes Me Feel So Good" included on an unsolicited regular rotation from a playlist of 20 on iSOUNDS.com Blues Radio station May 2006 through November 2007.
  
  "Wild Turkeys" included on an unsolicited regular rotation from a playlist of 20 for 30 days on iSOUNDS.com Blues Radio station, and for 20 days on the Top Songs rotation through December 2005 and January 2006 & February 2006.

• NASHVILLE MUSIC GUIDE - JUNE 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  If you're into hot rockin' electric violin blues and jazz and fusion, let's go! Victoria Hammill is ...If you're into hot rockin' electric violin blues and jazz and fusion, let's go! Victoria Hammill is a fiddler extraordinaire when it comes to her genre of music. Released on the independent Digimind Records label, the album features eleven eclectic cuts that keep your body groovin' to the sound. The girl's vocals aren't too bad either and are backed by some pretty cool musicians. Rating: 6 Stars
  

• BREAKING RECORD: March 29, 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  Victoria has secrets! And she's not talking! Victoria Hammill won't tell anyone how she gets her ...Victoria has secrets! And she's not talking!
  
  Victoria Hammill won't tell anyone how she gets her violin to sing, dance, whine, talk, and massage your soul.
  
  Dang, if Victoria doesn't get connected to lightening every single time she touches bow to string.
  
  You have to experience Victoria's violin. To miss out on this experience would be like missing Jimmy on guitar or Miles on trumpet. I know enough about language to know that you can only say "unique'' once. So let there be no confusion when I say, Victoria is a unique violinist. (Be sure to [listen to] Stevie Ray Vaughan's song "Say What!''; plus the original Zeta Five songs "It's A Lazy Morning Rain'' and "Wild Turkeys''.)
  
  Victoria Hammill fronts a bluesy group called Victoria & Zeta Five. Victoria & Zeta Five play songs from a broad spectrum of genres, but they all tend to come out with a bluesy/jazzy interpretation.
  
  Victoria & Zeta Five will be releasing their latest CD, "To Be Announced'', in April 2006. The CD can be purchased at the Zeta Five site , as well as from CD Baby. MP3's are already available from the Zeta Five site.
  
  Most the songs on "To Be Announced'' are foot stompers. They're all tasty tunes that are finger-licking good! If these tunes were Southern fried chicken, you'd need extra napkins.
  
  It's a difficult choice, but perhaps my favorite in the bunch is a cover of the Stevie Ray Vaughan song "Say What!''.
  
  As with all good bands, Zeta Five is a team effort. Zeta Five doesn't quite have enough regular and guest players to man a football team, but they certainly could put together a B-ball squad. In addition to Victoria Hammill doing lead violin and lead vocals, they have EDward T Hammill, Victoria's husband, (rhythm guitar), John Raska (drums), William Scruggs (bass & backup vocals), and Markus Rodriguez (lead guitar). Guest players on the CD include Waldo Weathers (saxophone), Larry Van Loon (Hammond B3), Sue Birch (bass & backup vocals), Shannon "De Bayou'' Williford (harp), and James "Nick'' Nixon (rhythm guitar, lead vocal, backup vocals).
  
  I'm sure Zeta Five could handle any song you might throw their way, and "To Be Announced'' shows the breadth of their range. And every song gets cooked with those secret Zeta Five Spices. They come out crisp and succulent, so bring those napkins.
  
  Now Victoria won't give away her secrets, but I'll tell you something that's no bull: If you want a physical and emotional workout, put the Zeta Five CD "To Be Announced'' in your player. One second you'll be foot-stomping like an old granddaddy, the next you'll be crying like a baby, and that's no secret.
  
  In a week or so, Victoria and the gang will be doing an audio Coffee with Tim. It will to be fun, so stay tuned!
  
  Don't tell anyone, but when Zeta Five has their Coffee with Tim, I'll announce that I'm giving "To Be Announced'' a rating of 5 plus a ScramJet Violin. Hush, now. Don't tell Victoria! She can't be the only one with secrets.
  

• INDIE 104.7fm LA & iRADIOLA.com - February 2006 [+ Show ]
  

  "It's A Lazy Morning Rain" received airplay on indie104.7fm in LA, California, beginning February 1..."It's A Lazy Morning Rain" received airplay on indie104.7fm in LA, California, beginning February 16, 2006, as well as on Internet Radio at www.iRadioLA.com.
  

• Bluesy Award: Music City Blues Certificate of Nomination 2003, 2004, & 2005
  

  “Best Other Blues Instrumentalist of the Year, Victoria Hammill, Blues Violin"

• Nashville Scene (Critics' Picks) [+ Show ]
  

  "VICTORIA & ZETA FIVE. Victoria Hammill plays an electric fiddle as if jamming with Stevie Ray Vau...
  "VICTORIA & ZETA FIVE. Victoria Hammill plays an electric fiddle as if jamming with Stevie Ray Vaughan and Robert Randolf — and as if trying to match the tone and freedom of both. Running her dramatically altered violin through a Mesa Boogie amp, she makes a mind-bendingly original bowed sound; if you weren't watching, you'd want to see how a guitarist was creating such wildly expressive solos. A geophysicist who has worked with wave-form propagation and microseismics, Hammill is not afraid of experimenting with the mechanics of her instrument and the sounds it can make."

• Big City Rhythm & Blues (Nashville Blues) [+ Show ]
  

  "... The Music City Blues Society's jam is held at the Boardwalk Cafe on Thursdays ... [There] you...
  "... The Music City Blues Society's jam is held at the Boardwalk Cafe on Thursdays ... [There] you may catch the electric fiddle of Victoria Hammill. Victoria admits she can't play country but I've never heard anything like the wah-wah violin she produces for blues anywhere else! ... "

• NASHVILLE MUSIC GUIDE (Music City Blues Corner) [+ Show ]
  

  "Victoria & Zeta 5 is the name of a new band built around the violin and vocal talents of Victoria H..."Victoria & Zeta 5 is the name of a new band built around the violin and vocal talents of Victoria Hammill. This is a lady who is, in my opinion, making sounds that have never been made before on her violin. A dynamic stylist on her instrument, she recalls the great blues-rock guitarists, such as Stevie Ray Vaughn."

Setlist

Victoria & Zeta Five is available to perform up to four 45 minute sets of cover and original material which draw on a broad range of musical styles, such as; rock, blues, jazz, fusion, rhythm n' blues, funk, latin / brazilian, and more.

Please visit the official Victoria & Zeta Five website at www.ZetaFive.com to download Press Kit which includes our playlist.

Basic Requirements

Calendar