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Musical Giant Gibson Guitar Announces "Gibson Rocks" Event at New York City Showroom
Co-Partnership with W3G Entertainment Group Spawns Quarterly Industry Networking Event for Music Industry Executives
For Immediate Release
New York, NY July 19, 2004 -- Gibson Guitar, the world's premiere musical instrument company, announced today that it has partnered with W3G Entertainment Group to produce a quarterly networking party for music industry executives in their New York City Showroom located at 421 West 54th Street in Manhattan.
The idea for a networking event evolved from several conversations between Gibson Guitar New York Entertainment Relations and W3G Entertainment Group as both sought a means of reaching out to our community during uncertain times. The event will serve as a low-key closed environment with great live rock music and an opportunity for music industry executives to connect and partner for future opportunities.
"The quarterly industry event at our New York Showroom is just another way Gibson Guitar continues to reach out to the music community in every aspect," said Henry Juszkiewicz Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "We look forward to working with W3G Entertainment and the many musical talents discovered through this unique opportunity."
“Aside from giving Gibson a chance to make sure their name is at the forefront of the minds of those in a position to ensure their artists use Gibson equipment; it is also an opportunity to reach out and provide a valuable and necessary service for our small community in light of recent lay-offs and consolidation” according to Georgia McBride, President of W3G Entertainment.
The first "Gibson Rocks " Industry Networking Event will be held on August 19, 2004 at the Gibson-Baldwin Showroom in New York City from 8 – 11PM . The event is by invitation only and requires an RSVP. Drinks and hors devours will be served and entertainment will be provided by emerging rock bands found through W3G Entertainment Groups’ annual international emerging talent initiative called M.E.T.R.O Search.
Performers represent a wide spectrum of music in the rock genre and for the inaugural event the list includes San Diego pop-punks Pensive, Maine singer-songwriter Graham Isaacson and modern rockers Harsh Krieger from Nashville. In addition to the entertainment Gibson Guitar will showcase some of their most popular instruments including signature guitars, Baldwin piano and Slingerland drums.
About Gibson Guitar:
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson’s digital guitar, introduced in 2002, represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.’s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton, Chickering and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson’s website at www.gibson.com.
About W3G Entertainment:
W3G Entertainment Group is a multifaceted company that focuses on entertainment marketing, artist management and marketing initiatives like the Gibson Rocks Industry Networking Event, M.E.T.R.O Search and one-on-one integrated marketing solutions for individual artists and companies in the music, fashion, sports and entertainment industries. Visit our official website at www.w3gentertainment.com
For more information about the event or to request an invitation, please contact Georgia McBride of W3G Entertainment Group at 888.294.4749.
Contacts:
Georgia McBride or Nicole Moss
W3G Entertainment Group
888.294.4749 or gibsonrocks@w3gentertainment.com
Caroline Galloway
Gibson Guitar
440-338-3469 or caroline.galloway@gibson.com
Jennifer Smith
Gibson New York
212-582-0430 or jennifer.smith@gibson.com
# # # - Multiple
(2004-08-19)
Harsh Krieger, acclaimed Nashville Modern Rock quartet, makes New York City debut at Arlene's Grocery August 21st
NASHVILLE, TN. (Clear Channel) - Harsh Krieger, the acclaimed Nashville modern rock quartet whose music has appeared on the 2004 seasons of MTV's popular 'Road Rules X-Treme' and 'The Real World,' will make its New York City debut at Arlene's Grocery on Saturday, August 21 at 9:30 pm. The band, named for founders Jake Harsh and Jesse Krieger, has been identified by industry insiders as a break-out act, recognized for their adept songwriting hooks, a versatile, growing repertoire and polished stage presence.
The Harsh Krieger debut at Arlene's Grocery will be preceded by a private, invitation-only appearance on Thursday, August 19th at the first 'Gibson Rocks' industry networking event at Gibson's New York showroom, located at 421 West 54th Street in Manhattan. Arlene's Grocery is located at 95 Stanton Street in Manhattan and can be reached at 212-358-1633.
'The Harsh Krieger sound is compelling, and they are a very tight unit, with a solid production background. They have a very sophisticated sense of how to 'sell' themselves, both live and in their recorded tracks,' said Roy Elkins, founder and CEO of Broadjam, the largest online community of musicians. 'The feedback that Harsh Krieger has received from the Broadjam community has been very positive; they have a widespread appeal.'
While Harsh Krieger has created an appeal built on its fresh sound and visual stage act, the Harsh-Krieger songwriting team has already earned the accolades of the independent songwriting community, including 1st place in the Cooch Songwriting Contest. Harsh Krieger has licensed several tracks to Bunim-Murray Productions, which produces MTV's 'The Real World,' 'Road Rules,' and 'Road Rules Challenge.' The track 'Luming' appeared on episode 7 of 'Road Rules X-Treme' and 'The Shore' appeared on 'The Real World.' Both tracks, which feature haunting strings underneath cryptic lyrics and booming attacks, are from the band's eponymous debut album, 'Harsh Krieger,' slated for national U.S. release in May, 2005 by the band's Tabula Rasa Records.
Jake Harsh and Jesse Krieger met while attending the S.A.E. Audio Institute in Nashville, and have assembled a band that meshes floating melodies with rocking crescendos. Their debut album, produced by Jonathan Smith, spans the crunchy funk of 'Holy Moses' to the infectious 'Change,' which has definite airplay potential. Harsh Krieger's southern roots and Nashville pedigree are blended into an unusual mix of modern/alternate rock with, inflected with mysticism and honest, earnest emotions that are spun into a unique suite of personal, engaging tunes.
Harsh Krieger was a finalist in the 2004 Independent Music World Series and attained semifinalist status in the 2004 M.E.T.R.O. Search contest.
'We're proud of what Harsh Krieger has achieved; they exemplify the utmost professionalism within the independent music industry and are a band to watch in the next few years,' said Michael Laskow, president of TAXI. 'This is an original voice in today's independent rock landscape.'
Harsh Krieger are managed by Georgia McBride, President
W3G Entertainment Group LLC
888.294.4749
georgia@w3gentertainment.com.
For more information on Harsh Krieger, visit the band's Web site at www.harshkrieger.com.
Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC
Business Development, Strategic Marketing & Public Relations
9 Valley Place
Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
973-509-6565 (office)
973-509-8087 (fax)
201-218-0262 (mobile)
800-705-2368 (pager)
c.pfaff@att.net
- Clear Channel
Discography
"Home", "Change" and "She's Gone" featured on the season premiere of MTV's The Real World: Philadelphia
"The Shore" and "Luming" featured on MTV's Road Rules X-TREME
- Currently promoting first single "Home" to commercial radio. Now in rotation in Nashville (102.9 The Buzz), Gainesville, Grand Rapids, Auburn AL and many more
Self-titled debut album out August 16, 2005 Nationwide
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Evoking raw emotion and mood with the aid of catchy melodies and solid rock rhythms, Harsh Krieger gives a definitive, tasteful life to that gray area looming between modern rock and mainstream pop, and presents it in a purely honest and attractive way. Morphed from the surnames of founding members vocalist/rhythm guitarist Jake Harsh and lead guitarist Jesse Krieger, Harsh Krieger is complete with drummer Ben Showalter and bassist Chris Boyle.
Many of today’s most endearing songwriting and performing teams owe their successful careers mostly to chemistry--the sparks that fly between two musical entities that are destined to make music together. With Jesse coming from playing clubs in Europe and Jake coming from a stint with a couple of bands in Michigan, the two musicians met at Nashville’s School of Audio Engineering in 2002 and the foundation of today’s Harsh Krieger was etched from the melding of two creative souls. “The first time we ever jammed, it clicked almost immediately as far as my playing with what he (Jake) was doing rhythmically and melodically”, says Jesse. “We both felt it right away and have worked hard to develop our sound over the past couple years”, recalls Jesse.
According to Jake, who was already involved in a deal at the time with a producer to record three songs and eventually an entire record, “In the middle of doing that, I started working with Jesse and so he just jumped on and started recording with me. We both knew the other was into music, we hung out a few times, and then we jammed, random stuff. It worked out well, so I started bringing all the songs that I wrote to him and then we started creating something better”.
The album is, says Jake, “just something very familiar, but something you can’t put a finger on. Its original, but at the same time, it still is that timeless music that you don’t very easily forget. Not bubblegum pop, but still popular music.” Harsh Krieger gently steps outside of the boundaries just enough to create something fresh, but also remain easy and fun to listen to. As Jesse puts it, “One thing that is important from a songwriting perspective, is not being afraid to try new ideas, even if we think something feels pretty good.”
Harsh Krieger recently had their tracks “Home”, “Luming”, “Change” and “The Shore” featured on MTV’s Real World and Road Rules, and had the opportunity to headline the first “Gibson Rocks!” private industry event in New York City. Though major labels have expressed interest, the band, who head their own record label, Tabula Rasa Records, are comfortable relying on their creative ability and insight. “ We actually enjoy running our energy between being creative, developing our show, writing songs, and steering the ship of our career path as far as looking for new performance and licensing opportunities. I get a kick out of that stuff almost as much as playing music. We’re not necessarily looking for somebody else to steer the way and it keeps us free to follow the path wherever. We’re very much aware of how we want our career to develop”, Jesse says.
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