Pedestal

SAN FRANCISCO, CA FEBRUARY 19, 2007: Pedestal, a local music sensation in Norfolk, Virginia, and now based in the San Francisco area, announced the release of their second album, Human Race, today.

Two of the primary band members, John Conkle and Jennifer Severo, moved to the San Francisco area from Norfolk, Virginia last year. The album, which was eight months in production, brought the band members back together in both Texas and California.

Human Race is more edgy and raw than the group’s debut album, Replenishment. Several of the songs, such as Police State, and State of the Union are lyrical essays on the human condition in the twenty-first century. The Human Race album cover features a powerful image of a woman with a barcode on her back. Conkle, who co-wrote the album with Severo, explains: “Microchips are already being embedded in everything from jeans to money. The next step will be mandatory microchipping of people. Human Race is about the need for us to evolve away from government control if we want true freedom. If we continue on the same path, the human spirit will be lowered to no more than a number, and individuality, privacy, and inalienable rights become a distant memory.”

“The album also has songs of hope,” Severo adds. “Beautiful World, Newborn and Human Race promote the message that the human spirit cannot be destroyed.”

The band includes vocalist and guitarist, John Conkle, vocalist and keyboard player, Jennifer Severo, and Chidori Matsumoto on drums. The band plans to promote its new album through radio play, in-store appearances, and weekend tours to both West Coast and East Coast venues. The band’s eclectic sound is most popular with the 18-35 age group and is a perfect fit for Adult Contemporary, Alternative Rock, and Pop formats.

Human Race can be purchased on CD Baby after March 20, 2007. Complimentary copies of the album are now available to music reviewers. Requests should be directed to Jennifer Severo at jsevero@hotmail.com. Radio and web stations interested in featuring Pedestal’s hot new sound can also call Ms. Severo or 757-810-1521.

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- Cynthia J. Porter

PRESS RELEASE

Music Video for Local Band Premieres at Cinema Cafe
Pedestal’s “I Won’t Tell” Ready for National Airplay

VIRGINIA BEACH/NORFOLK, DECEMBER 2, 2005: Local band, Pedestal, recently wrapped filming of their debut music Video, I Won’t Tell at Station 2 in downtown Norfolk. The video premieres 7:30 pm, Monday, December 19, 2005, at Cinema Cafe, 758 Independence Blvd. Virginia Beach.

I Won’t Tell is one of many local favorites from Pedestal’s debut album, Replenishment, which was released in August to critical acclaim. The full-color film features lead singers Jennifer Severo and John Conkle as star-crossed lovers in a lush backdrop of a masked ball.

Producer of I Won’t Tell, Dave Selle was cinematographer for a number of music videos, including Radial Angel, Tin Man Jones, and the award winning The Katinas. All the videos received national airplay. Selle also directed the award-winning short "The Heart of Saturday Night,” which won a number of awards on the festival circuit. “Pedestal is a great band with a great sound, and I Won't Tell is an amazing song,” Sell chose the masked ball setting based on the song’s central theme. “The song speaks to how people often have to hide their love and rage. The beautiful part about love is there is a person that can see beyond the mask,” Selle added.

Pedestal offers up a fresh sound that blends elements of Trip Hop and Techno with a rock rhythm section that relies on unique instrumental layering and a topping of harmony-rich melodic vocals. The band’s eclectic sound will likely be most popular with the 18-35 age group and is a perfect fit for Adult Contemporary and Alternative Rock formats, although their softer tracks, like I Won’t Tell, appeal to Pop audiences as well.

“Replenishment is a sonic semblance of Rush, Evanescence, and Smashing Pumpkins,” Jeff Maisey, music reviewer for the Virginian-Pilot, said. “Pedestal is a record label’s dream, complete with a hip image and a ready made product produced as well as any Billboard-charting album,” Maisey added.

The Virginia Beach-based quartet, which includes, Conkle and Severo, David Brown (bass), and Chidori (drums), plans to promote its album and music video through MTV, MTV2, internet airplay, radio play, in-store appearances, and tours to East Coast venues.

Complimentary copies of the “I Won’t Tell” video and Replenishment are now available to music and video reviewers. Requests should be directed to Jennifer Severo at jsevero@hotmail.com. Radio, television, and web stations interested in featuring Pedestal’s music video or hot new sound can also email Ms. Severo or call 757-375-8140.

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- Sandra Marlow