Russell Wolff Band

RUSSELL WOLFF

"Wolff makes you listen with both ears, and them some!" - Daily Hampshire Gazette

Following a recent performance of hit country band Sugarland, the lighting techs can now be counted among the many people who will never forget Russell Wolff.  During the opening set, Wolff unexpectedly inserted a few bars of a Journey cover and asked if they might turn on the mirror ball.  The crowd went wild.

Near brushes with both death and fame have failed to tame the unstoppable (and unpredictable) Wolff.  From his early days as the nipple-key-chain-tossing opener for alt-pop sensation Moxy Fruvous, to his recent success as the producer of a hit country album, to his June graduation from Harvard, the singer/songwriter/producer is chock full of surprises.  

With his supercharged, yet highly accessible stage presence, Wolff has never had trouble getting audiences to fall in love with him.  In over ten years of international touring, he has charmed clubs, concert halls, college student centers, and church coffeehouses alike.  CDs, T shirts, stickers, and, of course, pierced rubber nipple keychains, have made their way into the hearts and homes of what is undoubtedly one of the most diverse fan bases in independent music.

The recent releases of both Karma Co. and Five Star Day (Liz Carlisle's debut album, produced by Wolff), have once again thrust the longtime underground sensation into the spotlight.  Karma Co. was widely spun on both college radio and podcasting networks, where Adam Curry (of MTV fame) gave it a particularly strong endorsement.  Five Star Day (produced and cowritten by Wolff) continues to play on Clear Channel Country stations a year after it's release.  The album has been recognized with finalist nominations in the Independent Music Awards, International Songwriting Competition, and Folk Alliance Emerging Artist Awards.  And Carlisle's debut also received glowing reviews from such major media outlets as AP, The Boston Globe, Country Standard Time, and the Village Voice.  

Both the critics and Carlisle herself were quick to note the impact of Wolff's contribution.  Following the record release, Carlisle brought Wolff on the road for a year-long international tour, opening for such acts as Sugarland, John Hiatt, Hal Ketchum, Lori McKenna, and Richie Havens.

While some were shocked to see the quirky alt-pop songwriter from the Bronx playing keyboard with a country songwriter from Montana, Wolff explains that a life-altering medical trauma in 2002 gave him a new perspective.  A near-fatal throat infection threatened first his life and then his voice - confining him to a hospital bed for weeks on the eve of what would have been a major CD release.  When Wolff began to recover, he fulfilled two promises to himself: to go back to school, and to make the best music of his life, whether it fit neatly into a career trajectory or not.  

This past June, fifteen years after dropping out of school to play music, Wolff found himself graduating from Harvard.  To celebrate, he played a packed show at favorite local club Johnny D's with his full band and fellow graduate Liz Carlisle.  And the post commencement road trip?  Over twenty-five shows in the month of July alone, with summer performances spanning England, Scotland, and several of the United States.  

And of course, Wolff has more surprises up his sleeve.  With new albums in the works for both Carlisle and Wolff's own band, the multi-talented artist also keeps busy photographing major music events.  Don't be surprised if you see him in the photo pit at a festival where he is scheduled to perform later in the day.  Don't be surprised by anything.