The Usual Suspects Songwriter Showcase December 7, 2012

The Usual Suspects Songwriter Showcase has reached show #10! Super excited! This month we are featuring:

Benjamin Brown - http://www.reverbnation.com/benjaminbrown

Benjamin Brown is a singer/songwriter living in San Francisco, CA. At age 25, he is a self-taught blues guitarist who plays with as much soul as any musicians from the aspiring immersion of blues artists in the early part of the 20th Century. When Ben began performing, he wowed audiences at local public events and assemblies. He moved to Berkel
ey when he was 19 where he and his brother formed a simple, yet empowering band named Devil Said Maybe - with whom he performed around the Bay Area for 2 years. Since then, his music has mellowed, singing and playing as a solo artist with a smoky draw, influenced by artists in the likes of Mississippi Fred McDowell, Howlin' Wolf, Blind Willie Johnson, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Doors and The Rolling Stones (to name a few). His lyrics suggest a sense of salvation, as he writes about triumphing a ruthless evil. However, his seemingly melancholy sound, when listened to closely, encourages an uplifting message. You can find this rugged bluesman, with his 1951 vintage Gibson cutaway in hand and a tattered notebook of lyrics at foot, at a plethora of venues in San Francisco and surrounding areas.

Robin Yukiko - http://www.robinyukiko.com/

Robin Yukiko is a singer-songwriter who puts a haunting soprano voice and lush piano to quirky, tightly crafted songs. Robin grew up in Florida as a classically trained chorus girl with jazz pianist for a father. After earning her B.A. at Berklee College of Music, she lived in Japan for over two years and, eventually, settled in San Francisco. Her second album, Love War, which features some well-known players (Will Kennedy, Clifford Brown III), is currently in post-production and stretches the genre by borrowing from jazz, musical theater, and classical music. Robin also hosts the SF Singer-Songwriters' Workshop and writes advice articles for her fellow musicians.

Jean Marc - http://soundcloud.com/jeanmarcs

Jean Marc is a 25 year old aspiring singer/songwriter currently residing in San Francisco. He picked up the guitar back in late August of 2005. One day he was thinking, why not pick up that dusty guitar in the garage while the commercial is on so he wouldn’t miss that television show he was watching. Never crossing his mind, music was going to be his center, his love, his grey in life... his dream, and his goal. He just released his first EP “Speaking Musically”. Recording, mixing, and EP graphics were all done on his iPhone 4S. This release makes him very happy to finally be able to share his music with the world.

Alex Jimenez - http://www.reverbnation.com/alexjimenez

Host Alex Jimenez has been playing music since his parents bought him his first guitar when he was 12. His music has dark acoustic overtones, heavy on the rhythm, and influenced by bands such as Blue Movie, Ride and Live. But you can also hear the country and folk influences in his playing. It’s this blend of styles, beautiful guitar melodies and pounding rhythms that give his music a unique yet familiar sound. March 2012 saw the release of his first album, a duet with drummer Mark Edgar called 'The Acoustik Projekt', and he is eagerly writing and getting tracks together for his second solo outing.

Alex is honored to be a part of a thriving songwriter community here in the Bay Area, and is excited to share the stage with them monthly, through the Usual Suspects Songwriter Showcase.

This is an early show and music starts at 7pm!

$5 cover, 21+

http://www.facebook.com/UsualSuspectsShowcase

Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/380204555401481/