Speed the Plough, Heroes of Toolik, Deena and the Laughing Boys

Speed the Plough is a much-loved veteran of the Hoboken Maxwell’s scene, heard on stages as varied as The Knitting Factory and NPR’s Mountain Stage. It is “. . . music that invites, persuades and ultimately seduces. Speed the Plough doesn’t sound like anybody else on the current pop scene. What a blessing.” (Chicago Tribune) “Speed the Plough mixes Yo La Tengo’s faraway feeling of summer daydreams with the edgier lyrics and more somber mien of the Feelies.” (Popmatters)

Heroes of Toolik are a veteran avant gardist, two proto-punk gods, a hot latin trombone and an old time fiddler. The players have been moving and shaking in downtown music since that label emerged. The sound is not indie, it's not alternative, it's strangely original, old-school art rock--"a unique stew of riffs" (The Aquarian), "deceptively catchy, hypnotically growling, post-Velvets grooves." (NY Music Daily).

The writers are Arad Evans (guitar/vocals) and Jennifer Coates (violin/vocals). Evans has been a member of the Glenn Branca Ensemble since the 1980's and has played with Rhys Chatham, Ben Neil, Virgil Moorefield, The SEM Ensemble, Blastula and The New Music Consort. Coates is a widely-recognized painter and proponent of old-time fiddle music, which she performs with her band, Jenny Get Around.

Billy Ficca, on drums, is an original member of the foundational CBGB's band, Television. He has also played with Nona Hendryx, the Neon Boys, the New York Blues Project and many other projects over the years. Ernie Brooks (bass) shaped punk rock as a member of The Modern Lovers, and later with David Johansen, Jerry Harrison, Gary Lucas, Elliot Murphy and many others. Jon Speck on trombone is one of New York's busiest session players and a celebrated regular on the City's renown latin dance and jazz scene.

In Heroes of Toolik, the players take it to the other side, channeling an outside sensibility through art rock song forms. The sound steps without effort or warning from concentrated power pop to disturbing, dreamy instrumentals, to barroom blues. The unifying element is a sense of humor wrapped around a literate and emotional core.

A seven-inch Aquarium School was released in July 2014 and an album Winter Moon came out in December 2012, both produced by Wharton Tiers. NY Music Daily says of Aquarium School, "it wouldn't be out of place on REM's Chronic Town but with a more lush interesting arrangement than anything on that album." "Strong guitar riffs, a chill drumbeat and that boisterous brass section rearing its head gives Winter Moon that glow a moon should have." (The Aquarian). Another release is planned for 2015.

Deena began her music career as co-founder of The Cucumbers, a leading band in the 80s indie pop scene in Hoboken, NJ, with reviews in Rolling Stone and People Magazine and videos on MTV.

Deena's songwriting has been called "direct and artful," by the New York Times, her voice "…incredible: kidstuff and wisdom merged," by the Village Voice. Her songs have been recorded by Jackson Browne and Dar Williams and featured in films and on network TV.

A blend of alt country and indie pop, with a wink and a twinkle, “Rock River” (released March 2014, Life Force Records) is the second full length CD from Deena. Deena’s compelling, charming vocals will draw you into direct, heartfelt songs that reach into the roots of American music, without nostalgia, mixed with a bit of Jersey style rock and roll party spirit, full of harmony, and pop hooks.

"Somewhere in Blue," Deena's first solo album, received rave reviews and airplay around the world. “No songs like these have been heard before on contemporary albums, which in turn leads to a joyous and genius sound being created right before your very eardrums.” wrote Russell Hill (Maverick Magazine) “Somewhere in Blue will brighten your day and reaffirm your belief in the power of rock ‘n’ roll to stay with us throughout our adult lives.” Jim Testa, Jersey Beat

Deena's other projects include RockDownBaby (lo-fi dance pop), Over The Moon (original rock and roll for children), and SingSOS: Songs of the Spectrum. She is co-host of The Saturday Afternoon Songswap music series and radio show, and a member of the TaikoZoku drumming ensemble.