Melanie Faye

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Melanie Faye is a 23-year old guitarist, bassist, producer, and songwriter who first captured the world’s attention in 2017. Since that fateful summer Instagram post Melanie Faye has caught the eye of the likes of John Mayer, Quincy Jones, H.E.R., and NPR. What caught our eye was her ridiculously skillful blend of fingerstyle techniques that effortlessly blended R&B, jazz, soul, and just about anything else she chooses at the moment. The phrasing, pop sensibility, and seamlessly unconscious direction are something to admire, and we certainly do. With influences ranging from Hendrix, Michael Jackson, and Eric Gale, it makes sense where her style blends came from. She has graced the stage touring and performing with Willow Smith, Noname, Maggie Rogers, Hayley Williams, Jamila Woods, Masego, and Mac DeMarco. Enter coronavirus and cue the pause on Melanie Faye’s touring career, just like a true artist her passion did not dwindle. It was while the world was on hold that she developed a love for teaching music. Melanie Faye is now pleased to exemplify her love and passion by offering musical instruction to aspiring guitar and bass players. 

Watch: Melanie Faye’s NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

Sounds Like: Isaiah Sharkey, Covet, Noname

Listen: Spotify, Apple Music, Soundcloud

Follow: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok

Gear: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky electric guitar strings, Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Medium Light acoustic strings

Low Cut Connie

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Establishing their reputation as one of the most exciting live shows in the US by reviewers from all over, Philly-based Low Cut Connie is here to play! Sweat-drenched rock and roller, piano-pounding songwriter and frontman Adam Weiner’s writing have been described as a dirty Rolling Stones meeting Jerry Lee Lewis and tighter New York Dolls by Rolling Stone. Building consistent growth with an onslaught of albums Low Cut Connie made their network television debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers where they performed the album opener “All These Kids Are Way Too High.” That following month, the band, who can already count Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen, and Nick Hornby as fans, received a shoutout from Sir Elton John himself. With more than 120 shows per year and festival gigs like Bonnaroo, Bottle Rock, Rock and Newport Folk Festival, and more, Adam and his south Philly band continue to win the crowd with each song and heart-pounding show. Welcome Low Cut Connie to the Ernie Ball family!

Watch: “PRIVATE LIVES” official music video.

Sounds Like: JD McPherson, Aaron Lee Tasjan, and J.Roddy Walston & The Buisness

Listen: Spotify, Apple Music

Follow: Instagram, YouTube

Gear: Ernie Ball Super Slinky RPS and Classic Super Slinky Rock n Roll electric guitar strings, and Flatwound Group II 50-105 bass strings.

The Alive

Image c/o: Roger Ho

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Virtuosic teenage California band, The Alive is taking over international stages. They’ve already played Lollapalooza Chile, WSL Kelly Slater’s The Founder’s Cup, BottleRock’s main stage, Boardmasters England, Ohana Fest, and more. Comprised of Bastian Evans age 15 and brothers Kai & Manoa Neukermans ages 16 and 12, The Alive was named one of Stab Magazine’s “30 Under 30 Culture Shifters of Tomorrow” and even got a feature in Whalebone Magazine NY, Santa Cruz Waves, Riff Magazine, Surfline, Guitar Player, Soundwaves TV, and Blurred Culture. Earlier this year, the band released a music video for their new song, “Mud,” with the intent to highlight the vulnerability of the Earth’s oceans, a topic of great passion to them, as avid surfers.

Watch: The official music video for “THE MAN

Sounds Like: Queens of the Stone Age, Raconteurs, Wolfmother

Listen: Spotify, Apple Music

Follow: Instagram, Facebook

Gear: Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom M-steel and Paradigm Regular Slinky electric guitar strings, Super Slinky bass strings, the Ernie Ball Music ManMariposa guitar, an Albert Lee guitar, and the Tim Commerford StingRay bass.

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