The Usual Suspects Songwriter Showcase October 19, 2012

The Usual Suspects Songwriter Showcase returns to Rockit Room Friday Oct. 19!

This month features:

Gyasi Ross http://gyasiross.com/

Gyasi Ross is a Singer-Songwriter that plays Acoustic-Hip Hop. He just released his first solo acoustic album, “By Any Means”. Gyasi has collaborated and played with a number of notable musicians in the Bay Area including; The Park, Denizen Kane of the Typical Cats, and Bret Dennen who was the opening performer for John Mayer. Influenced by John legend, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, The Roots (Black Thought), Dashboard Confessionals, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass, and John Coltrane, Gyasi has used his musical inspirations to continuously remind him to keep his passion for music renewed and innovative.

Lindy LaFontaine http://www.lindylafontaine.com/

Singer-Songwriter Lindy LaFontaine breaks genre boundaries with influences of Trip-Hop, Alternative, Pop and “World Music,” while her vocals range from soulful to ethereal. Among the many highlights of her career was the selection of her cover of the song “Low,” by Cracker, as Best Cover Song at the 10th Independent Music Awards in 2011. Raised in Egypt and Bangladesh, educated at Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts in the UK, and with a following in Europe and the Middle East as well as the U.S., Lindy draws on diverse cultural influences to produce an unconventional, eclectic sound infused with her powerful, passionate and personal free spirit.

Starr Saunders http://starrsaunders.com/

Starr Saunders is an award winning Singer-Songwriter who writes pop, rock, dance, folk and hip-hop music. She is currently working on new material in various genres, and collaborating with several artists, including Grammy Award winner Dave Merenda, Robert Lindsey, Anthony Martinez, and Paul Goldowitz. She recently won an award for her collaborative work on "I Still Love Her" by Expel, which was recognized as "Best Hip-Hop Song" for the Malibu Music Awards. This year she was nominated for “Best Pop Song” and “Best Singer/Songwriter”. Her new EP “Let’s Go’ was released this Summer and she has a full LP on the way. By day, she is a self-described "female Jack Black" from the movie "School of Rock" and teaches High School students how to write and record music, and the history of Rock and Roll. She says her bottom line goal with her music is to “heal herself and others and encourage everyone not be afraid to be who they really are, everyone can fly.” She is also known for her energy, loves to laugh and has some of the silliest in-between song banter at live shows. This is just the beginning of a new road for this talented and exuberant young woman.

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

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.

$5 cover, 21+

Official Website: http://www.rock-it-room.com/event_details.php?EventID=843