Original Americana - Vintage Vibes - Intoxicating Energy
Longer text:
According to Bazooka writes original music inspired by life in the Sacramento Valley. Their Americana Pop sound is a little bit folky, a little bit jazzy with pop, rock & roll sensibilities. The result is a unique sound and an inviting musical experience. Lush harmony, guitar, harmonica, accordion, keyboard, violin, upright bass and drums bring these songs to life with a timeless vibe that blends catchy melodies with well crafted lyrics and authentic stories.
According to Bazooka’s vibrant roots infused sound blurs the lines of rock, folk, blues, jazz, pop and zydeco. Their unique show features well-crafted tunes, rich harmonies and irresistible "retro-pop" melodies.
This fusion of sound grew out of the original instrumentation of the band which included an accordion and a bouzouki, hence the name According to Bazooka. Band members Don Johnston, Jamie Knapp, René Martucci, and Richard Urbino bring together a varied group of influences that draws heavily from the classic Bay Area, California sound.
Their unique vintage instruments always grab the attention of the audience both visually and sonically. It is quite inventive to find an accordion, upright bass, and random percussion instruments, mixed with elegant 3 part vocal harmonies.
An engaging art of storytelling lifts According to Bazooka to an even higher place. They write songs that every listener can relate to while happily swaying along. Catchy, singable songs with an ‘easy come, easy go’ perspective on the absurdities of life that we all share.
Albums: Easy Come, Easy Go (2015), Where We Are Now (2017), and The Devil's in the Details (2019), and Swanky (2021)
Sacramento News & Review music award nominations:
According to Bazooka SAMMIES nominations:
2018, 2019, 2020 Best Folk/Bluegrass band
2019, 2020 Best Singer Songwriter Richard Urbino
Short text:
The band According to Bazooka writes upbeat music inspired by California’s vibrant musical landscape. Their captivating sound draws from an Americana aesthetic mixed retro-pop vibes. These upbeat songs fuse genres into irresistibly catchy tunes steeped in a timeless world of blues, rock, jazz, country and more. Featuring textures of guitar, accordion, violin, upright bass and drums, A2B's show is full of engaging musical interplay and homegrown observations of everyday life. Tunesmith Richard Urbino is known for his mastery of song-craft, pop sensibilities, and clever lyrics. Together with René Martucci's smooth alto vocals and the vibrant talents of Jamie Knapp, Daphna Rahmil and Don Johnston, these five musicians bring an intoxicating energy to each show. The result is a unique sound and an inviting musical experience!
“Whether raiding multiple eras and musical traditions, or pushing standard love song fare off-kilter with clever narrative twists, A2B still manage to be undemanding and buoyant performers, ready to lively up any venue with their detailed (sometimes devilish) brand of bohemian pop know-how. ”
— Andrew Russell, Submerge Magazine
“ This band effortlessly takes a range of influences and blends them into one seamless creation, where musical cohesion and excellence reign supreme at each and every measure.”
“In a word 'fun!'”
— Randol White, Insight, NPR
“With a blend of rock-a-billy rhythm, country-blues guitar solos and pop vocal harmonies, According to Bazooka is truly unique.”
“...indie-pop with more than a dash of jazzy blues with some zydeco thrown in for good measure...”
— The River News Herald
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