New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Bess Rogers Official website) - Is Bess Rogers a folkie with punk instincts or an indie-rocker with an acoustic bent? Her EP Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers makes it hard to place her in a neat category - and that turns out to be a source of strength for this eclectic singer/songwriter. Rogers - a member of Ingrid Michaelson's touring band - likes to surround her sweet lyric sentiments with a tough outer coating as she recounts tales of fumbled romance and fragile happiness.
Her acute ear for pop hooks is evident in 'Come Home' (matching a sunny chorus with a thumping beat) and 'Favorite Day' (a hard-charging tune reminiscent of early Go-Go's). More introspective are coffeehouse-style ballads like 'What We Want' and 'All In Good Fun.' Dan Romer (another Michaelson associate) gives these tracks a nicely layered production, emphasizing the playful, anything-can-happen spirit of Rogers' songs. More than anything, there's a sense here that Rogers is exploring her sonic palette as well as her personal feelings. It's this freewheeling quality that makes the EP an engaging effort by an arresting new talent. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bess-rogers-presents-bess/id385924079
iTUNES Editorial Review 11/10
Pop/punk/folk artist Bess Rogers lets her ego run amok in the new music video for her rock 'n rollicking single, 'Favorite Day': https://www.youtube.com/bessrogers. Rogers shares the following details: 'Making this video was a total blast. Getting the opportunity to beat up my bandmates and not have legal action taken against me sure was a breath of fresh air. It was directed and edited by Andrew Futral and filmed by Dannielle Owens Reid. We also filmed a lot of footage involving various friends and musicians that, unfortunately, did not make it into the final cut. But you can expect to see an alternate version (perhaps with commentary) this winter.'
Rogers continues to generate buzz and acclaim for her EP, 'Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers.' In addition to earning the rave iTUNES Editorial review, seen above, she won NYC Deli Magazine's October 'Artist Of The Month' and came in second for Alternative Addition's October 'Next Big Thing.' AbsolutePunk praised, 'Her newest EP is certain to be her coming out party, a veritable call to arms to industry suits and those who give a damn.' The Boston Phoenix noted, 'Bess Rogers was born to play music.' Rogers will be included in DELTA AIRLINES' 'TUNE IN - HELLO MUSIC INDEPENDENT ARTIST CHANNEL' for November and December.
Rogers opened for Ingrid Michaelson in New York City last month. Here are fan-captured video clips of her singing Def Leppard's 'Pour Some Sugar On Me', as well as beautiful versions of 'Come Home' and 'What We Want' from her new EP: https://www.youtube.com/user/neverlandish11
ABSOLUTE PUNK
https://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1966082
By Gregory Robson
Thanks to Norah Jones and Ingrid Michaelson, under-the-radar New York City-based singer-songwriters of the female persuasion have it a lot easier than say 15 years ago. That's not to say that people weren't paying attention back in the early 90s - they were - it's just that ever since those two sprout up from virtually nowhere, femmes have had it a little easier.
Take for example Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Bess Rogers. Despite being on a tiny label, her debut EP Travel Back was lauded by the likes of Paste, Village Voice and others. Her newest EP Presents Bess Rogers is certain to be her coming out party, a veritable call to arms to industry suits and those who give a damn.
Album opener "Come Home," is jangly, upbeat acoustic folk-rock. Almost immediately her crystalline voice makes an impression and the entire piece bristles with polish, professionalism and charisma. Anchored by a big hip-shaking chorus, there's little reason to think the song won't be a big deal on AC and AAA radio formats. Hell, the country crowd might even embrace her, even if she does throw in some wailing horns towards the song's finish.
The shuffling mid-tempo number "What We Want," is quieter and more introspective. Her voice rises like a bell and now more than ever its apparent that voices like these just don't sit on shelves idly singing to empty saloons, they define genres, they make grand statements and they make others try harder. Rogers is blessed with that kind of voice and one has to think that the success of this EP will propel her to impact radio.
She continues to mine in self-rumination with the lingering "Good Enough," which swirls and swills as she discusses perseverance, fortitude and self-worth. It's just the kind of tonic music listeners need. On the caffeinated "Favorite Day," she chases down jittery, urgent, lo-fi folk-pop and while it doesn't work nearly as well as its predecessors, it is an inspired foray into nostalgia and recounting a former flame. The EP ends with "All In Good Fun" a near-perfect, lingering jaunt into standard singer-songwriter territory that's near-perfect and absolutely gorgeous.
That Rogers is currently on tour with Michaelson is no coincidence. The two of them mine the same fertile ground of heartache and disappointment and both have an appealing and engaging presence that's both magnetic and commercial. While its probably a bit premature to say, there's a chance Rogers indeed has a brighter future. Much like Anna Nalick, there's a palpable sense of honesty, tenderness and sex appeal that's ripe for television, movies and hordes of magazines.
THE BOSTON PHOENIX
https://thephoenix.com/Boston/Concerts/Artist/Bess-Rogers/
You could say Bess Rogers was born to make music. Her mother played the harpsichord and recorders in early music groups. Her father built those harpsichords, and she began learning to play them at only six years old. A few years later, when most kids were fretting about acne, voice-cracks, and the other ills of puberty, Bess was writing her first songs. And she hasn't stopped. She went on to earn her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Studio Composition from SUNY Purchase's renowned Conservatory of Music.
Check out this live concert review from IndyLive:
https://inlivemusic.com/Concertreviews/09212010QuestforGlory.html
Rogers has once again expanded her headlining tour in support of the EP, and an updated itinerary is below. Some recent press highlights include a live appearance on The CW Network/WGN-TV https://www.wgntv.com/videobeta/?watchId=6289dda8-bf9b-42ab-90d9-2a0d205d22d7; Rogers also appeared on FOX-TV in Nashville, and was recently selected as one of PAPER MAGAZINE's 'NEXT BIG THINGS', Rogers was featured via AOL MUSIC's 'Free Music Tuesday,'as well: https://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/09/21/free-music-tuesday-bess-rogers-for-all-those-sleeping/
Here are links to some additional rave reviews/interviews for Bess Rogers:
CREATIVE LOAFING FEATURE
Cover of Music Section. By Jeff Hahne, 9/14/10
Bess Rogers teeters between solo career, handful of bands
https://charlotte.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/bess_rogers_teeters_between_solo_career_handful_of_bands/Content?oid=1045848
MEDLEYVILLE FEATURE
By Chris Junior, 9/10
https://www.medleyville.us/2010/09/all_in_good_fun.htmlNo more
ALL IN GOOD FUN
Bess Rogers talks EPs, Lilith Fair memories and more
ASBURY PARK PRESS Feature
By KELLY-JANE COTTER?STAFF WRITER September 3, 2010
https://www.app.com/article/20100903/ENT/9030318/THE-WORLD-ACCORDING-TO-BESS-ROGERS
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO BESS ROGERS
WILDY'S WORLD -
Five Star CD review & 'ARTIST OF THE MONTH'
9/10 by Wildy Haskell
https://wildysworld.blogspot.com/2010/09/bess-rogers-bess-rogers-presents-bess.html
HARRISBURG PATRIOT NEWS Feature By Alexis Dow, 8/26/10
https://blog.pennlive.com/go/2010/08/bess_rogers_sweet_voice_blends.html
INDY LIVE MUSIC Q&A
By Erica Voetsch, 8/26/10
https://www.inlivemusic.com/Artistinterviews/BessRogersInterview.html
BIRMINGHAM'S BLACK & WHITE - Alt Weekly - Best Bet Pick 9/10
https://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2010-09-16-237737.113121_The_Set_List.html
INDIE SOUNDS/HARRIS RADIO
8/23/10
https://indiesoundsny.typepad.com/indie_sounds_ny/2010/08/five-minutes-with-bess-rogers.html
Singer/songwriter Rogers, whose sound at times recalls Regina Spektor on speed, Juliana Hatfield, Wilco's 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot', the GoGos and Patty Griffin, is a multi-instrumentalist and a fearless tinkerer in the studio, evoking Prince at his impish best. She recently wrapped up a Summer tour with Ingrid Michaelson. Check out this hotel room webcast of Bess and her band performing an impromptu version of her single 'Come Home,' while on tour with Michaelson: https://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8387696.
Here's a recent article from The Montclarian:
https://www.themontclarion.org/archives/3734465
Here's a recent clip from Social Shindig:
https://www.socialshindig.com/Social_Shindig/Music/Entries/2010/9/21_Word_Association_Game_with_Bess_Rogers.html
Here's a recent interview from Music is the Door to the Soul: https://musicisthedoortothesoul.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-bess-rogers.html
Bess was interviewed for CTN Music in France: https://ctnmusic.com/2010/08/02/some-questions-to-bess-rogers/
BESS ROGERS ON TOUR:
Wed, 11/10 Twelve & Highland Manhattan Beach CA
Thur, 11/11 Hotel Utah San Francisco CA
Fri, 11/12 Johnny B's Medford OR
Sat, 11/13 Hawthorne Theatre Lounge Portland OR
Sun, 11/14 Seattle Living Room Show Seattle WA
Mon, 11/15 Railway Club Vancouver BC
Tues, 11/16 Cozmic Pizza Eugene, OR
Thur, 11/18 House Concert Monterey CA
Fri, 11/19 Zoey's Ventura CA
Sat, 11/20 Hotel Caf� Los Angeles CA
Sun, 11/21 Lestat's San Diego CA
Mon, 11/29 Club Passim Boston MA
Wed, 12/01 Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 New York NY
Thur, 12/02 Main Theatre Ephrata PA (Lancaster)
Fri, 12/03 Best Buy in-store Oxford ValleyPhiladelphia PA
Fri, 12/03 MilkBoy Coffee Ardmore PA (Philadelphia)
Sat, 12/04 Evening Muse Charlotte NC
Sun 12/05 Southern Caf� & Music Hall Charlottesville VA
Mon, 12/06 Stage on Herr Harrisburg, VA
Visit www.bessrogers.com and https://www.hubbubproductions.com
