The Muddy Reds: "From head to toe the Muddy Reds embody the gritty fuzz of their riffs and vocals. They are an undiscovered gem in the City of Los Angeles. A town full of hopefuls and wannabe rockers, these guys don’t wanna be, they are..." - jaminthevan.com "Channeling the bluesy ghouls that used to haunt the front stoops of the south, The Muddy Reds 'conjure images of dusty bones set against black sunrises, of sex and lost souls; their music evokes the primal urges to sweat and shake and move and breathe.' These aren't coattail riders of The White Stripes or The Black Keys, this is a quartet with a sound all their own-- a refined, soulful swamp revival with hints of Americana, classic 60s songwriting, and whiskey washed grooves." ~Bandsoup

Poor Man's Poison: Music in the 21st century is a strange dichotomy. On one side you have a waning corporate juggernaut, printing records based on focus group results. Elsewhere is a landscape riddled with cynicism, where genuine expression has been shunned in favor of irony or imitation. While it may seem difficult for an honest band to traverse such a dense minefield, Poor Man’s Poison have a way of making it look easy. After ten years of playing together in different configurations, indulging nearly every genre under the sun, it seems the boys have found their niche. Apparently just sounding like who you are is all you ever really need to do, and this is truly a group that understands itself. Less concerned with sonic exploration, they seem more interested in a direct continuity with our collective musical heritage. They don’t play music tailored for a specific subculture or an obscure movement; they play something for anyone who still values integrity in American songwriting. Really, it’s almost shocking to hear music so universal and uncontrived. Like any great band, the sound is the clear result of collaboration and compromise. Diverse influences converge into a singular consistent vision. Each component is integral, and each serve the greater whole. The effect is serious but never hopeless, thoughtful but still kinetic, with a bit of anti-authoritarianism inherent to the working class. Really, it’s a bit surprising that music this warm and optimistic was born of a near collapse amongst its creators. After drummer Dustin Medeiros was diagnosed with tinnitus, it became apparent that he would have to resign, not just from his band, but from loud music all together. So, after just one (fantastic) album together, this would be the reluctant end of Done For Good. As the group disintegrated, singer Ryan Hakker and Mike Jacobs continued working on more acoustic music, eventually arranging a show at a place called Lush in their hometown, Hanford California. It was then that Medeiros shifted gears, borrowing a stand up bass, expecting nothing more than a one-off show. Then, as these things go, on the second day of practice, former Done For Good guitarist, Tommy McCarthy, arrived with a borrowed mandolin. “After he played that first hook melody,” says Medeiros, “we knew we had a band. It was out of our hands.” Since then the group has accomplished far more than any of their prior endeavors, and in far less time. Now, they’ve finished their second album entitled Friends With The Enemy, and are poised to take their music further outward, into a world that’s better off because of it.

Alisha Zalkin: Alisha Zalkin is a refreshing artist whose persona is grounded and genuine. She has a refined yet soulful voice offering a flavorful blend of acoustic music anchored in pop to mid tempo sounds which come together to empower others to find inner peace, full self expression, and courage in order to promote a harmonious world. Alisha doesn’t let opportunities pass her by. One of her greatest musical influences, her Jewish grandmother, was the youngest person to be admitted into the Vienna School of Music, but lost her chance to become an opera star when Hitler rose to power. Now, Alisha isn’t taking a single note for granted, pursuing her passion and sharing it with as many people as possible. Her lineage cultivated both her talent and message, as the common thread of music ties together the cultures of her Mexican grandmother and Jewish grandmother. Drawing on powerhouse vocals, Alisha looked to Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Carole King for inspiration. Today, she blends their melodic and lyrical influences with today’s artists, like Sara Bareilles, Natasha Bedingfield, and Colbie Caillat. With an early knowledge of music’s ability to unify, Alisha uses her music to make a difference, actively involved in non-profit organizations that advance her as an artist, and spread a positive message for each organization. “Music has so much potential to impact a person’s life” says Zalkin. “I want my music to shed a light on the amazing mission of causes that are making a difference in the world.” In addition to participating in anti-bullying initiative Hey U.G.L.Y., Alisha is also an active participant for the Playing for Change Foundation. She’ll be donating part of her proceeds to this non-profit, whose mission is to connect the world through music.