Instrumentation Maria Carter - vocals, guitars Meredith McCall - vocals, guitars, drums Anne Peters - violin, gong Denise Burnsed - bass, vocals, piano T.J. Baker - drums, electric piano Biography An insistent acoustic guitar hook rings in the overcrowded yet silent college bar. It's soon joined by a skillful drummer playing on the off-beats and a groovy, unexpected bass line becoming an instrumental harmony. A haunting, yet aggressive violin solo lifts above the others. One of the dark-haired girls at the front of the stage opens her mouth and begins to sing. redboy's sudden popularity among audiences (especially college students) from their base in Gainesville, FL to Orlando, Tampa/St. Pete, West Palm Beach, St. Augustine and Jacksonville is a testament to the uniqueness of their sound. The band played its first show in January 2005. At their debut album release in Gainesville in September, they packed a local bar to standing room only and sold 70 copies of their album in a single night. The woman who is singing is intense now, and the music is escalating to a fever pitch. At the climax, a blistering electric guitar solo tears itself away from the fingertips of the other dark-haired girl. She steps to the microphone and the two women's voices soar into a final heart-wrenching harmony. Lead by two songsmiths, Meredith McCall and Maria Carter, redboy's live performances leave audiences stunned. In spite of the band's youth and quirky sincerity, the musicianship that they exhibit is as professional as that of a band with many times their experience. Five members, each with incredibly diverse musical influences and personalities, combine to create some of the most passionate, organic, and wholly independent music in their genre. Maria Carter (lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, songwriting) has been writing songs since she was 10. At 22, she's come in to her own as a child of the indie/grunge revolution. Her high-intensity performances and metaphor-packed lyrics evoke images of Ani DiFranco playing punk rock. Her guitar work is a natural extension of her songwriting style: fresh, raw and full of emotion. Meredith McCall (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, djembe, songwriting) was raised in an acapella church. Both of her parents performed and traveled with a well-known gospel choir, the Crossroad Singers. She grew up singing classically, with major influences from gospel, R&B, soul and old-timey blues. The 24-year-old's song-writing style brings out the best in her rich, smoky voice and percussive, melodic guitar. Anne Peters, 23, (violin, gong) has been playing violin since she was 3 years old, traveling all over the world with the Preucil School of Music Orchestra. She plays almost as another vocalist, giving shape to harmonies in the creation of redboy's unique sound. Denise Burnsed (bass guitar, piano) has played in just about every kind of band imaginable, including an all-male, African-American gospel quartet. The most experienced member of the band, she excels in jazz and funk, but molds her style to better suit the undercurrent in each of Meredith's and Maria's songs. Her lines often sound like solos or electronic guitar licks, and she frequently takes listeners by surprise with the complexity of her compositions. T.J. Baker, 22, (drums, electric piano) plays a strange, Frankenstein-like drum kit, including several percussive elements and "instruments" that many drummers would overlook (like an empty beer keg). His primary influences are from the Goth-metal genre, and he frequently jams on what he calls "internal metronome" - a crazy/amazing series of beats which he plays while keeping time only in his head. He also writes his own music and plays bass, guitar, piano and almost anything else he picks up. Baker brings a primal element to redboy's music, creating flawless mood and emphasis. He and Burnsed create a rhythm section that takes redboy's music to a different sonic realm with each song. All the members are close friends and dedicated to their craft and their fans. Every show, recording session and practice is a group endeavor, reflecting the band's sense of committment, responsibility and work ethic. With their upcoming calendar packed with college shows and festival appearances around the state and elsewhere, redboy is laying the groundwork for a successful indie music career.