Mike Errico
My father was curious as to how I was spending my nights. He knew I'd wander the Lower East Side attending small music venues listening to struggling musicians, and hoping to find the newest addition to my album collection. He asked to come along on several of these excursions, often driving in from Connecticut in hopes of connecting with his son and hearing some new music. Most of these trips yielded nothing of note. He'd drive home defeated and worried he'd raised a son with questionable musical taste. I had to convince him otherwise, and Mike Errico was my ace in the hole. My father liked him so much he immediately bought his albums and listened with intensity on his drive back to suburbia. He joined Mike's mailing list and would send me e-mails asking if I were going to his future shows. Don't be fooled, my father has exceptional taste and Mike is not "old people's music."

Mike combines soul, funk, rock, and a little bit of tongue-in-cheek in his awesome blend of musical nourishment. While his albums are fun to listen to, his live shows -often accompanied by hilarious stories about life and the creation of his songs- will have you laughing your ass off. For a sample, check out Daylight (Remix), it might just be the greatest break-up song ever.

PJ Loughran
I came across PJ on a random night in the Living Room coincidentally the same venue in the video above. Through a revolving door of random acts, PJ walked up on stage and blew the shit out of the audience. With his lyrical staccato, his tight (and obviously well-rehearsed) music, and blatant energy, I couldn't wait to get home and download his albums onto my iPod. (All done legally) It's as if he's writing the songs we've had swirling around in our heads for decades and he managed to transfer them to the real world. With tales of lost love, growing up, and past mistakes, he's got something for everyone.

The Veltz Family
I first caught The Veltz Family in a small theater in Virginia outside Washington, DC when they were known at "Cecilia". They prove how remarkable song writing and harmonies can be when you spend your entire life playing together.

Mike Doughty
If you remember "Step aside and let the man go through" the oft repeated line from Soul Coughing's Super Bon Bon, then you're already familiar with Doughty's voice. Now on his own with several solo albums under his belt, Doughty has unfurled his sails and creates catchy song after catchy song.

Nellie McKay
I was working at the Late Show during the performance above. Me, along with most of my co-workers did a collective "wtf?". But there was something about Nellie that seemed really interesting. I purchased her CD and discovered an incredibly distinct singer who'd never fit comfortably into one genre. Funny, sultry, creative, and talented, Nellie McKay is worth several looks.