Album Notes

Paine's promise. The name was inspired by Thomas Paine, the American revolutionary author of Common Sense and Rights of Man, a kick ass rebel with dignity. Veronica and Daniel Hughes, married since 1994, began the project as an instrumental trio in 1996. The need for fully fleshed out songs, including vocals and arrangements that considered the listener, helped to form the project as it is today, with tight instrumentation and radio friendly vocals.

Paine’s Promise has been described as prog meets pop. The vocals of Veronica Hughes are reminiscent of Ann Wilson of Heart, and the instrumentation is influenced by the power trio Rush, and some have described the band as being like “Rush with a woman singer.”

Veronica Hughes has been playing guitar for “a long time!“ She is a private guitar instructor by trade, who moved from the Detroit area to Atlanta, GA. She grew up on 70’s progressive rock which was what inspired her the most. She likes music from the Mars Volta, Audioslave, Garbage, the Rush catalogue, new age music, classical (especially Debussy), “a lot of XM radio, very eclectic stuff.” Veronica plays PRS custom 24 guitars through Line 6 amplification.

Daniel Hughes has been playing drums “for a long time” as well. He is an Atlanta, GA native who teaches English and History, as well as private drum lessons. His first love was of jazz music, but after becoming a big fan of progressive bands King Crimson and Yes, his playing style became more of a fusion between rock and jazz influences. He likes Rush, Godsmack, Pantera, System of a Down, Miles Davis, symphonic music, classic jazz, and Frank Zappa, among others. Daniel plays Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals.

Dave Siff was born in New York, grew up in Connecticut, and attended college in Ohio. He eventually moved to Atlanta, GA. Although piano lessons weren’t a big influence on him as a kid, Rush’s Moving Pictures album in 1981 was. The bass playing of Geddy Lee inspired him to play bass himself, and he has been playing in a succession of bands since 1993. Dave likes Lagwagon, Green Day, punky pop bands, Michael Manring, Son Volt, jazz piano trios, Medeski, Martin and Wood, Rush (naturally), and “anything with a killer groove.” Dave plays a custom built Curbow Jazz bass, and Reverend basses through SWR amplification.