The best soul/funk/rock band in Virginia by far. If you like great singing, and amazing instruments that exceed just complimentary of the great vocal front-woman, we can't recommend a better group of artists. We've played with Pennyshaker a few times and if it's possible, they make an even more entertaining live show. High energy, ass-shakin', soulful rock n' roll, with an old-school sound of Jazz thrown in the mix. This group is most definately going places. I highly recommend this CD. Pick one up now, while it's still unsighned and inexpensive!

Richmond.com Thursday, June 23, 2005 In a music mainstream clogged with the over-processed hip-hop and the eyeliner of the pop-punk and screamo wave of recent years, it's healthy to swim to the surface, take a breath of fresh air, and find bands on the scene doing something a little different - something that cleanses the ear's palate and opens different, diverse perspectives through their approach to music. Pennyshaker is one of those bands doing something different. A Richmond-based quintet, Pennyshaker provides seriously funky sounds that are dressed to the nines in silky soul. On their 11-track debut album, they manage to pull off a vintage tone that lends a sense of old-school familiarity (in the vein of artists such as James Brown and Earth Wind & Fire) without seeming dated. Ticia Carter's vocals stand at the forefront of Pennyshaker's sound - bold, immersive and impossible to ignore. Her voice can soar and purr, slowly drawing you in. From the high-power choruses of "It Wasn't Love" to the sultry moans of "Candy" to the lull of the lounge-styled "Be Blue," her voice commands your attention and your ear. Eric "Dabbs" Aikens' falsetto frames Carter throughout the choruses, as his drumming lays the foundation for the melodic outgrowths of the other members. A glimmer of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix can be seen in Darren Moxin's riffs, particularly on tracks like "Telephone", in addition to some classic funk wah in "City Life". Meanwhile, he adds some modern flavor of his own - a touch of indie staccato crunch in "It's Allright" and the mesmerizing theme of "Cruisin'" that locks tightly with David Monger's bass playing. Consistent throughout, Monger holds down the low end in a subdued, yet solid, manner, and shines through the mix in the occasional breakdown.