Album Notes

There was a time when mentioning folk and rock in the same sentence conjured up images of two guys sitting on a street corner playing their beat up guitars with broken strings for the passerby's pocket change. But, thanks to bands like the Sharp & Harkins Band -- who, in the words of Contessa Says Magazine, "is a pleasant mix of rock, pop, and a touch of folk"-- the images have been updated to those of diverse musical talent and the spreading of their feel-good vibes.

When Andy Sharp and Ryan Harkins, both from the Madison, Wisconsin area, started playing together they quickly discovered each others talents began producing great sounds. Their first two CD's, "The Outside Sessions" and self-titled "Sharp & Harkins," were recorded in Ryan's basement between bar league softball games and the subsequent hangovers. Their mostly-acoustic stylings are largely influenced by musicians like Ben Harper, Bradley Nowell, G. Love, Dispatch, Tom Petty, and Jack Johnson.

The Band's shows, with Sharp & Harkins handling the guitar and vocals, Justin Barak grooving on bass, and Colin Schaeffer on the drums, reflect the talents of the young artists across an awesome range of musical genres. As Ryan Harkins describes, "No one person listens to just one sound of music, so there is no reason a musician should limit themselves to one genre or style of playing and writing songs." From the tinges of folk music in the cheery track entitled "Too Young," the hip-hop feel of "Ocean View," to the rock and roll flavor of "New Life," they can downright entertain with their sets of original tracks and unique covers.

After years of playing together as a duet, Andy Sharp and Ryan Harkins decided to record a studio album and share their music with a broader audience. A broader audience indeed; the band is up for 8 Madison Area Music Awards and the live shows are bringing in the crowds.

Sharp & Harkins are a must see live and their debut studio album, Alive Again, a must have for every music lover!