"The guitar riffs and solos freakin’ rocked my brain and made me understand why I love hearing a good guitar part in a song. - Skope Magazine
"Menhart is a wonderful, natural singer, and the band is tight and equally robust. - Indie-Music.com
"One of New England's finest practitioner's of blues-rock," Rick Koster, The Day
Choice Cut and In-Depth Interview, Indie-Music.com, August 2009
Top 50 band in Fender Road Worn Competition.
Top 6 nominee Original Rock Band Hartford, CT Grand Band Slam 2008.
Featured Artist of the Month CTLiveMusic.com October 2008.
The Sue Menhart Band is edgy blues and rock led by powerhouse vocals from singer-songwriter Sue. The live show has the passion and energy of a Bruce Springsteen concert with wild stage antics, jokes and jazz improvisation.
Sue is known locally in New England as the singer-songwriter with a million-man band - anywhere between five and ten guys show up at any given time to back her up. The band can rock a concert hall like Toad’s Place, New Haven, a roadhouse bar like Bank St. Cafe, New London, or quiet intimate acoustic cafes.
Sue has a "reputation for impassioned tunes and a cyclonic voice that summon echoes of Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin and Lucinda Williams." - The Day
"Menhart is a powerful singer, make no mistake about it." - Indie-Music.com
In late 2007, Sue’s dissatisfaction with her day job as a computer analyst in the corporate world, coupled with the breakup of yet another cover band, prompted her to sit down and simply, write. She recruited some musicians from work and her neighborhood to play on the album, they practiced in her basement, and recorded the songs in a barn attached to an old New England farmhouse in Griswold, Conn.
The resulting album, “Torn,” expresses everyday emotions about decisions people make at crossroads in their lives. “Torn” has received airplay on WCNI New London at Connecticut College, WPLR in New Haven and WATD in Weymouth, Mass. The band has performed live in the WCNI studios three times.
“Torn” and “Gypsy Soul” are available at CD Baby, iTunes, Rhapsody, eMusic, AmazonMP3, Napster, Shockhound, and at all live shows. Stream at Last.FM and iLike.
The “Gypsy Soul” EP is bolder and poppier than “Torn.” It includes a song about a blue collar girl’s transformation into a gypsy every night for her man; an upbeat welcome home song for our U.S. fighting men and women; a Tina Turner-ish retro dance tune; and a wedding song to end all wedding songs – “The Choice.” Sue’s softer side shines through on “The Choice” as she also picks up piano playing duties.
Studio and Touring Band:
Kevin Clark – Drums
Kevin’s style is dynamic and powerful while he draws on experiences from marching band drumlines, and country, pop, disco, rock, jazz and blues bands. His #1 influence is Mighty Max Weinberg.
Dave Foret – Bass
Citing John Deacon as his #1 influence, Dave has a knack for finding the pocket, remaining true to the song, and keeping the live show moving.
John Jeff – Guitar
Jeff Beck, Pat Methany, Carlos Santana, and Jimi Hendrix top this British boy’s influence list. He’s self-taught and has a passion for composing rock/jazz instrumentals.
Bill Quinn – Keys, Guitar
A highly sought-after touring and studio musician, Bill has performed across the country with numerous recording artists and is currently having a great time with the Sue Menhart Band.
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