With a mixture of great originals and savvy cover tunes, UNITED CITIES OF AMERICA (UCA) have shown themselves to be equally at home playing festivals, corporate gigs, the original club circuit, and downhome blues and rock clubs. The SUMMER TOUR 2007 took UCA all over Washington State, including Pullman for the NATIONAL LENTIL FESTIVAL, Lake Chelan for the RHYTHMS AT THE LAKE 2007 FESTIVAL, as well as shows along the Skagit River and at scenic Remlinger Farms in Carnation.
UCA has become a popular band on the Everett, WA. club circuit, playing regularly at Monahan's (4 weekends since May). The band also showcased in Seattle this year at the Nector Lounge, The Merchants Cafe (where they recorded a live show with C2M2 Music), The U-District Street Fair, as well as several featured sets up the road at the Tulalip Casino with popular trombonist, Randy Oxford.
Highlights of what's still to come in 2007 includes a live video shoot of I CAN MAKE BELIEVE & SWEET TOOTH in November and a holiday show at Tacoma's Landmark Convention Center in December.
RISE is distributed by CDBaby, and is available at all major download and streaming centers (iTunes, etc) as well as through the catalogs of the major retail shops (Tower Records, BestBuy, etc), and from this site.
THE UCA STORY:
For those of you who still don't know, UCA (United Cities of America) is a 5 piece Seattle area-based band that brings the honesty and message of Bob Marley, mixes it with the smoothness and passion of Santana, adds some Diva vocals, timeless songwriting, an ear for dance club stylings, plus great live showmanship from high-spirited veterans of the Seattle music scene, and spreads it over a thick Afro-Cuban, funk-rock beat.
UCA is the brainchild of Bronx-born-turned-Seattle musician/singer/songwriter/No Excuse Records president, Keith Anderson. Known for his energetic live shows, stellar jazz/pop/reggae original songs on previous albums "Fire With Fire"(1994), "Somewhere in Your Heart" (2000), and the "I Can Make Believe" Remix album (2003), the seeds for UCA started growing out of Keith's UK solo music tour and 6 month stay in England.
After working with top-notch British Producer Stuart Wakeman (Jamiroquai, Phil Collins) & sensational young UK vocalist Emma Stakes to record 5 tracks for the Rise album, Anderson returned to Seattle in 2004 to finish Rise, recruiting Producers Jake Perrine & Aaron Fitzgerald, Singer/Songwriter Wynne C. Blue & Electronic Artist DJ Norml to finish the album and put together the live band.
THE BAND:
Vocalist Lin Broussard brings her high-energy style and engaging personality to the stage with UCA. Here in Seattle by way of Honolulu, Lin established herself as a major female entertainer in Hawaii, performing and touring with SALSA HAWAII, a 7 piece salsa band, led by Rolando Sanchez.
Bassist Dan Broussard holds down the bottom end for UCA. Originally from San Francisco by way of New Jersey, Dan was the bass player for SALSA HAWAII, and later formed DIAMOND CUT with Lin, performing in Waikiki before relocating in the Puget Sound area.
Lead guitarist/vocalist Vic Wilsgard has been playing in the Northwest music scene since the time gasoline was 45 cents a gallon and a goldtop Les Paul cost less than $600. His guitar heroes/influences are an eclectic group, including Santana, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and of course Hendrix.
Drummer Stuart Monsma hails from the Chicago area, and has honed his craft playing for some of R&R's legends, including THE DRIFTERS, LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS, and DEL SHANNON. Stuart is also the drummer for Seattle's own BOBBY MEDINA & THE RED HOT BAND.
Keith Anderson is the ring-leader in charge of all this; playing keyboards, guitar, singing, and creating general mischief whenever he can.
With 2007 winding down, everyone involved with UCA and No Excuse Records has a lot to be thankful for: downloads from Rise selling in Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia and the US, songs covered by other artists (including One Touch), a song featured in a Japanese movie, great live shows coming up, as well as several new recording projects.
We wish everyone peace and happiness, and we promise to rock the dance floors even harder the next time you see us live!!
UCA (in the house)...Keith, Lin, Dan, Vic & Stuart.
Who loves ya, baby!!
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