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The recording of LIVE AT CICERO'S marked the next step in the evolution of Mountain Of Venus, a quintet whose sound is at once timeless, yet thoroughly of the moment. Founded in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter of 1999, MOV is a complete musical experience delivering a peerless combination of intelligent, radio-friendly songwriting, sparkling vocal harmonies and mind-boggling instrumental virtuosity that cannot help but capture the hearts, minds and ears of discriminating listeners everywhere. Mountain Of Venus is co-fronted by lead singer Tanya Shylock and singer/song-writer/guitarist Jody Cohen. Their well-developed sense of vocal dynamics is rarely seen in a band at this stage of their career. The overall sound is built upon the solid foundation of bassist Dave Gesualdo on six-string bass and Mike Garrett on drums. The ensemble is further completed by the far-reaching, ever-present leads of guitarist Michael Pascale. Perhaps the key to MOV's particular magic is that its music seems so familiar, even as it explores some of the more esoteric precincts of the contemporary realm. "That can be explained by each members' collective influences," says lead singer Tanya Shylock. Influences which happen to encompass a wide variety of classic templates, ranging from the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead, to Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin and other legendary Motown artists of that era. "These are really only jumping-off points," contemplates Tanya, a New Orleans native whose shimmering, versatile vocals set the pace for Mountain Of Venus. Although its roots are in the Rocky Mountains, the band reached a turning point in October of 1999 when it relocated to Boston, a city with a long running history of nurturing original local music. "Being based in Boston," says Tanya, "offered us a very challenging environment. Because Boston has a lot of amazingly talented musicians, so we've been spurred to aim for ever greater musical heights." Mountain Of Venus has recently become a fixture at the House of Blues in nearby Cambridge with monthly appearances billed as "house favorites." Back in Colorado, the band regularly sells out both Quixote's True Blue in Denver and The Tugboat in Steamboat Springs. MOV and its members have also shared the stage with such as acts as: Little Feat, WAR, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Dave Mason, Buckwheat Zydeco, Derek Trucks, Melvin Seals Melting Pot and Dave Nelson Band, to name a few. The band took another turn in October of 2002 setting its course on new sites by relocating again; this time to the the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Also, with the recent addition of drummer Mike Garrett to the line-up, Mountain Of Venus has once more altered its course. This time to what they feel ultimately leads to higher ground. Garrett has played with such established Midwest projects including stints with Vitamin A and The Schwag. Coming on recommendation of by Rob Koritz of Dark Star Orchestra, who was quoted as saying "one of the best drummers I've ever heard," Mike auditioned in Fayetteville, Arkansas near the end of MOV's 2002 Summer Tour. The band not only liked him so much, they decided to move to Fayetteville as well! Actually, as it turns out it really came down to two things: having a more centralized location for tour logistics and the overall cost-of-living. That Mountain Of Venus has easily scaled such heights is evidenced by the individual tracks of LIVE VOLUME I. Its songs traverse the musical landscape from delicate, melodic folk-rock to adrenaline-pumping improvisations that seamlessly blend jazz, folk and funk concepts into you-gotta-hear-them-to-believe-them sonic montages. According to Tanya, recording a live album was not a matter of choice -- it was mandatory. While a studio project is on the agenda for early 2003 the live setting promises to remain MOV's natural habitat. "Our live performance is really a powerfully strong, emotional and energetic thing to witness," according to Shylock, "It's a prime example of why you'll find Mountain Of Venus constantly conquering new musical peaks." Check out the artist's website: http://www.mountainofvenus.com Track List: 1. Nunoe 2. Said & Done 3. Two Angels 4. Your Own Way 5. YET 6. Over The Sky Other Genres:
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