“After Carney’s encore and final farewell, the crowd still isn’t ready to leave. The aisles crowd with people, but nobody moves toward the exit. Truth be told, I’m not pushing to get out either… We languish together in the calm that permeates the room. I’ve been converted.” - LA Weekly
Carney saunters in, but commands the stage as if they had always been there. Their figures are already imprinted in your mind. In a sultry manner, lead singer Reeve Carney’s voice envelops and drenches you, evoking the poignant beauty of the late Jeff Buckley, the deep-rooted soul of Otis Redding, and slightly androgynous seductiveness of David Bowie. Press in: you will be wooed. Like a bullet, the music penetrates the wall well built between stage and audience in LA. It will pursue you, court you, and persuade you. The lyrics lock in what already was set into motion by the compositions. Momentum picks up and the mystery of the message becomes clear. Reeve sings, “I Will Testify”, and you believe his melodic confession. Lead guitarist Zane Carney’s fluid skill embellishes the songs that combine and transcend rock, jazz, and blues. Pulsing steadily, drummer Jon Epcar builds a solid foundation from deep roots and dizzying ingenuity. Bassist John David (JD) Lipscomb pumps soul into the low end.
There is one unifying attribute that plays into the cohesion and intimacy of Carney: history. After moving from New York to Los Angeles, the Carney brothers met Jon in elementary school where they began playing together. In high school JD joined them as they dove deeply into music education at one of the most prestigious music schools in Los Angeles. When private lessons became too expensive, they joined in at old blues clubs around town. From these venerable clubs to Cal Arts, USC and Boston University, they have built their talent and rapport. Becoming musicians was not a choice; it was a calling.
Though inspired by blues, folk and old school pop, Carney more closely identifies with the full-blown passion and mystery of rock and roll. They find great inspiration in the timeless genius of Led Zeppelin. The songs also have elements of playfulness reminiscent of The Kinks, and the intensity of Jimi Hendrix. They combine powerful instrumental movements with a lilting voice that competes for fans of Radiohead.
Carney began with a residency at LA’s favorite Irish pub, Molly Malone’s, and sold out shows month after month. Fueled by word of mouth popularity, they graduated from that residency to selling out the Troubadour. This buzz led to the courting of Carney by Interscope Records, and Manager David Sonenberg of DAS Communications (John Legend, Fugees, and Black Eyed Peas). Carney is being groomed by some of the biggest names in the industry to explode onto the national stage.
Collectively the band members have worked with Jonny Lang, A Fine Frenzy, and have opened for acts such as Fergie and Live. They’ve played at festivals such as SXSW, Bonnaroo, and Beale Street. Carney’s music has appeared on screen including both “Crossing Jordan” and “One Tree Hill.” Members of Carney have performed live on numerous television shows. They have toured extensively, spanning continents from South America, to Europe, and Southeast Asia. Their breadth of experience allows them to mine the spectrum of music, engaging listeners with surprisingly diverse musical taste.
Carney’s songs seem to propel themselves forward from the beginning and blossom in the middle with a power beyond the persons on stage. It is at once powerful and ethereal, driving home the inner feeling that there is more below the surface, a mystery that haunts you, and pulls you back again and again.
