Latest News

July 20, 2010

Latest Press Release (PDF)

September 20, 2009

LOCAL MUSIC SWEETHEART 'STACHING' SECRETS AROUND AKRON
Rachel's Secret Stache gets creative leading up to CD release party Saturday, Sept. 26

AKRON, Ohio (Sept. 14, 2009) - Imagine dropping your needle on your 45 and listening to the crackle of classic sultry, retro rock, with undertones of opera, indie alternative and a twist of Led Zeppelin - that's the sound of Rachel's Secret Stache, Akron's newest powerhouse band.

The band is fused with the underground and local art scene - incorporating elements that include a multi-faceted mixture of visual, musical and media arts. This compilation of music, art and prose is imprinted in their debut album, The Brown Bag, which drops on Saturday, Sept. 26 at a CD release party at Musica in Akron, Ohio.

"This project is a multi-media movement. Music, art and poetry arise from current culture and this is a way for anyone to be a part of that experience," RachelRoberts exclaimed. "We can create poignant art, discover what's in a brown bag, or listen to the music that transcends time."

To promote the new album, Rachel's Secret Stache is holding an underground "brown bag" scavenger hunt. As Akron natives, the band feels deeply entrenched in the community culture and wants to make this CD release party one that the community can be heavily involved with.

The band has partnered with local Akron businesses to forge relationships - but more importantly - support and promote their respective businesses. These are businesses that the band frequents and holds a special affinity for.

Brown bags will be stashed at 10 select locations throughout the city. These bags will contain all sorts of surprises - including a special gift from each business and meet-and-greet passes to hangout with the band prior to the release party.

To encourage people to find the bags and claim them, one clue per weekday, from Sept. 14-25, will be posted on the band's Twitter (@TheSecretStache) and Facebook (facebook.com/TheSecretStache) pages.

"Beyond the brown bag scavenger hunt, we wanted to take the overall experience even further," Roberts added. "The Brown Bag Project is an art show based around the theme of a brown bag. Artist Pita Brooks began creating "brown bag" art and we decided to open the project to the public. The scavenger hunt is a part of the art show. It allows local artists and art lovers to be a part of the event."

Roberts added that this is not an ordinary CD release party - it's a "weekend of art events." Starting from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sept. 25 at WE Gallery and the Uncorked Wine Bar at 22 North High St., a collection of brown-bag artwork will be on display. The event is free and open to the public. Look atwww.thebrownbagproject.com for more info.

Also included in the promotion is a "Best Stache Contest," which consists of people getting a cool mustache, whether it's real or costume, strike a pose, take a photo and upload it on the band's Facebook and Twitter pages. Rachel's Secret Stache will choose a winner of the "Best Stache" and feature it on their Facebook page.

The band will rock out select venues leading up to the show on Sept. 26, including:

•Sept. 12 - 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. - Art in the Square, Akron
•Sept. 12 - 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Nelsons Ledges, Garrettsville, Ohio
•Sept. 18 - 9 p.m. - Cedar's Lounge, Youngstown, Ohio
•Sept. 25 - 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Art opening at Musica, Akron
•Sept. 26 - 9:30 p.m. - Rachel's Secret Stache CD Release Party with Sewing Machine War and Goodmorning Valentine at Musica, Akron
•Oct. 17 - 9 p.m. - Beachland Tavern, Cleveland

Many know Rachel Roberts as one of Akron's rising stars, unloading her musical charm on the populous since 2005, continuing with her latest solo album released earlier this year, Lightning Loves the Kite.

To learn more about the band, upcoming shows and the new album, The Brown Bag, visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/home.php#/TheSecretStache, search Twitter for @TheSecretStache or go to the Web site at www.r2-music.com.

Future art submissions will continue to be accepted for the band's next album release due out in 2010. Please email pitabrooks@gmail.com to learn more.

About Rachel and the Band
Rachel Roberts is sultry retro rock. Born in the underground rock factory of Akron, Ohio, Rachel turned her opera singing pedigree on its head and has been belting out her quixotic cocktail of one part Joni Mitchell, one part Tori Amos a splash of Jeff Buckley with a lemon twist of Led Zeppelin since she was 14.

Performing as both a solo singer songwriter, as well as the front woman for Rachel's Secret Stache, Rachel both mesmerizes and throttles her fans into an epic rush. The Secret Stache is Akron's current champion of original retro rock! Cut from the same cloth and fed by the same rubber-tinged manna that launched so many before them, The Secret Stache is a rock hard feast of both the sumptuous and the sublime.

Rachel's Secret Stache is: Rachel Roberts as lead singer/songwriter, Joey Golden on bass guitar, Brian Parson on drums, Dave Andrews on lead guitar and Rickles the Soundguy.
# # #


Editor's Note: Please find below select quotes from past articles written about Rachel Roberts for reference.

"...With a clear, strong voice, she can be quite a crooner with a touch of blues. Her melodies are creative and she favors jumps of 5th and even wider intervals within them. On songs like Lovin' You, Rachel displays a nice range, moving between mezzo-soprano and soprano."
- Epitome Magazine

"...And here's one more item for your to-do list before the year ends; Experience Rachel Roberts, one of Akron's hottest rising singer-songwriters and bandleaders."
- Scene Magazine

"Young singer hits sweet notes Such humor and humanity, not to mention musical influences ranging from Beethoven to Janis Joplin, sets Roberts' music well apart from other aspiring folk singer-songwriters."
- Akron Beacon Journal

 

For immediate release - April 2009

 

Contact: Henry Konczak
330-493-0873
henryj@hjptv.com

TV show gets pumped up for 5th season

Director/producer literally puts his heart into his business
 

CANTON, OH. - In an economy that is seeing more and more small businesses struggling for survival, and fewer still thriving, one local television show founder  may have inadvertently come up with a unique (though not necessarily recommended) "business survival" model. 

 Facing more than $100,000 in medical costs stateside, Henry J. Konczak – owner and host of Perry Township-based Random Acts of Music – traveled to India in December 2008 to have a needed heart surgery performed for a third of the cost.  As an independent business owner without health insurance, the move was a necessity.  For a former professional guitarist who had logged 30 years worth of touring across 40 states, the “medical travel” concept was almost poetically appropriate for the 56-year-old Konczak.

 While the new lease on life may not have had a direct affect on his television show, it did seem to make Konczak return home more determined than ever to make this the most exciting RAM season in its five-year history.

 “This is the year,” Konczak said.  “We always did this show for the right reasons – by and for musicians with original music that you might not see anywhere else.  But things are starting to break.  Random Acts of Music is the fastest growing independent-music show in Northeast Ohio and probably the only one with its reach; 1 million viewers from Erie to Norwalk.”

 Between cable and Local-On-Demand channels, Konczak said, RAM is “hitting all the blank spots in the cable system” and is seen somewhere seven days a week.

 The show’s success as an acoustic-performance-and-interview showcase (think Behind The Music in your own living room) has allowed for even more creative avenues this year.  Segments featuring local entertainment news briefs, guitar lessons from local six-stringer Jon Mosey, instrument reviews, a series of shows shot at the Rock-N-Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland, and an update Web site at www.randomactsofmusic.tv are all part of the mix in 2009.

 And following in the footsteps of national artists such as Kate Voegele, Augustana, and Kelly Sweet who were first exposed to the Northeast Ohio cable viewership through RAM, this season will feature former Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young drummer and Canton native Joe Vitale, Sr. discussing his recently penned on-the-road memoir; and sets from rising local singer-songwriter Zach; Cleveland jazz-rock chanteuse Robin Stone; Akron-based rocker Brian Lisik; legendary Ohio jam band Water Band, and more (the full 2009 episode line-up, along with show times and channels can be found at www.randomactsofmusic.tv).

 Not bad for a show that began somewhat as a lark when Konczak was asked by a friend to tape an open mic night at Latte Da in Massillon.

 “I had already been producing TV spots for 10 years,” Konczak recalled.  “So I took my camera and thought, this is cool.  The folks at Warner Cable asked if I would do a half-hour show.  That eventually moved to Channel 23, where we began leasing time – swapping out production time for air time.”

 As a healthy byproduct, the show’s steady growth has even helped the host stay humble.

 “It kind of keeps you in check when you get a call like I did from a Brian Lisik fan, who said they saw Brian on the show talking to some old guy,” he laughed.  “I told them, ‘yeah, I’m the old guy’.”

 That focus on bringing underground music to its audience in a relaxed, back-porch atmosphere has been an RAM benchmark, Konczak said.

 “It has always been free for the artists, but we’re actually starting to make money now instead of just doing it in between our work,” he said.  “And that allows us to do even more for the artists.”

 Which is where Henry J.’s heart was all along.

 

c. 2009 Lowis Marketing and Publicity (330) 414-6557