The Portland Sessions-EP was recorded in one day by "Right On" John McColley at his home in Portland, Oregon. With the exception of the harmony vocal on "Kid Sligo," the songs were all done live in one take, creating a very intimate and real quality. Although long time friends Annie Vergnetti and John McColley join Lucky on the bonus track, "Pabst on Tap," The Portland Sessions-EP plays exactly as it is heard: Lucky Overton with one guitar, three room mics and a 12 pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Lucky Overton
-Songwriter, Producer, Acoustic Guitars, Lead & Harmony Vocals
-Bass, Electric/Acoustic Guitars, Noise, Percussion & Drums (College Town)
Right on John
-Engineer, Producer & Banjo
"Right On John is a one man wonder. Playing solo among a whole band's worth of instruments, John (last name McColley) wields some howlin', high energy blues and down-home, tambourine-timed rock'n' roll. His deep, twangy sounds are calculated but beautifully crude. Be sure to come early to get a good look at ROJ's slide skills on the subverso fiddle." Anika Sabin-Willamette Week, Portland, OR.
"He describes himself as a one man vaudeville songwriter...as far as the instruments that he plays, well, here are just a few: acoustic guitar, semi-hollow body electric guitar, subverso fiddle, drums, stompbox, harmonica and vocals.
And yes, he plays it all by himself, calling to duty every limb (usually at the same time) to create a thick, rootsy sound. When compared to two other one man bands, thankfully ROJ is a little more Dosh (creative) and a little less Howie Day (cheesy), though he's much different (and better) than both.
Creating a full sound on your own without a slew of pedal loops, samplers, and other contraptions is no easy task. How does ROJ do it? "Duct tape has a lot to do with it.
Also of note is ROJ's penchant for all things humorous, citing various comedians-including the late, great Bill Hicks and Fort Wayne favorite George Carlin-as some of his biggest heroes and influences. This connection to whip-smart social commentators not only adds to ROJ's music, but also to his one-of-a-kind personality." Greg Locke-Whatzup Weekly, Fort Wayne, IN.
Annie Vergnetti
-Vocals
Vergnetti is a singer/songwriter hailing from Portland, Oregon. Her music is described as "edgie folkrock with a twist of slide and grit, mix in whiskey spirit, folkster sensibilities, add raw expression, a pinch of playful banter, shake, stir, throw onto unstable rocks, slip in a Pabst backer and serve with careful abandonment." She is the co-founder of GoddessGetDown, a nonprofit musical showcase for women, has played in Go Girl MusicFest, NW Women In the Round, The Luna Music Series, Out/Loud Festival, and has been featured on various radio stations, including The Eagle (AZ), and KBOO (OR). She has released two EP's, The Original EP, and The Next 1000 Miles, and is on the Luna Music Series, Vol. 1 CD. She is hard at work on her next album to be released early fall 2008. She is also a member of the Portland sketch comedy troupe, The Tragedies, in which she acts, writes, and performs. http://www.thetragedies.com