BEN RIPANI MUSIC CO.

With a kitschy, Indie folk rock sound that rattles the soul, Ben Ripani Music Co. delivers a caustic symphony of songs, a melodic dance of involved rhythmic textures and honest, vulnerable lyrics. This 5-piece band is comprised of Ben Ripani (guitar, vocals), Mike Schminke (percussion), Derek Kolb (bass, vocals), Chris Nakielski (keyboards, vocals)and Nick Mungari (lead guitar). “There’s a twang, an emotion, a polarizing sense of attraction between you and Ben Ripani that is almost indescribable. It’s not quite blues. Or rock. Or folk. Rather, it pulls a piece from each of them and creates a patchwork musical canvas that has a little bit of Dylan, a smattering of Blues Traveler, a dash of Dave Matthews and some Wilco for good measure. Each and every member of the Ben Ripani Music Company plays with a passion and focus that I haven’t seen live in quite some time.”(CBB Fest: Congress Theater 12/4/2010 by Ben Dahl | Lost in Concert) Ben Ripani released his first solo record “Hope Street” in 2009, an honest album “with rich instrumentation and soulful vocals. Some songs stripped to only the acoustic guitar to showcase Ripani’s poetics, which certainly hold up” (Max Herman: Illinois Entertainer). Ben Ripani Music Co. released their debut 7-song EP titled “Maladies” on June 11, 2011. Recorded at WBEZ Studios on Navy Pier in Chicago, Paul Von Mertens joined the project as the producer (Brian Wilson, Wilco, Poi Dog Pondering), with Adam Yoffe engineering. Following the release of Maladies, BRMCo has been busy playing shows around the United States. This run has included appearances at the Chicago Bluegrass & Blues Festival, South By Southwest, House of Blues Chicago, Hard Rock Chicago & multiple East Coast tours. Stay tuned for new music by BRMCo. for they are in the studio now recording a full length record. Chicago-based folk/indie rock band --- www.benripani.com