Lisa Ridgely & The Fainting Room
Saturday June 6, 5PM
Est. 2011 in Milwaukee, Lisa Ridgely & The Fainting Room’s sound is acoustic singer-songwriter meets Americana twang and harmonies meets screaming rock guitar solos. It’s a potent and dynamic mashup of the genres that influence the band.
Lisa’s singer-songwriter heroes include the brave, the sassy and the honest — particularly Kristin Hersh, Kathleen Edwards, Neko Case, Sharon Van Etten, Nathaniel Rateliff and Mason Jennings.
The band’s influences are wide ranging, from Loretta Lynn and Nirvana to Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group released its second EP, Heart Hot, in May 2014. The debut EP, Wine in Bed, was released in 2012.
Accolades
LR&TFR enjoyed nods from WAMI (Best New Artist, 2012) and Radio Milwaukee, with five nominations for the 2012 Radio Milwaukee Music Awards (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year, Catchiest Song of the Year, Best Live Show).
“[Heart Hot is] a terrific five-song collection that represents a confident leap forward in songwriting, production, and identity. … ‘Stopgap Girl’ gets to the heart of what makes Heart Hot so winning: effortless melody, refined songwriting, a wry sense of humor, and Ridgely’s newfound sense of self.” – Matt Wild, The Milwaukee Record
Highlights & upcoming shows
Performance highlights have included sharing the stage with Madison’s Count This Penny, opening for Katrina of Katrina and the Waves at Shank Hall, opening for Caroline Smith at the Riverwest Public House, and playing at the Porcupine Mountains Music Festival in Michigan’s upper peninsula. The band has split bills with some of their favorite local groups, including Testa Rosa, Field Report, the Crooked Keys, Hello Death and Caley Conway & The Lucy Cukes.
Members
Lisa started performing as a solo singer-songwriter in 2009, and has collaborated with local musicians including Sigmund Snopek and Chris DeMay.
Ryan Elliott, 2012 WAMI Award-winning Guitarist of the Year, who also plays with local stalwarts the Form and rockers The Great Lake Drifters.
Sara Moilanen, 2011 WAMI Female Vocalist of the Year, plays bass and harmonizes with Lisa. She is also a member of The WhiskeyBelles and Americana duo West of East. Sara and her husband, Tim Suchocki, took the band’s promo photos, as well!
Nick Berg (of many local bands including Testa Rosa and Great Lake Drifters) is a pro on the keyboards, adding a unique musical umami. His photo of a corset about to be torched is the featured album art for Heart Hot.
Ricky Ganiere, Great Lake Drifters’ longtime front man, joined the band in early 2015. A great singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Ricky manages the group’s rhythm and lends his creative juices from behind the drum set.
Releases
Heart Hot EP (May 2014)
Wine in Bed EP (May 2012) LISTEN
Available digitally at CDBaby, iTunes, and bandcamp. Available in CD format at the Exclusive Company on Farwell