Amperband
Featuring legal talent from McCarter & English
Rocking for SOUL (Student-Athletes Organized to Understand Leadership)
Meet Amperband, the legal & musical legends from McCarter & English who are as equally in tune with each other as they are with their clients! Why are we called Amperband? It's our tribute to the mighty '&' symbol, the unsung hero that connects words & phrases, like we connect legal arguments & our Amperfans to chart topping hits from the greatest eras of music.
Amperband was formed in 2023 when the band debuted at Johnny Cash Bar & BBQ in Nashville, where we rocked so hard, we made sure even the Man in Black himself would've demanded an encore. Since then, Amperband has graced stages in NYC & Florida with our distinctive three guitar sound. We're now taking our talents to DC because nothing says "fight for your right to party" like an Amperfamily reunion.
Amperband boasts as much expertise in riffs & rhythms as we do in regulations & rulings. Our ensemble includes seven members from five offices & a whole lot of legal wit & musical talent. So, if you think you are Amperfan material, welcome to the Amperfamily! We got the moves like Jagger & maybe even a few legal puns that are so bad, they're criminal!
Harmful Interference
Featuring legal talent from Federal Communications Commission; USTelecom; Wireless Infrastructure Association; Meta; Verizon; Somos
Rocking for Miriam's Kitchen
Harmful interference was formed in the Spring of 2019 with the quickly achieved goal of becoming the world’s greatest telecom lawyer rock band. The band presently includes telecom industry legends Kelly Donohue, vocals/keyboard/gong/80s flair (Meta, formerly FCC, Wilkinson Barker Knauer); Joel Bernstein, bass/definitely not vocals/next-level conversation skills (Somos, formerly Temple Strategies); Randy Clarke, drums/practice space purveyor/smoldering intensity (Verizon, formerly FCC, Lumen); Patrick Halley, guitar/vocals/off-color humor (Wireless Infrastructure Association, formerly FCC, USTelecom, Wilkinson Barker Knauer); Kristi Thompson, vocals/percussion/robocall cop (FCC), Brandon Heiner, vocals/guitar/gear master (USTelecom, formerly Hill staff, Lumen), along with telecom outsider Jozsef Szamosfalvi (Interlink Capital Strategies, highest scoring scrabble name in the history of Law Rocks DC with 53 points).
Lex Loco
Featuring legal talent from Maryland Office of the Attorney General; Kator, Parks, Weiser & Wright; Lutzker & Lutzker
Rocking for Young Artists of America
Forged from the remains of a law school band, Lex Loco is DC’s most original up-and-coming cover act. From The Beatles to Britney, these attorneys-by-day, rock-stars-by-night deliver banger after banger to a boisterous bunch of beloved followers. In fact, the only thing more dangerous than Lex Loco on stage is Lex Loco in legal practice.
Lex Loco is Lexi Pozonsky (lead vocals), John McWhorter (lead guitar), Ethan Barr (guitar and keys), Derek Fischer (bass, not the basketball player), and Will Elman (drums). The band will be raising money for Young Artists of America, which offers orchestral and musical theater training for elementary through high school aged students in the DC area.
Morgan & The Missed Opportunity
Featuring legal talent from Mintz; Verizon; The Author’s Guild
Rocking for Guitars For Vets
Morgan & The Missed Opportunity is a collection of legal and other DC policy professionals who deliver advice and counsel on vexing communications, copyright, and defense policy questions by day and turn up the volume on Americana and classic rock after dark.
Night Work
Featuring legal talent from Akin
Rocking for Legal Aid DC
Night Work consists mostly of attorneys from the DC office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, now simply known as Akin. The name Night Work was devised by a broader group of Akin musicians across the firm’s many offices in honor of the firm’s founder, Bob Strauss. Mr. Strauss famously said to a client that “You’ve given us your night work; now can we have your day work?” The DC band’s genesis dates back to the 1980s, when trade partners Steve Kho and Tom McCarthy starred in their high school rock band No Outlet. Steve and Tom have since toured the country with their own bands, and Tom continues to record and play with his bands No Second Troy and the Reserves (those names are included to encourage you to look for them on streaming services). They reunited at Akin and secretly added rock ’n roll musical talent to the lateral partner recruiting criteria for the DC office. Drummer Scott Alberino, a leader in Akin’s Financial Restructuring practice, is routinely selected as one the greats by himself and his bandmates. Top DC lobbyist Brian Pomper, who normally plays guitar, found his purpose in life playing bass for the band. Lead vocalists Jennifer Richter (Telecom) and Matt Nicely (Trade) are regularly compared to Fleetwood Mac by associates at the firm looking for bonuses.
Noise In The Basement
Featuring legal talent from Venable; Dickinson Wright
Rocking for Friends of ROAM
What’s that Noise?! Once upon a time in the early 2010s, a group of friends set forth on a musical odyssey, insistent on keeping theelectrifying soul of alternative rock alive. United by their passion for the genre’s rebellious spirit and groundbreaking melodies, Noise in the Basement was born – a tributed to the legends of thelast few decades whose songs you passionately sing along to today. NITB shows take you on a thrilling musical rollercoaster, blasting your favorite alt anthems, while slinging genre-bending curveballs – swinging between old and new tunes with finesse, keeping audiences on their toes. So, slip into your Chuck Taylors, Doc Martins or Vans, and let NITB remind you why alt rock has owned the airwaves and possessed your very soul.
The Precedents
Featuring legal talent from Willkie Farr & Gallagher; Interactive Brokers; McGuireWoods; IRS Appellate Division; Shulman Rogers
Rocking for Gifts For The Homeless
The Precedents have been together for 18 years. We are the band that all others must follow.
Fantomen
Featuring legal talent from DCBLOX
Rocking for Atlanta Bar Foundation
Fantomen is the beloved project of Alan Poole, formerly a partner at Troutman Pepper and now General Counsel of DCBLOX. Formerly an all original music project based on horror and comic books that played in Midtown, East Atlanta, and the West End, Fantomen is in the midst of a total creative reset with Poole taking over vocal duties for the first time. For this one time cover show, Fantomen curated a set of songs that they hope will connect with both the legal community and their fans in surprising ways.
fantomenmusik.bandcamp.com
Ghost Water
Featuring legal talent from Campbell and Brannon, LLC
Rocking for City of Refuge
Comprised of residential real estate closing attorney (and one-time lawyerpalooza champion) Zach McElveen (rhythm guitar), residential real estate mogul Ted Morris (vocals), medical device salesman Todd Mackintosh (drums), contractor Matt Miller (bass) and fresh-out-of-early-retirement consultant Chris Miller (face-melting lead guitar), Ghost Water has been driving audiences wild for years with their keep-'em-guessing setlist of rock-n-roll favorites - priding themselves on song choices that'll make you say "wow, I LOVE that song, and I've never heard a band cover it before!" R.E.M? Check. Foo Fighters? Got it. Weezer? Why not? Metallica?!?!?! Buckle up! Come see a Ghost Water show and prepare to be rocked!!!
Instagram
Random Baldwin
Featuring legal talent from Drew, Eckl & Farnham; The Rhine Law Firm; Perry & Walters
Rocking for Atlanta Community Food Bank
Random Baldwin is the premier faux-Icelandic, power-pop/necro-metal band in North Georgia. Selling tens of albums worldwide, the band is known for its energetic live shows and copious amphetamine consumption. Support live music!
Tremendous Machine
Featuring legal talent from Secretariat
Rocking for Catalyst Sports
Made up of legal professionals from Secretariat Advisors, “Tremendous Machine” is a 7-piece country/rock/bluegrass band that pays homage to the 1973 Belmont Stakes, where the eventual Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, was famously said to be “moving like a tremendous machine” around the final corner. Law Rocks 2024 will be the band’s inaugural show and they cannot wait to take the stage and rock out for their local Atlanta community!
The Weight of Authority
Featuring Legal Talent from King & Spalding
Rocking for Georgia Innocence Project
The Weight of Authority is comprised of Peter Starr on drums, Charlie Spalding on keyboard, Seth Euster on guitar, Peter Diaz on bass, David Wellen on saxophone, and Celita Hudson (lead), Caroline Wendt, Jennifer Blake and Ben Torres as vocalists. King & Spalding is excited for the Return of Law Rocks Atlanta and can’t wait to take the stage!
Website: kslaw.com
LinkedIn
Instagram: @kingspalding
Host - Julie Smith
Julie Smith is an Emmy award-winning television personality and radio host. She began her time in Atlanta as an anchor/reporter at CBS46 in June 2016.
In addition to her presence on local, weekday newscasts, Julie hosted a daily live talk show called Atlanta Plugged In, showcasing local businesses, non-profits, public figures, politicians, and more. Julie spent four years as a fill-in host on local Atlanta foodie show, Atlanta Eats.
Some of her favorite interviews include Snoop Dogg, HLN’s Robin Meade, and Fawn Weaver, CEO of Uncle Nearest Whisky.
A graduate of the University of Louisville in KY, Julie began her television career there, hosting a live talk show called Louisville Live This Morning. In 2011, she set her sights on Los Angeles, CA where she was a freelance on camera and event host/emcee interviewing locals and celebrities like Bryan McNight, Evander Holifield, Hilary Duff, and more.
Julie has been the celebrity red carpet host for Churchill Downs at the Kentucky Derby which draws crowds of over 150,000 each year interviewing celebrities such as Ice T and Coco, Josh Groban, Nick and Vanessa Lachey and she was the host of the first Law Rocks Atlanta, in 2019.
Host - Valerie Ojeda
This proud Chicago native is best known for her vocal versatility, boundless energy and magnetic charisma on stage.
During the week, Valerie Ojeda travels the country, working as an On-Camera Host, Event Emcee, Trade Show Presenter and Automotive Product Specialist, representing top companies like Panasonic, Microsoft and 3M and Honda, just to name a few.
On weekends, she manages and sings lead vocals for the wildly successful cover band, “Anthem Road,” playing in casinos, resorts, conventions, wineries, private parties and outdoor festivals, throughout the country. Anthem Road has shared the stage with such iconic 80’s bands as Berlin and Warrant, as well as some of the top tribute bands in the world. Valerie’s favorite musical moments to date were meeting rock legends Pat Benatar, Kip Winger, Jerry Dixon and Billy Ocean, as well as singing with Terri Nunn at The Canyon Club and singing the National Anthem before a Slaughter concert.
For Valerie, being of service is the highest form of consciousness, so being able to give back to the local community, by being a part of Law Rocks, is an absolute dream come true!
Judge - Daniel Gomez
Daniel "Dan" Alexander Gomez is an accomplished singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist hailing from Caracas, Venezuela, and currently based in the Washington DC area. He is also the founder and director of Distrito Music Fest, a philanthropic effort committed to supporting and showcasing the rich talent of Hispanic American artists in the DMV region.
Judge - Eric Liley
Eric Liley, Executive Director and CEO for The Musicianship, is a seasoned Marketing and Communications executive with over 25 years of experience in the Entertainment and Media industries, including work in the for-profit and non–profit arenas. His breadth of expertise includes TV programming, music licensing, multicultural marketing, branding, event production, talent relations, business affairs, youth advocacy, social impact, and diversity & inclusion.
Over the years, Eric has held a variety of management positions in marketing at Fortune 500 media/broadcast companies as well as leading non-profit category leaders. His experience includes roles at Gannett/USA Today, Showtime Networks Inc, BMI Music, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. In 1995, he served as the President of the NY Chapter of The National Association of Minorities in Communications (NAMIC), the organization’s largest chapter at the time. His extensive media experience included time abroad when, in 1999, he assumed the role of Senior Vice President Global Sales & Marketing for Net4Music Inc., an award-winning digital music company. Net4Music, headquartered in Paris, France, was ultimately acquired by Minnesota-based Coda Music Technology in 2001, one of the industry’s leaders of innovative digital products songwriters, composers, and producers.
Judge - Evan Moses
Evan is a trademark lawyer, the founder of the local community concert series "Live in Rose Park," and most notably, a four-time Law Rocks veteran and former Judge’s Choice award winner with his band Rock Creek Kings. Originally from Montreal, Canada, Evan is of-counsel to the Boutique IP and litigation law firms the Concept Law Group and FL Patel Law on trademark, patent and copyright prosecution and litigation matters and holds an LL.M. in intellectual property law from the George Washington University School of Law. His band’s newest single FOOL was just released on all platforms and you may just recognize him from the cover of the Washington Post’s Weekend Section.
Judge - Stacy Puente
Stacy Puente is, in no particular order, a mediocre multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, a student of humanity, and, at times, a regulatory lawyer for the federal government. A three-year Law Rocks veteran and two-time Law Rocks judge, you can catch her and her band in and around the DMV area.
Judge - Chris Reardon
Chris Reardon is a singer/songwriter/producer and music industry veteran who has been working steadily, both touring the world and in the studio since the early ’90’s. He signed his first record deal with Blackheart, Joan Jett’s indie label in 1993. From there, he went on to play with 4 different major label artists: Earth To Andy (Warner Bros), Lucy Woodward (Atlantic), Ebo (Maverick) and the Pat McGee Band (Warner Bros), touring and recording non-stop from the mid ’90’s straight through to 2010. Along the way he shared the stage with every different type of performer and band, from Stone Temple Pilots and Foo Fighters all the way to Sherly Crow and Dave Mathews. In fact, his band Earth To Andy was managed by Dave Mathews’ management company, Red Light.
In his capacity as a producer, Chris has worked with some legendary talent, including Nick Launay (Sting, Eric Clapton, Talking Heads to name just a few) and mixing greats Chris and Tom Lord Alge. If you’ve heard any multi-platinum rock band from the past 3 decades, you’ve heard their work.
As a songwriter, Chris has worked with his longtime partner in crime, DC legend and Sony ATV writer Andy Waldeck (Earth To Andy, Egypt). Together, they’ve had the honor to write songs for a plethora of artists from all genres, including 3 prominent American Idol stars: David Cook, Chris Daughtry and Constantine Maroulis, with David even performing their song “Laying Me Low” live on the show to close out season 12 with a bang. Chris has had song placements in multiple TV shows (Beverly Hills 90210, Charmed) and several national ad campaigns including Coors Light and Pizzeria Uno.
Chris has come off the road and for the past 10 years or so he has been performing on and off with his old partner Andy Waldeck in the retro-soul 9 piece combo Killer DeLuxe and also with local singer/songwriter/producer extraordinaire Todd Wright in the power pop 4 piece, Getaway Car. He’s based mostly in the studio these days, collaborating with Todd Wright (Ryan Wright, Getaway Car) and Ethan Mentzer (Atomic Tom, Click Five) on commercial music/sync licensing using his wide array of vocal talents, from voice-over to soulful crooning and everything in between.
Judge - Gregory K. Wells
Gregory K. Wells, a trial lawyer, focuses on Plaintiff’s medical malpractice, serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. He is also a highly sought-after Mediator. Greg is listed in Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Product Liability and Professional Malpractice Law; the Maryland Lawyers and Washington, D.C. “Super Lawyers” and in Washingtonian Magazine’s “Washington D.C.’s Top Lawyers “Hall of Fame”. Greg has been recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in numerous occasions in the area of Professional Malpractice by Best Lawyers in America.
Greg is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, where he currently serves as the Regent for Washington, D.C. and Maryland, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has maintained the coveted “AV” rating, the rating for the highest level of professional excellence for legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards, from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell publication.
A Board member of F.A.M.E., the Foundation for the Advancement of Music and Education, Greg, a life-long music lover, is an avid guitar-player whose ability to gig has been, unfortunately, been curtailed by his busy law practice.
Amperband
Featuring legal talent from McCarter & English
Rocking for Community FoodBank of New Jersey
Meet Amperband, the legal & musical legends from McCarter & English who are as equally in tune with each other as they are with their clients! Why are we called Amperband? It's our tribute to the mighty '&' symbol, the unsung hero that connects words & phrases, like we connect legal arguments & our Amperfans to chart topping hits from the greatest eras of music.
Amperband was formed in 2023 when the band debuted at Johnny Cash Bar & BBQ in Nashville, where we rocked so hard, we made sure even the Man in Black himself would've demanded an encore. Since then, Amperband has graced stages in NYC & Florida with our distinctive three guitar sound.
Amperband boasts as much expertise in riffs & rhythms as we do in regulations & rulings. Our ensemble includes seven members from five offices & a whole lot of legal wit & musical talent. So, if you think you are Amperfan material, welcome to the Amperfamily! We got the moves like Jagger & maybe even a few legal puns that are so bad, they're criminal!
A Band Named Sue
Featuring legal talent from Schindler Cohen & Hochman; White & Case; Parker Pohl; Law Offices of Benjamin Haber; ASCAP
Rocking for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI)
The lawyers in the Band Named Sue embarked on their paths to rock stardom at the renowned incubators of rock n’ roll: big law firms White & Case, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and Bryan Cave. Currently, bassist Tom Macwright (restructuring partner at White & Case), Guitarist David Pohl (co-founder of the Manhattan-based litigation boutique Parker Pohl LLP and formerly of Bryan Cave), and drummer Matt Katz (partner at the Wall Street litigation and art law boutique Schindler Cohen & Hochman LLP, and formerly of Simpson Thacher) are all regulars in the robust dad-band scene in Maplewood, NJ. Keyboardist, Bill Ferullo, is the Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs at ASCAP (formerly of SImpson Thacher) and performs in a variety of Brooklyn-based rock and electronic projects. Guitarist Ben Haber, founder of the eponymous divorce and family law firm, is a also a veteran of the New York rock scene in the early 2000's. Lead singer/rhythm guitarist Charlie Pollock and lead singer Diane Davis are both veterans of stage and screen (including starring in several Broadway shows) and in their spare time enjoy rocking out with lawyers and Maplewood, NJ dad bands.
The Dirty Scriveners
Featuring legal talent from Cozen O'Connor
Rocking for Access Justice Brooklyn
The Dirty Scriveners can be summed up in the following sonnet:
Dirty Scriveners take their morning tea
They strive to practice for the good of all
But oft-times work gets in the way, you see
As you will hear, that fact may cause our fall!
While rarely so, sometimes, wrong notes they play
Oh, Mike and Charles might squeeze the wrongest fret
Kenichi cannot play the key of A
And Zak might crack his stick on drummer’s set
The angel known as Kristy sings divine!
And Bill? … Well … Bill … he may just squeak and croak
And Fred, the cellist, takes us up to nine!
But this whole band will stand … or burn … like oak!
Bon Chance! Bon Chance! Relish in the honor!
Glory be for Cozen and O’Connor
The Meltones
Featuring legal talent from Greenberg Traurig
Rocking for Lawyers Alliance for New York
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig is excited to have its house band, The Meltones, back to rock out 80’s style at Bowery Ballroom. The Meltones, named after a firm founder Mel Greenberg, have been rocking in various incarnations since the mid-1980s, and are proud to be eight-time Law Rocks NYC Champions, with their sights set on number nine! The Meltones have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local non-profits and couldn’t be more thrilled to join again this year to play for a great cause. The Meltones are comprised of nine band members: on guitar, Co-Chair of Global Real Estate Practice, Stephen Rabinowitz and Miami Real Estate Shareholder, Burt Bruton; on keyboards, Albany Government Law & Policy Shareholder, Christopher A. Cernik; vocals, Las Vegas Litigation Shareholder, Michael Hogue; Chief Shareholder Recruiting and Integration Officer, Tracy Newirth New York Litigation Of Counsel Ashley LeBlanc and New York Real Estate Associate Jennifer Hall; on bass, Daniel Blumberg, Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, Global Digital Business at Sony Music Entertainment on drums, GT friend Tom Helf of Bethesda Maryland’s Shaner & Helf.
Mistrial
Featuring legal talent from White & Case; Gibson Dunn
Rocking for New York Center for Children
Mistrial is a hard-rocking band spanning multiple generations, law firms, practice groups and musical styles. Featuring Adam Cieply (White & Case M&A partner) on guitar and drums, Yousef El Zohiry (White & Case M&A associate) on guitar, Raj Gandesha (White & Case IP partner) on bass, Suzanne Stone (Guggenheim Partners managing director) on vocals, Kate Swisher (Gibson Dunn Antitrust associate) on keyboards, and Josh Weedman (White & Case Litigation partner) on drums and guitar, Mistrial is there to make you pump your fist and dance to the groove.
REDACTED
Featuring legal talent from Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard
Rocking for New York Stem Cell Foundation
Let's go back to the days of Doc Martens and flannel, baggy jeans and floppy hats, when MTV still played music and CDs were still high-tech. Maybe we’ll even rev up the Flux Capacitor and push the DeLorean to 88 mph, flash some neon, and pop in an eight-track. Either way, these rock 'n roll legal pros will take you back in time to simpler days before social media and GenAI when the music mattered most. But we can't reveal their name. It's REDACTED.
Follow on X:
Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard
Scott Sholder
New York Stem Cell Foundation
Specific Performance
Featuring legal talent from Pryor Cashman
Rocking for The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium
T.J. Hooper & The Learned Hands
Featuring legal talent from Ropes & Gray; Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett; Paul Weiss; University of Michigan Law School
Rocking for Garden State Equality
T.J. Hooper is the University of Michigan Law School’s premiere (and only) cover band. After countless successful shows in Ann Arbor, the band is excited to travel in interstate commerce with intent to incite a party at Law Rocks New York. Composed of law students and recent graduates, the band has been heralded as “the most significant musical talent to come out of Michigan since Kid Rock.”
Willy and the Halestormers
Featuring legal talent from WilmerHale
Rocking for Sanctuary For Families
Willy C. Picker cut his teeth playing country and blues in small clubs along the banks of the Potomac. He had a loyal following, but was never able to break into the big time until he joined up with a brash band of Boston rockers—the Hale Stormers. Together, Willy and the Hale Stormers deliver an energetic and eclectic mix of rock and R&B. They are excited to return to the Law Rocks stage, and equally excited to raise money for the Sanctuary for Families—New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence.
Judge - Heather Beverly, Esq.
Former Board of Governors of the Recording Academy member, Heather Beverly is an entertainment attorney, speaker, consultant and author. As founder and CEO of the Law Office of Heather Beverly, P.C. she is recognized for being a veteran powerbroker and with an expansive and impressive roster of clients. Her firm represents film and tv producers, writers and production companies; radio personalities; executives, entrepreneurs, influencers; and some of the music industry’s legends as well as top pop, hip-hop, R&B and gospel artists, producers and entertainers. Ms. Beverly is also the founder and CEO of Soul Reciprocity, LLC (lifestyle brand providing tools for one’s quest for SOUL-FULL relationships of all kinds). In 2024, Ms. Beverly will release her first book “Soul Reciprocity” in conjunction with the Soul Reciprocity online store.
In her words, “Entertainment clientele come with a myriad of unprecedented and challenging issues which require individualized creative solutions. My commitment to excellence ensures that my firm makes each client a priority and that we utilize our collective experience to serve effectively and creatively while staying true to their brands and goals. The ultimate objective…to support the creation and monetization of art and the preservation of LEGACY”.
Judge - D'Laney Bowry
D’Laney joined the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) back in 2021. Originally from Hartford, Connecticut, D’Laney started her musical journey at 3 years old and followed her passion for music to Ithaca College where, in 2018, she received a Bachelor of Music with an Outside Field in Musical Theatre and a Dance minor. With music always being a huge staple in her life, D’Laney is a firm believer in the benefits music has on a person, mentally, spiritually, academically and emotionally. At AMP, she thrives off helping to ensure that the next generation of students experience these benefits as well.
Judge - Guitar Gabby
Atlanta native Gabriella “Guitar Gabby” Logan is a Strategy Lawyer and proud Spelman College and Vermont Law School graduate. Her passion for perspective fueled her desire to establish TxLips Band, LLC., a global entity that triples as a TxLips Academy, TxLips Consulting Group, and an international female and gender-expansive rock collective. Logan believes it is vital for people to be well-rounded and strategic in creating careers based on passion and built off longevity.
Judge - John Seay
John E. Seay is an Atlanta-based entertainment lawyer who founded The Seay Firm LLC in 2011. Before law school, he spent a decade as a touring musician, tour manager, and writer, and his experiences in the industry inform the way he practices law. John also spent time as Of Counsel in the entertainment practice group in the Nashville office of Loeb & Loeb and worked in the legal department at Turner Broadcasting. John has been named a Top Music Lawyer by Billboard on three separate occasions and has been recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer and a Georgia Trend Legal Elite many times, both in the field of entertainment law. He has spoken about entertainment law at SXSW, Americana Festival, among many others, and is Immediate Past Chair of the State Bar of Georgia Entertainment & Sports Law Section. John is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, where he served as Executive Articles Editor of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law and President of The Sports & Entertainment Law Society. He’s a father to two lovely daughters, and lives in Decatur, Georgia.
Follow John on Instagram: @TheSeayFirmLLC.
Judge - Nadia Vaeh
IMA “Vox Pop” winner and Atlanta native Nadia Vaeh is turning heads worldwide for trailblazing what is now coined “poptimistic-rock.”
With her conscious, narrative-flipping songs, Nadia embraces your inner villain, addressing the lows of mental health, the highs of toxic relationships, and the giant roller-coaster that we call life.
Her lifelong love of poetry and music was inherited from her mother, who, in a tragic turn of events, she lost to suicide at the age of 17. This devastating loss is what fuels Nadia’s endless drive to create music that brings awareness to the importance of mental health.
Host - Maria Milito
Maria Milito has been heard on the New York radio and television airwaves for 40 years. Whether you’re in the Tri-State area listening to Q104.3, New York’s Classic Rock Station or traveling nationwide, one might find it difficult to escape her signature voice as a host on iHeartMedia’s Classic Rock network—from Spokane WA to Allentown PA. Maria also adds author to her list of credits with the publishing of “Clarice and Friends...How They Helped Mend the Hole in My Heart,” a collection of emails from her listeners sent to her when her beloved dog Clarice passed away. A huge animal advocate, Maria can often be found at animal functions and charity events and has an animal/nature/environment podcast on the iHeartRadio app called “Maria’s Mutts & Stuff”; download the app and listen today!
Judge - Erich Carey
Copyright lawyer by day, musician by night, Erich Collins Carey is a modern day troubadour bringing live rock'n'roll and americana music to the East Coast of the United States and beyond. ECC regularly performs as a solo artist and backed by his band The Constituency in and around NYC in both original music and cover formats. With The Constituency, ECC's music is a throwback to the heyday of Dylan, the Dead and the Band, channeling the sound of his influences but with an emphasis on bringing together a spirit of unity and community... and the occasional good party!
ECC was also a cornerstone member of Washington, DC outfit and Law Rocks DC 2019 Judges' Choice Award winner the Rock Creek Kings with whom he toured extensively from 2015 until relocating back to NYC in 2019. Erich's music has been featured on WFUV 90.7 FM in NYC and his album "Could've Gone Either Way" is available on all major streaming services.
As an attorney, Erich is an experienced music publishing lawyer currently working as senior counsel on the Legal Licensing team at Spotify. Well traveled in the music industry, Erich's prior roles include advising on music licensing and catalog acquisitions at Round Hill Music, serving as counsel to the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) during Copyright Royalty Board and legislative proceedings and cutting his teeth as an associate at preeminent digital media law firm Pryor Cashman. This is Erich's second time serving as a judge for Law Rocks NYC.
Judge - Amanda Charney
As the Founder and CEO of Black Panda PR, Amanda brings over a decade of experience and an undeniable passion to the world of music publicity. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she became known as "Amanda Panda," a radio personality on Z104's popular morning show, Connie & Fish in the Mornings (Top 40 Radio). It was here that her infectious personality first resonated with listeners and where her passion for the music industry truly took root. Since then, Amanda has dedicated herself to promoting indie bands and collaborating with a diverse range of artists—from iconic acts like Frankie Valli, Bob Seger, Vanessa Carlton, Shontelle, The Neighbourhood, Eddie Money, and Sugar Ray, to emerging talents like Isabel LaRosa, Lyrah, Zoe Ko, Adanna Duru, and many more.
Judge - Hanna Fox
Hanna Fox believes in the joy and transformational power of music! She is a co-founder and former board president of Willie Mae Rock Camp, a STEAM-based, year-round empowerment through music program that includes social justice, Afro Diasporic futurism, critical thinking, and leadership, through the lens of the blues tradition for girls and gender non-conforming youth in New York. Williemaerockcamp.org
Hanna is a drummer and composer. Her band, Babe the Blue Ox, is a critically-acclaimed art-rock quartet that has released a bunch of records (on Homestead Records, RCA, and independently) and toured a lot (in scruffy vans). Here’s Babe’s latest: https://babetheblueox.bandcamp.com/album/what-about-today.
Hanna is also deputy general counsel at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. She was a staff attorney at South Brooklyn Legal Services, an associate at Arnold & Porter, a partner at Epstein Becker & Green, and general counsel for Rendr. She went to Brown University and Yale Law School.
Judge - Eli Northrup
Eli Northrup has been working at the Bronx Defenders since 2015 where he handles both felony and misdemeanor cases and is a member of the Policy Team. In 2022, after working on the campaign for marijuana justice in New York State for a number of years, he helped to launch The Bronx Cannabis Hub, a resource for New Yorkers interested in applying for licenses with legal support and education to enable them to build generational wealth long denied by the failed War on Drugs. Prior to joining the Bronx Defenders,
Eli served as an E. Barrett Prettyman Fellow in the Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic at Georgetown Law School, handling misdemeanor and felony cases in Washington D.C. Superior Court and supervising third-year law students. He attended Cornell University and graduated from New York University School of Law.
Eli was a member of the NYC-based band “Pants Velour” (Tommy Boy Records) for over a decade. The group performed all over the east coast, was featured on the X-Factor, and are perhaps best known for their appearance in the Dial 7 Car Service commercials.
Born Again Baldwins
Featuring legal talent from Arkadia Property Group & Meland Budwick
Rocking for Young Musicians Unite
Born Again Baldwins is excited to make its Law Rocks debut. We will be sharing an exciting and fun set spanning decades and genres. BAB will form like Voltron assembling band members from, LA, Connecticut, New York, and Miami to come together to rock your bodies and blow your minds. We are very excited to be supporting YMU in its effort to bring music back to schools and using that to change the lives of young people.
Featuring:
David Aaron – Frontman and Tambourine
Richard Kilstock – Rhythm and Lead Guitar
Jonathan Steinberger – Vocals
Douglas Wurtz – Acoustic Guitar
Loren Herbert – Lead Guitar
Joshua Strass – Vocals
Mark Meland – Bass
Arnaud Karsenti – Keyboard
Harry Woldenberg – Drums
Fauxly
Featuring legal talent from Foley & Lardner
Rocking for Boys And Girls Club
With roots across the nation, Fauxly is an all-attorney, all-Foley, no compromise rock band. As repeat Hustle and Heart Award winners, Fauxly are hitting the road to bring Miami a set of modern classics from the 1990’s and 2000’s that will get everyone off their feet and on the floor. Individually, Fauxly’s members have honed their talents on a variety of stages across the world; from Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Chicago House of Blues, to the German variety show “Wetten Das,” Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, and countless bars, basements, and backyards in between.
Fauxly features:
• Chris Ward (Labor & Employment) – Vocals and Guitar
• Mike Noonan (Land Use & Zoning) – Bass
• Chris Rasmussen (Transactions) – Drums
• Zack Sikora – (Labor & Employment) Guitar
We’re ready to let what’s left of our hair down and rock out for a great cause. The money we’re raising goes to the Boys and Girls Club, but the spirits we’re raising will be yours!
The Meltones
Featuring legal talent from Greenberg Traurig
Rocking for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig is excited to have its house band, The Meltones, appear as returning champions for the third annual LawRocks-Miami competition. The Meltones, named after firm co-founder Mel Greenberg, have been rocking in various incarnations since the mid-1980s. Now they have their sights set on defending their title as the 2022 and 2023 LawRocks-Miami winners. The Meltones have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local non-profits in New York and Miami and couldn’t be more thrilled to play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. The LawRocks-Miami edition of the Meltones includes three attorneys from GT’s Miami office (on vocals, Miami Shareholder Jessica Fishfeld; on guitar and vocals, Miami Shareholder Burt Bruton; and on guitar, Miami Associate Josh Tartell), with able backing from Burt’s three local Miami bandmates Larry Misrahi on bass and vocals, Danny Howe on keyboards, and Joe Arencibia on drums.
Sin Red
Featuring legal talent from SMGQ Law & The Higgins Law Firm
Rocking for Young Musicians Unite
Sin Red (without a net) is led by attorneys Leslie Zigel on Bass and Celeste on vocals joined by their friends Fredy Camelo on guitar, Jean Pierre Espiritusanto on drums, Thomas Puin Caprara on keyboards and Natalia De La Guardia on vocals. The band plays classic hits with an improvisational funk band gestalt. The underlying philosophy is have a lot of fun and get people on their feet dancing and singing along. We dare you to sit through a set without tapping your feet and shaking your ass!
Socials:
Leslie Zigel
Celeste Higgins
Fredy Camelo
Jean Pierre Espiritusanto
Tomas Puin
Natalia De La Guardia
Call It Mango
Featuring legal talent from Three60 Law Group; Housing Justice Project
Rocking for Rainier Valley Food Bank
Irreverent rock by irrelevant rockers. This 4-piece band brings high energy shows to backyards and dive bars throughout Seattle.
The Funk Docket
Featuring legal talent from Schroeter Goldmark & Bender; The Law Offices of Edward H. Moore; Keller Rohrback; The Law Office of L.M. Jones.
Rocking for Academy for Creating Excellence
Get ready to experience the electrifying sounds of The Funk Docket, a unique band composed of outstanding legal professionals from Schroeter Goldmark & Bender, The Law Offices of Edward H. Moore, Keller Rohrback, and the Law Office of L.M. Jones. This talented ensemble is set to deliver a funk-filled performance that might feel a little "felonious" but will undoubtedly have you dancing and vibing all night long. Get ready to groove to classic hits from James Brown and other funk pioneers—this is a musical set you won’t want to miss!
The Lumberjax
Featuring legal talent from Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness
Rocking for Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare (SMASH)
Hailing from the Great White North in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jean-Piérre et Jacques are two burly, hockey-playing, ax-swingin’, acoustic-strummin’ hosers who will happily rock your pants right off your body to leave you burnt and smoking on the dance floor!
A mix of comedy and musicianship, these bearded boys promise to entertain you with their interpretations of 80s covers from AC/DC to Whitney Houston to Bryan Adams to Bon Jovi. The Pacific Northwest is their predominant stomping grounds these days so keep an eye out to witness them jack choppin’ some wood in your neighborhood!
Side Bar
Featuring legal talent from Robert F Cousins Attorney at Law PLLC; King County Prosecutor's Office
Rocking for Troy & Baden Biddle Foundation
The members of Side Bar rarely speak to each directly. One whispers to another out of earshot of the other band members. Some musical decisions (i.e., how much vibro-slap is too much) are simply too prejudicial to discuss openly. It’s completely irrelevant and highly irregular but we allow it. When not preparing for the zombie apocalypse, Rob hones his guitar skills by listening exclusively to the Ventures. El Jeffe bangs on the drums while administering criminal justice with his office door wide open. Scott is most at home wearing a coconut bra and brandishing the aforementioned vibro-slap. Brian, guitarist extraordinaire, covers all the bases from rock solid rhythm to face-melting leads. Finally, Amanda, our lungs breathing life into this venture, still flexes her legal muscles from time to time, but usually only to bail out her friends in a pinch. That about sums up Side Bar. Like we said, we rarely speak to each other directly.
Judge - Serona Elton
Serona Elton is an experienced music industry professional, educator, and author. She serves as Head of Educational Partnerships for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC). Additionally, she is a full professor and Director of the Music Industry Program at the University of Miami Frost School of Music, and a Yamaha Master Educator. Elton co-authored the book Music Business Handbook and Career Guide (13th edition), and has contributed to news stories for NPR’s Marketplace, CNN.com, Billboard, and other outlets. She was awarded the first-ever Music Business Educator of the Year Bizzy Award by the Music Business Association in 2023. Elton is a member of the Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) Through Music Award Committee (part of the U.S. Department of State Global Music Diplomacy Initiative), and serves as a council member on the College Music Society's Council on Music Business-Industry and serves as a Director-at-Large on the American Musicological Society Board of Directors. Previously, Elton worked for Warner Music Group and EMI Recorded Music North America, and has provided consulting services to Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Zumba Fitness, and other music-related companies. She has also served as president of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA), a trustee of the Copyright Society, chair of the Florida Bar Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Section, and a governor on the Recording Academy, Florida Chapter, Board of Governors. She is also an alumnus of the Nashville-based Leadership Music program, and a licensed attorney in New York and Florida.
Judge - Glenn Moses
Glenn is a partner with Venable, LLP and is co-chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group. Glenn is also an accomplished musician, having played lead guitar for several local and national rock bands over the years. Glenn just recently played a gig at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and later in the same week, won the Judge’s Choice award at Law Rocks Washington, DC with his firm’s DC based band.
Judge - Andy Pate
Andy Pate, a South Florida native, has been immersed in the world of music for over two decades. With 22 years of experience as a music producer, DJ, and core team member of the renowned Ultra Music Festival, Andy’s contributions have helped shape the global electronic music scene.
As the host and producer of UMF Radio, Ultra’s award-winning radio show, Andy's voice reaches 20 million listeners weekly across 128 networks in 71 countries, connecting fans to the best in electronic music worldwide.
In addition to his work in broadcasting, Andy has released original tracks on prestigious electronic music labels, including Ultra Music, Toolroom, Dim Mak, and Black Hole. His DJ performances have electrified festivals and clubs around the globe, sharing his passion for music with audiences far and wide.
Judge - Alan Valladares
Alan Valladares is a Mexican-born guitarist and educator. By the age of 17, Alan had started taking private classical guitar lessons with Dr. Federico Bonacossa. Only two years later, he was admitted with a Full Scholarship to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Classical guitar performance at New World School of the Arts under the guidance of Dr. Albert Kunze. He graduated Cum Laude in 2016. Alan completed his Master’s degree in Music in 2018 under the distinguished teacher and performer Rafael Padron at University of Miami - Frost School of Music.
From 2013 to 2020, Alan worked as a Teaching Artist, Regional Director, and Director of Shows and Events for Young Musicians Unite; from 2020-2023 served as the Musician Advancement Manager at the New World Symphony. During his time at NWS, Alan oversaw key aspects of the Community Engagement department, cultivating close ties with community leaders around Miami and managed the College Track Mentorship Program.
Crazy Finger
Featuring legal talent from Silver Cain
Reuniting after a more than a decade apart, Crazy Finger is back on its wild ride through the musical cosmos, channeling the essence of the Grateful Dead, and inviting you to join their psychedelic journey. Original members Stuart Epstein (guitar and vocals), Leon Silver (bass and vocals) and Bryan Hawksworth (drums) are joined by Arizona Blues Hall of Famer Eric Ramsey (guitar and vocals), Ron Hoyos (keyboards and vocals) and Melanie Murphy (vocals and percussion). Covering classics from the Dead and Bob Dylan, mixed in with an occasional original tune,
Crazy Finger deals in joyful chaos that will leave you feeling like you've danced through a kaleidoscope. So break-out your favorite tie-dye, turn-on, tune out, and get ready for an electrifying journey through sound and spirit!
The Hoodlums
Featuring legal talent from Fennemore; My First Nest Egg
The Hoodlums are a five-piece family band with four musically talented people and a momager relegated to the cow bell. Lailah, the drummer, is 9 years old and the heartbeat of the band. Henry, 13, is the lead singer and lead guitarist. Ellora, 14, is on keys and the band’s stylist. Nicolle, age not disclosed, is a business lawyer and co-founder of My First Nest Egg, a company dedicated to teaching children financial literacy. Sean, a litigator and water lawyer at Fennemore, Arizona’s oldest law firm, has passed his musical talent and love for 80’s rock to his children. Despite his skills of persuasion, Sean’s children vetoed his requests for self-indulgent guitar solos. The Hoodlums are thrilled to support Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers with the hope that every kid will have the opportunity to learn and play music.
the knobs
Featuring legal talent from Stinson; PSZJ; and Retired
The knobs formed in 1974, by accident, when MIT chemist Dr. Greta Von Flüschenblächer “inadvertently” caused a nuclear explosion in her lab by attempting to extract musicianship from an ingot of refined male gerontology. Despite also coating a four-block radius of Cambridge, MA with a chartreuse goo, the knobs emerged from the cataclysm as a collection of pescatarians living at the extreme margins of polite society. Tom Salerno (drums) is a bankruptcy lawyer and inveterate Instagram troll. Jordan Kroop (piano, organ, vocals) is INFORMATION REDACTED – NATIONAL SECURITY. Mike Ford (guitar) is an internationally-renowned eyebrow model. Evon Dengle (bass) is unknown to you and definitely doesn’t play for any other Law Rocks bands.
Probustus
Featuring legal talent from Evans Dukarich
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Unless you called it Probustus. Then it would smell exactly like a group of dads and one mom from Tempe who like to jam on weekends. We want to be rockstars but, you know, we have lives. Michael practices law and plays lead guitar. Andy is a teacher who also happens to sing and play guitar. Paul is a renaissance man who has been credited as a pilot, teacher, and drummer. Little is known of Alex’s past. Maybe he’s the result of top-secret government experiments. Or maybe he’s just a good dude with a penchant for playing bass and gardening. Kim plays keyboard, sings, and knows real music terms like "tonic" and "measure."
Psych 101
Featuring legal talent from Miller Kory Rowe; Evans Dukarich
Modern rock band psych 101 is composed of attorneys Jeff Miller (vocals, guitars) and Steve Evans (bass, vocals), architect George Catone (guitar, vocals), and his son Leo Catone (drums). They have released original music on the band’s CDs “Attachment Disorder” and “Bipolar.” The band’s first CD was reviewed in The New Times and described as “danceable dirges” featuring “psychedelic burnout guitar, goth-bop beats [and] snaky bass.” The band was also asked to contribute its song “Wonderland” to The New Times’ annual “Best Of” issue. This year the band will play covers of some of its musical influences
Retro-Active
Featuring legal talent from General Dynamics Mission Systems; Fennemore; Potomac Law Group
Devon Engel – bass
Sean Hood – guitar
Mike Rissman – keyboards
Chuck Leyva – drums
Christi Sartin – vocals
Dave Cass - vocals
Retro-Active is a high energy rock & roll cover band playing in the Valley since 2006. Featuring dynamic male and female vocals (and three Valley lawyers!) Retro-Active set lists are full of the songs that make you jump out of your seat to dance and sing along. From Adele to Zeppelin, Journey to Van Halen, Guns n Roses to Velvet Revolver, Boston to Kansas and Toto, Styx to Stones, the Black Crowes to the White Stripes, Aerosmith to Jet, Blue Oyster Cult to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Heart to Paramore, Alien Ant Farm to Michael Jackson, the Cult to Kravitz, Boston to Bon Jovi, Jefferson Starship to Foreigner, Elle King to Prince, Scandal to Dramarama, Petty to Mellencamp, AC/DC to U2, The Killers to The Knack, Florence + The Machine to No Doubt, Def Leppard to Foo Fighters, Rihanna to Rage Against the Machine, Grace Potter to Greta Van Fleet, Ratt to the Doobie Brothers…you get the picture…
Rock Judicata
Featuring legal talent from Buchalter
Paperwork is our bread and butter, but rocking out is our jam. Josiah Reid dominates the drums with the precision of a well-crafted contract, while Khaled Tarazi takes charge of rhythm guitar and vocals, turning legal briefs into lyrical feats. We have Chello Johnson on bass, a European Gypsy keeping the band’s heart thumping, and the shredding maestro Ryan Evans on lead guitar, laying down riffs almost as sharp as he’ll keep your finances at Alpha Rising Wealth Management. This year, we’re excited to welcome Sumaya Tarazi to the band, a high school senior adding her flair on keys and backup vocals. Rock Judicata: where the gavel meets the gravel, and the verdict is always in favor of a good time!
Several Dudes
Featuring legal talent from General Dynamics Mission Systems; Midtown Alliance; Starr, Gern, Davison and Rubin
Several Dudes got together in the late 80's to write and play groovin' music for a loyal following in Atlanta while most of the dudes were in law school and medical school. Now mostly lawyers and a doctor on the back ends of productive careers, the band has reformed to honor founding lead guitarist Nick Stevens after his tragic death in a cycling accident. The band releases a new original song the first Friday of most months to keep Nick’s memory and spirit alive and to raise money for cycling safety advocacy through the Several Dudes/Nick Stevens Cycling Safety Advocacy Fund with the League of American Bicyclists in Washington, DC. You can check the tunes out on your favorite streaming service or the band’s website: www.severaldudes.com. Like back in the day, Several Dudes' new music will move your body and soul.
Judge - Michael Hepburn
In the mid-and-late 1970's Michael’s music achieved worldwide professional recognition through the success of his band, "Pleasure." Michael's compositions have been featured in the works of contemporary mainstream hip-hop and rap artists, including the soundtrack for the movie, “House Party” (“Kid vs. Play, the Battle”), Janet Jackson's 1997 release, "The Velvet Rope" (“Free Xone”) and Will Smith’s 2002 release, “Born to Reign” (“1000 Kisses”). In 2019 Pleasure released "Now Is The Time," available worldwide on Pleasure Records. A sample of Pleasure’s 2024 outdoor performance last June can be seen and heard here: Portland festival-goers treated to rare performance by iconic funk band Pleasure - OPB. One can also find a fascinating reference to the musically influential legacy of the Pleasure band in Questlove’s New York Times bestselling book, “Music Is History.”
Recently retired from practice as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting attorney for King County, Michael continues his songwriting, recording production, arranging, keyboard and vocal performance work in Seattle.
Judge - Daniel Pak
Daniel Pak, originally from O`ahu, is a singer, songwriter, producer, nonprofit executive, and arts and culture champion. As frontman for Kore Ionz (pronounced “core” “ions”) from 2008-2018, Pak shared the stage with The Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, and many of reggae’s greatest artists.
Pak is the co-founder and executive director of Totem Star, a recording studio and creative youth development organization supporting a diverse community of young recording artists through music production, performance, and mentorship. In January 2024 Totem Star opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art recording studio at historic landmark King Street Station, built in partnership with the City of Seattle and the Cultural Space Agency.
Pak is a commissioner emeritus of the Seattle Music Commission and has also served as a Governor for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy. In November 2022 Pak was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame.
Judge - Shaina Shepherd
Shaina Shepherd is a singer, songwriter, vocal teacher, and community organizer in Seattle, WA. Known for her pervasive style as front-woman to soul-grunge band BEARAXE, her notable vocal stylings have brought her into various creative spaces — from collaborating with Duff McKagan, Chong The Nomad and Acid Tongue to sharing stages with rock stars like Dave Matthews and Thunderpussy to being a soloist with the classical ensembles around the country. Inspired by the parallels between gospel and garbage metal, Shaina Shepherd is not your average vocalist. Living in the city where both Soundgarden and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shaina lends her soulful voice to projects of all genres.
You can catch Shaina performing on December 14th at the Showbox with members of Soundgarden in the rock and roll super group Nudedragons in support of SMOOCH (Seattle Musicians for Children’s Hospital).
Judge - Eva Walker
Eva Walker is a radio DJ and host of the Early Show on the popular Seattle radio station, KEXP. A co-founder of the rock band, The Black Tones, with her twin brother, the group has garnered major accolades, including being named one of the 15 groups redefining the city’s sound by NPR. The Black Tones have opened forWeezer, Death Cab for Cutie, Mavis Staples and Fishbone; has worked with members of Pearl Jam; and partnered with the Seattle Sounders FC, launching the club’s Jimi Hendrix-inspired jersey kit. More recently, the Black Tones released music on Sub Pop Records as part of the label’s Singles Club. Walker was featured in music videos for local Grammy-nominated artists, ODESZA and Macklemore, and she helped produce the BBC’s the Arts Hour on Tour event in Seattle. She is a sought-after creative visionary and a new mom on top of it all. Most recently, she and her husband Jake, released a music book titled The Sound of Seattle: 101 Songs that Shaped a City.
Host - Mark Devine
A Valley radio staple since 1989, Mark recently retired from the #1 rated 'Mark & NeanderPaul' show on 100.7 KSLX and also hosted the ’Tim & Mark’ show on 93.3 KDKB for 16 years.
Judge - Christian Coma
Christian "CC" Coma is best known as the powerhouse drummer for the Platinum-certified rock band Black Veil Brides which has seen him perform sold-out headlining arena tours across the globe in addition to appearing at rock’s top festivals worldwide. His intense energy and technical prowess is an integral part to the band’s high-octane sound and saw him take home an Alternative Press Music Award for “Best Drummer” in 2016. He is sponsored by DW Drums, Zildjian, Evans Drumheads, and Vic Firth.
Judge - Stephen Jensen
Stephen Jensen is no stranger to rock n roll and has lived on all sides of the industry. He played guitar in bands throughout the late 1980s-early 1990s playing his first gig at age 17 at the world famous Limelight in Chicago. He went on to sign his first record deal, appear in two music videos that appeared on MTVs Headbanger’s Ball, and toured the US all before he turned 20. Stephen has always had a passion for the mixture of visual arts and music. In the early 1990s, he stepped away from performing focusing on his talent for graphic design and photography for which he received his bachelor’s degree. He went on to launch his own entertainment design and photography company, F3 Studios. Stephen has created scores of album covers and packaging for many rock, country, jazz, blues, and hip hop artists, including album cover and artwork for the 2014 Grammy® Award Winning album "Step Back" by Johnny Winter. Continuing with the connection of visual art and music, Stephen began working with several musical instrument manufacturers designing ads, catalogs, merchandise, and products. In 2004, he started working closely with Dean Guitars and designed his first guitar for Dimebag Darrell of Pantera fame. Stephen would go on to design some of the most iconic and top selling guitars for Dimebag, Dave Mustaine, Michael Schenker, Leslie West, Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Jerry Cantrell, Zoltan Bathory, George Lynch, Trent Reznor, Rik Emmett, Corey Beaulieu, Matt Heafy, Rudolf Schenker, Michael Angelo Batio, and many others. He has also worked as an art director and designer for Stern Pinball responsible for designing games for AC/DC, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, The Walking Dead, Marvel's Avengers, and several others. Stephen has a strong branding and marketing background and has helped to rebrand and launch some of the best brands in the music industry. In 2009, Stephen launched Wornstar Clothing along with is wife, rock n roll stylist and fashion designer Sylvia Jensen. Wornstar Clothing has become one of the premier rock n roll clothing brands in the industry worn on stages all over the world.
Judge - Ed Masley
Ed Masley has been a professional music critic since 1989, initially based in Pittsburgh. He’s been covering the music scene in metro Phoenix for the Arizona Republic and its website, azcentral.com, since 2007. He’s also freelanced for several national publications, including Alternative Press and No Depression, as well as alternative weeklies such as Phoenix New Times and LA Weekly. Ed is also a musician with several well-regarded albums of original material by his bands the Breakup Society and the Frampton Brothers.
Judge - Sara Robinson
Sara Robinson’s musical journey began at the tender age of 15 when her raw, passionate voice first resonated through local venues, captivating audiences with a blend of youthful fervor and genuine artistry. Now, with over a decade of experience, Sara has evolved into a powerful force in the rock scene.
Her latest project, a highly anticipated EP, marks a bold new chapter in her career. Infused with the same heartfelt intensity and raw emotion that first defined her sound, this new rock EP showcases Sara’s evolution as an artist. The tracks blend edgy guitar riffs with evocative lyrics, reflecting her growth and deepened understanding of her craft.
Sara’s career has been a tapestry of diverse influences and experiences. From her early days performing in small clubs to sharing stages with national acts of multiple genres, she has consistently pushed the music boundaries while staying true to her roots. Her music, known for its powerful vocals and dynamic instrumentation, continues to resonate with fans old and new.
With this new EP, Sara Robinson is not just continuing her journey; she’s redefining it. Her relentless passion and dedication to rock music promise an exciting future, making her a name to watch in the evolving landscape of modern music.
Judge - Kelly Walsh
Kelly Walsh is currently the Vice President of SRO PR and runs their Phoenix office. Walsh has held in-house positions with Century Media/Sony and Prosthetic Records. She joined SRO PR in 2018 and has worked on campaigns for Godsmack, Papa Roach, Extreme, The Verve Pipe, AWOLNATION, Ice Nine Kills, and more. She was promoted to VP in 2022 and her current roster includes Megadeth, Five Finger Death Punch, Dirty Heads, Finger Eleven, Dimebag Darrell Estate, Gino Vanelli, Rival Sons, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Nothing More, The HU, From Ashes to New, The Rasmus, The Funeral Portrait, Crossbone Skully, Cory Marks, and Eva Under Fire.
Several Dudes
Featuring legal talent from General Dynamics Mission Systems; Midtown Alliance; Starr, Gern, Davison and Rubin
Rocking for League of American Bicyclists
Several Dudes got together in the late 80's to write and play groovin' music for a loyal following in Atlanta while most of the dudes were in law school and medical school. Now mostly lawyers and a doctor on the back ends of productive careers, the band has reformed to honor founding lead guitarist Nick Stevens after his tragic death in a cycling accident. The band releases a new original song the first Friday of most months to keep Nick’s memory and spirit alive and to raise money for cycling safety advocacy through the Several Dudes/Nick Stevens Cycling Safety Advocacy Fund with the League of American Bicyclists in Washington, DC. You can check the tunes out on your favorite streaming service or the band’s website: www.severaldudes.com. Like back in the day, Several Dudes' new music will move your body and soul.