Music Scene Up and Comers Jen Abby s First Single Destroys The Competition
Now, I must preface this by admitting my knowledge of the music industry is not nearly on par with my knowledge of crappy reality television: it is shaky and limited at best (and mostly reserved for hip-hop and Guitar Hero). Needless to say, it is rare that an album, or more simply a song will inspire me to put pen to paper and wax poetically, so on the odd occasion it does, that group is most definitely one of whom to take note. Indie rockers Jen & Abby managed to capture my attention and turn me into a fan with just one song.
A snappy beat accompanies the genuinely sweet and brutally honest lyrics ("I try to stay away but something escapes me and I lay here with you...") in their sure-to-be-a-cult-classic "Destroy Me." If you ask Jen & Abby who they sound like, they'll throw out a bunch of tough chick artists like Ani DiFranco, Fiona Apple, and Jenny Lewis (yes, of Troop Beverly Hills fame; there's my giddy connection!), but the truth is this group has found a groove that's unique and all their own, and those other women should be honored to be in their company. Jen & Abby's raw collective voices are indescribably refreshing in an industry that increasingly mass-produces technologically-enhanced bubblegum.
Jen & Abby consists of Jen Trani, a professional guitar instructor who earned her degree from the esteemed Musician's Institute in Los Angeles and Abby Miller, who you might recognize from various national commercial spots (T-Mobile) or television guest appearances ("Gilmore Girls," "Veronica Mars," "The Nine"). They came together only two years ago but have already played countless gigs at Hollywood hot-spots like Pig N Whistle, the Hotel Cafe (upcoming again in March), and most recently, Falcon, and they have even tackled the small screen, getting their music featured in the aforementioned WB hit "Gilmore Girls" back in 2006.
Jen & Abby can be found on MySpace and YouTube, where they post new tunes, behind-the-scenes clips in the recording studio, and blogs updating fans on the happenings or just random musings in their world. Their debut album, "Cannot Rearrange," already has a May '08 release date, so clearly these two are ones to watch!