Rising Regina debut leads quartet of local releases
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Raising Regina -- Kiki Young, David Traugh, Jessie Young, Rich Kulbacki, Kevin Bowser -- is on board with "Travel Lightly." -
Joy Ike addresses "Rumors." -
Anthony Rankin -- "Blow This House Down."
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Rising Regina called its debut album "Travel Lightly," but judging from the tight playing, divine sibling harmonies, clever songwriting and overall professionalism, this rootsy local group might be on its way to packing heavily -- for extended tours.
The quintet is fronted by sisters Jessie and Kiki Young, who obviously have a long history together.
"Jess and I have been singing together since we were old enough to speak," Kiki says. "We traveled with our parents in a Christian music ministry from a very young age until we were teens. We were really a main focus of the vocals for as long as we could carry a tune."
As a sister act at their father's church in Rural Valley, Armstrong County, in their teens, they were joined by guitarist Rich Kulbacki known for his delicate picking and furious strumming. They met up with him again after college, around 2007, before expanding with the rhythm section of Dave Traugh and Kevin Bowser a year later. Rising Regina draws comparisons to Nickel Creek in the way it blends folk, bluegrass, pop and Celtic. Kiki says her vocal influences range from Patsy Cline to Janis Joplin to Allison Krauss and Alanis Morissette.
"We grew up in the church, so for many years it was worship and hymn based. But my parents really raised us on the classics as well. From Motown to Hendrix, jazz to swing, we really had an incredible openness to all genres and styles."
The subject matter varies as well from the high-energy inspirational song "The Road Less Traveled," to the murderous ballad "The Boxcar Killer," to the bluesy comical lover's lament "Sheets," in which Kiki sings "I bought a king size bed/I had you in my head/but then you went and ran/I shoulda bought the twin."
Rising Regina is a nice addition to the Pittsburgh music scene, but its future might be in Music City.
"We all agree Nashville has something to offer us," Kiki says. "It's been a lingering thought in our minds for years ... well, really since the start. We have just been spending our time making sure our sound and songs are solid so when we do get the opportunity to go, we present our best to the labels. We'll get there -- it's only a matter of time."
First Published May 13, 2010 12:00 am
