"Stone cold shakedown -" Brian Scartocci's voice cuts through the low hum of the day, "- a nervous breakdown, that's what it's gotta be!" And just like that, a new-age soul singer is summarized in perfect, anguished tune. Living somewhere between pure joy and spiritual turmoil, Brian Scartocci’s distinctive and powerful voice is New Jersey's gift to Austin, TX's legendary music scene and to the unending thread of American soul music. Passionate, bombastic & commanding, Scartocci’s live presence is marked by his ability to transition from smooth, silky, tender tones to raw, pleading, gritty deliveries – never letting his audiences guess where they’ll be taken next. It’s a gift that the singer himself doesn’t fully comprehend.
“If I’ve ever had a plan or a layout of how I thought a show would go – even just a song – it’s all out the window the very second that first note hits. It’s no more thought once it’s on, it’s all feel. It’s a ride. I’m on it every bit as you are. I’m just the one in the front seat.”
A dynamic and energetic performer, Scartocci is as liable to croon a sweet love song under the bright stage lights as he is to end up laying on the dusty floor at the audience’s feet – screaming and pleading for answers, clothes tattered and torn and drenched in sweat. For these reasons and more, Brian Scartocci is a venerable and sought-after act across the nation and beyond. Crowds on two continents and over a dozen US states can attest to Scartocci's willingness to leave it all on the floor in an effort to provide them with an indelible memory. A 2012 contestant on NBC's "The Voice," Brian Scartocci is no stranger to a wide audience and finds that, large or small, it's the passion of that audience that drives him to deliver.
​
“If it’s soul music, it absolutely has to come from the heart, from the depths, from your greatest pain, your purest joy. It has to be honest, unvarnished. It has to hurt, it has to heal. If it’s real, people will know. If it isn’t, you won’t be doing it long. I’ve been around damn near 20 years now. Something must be resonating.”
A huge part of that resonance is the remarkable, dynamic, and formidable foundation on which Mr. Scartocci stands. Truly one of the most masterful and accomplished, tight-knit musical ensembles in existence today, Scartocci’s bandmates absolutely soar as they provide the vital musical backbone to this fresh take on a timeless sound.
Truly incomparable, guitarist Austin Roach has been creating music with Brian Scartocci for over a decade, co-writing and producing all of their recorded works. Their live-performance chemistry is legendary, having been honed through the years in every renowned stage in and around Austin, TX. Roach's guitar work is a breathtaking display of artistry, effortlessly weaving intricate melodies, soulful solos, and captivating riffs that elevate each song to new heights - every note perfectly crafted to the mood and feel of the moment no matter what variant the night places on it. His virtuosity is a masterclass that leaves audiences awestruck, every performance a unique and unforgettable experience.
When it comes to crafting soul music to be felt as much as heard, bass truly is the place, and nobody owns that place quite like Sean Rodriguez. An absolute virtuoso bass player, Rodriguez delivers performances so smooth and so visionary that he’s affectionately known as the “Tastemaker.” His fingers dance across the strings, stylistically summoning up deep grooves and melodic lines that anchor each song with a magnetic allure. A far cry from one-dimensional, Rodriguez is also a tremendously skilled vocalist. His rich and soulful voice blends seamlessly with the music, adding yet another layer of depth and brilliance to the band's sound, effortlessly enriching songs from the deepest notes to the highest.
The other piece of that earth-shaking rhythm section is “Soul Hammer #1,” Billy Slater on drums. Already an accomplished and celebrated drummer with a resume miles long, Slater added a whole new wrinkle to his game upon joining the Brian Scartocci band. A powerhouse by nature, Slater has mastered the art of delivering a mighty, energetic performance while understanding when to exercise restraint and finesse. The result is an intense performance that never fails to wrap an audience up in an atmosphere so exciting, they can’t help but be moved. With an uncanny ability to synchronize perfectly with his bandmates, Slater's rhythmic prowess sets the foundation that elevates every song, driving the audience into a state of rhythmic ecstasy.
With an absolutely spellbinding presence, David Thacker possesses an unparalleled ability to breathe life into every musical moment. A renowned bandleader, performer, and songwriter in his own right, Thacker is a true maestro on the keys, providing a whole new landscape of depth, texture, atmosphere, and dynamics to the show, captivating and mesmerizing the audience. His masterful utilization of the talkbox puts Thacker on another level; when he unleashes this extraordinary element his keyboard seems to come alive, electrifying the room. With each performance, "King David" ignites a fire of excitement, enveloping the crowd in an immersive and thrilling sonic experience and making an already colorful experience twice as vibrant.
Enter the stage Nico Jansen, a fiery young percussionist whose infectious energy and undeniable groove elevates the Brian Scartocci band to new heights of musical excellence. Jansen’s skillful and precise playing adds layers of complexity and rhythmic nuance to the band’s sound, creating a sonic tapestry that is positively captivating. With Jansen’s innate musicality and intuitive sense of timing, the show becomes a sensory explosion, leaving no doubt this young percussionist has become an integral part of the band’s success.
With every element in place, the coming years hold immense promise for Brian Scartocci and this extraordinary "murderer's row" of musical visionaries. Following the successful release of their debut full-length LP, "Soul Shakedown," Scartocci and his band are poised for their next creative endeavor, preparing to venture into the studio to craft a fresh collection of original soul tunes. With the captivating strength of their songwriting, the electrifying power of their collective performances, and Scartocci's unwavering passion, this project is destined for greatness.
“There have been so many ups and downs, but like I’ve sung 1,000 times, ‘I’ve found my way, I know I’ll lose it again – life is that way, I’ll wear my crown by the end.’ I’ve yet to be crowned, so it ain’t the end.”
After all this time, Brian Scartocci stands tall, positioned at the precipice of modern soul, ready to continue shaping the future of this timeless genre.
Brian's recorded works are available on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music & everywhere else music is streamed. Produced by the incredible Austin Roach, Brian's recordings are all at once tight, funky, firey and poignant with an air of elegance thanks in part to lush string arrangements and soaring background vocals. For more on producer & guitar ace Austin Roach visit his bio page here.
