Who's the Guy with the Funny Name? After the first five seconds of his music, listeners will be surprised to hear that Joe Hickey does not come from a long line of famous Irish tenors. Though music may not be the only thing going for this singer/songwriter/Ph.D. student, he doesn't need much else. With a vocal range rivaling that of his greatest influence, Jeff Buckley, the accessibility of Jason Mraz, and the songwriting chops of a more intellectual Zakk Wylde, Joe will make you glad you forgot what the person next to you was saying. Joe Hickey is an open mic performer in the deepest sense -- his greatest joy comes from experimenting and refining his craft on the stage and sharing that passion with his fellow artists. Not just that, but he was gutsy enough to make his debut LP -- Salvaging Monday -- a compilation of live takes from a year spent at the same open mic. The Songwriter's Symposium, a Monday night showcase at Blakes on Telegraph in Berkeley, could be seen as one of the more intimidating open mics to choose for such an endeavor. With the talent and ambition of the other performers, the bar and arcade games sitting (and often beeping) in the back, and the Monday Night Football game on upstairs, it's very easy to become background noise. Once you can command that stage, every other open mic will be cake. Joe is more than comfortable doing his thing on Blakes stage. With a rich vibrato and cutting diction, it's hard to miss every metaphor or subtle twist of a phrase that decorates his message about love, relationships, growing up, and finding yourself suddenly in the fast lane. While fusing influences ranging from an adolescence spent with grunge, blues and classic rock, to a later discovery of progressive rock and funk, to recent interests in R&B as well as African and Latin rhythms, he employs a sense for melody that will leave you not just with a song in your heart, but probably one rattling around your head for the rest of the night. He flutters into soft falsetto; he growls ferociously; he displays finger-picked beauty and raw rhythm guitar power alternately. Expect the unexpected, and have fun trying to guess the next in a series of dramatic shifts in tempo, mood and tonality that have defined his musical style. Joe is used to his life, as well, forging full speed ahead and then turning on a dime, having gone from college in Maryland (where he cut his musical teeth as a guitarist/harmony vocalist with bands like wastelandsunrise, Pebble Dare, and Walt Flanigan's Dog) to a doctoral program in chemistry in Berkeley, CA, where he's blossomed into a solo performer. His rigorous intellectual agenda has left him just enough time to find a musical family and outlet in the Berkeley songwriting scene. Joe also shows off his brilliant tenor voice and bass guitar chops in the Grace Woods Trio, featuring kindred musical spirit, Grace Woods. His debut LP, Salvaging Monday, however, highlights his individual retreat from obligations to other groups and jobs. Though titled in honor of his own Monday night personal sanctuary, every listener will identify with the occasional need to be a dichotomy: meeting the obstacles of daily responsibility head-on, while daring on a grander scale to do what you dream and love. What are people saying about Joe? "Lively and emotive, Joe Hickey has a sound that is genuine and compelling. Casual listeners beware, when Joe takes center stage you're in the front row anywhere you stand." - Sep V, Owner, FM Recorders "Really great bass groove... really like it!" -Jack Douglas*, producer/instructor, Expression College for the Digital Arts (re: "Could Be Today") * - read the link to understand why this had to go on here, even if it's not really a review... yes, it's that Jack Douglas!