Bio - Laney & Band
Haunting, personal and poignant are words that have been used to describe Laney’s voice and indie folk vibe. She grew up in Boston and from age six was an avid record collector and music fan. In her teens she was a metal head who dreamt of being in a band. At 21 when a friend asked if she would go out of state with her to attend college, Laney agreed, but only if her friend would go to Los Angeles. In LA she joined an alt rock band called The Brink as lead singer and played in Hollywood & the valley for five years before moving home and getting into a more acoustic sound. Then while raising a family, going to shows became very infrequent with young ones at home, till one night she attended a Grant Lee Phillips gig and heard him play “Buried Treasure”. That song, meeting Grant Lee and feeling an emptiness not playing music for so long inspired her to pick up the guitar and start songwriting. Laney’s songs weave stories and sounds from impressions, life lessons learned, present conditions and the day to day common threads from which we’re all joined.
Shawn Duggan - Lead Guitar
Shawn’s earliest and most powerful musical memory was listening to the sounds of The Who’s “Getting in Tune” coming through his older brother's bedroom wall. He tries to recreate that feeling every time he picks up his guitar. Shawn gained experience quickly by playing 3 nights a week for an Elvis impersonator at various dives in the Northeast. He sought out inventive, original music where he could leave his own mark. He joined his first punk/alternative originals band, “Beginners Only” in the mid-80s and soon after joined “The Still”. He performed in many iconic Boston area clubs such as Chet’s Last Call, Jacks, TT The Bears, The Channel, The Paradise and The Rathskeller. Opening for many of the local greats was hugely rewarding. After taking a hiatus to raise a family he has returned finding new musical passions delving into indie folk, fingerstyle blues and bluegrass, performing on the guitar, mandolin, harmonica and bass. Now supporting Laney’s engaging music and vivid storytelling with his own creative style and experiences, Shawn is enthusiastic for this new musical chapter.
Brian J. Lilienthal- percussioN & Drums
Brian started out playing cookie tins and empty pringles cans when he was not yet in school. After playing snare drum in the school band for years, he finally got a drum set, and that’s when it all started to happen. He learned by listening and playing along with Charlie Watts, Levon Helm and Ringo Starr. That led to playing with punk, indie rock and ska bands throughout his high school and college years, gigging at many clubs like Luppo’s in Providence, the Rathskeller, Middle East, and TT the Bears in Boston, and The Moon and the Tune Inn in New Haven (and countless places in between). While living in Louisville, he joined on with Mercy Academy, an alt-country band and was signed to a local record label, in addition to playing with many local blues musicians. Upon returning to the Boston area 11 years ago, he has played with a number of different band ranging from Jump Blues and Rockabilly, to Indie Rock, to Country. Lately Brian has been interested in playing sparse, quiet drum parts that support the story of the song. He is thrilled to be making music with Laney, with her unique writing voice.
