Jodi Siegel

This is a once a month (every third Tuesday) show that is designed as a listening room for world class songwriters, many with hit songs, long touring/recording associations with music legends ETC... to play their original music in an intimate setting. $20 SUGGESTED DONATIONS AND GO TO THE SONGWRITERS. Project Barley serves excellent Food (Gourmet Pizza, wings, sandwiches, salads), wine, and award winning beer. Food served till 8:30pm. No reservations so arrive early to get a table. This month we are proud to present: THE MOJO MONKEYS, ALLISON AUGUST, JODI SIEGEL

THE MOJO MONKEYS

The Mojo Monkeys are a swampy, blues-rock trio based in Los Angeles, composed of highly respected veteran session musicians. They are best known for their unique "Angeleno" blend of New Orleans grooves, Bakersfield honky-tonk, and Texas swing. Band Members The trio consists of: David Raven: Singer and drummer. Taras Prodaniuk: Bassist. Billy Watts: Guitarist. Together, they have collaborated with a "who's who" of rock and Americana, including Lucinda Williams, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, and Dwight Yoakam. Discography Highlights Their studio albums showcase a mix of improvisational verve and soulful storytelling: Hang (2000) Blessings & Curses (2010) Swerve On (2017)

ALLISON AUGUST

Music is in her DNA.

Allison’s grandmother was a conductor and orchestra violinist; her grandfather - a first-chair cellist. Her father’s mother played guitar and sang cowboy songs. Her father taught jazz theory.And her mother is a concert pianist and celebrated composer. A musical legacy spanning four generations exposed her to a myriad of styles and influences. From childhood favorites like the Beatles, Elton John, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, and Bessie Smith, she learned the basics of songwriting.

Allison wrote her first songs at only nine years old. At thirteen, she joined her first band. High school brought paying gigs at private parties, school proms, and dive bars. In her college years, she linked up with a gifted group of musicians also finding their way into the scene – Dino Soldo, Bryan Head, and David J Carpenter. Together, they created Barebones, Allison’s first professional band, which quickly signed to Monster Music, and in 1996 released their debut album For the Mind, Body, And Soul… to critical acclaim.

While Barebones was a short-lived project, her connection to this core group of trusted artists endured. In 2016 she reunited with David J Carpenter, Bryan Head, and Dino Soldo to release a new album. Encouraged by one of her biggest influences, Paul Barrere of Little Feat, the four songs he agreed to play on evolved into an entire album titled Holy Water. Coco Montoya, Greg Liesz, Josh Smith, and Lance Lopez also lend their talents to this soulful blues recording.

AUGUST MOON released in March 2025 was Produced by the legendary Grammy Award-winner Tony Braunagel, it features longtime collaborators Bryan Head(Drums) & David J Carpenter(Bass), in addition to a plethora of ace musicians like Billy Watts (Guitar), Phil Parlapiano (Keys), Jimmy Z (Sax/Harmonica), and the vibrant backing vocals of Teresa James, Gregg Sutton, and Maxanne Lewis. Her powerhouse vocals on a duet with Blues icon Sugaray Rayford prove she can hold her own with the best of the genre.

While primarily a Blues/Americana project, we hear echoes of her musical lineage – R&B, country, jazz, and funk - throughout. Both the instrumentation and the lyrics tell stories that run the gamut of emotions: from heartache, grief, anger, and regret to irony, playfulness, and joy. Allison’s crafted songwriting reflects the wisdom and weariness of someone who has persevered in the face of adversity and come out the other side. Her songs are inspired by the joys and tribulations of her life: marriage, divorce, motherhood, abuse, cancer, but above all, a love of music and hope for the future.

JODI SIEGEL

Jodi Siegel, originally from Chicago, IL, is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Over the years Jodi has opened for and or shared the stage with many respected musicians including: Albert King, Robben Ford, Robert Cray, J.D. Souther, David Lindley, Fred Tacket and Paul Barrere (Little Feat) and countless others. Her songs have been recorded by Maria Muldaur, Marcia Ball, Tommy Ridgley and Teresa James.

She has recorded two CD'S; Stepping Stone and her latest CD, “Wild Hearts,” produced by Steve Postell (Immediate Family, David Crosby, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, Iain Matthews), is filled with great songs, cool grooves, intimate, smart lyrics and some of the best of the best musicians in Los Angeles today including; Mike Finnigan (organ, piano), Hutch Hutchinson, Abe Laborial Sr., Alphonso Johnson (bass), Russ Kunkel, Michael Jerome Moore, John Ferraro, Arno Lucas (drums, percussion), Joe Sublett (Saxophone) and Maxayne Lewis and Clydene Jackson (background vocals). Each song has a soulful delivery with an undeniable down-home elegance. It has received great reviews by Patrick Simmons (Doobie Brothers), Maria Muldaur, Walter Trout, David Mansfield (T Bone Burnett), Leland Sklar, Mike Finnigan and Doug Macleod to name a few.

Jodi is in the pre-production stage of recording a new record with Grammy winning producer/drummer (Taj Mahal) Tony Braunagel.