Meet the CAU Staff
Tue, 12/13/2011 - 12:36pm — HannahFMichael Teach, Founder/Host
Michael Teach started CAU to give original musicians in Chicago (and the world) the credit and respect they deserve. When the Chicago Acoustic Underground record button is “on air” you will be delighted with the variety, originality, spontaneous fun and genuine love of music that makes it into every second. Michael's upbeat attitude and no-nonsense generosity make him a “Patron Saint” of the Chicago Music Scene. Well, that is, if saints enjoy lots and lots of great music.
Michael's conversations with podcast artists are meant to delight and entertain you as he shares his experiences from a world-class reputation in audio and events. His music industry live event production experience includes working with venues ranging from eighty to 8,000 seats, with artists that helped forge original music such as Harry Chapin and Richie Havens.
Lucky for Chicago Acoustic Underground fans and artists, he has made it his life's work to bring original artists into the forefront. A facilitator of artists and acutely aware of trends in technology, he has something to “teach” us all. Michael has been “instrumental” in selecting CAUDog Recording Artists, locally and internationally. With acts ranging from Chicago's Brian Walker to CLEEMANN from Copenhagen, Denmark, Teach is bringing professionally arranged and engineered music from artists to fans.
A musician himself, Michael is a collector of vintage guitars and instruments. As a promoter, he has led CAU-sponsored fundraisers and events, touching lives with donations to numerous organizations. Independent artists enjoy working with Michael, as the growing organization offers more ways for original musicians to nurture their craft and use technology to present it to the world.
Michael Narvaez, Founder/Engineer
Michael (“Vez”) Narvaez, a friend of Michael Teach for over 20 years, was essential to the roots of the CAU venture and shares in the passion to bring the talent of Chicago’s original music scene finally into the spotlight that it deserves. “It’s great to see the many talents and efforts and the expertise of the “CAU-family” and the Chicago music community combining forces in an attempt to make Chicago a vital component in the reformation of the music vista.”
“Why shouldn’t Chicago, one of the largest cities in the U.S., be a thriving mega music hub, a haven for untapped musical talent, rather than having musicians flee to the over-saturated music scenes in Los Angeles, New York or Nashville where they might only have a slim chance of getting noticed?”
A talented musician himself, “Vez” does not agree with the “pay to play” philosophy. “Musicians gain an education, they rehearse, they create and they perform while constantly evolving and tweaking their craft along the way. They attempt to find audiences and outlets to spread their vision in hopes that someone will appreciate their talents enough to sponsor them and help secure a career doing what they truly love to do. I have always believed that this was what they referred to as “paying your dues". Somewhere down the line, though, I think things got a little off track.”
“Vez” has been involved in many aspects of the music scene both “creatively”, on the stage as a performer, and “technically”, behind-the-scenes as an audio engineer. As a sound engineer, he has recorded for both live performances and for the mixing and mastering of performing artist’s record albums, as well as, the CAU podcast shows, which he occasionally co-hosts. He is actively involved with many clubs, corporate and festival events, showcases and recording studios, large and small, throughout the Chicago-land area. He is an experienced video camera operator and photographer with a keen, creative eye.
Making himself available as a bass player for hire, “Vez” has recorded and/or performed with many local and national acts through the years as well as performing in his own band projects.
www.scrapsofbrass.comJacob Covington, Founder
Mr. Covington is in California. We know, it's much, much warmer there.
Barrett Tasky, Engineer
Barrett has tackled every audio and music context known to man. Some highlights include running FOH at Chicago's Park West, SPACE, Hard Rock, as well as working through the ranks of JAM Productions in a variety of roles where he learned the music business inside out- literally.
As head of CAU's online development and a proponent of revenue for musicians, Tasky is helping lead CAU into new technical territory as CAU grows its online presence and brings music to fans in new ways.
As an engineer, Tasky mixes podcasts and brings the music to listeners. As a multi-instrumentalist on most anything with strings, he has lent his skills as a guitarist, bassist, mandolinist and keyboardist to bands ranging from the folk roots troupe the Mudflapps to funk-jam band MWC. In addition, he teaches privately and at Paul Green School of Rock and offers professional audio recording services to independent musicians, studios, and stages.
Ellis Clark, Producer and Engineer, CAUDog Records
Ellis Clark has been a longtime fixture of the Chicago music community working as an omni-musician: a performing musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist and record producer. He was the founding member and front man for bands Epicycle and Social Act which both released numerous original albums.
His many Producer/Engineer credits include records by Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), The Chamber Strings, Kevin Tihista & Red Terror, Nikki Sudden (with Jeff Tweedy) and more recently Brian Walker’s “Into The Light” featuring guest vocal performances by American Idol Runner-Up, Crystal Bowersox.
He was signed to Paramount Picture’s music publishing division, Famous Music, as a songwriter and is now a member and strong supporter of Chicago Acoustic Underground, dedicated to the development of new artists. He founded Cirkle Records & Idiot Savant Records and is currently the producer for all albums released on the CAUDog Records label.
In addition to making solo performances with his band, Ellis is the lead guitarist for The Handcuffs who have enjoyed national success with music placed on hit TV shows Gossip Girl, The Hills and Jersey Shore. He makes occasional guest appearances with some of the acts he has produced including Goodbye Home, Jane Thatcher and Phil Angotti and has shared the bill with Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, UB40, The Neville Brothers, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) and Dave Davies (The Kinks) to name a few.
Jeff Brown, Esq., Legal Counsel
Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Brown heads up the CAU Legal Department and CAU Publishing branch. Brown is a licensed Illinois attorney with experience in trademark, copyright, contract drafting & review, and licensing, and face-melting guitar solos. A founding member of Goodbyehome, Brown has studio experience with vocals and multiple instruments including guitar, accordion, banjo, and mandolin. He offers over 20 years of musical experience, ranging from crushing thrash metal to delicate acoustic to trip-hop, rockabilly, jazz, and blues. He has a fondness for songs in 3/4 in Cm. Appearing in the periphery of more CAU podcasts than he can remember, he dreams of a world where accordion players are recognized as the smoldering sex symbols that they deserve to be.
www.reverbnation.com/jbxl3www.facebook.com/jeffbrownmusic
www.goodbyehomemusic.com
Alex Thorn, Head of Video Department
As CEO of Jetdragon Productions, a multi-media company, Thorn films and edits concerts, sporting events and music videos. He started his career by with a fascination with cameras and video, and began editing videos before he was a teenager and created his own company in 2004 with a multi-faceted background of high-action wrestling and music videos.
While sport videos are hard-hitting and quick, CAU test-drives the “emotion factor” that goes into great music videos and artist footage. Working with artists, he highlights their goal to connect with the audience. His goal is to become better with every project and encourages artists to promote their videos with the growing emphasis of video on the web.
Thorn provides HD recording of live shows and custom video commercials. Offering succinct intensity and attention to detail, Thorn is a professional wrestler that likes to build computers for the ground up. His favorite part of working with CAU is seeing the variety of talent on stage. “It's amazing how much talent is here in the Chicago area,” says Thorn. He looks forward to CAU growing into a powerhouse.
www.facebook.com/therealalexthornwww.twitter.com/overdoseonthorn
www.youtube.com/thornaholic
www.youtube.com/jetdragonpro
www.youtube.com/jetdragon67
Hannah Frank, CAU Publicist
Hannah writes CAU press releases and web content for CAUDog Records, CAU Showcases and the CAU website. With a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she also designs CAU posters which you'll see around town.
She is a live sound engineer and stagehand in Chicago, having worked at the Heartland Cafe, Congress Theater, UIC Pavillion and The Music Garage.
A guitarist and singer-songwriter, she has performed at numerous clubs in Chicago with the Hannah Frank Trio. With a background in Journalism, as a writer her work has appeared in The U.S. Business Journal, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kaballah (yes, really), Chicago6Corners.com and her own music journalism blog, OnAxis Music.
www.reverbnation.com/hannahfranktriowww.musicgarage.com
www.onaxismusic.blogspot.com
Buffy, CAUDog Records Offical Mascot
Buffy is the official CAU mascot. Meet Buffy at a CAU podcast! Stay tuned.
