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The Praying Hands

Praying Hands

Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to get back to the
basics.

Los Angeles-bred singer/songwriter Kevin Roentgen (pronounced
"rent-gen") has done just that. Since adopting the moniker
Praying Hands and dropping the thunder and fury which were the
trademarks of the outfits he previously fronted, American Pearl
(Wind-up Records) and SOUL (Elektra Records), Kevin has crafted
an exquisite five-song acoustic EP that marks his first solo
effort after over a decade in the band dynamic.

The Praying Hands story begins in early 2004, after Roentgen
had spent the previous few years touring the U.S., Canada and
Japan with American Pearl prior to that band's breakup.
Roentgen spent most of the year in the studio writing and
recording new songs, eventually getting together with former
bandmate/producer Noah Shain at the latter's White Buffalo
studio. Working in tandem, the two created what would become
"The Praying Hands EP."

"The Praying Hands EP" represents a culmination of all Roentgen
has learned during his decade-plus in the rock & roll
trenches...and he uses that hard-won knowledge in a manner
which might surprise some longtime fans of his music. The five
tunes on the disc feature some sweet acoustic picking meshed
with passionate, thoughtful lyrics of love, loss and
redemption, creating a more personal, stripped-down sound
that's quite unparalleled in his previous work.

"I've been really used to playing in a band," Roentgen
explains, "but right now I'm especially loving the opportunity
to step out on a stage with just my acoustic and a microphone
and completely expose my inner self. The people that are
familiar with my past bands are probably expecting me to come
out on stage, screamin', with an SG blaring through a Marshall
stack--and who knows, someday I again might--but for today,
this is what I feel I'm doing best...and for today, this is the
music I'm most proud of."

Roentgen's been backing up those sentiments with a series of
solo acoustic shows around Southern California, small, intimate
sets that reveal the depth of passion he brings to his work.
However, he also feels that this only represents a precursor to
further recording and performing with a full band. In fact, the
first steps in that direction were taken at "The Praying Hands
EP" CD release show at the Hotel Cafe in October 2004, when the
acoustic-wielding Roentgen was joined onstage by Shain on drums
and longtime friends Ray Hartman (electric guitar) and Steve
Dacanay (bass). The additional musicians added intriguing
glimpses into what the future of Praying Hands will hold...a
future that figures to be very bright, indeed.

But for now, Kevin's still doing some solo acoustic gigs around
town. Make sure you catch one while the opportunity still
exists...or kick yourself forevermore....

Buy The Praying Hands CDs:

Visit the The Praying Hands web-site

Email The Praying Hands

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Uncommon Ground Past Show Dates

2005-10-08 (999 days)