ARIEL
Alameda, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
The energy at an ARIEL show is comfortable and fun loving, yet serious about the music.
These guys know their stuff and are out to share a good time with the audience. - The Music Scene
The two friendly guys at the adjacent table turned out to be George Petersen and J.J. Jenkins of Ariel fame. They also have a wicked sense of humor, well-evidenced in their original material. The lads (pictured below) slipped me a couple of CDs and headed out before things ended, explaining that they needed to drive back to Alameda. - Bay Area Open Mics
I got a rockin' pneumonia and a boogie-woogie flu from just one exposure to Ariel's news opus: "Sure Thing, You Bet!" CDs this infectious should carry a warning label right? This is the best yet from this band of hardworkin' rockers and it's earned the number 1 respected slot in my car's CD changer. With 16 songs written by JJ Jenkins and George Petersen, every Rock sub genre from sensitive ballads to cinematic/cerebral progressive explorations to solid, down and dirty, beer-drinking biker yells are covered. Did I say versatile? Oh yeah and they're good musicians and crafty music producers too. It's made loud to be played loud and I highly recommended it for top-down party crusin' but check with your doctor first, he'll want a copy too.
Barry Rudolph - Barry Rudolph
Sure Thing, You Bet! has got a good sound and a good sense of humor. The album's got a sort of Klaatu meets Warren Zevon vibe to it. - Cumulus Broadcasting Programmer
Discography
Sure Thing, You Bet!
EveryWednesday Night
International World
Greetings from Ariel!
Photos
Bio
ARIEL is an original rock band that performs the music of award winning singer/songwriters JJ Jenkins and George Petersen. ARIEL is currently supporting the critical and commercial success of their latest CD “Sure Thing, You Bet!” With the radio singles “Crank up the Victrola” and “Zombies” receiving steady play in most national markets and overseas, ARIEL consistently draws well, living up to their reputation as exciting and formidable live performers. ARIEL received the East Bay Express newspaper’s “Best of the East Bay” award in 2007 for “Most Rousing Band” and in 2008 for “Best Old School Musical Act.”
Based in California, ARIEL has been a live music staple, performing countless live shows in venues varying from intimate clubs to large festivals. ARIEL has been lucky enough in the past to have been featured in concert supporting such luminaries as Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, Starship, John Lee Hooker and even Metallica!
ARIEL’s consists of founders JJ Jenkins on lead vocals, guitar/keyboards and George Petersen on lead vocals and drums. The ARIEL sound is augmented by guitar virtuosos Chris LaRocca and Kristian Habenicht along with bassist/multi-instrumentalist Walter Bush.
ARIEL first made a name with the single release, "In Mendocino," a reggaeish paean to the specialty agricultural industry, which received massive West Coast airplay. Greetings from Ariel!, the band’s debut album, included the singles "An American Girl," (featuring guitar phenom Ronnie Montrose) and "Stuck in Traffic" (with Night Ranger’s Brad Gillis). ARIEL’s next CD was International World. Recorded in multiple languages, its title track--a rock anthem to world peace--has been heard in various forms in nearly every country in the world. The album also yielded the haunting hit "Poem for Cassandra." ARIEL gained national attention in 2004 with the “Wartime President Song,” an anti-war novelty song. ARIEL’s latest CD “Sure Thing, You Bet!,” has received a goodly amount of radio play, along with the singles “Crank Up the Victrola” and “Zombies,” and the band is poised to make a national presence with its next CD release.
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