Girl In The Middle

Girl in the Middle of Italy

Local Americana act finds listeners in European markets
By Patrick Henderson, July 15, 2015

Since Carol Rider is the lead singer and guitarist of local Americana rock quartet Girl in the Middle, you might assume the name is referring to her.

You’d be wrong.

“The name is a concept that refers to the band as an entity,” Rider tells the Reader. “There is no actual person in the band that takes on that role. The name has a gender reference purely by chance. From my perspective, we’re all just musicians.”

Gregg Henning, the group’s drummer and lyricist, is willing to offer a more concrete explanation.

“We wrote the song ‘Girl in the Middle’ about a performer who could not get out of her own way,” he says. “We thought, ‘Wow, that applies so often to us all. What a great name for the band.”

Girl in the Middle has been together for about four years. The current lineup includes guitarist Tim Edwards and bassist Maria Neccari, who replaced Daniel Musser, who appears on the band’s recently released second album, Magnolia Street.

The Girl in the Middle sound is big, expansive roots rock, which has garnered more attention outside of the band’s hometown.

Three songs from the band’s debut, Requiem — “Together,” “Back in Love Again,” and the title track — have been used in Italy, Ireland, and India in commercial establishments.

“If you’ve gone out for coffee in Italy, chances are you heard the band,” Rider says. “One of our songs is being used on a Russian TV sports show.”

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Saturday, July 18, 2015, noon to 5 p.m.
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Henning says another song just missed being heard on the ABC hit series Nashville.

It might seem frustrating that Girl in the Middle is more likely to be heard in Italy or Russia than San Diego, but Rider remains optimistic.

“As with any project, the work can take time to surface to the public’s attention,” she says. “Ultimately, having the songs heard is my biggest goal.” - San Diego Reader

Roots Rock, Americana, New-Alt Country, that's what critics and fans alike have been calling Girl In The Middle. These southern California musicians create guitar driven music that's heavy on melody and driven by a rock steady rhythm section. Carol Rider and Tim Edwards share guitar and vocal duties while Gregg Henning on drums and Maria Neccari on bass round out this four piece band.
Girl In The Middle's latest release is the eight song album titled "Magnolia Street". This work takes the listener down side roads filled with rock, blues and new-alt-country textures; a combination the band likes to call "Heavy Americana". You can catch Girl In The Middle this summer as they bring their high energy live show to venues throughout southern California.
PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 6, 2015
Girl In The Middle Releases Sophomore Effort, 'Magnolia Street' Girl In The Middle, a rising Americana alternative rock group, has released their second record, 'Magnolia Street.' The new eight song collection elegantly combines driving roots rock with compelling vocals and tactful performances. The new album is chock-full of influence, weaving between rock, blues, and new alternative country. Thus, 'Magnolia Street' isn't just a well-produced record, it's an album of songs that nearly anyone can find their jam in.
Girl In The Middle has been compared to contemporary acts such as the Alabama Shakes, Wilco, or Ryan Adams. Their roots run deep throughout the west coast, hailing from California. Songwriting is key pursuit of the outfit; their songs are articulately and meticulously crafted to create a well-rounded, honest, and professional atmosphere throughout each song. Critical acclaim has already flooded in for both the musical prowess of the group and the vocal performance and lyricism.
'Magnolia Street' was mixed by Rudy Haeusermann, who actually worked on the album from the real Magnolia Street. Lead vocals and guitar are shared by Carol Rider and Tim Edwards, backed by percussionist Gregg Henning and bassist Maria Neccari. Rider and Henning penned most of the songs, though 'Shadow of Souls' was written by Edwards and Henning. 'Argentina Lady' was written by former bass player, Dany Musser.
'Magnolia Street' is streaming on SoundCloud, which can be found below, but more importantly, is available across all major digital distribution platforms and CD Baby.
Visitors to GirlintheMiddle.com sign up to receive a free download of the hit single from the album. The album's production is nothing short of exceptional, taking audiences on a sonic and lyrical experience quite unlike anything else.

Great licks from this country-pop-rock band from lovely San Diego. Can't hear them live then listen here. - Music Arts Monthly

GIRL IN THE MIDDLE IS:
Dany Musser (Bass/vocals) Tim Edwards (Guitar/vocals) Gregg Henning (Drums) Carol Rider (Guitar/vocals)



1. What was the first album you bought with your own money? DANY: I wish I could remember. If I were to guess I’d say Alice Cooper “Schools Out or Billion Dollar Babies”. I do remember my first 45’s was America “Horse with No Name” TIM: Meet The Beetles GREGG: Doobie Brothers CAROL: I
don’t remember the first album I bought but I do remember sneaking into my older brother’s room and listening to his great music collection when I was a little kid.


2. What comes first – music or lyrics? Then what happens? DANY: Both. I might have a part of my bass I’m digging or on my acoustic 6 string and I’ll start humming a melody. If I have lyrics already written that would fit the mood great…if not, I’ll write something. I have to be inspired by something for it to work or it’ll go to the side with all the other lonely poems or melodies. TIM: Music, then lyrics.... no wait.... lyrics, then music.... *shrug* GREGG: The melody or lyrics could come first, but as a lyricist……when writing songs……..lyrics would come first…..then the icing is put on the cake! CAROL: For me songs start with a phrase or melody that starts going through my head that get’s clearer and clearer and then develops into a song. Sometimes a story, phrase or event will trigger this for me and I’ll want to spin it into a story, other times a melody and phrase will happen simultaneously and other times I’ll just start with a chord pattern and melody. The inspiration is usually much easier than the implementation.
3. What’s the one thing that listeners would never guess about you? DANY: I am half French. I was raised by my mom who was born in Paris. I used to live there and was fluent…since my mom passed I barely speak and quickly forgetting the language. TIM: I'm a whiz in the kitchen. GREGG: Heck, I don’t know……you’ll have to guess. CAROL: ?
4.If your fans had to write a sentence or two to describe your music, what would they write? DANY: Ha…I need to see their answer first to answer that. If it’s based on any of my acoustic tunes….pick any sappy, romantic, melancholy artist and there you go. TIM: interesting lyrics, interesting music, catchy tunes GREGG: They are just well crafted songs that speak to many genres. CAROL: Song oriented rock/alt-­‐ americana heavy on the melody and harmonies.
Learn more about this awesome band and don't miss their show this Thursday at The Go Lounge!

On Link To View - Listen Locals San Diego

View Link - Cathryn Beaks/Listen Locals San Diego

GIRL IN THE MIDDLE: Requiem
By Frank Kocher, August 2013

girl in the middle
Girl in the Middle has released a debut CD, Requiem, and the alternative-rock disc shows a band that seems to be in a state of flux. The 8-track disc features core members Carol Rider, who plays lead guitar, sings, writes the melodies and shares in the lyric writing with drummer Gregg Henning, and Dany Musser, who adds bass and vocals. For this project, Dave Guevara also contributed guitar and vocals – while the gigging band now includes Tim Edwards (Taylor Harvey Band). Throw into the mix five guest vocals by three singers on the new album, and the focus shifts somewhat from individual performances to the songs, and these are fine.

The disc opens with a power-rocker that is full of hooks called “Witness.” Rider’s searing vocal makes one wonder why the band chose to feature two other female guest singers, and the grinding guitars are spot-on; it’s a radio-ready sounding standout track. The title tune follows, and Sarah Harmel (who fronts the local rockers Runhoney) does a fine job on it, singing “I have a thing for wounded birds/ I have this thing inside,” expressing doubts about a new relationship having the potential for disaster. The arrangement is strong, with driving harmonies on the choruses.

Orange County alt-country songstress Dayna Lane takes the mic for “Back in Love” and gives the song an injection of country sass as she trades lines with Rider, who then adds some raunchy lead guitar licks for good measure. It is another strong cut, and Lane adds another contribution with the restrained “Together.” On “Truth Lies” the band cuts loose, with Harmel out front, using a power-chord hook and a surging chorus to indict an untrue lover, “Why don’t you just tell me what’s really on your mind/ Or is it that I’d walk away and leave you far behind?” The regular line-up is on hand for “Fix It,” a well-arranged mid-tempo rocker with the spotlight on Rider, whose Melissa Etheridge-style vocal matches up well to her dirty blues guitar fade-out.

“U.S.A.” is one track that doesn’t measure up with the other material here. Though well sung by local blues singer/ harp player Lance Diekmann, with plenty of his harp and a brief taste of blues lead from Rider, it is a style mismatch that sounds like someone else’s music, and is the closest thing to filler on an 8-track disc. The original band is able to change pace within the boundaries of its own sound, though, and does well on “Ghost”; a finger-picked ballad that Rider infuses with an emotional connection. She closes out the disc with good imagery about a haunted relationship, “You had the car/ And I had the keys”.

Requiem is interesting music that should both introduce Girl in the Middle to new local audiences and create some buzz about their future endeavors. On Link To View - San Diego Troubadour

Girl In The Middle 'Magnolia street' (Independent/USA Import)

Out of San Diego, California comes the band Girl In The Middle, formed around Carol Rider (Lead guitars and Vocals), Gregg Henning (Drums and percussion), Dany Musser (Bass and Vocals) and Tim Edwards (Lead guitars and Vocals). Together they create a mixture of classic American pop and rock, sorta with one foot in the classic 80s aor/melodic rock genre (thanks to the female vocals) and the other in the Americana/heartland/rootsy and slightly alternative rock direction (when the male singer sings). Heart meets The Grateful Dead meets Jefferson Airplane is a nice description of their sound, but there's much more we can explore, especially when their material is drifting into pure classic aor/melodic rock territory, which happens to be the case quite a few times. Magnolia street is their 2nd album so far and the only pity is that there are just 8 tracks included. The sound and production is typical independent, so no huge major label sound, but that isn't a problem at all, because this has its charm for sure! While listening, it is like we stepped into a time machine back to the year 1983 when the US rockstations offered countless similar sounding bands, all across the nation bands like Girl In The Middle were active, in search for fame and fortune. Anyway, the album starts with a nice uptempo 80s heavy rocker Girl in the Middle, but it becomes really interesting during next track Only You Always. This is classic 1980s AOR rock in the traditional female fronted style of bands like Laos, Heart, Witness, Vixen, Saraya, etc., a lovely tune with beautiful melodies and strong vocalwork. While pushing the repeat button over and over again, the song starts to become an addiction, because it really is a superb tune reminding of the good old days, like only the Americans could deliver back in the early 1980s, basically an incredible tune that also has similarities to Martee LeBow and Fiona. Shadow of Souls has male vocals and is sadly a bit weaker, a more heartland oriented rocker. I Almost Love You is female fronted, a haunting rocker a la Joan Jett and Toronto, while Some Doors is suddenly sounding like The Pretenders, but a bit more rocking, a nice melodic poprocker that also has similarities to Stevie Nicks and early Pat Benatar, a catchy tune and a definite radiohit! Argentina Lady is tapping out of the 1970s classic us rock, a Reo Speedwagon/Styx anthem semi ballad/rocker with ditto male vocals. Glad You're Mine is a male/female duet,a nice rocker and closing track Bye Bye is a good Pat Benatar ish early 80s catchy poprocker. Concluded, this is a very impressive strong band with an early 1980s spirit, highly recommended to especially the fans of female fronted melodic rock/aor/poprock, because the band's singer Carol Rider has got a terrific rock voice which you don't want to miss. Go check out all at: www.girlinthemiddle.com - Strutter'Zine