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D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND To Release Debut Album ‘Let’s Rattle’ September 17; Band To Perform First-Ever Live Show October 30 At The Vogel (Count Basie Center For The Arts)

DATE SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN

D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND
TO RELEASE THEIR DEBUT ALBUM
‘LET’S RATTLE’
SEPTEMBER 17
ON THE HEELS OF TWO SINGLES + VIDEOS,
CADILLAC MAN” AND “OLIVIA…THAT’S WHO!

NEW + ORIGINAL SWINGIN’ AND ROCKIN’ BIG-BAND MUSIC
FROM THE SONGWRITER/FOUNDING MEMBER AND BASSIST
FOR HEAVY METAL PIONEERS OVERKILL

BAND GEARING UP TO PERFORM FIRST-EVER LIVE SHOW
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30
AT THE VOGEL (COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS)
IN RED BANK, NJ
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

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Look for D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND to release their debut album LET’S RATTLE September 17 (via MVD) on the heels of two singles + videos, Cadillac Manand “Olivia…that’s Who!”. Expect high-energy original swingin’ and rockin’ big-band sound from D.D. VERNI, the songwriter/founding member/bassist for heavy metal pioneers Overkill who’ve sold millions of records worldwide and have released 19 studio albums dating back to their 1985 debut album. Pre-order the album here, or pre-save the album here.

The band filmed the video for “Cadillac Man,” the album’s first single, at the Vogel (Count Basie Center for the Arts) in Red Bank, NJ, where they’ll perform their first-ever show on Saturday, October 30 Tickets are on sale now.

“We have our first show coming up and we’re very excited!” says D.D. “The more you move through life the less firsts there are, so I am pumped for this first-ever show. I’m now putting together a band that will feature a bunch of the same musicians from the ‘Cadillac Man’ video, with rehearsals this month and next. The show will feature most songs off ‘Let’s Rattle’ as well as a handful of classic rock and roll songs.  I think people are very curious and they’re not exactly sure what to expect…just like me!  But that’s half the fun–all I know is we’ll do our best to blow the roof off the joint.”

The set list at the Vogel will be comprised of songs from the album including its second single, “Olivia…that’s Who!” of which D.D. says: “While the song is about my daughter, I think it speaks to anyone who has a bubbly outgoing spirited girl in their life,” says D.D. “It could be your mom, wife or girlfriend.” Read an interview with D.D. about the album here.

LET’S RATTLE is the result of VERNI’s longtime dream of recording a big band album, as his love for the sound dates back many years. The New Jersey-based artist began by writing a fantastic collection of soon-to-be big band classics. Next he recruited longtime Brian Setzer Orchestra upright bassist, John “Spazz” Hatton, to do horn arrangements and play upright bass, while bass player D.D. switched things up playing some guitar on the album. Then D.D. brought in the LA based horn section from Phat Cat Swinger to play the horns and added Brian Setzer Orchestra drummer and current Doobie Brothers member, Tony Pia. Add jazz pianist Dave Moscoe and Hot Rod guitarist Damian Bacci, and you have a star-studded line-up of big band greatness that made this album shake and swing.

With songs like “Cadillac Man,” “Shake It Swing It” and “Olivia…that’s Who!” the album features 13 tracks (nine originals and four covers), was produced by VERNI and mixed by Greg Reely (Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Overkill), and recorded in Los Angeles and New Jersey.

Powerhouse,” another highlight from LET’S RATTLE, will also be performed at the upcoming show. “I was not even aware that was the name of the song,” says D.D.   “But everybody knows the riff from the old ‘Looney Tunes’ cartoons.  When the factory starts up at the Flockheed Eggcraft factory and all the chickens are laying eggs, or a number of other different times when it was used through Warner Bros cartoons, ‘Road Runner’ and ‘Wile E. Coyote.’ etc.  And I remembered that Blitz [Overkill’s lead vocalist] had suggested to me that maybe we could somehow use that as an Overkill intro tape, but I couldn’t think of a way.  But it stayed with me as I feel like that’s the song that runs in my head all the time–hahaha.  I have a lot going on, always busy, so it suited me.  After I researched it some, I learned it was a Raymond Scott song–and as I listened, I said it’s such a great riff, I wished there was more of it or some lyrics. And then got the idea to just add to it and change the arrangement until it felt a little bit more like a song rather than just an instrumental.  So I kept all the bit’s I like the best and added the female backing vocals to the riff part.  I wanted to keep the title so I wrote the lyrics from there.  I decided the ‘Powerhouse’ should be the devil and wound up writing lyrics about selling your soul to the lady in red, knowing it was not the right thing to do, but knowing you would do it again.”

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A person playing a guitar

Description automatically generated with medium confidencePhoto Credit: Mark Weiss

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The track listing for LET’S RATTLE is:

Cadillac Man
Shake It Swing It
Give Me Your Number
Olivia…That’s Who!
Powerhouse
Cold Hearted Woman
School Of Rock n’ Roll
L-O-V-E
Just Say U Love Me
Manhattan Baby
Close Your Eyes and Dream
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head
The One Who Loves You

DD VerniPhoto Credit: Mark Weiss

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM

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D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND Share “Olivia…That’s Who!” Second Single + Video From Their Debut Album ‘Let’s Rattle’ Out September 17

DATE: AUGUST 18, 2021

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN

D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND
SHARE “OLIVIA…THAT’S WHO!”
THE SECOND SINGLE + VIDEO
FROM THEIR DEBUT ALBUM
‘LET’S RATTLEOUT SEPTEMBER 17
NEW + ORIGINAL SWINGIN’ AND ROCKIN’ BIG-BAND MUSIC
FROM THE SONGWRITER/FOUNDING MEMBER AND BASSIST
FOR HEAVY METAL PIONEERS OVERKILL
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE HERE
AND READ INTERVIEW WITH D.D BELOW

BAND TO PERFORM FIRST -EVER LIVE SHOW
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30
AT THE VOGEL(COUNT BASIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS)
IN RED BANK, NJ
TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Let's Rattle Cover Art

 

D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND today (August 18) unveil “Olivia…that’s Who!” the second single and video from their debut album LET’S RATTLE, due out September 17 (via MVD). As with the album’s lead single and video Cadillac Man,” the new single underlines the high-energy original swingin’ and rockin’ big-band sound from D.D. VERNI, the songwriter/founding member/bassist for heavy metal pioneers Overkill who’ve sold millions of records worldwide and have released 19 studio albums dating back to their 1985 debut album. Listen to the song, which D.D. wrote about his daughter Olivia, here and watch the quick moving video, comprised of storyboard illustrations, here. Pre-order the album here or pre-save the album here

“While the song is about my daughter, I think it speaks to anyone who has a bubbly outgoing spirited girl in their life,” says D.D. “It could be your mom, wife or girlfriend. And I think the drawings capture the spirit of the song. The song lyric says “There’s always enough love to go round” and I think that’s the spirit of the song and the drawings. It’s about how a girl like that in your life can brighten your day and make things always seem OK.” Read more quotes about the song and video below.

LET’S RATTLE is the result of VERNI’s longtime dream of recording a big band album, as his love for the sound dates back many years. The New Jersey-based artist began by writing a fantastic collection of soon-to-be big band classics. Next he recruited longtime Brian Setzer Orchestra upright bassist, John “Spazz” Hatton, to do horn arrangements and play upright bass, while bass player D.D. switched things up playing some guitar on the album. Then D.D. brought in the LA based horn section from Phat Cat Swinger to play the horns and added Brian Setzer Orchestra drummer and current Doobie Brothers member, Tony Pia. Add jazz pianist Dave Moscoe and Hot Rod guitarist Damian Bacci, and you have a star-studded line-up of big band greatness that made this album shake and swing.

With songs like “Cadillac Man,” “Shake It Swing It” and “Olivia…that’s Who!” the album features 13 tracks (nine originals and four covers), was produced by VERNI and mixed by Greg Reely (Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Overkill), and recorded in Los Angeles and New Jersey.

In addition, D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND have confirmed their first-ever live show, Saturday, October 30 show at the Vogel (Count Basie Center for the Arts) in Red Bank, NJ, the same venue where they filmed the video for “Cadillac Man,” the album’s first single. Tickets are on sale now.

10.30 Show Flyer

DD VerniPhoto Credit: Mark Weiss

Q&A WITH D.D. VERNI ABOUT
THE “OLIVIA…THAT’S WHO!”: SINGLE + VIDEO

–For the “Olivia…that’s who!” video, what inspired you to have a video created with storyboard illustrations?

That was actually my wife Lisa. She thought a storyboard following the lyrics etc. would be a cool idea for a video for that song. I had worked on many projects with an illustrator named Gery Nible for years and she suggested I call him. So I reached out and he was very excited about the idea. We went back and forth on a bunch of ideas and character development, what people should look like and the style/tone for it. I would get sketches from Gery and I would send to Lisa and she would send to Olivia hahaha…so it was a fun project to work on. I really liked her storyboard idea, where it felt more like sketches rather than finished inked and color drawings. I am a comic book fan, as well as Pixar/Disney animated film fan. I have a ton of collectable toys and such from movies, so this was great chance to do a little of that with my own song. I had done an animated video a few records back and had so much fun doing it and this one was similar. Fun to see it come to life.

–How do you feel the video captures the spirit of the song?

While the song is about my daughter, I think it speaks to anyone who has a bubbly outgoing spirited girl in their life. It could be your mom, wife or girlfriend. And I think the drawings capture the spirit of the song. The song lyric says “There’s always enough love to go round” and I think that’s the spirit of the song and the drawings. It’s about how a girl like that in your life can brighten your day and make things always seem OK.

–Who directed the video and who did the illustrations?

The video was edited by Steven Bartashev who was the editor on the Cadillac Man video we just put out. I was really happy with how that turned out so I contacted him about doing this one as well. The illustrations were done by Gery Nible. As I said Gery is a friend who I have worked with on a bunch of projects before. We’ve done album art, t-shirts, all kinds of stuff. He has a similar DNA to mine as far as stuff we like and so the process of doing this was pretty easy. He really ran with the idea, I thought we could get by on a dozen or so drawings and I think it wound up more like 60+ . He even sent a video kind of walking us through it and his ideas which made it very easy to visualize what it would be like in the end.

–You’ve said that your second daughter Olivia told you: “‘where’s my song!’ and then on her 16th birthday I wrote and recorded “Olivia…that’s who!” What does Olivia think of her song and the video (if she’s seen it)?

She loves it! For years she would run around and tell people she has her own theme song. Now she has a video to go along with it.

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The track listing for LET’S RATTLE is:

Cadillac Man
Shake It Swing It
Give Me Your Number
Olivia…That’s Who!
Powerhouse
Cold Hearted Woman
School Of Rock n’ Roll
L-O-V-E
Just Say U Love Me
Manhattan Baby
Close Your Eyes and Dream
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head
The One Who Loves You

DD Verni Press PhotoPhoto Credit: Mark Weiss

WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM

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D.D. VERNI Debuts First Single “Cadillac Man” From New Project D.D. Verni & The Cadillac Band’s Debut Album ‘Let’s Rattle’ Out This Fall

DATE: JULY 13, 2021

FROM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/MARCEE RONDAN

D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND
TODAY SHARE “CADILLAC MAN,”
FIRST SINGLE + VIDEO FROM THEIR DEBUT ALBUM
‘LET’S RATTLEOUT SEPTEMBER 17

NEW + ORIGINAL SWINGIN’ AND ROCKIN’ BIG-BAND MUSIC
FROM THE SONGWRITER/FOUNDING MEMBER AND BASSIST
FOR HEAVY METAL PIONEERS OVERKILL

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
LISTEN TO THE SINGLE HERE
AND READ A Q&A BELOW

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D.D. VERNI & THE CADILLAC BAND today (July 13) share “Cadillac Man,” the first single and video from their debut album LET’S RATTLE out September 17 (via MVD). Expect high-energy original swingin’ and rockin’ big-band music from D.D. VERNI, the songwriter/founding member/bassist for heavy metal pioneers Overkill who’ve sold millions of records worldwide and have released 19 studio albums dating back to their 1985 debut album. Watch the video, filmed at the Vogel Theater in New Jersey and directed by Rich Furniss, produced by Adam Torkel and edited by Steven Bartashev, here and listen to the song here. Pre-order the album here or pre-save the album here and read a Q&A below.

VERNI has always dreamed of recording a big band album, as his love for the sound dates back many years. The New Jersey-based artist began by writing a fantastic collection of soon-to-be big band classics. Next he recruited longtime Brian Setzer Orchestra upright bassist, John “Spazz” Hatton, to do horn arrangements and play upright bass, while bass player D.D. switched things up playing some guitar on the album. Then D.D. brought in the LA based horn section from Phat Cat Swinger to play the horns and added Brian Setzer Orchestra drummer and current Doobie Brothers member, Tony Pia.  Add jazz pianist Dave Moscoe and Hot Rod guitarist Damian Bacci, and you have a star-studded line-up of big band greatness that made this album shake and swing.

With songs like “Cadillac Man,” “Shake It Swing It” and “Olivia…that’s Who!” the album features 13 tracks (nine originals and four covers), was produced by VERNI and mixed by Greg Reely (Coldplay, Sarah McLachlan, Overkill), and recorded in Los Angeles and New Jersey.

A person playing a guitar

Description automatically generated with medium confidencePhoto Credit: Mark Weiss

Q&A WITH D.D. VERNI

A lot of people are going to be really surprised that you’ve recorded an album fully embracing a big band sound with rockabilly and other early rock + pop stylings, particularly since you’re known as songwriter/founding member and bassist for OVERKILL. What inspired you to take this musical direction, sing lead vocals, and play guitar?

Yeah, I think it will be a bit of a shock to some people, but I have been a fan of this kind of music for a long time. The old Big Band standards were playing at my house when I was a kid. My dad was a big Sinatra fan, so I’m sure some of it’s from growing up with that and AM radio. And I always loved 50’s music and Doo Wop– Fats Domino, Jerry Lee, etc. And loved the crooners too–Bobby Darin, Dean Martin, Tom Jones–and even in metal and rock: Jim Morrison, Ian Astbury, Glenn Danzig…all of the crooning type of vocalists I’ve always loved. And then I don’t know how long ago it was now, but when Brian Setzer put his big, band orchestra together the first time I thought, “this is amazing.” I never really understood why no one else was trying their hand at that. I mean there’s a thousand blues bands all in the same genre and doing their own thing with it, but almost no swing/jump blues/rock n roll type of bands. I had collected a lot of riffs and material through the years–I just put it aside thinking one day I’ll get to this and so with that in mind I just started writing the types of songs I liked best. High energy, tap your toes, get up outta your seat kind of songs. I’m not one for jazz really or even a country twang as some bands in the genre touch on, so I kept it moving and jumping even on the standards we recorded, because that’s really what I love best. I am a songwriter at heart; I have done all these records with Overkill, and also some side projects and was involved in writing a musical for a few years, so changing my head space is not such a big deal to me. I like what I like and as long as the energy is good, I can roll with it. Even with Overkill I’m not trying to be ultra-heavy, or ultra-punk…the only real line I follow is, “am I digging it?” and if the answer is “yes,” then I jump in. And I think the singing and playing guitar throws people a bit as well as I’m known as a bassist. But that’s part of the fun to stepping out and trying new stuff. I had been the vocalist on my solo album and was not such a stretch doing this. Although I learned a lot and have to say singing is not as easy as I once thought… hahaha. And I am not really an upright bass player, which I knew I wanted for this, so it just made sense to stay with the guitar.

As a songwriter having written nine of the 13 songs, this musical sound required a different mindset. How did you get yourself psyched up for it? It’s a different language of course than metal.

Ya know it is and it isn’t. Metal is about energy. Although a lot of the times it’s angry energy (hahaha)! But that’s why it is so great–to scream and yell and get it out. This music is about energy as well but really about joy and fun. All the lyrics are fun and upbeat. Some little stories–nothing politically motivated or ripped from the headlines. Just fun. Even when writing and shooting the video, you can see people are smiling and bouncing around. So that’s a cool headspace to be in when writing. That’s actually cool to be around anytime! Part of what I love about this record is that it’s fun! Especially after the last year that everyone has had, it would be easy to do an angry-as-hell record, but for me this is refreshing, like comfort food (hahaha)!

Of the album’s 13 songs, which ones are personal highlights for you and why?

Some of these songs have a long history, like the song “Manhattan Baby,” which is a kinda Louis Prima type of thing. I wrote and recorded that song 26 years ago when my first daughter was born–for her and my wife as a present. Then on my wife’s 50th birthday, I wrote and recorded “Just Say You Love Me,” and gave her that as a present. And of course my second daughter Olivia was like, “where’s my song!” and then on her 16th birthday I wrote and recorded “Olivia…that’s who!” So I had been toying with these kinds of songs for a very long time. Then when I started to see I had enough material to do a record, I started writing more material. And that’s where a song like “Cadillac Man” came from. Definitely one of my favorites and maybe the first one I specifically wrote for the album. It kind of encompasses all the different things I wanted for the record. Upbeat, a little rock n’ roll and little swing. “Shake It Swing It” I really love as well. Again, the energy in the song is great, really exactly what I was looking for as a foundation for the band. And “Close Your Eyes and Dream” was fun because it’s a bit different. Has that old 50’s tear-jerker vibe that the Ramones used to do too.

The performance video for “Cadillac Man” is instantly striking. Can you talk about the filming of it?

That was a really fun day! We did it right around when Covid was loosening up a bit. It was my first time on a stage and inside a venue in over a year, and even though it wasn’t a show, it felt like it some. I think you see that in the video and from everyone that was part of it. There’s a lot of smiling and fun and energy from the song itself, but I think the fact that we all were feeling so good about performing and having the band vibe again, it was great! When we were talking about doing the video, I really felt like it had to be a band performance thing. We could have come up with a great concept kind of video, but I think people needed to see the band playing to know that it’s a real band. That this is what they can expect to see when they come to a show. It was a challenge some because of all the Covid protocols. We weren’t sure which venue we could use, and with the mask mandates and all. Plus the band that played on the record was all over the country and we couldn’t bring them all in. First person I reached out to was John because he had been such a part of the whole album; I really felt like he needed to be there and he was up for it. Then I reached out to the girls who are local and they were up for it as well. I asked my friend Angus Clark who plays in Trans-Siberian Orchestra to be part of it; he was psyched and came down for the day. Then I spent a lot of time searching and calling local guys to be part of it. Funny how horn players are kind of a herd. One knows the other and then knows the other etc. Little by little, we filled in the band but you never know how the chemistry is till you start doing it. It was kind of amazing how everyone did gel. The director for the video thought we had been a band that had done a lot of touring, and I think it does come across that way. I had done a video for my solo record with a director Leigh Brooks from the UK and reached out to him about local directors etc. and he hooked us up with a team he had worked with from Brooklyn that he thought might be good. That was the thing; because of Covid, there was not going to be a lot of flying or bringing people in, the whole thing had to be local. But I spoke with Adam Steven and Ricky who were the team that did the video and they immediately got the vibe. Again, like the album and songs, I wanted a blend of things and some of the guys were metalheads so they understood the energy, and some were not, so they understood having it be more fun and upbeat. The whole band/album/songs etc. had been about the blend of swing and rock n roll and energy and fun. I told them that’s what I wanted to come across as the main ingredient. I like when things feel like a family atmosphere. That’s the way it’s been for me my whole life; I come from a very big Italian family. That’s the way it is with Overkill internally and with the fans and that’s the way I would want this to be as well. It’s just an extension of who I am.”

Might there be possible shows from DD Verni & the Cadillac Band in 2021 or 2022?

D.D.: I’m very excited to do some touring. We’re looking at possibilities now. Whether it be a support slot, headline shows, or even festivals, I think would be great. How about Paul Stanley and his Soul Band and DD Verni and his Swing Band on the same bill…hahahaha…awesome!!!

Have your bandmates in OVERKILL heard the album and what have they said about it?

D.D.: A few have…they think I’m nuts!

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The track listing for LET’S RATTLE is:

Cadillac Man
Shake It Swing It
Give Me Your Number
Olivia…That’s Who!
Powerhouse
Cold Hearted Woman
School Of Rock n’ Roll
L-O-V-E
Just Say U Love Me
Manhattan Baby
Close Your Eyes and Dream
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head
The One Who Loves You

A person wearing a suit and tie

Description automatically generated with medium confidencePhoto Credit: Mark Weiss

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

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