Vic Ruggiero knows some pretty interesting artists, and this summer he is conducting an exciting musical venture!

Vic sought out Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites and Nicolas Leonard of The Caroloregians & The Moon Invaders for a recording session this summer in Belgium. While on the road last year, between a busy Slackers' schedule and his own solo gigs, he began to think of a way to work with two of his favorite modern musicians—singer, Jesse Wagner, and drummer Nicolas Leonard—and how a collaboration with both could be made possible.

In June 2013, Jesse & Vic ventured across the globe to meet for a short series of shows in Oahu, Hawaii. As the natural course of learning to play and sing together proceeded they began to find an intriguing repertoire. During one short week, they harmonized on everything from a ska and calypso standards like “Shame & Scandal” to early rock n roll hits of The Everly Brothers and The Beatles .

A request from the audience for The Righteous Brothers took both singers and the crowd by surprise when they found it worked perfectly. It's obvious the two singers share an unequivocal reverence for reggae, rhythm n' blues and rock n' roll classics, (and the sentiments sung and the styles which they impart). Hearing Vic and Jesse sing their favorites in sweet two part harmony sounded damn good. As lead singers and master harmonizers both this rare duo makes possible a wide array of styles; soul, rhythm & blues, ska, reggae and rock n' roll.

It's this range of possibilities that neither Vic nor Jesse seem deliver with such ease even in their respective bands or as separate solo acts. Enter Nico Leonard; in November 2013, with Nico at the recording desk, he and Vic recorded 4 songs at his Pum Pum Hotel recording studio in just a few spare hours.

Nico has played in two touring bands--The Caroloregians & The Moon Invaders–simultaneously for over a decade and produced a dozen records of all styles.

As busy working drummer he's played everything from ska and skinhead reggae to surf, garage rock and rare exotica 60's beats, and he's produced other artists of the same wide variety. He is widely respected for a breadth of skill as a drummer and producer/engineer which fits the stylistic latitude of this group perfectly. Vic plans to remain in Europe at the end of this summer's Slacker's tour. Vic, Jesse & Nico will meet at the Pum Pum Hotel Recording Studio, in Charleroi, Belgium. It is a strictly analog studio that uses tape machines and vintage gear. They will make it their headquarters to rehearse, record and play a short run of gigs in nearby cities. The trio will have Vic on bass, Jesse on the guitar, and Nico on drums; a small band that can cover a lot of musical ground . Vic also plays keyboard, harmonica and accordion too, all of which might make a cameo. Vic says, "Other than working to build good rhythms. The next job will be to learn some originals! Both Jesse and I have new songs... Teaching each other songs will be the real treat of this entire project" and we hope will lay groundwork for future collaboration.

HERE IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP

Enough to fly Jesse out to Belgium for three weeks, to record at The Pum Pum Hotel Recording Studio for a full week. Between recording enough to a release, a new vinyl 12”, they will 'test their chops' live by making a short week and a half in Belgium, Germany, and the possibly even the UK. By supporting this endeavor, you will allow this rare and unique event to take place. Vic & Jesse will bring their combination of soul to singing harmonies and playing as they are propelled by the rhythm of well renowned drummer and engineer Nico Leonard. Trudging along a sonic highway this summer they will record and perform original new tunes and adapted classics.

Vic Ruggiero, Jesse Wagner & Nicolas Leonard... What is recorded you will be responsible for. We owe many sincere thanks for funding this endeavor! Gracias! Merci! Dank u!

Vic said it best when he wrote: “It is a good jumping off point... allows us to rehearse a little , work at new things, get our feet wet, try it out live and then record...all in a very short window of time with talented guys in one of the best studios..and we've all done this before, in our lives, being musicians that is... So i know we're all insane.”

Vic Ruggiero Lives in New York City. When not with The Slackers, Vic tours solo. His act originated as a venue for songs he'd written for The Slackers. Tunes they did not want like “The Animals Run the House” and “Eye of the Beholder” have become popular staples of his solo set. A prolific songwriter, Vic preforms songs from an extensive catalog with several instruments at one time. He sings with a kick-drum & high-hat as he switches back and forth between guitar & harmonica to carry each tune. His Bronx accent carries the vocals that now become his undeniable moniker.

Nicolas Leonard Lives in Charleroi, Belgium. Nico is busy with two bands at the moment, The Left Arm of Buddha, an exotica review, playing 50s oriented music, mixing early rock n'roll, jazz and latin beats, and Adolphe Sex et ses Machines, a 60s garage band singing in french. He is the engineer at and owner of The Pum Pum Hotel Recoding Studio. Which has recorded Victor Rice's new solo album, tracks with Vic Ruggiero that will be release on a 7'' soon, Les Braqueurs 7'' (60s beat from Paris), Left Arm of Buddha 7'', and Pyrotechnist, a dub project. The Moon invaders don't play anymore, and the Caroloregians play only a few gigs now, but Nico has been involved as a drummer for both.

Jesse Wagner Lives in Los Angeles, California. Vocals and frontman of the Aggrolites, a Ska Reggae band that has spent twelve years on the road and has released five full length albums while carrying a heavy touring schedule. Works on projects with Jeff Roffredo. written music for Yo Gabba Gabba.

Pum Pum Hotel Studios Originated in the red light of Charleroi the studio has the finest hand picked analog gear, specializes in creating the warm beautiful sounds of the 60s and 70s.