Vekstar

Mike Vecchio stared at the band in the studio from his chair behind the mixing board. Since he was a college sophomore, he had been writing his own lyrics and melodies. He played his guitar until he found a melody he liked then lyrics followed. But his career was of a sound engineer, not a musician. He watched from the sidelines, longing to play. While Mike longed to record and perform, Nichole Catalano-Miller sat at her piano every day playing songs that she hoped only her husband and dog would ever hear.

Since he was a college sophomore, he had been writing his own lyrics and melodies. He played his guitar until he found a melody he liked then lyrics followed.

But his career was of a sound engineer, not a musician. He watched from the sidelines, longing to play.

While Mike longed to record and perform, Nichole Catalano-Miller sat at her piano every day playing songs that she hoped only her husband and dog would ever hear. As a young girl, she curled up on the piano bench beside her father as he played. Soon, she started playing from sound. She almost didn't make it to LA because she didn't want to move without her piano.

Mike started playing solo gigs around town. He wasn't just going to watch others do it. He auditioned to play with Ben Kweller and didn't get the gig, but at least he was getting out there and performing.

Mike and Nichole met freshman year in college and when she arrived in LA, he heard her playing her piano and asked her to perform with him.

She said no.

He persisted.

She resisted.

Finally the two performed on March 29, 2006.

The duo played around the scene, when Mike Rofe, a singer songwriter saw the two at the Rainbow Bar and Grill where he booked bands every Wednesday. The first time, He saw Mike singing and playing by himself. By the time he saw Mike and Nichole, he was hooked. While Rofe loved playing guitar and singing, he played drums for over a decade and thought he'd like to be a part of Vekstar as a drummer.

After Vecchio won the American Idol Underground Big Push Rock Contest, he wanted his new band to record. He recorded before, but this new band was different; Vekstar needed its own EP. After a month of recording, Vekstar released Monday Mourning.

The sound is ethereal with Nichole's haunting backup vocals and the trio's poignant lyrics of love and loss. Vecchio's mournful voice makes the laments and emotions feel real. Rofe's experience as a performer helps give Vekstar a polished sound.