Performance and Album Release

Howl! Happening: An Arturo Vega Project is pleased to present a live performance of songs from Rise and Shine, Jed Davis’ musical theater collaboration with Arturo Vega. The evening celebrates the release of Rise and Shine: Day 1, an album of songs from the play. Joined by a full band and vocal cast, Davis previews selections from the new recording.

The play, which focuses on a group of friends who come together at a Lower East Side nightclub in the summer and fall of 2001, was written by Davis and Vega over a 13-year period and completed by Davis after Vega’s untimely passing in 2013. In tribute to Vega, Davis has recorded all 41 songs with a full vocal cast and is releasing the material in chapters—one for each of the five days represented in the musical’s timeline.

The cast of the Rise and Shine recording, several members of which will be in attendance, includes Davis, Mike Keaney, Bryan Thomas, Heather Maloney, Matthew Koma, Avi Buffalo, Shea Diamond, CJ Ramone, Brian Dewan, Miss Guy, Lindsey Anderson, Wendy Ip, Dicky Barrett, Bradley Goodrich, Domenic Maltempi, Alex Dubovoy, and Jessy Moss. The album was mixed by Tim Latham (who worked on the Hamilton Original Broadway Cast Recording album).

Jed Davis has released over a dozen albums since the early 90s; toured as keyboardist for diverse artists like Avi Buffalo and Jessica Simpson; produced records by Jobriath and Hand Habits; and written songs that have been recorded and performed by Daniel Johnston, Matthew Koma, King Missile, and several Ramones. As a graphic designer, he assisted Arturo Vega with Ramones merchandise from 1999 until 2009, art-directed several magazines, and has been guiding social-media design for ESPN since 2016. He recently designed and illustrated the packaging for Juliana Hatfield’s LP Weird.

Listen to Jed and Arturo discuss Rise and Shine, 2006.

Twitter: @jeddavis

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