Bruce Reaves

"I am a reasonably positive, very alert singer/songwriter. I have been around forever, played in a bunch of bands, been hit on by your sister or brother, left duct tape in all your favorite haunts, (unless they mysteriously burned to the ground or became "bistros") and now can be found in my cozy studio in South Bend, Indiana or performing in and around Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin where chicken wire, firearms and Tums do not exist. Not necessarily looking to be the next "big thing" but if someone is hell bent on making me rich, so be it. I ain’t dead yet!!"

Legendary singer/songwriter pat mAcdonald says this about Bruce in a quote from The South Bend Tribune dated October 3rd, 2009: "He reminded me of my friend Stan Ridgway (of Wall of Voodoo) with his crazy sort of bent lyrics and crazy storytelling. Bruce’s stuff comes off like folk art, like outsider art. In my mind, he’s an outsider writer, and that’s the thing I liked. There’s something very playful about his stuff, which I really liked when I first heard it, and still do.”

Bruce writes, records and produces his critically acclaimed music at his studio, "The Dark Side" in South Bend, Indiana. His recording credits include electric, acoustic, baritone and cigar box guitars, Kay mandolin, keyboards (including the vintage $60.00 Casio), electronic and acoustic drums and percussion, harmonica, vocals, and all other sounds. (including mistakes)

Bruce is also honored to be an annual performer at the Steel Bridge SongFest held each June in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Other performers include Jackson Browne, legendary singer/songwriter pat mAcdonald, Jane Wiedlin, (Go-Go's) Eric McFadden, (Animals, P-Funk) and Kim Mannning. (P-Funk)

In October, 2009 Bruce wrote, recorded and performed with noted drummer Wally Ingram (Sheryl Crow, Crowded House), Kim Manning (P-Funk), Lantz Lazwell (Jam Factory), Eric McFadden (Animals, P-Funk) and the legendary pat mAcdonald at the DARK SONGS Festival in Wisconsin.

In June of 2010 Bruce was honored to record for the first time with "The Kid Fantastic" Noah Engh, Anna Sacks, Scotty Lund, Steve Smith, Ruby James and Troy Therrien at the Steel Bridge SongFest in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.. His band West Side Gypsys (Bruce, Jeremy Reaves, Rene Pynaert) also performed on the main stage backed by noted drummer Wally Ingram (Sheryl Crow).

Bruce's collaborative album "CADILLAC CHURCH" with Noah Engh and Steve Smith was released in May, 2011 and he is also currently in production on his 3rd solo cd which will be featuring several STEEL BRIDGE SONGFEST and DARK SONGS festival artists lending their creative expertise to all aspects of the project. A summer 2012 release date is scheduled.

NOAH ENGH, STEVE SMITH AND BRUCE REAVES

Cadillac Church is a dark, but wickedly uplifting musical joyride.

Songs about cheap motels, fried chicken, parking lot beauty queens and even a plea for help to The Savior permeates
this sweaty, slightly fractured look at Americana. Cadillac Church does its carnival barker best to

take an uncensored leap off a musical cliff.

Bruce, old enough to be know better, is a Midwestern self professed musically jaded soul
who at least fantasizes that he has "been there, done that."

Steve, who expertly engineered and co-produced this debut album, is an underground music
industry veteran and an in demand session player in the Chicago area.

Released on the world famous SB United Records.

BRUCE'S SECOND RELEASE: "is Kinder and Gentler"

National recording artist JONATHAN SPOTTISWOODE has this to say about the CD "is KINDER and GENTLER": "JUST PUT YOUR CD on. it's wacky! and good. kind of a cross between SYD BARRETT, JOHNNY CASH, NEIL YOUNG and the B52s. but very much it's own thing at the same time. the very end of the CD makes me laugh. i think my favorite song may be the piano one which is completely trippy. but there are a lot of other contenders too."

Renowned graphic artist Dale O'Dell writes "Bruce Reaves is "Kinder and Gentler" on this CD, but his subversive wit is intact. I'm not sure how to categorize Bruce's music; cynical-folk music? Or maybe dark-cinema rock? Toss Stan Ridgway, Timbuk3, (I think you and Pat MacDonald are traveling the same road ---I still listen to my old Timbuk 3 albums) and a little Barenaked Ladies in a blender and out comes, Bruce Reaves! "Kinder and Gentler" has 9 new acoustic-storytelling songs with "Whores in Hollywood" as the standout. His Elvis-esque voice and clean acoustic guitar playing is front and center on this CD. And the production quality is excellent, bright and clean. If you're looking for music with meaning and storytelling lyrics that examine the underbelly of America with wit and a touch of cynicism, this CD is for you.

Again, thanks for the CD. I anxiously await 3! All the best ---keep writing & playing!" dale@cybertrails.comg

BRUCE'S FIRST RELEASE: "Songs For Big Kidz*"

FLAMING PIE PRODUCTIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO DESCRIBES THE MUSIC AS "COOL WEIRD, DARK BUT FUNNY, ELECTRO-COW CRUNK." Josh Garey - flamingpie.net

WORK FOR MUSIC RECORDS IN CALIFORNIA COMMENTS: "TARANTINO SHOULD HEAR IT. I BET HE'D USE IT IN ONE OF THOSE DRIVING-THROUGH-THE-DESERT-ALONE SCENES." -workformusic.com

Dale O'Dell: "I really like the 'SONGS FOR BIG KIDZ*' CD. It's witty, cynical and sarcastic ---just what I'm looking for in entertaining music. I think 'Car Pool to Court' is my favorite song, but then I think I know those people. I listened to the samples on your myspace page and must have the new CD.( is KINDER and GENTLER) If you find yourself playing any gigs in Arizona be sure to send an email. Keep up the good work." Dale -
dale@cybertrails.com

BRUCE ALSO HAS TWO ORIGINAL SONGS ON THE INTERNATIONAL RELEASE "SONGS FROM STEEL BRIDGE VOL.1" CD. OTHER ARTISTS INCLUDE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER JACKSON BROWNE AND LEGENDARY MUSICIAN/PERFORMER pat mAcdonald.

Bruce Reaves & West Side Gypsys

Bruce Reaves Rene Pynaert Jeremy Reaves

West Side Gypsys with Wally Ingram at

Steel Bridge Songfest main stage - June 12th, 2010

Mixing multiple voodoo guitar shadings with haunting harmonica,

driving electronic and acoustic percussion and playful three part

vocal harmonies, Bruce Reaves (guitars, lead vocals), Jeremy Reaves

(guitars, vocals) and Rene Rynaert (percussion, harmonica, vocals) deliver

original rock compositions in a mode of energetic abandon that captures the

stripped down spirit of why Rock & Roll was invented in the first place.

Catch Bruce on his Summer "GRAND EXPERIMENT 2012 TOUR" that will officially

kick off with multiple performances at Steel Bridge

Songfest 2012 in June in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.