Artist description Poet/Author and spoken word artist Frank Messina fronts the band Spoken Motion, a six-piece New York based outfit that blends the genres of jazz and experimental rock music with spoken word recitations. Described by Messina as "Spoke n' Roll" music, The band performs in a variety of venues ranging from medium sized clubs to university auditoriums and outdoor festivals and concerts in europe and the USA. In addition, Frank Messina appears as a special guest with bands and musicians including Max Creek, Spin Doctors, Hosemobile and with members of Sonic Youth, Sun Ra, Phish and the Allman Brothers. Currently Frank's new experimental group, OCTOPOET, featuring members of Spin Doctors, Gil Scott-Heron Band, Max Creek and others is booking dates in the New York City area. OCTOPOET is an experimental jam session with extremely high energy.

Music Style Spoken Word, Jazz, Spoke n` Roll

Musical Influences Gil Scott-Heron, Miles Davis, Sonny Sharrock, Weather Report

Similar Artists Frank Zappa, Gil Scott-Heron, Doors, Grateful Dead

Artist History Founded in 1993, Spoken Motion was created by Frank Messina in New York City and rapidly became a club circuit favorite during the peak of the spoken word movement. In 1994, the group performed at Lollapalooza and at Woodstock '94 and toured the United States. In 1995, Frank Messina debuted in europe at the Meer den Voorden (More than Words) Festival in Goes, Holland. Since then, he has completed four tours of europe including dates at the famed Crossing Border Festival at Den Haag, Netherlands. The band has been featured on WBAI's "Liquid Sound Lounge", WSPN's "Poets' Corner", National Public Radio's "Weekend Edtion" and World Radio Network. The album "Biting the Tongue", (Spokeface Records, '98) appeared on the Top 20 Spoken Word charts in July, August and September of 1998. The group continues to headline at various venues throughout the US with most being in the New York metropolitan area.

Group Members Frank Messina, vocals; Elliott Levin, saxophone and flute; Joe Isgro, bass; Larry McDonald, percussion; Bob Susko, guitar; Wes Jensen, drums

Instruments vocals, percussion, drums, guitar, bass, reeds

Albums Biting the Tongue; Rage, Absorb,

Press Reviews "...Messina delivers with passion and ferocity...in a place where audacity meets chivalry, vulgarity meets eloquence...he is, without question, a genius of Generation X..." (Donna Coe, Playboy Magazine). "...deep in the present, deep in America, deep in the American presen...", (Alan Dugan, Pulitzer Prize winning poet)

Additional Info Books by Frank Messina: Disorderly Conduct, Wasteland Press

Location New York, NY - USA

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