Performing at Singer Spotlight Unplugged at Uncommon Ground on Thursday, October 2.

Libby Mollman
Libby Mollman is a professional vocalist who combines a wide range of training and a wealth of performance experience. She came to Chicago by way of Boston after graduating from college with a broadcasting degree. As a singer, Libby has performed in garage bands, rootsy blues groups and society orchestras. She has even taken the stage in Paris to sing the songs of Hoagy Carmichael and George and Ira Gershwin. She has done voice-overs for FM-100 as well as produced and hosted award-winning public affairs programming. She also provides narration for multimedia productions for corporations. Libby has produced a number of her own successful solo shows, working with some of Chicago's finest musicians. She currently is co-producer of Singer Spotlight North Shore at Pop's Highwood.

Jenniphre Zias
Jen feels really lucky to have performed as a vocalist in and around the city of Chicago for the past nine years. She has been a featured performer at many local festivals and shows, including The Taste of Chicago, The Jenny Jones Show, and Wild Chicago. She's had the privilege of working with many wonderful local musicians and would like to send a special thanks to her band tonight, Rob Newhouse, Bruce Altice and Carlos Cornier, for their hard work and wonderful contributions to the tunes. Though she's appeared on Chicago Singer Spotlight, this is her first time on Singer Spotlight Unplugged and her first time performing all her own songs. No covers to hide under tonight! You can catch Jen two weekends a month at The Pump Room with pianist Dennis Anderson, or with her fab wedding/party band, The Chicago Rhythm Review, along with leader Bruce Altice. For more upcoming shows and booking info, stop by her place on the web, www.jenzias.com. She'd like to thank everyone at Singer Spotlight Unplugged for inviting her to appear on the show, and a special thanks to all those who have come out tonight to support her and local music!"

The Wandering Endorphin
The sounds you are about to hear all spring from the vision of one man. One man who decided that the well-worn paths that other musicians adhere to were not the proper routes for his own creativity. That man is Jim Green, a.k.a. THE WANDERING ENDORPHIN. His weapon of choice is the acoustic guitar, although he is no casual strummer and singer. Rather, he attacks his instrument with both hands, drawing forth percussive rhythms, harmonics, and double pull-offs with a piano-like approach that often sounds like one more guitar than is actually playing. This is all done in real time with no sampling or looping devices to be found. The result is acoustic rock and roll that is musically and visually stimulating. When he does expose his singer/songwriter side, he employs a plainly spoken vocal style that keeps the listeners focus on the lyric at hand. Inhabiting a musical world that is equally informed by Michael Hedges, Jeff Buckley, and Kurt Cobain, THE WANDERING ENDORPHIN does his best to create the same euphoric feelings in his audience as the small-chain peptides do from which he takes his name. THE WANDERING ENDORPHIN name is a little misleading, actually, because the name refers to the entire project, not just Green himself. Although he began this journey as a solo act, his latest CD, Destination Euphoria,' finds Green in the company of all manner of supporting players. Cello, dobro, bass, drums, and harmonica all make appearances on the record, which is in stark contrast to Green's first release, 'Undistorted Light,' which is a purely solo effort. The additional musicians allow Green's vision to be heard in sharper relief, and bring out in the songs flavors ranging from pop to classical to Americana. No matter how many players are involved, though, the goal of THE WANDERING ENDORPHIN is the same. The goal is to take this music out of the cafes and clubs of Chicago and make it available to the Midwest region and ultimately to the world at large. This is innovative, unusual, and compelling acoustic music and it is inevitable that it will connect with its audience and continue to grow its fan base. Jim Green is a freely flowing river of musical ideas and emotions and that fact, coupled with his advanced guitar technique, is what makes THE WANDERING ENDORPHIN destined to succeed.

Seven Day Run
Seven Day Run continues to promote the release of their latest CD entitled "Scars We Share". On the heels of notable success from their previous live CD, "Live at Uncommon Ground", Seven Day Run stayed busy throughout the past year by performing at numerous Chicagoland and Midwestern venues in preparation for this new full-length studio recording. The new CD, recorded at Chicago’s renowned Gravity Studios, is a collection of ten stories of longing, loneliness, love and loss. After spending several years in the northern Rockies, Kevin McDonough, the founder of Seven Day Run and a Chicagoland native, decided to return home to the Windy City and take advantage of City’s romantic affinity for its own musical heritage. In his words, “Chicago loves it’s own,” as displayed by the consistent support for such acts as the Smashing Pumpkins, Poi Dog Pondering, Liz Phair, the Freddy Jones Band, Sonia Dada, Michael McDermott, Filter, Verbow, Lucky Boys Confusion, Disturbed and Chicago transplant, Wilco, along with many others. He continues, “The support for the local music scene has substantially helped elevate some of these acts from native heroes to national giants.” Members of Seven Day Run frequently draw from their Midwestern roots in their musical creations. The songs, much like themselves, reflect a down-to-earth, working-class upbringing. The style reminisces of folk and blues within an impassioned rock & roll framework. On the other hand, with a tremendous affection for the music scenes of California and the Pacific Northwest, their songs often possess an edge atypical of traditional Midwestern rockers. As the band’s wordsmith, McDonough has penned over 50 original songs; stories that span the reaches of human emotion and desire; sometimes brooding, always thought-provoking, and tempered with just the appropriate amount of wit. The result is an inspiring mixture of numerous musical influences reflected best in the dynamics of the 10 songs now featured on "Scars We Share". With McDonough on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Pat Keiner on lead guitar and harmony vocals, Mike Tafel on percussion, Peter Barsch on bass guitar, Joe Avezzano on drums and Dave Bills on keys, seven day run hopes to develop its niche in the region’s blend of diverse musical expressions.