BIO
Laurie Geltman is an award-winning rock singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. The first release from her upcoming album was the single “Radio” (2023); an earworm she wrote, produced and recorded during the pandemic. While it’s a departure sonically from much of her back catalog, the musical influences point to some of her earliest musical memories, namely, the orchestrations in Bacharach/David pop songs and 70s soul. What flowed out lyrically was a loose description of her bedroom growing up, listening to records obsessively and the local DJs on Boston rock stations shaping her mind.
A decidedly more somber song, "Break Up This Fallow Ground," followed in early 2024. Both of these songs were followed up with two self-produced and directed music videos, Geltman's first forays into showcasing her own visual storytelling despite dabbling in film most of her life. Read more on the latest releases here: /news.
Vasco Da Gama
Laurie began her career in the vibrant Boston music scene as lead guitarist and auxiliary vocalist in Vasco Da Gama, an experimental rock band that included the extraordinary violinist Daniel Kellar who lent his talent to her solo efforts throughout the 90s and occasional reunions thereafter. With funky dance beats, often social and political themes, jazzy improvisational and orchestral parts driving a deep pool of musical talent, Laurie was still in college when she met the very tall men of Vasco Da Gama and looks back on it like an apprenticeship.
"I really wanted to play guitar and be a part of something; I wasn't ready to be the lead singer of a band."
Geltman joined the already established local band shortly after graduating Berklee College of Music–having sung on their first record Sex Sells Sex–ready to show Boston in the late 80s that she was first and foremost a serious guitar player.
When Vasco split up, Daniel continued playing with Geltman for over a decade in various settings, lineups and reunions and greatly influenced her musical work.
A songwriter by nature, Geltman contributed and collaborated on songs that ended up on their last album Mary.
Hearing her own songs and guitar playing on local radio stations like 'FNX, WBCN and college radio gave her a boost of motivation as did gigging at iconic clubs like CBGB in NYC and The Rat in Kenmore Sq.
Early days on the New England Circuit
Geltman fronted her own eponymous bands as lead vocalist, songwriter and guitarist.
A dynamic duo w Daniel Kellar
Daniel and Laurie made headway into the New England acoustic singer-songwriter scene while simultaneously switching up the players in her full rock outfit for a few more years, straddling both the rock and the folk scene and tweaking the sound.
They had a 3-year residency at the famed club The Middle East in Cambridge, playing in the Bakery, along with bassist Dave Doms, called "Smell The Flour Hour" which went on long after an hour and included weekly guests that ranged from songwriters who were new to town like Pamela Means and Ry Cavanaugh (both now beloved veterans of the stage and road) to rising stars Martin Sexton and Patty Griffin (now legends) to veritable legends already like Robin Lane, Dennis Brennan & Reeves Gabrels. Laurie manned the soundboard and everyone ate for free!
It was here the mailing list swelled, the first batch of Departure (1992) tapes were sold out and songs for future albums were worked out in real time.
Released originally on a cassette, Departure effectively launched her career with both critics and fans heralding the debut. Departure ended up on several writers top 10 albums of the year, a rare feat for a cassette only release.
Laurie also got some extra exposure covering “Sway,” a favorite childhood song from Sticky Fingers, on both her own debut album and the Boston Gets Stoned Compilation CD. 30 years later, that song ended up in a British author's book UNDERCOVER: 500 ROLLING STONES COVER VERSIONS THAT YOU MUST HEAR! https://a.co/d/ce58ias
She and Daniel made it to the finals twice in the Acoustic Underground competition along with future folk pop stars Ellis Paul, Catie Curtis and Martin Sexton. One of the prizes was each of the 10 Finalists recorded a song that would appear on The Acoustic Underground Compilation. The acoustic version of “Growing Down” was the first song of Laurie's to come out on a CD and later was a hidden track on No Power Steering.
Despite the early accolades, she longed for the dirtier guitar sounds of her electric and yearned to return to her 'Neil Young' roots.
One night, drummer Woody Giessmann of Del Fuegos fame came in and Laurie gave him a three-song demo that included two songs with Patty Griffin on backgrounds "Elbow" and "Payoff" and the roots rocker "Bobby Called From Texas" with her fiery solo at the end that pointed to the fact she was tiring of the acoustic gigs. They needed a new drummer and if he liked it, call. That was the beginning of the Laurie Geltman Band that played out the rest of the 90s. Geltman still considers Woody, Dan and bassist Brian Karp her band on the East Coast.
[Every Album Has A Story (and a cast) Look for album names in buttons to dig deeper, see credits.]
Laurie Geltman’s first album under her own name was Departure (RBP) in 1992. Originally a cassette and then re-mastered and re-released worldwide digitally in 2012, this 9-song collection catapulted her into the New England limelight and featured a wide array of textures from a real string quartet to pedal steel and began her journey as a producer and arranger on most of her releases.
“Startling perception as a songwriter...A stunning debut. ”
— The Union Leader
“Her lyrics have something to say to nearly everyone. ”
— The Portsmouth Herald
No Power Steering
Motion Pictures
