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rivierasound

Band Bio

Portland Chapter

After several years in Chicago, Riviera is now based in Portland, Oregon and firmly ensconced in that city’s thriving music scene. Riviera was called “one of the city’s top unsigned bands” by  the Chicago Tribune’s Metromix and has opened for Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Son Volt, Califone, Hem, The Radar Brothers, Brent Best (Slobberbone) and Kraig Jarret Johnson (The Jayhawks,  Golden Smog, Run Westy Run).

Riviera has found recent success in licensing their music for film and television. Most recently, their songs have been featured on the A&E TV show The Cleaner, starring Benjamin Bratt. Three songs were also featured in the award winning independent film, Riff Raff. The band is focused on licensing more material with discussions ongoing with music supervisors and producers.

Two albums and two EPs of music have laid a solid foundation for the band to build on as they enter the next chapter–this time in the Pacific Northwest.

Riviera’s move to Portland has been met with warm welcomes and enthusiastic crowds with a Pacific Northwest debut at the White Eagle a sold out affair. The band is now planning to record new material in Spring, 2011.

Derek Phillips – Singer, rhythm guitars, keyboards, harmonica
Born in Chicago and raised in Michigan, singer/songwriter Derek Phillips is a midwestern boy who dreamed of life on the west coast. Growing up in a house filled with the music of The Beatles, CCR, The Stones and camping with grandparents who were Bluegrass players gave Derek a varied sense of musical styles and a firm appreciation for the story-song.

Jeff Porter – Pedal steel, lap steel, lead guitar, mandolin
Multi-instrumentalist Jeff Porter is a mainstay on the Portland Americana scene, playing guitar, bass, mandolin, Dobro, lap steel and pedal steel with Paula Sinclair, Justin Jude, Reina Collins, The Beautiful Train Wrecks, Ashbury Park, Jen Bresnahan, and now Riviera.

Porter’s love for gear is also well known and his arsenal is coveted by many, including Mick.

Mick Radichel – Vocals, lead guitars, keyboards
Born and raised in Milwaukee WI. Mick saw early success with The Pacers, a Milwaukee/Minneapolis Ska outfit, and toured the country over several years.

After the Pacers split, he moved to Memphis for a brief stint in studio work. Finding this work a bit tedious, he returned to Milwaukee and formed the garage punk band Men from Mars, who played the Midwest extensively opening for various national acts such as the White Stripes and Frank Black. But once again, feeling the need to move on, fled to the thriving Chicago musical landscape, and joined Riviera in 2001.

Read about the Chicago Chapter