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Tony Denikos

The trio Half Step Down (Tony Denikos, Angie Miller & Tom Fridrich) will appear at Baldwin’s Station in Sykesville on Thursday, January 30th. Tickets Call 410-795-1041

Thursday, January 30th
Tony Denikos, Angie Miller & Tom Fridrich
are HALF STEP DOWN

Tickets $20.00 ~ Showtime 7:30 pm
Tickets Call 410-795-1041
ALL TICKET SALES FINAL, NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES
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Some of Tony Denikos’ earliest memories are of riding along the country roads of central Maryland, singing songs like “Jack O’ Diamonds” by Tex Ritter, “Born to Lose” by Ray Charles, “Caldonia” by Louis Jordan and “Pendulum Swings” by Roger Miller, along with his Dad and sisters while my mom smiled at the landscape gliding by… A seed had been planted.

After years of playing pubs and bars in various configurations Tony decided it was time to record a collection of songs he’d written and released Naked & Smiling (1999). The Washington Post reviewed it calling Tony a “Tunesmith in the best sense of the word” and folks started coming out to listen to his originals. A tradition of recording songs about real-life, mixed with humor, heart ache and wit was born.

Time Tells Tales
followed in 2003. He started to hone a more Folk/Americana sound, relying on earlier influences as well as artists such as John Prine, Chris Smither, John Fogerty, John Hiatt, Richard Thompson and Steve Earle. Time Tells Tales was given a good deal of radio play in Europe and free form stations here at home and it seemed that he had found his true voice somewhere in that gumbo of influences.

In 2005, Tony headed to Nashville to begin his next project, Already Gone. He started laying down tracks with Timm Biery (Danny Gatton, Nils Lofgren). Timm brought in Dave Jacques (John Prine, Emmylou Harris), Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam), and Warner Hodges (Jason and the Scorchers) on the project to record with Gantt Kushner, Scott and Jen Smith (Naked Blue) and myself — what an amazing experience. Already Gone hit the streets with a bang in late 2009 and received critical acclaim from DJs and writers around the globe. It went to #2 on the Euro Americana Chart and #7 on the Freeform American Roots (FAR) Chart right out of the gate.

In 2012, Under the Church was released and again Tony found himself on the EA and FAR Charts and the tongues and pens of critics around the globe. Under the Church went to places both darker and more lighthearted than previous releases and may well be Tony’s best CD to date.

From South Carolina to Texas to upstate New York, you can find Tony performing in any number of configurations. Be it an intimate and conversational acoustic solo show to a full on, five- piece band, Tony’s are truly a must-hear/must-see show for anyone who values first rate songwriting and performances.

Angie Miller has carved out her reputation as a great performer and songwriter who knows “how to capture an audience.” ~ Maria Villafana, Washington Post. Her debut CD, Ricochet, was released by Big Mo Records, featuring a cameo appearance by guitar legend Danny Gatton. Since then, she has produced two more independent releases and appeared on several compilation CDs

Following in the footsteps of Americana songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt, Angie mixes a smart pop style into modern folk rock tunes and introspective ballads that hook the listener into the story being told in each song. As Waazzup Magazine says, “Her music, which is both playful and thoughtful, mixes folk ballads and sultry standards, and alternative acoustic pop.” Angie’s music cuts straight to the heart and comfortably slides up next to your own experiences and memories like a good conversation. Angie has appeared in concert with international artists such as Richie Havens, Nils Lofgren, Aimee Mann, Jerry Jeff Walker, David Wilcox and Marcia Ball.

“Angie Miller has the unique ability to combine a ballsy blues backbone with a sweet and sexual sensibility…” ~ Mark Bounds, Music Monthly

“There is something about Miller’s slightly husky voice that is inviting, even irresistible. She sings like a seasoned siren, stirring up a spicy gumbo of songs.” ~ Mathew Thomas Pugh, Bay Weekly

Tom Fridrich has been playing percussion with many different combinations of artists for decades in the Maryland area.

Together, the trio is Half Step Down.

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