WHEELS 2.0 CRUISES UP THE 101

This week, our spotlight comes from Erica Ramon, who tells us about a real comer who hails from a picturesque spot 85 miles up the coast from L.A. “Q2 is off to a banging start,” says Erica, “with tons of good music flowing across my desk (yes, I still like CDs), and this rising talent is my pick to click for this week.” Keep feedin my inbox: [email protected].

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Kyle Nicolai (http://www.myspace.com/kylenicolai): The beachy wine town of Santa Barbara is where this 20-year old multifaceted and soon-to-be superstar got his start. The buzz is building on him about as fast as it did on bands from the good old days, and Andy Gould and Sam Shulman are managing the organic momentum building up around him. His most recent releases, “Hellhound Revival” and “Luna,” showcase his range of talent, from electric rock to solo acoustic. Bringing his eclectic personality and desire to write meaningful lyrics, Kyle blends his classic-rock side with his Motown backbone for a product driven by a truly soulful voice. His live performance is infectious and brings crowds to their feet in a matter of minutes. The youngster’s energy has brought him to the level of sharing the stage with Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, the New York Dolls and Band of Skulls, and he’s finding new fans everywhere he goes. Showcases are underway and offers are rolling in, while support from overseas is overwhelming, so do yourself a favor and catch the hype before you hear it at radio.