LaRue Debut Photo Exhibit at former Doors Workshop

July 13, 2012 • For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, CA -  “Open Doors,” a photo exhibit by Lisa LaRue featuring eclectic views of historic sites associated with the legendary rock band “The Doors” in and around Los Angeles, will open August 17, 2012, from 7 pm until 11 pm..  The exhibit will be at Forbidden Restaurant and Bar located at 8512 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.  Also featured at the opening will be an acoustic performance by singer/songwriter John Baker, and live painting by Walt Hall.  Forbidden will be offering $20 Margarita pitchers and $3 Miller Lites.

 LaRue, a progressive rock musician who is a Historic Preservation Officer for a federally recognized tribal government, has been practicing photography for over twenty years, with some internationally published photos in the media, including several books and magazine covers.  She chose to incorporate her two professions – music and history into this most recent collection of photos, focusing on a more mature and eclectic look at some iconic places in Los Angeles.

 “As the fans and appreciators of The Doors mature, I felt that images featuring a more eclectic look would be more appropriate.  I had in mind display in homes, offices, restaurants and such when choosing the shots to take,” said LaRue.  “Also, the sites are slowly disappearing – some of the things I wanted to shoot are already gone.  My goal was to document the beauty of these sites and their role in our cultural history before they are gone.”

 LaRue’s music includes a 7 albums, including several Native American instrumental albums, a CD in the Cherokee language, and 3 progressive rock albums.  Her music, as well as a link to her photography, can be found at www.lisalaruemusic.com

 John Baker will be providing an acoustic set.  Baker is the lead singer and guitarist for the internationally known progressive rock band, Mars Hollow, and was formerly with LA band “The Little Girls” and Harvey Sid Fisher.  He has also appeared on several Lisa LaRue projects; the two were married this past February.  You can learn more about Baker and listen to some music at both www.johnbakerwebsite.com and www.marshollow.com

 Walt Hall is an up and coming Los Angeles artist, who has exhibited at numerous galleries and shows throughout the area.  Hall has a very unique style, and can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/walt.hall.167

 For more information on Forbidden Restaurant and Bar, please visit www.forbiddenrestaurant.com

Russian News features "Lemniscate"

МОСКВА, 6 июл - РИА Новости. Американская клавишница и автор песен Лиза ЛаРю (Lisa LaRue) сочинила и записала эпическую прог-рок композицию Lemniscate - Children of the Bulgaria, посвященную трагической гибели детей, находившихся на туристическом теплоходе "Булгария", затонувшем 10 июля прошлого года в России, рассказал РИА Новости инициатор проекта, ведущий рок-программ на радио, капитан 1 ранга Игорь Дыгало. РИА Новости получило право первым опубликовать песню на своем сайте, а на американском радио премьера песни состоится 10 июля - в день годовщины трагедии. Read more

2KX Tributes Russian Tragedy July 2012

 American progressive rock keyboardist and songwriter Lisa LaRue has crafted an epic song to tribute the children lost in the tragic July 10th, 2011 sinking of the Russian tourist ship "Bulgaria". The "Bulgaria”, in dire need of repair and over capacity, sailed on the Volga River and rapidly floundered in bad weather. Over one hundred were lost in the disaster including over fifty children enjoying themselves in the ship's playroom. When a disc jockey from a Moscow radio station brought the tragedy to the attention of LaRue, she felt compelled to make a heartfelt statement, recalling an incident from the history of her Native American Cherokee Indian heritage. "When my grandmother was a child, she lived at a mission and the fullblood children were locked in a certain cabin at night, apparently so they couldn't leave and return home. One night, there was a fire and all of them perished. We all began as one people, there is one God, one truth. Music is the Universal language, but so are children."

Investigations indicated the Bulgaria operated as a cruise ship without a proper license and carried eighty people more than the rated capacity when she left the dock at Bolgar bound for Kazan on that ill-fated day. To compound the tragedy, two ships passed the sinking "Bulgaria" without stopping to assist, a matter under investigation by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. The accident happened so rapidly that the crew was unable to launch any lifeboats. This tragedy shook the region of the Russian Federation but has been mostly overlooked. LaRue feels this event deserves worldwide attention, reminding us how often we overlook one of our greatest treasures - our children. "(Children) are born with no specific language, but are taught and molded by us. It is all of our jobs to raise the children of the world, and a responsibility to put their safety and futures as our priority. We need to make sure regulations and policies are in place the world over to protect this treasure - our children."

For "Lemniscate - Children of the Bulgaria", Lisa LaRue 2KX (including LaRue, guitarist Steve Adams, NS Stick/upright bass player Don Schiff, sax player and flutist Dave Schiff, cellist Mike Alvarez and drummer Merrill Hale) is joined with special guests John Baker (Mars Hollow) and Michael Sadler (Saga) on choir vocals. According to LaRue, "The song is a thirteen minute prog epic that is a musical drama telling a very sonically vivid story of the terrible events of that day."

Lisa LaRue, an award winning keyboardist and composer, first became known for her Native American-influenced music when she was the first female artist signed to the Sound of America Records label (SOAR) Natural Visions imprint. Heavily influenced by the American and British prog rock scenes, she then focused on her own prog projects Lisa LaRue 2K9 and later Lisa LaRue 2KX releasing the critically acclaimed CD "Fast and Blue". With her more recent project, the EP "Beautiful Life", LaRue has donated the proceeds to benefit a dedicated fan’s ailing spouse.

"Lemniscate - Children of the Bulgaria" will debut on night July 7 and July 12, 2012, the one year anniversary of the tragedy. It will be aired by DJ Igor Dygalo's radio shows “Pearl Diver” and “Red Shark” in Moscow and can be accessed, respectively, on-line July 7 at http://www.rockfm.ru. (12 a.m. Moscow time, that is corresponding to 1 pm Pacific Time or to 4 pm Eastern Time, July 6) and July 12 at http://kp.ru/radio/ (1 a.m. Moscow time, that is corresponding to 2 pm Pacific Time or to 5 pm Eastern Time, July 11). It will also be available for purchase at iTunes and other digital outlets.

LaRue-Baker Engagement/Wedding

For Immediate Release

December 29, 2011


Los Angeles, CA - Lisa LaRue (Lisa LaRue 2KX) and John Baker (Mars Hollow) have announced their engagement today in Los Angeles at an engagement / birthday party at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on Sunset. The couple have set a date in Spring of 2012.


The wedding will be a private family affair, with a reception to follow for friends at a later date in the Spring which will be aired live via internet through AiiRadio.net . There will also be an interactive website set up for friends and fans which will keep those interested updated with wedding news, wedding and reception photos, and will also contain a guestbook for well wishes to be entered.

LaRue, progressive rock keyboardist and Baker, guitarist and vocalist for Mars Hollow, will be residing in Los Angeles.

ADDENDUM:  The couple was married February 16 in a private ceremony in Las Vegas; a reception was held for close friends in Los Angeles May 5.  

Full interview in iO Pages - Progressive Rock Mag

Lisa LaRue has a full interview in issue 103 of iO Pages.  Check link here to find out how to get your copy.

Prognosis review of Fast and Blue

After listening a few times to Fast and Blue, I must admit to being reminded of some of the more symphonic Progressive Rock albums of the seventies, even though this album clearly has a modern sound to it in a Neo Prog sort of way. The main reference I would make would be with Rick Wakeman's Voyage to the Center of the Earth album....... read more

2KX to release benefit CD

Progressive rock band Lisa LaRue 2KX has announced the forthcoming digital-release only EP titled, “Beautiful Life.” The EP consists of 3 songs of varying feel and genre, from beautiful classical guitar, to a ballad, to jazz.
read more

Ytsejam Review!

Like The Tangent's The Music that Died Alone and Proto Kaw under a heavy Vangelis influence, Fast and Blue is an album of LaRue's true musical identity, and the music itself is more eased and tame, without a bunch of wild improvisations or jitteriness, as it's about taking a melody and giving it a work over.  Read more

DPRP Review of Fast and Blue

Fast And Blue offers up epics like the 18-minute Prometheus, which showcases some dramatic Transatlantic-esque sections, a synth solo sounding like the cry of an intergalactic pterodactyl, and sections evoking Genesis and Relayer-era Yes. Other tracks on the CD are more conventional and song-based, like the title track with a commanding vocal from Payne, dutiful backing vocals from Nil and an anxious guitar solo from Adams.  read more

Sea of Tranquility's Epic Review of Fast and Blue

Fast and Blue is one of the better releases of the year. A nice and welcomed addition to anyone's prog record collection. Original music steeped in the tradition of the masters of prog's legendary past. The guest list should be enough for any fan to show an interest, but the artwork, fine production and incredibly epic nature of the music should clinch your purchase of this disc.  read more

Thank you, DangerDog!

The significant piece here is Jam Jehan Nima. In this composition, LaRue is a player in the band, not the star. The arrangement involves every musician for an epic performance. This is pure neo-classical progressive rock and, indeed, 2KX at their most brilliant.

....... deserving both attention and recognition, Lisa LaRue 2KX Fast and Blue is classic progressive rock re-imagined for a new day with tons of inspiration and inventiveness. Very recommended!  read more

Music Street Journal Loves Fast and Blue

The album kicks off with a major epic after the soft opening intro of “Mystery of the Rose,” and never lets go of your psyche or ears as prog epic after epic unfolds in this seven song story. Fast and Blue is an explosive and dynamic album that will thrill and bring back many memories from the legends of the past, while still remaining original. Read more

Prognaut Review!!

" ... the music here is EPIC! This album has the best of the 70s and the present day progressive rock has to offer..." READ REVIEW HERE

L L Keyboardist on Strange Ang3ls

David Mark Pearce (The Oliver Wakeman Band), guest guitarist and co-producer of Lisa LaRue Project 2K9, will be releasing his debut solo album “Strange Ang3ls” through AOR Heaven on June 24, 2011. The album is a fine mix of Melodic Rock and ‘soft’ prog, with vocals by John Payne (Asia ft John Payne, GPS, 2KX) and Goran Edman (ex- Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum).
Drummer Damian Rodd and Bass player C.s. Brown, both also from Lisa LaRue Project 2K9 appear on the album, along with 2KX cellist Michael Alvarez with Steve Preston on violin who also appeared on 2K9. Joining Lisa on keyboards is guest Mike Clarke and as a special guest is Yes keyboardist Oliver Wakeman. The album will be available here.

CD, DVD and Magazine Now Available Individually

You may order the CD at Amazon OR through Nightmare Records!!  The full-length DVD is also available in the shop.  To order the 24-page full colour magazine, please visit MagCloud.

Fast and Blue Listening Party

Frans Keylard of The Rogue's Gallery hosted the 2-hour CD Listening Party on The Dividing Line.  With spoken words interjected with the songs by key players on the album, it's a 2-hour extravaganza that will be leaving you wanting not only the CD, but the DVD with interviews and studio footage, and the souvenir magazine.  Listen to Rogue's Gallery #384!!!!

LL and 2KX partner with ROCKTUNZ.COM

Lisa LaRue has partnered with ROCKTUNZ.COM as a single source for all Lisa LaRue music, including back catalog, Project 2K9 and the upcoming 2KX CD, "Fast and Blue."  The site also offers the "Rockommender" which will lead you to discover all sorts of new and classic prog music.  "World Class" is now available, as is the single "Fast and Blue."  Although the shop on www.lisalaruemusic.com will remain open, we are gently transitioning into RockTunz, so that you, the listener, can have a one-stop-shop to fulfill not only your Lisa LaRue playlist, but other great prog from some truly deserving artists.  Check Lisa's page here

Sea of Tranquility reviews "World Class"

"World Class is full of great melodic keyboard arrangements that are written and executed perfectly. LaRue has definitely surrounded herself with a stellar cast of musicians here and this is another big reason why this album works as well as it does. The unique qualities of each player is allowed to shine through in such a way that the listener is definitely able to pick up on the true sense of collaboration that is flowing through each and every one of these compositions. It's hard to get any better than that."  Read review

USA Prog Music

"Kituwa" is a gem though. Perfect guitar / keyboard interplay and superb drums and bass accompaniment. This was a lovely journey through many prog epochs and genres. Fantastic! Worth buying just for this track.   Read full interview

Featured article in new issue of "Progression"

"Imagination, commitment and willingness to take risks are virtues that should stoke any artistic endeavor.  For a recording project on the magnitude of keyboardist Lisa LaRue's most recent effort, banishing one's inner control freak might be an absolute prerequisite..."   Order details.

DPRP Reviews World Class

"In Camera has a Rick Wakeman air about ... Steve Adams provides sitar like guitar embellishments and a lively Trevor Rabin flavoured solo...Lisa’s digital strings and piano perfectly underscoring David Mark Pearce’s beautiful classical guitar picking. ..Payne providing his customary strident vocals...."  Read more.

Songwriter's Monthly article

Songwriter's Monthly May 10, #124 Issue Artticle on Lisa LaRue Project 2K9; "Often, there are passages within the songs which are so astoundingly fresh, that you have to give them a double-take because you just cannot believe what you heard."

Adelaide Rock Show Interview

March 1, 2010 - Lisa LaRue and David Mark Pearce discuss "World Class" and more on Australia's Adelaide Rock Show.  Listen here.

New Book Available by Lisa LaRue

FEB 8 2010 - "He Was a Brave Man" about Keetoowah Cherokee patriot Ned Christie soon available!  Details here.

New Interview up on THE PROG FILES

FEB 26 2010 - Interview about Lisa LaRue Project 2K9.  Click here.