Feathermerchants

The New York City-based modern rock group the Feathermerchants consists of songwriter/guitarist/bouzouki player Pete Veru, guitarist/bouzouki player/producer Jim Chapdelaine, drummer/percussionist John Peckman, bassist Drew Glackin, and vocalists Alison Winston and Erin O'Hara. Originally a junk bond salesman, Veru began playing guitar at 29, incorporating the melodies and instruments of his family's Greek roots with pop song structures and arrangements. Former roommate Glackin joined the group as a guitarist and switched to bass after the addition of Chapdelaine, who won an Emmy Award for his composing and production work on PBS' The Making of "Amistad" documentary. The Feathermerchants won the Best Artist award at 1998's Intel Music Festival, and the following year they released their self-titled debut album on their own label, Innocent 12th St. In five years time, the Feathermerchants did away with their worldbeat influences for a fuller, American pop sound. Their long-awaited sophomore effort, Unarmed Against the Dark also featured new vocalist Shannon Kennedy, who replaced Alison Winston and Erin O'Hara. The Street Theater EP followed a year later. 2006's Last Man on Earth placed on CMJ's Top 200 Albums chart, earning the Feathermerchants their biggest album debut to date.