As the one of longest playing members of Frank Zappa’s bands, Ike is still upholding his promise to Frank. That promise is to continue on, playing the music of which Zappa had taught Ike oh so well. To this day Ike fulfills Frank’s wish by playing with some awesome Zappa tribute bands from around the world.

2012 was a very exciting year for L.A.-based band Flavia & the Red. They were chosen from hundreds of bands nationwide to go to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and perform on one of the main stages at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival. There, they won 2nd place at the “Land the Big Gig” competition. In L.A., they gained bi-monthly residencies at two of the hottest clubs in the city—Pour Vous in Hollywood and Nic’s Martini Lounge in Beverly Hills. Last, but not least, they released their debut album, “Too Late to Cry,” for an energetic audience at the Bootleg Theatre on December 14th.

Flavia, 22, has shot onto the music scene like a bullet, bringing her band—The Red—with her. As the principal singer and songwriter, Flavia’s stage presence is the personification of the color red—emotional, fiery, and passionate. However, a talented front woman is only as good as her band. After gigging for a few years and going through some lineup changes, the band now consists of Chris Pucher on guitar, Isaac Watts on drums, Rich Brown on keys, and Max Benson on bass. Each member contributes his and her own unique qualities and influences to the secret recipe that is The Red’s musically energetic and soulful brew. The band’s overall sound contains elements of classic and modern R&B, pop, and bluesy rock. Anchored by a tight rhythm section, the music exhibits memorable melodies and interactive improvisation with Flavia’s emotional and poetic lyrics at the forefront.

Besides performing twice a month at both Pour Vous and Nic’s Martini Lounge, Flavia & The Red have performed at countless other venues, including The Four Seasons Hotel, Harvelle’s, House of Blues, Bootleg Theatre, and The Key Club.

Flavia & The Red are excited to see where 2013 will take them. They have already been featured on various blogs and magazines, and are being played on radio stations around the U.S. They are constantly writing new material, looking for new places to play, and have a tour in the works.