About Ligature Ligature is the debut solo recording project of Ken Schopf, who has played drums and recorded in the Boston area for almost 20 years. Featuring songs of scathing commentary and 21st century frustration, Ligature was conceived and recorded over three years on a digital 16 track, with drums recorded by longtime co-conspirator Ducky Carlisle (Bleu, Susan Tedeschi, Peter Malick, Johnny Winter) at his studio. 'This album is honest, angry, edgy.. with a smoldering urgency. All the things most rock is afraid to be these days,' says Stereorrific's Jeff Mellin. 'When Ken says 'acoustic guitars must burn,' you get the sense he's got the matches and gasoline handy. But it's not all fire and brimstone; There's plenty of heartfelt sincerity and playful songcraft on display here as well.' About Ken Schopf Originally coming to Boston to attend graduate school in paleontology, Ken met up with the Dimitri Fane (Miss Mary, Mark McKay), Suzi Lee (Robin Lane) and Shaun Wolf Wortis (Gata Malo, Leah Callahan) in the early 1990s to form Slide. The critically acclaimed and crowd pleasing group was known for an eclectic and enthusiastic sound influenced by New Orleans R&B, electronica and quirky psychedelia. Billboard magazine described them as 'roots rock of the highest order.' European Rolling Stone claimed 'What the Black Crowes can do, Slide can do better!' Their debut album, Forgiving Buckner, was even installed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. They released three records in all: Forgiving Buckner, Whipdang!, and Pulling Teeth before disbanding in 2000. Following Slide, Ken has backed many Boston and NYC based singer songwriters, including Jess Klein, Meg Toohey, Kris Delmhorst, Nini Camps, Trina Hamlin, Charlie Chesterman, Dennis Brennan and Stereorrific artist Jeff Mellin. He's also had stints in Boston based bands Red Chord and God Sized Hole and NYC-based Gingersol. He currently appears with Emily Grogan and Jon Nolan, and performs with the original members of Slide for annual Mardi Gras & Bastille day shows. Some of Ken Schopf's recording credits include: Slide (Forgiving Buckner, 1996; whipdang!, 1997; Pulling Teeth, 1999) Jeff Mellin (Jeff Mell!n Saves The World, 1999, Good for a Gander; 2001) Mark McKay (Nothing Personal, 2001; Shimmer, 2004;) Natalie Flanagan (Five Star Day, 2001) Andrea Gillis (want another?, 2004) Chas and the Motorbikes (Skunk on the Loose, 2005) Nolan McKelvey and 33 (Nolan McKelvey and 33, 2003) Jon Nolan (When the Summers Lasted Long, 2005) The Heygoods (Fleetwood Skynyrd, 2005) Bow Thayer (Maintenance for Mood Swings, 2006) Emily Grogan (at sea, 2007)
