R.O. Shapiro & Motenko - INSIDE

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R.O. Shapiro is a purveyor of original Americana music, carefully crafted and soulfully sung, drawing comparisons to Josh Ritter, Hiss Golden Messenger, and Bahamas. Originally from the very East End of Long Island, NY, he cut his teeth performing in the world-famous live music scene of Austin, TX, and has been perpetually on the road for the better part of a decade. R.O. is a winner of the 2022 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk songwriting contest, a 2024 NewSong Competition finalist, and has recently toured with May Erlewine, Jeffrey Martin, and Taylor Ashton. In February 2025 he released the four-song EP, recorded in part with producer/instrumentalist Phil Cook. He is currently based in Northern California, and regularly tours solo in the US and Canada, always on the lookout for new communities and stages where he can share his authentic warmth and wit.

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Straddling the smokey smoothness of soul's '70s heyday and the freewheeling studio experimentation of modern pop and R&B, Motenko is one of Austin music's best kept secrets. Whether he's front and center as a singer-songwriter or serving as a journeyman keys player for acts like Wild Child and Jade Bird, Motenko stands out with a knack for tasteful texture and groove. Inspired by the free creativity of the modern recording process, where he exists in a state of constant play, repurposing sounds as instruments and embracing a liberal use of vocal layering, Motenko's own recordings have become more experimental. A longtime fan of ‘70s R&B like The Meters and the milestone recordings that came out of the mythical Muscle Shoals, Motenko's material has evolved to also embrace influences as diverse as Steve Lacy and Mac DeMarco. On the new Austin Smith-produced single "Lifted," that diversity of sound comes through in the marriage of hip-hop grooves and sultry electric keys and organ, which then give way to a gospel-like chorus, where Motenko's vocals are joined by members of Sir Woman. With a steadily increasing rolodex of painstakingly curated sounds and a growing suite of production and instrumental tools to expand his sonic palette, one thing is certain: Motenko's only limit is his imagination.

This show will be held inside Smiley's

If online tickets sell out, there will be limited tickets at the door

Indoor evening shows at Smiley's are 21+

Standing room only

Kitchen closes at 8pm

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