Philippe de Pontet

Acoustic rock with a spoonful of soul

BIO

I am a singing guitarist and percussionist based in Washington DC., where I’ve been playing and performing for over 25 years. I play gigs across the DMV, both as a solo performer and in duos with some of the region’s top musicians. My shows feature a variety of genres, including a blended ‘rock and soul' sound that has broad audience appeal.

I bring a soulful acoustic spin to the rock, country, folk and soul tunes I cover. Laid-back authenticity, groove-oriented strumming and emotional depth in my vocals are hallmarks of my style. I often combine my solo act with duo sets  (see below) where I play hand percussion and harmonize with other guitarists, adding variety and rhythmic punch  to the show. I also play  percussion in Washington DC's premier funk rock band Magnelove, which gigs across the DMV. 

Music & live video

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  1. 1
    Folsom Prison Blues-MIX_2 2:22
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    Manic Depression-MIX_1 2:22
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    Alabama Getaway 3:09
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    Where It's At-MIX_1 2:08
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    Champagne Supernova-MIX_1 3:34
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    New Speedway Boogie 3:37
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    Take Me To The River-MIX_1 3:23
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    Loser 4:51
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Videos: Solo

Sample Bands/ Artists I Cover (partial)

Grateful Dead / Elvis/Sublime/ Bob Marley/Harry Styles/ Hank Williams/ Rolling Stones/ Steve Miller Band/  Black Crowes/ James Brown/ Talking Heads/ Red Hot Chilli Peppers/ Otis Redding/  Miacheel Jackson/ George Michael (Wham!)/ Bob Dylan/  U2/ Jimi Hendrix/ Pink Floyd/ Beck/ REM/ Bill Whithers/ Neil Young/ Beatles/ Nirvana/ Tom Petty/ Paul Simon/ Oasis/ John Prine/ Lou Reed/ Van Morrison/ Prince/ Willie Nelson/ Ben Harper/ Stevie Wonder/ Hall&Oates/ Taylor Swift/ Eagles/ Jason Mraz/ s/ Gorillaz/ Lumineers and more

TESTIMONIALS

“Very professional, reliable and easy to work with from beginning to end. Great sound with a fresh take on lots of crowd favorites.”

— Mike, GM of Wingos

“Philippe's soulful voice, lively performing style and rhythmic guitar playing makes for a great combination.”

— Fabian Giorgi, owner of Marx Café

“Philippe does a great job of tailoring his shows and songs to the diverse tastes of different audiences as a solo act and is a very skilled percussionist and singer in his duos.”

— Jim Davis (local musician)

MY DYNAMIC DUOS: STRUMMIN' & DRUMMIN'

I love to combine solo and duo sets, or play duo shows outright to add variety and rhythmic flair to my performances, which in this context focuses on hand percussion and backing vocals. I find the duo format is an ideal alternative to one-dimensional solo performers or excessively loud (or expensive) bands. One of my duos, Magnelite, features myself on hand percussion and vocals and longtime musical partner Matt Shuster on guitar, vocals and bass. We play a wide range of covers and some originals spanning rock, funk, soul, reggae and indie genres. I also regularly play duo shows with other top guitarists in the DMV, including Adam Knudsen, Dylan Lee and Kobie Ali, each of whom brings a unique sound and style. Hand percussion, including congas, cajon, djembes and talking drums propel the songs forward in a deeply rhythmic pulse that will get your toes tapping. We can’t wait to bring your event to the next level. 

Duo Videos: Strummin' & Drummin'

Photos

Contact