The Penguin Rocks logo
The Penguin Rocks Menu


?>

 

Red Hot Shame releases "My Satellite"

originally published: 04/02/2022


(EUREKA, CA) -- Red Hot Shame is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Xeff Scolari and his fluctuating lineup of Northern California based musical partners in crime. The band will release, My Satellite, on April 15, 2022 and will have several performances in support of the album across Northern California with the plan to release a My Satellite LIVE album before the year is through.

For the new Red Hot Shame album, Xeff Scolari recorded with frequent collaborators Steven Pitsenbarger (vocals, percussion), Ryan Wilson (guitar), Spencer Kennedy (bass), Rick Fugate (drums), James Terris (keys), and Mark Bennet (harmonica), a lineup that brings an energy and excitement to the band that Xeff Scolari could not accomplish alone. Together they are a creative force that launches My Satellite into another dimension! Performances feel like a wild ride where anything can happen at any moment, turning the band’s live shows into can’t miss events.

The new album My Satellite was recorded, mixed, and mastered collaboratively by the whole group at Xeff Scolari’s own Shameful Studio in late 2021. The band is full of talented multi-instrumentalists who added layers of sonic textures including horns, vintage mellotron, and even accordion. The album starts with a literal bang on the opening track “Liftoff,” and from there soars into musical outer space. Xeff Scolari puts it best as he later sings, “Hold on dear, come on, rocket!” The album’s songs range thematically from birth, death, and rebirth, to love and loss, and to everything in between.

A resident of Eureka, CA, lead vocalist and songwriter Xeff Scolari has played in several other local bands including Colorblind, Acoustic Gypsies, Sugardaddy, and Chowderhead, the last of which was on the Magnetic Oblivion Records label. Throughout 2020 he created and launched Shelter N Play, an online virtual open mic with musicians signing up to perform 15-minute sets from all over the country, a hugely valuable resource to the musical community throughout the pandemic. These also helped Xeff to further hone his own vocal and songwriting chops, and it was actually through the Shelter N Play open mics that Xeff met bassist Spencer Kennedy and guitarist Ryan Wilson, a fortuitous meeting indeed.




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



Soaring through this instrumental journey is a vocal blending that is rich with decades of collaboration and friendship; Xeff Scolari has been singing together with Steven Pitsenbarger for so long that it feels like instinct. Steven Pitsenbarger was a member of the San Francisco bands RhythmChaos, and Machine Shop, and has been making music together with Xeff since the late 80s. The only core member of the band that doesn’t live near the rest, Steven collaborated on many of the songs via email, sending tracks back and forth to Xeff. Together they also have another band known as Vanity Project.

Guitarist Ryan Wilson’s inventive stylings bring the Red Hot Shamesound to life. They call his pedalboard “the spaceship” because of all the crazy sounds he is able to get out of it. He also performs with bassist and multi-instrumentalist Spencer Kennedy in another group called Stable Vices, who were regulars at Xeff’s Shelter N Play open mics. Drummer Rick Fugate has a well-known face in Eureka, playing punk songs on his accordion on the streets during Arts Alive monthly events. When he’s done there, he jumps behind the drum kit for Red Hot Shame. James Terris has been playing music with Xeff Scolari since his very first band in the late 80s and also plays keys with the touring Neil Diamond tribute band Super Diamond.

Red Hot Shame began in 2017 when it was just Xeff Scolari with a few guest tracks by some close friends like Steven Pitsenbarger and James Terris on the debut release Curiosity. In 2021, Red Hot shame released the follow up album Sounds Like, which also featured Chad Johnson.  




Follow New Jersey Stage on social media
Facebook, Threads, Instagram, Twitter, Bluesky



 

COLUMNS


This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from April 14-20, 2026

Here is a look at shows taking place from April 14-20, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.




Lighty's Corner: April 13, 2026




Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Make This World Stand Still" by Lisa Bouchelle feat. Amanda Shires




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites... 04/09/2026





 
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




 

MORE NEWS

(VINELAND, NJ) -- The Landis Rock Fest 2026 takes place Saturday, April 18th at The Landis Theater in Vineland. Get ready for a full night of original music, hard-hitting rock, and nonstop energy. Showtime is 7:00pm.


The 17th annual Elephant Talk Indie Music festival Takes Place This Weekend in AC




Hey Bulldog to Pay Tribute to The Beatles at Liberty Science Center




Grunin Center for the Arts presents The Brit Pack on Saturday




Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Alastair Green on April 30th






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


State Theatre New Jersey presents The Sound Studio Series 2026

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey proudly presents The Sound Studio Series, an immersive musical experience that places concertgoers at the very heart of the performance. Held in STNJ's intimate Studio space, limited to just 80 attendees, The Sound Studio Series features a dynamic mix of both classical and rock performances. Each concert concludes with an exclusive post-show meet-and-greet with the artists, offering fans a rare opportunity to connect directly with the performers. Tickets for the series are $20-$30.


Soul Asylum to bring Acoustic Tour to the area in April




Berlin Under A presents "Roots Rock Women" on April 16th




The Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Susan Werner






Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




The Penguin Rocks

© 2026 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
[email protected]

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads


News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates