DIFFERENT DRUM is Rocky Maio – guitar, vocals and Ams Palmieri – vocals, guitar, viola.

Rocky and Ams formed Different Drum in 2010 after discovering that a love of 60’s/70’s acoustic music can cross over generations. They have since added more folk, rock, and blues cover songs to their repertoire, representing contemporary artists such as Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones, and Howie Day.

Rocky has been playing guitar for over three decades, ranging in experience from rock and blues to traditional folk music. His favorite artists include Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beatles, and John Prine. Audiences enjoy Rocky’s rich, raspy, and raw vocal performance, often comparing his deep tone to that of Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash. His expertise on the guitar is displayed by fast and intricate finger-picking on both six and twelve-string guitars. His relaxed stage presence and cool delivery display his pure love of musical expression.

Ams has been described as the little girl with the big voice. She started out singing classical music and showtunes at a very young age, inspired by her musically talented family. Her vocal background is rich with solo and concert choir experience as a traditional soprano. She has also gathered skills on various instruments such as the viola, guitar, bass guitar, and piano, but is known for her natural vocal versatility, which allows her to perform many different styles of music. When focusing on the singer/songwriter genre, Ams impresses audiences with her vast range and powerful yet sultry tone, reminiscent of artists from Joni Mitchell to Joan Osborne.