Jeannine Gage

About Jeannine Gage

Jeannine Gage is an Orlando singer/songwriter. She fronts the band  The Chotchkies, performs solo or with other Orlando musicians as an acoustic duo, and heads up The Ukulaliens, a ukulele jam group.

Jeannine came to music later in life. After the 2014 passing of her husband Dave Gage (a longtime mainstay in the Orlando punk scene), she picked up a ukulele to fill time. She found a few friends who wanted to play with her. Eventually those few friends grew into a mob and started holding monthly ukulele jams at Orlando area bars. In their eighth year, The Ukulaliens Uke Jams, now held a few times a year, continue to be a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon making music with friends.

Jeannine began writing songs and started The Chotchkies with bassist Jen Ivy and musical collaborator/guitarist Michael Rizzo in 2019. Soon after,  Jen moved to the Pacific Northwest, but Jeannine and Michael continued and the band now plays regularly in the Orlando area.

Jeannine’s songs are honest, confessional, and at times infused with humor, absurdity, and political commentary. The Chotchkies' music blends the driving energy of rock and punk with the lively, foot-tapping charm of honky-tonk and country.

Jeannine’s influences are many, and include longtime favorites The Pretenders, The Who, Talking Heads, and many standard and country female musicians like Lucinda Williams, Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt, and Loretta Lynn. Current musical influences include Courtney Barnett, My Morning Jacket, Amyl and the Sniffers, The Handsome Family, Pokey LaFarge, Sarah Shook, and Sufjan Stevens. But she gets the most inspiration—and support—from her fellow local songwriters/musicians such as Rachel Decker, Beth McKee, Terri Binion, Amy Robbins, and so many more. She is thrilled to see a female-led punk revival in Orlando with bands like M.A.C.E., Stiletto, and Double Bubble.

Upcoming gigs for The Chotchkies:

February 14th: Southern Fried Sunday XXXXX at Will’s Pub (Jessica is still coming up with name)

February 24th: Sanford Porchfest

April 27th Stardust Video (more information to come)

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Photo by Jim Leatherman