After dancing around the fringes of the spotlight for a few years, guitarist and songwriter Rich McCulley is adjusting to the full force of its glare. Though McCulley has already proved his worth as a sideman -- first with the Big Blue Hearts and Sweet Vine and later as a member of Victor Sanz's touring band -- it's his determined transition to solo status that has truly showcased his skills. His two self-released discs, 2000's After the Moment Has Passed and 2002's If Faith Doesn't Matter, combine hard-driving rock and college-radio-friendly alt-country with hooks that stick to the ribs.
