Christmas Music

HOLIDAY MOONLIGHT WONDERLAND* by Michael Palmieri

*Direct .mp3 stream

Yes it's that time of year again (and almost over as well)...

Christmas music has changed a lot over the years, not much emphasis on traditional carols, though most children still know all the standards. Nowadays, you can fill days worth of radio/TV programming with songs that are holiday specific. It seems like it starts sometime before Halloween, and thankfully, they usually all disappear a day or so after Dec. 25th. I say thankfully, because after a certain amount of exposure even the nicest of things can turn you into a raving lunatic. My Mother had a small cure for that, she wouldn't allow Christmas albums (yes, I said albums) to be played until after Thanksgiving and they were once again banished to the record cabinet come Dec. 26th.

My favorite Christmas music was anything and everything by Elvis Presley. Yes I know he is considered The King of Rock-n-Roll, I am well familiar with his catalogue and accomplishments. I watched the '68 comeback concert live on TV with my Mom. I understand his importance to the evolution of music and his icon status. The problem is, when I think of Elvis Presley, I think of his Christmas songs, everything from the gospel inspired "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and the Rockdown-n-dirty "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" right down to the jazzy-blues-swing of "Merry Christmas Baby." For some reason, I don't listen to his other recordings throughout the year, and maybe that's my loss. I do religiously play The King's Christmas music every December, other than that, hardly at all. And to an extent, that's a shame.

Do you know what else is a shame?

I do the same thing with Michael Palmieri.
Who? I thought I heard you say that...
(from his Bio): MICHAEL PALMIERI is a noted composer of modern classical music with hundreds of original compositions to his credit. He is one of the most played contemporary classical composers in the world.

I own quite a bit of Michael Palmieri's music, I enjoy it, yet for some reason it's Michael's Christmas Music that finds its way into my players every December. Even though my collection only consists of 3 Christmas titles: "Holiday Moonlight Wonderland," "We Three Kings," and "Deck The Halls," it is those 3 titles that come out during the holidays and remind me of how much I enjoy Michael's masterful composing, arranging and playing. It also serves to make me wonder why it takes the holidays (and the holiday music) for me to rediscover and appreciate Michael and his wonderful, amazing music.

Just like Elvis Presley, The King of Rock-n-Roll, Michael Palmieri, The King of Modern Classical garners heavy rotation every December. And every December I am left to once again resolve to listen to more of their works throughout the year. Will I? That's once again left to be seen (or should I say heard), but at least for 1 month every year, I do get to listen to and appreciate two Kings of Music.

Merry Christmas to all.
G.Gone

CD Review: Ray Charles - Rare Genius, The Undiscovered Masters

Win a FREE "Rare Genius" CD
MATT KJELDSEN is the WINNER of the FREE "Rare Genius" CD!
Thanks to all who left comments!

DOWNLOAD A FREE SONG!

Leave a comment on this Blog between now & Dec. 18, 2010
On Dec. 20, 2010 we will pick one comment to Win a FREE Ray Charles "Rare Genius" CD.

(Courtesy of Concord Music Group.)

If you need me to tell you who Ray Charles is, and why he was a musical genius, a legend, an icon, an institution – Then you’ve got some catching up to do – Do it.

Rare Genius, The Undiscovered Masters is a historic piece of work. It doesn’t diminish Ray’s legendary status (as most posthumous releases tend to), yet acclaims it, and rightfully so. Culled from years of studio sessions, specifically the 70s, 80s, & 90s – years when many critics wrote off Ray’s releases as coddling to mainstream contemporary rather than focusing on his trademark R&B, soul, jazz, blues, pop, and country mix – this entirely new release (none of these tracks have ever been released before) silences those critics with what measures up as one of Ray’s most complete masterpieces.

Taking in the scope and depth of Ray’s work, the people at Concord Music Group, specifically John Burk, realized that his musical ability, vision, and most notably his voice were just as powerful in the latter stages of his career and set out, not only to prove it, but to do right by “Brother Ray.” Not only did Burk put together a testament of Ray’s musical genius, but he did so in album form, capturing the essence of why musicians go into the studio, write, arrange, and record. The song selection and sequencing here pays as much a tribute to the artist as the songs themselves do.

The album opens with a lamenting tale of a man who has found redemption in his confession of not treating her right; Love’s Gonna Bite You Back is set to a “Muscle Shoals” style horn arrangement that is amazing in the way that it rocks. But it’s Ray’s vocals that capture the soul here. It Hurts To Be In Love plays off the 1st track’s punch and slides us down & dirty with a smoky lounge infused, old-school, funky, big band, swinging jazz number that dances us happy.

Once Ray has welcomed us into his element, he shows us where it’s at with the first of three musical standards. Wheel Of Fortune, along with There’ll Be Some Changes Made and A Little Bitty Tear, shows us how Ray’s masterful command of voice, piano, and band arrangements can elevate any style/genre to amazing emotional heights that pontificate the glory of music.

The center piece here is I’m Gonna Keep On Singing, a funky, get down groovy testament to “Do it,” complete with Gospel choir backing singers and old-school spoken word rap that ride Ray’s electric keyboards and horns, horns, and more horns into a rollicking jam. Isn’t It Wonderful keeps that theme alive with lyrics that are quick to point out: “While we’re talking / We could be getting it on.” Meanwhile, the band takes Ray’s vocal cues and lays out some nice runs to move the story along to the bedroom of complete bliss.

With I Don’t Want No One But You and She’s Gone, Ray takes the central themes of lost/losing love and gives them each a unique arrangement and reading. The former gives us grand scale piano work with low horns expressing the mood and attitude in a classic 70s arrangement, while the latter is a Country, Honky-Tonk affair that is more akin to the barroom than the ballroom.

The album closes with “Why Me, Lord?,” a duet with Johnny Cash that was never before released. This gem of a Kris Kristofferson gospel homage is amazing in the way that the music is simply there to allow the vocals to take center stage and breathe life into the words.

Do you have some catching up to do on Ray Charles? If so, maybe you should start here. Let Rare Genius, The Undiscovered Masters take center stage and breathe life into your musical world – Do it.

(New Haven) "Song of the Week" ~ The Royal Heart, by: The Ivory Bills

In response to the NH Register's new entertainment editor Jordan Fenster's call for songs about New Haven...

"Song of the Week" for 11-17-10 is: The Royal Heart*
by: The Ivory Bills off the CD: Rhythmic Jet Ear Games

Featured on IndepenDisc in Mar. '09

Here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~...Once again, New Haven, CT’s heart beats proudly as it delivers loud original Rock-n-Roll to the masses who sometimes think of it as extinct. The Ivory Bills debut album is a hip-shakin’, bone-rattlin’, Boogie-Woogie inspired throw down of an amazing good time. This trio of New Haven music stalwarts, James Velvet (bass, vocals), Johnny Java (drums, percussion) and John L. (guitars, vocals), lays down songs of huge guitar licks with a hot-stompin’ Rhythm that has a pulse of nonstop fun matched with excellent vocal interpretations of classic Rock subjects, and then some...~snip~

Read the entire review HERE.

So, how's that for a New Haven song?

*Link is a direct .mp3 audio stream.

"Song of the Week" ~ You Be You by: The Down-Fi

The Down-Fi will be appearing at Cafe` 9
Sat. 10-23-10 with The Manchurians.

"Song of the Week" for 10-20-10 is: You Be You*
by: The Down-Fi off the CD: America Now

I'm on the Cafe` 9 mailing list, this week's show announcements included this description of the upcoming show:

Oct. 23
Saturday 9pm

The Down-Fi (feat. Craig Willis Bell); w/ Whiskey Tango Foxtrot; The Manchurians • Look no further than Craig Willis Bell. The man is '70s punk personified. Every artist who wishes to understand old school punk should familiarize themselves with and study Craig Willis Bell – original member of Rocket From The Tombs, Saucers, The Plan, The Bell System, and more. $6

It seemed to me to be a little familiar.
IndepenDisc featured America Now by The Down-Fi in Nov. '09.
So I went and reread my review, Here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~...The Down-Fi is Old School Punk.

Look no further than Craig Willis Bell. The man is 70s Punk personified. Every Artist who wishes to understand Old School Punk should familiarize themselves with and study Craig Willis Bell – I suggest here, that you Google him, as well as Rocket From The Tombs (sub categories: Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys), Saucers, The Plan, The Bell System, and possibly others that this reviewer is unaware of...~snip~
Read the entire review HERE.

I didn't know whether to be flattered that they used my words, or upset that I wasn't credited.
I'm still not sure.
What do you think?

*Link is a direct .mp3 audio stream.

Sky Picnic ~ White Plane ~ Live at Two Boots

Sky Picnic ~ White Plane
Live @ Two Boots, Bridgeport, CT 10/16/10

"Song of the Week" ~ Moons of Jupiter by: Sky Picnic

After Featuring Synesthesia in Apr. of '09, we invited NYC's "PsychProg" band, Sky Picnic, to play the IndepenDisc 11th B'day Bash at Cafe` 9 that year. It was a sort of homecoming for Shelton native Chris Sherman, so he & the band we're "psyched" to play. They melted our faces. We're going to see them when they return to CT this Sat. 10-16 at Two Boots in Bridgeport were they will be appearing with: Like Trains & Taxis.

Want to know more about them? Check the links, tune into Radio IndepenDisc, read this blog and of course listen to the:

"Song of the Week" for 10-13-10: Moons of Jupiter* by: Sky Picnic off the CD: Synesthesia.

Featured on IndepenDisc in Apr. of '09 - Here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~ Here Sky Picnic sends us on a universal journey outside the mind and the body – the spirit is being lifted into outer and inner space. All the echo, reverb, Wah Wahs, and whatever else they’ve got going on here is just mind blowing. Dig the drums, subtle, laying back, playing an important role as the guitar’s high notes are picked about and carried by a droning and thumping bass to create a song that parallels The Who’s “Sparks” from Tommy. So trippy, so cool. This song accentuates it’s Moons of Jupiter title perfectly as it gives off stratospheric sensations that tingle the mind and soul.~snip~ Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct .mp3 audio stream.

"Song of the Week" ~ Mr. Midnight by: deena

‎"Song of the Week" for 09-29-10 is: Mr. Midnight* by: deena. off the CD: somewhere in BLUE.

Featured on IndepenDisc in Dec. '08 ~ here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~...somewhere in BLUE is a powerful statement from a Rock-n-Roll adult. Deena has taken her sweetness, evidenced through some of the most versatile vocals of pure innocence, and crafted a gem of an album. This album becomes a classic for every mid-life rocker whose roots drink deeply from the country/southern rock/rockabilly influences of the 50s, carried through the 60s, and 70s, right on up to where this huge demographic of music listeners is today. This album is a history lesson tied around Mid-life and it gives back the love/music that has gone missing in our lives. It metaphorically updates our love affair(s) with music by taking to task a story of a lonely, loving, isolated, caring soul committed to a long term relationship with many ties and obligations. But, there is something missing – while committed enough to understand the scope of her world and how much rests and relies on her, she has convinced herself content with her situation – Yet, she seeks solace in a semi-dreamlike state, or as the narrator calls it: somewhere in BLUE. A story arc develops through several different perspectives and scenarios as she begins, not to abandon her state, but to explore the possibilities of all the stages she needs to fulfill, in order to validate her existence, in regard to what cannot be found or fulfilled within the limited reaches of her everyday life – a life which grows shorter with each year – a Mid-life crisis? A Love crisis? A music crisis? Or simply a crisis? Well Deena, with somewhere in BLUE, has made it all a celebration....~snip~ Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct audio stream.

Sharing some B'day cake...

For those who couldn't join us Sat Sept. 18th at Cafe` 9 in New Haven, CT
for the IndepenDisc 12th B'day Bash... here's 3 slices of cake for you...

The Big Fat Combo - The Hucklebuckle

The Frank Critelli Band - On

The Mold Monkies - Hound of Heaven

IndepenDisc 12th Birthday Bash!

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY INDEPENDISC!

Come Celebrate with us!

9:00 - The Big Fat Combo
10:30 - The Frank Critelli Band

12:00 - The Mold Monkies

Sat. Sept. 18th, 2010

Cafe` 9

250 State St.

New Haven, CT

9:00PM - Sharp! $5.00

B'day gifts to the 1st 50 (or so) guests!

Radio Radio

This Sunday (9-12-10) night, I will be a guest on "The Local Bands Show" hosted by Rick Allison & James Velvet.

For the past 20 years, Rick & James have been supporting Local New Haven/CT music every Sunday night at 10PM on WPLR 99.1 FM.

And for the past 9 they've been gracious enough to allow me to be their guest in order to promote the Annual IndepenDisc Birthday Bash, which I traditionally host in early Sept. at Cafe` 9 in New Haven.

The Birthday Bash always Features Local Music and The Local Bands Show is one of the best places to listen to Local Music on your Radio. So tune in to The Local Bands Show this Sunday at 10PM to hear me babble a bit & play songs from the 3 bands performing at this years IndepenDisc 12th B'day Bash, The Big Fat Combo, The Frank Critelli Band and The Mold Monkies, as well as tracks from Shark & Twenty To Twelve.

And don't forget to listen to The Local Bands Show every Sunday night as Rick & James continue to educate the masses.

On the subject of Radio, there are two other shows I'd reccommend as well. First every Thursday at 5:05PM be sure to tune in to "Homegrown - Connecticut Connected Music" hosted by the Thin Man himself, Rob DeRosa, which can be found on WESU 88.1 FM.

Then, every Wednesday night from 9:00PM - Midnight, I host Radio IndepenDisc online on Cygnus Radio. I play 3 hours of "Select" independent music from all over the globe, but with a solid base of Local New Haven/CT music. I've been "on air" for 5 years now and one years worth of streaming/downloadable shows are available 24/7 on the Radio Archives page of the IndepenDisc web site. There is a slight format in which I run "freeform 70s style AOR" mostly 3-4-5 song sets from various artists. There are Feature shows, like "Mix-Tape Wed" - every 2nd Wed of the month I put together a "Themed" Mix-Tape style show, and the reason for this blog post, besides promoting my appearence on The Local Bands Show, every 1st Wed. of the Month is "Features Wed." where I play music from every CD that has been Featured for that month since IndepenDisc began in 1998. To accentuate this concept I'm including a transcript from the Cygnus Radio chatroom of a conversation that took place during this months "September Features" show.

After which I will list the artists played, what year they were Featured, & the direct stream links for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

(05:42:42) Dave: It is Independisc September Songs
(05:42:51) DJ_G.Gone: Yes it is!
(05:43:03) Dave: But that no way means that they were created or recorded in September
(05:43:13) Dave: Just ones that happened to be featured
(05:43:24) Dave: over the years, that Month
(05:45:05) DJ_G.Gone: No, not created or recorded in September
(05:45:12) Dave: yes so it is your selection of Sept. Songs
(05:45:30) DJ_G.Gone: Just Featured on IndepenDisc in Sept.
(05:45:49) DJ_G.Gone: Meaning most of this stuff was my real summer listening material
(05:45:49) Dave: any way super funky show dude
(05:45:57) Dave: I dig your style mon
(05:46:15) Dave: oh
(05:46:17) DJ_G.Gone: because I normally listen to a CD for at least a month or 2 or 3, before I get to Feature it
(05:46:19) Dave: ?
(05:46:25) Dave: oh
(05:46:35) Dave: yah, I dig studing music
(05:46:40) Dave: IC
(05:46:54) Dave: clean
(05:46:55) DJ_G.Gone: so I'd be listening to this stuff in like June & July & Aug and then Feature it
(05:47:05) DJ_G.Gone: in Sept
(05:47:20) DJ_G.Gone: there's the business end that slows the process
(05:47:21) Dave: But with an idea, that this will be Sept. Music?
(05:47:36) DJ_G.Gone: no, with & Idea that i want to feature it
(05:47:56) DJ_G.Gone: so then I have to take time with the band to do the business end
(05:48:05) DJ_G.Gone: that could take from 2 months to 6
(05:48:12) Dave: an idea - ummm - Biz end slows? got me on that
(05:48:13) DJ_G.Gone: depending on the artist
(05:48:34) DJ_G.Gone: meanwhile I'm digging it more & more
(05:48:43) DJ_G.Gone: playing it on the show
(05:48:48) Dave: So like
(05:48:55) Dave: just for fun
(05:49:05) Dave: like i was doing a Rolling Stone
(05:49:14) DJ_G.Gone: To turn you on to what turns me on
(05:49:19) Dave: interview - which is the best Month haha
(05:49:36) DJ_G.Gone: well, that is a vry interesting question!!!
(05:49:38) Dave: So one week out of the Month
(05:49:55) Dave: you do an historical collage
(05:50:01) DJ_G.Gone: yes
(05:50:06) Dave: of past years Sept. features
(05:50:13) DJ_G.Gone: usually the 1st week
(05:50:20) DJ_G.Gone: the 1st wed of the month
(05:50:36) Dave: yes as a journalist for the RS I have to interest my interviewees
(05:50:45) DJ_G.Gone: but this month we did the 4hour 12th Birthday Celebration show on the 1st week
(05:50:58) DJ_G.Gone: Ab-So-Lutely
(05:51:10) Dave: another question
(05:51:27) Dave: so you have latitude yearly , some wiggle room, to make
(05:51:33) Dave: a different show
(05:51:40) Dave: within those parameters
(05:51:41) DJ_G.Gone: ahahaha yes indeed
(05:51:48) Dave: of course song order etc
(05:52:00) DJ_G.Gone: dave, I'm impressed
(05:52:15) DJ_G.Gone: you sir are a Radio IndepenDisc scholar
(05:52:17) Dave: Well yes, it is very impressive
(05:52:36) Dave: Well, Hey Boss
(05:52:45) Dave: your the Man , it is running with your concept
(05:52:51) Dave: its your baby
(05:53:07) Dave: u can do it anyway you like
(05:53:12) Dave: and i like the way u do it  : )
Radio IndepenDisc 09-08-10 September Features Show

Hour #1 ~ Features: The Mold Monkies ('10), Burner ('98), Charlie Burton ('98), Jessica's Attic ('98), emil muzz ('98), Rocket Frog ('98).

Listen Now  Download
Hour #2 ~ Features: The Mold Monkies ('10), The Differents ('00), Hi Fi Automatic ('01), Parker ('02), Gravity Jacket ('03), Furors ('04).

Listen Now  Download

Hour #3 ~ Features: The Mold Monkies ('10), The Bret Logan Band ('05), Frank Critelli ('06), James Velvet ('06), Uncle Carl ('08), Age Of Reason ('09).

Listen Now  Download

CD Review: The Mold Monkies ~ Stoats Afire!

The Mold Monkies ~ Stoats Afire!
Stoat: A short tailed weasel with brown coat.

Afire: Being on fire.

Mold Monkies: A New Haven, CT based Rock-n-Roll band that draws heavily from the New Wave era.

The connection? Got me. What I do know is that The Mold Monkies 2nd release in 5 years continues the pristine, poppy, New Wave indulgence displayed on their 1st CD - “O Brave Yet Ignorant Swine.” With classic songwriting, slick production and an aggressiveness sound that doesn’t lose the professionalism of the band, the songwriting team of Russell Shaddox and Nick Appleby prove once again that their popfest, musical signatures and ingeniously, witty lyrics can nestle in with the likes of XTC, Tonio K, The Jam, The Kinks and Warren Zevon to name but a few.

15 tracks (7 by Shaddox, 7 by Appleby) augmented by an awesome cover of Billy Braggs 1985 song, “A New England,” which makes the transition, along with all the others, to 2010 perfectly. There are a lot of ’80 New Wave records that sound ridiculously dated when played today, but Stoats Afire! works both ways here. It would fit comfortably in the 80s alongside the entire Stiff Records Catalogue and beyond, while it also represents how 2nd Wave English Pop is still a viable format in today’s Rock-n-Roll landscape. Not to mention that the album closer, “Average Plan” could be on Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.

The Mold Monkies are on fire here, as to whether or not the “Stoats” apply, maybe playing the “Stoats Afire!” board game enclosed in the CD will help you decide. Either way it’s great fun and Great Rock-n-Roll.

Listen to "Hound of Heaven" now, it's the IndepenDisc 09-08-10 "Song of the Week"

To Wally Gates

I did not know Wally Gates. His time spent in the local New Haven music scene (80s / 90s) fell mainly between my stints (70s / 00s). It's a shame, because after attending the Memorial show at Cafe` 9 this past Saturday (9-4-10) I came away knowing that Wally & I would have most likely enjoyed each others music perspective.

Dean Falcone put together an amazing musical tribute to his childhood friend. With a house band consisting of Dean (guitar), Ed Valauskas (bass), Jim Balga (drums), and a keyboardist whose name I do not know (my apologies), we were treated to many, many local artists climbing onto the Musicians Living Room stage and thrilling us with favorite songs of Wally's. Too many to list and name, but with the crowd spilling out and packing the sidewalk as much as the club, to realize that approx 2/3 of them were local New Haven musicians, and almost 2/3 of them were playing/singing at one point or another, one could only be taken back by the outpouring of love and respect.

A few of my personal favorites were Scott McDonald singing and playing acoustic guitar for The Waterboys Fisherman's Blues, Bret Logan doing a spot on Morrissey, and The Mocking Birds performing I've Got A Shirt (Wally Gates ver.).

The Mocking Birds - I've Got A Shirt (Wally Gates ver.)
Cafe` 9 ~ 9-4-10

There were tons more, and if you were there, I'd love to hear about your highlights of the evening. And if you weren't there, this is going to be one of those nights that will be talked about and shared for many a year to come. I have no doubt the audience numbers may just triple that of those that were there. Because like so many shows that everyone would be proud to say they were in attendance for, this is another that will be added to the list. Either way, many Thanks to Dean Falcone and the masses of everyone involved, especially you Wally. God Bless.

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY INDEPENDISC ~ "Song of the Week"

HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY INDEPENDISC! "Song of the Week" for 09-01-10 is: My Birthday by: The Cucumbers. Listen to it now: http://www.independisc.com/sotw/sotw007.m3u

On Sept. 1st 1998, IndepenDisc was born.
 
The Manifesto
"I tell ya Bob, I'm sick of what's on the radio, it's all the same. I love music so much, but I'm tired of what the radio has to offer. I just don't know what to do."

"The next time you're in the record store buy something you never heard before."

"But, what if I don't like it?"

"But, What if you do?"
It's hard to believe that conversation took place in 1977, yet it is still relevant today.

I regard music in the highest order, along side that of love. Without music there is no life. Everyone needs music in order to survive. Try to imagine a day with no music, that includes the singing of the birds, the idle of car engines, the whispering of the breeze, the murmur of far off conversations, the rhythm of your own breathing. All those sounds are in themselves music. Music is all-encompassing of sound. Sound equals music, music equals life.

What of those who can not hear sound? It is known that the deaf (I never claimed to be Politically Correct) can experience sound/music on higher sensual levels than most, thus at times sharing with us, sometimes exceeding, the pleasures we know and derive from it.

Music, like love (therefore the love of music/the music of love) can be the highest emotional level that we achieve. It presents itself in so many forms over the course of a lifetime, how can we not reach out and attempt to hold, feel, live and love it in as many of it's personifications as we can within the course of our own lifetime? There is no limit on how much music/love we can possess, but life tends to limit us to how much time we have to experience/enjoy it.

Since founding IndepenDisc in Sept. of '98 I have once again rediscovered the love of music by breaking away from the established criteria set forth upon us by preprogrammed (to sell advertising) radio. I did it in '77 when I blindly purchased "My Aim Is True" by Elvis Costello. I did it in '91 with "Gish" by Smashing Pumpkins (pre "The") and again in '97 with "Burner" a compilation disc by Home Office Records.

I walked into the record store and bought something I never heard before. It didn't always work, there were Artists/Albums that I didn't like (not to say there was anything wrong with them, if anything they helped to expand my knowledge just as much as the ones I did like), but the Artists/Albums I did like led me to others, that in turn led to changes in my life that still bring smiles to my face.

My passion and love of life through music, is sustained by the rediscovery and rebirth of ideals which are fed by the uncovering of obscure musical gems delivered to my ears by an Artist(s) who knows not of corporate dollars to produce, but only to produce through that of the love of music, the love of life.

These feelings, these emotions that can be brought forth through an Artists musical vision, I have always striven to share with those around me. With the birth of the internet I have been able to realize this calling all the more so, to share this music/love/life with anyone who is willing to listen, with anyone who is willing to walk into the record store and buy something they've never heard before. I created IndepenDisc for anyone/everyone for this reason.

IndepenDisc is the record store that stocks only the music you have never heard before.

"But, what if I don't like it?"

"But, What if you do?"

"Song of the Week" ~ Atrina (+ gig info!)

Is it a coincidence that as I was prepping this week's "Song of the Week" by Atrina, the band announces a huge gig? On September 26, 2010 Connecticut's own Manic Productions is presenting Bettie Serveert, from The Netherlands along with New London, CT's Fatal Film and Atrina at Daniel Street in Milford CT.
I've loved Atrina since their '02 release “searching for a better way…” and Bettie Serveert since I found their '97 release "Dust Bunnies" in a cutout bin of a long defunct big box electronics store. I have only read many positive reviews on Fatal Film, and must say I'm anxious to see them play. All in all, this is a great bill that shouldn't be missed. I'll post more on this as we get closer to the show, in the meantime...

"Song of the Week" for 08-25-10 is: Seven Ways* by: Atrina. off the CD: (beautiful evidence).
Featured Oct. '08 ~ here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~...“(beautiful evidence)”…is as amazing an accomplishment of sound, style and substance as you will find in any of today’s recordings. You will be aurally hypnotized before you have a chance to realize what is going on...~snip~ Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct audio stream.

Saint Bernadette Video from MN

I've been sort of neglecting the Blog due to summer and vacation...
But our friends Saint Bernadette of Bridgeport have been doing some extensive touring throughout the country for about the past year or so now. Including stops at SXSW this year. This is from June 15, 2010 at the Fine Line in Minneapolis, MN.



"The Winding Road" from thier upcoming album.

Shelby Lynne @ Stage One Fairfield, CT 8-7-10

A month ago I received an email from a marketing representative for Universal Music in which they informed me that: Country singer/songwriter Shelby Lynne will be playing in Fairfield, CT on August 7 at Stage One at 7pm.

The email then asked if I would be interested in posting it to this here BLOG. Well, my memory was jarred a bit and I headed for the archive cellar, there I found the compilation CD I was looking for: It was from 2001, made for me by an internet friend whose name long escapes me (if I really wanted to, I could hunt it down, but that's for another time), It was a brief overview of "Musical Justice" his Live365.com Radio Station and it included the track "Killin' Kind" by Shelby Lynne.

The fact that I had remembered the song, and remembered liking it - this from someone whose only Country likes are basically Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and anything attempted by Elvis Costello - led me to this response: "Yes, I would like to post about this on the "Gone Local (& Beyond)" BLOG. Could I ask if there might be a pair of tickets that we could give away as a prize to one of our readers?"

To which Universal Music responded "YES" and asked if I could do an interview. I of course agreed, and like ships passing in the night, we never were able to finalize it. Of course leading up to what I thought would be my 1st interview with a major/national act, who I have little to no knowledge of - except for that one song from 2001 and all the music and information I could glean off her MySpace page - Her brand new CD, "Tears, Lies, And Alibis" which she's touring to support, has been released on her own "indie" label: Everso Records, etc. - I wondered what route I should take with the interview? Should I cram and prepare to show how "professional" I was and how much I was into her and what she had going on? Or should I come right out of the gate and profess to only knowing what little I did, but also admit to liking her vocal style and what she was doing now out there on her own? I could ask her to educate my readers/listeners (I had planned to tape the interview and play it on my Radio IndepenDisc show as well as post it here) and myself, as to who she was and why we should listen to and support her. But alas, the timing for the interview was not to be.

But, what about the FREE pair of tickets? As I write this, I'm not sure if they are still there or not, but I'll tell you what: If in the next 72 hours (that gives you until Midnight Thurs 8-5-10) you can post to this here BLOG what you know and appreciate about Shelby Lynne - If you can educate me (and everyone else who reads this BLOG) a bit more about Shelby Lynne, I'll pick the person who does it best, the one person who basically completes my interview for me, and give them that FREE pair of tickets to this Saturday's Shelby Lynne show at Stage One in Fairfield, CT. So C'mon Shelby Lynne fans, What say ye?

PS: Disclaimer: I’m not sure if Universal Music will honor their word about that FREE pair of tickets, But I’ll fight for you if I have to.

"Song of the Week"

July has sure had it's share of fireworks... Since a few more KaBooms than I planned on kept me away from Blogging, I wanted to add one more KaBoom to finish off the month.

This week's IndepenDisc "Song of the Week" is a BiG KaBoom, A song I consider "One Of" the Best Local New Haven/CT songs of All-Time. Listen to it now (the song title is a direct stream link) and then tell me if you agree, or turn me on to what YOU think is "One Of" the Best local New Haven/CT songs of All-Time.

"Song of the Week" for 07-28-10 is: Rooster by: The Manchurians. off the CD: 5x4/The Minster EP.
Featured on IndepenDisc in Jun. of '08 ~ here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~... A powerful closing to a powerful disc. The Manchurians have ratcheted up the intensity by taking their blues base and committing it to the garage in a fashion that allows us to understand the beauty and power that can come from the blending of these genres, that came before, least we forget...~snip~ Read the entire review HERE.

CD Review ~ The Hearts And The Minds

The Hearts And The Minds present the future of Classic Pop by capturing the past. The opening track, Bells Will Ring, immediately evokes Big Star (leaning more towards Chris Bell than Alex Chilton). Using the same distinctive, dreamy pop formula as Big Star, THATM rolls out the Beatles and runs them through every indie, Alt. style band from The Byrds to Belle & Sebastian and beyond. Presented as an Album (yes, it is available on vinyl), these 4 songs per side treat us to what was once considered the “real” way to create, construct, and present pop(ular) music.

The rest of Side One again echoes Big Star as THATM offer up a deep-seated Twilight Zone atmosphere with glimpses of Techno/industrial blends while tossing Pink Floyd/Roger Waters, ELO/Jeff Lynn (Got To Let You Know), XTC, Radiohead, MGMT, and The Beatles (Bending Trees, Arms Unfold) about with that type of George Martin pioneered production that accentuates each nuance of the pop formula.

Side Two opens with Spirit, a monster rock anthem a la Todd Rundgren’s Utopia which treads XTC territory with Led Zeppelin inspiration and a mammoth production that buries its teeth into the cerebellum. All Is Veiled is a modern day “Within You Without You” within a trippy psychedelic landscape of encompassing reverb. Lighthouse Keeper throws us out of the trip and into a psychotic garage rock of up-tempo dance pop boarding on smaltz pop, but THATM pulls it off beautifully as they have us singing along to the catchy chorus “You can believe what you want to believe.” Finally the 8-minute opus, You Are Home, takes us to outer space/Twilight Zone with a 3-D style Brian Wilson tapestry that results in a frappe of The Moody Blues and Pearl Jam.

This iconic presentation of Pop music wouldn’t be nearly as impressive if there wasn’t any lyrical sustenance to complete the formula, and THATM delivers on that front as well. Again sticking to the regimens of Pop, THATM lays down 8 songs of love and heartbreak/heartache – after all, what is a pop song without love or heartbreak/heartache? – each presented by points of view explored for their emotional impact and open to each individual’s perception and interpretation. The hooks and choruses that have us singing along with a feel good attitude to a break up song is the ultimate definition of Classic Pop.

The Hearts And The Minds capture the past to present the future of Classic Pop.

Radio IndepenDisc (11 years of July Features)

11 years of July Features! The podcast & stream of the 07-07-10 show is up! Click HERE to listen 24/7. With sets by: The Hearts And The Minds ('10), secretsunday ('99), Red Betty ('00), The Who Whos ('01), The Grape Street Pub ('02), Let's Get Furious ('03), The Sawtelles ('04), The Nortons ('04), OHN ('05), Charlie Does Surf ('06), The Furors ('06), Eric D. ('07), annabella ('08), and The Wailhounds ('09).

"Song of the Week"

The IndepenDisc "Song of the Week" for 06-30-10 is: On* by: Frank Critelli. off the CD: Waltzing Through Quicksand

Featured on IndepenDisc in Feb. of '08

and here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

-snip-...The amazing part of all this is that Frank accomplishes it with a poetic flare of writing which connects each listener to the song/song cycle/album in intangible ways. For as Frank Critelli waltzes through the quicksand of the ever saddening state of the music industry, he intelligently binds the experiences of everyday real life (his, ours, and everybody else’s) to each story and relates how we are all trapped in our own quicksand. Listening to the progression of the album, the way Frank has created a flow, we slowly understand Frank’s message: Don’t fight, nor give up in the quicksand of life, but waltz through it, with as much dignity, grace, and class as you can – for that is when we can derive the joyfulness that life offers, that is how we can have a good time...-snip-

Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct .mp3 stream of the song.

Dog Days of Summer

It looks like the Dog Days of Summer have arrived a little early this year. Not to blame the heat, but it has helped to delay a few posts to this here Blog. So to fill the time before I can get caught up, I figured I'd share some of my favorite "Summer" Albums with you. Now this doesn't mean these are "about" summer, just that I find that I always play them in the summer...

In no particular order:

Retreat From The Sun - That Dog
Live At Leeds - The Who
On The Third Day - Electric Light Orchestra
Van Halen - Van Halen
Van Halen II - Van Halen

Candy-O - The Cars
Sunshine Girl - The Naomi Star

I Robot - The Alan Parsons Project
Born To Quit - The Smoking Popes
ArgyBargy - Squeeze
Gish - Smashing Pumpkins

Rocket To Russia - The Ramones

That's sort of my Top 10 "Summer" albums (I know, I listed 12, that's why I said "sort of").

Now it's your turn, tell me some of your "Summer" albums.

"Song of the Week"

Another "& Beyond" post.

From Chicago, IL.

The IndepenDisc "Song of the Week" for 06-23-10 is: Glistening* by: the Bon Mots. off the CD: le main drag.

Featured on IndepenDisc in Jan. of '04

and here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...


-snip- tells the tale of a guy on the beach admiring the beautiful site of a woman. She is way out of his reach, and while his desires for her will go unmet, the Bon Mots also tell of the desires of the woman, which also will go unmet. She suffers just the same as him, but at a different level, which he is unable to comprehend. It offers the common ground of rejection crumbling the soul as the path to love, which is the perfect solution laid out by a person who can generally feel for another’s feelings. The song unfolds this in a variety of different scenarios -snip-

Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct .mp3 stream of the song.

CD Review: Shark

Sat. June 26th - February Records showcase at The Ideat Village Fest. - Pitkin Plaza (141 Orange St New Haven, CT 06511) - 5 p.m. The Wee Bees 5:40 ish Ghost of Chance 6:15 ish The Tyler Trudeau Attempt. I can't be there :-( But I want to Thank Dan Goodwin and (Formerly Tweefort Records) February Records for turning me on to SHARK ~

On the cover, the image is distorted, dark, muted, and eerie. There is something there, just beneath the surface; it makes you feel uneasy, but you are intrigued.

Shark [band] has captured its essence.

The self-titled debut CD by Joe Mordecai (vocals, guitars and more), John Mordecai (vocals, bass, keyboards and more), and Josh Bleeks (drums) begins with Intro; it’s a parade, a circus parade, a freak show parade, a distorted, dark, muted, eerie parade.

As the cacophony fades, Harmonix lies just below the surface until it is upon you. Shark attacks in a stunningly clever assault until you are unknowingly caught up in the subdued frenzy that has been unleashed in a dark, edgy PopMetal the likes of Brian Jonestown Massacre, Sonic Youth, and Radiohead re-imagined. It’s SludgePop via Ultravox and The Doors. This is a mind-expanding extraordinaire of insane pedal and board effects that have been mastered live. Turducken carries on with a meandering stroll in Gary Numan territory, which suddenly pulls Metallica out of the sea of sound and dives into Classic Metal a lá Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult, and Iron Maiden. Shredding, screamo guitar brings impressive use of blistering keyboards as a 2nd lead guitar. But, it’s Joe’s use of the Wah Wah pedal in Feel The Fear… that brings Shark to the surface. A rolling, swelling mass that intrigues you until suddenly it is tearing you apart. Using reverb and voice modulation, the lyrics become secondary to the epic scope of the music. As the piano swims this monster off, you are left floating in wonder and astonishment as to what Shark has done to your senses.

Distorted, dark, muted, and eerie, now that Shark has sunk their teeth in, they proceed to ravage you. (-) is mesmerizing feedback that creates a landscape of beauty in what is usually wince-inducing noise. Musk is a lumbering beast of whirlpool synths that doesn’t let you up for air. Finally the grand, epic, sweeping ARP allows the piano/keyboards to take you into the deep waters and accept that there is something there, just beneath the surface; it makes you feel uneasy, but you are intrigued.

Now you have captured the essence of Shark.

Dee Monte meet Alyse Lamb

What is it about the local New Haven music scene that attracts so many talented musicians over the years? Why is it that this scene still survives even after decades of relative obscurity? Hard to say, but if you were following this blog and happened to catch the pair of shows this weekend that I had previewed, then maybe you’re a little bit more in the know.

2 shows, 4 bands, all great in their own right. Fri. 6-11-10 @ Huntington Street Café in Shelton, CT. it was The Big Fat Combo opening for DELVIS (a reunion) and Sat. 6-12-10 @ Café 9 in New Haven, CT. it was Eula opening for Titles (their CD release). I’ve written about The Big Fat Combo before, the release of their 1st CD (in their 10 year career), the highly anticipated Chicks Dig It, brought accolades from many, as well as myself, who already considers it one of the best CDs of 2010. Their live shows are always a blast and Friday was no exception. Playing a fun and rollicking set that saw guest artist such as Dave Schnieder (The Zambonis) joining in on “The Helmet Song” and Forrest Harlow with his autoharp playing the Bee Gee's “Words,” it was everything a Big Fat Combo show has come to stand for. I’ll leave it at that and say almost the same for Titles a band with whom I’m familiar, yet haven’t been exposed to enough. Loved by many, their live shows are few and far between, so Saturday’s show supporting their 3rd release, Dirt Bell, was a must see for the throng that turned out. Add in that Eric Danton of the Hartford Current has called Dirt Bell the best Local release ever (I have the disc, but have not had the time to devote to it yet – and it will be on the IndepenDisc web site shortly), and you can understand why Titles have been getting a lot of well deserved buzz.

But this Blog entry isn’t about The Big Fat Combo, nor Titles. Both deserving in their own right, both worth boning up on, and both must listens, so hit the links if you are so inclined, in the meantime I’m going to tell you about the other two.

I missed DELVIS back in the day (’87 – ’92) and had to do a bit of research to find out what kind of stir they had created. Fronted by Dee Monte (a local legend in her own right) they received a lot of attention, played a lot of shows and made a lot of great music. I walked into the show not knowing what to expect and was promptly blown away. It had been 18 years since DELVIS last performed and they left no doubt as to why they are still talked about. Dee’s presence commanded the stage as the trio behind her commanded the music, drawing heavy on Surf-Punk and good old Rock-n-Roll they did New Haven’s local independent music scene proud. I was thrilled to be able to experience a bit of local history that I had missed the 1st time around, and it made me smile. Here’s a video I took of DELVIS playing one of their singles, Tiger In My Tank. Dee’s voice may sound a little worse-for-the-wear (it was near the end of the set & she hadn’t sung this much in ages), but it only goes to prove how good DELVIS was/is within the context of the music.

DELVIS ~ Tiger In My Tank
06-11-10 Live @ The Huntington Street Cafe
Shelton, CT

I’ve been a fan and friend of Eula since they started in ’06 and while I had never seen Dee Monte with DELVIS when they were performing, after their show Fri. night, I realized that Alyse Lamb, who fronts Eula is most likely this era’s incarnation of Dee. Saturday’s blistering set at Café 9 proved to me that not only does Alyse embody the spirit and the music of Dee, but Eula embodies the spirit and music of DELVIS to a degree. That degree is the flat out rocking of the music. Each band fit and is comfortable upon the stage and within the scene they were born into, decades apart, yet bonded like siblings to make their parents (New Haven) proud. This video of Eula performing Fight Riff suffers a bit in sound quality, but shows the raw energy that is the essential part of the New Haven scene whether past, present or future.

Eula ~ Fight Riff
06-12-10 Live @ Cafe 9
New Haven, CT

I want to thank all 4 bands for making this weekend a remarkable convergence of New Haven music and history.

Weekend Preview

OK, I'm still getting the hang of this Blog thing, even though everybody tells me that I've been doing it all along anyway...
Lots of music to get out and experience this weekend. I'm just going to touch on the shows I'll be attending...
Friday night 06-11-10 @ The Huntington Street Cafe (Shelton, CT) is the return of DELVIS (Dee Monte for those in the know) with The Big Fat Combo opening 8:00 - 10:00.
Saturday night 06-12-10 there are 2 great show happening almost simultaneously,
The band Titles is having it's CD release party for their 3rd release "Dirt Bell" @ Cafe 9 (New Haven, CT) with Eula opening 10:00 - closing, and down the street @ Rudy's it's The Peacock Flounders & The Mold Monkies.
If you're really good, you could bounce between both places enough to catch all 4 bands - maybe(?).
Now, if you want to hear some music from some of these bands before hand, I played sets by The Big Fat Combo, Titles and Eula on the Radio IndepenDisc show this week...

The podcast & stream for the 06-09-10 Radio IndepenDisc show is up. Hit This Link to listen 24/7. Featuring sets by: Age Of Reason, Moss Browne, The Big Fat Combo, Titles, Shark, Eula, Sky Picnic, and Mix-Tape Wednesday Vol. "Chain" (each song title must contain a word from the previous song title).

Mix-Tape Wed. Vol. "Chain" set list below. this is the direct stream link ~ http://www.independisc.com/podcasts/radioindependisc060910hr3.m3u

Mix-Tape Wed. Vol. "Chain"
Side: A
Chain Of Rock - Ian Charles
Mama's Little Babies Love Rock and Roll - The Big Fat Combo
Baby Walk - The Mocking Birds
Walk On By - Mill Valley Taters
Home By The Sea - Frank Critelli
Sea Hands (Live) - Jellyshirts
In Other Hands - The Differents
The Other Side - Kriss Santala

Side: B
The Cool Side - Eric D.
So Cool - The Naomi Star
Just So You Know - Annabella
I Know You - WOW
On Fire For You - The Runes
House On Fire - Dar Williams
On Chains - Vesper Sparrow

Review: Age Of Reason CD - Acoustic and Live at Studio 23

"Song of the Week" ~ Tick Tock

“Here we are /”

In my preparation to write this review I reread the review I wrote about Age Of Reason’s first release, Vox Humana (Sept. 09). I realized I was sitting down to write basically the same review, except with a little different slant. So you should read that review http://www.independisc.com/ageofreason.htm#124 before continuing.

“There we go /”

If you’ve chosen to saunter on without reading the first review, I will say that Edward Leonard and Dave Divino’s collaboration with percussionist John Santarsiero as a trio has paid dividends. Their 2nd release in less than a year, Acoustic and Live at Studio 23 is performed as one piece, this time fleshing out the saga of Edward Leonard’s belief in humanity over the years/ages, by redeveloping songs culled from current Age Of Reason’s first release, Deep City Elm, earlier Age Of Reason (?), and few newer compositions (?) to create an amazing tale. Edward once again sits us down around the campfire and wields the timeless message that has been told and handed down through the ages, using Dave & John’s percussion to push us along the heightened aspects of humanity and ask us to choose the right path.

“Catch a star /”

Shaman like Edward, Dave, and John have always been around to tell the tale of humanity and of the universal aspects involved in the individual choices we make. Every tribe of every culture of all time has had their historians who have passed the tale in their means of interpretation. We all have benefited from this, if we so chose, although the best is being able to hear and appreciate Age Of Reason’s musical interpretation.

“Let it go.”

Age Of Reason - Tick Tock
05-22-10 @ CD Release Party
Cafe 9 - New Haven, CT

Radio IndepenDisc

For the past 5 years, every Wednesday night I host a Live internet Radio show from 9:00-Midnight (ET) on Cygnus Radio. I record "Radio IndepenDisc" and create a podcast and stream that can be accessed and listened to 24/7. On the first Wed. of each month the playlist is composed of all the past Features (since 1998) from that month. Last night (Wed.) was 11 years of June Features! ~ The podcast & stream for the 06-02-10 Radio IndepenDisc show is up - HERE listen 24/7. With sets by: Shark ('10), Age Of Reason ('10), The OutSkirts ('99), The Cucumbers ('99), The Differents ('00), James Velvet ('01), The Mocking Birds ('02), The Dent ('03), Jellyshirts ('04), Fredalba ('05), The Badge ('05), RockDownBaby ('06), Kriss Santala ('07), The Manchurians ('08), Eula ('09) and Saint Bernadette ('09).
Enjoy!

Beatnik 2000 commentary - The Furors

On Monday, Memorial Day, May 31st, Edward Leonards long running Beatnik 2000 series held it's 524th show at Cafe 9. For the first hour the audience was treated to poetry and the acoustic stylings of Peter Lachmann and Dan Racaniello. Then Sliver Bitch took the stage (Disclaimer: I am in the band Sliver Bitch) and blew it up. We exited the stage quite pleased with the power and force with which we delivered our set. This is, until The Furors played their set. It may have seemed like we (Sliver Bitch) had thrown down the gauntlet, but The Furors, local New Haven legends of 30+ years, just went on and gave one of the best performances I have ever seen by them. They schooled us young pups on how it is done. In fact, I'll let their final song of the night show you exactly what I mean...

The Furors - A Thing For Blondes
05-31-10 Live @ Beatnik 2000 #524
Cafe 9 - New Haven, CT

Beatnik 2000 (Sliver Bitch)

In the interest of full disclosure,
I will be performing tonight with Sliver Bitch at Beatnik 2000 @ Cafe 9.
250 State St. New Haven, CT 10:00PM - No Cover.

Sliver Bitch is: Peter Riccio - guitar, Julie Riccio - drums,
Jo-anna Horn - Baritone Sax, G.Gone - Spoken Word.

Come down and finish off the Holiday Weekend with us as I put my money where my mouth is (so to speak).

Elm City Pop Fest

Tonight is the 3rd night of Elm City Pop Fest.

Sadly I cannot attend because I must DJ Radio IndepenDisc tonight.

For those of you who can attend, here's the details...



May 26: Elm City PopFest follow-up show featuring:
Women's Basketball
The Tyler Trudeau Attempt
Horowitz (UK)
Allo Darlin' (UK)
Cafe Nine
250 State St.
New Haven, CT.
9 p.m., FREE. 21+



Thanks to Dan Goodwin & Tweefort (soon to be: February) Records

for bringing these 3 days of Pop-n-Roll to us fans.

I did have the pleasure of attending last Saturday's (05-15-10)
show at ArtSpace New Haven which Featured The Butterflies of Love.

Here's a (lo-fi) video for you...

The Butterflies of Love
05-15-10 Live @ ArtSpace New Haven
Elm City Pop Fest

"Song of the Week"

Here's an example of "& Beyond"...

The IndepenDisc "Song of the Week" for 05-26-10 is:
Magic Hat* by: Tony Stevens Slow Ride
off the CD: Join Together
Featured on IndepenDisc in Nov. of '07

and here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

-snip-...Tony Stevens, original bass player for Foghat (and before that, Savoy Brown), brings his down and dirty blues based rock music into the 21st century with no bones about the past. Using the title of Foghat’s biggest commercial hit as his new bands moniker, he takes what could be misconstrued as an attempt to cash in on past accomplishments and turns it into a statement that should not go overlooked...-snip-
Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct .mp3 stream of the song.

A Song for your enjoyment

Listen to this: Boy In The Hallway * by: The Who Whos

Early in the century Barbara Sheppard & Kriss Santala were two third of The Who Whos.
Saturday night (5-22) they are two of many New Haven music stalwarts playing as The Shrinking Violets at Cafe` 9 along with even more music scene veterans (and 1/2 The Shrinking Violets) The Peacock Flounders all for the CD release party for Age Of Reason. Their 2nd CD is: "acoustic and live at studio 23" a 45 minute, non-stop, live performance that will be recreated on stage (yes, non-stop).

That's Saturday Night 5-22-10 at Cafe 9
The Shrinking Violets
Age Of Reason - CD release party
The Peacock Flounders.

*Link is a direct stream.

Review: The Big Fat Combo - Chicks Dig It CD

Just released Fri, 05-14-10...


“Hey Hey, My My, Rock-n-Roll will never die.”*

No truer words were ever spoken, and that is why there is The Big Fat Combo.
Nestled away in a tiny little town called Cheshire, Connecticut, The Big Fat Combo has honed true, pure Rock-n-Roll to perfection.

My parents taught me about Rock-n-Roll, they were teenagers in the 50’s. They witnessed the birth of Rock-n-Roll – Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and the list goes on… I was weaned on Rock-n-Roll, and as I grew up, so did Rock-n-Roll. Over the past 50-60 years Rock-n-Roll has evolved into too many genres to count, let alone identify, understand, and appreciate each of them.

If you want a nice hefty platter of hot wax - true, pure Rock-n-Roll – music you can identify, understand and appreciate, The Big Fat Combo brings it. Chicks Dig It is just that; it’s 33 & 1/3 and 45 r.p.m’s of good-time, old-school, early Rock-n-Roll. It’s a record with songs about girls and cars and drinking and heartbreak; all done with the swagger and bravado that can only be Rock-n-Roll. Or as BFC would say: “A little bit a country / a little bit of swing / a little blues and rock / and now we got that thing.” Make no bones about it, The Big Fat Combo doesn’t apologize for who they are, they just Rock your (bobby) socks off.

Just a 4 piece Rock(abilly)-n-Roll Band out there swinging it and laying it down so smooth. With Tom Hearn, the perfect front man, delivering dead-on, dead-pan vocals that know how to croon as well as turn a phrase, sometimes at the same time. Along with rhythm guitar Tom’s the quintessential figure that graced the stages of Rock-n-Roll’s birth. Cary Pollick is the master of Rock-n-Roll lead guitar, tearing off complex notes and runs that pour out of the amps in such fashionable ease that it makes his playing all the more engaging. Tom Murphy on stand-up bass slaps it silly with his precise plucking and down home feel and Jack Murphy on drums keeps the beat that hasn’t quit since 1955. But, the ace in the hole for The Big Fat Combo is someone who isn’t even in the band, 8 of the 14 songs were either written by or co written (w/Tom Hearn) by Ropeburns Russell. Tom calls him one of the greatest songwriters ever, and I have to agree. Try not to sing along with Too Pretty, Sedan de Ville, That’s Why I Call You Darlin and more. Go ahead try, I’ll bet you can’t. What’s that tell you? That tells you they’re great songs, Great Rock-n-Roll songs. They’re true, pure Rock-n-Roll.

The Big Fat Combo IS Truly, Purely Rock-n-Roll.

“My My, Hey Hey, Rock-n-Roll is here to stay.”*

My parents would be proud.

*Neil Young.

Listen: Chicks Dig It / Banned From Sam The Clams

The Big Fat Combo - Chicks Dig It
05-14-10 Live @ C.J. Sparrows
CD Release show

Review: The Frank Critelli Band - The FCB ep CD

Let's continue catching up with some of the latest CD releases on the CT/New Haven scene...

The Frank Critelli Band – The FCB ep

Frank Critelli has been writing Rock-n-Roll friendly folk songs for years. In that time he has always turned a phrase, set a hook, and taken us along for musical jaunts with deep personal meanings. His lyrics consistently detail life’s unconscious conundrums and how each of us must deal with them on our own accord, but if done with love and joy even the most trying of times can turn out alright.

Set to singer/songwriter, acoustic, folk-friendly music, these songs drew us towards that of Woody Guthrie, early Bob Dylan, and James Taylor, but they always seemed to want to give even more, to explode upon us, to make us sit up and take notice more so than just any other folk song(s), to evolve into Rock-n-Roll songs. Frank’s songs were itching for him to plug in, much in the same way that Dylan’s songs needed in 1966. We could see it coming with his 2005 side project Brutally Frank. Then with his 2006 release, Before You Break, Frank began to bring more instrumentation into the fold. 2008’s Waltzing Through Quicksand showed Frank’s affection for both his Folk underpinnings and his Rock-n-Roll sensibilities. Now crediting the band as the artist, The Frank Critelli Band has evolved enough to let loose Frank’s inner Rock-n-Roll Star.

The FCB ep opens with Rich Suarez’s drums front and center, announcing that this is a Rock-n-Roll album. Don “The Don” Horton’s bass jumps in with a pulsing beat that allows Shandy Lawson’s electric guitar riffs to shred through Rolling Stones/Keith Richards territory, and we know we’re not on the Folk stage anymore… but, the circuitry has not been lost.

These 5 songs not only Rock-n-Roll through Frank’s poetic, lyrical, Folk leanings on life, love, vice and virtue, but also lay down the blues (guest musician Bob Orsi, on loan from The Manchurians, tears up several songs with his classic harmonica playing), along with the many musical Rock-n-Roll flavors that can satisfy any true music fan.

Folk evolved into Rock-n-Roll.
Frank Critelli evolved into The Frank Critelli Band.
When The Frank Critelli Band smokes the Folk,
They are Rock-n-Roll.

Listen: Watch The Signs / Messiah