Tonight I went to a meeting with the Philadelphia Recording Community. I went for the purpose of starting to advertise locally this website, and to try to get help in getting paid ads for the site. I mistakenly did not allow enough time to stay for the full meeting, but what part I did get to see, I was totally impressed with. Here is a bunch of individuals, getting together to discuss the business of music. How to promote it, record it, produce it, advertise it, and all in all get it done properly and out to the public to be enjoyed. There are singers , songwriters, producers, lawyers, musicians and more abounding with knowledge and passion for their craft and willing to discuss and disseminate freely hundreds of combined years of experience at the mere answer to a question. I do have a full time job that takes up a lot of my time, and that is another reason I had to leave early, but rest assured, I will plan more time for the next meeting night so I can get to experience more of the wisdom this group of professionals has to offer to those who are willing to attend and simply ask for help. The thing that grabbed me the most tonight was the discussion of Phila schools and the lack of arts programs, and how this group will be moving to fill in that gap from the stupidity of the school board to eliminate the arts in schools. I only wish that the program will be a major success and that it could become a staple in this and everyother city for the education of our children into the world of arts and music.
I had left a ton of business cards and I encourage all attendees to scope out this site and feel free to leavc comments. I strongly suggest that any and all local musicians get involved in this group and make it grow and prosper and become the base for a national reform for keeping the music alive and growing in this country.
Its RAIN ing in here
Well, here is one review that I am happy to write.
Dawn and I are big Beatles fans, I guess you can tell that from previous reviews. We have seen 1964 the tribute and the Fab Faux both several times and have given them both positive marks for their performances, along with the British Invasion Tribute. Each one being unique in their own way. For example, 1964 concentrates on the early group complete with costumes. The Fab Faux concentrate on exact duplication of the music with no costumes. The British Invasion covers not only the Beatles but all the British bands along with their American counterparts, capping off their show with a full album side of a Beatles set. RAIN is a combination of the two complete with multimedia presentation.
Until this past Sunday (thanks Danny got us out of a Superbowl party), my favorite was the Fab Faux because we know Will. Second would be the British Invasion as we know the entire band and they are all great guys. But after seeing RAIN on Sunday, I have to give the tribute award to them.
They put on such a great multimedia presentation of the 4 lads from Liverpool, that the audience is swept into a time tunnel back to the 1960's. Along with the giant displays showing the Beatlemania affected youth of the times, they come out dressed in garb duplicating the Ed Sullivan show clothes, the Sgt Pepper era clothes, the Abbey Road period clothes, and have all the instruments to match. Kudos to the production team that found all the old TV footage, especially the ridiculous commercials I remember seeing as a child. Who remembers DUZ laundry soap and their free stockings, and Fred and Barney hiding from Wilma and Betty hawking WINSTON smokes??? I had forgotten them both and all the other great visuals playing with my memories, and taking me back to a time when I had no cares, or responsibilities.
Being a musician, I am always mindful of the performance of the artist, and in this case I have to admit that these guys are more than consummate musicians with the ability to pull it off. The attention to detail in mannerisms and language is uncanny. From Ringo's floppy head to George's mini skiffle, this group of actors is top notch. As for musicianship, they are second only to the Fab Faux, in my opinion. Mark Beyer is a great add for a copy of Billy Preston and provides keyboard accompaniment when required in all the right places. Ralph must have spent months perfecting his Ringo head flops, and Joe the same on George's dancing while playing lead. Steve has just the right percentage of comedy to take on John and Joey's version of Paul is perfect. Musically, this group is as tight as the original 4 lads were on record, and when closing your eyes, you can just transport to a time and space of comfort and relaxation allowing you to immerse yourself in the thrill of BEATLEMANIA.
My hat is tipped to the band of merriment and nostalgia in helping Dawn and I to, if even so briefly, to relive a part of out lives that was special and meaning full. I strongly recommend if you havent seen the show, that when you can DONT MISS IT.
Saturday nite and the Fudge
Well, this is the first of this years posts and it starts off with a great night with Vanilla Fudge. I must say that it came as a total surprise to me that Tim Bogart had retired and is not touring with the VF any more. I was looking forward to his Jeykel/Hyde transformation pre and post show. Having met Tim several times, I can tell you he runs the gamet of moods before during and after a show. Pre show, he is all laid back, relaxed, almost semi-comotose, then the curtain call comes and out comes this MAD man running around, literally beating the hell out of his Fender bass, and hitting those magnificiant high notes, then post show again the laid back guy appears. Tim has been replaced by Pete Bremy on bass. Pete did a remarkable job and seems to have Tim's spirit down pat. Then there is the power behind the band in Carmine. Carmine has not changed at all, all this time I have known him. He is a true showman in every sense of the word. Great on the vocals, and untouchable on the drum solos, Carmine is truely the driving force for the band. Next comes the Vinny, in my opinion, highly underrated as a guitarist. Vinny is such a great guy both on and off the stage. Very approachable and down to earth. Doesnt let the 40 yrs in the business define him and will spend time to talk to a fan. His guitar playing does nothing but get better everytime I see him. And lastly we come to Mark. I have only met Mark once, I know his replacment better, Bill, but I have to admit that I was disappointed in both his vocals tonight, along with his refusal to join in the band meet and greet after their set. I was hoping for an autograph from the whole band and was only able to get the other three, as Mark never came out to sign anything or meet with anyone. Also, there did seem to be some tension between Mark and Vinny after a comment that Mark made referring to himself as a founding member of the Fudge. From where I stood, is seemed that Vinny took exception to that statement and gave the response of there are other founding members on this stage. Of all the songs on the set list, the stand out tonight were "You keep me hangin on" "Shotgun", and my all time favorite VF song, "People get ready". The harmonies the band has and the execution of the song, make this in my opinion the bands best song ever. It was, this time, for me, a bit different without Tim's great harmony, but still in my humble opinion their best song. It is my understanding that this performance is still part of the "Farwell Tour" and it will be a sad day in Music history when we can no longer hear that great driving beat of Carmine, fabulous guitar riffs of Vinny, and the magnificent harmonies of the first Pyschedelic Band this country ever had.
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