Greg's Current Stuff

Great Shows Coming Up in February

2012-01-30T14:16:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of great music over the next month at the smaller concert venues splattered across Northern Ohio. No matter what your genre, there is something for everyone.

Nighttown at the top of Cedar Hill has several jazz legends playing next week, with guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli playing on Wed 1/25 and Thu 1/26, and organist Reuben Wilson following him on Fri 1/27 and Sat 1/28. Also check out the Hot Club of Detroit [pictured] for some Valentine magic on Mon 2/13 and Tue 2/14. Go to http://NighttownCleveland.com for more info and their complete music calendar.

The Kent Stage kicks off its Tenth anniversary with country legend Glenn Campbell on his farewell tour on Sun 2/19. And they are presenting the return of the Del Fuegos on Fri 3/2, featuring former Rock Hall Education Director Warren Zanes and his brother Dan Zanes, better known to area youth for his kid-friendly CDs and shows.

The Winchester in Lakewood has two great blues shows coming up, a CD release party for guitarist/vocalist Kelly Rickey on Sat 1/28, and Lil’ Ed and the Blues Imperials on Sat 2/25. As always, great stuff happening at this Madison Avenue gem, go to http://TheWinchester.net for their complete line up of show.

The Beachland Ballroom in Collinwood, as always, has a lot of great stuff happening, including two big benefits over the next few weeks. The Annual WJCU benefit is Sat 1/28, and Rock and Reggae Show for the Free Clinic is on Fri 2/17. Amongst other shows at the club is the Fri 2/24 Del Fuegos date, part of a small 12-city mini reunion the Boston-based band has put together. Go to http://BeachlandBallroom.com for info on everything going on at this landmark music club.

And, most importantly, for those of us born and raised on rock and roll here in Northern Ohio, the Tri-C High School Rock Off is in full swing at the House of Blues downtown. Does the sound of badly produced rap music played way too loud in the car next to you drive you crazy? How about that cotton candy weak ass pop music that passes as country on the radio? Do you think pop music is going to hell? Do you think our young people are all clueless American Idol fans? If you do, go down and check out the Rock Off, featuring some of the best young musicians in the area performing their own music and all of it nothing but true real rock and roll. It will warm your soul in the middle of yet another North Coast winter. At the HOB on Fri 1/27 and Sat 1/28 with the finals on Sat 2/11.

Succeeding at the Pro Level

2011-12-27T07:06:00.000-08:00

(I still write for the Orange and Brown Review, a fan magazine owned by FoxSports. Below is a recent column I wrote about what the Browns have to do before next season.)
As I am writing this article the Browns are nearing the end of their season, I just watched a tough overtime loss to the Phoenix Cardinals. As the case has been most of the season, the offense struggled as the defense played solid. Fans are once again disappointed in another losing season.
Last month I talked about football and the high school and college level, and this month I want to talk about what it takes to succeed on the pro level and what the Browns need to do to be competitive in 2012. The highest level of football is, of course, the NFL. Teams, for the most part, are owned by extremely rich men, and coached by very smart coaches. The NFL gives us a game, which is incredible, with very fast and athletic players taking the field every Sunday.
But many of these men who own the teams have found it easier to become a billionaire than to be a consistently winning NFL owner. There is not a business school model to be a winner in the NFL. Yes, even the losing teams each year make incredible amounts of money. But to win that championship can be an elusive thing.
And don’t forget it is still a game, that same game it still shares with the college level all the way down to CYO and Pop Warner leagues. A game that has so many intangibles, and is played with a ball that sometimes takes funny bounces.
The NFL is a player driven league, where the players are the best of the best. They are big, quick, fast, and can jump. They are instinctive, aggressive, and many of them hate to lose. Since the Browns have been back the team has pretty much been a disaster, and much of that can be attributed to not having enough good players, and fingers can be pointed in many directions. The current Mike Holmgren regime is the best that has ever been in place since the team has come back, and if left alone they will bring success to the team.
When Holmgren and Company came on board two winters ago they found a team missing most of its parts. There was Josh Cribbs, Joe Thomas, Phil Dawson, and a few maybes. They knew the team had to be built with young talent through sound drafting, and their first two drafts have been outstanding. Joe Hardesty, T.J. Ward, Alex Mack, Phillip Taylor, Jabaal Sheard, and Jason Pinkston, are amongst the players that have brought on board. At one time this year they started nine players drafted in the last two years.
They drafted mostly for defense first because that would make the team competitive sooner. What has made this past season so frustrating is they have been in so many games, and that has been because of the defense. One thing that wasn’t done was throw money for over priced free agents to be stop gap players. The Browns have drafted young kids and have let them play, to prove their worth to the team.
General Manager Tom Heckert is on record as saying that after two drafts centered on building the defense, this year the draft will be about the offense. He has also stated, now that a fair amount of pieces are in place, it might be time to add a few free agents.
I’m as unsure of the quarterback position as much as the next guy. I’ve rooted for Colt McCoy all season and seen him at different times look very good and very bad. But I do know, at least I’d like to think so, that Mike Holmgren has made his decision. Let us hope that whomever it is behind center next season, whether it’s McCoy or not, will lead the Browns to big things.
I have been on record in this column that the Browns will be competitive next year, and I still stick by that. I have much faith in the Browns front office, and their drafting track record has been outstanding.
For as inconsistent the offense has been this season, several important pieces are in place. The offensive line is both very young and very good. Joe Thomas and Alex Mack play like first round draft picks, Jason Pinkston has proved he is a player. Shawn Lauvao has shown improvement. Hopefully Eric Steinbach will return next year. I will be very surprised if the Browns don’t sign at least one solid free agent lineman to add to this group.
This group has shown it can do the two things an NFL line needs to do to be successful, run the zone play and protect the quarterback.
As the season is winding down Peyton Hillis is finally playing like the Peyton Hillis of last year. Let us hope he has things together on and off the field for next season. His absence from the team allowed Chris Ogbonnaya to show some good things. Montario Hardesty is still a question mark, but having three guys this good for one spot is a plus. The team could use a blocking back a la Lawrence Vickers, and maybe that might be addressed in the off-season also. They drafted Owen Marecic this year to fill that role but I have yet to see enough of him to see what he can do.
The tight end spot is solid; let us hope Ben Watson comes back next year from his concussions. We are in the era of the tight end in the NFL, and as I wrote several months ago the Browns have a good group of them. Let us hope the young guys, Evan Moore, Alex Smith, and Jordan Cameron, keep improving.
The wide outs have been much maligned this season, and with leading the league in drops must of the criticism is deserved. However, if you threw in a legitimate home run receiver or two in with this group of guys you would have a solid group. I have visions of Justin Blackman from Oklahoma State in brown and orange. I have a feeling the Browns first draft pick will be a receiver that can stretch the field.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Add another lineman, maybe a fullback, go out and get a top speed threat, and resolve things at quarterback. If only it was that simple, but based on the last two years you have to have faith in Holmgren and Heckert.
The other top priority for next year is to get the special teams back to where they were. This season was a mess of bad snaps and bad kick coverage. There should be no excuse for this. You still have Phil Dawson and Josh Cribbs, build around them once again. This is very doable.
The Browns can also add some depth to the defense, especially some speed and athleticism at outside linebacker. Even the most pessimistic fan has to be impressed with how well a switch to a four-man line went, with the Pro Bowl caliber play of Ahtyba Rubin and the drafting of Taylor and Sheard.
The teams that have dominated the NFL the last fifteen years have had solid defenses, depth on both sides of the ball, special teams that don’t make big mistakes, and offenses that have playmakers. Even with a disappointing record, the Browns showed this year they can play with those teams for three quarters. Hopefully with another good draft and some wise free agent signings the Browns can finally play a whole game each and every week no matter who the opponent is.

Billy Joe Shaver @ the Beachland Ballroom, 2 December 2011

2011-12-06T07:27:00.001-08:00

I went to the Browns game last Sunday and they were advertising on the score board for a Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert for next summer at the football stadium. I’m sure tickets won’t be cheap, and most people will sit somewhere where they will need binoculars to see the show, or just watch it on a large video screen. Parking around the stadium will be fifteen to twenty bucks, and beers will be in the eight dollar range. All that for what too many people think is real country music.
It’s too bad, because for a quarter of the price admission and beer at neighborhood prices they could have gone to the Beachland on December 2 and saw real country music from one of the last of the original Texas outlaws, Billy Joe Shaver. The three hundred or so that were in attendance got to see a great singer/songwriter who at the age of 72 can still get it done. He spent the night given the audience what they wanted to hear, playing one great song after another, most of them originally hits not for himself but for guys with names like Waylon, Elvis, Willie, and Johnny. He opened with “Fast Train to Georgia,” followed it with “Honky Tonk Heroes,” and never looked back. The highlight for me was “I’m Going to Live Forever,” which was originally done by the Highwaymen on their second album. Almost every song came with a story, some happy and funny and some sad but true, and Shaver told each one like he was telling it for the first time.
If you like the genre of music now called Outlaw Country, which by the way is real country music not that corporate country that passes itself off as the real thing today, you should check out locals California Speedbag who opened the show. Good original songs, a couple of quality covers, by a five piece outfit of veteran musicians.
As always, there are a lot of great things coming up at the Beachland Ballroom, check them out at www.BeachlandBallroom.com.

Vandy/Tennessee Game 19 November 2011

2011-11-22T12:36:00.000-08:00

Through my writing connections I was able to get a field pass to the Vanderbilt/Tennessee football game in Knoxville on November 19. A great time in a great city!
Special thanks to the UT Sports Communications Department.
The Vandy cheerleader in the pictures is my niece Alyson Martin.

Dan Miraldi “Rock and Roll Band” 2011

2011-09-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

One of the best CDs to cross the Cool Cleveland music desk the last several years was Dan Miraldi’s 2010 release “Thirsty.” The local born and bred singer/songwriter follows it up with an EP titled “Rock and Roll Band,” and my only complaint is that it is too short. The five songs clock in at fifteen minutes on the nose, but what a fifteen minutes it is. The five tracks are all catchy tunes, with sing along choruses and snappy lyrics. Miraldi’s vocals are good, and the quality of the band is very respectable.
This time around Miraldi is backed by his current performing band the Albino Winos with Joe LaGuardia on bass, Sarah Lufred on drums, and Alex Bowers on lead guitar. After listening to this disk several times I can guarantee you the band spent a lot of time while growing up listening to their parent’s records. This short CD is filled with great pop songs that very easily would have fit in during the Sixties, Seventies, or early Eighties. I hear the Kinks, the Raspberries, early Bryan Adams, even the Beach Boys as influences.
Dan Miraldi and his band the Albino Winos are having a CD release party for “Rock and Roll Band” this Wednesday, September 28, in the Cambridge Room at the House of Blues. Why don’t you check them out, who knows, one day you might be able to say I saw them back in the day. For more information visit www.danmiraldi.com.

September and October Club Concert Preview

2011-09-07T04:29:00.000-07:00

Although summer is winding down, things will be hopping at the area’s favorite music clubs during September and October…
Things are really happening at the Winchester in Lakewood starting this Friday, September 9, with the John Ford Coley Band (remember “I’d Really Like to See You Tonight”?). Mississippi Delta blues pianist Eden Brent stops in on September 14. The month finishes up at the club with the awesome Candye Kane and her band on the 30th. October at the Winchester features Rick Emmett from Triumph doing another solo show at the club on 10th; the Kelly Richey Band on the 15th; and Debbie Davies on the 28th. The big one at the club this fall will be on October 22 when Kasim Sulton from Utopia brings his solo band in for a show. For more info about these shows and all the other great things at the Winchester visit www.thewinchester.net.
Down south in Kent September means the Kent State Folk Festival and the Kent Stage is the home for some great shows. The festival gets a little rootsy this year with a show on September 21 with the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the next night with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The Stage hosts festival headliner Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame on September 25. Two promising post festival shows are sax man David Sanborn on September 30 (who remembers “Choice and Sanborn” from the ”Ladies Choice” album?); and everyone’s favorite singer songwriter Richard Thompson on October 6. Visit www.kentstage.org for info on these shows and a lot more.
Downtown at the House Blues more than few Cleveland favorites will be visiting this fall. September 17 has the BoDeans taking the stage; on the 21st singer songwriter John Hiatt takes over; on the 23 Robert Randolph and the Family band make another appearance; and September closes with a tribute night to the music of the late Ronnie James Dio on the 28th. Two October highlights are Ziggy Marley on the 18th and G. Love and Special Sauce on the 22nd. For more info about these shows and everything else going on at the House of Blues, including some great local acts playing the Cambridge Room (check out Dan Miraldi and the Albino Winos on September 28) , go the www.hob.com/Cleveland.
The Beachland Ballroom will be busy this fall starting this Friday, September 9, with “Paperboy” Reed and the True Loves. On September 13th it’s the Zombies with original members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent. Wayne “The Train” Hancock returns to the Tavern on September 14, and there is a sold out They Must Be Giants show in the Ballroom on the 16th. Wednesday, September 21 Marshall Crenshaw returns to the Beachland. The last weekend of October finds the Beachland with what should be three great (and probably sold out/get your tickets early) shows, starting with the living legend Ian Hunter on Friday the 28th; soul diva Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings on Saturday the 29th; and one of my favorite Beachland acts on Sunday the 29th, singer/songwriter Shelby Lynne. For info on these shows and more, including a couple of great fall charity events at the club, visit www.beachlandballroom.com.
And finally, as always, there are good things going at everyone’s favorite jazz venue Nighttown in Cleveland Heights. Sunday, September 11, Fourplay guitarist Chuck Loeb brings his trio to town for a show. Pop and blues diva Maria Muldaer comes in for two shows on the 21st, try to check it out she is a lot more than “Midnight at the Oasis” and always puts on a good show. Wednesday, October 12, local blues stalwarts Blue Lunch will be hosting the “Saxophone Shootout” with a bunch of guests sitting in. And on October 21 Cleveland favorites the Hot Club of Detroit returns for a show. For more info about all the great things happening at Nighttown go to www.nighttowncleveland.com.
(photos courtesy of the artists)

Rick Stone at Nighttown 7 August 2011

2011-08-23T11:30:00.000-07:00

Jazz guitarist Rick Stone is yet another player on the New York and international jazz scenes with Cleveland roots. Born and raised in Parma (Valley Forge Class of ’74), Stone played in a bunch of rock bands in high school before discovering jazz at shows at the old Smiling Dog Saloon on West 25th Street.
Stone lives in Brooklyn, New York; teaches jazz guitar at several NYC colleges; tours extensively, he just completed a month in Europe; and returns to Cleveland each summer to do a show at Nighttown for family, friends, and fans.
His two set show at Nighttown last Sunday was very enjoyable. It was a nice mix of jazz standards and original material. Backed by drums and bass, Stone did a great job on Irving Berlin’s “the Best Thing for You is Me,” Jimmy Van Huesen’s “Dance that Dream,” and Ornette Coleman’s “When Will the Blues Leave.”
His original material as just as varied with titles like “Key Lime Pie,” “Stella by Starlight,” and “Nachos Mama’s Blues.” He played several pieces from his current album “Factels,” including the title song, which had a little bit of B.B. King to it. Besides the king of the blues, other obvious influences for Stone include George Benson and Chet Atkins. It was a very enjoyable night of music and story telling, as Stone gave a little background on each of the songs played.
For more about Rick Stone and his music visit www.rickstone.com. For more about Nighttown and all the great things they have going on there go to www.clevelandnighttown.com.

Summer of 2011 Road Trip to Oregon

2011-07-14T04:39:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Coach Jim Pallazolo, Regis and Carol Scafe, and John and Katie Shaffer.

"The Sixties" A Gilder Lehrman Institute of America Summer Workshop for Teachers at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., June 2011

2011-06-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Steve Popovich

2011-06-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

I did not know Steve Popovich for a very long time, but like many others he had crossed paths with, I had a great love and respect for the man.
His fingerprints are all over the music of my youth, that Sound of Cleveland that put the city on the rock and roll map. He played an active roll, either as a promotion man, producer, or label owner, in the careers of Bruce Springsteen, Ronnie Spector, the Michael Stanley Band, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Ronnie Spector, Ian Hunter, and, of course, Meat Loaf. It sounds like a set list of a Kid Leo show back in the glory days of Cleveland radio.
Although he has lived recently in Nashville to be near his son and his family, he often returned to Cleveland. And when he did return, he often stopped in at the University Inn in Tremont for lunch, a drink, or just to say hi. (The picture of him on the front page of the Plain Dealer announcing his death was taken in one of the dining rooms at the Inn). He liked the place for the same reason hundreds of others do too, he was friends with the Sokolowski family who run the place, and the smell of the ethnic food there reminded him of the kitchens of his youth growing up on Cleveland’s east side. He liked hanging out at the Inn because he felt comfortable with the people there, including many music lovers like himself he grew up with one foot in the polka music his parents grew up with and the other in the rock and roll he and his friends grew up with.
What has been left out of the many tributes to Steve written about him the last few days is that he was a great storyteller. On several of the occasions when he dropped in unannounced at University Inn I was lucky enough to be one of the guys who sat around and listened to his stories, whether it was about Emmylou Harris singing “Amazing Grace” at June Carter Cash’s funeral; Tony Bennett getting upset with him because Andy Williams’ version of the “Theme from Love Story” became a hit and his version didn’t; or just talking about what a great guy the late guitarist Mick Ronson was.
Mike Sokolowski, one of the siblings who runs University Inn, was an especially close friend of Steve. Besides seeing Steve when he did stop into the Inn, they talked several times a month on the phone and emailed each other often. Last fall when Mike and several of the Inn regulars attended a roots music festival in Nashville, Steve delayed a trip he had planned to show the boys around town. “I’m really going to miss him,” said Mike. “He was a wonderful man. I can’t believe he is gone.”
It has been stated in several of the tributes written about him that you can give Steve Popovich the highest compliment you could ever say about someone from Cleveland that when on to great success nationally in any walk of life, whether it is entertainment, sports, or business. He never ever forgot where he came from.
Good bye, Steve Popovich, thanks for the music and the stories.

Concert Highlights for Local Clubs and Smaller Venues for the First Half of Summer

2011-05-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is finally here, hopefully, music fans will be out and about to the various venues around Northern Ohio. Just because it is summer, please don’t ignore our smaller music clubs and venues. Many a time as you fight the traffic to get in and out of Blossom on your way to hear today’s “in” generic country band sound just like they do on their video and pay eight bucks for a beer, you could’ve seen someone a lot more talented, in a lot smaller venue, for a lot less money. The first half of summer alone has a great line up of national acts coming are way at various clubs including…
Nighttown has three great reasons for those who don’t like jazz to come to Cleveland’s best jazz club. This Friday Raul Malo, former lead singer of the Mavericks, will do a solo show. What an opportunity to see the best singer in the business in an intimate setting. On Wednesday, June 8, tango music comes to Nighttown with Argentina native Hector Del Curto, and on June 28 & 29 is the return of California rock legend J. D. Souther doing solo acoustic shows. I saw him the last time at Nighttown and he was terrific. If you are into singer/songwriters check one of his shows out. And, as always, there are also a lot of great jazz acts coming through Nighttown this summer, check out www.nighttowncleveland.com for more info.
Beachland will be rocking this summer also, starting with guitar legend David Bromberg this Friday. The man has played with everyone in rock and blues and folk over the last thirty years. On May 24 John Oates of Hall and Oates brings his solo band in; on June 9 blues guitarist Jimmy Thackery, co founder of the Nighthawks, brings his current band to the Beachland; and on June 21 Jimmie Dale Gilmore makes an appearance. For information on these shows and all the great stuff going on at the Beachland visit www.beachlandballroom.com.
The Winchester in Lakewood has a CD release party for the Rick Bay Band’s “Can’t Lie Hard Enough” on June 3; Blues guitarist Kelly Richey and her band make an appearance on June 10; and British rock icon Ian McLagen comes in on June 17. McLagen played in both the Faces and the Small Faces, and played keyboards on many of Rod Stewart’s early hits including “Maggie May.” For information on these shows and more visit www.thewinchester.net.
Down in Kent they will be getting into blue grass, country and the blues this summer with Sam Bush on June 3; the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on June 4; and Cleveland favorites Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes headlining the Kent Blues Festival on July 23. For more info go to www.kentstage.com.
And let us not forget our friends downtown at the House of Blues with the legendary Robin Trower on June 2; jam rockers Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on June 4; and blues guitarist Jonny Lang on June 23. For more info on these shows and a whole lot more go to www.hob.com/cleveland.

Pete Hamill at the Ohio Theater 26 April 2011

2011-05-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday journalist and novelist Pete Hamill was the last speaker for this year’s William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage series at Play House Square, and he did a great job of doing what you see him often do on various T.V. shows, entertaining the audience with stories from not only his life as a writer but his life growing up as one of seven children of Irish immigrants in his beloved New York City.
Whether it was coincidence or not, Hamill spent much of the evening talking about libraries, both the important place of libraries in the world today, and the affects of the libraries of his youth growing up poor and unable to afford his own books (the series is coordinated by the Cuyahoga County Library Foundation). He gave some interesting observations on the future of the print word in the digital age, he’s optimistic about journalism but not for newspapers; told the back story of his relationship with Bob Dylan that led to a Grammy Award for writing the liner notes for “Blood on the Tracks”; and, like a lot of journalists who have seen too many of them up close, sprinkled in some very serious anti-war comments.
Hamill is a natural speaker, and had, for the most part, the audience listening all the way. The best story was how his father met his mother. His dad had a wooden leg because of an accident, and his soon to be mother saw him sitting by himself at a dance. She walked up to him and asked him to dance, he turned and showed her his artificial leg and replied, “I can’t.” She smiled and replied, “Either can I,” and, as Hamill put it, grabbed his hand and danced into his life.
The 2011/2012 writers series was announced at the end of the show and will include Michael Pollan and Annie Lamott. For more information go to www.writerscenterstage.com.
Photo by Google

Legacy of Light at the Drury Theater at the Cleveland Play House, running now through May 1

2011-04-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

This is suppose to be a review of Legacy of Light, this year’s featured production in Fusion Fest, the Cleveland Play House’s annual spring festival of new and collaborated works. In short, I really enjoyed Legacy of Light and I think you would to. I highly recommend seeing it.
Now what I really want to write about. Legacy of Light is the last production I will see at the Play House’s theaters located near the Cleveland Clinic between Euclid and Carnegie. I have been luckier than most middle class jocks from the other side of town, and have probably seen over the years more than a sixty productions there. I was first dragged there as a boy by some parents who wanted to make sure their kids grew up with a touch of culture in their otherwise typical middle class suburban lives. I attended a couple of field trips as a student at a high school who had English teachers who thought students needed to see live theater. But I really hit stride when I became one of those teachers, and spent some of the happiest days of a thirty year teaching career taking students to the matinees that both the Play House and the Great Lakes Theater Festival have offered. And as icing on the cake, I have been reviewing plays for the last five or six years, and when it didn’t conflict with my coaching calendar, attending media nights for almost every Play House production over the that time. And I have loved all of it, especially being a teacher taking so many students who otherwise would have never seen a professional play to a real live theater.
I have such mixed emotions about the Play House’s move downtown. I know it is the right thing, and for me it is the right thing for two reasons. The first is the cost and upkeep of their current facility is becoming too expensive. The second is the opportunities that will present themselves downtown, especially in their collaboration with Cleveland State. Good things are happening at CSU, and their plans with the Play House, if they pan out, could be wonderful for the school, the theater, and all of Northern Ohio.
With all positive changes come many good things and a few not so good. I worry about the bartenders, and parking lot attendants, and other support personnel who will probably not go downtown with the theater. I worry about the older patrons who have enjoyed being dropped off at the door and parking near by. I hope their will be some sort of special valet service for them at the Allen Theater. I’ve really enjoyed going to Stages before the show for a drink or two and some appetizers. What’s going to happen to everyone who works there? How many will lose their jobs?
I hope the Play House keeps offering great programs to the schools and students of the area. I hope they find a way to keep up their Christmas tree decoration tradition. I hope they soon revive The Christmas Story, I’ve seen it each year they produced and have never grown tired of what has become Cleveland’s Christmas story. I know there are a lot of great places to go before and after a show in the Play House Square area, but I hope they find a way to have their own place inside the theater similar to Stages.
And I wonder, with the move downtown, will this be the catalyst for the Play House and the Great Lakes Theater Festival to finely become one? I know they have explored it in the past and decided against it, but in these current economic times that don’t look to be getting much better, and now being in the same neighborhood across the street from each other, will it finally happen? This might be the time to be collaborating rather than competitive. With their new proximity, why pay for two administrative staffs? Why try to hustle money from the same people and foundations? Why pay for two advertising budgets? There are a lot of egos involved in our theater world, would those egos let something like that to happen?

Charity Event on April 30

2011-04-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

What: A Benefit to Raise Funds to Publish a Book of Poetry Written by the Men of the 2100 Lakeside Men’s Homeless Center
When: Saturday Night, April 30, 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Harp, 4409 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door, includes live music by Cats on Holiday, an appetizer buffet furnished by the Harp, a chance at some pretty cool door prizes

It has been awhile since we have thrown together a charity event. The last few we have been done have been quite successful and also a lot of fun, whether raising money for a friend going through a scary cancer treatment; starting an education fund for a young boy whose father unexpectedly died; or to furnish a rec room at a non profit adult center.
All of the above we I was aided by a whole bunch of friends and family, including my friend Nikki Krejci and Denis Devito, and Dennis’s band Cats on Holiday. We did a few events at the old 2527 Club, and the last one we did at the Harp on Detroit on the near West Side. When Nikki approached us about the latest cause she needed some funding for, we know we had to get involved.
Nikki works for Lutheran Metropolitan Ministries, which does a lot of non denominational charity work around Greater Cleveland. Amongst their projects is the 2100 Lakeside Emergency Men’s Shelter, which has over 260 beds that are all filled every night with men with nowhere else to go. Over the past year some of the men have started to take poetry writing classes, and some of the finished products out of the classes are pretty good. Good enough to do something with…
So that leads us to the event on April 30 at the Harp described on the flyer attached to this email. We are going to throw another gala event at the Harp with all the proceeds going to publish a book of poetry by the men of the 2100 Emergency Shelter. To do it right, we will probably need to raise some where between $3,000-$4,000, and we hope you will be a part of it.
Saturday, April 30, is going to be a beautiful early spring evening; it will be nice enough to even have some cocktails on the patio at the Harp. Cats on Holiday will once again do a stellar job, the Harp will again put out a great buffet of appetizers and finger food, and the joint will be filled with the some of the usual colorful friends and family members, as well a knucklehead or two, and hopefully some new friends.
We have gotten pretty high tech in our endeavors, and that includes being able to sign up for this event before hand on the internet. Go to www.lutheranmetro.org/Shelter-Housing/ to sign you and your friends up for this gala event. Another cool thing about this event is everyone who attends, or pledges at least $20 towards the project, will get his or her name listed in the book as a patron. How cool is that, your name in print. For those of you who live out of town or can’t make it that night, you will still get your name in print by donating online.
Plans for the future include having two book store signings this summer after the book is finished, one at Mac’s on Coventry and the other at Visible Voices Books in Tremont. More info on those events will be sent to you in June.
Please pass this flyer on!

2011 Traveling Circus Golf and Bowling Extravaganza

2011-04-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

More photos to come...

“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” The Great Lakes Theater Festival at the Hanna Theater

2011-03-17T10:42:00.000-07:00

Like thousands of other theater lovers I read the review in Ohio’s largest paper of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” now being performed by the Great Lakes Theater Festival at the Hanna Theater, and wondered if the reviewer saw the same show as I did. We were both at the Hanna last Saturday for Opening Night, so I assume we did.
The play is a good night of theater, and was enjoyed by most, but obviously not all, members of the audience. The play revolves around three characters as they rip through all of Shakespeare’s work, especially “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.” Paul Hurley, M.A. Taylor, and Jason O’Donnell do a good job keeping the play moving. Hurley and O’Donnell are Great Lakes rookies, while Taylor has nine years at Great Lakes on his resume. Director Charles Lee is also in his ninth season with the Festival.
The reviewer calls the production “occasionally funny, often vulgar, rarely edifying.” He also refers to two elderly patrons sitting by him who did not return for the second act. I don’t know what section he was sitting in, but in my section everyone found much humor in the play, yes, some of it bawdy (just like a lot of Shakespeare’s works), and everyone returned for the second act and enjoyed it as much as the first. And the audience participation parts in the second half were a hit, with most in the crowd playing right along.
Why is it that whoever reviews a play at the Play House or at Great Lakes for Ohio’s largest newspaper too often comes across like he was watching a completely different production? Even though the reviewer was different, the attitude of the reviewer for this production was the same for the recent Ginger Rogers musical at the Cleveland Play House. The audience loved that one on Opening Night also, but you would have never gotten the message if you read their review.
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” is playing at the Hanna Theater until this Saturday, March 27. Go see it, it’s a great night of theater, no matter what you read else where. For more information visit www.greatlakestheater.org.

Spring 2011 Concert Preview

2011-03-09T07:36:00.002-08:00

There are so many great shows scheduled for this spring at area venues, a music lover could find something to do almost any night of the week. Nighttown has a full schedule mixed with local born artists returning home and national touring jazz acts including on St. Patrick’s Day two shows from The New Barleycorn; Saxophonist and Smooth Jazz Star Walter Beasley and his band play March 18 & 19; Cleveland raised, Reno based vocalist CeCe Gable on March 20 for a matinee show; On March 25 versatile singer/actress from NYC and the soap opera All My Children Joan Crowe performs; April 5 finds the 22 Piece Senior Big Band TOPS Swingband under the direction of Arranger, Composer, and Trombonist Dick Wooley doing a show; from Austin, Texas, The Hot Club of Austin performs on April 11; the legendary vocal group The Four Freshmen return to Nighttown on April 15 &16; on Friday, April 22, is the return of the Sammy DeLeon/Jackie Warren Latin Jazz Sextet; and on April 21 is the return of Jen Chapin, daughter of Harry and a fine talent in her own right. For information on these shows and all the other great things going on at Nighttown visit www.nighttowncleveland.com.
The Winchester will be hosting s diverse line up of shows over the next few months including indie rockers the Trashcan Sinatras on March 18; Michael Jackson’s former lead guitarist Jennifer Batten on March 25; Columbus, Ohio, country rock legends McGuffey Lane on April 2; Jefferson Airplane founder Marty Balin on April 7; and original member of England’s the Faces Ian McLagan on June 7. Check out www.thewinchester.net for more information on this great Lakewood venue and their shows.
The Kent Stage hosts the quietly legendary David Linley on March 27; local guitar virtuoso Neil Zaza performing his new CD “212” on April 15; and the lovely and ageless folk diva Judy Collins on May 6. For more info go to www.kentstage.org.
Downtown at the House of Blues there is a full slate of shows including the Saw Doctors on March 18; a pretty good version of Yes on March 22; the ageless Willie Nelson and Family on March 25; and Scottish hipsters the Average White Band on April 13. Go to www.hob.com/Cleveland for more information.
The Beachland Ballroom gets its twelfth year off to a good start with the Blasters appearing on March 18; local legends Pere Ubu come in on March 19; Paperboy Reed plays on March 24; there is a Big Band Brunch on March 27 featuring Ernie Krivda and the Fat Tuesday Band; on April 6 Kent’s Jessica Lea Mayfield makes an appearance; blues women extraordinaire Candye Kane will play on April 20; Terri Clarke appears on April 27; Youngstown’s favorite trio Glass Harp does a show on May 7; Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks return on May 13; and on Sunday, May 15, is the lovely and terrific blues pianist and vocalist Marcia Ball and her band. Go to www.beachlandballroom.com for information on these shows and a whole lot more.

10 Reasons to Hop on the Cleveland State Basketball Bandwagon

2011-03-09T07:36:00.001-08:00

1. A genuine alternative at the fraction of the cost to several certain underachieving professional sports franchises: Real collegiate cheerleaders and dance team; a great spirit band; genuine audience interaction; no “narcisstic” pro athletes in sight.
2. Norris Cole: The senior guard is one of twenty finalists for the Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in the country.
3. The women’s team: Fighting for another league championship in a rebuilding year after going to the NCAA’s two out of the last three years. Coach Kate Peterson Abiad’s team is in the running to make it three out of four. Guard Shawnita Garland is always the smallest person on the court, yet leads the team in minutes played.
4. Big Stuff: An opportunity to check out the campus and the new student center, the new rec center, the new law library, and the new education building; and, yes, dormitories with real college students living in them.
5. Gary Waters and staff: The best coach and best staff in any sport on any level in Ohio.
6. Anton Grady from Cleveland Central Catholic: The best high school player in the city, who will be a part of a great recruiting class coming to CSU next fall.
7. Junior Big Men: Aaron Pugh and Joe Lantas, tough defense minded inside players.
8. Jeremy Montgomery and Trevon Harmon: CSU’s defensive stalwarts/3 point shooting junior guards.
9. Tim Kamczyc: A local product from Strongsville, an over achieving walk on who now starts and is on scholarship. The 6’6’’ forward leads the Vikings defense.
10. Saturdays at the Wolstein Center: Cheap hot dogs, games for the kids, it can’t be beat.
Cleveland State has two big games this week that will play a big part in both winning the Horizon League crown and making it to the NCAA tournament. Check out the Vikings this Thursday, February 3 vs. Valparaiso at 7:00 p.m., and this Saturday at noon vs. Butler. For more info visit www.csuhoops.com.

Winter Music Highlights

2011-01-16T08:36:00.000-08:00

After a very busy holiday season, Northern Ohio’s favorite live music venues have some good shows lined up to get fans through the winter.
One of the highlights of the winter each year is the Tri-C Rock Off at the House of Blues, taking place most weekends until the finals on February 12. Local favorite Paul Fayeweather is doing a show at the HOB on February 4, and blues guitarist Robert Cray and his band appear February 15. Check out more info at www.hob.com/cleveland.
February is filled with great shows at the Kent Stage including Max Weinberg’s Big Band on February 2; Leon Redbone on February 4; Columbus country rock legends McGuffey Lane on the February 26; and singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell on March 5. For more information go to www.kentstage.org.
The Winchester will be holding the fort down on the west side with shows including the Dan Reed of the Dan Reed Project on January 28; Commander Cody and his Band on February 11; a CD release party and comedy show featuring Mike Polk and Last Call Cleveland on February 12; and an encore performance of Jonah Koslen and Stage Pass Now on March 4. Go to .www.thewinchester.net for their complete schedule.
The Beachland Ballroom will be busy all winter, with shows leading up to their 11th Anniversary in March. Friday, January 28 is a day for local favorites with Cats on Holiday in the Tavern and the Schwartz Brothers in the Ballroom; Thursday, February 3 is Shelby Lynne; Saturday, February 5 is Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings; Friday, February 18 is Martin Sexton. The club’s anniversary weekend of March 4-6 includes a Friday double header with Paul Thorn and his Band in the Ballroom and Wayne “The Train” Hancock in the Tavern, and another double dip on Saturday with the Spampinato Brothers (from NRBG) in the Tavern and Jonathon Richmond in the Ballroom. Go to www.beachlandballroom.com for more information.
Jazz fans at Nighttown won’t be left out in the cold either, amongst their many shows this winter are Sunday, January 23, with rising trumpet star Dominick Farinacci and his Quartet; Friday, January 28, with alto saxophonist Richie Cole & Northstar; Sunday, February 13, Concord Recording Artist and Grammy Winning vocalist Kurt Elling doing two shows at 6 & 8 PM; Thursday, February 17, The Good Lovelies Juno winning trio from Toronto playing Folk-Roots and Western Swing; Friday, February 18, Violinist from the Cleveland Orchestra Lev Polyakin and his jazz group Russian Blue; and Saturday, February 19, rising alto saxophonist Bobby Selvaggio and his Quartet. Check out www.nighttowncleveland.com for the complete schedule and starting times.

Event Preview Annual Wine Tasting at Sokolowski’s University Inn Wednesday, January 26, 6:00

2011-01-16T08:35:00.000-08:00

Most people in Northern Ohio know Sokolowski’s University Inn in Tremont as a great place to eat lunch, or to go for perogies and stuffed cabbage on a Friday or Saturday night. The old style cafeteria restaurant and tavern is one of the real gems of our city.
A lot of us don’t know that every so often they dress the Inn up and have a special event, with the next one being their Annual Wine Tasting on Wednesday, January 26.
The night is being co hosted by Wente Vineyards of California, and will feature as master of ceremonies the vineyard’s Midwest Sales Manager Paula Witkowski, who will give the background and history of each wine of the evening. For $60 a person patrons will get a five-course meal each featuring a glass a wine. I went to last year’s event and it was well worth it. The evening gets started at 6:00 with a champagne greeting.
Besides the wine the menu will include a blue cheese and bacon topped lettuce salad and homemade beef barley soup; will feature both tilapia topped with a shrimp and scallop cream sauce and short ribs with roasted root vegetables; and end with some of Sokolowski’s delicious home made desserts.
For more information or to make reservations call 216.771.9236. You can also check out University Inn’s website at www.sokolowskis.com.

Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical 12 January 2011 The Cleveland Play House

2011-01-16T08:34:00.000-08:00

The last few winters the Play House has presented a musical biography, including works on the life of George Gershwin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mahalia Jackson. Each has been very well done, and a highlight of the season. This year’s presentation Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical based on the life of dancer Ginger Rogers is no exception.
The show features the multi talented Ann Aimee White as Rogers, and the cast of Heather Lee, Christianne Tisdale, Matthew LaBanca, Benjie Randall, and James Patterson playing a variety of roles, including Rogers’ mother Lela; Rogers’ five husbands; and a variety of celebrities including Fred Astaire, Jimmy Stewart, and Ethel Merman.
The show is about the music of Ginger Rogers life as well as dancing, and amongst the sixteen songs are terrific versions of “I Got My Guy,” “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “We’re in the Money,” “Fine Romance,” and “I’m Putting All my Eggs in One basket.” Gershwin, Kern, Berlin, and Dorothy Fields are all featured.
Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical is a very good night of theater, and last Wednesday the audience enjoyed it tremendously. It is filled with dance, music, a little movie and theater history, as well as the personal life of Ginger Rogers. It was a great entertainment on a cold winter night.
The musical is now running at the Cleveland Play House until January 30, for tickets or more information call 216.795.7000 or visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Coming up at the Play House is an adaptation of Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful starting February 4.
Remember, this is the Play House’s last season at their Euclid Avenue complex near the Cleveland Clinic before moving downtown to the Allen theater complex.

“Home for the Holidays” at Nighttown December 27 with Vanessa Rubin December 28 with Joe Lovano

2011-01-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

“Home for the Holidays” has become quite a tradition at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights, as national jazz artists with Cleveland roots come home and play a show or two in late December. This year’s event had a full calendar of shows, and I was lucky enough to catch two of them.
On Monday, December 27, vocalist Vanessa Rubin took over Nighttown and owned the place for the evening. In front of an enthusiastic crowd made up of her family and many old friends and fans, she held court not only singing but also telling some great stories. Backed by a three piece band that featured Greg Bandy on drums, Drene Ivy on piano, and Glenn Holmes on bass, she covered old and new material, which included a touch of Brazil, a jazz standards, some Ella like scatting, and even a great version of “A Few of my Favorite Things.” There was something for everyone and the audience just loved it. For more about Vanessa Rubin and her music check out www.vanessarubin.com.
On Tuesday, December 28, jazz saxophonist Joe Lovano took over the Nighttown stage, in front of another sold out audience. Lovano is Cleveland’s biggest contribution to the current jazz world, and at Nighttown he gave three sets spanning a variety of different styles. His first set featured him as a soloist, his second set featured his wife Judi Silvano on vocals on several jazz standards, and the third set features Lovano sharing the stage with a who’s who of the Cleveland jazz world, including several sax duals with Ernie Krivda. It was a full night of music and the audience again appreciated it greatly. To be up to date on Lovano and his music visit www.loelovano.com.
As always, Nighttown has a lot of great shows coming up, you can check out their musical calendar at www.nighttowncleveland.com.

Holiday Shows Around Town

2010-11-30T13:05:00.000-08:00

All of my favorite venues have some special events and shows lined up for the holiday season. If you are looking for a special music night out over the holidays you have plenty to choose from…
At Nighttown in Cleveland Heights it is their Eighth Annual Home For The Holidays series, with shows featuring national jazz artists who are from Cleveland starting with The Lewins on Thursday, Dec. 16; The Joe McBride Trio on Friday, December 17; The Musical Theater Project's "A Christmas Cabaret" featuring Jared Leal, Nancy Maier, Bill Rudman & Sandra Simon on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, December 19, 20, 21; Vanessa Rubin on Monday, December 27; Joe Lovano and Family & Friends featuring a whole bunch of special guests on Tuesday, Dec. 28; Jamey Haddad on Wednesday & Thursday December. 29-30; and New Year’s Eve with Dominick Farinacci. Most of these shows will have a high demand, check out www.nighttowncleveland.com for more information or how to make reservations.
Things will be jumping at the Beachland Ballroom in December also, amongst the highlights are Bill Kirchen’s Honky Tonk Holiday on Sunday, December 12; on Thursday, December 23, the Annual Home for the Holidays show featuring music from eight until closing in both the Tavern and the Ballroom featuring the Bears and Harriet the Spy amongst many; on Christmas Day the Blue Lunch Annual Christmas Nite Latke Party & Matzoh Ball Show with special guests Mississippi Reese & Blues Boy Lonnie to Benefit Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America; on Sunday, December 26, the 8th Annual "Old Home" Night  with Home & Garden (w/ Tony Maimone), the Kidney Brothers, The Heathers, and Alejandro Escovedo & Miss Melvis; and on New Year’s Eve Tropidelic's New Years Eve East Side Bash  featuring Echo Movement, The Royaltons, Mr. 101, and Wanyama  Price in the Ballroom and Oliver Buck & The New Madrids in the Tavern.
The House of Blues is featuring two nights of Michael Stanley and the Resonators doing their annual holiday shows on Saturdays December 11 and 18; Joe Satriani on December 17; and the Journey cover band Frontiers on New Years Eve. For more info check out www.hob.com.
The holiday highlights at the Winchester in Lakewood include on Friday, December 17, Alex Bevan; a Christmas Eve show with Anne E. Dechant and Band; and New Years Eve with Into the Blue: The Grateful Dead Revival. For more info go to www.thewinchester.net.
The Kent Stage closes out the year with shows by Donna the Buffalo on December 12; the New Riders of the Purple Sage on December 18; and a Frank Sinatra Tribute featuring Michael Sonata and the Dave Banks Big Band on December 19. For more information on those shows go to www.kentstage.org.

Tommy Wiggins "A Good Wife" 2010 Chilidog Records

2010-10-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Tommy Wiggins
“A Good Wife”
2010 Chilidog Records

Tom Wiggins is one of the people that keeps the music world rolling along here in Northern Ohio. He is mostly known as the head of the Recording Arts and Technology program at Tri-C, and host of the award winning cable show “Crooked River Groove.” Many do not know that Wiggins is also a fine musician and songwriter in his own right, and every so often puts out a quality release. His latest endeavor is “A Good Wife,” which he is releasing this fall on his own Chilidog Records. Although a different style than his last few releases, it is another very solid effort.
The CD features twelve tracks of stripped down music, with Wiggins’ soulful, raw and honest vocals, along with his observant song lyrics, carrying the load. Behind him are a bit of guitar and piano, along with some percussion and back ground vocals. The CD is filled with sincere ballads with titles like “A Good Wife,” “Everything Girl,” and “You and Me.” I love the piano behind both “She was in a Hurry” and “On a Perfect Sunday.” “Peace on Earth” and “The Freedom Train” are throwbacks to the folk rock of the 70’s.
Everyone putting out their own release should talk to Wiggins (or Colin Dussault for that matter) about product design and packaging. Yes, it really does matter. Everything about “A Good Wife,” from the music to the packaging is top shelf. The cover features a beautiful painting by artist Catherine Wall of Wiggins’ wife Georgia. Inside features a photo of Wiggins and Georgia as a young couple, probably in their early twenties. After seeing both graphics, you know that “A Good Wife” is, above all, is a labor of love. My only complaint of the album is the lyrics are posted on Wiggins’ website instead of in the package someplace. These are songs you’d like to sing along with from the first time you listen.
For more about Tommy Wiggins and his music, including some upcoming shows in support of his new release, visit www.tommywiggins.com.

Alejandro Escovedo 10.11.2010 @ the Beachland Ballroom

2010-10-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

I can really see why Alejandro Escovedo is having his day in the sun, finally getting some of the recognition he deserved a long time ago. He has an album that is selling and getting played on the radio, he’s signed on with Springsteen’s management company, and he’s even played the Letterman show. His moment has come because he writes good songs, he’s a solid play ahead live performer, and he appeals to the roots music crowd that is slowly getting bigger and bigger.
He is also becoming one of those Cleveland darlings, a semi-national act from another part of the country that has a loyal and growing audience here in northern Ohio. When I first got to the Beachland last Monday to check out a bit of the opening band, the place was half empty. But by the time Escovedo took the stage the room had filled almost to capacity, with the older, wiser crowd that supports bands like his, and Paul Thorn and Shelby Lynne and Raul Malo, when they hit town.
Last week’s show was better than last January’s show, and last January’s show was a good one. Although he is still touring in support of his “Street Songs of Love” release, his recent show delved more in into his past, and Escovedo seemed more at ease with the crowd. The highlights from the new album included “Down in the Bowery” and “Streetsongs,” the first one was introduced by a funny story about Escovedo and his 16 year old punk rock son. Among past favorites “Rosalie” and “Castanets” stood out, each again being introduced by some great story telling.
Alejandro Escovedo has been all over the musical map during his career. From his Mexican American childhood, to his days in the punk moment of the late 70’s, to his singer songwriting days and his band days with Rank and File, and he brings all of those experiences to what he is doing now. He is a roots rocker in every sense of the word, and they are not too many who have more roots than he does.
The highlight of the show was a guitar instrumental that he shared with his guitarist David Pulkingham “Fort Worth Blues,” that he dedicated to an old friend and collaborator Stephen Brudon who recently died of cancer. It was great stuff.
Hopefully Alejandro Escovedo will return again in nine or ten months and put on another great show. I think he’s to the point here in Northern Ohio that he will fill a venue like the Beachland almost anytime. For more about him and his music visit www.alejandroescovedo.com. As always, the Beachland has a lot of good things coming up, including Chuck Prophet on Wednesday, October 20; the Carl Palmer Band on Saturday, October 23; and Los Straightjackets on Saturday, October 30. Go to www.beachlandballroom.com for information on these shows and more.

October/November Concert Calendar

2010-10-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

October/November Concert Calendar
I spent some time looking at the October and November offerings at my favorite music venues and was surprised at how many shows caught my eye. This Sunday, October 10, Raul Malo is at the Kent Stage. He is a tremendous performer, and if you have a chance to see him this time around don’t pass it up. The Kent stage has a lot of great shows coming up, including Marc Cohn on October 12 and the Max Weinberg Big Band on November 4. Check out their colander at www.kentstage.org.
The Beachland Ballroom features the return of Alejandro Escovedo, still touring in support of his “Streetsongs of Love” release on Monday, October 11; singer/songwriter Chuck Prophet on Wednesday October 20 (I have never seen him but he comes highly recommended by music aficionado Mike Sokolowski); and Josh Ritter, in support of his new release “So Goes the World Away.” His last Beachland show was terrific. All three shows should be pretty solid. For the complete Beachland music calendar visit www.beachlandballroom.com.
The Trombone Shorty show originally scheduled for the Beachland has been moved to the House of Blues on Friday, November 12, with the Rebirth Brass Band added to the bill. Also at the House of Blues in November is the annual return of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes on the 26th. Yes, it will be 1980 all over again and the crowd will love it. For all the good things going on at the House of Blues visit www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/Cleveland.
Over a nine day period the Winchester has three potentially great shows lined up. On Wednesday, October 27, former Byrd and founding member of the Flying Burrito Brothers (not to mention his time with the Southern, Hillman, Furay Band) Chris Hillman hits the stage. Here’s a chance to see up close a real legend of rock and roll, one often credited with being the founder of country rock. Two days later on Friday, October 29, one time Cleveland favorite Andy Pratt plays here for the first time in who knows when. Remember “Avenging Annie”? Then the following Friday, November 5, Mississippi based blues pianist/vocalist Eden Brent makes her Cleveland debut. I haven’t seen her yet, but the buzz about her is that she is very good. For more information about these shows and more visit www.thewinchester.net.
On Thursday, November 4, Los Lobos returns to Cleveland with a show at the Masonic Auditorium at 36th and Euclid. This should be a good show in an under used venue. The concert is being promoted by Visible Voices Books, the great Tremont bookstore/wine bar. For more information go to www.visiblevoicesbooks.com/events.
Nighttown didn’t have their November calendar posted yet, but three shows in October jumped out at me. On Saturday, October 16, the San Francisco Jazz Collective makes an appearance; on Wednesday, October 20, Cleveland Hts. native jazz drummer Neil Smith brings in his All Star Quartet; and on Monday, October 25, 8 string guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter and his Trio perform. Visit www.nighttowncleveland.com for information on all of their shows.

2010 Traveling Circus Knuckleheads Football Road Trip

2010-09-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

It Is Time To Get Back On The Bus...

2010 TRAVELING CIRCUS KNUCKLEHEADS

BROWNS ROAD TRIP

December 18/19 in Cincinnati/Paul Brown Stadium

CLEVELAND BROWNS VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Cost is $265 per person if paid in full by September 9,

$285 after September 9

Includes all of the following:

Round Trip Motor Coach Transportation

Round Trip Road Pops

Saturday Lunch Stop

Lodging at the Embassy Suites on the River

(Within Walking Distance from the Stadium)

Happy Hour at the Hotel from 5:30-7:30 on Saturday

Awesome Breakfast Sunday Morning

A Quality Game Ticket (No Nose Bleeds)

Road Trip Give Away

Bus will leave on Saturday, December 18 from the Nice Place Café in Parma at 11:00 A.M., with a pick up in Wadsworth at 11:45 A.M., and a possible pick up in the Columbus area. We will return on Sunday evening immediately after the game.

Lodging is Four to a Suite

(for 2 to a room contact one of the Gregs)

Spots Are Limited and Will Be Reserved on a First Paid Basis

$125 Deposit Reserves Your Spot

For More Info Call Greg Cielec (216.496.8286) or

Greg Lindeman (330.697.1220)

Send Payment to: Greg Lindeman, 195 Bailey Court, Doylestown, Ohio 44230

Make Checks Out to Greg Lindeman

AS ALWAYS, EXPECT A DAMN GOOD TIME

A note or two...We did the same trip in 2000, 2002, and 2005, and all three were outstanding. If you are thinking about seeing the Browns on the road this year, this is the trip to go on. Go with a group of people who have been running Browns road trips for over twenty-five years, including trips to Detroit, Atlanta, New Orleans, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati.

After all of our trips we often hear from people who went on other cheaper bus trips, “We should have gone with you guys.” Why? For example, when we go to Cinci…

•We stay at an all suite hotel within walking distance of the Stadium, directly across the river. You won’t be stuck twenty miles out in the suburbs in some low budget hotel. And we stay in a suite hotel, were each room is actually two full size hotel rooms.

•Our price includes a lunch stop on the road; a free Happy Hour in our hotel from 5:30-7:30 Saturday night; a great breakfast Sunday morning; and, of course, unlimited bottled and canned beverages on the way down and the way back.

•No box lunches. No draft beer.

•One of the best things about our trip is Sunday morning. You wake up within walking distance of the stadium. You aren’t herded on a bus, hungover and tired, to drive another hour or two to the game. You can sleep until noon, grab breakfast, and still get to the game on time.

•Our tickets will be in the lower bowl of the stadium. You won’t be stuck up in the upper deck, which is where almost everyone else on other bus trips usually sits.

•We don’t fill the bus to capacity, cramming someone in every seat. We always leave at least a dozen or so empty seats on the bus so there is room to stretch out, socialize, and to have plenty of coolers stocked with cold ones. And if you want to crash on the way home, there will be more than enough room.

•You even get to take home a commemorative gift, instead of a headache and a backache from an uncomfortable ride home.

If you have any questions, call one of the two Gregs listed on the front of this flyer. A deposit of $125 reserves your spot for an outstanding time.

A note about the cost...

We don’t make any money on these trips. We are in it for the good time. Our costs have gone up excessively since our last trip, especially (because of gas) the cost of the bus. But please remember, our trip has a lot of extras planted in it, and a lot of luxury also. We don’t cut corners, and we promise you will get your money’s worth. If you are on good standing with us, $125 reserves your spot and your balance isn’t due until Dec. 1.

Call or email if you have any questions:

Greg Cielec: Cielec@hotmail.com, 216.496.8286

Greg Linderman: glindeman@neo.rr.com , 330.697.1220

Two Great Shows at the Beachland, Marcia Ball Band 19 August 2010, Paul Thorn Band 21 August 2010

2010-08-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

Last week I was a very happy music fan as two of my favorite touring acts played at the Beachland Ballroom. On Thursday blues diva Marcia Ball brought her band in, and on Saturday singer songwriter Paul Thorn did the same. Both are Beachland favorites, and both bands gave outstanding performances that were well received by the close to capacity crowds.
Marcia Ball has been stopping in Cleveland almost yearly for close to twenty years and has developed a loyal Northern Ohio following. She is truly one of the greats in today’s blues and roots music worlds. She is a very good singer and songwriter, and a great piano player. She is backed by a four piece band of solid music veterans, lead by her long time bass player Don Bennett. Over the last several years she has let her band share a bit more of the spotlight, especially guitar player Mike Schermer and saxophonist Thad Scott. Schermer is the writer of the song “Big Sister’s Radio,” which has been covered by several country and blues artists over the last few years.
Last Thursday’s show featured songs from all parts of Ball’s career, including some New Orleans favorites, songs from her last release “Peace, Love, and Bar B Que,” and a few new songs from an upcoming project. Amongst the highlights from the “Peace, Love and Bar B Que” CD were “Partytown,” a tribute to New Orleans; “Married Life,” about life on the road; the title tune; and the beautiful ballads “Fallin’ Back I Love with You” and “I Wish You Well.” The best new tune was a ballad dedicated to Ms. Ball’s father “This Use to be Paradise,” about what the Louisiana coast has gone through over the last few years, especially this past summer.
As always, I can’t wait until next summer when Marcia Ball and her band travel north from their Austin, Texas home once again. For more about her and her music visit www.marciaball.com.
Paul Thorn has only been traveling north from his Tupelo, Mississippi home to perform for several years but he too has a solid Cleveland following. Last Saturday’s show was his best Cleveland show yet, filled with great music and story telling. He played old favorites like “Mood Ring” and “I Have a Good Day (every now and then)”, and featured songs from his recent release “Pimps and Preachers,” including the title track, “Tequila is Good for the Heart,” and his dedication to his mother “That’s Life.” Paul and his band gave their A performance at the Beachland last Saturday, and the audience ate it up. For more information about Paul Thorn and his music visit www.paulthorn.com.
This was another great weekend of music at the Beachland, and, like always, they have a lot of great shows coming up, including The Breeders on September 2; Donna the Buffalo on September 8; and a benefit for the Roots of American Music program featuring Glass Harp on October 9. Check out the Beachland’s full calendar at www.beachlandballroom.com.
Photo by Rick Perk

McGuffey Lane “10” 2010 Lick Records, Distributed by E1 Entertainment

2010-08-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

McGuffey Lane’s new CD “10” is the best thing they have recorded in a long time. Out of the ten songs that are on it, more than half of them would have fit nicely in either of their first two albums they made back in the early eighties. Although they have made several CD’s since they have reformed ten years ago, it wasn’t until original bass player Steve George Reis rejoined the band several years ago that the old McGuffey Lane sound really started to come back, both in concert and in recordings. With Reis on bass, that has allowed multi-talented Molly Pauken to play mandolin and other assorted string instruments. That has brought back that little touch of blue grass that has been a part of McGuffey Lane’s country rock sound.
The new CD has ten songs on it and amongst the highlights are “I Am Who I Am,” “It’s a Good Day,” and “Nobody But a Fool,” all penned and sung by lead guitarist John Schwab. The best cut on the album, from a sentimental point of view, is Reis’s great traveling tune “Song for the Road,” which the band has been doing in concert since back in the day but had never recorded before. Two songs that will be concert favorites off the disk are a duet between Schwab and Reis about refusing to grow old “I Ain’t Given’ in to Getting’ Old,” and “Bartender,” a vacation song which sounds like the sequel to “I’m in Jamaica,” which was on their 1984 album “Day by Day.”
McGuffey Lane will be traveling throughout Ohio and the Midwest in support of “10” through the fall. They headlined the Lorain International Festival this past June and hopefully will return to Northern Ohio soon. For more information on their shows visit www.mcguffeylane.com.
McGuffey Lane’s “10” is on Lick Records and distributed nationally by E1 Entertainment. You can pick it up at your favorite CD store, your local Wal Mart, as well as ordering it online at the band’s website.

Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio, Nighttown, 8 August 2010

2010-08-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Attending a lot of shows in venues like the Beachland, the House of Blues, and Nighttown, I have seen many acts hailed as the “next big thing.” I also get a lot of emails from publicists and managers hailing their latest acts as “the next big thing.” And, yes, occasionally I have even hopped on a bandwagon or two. If you asked me today who I have seen recently who might be on their way to big things, the first thing that would pop in my head would be the Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio that played Nighttown last Sunday.
This was their second time through Nighttown and they were quite impressive. Playing original music they call “funky lounge rock,” these three talented musicians put on a terrific show. They are unique for several reasons, the first obviously because they are the sons of three of the legends of that wonderful time back in the seventies when jazz and rock actually collided for awhile. Second, this is currently a side project for all three of them, but it is taking up more of their time as their popularity is spreading.
Both Carmen Auger and Nick Sample are current members of Auger’s father Brian’s band the Oblivion Express. Julian Coryell is a studio musician in Los Angeles, who does a lot of time working in Japan. But when these three musicians get together wonderful things happen. Last Monday they played 15 selections that featured Coryell’s guitar work, Auger’s drumming, and Sample on bass. New this time around were several songs that also featured Coryell on vocals. They featured songs from their first album “Cooley Returns,” as well as songs from an upcoming release. Amongst the highlights were the new songs “Song for our Fathers,” and three that featured Coryell’s vocals: “Saint Bad,” “School Boy Crush,” and “My Funky Business.”
The Trio’s sound is a mix of seventies fusion rock/jazz, with a bit of power trio rock thrown in, topped off with a touch of both surf rock and lounge music. The musicianship is outstanding, their stage presence is very professional, and the song writing is top shelf. These guys are really good. Yes, they really could be the next big thing.
Auger and Sample will be back at Nighttown next month when Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express does their annual Nighttown shows on September 2 and 3. They will hook back up with Coryell sometime in the late fall for more Trio shows. They recently spent time in the recording studio with their fathers working on a projection that they will call Coryell Auger Sample Generations. A spring CD release is planned, and hopefully some shows with the Trio and their fathers next summer. For more info about the Coryell, Auger, Sample Trio visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/CORYELL-AUGER-SAMPLE-TRIO/373282267852.
As always there are a lot of great shows coming up at Nighttown including Cleveland born NYC jazz guitarist Rick Stone on Sunday, August 22, the above-mentioned Brian Auger shows on Thursday and Friday September 2 & 3, and the Freddy Cole Quartet on Saturday, September 4. Check out Nighttown’s complete music schedule at www.nighttowncleveland.com.

Photos by Dave Hostetler

Four for August 2010

2010-07-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Four for August

Recently I have received several emails complimenting me on concert reviews for CoolCleveland, but also asking me what upcoming shows would I recommend. Several of the emails came from readers whom haven’t yet attended a show at a venue like the Beachland or Nighttown or the House of Blues, but would like to. I looked at the concert calendar for Greater Cleveland and over the next four weeks four shows at three different venues highlight a busy August concert scene. They represent four different genres of popular music, all three acts were outstanding on their last visits to Cleveland, and all would be good reasons to also check out the venues.

On Sunday, August 8 at 7:00 P.M., at NightTown in Cleveland Heights, the jazz outfit Trio, a next generation All-Star group from Los Angeles featuring Julian Coryell on guitar, Karma Auger on drums, & Nick Sample on bass, will be performing. This is a side project for all three performers who currently tour with their more famous fathers. The last time through town they brought a younger than usual crowd to Nighttown and gave a great performance of jazz in the rock-influenced style pioneered by their fathers back in the Seventies.
It can be such a hit or miss proposition when dealing with the offspring of established musicians. For every Rosanne Cash, some one who succeeds despite being in a parent's shadow, there are many who don't. The members of Trio are already seasoned veterans of the music world, and are all talented musicians in their own rights.
My notes from their last Nighttown show describe their music as George Benson meets Rare Earth meets Funkadelic meets Dicky Betts. And, of course, you couldn't help but notice the influences of the elder Auger, Coryell, and Sample. The trio did a great job of keeping the audience's attention with instrumentals with catchy titles like "Nadine," "Beautiful," "The Purple Panther," and "Walking the Dragon." Most of the songs left room for solos and improvisation from all three members. Both the songs and the performance were very good. For more info about Trio visit www.myspace.com/coryellaugersampletrio. To check out other great shows coming to NightTown visit www.ClevelandNightTown.com.

On Friday, August 13 at 8:00 at the House of Blues is the return of all original members of the early eighties super group Asia. During their last show at the House of Blues two years ago, Guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, bassist/vocalist John Wetton, and keyboardist Geoff Downes put on an outstanding show that included the hits from their landmark early eighties albums; fresh new material from their 2008 CD Phoenix, including “An Extraordinary Life”; and they even went back into the past with a some songs from their original bands (Yes, ELP, King Crimson, the Buggles). They are currently touring in support of their 2010 release “Omega.” Tickets are $35 in advance. For more information about Asia visit www.originalasia.com. To check out all the great stuff going on at the House of Blues go to www.hob.com/Cleveland.

On Thursday, August 19, at 8:00 P.M. at the Beachland Ballroom blues and boogie-woogie legend Marcia Ball and her band return. The Louisiana born, Texas based Ms. Ball is a multiple winner of W.C. Handy awards, and is considered by many the finest blues pianist performing today. This is a chance to see one of the greats of today’s blues and roots music scene. Tickets are $25 in advance and will go fast. For more info about Marcia Ball visit www.marciaball.com. At her last Beachland show the full house in attendance loved every minute of it, whether it was sitting still listening to a beautiful ballad or up on their feet dancing to a boogie number.
Often praised for her piano playing, she is just as good of a singer, whether it’s a New Orleans dancing in the street number or a soulful version of Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927." Marcia Ball is truly one of the living legends of American roots music.

And closing out the month, also at the Beachland, is the August 21 return of the Paul Thorn Band. A Paul Thorn show is part old time revival, part roots music, part blues show, part rock and roll concert. He is becoming another one of those Cleveland darlings, a regional artist from somewhere else who comes through town once a year or so, and solely by word of mouth each time the crowd gets a little bigger. He is from Tupelo, Mississippi, and is a great songwriter, a solid performer, and an American musical original. His observations of the world around him are priceless. If there was any justice in the world, he'd be sitting on the top of the music industry. For more about Paul Thorn and his music visit www.paulthorn.com. As always, there are a lot of great shows coming up at the Beachland, visit www.beachlandballroom.com for more information.

I highly recommend each of these shows for a great night out of live music. All three clubs have pretty extensive websites with directions, places to park, and lists of upcoming events.

Desiree Boardwine "Wonderland" 2010

2010-07-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

Desiree Boardwine “Wonderland”
2010 Gateway City Records

Over the last several years singer/songwriter Desiree Boardwine has been a pretty busy young lady. Besides graduating high school in the spring of 2009, and attending college full time this past year, she has taken bands to the Tri-C Rock Off Finals twice at the House of Blues; lead her family onto national television by making the finals of the CBS Morning Show Best Family Band in America contest; and just recently won the Grand Prize in the Time Warner Cable Random Acts of Music Songwriting Contest.

She has also just finished her first CD release, a five song EP titled “Wonderland.” On all five tracks she is joined by a group of young but seasoned area musicians, lead by guitar virtuoso Brian Poston and her brother Brett on keyboards. She is a very talented songwriter, and her music shows a lot of originality as well as influences from Pat Benatar to Janet Jackson.

On Saturday, July 24, at the Arena in Streetsboro she will be headlining a release party for both her CD and the professionally done video which was one of the prizes in the Random Acts of Music contest. Doors open at 7:00, with music starting at 8:00. Special guest will be Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Amy Kuney, who has had her music featured on MTV, One Tree Hill, and the Gilmore Girls. Opening act will be The Crazed. The Arena is located in the Streetsboro Plaza, at the intersection of Route 14 and 303 East in downtown Streetsboro.

Tickets for the evening are only $12 at the door, and if you bring a copy of this article you will get in for half price.

For more about Desiree Boardwine and her music visit www.ourstage.com/profile/desireeboardwine. For more about Amy Kuney and her music visit http://www.myspace.com/amykuney. For more information about The Arena Sports and Entertainment Complex in Streetsboro visit www.myspace.com/arenaniteclub.

"Midwest Coast" (2009) and "Baroque Music for Trumpet" (2010) both by Josh Rzepka

2010-07-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

Josh Rzepka has had a busy last couple of years. Besides finishing his Masters at Boston University in musical performance (after a degree in music from Oberlin), he has released two solid CDs of music. The first "Midwest Coast" is filled with ten original compositions of various jazz styles, while the second "Baroque Music for Trumpet" is made up of 17 tracks of traditional classical music. Quite a contrast, but this young man from the Akron is talented enough to pull both of them off.
"Midwest Coast" finds Rzepka fronting a talented quartet with local keyboard legend Jackie Warren on piano, Peter Dominguez on bass, and Ron Godale on drums. The music on the disc ranges in influences from Latin America to Harlem. "Boroque Music for Trumpet" finds Rzepka playing melodies written by Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell, and Telemann amongst others. He gets a little help from soprano Rebecca Freshwater on a beautiful version of Handel's "Let the Bright Seraphim."
On Thursday, July 8, Rzepka will be performing selections from both CD's at NightTown in Cleveland Heights. He will be backed by the band who recorded "Midwest Coast" with him. If you want to see one of Northern Ohio's most promising up and coming talents I'd check out this show.
Photo by Robert J. Saferstein.

Getting Caught Up on Some CD Reviews

2010-06-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

We get so many CDs at CoolCleveland to review, sometimes we get backed up on them. We try to do at least one review a week, usually tying it in with a performance of some sort. A lot of great stuff gets lost in the shuffle, and we feel bad when we miss out on reviewing a good piece of music.
Cleveland is filled with talented musicians, no matter what the style or genre. From jazz to hip hop to polka to ethnic to classic rock to grunge to show tunes and what ever else can be put on a disk, someone in Northern Ohio can do it well. So instead of doing an in depth review of one CD this week, I thought I'd go through the stacks of CDs that have arrived over the last year or two, pick out a few of the better ones, and make a comment about each. Here we go…
Ki Allen has been doing jazz and blues around Cleveland for years. The talented singer did a CD with veteran guitarist Bob Fraser called "Calling Card" and it is filled with great versions of some jazz and show standards. She will be playing around town all summer, check out her schedule at www.kiallen.net.
Jaclyn Bradley will be doing everything this summer from giving voice lessons to singing the national anthem at Lake Erie Crusher games. The very talented vocalist has a CD out "Hollywood Be Thy Name," which she recorded in Los Angeles before returning to her hometown of Cleveland. Check more out about Jaclyn at www.jaclynbradley.com.
Unsparing Sea, a group consisting of cellos, accordion, and harp, as well as guitars, keyboards, and drums, have gotten some good regional press for "In Diamond Caverns," which they released late last year on Broke.Tusk.Collective, a local indie label. A lot of talent in this band, check them out at www.unsparingsea.com.
Motter Flynn is a group of college age kids from the southwest suburbs who have out a CD titled "Rigate Pitygraphs." They are good singer songwriters, with a touch of everyone from Dave Matthews to Tom Petty in their music. Check them out at www.motterflynn.com.
Joshua Smith, a flutist with the Cleveland Orchestra, has released "J.S. Bach Flute Sonatas," a solo project along with harpsichordist Jory Vinikour. Smith is very talented, and this disk would make great dinner time music in anyone's home. It is a national release on California classic label Delos Productions.
One of the more unique CDs we received is "Russian Duo," which features traditional Russian chamber and folk music played by Oleg Kruglyakov on the balalaika (a Siberian version of an acoustical guitar), and Terry Boyarsky on piano. Check them out at www.russianduo.com. They will be playing all over the place this summer and fall.
Joe's Garage is a North Ridgeville quartet whose CD "Lost in Overdale" is filled with strong ballads and musicianship. Check them out at myspace.com/joe39sgarage.
Dan Miraldi will be playing the Winchester on July 3 in support of his CD "Thirsty." He's a recent college grad who has been a part of the Cleveland music scene since high school. Watch out for this guy, this CD is really good, at times he sounds like a 70's folk rocker, other times like a young Elvis Costello. Check him out at www.danmiraldi.com.
Josh Rzepka is a very talented, classically trained trumpeter from Akron, via Oberlin College and Boston University. His first CD is "Midwest Coast," features local legend Jackie Warren on keyboards, and has 10 original tunes covering jazz styles from Latin America to Harlem. Another great CD from a very talented young man with a great future.
Frigid Touch is the latest project of techno singer/songwriter Christopher Foldi. Recorded on his Macintosh Powerbook, the disk features ten original tracks and a great cover of the Classic IV's "Spooky." Yet another talented guy who has a bright future, check Christopher Foldi and his various musical projects out at www.frigidtouch.com.

Kris Kristofferson at Kent Stage 8 June 2010

2010-06-19T18:24:00.000-07:00

Over the last several years there have been more than a few outstanding solo shows put on by icons of popular music in a variety of local venues. Nils Lofgren was outstanding at the Winchester; Karla Bonoff was just as good at both the Winchester and the Kent Stage. Three of the best were Nick Lowe at the Beachland; J.D. Souther at Nighttown; and Ray Davies this past winter at the Palace Theater in downtown Lorain. To that list of very enjoyable shows you could add Kris Kristofferson's solo performance last Wednesday at the Kent Stage in downtown Kent.
The 73 year old singer songwriter took the stage for two sets, 37 songs in all including encores. Dressed in simple black and accompanying himself on a guitar and harmonica, Kristofferson sang songs from all eras of his career, rock hits and country hits, and songs off recent albums that are just as good but do not get any radio airplay.
He took each song on its own, ad-libbing a lyric or two, occasionally making a comment. He forgot a lyric or two and made fun of himself for doing it, and the guitar playing was far from slick, but the songs and the singing was sincere and honest. The songs from his 2006 release "Closer to the Bone" stood out, including the title song and "From Here to Forever." But the audience came to hear the great songs that make up the Kristofferson song book, and he delivered soulful versions of them all, including "Me and Bobby McGee," "Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends," "Sunday Morning Coming Down," "For the Good Times," and at least a dozen others that were hits for mostly other performers.
The Kent Stage has really picked up their bookings and have a lot of good shows coming up including Mary Chapin Carpenter on July 10, and Brandi Carlile on July 25. For information or to buy tickets for all Kent stage shows visit www.kentstage.org. (photo courtesy of Google images)

70Lewis "East Coast Sunday Morning" 2010

2010-05-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

70 Lewis, a four piece band from Lakewood who has been making a name for itself on the local music scene, have recently released their first CD “East Coast Sunday Morning.” Recorded at Lava Room Recording and featuring 12 original songs, the CD has a very professional feel to it, and features the band’s sound of guitars, piano, a bit of a horn, and some pretty good vocals and harmonies.
70 Lewis is Mike Gray (vocals, piano), Scott Young (guitars, vocals), Chris Hoffman (drums) and Kenny Kerns (bass, keyboards, and horns).
Amongst the highlights are “Hurricane” that shows off Gray’s vocal range; “Winter,” that shows off both his vocals and piano skills; and “Underwater and Divided” which has a British Invasion beat to it. I really enjoyed the tracks that featured Kerns’ horn playing; maybe my only criticism of this fine album is that they didn’t use it enough.
After listening to this CD several times, I got more impressed by it each time. This band has got some potential, I’m anxious to see them play live some place this summer. This Friday, May 28, they will be playing at the House of Blues at 8:00. On Friday, June 18, they will be at Fat Fish Blue. For more about 70 Lewis and their music visit www.myspace.com/70lewis.
A special nod to the band for thanking in the liner notes, amongst many, the Lakewood City Schools music program. So many of Cleveland’s working musicians have come out of that program, with Colin Dussault and Denis DeVito immediately coming to mind. It’s good to see successful people credit their teachers, it doesn’t happen enough.

Last Mass at St. Barbara's 9 May 2010

2010-05-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

Shelby Lynne at the Beachland Ballroom 5.5.10

2010-05-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

Shelby Lynne had to compete with something huge last Wednesday at the Beachland, herself and the last show she did there. At the time she was supporting her Dusty Springfield tribute album “Just a Little Lovin’,” and that show was one of the best I have ever seen at the Beachland. This time around she’s touring in support of her new album of original songs “Tears, Lies, and Alibis,” and I was worried that show would be a bit of a letdown.
Fortunately, for the most part, it wasn’t. Lost in all the good publicity and vibe she got from the Springfield tribute album was the fact that Shelby Lynne is a great singer/songwriter whose own work stands very well on its own. Last Wednesday’s show featured songs from the new album, the best of her older original music, and one song from the Dusty album. Backed by only a guitar and bass, each one was slightly stripped down and that suited the almost capacity crowd fine. The new songs sounded very good, including a couple of heartbreaking ballads “Alibi” and “Like a Fool”; a tribute to mobile homes “Airstream”; and a nod to whiskey drinkers “Old #7.” The highlights of her older tunes were “Where I’m From” (“I’m never far away from an Alabama state of mind”), and “When Johnny met June.” She closed the show with the only song she did from the Springfield album, her haunting version of “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me,” with her doing the first verse acappella. All of it was wonderful.
After years of bouncing around record labels, she put the new album out on her own. I wish her good luck with it, she definitely deserves it. The only negative of the evening where the self centered jerks in the audience who thought they had a personal one on one relationship with Shelby Lynne, yelling out “I Love You’s” and requests, even while she was telling a story between songs. Where do these idiots come from? Haven’t they ever been to a concert before?
For more about Shelby Lynne and her music visit www.shelbylynne.com. As always, there is a number of great show coming to the Beachland, especially over the next few weeks, including Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Wanda Jackson on May 13; the Reverend Horton Heat with Cracker on May 16; Crash Test Dummies on May 18; and Wayne “The Train” Hancock on May 19. Looking ahead to the summer, they just announced blues diva Marcia Ball on August 19.

Skitzki CD by Matthew Skitzki 2009

2010-04-27T05:08:00.000-07:00

Pianist Matthew Skitzki’s self titled 2009 solo release features ragtime, 60’s jazz, several standards, and some very good originals. Amongst the highlights are his ragtime original “Gnarled River Rage”; a good interpretation of Thelonias Monk’s “Straight, No Chaser”; and solid versions of “Moonlight in Vermont” and “Love for Sale” backed with Roger Hines on bass and Elijah Vazquez on drums. Skitzki, who is a graduate student in music at Cleveland State, can be seen around town doing a variety of gigs, whether as a solo jazz pianist at a wedding to a recent recital of classical standards as part of his Masters program. He is a part of the Tower PressFest! Cleveland Summer Music Series, which takes place the first Friday of every summer month at Café Artefino in the Tower Press Building, 1900 Superior Ave. He will be performing from 6 p.m.-7p.m. on both May 7 and June 4. For more about Matthew Skitzki and his music visit www.MatthewSkitzki.com. For more about the Tower PressFest! visit www.TowerPress.com, and for more info on events at Café Artefino visit www.cafeartefino.com.

"Gay Marshall Sings Piaf: La Vie L'Amour" 2009

2010-04-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

Gay Marshall is, amongst many things, a Cleveland original, even though she hasn't lived here for years. She is a much of a product of the arts scene in our city as anyone who has gone on to big things. She started taking acting classes at the Cleveland Playhouse when she was nine, went away to boarding school and college, then returned to start her singing career at various venues around town before leaving for Paris, where she lived for twenty years.

She has done Broadway, cabaret, the French production of "Cats," one-woman shows, and recordings including a cast recording of a revival of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well.

After discovering Edith Piaf years ago in a book while on vacation, after doing her music on stage on and off for years, late last year Marshall released "Gay Marshall Sings Piaf: La Vie L'Amour," and it is a wonderful piece of music. The disk includes nineteen Piaf standards, some in French, some in English, some switching back and forth between the two languages. Marshall is very talented; she doesn't have to try to sound like Piaf, her own voice and her phrasing ability get the job done. The band behind her is almost perfect for the material, with piano and accordions, a touch of violin and clarinet, and cello, bass and drums. The album has gotten great revues, and has spent time on Billboard's World Music Chart.

Gay Marshall will be in Cleveland on Friday, May 7, to record a live album of New Orleans style jazz and blues at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights. It should be a great night of music from a wonderful singer.

Becky Boyd & Tim Matson, Self-Titled CD, 2010

2010-04-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

Amongst the surprises in a recent stack of new CD releases is a disk from two of the old pros of the local music scene, blues diva Becky Boyd and guitarist Tim Matson. Both of them go back a long way, and have played with a who’s who of local and national musicians over the years. Becky Boyd fronts the blues band Real Life, while Tim Matson goes back to the glory days of Mr. Stress’s Blues Band. The self-titled release features Boyd’s terrific vocals set against Matson’s tender acoustic blues guitar. It is a very entertaining disk with only one problem; it is too short with only seven tracks. Amongst the highlights are the Boyd original “Girls Night Out” (complete with a tribute to the Big Egg!); the Matson standard “Fridgedaire Man”; and a soulful acoustic version of the Motown classic “Baby I Need Your Lovin’.” The duo has been doing shows all over town in support of the CD, for a complete schedule check them out on MySpace at myspace.com/beckyboydtimmatson.

Paul Thorn Band at the Beachland Ballroom 25 March 2010

2010-03-26T07:59:00.001-07:00

He is becoming another one of those Cleveland darlings, a regional artist from somewhere else who comes through town once a year or so, and solely by word of mouth each time the crowd gets a little bigger. Paul Thorn is becoming the latest in the long line of semi-unknowns who has gathered a solid fan base here in Northern Ohio, even though his music isn't played on the radio here (hear that 107.3!), and he lives 1200 miles away in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Last Thursday before a good crowd in the ballroom at the Beachland, Thorn and his band put on another well-received show, featuring Thorns blend of blues, rock, and small town humor and wisdom. He played crowd favorites including "Long Time from Tupelo," "I Have a Good Day (every now and then)," "Mood Ring," and his Elvis Presley tribute "Even Heroes Die." He has a new album coming out in June, and the songs from it also sounded good, including a tribute to Tequila ("there's no sure fire remedy when love tears you apart/but tequila is good for the heart"), and a song filled with things his mother told him titled "Enjoy the Journey that is Life."
Paul Thorn is a great songwriter, a solid performer, and an American musical original. His observations of the world around him are priceless. If there was any justice in the world, he'd be sitting on the top of the music industry. His show last Thursday was part old time revival, part roots music, part blues show, part old time rock and roll concert.
For more about Paul Thorn and his music visit www.paulthorn.com. As always, there are a lot of great shows coming up at the Beachland, including Fred Eaglesmith April 8; Drive-By Truckers on April 11; The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue featuring Tommy Castro on April 12; the Deadstring Brothers with California Speedbag on April 17; and Shelby Lynne on May 5. I'm really looking forward to the Shelby Lynne show; her last time around at the Beachland in support of her Dusty Springfield tribute album was one of the best Beachland shows ever.

Burning River Roller Girls at the Wolstein Center at CSU on March 13

2010-03-15T14:18:00.001-07:00

OK, I was a little skeptical about attending roller derby. I did spend a couple of days getting reacquainted with the sport, watching old clips of Joanie Weston on YouTube. But I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by many things while seeing it live at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State on March 13. The crowd of over three thousand was really into it, knowing the rules for the most part, and cheering for their favorite players. The girls themselves were more organized and athletic than I thought, and both bouts of the night were enjoyable to watch. There was a lot of action, and I think most people in attendance thought they got their money’s worth.
The Cleveland league is made up of four teams, with the best players on each team making up a traveling squad the Burning River Roller Girls who play in national tournaments. The local teams, the Hellbombers, the Rolling Pin-Ups, the Hard Knockers, and the Cleveland Steamers, play a round robin schedule with a championship bout set for June 10.
This is the fourth season for roller derby in Cleveland and it started with a bang, with a record setting crowd for the first of five nights of action at the their new home at Cleveland State. The next night of bouts is on Saturday, April 3. Visit www.burning riverrollergirls.com for more information.

“Emma” at the Cleveland Play House’s Drury Theater Now through March 21

2010-03-04T10:56:00.000-08:00

Poor Jane Austen, if she only knew how popular her stories would become and how fascinated book lovers would become of her life she might have written a few more of them. During her short life, she died of an unknown illness at forty one, Ms. Austin wrote a handful of gossipy novels set amongst the upper crust of English society in the early 1800’s. Almost two hundred years later they keep getting more popular, especially on stage and screen.
The Cleveland Play House is currently presenting a stage version of “Emma” now through March 21 in the Drury Theater. The Play House has had a string of good literary adaptations over the last few years, and “Emma” is as good as any of them. Native Californian Sarah Nealis stars in the title role, the witty, matchmaking lady who lives in a beautiful country house and takes care of her wealthy father. Patrick Clear steals several scenes, and has some of the best lines of the play, as her father. The rather large cast of sixteen players has characters coming and going, with some of the best moments provided by Lindsay Iuen as the self-centered Mrs. Elton. Director Peter Amster keeps everyone on task, especially through several dance scenes. Costume Designer Kristine Kearney does a great job with nineteenth century dress.
I see the Drury Theater filled with Austin fans the next few weeks, and I doubt any of them will be disappointed. It is a wonderful night of theater, whether an Austin fan or not.
The Cleveland Play House is nearing the end of its second last season in its Euclid Avenue complex. Still to come is “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” a play about the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, and FusionFest, their annual presentation of new works and collaborations in music, dance, and theater. Visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com for more information.
The Play House has also announced their schedule for next season, and will feature several literary adaptions including the Midwest stage premier of “The Kite Runner”; an all African American cast version of Horton Foote’s “The Trip to Bountiful”; and a dance musical biography of Ginger Rogers titled “Backwards in High Heels: the Ginger Musical.” Check their website for more information, or give them a call at 216.795.7000.

“Out of a Dream” by Trisha O’Brien

2010-02-20T08:48:00.000-08:00

Trisha O’Brien was a mainstay on the local jazz scene before she took the big steps and moved on to New York City and Florida five years ago. Her new release “Out of a Dream” on Azica Records features fourteen mostly romantic standards, backed with a four piece band of jazz pros including Shellly Berg on piano, Peter Washington on bass, Lewis Nash on drums, and Ken Peplowski on tenor sax. Both Berg and Peplowski are long time Cleveland players and Nighttown regulars. Another Cleveland connection on the album is producer Elaine Morton, who has done many things at Telarc Records in Beachwood.
The disk has a great feel to it, with the band giving just enough support to allow O’Brien’s voice to carry each tune. The disk opens with a great version of Nat King Cole’s “Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup,” and ends with the Sinatra standard "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.” In between is nothing but good things, including wonderful versions of “Taking a Chance on Love,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” and "Everybody Loves My Baby.”
Trisha O’Brien will be appearing on television and radio on Tuesday, March 2, on both the Fox Morning Show on Channel 8 and on “Around Noon” on WCPN. A Cleveland concert is in the works for this June. For more about Trisha O’Brien and her music visit www.trishaobrien.com.

"Candy Store" by Kristine Jackson

2010-02-20T08:46:00.000-08:00

For those of us who first saw her back in her days in Blues on Purpose as a horn player behind Mary Bridget Davis, Kristine Jackson’s first CD of mostly original material “Candy Store” is just another step in the evolution of someone on her way to big things. From horn player to guitarist to vocalist to songwriter to performer of her own material to fronting several different versions of her own band, each step she has taken has been in the right direction.
“Candy Store” features nine Jackson originals along with Tom Waits’ “Way Down in the Hole,” acoustic blues numbers she has been playing in her shows for the last several years. The album is dedicated to her cousin Liz Bohman Szczepanski, who died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma last year at the age of 27. Kristine will be playing a bunch of CD release dates this weekend in support of “Candy Store,” including Thursday, February 25 at Fat Fish Blue from 7-9, then at the Parkview from 10-12; Seekers Coffee Shop in Middleburg Heights on Friday, February 26; and at West Park Station on Saturday, February 27 from 6-9.
Jackson has always worn her emotions on her sleeve and in her songs, and “Candy Store” is filled with songs of hurt, forgiveness, and recovery. Amongst the highlights on the disk are the title tune, “Baby Girl,” “Hammer Mill 5,”“Wishing Well,” and “What Moves You.” She has really grown into a very good singer/songwriter.
Hopefully the next project in her growth as an artist will be done with a full blues band behind her. For more about Kristine Jackson, her music, and her work with the Kicking the Cancer Blues Foundation, visit www.kjblues.com.

"Ain't Misbehavin'" at the Cleveland Play House

2010-02-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

Watching the Cleveland Play house's adaptation of the Fats Waller musical "Ain't Misbehavin'" last Wednesday at the Bolton Theater was like watching this year's version of the Cleveland Cavaliers, too much talent on the floor. From the five leads in the company to the players in the band to the songs in the musical review, this production of this enjoyable musical was nothing but top shelf.
Featuring over thirty numbers mostly from the black jazz era of 20's, 30's, and 40's, not to be confused with the Bing Crosby lead white jazz of the same time period, the play was filled with great dancing, outstanding vocals, and very good costumes and staging. As the company and the band went through not only Waller's greatest hits but those by composers such as George Marion, Jr., Andy Razaf, and others, the audience loved every moment of it, and broke into spontaneous applause often.
The five members of the company that did all the singing and dancing, with more than a healthy dose of humor, are all young regional theater veterans from around the country. Rebecca E. Covington, Angela Grovey, Christopher L. Morgan, Ken Robinson, and Aurelia Williams each showed great skill and talent. Musical Director and pianist Darryl G. Ivey lead a solid band of local musicians that featured trombonist Chris Anderson and drummer Thomas A. Fries.
"Ain't Misbehavin'" is running at the Bolton Theater until February 21, and I highly recommend it. This is the third year in a row the Play House has hit a home run with a musical biography, two years ago it was Ella Fitzgerald and last year it was Mahalia Jackson. This version of "Ain't Misbehavin'" might be the best of the bunch.
The Play House has two productions left in their season. An adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma is running from February 26 to March 21, and Bill W. and Dr. Bob, a drama about the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous set in Akron, from April 9 until May 2. Also upcoming is their FusionFest 2010, their annual multi-arts festival. Visit www.clevelandplayhouse.com for more information on any of these events.

14th Annual Cleveland Rock Off

2010-01-19T18:33:00.000-08:00

Below is my article about the Tri C Rock Off, Cleveland's annual battle of the bands for high school musicians, that first appeared in the January 20 edition of CoolCleveland.com. Pictured here is Streetsboro High guitar virtuoso Brian Poston who played in four bands at this year's Rock Off.

It is January and that means it is time for one of the great annual musical events here in Northern Ohio, the Tri-C Rock Off. Now in it's fourteenth year, the event lets local high school musicians and their bands have a moment of glory or two on the big stage at the House of Blues.
It is a three-step process to win the Rock Off. First, hundreds of bands submit videos and CDs to be picked to perform at the HOB. Sixty-six bands are then selected to perform twenty-minute sets over three weekends. Three bands from each night are invited back on February 6 to perform again, with a champion and several runner-ups chosen.
The bands that get selected to play at the House of Blues are good. They show talent, imagination, and the results of a lot of hard work and practice. During their sets most bands perform several original songs and one cover. Even with 10-13 bands playing a night, things run pretty smoothly as the HOB sound and stage crews keep things moving, with very little down time.
I've been to the Rock Off on and off for years, and I think for most of the bands it’s the chance to perform on a big stage in front of their families and friends which is a bigger deal than actually winning the whole thing.
The first nights of performances were January 8 and 9, with more sets coming on Saturday, January 23; Sunday, January 24; Friday, January 29; and Saturday, January 30. The finals will be at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 6. For more information and a performance schedule of bands visit the website www.cleveland.com/rockoff.
For some of the performers it's a once in a lifetime thing, but for others it's hopefully a stepping-stone to greater things. Brain Poston, an 18-year-old senior at Streetsboro High School, is in his second Rock Off, this year playing with four different bands (Project Rock Star, Steffani Reeder, Maddie Finn, and Shane Stokes). "Last year it was awesome, the best experience of my life. But I was really nervous," he says. This year it's different for the lead guitarist. "I'm a vet, last year we made it to the finals. I'm not nearly as nervous, I'm going to have fun."
Brian is one of those who is looking for a future in music. "Very soon I travel to the Berkeley School of music in Boston to audition. Just me and my guitar and a round trip plain ticket," he says with a confident smile. "If that doesn't work out I'll study music at a local college. As for now, I'm playing out somewhere every weekend, and practicing with someone every weeknight."
I checked out some of the opening night bands, and as always, the talent was impressive. I saw a band from Chagrin Falls and Kenston called Kid Brother who had a great 90's indie rock sound to them. They did a song called "She's Hot" that had a great opening bass line from Amph Fritz and got the audience up and jumping. Yield on Mars hails from Bay Village, and they were definitely influenced by their parents Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd albums, and featured some great guitar work and drummer Jeremy Guffin on vocals. Project Pop Star is a coed project from Streetsboro High School that had a bit of theatrics and a lot of jump to them. There was plenty of big beats and some slick guitar work from Brian Poston. Near Forget Tomorrow features kids from Lake Catholic and Painesville Riverside, and had a sound reminiscent of Pat Benatar and the GoGo's. ESD returned for the second year in a row, and featured almost all instrumentals, and some great guitar work led by Tim Vopat. Selling You short was another guitar driven band with players from St. Ignatius and St. Ed's, who gave a very polished set.
Who's going to be the next Raspberries? MSB? Mushroomhead? Black Keys? You have a chance to check that out over the next several weekends at the House of Blues for the 14th Annual Tri C Rock Off.

"Sideswiped" by Blue Lunch on Wilberts Records 001

2010-01-19T18:29:00.001-08:00

The guys in Blue Lunch have been playing the blues so long, either individually or as group, that their live shows almost become a lesson in blues music, showing influences from Chicago, New Orleans, Soul, 50's Rock and Roll, and everything in between. Their fifth release on Wilberts Records Sideswiped does the same thing, with fifteen solid tracks featuring Blue Lunch's many styles and talents.
The disc includes seven originals and eight covers. Bob Frank, Pete London and company have you up and dancing on almost every track. The best of the originals include the title track, a great Memphis sound number; "All Things to Come," one of their favorite live tunes; and "Don't Point that Thing at Me." Amongst the covers are the R & B classic "Everyday will be Like a Holiday," with great four part harmony on the chorus; and the album's closer, a rowdy version of Doc Pomus's "Too Much Boogie."
Blue Lunch is Frank on guitar and vocals, London on harmonica and vocals, Raymond DeForest on bass, Scott Flowers on drums, Mike Sands on piano, Keith McKelley on tenor, Bob Michael on trombone, and Mike Rubin on trumpet. The guest list for Sideswiped is a who's who of the blues, including a couple of great sax solos by Boston's "Sax" Gordon Beadle.
Blue Lunch is going to be quite busy in the next several months, including a trip January 20-24 to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. They come home to play the House of Swing on January 29 and Fat Fish Blue on January 30. For a complete schedule of show dates, and for more information about Blue Lunch, go to www.bluelunch.com.
I highly recommend Blue Lunch's new release Sideswiped, it’s a great piece of music from some local guys who really know how to do it.

Alejandro Escovedo at the Beachland Ballroom 13 Jan 2010

2010-01-19T18:28:00.000-08:00

Alejandro Escovedo
Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland
13 January 2010

Alejandro Escovedo is one of those recording artists I have always heard great things about from friends whose musical tastes I respect. He's one of those singer/songwriters who has been around forever crossing over into several genres, but has never reached what the general public would call superstar status. Often compared to everyone from Santana to Springsteen to the Rolling Stones, he brought a four-piece band to the Beachland last Wednesday. It was my first chance to see him, and I will probably never miss him when he comes through town again.
He and his band performed a twelve-song set followed by an encore of four songs. Most of the songs were autobiographical upbeat rockers, and featured some terrific guitar work. Songs with titles like "Wasn't I Always a Friend to You," "The Bed is Getting Crowded," "Sister of Lost Soul," touched on the themes of romance, family, and traveling the road. He wears his emotions on his shirtsleeve and in the songs that he writes and performs. It was wonderful stuff. One of the new songs "After the Meteor Shower" opened with this line, "She was pretty as a star/take a photo please." He is a very good songwriter.
The show's closer "Castanets" had more than a little Chuck Berry beat and guitar to it. His final two encores where the only covers of the evening, rowdy versions of "All the Young Dudes" and "Beast of Burden." The Beachland was almost filled to capacity with both Escovedo and serious music fans, most seemed to enjoy the show tremendously.
For more about Alejandro Escovedo and his music, including his new release "Real Animal," which is available on CD and vinyl, go to www.alejandroescovedo.com. As always, there are a lot of great shows coming up at the Beachland including Ronnie Spector on June 22; local rockers Cats on holiday doing a benefit on January 23; the Deanna Bogart Band on February 4; the subdudes on March 19; and the Paul Thorn Band on March 25. Fore information on these shows and more visit www.beachlandballroom.com.

Lost in Yonkers at the Cleveland Play House

2010-01-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

A terrific story and near perfect casting make for a wonderful night of theater at the Cleveland Play House with their current production of Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers. Directed by the Play House's Artistic Director Michael Bloom, the play is running until January 31 in the Drury Theater.
Simon's autobiographical play was first performed in 1991 and won the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The story revolves around a young widower; his two sons; and their uncle, aunt, and grandmother facing the hardships of World War II at home. The father is forced to go on the road to work to help pay off his deceased wife's hospital bills. The boys are forced to live with their strict German immigrant grandmother and their mentally impaired Aunt Bella. Also showing up is their Uncle Louie, a shady character who also has some issues of his own.
The whole play takes place in the living room of their home in Yonkers, above the candy store that is the family's source of income. There are many humorous and touching moments, as the young boys survive ten months living without their father.
Alex Wyse and Maxwell Beer are very good as the two young boys Jay and Arty. Sara Surrey does an outstanding job as Bella their aunt. Broadway performer and star of television's As the World Turns Rosemary Prinz steals almost every scene she is in as the elderly German Jewish grandmother.
Coming up next at the Play House is Fats Waller's Ain't Misbehavin' from January 29 to February 21; An adaptation of the Jane Austin novel Emma from February 26 to March 21; and Bill W. and Dr. Bob, a drama based on the lives of the two men who founded Alcoholics Anonymous, from April 9 to May 2. For information on these shows, and all the other great things happening at the Cleveland Play House visit www.ClevelandPlayhouse.com.

Michael Stanley and the Resonators, The House of Blues Cleveland, 18 December 2009

2009-12-20T08:21:00.001-08:00

By the time the spring of 1980 had rolled around, I had lived a dozen lives with Michael Stanley and the various forms of his band. It had been almost seven years since I first heard the studio version of “Let’s Get the show on the Road” from his solo album “Friends and Legends.” It was the great David Sanborn sax solo that first caught my ear. The first MSB album had “Old Dancin’ Fool,” on it, a lost gem that still reminds me of some long ago friends from that time in my life. The next album had the Jonah Koslen make out on the couch classic “Waste A Little Time on Me.” But it was the next album that blew me away, it was the next album that should have made MSB big time. I’m talking about “Stagepass,” and to this day it is still a favorite of mine.
But "Stagepass" didn’t make them international stars, just in fraternities and dormitories from Bowling Green to Athens to Oxford. The next two albums were missing something, there was too much over dubbing of the vocals, too many bells and whistles. The best songs on both “Cabin Fever” and “Greatest Hints” sounded great live, but didn’t have the guitar and honest vocal sounds the earlier albums did. A lot of fans blamed the change on Jonah Koslen, and later Daniel Pecchio, leaving the band. But the new guys seemed to show their talents live, it just didn’t come across on the records.
Then in the spring of 1980 the band came to central Ohio on one of the mini-tours they always did around the Midwest when a new album was due. And it was at the Dixie Electric Company in Columbus (yes, there was one there too), with a bunch of my frat buddies from Ohio Wesleyan, that I heard most of "Heartland" for the first time. I left there that night totally convinced the album was going to be a million copy seller, the one that would put MSB and Cleveland on the musical map for sure. “All I Ever Wanted,” ‘Lover,” and “He Can’t Love You” were all going to be top ten hits. Kevin Raleigh had finally shown he was a worthy replacement for Jonah Koslen, Rick Bell, “The Cleveland Horn,” was with the band full time and wailed on the sax parts that Clearance Cleamons played on the album, and the over all band was as tight as it ever was.
There were great things on the horizon…and I also thought at the time Brian Sipe was going to lead the Browns to the Super Bowl, and Joe Charboneau was the next Mickey Mantle, and we all know how everything turned out. But instead of a million, Heartland did sell a couple hundred thousand copies, and its success kept MSB in business for a few more years.
Thirty years later, "Heartland" is still a solid album. It’s guitar lead basic rock and roll, with some pretty good song writing and musicianship. This version of MSB would be the most popular, never quite reaching national acclaim but doing pretty good in the homeland and a few other markets. Listening to the album from beginning to end and most of the songs stand up to time. It only seemed natural that Michael and his current band The Resonators would do a Heartland tribute.
Last Friday the first of two Michael Stanley and the Resonators holiday shows featured songs from "Heartland," as well as a few new tunes and a whole bunch of old ones. It was a very good night of rock and roll, and it was enjoyed by the players as much as the audience. Among the "Heartland" songs performed included "All I Ever Wanted," " I Never Needed Anyone," "Don't Stop the Music," "Voodoo," and of course, "Lover" and "He Can't Love You."
Amongst the Stanley standards were "Rosewood Bitters," "Midwest Midnight," "In Between the Lines," and "My Town." The best of the new tunes was the night's opener, "It's All About Tonight," from an untitled album coming out soon. Amongst the surprises were a Bob Pelander piano number called "Smokem, if you Gottem," that did a great job of leading into "Let's Get the Show on the Road," and a return to the 1980's version of "Strike Up the Band" as the nights last encore, with Pelander on vocals for most of it, and the crowd singing along to all of it.
This version of the Resonators has been with Michael Stanley longer than any version of MSB, and it is a talented and tight group of musicians. Here's to hoping we get to spend a lot more Christmases together.
Opening act Colin Dussault gave the crowd forty minutes of rock and blues standards, with his great barrelhouse vocals and harmonica playing. When you got a chance, check him out playing around town almost any weekend, go to colindussault.com for a list of shows.
Michael Stanley and the Resonators will do one more holiday show at the House of Blues, this Saturday, December 26. It's a request night, with fans picking their favorites at MichaelStanley.com. Showtime is at 8:00.
As always, the House of Blues has some great shows coming up, including Rusted Root on December 30, Buddy Guy on New Year's Eve, and Yes coming in January. Check out their calendar at www.hob.com/Cleveland.

A Christmas Story at the Cleveland Play House 3 December 2009

2009-12-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

There are many good reasons to stop by the Cleveland Play House this month and see “A Christmas Story,” but two stand above the rest: the fact that the Playhouse will not be doing the play next season, and the Play House’s soon move downtown to their new home.
I’m not sure of the reason why it isn’t in their plans for next year, because the Play House’s production of “A Christmas Story” has been really good since they started performing it five years ago. Just like the movie we all know and love, you never get tired of seeing it. Laughs are anticipated, lines are said out loud (“Fra-gil-lee!), and everyone leaves with a good feelings and smiles on their faces.
With the influx of some new, younger actors, this year’s production seems a bit fresher than the last few years. The last group of young actors who covered the last few years were very good, but at the end seemed to outgrow their parts a bit. This year newcomer Joey Stefanko is a very good Ralphie, and Matthew Taylor steals every scene he is in as his younger brother Randy. All of the adult parts are returning actors from previous years and that is fine. For the most part the roles have become theirs, and Charles Kartali as the Old Man lives up to the high standard Darren McGaven set in the movie version of the story.
I’m not sure what is going to happen to the Play House’s Annual festival of Trees when they move downtown, because the lobbies of its Euclid Avenue theaters has been a perfect setting for the annual fundraiser. With over 65 decorated trees this year, this year’s event is as good as it has ever been. Highlight of this year’s event is a 25 foot Rotunda Tree in memory of long time Play House supporter Jack Wiegman, who passed away this past April. The Festival of the Trees display is free and open to the public every day except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Check the Playhouse website for hours.
A Christmas Story will be in production at the Bolton Theater at the Cleveland Play House for the last time until December 20. Even if you’ve seen it there in the past, check it out again, along with the Festival of Trees, for old time’s sake.

Lipstick and Guitar Licks

2009-11-04T06:45:00.000-08:00

(Below is the article I wrote for CoolCleveland.com about the concert the English Department at Streetsboro High School sponsored on Friday, November 6. What a great day it was! Above the article are some photos from the event, as well as from earlier that day when Amy Kuney was a part of a Poetry Slam we had.)

For a long time Streetsboro High School has had one of the more progressive and active language arts programs in the area. It has the state’s best high school radio station in WSTB (88.9 FM), an award winning newspaper and literary journal, and a very active TV production program. The students at Streetsboro can take a wide variety of electives including radio and television programming, desktop publishing, advanced creative writing, and songwriting; and regularly participate in talent shows, poetry slams, music showcases, and dramatic productions. The language arts faculty at Streetsboro includes a former professional journalist, a former professional radio news director and broadcast journalist, a prominent member of the local music scene and independent record label owner, several published authors, and a freelance writer.
To help fund its creative language arts program, Streetsboro’s English Department, with the help of Hudson Community Recreation and Education, is sponsoring a concert of all female singer/songwriters called “Lipstick and Guitar Licks,” featuring national recording artist Amy Kuney, as well as a supporting cast of popular local acts.

Amy Kuney is a 24 year old singer/songwriter from Los Angeles who has recently toured with Kate Voegele, the Veronicas, and Damien Rice. She and her music have appeared on the television shows the Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill. You can check out her and her music on YouTube, MySpace, and FaceBook. She has been in front of crowds for over 20 of her 24 years, starting out as a church performer and now does over 100 live dates a year. Her personal life has been colored by sometimes tragic twists and turns. As a teenager living with her missionary parents in Honduras, she and a group of friends were kidnapped by rebels on a Guatemala sightseeing trip. However, these experiences have fueled Amy’s depth of character and songwriting.

She will be in the Greater Cleveland area the week of the show, making presentations at local middle and high schools on songwriting and her adventures in the music industry. Concert organizer and Streetsboro songwriting teacher Jim Boardwine states, “Amy is a suburb lyricist, singer, and performer. She is happy to share her art with others, and we are very excited about this generous visit she is making with us.”

Opening the show will be several popular local artists including Desiree Boardwine, who though just turned 18 has already performed extensively on local television and nationally on CBS’ The Early Show; and Maddie Finn and Stefani Reeder, two of Streetsboro’s finest songwriting students. Proceeds from the show go to support the journalism, creative writing, drama, and songwriting programs at Streetsboro High school.
“Lipstick and Guitar Licks” featuring Amy Kuney, Sponsored by the Streetsboro High School English Department, with the support of Hudson Community Recreation and Education, Hudson Middle School, 77 North Oviatt Street, Hudson, Ohio. On Fri 11/6, Doors open at 6:30PM, music starts at 7PM. For more information about this show, directions to the venue, and to buy tickets online, go to http://www.ReverbNation.com/GatewayCityRecords, or contact Jim Boardwine at jboardwineATrockets.sparcc.org or 330.283.5158.

Attention Browns fans

2009-10-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

I am still writing for the Orange and Brown Report, a must read for all Cleveland sports fans (even for as painful as that can be at times!). The magazine is free when you sign up for amembership for scout.com's website services, which are the best in sports and is now in partnership with Fox Sports.

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Below is an article I wrote several months ago for the OBR on the Wildcat offense.

The Wildcat Formation
As last season in the NFL was winding down, one thing you were hearing about more and more was the "Wildcat" formation, which the Miami Dolphins, amongst several teams, had success with. This year there was a buzz about it in training camps, and it will be interesting to see if it becomes more popular this season.
The Wildcat formation has been around forever, formerly known as the single wing. Over the years it has had many variations, and there is no one single wing formation or offense. It was the offense of the 30's, 40's, and into the 50's when the T-formation became the most popular offense. Paul Brown had as much to do with the demise of the single wing in the NFL as anyone else, as his Browns teams in the late 40's and early 50's ushered in the modern offense with its passing game, screen plays and draws, and power running game featuring a fast fullback.
The Wildcat includes, as did previous incarnations of the single wing, a shot gun snap to a tailback who could run or throw. It includes the use of other backs for quick handoffs, blocking, and reverses; and also features a short passing game. It is very similar to the spread offense run by many colleges and high schools today.
The Dolphins ran four basic plays out of the Wildcat formation last year: a tailback power sweep, a halfback dive, a play action pass off the power sweep, and a reverse also off the power sweep. The Browns did similar things with Josh Cribbs at quarterback last year, especially after Derrick Anderson and Brady Quinn went down. The Browns did not have the success with it that the Dolphins had.

In the NFL the Wildcat has become a change of pace offense. It is different enough from the traditional pro offense that if a team is not prepared for it they can be hurt by it. There are enough offensive players on the pro squads with spread offense backgrounds to make various single wing sets and plays possible.
However, the Wildcat will never become any NFL team’s base offense for three reasons. The first is that in the NFL you have to attack the whole field, including both the line of scrimmage and passing on multiple levels down field. The Dolphins did a good job sneaking up on teams by using the Wildcat last year, but this year teams will be ready for it. When defenses see it this year they will bring more defenders close to the line of scrimmage, and make sure the tailback gets hit every play.
The second reason is the cost of quarterbacks. The tailback in the single wing just gets beaten up by taking too many hits. And once every defensive coordinator comes up with his Wildcat package, the surprise feature will be gone. Quarterbacks are paid millions of dollars to throw touchdown passes, not to run the ball or to get beat up playing tail back in the single wing.
The third reason I feel the Wildcat will not become a mainstream offense in the NFL is the fans don't want it. The fundamental difference between the pro and college game over the last forty years is that the pro's feature a drop back passer and a downfield passing game. Things like the triple option, the veer, and the spread offense have always been important elements of the college game, but never the pro's. Fans want to see quarterbacks taking charge, throwing downfield to talented, fast receivers fighting just as talented and quick defensive backs for the ball.

It is the role of the quarterback that is the difference between college and professional football. If we want to see quarterbacks run modern versions of the single wing we can do it all day on Saturday. But the pro game is different. We want quarterbacks with big arms and sharp brains who can throw downfield and check off at the line of scrimmage. We don't want to see Peyton Manning read the defensive end on the wrap play; we don't want to see Tom Brady rushing the ball twenty times a game. In Tennessee they prefer to watch Kerry Collins than Vince Young, in Cleveland we prefer to watch Josh Cribbs run back kicks than line up at quarterback. We'll let him do that occasionally to play with the defense, but it is not our bread and butter.
Brian Sipe, Frank Ryan, Bill Nelson, Bernie Kosar, they were all pro quarterbacks. I don't think any of them even ran the option in college. Otto Graham was athletic enough to run any offense, but he became the first great quarterback of the modern professional game.
Long term success for the Wildcat, and again as a change of pace offense, might fall into the hands of players like Josh Cribbs or Pat White, multi dimensional players who were successful quarterbacks in college and have better than average arms. Without having a legitimate arm at the tailback spot will allow defenses sooner or later to come up and stack the box when teams line up in the Wildcat.
The Browns have dabbled with the Wildcat with Josh Cribbs. This season, however, with the time he is putting in at receiver, who knows. One thing the Browns did last year when Cribbs went to tailback in a Wildcat formation, they put the quarterback at wide receiver. They did that so they didn't tip their hand with the personnel group. Defensive coaches would have recognized immediately that a quarterback wasn't on the field.

Upcoming Special Event

2009-10-15T09:29:00.001-07:00

The Creative Language Arts Program at Streetsboro High School
Along with Gateway City Records and HCER
Present Singer Songwriter
Amy Kuney
in Concert
Friday, November 6 at Hudson Middle School
77 North Oviatt Street, Hudson, Ohio
Tickets are $8.00 in advance, $10.00 day of show
Tickets available at Streetsboro High School

The Hot Club of Cowtown 29 September 2009 at Nighttown

2009-10-06T07:41:00.001-07:00

It is great to see the survival and revival of Django Reinhardt style swing jazz in today’s roots music movement. At Nighttown alone over the last few months we have had both the Hot Club of Detroit and the Hot Club of San Francisco perform. Add to the list of “Hot Clubs” (named after Reinhardt’s “Quintette du Hot Club de France” or “Hot Club of Paris”) Texas’s the Hot Club of Cowtown, who doe a pretty good job of channeling Reinhardt’s musical via Bob Wills and other southwestern influences.
Last Tuesday night the Hot Club of Cowtown made their Cleveland debut at Nighttown before a close to capacity enthusiastic crowd. I caught their first set that evening, and it was enough music for a complete show, with sixteen selections that showed off all three members’ musical skills and vocals.
Although Django Reinhardt deserves his due as a guitarist, much of his music that has stood the test of time owes as much to violinist Stéphane Grappelli as it does to Reinhardt’s guitar work. The Hot Club of Cowtown revolves around their fiddler player Elana James, who also does her share of vocals and is the trio’s center of attention with her great smile and very good stage presence. Guitarist Whit Smith does a competent job, as does bassist Jake Erwin. But it is James who gives the trio its magic; she is a terrific musician and has more than her share of stage magnetism.
The song list included jazz and American standards, a few Reinhardt classics, some very good originals, and even a rousing version of “Ida Red,” which is almost mandatory for any swing band from Texas to play. Amongst the highlights was a beautiful version of “Georgia on My Mind” with James opening it up with a haunting fiddle solo and featuring Smith on some soulful vocals. Another standard that shined was “Cheek to Cheek.” The band did not do it in the style of either Peggy Lee or Frank Sinatra, two popular arrangements of the song, but went back to the Fred Astaire arrangement of the 1930’s. A little slower, a lot more romantic. My favorite original was “Eva’s Waltz,” which gave James some room to really show off her musicianship.
This was the trio’s first show at Nighttown, and hopefully not the last. For more about the Hot Club of Cowtown and their music visit hotclubofcowtown.musiccitynetworks.com/. As always, there are a lot of great shows coming up at Nighttown, for a full schedule go to www.nighttowncleveland.com. Shows coming up include local product Bobby Selvaggioand his All-Star Quartet
featuring Kenny Werner on piano on Sunday, Oct. 11; The Four Freshmen on
Tuesday, October 13; and Garrison Elliott and his Swing Band, a six piece group with two female vocalists, on Friday and Saturday, October 16 & 17.

Geezeroo 4 at the House of Blues

2009-09-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

I wrote a preview of this year's Geezeroo concert at the House of Blues Cleveland on Sunday, September 27, for CoolCleveland.com.
Check out the article at:
www.coolcleveland.com/index.php/Main/Geezer09

Southside Johnny @ House of Blues 08.28.09

2009-09-02T07:13:00.001-07:00

When Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes play in Cleveland the shows are always the same. He opens with three or four songs from his usual set. A couple of new tunes, maybe an old blues standard, and then a Jukes classic or two. But in Cleveland that usually lasts only three or four songs, then the set list is thrown away, and it becomes 1980 again when the Jukes were as big as anybody here in Northern Ohio.

Last Friday at the House of Blues they didn't even wait until the fourth song. He opened with "This Time is Real" and did not stop until the final encore "Hearts of Stone."

The sold out crowd of forty and fifty something's loved every minute of it, as Southside backed by a nine piece band played one classic Jukes song after another, including "Love on the Wrong Side of Town" (which they did twice), "Walk Away Renee," Talk to Me," and "I Don't Want to go Home." Amongst the highlights were "Anxious" and "On the Beach" from his Mercury albums of the mid 80's, and a great cover of J.Giels Band's "Looking for Love,."

The band also turned their long time encore "We're Havin' a Party," into a medley of 60's rockers, including "Can I Get a Witness," "Hanky Panky", and "Be My Baby."

Southside and the Jukes will resurface in Cleveland soon, they always do. You can check out their schedule on www.southsidejohnny.com.

As always there are a lot of great shows coming up at the House of Blues including Alice in Chains on September 16 and the great B.B. King on October 9. Go to www.hob.com for the complete schedule from now until the holidays.

A special event of note at the House of Blues is Geezeroo 4 on Sunday September 27 featuring three original members of Return to Forever, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White. The evening is a fundraiser for the Human Fund, which supports the arts in Cleveland Public Schools. For more information go to http://www.the-human-fund.org.

The above picture is courtesy of www.southsidejohnny.com.

The New Tricks Quartet, Nighttown, 16 July 2009

2009-07-18T11:21:00.001-07:00

Mike Lee and Ted Chubb, two mainstays of the New York jazz scene who have roots in Northern Ohio, played Nighttown last Thursday with their four-piece band The New Tricks Quartet. They performed two solid sets of jazz in the late 50's and early 60's styles of artists like Paul Desmond and Chet Baker.

Lee, a Cleveland Heights native who has been in New York since the early 90's, is a gifted reed player. Chubb, originally from Ashtabula, plays horn and has background similar to Lee, gravitating to New York after college at Ohio State. They are joined in the New Tricks Quartet by Kellen Harrison on bass, and Shawn Baltzasar on drums.

Both sets were filled with original songs that allowed all four musicians to show off their talents. Each selection was introduced by either Lee or Chubb, who composed almost all of them. "In his Steps" is a tribute to John Coltrane; "J'.'s Other Bag" sounds a lot like a Paul Desmond composition; and "Absence" a romantic ballad Chubb wrote for his wife and the time they send apart when he is on the road as a musician. All of the songs featured solos from each of the band members, with Lee alternating from saxophone to clarinet. It was quite evident that while these guys were growing up and their classmates were busy listening to Motley Crew and Judas Priest, they were getting into their parents' record collections and enjoying the likes of Dave Bruebeck and John Coltrane.

It was a very good evening of jazz, by four musicians who really know how to play it. The compositions were smart and original, and the musicianship was solid. They have a new CD that was just released, also called "New Tricks." You can check out more about them at www.mikeleejazz.com.

Another gifted Clevelander Alvin Frazier brings his seven piece band to Nighttown on Saturday, July 25; jazz singer Barbara Rosene plays the club on Sunday, July 26; and singer/songwriter/musician Maia Sharp rolls in on August 12. Check out the complete lineup at www.clevelandnighttown.com.

Check These Out!

2009-06-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote two feature articles for CoolCleveland.com, one about my fellow Streetsboro High School teacher (and he is also a great singer/songwriter) Jim Boardwine; and one about long time Cleveland Guitar player extradonaire Jeff Nagel.

You can find the article about Jim Boardwine here:
http://www.coolcleveland.com/index.php?n=Main.MeetJimBoardwine

And you can find the article about Jeff Nagel here:
http://www.coolcleveland.com/index.php?n=Main.UnderTheCoversJeffNagle

Both guys are very talented, and also great people!

The Most Southern Place on Earth

2009-06-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

From June 15-20 I attended a National Endowment for the Humanities workshop at Delta State University titled "The Most Southern Place on Earth," studying the birth of the blues; the culture of the Mississippi Delta; and civil rights. It was an outstanding week, meeting teachers from all over the country and diving head first into all things dealing with the Delta. It was a week of food, music, history, laughs, somber moments, living history, and new insights and experiences.
Thanks again to Dr. Luther Brown and Lee Aylward and their staff for putting on such a great workshop! For more information about the work of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning at Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, visit www.blueshighway.org.

New Orleans June 12-15 2009

2009-06-22T14:43:00.001-07:00

Before I went to my NEH workshop in Mississippi, I spent a couple of days with friends in New Orleans. The city has bounced back, and we had a great time. What a place!

Ken Becka throws out the first pitch at the Indians game 9 June 2009

2009-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

It was a galla event as Ken Becka got to throw out the first pitch before the Indians/Royals game on June 9. The event drew a large crowd of family, friends, and assorted knuckleheads as Kenny actually got the ball over the plate!

Marcia Ball @ the Beachland Ballroom 5 June 2009

2009-06-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

Blues diva Marcia Ball and her band gave her legion of Northern Ohio fans another great show on her yearly visit to Cleveland. Last Friday's concert at the Beachland featured new songs off her "Peace, Love, and BBQ" album; more than a few past favorites including "La Ti Da" and "Crawfishin'"; as well as a couple of New Orleans standards. The full house in attendance loved every minute of it, whether it was sitting still listening to a beautiful ballad or up on their feet dancing to a boogie number.
Often praised for her piano playing, she is just as good of a singer, whether it’s a New Orleans dancing in the street number or a soulful version of Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927." The new material sounded very good, especially "Party Town" that got everyone up and shouting, and three beautiful ballads, "Fallin' Back in Love with You," "Ride it Out," and "I Wish You Well."
She was backed by a four-piece band, including long time bass player Don Bennett, guitarist Andrew Nafzigel, drummer Corey Keller, and saxophonist Thad Scott.
Marcia Ball is one of the living legends of American roots music. She has won numerous Blues Music Awards, and is considered by many to be the finest piano player in the music industry. Northern Ohio fans will get a rare second chance this summer to see her as she will return on August 8 to be a part of "Ladies of the Blues" at Lock 3 in downtown Akron. For more information on Marcia Ball, her music and touring schedule, visit www.marciaball.com.
As always there are so many good shows coming up at the Beachland. I'm really looking forward to the return of singer/songwriter Josh Ritter on July 5; a rare solo appearance of songwriter Jimmy Webb on July 10; and blues dynamo Candye Kane on August 5. Check out www.beachlandballroom.com for all that is happening at that great club.
The photos were taken at Sokolowski's University Inn before the show, and shows the lovely Ms. Ball with her favorite Cleveland fan, as well as her favorite local chefs Mike and Bernie Sokolowski.

Rhys Miller at Nighttown 19 May 2009

2009-05-31T04:59:00.000-07:00

Another local kid made good returned to Nighttown last week, as vocalist Rhys Miller entertained a crowd of friends, family, fans, and jazz lovers last Tuesday night. Backed by a talented band led by pianist Jackie Warren, Miller performed two sets of standards and personal favorites, helped along the way with same guest appearances by some old friends.
Amongst the classics Miller tackled were "Being in Love," "Quiet Nights Loving You," "Angel Eyes," "A Night in Tunisia," and "A Day in the Life of a Fool." More contemporary material included a slow, jazz arrangement of The Police's "Roxanne," and a similar arrangement of U2's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking for."
Miller is a large man with a beautiful voice, with more than a little Billy Eckstine, and a touch of Sam Cooke, in it. His band at Nighttown included not only Jackie Warren on piano, but also Sammy DeLeon on percussion, Kim Reed on bass, and Ron Godale on drums. He was joined several times over the course of the evening by some old friends who are in the oldies band Generation Gap, guitarist Dave Schock and vocalist Julie Fogel, joined Miller in a very good version of James Taylor's "Her Town Too."
I really enjoyed the show, and I think the rest of the audience did too.
For more about Rhys Miller and his music, he plans to return to Nighttown later in the summer, check out www.myspace.com/rhysmillermusic. As always, there are a lot of good things coming up at Nighttown, including organist Tony Monaco and his trio on May 28; Irish vocalist Moya Brennan on June 3; and the great guitarist Duke Robillard on June 20. Visit www.nighttowncleveland.com for more information.

Dave Ritz at Wilbert's 6 May 2009

2009-05-13T07:24:00.001-07:00

Cleveland product Dave Ritz, formerly of Genuine Son, did a solo set last Wednesday opening up for Los Angeles singer/songwriter Tony Lucca at Wilbert's. Ritz's nine song set included songs from his Genuine Son days, some new originals, and a cover of Dave Matthews' "#41."

Ritz's music influences stretch from the classic rock days of Billy Joel and Tom Petty, to current artists like Matthews. Performing with just an acoustical guitar he put on a show that started good, and got better as it went along. Much of his music could be called love songs for twentysomethings -- for that time in life after high school and after college, but when life is still filled with a lot of insecurity and fear of the future. His songwriting shows he is a pretty good observer of post-college life in 2009.

"Whiskey and Wine" is a signature tune from his Genuine Son days, although it sounded good solo probably doesn't get its total affect without a full band. "Eddie Casino," another catchy tune, probably needed a full band behind it also. "Scars of Money" was the best song of the evening, and "The Joker's Mine" had a bit of Paul Simon during his Graceland period funk to it. The closer was "Goodbye," which told of an end of a summer romance.

Ritz was comfortable and affable on stage, and although looking quite youthful you can sense he's been around a bit. He's currently working on a release called Smoke with his new band, The Riders. You can learn more about Smoke, Ritz and his band by checking out http://www.DaveRitzMusic.com.

Here's hoping we see and hear more of him around town in the near future... and with a full band backing him up.

Wilbert's has a fundraiser coming up for the Cleveland Blues Society on Sunday, May 24, featuring Madison Crawl, Crazy Marvin, and the Real Deal Blues Band. For information about all Wilbert's shows check out http://www.WilbertsMusic.com.

Gypsy Relic "Paycheck to Paycheck"

2009-04-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

A pleasant surprise was receiving a promo copy of local rockers Gypsy Relic's first full length CD release "Paycheck to Paycheck." The band's name for some reason gave me visions of eighties metal, which I'm not a huge fane of, but I was quite surprised when I finally got it into the CD player.
Gypsy Relic is a three piece outfit made up of Dann Jasko on guitar and vocals, Brad Thompson on bass, and Chris Szuch on drums. They play all original music, blue collar rock and roll with a touch of jazz and a bit of hip hop. Bands with this line up are immediately compared to Cream, or local favorites the James Gang and Glass Harp. Those are some pretty tough comparisons, but these guys can hold their own. "Pink Hair and Polka Dot Shoes" is a great song, and "If You Leave Me Here Again," "Home," and May Never" aren't that far behind. Jasko is solid on guitar, and Thompson and Szuch give him a strong bass line to keep things moving forward.
The band has some shows coming up, including before and after the Tribe game on June 27 at Wilbert's. I'm anxious to see if they are as strong live as they are on this disc. For more information visit www.GypsyRelic.com.

Jonah Koslen and Stage Pass Now at the Winchester 18 April 2009

2009-04-19T13:25:00.000-07:00

Jonah Koslen brought his latest project to the Winchester in Lakewood last Saturday night, a night of classic rock featuring all the songs off the 1977 MSB album Stage Pass, as well as some other old gems from Koslen's career with both MSB and Breathless.
This time around Koslen brought with him a veteran crew of local and regional musicians including Donny Thompson on drums, former Beau Coup member Bill March sharing guitar and vocals, Rik Willinger on keyboards and a variety of other things, and former Easy Streeter Van Eidum on drums.
I wasn't sure the concept for the evening, playing all the songs from Stage Pass in the order they appeared, without the rest of the original principals was going to work. But, for the most part it did. Koslen did most of the vocals, but everyone else pitched in a song or two, the musicianship was solid, and the strength of the songs overshadowed any rough spots.
Amongst the highlights were the Koslen originals "Nothings Gonna Change My Mind" (which the band did twice, the second time as the last encore); "Waste a Little Time on Me," and, of course, the album's closer "Strike Up the Band." His guitar work also shined on "Calcutta Auction," "Moving Right Along," and "Let's Get the Show on the Road." Bill March did a good job filling in for Michael Stanley on a few of the vocals, and Willinger did more than a fine job with the Daniel Pecchio flute solo that opens "Moving Right Along."
The band also through in a few Koslen tunes from early MSB albums, including "Angel Eyes," "Blue Jean Boy," and "Ladies Choice." The encore included the Breathless standards "Walk Right In" and "Taking It Back." The almost capaicity crowd of forty and fifty somethings really enjoyed the evening.
Before he heads up to the islands this summer to do his one man band thing, Koslen with this line up will be doing several more Stage Pass shows in the area. Go to www.jonahkoslen.com for more info.
It had been a while since I had been to the Winchester, but every time I do I see improvements in the club. They've redone the bathrooms, and the walls in the front bar are getting filled with some great photos of some of the performers who have graced their stage. Keep up the good work! As always, they have a lot of good things coming up, including Nashville singer/songwriter Darrell Scott on April 24; blues diva Kristine Jackson on May 1; the Sultans of Bing on May 2; Vambo Rools, a Alex Harvey Tribute band, on May 9; and the legendary Shawn Phillips on May 23. Visit www.winchester.net for more information.
The photo at left is courtesy of www.JonahKoslen.com

The Lady With All the Answers, the Cleveland Play House, 1 April 2009

2009-04-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

The Lady With All the Answers, a one-woman show starring Mimi Kennedy, is currently playing at the Cleveland Play House until April 19. The very entertaining play tells the story of columnist Ann Landers, and is a very good look at not only her life but her rivalry with her twin sister (Dear Abbey for those who don't know); her own marriage which ended after over thirty years when her husband left her for a younger woman; and the times she lived and wrote.
Mimi Kennedy is outstanding, as she runs around the stage telling story after story, as well as a fair amount of inter action with the audience. She shares laughs and tears, as well as Ann Landers' opinions on topics such as the women's movement, gun control, and the war in Vietnam. Among the best stories are when Ms. Landers appeared on a talk show with Linda Lovelace, and her commentary on politicians of the time period like Lyndon Johnson, Hubert Humphrey, and Richard Nixon.
This is a great piece of theater and I highly recommend it, especially for those of us who lived during the time when everyone did read Ann Landers.
The Play House will be wrapping up their season with a production of Thornton Wilder's Heaven's My Destination in the Drury Theater from April 24 until May 17, and their third annual FusionFest from April 29 until May 10. This year you can buy a $99 FusionFest pass that is good for all events and parking. Call 216.795.7000 ext. 4 for more information.
It has been another very good season at the Play House, and it is not too late to spend an enjoyable night of theater there before it is over. For more information check out www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

Crime and Punishment 4 March 2009, the Drury Theater at the Cleveland Play House

2009-03-05T04:06:00.000-08:00

The film director George Roy Hill once said that if a director picked a good script and did a good job in casting the main roles 90% of his job was done. I'm not sure Director Anders Cato feels the same way about his current production of "Crime and Punishment" at the Cleveland Play House, but that's the impression left on my mind after seeing last Wednesday's performance. Adapted for the stage by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus from Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel, the production allows three talented actors to present a story filled with emotional dialogue and soliloquies.
Patrick Husted plays Porfiry, Paul Anthony Stewart plays Raskolnikov, and Lethia Nall plays Sonia in this story about murder, denial, confession, and redemption. Lee Savage's stark two-story staging adds suspense to the story, as does the lighting by Jeff Davis. It all adds up to a good night of live theater, an intense ninety minutes of roller coaster emotions told straight through without an intermission. The play runs through March 22 at the Drury Theater.
The Cleveland Play House is winding down its season with two more major productions. "The Lady With the Answers," a one-woman show about the life of Ann Landers, runs from March 27 until April 19. The world stage adaptation of the novel "Heaven's my Destination" will be presented from April 24 until May 17. The Play House closes its season with its annual FusionFest from April 29 through May 10, with a variety of productions featuring music, dance, and theater. For more information on any of these productions, or to purchase tickets, go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

"Seussical the Musical" 27 February 2009, Beachwood Community theater

2009-03-05T03:33:00.000-08:00

In these days of dire financial times, it is great that people are still supporting the arts, especially live entertainment. For some theater lovers, especially those with a family, a night downtown or at the Playhouse might be a reach right now. But they won't be left out in the cold because of the abundance of quality, inexpensive smaller professional and community theater groups in Northern Ohio.
One of those quality community groups is the Beachwood Community Theater, which is currently putting on an entertaining production of "Seussical, the Musical" now through March 15 at Beachwood Middle School. The fun show features colorful costumes and scenery, songs in the unique language Dr. Suess has shared with us over the last fifty years, and a cast filled with a nice mix of community theater veterans and young enthusiastic rookies.
The play combines two popular stories, "Horton Hears a Who" and "Gertrude Mc Fuzz," along with elements from dozen of other Dr. Suess favorites, in a series of musical dance numbers and comedy sketches.
Amongst the stand out performances are Mark Oet as JoJo; Streetsboro High School senior Casey J. Braun as the Cat in the Hat; Ted Rosati as Horton the Elephant; Molly Sawyer as Mayzie LaBird; and Cheryl Eitman, whose day job is a Cantorial Soloist at several east side temples, as Gertrude McFuzz.
I highly recommend this show, especially for a family outing that would include young children. Tickets are inexpensive, only $7 for adults and $6 for students, with group rates available. For more information on dates and show times call 216.292.1970.

The Long Road at Nighttown 22 February 12009

2009-02-26T10:40:00.001-08:00

The Long Road, a group of long established local folk singers and musicians, put on a very enjoyable show of acoustical music to an almost capacity crowd on a cold and snowy Sunday night last week at Nighttown. The group lead by singer/guitarist/songwriter (and sometimes CoolCleveland contributor) David Budin played a 19-song set that included folk and rock favorites, several obscure gems, as well as a few ageless standards.
The six-piece band is made of all strings, including a variety of guitars, harps, and mandolins; a pedal steel, and an upright bass. Almost everyone took a turn at lead vocals, backed by beautiful harmonies and fine musicianship. The mostly gray haired audience definitely enjoyed it.
The players in the Long Road go back many years together and separately, and all have impressive musical histories. Budin goes back to the late 60's and the local folk scene around the legendary La Cave club, and spent time in the New York City music scene in the 1970's. Bassist Ray Deforest has played with a who's who of Cleveland musicians over the last thirty years, performing everything under the folk, rock, jazz, and blues umbrellas. Charlie and Celia Hollander Lewis often perform as a folk and bluegrass duo based in Athens, Ohio. Kevin Richards amongst many things is the founder of both the Fairmont School of Music and the Roots of American Music program. Robert Sandham is another long time local folk musician who has worked with John Bassette and Alex Bevan. He is also currently a church pastor. Together they make wonderful music.
The song list featured songs from many different eras, genres, and even nationalities. Amongst the highlights were the opener "Try and Catch the Wind"; Bob Dylan's "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" with some fancy country guitar playing; a haunting version of Nanci Griffith's "Gulf Coast Highway" with Celia and Charlie Lewis doing the vocals; and an equally haunting version of John Keelaghan's "Cold Missouri Waters" about a 1949 wildfire in Montana. Amongst the surprises were acoustic versions of the rock standards "The Letter" and "Strange Brew." My favorite song of the evening was their version of Marty Robbins' El Paso," with Charlie Lewis on lead vocal and almost everyone adding some sort of string solo along the way.
While strings were being tuned and guitars were being changed between songs, Budin kept the show going with short little monologues on everything from musical history to current events. His soliloquy on cheese that cost $19 a pound at the Whole Foods Grocery Store was exceptionally entertaining.
The Long Road has at least four, and maybe a few more, shows planned for 2009, including two events at Cain Park this summer. For more about the Long Road check out www.longroadsongs.com.
It is good to see other genres of music being booked into Nighttown besides jazz. The room was perfect for a night of acoustical music from the Long Road. As always Nighttown has a lot of great shows coming up, check them out at www.nighttowncleveland.com. Amongst the upcoming highlights are Cleveland born trumpeter Dominic Farinacci returning with his quintet the weekend of March 6 & 7; Nashville jazz vocalist making her Nighttown debut on March 12; and the Hot club of Detroit returning on March 26.

Oliver Buck and the New Madrids "Prodigal Son"

2009-02-19T06:14:00.000-08:00

Oliver Buck calls his second release Prodigal Son a road album, about the journey of moving back to Cleveland after fifteen years in other places, the last five in Kansas, trying to make a living playing music. And the thirteen songs on the album all stick to that theme, with titles like “Autumn in Kansas,” “Gina from Tulsa,” and “County Jail Blues.”

“Prodigal Son” is a great stuff. Buck writes wonderful songs and offers them up in a simple and straight ahead fashion with his honest voice backed by nothing more than guitar, bass, and drum. Recorded the old fashion way on analog tape with no computers or digital effects, it has the feel of a John Prine or Johnny Cash record.

There are more than a few standout cuts, including the title track, “Once Around the Sun,” Milwaukee,” and “The Troubadour Life.” Also included is a very respectable cover of Bill Monroe’s “Sitting on Top of the World.”

For a schedule of performances by Oliver Buck, both solo and with the New Madrids (bassist Adam Rich and drummer Ernie Richmann) visit OliverBuck.com. I think this guy is really good, I hope things go well for him in his return to Northern Ohio.

2009 Streetsboro Girls Basketball Alumni Game

2009-01-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who came to or contributed to the first ever Streetsboro High School Girls Basketball Alumni game, which raised over $1300 for former Rockets hoopster Amy Rhinehart Ramba '99 and her battle against breast cancer. Pictured from the Greg Cielec era of 'Boro hoops are Nikke Lee '99 (a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and currently a book editor and writer), Polly Deirkens '97 (a University of Toledo graduate and currently Streetsboro's journalism teacher), former Assistant Coach Coni French (expecting her first child in April!), and Christine Flick (a graduate of University of Akron, a mother of four, and a medical engineer at the Cleveland Clinic).

Leon Russell 16 January 2009 The Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, Ohio

2009-01-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

Back in the 70's when they were a really bad team, the Cleveland Indians every so often we sign a once great player who was past his prime, hoping to squeeze one more good season out of him. But instead of witnessing one more landmark year out of a once great player, Tribe fans had to watch a painfully sad ending to an otherwise stellar career.
I thought of that during last Friday's Leon Russell show. I have been a big fan of his going back to middle school when I bought my first records and his collaborations with George Harrison and Joe Cocker. I have seen him perform six or seven time since them, and all of them were good shows that featured Russell's great compositions and his keyboard expertise.
But watching him last Friday at the Beachland was painful. Maybe he was showing his age, maybe it was the weather, and maybe it was the fact he is in the middle of a winter tour through the north. I don't know. In the past it was about him and his keyboard playing and singing his own compositions. Last Friday he was a part of a bigger band that played mostly covers. I counted four Stones songs, and more than a few blues and rock standards like "Come Into my Kitchen" and "Hoochie Coochie Man." Thrown in between them were a few Russell classics like "Back to the Island" and "Lady Blue," but their guitar dominated arrangements made them sound a little too much like everything else they were playing.
Leon Russell deserves to be in the Rock Hall, from Mad Dogs and Englishmen and the Concert for Bangladesh to his solo career and his body of work as a songwriter. But what the full house of fans saw last Friday was just a mere shadow of what he once was. I hope it was just an off night and he still has something left.
Local rockers Oliver Buck and the New Madrids were the opening band and they were very impressive, playing straight ahead guitar driven roots rock featuring their own compositions. Amongst the highlights were "Milwaukee" and the closer "Home to You." Their current album is "Prodigal Son." They have a bunch of near by shows coming up, check them out at www.oliverbuck.com.

High School Rock Off 16 January 2009 House of Blues Cleveland

2009-01-22T16:12:00.000-08:00

Before I headed out to the Beachland for last Friday's Leon Russell show, I stopped at the House of Blues to catch some of the bands in this year's 13th High School Rockoff. I am so glad I did. I worry about rock and roll, the music I grew up with back in the 60s, 70s, and 80s, sometimes I think its on the verge of extinction. The kids at the Rock Off proofed me otherwise. In this world dominated by American Idol, Clear Channel country, and where almost every genre of commercial popular music sounds the same, it was so good to see talented young people playing real rock and roll, with guitars and drums and songs that they have written themselves.
I caught a half dozen of the bands and they all deserved 'A' for effort. Sink Ohio Sink, Deviathan, and ESD all had a hard edge, showing influences from Gwar to Metalica to Mushroomhead. Pending Approval played a straight ahead rock, with both an edge and a melody. Standing on Friday showed that they had spent sometime listening to their parent's Neil Young and Tom Petty albums. Red Reign featured a pint sized Pat Benatar clone named Desiree Boardwine who got the audience jumping and screaming along to her original songs. All of the bands showed that they had put in hours of practice time, and both Red Reign and ESD made the cut to the finals on January 30.
The Rock Off continues next weekend with bands playing both Friday and Saturday, with the finals the following Friday. Check out the performance schedule at www.cleveland.com/music/rockoff. And, as always, there are a lot of great things going on at the House of Blues, check them out at www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/cleveland/.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at the Beachland Ballroom 12.13.2008

2008-12-31T10:14:00.001-08:00

The Beachland was almost filled to capacity last Saturday night as Grace Potter and the Nocturnals took the stage in support of their second album Nothing But Water. The Vermont based band has a good buzz about them right now, appearing on most of the late night TV shows and an hour long feature on PBS, and they attracted a diverse crowd made up of hard core fans, jam rock fans, and music fans out looking for a fresh quality sound.
Even with the catchy name, the band is about Grace Potter. She does most of the writing, sings lead on every song, and also plays a very good keyboard and guitar. Her fifteen song set included selections from both of her albums, as well as several covers of classic rock standards. Amongst the highlights were "Ain't No Time" and "Big White Gate" from her first album This Is Somewhere; the title track from her second album which was she closed the show with; and a solid version of Neil Young's "Down By the River."
She was backed by a small band of guitar, bass, and drums. The band was occasionally augmented by members of the night's opening act Blues and Thunder to fill out the sound.
I think most of the fans got what they came for. The hard-core fans swayed and sang along to most songs, and the jam band fans got into the guitar lead jams that stretched most of the songs. The music fans unfamiliar with her but out for a night of fresh music probably saw a work in progress, a talented young lady who is still evolving as an artist. For more on Grace Potter and her music visit www.gracepotter.com.
As always the Beachland has a lot of great stuff coming up, including a Jason and the Scorchers reunion show on New Year's Eve, Robert Gordon and Chris Spedding on January 10, and Jonathon Edwards on January 30. For more information go to www.beachlandballroom.com.

A Christmas Carol at the Ohio Theater 28 Nov 2008

2008-12-01T08:55:00.000-08:00

As a teacher, patron, and reviewer I have seen at least a third of the twenty different stagings of A Christmas Carol that the Great Lakes Theater Festival has done. It is the Romeo and Juliet of Christmas plays. Everyone knows the characters, everyone knows the conflicts, and everyone knows the ending, but if it is done well those things just don't matter.
The current production now being performed at the Ohio Theater is done well. Very good casting, great costumes and scenery, an added story within a story that allows for some festive holiday singing, all make it an enjoyable night of theater. If you want to be picky, there are some criticisms, for example there is more machine generated smoke than at a Journey concert. But all in all it is another fine production of Dickens' classic.
Direct by Victoria Bussert, the show features long time Great Lakes veteran Aled Davies as Scrooge, and he does a great job with it. Almost stealing the show from Davies is seven-year-old Shannon Kelley who plays Tiny Tim.
A Christmas Carol is often watered down, but this current production keeps loyal to Dickens' original text, including his references to British folk tales and mythology. It's doesn't get too heavy, and the dramatic effects do not get in the way of the story.
The opening night audience was filled with many well-dressed and well-behaved children, enjoying a night out with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
A Christmas Carol will be presented at the Ohio Theater until December 23, including matinees on the weekends. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.greatlakestheater.org or call 216.241.6000.

J.D.Souther at Nighttown Cleveland 19 November 2008

2008-11-25T07:06:00.000-08:00

It was a wonderful night of songs and story telling as one of the architects of the California rock sound of the 70's J. D. Souther packed Nighttown for a solo show. I don't think anyone left disappointed after 21 songs plus 3 encores that covered his forty year career, as hits, near misses, and new ballads all sounded good.
Souther presented himself in a polished but laid back fashion, and he had the audience buying in to everything he did. He strolled on stage carrying a book he had been reading quietly at the bar beforehand. He's lost a bit of his range over the years, but the high parts still sound sincere, and his guitar and piano playing was simple but beautiful. He was witty without being over intellectual; he was political without being extreme or preachy.
He opened with "I'll be Here at Closing Time" off his new album "The World was You", a song reminiscent of Tom Waits. He was quite proud that you could by his new album in a double album on high quality vinyl. He did great versions of the songs he wrote or help write for the Eagles and Linda Ronstandt including "New Kid in Town," "Best of my Love," "Black Roses and White Rhythm and Blues," and "Prisoner in Disguise." Also included was "How Long," his 1972 composition that turned out to be the first single off the Eagles' 2007 release "Long Road out of Eden." Several gems off his 1979 "Only Lonely" album, included the title track and "The Last in Love" also stood out.
He enjoyed the night as much as the audience, reaching back to his very first album for "Lullaby" as the last encore, something he doesn't often do.
Opening for Souther was New York City singer/songwriter April Smith, who was everything an opening act should be: she was a good fit for the audience, she did a very good job, and she did not play too long. She's a short spunky woman who's in that 'not young any more but not showing her years yet' stage, and is a fine songwriter to boot. She did five originals and a cover of "Unchained Melody," with "To Tell You" and the "One Who Got Way" standing out.
For more on J. D. Souther and his music visit www.jdsouther.net. Nighttown will be featuring Christmas shows by jazz artists with local roots during December, including
Helen Welch, Kelly Chapman, and Joe McBride. Trumpet player extraordinaire Dominick Farinacci will be their New Year's Eve show. Visit www.nighttowncleveland.com for more information.

Wine Tasting Evening at Sokolowski's University Inn 16 October 2008

2008-10-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

Every so often they will the good people at Sokolowski's University Inn in Tremont dress the place up for a special event. Last Thursday they had their first ever wine tasting, and by the reaction of the sold out crowd it was quite the success.
Eighty-five food and wine enthusiasts were treated to a five-course affair, each one featuring one of the Inn's signature dishes with a wine furnished by Heidelburg Distributors. Perogies were paired with a Pinot Noir, stuff cabbage with a Malbec Select, and Grilled Flank Steak with a Cabernet Sauvignon.
The affair was hosted by Dr. Dave Rogers, aka as "the Wine Snob," who did a great job giving the background of each wine presented, the health benefits of a glass a wine a day, and the economics of being a wise wine consumer.
The food was outstanding, the wines were very good, and the company was friendly. The evening was capped off by a dessert buffet featuring University Inn's outstanding rice pudding along with an assortment of Polish pastries called kalachis.
It was a great job by the Sokolowski's and their staff at the University Inn and the people from Heidelburg Distributors. And on top of it, for the $50 ticket price it was a bargain of an evening. For more information on Sokoloski's University Inn including upcoming special events go to www.sokolowskis.com.

"10" Tommy Wiggins Chilidog Records 2008

2008-10-21T18:01:00.000-07:00

Tommy Wiggins is many things. He runs the Recording Arts & Technology Program at Tri-C Metro and hosts the award winning television show "Crooked River Groove," and in his spare time he makes his own music. He is a talented singer songwriter who just released his tenth effort appropriately titled "10" and it is very good. It is Wiggins' best record yet, filled with catchy original songs and featuring a line up of talented musicians.
Wiggins' music is rock and roll for adults, songs about long ago friends and events, dealing with the aging process, making sense of life’s mysterious. "Ten" features twelve tracks, all penned by Wiggins. “Sliver of Moon” is about a romantic night with a favorite woman. “Hang On” is trying to keep up as time goes by. ”Skyline Drive” and “Summer of ‘69” look back on childhood events both innocent and destructive. "Crooked River Groove," and "Bible's on the Table" are funky blues numbers.
"Ten" has more of a blues feel to it than his more recent works, with some fancy guitar work by Wiggins and Al Moss, keyboards by both Wiggins and Jackie Warren that could be mistaken for Gregg Allman, and a blues beat laid down by bassist Derek Poindexter and drummer Jon Niefeld. Guests also include local reggae statesman Carlos Jones on percussion.
Tommy Wiggins and various friends occasionally play about town, and if you got a chance check them out do so, as well as checking out this album. You won’t be disappointed. For more information on Tommy Wiggins and his music and various projects go to www.tommywiggins.com.

Nick Lowe at the Beachland Ballroom 15 October 2008

2008-10-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

It was another night of very enjoyable music at the Beachland Ballroom last Wednesday, as Nick Lowe delivered a well received solo set featuring work from all stages of his illustrious career.
He brought out a sold out audience filled with mostly older fans, with more than a few local musicians and song writers in the crowd. Including encores he did 23 songs without taking a break, all but one an original. The set included recent songs (“People Change” and “Long Limbed Girl” from his 2007 release At My Age); gems from the classic Rockpile album Seconds of Pleasure (“Heart” and “When I Write the Book”); his own pop hits (“Cruel to be Kind” and “I Knew the Bride When She use to Rock and Roll”); hits he wrote for others (a beautiful haunting version of “What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding” that closed the show); and fan favorites like “All Men Lie.” He even previewed an unrecorded new song “I Read A Lot” that was warmly received. The only nonoriginal was a rocking version of Eddie Cochran’s “Seven Nights to Rock” which was the last encore. All of it was wonderful, and the audience enjoyed every moment.
The themes and styles of Nick Lowe’s music flow between two extremes, the music of Buddy Holly, the Everly Brothers and very early Beatles, and the ironic and sad humor and insight of classic twentieth century British poets and authors. In between songs he told a few great stories along the way in the same style, like A.E. Houseman if he had a sense of humor.
It was another seating on the floor show at the Beachland. I love it when the chairs come out there. I have seen it really rock there, but when the chairs come out it attracts an older, wiser audience that is really there for the music, and sits silently and enjoys each moment. And the crowd was void of the “We love you, Nick” and “Cleveland loves you, thanks for coming” self centered idiots that attended the recent Shelby Lynne and Roul Malo shows at the Beachland.
As always there are a lot of great shows coming up at the Beachland including Matthew Sweet this Saturday, October 25; Glass Harp doing a benefit for Roots of American Music on Saturday, November 1; Bluesman Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharton on Friday, December 12; Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on Saturday, December 13; and a rescheduled Leon Russell show on Friday, January 16. Check out their seven days a week live music calendar at www.beachlandballroom.com.
A tip of the Red Stripe bottle to Cindy Barber and her staff at the Beachland for another great night of music. Keep up the good work!

Cast! at Nighttown 18 September 2008

2008-09-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

There was a window of time back in the 70's when jazz musicians had their music played on progressive rock radio. That radio play help make artists like George Benson, Chick Corea, and David Sanborn mainstream artists. A trio made up of sons of three of the major players from that time period played Night Town last Thursday. Drummer Karma Auger (son of Brian), guitarist Julian Coryell (son of Larry), and bassist Nicklas Sample (son of Joe) call them selves Cast!
It can be such a hit or miss proposition when dealing with the offspring of established musicians. For every Rosanne Cash, some one who succeeds despite being in a parent's shadow, there are many who don't. The members of Cast! are already seasoned veterans of the music world, and are all talented musicians in their own rights.
My notes described their music as George Benson meets Rare Earth meets Funkadelic meets Dicky Betts. And, of course, you couldn't help but notice the influences of the elder Auger, Coryell, and Sample. The trio did a great job of keeping the audience's attention with instrumentals with catchy titles like "Nadine," "Beautiful," "The Purple Panther," and "Walking the Dragon." Most of the songs left room for solos and improvisation from all three members. Both the songs and the performance were very good.
The two best numbers had more than a touch of funk, "Coolidge Returns" and "Rice Krispy Socrates," and I predict both with soon become bumper music staples on radio and television programs everywhere.
For now their music is only available on iTunes and CD Baby. They will be working around their commitments to their other projects for the next few months, hopefully doing another small tour later this fall or winter. For more about Cast! and their music visit their page on MySpace Music.
As always there are a lot of great shows coming up at Nighttown, including Maria Muldaur for two shows this Sunday; The Four Freshmen on October 6 & 7; Steve Smith's Jazz Legacy Band, featuring the drummer from Journey, on October 13 & 14; EMI recording artists Eroica Trio on October 25; singer/songwriter J.D. Souther on November 19; and on November 20 & 21 the John Pizzarelli Quartet, who will be featuring music from their Richard Rogers tribute album "With a Song in my Heart," the follow up to last year's Sinatra tribute. To see their complete music calendar go to www.nighttowncleveland.com.

Steve Mackall's "Sunday Bubble"

2008-09-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

I use to joke, but it wasn't that far from the truth, about not realizing until I was thirty that not everyone had Sunday dinner at their grandparents each week. My old friend Steve Mackall out in California did a great piece about Sunday family dinner. Click on the You Tube link below, or cut and paste it into your browser. Good stuff!
My favorite Sunday dinner story was about when I was stilll in high school and had worked my first week at Quality Industries, a place where you heard the F word a hundred times a minute. If you screwed up a piece you had to write "NFG" on it, meaning it was No Fu---- Good. If a machine made a mistake you wrote "MFUA" on it, meaning the Machine Fu---- Up Again. That first week at the machine shop I worked six days, ten hours a day. I was exhausted, barely keeping awake at the dinner table. I remember we had roast beef and both sets of grandparents were there along with my whole family. I remember after we said grace turning to my grandmother and saying, "Nanny, pass the fu----ing potatoes." Believe me when I say I was not the golden child that day!
Check out Steve's monologue, it is wonderful.
Greg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qih3EYHRn0A

Erin Bode at Nighttown 28 July 2008

2008-08-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

Erin Bode made her fourth Nighttown appearance since 2006 last Monday in support of her new CD release "the little garden." She put on another wonderful show, backed by her three piece band of Adam Maness on keyboards and guitars; Syd Rodway on bass; and Derek Phillips on percussion.
What separates Ms. Bode from many of the talented jazz singers that regularly play Nighttown and other similar clubs around the country is the strength of her original material, often written along with keyboardist Maness. And, instead of doing covers of the same old standards, she and her band do some great jazz arrangements of classic rock songs, both popular and obscure.
This time around she featured songs off the new album, including "Out of Tone" and "New England Friends," with some great piano by Maness; several romantic ballads including "Too" and "It's All Your Fault"; and a South African influenced "In Cold Water." She performed several songs from her last album "Over and Over" including "Sydney Come Down" which featured Phillips' drumming talents; and "Holiday," which is probably her most popular original song. On the "Sweater Song," another new romantic ballad, her voice trailed off like a train whistle in the distance while her band took turns doing solos.
Amongst the covers they performed included Paul Simon's "Born at the Right Time" and "Graceland"; a beautiful arrangement of U2's "With or Without You"; and a terrific version of Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll be Staying Here with You."
For more information on Erin Bode and her band and their music go to www.erinbode.com. As always, Nighttown has a lot of great shows coming up, including on Thursday, August 14, the Cleveland Jazz Project, and on August 16 & 17 the Hot Club of Detroit. For more information and a schedule of shows go to www.NighttownCleveland.com.

8 June 2008 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at the House of Blues

2008-06-26T01:20:00.000-07:00

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
@ the House of Blues Cleveland
8 June 2008
(I forgot to post this before I went on vacation)
It was a fun night of swing and big band music as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy made another return visit to the Cleveland House of Blues last Sunday. Touring in support of their upcoming Cab Calloway tribute CD, the band played a mix of big band standards as well as the swing tunes their fans have enjoyed for years.
Bandleader/guitarist/vocalist Scotty Morris led the band through an eighteen-song set, despite having his left leg in a cast and having to work from a stool. However, this band has played so many shows together, and is as tight and professional as you will see a nine-piece outfit, and they followed everyone one of Morris's cues.
Amongst the Calloway numbers were the "Calloway Boogie" "Hey Now," "Reefer Man," "He's Close to Harlem," and, of course, "Minnie the Moocher." All done with the classic Cab Callaway Orchestra arrangements, the swing dancers in the house loved it.
The rest of the show was filled with the some of the usual BBVD numbers like "Oh Yeah" and Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing (if it ain't got no swing)."
Another highlight included the New Orleans jazz standard "Zig Zaggy," with clarinets subbing for the saxophones.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are growing into a real roots music treasure, not only keeping swing music alive, but also carries of the big band legacy and traditional New Orleans style jazz. It was a great night of music, and the audience enjoyed it tremendously.
For more information on Big Bad Voodoo Daddy visit www.bbvd.com. The House of Blues will be jumping all summer, check out their schedule at www.hob.com.

23 June Las Vegas

2008-06-23T06:30:00.000-07:00

Greg's comments: Before Bob rambles on about our trip, I thought I'd share our visit from a "ghost of vacations past" we encountered at the end of our trip. Our last night in Vegas was pretty mild, we ate dinner at one of the Italian joints over in New York, New York. We sat at our table and people watched, then got back to our room around ten to get a good night's sleep. We got to the airport by five for our seven a.m. flight. We were in the same row, Bob on the window and me on the isle, when right before take off a young kid in his early twenties plops down between us and says, "I'm never drinking again." He goes on to tell us he hasn't been to bed in two days, he lost a ton of money gambling, and he and his buddies had way too good of a time. Before he fell asleep he deleted all the phone numbers on his cell he accumulated before his girlfriend back home saw them. He put a black mask over his eyes and he had a very rough flight back home.
Bob and I just sat there and took him in, remembering what it was to be young and irresponsible and on vacation.
Bob's comments on Day 9: Greg and I rolled out of Motel 6 dignity and into Hooter's Casino by 10:00 am an even got into a room so we were able to unload our bags. We wandered over to MGM where we purchased a monorail pass. We wanted to be able to cruise effortlessly between the casinos and avoid the 106 degrees wherever possible. On the fly I can say the Flamingo looks to be a good Vegas destination. The Venetian an entertaining appeal and in this beautiful Italian monument we managed to find a Panda Express for lunch. After some very bad navigation and a poorly engineered map we must have walked 2 miles in search of the monorail station. Along the way we passed through a Catholic Church parking lot when a taxi pulled up to drop off parishioners. On the trunk of the cab was a 4x2 sign displaying the "thongly" clad hind ends of 6 Vegas dancers. Greg wondered allowed that he was a Catholic and if they were performing at the church we might get in free. We crawled to the monorail station and traveled to Harrah's and walked the overpass into Caesar's Palace where there was a movie shoot taking place. They were filming 10 of the Roman Legions finest. Their arms were as big around as Daniel Bradshaw's head. Next on the tour was the Belagio where the fountains were not entertaining anyone at the time. Back at Hooters we charged our batteries for a wild night out at New York New York, Aladdin and finally the Luxor. You can only imagine the fun we had Jason…..wink, wink. At this moment it is Monday morning 5:30 am and Greg and I are waiting for our flight to Cleveland. We are hopping to take a bump if the offer is right. Here is what we have done on this adventure: Tom, Bob and Greg arrived in Vegas on Friday June 13. We rented a red Chevy Impala that got decent mileage but had a horrible turning radius. We visited 6 outstanding National Parks mostly in Utah, Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands and the Grand Canyon (N. Rim). We visited 5 National Monuments (no different from NP), the Grand Staircase-Escalante, Bridges, Monument Valley, Lake Powell Recreation at Glen Canyon Dam, and Hoover Dam. We survived the dangers of unsurpassed beauty from cliffs, crags, grottos canyons, buttes and mesas. Thanks to the US government for allowing us to take these risks because it really adds to the experience. We saw the best that nature can produce and here in Vegas, what man can achieve. We drove 1358 miles in ten days and ten nights. We heard at least 10 different languages, met people from Chagrin Falls, students from John Carroll, Chardon, a friend from Bradenton and strangely no one from St. Louis but it was in the news everyday. We watched NBA finals, European Cup Soccer and we watched the Tribe never win a game. We unwittingly consumed 3.2 beer and behaved like it was the real deal. We survived the archaic blue laws of Utah but it meant that we became members of 3 different establishments in Moab, Utah. We got to know the little towns of Hatch, Tropic, Torrey, Moab, Page, Bitter Springs, Jacobs Lake, Hurricane and a little known place called Las Vegas. Greg and I are taking money home from the roulette table at O'Sheas and between the three of us spent $625 per person on room, gas and some meals. You can't beat it. Thanks for listening and by the way Helen Thomas gets credit for our much used phrase ("found dignity") Out RTT

21 June Grand Canyon/Las Vegas

2008-06-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a rough one starting with the long drive to the Grand Canyon and Lake Mead, and ending with a wild drive back from the strip to our hotel and Tom taking off for St. Louis.
Bob's comments on Day 8: An update from last evening in Hurricane, Utah…. We went to the F.O.E (Eagles) even Rodney Dangerfield would recognize their membership as a rough crowd. A very tanked lady said I looked like a stockbroker from NY. Tom, standing there said that I was so there after she kept asking for investing tips. I told her to buy low and sell high. Good advice for us all. The entertainment was setting up while we sat at a table. The band was called "Most Wanted" and by their look there is no reason to doubt it. We headed to Ted and Allen's Sports Grille. In conversation with Dennis, the manager, he said he knew Bruce Meade (big time softballer from Bradenton) because they had played on the same team. Just another small world story. We were on the road by 7:30 headed for Vegas with our first stop being the Hoover Dam, an impressive monument to American engineering. It is a massive tourist traffic jam with tons of sightseers, lots of security, and impressive views. It was neat to see a bridge in the process of construction. It is to be complete in 2010 and will take cars off of the road over the dam. On the drive back to Vegas we took pictures of a small herd of Big Horn sheep along the busy roadside munching on manicured, housing development, grass (see picture). We went to Hooters where it all began on the 13th. We consumed the usual fare and watched Russia take the Netherlands in OT 3-1. Tom never agrees with the officiating, and Greg and I don't care. Stosh brought us Motel 6 dignity and we headed down the strip for some Sodom and Gomorrah (especially after 8 days of Eden). We ran into Jeff Womaldorff (Southeast grad and one time soccer coach) and his wife. We went into O'Shea's, and sat down at a roulette table. Greg started with $25 and walked away with $150. I started with $20 and won $87. Tom had his white collar on and preached to us the evils of betting. We headed to Fitzgerald's Casino where Tom knew of a great steakhouse. We had our last supper and Tom took us back to the hotel and left for the Airport. It is Sunday and we are going to check into Hooters for tonight and tour today more of the strip.

20 June The Grand Canyon

2008-06-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

Today's travels took us to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I want to say a special hello to my niece Sarah Martin, who is having her graduation party tomorrow night and I'm going to miss it. To know her is to love her! And a note to Bob's girlfriend Yvonne...If I took you to the Grand Canyon for a romantic getaway we definitely would have eaten in the dining room there. There are some things he just doesn't get, if there was an Applebees on top of the rim he would've taken you there in a heart beat.
Bob's notes: Day 7 Friday... We left the confines of the Quality Inn of Page Arizona at 7:00 am, yes 7. We headed south on Hwy 89 headed to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This will be my 5th visit to the Canyon (3 South Rand 2 North Rim). The route took us through the Arizona Strip... 2.8 million acres with only one highway. We crossed the Colorado River at Lee's Ferry and walked onto the Navajo Bridge to looked down into the narrow gorge. A plaque tells the story that the very last ferry ride before the bridge opened ended in tragedy and the death of 2. Greg asks "Couldn't they have waited for the bridge to open?" We stopped at a historical marker that told us about two Spanish Padres hiking from Sante Fe in 1776 headed for California. I now know that men of the cloth can be as dumb as the rest of us. "Hey Padre can you walk a little faster?" It is beastly hot. We climbed the Kaibab Plateau into a forrest of tall pines, turned left at Jacob's Lake and drove the 33 miles into the North Rim. We passed through a burned out area from a fire in 2006. We parked at 10:00 am and walked into the Grand Canyon Lodge (1928) and put and exclamation point on our trip. The North Rim is far less visited and 1000 ft higher in elevation than the South Rim. Much cooler. We walked the rim trail and drove out to other vistas. We left at 2:00 pm drove hard to Hurricane Utah to find dignity. We have Super 8 dignity tonight and an Eagles to visit. Note to Yvonne. I didn't eat a meal in the Grand Canyon Lodge dining room this time either. We went for the trail mix.

I cannot help but think of the famous line from Inherit the Wind by Frederick March.......I'm not interested in the Age of Rocks, but the Rock of Ages....anyway you look at it....Grand Canyon is simply beyond belief.....awe inspiring. The enormacy is just wonderous......canyon in canyon in canyon, through millions, in this case, billions of years of our evolution......may we all be blessed by this treasure in America......God Bless our Troops.......Tom

19 June Lake Powell/Page, Arizona

2008-06-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

We are at Lake Powell and it is hot! However, we broke our disciplined routine and went beveraging in the afternoon, you need to replenish the liquids in this hot climate.
We have traveled ungodly number of miles……looking at some of the most unbelievable natural monuments of God's greatest works and testaments to Earth's ongoing evolution. Today, I was awed by one of man's greatest engineering feats…..Glen Canyon Dam…..not one of the wonders of the world, but magnificent in it's contruct. Today is a relaxing day……touring the dam, swimming in hillbilly heaven and prepping for happy hour with stosh and bob…..what a great trip. Well, until tomorrow……enjoy and never take this thing we call life for granted……Tomaz

Bob's comments on Day 6: We arrived in Page Arizona Wednesday night, found dignity at the Quality Inn , headed for the Dam Bar, home of real beer. We watched as the Lakers shut down early in game 6 to the Celtics and I have never seen Greg so upset. In the morning once we had applied our makeup it was off to Glen Canyon Dam. This 710 ft high by 300 ft wide concrete wonder holds back the Green, San Juan and Colorado Rivers. Started in 1956 it created a water paradise to serve and entertain millions. We made the tour and our guide was Duane who worked the dam as an electrical engineer for 40 years and now retired. We descended an elevator into the belly of the beast and gazed upon the 8 generators spinning their magic for the electrically challenged. At the base is a grass lawn the size of 3 football fields. Before we could leave Tom insisted on going to the Dam gift shop to buy a Dam postcard while Greg went to the Dam bathroom and Bob left to get another Dam picture. A park ranger actually had a telescope set up for visitors to peak at the sun. It was red in color and I believe on fire. The tour will be a trip highlight. We checked out the Wahweap resort and marina. You can see many very large houseboats. We drove to Lone Rock Beach which we renamed 'Red Neck Beach'. Every inch of land was occupied by trailers, RVs, campers, dog pens, Seadoos, anchors, sand, rocks, grills, campfires, coolers, country music, Kenny Chesney, Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard. The water was chilly but refreshing. We finished the afternoon off at the Wahweap Resort Saloon and watched the European Cup Soccer match of Germany vs Portugal. Tom met a couple from Cameroon and he mentioned that in August he was moving to Egypt. The guy said WHY? Greg is currently charging his batteries and when he wakes up we will go to another Dam Bar. As explorer John Wesley Powell said in 1869….when will this Dam journey end?

18 June Natural Bridges/Monument Valley

2008-06-18T19:09:00.000-07:00

It has been quite a day and we are now nestled away in the Quality Inn in Page, Arizona, which will be our home for two nights. Man, is it hot! Bob and Tom will share some thoughts on our adventures the last day or two.
Bob's comments on Day 5: This has been our longest day (not to be confused with the efforts of our WWII veterans. Last night we visited the 2 Axes Saloon and Restaurant. We munched on the salad and pizza buffet while the Tribe got beat by the Rockies. I called Ryan Thomas who is in Alaska to share our blog site and in the process he told us all Utah brew is 3.2. After getting over the nausea I asked Greg and Tom to take me home. Wednesday we will leave Utah and it's archaic blue laws. We headed to Natural Bridges National Monument which is out side of Blanding, Utah by 34 miles. There are 3 bridges and Indian ruins in one "snaking" canyon of light sandy color. Bridges are different form arches. They are formed by rushing water. The three could be viewed from nearby parking areas and a short hike. The place is extremely isolated and it seems only the French have discovered its uniqueness. We pushed on many miles to get to Monument Valley. Along the way we stopped to photograph Mexican Hat and stopped in the town of Mexican Hat at the San Juan Trading Post for lunch and souvenir shopping. I still have not found a belt. Not far down the road we saw the Monuments of Monument Valley (a destination). It was the same highway Forrest Gump traveled on his long run and where he stopped to go home. People suggested we not pass through but rather go into the visitors center and drive the "rugged" loop. The Navajos operate the entire Valley (paybacks) and they charge per person. We challenged the 17 mile loop in our red Impala. The unsuspecting will encounter deep ruts, tire crunching rocks, steep inclines and hard turns all within the first 100 yards. As the road smoothed out we searched for the ghost of John Wayne. After all this place was Hollywood's back lot for many westerns. We pulled a Cooperstown and made the advertised ride of 2 hours in 40 minutes (our poor rent-a-car). The Navajos must have gouged out this beautiful valley and they are still gouging us tourist. Experience tells me you can get all your photos from the main highway. In one more hour we drove into Page, Arizona home of 5% beer alcohol content……whew! We have dignity in a Quality Inn with a view high over Glenn Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. Tomorrow you will know what we decided to do. Utah's beauty is 100 proof but that is as far as it goes.

Hey all, just another hot day on the road……..did some wonderful places today…..had lunch at a great off-the-wall place……road trip is going well…..spending the night in Page, Arizona…..real beer and bars….The magnificence of this is awe inspiring…..the tremendous size just cannot be expressed in a simple post card or picture….it has to be experienced…..God Bless…..enjoy life…..the mayor of lower Dogtown

When we found out we were drinking 3.2 beer, each of us had flashbacks…Bob thought he was at Tony's in Chagrin…Tom thought he was at a frat party at Mizzou when he was in high school…and I thought of college ID night at the old Agora, with ten cent drafts. Those were the days!
Greg

17 June Canyonlands/Arches National Parks

2008-06-17T17:14:00.000-07:00

Today we hit two national parks near Moab, Utah.
Bob's notes on Day 4: After morning maintenance and breakfast we took off for Canyonlands NP north and west of Moab. The road (313) rises to 6000 ft and onto the Island in the Sky. Everywhere the traveler is surrounded by unsurpassed views of the distant canyons. What you see are canyons inside of canyons, inside of canyons and distant mesas. Finally the United States government got it right ……. If you want to be stupid around the edges no one is there to catch your 1500 ft plunge with the sudden stop at the bottom. It is like driving a car without airbags and seatbelts. If whoever named the Grand Canyon saw this site first they would have found another name for the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River has been a "Work-aholic" for millenniums, carving out awe-inspiring beauty. Greg, Tom and Bob have been earning merit badges by taking hot, dusty hikes and for capturing an Ansel Adams digital moment. Each park is surprisingly not crowded and every inch traveled brings you to a better view of the picture you just took. Arches NP is literally across highway 191. It turns out to be Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs) times 1,000,000. We gazed upon Landscape, Delicate, Double and Windows Arches always the La Sal Mountains in the background. In 1991 Royce Morrison photographed a piece on the largest arch collapsing. The monoliths are impressive and they are named for places like Park Ave. In Devils Garden we were warned about Mountain Lions. Dignity and laundry waited for us back in Moab. Tonight you can find us at The Rivers and Woody's, Tom and Greg are members. Word out to Skip. Lets have our 40th reunion here. See you tomorrow.

Hey one and all……the doctor of dogtown writing from Moab…..tourist trap of eastern Utah….but there are bars here!!!!!! Great day…..hot…..but we had a wonderful trip through Canyonlands and Arches…..I am forever amazed at the panoramic scenery we have experienced……the shear majesty. Ever step we take traces millions of years of Earth's evolution--growth and erosion. Well, for now, we close this short bio……take care, God Bless. Tom….ps…..instead of packing up the Vista Cruiser with the kids and jaunting off to Micky Mouse land or the beach……try this area……it will re-juvinate the heart…….Salaam ala meine.

16 June Capitol Reef National Park, Utah

2008-06-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Day 3 finds us at Capitol Reef National Park, another beautiful place.
Greg's misc. thoughts so far…
Gas has been north of four bucks a gallon so far, and I think it has greatly affected people's travel plans out here. In Las Vegas last Friday night we were able to get a room on the strip in a casino for $71 a night. We walked through several other casinos and the minimum bets on the roulette tables were all five or ten bucks. The blackjack tables were just as cheap. None of the casinos, or the sidewalks connecting them, were crowded. We didn't even see a lady of the evening anywhere, business must be slow for everyone.
Saturday night near Zion was the only night we had trouble finding lodging, and that was because they had their annual arts festival going on up there. But so far we haven't had to spend more than $80 on a hotel room, and we haven't stayed in any dumps. The highways have been empty, the parks only moderately crowded, and a great deal of the tourists are from Europe or Asia.
I've been really impressed with the National Park Service. All the parks are very tourist friendly without being over bearing. Trails are marked, rest rooms are clean, travel centers are informative, all the higher help has been friendly and helpful.
Thank God for digital cameras! We have each taken hundreds of pictures, with hundreds of more to go. We've seen some unbelievable sights. There will be a full moon the next few nights, so we plan on being out and about with our cameras at sunset and beyond to take advantage of it.
Hope you are enjoying our blog, don't be afraid to post a few comments. Also, if you want to enlarge any of the pictures, all you have to do is click on it.

Bob's Notes on Day 3…what a day. We cannot start Monday without putting the finishing touches on Sunday. After checking into the Days Inn in Torrey Utah we pushed down the road to The Rim View Inn for dinner. A majestic view of the Capitol Reef NP Mesa rising 2000 ft., meant dinner was served by Karla and Krista (please see picture) on the patio as the sun cast a red hue upon the scenery. Day 3 began with a 6:30 wakeup call and an early dash into Capitol Reef NP. We were awed by the shear size of the wall that makes up the western face. Red in color, with crumbling rocks below we drove into the park after photos of Chimney rock and the Gooseneck. The journey on the one way scenic track south took us ten miles into an incredible canyon drive. It reminded me of Phantom Canyon, Colorado (Howard). We did a neat hike into the area they call the narrows complete with the signatures of the pioneers carved into the walls of the canyon. We took off for Moab. Utah on Hwy 24 that include a dip into the Fremont River and a view of the Capitol Dome (name of the park is based upon 2 things….the formation that looks like the US Capitol Dome in DC and the fact that at one time this giant formation was a reef under a gigantic ocean millions ago. Out of Capitol Reef the canyon walls melted away into true desert as we pushed onto I-70 and the Moab exit. The route was rife with desert scenery and desolate landscape. It was hot and air conditioning is a must. We entered into the Moab valley that included an historic site where Japanese detainees were held during WWII. This site is a great story, please ask us later about it. After arriving in Moab we found The Rios Sports Bar and from there we called hotels for two nights of dignity. We found the Virginian. Greg bought membership into The Rios so they could serve us (Mormon Rules). We are good for the next few days. We are about to check out the town. Hello to all who might be reading and viewing By the way we are here to visit Arches NP and Canyonlands NP.

Hey Tom here, the other guy on the trip….aka…..Akhem Allah Bibi Boodlite…….the trip is just going fine…..hot at times, but OK…….the scenery is just incredible….tall majestic buttes, mesas, and wonderful plateaus. Our National Park system is incredible….Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef..….wow….we are so lucky……everything is going so well….great travel miles and long-never-ending ribbons of highway….met some nice people…..ps….Utah is a semi-dry state……we have to buy beer and bring it back to our hotel…..and today, membership into private Clubs…….the La Sal mountains to the east are snow-capped and magnificent. God Bless America! Never forget our troops that are abroad and those that have made this trip possible…….pss…..Happy Father's Day, a day late…….the Doctor of Dogtown.

15 June 2008 Bryce Canyon

2008-06-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of our trip was spent in and around Bryce Canyon.
Bob's Notes: Day 2 out of Vegas and we find ourselves in Torrey Utah, the gateway into Capitol Reef National Park and Butch Cassidy hideout country. Here is how we got here: After a restful night in Hatch we had breakfast at the Cowboy Inn Restauant and journeyed just below to take a peak at a beautiful trout stream. We took the short ride into beautiful and inspirational Bryce Canyon National Park famous for its Hoodoo's (sculptured spires and Grottos (cave like indentations in the rock formations). We visited the lodge, and various vistas along the rim. Tom and I hiked into the canyon along the 1.3 mile Navajo loop. For a short time we walked behind an Asian Gasser (65 yr old Japanese tourist who was passing wind). We wandered among the towering hoodoo's into places like 'Wall Street' that includes 2 tall Douglas Firs and the 'Twin Bridges'. Stosh read while we hiked. From the rim we saw in the distance smoke from a wildfire north and east of Bryce. We saw the intense smoke from the fire for most of our journey as we headed east on highway 12 for the next 90 miles all the way to Torrey. We passed through Ebeneezer Bryce's home town of Tropic and if you look on a map this road is a scenic byway that goes through Grand Staircase National Monument - Escalante filled with mesas and canyons all viewed from a winding road that eventually took us up 9600 ft and over Boulder Mt. The Alpine forest was a lush green and the temperature cool. Tonight we have dignity at a Days Inn. Hi to all.

Zion National Park 14 June 2008

2008-06-14T20:37:00.000-07:00

Here's some photos from our 2008 road trip to the National Parks in Southern Utah. We met in Vegas Friday night and left early this morning for Zion National Park. We spent the day there, and are spending the night in the middle of nowhere somewhere between Zion and Bryce Canyon. We've only faced one serious challenge, most of this part of Utah is dry! We might have to change some of our travel plans...

A new CD from Denny "Deadly" Earnest and friends

2008-06-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

Denny Earnest and the Hot String Trio
Atomic Bar & Grill
2007 Denny Earnest (601693000249)

It was like getting a letter from a long lost friend when the CD Atomic Bar & Grill by the Hot String Trio arrived in the mailbox last week. Two thirds of the trio is made up of Denny “Deadly” Earnest and Kenny "KD" Jones, who both were part of Deadly Earnest and the Honky Tonk Heroes, a popular Northern Ohio band from that time in the 70’s and early 80’s when country and rock music collided. But they were never a Lynyrd Skynyrd or Marshall Tucker cover band, but featured there own original material that was more on the Bob Wills side of country music. At the time, they were one of the only Cleveland based bands that had, at least for a while, a real national record deal with Mike Nesmith’s Pacific Arts Records. But then MTV came along, country rock faded from the airwaves, local bands like Flatbush and Buckeye Biscuit drifted apart, and Deadly packed up and moved out west, to that wide open cowboy land that he had spent years writing and singing songs about.
There are thirteen tracks on Atomic Bar and Grill, twelve new songs plus “Stray Cat’s Home," a cut from the 1980 album Deadly II that features Ernest in a bluesy duet with country Diva Starr Smith. The new songs all have a swing beat to them, and feature Earnest on vocals and guitar; Jones on fiddle; and Bill Watson on upright bass. Also featured on several tunes is New Orleans swing clarinetist Jim Frigio. With titles like “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee,” Bartender Lou,” “Hot String Swing,” and “One Day at a Time,” Earnest still shows that he can write a tune and play the guitar, and still loves that part of the country where the Great Plains meets the Rocky Mountains. The CD also features Jones's fiddle playing, and why he still ranks up there with the Johnny Gimbles of the world.
I sat on the front porch and listened to this CD from beginning to end twice, and for a moment I was back at the Greenville Inn on a hot summer's night, and the place was packed and everyone was drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon and there were people swing dancing Texas style out in the parking lot to Deadly and the Honky Tonk Heroes up on the stage. Now if we can only get the three Deadly Earnest and the Honky Tonk Heroes albums from back in the day put out on CD I would die a happy man.
To purchase a copy of Atomic Bar & Grill go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/hotstringtrio, for more about Denny "Deadly" Earnest and his music visit www.dennyearnest.com.

Jonah Koslen at Brothers Lounge 30 May 2008

2008-06-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night I checked out the first set of the Jonah Koslen album release party, which also gave me an opportunity to look over the newly remodeled and reopened Brothers Lounge on Detroit Avenue near West 117th Street.
Koslen‘s new CD Telling on Myself features eleven tunes, all originals written by him, including new versions of a couple of old MSB songs, “Ladies Choice”and “Waste a Little Time on Me.” Both songs were featured in the first set, one done solo by Jonah and the other backed by a three piece band. The slightly reggae beat he has given to both of them, a by product of his summer job entertaining up in the Lake Erie Islands, put a fresh spin on each. The rest of the first set featured several old Breathless tunes (“Walk Right In,” “Wild Weekend,” “Heart is in Hiding”); a couple of covers (including Paul Simon’s “Me and Julio Down by the School Yard”); several lost gems out of the past (“Blue Jean Boy” from MSB’s Ladies Choice album and “Two Hearts Beating as One” from the Ghost Poets album); and several very good new tunes from his new CD, especially “When Did All My Good Times become Heart Aches.”
The new Brothers Lounge really looks good. In front is both a long bar and a wine/martini bar, each with its own entrance. Down a long hallway in the back is the music hall, with a stage, another bar, and seating for maybe eighty or so. There is also a patio out back. All of the remodeling looks first class. I even checked out the kitchen and had a very good chicken sandwich, definitely a cut above usual bar fair.
The opening act was Aphrodite’s Heroes, and they did a good job with some classic rock covers (“Statesboro Blues”and “Into the Mystic”), and threw in a couple of good originals.
O.K., with all of that going for it, and a night of music featuring one of the icons of Cleveland rock, why did I stay for only the first set? There was one very large negative to the evening and that was the bar noise that kept most of the small but enthusiastic audience, as well as the band, from enjoying the show. I don’t know if it was because it was a Friday night or what, but when people are paying ten bucks to hear live music, they should be able to hear it. I moved my seat twice and still couldn’t enjoy it. If there was no cover, or even an inexpensive cover, I could’ve lived with it. But I paid ten bucks to see one of my favorite singer/songwriters do a night of his own music, something you get a chance to do once a year if we are lucky, and I just couldn’t handle it. I know it also upset Koslen, and he deserved better. He is as classy and affable as a person as I have ever met in the creative arts.
I hope it was just an off night at Brothers, because I really like the venue and think it has a ton of potential.

Chamber Music in Rocky River 5 May 2008

2008-05-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

(OK, I had no business reviewing a classical concert. However, the pr person for the quartet was so persistent, and nice, that I figured what the heck. It turned out to be an enjoyable evening and I am glad I went)

Hakan Rosenberg, clarinet, and the Chiara String Quartet
5 May 2008
Presented by the Rocky River Chamber Music Society at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church

It was an enjoyable evening of chamber music as clarinetist Hakan Rosengren and the Chiara String Quartet played to a receptive audience at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River last Monday. As part of the Monday Evening Concert Series put on by the Rocky River Chamber Music Society, Rosengren and the quartet performed two pieces together, with the quartet tackling a challenging piece by Beethoven on its own.
The evening started with “Quintet for clarinet and strings in A major,” K 581, by Mozart, a piece that contains bits and pieces of melodies familiar to even the non classical listeners in the audience. The half hour long selection featured solos by each performer and several duels between the horn and the strings. Rosenberg stepped aside and let the quartet tackle a difficult piece by Beethoven, “Grosse Fuge in B flat major for strings,” op. 133. Different from the other two selections which had all instruments working together for the most part, this piece featured much dissonance and conflict amongst the four strings. An audience member behind me stated afterward, “It sounded like four people arguing.” Rosenberg rejoined the stage for the third piece, “Quintet for clarinet and strings in B minor,” op. 115, another selection filled with familiar melodies by Brahms. The strings and the horn complimented each other in a series of movements which included several sweet love song melodies.
The Monday Evening Concert Series at the church will pick up again in the fall with the String Trio of New York performing on October 6. For more information about the series contact the church at 440.333.2255. Hakan Rosenberg hails from Sweden, and the Chiara String Quartet are currently artists-in-residence at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. For more information visit www.hakanrosenberg.com or www.chiaraquartet.net.
As one who usually goes to jazz and rock shows and does not have a big classic music background, I can honestly say that the evening was quite enjoyable. Hearing these great musicians play in person really brought life to the music, and when it was all said and done, it was another enjoyable night of live music in our great live music town.

Asia at the House of Blues Cleveland 19 April 2008

2008-04-28T15:41:00.000-07:00

Classic rock fans got what they paid for and then some last Saturday as the four original members of Asia played at the House of Blues Cleveland. Guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer, bassist/vocalist John Wetton, and keyboardist Geoff Downes put on an outstanding show that included the hits from their landmark early 80’s albums; fresh new material from their just recently released CD Phoenix; and even went back into the past of this once “super group” with a some songs from their original bands.
They opened with crowd pleasers “Daylight,” “Only Time Will Tell,” and “Wild in the Streets,” with the first of several extended Carl Palmer drum solos. Over the course of the evening other songs from their first two albums included “Look into Your Eyes” that closed the first set; “The Heat of the Moment” which closed the second set; and “Don’t Cry” and “Soul Survivor” which were the encores.
The highlights for many in the audience were the tunes that went back to each players roots: “Roundabout” with Steve Howe’s great guitar intro and Wetton more than respectiably subbing for Jon Anderson on vocals; A jazzy arrangement of ELP’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” featuring Carl Palmer’s percussion skills; and King Crimson’s “In the Court of the Crimson King” with Wetton on vocals and Downs playing all sorts of keyboards to fill out the sound. There even was a fun version of “Video Killed the Radio Star,” a song Downes was involved during his pre Asia days.
The songs from their new album sounded good and were received well by the audience, the best being “Never Again” and “Extraordinary Life.”
By the reaction of the crowd, and the freshness and quality of both old and new songs, Asia might be making another run at stardom. It was terrific show. For more info on Asia and their new CD visit www.originalasia.com. Amongst the shows coming up at the House of Blues are the B52’s on April 29, the Average White Band on May 8, the Breeders on June 3, and Mahogany Rush on July 15. Check out www.hob.com for more info.