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The
Jaco Connection
The
Mysterious Case of Lenny Charles
Back
in the early 1980s, when I was living in Boulder, Colorado, I was
occasionally visited at my apartment by a guitarist I had met through
friends in the New Wave band The Pedestrians, i.e., Gerry Capone, Don
Read, Phil Beckett, Steve Ignelzi, et al. The guitarist was a colorful
character named Lenny Lobanco, who also went by the name Lenny Charles.
Lenny
has been the subject of previous pieces on this site (see the Archives
article "The
Pedestrians Rehearsal House and Lenny Lobanco"). A talented and
knowledgeable guitarist - if memory serves me correctly, he was a graduate
of the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in L.A., and may have worked
with that organization for a time before moving to Boulder - he would show
up at my door with his hollow body electric in a battered case, and with
his amplifier slung over his shoulder with an improvised strap that he
used to haul his equipment around. I recall that he also carried a
backpack, with cords and effects boxes, and general musician
paraphernalia. (I recall being so impressed by this organizational
approach that I assembled a similar kit of my own, based on Lenny's
model.) He had the disheveled look of a vagabond musician, or maybe
worse, but he always had a girlfriend in tow; one who waited on him hand
and foot and acted as his "minder," or so it seemed to me. (I
also recall being somewhat in awe of any guy's ability to attract such a
devoted paramour, and would admit to being mystified by Lenny's
"pull," because his overall presentation would not lead one to
immediately understand the attraction. I think I assumed she admired his
talent, which was significant.)
Around
this same time, I had a roommate named Stan Kirsch, another guitarist and
son of a prominent Denver surgeon, who
as I recall was a music student at the University of Colorado, but yearned
to travel west and enroll at GIT, around which he had built an elaborate
fantasy. He seemed to imagine that GIT was like the portal to music
heaven, and that a degree from there was as good as a record deal. One,
therefore, can imagine the gravitas Lenny Charles carried, at least in
Stan's mind, via Lenny's association with the sacred place.
This did not, however, prevent Stan from doing the thing Stan always did,
which was to create conflict with anyone who came through the door of the
apartment. He and Lenny would engage in the most ridiculous conversations
imaginable about fret board technique, a subject of interest only to the
most dedicated guitar students. As I recall, Stan was a "purist"
and "classically" focused, dedicated to the correct angle of
fingers and wrist as taught by the good folk in the CU "guitar
department," if such exists. Lenny, on the other hand, was all
double-stops and slurs and muted tones and...well, he was the street
reality to Stan's theoretical constructs. There was no question who the
better guitarist was: Lenny Charles. Lenny could cover everything from The
Beatles to Weather Report to Jimi Hendrix, which brings me to the further
mystery surrounding Lenny Charles.
Lenny,
it seems, was on his way to a rendezvous of fate, on the east coast, with
another of his natural ilk, the legendary and ill-fated bassist Jaco
Pastorius.
Jaco
Pastorius, as most readers of this site will know, was a ground-breaking
bassist known for his extraordinarily melodic upper register approach to
the instrument. His first recording, Jaco Pastorius (1976) was a
sensation, called by some the finest bass LP of all time. The LP featured
an all-star jazz band including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, David
Sanborn, Lenny White, Don Alias, Michael Brecker, and even legendary
R&B singers Sam & Dave.
Jaco
introduced himself, in his usual tactless way, to Joe Zawinul of Weather
Report and joined the band. Zawinul blames himself for introducing Jaco to
alcohol, not knowing that Pastorius came from a family in which alcohol
had been a devastating disease. Jaco immediately became
"strange," in Zawinul's words (Wikipedia). "He started
throwing things. I knew right away I had made a mistake." (See reader
response at the end of this story.")
Though
Pastorius was only in his 20s when he joined Weather Report, his demise
was imminent, fueled by drug and alcohol addictions and bipolar disorder.
His
downward spiral was steady, but he continued to make extraordinary musical
contributions. Jaco was
instrumental to the brilliant songwriter Joni Mitchell, serving as her
"jazz bridge" when Joni segued from her brand of sophisticated
folk-rock, supported by Tom Scott and the L.A. Express with Robben Ford on
guitar, to the "jazz" oriented sounds of four exceptional
albums: Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, Mingus and Shadows
and Light. Joni's tours, particularly in support of the Hejira LP,
were always attended by a cult-like following of Jaco Pastorius
supporters, who swooned not only for his distinctive bass stylings, but
for his general presentation. Jaco exuded charisma from the stage, sharing
the spotlight almost as an "equal" on the bill with Mitchell.
His fans adored his bohemian personal style, which extended to his sartorial
preference for middle-eastern influenced clothing and knit skull caps.
Jaco's
mental disorders and drug dependencies culminated in one awful night in
September 1987. His personal problems well known, Jaco snuck on stage at a
Carlos Santana concert in Wilton Manors, Florida, and was summarily
ejected from the premises. Drunk and disorderly, he showed up at the
Midnight Bottle Club (now known as The Corner Pocket) in The Shoppes of
Wilton Manors, was denied entrance and responded by kicking in a glass
door. This initiated a fight with a club bouncer, who beat Pastorius so
severely that he lapsed into a coma, lived for a brief time on life
support, and then, at the behest of his family, was allowed to die.
Somehow,
in the midst of all that '80s awfulness, Jaco, who was often homeless
during that period, became associated with the equally bohemian Lenny
Charles, sometimes living on the streets with Lenny in Charles' white van.
There
is a piece on www.jacopastorius.com
that offers some intriguing clues to the relationship between these two
unique players, Jaco Pastorius and Lenny Charles, and to the final period
in Jaco's life. Click
here to read the blog on the Pastorius site.
READER
RESPONSE TO THE JACO STORY:
It
is a measure of the esteem in which Jaco Pastorius is held in the bass
world that the above account almost immediately resulted in a note from a
Jaco admirer, who took exception to the way Jaco was portrayed in the Bill
Milkowski book "Jaco: The Extraordinary And Tragic Life of Jaco
Pastorius. 'The World's Greatest Bass Player" (Miller Freeman Books,
1995), which forms the basis for much of the above description of Jaco's
later years. The reader wrote - "Jaco did not
come from a family of alcoholics. Jaco is kind of an icon in the Jazz
world and he is respected despite all the negative stuff that has been
exaggerated over the years. He is a Hall of Fame Bassist. Please cut him
some respect. The Bass World will love you for it. Please take the negs
away. Negs were overdone in the Milkowski Book..." In fact,
Jaco's second wife Ingrid and Jaco collaborator guitarist Pat Matheny both
took exception to Milkowski's accounts, with Matheny quoted, in an
un-attributed Wikipedia entry, as calling the book "a horribly
inaccurate, botched biography." Ingrid has a site called Ingrid's
Jaco Cyber Nest that endeavors to put Jaco's story into perspective.
Writes Ingrid on the site - "Milkowski's delivery lacked the
sensitivity of how different Jaco was. What seemed to many as being out of
the norm, even unacceptable, was merely an intelligent man, pushing the
limits of individuality. Jaco wore his heart on his sleeve... I believe
some of his antics were purely out of frustration of being misunderstood.
Clearly his actions are not common, but from my perspective, he initially
only wanted to have simple fun. He lived to give of himself through his
music, assuming his role as a conduit for a higher power. The alcohol and
drug abuse, a form of self-medicating, which sadly happens to be the way
of the world, especially in the music business, intensified the chemical
imbalance he endured." Author Milkowski is a New York-based
freelancer who contributes regularly to Jazz Times, Modern Drummer, Guitar
Player, Bass Player, Jazziz, Audio, Pulse Guitar Club (Italy), Jazzthing
(Germany) and (until its recent demise) Fi magazines. He is also the
author of "Rockers, Jazzbos & Visionaries" (Billboard Books,
1999)" (from All
About Jazz.com). That site states that the Milkowski book on Jaco
Pastorius is "being made into a feature film by Blue Rider Pictures
out of Santa Monica, California." Whether or not that movie is
happening, it is a sure bet that the legend of Jaco Pastorius is not about
to disappear anytime soon. - RAR
____________________________________
Digging
Indie Messiah Dennis Logan
Part
Pink Floyd, part Dr. John, maybe a little Bob Dylan, some "Crazy
Horse" Neil Young and John Fogerty and a little Clash meets Ray Wylie
Hubbard, LA-Nashville Producer Dennis
Logan put together a
12-piece band, complete with horns, to record his own LP, S.O.S..
Tracks from the LP became an immediate hit on MySpace, scoring thousands
of hits per day, and the tune "The Whole Thing Is Going Down"
shot to the top of Internet play charts.
______________________________________________
Glendale,
California - Dennis
Logan's music is lyrically smart, extraordinarily current (as in current
events) - he has been quoted as saying "The folk rock artist is
the town crier of music. It's music for the heart and soul.
You're delivering a message about society" - and phenomenally
catchy. Six-time Grammy award winning Producer Tom Pick helped put the LP
together and in May Logan started supporting the LP with club dates.
Logan
came to the attention of Producers through Shaolin
Records call for submissions of original folk-rock material, and
his stuff truly stands out. One track after the next is radio friendly,
upbeat even when reporting some truly downbeat stories, and utterly
absorbing. He sounds like what radio sounded like when he was a kid:
honest, free of artifice, and filled with musical joy.
Check
out Dennis Logan, a RARWRITER Pick Hit!
Click
here to go to Dennis
Logan's MySpace. His LP S.O.S. is available at CD Baby, CD
Universe, and elsewhere.
_____________________________________________
 Signs
of Life...
News
of A
Creative World
 Davis,
California - Roots Rocker Antsy McClain
& The Trailer Park Troubadours are shooting a "live in
concert" film at Davis High School, which offers a brand new, start
of-the-art theatre. Tommy Smothers will be a special guest. The
film will be directed by award winning/film veteran, Barry Kearson,
the film and live album will be released Christmas 2008.
 Marin
County, California - Jazz rebel Roberta Donnay's
"Put It Where You Want It" track, from her "What's Your
Story" LP, is finding purchase on XM-Satellite Radio. Roberta
continues to promote the LP with a heavy performance schedule apart from
her work with Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks. Donnay's
Jazz Quartet will be featured at the San
Jose Jazz Festival on Saturday, Aug 9th at 6pm.
(Check her website
for more details.) Roberta plays regularly at Shanghai
1930, the theme restaurant in San
Francisco that offers a regular schedule of jazz performers. Donnay's Jazz
Quartet will be there June 25 and feature special guest jazz guitarist Charles
Davis from Houston, TX, with David
Udolf on piano, Sam Bevan on
bass, and David Hipshman on tenor
sax. Roberta will be back on July 22 with a different cast featuring Jonathan
Alford on piano, Sam Bevan
on bass, and David Hipshman on
tenor sax.
 Los
Angeles, California - Friday
Music Proudly Presents Roy Rogers' and Ray Manzarek's new release, "Ballads
Before The Rain." The album includes new takes on Doors classics
like "Riders On The Storm" and " The Crystal Ship", as
well as classics such as Eric Satie's "Gnossienne No. 1" as well
as Rogers compositions "Remembering You" and "Ruby Red
Nails." The album is available through the www.roy-rogers.com Music
Store.
Hollywood,
California - Lizzy Williams will showcase at the Whiskey A Go-Go on Sunset
Boulevard in West Hollywood on June 13.
 Lamar,
Texas - "Leadbelly Radio" is the latest brainchild of
Austin’s own Pehr Smith (guitarist for Knuckle Yummy/The
Washington’s and more). He’s put together a set of psychedelta punk
rock blues from Leadbelly, Brownie McGhee, Furry Lewis, Big Bill Broonzy,
Rev. Gary Davis and more..."MR. PEHR’S LEADBELLY RADIO"
debuted Saturday, May 17th, 8pm, Irie Bean Coffee House, 2310 S.
Lamar, Austin TX 78704.
Boulder,
Colorado - "New Wavers" Pearl
have released their second recent studio recording. Pearl's new song,
"More Time To Love You," can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/pearlfrombouldercolorado
. "More Time To Love You" was recorded at Coupe Studios in
Boulder, Colorado in March and April, 2008, and was engineered and mixed
by Greg McRae.
 New
York City, New York - Kama
Linden released her LP Uninhibited, available through on-disk.com/kama.html,
Amazon.com, Tune Tribe, CDbaby.com, CDsuite.com in Australia, Itunes,
getmemusic.com and through her website at www.kamalinden.com.
 Los
Angeles, California - Actor-comedian Katt
Williams showed his acting chops alongside Ice Cube in the film
"First Sunday," and is touring this summer with his "It's
Pimpin' Pimpin' Tour." Fans who have been thinking about a trip to
Universal City might consider June 26-27 (Thur-Fri), when they can catch
Williams at the Gibson Amphitheatre, shows at 7:30 p.m.. Williams will be
doing a follow-up to his popular HBO stand-up as this tour develops.
 Oakland,
California - After 10 years in San Francisco, Studio 132 has
moved to Oakland with an all-new recording studio facility, featuring
ProTools HD3 recording gear loaded with plug-ins, spacious control room,
drum room, TWO iso booths, and a great mic cabinet. Proprietor and
award-winning producer/engineer/ multi-instrumentalist BZ Lewis
writes - "We're now located in the hills of Oakland (Montclair) with
plenty of free parking. What we do: Recording, Mixing, Mastering,
Producing, Voice-overs, Film Mixing." Studio 132 has been on as role.
"In the past two years, five of our artist's albums have made the
long list for the Grammy's," writes BZ, whose range of talents are
part of what the studio offers. The Studio 123 rooms were tuned by
acoustic analys Bob Hodas, "the Michael Jordan of room tuning."
Listen to some tracks at www.studio132.com
.
_____________________________________________
 Where
Are You, Eric Silverberg?
An
old high school sweetheart is looking for you. Contact Rick@RARWRITER.com
for information.
_____________________________________________
Doug
Haywood - Resettled In Colorado
 Lafayette,
Colorado - The photograph on the right (from Doug
Haywood's web site) was taken in 1981 at a Jackson Browne concert and
features, from left: David Lindley (and is he wearing
short-shorts?), Jackson Browne, Joe Walsh, and another of the
Browne stable, Doug Haywood.
Haywood
now lives in Lafayette, Colorado, which would make him one in a long line
of top drawer musicians who have "retired" to the Rocky Mountain
State to while away the slow lane years. Except that apparently Doug
Haywood isn't completely retired. Besides playing locally and on the west
coast, Haywood operates First Hand
Studio (call 303-665-1139) a Pro Tools (Mix plus 24)-based digital
facility capable of producing any sized project with output that can
interface with studios all over the world.
Our
Boulder, Colorado Links buddy Keith Murdock brought to RAR's
attention, in a recent email, that Haywood gigged recently in Boulder. Keith
wrote - "I noticed
on your web site the Warren Zevon biography: I’ll
Sleep When I’m Dead... Doug
Haywood is quoted several times in that book - the same Doug Haywood
performing at a small club in Boulder this Saturday..." In fact, Doug
and his son Aaron performed with Daniel Jones at the Rock'n Soul Cafe in
Boulder on June 7. "I
know Doug pretty well but to me, it (Haywood's bio) contains quite a few
impressive references including appearances on SNL as well as Mod Squad
and Ed Sullivan!"
In
fact, Doug Haywood's resume is extraordinary in its range of professional
associations and friendships. Haywood toured as Warren Zevon's bassist and
recorded on many of Jackson Browne's top hits. "To
have him living and making appearances around Boulder could be worthy of
checking out." Worthy indeed, so RARWRITER.com brings you this list
of Doug Haywood's musical
milestones.
1965 to 1970:
Toured with "The Tuckers" bluegrass band. Played Chicago,
Minneapolis, etc. Opened for Koerner, Ray and Glover at The Scholar. Met
Simon & Garfunkel who attended a "Tuckers show. Formed "Ma
Tucker's Blues Band" and began playing blues and rock n roll. Saw
David Lindley perform in "Kalidescope." Joined Capitol recording
group "The Goose Creek Symphony." Opened for Linda Ronstadt.
Played The Atlanta Pop Festival for 250,000 people. Joined Bobbie Gentry's
band. ("Ode To Billy Joe.") Toured U.S., Canada and Australia
with Bobbie. Did 2 Ed Sullivan shows. Met Elton John. Joined musician's
union. Met Jennifer Warnes, Rick Cunha, Mason Williams. Played and wrote
with Henry Thome. Met Jackson Browne. Appeared on "Mod Squad".
1971 to 1974:
Recorded "For Everyman" and "Late For The Sky" with
Jackson Browne. Toured. Opened for America, The Eagles. Recorded with
Maureen McGovern, Eric Andersen, Batdorf & Rodney.
1974 to 1982:
Recorded with Brewer & Shipley, toured with Graham Nash. Recorded with
Jesse Colin Young, Michael McDonald, Anne Murray, Jennifer Warnes.
Jennifer recorded "Don't Lead Me On" on "Right Time Of The
Night Album" and released "Don't Lead Me On" as a single.
As a solo artist during this time Doug opened for Emmy Lou Harris, Jerry
Garcia, others. Toured with Warren Zevon as bass player/singer, toured
with Danny O'Keefe opening for Joan Baez. Recorded "Running On
Empty", appeared on Saturday Night Live. Recorded "Hold
Out" album with Jackson. Recorded with The Dillards who also recorded
5 songs which Doug wrote and/or co-wrote. Toured Japan 1st time in 1980.
Co-wrote hit single for Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelious with Jeff
Barry, "If It Ain't Love By Now."
1983 to 1993:
Recorded with Jackson: "Lawyers In Love", "Lives In The
Balance", single: "Somebody's Baby" for Fast Times At
Ridgemont High. Toured Europe. (Several times.) Recorded "World In
Motion", "Im Alive." Recorded with Chad of "Chad and
Jeremy." Wrote songs with Jack Tempchin who wrote "Peaceful Easy
Feeling", among others. Wrote songs with Jeff Barry. Recorded with Al
Casey on an album with Glen Campbell and others. Recorded and toured with
Johnny Rivers. Recorded with George Harrison on an album by Larry Hosford
on Harrison's label, Dark Horse label, along with Leon Russell.
1994 to 2006:
Played Mason Williams shows with several Symphony Orchestras and bluegrass
bands. Recorded with Willie Nelson. Built four (4) recording studios. Had
original Songs recorded by "The
Surrey Australian Children's Choir," Darcie Deaville and Jane Gilman,
Sue Harris, Beth Fitchet. David Lindley recorded "This Barstool's
Reserved For My Heart" on his Twango-Bango album.
Released first solo album,
"Nevada," in 1996. Released 2nd solo album, "In These
Rooms," 2004. Opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Aug. 21 and
Suzy Bogguss on Aug. 22. Opened for Little Feat at the Boulder Theater,
Feb. 24, 2006. Played "Bodie House Concert" in Agoura, Calif.
Jan. 2007 with Jeff Gilkinson and Rosemary Butler. Played "The Blue
Door" in Oklahoma City in May, 2007.
Photo: Doug Haywood, present
day, performing at the Durango Music Festival
Learn more about Doug Haywood by visiting
his site at http://www.doughaywood.com
________________________
Think
Tank Promotions/Net TV Broadcasting
Angora
Concert to Benefit Tahoe Fire Victims
by Cindy Holden
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California — To
commemorate the first annual anniversary of the Angora Fire, Think Tank
Promotions, in association with Net TV Broadcasting, present “The Angora
Benefit Concert.” Gates open at noon at the Horizon Casino Outdoor
Concert Center, 50 Highway 50, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, June 24, 2008.
This all-day benefit concert will showcase
national and local entertainment and is designed to create awareness and
monetary support. Proceeds from ticket sales will be given to the
“Locals for Locals” fund.
“Last year, we all witnessed what is
possible when a community pulls together all of its resources to provide
for the needs of our citizens,” Brian Gogue, president of Think Tank
Promotions, says. “One year later, our community still needs support as
it rebuilds.”
On June 24, 2007, the South
Lake Tahoe community was devastated by one of the most significant
disasters, to date. It received global media attention as 3,500 residents
were displaced and 3,100 acres of forest burned. Support was provided at
the community and national levels. People opened up their homes and
businesses offered support. The long-term effects are immeasurable and the
repercussions of this tragedy are still being felt by victims, families
and friends.
Gogue is also one of the neighbors who lost
his home last year in the fire. He and his three children survived the
blaze, but lost everything they had.”We were lucky to have a great
insurance policy,” Gogue said. “Not everyone was so fortunate, and I
feel that I can use the influence of Think Tank Promotions to help the
community.”
This benefit concert is designed to
bring the community together to reflect on the tragedy, to celebrate
immediate success, and to provide support to the families who are still
trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.
People interested in the
local music scene are excited about the headliners — the Johnny
Vernazza Band followed by Elvin Bishop - because Elvin and
Johnny V. have not played together or shared the same bill for over a
decade.
Overall, the concert will highlight eight
bands with special guest appearances. Attendance is estimated at
6,000-8,000 visitors, not including vendors/ exhibitors. Sponsor and
vendor packets are available. Sponsorship packages range from $250 to
$1,000; vendor booths are $500 for 10 hours.
“Our sponsors and vendors are an integral
part of supporting the financial obligations of an event this size,”
Gogue explains. Benefits of sponsorship include: community appreciation
and recognition of philanthropic behavior; association with legendary
musicians; a business web site link on angorabenefitconcert.com
which will be up and running for one year with video and picture updates;
and finally, major brand recognition. Think Tank Promotions creates
opportunities for community growth through benefit concerts and
fundraisers. It is their mission to provide quality events that foster a
strong sense of community through arts and entertainment. Admission to the
event is $20.00 and tickets can be found on line at: www.angorabenefitconcert.com.
Families affected by the fire and local emergency crews will be provided
free admission.
|
Rippin'
at Bonnaroo
Sharon
Jones and the Soul Difference
 Brooklyn,
New York - Is it just me or has the redefinition of the sub-genres
within what we used to call "Rhythm & Blues" been confusing?
To find "R&B" as those of us over...oh, 39 have known it,
you would need to visit the Urban Adult Contemporary charts, which are
currently ruled by the likes of Raheem DaVaughn, Keyshia Cole, Mary J.
Blige, Beyonce and Alicia Keys. These are musical people who come the
closest to continuing the traditions of predecessors like Aretha Franklin,
Gladys Knight, and Marvin Gaye.
On the other
hand, if you listen to youth-oriented stations these days you find another
type of music going under the "R&B" banner carried by
popsters like Rihanna, Usher, and Chris Brown, and also there you get the
crossovers like Kanye West.
Oh Kanye
West...
Kanye just
brought his elaborate stage show - the one where he interacts with
extraterrestrials - to Tennessee's Bonnaroo festival, of all places, where
he angered a crowd by going on almost four hours late - significant, when
your show is scheduled to begin at 1:30 a.m. (Kanye wanted the late
start. It probably seemed like a cool idea to mount that surreal show in
the dark.) He was only half-way through his romp when the sun came up to
reveal a largely empty "house." Lesson: smoke and mirrors and
mud may not work all that well together, which brings us back to the
blurred distinctions in today's "race music."
Much of the new
confusion stems from the dual definition of "hip-hop," which as
a musical style is a 4/4 beat with a feeling that can be demonstrated by
clapping once, wiping down your forearms on the 3 and the 4 beats,
and clapping again to restart the cycle with the next measure. Add
scratches and samples and you have the foundation for hip-hop poetry.
"Hip-hop," however, is also a "life style" and under
that umbrella you find "rap," which puts street poetry to soul,
metal and rock, and all of the variations of "R&B" and
classic soul.
There is, among
all of that, precious little left of the type of swampy, juke joint sweat,
Bourbon and pot soaked "soul" that used to be the province of
now-departed rhythm kings James Brown and Ike Turner. But wait! While the
youth culture gorges on Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy, there is a hurricane
blowing out of Brooklyn in the form of 52-year old Sharon Jones
and her band the Dap-Kings. Hers is a show you could mount in
minutes on any street corner in any town in the world and no one who
stopped to listen would walk away anything other than blown away. Like
Kanye West, Sharon just played Bonnaroo too, and no one went away mad.
Sharon Jones is
one of those rare transcendent artists who come across as a force of
nature as distinct in character as an earthquake is from a wild fire.
Listening to her, you realize that she is doing all of the old familiar
stuff, but with a voice so pure and original that comparisons do not come
to mind. This the pure ore, the crude oil, the real stuff. This is what it
sounds like when you hear talent without artifice. Click
here to go to Sharon Jones' MySpace and see if I'm not right. -
RAR
Bonnie
Bramlett - Beautiful As Always
Nashville, Tennessee -
One of RAR's all-time favorite singers, Bonnie Bramlett, is back
"on tracks" with her new CD release Beautiful (Rockin'
Camel Music), the title tune from which is composed by another of our
favorite singer-songwriters, Steve Conn.
Bonnie Bramlett has played a major part of
rock 'n' roll history. At 16, she became the first -and only white Ikette
with the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In the late '60s, she and
then-husband Delaney formed Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, the first
real rock 'n' roll traveling road show, whose onstage members included
George Harrison, John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Duane Allman, Dave Mason, Gram
Parsons, Leon Russell and Rita Coolidge. She co-wrote
"Superstar," a hit for Karen Carpenter and nominated for a
Grammy. Her new CD, "Beautiful," reunites her with producer
Johnny Sandlin and such musicians as Randall Bramblett, Scott Boyer, David
Hood, Bill Stewart and the Muscle Shoals Horns.
"This new disc
is, pure and simple, a gem," wrote Steve Morse in The Boston Globe.
"Bramlett can still belt with bravado. This is a wonderfully mature
record that shows Bramlett still has a relevant touch." In the same
review, Morse wrote "But the
standout is the title song (written by Conn) in which she exposes her
vulnerability: "I need some love/And I need someone to tell me I'm
beautiful."
Bonnie Bramlett will be interviewed with
Bob Edwards will air on XM Satellite Radio's Channel 133 on Thursday, June
12 at 8:00 AM Eastern Time, with encore presentations immediately
following at 9:00AM and 10:00 AM Eastern, as well as 8:00 PM Eastern that
night, plus a replay of the show the next day (June 13) at 7:00 AM Eastern
Time.
You can also listen to the Bonnie Bramlett
interview by clicking on the following link and submitting for a free
trial subscription to XM Satellite Radio: http://xmro.xmradio.com/xstream/api/show_trial_form.jsp
Nuts
for the Adventure...
Make that Super
Adventure Club
Michael Winger, left, identifies
himself as "Bass, Keyboard, Vocals, B Movie Actor" (read more
about him at www.michaelwinger.com),
while Jake Wood, right, identifies himself as "Drums,
Keyboard, Vocals, Failed Comedian" (read more at www.jakewood.net).
Together they are the Super Adventure Club and, for RAR's money (as
if) one of the most entertaining duos anywhere on the planet. If you stop
reading now and click
here, you will go to the duo's MySpace site where you can listen to
some of the silliest stuff you are likely to hear this month. Not sure why
I picked "this month," other than that these dudes may top
themselves next. I absolutely love what they do, as exemplified by their
goofy tribute "Former Ladies of the Cold War" (i.e., "Ukranian
girls, Estonian girls, Lithuanian girls, Latvian girls...I like to see
them on the Internets...to see which one I maybe gets..."). It is the
rare act that makes fun of its audience at all, and even rarer to find one
that does it with such respect. They are smart and they assume you are
too.
Super Adventure Club is super adventurous
this summer. Catch them (before they defect) at all of the following
venues:
18
Jun 2008 20:00 Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco, California
12
Jul 2008 18:30 The Vibe (All Ages!) w/Please Do Not Fight &
Punchface Foster City, California
25
Jul 2008 19:00 Apple Store SF San Francisco, California
25
Jul 2008 22:30 Privates Event San Francisco, California
2
Aug 2008 20:00 Blake’s (All Ages!) W/Two Left Feet & All
Heroes Berkeley, California
25
Aug 2008 20:00 Elbo Room San Francisco, California
Neighbors
Helping Neighbors
Benefit for
Colorado Tornado Recovery
Lafayette,
Colorado - Nissi's, the popular restaurant and entertainment showcase,
will host a "tornado relief" fundraiser June 29 to benefit the
citizens of Windsor, Colorado, some devastated by a tornado that hit the
small central Colorado community in May.
Nissi's
proprietor Teresa Taylor issued a press release that reads as follows:
"It's a privilege to be a part of a community that responds when our
neighbors suffer devastating losses -- like our friends in Windsor, with
the damage done by the tornado last month.
"The
family of staff, fans and artists of Nissi's have come together with
Denver sports writer and comedian, Sam Adams,
plus radio stations KCUV and KUNC to create a fabulous fundraising event
on Sunday, June 29 at Nissi's. Tickets are $100 and 100% of the proceeds
go to the Windsor Community Foundation, who will distribute the funds to
help the tornado victims. There will also be a special silent auction the
evening of the event.. Please email Auction Co-ordinator Cat Precourt at SmileySallyCat@yahoo.com
if you'd like to donate an auction item.
"The
festivities begin at 5:00 pm with music, beer compliments of Redfish
Brewhouse, 2 cases of wine by Beverage Distributing, hors d'ouvres
compliments of Nissi's, desserts compliments of Indulge Bakery &
Allegro coffee compliments of Java Distribution
"Host
Sam Adams brings special guests: Nick and Helen Forster of E-town, Motown
dance band, One on One, blues star, Johnny O, Richie Furay of Poco fame,
romantic jazz artist, Barron Steffen, Jock Bartley of Firefall, and
R&B dance band, Freddi-Henchi take the stage at 9:15 pm to closes the
night with their legendary dance party!
"All
artists, staff, stations and groups are donating their talent and time for
our neighbors in Windsor.
"Please
register at www.clubnissis.com and come. Bring your neighbors and friends
and be apart of a very special evening of music, dance and comedy! You can
also give individually at www.windsorcf.org.
THANK YOU!"
OurStage
- How It Works
Martian
Acres #1 on Internet Play Competition
Boulder, Colorado — Martian
Acres, currently featured on RARWRITER.com, reports that their
song "Missing You" reached the top spot on the innovative
OurStage site, where bands place tunes to be judged by listeners. The song
was at #7 in the acoustic category when the Dennis
Wanebo/Martian Acres feature was published. When Dennis contacted
RARWRITER.com with the update, he also provided a little information on
how the site works.
"'Missing You' actually ended up at
number one in the acoustic category on OurStage. Blew me away,"
writes Dennis. "In total, there were nearly nine hundred songs
entered from all over the country; and 'Missing You' was played more than
ten thousand times en route to winning that category. Please see: http://www.ourstage.com/winners/2008/5
.
"As you may know, OurStage has become
something a 'player' in its own right. The site seems to be filling some
of the niche created by the utter failure of the top-down music and radio
industries to give people new music. The judging capabilities give
interested listeners the kind of direct voice that seems only 'proper,'
given the types of democratization compelled by the Internet. But,
a word to the wise: If you haven't tried an OurStage judging session, you
ought to watch out. It is not just unique, it is every bit as addictive as
a high-pay slot machine.
"The second a vote is cast between two
competing songs, two new songs are presented immediately to the judge. The
individual judges are treated over and over to fresh, innovative, music.
However, the nicest thing is that the judging mechanism is a 'blind'
voting system, which means that people with lots of influence can't just
get in there and stack the decks. This tends to balance the playing field
for projects such as ours, which don't have big electronic megaphones. We
weren't hurt by the fact that a lot of our friends and fans can't afford
to sit on a computer 24/7 in the usually vain hope that their 'chosen'
song would sometime be presented to them for a vote.
The sweetest piece of the whole OurStage
experience, though, arises from the fact that we had originally submitted
'Missing You' as an afterthought. We were dead set on the Bonnaroo rocker,
and all of our emotional and psychic energies were wrapped up in that song
. . . so much so that, when we were first apprized of the rising fortunes
of 'Missing You,' I even got a weird sense of childhood guilt. Yeah, guilt.
it almost seemed that we had turned our little orphan loose on the mean
streets while we focused our selfish attentions on something with perhaps
a bit more flash. It's weird to feel guilty about an unintended diss of
your own song, I admit. but, by the same token, I always feel more like a
midwife to our music than anything else, so in that sense there is the
notion that these pieces of work actually do have 'lives of their own.'
Which brings me back to the place I frequently return to: the more you try
to engineer something, the less attuned you seem to become."
RAR can't help but notice that the Martian
Acres guys are tough to deny. It seems that if they get a listen,
listeners give them the thumbs up.
You can explore OurStage by visiting www.ourstage.com
.
Festival
of Memories
Mamas and
Papas /
Papas and Mamas
Hollywood,
California - Old friends and associates of L.A.-based keyboard great Gary
Swan will be interested to read that the former music director
for the Pointer Sisters, Mary Wells,
Etta James, Jackie Wilson and many others is currently directing a Mamas
and Papas tribute band, the Papas and Mamas.
The Music Director for the project is Links
favorite Gary Swan (right).
 ________________________________________
The
festival-oriented band, like its inverse namesake, is built around
"Cass Elliott," in this instance interpreted by L.A.-based Mama
Cass devotee Sherry
Land-Hicks (second from left in picture at left).
The
male lead in this quartet of singers is Las Vegas-based Mike
Butler (third from left in picture at left), who handles the signature Denny Doherty lines.
L.A.-based
singer-songwriter Natalie
Wilde (far left and also below)) performs the Michelle Phillips vocal parts. Like
Butler, Wilde is an Ohio native and a transplant west. She moved to
California to attend film school but got diverted into a rock band. She is
"Currently publishing music in television and films from the hipster
hideaway of Silver Lake..." (from her MySpace site.) She works as a
session vocalist with producers Nick Launay, John X, and Japanese rock
icon Yoshiki. Her vocals on the rock epic “Sex and Religion” for
Yoshiki’s highly anticipated project Violet UK helped secure the #1
download position for a week on iTunes Japan as the band’s debut single.
Natalie’s cover of “Fade Into You” is featured in the movie
“Dreamland” which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Her
vocal ability also landed her the only female singing part in The Who’s
rock opera Quadrophenia staged by Luna C Productions in November 2006. Natalie's session
work includes vocals for a remixed track of "Gonna Fly Now" on the latest
"Rocky" film soundtrack.
The
John Phillips role was not settled at press time and RAR does not have an
ID for the fellow (far right in photo above) in the "Papa John
Phillilps" role.
The
photo above was taken at an industry showcase last week, which reportedly
went well - maybe too well. The producer of The Mamas and the Papas took
noticed. Stay tuned.
Creative
Carte Blanche
Ash
Ganley's Sweet Deal
Lyons, Colorado — Ash
Ganley, the multi-faceted singer-songwriter-musician from
Colorado, seems to have captured the kind of backing and support dreamed
of by writers from the heart to the hinterlands (L.A. to Kansas).
"I have been fortunate to strike up a
deal with Summit Road Studios in Parker (Colorado) where through
publishing/sales revenue, I am able to do 4-5 full records there over the
next several years, with a more than generous budget for each, including
living expenses for me," reports Ash. "Our mission is: The best
songs win, without regard o style/genre."
Now that is the kind of deal that comes
only to talent someone believes in deeply enough to risk for at the
forefront of capital, or to someone with a wonderfully benevolent friend
with a trust fund. Whatever the springboard for Ash Ganley's deal, he has
a setup to savor. And in the high risk/low return world of songwriter
promotion, Summit Road has a real racehorse in Ganley, whose only musical
shortcoming may be unlimited focus. Ash can do anything, from Delta blues
Robert Johnson style, to blistering blues-rock ala Kenny Wayne Shepherd,
to heartbreak country that could land him comfortably on stage at the
Grand Ole Opry.
It is his range that got him his deal, his
open oeuvre wetting the appetites of the Summit Road impresarios.
Ash describes it this way: "So first,
I bring in 20-25 songs and do an acoustic guitar/vocal demo and Ed Edwards
(producer/engineer), Don Debey ( Studio owner) and I sit with them for a
while and cast our votes for the best 10-12.
"At first, Don - since he is invested
over a course of years - wanted to make sure that the album was produced
for a standpoint of commercial viability and the requisite 'streamlining'
associated with developing a product that didn't run such a wide gauntlet
of styles and would not raise any flags when shopping for a deal. But
at some point early on, we thought: 'What are doing, trying to make a
record to sell to people who sell records, or to people that buy them?'
Given that the 'getting signed' myth is no longer the only game in town -
or even the most viable, long-term self-sustaining route to take - it as
easy to say 'art first' and just go for it. So basically, I am lucky to
have partnered with someone who believes in the music and does not cling
to the old models of dumbing-down, taming or streamlining a record.
"Aside from that; I continue to gig
heavily in Colorado and prepare for the release of Cruel Waters. I
just tore a tendon in my left hand so I am on the sidelines for a month or
so, which sucks, but it could be worse. Some things we have planned
include a full cyber-publicity campaign with Ariel Publicity, which is
very cool. Ariel is clearly on the cutting edge of this...do you know her?
Of her? If not: www.arielpublicity.com
"Also, we are getting ready to shop Cruel
Water, and 'me', to publishing and a handful of forward-thinking indie
labels. I am getting better and better response form radio here in
Colorado, so my regional buzz is smoldering nicely."
______________________________
Music
Gypsy Spencer Bohren Abroad
New Orleans, Louisiana - After a
brief stop at home to play Snug Harbor
last week, roots bluesman Spencer
Bohren is off to Italy to play the Ameno Blues
Festival in Ameno, on June 13, backed by The Tremors. On June 14, Spencer
and The Tremors drive over to Sissa, Italy, for the Rootsway Blues and
Food Festival for a second night of music (fine performers from Europe and
America, regional food, friendly and appreciative people, discerning and
hip presenters. http://www.rootsandblues.org/index.jsp).
Spencer then hops over to England for the following dates:
June 27
Benjamin Meaker Theatre in Jersey http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/jac/
June 28 Crawley Folk Festival in
Crawley http://www.myspace.com/crawleyfolkfestival
June 29 Susworth Folk and Blues at the
Wren, the Jenny Wren, in Gainsborough
July 4 Wesley Centre
in Maltby, Rotherham http://www.therock.org.uk/
Jonny
Mac Recycled 
Montville,
New Jersey - That Jon Voight-looking guy there to the right is
New Jersey singer-songwriter Jon Mac of the quartet "Recycled
Trash." In truth, I think that is overly self-deprecating. The
former Air Force man writes paeans to romantic pursuits and hardcore women
with outstanding features, but the sincerity of his rough-edged poetry
mated to his careful vocals and the truly tasty licks of guitarist
"Jeff the Kid" deserve better play than "Recycled
Trash" might suggest. And Jonny and his growing band, now including
bassist "Tony V," formerly of the band Archie Whitewater, and
keyboardist-vocalist-sound man "Ramone the Cause," have been
getting some of that on radio stations in Germany, Japan and elsewhere.
Click
here to get recycled at Jonny
Mac's MySpace.
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