Shredding guitar solos: check Journey: Check Twisted Sister: Check Quiet Riot: Check Booze and Sex: Check and double check
Grab a $26.50 lottery ticket or rush ticket the day of the show, and let the crew at New York's Brooks Atkinson Theatre whisk you away to the wasteland of the '80s. By spending about the same amount one may spend on cover and drinks to a good club show, the performance material is placed in that facet of entertainment: Fun and Distraction. Had I spent more than $60.00 a ticket and expected to see a quality story near the likes of, say, Next to Normal, I may have been disappointed that most of the script was filler used to get to the next rockin' tune. Sometimes narrated as if a musical within a musical, and sometimes viewed as a straight up performance, Rock of Ages, is best if approached in the attitude with which it presents itself: Over the Top and an outrageous excuse to sing and dance to nostalgic rock.
Personally, I was a little sad that Amy Spanger had left the show, and due to our last minute decision to drop our names in the lottery, had no idea there was an understudy performing that night. As a singer, Ericka Hunter soars and compliments the stylings of Constantine Maroulis at a chill-evoking level. But the energy level was a little low, leaving much of the audience wondering if she even wanted to be on stage.
Constantine is more than a post-American Idol. He is a well-trained actor with countless performances under his belt even before the Idol hype. He delivered the filler dialogue with much sincerity, and of course, brought his signature, raw need to perform to this role to a happily receiving audience. The rest of the cast is very well rounded with veterans and newcomers alike, with Lauren Molina as the hippie-feminist and Wesley Taylor as the "not gay" but "German" chocolatier.
The live band on stage rocks. The choreography and its delivery really rock. And the fake lighters they hand you at the door to shine and wave during ballads rock even harder.
Seeing that we are now into Dog Days of Summer now that it is Labor Day Weekend, I find myself searching for the summer activities that have gone by the wayside this year.
I ran across an interesting headline on the MSN homepage that mentioned state fairs. Being from Iowa, I was excited to read an article that would contain something about our state among other cool states like California and Texas. I mean, what better way for states to bond than by sharing a common summer past time like eating fried food and attending cattle shows?
Alas, I was let down. This article blatantly left out the Iowa State Fair. The State Fair that inspired Rogers and Hammerstein to create a musical. The State Fair that happens in the state about which The Music Man was inspired. The State Fair that brings creatures from all corners of our country's center most state together.
Iowa, I will not leave you out.
Top 10 Reasons the Iowa State Fair ranks highest among all state fairs ever: 10.) The Double Ferris Wheel. Kids are afraid of it. Teenagers are too cool for it. Then when you ride it again as an adult and almost throw-up for either fear or dizziness, you remember why you claimed "too cool" to your middle school friends.
9.) Even our President knew to make an appearance.
8.) The Skyride. What other state fair can bring you and your love, kid brother, parent, or child from the far end of the fair by the Dip 'n Dots stand back to the front gates because your feet are too tired? Also good for people watching. (also good for not yet matured couples to sneak away and kiss)
7.) The Big Slide. Fairs have them. Carnivals have them. But this one is so frickin' huge that even the teenagers too cool for the double ferris wheel will ride. And the little ones know what they have conquered.
6.) The Funnel Cakes by the Big Slide. Honestly, one bite and the euphoric feeling extends from the roof of your mouth down your arms and spine and tingles in your feet. Worried about calories? Share it with two other people. And remember, this is the State Fair - on this day, calories do not count.
5.) The Butter Cow. Or the butter Jackson, or whatever sculpture based on pop culture that year. I don't care how cliche or dated this is - that butter carving takes SKILL!
4.) The Skywheel. I can't ride it without taking a big look at the beautiful land all around me. Maybe that's cheesy. Maybe that's corny, but the moments stuck on top serve as a great reminder that just land all alone can be gorgeous. Sharing a kiss in that sunset may be one of the most romantic ways to celebrate your love in Des Moines.
3.) All the free concerts! Dude, we saw Survivor play two years ago - and got to sing and dance to Eye of the Tiger in front of everyone.
2.) The State Fair Singers and Jazz Band, now called the Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz Band. These high schoolers work hard all summer long, touring the state like professional show choir/theatre company and feeling like celebrities. My favorite memory was sitting next to my sister and watching during the year they included an 80s theme. I'll never forget that "Uptown Girls" sequence.
1.) The Baby Pigs. Everyone lines up to see them. Sometimes a cool 4H guy is sitting there and will let you hold one. One year, when I was about 8 or 9, we were busy running around the fair all day and finally made it to the pigs just after sundown. A sow decided that was time to give birth. I stood with my parents and sister and watched baby pigs being born. Yes, the Iowa State Fair has even taught me the miracle of birth and life.
This list is just my Top 10 right now. That is not to say that each year I attended the fair with my family does not contain its own top 10 best (or worst) memories (like my sister riding in a broken bumper boat and everyone yelling directions at her thinking she just didn't know how to work it). The Fair, for me, holds tremendous nostalgic value and reminds me of who I am and where I'm from. Now I long for the days when everything was a bit simpler (when you could hop on the SkyRide without fear of the Blackberry falling out of your pocket), and summer was just a bit longer.
Back after a "guerrilla warfare" recording session, Breakers Broken charts new territory with their second release, Reset. After testing out the chosen songs in front of live audiences, brothers Tim and Herf Yamaya with drummer Neal Wehman knocked out a highly-esteemed and collectively produced EP in record (pardon the pun) time.
Now at my second hard listen, I am caught in a vat of musical irony. Electro-rock trio Breakers Broken has me groovin' happily down the street with headphones on full volume until I pay attention to what is actually being said. I call this the Ben Folds approach (melancholy/poignant lyrics set to warm, dance-friendly music a la "The Bitch Went Nuts"). That element alone will propel this second release from Breakers Broken to the forefront of different markets outside of their previous Chicago-teen niche into fun drum and guitar driven dance beats to a audience that could consider themselves "smart musicians." The song structures stick to a pop layout for the most part, but are filled with such dense musicality that if delivered any other way, the message posed by the talent in the group would be lost.
Reset opens with a track entitled "Last Man on the Planet," and, is in essence is the perfect introduction to this EP. Beginning with a quiet synthesizer melody and growing as each phrase introduces a new instrument, building tension until drummer Neal Wehman drops into the snare and the listener is greeted by the release of Tim Yamaya's soothing yet aggressive voice. The audience is able to hear all of the pieces of Breakers Broken come together before they set out on the trip they're about to take with this newly matured and revamped band. Careful, ladies (or should I warn Tim?), as this song may leave you wondering "Who is Nina?" and contemplating a name change.
"How Novel", an instrumental track, gives the pop ladies a chance to mull over that name change while providing a moment for fellow musicians and instrumentalists to appreciate the merge of acoustic instruments and electronically produced sound. It is almost as if Wehman laid down lyrics in the form of drumming, as his intense sound appears to tell quite a story. If there is one thing this band does right, it is that there is a definite arc to all of their songs, and "How Novel" is a perfect display that the narrator doesn't always have to be the vocalist.
Transition to single-friendly "When She Needs Me" and you'll be ooo-ing and oh-ing along with the perfected vocal blend between brothers Tim and Herf. As the younger of the two, Herf shines in his ability to seamlessly attach his voice to each piece with an uncanny sense of ease. Musical irony jumps out of this song as you may find yourself dancing along until you hear Tim confess he's "feeling cold as snow / this world feels like / livin' on a cannonball / with both hands tied / screaming with your body and soul..."
Perhaps my favorite track on Reset is "Failing System," because it is both perplexing and intriguing. The format is such that you may feel as though you're eavesdropping on something you shouldn't be hearing. But again, Wehman sets the tone with a dance-inducing beat so that by the time Tim's sweet falsetto takes over, your mind and body have already been lost in the atmosphere created by the sensory-encompassing instrumentation and melody. Sing along to "You give me oh-oh-oh" and enjoy the smart production behind the vocal layering, and distortion effects the drive intensity through the chorus and beyond the song's end.
Welcome back the '80s with throwback tune "Girl Behind the Bar" featuring emcee ADD. Tim and Herf's vocals are highly reminiscent of "King of Wishful Thinking" (Go West) throughout the hook until the verse displays a more intent vocal line more prevalent in today's music. Your ears will be saying thank you to the short, sexy, and shredding guitar solo so intelligently inserted before the confident percussion/vocal breakdown. Confidence, hopefulness, and an almost disguised vulnerability drive this song while providing a happy nostalgia.
The story of Reset continues with "The Climb," as each member again takes a term serving as narrator with guitar, keys, and drums tracked over synth. I find Herf's repetitive piano melody haunting as its melodic build somehow reaches inside and confronts the soul.
I am perpetually haunted by the chorus of ending track "Fools and Gold." Wehman's delicate yet aggressive intro adds to the shock at the emotional level in which the vocals enter. "People share stories of fools and gold / time will find people mean so much more." As a heavier rock ballad, "Fools and Gold" may provide some insight as to where these three musicians are now, and how far they've come.
Thanks to the popular convention of bonus tracking, listeners get to hop out of the EP on a happier note with an extended version of "When She Needs Me."
And I'm back to skipping down the street, headphones on full volume, "ooo-ing" and "oh-ing" along with my new iTunes top song.
***Catch Breakers Broken LIVE at Martyrs for their EP release party on Saturday, June 25 2009. It should be a rockin' good time as this band live is an experience all its own.***
To follow-up my mention of Powerspace at the House of Blue's Wednesday, June 24, it is only fair to give full props to all of the performing bands competing in the Next American Star. I walked into the venue just in time to catch Everlife, a Nashville-based band consisting of three sisters, a violinist, and a drummer. The two older sisters play guitar and supply backing vocals to the youngest sister's very well-trained lead voice. There is nothing like putting similar genetics into live harmonies that all sound like the same voice. With a soulful violinist and a very organic, simplistic drummer, the experience of Everlife is musically fulfilling in the sense that your ears will be receiving an honest, well-rehearsed sound. It will be interesting to see what comes out of this group in a couple of years, should their demographic of Hannah Montana fans (and their parents) grow older. I'm all about chicks that rock, and since they cited The Who and Lynyrd Synyrd as influences, a small tap into that musicality could be exciting in the future.
The next showcased (and female-fronted) band was twin sisters Sammy and Sasha. Backed by Chicago music veterans Damon Ranger, Greg Potter, Tim Maeder, and Edmer Abante, the wall of sound produced was all too invigorating. The first snare hit gave away Potter's talent, and the chemistry between Ranger and Abante almost stole the show. The girls have great voices and an obvious knack for performing, as they seemed right at home onstage. It is unclear what genre of music they may be shooting for, as the audience heard some power distortion in the guitars with some songs, floor-pumping bass with others, and a rap breakdown in another. At 17, experimenting with sound is exactly what Sammy and Sasha should be doing. Hopefully we'll get to see them joined by equally as talented instrumentalists closer to their age in the near future.
Awake in Reno entertained us with their first ever performance of catchy cover tunes such as "Take on Me," "King of Wishful Thinking," and "I Just Can't Stop." These dudes have fun and they're not afraid to show it. Hopefully, as they gain performance experience, they'll gain some songwriting to throw out as well.
A band that deserves special props, and one that I certainly hope wins this contest (if it's still going?) is Asteria. They brought great original songs, astounding energy, and some pitch-perfect attitude to the stage. I intend to keep a strong eye on this band from Crown Point, Indiana. They are what it's all about. They work hard, travel hard, and play even harder. Falling under the genre of what I've been calling "happy rock" lately, any fan of power pop/progressive pop, or pop/alt rock may like them. I'm excited to hear what they've been working on lately, and will most likely do a hard listen and post an album review soon.
All in all, the full experience at House of Blues was a lot of fun. I think it was my first time ever parading around a floor of dancing 10 year olds, partying 25 year olds, and drunk dads who appeared to know a lot about Cobra Starship. As far as The Next American Star goes, I think it's an interesing concept that's worth learning more about. So yes, anothe Frave Stamp of Approval is to be had.
“Showdown in Central Park...” An unforgettable bass line and a sexy groove capped with a hot atmosphere started the Powerspace set at House of Blues Wednesday night. Sift together teaser lights, a pinch of anxiety, loads of confidence and all-encompassing passion, and you’ll have the perfect combination of onstage “bring it” elements. Performing as headliners for The Next American Star’s Midwest showcase with Local 101, Powerspace showed some of the younger and/or newer bands how a few years of experience and countless hours in a studio can set one band apart from the next.
There were moments of complete synchronization between guitarists Tom Scheiter and Max Perenchio where, even on opposite sides of the stage, distinguishing between choreographed and complete musical connection was impossible. Max’s energy was so pure and contagious that it was hard to believe the front row of the audience wasn’t chanting his name. Swing that arm one more time, man, and you would have created a screaming little girl out of me.
Not to mention the high performance quality from lead vocalist Alec Cyganowski. This guy has either studied the motions of every classic rockstar front-man or he simply just has it in him. The way he works the mic stand, makes eye contact with the audience, and bends backward lower than a break-dancer more than impresses the audience - it brings them to his world. That world that consists of hot bass lines and blood-pumping drums (provided by Jake Serek and Kevin Kane, respectively). If everyone could turn around and have those two at their backbone, it may just be a perfect world. Every bass kick could be felt through the floor and all the way up the body, syncing the heart rates of the entire room. Because of this higher-than-reality world created onstage, it was easy to forget the floor beneath my feet and any previous knowledge of music and just say “Ok, take me with you” to the songs. Even their old friend “Right On, Right Now” was delivered with a harder clarity and more focused musicality. "Don't Stop" created a believer out of my skeptical partner in crime that night. Incorporating voice-doubling in octaves, and bringing tight harmonies to a chorus not only shows off muli-talented band members, but also reminds the audience that real musicians are at work here.
While locked away in the studio finishing up their new album American Machine, Powerspace is also honing their craft. Studio time can often turn groups into vampires stuck in their own creation of reality. Luckily, all five members appear to have never ending sources of positive energy and anxiety (to show off their hard work!) channeling into those hours that every live performance has proven them a better, tighter, and more mature band. Powerspace is telling a story behind their lyrics and surprising (yet appropriate) breakdowns. A believable, honest-to-the-gods-of-rock story. Open your ears and let them sing it to you. A Work In Progress 2
12 hours in high heels at the theatre with a very good friend of mine inspired this new song. This is a rough jam, and we're definitely going to go back in and refine things (mainly mix vocals and add real hits places). This is also a different style of all the other things Adam and I have been working on, so I suppose that's why I'm doubly excited. So here it is!
Chicago can be a funny place if one is available to simply walk the streets with eyes and ears open, willing to observe an accept all of the happening surroundings. I find humour in the fact that, while only having been a resident since August 2008, I am already tired of tourist season and complaining about a never ending winter. Yet something about walking down Milwaukee Avenue at 7:15am on a weekday morning makes me smile. Something about walking out onto Clark and Monroe at 6:30pm puts an extra bounce in my step.
There is a vibrancy and pulse to this city that while indescribable, is unmatched to that of New York and certainly to that of Miami. Perhaps it is the smiling couples of Wicker Park seeking out the best brunch to review on Yelp. Perhaps it’s all the Mercs leaving the Loop on the Brown Line to Roscoe Village. And maybe - just maybe it could be that I have fallen in love with some part of this city. Or, rather, at least have allowed the heart of this Midwest drainage line enter my soul as an acceptable place in which to always be on the go.
With these recent thoughts about my loathe/love relationship with Sinatra’s kind of town, I have compiled a top 5 list of things to do when everything inside is just telling you to do nothing.
#1.) Go to Best Buy (or any other store that thrives on one-to-one sales pitches). Say hello to the salesperson that approaches you, and tell them why you are there. Chances are, even if you’re not in the market for a top-of-the-line HD adapter for your out-of-date TV, you’ll end up engaging in conversation with a computer geek who may be just as unhappy as you in that moment. And by computer geek, I admiringly mean someone who can crack jokes about building monster machines and how a certain female might be able to fit one in a bag with three other pairs of shoes and a curling iron. #2.) Go to Double Door. It doesn’t matter what band is playing or what night of the week it is. Throw away the cover charge, throw away the $5 for whatever vodka special they have at the bar, and release yourself into a crowd of people that really aren’t as intimidating or hipster-ish as they seem.
#3.) Walk, run, bike, skip, roll - whatever - up and down the path on Lakeshore Drive. Start at North Avenue Beach and work your way up, then when you have to turn around to go back from whence you came, the skyline that greets your cardio-weary gaze will serve as a surprising reminder that yes, you do live in a cool city. And yes, those buildings are real. Even the one from Adventures in Babysitting that resembles a certain feminine……… ________.
#4.) Experience the ridiculousness of one of the summer festivals. All they really are is an excuse to drink and walk around in public. But maybe you’ll find that special old guy who dances alone to laugh at. Or admire. Or join during the Macarena on the grass.
#5.) Find a neighborhood coffee shop and befriend the barista at work during your first visit. Then go back at a different time and say, “oh, _____ isn’t here today?” And the current barista will perk up, realizing that you may be part of the local family, and therefore safe to genuinely smile at or even strike up conversation with. It seems everyone in this city is lonely. Making someone else smile will most likely lift your own spirits and therefore serve as a reminder that there is sensitivity left in humanity. And even though it feels like December in June, we’re all in the same boat. So let’s decorate it with sparkles, offer each other coffee discounts, and take plenty of pictures.
Home is where the heart is. Just find your heart and you’re there.
terial is placed in that facet of entertainment: Fun and Distraction. Had I spent more than $60.00 a ticket and expected to see a quality story near the likes of, say, Next to Normal, I may have been disappointed that most of the script was filler used to get to the next rockin' tune. Sometimes narrated as if a musical within a musical, and sometimes viewed as a straight up performance, Rock of Ages, is best if approached in the attitude with which it presents itself: Over the Top and an outrageous excuse to sing and dance to nostalgic rock.
tine is more than a post-American Idol. He is a well-trained actor with countless performances under his belt even before the Idol hype. He delivered the filler dialogue with much sincerity, and of course, brought his signature, raw need to perform to this role to a happily receiving audience. The rest of the cast is very well rounded with veterans and newcomers alike, with Lauren Molina as the hippie-feminist and Wesley Taylor as the "not gay" but "German" chocolatier.
