The weather cleared up for a solid outing with Reese Fulmer and the Carriage House Band at Freedom Park in Scotia.
“Zine Fest” @ Mojo’s Cafe, 7/21/2024
Paper Moon presented “Zine Fest” at Mojo’s Cafe on Sunday. A great place to pick up a couple of birthday gifts.
Sammy Hagar @ SPAC, 7/22/2024
Sammy Hagar was joined by Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham for the “Best of All Worlds” tour.
Photography by Stephanie J Bartik.
WINGER Electrifies The Strand Theater…NOT your average “Hairband” by Michael Bruce
Ahhhh yes. The glory days of the 80s! Rock n’ Roll ruled the airwaves and MTV. A now labeled as “Hairband Music” genre was deep into its decade of decadence when a new band with big hair hit the scene. It’s 1988 and in walks WINGER. Winger had the hard rock 80s big guitar sound. They had the big hair, and they had the front man with the perfect teeth all of the girls would soon swoon over. Winger dressed the part and played the part. They also had something we heard on that self-titled debut album that many others in that genre of music DID NOT have…Top notch musicianship and composition skills! Yes, it was 80s hard rock, but you could definitely hear that this band was a cut above the rest. They had flair in their performances that just really caught your ear. The songs were catchy 80s hard rock, but the musicianship and composition were more complex, sophisticated, and unique. Needless to say, the band reached platinum album success level, and the legacy of Winger began.
The Strand Theater in Hudson Falls, NY hosted Winger on Wednesday, July 26th 2024. I GUARANTEE you that so many music snobs said, “Winger won’t last 5 years”. In some ways, it’s rewarding when you understand something others do not. I loved them the day I heard them. I understood what was happening. I didn’t buy into the nonsense of Winger getting picked on by the jealous types, or the hit they took from shows like Beavis and Butt-Head trying to display them as not cool. So many rock heads missed out on the genius of Winger, because they paid more attention to the media nonsense. All of these years later, Winger has the last laugh. The original members of Winger consist of lead vocalist, bass player, piano player, song writer, symphony composer, 12 string guitar wizard Kip Winger! This guy is a major talent, and every one of those things I listed is totally true. On guitar is an axe wizard named Reb Beach. Reb is in the upper tier of the guitar playing world, and has been since the day he came on the scene. Paul Taylor is the everything guy in the band. Keys player, guitar player, songwriter, you name it, he can do it. Then on drums we have world famous drummer Rod Morgenstein. A monster player, clinician, Berklee professor, studio recording guru, and happens to be one of my biggest drumming influences. My group, “The Velmas”, (shameless plug) opened up for Winger back in 2004. It was a dream come true. I also drove Rod and his entire drum set stuffed in my minivan from Poughkeepsie, NY to his home in Long Island. That’s a whole other story!
Winger to me is almost like Toto. It is a group of super talented musicians who found each other, and collaborated to write great “mainstream music”. Maybe that’s why in 2024 they are still performing all over the world to excited audiences. Maybe Winger wasn’t just about Kip’s perfect teeth. You’re not around this long with all original members unless you’ve done something special. With the help of a Buffalo, NY native Howie Simon, who adds an additional guitarist and vocalist for the band, Winger crushed our little Strand Theater with a super powerful performance. Winger doesn’t use tracks for extra sound. They simply add a member to make their live sound fantastic. Howie filled in for the usual fifth member John Roth, who also performs with “Starship”. It was guns a blazing as they say, from the opening note when they opened with a song from their latest album Seven, “Stick the Knife and Twist”. The crowd was on their feet for the rest of the show. The band ran through their big hits and classic album cuts. Can’t Get Enough, Down in Incognito, Miles Away, Proud Desperado, Junkyard Dog, Hungry, Rainbow in the Rose, Pull Me Under, Time to Surrender, Heading for Heartbreak, Easy Come Easy Go, and Madeline were all loud and proud. A Reb Beach guitar solo and a Rod Morgenstein drum solo were also on the menu. Both solo spotlights were fantastic to say the least. The band was super tight, and full of rock energy. Their chops were top notch and Kip’s voice is as strong as I’ve ever heard it. Backing vocals by all really filled out the sound.
Winger has style, total pro musicianship, personality, attitude, and simply slamming unique rock songs. I circle back to, NOT your average “Hairband”. I’d like to thank John Myers from E1 Entertainment for getting them to Hudson Falls, NY. Paul Taylor and Kip Winger met when they performed in Alice Cooper’s band together way back in 1985. I wonder if they had a clue back then that they’d create a nationally known band that would be alive and kicking almost 35 years later? Winger is great, so…makes perfect sense to me!
Best of All Worlds – Part DEUX
Best of All Worlds – Part DEUX – a review by Dick Beach.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen – a second review of the Sammy Hagar extravaganza.
Why? Well, rather than SPAC, I, my buddy Lou (he’s in Hungry Dingo), my brother-in-law Michael and cousin (on my wife’s side) Edward left the cozy confines of our locals and travelled to Bridgeport, CT for the show. Lou and I from the Capital District, Michael from Hoboken, NJ and Edward from Floral Park, NY (on Long Island). The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater is smaller the SPAC – 5,700 – and decidedly different. For those of us of an age, it is more like the old Starlight (or Coliseum) than SPAC. Think the Big Top – but louder.
Opener Loverboy can certainly still bring it. Having gone to college in the North Country and listening to CHEZ out of Ottawa, I’m well familiar. 45 minutes of hit after hit after hit…..with 4 of the original players (the 5th, bassist Scott Smith was presumed dead after being washed overboard while sailing in 2000), it was killer. Sometimes, we forget just how hard these guys rock. Loads of fun.
One cannot question that Sammy, Michael Anthony (bass), Jason Bonham (drums), Joe Satriani (guitar) and Rai Thistlethwayte (keys) rock. Like hard. You know – with gusto…..
Now – admittedly – one has to first – dig Van Halen, second – get over any ‘geez, Eddie is gone, why are you doing this?’ attitude and third – be able to relax and enjoy the ride.
For close to two and a half hours, these guys were non-stop. The bulk was Van Halen songs, with some Sammy, some Chickenfoot (Joe and Michael and members) and some Montrose. Lest you forget, Sammy started the journey with the 1971 album ‘Montrose’. That, my fellow music lovers, is 53 years. I defy you, or anyone you know, to bring this much energy and joy to so many people.
The venue is in the middle of Bridgeport. I would recommend that, given the chance, you find a show and go. Easy to get into, egress was easier than one would think given the space and people, and it’s only a little over two and a half hours if you take the not highway route (that would be rte 2E to 22S (that is the route to Daryl’s House) to 690 to 8 south. A lovely ride.
With the exception of a bit of muddiness, the mix was good, loud and not shrill, as so many shows can be.
Less than 1%, I would guess, of the crowd was under 40 (yes, this old dude is being generous)
At 75 plus, Sammy is still high energy and can sing his butt off, Michael Anthony kicks and hard, Jason Bonham was killer and even somewhat restrained, one might say, Rai Thistlethwayte is a seriously talented dude and Joe Satriani is, well, Joe Satriani.
Geezerfest in two parts, damned straight. Geezerfest teaching those young punks what rock and roll is – hell yeah.
Jason Bonham’s tee shirt said it all, for all us old geezers – ‘Woke Up Sexy as Hell – Again”
Jukebox – Music News Cuts – 7/26
Jukebox.
Fast Eddie Clarke
Rock journalist Kris Needs has written a biography of Fast Eddie Clarke , guitarist for Motorhead, called Make My Day: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Story of Fast Eddie Clarke. The 320-page book covers Clark’s entire life, including growing up in the UK and entering the rock scene, his time with Motorhead, and then Fastway, ending with his settling down with his wife Mariko and their love of pets.
Needs was the editor of an early music zine and spent a lot of time with Motorhead in the past.
The biography will be joined by a 4 CD box set of the same name as the biography. The track list is below:
Make My Day: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Story of Fast Eddie Clarke Tracklist:
CD1: The Early Years
- Intro – Fast Eddie Clarke
- Cloud – Curtis Knight Zeus
- The Confession – Curtis Knight Zeus
- People Places And Things – Curtis Knight Zeus
- Takin’ It Easy – Continuous Performance
- In The Morning – Continuous Performance
- White Lightning – The Muggers
- (Just A) Nightmare – The Muggers
- Summertime Blues – The Muggers
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CD2: Motörhead
- Ace Of Spades
- Step Down (Eddie vocals)
- Lawman (Bomber demo)
- Alligator (Bomber demo)
- Dead Men Tell No Tales (Bomber demo)
- Emergency (Eddie vocals)
- Motörhead (Live)
- Stone Dead Forever (Eddie vocals)
- Iron Fist
- Bomber
- The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
- The Hammer
- Overkill
CD3: Fastway
- All I Need Is Your Love (Pete Way Demo)
- Say What You Will
- Feel Me, Touch Me (Pete Way Demo)
- Easy Livin’ (Live, Loudpark 07)
- Trick Or Treat
- Heft
- All Fired Up
- Change Of Heart
- Deliver Me (Remix)
- Fade Out (Remix)
- Leave The Light On (Remix)
- Lovin’ Fool (Remix)
- Sick As A Dog (Remix)
CD4: The Solo Years
- Snakebite (New Version)
- Laugh At The Devil (New Version)
- All Over Bar The Shouting
- No Satisfaction
- Make My Day (feat Bill Sharpe)
- Heavy Load (feat Bill Sharpe)
- Walking Too Slow (feat Bill Sharpe)
- Ethereal Blue (feat Bill Sharpe)
- Mountains To The Sea (feat Bill Sharpe)
- My New Life (feat Bill Sharpe)
- Over And Out
- 21st Century (Alternative Mix) – Black Electric
Sting
Sting 3.0 – what is it? It’s a new fall North American tour for the frontman of The Police. It begins on September 17th in Detroit and continues through Toronto, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Sting has added additional shows in Toronto, Boston, DC, Miami, Chicago, and LA due to overwhelming demand. He will also be covering for Neil Young at Bourbon & Beyond in Louisville and The Ohana Fest in Dana Point, CA.
The dates are below:
09/17 – Detroit, MI @ Fillmore Detroit
09/18 – Detroit, MI @ Fillmore Detroit
09/19 – Louisville, KY @ Bourbon & Beyond
09/20 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
09/21 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
09/24 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
09/25 – Toronto, ON @ Massey Hall
09/27 – St. Louis, MO @ Busch Stadium *
09/28 – Dana Point, CA @ The Ohana Fest
09/30 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
10/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Met
10/04 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall @ Fenway Park
10/06 – Boston, MA @ MGM Music Hall @ Fenway Park
10/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
10/09 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
10/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount
10/12 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
10/13 – Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre
10/15 – Washington, DC @ MGM National Harbor
10/16 – Washington, DC @ MGM National Harbor
10/20 – Miami, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach
10/21 – Miami, FL @ Fillmore Miami Beach
10/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre (CEPAC)
10/25 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome *
10/28 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
10/29 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
11/01 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
11/02 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
11/06 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
11/07 – San Francisco, CA @ The Masonic
11/09 – Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium *
11/12 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
11/13 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
11/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
11/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
* = w/ Billy Joel
Jane’s Addiction
Jane’s Addiction’s new tour, “Love and Rockets” will feature the original lineup, and they have a new single to share, called “Imminent Redemption.” The original lineup was Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, and Eric Avery.
About the new single, the band spoke up. “It is different this time,” they say. “To have everyone back together, releasing new music. It’s time. Welcome to the next chapter of Jane’s Addiction. ‘Imminent Redemption’ is only the beginning.”
The tour dates are below:
JANE’S ADDICTION / LOVE & ROCKETS: 2024 TOUR DATES
Aug 09 — Las Vegas, NV — Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Aug 11 — San Diego, CA — Park at the Park Petco Park
Aug 13 — Los Angeles, CA — YouTube Theater
Aug 15 — Phoenix, AZ — Arizona Financial Theatre
Aug 18 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Aug 19 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
Aug 21 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
Aug 23 — Durant, OK — Choctaw Grand Theater
Aug 25 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
Aug 27 — Jacksonville, FL — Daily’s Place
Aug 29 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Aug 31 — Hollywood, FL — Hard Rock Live
Sep 03 — Raleigh, NC — Red Hat Amphitheater
Sep 05 — Portsmouth, VA — Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion
Sep 07 — Atlantic City, NJ — Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sep 10 — New York, NY — The Rooftop at Pier 17
Sep 11 — New York, NY — The Rooftop at Pier 17
Sep 13 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion
Sep 15 — Bridgeport, CT — Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater
Sep 18 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
Sep 20 — Rochester Hills, MI — Meadow Brook Amphitheater
Sep 22 — Milwaukee, WI — BMO Pavilion
Sep 24 — Chicago, IL — Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
Sep 26 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Sep 28 – Huntsville, AL – South Star Music Festival #
Sep 29 – St. Louis, MO – Evolution Festival #
# Love & Rockets not performing
Swervedriver
Swervedriver, a top Shoegaze band, is releasing a new EP this fall called Doremi Faso Latido, released as a digital, CD and vinyl offering.
“We haven’t really done an EP since our days with Creation,” says Swervedriver frontman Adam Franklin. “I have no idea why it was the done thing back then, but it was a cool way to present your music with no sort of commitment to direction. You could just go off on one on any song if you wanted, and that’s what we wanted to do again here. I’ve always consumed music via singles anyway and was always partial to a good B-side or three.”
The track list is below:
Doremi Faso Latido
- Butterfly [Listen]
- Canvey Island Baby
- Up from The Sea
- Straight Thru Your Heart
- Sciflyer97
- These Times
- Carousel City
- You’ve Sealed My Fate
- Sea Foam
- Wrong Treats
- Cool Your Boots
- Electric 77
- Behind the Scenes of the Sounds & the Times
- 99th Dream (Live TV show)
- Wrong Treats (Live TV show)
REO Speedwagon @ SPAC, 7/23/2024
Iconic arena rockers REO Speedwagon co-headlined at Saratoga Performing Arts Center Tuesday night.
Photography by Stephanie J Bartik.
Yacht Rock Revue @ SPAC, 7/23/2024
Yacht Rock Revue opened up the triple bill at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, 7/23/2024.
Photography by Stephanie J Bartik.
Raise Your Hands @ Hairfest (Webster, MA), 07/20/2024
Connecticut-based Bon Jovi tribute band Raise Your Hands played Hairfest 2024, at Indian Ranch outside of Worcester, MA.
Photography by Stephanie J Bartik.
Albany County Farmers Market, 7/21/2024
Peter Van Keuren was among the entertainment to be found at the Albany County Farmers Market along South Pearl Street.
Photography by Timothy Reidy.
