09 | March | 2013 | radiocrystalblue

There was prog if you wanted it, along with old-fashioned hard rock and some contemporary styled music as well at The Legendary Dobbs on Friday.

NYC’s Changing Modes, winners of the 2012 M.E.A.N.Y Fest competition, played with 2 new members since I last saw them (video at Millcreek Tavern, Philly, 2011). In the drummer’s seat is Timur Yusuf, and on guitar is Denise Mei Yan Hofmann. Tonight’s show appeared to focus on material from the last 2 albums, and a few from “Down and Out in Shangri-La” 3 albums back. As always, Wendy Griffiths commands, and the effort is flawless. The chemistry seems good between everybody, and every note rehearsed well. it’s the little things that make the difference: the triangle, theremin (yes!), a coy Wendy donning pink sunglasses briefly in one song. I recall a song toward the end that was very insistent, almost had a Pixies feel to it with a solid lead/bass guitar bed underneath. Chris Panico of Once They Were became an instant fan. Wendy obliged by handing him a tambourine to participate with offstage.

Next up for this unique-sounding band is a Japanese performance showcase in Brooklyn tonight, then an International Pop Overthrow showcase in Manhattan on 5/5.

VIDEO of Changing Modes

Wooden Hez are Dave Pittone on vox/guitar, Alan Lee on bass, Stu Needel on drums. Alan’s powerful bass leads the charge with this local hard rock band. Dave’s strong, gruff voice helps to shape the band’s own sound. The songs seem filled with sad characters. They are playing small to mid-level venues locally, and are about to invade the South in April.

What’s a Nord doing in a jam-oriented rock band? Ask the man who owns one, or just go listen to Big Wake, who welcome this keyboard as one of their own. This Jersey City band has already made neighboring cities NYC and New Brunswick familiar ground. Tonight they played maybe 7-8 songs. They average about 5.5 minutes per song on their s/t album. Being fans of 90’s alternative and 70’s classic rock, they bridge the best of these worlds with a professional delivery. Much dancing ensued through the set. I chatted with James Rosenthal, who’s nephew Gerry is the lead guitarist and vocalist ( James, himself, is in an local alt-country band called Clarksville)

Once They Were, led by vocalists Chris Panico and Kate Coyne were reviewed in a prior post. Tonight was much the same fare, somewhat tamer than the other acts. They covered Nena’s “99 Luftballoons” and included a segue into The Buggles “Video Killed The Radio Star” on their last song. The bartender played up the choice of song, claiming that barely anyone in the audience would remember MTV’s first ever video from 1982. I find it interesting they have a penchant for New Wave music despite not sounding quite into that genre.

Spotted in the audience were 2 members of the band Zer0 (who were part of Changing Modes’ billing in 2011 in Philly) (URL, anyone?), other friends of Changing Modes, and also Ron Bauman of Connie’s Ric Rac and The Discount Heroes.

And, oh, aren’t we a pair? Wendy and I, post-gig.

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PROGRAMMING:
NEXT SHOW will be published on or about March 13 and will be available
for about 1 year. I usually publish on Wednesdays or as soon as
possible thereafter. You will hear music in several segments of top
indie/DIY/underground songwriters and bands.

RCB Novus Ordo is a separate podcast with 10 songs, one each
from a brand new recording. I spin the music and give you some backstory of
each.
*****************************
Reminding you that I’m MC’ing a showcase for Tunes2ya (www.tunes2ya.com ) at the Cape May Singer-Songwriter Fesival on 3/23. The event is at Aleathea’s Restaurant inside The Inn at Cape May. I am seeking a roommate for either Thursday 3/22 or Friday night. www.sscapemay.com

LIVE EVENT COVERAGE:
I was at JR’s Bar to see several local bands plus Dizzy Bats from NY. Review of this event is at https://radiocrystalblue.net/2013/03/03/jrs-bar-32313/
VIDEO (decent considering how dark it was): http://youtu.be/kYQYEr9Zdfk
PHOTOS: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152610234185725.1073741825.684570724&type=3

I was also at The Legendary Dobbs last night to see Changing Modes along other bands. I am still uploading all media and haven’t yet written a review. Look for those later on Saturday (today).
This is the last live event I cover for a while until April. I do want to get to some others, but I must be careful of my health. I’ve had some issue with my stomach and wonder if there’s more going on than I know.

OK so I’m not a 3- or 4-letter radio station. I’ve done a lot of things on behalf of this show that those stations do. Awards, online votes, interviews. I just cannot afford it right now. I also wonder if it holds any meaning to do so. I refuse to let people pass my show off as just one more notch on their radio bedpost. I strive to make this freeform program thoroughly unique and accessible. You don’t have to ‘get’ me. But I would appreciate it if you did. And if you do, thank you 🙂

Have you read my other blog? Idealistic Stats provides sports from an alternative & statistical point of view. Working on the most recent edition of a long baseball essay, plus some insight into auto racing, golf, boxing, tennis & even horse racing www.idealisticstats.wordpress.com
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RCB rewind:

RCB Novus Ordo: I had seen The Dan Sheehan Conspiracy, sans drummer the prior week, and debuted their second and new album on this show. Craic The Lens puts a subtle Celtic spin on their alternative rock sound. Astro returns with a new album as well. Hank Stone tells me that the untitled bonus track from his latest is titled “Nobody Cried (Invisible Tears)”.

RCB proper: Segment 1: Bluegrass-oriented supergroup Barnstar! make a live stage appearance this week, first one since last June, and I follow suit in kicking off the latest show. Stayed in a countrified theme to start. Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers, along with Jessie Kilguss share billing tonight at Red Hook Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn. Steven Graves gets another airing from his new album. Segment 2: As SXSW’s influence creeps in, I built a segment around Jeff Campbell, one of a number of artists performing near the MusicGorilla.com banner during next week’s big festival. I introduced new music from New Sweden (yes, from Delaware) along with more new sounds from The Pinz and Trapdoor Social. Segment 3: All rock for this segment. The Shipwrecks make their debut directly into my rotation. They are an interesting surf/jam band based in Long Island, NY. Segment 4 was more standard contemporary music. Marci Geller & Allison’s Invention will be part of one of the many showcases at that Cape May Singer-Songwriter Festival I keep telling you about, on 3/22. Carolann Solebello & Catherine Miles (The YaYas), along with Karyn Oliver share billing at The Towne Crier on 3/10. Carolann along with Bev Grant host Sharon Goldman at Two Moon Art House & Cafe on 3/15. Final segment got somewhat inspiritational in lyrics. Luke Potter’s uptempo sounds also debut within the rotation. He recorded a few songs with producer/songwriter Bleu, whom I last saw on stage maybe 7 years ago. Honor Finnegan and Anna Dagmar perform as part of the New Haven Folk Consortium House Concert series tonight (3/10)

**************
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Radio Crystal Blue
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Dan Herman
Radio Crystal Blue
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Daily Archives: March 9, 2013

@ Legendary Dobbs 3/8/13

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