@ Legendary Dobbs 3/8/13


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.

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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.
 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.
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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)
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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.
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 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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Radio Crystal Blue 3/10/13 news


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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
********

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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Radio Crystal Blue
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215 995 2234

Radio Crystal Blue/RCB Novus Ordo 3/3/13


Radio Crystal Blue: Novus Ordo spotlights CDs that are debuting on my
standard freeform radio program, Radio Crystal Blue. The show exists as a
weekly podcast.

Listen here:
(1) The FeedPlayer on my home page (visible with Flash-supported browsers)
www.radiocrystalblue.net and available to stream/download/share. Click the
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This show was distributed on 3/6/13

Polarcode “Ride Of My Life” – s/t CD www.polarcodemusic.com
The Dan Sheehan Conspiracy “Dark Summer” – Are You Conspirienced? CD www.dansheehan.net
Astro “Blood Lines” – All We See is Sound CD www.astrotheband.com
Public Love Affair “Love Ain’t Cheap” – Soul Shaker CD www.reverbnation.com/publicloveaffair
Craic The Lens “On The Rocks” – s/t CD www.reverbnation.com/craicthelens
Jupiter Vinyl “Wabash” – Lazy Ash Tree CD www.jupitervinyl.com
Love Mason “Love Always” – s/t EP www.lovemason.com
Amanda Earhart “I’ll Be Down” – Tell Me What You Want EP www.amandaearheart.com
Hank Stone (untitled bonus track) – Until I Saw That Train www.hankstone.net
Jordan Biggs “Brooklyn” – Brooklyn EP www.reverbnation.com/jordanbiggs
Running time: 70 minutos
****
All content of Radio Crystal Blue’s programming is free to listen and share
to via a Creative Commons License, version 3.0, full attribution,
non-derivative. For more info:
www.creativecommons.org
Please consider contributing to this unique freeform radio program. RCB cannot exist without the support of listeners and fans of indie/underground/DIY/up-coming/touring talent that I freely share each and every week. There is a PayPal button active at the Home tab and the main post page at www.radiocrystalblue.net
Here’s RCB proper:

Radio Crystal Blue is my long-running standard freeform radio program. The
show exists as a weekly podcast.
Listen here:
(1) The FeedPlayer on my home page (visible with Flash-supported browsers)
www.radiocrystalblue.net and available to stream/download/share. Click the
pop-up link at the ‘home’ tab.
(2) If you cannot view the FeedPlayer, try a different browser, or get
Flash, or try my podcast provider at www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu
(3) .mp3: https://radiocrystalblue.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/rcblive030313.mp3
(4) RSS: www.bigcontact.com/radiocrystalblu/rss

Artists who are sharing gigs are denoted with * symbols.
This show was distributed on 3/6/13.

Opening music: Nigel Hayes “Raise The Bridge” – Northern Lights EP www.intelligentaudio.co.uk

*****

Barnstar! “Northern Rail” – C’mon! CD www.barnstar.bandcamp.com
Evangenitals “Work Song” – s/t CD www.evangenitals.com
Sean Kershaw & The New Jack Ramblers “Moonlight Eyes” – Coney Island Cowboy CD www.seankershaw.com
*Jessie Kilguss & Radio Gold “Riverboat Gamblers” – The Sky Road CD www.jessiekilguss.com
*Steven Graves “Let It Ride” – Let It Ride CD www.stevengravesmusic.com
The Kurt Henry Band “Trucker’s Nightlife” – From Our Religions We’ll Be Free! CD www.kurthenry.com
Shane Cooley “Propose To A Memory” – When It Rains, It Pours CD www.shanecooleymusic.com
********
These artists are sharing billing during SXSW next week as part of a showcase series presented by Music Gorilla www.musicgorilla.com
Avi Wisnia “Rabbit Hole” – Presents CD www.aviwisnia.com
Rachael Sage “Performance Art” – Haunted By You CD www.rachaelsage.com
Megan Slankard “Soundtracks” – A Token Of The Wreckage CD www.meganslankard.com
Jeff Campbell “Leftside” – Stop And Go CD www.jeffcampbellmusic.com
New Sweden “Shine That light” – The Mountain CD www.newswedenmusic.com
Trapdoor Social “Like You Never” – Death of a Friend EP www.trapdoorsocial.com
The Pinz “Truth’ – Anti-Complacency League CD www.thepinz.com
*********
 The Como Brothers Band “Underneath It All” – The Speed Of Sound EP www.comobrothersband.com
Changing Modes “The Politics Of Fear” – In Flight CD www.changingmodes.com
Builder Of The House “Running Blind” – I Am a Tidal Wave CD www.builderofthehouse.com
The Mason Affair “Eyes On Fire” – Eyes On Fire CD www.themasonaffair.com
Blue Sour “Hold The Reggae” – S.U.A.D. CD www.bluesour.com
The Shipwrecks “Billy Don’t Surf” – demo EP www.shipwreckslb.com
Voice Of Addiction “Warriors” – Reduce, Reuse, Resist CD www.voiceofaddiction.com
****
*Marci Geller “Driving In Manhattan” – Open Book CD www.marcigeller.com
*Allison’s Invention “Ran” – Sweet And Vicious EP www.allisonsinvention.com
**Carolann Solebello “The Shadow” – Threshold CD www.carolannsolebello.com
**The YaYas “Price Of Progress” – Paper Boats CD www.wearetheyayas.com
**Sharon Goldman “House Of Stone” – Sleepless Lullaby CD www.sharongoldmanmusic.com
*****
Comic Tales Of Tragic Heartbreak “A Kind Of Answered Prayer” – s/t CD www.comictalesoftragicheartbreak.com
Luke Potter “Breathe In” – One Day: The Bleu Session EP www.lukepottermusic.com
Sloan Wainwright “I Am Free” – Upside Down And Under My Heart CD www.sloanwainwright.com
Jennings “Take It Or Leave” – Take It Or Leave CD www.jennings-music.com
*Honor Finnegan “Undone” – The Tiny Life CD www.honorfinnegan.com
*Anna Dagmar “Falling Star” – Satellite CD www.annadagmar.com
********
Closing music: Geoffrey Armes “After Dark” – Noor CD www.geoffreyarmes.com www.noorcd.com
Running time: 3 hours 11 minutos.

All content of Radio Crystal Blue’s programming is free to listen and share
to via a Creative Commons License, version 3.0, full attribution,
non-derivative. For more info: www.creativecommons.org

Next show will be recorded and distributed in the week of 3/10/13

Please consider contributing to this unique freeform radio program. RCB cannot exist without the support of listeners and fans of indie/underground/DIY/up-coming/touring talent that I freely share each and every week. There is a PayPal button active at the Home tab and the main post page at http://www.radiocrystalblue.net

@ JR’s Bar 3/2/13


It one was of those times you had to go somewhere you hadn’t been to in a
while, a place that wouldn’t rank very high on my list of music venues. The
feng shui is weird, there is smoke. Classic Philly dive. And it’s on my
radar because a certain band, already on my radar, was playing there. That
band is Dizzy Bats.The venue: JR’s Bar.

Connor from Dizzy Bats put together the showcase, a good sounding
lineup with bands stretching between pop, punk, rock, metal and even
post-punk at times.
First up were Strange Chameleons, a local guitar-drum duo. The
vocalist/guitarist was pretty solid, sporting a rather imposing oversize
guitar with an orange tiger print. The songs are essential pop-punk,
relying on high vocals and tight harmonies. “Top Sirloin” in particular was
my favorite. sounding like honest homage to Green Day.

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Next the scene turned to metal and the Scranton, PA quintet Silhouette Lies. One
of their 2 lead guitarists produced a distinct ringing or chiming sound,
balanced neatly by the loud bass up in front. Clad in red shirt and long red
handkerchief tucked in dark jeans, lead singer Nick Van Wagenen showed off
much the way a main vocalist should, constantly moving, egging on each of
the members. Bassist Nick Savinelli, with about as much long hair as Nick,
was just as proficient in the chemistry. Their next show is at The V-Spot in their home base.

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Checking in from the New York metro area, Dizzy Bats are strongly methodical
in their approach to power-pop. No real flash in their style, sticking to
good pop and rock hooks through their set. Connor’s vocals are Several
times he exhorted the small audience to stand closer. They have a ton of more shows ahead as
they continue to introduce their sound to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states.
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VIDEO of Dizzy Bats

I was most impressed by the West Chester, PA band New Shields, who have
sensational guitar hooks. Notable tunes include “Proximity” and the song
that followed in the set. Keinan Fry is the mastermind on both rhythm guitar
and Korg, with something of a post-punk chiming guitar sound. Overall the
sound is head-bobbing, danceable and just good fun music. They included a
cover by The Killers and I think one other tune besides. Their main
guitarist seemed to have an issue with his cable, and had to borrow the
decorative orange-tiger striped guitar from Strange Chameleons. 

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