Super Bowl halftime show.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were on their way to winning their first Stanley Cup in Bloomington, MN on the night of May 25, 1991.  At the same time, 872 miles away at the Coca Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre in Burgettstown, PA, AC DC’s lead vocalist Brian Johnson stopped mid-song to announce that the Penguins had a 6-0 lead in a clinching Game 6 to an already excited crowd of Pittsburgh sports fans.  On Saturday night, January 16, 2016 at CONSOL Energy Center (also in Pittsburgh, PA), the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band show was “delayed” 25 minutes until the completion of the New England Patriots vs Kansas City Chiefs AFC Divisional Playoff Game.  Sometimes, the world of sports and music intersect each other without trying.

I know that there is typically a lot of anticipation for the artists/bands asked to perform at the Super Bowl or when athletes join bands.  Who can forget the late Wayman Tisdale, one-time professional basketball player in the NBA who turned into a smooth jazz bass guitarist?  Also in the world of jazz, former baseball player Bernie Williams is a classically trained guitarist who has released two jazz albums and nominated for a Latin Grammy.  Not leaving the diamond, pitchers Jack McDowell and Bronson Arroyo, both past and current Major Leaguers, book shows and play guitar both as solo performers and with bands.  I would also be remiss if I did not mention the music career of Shaquille O’Neal.  In addition to his basketball career, O'Neal has released four rap albums with his first ‘Shaq Diesel’ going platinum and gifting us with the lyrics, “In other words you better make a funky decision/Because I'm a be a Shaq knife and cut you with precision”.

On the flip side, Boyd Tinsley who is certainly most known for being the violinist of the Dave Matthews Band plays tennis. He has his own tournament, the Women's Clay Court Classic held annually in Charlottesville, VA and once played doubles with John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.     There was also Percy “Master P” Miller’s short lived career as a professional basketball player for both the Charlotte Hornets during the 1998 pre-season, and the Toronto Raptors in 1999 pre-season.  Jack Johnson meanwhile is known for being a singer-songwriter, but before giving the world “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” he was sponsored by Quicksilver and entering prestigious competitions for surfers.

I am happy that there is synergy between music and sports.  I am always wondering what players are listening to on their headphones pre-game when the cameras show them entering an unnamed arena.  And it has been a lot of fun to play in pick-up basketball games with band members on the hoops sometimes set-up outside of live music venues.  As people, we need more than basic knowledge to be successful in the paths that we have chosen. And according to the University of Rochester (NY) Medical Center, “a full and productive life also requires social skills, discipline, cooperation, and creative thinking. These are all learned from the training involved with sports and music. . .”.

Thanks for reading.

Seen & Heard.

I received excellent feedback that I am going to shows throughout the year and commenting on them, so why don’t I post my comments on the blog.  So here after attending my first 2 shows of the year, I wanted to share my thoughts.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 – Chillent at James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy (Pittsburgh, PA)

Typically your Bubbe would make cholent, a traditional Jewish stew that usually simmers overnight for 12 hours or more, but the name of the band is Chillent, a self-proclaimed Jewish Soul Stew – a delicious mix of soul, jazz, blues, funk and klezmer.  I got introduced to this band by my friend Adam R. and was happy to have taken the time to check it out.  New year, new venue (to me) and new music.

Not even knowing the band, I was initially excited for my first show at the legendary North Side building, which lays claim to being the epicenter of the Pittsburgh jazz scene.  As for the music, it was great to see a local band maintain the kind of music expected at James Street.  A highlight of the show for me was ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’.  Although not played in homage to the recent passing of Harlem Globetrotters legend Meadowlark Lemon, the groove spotlighted the talent of the band.

And on this night, 3 kinds of beards were in full effect at the show (a) Lubavitch, (b) Hipster & (c) West Virginia/Hunting.  Definitely could have put all three representatives in a line-up and not known who was who.  Already looking forward to my next show.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 – Brian Fallon & The Crowes at Altar Bar (Pittsburgh, PA)

From the opening, upbeat version of ‘Red Lights’ to when I headed home in the middle of ‘Mojo Hand’, Brian Fallon & The Crowes put on a really good show. 

Flying solo, I found a spot on the balcony right over the stage which worked well since the show ended up selling out and every nook of the Altar Bar was packed.   The songs ‘Rosemary’ and ‘Among Other Foolish Things’ really jumped out at me.  Fallon also told a couple of funny stories – one that resulted in him doing a great impersonation of the Tracy Morgan SNL character Brian Fellow and the line, “that goat has devil eyes!”  The other involved him and the band stopping at Dick’s in Monroeville (probably post Guitar Center) and thinking that he saw a Steelers’ jersey with the last name McQueen on it (I am thinking that it was a #90 McLendon jersey). 

And no review for Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, since I did not make it for the show.  But I did get some highlights during sound check:

“Meet Me in the City” -> “Rebel Rebel” (David Bowie) -> “Because the Night” -> “Price You Pay”

Thanks for reading.

Pete Townshend's windmill!

We all know iconic rock stars like Mick Jagger, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix and Prince but how did they reach this legendary status? 

In the summer of 1996, I was in an American Folk Music class taught by a Grammy Award winning professor Kip Lornell.  One of our assignments was to define folk music.  Not so surprisingly, everyone enrolled in the class came up with different definitions.  But the consistent answer was that all of our responses included the term regionalism.

I also believe that regionalism plays a part in defining rock stars as well.  A music fan heavily entrenched in the 1990s Seattle, WA music scene might find Mike McCready to be a rock star, while those growing up in Central New Jersey in the mid-2000s would place Brian Fallon on a pedestal.  McCready is a founding member of Pearl Jam, and has contributed to Seattle super group Temple of the Dog as well as the well known side-projects Mad Season.  For me, he is the guitarist who produced the solo to the song “Alive”, Pearl Jam’s first hit single and was also voted to one of Guitar World's “100 Greatest Guitar Solos” list.  On the flip side, Brian Fallon fronted The Gaslight Anthem from 2007 thru 2015 and has been dubbed the “true heir to Springsteen,” by rock historian Matt Pinfield.  The talent of the prominent songwriter and vocalist of The Gaslight Anthem played a huge role in making British music history becoming the first band to ever appear on the cover of Kerrang! magazine without the magazine having previously written about them.

What gives birth to a rock star?  Rock Star: INXS was a reality television show where 15 contestants competed to become the lead vocalist for the Australian rock band INXS.  The winner of the series, J.D. Fortune, was announced and following the series, the band released the studio album ‘Switch’ with J.D. Fortune on lead vocals.  Just like that a ‘Rock Star’ was born.   I was personally partial to the other finalist Marty Casey, but was not consulted. 

There are new bands and performers paying their dues right now as I type this who will eventually become more than the next big thing.  Their moves will be emulated in front of mirrors, their songs sung along to on road-trips and posters hung from the walls.  When that time comes, I believe the criteria of being rock star will have evolved again.  In fact, it has just turned 2016, have you seen or heard Jack Garrat yet?  Consequence of Sound calls him the “textbook definition of an artist on the rise. Hailing from London, the 24-year-old multi-instrumentalist has. . .gone on to open for megastars like Mumford and Sons while simultaneously selling out his own solo headlining shows across Europe”.  His first studio album (‘Phase’) will be released on Island Records in February 2016.

And maybe not in early 2016, but one of these days, I hope to make it to both the cities of Seattle and Minneapolis.   The full itinerary is not finalized yet, but to get a real sense of the impression that both Hendrix and Prince made on their hometowns stops at EMP Museum and Paisley Park will certainly be in order. 

Thanks for reading.

Clock Strikes Midnight.

Check the expiration date.  2015 is just about over and in an effort to wrap-up my year in live music, I wanted to once again offer my superlatives.  As with last year, each and every month was filled with staples of my music collection, but also the opportunity to usher in “new to me” bands.

•         Bucket List Show for 2015: 

Stevie Wonder at CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, October 19, 2015

(What Could Have Been: The Replacements at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 )

•         Best live show seen on a road trip: 

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Canalside; Buffalo, NY on Thursday, July 9, 2015

•         Best concert seen within 24 hours of my birthday: 

The Gaslight Anthem at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, July 19, 2015

•         Best kid friendly concert that still had an edge (Tied):

The Commonheart at Feastival; McKees Rocks, PA on Saturday, August 1, 2015

Runner Up: The Lone Bellow at Schenley Plaza; Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, June 27, 2015

•         Best live event, but not a concert: 

WWE at CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, March 9, 2015

Runner Up:  TAPPED at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, Sunday, October 25, 2015

•         Best sound check: 

Vance Joy at Heinz Field; Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, June 6, 2015

Runner Up:  A Thousand Horses at First Niagara Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA, Friday, May 15, 2015

•         Concert of the Year: 

Kaleo at Club Café; Pittsburgh, PA on Tuesday, May 19, 2015

(Runner Up:  City & Colour at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Wednesday, December 2, 2015)

•         Live Song of the Year: 

City & Colour’s “Lover Come Back” at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Wednesday, December 2, 2015

•         Top 5 “live” studio songs:

Ben Howard - "End of the Affair"

Hozier – “Jackie and Wilson”

Kaleo – “I Walk on Water”

Mumford & Sons – “The Wolf”

My Morning Jacket – “Believe (Nobody Knows)”

And in addition to looking back on 2015, I also want to offer some predictions for 2016 (in no particular order):  Brothers Osborne will pick up some momentum from the release of their single "Stay a Little Longer"; people other than GW alumni will know Jukebox the Ghost; nearly three years after the release of their debut ‘If You Leave’, the band Daughter’s new album, titled ‘Not To Disappear’ will get heavy rotation due to the first single, ‘Doing The Right Thing’, and Jess Glynne (of Clean Bandits fame) will finally stand on her two feet in the US after major success in the UK (check out her single ‘Hold My Hand’).  I also hope to continue to book and promote the occasional live music performances as well as continue to catch live music in places other than southwestern Pennsylvania.  Keep your eyes & ears open.

Thanks for reading, happy new year & for all of the readers of Heard But Not Seen - what are some of your "best of lists" for 2015?

I need a miracle every day.

A vibrant memory of my summers spent deep in the hills of New Hampshire between the years of 1984-1994 was watching my counselors and eventually my friends listen and trade Grateful Dead tapes.  I did not know much about the band at the time, but knew that I liked the rhythm of songs like “Franklin’s Tower” and the guitar soloing of “Going Down the Road and Feeling Bad”, but that I could also duck out of the cabin as soon as I heard “Drums -> Space” start.  My friends would go on to structure days off around tour-dates and eventually I would understand the thrill of seeing live music (thank you Barry & Jason Feldman for the magical afternoon/evening at Waterloo Village in Stanhope, NJ).  Although it was George Thorogood on lead guitar and not Jerry Garcia for my first show, I continued to find myself drawn to bands who played epic shows.

In concert, I have seen The Other Ones, Furthur, RatDog, the Mickey Hart Band and Bruce Hornsby.  I have booked a show with Vince Welnick & The Tubes, promoted shows with tribute bands like the JugglingSuns/Solar Circus, but I unfortunately never saw the Grateful Dead perform.  This motivated me in November to adventure to see Dark Start Orchestra’s first set at Stage AE.   Not a “cover band” but in their words a “spirit band” who for the past 18 years have embarked on a single mission: reincarnate exact setlists from the Grateful Dead's tour catalog.  Well for the 900+ in attendance, the band is doing what they set out to do and we were treated to November 12, 1989’s set from the Greek Theatre.

Highlight song of the evening for me was “Tennessee Jed”, but I was also completely blown away by keyboardist Rob Barraco.  I did not realize the extent of his resume – the man has played with Phil Lesh and Friends, Chris Robinson & New Earth Mud and The Dead to name a few.  And speaking of blowing me away, the oscillating fan that rhythm guitarist Rob Eaton had pointed directly at his hair was right out of the Maxell Tape Blown Away Ad.  Which segues right into the fact that I did not see any tapers last night.  A couple of 40-somethings using their smart-phones to record videos, but then again it is 2015.  It was not all roses since drummers Rob Koritz & Dino English were both extremely robotic in their playing and seemed to be going thru the motions behind their elaborate gear set-up.  Maybe it is on me for not sticking around for the second set.  Regardless, at the show, I feel I got another taste of what started in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1965 and what lives today.

For those who did not get a chance to wish a ‘Fare Thee Well’ this summer, I would recommend checking out this band, but then again there is also the option of seeing John Mayer fronting Dead & Company.  The music does not seem to stop.

Thank you for reading.

All I'm askin' is for a little respect.

A trendsetter is a person who leads the way in ideas.  A lot of times this applies to fashion, but it can also apply to music.  This is particularly true now, when there are so many resources to discover and listen to new music. How does the average listener even know where to start?  My sister-in-law Kally is loyal to Pandora, my wife Ranisa watches VH1’s You Oughta Know and my friend Margie is the entertainment manager for a casino and is always being sent new music.  Well in the lyrics of King Radio, but made famous by the Grateful Dead, “Let us put men and women together / See which one is smarter / Some say men, but I say no / The women got the men like a puppet show.” 

While living in Washington DC in the mid-1990s when I first started promoting concerts, I received the advice that I needed to get the college ladies on-board with the shows and then the gentlemen would follow.  This proved correct over the course of many, many shows.  Then years later while working at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, I have gotten to know some of the staff who work at the concerts. In fact, a majority of the concert-day staff are women and in late July when one of the female staff members referenced that I check out the opening act for Warren Haynes in late September, I took her musical recommendation seriously.  Although the artist was more country than I would typically seek out, something about the bluesy lines, “I used to spend my nights out in a barroom / Liquor was the only love I’ve known,” really jumped out at me.  Not surprising, since the lyrics belong to recent Country Music Award winning sensation Chris Stapleton.

Another example would be when Clean Bandit was dominating the airwaves this summer with their song “Rather Be”, their first UK Singles Chart-topping song, and I was fascinated with the vocals from the hook.  I would later find out that the singer was Jess Glynne, but she would then fall off my radar.  Flash forward to November when I would hear the song “Hold My Hand” (not to be confused with the Hootie & the Blowfish song of the same name).  Once again the vocals grabbed me and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it was Ms. Glynne.  I then went home excited to share with Ranisa a cool new song, and she said she already knew all about Glynne from the song appearing in advertisement for Coca-Cola.

Forget the customer rule, women are always right.  Michele Anthony, is the Executive Vice President of U.S. recorded music for Universal Music Group. As the No. 2 executive at the world's biggest music group she's not running a label; she's overseeing those who do.  Julie Greenwald is the Chairman/COO of the Atlantic Records Group and has more than contributed to putting together a diverse roster that includes rock legends, up & coming pop artists and singer-songwriters.  The list continues, in fact Billboard’s Women In Music 2015 nominations are now open for submissions. 

Thanks for reading.

The Walls Have Ears.

I can hear Alex Trebek reading the following three places out loud, “Mason Inn (Washington DC); Static Nightclub (Pittsburgh, PA); 161 Hudson St Apartment Building (New York, NY)”.  And then my friends who all know music saying in unison from the live audience saying “What is currently occupying the space of the Grog & Tankard; Rosebud and Wetlands?” 

Then immediately cue the sad violin music.  Music venues of my youth that no longer exist.  I know that currently there are not a lack of places to see and hear concerts, but as I do my best to keep up with live music there is part of me that wishes these places were still around.   With cassettes and vinyl making a comeback, it would be great to take my boys’ to these places and share both the stories of the bands and shows that I have seen as well as talk about the successes of the musicians/bands who at one point graced the stages.

Walking along Wisconsin Ave with my cousin Anne recently, I recounted the $37.50 I was paid for the first-ever show I put together as a “professional” booking agent. I distinctly remember the manager of the club giving me 50 cents, and not in the form of 2 quarters.  Or the time that I saw the Spin Doctors (before the success of 1991’s ‘2 Princes’) just outside of famed performance space on the NYC-side of the Holland Tunnel.  Recounting an evening, Chan Kinchla (Blues Traveler guitarist) had the following to say about sharing the stage with the Spin Doctors in those days, “It eventually got to the point where one night we'd all go there, take their places one by one, and then they'd go back to where we had been playing and end up playing there for the rest of the night!”

There was a time in which a majority of my evenings (specifically the years 1996-2002) were spent inside the walls of venues plastered with posters advertising future shows and stickers of bands that had passed thru en route to another gig.  Sometimes I can still see the places while daydreaming or hear the songs from those years play in my head and of course, the grass is always greener.  I have to try very hard to forget about the people more interested in playing pool and talking at the bar than listening to the music.  And of course the images and grisly sights and smells of the bathrooms are hard to erase. 

But thankfully it is the music that brings me back.  I continue to listen to new music (to me), like Hayden Calnin or The Lone Bellow and maybe, just maybe you will see me on the South Side at the Rex Theatre.

Thanks for reading.