Seen & Heard vol. 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 – Dr. Dog with The Districts at Stage AE (Pittsburgh, PA)

Perched in what I will affectionately call the Statler and Waldorf seats, I had the chance to see two bands I have liked from afar for the very first time.  In fact, not since Max Talbot was cheered wearing a Flyers jersey upon his return to Pittsburgh in 2011, has anything from Philadelphia gotten as many cheers in the Steel City!   On the very same night in which The Who was playing CONSOL Energy Center we got all the rock ‘n roll distortion that we needed at Stage AE.  The Districts loved their pedals, and highlighted their set with the songs “Long Distance” and their closing jam on “Young Blood” which resulted in lead guitarist Pat Cassidy hanging his guitar on his amplifier.  It was great to see the opening band play to a big, appreciative crowd and I believe the headliner heard the encore chants and came out swinging.  

Not to be outdone, the dueling lead vocals of Toby Leaman (vocals & bass guitar) & Scott McMicken (vocals & lead guitar) of Dr. Dog kept me on my toes for their entire set.  Knowing songs but not too many actual song titles, I was hoping for setlist.fm to populate in front of me during the show but that would have diverted my attention from the music taking place in front of me.  I really enjoyed the layers of instrumentation, the band’s contagious energy and the musical quirkiness that is Dr. Dog.  “That Old Black Hole” was a song that I recognized and that jumped out at me and overall, it is quite possible that those in attendance might have witnessed an early-frontrunner for concert of the year.   

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 – Galactic at Rex Theatre (Pittsburgh, PA)

Being a touring musician can be a grind, however, the core of musicians that make up the band Galactic has largely remained intact for two decades.  The band has released over 10 albums and can annually be found headlining a stage at Jazz Fest in New Orleans when not touring.  However, there was something about their recent performance at the Rex Theater that did not allow me to make a connection with the music.

The version of the band that I saw, while extremely talented, still had me racking my brain for what I really wanted to be hearing.  Coming right out of the gate with a funk jam that got the sold out crowd moving, the band’s set seemed to cool off just as quickly when they added vocals.  I knew it would not be a full instrumental set, but I believe that is where the band was at its best last night.  Drummer Stanton Moore, keyboardist Rich Vogel, saxophonist Ben Ellman and arguably the only rapping trombonist, Corey Henry lit up the room with their solos. 

These observations led my friend J.J. and I to contemplate how many bands/artists do you want to go see perform live after years since hearing them for the very first time?  It has been 19 years for me since first hearing the funky beats from the song “Go Go” at a record store in New Orleans.   And while Galactic continues to be a great band and evolve (check out their new single “Into The Deep” from their new album of the same name) there is part of me that wished that I had passed my tickets along to the kids outside who were looking to capture their first Galactic moment.  

Thanks for reading.  RIP - Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor. 

Don’t quit your day job.

Am I the only person who has ever wondered what Fred Flinstone was listening to as he hopped into his car after a long day as a "bronto crane operator" at Slate Rock and Gravel Company?  I like to think that he was hearing Workingman's Dead, the fifth album by the band the Grateful Dead.   According to one interview with legendary front man Jerry Garcia, the title of the album comes from the band returning to the Pacific High Recording Studio in San Francisco to record the album in nine days, after taking approximately 7 months of studio sessions to record the album's predecessor, "Aoxomoxoa".  And on some days, maybe Mr. Flinstone was hearing the Rush song, "Working Man" which includes the lyrics, "I get up at seven, yeah/And I go to work at nine/I got no time for livin'/Yes, I'm workin' all the time".   There are many artists who work extremely hard to become full-time musicians: some wearing many hats to get there and others who show a diverse skill set to maintain their place in the world of music.

My friend Jeff S. called Stone Gossard the working man’s musician.  Primarily known as the rhythm and lead guitarist for Pearl Jam, but he is also a songwriter.  8 of the 11 tracks on Pearl Jam's debut album, "Ten", were musically written or co-written by Gossard, including "Alive" & "Even Flow".   Gossard is also a lyricist.  He penned the "Yield" song "All Those Yesterdays" and the "Binaural" song "Thin Air".   Not limited to being in the spotlight, Gossard's credits also include working as a producer.  His most notable production roles with the bands Satchel, Green Apple Quick Step and Critters Buggin’.  And to top it off, all of his production work comes from within the walls of his own recording studio, the prestigious Studio Litho, in Seattle which still operates today, with Gossard as the owner.

I also think of Ahmir Khalib “?uestlove” Thompson who has written, performed and produced for his own Grammy Award winning band The Roots.  Known for a jazzy and eclectic approach to hip-hop featuring live musical instruments, The Roots have risen from the streets of Philadelphia (a well-intended nod to blue collar musician Bruce Springsteen) to record a Top 40 song,  "You Got Me" and are now the house band on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  And although he is best known as the drummer and joint front man, Thompson also works as a DJ, journalist, arranger and record producer.  He has produced for such heavy-hitting artists including Elvis Costello, Erykah Badu and Jay-Z.  He has also played drums on John Mayer's song "Clarity" and he has arranged and drummed on Joss Stone's cover of the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl".

It appears that it is this non-stop work ethic that separates those musicians just happy to create their own music and those driven to take it to another level.  Those artists willing to recreate themselves and lend a hand to all parts of the music making process.  “Yabba-Dabba Do”. 

Thanks for reading.

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.