Music News aka Houston Music News aka Texas Music News

Vol. 40 - No.9 • JUNE 2022 • www.houstonmusicnews.net • FREE

& ENTERTAINMENT

Kid Rock Also In This Issue Rod Stewart Jesse Cotton Stone The Aristocrats Justin Hayward Steely Dan Brit Floyd Ana Torroja Marta Sanchez Jesse Uribe Paola Jara and more!

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GRILL & SPORTS BAR 202 Sawdust Rd. (The Woodlands) • 281-363-2574 • http://www.19th.cc JUNE Live Music Schedule Friday, June 3 - Zach, Urban River, Zest, Ground Crew 4 Saturday, June 4 - Metal Market Bring Your Merch To Sell (7-8pm) Bullethead, Driven With Insanity, Chaw Friday, June 10 - Roshambo, Ever The Wolf, Apex Fallen Saturday, June 11 - Brother Stone, Shone 1st Friday, June 18 - LV featuring Jewel Carter Saturday, June 19 - To Be Announced Friday, June 24 - The Guillotines, Ghost Town Outlaws, Social Distancing Band Saturday, June 25 - Trippy Goblin, and a Hip Hop Show

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Music News • June 2022

JUNE 2022 Hi Folks, Hello Music News readers. I hope everybody had a great May. As you can probably tell, Concert Season is up and running. Perhaps some of you made it out to The Who Concert this past month at Toyota Center. Concerts are starting to come now in full force. Rod Stewart will be performing at The Cynthia Woods Pavilion. Steely Dan Will Be there this month also. And don’t miss Kid Rock. He’ll be in Houston also. At any rate, this year looks like all the big acts will be out in force and we plan on being there at as many of them as we can make it to. We hope to see you there also Now, on to the new issue. In this issue, as usual, we have some great stories and information to pass on to you.

Check out stories in this month’s issue on Rod Stewart, Kid Rock, Jesse Cotton Stone, Brit Floyd, The Sonic Slam with Tom Keifer, L.A. Guns, & Faster Pussycat. We also have stories on Del Castillo, Siddhartha, Steely Dan and another installment of the original story, THE BIKER along with a lot more! Also in this issue are a ton of great pictures of bands performing around the Houston area. I’m sure you’re going to be familiar with a lot of these bands. If you have pictures of local bands performing, please email them to us. I would really appreciate it and I know the bands do as well. Keep it up... We would like to see more pictures from you.

We’d also like to invite you to check out our Spanish music section. Not only does it support the Spanish music community, it does so in Spanish. It would appear that Music News has now become the only bilingual music publication in Houston. Check out great stories in it this month on Ana Torroja, Marta Sanchez, Jessi Uribe, and Paola Jara. We hope you like it I sincerely hope that everybody reading this new publication finds something here that they like and I would like to encourage you to let your friends and colleagues know about us. Just look for us every month at http:// www.houstonmusicnews.net. I would also like to encourage you to email us for a free subscription to Rock And Blues International as well. Just email us at musicnew@airmail.net and in the subject line simply put “Sign Me Up” and we’ll email you a copy each month when it is published. For your convenience, Music News is also now downloadable. You can download the issue into your computer or storage device and save it and read it at your convenience without having to get logged on to the internet every time. Try it now and save every issue. It will make things a lot easier for you.

Kevin Wildman Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher

Kevin Wildman Editor and Publisher Web Address http://www.houstonmusicnews.net Mailing Address Box 1162, League City, TX 77573 Phone 281-650-1953

For Advertising email us at musicnew@airmail.net or call 281-650-1953 For A Free Subscription email us at musicnew@airmail.net and in the subject line put “Sign Me Up Now” June 2022 • Music News

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Contents

VOL. 40 NO. 9

JUNE 2022

6

6

ISSUE NO. 512

ROD STEWART Rod Stewart brings his 2022 World Tour To The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion July 2nd

8 KID ROCK

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Kid Rock brings his “Bad Reputation” Tour to The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion June 24

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JUSTIN HAWARD Justin Haward Performs at The Heights Theatre on June 11 Rescheduled from May 13

16 JESSE COTTON STONE

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Jesse Cotton Stone Brings his show to Katie’s In Bacliff, Shady Acres Saloon, & Green Oaks Tavern

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THE ARISTOCRATS The Aristocrats Perform At The Scout Bar June 16

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Contents

VOL. 40 NO. 9

JUNE 2022

46 26 Page 46 STEELY DAN Steely Dan Perform At The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion On June 3

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ISSUE NO. 512

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 20 Chris Knight 22 Wilderado 26 Crown The Empire 32 Sonic Slam featuring Tom Keifer, L.A. Guns, & Faster Pussycat 34 Del Castillo 38 Brit Floyd 42 The Biker 45 Siddhartha 48 Ana Torroja and Marta Sanchez 50 Jessi Uribe & Paola Jara 60 and on RANDOM SHOTS 86 A Inside Story About Simon & Garfunkel’s hit song The Sounds Of Silence

En Español 54 56

Ana Torroja and Marta Sanchez Jessi Uribe & Paola Jara June 2022 • Music News

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Rod Stewart Brings His “Tears Of Hercules” Tour To The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion On July 2nd Rod Stewart will be returning to Houston this next month for a concert at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on July 2nd. Rod is touring in support of his new release, The Tears Of Hercules, which is also his 32nd studio album.

The Tears Of Hercules was released just last November 12th. The album was released through the Warner and Rhino and features 12 new classic Stewart Favorites including: “One More Time,” “Gabriella,” “All My Days,” “Born To Boogie,” “The Tears Of Hercules,” “I Can’t Imagine,” “Precious Memories,” “Hod On,” and more.

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The album was produced by Rod Stewart and Kevin Savigar. Rod cowrote nine of the album’s tracks with Kevin Savigar and Emerson Swinford. “I Can’t Imagine” is dedicated to Stewart’s wife Penny Lancaster. “Hold On” addresses topical issues including bigotry and racism, with a reverence to civil rights activist John Lewis. “Born to Boogie” is dedicated to Marc Bolan.

The title track was written by Canadian singer-songwriter Marc Jordan and composer Stephan Moccio, and originally released on Jordan’s album Make Believe Ballroom in 2004.

Jordan had previously co-written “Rhythm of My Heart” with John

Capek, a major hit for Stewart in 1991. The album also includes covers of “Some Kind of Wonderful” and the Johnny Cash song “These Are My People.”

The photograph used for the cover artwork of The Tears of Hercules was taken by Rod’s wife, Penny Lancaster, during the video shoot for the video of “One More Time.” It depicts Stewart wearing an embroidered military style jacket and a necklace that reads “Celtic”, in support of the Celtic Football Club. continued on next page

Rod Stewart continued from previous page Rod’s 2022 shows promise to be filled with show-stopping classics and new hits in his unmissable captivating style. Rod Stewart is one of the best-selling artists in the history of recorded music, with an estimated 250 million records and singles sold worldwide, his performance will include fan favorites from across his impressive career, as well as, being the first to hear live performances of tracks from his new album The Tears Of Hercules.

Rod Stewart has had it all. He’s been lauded as the finest singer of his generation; he’s written several songs that turned into modern standards; earned countless of the industry’s highest awards, among them, two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy™ Living Legend, and in 2016 he officially became ‘Sir Rod Stewart’ after being knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.

On the album, Sir Rod Stewart’s love of songwriting grows stronger on his 32nd studio album, The Tears Of Hercules. It’s Stewart’s fourth new album of original songs since 2013 when he reconnected with his songwriting muse to record Time, the chart-topping album which entered the Top 10 in the US and ten countries worldwide, including #1 in the U.K., where it’s been certified platinum double-platinum. For his latest, Stewart wrote nine of the album’s 12 songs, including the first single, “One More Time,” which is available on all digital and streaming services. The Tears Of Hercules is a project close to Stewart’s heart, especially the song “Touchline,” which he dedicated to his father, who taught him and his brothers to love football, a tradition Sir Rod has

passed down to his sons. In the album’s sleeve note, Stewart says he’s proud of the album. “I’ve never said this before about any previous efforts, but I believe this is by far my best album in many a year,” he writes.

Rod Stewart has sold more than 250 million records worldwide during a fantastic career that includes ten #1 albums and 26 Top 10 singles in the U.K.; plus 17 Top 10 albums and 16 Top 10 singles in the U.S. As a singer-songwriter his extensive catalog of hits includes “Gasoline Alley,” “Every Picture Tells a Story,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim),” “Mandolin Wind,” “You Wear It Well,” “The Killing of Georgie,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?,” “Young Turks,” “Forever Young,” “Hot Legs,” “Infatuation,” the indelible, “Maggie May,” and many more. In addition to world tours and his Las Vegas residency, Stewart’s songwriting success has found widespread

commercial success starting with the 2013 release of Time, followed by Another Country (2015), Blood Red Roses (2018) and his latest, The Tears of Hercules in 2021. This tour will be the first opportunity for fans to experience live performances of a song or two from his new album, The Tears of Hercules. He’s earned countless of the industry’s highest awards, among them; two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the ASCAP Founders Award for songwriting, New York Times bestselling author, Grammy™ Living Legend, and in 2016 he officially became “Sir Rod Stewart” after being knighted at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.

On this tour, Rod will perform more than 40 shows across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA, in iconic venues like the Hollywood Bowl and The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.

June 2022 • Music News

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Music News • June 2022

“American Rock n Roll Tour 2018” in tandem with his brand-new album Sweet Southern Sugar. The tour kicks off on January 19 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee and will continue with 21 shows from coast to coast. Sweet Southern Sugar is Kid Rock’s first album recorded in Nashville and features recent singles “Tennessee Mountain Top,” “PoDunk,” and the tour name, “American Rock n Roll.” Kid Rock remains at the center of media attention in regards to his musical and personal ambitions, leaving his mark in a multitude of genres.

Kid Rock Brings His “Bad Reputation” Tour To The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion June 24 Kid Rock, who brought the world the anthem “All Summer Long,” will be going on a massive tour this year. It will appropriately be all summer long.

The Detroit native’s Bad Reputation tour is set to run from April all the way until September and will arrive at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on June 24th. Opening the show that night will be Foreigner In addition to the rocker’s Bad Reputation tour, he’s also dropped an album also titled “Bad Reputation”. Rock’s last album, “Sweet Southern Sugar” hit the shelves in 2017 and peaked at number on the US Top Rock Albums chart.

“I’m not trying to sell tickets like, ‘Oh, this will be the last tour, better come out and see me,’ but it very well could be for the [foreseeable] future,” says Rock on a Facebook video he posted Monday announcing the trek. “At 51 years old, it’s not getting any easier to do those jumps and carryin’ on onstage.”

Kid Rock is also a passionate supporter of those who serve in the US Armed Forces, in addition to many other charitable causes.

Kid Rock is a multi-platinum awardwinning American rock ‘n roll icon. His music has been characterized as a melting pot of musical genres; from rap-rock in the `90s with singles “Bawitdaba” and “Cowboy,” to the multi-chart hit “Picture,” a collaboration with Sheryl Crow, to the global smash hit, “All Summer Long,” charted at No. 1 in eight countries across Europe and Australia. Rock has sold almost 30 million records worldwide and has earned a reputation as one of the hardest working acts in rock n’ roll, blowing the roofs off arenas and stadiums on countless cross-country tours and treks around the globe.

Kid Rock burst onto the music scene in 1998 with his Devil Without a Cause album and hasn’t looked back. From hit singles like “Bawitdaba” and “Cowboy” to “Picture” and “All Summer Long,” the recording artist has blazed his own trail in the music world, having sold over 26 million albums to date and continuing tour.

Kid Rock holds the Michigan record for most tickets sold with 150,000 for a run of ten consecutive sold-out shows, and recently set the Little Caesars Arena attendance record in his hometown of Detroit with 86,893 attendees in six soldout shows. On the heels of his arena success, Kid Rock recently announced his

A platinum-selling country raprocker, Detroit native Kid Rock shot to superstardom in 1998 with his fourth fulllength LP, Devil Without a Cause. Known for hits like “Cowboy,” “Picture,” “Bawitdaba,” and “All Summer Long,” Rock had recorded his first demo ten years prior, been booted off major label Jive following his 1990 debut, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, and toiled for most of the decade in obscurity, releasing albums to a small, devoted, primarily local fan base.

He persevered, and by the time rap-metal began to attract a substantial audience, he had perfected the outlandish, over-the-top persona that gave Devil Without a Cause such a distinctive personality and made it such an infectious party record. Subsequent efforts like Cocky (2001), Rock N Roll Jesus (2007), and Sweet Southern Sugar (2017) saw him continue to blur the lines between rock, hip hop, country, and heavy metal. In 2021 he released the confrontational single “Don’t Tell Me How to Live” ahead of the arrival of his 12th studio album, Bad Reputation, which appeared in 2022.

Bob “Kid Rock” Ritchie (born Robert James Ritchie, January 17, 1971) grew up in Romeo, Michigan, a small rural town north of the Detroit metro area.

Finding small-town life stiflingly dull, Ritchie immersed himself in rap music, learned to breakdance, and began making the talent-show rounds in Detroit. Inspired by the Beastie Boys’ Licensed to Ill — white performers fusing rap and hard guitar rock — Kid Rock recorded his first demos in 1988, and eventually scored an opening slot at a Boogie Down Productions gig.

That performance, in turn, led to a contract with Jive Records, which issued Kid Rock’s debut album, Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast, in 1990. Produced by Kid Rock, Too $hort, and D-Nice, the album was heavily derivative of Licensed to Ill. Rock briefly became notorious when a New York college radio station aired the album’s profanity-laced ode to oral sex, “Yodelin’ in the Valley,” and was fined over $20,000 (a judgment later rescinded). However, despite a tour with Too $hort and Ice Cube, Jive didn’t see much of a future for Kid continued on next page June 2022 • Music News

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during the spring and summer of 2001, leaving Rock without one of his most frequent collaborators. Still, by the winter of that year he had completed work on Cocky and had released “Forever” to success on rock radio. In fall 2003, Kid Rock returned with a self-titled effort. A cover of Bad Company’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love” marked the first single. The cover art to his 2006 live album, Live Trucker, paid tribute to Bob Seger’s Live Bullet. Just a year later, the studio record Rock N Roll Jesus came out, landing at number one and selling 172,000 copies in its first week.

Kid Rock continued from previous page Rock and dropped him from their roster.

Moving to Brooklyn, Rock hooked up with the small Continuum label, and moved his brand of rap further into hard rock with The Polyfuze Method, released in 1993. Reviews were mixed, with some critics praising the record’s humor and eclecticism while others dismissed it as awkward and forced. The EP Fire It Up followed in 1994, appearing on Rock’s own Top Dog imprint (which was still distributed by Continuum). Rock eventually returned to the Detroit area and began work on another album; recorded on a shoestring budget: Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp was released in 1996. Although sometimes forced to sell bootleg dubs of his own records to pay the rent, Rock set about forming a full-fledged backing band, which he dubbed Twisted Brown Trucker.

While its membership fluctuated early on, rapper Joe C. (born Joseph Calleja) was one of the first to join; a longtime fan and frequent concert attendee, Calleja caught Rock’s eye in 1994, partly because of his diminutive stature (due to a digestive condition known as celiac disease, which required both dialysis and extensive medication) and partly because of his encyclopedic knowledge of Rock’s song lyrics. The rest of the lineup settled around mostly Detroit-area musicians: guitarists Kenny Olson and Jason Krause, keyboardist Jimmy Bones (born Jimmy Trombly, he handles the basslines himself), drummer Stefanie Eulinberg, DJ/turntablist Uncle Kracker (born Matt Shafer, who had

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Music News • June 2022

been with Rock since the early ’90s), and backing vocalists Misty Love and Shirley Hayden.

As rap-metal acts like Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Rage Against the Machine began to dominate the hard rock landscape, Atlantic Records decided to take a chance on signing Rock. Devil Without a Cause didn’t do much upon its initial release in August 1998, but a big promotional push from the label and MTV helped make the album’s second single and video, “Bawitdaba,” a nationwide smash. The follow-up, “Cowboy,” achieved similar success, and suddenly, after a decade of trying, Kid Rock was a superstar with a Top Five, seven-times-platinum album and a gig at Woodstock 1999. While pondering how to follow up Devil, Rock acquired the rights to his indie label recordings and remixed or re-recorded the best material for The History of Rock, which was released in the summer of 2000 and featured some new songs as well. Sadly, after being forced to take a break from touring a year earlier by his medical difficulties, Joe C. passed away in his sleep on November 16, 2000.

Even with a tragedy like this in his life, Rock continued work on his follow-up to Devil Without a Cause. The media focused more on his relationship with actress Pamela Anderson than his musical career, which many magazines were beginning to ridicule. His DJ, Uncle Kracker, had a successful solo career

Born Free, produced by Rick Rubin and featuring guest appearances by Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Zac Brown, Sheryl Crow, Bob Seger, James Hetfield, and T.I., arrived in 2010. Born Free debuted at number five on the Billboard charts but it didn’t generate any hit singles; the title track peaked at 31 on the rock songs chart and “Collide,” featuring Crow and Seger, didn’t fare much better on the country and adult contemporary charts. Rock toured in 2011, then set about recording his next album, Rebel Soul, which appeared late in 2012. Entering the Billboard charts at number five, Rebel Soul eventually went gold but spawned no big hits. In 2013, Rock inaugurated his “Best Night Ever” tour, where he capped all ticket prices at $20.00. He moved over to Warner in 2014 and started work on his next album, the self-produced First Kiss, which saw release in February 2015.

Kid Rock left Warner after First Kiss, signing with the country-oriented label Broken Bow Records. In July of 2017, he released his first two singles for the label — “Po-Dunk” and “Greatest Show on Earth,” both released on the same day — but they were overshadowed by rumors that Rock planned to run for the U.S. Senate in his home state of Michigan.

Rock dismissed those rumors on the October 24 episode of the Howard Stern Show, saying his next project was promoting Sweet Southern Sugar, an album released in November 2017. His 11th fulllength, the set broke into the Billboard 200 Top Ten, while topping the Top Rock and Independent Albums charts, and rising to number four on the Top Country list.

Rock’s first career overview, Greatest Hits: You Never Saw Coming, appeared in 2018, and in 2020 he issued the old-school hiphop single “Quarantine” under the moniker DJ Bobby Shazam. The fiery “Don’t Tell Me How to Live,” featuring the band Monster Truck, arrived late the following year, with “We The People,” “The Last Dance,” and “Rockin’” arriving in early 2022. All four tracks appeared on Rock’s 12th long-player, Bad Reputation, which was released later that spring.

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Thursday Night Heights Blues Series

June 9 Jesse Cotton June 16 Staci & Stone The Big Blue June 23 Paul Ramirez

June 2

Lil’ Ed & The Choirboys

June 2 - Lil’ Ed & The Choirboys June 9 - Jessi Cotton Stone June 16 - Staci & The Big Blue June 23 - Paul Ramirez

June 3 Robert Nathan Taylor

June 5 & June 19 Seymore’s Sunday Shootout

June 10 New Vintage

June 17 Eric Korb

June 11 The Beaumonts with Hardluck Revival

June 30 June 18 Opie & June 26 Hendrix Christopher Seymore

Sundays - Bingo @ 3 - 6 pm • Mondays - FREE Bar Trivia Night @ 7-10pm Tuesdays - Steak Nite & Movie • Wednesdays - Bocci Ball League Play 6/2 - Lil’ Ed & Choirboys 6/3 - Robert Nathan Taylor 6/4 - Entertainment TBA 6/5 - Seymore’s Sunday Shootout 6/8 - The Hightailers 6/9 - Jessi Cotton Stone 6/10 - New Vintage

June Entertainment Schedule 6/11 - The Beaumonts with Hardluck Revival 6/12 - Shame On Me 6/16 - Staci & The Big Blue 6/17 - Eric Korb Band 6/18 - Christopher Seymore 6/19 - Seymore’s Sunday Shootout

6/23 - Paul Ramirez 6/24 - Kory Quinn 6/25 - Wild Earp & the Free For Alls 6/26 - Christopher Seymore Sunday Jam 6/30 - Opie Hendrix June 2022 • Music News

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Proving that he could write massive hits outside of the Moody Blues, Justin hit the Top Ten globally in 1978 with ‘Forever Autumn’ – created for Jeff Wayne’s ‘War of the Worlds’ album. Becoming, even for a writer of his stature, a signature song, this was the spur to him taking to the stage – for five years, from 2005 – 2010, and starring in the spectacular live stadium production.

In the 1980s he was made a member of the famous ‘SODS’ (The Society of Distinguished Songwriters) and in 2012 he was elected ‘King SOD’. He also collaborated in 1989 with Mike Batt and the London Philharmonic Orchestra and recorded the album ‘Classic Blue’.

Justin Hayward Performs At The Heights Theatre June 11 Show Rescheduled From May 13 Having chalked up nearly fifty years at the peak of the music and entertainment industry, Justin Hayward’s voice has been heard the world over. Known principally as the vocalist, lead guitarist and composer for the Moody Blues, his is an enduring talent that has helped to define the times in which he worked. Over the last forty-five years the band has sold fifty five million albums and received numerous awards.

Commercial success has gone hand in hand with critical acclaim, The Moody Blues are renowned the world over as innovators and trail blazers who have influenced any number of fellow artists. Justin is honoured with the Moody Blues on the Rock Walk Hall of Fame on Sunset Boulevard.

Born and brought up in Swindon in the UK, Justin’s interest in music started early when he was five years old and his grandfather bequeathed him his large collection of 78 rpm recordings. “It opened a world of imagination to me,” says Justin.

Having taught himself to play the ukulele, he soon progressed to guitar and by his early teens he was playing in local groups.

Upon leaving school at 17 he answered an advertisement in Melody Maker newspaper and successfully auditioned for UK Rock and Roll hero Marty Wilde. “I got the job playing guitar for Marty – it was a dream come true for me”. Justin credits Marty with encouraging him to become a songwriter; he made several recordings with Marty’s ‘Wilde Three’ and also appeared with them at the London Music News•• November •December June 2022 2020 612 Music Music News News

Palladium. They remain close friends to this day: “Marty is still my hero”.

Having started the ball rolling as a songwriter in his own right with a couple of solo singles, he joined the Moody Blues in the summer of 1966. Hitting his stride immediately with the single ‘Fly Me High’, he followed it up with the classic hit songs ‘Nights in White Satin’ and ‘Tuesday Afternoon’ from the seminal album ‘Days of Future Past’. This album went on to become a favourite of the NASA astronauts and was taken aboard the Atlantis shuttle space craft by Chief astronaut “Hoot” Gibson on many missions.

This purple patch showed no sign of abating as Justin created other classic, era and genre-defining hits ‘Question’, ‘The Voice’, ‘I Know You’re Out There Somewhere’ and ‘Your Wildest Dreams’.

These laid the foundation for the incredible success story of the Moody Blues – as well as his solo work – which continues to this day.

When the Moody Blues took a break from touring in 1975, Justin worked on the Blue Jays album, followed by the hit single ‘Blue Guitar’ (recorded with the members of 10cc). Although the Moodies continued to record and tour at the highest level, Justin also found time to create several solo albums: ‘Songwriter’, ‘Night Flight’, ‘Moving Mountains’ and ‘The View From the Hill’.

In March 1997 Justin was chosen as the subject for the TV show ‘This Is Your Life’ in the presence of many of his friends including Marty Wilde, Lionel Bart and astronaut “Hoot” Gibson.

In 2005 he was presented with ‘The Golden Note’ award from ASCAP, the top honour for a British writer, and he has appeared in Nashville regularly with other songwriters in showcase events. In 2013 The Performing Rights Society in the UK awarded him his second Ivor Novello statue for ‘Outstanding Achievement’.

Whilst releasing solo albums and DVDs and working on many different projects, including new solo recordings, Justin continues to tour with the Moody Blues all across the world. Justin records in Italy and France of which he says, “Spending time making music in a beautiful place with your friends is every songwriter’s dream”. His latest album of new songs ‘Spirits Of The Western Sky’ – for Eagle Rock – was followed by several solo tours, and most recently a ‘live in concert’ DVD ‘Spirits…Live’, which reached No1 on the Billboard Video chart.

“My acoustic solo tours give the perfect balance to the big production of the Moody Blues concerts. I’m so lucky to have both”.

His live solo show is currently being shown all over the USA on PBS TV. He’s been touring the UK, Europe and the USA/Canada with The Moody Blues, and as a solo artist – accompanied

by Mike Dawes, one of a new generation of young exceptional and gifted guitar players.

“I have spent most of my life, so far, on the road”, says Justin. “Playing live and creating a small piece of magic in a room is like a drug to me, one that I never want to give up”. His is a talent that has helped soundtrack more than a generation and created a legacy that remains undimmed.

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Mojo Monday Radio Show & KWVH 94.3FM Present: Special Broadcast Featuring Artists Performing at the 20th Anniversary Blues From The Top Music Festival!

Show Airs Monday, June 6, From 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm Central Mojo Monday blues radio show and KWVH 94.3 FM present a Special Broadcast featuring artists performing at the 20th Anniversary Blues From The Top Music Festival in Winter Park, Colorado, airing Monday, June 6 from 8pm-10pm Central Time (BFTT special re-broadcasts Thursday, June 9 from 12Noon-2PM. Listen/Stream the show 24/7 at www.KWVH.org through June 13.

“We (BFTT Publicist Doug Deutsch and I) got together to do this project and promote the artists at the Blues From The Top Festival, hoping that some people can go see them live, or if they can’t, that they’re interested enough to follow a artist and buy some of their music or go see them live elsewhere,” explains Mojo Monday Host, Mark Lombardi, who’s hosted the weekly, two-hour Mojo Monday program for three years on the radio station based in Wimberly, Texas.

On the June 6 show, lauded blues guitarist and one of the BFTT headliners, Sue Foley is interviewed by Mark.

“I love playing new artist’s music and ask that they friend me on Facebook and send me some of their music (mp3 format),” says Lombardi. “We have an active and quickly-growing Mojo Monday Facebook Group with listeners in all fifty states as well as France, England, Italy and the Philippines.”

Presented by the Grand County Blues Society, the 2022 (20th Anniversary) Blues From The Top Music Festival features a musically diverse and star-studded lineup: Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Gov’t Mule, Larkin Poe, Tab Benoit, Charlie Musselwhite, Sue Foley, Southern Hospitality, Eddie 9V, Bette Smith, Southern Avenue, and the Emma Marie Band. Fore more information on tickets prices, etc. please visit https://grandblues.org/bluesfromthetop/.

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Musicand News • June 2022 Rock Blues International • May 2022

June 2022 • Music News

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In 1994, at the age of 11 he began teaching himself to play blues guitar by ear.

“Though Colorado born, my blues influence was rooted on the banks of the Missouri River, where my Fathers side of our family had migrated from Texas during the Great Depression. We lived many years there throughout my upbringing and spent most summers going to blues clubs, barbecues,juke joints, blues festivals, and National Gospel Choir competitions, throughout the midwest while on the road with the carnival circuit.”

While working on the Midwestern carnival circuit with his father, Jesse heard the music of Jimi Hendrix and learned of the influence Blues Music had on his hero. This Experience inspired him to sell his childhood Matchbox Car collection for money to purchase his first electric guitar.

Jesse began cutting his teeth on the live stage playing blues jams and sitting in with anyone who would let him throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions.

In formative years he had the honor of learning from and sharing greenrooms, jam sessions and concert stages with the likes of B.B. King, Lonnie Brooks, Magic Slim, Honeyboy Edwards, Russell Jackson, Kim Simmons, Jerry Ricks, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, John Cephas, Phil Wiggins, Link Wray, John Jackson, Koko Taylor, Derek Trucks, and the Junior Wells Blues Band, to name a few.

Jesse Cotton Stone Performs In Houston This Month!

Check out one of his shows at Katie’s In Bacliff On June 3rd, Shady Acres Saloon on June 9th and Green Oaks Saloon On June 10th Jesse Cotton Stone weaves together the stylistic threads of definitive regional traditions of Blues Music ranging from North Mississippi Hill Country Blues, Delta Blues, and Cotton Patch Soul Blues to the Urban Chicago Blues Roots of R&B, Soul, Funk, and Psychedelic Rock & Roll, bringing listeners through the doors of a HeartWrenching Boutique of Vintage-Toned 16 Music News • June 2022

American Blues Music with the relentless showmanship of a True Entertainer He is a Colorado-Born, American Highway-Raised, Blues Man. A 3rd Generation “Carny”, he spent the earliest of his years on the Carnival circuit training as a traveling entertainer from his parents and grandfather, who was a balloon clown.

Before forming the Jesse Cotton Stone Band, at the age of 14, he performed at Kansas City’s Grand Emporium, the Kansas City Spirit Festival, Kansas City Blues and Jazz Festival, and the Memorial Benefit Concert for the late Junior Wells held at Chicago’s House of Blues in ’98.

The Jesse Cotton Stone Band played 5 nights a week headlining clubs, theaters, festivals, and motorcycle rallies all over the Rocky Mountains and the Midwest from ’98 to 2001.

After years of focusing primarily on blues and acid rock, Jesse began studying new styles of music and branching out beyond his roots. continued on next page

June 2022 • Music News

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In 2013, Jesse started his own multi-faceted record label and production company, Gypsy Magik Productions, in his hometown of Manitou Springs, CO., where he currently resides and actively continues writing, developing and producing a catalogue of new original music by the Jesse Cotton Stone Band, collaborative projects, a Blues Remix series, and his post-modern Electro-Industrial Blues Masterpiece, ALGODON - A Multi-Sensory Concept Project based on the musicological evolution of Jesse’s influences.

In the Summer of 2015, Jesse visited Clarksdale, MS.-MS.-Birthplace of American Blues Music - for the first time during production of the “Blue Dream Documentary” directed by Charlie Smith of AWEN Productions, which entails the premise of a retrogressive chronological history of the Blues, paralleled with Jesse’s own journey of musical Evolution.

Since that experience, Jesse has made the Southern U.S. a second home and has toured from Colorado to the Bayous of Southern Louisiana several times.

His “Juke Spree” tours have included performances at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR., the Juke Joint Festival and Deep Blues Festival in Clarksdale, MS., not to mention the historic Red’s Lounge in Clarksdale, MS. and Teddy’s Juke Joint in Zachary, LA.

Jesse Cotton Stone continued from previous page “I had a friend named Dug Grow who would speak often about the amazing master musicians he’d made records with who would later migrate to my home town for years to come. Upon their arrival I began jamming, recording, and studying under Poly-Free Jazz Guitarist, Barry Wedgle, and Fusion Bassist, Kim Stone, on a constant basis.

This was the beginning of my interest in Jazz and World Music studies.

I learned about a more universal application to what I had already been exposed to by the Blues Culture.

This is what lead me to a path of enriching my own musicology through disciplinary studies.”

18 Music News • June 2022

After formal Theory, Harmony, and Ear training in College, Jesse Traveled the World for about a decade, studying different musical traditions including the Classical Music of Northern India under one of the greatest musicians of all time, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

“I realized that, in the 1960s, an evolutionary process of musical expression had begun in America and was continuing through the expansion of modern music with reference to the most traditional form of American music - the Blues.”

Along the way he has jammed with, learned from, and shared stages with the likes of Cedric Burnside, Tab Benoit, R.L. Boyce, Deak Harp, Mark “Mule Man” Massey, Watermelon Slim, Robert Kimbrough Sr., Lightning Malcolm, Cameron Kimbrough, David Kimbrough,Trenton Ayers, Bill “Howlin’ Madd” Perry, and Mickey Rogers.

All of which, have deeply impacted and influenced Jesse in his most current musical direction featured on his debut self-release “Fires & Floods” and follow-up live in the studio record, “...cupcakes and go f#ck yourself”.

Upcoming projects and releases include an Acoustic “one-take” solo album which is currently in production, as well as a third “full- band” Electric record, both comprised of all original music and to be released in coming months.

Green Oaks Tavern

211 E. Main St. • Humble, TX • 281.570.4344 • www.greenoakstavern.com Friday, June 10 Jesse Cotton Stone Saturday, June 11 Buck Yeager Band

Friday, June 3 Van Wilks Saturday, June 4 Pride and Joy

Friday, June 17 Eric Demmer Band

Sunday, June 12 Kevin and Derek Swanson

Saturday, June 18 Tony Vega Band

Sunday, June 19 Randy Moore

Friday, June 24 Sparky Parker Band

Saturday, June 25 Josh Garrett

JUNE 2022

RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED (call, email or FB message us) • Happy Hour Tues-Sat @ 4-7pm June 2022 • Music News

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What Knight writes about is what he knows. He was raised in mining country, so it’s no surprise that he would earn a degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University and then work as a mine reclamation inspector and then miner’s consultant. But eventually his passion for writing songs and playing guitar, both inspired by his musical hero, the late John Prine, led him to chronicle his surroundings in words and music.

“I came from a big family and grew up in the woods six miles from two small towns, so there were a lot of stories,” he says. “There were always a lot of ideas to write about.”

Chris Knight Performs At The Heights Theatre June 22

By Mario Tarradell After 23 years as a recording artist, singer-songwriter Chris Knight remains boldly empowered to make music that always delivers the unflinching truth. In fact, the man raised in Slaughters, Kentucky uses a simple, direct barometer to regularly check his muse: “If I can’t believe myself, I won’t sing the song.”

That brutally honest, no-frills philosophy fits his Americana-fueled, backwoods-grown merger of folk, country, and rock. It’s been at the backbone of nine studio albums, beginning with 1998’s acclaimed self-titled debut and traveling through scorchers such as the one-two punch of 2001’s A Pretty Good Guy and 2003’s The Jealous Kind, two demo-styled discs (2007’s The Trailer Tapes and 2009’s Trailer II), and the recent, electric guitar-fortified opus, 2019’s Almost Daylight.

Knight will hit the sonic highlights 20

Music News • June 2022

of his career in concert with Jason Ealy June 22 at 8 p.m. at Heights Theatre, 339 W. 19th St. in Houston, TX. Tickets are $24-$384; all ages are welcome. Click here for tickets.

Because Knight’s music has always sat outside of the mainstream, onstage is where he makes his fans one show at a time. It is exactly where his searing tales of rural characters, fringe survivors, and tumultuous small-town existence find a captivated audience. A few edgy, raw gems that immediately come to mind are “It Ain’t Easy Being Me,” “Carla Came Home,” “I’m William Callahan,” and “Everybody’s Lonely Now,” the latter two from Almost Daylight.

“I’ve written songs about a lot of different things going all the way back to my first record,” he says, “and some folks still think ‘somebody kills somebody’ is all I write about.”

Those ideas have earned Knight praise from publications such as The New York Times (“the last of a dying breed…a taciturn loner with an acoustic guitar and a college degree”) and USA Today (“a storyteller in the best traditions of Mellencamp and Springsteen”), to name a few. Like his beloved Prine, whom Knight duets with on Prine’s chestnut “Mexican Home,” the cut that closes Almost Daylight, Knight fits comfortably in Texas honky-tonks, downtown Nashville venues, and cool Manhattan rock clubs.

It’s no wonder that Knight has single-handedly scraped a reputation as one of America’s most uncompromising and respected singer-songwriters through 23 years and nine studio albums. He’s done this minus fanfare and artifice. The native son of Slaughters, Kentucky (population: 238) only sings songs he believes. He also speaks only when he has a potent message.

“If I don’t have something worth saying, I’m not opening my mouth. I haven’t suited everybody, but every time I get a new fan it tells me I’m doing something right. I think all my records have set a precedent, if only for me at the very least. I just want people to think the latest one stands up to everything else I’ve done.”

http://www.acadiabarandgrill.com 3939 Cypress Creek Parkway Houston, TX 77068 281-893-2860

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OPEN MIC EVERY WEDNESDAY HOSTED BY HEAVY HONEYS Thursday, June 2 - Flavor Hour, Pet Raven, No Quarter, Psychosis Friday, June 3 - We Divide, Dr Sleep, Ninesphere, Paperanvil Saturday, June 4 - Spiral Eye, Wrathtongue, Hijo de Puta, Kranc Sunday, June 5 - BENEFIT Thursday, June 9 - Pigweed, Chasing Amea, BountyTx Friday, June 10 - Darkness of Tomorrow, SATS, Gods Amongst Men, XIII, Anathemia Saturday, June 11 - Wellborn Road w/Direlands, Chasing Yesterday, & TenFour Sunday, June 12 - Death On Fire, Apex Fallen, Smashed Potatoes Thursday, June 16 - Power House, RoZy, Christian Shields Friday, June 17 - Calling All Captains and Chief State Satday, June 18 - Holy Hell, The No-Where Jets, Dumpweed, Southern Revival Sunday, June 19 - Bill De Gidio, Michael Koby Thursday, June 23 - Mourning Bliss, Budafish Friday, June 24 - Bullethead, Dust in the void, Stone Nomads, Groundcrew 4 Saturday, June 25 - Malice In Eden, Kismet, All Stories End Sunday, June 26 - tba Thursday, June 30 - tba June 2022 • Music News

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fire.” Three more singles, “Take Some Time,” “Revenant,” and “CFS,” arrived in 2020, and in 2021 the group released “Mr. Major,” the first single from their eponymous full-length debut, which was issued later that October.

Wilderado Perform At The House Of Blues June 23 Wilderado is an American indie folk band originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, and based in Los Angeles California. The band was first signed to Iamsound Records, but is now signed to Bright Antenna Records.

Wilderado’s Max Rainer and Tyler Wimpee met through mutual friends in college and started writing songs together in their fifth year after most of their friends had left. They went on a thirty concert tour with Flipturn in 2022, and expanded the tour to include bands Toledo and Michigander. They are renowned to have three chinchillas travelling on tour with them named Minnesota, Michigan, and Wyo. Wilderado’s expansive indie rock fuses soaring vocals and rumbling guitars with an open-road, Americana-inspired feel. The band spent the latter part of the 2010s building a sizable fan base through heavy touring and a series of EPs and singles which were streamed into the 22

Music News • June 2022

millions. In 2021 the group issued their eponymous debut album.

Co-songwriters Max Rainer (vocals, guitar) and Tyler Wimpee (vocals, guitar) began working together in college, initially using the name Bird Dog. By 2016, the band also included bassist Colton Dearing and drummer Justin Kila and the quartet, now called Wilderado, released their debut EP, Misty Shrub.

A second EP, Latigo, appeared later that year and notched millions of streams online, raising the band’s profile significantly. Their newfound popularity soon gained them tour support slots for Band of Horses, Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie, and Judah & the Lion, and Wilderado spent much of 2017 releasing a series of singles to similar success. Produced by Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty), their third EP, Favors, appeared in 2018 and was later released in an acoustic version. Wilderado continued to tour on both sides of the Atlantic, returning in 2019 with the single “Sure-

In 2016, the band released their first EP, Misty Shrub. On July 22, 2016, the band released their second EP titled Latigo which amassed over 18 million streams on Spotify. On the back of Latigo, Wilderado spent the next year touring with acts such as Band of Horses, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Lindsey Buckingham, and Judah & The Lion.

In 2018, Wilderado released their third EP titled Favors to warm critical and fan acclaim.

In July 2019, Wilderado released the single Surefire. The song was inspired by the poem “A Gradual Canticle for Augustine” by Tabitha King.[8] Surefire was named one of the “5 Songs You Need to Hear Right Now” by Sirius XM’s Spectrum.

In 2020, the band released 3 singles, CFS, Revenant, and Take Some Time, remixed by RJD2, Emancipator, Kyle McEvoy, & by Gus of Alt-J. In 2021, the band released their newest single, Head Right.

In October, 2021, the band released their debut album self-titled Wilderado.

In March, 2022, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, for their television debut.

continued on next page November 2021 • Music News

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The Aristocrats will make their longawaited return to the stages of North America this summer, for the ten-week, 50-show DEFROST tour. Audiences starved for some trademark Aristocratic musical mayhem will be treated to a debut of select new material not yet released on any album, as well as a carefully curated collection of fan favorites and deep cuts. They’ll also be promoting their first-ever orchestral collaboration. The Aristocrats With Primuz Chamber Orchestra, a lush and lavish musical reimagination and sonic reinvention of songs from throughout the band’s storied four-album catalog, will release in June, just before the tour begins.

The Aristocrats Perform at The Scout Bar June 16 The Aristocrats, (guitarist Guthrie Govan, bassist Bryan Beller and drummer Marco Minnemann) will make their longawaited return to the stages of North America this summer, for the DEFROST tour. The ten-week, 50-show run will mark their first live performances since the FREEZE! Live In Europe 2020 album was captured, more than two years ago. Audiences starved for some trademark Aristocratic musical mayhem will be treated to a debut of select new material not yet released on any album, as well as a carefully curated collection of fan favorites and deep cuts.

The ultra-power-trio issued a joint statement to mark the occasion: “We’re beyond thrilled to get back out there and do what we do best - playing together, live and loud, in the same room - for our amazing fans who’ve been so generous with their support of what we do as a band. Even though modern technology is great, we wanted to wait until we were physically together before playing any new material, because that’s just how we do it. That’s finally going to happen right before we head out on the road, so it will be really fresh and exciting. We can’t wait!”

In addition to The Aristocrats’ return to the live stage, the band will soon share news of a collaboration project one year in the making, which is slated for release in the spring. More details will follow on this project soon.

Over the past ten years The Aristocrats have released critically acclaimed albums, toured the world, and established themselves as one of the most musically original, refreshingly irreverent, and astoundingly entertaining instrumental rockfusion acts on the planet. Anyone who’s witnessed their live musical high-wire act 24 Music News • June 2022

employing random amounts of rock, jazz, pop, metal, and even traditional country – can attest that it is informed by the spirit of a true band, one whose improvisational soul allows for anything to happen onstage at any moment…including the occasional wink and nod at the audience.

Over the past decade, The Aristocrats – guitarist Guthrie Govan (Steven Wilson, Hans Zimmer, Asia/GPS), bassist Bryan Beller (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Dethklok), and drummer Marco Minnemann (Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani, Steve Hackett) – have established themselves as one of the most musically original, refreshingly irreverent, and astoundingly entertaining instrumental rockfusion acts on the planet. Anyone who’s witnessed their live musical high-wire act – employing random amounts of rock, jazz, pop, metal, country, and anything in between – feels the spirit of a true band, one whose improvisational soul allows for anything to happen onstage at any moment…including the occasional Frank Zappa-influenced wink and nod at the audience.

The buzz from their supposedly oneoff debut gig at the Anaheim NAMM show in 2011 led to The Aristocrats self-titled debut album. Tracked in just eight days, The Aristocrats [2011] was hailed as an instant classic in leading music publications worldwide, appearing on many of that year’s top ten lists. Over the next decade, The Aristocrats proceeded to make three more critically acclaimed studio albums, two of which landed in the Billboard Top 10 Jazz Chart (jazz? ok, sure). Several world tours resulted in three live albums, the most recent of which – FREEZE! Live In Europe 2020 – was a poignant document of the band peaking on the You Know What…? tour, captured just two weeks before the COVID era began.

The ultra-power-trio issued a joint statement to mark the occasion: “We’re beyond thrilled to get back out there and do what we do best – playing together, live and loud, in the same room – for our amazing fans who’ve been so generous with their support of what we do as a band. Even though modern technology is great, we wanted to wait until we were physically together before playing any new material, because that’s just how we do it. That’s finally going to happen right before we head out on the road, so it will be really fresh and exciting. We can’t wait!”

Guthrie Govan is arguably the hottest guitarist on the international music scene today, and his 2006 solo album Erotic Cakes was widely recognized as an instant classic.

His top-level touring experience (Asia/GPS, Steven Wilson, Hans Zimmer) complements his busy schedule as one the most in-demand guitar clinician/educators in the world.

Guthrie was featured on the cover of Guitar Player Magazine in July of 2011 and Guitar World Magazine in April 2015.

Bryan Beller’s numerous credits include guitarists Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa), and the hugely popular metal “band” Dethklok, borne of the Adult Swim (U.S.) animated series Metalocalypse. His solo artist catalog includes three studio albums (including 2019’s rave-reviewed progressive double concept album Scenes From The Flood), two DVD’s, an instructional DVD for Alfred Publishing, and he was featured on the cover of Bass Player Magazine in October of 2012.

Marco Minnemann is widely seen by fans and peers as one of the most gifted, innovative, cutting-edge drummers in the world. He’s graced the covers of several drum magazines (including Modern Drummer) and enjoys an ultra-versatile sideman career (Adrian Belew, UKZ, Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani, Necrophagist, Steve Hackett).

Marco is also a multi-instrumentalist and compulsively productive composer with over twenty CD & DVD solo releases to date, including two albums with his most recent collaboration McStine & Minnemann.

May 2022 • Music News

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Crown The Empire Bring Their The Fallout 10 Year Anniversary Tour to White Oak Music Hall July 1

by Gregory Heaney American metalcore outfit Crown the Empire fuse electronic ambience with metal catharsis, creating a moody and dramatic sound similar to contemporaries Bring Me the Horizon and Hands Like Houses. From their raw early days on 2012 debut The Fallout, they absorbed elements from the electronic and pop worlds to create a melodic metalcore blend on late-decade releases Retrograde and Sudden Sky. Originally featuring singers Andy Leo and David Escamilla, guitarists Brandon Hoover and Bennett Vogelman, bassist Hayden Tree, keyboard player Austin Duncan, and drummer Brent Taddle, the seven-piece band puts its massive ranks to good use, crafting a sound that’s dense without being so busy that the message is lost in the noise.

26 Music News • June 2022

Crown the Empire made their debut in 2011 with the self-released EP Limitless, followed by their first full-length effort, The Fallout, which arrived on Rise Records in 2012. The record was reissued later in 2013 with a complete rerecording of Limitless (this time with David Escamilla on vocals) while the band was touring. In January 2014, Rise Records announced via their website and social media outlets that Crown the Empire would be recording, and The Resistance: Rise of the Runaways appeared in May. Co-produced by Joey Sturgis and Dan Korneff, it was wellreceived by critics and fans alike. Crown the Empire headlined their own tour through the rest of the summer before taking time off. In the fall of 2015 the band released “Prisoners of War” as a digital single. It was included as part of a deluxe reissue of the previous year’s album along with “Cross Our Bones”

(another new song), an acoustic take on “Millennia,” and an alternate of “Machines.” In November of that year, Vogelman parted ways with the band, with Hoover taking over his duties. On June 10, 2016, the band released another new single, “Zero,” in anticipation of its upcoming third studio long-player, Retrograde, which dropped later that month. Retrograde debuted atop the Billboard Hard Rock, Independent, and Rock charts, and hit number 15 on the Top 200. In January 2017, the band announced the departure of Escamilla, reducing Crown the Empire to a quartet.

Work on a fourth album began soon after and the first output without Escamilla arrived with the single “20/20.” That track wound up on Sudden Sky, which was issued in July 2019. Debuting in the Top 10 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart, the set also included the pummeling “Red Pills” and “MZRY.”

https://www.thebigeasyblues.com

Thursday, June 30 Houston Blues Society Jam Hosted by Bluestown Shakedown

Sunday, June 12

Benefit For Guitar Shorty

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Music News • Decemberr June 2022 2020

October 2021 • Music News

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Friday, June 3, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am The Abbey Pub 2002 N Fry Rd - Houston, TX 77084 Saturday, June 11, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Andy’s Bar & Grill 27200 Hwy 290 - Cypress, TX 77433 Wednesday, June 15, 7-11 Two Mules Tavern 100 Cypresswood Dr - Spring, TX 77388 Saturday, June 18, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am *PLEASE NOTE:CANCELED Jailhouse Saloon 310 Preston Ave - Spring, TX 77373 Sunday, June 19, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm The Hawg Stop Bar & Grill 11335 Sheldon Rd - Houston, TX 77044 Friday, June 24, 7:00 - 10:00 pm No Label Brewing Co. 5351 1st St - Katy, TX 77493 Saturday, June 25, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am Brazoria County Cookoff Details Soon TBA Saturday, July 2, 8:00 pm - 12:00 am Backwoods Saloon 230 Lexington Ct - Conroe, TX 77385 30

Music News • June 2022

Friday, July 8, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Aspens Bar & Grill 817 Clear Lake Rd - Kemah, TX 77565 Sunday, July 10, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Papa’s On The Lake 14632 Hwy 105 W - Montgomery, TX 77356 Friday, July 15, 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Andy’s Bar & Grill 27200 Hwy 290 - Cypress, TX 77433 Sunday, July 17, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm The Hawg Stop Bar & Grill 11335 Sheldon Rd - Houston, TX 77044

Open 6 Days A Week Tuesday thru Sunday

Thursday, June 2 - Lightning Rob Friday, June 3 - Jesse Cotton Stone Saturday, June 4 - Bayou Gipsies Sunday, June 5 - Katie’s Jam with guest host Chris Castaneda Thursday, June 9 - James Wilhite Friday, June 10 - Mark May Saturday, June 11 - Wake Zone Sunday, June 12 - Katie’s Jam with guest host Hugo Thursday, June 16 - Hugo Jamz Trio Friday, June 17 - Fuzzy Side Up Saturday, June 18 - JW Jones Sunday, June 19 - Katie’s Jam with guest host Lightning Rob Thursday, June 23 - Josh Garrett Friday, June 24 - Chris Castaneda Saturday, June 25 - Funksion Sunday, June 26 - Katie’s Jam with guest host Mark May Thursday, June 30 - Eric Demmer

June 2022 • Music News

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Tom Keifer’s story begins as the singer-songwriter, guitarist and front man of hard rock heavyweights Cinderella. His signature voice, guitar and bluesy, no-BS arena-shaking songwriting, played an integral role in moving records to the tune of 15 million worldwide.

Tom Keifer is enjoying continued success recording and touring with #keiferband, releasing two critically acclaimed solo albums, THE WAY LIFE GOES and RISE. #keiferband — Tom Keifer, Savannah Keifer, Tony Higbee, Billy Mercer, Kendra Chantelle, Jarred Pope and Kory Myers — are fired up to get back on tour in 2022 with their high energy, leave it all on the stage rock show that combines all the classic, chart topping hits of Cinderella with new faves from #keiferband ‘s solo releases. Eddie Trunk tweeted from a 2019 #keiferband show… “Simply ridiculous how great @TomKeiferMusic and his band sound right now @warehouselive … wow… incredible.

New stuff killer too! And thanks for keeping it REAL & ALL LIVE #NOTRACKS!!!

The latest #keiferband studio album, RISE, (Billboard Top 10 Hard Rock Sales), released September 13, 2019 on Cleopatra Records, features the rousing, rollicking rock singles, “The Death of Me” and “HYPE.”Both singles landed in the Billboard Mainstream Rock Top 40. Keifer’s deep-seated roots shine through to the very core on RISE, something that was embedded at the very heart of his music created during the multiplatinum Cinderella days.

L.A. Guns was formed in 1983 by guitar player Tracii Guns and, then unknown singer, Axl Rose on lead vocals.

Tom Keifer Band, L.A. Guns, & Faster Pussycat Bring Their Sonic Slam Tour To Warehouse Live June 25 Rock fans rejoice! It’s been far too quiet the past couple of years, and it’s finally time for the return of a tour that cranks it to the max! “Sonic Slam” with TOM KEIFER #keiferband, L.A. GUNS and FASTER PUSSYCAT will head out on the road together starting June 1, 2022. The official itinerary is available at TomKeifer.com and below, with more dates to come.

Tom Keifer says, “#keiferband is amped for the ‘Sonic Slam’ 2022 tour with our friends L.A. GUNS and FASTER PUSSYCAT! Get ready for a 100% live, raucous, loud & slammin’ rock show.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in 2022.”

L.A. GUNS’ Tracii Guns agrees, “I’m excited L.A. GUNS will be heading out on the road with TOM KEIFER. We are really looking forward to touring again.”

FASTER PUSSYCAT’s Taime Downe adds, “FASTER PUSSYCAT has toured with Tom’s band and L.A. GUNS before, but never all of us together. The shows were always amazing, and you can expect the same this summer. There’s going to be three decades of friendship and great music all under one roof, ‘Sonic Slam’ is going to be a blast!”

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Music News • June 2022

The “classic lineup” of Guns, former Girl singer Phil Lewis, drummer Steve Riley, guitar player Mick Cripps and bassist Kelly Nickels have sold 6 1/2 million records, including 1988’s L.A. Guns and 1990’s Cocked and Loaded, both of which were certified Gold.

Cocked and Loaded contained the hit single “Ballad of Jayne” that went to #33 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #25 on the Mainstream Rock charts.

From the mid-90’s to the mid 2000’s, after changing lineups twice, L.A. Guns continued to tour and release new music.

Following their successful performance at SiriusXM’s HairNation Festival in May of 2016, L.A. Guns went into the studio to record the album, The Missing Peace, which was released in October of 2017 and quickly became the highest selling release of 2017 for Frontiers Records.

On March 29, 2019, L.A. Guns released the follow up album to The Missing Peace, The Devil You Know, the band’s twelfth studio release featuring the new singles “Stay Away” and “Rage”. They are currently touring for the album thru 2019 and into 2020.

The current lineup features founding member, and lead guitar player, Guns, who has reunited with Lewis on vocals, along with Scot Coogan on drums, Johnny Martin on bass and Ace Von Johnson on guitar.

From the depths of the mid 80s LA Glam rock scene, a bunch of attitude driven, misguided youth brought to the surface their brand of alley cat rock. Not glam, not punk but somewhere in between, with an attitude and swagger all their own. Fronted by the king of sleaze himself, Taime Downe, Faster Pussycat was his baby assembled piece by piece, that would, not unlike Frankenstein, rapidly grow into a monster and take the scene by storm, whether it was ready for it or not!

Before they knew it, this rag-tag team of miscreants consisting of Taime Downe (vocals), Greg Steele (guitar), Brent Muscat (Guitar), Eric Stacy (bass) and Mark Michals (drums) scored a record deal with Elektra Records and released their debut self-titled album produced by Ric Browde (Poison, Ted Nugent, etc.) who was also instrumental in securing the deal in the first place. The debut record featured instant classics “Babylon”, “Bathroom Wall”, “Cathouse” and “Don’t Change That Song” , the latter of which, birthed their first music video directed by none other than “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” director Russ Meyer!

DEAN LEWIS

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“Watching brothers Rick and Mark del Castillo take the stage and throw down dazzling nylon-string runs, in unison and in harmony, made me a big fan…infectious Latin rhythms with mind-boggling solos.” says Guitar Player magazine.

By 2004 Del Castillo was touring nationwide playing with such diverse acts as Styx, Los Lonely Boys, Ozomatli, Kinky, Don Henley, Los Lobos, Ryan Bingham and Willie Nelson and toured non-stop through 2006. They performed at three of Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnics, at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival and made numerous local/ national TV appearances.

Del Castillo Trio Perform At Dosey Doe June 19 Del Castillo is a cross-cultural power uniting music lovers of all ages, creeds and colors. Their original music blends rock, Latin, blues and world music into a cinematic celebration of sound that lifts your soul.

It started with two brothers, Mark and Rick del Castillo collaborating on a recording project that was initially intended as a gift to their parents and family members for the holiday season. As accomplished electric guitarists in different bands and not having played together, they decided to join forces on acoustic nylon string guitars, creating a rich, romantic, more traditional sound in honor of the Spanish music they grew up listening to at home. The brothers invited their long time, hometown musical friends to also play on the songs and the music soon came to life. Once the album was finalized, it was titled after their namesake, “Brothers Of The Castle” (2000) and they performed their first public concert for family and friends to celebrate the release.

Their plan was to perform “one night only.” However, the very positive turnout was unlike any of their other bands. From their inception, Del Castillo became something uniquely special and soon the word spread about the new band. The more the band played, the more their audience grew. They continued writing and recording music, building their repertoire, making more fans and quickly becoming one of Austin’s most recognized bands. One of the instrumental songs from the first album, “Spanish Castle Tango” was later hand picked by Robert Rodriguez and fueled the inspiration for, “Mexico and Mariachis” (2004).

Another track from their first album, “Dias de Los Angeles” was placed in the film and soundtrack for “Once Upon A Time In Mexico” (2003) starring Johnny Depp, Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek.

Film director Robert Rodriguez first attended a Del Castillo concert in 2002 and a great friendship quickly developed. Rodriguez enlisted the group to contribute music for the soundtracks to “Once Upon A Time In Mexico”, “Spy Kids 3D”, “Sin City”, “Grindhouse” and “Machete”, and then perform the music live at the premieres. He was so impressed with Del Castillo that he wanted to record with them, so together they formed the super-group, “CHINGÓN” and recorded an electrifying rendition of the Mexican mariachi classic, “Malagueña Salerosa”.

Quentin Tarantino loved it so much that he edited the ending sequence of “Kill Bill Vol. II” to fit the song into his film. Their live performance can be seen on YouTube and has over 4 million views.

From 2001-2006, between their first release and third release, Del Castillo received an astonishing 18 awards including SXSW/Austin Music “Album of the Year” Awards for their second (“Vida” 2002) and third (“Brotherhood” 2006) albums, SXSW “Band of the Year” (2003), ASCAP’s “Best Independent Group of the Year” (2005) and Austin Music Pundits “Best Live Act (2004)”.

34 Music News • June 2022

Willie Nelson enjoyed Del Castillo so much he re-recorded his song “I Never Cared For You” with the full band (featured on “Brotherhood” 2006) and says it’s his “favorite version”. Willie has continued to be a good friend of the band and also appears in the music video for “Anybody Wanna” (“Del Castillo” 2009) and have discussed another music project for the future.

In 2008 Rick and Mark del Castillo were chosen (two guitar players out of six world wide) by Gibson Global to launch their state-of-theart Dark Fire Gibson Les Paul guitar line.

From 2008-2010 the band played major festivals across the US and Canada expanding their audience and fan base at a more rapid rate, earning even more recognition and becoming established as a touring musical act among their musical heroes and peers.

In 2010 Del Castillo recorded on a collaboration with Willie Nelson, Carlos Santana and Los Lonely Boys on a song called, “Claro Que Se Puede” found on the album titled “Proyecto De Amor” benefiting the non-profit Hermes Music Foundation who provides musical instruments to the indigenous people of Mexico.

From 2010-2012 the band toured overseas making new fans throughout Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Scotland and London,England. The band was received with open arms and had a cult-like following already expecting their arrival in many cities across Europe, already being known for the music on major soundtracks from Robert Rodriguez’s award winning films. Del Castillo performed at Montreux Jazz Festival, the second largest jazz festival in the world.

The band has also played other notable festivals such as Gampel OpenAir, Blue Balls Festival, Bergen International Festival, Scotland Celtic Festival, St. Moritz Jazz Festival, Wakarusa Music Festival, Aspen Jazz Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, Austin City Limits Music Festival, SXSW Music Festival, Vancouver Folk Festival, Great Woods Music Festival, California Worldfest, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival and the Elnora Guitar Festival among many others.

In 2014 Del Castillo’s instrumental track, “Las Seis Cuerdas de Tony Montuno” was a featured song for a scene on ABC’s crime/drama series “Killer Women” and the band makes a brief appearance performing during the second episode.

In 2015 Del Castillo was recruited to appear in the “From Dusk Till Dawn” the TV series. They transformed into vampires, playing the killer house band for the first two seasons, produced by Robert Rodriguez and Miramax for his new television network, The EL REY Network.

That same year the band also made an appearance on the radical wrestling show, “Lucha Underground” performing with Robert Rodriguez as “CHINGÓN” for the EL REY Network.

“I want to bring the most exciting and authentic content possible”, said Robert Rodriguez when announcing the TV series. “Chingón and Del Castillo have been part of my experience providing this kind of entertainment to audiences since the beginning.”

Del Castillo took a brief hiatus from touring to work on different recording projects and new musical collaborations. After a couple of years off the band eventually began writing and recording new music once again, this time expanding their sound to incorporate more electric guitars in the mix. The band has started performing live again and are playing new songs at select shows. There are plans to release a new single as the band continues working to finalize a new album.

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Music News • May October 2022 2020

April 2022 • Music News

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Brit Floyd Bring Their World Tour 2022 To Smart Financial Centre June 12 Brit Floyd are happy to announce the first dates of the North American tour 2022. They will be performing this month at Smart Financial Centre on Sunday, June 12th. The Brit Floyd show

has become a phenomenon, widely regarded as the world’s greatest rock tribute show. Faithfully recreating the scale and pomp of the final 1994 Pink Floyd tour, complete with a stunning multi million dollar light show, iconic circle screen, lasers, inflatables and theatrics.

Brit Floyd, “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show” returns to the stage in 2022 to perform its brand new production. Including highlights from The Wall, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Division Bell, and featuring a show stopping 23 minute ‘note-fornote’ performance of the iconic era defining song Echoes, written 50 years ago, and from Pink Floyd’s breakthrough

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Music News • June 2022

1971 album Meddle.

Having performed over 1,000 shows since it’s launch in Liverpool, England in January 2011, Brit Floyd have circled the world, sold out tours across, Europe, North America, South America and the Middle East, and performed concerts at some of the world’s greatest venues, including London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall; the awe inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado; the historic Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and ‘The Showplace of the Nation’, NYC’s Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.

The Brit Floyd show has become a phenomenon, widely regarded as the world’s greatest rock tribute show. continued on next page

Brit Floyd continued from previous page Faithfully recreating the scale and pomp of the final 1994 Pink Floyd tour, complete with a stunning multi million dollar light show, iconic circle screen, lasers, inflatables and theatrics.

Brit Floyd is a Pink Floyd tribute band formed in 2011 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Their live shows attempt to emulate and recreate the sound and soundscape of Pink Floyd’s live shows. Damian Darlington formed the band after playing with The Australian Pink Floyd Show for 17 years.

Brit Floyd originated in 2011 on the initiative of musical director, guitarist, and singer Damian Darlington “simply because he felt he could do it one better” than his previous band, The Australian Pink Floyd Show. He continued: “There is much more attention to details in every aspect of the show, from the music to the visuals to the lighting: everything is that much more perfected and there’s a passion coming off that stage ... It’s a coherent, emotional journey through Pink Floyd’s catalog.”

Darlington began following Pink Floyd’s work after hearing The Wall at the age of 13 and he saw the band live for the first time in 1987 during the A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour.

“Since then, he has seen the band in different incarnations, after its split, and including its 2005 reunion.”

Regarding his growing up listening to the band, Darlington stated: “I definitely listened to Pink Floyd. I remember ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ being No. 1 in the UK. It was December 1979. Probably my first memory of Pink Floyd. Then I actually heard The Wall album in its entirety and that’s what particularly drew me to Pink Floyd about the age of 12 or 13.

I was fascinated by the record that told a story, and all these sound effects linking songs together, and also the wonderful guitar work. I was already learning to play guitar and I wanted to learn to play some of these wonderful guitar solos. That was my introduction to Pink Floyd. I was a fan from quite an early age.”

After playing in a number of bands over the years covering a wide range of music including Country, Western, and even Jazz, Darlington played with The Australian Pink Floyd Show from 1994 to 2011 (Darlington is not the only veteran of The Australian Pink Floyd Show in Brit Floyd, “several others in Brit Floyd” have been a part of the band as well).

Darlington wanted to parlay his experience with The Australian Pink Floyd Show into something more nuanced: “I felt it was time to do it in a different way with a different group of musicians — to strike out on my own, I’ve had a lot of experience and have learned how to do this correctly.” Darlington

says his group pays greater attention to detail, presenting a more polished show: “If you’ve seen the Australian show, you’ll notice a difference in a big way — a difference for the better, we make the extra effort to re-create as much as we can and it’s not just the songs: It’s the visuals, as well.”

The band has toured extensively since 2011 and has featured guest musicians from Pink Floyd’s studio and touring band line-ups. Pink Floyd bass player and vocalist Guy Pratt joined Brit Floyd on stage at Echo Arena Liverpool on 9 November 2013, and saxophonist and rhythm guitarist Scott Page joined them at Los Angeles’s Orpheum Theatre on 17 June 2015, playing “Money” and “Us and Them” with the band.

In 2016 the band embarked on “a massive 76-date US tour” featuring “an extended career-spanning setlist that includes a performance of Pink Floyd’s 24-minute epic “Echoes” and including a “million dollar stage design.”

June 2022 • Music News

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1006 McGowen

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This June at Leon’s Lounge Wednesday, June 1 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap with Special Guests @ 8:00 pm Thursday, June 2 Friday, June 3 - Thayer and The Rose City Rejects with Drew Thiering Saturday, June 4 - Saturday Night Evening Jazz with Cory Wilson and the Houston Ensemble Sunday, June 5 - Facilitator Games presents Game Night at 4:30 pm followed by “Leon’s Laugh” Comedy Open Mic Night with Arlo Monday, June 6 - Kevin Jeffries Tuesday, June 7 - Karaoke Wednesday, June 8 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap with Special Guests @ 8:00 pm Thursday, June 9 - To Be Announced Friday, June 10 - As If (90’s Party Band) Saturday, June 11 - Saturday Night Evening Jazz with Cory Wilson and the Houston Ensemble Sunday, June 12 - “Leon’s Laugh” Comedy Open Mic Night with Arlo Monday, June 13 - Kevin Jeffries Tuesday, June 14 - Karaoke Wednesday, June 15 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap with Special Guests @ 8:00 pm Thursday, June 16 - “Bombs Over Leon’s” Comedy Open Mic Night @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Friday, June 17 - Clutch Cargo (Rock) Saturday, June 18 - Saturday Night Evening Jazz with Cory Wilson and the Houston Ensemble Sunday, June 19 - “Leon’s Laugh” Comedy Open Mic Night with Arlo Monday, June 20 - Kevin Jeffries Tuesday, June 21 - Karaoke Wednesday, June 22 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap with Special Guests @ 8:00 pm Thursday, June 23 - To Be Announced Friday, June 24 - The 4th Degree Saturday, June 25 - Saturday Night Evening Jazz with Cory Wilson and the Houston Ensemble Sunday, June 26 - “Leon’s Laugh” Comedy Open Mic Night with Arlo Monday, June 27 - Kevin Jeffries Tuesday, June 28 - Karaoke Wednesday, June 29 - Randy Soffar Singer/Songwriter Song Swap with Special Guests @ 8:00 pm Thursday, June 30 - “Bombs Over Leon’s” Comedy Open Mic Night @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Friday, July 1 - Shotgun Sally 38 Music News • August 2021 Saturday, July 2 - Saturday Night Evening Jazz with Cory Wilson and the Houston Ensemble

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June 2021 • Music News August May2022 2021•• ••Music MusicNews News 45 March Music News February 2022 Music News 2021

The Biker, The Blues And The Pusher When person, be it a man or a woman, decides that the open road calls their name sometimes that beckoned call leads to immediate action and other times it’s a slow burn to freedom. In my case I knew that’s where I wanted to be and I knew what I wanted to build. I had tasted the open road decades before and it began whispering in my ear all so subtly and then it became a huge bass drum banging in my head. I am what I am and nothing I had experienced since those years was satisfying me. So I began to daydream to and from work about what I would build IF I were to hit the road again and I knew exactly what I wanted to ride. I wanted to build a classic and so I purchased an old used 1975 Harley Davidson Shovelhead. It had been stolen and recovered and the insurance company was selling it for $3,000. It didn’t look like much but that didn’t matter because all that I wanted was the engine and transmission. In the end this baby was not going to look anything like it did in the beginning. In essence I would file for a title as a motor cycle manufacturer and not for a reconstruction title.

Eventually four years later it was reality. Then came the big decision. Was I really going to chuck it all and explode into space or not? Was it “Never Too Late To Start All Over Again”? Then an amazing thing happened just as I was firing up the scooter and checking for oil leaks “The Pusher” comes on the radio. It wasn’t the lyrics that grabbed me it was the era, memories of when it was hotter than hell on FM and AM wouldn’t touch it. Then right afterward the show host spins “Magic Carpet Ride” oh man I was hooked for sure. It’s like someone injected brown sugar into my arm, I was immediately transported back into my element and that was it I was going but going where? Didn’t matter. The open road beckoned and I was going. That was it. Worse yet it was late Spring and the south was already ripe for puttin’ down the road. That made it convenient in regard to timing as well. So off I went. About five hundred miles later I found myself in Saint Louis Missouri known for its traditional and blues rock corner bars. What could be better than that? Nothing, it was a good choice. I stopped at a place named Highway 61 Roadhouse And Kitchen. A blues and jazz joint that I found while searching the net using the words “blues bar St. Louis”. It looked cool and once inside it definitely was all that and more. Well first of all you just cannot be in St. Louis and not drink Budweiser or some derivate thereof. Next ribs, yep, St. Louis ribs, a nice sweet taste with a hint of heat. Finally a place outside where a person can fire up a cigar and kick back. The added bonus here was the music. Kick ass get down blues the night I was there. Also Highway 61 Roadhouse goes a step further with their love of the art as they feature cigar box guitars in their collection. So there I was and no one needed to wind this place up. The juke was cooking with tracks such as James Taylor’s “Steamroller Blues” and Canned Heat’s “Goin’ Up The Country” not to mention Buddy Guy’s “Damn Right I Got The Blues”. This joint was jumping, the place was smokin’. In walked John McVey, the veteran blues guitar man songwriter. John, if you don’t know it, was a central figure in Gary Clark Jr’s decision to move forward with the blues years ago back when John lived in Austin. I decided to stay. I didn’t know if John was to perform that night but knowing this man was there was enough no matter what. If you haven’t heard his work check him out. His continued on next page

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Music News • June 2022

Page 2 - The Biker, The Blues And The Pusher notes are crisp and clear and the feeling is found in everything he does. I was sitting at a table and after dark the place fills up fast and two couples came in attempting to spot an open table. It didn’t matter to me where I would sit so I gave them my table and moved to the bar. The bartender said thanks. I didn’t realize he had even noticed and I nodded in return. I moved from Bud to scotch and felt right at home. Lots of folks dropping in to eat their bar food and by the way their bar food isn’t just the usual bar food found in local bars someone put some thought and care into these entrees. I didn’t see John McVey after moving to the bar but I did see two nice ladies with one man. My very next thought was damn I should have kept that table. I mean a man has to have his priorities. Anyway, both of the ladies left the man’s side and made a bee line for the lady’s room. Have you ever noticed that when women go to the restroom they go in groups? Men don’t usually do that, we don’t go come on Bear go to the restroom with me. Women do and it’s quite normal. Anyway I digress.

So on their way back they stopped at a table and said hi to some folks and as they passed me at the bar the one gal asked me if that was my bike outside. I said yes and asked how did you know? She said the hat. Ha, I forgot I had my Harley ball cap hat on. I said yep that could be the first sign.

They laughed too. We chit chatted through the short list of usual out of town questions that most folks ask travelers. Were you from? Did you ride all the way here?

Where you going? Topics like that. They departed and returned to their seats at the other end of the bar. A short time later the lady helping the man behind the bar came by and left a bar marker in front of me. She said you have one coming from those folks at the other end of the bar. I couldn’t see them directly now so I looked in the mirror and could see one of the ladies looking in the mirror too.

Since it was too far away to say thanks I just hoisted my scotch glass and nodded thank you. She smiled and raised her glass too. They announced over the PA system that the evening’s entertainment would be starting soon. The three piece band would be performing traditional blues numbers. Soon afterward they started and the music was really good. Nice place I thought to myself. It’s got it all working. Now the place was wall to wall and it wasn’t even a Friday or Saturday night, way cool. Soon another man appeared behind the bar and he looked rather familiar. He was at the cash register so I couldn’t see his face too well other than in the mirror then he turned slightly to talk to the lady behind the bar and then I was sure I had met this man some other place. After he completed whatever he was doing at the register he was walking by the bottles on the back bar and I think surveying how much he had on hand. When he got down by me I asked him if he had recently been to the Blues Music Awards in Memphis and he said yes. I said I thought so no big deal and closed up our conversation by saying that he just looked familiar and I wanted to figure out where I had met him. So it all began to make complete sense. This man loves the blues to the continued on next page June 2022 • Music News

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Page 3 - The Biker, The Blues And The Pusher max, he knows the market in St. Louis, folks there love the blues too, and Memphis is not that far away from St. Louis. Even the name of the place respects blues folklore, Highway 61. Too cool! As I sat there I began to think about what time of day I would hit the road tomorrow and exactly where did I want to go? I didn’t have the answers yet but I thought about traveling old route 66, stopping at a roadside park, and eating hot dogs.

That might not sound like much but if you have the freedom to scoot on up the road stopping at a roadside rest and enjoying an outdoor lunch then that’s cool. So that’s exactly what I did. While I was there a family pulled up husband, wife, and three kids. It reminded me of the late fifties and traveling with Mom and Dad with my brother. We traveled 66 and to save money stopped at rest stops along the way to eat and stretch our legs. On this day the father walked over and asked if he could have a hot coal so he could start a quick fire and of course I said yes. In fact, I told him you can just use what I have there I am done with it. He nodded and waved for his family. As I was picking up my stuff the man asked me if I liked fried green tomatoes and I said yes I do. He told me his wife was going to make some on the grill and there was plenty to go around. I thanked him but said I would be moving on. He nodded as he was turning on his portable radio at the same time. He saw me look at his radio and said you sure you don’t want to join us and at that moment I said you know I would. Don’t know why but something about that scene took me back in time. Dad loved Hank Williams and while he didn’t have a portable radio with him at our roadside rest stops back then he did sing verse after verse.

Pop always said that country and blues live right next door to each other and Hank Williams was living proof of that for those of us that touched the Appalachian Trail. You can still hear that blend of country and blues today in the tunes of the Texas bluesman Bert Wills. His “Slow Blues Lullaby” will

drift you away as he describes the late evening bar scene. Then in another album he lays down an acoustic country blues number complete with drawn out Hank Williams blending of notes. Not made up the man is from the trail region. The name of that tune is “Lonesome Highway”. So on this fine day I took out my cell phone and played some Bert Wills. They really liked it and we had a really nice conversation about music and the various cultures that surround what we enjoy. It’s nights like in Saint Louis and days like this at a roadside rest that makes me glad that I decided to stop fishing and cut bait if you now what I mean. By the way that lady’s fried green tomatoes were breaded just right and man were they ever good. It was definitely time to head out and I had been thinking that I would ride until I made Kansas City. First I will check the oil in the ole Red Devil and then her and I have a date with destiny. We be traveling west on route 66. As Waylon Jennings sang in the Billy Jo Shaver song “Low Down Freedom”, “Like them big wheels I’ll be rollin’ like them rivers gonna flow to sea” Until next time - Adios for now….

44 Music News • June 2022

SIDDHARTHA Siddhartha Brings His Tour to Houston’s House Of Blues June 16 The Tour’s First Leg Began in Mexico in March Siddhartha - 00:00 - https://youtu.be/eJwXivMnxcY Acclaimed singer-songwriter Siddhartha continues to make waves this year, sharing more exciting news with his fans with the announcement of his extensive 2022 international tour.

Kicking off at the renowned Vive Latino festival in Mexico City on March 20, the first leg of the tour will see Siddhartha making stops in 23 major cities throughout Mexico, including Monterrey, CD Juarez, Tijuana, Guadalajara, and Cancún. After performing for thousands of fans in Mexico, the artist will make his way to the United States, Argentina, and Spain, where audiences will be eagerly anticipating the singer’s arrival later this year. Show dates in these territories will be announced in the coming weeks.

The announcement of Siddhartha’s 2022 international tour follows the release of his latest single “00:00,” an incredible piece that finds him exploring new musical ground. On this track, the artist was accompanied for the first time by a

Mariachi band and also integrated compelling Mexican folk rhythms in a way that maintained his signature style and essence, all while creating an innovative offering that surprised listeners around the world. Along with the audio single, Siddhartha also released a stunning music video directed by Fabián de la Fuente and Cristóbal G. Camarena, which has come to be one of the finest and most impressive of his career and has already garnered over 1.5 million views on YouTube since its release on January 26.

“00:00” is the last single Siddhartha will share before his highly anticipated sixth studio album, which is expected for release in March.

Follow Siddhartha Online at: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/siddharthamusica/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/iamsiddhartha YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m67LCiRGhJ9nQOop7JurQ June 2022 • Music News 45

Steely Dan Perform At The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion June 3

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Most rock & roll bands are a tightly wound unit that developed their music through years of playing in garages and clubs around their hometown. Steely Dan never subscribed to that aesthetic. As the vehicle for the songwriting of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, Steely Dan defied all rock & roll conventions. Becker and Fagen never truly enjoyed rock — with their ironic humor and cryptic lyrics, their eclectic body of work shows some debt to Bob Dylan — preferring jazz, traditional pop, blues, and R&B. Steely Dan created a sophisticated, distinctive sound with accessible melodic hooks, complex harmonies and time signatures, and a devotion to the recording studio. With producer Gary Katz, Becker and Fagen gradually changed Steely Dan from a performing band to a studio project, hiring professional musicians to record their compositions. Though the band didn’t perform live between 1974 and 1993, Steely Dan’s popularity continued to grow throughout the ’70s as their albums became critical

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Music News • June 2022

favorites and their singles became staples of AOR and pop radio stations. Even after the group disbanded in the early ’80s, their records retained a cult following, as proven by the massive success of their unlikely return to the stage in the early ’90s.

Walter Becker (bass) and Donald Fagen (vocals, keyboards) were the core members of Steely Dan throughout its various incarnations. The two met at Bard College in New York in 1967 and began playing in bands together shortly afterward. The duo played in a number of groups — including the Bad Rock Group, which featured future comedic actor Chevy Chase on drums — which ranged from jazz to progressive rock.

Eventually, Becker and Fagen began composing songs together, hoping to become professional songwriters in the tradition of the Brill Building. In 1970, the pair joined Jay & the Americans’ backing band, performing under pseudonyms; Becker chose Gustav Mahler, while Fagen used Tristan Fabriani. They stayed with Jay & the Americans until halfway through 1971, when

they recorded the soundtrack for the lowbudget film You Gotta Walk It Like You Talk It, which was produced by the Americans’ Kenny Vance. Following the recording of the soundtrack, Becker and Fagen attempted to start a band with Denny Dias, but the venture was unsuccessful. Barbra Streisand recorded the Fagen/Becker composition “I Mean to Shine” on her album Barbra Joan Streisand, released in August 1971, and the duo met producer Gary Katz, who hired them as staff songwriters for ABC/Dunhill in Los Angeles, where he had just become a staff producer.

Katz suggested that Becker and Fagen form a band as a way to record their songs, and Steely Dan — who took their name from a dildo in William Burroughs’ Naked Lunch — were formed shortly afterward.

Recruiting guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder, and keyboardist/vocalist David Palmer, Becker and Fagen officially formed Steely Dan in 1972, releasing their debut, Can’t Buy a Thrill, shortly afterward. Palmer and Fagen continued on next page

Steely Dan shared lead vocals on the album, but the record’s two hit singles — the Top Ten “Do It Again” and “Reeling in the Years” — were sung by Fagen. Can’t Buy a Thrill was a critical and commercial success, but its supporting tour was a disaster, hampered by an under-rehearsed band and unappreciative audiences. Palmer left the band following the tour. Countdown to Ecstasy, released in 1973, was a critical hit, but it failed to generate a hit single, even though the band supported it with a tour.

variety of studio musicians — including Dias, Porcaro, guitarist Elliot Randall, saxophonists Phil Woods, bassist Wilton Felder, percussionist Victor Feldman, keyboardist Michael Omartian, and guitarist Larry Carlton — as supporting musicians. Katy Lied was another hit, as was 1976’s The Royal Scam, which continued in the vein of its predecessor. On 1977’s Aja, Steely Dan’s sound became more polished and jazzy, as they hired jazz fusion artists like Wayne Shorter, Lee Ritenour, and the Crusaders as support. Aja became their biggest hit, reaching the Top Five within three weeks of release and becoming one of the first albums to be certified platinum. Aja also gained the respect of many jazz musicians, as evidenced by Woody Herman recording an album of Becker/Fagen songs in 1978.

Steely Dan replaced Hodder with Jeff Porcaro and added keyboardist/backup vocalist Michael McDonald prior to recording their third album, Pretzel Logic. Released in the spring of 1974, Pretzel Logic returned Steely Dan to the Top Ten on the strength of the single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.”

After completing the supporting tour for Pretzel Logic, Becker and Fagen decided to retire from live performances and make Steely Dan a studio-based band. For their next album, 1975’s Katy Lied, the duo hired a

Following the release of Aja, ABC was bought out by MCA Records, resulting in a contractual dispute with the label that delayed until 1980 the release of their follow-up album. During the interim, the group had a hit with the theme song for the film FM in 1978.

Steely Dan finally released Gaucho, the follow-up to Aja, in late 1980, and it became another Top Ten hit for the group. During the summer of 1981, Becker and Fagen announced that they were parting ways. The following year, Fagen released his solo debut,

continued from previous page

The Nightfly, which became a critical and commercial hit.

Fagen didn’t record another album until 1993, when he reunited with Becker, who produced Kamakiriad. The album was promoted by the first Steely Dan tour in nearly 20 years, and while the record failed to sell, the concerts were very popular. In 1994, Becker released his solo debut, 11 Tracks of Whack, which was produced by Fagen. The following year, Steely Dan mounted another reunion tour, and in early 2000 the duo issued Two Against Nature, their first new studio album in two decades. It won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Steely Dan followed it in 2003 with Everything Must Go. Fagen’s solo album Morph the Cat was released in 2006, and Becker released Circus Money in 2008 as Steely Dan embarked on another tour. In September 2017, it was announced that Becker had died in Maui, Hawaii. He was 67-years-old.

Fagen carried on with Steely Dan after Becker’s passing, often calling the group “the Steely Dan Band.” This new lineup was showcased on a pair of live albums released in September 2021: Northeast Corridor: Steely Dan Live and Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly Live, both recorded between 2018 and 2019.

June 2022 • Music News 47

Nacho, was also a musician, and the three quickly formed the Spanish supergroup Mecano in 1981. The rest of the decade was spent touring the Spanish-speaking world, including Latin America, and releasing a string of popular albums. Eventually, though, the stress of touring led a temporary hiatus for Mecano, with Torroja choosing to take a break from singing at the recommendation of her throat doctors. That break led to a two-year sabbatical when Torroja moved to New York, began traveling around the world, took dance classes, and took up diving as a hobby.

When she finally decided that she wanted to sing again, the Cano brothers were both involved in solo projects, so she embarked on one of her own.

Ana Torroja and Marta Sanchez Bring Their Volver Juntas Tour To The Arena Theatre June 11 Ana Torroja launched her career as the lead singer of Mecano, one of Spain’s most successful pop bands, during the ’80s and early ’90s. Formed during the early years of the Spanish transition to democracy, Mecano sold over 25 million albums worldwide, with most of the band’s popularity centered in Spain, Latin America, Italy, and France.

When the band took a break in 1993, Torroja began laying the brickwork for a solo career, which took off toward the end of that decade.

Born in Madrid on December 28, 1959, Ana Torroja was encouraged to pay more attention to her academic pursuits than her musical ones. Her studies at the School for Economic Sciences wound up furthering her music career, though, when she met José María Cano at a faculty party. Cano’s brother, 48 Music News • June 2022

Ana Torroja

Torroja released her first album, 1997’s Punto Cardinales, after nearly two years of preparation. Shortly after the album’s release, the brothers were freed up from their previous responsibilities and Mecano were reborn. The reunion didn’t last long, though, with the bandmates releasing one final album in 1998 before breaking up for good.

Torroja returned to her solo career by working on a complicated solo project with heavy orchestration and clear pop vocals. Entitled Pasajes de un Sueño and recorded entirely in New York, which by that time had become her long-term base of operations, the album featured the continued on next page

Ana Torroja and Marta Sanchez continued from previous page work of Arto Lindsay, Andres Levin, Txetxo Bengoetxea, and Jason Hart. It would take two years until Torroja stepped back into the studio, but in 2002 she teamed with Deep Forest keyboardist Eric Mouquet for her new project, Fragil.

Steeped in traditional Spanish music, Mouquet helped her incorporate the music of her roots into a modern pop sound, which she continued exploring on her later albums.

Pianist/composer Marta Sánchez has garnered considerable notice for her imaginative blending of vanguard creative jazz with diverse musical traditions reflecting both her education and international performing, recording, and teaching experiences. Sánchez initially drew attention for her 2005 trio album, Lunas, Soles y Elefantes.

Following a move to New York on a Fulbright Scholarship, she launched her quintet with saxophonist Román Filiú and quickly rose to the forefront of the contemporary creative music scene with 2015’s Partenika and 2017’s Danza Imposible. In 2022, she released her third quintet album, SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum).

Born in Madrid, Spain, Sánchez originally studied filmmaking, but upon discovering a passion for jazz she embarked on a decidedly different career path. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in classical music from the Conservatory of Madrid, Sánchez continued with further studies in jazz and contemporary music, eventually receiving both Spanish government and artist association support that enabled her to make festival appearances in Spain as well as South America, Central America, and elsewhere in Europe.

In 2005 Sánchez formed her first group as a leader, a trio also featuring bassist Carlos Barretto and drummer Andrés Litwin; the trio released her debut recording, Lunas, Soles y Elefantes, on the Basque Country jazz label Errabal in 2007. The following year Sánchez formed a quartet that, in addition to the pianist, included tenor

Marta Sanchez

saxophonist Ariel Bringuez, bassist Reinier Elizarde, and drummer Litwin.

This ensemble recorded Sánchez’s sophomore album, La Espiral Amarilla, which featured her original compositions and was released by Errabal in 2011, the same year she received a Fulbright Scholarship to study at New York University, where she earned a master’s degree in jazz piano performance.

Now living in N.Y.C., Sánchez formed a new quintet and composed a set of material with her specific bandmates in mind: France-born tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh (a resident of New York since 1995) and Cuba-born alto saxophonist Román Filiú, Australia-born double bassist Sam Anning, and California-born drummer Jason Burger. The ensemble entered New Jersey’s Tedesco Studios with engineer Tom Tedesco in May 2014 to record Sánchez’s third album, with inspiration derived from the pianist’s by now extensive international travels as a performing jazz artist.

Partenika was released by the Barcelonabased Fresh Sound New Talent label in April 2015. The quintet underwent a lineup change, with Rick Rosato featured on bass and Daniel Dor on drums, for Danza Imposible, recorded at Brooklyn’s Big Orange Sheep studio in March 2017 and released by Fresh Sound New Talent in December of that year.

and including saxophonist/singer Charlotte Greve, vibraphonist/singer Patricia Franceschy, bassist Or Bareket, and drummer Jeremy Noller. In addition to her work as a leader, she has toured and recorded as a member of the Natalia Calderón Quartet, and her collaborative/ sidewoman activities have included appearances on albums by Doris Cales, Miguel Angel Blanco’s Afrodisian Big Band, Santiago de la Muela’s Talento Jazz Orchestra, and the Javier Moreno Trio. As her worldwide profile has grown, she has appeared as a leader at events including the Netherlands’ North Sea Jazz Festival, Mexico City’s Eurojazz, Athens’ Eurojazz, and the Madrid Jazz Festival. Sánchez has also won awards for composing soundtracks for short films, and her educational activities have included teaching piano at N.Y.U. and in private practice, and conducting master classes in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. In 2022, she debuted yet another quintet lineup on SAAM (Spanish American Art Museum), which found saxophonist Filiú joined by altoist Alex LoRe, bassist Rashaan Carter, and drummer Allan Mednard. Also featured on the album were singer/guitarist Meza and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.

Sánchez also leads a sextet featuring singer/guitarist Camila Meza June 2022 • Music News

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Jessi Uribe and Paola Jara Bring Their La Conquista Tour USA 2022 To Smart Financial Centre July 15 50

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Known as a significant event in the Colombian pop music industry, Jessi Uribe and Paola Jara collaborated for the first time in 2020 to perform an online concert called “Tour La Conquista 2020” which garnered a viewership of more than 20,000 people in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Spain, and the United States simultaneously. Now the pair will bring La Conquista Tour USA 2022 live to the Smart Financial Centre on July 15.

Jessi Uribe was born in the city of Bucaramanga on March 22, 1987. He grew up in a musical environment, his father Fernando Uribe, a mariachi singer, from whom he inherited the talent, took him to his presentations in a recognized disco in Bucaramanga, Colombia. From very early on he began to sing in different scenarios where he found a taste for the popular and ranchero genre.

In 2008 he appeared in a contest called Latin American Idol where he was chosen among 30,000 participants and only 20 artists from Colombia qualified

in Argentina, thus becoming part of the 50 best in Latin America.

Another of his talents and passions is composing since he writes about his experiences or those of his friends, thus managing to transmit those stories to his followers. His lyrics have already been recorded by other artists and have been awarded prizes such as the Latin Grammy.

In 2017, he participated in the contest of the snail channel “A otrolevel”, with which he raised the popular genre and demonstrated the union of his colleagues who supported this process.

Later, with the help of his current label Mano De Obra, he released the song “Dulce Pecado”, with which he has obtained great recognition at a national and international level. ¨Sweet sin¨ exceeds more than 360 million views on YouTube, in addition to being number one in the main radio stations in the country.

Jessi has managed to stand out with other releases that have achieved a significant number of views on YouTube and streams on the main platforms such as Spotify, Deezer and Claro, among his great successes: “Someone I Like”, “Matemos las Ganas”, ¨Ok¨, ¨The last No¨, “Como Si Nada”, among others, this last single was made with the renowned popular artist Paola Jara.

He has made important musical collaborations with artists such as Andy Rivera, Espinoza Paz, Américo, Paola Jara, Ovi, Alkilados, Jhonny Rivera, Pipe Bueno, among others.

In 2019 he was called to be part of the jury of the television program Yo Me Llamo, along with César Escola and Amparo Grisales, something that was very positive for his career.

In the year 2020, despite the global situation that was experienced with the pandemic, Jessi continued to surprise his fans with a series of releases and musical continued on next page June 2022 • Music News

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and events, both public and private, in which she was accompanied by mariachis and tracks, which helped her open the doors of the music industry in Medellín and other cities in the country.

One of the most representative moments of her career occurred when she opened for the Vicente and Alejandro Fernández concert in the city of Medellín. Soon after, she opened the Juan Gabriel concert, among others. It was a great achievement for the artist, as these events gave her the visibility that she had sought long ago.

Jessi Uribe and Paola Jara continued from previous page collaborations, among which are: ¨La Culpa¨, ¨Since You Went¨ , along with the Chilean artist ¨Américo¨, ¨Dicho Y Hecho¨ with Alkilados, ¨Se Te Nota¨ with Pipe Bueno, and closing the year with a flourish with the song ¨Una Oportunidad¨ which currently debuts as the band sound of the Mexican telenovela Quererlo Todo from Televisa and Univisión.

Jessi starts this 2021 stomping with a new premiere titled ¨El Alumno¨ in collaboration with the Mexican artist ¨Joss Favela¨. This theme quickly managed to exceed 3 million views on YouTube, in addition to occupying the first position in National Report rankings.

Jessi continues to work on his musical career to continue surprising and winning the hearts of his fans who are an important part of his great growth and musical success.

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Paola Jara was born in Apartadó (Antioquia) where she started in music at an early age. Throughout her childhood she lived in different municipalities such as Apartadó, Abejorral, Palmira and Medellín where she finally settled. Her passage through these places allowed her to learn about different cultures and lifestyles that led her to discover her true passion. During these years, she participated in various music contests held in the regions and institutions where she studied. As she was in high school, she alternated her studies with guitar classes and singing practice.

As she pursued her degree in college, she continued to explore music on a professional level. She began making presentations in places

After a couple of years, Paola Jara was part of the RCN Channel contest “Se Busca Interprete”, in which she participated representing the popular genre, under the guidance of Galy Galeano, being one of the finalists of this contest. She won the affection of the public and was able to expose her talent to the entire country. In 2009, at the hands of music producer Iván Calderón, she launched her First Record Production entitled “Paola Jara” from there her first success “Voy a Olvidarte” emerged, which occupied the first places in the main stations and television channels of the country.

From that moment on, her career continues to grow to what Paola Jara is and what she represents today within the popular music industry in Colombia. She has earned recognition and respect within a genre that was primarily represented by men. She taking a very important part within the public of popular music such as women.

Junio 2022

En Español Ana Torroja y Marta Sanchez Jessi Uribe y Paola Jara Junio 2022 • Music News

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María Cano en una fiesta de la facultad.

El hermano de Cano, Nacho, también era músico, y los tres formaron rápidamente el supergrupo español Mecano en 1981.

El resto de la década la pasaron recorriendo el mundo de habla hispana, incluida América Latina, y lanzando una serie de álbumes populares.

Eventualmente, sin embargo, el estrés de las giras provocó una pausa temporal para Mecano, y Torroja optó por tomarse un descanso de cantar por recomendación de sus médicos de garganta. Ese descanso lo llevó a un año sabático de dos años cuando Torroja se mudó a Nueva York, comenzó a viajar por el mundo, tomó clases de baile y comenzó a bucear como pasatiempo.

Cuando finalmente decidió que quería volver a cantar, los hermanos Cano estaban ambos involucrados en proyectos en solitario, por lo que se embarcó en uno propio.

Ana Torroja y Marta Sanchez llevan su gira Volver Juntas al Teatro Arena el 11 de junio Ana Torroja inició su carrera como cantante principal de Mecano, una de las bandas de pop más exitosas de España, durante los años 80 y principios de los 90. Formado durante los primeros años de la transición española a la democracia, Mecano vendió más de 25 millones de álbumes en todo el mundo, con la mayor parte de la popularidad de la banda centrada en España, América Latina, Italia y Francia. Cuando la banda se tomó un descanso en 1993, Torroja comenzó a poner los ladrillos para una carrera en solitario, que despegó a finales de esa década.

Nacida en Madrid el 28 de diciembre de 1959, Ana Torroja se animó a prestar más atención a sus actividades académicas que musicales. Sin embargo, sus estudios en la Facultad de Ciencias Económicas terminaron impulsando su carrera musical cuando conoció a José 54 Music News • Junio 2022

Ana Torroja

Torroja lanzó su primer disco, Punto Cardinales de 1997, después de casi dos años de preparación. Poco después del lanzamiento del álbum, los hermanos se liberaron de sus responsabilidades anteriores y Mecano renació. Sin embargo, la reunión no duró mucho, ya que los compañeros de banda lanzaron un álbum final en 1998 antes de separarse definitivamente. Torroja volvió a su carrera en solitario trabajando en un complicado proyecto en solitario con una orquestación pesada y voces pop claras.

Titulado Pasajes de un Sueño y grabado Continúa en la página siguiente

Ana Torroja y Marta Sanchez Continuación de la página anterior íntegramente en Nueva York, que en ese momento se había convertido en su base de operaciones a largo plazo, el álbum contó con el trabajo de Arto Lindsay, Andres Levin, Txetxo Bengoetxea y Jason Hart. Pasarían dos años hasta que Torroja volviera al estudio, pero en 2002 se asoció con el teclista de Deep Forest, Eric Mouquet, para su nuevo proyecto, Fragil. Inmersa en la música tradicional española, Mouquet la ayudó a incorporar la música de sus raíces en un sonido pop moderno, que continuó explorando en sus álbumes posteriores.

La pianista/compositora Marta Sánchez ha ganado considerable atención por su combinación imaginativa de jazz creativo de vanguardia con diversas tradiciones musicales que reflejan tanto su educación como sus experiencias internacionales de interpretación, grabación y enseñanza.

Sánchez inicialmente llamó la atención por su álbum de trío de 2005, Lunas, Soles y Elefantes. Después de mudarse a Nueva York con una beca Fulbright, lanzó su quinteto con el saxofonista Román Filiú y rápidamente saltó a la vanguardia de la escena de la música creativa contemporánea con Partenika de 2015 y Danza Imposible de 2017. En 2022, lanzó su tercer álbum de quinteto, SAAM (Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano).

Nacida en Madrid, España, Sánchez originalmente estudió cine, pero al descubrir su pasión por el jazz, se embarcó en una carrera decididamente diferente. Después de recibir una licenciatura en música clásica del Conservatorio de Madrid, Sánchez continuó con estudios adicionales en jazz y música contemporánea, y finalmente recibió el apoyo del gobierno español y de asociaciones de artistas que le permitieron hacer apariciones en festivales en España, así como en América del Sur, América Central.

América y en otros lugares de Europa.

En 2005 Sánchez formó su primer grupo como líder, un trío integrado también por el bajista Carlos Barretto y el baterista Andrés Litwin; el trío lanzó su primera grabación, Lunas, Soles y Elefantes, en el sello vasco de jazz

Marta Sanchez

Errabal en 2007. Al año siguiente, Sánchez formó un cuarteto que, además del pianista, incluía al saxofonista tenor Ariel Bringuez, el bajista Reinier Elizarde y el baterista Litwin. Este conjunto grabó el segundo álbum de Sánchez, La Espiral Amarilla, que incluía sus composiciones originales y fue lanzado por Errabal en 2011, el mismo año en que recibió una beca Fulbright para estudiar en la Universidad de Nueva York, donde obtuvo una maestría en interpretación de piano de jazz.

Ahora que vive en Nueva York, Sánchez formó un nuevo quinteto y compuso un conjunto de material pensando en sus compañeros de banda específicos: el saxofonista tenor nacido en Francia Jerome Sabbagh (residente de Nueva York desde 1995) y el saxofonista alto nacido en Cuba Román Filiú, Australia. el contrabajista nacido Sam Anning y el baterista nacido en California Jason Burger. El conjunto ingresó a los estudios Tedesco de Nueva Jersey con el ingeniero Tom Tedesco en mayo de 2014 para grabar el tercer álbum de Sánchez, con la inspiración derivada de los ahora extensos viajes internacionales del pianista como artista de jazz.

Partenika fue lanzado por el sello barcelonés Fresh Sound New Talent en abril de 2015. El quinteto sufrió un cambio de formación, con Rick Rosato en el bajo y Daniel Dor en la batería, para Danza Imposible, grabado en el estudio Big Orange Sheep de Brooklyn en marzo de 2017 y lanzado por Fresh

Sound New Talent en diciembre de ese año.

Sánchez también dirige un sexteto con la cantante y guitarrista Camila Meza e incluye a la saxofonista y cantante Charlotte Greve, la vibrafonista y cantante Patricia Franceschy, el bajista Or Bareket y el baterista Jeremy Noller.

Además de su trabajo como líder, ha realizado giras y grabaciones como miembro del Natalia Calderón Quartet, y sus actividades de colaboración/ sidewoman han incluido apariciones en discos de Doris Cales, Afrodisian Big Band de Miguel Angel Blanco, Talento de Santiago de la Muela Orquesta de Jazz, y el Trío Javier Moreno. A medida que su perfil mundial ha crecido, ha aparecido como líder en eventos que incluyen el Festival de Jazz del Mar del Norte de los Países Bajos, el Eurojazz de la Ciudad de México, el Eurojazz de Atenas y el Festival de Jazz de Madrid.

Sánchez también ha ganado premios por componer bandas sonoras para cortometrajes y sus actividades educativas han incluido la enseñanza del piano en N.Y.U. y en la práctica privada, y dictando clases magistrales en Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua y República Dominicana. En 2022, debutó con otra formación de quinteto en SAAM (Museo de Arte Hispanoamericano), que encontró al saxofonista Filiú acompañado por el altoist Alex LoRe, el bajista Rashaan Carter y el baterista Allan Mednard. También aparecieron en el álbum el cantante/guitarrista Meza y el trompetista Ambrose Akinmusire.

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Jessi Uribe Y Paola Jara llevan su gira La Conquista USA 2022 al Smart Financial Centre el 15 de Julio 56

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Conocido como un evento significativo en la industria de la música pop colombiana, Jessi Uribe y Paola Jara colaboraron por primera vez en 2020 para realizar un concierto en línea llamado “Tour La Conquista 2020” que obtuvo una audiencia de más de 20,000 personas en Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, España y Estados Unidos simultáneamente. Ahora la pareja traerá La Conquista Tour USA 2022 en vivo al Smart Financial Center el 15 de julio.

Colombia clasificaron en Argentina, logrando así formar parte de los 50 mejores de Latinoamérica.

Jessi Uribe nació en la ciudad de Bucaramanga el 22 de marzo de 1987.

Creció en un medio musical, su padre Fernando Uribe cantante de mariachi a quien le heredó el talento, lo llevaba a sus presentaciones en una discoteca reconocida de Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Desde muy temprano empezó a cantar en diferentes escenarios donde fue encontrando el gusto por el género popular y ranchero.

En el año 2017 participó en el concurso del canal caracol “A otro nivel”, con el cual dejó en alto el género popular y demostró la unión de sus colegas quienes apoyaron este proceso.

En el año 2008 se presentó en un concurso llamado Latin American Idol donde fue elegido entre 30.000 participantes y solo 20 artistas de

Otro de sus talentos y pasiones es componer ya que escribe acerca de sus vivencias o las de sus amigos, logrando así transmitir esas historias a sus seguidores. Sus letras ya han sido grabadas por otros artistas y se han visto galardonadas premios como los latin Grammy.

Posteriormente de la mano de su actual disquera Mano De Obra, lanzó el tema ¨Dulce Pecado¨, con el cual ha obtenido gran reconocimiento a nivel Nacional e Internacional. ¨Dulce pecado¨ supera más de 360 millones de reproducciones en YouTube, además que se posicionó de número uno en las principales emisoras del país.

El artista ha logrado destacarse con otros lanzamientos que han logrado un número importante en reproducciones en YouTube y streams en las principales plataformas como Spotify, Deezer y Claro, entre sus grandes éxitos se destaca: “Alguien Me Gusta”, ¨Matemos las Ganas¨, ¨Ok¨, ¨El último No¨, “Como Si Nada”, entre otras, este último single lo realizó con la reconocida artista popular Paola Jara.

Ha realizado importantes colaboraciones musicales con artistas como Andy Rivera, Espinoza Paz, Américo, Paola Jara, Ovi, Alkilados, Jhonny Rivera, Pipe Bueno, entre otros.

En el año 2019 fue llamado para formar parte del jurado del programa de televisión Yo Me Llamo, junto a César Escola y Amparo Grisales, algo que fue muy positivo para su carrera.

En el año 2020, a pesar de la situación mundial que se vivió con la pandemia, el artista continúo Continúa en la página siguiente Junio 2022 • Music News

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realizando presentaciones en sitios y eventos tanto públicos como privados, en los que se acompañaba de mariachis y pistas, lo que la ayudó a abrir las puertas de la industria musical en Medellín y en otras ciudades del país.

Uno de los momentos más representativos de su carrera se dio cuando fue telonera del concierto de Vicente y Alejandro Fernández en la ciudad de Medellín. Al poco tiempo, abrió el concierto de Juan Gabriel, entre otros. Fue un gran logro para la artista, pues estos eventos le dieron la visibilidad que había buscado tiempo atrás.

Jessi Uribe Y Paola Jara Continuación de la página anterior sorprendiendo a sus fans con una serie de lanzamientos y colaboraciones musicales entre las que se encuentran: ¨La Culpa¨, ¨Desde Que Te Fuiste¨, junto al artista Chileno ¨Américo¨, ¨Dicho Y Hecho¨ junto a Alkilados, ¨Se Te Nota¨ junto a Pipe Bueno, Y cerrando el año con broche de oro con la canción ¨Una Oportunidad¨ la cual debuta actualmente como la banda sonora de la telenovela Mexicana Quererlo Todo de Televisa y Univisión.

Jessi inicia este 2021 pisando fuerte con un nuevo estreno titulado ¨El Alumno¨ haciendo colaboración con el artista Mexicano ¨Joss Favela¨. Este tema logra rápidamente superar los 3 Millones de visualizaciones en YouTube, además de ocupar la primera posición en rankings de National Report.

El artista continúa trabajando en su carrera musical para seguir 58 Music News • Junio 2022

sorprendiendo y ganándose el corazón de sus fans quienes son parte importante de su gran crecimiento y éxito musical.

Paola Jara nació en Apartadó (Antioquia) donde inició en la música a temprana edad. A lo largo de su niñez vivió en diferentes municipios como Apartadó, Abejorral, Palmira y Medellín donde finalmente se radicó. Su paso por estos lugares le permitió conocer diferentes culturas y estilos de vida que la llevaron a descubrir su verdadera pasión. Durante estos años, participó en diversos concursos de música que hacían en las regiones y en las instituciones donde estudió. A medida que cursaba el bachillerato, alternaba sus estudios con las clases de guitarra y la práctica del canto.

Mientras buscaba su título en la universidad, seguía explorando en la música a nivel profesional. Inició

Después de un par de años, Paola Jara hizo parte del concurso del Canal RCN “Se Busca Interprete”, en el cual participó representando al género popular, bajo la tutoría de Galy Galeano, siendo una de las finalistas de este concurso. Se ganó el cariño del público y pudo exponer ante todo el país su talento. En el 2009 de la mano del productor musical Iván Calderón lanzó su Primera Producción Discográfica titulada “Paola Jara” de allí se desprende su primer éxito “Voy a Olvidarte” que ocupo los primeros lugares en las principales emisoras y canales de televisión del país.

A partir de ese momento, su carrera continúa creciendo a lo que es y a lo que representa Paola Jara hoy en día dentro de la industria de la música popular en Colombia. Se ha ganado el reconocimiento y el respeto dentro de un género que estaba principalmente representado por hombres. Tomando una parte muy importante dentro del público de la música popular como son las mujeres.

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RANDOM SHOTS

Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy Perform At Green Oaks Tavern Diunna Greenleaf and Blue Mercy put on a fantastic performance this past month at Green Oaks Tavern where she performed songs from her latest album release, I Ain’t Playin’, as well as some crowd favorites from her other albums as well. Without a doubt, Diunna is Houston’s Queen of The Blues.

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RANDOM SHOTS

307Departure Rocks The Acadia Bar & Grill This cool Houston-based band gives new meaning to Balls To The Wall because that was what their performance was.... Balls To The Wall. They have so much energy, it’ll make you sweat just watching and listening to them. Their cool blend of rock, punk, classic and metal definitely puts them in a class all their own. F@#king great set. Check these guys out sometime.

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RANDOM SHOTS

Aaron Lewis Band Perform at the Bombshell Rally Aaron Lewis put on a spectacular performance at the Bombsell Rally this past month performing tunes from his latest release Frayed At Both Ends as well as songs from his other seven album releases. This guy has been doing phenomenal with his career in Country music since his debut was released in 2010. Not bad for a guy that started out as the lead vocalist in Staind.

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RANDOM SHOTS

Blackmoore Perform At The Acadia Bar & Grill (Photos By Music News) 66

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RANDOM SHOTS

Brad Absher Performs At The Big Easy This past month, Brad Absher returned to Houston to perform a few gigs.

Brad moved away from Houston a while back, so it was great seeing him perform his special blend of Rock and Blues again.

Brad has a new album coming out this month called Tulsa Tea, so keep your eyes open for it. (Photos By Music News) 68

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RANDOM SHOTS

The Brad Stivers Band Perform at Katie’s In Bacliff Brad Stivers brought his band over from Austin this month for a Blues Blast at Katies. Brad has been making a name for himself as one of the most ferocious guitar players around. He’s definitely paying homage to the guitarists he grew up listening to, but he’s also got a definite style all his own. Needless to say, the show was great and the band was hot. Also, the drinks were cold at Katie’s. It made for a great combination. If you want the Blues, check out Katie’s Bar in Bacliff.

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RANDOM SHOTS

Cymblem Perform At The Gold Club III This night we caught up with Cymblem at The Gold Club in Friendswood. Normally when we see these guys, they’re rockin’ the house down, but this night we saw a different side to the band and man, were we impressed. It was an all acoustic show as they performed some really great arrangements of songs by Bob Seger (“Turn The Page”), Lynyrd Skynyrd (“Simple Man”), and Sublime (“Santeria”). Yeah folks, this was a great show and they did a fantastic job there. If you’re looking for a new place to party, check out The Gold Club III in Friendswood. They’re conveniently located on Bay Area Blvd. near Baybrook Mall. They have live music on Fridays a lot of the times and a cool DJ on Saturdays. Check it out sometime.

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Music News • June 2022

RANDOM SHOTS

Grant Gilbert Performs at The Wildcatter Saloon in Katy Grant Gilbert brought a little Country Music this night to the Wildcatter Saloon stage in Katy. Just last year Grant released his first EP Loud & Clear and is quickly forging a style all his own. Starting out at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Santo, Texas, it didn’t take long for him to reach the Blue Light club in Lubbock where some of his guitar heroes like Josh Abbot, Wade Bowen, and William Clark Green had played. Since then, Grant performs all over Texas and beyond delighting audiences everywhere he plays. Tonight was no exception. The show was great. (Photos By Greg Holleman) 74 Music News • June 2022

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RANDOM SHOTS

Wonderfolk Perform At The Shady Acres Saloon I swear, every time I go to Shady Acres Saloon to party, I always see a great band. Tonight’s band, Wonderfolk, were nothing less than extraordinary. It took me a minute to catch on to what they were doing and then I was truly amazed. They were performing Countryfied versions of some really fine rock songs. One after the other they were doing a fantastic job. Some of the songs they performed were “Personal Jesus” (Depeche Mode), “The Boxer” (Simon And Garfunkel), “When Doves Fly” (Prince), “Rhiannon” (Fleetwood Mac), “Zombie” (The Cranberries), as well as some great Country Classics from Johnny Cash (“Folsom Prison Blues”), Darius Rucker (“Wagon Wheel”), and Dolly Parton (“Jolene”). If you get a chance, please see this band and make sure you go by the Shady Acres Saloon for some of the finest tunes around. (Photos

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RANDOM SHOTS

Honeycutt Southern Perform At The 19th Hole Tonight we’re at The 19th Hole to check out Honeycutt Southern. Honeycutt Southern like to call themselves a straight-ahead blue-collar outfit, and I think they’re dead on with this description. They sound like a blend of hard hitting Rock with a tinge of Southern Rock thrown in for good measure. The band is named after it’s lead guitarist and vocalist Mike Honeycutt, who is also the band’s prime songwriter. Mike teamed up with bassist Carl Sandin and drummer Andy Robinson to start this cool trio. Mike and Carl were both in well known bands from the Houston area that shared the stage with the likes of the Dead Daisies, Great White, and Brett Michaels to name a few. This new incarnation is taking Houston by storm and have moved on to performing on stages like the House Of Blues. We’re told they have a couple of singles out now and soon they will be unleashing their full-length album. Keep an eye out on these guys. They’ll be going places. (Photos by Music News) 78 Music News • June 2022

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RANDOM SHOTS

Judas X Perform at The Concert Pub North Houston’s premiere Judas Priest Tribute Band, Judas X brings the tunes and attitude of legendary rock band, Judas Priest to life at The Concert Pub North this night. These guys always put on a good job and tonight was no exception as the band performed one great Judas Priest song after another. (Photos By Brian Lambert) 80

Music News • June 2022

RANDOM SHOTS

Shawn Pittman Performs At Katie’s Bar in Bacliff Shawn Pittman made the trip from Dallas to Katie’s Bar in Bacliff to give us a heapin’ helpin’ of those good ole’ blues that only Shawn can deliver. When it comes to the Blues, Shawn is a first class educator. He has worked with the likes of James Cotton, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Hubert Sumlin, Kim Wilson, Lou Ann Barton, Gary Clark Jr. Susan Tedeschi, and even some of the folks from Double Trouble. Swawn put on a great show as expected performing songs from his previous album releases, such as Stompin’ Solo, Undeniable, Too Hot, Edge Of The World, Make It Right, and more! It really made for a great evening of entertainment. Catch Shawn when he comes through the Houston area, he always puts on a fine show.

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RANDOM SHOTS The Chill Perform At Leon’s Lounge Tonight at Leon’s Lounge was the multi-stylings of The Chill. Based in North Houston, this band has a style all their own that defies description. Vocalist Loneta “Lonnie” Edison shares a great combination of Soul coupled with the sensibility of a little R&B. Guitarist Alan Culbert can handle any song thrown at him to perform, and the backbeat of bassist Rob Goodson coupled with the rhythmic drumming style of Jeff Gomez provide a sound that can’t be beat.

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Music News • June 2022

RANDOM SHOTS

Trey Yenger Performs At The 19th Hole You can tell that the party has arrived whenever you see Texas troubadour Trey Yenger on stage. He specializes in bringing the party to any venue he invades with his trusty acoustic guitar. Tonight at The 19th Hole he was rockin’ with songs from Oasis (“Wonderwall”), John Denver (“Country Roads”) and The Beastie Boys! Yes, The Beastie Boys. He was tearing up the stage with a fabulous version of The Beastie Boys’ “Fight For The Right To Party.” Without a doubt, this should be his theme song. It made for a great evening of fun!

(Photos By Music News) June 2022 • Music News

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RANDOM SHOTS

The Scotti Fraser Band Perform At Rise Rooftop This evening, Rise Rooftop was blessed with the sounds of the Scotti Fraser Band.

Scotti Fraser is a US Marine Corps. combat veteran that produces a unique blend of Texas based, American rock, a soulful, country & blues drenched rock ‘n’ roll sound that feels like it’s been dipped in hot sauce by ‘The Reverend’ Billy Gibbons himself. Originally from California, his music beginning was immersed in the transition of electric blues to hard rock by the greats of San Francisco and Los Angeles. His raw style of bluesy American arock rings through his hands holding an iconic Les Paul plugged into a vintage Marshall Amp. He has been performing, writing, and recording since the age of 15. By the age of 17 his band saw their first independent release, and by the time he joined the Marin Corps in his mid-20s he had toured the west Coast several times with various bands.. After returning home from frontline combat service with the Marines in Iraq, Scotti took time off to reflect, and heal, throug writing new music. He now embarks on a soul-searching road to redemption through rock and roll. HIs blues infused style of hard rock combines groove-oriented riffs and a sessage of standing tall in the face of his personal hardships. “Music is good for the soul,” says Scotti. “I learned that from Lemmy of Motorhead. Like a rite of passage of many of my faves, whe we shared an evening of drinks and personal stories of life, at the Rainbow on Sunset Blvd. (Photos By Brian Lambert) 84

Music News • June 2022

RANDOM SHOTS

The Spazmatics Perform At The Scout Bar It was a celebration of the 80s this night at The Scout Bar with our favorite 80s tribute band, The Spazmatics. The guys took us down the path of ‘Memory Lane’ with their crazy antics and songs from artist like The Bangles (“Walk Like An Egyptian”), Cyndi Lauper (“Girls Just Want To Have Fun”), Modern English (“I Melt With You”), Van Halen (“Jump”), Rick Springfield (“Jessie’s Girl”), and countless others. Without a doubt, when it comes to the music of the 80s, these guys have it going on. As usual, the Scout Bar was packed as usual. If you get a chance to see The Spazmatics, don’t turn it down. This is one show you’ve got to see. Also be sure to drop by The Scout Bar. They have great live music there several days a week, not to mention a lot of great touring bands pass through there as well. (Photos By Music News) June 2022 • Music News

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Closing Thoughts

He’d say things like, “Darkness is going to read to you now.” Art organized his life around helping Sandy.

One day, Art was guiding Sandy through crowded Grand Central Station when he suddenly said he had to go and left his friend alone and petrified. Sandy stumbled, bumped into people, and fell, cutting a gash in his shin. After a couple of hellish hours, Sandy finally got on the right subway train. After exiting the station at 116th street, Sandy bumped into someone who quickly apologized and Sandy immediately recognized Art’s voice! Turned out his trusty friend had followed him the whole way home, making sure he was safe and giving him the priceless gift of independence. Sandy later said, “That moment was the spark that caused me to live a completely different life, without fear, without doubt. For that I am tremendously grateful to my friend.”

Thinking About Simon And Garfunkel’s Hit Song The Sounds Of Silence and The Help Of A Friend “Hello darkness, my old friend…”

Everybody knows the iconic Simon & Garfunkel song, but do you know the amazing story behind the first line of The Sounds of Silence?

It began 62 years ago, when Arthur “Art” Garfunkel, a Jewish kid from Queens, enrolled in Columbia University. During freshman orientation, Art met a student from Buffalo named Sandy Greenberg, and they immediately bonded over their shared passion for literature and music.

Art and Sandy became roommates and best friends. With the idealism of youth, they promised to be there for each other no matter what.

Soon after starting college, Sandy was struck by tragedy. His vision became blurry and although doctors diagnosed it as temporary conjunctivitis, the problem grew worse. Finally after seeing a specialist, Sandy received the devastating news that severe glaucoma was destroying his optic nerves. The young man with such a bright future would soon be completely blind.

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Sandy was devastated and fell into a deep depression. He gave up his dream of becoming a lawyer and moved back to Buffalo, where he worried about being a burden to his financially-struggling family. Consumed with shame and fear, Sandy cut off contact with his old friends, refusing to answer letters or return phone calls.

Then suddenly, to Sandy’s shock, his buddy Art showed up at the front door.

He was not going to allow his best friend to give up on life, so he bought a ticket and flew up to Buffalo unannounced. Art convinced Sandy to give college another go, and promised that he would be right by his side to make sure he didn’t fall literally or figuratively.

Art kept his promise, faithfully escorting Sandy around campus and effectively serving as his eyes. It was important to Art that even though Sandy had been plunged into a world of darkness, he should never feel alone. Art actually started calling himself “Darkness” to demonstrate his empathy with his friend.

Sandy graduated from Columbia and then earned graduate degrees at Harvard and Oxford. He married his high school sweetheart and became an extremely successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

While at Oxford, Sandy got a call from Art. This time Art was the one who needed help. He’d formed a folk rock duo with his high school pal Paul Simon, and they desperately needed $400 to record their first album. Sandy and his wife Sue had literally $404 in their bank account, but without hesitation Sandy gave his old friend what he needed.

Art and Paul’s first album was not a success, but one of the songs, The Sounds of Silence, became a #1 hit a year later. The opening line echoed the way Sandy always greeted Art. Simon & Garfunkel went on to become one of the most beloved musical acts in history.

The two Columbia graduates, each of whom has added so much to the world in his own way, are still best friends. Art Garfunkel said that when he became friends with Sandy, “my real life emerged. I became a better guy in my own eyes, and began to see who I was somebody who gives to a friend.” Sandy describes himself as “the luckiest man in the world.”

Adapted from Sandy Greenberg’s memoir: “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: How Daring Dreams and Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness into an Extraordinary Vision for Life.”

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