From the Other Side of the Pond: Music Abroad

Upon coming to Florence, Italy for the semester, it seemed obvious that in such a culturally rich city and region of the world, art would be bursting from a multitude of galleries and music would be filling the air. While it is true that art wreaks from the crowded streets of little Florence, it seems music is not so widely emphasized. This is what made finding BeBop and Voxpower so exciting.
The BeBop Music Club offers music-lovers hope and a stimulating artistic environment in a city surprisingly void of live bands and a substantial musical community. However, Tuesday nights with the Beatles cover band, Voxpower, offer a refreshing alternative to the typical pubs and monotonous discoteccas littered throughout the city.
The BeBop Music Club is a unique dig in Florence as it boasts an impressive history and an invigorating live music schedule, hosting bands every night of the week. The club was originally a wine bar dating back to the early 1980’s and became BeBop in 1987 when it transformed into a more music-friendly environment, accentuated by the relaxed atmosphere, vintage decorations and ample space for dancing, socializing, music making and enjoyment.
Voxpower, one of BeBop’s most popular bands, has been a regular at the club for 10 years, since the group began, and continues to bring in ever-growing crowds each week.
“The shows are always really crazy and always different,” said Fashian, the John Lennon of Voxpower. “At other bars there is no contact with the audience, but BeBop has a great stage where we can really connect.”
Though Fashian began his musical career with his discovery of the Rolling Stones, Fashian and other members of Voxpower, Dason as Paul, Fazzenbauer as George and Muffin as Ringo, all progressed musically thanks to the Beatles. This strong connection and influence is also apparent through their convincing stage presence and performance, including authentic costumes, similar mannerisms, English stage names and original instrumentation.
“We play all the original vintage instruments used by the Beatles, brands and years, and wear authentic suits straight from A Hard Days Night,” explained Fashian. “Though it’s funny,” he laughed, “the boots are straight from the UK, but made in Italy.”
However, Voxpower sets themselves apart from other Beatles covers bands in ways beyond suits and guitars, all the way down to one of the most unique characteristics of the legendary group, McCartney’s left-handed guitar. Because of McCartney’s guitar style, he and Lennon were able to stand back to back at the microphone without colliding, creating a mirror image of symmetric guitars.
“This is a key way to tell if a band is really an accurate cover of the Beatles,” explained Fashian. “Sometimes they even flip the image in pictures to look more like Lennon and McCartney, but when they’re on stage, they can’t do it. We’re all left-handed, so we were able to create an accurate interpretation.”
However, even for those not keen to checking that the group is picture perfect, it is inevitable to notice that their sound is right on.
“Covering the Beatles never gets boring,” said Fashian. “We play many of the same songs every week, but it is always an interpretation and not as if we are playing someone else’s music, it’s always our own. It’s still a creative experience.”
Voxpower works to perform a comprehensive mix of the gigantic Beatles repertoire, though it is inevitably impossible to please everyone in the crowd. Fashian plans the sets for each week and carefully rotates songs in and out of the set-lists for the night around a standard rotation of classics and occasionally the band even throws in a curve-ball, like their finale rendition of “Hey Jude” into the Stone’s song, “Sympathy for the Devil”.
Yet, crowds at BeBop, especially on Tuesdays, remain largely composed of English-speaking students, reiterating the lack of musical emphasis in Italy.
“Florence is very separated into sections,” explained Fashian. “There isn’t enough mixing of people from one part of the city to the other and this is a big reason why more people haven’t discovered BeBop.”
However, those who do attest to wishing they had found it sooner.
“It was a great night,” said James Madison University study abroad students Georgia Aslin and Annie Barnes. “It was a comfortable atmosphere and we all had so much fun. It was different from our typical nights in Florence.”
BeBop offers a varied selection of live-music, including Monday night “Jam-Sessions” where local bands have the opportunity to reach out to the community through music, and other cover bands including tributes to Oasis, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones often frequent the club.
“Above everything else, performing is the best prize,” said Fashian. “We’ve met so many people and are happy to be performing at BeBop, bringing live music to Florence.”
Though Fashian expressed doubt of the Florentine live music scene growing anytime soon, it is a hopeful sign that bands such as Voxpower are still performing, persisting and bringing in bigger crowds every week, every year. Through their captivating stage presence and the electric, feel-good atmosphere of their shows every Tuesday, who knows what can happen with a little help from their friends.

For more information on BeBop and Voxpower, check for more information on their websites.

It's the Final Countdown

MACRoCk 2008, the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, is happening this Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5 in the 'Burg and tickets are available now for this monumental independent music event. If you're a fan of Maps and Atlases, Antlers, Len Bias, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Chango Leon, Donny Hue and the Colors, Eat Forever, Cinnamon Band, SunKing, Meadows, American Tourist, Auld Lang Syne, The Catalyst, Valkyrie, Cosmonaut’s Ruin, Owen, Aloha, Mock Orange, Unwed Sailor, Shapiro, Brooke Waggoner, Ryan Lindsey, Deep Sleep, Police & Thieves, Savage Land, Naysayer, Accordion Death Squad, The Great White Jenkins, Wild Animal Party or any of the many other artists signed up to perform at this year's event, get your weekend badge now for a discounted price!

Come out to shows and panels all over the area at great venues including Blue Nile, Court Square, VFW Hall, Garibaldi’s, Memorial Hall, Clementine and Little Grill.

Beyond the music, get excited about panels including appearances from DIY Recording at Clementine Cafe, Record Labels at Massanutten Regional Library and DIY Publishing at Massanutten Regional Library.

For more details, check back here or the MACRoCK website.

Old School

Harrisonburg’s DJ Maskell is at again.

This Thursday, March 27 at 9:30, bring back the Thursday nights of JMU dancing at Rocktown Bar and Grill.

Maskell plans to resurrect the Thursday night classic atmosphere of 2005 and Mix Master Mike with danceable popular music and a JMU-only party. Maskell will be spinning top 40 and dance music without the monotonous rap music we’ve all become numb to at most dance clubs.

So if you just want to dance (like Dane Cook knows you do), now you know where to go ahead, put your shoes in the middle of the circle and get down.

Hey Happy Valley

(I don’t care if Penn State is the official Happy Valley: Harrisonburg is sunnier.)

Did ya’ miss me?

It’s been wet and wild over here in Firenze, but right now I’m more interested in hearing about what’s been diggen’ on your side of the world.
For all of you rock n’ roll-aholics out there, there’s been plenty of opportunity for jamming. Between the Aardvarks on Saturday the 15, Shamrock Fest in DC, ShamRock-n-Roll fest on the 19, Future on the 20, Eric DiNardo shows up north, Midnight Spaghetti in PA and VA and David Shultz and Exebelle on the 22, I feel out of the loop. Post some comments about all the good tunes! I’m missing without them.

And for all of you who have been missing out and indulging with peeps and hard-boiled eggs: there are still plenty of opportunities for you to join in on the good life:

This week on Wednesday, March 26 at 9 Ryan Villanueva, Eliminator Jr. and Kiddie Pool Cougars are coming to Rocktown Grill thanks to Bangorang Productions and on Friday, March 28 Murphy’s Kids and Eastern Standard Time are coming to Casey’s at the Holiday Inn in the ‘Burg, so get your dance pants on.
On Thursday, April 3, Midnight Spaghetti is coming to WXJM Live on 88.7FM Harrisonburg, available on the dial or online from 8 to 10pm.
And keep your eyes peeled and your ears prepared for the mighty return of MACRoCK the weekend of April 5-6.

Know a show? Be sure to share! Comment here!
Peace, love and parties.

Painfully Tasteful

Since 2002, residents of the Lehigh Valley (and now Northern New Jersey) have had the opportunity to witness the evolution and explosion of The Aardvarks.
The band has been praised by bar owners, employees and fans alike for their ability to cater to any crowd by performing a wide array of musical genres and styles for a variety of events including weddings, local festivals and weekend shows. This Saturday, March 15, the boys are making their debut at Smokey’s Texas BBQ and Steakhouse in Stanhope, New Jersey.
“The Aardvarks are pretty much our biggest band,” said Mezza Luna Sports Bar and Grill employee Michael Gubitosi. “I’ve seen them at least 10 times and they are always entertaining and have set records here.”
The band holds records both for attendance and sales at the Mezza Luna and prides attendance records at the Lehigh Sangerbund of approximately 900 people. Competing bands have not come within 300 people of the ‘Varks’ record.
The band’s rock and roll journey began in 2002 when lead singer and guitarist Mike Rauscher and vocalist, keyboard and pianist Rod Walls decided to take a break from the music scene after a decade of traveling and performing with other bands including Honeybuzzards, Seamrippers and The Armadillos. However, within a few weeks they formed a duo, A Pair of Armadillos and performed throughout the Lehigh Valley.
In 2003, the duo was joined by bassist Scott Erickson of Circle Sky and drummer Jay Sanita of Wake up Naked. A year later, the band went through another transformation as new members, bassist Jon Novak of Spacestation Integration and The Legendary Truth and guitar and vocalist Jay Morgan of Good Time Charlie were welcomed.
Tiring of one animal band name beginning with the letter “A”, the band mates decided to try a new breed and The Aardvarks were born.
Since 2004, The Aardvarks have assembled a catalog of over 100 songs including artists ranging from The Beatles, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Cream, The Cars, Van Morrison, The Police, Johnny Cash, The Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynrd, The Doors, The Stones and Led Zepplin to Phish, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Sublime, The Black Crowes, The Wallflowers, 311, Ben Harper and Outkast, to name just a few, and are constantly expanding their repertoire both with covers and originals. The ‘Varks perform monthly at the Mezza Luna which features live music 3 nights a week and regularly throughout the Lehigh Valley area. However, the band’s popularity has grown substantially, making them more than a typical “bar band” with over 30% of their scheduled shows in 2008 being private events and weddings.
“The Aardvarks are definitely one of our top acts,” explained Mezza Luna owner Mark Culnen. “They hold the audience’s attention until the end of every night and that’s why we keep them coming back.”
Despite record setting attendances and an impressive music catalog, perhaps the most endearing quality of The Aardvarks is their youth and energy. No matter the age or size of the crowd, the type of the event or the location, the band delivers quality performances consistently making them a local favorite and guaranteed good time for friends, family, employees, guests and fans alike.
Culnen agreed, “They are fantastic. They have a great stage presence, play good music and are very talented. They are one of the best bands in the valley and we love having them here.”
To see why Culnen keeps bringing the boys back and why Smokey’s is bringing them Saturday, check out their painfully tasteful site for more information about future performances, pictures, the song catalog, other links and more.

Get Your Green On

Tired of celebrating St. Pat's at the same ol' Irish Pubs with the same ol' corned beef and cabbage?

Check out Shamrock Fest.

The 8th annual festival starts this Saturday, March 15 at 12:00pm and continues all day at the RFK Stadium Festival Grounds in Washington, DC. This year the festival will feature over 50 bands, DJ's (including Harrisonburg's own DJ Mark Maskell), performers, entertainers, rides, games, amusements, party zones, live acts, open fields and Irish entertainment.

Two ticket options are available now to see bands including Jimmie's Chicken Shack, Army of Me, Carbon Leaf, Great Big Sea, The Tossers, Pubcrawlers, Charm City Saints, Pete Moss and the Bog Band, and many more.

The festival is raging, rain or shine and part of the proceeds will benefit Stop Child Abuse Now.

Join over 40,000 others in celebrating the most Irish day of the year with 11 party zones, 33 major live acts, 8 performance stages and acres of celebration space.

So ship up to DC and find your wooden leg.

H-burg Blues

Looking for a way to get over the hump of the week? Check out this new Wednesday night, Harrisonburg hotspot, starting this Wednesday, March 12:

The party starts at 9:30pm at Bourbon Street, formerly known as Bombay Courtyard on South Main in Harrisonburg (next to El Charro's). The newly renovated venue has reopened as a Louisiana Southern Cuisine Bar and Grill, featuring New Orleans style food and starting Wednesday, the sweet spins of the 'Burg's own DJ Mark Maskell who is well-known for his Top 40 and House mixes, impressive lighting and sound systems, showmanship, talent and style. If you're looking for turntables, flashing lights, great mixes of new music, no cover charge and a late night kitchen: mark your calendar now.

Bring University ID for this college crowd exclusive and don't forget your party pants.
Wednesdays just got wild.

For more on Maskell also check out this Breeze throw-back and look for the event on facebook.