Coming to a Casey's Bar at the Harrisonburg Holiday Inn near you...
The mighty, mighty return of MURPHY'S KIDS with Eastern Standard Time and Tsunami Rising, brought to you by the good people of Blame it On the Train Productions.
You're reading right: on Friday, March 28 at 9pm, the party starts at Casey's with more raggae, ska and rock then you'll know what to do with. And don't worry youngin's: the doors are open for fans under 21, too.
If you know Murphy's Kids: you know why this show is going to be off the hook.
If you don't know Murphy's Kids: you should go find out why you should know Murphy's Kids.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
MACRoCk Update!
Mark your calendars now. MACRoCk is making its mighty return and JMU's own student-run independent radio station WXJM is bringing you one solid showcase featuring: Aloha, Owen, Mock Orange, Anathallo, Shapiro, Unwed Sailor, The Forms, Brooke Waggoner, Ryan Lindsey and Memorial.
The WXJM showcase kicks off at 3:00pm on Saturday, April 5 at Memorial Hall of the JMU campus in Harrisonburg. Come check out the tag-team effort of WXJM and the Mid Atlantic College Radio Conference to spread the independent music love!
For tickets and more info CLICK ME and keep your eyes peeled for more artist links throughout the up-coming weeks.
This week's feature: Brooke Waggoner and Ryan Lindsey. Dig into their links on the right!
The WXJM showcase kicks off at 3:00pm on Saturday, April 5 at Memorial Hall of the JMU campus in Harrisonburg. Come check out the tag-team effort of WXJM and the Mid Atlantic College Radio Conference to spread the independent music love!
For tickets and more info CLICK ME and keep your eyes peeled for more artist links throughout the up-coming weeks.
This week's feature: Brooke Waggoner and Ryan Lindsey. Dig into their links on the right!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Boys with Guitars
For those of you state-side, I just got a whiff of something good cooking up north...
Erik DiNardo is a Boston native who is spilling his journal entries into his songs and starting to gain some real recognition for it. DiNardo released his debut album in 2007 and has earned praise from Seventeen and CUSP Magazine among others.
He has been compared to Jason Mraz, The Goo Goo Dolls and John Mayer, all of which are very good company, and has a similar contagious appeal like other guitarist, singer, song-writers like Matt Nathanson and Howie Day.
The album, "Turning Me Loose" was produced by Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, Jonathan Rice) and was engineered by Stewart Myers (Lifehouse, Mandy Moore) and is a chill mix of thoughtful melodies that have an appeal that is difficult to deny.
For more info on Erik, check out his MySpace profile or find him on CDBaby.com.
Erik DiNardo is a Boston native who is spilling his journal entries into his songs and starting to gain some real recognition for it. DiNardo released his debut album in 2007 and has earned praise from Seventeen and CUSP Magazine among others.
He has been compared to Jason Mraz, The Goo Goo Dolls and John Mayer, all of which are very good company, and has a similar contagious appeal like other guitarist, singer, song-writers like Matt Nathanson and Howie Day.
The album, "Turning Me Loose" was produced by Chris Keup (Jason Mraz, Jonathan Rice) and was engineered by Stewart Myers (Lifehouse, Mandy Moore) and is a chill mix of thoughtful melodies that have an appeal that is difficult to deny.
For more info on Erik, check out his MySpace profile or find him on CDBaby.com.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Viva Valentine's Violin!
If you haven't read yesterday's blog, chew on that first! If you're hungry for more, keep reading here...
Upon later conversations with Morgenstern, the rational behind the unique selection of compositions was made clear. After seeing the Barkauskas Partita piece listed in a concert program in Russia, Morgenstern was immediately reminded of Bach and sought pieces with comparable dance rhythms, which would complement each other.
Riconscenze per Goffredo Petrassi by Carter was also very deliberate as the piece was composed as a dedication to well-known Italian composer Petrassi and this year also marks Carter's 100 birthday.
The Dante Suite by Saylor was an obvious choice for many reasons, not the least of which being Dante Alighieri was a Florentine. Though he was exiled from the city for political reasons, Dante is still well loved here in Firenze and even has his own monument outside of Santa Croce, though he is not buried in the church.
The piece was also appropriate for Morgenstern as he, along with writer Jonathan Levi, toured a stage production of Dante's Inferno based on Robert Pinsky's translation of the classic epic. The duo even formed a theatre group with a name inspired by the nine circles of Dante's Inferno and call themselves, the Nine Circles Chamber Theatre. Since it's creation, the theatre has created and performed seven stage productions, combining a wide spectrum of artistic talents ranging from music and acting to dancing and visual arts.
The entire program was very well constructed; mixing classical and modern pieces ranging from 1720 to 1997 and overcame the challenges of a solo string performance. Because string instruments cannot sustain chords, counterpoint and harmony are impossible. "I programmed works that I thought overcame those challenges and were at the same time, 'violinistic'," said Morgenstern.
The performance was also inspiring from another perspective.
"I usually joke that the average age for classical audiences is 'deceased'," said Morgenstern. "I can't state strongly enough how wonderful and exciting it was to see younger people in the audience...The energy I felt from the students was especially invigorating because, whether they enjoyed it or not, they were extremely attentive. We can't ask for more than that."
Music, like every art form has and will continue to change over time. However, the importance of understanding the roots and beginnings of the classics and acquiring a respect for the masterpieces, which have preceded the art of today, is so crucial to forming a well-rounded human being. "Ultimately, the arts are a civilizing force; without them we face a civilization without the 'civil' component," added Morgenstern.
This is one of the most important lessons I have learned while studying here in Florence. It is impossible to grasp the importance of and skill needed to compose and create the art surrounding me here, but it is essential to try. The slow death of the arts in school programs and lack of emphasis on true artistic creations in media is both tragic and ominous.
"The lack of arts education both in the schools and at home (used to be that everyone could have a piano rather 6 television sets) is devastating in my view," said Morgenstern. This shift of emphasis from art to entertainment and the blurred line between them is an issue worth addressing, though on the greater list of war, economics and health, seems to fall by the wayside among the political issues of today. With that in mind, the best each of us can do is try to seek out and appreciate the opportunities we all have to see, hear and learn from the art all around us.
This Valentine's Day I did not receive a typical gift. I received something much better: the chance to see and hear art come alive, meet an incredible musician and revive my own personal appreciation for something much bigger than myself. Viva l'arte.
Upon later conversations with Morgenstern, the rational behind the unique selection of compositions was made clear. After seeing the Barkauskas Partita piece listed in a concert program in Russia, Morgenstern was immediately reminded of Bach and sought pieces with comparable dance rhythms, which would complement each other.
Riconscenze per Goffredo Petrassi by Carter was also very deliberate as the piece was composed as a dedication to well-known Italian composer Petrassi and this year also marks Carter's 100 birthday.
The Dante Suite by Saylor was an obvious choice for many reasons, not the least of which being Dante Alighieri was a Florentine. Though he was exiled from the city for political reasons, Dante is still well loved here in Firenze and even has his own monument outside of Santa Croce, though he is not buried in the church.
The piece was also appropriate for Morgenstern as he, along with writer Jonathan Levi, toured a stage production of Dante's Inferno based on Robert Pinsky's translation of the classic epic. The duo even formed a theatre group with a name inspired by the nine circles of Dante's Inferno and call themselves, the Nine Circles Chamber Theatre. Since it's creation, the theatre has created and performed seven stage productions, combining a wide spectrum of artistic talents ranging from music and acting to dancing and visual arts.
The entire program was very well constructed; mixing classical and modern pieces ranging from 1720 to 1997 and overcame the challenges of a solo string performance. Because string instruments cannot sustain chords, counterpoint and harmony are impossible. "I programmed works that I thought overcame those challenges and were at the same time, 'violinistic'," said Morgenstern.
The performance was also inspiring from another perspective.
"I usually joke that the average age for classical audiences is 'deceased'," said Morgenstern. "I can't state strongly enough how wonderful and exciting it was to see younger people in the audience...The energy I felt from the students was especially invigorating because, whether they enjoyed it or not, they were extremely attentive. We can't ask for more than that."
Music, like every art form has and will continue to change over time. However, the importance of understanding the roots and beginnings of the classics and acquiring a respect for the masterpieces, which have preceded the art of today, is so crucial to forming a well-rounded human being. "Ultimately, the arts are a civilizing force; without them we face a civilization without the 'civil' component," added Morgenstern.
This is one of the most important lessons I have learned while studying here in Florence. It is impossible to grasp the importance of and skill needed to compose and create the art surrounding me here, but it is essential to try. The slow death of the arts in school programs and lack of emphasis on true artistic creations in media is both tragic and ominous.
"The lack of arts education both in the schools and at home (used to be that everyone could have a piano rather 6 television sets) is devastating in my view," said Morgenstern. This shift of emphasis from art to entertainment and the blurred line between them is an issue worth addressing, though on the greater list of war, economics and health, seems to fall by the wayside among the political issues of today. With that in mind, the best each of us can do is try to seek out and appreciate the opportunities we all have to see, hear and learn from the art all around us.
This Valentine's Day I did not receive a typical gift. I received something much better: the chance to see and hear art come alive, meet an incredible musician and revive my own personal appreciation for something much bigger than myself. Viva l'arte.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Violin for Valentine's Day
Though I may not have had a boyfriend to take me out for a romantic dinner and buy me roses and chocolate, this Valentine's Day was my favorite to date and more than exceptionally sweet.
I had the pleasure of seeing Gil Morgenstern perform, right here at the Palazzo Capponi in our very own Rose Suite.
Mr. Morgenstern is a violinist with one of the most impressive resume's I have ever seen. He has performed since he was five and has traveled all over the world to destinations including New York, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin and Hong Kong and has performed with symphonies and orchestras in St. Louis, Baltimore, Louisville, Indianapolis, Denver, Milwaukee, New Jersey and North Carolina. He has been featured on TV and NPR broadcasts, worked with Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and Pulitzer Prize poet Yusef Komunyakaa. He has been the director of various creative organizations and performance series and has performed at the White House. That's just a few of his accomplishments.
Being a violinist since I was seven made the whole experience somewhat surreal. As Mr. Morgenstern played the first few notes of Bach's Partita in E Major I could feel the tears well up and my heart rate increase as I recognized it as one of the pieces I performed years before. His sound was flawless and rich, doing justice to the piece that I was never capable of. He brought the classical sound to new life.
However, after the Bach piece, there was a radical change in style. The next selection was by Vytautas Barkauskas and was unlike any violin solo I have ever heard, let alone tried to play. The complex range of dynamics, styles and techniques was incredible and the modern feel was engaging. Though the audience was made up of a good majority of students, which was refreshing, each pair of eyes and doubtlessly ears, were completely glued to the flying fingers and lively bow.
Mr. Morgenstern continued the night with Riconscenze per Goffredo Petrassi by Elliott Carter and Dante Suite for Solo Violin by Bruce Saylor, which never failed to keep the audience attentive and readings from Dante's Inferno were sprinkled throughout the routine, both by JMU students and Professor Luca Baldoni.
For more on my own reactions and about Mr. Morgenstern and the pieces, check back tomorrow...
I had the pleasure of seeing Gil Morgenstern perform, right here at the Palazzo Capponi in our very own Rose Suite.
Mr. Morgenstern is a violinist with one of the most impressive resume's I have ever seen. He has performed since he was five and has traveled all over the world to destinations including New York, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Berlin and Hong Kong and has performed with symphonies and orchestras in St. Louis, Baltimore, Louisville, Indianapolis, Denver, Milwaukee, New Jersey and North Carolina. He has been featured on TV and NPR broadcasts, worked with Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky and Pulitzer Prize poet Yusef Komunyakaa. He has been the director of various creative organizations and performance series and has performed at the White House. That's just a few of his accomplishments.
Being a violinist since I was seven made the whole experience somewhat surreal. As Mr. Morgenstern played the first few notes of Bach's Partita in E Major I could feel the tears well up and my heart rate increase as I recognized it as one of the pieces I performed years before. His sound was flawless and rich, doing justice to the piece that I was never capable of. He brought the classical sound to new life.
However, after the Bach piece, there was a radical change in style. The next selection was by Vytautas Barkauskas and was unlike any violin solo I have ever heard, let alone tried to play. The complex range of dynamics, styles and techniques was incredible and the modern feel was engaging. Though the audience was made up of a good majority of students, which was refreshing, each pair of eyes and doubtlessly ears, were completely glued to the flying fingers and lively bow.
Mr. Morgenstern continued the night with Riconscenze per Goffredo Petrassi by Elliott Carter and Dante Suite for Solo Violin by Bruce Saylor, which never failed to keep the audience attentive and readings from Dante's Inferno were sprinkled throughout the routine, both by JMU students and Professor Luca Baldoni.
For more on my own reactions and about Mr. Morgenstern and the pieces, check back tomorrow...
Friday, February 15, 2008
Come on, Ride the Train...
They have been called “The Next Big Thing” by the Boston Tribune and their songs have been called “accessible but uncompromising in their creativity” by David Royko of the Chicago Tribune. They were recognized by and invited to the studio of bluegrass legend David Grisman and have performed on the same ticket as well-known and established artists like Sam Bush, Josh Ritter, Allison Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Medeski Martin and Wood and George Strait. Though they have toured on and off for the past seven years, this Charlottesville-based five-piece still has a soft spot for the hometown crowds of Virginia and this Wednesday, February 20, they will be sharing the love with Harrisonburg and JMU.
Old School Freight Train will be performing this week at Rocktown Bar and Grill with Eliminator Jr. in a show organized by the recently established and locally run concert production and promotion company, Blame it on the Train Productions. Doors open at 8pm and everyone ages 18 and up is welcome to see and hear the band that impressed even Grisman, himself enough to give them an invitation to his house and studio in California.
“After forty years of recording acoustic music, it’s not very often that a new band catches (and keeps) my attention,” says Grisman. “Old School Freight Train has done that and more.”
College buddies, Pete Frostic (mandolin and mandocello), Jesse Harper (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Ben Krakauer (banjo) began playing together in Williamsburg, Virginia and were later joined by Darrell Muller (upright bass) and Nate Leath (fiddle). The group took off after sending a demo to David Grisman, who invited them to a show at the Birchmere in Washington, DC where OSFT met him after the show and the boys were met by Grisman’s immediate interest to help the band record and promote their material.
Since teaming up with one of the most accomplished bluegrass musicians in the business, who has performed with artists including Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, OSFT recorded and released Run in 2005 on Grisman’s Acoustic Disc Label and self-released the album Live in Ashland. Later in this week on February 22, the band will be filming a show at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville and news about their next release, due to out in April, can be found online.
But for those left unimpressed or unconvinced by reviews and endorsements, the best way to appreciate OSFT is to see the band live. “Our shows are very energetic,” says Frostic. “Anyone who comes can expect to see high energy musicians who are taking a chance. We play songs that are catchy, some covers people already know and we jam, so each show is different.”
The group plays an eclectic style of music fusing jazz and bluegrass with Celtic and Latin hues and thoughtful lyrics. The vocals of Harper also lend themselves to an easy comparison with Ben Harper, smoothly coating intricate melodies and arrangements composed through the group effort of the band. “We all write together,” explained Frostic. “We’ll sometimes put chords in a hat and pull them out and then we each go away and take 15 minutes to come up with something. Then we reconvene and pick the best or combine them.”
OSFT’s influences range from Van Morrison and Brad Mehldau to artists covered on Run including Stevie Wonder and Randy Newman, though their unique combination of styles can most accurately be described as the probable future of bluegrass.
“We wanted to play everything,” said Frostic. “But it eventually coalesced because some things felt natural and other things we were terrible at. The training we’ve had has been with each other.”
Regardless of musical preference, the show is guaranteed to deliver a quality performance, as OSFT has proved to be an influential contemporary bluegrass group and emphasize the best part of performing is the energy of the crowd. “I love taking a risk musically and hoping it works,” says Frostic. “When it does, it’s great, when it’s bad it’s awful. But that thrill of trying new things is probably my favorite.”
This will be OSFT’s second appearance in Harrisonburg after performing at The Little Grill Collective several years ago and more information on the show can be found online at www.osft.net or on the Old School Freight Train MySpace page. More information and tickets can also be found at www.blameitonthetrain.org,
For more on the band, check out YouTube.com for video blogs of the touring and recording process.
Check out the Monday edition of the Breeze to see this article in print!
Old School Freight Train will be performing this week at Rocktown Bar and Grill with Eliminator Jr. in a show organized by the recently established and locally run concert production and promotion company, Blame it on the Train Productions. Doors open at 8pm and everyone ages 18 and up is welcome to see and hear the band that impressed even Grisman, himself enough to give them an invitation to his house and studio in California.
“After forty years of recording acoustic music, it’s not very often that a new band catches (and keeps) my attention,” says Grisman. “Old School Freight Train has done that and more.”
College buddies, Pete Frostic (mandolin and mandocello), Jesse Harper (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Ben Krakauer (banjo) began playing together in Williamsburg, Virginia and were later joined by Darrell Muller (upright bass) and Nate Leath (fiddle). The group took off after sending a demo to David Grisman, who invited them to a show at the Birchmere in Washington, DC where OSFT met him after the show and the boys were met by Grisman’s immediate interest to help the band record and promote their material.
Since teaming up with one of the most accomplished bluegrass musicians in the business, who has performed with artists including Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead, OSFT recorded and released Run in 2005 on Grisman’s Acoustic Disc Label and self-released the album Live in Ashland. Later in this week on February 22, the band will be filming a show at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville and news about their next release, due to out in April, can be found online.
But for those left unimpressed or unconvinced by reviews and endorsements, the best way to appreciate OSFT is to see the band live. “Our shows are very energetic,” says Frostic. “Anyone who comes can expect to see high energy musicians who are taking a chance. We play songs that are catchy, some covers people already know and we jam, so each show is different.”
The group plays an eclectic style of music fusing jazz and bluegrass with Celtic and Latin hues and thoughtful lyrics. The vocals of Harper also lend themselves to an easy comparison with Ben Harper, smoothly coating intricate melodies and arrangements composed through the group effort of the band. “We all write together,” explained Frostic. “We’ll sometimes put chords in a hat and pull them out and then we each go away and take 15 minutes to come up with something. Then we reconvene and pick the best or combine them.”
OSFT’s influences range from Van Morrison and Brad Mehldau to artists covered on Run including Stevie Wonder and Randy Newman, though their unique combination of styles can most accurately be described as the probable future of bluegrass.
“We wanted to play everything,” said Frostic. “But it eventually coalesced because some things felt natural and other things we were terrible at. The training we’ve had has been with each other.”
Regardless of musical preference, the show is guaranteed to deliver a quality performance, as OSFT has proved to be an influential contemporary bluegrass group and emphasize the best part of performing is the energy of the crowd. “I love taking a risk musically and hoping it works,” says Frostic. “When it does, it’s great, when it’s bad it’s awful. But that thrill of trying new things is probably my favorite.”
This will be OSFT’s second appearance in Harrisonburg after performing at The Little Grill Collective several years ago and more information on the show can be found online at www.osft.net or on the Old School Freight Train MySpace page. More information and tickets can also be found at www.blameitonthetrain.org,
For more on the band, check out YouTube.com for video blogs of the touring and recording process.
Check out the Monday edition of the Breeze to see this article in print!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Alright Ramblers, Let's Get Ramblin'
Word on the street, or Via here in Italy, is that this weekend was pretty full of Rock n' Roll. And I want to hear all about it!
Saturday night was both the Futbol for Change benefit show at Rocktown featuring the Sometimes Favorites AND Midnight Spaghetti's fifth anniversary house party at The Bag. Even over here I've heard about the DVD screening, commemorative posters and special guests including Blatant Vibe, Ryan Villanueva and DJ Maskell. But I still need details! Post a comment if you were one of the lucky (and awesome) ones who went to either show!
And don't forget: Friday, February 15th at a JMU TDU near you: 7:30pm-12am, Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings with Detroit Lounge City!
AND...(more on this later) Old School Freight Train is coming to Rocktown on Wednesday, February 20! Keep your eyes peeled for Blame it on the Train Production rep's or check out the site to buy your tickets now!
Saturday night was both the Futbol for Change benefit show at Rocktown featuring the Sometimes Favorites AND Midnight Spaghetti's fifth anniversary house party at The Bag. Even over here I've heard about the DVD screening, commemorative posters and special guests including Blatant Vibe, Ryan Villanueva and DJ Maskell. But I still need details! Post a comment if you were one of the lucky (and awesome) ones who went to either show!
And don't forget: Friday, February 15th at a JMU TDU near you: 7:30pm-12am, Midnight Spaghetti and the Chocolate G-Strings with Detroit Lounge City!
AND...(more on this later) Old School Freight Train is coming to Rocktown on Wednesday, February 20! Keep your eyes peeled for Blame it on the Train Production rep's or check out the site to buy your tickets now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
