Shun Ng:: Guitar Magic at the Rockwood

by Holley Dey and Louise Uznanski

Not sure that talking is really necessary.  A few bars delivered in that soft rasp and layered over fingerstyle guitar might be just enough.  Why not give her a few lines of “Christabel”, the song that admits his natural shyness around girls.  When Chicago born Shun Ng described his teenage years to us, he confessed to frequent visits to the local Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop.  Sweet tooth?  Well, yes and no…the girls behind the counter were always so pretty…but as Shun explained, “I’m not that cool talking to pretty girls.”

Last week at Rockwood Music Hall, Shun let his music do the talking.   In his first New York City show, the twenty-three year old guitar phenom played to a full house.  The forty minute solo acoustic set included several selections from 2012 album Funky Thumb Stuff  before concluding with a medley of cover songs that Shun offered as a “tribute to my heroes”.  The Beatles (Come Together), Stevie Wonder (Living for the City), Jimi Hendrix (Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire) and Michael Jackson (Billie Jean) were woven into an energetic performance that required the singer-songwriter to act as vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.  He played guitar, bass and percussion simultaneously, deftly plucking the guitar strings with his right hand while fingering the fretboard with his left, and reinforcing the beat with his feet and the heel of his hand during a nearly ten minute finale that left an appreciative crowd cheering.

The influence of his idols was clear in his original music, acoustic rock inspired by the blues and styled with a clear jazz underpinning.  He sang with energy, often in a staccato voice,occasionally using his lips and throat as yet another instrument of percussion.  There was grit in his sound, enough to lend character.  I found Shun’s vocals most effective when the tempo slowed and the mood temporarily relaxed.  Love song “All Over Again”, for example, was gently delivered with subtle expression that contrasted nicely with the intricacy of his guitar work.

That innovative guitar play, startling in its speed and skill, has won the artist invitations to international festivals and notice from some of the music industry’s biggest names.  In another week Shun will head to Los Angeles to meet with one of those names; after seeing Ng’s newest music video , producer Quincy Jones picked up the telephone.  YouTube almost, but not quite, captures the passion and intensity of the musician’s live performance.  Watch official music video “Get On with It”  and concert video of “Christabel” below for an introduction to a young singer-songwriter and musician with passion, stunning talent and potential.

Live capture of Shun Ng’s performance of original tune “Christabel” at Rockwood Music Hall

Gallery of photographs from Shun Ng’s Rockwood Music Hall show:

Robert Randolph and the Family Band Preview New Album “Lickety Split”

by Holley Dey, Louise Uznanski, Richard Uznanski      @2013 OnTapBlog all rights reserved

Robert Randolph and the Family Band are recently returned from Oklahoma City where their performance at Friday’s “We Can Help Moore” benefit helped to raise thousands in relief funds for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.  Big hearts, big talent…..big news!

On July 16 the Band will release their first new studio album in three years on the Blue Note label.  Lickety Split offers eleven original tracks plus covers of “Love Rollercoaster” (Ohio Players) and “Good Lovin” (The Rascals).  The album features the Band’s current lineup including Marcus Randolph, Danyel Morgan, Lenesha Randolph and Brett Haas, and includes guest appearances from Trombone Shorty and Carlos Santana.

To preview the new album, a stream of the uplifting, gospel influenced “Born Again” has been released.  Listen to the original track below, and get ready to groove.

Lickety Split is available for pre-order here.

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Music City USA Documentary: Flooded with Heart and Soul

by Holley Dey  @2013 OnTapBlog all rights reserved

You can thank Chris McDaniel’s grandmother for his soon-to-be-released new documentary Music City USA.   Grandma has a very good ear, and when the family gathered for a visit in Nashville two years ago, the Grand Ole Opry was on the agenda.  It was at the Opry that Chris found both the foundation and the inspiration for his story of hometown pride and resilience.

The 2010 flood had left unimaginable devastation in its wake, but at the Opry that night the emphasis was on rebuilding and recovery.  Through the courageous efforts of a united community of residents and volunteers, Nashville was rapidly rebounding.  When musician Josh Thompson took the stage to sing “Way Out Here”, a story of country pride and heritage, McDaniel realized that there was a movie to be made.  Here was a unique comeback story of strength and tenacity in a southern city with music at its core.  Chris was convinced that the music made a difference.

He asked musicians to tell their stories of the flood and its aftermath, but the interviews didn’t end there.  He wanted to know what Nashville means to these artists, what draws and binds them to this special town.  The movie became much more than a narrative of the disaster.  The heart and soul of Nashville flooded the screen as the artists shared their stories.

Chris recalls an interview with former American Idol finalist and current recording artist Bo Bice.  Bo became emotional while describing the aftermath of the flood and his family’s efforts to help others.  Bo’s young son Caleb was sitting on his lap at the time and suddenly added, “Daddy, remember when we went out and helped people after the flood and handed out water bottles to them?  We helped them like Jesus would.”  Caleb melted the film director’s heart.  Here was a small child of maybe five years who had already learned the importance of helping those in need.  Caleb appears in Music City USA.

The child joins an impressive roster of country artists and long-term Nashville residents who agreed to share their stories.  Charlie Daniels, a resident for 46 years, participated.  Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Montgomery Gentry, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, and Naomi Judd were among at least fifty others filmed for the project.

While Nashville is primarily known as a country town, musicians from all genres live and/or record there and Chris sought their input as well.  Bret Michaels of Poison, Lionel Ritchie, Russell Hitchcock of Air Supply all record in Music City.  Reggae artist Mishka, who records on Jimmy Buffet’s label, is included in the film.  Hard rock singer Jack Russell was recruited following a live concert when he announced, “A songwriter never forgets where a song idea came to him.  I wrote “House of Broken Love” in a hotel room in Nashville, Tennessee, and man, that city just speaks to songwriters.”

The songwriters spoke to Chris McDaniel; they generously shared their time and their stories.  Says Chris, “They are all such kind and gracious artists.  I am not only a huge fan of these people as entertainers, but I am a firm believer that their success is in direct relation to what amazingly kind and giving people they are.”  McDaniel counts the friendships that he made during the process of making this film as one of its great successes.  ”In a given week I may get an encouraging email from Larry Gatlin, or a thoughtful text from Mike Wolfe (American Pickers) or Bo Bice, or a tweet from Taylor Hicks.  I know that these people will be in my life, for the rest of my life.”

When he learned that the proceeds from the film will benefit flood relief charities, Taylor Hicks immediately texted the director his Nashville home address.  The American Idol winner and Las Vegas headliner met the filmmaker at the door with a smile, helped carry in the camera equipment and offered his writing room for the interview.  With big picture windows, natural illumination and his various awards and memorabilia displayed on the wall behind him, it was a perfect setting for the interview.  Seconds into the filming Hicks described music as the universal language, and a language that runs right through Nashville, Tennessee.  Chris stopped the camera.  ”Man, that’s one of the coolest lines anyone has said yet!”  When filming resumed, the director commented on the two or three cases of harmonicas on Taylor’s writing table, prompting the musician to “bust out a riff”.  Both the line and that riff can be heard in the new documentary.  After goodbyes were said and on his way to the next interview, Chris’ phone rang.  It was Taylor Hicks calling to say thanks, and to offer any additional help that might be needed.  ”He is a class act” says McDaniel.

Hicks had hoped to attend the Phoenix premiere of Music City USA this spring, but an unexpected  scheduling conflict kept him from the screening.  There were 300 other familiar faces there, however.  Dr. Chris McDaniel’s patients came in force to support their man.  McDaniel is a practicing chiropractor who has been writing screenplays and poems, and writing songs since childhood.  He knew early in his career that he needed a creative outlet to supplement his day job, and now “I’m a chiropractor three days a week, and an artist seven days a week.”  When he’s not with his patients, Chris is behind a camera or writing at the computer.  He has authored a children’s book, The Adventures of Dusty Popsallot, a rhyming book with a moral, somewhat reminiscent of  Dr. Seuss’ work.  A second in the series is now in preparation; both books are illustrated by New York artist Dawn Josephine who is also the set decorator for Music City USA.

Music City USA is his third documentary and each has been a new learning experience.  On the first, The Heart Is a Drum Machine, Chris learned how to structure questions for the interview subjects and how to piece together a storyline.  On the second, Blood into Wine, he realized the importance of sprinkling humor into the film to break up the serious/informative feel.  While he produced both of the earlier films, Music City USA marks McDaniel’s directorial debut, and with this film he has come to appreciate the difficulty of cutting a solid two hour interview down to only a few minutes of screentime.

Clearly Chris is a quick learner.  The positive reviews for Music City USA continue to roll into his inbox.  Following the Nashville premiere, the local reviewer concluded, “Capturing its heart and soul, Chris McDaniel demonstrates the perseverance, persistence and passion he has for Music City.”  Next for the documentary come several more screenings on the festival circuit, and likely more good reviews, both in the United States and abroad.  Later this summer it is possible that the film will enjoy a small art-house theatrical run, and then will be released this fall on DVD.  Music City USA is currently available for pre-order via the official website  ($17.99 and free shipping in the continental US), and the initial pressing will be based on pre-orders received.

Two years in the making, Music City USA is ultimately a film about community, and about the strength and resilience of the people who make up that community.  ”Hands on Nashville” is an organization that places volunteers wherever they are needed, regardless of the size of that need.  During the flood, 8,000 people volunteered their services.  Three years later, with recovery well underway, Hands on Nashville now boasts 24,000 volunteers.  Amazing.  The take home message, says Chris McDaniel, is this:  ”Nashville is a place filled with artistic beauty and positive creative energy, but more importantly, it is a place that exists solely because of the caliber of people that reside there.  They believe in their town and community, and so should we all.  If Dierks Bentley and Tim McGraw can bail water and rip off drywall during a flood, think what you can do.”
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Stay up-to-date with Music City USA:

Twitter:  @music_city_usa

Facebook:  
https://www.facebook.com/musiccitymovie

Film trailer/ DVD pre-order:  
http://www.musiccitymovie.com/

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Taylor Hicks and Chris McDaniel in the American Idol’s home writing room

Chris McDaniel with Nashville star Vince Gill at Mr. Gill’s home

Mr. McDaniel’s grandmother has been an integral part of Music City USA from the beginning. She was interviewed for the film, and stands here before her “Wall of Fame” that includes messages from many of the film’s featured artists.

Photographed at the April 24 Nashville premiere of the documentary are Bo Bice, Beau Braswell, Mike Wolfe and Ty Herndon with Chris McDaniel. Bo Bice was in Atlanta with his family during premiere week, but traveled to Nashville to “support you (Chris) the way you supported our town.” Mike Wolfe had a new baby at home and only a few open days in April, but made time for the event, a gesture that left the filmmaker feeling “awesome”.

Featured artist the Oakridge Boys with Chris McDaniel

Rock artist Jack Russell with Chris McDaniel

Set decorator and book illustrator Dawn Josephine is also a jewelry designer.

Filmmaker Chris McDaniel is also a published author.

Chris McDaniel on the job; he carries about 100 lbs. of equipment wherever he goes.

Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival:: Music and The Spirit of New Jersey

Recap and photos by Richard Uznanski and Louise Uznanski for Ontapblog.

John Gorka ‘I’m From New Jersey’

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A partial John Gorka rendition of his song about being a ‘New Jerseyan.’

Driving through the green fields of Salem County on the way to the Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival in Elmer, New Jersey, one does not expect to find a music venue gem like Appel Farms amongst the bales of hay and newly plowed fields that are found in the deep southern part of the state. It’s a wide open glen with art and sculpture covered buildings that belie its location. Entering its twenty fourth year of operation, and sponsored in part by the University of Pennsylvania based radio station WXPN, Appel Farms Festival combines the best examples of art, music, food, arts education and friendship hosted by a tight knit group of tireless volunteers.

The music stands by itself. Presenting the artistry of the greats in years gone by, the two stages, The Grove and The Meadow, vibrate with overwhelmingly good talent and performances that touch all ages who for twenty four years have come together to meet the first Saturday in June for a New Jersey tradition.

Thankfully the weather made all the pieces fall into a perfect day. High temperatures and humidity did not dampen the exhilaration of moving from stage to stage for each performance and grabbing a gyro, a handmade craft or seeing a sheep shearing. It was the best of New Jersey in a single spot for a single day.

Standing in the line waiting to enter the festival, we spoke with a man who attends several WXPN festivals throughout the summer. He gave us his opinions on the artists we would see. He told us to not miss Caravan of Thieves, John Gorka and Colin Hay. And, he was right.

Caravan of Thieves was a surprising musical find.  Comprised of four pieces, the band brings their gypsy-jazz music and their animated stories to the stage. Trading in their regular instruments to play plastic and metal buckets with kitchen utensils such as wire whisks, the band exudes joy and it’s all about having a party . The group had a large and enthusiastic crowd early in the day. Songs from their albums Mischief Night and The Funhouse brought a communal feeling and their personalities set the tone for the rest of the festival. Our new friend was dead-on with this tip.

Brandi Carlile was this year’s festival headliner. Brandi is a talent who should not be underestimated. Her following of loyal fans was in full force during her set and made for a rousing close to the festival. She is a talented singer, guitar and piano player and a formidable leader of her three piece band. Her fellow band members, who look like pillars or tall bookends around the lead singer, are identical twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth. Their 2012 album Bear Creek landed in the Billboard Top 200 Album chart with a Top 10 ranking. Brandi’s set was a performance that stole the show. Saturday was Brandi’s birthday and she was presented with a special flute of champagne to which she asked, “Is there a bottle that goes with this?”

Colin Hay was a member of the successful Australian group Men at Work who had big hits with Down Under and Who Can It Be Now? in the ’80′s. Credited with eleven solo albums since the band broke up, Hay is known for his songwriting and storytelling around the world. His voice is strong as he changes up some of the band’s hits. His guitar playing was on par with the strength of his voice. He delighted the lawn full of admirers and stayed and played to a packed house well over his allotted time. We know we enjoyed his performance but his stories in between each song were more than worthwhile as well.

John Gorka is a musical troubadour and icon of folk music with many years and many words of wisdom that flow from his songs. Performing alone with a few simple guitars, Mr. Gorka strummed and sang to a fully engaged audience who seemed to have heard him many, many times before. These were four of our  favorites of the festival, for sure, and rounding out the festival was the following:

Delta Spirit, a hard working rock band whose 2012 self-titled album reached number 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, provided the diversion from folk music the younger fans who clung to the barrier by the stage were seeking. Delta Rae released an album a year ago titled Carry The Fire and have been touring their American pop/Gospel/bluegrass sound and writing in the studio with Lindsey Buckingham. Low Cut Connie features New Jersey’s Adam Weiner who plays piano often while standing up or crouching on the piano stool. Bringing to mind a young Jerry Lee Lewis, Weiner and his band mates bring real rock-and-roll to their audiences. Joe Crookston is a folk artist who says he hates folk music unless it is Joe Crookston’s folk music. Pleasant and entertaining, Crookston was accompanied by Peter Glanville, a local musician. Completing the bill was Iris Dement, a traditional country music singer-songwriter; Aoife O’Donovan, who has just recently gone solo and is known for her strong vocal ability; Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution, combines the sounds of New Orleans, rock-and-roll and classic rock.

Individually, the festival had music for everyone.  As a whole, the festival goers found music they would not have considered before and found that there was nothing they did not enjoy. That is what being in the farmlands of southern New Jersey does to you especially when you go to Appel Farm Arts and Music Festival. You are filled with a spirit and music is the driving force. All are accepted and enjoyed. All are greeted with reverence and joy. And the gyros and sheep shearing add that extra special touch. Looking forward to more next year and hoping for another perfect day of music and sunshine.

Festival Photo Gallery includes 24 images of the artists, the audience and the day!

Greenwich Town Party: Awash with Good Will

Before the headliner was introduced, idea man Ray Dalio took the stage to thank the sponsors, organizers, volunteers and attendees of the Greenwich Town Party.  He briefly explained the genesis of the music festival, now in its third year.  On a visit to Spain, Mr. Dalio and his wife had been impressed by the strong community spirit they found in each small town.  Town parties are common, he recalled, some more elaborate than others.  One fun-loving town goes no farther than the garden to guarantee a good time.  That’s right – food fight!  The entire town hurls ripe tomatoes at each other in a wet, slushy celebration of summer.  Community spirit – Ray latched onto the concept, but not the tomatoes.

This year the Greenwich Town Party was equally wet, but no vegetables were harmed in a day-long celebration of music and community.  It rained continuously, alternating between a light, chilly mist and sheets of water that made puddles on and off the stage.  Boots, rain jackets, hats and gloves left only faces uncovered, highlighting the brightly colored butterflies painted on the children’s cheeks and their chocolate smiles.  It was a good day, a very good day under the umbrellas and at the stage where the crowd grew in number throughout the afternoon, bonded to their neighbors by the music and the rain.

The music was excellent, the barbecue outstanding and the company first class.  The weather proved a minor inconvenience, and a ready source of both conversation and survivalist pride.  During James Taylor’s closing set, the rain fell harder than it had all day, and still he sang, pausing between tunes to wipe down his guitar and shake the water from his cap.  The crowd stayed the course as well, smiling broadly through the raindrops at “Carolina in My Mind”, the song rendered in Taylor’s distinctive voice, smooth and familiar, and supported by back-up vocal harmonies that were beautifully blended.  When he later covered a pair of Carole King songs including “You’ve Got a Friend”, the crowd spontaneously sang along, uninvited but with genuine warmth and enjoyment.

During Blues Traveler’s set the sun suddenly appeared and there was an audible reaction from the crowd gathered at the stage.  John Popper was quick to claim credit for the break in the weather, then appeared perplexed when the rain returned.  He later joked on Twitter, “We were worshiped as sun gods until it rained again & then they consumed Ben (keys player Ben Wilson) entirely raw until nothing remained!”  Nah, but we ate up the music!  John’s gritty, soulful vocals offered favorites old and new, including selections from 2012 album Suzie Cracks the Whip.  His harmonica played an integral role in the band’s instrumentals, delivering and enhancing the melody line.

No one encapsulated the day’s theme of community friendship and fun more than Michael Franti.  He was everywhere, stage right, left, front and then suddenly he was in the midst of the crowd with a guitar in his hands, encouraging a willing audience to crouch down low and then jump up high.  There were smiles everywhere when Franti hoisted a young boy onto his shoulders and later invited all the children onto the stage for a closing performance of “Say Hey (I Love You)”.  And they did…love him.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue played a lively, dynamic set that began on the main stage and finished on the town stage when wind and rain necessitated repairs.  Troy (Trombone Shorty) and band moved Pied Piper style to the second platform where they continued to play funky, jazzy, horn centric music that had the crowd in motion, including a young family at the back whose unchoreographed dance signaled unbridled enthusiasm (and loose joints).  His vocals were clear and pleasant and well phrased; a first listen to Trombone Shorty was a good start, but not nearly enough.

We had a grand time and made new friends in Greenwich on Saturday, and I learned something important about the town and its people.  They have spirit and spunk and rain gear.  They’d probably be willing to throw a tomato or two. Next year, Ray?

The Harlem Gospel Choir – first to the main stage with bright, energetic vocals and movement

Blues Traveler band – a family affair with one Kinchla brother on bass, the second on guitar

Fan favorite Michael Franti and friend strolling the grounds

John Popper of Blues Traveler – two mic man

Headliner James Taylor – wet and wonderful

Projection screens visbile from land and water…through the water!

Trombone Shorty – rocked our boat

Our spirits were up, too, at the Greenwich Town Party.

Photo Focus Plus:: Taylor Hicks Covers His Idol

By Louise Uznanski for Ontapblog.  

©2013 Ontapblog All Rights Reserved

Before Bally’s, and before his current residency at Paris Las Vegas, Taylor Hicks toured the country for long stretches of time in a Prevost bus.  One of those May 2011 road shows stands out for me.  Taylor covered a song by Irish singer-songwriter and musician Van Morrison, and at the end of the performance had a story to tell.  He recalled a scheduled appearance on Live with Regis and Kelly, and why his performance was canceled.  Watch to the end of the video below to hear Taylor share the story of being ‘bumped’ for his idol, Van Morrison.

As a fan who was fortunate enough to have tickets for Regis and Kelly that day, I will long remember the look on Taylor’s face as he watched his ultimate idol sing “Brown Eyed Girl”.  Taylor’s performance of “What’s Right Is Right” was then taped; Van Morrison and band watched from the wings.  How lucky was I to see both of these events, a television show and concert connected by Taylor Hicks’ passion for the blues and the music of Van Morrison?  The Glens Falls, New York show took place two years ago this month.  Taylor performed the following acoustic rendition of Van Morrison’s “Rough God Goes Riding”.  It remains a favorite.

Photo Focus: Victoria Shaw and Jim Brickman at Birdland

By Louise Uznanski for OnTapBlog.

©2013 OnTapBlog All Rights Reserved

Songwriters Jim Brickman and Victoria Shaw at Birdland Jazz Club, NYC, 4/22/13. Photo by Louise Uznanski.

Birdland is a small, refined and intimate club near Times Square and on select Monday nights during the year the club hosts Nashville songwriter Victoria Shaw and other guests and friends of the headliner. Earlier in the year, Victoria shared the stage with country music songwriters Chely Wright and Gary Burr. If that was not memorable enough, a Cast Party was held after the show where singers unite from Broadway, jazz and rock clubs all over the city to entertain the ‘after the show’ crowd. In attendance that night was Bette Midler who is collaborating with Victoria on new music for a CD Ms. Midler is recording. Gary Burr was his usual extraordinarily wonderful self, singing and playing guitar on songs co-penned with Victoria in Nashville.

Last Monday night, Victoria again graced the Birdland stage bringing her original music written for the likes of Garth Brooks (The River),and John Michael Montgomery (I Love The Way You Love Me) and many tunes co-written and produced for numerous artists in Nashville and for her own CDs.

This Monday night became even more of a specialty when Jim Brickman, Victoria’s writing partner, was welcomed to the stage. The music produced by these two ‘dream team writers’ is a list too long to reproduce here. Suffice it to say, when these two writers and singers get together on stage it is a history lesson in pop country music and a labor of love presenting those songs they were instrumental in producing wrapped into a songfest of the friendliest kind.

Also brought to the stage was Broadway star Michael Eldred whose voice bounded to the back walls of the venue and then returned from behind our heads and caressed our ears with his bountiful joy in singing a special song.

Photo Focus: Michael Franti and Spearhead

By Louise Uznanski for OnTapBlog.  Photograph of Michael Franti at 2011 Life Is Good Festival by Richard Uznanski.

©2013 All Rights Reserved

Charismatic and caring, hair braided under a hat, tattooed and barefoot, Michael Franti with his band Spearhead and their Jamaican influenced rock and ‘sunshine’ music have become the music festival favorites for their ability to communicate with their diverse audiences. Seeing Michael for the first time at the 2011 Life is good Festival, he was captivating and full of hope and joy. Beach balls are an integral part of Michael’s connection to the audience as he walks and serenades the audience and they play musical beach ball volleyball and hoisting him above their shoulders to return him to the stage.

The Sound of Sunshine, the new album by Michael Franti and Spearhead has been described as a musical sun shower. Michael feels that music can almost instantly chemically change an entire mood. He does not chase success but a hit song, Say Hey (I Love You), from the 2008 album All Rebel Rockers, shot to the top 40 on Billboard 200. Receiving a text about the song’s success while being wheeled into surgery made Michael quip, ‘I have a hit and I might not live to enjoy it!”

Currently on tour (Tour schedule) to promote his new CD The Sound of Sunshine and making his way through the festival circuit, Michael is keeping busy as an author (Where in the World is Away?) and as an Ambassador for Care. In his touring travels, Michael has acquired quite a collection of badges he wears proudly on his humble t-shirt reflecting his love of humanity, music and going barefoot onstage. You can just see Say Hey (I Love You) oozing from his skin.

Photo Focus: Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds

by Holley Dey

Arleigh Kincheloe at Telluride Jazz Celebration 2012.  The Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds front woman has the smooth moves to match her smooth, bluesy vocals and an eight piece soul/funk band that consistently finds the groove.  The band’s busy 2012 touring schedule ended at New York’s Beacon Theatre where The Dirty Birds opened for Gov’t Mule and were joined on stage by Warren Haynes.

On the road again, Sister Sparrow returns to Telluride on Saturday, April 6 for a 9:30 pm show at Fly Me to the Moon Saloon.   There could be a few new tunes on the set list; the band just finished recording a new EP with direction by musician, producer and American Idol judge Randy Jackson.  The release date is yet to be announced.

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© 2013 OnTapBlog All rights reserved

Jamie McLean on Stage, on the Road, in the Studio and soon on DVD

By Holley Dey for OnTapBlog. Photos by Louise Uznanski and Richard Uznanski.

© 2013 OnTapBlog. All Rights Reserved.

Last week the Jamie McLean Band played seven shows in five days and that included a Sunday evening set at trendy Arlene’s Grocery on the Lower East Side.  Fast forward to Monday afternoon and Jamie was on the road again, on the phone again, and sounding a little tired.  It’s a grueling schedule, isn’t it?  ”Yeah,” he said, “but when I get on stage, I get energy.  I feel well, and it’s the only thing I want to be doing.”

It shows; the Band’s commitment to live music performance is clear in every show, reflected in Jamie’s fiery guitar play, in drummer Brian Griffin’s earnest intensity and bass player Ben Mars’ funk-filled, driving groove.  When the energy builds, when Ben and Jamie leave separate orbits to collide center stage in an explosion of sound and intentional fury, it’s an electric moment worth revisiting.

The good news is that those moments will soon be available on DVD.  The Band’s first live recording session was also videotaped at the Gibson Showroom in New York City.  Live at Gibson will be released late summer or fall 2013, with DVD pre-orders to be accepted later this spring.  Featuring the Band’s original music and with guest contributions from American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and keys man Jason Crosby, the thirteen music tracks are currently available on CD here.  Leading into the DVD release, expect to enjoy teasers with select interview tidbits and behind the scenes footage shared from the Gibson recording session.

Not long after that session, Jamie McLean headed west where he and drummer Brian Griffin joined Taylor Hicks for a 2012 residency at Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel, performing rock, blues and country soul five nights weekly to enthusiastic crowds in the Indigo Room.  It was a good experience; the band clicked, and Jamie enjoyed the on stage give and take with the Idol winner.  His only regret is that he could not interact more with local area musicians.  Away from the stage, Jamie spent most days in his hotel room writing new music, with time set aside for golf as well.  Some of that music, including new songs “Holding On” and “Virginia”, may be included on a new album planned for the end of this calendar year.

The Band has already laid down tracks in New Orleans with Ivan Neville, Anders Osborne and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band; those tunes are complete and ready to go.  Jamie was in studio last month, and will record again in May.  He’s in no hurry, though.  There’s a DVD to release, touring to do and music to enjoy before the next album drops at the right time, and on the right label.

He’s a musician, but Jamie McLean is also a music fan.  He’ll travel to New Orleans for Jazz Fest, where he had planned to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the audience, but will now go face-to-face with the crowd from the stage at Tipitina’s and The Howlin’ Wolf (schedule to be announced).  New Orleans is one city where Jamie would readily sign onto a long-term residency.  It’s got Las Vegas party, he says, but also has a vibrant culture and a history that are all its own.

The Jamie McLean Band continues on tour this spring with dates in Virginia the first week of April, and with multiple east coast dates planned this summer.  The updated tour schedule is here.  While these are solo tour dates, Jamie is open to the possibility of touring with another artist following the release of the Band’s next album.  He wouldn’t mind breaking some hearts, for example, with Tom Petty.  Sounds good; wouldn’t mind runnin’ down that dream when it’s summertime on Main Street.  Not at all.

The following photographs were captured at the Jamie McLean Band’s March 30 show at North Star Bar in Philadelphia.

Following Photos by Louise Uznanski

Following Photos by Richard Uznanski