Lots of musicians are given proposals, but not always quite like this.
Maybe the music has inspired men to get down on one knee at Ryan Montbleau’s shows. With his heartfelt lyrics setting the tone, Montbleau’s songs have created a backdrop to over six marriage proposals in the last ten years. Lyrics like “I want to fall in love…I want to learn to love everything” from his song “Chariot” make it easy to imagine why Montbleau’s music has brought couples together. Just last week Montbleau had two proposals at one show.
“They wanted us to be a part of that moment for them,” he said.
Thoughtful lyrics like those that stretch across the love song “Chariot” have wed Montbleau to a devoted following, a faithful fan base accumulated over his ten-year career as a professional artist. Montbleau writes with raw emotion and his honesty seems to draw people in.
“Maybe it’s the simplicity of it,” he added.
And yet the word simplicity – though perhaps offered out of modesty – is wide of the mark. Montbleau’s music is anything but simple.
Montbleau hails from Peabody, Mass. It was there, at the age of eight, he was given his first guitar.
Yet it wasn’t until he was studying at Villanova University in Pennsylvania that Montbleau began singing and playing guitar with a view to a musical career. The chemistry he makes with his audience may be different from what he did in the lab as a chemical engineering major, but then again there’s a reason the language of love is described in the terms of chemistry.
Each year Montbleau and his band of six Boston-based musicians average 160 to 200 shows. He has no plans to slow down. It seems for Montbleau, his earnest and drive has paid off.
“It’s been slow but constant growth and discovery,” Montbleau said. “It took some crazy drive.”
Montbleau is inspired by a melting pot of influences that translate into his music. His eight albums show a tremendous amount of range in genre and sound by combining a mix of reggae, blues, and folk into a smooth and soulful genre of its own. Perhaps because of the diversity of his sound and eclectic nature of his influences, Montbleau believes picking only one favorite song from his discography would be like asking a parent to pick a favorite child; but he confesses he often feels a strong attachment to whichever song is his newest creation.
“Some songs really hit close to the bone,” he said. “When you write a song, it’s definitely yours for a little while before you let it out in the world.”
While his 2010 album Heavy On the Vine allowed for more exploration of sound, Montbleau’s most recent album – For Higher – was born of a rather different creative process. To record For Higher, Montbleau took his biggest leap of faith yet and moved to New Orleans to begin playing with a band he’d just met.
Montbleau began in New Orleans by contributing songs to Backatown, an album by trombone and trumpet player Trombone Shorty. It was in connection with that project that he caught the attention of producer Ben Ellman. Ellman, formerly a saxophonist for the New Orleans funk and jazz band Galactic, went on to produce For Higher, as well as Montbleau’s newest album, set to be released early next year.
After a full year of recording and touring, Montbleau is enjoying some time at home in Massachusetts. Currently living in Lawrence, he’s less than an hour drive from his hometown of Peabody.
“I love being home,” he said. “I definitely appreciate it now more than I used to.”
While home, Montbleau and his band will continue to play a full schedule of shows. After a June performance at Bonnaroo, he returns to join in the Lowell Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park on August 2.
“We’re psyched to do Boarding House Park,” Montbleau said. “It has a great stage and it’s kind of hometown for us.”
In the run-up to a busy summer, Montbleau is enjoying a change of pace, playing solo acoustic shows at more intimate venues here on the East Coast before plunging back into full band sets.
“I love being able to do both,” Montbleau said. “With a band people are partying, going crazy, and dancing and stuff — you can harness it.”
Harnessing the energy of his crowds isn’t going to be a problem for Montbleau. Making time during the show for those who want to get hitched, however, could be.
“If it keeps happening I might start having to say no,” he said in jest.
Or maybe not. Either way, Montbleau’s performances are keeping audiences engaged.
Paul Bielatowicz is best known for his virtuoso guitar work with some of the biggest names in progressive rock. He’s played, recorded and toured with the likes of Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Asia), Neal Morse (Spock’s Beard, Transatlantic), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big), and Les Paul… to name just a few. Bielatowicz recently finished a three and a half month world tour with The Carl Palmer Band and has been taking a little time off in New Bedford, Mass., to work on his debut solo album Preludes & Etudes.
The concept of the album is simple – to present the electric guitar in its purest form, as a modern classical instrument.
“For as long as I can remember, ever since I was a small child, I’ve had a dream – to play the guitar with the skill and musicality of a classical virtuoso, while maintaining the purity of the instrument’s natural tone,” said Bielatowicz. “I’ve done everything I can to make Preludes & Etudes the realization of that dream.”
The album is a collection of classical showpieces played almost exactly as the composers intended, but with one small difference – an electric guitar takes the place of violin, piano or whatever the original solo instrument might have been. The content ranges from breathtakingly virtuosic with some of classical music’s most challenging repertoire, to hauntingly beautiful with lyrical pieces such as Debussy’s “Clair de lune” – all played as you’ve never heard them before.
Much of the album’s music was considered by many to be impossible on the guitar – pieces such as Chopin’s notorious “Op.10 Etudes,” which are a challenge for even the most consummate concert pianist, never mind a guitarist; Paganini’s infamous “5th Caprice,” Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee,” J.S. Bach’s “Toccata & Fugue in D Minor,” the third movement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”…these are just few of the 19 pieces that make this perhaps one of the most virtuosic guitar albums you’ll ever come across.
Preludes & Etudes is the result of three years’ blood, sweat and the occasional tear.
“I spent a month or so working on each piece – painstakingly arranging it and then practicing it until my fingers were raw,” said Bielatowicz. “To be honest, there were quite a few moments where I thought a number of pieces were just going to be impossible on guitar.”
While studying at a music college, Bielatowicz set himself a strict 10-hour per day practice routine, a schedule he would return to during the making of this album.
“There were periods in most months when I’d lock myself away for entire weeks at a time – that was the only way I was ever going to manage to get this material under my fingers, to a standard where it as ready to perform and record,” he said. “I wanted to present the electric guitar as a serious classical instrument, in my opinion that’s never really been done before.”
“I approached the recording process in the same way a classical musician would – trying to get the purest tone from my instrument and capturing each performance so that the listener feels like they’re right there in the room with me,” he continued. “What you hear is just a guitar, a cable and an old valve amp. No microchips, distortion pedals or effects were allowed anywhere near the album and I used as little gain on the amp as possible to maintain the purity of the guitar’s natural tone, giving the listener as honest a performance as possible. Preludes & Etudes is all about the playing and the natural tone of the instrument. It’s is a celebration of the electric guitar in its purest form, and an attempt to raise its perception to that of a classical instrument.”
Although the majority of the album is a solo effort, with Bielatowicz being credited with all the accompanying orchestral arrangements and piano parts, he did call upon a couple of very talented friends to make contributions. Fellow Carl Palmer Band member Simon Fitzpatrick makes an appearance on four tracks, his virtuoso solo bass accompaniments complimenting Bielatowicz’s guitar parts so perfectly that there are points where it’s difficult to say which instrument is taking the lead. Moreover, the album has been mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser – a household name in progressive rock circles. His decades of studio experience and love of traditional analogue equipment have been put to great use in producing crystal clear mixes that allow the music to breath, putting the listener right at the center of the performance.
Bielatowicz decided not to work with a record company for this album, opting instead to produce and fund it himself.
“The music industry is going through a very exciting transition at the moment,” he said. “The demise of the major label system has given smaller independent artists much more freedom and the chance to make a career for themselves. The result is a massive variety of fresh, original and exciting music.”
To help fund production and manufacturing costs, Bielatowicz is launching a pre-sale campaign, offering supporters incentives such as signed copies of the album, limited edition merchandise items, signature guitar picks and even the opportunity to have their names listed in the credits as “Executive Producer”. To make a donation, visit http://igg.me/at/paulbielatowicz.
When Dave Davies of The Kinks recently decided to go on his first solo tour in nearly a decade, he needed the perfect backing band. He turned to The Jigsaw Seen, an LA-based rock group that helped him write his latest album, “I Will Be Me,” which is set for national release June 4.
Members of the band, guitarist Jonathan Lea, along with bassist Tom Currier and drummer Teddy Freese, are joining Davies on a short tour of the U.S., including a show at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, Mass., on June 2. They’ll be performing songs from the new album, plus Kinks classics.
“It’s a good mix, but it’s Kinks heavy,” said Lea, who will be sharing guitar duties with Davies. “Tom will also play piano on a few songs and I’ll switch to bass. We mix it up.”
Lea, a lifelong fan of The Kinks, has been working with Davies since 2000 after a mutual friend recommended they collaborate. Considering the fact that the first song he learned on guitar was “All Day and All of the Night,” Lea said it is surreal to be working with the music legend who made it popular in 1964.
“One day, I got a call and a woman said, ‘Dave Davies would like to speak to Jonathan,’ and I was like, ‘really?’ He came on and said, ‘I’m doing this tour. Do you want to come?’ I couldn’t believe it,” Lea said. “When you’re working with someone like that you have to play it cool, but even after 13 years I think, ‘this is unbelievable.’ It’s still a pretty incredible feeling. Growing up, The Kinks to me were just amazing. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Through the years, Lea has learned that Davies is down to earth and easy to deal with. Davies has been known to ask The Jigsaw Seen for input, such as the case with their latest joint efforts, “The Healing Boy” and “Midnight In LA,” which appear on “I Will Be Me.”
“He sent us a demo and we just kind of flushed it out,” Lea said of “Midnight In LA.” “We recorded what we thought sounded good and he really liked the drum sound and other elements we added.”
About a month or two later, Davies sent them “The Healing Boy.” Currier laid down bass and piano tracks, and Lea recorded electric sitar parts for the song.
“We weren’t sure what Dave was going to think because we ended up with a John Lennon/George Harrison kind of feel to it, but he really liked it,” Lea said. “I’ve always loved the sound. Even as a kid, my favorite Beatle songs are the George Harrison ones with the sitar. We were happy that everything worked out well. The album sounds great.”
For the last few weeks, they’ve been rehearsing as a full band, arranging songs from the new album.
“We have to make a few alterations for the live versions because the production is pretty elaborate on the album,” Lea said.
Aside from working with Davies, The Jigsaw Seen has been writing songs for a new album of their own, which they hope to release by January 2014. It will be their latest studio recording since “Gifted” in 2011.
Lea, who co-founded The Jigsaw Seen more than 20 years ago, said he loves being a part of the band because it gives them artistic freedom.
“To us, it feels like an art project,” he said. “We would do it even if the records weren’t released. It’s a creative outlet and I like doing it because we can do whatever we want. With The Jigsaw Seen, we can do any crazy idea we have.”
That creativity extends all the way to album packaging. In 2000, they released “Zenith,” which was nominated for a Grammy for its packaging. The CD has a 1940s-style TV on the front, with a moveable disc. Other albums like “Gifted” came gift-wrapped, while “Winterland” was printed in silver ink with printed snowflakes inside.
“To me, art and music is all the same,” Lea said. “As a kid, all the bands I loved were pretty artsy. I always loved staring at the packaging and analyze it as much as I could. We keep that going.”
They also plan to keep their partnership with Davies going, as Lea said Davies has a knack for captivating crowds. He anticipates the show at the Narrows will be “a lot of fun.”
“Whether he’s playing for 500 people or thousands, he goes on stage and just turns it on. He just has that quality,” said Lea. “We’ve played the area before and have done a lot of shows in Massachusetts with Davies through the years, so we’re really looking forward to seeing people on this tour and meeting fans.”
Tickets to Dave Davies of The Kinks can be purchased online at http://www.narrowscenter.org or by calling the box office at 508-324-1926. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the box office. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. or on the day of the show
Pink Floyd ticket stub for May 6, 1988 @ Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, MA
By JAY KENNEY
It’s hard to believe that 25 years ago, on May 6, 1988, I saw my first concert – Pink Floyd at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Although I was very young, it was an incredible show that I’ll never forgot. Since then, I’ve attended no less than 452 concerts. In honor of my first show, I decided to compile a list of all of them by going through my ticket stubs. (Yes, this took forever to do). Leading the list is Dream Theater who I’ve seen 16 times, followed by Yes and Jethro Tull (14 times each) and Rush (13). If you’re interested, check out the list below. If you were at any of them, feel free to comment. (Please note that these were only the shows I had actual ticket stubs for. There are probably a few missing.)
1988
May 6 – Pink Floyd, Sullivan Stadium
1989
June 30 – Bon Jovi with Skid Row, Great Woods
August 6 – Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, Great Woods
August 13 – Tesla with Great White & Badlands, Great Woods
November 1 – Jethro Tull with It Bites, Providence Civic Center
1990
January 10 – Aerosmith with Skid Row, Providence Civic Center
May 7 – Rush with Mr. Big, Providence Civic Center
June 27 – Whitesnake with Faster Pussycat, Great Woods
July 4 – Ten Years After with Nazareth & Blackfoot, Great Woods
July 13 – Heart with Giant, Graet Woods
November 14 – Fleetwood Mac, Providence Civic Center
1991
January 12 – Judas Priest with Megadeth, Providence Civic Center
April 19 – Scorpions with Great White & Trixter, Providence Civic Center
July 18 – Yes, Great Woods
July 19 – Stevie Nicks with Billy Falcon, Great Woods
July 30 – Queensryche with Suicidal Tendencies, Providence Civic Cener
September 1 – ZZ Top with Extreme, Great Woods
November 7 – Jethro Tull with Chrissy Steele, Providence Civic Center
December 9 – Rush with Vinnie Moore, Providence Civic Center
1992
February 29 – Metallica, Providence Civic Center
June 17 – Rush with Mr. Big, Great Woods
June 19 – Crosby, Stills and Nash with Michael Hedges, Great Woods
July 29 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer with Bonham, Great Woods
August 22 – Steve Miller Band with Curtis Stalgado & the Stilletos, Great Woods
1993
January 30 – Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Providence Performing Arts Center
May 15 – Dream Theater, Rocky Point Palladium
June 6 – Glenn Frey & Joe Walsh, Great Woods
June 19 – Peter Gabriel with Papa Wemba, Centrum in Worcester
June 24 – Steve Miller Band with Paul Rodgers & Co., Great Woods
July 19 – Moody Blues with the Great Woods Festival Orchestra, Great Woods
August 5 – Crosby & Nash, Warwick Musical Theatre
August 23 – Neil Young & Booker T & The MG’s with Soundgarden & Blind Melon, Great Woods
August 26 – Aerosmith with 4 Non Blondes, Great Woods
August 28 – Jethro Tull with Procol Harum, Great Woods
November 6 – Billy Joel, Centrum in Worcester
1994
May 1 – Rush with Candlebox, Providence Civic Center
May 20 – Pink Floyd, Foxboro Stadium
May 21 – ZZ Top with George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Centrum in Worcester
June 2 – Yes, Great Woods
June 17 – Meatloaf with Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, Great Woods
June 25 – Moody Blues with Great Woods Festival Orchestra, Great Woods
July 14 – Steve Miller Band, Great Woods
July 22 – Stevie Nicks with Darden Smith, Great Woods
July 29 – Bad Company with Mama Kettle and Fortune, The Strand
August 11 – Traffic with Subdudes, Great Woods
August 15 – Crosby, Stills & Nash with Fleetwood Mac, Great Woods
August 16 – Crosby, Stills & Nash with Fleetwood Mac, Great Woods
August 23 – Foreigner & Doobie Brothers, Great Woods
August 24 – Steely Dan, Great Woods
October 6 – Steve Howe, The Strand
1995
June 2 – King Crimson with California Guitar Trio, Orpheum Theater
July 13 – Black Sabbath with Motorhead and Tiamat, Great Woods
July 16 – Queensryche with Type O Negative, Great Woods
July 30 – Procol Harum with Jefferson Starship and Steppenwolf, South Shore Music Circus
August 8 – Van Halen with Skid Row and Our Lady Peace, Great Woods
August 14 – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with Peter Droge, Great Woods
October 23 – Page & Plant with Tragically Hip, Fleetcenter
November 11 – Jethro Tull, Orpheum Theater
1996
March 2 – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band with John Hiatt, Providence Civic Center
June 16 – Moody Blues with World Festival Orchestra, Great Woods
June 20 – Styx with Kansas, Great Woods
June 21 – Ozzy Osbourne with Filter and Prong, Great Woods
June 30 – Crosby, Stills & Nash & Chicago, Great Woods
August 3 – Scorpions & Alice Cooper with Black #9, Great Woods
August 14 – Alanis Morissette with Radiohead, Great Woods
August 21 – Neil Young & Crazy Horse with Jewel and Afghan Whigs, Great Woods
August 26 – Jethro Tull with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Great Woods
September 8 – AC/DC with Alley Boys, Centrum in Worcester
October 24 – ZZ Top with Reverend Horton Heat, Centrum in Worcester
1997
February 21 – Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow with Great White, The Strand
June 11 – Moody Blues with World Festival Orchestra, Great Woods
June 14 – OZZfest ’97 (featuring Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, and others), Great Woods
June 16 – Motley Crue, Orpheum Theater
June 18 – ZZ Top with Cheap Trick, Great Woods
June 23 – Rush, Great Woods
June 27 – Styx with Pat Benatar, Great Woods
July 10 – Justin Hayward with Bruce Marshall Band, The Strand
August 2 – Queensryche with Dirty Larry, Great Woods
August 3 – Tina Tuner with Dakota Range, Great Woods
August 5 – Chicago, Warwick Musical Theater
August 9 – Jethro Tull with Bruce Marshall Band, The Strand
October 12 – Steve Winwood, Orpheum Theater
October 18 – Yes, Orpheum Theater
October 25 – Grand Funk Railroad, Orpheum Theater
1998
June 12 – Stevie Nicks with Boz Scaggs, Great Woods
June 14 – Moody Blues with World Festival Orchestra, Great Woods
June 28 – ProjeKCt Two: A King Crimson ProjeKCt, Somerville Theatre
June 30 – Yes with Alan Parsons Project, Haborlights
July 9 – OZZfest ’98 (featuring The Original Black Sabbath, TOOL, Megadeth and others), Great Woods
July 14 – Jimmy Page & Robert Plant with Lily Haydn, Great Woods
July 28 – Jefferson Starship, Madeira Field
August 8 – Deep Purple with Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Dream Theater, Great Woods
August 9 – Kansas, Heritage Park
November 13 – KISS with Econoline Crush, Fleetcenter
December 28 – Dream Theater, Toad’s Place
1999
February 2 – (The Original) Black Sabbath with Pantera and Deftones, Fleet Center April 30 – Blue Oyster Cult, The Station May 14 – Kansas, Foxwoods Casino May 29 – Dave Matthews Band with Santana & The Roots, Foxboro Stadium June 12 – John Mellencamp with Son Volt, Tweeter Center June 16- OzzFest ’99 (featuring The Original Black Sabbath, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Slayer, Primus, Godsmack, System of a Down, etc.), Tweeter Center June 20 – Journey & Foreigner, Tweeter Center June 23 – J. Geils Band with Toots and the Maytals, Tweeter Center June 26 – Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart, Cape Cod Melody Tent June 30 – (The Original) Bad Company with David Lee Roth, Tweeter Center July 6 – Motely Crue & Scorpions with Flash Bastard, Tweeter Center July 15 – Poison & Ratt with Great Whie & LA Guns, Tweeter Center July 18 – Iron Maiden with Cluth, Orpheum Theater July 27 – Jewel, Tweeter Center August 4 – Roger Waters, Tweeter Center August 23 – Jeff Beck with Johnny Lang, Tweeter Center August 26 – Jethro Tull with Vyktoria Pratt Keating, Bank Boston Pavilion October 9 – ZZ Top with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Worcester Centrum Centre October 16 – Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes, Worcester Centrum Center October 20 – Robert Palmer, Orpheum Theater November 12 – Blue Oyster Cult, Bob’ Grill & Pub December 3 – Queensryche with Caroline’s Spine, Orpheum Theater December 5 – Queensryche, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel December 11 – Yes, Orpheum Theater
2000
January 22 – ZZ Top with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Providence Civic Center
February 27 – Dream Theater with Dixie Dregs, The Roxy
May 27 – WBCN River Rave (featuring Stone Temple Pilots, Godsmack, Cypress Hill, and others), Foxboro Stadium
May 30 – Styx & REO Speedwagon and Eddie Money, Tweeter Center
June 13 – KISS with Ted Nugent and Skid Row, Tweeter Center
June 30 – Metallica with Korn, Kid Rock, Powerman 5000 and System of a Down, Foxboro Stadium
July 2 – Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes with Kenny Wayne Shephard, Tweeter Center
July 3 – The Who with UnAmerican, Tweeter Center
July 8 – Poison & Cinderella with Dokken & Slaughter, Tweeter Center
July 20 – Def Leppard with UnBand, Tweeter Center
July 21 – Yes with Kansas, FleetBoston Pavilion
July 23 – Jethro Tull, Meadowbrook Farm
July 25 – Jefferson Starship with Quicksilver, Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
July 30 – Ozzfest ’00 (featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Godsmack, Incubus, Static X, Methods of Mayhem, P.O.D., Queens of the Stone Age…Kittie, Disturbed and others), Tweeter Center
August 2 – Santana with Macy Gray, Tweeter Center
August 6 – Iron Maiden with Queensryche & Halford, Tweeter Center
August 14 – Dixie Dregs with Steve Morse Band, The Roxy
August 19 – John Fogarty with Aaron Neville & Dr. John, Tweeter Center
October 8 – AC/DC wtih Slash’s Snakepit, FleetCenter
November 21 – King Crimson, Orpheum Theater
December 1 – WBRU’s 31st Birthday Bash (featuring Collective Soul, Dust for Life and Dexter Freebish)
2001
March 2 – Godsmack with Staind, Cold & Systematic, Worcester Centrum
May 25 – Robert Plant with Taproot Rockers, Orpheum Theater
May 26 – WBCN River Rave ’01 featuring Marilyn Manson, Aerosmith, Black Crowes, Live, Green Day, The Cult, System Of A Down, Everlast, Sevendust, Lifehouse, Dropkick Murphys, Coldplay, American Hi-Fi), Foxboro Stadium
June 16 – Lynyrd Skynyrd with Deep Purple & Ted Nudgent, Tweeter Center
June 17 – Dave Matthews Band with Macy Gray, Foxboro Stadium
July 7 – Poison with Warrant, Quiet Riot & Enuff Z Nuff, Tweeter Center
July 11 – A Walk Down Abbey Road with Ann Wilson, Alan Parsons and Todd Rundren, Fleet Boston Pavilion
July 14 – Stevie Nicks with Sheryl Crow & Jeffrey Gaines, Tweeter Center
July 24 – Collective Soul with Seven Channels, Lupos
July 25 – Tribe of Judah with Luxx, The Station
August 4 – Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, featuring Ringo Starr, Roger Hodgson, Ian Hunter, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera, Fleet Boston Pavilion
August 8 – Ozzfest 2001 featuring Black Sabbath, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Lincoln Park, Disturbed, Tweeter Center
August 23 – Tribe of Judash with Econoline Crush, Hatchshell
August 24 – Jethro Tull with Willy Porter, Cape Cod Melody Tent
August 31 – Yes (Symphonic), Fleet Boston Pavilion
September 14 – The Guess Who with Joe Cocker, Tweeter Center
September 21 – Tool with Fantomas, Tweeter Center
September 29 – The Black Crowes with Beachwood Sparks, Providence Performing Arts Center
November 1 – Alice Cooper with Lennon, Orpheum Theater
November 20 – Queensryche, Orpheum Theater
December 8 – King Crimson with John Paul Jones, Orpheum Theater
2002
January 2 – Dokken with $ky High, The Station
February 14 – Judas Priest with Anthrax, Orpheum Theater
March 2 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, FleetCenter
March 22 – Dream Theater, Orpheum Theater
May 18 – Dennis DeYoung, Wolf Den
June 11 – Foreigner and Bad Company with Joe Bonamassa, Fleet Boston Pavilion
June 26 – Deep Purple & Scorpions with Dio, Tweeter Center
July 12 – Rush, Tweeter Center
July 21 – A Walk Down Abbey Road, Cape Cod Melody Tent
July 25 – Creed with Jerry Cantrell and 12 Stones, Tweeter Center
July 26 – The Who with Robert Plant, Tweeter Center
August 2 – Yes, Tweeter Center
August 3 – Area 2 Festival featuring Moby and David Bowie, Tweeter Center
August 22 – Aerosmith with Kid Rock and Run DMC, Tweeter Center
August 25 – Jethro Tull, Fleet Boston Pavilion
August 28 – Sammy Hager and David Lee Roth, Tweeter Center
September 12 – Dream Theater & Joe Satrini with King’s X, Fleet Boston Pavilion
September 27 – The Who with Counting Crows, Tweeter Center
October 12 – Korn with Disturbed and Trust Co., Tweeter Center
October 15 – Stone Temple Pilots, Orpheum Theater
October 28 – Rush, FleetCenter
October 31 – Alice Cooper with Light White Motorcade, Orpheum Theater
November 11 – Tribe of Judah, Jarrod’s Place
November 25 – Peter Gabriel with the Blind Boys of Alabama, Fleet Center
December 13 – Chris Robinson, Lupos
2003
March 8 – King Crimson, Orpheum Theater
March 9 – Scorpions with Whitesnake, Orpheum Theater
March 12 – Matchbox Twenty with Sugar Ray and Maroon 5, FleetCenter
May 20 – ZZ Top with Ted Nugent, Tweeter Center
May 22 – Godsmack with Cold and Breaking Benjamin, Tweeter Center
June 13 – Boston, Tweeter Center
June 18 – Peter Gabriel, Tweeter Center
July 1 – Neil Young and Crazy Horse with Lucinda Williams, Tweeter Center
July 9 – Dream Theater & Queensryhce with Fates Warning, Bank of America Pavilion
July 10 – Heart with Jeffrey Gaines, Bank of America Pavilion
July 21 – Iron Maiden with Dio and Motorhead, Worcester Centrum Centre
August 8 – Steve Winwood, Fox Theater
August 12 – Jethro Tull and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood
August 14 – Ozzfest 2003 featuring Ozzy Osbourne, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Distrubed, and Chevelle, Tweeter Center
August 23 – Crosby, Stills and Nash, Fleet Boston Pavilion
October 5 – REM with Pete Yorn, Tweeter Center
November 8 – Ian Anderson, Berklee Performing Arts Center
November 23 – The Moody Blues, Providence Performing Arts Center
November 26 – Aerosmith & Kiss, FleetCenter
December 9 – David Bowie, FleetCenter
2004
April 1 – Dream Theater, Orpheum Theater
April 17 – Elton John, Mullins Center
May 15 – Yes, Tsongas Arena
May 20 – The Who with Mr. North, Tweeter Center
May 28 – Fleetwood Mac, Tweeter Center
June 19 – Van Halen, DCU Center
June 23 – Primus, Bank of America Pavilion
June 30 – Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire, Tweeter Center
July 4 – Eric Clapton with Robert Randloph & The Family Band, Tweeter Center
July 12 – Ozzfest 2004 featuring Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Slayer, Dimmu Borgir, Black Label Society, and Superjoint Ritual, Tweeter Center
August 12 – Rush, Tweeter Center
August 17 – Prince, FleetCenter
August 22 – Yes with Dream Theater, Meadows Music Center
August 29 – Judas Priest, Mohegan Sun Arena
September 15 – Phil Collins, FleetCenter
November 5 – REM, Mohegan Sun Arena
November 9 – Velvet Revolver, DCU Center
November 20 – Jethro Tull, Providence Performing Arts Center
December 4 – Godsmack, Providence Performing Arts Center
2005
March 5 – Motley Crue, FleetCenter
March 11 – Dennis DeYoung, Fox Theatre
April 16 – Blue Oyster Cult, Plymouth Memorial Hall
May 10 – The Black Crowes, Orpheum Theater
May 14 – Glenn Frey, Fox Theatre
May 18 – Porcupine Tree with Tunnels, Somerville Theatre
May 24 – U2, FleetCenter
May 27 – Survivor, Fox Theatre
June 8 – Stevie Nicks with Don Henley, Tweeter Center
June 12 – Judas Priest with Queensryche, Tweeter Center
June 17 – Robert Plant with The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Bank of America Pavilion
June 21 – Collective Soul with Silvertide, Avalon
June 24 – Robert Fripp, Somerville Theatre
July 7 – John Mellencamp with John Fogerty, Tweeter Center
July 8 – 3 Doors Down with Staind, Tweeter Center
July 12 – The Moody Blues, Bank of America Pavilion
July 15 – Ozzfest 2005 featuring Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie (second stage), Mudvayne, Shadows Fall, Black Label Society, and In Flames, Tweeter Center
July 26 – Crosby, Stills, Nash, Cape Cod Melody Tent
July 29 – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with The Black Crowes, Tweeter Center
August 5 – Whitesnake with C4, Webster Theatre
August 15 – Neil Diamond, TD BankNorth Garden
August 20 – Gigantour featuring Megadeth, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Dillinger Escape Plan, Nevermore, Life of Agony, Symphony X, Dry Kill Logic, Bobaflex, Verizon Wireless Arena
August 23 – The Rolling Stones with the Black Eyed Peas, Fenway Park
August 26 – Steve Miller Band with Bob Weir and Ratdog, Tweeter Center
August 27 – System Of A Down with The Mars Volta, DCU Center
September 27 – Paul McCartney, TD BankNorth Garden
September 29 – Porcupine Tree with Blackfield, Lupos at the Strand
September 30 – Porcupine Tree with Robert Fripp, Berklee Performing Arts Center
October 7 – Jethro Tull, Fox Theatre
October 14 – Steve Winwood, Orpheum Theater
October 15 – Foo Fighters & Weezer, DCU Center
November 4 – Hanson with the Pat McGee Band, Avalon
December 5 – Neil Diamond, DCU Center
2006
March 8 – Motley Crue, Dunkin’ Donuts Center
March 10 – Queen & Paul Rogers, DCU Center
March 30 – Dream Theater, Orpheum Theater
April 22 – Blue Oyster Cult with the Chris Fitz Band, Plymouth Memorial Hall
May 31 – The Carl Palmer Band, Regent Theatre
June 26 – The Keith Emerson Band, Regent Theatre
June 30 – Extreme with Farrenheit, Bank of America Pavilion
July 16 – Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band, Mohegan Sun Arena
July 20 – Chicago and Huey Lewis & the News, Doge Music Center
July 29 – Candlebox with Damone, Avalon
July 30 – Live, Hampton Beach Casino
August 4 – John Fogerty with Willie Nelson & Family, Tweeter Center
August 5 – Poison with Cinderalla and Endeverafter, Tweeter Center
August 16 – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Tweeter Center
August 25 – Ian Gillan, Hampton Beach Casino
September 1 – Collective Soul, Fox Theatre
September 3 – The Original Asia, Fox Theatre
September 7 – Godsmack and Rob Zombie, Tweeter Center
September 9 – Roger Waters, Tweeter Center
September 15 – Santana with Jeff Beck, September 15
September 16 – David Lee Roth, Fox Theatre
September 19 – Def Leppard and Journey, Mohegan Sun Arena
September 20 – The Rolling Stones with Kanye West, Gillette Stadium
September 26 – Aerosmith and Motley Crue with Lennon, Tweeter Center
September 29 – Tool, Tweeter Center
October 5 – Porcupine Tree with Projekct 6 featuring Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew, Berklee Performing Arts Center
October 6 – Iron Maiden with Bullet for My Valentine, Agganis Arena
October 13 – The Flower Kings with Fluttr Effect, Regent Theatre
October 15 – Robin Trower with Chris Fitz Band, Berklee Performing Arts Center
October 21 – The Bentmen with Fluttr Effect, Middle East Downstairs
October 31 – Alice Cooper, Fox Theatre
November 9 – Queensryche, Avalon
November 11 – Lionel Richie, Opera House
November 12 – Primus with Rasputina, Orpheum Theater
November 17 – The New Cars, Fox Theatre
December 1 – The Who with The Pretenders, Mohegan Sun Arena
December 16 – The Vital Might, The Sterns, Fluttr Effect, Girls Guns And Glory, Middle East Downstairs
December 27 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra, DCU Center
2007
January 28 – Supernova, DCU Center
April 19 – Chris Cornell, Avalon
May 2 – In My Life: A Concert for Brad Delp, Regent Theatre
May 5 – Heaven and Hell with Megadeth, Mohegan Sun Arena
May 25 – Porcupine Tree with Three, Roxy
June 23 – Robby Roadsteamer with Fluttr Effect, Paradise Rock Club
June 27 – Rush, Tweeter Center
June 30 – Poison with Ratt, Tweeter Center
July 31 – Deep Purple with Blue Oyster Cult, Bank of America Pavilion
August 3 – Bryan Adams with George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Bank of America Pavilion
August 19 – Come Together: A Tribute to Brad Delp featuring Boston, RTZ, Godsmack, Extreme and Beatlejuice, Bank of America Pavilion
August 20 – Ozzfest 2007 featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Lamb of God, Tweeter Center
August 21 – Dream Theater with Redemption and Into Eternity, Bank of America Pavilion
September 9 – Heaven and Hell with Alice Cooper and Queensryche, Tweeter Center
September 11 – Genesis, TD BankNorth Garden
September 21 – Live & Collective Soul with Emerson Hart, Bank of America Pavilion
September 29 – Scorpions with Three, Orpheum Theater
November 1 – Australian Pink Floyd, Providence Performing Arts Center
November 2 – Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists, Narrows Center for the Arts
November 6 – Van Halen, DCU Center
November 20 – Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dunkin’ Donuts Center
2008
January 26 – Bronson Arroyo, Mohegan Sun Cabaret
February 25 – Station Family Fund featuring Twisted Sister, Dunkin’ Donuts Center
March 8 – Zox with Hello Mahalo
March 9 – Adrian Belew Power Trio, Center for the Arts of Natick
March 22 – Robin Trower, Berklee Performance Center
May 20 – Dream Theater with Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, and Three, Orpheum Theatre
May 23 – Billy Joel, Mohegan Sun Arena
May 25 – Van Halen, Dunkin’ Donuts Center
June 1 – WBCN River Rave featuring Stone Temple Pilots, Comcast Center
June 13 – REM with Modest Mouse and The National, Comcast Center
June 15 – Rush, Comcast Center
June 20 – Iron Maiden with Lauren Harris, Comcast Center
July 11 – Rush, Verizon Wireless Arena
July 16 – Projekt Revoution featuring Linkin Park and Chris Cornell, Comcast Center
July 19 – Steve Miller Band with Joe Cocker, Comcast Center
July 22 – 3 Doors Down with Staind, Comcast Center
July 25 – Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bank of America Pavilion
July 31 – The Police with Elvis Costello, Comcast Center
August 3 – Boston with Styx, Comcast Center
August 4 – Jethro Tull, Bank of America Pavilion
August 5 – Mayhem Festival, featuring Slipnot and Disturbed, Comcast Center
August 7 – Poison with Dokken and Sebastian Bach, Bank of America Pavilion
August 15 – Judas Priest with Heaven and Hell and Testament, Mohegan Sun Arena
August 16 – Neil Diamond, Madison Square Garden
August 23 – Neil Diamond, Fenway Park
August 27 – Flower Kings with Mindwalk Blvd, Regent Theatre
August 29 – Journey with Heart and Cheap Trick, Comcast Center
October 24 – The Who, Mohegan Sun Arena
October 25 – Rock the Ink featuring Godsmack – Dunkin Donuts Center
November 30 – David Byrne, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
December 6 – Neil Diamond, DCU Center
2009
January 18 – Metallica with Machine Head and The Sword, TD BankNorth Garden
March 6 – John Wetton and the School of Rock All Starts, Showcase Live
March 7 – Edgar Winter with Rick Derringer, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
March 13 – Motley Crue with Hinder and Theory of a Deadman, Mohegan Sun Arena
April 4 – One Night of Queen, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
May 24 – Testament with Unearth and Lazarus A.D., The Palladium
June 19 – Blue Oyster Cult, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
June 25 – Stick Men, featuring Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, and Michael Bernier, Center for the Arts in Natick
June 28 – Styx & Reo Speedwagon with .38 Special, Comcast Center
July 7 – Judas Priest with Whitesnake and Pop Evil, Comcast Center
July 23 – Kenny Rogers, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
July 25 – Yes with The Original Asia, South Shore Music Circus
July 28 – AC/DC with Anvil, Gillette Stadium
August 2 – Dream Theater with Zappa Plays Zappa, Bigelf and Scale the Summit, Bank of America Pavilion
August 8 – Pat Benatar & Blondie, Bank of America Pavilion
August 15 – Cyndi Lauper, Zeiterion Performing Arts Center
August 28 – Heaven and Hell with Coheed and Cambria, Bank of America Pavilion
September 5 – Adrian Belew Power Trio with JaJu, Narrows Center for the Arts
September 27 – Porcupine Tree with King’s X, House of Blues
November 13 – Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs with Heather Rose, The Regent Theatre
December 31 – J. Geils Band, Mohegan Sun Arena
2010
January 27 – Hail! with Age of Evil, Showcase Live
February 9 – Yes, House of Blues
February 26 – Dennis DeYoung, Twin River Casino
March 31- Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Dunkin Donuts Center
April 7 – Jon Anderson of Yes, Showcase Live
April 10 – Keith Emerson & Greg Lake, Zeiterion Theatre
May 20 – Flyleaf, Worcester Palladium
June 4 – Mass with the Herland Brothers, Regent Theatre
June 24 – Adrian Belew, Tupelo Music Hall
June 26 – Adrian Belew with Keturah, Narrows Center for the Arts
July 10 – Dream Theatre with Charred Walls of the Damned, Worcester Palladium
July 23 – Jonathan Edwards, Cotuit Center for the Arts
July 27 – Mayhem Festival featuring Korn, Rob Zombie, Avenged Sevenfold, Comcast Center
July 31 – Heart, MGM Grand at Foxwoods
August 2 – The Original Asia, Zeiterion Theatre
August 3 – Creed, Comcast Center
August 6 – John Mayer with Train, Comcast Center
August 7 – KISS, Comcast Center
August 14 – Slayer & Megadeth with Testament, Tsongas Arena
September 10 – Blondie, Twin River
September 14 – Rush, TD Garden
September 24 – Nickelback with Three Days Grace, Comcast Center
September 29 – Accept with King’s X, Showcase Live
October 3 – Roger Waters, TD Garden
October 10 – Primus, Orpheum Theater
October 15 – Carl Palmer and His Band, Tupelo Music Hall
October 16 – Rob Zombie & Alice Cooper, DCU Center
December 12 – Kenny Rogers, MGM Grand at Foxwoods
2011
January 28 – Disturbed with Korn, Sevendust and In This Moment, Mohegan Sun Arena
February 26 – Pink Floyd Experience, Zeiterion Theatre
March 19 – Kansas, Lynn Memorial Auditorium Auditorium
March 26 – Stryper with Mass, Showcase Live
March 29 – Yes, Zeiterion Theatre
April 8 – UK, Regent Theatre
April 15 – Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
March 6 – Blue Man Group. Providence Performing Arts Center
May 6 – Kansas, Twin River
May 14 – UFO, Showcase Live
May 15 – UFO, Tupelo Music Hall
May 20 – Zebra, Showcase Live
May 21 – Sully Erna, Zeiterion Theatre
May 26 – The Cars, House of Blues
June 3 – York, The Ruins @ The Colosseum
June 7 – Deep Purple with Ernie and the Automatics, Wang Theatre
June 24 – Peter Gabriel, Comcast Center
June 28 – Uriah Heep, Tupelo Music Hall
July 12 – Kiss with Bad City, Verizon Wireless Arena
July 22 – Hurtsmile with York, Showcase Live
August 13 – Alice Cooper, MGM Grand at Foxwoods
September 14 – Blondie, Wilbur Theatre
September 23 – Primus, Orpheum Theatre
October 10 – Dream Theater with Trivium, Orpheum Theatre
October 14 – Weird Al Yankovic, Zeiteron Theatre
October 20 – Carl Palmer and His Band, Tupelo Music Hall
October 22 – Carl Palmer and His Band, Narrows Center for the Arts
November 11 – Antrax & Testament, Worcester Palladium
November 12 – 3 Doors Down with Theory of a Deadman & Pop Evil, Providence Performing Arts Center
November 13 – Steve Wilson, Berklee Performance Center
November 18 – Dennis DeYoung, Zeiterion Theatre
December 3 – Jingle Bell Rock featuring Eddie Money, Lou Gramm & Mickey Thomas, Zeiterion Theatre
2012
March 11 – Van Halen with Kool and the Gang, TD Garden
March 17 – Jon Anderson of Yes, Narrows Center for the Arts
June 9 – Blue Man Group, Hanover Theatre
June 23 – Neil Diamond, TD Garden
June 26 – Iron Maiden with Alice Cooper, Comcast Center
July 1 – Roger Waters, Fenway Park
July 16 – Dream Theater with Crimson ProjeKCt
July 20 – Boston, MGM Grand at Foxwoods
July 21 – Yes with Procol Harum, Bank of America Pavilion
July 19 – Tom Rush, Cotuit Center for the Arts
August 26 – Uproar Festival, featuring Shinedown, Godsmack & Staind, Comcast Center
September 8 – ZZ Top with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Comcast Center
October 20 – Primus in 3D, Orpheum Theatre
October 21 – Primus in 3D, Veterans Memorial Auditorium
October 24 – Rush, TD Garden
October 26 – Zebra with Fall & Bounce, The Rock Junction
November 3 – Aimee Mann with Ted Leo, Berklee Performance Center
2013
January 25 – John Waite with Shaun Hague & Justin Levinson, Narrows Center for the Arts
March 2 – Ed Kowalczyk with Craig DeMelo, Narrows Center for the Arts
April 27 – Steve Wilson, Berklee Performance Center
May 5 – Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy, Narrows Center for the Arts
—————————————————————————————————-
June 2 – Dave Davies of The Kinks, Narrows Center for the Arts
June 17 – Rod Morgenstein & Jordan Rudess, Berklee Performance Center
June 21 – Alice Cooper & Marilyn Manson with Picture Me Broken, Mohegan Sun Arena
July 13 – Jonathan Edwards with Brianna Grace, Cotuit Center for the Arts
August 2 – Yes, Twin River Events Center
August 12 – Black Sabbath, Comcast Center
September 6 – Dennis DeYoung, Twin River Events Center
September 20 – Howie Day with Rebecca Correia, Narrows Center for the Arts
October 14 – UFO with Louis St. August & Gene D’Itria of MASS, Narrows Center for the Arts
October 31 – The Winery Dogs with The Sixxis, The Met
November 15 – ZZ Top, Twin River Events Center
2014
March 25 – Dream Theater, Boston Opera House
April 12 – Lotus Land, Showcase Live
May 8 – Rob Zombie, Lupos Heartbreak Hotel
May 16 – Mastodon, The Palladium
July 13 – Yes, Newport Yachting Center
July 22 – Rockstar Mayhem Festival featuring Avenged Sevenfold & Korn, Infinity Center
August 15 – New England, Regent Theatre
September 16 – King Crimson, Emerson Colonial Theatre
October 25 – Primus, Orpheum Theatre
November 1 – Fleetwood Mac, XL Center
December 20 – Paul Bielatowciz & Simon Fitzpatrick, Narrows Center for the Arts
* Titles in bold were booked by Limelight Magazine
* Titles in bold italic were booked by JKB Management & Booking.
Renowned rock drummer Carl Palmer makes music with drumsticks and creates artwork with them, too. He’ll be showing off both talents at the Narrow’s Center for the Arts in Fall River, Mass., this Sunday, May 5th, as he and his band will celebrate the music of Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP) during a two-hour performance.
The show is part of his extensive world tour, “Twist of the Wrist,” also the name of his fine art collection, which features a series of visual images constructed by capturing the rhythm of drum performances through photographs.
The images, crafted in conjunction with California’s Scene Four Art Studios, combine motion, color and LED lights. He uses what he calls “special drumsticks” that emit four colors: blue, green, yellow and red, while playing drums in a dark room. The scene is photographed and then printed on canvas. Each print is signed and numbered.
“I don’t paint with paint; I paint with light,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of it.”
His art will be showcased, as well as available for purchase, during the performance at the Narrows. A meet and greet will follow for anyone who has purchased a ticket to the show.
“I like to give the fans an opportunity to not only meet myself and the band, but to give autographs,” Palmer said. “It does take a bit of time, but I enjoy doing it. It’s a nice payback to fans for supporting us and they get to meet (guitarist) Paul (Bielatowicz) and (bassist) Simon (Fitzpatrick), who are great musicians. And they can purchase my new DVD “Decade” and get it signed by the band.”
“Decade” pays homage to the fact that Palmer began playing ELP hits as a power trio, replacing keyboards with electric guitar, more than a decade ago in 2001. The DVD captures a multi-camera video shoot recorded at Pittsburgh’s MusikFest in 2011 and features Bielatowicz, who has been performing with Palmer since 2006, and Fitzpatrick, who came on board about three years ago.
Palmer is grateful for the enthusiasm they bring to the band and is happy they help deliver his fresh take on ELP to fans of all ages.
“They give me the satisfaction to be able to push this music to the future using different instruments – where Emerson, Lake and Palmer left off, I’ve just carried on,” said Palmer. “People can hear this through a new format, which is using guitars instead of keyboards and techniques that are available to us today. They give me that chance to push this music far along down the line.”
Palmer, best known as a founding member of ELP, as well as ASIA, has been performing for more than 40 years, taking on new projects such as the power trio and artwork to keep things interesting and fresh. He doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Even a serious bout with E Coli, which sidelined him for more than two months and caused the cancellation of ASIA’s 2012 UK tour, can’t hold him back. It was the first time one of his tours had to be cancelled in his professional career.
“I love to play,” said Palmer. “I have no reason to stop or retire. People only retire when they don’t like what they do and I love what I do. I’m in a very fortunate position to have a job that I’ve loved all my life. Why stop working? I’m still improving and that’s more encouragement to keep going. I’ve been blessed by God and I’m still in good health. I’m very happy.”
Currently, Palmer has been on tour with his ELP Legacy since February. The tour kicked off in Japan before Palmer and his crew hopped aboard a Caribbean-bound cruise ship during the last week of March for Cruise to the Edge, which featured ELP Legacy, YES, Steve Hackett, and UK.
“We really enjoyed doing that,” Palmer said. “I played inside in the main room and then decided I wanted to play outside on the top deck. Unfortunately, it was rather windy when we started – winds were up to 35 miles an hour – but we played a good 45-minutes and had a great time. I was able to display my art aboard the ship.”
After the cruise, Palmer toured South America before beginning his North American leg earlier this month. So far, it’s been smooth sailing.
“It’s been going very well,” he said. “All in all, it’s been tremendous.”
The Narrows Center for the Arts is located at 16 Anawan Street in Fall River. Tickets can be purchased online at www.narrowscenter.org, by calling 508-324-1926 or in person at the box office Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door on the day of the show.
Ever want to be on the cover of Limelight Magazine? Well, here’s your chance to make it happen with our “We Got You Covered” Competition that will take place at 3065 Live in East Wareham on Saturday, June 8, 2013. All proceeds from the event will go toward covering the production costs of the summer issue of Limelight Magazine. Click HEREto read the official rules and to get an entry form. If there are any issues with the link, please e-mail us at limelightmagazine@gmail.com and we’ll gladly send the info to you as a PDF or Word document. A summary of the contest appears below.
Registration
All musicians wishing to register for the “We Got You Covered” Competition must read and accept the following rules and regulations before completing the registration form. Please note there is NO entry fee for this contest, but we need you to submit your completed registration form and a CD or MP3 by Friday, May 17, 2013, at 5 p.m. EST. CDs can be mailed to Limelight Magazine, P.O. Box 79263, Dartmouth, MA 02747, while MP3s can be e-mailed to limelightmagazine@gmail.com.
Summary of Rules, Regulations, and Scoring Criteria
1. This contest is for any band or solo musician from New England performing any genre of original music who has not previously appeared on the cover of Limelight Magazine.
2. After the co-owners of Limelight Magazine have reviewed the entry materials, six to eight finalists will be selected and contacted on Saturday, May 18, 2013.
3. The finalists will perform at 3065 Live, located at 3065 Cranberry Highway in East Wareham, MA, on June 8, 2013. Each band will have 20 minutes to perform. (For every minute exceeding the 20 minute limit, the band will be penalized 5 points from their total score.) All musicians should be at the venue at 5:30 p.m. to draw their time slots. We ask that everyone stays to support the other musicians.
4. The songs must not include profanity. All songs and performances must be family-friendly. Only one cover song is permitted.
5. All competing bands are strongly encouraged to partake in ticket sales for the advantage of crowd applause, which will be one of the criteria for which judging is based.
6. There is no limit to the number of bands who wish to apply for the competition, but no more than eight will be chosen.
7. Each competing band receives two complementary tickets in order to gain awareness and build their fan-base for the show. All other tickets will be full price at the rate of $10 general admission.
8. Judging is done on a 1-10 scale by four qualified judges. The criteria on which the bands will be judged are explained below. The final criteria, however, is crowd reaction which is done on a 1-20 scale. How loud can you make the venue? BRING YOUR FANS!!!
9. The winner of this contest will be asked to play an encore after the final judgment for 10 minutes. Please have a second set prepared in the event of victory.
10. The winner is required to be available for a photo shoot with music photographer Kristen Pierson (www.rok-pix.com) between June 12 to June 16 and must be able to travel to and within the state of Rhode Island. Limelight Magazine will provide the winner a hi-resolution JPEG of the cover in which they appear when the issue is published. If you are unavailable between the dates listed above, you will be disqualified and another winner will be selected.
11. A backline drum kit and vocal mics will be provided. Bands must provide their own instruments, guitar and bass amps, and pedal effects. Drummers must supply their own snare and cymbals. Vocalists may supply their own mic if desired.
Judging Scale and Criteria
1) Music (This criteria is based on clarity, lyrical content and overall musical performance) 1-10
2) Stage Presence and Crowd Interaction (This criteria is based on how well the band “rocks out” and how well the band connects with the crowd) 1-10
3) Appearance and Personality (This criteria is based on the overall look and personality. If you want to be a rock star, you need to look the part)1-10
4) Original Material (This criteria judges the most important part of your act, your original material! Musicians want to show originality in both their lyrical and instrumental performance to impress the judges) 1-10
5) Crowd Applause (The key ingredient to rock stardom: THE FANS!) 1-20
In July 2011, Limelight Magazine shifted its operations from a quarterly print publication to an online magazine. During our six-and-a-half years of existence, we’ve seen many, once vibrant, publications, such as SpinMagazine, shift to a digital model, while others, such as TheBoston Phoenix, ceased their operations entirely. Moreover, many newspapers in New England have been forced to lay off employees, reduce circulation, and change their focus in order to be viable.
Despite the decline of traditional print media, we are continually asked by our readers to come out with another print issue of Limelight Magazine. To do this, we would need to generate approximately $3,750 in revenue to cover the costs of production, which includes printing, paying staff (i.e. managing editor, staff writer, photographer, graphic designer) and distributing the issue. Based on past experience, it’s been a challenge to get enough advertisers on board with each print issue because our editorial content is narrowly focused on the local music scene in New England. We could venture off and cover other topics to gain more advertisers, but that’s not who we are or what we are about.
Since we’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge, we’ve decided to come out with another print issue of Limelight Magazine this summer. However, we need your help to make it happen. Over the next 45 days, we’ll be taking a much different and more creative approach to generating revenue to produce the issue. While we’re still going to rely on advertising from businesses, we can no longer view that as the sole source of revenue. Therefore, we’ve decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund one-third of the issue’s costs and a fun contest, called the “We Got You Covered” Competition, where musicians can perform live to be featured on the cover.
LOWELL – Katie Botelho and Jay Kenney, co-founders and co-owners of the JKB Entertainment Group, which publishes Limelight Magazine, were the recipients of the prestigious Scene Award presented at the New England Music Awards at Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, April 13th.
This award is given annually to an individual or individuals for their outstanding dedication, involvement, and contribution to the New England music scene. It was presented to them by last year’s recipient of this award, Cat Wilson, co-founder of the weekly radio show The Cheap Seats, which airs Sunday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. on COOL 102 (101.9 FM).
“It was great to receive the award by someone who’s helped us out so much in the past and who also gives back to the local music scene,” said Botelho in regard to Wilson presenting the award. “Being recognized for the work we’ve done really means a lot to us and we couldn’t have asked for a better award!”
“This is truly an honor to be recognized for our contributions to the local music scene,” said Kenney. “While this means so very much, we wouldn’t be receiving this award if it weren’t for the many talented musicians we have here in New England. We accept this award on behalf of them.”
The New England Music Awards (NEMA) are presented every year to the musicians who call New England their home and whose dedication, spirit, and achievements have established themselves as a contributing force to the most robust and diverse music scene in the country. The NEMA nominating committee consists of journalists from music publications, radio personalities, talent buyers, and record label execs collectively representing all six New England states.
The goal of NEMA is to celebrate and recognize some of the areas best musical achievements. Every year NEMA nominates over 100 artists and/or bands spanning a number of categories and genres of popular music in New England, including the coveted individual state awards which select one band/act from each of the six states as its Best In State. The NEMA Nomination Committee also selects one winner in three Individual Award categories which are presented to individuals for their years of outstanding achievement and contribution to the New England music scene.
For more information about the New England Music Awards, visit www.nemusicawards.com.
After nearly five years since his last solo CD, singer/songwriter/guitarist Charlie Farren is releasing a new studio record, Tuesday.
The title and track by the same name serve as a tribute to the late Brad Delp of BOSTON. When Farren first heard Delp’s song “Tuesday,” it left a lasting impression on him.
“I loved it immediately,” Farren said. “It reminded me of ‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles.”
The first time he heard a demo of the song he was in Delp’s car after judging a songwriting contest for Rock 101 (WGIR-FM). Years passed and Delp’s song was never released. However, inspiration struck recently when Farren heard the song “Yesterday” while driving in his car.
Farren called Delp’s family members and asked them to send him a demo of “Tuesday,” and for permission to record a cover of the song for his newest record.
“They were very, very supportive and enthusiastic,” Farren said, adding, “[Delp] was a fantastic guy and an incredible singer.”
Local DJ Lisa Garvey who wrote a review of the song said, “I honestly think ‘Tuesday’ could be the new ‘Yesterday.’”
Due to Farren’s background in hard rock with his band FARRENHEIT!, his other songs on the album have a similar influence mixed with a “jazzier and more eclectic” sound, he said.
At the moment Farren is also working on around 30 or 40 songs, which he said is a regular creative process for him.
“Everyday I pick up the guitar,” Farren said. “Most of the time I’m not just playing it, I’m writing my songs.”
For Tuesday, Farren recorded the acoustic guitar and vocals at his studio, The FMansion. Then the tracks were finished at producer Anthony J. Resta’s studio, Studio Bopnique, where cello and ambient guitars were added. Farren sang all the vocals, with the exception of the songs “That Kind of Girl” and “Middle of My Heart,” where his daughter Veronica Farren joins him on backup vocals.
While some of the songs on his album will not lend themselves to full solo performance, Farren said, half are songs he will incorporate into his set list. Farren has four upcoming shows in New England in April, including an intimate CD release party on April 5th at The Center for the Arts in Natick, Mass.
“It’s been a blast to get back into music,” he said. “I’m psyched to be performing solo again.”
Tomorrow, March 29, Farren is playing a show at Purple Pit Jazz Club in Concord, N.H. where he said he might preview some of his new songs.
“I’ll probably be previewing the ones I feel strongly about,” Farren said.
As for the rest of his newest tracks, fans can attend his CD release party and show The Center for the Arts in Natick. Tickets are available on venue’s website.
The multi-talented Audrey Landers, 56, secured the role as singer Afton Cooper on “Dallas” when she was 24-years-old, appearing in 84 episodes and a television movie. Now, she just released a new album and is reprising the part, with fans eagerly awaiting her comeback to the popular prime time drama tonight (March 25).
“It actually feels like going home,” she said of returning to the show, which first debuted on CBS in 1978 and went off the air in 1991. A revamped version premiered on TNT last year and is still going strong during its second season. “It’s almost as if no time has gone by. It was great reconnecting with cast members, and I love the way my character has developed.”
According to Landers, Afton, a nightclub singer, was a “19-year-old gold digger” who did the “dirty work” for J.R. Ewing, and then had an on-again, off-again romance with Cliff Barnes. The lovers share a child, Pamela Rebecca Barnes, now an adult played by actress Julie Gonzalo.
It’s no secret Afton’s relationship with her daughter hasn’t been perfect, but these days, said Landers, Afton is a strong and devoted mother, as Monday’s episode finds her rushing to a pregnant Pamela Rebecca’s bedside after an accident jeopardizes her unborn twins.
Aside from the drama, Afton is still singing, yet the extent of her career isn’t clear at this point.
“It’s evident in the new series that she’s self-confident and I like that about her,” Landers said. “She seems to have made a good life for herself. She’s no longer struggling and she married well. But you don’t know how much Afton is involved in all this. It’s going to be exciting to find out where Afton stands with all the business deals that are going on.”
One thing is for sure: the episode won’t include a reunion for Afton and Cliff. It’s a bit of a bummer for Landers, as she was hoping to reunite with Ken Kercheval, who starred as Cliff in the original series. Still, she’s optimistic that writers and producers will include him in the script down the road.
“I hope that they don’t disappoint the audience in the future,” Landers said. “I think the audience is really asking for that reunion and I do believe the writers and producers respond to the fans, which is wonderful.”
Landers is referencing the fact that there was recently a Facebook movement to “Bring Audrey Landers Back to Dallas,” which she believes helped influence her return. She said she will be forever grateful for the support.
“I’m so touched by it,” she said. “The fact that they created the page is just so heartwarming and flattering. I appreciate it so much and I think it made a difference because they brought the character back. The producers look at that and they respect it. It’s very nice.”
Speaking of fans, many of them often ask her to release songs she performed – and wrote – on the original series. While her music never made much of a splash in America during the 1980s, Landers exploded as a singer and composer in Europe, earning 10 gold singles, four gold albums and two platinum albums. She’s taking another stab at it in the U.S. with “Dallas Feels Like Home,” her latest release, which debuted on iTunes Saturday, March 23rd.
“It has some of the country-style songs I sang on ‘Dallas,’ such as ‘Steal Me Away,’ and some of the other contemporary productions,” said Landers. “And the liner notes have photos and the original sheet music I hand wrote in 1981.”
Additionally, she’s set to perform at a benefit concert with Shirley Jones, former star of the hit show “The Partridge Family,” April 26 at the International Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Proceeds will be donated to the Dallas Area Rape Crisis Center, as well as the Women’s Center of Tarrant County-Rape Crisis/Victims Services. Landers will open the show as a tribute to the late Larry Hagman, who starred as the man everyone loved to hate, J.R. Ewing, on “Dallas.”
Landers fondly remembers working with Hagman in the original series, and said she’ll never forget her first day on set, during which she was filming an intimate scene with Hagman.
“I was a total newcomer – completely nervous and intimidated – and he was always a prankster,” she said. “We got under the covers, and as soon as they called action, Larry took a handful of ice then put his hands on me. I was trying to keep it together and show my professionalism, but finally the director called cut because the whole cast and crew was in on it. I think I disappointed them because I didn’t jump up and scream.”
As much fun as it is to reminisce, she also is pleased to work with the newer cast members, describing them as “terrific” actors. She spoke highly of the writers and producers , too, saying that she is thrilled that they are able to recreate the show in such a way that keeps the interest of the original fans, but is modern enough and relevant to “younger” viewers.
“We don’t have a lot like it for this generation, so for the new fans it’s sort of a new genre,” said Landers. “The writing is great and everything is fast-paced. I think everybody is ready for a show like this.”
She’s also ready to continue her stay with the show. If it gets renewed for a third season, she’s hoping to be back.
“There’s been talk about it,” Landers said. “That would be really fantastic. I love the character. She’s been a part of my life for decades.”
If that doesn’t happen, Landers has plenty to keep her busy. Aside from her own music career, she serves as manager for her singer-songwriter son, Daniel, 19, who is studying under the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program at the University of Miami, and working on an album of his own.
“He’s a phenomenal songwriter and his musical range as a singer is amazing,” she said. “Guys don’t usually have three and a half or four octaves; he has an amazing pop-rock voice.”
Her son isn’t the only family member she’s working with: she recently co-created a fashion business, the Landers STAR Collection, with her mother Ruth. But the business partnership is nothing new, as Ruth once managed her daughter’s career.
“Every time I had to do a live performance, she was very much involved, especially with wardrobe,” Landers said of her mother. “So many people would often ask, ‘where did you get that dress?’ or ‘where can I get one like it?’ so we decided to create a line of affordable, glamorous clothes for women. Every woman is a star and she deserves to shine, so our fashions have a little glitz and bling here and there just to make you feel special.”
Landers likes making her fans feel special, and that’s one reason why she attends conventions, such as Chiller Theatre in New Jersey and The Hollywood Show in Los Angeles, to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans. She enjoys meeting fans in person, as well as interacting with them on social media outlets.
“It’s an awesome way to be able to have a personal connection to your fans,” she said. “You can connect with everybody from around the world, and I love being able to answer people when I can. Back in the day, we didn’t have Twitter and Facebook; we didn’t have that immediate response when the show was on air.”
She’s sure fans will take to Twitter to express their feelings about the upcoming episode and the fate of Pamela Rebecca’s twins by the end of the episode, as Landers will be live tweeting during the show under the tag name @AudreyLanders.
Limelight Magazine 