United We Stand: Evanchuck, Red Wanting Blue

Written by Ty Kellogg

On Saturday night I decided to make the trek from my far east residence and journey to the city lights of downtown Cleveland. More specifically, I went to the Barley House on West 6th to see Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money (TOM) and Red Wanting Blue (RWB). It was a great day – slight overcast with temperatures in the mid-60s with a light breeze whisking its way in between the buildings of the warehouse district. The stage was set to the left of the Barley House, with a large canopy to cover the general admission audience and a gated section for VIP close to the stage. There clearly was no purpose for the VIP section, as when Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money completed a few warm-ups, the Barley House allowed everyone close to the stage.

Evanchuck and TOM bleeds rock 'n' roll 

Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money
at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
©The Rhythm Report July 2011

As Evanchuck strummed the first chords on his original Les Paul, he began to sing. As he sang, the microphone and the cable failed to reproduce his sound. Alas, Evanchuck cut the band and had the engineer fix the ailing vocal cord. After nearly fifteen minutes, the band revved up its musical engine and peeled out, sending fans into a lush delight and newcomers to a rude rock 'n’ roll awakening.

With a lead guitarist and recently added bass player, the Evanchucks (Tom and Anthony) have added more arsenal to their already destructive musical machine. On songs such as “Peace of Mind,” “Take Me Back,” and “Sweet and Fine,” The Old Money took the crowd by the throat and sent them into a foot-stompin’ and rump-shakin frenzy with alternating guitar riffs, a pulsating bass and shattering drums.

The highlight of the set was the band’s single, “Take Me Back.” The crowd was moving and singing along when, all of a sudden, I closed my eyes and heard a good portion of the crowd howl with Tom “ROLL ON,” before the band went on a musical rampage. As the band later left the stage, I caught a glimpse of Evanchuck’s hand, bleeding from several knuckles as a result of pounding his Les Paul into submission.

Follow Tom Evanchuck and The Old Money on 

Facebook and Twitter. 

Read more on Tom Evanchuck in these Rhythm Report articles:

• "TOM" beyond the Evanchuck: An interview with The Old Money
• Tom Evanchuck strikes a chord with three new records

Also, check out photos of the band's summer festival junket in Ohio in 

The Rhythm Report's Facebook albums: 

• Painesville's Party in the Park 
• 6ixth City Tech Fest

Road-tested RWB's musical maturity eclipses youth

Source: Red Wanting Blue
Official Store
www.redwantingblue.com

Next on the bill was the state’s biggest musical road hogs, Red Wanting Blue (RWB). They calmly set up, tuned one last time and began their set with a very catchy song called “Gravity.” This was clearly RWB’s crowd, as a majority of the attendees sang and pleaded every word to every song presented. But the band has an unusual, genuine approach to its live performances.

In comparison to many rock bands on the circuit, Red Wanting Blue is older, mature and road-tested. They have played shows all over the lower 48 states, have seen their friends’ bands come and go, and have seen their fan base gradually expand. The band does not romp around on stage like their youthful counterparts. Rather, the men are stationary and complacent in their roles. The difference is that the band watches and looks upon their lead singer, Scott Terry, as he stomps, claps, fist-pumps and bellows to the skies.

What separates Terry’s stage presence from other frontmen is his genuine behavior. He doesn’t have flashy moves. He isn’t mysterious or overwhelmingly sexual, nor does he come across as a greater-than-thou pompous ass. As he stood on the stage monitor with his arms curling the invisible burdens of the crowd, he tilted his head back, eyes to the sky and mouth wide open, and sang along with the crowd, “I feel like drinking whiskey and getting high. It’s the same old thing every Saturday night!” After this performance, I firmly believe that Terry is Ohio's best frontman in the state's current musical era.

Both bands offer something unique to Ohio and the Midwest. They are both incredibly driven, talented and not just likeable but addicting. They both encompass the persistent, gritty, soulful simplicity of the state, and they offer something that is hard to find in music – hope. Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or musical preference, these two bands are providing a reason for Ohioans to believe in the music scene once again.

Follow Red Wanting Blue on Facebook and Twitter. 

Watch Red Wanting Blue in this Rhythm Report post: Video – Red Wanting Blue performs live at Musica

• Upcoming show – Newport Music Hall | Columbus | October 13
• Upcoming show – Kent Stage | Kent | October 15

Kent State Folk Festival: Failed coverage (almost)

Written by Ty Kellogg

When I originally agreed to cover some of the Kent State Folk Festival ‘Round Town activity, I envisioned running amuck in downtown Kent, hopping from coffee shop to coffee shop, bar to bar, shaking hands and talking music with the people who are responsible for the craft the festival celebrates. However, this didn’t happen. 

David Ullman
© Lesley.anne.k photo | design

I rolled into Kent from the northwest area of Columbus, hitting town about around 8:30 p.m. and running on fumes after a work trip. I parked my car and met up with a gal that I haven’t seen in years, and we proceeded to strike the town in our effort to encompass the folk festival feeling. 

Our first stop was Scribbles, an independently-owned coffee shop on Water Street. Playing that evening was David Ullman, a furrow-browed, sweatin’, sad bastard of a singer-songwriter who has played the Kent-Akron-Cleveland circuit for years. To listen to Ullman, one must have an attuned ear because Ullman is a very intelligent songwriter who is willing to experiment, as shown by his use of a loop pedal and electric bass. But don’t let his shy and polite demeanor fool you;  he can go from a sweet whisper to a lion-like roar in a matter of seconds. 

The room was hot and steam was rising on the windows during the comfortably brisk September evening. The bodies were packed like sardines. People in chairs were sitting on each other’s laps and sitting on the floor, against the wall and behind the counter. When someone left the room, there was an instant rush to fill the seat, and then two more people would emerge to lean against the wall I leaned upon. My date and I left the room as Ullman orchestrated the crowd into his frenzied sing-a-long, “Mulletman.”

Local artist Rob Geer’s last show at Grog Shop signals beginning of new life out West

Written by Priscilla Tasker

Photo courtesy of
Kathleen Grace Kazsmer  

Rob Geer made his final Grog Shop appearance as The Conductor and The Creator Sunday, September 18, before he traverses the nation to settle in Denver, Co., in October. Ever-loyal friends and fans appropriately gathered for a send-off show, which featured Humble Home, who organized the event, and The Lighthouse and The Whaler. 

The indie-folk-inspired rock lineup showcased distinctive talents while keeping with a style of music compatible to the tone Geer set for the evening.

"I loved every second of it. It was a good set of bands. There's always an oddball in the line up but not tonight," Geer told Humble Home's Nick Wise in post-show conversation.

Geer led the night with a six-song set. Waiting in line to enter the venue, I heard the bass and guitars signal the start of the band’s first song – a sound which incited an anxious desire to cut the 10 to 15 people in front of me. I waited patiently. Yet, as if he read my mind, the man ahead of me offered reprieve by holding the door and saying, “You can go ahead.”

Grateful chivalry lives on, I made my way to the stage. Geer’s vocals enveloped the space. Seemingly effortless projection is a talent Geer has honed well – and one of the artistic traits that caught my attention the first time I’d heard him play at Nemeth’s Lounge in Painesville, Ohio, earlier this year. 

Geer was backed by his “Conductor” counterparts, whose soulful flavor enlivens the singer-songwriter's sound. [Watch this video from February 5, 2011 for an extraordinary example of the band's abilities.] Lead guitarist Matthew Augusta and bassist Dan Thompson played a bluesy, soft jazz teaser leading into "It Might Be" and an R&B interlude before "Under Devil's Skin." 

The Lighthouse and The Whaler – Daytrotter Session Download

Illustration by Johnnie Cluney
Source: Daytrotter.com

Earlier this summer, The Lighthouse and The Whaler of Cleveland had the heartening experience of recording at The Horseshack in Rock Island, Ill. for the band's first Daytrotter Session, which was engineered by Patrick Stolley. The result of their visit was four up-lifting tracks recorded straight to tape, converted to MP3 and captured for a lifetime.

The music takes you floating above the shade of life's puffy white clouds. Breezy melodies sweep over syncopated steps – skipping, dancing on the silver lining as the sun bursts through.

The free download of the band's Daytrotter Session includes:

• "The Adriatic Sea"
• "Pioneers" 
• "Venice"
• "White Days"

The Lighthouse and The Whaler performs live Sunday, September 18 – with Rob Geer, Humble Home and Aunt Martha – at Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 and are available here.

Red Wanting Blue performs live at Musica

Wasted Talent Media's Todd Volkmer caught the Red Wanting Blue (RWB) show at Musica in Akron on Saturday, September 10, and released two indieBOX video clips on Vimeo this week. In the first concert clip, the fervent audience waxes lyrical, joining the band in singing "You Are My Las Vegas," a fan favorite off RWB's 2010 release, These Magnificent Miles.

In his Vimeo post, Volkmer wrote, "the energy between the band and the crowd is just amazing in this video!!! Makes me smile every time I watch it!" [sic]

Eager fans anticipating the pending release of Red Wanting Blue's From The Vanishing Point next year, can hear new song "Walking Shoes" in the second video clip from Saturday night's show.

The band officially released "Audition," the first single off From The Vanishing Point, on September 6. According to an announcement on RWB's website, starting on October 1, the band will release a streamed recording of a new track from the record each day through October 13. This will give RWB devotees a first listen of the album, which is due for release on January 10, 2012.

Check out the videos of the concert at Musica below and visit www.ArtsQuestTV.com for more live-recorded concerts and other Wasted Talent Media shows including the site's namesake interview series Arts Quest.


Written by Priscilla Tasker