Friday, September 30, 2011

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:
Also, check out photos of the band's summer festival junket in Ohio in 
The Rhythm Report's Facebook albums: 
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

Thursday, September 29, 2011

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." 

Saturday, September 17, 2011

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.


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

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

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Sean Benjamin announces 'I Exist' digital release

Hip-hop-influenced acoustic pop musician Sean Benjamin officially announced the digital release of his long-awaited, full-length studio album I Exist tonight. The recording features newer songs "Hook Up" (featuring Ran Reed) and "Should I" (feat. Dru Boogie), which fans will recognize from his live performances. It also includes "Hypnotized" and "Chain Reaction," two previously released singles for which Benjamin launched music videos in 2009. Benjamin takes the dance rock route on I Exist, incorporating electronic beats and synth-based effects over electric and acoustic guitar.  The album is available now on iTunes and Amazon.

Follow The Rhythm Report for additional updates on what Benjamin will be up to post release this fall.

Written by Priscilla Tasker


Monday, September 12, 2011

Concert Review: Saturday at The Auricle with The Singular, Vinny Vegas

Since the launch of The Rhythm Report, I’ve covered a handful of artists from Greater Cleveland and Akron, as well as others who’ve passed through town. For the first time, Saturday night I delved into Canton’s rock scene, which found a new home at The Auricle on Cleveland Avenue NW in the city’s downtown Arts District. Here’s the run down on the four-band lineup, which included The Good 19, The Singular, Vinny Vegas and Air is Watching.
The Good 19

The Good 19 started the evening off with a short psuedo-punk-infused modern rock set, playing to less than 30 people. During Please Believe Me,” a song frontman Brendan Quine said the band hadn’t played in while, The Good 19 broke out into an instrumental jam as Quine called out to the audience, “Everybody dance.” There was a slight air of awkwardness as a few people unsurely glanced around and began nervously rocking back and forth or side to side.  
While the early evening crowd was still cool, The Good 19 was a good warm-up act to jumpstart the kinetic energy. Many of their tunes incorporated mini-movements as the band experimented with a variety of tempos. The stop-and-go rhythm of “Wanderlust” was a case in point. Interestingly, the band’s live set is much heavier than the recorded tracks featured on its Facebook BandPage.  


The Singular

Next in the lineup, The Singular emerged transmuting the atmosphere with dreamy synth sounds produced by keyboardist Nichole Catalano-Miller. Lead vocalist and guitarist James Pequignot led the group in a clean startoff. However, throughout the set I found myself thinking the songs sounded replicated and forgettable. The odd thing is I liked what I heard. I don't disregard the band’s musicianship. Each member's ability to follow and play off one another without missing a beat was quite evident. It’s simply that upon first impression, I felt I’d heard it before and most of the songs lacked the kind of melody that sticks with you.
After a couple of up-tempo songs, Pequignot introduced a melancholy mood changer "Box," which he described as "a song about getting the shit beat out of you.” To Pequignot’s credit, he’s not shy to speak the thoughts on his mind lyrically or in between songs on stage. At one point, an audience member, likely a friend or acquaintance, cried out a mocking request for “Freebird” to which Pequignot lightheartedly responded, “No, no. Why have you done this?”

Photos: Jessica Lea Mayfield & The Ridges live


Check out the awesome photos Rachael Barbash of DoneWaiting.com captured at Jessica Lea Mayfield's concert with The Ridges at The Basement in Columbus, Ohio this weekend.

Originally posted by Rachael Barbash at donewaiting.com - 9 hours ago
This past Friday Ohio natives Jessica Lea Mayfield (Kent) and The Ridges (Athens) played a show at the Basement. Jessica Lea Mayfield The Ridges Jessica Lea Mayfield Check out the pictures here.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Happy (Belated) Birthday Freddie Mercury: Google Doodle

In honor of what would have been the late Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday on September 5, Google created an elaborate one-minute-and-thirty-eight-second video "doodle," capturing the essence of the Queen hit "Don't Stop Me Now" in a flashback to 8-bit animation.

Here's to one of the 20th century's greatest artists. Twenty years after death, nothing's stopping him.