80's Rock/Blues Guitar Summits Set to Rock Englewood

Fans of 80's rock and blues guitar take note - two important events are coming to the BergenPAC theater in Englewood, New Jersey over the next few weeks!

Eddie Money and John Waite
Fri Oct 23
$99, $49, $49, $39, $29
Eddie Money set the bar high for rock hits starting in the 70s! Eddie Money charted high with such hits as "Baby Hold On" "Two tickets to Paradise," "Shakin," "I think I'm In Love" and "Take Me Home Tonight"! John Waite, lead singer of The Babys and Bad Enough, will perform hits such as "Change", "Missing You" and "When I See You Smile". Don't miss your chance to see both Eddie Money and John Waite in one night.
http://www.bergenpac.org/generation-gap/eddie-money-and-john-waite/

Jonny Lang & Robert Cray
Wed Nov 11
$99, $69, $54, $42, $29
Blues Guitar Summit - Grammy Winner, Jonny Lang made his bones as one of the hot, young blues guitar slingers of the '90s, playing alongside such legends as Buddy Guy and B.B. King. These days, Lang still gets out on the road to grind out all his hits with artists ranging from Herbie Hancock to Joss Stone. Eric Clapton regularly tours with Robert Cray, so if that endorsement isn't enough, check out any number of Cray's Grammy-winning albums beginning with "Strong Persuader" and hits including "Smoking Gun", "Right Next Door" and "I Guess I Showed Her". This is blues that's sure to get you into a groove.
http://www.bergenpac.org/generation-gap/jonny-lang-robert-cray/

BLACKMORE’S NIGHT CONJOURS UP A FALL EAST COAST TOUR

Peasants and knights, jesters and kings, gypsys and princesses dance side by side down the city streets. This isnt a scene from yesteryear...the year is 2009 - the place - a concert hall near you. This is the world of Blackmore's Night and their eclectic musical blend of folk renaissance rock music.

Ritchie Blackmore and Candice Night and their talented band of Minstrels (Earl Grey of Chimay, Gypsy Rose, Bard David of Larchmont, Squire Malcolm of Lumley and Die Geyer Albert) present a fascinating combination of soft rock music and European folk melodies often fusing instruments of the Renaissance era with those of the modern day. Ritchie has coined the term for this newly created category of music "Renaissance Rock". Much of their inspiration is their love for nature - and the pageantry and romance of the beautiful music of the Renaissance time.

Blackmore's Night and their 7 piece band weaves the mystical music of another time into their own sound with acoustic and electric guitars, strings, eclectic instruments like hurdy-gurdy and bagpipe entwined with Candice Night's ethereal voice.

MORE INFO AT:
www.blackmoresnight.com
www.candicenight.com

Les Paul Will Live on Through His Instruments and Innovations

Les Paul’s Memorial Weekend begins today as - following a Wednesday funeral service in New York City - Paul will be buried at a private ceremony on Friday, August 21, at the Prairie Home Cemetery in his hometown of Waukesha , WI.

Kweevak had the honor of covering the late great Les Paul twice - with one report from a 2006 Iridium show - and one write-up from his 90th birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall.

Although Les Paul was more of a jazz musician, Les is considered by many to be the grandfather of rock and roll. It was Paul's innovations to the electric guitar that now bares his name that revolutionized the instrument and its impact.

Les Paul is also credited with creating multi-track recording, without which classic records such as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles) and Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) could not have been made in the late 60's and early 70's.

Many of his innovations to amplification are the standards of today. In addition to his musical inventions Paul was also a popular and successful composer and player, often remembered for his work with his wife Mary Ford.

Mr. Paul has jammed with many of rock's royal line. Rockers who can trace their lineage and love of music back to Les and their first signature Les Paul guitars. For years, Paul played two shows every Monday night at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City. Often guest musicians would stop by and perform with the master. For anyone who had the privilege of seeing Les live, you know that he still played beautifully even with arthritis. Paul was joyful and joked as he gently grazed the strings of his guitars. His music and his muse were magical.

Les Paul will be sorely missed but he will live on forever through the gadgets, guitars, innovations and impacts that are his legacy.

Award-Winning Blues Vocalist Nicole Hart To Perform Live and Online August 11th - Free Concert Will Be Recorded For Live DVD Release

Also, Will Be Featured Guest on XM Sirius Radio's BB King's Bluesville August 13th In Support of Acclaimed CD, "Treasure"

On the heels of her acclaimed new CD Treasure (Blues Leaf Records) award-winning blues artist Nicole Hart (www.nicolehart.com) will perform live at the Ridgewood, NJ performance venue, Blend, on Tuesday, August 11th. The show will be streamed live via webcast on RVibe-Live (www.RVibe-Live.com) and will be recorded for an upcoming live DVD release.

Keeping the momentum going, Hart will follow that event two days later with a guest appearance on the airwaves of XM Sirius Satellite Radio's BB King's Bluesville with host Bill Wax on August 13 at (12PM-2PM). Her most recent CD, "Treasure," is a smash on the station, which reaches an estimated 1.5 million subscribers (20 million subscribers overall), climbing to Number 3 this month on the XM/Sirius Blues charts.


"Blend" is a wonderful venue to perform and, now thanks to RVibe-Live, fans from around the globe can be there with me, live and in concert!" Hart says. "And to also be invited by national DJ Bill Wax as a guest on a show as respected in the blues community as XM Sirius's BB King's Bluesville is my dream come true."


The Atlanta, Georgia native has been experiencing a flood of positive press and reviews since releasing her debut CD "Treasure" on April 14th of this year. The CD is still going strong 15 Weeks on the Roots Music Report "Blues Weekly Charts"; debuting at #14 On the Living Blues Charts; and is currently in rotation on Music Choice America's syndicated blues channel. In May 2009, Hart was awarded "Female Vocalist of the Year" at the 5th Annual Los Angeles South Bay Music Awards, and is now poised to reach an even wider audience thanks to these two national performance events.


Renowned for her mesmerizing, riveting and sensual live shows, Hart has been in non-stop performance mode, completing three highly successful tours with stops at the Springing The Blues festival in Jacksonville, FL, where she performed for an estimated audience of 300,000; a headlining slot at Laconia, New Hampshire's Big Three Motorcycle Week, as well as the Red Bank Jazz & Blues Festival, the Riverhead Blues Festival, and a slew of prominent festivals and club venues on the national circuit.


"I have been singing and interested in music since I was a toddler," Hart said describing how she has been working for this moment all her life. Indeed, she started her career in second grade with her church choir and became a classically trained singer as a young adult. She then went on to sing a wide range of styles with session work while also honing her songwriting skills. "It's been a fascinating and never-ending journey to get to know myself as an artist."


More than a great singer, Hart is also an accomplished songwriter and member of ASCAP and BMI with her own music publishing company, "Hart/Ong Songs." She penned the title track on "Treasure," a record that Keys & Chords Magazine said featured "A wonderful, sultry voice...with beautiful phrasing, effortlessly competing with Winehouse and Duffy."


As a modern day Blues woman, Nicole straddles a diverse musical terrain defined by such icons as Koko Taylor, Susan Tedeschi, Janiva Magness, & Bonnie Raitt. Hart's impressive resume also includes work in television, film & live performance outside the realm of Blues.


"As an artist, I am influenced by all great music, and inspired by many of the greatest artists of our time. I aspire to create a feeling & a depth of integrity representing those influences, while also conveying a viewpoint toward the world of my own."


Soon, even more listeners will get to know Nicole Hart as an artist when they tune in to the web and radio this week. When they do, they'll find that her voice, her songs and her new CD are a Treasure well worth discovering.


For more information about Nicole Hart check out her website at www.nicolehart.com her MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/nicolehartband; www.facebook.com/nicolehart8808; www.reverbnation.com/nicolehartband;
Or contact Mark Meding at FM Management International at http://fmmanagement.org or (917)797-8462.

Media Contact: Right Word Media
Ray Ecke
p. 973.726.3797
f. 973.726.3798
c. 201.741.1092
e. ray@rightwordmedia.com

Don’t Miss Joe Bonamassa at BergenPAC

Wed Aug 12 at 8:00
$69, $49, $49, $39, $29
Following in the footsteps of rock's greatest guitarists, and a contender to the throne vacated by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa is steeped in the kind of blues-rock that truly electrifies --- with Special Guest STRETCH - featuring Glenn Alexander, Guitar; Dave LaRue, Bass and Bill Elder, Drums.
*WEB: http://www.bergenpac.org/generation-gap/joe-bonamassa/

Kweevak Music Magazine "CD Review" Dispatch: Issue #0002

DAVY KNOWLES & BACK DOOR SLAM - COMING UP FOR AIR: When fresh-faced and uber-talented guitarist Davy Knowles broke out in 2008 with his band Back Door Slam the poor kid hardly got a break. Him and his trio made multiple exhausting trips to the States from their home base in the Isle of Man to play festivals, media events and opening slots for whoever would have them. But, all the work paid off and many important people in the biz took notice - most notably none other than Peter Frampton (a heralded guitar phenom in his own day) who has stepped up to produce the follow-up Coming Up For Air out now on Blix Street Records. Knowles' fiery licks ignite on "Tear Down The Walls" which starts off with some smoldering B3 from Heartbreaker Benmont Tench - a guest on several of the CD's tracks. "Hear Me Lord" is an intense cover of the George Harrison spiritual with more transcendent six-string work. A bonus track titled "Taste of Danger" with Jonatha Brooke appears on both artist's recent albums and is a smart marketing move to help listeners get a taste of each individual's flavorful talent. While Davy Knowles is rooted in the blues and cites Irish export Rory Gallagher as his biggest influence the artist has the voice, looks and chops for mass crossover appeal - think Mayer, Clapton, and Winwood - that's where DK is headed as he grows his fan base in 2009 touring with acts like Jeff Beck and the monstrous Chickenfoot. Knowles often checks with fans on his Twitter page and he has relayed the fact that while on tour he's watching instructional videos by other axe masters like Eric Johnson and more. This is cool because with two heralded full-length albums already under his belt the 22-year-old shows an inspiring commitment to his craft and a willingness to keep learning - and although he's Coming Up For Air - Davy Knowles ain't taking a breather.
• Info: [USA/TN 2009 - web] (2009 Review by Richard J. Lynch for Kweevak.com)

DREAM THEATER - BLACK CLOUDS & SILVER LININGS: Dream Theater lightens things up a bit and looks on the bright side with Black Clouds and Silver Linings - their tenth studio album out now on Roadrunner Records. That is, as light as a CD about a car wreck, wasting away, secret societies and the passing of a parent can be. Still, with a nod to 80's-era Rush sprinkled through the album's 80-minutes this material is more accessible than the batch of brooding tunes found on 2007's Systematic Chaos. The six originals on Black Clouds & Silver Linings spans a full spectrum of sights, sounds and styles. "A Nightmare To Remember" opens with the sound of an approaching storm colliding into orchestrated instrumentation and thunderous drumming. The song runs the gamut from manic to melodic including a hazy hospital scene after the car crash which is the story line of the song. "A Rite Of Passage" speaks about secret societies and melds middle eastern tones with metal. Varied vocals meander through a mysterious maze of meters and measures. "Wither" is wistfully and wishful enhanced by LaBrie's breathy vocals. "The Shattered Fortress" is jagged like a broken glass bringing together the pieces of Portnoy's previous 12-Step songs. It is a hard hitting hodge podge of past and present dialogue and musical digressions. In contrast to the chaos is the beautiful "Best Of Times" written and dedicated in memory to Mike's father Howard Portnoy. The song ranges from pensive to peppy starting with a pretty piano part by Jordan enhanced by subtle strings. The pace picks up with vibrant visual lyrics of life moments shared with Dad. John's solo on the song is spectacular and literally soars to heaven. The CD closes with the epic "The Count Of Tuscany". It is a thematic and highly technical tune. Countless changes and haunting hooks adds to the intricacy and intrigue of the song. Dream Theater's new storm of progressive rock metal music appears to have brought forth an abundant crop of good reviews and new fans while landing the release in Billboard's Top 10 Overall Albums (#6) on the week of its release. Perhaps Dream Theater is utilizing the chaos principle to finally put things in order as far as their career goes. Perhaps, as progressive rock music is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, there's been a method to their musical madness all along. Either way, signs point to brighter days ahead for the quality quintet hailing from New York and Canada - proving that the dream is still alive 20 years on from their first release.
• Info: [USA/NY 2009 - web] (2009 Review by Richard J. Lynch and Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com)

LINQ - RX AND THE SIDE EFFECTS: As a former professional pharmacist turned prolific indie artist Boston's Linq offers a musical manifesto on the current hotbed societal issue of fixing the health care industry. Anyone who has been watching the debate unfold but is yet to grasp the breadth and depth of the problem and dire circumstances that often occur when patients seek medical attention in the United States - well, Rx and The Side Effects, the fourth full-length album from the modern folk rocker - is as good of a place to start as any to get a clear-eyed offering into all that has gone wrong with health care in America. By raising the clarion call on issues such as over-prescriptions, the uninsured, post-care poverty, the burden of coverage and a variety of drug related crimes - the ten songs on Linq's sixth overall release reveal an intelligent and insightful artist with a conscience who speaks out on the issues. Presented in singer-songwriter format Linq will often mix it up to include Blues, R&B and techno strains with her dominant folk delivery and the results are most effective on the anthemic "Prescription Chaos" and the rockin' "Side Effects". While Linq may not have a solution or a cure for the ills of the health care industry - she does have a diagnosis - and it doesn't look too good. Maybe a dose of these good songs from the Linq are the only injection the industry needs to get itself healed once and for all.
• Info: [USA/MA 2009 - web] (2009 Review by Richard J. Lynch for Kweevak.com)

NEIL YOUNG - FORK IN THE ROAD: Neil Young's latest release Fork In The Road is an enigmatic embrace of his own new car technology and a discordant diatribe against the modern day dysfunctional auto industry. At the same time the album is a celebration of every American's birthright to ride the country from coast to coast if they so please - and the songs narrate an anticipatory theme about a world where a new generation will be hitting the road on alternative energy. Thus, we've come to the fork and Neil points us in the direction we should go - and that's far away from our reliance on fossil fuels and oil. LincVolt is Neil's new venture that aims to inspire a generation by creating a clean automobile propulsion technology that serves the needs of the 21st Century and delivers performance that is a reflection of the driver's spirit (in other words, this is no "smart" car they're building - think big!). In fact, the project centers around a 1959 Lincoln Continental that Young has converted to hybrid technology and which he plans to drive to Washington, D.C. By creating this new power technology they hope to reduce the demand for petro-fuels enough to eliminate the need for war over energy supplies, thereby enhancing the security of the USA and other nations throughout the world. And the new CD serves as an infomercial for this bold and innovative undertaking. "Fuel Line" praises the "awesome power of electricity" while chiding adherents of the old ways to keep "filling that old fuel line (fill 'er up)". On "Just Singing A Song" Neil points out how he's at the forefront of taking action to drive opinion on electric vehicles to a favorable place - and he invites his listeners to do the same as well because "just singing a song won't change the world." "Get Behind The Wheel" is aggressive and fast and could be a hit for its anthemic relevance to day to day life. "Light A Candle" is the only acoustic track here and it is a plaintive prayer to recognize the seriousness of the moment and of our responsibility to act now for our own good. With plenty of guitar licks and signature Neil chord patterns with slightly altered progressions Young gets more mileage from his proven design. The 10 tracks roll on efficiently and feature plenty of car and technology references to keep the eco-techs and auto buffs happy. If Detroit could have only taken the cue from Neil Young, who has been consistently prolific through the decades, and pumped out quality vehicles that changed with the times -- perhaps we wouldn't be in this mess in the first place - but then, what would Mr. Young do for new material?
• Info: [USA/CA 2009 - web] (2009 Review by Richard J. Lynch for Kweevak.com)

TOMAS MICHAUD - BEAUTY AND FIRE: Have you ever wondered what Santana and the Gipsy Kings would sound like jamming with the house band in a Moroccan Cafe after having a Turkish bath and massage? That's one way to describe the eclectic and appealing instrumental offerings on Beauty and Fire - the seventh CD from Michaud. This is music that lifts your spirit, and inspires your soul and we can tell you that the production is lovely and the songs are refined to a high level of purity. Tomas Michaud is a master guitarist, composer and producer who was possessed by the muse of music early in childhood. Tomas developed his musical technique with the trumpet, electric bass and mandolin before he discovered his first love, guitar, at the age of fourteen. Soon he was performing throughout the San Francisco Bay Area developing a popular following which now numbers in the thousands. On Beauty and Fire's twelve tracks Michaud excels on lengthy excursions to warm the heart and ignite passion in the mind of the listener. The title track is bouncy and expressively warm with clear notes and a fluid fretless bass guiding the opener. "Tango In Paradise" is a five-minute trip to Spain and a moment of musical bliss. "Gipsy Heart" and "Two Hearts Into One" point out the theme of the fiery nature of love and both tracks smolder as Michaud and band fan the flames. Tomas uses a palette of Flamenco and Spanish guitar techniques to paint a fusion of New Age, smooth jazz and world music portraits that reaches the soul and elevates the mind through a mystical and sensual sound experience that will send a tingle up your spine.
• Info: [USA/CA 2009 - web] (2009 Review by Richard J. Lynch for Kweevak.com)

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Kweevak.com CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' - Rock Reports

VH1 Classic and Rock Band present the CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' 2009 Tour featuring REO Speedwagon, STYX and 38 Special, three of the hardest working bands in rock n roll. CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' features hit-packed sets spanning the course of these three unparalleled rock legacies. The tour has been geared to give the ultimate classic rock experience at a fan friendly ticket price. The much-heralded online music magazine on the East Coast - KWEEVAK.COM - recently covered the event when they made their stop at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. Check out our rock reports from each of the three acts at the links below:
* STYX Rock Report

* REO SPEEDWAGON Rock Report

* 38 SPECIAL Rock Report