Five Years and a Look Back at How It Started!

It has been five years of the Wild West and more recently the Feast Of Noise. In those five years we have put together a range of shows in Westchester, developed a presence on the web and simply seen and heard some pretty cool rock and roll music and bands. It all started, however, with the intention of making one particular show or set of shows happen. The Wild West started with the idea of bringing from England one amazing guitarist that I had seen play 22 years before. The guitarist was Bernie Torme.

I had seen Bernie play with Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame back in December of 1980. In February of 2003 I had found Bernie’s CD, White Trash Guitar over at Vintage Vinyl. I had not thought much about the man and his music in some time, but it was very cool to find a recent CD. and it was not long before I was checking the web to see if he was online. And he was!

Anyway, I found a very cool site, www.bernietorme.com , which he developed and still maintains. (He is redoing it right now but it is still there!) It is a site that is rich in stories, recollections, opinions, pictures and music. Not only had I found that he is still alive and well but that he had in the last twenty years a pretty amazing and productive career.

Now the CD I had found had a little postcard, which was mainly to join a mailing list. Somehow, in my mind, I had twisted it to the idea that I could offer my services to bring the man over to the US for a tour, which had never happened. Bernie had toured with Gillan, had become Ozzy’s guitarist on the Diary of a Madman Tour after Randy’s tragic accident, and worked with Dee Snider in Long Island for a year or so on what was to have been Desperado but he never did a proper solo tour of the US despite his two solo bands; the Electric Gypsies and Torme.

So long and short, with finding him online and having this silly idea in my head that I could help him do a tour that he should have done back in 1986; I wrote him an email. I figured, what the hell, I will send it and see what happens. Probably nothing, but one never knows.

Two or three days later, he wrote me back!. The man wrote me back! Wow! How cool is that! The wife says I was already star struck. If I was not before the note, I probably was after it. I now had an a very nice note from him. It touched on some of the history and in the end saying he would, if I was serious, take me up on my offer of putting a tour together. Well, for the next four years, up until early 2007 I did try to bring him over to the US. It never happened.

Today Bernie Torme has an amazing new band, GMT, which has a bit of success in the UK and is now signed with Coallier Entertainment, located in NY. So I hope that if anybody can bring him over here, it would be Danny Stanton and his mates. Meanwhile, I will continue to tinker with a show here and there in the wilds of Westchester.

Five years later and as you can see I still think that correspondence between myself and Bernie Torme is or was amazing, And the years and experiences that followed it have been some of the best! Looking back at what transpired I only hope to continue what we are doing! Perhaps no US Torme tour but along the way we have and will continue to explore a bunch of other stuff!

Regarding this note today; this note on how and where the Wild West and the Feast of Noise began; we end this note with Bernie Torme’s email response to me, and finally my original note to him. We end it, where it all began.


**************************************************

From: Retrowrek/ Bernie Torme
Subject: Re: Hello. . .
Date: March 24, 2003 6:56:16 AM EST
To: Bob Schaffer

Hi Bob,

man if you saw the Gillan US tour, you really are one of the few!

Post Ozzy i never made over to play in the US, though I lived on and off in Long Island and Woodstock for over a year when I was working with Dee, he just would not gig. No unannouced things or try outs or anything, other than one club in Birmingham in england, which was really good. Real shame. So when the record company hung us out to dry we had nothing at all to fall back on other than reputation, which does not really carry you too far..

The long and short of it is that i tried to sort out some gigs around New York two or three years ago, but it was just too logistically difficult from here: and frankly what i do was not too fashionable at that point. i do not at this stage have any connections worth anything on a practical gigging level, everyone I know is doing rarified stuff at quite a high up level or has left the business entirely.

I'd love to get to do some gigs over your way, i get a lot of requests from punter/people in the US, i suppose the only problem is some of them are in NY some in LA, some around Chicago, Ohio, Texas, you name it, thinly spread! So each gig might have about 5-10 very keen fans and bugger all else!

So i am quite open to your idea, but it might be very difficult to pull off realistically. But if you are up for having a go, please let me know if i can assist in any way at all. I'd love to do it.

bernie
--
http://www.retrowrek.com
http://www.barnroom.co.uk
http://www.vtshopping.co.uk
http://www.bernietorme.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bernie-torme

***************************************************

From: xxxxxxx@xxxx.com
Subject: Hello. . .
Date: March 22, 2003 3:42:27 AM EST
To: xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx

Bernie,

I remember you from a concert outside of Philadelphia way back in December of 1980. Was a cold and icy night. You were playing with Gillan back then. I was a youngster, and snuck in the club which I have to sadly say was pretty dead. No one really knew what Gillan was about. But I remember you, your Strat, and your tremolo noises and effects!, Also recall McCoy, and Colin Towns (?) I think - on the keyboard and of course Gillan singing. . .Anyway, now history.

When Randy tragically died on that plane, I knew you would be Ozzy's man. I was bummed when you left the tour. My buddy saw you, and i was pissed! I had tickets for a show the week after you left. All I remember is wondering who the fuck was Brad Gillis. .

Then I found Torme and the Electric Gypsies. . .at least the vinyl. But you never, as far as I know, ever made it over here for a tour - not even New York. I did not know that you were in Desperado. . . shame on me! Anyway, it is a new century, and now that I know you are still making music, any chance you will come over to New York?

What would it take? why not make a leisurely trip to the states? Be a nice trip down memory lane for me and just freshen things up around here period! I will even go so far as to make you an offer. . .I have no idea whether you have any connections here, I am sure you do. . . but if you want a fool to give a crack at finding a few venues for you. . .doing the legwork for a small tour. . . call it what you will - let me know.

Who am I? Today I am a middle class working stiff living outside New York city. Little working cash, but intrigued with the idea of putting together such an event. I was way back in the mid eighties doing lame covers of Thin Lizzy and UFO, I was the singer and manager. .did a few shows. . kind of.

Anyway, if you are curious, write me back. If nothing else, please put me on your mailing list and give me a reason to find my way back to L'Amours over in Brooklyn. Hope all is well!

Bob Schaffer
xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com
914-xxx-xxxx

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SWSW. . . Meanwhile, What Are We Doing?

Most of you probably know that SxSW just wrapped up down in Austin Texas. For those who do not SXSW is basically the city of Austin celebrating music and those who make music. To be specific, it is a set of interactive, film, and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas.

It is one extended party and involving several hundred if not thousands of bands and artists. You have the bands, and you have music business people. There is even corporate people considering various sponsorship options in regard to music.

If you go through the listing of bands at sxsw.com you see a good number of bands from NYC and Brooklyn listed. (It is interesting that folks make that distinction. I am not from NYC, I am from Brooklyn. . .) It is cool to see they made the trip down to Texas and participated.

One can debate the benefits of going down. You probably will not come back with either a record deal or a corporate sponsor, you never know, but regardless of that, you were part of something. The music scene there is celebrated. The cool thing is that it is a week which is about making music, about getting out there and making some noise. It is a week of celebrating music and musicians.

Meanwhile over here, and this is not the first time this has been said, we have nothing. Oh we do have stuff going on. This weekend in Yonkers is the Alice Cooper and Kiss Tribute Show. Nothing against Alice or Kiss or the tribute acts doing these shows, but we are talking to different leagues here. It just don't compare to SxSW.

Alright, that is Yonkers. NYC proper has a few things going on. I am talking good shows featuring local talent that should be checked out. One of my favs, Do You See the Dark is playing Baruch College in the next week. The Dirty Pearls are doing a show at the Trash Bar in Brooklyn. Me Talk Pretty is doing a show too in the next few days. All good acts-good shows, and I am afraid they are all on the same night!

So there is stuff going on, but unlike Austin, which is swallowed up by the music, NYC and the metro area, swallow the music. It is just sucked up like a giant black hole-gone and forgotten. Have no doubt, the music scene is here and happening, and there are some gems to be found, but they get little respect, little attention.

Further, the institutions of the city are disappearing. The old clubs are gone, the CBs, the Continentals. When you talk to bands and artists, they want to get out of the city. NY might be the base of operations, but they want to come to Yonkers (yes even Yonkers. . .) and Westchester.

On the other hand, maybe that is New York. We all know someone who came with a dream and who got beat. It is not suppose to be easy. As Phil Lynott said, New York "is high rise, concrete and complex". It is that much bigger, that much more challenging. It can and routinely does overwhelm. Maybe New York subscribes to Nietzsche's Will to Power-it is going to throw everything it can in your way, and you will struggle, and if you succeed, well now you are talking!

Regardless of that challenge, it would just be cool if the music scene in NY had a bit of that spirit, a bit of that recognition found at SXSW. And maybe that is just not New York, maybe NYC is the town that to live and thrive here is a badge of recognition. The problem is I am not sure anyone is thriving. I just think NYC, Yonkers and Westchester are just not tuned in. They are busy in their cublicle listening to the peak and getting the lowdown on who the governor is banging today.

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The First Acoustic Sunday Show at Mr. D's

The Feast of Noise had its first show at Mr. D's this past Sunday, March 16th. Basically four artists performing acoustic blues, classic rock, and pop. We had our three featured artists, John Santiago, John Black, and Dinosaur Lightning do their thing, and Ralph Conte of the Riff Bangers, who also joined in and did some of his tunes and some classic rockers.

Ladies and gentleman the idea works-you have a mix of featured artists and invite all to join in and you have a cool Sunday afternoon.

It was a very cool acoustic show ranging from the blues, with covers of Stevie Ray Vaughn, a couple Hendrix tunes, and even a Zeppelin classic, What is and What Should Never Be. We had a Foo Fighters cover and the Credence tune, Have You Ever Heard the Rain.

So you got a dash of something you know, and yet everyone who performed was doing some of their own tunes too, so we got something new and different too. Basically four different artists, four different directions and all done with acoustic guitar and voice. and everybody had a good time.

Those in the audience were digging what they were hearing. We had maybe 20 folks pass thru, So an alright beginning. It was a good afternoon and evening, and the Feast of Noise will back on March 30th with an even better show! Right now the roster includes Brian Grosz, Karascene, Statues of Liberty, and John Black, who did not have enough this past Sunday.

See you on the 30 at Mr D's in Yonkers.

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Spitzer VS New York Wives

Last week I commented on the ridiculous series, Wives of New York or whatever, on Bravo. One of the points I went on about was the fact that these ladies did not compare to the exploits of other new yorkers. They just don't have the energy, the passion, the drive, or the decadence of New York city.

This week we saw such a car wreck. This week we saw Governor Spitzer crash and burn. Governor Spitzer, the sheriff of Wall Street hiring call girls-allegedly spending $80,000 on such encounters. This is a New York City story. One that perhaps the city would prefer not to be associated with, but certainly a more honest picture of wealth, arrogance, and decadence in New York than any stupid TV show.

Once again the reality just puts the imagination of writers and reality TV to shame. Like Rock n Roll, in New York, you never know what the fuck will happen.

Bob Schaffer

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Voices and Guitars

One thing I have come to appreciate in my travels to various shows and performances is the power of the human voice. It always comes back down to the human voice. I have seen amazing bands, fantastic drummers, great guitar players but really at the end of the day, it is the human voice that often grabs me.

Regardless of what type of music is being performed, and I have seen a range of acts, it aleays goes back to the voice-back to the vocals. If the voice does not stand out in some way, then the music probably just does not work. Whether that voice soothes, haunts, calms or terrofies-that voice has to have some effect on you

I know there are exceptions. Jeff Beck has no vocals. Bernie Torme sings but is not the ideal vocalist, but I would be at either of their shows. They bring other things to the table. The point here today is simple, good vocals go a long way. You may not need a front man but if you do not have that voice to lure your audience in, you are just adding to an already daunting task.

All of this brings me to acoustic music. At the end of the day, I would argue that regardless of what type of music one makes, it pays to try it out acoustically. Don't throw things like electronica or death metal at me. I have no idea if those can be translated to acoustic and retain some component of themselves. Death metal probably could.

In general if you can take what you do and it works acoustically, you probably got something. By stripping away all the gadgetry, electronics, amplifaction, and effects, you may just find out what it is. And it is in this environment that the voice, the singer, accompanied by guitar or piano, is heard most clearly.

That is one of the thoughts behind the Acoustic sets We are kicking off this weekend. We got alternatvie, metal, rock, and blues acts experimenting with the acoustic stuff in addition to folks who claim acoustic rock or folk as their niche. It should be interesting.

That is happening at Mr D's Pub and Tavern at 748 Yonkers Avenue, Yonkers. The show starts at 4:00 PM and ends at 8:00.

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Some Wives in New York?

New York just is not the city it once was. I realized that again courtesy of my TV. I was flipping through the dial and came across Bravo's new reality show, The Real Housewives of New York City. The show basically tracks the real life adventures of several housewives who reside in Manhattan. I caught the first few minutes and had enough.

Basically in those few moments it showed huge closets full of clothes, references to the Hamptons, and middle aged women obsessed with money, fame and money. If this is New York, then I have had enough! There has to be something more there. No doubt there is, but this is the image out there today-forty year old women worrying about which designer miniskirt is right for going out tonight. This is who inhabits the city today, or so we are told.

In the seventies we had two very different New Yorks. There was the village which was the capital for punk rock, with a range of acts coming out of that scene. The easy ones include the Ramones, Blondie and the Talking Heads, and there are more. Meanwhile, uptown you had Studio 54. And lets not forget John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever, which took place in Brooklyn.

In the eighties we had rap start up in the Bronx. Brooklyn in the 80's had the rock capitol-L'amours! You look at these and wonder, wow, we go from cultural dynamo to watching crap involving middle ages women act like teenagers, with no real appreciation of the life they live-not a clue!

And I am not just talking about music and culture. New York is and always has been about greed. There were the Carnegies, the JP Morgans, and the Rockefellers. Even today you have Michael Bloomberg. These are the possibilities of wealth. Even on the darkside you have the John Gotti and Lucky Luciano. These are people who know greed and did something with it. They, like the rockers and coke heads above, made NYC. And while we are talking about struggle and toil,lets not forget that part of New York which is routinely glossed over-the homeless-those who really struggle and do not succeed or even survive.

What can I say, New York has changed. The good news it will change again. As one poet by the name of Phil Lynott told us back in 1980:
"I'm just talking to you over these waves
Not just about another time and another place
And before we knew it
The old wave was gone and controlled" (Talk in 79 from his Solo in Soho album)

And do not forget, the Lizzyheads are playing at the Trash Bar on Sunday, March 16th! They will be well worth skipping Law & Order Criminal Intent on Bravo. . .

Bob Schaffer

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God Bless A Product and AntiProduct

Monday night saw a great show. Sadly, I was one of like twelve people checking it out, but it was still a great show. It was AntiProduct at the Haunt in beautiful Yonkers, NY. No people and one unknown decent warm-up band. It was purely AntiProduct that night.

And you know what made them work-A Product-their front man, singer, and all round main man-he just made it all work. Before the show started, they did a sound check and that was entertaining. He did this whole bit,"remember we are not here." Introduced us, the audience to the concept of a three part harmony. I have not heard of such things since reading a review of Van Halen's Diver Down from like 1982. It was just amusing, and his comments on Yonkers and the limited crowd were well deserved and funny.

And keep in mind he has on each side of him a very hot lady in leather. Which again goes back to that three point harmony thing.

So they disappear from the stage after the sound check, and after a few moments the fog machine is turned on and all the lights, behind the stage and everywhere else, are on. It is a major league rock show with maybe a dozen people, and that includes the the crew who were the warm up act. Once AntiProduct settle into the stage and tear into the first song, it is A Product who again steals the scene. The two lovely ladies on rhythm guitar looking good-rocking out, and the bassplayer-rocker dude and drummer-all just tearing it up. I think it was "Turning Me On" from their Made in the USA album.

But on that tune and going forward it was A Product who you were watching. He jumped down off the stage, and messed with the three or four of us down on the floor. He coaxed the crowd hanging out at the bar. He especially enjoyed trying to trip up one or two dudes with his mic cord.

Then we came to Bungee Jumping People Die. That is a great song and crowd or no crowd, A Product wanted us to just yell it out-all twelve of us. Not only did he want us to take over the show ever so briefly but he decided that we might as well all get on the stage. So for a brief moment there we were, the dozen or so folks who came to this Monday show in Yonkers, on the stage performing for the man. All of us yelling out Bungee Jumping People Die, until he told us he had enough and to get the hell of his stage. I enjoyed my ten seconds of being on the stage next to the one lovely lady, stretching my neck to get to the mic and closer to her.

The band was good, the ladies hot, the songs cool, the three point harmonies on the money, but it was A Product who really got me into that show. All to often we forget, at the end of the day that rock, metal, punk, whatever it is, it is entertainment and suppose to be fucking fun. And these folks showed that you can rock, have a good laugh and even kick more than a bit of ass-all in one night. Hmmm reminds me of Van Halen again, not sure why. (probably not today's Van Halen-I am talking 1981 Van Halen when they were supporting the Fair Warning Album.

So regardless of what you think of the UK and bands from the UK, these folks deserve your support! They know what the hell they are doing and even if they don't, they are damn fun! And if you are not looking for fun, they rock too, or if nothing else Clare might just trample you with her boots. They are wandering thru out the US in coming weeks.

For details on them and their tour, check out AntiProduct.com

Bob Schaffer

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