Slumming in Queens

come rock. this friday 12/18. much fun will be had.

who: do you see the dark 

what: live rock music, two sets, originals and covers

where: maggie maes, 41-15 queens blvd (btw 41st & 42nd-- across the street from the 7 train)

when: friday 12/18 -- first set at 11pm, second set at 12:30am 

how: just show up with ID. it's free and drinks are cheap. 

why: why the fuck not?

That was my Friday night and it turned out pretty damn good. I did not get out of the house until like 9:30 and was even able to do some Christmas shopping before hand. For the last week or two I have been complaining that I keep skipping shows so I finally corrected that. It is interesting that I made it to this one. Nope I passed up burlesque, a big theater show at the Grammercy, and a holiday Queen V's Take Back New York show over at Don Hill's. All of those are over in the city. . . city being Manhattan. Have to say I never checked out Queens before. 

The drive over was easy-across the Tri-Borough, and down the BQE, onto Queens Boulevard. I was worried I would not find a parking space but no issue- Found one right out in front. Maggie Maes is a cool bar with some space in the back where they were just setting up the PA. So after saying hello, I found a bar stool and had a White Russian. Granted this was a place with an English or Irish flavor, with lots of beer and ale around me, but it is the holidays and it was cold out, and I had skipped dessert. So I settled in with my drink and read the daily news, checking out the sales for cars. they had a couple flat screens around the place playing highlights from English football - soccer.

Anyway, Do You See the Dark went on around 11:00 or so. they did an original and then a Zeppelin tune. That was different as they had not done covers before. For me that is a line in the sand. I struggle with finding venues because I have only booked original bands doing their own tunes. So i had come to Queens to see them do a mix of originals and covers. They are one of my favorite acts and it was what I would call a 'hometown' show, and I did want to do something

Anyway, the Zeppelin tune was pretty good. I believe it was "Whole Lotta Love". Rachel did a good job generally with handling the vocals. They went on to do a Pink Floyd tune from the Wall, and that got my attention. I got to see a style of guitar playing that you do not get to see Mike doing usually. Later on in the set they did the Police's Message in a Bottle. Frank on the drums always impresses but it seemed like he was really enjoying that stuff that Stewart Copeland does with the high-hat in that tune. Well at least I got into it!

So the covers worked. The second set they mixed it up further, a couple of their tunes, a few more covers-even a Sabbath tune or two. They did one tune I was thinking was theirs at first, but was in fact was Faith No More. so some unknown gems too. After the two sets I was thinking this might work in Westchester - maybe I could sell such a mix to venues. Places that previously were not interested in purely original acts. Forget about that though, it was just neat to see the band doing this mix of tunes and various styles. Yeah I love their originals but this was cool too, simply something different. 

And as far as my choice of shows, it was a good night. Some good music at a cool bar, with good folks.

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Jeff Beck. . . At the Garden?

Last week I got an email announcing a Jeff Beck concert. I was all excited. I have caught the man and his guitar on stage a couple times and try to catch him any chance I get. My first Jeff Beck show was at Jones Beach. He rocked out of course but what grabbed me at that show was his slower bluesier tunes. I just recall those amazing tones, the amazing sounds that were coming out of his Les Paul (or was it a Strat? Probably both. . .). 

It was just a perfect evening for such tunes. I wish I could tell you which ones, maybe from Blow by Blow or perhaps Who Else. Jones Beach was the perfect venue for those slow soulful tunes, and more importantly those expressive consuming tones out his guitar. I remember looking out onto the water as he played. The water, with the lights from the roadways reflecting of it and several boats anchored there. They, like us, taking in the show and those amazing tones and sounds.   

Since then I have caught him once or twice in the Hammerstein Ballroom. Those shows had a different feel. At the Hammerstein, he rocked out more. I recall on one occasion he was doing Rollin and Tumblin, granted a 'urban' or updated version of it. (I know, Rollin & Tumblin is not even a rock song really, unless you went to too many Blackfoot shows back in the 80s). Again, don't ask me to name tunes. I would gamble the tunes were coming from Wired and There and Back, and the newer ones, Who Else and You Had It Coming.

Anyway, the Hammerstein is simply a different venue, which might have just effected this concert-goer. You are standing amidst the crowd, as opposed to sitting down taking in the view of the bay. And then there is the bar in the back of the ballroom, which might make up for a lack of a mosh pit. A bar offering Jack Daniels and vodka and tonics in plastic cups as opposed to only beer.  Maybe it was just that the wife stayed home. 

Sadly, I missed his last set of shows in the city this past spring over at Irving Plaza.  So when I saw the email,  I was pretty excited. Sadly I realized it was at Madison Square Garden, and it was with Eric Clapton. I am not a big fan of the Garden-too big. I am not a big fan of Eric Clapton. I have just not followed the man's music. He certainly has the reputation, but his music just has not grabbed me like Jeff Beck's has. So I guess I am going to have to wait. Hopefully, he will release that new album soon and do a solo tour.

Till then I will have to just make a playlist on iTunes and all.

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Pondering which show to check out. . .

For the past few weeks I have been housebound. First it was gearing up for the marathon. Lately it is more budgetary. Problems problems. Now It seems like every week I say to myself I need to get out of here-out of the house-and yet I am still here. And that has been the case for the past few weeks. In that same period there have shows to see.

Forget about going to see a particular act or band. It has been even longer since I have just gone out and thrown the dice-see what turns up. So lately part of me is wanting to just get out and see what happens. The need for change is here-for something different. Not that I am racing there, not racing anywhere it seems. So the desire is there, Not just to see a particular act or band but just to get out and explore, and see what is out there. No doubt a bit of uncertainty about what is out there, but something is out there.

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Two Bands and an Acoustic Act

Just was checking my email and have gotten a couple emails from folks in Myspace. In the process of coming and going from my Myspace account did stumble across two bands that caught my attention. Maybe it is just a case of not having looked or listened to much of anything for awhile now.

Regardless of what the cause, I found two acts that just made an impression. The first one was Agents of Karma, I checked out their page and several of their songs. They just had a classic rock sound-basically. The guitar was there. Some very cool bass-maybe a dash of funk in there. The vocals worked. Reminded me of a few bands. One tune was reminding me of the Chili Peppers. Last tune I checked out owed a serious debt to Deep Purple's Child of Time, which made me like it that much more. So this three piece has the musical chops, they have some nice original tunes, and they are willing to work within the genre - play with it.

They are doing a show this Friday at Desmond's Tavern, which i have no idea about, but from what I heard on Agents of Karma's Myspace page, might be worth finding this Friday.

This evening, as I am watching Law & Order, (yeah that is still my show. . .) I again signed into Myspace and realized I had a few friend invites outstanding. One of which was from Set theory, a band local to Westchester. I had seen various things from them before but just have not been looking or thinking bout such things. Anyway, these guys are more into a contemporary alternative sound. They only had one tune, but I liked it. Sadly as I sat listening, and digging the vocals, I read that they are now looking for a new vocalist. Regardless, I liked what heard and hope they return to the scene, vocalist and all.

Lastly, as I debated whether to sit down and write this up I realized that Lorraine Leckie was doing a show at Banjo Jim's this Saturday, December 5th, and then on the 8th it looks like she is on the radio on 99.5. Lorraine came up to Yonkers this summer and did a set at one of my last acoustic shows. She came up with another artist, a dude by the name of Wallace. Both of them did great sets, with sadly little or no audience. Regardless it worked. It was a fun gig. It is good to see she is out and about and she is definitely worth checking out!

It is easy to bitch about Myspace, but once in awhile you remember what it can offer.

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The Crusade Continues

For the past few years we have tried to develop an original music scene up here in Westchester County. We have had our moments. Way back in 2005 at the Vintage and more recently at the Haunt. Today there are a few venues that now and again will do such a show. And there is original talent in the area that would love to play to a hometown crowd.

Despite the FeastOfNoise.com's change of focus from music promotion to music news, we will continue to work on this. The crusade continues. We will be highlighting and encouraging venues that support original rock and punk acts. Likewise we will be hyping up bands and acts coming out of White Plains, Yonkers, and Westchester in general. We do want to be the place folks go to on the web to find bands and gigs in the area. In short, regardless of our change of course, our interest in original music and finding a place for it in Westchester is still very much part of who we are.

The music news site might just help the cause. Through the web, folks who may may have never pondered original music, much less, checking it out in there local town, will find us online and might just venture out and see and experience some of the acts we are pushing. Imagine that - people coming out to check out live music.

We shall have to see what happens, but we have not given up on the project of a live venue for original music in Westchester. For that matter, the Wild West has not given up on music promotion period.

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