2012/05/16

UK Electro-Acoustic Group Auburn Reunites To Record New CD ‘Indian Summer’

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

UK Electro-Acoustic Group Auburn Reunites To Record New CD ‘Indian Summer’

5/4/2012 – London, UK – To much anticipation, UK electro-acoustic ensemble Auburn featuring singer/songwriter Liz Lenten has reunited after an almost 10-year hiatus! The critically acclaimed group has recorded a new CD titled ‘Indian Summer’ that is slated for release on May 7, 2012 on Scarlet Records, distributed through Gonzo MultiMedia. Described as a band that delivers “songs from the heart” by the London Evening Standard, and “Dreamy, moody and atmospheric” by Classic Rock Society, Auburn will embark on a UK tour in support of their new CD release. ‘Indian Summer’ is a mix of up-beat and slower tempo electro-acoustic pop music, but borrowing much from the roots, country and blues genres, with a slightly retro sound but still very 2012.

Fronted by female vocalist Liz Lenten, who’s voice has been described as “so sweet it’ll make your hair curl” and “husky, with an emotional frailty”, isn’t afraid to show her full range of vocal tones or emotions. “I don’t have a specific style” says Liz. “I love lots of different vibes, so I take bits of all of them and just write songs around the feel that I think works with the lyrics. It is a bit country, a bit bluesy, a bit rootsy – all those things – but I just think of it all as music.” With varied influences from Bonnie Raitt, Billie Holiday, Ricki Lee Jones, Amy Winehouse, Kate Bush and Janis Joplin to name a few, Liz’s songs grab you melodically, but also tell a story of love and life. “ ‘Indian Summer’ is all about the fact that I am older, and maybe a little wiser,” Liz explains, “certainly more chilled out, but not ready to hang up my mic just yet. I feel happy and content with where I am in life right now.”

The Auburn band is a mixed sound of lush acoustic guitars, rich cello lines and groovy percussion, underpinned by hypnotic bass lines. “Auburn manages to pull off the trickiest of tricks. Which is? Well, to make slow moving mood music that never fails to engage. What’s more, Auburn makes it seem easy,” touts Impressions magazine. Along with Liz Lenten, Auburn features co-writer and producer Max Gilkes on guitars and piano (Lily Allen, Prince Fatty, Manu Chau), Jevon Beaumont on bass (BootLed Zeppelin, Laura Vane), Pat Garvey on percussion (BIMM, Nin Drums), Rob Lewis on cello (Two Spot Gobi). Along with the band members special guests Eliza Carthy on violin and background vocals, and Laura Vane on background vocals are featured on ‘Indian Summer’.

Liz Lenten formed Auburn in the summer of 1999. Their first gig was at the jam-packed launch party of Scarlet Records held at the salubrious and smoky Madame JoJo’s in Soho to a completely packed and enthusiastic house. Auburn’s first EP ‘Sweet Sebastian’ received extensive airplay, and sold out of its limited pressing within 2 weeks. The band then teamed up with producer Tim Pettit (Travis, Sun House and Carlene Carter) and recorded “For Life”, which also garnered great radio support, and they toured the UK and played many live radio sessions. The debut album ‘Dreams’ was released in 2003 and Auburn toured with Sophie Ellis Bextor in the UK and Europe, playing to 40,000 people. In 2005 “Cry” reached number #5 in the UK indie video charts, after which the band took a break. Now, along with the excitement surrounding the reformation of Auburn comes the question, where have they been for almost a decade? “My son started school and I just didn’t want to be away from him touring,” Liz explains. “In fact, I hated being away from him for even a night. So, I concentrated on other musical work, teaching singing, conducting and composing for choirs, artist management and running my small label. Now that he’s older I feel I can carry on where I left off, and continue to follow this side of my music.”

Auburn UK tour dates:
May 4 – South Holland AC – Spalding
May 5 – Terry O’Toole Theatre – Lincoln
May 6 – The King Albert – Brighton
May 7 – The Slaughtered Lamb – London
July 29 – Exhibition Road Festival, London

In closing Liz had this to impart to her fans and listeners, “Thank you for caring and remembering. I really hope you enjoy the new album – I think I have grown up a bit since ‘Dreams’ (at last!) and I hope that people enjoy the new material.”

Auburn – ‘Indian Summer’ UK release date: Monday 7th May 2012
Label: Scarlet Records / Distribution: Gonzo/Proper

To purchase Auburn – ‘Indian Summer’: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Indian-Summer-Auburn/dp/B007KE1IC8

For more information: http://www.auburn.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/auburnindainsummer

TV and Radio: Amanda Beel – All About Promotions: 020 7328 4836

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Auburn, Press Release

2012/05/14

Rick Wakeman Biography ‘Caped Crusader, Rick Wakeman In The 1970s’ with Foreword by Elton John Now Available!

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Rick Wakeman Biography ‘Caped Crusader, Rick Wakeman In The 1970s’
with Foreword by Elton John Now Available!

5/3/2012 – London, UK – Gonzo Media Group has just released ‘Caped Crusader, Rick Wakeman In The 1970s’ by veteran author, broadcaster and journalist, Dan Wooding, with a foreword by Elton John.

The book, the authorized biography of Rick Wakeman, who is arguably the world’s greatest rock keyboardist, is lavishly illustrated with dozens of photos from Wakeman’s extraordinary career which includes the time his career took off when he joined the folk group, Strawbs, in 1969, and played on three of their albums.

But the ultimate accolade – the biggest break of Rick’s career at that time – came shortly afterwards when a giant picture of Wakeman filled the front page of the Melody Maker in London, England, with the headline, “Tomorrow’s Superstar?”

The article said: “This is the man Keith Emerson hired a box at London’s Lyceum to hear. Since the twenty-one-year-old keyboard virtuoso joined the group [Strawbs], along with Ford and Hudson, [and] they’ve evolved into one of the most exciting bands of the folk-rock scene.”

Wooding’s book also includes fascinating descriptions of his several excursions with the British super group, Yes, and his many themed solo albums, including The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1974) and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975).

Richard Christopher Wakeman (born May 18, 1949), was trained at the Royal College of Music in London, where he also went on to feature on songs by artists including Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie, T. Rex, Elton John and Cat Stevens.

Wakeman has produced over 100 solo albums that have sold more than 50 million copies.

Elton John, in his foreword for the book, said, “Rick’s mastery of electronic instruments only adds to his abilities, and I think it is fair to say he was one of the reasons I stuck to the piano. I also admire his attitude to stage shows – always willing to take a gamble, but never sacrificing his musical ideals. Just as important, never losing his sense of humour and his sense of the ridiculous. Anyone who can put on an ice show at Wembley must be all right. I must add that Rick loves cars and is a fanatic when it comes to soccer. Therefore, he and I have an unbreakable bond.

“It has become fashionable to knock musicians who have been around a while, and who are still determined to persevere in what they believe in. It is very easy to be misunderstood along the way, but it is vital to ignore trends and get on with what you want to do. Rick will always do this because, quite simply, he’s that much better than everyone else.”

Wooding, 71, founder of ASSIST and the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net), and the author of 45 books, was the first journalist to ever write a story about Rick Wakeman. It occurred more than 40 years ago while he was working on a local newspaper in Ealing, West London.

“I was looking for stories for the paper and had just called in on a shop called the Musical Bargain Centre in South Ealing Road, and it was then that I heard someone playing amazing keyboards at the back of the store,” said Wooding. “I waited until he had finished and then talked with him. That person was Rick Wakeman and he told me that he was then a student at the Royal College of Music in London and was also doing sessions with different musicians. He told me had had just played piano on and arranged Morning Has Broken for Cat Stevens and also played Mellotron on Space Oddity for David Bowie. Both went on to become number 1 hits both in the UK and the USA.

“Rick told me that he had never been interviewed before, so I wrote up the story for the paper and we became best friends. He invited me to his home in Northolt and I sat there spellbound as he played for me on his home piano. I had never heard anything like it.

“I shared with him a little about my background, explaining to him that I was born of missionary parents in Nigeria, and it was then that Rick told me that he was also a Christian and had been baptized at South Harrow Baptist Church and, at that time, was also a Sunday School teacher there.

“As his career blossomed, I went on to write his authorized biography, and this latest one, which contains some updates, has been reissued along with Elton John’s foreword, and the three of us even had our picture taken together at Brentford F.C. for the back cover of the book.”

Wooding, who now lives in Southern California, added, “Rick and I have remained close friends for all these years and he has also performed several concerts for ASSIST in the United States.

“I am delighted that his incredible story, or at least the earlier part of it, can be told again for those in this new generation, who possibly don’t know too much about the ‘Grumpy Old Man’ that they see on British TV, will be able to learn about his incredible talents as a keyboard player, composer and songwriter.”

Why the title? Wooding says it comes from the fact that the blond figure of Wakeman would wrap his glittering shimmering cape around his giant frame and head on stage at arenas around the world to start another incredible performance on his battery of electronic keyboards.

And, even today, the “Caped Crusader” continues to push back the limits of music with his extraordinary talents.

The purchase a copy of “Caped Crusader” just go to: http://www.amazon.com/CAPED-CRUSADER-Rick-Wakeman-1970s/dp/1908728302/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335474883&sr=1-1

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Rick Wakeman

2012/05/12

San Francisco Bay Area’s Ian Franklin Readies Debut Full-Length CD ‘Breaking Grounds’

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

San Francisco Bay Area’s Ian Franklin Readies Debut Full-Length CD ‘Breaking Grounds’

An epic musical journey featuring many flavors and some name brand players as well

May 2, 2012 – San Francisco, CA – Singer/songwriter Ian Franklin is proud to announce the release of his debut album, ‘Breaking Grounds’. This new full length album is being released on the heels of his successful ‘Step By Step EP’ which was released in May of 2011. This release, for the Santa Rosa native, comes as a career high at the end of a near-decade of non-stop, whirlwind and frenetic coast-to-coast musical endeavors and evolution that have both educated and matured the young artist into a multi-faceted musical road warriorepreneur.

The epic journey, from graduating the Berklee College of Music with Bachelor Degrees in both Music Therapy and Songwriting; forming, recording and performing with the lauded Boston-based jazz-funk/groove-rock band Infinite Frequency; touring the United States and California several times over and then establishing his San Francisco-based Music Therapy practice, ‘Breaking Grounds’ is truly Ian’s masterpiece. ‘Breaking Grounds’ features a cast of talented San Francisco musicians, and in true Bay Area spirit, there is no shying away from letting loose and jamming. The album takes the listener on a trip through psychedelic wailing guitar solos, horns pops (Adam Theis and Mike Olmos of Jazz Mafia, and Mark Growden), keyboard odysseys (Eric Levy of Garaj Mahal and Night Ranger), and more. The highly melodic and tight rhythmic interplay on this recording will harken the listener back to a time when musicianship, not just style, played an essential role in rock & roll. This album was produced by Ian Franklin and Ben Bernstein, who has produced many well-known projects, and played in a few different well known bands including New Monsoon.

The diversity of ‘Breaking Grounds’ carries over from Ian’s previous project, winners of the Boston Regional Global Battle Of The Bands; Infinite Frequency. Infinite Frequency, who went on to compete in the national Global Battle of the Bands Finals at the Key Club in Los Angeles, was described by WhisperinandHollerin.com s “fusing modern rock with jazz, funk, and ’70s soul” while displaying “melodicism and top-notch playing… (that) will have people having flashbacks when musicianship, not just style, played an essential ingredient in rock & roll.” And regarding lead singer Ian Franklin himself, he “owns a solid voice of his own, high and filled with life.”

The Santa Barbara News-Press recently described Ian as, “… a rare petal — his group songs rock, led by guitar riffs that show the influence of both the Police and Tool. And his high voice can be reminiscent of Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze.”

High praise indeed and with ‘Breaking Grounds’, Ian hopes to generate much more of the same enthusiasm. Franklin’s songs pull from his creative imagination, are often fueled by personal experiences and promote awareness about issues that he believes deserve attention or they simply provide joy and help relieve the stress of daily life. Promising diversely-inspired tunes influenced by a fusion of roots-rock, funk, jazz, blues and folk into a new genre he refers to as “Eclectic Pop-Rock,” ‘Breaking Grounds’ is the clear and defining next chapter in the musical growth and maturity of this exceptionally gifted singer/songwriter.

‘Breaking Grounds’ was recorded by Ben Bernstein at Spliggityfidge Studios, Emeryville, and Petting Zoo Studio, Oakland with final mixing being completed at Petting Zoo Studio in early 2012. Petting Zoo Records out of Oakland, CA will release Franklin’s new album June of 2012.

Throughout the 90’s, Ian performed with many award-winning Sonoma County-based bands, honing his skills in the fusion rock-funk/hip-hop; Gollum, the Zappa-meets-Faith No More-infused; Cory’s Slug, and the instrumental ambient/tribal-rock outfit; Wish. His first-ever recorded solo project was in 2001 when Ian teamed up Frank ‘Side-Burns’ Sanders to record his live acoustic EP, Finley Swims.

Constantly performing and creating, Ian, being the son of a Reichian therapist, and coming from a family of healers, is a private practice Board-Certified Music Therapist and Music Teacher who specializes in Geriatrics, Special Needs, Mental Health and Pediatrics. He maintains offices in Santa Rosa, San Francisco, the East Bay, and he works with clients throughout the Bay Area, as far south as San Jose.

About his passion for being a Music Therapist, Ian stated in the Santa Barbara News-Press, “It takes music to a whole new level… it’s selfless. Usually music is all about your art, but in music therapy, it’s all to do with the client. All my expectations go out the window.”

Ian Franklin ‘Breaking Grounds’ CD/Digital release – June 5, 2012

For Digital Distribution enquiries, please contact Jerome Forney at IDCDigital via email at Jerome@independentdistro.com

For radio enquiries please contact Ian Franklin at telephone: 707-480-7658 or via email at info@ianfranklinmusic.com – For more information visit Ian Franklin at http://www.ianfranklinmusic.com
Ben Bernstein Music http://benbernsteinmusic.com
Petting Zoo Records http://pettingzoorecords.com

For US distribution enquiries, please contact Steffen Franz or Ben Lang at Independent Distribution Collective, telephone: 415-292-7007 or via e-mail at sales@independentdistro.com

For more info, please contact:
Billy James – Glass Onyon PR
Tel: 828-350-8158
Email: glassonyonpr@cs.com
To arrange interviews or request a copy of ‘Breaking Grounds’ for review, please contact Billy James/Glass Onyon PR at 828-350-8158 or email: glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Ian Franklin, Press Release

2012/05/10

Music Legend Tommy Roe Featured In ‘The Beatles Lost Concert’ Film

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Music Legend Tommy Roe Featured In ‘The Beatles Lost Concert’ Film

5/1/2012 – Hollywood, CA – International ’60s music legend and pop pioneer Tommy Roe will be featured in a new film about The Beatles legendary 1964 concert in Washington, DC called ‘The Beatles The Lost Concert’. This new documentary on the birth of Beatlemania in America will have its premiere at New York’s world-famous Ziegfeld Theater on May 6, 2012 and will have a limited US theater engagement March 17 & 22, 2012. The Beatles opened for Tommy Roe on the famed UK tour of 1963, in return the fab four asked Tommy to be on the bill with them at their first ever US concert in Washington, DC. The whole story is related through new interviews with celebrities, historically important people, journalists and DJs, photographers, historians and original concert goers, along with plenty archival footage. Also, unseen on the big screen for over four decades, the original concert footage has been restored and remastered. On February 11, 1964, two days after their legendary appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Beatles performed at the Washington Coliseum. After performances by The Caravelles, The Chiffons and Tommy Roe, The Beatles played a 12-song half hour show to an ecstatic audience. The concert was professionally filmed and mixed on location, and then one month later broadcast via closed-circuit to movie theaters across America. The concert has been hidden away in the vaults for over 45 years! For more information visit: http://www.lostbeatlesconcert.com. In celebration of the new Beatles documentary, Tommy Roe will be featured on the nationally syndicated SiriusXM radio show ‘Breakfast With The Beatles’ on April 29, 2012.

In other news, Tommy Roe will be releasing his first new album in many years in the Fall 2012! In support of his new CD release Tommy will be performing several select dates in the US and Canada. A bona fide international star, Tommy Roe wrote and recorded 6 “Top 10” hits between 1962-69, more than any other solo American artist. To his credits he has 11 US Top 40 hits, 6 Top 10s, 4 Certified Gold singles, and 2 #1 Hits. He is a member of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame, and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. On September 2, 2012 Tommy Roe will be inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Music Association (IRRMA) Hall of Fame. http://iowarocknroll.com/news.php?id=201 Born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Tommy began writing songs at the age of fourteen, and his first recording effort yielded the international #1 hit “Sheila”.

“I will most likely call the new CD ‘Devils Soul Pile’, after a song I have written and included in the line up,” explains Tommy. “The song is a departure from my normal and expected style, and one that tells the story of dysfunctional families, and the effect it has on our youth and our neighborhoods. Lyrically, this song is a bit serious, and was inspired by the everyday news of violence in our neighborhoods and cities. But a song that ends in hope.” Other new songs include “LA I Belong To You”, “It’s For You I’m Me” and “Water Underneath My Burning Bridge” as well as a re-recorded version of “Kick Me Charlie” from Tommy’s 1965’s ‘Sweet Pea’ album.

“Get Ready to party…Tommy Roe sounds better than ever!” LARRY KLEIN-Executive Producer: Dick Clark Productions

AN EVENING WITH TOMMY ROE is a new show featuring all his hits, plus less familiar tunes,
and new material as well. The show features full band, unplugged and solo segments.The band is led by veteran guitarist/music director Rick Levy (Herman’s Hermits, Bo Diddley, Jay & the Techniques, Freddy Cannon, etc). Rick plays Epiphone guitars exclusively on tour with Tommy Roe. “I am really excited about my new show,” says Tommy. “I will be featuring some of the new songs I have written, along with some obscure material I have recorded through the years, and get many requests to do. Of course I will highlight the hits, like ‘Sheila’, ‘Everybody’, ‘Hooray For Hazel’, ‘Sweet Pea’, ‘Jam Up and Jelly Tight’ and ‘Dizzy’, along with some of my favorite covers. I will also do a Q&A session in the middle of the show while the stage is being set for my acoustic set with band leader and lead guitarist Rick Levy. This is a new addition to our show, and something I really enjoy. It gives me a chance to get up close and intimate with our audience, kind of like I do at home with family and friends.”

Tommy Roe will be performing on these dates:
May 25 – Century Casino – Edmonton A, Canada
June 16 – Fountain of Life Festival – Gray, TN
June 17 – Ponte Vedra Concert Hall – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
June 18 – Savannah Theatre – The Villages, FL
June 19 – LaGrange College – LaGrange, GA
Aug 31 – DiamondJo Casino – Dubuque, IA
Sept 1- Winnavegas Casino – Sloan, IA
Sept 2 – Iowa Rock Hall of Fame Induction – Arnolds Park, IA

Tommy Roe promo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acd5ZTjEKaA&feature=youtu.be

For more information: http://www.tommyroe.com

Contact: Rick Levy Management (904) 806 0817
rick@ricklevy.com

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Press Release, Tommy Roe

2012/05/08

Cushma/Cides/Leys To Play Famed Prog’Sud Festival and To Tour Europe

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Cushma/Cides/Leys To Play Famed Prog’Sud Festival and To Tour Europe

5/1/2012 – Phoenix, AZ – The progressive rock community is buzzing with excitement about the news that prog trio Cushma/Cides/Leys will be performing at the famed Prog’Sud Festival in France in May 2012.

Cushma/Cides/Leys is an exciting new ensemble comprised of three well-known international musicians. Linda Cushma (USA) is a seasoned international performer and will be returning to Europe to perform at the Prog’Sud Festival 2012 with close friend and collaborator Guillermo Cides (Argentina/Spain), and drummer Alex Leys (Argentina). “The Prog’Sud family remains in your heart long after you depart,” says Cushma. “I am fortunate to be reuniting with friends that I have greatly missed and to be sharing the stage with these gifted musicians at the lovely Prog’Sud Festival in May 2012, which launches our concert tour of France, Italy and Spain.” (www.progsudfestival.fr) The Cushma/Cides/Leys tour will also include Prognite Festival (May 26-27) in Villadeati, Italy and EnjoyStick Meeting, Erici-Trapani, Sicily-Italy. (www.enjoystick.it)

Cushma and Cides both play the Chapman Stick, the original instrument of 10 strings, and they have a long background of concerts and international adventures. In 2009 they released a CD together with drummer Tim Alexander under the name CCA titled ‘Not Different But Not The Same’. Alex Leys is an internationally known drummer and powerful solo artist. “It is my good fortune that Alex has been playing concerts with Guillermo Cides and graciously accepted this invitation to play in the trio,” says Cushma. “We are friends playing together, the most powerful way to make music,” adds Cides.

Band leader, bassist and vocalist Linda Cushma, is best known for her work with experimental prog-rock ensemble Oxygene8 and her projects involving artist and drummer Tim Alexander. She has been described as “a rare and artistic performer, with her embrace around the world.” The new music from Cushma is rhythmic, poetic, evocative; it shows her special sensitivity in composition and interpretation, both elements appreciated by audiences in Argentina, France, Italy, Spain, Chile, Mexico, Japan and the US. http://www.oxygene8.com

Renown Argentinian stick player Guillermo Cides, whom legendary Vander Graaf Generator leader Peter Hammill describes as “an excellent musician. I’ve got his records in my collection,” would cultivate his own style with the Stick, his special mark of popular melodies combined with modern sounds and a style of playing that would characterize him in the future. The multiplicity of onstage sounds generated with the Chapman Stick turned him into a real one-man band. From 1994 he began to experiment with loops, a technology based on recording sounds onstage at the same moment in which they are played and in this way generating complex sonic environments. He was to apply this modern technique in particular to popular and classic melodies (J. S. Bach). Cides offers Stick concerts sharing stages with California Guitar Trio, Jerry Marotta in duo, Trey Gunn, Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Jethro Tull, Fish (Marillion), John Wetton (Asia,U.K), Rick Wakeman (Yes). Cides is currently collaborating in Mark Trueack’s “The Hope Project,” featuring Jon Anderson (Yes), Deborah Anderson, Steve Hackett (TBC) and John Jowitt among others.
http://www.facebook.com/guillermocides

For over more than a decade, drummer/composer/educator Alex Leys has been writing, recording and performing solo drum music. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he studied classical percussion at the Buenos Aires Conservatory ‘Manuel de Falla’. After winning the ‘Drums and Percussion’ magazine Drum Off, Leys received lessons from Argentinean master teachers Elias Heger, Daniel Volpini and Daniel “pipi” Piazzolla. In 1999 Leys composed and recorded ‘Searches,’ his first album of compositions for solo drum set. From that moment Alex was established as a Drum Solo Artist. In 2003, Leys recorded ‘Lonely Traveller’, his second solo CD and toured with it until 2005. He then relocated to Europe to work with artists such as Rut Marcos, Michael Harrer, Daiel, Pepe Bao, Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric, Javier Alcalde, Dressing Trio and Tres Gatos Swing. Currently, Alex is highly requested for drum clinics, seminars and solo artist performances and has successfully toured and recorded with Chapman Stick master, Guillermo Cides. Alex Leys is an Educator/Clinician for the Zildjian Cymbal company, DW/Pdp drums, Remo Heads, Protection Racket cases and Wincent drumsticks.
http://www.alexleys.itgo.com
http://www.facebook.com/alexleys
http://wn.com/leysdrum

Publicity: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Cushma/Cides/Leys, Press Release

2012/05/06

Media Mikes Review of New York Connection – The Sweet

By glassonyonpr

April 24, 2012
By Mike Gencarelli

Sweet
“New York Connection”
Produced by: Andy Scott
11 tracks
Running Time: 40 minutes
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

From the moment this CD kicks off, it rocks mega hard and doesn’t let up until the CD ends. The Sweet are well known their Glam Rock during the 70-80′s and though still they sound just as good as they ever have. “New York Connection” is comprised 11 cover songs including the 2011 single “Join Together”. There is also a revamped original recording for their 1972 b-side “New York Connection”.
If you are a fan of 70-80′s rock, then you are going to love this album easily. The album kicks off with the great song “New York Groove” and just includes on great hit after another. Some of the other great cover tracks included are “You Spin Me Round”, “Because the Night” and “Blitzkrieg Bop”. All the covers sounds really kick-ass and get your toes tapping and head rocking.
Peter Lincoln takes lead on vocals on 8 out of the 11 tracks. Andy Scott takes lead vocal for “Sweet Jane” and is a great tribute to The Velvet Underground. Bruce Bisland belts out “Blitzkrieg Bop” and doesn’t let down the Ramones. Lastly Tony O’Hora puts a new spin on Patti Smith’s “Because the Night”. Overall, the guitars are well…sweet! The music is loud and sums up a great 40 minutes you will experience with this album.
Track listing:
1. New York Groove
2. Gold On The Ceiling
3. All Moving Faster
4. New York Connection
5. Shapes Of Things
6. You Spin Me Round
7. Because The Night
8. Sweet Jane
9. Blitzkrieg Bop
10. On Broadway
11. Join Together

Source

Leave a comment | posted in Review, The Sweet

2012/05/04

Swedish Guitar Virtuoso Johan Randén Releases Third CD ‘Summary’ On Reingold Records

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Swedish Guitar Virtuoso Johan Randén Releases Third CD ‘Summary’ On Reingold Records

4/27/2012 – Lund, Sweden – Much to the anticipation of guitar aficionados around the world, on May 4, 2012, one of Sweden’s youngest and most talented guitarists, Johan Randén, releases his third solo-album ‘Summary’ on Reingold Records, home to prog superstars the Flower Kings. ‘Summary’ is a musical journey that takes us through guitar picking à la Steve Morse in the country influenced track “Country Maniac”, to beautiful bluesy and tasty woodwork à la Jeff Beck in “Floating Around”. On this record Johan proves that he´s not only a guitarist but also a great songwriter and producer, with the guitar always in focus. Bengan Andersson, Sven Lindvall, Staffan Astner form the backbone of ”Summary”.

Johan Randén was born to play the guitar. At the age of 12, he played with Freak Kitchen at Sweden Rock Festival and today at 24, Johan Randén already works as a freelance guitar player, composer, producer and musical director. He has also worked and played with bands and people like Bronk (Staffan Astner, Per Lindvall, Sven Lindvall), Janne Schaffer, Simon Andersson (Pain Of Salvation), Andreas Brobjer (Lady Gaga), Jonas Reingold (Flower Kings, Karmakanic) and many more…

His first solo album ‘Lead Guitar’, released in 2002 when Johan was only 14 years old, was written and produced by Mattias IA Eklundh from Freak Kitchen. It soon led to Johan’s second release ‘Version 2.0’ in 2005, this time with Johan as co-writer together with producer Christian Alsing. ‘Lead guitar’ was a succes in Asia and Japan and with his second album, he toured in Japan together with Freak Kitchen were he also recorded a guitar DVD for ‘Young Guitar’, the biggest guitar magazine in Japan. Johan has been endorsed by both Yamaha and Elexir Strings and currently he is endorsed by Fender Guitars.

For more info and high resolution photos, contact us at: mail@reingoldmusic.com

Presented in a digipak with booklet
In stores May 4, 2012
Pre-orders at Reingold Records from April 20, 2012

Tracklist
1. Tres hombres 2. Country Mainiac 3. Sky express 4. Floating around 5. Eclipse 6. E.R.T 7. Cheese and Miller 8. Naga jolika 9. Funk it 10. Wind Trees. Produced by Johan Randén

Visit us at http://www.reingoldrecords.com

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Johan Randén, Press Release

2012/05/02

Grande Rock E-Zine Review of New York Connection – The Sweet

By glassonyonpr

Sweet
New York Connection
A Scott Free Production
2012
http://www.thesweet.com
Ten years after “Sweetlife”, Andy Scott (Sweet’s original guitarist) is back with a new “cover” album and his current line-up, which consists of: Pete Lincoln (lead vocals & bass guitar), Tony O’Hora (guitar, keyboards & vocals) and Bruce Bisland (drums & vocals). Sweet is a legendary band that was formed in 1968… and in a way, they determined the glam rock movement back in the seventies.

“New York Connection” contains songs that were originally written by other artists apart from Sweet’s own “New York Connection” which was the b-side of “Wig Wam Bam” single. Analytically, the songs the guys are covering are: “New York Groove”, which was originally written by Russ Ballard and first recorded by Hello in 1975 and later by Ace Frehley in 1978. “Gold on The Ceilings” was included in the album “El Camino” (2011) by the Black Keys… it’s surely an honor that their song was covered by Sweet that obviously have influenced them. “It’s All Moving Faster” was initially included in “Conquers The World” (1996) by Electric Frankenstein. “Shapes Of Things” was firstly recorded by The Yardbirds and released as a single in March 1966. “You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)” was written by Dead or Alive and was included in “Youthquake” (1985). Sweet’s cover is truly heavy and wonderful… you will forget of the original pop/disco song at once. “Because The Night” was originally written by Bruce Springsteen for his album “Darkness on the Edge of Town” (1978) but he wasn’t happy at the time and gave it to the Patti Smith Group which were recording their album “Easter” in a studio next door to Bruce. Patti has co-written the song as she also appears on the credits. Tony O’Hora is singing the song here. “Sweet Jane” was written by Lou Reed and was included in the album “Loaded” (1970) by The Velvet Underground… Andy Scott has taken care of the lead vocals. “Blitzkrieg Bop” was included on Ramones self-titled debut (1976) and the vocals are by Bruce Bisland. “On Broadway” was originally recorded by The Crystals, after a while by The Cookies & later by The Drifters. Sweet’s edition is very rockin’ and you will like it very much. Finally, “Join Together” was originally released as a single in 1972 by The Who.

“New York Connection” is a very tasteful rockin’ album from start to finish. You will get to know some significant songs of the past if you are a younger listener or you will remember some good oldies if you’re an older fan of rock music generally. Sweet are giving some excellent performances on the album and their covers have something of their own touch. Moreover, the production is great and crunchy and was done by Andy Scott. If you miss the good old rockin’ days… then do not miss this album… let’s hope the guys will also release a new studio album (with new material) soon… till then, enjoy “New York Connection”.


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Leave a comment | posted in Review, The Sweet

2012/04/30

French-Brazilian Guitar Virtuoso Marcelo Paganini Recording With Eumir Deodato, Gary Husband and Billy Sherwood

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

French-Brazilian Guitar Virtuoso Marcelo Paganini Recording With Eumir Deodato, Gary Husband and Billy Sherwood

4/23/2012 – Paris, France – One of the most intriguing guitarists to emerge from South America, Marcelo Paganini, a French/Brazilian guitarist/composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist/actor/journalist, who is best known for his hit song “Blues de Ninguem” with Brazilian rock band Kamikaze, has resided in Paris since 1984, and through the years has garnered a number of impressive accomplishments to his credit. Marcelo, whose YouTube channel has had over 33,000 views, most recently created a new video for his 2007 single “Technodream”, which is now available for viewing on YouTube.

“Marcelo Paganini always reminds me of Glauber Rocha: ‘A guitar in hand and an idea in your head’.” Arrigo Barnabe (Brazilian avant garde composer of “Clara Crocodilo”)

“Marcelo Paganini is a truly unique musician. His style and vision are one of a kind and it is written into the DNA of his music. In a world of pastiche and imitation, Marcelo actually has something original to say which we should all sit up and take notice of.” – Guy Michelmore (Award-Winning film composer, Marvel Films)

Marcelo Paganini first started performing back in 1975, and has worked with the likes of renowned guitarist Tiberio Nascimento, as well as legendary Belo Horizonte ensemble Tribo de Solos. In 1985 Marcelo made a guest appearance on the album ‘Four French Forms’ released on Luc Mariani’s Delphes Records, which has become a cult classic amongst progressive rock fans. His one-man Midi band show ‘Marcelo Paganini is the Band’ was one of the first Brazilian live electronic acts back in 1986 and had influenced countless musicians and bands. He has his own studio on the countryside close to Le Mans, in Normandy, and leads the only Brazilian funk/rock band in France. Over the past 30 years Marcelo has written over 300 songs, and in 2004 he composed his first symphony titled ‘Belo Horizonte’. From 2003 to the present Marcelo has been active in film making and has won the Oddball TV 69 Hours Film Challenge at the Portobello Film Festival in London in September 2011. In recent years Marcelo has formed the Marcelo Paganini Hendrix Tribute and has performed in France and the US; most recently at Billy Bob’s Disneyland Paris in November 2011. “There is ‘before’ and ‘after’ Jimi Hendrix,” says Marcelo. “He changed music forever. I felt that I had to pay tribute to him in a special way 40 years after his tragic death. To understand him better I bought a white left-handed Strat and turned it upside down, bought almost the same gear he had. The first gig ever of The Jimi Hendrix Experience was in Evreux in 1966, close to where I live in France. We played our first gig 50 miles from there one day after his birthday in November 2010, celebrating his life instead of his death. I also went to London and NYC, played at Cafe WHA and visited Electric LadyStudios. We are looking forward to playing more gigs to celebrate Jimi’s 70th anniversary this year.”

Marcelo Paganini is busy in his studio now recording an album for his friend Michael Molenda to be released later this year on the new label Guitar Player Magazine Records. Eumir Deodato, Gary Husband and Billy Sherwood kindly accepted Marcelo Paganini’s invitation to join the project. Expect some more surprise guests among the best musicians in the industry. Marcelo’s single from 2007 “Technodream”, described as an intense, frantic, intricate piece of music with virtuosic guitar playing throughout, is about hit 30,000 plays on MySpace, creating a major buzz among the worldwide guitar community. “Every time I buy a new piece of gear I write a new song to celebrate,” explains Marcelo. “ ‘Technodream’ was made the day I bought my iMac and tried out Logic on it for the very first time. Then I uploaded it to MySpace and it became an instant hit there. To celebrate 5 years since it all begun, I uploaded an experimental video I made for ‘Technodream’ on YouTube, it will be screened at Portobello Film Festival next September.”

Here’s what is being said about Marcelo Paganini’s “Technodream”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwCfL0eFbag

“Marcelo Paganini represents what’s coming in music. And by that I mean the future!! His guitar concepts are out of this world! Check out his ‘Technodream’ concept.” – Eumir Deodato (legendary Jazz artist)

“Really good, so crazy and interesting.” – Dinho Leme (drummer from legendary Brazilian psychedelic rock band Os Mutantes)

“Marcelo Paganini, a guy with conceptions that smokes!” – Jan Dumee (former guitarist with Focus)

“Check out this cool track from my good friend Marcelo!” – Jack Hotop, Korg

Lastly Marcelo has this to impart to his fans and listeners, “Great music and musicians helped me get through the hard times in my life and inspired me to become who I am today. I hope someday young people who listen to my music will be inspired to express themselves in an original way too.”

For more information: http://marcelopaganini.zimbalam.com/?lang=en

To purchase Marcelo Paganini “Technodream”: http://itunes.apple.com/album/technodream-technodream-remix/id337165206?affld=1108120

Kamikaze “Blues de ninguem” video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QAuBiUp1Co&feature=share

Press Inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com

Leave a comment | posted in Marcelo Paganini, Press Release

2012/04/28

Round Ireland With a Fridge Featuring Comedian Tony Hawks Now Streaming On-line

By glassonyonpr

For Immediate Release

Round Ireland With a Fridge Featuring Comedian Tony Hawks
Now Streaming On-line

4/21/2012 – London, UK – First it was a bet, then it became an internationally best selling book and now Tony Hawks’ eccentric, hilarious, and life changing hitchhike Round Ireland with a Fridge has become a feature film, the first in a trilogy of feature films (Playing the Moldovans At Tennis and A Piano In The Pyrenees) of books which have collectively sold over a million copies.

Round Ireland with a Fridge is directed by Ed Bye (My Family, The Detectives, Red Dwarf) and stars Tony Hawks, Ed Byrne, Sean Hughes, Valerie O’Connor, Josie Lawrence and Sara Crowe.

As an inspiring and funny British comedy-drama that will evoke memories of Calendar Girls, The Full Monty and Local Hero, the film recreates Tony’s actual 1997 journey around Ireland as he re-evaluated his life and career, found romance, met a wide range of bizarre characters, made many new friends and discovered that people are perfectly prepared to treat a small white domestic appliance as though it was a fully fledged person with a personality in its own right.

During the course of the film the fridge is taken surfing, christened, blessed by nuns, accompanied by a bagpiper, taken to a bachelor festival and becomes the hero of a national radio station as Tony and all those he encountered become aware of the power and philosophy of the fridge !

Round Ireland with a Fridge was aired on BBC 4 in March this year, and topped BBC 4’s Sunday night ratings.

The DVD is available to stream at http://www.roundirelandwithafridge.com from April 16th 2012

“Fabulous. Very very funny, wonderful performances and music, and beautifully shot.” – Ben Miller

” ‘Round Ireland With A Fridge’ is a human, gentle, uproariously funny, touching, poignant, uplifting, and happily spiritual film.” – Stephen Simon, Producer, ‘Somewhere in Time’, ‘What Dreams May Come’, ‘Author’, ‘Bringing Back The Old Hollywood’.

A trailer of the film can be seen on http://www.roundirelandwithafridge.com

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@cs.com
Tony Hawks is available for interviews, please contact Billy James, Glass Onyon PR

Leave a comment | posted in Non-Music, Press Release, Tony Hawks