4/27/11

HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC ART OF YARDBIRDS GUITARIST CHRIS DREJA TO BE SHOWN AND SOLD AT ZEPFEST, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 27, 28, 29

Valuable Historic Art of The 1960s Rock Elite by Acclaimed Musician/Acclaimed Photographer At ZepFest, 2011

Chris Dreja will be presenting and selling his art--historical photographs from London in the 1960s-- at the ZepFest, May 27, 28, and 29, at the National Harbor, on the Potomac River, at Waterfront Street and St. George Blvd., in Prince George’s County, MD. There are a variety of tickets and pricing plans available for the Fest, including one-day events and VIP get-togethers.  The full Fest is $325.00, and tickets are available at http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/10641 or http://zepfest2011.eventbrite.com/ .  For more information, please e-mail info@zepfest.com and visit the web site, http://ZepFest.com or http://ZepFest2011.com.
 
Dreja's classic historical art focuses on legendary portraits of Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, including the back portrait from Led Zeppelin 1. One photograph, featuring Jimmy, has been autographed by both Chris and Jimmy for the event. Dreja will privately sell this at the Fest, and make others available in a special section of the Festival's Merchandise Table.

Dreja has been the Yardbirds rhythm guitrist since the group formed in 1963.  He was also always a talented photographer, chronicling London and theYardbirds' experience in the 1960s.  After the group broke up in 1968, Jimmy Page offered him the position of bassist in a new band he was forming (later to become Led Zeppelin). Dreja declined in order to pursue a profession in photography.  Only occasionally did he took breaks to play in Box of Frogs in the 1980s and the Yardbirds since 1992.  in addition to being a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chris has received acclaim and an award from the UK's Designers and Art Directors Association.
 
A sampling of Chris Dreja's photography can be seen on his web site, http://www.chrisdreja.com.

The ZepFest features over 50 bands on five stages. It’s also a completely Green festival.  ZepFest CEO and Festival Director Mark Boudreau says the Fest will include, “Descendants, disciples and influences.” There’ll be blues artists the Night Hawks and Willie Big Eyes Smith, contemporaries Vanilla Fudge, and fans Dread Zeppelin, tribute bands. The late Pinetop Perkins was scheduled to perform, and the entire ZepFest will be dedicated to him.

Other Yardbirds’ members will be on hand throughout the day to connect with fans.   The band’s tour manager, Henry “The Horse” Smith, an original Led Zeppelin roadie, will share stories.  Jim McCarty will be giving a Q&A Session. 

The Yardbirds is original members: rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty, and a new generation of musicians: singer/acoustic guitarist/harpist Andy Mitchell (since 2009), bassist David Smale (since 2009), and lead guitarist Ben King (since 2005).

The Yardbirds innovated 1960s guitar, with fuzz tone, feedback, distortion, backwards echo, improved amplification….and using a bow to play guitar.  The group paved the way for the careers of Eric Clapton (1963-’65)  Jeff Beck (’65-’66), and Jimmy Page (66-’68, first as bassist, then guitarist when Beck left).  The group drew some repertoire from the blues acts of the day, including Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bo Diddley, and the Yardbirds hits were some of the best songs of the British Invasion: “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things,” “I’m A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” “Train Kept A- Rolling,”  “Dazed and Confused.” “I’m A Man,”  and “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Better Man Than I.”

The Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.  Soon after the induction, Jim and Chris reformed the Yardbirds, first playing at London’s Marquee club with the newly reformed Animals.

In 2003, Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label released their album BIRDLAND, an album of new songs that featured guest appearances from Vai, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, Steve Lukather, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, and John Rzeznik.  In 2005 guitarist Ben King joined the group, who recorded LIVE AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB on July 19, 2006.  That came out in 2007, included a version of “I’m a Man” that played on the Simpsons that year.

The Yardbirds has continue to tour.  An institution in popular music, blues, rock and roll, the group made an indelible mark on the music and culture of both the 1960s and future generations.



  
  

4/18/11

JANN KLOSE’S DOING TIME TO AIR NATIONWIDE ON THE RESTAURANT ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK


Heralded Music Video To Reach an Audience of 13 Million Monthly Viewers

Jann Klose’s video for “Doing Time” will be airing to an audience of more than 13 million monthly viewers on The Restaurant Entertainment Network located in over 1,000 Quick Serve Restaurants (Arby’s, Carl’s, Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Taco Bell) across the country.

indoorDIRECT’s Vice President of Strategic Alliances, Jonna Birgans, said that “Jann Klose is an up-and-coming artist and we are happy to provide new artists such as Jann exposure to millions of our viewers at restaurants nationwide.” Birgans elaborated, “We pride ourselves on not just working with national and international acts such at Weezer and the Parlotones but also unsigned bands and artists that our viewers would enjoy hearing while they are enjoying a meal at the nation’s leading quick service restaurants.”

The music video for "Doing Time," a fan favorite from Jann Klose’s critically acclaimed album, REVERIE, was produced by the New York Film Academy on the streets of New York City. Producer Tamara Gunashvili and director Addison Neville incorporated Stop-Motion style filming, using state-of-the-art photographic equipment. Over 9000 individual pictures were taken during the two-day shoot 4000 ended up in the 3 minute 40 second long video. Members of Jann's band (bassist Chris Marolf; accordionist Lars Potteiger; violinist Leah Potteiger; drummer Patrick Carmichael) are also seen in the video that was shot entirely in Manhattan at three different locations, including Union Square.

(Online, view http://www.indoordirect.com/watch )

The song “Doing Time” resonated quite nicely with music critics, as well: The Washington Post's Alexander Remington picked the song as his favorite, “His songs' immaculately tasteful orchestration sounds like Eric Matthews crossed with Nick Drake, best of all on the waltz 'Doing Time.' Klose wins over the listener with his soaring voice, which may well be a staple of chamber pop for a long time to come.”

Jann produced "Doing Time." Stewart Lerman (The Roches, Loudon Wainwright III, Dar Williams, and films THE AVIATOR and THE LIFE AQUATIC) mixed it.

Jann's music has also been featured on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT, MTV's Cribs, the soundtrack to the Paul Sorvino film Dead Broke. He's performed in touring companies of Broadway shows: The Who's Tommy, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jesus Christ Superstar. He also has released three albums and two EPs, which can be heard around the world, on over 140 FM stations and Sirius XM in the U.S., the BBC in England to Prambors Radio in Indonesia. In less than three months thousands have viewed (and reposted) Jann's remarkable video for DOING TIME, now featured on AOL/Spinner. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/jannklose.

A citizen of the world, he's lived on three continents, making his home in the melting pot that is New York City. Before coming to the United States as an exchange student in Cleveland, Ohio, he lived in Germany, Kenya, and South Africa. As a singer/songwriter, his music reflects this lyrically, melodically, rhythmically and in his choice of eclectic instruments and musicians.

Jann will be touring this spring, starting April 29 in New York City, with Midwestern dates in May.

About indoorDIRECT
indoorDIRECT (www.indoordirect.com) is the owner of the Restaurant Entertainment Network, a powerful digital media network that delivers Internet-based entertainment and advertising to more than one thousand major brand quick-service restaurants nationwide. The Network entertains more than 150 million viewers annually at Wendy’s, Denny’s, Arby’s, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell and other restaurants in America’s top Designated Market Areas (DMAs). indoorDIRECT is privately held and based in Dallas, with additional offices in New York and Los Angeles.

JANN KLOSE TOUR DATES

April 27: VALERIE'S NEW YORK, WOR RADIO, New York, NY
April 27: MARIANNE MORRISON SHOW, www.centannibroadcasting.com, New York, NY
April 28: ALL NIGHT WITH JOEY REYNOLDS on NBC NY Non-Stop
April 29: ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL STAGE 2, New York, NY
May 7: LEHIGH VALLEY MUSIC CONFERENCE
May 13: CLUB CAFE w/ Colter Harper and Preach Freedom, Pittsburgh, PA
May 14: LOVELIGHT BOUTIQUE, New Castle, PA
May 15: THE LEMON GROVE, Youngstown, OH
May 17: INDY STYLE TV 8, Indianapolis, IN
May 17: BIRDY'S, w/ Jenn Cristy and Chad Mills, Indianapolis, IN
May 18: BEATNIK'S CAFE, Marion, IN
May 19: STEVE AND JOHNNIE SHOW, WGN RADIO, Chicago, IL
May 20: WGN MIDDAY NEWS, WGN Superstation, Chicago, IL
May 20: SKOKIE THEATRE, w/ Emily Hurd, Skokie, IL
May 21: THE WINCHESTER w/ Cuda, Renko, Cuda, Cleveland, OH
May 27: MAYFAIR FESTIVAL, Allentown, PA
June 12: STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL, Beacon, NY
June 17: GODFREY DANIELS, w/ Cliff Eberhardt, Bethlehem, PA
August 11: MUSIKFEST 2011, Bethlehem, PA
October 26: IRON HORSE w/ Shawn Phillips, Northampton, MA
March 2, 2012: MASTER CLASS, LIVERPOOL INSTITUTE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Liverpool, UK

###

4/8/11

IAN ANDERSON’S OUT OF THIS WORLD CONCERT

Colonel Catherine Coleman Taking Ian Anderson's Stance To The Universe
 
When worldwide fame and notoriety have been achieved, taking your music into outer space is the only place left to go.
 
On April 12th Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson will be taking part in a duet with US astronaut Colonel Catherine Coleman to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin’s first manned space flight in 1961.
 
However, this duet is no ordinary collaboration. Whilst Anderson will be live on stage in Perm, Russia, Coleman will be in orbit in the International Space Station as she contributes to Ian’s truly out of this world concert.
 
Coleman’s part of the performance will be screened by video link to the audience in Perm from somewhere in the galaxy as part of this gravity defying gig.
 
The pair will be playing an excerpt from Bouree from Tull's STAND UP album.
 
Coleman has been practising her Ian Anderson trade mark of playing the flute whilst standing (or in her case floating) on one leg. For 3 months, Anderson's flute accompanied Cady Coleman and her own flute in orbit allowing her to perfect her Anderson stance ahead of the duet.
 

4/6/11

THE YARDBIRDS HEADLINE ZEPFEST, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY 27, 28, 29


left to right: Ben King, Jim McCarty, David Smale, Chris Dreja, Andy Mitchell

The Yardbirds will be headlining the first annual ZepFest, playing all three nights May 27, 28, and 29—Memorial Day Weekend, at the National Harbor, on the
Potomac River, at Waterfront Street and St. George Blvd., in Prince George's County, MD.

There are a variety of tickets and pricing plans available for the Fest, including one-day events and VIP get-togethers. The full Fest is $325.00, and tickets are
available at http://www.missiontix.com/events/product/10641 or http://zepfest2011.eventbrite.com/ . For more information, please e-mail info@zepfest.com and visit the web site, http://ZepFest.com or http://ZepFest2011.com.

The ZepFest features over 50 bands on five stages. There’ll be speakers, authors, secret shows. It’s also a completely Green festival. ZepFest CEO and Festival Director Mark Boudreau says the Fest will include, “Descendants, disciples and influences.” There’ll be blues artists the Night Hawks and Willie Big Eyes Smith, contemporaries Vanilla Fudge, and fans Dread Zeppelin, tribute bands, and guest speakers most notably Atlantic Records’ Jerry Greenberg.

The late Pinetop Perkins was scheduled to perform, and the entire ZepFest will be dedicated to him.

The Yardbirds’ band members will be on hand throughout the day to connect with fans. Guitarist Ben King will be part of the Ultimate Dream Band in which a lucky fan gets a shot at playing before the Yardbirds. The band’s tour manager, Henry “The Horse” Smith, an original Led Zeppelin roadie, will be on hand to tell stories. Jim McCarty will be giving a Q&A Session. Rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja, who became a professional photographer after the Yardbirds broke up in 1968, will be showing (and selling) photographs, including the iconic back lit shot of Jimmy Page, which will be signed by both Jimmy and Chris. A sampling of Chris’ work can be seen on his web site, http://www.chrisdreja.com.

The Yardbirds is original members: rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja and drummer Jim McCarty, and a new generation of musicians: singer/acoustic guitarist/harpist Andy Mitchell (since 2009), bassist David Smale (since 2009), and lead guitarist Ben King (since 2005).

The Yardbirds innovated 1960s guitar, with fuzz tone, feedback, distortion, backwards echo, improved amplification….and using a bow to play guitar. The group paved the way for the careers of Eric Clapton (1963-‘65) Jeff Beck (’65-‘66), and Jimmy Page (66-’68, first as bassist, then guitarist when Beck left). The group drew some repertoire from the blues acts of the day, including Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bo Diddley, and the Yardbirds hits were some of the best songs of the British Invasion: “For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” "Shapes of Things," “I'm A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” “Train Kept A- Rolling,” “Dazed and Confused.” “I’m A Man,” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” and “Better Man Than I.”

The Yardbirds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Soon after the induction, Jim and Chris reformed the Yardbirds, first playing at London’s Marquee club with the newly reformed Animals.

In 2003, Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label released their album BIRDLAND, an album of new songs that featured guest appearances from Vai, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, Steve Lukather, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and John Rzeznik. In 2005 guitarist Ben King joined the group, who recorded LIVE AT B.B. KING BLUES CLUB on July 19, 2006. That came out in 2007, included a version of “I’m a Man” that played on the Simpsons that year.

The Yardbirds has continued to tour. An institution in popular music, blues, rock and roll, the group made an indelible mark on the music and culture of both the 1960s and future generations.



Please check out these fan videos from the Yardbirds on tour:

“For Your Love” – 7/10/09 Fillmore New York
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkdvX0EnuTk

“Shapes of Things” – 7/14/09 Ottawa Blues Fest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gPXRfqXNWE&feature=related

“Heart Full of Soul” – 7/10/09 Fillmore New York
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRHY8B7VJXM

“Dazed and Confused” – 7/6/09 Mohegan Sun Casino
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8Ue36zn8c4
“Train Kept A Rollings” 5/26/2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2OhdlQ1lQI

“You’re a Better Man Than I” 5/26/2010, BB Kings
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_k4b1RMUS0&feature=related