5/28/15

Former KISS Guitarist Bruce Kulick Releases NEW Album and Single

Bruce available for interviews on new recording 

The Cover for the Single, GOT TO GET BACK by KKB
KKB, Bruce Kulick's first band created back in 1974 with his local friends, singer/bassist Mike Katz and drummer Guy Bois, are releasing a brand new single and CD called “Got To Get Back.” The new single leads off the CD, which continues with 6 more songs they recorded in 1974. The vintage tracks were revisited for 2015, and the original tapes were totally remixed and remastered
Kulick was fortunate growing up in Jackson Heights, NY to find other talented local musicians who shared the same passion for the British Invasion of rock. They lived within blocks of each other, with drummer Guy's basement being the breeding ground for the musical concoction they were creating. The young band rehearsed for months before entering a studio in NYC capturing music that was urgent, intense and compelling. Sadly, with no clear direction for the group to follow the band never played together live, and ultimately went their separate ways. Bruce continued on in the music world, playing guitar with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf, KISS, and Grand Funk Railroad.  
The music KKB recorded in 1974, however, sat idle on a tape in Kulick's closet for many years. In 2008, Bruce bought a TEAC tape deck at a local garage sale and decided to listen to the KKB recording again. He loved it, and shared it with his friends, who all agreed: "You must release this music for people to hear." The vintage tape was transferred and, after some cleaning up of the tracks, KKB 1974 was released in 2008. The limited-run CD sold out quickly.  
An unexpected new chapter for KKB happened in 2013, when Mike found the original session tapes. By using the actual tracks recorded, Kulick had the opportunity to remix, remaster and get creative with this music once again. But the discovery sparked something substantially more interesting than simply polishing up “old” music—the desire for Bruce and Mike to create a new song for KKB, 40 years after its genesis. 
As a result of KKB’s rekindled fire, the trio wrote and recorded a new song, “Got To Get Back," a total throwback to their vintage sound, style and vibe. Each band member recorded their parts in a local studio—Guy in Paris, Mike in New York City, and Bruce in LA. Further adding to KKB’s renaissance, a string quartet, scored by Bruce’s longtime collaborator Jeremy Rubolino, was added to the ballad "Someday," giving the song a shine that couldn't have been imagined in 1974. 
"This music represents a time in my career that I feel helped define the potential of my guitar playing," Kulick says. "It gives me chills to hear it. The interplay with Mike on bass and Guy on drums was expertly executed, filled with passion that defined our age. To think that so long ago I was involved in something this powerful that sat in my closet unheard for nearly 35 years made me furious. My intense desire to share this music that is relevant now, more than ever, is a huge accomplishment. Play it loud and imagine three young men pouring their hearts out making music, never concerned about anything but the music. That was the intention. It was pure, it was real. And now it's available for all to enjoy."   
The record studio in Jackson Heights, Queens used by KKB in 1974.
KKB's music is in the power rock/progressive/melodic rock genre, and Got To Get Back captures styles of a variety of
British bands including Led Zeppelin, Cream, and King Crimson, with arrangements performed in a hard rock trio context. Give it a listen, and see if you agree that this time capsule of music from Kulick's beginnings is totally unique and captivating to your ears.

Songs on the album:
1) GOT TO GET BACK
2) I'LL NEVER TAKE YOU BACK
3) MY BABY
4) SOMEDAY
5) TRYING TO FIND A WAY
6) YOU WON'T BE THERE
7)YOU'VE GOT A HOLD ON ME


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KKB album webpage: www.kulick.net/kkb/

5/10/15

Sonic Voyage Fest Announces Local Opener Mavara in Newmarket, NH on May 24



Fest Bands—Circuline, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius, and Shadow Eden Look Forward To International Influence Of Mavara 

New Hampshire’s Mavara will be joining Circuline, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius, and Shadow Eden as opener at the Sonic Voyage Prog Fest at the Stone Church on the 24th of May.
Sonic Voyage Fest runs from 6:30 pm through midnight.
There will also be a series of two afternoon master classes on songwriting and on improvisation for $10. total admission.  
The Stone Church is at 5 Granite Street in Newmarket, NH.
Admission to the Fest is 9.99 in advance at $12 at the door.
The venue phone is 603-659-7700.
The website is www.stonechurchrocks.com.

Mavara is opening the Sonic Voyage Fest at the Stone Church,
Newmarket, NH on Sunday, May 24.
Now based in New Hampshire, Mavara, is Iran’s first premier progressive rock band. The name Mavara translates to “beyond everything you think” in Persian. The band was formed in 2001 by composer/keyboardist Farhood Ghadiri. Also in the group are singer Ashkan Hamedia, keyboardist Anis Oveisi, bassist Sina Khodaiefar drummer James Welch, and guitarist Scott Abene.

The group has released three albums with the most recent called SEASON OF SALVATION. Since arriving in America, the band has been the subject of television programs  on ABC Television and MCTV. The website is www.mavaraband.com

Sonic Voyage is a new, traveling progressive rock festival featuring three modern rock bands: Circuline, and Shadow Eden & Stratospheerius. All three bands have joined forces to create a night of music that dazzles with virtuosity, ignites the senses, and pushes boundaries.

The premiere Sonic Voyage takes place in New England this Memorial Day Weekend.

At the Stone Church there will be master classes between 3 and 5 pm on Songwriting for the first hour and Improvisation for the 4 pm hour

In addition to the Newmarket show, Sonic Voyage Fest kicks off on Friday May 22 at Sully’s Pub in Hartford, CT. 

On Saturday May 23, Sonic Voyage Fest is at Ralph’s Rock Diner, Worcester, MA. Other bands on the bill are Ben Levin Group and Joe Stump’s Black Knight Castle.

INFO ON SONIC VOYAGE'S SPONSORSHIPS FOR VETERANS AND STUDENTS    

The Sonic Voyage Fest is looking for sponsors to pay for the opener and for admission of interested veterans or students who might be going through financial hardships but would feel an event by musicians would help them. Please contact Anne Leighton, who works with Joe Deninzon, at 718-881-8183 if you can either help financially or know a veteran or student who’d benefit from going. 

THE BANDS WHO CREATED SONIC VOYAGE FEST

Shadow Eden, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius, and Circuline Now Available for Interviews. Please contact Anne Leighton at 718-881-8183

Shadow Eden

SHREDGUY RECORDS recording artist Shadow Eden deliver well crafted, listenable songs which feature virtuoso performances designed to please the ear of musicians and music lovers alike. 

"Shadow Eden combine elements of progressive rock, fusion and guitar-driven metal into well structured, highly musical, and very listenable tunes.”-Shred Academy.

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius 

Led by electric violinist/vocalist Joe Deninzon (www.joedeninzon.com), who has been called “The Jimi Hendrix of the violin,” Stratospheerius has showcased their “frenzied mélange of progressive rock, jazz fusion and funkabilly” throughout the world. The New York-based group has opened for The Levin Brothers (Tony and Pete), Tim Reynolds, Mickey Hart, and John Scofield… Their live performances are filled with funky dance grooves, rip-roaring guitar/violin jams, and hooks that mix jazz, funk, rock with Gypsy influences. 

Stratospheerius was a winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition, and was named "Best Jam Band" in the Musician's Atlas Independent Music Awards. 

Circuline

What do you get when you take two theatrical lead vocalists, a keyboard player from Juilliard, a musical savant playing guitar, and a drummer with progressive rock in his DNA? The new modern ProgRock band Circuline.  Performing m elodic and cinematic rock for the 21st Century, their original music combines elements of classic progressive rock and modern rock. The "Tribute" part of their show covers British and North American progressive music that was played on the radio in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, such as Yes,  Genesis, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Sound of Contact, and Pink Floyd.


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5/6/15

Please Meet Kalamazoo's Fly Paper



Fly Paper Making New York City debut on May 12
Please welcome the Kalamazoo-based band Fly Paper.  The web site is http://www.flypaperrock.com. 

The group will be making its New York City debut at the Rockwood Music Hall, Stage 1, 196 Allen Street, in New York City on May 12 at 7 PM.  Please note this is a 21 and over venue.  
The website is www.RockwoodMusicHall.com. If you are in the City next week, come on by and we’ll connect. More dates below. 

Fly Paper is a guitar-based, alt-rock and blues band. Leadsinger Micaela Kingslight is the daughter of famous guitar maker John Kingslight. Her singing voice is akin to Sade, Norah Jones, Fiona Apple but with a rocking conviction. Her guitar playing will end up to be a big deal, too.  

At the top of the group’s website, flypaperrock.com, is a player that you can click to hear their recent EP and previous album. I can also send you a zip file of some of their songs.

With soulful vocals, a fusion of fierceness and elegance in its guitar sound, and a high energy rhythm section, Fly Paper continues to inspire crowds throughout the country with songs in the alternative blues-rock genre. 

When she is not on the road, Micaela Kingslight teaches at Kalamazoo College, Crescendo Academy of Music, and the Kalamazoo Academy of Rock.  Fans have heard Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmore, and Jimmy Page influences in her playing. Bassist Joe Chamberlin fills the space between with a style grounded in both modern and classic rock sensibilities. Sam Rice brings to the drums, the rock groove inspired by both the Smashing Pumpkins’ Jimmy Chamberlin and the flair of Buddy Rich, along with saxman/keyboardist Marty McLean.

The group’s current EP, 3X3 has a song, “Sing, Sing, Sing Along” that is its music video, directed by Michigan native Ben Woody.  Ben is a friend and a multimedia graduate student who has been chronicling Fly Paper over the past few years (in addition to documenting a variety of athletic projects that can be seen at GoGriffs.com). The songs include “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Bigger On The Inside,” and “Say What You Mean” and they tend to capture the band members’ awareness of life, in general, and they can often be found hiking, and Micaela practicing Yoga.

The group has been playing all over the United States with shows from the Florida Keys and Miami to Santa Monica, CA, and Sun Valley, Idaho, to Bremerton, WA. The group is a festival favorite, playing Wild Mountain Faire in Northern California, plus Deadwood Jam, as well as appearing at Michigan's Jamma Wamma Music and Arts Festival, Hoodlilldoo Music Festival, Southwestern Michigan Harvest Festival, and Big Rapid's Cranker's Fest. 
  
Fly Paper have shared the stage with a diverse group of acts including Styx, Stray Cat Lee Rocker, Delhi to Dublin, Mystic Roots, Marcia Griffiths, Jann Klose, Roster McCabe, the4onthefloor, Joe Hertler and The Rainbow Seekers, Josh Davis (from NBCs the Voice) Funktion, and Jamie Lono.

Other music in the group’s history include the fan-funded CD, LIVE AT THE GLOBE THEATER and a DVD.  The group’s debut album, FLY PAPER came out in 2011. In 2013 they released an album, DREAM. 

In 2008, Micaela was awarded the Emerging Artist Grant from the Gilmore Foundation to record her first solo album STILL.  She also won Indiegrrl International Songwriting Contest for her song "Aurora.”  

TOUR DATES 

May 8  LaSalle Kitchen and Tavern, South Bend 
May 10  The Livery, Benton Harbor, MI  
May 12 Rockwood Music Hall, New York, NY
May 16  Mojo’s,  Jamestown, NY  
May 22  The Workshop Brewing Company Traverse City, MI  
May 23  Short's Brewing Company, Bellaire, MI 
May 28  The Filling Station, Traverse City, MI  
May 29, 30 Ore Dock Brewing Company, Marquette, MI  
June 11  Rockford Brewing Company, Rockford, MI 
June 19  The Deck, Muskegon, MI  
June 20  Bell's Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI  
June 25  Celadon Summer Concert Series, Grand Rapids, MI  
August 06  The Mitten Bar, Ludington, MI  
August 07  River's Edge Brewing Co., Milford Charter Township, MI  
August 08  Cow Pie Blues Festival, Caledonia, MI