Songs of The Environment, Leadership, the Pandemic
Wake Up Orleans Adult Album Alternative, trumpet, group harmony, wake up, people, “wake up!” environment, pollution, “stop throwing plastic in the sea/can’t you let the fishies be!” ecology, snow, lightning, birds in flight, seasons, signs of life, “the day’s gonna come” air pollution, water pollution, #MusiciansUnitedForSafeEnergy,
This Darkness Rachael Sage female singer with CSNY protest guitar sound, environment, the song is about the Dakota Pipeline, keywords: see myself, grieve myself, somebody's fool, hate, “I don’t know why you’re full of hate.”
Beez (I Know Where The Beez
Have Gone Slambovian Circus of DreamsRock,
slow tempo, environment, Americana, vocals like Tom Petty, “Stopped controlling
the world,” lyrics offer ideas on how to increase the bees to visit plantlife. “the
bees are in my yard, I know where the Beez Have Gone,” “Reteaching me the facts
of life” “creatures great and small”
Freedom Hymn CC Clevenger patriotic southern rock starting with a drum
roll & Charlie Daniels/ Molly Hatchet style guitars & voice, respect
for our military, hook is "thank you Air Force & Marines, Coast Guard, Army and Navy to the men and women." recites Pledge of Allegiance.
Backbone Emily Hurd country, female lead vocals, like Alison Krauss, rising above obstacles, against the people that got in the way of her success or love, it breaks her heart but you played your part building my backbone.
One Good Man Cornelius Eady male vocals percussion, John Henry's hammer, one good man shook people up against the odds, mock the devil straight to his face, Resist
Divided We Fall Bill Leverty hard rock/classic rock, male vocals, bass,
lead guitar, dangerous song, standing up to a troublemaker who can anything
than anyone else. "You're a
natural--natural disaster."
A VoidAndrew Alling acoustic/singer-songwriter
Neil Young style with guitar and harmonica male vocalsA Void in relationships, why are we against
the world? DirtyWords, time to heal, rock & ground shaking poetics.
Music can be the best inoculation against the penetration of extremist ideas into the center of society and thus an important protective mechanism for democracy and our community of solidarity.
And Mandoki Soulmates' "Music is the Great Unifier" concert is online on @YouTube.
We now have the opportunity to make a constructive update to our socio-political model so that people are the focus again, mindfulness defeats indifference, and humanity reigns over greed.
Who, if not we musicians with our direct line to the audience, should re-ignite the light at the end of this pandemic tunnel and rebuild society?
Music is the greatest unifier! Bridging the gap around the world!
Soulmates and their location in our online concert
Anne Leighton: Holiday Songs for 2021: PIRATE XMAS Slambovian Circus of Dreams male vocalist, pirate march, Christmas song magic comparisons feels like a song Mr. Hook would s...
PIRATE XMAS Slambovian Circus of Dreams male vocalist, pirate march, Christmas song
magic comparisons feels like a song Mr. Hook would sing! "childhood dreams
at the realm" "Ring the Bells and Break the Spells that traps us in
reality"
IF I WAS A DREIDEL by Dean Friedman singalong with lyrics: “If I was a Dreidel, gee, how I would spin…… I might be made of plastic, or wood or clay or tin…… And you could pick my letters, Nun, Gimmel, Hay or Shin…… And if your letter landed, the Chanukah Gelt you’d win, Oh….” https://soundcloud.com/deanfriedman/if-i-was-a-dreidel
CHILDREN BELIEVE Emily Hurdfemale vocals, jazzy-pop, keyboards,
“children believe” is the hook.the
singer finds the comparison between children and grownups that connect w/ them.
"we need the magic too"
CHRISTMAS TIME Jon MullaneUpbeat! Baritone version of Adam Levine, song in the same tempo as USA for Africa’s “Do They Know it’s Christmastime” About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it.
CHRISTMAS LULLABY Leo Schaff Haunted or gothic or mystical song. No two
snowflakes are the same. Mystical melody. Orchestrated For covers only Christmas traditions, gentle
magic. Pagan stylings. Fill our hearts,
fill our dreams, fill us with love and peace.”
CHRISTMAS IS COMING Leo Schaff Beach Boys meets Shins. Male vocals. His true love ran around the world, and said she’d make it home for the holidays. A year has gone by, and he’s singing, “Christmas is coming, New Years is coming,” sand “Will you make it home for the holidays?” https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/christmas-is-coming-by-leo-schaff
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius are releasing “Cognitive
Dissonance,” their first song of the year, on January 30th, 2021, with a video
to follow in late February. The video is a clay-mation collaboration with
Patrick Carmichael, who has subbed on drums for the band through the
years.
“Cognitive Dissonance”’s first verse deals with the confusion we
go through, when elders and leaders influence us to change our minds with their
negative feelings on those we care about. “We are all born innocent, free of
prejudice and hatred, but our elders make us carry a heavy burden, which can last
our whole lives. Hatred is taught, we are not born with it,” explains Joe. “We
all see children that are terrified by friends that are their same ages,
because their parents have taught them negative things about other religions,
ethnicities, genders, skin colors, political ideologies….” He says prejudicial
teachings “can create “cognitive dissonance” in anyone’s mind when they’re told
their friends are ‘evil’ because they have different roots.”
The second verse deals with political and ideological intolerance.
“There’s rising extremism, and it’s been this way for decades. People are
prisoners of fake news, social media echo chamber bubbles, and politicians who
reinforce conspiracy theories and retweet them to their followers. The line ‘No
one can touch us now’ refers to people hiding behind their screens, spewing the
deep-rooted hatred without fear of physical retaliation. Even though I wrote
the song a year ago, I think it eerily speaks to recent events.”
“It’s easy to write about our high ideals and our wishes for world
peace, but when you have a gun pointed to your head or your business is burning
down, it’s a rude awakening about how nasty the world really is. The big
collective guitar/electric violin solo at the end represents two sides screaming
at each other, full of hatred, fading out screaming, never reaching an
understanding or resolving anything.”
Multi-instrumentalist Randy McStine, who has subbed in
Stratospheerius on guitar, bass, and drums, has played on a few of the band’s
songs: “Soul Food” and “Impostor.” His voice blends with Joe’s, that “we
thought it’d be cool to have him sing lead on the second version of ‘Cognitive
Dissonance.’”
Stratospheerius features Joe Deninzon (electric
violin/vocals), Michelangelo Quirinale (guitar), Paul Ranieri (bass), and Jason
Gianni (drums). The group is signed to Melodic Revolution Records. Joe has
been called The Jimi Hendrix of the electric 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 Martin Barre,
Alex Skolnick, John 5 & The Creatures, Gary Hoey, Mike Stern, Tim Reynolds,
Mickey Hart, and John Scofield, among many others.
The group’s influences include Yes, Spock’s Beard, Muse, Frank
Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and King Crimson. Stratospheerius was a winner of
the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition the Musicians Atlas
Independent Music Awards. They have been featured in Progression, Relix,
Downbeat, and Jazziz, among other publications. Their last album on Melodic
Revolution Records, “Guilty of Innocence,” has been widely acclaimed by
critics and fans. Joe has played violin in orchestras for Bruce
Springsteen, the Who, Sheryl Crow, 50 Cent, and Renaissance, for whom he’s
their concert master.
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE lyrics
I had a childhood friend
Sworn together til the end
Playing tag and wrestling
Talking about the birds and bees
He asks if I believe in God
And then I tell him what’s my story
He says I’m gonna burn in hell
Because that’s what his parents told him
Hatred is taught
truth just can’t be bought
All of our lives
We think that we’re so wise
But It cuts you down size
When it’s staring in your eyes
We’re born with open hearts
And a blank slate on our souls
Old grudges we are forced to bear
poison the water
& put-up the walls
Safely behind our screens
Spewing trolling scapegoating
No one can touch us now
Lets start a fire and burn this whole place to the
ground
House Concert Innovator Fran Snyder a phenomenal interviewer and listener. Great energy between him & Orleans' John Hall as they talk about Joni Mitchell, the Affordable Career Act, and making music. (Yes, John's working on both a new solo album and the band's upcoming album.)
MaskPhoebe Legere Rock and roll, female vocals, going out with
parents, and wearing a mask. “I love my mask, I love my mom, I love my dad.”
Everybody’s Single Ezra Donermale vocals, countrypolitan--everybody's
single tonight a flirtatious song about a guy going to a bar
after his “sweet darlin’ wife got tired of married life.” He went to the bar
“to do some drinkin’”...and some flirtin'! Ezra’s songs are on SoundCloud under pseudonym Oliver
Duplass.
Only One Joe Matera Male Tenor, rock & electric guitar like Nils
Lofgren, The Heartbreakers “No one sees your struggle and how careful you are
when you ultimately make it.” Multi-faceted songwriter/guitarist Mr. Matera
is playing with pop and rock legends for future releases, hosting music
segments on Australian radio, and writing for Guitar World and Goldmine
magazines.
Storm Surge Joe Deninzon & Stratospheeriushard rock/orchestral
prog-power ballad with bold baritone/tenor and strings, flute, rock guitar. Storm
Surge is about anxiety, a storm that’s raging inside of us. Queensryche-ish. Special guest leadsinger is Michael Sadler
from Saga (Canadian content).
There She Is Firefall male tenor vocal, hooky jingle-like, horns, guitars, classicrock, yacht rock, 1970s sounding, Inspired, his little angel lifting him up, good fortune, cloud 9, looking so pretty, head over heels.
Santiago Sharon Katz female vocal in English & Spanish,
"land meets the water" it is about Santiago, Cuba. Spanish guitar,
horns, traditional festival music. Sharon is working with border children
and migrant workers in Tijuana and San Diego.
Home Orleans
Packing the childhood up and setting out. male singer, a gentle version
of the prodigal son, childhood, grownup, becoming a child. "when I need
someone to talk to" Orleans’ upcoming EP, of new music in 2021, will
include Home.
Orleans offers a preview of their new song, “Home,” on their
YouTube channel. The song, (written by founder/lead guitarist/singer John
Hall, Johanna Hall, and Don Schlitz) will be on the group’s forthcoming EP to
be released spring 2021. “Home,” which is about family-- childhood,
adolescence, marriage, parenthood, and childhood again--originally appeared on
John’s 1997 solo CD "Love Doesn't Ask."
John & Johanna have written dozens of songs together, most
notably Orleans’ “Still the One,” “Dance With Me,” and Janis Joplin’s
"Half Moon.” Co-writer Don Schlitz is a member of the Country Music Hall
of Fame and former Nashville Songwriters Association and ASCAP “Songwriter of
the Year." He has written 21 number one hits including Kenny Rogers
"The Gambler."
Audio and video recordings were produced in isolation, except a
group video of John, Lance Hoppen, and Brady Spencer who gathered safely in
Nashville. Still photos were taken years or decades before the pandemic. The
video was edited and directed by Rob Arthur (Today Show, CBS This Morning,
Rolling Stone, Veranda Magazine, Peter Frampton, the Doobie Brothers).
Multiple Grammy winner Cindy Cashdollar plays lap steel on the
song and is featured in the video; she’s also the Americana Music Association
“Instrumentalist of the Year” (2016) and a member of the Austin TX Music Hall
of Fame. Cindy grew up in Woodstock NY, where Orleans was based in the early
years.
Orleans is John Hall, co-founder Lance Hoppen (bass, and vocals),
Fly Amero (guitar, vocals), Lane Hoppen (piano), Brady Spencer (drums). This is
the latest of many incarnations in its near 50-year history.
The band went from club and college shows in the Northeast to
worldwide acclaim with their top ten singles "Still the One," Dance
With Me," and "Love Takes Time.” Now entering its 28th year of
live performances, Orleans has produced a body of work spanning 16 albums and
several DVDs. The band’s music is still being heard on national TV; recently
John and Johanna’s “Still The One” was on Applebees’ commercials and Netflix’s
"Love, Wedding, Marriage."
Classic Hit Band,
Firefall Available for Interviews to support new video and upcoming album,
Comet, due December 11 on Sunset Blvd. Records
Firefall’s “Way Back When” music video opens with
the band’s original bassist Mark Andes comparing the turbulent 1960s with
challenges people are going through nowadays. He ends his observation with the
hope of “Maybe music will help us get through this storm together.” Then we
hear chiming chords, and see Firefall lead guitarist/singer/co-founder Jock
Bartley singing about life and love, recalling many classic musicians of the
1960s--the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, Van
Morrison, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin, the Rascals, CSN, Credence Clearwater
Revival….. Jock says, “The first verse and first chorus are set in
1965. The second verse and chorus are ‘67, and the third verse and chorus is
’69. It’s a loving retrospective of how great the music was back
then.” Produced by Jock’s son Jamey, the “Way Back When”
video shows memories of screaming fans, war and hate, Woodstock, and photos of
45 RPM singles and artists, interspersing with a band performance. Watch
the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_WfrgogTXM Jock and his bandmates: bassist Mark Andes,
multi-instrumentalist David Muse (sax, flute, keys), drummer Sandy Ficca, and
singer/guitar player Gary Jones are heralding their latest album, COMET on
Sunset Blvd. Records--out December 11, 2020. Since the release of their
last new album, 1994’s MESSENGER, Firefall
has kept up a hectic touring schedule of 80 plus dates a year, appearing at
Performing Arts Centers, festivals, fairs and casinos. Since 2012, with
original members Muse and Andes returning to the Firefall family, the band has
been writing and recording as time permitted around tour
dates.
Over the
last ten years their 70’s chart-topping singles “You Are The Woman,” “Just
Remember I Love You,” “Strange Way,” and others, have continued to delight
perennial fans as well as a younger audience captured by the popularity of the
Yacht Rock genre. The goal with COMET, was to recreate
the elan of the original records in a contemporary format.
COMET was recorded in
Colorado and Nashville, in conjunction with appearances in those
markets. COMET was a group effort and allowed every member to
shine. Highlights include Jock’s “There She Is,” a positive love song,
“Before I Met You,” and “New Mexico” reminiscent of the group’s 1976 FM radio
hit “Mexico,” a fan favorite. Firefall’s newest member Gary
Jones wrote “Never Be The Same” about his mother passing away. “Hardest
Chain” was co-penned by Sandy Ficca and Colorado songwriter Tony Rosario. The
band recorded Spirit’s “Nature’s Way,” an environmental anthem song about the
end of the hippie movement; Mark Andes (originally in Spirit) sings lead with
the Eagles’ Timothy B. Schmit singing along and the Doobie Brothers’ John McFee
playing guitars.
Nashville’s Gary Burr wrote “Younger.” “Ghost Town” is a Tony Joe
White original from the 1970s. The late Virginia rocker Robbin Thompson (a
member of Bruce Springsteen’s first band and a longtime friend of Firefall)
wrote, “A Real Fine Day.” The cover of the new album is Comet NEOWISE, which lit up the
Oregon coastline’s nighttime sky in July 2020. That image is reminiscent of the
striking artwork on the band’s 1976 debut album, Firefall, which Jock helped design!
Firefall formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974. After their first
album, the group toured with Fleetwood Mac, Doobie Brothers, The Band, Lynyrd
Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Loggins and Messina, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Marshall
Tucker, and many others.
Mask by Phoebe Legererock and roll, female vocals,
going out with parents, and wearing a mask. "I love my mask, I love my mom, I
love my dad."
No More Walls by Dan Berggren Original Folk song, Mending fences with family, friends, and the world!
Border walls, even. The hook is “no more walls.”
World on Fire by John Hall John Hall’s publishing is handled by Sony Music Publishing, Nashville.
reggae, tenor, slight autotune, percussion, comparisons of the fire and
sisters & brothers not talking. Talk
about it. talk about destruction, all the animals that are perishing. age of
reason!
Rebecca Loebe Popular Sweet and gentle song, reminding us that everyone has felt unpopular.
Fact is, “it’s not about you anyway.”Her voice is like a soprano Dar Williams, gentle pop arrangement with
tambourine.
Let There Be New Flowering by Cornelius Eady Dreamy-sounding male and
vocal with a guitar, cello.Last line:“Let Love be at the end”1:14
song length.
"Trump" by Cindy Lee Berryhill Cindy’s prophetic song
TRUMP, recorded in 1989 on her album, NAKED MOVIE STAR. With a marching tempo
and Cindy’s dynamic proclaiming of lyrics that include “If I can fatten up my
salary, soon there won’t be any poverty as far as I’m concerned!” At 1:35 men
chant TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP! (Warner handles Cindy’s publishing and syncs.)
Fernando Perdomo, Rachel Flowers, Ruti Celli, and Yulia Ziskel
Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius’ new music video, “Storm Surge” is out on YouTube. On October 28 the song will be on all streaming media and as a music video on YouTube. The song features a combination of musical guests from different generations of prog rock and classical music. Legendary Saga frontman Michael Sadler sings lead on the song which deals with the anxiety many people feel these days. Fernando Perdomo (Jacob Dylan & The Echo in the Canyon Band, The Dave Kerzner Band) plays acoustic and electric guitar. Multi-instrumentalist prodigy Rachel Flowers plays both piano and flute on the song. Classical players include cellist Ruti Celli and the New York Philharmonic’s Yulia Ziskel (also Joe’s wife).
All the guest musicians, plus Joe’s bandmates—guitarist Michelangelo Quirinale, bassist Paul Ranieri, and drummer Jason Gianni—play in the music video, which has a “pandemic”music video vibe. Joe organized and edited the production.
“Storm Surge” is a writing collaboration between Joe Deninzon, Jason Gianni, and Michael Sadler. Inspired by “The Storm,” a short piano piece by 19th century German composer Friederich Burgmüller, that Joe kept hearing his 10-year old song Max practicing, Joe sketched out a slowed down version of a rock power ballad, and played around with structure and chords. Joe continued to woodshed the arrangement, recording a string arrangement, and his drummer sharing part of a song he’d been working on. Michael and each of the instrumentalists elevated the song.
Joe’s always wanted to use outside singers in his music. He and his bandmates have been longtime fans of the 1980s Canadian band “Saga,” known for their hits “Wind Him Up” and “On The Loose.” When Joe played the Progstock afterparty in 2018, Michael loved their set, and has continued to rave about the band. “He ended up contributing a jaw-dropping vocal performance, enhancing the melody, and adding Queen-esque harmonies.”
Electric violinist/vocalist Joe has been called The Jimi Hendrix of the electric violin. Stratospheerius has showcased their “frenzied melange of progressive rock, jazz fusion and funkabilly” throughout the world. The New York-based group has opened for Martin Barre, Alex Skolnick, John 5 & The Creatures, Gary Hoey, Mike Stern, Tim Reynolds, Mickey Hart, and John Scofield, among many others. The group’s influences include Yes, Spock’s Beard, Muse, Frank Zappa, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and King Crimson. Stratospheerius was a winner of the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition the Musicians Atlas Independent Music Awards. They have been featured in Progression, Relix, Downbeat, and Jazziz, among other publications. Their last album on Melodic Revolution Records, Guilty of Innocence, has been widely acclaimed by critics and fans.
Joe says that with all the problems the world is dealing with, “are creating a future of uncertainty. There’s a storm that’s raging inside of us right now.”
Watch the Storm Surge video
Credits
Music and Lyrics by Friederich Burgmüller, Joe Deninzon, Michael Sadler, Jason Gianni
Engineered by Rave Tesar
Mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser
Produced by Joe Deninzon
Joe Deninzon-electric and acoustic violin, acoustic guitar, vocals
