2/26/22

Tempest’s New Music Video “Jolly Roger” Heralding Upcoming Album “Going Home”

“Jolly Roger” is the music video from Tempest’s “Going Home.” With a handful of pirates and the classic Jolly Roger flying, the video was produced at Morgan’s Cove, the secret, treasure-laden pirate ship in a backyard of Morgan Hill, CA, as well as at SoundTek Studios in Campbell, CA. “Jolly Roger” is a folk-rock cover from the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn. 

The Bay Area Celtic Rock Band is releasing the new album, “Going Home,” on the group’s new record label Celtodelic on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2022. Co-produced by band leader Lief Sorbye and Robert Berry (3, December People) in November and December of 2021, the album is best described as “Euro Celtic,” as Tempest incorporates more Scandinavian and British Isles material into their brand of Progressive Folk Rock.
 
Lief wrote “The Shepherd’s Daughter,” based on the traditional British ballad, The Knight and The Shepherd’s Daughter. “Dream Morris” was a melody fully formed in Lief’s head one morning when he woke.  
 
The disc features a range of spirited fiddle and mandolin instrumentals “The Optimist” and “Mrs. Preston’s Favorite.” There are songs in Lief’s native language Norwegian. “Hjemreise” is a dedication to the recent passing of his mom and the magical mountain cabin ‘Jegerstølen,’ pictured on the front cover of the record. The song title translates to the album title, Going Home.
 
The Norwegian children’s song “Pål Sine Høner” (Paul’s Chickens), a Swedish murder ballad “De Två Systrarna” (The Two Sisters), and the British “The Devil and the Farmer” are traditional folk songs on Going Home.

Hailing from Oslo, Norway, founding member and lead singer/electric mandolinist, Lief Sorbye, is recognized as a driving force in the modern folk-rock movement. He started Tempest in 1988 after years of touring and recording on the folk circuit. The band also features San Francisco’s Lee Corbie-Wells (fiddle, vocals), Bulgaria-born Nikolay Georgiev (guitars), Michigan’s Hugh Caley, (bassist), and Cuban drummer Adolfo Lazo, who is an original member of Tempest.  

TEMPEST ‘The Going Home Tour' Spring 2022

Feb. 26 | Vallejo, CA          EMPRESS THEATRE
Mar. 5 | Fresno, CA            FULL CIRCLE BREWING CO.
Mar. 12, 13 | Dublin, CA    ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL
Mar. 17 | Healdsburg, CA   HEALDSBURG PLAZA
Mar. 17 | Soquel, CA          MICHAEL’S ON MAIN
Mar. 19 | Sutter Creek, CA SUTTER CREEK THEATER
Mar. 25 | Williamsburg, IA RAVEN WOLF
Mar. 26 | St. Louis, MO      FOCALPOINT THEATRE
Mar. 27 | Goshen, IN          IGNITION MUSIC GARAGE
Mar. 30 | Rochester, NY     LOVIN’ CUP
Mar. 31 | Albany, NY         THE LINDA THEATRE
Apr. 1 | Middletown, CT    BUTTONWOOD TREE ARTS CENTER
Apr. 2 | New Hope, PA       HAVANA
Apr. 3 | Wayne, PA             118 NORTH
Apr. 4 | Kenton, DE           COOLDOG CONCERT SERIES
Apr. 6 | Cleveland, OH       BROTHERS LOUNGE CONCERT HALL
Apr. 7 | White Oak, PA       BRYN MAWR CHURCH
Apr. 8 | Columbus, OH       BYRNES PUB
Apr. 9 | Dayton, OH           YELLOW CAB TAVERN


 

 

 

New John Roy Zat Album: Where Zat

Folk/Americana, Singer-Songwriter Fiddler

North California Folk/Americana singer-songwriter and fiddler John Roy Zat has a new album, Where Zat.  Released in November 2021, the album was produced with Ed Tree (Rita Coolidge, Juice Newton, Al Stewart). It is available on streaming media and for sale on Bandcamp at johnroyzat.bandcamp.com/releases 

It features ten new songs, including:  “American Dream Cafe” with small town views on a changing world;  “I’m A Salmon In The River” about love from the perspective of a fish;  “I Took Hold Of Your Hand” about human love; and “California Is A Dream” -- and more!

Where Zat’s first music video, “I’m a Salmon In The River” was released today -- Friday, January 28.  It is a photo essay with images of rivers, fishermen, bears and salmon: “I’m a salmon in the river swimming upstream. I'm a salmon in the river, no one's gonna catch me. A thousand miles I travel, to find love in the gravel . . . ”  The video is live on YouTube.

John has been songwriting and fiddling for a while. In 1977, he played fiddle on Kate Wolf’s recording of his co-write with Texas fiddle legend, Luke Thomasson, “Midnight on the Water.”  The recording was released on Kate's second album, Lines On The Paper (Kaleidoscope Records), and has since been recorded and performed by Banish Misfortune, Caroline Herring and many others. 

 John’s previous albums, WHO ZAT?Collaborations, and Solo, have received consistent airplay on independent radio and charted well on Roots Music Report and other radio playlists.

 Born in Paris, John grew up in Saigon, Washington DC, Cannes, Bangkok, and Southern California.  He has been a touring artist, band member, and a musician with a day job, raising his family!  His last job in the corporate world was as CFO of The Asia Foundation, a non-profit focused on improving government in Asia.  As of June 2011, John is back to writing and performing full time. He has some stories to tell.

 


Michael Veitch’s New Album, “Wachtraum”

“Valentine’s Day” is the first single and a lyric video

 

Michael Veitch’s “Wachtraum,” (which means “Wake Dream”) is available in all digital and physical stores and by mail order c/o www.michaelveitch.com/michael-veitch-store

“Valentine’s Day,” a co-write with Michael’s long-time recording engineer Julie Last, is the album’s first single.  Watch a lyric video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xLaHAnvO8E. Folking’s Bill Golembeski says the song “is upbeat and pushes the pop-o-meter needle into much radio friendlier climes. This one is smooth, passionate, and graced with Hallmark greeted lyrics. And Michael gets to open the throttle on his (really nice) falsetto.”   Music Connection’s Eric Harabadian cites “Valentine’s Day”  “choice hooks and romantic sentiments.”

Favorite songs on “Wachtraum” include “August Nights,” which has a “Beach Boys” vibe.  “April Fools,” co-written with Judy Kass, deals with delusional thinking. “Happy Fourth of July” recalls leaders and peace activists we’ve lost since the 1960s and features Dan playing brother Chris’s guitar. “Wachtraum” ends with the holy days of December with “One Wish” a duet with ethereal singer-songwriter Kirsti Gholsen.

Six Degrees’ Anne Carlini praises Michael’s songwriting, “His music visits the past without regret and the future with an optimist’s eye while his lyrics and melody weave a narrative of world class performance.”

This April, Michael appears on PBS’s upcoming broadcast, “We Remember-Songs from Survivors"-- songwriters collaborating with Holocaust survivors.   

Michael’s thankful that the folk community has helped him through the years. Judy Collins covered his song “Veteran’s Day,” on her 2013 Live From the Temple of Dendur DVD, and 2011 CD “Bohemian.”  Michael’s song “Pledging Allegiance,” which reached #10 on the 2017 Folk/Americana charts, was honored by Music2Life Foundation. He’s a regular at festivals, notably the 2001 Newport Folk Festival. Breaking out in the1980s, with the help of Shawn Colvin—first sending him to Greenwich Village to expand his songwriting with Jack Hardy, and later—in the 1990s—having him open for her on an extensive tour; she also sang on his first album, “New York Journal.”

He has shared stages with a who’s who of singer-songwriters over many years of touring.     

 

 

www.Michaelveitch.com

Wachtraum

1.First Day

2.Valentine’s Day

3.Moving Day

4.April Fools

5.Sunday Afternoon

6.Happy Fourth of July

7.August Nights

8.Always Vermont

9.Birthday Oh Birthday

10.Last Days of Summer

11.First Snow of the Year

12.One Wish

  

2/23/22

MEMOIR OF A RASCAL – FELIX CAVALIERE ANNOUNCES AUTOBIOGRAPHY

 

2/14/22

TEMPEST ‘Jolly Roger’


Tempest premiering their video right now.

#pirates Morgans Cove, CA #BayAreaMusic #FolkMusic #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #NewMusic #MusicVideo #GreatLiveBand #JollyRoger #RogerMcGuinn

2/7/22

“Save the Monarch”: New Video from John Hall featuring Dar Williams

Nashville, TN – Acclaimed singer-songwriter, environmental activist and former U.S. Congressman John Hall announced today the release of a new video for his song “Save the Monarch,” which features renowned folk music artist Dar Williams. The four-and-a half minute long video is available on Hall’s website and YouTube (https://youtu.be/Q3y2L4jyyJo)


“Save the Monarch” appears on Hall’s latest album, Reclaiming My Time, which was released in May 2021. Hall’s sixth solo record, in addition to the 18 albums he released with the pop-rock band Orleans, Reclaiming My Time broke the Top 20 on the Americana Country Charts and was widely praised upon release. (The album’s title is a phrase used on the floor of Congress when a member wants to resume speaking after an interruption.) 

“When I wrote ‘Save the Monarch’ I envisioned it as a hymn for endangered species, a sincere prayer that we answer the call to be good stewards of the earth,” said Hall. “The urgency of needing to protect life on our planet has been an enduring theme in my work, and I was absolutely thrilled when Dar (Williams), a neighbor of mine when I lived in New York’s Hudson Valley, agreed to sing the song with me. Dar is such an extraordinary artist and writer, as well as an engaged environmentalist. She certainly helps lift the song and gives it greater resonance.”

Hall and Williams swapping vocals on “Save the Monarch” is certainly apt, as they served for several years together on the board of directors of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, an environmental and education nonprofit co-founded in 1969 by folk music icon and activist Pete Seeger. 

The video for “Save the Monarch” was directed, filmed and edited by Rob Arthur, who has directed videos for the Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason and Peter Frampton as well. A veteran keyboardist, Arthur has spent the past two decades serving as the bandleader for Peter Frampton. 

Hall plays all of the instruments on “Save the Monarch” except for drums, which are handled by Peter O’Brien, Hall’s former bandmate in Orleans. Reclaiming My Time is notable for the many musical artists who joined Hall in the studio, including John Cowan (New Grass Revival, Doobie Brothers), Andrea Zonn (James Taylor, Vince Gill), Jay Collins (Dukes of September, Allmans), Sean Paddock (Kenny Chesney) and pedal steel guitar player Dan Dugmore. Steve Wariner co-wrote and sang a duet with Hall on “Another Sunset.”

Hall is known mostly for his work with Orleans; the band’s hits “Still the One” and “Dance with Me,” which he co-wrote with former wife Johanna Hall, continue to be streamed over 100,000 times apiece daily. Last year, Orleans released a Christmas album called New Star Shining, and in 2022 the band will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.

In 1979, Hall launched Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Graham Nash, which culminated in the famed “No Nukes” concerts, which featured the above-mentioned musical artists, as well as Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, the Doobie Brothers and Carly Simon. 

Hall was elected in 2006 and 2008 to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he fought for environmental issues and veterans’ disability rights. In 2016, his memoir Still the One: A Rock’n’Roll Journey to Congress and Back was published.

 

 

2/3/22

New Music Winter 2022

What’s a Place Like This Doing in a Girl Like Me  Val Kinzler


Uptempo & edgy, spoken word female voice like Kathryn Hepburn meets Tim Curry, spooky music.  haunted woman inside of a MAN-made hell, graveyard full of rights gone wrong, weak from being strong. dr. jekyll, watch me hide. dismember me. 

Well, Well, Well  John Roy Zat 

Male vocals, upbeat violin about surviving it all.  "Well, well, well, I've been down in the well... my own private hell" and coming out of it.  "I rise up now to dance w/ the sun" 

Inside Looking Out Joe Matera  

Tenor male voice w/ best elements of rock & roll British (Yardbirds-y/Spencer Davis/Hollies tempos) meets modern rock instruments and electronica as rock instruments. Analyzing the situation.  hook: "Lost in Transit, Inside Looking Out"   

Valentine’s Day Michael Veitch 

Slow tempo, male singer w/ falsetto, acoustic instruments, setting a winter melting mood, comparing to a true love who blooms "from beneath the ice and snow

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.

Halfway Normal World Dean Friedman

Slow tempo, piano, tenor. covid-related, wanting to hang out friends again at the movies & at home, diner, ballgame, , throw a party and sound effects from ballgame, "I wish I could get back to a halfway normal world."

Save the Monarch John Hall & Dar Williams 


John & Dar Williams duet on this hymn-like singer-songwriter song, guitar/bass/drums, environment, Monarch, emperor, queen, king--animals with royal names that are endangered species 

Dance Mashup - The Kings - I Know So

One of the songs I'm plugging this week.  "I know -know so-ooo!"

1/14/22

Anne Leighton: Michael Veitch "Wachtraum"

Anne Leighton: Michael Veitch "Wachtraum": Michael Veitch is releasing a new album, “Wachtraum” on February 4, 2022.   “Wachtraum,” means “days of dreaming” in German....

This tremendous songwriter that wrote "Veteran's Day" (covered by Judy Collins) and has been mentored by Shawn Colvin has a tremendous 2022 in front of him. A spy told me he's going to be on a PBS program this year.

If you work in the media and love #FolkMusic, #SingerSongwriters, #Americana, #Gorgeous #SingingVoices, send me an email with your infol. I'm at LeightonMedia@aol.com and Anne@AnneLeighton.com

Announcing: “Lockdown” by Brijitte West


Former NY Loose FrontWoman Releases EP Created in 2020

Brijitte West’s "LOCKDOWN" EP is out and available for her fans. Created during Lockdown, the album features 3 new songs from Brijitte, who was the dynamic frontwoman for the 1990s band New York Loose.

Two songs, “Let’s Start a Fire” and “Talk To Me” were produced in the studio with ----- at the helm.  “Lie To Me” was recorded on her iPhone, as were covers of The Velvet Underground’s “Pale Blue Eyes,” Ron Sexsmith’s Pretty Suicide” and her own band’s “Sacred Heart” 

NY Loose is most known for “Year Of The Rat” on Hollywood Records and their classic song, “Pretty Suicide,” which also appeared on “The Crow City Of Angels” soundtrack in 1996.

“’Can You Talk’ is about meeting somebody online during lockdown,” Brijitte says. “It’s about a relationship that started with texts and how that can be very constricting but liberating at the same time. You can say anything and send it. You build a foundation. Then suddenly you realise just how lonely it can be, words on a screen and the lack of human interaction.  Lockdown seemed to slowed people down and perhaps made then rethink their lives and the little things we take for granted. ‘Can You Talk’ is a social commentary on that time and how it was for me."

“’Let’s Build A Fire,’ a ballad written around the metaphor of building a fire and coming to terms with the things in life that no longer serve you,” she says. It’s about taking your time to think about things it’s time to burn and how that knowledge and confidence can be the very thing that saves you.”

"Pretty Suicide' was inspired by a famous Life Magazine photo." Brijitte says on the making of that 1990s’ hit, "A girl committed suicide by jumping off the Empire State Building and landed on the roof of a car. She landed in the most angelic, graceful final pose. No blood or splatter -- just this beautiful state of relaxation. It seemed like the ultimate example of the collision between violence, tragedy, and beauty. It's ironic, she adds, with an acerbic smile, "because it was probably the best photo that this girl had ever taken." 

                                   “Lie To Me” 

 

Michael Veitch "Wachtraum"


Michael Veitch is releasing a new album, “Wachtraum” on February 4, 2022.
 

“Wachtraum,” means “days of dreaming” in German, and Germany is where Michael wrote many of the songs on his new album. “Wachtraum”’s theme focuses on his narrative writing and beautiful tenor voice’s reflections on unique qualities of each month.

The single and upcoming music video “Valentine’s Day,” is about love which helps coldness melt away. It’s a co-write with his longtime recording engineer Julie Last.

Other highlights of “Wachtraum” include “First Day” of a new year. “April Fools” is topical and personal and co-written with Judy Kass; it deals with delusional thinking. “Happy Fourth of July” recalls leaders and peace activists we’ve lost since the 1960s and features Dan playing brother Chris’s guitar. “Wachtraum” ends with the holy days of December with “One Wish” a duet with ethereal singer-songwriter Kirsti Gholsen.

This April, Michael appears on PBS’s upcoming broadcast, “We Remember-Songs from Survivors"-- songwriters collaborating with Holocaust survivors.

Michael’s been thankful on how the folk community has helped him through the years. Judy Collins covered his song “Veteran’s Day,” on her 2013 Live From the Temple of Dendur DVD, and 2011 CD “Bohemian.”  Michael’s song “Pledging Allegiance,” which reached #10 on the 2017 Folk/Americana charts, was honored by Music2Life Foundation. He’s a regular at festivals, notably the 2001 Newport Folk Festival. Breaking out in the1980s, with the help of Shawn Colvin—first sending him to Greenwich Village to expand his songwriting with Jack Hardy, and later—in the 1990s—having him open for her on an extensive tour; she also sang on his first album, “New York Journal.”

He has shared stages with a who’s who of singer-songwriters over many years of touring.     

 www.Michaelveitch.com

 

Wachtraum

1.First Day

2.Valentine’s Day

3.Moving Day

4.April Fools

5.Sunday Afternoon

6.Happy Fourth of July

7.August Nights

8.Always Vermont

9.Birthday Oh Birthday

10.Last Days of Summer

11.First Snow of the Year

12.One Wish

 

New Live Music "Game of Chicken" Live at ProgStock by Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius




“Game of Chicken” is the new single and video, it was recorded live during Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius’ performance at Progstock Festival, October 13, 2019 at Union County Performing Arts Center. Rahway, NJ.

The “game of chicken” is a game in which two drivers drive towards each other on a collision course: one must swerve, or both may die in the crash, but if one driver swerves and the other does not, the one who swerved will be called a “chicken,” or a coward.

Joe Deninzon says: “I thought about how dysfunctional our society is, how we continue to kick the can down the road for future generations to clean up our mess, how we scream over each other in our online media echo chambers and refuse to listen to differing opinions. Our planet is on the verge of destruction and we are too busy trying to destroy each other instead of coming together to try to solve our problems.” This is the first single from our upcoming CD/DVD, “Behind the Curtain: Live at Progstock” due out in May 2022 on Melodic Revolution Records. Much more to come…

Mixed and mastered by Matt Vanacoro

Produced by Joe Deninzon

The Band
Joe Deninzon-lead vocals/electric violin 
Michelangelo Quirinale-guitar 
Paul Ranieri-bass 
Jason Gianni-drums 

Music and lyrics by Joe Deninzon
“filmed by Matt Urba,”
Backdrop footage by David P. Levin
Recorded at Progstock Festival
Photo by Brian Tirpak 
Single Art layout by Nick Katona, Zene Háza, Florida

Thank you to Thomas Palmieri and Ann Rinaldi
2021 Fiddlefunk Music. All rights reserved.

 

   

   

1/13/22

RAMPD Announces Official Launch with a LIVE Virtual Event at 5pm EST on January 21, 2022

Join the Fun as RAMPD [Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities] Meets the Public Live from the Grammy Museum!

 


The public is invited to a virtual launch event for the new coalition RAMPD [Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities] on Friday, January 21, 2022 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (2pm Pacific / 4pm Central / 10pm GMT / 8am Saturday AEST).  This webcast will be hosted in partnership with GRAMMY Museum and will consist of virtual performances, celebrity cameos, live giveaways, and informative testimonials. The RAMPD Launch will highlight the lofty accomplishments RAMPD achieved pre-launch, and celebrate the amazing talent of RAMPD’s current professional membership roster.


TUNE IN ON YOUTUBE ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 AT 5:00 PM EST:


https://youtu.be/PRb9ArYcBMI

 

Opening and closing remarks for the RAMPD Launch Event will be given from GRAMMY Museum by RAMPD's President and Founder Lachi (award-winning EDM artist, producer, and director). The event will be hosted live by RAMPD Vice President Gaelynn Lea (songwriter, violinist, and winner of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest) and RAMPD Founding Member Question (rising hip-hop star and disability advocate from Atlanta).

 

This ceremony will include captioning and self-description to promote the beauty of disability-inclusive content.  The virtual event will include performances by several RAMPD Professional Members, celebrity messages of support, trivia questions and giveaways in the live chat, and testimonials about the importance of Disability Culture. Performers include Eliza Hull, Adrian Anatawan, Molly Joyce, and many more professional disabled musicians.


RAMPD has already been in partnerships with Folk Alliance, NIVA, Women In Music, and The WAVY Awards by Blonde Records. The GRAMMY Museum launch is not the first partnership with the Recording Academy, as RAMPD has also collaborated in dialogue, workshops and influenced the Academy’s Inclusivity platform. The group was organized after Lachi facilitated a public online conversation with leaders of the Recording Academy in April 2021.

 

RAMPD is a fast-growing coalition of established recording artists and music professionals with disabilities whose mission is to amplify disability culture, promote inclusion, and advocate for accessibility in the music industry.  RAMPD’s organizational model includes a fiscal sponsorship with the non-profit organization, Accessible Festivals, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making music and recreation accessible to all abilities.


RAMPD Spotify Playlist open.spotify.com/playlist/55Yv7oTMxoMxD1xaPfyQAM?si=b1bff58ec80e4a83&nd=1

 If you're interested in syncs or covers by any of the RAMPD musicians, it'd be a pleasure to connect you with them.  Reach out to Contact@RAMPD.org

1/8/22

Working Gal Rock and Roll Poet:  "Yes, it’s Super Broke!"

Working Gal Rock and Roll Poet:  Yes, it’s Super Broke! Super Brokesaves what he c...:  

 Yes, it’s Super Broke!   
 Super Broke saves what he can 
 which saves the day someday! Intriguing adapting!   

 Oh my gosh ...