Sleep Alone

I'm promoting "The perfect winter song" this week. "Sleep Alone" by Izzy Meth. It's descriptive and melodic, theme is similar to "Teenager in Love," but it's a completely different song. poetic lyrics. Melodic.

"Yorick" The Music Video and Album by Tom Ciurczak

The title track from Tom Ciurczak’s “YORICK” album is Tom’s decided story about the skull of “Yorick” discussed in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

As a rock singer-songwriter inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, and a range of classic/prog/timeless rockers, Tom likes to create “what if” backstories about his songs’ characters. “Yorick was introduced in ‘Hamlet’ as the skull of the court jester with Hamlett’s famous quote ‘Poor Yorick I knew thee well.’  But who was he? And how did he lose his head? I created a little fable to tell his story. At its core the song is a love story that’s marred throughout with deception.  The song’s narrative combines elements from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, Rapunzel and Rumpelstiltskin. It centers around Yorick’s rescuing of the fairytale princess together with his get rich quick scheme to steal a ‘hidden treasure.’ But, unfortunately instead of the princess, Yorick finds the proverbial old witch masquerading in her place. They both quickly realize they have been deceiving each other. Yorick’s greed leads him to make a deal for the money with the witch. But as is the case with witches, you can’t trust them, and she reneges on their agreement, winds up killing and decapitating him in the end.”

Directed by Robert Wakamatsu, the “Yorick” music video shows Tom as “Yorick” with the band (drummer Sean Derksen, backup singer Melissa Robin, keyboardist Chris McKinney, guitarist Ken Harrill, and bassist Phil Stein) in Elizabethan costume. Melissa portrays both the princess and witch, ultimately responsible for killing “Yorick.”

The album, “YORICK” is due June 27.  The music video will go live on June 20 at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18 .

From the time he was a child, growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, with a professional musician father, Tom’s written songs and worked on his music. Though he focused on raising a family on the west coast while working in the Specialty Lighting industry, Tom continued writing and playing guitar. Finally, in 2014 he attended Steve Earle’s Camp Copperhead, and found his musical voice and tribe.

Tom’s first album “Call Me Ishmael” was released in 2020.  Then came the 2021 single “Christmas Time in Hollywood” his second CD, “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up -Volume I,” and 2023’s “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up-Volume II” and an ep, “Christmas Time in Hollywood.” He and five other songwriters from the Steve Earle tribe put together “Muscle Shoals Record Shop” recorded at Muscle Shoals legendary Cypress Moon Studio, home of the Swampers (aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)!   

“YORICK” celebrates the artform of storytelling, and features songs from Tom’s creative imagination. There’s investigative intrigue in “Am I M.I.A.,” “The Watcher,” “Chameleon,” and “A.L.T.O.W.D.” which is short for “Another Long Typical Ordinary Working Day.” The album’s more topical songs are “You’re Next,” “Malleus Maleficarum,” and “Where Do I Belong,” which focuses on the homeless crisis. There are also story songs from Tom’s experiences: “Wild One,” and “Top  of the Rainbow.”

The album was mixed and produced at the world-famous Sunset Sound Studios by Brett Grossman and Stephen Haaker, and mastered by Brett Grossman. 

The Tom Ciurczak Band regularly plays throughout Southern California.

Pre-save link for “Yorick” YORICK is Coming!!!!

Pre-order “Yorick” at tomciurczak.com/buy-cd

https://tomciurczak.com

 www.instagram.com/tokyotommy58/

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092202082226

www.youtube.com/@tomciurczak8782

The “Yorick” music video to go live June 20  www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18 

Other Music Videos “The Watcher” www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrHQwvnZfLA

“Top of the Rainbow” www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cbO3dNRcu8

“YORICK” track & musician listing

1.   The Watcher  
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Billy Diisko
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Keyboards: Valerie Chaikin

2.   Wild One
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Sean Sobash
Electric Guitar: Oscar Jesus Bugarin & Jimena Fosado
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin

3.  Yorick
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail
Acoustic Guitar: Angela Petrilli
Ukulele: Matt Hornbeck
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison & Eli Arnold

4.   You’re Next
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Billy Diisko
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Thump Solo: Brandon Washington
Keyboards: Valerie Chaikin
Background Vocals: Eli Arnold

5.   Where Do I Belong
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison

6.  Chameleon
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Sean Sobash
Electric Guitar: Jimena Fosado
Acoustic Guitar: Oscar Jesus Bugarin
Background Vocals: Eli Arnold

7.  Top Of The Rainbow
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitar: Matt Hornbeck
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison
Trumpet: Jon Manness
Trombone: Lasim Richards

8.   A.L.T.O.W.D.
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Acoustic Guitar: Sydney Moreno
Harmonica: Matt Lomeo
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin

9.   Malleus Malificarum
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Rob Reischak
Keyboards: Bobby "Bundst" Victor
Background Vocals: Melissa Robin

10.   Am I MIA
Lead Vocals: Tom Ciurczak
Drums & Percussion: Stephen Haaker
Bass Guitar: Travis Carlton
Electric Guitars: Matt Hornbeck & Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail
Acoustic Guitar: Angela Petrilli
Keyboards: Neara Russell
Background Vocals: Tita Hutchison

 

Yorick

I’m coming down

From the steeple ‘til I hit the ground

Cause I’m the guillotined Jester’s head

 

Jugglers, jokers, puppet shows

All in the Market Square

Jester grins, stares at the sky

Storm clouds are everywhere

 

Everybody heads inside

The banquet will start soon

The tower’s left unguarded

Clouds block the light from the crimson moon

 

Won’t you let your hair down like Rapunzel did

Won’t you spin your straw into gold for me

Is there a silver lining in those clouds up above

I’m climbing up to rescue you and set you free

 

Duels and Fools and Fire Breathers

the festival’s a blaze

The King and Queen are mesmerized

By the poet’s Shakespeare plays

 

No one see’s as I scale the tower

drawn by her Sirens call

don’t know if I’ll make it

or if I’ll slip and fall

Won’t you let your hair down like Rapunzel did

Won’t you spin your straw into gold for me

Is there a silver lining in those clouds up above

Cause I’m climbing up to rescue you and set you free

 

But it’s taking too much time

something doesn’t feel right

You’re not who you’ve been pretending to be

 

And this room’s not full of gold

For a princess you look real old

Who’s this Stiltskin

I don’t know what you were told

 

My name is Yorick I’m the royal fool

Never been one to follow the rules

Everything’s so obvious when you know all the answers

You’ve got nothing to gain here, cause I’m not who you’re after

 

Just let your hair down like Rapunzel did

And I’ll spin your straw into the gold of your dreams

cause there’s a silver lining in those clouds up above

and nothing here is what it seems to be

 

You’re not the princess and I’m not your savior

I thought this would be easy, you’re not who I came for

Let’s make deal, we can break this spell together

I’ll spin that straw to gold and we can both leave with the treasure

 

I’m coming down

From the steeple ‘til I hit the ground

Cause I’m the guillotined Jester’s head

 

C 2025 by Tom Ciurzcak / Ciurczak Songs (BMI), All Rights Reserved

#####

Stewart Brodian on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

I'm excited to have my longtime friend Stewart Brodian on the Anne Leighton Inclusion. A "self-made-man," Stewart offers insight on how he's dealt with the health care system, plus created career opportunities and his art--music, books, radio shows, a TV pilot, online shows.... You name it. The man is a creative force with an ear for talent and a nose like Howard Stern's! Well, tune in.  You'll find out what that's about!

Days Between Stations Updates on “Being” & “Perpetual Motion Machines (Music for a Film)”

The Days Between Stations music video collaboration with Durga McBroom is called “Being.” The band and Durga are available for interviews on both video and the new Days Between Stations’ album, “Perpetual Motion Machines (Music for a Film).” 

The group’s manager and video producer Erik Nielsen created the video from concept to final editing. “He’s produced all of our music videos,” guitarist Sepand Samzadeh says. “This is our third video shoot with Erik, he has a minimalist approach to matching visuals to the music.  He has a great sense of style, creativity, strong leadership qualities, and extensive knowledge of technology.” Erik and his Supposable Productions have worked with the classic rock and prog community for a variety of video productions—such as streaming the ProgStock Festival, video production for Las Vegas’ hit show “Raiding the Rock Vault,” and music videos for many artists—notably Dave Kerzner, Asia Featuring John Payne and hard rock band “Last in Line” on Frontiers Records. 

Through the years prog greats including Yes’s Billy Sherwood, Peter Banks, and Rick Wakeman, plus XTC’s Colin Moulding have collaborated with Days Between Stations. Then there’s Durga McBroom, known for her phenomenal musical and theatrical background, including singing for Pink Floyd from 1987-1994, acting and dancing as the character “Heels” in the movie “Flashdance,” and hitting number 1 on the Billboard dance charts and on Top of the Pops with the song “(Can You) Feel the Passion.”  Now along with her sister Lorelei, she’s in the Australian Pink Floyd Show and recent starring role in the satire movie, “Sammy-Gate.”   

Billy Sherwood produced Durga with keyboardist Oscar Fuentes Bills and Sepand for a song and music video “Witness the End of the World” on the album “Giants,” released in 2020 and voted track of the week by Prog magazine readers.

When it came time to find a singer for “Being,” the only song with lyrics on “Perpetual Motion Machines,” the band knew Durga was a perfect fit. The “Being” music video makes use of colors, light, and people! Actress Rae Dawn Chong felt Durga’s “goddess power” when she saw “Being,” and posted in the comments, “

It is a joy to see you in your element. I love the message.”

Erik wanted to first showcase Durga’s amazing stage presence and present the band in a stylized performance setting, “and use some simple visual effects to suggest different aspects of the concept of ‘Being.’”  Oscar based the song’s lyrics around the general concept of existence and trying to interject what artist Jean-Paul Bourdier’s art “inspired us to do, and we let the music speak for itself.” (“Perpetual Motion Machines” initially was intended to be a film soundtrack for a documentary on the artist.)

“Seeds,” the first video ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kmLDoapIkg ) in “Perpetual Motion Machines” won track of the week by Prog UK readers. ProgRock.com cites “Being” as one of the best epic songs of 2024.  MusikReviews.de praises everyone’s work, citing Durga closing “the all-round emotionally cinematic and moving album with a quiet song that gives the entire album an unusual (vocal) twist.” Echoes and Dust praises Durga for her “angelic, soulful voice” and makes comparisons throughout the review to a range of classic treats including music by Alan Parsons and David Bowie!           

The band sees Durga as a force like a Jedi! Sepand says, “She has so much experience and talent and her confidence just glides in with her energy.  She is a true professional.” One of Sepand’s fondest memories is playing, and when she started singing, “It feels like thunder struck my back. I looked over to Oscar and we telepathically spoke with each other... the message was if we died that day, we were grateful for this moment, we experienced brilliance at its best.”

Likewise, Durga loves collaborating, which allows her to “add my brand of art to that of others, thereby creating something totally new and different. I would urge people to find other artists to collaborate with. You learn a lot, and it can push you out of your comfort zone.” Durga feels much respect for Oscar’s lyric writing, “I learned how to make his vision come alive by making it personal.”

Sepand relates, “When you are surrounded by so much love, talent and creativity everyone elevates you to your new best.

Formed 20 years ago in Los Angeles, Sepand and keyboardist Oscar Fuentes Bills named the band after Steve Erickson’s novel “Days Between Stations.” The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord inspired the band to work on their music after he used some of Sepand and Oscar’s musical experiments as the basis for “Saturday” on The Pineapple Thief’s “12 Stories Down” album. The duo continued to work with a range of musicians on what became their first release, “Days Between Stations,” in 2007. Their 2012 recording “In Extremis” was produced by Yes’ Billy Sherwood. In 2020 they released “Giants.” 

“A Rose for Your Stone” by The Kings

The Kings’ “The Longest Story Ever Told” continues to build.  After months on regional radio stations and finding support even internationally, the group’s song “A Rose for Your Stone” is finding support on AAA/Americana radio. The music video features Western imagery and lead singer David Diamond performing solo on acoustic guitar. The idea behind the song is about a gunfighter returning home after hearing his former girlfriend has died.  He left her because he wanted to seek fame with his gun, but he never forgot her.  He’s chosen to not regret the choice he made, despite the tragedy.  All he can give her is a rose to put on her headstone.  

 

Mixed by Michael Vail Blum, who has worked with Madonna and Prince the western inspired song has found support on podcasts, blogs, and magazines. Michael's Record Collection is intrigued by the song, “It pays tribute to old country story-songs, such as ‘El Paso’ by Marty Robbins." Americana Highways raves about the song’s musicality, including its Spanish-flavored horns, and more, David Diamond’s voice is still as powerful as when he sang ‘This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide’ on their first album.” Rave and Roll hears its cinematic quality, "How about some spaghetti western atmospherics? A Rose For Your Stone produces that vibe, underscored by an accordion and playful mariachi horns."

The Kings, originally formed in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Oakville, Ontario, are a Canadian rock band. The original lineup was David Diamond (lead vocals, bass, songwriter), Sonny Keyes (vocals, keyboards, songwriter), Max Styles (currently Todd Reynolds) (drums), and Mister Zero (guitar, songwriter).

Before their breakthrough, they spent over three years as WhistleKing, refining their skills through rehearsals, club gigs, and songwriting, always with recording as the goal. Their journey led them to Nimbus 9 Studio in Toronto, where renowned producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, KISS) joined the story.

Ezrin's involvement led to a worldwide major label deal with Elektra Records in Los Angeles. Their debut project, "The Kings Are Here," featured the smash hit 'This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide,' which received extensive major market airplay all over the USA and Canada, spending 23 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100, earning them a Canadian Juno Award nomination, Platinum album and Gold single status and induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Kings continued their musical journey with the albums "Amazon Beach," "RSVP," "Unstoppable," "Party Live in '85", "The Lost Tapes of a Seventies Bar Band" and "Because of You," all of which showcase their energy and songwriting prowess. They also released a captivating documentary titled "Anatomy of a One-Hit Wonder”, as well as the incredible concert film "Live at Heatwave".

Now, in 2024, "The Longest Story Ever Told," reaffirms the Kings’ status as a rock band with songwriting depth. With a history of hits, over 2000 North American shows and a devoted fan base, The Kings remain a hungry band with something to prove.

“Wake Up,” New Song & Music Video by Platypus Planet

Song Deals with Recovery Through Progress and Truth

 

Platypus Planet have a new song and music video, “Wake Up."

The group and music are the creation of German Starseed/Singer/songwriter/ keyboardist/ multi-media music leader Anna Black. The band’s core consists of Anna and three more passionate artists: drummer Frank Nolte (Germany), bassist Alexis Bietti (France), and what Anna calls Platypus Planet’s enigmatic secret weapon, keyboardist Robeone (United States).

Notables in the prog rock community have contributed to her meditative and electronic-inspired progressive music including Imaginaerium’s Clive Nolan & Laura Piazzai on a recent single called “Inner Peace.”

Lifesigns/Strawbs/ Dave Bainbridge & Sally Minnear guitarist Dave Bainbridge joins Platypus Planet on the new meditative and electronic-inspired progressive music single “Wake Up.”

The music video for “Wake Up” shows imagery and Anna performing with a message. about why so many people are awakening and changing these days, moving away from lower vibrational people that take energy from them.  The story spotlights on recognizing and defining pain, progressing, and going through the process with truth.  Anna says, “The song is a call to break through the noise, to let go of the versions of ourselves we've been taught to perform, and to reconnect with something real. It’s about waking up to the truth that there’s nothing to fear in being who you are.” 

She says the theme of her songs are about serving, “As I wake up, I’m helping you wake up.”

The music video and song resonated with Fan MamaChar Leonard, who posted on her social media, “I believe this one will be added to my morning routine! “   

 

Anna, Frank, Alexis, and Robeone are working on their first album to be called, “Echoes of the Soul.” There are other songs on the upcoming album out, in addition to “Wake Up” and “Inner Peace,” songs already on streaming media include “Sincerety,” “Identify,” and “Song of Sorrow.”

“Wake Up” 

Eyes are blinded,
Touch is grinded,
No one to feel it,
No one to heal it,
Calling,
You to wake up,

You need to wake up,
You need to wake up,
Wake up,
You need to,

Listening on the surface,
I tell you what my truth is,
Now stand up,
And be yourself,
There's nothing you can't do,

Listening on the surface,
I tell you what my truth is,
Stand up,
And be yourself,
There's nothing you can do,

Let yourself be your truth,
Wake up,

Eyes are blinded,
Touch is grinded,
No one to feel it,
Calling,
You to wake up.

 

C 2025, Anna Black, All Rights Reserved 

Tom Ciurczak's Music Video "The Watcher"

 The first music video from Americana Singer-Songwriter Tom Ciurczak's upcoming album, “Yorick,” is called "The Watcher." 

“The Watcher” is Tom’s song about an alien looking for the other aliens that left him as he treks across the planet earth at “every alien crash site” according to the song lyrics. “The song is my take on the origins of the “Men In Black,” he says. “He was dropped off thousands of years ago to carve the ‘Nazca Lines’ and then for whatever reason, the Aliens never came back to get him. Feeling abandoned on the planet, he gets depressed and laments about his former life traveling the universe and wonders why they left him. He goes into mourning and starts dressing in black and decides to start showing up at all the Alien related sites throughout history hoping he’ll get noticed and rescued in time for supper.”

“The Watcher” music video includes Tom being photobombed into historical scenes from the pyramids to the fall of the Roman Empire, to climbing frozen cliffs.  Thousands of years later a spaceship finds him, and he’s swooped up to return home, but not in time for supper!

Taking songwriting tips from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Warren, Zevon, and Steve Earle (who was his teacher at a songwriting camp he attended in 2014, which got him on the road to finishing song ideas and creating new ones), “I knew I found my tribe!” A transplanted New Yorker living in Southern California, Tom put together his prestigious recording team of producer/drummer Stephen Haaker, sound engineer Brett Grossman and a number of A-List of studio musicians to record his first CD, the powerfully-combustive “Call Me Ishmael.”  Follow up releases were a 2021 single “Christmas Time in Hollywood” his second CD, “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up,” and 2023’s “I Ain’t Ever Growing Up-Volume II” and an ep, “Christmas Time in Hollywood.” He and five other songwriters from the Steve Earle tribe put together “Muscle Shoals Record Shop” recorded at Muscle Shoals legendary Cypress Moon Studio, home of the Swampers (aka Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section)!    

Tom performs with his band at music venues throughout Southern California to promote his own brand of Heartland Rock. Having played such well-known venues as the Whiskey A Go Go, The Mint, The Viper Room, The Coach House, this singer/songwriter/recording/performing artist is proof that, once lit, the musical spark never dies – he’s just blazing its magic! 

“The Watcher”

A couple thousand years ago

I came down here to carve the Nazca lines

They said they’re coming back for me

planned to get me home by supper time           

 

Day after day I keep waiting for you

Searching the skies and checking the news

Gone into mourning so I’m dressing in black

Wondering if you’re ever coming back   

 

I’ve been traveling everywhere

Stonehenge to Tiananmen square

Took advantage of every photo-op under the sun

Been to every alien crash site

Hollow Earth theory doesn’t seem right

But I think they’re hiding something at Area 51

 

Watched you build the Pyramids

Saw the Roman Empire fall              

Sent Rocket ships up to the moon

Man, I seen it all

Still, I wonder why

I was left behind

 

I used to travel all across the Universe

I’ve seen lots of planets born and die

Better fasten your seat belts

it’s going to be a bumpy ride when the ice caps melt

getting out of here, never been more clear

 

I keep staring at the sky

those signs aren’t hard to recognize

Don’t know how they could ever make a wrong turn

This was always the final frontier

Still no reason to have left me here

But watching it all go to hell just ain’t my concern

 

Day after day I keep waiting for you

Searching the skies and checking the news

Gone into mourning so I’m dressing in black

Wondering if you’re ever coming back

C 2025 Tom Ciurzcak / Ciurczak Songs (BMI), All Rights Reserved

Sonya Mastick on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show

I enjoyed this interview with Detroit writer/drummer/marketing pro/weightlifter and friend Sonya Mastick. We talked about inclusion, especially for creative artists and ways she learned about herself through some challenging times.