Showing posts with label Slambovia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Slambovia. Show all posts

11/18/22

Fall 2022 Playlist for Covers, Syncs, Radio

I chose Look Around by the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, because it feels like the good people that gave up on public service years ago are looking around, and getting together to work on solutions that will make a difference. This folk rock band is fronted by Joziah Longo.  The band has an incredible time at Cropredy this past Summer, and came out as the Festival Favorite. 


Dan Berggren, who was my radio teacher at SUNY Fredonia, is celebrating 55 years on the radio. This veteran songwriter's "Free to Read" is midtempo folk with a marching beat, acoustic guitar, bass male vocals, "We need to be free to read." He sings a list of books that have been banned: To Kill a Mockingbird, Beloved, American Psycho, Harry Potter, Diary of Anne Frank..... 

danberggren.bandcamp.com/track/free-to-read


I Cry For You by Tony Moore is about Tony's emotional struggle as his mom went through dementia, Sounding a little like Yes' Jon Anderson, the symphonic pop-rock song shares his memories of her both during and before the diagnosis.  The former Cutting Crew keyboardist recently co-wrote "Love Never Dies" with Julian Lennon on Julian's new album, JUDE. Tony is currently working on his critically acclaimed one man show and album called AWAKE.  


Extremist by Kathy Zimmer is an upbeat & layered indie pop, female vocal about finding balance within the love and hate of a close, person relationship. Her rich alto sings, "You make me happy and depressed"  kathyzimmer.bandcamp.com/track/extremist


Robin Lane's new album, "Dirt Road to Heaven" has Americana and Folk stylings.  She's been performing this music sincethe 1990s. "Woman Like That" combines Native American roots and British and New England folk stylings, and is about being stalked. Woman Like That | Robin Lane (bandcamp.com)

 

You Hold My Soul, by Nicole Bacher, explores themes of gratitude and dedication towards her partner for their journey together ... He helped her fight depression. "You made me whole let me be bold you hold my soul." One of my Toastmasters' buddies is a corporate headhunter and wrote, "Great energy and you can tell they are working together so well as a team" and "The song is great." 


Take Your Medicine" by electric violinist/vocalist/prog rocker Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius deals with hypocrisy. The song confronts a liar and watches him run away "You can never win, take your medicine" A live version of this song is available for radio programmers as it appears on the group's upcoming double CD/DVD/Blu Ray "Behind the Curtain: Live At ProgStock."  


 

 

6/5/22

The Slambovians - New Music and On The Road

Rootsy psychedelica “from the cool end of Americana”
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The Slambovian Circus of Dreams are on tour, bringing their rootsy, rockin' psychedelica to the UK and USA this Summer. Shows feature a mix of Slambovian classics and tunes from their newly released album, 'A Very Unusual Head." 

A rootsy rockin' psychedelica, their connection with audiences taps into a greater human-ness with charismatic band leader Joziah Longo center ring presiding... Joined onstage by bandmates Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, mandolin, flute) and the guitar-slinging skills of Sharkey McEwen, the Slambovians create a show that is constantly evolving "with a little help from their friends.” 2022’s line-up includes RJ McCarty (bass, keys, sax), Bob Torsello (bass), and Matthew Abourezk (drums). Elements of Dylan, Bowie, Incredible String Band, Syd Barrett and The Waterboys flavor the musical mix (Waterboys co-founder Anthony Thistlethwaite is on the band’s new album). Dar Williams sings backup on the album. (She covered the Slambovians’ song "Sullivan Lane: on her new album. I’ll Meet You Here. It was originally on the Slambovians' Flapjacks From The Sky.

Add a good dose of Woodstock-era psychedelia framed in solid songwriting, and you have it. Touring in support of their new release, A Very Unusual Head, the band has a full schedule in 2022 touring the US and the UK headlining the Wickham Festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Festival, and more.

 "The cool end of Americana" – Maverick Magazine, UK

“They take the stage by storm!” – NY Times
"9 out of 10 - Love at first spin!" – Americana UK
"They're not just a band. That's like saying the Bible is just a book..." – Fairfield
County Weekly “Longo is an awesome songwriter” – Garth Hudson, The Band
"Great songs and a whole lotta heart" – Meg Griffin, SiriusXM
“Simply one of the finest American bands” – All Music

 

About "A Very Unusual Head":
Recorded over the last four years in five studios and two countries, A Very Unusual Head is a kaleidoscope of songs by New York’s Slambovian Circus of Dreams. Opening their creative tent to notable performer friends: fellow New Yorker Dar Williams, Anthony Thistlethwaite (The Waterboys), Kolson Pickard (producer Tall Heights, Pico Romanesque) the songs and musical escapades of the band make for a sonically beautiful, creative and adventurous album. Inspired by the surrealist painters and Dylan as a 12-year-old growing up in Philadelphia, Longo chronicles a bit of his journey honoring the influences who offered an intellectual/creative escape hatch searching for answers to life’s big questions. A Very Unusual Head pays tribute to the great 'outside the box' minds of science - "Force of Nature (Stephen Hawking's Lament)" and the arts - "Solve It All Dāli."

Lead singer/songwriter Longo also challenges accepted philosophy/theologies that have led humanity to its current state with the Python-esque song "Brilliantly Dumb", featuring an ethereal vocal performance by New York singer/songwriter Dar Williams and contributions of mandolin and sax by Anthony Thistlethwaite (founding member of The Waterboys).

The album's humour waylays any 'doom and gloom' with a confidence that though humanity seems to have strayed a bit from the path, we can find it again if we only "Step Outta Time" and "Look Around"!

A Very Unusual Head was released January of 2022 on the band’s new label, Storm King Records. In advance of the band’s upcoming UK tour in August, an
additional UK/EU release is scheduled for physical distribution on UK label, Talking Elephant Records. 


2022 TOURING BAND:
Joziah Longo: lead vocals, guitar
Sharkey McEwen: guitar, mandolin
Tink Lloyd: accordion, cello, flute, melodica
RJ McCarty: keyboards, sax
Bob Torsello: bass
Matthew Abourezk: drums


The Slambovian Circus of Dreams on tour in the US and the UK 

Friday, June 10 Spire Center for Performing Arts, Plymouth, MA

Thursday, June 16 Pavilion in the Pines - Lizzie Rose Music Presents Tuckerton, NJ

Friday, June 24 The Circus Does Dylan, Towne Crier, Beacon, NY

Saturday, July 2 The Sanctuary, East Haddam, CT

Sunday, July 10 6 On the Square, Oxford, NY

Friday, July 15 Shea Theater Arts Center, Turners Falls, MA

Saturday, July 16 Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, Arundel, ME

Friday, July 29 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Goshen, CT

THE UK:

Sunday, August 7 Wickham Festival, Wickham

Monday, August 8 Fox & Firkin, London

Wednesday, August 10 Trading Boundaries, Nr Fletching

Friday, August 12 Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2022, Cropredy

Sunday, August 14 The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham

Tuesday, August 16 Cubley Hall, Penistone

Wednesday, August 17 The Crescent Community Venue, York

Thursday, August 18 Black Dyke Mills Heritage Venue, Queensbury

Friday, August 19 Manchester Rugby Club, Cheadle Hulme

Saturday, August 20 The Stables, Milton Keynes

Sunday, August 21 Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester

US DATES

Thursday, August 25 West Theater, Duluth, MN

Friday, August 26 The Park Center, Hayward, WI

Saturday, August 27 Porcupine Mountain Music Festival 2022, Ontonagon, MI

September 10 Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival 2022 Norwich, NY




12/16/21

Love & Valentines (plus one fun Birthday song)

I Know So The Kings   Upbeat with influence of 1960s power pop, rock & roll beat with horns and rock and roll guitar, Hammond b3. Male vocals. Tempo like J. Geils "I Do" and Syndicate of Sound “Little Girl” "She wants me, I want you.  I know so!"   


According to the Plan Dan Berggren  mid to up tempo folk music, baritone male, acoustic guitar w/ picking, you can't plan love, for better or for worse.  according to the plan, keep your eyes wide open, lifelong love with ups and downs.  


Beautiful Dream  Jann Klose  Midtempo, orchestral pop, male vocals, violin solo hook: I don't want to wake up this beautiful dream. feeling predestined for true love & how good it feels.  (Contact: Royalty Network) 

Long Lost Ghosts Emily Hurd  Similar to Dolly Parton, literate writer, piano, full band, Traveling song, linen sheets, ghosts, “I have come for you because.”  Her repeating herself about various things in her experiences intensify the stories actions.  For instance—she sings "I gave you a kiss that I hoped would save your life, and it did."  OR “I thought you were all there was… and you were.”  They also move the story along.  

 


FI  The Slambovian Circus of Dreams  male vocal band, horns, Tom Petty meets John Denver meets Oasis! Cosmic love song with tempo like "Sunshine on My Shoulders." If I were any more high.  “FI” is pronounced “If I.” 

 slambovia.bandcamp.com/track/fi

You Are the Best Gunhill Road mid to uptempo, male vocals chamber pop band piano and Nilsson-like tempo of "everybody's talking" a song praising you "you are the best" & "I'm in love" both repeated. 

   Halos Robert Schindler  Instrumental   acoustic piano solo, flowy, midtempo  some gorgeous synths for background,rich, epic.   

Carry Across Jessie Galante  female vocals, Anthemic, upbeat gospel-y, "Honey, you carried a cross... I'll carry you across" soulful song about compassion and strength, any sex can sing 

soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/carry-across  


Just Another Birthday Song Dean Friedman music hall pop, tenor, fun jabs at the birthday boy during isolation, "give thanks that your dad wasn't shooting blanks." "thank your mom for pushing you out."