Showing posts with label The Strawbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Strawbs. Show all posts

9/8/11

CHAMBER POP SUMMIT: JIM MCCARTY, JANN KLOSE AND JOHN HAWKEN PERFORM AT HUGH'S ROOM, OCT. 5


Jim McCarty headlining at Hugh's Room w/ bassist George Koller and guitarist Jean-Michel Kajdan.
photo by Jon Richard, © 2011

Panoramic of Jann Klose performing Yardbirds songs at Hugh's Room, Toronto, the 2nd date of the Canadian tour 2011. L TO R: John Hawken, Ron Korb, Jim McCarty, Jann Klose, Larry Crowe, George Koller, Jean-Michel Kajdan. (October 5th, 2011).
(C) 2011 Jade Yeh


John Hawken, Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, and Jann Klose at BB King Blues Club, New York, NY, Sept. 7

Jim McCarty, Jann Klose, and John Hawken will be performing at Hugh's Room,2261 Dundas Street, W., in Toronto, on October 5 at 8:30 PM. Admission is $20 in advance and $22.50 at the door. The web site is http://www.hughsroom.com, and the phone number is 416-531-6604.

Jim McCarty and Jann Klose, and their bands create unique styles of "chamber pop." This style uses interesting musical instruments, classical and other genre influences (blues, jazz, multi-cultural, folk, theatre) to create beautiful melodies with international overtones. Their works, which have unintended parallels, have been critically acclaimed.

The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty's history is phenomenal, having been partially responsible for discovering Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and reuniting with Page in a 1980s group called Box of Frogs. He's been making music every decade, with emphasis on creation. He and the other original Yardbirds members have been inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Jim founded Renaissance with Yardbirds' mate, the late Keith Relf in the late 1960s. This band was a classical rock band that was fronted for the first album by Keith's sister Jane. After Jane left, Jim and Keith auditioned Annie Haslam, who fronted the line-up of Renaissance that became popular in the States.

Jim McCarty's current album SITTING ON THE TOP OF TIME features Toronto flautist Ron Korb, pianist Donald Quan, guitarist Ray Hickey and bassist George Koller. Much of it was recorded in Quan's studio, Q Music, “There seemed to be a good group of session players available, very much like in London in the ‘60s and thanks to Ron, I soon had a good team together: Ron, Donald, Ray, and George.”

Joining Jim’s band for this show is John Hawken. John was in Renaissance and Illusion with Jim (2001), and most recently in the Strawbs. He has also played with The Nashville Teens, Spooky Tooth, Vinegar Joe (with Robert Palmer), Third World War, and Renaissance Illusion.

Renaissance's Annie Haslam was one of the music business people who discovered Jann Klose, and collaborated with him and John Tout (from Annie's Renaissance lineup) in the fall of 2008. Jann then opened for Renaissance's 40th Anniversary comeback tour, Fall 2009. He has opened for the Strawbs a few times, and has shared the stage and/or opened for Pete Seeger, the late Les Paul, Rusted Root, Shawn Phillips, Marty Stuart, Roger McGuinn, Rosanne Cash, Marshall Crenshaw, Vonda Shepard, Elliott Murphy.

Genya Ravan, who recently featured Jann's "Waiting For the Wave" on her Sirius XM show "Goldie's Garage" on Little Steven's Underground Garage channel says, "Gee, if I had a label I would sign Jann immediately, this is a hit song.  I am going to play it, even though its not garage, too damn beautiful to pass on." Jann music is on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT, his music's been featured on MTV's CRIBS and Paul Sorvino's movie, DEAD BROKE (Warner Bros.) His most recent recordings are REVERIE (2008) and SACRIFICE EP (2010). and he's releasing a new album in 2012.

Jann Klose & Jim McCarty, photo by Steven Triolo

8/21/11

Strawbs to Tour North America This Fall



Getting Ready to Hit the Road with Pride, Prejudice and THE ZOMBIES!

“They have broken new ground by harnessing the power of their electric incarnation in an acoustic setting.”
- The Chicago Tribune

East Coast, West Coast and all across Canada, the Strawbs plan to spend a serious amount of the Fall of 2011 in the USA and Canada. Singer guitarist David Cousins, guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk just won't necessarily be doing the same shows. On the one hand, there will be nights like their September 14th tour debut at the Town Crier in Pawling, where the Acoustic Strawbs will hold court all by themselves. And then there will be fall evenings when the Strawbs are pursued by The Zombies. Either way, you're in for a night of superb British rock.

Coming out of the early days of the British folk movement, David Cousins, Tony Hooper formed The Strawberry Hill Boys (it was shortened to the Strawbs) to play bluegrass. For a while, they counted Sandy Denny as a member (before she went on to Fairport Convention). As the group got deeper into a more “progressive” sound, they also featured Rick Wakeman, before he went on to Yes.

As their music became more complex, and compared more to the Moody Blues, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd than to Fairport Convention and Steeleye Spann, they recorded extensively for A&M, earning UK hits with “Lay Down” and “Part of the Union,” and getting album rock raves on this side of the pond for “Down By The Sea.” This year the group tours in support of a new album, ACOUSTIC GOLD that features favorites, including "Grace Darling,' "A Glimpse of Heaven," and "Ghosts" in an acoustic setting.

On this tour, they will play acoustic (but definitely NOT unplugged), sifting through 40 years worth of music. As Record Collector described their show, “Carefully selecting their repertoire from less obvious sources they invest the rarely performed material with considerable energy and thoughtful arrangements.”

The Strawbs will be touring with The Zombies on a leg of their 50th anniversary tour, for both East Coast, West Coast, and Canadian dates. The schedule is as follows:

Sept 14 The Town Crier Pauling NY Acoustic Strawbs only
Sept 15 MusikFest Café w/The Zombies Bethlehem PA
Sept 16 Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center w/The Zombies Silver Springs MD
Sept 17 Keswick Theater w/The Zombies Glenside PA
Sept 18 Tarrytown Music Hall w/The Zombies Tarrytown NY
Sept 19 Rams Head On Stage w/The Zombies Annapolis MD
Sept 21 Showcase Live w/The Zombies Foxboro MA
Sept 22 Tupelo Music Hall w/The Zombies Londonderry NH
Sept 23 Infinity Hall w/The Zombies Norfolk, CT
Sept 24 Wolf Den @ Mohegan Sun Casino w/The Zombies Uncasville CT
Sept 25 Strand Theater w/The Zombies Lakewood NJ Acoustic Strawbs Only
Sept.26 City Winery w/The Zombies New York NY
Sept.27 City Winery w/The Zombies New York NY
Sept 28 State Theater w/The Zombies State College PA
Sept 30 Celebrity Theater Phoenix AZ
Oct 1 Canyon Club Agoura Hills CA
Oct 2 The Coach House San Juan Capistrano CA
Oct 3 Acoustic Music San Diego CA Acoustic Strawbs Only
Oct 5 McPhillips Station Casino w/The Zombies Winnipeg MB
Oct 7 Casino Regina w/The Zombies Regina SK
Oct 9 Century Casino w/The Zombies Edmonton AB
Oct 12 Convention Center w/The Zombies Kamloops BC
Oct 13 River Rock Casino w/The Zombies Richmond, BC

http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/125319430894924/

12/6/10

Notes From Friends!

CLASSIC ROCK put Bruce Kulick's album, BK3 as one of their top 50 albums of 2010.
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/classic-rocks-top-50-albums-of-2010-so-far-part-one/

I would like to congratulate journalist Will Romano on his progressive rock book, MOUNTAINS COME OUT OF THE SKY; THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF PROG ROCK. He's included some of my artists (Ian Anderson, Martin Barre from Jethro Tull, David Cousins, John Hawken, Oliver Wakeman from the Strawbs. Former clients Tim Bogart from Vanilla Fudge and Dee Palmer, who you remember as David Palmer from Jethro Tull, are also in the book) in it. Publicity is being handled by Aaron Lefkove, marketing and publicity, at alefkove@halleonard.com .

9/6/10

ACOUSTIC STRAWBS EXPERIENCE ANOTHER EQUINOX IN THE STATES



David Cousins, Dave Lambert, and Chas Cronk Offer Intimate Versions of Strawbs Classics


As summer transitions into fall, the Acoustic Strawbs will observe the Autumnal Equinox, not at Stonehenge, but among the more modern edifices of New York City.  Moving into their fifth decade of musical innovation, they will spend dates around the Equinox in the Midwest, East Coast and then electric Strawbs shows in Canada, continuing the tour that has charmed audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
 
David Cousins who was hailed, “the most talented Dylan influenced songwriter to come out of England,” by the influential All Music Guide, still leads the group. Strawbs often are mentioned in the same breath as progressive rockers like Yes, The Moody Blues, and Renaissance.  In fact, Rick Wakeman left Strawbs to join Yes, and Wakeman's son Oliver, who has replaced his father in Yes, played with the most recent electric version of Strawbs!

Beyond progressive rock, Strawbs brought another key component to their complex and intricate songs. Initially they fell in with the British Folk movement of the mid-'60s, starting life as the Strawberry Hill Boys and playing bluegrass.  Even so, frontman Cousins maintains, “I've never sung a folk song in my life!”

Moving more into the mainstream, the Strawbs joined forces with Sandy Denny. They recorded their first album with her for a Danish label. While she left them soon afterwards to join the seminal Fairport Convention, this record brought them to the attention of A&M records, which promptly signed them.  The Strawbs were the first English band on the A&M roster.

On the strength of albums like Grave New World, Bursting at the Seams, Hero and Heroine, and Ghosts, and songs like “Benedictus,” “Lay Down,” and “A Glimpse of Heaven,” Strawbs has retained a devoted following, a fan base that continues to grow.  This acoustic tour features singer/guitarist Cousins, 37-year-long Strawb guitarist Dave Lambert and 36-year-long member bassist Chas Cronk. The group will also play five nights in Canada as the full electric Strawbs line-up.

On the American dates, fans can also buy recent CDs including, All Our Own Work by Sandy Denny and the Strawbs (sorry, no press copies), the Acoustic Strawbs Live at Hampton Court Palace and Dancing to the Devil's Beat, as well as Cousins' book Secrets, Stories & Songs (sorry, no press copies available). 
 
ACOUSTIC STRAWBS TOUR DATES
Thursday 9 September  The Ark Ann Arbor MI
Friday 10 September   Abbey Chicago IL
Saturday 11 September  Beachland Ballroom Cleveland OH opener: Jann Klose
Sunday 12 September   Thunderbird Cafe Pittsburg, PA
Tuesday 14 September  The Turning Point Cafe Piermont NY
Wednesday 15 September   Music on Main Street Woodbridge NJ
Thursday 16 September   Sellersville Theatre Sellersville PA
Friday 17 September Strand Theatre Lakewood NJ opener: Patrick Fitzsimmons
Saturday 18 September   Towne Crier Pawling NJ
Sunday 19 September  University Café Stony Brook NY

Tuesday 21 September   BB King's New York NY opener: Aztec Two-Step
Wednesday 22 September   Showcase Live Foxborough MA
Thursday 23 September  8th Step at Proctors  Schenectady, NY
Friday 24 September   Redhouse Syracuse NY
Saturday 25 September  Lovin' Cup Rochester NY 

ELECTRIC STRAWBS DATES
Saturday 2 October   The Place  Hamilton
Tuesday 5 October   Hugh's Room Toronto
Wednesday 6 October   Hugh's Room Toronto
Thursday 7 October  Outremont Theatre Montreal
Friday  8 October  Barrymore’s  Ottawa
  
          

http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk

http://www.witchwoodrecords.co.uk

5/31/09

Acoustic Strawbs-back in the USA, June 21


Acoustic Strawbs: Chas Cronk, Dave Cousins, David Lambert

The Strawbs are touring as an acoustic trio this summer in the United States. Dave Cousins, the group's leader, is bringing his bandmates guitarist Dave Lambert and bassist Chas Cronk for 13 shows (eight with Van Der Graaf Generator, six on its own).

Formed first in 1965 at the Strawberry Hill Boys, the group soon included Sandy Denny who recorded an album's worth of pop-flavored songs written by Cousins, and the first recording of Denny's mesmerizing "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." Before a label could be found, Sandy decided her future lay elsewhere, and the album ALL OUR OWN WORK stayed in the can until PART OF THE UNION charted in 1973.

The Strawbs became the first UK act signed to Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1969, and then added Rick Wakeman (who went on to join Yes), and Richard Hudson and John Ford on drums and bass respectively.

The 1972 ground-breaking album, GRAVE NEW WORLD brought Dave Lambert, and a harder rock style. The song "Lay Down" became a major hit for the group, and recently appeared on the BBC's TV show, "Life On Mars."

Hudson and Ford left, and former Nashville Teens' keyboardist John Hawken joined, with Stealers Wheel's Rod Coombes, and bassist Cronk. The classic album HERO AND HEROINE and GHOSTS were released. This five-piece lineup has toured the States over the past few years, tho' Hawken retired from touring in 2008.

This summer (2009) the Strawbs will be performing as a three piece, including songs from the Acoustic Strawbs' 2001 album, BAROQUE AND ROLL.

JUNE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS US GIGS

Sunday 21 June - Nokia Theatre, New York NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday, 22 June, Stephen Talkhouse, Amagansett NY
Tuesday, 23 June, Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 24 June - State Theatre, Falls Church VA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Thursday 25 June - Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland OH w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Friday 26 June - The Abbey, Chicago IL w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Saturday 27 June - Shank Hall, Milwaukee WI w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Monday 29 June - The Tralf, Buffalo NY w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Tuesday 30 June - Rex Theatre, Pittsburgh PA w/ Van Der Graaf Generator
Wednesday 1 July - Ramshead, Annapolis MA
Thursday, 2 July, Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville PA (opening: Jann Klose)
Friday, 3 July, Strand Theatre, Lakewood NJ
Saturday, 4 July, Towne Crier, Pawling NY
Sunday, 5 July, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY

www.strawbsweb.co.uk
www.myspace.com/strawbsmusic
www.twitter.com/strawbsweb