FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
1. SOUND CHECK
2. FALL UNDER THEIR SPELL, A Q&A WITH MAX CREEK
3. 30 ODD FOOT OF GRUNTS, HEY ISN'T THAT ... ?
4. A TRIBUTE TO DONNIE BERTELSON
5. CALENDAR OF EVENTS
I was in Staples the other day, and overheard two women yelling across the store at each other, trying to decide which boy band their kids wanted on their school folders. On magazine stands, television programs and top 40 radio, and it would seem that music has not only lost its soul, but its driver's license. Over and over there are lamentations about the sorry state of music these days, and when-oh-when will good music be back. Those that think good music is a thing of the past are simply not looking in the right place. Later that same evening, I attended a show at The Stone Pony and heard Pete Yorn, whose album Music For the Morning After (Columbia) is climbing the CMJ Top 75 Album Chart. Seeing a red hot crowd pack the house and sing along with Pete, and stick around for a fantastic string-breaking set by Joe Grushecky (I lost count at four) that lasted 'till after 1 am, helped me remember that really great music is out there, but it is not always made for the masses. It's meant to be sought out, to be discovered and to be shared among those fortunate enough to understand and appreciate it. In recent issues of the newsletter, we've asked performers to reflect on the local music scene, and the industry in general. Their responses have been surprisingly positive, and clearly there are many fans out there that are seeking out, and finding, music that still moves them and still makes them want to believe in something. Make it a point, at least once a month, to buy a CD or attend a show (at The Stone Pony, of course!), of an artist you've never heard before. You'll be pleasantly surprised how many talented performers are out there and making meaningful music that's waiting to be discovered.
The newsletter congratulates the winners of the 2001 Asbury Music Awards, which were presented at The Stone Pony on August 8, 2001. For more details about this event, and a list of this year's winners, read the article on the Pony's web site at: http://www.stoneponyonline.com/awards2001.html
The Stone Pony Cafe: Good food and drink from 11:30 am daily!
Max Creek has been called "one of the most electrifying live acts on the Eastern seaboard today". This five-man band has toured extensively since 1971, taking their audiences on nightly adventures where the group can showcase their musical diversity, ranging from rock and jazz, to folk and bluegrass. The newsletter asked Max Creek's guitarist, singer and primary songwriter, Scott Murawski, about the band's improvisational style and what fans can expect when Max Creek headlines for Nomadic Design and Buzzed Universe at The Stone Pony on Friday, August 24:
The Stone Pony: You've said that your performances
differ every show, depending on the bond that develops between the
performers and the audience. How does the band plan ahead for a show?
How well-defined the the set list and how does the band decide where to
deviate from the planned set during a show?
Scott Murawski: We try not to write a set list. At best, we may talk
about what songs each of us would like to play, but we call the set list on
the spot. This sets up our jams so that there's no destination, which
allows for total freedom. We could end up anywhere! Personally,
I try to call songs that fit the energy of that particular moment.
The Stone Pony: How does playing an indoor venue differ from an outdoor
show? Does the band have to prepare differently for the different type
of venue? Are there certain songs that work better in one setting than
in another?
SM: Every venue has different energy to it. I'd say that the outdoor
shows burn somewhat brighter because the energy has infinite room to dissipate,
but indoor shows kind of build up the reflected energy as they go, and
explode when the level gets critical. I can't say that one song would
work better than another indoors, or outdoors, but some songs take on new
life outdoors.
The Stone Pony: Your last album, "Spring Water" was released in
1998. Are there any plans for a new Max Creek album? If so, can
you provide any information about what fans can expect and when that CD
might be released?
SM: There is a Maxology project currently underway which is a sampling of
sounds from all 30 years of the bands existence. We expect this to be
released later this year.
The Stone Pony: You've cited the Grateful Dead and Phish as friends and
influences on your music. The so-called "jam bands" have had
a long tradition of allowing fans to tape shows and encouraging the
distribution of those recordings among fans to help spread word about the
band. What is Max Creek's view on the recording of their shows?
How does the band feel about the digital distribution of their music on the
Internet, authorized or otherwise?
SM: Music is there to be shared by everyone, so I say share as much music as
you can, any way you can. On the other hand, there is something
magical about those rare shows that don't get taped. Taping shows is
like taking a picture of cut flowers. While the picture captures the
visual representation of the flowers, it diminishes the real essence of the
flowers that your memory could retain much better. But I'm not
bitching. Tape trading has helped the band immensely!
The Stone Pony: What sort of music is the band listening to these days?
Are there new bands today that the band sees as successors to their sound,
or feel they have influenced?
SM: I'm listening to everything I can, old and new. I'm trying to
catch up on all the old music I've missed, as well as trying to stay
current. I think that there hasn't been anything really new in a long
time. I suspect that there is a new sound waiting to emerge out there,
something that will take the world by storm again. It hasn't happened
in a long time, so I think we're due.
The Stone Pony: What can fans expect when Max Creek plays at The Stone
Pony on Friday, August 24th? Does the band have any impressions or
stories about the club that they'd like to share?
SM: Is Bruce going to show up? Should we learn some of his stuff?
Fans can read more about Max Creek, purchase merchandise and learn where to download music samples, at their official web site, www.maxcreek.com.
For news and information about Asbury Park, New Jersey, visit asburypark.net
Australia's 30 Odd Foot of Grunts (TOFOG) may be best-known for two things. First, is TOFOG's lead singer, guitarist and primary songwriter - two-time Academy Award-nominated actor, Russell Crowe. Second, their wonderfully catchy-yet-odd name (which comes from some post-production instructions that Crowe read in a movie script ... directing the insertion of grunting sounds in a section of film, which is measured in feet). But Crowe, who often refers to acting as his "day job", fronts a talented group of "Aussie folk" musicians, including guitarist Dave Cochran, drummer Dave Kelly, bassist Garth Adam, guitarist Dave Wilkins and trumpet player Stewart Kirwan. TOFOG has followed the rich Australian pub rock tradition, playing beer barns in their home country, pubs that can often hold a couple of thousand people. Those gigs should prepare the band well for their headlining appearance at The Stone Pony on Thursday, August 30th. TOFOG is currently supporting their latest album release, Bastard Life Or Clarity (Grunt), ten tracks including "Things Have Got to Change". American fans have started to learn about and appreciate the band's music, even if they are introduced to it because of curiosity over Crowe's name on the marquee. But, despite their increasing popularity, the band has maintained a grass-roots attitude towards their music, operating almost exclusively through their excellent official web site, www.gruntland.com, to keep in touch with fans and distribute their music. Gruntland.com (which won an award as the Most Popular Australian Artist Site of 2001) offers a number of interesting articles and interviews with Crowe and the band, as well as song samples for downloading, a shop for purchasing their album and other merchandise and lots of other cool features for fans. Make a point to attend this show ... then go home and tell your friends that you heard another great band play at the Pony, and that you stood thirty-odd feet away from Russell Crowe.
Rent the Pony for your event! Call (732) 502-0600 and press option 9.
The newsletter joins the music community in mourning the recent unexpected loss of Donnie Bertelson. Donnie grew up with a love of R&B, gospel and doo wop music, and brought his incredible talent and charisma to fans throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, as lead singer of The Shots. The Shots were a classic New Jersey band, playing and covering great R&B music that would have been considered obscure to most of their audience, centered around clubs in Asbury Park (including The Stone Pony), Long Branch and Freehold. It consisted of Bertelson, guitarist Billy Hector, bass player Steve Rava, Dave Nunez on keyboards, drummer Michael McCabe, Tony Pallagrosi on trumpet, Carlo Novi on tenor sax and Mel Taylor on sax.
The newsletter asked Donnie's bandmate in The Shots, Tony Pallagrosi to share some thoughts on the singer and dynamic stage performer who was part James Brown, part Peter Wolf and part gospel singer:
I met Donnie in 1977. I was putting together The Shots, and we were looking for a lead singer. He did an audition in his basement and I knew immediately that he was the best singer that we could have found. He was the most soulful white cat I ever saw ... a jive talkin' dude. He could do a James Brown full split while twirling his microphone. He had style and star quality. I thought he was great, I really did. Donnie was one of the best white R&B singers that I ever played with ... and one of the best I ever heard.
I only saw Donnie a handful of times after I left The Shots. He always seemed to be looking for something. At times he seemed happy, talking about finding the Lord and gospel music. Other times, he still seemed sad. He was a wild man in all ways, shapes and forms ... on and off the stage. There was some part of his lifestyle that just got in the way of his talent. There is something that we can learn from his life ... with the abundance of God-given talent that he possessed, there was something that kept him from realizing his dream. But he loved music, he always did.
Music was his entire essence and being.
The Shots were something special. The people that
were a part of that will always have a special spot in their hearts for each
other.
The newsletter offers its sincere appreciation to Tony
Pallagrosi for his time and contribution to this piece.
Bounce Thursdays! The shore's coolest dance party, hosted by DJ Matrix. Doors at 9, 18 & up for everyone with two forms of ID, ladies free until 11, 21 to drink. VIPs and guests lists by PURE Promo.
