SCHLOCK, THE MONKEY - cultural claptrap: May 2, 2012

What You'll Find Here: Music, Movies and Me

Since May 1976, I have written in journals. When I have nothing particularly resonant to say about my own inner turmoil, philosophic ramblings, sexual peccadillos or whining on about the state of the world around me...I have always fallen back on reporting the cultural time consumption that takes up in inordinate portion of my daily goings on.

In the 40+ years since my first concerts seeing Children's Symphony presentations on Sundays at the Pasadena Civic or The Hot Jazz Society's monthly Dixieland romps in an old meeting hall on the edge of the L.A. "River" across from Griffith Park, I have been sold heavily on the magic of live music. As Neil Young so aptly put it, "Live music is better bumper stickers should be issued."

Growing up a few orange groves and canyons length away from Hollywood also contributed greatly to my family's addiction to movie going. From the time I was a small there were weekly trips to the drive-in theaters that dotted the landscape, or the local Temple theater for the Saturday matinees. Once in a while we'd drive the 12 miles into Hollywood and see something in one of the magnificent old movie palaces like Grauman's Chinese, the Egyptian, The Pantages or later the Cinerama Dome. My dad loved Westerns and War movies, as if he didn't get enough shoot-'em-up as an L.A. County Sheriff in his day gig, my mom adored musicals and comedies. My brother and I loved them all.

At SDSU, I played in my first gigging band and began booking concerts on campus as part of the well-funded Cultural Arts Board, kindling for my future life in and around music.

So it's not surprising that my first jobs out of college were working in local video rental places (which were all the rage) or managing a couple of Sam Goody record stores in Mall's on the East Coast where we marveled at the new CD format and sold the first home computers and video games (yes Commodore and Pong and Atari).

So these are really just extensions of all of those journal entries talking about the great new movies I was seeing and LPs/CDs I was listening to.

Though iPODS/iPADs, apps, smart phones and downloads now make music and movies accessible in your own pocket, there is still nothing like sitting in front of a stack of speakers with a room full of people swaying to music created before your eyes. Nor is there anything that works quite so well for me to escape the real world and all of it's pressures just outside than two hours in a dark theater, absorbing the stories flickering across that wide screen as they pull you into their world.

But a really good taco runs a close third...

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

LOVE MINUS ZERO & FRIENDS - PRESS RELEASE

LOVE MINUS ZERO & FRIENDS

A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF BOB DYLAN

FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012

WORLD CAFÉ UPSTAIRS LIVE at the QUEEN

Doors open at 7pm. Music at 8pm

Get Tickets HERE!!!

Bob Dylan's self-titled debut album was released on Columbia Records on March 19th, 1962. Join us 50 years later as Delaware's premier Dylan tribute band, LOVE MINUS ZERO, spreads the Zimmerword throughout the greater Delaware Valley. Formed in the spring of 2009, Love Minus Zero has headlined Dylan birthday festivals as well as prestigious venues like the Tin Angel in Philadelphia.

LOVE MINUS ZERO & FRIENDS featuring
Mad-Sweet Pangs / Porch Chops / Chip Porter & Friends / The Sin City Bullets / Leslie Carey / Stackabones / Pete LeRoy from The Snap / Kevin McCabe from Mallory Square / Aaron Poole from Bullbuckers / Becca Calabrese / The Mona Lisas

LOVE MINUS ZERO was formed in 2009 by Delaware musicians Rob Grant and Brad Riesau, but the real genesis for the band came back in he early-90s when Grant was a frequent customer at Rolling Thunder Records, a North Wilmington music store co-owned by Riesau from 1987-1997.

“Rob used to come in and we’d talk for hours about music and frequently Bob Dylan. We’d jammed together a bit over the years and when fellow Delaware musician Nik Everett and I were musing on Facebook over the lack of a Dylan cover band in the area, Rob chimed in that he’d love to be involved.”

After a few truncated stabs at putting something together, Rob and Brad pulled in players they had known for years and in short order began gigging.

“Our second gig was to headline a Dylan Birthday Bash at the prestigious Tin Angel in Philly which we did for two years running,” muses Grant. “From there we were hooked.”

Since Brad has recently moved back to his home state of California after 25 years on the music scene in DE, he was inspired by the recent Rolling Stones tribute, SHINE A LIGHT on the QUEEN and has invited many of the participants on that sold-out show to return for a night of Bob Dylan songs. “I really miss the DE music scene when I am not here and especially all of my long standing friends and their bands. For me instead of just doing a night of Love Minus Zero I thought this would be a great excuse to again share the stage with some of my favorite talented people. I’m just sorry we didn’t have a whole weekend of shows to do, there are so many great musicians in this town.”

On the bill on May 11^th adding their own performances to an evening of LOVE MINUS ZERO sets will be:

MAD-SWEET PANGS – local favorites fresh from their gig at the RamJam Arts & Music Festival!

THE SIN CITY BULLETS – made up of members from two of the most beloved legendary local bands, The Sin City Band and The Bullets, this will be a rare treat.

LESLIE CAREY – The popular Arden-based singer/songwriter will be performing some solo treats for you all.

PORCH CHOPS – The long-time eclectic favorites launch their celebratory 25^th year at the Queen for this show.

CHIP PORTER & FRIENDS – Chip, KURT HOUFF, and TONY CAPELLA from Montana Wildaxe with some special friends

STACKABONES – Local musician Butch Zito’s latest version of his long-time Austin/Long Island/BayArea band takes time off of the festival circuit to add their country/jam sounds.

THE MONA LISAS – The luminous folk/rock duo from Newark

PETE LEROY from The Snap

AARON POOLE from Bullbuckers

BECCA CALABRESE – solo artist and member of The Calabrese Sisters

KEVIN McCABE from Mallory Square

LOVE MINUS ZERO is

BRAD RIESAU on vocals, guitar and harmonica and his fellow band mate for the past 14 years in the Porch Chops, MR. STEVIE HOBSON on vocals and lead guitar. Bassist/vocalist ROB GRANT and LMZ drummer VINSON HENDRIX first played together in The Cameltones which has a big following in the Centreville/Hockessin/Chadds Ford party circuit and which hosts the annual Jam On The Brandywine and DeadFest every summer at the Brandywine Valley Conservancy near Unionville. JOHN DIGIOVANNI also drums with LMZ. John’s been a fixture on the DE music scene for years and currently leads the hip jazz group Kombu Combo. LMZ keyboardist and vocalist MARILEE “CANDY” CALABRESE will unfortunately not be able to make the gig due to recent back surgery but will be spotted by the talented keys and vocals of JORDAN LEITNER from the Mad-Sweet Pangs. Original LMZ singer GUEN FINLEY will provide the gorgeous harmonies with her sister BECCA CALABRESE both of the Chester County group The Calabrese Sisters.

“Bob Dylan’s music has been extremely important to all of the performers lined up for this show. We’ll be playing music from throughout his career and there will be some wonderful mingling of bands which you won’t want to miss. Tell your friends about this great night of music and about the World Café Live at the Queen.”