Joe Viglione’s reviews and interviews in the Malden Observer https://maldenentertainmenthotline.blogspot.com/

Rest in Peace Preacher Jack Coughlin

Date of birth: February 12, 1942

Full name: John Lincoln Coughlin

My Malden Observer  interview/ article on Preacher Jack

https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x392062497/-Just-a-closer-walk-with-Preacher-Jack
By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.com
Posted Sep 5, 2008 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 5, 2008 at 5:16 AM

For those who love the unique piano sound heard on the soundtrack to the Tom Cruise/Sydney Pollack movie “The Firm,” the hard-working piano man from Malden offers that style of ivory tickling and so much more.

“Preacher Jack” (a.k.a. Jack Coughlin), commands the stage like an evangelist explaining his “religion” of rock and blues with a raw, distinctive voice that cuts through better than Jimmy Swaggart or Jerry Falwell could ever hope to — probably because when The Preacher dives in to “Just A Closer Walk With Thee,” resplendent in Gospel overtones and backing vocalists, you believe him — and understand he believes in what he’S singing and playing.

The Malden Observer caught a performance by Jack on May 8, 2008 at Club Bohemia, the downstairs of the Cantab Lounge in Central Square, Cambridge.

It’s a dark den of sin in need of redemption that Preacher Jack lovingly provides as he bangs away on his traveling keyboard. Offstage, he’s a very personable — and quite reserved — individual, pleasant and engaging.

Here’s a bit of background that the Boston-area legend provided us.

Observer: How long have you lived in Malden?

Preacher Jack: I was born in Malden Feb. 12, 1942 and lived there until the late 1970s. I moved to Salem, Mass., and have resided at the Lafayette Hotel on Washington Street ever since

Observer: Did you first start playing music in Malden in school?

Preacher Jack: Yes. I was influenced at an early age by my mother, who was a runner up on the Major Bowes Radio Show in 1939, and my father, who was an amateur vocalist with a sort of baritone type range. My brother is also a singer with great success.

Malden Observer: What were your first bands?

Preacher Jack: Well, my first band could be considered Malden’s first garage band — we were called “The Jupitors” (sometimes called Jack and the Jupitors) in 1956 with boyhood pals Irving Fineberg on Guitar (self taught, I may add) and Charlie Peavy (later to work at his family’s business “Peavy’s Speed Shop” on Main Street) on drums.

Malden Observer: What were your first live gigs?

Preacher Jack: We played gymnasiums, the YMCA, churches, private parties, lots of clubs that are long gone from the North Shore, and later on worked with Arnie Woo Woo Ginsberg at his famous “Sock Hops” in Saugus on Route 1.

Malden Observer: How did the Rounder album come about?

Preacher Jack: George Thorogood spotted me at the Shipwreck Lounge on Revere Beach, took a liking to me, and brought me to the attention of Ken Irwin at Rounder. We recorded two albums for Rounder with the Delaware Destroyers and Sleepy LaBeef as my backup band(s).

Malden Observer: What was “the demo that got the deal” with Rounder Records?

Preacher Jack: Well, George liked the Luke The Drifter (Hanks Williams alter ego) pieces I was doing and Ken was also a huge Hank fan so I think it was the C & W part of my rep that won the folks at Rounder over.

Malden Observer: Let’s talk about your new disc, “Tales From Life’s Other Side.” What about the double entendre title?

Preacher Jack: It is actually “Pictures From Life’s Other Side,” a play on the Hank Williams song “A Pix From Lifes other side.” Peter (Levine), my manager, and Lady Eleanor (Ramsey) came up with the title. We sat around, listened to the diverse selections on the disc and thought a lot of these songs are snapshots of people’s lives, not necessarily my life, combined with my love of Hank we thought it would be a nice companion title for these tales.

Malden Observer: When did you start developing this album?

Preacher Jack: It is a combination of two sessions, one in 1982 with Dick Berwun at his home studio in Lexington and another done in 1996 at Sound Technique in Boston, which was financed by Gary Cherone of Extreme. When Bill Hunt from Cow Island Music approached us about signing me we had the material just sitting around, so it all came about quickly last year. We released on Feb. 12 of this year and it has been a wonderful relationship with Bill at Cow Island.

The MySpace http://myspace.com/thepreacherjack is full of information on Preacher Jack, including a 10-minute YouTube video posted on the front page.

Jack’s in great voice and the deep piano sounds resonate through the computer as he dips into more gospel: “Preacher Jack is at your service.”

Over a dozen gigs are booked through Oct. 25, including key ones at The Beehive (beehiveboston.com) located at 541 Tremont St. in Boston (617-423-0069) Sept. 10 at 8 p.m., and The Pawtucket Film Festival, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, R.I., on Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. (www.mirrorimage.com/mi/film.html).

Check out http://www.myspace.com/thepreacherjack for more dates or go on to You Tube and put in the name “Preacher Jack” to watch the videos that are getting thousands of hits, taped live at Dodge Street, Sandy’s Jazz & Blues and other venues.

Photo: Joe Viglione with Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky See my huge story on Norman – The Spirit Continues https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x776494384/The-Spirit-continues-The-Observer-revisits-an-interview-with-Norman-Greenbaum

The Spirit Continues: Norman Greenbaum talks to Joe Viglione https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x776494384/The-Spirit-continues-The-Observer-revisits-an-interview-with-Norman-Greenbaum a THREE PART STORY

The ‘Spirit’ continues: The Observer revisits an interview with …malden.wickedlocal.com › The-Spirit-continues-The-Observer-revisits-a…Dec 19, 2008 – As stated earlier in the saga of Norman Greenbaum, Malden native and singer/songwriter … By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.com …Missing: cache ‎| Must include: cache
Spirit of Malden, ‘spirit in the sky’:Former Malden resident …malden.wickedlocal.com › Spirit-of-Malden-spirit-in-the-sky-Former-…

Dec 4, 2008 – By Joe Viglione / Correspondent … Norman Greenbaum has done the same with spiritinthesky.com, where you can find CDs and actually reach …Missing

ADAM EZRA GROUP Malden Resident Josh Gordon Interview By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Sep 18, 2009 at 12:01 AMUpdated Sep 18, 2009 at 6:16 PM    https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20090918/NEWS/309189316

Driving up Route 95 to the ocean on Saturday night, Labor Day weekend 2009, and off the exit to the road to Salisbury Beach, it was hard not to notice the big yellow neon sign that read, “Adam Ezra Group,” followed by another glowing post with the group’s name in lights as you headed onto Broadway and the beach area.

Driving up Route 95 to the ocean on Saturday night, Labor Day weekend 2009, and off the exit to the road to Salisbury Beach, it was hard not to notice the big yellow neon sign that read, “Adam Ezra Group,” followed by another glowing post with the group’s name in lights as you headed onto Broadway and the beach area.

And rock the beach this group did with frontman Adam Ezra on guitar and vocals, Malden’s own Josh Gold on keyboards, Robin Vincent Soper on bass and the mysterious “Turtle” on percussion.

Interested? Adam Ezra Group will be at the Mercury Lounge in New York on the Friday, Sept. 25 before they come back this way for the Calling Planet Earth Festival in Rhode Island on Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27. For more details visit myspace.com/adamezra.

There was quite a crowd as the band played many titles from their myspace.com/adamezra page, and when a tune like “Basement Song” has 27,784 spins you know there’s something special happening with this hard-working touring ensemble.

Live on the ocean’s edge — quite literally as the fellows were on a stage with canopy that was directly on the main entrance to the water — Ezra’s appearance coincided with the reinvention of Salisbury Beach, a conscious effort by the town and its business community to bring to the area year-round entertainment. And why not? The town’s official Web site notes that the area, located “about 45 miles north of Boston on what is commonly known as the North Shore, is home to 7,800 year-round residents, many of whom work in local shops and businesses.”

So as Adam Ezra performed tunes like “Western Man” (with 32,627 plays on the MySpace as of this writing), I looked around and took “inventory” (to quote a line from the song) of Joe’s Playland and the exquisite club, The Upper Deck, which overlooks Broadway, the beach and the live entertainment staging area. If you were on the second floor at The Upper Deck you’d have a superb view of Adam Ezra Group…many a folk artist having performed on the deck itself during summer days at the beach.

The night was perfect for an outdoor rock concert, the percussive sounds and driving keyboards of the musicians like a contemporary Doobie Brothers meets Steely Dan, only with a bit more of an uptempo folksy punch. The group might not appreciate that summation, Dan Fogelberg-gone-hip in the new millennium with talented side mates helping bring the message across, but it is an honest assessment and is meant to be high praise for this hard working and more than competent crew.

The Adam Ezra group is at its best when it is experimental and though “Home Again Soon” borrows much from The Beatles’ keyboards on “I Am The Walrus” and even more from the melody of Christine McVie’s lost classic “Wish You Were Here” (from Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage disc), it veers off in the right places and has that superior pop elegance that this ensemble is so capable of. With over 175,000 spins of eight songs on the MySpace it is obvious they have the potential to reach a wide audience beyond the underground and smack dab onto the mainstream.

So the Observer thought we’d catch up with the local boy making good, keyboardist Josh Gold, with the pertinent questions to fill in the gaps.

Malden Observer: When did you move to Malden?

Josh Gold: I moved to Malden about five years ago, just before the Red Sox won the World Series. You might say that my fiancé and I were actually indirectly responsible for the Sox winning that year. On her “lucky birthday” before that season started we decided we’d end the curse and created a ritual that involved us walking around the outside of the park nine times (nine players, Ted Williams #9). There was also wine involved, and bagels, anyhow, it worked.

MO: When did you join Adam Ezra Group?

JG: I started playing with Adam not long after that. We’re long lost cousins and hadn’t connected much since we were three or four or so. Turtle (the percussionist), who was already playing with Adam at the time, wanted to add keys to the group, (Adam didn’t want to), and he found my info randomly online. He passed it along to Adam who said, “I have a cousin named Josh Gold, wonder if it’s the same guy.” Anyhow, Adam sent me this long, detailed (and meandering, much like this response) e-mail about his music, and many trials and tribulations later, here we are.

MO: What groups were you in before joining Adam?

JG: Before I played with Adam, I was with the band Wheat. That band was signed on the Aware / Columbia label and we did tours with Liz Phair, Okgo, and The Counting Crows. We were supposed to play Lollapalooza the year it got canceled. I was in the airport heading home from the last date of a tour when I first talked to Adam about playing with him.

Before Wheat, I was in a band called Soulwork, a pop soul, groove band. I also played in a trance fusion group called Nikulydin, and I used to live in New Orleans where I played in a group called Honeypot with “Mean” Willie Green from the Neville Brothers and Kofi Baker (Cream drummer Ginger Bakers son). I’ve been lucky; every one of these groups was made up of amazing musicians. That’s how I’ve learned to play, from playing with them.

MO: Does the group play Honey Fitz, Number 9 Ale House and other Malden venues? The Library (they have concerts upstairs), or the access channel, MATV?

JG: So far the only Malden venue we’ve played in has been my basement. When we’re around Boston, we play at venues like the Paradise, the Middle East, and the Roxy. Our next Boston show will be an all ages event at the Paradise on Saturday, Jan. 16. Till then, we’re touring around the country, trying to build this thing up one show at a time. I’d love to play an event in Malden someday. We’ll have to make that happen; and we’d love to do something with MATV too.

MO: How did you personally like the Salisbury Beach event and the fireworks after the show?

JG: Salisbury was fun. A bit of a departure from our normal event(s), right on the beach, outdoors. Not the same “sweaty club” vibe that we’re used to, but I liked it. We did have a beautiful night for it.

Chasing Amy: A talk with Malden pop star Amy Famiglietti

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Nov 17, 2008 at 12:01 AMUpdated Nov 17, 2008 at 5:17 PM

https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20081117/News/311179398

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Nov 17, 2008 at 12:01 AMUpdated Nov 17, 2008 at 5:17 PM   

The eloquent “Broken,” from the debut album of the same name, perhaps best displays local pop singer Amy Famiglietti’s dynamic voice. The Observer asked Famiglietti about her life in Malden and where she’s taking her music — and where it is taking her.

Amy Famiglietti’s MySpace opened on April 14, 2005, and the driving “Slipped Away” — a bit of The Cars meets The Go Go’s — has already received 5,133 plays. There’s also a lovely ballad, “Hear Me,” closing in on 1,000 spins.

But it’s the eloquent “Broken,” from the debut album of the same name, that perhaps best displays Famiglietti’s dynamic voice, alongside charging heavy rock with traces of Janice Robinson’s excellent soul stirrings swirling through the mix. With 15,205 spins, it speaks to the rising pop star’s growing audience.

The Observer asked Famiglietti about her life in Malden and where she’s taking her music — and where it is taking her.*** MO: Amy, when and where were you born?

AF: I was born on June 30, 1986 right here in Malden and I’ve lived here ever since!MO: When did you first start singing?

AF: I’ve been singing, dancing, and performing since I could walk and talk! I was always putting on shows in my kitchen with my karaoke microphone and toy guitar. I started taking voice lessons and recording when I was in eighth grade, and that’s when I really decided to take my passion and try to make it a career.MO: Who were some of your early influences?

AF: I loved the Spice Girls and Britney Spears. When both musical acts came out I think they really showed that young women could create great music and really make a mark on the entertainment industry. I also love Kelly Clarkson and think her voice and music is amazing!

ON THE WEB:
Hear Amy at MySpace
See Amy on YouTubeMO: Who do you appreciate these days?

AF: I listen to a little bit of everything. I own The Dance Studio [located at 3163 Mystic Valley Parkway in Medford] now so I’m always listening to Hannah Montana and “High School Musical” for my kids, but I love all kinds of music, from rock to pop to hip-hop. I actually love listening to the Cirque Du Soleil soundtracks right now. There is some great music there!

MO: You’ve got an amazing resume as a dancer, choreographer and singer. Who helped you develop these skills?

AF: I don’t know where I got the singing, but I was put into dancing when I was 5 and have been dancing ever since. I majored in dance education in college while continuing to write and record music. I’ve always loved to perform and plan and organize performances, which is where my love for choreographing comes in. I love to create and be able to see my creations come to life whether it by in music or dance!

Amy graduated from Bridgewater State College in December, 2007. While in college she also ran her business and continued with singing, writing and recording.

MO: As Paula Abdul worked closely with Janet Jackson, have you been working with other name artists?

AF: I think it’s a lot of fun to work and perform alongside other artists. I have done a few shows with some pretty awesome performers such as Jada, a group signed to Motown/Universal Records from Boston, Jessie Daniels [a Christian rock artist out of New York], and I’ve written a few songs to perform with Andrew Sterner, who is an amazing producer and guitarist from Malden. I’ve also been honored to open for Jesse McCartney and Toby Lightman.MO: How did you get to work with Red Sox player Bronson Arroyo?

AF: I performed at the Merry Matty’s Kissmas Breakfast for Kiss 108 FM a few years ago and Bronson Arroyo performed as well as Jesse McCartney and Alyson Stoner [“Camp Rock” and “Cheaper by the Dozen”]. It was such a fun show!

MO: YouTube has footage of your work with the Special Olympics — how did that come about?

AF: I worked as my own manager so I would seek out different venues or festivals that were looking for entertainment. I’ve been doing the winter and summer Olympics for about four years now. I love performing for the Special Olympics. The athletes are great and always get really into the performance, which makes it great for me on stage. The more energy the audience gives the better!MO: Where did you record the album?

AF: I recorded the album at Bristol Studios in Boston with Ric Poulin and Chris Billias.MO: Who is performing with you on it?

AF: I wrote and co-produced every song. We brought a few of the employees from Bristol on board to add some guitar tracks, but other than that it’s just me!MO: How did the songs come together?

AF: I would write the songs and come up with the melody and work with my producers to put together the style and overall feel for the music. I never realized how much work goes into recording and creating a song. It’s literally a 10- to 12-hour process and that doesn’t take into consideration writing the song! It’s such a great feeling when it comes together just right though, and the fans really like what you’ve worked so hard to create.MO: Anything else you’d like to say to the people of Malden?

AF: I was born and raised in Malden and love this city! Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity and teaching me to create and perform.

Gaining control of the airways: MTV finds Malden area band

Joe Viglione Interviews Joey Voices https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20100211/NEWS/302119028

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Feb 11, 2010 at 12:01 AMUpdated Feb 11, 2010 at 11:23 AM   

I started Joey Voices back in 2001 and for two years pieced together the show that I wanted to take on the road across America for corporate and private events. I got my first big corporate show in January of 2005 with Aflac in Indiana, and it was a great experience for me.

One day up at Doug Mascott’s legendary Trax Of The Town local radio show on 91.7 WMWM Salem State I found recordings by Joey Voices. There was a Malden return address on the envelope so I asked Doug about this artist who resides at joeyvoices.com, myspace.com/joeyvoices and facebook.com/joey.voices. Anyone with the phone number 1-866-SEE JOEY has enough intrigue to make a story mandatory, so the Malden Observer decided to make Joey Voices part of our interview series:

Malden Observer: How long have you lived in Malden?

Joey Voices: 37 years

MO: When did you start your career as “Joey Voices?”

JV: I started Joey Voices back in 2001 and for two years pieced together the show that I wanted to take on the road across America for corporate and private events. I got my first big corporate show in January of 2005 with Aflac in Indiana, and it was a great experience for me.

MO: What was the inspiration for this endeavor?

JV: I would do impressions of singers at my friend/neighbor/dentist’s office (Dr. Mark Gianatassio in Melrose) for his patients, and he told me I reminded him of Danny Gans out in Las Vegas. I had never heard of Gans before Mark mentioned his name. So I went out and saw him perform, and knew instantly that I could do that. So I put my own act together and continue to build on it.

MO: The late Brad Delp of the band “Boston” was amazing in being able to replicate the voices of John, Paul, George and Ringo, not to mention his own identifiable voice as the sound behind “More Than A Feeling” and other hits. Do you have a “secret sauce” or formula in your mind that enables you to copy sounds as dissimilar as Cher, Frank Sinatra, Joe Cocker and Michael Jackson?

JV: No formula. I’ve just been mimicking the radio since I was a little kid. So it comes natural to me to imitate voices. I can’t do everybody’s voice, but I have a pretty good arsenal that I continue to build upon.

MO: How many gigs do you think you’ve performed in the past decade or so?

JV::I don’t know, maybe upwards of 1,000?

MO: Is there any character you really enjoy more than others?

JV: Michael McDonald (former lead singer of the Doobie Brothers).

MO: How often do you play in the Malden area?

JV: As often as I can. I love Malden and my fellow Maldonians. They are my base and spread the word about me faster than anybody else ever could. I’m grateful for this town. My family has been here since 1943 when my dad came here from South Boston at 6 years old. His name was attorney Thomas P. Noone of Maplewood Square for 30 years. He was the best friend I ever had, and I still have a hole in my heart since he passed in September 2006.

MO: Have you released official CDs or DVDs of your work?

JV: I released an Italian-American parody song on CD of the Irish song “Danny Boy” (I’m Irish by the way), called “Tony Boy, the Italian Danny Boy,” that my fans seem to love ($5.50 at JoeyVoices.com). I also write country songs (50 over the last five months) and will eventually release an original country CD. I also have Joey Voices T-shirts.

MO: What two or three gigs stand out in your mind as extraordinary personal experiences for you?

JV: I have four.

1. Being asked back in 2008 to be the headliner act at the National American Legion annual banquet dinner to honor the living and dead American heroes from around the country, of WWII, Korean, Vietnam and Gulf wars.

2. Back in 2004 I got the opportunity to open for crooner Al Martino (“Spanish Eyes,” “Daddy’s Little Girl” and played Johnny Fontane in the Godfather I) before he died this past year. He told me I look like actor Robert Mitchum. I said, “He’s Dead!” He laughed. Martino told me to take every gig I can get, big and small, because I’ll be using my voice, and you never know who’s going to be in the audience. He told me that’s how he got discovered. Best advice I ever got in this business so far. He even showed up early before his show to see me perform and sent his body guard right over to me as I was waiting to take the stage, to tell me he was watching. What a sweet spirit he had and may God rest his soul.

3. When I opened for 80′s band Bad Company at the Hard Rock Café in Boston, in 2007.

4. Homeland Security’s Christmas party in NYC back in 2006 (great audience).

MO: Have you appeared on MATV and, if so, on which programs?

JV: I was supposed to appear with Malden Good Guys “Colonel” Pete Levine and “The Samaritan” Mike Cherone (Bread of Life) on their new MATV show, which got derailed due to technical difficulties. I’m still waiting for a call back to tape that show. I love those guys.

MO: Have you performed at the Malden Public Library?

JV: Veteran’s Advocate John Webster (who is a veteran himself if I’m not mistaken) asked me to come perform Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” to honor the WWII Vets, of which my neighbor and one of the biggest supporters of my show, Joe Croken Sr. was in attendance. That was one of the biggest honors of my life, next to performing at the National American Legion.

MO: Anything else you’d like to say to readers of the Malden Observer?

JV: Yes, here’s something I’d like people to know. I have been a Born Again Christian for 10 years now, am in my third year of Theological Seminary/Bible College at ACTS Seminary down in Plymouth, am so eternally grateful to Jesus for saving my life and to have fans that love my talent enough to pay money to see me perform, and hire me for their events. If anybody out there is having or planning a private or corporate event, and would like something different as entertainment to make it a memorable one, call Joey Voices at 781-589-7777.

If you want to see a video preview of my show, and purchase tickets to one of my upcoming public appearances, log onto JoeyVoices.com. Thank you for your continued support and may continue to God Bless “We the People.”

Joey Voices will be performing live on Saturday, April 18 at the Georgetown Club in Georgetown. It’s a dinner and a show.

Joey Voices is another next Danny Gans

In shying away from investigating the life and death of Las Vegas superstar Danny Gans, members news media, both local and national, hide behind the argument that “no one outside of Las Vegas ever heard of him.”

If that is indeed the case, why then are so many aspiring entertainers in so many different parts of the country inspired by Danny Gans’ work or aspiring to take his place in the show business pantheon?

In the months since Danny Gans’ tragic death on May 1st, we’ve shined the spotlight on musical impressionists like Rick A. Ludwig and Larry G Jones, Paul Tanner and Frank Caliendo, all of whom cite Danny Gans as The Man they can only try to equal. Now we can add to that list the name of Joey Voices of Malden, Massachusetts.


Like Danny Gans, Joey Voices (aka Joey Noone) is a corporate entertainer and a man of many voices, from Joe Cocker to Michael McDonald to Cher to Dave Matthews to Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson. Not only that, he is a self-described “Proud, Baptized, Born Again Believer in Jesus Christ”- and, as it turns out, was inspired by Danny Gans to follow his dream.

Joe Viglione found out when he interviewed Mr. Voices in The Malden Observer:

Malden Observer: How long have you lived in Malden?

Joey Voices: 37 years

MO: When did you start your career as “Joey Voices?”

JV: I started Joey Voices back in 2001 and for two years pieced together the show that I wanted to take on the road across America for corporate and private events. I got my first big corporate show in January of 2005 with Aflac in Indiana, and it was a great experience for me.

MO: What was the inspiration for this endeavor?

JV: I would do impressions of singers at my friend/neighbor/dentist’s office (Dr. Mark Gianatassio in Melrose) for his patients, and he told me I reminded him of Danny Gans out in Las Vegas. I had never heard of Gans before Mark mentioned his name. So I went out and saw him perform, and knew instantly that I could do that. So I put my own act together and continue to build on it.

Find more about Joey Voices at JoeyVoices.com.

Peter Levine story on Norman Greenbaum: Peter Levine puts Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and yours truly in the same paragraph! Of course we knew all the words. Cathy Leblanc with Dave and Ethel Haskell singing loud and proud. Attorney John Tormey doing the “New York Shuffle.” Paul and Lisa Hammersley with mile wide smiles. Councilor (Ryan) O’Malley and Councilor (Craig) Spadafora, in a kumbaya moment, shoulder to shoulder singing in two-part harmony. I made that one up. But both loving the special moment, nonetheless. Paul Sieswerda and his pops, who graduated with Normie, fist pumping to the fuzz toned guitar drenched classic. Joe Viglione capturing all the fun for his blog. The first couple of Malden, Maryanne Smith and Donna Denoncourt, shaking their money makers like it ain’t nobody’s business.

Postscript 8: I went home overjoyed to have shared this night with Norman Greenbaum and the Malden community. Thank you Normie for the fun you brought into our, at times Groundhog Day lives, on this cool night in October of 2019. A happy city, one spirit, for this brief moment at least. Music, art, community and our love for Norman Greenbaum. Kindly raise your hands if you agree.

Peter Levine is a longtime Malden resident and contributor to the Malden Observer. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments, complaints or criticisms.

https://www.patriotledger.com/news/20191029/malden-musings-norman-greenbaum—spirit-in-square

Hotline Music and Sports https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20110331/NEWS/303319342

Local Artists Take the Stage by Joe Viglione https://www.wickedlocal.com/x190609060/Malden-Entertainment-Hotline-Local-artists-take-the-stage

‘Spirit in the Sky’ Norman Greenbaum visits Live on Tape …www.wickedlocal.com › article › NEWSAug 12, 2009 – Local music promoter and Malden Observer correspondent Joe Viglione invited him to stop by the MATV studio where he taped this segment …
‘Spirit in the Sky’ Norman Greenbaum visits Live on Tape – News …malden.wickedlocal.com › article › NEWSLocal music promoter and Malden Observer correspondent Joe Viglione invited him to stop by the MATV studio where he taped this segment with Live on Tape’s …

Malden Entertainment Hotline https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20100226/news/302269332

Charlie Farren’s Rock & Roll Journay https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x453209817/Charlie-Farren-s-rock-roll-journey

 How about Joe “The Count” Viglione? I know he and Norman go back a little. Norm’s email pal Joanne Settemio would love to be there but she had prior commitments. Michael Goldman! I know you were but a youngster in 1960 but try to make a trip back to Malden on the 16th and show a fellow “lantsman” a little love! Come one come all! Show Norman how much we adore him. https://malden.wickedlocal.com/news/20190917/malden-musings-norman-greenbaum-back-in-malden-oct-16th eter Levine is a longtime Malden resident and contributor to the Malden Observer. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments, complaints or criticisms.

EXTREME – MetroWest Daily News – article by Joe Viglione https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20081027/NEWS/310279436

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Oct 27, 2008 at 12:01 AMUpdated Oct 27, 2008 at 1:25 PM   

Extreme’s “Saudades de Rock,” is an intense and powerful presentation — and solid proof that the hard-rocking Malden/Medford area band, featuring Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, has an on-target message. It’s a true rebirth.

Extreme’s “Saudades de Rock,” is an intense and powerful presentation — and solid proof that the hard-rocking Malden/Medford area band, featuring Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and drummer Kevin Figueiredo, has an on-target message. It’s a true rebirth.

Issued on Ernie Boch Jr.’s Open E Records, the CD starts off with the one-two punch of “Star” and “Comfortably Dumb,” the former utilizing Queen’s trademark style along with Bettencourt firing off some serious Marilyn Manson guitar licks (directly from Manson’s near-hit “The Dope Show”). The second track, “Comfortably Dumb,” is clearly a knock at the second single from Pink Floyd’s 1979 double disc, “The Wall.”

Malden native Cherone, 47, is still a highly underrated vocalist, despite singing lead for Van Halen, one of the most important hard rock bands in music history, in the late ’90s, as well as a guest stint fronting Queen (with Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath on guitar). Cherone’s voice can do a number of amazing things, moving through uncharted territory here on “Saudades de Rock.”

“Learn To Love” has him giving a not-so subliminal tribute to the great Paul Rodgers (who is now actually fronting Queen), though this Bad Company-influenced track is far more funky in nature than anything that venerable British band put on plastic.

A neo-Western, “Take Us Alive” reflects Aerosmith’s penchant for blending films from the old West with a bit of skiffle rock. The Aerosmith theme continues on “Run,” sounding as if “Walk This Way” somehow got merged into ballad form rather than the rap hit it became when Run-D.M.C. added their talents to it.

“Last Hour,” track 6, underscores just how well Bettencourt and Cherone fuse their extraordinary guitar/voice/songwriting abilities, a nice trifecta of talent.

Not to be lost in this equation is the stunning production work, something missing from the band’s 1989 self-titled debut on A&M Records. Bettencourt knows how to place all the instruments so that the bass and drums can be heard but not seen, blending everything in a mix that allows the nuances of each element to flow in and out, the way a good rock production should. “Flower Man” keeps up the intensity with snarls and chugs, and is a great album track, though not a standout.

Looking for a ‘More Than Words’

The otherwise well-paced disc could have used a bit of a guitar ballad at this point, and with “More Than Words” finding airplay on, of all places, WPLM Plymouth along with Elton John and Air Supply, let’s face it, there’s still a huge audience waiting to hear Extreme come out with a new pop ballad classic.

The subtly explosive “King Of The Ladies” is quintessential Extreme, Revere Beach rock gone mainstream … only a Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon cameo appearance (or sample) is missing from this tour-de-force to make it complete.

Track 9 is a stunningly beautiful piano ballad entitled “Ghost.” It takes the best elements of Supertramp’s 1979 hit “Goodbye Stranger” and fuses it with latter-day Beach Boys.

Perhaps “the ghosts” that are “in my head” Cherone is singing about are past songs that he heard on the radio. “Ghost” sounds like a 2008 extension of The Who’s sketchy “Quadrophenia” album. Cherone doubles as the lead singer of “Slip Kid,” a Who tribute band, and these soulful stirrings are what Roger Daltrey, unfortunately, has moved away from as the Who’s singer relies more on histrionics and past glories.

Song 10, “Slide,” is more for the Extreme die-hard, a good musical exercise for the fan base, walking guitars that dabble in funk and semi-rap straight from Prince’s textbook of sound. Bettencourt’s guitars are tasteful and explore different avenues alongside the band’s so very tight sequence of movements (and the aforementioned great production work), a stunning combination that make this set of recordings “extreme-ly” special.

Track 11, “Interface,” brings in Beatle-esque flavors on the acoustic guitars, a very appealing pop ballad with glorious hooks and majestic sounds imprinted on the lead guitar tracks. OK, they’ve taken “More Than Words” and have gone more nouveau-lounge with it.

Going Wilson

Track 12, “Sunrise” features more Beach Boys harmonies, like something out of “Brian Wilson Presents Smile,” until bristling Bettencourt riffs take over with Cherone’s voice finding yet another persona. Dipped in early British blues, it twists into another direction with the instrumental interlude three minutes in, the band straddling the border of jazz territory but never falling over the edge.

The final selection, “Peace (Saudade),” is as elegant a closing track as you are going to get. Where the equally lengthy “III Who Cares?,” which closed out “III Sides To Every Story,” wandered all over the map until the wonderful last minute, this last song on “Saudades De Rock” works from start to finish — showing that Extreme has matured in its ability, as a group, to achieve something artistically striking as well as commercially viable. It is as on-target as “More Than Words” and deserves a better fate than “Exit Elvis,” Cherone’s side project with Tribe of Judah released in 2002.

The verdict: Had Eddie Van Halen recruited both Nuno Bettencourt and Gary Cherone for Van Halen III in 1998, 10 years earlier, and had they all come up with something this polished, Van Halen would have successfully flown into the new millennium and the world would have more of this intense music to admire. On its own, “Saudades de Rock” stands now as the best album recorded by Extreme to date.
Joe Viglione is a Boston-based rock journalist and critic.

ATUNGA https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20110526/NEWS/305269313

https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20100513/NEWS/305139018

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.com Posted May 13, 2010 at 12:01 AM Updated May 13, 2010 at 1:20 PM

But did you know there was a Malden resident who managed to run up on stage with the Fab Four that day? Do you wonder if the guy made it out of there alive? Well, former Malden resident John Lubinski is alive and well and living in Las Vegas.

Are you one of the lucky individuals who went to Suffolk Downs racetrack in Revere on August 18, 1966?

Did you hear longtime North Shore resident Bobby Hebb (now back in Nashville) sing his immortal classic, “Sunny,” along with “Crazy Baby,” Van McCoy’s “For You,” a cover of Darlene Love’s “Good Good Lovin,” and the classic “Got My Mojo Working” backed up by Boston’s very own Barry Tashian & The Remains?

Perhaps you’ve read Tashian’s book, “Ticket To Ride: The Extraordinary Diary of The Beatles’ Last Tour” (Dowling Press, 1997)?

If you were there on that magical point in history, you probably heard the Beatles perform songs like Chuck Berry’s 1957 hit, “Rock & Roll Music,” or Lennon/McCartney classics like “Day Tripper,” “Baby’s In Black,” “I Feel Fine,” “Paperback Writer,” “Nowhere Man” and more.

But did you know there was a Malden resident who managed to run up on stage with the Fab Four that day? Do you wonder if the guy made it out of there alive? Well, former Malden resident John Lubinski is alive and well and living in Las Vegas. The Observer has an exclusive interview with the Maldonian whose out-of-order activity way back when has made him a rather notorious footnote in Boston area Beatles lore.

A local daily newspaper article of the 1966 Suffolk Downs event leaves the readers hanging on the outcome of the daring young man who jumped the stage…it says he was handed ”…into the clutches of six Boston policemen.”

Close call

“It caused a little bit of a riot where a lot of people were running for the stage or trying to get up there,” said Lubinski. “I ended up getting away. They put me in a police car, and I got out the other door. They were kind of distracted …trying to stop the other people. I got out the door, ran to the fence, hopped over, wandered back into the crowd and got away.”

The aforementioned newspaper article referenced above is reprinted in the book “Ticket To Ride: The Extraordinary Diary of the Beatles Last Tour” with additional information from Judith Sims, editor of TeenSet magazine. On Page 56 of Ticket To Ride Sims’ article notes, “In Boston, a second young man made it to the stage; he first informed one of the English disc jockeys that he had managed to get past the barriers and guards to the stage area…”

Lubinski recalled that that was Kenny Everett, the pirate radio on-air personality. “Kenny Everett was interviewing me before I jumped onstage; I told him I was going to do it…he didn’t believe me. Right after that I made it up onstage, Kenny Everett went crazy.”

The Beatles were performing the Little Richard classic, “Long Tall Sally,” concluding their set, and after Lubinski got away he hooked up with the two friends he convinced to go to the show with him.

“I miraculously found them again and we took the train home,” said Lubinski. “I was pretty excited…pretty jazzed up…as one girl told (documentary filmmaker) Erik Taros, I was holding court on the train.

“There were people on the train who wanted to touch me because I was onstage with the Beatles,” Lubinski reminisced.

Taros, a Swampscott resident known as “Dr. Beatle” for his many chats on radio about John, Paul, George and Ringo, was searching for Lubinski to chronicle the event in his movie about the Suffolk Downs show.

An audio of the Everett/Lubinski British interview from 1966 was posted on WBZ’s Web site as BZ host Dan Rea appears to have spoken with Beatle historians Cha-Chi Loprete and Erik Taros on December 9, 2008. Cha Chi is the longtime promotion man for WBCN, WZLX and now 98.5 the Sports Hub who also hosts “Breakfast with the Beatles” on WZLX, Sunday mornings at 8 a.m.

Lubinski told the Observer that he was on the computer and by accident found the December 2008 Podcast (a broadcast posted to the Web) of a John Lennon anniversary show/Beatles program, with Dan Rea, Taros and LoPrette.

“I heard the one minute clip with me from Kenny Everett,” he said.

And that’s how Lubinski and Taros got to connect for the upcoming film. Taros was searching quite awhile for John Lubinski, and the WBZ airing finally got them together.

The Beatles are coming

John Lubinski was born in Gardner but the family moved to Malden around the age of 1 since both his parents are from Malden. He lived on 19 Boston St. and attended Brown School in Malden for the first and second grade. Lubinski went to the Belmont School from the third to the sixth grade and then Lincoln Junior High. He attended high school outside of Malden. During his youthful years in Malden Lubinski played baseball.

And for music he listened to the radio: “I didn’t play an instrument, but I liked the Beatles from the moment I heard them.”

He was 17 when the concert happened in 1966.

“At the time I was working at American Aluminum Company on Eastern Avenue in Malden; about a month before I read in the newspaper that the Beatles were coming. I went with a couple friends from work.”

And when the Observer asked if it was a major event at the time, Lubinski replied in the affirmative: “Yeah; [and] it really didn’t register with me or [I didn’t] think about it, but that was the first concert I ever went to in my life. That’s kind of funny — ironic now. It never really registered with me until recently. What a way to start.”

That 1966 concert was one of the final live performances ever by The Beatles.

Brushes with history

Lubinski’s most recent brushes with history have been less eventful, more as a fan than a participant. In 2007 he went to The Beatles “Love” show at the Las Vegas casino, the Mirage, “and they had The Beatle’s Fair at that same casino, I went to that too. Beatles fans from all over the country go there and they have all different events going on, films and people selling Beatles memorabilia. Different bands playing Beatles songs. I went to a similar Beatles event in L.A. about 15 years ago, but this was the first time they had it in Vegas, I believe.”

On The Beatles Cirque du Soleil LOVE show Lubinski is most enthused: “I enjoyed it. I love all the Beatles music. It’s the Beatles music (in the Cirque du Soleil show) …they have so much of that going on that it is almost like a little too much…but overall it’s great.”

As for other Beatles-associated performances, the former Malden resident says he also attended a Ringo concert in San Diego about 10 years ago while living in that city.

But as for that historic Suffolk Downs concert, Lubinski said, “I remember Bobby Hebb singing the big song “Sunny,” which I like a lot.”

Lubinski noted that the response was huge for Hebb’s big hit of the Summer of 1966.

But what of the city where he was raised — he escaped the police at Revere Beach’s Suffolk Downs; has he escaped Malden as well?

“I still have two cousins that live in Malden; I just talked to one a couple of weeks ago. I was back there in 2005… I’ll be coming back.

The Two of Us: Don Schulze

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.com Posted Sep 16, 2010 at 12:01 AM Updated Sep 16, 2010 at 4:20 PM

Beatlemania, it seems, is alive and well in Malden. Guitar teacher and Malden resident Don Schulze has a Beatles tribute/musical duo called “The Two of Us,” named after one of the tracks off of the Fab Four’s Let It Be album. Don Schulze, of Malden.  — Courtesy

In the July 22 Malden Observer, it was noted that the music of The Beatles is getting recorded and/or played in this city, some of the fans/musicians such as David C. Mooney and David Andrulli, showing up for Ringo Starr’s June performance in Boston, or guitarist Len Tetta opening for Greg Hawkes of The Cars.

Hawkes has a new CD out entitled “The Beatles Uke by Greg Hawkes,” where he performs the Beatles hits on Ukulele. Hawkes also had the distinction of performing on Paul McCartney’s Flowers In The Dirt album. There was also the Observer’s May 10 story on Malden native John Lubinski who literally jumped onstage to meet the Fab Four back in 1966.

Or how about Ed Ames of The Ames Brothers covering Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday” on his Who Will Answer album?

Beatlemania, it seems, is alive and well in Malden.

Guitar teacher and Malden resident Don Schulze has a Beatles tribute/musical duo called “The Two of Us,” named after one of the tracks off of the Fab Four’s Let It Be album. Thanks to Jeff Munro of the Acoustic Open Mic Nights at Hugh O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, we tracked Don down at BMR Music on 185 Salem St.

Malden Observer: Don, when did you first get an interest in music?

Don Schulze: When I was a kid, my mom used to play her records all the time. Stuff like Billy Joel, Neil Diamond, and especially, The Beatles.

When I was about 7 years old, I got a record player of my own, shaped like a miniature jukebox. I thought it was the coolest because it had a neutral setting that allowed you to spin the record in reverse, so I could listen to the weird backwards messages on the Beatles’ White Album. I used to just sit in my room listening to Sgt. Pepper and Revolver, staring at the album covers. I was a Beatlemaniac from the start.

MO: Where were you living at the time and when did you move to this city?

DS: I was living in Medford at the time. I moved to Malden after I graduated from Berklee College of music in 1994.

MO: When did you pick up an instrument and start performing?

DS: Well, I picked up my first guitar when I was 8. It was a 3/4-size acoustic guitar from Sears. After a year or so of lessons, I was able to hack my way through a Beatles songbook. However, I didn’t perform on an actual stage until I was 16. Antonelli’s Music in Medford used to have a Battle of the Bands every year at Club 3 in Somerville. It was 1988, and I was in a metal band called “Furor.” We played Crazy Train, Johnny B. Goode and a few original songs. It was a blast, and I have rocked ever since.

MO: Did you think initially it would lead to a career?

DS: As a kid I assumed that I would be a rock star. It wasn’t until later that I became interested in music education.

MO: What were some of the groups you played with?

DS: I’ve been in a jam band called “Crop Circles,” a space rock band called, “Bodies for Minds,” I toured the UK in a punk band called “The USM,” played bass for Malden’s own epic chorus factory “I.I.J.,” played some prog-shred with “the DNR Project,” and I even got to play the Boston Garden with “Air Traffic Controller,” featuring Jeff Munro’s brothers Dave and Richie Thunder, and Malden legend Kev Mann-Dude. I’ve been fortunate to jam with so many talented musicians over the years.

MO: How did The Two of Us form?

DS: Mark Dante Troiano and I have been playing Beatles songs together since we were teenagers. We used to do weird arrangements, like “Run for your Life” as a polka and stuff. We began officially performing as “Two of Us” about 10 years ago when Jeff Munro started doing his open mic nights at Pearl Street Station. Our goal has been to reproduce as much of the Beatles music as possible, using just two voices and two acoustic guitars. This can be pretty challenging on some of the more layered songs, like “I Am the Walrus,” or “A Day in the Life.”

MO: Tell us about your work at BMR Music?

DS: I’ve been teaching guitar at BMR for about a decade now. It’s the best. I’ve had so many awesome students and played so many cool songs that I might not otherwise have heard. It’s very inspiring to see that the rock and roll dream is alive and well in Malden. I feel very lucky that I get to spend my days helping others along their path to rock glory.

MO: Do you still perform?

DS: Occasionally. Mostly Wednesday nights at Jeff’s open mics, with my latest musical obsession, a ukulele — the funnest instrument ever made.

(note above how Greg Hawkes is performing Beatles’ songs on a ukulele)

MO: What do you think of the current Malden area music scene …as well as the music community in times past?

DS: There are some great bands in Malden right now, like “Fourth Wall Fiction,” “Tall” and “Ravage” (who just got signed to Metal Blade records). Those dudes rip! I wish there were more places for younger kids to play around here, since most of the live music scene takes place in bars.

https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x372513109/Meet-Malden-resident-Don-Schulze-of-the-duo-The-Two-of-Us

Mass appeal: From ‘Live on Tape’ to ‘Rocklahoma’ festival, Mass rocks https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20080711/NEWS/307119400

By Joe ViglionePosted Jul 11, 2008 at 12:01 AMUpdated Jul 11, 2008 at 11:15 AM   

The Boston area has had a number of major artists — Aerosmith, Boston, The Cars, the J Geils band, Extreme — and one hard rock/pop outfit that deserves to be included in that elite group are the four veterans in the band Mass.

The Boston area has had a number of major artists — Aerosmith, Boston, The Cars, the J Geils band, Extreme — and one hard rock/pop outfit that deserves to be included in that elite group are the four veterans in the band Mass.

Unfortunately, the Top 40 world hasn’t had an opportunity to enjoy the songs their large fan base knows so well.

On the eve of St. Patty’s Day 2008, guitarist Gene D’Itria, drummer Joey “Vee” Vadala, bassist Mike Palumbo and lead singer Louie St. August brought their music into the studio of Malden’s public access TV station, located on 145 Pleasant St., just a few storefronts down from Malden City Hall.

Fresh off of a capacity show at Bill Ash’s on Revere Beach that past Friday night, March 14, the four-piece band showed up at MATV 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, and for the next three hours they set up and ripped through three selections off their new CD, Crack Of Dawn.

“Hello,” “Empty Soul” and “It’s You” were the three titles from the new disc that the group chose for their appearance on “Live On Tape,” the long-running show hosted by MATV Executive Director Ron Cox. Live On Tape has featured performance and interviews from Preacher Jack, Lauren Bateman, Alastair Moock and many others
Sound man Scott Pizzo, who also handled the sound on Bill Ash’s gig two nights before, set up his huge Allen & Heath GL2800 soundboard to complement MATV’s Mackie 24-8 Mixing console. In other words, these cats were gearing up to record a public access TV show the way they would tape live in a recording studio.

Meanwhile, Cox was busy painstakingly setting up the lights just so and then giving the camera crew — MATV staffer Brian Biggie, along with MATV volunteer producers Tony Hill, the director of Live on Tape, and Mike Cherone — tips on what he wanted.
If the name Mike Cherone sounds familiar it is because he’s the brother of Mark and Gary Cherone of The Who tribute band “Slip Kid.” Gary Cherone, of course, is also the lead singer for the aforementioned band “Extreme.”

Cox intuitively selects great shots during the warm-up run-throughs of “It’s You,” “Empty Soul” and “Hello,” but perhaps because of the tons of sound gear more adjustments had to be made for the sound.

The quartet recorded the three songs, viewed some of the footage and then went back to the drawing board at 4:55 p.m., and started on “Hello” again. Two takes were put on tape and at 5:18 they did another version of “It’s You,” followed by “Empty Soul.”
Usually artists record a half an hour’s worth of songs and pick and choose what they will air, but Mass is such a proficient unit that the boys stayed with the three songs from the new disc and completed it all around 5:27 p.m.

“Empty Soul’s” chugga-chugga reverberations from D’Itria, wielding a guitar straight out of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” movie, were truly inspired, and when the band started vamping on a Led Zeppelin tune those in the control room were hoping for the full version.

Vadala’s drum playing is as masterful as guitarist D’Itria’s sound bursts and it was a wonder the Sentry 100A monitor speakers could hold the sound, but Pizzo and Cox kept it all in check. The consistent railroad train beat of Joey V, in his black hat, blue jeans and Iron Maiden T-shirt, was loud in the speakers earlier — but the soundman brought it all under control. Palumbo’s bass was booming in the big studio, the sound so enormous it was an art just to get it to travel through the mics and re-emerge with little or no distortion.

The rest of the group wore blue jeans and black shirts, Louis St. August sporting a Mass T-shirt, both he and Vadala with gold crosses dangling. This is not your typical Public Access TV, and with Cox finding the best camera angles from the feeds, this material could well find its way on the eventual DVD debut of this band that landed a major recording contract decades before the kids in Central Square ever considered buying instruments and jumping into the rock & roll battle.

On Monday, March 17, the cameras rolled for the 123rd episode of “Live On Tape” with host Ron Cox, now the executive director of MATV. Along with the musical guests Cox interviewed singer Kevin McNamara, who actually appeared on the first 50 episodes of Live On Tape as co-host and musical guest.

“We invited him back for St. Patty’s Day,” Cox said.

Mass bassist Mike Palumbo was raised in Medford and performed with a Medford-based group known as Glass. For more than a decade he has played with this durable band, which, along with “New England” and “Boston,” is one of the three groups from that period with names tied to this region. Mass is a double entendre as there is a subtle crucifix in the band’s logo, a nod to their Christian leanings.
This weekend, Louis will be playing the Rocklahoma festival with other local artists, and on Friday, Aug. 22, they’re playing The Beachcomber at Wollaston Beach in Quincy. Following up on the St. Patty’s Day “Live on Tape” event and rolling into their upcoming gig, the Malden Observer asked Louis, Joey, Gene and Mike some questions about their career.

Observer: Louis, you’ll be playing the Rocklahoma festival this summer, Saturday, July 12, with local artist Blue Tiger as well as Warrant, Cinderella, Night Ranger and others. 60,000 people are expected to show up for this. How did your act get on the bill?
Louis St. August: We where invited to perform at Rocklahoma with all expenses paid via Retrospect at records.com, which is the Las Vegas label we signed with for the re-releasing of our earlier albums.They have since re-released our first major RCA album, called MASS “New Birth,” and it has gone on to sell thousands of copies and be one of there top selling CDs.

Observer: Gene, What is Rocklahoma all about?
Gene D’Itria: Rocklahoma is a rock festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, where there will be most or all of the great bands from the 80s. Mass was invited to play, and we cannot wait to get there and show them we can still rip it up.

Observer: Joey V, You performed on tour with Stryper and Hurricane in years past. How many major acts do you think Mass has worked with over the years?
Joey “Vee” Vadala: We performed with acts such as the Ramones, Cheap Trick, Winger, also Molly Hatchet Steven Stills and the Out Laws. Southern rock was also very popular at the time many others I cant really remember.

Observer: Louis, what year did the band form?
Louis St. August: I put the band together in the late seventies during our high school years but officially became known as MASS in 1983!

Observer: Joey, How did the new album, “Crack Of Dawn,” come to be?
Vadala: Crack of Dawn was recorded in the mid to late 90s early 2000s in two separate studios, one in New Jersey with our old producer John Rollo and a couple of songs in Middleton, Mass., with Michael Sweet of Stryper. We shopped that album for a few years but the 90s were kind of tough with the way music was. So, we decided to put out our Best Ones CD; just the last couple of years our singer Louis started shopping it to various labels in Europe and we had a couple of companies interested. Escape music came to us with the best deal. They remixed all the tracks with a producer out of Sweden Martin Kronland, and so you have it.
We always had a good sense on structuring a song, although producers do help … they have made some changes and gave us ideas in our music. If that is what you hire them for, then it becomes their roll as a producer; or just hire a good engineer. Hey, we didn’t argue much working with Big time Producers such as Tony Platt (AC / DC Foreigner Led Zeppelin Fame) and Tom Alom Black
Sabbath Jud Priest Fame.

Observer: Gene, where is the band based? Revere, Wilmington?
Gene D’Itria: The band was always based in Revere, with a little touch of Medfah (laughs).

Observer: Mike, you lived in Medford for a while and you performed with a group known as Glass. Was Glass a Medford band?
Mike Palumbo: Yes, Glass was an all Medford Band, formed in junior high school with close friends. This is a funny story. I was a trumpet player and loved musicians like Chuck Mangione, but a close friend asked me if I wanted to play bass in his band. I said sure, why not. Traded in my trumpet for a Hondo bass and the rest is history. As a high school band we had some moderate success playing with national and local artists, eventually breaking up in 1992.

Observer: When did you join Mass?
Mike Palumbo: Oh, Man! I think it was around 1994. I was practicing across the hall at the Everett Music Complex and heard they needed a bass player. I knocked on the door and that was pretty much it. I don’t even think I played a note; I think it was my long hair (laughs). Moving my equipment across the hall was easy. I remember my very first gig with Mass at the Rockpile backing up Twisted Sister. Let’s just say Dee Snider and I didn’t see eye to eye on sound production and had a little disagreement back stage. It’s all good, though.

Find out more information about Mass at myspace.com/masstheband.

For more information about Rocklahoma,visit.myspace.com/rocklahoma Rocklahoma is the world’s largest Rock Festival of its type, featuring bands from the 1980s. For more information on The Beachcomber, visit beachcomberquincy.com

Malden Entertainment Hotline: Local artists take the stage

UPCOMING EVENTS

CLOSEHIDE CAPTIONThe Adam Ezra band plays at Boston’s House of Blues on January 12. Courtesy

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Jan 21, 2010 at 12:01 AMUpdated Jan 21, 2010 at 9:21 PM   

CORRECTION: The Adam Ezra band public record release party is on Saturday, Jan. 23 at The Paradise in Boston. Check out Adamezra.com for more details.

The brand new House of Blues on Lansdowne Street in Boston didn’t appreciate local singer/guitarist Adam Ezra running around barefoot on their gorgeous rugs…so he had to put his thong sandals on…kicking them off for the performance.

We spoke with Malden resident and Ezra keyboardist Josh Gold back in September 2009 when the group had an earlier version of their CD in a sort of “private” release. The January 12 House of Blues party was for VIP only and was a bit of a preview of the newly revamped 17 song View From The Root CD — an interesting concept, re-recording and changing the tracking to come up with a more polished and ready-for-prime-time album for today’s market.

Emerson College’s WERS is fully supporting the disc with information on the front page, a full table at the House of Blues and program director Jeffrey Penfield in the audience along with guitar hero Johnny A. and others responding to manager Ralph Jacodine and Rachel Klein’s invitations.

That the band is currently recording even more music not on this disc with a major producer shows the faith — and work ethic — of one of the Boston/Malden area’s hardest working ensembles. Their public record release party is at The Paradise in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 23. Check out Adamezra.com for more details.

Emily Dynamo — youth rising

Super young pop singer Emily Dynamo, a Malden seventh grader, is an indie singer and keyboardist from the now defunct band Crystal Clear Bling. She has just completed recording a new “solo” album. Mind-boggling that a seventh grader has already left one band and has a new CD ready.

Watch for a full profile of Emily Dynamo and Hyphorina soon…maybe Emily can find some guidance from both Josh of Adam Ezra and Malden’s Lauren Bateman, who performed in January at the All Asia in Central Square. Lauren tells us that there’s video of the gig…with all her TV work and live shows, and maybe a DVD can emerge sooner than later.

An honor for MATV

Malden Access Television was honored by the North Shore Black Women’s Association on Saturday, Jan. 16. The award reads, “Presented to Malden’s Media Center in recognition of your coverage of the 17th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Luncheon and for your outstanding community involvement 2010.”

Congrats to MATV for that recognition. On Thursday, Jan. 21, MATV is premiering the video Malden children created over the summer — KBA Presents Malden SuperStars. It features a news show, a talent show and a short original screenplay as well as advertisements for products the kids created.

“It’s incredible,” Ron Cox told the Observer. “They produced, directed it, wrote it, acted in it, crewed it.”

The premiere itself was at the Senior Center on Thursday, Jan. 21 — parents and friends came to watch along with the kids who created the show. Cox’s own program, Live On Tape, will feature recording artist Syris — Malden’s Anthony Cirillo.

Good music, great cause

And we spoke about Lauren Bateman performing at the All Asia on January 15, Emmy Cerra is playing the same venue at 334 Mass. Avenue in Central Square, Cambridge on Saturday Feb. 6, 7:30-10 p.m. Cerra is agreeing to donate 50 percent of Tinderbox Release party admission proceeds to help deploying soldiers and their families.

This program helps to support American soldiers and their families who also make great sacrifices to support their loved ones. More information about Emmy Cerra, link to buy tickets online for the party and her original music can be found at emmycerra.com. Advance ticket price is $20 at mycommunitytickets.com.

According to a press release from Cerra, “While recording the latest album Tinderbox, Emmy found out that her sister is deploying to Afghanistan. ‘It really hit home when I realized just how hard this experience can be on the soldiers, their children and loved ones when the soldiers are far away from home for so long. I am thankful to this organization because the FRG helped me prepare and cope when I found out my sister was deploying and they help families like mine every day. Music is my passion and to do what I love for an organization I believe in is an honor.’”

News from Malden library

Malden Public Library is collecting canned goods to help the victims of the recent Malden fire. Local residents are helping their neighbors after a devastating January 9 fire at 503-505 Pleasant St., which left dozens of victims homeless. The Malden Public Library is having a canned food drive for these people. Please drop canned food off in the box located at the Information Desk at the library located on 36 Salem St. right in Malden Square.

The Malden Public Library is now on Facebook along with the Malden Observer and Peter Levine’s excellent Malden, Mass page. Join all three…I have. Just put Malden Public Library in the Facebook search.

Music miscellaneous

Malden resident Jeff Munro, studio manager of the town of Arlington’s Public Access station, has his Wednesday open mic nights at The No. 9 Ale House, 118 Ferry St., Malden, (781) 321-0265. Still the finest in local talent — his 10th year anniversary will be in about six months — in the summertime.

L.A. singer Beth Jean appeared on January 21 at the Ale House — she played with Jeff’s brothers in Air Traffic Controller (whose recent CD was previewed in the Observer; they’ve also been named one of the Top Local Bands to Watch in 2010 in Boston Music Spotlight) at The Precinct in Somerville this past Saturday, Jan. 16.

For a different atmosphere, whatsangelodoing.com has another event on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Anthony’s of Malden. Doors open at 8 p.m. Delicious Hors d’oeuvres, a DJ, cash bar and a Twist Contest, the festivities will go until 2 a.m. for only $10 per person

And finally, Preacher Jack will be appearing Saturday, Jan 23, 9-10 p.m., at P.A.’s Lounge Union Square, 345 Somerville Avenue, Somerville. Call 617-776-1557 for more details or visit paslounge.com. Age restrictions: 18+. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Cost: $8 for 21+/$11 for 18-20.

https://malden.wickedlocal.com/x190609060/Malden-Entertainment-Hotline-Local-artists-take-the-stage

Type 4 Revives Rock and Roll Career https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20071018/NEWS/310188892

By Joe Viglione/malden@cnc.com Posted Oct 18, 2007 at 12:01 AM Updated Oct 18, 2007 at 6:18 PM

William Ierardi, a.k.a. D.J. Daylate, is a Malden resident who works in Medford. By day he helps run operations at Medford Self-Storage (the old Planet Self Storage) on the Fellsway; at night he is busy with the band Type 4, creating a unique modern sound, once popular in the region — and that Ierardi hopes will be popular again. Matt Reyes is a triple threat for the group as keyboardist/programmer/producer. 

William Ierardi, a.k.a. D.J. Daylate, is a Malden resident who works in Medford. By day he helps run operations at Medford Self-Storage (the old Planet Self Storage) on the Fellsway; at night he is busy with the band Type 4, creating a unique modern sound, once popular in the region — and that Ierardi hopes will be popular again.

Type 4 was founded in Boston in 1990 by two singer/songwriters, Brian Cantwell and Tom Williams. Type 4 started out as a rap group that only used samples and drum machines, but has evolved over the years into a band that mixes sampling with live instruments, rap with rock ‘n’ roll.

With the two lead vocalists backed (at different times in various arrangements) by guitarist Mike Haas, bassist Ray Bly, drummer Mike O’Leary, percussionist Eric Goodridge, DJ KooKoo & DJ DayLate, and keyboardist/programmer/producer Matt Reyes, T4 is capable of delivering many different sounds and styles, as demonstrated on “Use Once And Destroy,” a promotional six-song EP of some of the band’s most recent songs.”

The Malden Observer recently caught up with Reyes and Ierardi and asked them some questions about life and music.

MO: How can the public find Type 4′s recorded output?

Reyes: We’ve had CDs in the stores in and around Boston, actually I guess all over the country, but it was all self-distributed, either mailed or dropped off in person to stores. Tower (remember Tower?), Newbury Comics, CD Spins, Strawberries, we had “Trailmix” in all of them. But I suppose they’re long sold-out now.

In fact I do a search every once in a while online for references to “Trailmix” and I regularly find people selling copies through different used CD Web sites for upwards of $40.

MO: Is there a discography and stores where the music can be purchased or Web sites to download?

Reyes: At the present time, our new stuff is still only available as downloads from our Web site http://www.TYPE4.biz , though we’ve mailed out lots of “almost finished” demo discs, and once the new stuff is done to our satisfaction, we’ll have CDs back in stores as well as for download through iTunes.

MO: When is the new music Type 4 is creating going to be released?

Reyes: Currently, we’re beating the tortoise at that whole “slow and steady” thing. Real life has exerted its demands on our time as of late and on top of that we’re a bunch of perfectionists.

But to tell the truth, the current crop of songs had existed for so long in their “almost finished” state that we’re all used to it, and everyone seems to like them as is.

So yeah, we’re just going to get some dough together and press some CDs for release by the end of this year. Get this gorilla off our backs and move on to new songs.

MO: Are there any live shows booked for the immediate future?

Reyes: Nothing in the immediate future, though once we have the CDs for sale, we’ll play some shows to get attention, and promote them though airplay on Boston radio. Same as we did 10 years ago with “Trailmix.”

MO: Do you play local venues like Malden’s Honey Fitz or the Chevalier Theater in Medford?

Reyes: We haven’t played My Honey Fitz, though we’ve played some dives around here, in Revere, Medford and just about everywhere in Boston. Even Mama Kin and Axis, extinct dinosaurs like us. Well, we’re not quite extinct!

MO: About 17 years after Brian and Tom founded the group, what are the expectations and direction?

Reyes: Wow, yeah, it has been that long, huh? Weird because I’ve been at this music since before I hit puberty, and met Tom and Brian years later, so it all still seems so recent. But I guess we’re grizzled veterans by now.

As far as the future goes, all we’ve ever wanted to do was be successful enough with the music to keep us from having to do anything else. We’re not looking to get rich or be in a video with a swimming pool filled with gold teeth or whatever, we do this because we love it, and I’d like to think we’ve been at it long enough to get good.

So we just want, as always, to get our music to those who might enjoy it, and hopefully get even more exposure than we got with “Trailmix.” All those years ago!

MO: Have the players changed much over the years?

Reyes: It was all pretty much addition there for a while, where Tom and Brian met me, I knew KooKoo, Brian knew Haas, Haas knew Goodridge, they knew Ray, etc.

At our peak of seven or eight guys on stage, we were a rarity in that we were all pretty good in our own right, perhaps good enough to join some band somewhere, but we were all actually friends and had for the most part known each other as friends even before the music.

There were a couple of shuffles here and there, when Eric left and we got our buddy and fellow SMP Mike O’Leary to play drums, then we replaced original live bass player Mike Rizzo with Ray, KooKoo faded away, then after the tour and our long hiatus, we’ve re-formed as a simpler hip-hop act with DJ DayLate and another DJ, who is currently remaining nameless.

Of course some of the shakeups were involuntary and irreversible. We lost both Brian and Eric for good along the way, and we miss them very much as friends and bandmates.

MO: Why was there a hiatus?

Reyes: We came back from the tour in 1998, on top of the world, having played all over the country, sold (and gave away) tons of CDs, played with some Skunk bands and were all set up to start being booked by them. But first a little time off! And we all fell into different addictions, not all of them drugs, but all of them time-consuming and isolating.

And a little time turned into a longer time, and after a while it was just back to Tom, Brian and myself in a small home studio finishing off the “For Sale” CD. Then Brian died. And that longer time became maybe forever.

Until Tom cleaned up, Bill came along and gave us the motivation to get going again, and we cranked out a bunch of new stuff, and that’s “As Is.”

I can tell you the time away seems so short to us, but yeah to the real world, and especially to our fans, it was a damned long time.

MO: What are your plans for world domination?

Reyes: I honestly think I could conquer the world, if I just somehow got the time back to devote all of it to the music and nothing else.

Ten years ago I would work on music for days straight, going without sleep, going nocturnal. Now I’ve got to fit it in around work and all that “real life” I was talking about earlier. But hey, we’re here, we didn’t ALL die, and the music we’re making is better than ever, more finished than ever before, and I for one am proud of it.

MO: William Ierardi, known as, D.J. Daylate, when did you start spinning?

D.J. Daylaye: I started in 2002. I had just started dabbling in production after watching our producer, Matt, do his thing.

A friend of mine frantically called me around that time saying “Bill come quick, the landlord just threw out my next door roommates dj setup,” or something like that, and Tom and I quickly jumped in his mother’s beat up car to get over there, After snatching them out of the garbage — records, needles and all — I was very happy to say I all but devoted my life in front of the things until I could afford my own. I currently use Numark cdx CD turntables as my main setup.

MO: Do you have a “secret sauce” that makes your sound different?

D.J. Daylaye: I did not like rap music very much — besides Type 4 while I was growing up; I’m more into rock and reggae, only later on listing to rap and jazz blues.

MO: How do all the components of T4 work together — is it controlled chaos like Weather Report or a polished blend like Aerosmith meets RUN DMC?

D.J. Daylaye: Right now Matt does all the production; I only throw ideas at him once and a while, I do all my recording at home and bring it to him. Tom records vocals at Matt’s studio/bedroom (Matt sleeps on his living room couch and has no bedroom!)

MO: We got Matt Reyes thoughts on world domination, do you think T4 will conquer the world?

D.J. Daylaye: It is more than possible, although its more of a way to express ourselves musically, we aren’t looking to take over the world, we do our small part to be heard, but rely mostly on word to mouth, which has definitely passed along way.

Tom got a letter from a kid in Australia looking for the CD! So, if it happens it happens, the way the music industry is going these days, its almost more sane to be underground hip hop, all that said, we of course would sign on the dotted line if there was a worthwhile offer.

what I Left Behind – John Baglio – WickedLocal story by Joe Viglione https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20080201/NEWS/302019480

Top Choice Clique: https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20081224/NEWS/312249441

Enter their danger game: Malden’s Top Choice Clique release Reel Chemistry: The Anthology

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Top Choice Clique performs live at Ale House. Courtesy

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Dec 24, 2008 at 12:01 AMUpdated Dec 24, 2008 at 3:24 PM   

Top Choice Clique is an important Malden area rock/rap group which recently released a glorious double CD compilation of their music and more.

Top Choice Clique is an important Malden area rock/rap group which recently released a glorious double CD compilation of their music and more.

A slick, 20-page booklet accompanies the discs chock full of photographs, testimonials, media reviews, a biography along with a unique look at their “defining moments.” T.C.C. consists of writer/producer MC/DJ Force, Gemini and Jawn P, fellows well represented on both MySpace and YouTube. Ed McMann’s “Kiss Music Magazine” had the boys on WXKS and a bit of that interview leads off the second disc with the radio spin of “Peace of Mind.” Though the 17 selections on CD-2 lean more toward the hardcore aficionado that would know the trio’s output by heart, it works on many levels for “the listeners of the Top Choice scripture,” the document of instruction for their followers in “Givers of the Scripture.”

***
The first CD in the “Reel Chemistry” package contains 14 tracks and is a true tour de force. When the group Public Enemy released Yo! Bum Rush the Show in 1987 and the song “Public Enemy #1″ it was a course change for rap, AMG critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine noting that by “kicking heavy guitars toward the front, honing the loops, rhythms, and samples into a roar,“
Chuck D and company projected something “with as much in common with rock as rap.“
1990′s “Welcome To The Terrordome” from Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet crossed the group over into the mainstream along with enormous influence on other artists. Top Choice
Clique draws from the successful sound constructed by Public Enemy, but takes it down a different highway.

Reel Chemistry: The Anthology
Title track “Reel Chemistry” has a heavy bottom with the boys working in unison to have a serious discussion about the strangeness of the music industry. “I just want to fight back/give them a flat line.” It’s a warning to all their enemies — “Let’s get back to the formula/for we’ve got the juice to rock,” very telling as they let you in on a little secret, that “perfection” is the chemistry.

While “Scripture 93” shows strong Parliament/Funkadelic undertones, it is the aforementioned “Public Enemy #1″ and “Welcome To The Terrordome” which pervade “Perils of Punishment” on The Anthology. (Looking from the) “Outside In” could be the opposite of The Animals/Grand Funk Railroad’s classic Inside Looking Out; it is pensive, thought provoking and eerie all at once. The music takes turns down different avenues, “Troubled Kid” chock full of Star Wars references and lines like “Jenny Craig will keep me skinny/’cause I got this yellow wig, and my girlfriend’s name is Minny.” The music from Jawn P., Force and Gemini is not your run-of-the-mill rap, these locals have an intuition and a feel for entertaining words and highly compelling sound flavors that keep the interest level very high. All sorts of references, including one to local legend, Skippy White, make the poetry all the more intriguing. “Givers of The Scripture” on disc 2 has lots of fun stuff that’s missing from “Scripture 93,” the more polished and commercial rendition of the concept on disc 1. You have to go back and forth from the two CDs to get a full grasp of their “reel chemistry.”

“Sing A Hymn” could be rock/gospel dipped in psychedelia, a lament about starting out, “In the sixth grade/rapped ’till I was blue in the face/but no place to get my hits played,” all the while exotic sounds follow and tuck at the beat.

Top Choice Clique doesn’t exude danger, though they might sing about it.

There’s no need to wonder if some kind of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur rivalry is lurking somewhere as the group, like the aforementioned Public Enemy, is more interested in the music than any type of thug life. “In the midst of the darkness/we see a guiding light,” they say in the dreamy “PPR [Slow Flow Version] — an abbreviated title for “Push It Past Red,” a wonderful double-entendre that is all over YouTube, a live version, the studio rendition and an instrumental take. Slow Flow could be considered a variation the way George Harrison took
”Isn’t It A Pity” and had a more methodical take on the same album, All Things Must Pass, way back in 1970.

The compilation comes with a “hidden track,” “Future Day Relic” featuring Esoteric. Nuno Betancourt and Gary Cherone are thanked: you can find underground tapes of Cherone and
Jawn P performing together in hidden places on the Internet. Jawn P recorded the rap section for Malden band Extreme on their song “Cupid’s Dead” off of the III Sides To Every Story album, and told the Observer he “was lucky enough to get a gold record to prove it.”

Cherone was best man at Jawn P’s wedding while Malden pianist Preacher Jack appeared on the vocalist’s solo spoken word disc. Jawn P told the Observer, “I released it back in 1998, entitled PRINCECHARLESMINGUSMANSONBUKOWSKI. The Preacher rips that boogie woogie in a track entitled JERRY LEE’S NIGHTMARE.” Gary Cherone appears on a blues track called Wimpy’s Lament while Jawn P has also performed at a WFNX night with spoken word/rock musicians Willie “Loco” Alexander and Peter Wolf in a reading of Alan
Ginsburg’s “Howl.”

On this newest release Jawn P wonders, “who knows what would have went down if it got released back in 93.”

For more information visit www.myspace.com/jawnp78 or www.myspace.com/forcefeeld.

What’s Angelo Doing – on Saturday Nights

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Jul 9, 2009 at 12:01 AMUpdated Jul 9, 2009 at 9:20 AM   

In the 1990s people started going to Barnes & Noble bookstores and Border Books to find something to read, get a cup of coffee, a snack, and — believe it or not — maybe meet someone they could get into a dating relationship with. It was a novel idea that the big booksellers correctly reasoned would get more people in to their retail outlets.

In the 1990s people started going to Barnes & Noble bookstores and Border Books to find something to read, get a cup of coffee, a snack, and — believe it or not — maybe meet someone they could get into a dating relationship with. It was a novel idea that the big booksellers correctly reasoned would get more people in to their retail outlets.

If you go: The next Summer Dance Party will be held on Saturday, July 11, 8 p.m. until whenever, at Anthony’s of Malden, 105 Canal St., Malden. Cost: $10; includes appetizers, cash bar, and DJ. Don’t forget to register for a chance to win a free entry for you and a guest. E-mail your name to WhatsAngeloDoing@comcast.net. The winner will be posted at the entrance. Visit www.WhatsAngeloDoing.com out for a dance calendar with future dates.

In the Boston area in the 1980s and 1990s the legendary Dick Syatt held many successful “singles nights,” utilizing his radio programs to get adults together in a safe atmosphere where they could dance, chat and connect.

In December 2008, a Malden resident Angelo Rigano started a Web site and a similar “friendly meeting place” for adult singles to interact.

The Web page, www.whatsangelodoing.com, directs locals to his events at Anthony’s of Malden at 105 Canal St. In the Facebook/MySpace era, the art of meeting someone face-to-face has been somewhat lost. The Web site notes, “Join us for a great time of dancing and making new friends,” which is a great idea to bring back as the aforementioned Dick Syatt is involved with Podcasting and media. It’s important, perhaps, to look at the Syatt model a bit in order to understand the need for WhatsAngeloDoing.com in this day and age.

OnlinePersonals.com’s Mark Brooks interviewed Syatt at length and says that he is, “the original king of singles events. During the 25 years he hosted his radio show, he could pull a crowd of 1,200 singles together in an afternoon.”

The civic-minded Angelo might not be looking for over a thousand people; he keeps his dances inexpensive at $10 a head, and the admission fee includes some light fare appetizers, a DJ, cash bar and door prizes.

So the Malden Observer ventured over to a couple of previous events and saw a good crowd of people dancing and having a nice night out on the town while music was played from the stage by a disc jockey. A previous event featured Joey Vellucci’s band for a different kind of weekend dance party.

Angelo told the Observer that, “Malden’s been good to me,” over a dinner at Mariella’s on Salem Street in Medford, and we asked him for some more details on his activities:
Malden Observer: Angelo, how long have you been in Malden?

Angelo: I grew up in Malden, and still consider it my hometown.

MO: You are civic minded, what other events are you involved in?

Angelo: I’ve done a few things for local organizations, and it’s a great feeling to help out.

MO: You come from a big family and have lots of friends in Malden. Did this help you get involved in entertainment?

Angelo: Yes it did. I was always being the organizer to put things together, and that’s how I came up with WhatsAngeloDoing. And I love to get people out to have a great time. My backyard BBQ’s are getting pretty famous.

MO: You have dances planned for August, September and two in October, is this a building process?

Angelo: The dances have really taken off quite quickly and now have over 200 people regularly attending, and having a great time. I hope to be able to expand into some other fun events for singles too.
MO: What have you observed since you started this enterprise?

Angelo: [I’ve observed] that people my age, (let’s just say a young 40-something), need a place to go and have fun. Being from Malden, I knew Anthony’s had everything I wanted, beautiful function room, great food, and lots of parking. I’m also happy that that people are coming from all over Massachusetts and New Hampshire so there are a lot new faces, and a great chance to meet new friends, dance, talk and have a perhaps meet someone special. I also get a lot of great responses from those that attend, about what a great time they had, and I have even heard of some new relationships starting, so I think it’s working.

As soon as I hear of my first couple getting married I’ll let you know.

MO: How has Dick Syatt’s well-known dances given you a perspective on something similar in the new millennium?

Angelo: I used to go to those dances, and they were a great time. Now with everyone using the Internet and online chatting things have changed, but I’m old fashioned and still think the best way to find someone is in person. You could look across the room and know that there is an immediate attraction; you can’t do that online. And having a few dances never hurt anyone, I don’t think, unless they step on your feet.

MO: Will there be surprises at What’s Angelo Doing?’s coming events, or do you want to keep the formula simple and comfortable for your audience?

Angelo: I’m always thinking of new ways to help break the ice, and so you never know what I’ve got going on in my head. I think we may try some old games with a new twist.

February 26, 2010 Malden Entertainment Hotline

By Joe Viglione / recordreview2001@yahoo.comPosted Feb 26, 2010 at 12:01 AMUpdated Feb 26, 2010 at 1:56 PM   

The Malden Entertainment Hotline wants to extend a very happy birthday to Preacher Jack, mainstay of Malden and the Massachusetts music scene.Join Malden musician Preacher Jack on Friday, Feb. 26 to celebrate his birthday with performances by Jack and Kenny Highland & Friends.  — Courtesy

The Malden Entertainment Hotline wants to extend a very happy birthday to Preacher Jack, mainstay of Malden and the Massachusetts music scene.

Peter Levine was kind enough to inform us that, “On Friday night, Feb. 26 the ‘Garage Night at the Granite Rail’ will be a party for our own Good Shepard and Spiritual Leader Preacher Jack in honor of his birthday (which was actually on the 12) and his 50 years of Rock’n’Roll.” Geezer Deluxe will host the party, which starts Friday at 7 p.m. and ends at 12:30 a.m., and will take place at The Granite Rail, 16 Cottage Avenue, Quincy. Preacher Jack will be on at 8:30 p.m. and other guests, including Kenny Highland & Friends, will begin at 10:15 p.m.

There’s a lot going on this weekend and straight into March for Maldonians with the long-awaited DVD/CD release party for Charlie Farren on Saturday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., at T-Can out in Natick.

The Center For Arts in Natick (14 Summer St., Natick) is charging $20 ($18 for members) to host one of Malden’s favorite sons as he and special guests, “celebrate the release of his retrospective DVD: Live at the Regent Theatre.”

What Farren has done on this double disc is capture his live set with multiple cameras at the iconic Arlington Theater, The Regent. Taped on May 29, 2009, the exquisite package has a separate audio CD of the event as well as the DVD. It truly is a retrospective of Farren’s career with his bands Farrenheit and Balloon, a look back at his days in the Joe Perry Project — perhaps the incarnation of Perry’s Project that was the most essential (and that includes Perry’s current solo tour in the new millennium) — and even his current hit with disc jockey Candy O’Terry. Farren is one of the Malden originals and his longevity and musical journeyman work ethic come through loud and clear on this new release.

Also on Saturday night is an appearance by Jon Macey and Steve Gilligan of Fox Pass at The Cantab Downstairs in Central Square, Cambridge, popularly known as Club Bohemia. It’s a Nancy Neon night and the connection to Malden is more than their upcoming appearance on Ron Cox’s Live on Tape on MATV. The former stage manager for Fox Pass was long-time Malden resident Ron Doty, who tragically passed away in December 2008 from a head injury. Doty was a devoted part of the Fox Pass entourage and even co-wrote a hit the band had on WCGY, 93.7 FM back in the early 1990s called “Cold Dark Icy Stare,” immortalized on The Best of the Boston Music Showcase Vol. 1 CD.

Macey and Gilligan call their quartet The Bittersweets and it consists of another pair of stars, Sal Baglio and Lenny Shea of the Stompers. The Malden connection here is that Sal Baglio is the cousin of John Christopher (a.k.a. John Baglio) of the band Tribal Wisdom.

Malden Observer contributor Peter Levine, and host of the Malden MySpace and Facebook pages, said in the September 15, 2008 Observer, “‘Tribal Wisdom’ formed in Malden sometime in the late 1980s, as another in a long line of DIY rock bands (in the city of Malden) when James ‘Hairspray’ Forbes started collaborating with longtime Little League nemesis (and future Berklee grad) John Baglio (cousin of “Stomper” Sal Baglio).”

Watch for a full story on Tribal Wisdom in the Observer in 2010.

But back to the Bittersweets. Their gig on Saturday night is at 738 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge, in the heart of Central Square, and it would be nice for that group to show up on Live On Tape as well.

Ron Doty would be proud of the new release from his friends in Fox Pass. The second album from the Arlington group that’s been around since at least 1974 (two albums in 36 years because two of the members were on Mercury records with Tom Dickie & The Desires) is a jingle/jangle pop confection that brings the band back to its glorious roots. It’s a remarkable disc entitled intemporel (French for timeless, just as the artist’s name is a play on the French term faux pas). Haunting melodies and gorgeous harmonies soak the speakers when Fox Pass isn’t rocking out in the best of Eric Carmen/Raspberries fashion.

***

Single-handedly taking on the club scene is Malden’s Angel with his WhatsAngeloDoing.com. Music, food, dance floor (and of course the great people that show up) is the mantra on his Web site and this Saturday night you’ll need a transporter from Star Trek to go from Charlie Farren’s gig in Natick to Fox Pass in Cambridge and then to Anthony’s in Malden for the What’s Angelo Doing event. The doors open at 8 p.m. at 105 Canal St., Malden with a modest cover price of $7 until 8:30 p.m. for the early birds and $10 after.

As this is a monthly column we’ll give the Honey Fitz Pub line-up for the next few weeks:

The Shotz will perform on Saturday, Feb. 27; listen to the classic rock band for a $5 cover. The next weekend, Saturday, March 6, The Slushpuppies can be found playing everything from the Doors to Disturbed for a $5 cover. On Saturday, March 13 the Poison Tribute Band known as Flesh & Blood are performing for the $5 cover. The St. Patty’s Day Party is on Wednesday, March 17 and features The Kellsmen who will be playing traditional and current Irish Music “brilliantly as they always do” (or so sayeth Stu’s Web site) from 3-10 p.m. The My Honey Fitz Pub DJ will be playing all the dance music you need along with what they call “Malden’s Best Corned Beef Dinners.” Sounds like fun.

The No. 9 Ale House, located at 118 Ferry St., Malden, still has Jeff Munro’s Open Mic nights happening on Wednesday nights. We’ll keep you posted on the date of Jeff’s 10 Anniversary Party, which will happen this year.

And, as if there isn’t enough to do on Saturday night, local guitar prodigy Len Tetta will be appearing at the benefit event to support the victims of the Haiti earthquake. The all ages program will open with short form, mostly local performances — music, drumming, singing, poetry, dance, and spoken word — and will close with featured performances. Only 12 years old and attending the Linden School, Len Tetta has performed on MATV, twice at the annual summer concert in Bell Rock, at Adam Weldai’s Music of Malden concert as well as other shows including one with his guitar teacher at the Burlington Mall, now up on YouTube.

https://www.wickedlocal.com/x427983278/Never-too-young-to-rock-Malden-guitarist-Len-Tetta-starts-next-wave-of-Malden-s-music-scene

LEN TETTA – THE NEXT WAVE OF MALDEN’S MUSIC SCENE https://www.wickedlocal.com/x427983278/Never-too-young-to-rock-Malden-guitarist-Len-Tetta-starts-next-wave-of-Malden-s-music-scene

https://malden.wickedlocal.com/article/20100226/NEWS/302269332

https://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20090709/News/307099206

Joe Viglione’s writings in Metronome Magazine http://metronomemagazine.blogspot.com/2005/03/joe-vigliones-writings-in-metronome.html …just some of them… https://maldenentertainmenthotline.blogspot.com/#!