Yeah, it was a very busy spring and summer. I played a handful of gigs, and did some DJ dates as well (weddings and filling-in a few weeks for a "Bikes & Blues" night in June; that was a lot of fun!). But the last three weeks were crazy (in a good way)-- I was on-the-road for almost the whole time; a little business and a lot of vacation pleasure. I have been in Mumford, NY, Saranac Lake, NY, Toronto, Ontario, Erie, Pennsylvania, and Varysburg, NY. This weekend, I have another out-of-town gig (Little Falls, NY), then a conference in Machias the next weekend, and another sound reinforcement job out-of-town in October. As I looked at the calendar, I realized I would not only be gone for almost three solid weeks, but six weekends out of seven, so it's been a lot of suitcase living. I will be happy to get settled back in Buffalo before the weather gets too cold.
I had a wedding that I couldn't get out of, so I missed this summer's first (but I hope annual!) Ted Reinhardt Day. I heard it was a great success, though. I saw a really cool Ted tribute window sticker on a passing truck recently; anybody know where I can get me one? ("Out on the road today, I saw a 'Ted-head' sticker on a Cadillac..."). Partially in Ted's honor (but mostly because I wanted it), I treated myself to a new 18-inch Wind Gong (a "Feng Gong," in the vernacular, if I'm not mistaken). I also had opportunity to stop at some record stores on a lot of my recent trips, and I picked-up some really great vinyl and a handful or two of some sweet CD's, to wit: a pretty pristine 45 EP from Buddy Rich, a French pressing of Frank Morgan with Machito's rhythm section and Conte Candoli, and a copy of Miles Davis' The Complete Birth of The Cool sessions on LP. Also a very young Robben Ford on an Arhoolie release from 1972, and Peter Tosh's Mystic Man. All in really, really great shape. Especially the stuff from Toronto. If anyone is interested, "Ric's Recollections" vinyl shop has some great stuff at fair prices, and all of this guy's stuff is CLEAN. www.ricrec.com . Well worth having a look if you're similarly smitten. He will deal on the Web, as well, but no PayPal. But if you're in the Toronto/Mississauga area, stop in. It's a great, well-organized shop, and the folks are cool. I also grabbed a handful of CD's for $1.99 each at Record Theater back home. Padded the DJ kit with some Elvis and Stevie Ray Vaughn "greatest hits" discs, plus Clapton and B.B.'s "Riding with the King." But I copped Count Basie and Joe Williams' "Swings & Sings" and Johnny Griffin's "The Congregation" just for me (the Johnny Griffin has a little different cover design from the average Blue Note-- a neat little Andy Warhol "doodle art" piece). As previously mentioned, I've still got a few more out-of-town stops on the "summer tour;" looking forward to poking around the antique shops, garage and estate sales along the way. Last year I found some nice 45's in good condition, and I picked-up my first legit (non-CD, early pressing) Sun Records piece (Carl Perkins). I guess I'm a record collector, huh? Never did get that subscription to Goldmine Magazine (but if anyone's interested, my birthday is in May).
Excelsior! and all that...
GJ
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Friday, March 06, 2015
Another Eulogy in Blue-- The Extraordinary Ted Reinhardt
I’ve just recently lost someone very important to me, that I wasn’t very close to at all. Maybe you understand the feeling—I’m not talking about an aunt or someone in the family that you didn’t like much but that you knew well; I’m not talking about the loss we feel when a Hollywood star or a famous statesperson passes and we “feel we knew them” from the many times they’ve entered our home via the television, radio, or Internet. I’m talking about someone who I was a fan of, yes! But who also did something very important for me, and gave me some great, life-long memories. Someone I knew, and who knew (or knew of) me, but not all that well. We didn’t hang-out together a lot or grow up in the same neighborhood. And he was about a decade older than me, which was only part of the picture in regards to my looking-up to him and being awed by his talent for so long. And even though we weren’t fast friends, I do have some stories. Yeah, definitely…
The Buffalo music community was shocked beyond belief Wednesday night to hear that the one and only Ted Reinhardt died suddenly and tragically in a plane crash. “One of those ‘Buddy Holley killing planes’,” as Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly famously said. A rock star death for someone who could have been, NO, definitely SHOULD have been a rock star, but unfortunately wasn’t; just to us fans and friends here in Buffalo, NY. Ted was not only one of the best drummers in Buffalo, but he really was a world-class player. As at-home performing and recording progressive rock and jazz-fusion with groups like Rodan, Gamalon, Spyro Gyra, and Ernie Watts as he was playing Dixieland or pop or funk or blues and rock & roll with Willie Haddath or Dave Constantino, Ted was an incredible, awe-inspiring soloist. But his real forte was playing the groove. His backbeat, with its simplicity and all of its nuances and subtleties was intense, and helped to draw you into whatever type of music he happened to be playing. His “lock” with whichever of the great bassists he happened to be accompanying (his brother Tommy, Greg Piontek, and a host of others) was impeccable, as was his timing.
I started playing the drums as a child, and quit for quite a few years before picking them up again in high school; saying “I got serious about music” at that time would be an understatement of the highest order. I also got turned on to progressive rock, jazz, and jazz-fusion right around the same time, and it was then that I happened to turn on the TV and stumble onto a local cable show with this group—“Gamalon,” playing the most inside-outside-sideways-incredible music I had ever heard, in this ladies living room (it was local cable in the 80’s—I really don’t think it was a clever set, it was her living room!). These guys were burning, and at the center of it all was Ted as rhythmic alchemist. I was entranced.
They mentioned something about playing a steady gig at a place called “Jingles” (formerly on Main St. and Hertel in Buffalo, on the same corner where Denton, Cottier, and Daniels was eventually built). I think I wasn’t even 18 at the time, but I went out that weekend and connived my way into Jingles to hear this amazing group live—things were never the same. I was more than a fan, I was a devotee (as were most fans of Gamalon).
I remember many nights watching Ted and the group at the Central Park Grill (at that time Both George Puleo and Bruce Brucato were on guitars, with Greg Piontek on bass and Rick McGirr on keys—a truly fantastic unit if ever there was one). The music of course, and the room sounded amazing (from the audience perspective-- I waited years to be able to play that legendary venue myself, and when we finally did, I realized how bad the acoustics were from the stage side of things; another obstacle that the boys in Gamalon overcame with aplomb). Following the band (and Ted) around, watching him play with other groups; standing outside venues and listening, or looking through the club window when I couldn’t get in, I was inspired to move to another level in my own playing. I eventually got up the nerve to ask Ted if he would give me lessons. He wasn’t teaching at that time (years later, I did take a few lessons with him), but he gave me a clue that changed my musical life—“Look up Louis Marino.” It was because of Ted that I met one of the greatest jazz drummers, and certainly the best drum teacher, in the Western New York area. And it was because of Ted’s advice that I spent many fruitful years gleaning sage musical (and life) knowledge and advice from Lou, and for that, I am forever in Ted’s debt.
Ted was a very humble man, at least from what I could observe. I was working in radio in the 80’s and I invited Ted in to record an interview. I had heard the story that he was “almost in Genesis,” but as good as Ted was, I assumed it was a story made up by an over-zealous fan. He would not talk about it while we were taping, but off-microphone, he did confirm that he indeed could have been in the cat-bird seat instead of Chester Thompson. It seems that not long after Phil Collins took over the lead vocal duties from Peter Gabriel, and while Bill Bruford was filling-in the drum chair for Phil himself (although he was contemplating moving on at that time), the Genesis tour came through Buffalo and someone, somehow convinced Phil and his road manager to come out to see this local progressive cover band called “Rodan” at a dingy old place at the foot of Hertel called McVan’s. The Genesis entourage was floored, and on a quick break, Ted’s contact information was gathered. A few weeks later, on a morning when Ted was catching some Z’s after a late gig the night before, someone representing themselves as management for Phil and Genesis called wanting to speak with him. He stumbled through a half-conscious conversation, found a pen and scrawled down a name and phone number, and promptly went back to sleep (and fatefully misplaced the piece of paper with the number on it). That was it; he didn’t know how to contact the management, wasn’t sure how they’d respond to a guy calling with the likely story of “No, really! Phil Collins wants me as his drummer!”, so he let the incident slide and slip into local legend. But he was that good; that’s the important thing to understand from that story.
Another lesson in Ted’s humility came when I finally had the opportunity to study with him. Ted eventually became convinced that he had something to share, and began teaching at the old Music Mart South location. I definitely wanted to get in on some of that action. He didn’t write exercises down for you; instead, he asked students to bring a cassette tape so that he could record a lick or a groove at a few tempos with a verbal explanation, then you were supposed to take the tape home and bust the material (no Mp3’s back in the day, and home CD burning was only a vague imagination). I had seen him play it live, and I asked him how he could possibly accomplish playing Billy Cobham’s intro to the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Birds of Fire” with one bass drum. He said “Yeah, I kind of cheat,” then tossed-off the most incredible bass drum, floor tom, and snare combination. He said “Put your tape in.” He pressed record, and said something like “Here you go, the ‘cheeseball version’ of ‘Birds of Fire;’” then again, played the part flawlessly while I re-attached my jaw after picking it up from the floor.
I did learn that Teddy could be a bit forgetful. I lent him something that I’ll never get back. I was pissed for awhile; now I just feel honored to have contributed something to his playing. I went to see him with some group at the CPG one night (Taxi? City? One of those one-word fusion groups), and there was some kind of “drum mishap;" I don’t remember exactly what happened, but he actually stood up from behind the kit , knowing there had to be at least 25 local drummers in the audience, and asked aloud “Does anybody have a drum key?” Now, I just happened to have this hip new key I had gotten as a gift. It was not an ordinary drum key mind you; it had a sweet “Pearl” logo (if I remember correctly), had exceptional heft/build quality and maybe more than one lug fixture, for some odd/non-standard sizes. I hesitantly offered my key, but said that I definitely needed it back. “No problem, I swear I’ll get it back to you.” I never saw it again. I did see Ted again many times, and would often razz him about the key a bit, but I never got it back. What I got instead was incredible inspiration from his bottomless well of musical creativity and ability, and unspeakable joy from hearing someone so entwined with his instrument that it almost looked and sounded like he was having an actual conversation with the drums. There’s a reason they call them the “talking drums” in West Africa, and Ted knew it from experience.
Ted was a big guy. I don’t know how tall he was, but I did sit-in on his kit once (well, tried to and gave up more like it). He must have been well over 6 feet (I don’t know, 6’ 4” or 6’ 5” maybe?), and I am 5’ 6 & 1/2 ” on a good day. Have you ever seen Willy Wilcox’ “trapparatus?” The drumset that looks for all intents and purposes like a chopper motorcycle? Ted’s set wasn’t purpose built like that, but it might as well have been a Harley that was 4 sizes too big for me—his legs were unbelievably long, and his foot pedals felt like they were 100 yards apart. The toms were everywhere; just out of reach. I don’t know how he did it. But dad-gum, he did it and then some.
I have had some incredible experiences in my life. I have had some incredible musical experiences at that. Many of them weren’t on the playing side, they were on the listening side. And Ted was responsible, or at least partly (largely) responsible for many of those memorable musical nights. When I think of all of the singular and impactful talents that we’ve lost in the last several years (Joel Thomas, Emil Lattimer, Jimmy Gomes, Lance Diamond, Mark Freeland, Tom Henry, Chu Nero, and now Ted Reinhardt), and when I think of all of the influential and formative people in my personal life that I’ve had to say goodbye to, one nagging thought remains. “Who will pick up the ball? Who will be able to fill these shoes?” My generation is through being “on-deck,” we’re the ones who are actually “up to bat,” and it’s a very scary feeling. Inadequacy to the task? Hard to say. But I know that I don’t feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of giants; more like I’m struggling to crawl up their shoe-laces. But if and when I reach the summit area, and can take a peek at the horizon, I will know what it’s like to have the kind of positive impact on others that Ted had. And I will seek to wield my talent as artistically, and humbly, as he did his. I think I’ll go play my djembe, and stop by the studio this weekend and play those drums. And it will all be for Ted.
GJ
The Buffalo music community was shocked beyond belief Wednesday night to hear that the one and only Ted Reinhardt died suddenly and tragically in a plane crash. “One of those ‘Buddy Holley killing planes’,” as Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly famously said. A rock star death for someone who could have been, NO, definitely SHOULD have been a rock star, but unfortunately wasn’t; just to us fans and friends here in Buffalo, NY. Ted was not only one of the best drummers in Buffalo, but he really was a world-class player. As at-home performing and recording progressive rock and jazz-fusion with groups like Rodan, Gamalon, Spyro Gyra, and Ernie Watts as he was playing Dixieland or pop or funk or blues and rock & roll with Willie Haddath or Dave Constantino, Ted was an incredible, awe-inspiring soloist. But his real forte was playing the groove. His backbeat, with its simplicity and all of its nuances and subtleties was intense, and helped to draw you into whatever type of music he happened to be playing. His “lock” with whichever of the great bassists he happened to be accompanying (his brother Tommy, Greg Piontek, and a host of others) was impeccable, as was his timing.
I started playing the drums as a child, and quit for quite a few years before picking them up again in high school; saying “I got serious about music” at that time would be an understatement of the highest order. I also got turned on to progressive rock, jazz, and jazz-fusion right around the same time, and it was then that I happened to turn on the TV and stumble onto a local cable show with this group—“Gamalon,” playing the most inside-outside-sideways-incredible music I had ever heard, in this ladies living room (it was local cable in the 80’s—I really don’t think it was a clever set, it was her living room!). These guys were burning, and at the center of it all was Ted as rhythmic alchemist. I was entranced.
They mentioned something about playing a steady gig at a place called “Jingles” (formerly on Main St. and Hertel in Buffalo, on the same corner where Denton, Cottier, and Daniels was eventually built). I think I wasn’t even 18 at the time, but I went out that weekend and connived my way into Jingles to hear this amazing group live—things were never the same. I was more than a fan, I was a devotee (as were most fans of Gamalon).
I remember many nights watching Ted and the group at the Central Park Grill (at that time Both George Puleo and Bruce Brucato were on guitars, with Greg Piontek on bass and Rick McGirr on keys—a truly fantastic unit if ever there was one). The music of course, and the room sounded amazing (from the audience perspective-- I waited years to be able to play that legendary venue myself, and when we finally did, I realized how bad the acoustics were from the stage side of things; another obstacle that the boys in Gamalon overcame with aplomb). Following the band (and Ted) around, watching him play with other groups; standing outside venues and listening, or looking through the club window when I couldn’t get in, I was inspired to move to another level in my own playing. I eventually got up the nerve to ask Ted if he would give me lessons. He wasn’t teaching at that time (years later, I did take a few lessons with him), but he gave me a clue that changed my musical life—“Look up Louis Marino.” It was because of Ted that I met one of the greatest jazz drummers, and certainly the best drum teacher, in the Western New York area. And it was because of Ted’s advice that I spent many fruitful years gleaning sage musical (and life) knowledge and advice from Lou, and for that, I am forever in Ted’s debt.
Ted was a very humble man, at least from what I could observe. I was working in radio in the 80’s and I invited Ted in to record an interview. I had heard the story that he was “almost in Genesis,” but as good as Ted was, I assumed it was a story made up by an over-zealous fan. He would not talk about it while we were taping, but off-microphone, he did confirm that he indeed could have been in the cat-bird seat instead of Chester Thompson. It seems that not long after Phil Collins took over the lead vocal duties from Peter Gabriel, and while Bill Bruford was filling-in the drum chair for Phil himself (although he was contemplating moving on at that time), the Genesis tour came through Buffalo and someone, somehow convinced Phil and his road manager to come out to see this local progressive cover band called “Rodan” at a dingy old place at the foot of Hertel called McVan’s. The Genesis entourage was floored, and on a quick break, Ted’s contact information was gathered. A few weeks later, on a morning when Ted was catching some Z’s after a late gig the night before, someone representing themselves as management for Phil and Genesis called wanting to speak with him. He stumbled through a half-conscious conversation, found a pen and scrawled down a name and phone number, and promptly went back to sleep (and fatefully misplaced the piece of paper with the number on it). That was it; he didn’t know how to contact the management, wasn’t sure how they’d respond to a guy calling with the likely story of “No, really! Phil Collins wants me as his drummer!”, so he let the incident slide and slip into local legend. But he was that good; that’s the important thing to understand from that story.
Another lesson in Ted’s humility came when I finally had the opportunity to study with him. Ted eventually became convinced that he had something to share, and began teaching at the old Music Mart South location. I definitely wanted to get in on some of that action. He didn’t write exercises down for you; instead, he asked students to bring a cassette tape so that he could record a lick or a groove at a few tempos with a verbal explanation, then you were supposed to take the tape home and bust the material (no Mp3’s back in the day, and home CD burning was only a vague imagination). I had seen him play it live, and I asked him how he could possibly accomplish playing Billy Cobham’s intro to the Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Birds of Fire” with one bass drum. He said “Yeah, I kind of cheat,” then tossed-off the most incredible bass drum, floor tom, and snare combination. He said “Put your tape in.” He pressed record, and said something like “Here you go, the ‘cheeseball version’ of ‘Birds of Fire;’” then again, played the part flawlessly while I re-attached my jaw after picking it up from the floor.
I did learn that Teddy could be a bit forgetful. I lent him something that I’ll never get back. I was pissed for awhile; now I just feel honored to have contributed something to his playing. I went to see him with some group at the CPG one night (Taxi? City? One of those one-word fusion groups), and there was some kind of “drum mishap;" I don’t remember exactly what happened, but he actually stood up from behind the kit , knowing there had to be at least 25 local drummers in the audience, and asked aloud “Does anybody have a drum key?” Now, I just happened to have this hip new key I had gotten as a gift. It was not an ordinary drum key mind you; it had a sweet “Pearl” logo (if I remember correctly), had exceptional heft/build quality and maybe more than one lug fixture, for some odd/non-standard sizes. I hesitantly offered my key, but said that I definitely needed it back. “No problem, I swear I’ll get it back to you.” I never saw it again. I did see Ted again many times, and would often razz him about the key a bit, but I never got it back. What I got instead was incredible inspiration from his bottomless well of musical creativity and ability, and unspeakable joy from hearing someone so entwined with his instrument that it almost looked and sounded like he was having an actual conversation with the drums. There’s a reason they call them the “talking drums” in West Africa, and Ted knew it from experience.
Ted was a big guy. I don’t know how tall he was, but I did sit-in on his kit once (well, tried to and gave up more like it). He must have been well over 6 feet (I don’t know, 6’ 4” or 6’ 5” maybe?), and I am 5’ 6 & 1/2 ” on a good day. Have you ever seen Willy Wilcox’ “trapparatus?” The drumset that looks for all intents and purposes like a chopper motorcycle? Ted’s set wasn’t purpose built like that, but it might as well have been a Harley that was 4 sizes too big for me—his legs were unbelievably long, and his foot pedals felt like they were 100 yards apart. The toms were everywhere; just out of reach. I don’t know how he did it. But dad-gum, he did it and then some.
I have had some incredible experiences in my life. I have had some incredible musical experiences at that. Many of them weren’t on the playing side, they were on the listening side. And Ted was responsible, or at least partly (largely) responsible for many of those memorable musical nights. When I think of all of the singular and impactful talents that we’ve lost in the last several years (Joel Thomas, Emil Lattimer, Jimmy Gomes, Lance Diamond, Mark Freeland, Tom Henry, Chu Nero, and now Ted Reinhardt), and when I think of all of the influential and formative people in my personal life that I’ve had to say goodbye to, one nagging thought remains. “Who will pick up the ball? Who will be able to fill these shoes?” My generation is through being “on-deck,” we’re the ones who are actually “up to bat,” and it’s a very scary feeling. Inadequacy to the task? Hard to say. But I know that I don’t feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of giants; more like I’m struggling to crawl up their shoe-laces. But if and when I reach the summit area, and can take a peek at the horizon, I will know what it’s like to have the kind of positive impact on others that Ted had. And I will seek to wield my talent as artistically, and humbly, as he did his. I think I’ll go play my djembe, and stop by the studio this weekend and play those drums. And it will all be for Ted.
GJ
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Another Year...
Sooo hard to believe.
This time of year we think a lot about the past and the future. Those we've lost. Hopes and Dreams. I hope that All of Your Christmases are white (metaphorically/musically speaking, people), all of your Hannukahs have Light, and your New Years' are the best ever. Blessings in 2015 and beyond...
Lots going on behind the scenes (as always). Definitely will get back to the music, but currently focusing on health and fitness. When the road calls again, I will be really in-shape for it for the first time in years. In the meantime, follow my exploits at whitebeltwarrior.blogspot.com .
God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Season's Greetings!
Hey There, to Any & All still hanging in and around the No-Star Nation;
A few new update items to report, to wit:
* A belated Happy Thanksgiving, and an early Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and a Happy New Year
too!
* A "Mighty No-Stars Sighting" Alert-- The annual "Sounds of Christmas" concert (Free!) will be presented December 5th, 6th, and 7th, so if you're in the Western New York area, stop by the Hess Road Wesleyan Church in Appleton on Friday and Saturday night, and Sunday at St. Christopher's in Tonawanda (check with the churches or local listings for details). Come see a great holiday show for the whole family, with a jazzy rock in' band adding some new twists to all of your Christmas favorites. You won't have another chance for at least a year, so don't say I didn't warn you! Hope to see you there.
* "Gee, Gregg's been awful quiet lately; I wonder what he's been up to?"
Stop by the new blog for a quick catch-up, especially if you're into fitness or the martial arts...
(I can hear Fred and Barney now-- "Judo Chops, Chops!")... Check out "The Warrior Within" at www.whitebeltwarrior.blogspot.com .
That's all for now; God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
One Year?!?
Wow. Another 365 since the last blog post. I can't believe it. Things are happening. Recording projects, teaching, DJing, trips overseas. Will try to be a good joe and get a proper update posted soon!
GJ
Friday, July 12, 2013
It's Been A Long, Long Time...
Hey there. Just touching base with any and all that might be paying attention. The New Sonic Vault has been going strong for many months now-- we moved out of our old digs last summer. Pictures of the studio and some of the gear we have available are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98397575@N07/sets/ . Hopefully, a proper website coming soon; even with no curently working band, there's always so much to do.
Projects we've been working on? Christian worship projects with Deanna Drabek and Sarah Bastian. An upcoming old-school hip-hop EP with an artist named Taarig Abdus Salaam; it's been a lot of fun collaborating with him. Also an upcoming jazz project with one of my musical mentors and heroes, Louis Marino. Bruce has been doing some demos with his new group West of the Mark. As far as my original music-- there's a lot of stuff in the pipe-line right now. We're still putting the finishing touches on the next (last) Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars CD; from now on it will simply be Gregg Juke the solo artist. I've also got some outside-of-the-roots-music type projects in the works, including a somewhat experimental electronic (but not "EDM") record.
So come back and visit every once in awhile, and we'll try to keep you up-to-date!
GJ
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
All Things Must Pass...
…Or so George Harrison said. Ladies and Gentlemen of the No-Star Nation, it truly is the end of an era. Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars, as we have all come to know and love them, will soon cease to exist. We have weathered close to a decade together as a band, we’ve been through more members in the rhythm-section during that time than I’d like to count, and we’ve endured highs and lows over the last several years that include several personal tragedies and the death of our beloved founding bassist Joel Thomas.
All the while, Bruce, Brett, Tony, and myself have tried to stay true to ourselves, our vision, and the Blues and Roots music we all love, while entertaining you with the best that we could give you from the bottom of our hearts. I’d like to thank the guys for that—playing in this band has been one of the high-lights of my musical life! I’d also like to thank Susan, our business manager/agent/aide-de-camp and den mother, for all of the work that she has put in over the years to keep us out there and to keep you, the public informed on what we’ve been up to. We all gave our best. The truth is that our best efforts in this case weren’t enough; there were one too many tragedies and one too many years of economic downturn. We also find ourselves at very different places in our lives—some with grown children, others still in the midst of raising theirs, and some with very young families who really need the time to pour into their own kids.
This doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars forever, it’s just the end of an incredible era that I wouldn’t give up having been a part of for anything. But it does mean that the live performing unit will be taking a hiatus; perhaps a very long one, and when and if it returns, it’s likely that the band will look quite a bit different. We will all still be involved in music, so look for Bret and Tony out on the scene, and make sure you say “hi.” Bruce will be a featured guitarist with one of Western New York’s premier country bands, West of the Mark. And I will continue to be Gregg Juke, there’s no getting around that! So the studio will still be in full-operating mode, and once I get my hands back (I’ll be taking some time to have carpal-tunnel surgery on both wrists), you’ll not only see me singing and playing harp out there, but I hope also playing more drums and percussion again as well. I’m also getting back into DJ’ing, so I suspect that I’ll see many of you out and about in the WNY area. We will be finishing the long-awaited second album, and will still plan a full-scale international release (we owe it to our fans, ourselves, and to Joel). But the economic and scheduling realities are such that the current live band line-up can’t continue in the way that we’ve all grown accustomed to, so no tour at this time, and no local gigs either. We may be able to get together from time to time for some performances, but for now it looks like our last regular gig will be this Friday the 28th of September at Vizzi’s in Kenmore. The website and this blog will be maintained, both as a place to keep you all updated on recording activities, and on my personal musical exploits and adventures in general. Nocturnal Productions/Blue Buffalo Records will continue, and we will most likely be looking to expand our artist roster and broaden our focus. There is a lot of local talent that deserves recognition and promotion on a larger scale. We also expect to be more involved in concert and special event promotion and production; watch for up-coming events with some of WNY’s premier Blues and Roots acts.
Those of you who have stuck with us all these years, that have been the greatest fans any band could hope for (you know who you are), we are so grateful and thankful to have been able to play for you all of this time, and we hope to do it again. I’d like to thank all of the members of the band that have come and gone; it has been a pleasure and a learning experience in one way or another working with all of you. I’d also like to thank all of those that took an interest in helping us out when we first came on the scene as a group so long ago—none of us green or new to music in the area, but all of us new as a unit and new as a musical commodity to many of you, and your support has meant so much—people like Paul Madsen at Alternative Brews, Joanne back at the old Tap Room, and musicians like the late Jimmy Wozniak, Donna Rose, and Jack Civiletto, who selflessly gave of their time, and shared a little stage space, with some hungry young guns (well, not so young, and less so now, but young-ish, and definitely hungry!). Many of you also supported us as we sought to use our talents in support of those in need. Thank you again for all that you did to help those served by the charities that we have worked with over the years, and especially for those that helped when our dear friend Joel needed it the most. You are awesome people.
This is a time of transition. None of us knows exactly what the future holds. But that’s what makes it exciting, too. Stick around, I’m sure the best is yet to come. In the meantime, if you want to catch the band live, I’d say get out to Vizzi’s on Friday the 28th; don’t say we didn’t warn you! From myself, Bruce, Tony, Bret, and Susan (and I’m sure from Joel as well), thank you all for giving us the opportunity to play the Blues for you. We hope we’ve given you something back in return.
Until Then, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Another Eulogy in Blue
**Note-- We're having a little trouble posting the song discussed at the bottom. Check back soon; we'll get the audio up as soon as possible.
A few weeks ago, we laid to rest a few good men, one of them a dear friend and brother whom I’ve known for almost 30 years (!). That means that some of our other mutual friends (Bruce, Paul, Guy, and others) have known him longer than that—it boggles the mind. One minute a person is here, the next, they are gone, and it is always a bit of a surprise and a shock, regardless of whether there was a long illness involved or if we should have “seen it coming.” For those reasons, and due to the business and issues of life which are on-going, it took me awhile to get some cogent thoughts together in tribute—I needed a little time to process on my own. Grief is that way; as someone very wisely once shared with me— “Grief is a process, it is not an event.” So as we pay tribute to dear friends, I hope that you will share in the fond memories, as well as drink fully from the cathartic well of sadness, for grief, like it or not, will manifest itself in the most unhealthy and inappropriate of ways if left unattended… This I can attest to from personal experience.
The Book of Joel (December 10th, 1957-April 23rd, 2012)
Much has already been written and spoken about Joel Thomas, so much that it would be tempting to assume that “it’s all been said already.” But nothing would be further from the truth—We all experience each other in our own ways as we move through this world together, and it is the shared knowledge and perspective of good interactions with others that are a part of our real legacy, and are evidence of our understanding of true Wisdom (which literally means “The ability to live life successfully and well”). Joel Thomas was one of the wisest men that I have ever met.
Joel and I (and Tracy) met a long time ago, when we were younger musicians who were just starting to come into our own. Joel and another former bandmate recruited myself and a friend for an ill-fated project that, after months of rehearsals, only lasted for a few gigs as a working unit, before the volatile personalities involved imploded beyond repair. I’m surprised that we weren’t all hospitalized with actual shrapnel wounds. No matter; it was an interesting experience, and I got an opportunity to meet Joel! From there, we got to know each other, and many of the musicians and circle of friends that were there at that time have become life-long associates and dear friends in their own right. Joel and I have worked together on and off on many different projects over the years since that time. Most recently, Joel was our founding bassist and anchor (in more ways than one) for Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars, as well as the catalyst for the annual Christmas concerts at Hess Road Wesleyan Church that have become so much a part of our band and family traditions.
Through the years, I watched Joel continue to grow and develop as a husband, father, musician, business person, animal advocate, conservationist, educator, sportsman, school board administrator, and author. Joel truly was a smart and well-informed person, with a keen and analytical mind. If you needed some perspective or insight on something, or just wanted someone to research a topic for you until you felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information he was able to aggregate, Joel was your man. But that’s not what I mean by “wisdom.” And Joel understood the difference between a grasp of factual knowledge and true wisdom.
In music, Joel’s concise conception and organized intellect combined with the more earthy and right-brained aspects of his personality to express themselves in an economy of notes that spoke almost literal volumes. As a bass-player, Joel was a drummer’s (and band-leader’s) dream. I remember this from my own years behind the kit, but if you don’t believe me, you can ask people like Bret Norvilitis, Paul Warner, or Bill O’Shea—Joel knew how to lock it down, leave space for the singer or lead instrumentalist, and to create a pocket as deep as the Grand Canyon and a backbeat as big as Texas. He was also fearless— just ask the snakes, hawks, monkeys, and other large woodland creatures he spent his days wrestling with. One time we had a little scare when Joel called me at the last minute to say that he might not make a gig. Even an experienced and consummate professional can make mistakes, and Joel was working with a red-tailed hawk that he had been training when he let his guard down and was attacked, by an animal that can exert thousands of pounds of pressure with its talons, which also happen to be razor sharp. The bird just missed Joel’s eye socket; while he said that he would be alright, he thought that he might need some rest, and that he looked way too ugly to be on stage anyway. In the end, he showed-up for the gig, and I mentioned that he didn’t look too bad at all. With a wry smile, he told me that his wife was much more than a competent make-up artist. Fearless indeed, and when necessary he could apply this fearlessness to new heights of musical exploration. And while Joel had a lot of musical knowledge, I’m sure that he would tell you himself that he had less facility than a lot of other players on his main instrument of choice, a musical limitation that we shared, and one through which Joel often inspired me. This never seemed to hold him back, as he knew how to “let go”—a Joel Thomas bass solo was a wonder to behold and a treat to discerning ears that will be sorely missed here in Western New York. But that’s only a glimpse into the special wisdom I saw in Joel.
We grew closer over the last decade as we shared almost eight years together in the same band, doing other gigs and performances as well, even being on TV together a handful of times. Once, when he made another rookie mistake, rare for a media-savvy personality like Joel—he left his cell-phone on while we were on a TV interview program, and of course, it rang! Joel had a dry wit and a great sense of humor, and of course he made a superb recovery. Over the years, we learned that we shared not only a bit of an “out there” sense of humor, but a common faith as well. And that is perhaps the secret to Joel’s grace, his “ability to live life successfully and well.”
When Joel was diagnosed with ALS (“Lou Gehrig’s Disease”), he met the challenge head-on. He had been having trouble for almost a year, and when a planned neck surgery did not produce the relief and muscle strength that had been hoped for, a group of friends (who are amazing! you know who you are) sent him out to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. We were all hoping for a different diagnosis, but the doctors there confirmed what local experts had already told him. Regardless, Joel continued to fight, continued to serve the Lord and to serve other people, to serve the animal population he loved so dearly; he finished his book, he played in the No-Stars for as long as he possibly could, and he continued to be the great husband, father, brother, and friend that he had always been. Joel met his end with the peace that comes from knowing what you know, an unshakable and unwavering faith that does not ignore negative circumstances, it rises above and beyond them. Every time I saw Joel in the last several months, he was still upbeat, funny, and had a smile on his face, even though he had more than an ample share of the stuff that can steal one’s joy and could lead to despair. If Joel had given up and rolled over, no one would have blamed him, but instead, he showed us all what real courage is—it is not ignoring dangerous or challenging situations and circumstances, it is choosing to act in an admirable way in spite of them.
When Joel finally become critically ill, and was hospitalized and then moved on to hospice, we all began to prepare ourselves for the worst. But then he rallied, and it looked like he might be going back to his house for awhile. We all hoped that he’d be going home, but he went Home instead. We will miss him, but we shall see him again. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?… Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ… When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written—Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians chapter 15). And therein lies Joel’s strength, and I think the source of his wisdom too. When you know that you have already won the war, the individual battles lose some of their intensity. I think that Joel would have preferred to stay here with his family and friends, I know that I would have preferred that; but as he saw eternity approaching, he recognized a better deal. And there is wisdom in that decision as well.
The Book of Peter (October 18th, 1971-April 15th, 2012)
I did not know Peter Weisenburger beyond his reputation as a great musician and wonderful family man. But I do know his brother, Paul, and I had an opportunity to meet his parents, and because of this, I’m sure that Peter was one amazing guy—his pedigree is above reproach. If he was one-tenth the person his brother is, then he was undeniably a good man; a rare enough quality in and of itself these days. Peter made a name for himself in the theater as an actor, director, and drama teacher. He taught at the high school as well as collegiate level, and has played stages from Buffalo to the West Coast—he and his wife Merritt spent several years in Seattle working in experimental theater there. It is beyond comprehension to lose one such creative and talented person so young; to lose two in so short a time is a devastation that cannot be described in words (regardless of my vain attempt to do just that above).
Peter and Joel will be missed. While the world is talking about the passing of the likes of Levon Helm, Whitney Houston, Dick Clark, Etta James, Donna Summer, Davy Jones, Robin Gibb, and Duck Dunn, our little corner of the universe will be thinking about Joel Thomas and Peter Weisenburger, and how they meant so much more to us than rock stars ever could—they were “life stars;” prime examples of the impact that one person can make in other people’s lives, if they are only willing to take the time. Their legacies are the people that they each touched, which were many—I don’t know when I saw as many people at a wake or a funeral as I did at the events held for Joel and Peter. If each of us could do our best to emulate the example that these two men have left for us, the world would truly be a better place. As Pastor Joe encouraged us all, let’s make sure that the baton does not fall to the ground, and that the torch doesn’t go out. Pass it on, pay it forward. We can, in good conscience, do no less.
After Joel passed, I wrote a song, as I often do; it is a way that I have of dealing with this sort of thing. It was still a little too fresh to even contemplate singing it at the funeral, but I humbly present it here as a tribute to both Joel and Peter, and their immense legacy. The lyrics are perhaps self-explanatory, but in the face of such tragedies, I know that many people, including myself, will want to know “Why?” While we can never fully know or understand the answer on this side of eternity, it’s important to acknowledge both the question, and the One who knows the answer. Joel and Peter taught us how to Stand. We must not ignore their lessons for us.
Please receive this “standard disclaimer” in the spirit that it is given; but there was a bit of a rush to get the song documented, and at the time, I’d only been playing the ukulele for a few days (I’ve got almost three weeks or more under my belt by now!). The lyrics appear below.
Please fell free to leave remembrances, whether humorous or serious, in the comments section below that. Let’s make this a place to celebrate the impact that Joel and Peter have had on those of us who are still among the earthbound.
Stand © 2012 All Rights Reserved
V1.
How many times must I wonder?
If it will all turn out the same?
How many times must I hunger?
And still see it all go down the drain?
Pre-Ch.
Sometimes I don’t think You care about me
And I’ve had enough
But then I wanna throw the “doubt” right outta me
Not quit just because it gets rough
Chorus
I’m gonna Stand by You
Hold up my hand to You
I don’t understand All You Do
But I’m gonna Stand by You
V2.
How many times must we lose them?
Before we understand what’s wrong?
And how many times must we tell them?
And sing the same old tired song?
Pre-Ch.
Sometimes I don’t think You care about me
And I’ve had enough
But then I wanna throw the “doubt” right outta me
Not quit just because it gets rough
Chorus
I’m gonna Stand by You
Hold up my hand to You
I don’t understand All You Do
But I’m gonna Stand by You
A few weeks ago, we laid to rest a few good men, one of them a dear friend and brother whom I’ve known for almost 30 years (!). That means that some of our other mutual friends (Bruce, Paul, Guy, and others) have known him longer than that—it boggles the mind. One minute a person is here, the next, they are gone, and it is always a bit of a surprise and a shock, regardless of whether there was a long illness involved or if we should have “seen it coming.” For those reasons, and due to the business and issues of life which are on-going, it took me awhile to get some cogent thoughts together in tribute—I needed a little time to process on my own. Grief is that way; as someone very wisely once shared with me— “Grief is a process, it is not an event.” So as we pay tribute to dear friends, I hope that you will share in the fond memories, as well as drink fully from the cathartic well of sadness, for grief, like it or not, will manifest itself in the most unhealthy and inappropriate of ways if left unattended… This I can attest to from personal experience.
The Book of Joel (December 10th, 1957-April 23rd, 2012)
Much has already been written and spoken about Joel Thomas, so much that it would be tempting to assume that “it’s all been said already.” But nothing would be further from the truth—We all experience each other in our own ways as we move through this world together, and it is the shared knowledge and perspective of good interactions with others that are a part of our real legacy, and are evidence of our understanding of true Wisdom (which literally means “The ability to live life successfully and well”). Joel Thomas was one of the wisest men that I have ever met.
Joel and I (and Tracy) met a long time ago, when we were younger musicians who were just starting to come into our own. Joel and another former bandmate recruited myself and a friend for an ill-fated project that, after months of rehearsals, only lasted for a few gigs as a working unit, before the volatile personalities involved imploded beyond repair. I’m surprised that we weren’t all hospitalized with actual shrapnel wounds. No matter; it was an interesting experience, and I got an opportunity to meet Joel! From there, we got to know each other, and many of the musicians and circle of friends that were there at that time have become life-long associates and dear friends in their own right. Joel and I have worked together on and off on many different projects over the years since that time. Most recently, Joel was our founding bassist and anchor (in more ways than one) for Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars, as well as the catalyst for the annual Christmas concerts at Hess Road Wesleyan Church that have become so much a part of our band and family traditions.
Through the years, I watched Joel continue to grow and develop as a husband, father, musician, business person, animal advocate, conservationist, educator, sportsman, school board administrator, and author. Joel truly was a smart and well-informed person, with a keen and analytical mind. If you needed some perspective or insight on something, or just wanted someone to research a topic for you until you felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information he was able to aggregate, Joel was your man. But that’s not what I mean by “wisdom.” And Joel understood the difference between a grasp of factual knowledge and true wisdom.
In music, Joel’s concise conception and organized intellect combined with the more earthy and right-brained aspects of his personality to express themselves in an economy of notes that spoke almost literal volumes. As a bass-player, Joel was a drummer’s (and band-leader’s) dream. I remember this from my own years behind the kit, but if you don’t believe me, you can ask people like Bret Norvilitis, Paul Warner, or Bill O’Shea—Joel knew how to lock it down, leave space for the singer or lead instrumentalist, and to create a pocket as deep as the Grand Canyon and a backbeat as big as Texas. He was also fearless— just ask the snakes, hawks, monkeys, and other large woodland creatures he spent his days wrestling with. One time we had a little scare when Joel called me at the last minute to say that he might not make a gig. Even an experienced and consummate professional can make mistakes, and Joel was working with a red-tailed hawk that he had been training when he let his guard down and was attacked, by an animal that can exert thousands of pounds of pressure with its talons, which also happen to be razor sharp. The bird just missed Joel’s eye socket; while he said that he would be alright, he thought that he might need some rest, and that he looked way too ugly to be on stage anyway. In the end, he showed-up for the gig, and I mentioned that he didn’t look too bad at all. With a wry smile, he told me that his wife was much more than a competent make-up artist. Fearless indeed, and when necessary he could apply this fearlessness to new heights of musical exploration. And while Joel had a lot of musical knowledge, I’m sure that he would tell you himself that he had less facility than a lot of other players on his main instrument of choice, a musical limitation that we shared, and one through which Joel often inspired me. This never seemed to hold him back, as he knew how to “let go”—a Joel Thomas bass solo was a wonder to behold and a treat to discerning ears that will be sorely missed here in Western New York. But that’s only a glimpse into the special wisdom I saw in Joel.
We grew closer over the last decade as we shared almost eight years together in the same band, doing other gigs and performances as well, even being on TV together a handful of times. Once, when he made another rookie mistake, rare for a media-savvy personality like Joel—he left his cell-phone on while we were on a TV interview program, and of course, it rang! Joel had a dry wit and a great sense of humor, and of course he made a superb recovery. Over the years, we learned that we shared not only a bit of an “out there” sense of humor, but a common faith as well. And that is perhaps the secret to Joel’s grace, his “ability to live life successfully and well.”
When Joel was diagnosed with ALS (“Lou Gehrig’s Disease”), he met the challenge head-on. He had been having trouble for almost a year, and when a planned neck surgery did not produce the relief and muscle strength that had been hoped for, a group of friends (who are amazing! you know who you are) sent him out to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. We were all hoping for a different diagnosis, but the doctors there confirmed what local experts had already told him. Regardless, Joel continued to fight, continued to serve the Lord and to serve other people, to serve the animal population he loved so dearly; he finished his book, he played in the No-Stars for as long as he possibly could, and he continued to be the great husband, father, brother, and friend that he had always been. Joel met his end with the peace that comes from knowing what you know, an unshakable and unwavering faith that does not ignore negative circumstances, it rises above and beyond them. Every time I saw Joel in the last several months, he was still upbeat, funny, and had a smile on his face, even though he had more than an ample share of the stuff that can steal one’s joy and could lead to despair. If Joel had given up and rolled over, no one would have blamed him, but instead, he showed us all what real courage is—it is not ignoring dangerous or challenging situations and circumstances, it is choosing to act in an admirable way in spite of them.
When Joel finally become critically ill, and was hospitalized and then moved on to hospice, we all began to prepare ourselves for the worst. But then he rallied, and it looked like he might be going back to his house for awhile. We all hoped that he’d be going home, but he went Home instead. We will miss him, but we shall see him again. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?… Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ… When this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written—Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians chapter 15). And therein lies Joel’s strength, and I think the source of his wisdom too. When you know that you have already won the war, the individual battles lose some of their intensity. I think that Joel would have preferred to stay here with his family and friends, I know that I would have preferred that; but as he saw eternity approaching, he recognized a better deal. And there is wisdom in that decision as well.
The Book of Peter (October 18th, 1971-April 15th, 2012)
I did not know Peter Weisenburger beyond his reputation as a great musician and wonderful family man. But I do know his brother, Paul, and I had an opportunity to meet his parents, and because of this, I’m sure that Peter was one amazing guy—his pedigree is above reproach. If he was one-tenth the person his brother is, then he was undeniably a good man; a rare enough quality in and of itself these days. Peter made a name for himself in the theater as an actor, director, and drama teacher. He taught at the high school as well as collegiate level, and has played stages from Buffalo to the West Coast—he and his wife Merritt spent several years in Seattle working in experimental theater there. It is beyond comprehension to lose one such creative and talented person so young; to lose two in so short a time is a devastation that cannot be described in words (regardless of my vain attempt to do just that above).
Peter and Joel will be missed. While the world is talking about the passing of the likes of Levon Helm, Whitney Houston, Dick Clark, Etta James, Donna Summer, Davy Jones, Robin Gibb, and Duck Dunn, our little corner of the universe will be thinking about Joel Thomas and Peter Weisenburger, and how they meant so much more to us than rock stars ever could—they were “life stars;” prime examples of the impact that one person can make in other people’s lives, if they are only willing to take the time. Their legacies are the people that they each touched, which were many—I don’t know when I saw as many people at a wake or a funeral as I did at the events held for Joel and Peter. If each of us could do our best to emulate the example that these two men have left for us, the world would truly be a better place. As Pastor Joe encouraged us all, let’s make sure that the baton does not fall to the ground, and that the torch doesn’t go out. Pass it on, pay it forward. We can, in good conscience, do no less.
After Joel passed, I wrote a song, as I often do; it is a way that I have of dealing with this sort of thing. It was still a little too fresh to even contemplate singing it at the funeral, but I humbly present it here as a tribute to both Joel and Peter, and their immense legacy. The lyrics are perhaps self-explanatory, but in the face of such tragedies, I know that many people, including myself, will want to know “Why?” While we can never fully know or understand the answer on this side of eternity, it’s important to acknowledge both the question, and the One who knows the answer. Joel and Peter taught us how to Stand. We must not ignore their lessons for us.
Please receive this “standard disclaimer” in the spirit that it is given; but there was a bit of a rush to get the song documented, and at the time, I’d only been playing the ukulele for a few days (I’ve got almost three weeks or more under my belt by now!). The lyrics appear below.
Please fell free to leave remembrances, whether humorous or serious, in the comments section below that. Let’s make this a place to celebrate the impact that Joel and Peter have had on those of us who are still among the earthbound.
Stand © 2012 All Rights Reserved
V1.
How many times must I wonder?
If it will all turn out the same?
How many times must I hunger?
And still see it all go down the drain?
Pre-Ch.
Sometimes I don’t think You care about me
And I’ve had enough
But then I wanna throw the “doubt” right outta me
Not quit just because it gets rough
Chorus
I’m gonna Stand by You
Hold up my hand to You
I don’t understand All You Do
But I’m gonna Stand by You
V2.
How many times must we lose them?
Before we understand what’s wrong?
And how many times must we tell them?
And sing the same old tired song?
Pre-Ch.
Sometimes I don’t think You care about me
And I’ve had enough
But then I wanna throw the “doubt” right outta me
Not quit just because it gets rough
Chorus
I’m gonna Stand by You
Hold up my hand to You
I don’t understand All You Do
But I’m gonna Stand by You
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve, 2011...
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year.
At a time like this, it is customary to reflect on the year past, to ponder the people and things that we are thankful for, and to think about the future and what it might hold-- to review successes, learn from mistakes, and to set goals for the New Year. This year is no different, at least not for me!
First of all, I'd like to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. I am truly thankful to God for my family, my friends, the gift of music, and the opportunity to live in a great country like the United States of America. To some, "corny" sentiments perhaps, but true and very important to meditate on nonetheless. My family, my wife in particular, has never been anything but totally supportive, and for that, I will always be grateful. I have amazing friends and an incredible support system. I have the greatest band on earth to make music with, with the best, most dedicated business manager anyone could ask for (it helps that she bakes amazing cookies too). I am also grateful to my bandmate's spouses and families, for sharing their very talented husbands and fathers with me and all of you in the No-Star Nation! We also have the greatest fans, and we live in an incredibly underestimated city-- Buffalo, New York has a talent base like no other, and we are blessed to have many other friends in the music scene that are just as dedicated to making great music, and getting it out to the people, as we are.
God has blessed Bruce and I with a perfect location for The Sonic Vault, and while things have been a little slow as to live performances over the last year, the lull in public activity (gigs and concerts) has given us some time to build a fantastic recording studio and home-base, from which we plan to not only continue to hone our craft, but to help others in the local, regional, and national scene to find their musical voices and to present the best sounding productions to all of you in the listening public. And, I promise we will be a lot more visible on-stage in 2012!
After (ulp!) 30 years in the music business, I am still learning new things, and so are all of us (Your Mighty No-Stars, that is). This past year, after years of working under less-than-ideal conditions in other folks' rooms, we have built our own studio and have put together quite a few exemplary audio and video productions (local videos for solo artists and bands, jingle work for local businesses, voice-over work for our music on-hold clients, and a new demo and some more tunes for our upcoming sophomore album). B and I took another trip to Nashville to the Producer's and Engineer's Summit, and it never fails to energize us and give us a lot to think about in terms of pursuing our best options for the future. We also helped another artist make it onto the Roots Report Charts (our second charting album!); Yvonne Schmidt has only begun to make her mark on the international Blues scene, and we want to help others get their music "out there" as well. Along those lines, we helped some other independent artists promote their music not only locally, but elsewhere in the U.S. as well; efforts we plan to expand in the upcoming year. We helped a local Blues venue raise enough money to purchase an in-house P.A. system, and we a dear friend get some sense of a financial foundation after dealing with the fallout from a life-changing illness... We expanded our annual Christmas shows, bringing some exciting music to even more WNYers this year. And, we played a bunch of gigs, and we're going to play a bunch more!
I am blessed to be a part of a great musical community. I want to thank you all for being a part of that. We all are looking forward to an amazing 2012!
Please have a very Merry Christmas.
God Bless & Good Blues, and we'll see you "next year,"
GJ
At a time like this, it is customary to reflect on the year past, to ponder the people and things that we are thankful for, and to think about the future and what it might hold-- to review successes, learn from mistakes, and to set goals for the New Year. This year is no different, at least not for me!
First of all, I'd like to say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. I am truly thankful to God for my family, my friends, the gift of music, and the opportunity to live in a great country like the United States of America. To some, "corny" sentiments perhaps, but true and very important to meditate on nonetheless. My family, my wife in particular, has never been anything but totally supportive, and for that, I will always be grateful. I have amazing friends and an incredible support system. I have the greatest band on earth to make music with, with the best, most dedicated business manager anyone could ask for (it helps that she bakes amazing cookies too). I am also grateful to my bandmate's spouses and families, for sharing their very talented husbands and fathers with me and all of you in the No-Star Nation! We also have the greatest fans, and we live in an incredibly underestimated city-- Buffalo, New York has a talent base like no other, and we are blessed to have many other friends in the music scene that are just as dedicated to making great music, and getting it out to the people, as we are.
God has blessed Bruce and I with a perfect location for The Sonic Vault, and while things have been a little slow as to live performances over the last year, the lull in public activity (gigs and concerts) has given us some time to build a fantastic recording studio and home-base, from which we plan to not only continue to hone our craft, but to help others in the local, regional, and national scene to find their musical voices and to present the best sounding productions to all of you in the listening public. And, I promise we will be a lot more visible on-stage in 2012!
After (ulp!) 30 years in the music business, I am still learning new things, and so are all of us (Your Mighty No-Stars, that is). This past year, after years of working under less-than-ideal conditions in other folks' rooms, we have built our own studio and have put together quite a few exemplary audio and video productions (local videos for solo artists and bands, jingle work for local businesses, voice-over work for our music on-hold clients, and a new demo and some more tunes for our upcoming sophomore album). B and I took another trip to Nashville to the Producer's and Engineer's Summit, and it never fails to energize us and give us a lot to think about in terms of pursuing our best options for the future. We also helped another artist make it onto the Roots Report Charts (our second charting album!); Yvonne Schmidt has only begun to make her mark on the international Blues scene, and we want to help others get their music "out there" as well. Along those lines, we helped some other independent artists promote their music not only locally, but elsewhere in the U.S. as well; efforts we plan to expand in the upcoming year. We helped a local Blues venue raise enough money to purchase an in-house P.A. system, and we a dear friend get some sense of a financial foundation after dealing with the fallout from a life-changing illness... We expanded our annual Christmas shows, bringing some exciting music to even more WNYers this year. And, we played a bunch of gigs, and we're going to play a bunch more!
I am blessed to be a part of a great musical community. I want to thank you all for being a part of that. We all are looking forward to an amazing 2012!
Please have a very Merry Christmas.
God Bless & Good Blues, and we'll see you "next year,"
GJ
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011/Black Friday Record Store Day
Hello No-Star Nation,
ONCE AGAIN it's been way too long since our last update post. But as always, there has been, and continues to be a lot going on!
First of all, all of us in Your Mighty No-Stars, and the team at Nocturnal Productions and The Sonic Vault Recording Studio wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, a Happy Holiday Season, and a very early Happy New Year! We hope you had a great time with family and friends, and remembered to give thanks for all of your blessings... especially in the US, we have so much to be thankful for. As our president so aptly put in his recent address, let's remember to try and "pay it forward" this season and this coming year.
What's been happening? Well, things have been a little slow on the live performance front, but we've been using that time to do a lot of "undercover" work on the studio, the record label, and the band. We do want to thank all of the folks that have come out to some of our shows at the end of the summer and in the early fall. We especially had a great time at Vizzi's in October. We hope to be back there real soon. Stay-tuned here and at the main website for breaking gig news and information, and be on the lookout for our club and concert tour schedule for the upcoming 2012 season.
In the interim, we've had several projects and some travel keeping us busy. Here's a bit of an update:
* Our annual Christmas show at Hess Rd. Weslyan Church is just around the corner. Hard to believe that the core of The Mighty No-Stars have been the core of the live band for this event for at least seven years now! (I _believe_ this is year number eight?)... Rehearsals are coming along nicely, and we've got some of the material that audiences have come to know and love, as well as some new surprises and guest musicians and singers for this year. Come check out the show. It's FREE, and you get to see and hear some of WNY's finest musicians playing in a _very_ different context. This is Christmas music, performed with some very special arrangements; a show that you don't want to miss. This year's shows are on December 9th and 10th, with a planned redux of our additional performance in East Aurora (E.A. Weslyan Church) on Sunday, December 11th. These are free gigs! See your No-Stars and lots more fine musicians play the sounds of the season with finesse and aplomb! 'Nuff Said? See you there!
* The Sonic Vault has been busy the last few months. We have completed a new No-Stars demo, a new original and two new covers for the next album (we keep plugging away), a video for Roots Report charter Yvonne Schmidt, and have been busy working on demos for upcoming broadcast jingle projects, as well as on-hold music and voice-over for a local business. We also have lots of plans for upcoming projects that we'll be able to tell you more about as events unfold. Stay-tuned.
* Bruce and I recently made our (what is becoming an) annual trip to Nashville for the Producers and Engineers Summit at Welcome to 1979 Recording Studio in early November. This is an AMAZING event for anyone into recording, production, music, or just plain-old technology geeks. Seriously though, I've been to a lot of workshops, seminars, and summits in my many years in the music business. This is one of the most cost-effective, informational, and fun events out there. Chris Mara and his wife Yoli put on an outstanding summit. In the past three years, we have met producers, engineers, musicians, and mastering engineers with gold and platinum all over their walls; people that have worked with bands and solo artists like REM, Led Zeppelin, Porter Wagonner, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, The Raconteurs, Motown Records, and on and on and on. And _all_ of these folks are extremely pleasant and approachable and willing to share what they know. Thanks again to Chris and Yoli and all of the staff, presenters, and volunteers that made this such a great event. We are already looking forward to next year! Not only did we have a chance to sit in on some great recording sessions, talk turkey with very experienced and skilled music folk, but we also toured a very in-demand mastering facility, and a _busy_ vinyl record pressing plant with a storied history (United Record Pressing). We somehow managed to get out and see some live music on the Nashville strip, and check out Ernest Tubbs' Record Store (picked-up some great stuff!). If you're into this kind of thing, you should join us in Nashville next year...
* Speaking of records, today was Black Friday/Fall Record Store Day 2011. Nocturnal Productions took part in the festivities by providing some swag for some blessed record store clientele at two locations this year-- The Record Baron in Kenmore, NY, and Replay Records in Hamden, CT. We sent almost 50 pieces to each location as give-aways to loyal customers, including the new one from Yvonne Schmidt ("Foolproof," produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge), our chart-making album "Blues Power," the 80AD collection of Buffalo/WNY 80's bands called "You'll Never Work In This Town Again! Vol. 1, No Hit Wonders," an album from Australian electronic artist Aspen, and some great material from Lo-Note Records (the new one from Bunky Moon and some great Jazz from Big Octave). Watch upcoming Record Store Days for more Nocturnal Productions freebies! And thanks to The Record Baron and Replay Records for working with us on this year's promotion; check out these great stores if you get the chance... Knowledgeable, helpful, fun staff that will help you find what you want!
* We started a new arm of Nocturnal Productions Music Group this past year, devoted to helping to promote independent artists working in the genres of Blues and Jazz. We helped to get vocalist Yvonne Schmidt's record on the charts, on the web, and in-the-news. If you are an independent Blues, Roots, Americana, or Jazz artist looking for affordable promotion and publicity, get in touch; we'd love to talk over the possibilities with you.
* Just a reminder for the "season of giving": We are still taking donations for our dear friend and founding No-Stars' bassist Joel Thomas. Visit www.joelthomasbenefit.org for more info. Thanks in advance for helping Joel and his family in the fight against ALS.
That's about it for now. We hope to see you at one of the upcoming Christmas shows. Check back here for more news and info.
Until then, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
ONCE AGAIN it's been way too long since our last update post. But as always, there has been, and continues to be a lot going on!
First of all, all of us in Your Mighty No-Stars, and the team at Nocturnal Productions and The Sonic Vault Recording Studio wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, a Happy Holiday Season, and a very early Happy New Year! We hope you had a great time with family and friends, and remembered to give thanks for all of your blessings... especially in the US, we have so much to be thankful for. As our president so aptly put in his recent address, let's remember to try and "pay it forward" this season and this coming year.
What's been happening? Well, things have been a little slow on the live performance front, but we've been using that time to do a lot of "undercover" work on the studio, the record label, and the band. We do want to thank all of the folks that have come out to some of our shows at the end of the summer and in the early fall. We especially had a great time at Vizzi's in October. We hope to be back there real soon. Stay-tuned here and at the main website for breaking gig news and information, and be on the lookout for our club and concert tour schedule for the upcoming 2012 season.
In the interim, we've had several projects and some travel keeping us busy. Here's a bit of an update:
* Our annual Christmas show at Hess Rd. Weslyan Church is just around the corner. Hard to believe that the core of The Mighty No-Stars have been the core of the live band for this event for at least seven years now! (I _believe_ this is year number eight?)... Rehearsals are coming along nicely, and we've got some of the material that audiences have come to know and love, as well as some new surprises and guest musicians and singers for this year. Come check out the show. It's FREE, and you get to see and hear some of WNY's finest musicians playing in a _very_ different context. This is Christmas music, performed with some very special arrangements; a show that you don't want to miss. This year's shows are on December 9th and 10th, with a planned redux of our additional performance in East Aurora (E.A. Weslyan Church) on Sunday, December 11th. These are free gigs! See your No-Stars and lots more fine musicians play the sounds of the season with finesse and aplomb! 'Nuff Said? See you there!
* The Sonic Vault has been busy the last few months. We have completed a new No-Stars demo, a new original and two new covers for the next album (we keep plugging away), a video for Roots Report charter Yvonne Schmidt, and have been busy working on demos for upcoming broadcast jingle projects, as well as on-hold music and voice-over for a local business. We also have lots of plans for upcoming projects that we'll be able to tell you more about as events unfold. Stay-tuned.
* Bruce and I recently made our (what is becoming an) annual trip to Nashville for the Producers and Engineers Summit at Welcome to 1979 Recording Studio in early November. This is an AMAZING event for anyone into recording, production, music, or just plain-old technology geeks. Seriously though, I've been to a lot of workshops, seminars, and summits in my many years in the music business. This is one of the most cost-effective, informational, and fun events out there. Chris Mara and his wife Yoli put on an outstanding summit. In the past three years, we have met producers, engineers, musicians, and mastering engineers with gold and platinum all over their walls; people that have worked with bands and solo artists like REM, Led Zeppelin, Porter Wagonner, the Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Janis Joplin, The Raconteurs, Motown Records, and on and on and on. And _all_ of these folks are extremely pleasant and approachable and willing to share what they know. Thanks again to Chris and Yoli and all of the staff, presenters, and volunteers that made this such a great event. We are already looking forward to next year! Not only did we have a chance to sit in on some great recording sessions, talk turkey with very experienced and skilled music folk, but we also toured a very in-demand mastering facility, and a _busy_ vinyl record pressing plant with a storied history (United Record Pressing). We somehow managed to get out and see some live music on the Nashville strip, and check out Ernest Tubbs' Record Store (picked-up some great stuff!). If you're into this kind of thing, you should join us in Nashville next year...
* Speaking of records, today was Black Friday/Fall Record Store Day 2011. Nocturnal Productions took part in the festivities by providing some swag for some blessed record store clientele at two locations this year-- The Record Baron in Kenmore, NY, and Replay Records in Hamden, CT. We sent almost 50 pieces to each location as give-aways to loyal customers, including the new one from Yvonne Schmidt ("Foolproof," produced by Grammy-winner Tom Hambridge), our chart-making album "Blues Power," the 80AD collection of Buffalo/WNY 80's bands called "You'll Never Work In This Town Again! Vol. 1, No Hit Wonders," an album from Australian electronic artist Aspen, and some great material from Lo-Note Records (the new one from Bunky Moon and some great Jazz from Big Octave). Watch upcoming Record Store Days for more Nocturnal Productions freebies! And thanks to The Record Baron and Replay Records for working with us on this year's promotion; check out these great stores if you get the chance... Knowledgeable, helpful, fun staff that will help you find what you want!
* We started a new arm of Nocturnal Productions Music Group this past year, devoted to helping to promote independent artists working in the genres of Blues and Jazz. We helped to get vocalist Yvonne Schmidt's record on the charts, on the web, and in-the-news. If you are an independent Blues, Roots, Americana, or Jazz artist looking for affordable promotion and publicity, get in touch; we'd love to talk over the possibilities with you.
* Just a reminder for the "season of giving": We are still taking donations for our dear friend and founding No-Stars' bassist Joel Thomas. Visit www.joelthomasbenefit.org for more info. Thanks in advance for helping Joel and his family in the fight against ALS.
That's about it for now. We hope to see you at one of the upcoming Christmas shows. Check back here for more news and info.
Until then, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Chart Success!
Hey All!
Our dear friend, Yvonne Schmidt, has had her own chart success this month-- Number 45 on the Top-50 Blues Chart for both the Roots Music Report and Cashbox Magazine! Beating-out Eric Clapton for number of plays last week! (see story in blog entry below)
Since we had a little bit of a hand in the promotional efforts, we'll bask in a little of the glory, too. But congratulations definitely go out to Yvonne, and our former Buffalo-homeboy, Nashville producer Tom Hambridge, who helped Yvonne make a great record deserving of all of the radio exposure. Congratulations on the success; here's to much more!
God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Our dear friend, Yvonne Schmidt, has had her own chart success this month-- Number 45 on the Top-50 Blues Chart for both the Roots Music Report and Cashbox Magazine! Beating-out Eric Clapton for number of plays last week! (see story in blog entry below)
Since we had a little bit of a hand in the promotional efforts, we'll bask in a little of the glory, too. But congratulations definitely go out to Yvonne, and our former Buffalo-homeboy, Nashville producer Tom Hambridge, who helped Yvonne make a great record deserving of all of the radio exposure. Congratulations on the success; here's to much more!
God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A Mid-Summer Day's Post...
Why so Shakespearean? No reason, really, I guess I've just been wondering again what it would be like to direct William Shatner and Adam West in a feature film... "That's right, old chum!"
Anyway, a bunch of gigs you should be aware of in August (check our main site's calendar, and/or your local listings for specifics and rain policies)-- We will be in Orchard Park, Tonawanda (St. Christopher's), and Attica this coming month, as well as making our Annual Pilgrimage to Vizzi's in Kenmore. Come out and see the band, and say "hi" to the wire-y and ever jocular T-Bone Blasting... also, for the folks in-the-know and on-the-list, we will be making our triumphant return to Schrantzfest 2011 in early September.
Things over at The Sonic Vault are going quite well this summer (a new demo, and a new album won't be far behind, at the rate we've been tracking/enjoying the new central air-conditioning in the studio).
Also, Your Mighty No-Stars (along with our friend The Divine Miss Y-- vocalist Yvonne Schmidt) have had a track picked-up by Valleyarm Distribution for an East Coast Blues compilation that will be released on iTunes on August 14th! Look for Absolute New York Blues coming your way soon!
Speaking of Yvonne Schmidt, we have been helping her with a promotional campaign for her new album, Foolproof, and things have been going swimmingly... She has had tracks from the new record broadcast on terrestrial radio stations from Hawaii to New Jersey, and was recently picked-up by the syndicated roots program Blues Deluxe, on 104 stations worldwide! Read the press release below, and Go Yvonne! Look for her name on an upcoming Roots Report Blues Chart; she's a shoe-in!
Cya, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
===================================================================================
For Immediate Release
7/21/11
Contact:
Gregg Juke at Nocturnal Productions
(716) 696-6758
RhythmGJ@Yahoo.com
Yvonne Schmidt
Wild In Blue Productions
www.YvonneSchmidt.net
Sophomore Blues is Good News for Miss Y; She is now Foolproof
Buffalo’s own Blues and Rockin’ Soul diva Yvonne Schmidt is back with her second solo release, Foolproof, on the Wild In Blue Productions label. Produced by Grammy award-winner Tom Hambridge (Susan Tedeschi, Buddy Guy), and featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians and songwriters supporting Ms. Schmidt, this ten-track album is the perfect vehicle to showcase Yvonne’s roots-y, but polished vocal style.
Having worked with Hambridge and company on her first album, 2002’s Nothing But Blue, Yvonne was more than ready when it came time to record with Hambridge again. “Tom really knows how to treat an artist. He knows what I need to hear musically to be inspired, he knows how to frame my vocals, and it’s always a pleasure to work with him and his crew. It doesn’t hurt that Nashville is a lot warmer than Buffalo in the winter months!”
Advanced copies of Foolproof that have been sent to press and radio are already causing a stir in the Blues community— an album track has been featured on Blues Deluxe, an internationally syndicated program with millions of listeners; and Buffalo’s own dean of Blues radio DJ’s, Jim Santella, recently played a pre-release copy on his Saturday afternoon show. High-octane vocals, propelled by solid musicianship and quality original material, will excite radio programmers and media pros, as well as listeners looking for new sounds in the Blues, Roots, and Americana genres. Benefiting from a production style gleaned from work with the likes of world-class talent such as Susan Tedeschi and Buddy Guy, Hambridge’s musical settings for “The Divine Miss Y’s” vocal explorations put this collection of songs in a new category—“Must Have Blues.” Another track from the new record, called interestingly enough—“The Right Track,” has also been selected for a digital East Coast Blues compilation that will be distributed by Valleyarm on iTunes. The compilation will be called Absolute New York Blues, and will also feature artists such as Dave Fields, and Buffalo’s own Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars. Valleyarm will be marketing the iTunes compilation worldwide, but will be focusing targeted attention on Australia and the Pacific Rim territories. Absolute New York Blues is scheduled for release on August 1st, 2011. Once Yvonne’s record has been released worldwide, she would like to tour with a crack band behind her. As much as she loves to record, it is the stage that she really calls “home,” musically speaking. She has been a fixture on the Buffalo regional scene since the early 90’s, and having the chance to work with world-class musicians, and bring her own music to Blues fans has been a goal that she has been happy to obtain. In the same category as Janiva Magness, E.G. Kight, and Shemekia Copeland, but definitely in a class all her own, Yvonne Schmidt is here to stay with her sophomore effort, Foolproof, on the Wild In Blue Productions label.
Foolproof is available from Wild In Blue Productions via digital distribution at www.YvonneSchmidt.net, CDBaby.com, iTunes, and most major digital retailers, and at finer record stores worldwide through Super D One-Stop Distribution. Look for Absolute NY Blues from Valleyarm Distribution on iTunes in August 2011. Yvonne is available for radio or print interviews, and promo copies of the CD are available for review. Media needs (interviews, CD’s, hard-copy press kits, etc.), may be directed to Gregg Juke at RhythmGJ@Yahoo.com, or for more information, visit www.YvonneSchmidt.net.
========================================END==========================================
Anyway, a bunch of gigs you should be aware of in August (check our main site's calendar, and/or your local listings for specifics and rain policies)-- We will be in Orchard Park, Tonawanda (St. Christopher's), and Attica this coming month, as well as making our Annual Pilgrimage to Vizzi's in Kenmore. Come out and see the band, and say "hi" to the wire-y and ever jocular T-Bone Blasting... also, for the folks in-the-know and on-the-list, we will be making our triumphant return to Schrantzfest 2011 in early September.
Things over at The Sonic Vault are going quite well this summer (a new demo, and a new album won't be far behind, at the rate we've been tracking/enjoying the new central air-conditioning in the studio).
Also, Your Mighty No-Stars (along with our friend The Divine Miss Y-- vocalist Yvonne Schmidt) have had a track picked-up by Valleyarm Distribution for an East Coast Blues compilation that will be released on iTunes on August 14th! Look for Absolute New York Blues coming your way soon!
Speaking of Yvonne Schmidt, we have been helping her with a promotional campaign for her new album, Foolproof, and things have been going swimmingly... She has had tracks from the new record broadcast on terrestrial radio stations from Hawaii to New Jersey, and was recently picked-up by the syndicated roots program Blues Deluxe, on 104 stations worldwide! Read the press release below, and Go Yvonne! Look for her name on an upcoming Roots Report Blues Chart; she's a shoe-in!
Cya, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
===================================================================================
For Immediate Release
7/21/11
Contact:
Gregg Juke at Nocturnal Productions
(716) 696-6758
RhythmGJ@Yahoo.com
Yvonne Schmidt
Wild In Blue Productions
www.YvonneSchmidt.net
Sophomore Blues is Good News for Miss Y; She is now Foolproof
Buffalo’s own Blues and Rockin’ Soul diva Yvonne Schmidt is back with her second solo release, Foolproof, on the Wild In Blue Productions label. Produced by Grammy award-winner Tom Hambridge (Susan Tedeschi, Buddy Guy), and featuring some of Nashville’s finest musicians and songwriters supporting Ms. Schmidt, this ten-track album is the perfect vehicle to showcase Yvonne’s roots-y, but polished vocal style.
Having worked with Hambridge and company on her first album, 2002’s Nothing But Blue, Yvonne was more than ready when it came time to record with Hambridge again. “Tom really knows how to treat an artist. He knows what I need to hear musically to be inspired, he knows how to frame my vocals, and it’s always a pleasure to work with him and his crew. It doesn’t hurt that Nashville is a lot warmer than Buffalo in the winter months!”
Advanced copies of Foolproof that have been sent to press and radio are already causing a stir in the Blues community— an album track has been featured on Blues Deluxe, an internationally syndicated program with millions of listeners; and Buffalo’s own dean of Blues radio DJ’s, Jim Santella, recently played a pre-release copy on his Saturday afternoon show. High-octane vocals, propelled by solid musicianship and quality original material, will excite radio programmers and media pros, as well as listeners looking for new sounds in the Blues, Roots, and Americana genres. Benefiting from a production style gleaned from work with the likes of world-class talent such as Susan Tedeschi and Buddy Guy, Hambridge’s musical settings for “The Divine Miss Y’s” vocal explorations put this collection of songs in a new category—“Must Have Blues.” Another track from the new record, called interestingly enough—“The Right Track,” has also been selected for a digital East Coast Blues compilation that will be distributed by Valleyarm on iTunes. The compilation will be called Absolute New York Blues, and will also feature artists such as Dave Fields, and Buffalo’s own Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars. Valleyarm will be marketing the iTunes compilation worldwide, but will be focusing targeted attention on Australia and the Pacific Rim territories. Absolute New York Blues is scheduled for release on August 1st, 2011. Once Yvonne’s record has been released worldwide, she would like to tour with a crack band behind her. As much as she loves to record, it is the stage that she really calls “home,” musically speaking. She has been a fixture on the Buffalo regional scene since the early 90’s, and having the chance to work with world-class musicians, and bring her own music to Blues fans has been a goal that she has been happy to obtain. In the same category as Janiva Magness, E.G. Kight, and Shemekia Copeland, but definitely in a class all her own, Yvonne Schmidt is here to stay with her sophomore effort, Foolproof, on the Wild In Blue Productions label.
Foolproof is available from Wild In Blue Productions via digital distribution at www.YvonneSchmidt.net, CDBaby.com, iTunes, and most major digital retailers, and at finer record stores worldwide through Super D One-Stop Distribution. Look for Absolute NY Blues from Valleyarm Distribution on iTunes in August 2011. Yvonne is available for radio or print interviews, and promo copies of the CD are available for review. Media needs (interviews, CD’s, hard-copy press kits, etc.), may be directed to Gregg Juke at RhythmGJ@Yahoo.com, or for more information, visit www.YvonneSchmidt.net.
========================================END==========================================
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Late Again!
Hey No-Star Nation,
It's been too long once again. Life's personal challenges, setting-up a new audio and video recording venture, and working on a follow-up record (as well as helping some friends promote their new releases) have taken-up quite a bit of time. Sorry!
News Bulletins:
* The Sonic Vault is ready to go. Website, sound and video, and other goodies pending, but let us know if you're interested in recording services (in-studio or on-location audio and video production)-- brand new central A/C to beat the summer heat!
* Susan, our band manager, has been recovering from some surgery; say a prayer and wish her well for a speedy recovery!
* You can still donate to www.JoelThomasBenefit.com ; we'll have a special project coming up soon that we could really use your help on...
* Due to all of the activities mentioned above, the summer concert schedule has been pretty slow, but we do have a bunch of dates coming in August... For more info, visit the homesite at www.MightyNoStars.com; come on out and see the band, and say hi to our new member, Tony Blasting!
Thanks and C U Soon,
GJ
It's been too long once again. Life's personal challenges, setting-up a new audio and video recording venture, and working on a follow-up record (as well as helping some friends promote their new releases) have taken-up quite a bit of time. Sorry!
News Bulletins:
* The Sonic Vault is ready to go. Website, sound and video, and other goodies pending, but let us know if you're interested in recording services (in-studio or on-location audio and video production)-- brand new central A/C to beat the summer heat!
* Susan, our band manager, has been recovering from some surgery; say a prayer and wish her well for a speedy recovery!
* You can still donate to www.JoelThomasBenefit.com ; we'll have a special project coming up soon that we could really use your help on...
* Due to all of the activities mentioned above, the summer concert schedule has been pretty slow, but we do have a bunch of dates coming in August... For more info, visit the homesite at www.MightyNoStars.com; come on out and see the band, and say hi to our new member, Tony Blasting!
Thanks and C U Soon,
GJ
Thursday, March 10, 2011
March 2011--Stay with Us!
Hey No-Star Nation,
I know it's been awhile (OK, quite awhile) since we've touched base here at the ol' blogspot, kids. Gigs have been pretty slow so far this year, but don't think that means LOTS isn't going on behind the scenes (because it most-definitely is!)... The studio is coming along nicely, and we're almost ready for a little public sneak-preview. Bruce Rounds, Tony Blasting, and Bret Norvilitis have some clinic/mini-lesson videos up on YouTube (check 'em out); look for a slew of videos featuring yours-truly coming soon. And there's more where that came from. We're getting ready for the summer tour, getting the studio ready for a bunch of projects, and we'll (finally) be working on our follow-up album. Plus a few more surprises that we can't discuss just yet.
Some quick news items:
* The studio, formerly known as The Batcave, has a new name. Henceforth, No-Star HQ has been dubbed The Sonic Vault.
* We are still accepting donations for Joel Thomas at JoelThomasBenefit.com , and his book is still available as well. Check back there for more info, as things develop.
* Look for more upcoming gigs, as we expand our performing circuit throughout 2011. Gregg Juke & the Mighty No-Stars will be looking to come to your town in the very near future!
Thanks, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
I know it's been awhile (OK, quite awhile) since we've touched base here at the ol' blogspot, kids. Gigs have been pretty slow so far this year, but don't think that means LOTS isn't going on behind the scenes (because it most-definitely is!)... The studio is coming along nicely, and we're almost ready for a little public sneak-preview. Bruce Rounds, Tony Blasting, and Bret Norvilitis have some clinic/mini-lesson videos up on YouTube (check 'em out); look for a slew of videos featuring yours-truly coming soon. And there's more where that came from. We're getting ready for the summer tour, getting the studio ready for a bunch of projects, and we'll (finally) be working on our follow-up album. Plus a few more surprises that we can't discuss just yet.
Some quick news items:
* The studio, formerly known as The Batcave, has a new name. Henceforth, No-Star HQ has been dubbed The Sonic Vault.
* We are still accepting donations for Joel Thomas at JoelThomasBenefit.com , and his book is still available as well. Check back there for more info, as things develop.
* Look for more upcoming gigs, as we expand our performing circuit throughout 2011. Gregg Juke & the Mighty No-Stars will be looking to come to your town in the very near future!
Thanks, God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Holidays 2010!
Hey No-Star Nation,
I can't believe it's been another year! Another year of shows, another year of rehearsing, recording, writing, negotiating, planning; another year of getting to know many of you!
We were nominated for a Nightlife Music Award this year, but unfortunately, we haven't been able to find out if we have won or not (the awards ceremony was last week, but the winners haven't been posted yet). If anybody has a clue, send us an e-mail, aye?
We recently completed our 6th year as the house band for the "Sounds of Christmas" show presented by Hess Rd. Weslyan Church, and this year we took the show on the road. Another great time, great performances, and wonderful hospitality from all involved-- Thanks.
We are now entering our seventh year as a band. I continue to be blessed to work with amazing, talented, dedicated people. This is definitely the greatest band I've ever been in (and I've been in a lot of bands!). I'd like to thank everybody in the No-Stars' bullpen and office (especially Bruce, Tony, Bret, and Susan) for all they do.
We are making some changes. You're going to be pleased. We're looking forward to a blues-rockin' 2011. There's so much to say, it's hard to know where to begin. Check back often for updates on the band, the new studio, new music, and our expanding gig schedule.
This coming Friday and Saturday, we are at Vizzi's in Kenmore, and the Double Diamond in Ellicottville, respectively. We hope to see you there. If not, have an OUTSTANDING Christmas and New Years, and we hope you had a great Hanukkah!
Onward and Upward in 2011...
God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
I can't believe it's been another year! Another year of shows, another year of rehearsing, recording, writing, negotiating, planning; another year of getting to know many of you!
We were nominated for a Nightlife Music Award this year, but unfortunately, we haven't been able to find out if we have won or not (the awards ceremony was last week, but the winners haven't been posted yet). If anybody has a clue, send us an e-mail, aye?
We recently completed our 6th year as the house band for the "Sounds of Christmas" show presented by Hess Rd. Weslyan Church, and this year we took the show on the road. Another great time, great performances, and wonderful hospitality from all involved-- Thanks.
We are now entering our seventh year as a band. I continue to be blessed to work with amazing, talented, dedicated people. This is definitely the greatest band I've ever been in (and I've been in a lot of bands!). I'd like to thank everybody in the No-Stars' bullpen and office (especially Bruce, Tony, Bret, and Susan) for all they do.
We are making some changes. You're going to be pleased. We're looking forward to a blues-rockin' 2011. There's so much to say, it's hard to know where to begin. Check back often for updates on the band, the new studio, new music, and our expanding gig schedule.
This coming Friday and Saturday, we are at Vizzi's in Kenmore, and the Double Diamond in Ellicottville, respectively. We hope to see you there. If not, have an OUTSTANDING Christmas and New Years, and we hope you had a great Hanukkah!
Onward and Upward in 2011...
God Bless & Good Blues,
GJ
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Alan Parsons, your Mighty No-Stars, and a mini Batcave Update... (and Happy Thanksgiving)
Last week, Bruce Rounds, our friend Reggie Evans, and myself traveled to Nashville, TN, for the second annual Producer's & Engineers Summit at "Welcome to 1979" recording studio. Welcome to 1979 is an analog recording facility in West Nashville, owned by engineer Chris Mara. Last year I was pleased to make the acquaintance of such accomplished audio professionals as Bob Ohlsson (Nashville mastering engineer, formerly of Motown Records in Detroit) and independent producer and musician Mark Rubel. This year we met an amazing cross-section of audio talent that included folks that have recorded everybody from Led Zeppelin and the Beach Boys, to major contemporary and heritage Country artists. Besides a full weekend of music and recording workshops and a great hang, the kicker this year was a listening party with Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" in the original quadraphonic version, with an interview/commentary talk afterwards by Alan Parsons himself. Outstanding. We will definitely be back, and I highly recommend this weekend to anybody interested in the production of records.
Regarding The Batcave ("the walk," "the room," " 'Reggie's Place' ,"), we are moving along quite nicely. While we have been rehearsing there for months, Bruce and I have been taking our time with sound treatment, signal routing, and interior design, which has paid-off with a great looking and sounding control room and studio. We are close to a finished product that we will be willing to reveal to the public, so stay-tuned for more news, photos, and videos coming your way.
In gig news, we'll be back down in Ellicottville, NY at the Double Diamond this Friday, November 26th (the day after Thanksgiving). Music starts at 9:30pm, and we hope to see you there! It's been awhile, so we're jazzed to get back on the road for some music-making. It's going to be a great gig.
God Bless, Good Blues, and Happy Thanksgiving,
GJ
Regarding The Batcave ("the walk," "the room," " 'Reggie's Place' ,"), we are moving along quite nicely. While we have been rehearsing there for months, Bruce and I have been taking our time with sound treatment, signal routing, and interior design, which has paid-off with a great looking and sounding control room and studio. We are close to a finished product that we will be willing to reveal to the public, so stay-tuned for more news, photos, and videos coming your way.
In gig news, we'll be back down in Ellicottville, NY at the Double Diamond this Friday, November 26th (the day after Thanksgiving). Music starts at 9:30pm, and we hope to see you there! It's been awhile, so we're jazzed to get back on the road for some music-making. It's going to be a great gig.
God Bless, Good Blues, and Happy Thanksgiving,
GJ
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Annual Cut & Paste Awards are up again...
A tiny bit less cut & paste this year, but still mostly cut & paste at the Annual Cut & Paste Awards 2010...
(sigh)
GJ
(sigh)
GJ
Friday, September 24, 2010
Joel Fest a Rockin' Success...
Nocturnal Productions, Gregg Juke & The Mighty No-Stars, Susan Fischer, and the executive committee of the Joel Thomas Benefit Fund would like to thank ALL of the people, businesses, organizations, musicians, and all-around great folks that contributed to Joel Fest through donations of time, money, or both. Thank you for your financial, physical, logistical, emotional, and spiritual support. Thanks for buying tickets and spending money on the raffles and auctions. We had an outstanding time and raised a lot of money!!!!
It was a long time in the planning, and quite a few long days in the making, but it was all worth it. You all made this event successful beyond our wildest dreams, and for that we are truly grateful.
It was really great to see and hear all of the musicians performing at this once-in-a-lifetime concert, and even more gratifying to see a lot more of the music community (even those that weren't performing) come out to support Joel and his fight against ALS.
If you missed Joel Fest, but would like to help with our on-going efforts to create sustainable assistance through the Joel Thomas Benefit Fund, please visit the website at www.JoelThomasBenefit.com . We'd love to hear from you.
Thanks, stay tuned, God Bless & Good Blues,
Gregg Juke
It was a long time in the planning, and quite a few long days in the making, but it was all worth it. You all made this event successful beyond our wildest dreams, and for that we are truly grateful.
It was really great to see and hear all of the musicians performing at this once-in-a-lifetime concert, and even more gratifying to see a lot more of the music community (even those that weren't performing) come out to support Joel and his fight against ALS.
If you missed Joel Fest, but would like to help with our on-going efforts to create sustainable assistance through the Joel Thomas Benefit Fund, please visit the website at www.JoelThomasBenefit.com . We'd love to hear from you.
Thanks, stay tuned, God Bless & Good Blues,
Gregg Juke
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Joel Fest
Well, Summer went by fast, and we're already into the Fall season. Much is happening, but what's most important to us right now is what's coming up this weekend: Joel Fest in Tonawanda, NY. As many of you may know, our friend Joel needs help, and we have been spending the past 8-9 months planning the benefit party/event of the century. We have a concert with some of WNY's premier musical talent planned, as well as a day of fun, great food, raffles, auctions, fundraisers, and special activities. Joel will also be there, signing copies of his new book, "Creature Comforts."
Please visit http://joelthomasbenefit.com to find out more about Joel Fest, the Joel Thomas Benefit Fund, and how you can help, even if you can't make it to this fantastic show and event.
We hope to see you there!
GJ
Please visit http://joelthomasbenefit.com to find out more about Joel Fest, the Joel Thomas Benefit Fund, and how you can help, even if you can't make it to this fantastic show and event.
We hope to see you there!
GJ
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Summer Update 2010
Hey No-Star Nation,
Long-time no-post, so here is a quick update on Your Mighty No-Stars...
Joel is doing well, but remains unable to perform with the band at this time. We have welcomed old friend, talented musician, irrespressible cut-up, and former Bleeding Hearts bassist Tony Blasting into the No-Stars as long-term sub (Tony will be on bass for at least the next year... he's also a fine keyboardist and singer). Say "hi" to Tony on an upcoming gig.
We'll be presenting a benefit for Joel and his family on Sunday, September 19th; watch this space or visit our main website for details. You should also check-out the brand new www.JoelThomasBenefit.com for continuing updates on the event and all-things Joel.
We'll be in Attica tonight (Wednesday, July 28th) at 6:30pm for a town concert. This Sunday at the annual St. Christopher's Summerfest, and on Saturday, August 7th at the Buffalo Blues and Barbecue event at LaSalle Park in Buffalo ( www.buffalobluesnbbq.com ). Check our schedule at www.MightyNoStars.com for the rest of this summer's concert calendar and other upcoming dates.
A recent poster placed this note (see below) in the comments section of the May blog entry. "T Bowen's" suggestions are so spot-on, they bear repeating... And, as one lucky fan recently learned-- always be polite (an SM58 plugged into a modest sound-system will always be louder than the most obnoxious, albeit sans-sound-reinforced heckler). Perhaps we'll ask T Bowen to make some regular commentary here on the blog; something like a guest column... We shall see.
GJ
T Bowen's Comments--
Music listeners etiquette guide
Live performance:
From time to time you may find a live performance too loud for your liking. Among the many options such as finding a quieter club for your conversation, moving farther from the band, or noise reducing earware, is the idea of speaking for everyone with a direct request for lower volume from the band. Some would start with an attention getter ranging from a mild "hey fellas" or "pardon me" to blanket accusations of fornication or other outright profanity. Seasoned musicians suggest the hand clasp and slight bow followed by the two handed motion palms down indicating a request for lowering of volume. This is guaranteed to work every time assuming you own the club or are otherwise involved in the band-paying process. Be that not the case, look for a handy tip jar and indicate your appreciation of the hard work and talent along with a desire for lower volume. (understand your performers have likely been going deaf for some time). Look for more handy live music do's and don'ts right here at Juke the Mighty!
Long-time no-post, so here is a quick update on Your Mighty No-Stars...
Joel is doing well, but remains unable to perform with the band at this time. We have welcomed old friend, talented musician, irrespressible cut-up, and former Bleeding Hearts bassist Tony Blasting into the No-Stars as long-term sub (Tony will be on bass for at least the next year... he's also a fine keyboardist and singer). Say "hi" to Tony on an upcoming gig.
We'll be presenting a benefit for Joel and his family on Sunday, September 19th; watch this space or visit our main website for details. You should also check-out the brand new www.JoelThomasBenefit.com for continuing updates on the event and all-things Joel.
We'll be in Attica tonight (Wednesday, July 28th) at 6:30pm for a town concert. This Sunday at the annual St. Christopher's Summerfest, and on Saturday, August 7th at the Buffalo Blues and Barbecue event at LaSalle Park in Buffalo ( www.buffalobluesnbbq.com ). Check our schedule at www.MightyNoStars.com for the rest of this summer's concert calendar and other upcoming dates.
A recent poster placed this note (see below) in the comments section of the May blog entry. "T Bowen's" suggestions are so spot-on, they bear repeating... And, as one lucky fan recently learned-- always be polite (an SM58 plugged into a modest sound-system will always be louder than the most obnoxious, albeit sans-sound-reinforced heckler). Perhaps we'll ask T Bowen to make some regular commentary here on the blog; something like a guest column... We shall see.
GJ
T Bowen's Comments--
Music listeners etiquette guide
Live performance:
From time to time you may find a live performance too loud for your liking. Among the many options such as finding a quieter club for your conversation, moving farther from the band, or noise reducing earware, is the idea of speaking for everyone with a direct request for lower volume from the band. Some would start with an attention getter ranging from a mild "hey fellas" or "pardon me" to blanket accusations of fornication or other outright profanity. Seasoned musicians suggest the hand clasp and slight bow followed by the two handed motion palms down indicating a request for lowering of volume. This is guaranteed to work every time assuming you own the club or are otherwise involved in the band-paying process. Be that not the case, look for a handy tip jar and indicate your appreciation of the hard work and talent along with a desire for lower volume. (understand your performers have likely been going deaf for some time). Look for more handy live music do's and don'ts right here at Juke the Mighty!
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