Happy birthday greetings go out today to the big dog himself, Andy Shernoff!
Pics via AndyShernoff.com!
Category Archives: Adny
Andy at Otto’s
Andy Shernoff’s Song Workshop is in the middle of a month-long residency at Otto’s Shrunken Head on 14th Street in NYC. We caught the set last Wednesday.
These gigs are rare chances to peek behind the songwriter’s curtain, and witness songs as they are being brought to life. The musicians barely know the tunes — experiments are made, risks taken, mistakes shrugged off. It’s endearing to hear the material in this manner, and it’s a unique experience for the audience.
This was the first time I’ve noticed just how amazing Brian Hurd and Tricia Scotti truly are, and how they are both perfectly suited for their supporting roles. They both display musical intuition that sometimes borders on the telepathic. Brian, who’s rocking the largest set of mutton chops since the heyday of Andre the Giant, never overplays, and always supplies what the song needs. Sometimes it’s a wailing solo, sometimes a background fill, but he’s always spot on and soulful. And Mother of God, what a voice on Tricia Scotti. It is a wonder of nature. I would pay to hear her sing the phone book.
Three of the night’s tunes were new to these ears, and all were memorable. “I Just Want To Save Your Soul” is almost spiritual in tone, while “I Know a Song To Save Your Life” has a Paul McCartney vibe (the GOOD Macca, not the “Just Another Day” Macca). “I Cried Love” was the best of the newbies, with a simple, soothing feel that is reminiscent of “Stay With Me” while sounding nothing like that classic.
The Otto’s residency wraps up tomorrow. There are more shows coming in Queens, and another soon at Café Nine in New Haven. There will be lots of Shernoff to go around in 2013.
Filed under Adny, Live Review
We Got Your Humbug Right Here!
Had enough of being force-fed the same 10 Christmas songs everywhere you go? Here’s the perfect antidote, a cleansing for your musical palate. Add it to your mix CD for Xmas Eve with the family, and odds are good that “go tell the elves to f*ck themselves” will induce the Xmas lovers to shoot eggnog out of their noses.
– Salvi C.
Filed under Adny, Music Review
Gigs by the Galore!
After a quiet couple of months in terms of opportunities to see our guys, we suddenly have an embarrassment of shows, starting this week.
The Del Lords have an all too rare NYC show tomorrow, 12/11, at the Rock Shop, a benefit for Mark Spencer, whose recording studio was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Ticket info can be found here.
Scott’s in the middle of an East Coast solo tour with Elliott Murphy, the highlight of which in our POV is a gig this Friday, 12/14, at the Record Collector in Bordentown, NJ, where he shares the bill with Andy Shernoff. That’s two Dictators for the price of one, a sure-fire value in these difficult times. Tix for the Record Collector gig are available here.
Daniel Rey has 3 gigs backing Ronnie Spector’s “Best Christmas Party Ever!,” starting this Friday at BB King’s, and ending Saturday, 12/22, at the Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun. Your humble reporter will be in attendance for that one.
Finally, what better way can there be to ring in the New Year than to share the mishegas with Manitoba at the Bowery Electric? Tickets are going faster than free hotcakes, but are still available here.
– Salvi C.
‘Don’t Fade Away’
The debut CD from Andy Shernoff has hit the streets! “Don’t Fade Away” is a 4-song EP, released by CD Baby. Extended plays have a curious history of being the red-headed stepson of records. Halfway between a 45 and an LP, they usually served as ways to get the public to buy the same old for a 3rd time. Andy explodes tradition here, with 4 brand-new songs, in 4 different styles. These tunes, along with another batch that’s scheduled to hit the streets next spring, were recorded in the fall of 2011 in Springfield, MO, with the country’s greatest bar band, the Skeletons, acting as back-up. The Skeletons have always served them up fast and short, firm believers in the SWAT team approach of “get in, get out, and don’t give the audience time to get bored.” This EP adheres to that concept, with the whole shebang clocking in at an economical 12:09.
Batting lead-off is “Let’s Get the Band Back Together,” which is one of the funniest things Andy has been part of since “The Dictators Go Girl Crazy.” It’s very glam and catchy, with a call and response of “Come on!” that is total ear candy. I’m thinking the over/under for feather boas in the accompanying video will be 3.
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Filed under Adny, Music Review
Fantastisk Omgang af Fed Musik!
The Master Plan kicks off their summer vacation/European tour this coming Saturday, Aug. 25. They are a featured act at the annual Gutter Island Garage Rock Festival in Denmark. Here’s what we think is the promo info. Hell, it could be instructions on how to build a patio deck for all we know.
Gutter Island Garagerock Festival er en vigtig og uundværlig del af dansk festival tradition.
Det er den eneste festival, der udelukkende fokuserer på garagerocken og beslægtede genrer. Festivalen har eksisteret siden 2000 og afholdes hvert andet år, næste gang i august 2012.
Læs videre, hvis du vil vide hvad nogle af dens trofaste fans har at sige om den. Gutter Island er en drømme festival. Slet og ret. Skabt af lyst til rock, fællesskab og oplevelser i øjenhøjde.
Her kan publikum møde vandbærere, stjerner og legender – og musikere kan møde fans, festivalgæster og andre feriebørn fra storbyernes rockhuler.
På Gutter Island er der stort set lige så mange “ydende” som “nydende” deltagere. En festival der med afsæt i en sjælden ren blanding af entusiasme, knofedt og viljestyrke.
Et fremragende arbejde båret af stærke, dynamiske musikmiljøer – nu ikke bare i Danmark, men også i resten af Skandinavien Givet er det at arrangementet er den største fuldtræffer, der endnu har ramt øens fort”.
Yderligere bands vil blive annonceret lidt senere og vil gøre årets program til en sand lækkerbidsken af rå, hæsblæsende og helt fantastisk omgang af fed musik!
– Salvi C.
It’s Showtime
We here in Boston are girding our collective loins, whatever that means, in anticipation of the upcoming Manitoba invasion. It’s been 9 years since the loud and the proud have graced us with their presence.
Boston has always had a weird relationship with the band, and vice versa. The music and musicians are always welcomed with open arms. The “Yankees Uber Alles” attitude, not so much. Over/under on the length of time between them hitting the stage and the first insult exchange = 2 minutes.
While we wait, those of you in the NYC area have pul-enty of ops to see our boys. Tonight, Andy and the Master Plan are playing their first gig in two years at the Bowery Electric, in support of Denis Tek of the legendary Radio Birdman. It’s an early show. Tomorrow night, you can head to Webster Hall for the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash, which will feature both JP and RTB.
– Salvi C.
Filed under 'Tators Tracker, Adny, MANITOBA
Foooking Hell!
We’ll have a much longer blow by blow on the Norton 25th Anny weekend in the days to come, but while we try to deal with the harsh return to reality, and sift through the detritus of the trip (any theories as to why I bought a “Learn to Dance with Jackie and The Cedrics” DVD would be appreciated), here’s the highlight of the event from our Dictators-centric point of view. Enjoy.
– Salvi C.
‘Tators Tracker: Herding Cats Edition
Where are the Dictators members these days? Where AREN’T they?
Personally, I’m having great difficulty keeping track of them and their many different projects. Here’s a quick snapshot of where to find who doing what when … if I missed something (and I probably did), please e-mail me or comment below!
In random order, because I love ALL my Dictators (separate but equal, yo!):
Filed under 'Tators Tracker, Adny, HDM, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt, Top Ten
DFFD123
Guest Contributors
Robbiecube
Salvi C.
Thunderbolt Patterson
