Pink Floyd Performs in Stroudsburg! (Sort of...)

Pink Floyd fans will be psyched this weekend when they go see "Rock 'n' Art" at the Sherman Theater. The venue's website has listed the event as "an interactive, multimedia experience." Local artists Bill Kelley and Chris Francz will be presenting their work, which will be accompanied by Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Although no showing of The Wall could ever be the same as seeing the boys -- David Gilmour, Richard Wright, Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters -- this show aims to bring just a little piece of their glory to Stroudsburg.
For a taste of the acid trip that is The Wall, check out a small snippet of "Comfortably Numb" from the actual movie.
Because of the band's inability to get along, the remaining members of Pink Floyd have stated that they will not be reuniting for a tour after rumors surfaced that it would happen. However, David Gilmour and Roger Waters still tour by themselves.
Come on, guys. Kiss and make up...for your fans. While I'm happy with the idea of seeing Rock 'n' Art, I would much rather see the band!

JARO Comes Out Swingin'

For all you jazz lovers out there, I’ve got a special review for you. The 2008-09 ESU Jazz Synergy Series continued last weekend, with JARO (Jazz Artists Repertory Orchestra) kicking off the fourth concert in the collection of events. For their performance on Sunday, they presented “A Salute to Big Band Jazz.”
JARO is a group chock full of talented local musicians, like young saxophonist Jay Rattman, pianist Wolfgang Knittel, and ESU professors Patrick Dorian on trumpet and Jim Daniels on bass trombone and tuba.
The group played numerous jazz standards, with “Do Nothin’ Til You Hear From Me,” “TNT” (no, not the ACDC version), “Mr. Barrelhouse,” and “Pickin’ the Cabbage” all in the set list. The latter was my favorite tune of the show because it started with a strong opening drum solo to grab the audience’s attention. Then it launched into full speed swinging with a high pitched clarinet on the melody and a fast trumpet solo, played by Jan Betz.
To view pictures from JARO's performance, visit the illustrious Ear Plugs Web Album.
If you feel like you've missed out on a great show, you have! But good news --- there's still one concert left in the ESU Jazz Synergy Series. It's going to take place on Monday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg. Even better news --- the show will feature jazz legend Phil Woods on saxophone.
How I love some good sax...

I Get to Interview the Lead Singer?!!! Well, Maybe if He Wasn't So Weird.

In my last blog, I pleaded with you to go see some live music. I gave you three different options and sent you on your way. When I mentioned going to see Todd Schaeffer, the lead singer of Railroad Earth, I didn't realize just how strange he might be in an intimate setting.
Last night, he performed solo at Sarah Street Grill, playing melodious, soothing, almost lullaby-like tunes on his guitar. I was impressed, and then came time for the interview during his first set break. Of course, there were the usual questions, like "How long have you been playing music?" to which his answer was 20-25 years. Then, "Do you think your personal style differs from the style of the band?" to which he replied yes, and said that his music included more fingerpicking.
Then I came to the question "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" and his response was: "Oooh, retired, playing golf...perhaps running for office."
"Really?" I said.
"Noooo, not really!" he bellowed in my face, and then transformed into deep, maniacal laughter for a minute. I laughed, too, so things wouldn't get uncomfortable, even though it geeked me out. Then, he returned to serious face mode and his eyes drifted off toward the other side of the bar.
My next question: "Is there anything you'd like to say to ESU students?" His answer: "YEAH! Get off your asses and come to my shows!" (Another bout of wild laughter, this one lasting longer.) "No, I'd tell them to stop reading this review and start studying." His eyes floated away from my gaze yet again. Then, stone face. I was getting anxious.
After that, I thanked him for his time and concluded the interview.
Umm, weird.

Try These Tasty Morsels...

To diverge from the usual blog review, I want to let you in on some intriguing local music happening over the course of the weekend:

This Thursday night, Sarah Street Grill will be alive with an acoustic jam session, featuring Todd Schaeffer (pictured below), the lead singer of bluegrass jam band Railroad Earth. It surprised me to see this show on Sarah Street Grill's list of entertainment, mostly because the latest Railroad Earth shows I've been to have been packed --- this band is certainly getting their name out. I'm hoping that this will be more like a "secret show" that only a few fans know about. (It's not listed on the band's website). After seeing this band on large stages, like at the All Good Music Festival in West Virginia, the Crawfish Festival in New Jersey, and even at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, the intimacy that the tiny stage of the Sarah Street Grill will be providing is very inviting. Photograph by Robert Langenburg

Also happening this weekend is the fourth installment of East Stroudsburg University's Jazz Synergy Series, which will feature JARO (Jazz Artists Repertory Orchestra). If you're into jazz and big band music, this is the group for you! These guys come from all over the Pocono Mountain area, each bringing their own pieces of flair to add personality to the traditional music tunes they perform. I always get a kick out of seeing professors play in this group. It's nice to see that they have lives outside of teaching! The show is being held at the Cecilia S. Cohen Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building and starts at 3pm on Sunday.

Last, but certainly not least, Scott McKenna will be playing at Siamsa Irish Pub on Friday night. Every time I think of this musician, I think of college girls swooning. He has a sound similar to Jason Mraz, another burning hunk of teenage desire. Besides that, he usually makes the bar scene in Stroudsburg come alive when he plays. So if you're looking for solid entertainment, he's a safe bet.
Take a break from all the work and the stress this weekend. Get out there and see some live music.

Jimmy Brown is Like a Musical Superhero...and Guinness is the Juice that Fuels Him

Photograph Used With Permission

Out of all the many musicians that I’ve seen play in this area, I have to say that Jimmy Brown, local talent from Snydersville, is by far one of my favorites. It’s not because of his seemingly three inch thick song book, which holds more tunes than I could ever think to request. It’s not because of his incredible day job as senior editor for Guitar World Magazine in New York City. No…I like Jimmy Brown because of his totally badass guitar solos.

Few times have I seen Jimmy Brown play and not noticed everyone at the gig staring at him, mouths agape, with looks of absolute awe on their faces at least once in the night. It usually happens around the time he plays Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker” and gets to the solo. His face twists and contorts around the licks as his fingers run frantically up and down the neck of his guitar, piercing each note with crispness and clarity. (The same can be said when he performs Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird,” which is amazing for one man to do by himself. But it only happens every once in a great while, so consider yourself lucky if you see it).

It’s amazing --- this guy lives and breathes music. You could ask him almost any song and he’d be able to play it right there on the spot (or at least with a little help from that songbook). His repertoire is interesting because he dabbles in so many different genres of music. You might hear John Mayer, Led Zeppelin, Paul Simon, Steely Dan, and an Irish jig all in one set. The possibilities seem almost endless when you've got such a talented musician on your hands.

He also offers online guitar lessons through Guitar World Magazine. To see his Guitar 101 lesson on string whacking, click here. (From there, you can access different videos on various aspects of basic guitar playing).

To read my full review on Jimmy Brown, visit Helium.com.

Rock on!

Is There Anybody Alive Out There?!?!

I’ve never been a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen. I’ve always thought of him as more appealing to his own cult-like fan base, much like Jimmy Buffett. But when the half time show began, I was immediately fixated on the television screen.
He started his show off right with an enthusiastic toss of his guitar, which almost didn't get caught by the guy doing the catching, and then burst into a rockin’ “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out.” But nonetheless, this performance just goes to show that Bruce Springsteen doesn't plan on getting out of the music business anytime soon. Despite his age, he can still shake 'em down. I cracked up when he did his infamous knee slide into the camera. Whether that was planned or not, it sure fit with the rest of his exuberant performance, which was filled with high jumps and kicks, intense running from one side of the stage to the other, and, of course, fist pumps.
Accompanied by Steven Van Zandt, long time, pirate look-a-like band mate and feared mobster on The Sopranos, Bruce and the rest of the E Street band performed their hearts out. After “Born to Run,” they were joined by a full gospel choir to sing on Springsteen’s latest hit “Working on a Dream.”
And how about those synched pyrotechnics? I loved how everything came together during this show. The fireworks added so much intensity to an already stellar performance, which made this show such a great success.
Bruce was a good pick for this year's half time show because of what he represents to his fans, and even those that might not pay much attention to him. When people think of Bruce Springsteen, they think of New Jersey, Asbury Park, and the Stone Pony, but also of a kind of American icon. For this reason, he was the best choice for this year's Superbowl. With the current status of the economy, and the encouraging hope and push for change from President Obama, Bruce's performance served as a confidence boost for many Americans watching the game last Sunday night.
Whether you like him or not, you have to admit that Bruce, along with his band, did an amazing job getting both Pittsburgh and Arizona fans revved up for the second half of the game. We can only hope that next year’s choice of musician will provide such great entertainment.
If you missed the Superbowl Half Time show because you were getting yourself another beer, refilling the bowl of chips, or making more chili dip, you can watch the video on YouTube.