NYS Music 20​17

Tag: Chuck Berry

  • Best of NYS Music: Biggest Musical Losses of 2017

    As we continue to look back on the year in music in 2017, no retrospective would be complete without recognizing the artists that we lost this year.  Fortunately, even though they may no longer be with us, their music is eternal and will survive the test of time.  The following musicians are huge musical losses, and each impacted audiences on a large scale and surely served as inspiration for some and will be missed by all.

    Tom Petty

    Perhaps no celebrity death this year, musician or not, impacted as many people as Tom Petty’s did, serving as a testament to just how influential his music has been not only in America but worldwide.  Petty succumbed to cardiac arrest just weeks shy of his 67th birthday in October, shortly after his last tour had finished.  His music was and is pure Americana, often featuring simple, heart felt lyrics that had a personal touch to them combined with passionate guitar work and melodies.  Starting with his first band Mudcrutch in Florida and ending with his long time backing band and friends The Heartbreakers, Tom Petty’s music spanned generations and served as inspiration to aspiring song writers everywhere.  It’s hard not to even know a Petty tune as song like “Free Fallin,” “Running Down a Dream,” and “American Girl” have been thoroughly infused into popular culture, proving that his music not only spanned generations but tastes as well.  Even if you weren’t a huge fan, odd’s are that there’s at least one Tom Petty song you know and like.  Petty was fittingly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001 and leaves us with an enormous musical catalog to remember him by.

    Here’s a clip from Petty’s final show at the Hollywood Bowl in September, showing that he still had plenty of speed on his fastball and, in a way, went out on top.

    Chuck Berry

    In terms of influencing other artists and redefining an entire musical genre, no one we lost this year had more of an impact with that than Chuck Berry who literally forged a new era of music.  Taking elements of rhythm and blues, Berry combined them with frenetic guitar work and pure showmanship in serving as one of the true fathers of rock and roll.  When artists like Elvis Presley and The Beatles cite you directly as an influence, something must have been done right.  Songs like “Maybellene” and “Roll Over Beethoven” were unheard of at the time in the late 1950s with their rousing guitar-driven sound and Berry’s on stage showmanship.  But Berry helped bring this new form of musicianship into the light and served as inspiration to entire generations of musicians who took this and ran with it. Fittingly, Berry was one of the first ever members inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it opened in 1986.

    Charles Bradley

    Self dubbed “the screaming eagle of soul,” Charles Bradley’s voice was synonymous with soul music and his death in September after a battle with stomach cancer was felt by many in the music industry.  Bradley’s performances were known for his visual outpouring of emotion, connecting with his audience on a personal level and, of course, soul.  Bradley started out his career as a James Brown impersonator and wound up as an acclaimed performer and one of the faces of the Daptone Records label.  His delivery was known to evoke memories of Otis Redding and his influence has even spread to the world of hip hop where his unmistakable voice can be heard in samples.

  • JRAD Tears Up Brooklyn Bowl Board by Board in March RADness Finale

    It’s not every weekend that a Grateful Dead cover band sells out a three-night run at the Brooklyn Bowl. Two weekends in a row?  Unheard of.  Fantastical as it may seem, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (JRAD) achieved this feat within mere seconds of ticket release; not to mention the opening night, March 9, was only their 100th show.  It all began with a “Beat It On Down the Line” that featured a 100 beat introduction to celebrate the occasion; and that’s exactly what Russo and the boys did that night and the next five.  Slapped it silly.  Beat it (forgive the pun) like a drum, all the way up and down those bowling lanes.  There was true magic in the air, that connective energy that comes once in a great while when everyone in the room is whisked away to somewhere undefinable.  The first five nights showcased some of the band’s favorites, including “Help on the Way,” “Music Never Stopped,” “Terrapin Station,” “Dark Star,” “St. Stephen,” “Playing in the Band,” and the list goes on.  Their first original, “Keeping it Simple,” was also debuted on the opening night, dispelling any such notion that JRAD is just a cover band.  Staying true to crescendo, the pinnacle of these almost equally spectacular evenings was the last night of the run, Saturday, March 18.  But hey, enough of my yakkin’.  Whaddayasay?  Let’s boogie!

    The 18th began with the same vim and vigor as any other night of the run, blasting straight into an impromptu “Promised Land” in salute to the late great Chuck Berry, who passed earlier that day.  California clearly on their minds, “Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion” joined the party to begin the segment that would play right out to the end of the set.  “Hell In a Bucket” took us on an enjoyable ride, with a dripping, melting psychedelic jam; quite uncharacteristic for the tune, but it seemed exactly in its place.  Guitarist/vocalist Tom Hamilton belted out an immaculate “Here Comes Sunshine,” which transitioned seamlessly into a downright dirty version of the Allman Brothers’ “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.”  A gut busting solo from none other than Joe “Bombs” Russo brought us in for the landing of “Here Comes Sunshine,” as saxophonist Stuart Bogie rejoined the boys for a quick jam into “Ruben & Cherise.”  The horn added quite a nice depth to the ballad, and stayed on through a tricky segue into “Viola Lee Blues,” which flirted back and forth with a “China Cat Sunflower” fakeout that slammed right back into “Viola.”  It isn’t a sad song, by any means; but the peak sound that only JRAD can achieve brought more than a few tears to this grown man’s eye.

    The second set began with a spaciously comfortable jam that ran out into a smokin’ “Casey Jones” that melted more than a few dome glaciers, followed swiftly by a sultry bass solo from one Oteil Burbridge.  You may recognize the name from last summer’s Dead & Company lineup, but make no mistakes; this was no haphazard supergroup cameo.  Oteil didn’t only hold his own throughout the weekend, he stood out as a uniquely exuberant personality in the RAD’s stage presence.  His vocals offered a fresh flavor, and I for one was near jealousy of that old school wood grain Gibson SG bass as he plucked and caressed it with expertise unmatched.

    Guitarist/vocalist Scott Metzger and keyboardist (and the mind behind the Marcorita) Marco Benevento soloed off of each other in some engaging call and response that transitioned into a rigid “Jack A Roe.”  Stuart came back out for a nearly 20-minute “Dancin’ In the Streets,” in a rendition of the classic that left listeners slackjawed in a stupefied awe.  The music began to deliver that tangible feeling mentioned earlier during this point, that glow in the pit of your stomach that only rears its head when something extraordinary is around the corner.  The segment concluded with an absolutely inspiring “Franklin’s Tower,” as shouts of ‘Hey brother, woah brother!’ were greeted with hugs and big-eyed smiles all around.  One of the standout stand alones of the run began with a tease of Led Zeppelin’s “That’s the Way,” with an almost malicious turn into “Let It Grow.”  Scott Metzger’s vocals offered an eerily perfect replication of old Bob’s ballad, with boilin’ hot licks to match.  Several Talking Heads teases sneaked their way into the jam, including but not limited to “Psycho Killer” and “Girlfriend is Better” before “Let it Grow” drew to a close.

    “I Know You Rider” is one of the most frequented Dead covers, but this rendition was anything but cliche.  It was the culmination of the entire weekend, one last pinnacle of raw rock and roll.  Before the last chords were strummed T Hammy let loose on one of those signature squealing bends and the whole place just went ballistic; a sound reminiscent of the shrieks later heard from the mouths of teen-aged babes that he so competently slays post show.  After a few warm words from Pete Shapiro wishing one of his longtime managers at the Bowl farewell, the boys returned for the final encore of the weekend.  Closing in on 1AM, a breathtaking “Brokedown Palace” had the entire place feeling beyond sentimental, as wishes of fare you well lofted above quiet, attentive listeners.  The a cappella “We Bid You Goodnight” had the place even quieter; the least crowd volume I’ve ever heard in a venue by far, never mind on a Saturday night.  Having played it last in October of 2015, it was an unimaginably beautiful moment for those who stayed the entire run.

    JRAD seems to have this stigma attached to them throughout most of the jam scene; too fast technical for the old heads, too much Dead for a lot of youngsters.  This weekend seemed a little different, a bit more like a “typical Dead show.”  Fans by the dozens hopelessly searching for sold out tickets as you walk in, folks from all ages and walks of life inside instead of a specific demographic, drunk old dudes hitting on our uncomfortable girlfriends..it really had the whole 9, as it were, and dare I say the whole 10!  Regardless of what you may have heard, just remember that this group of musicians is doing what they do live better than any other group on the current “jam” circuit.  Period.

  • Chuck Berry, Rock and Roll Pioneer, Dies at Age 90

    Chuck Berry’s name is synonymous with rock and roll. The singer-songwriter-guitarist got his start in the 50’s with hits like “Maybellene”, “Rock and Roll Music” and “Johnny B. Goode.” His music redefined the fabric of the musical landscape and provided inspiration to musicians for generations.  The legendary musician passed away on March 18 in his Missouri home.

    chuck berryBorn Charles Edward Anderson Berry in St. Louis Missouri in 1926, Berry was the fourth of six children in a middle class family. He was interested in music and entertaining at a young age, and began performing as a teenager. It was about this time he also started his lifetime conflicts with authority, landing in a reformatory until his 21st birthday. In 1948 he married Themetta “Toddy” Suggs,  and they had a daughter together in 1950. Berry began performing with local bands on the side of his day job to supplement his wages.

    chuck berryBerry’s break came when he met Muddy Waters in Chicago in 1955. Waters connected Berry with Leonard Chess of Chess Records. With the label behind him, Berry recorded “Maybellene.” The single went on to sell over a million copies and reach number one on Billboard magazine’s rhythm and blues chart and number 5 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart.

    Berry’s trademark songwriting elements, including driving beats and flashy guitar solos, became defining standards for rock and roll. He also helped shape the subject matter, with lyrics appealing to teenagers and consumer culture. His showmanship and attitude of defiance also became hallmarks of the rock and roll persona. Berry was a trendsetter for generations to follow, inspiring bands such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys. His influence on the genre runs so deep that John Lennon once said, “if you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’.”

    With a career spanning more than six decades, Chuck Berry recorded 20 studio albums and a dozen live albums. His contributions to the music industry garnered him such honors as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

    He is survived by his wife and four children.