Posts
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Monday, June 14, 2004
CD Release Party, June 26 @ Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA
We are having a CD release party at Jammin' Java on Saturday, June 26. The show starts at 8PM with the band Brainfang. The Russek Band will start at 9PM.
The new CD, "What Are You Afraid Of?," will be on sale for $10 on this night only. You can also order it online.
The CD features an amazing team of musicians: Grammy-nominated and Wammie (Washington Area Music Awards) Hall of Fame guitar legend, Bill Kirchen; multi-Grammy winner and Wammie Hall of Famer, Jon Carroll; Wammie winners Nicki Gonzalez, Johnny Castle, and Jack O'Dell; DC music theater artist Jenna Sokolowski and Songwriters Showcases of America (SSA) multi-award winner and acclaimed sideman Dan Walters (LFO, Art Garfunkel,).
The Russek Band is Erich Russek (guitar, vocals), Gene Moore (bass, vocals) and Chad Sokolowski (drums, vocals). Special guests for the night include Dan Walters (keys); former Poets In Heat Dave Kline (violin) and Pierre President (guitar); Jenna Sokolowski (vocals); and others.
You can find directions and a map at www.russek.com/tour
Please tell your friends.
Kind Regards,
Erich
Jammin' Java
227 Maple Avenue E.
Vienna, VA 22180
(703)255-1566
The Russek Band
www.russek.com
703-623-3500
www.russek.com
mp3.washingtonpost.com/bands/the_russek_band.shtml
The new CD, "What Are You Afraid Of?," will be on sale for $10 on this night only. You can also order it online.
The CD features an amazing team of musicians: Grammy-nominated and Wammie (Washington Area Music Awards) Hall of Fame guitar legend, Bill Kirchen; multi-Grammy winner and Wammie Hall of Famer, Jon Carroll; Wammie winners Nicki Gonzalez, Johnny Castle, and Jack O'Dell; DC music theater artist Jenna Sokolowski and Songwriters Showcases of America (SSA) multi-award winner and acclaimed sideman Dan Walters (LFO, Art Garfunkel,).
The Russek Band is Erich Russek (guitar, vocals), Gene Moore (bass, vocals) and Chad Sokolowski (drums, vocals). Special guests for the night include Dan Walters (keys); former Poets In Heat Dave Kline (violin) and Pierre President (guitar); Jenna Sokolowski (vocals); and others.
You can find directions and a map at www.russek.com/tour
Please tell your friends.
Kind Regards,
Erich
Jammin' Java
227 Maple Avenue E.
Vienna, VA 22180
(703)255-1566
The Russek Band
www.russek.com
703-623-3500
www.russek.com
mp3.washingtonpost.com/bands/the_russek_band.shtml
Friday, June 04, 2004
Nickelback
My friend, Nicki Gonzalez, sent me an email with this mp3 link yesterday.
http://www.sleeplessnight.net/media/nickelbacksucks.mp3
On the left channels you hear Nickelback’s hit song “Someday”. On the right chanel you hear Nickelback’s hit song, “How You Remind Me”. Notice how now only are the verses and choruses very similar but the places where the song builds are the same.
So does this prove that corporate music and radio sucks? Maybe, but it certainly adds to my belief that it is not innovative and offers the public very few choices.
As I was driving home yesterday, I thought lot about these two songs. I have spent a little time working at EMI, Capital and Island records and I have seen some of the power these company have.
But is this what the public wants? Just because they are practically the same song doesn’t mean I am ready to dismiss them. They are both huge hits. Maybe songs that sound like this are what people want. Or maybe, once you have sold the public on a particular song and sound they want more of that but just a little different. I know I like Maroon 5’s hit “This Love” because it reminds me of a song I used to love in the 80’s.
Nickelback is a band that I should like. Stretching your powers of description you might say Chad Kroeger and I sing and look similar. But I don’t focus on the music when these songs come on the radio. I ignore them. I can’t say I hate them. But they haven’t engaged me either.
Can you like one of these songs and not like the other? And if so, why? Is the magic formula to how to write a song that the public wants to hear? Is what we like about music more about familiarity than innovation? Would you want an entire album that sounds basically the same or each track completely different?
I’m afraid to answer these questions. One of my favorite new albums is Bob Dylan’s “Time Out Of Mind.” I’ve always had a problem remembering which song is which on the album.
http://www.sleeplessnight.net/media/nickelbacksucks.mp3
On the left channels you hear Nickelback’s hit song “Someday”. On the right chanel you hear Nickelback’s hit song, “How You Remind Me”. Notice how now only are the verses and choruses very similar but the places where the song builds are the same.
So does this prove that corporate music and radio sucks? Maybe, but it certainly adds to my belief that it is not innovative and offers the public very few choices.
As I was driving home yesterday, I thought lot about these two songs. I have spent a little time working at EMI, Capital and Island records and I have seen some of the power these company have.
But is this what the public wants? Just because they are practically the same song doesn’t mean I am ready to dismiss them. They are both huge hits. Maybe songs that sound like this are what people want. Or maybe, once you have sold the public on a particular song and sound they want more of that but just a little different. I know I like Maroon 5’s hit “This Love” because it reminds me of a song I used to love in the 80’s.
Nickelback is a band that I should like. Stretching your powers of description you might say Chad Kroeger and I sing and look similar. But I don’t focus on the music when these songs come on the radio. I ignore them. I can’t say I hate them. But they haven’t engaged me either.
Can you like one of these songs and not like the other? And if so, why? Is the magic formula to how to write a song that the public wants to hear? Is what we like about music more about familiarity than innovation? Would you want an entire album that sounds basically the same or each track completely different?
I’m afraid to answer these questions. One of my favorite new albums is Bob Dylan’s “Time Out Of Mind.” I’ve always had a problem remembering which song is which on the album.
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Tampa Visit
I'm a master of airport security or so I thought when my wife and I went down to Tampa to show off our 9-month-old daughter to my family this Memorial Day weekend. We have two things going for us when it comes to travel. We are experienced travelers and we are fairly good planners.
That is why we divide into two teams to get through airport security. My daughter and I are Team One. We dress in clothing that can stay on without a belt. I don’t carry a wallet, keys, coins or anything metal. I carry only the precious “Bean.” A small pouch attached to a string around my neck holds my driver’s license and our tickets. I don’t wear shoes. I wear slippers and I breeze through airport security.
My wife, Team Two, carries her purse, the diaper bag, the stroller and any other necessities. She always gets snagged. While my wife works her way through the security officer’s questions and as they scrutinize our luggage, the “Bean” and I gather up whatever items airport security pass down the conveyer belt.
Everything went as planned on our way down to Tampa until we arrived and I searched for my real shoes in the luggage. And that is why I was at the Tampa Lightning Hockey game in my slippers.
That is why we divide into two teams to get through airport security. My daughter and I are Team One. We dress in clothing that can stay on without a belt. I don’t carry a wallet, keys, coins or anything metal. I carry only the precious “Bean.” A small pouch attached to a string around my neck holds my driver’s license and our tickets. I don’t wear shoes. I wear slippers and I breeze through airport security.
My wife, Team Two, carries her purse, the diaper bag, the stroller and any other necessities. She always gets snagged. While my wife works her way through the security officer’s questions and as they scrutinize our luggage, the “Bean” and I gather up whatever items airport security pass down the conveyer belt.
Everything went as planned on our way down to Tampa until we arrived and I searched for my real shoes in the luggage. And that is why I was at the Tampa Lightning Hockey game in my slippers.
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