I first met Mark Cutler back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, while Mark’s band, The Schemers, and my band, played a lot of the same venues in Rhode Island. I’ve always admired him as a great singer, musician and songwriter, and he always picked great songs to cover and gave them a twist to make them his own.
We recently hooked up on facebook after I listened to his incredible solo album, Red. It’s one of the best albums I heard in 2010, and I highly recommend it. Here’s some of what we talked about:
Butch: Tell me about all the bands you’re involved with now- you’re a busy guy!
Mark: Men of Great Courage, which includes me, Jimmy Berger on bass, Rick Couto on drums, Bob Gillespie occasionally on drums and harp, Bob Kirkman on banjo and guitar, Dick Reed on keys, and David Richardson on guitar and mandolin. I also play in The Tiny String Band, which consists of the members of Men of Great Courage, but without drums, and sometimes with accordion.
I also play with The Schemers, and we do one or two shows a year. And then of course Forever Young, my Neil Young tribute project with John Amitrano (my brother) on bass, Becky Chace, Leo Dumas on drums, John Fuzek, Dan Lilley, and Pete Vendetuolli.
How did you get involved with music?
Mark: When I was ten, my older brother Carlos took guitar lessons at Ragosta Music in Cranston, RI. I read his books and learned that the lines meant strings and the dots meant fingers, and took it from there. Carlos encouraged me and helped me out a lot.
What is your latest project?
Mark: I’m working on some soundtracks: One is for an HP Lovecraft documentary/fantasy. I recently did a soundtrack for a PBS documentary on George Washington and Gilbert Stuart, which should be playing on a PBS station near you! Plus, I’m always writing music, anything from folk to rock to electronic.
Your album, Red, is one of my favorites- I listen to it often and my band covers one of the songs,“Paycheck Away.” Tell us about the album.
Mark: I wrote all the songs except for “Miss Connected,”- Scott Duhamel provided the lyrics for that one. I recorded most of it at Emerson Torrey’s Satellite Studio, and did some guitars and vocals at my home studio. The songs were written over a long period of time, like the past eight years or so. I had a bunch of songs to choose from, but we picked those because they seemed to make sense at the time. I’ll be recording a new record with Emerson as soon as we can fit our schedules together.
Who are your musical influences?
I am influenced by musicians such as Hank Williams, Muddy, Howlin Wolf, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Lou Reed, but also by playwrights like Sam Shepherd, David Mamet, and John Osborne.
What do you like about the current music scene? What don’t you like about it?
Mark: There are a lot of creative folks out there, and this area is very supportive of the arts and of artistic types. As for what I don’t like, there are a few folks who are petty and want to see someone fail. I guess that happens anywhere though.
What guitars or other instruments do you use?
Mark: I use an Eastman El Rey, designed by Otto D’Ambrosio. It’s a chambered-body electric that wails!! A beautiful looking guitar with a thick humbucking sound. I also play an F&H guitar designed by Chris Fitzpatrick. It’s got a Telecaster type of sound, but also has a P90 pick up at the neck. When you combine those two pickups, it’s a real sweet sound.
I should also add that I use a couple of ACE amps designed by my friend Jim Kelly. One is a class A 12-watt amp that sounds like a Marshall stack except, at a less ear-bleeding volume …although it still really cranks. The other is a 25-watt amp modeled after Fender Princeton- real sweet and can get pretty nasty too.
Where do you usually perform?
Mark: I’ll play anywhere! In Rhode Island, I play the Apartment, The Penalty Box, the Met, Nick a’ Nees, Doherty’s East Ave, The Greenwich Hotel. With Forever Young, we do the Narrows Center for the Arts.
And you’re at The Narrows in Fall River with Forever Young soon?
Mark: Yes. Friday, February 25 at 8PM.
When you go out locally what bands do you go see?
Mark: I don’t really go out that much, but if I do, it’s usually to see friends play.
Do you have a day job?
Mark: I’m a software tester in Boston. I take the train so for an hour up and an hour back. I work on my laptop writing music during the commute.
You should definitely try to catch Mark Cutler and one of his many incarnations when you can. Check him out at The Narrows with Forever Young on the 25th!! You can find a link to buy tickets below, as well as a few links to Mark’s various web pages.
For this week’s Musician Spotlight, I had a chance to speak with Christy Alferes, of the band Abby Normal. Read on to find out what the lead singer of this great local band has to say about their music, playing shows in the New Bedford area, and the great name of their band.
So where did you come up with the name ‘Abby Normal?’
It came from my favorite movie, Young Frankenstein. People either get it right away, or have no clue.
Where do the members of Abby Normal come from?
Our guitar player, Jerome, and I are from Fairhaven. Our present drummer, Michael, is from Abington. Mike, our bass player, is from Swansea.
Where do you normally perform?
We don’t perform normally anywhere :). But seriously, we have played Knuckleheads, The Bayside Lounge, The Ice Chest, Playoffs Pub, The District, CabbyShack, TJ’s Grille & Bar…mostly the SouthCoast area. We have also performed at festivals, private parties, and weddings.
How long have you been a band? How did it all come together?
We have been together as a band since 2009. Jerome (guitar) came up with a plan to hire the best professional players he could find to fill in as we booked shows. We had a lot of really great players but no dedicated peeps. Now we have Mike and Michael full time. We met them as we hired them for shows.
Abby Normal performing at The Bayside Lounge.
Is this the first time for many of your members being in a band?
No. Jerome, Mike & Michael are all very seasoned professionals who have played in large event-type bands. They are excellent at what they do. I am pretty new to this, but have been in a few projects and have been professional for the last four years.
Do the band members have jobs outside of playing music?
Yes. We all work full time jobs, with the exception of Jerome. I mean, a guitar and comic book store, that can’t REALLY be considered work?! Also, the guys have side projects, and Jerome and I perform as a powered acoustic duo during the week and on Sundays.
Have you gone on tour?
Tour? Whats a tour? I have told the guys I want a tour bus, but no luck. Our goal is to be “roadrunners” to FL next winter.
What influences your music? Do you just do covers?
Yes, we are a cover-band, so we play what people want to hear and can easily recognize. Not too many obscure tunes, even if that’s what we would like to play. Positive reactions to songs keep them in the set list, while negative reactions lead to songs getting cut. We listen to feedback and suggestions from die-hard followers. We do have originals, but don’t play them live.
What is your most memorable experience as a band?
We have seen some crazy stuff. Some people have a REALLY good time and become “that” person of the night. Its great, but the coolest thing I would say is the crowd’s reaction when we play Zombie by the Cranberries. It’s a war song that you can really rock out – a lot of times we get a mini mosh pit!! It has become our signature song.
Do you have anything recorded?
Yes, we have a promo pack of covers (and one original) we have recorded called Coming Down to This.
Where do you get your material from?
Well, again, we are a cover-band so the material is gathered from input, feedback and research. 90% of the songs have to be upbeat. We just try to make it so everyone in the room hears their favorite song.
Christy and the boys, again at The Bayside.
I would just like to add how much we appreciate any support and feedback that people give us. With everyone working so hard these days, our biggest thing is that everyone have a blast on the night they get to go out.
If you are interested in finding out more about Abby Normal, below are some links to get you started. Feel free to email the band at AbbyNormalBand@hotmail.com, if you have any questions for them, or if you are interested in having them perform. You can also contact their manager, Mr. Steve, at (508)207-0623. Check in frequently with LocalOracle’s Abby Normal page for upcoming shows.
Ben Couto(l) and Brandon Perry, owners of Cape Cost Less.
Who are the owners of this website? Talk a little about yourselves.
CapeCostLess.com is an organic, joint venture of Backfield Enterprises, LLC. The partners are Ben Couto and Brandon Perry. As the CEO, Brandon is responsible for the direction of Cape Cost Less, and as COO, Ben is responsible for implementing the technology behind the ideas. We both have Bachelor degrees in business with concentrations in Marketing. Currently, we are both working full-time jobs, so Cape Cost Less is something that we invest all of our free time in.
How long has Cape Cost Less been around?
We’ve been up and running for 6 months now.
What is your site all about?
Cape Cost Less is all about connecting local consumers with local business. For businesses, we give them access to our social network of fans. We also offer them the chance to advertise to the masses for less than a dollar a day. They can host give-aways or offer “Word-of-Mouth” coupons and discounts when someone mentions “Cape Cost Less.”
For consumers, they stay connected to local businesses who want to impress them with discounts and give-aways. The consumer also benefits from the low cost of advertising that businesses pay, and they see that reflected in the deals that are offered. So it’s truly a win-win for the businesses and the consumers. Businesses promote their brand, and our fans get discounts and learn about local businesses. So it would be good for you to visit our facebook page and ‘Like’ Cape Cost Less, because the more friends we have, the more we can offer consumers!
Who are some of the businesses you’ve partnered with.
Right now we are helping to promote Gary Lawrence Photography to our fans. Gary has an exclusive CapeCostLess “Word-of-Mouth” discount on the way, which we are very excited about. We also hope to partner with his studio for future print advertisements. Right now we are working to establish more deals at local bars and restaurants, deals that will offer things like 10% discounts off their bill when our fans mention “CapeCostLess.com.”
What do you hope to accomplish with Cape Cost Less?
We want to help local businesses get their message out to the right audience. We hope to provide consumers with a go-to, must-read source for deals in and around Massachusetts, and create a catalog of businesses that can be searched 24/7. When people think of Cape Cost Less, we want them to think of us as a friend…a friend with amazing hook-ups at local businesses! We hope that the businesses that join up with us will experience never-before-seen loyalty and interest, all garnered through our fan base. We believe that local consumers want to support local businesses…we just make it that much easier for them to do so.
The Cape Cost Less Logo
Because we have been growing the business organically, we face many of the same problems as other organic start-ups. Without taking on investors, we have relied on ourselves to develop and create the business from the ground up. We have had to dedicate our nights and weekends, as well as sacrificing time with loved-ones, to establishing a company that we know will be a significant player in the local economy. Finding the patience to grow this company at a steady pace is something we overcome everyday. The quote, “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” is something that drives our attitudes. Sometimes progress is measured in inches and not feet when starting a business.
What can we expect from Cape Cost Less in the short-term?
Our site will be adding new businesses to each category, and also introducing our viral videos. We plan on hosting a lot more free give-aways to our consumers and fans. We also hope to establish our first “Word-of-Mouth” coupons for some of the great local bars/restaurants we have around the area, so that if a consumer goes into, say, Rose Alley Ale House in New Bedford, and mentions, “CapeCostLess,” they will get 10% or more off their tab. If I could eat at Rose Alley, and get 10% off just by mentioning the name of a great website, I’d eat there more often. Wouldn’t you?
Finally, where do you see Cape Cost Less in the next year or two?
We envision Cape Cost Less becoming a household name in this region. We anticipate that the “Word-of-Mouth” coupons will become viral, and that businesses who team-up with us will reap the benefits. We will continue to add new content to the site and develop new relationships. We believe that within the next 12-18 months, Cape Cost Less will become a daily routine for consumers.
*Unfortunately, soon after the publication of this article, Mr. Couto left Cape Cost Less and his business partner (and longtime friend) Mr. Perry blowing in the wind. Couto’s full-time employer offered him a raise and a new title, which he gladly accepted in exchange for his promise to cease working on Cape Cost Less. Mr. Perry is now the sole owner and operator of the website.
Musician Spotlight: Dawn Alberts
by Butch McCarthy
Dawn Alberts is a classically trained vocalist-turned-rocker. She grew up in Tiverton, RI, and she’s the lead singer for Broke Since Tuesday, and Over The Edge, and Stricken, So…
She’s also collaborated on tracks with heavy hitters such as Gary Ramsey of Kings Mountain, North Carolina and John Wooten of Topeka, Kansas. I first ran into her on MySpace and really dug the track she posted. Here are excerpts from a recent conversation.
NBG: Dawn, how did you get involved with music?
Dawn: I’ve had a love affair with music as far back as I can remember. Music has always been the one constant in life that has never let me down. I played the position of first flute in the concert band at school, and just now in my 30’s I’ve picked up the guitar, but my true love has always been singing. I started studying vocals at the age of 14 at JoAnn’s Music in Tiverton, and just “found” myself there. Since then, I’ve worked with many musicians who ultimately shaped who I am today.
Dawn Alberts
What is your latest project?
Dawn: I’m currently the lead vocalist for Broke Since Tuesday, an acoustic rock cover Trio consisting of myself, Chip Davenport on bass, and Scott Levesque on guitar. We’ve been together since 2008, and they are by far the most talented musicians and dearest friends I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Collectively we’ve been playing our instruments for 60+ years, and the chemistry definitely shows on stage!
I’m also the mouth behind the microphone for Over The Edge, an electric party band. We’ll have our debut with our new lineup is in May 2011. With myself and Chris Baptista on vocals and guitar, Roland Lavoie on drums, 2112 on guitar, and Chip Davenport on bass, we’re planning to take the nightclubs to new heights this spring, so WATCH OUT!
I also cater to my creative side by writing original tracks with my partner in crime, Chip Davenport in a project called Stricken, So…
With Chip’s heavy RUSH influence, and my Zeppelin influence combined, you’ve never heard anything quite like the noise we make.
And what are your musical influences?
I would have to say Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, and Tori Amos.
What do you like about the current music scene?
Dawn: I love the diversity out there now! I love that on any given night of the week there’s always someone pouring their heart out on stage… And I LOVE the fact that there are still people out there that will buy albums, and that appreciate the art of live performance and the sacrifices that fellow musicians make every day just to do what we love.
What don’t you like about the current music scene?
To be honest, I really don’t care for the fact that they’ll let anyone with auto-tune and some computer software release a CD these days; that, and the fact that there are so many bands out there that sound alike, or like someone else. I think that if you can stay true to your own style, and promote it the right way, you’ve really got something special!
Just curious: What’s your favorite movie?
Dawn: Pulp Fiction!! I could watch it every day and never stop loving it!
Dawn Alberts singing her heart out.
Great flick- love the music that Tarantino used. Where do you perform locally and where out of town?
I’ve performed at the New Wave Cafe, Miller’s Homeport, The Pour Farm, The Garden, Inner Bay, the PA, the Bayside Lounge, Marshalls Pub, JR’s Bourbon Street Rock House, Scottie’s Pub, the Wharf Tavern, and Bridge Street Station to name a few. I’m constantly looking for new venues.
Do you have a day job?
Dawn: I do! I care for the elderly with a company called Care With Love Inc. How else would I pay for all that gear? 🙂
When you go out locally what bands do you go see?
Dawn: I have many musical friends, so when I’m not playing myself, I try to see them all! I sometimes sit in with my pals Identity Crisis, and Outta Kontrol is another band that I’m close to. I’d love to see ALL the local bands play, and I will eventually, but my hectic playing schedule sometimes ties me down. I encourage everyone out there to get out and see a live band ASAP, because the New Bedford area has some of the best talent around!
Let’s get a plug in-When’s your next gig?
Dawn: We’re playing Feb 12th (TONIGHT!) at Marshall’s Pub, and we’re hosting our first ever open mic event at The Inner Bay on March 1st 🙂
You can learn more about Dawn Alberts’ music at these sites:
In this week’s Musician Spotlight, we take a closer look at an artist that has been playing in the New Bedford area for a long time. Although he’s enjoyed measures of success with his solo material, as well as part of a band, I personally don’t think Corey Zaccari has been as close to the spotlight as he is right now.
So Corey, do you perform mostly solo, or mostly with a band?
I enjoy doing both, but people seem to gravitate more towards my solo material. Performing solo and with a band are two different sides of the spectrum. With a band I get to really let loose, whereas a solo performance has a more personal and intimate feel.
Where did you come up with the band name, BadMotherFunk?
The original name was GrandmotherFunk, but I thought BadMotherFunk sounded better. I’m taking time from that project so I can concentrate on my third solo album, Big Fish, to be released in the spring 2011.
Have you been in other bands?
I have been in a few, some you may know and some you may not. Let’s see… Broken Poet, No Meteor, Lamotta, Andromeda, Circa:Era, and the Corey Zaccari Syndrome. Whether I was writing just lyrics, music, or both, all my experiences have helped me hone my writing and arranging skills.
How long have you been performing?
For about 10 years. I got the “bug” from watching my grandmother, who sang in the church choir, and also sang in theater. I was always fascinated by that.
What made you want to get into music?
I imagine it was from watching how music affects people in positive ways, and also how it brings people together. Whether I’m performing or listening as a fan, it feels good to be a part of that.
Have you ever gone on tour?
Back in 2003 when I was in Lamotta, we did a small tour that started in Providence, RI, then went through Maine and Massachusetts before finishing back in Providence. It was a great experience.
What influences your music? How would you describe your music?
Usually, I write my best material when I’m going through some kind of change; whether positive or negative, that’s my outlet…either way it keeps me out of the “darkside.” My music is something that I like to share with everyone, young and old. I like to think that my music covers all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and genres.
Circa: Era, one of Corey's two EP's.
Do you have anything recorded?
I have two solo EP’s under my belt: Comedown, released in 2000 and Circa: Era, which came out in 2004. I also completed four full band projects between 1998 and 2003. I’m now working on my third solo album, Big Fish, which is coming out this spring. It will be my first full-length album.
In all seriousness, is this for fun or do you intend this to take you ‘all the way?’
I have been doing this for some time now, and the only reason I’m still doing it is because it IS fun. Late last year I signed on as an artist with Mass Boss Entertainment. They have embraced my talents and creativity, which has afforded me the opportunity to take this to the next level, so I am very grateful for that. As far as taking it “all the way,” we have a motto: “We’re going to ride this thing ’til the wheels come off.”
Where do you get your material from?
It comes from a lot of places; my past, my present, and my future. I may write something today and realize that it’s about something that happened a long time ago. I watch things and I see people living their lives, and that inspires me to write as well. I only write about real things that are going on.
Do you perform in the New Bedford area at all?
I have performed in and around the area for about 10 years, at places like the New Wave Cafe, Bridge Street Station, the Garden Pub, and The Bullpen. I also perform in Providence, Boston, and Connecticut. My goal is to get my music out to the fans and make them feel what I feel. At the same time, I want them to make my songs their own and have something can take with them always.
To hear a sample of Corey Zaccari’s music, check out his video for the song “Edge of the World.”Also, be sure to find out when and where Corey will performing locally at LocalOracle.com.
Musician Spotlight: J. Kelley
by Butch McCarthy
The first time I saw J.Kelley perform was at the Pour Farm Tavern. I was really impressed with his great originals and his interesting takes on cover songs. I had previously heard some cuts from his first album, and was not disappointed with the live version!
He sings, plays guitar, and writes all the songs for the group that consists of George Piva (lead guitar), Rob Massoud (bass and backup vocals), and Gabe Cabral (drums and backup vocals). The band is in the process of recording a follow-up to their very popular album “Untied,” which was released a few years ago.
Recently, I had a chance to interview J. Kelley for NBG’s Musician Spotlight.
Butch: I know you write all the songs, but tell me about the process.
J.Kelley: We all have input on our individual parts and the arrangements of songs. On this new album we were able to have some friends join us as well. Matt Antunes did some harmony singing, Colin Bradley played organ on a bunch of tunes, Dave Gries played bass on 2 songs…maybe we can even grab you and Dori for a tune someday. I’m always working on a few songs at a time.
Usually, I’ll have some lyrics or a melody or a riff that I’m trying to finish. Songs form for me in any number of ways. Some start with lyrics or a title that I have, and then I sit down with my acoustic and work out a melody over a chord progression. They can also start with a riff that I have on the guitar, or a melody I have on piano. It’s really any number of ways; there is no set formula, as long as I’m open to it. I don’t always have a clear idea what I am writing about, but as long as its honest and the feeling and theme are true, then I try not to question it too much.
I try to be very mindful of self editing too much. I think you can be in danger of sterilizing the song if you start questioning or editing it, wondering if people will understand it or like it. The meaning of a song tends to change over time anyway. That’s one of the great things about them. You can write a song and be playing it for years, and one night you realize its about something completely different now than it was then, but still resonates as something honest and worth saying. I just want the songs to be equally strong lyrically and melodically. I am a sucker for a good hook, and if the lyrics are strong and you can sing along to it and tap your feet, then that’s a pretty good job.
I usually have an idea as far as a general theme for an album, and I want to stay consistent with that. I have five albums written and sometimes songs find their way in and out depending on new ideas. I just love it. I love that moment of finishing a song and knowing that I’ve got something there that is good. It may only be good to me, but I’m proud of it. I feel like on this new album “Reservoir,” that I’m closer to where I want to go as a writer. I am very proud of the songs on this record.
Tell me about your musical background- what got you started?
J.Kelley: I grew up around music. It was always playing in my house. My mom used to teach dance lessons, and she still plays piano and guitar. My dad always had music on, and was a DJ before I was born. He would quiz me on car rides about the songs on the radio, asking me what the name of a song was, who was in the band, what album was it off of…stuff like that. My mom had an old electric guitar and I took lessons when I was in elementary school, but my hands were really too small to play.
As I got into high school and a bit older I took her old chord charts, learned to play, and then began taking lessons again. Around that time I also figured out I could sing a bit and began to take vocal lessons. Writing was the key though. I always found myself writing, and music became an outlet for that. I love the process of sitting down and writing a song.
Tell me more about your upcoming album, Reservoir.
J.Kelley: The latest project is our new album, and yes, I still use the term, “album.” It is called Reservoir, and contains 14 new, original songs. I wrote it, we recorded and engineered it as a band, and it will be mixed by Scott Riebling, mastered by Fred Kevorkian, and released on our own label Rogue Lightning Records sometime in the late spring/early summer. We are really proud of the material, and feel it’s a mature progression forward from our last release, Untied. I wanted to make a rock & roll record to capture the essence of the way the band sounds when we really plug in and play. I think we did that.
Who has influenced you the most musically?
J.Kelley: I have a ton of influences, and they fluctuate all the time depending on my mood or what I’m into at that moment. I love The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys…they are some of the standards that most songwriters and pop/rock bands start from. I’m a HUGE Tom Petty guy, and my favorite band is The Hold Steady. I really dig My Morning Jacket and Wilco. I love early rock n roll from the ’50s and ’60s, like Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and anything that came out of Motown or Stax. I am also a big fan of ’90s bands like Oasis and The Counting Crows. I think most of all though I am a just a fan of good songs. I love all those bands that I mentioned and have all their albums, but as long as its a good song I’m usually on board with it. I also take a lot of influence from writers like Hemingway, Twain, Emerson…those influences make me want to be a better writer.
What kind of guitars are you using now?
J.Kelley: I have gone through a ton of different guitars, so years ago I finally picked out the right body, neck, and hardware that I wanted and decided to have them custom built. I have two electric guitars that I had custom built. My main electric guitar is a Telecaster. It has a Lollar Charlie Christian neck pickup and a Lollar B.S. bridge pickup. The other is a Stratocaster with Lollar Special S. Series pickups. My main acoustic guitar is a Gibson J-45. For this new album I mainly played through a Matchless Spitfire Amp. I also have a Gries 35 and a 1966 Ampeg Jet-21 that I use. I don’t often use pedals.
I never use pedals! I think they can get in the way of creativity. What are your thoughts on the current music scene?
J.Kelley: The current music scene can be glorious or pretty bleak, depending on what you’re looking for. The internet is great for getting your own music out there, as well as for introducing yourself to music you’d never hear on the radio. But it also is the cause of an abundance of bad music out there.
It takes a ton of work and you’ve got to put in your dues and cut your teeth, but I believe in work ethic mixed with talent. If bands work hard people will find them. That’s basically what its about…the band finding itself, and the audience finding the band.
Trends come and go, and within those trends are good songs and not-so-great songs. I can find the good in it and not listen to the rest. I’m not a big fan of the auto-tune movement. I just don’t like the sound. I also don’t support the idea that every note is supposed to be perfect. I’d rather hear a band singing their parts tightly together then relying on auto-tune to correct them. Sometimes its that imperfection that makes a song: it could contribute to the hook or mood of the song. It also pollutes the airwaves with people who really can’t sing or play. I think everything moves in cycles. You just have to be true to yourself, the songs, and the performances, and work your a** off. I think there is a desire to hear some honest material.
Off the subject a bit, but you mentioned that you’re influenced by writers like Hemingway. What are some of your favorite movies? Sometimes a good movie can get my creative juices flowing.
I love movies so its impossible to pick. Silver Streak, Ghostbusters, The Hustler, The Godfather, The History of the World: Part 1, High Fidelity, Back to the Future, The Bridge On The River Kwai, Superbad, Garden State, Almost Famous, Kingdom of Heaven…the list goes on and on.
Where do you perform locally? Where are some of the places you’ve performed out-of-town?
J.Kelley: Locally, we play in downtown New Bedford at Freestones on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, and on the 2nd Thursday of every month at Candleworks. We also play on the weekends at great places like Rose Alley Ale House, The Pour Farm Tavern, and Knuckleheads. We play in Fairhaven at The Ice Chest. Out of town, we have played in Cambridge at The Lizard Lounge, in New York at Sullivan Hall, and in Philadelphia at the World Cafe and Lickety Splitz. We’ll be doing more runs out of town when the new album comes out and we can really do some extended touring. That is what the goal is right now, to hit the road as much as we can.
When you’re out on the town, what local bands/performers do you like to see?
J.Kelley: When I go out locally I try and check out everybody. We have a great wealth of talent here, and it is varies in all different styles. I love checking out Neal McCarthy, Marcus Monteiro, James Gagne, Thom Hiller and Jeff Gobush, Craig Demelo, Wood and Wire, Chris Evil, Chris Haskell, of course, Dori, Chris, and yourself. I hope I didn’t forget anyone, but its funny as you know we all use the same guys. It’s very incestuous, but in a great way. It’s such a tight community with a genuine mutual respect. I try and get out there and support everyone because we’re all different but working hard, hustling and having fun.
I often hear your friends refer to you as Captain America or Superman/Clark Kent. What’s that all about?
J.Kelley: My friends and I are big comic book fans. My favorite is Captain America (I have his shield as one of my tattoos). Also, he is a character originally from the 1940’s and, and I’m known to be a bit old-fashioned sometimes. I also have a giant regard for that generation, work ethic, patriotism, selflessness, and morals. They whined a whole lot less…
As for the Clark Kent/Superman references, that was started by my bass player Rob Massoud. He says that I’m unassuming like Clark Kent off the stage (especially when I’m wearing my glasses), but when its time to play, I run into the phone booth and become Superman. I think its a riot, but I understand what he means. I was taught to be humble and thankful and always remember that I have to work hard to get better, but when its actually time to put on a show you have to be bigger than that.
The bigger the stage, the better we tend to play. You have to pull the audience in, and that’s your time to forget about being modest and unassuming and be as big as you can. Putting that Tele(castor) on and is like putting on that cape. There is also a sub-plot there, referring to women. With the glasses are on I’m quiet and geeky, but when the glasses come off and it’s time to be charming…
Tem Blessed is an iconic figure of Hip Hop in New Bedford and beyond. Recently, I had the good fortune of sitting down the with man to discuss his life and his music.
New Bedford Guide: How long have you been performing? Tem Blessed: I’ve been performing since my freshman year at Umass Amherst. That would be spring of 1993.
What drew you into music?
I’ve always loved music. Music is a key element of the Cape Verdean culture. My older brother was a DJ and after listening to Slick Rick’s “La-Di-Da-Di,” I was inspired to write my first rhyme.
Besides the show you did in New Orleans with Dead Prez, have you done much traveling or touring?
Yes. I have had the opportunity to perform across the United States and overseas. I have performed in Lisbon, Portugal and Priaia, Sao Vincente, and Sal in Cape Verde. In the U.S. I have performed in New York, New Jersey, D.C., Florida, Maine, Oakland, and of course, all throughout Massachusetts.
Will you be able to do any touring considering you have a family and a steady job? Or can you get a leave of absence?
I work for PACE YouthBuild, which is a great organization that understands my need to take leaves of absence. My family also understands and encourages me to follow my passion and live my dream. Working for YouthBuild for the past 12 years has enabled me to grow with my audience and “move the crowd.”
What are some of your main influences, both lyrically and musically?
Life, Liberation, and Hip-Hop culture: this is why I make music. It’s more than music to me; its a movement. I make art to shine light and fulfill my purpose on this planet. As far as other artists go? Eric B. & Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest, KRS-1, Chuck D., Intelligent Hoodlum, Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, Guru, Premier, Nas, Bob Marley, and Iron Maiden. Outside of music, some influences include Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman, Julius Ford, and my children, just to name a few.
Where do you record, and with who?
I record throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. My most recent album, Blessed Energy, was mainly recorded at Brian Steele Studios in New Bedford. I work with many independent artists, such as Dje-Dje, Wal-Gee Ice Man, Empress, Grem, First B., Chachie, Outspoken, S-Live, and Random Thought.
What are some of the benefits of performing in the New Bedford area? How about some of the shortcomings?
The main benefit is that I am able to remain close to my family. I usually never leave for longer than one week. The shortcomings are the economy. It is hard to sell music and get pepole out to the area venues when most people that listen to my music are in the struggle themselves, most times living paycheck to paycheck. There is also a city ordinance that doesn’t allow most venues to do all ages shows or 18-plus events. This is a challenge because most of my target audience are the youth.
What’s coming up in the next year for Tem Blessed?
I’m working on a cross-country tour to help promote the new project with my band Blessed Energy, which features Calvin Grace on drums, Corey Jones on bass, and Ian Hamel on keys. The new album is due out in spring of 2011.
New Year, New You: How to Reach Your Pinnacle Strength
by Noah Griffith
It’s no secret that the most common New Year’s resolution is to become healthier and to get into better shape.
There are a multitude of television shows dedicated to inspiring people to get fit and lose weight, like The Biggest Looser (NBC), I Used To Be Fat (MTV), Celebrity Fit Club (VH1), Dance Your Ass Off (Oxygen), and Heavy (A&E). Movies such as Supersize Me, Fast Food Nation, and Food Inc. also deal with the same issues. Over 129 million Americans are overweight or obese- roughly 64 % of the population!
Recently, there has been a small boom in the amount of gyms being opened in the New Bedford area: Club Fit, Planet Fitness, 24/7 Fitness and Total Fitness. These gyms are joined by all the local gyms that have been around for years: YMCA, WOW, Howland Place, Champions, and Gold’s Gym, just to name a few.
However, the newest of all the gym’s in New Bedford is Pinnacle Strength. I was fortunate enough to have a chance to sit down with the owner, Brad Cardoza, to find out what makes his gym a notch above the rest.
Strong man vs. Strongman = Pinnacle Strength
Brad Cardoza, known as BJ to his friends, grew up just outside of New Bedford in Mattapoisett. He became involved with football in high school and before attending UMass Amherst, where he became a star track & field athlete. It was during his five years in college working closely with strength and conditioning coaches that Brad realized he wanted to make a career out of being ‘in shape.’
Since graduation Brad has dedicated his life to health & fitness. When looking at his resume there are some words you see over and over again: Pro fitness Trainer, Fitness Manager, Fitness Director, Personal Training Services, and let me not forget IFSA (International Federation of Strength Athletes) Professional Strongman.
“After graduating from UMass I immediately moved to Boston and began my personal training career at the Boston Sports Club in Government Center. It all fell into place for me from there.”
Brads dream of owning a gym started at age of 14 when he first walked into a gym in high-school. Brad is hoping that he can bring back to gyms what has been lost over the years.
“Fitness Centers today lack the personal touch that all gyms used to have 20 years ago. I wanted to bring back a facility where you know who to ask all your questions to as soon as you walk through the door: the owner. Pinnacle was built specifically for athletes and people who take working out seriously. At the same time I have a ton of members here who are just starting to work out and feel comfortable because they know I am always here to answer any questions or concerns they may have. Overall, Pinnacle is just a completely different type of business. The atmosphere is definitely more hardcore than your average facility, which all of my members seem to love. A lot of people don’t understand how much atmosphere comes into play when trying to find the motivation to get through a tough workout. At Pinnacle, the equipment, the walls, the music, and the members all add to a great training atmosphere. “
Pinnacle Strength is filled with all manner of equipment, but taking a closer look I realized there’s a lot of equipment here you don’t see everywhere else. For instance, in the rear of the gym there is a 900 lb. tractor tire. There is also an unfinished area in the back where BJ is working on setting up for strongman and MMA-inspired workouts.
By the end of my inquisition I learned that even just after opening its doors, Pinnacle Strength continues to evolve. I learned that there will be a new MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) gym opening in the New Bedford area called Kage Kontrol, that is expected to open in March of 2011. Instead of competing against each other, these two plan on working together to help train not just fighters, but those who are interested in MMA as way of working out and reaching their peak physical condition.
The Test
After touring the gym and seeing the passion in Brad’s face for what he was doing, I had an idea: I asked Brad if he would mind doing a special private workout routine that I would be able to spotlight and put his knowledge and Pinnacle Strength to the test. He said, “Yes,” before I even finished with the sentence. So I went home and grabbed my fiancée, Sasha, and told her that she had to be up at 8 A.M. the next morning to have a private work out at Pinnacle Strength. I would be there too, watching closely from behind my camera and studying the workouts Sasha was doing.
We showed up in the morning, and immediately went to work. Of the ten different work outs that Brad had Sasha doing, I had seen three of them before. The other seven exercises that weren’t unheard of or out of this world, but they were functional, realistic, and (as I said before) were done with equipment that you just don’t find in most gyms. It was amazing. Brad had no problem at all answering our questions, and explained not only how to do the exercise properly, but the purpose behind each one as well.
Brad also pointed out that all of the equipment in the gym is band-compatible, making them ideal for speed training with athletes, and training muscles to move faster:
“Like an offensive line-man coming out of a 3 point stance, a sprinter coming out of their start, or striking like a kickboxer, bands are a safer and more effective form of resistance for athletes, as it is constantly increasing throughout the concentric portion of the movement. Bands make the eccentric portion of the lift considerably harder as well, and are great tools for learning speed and acceleration, or just to increase your starting strength or lockout ability.”
Back at home, Sasha and I talked about the workout she had gone through earlier in the day. I asked her what she thought of the workout and the gym. She told me she loved it. “I can’t wait to sign up,” she told me, “I wish I had the ability to see him three times a week.” After checking out the gym and talking with Brad, and from what Sasha was saying she experienced, I knew that Bradis the real deal.
Though at first the gym may sound and appear to be set up for only a certain type or group of people, Pinnacle Strength proves to be a place where all are welcome and encouraged to come to work out, ask questions about working out, and become more physically fit human beings.
The Basic Info
Pinnacle Strength opened on December 23rd 2010 and is located at 665 Orchard Street New Bedford MA 02744, (774) 202-3110.
Hours of Operations are Monday-Friday 8am-10pm, Saturday- 8am-8pm, and Sunday 8am-6pm.
BJ is at the gym from open to close. In less than a month already he has reached ¼ of his ideal annual memberships, so it is filling up quickly. He is extremely friendly and wants to answer any and ALL of your questions. Membership is $20.00 per month, all up front or paid monthly.
Pinnacle Strength will be running classes for strength and conditioning programs, weight loss, teen strength training, and cardio kickboxing, as well as yoga, which will be soon be available.
For more information and pictures of Pinnacle Strength, workouts, and any overall fitness questions, feel free to check out Pinnacle Strength’s Facebook, You-Tube Videos, and of course the GYM!!!
Next week LocalOracle.com and NewBedfordGuide.com will launch an event map program that will allow users to see events that are currently happening or that will occur in the future. The system will automatically detect your location, but users can define the starting location on the map (address, city or zip code), as well as filter the events by radius/distance (5-100 miles) and time frame (3 hours to 1 week). Each icon can be clicked on to display the venue and event information. Users can share the event on Facebook, use the attendance system, set up a SMS text-message reminder, or go to the event page for full details.
For example, a user could place their home address as the starting point with 15 miles and 3 hours on the filter. Only the events that match the filter will be displayed on the map. Users can start with an address, a zip code or a city. Additionally, users can filter events by category and sub-category.
Users can also view events in a list view that displays the event name, distance and time. This list can be sorted by event name, distance, or time.
The initial version will be available with all browsers on computers, but will not work on cell phones. We expect an iPhone/iPad/Android application this spring/summer. Please post a comment with your feedback!
How to Create an Album: Tickets To The Moon
by Butch McCarthy
While all of us listen to music, many of us do not know just how much work goes into completing an entire album. Along with my recording partner Dori Legge, I recently finished recording one, entitled Tickets To The Moon. Here are the steps we had to take in order to make this album a reality.
1. WRITE SOME SONGS
I thought I’d start with the hardest part. It helps to have a very talented collaborator who’s not afraid to tell you when your idea for a song just doesn’t work. That’s what I’ve found in Dori Legge. And it works both ways- some songs are shot down from the very beginning and they die on the vine. A lot of the songs start with a good title like “Gone Missing”. I had this song title in my head for quite some time after my wife mentioned that someone she works with uses that phrase when fellow employees seem to disappear at crunch time. The first attempt at this song was greeted with a “Hmmmm…” from Dori, which pretty much means, “Nope. Try again.” I have dozens of MP3’s of the various takes on this song, some of which are pretty dismal, but the core of the lyric was good so we kept at it, swapping ideas back and forth over several months. We borrowed the bridge from a song idea of Dori’s that never worked out for some reason and the end result is a really strong song (I think) and is Track 2 on the new CD. We wrote maybe 25 songs from February 2010 until just before we went into the studio- two of the tracks were written at the last minute. We whittled that down to the best 11 songs.
2. GET THE RIGHT PLAYERS
Luckily we have some great players in our inner circle, all from the South Coast area: Chris Richards (guitar), Steve Mazza (bass), John “JB” Borges (drums) and Dan “Dr. D” Schwartz (percussion) make up the core group when we play live and we’re lucky to have these guys on most of the tracks. This time we also widened the talent circle and invited Michael Lavoie (bass), Matt Antunes (drums), Matt Richard (piano), Donn Legge (guitar), Nikki Engstrom (violin) and Bonnie Breault (accordion) to help us out.
3. REHEARSE. REHEARSE. REHEARSE
We insist on going into the studio totally prepared to do all the basic tracks. We’re lucky to have players who put up with our demands and get the job done.
4. SELECT THE STUDIO
For this album, we wanted first and foremost a good piano sound. Most of our material is piano-based and recording with an electronic piano was not what we wanted. We found a studio in Middleboro called ‘Sounds Interesting Studio’ that had a beautiful Yamaha Baby Grand Piano. I also knew the engineer Rob Pemberton. We went for a studio tour and hit it off with Rob right away. The studio was built on a horse farm out in the country; horses are roaming around the grounds and the studio is state-of-the-art and quite beautiful. It was an easy decision. We decided in the parking lot right after the tour.
5. SCHEDULE TIME/BUDGET MONEY
It takes a LOT of time and money. You don’t want to know how much money, believe me. Time-wise, we booked tw weeks in October with the goal of finishing all 11 songs in that time frame. Hahaha. We did get a lot done, but we did not reach that goal. We finished most of the instrument tracks, but we had to book more time to do the vocals. Lots of over-dubbing and harmonies. It was during this period when we realized that Rob was a great collaborator- he had lots of ideas and a very discerning ear. Plus, he wasn’t shy about saying, “No”. We sort of put ourselves in his hands so we could concentrate on performing the music. Rob moved from Engineer to Producer and that made all the difference. This part of the process was the most fun and creative and it’s over much too quickly. We could definitely do this all the time if we could afford it!
6. THE MIXING
This involves the magic of recording, and I have no idea how it works. Having an expert engineer with all the tools at his disposal helps. Rob would mix down each track and give us a CD and we’d make notes and he would make changes. Mostly we went with Rob’s mix with little tweaks here and there. This process took about three weeks.
7. THE MASTERING
Another magical process completely beyond my ken. We used Soundmirror Inc. in Boston to master the tracks. Basically, the mastering takes the mix and makes it brilliant, like cleaning your dirty windows and letting the sun shine through. They did a great job.
Tickets to the Moon Cover Artwork
8. THE ART WORK
There’s more!! Of course the CD needs to be packaged. We are both big fans of local artist Shelley Cardoos. We had wanted to use her images on our first album “Damaged Goods”, but opted for a photo instead. This time we went with Shelley’s stylized figures in blue. Hannah Haines at mediumstudio did the cover design and the result is fantastic. All this had to be planned in advance and coordinated with the recording side of things. Reading this back, I’m not sure how we did it. Dori deserves most of the credit for keeping it all organized and moving forward like a Great White Shark.
9. THE LABEL
We went with Whaling City Sound Records- a great local label. Neal Weiss was very supportive and we’re glad to be in their stable of artists.
10. DUPLICATION
Once we had all the tracks mastered and the cover design complete, it was time to make copies! Disc Maker in New Jersey did the job and at long last the 1,047 CDs arrived.
Finally, after all the hard work is done, you are ready for your record release party with your finished CD!
How did you get involved with music?
What do you like about the current music scene? What don’t you like about it?
Where do you usually perform?
