PODCAST: ThinkSoJoe Show for Oct. 12, 2016

The boys went in without a plan. Who needs plans, anyway? The did manage to play some local music, and stay on-air for the entire two hours. That's what we call a success. (We believe in setting attainable goals at All WNY Radio)

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GURNETT: Project/Object was 'Frankly' brilliant

Sunday at the Tralf, Project/Object came rumbling into town celebrating 50 years of Frank Zappa's music. The band, which plays the music of both Frank Zappa & the Mothera of Invention and The Frank Zappa Band, was on top of their game and put on a brilliant performance. It's rare that you get to see world-class musicians playing some of the most difficult music ever written, and Project/Object was up to the task.

The opener was Jamie Holka, a brilliant guitarist who played interpretative oldies with mixed results. His guitar style was amazing, handling percussion, rhythm, melody and sometimes bass all at once. He moved from tapping to strumming to finger-picking to slapping the strings with ease as he performed covers of Steely Dan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. I would never consider knocking Holka's skill at guitar, but I do have an issue with his content. Halfway through his short set, the songs started to sound more like Muzak versions of oldies. I could see people yawning in the crowd. It was beautiful, but if I'm amped up to see Project/Object, the last thing I want is to be lulled to sleep.

Then Ike Willis came out by himself. He apologized for the 12-year absence of Project/Object in Buffalo, promising a return next year, then introduced synthesizer player Don Preston (Zappa contributor from 1966 - 1974), who opened the set by laying down a bizarre, dissonant soundscape much like something Zappa himself would have written. Afterwards, the rest of the Project/Object joined in. Along with Ike Willis on vocals and guitars, the group consisted of Andre Cholmondeley on guitar and vocals, Zappa doppleganger Ryan Berg on drums, Kendal Scott on keyboard and synths, Richard Rutkowski on saxophone and Andrew Walley on bass.

The band went straight into a medley of “Who Needs the Peace Corp?” and “We Are the Other People” from the album We're Only In It for the Money (which, in my opinion, is one of the 10 greatest rock albums ever made). From there it was fan favorite “Montana.” The set also included Zappa mainstays like “Go Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder,” “Idiot Bastard Son,” “Apostrophe,” “Uncle Remus,” “Who are the Brain Police?” and “Excentrifugal Forz.” The set also included a few instrumental pieces I wasn't familiar with but was easily impressed by, with arrangements so complex I could barely count.

Each musician on stage played brilliantly. Every note, key change and bizarre, inexplicable time signature was played to perfection. There were a few slight issues hearing Preston and Cholmondeley's vocals and some of the lead guitar work, but aside from that, every instrument came through clearly. Ike, seated for the majority of the concert, still has a rich baritone that billowed all throughout The Tralf. He was clearing having a blast. He counted out every song with a loud “1-2-3-4” and conducted the group the same way Zappa did in its heyday. As someone who hasn't seen much live concert footage of Willis prior, his proficiency on guitar was a pleasant surprise to me. Walley, meanwhile, played so quickly that I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd melted his bass at some point.

There aren't many bands one can compare to Project/Object. The most obvious, of course, is Zappa Plays Zappa, which I've also seen. Zappa Plays Zappa has an equal of amount of talent, but if they perform the music of Frank Zappa for a setting like Shea's, Project/Object is Frank Zappa for a bar setting, like it should be. There seemed to be a particular relaxation and joy to Project/Object that I just didn't see in Zappa Plays Zappa. They allowed a little more wiggle room during the originally spoken-word bits of certain tunes, with Willis and crew inserting custom updates (like talking about a certain presidential candidate grabbing women in the crotch, less timely remarks about Tony Blair having sex with a chicken, and, when speaking about the night's presidential debates, “I'm not in the mood for bullshit. I want to hear Zappa music”), all of which Frank would have undoubtedly enjoyed.
It was a fantastic performance played with joy and virtuosity by a phenomenal group of musicians, from younger members like Walley and Rutkowski all the way up to Don Preston (who can rock his ass off for an 84-year-old). Being a Frank Zappa fan since junior high, I can't think of a better compliment than telling them they would have made Frank proud.

Ryan Gurnett is a local musician with an appreciation for other local music. Email him at never_really_been@hotmail.com or find him on Twitter @SirWilliamIdol.

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HEaRD in WNY: Top shows for the week of Oct. 10 - 16

This week's featured event is the grand opening of VENU (formery LUX) on Wednesday.

Buffalo's Hottest party venue is back! The former LUX / PURE / LEVEL Nightclub, VENU is here! They will be celebrating their Grand Opening this week on Wednesday with national recording DJ and producer 3LAU headlining alongside Corrupt, DJ Rankan, & Tommy Trillfiger. VENU boasts state of the art sound and lights, cryo effects, an LED dance floor and walls, two stories, and much more! Welcome back this great venue to downtown Buffalo and join in the party!

/// other shows ///

• Combichrist: 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Waiting Room
• Marbin & Frontstreet Men: 9 p.m. Wednesday at Nietszche's
• Four Arm Shiver & Bruise: 6 p.m. Friday at Sugar City
• Raspy Jones: 7 p.m. Friday at Mr. Goodbar
• Divas vs Dollies: 7:30 p.m. Friday at New Skateland Arena
• Personal Blend CD Release Show: 9 p.m. Friday at Nietzsche's
• Gods Creatures Debut Show & Vertigo Freeway EP Release Show: 6 p.m. Saturday at Evening Star Concert Hall
• Edge Underground 10th Anniversary Extravaganza: 7 p.m. Saturday at Tudor Lounge
• Average At Best CD Release Party: 9 p.m. Saturday at Mr. Goodbar

Greg Burt is a Concert Promoter/Sound Guy/Music Supporter/Keyboardist/etc. He can be reached at Greg@FTMPEvents.com. For the full FTMP show calendar, visit www.FTMPEvents.com.

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'Unleash the Lion' show worth catching

There are two types of people in the world: those that like Pearl Jam and those that are wrong.

I've seen Pearl Jam twice in my life. The first time was when they played Lollapalooza '92. It was pretty much the best lineup of a concert ever. Other performers included Ministry, Ice Cube, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Soundgarden, among others. There was also the Jim Rose Sideshow and 30,000 screaming fans. The second time I saw them was in May of 2010. We missed the opening act. A packed HSBC Arena did not.

Saturday night, I caught Buffalo-based Pearl Jam tribute act, "Unleash the Lion," at Evening Star Concert Hall in Niagara Falls. There were about two dozen people there. The rest of you missed out.

Fronted by Julian Burgio, Unleash the Lion includes Brendan Brady and Anthony Carames on guitar, Ian Corbitt on bass, and Andrea Zaramella on drums. The five-piece outfit played about 15 songs to the small crowd of loyal fans, including many of Pearl Jam's biggest hits -- Alive, Jeremy (video -- poor audio quality (sorry!)), Daughter, and Better Man. Burgio -- channeling Eddie Vedder -- also covered John Lennon's Imagine. (video below)

The Evening Star is a great venue. You walk in to what looks like your standard corner bar but then off to the right, there's a huge room with a really nice stage, sound equipment and lights. It really is a concert hall. And because it's also a neighborhood bar, you always meet some interesting folks there. I wouldn't mind a better tap beer selection. And some food would be nice. But if wishes were horseshoes ... or whatever.

Anyway, back to Unleash the Lion. They're a young band put together by Burgio, who also has a solo gig. The band and Burgio are both All WNY Music Award-nominated artists. And rightfully so. Burgio's got pipes. And the band sounds cohesive behind him -- despite some technical difficulties that they had Saturday.

You should check them out sometime. Conveniently, they'll be playing another gig on Saturday (Oct. 15) at Central Park Grill.

For a quick interview with Burgio following Saturday's show, check the podcast below. For more photos from Saturday's show, click here.



+Scott Leffler founded All WNY Radio in 2006 to offer more exposure for the talented musicians in Western New York. Occasionally, he may pen a column discussing one of them. Follow him on Twitter @scottleffler. 

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PODCAST: ThinkSoJoe Show for Oct. 5, 2016

It's an all new ThinkSoJoE Show with your hosts ThinkSoJoE and Muller. This episode features with special guests Nick and Dan of Exham Priory in studio. Plus music from Lost Elysium, Seven Faces, and As Summer Dies. And some technical difficulties. 

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HEaRD in WNY: Top shows for the week of Oct. 3 - 9

This week's featured show is Meghan Pawlak's Benefit Dinner & Concert from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the Sanborn Fire Hall.

Meghan has been a part of the Boulevard Music Lessons and Performing Arts family for a few years. She is a very talented 12-year-old who love to sing and play guitar. She recently found out that she needs a medical surgery which will financially cripple her family and to help support her and her family the students and faculty wanted to do something to show their support by bringing the community together to raise funds & make new friends

Please read her full story here.

Featuring performances by the students of Performing Arts and Boulevard Music Lessons

/// other shows ///

• Assemblage 23 : 6 p.m. Tuesday at Mohawk Place
• West Berlin : 6 p.m. Thursday at Dreamland
• Brownie & Deezy Babyy : 6 p.m. Friday at Evening Star Concert Hall
• The Nigh : 7 p.m. Friday at Mr. Goodbar
• Makewar : 8 p.m. Friday at Stamps
• Cats In Outer Space : 9 p.m. Friday at Milkie's on Elmwood
• Cobblestone Oktoberfest : 2 p.m. Saturday at Buffalo Iron Works
• Rock-A-Bully 2016: 6 p.m. Saturday at Club Marcella
• Good Dude & Dagon: 10 p.m. Saturday at the Niagara Hotel

Greg Burt is a Concert Promoter/Sound Guy/Music Supporter/Keyboardist/etc. He can be reached at Greg@FTMPEvents.com. For the full FTMP show calendar, visit www.FTMPEvents.com.

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PODCAST: ThinkSoJoe Show for Sept. 28, 2016

Wednesday's all new ThinkSoJoE Show on All WNY Radio, with your hosts, ThinkSoJoE and Muller featured music from Beneath Hell's Sky, So Far So Good, Stalking Neptune, and Nerds in Denial.

Download the podcast and listen again and again and again.

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