So now that you're back, just what are you up to?

Wed, Jul 8, 2015

This a question I've asked myself as much as others have asked me.

For those unaware, long before I became one of Boston's bonafide crooners, I was a Rock 'N Roll singer and guitarist. The two bands I had the pleasure of playing in that had the most notoriety were The Ducktape Messiahs (greatest name EVER) and (the) Standing Hamptons. The Messiahs was more of an original band that played some covers, while the Hamptons was a cover band that starting adding in some originals. Both were very talented lineups, but after several years of playing to drunken audiences in the Standing Hamptons getting covered in beer, I realized it was time to make a change, which led me to singing Standards.

Singing the Standards was very good to me (I sound like Chico Escuela), and while the going was good, it was GREAT. However, I have noticed a bit of a trend... whether it's changes in taste, the cyclical nature of popularity in musical styles, or the general shortening in society's attention span due to what seems to be a 140 character limit on deep thought, I can literally see a lack of enthusiasm in audience's desire to sit and watch a wholes night of Standards. This is sad, as these are among the greatest songs ever written. Still, it's more difficult these days to keep an audience engaged than it used to be. Add to this a growing desire in me to get back to my roots and sling a guitar and sing Rock 'N Roll, and I feel compelled to follow that feeling.
Does this mean I don't want to continue singing The Great American Songbook? NO! It does, however,. mean that it's time to expand, and that means I shall, from this point forward, maintain a bit of a split persona... I shall perform Standards, but I am also pursuing opportunities to play Rock/Pop.
I am currently looking for a suitable partner to put together an acoustic/electric duo to play some classic rock stuff (re: lots of Beatles and other timeless material), but I have a not so secret project that I am working on:

A rock band that performs the Standards arranged for guitars, bass, keys and drums (that's an oversimplified description, but you get the idea). To some I've explained this to, the reaction has been one of skepticism, but I hear it all in my head, and trust me when I tell you, it sounds perfect. The biggest obstacle is finding the players, but once I do, I have the ideal partner in mind to aid me in arranging the songs (as well as be the keyboardist in the band) and I have no doubt that the result will be amazing. 
The closest thing to this idea that has been done is what Brian Setzer does with his Orchestra, but what he does is more of a big band boogie woogie thing, whereas my thing will be more rock/pop (which is made especially convenient seeing as I won't have a 25 piece horn section).

As things develop, you'll hear it all right here, but for now, I just thought I'd share some of this with you folks. It goes without saying, if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, or of any of you gentile readers are players interested in this or know players you think may be a good fit, please drop me a line on the contact page! It would be most appreciated!

Until then, I look forward to seeing you all out in the world at upcoming performances!

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