Hidden Track Review

My review appeared on Hidden Track yesterday afternoon. Read it here.

Being the show that I reviewed was April 8, it was a little stale when it hit the site but the editor was in China for the week and couldn't post it any sooner.

Hidden Track (a subsidary of Glide music magazine) won the Weblog award for "Best Music Blog" in 2008. I got hooked to it months ago because of it's fresh look at the music scene. It is awesome for anyone who is more than just a casual fan of jam and rock music. Each day of the week has featured departments: like Stormy Monday's and Friday Mix Tape. They also have a guy that does movie reviews, one that does book reviews and everything else that keeps you caught up with music and beyond - I definately recommend.

I am very happy to be associated with HT and will surely be offering my time for another review soon (hopefully as correspondent at Mountain Jam in Hunter, N.Y. on May 31-June 2).

Not to get greedy, but my hope is that the Umphrey's family catches wind of my review and throws it on its Web site.

It would be like a big hug that a writer so desperatley needs every now and again.

-J

Umphrey's McNES invades the stage

Scott Hannay, from Glens Falls, stage left, sitting in on the
instrumental "Triple Wide" with Umprhey's McGee April 8
at The Calvin Theatre in Northampton, Mass.

Set One
In The Kitchen > Cemetery Walk > #5 > The Haunt > Another Brick In The Wall jam > In The Kitchen, The Triple Wide^, 40's Theme

Set Two
Blue Echo^ > Robot World, Plunger > "Jimmy Stewart"* > Plunger, The Bottom Half > Spires > The Bottom Half, Equal Rights, Kimble > The Floor
Encore
The Fuzz > Glory
Notes
^ with Scott Hannay on keys with Joel
* with lyrics

Editors note: Scotty actually sat-in on "Robot World" also. And, he began the second set by himself with "Blue Echo." Props to him for getting up in front of a theater full of screaming college kids and holding his own with one of the most technical musicians in the business!

Stay tuned for video and professional photos from Sean Culligan as well as links to the Hidden Track review. I will also post a link to archive.org where you can listen to the show in its entirety. Of course you can buy the show (high-quality) at umlive.net for $9.95. People are calling it the best of 2009 so far. I agree and that will reflect in my review; I wish I could sound a little more objective, and I will - a wee little tiny bit.

Umphrey's McNES: The Day of Truth

If you've followed my blog for a while, you know of Glens Falls musician Scott Hannay. If not, check out previous "Umphrey's McNES" posts.

Here's the 4-1-1 on Scott for those new to the blog:

He is a multifaceted musician who plays guitar, bass and keyboards for a number of bands in the Glens Falls area.

As a hobby, he began arranging songs by artist Umphrey's McGee using the original Nintendo sound effects. So he can hit a key on his keyboard and you instantly recognize the sound: Like one is Zelda's sword swinging, another is Mario's fireball, another is Mega Man, ect. ect.

So he used these sounds to arrange UM's dynamic structure songs note for note and, after putting them on MySpace under the name "Umphrey's McNES," he created a mini-sensation among the band's fans.

Well, the band took notice, liked it and asked him to sit-in on a concert with them. I won't rant about this being a big deal, but I encourage you to read The New York Times review of their recent release if you've never heard of the band and couldn't care less.

After practicing and being generally psyched for a good month, that day is now upon Scott, in fact the show is tonight, April 8, at around 8 p.m. at The Calvin Theatre in Northampton, Mass.

So, what's new with Scott since my story first ran in the newspaper?

Well, he was "officially" embraced by UM when his version of their song "1348" (click here to hear Scott's version) was added to their online exclusive material. Scott was in pretty good company. The song was available along with a version of "Intentions Clear" featuring bluegrass legend, Bela Fleck, on banjo as well as a version of King Crimson's (60's era original prog-rock band) song "Thela Hun Ginjeet" featuring original Crimson lead singer Adrian Belew.

He has also been practicing on adapting his songs, which were done for the most part on computer, to keyboards. See, the computer allowed him to recreate the melodies, base and vocal lines and drum beat. To try and recreate that sound, Scott has been trying to play various parts using three keyboards. Truth is, he has no idea what to expect tonight. However, as a precautionary measure, he set up a rig with three keyboards, a computer and other gadgets that allow him to manipulate sounds.

I caught up with him while he was practicing recently, here's is a look:

I will be making the trip and writing a review of the show for Glide Magazine's Hidden Track blog so stay posted for exclusive photos and video from Northampton including pre-and-post-show festivities.

Scotty practicing on his rig.

Well, good luck tonight Scotty, see you after the show for a few clinks of the old glass!

(Stay tuned for more photos/vids from Northampton.)

Umphrey's McNES hits The Floor

Glens Falls musician Scott Hannay got some mention on Umphrey's McGee's blog 'The Floor' this morning about his version of 1348 being added to the exclusive Mantis content. This is pretty big time but April 8 is the real payoff, when he will sit-in with the band at The Calvin Theatre in Massachusetts.

http://blog.umphreys.com/cs/blogs/thefloor/archive/2009/03/17/more-mantis-bonus.aspx

Go out and buy Mantis people! And check in to cas:ev for more exclusive info following Scott as he rides the wave to mainstream success (I promise you, this will happen). Check out previous Umphrey's McNES posts to learn more about Scott's fateful meeting and date with destiny.

Editors' note: Saint Pattie's day for me turned into a sick all-night jam out with versions of "Whiskey-in-the-Jar," "Peggy-O" and "Long May You Run" abound. We recorded a bunch; 'll try and get a link soon.

My "Traditional Irish 18-pack" of Guiness, Harp and Schmiticks combined with three guitars (one electric), drums and keys has left me with a vicious headache but it was worth it.

Happy hangover all ; o

-J

Umphrey's McNES invades the radio

Scott Hannay's music will be featured on 102.7 WEQX tonight at 11 p.m. for "Local @ 11" series. Tune your ears and your dial.

EQX is the longest-running alternative music station in the state.

In related news, Scott was contacted by Umphrey's McGee's sound engineer Kevin Browning asking if the band could include Scott's version of "1348" for their online "PUSH" material. It's a new means of marketing where the CD acts as a key that unlocks exclusive online MP3s and other content that can be downloaded. Everyone who owns the album will now have access to Scott's song.

Hannay and two of his bands, Capital Zen and The Whatever Experiment will be playing at The Spotlight in downtown Glens Falls on Saint Pattie's Day. Music starts at 4 p.m.

Congrats Scott, looking forward to the April 8 show. Ride the wave!

Hidden Track

What a great week.

My story about Scott Hannay's date with destiny was a hit and I received a lot of good feedback. I also completed a logo for a private contractor friend of mine that I will post within the next few days.

But here's the best news:

On Thursday I reached out to Hidden Track music blog to see if they would be interested in a first-hand account of the April 8 Umphrey's McGee show with a little background about Scott (I got greedy, which you have to do as a freelancer).

First, a little bit about Hidden Track (from the Web site):

Hidden Track was started in October 2006 by Ace Cowboy and Scott Bernstein to offer live music fans an off-beat look at the scene. We cover a wide range of music from Prog-Rock to Classic Rock to Jazz to Blues to Jam to Indie to Klezmer. Okay, maybe we don’t cover Klezmer although The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band does kick some serious ass. Over the years we’ve developed a more serious tone, but we’re not afraid to drop a fart joke when necessary. In January of 2009, Hidden Track was awarded the 2008 Weblog Award for Best Music Blog, a fair indication of how far we’ve come in just 28 short months.

Yeah, it's the best in the blogosphere and I am hooked. They often feature exclusives with both up-and-coming names in music as well as established acts.

So I sent a snail-mail to scott@glidemagazine.com and a couple days passed with no reply. I followed up and got a reply almost immediately.

It read:

John,

Thank you so much for following up with me. I had started a response to you, but it got lost in the shuffle before I sent it out.

I'm VERY familiar with Scott Hannay's work and it's amazing. I'm so excited that he gets to mash up with the band. I'm extremely interested in running your account of the evening. Do you need anything from my end?

- Scott

So, yeah, I will tell the nation about April 8 at The Calvin. I will also have a professional photographer accompanying me (Glens Falls native Sean Culligan, seanculligan.com)!

I have a feeling it will be a memorable one.

P.S. Being associated with anyone named "Ace Cowboy" is pretty sweet. Check out his blog (hilarious)

-J

Umphrey's McNES invades the news

The Glens Falls Leader weekly newspaper featuring Scott Hannay's story.

Click here to read.

Local Kid Does OK: Umphrey's McNES

(Photo illustration courtesy of Scott's MySpace page)

I faced an interesting situation after posting my last post, which was a story about a musician friend of mine, Scott Hannay, getting the opportunity of a lifetime.

The thing is, I had plans to publish the story in a weekly newspaper I write for. It didn't really occur to me right away that having it on my blog might prior to it being published might (or might not) present a series of unfavorable consequences for me.

So if having it on my blog meant not having it published, I didn't want to take that risk. After all, the point is to reach as many people as possible and I don't think too many people read my posts (which makes me feel a little strange when I sit here typing to myself ...like whoa)

Word has it my story may even run as an abridged version (or at least a refer) in the daily newspaper's Friday entertainment section (of this week I believe) and run in full in a weekly paper that is inserted in the daily Wednesday, Feb. 25.

After it is published I'll get it back up on this bitch in some form, no worries mate.

In the meantime, check out Scott's music!

Peace

-J