Utica gets a shout-out

Good news in local music.

Jim Millbower's song "Utica" which was featured on the Mohawk Valley Tribute CD and nominated for a Sammy for best pop recording recently was recognized by garageband.com as track of the day. The award is based on positive reviews from site goers. The site was founded by Talking Heads' Jerry Harrison.

Check it out at http://www.garageband.com/song?|pe1|S8LTM0LdsaSgaFexZmw

Yay Utica!

Snow makes KAC event a no-go.

CLINTON - The threat of an impending "snowicane" seems to be scaring even the musicians away.

The Kirkland Art Center's Song circle scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, has been canceled.

Don't worry. The event will be rescheduled. I'll let you know when that happens.

An '80s throwback that will make you 'throw your cares away'

There are some songs that never fail to elicit a smile, memory or tear. Here's one a friend sent me today that made me smile and remember simpler days. All you Gen-Xers out there should get the same thrill from this oldie but goodie.



Is there a song that does the same for you? Please share.

Gloriana goes for the gold

Looks like Gloriana's going for the medal.

Ahhh, well not exactly, but the group with New Hartford roots, will be showing up on the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The group adds "The World is Ours Tonight"to the soundtrack that includes songs from such artists as Mariah Carey, Rascal Flatts and 3 Doors Down. Whatever money made from the tracks benefits Team USA. Here's what New Hartford's Mike Gossin had to say to about it to Great American Country:

“To be able to team up with such amazing artists including Rascal Flatts and Sugarland on this soundtrack and support Team USA and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games is an opportunity we are so grateful for,” Gossin said. He and his brother Tom are two of four of the band's members. “We hope it helps Team USA to win Olympic Gold across the board.”

Check out the video for "The World is Ours Tonight":

AT&T Team USA(tm) Soundtrack: Gloriana

Here's what else you'll find on the soundtrack, available at iTunes:

• 3 Doors Down "Shine"
• The All-American Rejects "Move Along (remix by Chad Hugo of the Neptunes)"
• David Banner "In the Zone (feat. BJ the Chicago Kid)"
• Green River Ordinance "Rise Up"
• Honor Society "Can't Box Me In"
• Hoobastank "Never Be Here Again"
• Mariah Carey "100%"
• Puddle Of Mudd "Shook Up the World"
• Rascal Flatts "Unstoppable (Olympics Mix)"
• Sugarland "Wide Open"
• Train "The Finish Line"

Check this out, then update your status

I can't remember if I shared this with everyone yet, but even if I did it's worth a second look.

Local hip-hop/rapper Critter made this hysterical video about status updates and I think anyone who has even an inkling of what social networking is all about will see the hilarity in this.

There might even be a message here under all the sarcasm: maybe the world won't end if you don't update your status. (Maybe.)

Anyway, check it out.

Behind Staind: Aaron Lewis sweet, sensitive

I just got off the phone with Aaron Lewis of Staind. He's set to play two shows at 8pm & 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, in the Showroom at the Turning Stone.

There are very few times when I interview a celebrity and am impressed. (In fact, interviewing celebrities is one of my least favorite things to do.) This was not one of those times. Aaron is without a doubt, as real as they come (at least from what I could discern in a 20-minute phone conversation). Imagine this big guy, bald-headed, tattoos scrawled across his arms, rocking as hard as he can with his band Staind.

Now, imagine this same guy talking about his three daughters (2, 4 and 7) and his fears for them - well really for himself - when they become teenagers. Now, imagine that same guy talking about the lyrics of today's popular music and how he's afraid his daughters will connect with those often inappropriate, oversexualized words. Imagine this rock star trying to shield his daughters from those lyrics.

Imagine his thoughts about music: It's best in its simplicity, he said.

Imagine his acoustic show - clips you can catch all over YouTube. Imagine him alone on stage with his guitar - vulnerable and open just to and for the music. Imagine his daughters and wife watching from backstage - which they often do.

Imagine: rock n roll isn't as bad as the old folks might have led some of us to believe. Aaron Lewis just might be proof.

Tickets are $50/55/65.

Check out next Thursday's Fusion for my complete interview with Aaron.

Check out this video of a portion of Aaron Lewis' solo show.

Utica Music Fest keeps gettin' better

There are so many exciting things being planned for September's third Utica Music and Arts Fest, I begged the organizers to let me announce some of them - or at least one of those events.

So, here's the first: The Balkan-Hadley, next to the Uptown Theatre, will be hosting an Oktoberfest within the festival this year.

The fest within the fest will feature German food, live German music, ranging from traditional to progressive and a selection of German beers.

If I knew some celebratory German words, I would list a whole string of them, but I don't, so a good ol' American hooray is as good as it gets.

Wanna be a vendor? Call Lauren Helmer at 507-4264.

Click here for past articles on UMAF.

Pictured above: The band True Witness jams during the Utica Music and Arts Fest at Hanna Park, Friday, Sept. 11, 2009. (MICHAEL LAPOLLA/Observer-Dispatch)

Alicia Keys set to perform at Turning Stone

I'm practically peeing my pants over this announcement: Alicia Keys has been scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 11, in the Event Center at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino.

Really. For real. It's true. (I'm doing everything I can right now not to use 500 exclamations after each sentence I write.)

And, seriously, even if you don't like Alicia Keys - which is just preposterous to me - you can't be mad that such a huge act is coming to this area. Just get a glimpse of some of what she's accomplished:

12 Grammys
11 Billboard Music Awards
Five American Music Awards
Three World Music Awards
Three MTV Video Music Awards
Three MTV Europe Awards
Two Nickelodeon Teen Choice Awards
Three BET Awards
14 NAACP Image Awards
Seven Soul Train Music Awards
Two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards
Two People's Choice Awards

And in this case, the list really does go on.

Tickets are $75 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb 6.