The Indie Music Review focuses on all types of music including punk, rock, progressive rock, experimental, folk, jazz, acoustic and more. In fact, we love all types of music. Our goal is to give local and unsigned or small label bands exposure to a wider audience, but we appreciate those bands that have worked their way up to become successful and look to them for inspiration on how to reach that success.
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July 23, 2008. Bar 9 in Hell's Kitchen, New York. First time ever in the Big Apple, and here I was catching Mad Larry and Friends live. The show was in support of Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that helps soldiers wounded in war, and it was a madhouse. That's how Billy Ryan said it was going to be, but I didn't believe him. But it WAS a madhouse and in a good way.
Bar 9 is a cool, cozy, little venue with lots of wood and lots of character. It's an inviting place. Couches and comfy chairs throughout make it easy to feel as if you're in your own home watching a private concert. Mad Larry performed for a good two hours or more and played some of their own tunes and covers from a variety of bands, including The Grateful Dead, The Beach Boys, Elvis, Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and more. Mad Larry also had guest singers, including the ultra-talented bartender Noelle Griffis, who sang a bone-chilling rendition of Janis Joplin's "Bobby McGee". That girl has got some talent.
Mad Larry features Billy Ryan on guitars and vocals, the funky and fun Mark Nilsen on bass, Chris Fischer on guitar and vocals, and Brendan Ryan on piano and accordion. This night it also featured P.J. O'Connor, formerly of The Bogmen and now with Radio 4, on drums, who also did some singing. Three former Bogmen in one night? Ecstasy, perhaps, for you ultra-Bogmen fans.
But what enticed me was Billy and Brendan Ryan, who now play with GanoRyan, which features Gordon Gano from the Violent Femmes, Lonnie Hillyer from Maggie's Dream, and Frank Ferrer from Guns N Roses. There's no doubt I'm partial to Gordon Gano's voice, but Billy Ryan can sing and he has got the sweetest voice....a sexy, funky, cool sound that can sweep you away without you even knowing it. His guitar playing is pretty good too. Awesome in fact. It's as if he just lets the guitar take over and he goes wherever it takes him. And Brendan Ryan makes the accordion look hip and sexy-cool. I mean really, people, this talented guy is teaching himself how to play Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" on accordion. No joke. And as far as the piano, the guy's a wiz. Go listen to some of the music he created at Ryan Bros. Music. You'll be AMAZED!
My first taste of Mad Larry at Bar 9 was in the extremely hot backstage basement where I got to see the guys practice. They played a variety of tunes, including a Billy-tastic version of Nirvana's, "Come as You Are", which, unfortunately, didn't make it to their stage performance. But, I got ultra-funky Mark Nilsen to show off his groovy shoes, which I absolutely adored! If only I could look as cool as him. What was interesting was here was a bunch of guys, pretty well-known in the music biz, and they were the most down-to-earth, friendly, and fun musicians I've ever met. No egos here folks!
The place was packed. In the back rooms, the lounging area off the side of the stage and the bar were literally shoulder to shoulder. Whoever said New Yorkers were unruly, unfriendly, and rude, needs to go hang out at Bar 9. People were dancing, laughing, talking, and having a great time! And every single person in that place was extremely friendly!!!
As far as their live stage performance goes, how many adjectives can I fit in one sentence? Amazing, fantastic, incredible, phenomenal, wonderful, AWESOME, kick-ass. All of these and more. Honestly, I think Mad Larry was one of the best bands I've seen live in quite a while. Not only because they played some fabulous, put-you-in-the-mood-to-dance-and-groove tunes, but because the jam that went on when "friends" came on stage and sang and played with them. I've already talked about Noelle Griffis (and did I mention her mind-blowing version of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams"?), but other guests included the Boom Boom Room's (San Francisco) Rich Egan, Tim Cloherty, Hope Debates and Bar 9's own and the show's host, Kieran Blake.
Some highlights of the evening included Mad Larry's originals, "Better Than You Know",(lyrics by Gordon Gano and music by Billy and Brendan Ryan), that is truly one of those California feel-good songs that makes you want to hop in your car and drive down some scenic highway, blast the tune and sing along; and "Rojito", a funky, flamenco-influenced rock song that did nothing but make you want to get out on the dance floor and dance. And once you did you couldn't stop because song after song after song that these guys played had you bopping and grooving.
Tim Cloherty's version of "That's All Right" was mesmorizing and had everyone dancing, and Chris Fischer's cover of "Leave My Kitten Alone" was jam-tastic! That was one of my favorites of the night. It's such an awesome song anyway, and Chris and Mad Larry really did an unbelievable job on this one. Hope Debates' hit the stage and wowed the crowd with her version of "Everybody's Talking" and "I'm Coming Home". She did a phenomenal job. PJ O'Connor proved he is a multi-talented musician with his cover of "Jack a Roe". Billy Ryan's version of "Wild Horses" and "Time" were mind-blowing. Mark Nilsen did an amazing job on "Breakdown", and Rich Egan kept the party going with his version of "Highway 61", another favorite of the night. That song is so much fun and these guys pulled it off perfectly!
Mad Larry and Friends put on a better-than-good show. It was a fun-believable show! It was obvious they enjoyed not only playing for the crowd, but also enjoyed playing the music for themselves. They ALL were into the music and when that happens, one can't help but get into it and become part of the excitement. Mad Larry plays at Bar 9 often. So check the schedule or call, because this is definitely one band you don't want to miss!
Listen to Mad Larry's song "Slow Down" off of their self-titled EP on The Indie Music Review's Player
The Danglers 'Ascend' Into Political Anarchy with New Single
by Janet Yates
Borrowing talent from such groups as The Violent Femmes, Avalon Four and The Tossers, The Danglers is a Milwaukee-based progressive rock trio whose members include Jason Loveall (violin/vocals), John Sparrow (drums/percussion) and Dave Gelting (contrabass/vocals). This spit-fire group of well-known musicians has unleashed a frantic heart-felt response to the American Government’s increasing oppression of it’s people. Their new single ‘Ascend’ lends a voice to an America that is frustrated with both her political system and its leaders. The Indie Music Review was able to get with Jason and John to delve a bit deeper into their thoughts on the subject:
IMR: What personally led you to write about such politically heated subject(s)?
JL: Frustration in a word. The news outlets aren't doing their job, our executive branch is burning the midnight oil on a neocon agenda, the democrat majority in the house and senate have squandered their authority; it's just all a mess. Beside my vote, this seems to be the only tool I have to 'fight the power'.
JS: Jason wrote the lyrics and came up with the concept of the song. Dave and I wrote our own parts that would reflect our attitudes about the subject matter. Hence the reason the music is driving and relentless.
IMR: Does the United State government piss you off? FBI, CIA, and now NSA, if left unchecked, what’s next?
JL: I feel that our constitution is the greatest template for a life well lived under a governing body. When it is manipulated against the people it protects I get pissed. The idea of the machine installed to record every ones internet activity scares me half to death. Then to think that a corporate giant did it at the president’s behest and our representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill to provide immunity to telecoms is unconscionable. Even Sen. Obama voted on the wrong side of this issue. What's next? Force John McCain into retirement so we don't have to find out.
JS: I am not pissed off. I am more at the rolling my eyes stage with the government. I personally want to make it clear that I support neither side of the political fence. Politics in general is evil to me; the word has never had a positive meaning to me. Even with a candidate that shows so much promise, people must remember that the president is not the end all be all when it comes to decisions in this country. I think all aspects of the Govt. are bullshit. Unless the govt. came out and told us exactly why they do the things they do for us, and show how these actions have kept us from ruin, I hate them all.
It is the start of the fall of the Roman Empire ......
IMR: Do you think President Bush’s recent order to rescind the ban of new offshore oil drilling urging Congress to act to allow it. Is this the best answer to solving our dependency on foreign oil?
JL: So far congress isn't buying it. It seems to me that there's something to this speculators Enron loophole business regarding current prices. Ideally, I guess I'd like to see big windmills all over our landscape. It's a complicated issue at requires billions of dollars spent at home rather than overseas.
JS: There are other motivations to lifting the ban, not trying to help the American people. What are the motivations? I could be like most politically minded people in this country and speculate, but none of us really know...
IMR: It sounds like you believe American’s Rights are being violated? Please explain.
JL: More so, I feel that Americans are allowing their rights to be violated out of fear. Out of fear we've compromised out some due process in the rule of law for expediency. Now our tax dollars are funding a trillion dollar war based on faulty intelligence. There just seems to be a sense that we're all suspect now in America when you can wiretap calls without a warrant. That smell of 'with us or against us' philosophy is the cornerstone of the socialism these neocons have claimed to topple. Fear. Lies. Arrogance.
JS: No comment.
IMR: How do you feel about the recent Supreme Court ruling in California to allow same sex marriages?
JL: About fucking time! What's taking the rest of you so long? Oh yeah.....that religious right thing......
JS: I think it is fantastic! Man/Man Woman/Woman.....Love is love!
IMR: Are you optimistic or pessimistic about America’s future?
JL: Guardedly optimistic. With less dependence on the major media outlets and more forum discussion such as blogs provide I think we stand a better chance of staying informed and encouraging our representatives to vote correctly.
JS: Pessimistic. For all the reasons above. BUT, like the title of the single, we must rise above and not sink under the hands of oppression caused by our government.
IMR: It was a great pleasure to speak with both of you and we thank you immensely for your time!
JL: Thank you for giving us a voice, and I'm thrilled you like our song.
On September 8, 2008, indie musicians will have a whole new world opened to them, courtesy of Mike Canter. It's called SonicJive.com.
In a suburb south of Chicago, Mike grew up involved in music as a singer in a band called Buck Dancers Choice and as a follower of Grateful Dead, attending 38 concerts in one summer alone. At the age of 30, he went back to school at Northwestern University in Chicago, majoring in Business Management and Finance. In 1997, he prepared a business model that was designed to help the “musicians being screwed by Napster," as he says, to which his teacher encouraged him to follow through, marking the paper with the words, “You should do this." Mike ignored him and went about his life until a fire took his home and his entire collection of CDs.
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Believing that musicians should be paid for their artistry, he refused to pirate and decided it was time to realize his dream – his original business model from 1997. A website for bands and their fans, where bands would get paid for visits to their page and downloads of their music.
By now, though, Myspace and Facebook had taken off and were making a lot of money off of indie bands. Effective Labor Day 2008, Myspace will have sold their Music royalties, allowing the four major labels of America to profit from all of the music – both major label and independent artists from all over the world. Every time a band page is visited, the music labels make money. They give none of it to the musicians themselves; the indie musicians will get nothing. The key reason to why they will find SonicJive.com.
A one-man operation, Mike has built SonicJive.com from the ground up, teaching himself how to build and code a website, buying drinks for band members and shaking their hands, finding advertisers. A bit shy initially, he becomes as animated as a father of a newborn baby, so protective is he of his creation that many times he would clamp his mouth shut as to not give away too many of the surprises that this website holds; so excited that he once leapt off his barstool in an attempt to fully describe everything. So protective is he of this baby he has found that he gets thousands of hacker attempts per hour – and so changes his 116-digit password daily.
The name SonicJive came to Mike while watching the John Cusak movie “High Fidelity." In it is a band called Sonic Death Monkey; Jack Black’s character is Barry Jive – it clicked in Mike’s mind and there is was: the website he hopes will someday become a household name, as much as an addiction as his competitors have become. However he is quick to say he is “not competing with any other website; SonicJive is an alternative to what is now offered."
Already endorsed by Southwest Airlines and an energy drink, Mike is looking to build his staff and find investors. But he is not so desperate for help that he would allow a major-label artist to have a page – actually becoming offended when approached by a musician who he felt was “just being greedy” – this site is for independent and minor-label musicians only.
One of the first bands to sign up for SonicJive was The Frantic, a local Chicago band. They rose through their ranks and were quickly snapped up by a major label – and dropped from SonicJive. Right now Mike’s goals are to raise money, get advertisers and recruit bands. He has programmed an advertising “skin”, as he calls it, located on the front page of the website, rotating so advertisers get equal time.
Also lined up: a monthly broadcast from Florida where sports figures will be interviewed and SonicJive’s featured band of the month will play poolside. He is planning a huge presence at Chicago’s Mobfest ’09 and South By Southwest in Austin, TX, in March ’09. A contest sponsored by Harley Davidson, scholarships to Northwestern University and a SonicJive Compilation CD.
Mike never stops coming up with new ideas for the website and the promotion of indie artists. Exposure for bands being so important to Mike, he is even allowing band pages to include a link to their Myspace page – knowing that the more attention a band gets the more money that band can make. So into music is Mike that when asked to list his 10 top favorite bands he did so with no hesitation, even adding in small comments on each one. To name a few: Sheila Sondergard, whose music makes you feel like you are on a vacation. Tripcatta, whose music is “phenomenal, better than Tool." Roe Tierney: “better than Van Morrison."
Had he been asked, it is quite possible Mike could have listed the other 1600 bands that have already joined the site. Although SonicJive has not yet made a profit, Mike says that it has “been worth every bit of blood, sweat and tears.”
I'll be in Evanston/Wilmette for LilFest (myspace. com/lilfest) in a couple of weeks. I start the whole thing off with a show at Bills Blues on 9/11. Chicago's Michi will be my violin. Hope to see you and your friends there.
Hello, friend of mine! I just wanted to let you know that the second half of my debut album, "Venus Motel", is FINALLY playing on our profile for your listening enjoyment. As usual, I dig any feedback from you, positive or negative, so don't be afraid to speak up! Believe me when I say that it's an honour to have you as a friend, so stop by anytime and say hello. Cheers!
Now playing: SOUPYGATO SHOW #214 -- , featuring music by THE DANGLERS!
There are several ways to listen to the SoupyGato Show – the easiest is to visit our website: www. soupygato. com – or subscribe to the show by visiting http://www. gcast. com/u/soupygato/main -- and it will download to your Itunes, Ipod, etc.
SoupyGato Show #214
Kudu -- Black Betty Feral Children -- SpyGlass House Lazo -- Try Love Life Beyond -- Resistance Ray Childish -- Vengeance Tango
The Pinker Tones -- Electrotumbao IreneB -- Call in IreneB -- Forgive Me Now Los Lobos and Money Mark -- Pepe and Irene Indigo -- Art of Living
Chaz Shepard -- Retail Whore The Danglers -- Ascend November -- Something Wicked (This Way Comes) Lazo -- I Believe In Love
London is cool and I am happy I moved here last week!I will start recording my CD soon and I have posted pictures of my artwork on my pictures:) Check out my new website at www. thecommander-in-chief. com and The Commander-In-Chief Fanclub on Facebook. com. Have a rockin week!! Greetings from The Norwegian Commander:)
Online Now!
![justmegan [NEW SONG!]](http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/34/s_a2bea745d39a3d4cef09ddd0d32bfb43.jpg)
