Blog | Music/Arts: Long Island Sound & Beyond

A former studio and touring guitarist for Peter Wolf, Johnny A. never took a guitar lesson. The Boston-based musician grew up playing the drums—until the British invasion occurred, and hearing the melodies of bands like the Beatles, the Stones and the Animals inspired him to pick up a guitar. He soon realized he had a natural ability for the guitar and, aside from co-producing Wolf’s acclaimed solo LP Long Line, Johnny self-produced his two studio records and, due to overwhelming requests from his fans, a new live CD/DVD set called One November Night.

A.’s latest CD contains uplifting bluesy rock originals like “I Had to Laugh” and “Ignorance is Bliss,” along with the galloping “Two Wheel Horse,” and a melancholic rendition of “Wichita Lineman.” One November Night, which was recorded live at Scullers Jazz Club, also includes two previously unrecorded covers, The Beatles “The Night Before” and Chuck Berry’s “Memphis, Tennessee.” When listening to this impressive live compilation, you almost forget there aren’t any vocals. Johnny “uses the guitar as [his] voice,” allowing him to express everything from ecstatic joy to sadness, and all the gray areas in between.

So, if you’re looking for something to do this Easter weekend, check out Johnny A. at the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, April 3rd, along with blues great Duke Robillard. In a live setting, you’ll find out why Gibson named a guitar after the talented six-stringer, who was influenced by the likes of Les Paul, Jeff Beck, Chet Atkins and Jimi Hendrix. It’s time to rock in the spring! http://www.johnnya.com/shows.html

Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby detonates for me
Look out honey ‘cause I’m using technology!
I ain’t got time to make no apology

After being nominated seven times, late 60’s-early 70’s proto punk/grunge band The Stooges will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Tuesday, March 15th. But unlike the Sex Pistols, the Stooges’ fearless lead singer Iggy Pop felt vindicated when he heard his band was finally being inducted: “It’s a game and when all these greats are included and you’re not, it sort of says, ‘You’re not ...whatever,’ Pop told Rolling Stone.

“And then when you are included it’s like, ‘Hey! You’re all right. You made something good. You made some good stuff.’ So I think all that is just very human. “

The Michigan-spawned rockers were inspired by Detroit blues, loud garage bands and the Doors’ psychedelia—especially Jim Morrison’s audience-taunting performances. Songs like “Search and Destroy” and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (both of which the band will perform on the 15th) with their searing guitar and primal lyrics, sowed the seeds for punk, grunge and indie rock in general. The Sex Pistols, Dinosaur Jr., Nirvana, the Chili Peppers and the White Stripes consider the Stooges to be a major influence.

Yet another disciple of the honorees, Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong will introduce the Stooges at NY’s Waldorf Astoria.  Although Pop was excited to be included, he said he started second-guessing himself after a couple hours, wondering if he was “still cool.” Well, if he attends the ceremony wearing a Dior tux in his signature shirtless manner, the 63 year-old godfather of punk will no longer be “the world’s forgotten boy.”

I Can’t Wait/For the Day/When my Words Stop Being Weapons/I Can’t Wait/For a Time/When I Won’t Be Relying on Rhyme

Writer, teacher, musician, and co-curator of the Long Island Pulse Songwriter Series, Alan Semerdjian is an Armenian-American Renaissance man. This past year saw the release of both his poetry collection, In the Architecture of Bone, and his second studio album, The Big Beauty. The Long Island-based indie musician’s songs can be heard on PBS, the WB Network, and at many venues throughout NY. He’s performed nearly 1,000 shows and readings in the past 12 years, and will be playing at the Cup in Wantagh on March 13th.

Semerdjian’s latest CD was recorded in Rhinebeck with producer Michael Bloom (Rilo Kiley), and features appearances by The Hold Steady’s Franz Nicolay, and multi-instrumentalist Philip A. Jimenez.  The 14-track disc is filled with pop-infused folk-rock songs about relationships—some quirky ballads (“Halo,” and the Beatles-esque “Stephanie”), and some real rockers (“I Can’t Tell You How”).

With influences ranging from U2 and R.E.M., to Elvis Costello, Adam Duritz and Aimee Mann, you can expect an eclectic, textured sound with poetic lyrics. Aside from tunes off his two records, and some choice covers, the singer/songwriter will be trying out some new material at his solo show at the Cup, where you can join him for a veggie burger and a cup of Moroccan mint tea. http://www.alanarts.com/

It’s like a trampoline/We’ll fly, we’ll fall and we’ll dream/That we’ll make it to the stars in the sky above/It’s what life is like

An atmospheric indie band with an unusual depth to their lyrics, All the Day Holiday were named one of six bands to watch by Rolling Stone after a stand-out performance at last year’s Bamboozle fest. After self-releasing an EP entitled We’ll Be Walking on Air in ‘07, the Ohio-based quartet recently put out the acclaimed full-length, The Things We’ve Grown to Love, on Linc Star.

You’ll find a song for every season—from “Autumn” and “2000 Winters” to “Flowers and Fireworks”—from this nature-loving, yet spiritual, group who are influenced by the Beatles, School of Seven Bells, Arcade Fire and fellow harmonists, the Beach Boys. Their energetic, yet ambient, sound is similar to bands like Copeland, Keane and Sigur Ros.

About to embark upon another tour, including big slots at both Bamboozle and Hoodwink 2010, the twenty year-olds are still riding high after playing with bands such as Play Radio Play, Lydia and the Danish dream-pop trio, Mew. “It was a great time of band progression,” notes guitarist Nathan Frisch. “It’s been a ton of fun as well, and we plan to pick up the pace even more in 2010.”

So if you don’t catch ATDH in the city on the 18th, head to the Looney Tunes in West Babylon on Friday evening for a free, and extremely enlightening, in-store show at 6:30pm. http://www.myspace.com/allthedayholiday

My friend and me/Looking through her red box of memories/Faded I’m sure/But love seems to stick in her veins you know - The Verve

With the star-loaded film Valentine’s Day premiering this weekend, Amy Winehouse’s cover of the Sam Cooke classic “Cupid,” could become an earworm for the masses. Instead of buying yet another soundtrack, why not create an original disc from music you already own? Give the compilation to your amour, or use it to set the mood for a storied V-day dinner. Some soundtrack suggestions:

1. Sonnet—The Verve (Urban Hymns)
It begins with the above quotation, and gives you chills with a chorus reminiscent of George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord.” Urban Hymns is string-laden, psychedelic Brit-pop at its best.

2. Inside of Me—Madonna (Bedtime Stories)
From the pop diva’s most soulful, R&B-infused record to date, this song is Madge at her most vulnerable.

3. Are you a Hypnotist??—The Flaming Lips (Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots)
The Lips’ ambient, dreamy space-pop record has Wayne Coyne asking: “What is this/Are you some kind of hypnotist/Waving your powers around the sun eclipse behind the cloud?”

4. Lovers Rock—Sade (Lovers Rock)
Her soulful, sultry voice, backed by primal slide-guitar, bongos, and bass-driven grooves, takes you to the Caribbean in the dead of winter.

5. My Funny Valentine—Chet Baker (Chet Baker Sings)
If you want to hear this Rodgers and Hart classic, why not play the 60’s “cool school” jazz trumpeter version? Chet’s voice is as smooth as his sound.

6. Disappear—Mazzy Star (Among My Swan)
The chime-tingling, psychedelic-blues sound of the leadoff track to Mazzy Star’s third disc blends seamlessly with Hope Sandoval’s haunting vocals.
And now for dessert: Even allergy-prone chocoholics can indulge at Centerport’s Azure Chocolat, where the hand-made works of art are made with all natural, gluten-free ingredients. V-day specials include Hot Lips made of Belgian dark chocolate, and Velvet boxes filled with truffles and caramels. http://www.azurechocolate.com/

7. Hold On—Hot Chip (Made in the Dark)
After treating yourself to some decadent chocolate, become one with the music of the British electro-pop quintet as they declare: “I’m only going to heaven if it tastes like caramel.” Ditto.