Spill The Beanz

February 05, 2008

M4DR '05

MUSICIANS FOR DISASTER RELIEF 2005

my event poster signed by: Rick Derringer, Eddie Money, Dickey Betts, Mike Reno, Robin Zander, Michael Bolton, Dee Snider, and Mark Farner.

3 years ago tonight I attended a show that I was invited to by Rick Derringer's drummer Tom Curiale. The M4DR (Musicians For Diaster Relief) Concert at Universal Studios Orlando, Florida. The Line-Up?: Rick Derringer,Robin Zander from Cheap Trick, Eddie Money, Mark Farner, Loverboy, Twisted Sister, Michael Bolton, former Allman Brother's guitarist Dickey Betts, Jacob's Loc and TorQue, which features former members of The John Entwistle Band.

Kool and the Gang,Rick Neilson, and Brian Johnson of AC/DC bowed out of the bill, and Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night fame had to cancel at the last minute due to a family illness....and rumors of Steven Tyler showing up proved to be just that - rumors!

Proceedes from the event went to benefit: the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund (Red Cross Disaster Relief) and the John Entwistle Foundation (named for the late bassist of rock band The Who who passed away June 27, 2002, on the eve of that year's Who tour).

As for the show...what a blast! I got to hang backstage and chat with many of my rock heroes, all of whom autographed a poster I designed (commorating the event) of which six signed copies were auctioned for the cause. I watched much of the show from stage left, or from the backside of the huge screens on either side of the stage.

Half of the bill were artists that I really loved, the other half - not so much. Although I must say it was a treat to be there on the first night Twisted Sister regrouped, and Michael Bolton was surprisingly rockin' when he strapped on a Fender (guitar!).

Dickey was a little toasted, and it showed, Mike Reno was getting over a flu, but gave it hell. Eddie Money seemed tired, but Derringer was full of energy. To me Robin Zander, and Mark Farner stole the show!
When Mark plays his old Grand Funk Railroad hit "I'm Your Captain" in concert, it's always a show stopper. I've attached it and a few other tracks from a CD produced at the show (it no longer seems available). Sadly, Robin Zander and Michael Bolton did not agree to be on the CD (dogs!).

Mark Farner I'm Your Captain

Im Your Captain.mp3

Rick Derringer Rock 'n' Roll Hoochie Koo

Rock N Roll Hoochie Coo.mp3

Twisted Sister The Price

The Price.mp3

Loverboy Working For The Weekend

Working For The Weekend.mp3

RICK DERRINGER

MARK FARNER

LOVERBOY

TWISTED SISTER

buy M4DR DVD: Rock Relief : Live In Concert (07)

Wikipedia Derringer

February 03, 2008

THE GUITAR MAN

SAM PACETTI
my photo/collage of Sam, 'Moonstuck' in Melbourne Florida, 2-2-08

In 1998, our friend Kim recommended that we book this guy, this 22 year old guitar 'wiz kid', named Pacetti...ok, I said, I'll look into it. Later that year she brought in a copy of Sam's (1998) CD debut Solitary Travel...I promptly set out to book him.

Sam, who hails from St. Augustine, Florida, learned flamenco from his Cuban grandfather, studied classical as a young teen, and was the protoge of legendary Florida folk singer-Travis-style master guitarist and southern gentlemen Gamble Rogers. Since Gamble's untimely passing in 1991, Sam went on to help co-ordinate the Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival in St. Augustine.

Anyway, later that year at Kool Beanz we had our first booking with Sam - whew! What a night..what a player. Sam is by far one of the finest pickers I'd ever seen, and soon became a favorite at our venue playing to standing room only crowds for most the dozen or so shows he played for us over the next 4 years.

Since the colsing of our venue in 202, Sam has released several CDs including: Live at the Milltop Tavern, and Union with Gabriel Valla.

Thank to Sam for the use of the first two MP3s, the third was recored Live at Kool Beanz in '00...if you like what you hear (and I know you will!), do yourself a favor, click below to visit Sam's MySpace, or to buy his CDs at Amazon

my 2000 portrait of Sam

Still Alive.mp3

Orange Blossom Special.mp3

Live at Kool Beanz Coffeehouse

Linus and Lucy.mp3

SAM PACETTI on MySpace

SAM PACETTI on AMAZON

KOOL BEANZ

February 01, 2008

FAR ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

TWO "Across The Universe" Events occuring next week...Coincidence?

Make sure you play THE BEATLES "Across The Universe" This Monday at 7pm est...with the rest of the world!

NASA Takes The Beatles 'Across the Universe' Literally
By Space.com Staff
From SPACE.com: 01 February 2008:

NASA will beam The Beatles' song, "Across the Universe," into deep space Monday in an unprecedented long distance dedication by the U.S. agency.

NASA's Deep Space Network will transmit the song at 7:00 p.m. EST (0000 Feb. 5 GMT) on Feb. 4 in honor of several cosmic-themed anniversaries.

Monday marks the 40th anniversary of the day the song was recorded. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of NASA's founding and the inception of The Beatles. Two other milestones also are being honored including, the 50th anniversary of Explorer 1, the first U.S. satellite, and the 45th birthday of the Deep Space Network, an international network of antennas that supports missions to explore the universe.

The transmission is aimed at the North Star, Polaris, 431 light-years away from Earth, travelling at a speed of 186,000 miles per second (300,000 kps).

"Across the Universe," though credited to "Lennon/McCartney," was principally written by Beatle John Lennon, and the lyrics speak of "limitless undying love which/shines around me like a million suns."

"Amazing! Well done, NASA!" said former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney in a message to the space agency. "Send my love to the aliens."

Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, commented: "I see that this is the beginning of the new age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the universe."

NASA has used Beatles music before, notably in November 2005, when McCartney performed the song "Good Day Sunshine" during a concert transmitted to the International Space Station. "Here Comes the Sun," "Ticket to Ride" and "A Hard Day's Night" have also been played in wake-up calls to astronaut crews in orbit.

The public around the world has been invited to participate in the event by playing the song at the same time it is transmitted by NASA.

Many of the senior NASA scientists and engineers involved consider themselves among the group's biggest fans.
[Ed. note: What we would like to know, of course, is if McCartney's group Wings' hit single, "Venus and Mars," will be beamed towards Venus and/or Mars anytime soon.]

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE DVD Due Out Tuesday!

Last year one of the movies that I most eagerly awaited was this wonderful Julie Taymor directed film. Of course, I had some trepidation after the mega disaster that was the 1978 Sgt. Pepper film, but within minutes of the movie's start, all such fears were gone! The film was lovingly produced, and acted, and chalk full of cameos like Bono & Joe Cocker. My only regret was that we saw it only once in the theaters. So, we are ready for the DVD release! Crank Up The Surround Sound!

from IMDB:

An original musical film, Across The Universe is a fictional love story set in the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, the struggle for free speech and civil rights, mind exploration and rock and roll. At once gritty, whimsical and highly theatrical, the story moves from high schools and universities in Massachusetts, Princeton and Ohio to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the Detroit riots, Vietnam and the dockyards of Liverpool. A combination of live action and animation, the film is paired with many songs by The Beatles that defined the time.

Across the Universe by Rufus Wainwright

Across The Universe 10.mp3

Across the Universe by David Bowie

Across The Universe 3.mp3

Across the Universe by Fiona Apple

Across the Universe 4.mp3

Across the Universe by Roger Waters

Across The Universe 9.mp3

Across the Universe by Jackson Browne and Robbie Krieger

11 Across the Universe.m4a

Across the Universe by TheBEATLES The River Rhine Tapes

Across the Universe.mp3