CRUMBS Cafe

02 Jun 2009: The trek starts with one of Albany New York's biggest bands ever, M-16. Just a kid at 17 years old, Dan took the lead guitar spot in the late 80's early 90's rock monster and smoked every stage he stepped onto. The bug had bitten. When M-16 broke up, Dan got a call from the management company of a Kiss Tribute band called Cold Gin. Being a huge Kiss fan he thought it would be "kinda cool" to check it out. He soon found himself touring the United States playing to packed houses every night in one of the most popular tribute bands America had ever seen. During the 2-year tour, Dan received many offers from other bands and tribute acts including an offer from Warner Brothers Records to be flown out to Los Angeles to audition for the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Of course he went. Do you think he's crazy? Looking down at the clouds from the plane, Dan realized there was one very important thing missing in his career. The missing element was the songs that he had been writing for the past 10 years. So, the next trip back to LA was to promote just that. The music behind the man. By this time Dan had made some friends out west who were in the business and it was now time to promote his first release, "These are the 90's". After some time in California promoting the solo venture there was a need to create a Supergroup. But where do you find the musicians for something big, a band that will make a statement? The answer was simple. Back to New York but this time, New York City.

03 Jun 2009: In the CRUMBS Café Studio this week is the band Sumac. The band has been around for awhile as we are just catching up with them after hearing all about them from their keyboard player Rob Jonas. Speaking of 'Robby J', their sound is a mix of bluesy rock twang with a hint of bar fly smoothness. If you have an ear for Rob's music you'll find it easy to pick up with Sumac where his music left off. It's the music that fits well with a couple of beers, your best buddies, and a Valentine's like atmosphere. The band is keeping busy these days and is focused on recording their next album. They were able to give us a taste of the album in progress by playing three acoustic versions of their songs. They were also quick to mention that they are an electric rock band and seldom play the songs acoustically. Personally we prefer the laid back, kick up your feet with a beer versions.

27 May 2009: Kelly Murphy's lyrics are a fevered search for a trap door in the root cellar of her heart. Digging in the pitch-black dirt of sordid relationships and leaving claw marks on the backs of her captors, she regales us with stories of inner personal battles on the wind of her golden pipes. Accompanied by Thom Hall driving riffs on guitar that, depending on where, can be construed as descending into or climbing out of crescendos. The railing to these ladder riffs if there were such a thing, acting as a safety device throughout the whole album, is Jeff Fox on bass. Nothing sly about his bass playing because this here bastard plays as subliminally as a kick in the teeth. And he has to in order to keep up with and tie together the heart pounding drums of Nathan Pallace. Wonderful really. What more can I say? This band is so tight I'd swear they were illegal to look at. But they're not. The resume of each band member is enough to give lift to any upstart band. The fact that these four are playing together brings to the forefront the possibilities of professionalism among unsigned, under-the-radar bands. Their shit is together.

04 May 2009: This is the second time the band stopped by CRUMBS Café with one exception. This time, instead of fitting the five piece band into our tiny old studios in the attic, we brought them over to Robb Alley at Proctors in Schenectady for an interview and a live performance. This was the third time CRUMBS Café was recorded at the venue and I think this time we got the sound right. This time we only use Sure 57 and 58 microphones as opposed to condenser mics we usually use in the studio. But back to the band. The Red Haired Strangers have been playing together for the past 15 years, forging original music that contains hints of country and delta blues influences. Along the way, they've expanded to include not only guitar and harmonica, but also fiddle, drums, dobro and pedal steel guitar. Their music consists of original words set to driving melodies complete with evocative images of wandering, trains, sin and love lost. The Red Haired Strangers have been making music since the early 1990s, performing originals and other favorites, from the guitar & harmonica duo to the full 5-piece country band. Country, Blues & Grass...as played by guitar, harmonica, banjo, pedal steel, dobro, violin, & drums.

29 Apr 2009: Big Sexy dropped by the CRUMBS Café studio this week and we were egger to hear the band's acoustic side. Personally I wanted to see our own Billy Bucher in action on bass. The performance was great. The vocals started off with a hint of the likes of singer from The Guess Who and by the third song it was like Chris Cornell. It was quite the range. Apparently this was just a taste of what the band is like live. The lead singer, Paul, has been known to forget what is in close proximity and makes contact with what is around him during the performance. It's been said that venues tape down their equipment when Big Sexy plays so items are not knocked over. The band established their heavy rock band with a touch of blues sound in 2000 and has evolved throughout the years. They describe themselves as a band that will get your attention and keep it the rest of the night; a bone crushing rhythm section and a prolific singer with soaring vocals. A Big Sexy show includes half covers of your favorite hard rock songs and half, heavy well crafted originals that will leave you screaming for more.

22 Apr 2009: The guitar shredding duo of George Fletcher and Pete Pashoukos make up the synthesis of the electrifying Tequila Mockingbirds. The group has been performing together since 2004 and was named "Best Acoustic Duo" for the last two years in the Metroland reader's poll, not to mention, winning last year's "Best Jazz Musician or Group" category in Albany's Times Union. They have released two albums to date, and continue to perform and promote live music and guitar playing around Saratoga Springs through Fletcher's guitar lessons and Pashoukos open mic nights. I sat down with the duo to talk about how they started playing together, where they got their name and the guitar players that have had the most influence over their playing.

15 Apr 2009: Mike and the Monsters cover a wide range and variety of music, performed with energy, professionalism, style and true rock and roll conviction! Modern sounds, classic rock and maximum danceable party rock make up the Monsters musical repertoire. All Monster members are experienced Capital District and regional music veterans, coming together with one goal "to deliver the goods" with a great live show and to keep people coming back for more! Deep musicianship, multi-vocals along with the great selling point and secret weapon in lead vocalist Michele Ann Flynn-Borecki, build a solid foundation for a Monster house of good times and great music. Although there wasn't time to mention but they now have a new sound engineer Mike Orcutt. As if it wasn't cool enough that the band is sponsored by Dean but how cool is that to have your own sound engineer as well?

14 Apr 2009: El Duke (el DOO-kay), the name, is a linguistic anomally. El Duke, the band, is a five piece ho-down machine with a folky sound appealing to fans of traditional folk music, yet embodying a certain indie-pop sensibility. Don't blink or you may think you are seeing Sea of Trees. This band was a great joy to have in the studio. When they stopped in they thought it would just be a drib drab interview but we were on a roll from the get go. In fact there was a trail off conversation that never made it on the show. The interview went well and the performances were awesome. Influences include The Devil Makes Three, really nice hats, NoFX, Bad Religion, bad drivers...incredibly good drivers, show tunes, The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Gogol Bordello, people who write compelling songs, instruments made of mahogany, The Boss...t00b amplifiers...science...other things...naturally.