*PHOTOS! New Year’s Eve Recap with the Talia Denis Band

*PHOTOS! New Year’s Eve Recap with the Talia Denis Band

It’s almost a week into the New Year and I’m taking this time to reflect on the show with the Talia Denis Band.  We played First Night in Saratoga Springs, NY and we played in a church right in front of the alter.  I have to give a big round of applause to Talia’s Dad/Manager (the “Stan”ager) because he transformed the space into a mega-rock-church.  It was so Sabbath.  We had a Christmas tree, fog machine, DMX Lighting, a full sound board, a Christening Bath, a sound-man, monitors; I mean, it was a quite a production.  Here are some photos courtesy of Jon Noble 🙂 See you on the low...
My New Favorite Pop Star Is…

My New Favorite Pop Star Is…

Charli XCX! For a bit the jury was out for me.  I wasn’t connecting to the Iggy Azalea / Charli XCX collaboration, “Fancy”.  Then “Boom Clap” came out, and I was thinking, “Ok, this is more interesting…I can dance behind this…”  Then I read the Rolling Stone article behind her new album “Sucker”, and she comes across as smart, hardworking, confident, unabashed at loving pop music, and ready to arrive. Last night she performed on Letterman and this past weekend she performed on SNL.  She nailed it.  All my assessments seem to ring true. Here’s “Need Ur Luv” from Letterman.  I love how her hair gets stuck in her massive eyelashes.  Instead of brushing it off to the side immediately; she kind of savors the moment, and gingerly moves her hair as if saying “yeah, it’s part of my wardrobe.” See you on the low end!Love,Mags...
Magsofy – Sloan at the Bowery Ballroom

Magsofy – Sloan at the Bowery Ballroom

KG* is a big massive Sloan fan, and she had a plus one to the show – so she invited me!  I am not a big massive Sloan fan only because I haven’t heard that much from the band. My girl friend, Krista, at the IATSE Canadian Office has been sending me Canadian artists to check out; Grapes of Wrath, Bran Van 3000, Blue Rodeo…Prism!  I know all about Jim Cuddy and Ronnie Hawkins! – but we hadn’t made it to Sloan, yet.  I did know a few of their songs from college radio and WEQX, but I haven’t dug into their catalog…and I really wish I had. The band was great.  Sloan is a true rock band with harmonies and riffs and catchy hooks and thoughtful lyrics. I bought two cds at the show – “Navy Blues” and “Pretty Together”.  Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson both signed my cds.  That was really cool. Here’s a live clip of my favorite Sloan song, “The Other Man”, at the CBC Music Festival at Echo Beach in Toronto. Notice that Chris Murphy is playing a really sweet Mustang bass 🙂       See you on the low...
Magsofy – Chrissie Hynde at the Beacon Theatre

Magsofy – Chrissie Hynde at the Beacon Theatre

Chrissie Hynde is so cool.  She’s so punk rock, and rock’n roll, and the audience in the Loge last night at the Beacon was not punk rock and it was not rock’n roll.  It was a bunch of dinosaurs who have lost touch with their youth, and had no realization that they were at a rock’n roll concert.  They tried to get the two ladies in front of me to sit down and stop dancing by calling over not one, but two ushers to tell them to sit down.  So, what did I do?  After some choice words to the dinosaurs, I stood up and danced in a gesture of rock’n roll solidarity….and so did about a half a dozen youthful spirits around us… Regardless of the audience, Chrissie still has it.  Her vibrato is as unique as it was 35 years ago. Set Highlights From the Show: – Vintage Ampeg amps – Chrissie’s sparkly telecaster – The album, “Stockholm” – “Night in My Veins” – “Back on the Chain Gang” – “Talk of the Town” – “My City Was Gone” – “Precious”!!!!! And she closed with…. – “TATTOOED LOVE BOYS”!!! Here’s something that I found yesterday on the YouTube.  It’s pretty current with some Shirley Manson fairy dust…     See you on the low...
New Song! Lily Sparks – SLAVES OF NEW YORK!

New Song! Lily Sparks – SLAVES OF NEW YORK!

Lily Sparks released a new song today called “Slaves of New York.” We think a lot of you will be able to relate to the tune…because truly, aren’t we all a little bit of a slave to something? Please have a listen and a share! ReverbNation:  www.reverbnation.com/lilysparks Spotify:  https://play.spotify.com/album/1r9oiz5uSgoYE6bLnNBYGW iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/slaves-of-new-york/id926618716?i=926618720&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 CD Baby:  www.cdbaby.com/cd/lilysparks3 Mixing by Ted Marcus, Artwork Design by Kevin Delaney “Bar Napkin Art” See you on the low...
Magsofy – X at the City Winery

Magsofy – X at the City Winery

John Doe and I went on vacation together!   No, we didn’t!  But seriously…doesn’t this picture just say: “Now, here we are outside the City Winery in New York, after we just saw a show with a couple glasses of Prosecco…”  That’s exactly what is says.   The show was X, and they played “Los Angeles” (plus hits), and it was LOUD!  I had my earplugs in as deep as they could go, and the sound was not muddled.  It sounded as if I had no earplugs in, and I was listening at normal volume.  That’s how loud it was. Also, John Doe is like, really cool, and so nice. I told him that I am a bass player and he gave me a “high-four”, and as our fingers locked in together, I told John “may the fourth be with you.” And then he said, “I knew you were a bass player because only bass players have a sense of humor.” And then I said, “I love you.” NO! I DID NOT SAY THAT! We also had a drink with the 2nd guitarist for these shows named Michael Kilpatrick who is really cool, and an excellent guitar player.   He and Billy Zoom exchanged some tasty janglies on “I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts.”  Michael is out of Alabama, and if you ever need an all around multi-instrumentalist down south, I would highly recommend him.  My gut reaction is that in addition to being a great rock’n roller; he’s an all around good guy. The night ended with Ted joining me and KG* at the City Winery because his old buddy – the Meat Puppets manager – was...