Distant Partners, Distant Portraits

Brooklyn composer Randall Woolf gives some insight to the Brooklyn Philharmonic January 24, 2010 concert "Distant Partners, Distant Portraits" at the Brooklyn Museum.

Moby @ MajorWho with Road Recovery

Road Recovery's Performance Workshop program and house band Crazy James, who meet, rehearse, and record in our studio every Monday , are being visited by a special guest this evening. Moby is a DJ, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who has sold millions of records and had his music in hundreds of commercials and movies. He is also a philanthropist and and activist, serving on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He is just one of the many renowned artists and music industry professionals who have stepped up to act as mentors to the participants in Road Recovery's programs.

amanda palmer - "gaga, palmer, madonna", a kitchen-ukulele-blogsong

I love Amanda Palmer and the way she's engaging her fans with the use of Twitter, YouTube and other web tools. Amanda is fiercely independent and carving out quite the niche. There are many artists out there taking advantage of social media to engage their audiences, but I think Amanda stands out in her vision and creative inspiration.

David Sanborn - I Believe It's Your Sh*t, Marvin

A little while back I was invited by Dave Sanborn to sit in on the recording sessions for his upcoming album on Decca. The clip opens with a brief shot of Dave Novik, label president, laughing as the camera pans to Phil Ramone, the producer.

Phil and Dave swap stories about some of the most legendary personalities in music; Frank Sinatra, Billy May, Marvin Hamlisch, etc. This is followed by a sweet Joey DeFrancesco organ solo. AWESOMENESS.

CONTAINS PROFANITY: NSFW

Todd Alsup + MajorWho @ NACA

We're here in Lancaster, PA - home of the Amish, Shoo-fly pies, and the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Mid-Atlantic Conference. We're presenting MajorWho artist Todd Alsup at our booth, meeting student talent buyers from colleges around the region.

Todd's got a showcase tomorrow afternoon, which is a distinction most of the exhibitors would die for - it's a chance to perform for the entire convention and reach all the delegates in a single shot. Last year after his showcase in Hartford, our booth was mobbed with talent buyers.

Here's a quick pic of Todd talking to students at our booth.


Last year's showcase translated into a slew of great college gigs for Todd and we're already off to a great start this year.

Todd Alsup News - PBS Placement and NACA Showcase

Fun news from the world of Todd Alsup. Major Who recently found out that Todd's song "Good Fight" from his EP "Facts and Figures" is going to be used in the PBS show "Road Trip Nation." This show is a perfect match for Todd's song, which talks about pursuing your dreams. Way to go on getting this license!

About the show (from www.roadtripnation.com):

• It all started with four friends and one dilemma: "what do I want to do with my life?" Fresh out of college and unsure about the career paths in front of them, they were determined to expose themselves to more than just the traditional life roads. They hopped in an old RV, painted it green, and hit the road to talk with inspiring people from all walks of life to find out how they came to do what they love for a living.
• Today, Roadtrip Nation has evolved into a PBS series, three books, an online community, and a student movement. We send people on the road who are interested in exploring the world outside their comfort zone, talking with individuals who chose to define their own road in life, and sharing their experiences with our generation.

In other fantastic news, Todd was selected as a showcase artist at this year's NACA Mid-Atlantic conference. It is the second year in a row Todd will have a NACA showcase. It's quite an honor to be one of the only musicians chosen for showcase out of hundreds of submissions. Todd will have a chance to perform for hundreds of college students that book talent for their campuses. 50 shows or bust!

I first came across Roc Raida when he was invited to perform at Lincoln Center Festival 2000 where I was a production manager. He composed an amazing piece for the 'turntable as an ensemble instrument' segment that he played with the Xecutioners. I don't have any footage of that but here's a clip of Roc in action. Pretty amazing stuff. Roc Raida truly did elevate the art of the turntable. RIP Roc.

Christina Roberts Show and support for Malaria No More!!

NYC Concert Promo from Nairobi

September 9th, 2009 | Posted by Christina Roberts

I’m in Kenya this week working with a team of logisticians who are crucial to Africa’s current race to scale-up mosquito nets. But the minute we end our session here on Thursday, I’ll be racing back to New York so I can perform with the New York Songwriters Circle on Monday night.

Modeled after the famous “Writers in the Round” nights at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, the NYSC showcases up-and-coming songwriting talent from around the world. Intimate concerts like these always remind me of a song’s power to communicate where mere words might fail us. That’s why I wrote “A Closer Far”, a song born out of my own experiences working in Africa on behalf of Malaria No More. I’m looking forward to performing it along with other favorites of mine and I hope to see you all there.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “A Closer Far” support the ongoing work of Malaria No More. Buy the song here. To hear my music, check out MySpace.

Categories:Africa, Christina, On-The-Ground

"Nippon Ga Dai Suki" (Japan We Love You!) ------- The Orion Experience

We had such a blast making this song in Threshold Studios with these guys. They came back with this video, which I think takes it to a whole other level. Enjoy!

Todd Alsup gets another NACA Showcase!

Todd Alsup and Major Who Booking have once again impressed the college crowd, being chosen for a second year in a row for a NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) showcase - this time at the Mid-Atlantic festival in Lancaster, PA.

There were over 700 submissions for only about 50 showcase slots, of which fewer than 15 were given to musicians.

Todd will be performing for 1000 student talent buyers from colleges across the region. Last year, Todd's Northeast Convention showcase translated into a slew of gigs up and down the east coast, and we're sure that with this year's showcase we will build on that success in the coming school year.

MajorWho Gets Copland Grant!

MajorWho has received a grant from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music to produce a record of piano music performed by Kathleen Supove. The record will consist of pieces by contemporary American composers such as Daniel Becker, Missy Mazzoli, Anna Clyne, Michael Gatonska, and Randall Woolf.

Congrats to Kathy - we look forward to working together on yet another project.

From http://www.coplandfund.org/

In keeping with his lifelong devotion to contemporary music, Aaron Copland created the Fund and bequeathed to it a large part of his estate. The Fund was officially announced to the public in 1992. The Fund’s purpose is to encourage and improve public knowledge and appreciation of contemporary American music. The fund operates three grant programs and also grants permission for the use of Copland’s music.

For a full list of this year's grant winners, visit http://www.coplandfund.org/news.html.

Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Todd Alsup and Lamont Dozier !

I had a wonderful evening last night with Todd Alsup at the Kaufman Center for the 2009 Songwriters Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting awards ceremony.

This year's scholarship winners

This year Todd was selected as one of the showcase artists on the 2009 Songwriters Hall of Fame CD for his song "The Good Fight" and spent the evening mixing it up with current and previous recipients of the award including Wes Hutchinson and new Major Who and Threshold Music Studios friend Kirsten Thien.

Preceding the award ceremony there was a Master Class given by songwriting icon Lamont Dozier, of Holland-Dozier-Holland, the songwriting powerhouse who created the Motown Sound, writing the hits for the Supremes, the Temptations and many more. Real words of wisdom and insight from a legend!

Todd and I spent some time with Lamont, who was also celebrating his 68th birthday! A brief list of Mr. Doziers credits include: Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, How Sweet it is (To Be Loved by You), Stop! In The Name of Love, I can't help myself (Sugar Pie Honeybunch), Standing in the Shadows of Love, and You Can't Hurry Love.

Todd Alsup w/ Lamont Dozier

Kirsten Thien - Featuring the legendary Hubert Sumlin in the Studio!

Great session down at Threshold Studios this week. Kirsten Thein, who was recently honored with a Songwriter's Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship, came down to record some basics with her band. Kirsten has a classic sound and a great, smoky voice.

Kirsten Thien

Kirsten was backed by as good a group of musicians as you're likely to find, including Steve Holley (who played drums with Wings in the 70's!), Erik Boyd on bass (and producing) Tommy Mandel on keys (check out his credits btw), and Arthur Neilson on guitar.

The biggest surprise of the day was the arrival of Hubert Sumlin, who sat in on guitar for two songs. Hubert is on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists of All Time list. He played with Howlin' Wolf in the early days and is a major influence on the British guitarists of the 60's who basically set out to copy American blues players. Jimmy Page even stole a Hubert Sumlin lick for Led Zepplin's Lemon Song. Don't be surprised if he finds himself into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

Jeremy and Engineer Dan Myers w/ Hubert Sumlin

Alec Gross on Nefarious Bovine Radio

Alec Gross' "All The Pretty Women", recorded at Threshold Studios, featured this week on Nefarious Bovine Radio:

Eclectic Free-Form Internet Radio. Twice a month the Nefarious Bovine brings you nonsensical ramblings and an eclectic mix of music.

Listening Party!! Christina Roberts releases new track to support Malaria No More

MajorWho has just finished a track with the wonderful Christina Roberts. She works and supports for an organization called Malaria No More. They made a big splash a few months back when Ashton Kutcher challenged CNN in a race to a million twitter followers - Ashton said he would give 10,000 mosquito bed nets to the organization if he won. Well he did, and CNN donated bed nets too. Then Oprah jumped in and offered a bunch as well. We didn't know know important these bed nets were until we started to pay attention- and boy, they really do!

"A Closer Far" is Christina's way of combining two passions to raise awareness and funds to support work that she care's about. The song is inspired by her experiences of the last 3 years working with Malaria No More, an organization determined to end malaria deaths. Unbelievably, 1 million people still die from malaria each year, mostly in Africa.

When you download "A Closer Far", a portion of the proceeds will go to support the ongoing work of Malaria No More. You can stream the song from her Facebook page (bottom left column) and download it at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/cd/christinaroberts2

In 2008/9 MajorWho was happy to jump in and produce the track with her. Todd Alsup even lent his time to work with Christina on the arrangement. We had some great musicians play on the track including Rich Mercurio on drums, Jay Rodriguez and Chris The Berge from Groove Collective on fulani flute and percussion, and MajorWho regulars Risa Binder on backing vocals, Jim Farkas on guitars, and Hans Glawischnig on fretless bass. And as always, mixed by Steve Greenwell.

You can hear the track on Christina's Myspace. You can "attend" the listening party on Facebook!

Here is the press release for the song:

Life has been a smorgasbord adventure for Christina Roberts, and she wouldn't have it any other way. Raised in Texas and currently based in New York City, the threads of songwriting are woven throughout Christina's childhood and coming of age, the years after spent working in Washington, DC and her latest experiences in Africa. In 2006 Christina was introduced to Malaria No More, an organization determined to end malaria deaths. Unbelievably, 1 million people still die from malaria every year, mostly in Africa. Affected and inspired, Christina immediately went to work full-time for the organization.

Christina's latest studio project, "A Closer Far", is born out of her work in Africa and a new perspective. "The world is probably mostly unchanged from a few years ago, but the way I see it is different - and I suspect I'm not alone. I can no longer imagine that it is us, here, and them, there. We live in a time of incredible awareness of each other's life circumstances. Media, travel, the global economy - these things are bringing countries closer together than ever before. I don't feel guilty for being born to an easy life, but I do feel connected to those who are not. I am compelled to participate in the effort to make things better."

Delivered in Christina's distinct, smoky vocal, a "A Closer Far" is a lush trip through her experiences and realizations of the last few years. To learn more about participating in the fight against malaria, visit: www.MalariaNoMore.org

Christina Roberts

Todd Alsup - "Your Body Is A Wonderland" John Mayer Cover

We were in the studio recording some video of Todd and he started to warm up with this beautiful little ditty- so we kept the cameras rolling:)
Hope you enjoy.

check out todd's myspace...
Help spread the word! We can't do it without YOU!

'Onwards' by Jim Jarvis

Onwards from AKQA on Vimeo.

(via monoscope)

Eric Lewis Plays "Mr. Brightside" for Obama at the White House

The words, the music, the man..

Road Recovery concert at Sing Sing 5/2/09

5/2/2009 Road Recovery Performance/Educational Seminar for prisoners in honor of Wayne Kramer. What an AMAZING DAY with AMAZING PERFORMANCES. History was made this day.

Major Who was proud to participate and record the entire event.

Photos by Tracy Ketcher

James Joseph Walsh Sr. 1934- 2009

As many of you may already know, my loving dad - JAMES JOSEPH WALSH Sr. passed away Thursday April 30th after a long illness that took a quick turn for the worse in the recent weeks.

Walsh Family- 1980something..

If you knew him, you know he was an awesome guy, loved by all, and was one of the most humble, compassionate and giving men on the planet. My dad was truly selfless..

Though devastated, we are rallying as a family to get through this difficult time and will be making arrangements for his going away celebrations this weekend including Catholic tradition wake and funeral mass.

James Joseph Walsh Sr. 1934- 2009.
Wake: Matthew Funeral Home on Staten Island
2508 Victory Blvd. • Staten Island, New York 10314 • (718) 761-5544

Hours: Saturday May 2: 7pm-9pm
Sunday May 3rd: 2-4 and 7-9.

Mass: Holy Family Parish:

366 Watchogue Rd. Staten Island, NY 10314 • (718) 761-6663

Hours: Monday May 3rd 2009: 11am

Burial: Cemetery of the Resurrection: Immediately following Mass.

361 Sharrott Avenue. Staten Island, NY 10309 (718) 356-7738

Get directions

In the selfless tradition of my fathers life we hope, that in lieu of flowers, you might consider making a donation to one of the organizations that remain very close to my family's hearts..

Father Jim Mckenna Memorial Fund
The Road Recovery Foundation.

Thank you all again for all of your concerns and wishes in the last few weeks.
Be well,
James Walsh and Family

Road Recovery Benefit Concert 2009

Please join us on Friday evening at The Nokia Theater for the annual Road Recovery benefit concert. A spectacular show honoring Wayne Kramer and featuring Perry Farrell, Tom Morello, Iggy Pop, Jerry Cantrell, Wayne Kramer, Billy Bragg, Bun E. Carlos, Don Was and Gilby Clark.

Tickets are $25 and all proceeds go to benefit the Road Recovery organization and its outstanding programs for helping young people battle addiction and other adversities. Road Recovery harnesses the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience and knowledge.

Hope to see you there!!!

Alec Gross @ The Living Room + Another great Alec Promo Video

Alec Gross @ The Living Room
Thursday 4/30
8 PM

Check out his talkin' blues jingle promo for the gig:


"Talking Living Room Commercial Blues" 4.30.09 from Alec Gross on Vimeo.

Todd Alsup - How I'm Made NEW SINGLE

Todd Alsup's newest single - "How I'm Made" is complete! It's a monster of a song - great melody and lyrics, huge arrangement featuring Aaron Comess(Spin Doctors) on drums, Rich Hammond (Joan Osborne) on Bass, Jimmy Farkas (Joss Stone, Jonas Brothers,DeSol) on guitar and Clark Gayton on horns. And of course, Todd lent his piano and incredible vocal to this track.

You can hear the song over to the right on the MajorWho Jukebox, and on our myspace.

Produced by Steve Greenwell with MajorWho.

TONIGHT!!

April 7- @ Le Poisson Rouge, $15 (for 2 sets) 7pm Jennifer Choi, 8pm Susie Ibarra Quartet with video by Makoto Fujimura. Jenny will be the opening act for the Susie Ibarra Quartet joined by Bridget Kibbey, harp, and Kathleen Supove, piano, and Susie Ibarra, drums/percussion in an evening that will feature women composers and performers!

The first set will be all solo violin pieces by Wang Jie 'Serenade in Isolation', Annie Gosfield Lost Signals and Drifting Sattellites', Susie Ibarra's 'Black and White', PLUS Jacob TV 'Capriccio', then we'll be settling into some fine improvisations based on Susie's folkloric and fantasia like compositions. For more information: www.lepoissonrouge.com

Hope to see you there!

www.jenniferchoi.com

Road Recovery Benefit Concert 2009

Please join us for a celebration benefit concert for Road Recovery on May 1st at the Nokia Theater. Musical performance by Wayne Kramer, Jerry Cantrell, Tom Morello, Perry Farrell, Don Was and Billy Bragg. More info here.

Jezebel Music props for Todd Alsup

Here is a very cool recent review of Todd Alsup from Alicia Dreilinger of Jezebel Music.

March 30, 2009

Todd Alsup

LOCAL SPOTLIGHT NYC
It’s always a pleasure to discover new pop music that excites – because, so often, at best it succeeds at being merely pleasant and chummy. Fortunately, singer-songwriter/pianist Todd Alsup proves that some pop can still transcend the suspect platitudes most listeners have come to expect. Alsup accomplishes this by balancing his serious musicianship – his piano chops have merited a sponsorship by Yamaha – with a hint of gentle playfulness. Consequently, his talent never feels forced upon the listener. Rather, his songs shimmer with warmth, allowing them to be pensive and personal without ever teetering on standoffish and insular. He admixes into this recipe his significant vocal range. He hits the notes right, with an integrity equal to that displayed by his piano playing. In addition to venues outside of the city, Alsup frequently performs around town at places such as Rockwood Music Hall. As his career keeps galloping forward, be sure to check out its vital velocity.

by Alicia Dreilinger

www.toddalsup.com

Todd Alsup and Neil Diamond at NYU !!

Todd Alsup was asked to perform this week @ the NYU Skirball Center in NYC during an event honoring his friend and former NYU Professor / President Emeritus Dr. L. Jay Oliva. Todd's 2 song set went along with performances and speeches from several other entertainment / business alumni including Neil Diamond , Broadway stars Elena Shaddow (Light in the Piazza Natl. Tour), Peter Lockyer (South Pacific) and Baakari Wilder (Noise/Funk) in addition to Todd Alsup, jazz musician Matt Shulman, sportscaster Kenny Albert and more. Todd and Mr. Diamond had a chance to chat it up at the reception afterward and we managed to get a pic..

Turned out to be a nice excuse to get my suit on.. AND my Neil on- because, i must admit, i am a full on Neil fan. Having Todd on the same stage was very special..

SXSW- Tricky and DEVO!

A new friend of mine is managing Tricky. He played at least twice while we were in Texas and these were some pictures from the gig at the Austin Performing Arts Center. Jack Bookbinder, Gene Bowen and I saw him there. Tricky is a real trip- and puts on an intriguing show. I enjoyed his performance immensely.

Then there was DEVO on the same billing...

I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with Bob Mothersbaugh the day after this gig. I let him know i believe i now have permanent hearing loss after their performance. It was LOUD and FUN!

Some of my trip to SXSW... Wayne Kramer=MC5 + DEVO= hearing loss X 2= xtra good times:)

Jack Bookbinder, James Walsh, Wayne Kramer, Gene Bowen, Maragret Kramer

I've just returned from a very fun trip to Austin for the SXSW music festival. Along the way I was lucky enough to hang out with "some guy" named Wayne Kramer from a band called MC5 and his better half - wife Margaret:) Salt of the earth- I had some really good moments with them. Here are some things i've learned about Wayne's past and present. I hope you enjoy them as much as i have..

Wayne Kramer (MC5), Bob Mothersbaugh (DEVO)

Eric Lewis Striking Chords

Eric Lewis sets fire to the keys with his shattering rendition of Evanescence's chart-topper, "Going Under."

Care Bears On Fire

Last night I went to Brooklyn to check out S-Curve artists Care Bears On Fire at The Bell House. We've been working with them at Threshold Studios and wanted to hear what they sounded like live. For a bunch of thirteen-year-olds, they really are impressive. I think these kids are gonna hit big. Here's some footage I cut together of them in the studio. Enjoy!


Care Bears On Fire @ MajorWho from Sheldon Steiger on Vimeo.

Paula Valstein @ Joes Pub...

Paula Valstein from adriana kaegi on Vimeo.
Shared from Bluhammock Music

Liz Lemon!!!

A brilliant piece of recombinant art if ever there was one. Add a star if you're a 30 Rock freak. Who isn't?


Eclectic Method - 30 Rock (Jack's Laugh Remix) from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Horns anyone?? Todd Alsup gets his horn on -new tracks on the way..

Todd Alsup and Clark Gayton during the tracking of a horn arrangement for Todd's new track 'How I'm Made'.


Eddie Allen also played on the session..
They were great... my cell phone camera sucks..

Alec Gross kills 'em dead at Canal Room. Cassidy rocks out..

What a great night of friends, fans and music we had at the Canal Room this past week during Alec Gross' EP release party- featuring an earlier set by The Cassidy Project.

I've included a couple of shots below, and will post up some of the music and video when it becomes available, but if you missed the show- well.. that's your bad.


These photos were provided by Alec's friend Nicole Caldwell and edited by MW. Her blog is: kobiashimaru.blogspot.com

The show also proved to be a who's who of local musicians showing their support including Todd Alsup, Katy Pfafll, Phil Galitzine of Atomic Tom, Mark Miller of Spuyten Duyvil, Nate Campany, and more..

More Alec Gross Hilarity

Alec has found (easily) the funniest way to promote his gigs. Take this one for example. It's a "commercial" for his upcoming gig at The Canal Room on February 26th.


Alec Gross at Canal Room from George Gross on Vimeo.

This is Alec's EP release party and an opportunity to see him with a full band- horns, dobro, bv's, electrics, acoustics and drums. Its sure to be a great hour of music! We would love to see you there..

Alec will go on at 9, following a set by Cassidy from Antigone Rising.

The Orion Experience

Jon Weber (drummer) plays guitar on The Orion Experience's 'Nipon Ga Die Ski'. Single to be released on a hot pop label in Japan this Spring.

Steve Lillywhite visits Road Recovery and MajorWho

We were thrilled to host Road Recovery's most recent guest, uber-producer Steve Lillywhite.

Here's some of the text from Road Recovery's press-release about the event.

New York, NY: MajorWho Media (www.majorwho.com) graciously hosted Grammy Award Winning Record Producer Steve Lillywhite for his second Road Recovery Master Class!

For more than ninety minutes, Steve Lillywhite, the man behind so many historical rock albums, ‘produced, mixed and mastered’ a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Road Recovery’s young adult program participants and staff.

Steve Lillywhite captivates Road Recovery youth & staff sharing his personal and professional life experiences

Steve Lillywhite started his career in the recording studio in 1972 at the bottom rung of the ladder as a tape operator at Phonogram's Marble Arch studio in England. Soon enough, however, he became an engineer himself and began producing bands on the side.

Lillywhite has produced some of the most successful albums from such internationally acclaimed artists as U2, the Talking Heads, and the Rolling Stones, and some of the most trend-setting albums by such musical pioneers as Siouxsie and the Banshees, Ultravox, the Psychedelic Furs, XTC, the Pogues, World Party, Morrissey, Dave Mathews Band, Phish, Matchbox Twenty, and Ours. In 2006, Lillywhite was awarded producer of the year at the Grammy Awards.

Without missing a beat, Steve Lillywhite turned the tables on the dozen Road Recovery young artists who call themselves Crazy James and invited them into the recording studio control room of Major Who Media. Once in the comfortable setting of the recording studio’s control room, Lillywhite listened to rough mixes of new Crazy James material. After exploring all the elements of the young artists’ work, Lillywhite urged everyone to take chances within themselves and never settle both musically and personally!

Steve Lillywhite at work, listening to rough mixes of new Crazy James material

Steve Lillywhite (center) surrounded by a grateful
Road Recovery and Major Who Media staff

Be on the lookout for Steve Lillywhite’s latest projects he helped produce that are due for commercial release in March 2009:

Blue October – Approaching Normal (Universal)
U2 - No Line On The Horizon (Interscope)

March Madness Music Gigs

So you thought fun was over in February? Guess Again! March is just as hoppin! Get ready for some great performances by Alec Gross, Diane Birch, Paula Valstein, Todd Alsup and many others!

March 2nd
8pm: Diane Birch @ Ella Lounge

March 3rd
9pm: Paula Valstein @ Joe's Pub

March 6th
8pm: Alec Gross @ Think Coffee

March 10th
8pm: Supove @The Stone

March 12th
8:30pm: Diane Birch @ Cornelia Street Cafe

March 13th
9pm: Wes Hutchinson @ Rockwood Music Hall

March 19th
7pm: AtomicTom @ Pianos

March 26th
8pm: Casey Shae @ Union Hall

March 27th
8pm: Todd Alsup @ Rockwood Music Hall
8:30pm: Katy Pfaffl @ Bar4 in Park Slope
9pm: Shayna Zaid @ Rockwood Music Hall

March 30th
3pm: Alec Gross @ Eastern Connecticut State University

Upcoming Shows! Fun-filled February!!!

Here are some of the hottest Indie performers you don't want to miss! The weather starts to warm up and people come out from hibernation, what better way to enjoy it than with some music...

February 10th
7pm: Diane Birch @ Irving Plaza

February 12th
8pm: Risa Binder @ Westpoint Military Academy
8:30pm: Diane Birch @ Cornelia St. Cafe
9pm: AtomicTom @ Canal Room

February 13th
8:30pm: Katy Pfaffl @ Living Room
9pm: Wes Hutchinson @ Rockwood Music Hall

February 14th (Valentine's Day, don't forget those flowers!)
11am: Paula Valstein on WPKN Radio
12pm: Shayna Zaid on WPKN Radio
8pm: Todd Alsup @ Mattison Park

February 16th
8pm: Diane Birch @ Ella Lounge

February 17th
8pm: Wes Hutchinson @ Pianos

February 22nd
7pm: Lights Resolve @ Mercury Lounge

February 23rd
8pm: Diane Birch @ Ella Lounge

February 26th
8pm: Alec Gross @ The Canal Room (Record Release Party!!!)

February 27th
8:30pm: Katy Pfaffl @ Bar4 in Park Slope

February 28th
8pm: Casey Shea @ Pianos (with special guest Wes Hutchinson on bass)
11pm: Shayna Zaid @ Rockwood Music Hall

*More info regarding addresses and cover charge at bottom of blog*

Warsaw - The Arrival Part I

Music by Warsaw Village Band


Warsaw - The Arrival Part I from Stefan Markiewicz on Vimeo.

Great Article about Alec Gross

Alec Gross making waves in the blogosphere! Check out this great article.

Highlights:

"Rose Tattoo has been on my playlist non-stop for a fortnight. Alec is one of the most beautiful singers I have heard in a long time, with a distinct tone, and the innocence that he can convey through his songwriting makes him my favorite folk singer performing right now...

...With Alec we get all of the pure sensibility and the tradition of the genre, but with songs that aren't from the public domain! "Carver Spring Massacre" reminds me of cruising in my old truck with only one folk tape in the dash - some Irish singer I've never heard of - but the song creeps inside as though it's been in the air for a century. It's very impressive. I can already tell that "Rose Tattoo" will be on my best of 2009. Well done, Alec!"

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

1981 primitive Internet report on KRON San Francisco

This whole internets idea seems very far fetched...

Deja Vu for Jeff Buckley’s Mom, Drummer & Road Recovery

Here's the text from Road Recovery's last newsletter. Its been quite a couple weeks for them and we're proud to have been a part of it.

Deja Vu for Jeff Buckley’s Mom, Drummer & Road Recovery

New York, NY – 14 years later, Major Who Media’s recording studios, once the rehearsal space for the late artist Jeff Buckley, became the backdrop for Buckley’s mother Mary Guibert and Buckley band drummer Matt Johnson to participate in Road Recovery’s Master Class Series.

January 2009 kicked off for Road Recovery uniting Road Recovery’s Jack Bookbinder of Jeff Buckley's management team and Gene Bowen, Buckley’s tour manager, with Mary Guibert and Jeff’s band mate Matt Johnson inside the late artist’s rehearsal space now the home of Major Who Media.

(L-R) Jack Bookbinder (Road Recovery), Major Who Media’s – James Walsh & Sheldon Steiger together with Gene Bowen (Road Recovery) surround Mary Guibert (Jeff Buckley Music) come together for Road Recovery young people.

In 1995, James Walsh of Major Who Media owned a recording studio that was originally located next door to the Jeff Buckley band rehearsal cave. As neighbors occupying a Dungeness basement in a residential NYC apartment building, a friendship developed between Buckley, Bowen and Walsh. After Jeff Buckley’s accidental drowning in 1997, Gene Bowen knocked on Major Who Media’s door and offered Walsh Buckley’s old space...the rest is history…

(L-R) Jack Bookbinder (Road Recovery), James Walsh (Major Who Media), drummer - Matt Johnson and Gene Bowen (Road Recovery) reminisce about days ago…

During the two Master Class Sessions Matt Johnson and Mary Guibert wove an intimate conversation with a small group of Road Recovery teens and young adults illuminating the twists and turns of their life and career story. Independently, Guibert and Johnson described in great detail their daily quest toward ever finding meaning, understanding and purpose in what drove them; their inner passion toward a life with meaning.

Above: Drummer – Matt Johnson (right corner) ‘kicking it’ about his life with Road Recovery young folks during his Master Class session.

(center) Mary Guibert (Jeff Buckley Music) sharing the love with Road Recovery’s young people, staff and Major Who Media’s James Walsh (far right) after her Master Class.

Even in the wake of great tragedy and loss, Guibert summoned everyone to ‘be their own hero’ by being accountable to themselves through evolving an honest relationship within and the outside world intersecting them.

At the conclusion of each Master Class session with Matt Johnson and Mary Guibert, an unending musical exchange erupted in true Buckley style!

Matt Johnson (center) building a beat with Road Recovery’s young people during his Master Class session.

Matt Johnson finishes his Master Class behind the kit jamming with Road Recovery’s house band Crazy James inside Major Who Media’s recording studio.

"I recommend this experience for people on both sides. I got to meet new people, play music, and talk with others about life…The gift of life!!! Road Recovery is about sharing. I love this organization." – Matt Johnson, drummer

"I have so much respect for these young people. They are constantly dealing with daily challenges to their sobriety with so much courage and integrity. I am in awe of them." – Mary Guibert (Jeff Buckley Music)

For more info about Road Recovery, visit www.roadrecovery.org

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Thursday, January 29th – Metallica’s James Hetfield hosts Road Recovery Master Class

* Caron is presenting their own Concert & Silent Auction to benefit Road Recovery (for the Keeping It Real Program) on Thursday, February 19^th at 8:30 PM at the John Varvatos store (previously the legendary CBGB’s).

Caron is selling tickets for $50.00 each and their phone/email address is provided below.

There are NO complimentary tickets as it’s a 100% fundraiser. This is an open-bar event and alcohol will be served.

Crazy James is performing a short set, along with three other bands. Please read and feel free to circulate the below e-flyer to all those interested to help push ticket sales for February 19^th! If you prefer the flyer in another format, please let us know. More information to come about Road Recovery’s own fundraiser concert in the Spring 2009 for those who enjoyed last year’s concert at the Nokia.

Frederick '11 Years'

I just love this video. The song, the concept, the design.




Fredrik - '11 Years' from Iris Piers on Vimeo.

11 years is the second music video to be released of Fredrik's Na Na Ni album.
The video was shot in an abandoned train station in rural southern Sweden by Dutch experimental filmmaker Iris Piers, and later merged with landscapes of black and white trees.
For more information about the artists please visit:
sagomusik.com
irispiers.com
thekorarecords.com

Aerial View of Inauguration Ceremony

Alec Gross- New Music!

Are you tired of the same old music on the radio? What radio??
Want to hear something new and exciting? Of course you do..

Check out new music from MW singer/songwriter Alec Gross!

Alec's got a knack for creative songwriting- anywhere from comical, to serious and meaningful. If you've been following our artists you already know who he is. Now check out LADY ROSES.

If you like what you heard on his myspace page- you're in luck! Alec's performing Wed. Jan 14 @ 11pm at Rockwood Music Hall and Fri. Jan 16 at Gizzie's Candy Shop and February 26th at The Canal Room in NYC.

Adam Green at MajorWho

Indie songsmith Adam Green has spent the last few days at MajorWho recording the soundtrack for an upcoming film. Engineer Dan Myers joined the crew..

here's a little something from Adam..

Todd Alsup with Rich Hammond and Aaron Comess

MajorWho and Steve Greenwell are doing another track for Todd Alsup with Aaron Comess (think Spin Doctors) on drums and Rich Hammond (Joan Osbourne) on bass.
Sounds GREAT!..

pss.. Todd's track "MONDAY" is mixed and will be up on the sites by the end of next week.

January 2009 Newsletter

Click here to view MajorWho Media's January 2009 Newsletter.

We'll be posting all future newsletters as links on the blog for you to check out.

Happy Thursday.

Great LIVE Performances, coming up!!

Look out... Some great shows coming your way!

From Wednesday Jan 7- Jan 11, Kathleen Supove and Cory Dargel 'Removable Parts' playing January 7th through the 11th at the HERE Center as part of the Under The Radar festival. Check New Amsterdam for showtimes.

Thursday (Jan 8) nights are usually pretty big party nights, so why not start off your night at The Bowery Poetry Club? A great band, The Orion Experience, will be playing there at 8:30pm! Bowery Poetry Club is located at 308 Bowery (btwn Houston and Bleeker)

Friday night (Jan 9) Wes Hutchinson will be playing at Rockwood Music Hall at 9pm. Rockwood is at 196 Allen Street. Prepare yourself for a night full of great musicians!

Friday night is hoppin! Jan 9, Spuyten Duyvil @ An Beal Bocht in Riverdale. Be there at 9pm sharp!

Saturday night (Jan 10) and nothing to do? Why not head back over to Rockwood Music Hall for a spectacular performance by Shayna Zaid? She'll take the stage at 11pm; what a great way to end your fantastic night out!

Turn that lazy Sunday (Jan 11) into a party Sunday! Lights Resolve will play at Maxwell's @ 7pm. Maxwell's is located at 1039 Washington Street in Hoboken, NJ. Lights Resolve will also be performing at Highline Ballroom Thursday, Jan 15 @ 7pm (431 W 16th).

Double Whammy! Paula Valstein and Alec Gross set to take the stage at Rockwood Music Hall, Wednesday, Jan 14! A night full of music you don't want to miss. Paula will perform at 9pm, and Alec takes the stage at 11pm.

Alec Gross performs again on Jan 16 at Gizzie's Coffee @ 8pm. Gizzi's is at 16 w 8th

The Orion Experience plays LIVE Saturday, Jan 17, at Maxwell's in Hoboken (1039 Washington Street). Stop on over at 8pm!

Hope this gives you some ideas of what to do!!

Alec Gross and Paula Valstein at Rockwood!

Wednesday Jan. 14, at Rockwood Music Hall!

... One night, Two great shows by Paula Valstein and Alec Gross!!!

Paula Valstein @ 9pm
Alec Gross @ 11pm

Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen Street
18+ with valid ID
No Cover!!!!


We hope to see you there!
Come early for the best seat in the house!

We are proud to announce that Alec Gross has just finished is brand new EP! Be sure to CHECK IT OUT! Also, MajorWho is currently in the studio working with Paula to create some fantastic new songs, so be sure to keep checking in!

MajorWho Media is an artist development, music production, and management company founded by James Walsh and Sheldon Steiger. Visit our website and blog for community updates.