Master Class Series: Road Recovery and Eric Clapton at Madison Square Garden!

It was a magical night at Madison Square Garden on Feb 20th, 2010 when Eric Clapton invited the Road Recovery participants to a backstage Master Class prior to his sold out show with Jeff Beck. Mr. Clapton spoke from the heart and revealed that life as a celebrity has all the same twists and turns (tho perhaps somewhat more trappings) and access to ways and means of coping as everyone. His thoughts and insights will remain with each of us forever.

Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck ripping it up on stage. Jeff Beck did a piece called 'Corpus Christi Carol' made famous by our long missed brother Jeff Buckley that was supurb!

Eric Clapton and Road Recovery

Eric Clapton, quite literally, reaching out to everyone in the room

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)

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.

Trey Anastasio and a Road Recovery Road Trip

Road Recovery Group

I recently had the opportunity to travel with Road Recovery up to Saratoga to meet up and reconnect with Trey Anastasio of Phish. Road Recovery founder Gene Bowen organized the crew for a three hour minivan trip as part of the Road Recovery Master Class series. The Master Class Series is the place where we feel we can bring the most resources and experience to these young people. We try to host the class whenever we can at Major Who and our Threshold Music Studios and we are always keeping an eye out for industry insiders that can come in to share their time, life experiences and positive messages with the youth in the program.

James Walsh, Trey Anastasio, Gene Bowen

I hadn't spoken with Trey in four or five years and I spent the ride upstate recalling the limited time I had spent with him on the phone working together on a 'project'. For me, reconnecting became half the journey. Upon reintroductions and a quick recap of our history together at the start of the class, I instantly remembered what a wonderful, giving, genuine human being he really is and knew the kids were about to experience something very special. The next three hours were unique and wonderful for everyone, the details of which will remain in our little group and our minds eye for the rest of our lives. To be sure, it was unforgettable.

Trey plays us a new song

In a nutshell, Trey looks and sounds great. He is in a very positive place and speaks like a man who has really spent a good bit of time piecing together a fascinating life's journey and looking toward the future. He is a man who wonders at, recognizes the value of, and often expresses the many wonderful gifts that life has bestowed upon him. You can quite literally feel his energy from across the room. Through his conversations it is obvious that he wants to continue to share those gifts with as many people that his own fragile existence allows him to connect with- and that this master class was as therapeutic for him as any of us in the room.

Trey spoke about where he has been, where he is now, and most importantly where he hopes to see his journey with his family, friends and music taking him next. This talented guitarist and singer jammed with the members of the Crazy James Band and debuted for Road Recovery a new song that he was yet to play for anyone else! His guitar playing was delicate, almost fragile as he explored the fingerings of the unique guitar tuning. His voice was- well his voice was simply beautiful. He spoke with the group about where their lives had been and issues that they are currently working through. He shared and related. He took the time to show compassion and empathy for the youth of road recovery. Trey reinforced to all of us once again that although we all travel down different paths in this crazy world, there are basic truths and commonalities that forever link us all in our human condition. We are thankful to him for taking a moment in time to spend with us and for participating in our common understanding that, from this point forward, we all have a shared place to reflect upon and grow from as we continue to "choose" our own individual paths to walk.

Thanks to Trey Anastasio and Road Recovery for another enlightening experience.
James

Mastering with Fred Kevorkian at Avatar

Another round of splendid mastering, this time Shayna Zaid and Todd Alsup by the master himself- Fred Kevorkian. Fred is quite simply the best mastering engineer. Period.
Thanks for everything Fred..

James Walsh and Fred Kevorkian

A fast paced evening with ATOMICTOM, Todd Alsup at the Bitter End, good friends and fresh fish - and the unbelievable Eric Lewis!!

It was an exciting time in NYC last Wednesday night when, after the atomictom show at Arlenes Grocery, everyone ran over and watched Todd Alsup hit the stage at the Bitter End. Todd electrified the crowd with a stripped down acoustic set of new material. There was no shortage of support from the audience including Shayna Zaid and Caitlin Lowery.

Shayna Zaid, James Walsh, Todd Alsup and Caitlin Lowery

Eric Lewis ROCKS!!

....then, after a quick bite at YAMA sushi- which has seen better days:(, we all went around the block to see virtuoso pianist Eric Lewis and his trio amaze the crowds with his own unique brand of Rock and Jazz. Rock on Eric..

ATOMICTOM @ NYC Songwriters Circle & Arlenes Residency 3.0

Hello Major Who friends and ATOMICTOM lovers!

An exciting week in store for the boys in Atomictom culminating with two very special shows in one night.

Wed Nov 7th: - New York Songwriter showcase at the Bitter End at 8pm SHARP!!
The band is a finalist in the songwriters showcase competition and will be hitting the stage to perform 'You Always Get What You Want' for a panel of judges looking for the grand prize!!

Then, immediately following the showcase we will all be hopping down to ARLENES GROCERY for the third night of their residency. Same night- same band- new songs and good times..

Also, we encourage you to sign up for our Major Who newsletter so we can spam.. er.. send you updates...

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Road Recovery,The Fenwicks, Groove Collective, Jeff Buckley, and MajorWho

Busy Week!!!!

Monday night MajorWho hosted its 5th Road Recovery master class in the studio's live room:

Groove Collective members and Road Recovery mentors Jay Rodriguez and Chris TheBerge were on hand to assist the Crazy James Band in coming up with some new material. Some good times for a good cause, namely our own sanity! Once again, MW producer Jeremy Sklarsky kept us on course and in stitches while we multi-tasked through the event.

Road Recovery founders Jack Bookbinder and Gene Bowen are close friends of Majorwho's James Walsh for many years -dating back to the time when they managed and road managed Jeff Buckley, who incidently, used to have his rehearsal room where our studios main control room now exists.

Here's something we found written on the wall of Jeff Buckley's rehearsal room before we built out the control room, just after Jeff passed..

MUSIC AIN'T NO PRODUCT

Speaking of Buckley, The Fenwicks were at MajorWho over the weekend to lay down some new tracks for a debt relief (get details from jack) program. According to Jack Bookbinder, The Fenwicks were one of Jeff's favorite bands. Check em out- great guys and musicians...


Ahh yes, Old Springs Pike. We had the privilege of going to the show at Joe's Pub with Caitlin Lowery and Heather Holley.
It was AMAZING! We hope to see more of them soon.

Old Springs Pike

ATOMICTOM on HALLOWEEN!!! ~Arlenes Grocery 8pm

Please join us for an evening of goulish adventure with ATOMICTOM on the 2nd night of their ARLENES GROCERY residency.
It's sure to be a devilish time........

boo!!

We encourage you to check in with our blog and keep up to date with all that is going on in our artist community. Please feel free to send us updates on projects you are working on so we can include them in our calendar.

MajorWho is an artist development, production, management and promotions company founded by NYC music producers Sheldon Steiger and James Walsh.

Hot Crazy August

Wow! What a month it's been. Who says everything shuts down in August!?

Firstly, there has been tremendous buzz and excitement generated from the Atomictom track on AMC. Thousands have checked in to hear the music and join the fanclub. Thanks to everyone who came out to the show at Arlene's on July 25th it was a great event. We managed to fill the place on a Wednesday in mid July. Great work!! Atomictom will release a new single soon, so look out.

Last week we were in the studio with Marcelo Zarvos and Lawrence Manchester recording music for a new Barry Levinson film starring Robert De Niro. It looks like a really cool film.

Yesterday we played host to the Blue Room again - this time with Antigone Rising. "M" once again graced us with his presence, this time to record and interview the girls from Antigone Rising as they were in town in the midst of a heavy touring schedule. And by the way, we now know that M did NOT take our gaffers tape. Nor would he ever have done so. We recorded four totally awesome songs. The session was a total blast, so thanks girls! Look for it at on the AT&T Blue Room site.

Shayna Zaid has four new songs close to completion and we can't wait for you to hear them. Her return from Malaysia has seen us in the studio recording new vocals on tracks which will blow you away.

Randy Woolf has a new film score project that Major Who is producing. It's a documentary about Tibet directed by Mary Harron and John Walsh. John and Mary went to Tibet to capture live video and sound which is now being woven into the score. It's an incredible piece!

Major Who is an artist development and music production company owned and operated by New York City Music Producers Sheldon Steiger and James Walsh.

If you want to connect directly to James or Sheldon, please email at James@majorwho.com (or) Sheldon@majorwho.com.