Before the terms "underground" and "alternative" became mainstream, McCarthyizm was pounding out a blend of 60's garage and 80's rock with undertones of Celtic folk. Buffalo's own has shared the stage with the The Goo Goo Dolls, 10,000 Maniacs, Eddie Money, John Waite, They Might Be Giants, The Smithereens, The Proclaimers, Spirit of the West, The Crash Test Dummies, and Lowest of the Low.
This 6 piece rock/pop mix has traveled the Northeast enlightening Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, Boston, Toronto and LA. They have earned numerous Music Awards and have taken Best Original Rock Band for 2006 and 2007 for the Buffalo Music Awards.
McCarthyizm consists of: Joe McCarthy: lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Paul Ceppaglia: guitar, mandolin, vocals, Dave Mucha: bass and vocals, Joe Suplicki: percussion, Helen Butler: fiddle and Nate Schneekloth on keyboards.
"Mt. St. Michel" begins with a sweet guitar riff that portray Joe's vocals pristine. Percussion, bass and keys follow melding a lyrical orchestration of language and history with Helen on fiddle spiraling you directly into a city of lights. "Victor's Morning" is an anthem. War like and tribal, lead in percussion causes one to raise that fist in the air. All members are represented and electric. Bass, fiddle, guitar, and keys scream simultaneous to a backdrop of cheers and shouts. This is rock, pop, and folk all in one tune.
These are only two tracks from the Victors EP.
Contact McCarthyizm at: http://www.mccarthyizm.com/ and also on my space at: http://www.myspace.com/mccarthyizm.
McCarthyizm defies any genre. Every tune is different than the last, and to fully appreciate their talent to the fullest, grab this CD and listen to the lyrics. Each one of them stand alone musically with the ability to craft words into sound creating something that needs to be witnessed LIVE.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Scribe for the Tribe ~ Musick
Scribe for the Tribe is a local acoustic/electric power trio based in Buffalo. "Musick," was released in December of 2007. Scribe for the Tribe consists of: Charlie Forness on lead vocals, guitar/lyricist, Joe Garrigan on bass and Steve Wellenc on percussion/graphic design.
When I first saw them as a trio I became awestruck. If you have ever followed the progression of a single band, you build an inner sense of pride. Scribe for the Tribe has done just that for me. They are making it, have made it, and they are performing. It's phenomenal.
"Mess In My Wake" is where you get a taste of percussion. The reverb on drums with chord changes is ethereal. Lyrically, this tune takes you deep within yourself. "I sit around . . . I sit around now while my soul stagnates . . . I been around I been around while the world deflates . . . and I see the light . . . "
"Heaven" stands out from the rest on this compilation. This is a tribute to the one who shares Charlie's life. His wife, Nichole. Upbeat and jazzy, the listener is left with the notion that the act of of coming home is Heaven. The harmonizing here is lovely. This is pristine.
Scribe for the Tribe is essentially, an acoustic poet, a rock bassist and a metal percussionist combined into the force of one band. Each of them are prodigious musicians. Together, they create something quite singular. Poetry and jazz incensed with blues accelerated through metal.
Get a hold of the guys at: http://www.myspace.com/ScribefortheTribeMusic. "Musick" is a masterpiece scattered with bongos, drums, bass, harmonies, acoustics, poetry and soul. To see them live is the only way to experience all of this combined.
Standing on the sidelines, I chronicle Scribe for the Tribe as unconventional, monumental and absolute.
When I first saw them as a trio I became awestruck. If you have ever followed the progression of a single band, you build an inner sense of pride. Scribe for the Tribe has done just that for me. They are making it, have made it, and they are performing. It's phenomenal.
"Mess In My Wake" is where you get a taste of percussion. The reverb on drums with chord changes is ethereal. Lyrically, this tune takes you deep within yourself. "I sit around . . . I sit around now while my soul stagnates . . . I been around I been around while the world deflates . . . and I see the light . . . "
"Heaven" stands out from the rest on this compilation. This is a tribute to the one who shares Charlie's life. His wife, Nichole. Upbeat and jazzy, the listener is left with the notion that the act of of coming home is Heaven. The harmonizing here is lovely. This is pristine.
Scribe for the Tribe is essentially, an acoustic poet, a rock bassist and a metal percussionist combined into the force of one band. Each of them are prodigious musicians. Together, they create something quite singular. Poetry and jazz incensed with blues accelerated through metal.
Get a hold of the guys at: http://www.myspace.com/ScribefortheTribeMusic. "Musick" is a masterpiece scattered with bongos, drums, bass, harmonies, acoustics, poetry and soul. To see them live is the only way to experience all of this combined.
Standing on the sidelines, I chronicle Scribe for the Tribe as unconventional, monumental and absolute.
Phantasm ~ Clever Cunning Actor
Platonic idealism is the theory that the reality around us is a reflection of a higher truth. The truth, Plato argued, is the abstraction. That abstraction, IS Phantasm. Get ready to enter a new realm. One that is powerful, intricate, and beautiful with clever colors dancing together in a pale moonlight.
Phantasm consists of: Steven Ross, lyricist, vocals, lead guitar; Jay Yachetta, percussion, graphic design; and Aaron White on bass. This trio has performed from Buffalo to Ohio and I was lucky enough to see them LIVE in Buffalo performing Clever Cunning Actor. Recorded at Disaster Studios in Erie, PA, this 12 track CD is phenomenal.
The fifth song on the album, "Two Left Feet," sets you on a roller coaster ride with a funky, jazzy back beat. This tune is ripe with continuous movement interspersed with hard rock, metal and turntables. Ross' vocal range is to be envied. In a second, he is able to switch from high-pitched screeching to low tone speaking. This trio is a powerhouse apparent in the chorus: "We've come to blow your minds, with our napalm flavor and rips of doom."
The 8th track, "Hey Star," is the path of all artists and corporate America. Yachetta starts us out with a laid back high hat with Ross on vocals and White growling in with his bass. As the tune progresses, drums, vocals and bass elevate in precision. When you listen closely, you can see how in tune the three of them are with one another. They are the same while performing. 100% in control.
"Divide. Conquer. Repeat." showcases all three of these talented individuals. This is my favorite tune. Ross leads alongside tones and turntables with White's steady bass. Yachetta jumps right along with the rise and fall of the vocals. All three of them are tight. Percussion is bold and tribal. This is an anthem.
The last track, "Polyethylene Death Dream," is a masterpiece. Rarely do you see musicians perform with an intense range of talent timing at 15:43. It is difficult to describe everything heard in this tune, let alone the entire CD. There are soundscapes throughout, especially in the end.
In order to experience the utter beautiful madness that is Phantasm, visit them at: http://www.enterthephantasm.com.
I suggest you do not miss them.
Phantasm consists of: Steven Ross, lyricist, vocals, lead guitar; Jay Yachetta, percussion, graphic design; and Aaron White on bass. This trio has performed from Buffalo to Ohio and I was lucky enough to see them LIVE in Buffalo performing Clever Cunning Actor. Recorded at Disaster Studios in Erie, PA, this 12 track CD is phenomenal.
The fifth song on the album, "Two Left Feet," sets you on a roller coaster ride with a funky, jazzy back beat. This tune is ripe with continuous movement interspersed with hard rock, metal and turntables. Ross' vocal range is to be envied. In a second, he is able to switch from high-pitched screeching to low tone speaking. This trio is a powerhouse apparent in the chorus: "We've come to blow your minds, with our napalm flavor and rips of doom."
The 8th track, "Hey Star," is the path of all artists and corporate America. Yachetta starts us out with a laid back high hat with Ross on vocals and White growling in with his bass. As the tune progresses, drums, vocals and bass elevate in precision. When you listen closely, you can see how in tune the three of them are with one another. They are the same while performing. 100% in control.
"Divide. Conquer. Repeat." showcases all three of these talented individuals. This is my favorite tune. Ross leads alongside tones and turntables with White's steady bass. Yachetta jumps right along with the rise and fall of the vocals. All three of them are tight. Percussion is bold and tribal. This is an anthem.
The last track, "Polyethylene Death Dream," is a masterpiece. Rarely do you see musicians perform with an intense range of talent timing at 15:43. It is difficult to describe everything heard in this tune, let alone the entire CD. There are soundscapes throughout, especially in the end.
In order to experience the utter beautiful madness that is Phantasm, visit them at: http://www.enterthephantasm.com.
I suggest you do not miss them.
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