Shontelle Performs at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park

by Jason Pollak

Last Saturday the audience at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park witnessed quite a treat. International pop star Shontelle, performed a free concert for her adoring fans.

It was a fantastic concert as Shontelle lit up the stage with a slew of hits ranging from her early work such as, “T-Shirt” to her international smash hit “Impossible”. The fans took in every moment of it. Even some of her Barbados brethren came out to support her.

Decked out in her limited edition Rodrigo Otazu hat and jewelry, she definitely fit the part of a diva. Her outfit was equally spectacular as it was a one piece body suit that seemed to be custom designed just for her.

As Shontelle said in an interview backstage, “This jewelry is very special. He (Rodrigo) does jewelry for so many people and this hat is one of a kind. He does jewelry for Lady Gaga and Rihanna, so it’s a really cool piece.”

The hat and rings were some pieces of artwork as well. The hat was a fully bedazzled out, military style hat with reflective silver going all around it. However there was a bit of a bigger meaning behind the style of her hat.

“I was in the military back in Barbados,” she remarked. “I was actually an officer. Not many people know, but I was also the drill Sergeant for Rihanna.”

Not to scare us too much, she went on to say, “I think that’s how I got my powerful voice. Yelling and screaming really helps build your diaphragm.”

That diaphragm definitely came in handy when it was time to perform. The show started with her DJ getting the crowd of eager listeners ready for her. He played a couple of club hits, but then it was time for the real star to shine.

Immediately the crowd burst into cheers as their favorite pop star strutted up the stairs in bright red high heels to the stage. After talking for a few moments to her fans and the people of Barbados that came, she broke out into her powerful song “Perfect Nightmare”. The crowd went crazy and the band was jamming out as she broke into the great chorus. She was really able to connect with her fans who knew every word. Between the lighting of the day and feeling of the song, it truly was a great moment. She heard and looked like a diva in the making.

Shontelle said of performing, “It feels good to be able to perform my music after so many hours of work in the studio. I love crafting music. This is definitely the best part though, when you get to see it all come together. The fans singing and everything, it’s great.

After she concluded the exciting ending to “Perfect Nightmare” she asked the audience, “Does anyone remember my first hit?”

A group of excited girls screamed out, “T-Shirt! T-Shirt!” Shontelle responded with a resounding yes and then took off her into sleek and smooth single “T-Shirt”. The crowd all joined in to sing the upbeat yet sullen chorus about Jimmy Choo’s and being left alone.

Shontelle also showed off a bit of diversity that no one was expecting in the audience. Before going into her final number, she gave the audience her own rendition of “Man Down”; the hit song that she co-wrote with Rihanna. All of a sudden she broke into a Caribbean styled flow that gave a whole new meaning to the original song. It was like a final connecting piece was put in about the song.

Her best performance of the night came next. We all had to wait to the very end to hear it. She announced the song by saying jokingly, “And now the moment you have all been waiting for…“Impossible”.

Shontelle blew everyone away with her powerful vocals. We were really able to feel the song and the lyrics. The chorus was the best part as she let go and belted out the famous chorus heard around the world. It was a special moment for her and everyone there. In that moment it didn’t matter if she was singing in front of hundreds of fans or in her backyard, she really left it all on the stage.

It was a great performance all around. Shontelle really shined and showed that there are two strong women from Barbados in the music business today. As it turns out though, there was one other diva she got valuable information from.

Shontelle gave us a bit of a secret she picked up when touring with superstar Beyonce. She said “It was really cool to watch her perform every night. It really showed me how to be a strong, female singer. It’s really interesting to see how she interacts with her audience and how her audience kind of resembles her. I got to watch how to really be a diva. She brings it every night, one of the best. I learned how to win.”

That definitely showed last Saturday as everyone around Tanger Outlets was able to hear her voice from the stage to the parking lot. Shontelle has really grown as an artist and a performer. With her third album on the way, she is definitely poised for big things ahead.

Tanger Outlet at The Arches in Deer Park continues their Sounds of Summer Concert Series August 13th with Hey Monday the pop group and teen sensation will perform at Tanger before embarking on their world tour. For more information visit www.tangeroutlet.com/deerpark

Company of Thieves-The Review

by Jason Pollak

On June 13th, Company of Thieves rocked out the Bowery Ballroom. They brought a ton of energy and put on a powerful performance. The Ballroom was packed out, eager to hear this break out band from Chicago. Coming off the release of their new album “Running Froom A Gamble”, there was quite a buzz in the crowd. There were fans there, some new and some old. Either way, the anticipation was high.

The lights dimmed and the crowd grew silent as they all waited for the first guitar chord to sound. After a bit of fine tuning their instruments, the lights went ablaze and Genevieve rushed out onto stage in bright red spandex pants and a cut off t-shirt.

If anyone has never heard Genevieve sing, they would not expect to hear such a loud voice coming from such a small person. Nevertheless, she burst out on the microphone with the voice of someone who had been locked up in a dungeon for way too long. The band immediately settled in and went into their first song of the night “Look Both Ways”. The crowd stood there in amazement as Genevieve tore through the song with the vengeance to ignite a small army, or at least the 100 or so people in attendance. Her voice bounced off the walls as did the great melodies coming from Marc on his guitar in the background.

Altogether it was an astounding performance. Hearts were beating and at any moment it seemed as though the vibrant lead singer was ready to leap off the stage into the crowd. The band seemed really in tune as they cruised through their catalog of songs off the new album. They played their songs to such perfection, it seemed as though the album was playing directly through the speakers on stage. It truly was a great performance.

Towards the end of the show, the crowd grew in excitement as they waited for the rolling drum solo to start the smash hit “Death of Communication”. After performing “Nothing in the Flowers”, another great single and performance, the crowd got their wish. The rolling drum solo came in and an immediate spark hit the crowd. Genevieve then flew into the song and dazzled the audience with her soft vibrant voice. The guitar and drums were in sync as well with the bass and keyboards to give off a feeling that couldn’t be felt listening to the song on the album. It then took off into the first chorus and the crowd became one with the band as they belted out all the lyrics. Perhaps the best part of the performance was the guitar solo in the middle as Genevieve burst off into dance as Marc took over and led them into the final chorus. As the song ended the crowd knew they had just heard something special.

It truly was a privilege to watch such a great band perform live. It is not often you find a band that sounds if not as good, but better live. Between using blow horns, her soft voice and overall explosion on the stage, Genevieve showed that she can hang in there with any lead singer, man or women. Though the band has gone through some lineup changes, it was hardly noticeable as Marc jammed along perfectly with his new drummer and bass player. There was one final special treat on the night as “Company of Thieves” was joined on stage by the previous bands to perform the exuberant song “Tallulah”. It was a great performance as they all brought down the house with this jazzy, rock song. If you haven’t had a chance to see “Company of Thieves”, well in simple terms, go see them. You are in for a one of a kind performance which features perhaps one of the best voices in music today. You have to hear it to believe it.

On November 3rd, Sony Music Japan International will release “Ms. Vocalist.” The album is all new recordings of Long Island’s own Debbie Gibson covering 10 Japanese hit singles, plus a duet with Mr. Vocalist Eric Martin and a Japanese version of “Lost In Your Eyes.” Gibson had such an amazing time singing these timeless and beloved Japanese hit songs.

Sony Japan officially released Debbie Gibson’s brand new video, I Love You from the upcoming album, Ms. Vocalist. Enjoy!

]]> http://spotonli.com/2010/11/debbie-gibson-ms-vocalist/feed/ 3 http://spotonli.com/2009/11/caroline-doctorow/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=caroline-doctorow http://spotonli.com/2009/11/caroline-doctorow/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:47:09 +0000 admin http://spotonli.com/?p=1660 November 20, 2009

An Interview with

Caroline Doctorow

by Mick DuRussel

With a soft and mesmerizing voice, Long Island’s own Caroline Doctorow has established herself as leading force on the folk scene that continues to gain mementum with each new album. Her latest, “Another Country”, covers the songs of 1960′s folk icons Richard and Mimi Farina. This is her sixth album and a highly personal project as the Farina’s were personal friends of Caroline’s parents. Her father is famed writer E.L. Doctorow . I had the great pleasure to speak with Caroline about her new album and her life as singer/songwriter…

MICK: Your new release “Another Country” sounds fantastic! What made you decide to cover the songs of Richard and Mimi Farina?
CAROLINE: They were a big influence of mine, one of the first people I listened to while in high school along with a lot of other folk musicians. I also listened to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead but I’ve always been a folkie at heart!
Richard Frarina died in 1969 when he was 29 years old and Mimi died just several years back in 2001. After reading about her death, I revisited how they influenced me. It hit me like a ton of bricks how her music had affected me because I went on to become a folk singer also. It occurred to me they nobody had done a full album of their material even though a lot of people seem to love it. Richard Farina wrote “Pack Up Your Sorrows” which has been covered by a bunch of people including Johnny Cash and Judy Collins. He kind of fell through the cracks in a way so it became a passion for me to put this record out and hopefully reintroduce people who were also fans and get some new fans because his music was so good.

MICK: Did you know Mimi Farina?
CAROLINE: I met her when I was a kid at a party very briefly. I saw her perform several times after that after Richard had died.
I would not call that actually knowing her. I was introduced to her through my parents. My father [E.L. Doctorow] was a friend of Joan Baez and edited her first book. As a family, we were introduced to a lot of people in their circle and Mimi was one of them!

MICK: What was it like growing up in a household where famous writers, poets and folk singers often visited?
CAROLINE: It was fun! It was never dull, that’s for sure! When I look back on that I wonder how my parents did it because I’m a parent now. There was always things happening and people coming through. A lot of emphasis on cultural things and the arts. I grew up in New Rochelle and it was close to Manhattan so we really got to take advantage of that. I must say that the community I grew up in was very arts orientated and intellectual to a huge degree. A lot of that was the Jewish community and their devotion to that by placing importance on education, language, words and spelling. It seemed that the parents were very encouraging to us. My friends were also musicians that I palled around with. It was a simpler time and a different time and maybe is was easier to be that way then.

MICK: Are you close with your dad?
CAROLINE: Yes I am! He’s really a great person. Both of my parents are!

MICK: I see that John Sebastian and Eric Weissberg are among the guest musicians on “Another Country”. How long have you known them?
CAROLINE: Eric Weissberg played on my very first album. I honestly can’t remember how I met him but I’ve known him for years. I didn’t actually know John Sebastian until he agreed to be involved in my project. Pete Kennedy, who produced the album, sort of set that up. We went up to Woodstock for the two tracks that Eric and John are on. Those two tracks were done a little differently ‘Mainline Prosperity Blues” and “Hard-Lovin’ Loser”. They both live in Woodstock. There’s a great music community there.

MICK: As a songwriter, what comes first..the words or the music?
CAROLINE: For me, it’s thinking of a phrase that interests me or hearing a sentence that interests me and developing a concept of what the song is going to say. I think everybody has a different answer for this. I have to dig around and decide what the song is going to be about. then I work on the melody after I have some sort of form.

MICK: I read that Joan Baez actually taught you chords as a child. Do you still keep in touch with her?
CAROLINE: No. I’m not in touch with her. That was during the same time that her book was being worked on. She came out to Eastern Long Island one summer where I live now. I had already started learning guitar but she taught me some chords that i didn’t know. That was the end for me! I said to myself “Okay, that’s it! This is what I will be doing!”. She was a superstar at that time!

MICK: Who do you like listening to?
CAROLINE: I constantly revisit the songwriters of the 1960′s. Right now, I’m listening to Ian and Sylvia. There’s also some friends of mine who are songwriters. One is a guy named James O’Malley who also lives on Long Island. I enjoy listening to him. I have friends that put out records and I like listening to them. I also host a folk radio show on WPKN FM called “Song Trails”. It’s broadcast the first Saturday of each month at 7:00PM. the station is located in Bridgeport, CT and it also has a sister station WPKM FM. In researching music for the show, it kind of stirs things up when you have to find things that interest you. There’s also a band that some friends of mine are in called “The Harlem Parlor Music Club”. It’s sort of a music co-operative of a whole bunch of musicians who have different projects going on. They come together loosely to do this folk jam which is pretty cool.

MICK: It’s been said that you are one of the foremost interpreters of Bob Dylan songs. Have you ever met him and do you plan on more interpretations of his music?
CAROLINE: I have never met him and yes, I can’t imagine not doing more interpretations because he’s like the marker at which you sort of see how you’re doing! He continues to interest me especially in the way his songs don’t age. He somehow puts them in a cultural setting that is hip and cool but doesn’t become dated. Richard Farina is like that to me also. The language doesn’t age or become corny or irrelevant. Richard Farina and Bob Dylan were friends. It’s safe to say that Dylan was influenced by Richard Farina. Farina took this literary valid English/ Irish kind of language and he made it his own with some hip terminology. The songs are beautifully well crafted, highly intelligent pieces evoking a lot of imagery.

MICK: If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you would be doing now?
CAROLINE: I like teaching so maybe I’d be a teacher!

MICK: What are your plans for 2010?
CAROLINE: I have another record that we will be releasing. It’s a collection of songwriters from the 1960′s, also some original songs to be included.

MICK: Do you have any other hobbies besides music?
CAROLINE: I have two daughters, one bull dog, one cat, two birds, two frogs and a husband so not much time for any other hobbies!

For more info on Caroline and her recording career:
http://www.carolinedoctorow.com/

You can see Caroline perform:

Saturday November 21st
Patchogue Folk Festival, 3pm
Patchogue Theater for the Performing Arts,
Patchogue, NY

http://www.patchoguetheater.com/112109.htm

Saturday December 19th
Hard Luck Cafe
30 Washington Drive
Centerport NY

http://fmshny.org/hardluck.htm

Amy Lynn & The Gunshow

by Christine Gerani

Move over Miss Winehouse, there’s a new Amy in town and her name is Amy Lynn!  I’ve been listening to a lot of new local music lately and none has struck me so as Amy Lynn & The Gunshow.  Amy and her band strike old school Motown Gold in this four song EP that is sheer brilliance.  Even the CD looks like an old 45 record.  In Missing You, Amy gives you major church and hits notes into the stratosphere.  The talented and soulful background singers and horn section pay homage to the great Aretha Franklin.

My Only One gives you a sexy and fun ska-like element that keeps a great danceable groove.  This song really comes together in the end with an incredible huge chorus that rivals the best gospel.

This record is a mass team effort and every musician and performer show off their skills in Comfort Me. The background singers are dripping with soul and will make you melt.  Like the rest of the songs Comfort Me is well written, but for me, this one makes you root for every single vocal, every beat and every line. The results are effortless and heartfelt.

You Bring Me Joy brings us back to the quirky Amy that proves she can sing Pop R&B soul like nobody’s business and The Gunshow is one of the best collections of musicians and singers in New York.  Amy Lynn & The Gunshow are the real deal.  This record makes me love my job.

Musicians:

Amy Lynn Zanetto-Lead Vocals

James Jackson Jr.-Backup Vocals

Carole D. Jones-Backup Vocals

Alex Hamlin- Baritone Saxophone

Michael Bomwell- Tenor Saxophone

Michael Leonhart- Trumpet

Red Wierenga-Piano, Keyboard,Organ

Michael Chiavaro-Bass

Ted Poor-Drums

For more information Visit Amy Lynn & The Gunshows  website!

November 12, 2009

She Makes Us Groove

by Christine Gerani

Multi-Instrumentalist Katie Pearlman’s new CD We Make This shows off her rich songwriting and grooves reminiscent of the bluesy style of Bonnie Raitt.  The best example is on the album’s title track, where each musician delivers a superior performance.  In I’ll be Waiting Katie surprises the audience with groovin’ verses that build into a powerful anthem-like chorus.  Most artists couldn’t pull that off but Katie does and with a natural ease.  I must admit, I found myself attracted more to the songs without the bluesy edge. 

In I Feel, a straight ahead mainstream groove, the catchy keyboard and guitar riff offers up a great start to an incredible song.  I love this song.  The background vocals are there but could stand to be more prevalent for this big chorus, my only real critique.  It closes with a beautiful and fitting guitar solo. 

In Life Gives the lyrics are well done and musically this song also stands out amongst the rest.  Katie’s vocals in Dreaming With You are mystical, pretty and heartfelt.  In We Make This Katie leads the way on vocals, drums and acoustic guitar and she is surrounded by incredible musicians, Jeff Pearlman on keyboards, Joe Cesare on Electric Guitar and Tom Bowler on bass.

Although Katie is a master of the blues, she is also an amazing hook writer when she takes risks like in I Feel and I’ll be Waiting.  We hope to see more of that cool and clever styling of Katie in the future!

Please visit her website at www.katiepearlman.com

We Make This is available on CD Baby and iTunes!

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