Another Fantastic Voyage

An old friend took another step closer to their so-called glory days. Fantastic Planet, the successor to Blue Sinatra, had found a new home in the Grape Room and was back there to release their first EP, Destroy Your Master. I thought it was going to be more ramped up than it was. There was a bigger crowd and FP certainly brought it. In an attempt to get some other people in the crowd moving, even the friends and family of the band members stayed put throughout the set. Even thought of raising my arms to try to pump them up. I thought why doesn't anyone else feel this way about this music? If I found someone else who did I would be a really good place. Other than myself they only got one woman to move in place a bit. This time the percussion intro featured Stomp-like white plastic buckets which is similar to what the band's previous incarnation Blue Sinatra used at a few of their shows. Instead of a display or a box, they just dumped the EPs on the stage. Climbed up on an amplifier. After the set a few of us helped the band hand out copies of the EP after picking them up off the stage. If only this band would promote themselves better, they could do so much more.

Mouth Of Wilson: Reloaded and ready

The new-look Mouth Of Wilson played an intimate set at our old favorite venue, John and Peter's in New Hope. It was the first time I had seen the group since 2008. With warnings of possible flooding in town due to all the recent rainfall most of the family and friends of the band stayed home. Jim Gaven was sick so the band performed as a four-piece without bass parts which was harder for them than you would first believe. Most of the songs I had not heard live before but they did play "Not All In Vain" and "Talk To Me" from their first album. After their set I was able to meet guitarist Ken and got a copy of their latest album Untamed Animals. I also talked with our friend and producer Mike Kianka who had recently completed a tour with Fleetwood Mac and will be supporting Lindsey Buckingham again later this spring.

MOW Update

Check out this article about my old friends Mouth Of Wilson from MercerSpace:

http://www.mercerspace.com/article/88191-mouth+wilson+rocks+area+venues

Happy Return to the Grape

This past week I saw a revived band at a revived venue the Grape Room. It was the first time I had been in Manayunk since 2007. The Grape Room is near the original location of the Grape Street Pub and I remember their previous location where I had seen Blue Sinatra and other groups have many good shows. Most of Blue Sinatra were part of a new crew, Fantastic Planet (see the Fantastic Planet "Six") who played after two jazz and pop influenced groups. I was pleased to hear one old Blue Sinatra tune "Homecoming". Guitarist Dave was pretty sick but he gutted through the performance. It was great that most of the crowd and the first two bands stuck around to see their show. Fran, Blue Sinatra's first bass player showed up and we were all happy to see him and hang out after the show. I really hope Greg and the guys continue their momentum with their upcoming LP.

Cdbaby link for Blue Sinatra

A Winning Team

This past Friday I was back at the Tin Angel to see my friend Loretta Allen's new collaboration with singer-songwriter Stephen Rose of the band Bong Hits For Jesus. She sang backup on a few of his songs, played two of her songs with Steve on backing vocals and percussion and then they performed a new duet which they wrote together. They had a five song EP with the latter song and previously recorded songs available for an "official" donation of $5 or however much you wanted to donate. Not bad for a few months worth of work. The night kicked into high gear with the folk, rock and bluegrass of Miz and then the three-guitar power rock of Lost In Company.

Stephen Rose's Reverbnation profile

Lost In Company's Reverbnation profile

Mike Miz's Reverbnation profile