Bernice Lewis & Mary Gauthier Concert
7:30 – 10:30

Goodrich Hall, Rte 2 , Williamstown, Massachusetts
With opening performance by Sam Austin & Michelle J Rodriguez on vocals…FREE! 

Hear the music! 

The World on a String  Thursday 6:00-9:00

A Unique Bass & Vocals Program, featuring Jazz Standards & Pop Tunes, with a special Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. Dan Broad, BASS, Lisa Kantor, Vocals. — $42 / 3 course meal and wine! Call today to reserve: (413) 637-2700 — Our last show sold out, so reservations are highly recommended!

And then you can pop on over to …

Singer/Songwriter Showcase featuring Billy Keane, Chris Merenda & Pat Gochez

Billy Keane- Manchester CT

Thursday, January 19, 2012 @ 9:00PM @ The Garage
FREE

ARTIST WEBSITES:
Billy Keane Music | Facebook
www.chrismerenda.net
www.patrikgochez.com

Spice Dragon presents The Citizens, playing a range of great stuff from Dave Matthews to Funkadelic. Featuring …
Benny “Fingers” Kohn: Keys & Vox
Kali Baba McConnell: Percussion, loops & Vox
Dan Esko: Bass & vox
Downtown Davey Brown: Guitar, vox

Saturday, January 14 @ Spice Dragon
297 North Street Pittsfield

Saturday Jan 21st at The Spectrum Theater, Lee, MA.

Robin O’Herin, Vicki True and more @ Blues and Gospel Fundraiser for RaisingTheBlues.org      7-9 pm  ALL AGES

RockON’s Guitar Orchestra gears up for a benefit blues show on Saturday Jan 21st at The Spectrum theater in Lee, performing with Robin O’Herin with Molly McGuigan on vocals. The Guitar orchestra, who backed Mary Verdi at the Colonial Theatre in December, features RockOn alums Josh Casella, Collin Sears, and Andrew Goodfellow, directed by Jay Fruet.

There may be a few surprise guests still to be added… There will be a presentation short by RaisingTheBlues as well as a raffle for one of their diddlybows, and a student blues jam.

Tickets: $19.00 online, $20 at the door  To learn more, visit http://www.RaisingTheBlues.org or call 413-243-2271.

Sunday 1pm-3pm ~ Open Mic & Songwriters’ Workshop ~ FREE

Juice N’ Java invites you to sprinkle a little music on your Sunday with Dana Welts’ Open Mic & Songwriters’ Workshop. Share your work or simply relax and enjoy the performances! If you are planning to participate, please arrive early or email Dana at drwelts@gmail.com to sign up!

 Juice N’ Java – 216 Elm Street , Pittsfield, MA 

Rock News

Today, Rolling Stone reported that Eddie Van Halen donated 75 guitars from his personal collection to L.A.-area schools in a collaboration with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. “Music education and families are dealing with the economic times,” said the guitarist in a statement, “and I wanted to help them.”

Passing along a part of the good life playing music has provided for him, Van Halen said, “Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine that no one could take away from me,” he hopes to share that gift.

Read more

http://www.berkshirebank.com/about_us/in_the_community/customer-appreciation-week

Thursday Dec 15  8:00pm until 11:00pm

It’s at the pub but it’s still an All Ages gig…and no cover charge!

Patrick’s – 26 Bank Row, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Looking ahead (cause once I get some cash this week I have a lot of shopping to do)

December 28, Chameleon’s once again rocks the under 21 scene with upstate New York’s TAKE ONE CAR  to Pittsfield! If you missed them at Bamboozle, don’t miss them in Pittsfield!

Heavy complex riffs, crashing cymbals, descibed as “anger-jazz”(hey why not) – check them out if you haven’t seen them.

Also appearing:

Noumenon & The Dance Cancer !

Strummer, John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the The Clash. The Clash was on the forefront of British punk in the 80’s, and like Guthrie, spoke their minds about touchy political topics in their songs.

And the association goes deeper. Joe Strummer developed a love of rock music listening to American recording artists like Little Richard and The Beach Boys as well as American folk-singer Woody Guthrie. Strummer’s appreciation for Guthrie was so profound, he actually went by the nickname “Woody” for several years.

Per Strummer,

“I was born in Ankara, then I grew up and learned some Woody Guthrie Songs. Then I joined the Clash. My father isn’t rich. He’s got an M.G. 1000 and a bungalow in South Croydon. He was born in India. His father died when he was eight, so he went to an orphan school. He was smart and worked himself up in the civil service. Now he works in the public records office. He’s a white collar worker.”

Per Woody,

“A folk song is what’s wrong and how to fix it or it could be

who’s hungry and where their mouth is or

who’s out of work and where the job is or

who’s broke and where the money is or

who’s carrying a gun and where the peace is.” – WG

So it was with Strummer. Strummer and The Clash constantly sang about revolution and the working class, though Strummer himself was a student at boarding school. He was separated from his parents, an outsider. London Calling and The Magnificent Seven are Clash classics in the folk tradition but with an irreverent punk sound, speaking out about British and world politics.  Dictator takes a poke at American’s foreign policy, and there are many more.

Like Woody, Joe identified with his audience. The “outsider” role for both was an essential element of their political and social positioning.  Guthrie’s “I Ain’t Got No Home”, “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad”, “Talking Dust Bowl Blues”, “Tom Joad” and “Hard Travelin’”; all reflect his desire to give voice to those who had been disenfranchised.

After the Clash, Strummer explored other interests, including acting, creating film scores for television and movies, songwriting, radio broadcasting, and a being  a radio host. Strummer is one of the iconic figures of the British punk movement. Strummer’s legacy includes The Clash being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. The Clash produced 6 albums (16 vinyl faces), numerous singles and is still considered as one of the most powerful creative musical units of the last part of the 20th century.  Today,  Strummer’s friends and family have established the Strummerville Foundation for the promotion of new music. The foundation produces many festivals as well as organized and spontaneous ceremonies worldwide to celebrate his memory.

Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Guthrie (July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) is a Legend whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children’s songs, ballads and other works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his guitar. His best-known song is “This Land Is Your Land”. In addition to Strummer, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Joe and Tom Paxton have acknowledged their debt to Guthrie as an influence. His son Arlo Guthrie and Sarah Lee Guthrie have followed in his footsteps and carry on the legacy.

In closing, here is Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash … Redemption Song

Speak your minds…….

Adjacent to the Colonial Theatre, The Garage .. aptly named in rememberance of the auto dealership that was once there, features the top local artists in performances for all ages, FREE of charge. This week, on Thursday night, December 1, catch Tony Lee Thomas “TLT” lighting it up with his band which includes Ben Kohn, Jeff Link and Michael J. Valenti.

December 3, 2011 Saturday 7pm
Christmas at the Colonial with Mary Verdi •  New CD  just released!

Don’t miss this annual Christmas show, sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Featuring Mary Verdi and her world traveled band:  Ben Kohn, Dave Christopolis, Chris Mattoon, Charlie Tokarz, Eileen Markland and Patty Feldman.  Guest artists include:  Joe Smith and Tony Lee Thomas.  This show will also feature RockOn’s Guitar Orchestra, and St. Patrick & Raphael’s Bell Ringers from Williamstown, Dalton Ballet, 34 children vocalists and of course Santa Claus!  This is a Berkshire Christmas tradition that will be enjoyed ALL family members!

First…

REASON 837 reunion! (all ages EARLY SHOW) w/NICE TRY KID 
DOORS 5:30PM/OVER BY 8:30PM  $6Wednesday, November 23 · 6:00pm – 8:30pm
Chameleons Nightclub - 1350 East St. -Pittsfield, MA

If you saw Reason 837′s final show at The Room, or if you missed it, you don’t want to miss this! Mike has returned from Southern California, at least for a few days, so let’s pack the place and have a great time!!  Joining in the fun will be Nice Try Kid from western Mass!!!  Thanks to Chameleon’s for letting this happen.

REASON 837   –  NICE TRY KID

then, head down to Lenox for …

An Evening with Matt Cusson and special guest Livingston Taylor
7:30pm until 10:30pm

GET TICKETS NOW
at shakespeare.org or by calling 413-637-3353

Shakespeare & Company - 70 Kemble St – Lenox, MA 01240

HAPPY HOLIDAY from RockON!

World MOJA – A Mashup of Jazz Arts

Thel World Premier performance of:

“The Elements: The Earth, the Wind, Fire and the Sea”

Featuring:

The World MOJA Jazz Quartet
Rob Fisch, trumpet/flugelhorn
Carlton Maaia II, piano
Dan Broad, bass
Jeff McRae, drums
&
The World MOJA Dance Ensemble

Interpretive Jazz Music & Dance
Heather Fisch
Rachael Plaine
Emily Graham

http://WorldMOJA.com/  Tickets $10

Saturday 11/19
The Guthries Ride Again
@ The Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street, Pittsfield

For over four decades, Arlo Guthrie has toured the world winning a broad and dedicated following. In addition to being an accomplished musician, Guthrie is a natural-born storyteller whose hilarious tales and timeless anecdotes are woven seamlessly into his performances.

A Great Gift for the Musician in your life!

Alfred’s music, a well known resource if you have attempted to learn any instrument, is featuring: The Big Gig, by Zoro, this holiday season. The 440-page book is a template for success—for drummers and all musicians—which covers the vocational, personal, and spiritual aspects of achievement. With chapters ranging from the art of practicing to marketing, this exceptional book is nothing short of life-changing. Steve Gadd says, “This book is a must-read for anyone who is chasing a dream and longs to strike that quintessential balance between life and art.” Read more..

The courses will consist of 4 classes which will run consecutive Sundays January 8th through January 29^th from 2pm to 3:30pm.. They will be held at the First United Methodist Church 55 Fenn Street in Pittsfield.

The courses will be taught by Rock On faculty members, Jeff Link, former Berklee College of Music Assistant Professor and current BCC music instructor, on Contemporary Harmony and Songwriting, Guitar with Ted Pierce who has performed extensively here and abroad and Bass with Dan Broad who is one of the most talented Bassist in Berkshires.

Rehearsal/Performance techniques will be offered as well with other Rock on faculty members.

Please visit our website for updates and registration information on these courses call Mary Talmi or Jeff Link for more details.

499-1733 x14    cell (917) 509-3508   Rockonworkshop.org

At a press conference Friday with former Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant at his side, Daltrey announced the launch of his newly formed foundation, the Daltrey/Townshend Teen & Young Adult Cancer Program, which is focused on expanding the options and resources available to sick teenagers in an environment where people are classified merely as adults or children. This program separates teen patients from children, allowing the care to focus on their specific needs as an age group.

Daltrey said that up until now, support and care for young people with cancer, has been a “teenage wasteland” and this new program will provide a much needed environment of nurturing and comfort that was sorely lacking for many years.  Plans for the new teen cancer center at UCLA were unveiled at Friday’s press conference. Daltrey and Plant signed a Les Paul guitar that will be ‘part of the furnishings’ at the center, which is colorful and vibrant with a rock & roll theme.  The center will be funded by The Who’s charity Who Cares.

The launch, followed on November 5 by a fund-raising event, was also attended by Dave Grohl.  Daltrey announced that a portion of ticket sales from his solo tours would go to fund the teen cancer centers.

A young rock drummer Sarah Sterner, who had suffered from cancer, and is one of the success stories of the Teenage Trust, beamed as she spoke about the teen cancer program. “If we can create that home away from home with the Teenage Trust, maybe it will take away some of the mental shock of being sick and having cancer.”  Sterner, an Atlanta high school student diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was 15, has been declared cancer-free for the last 18 months. Daltrey stood with his arm around her at the press conference, ”Look at her now, 17 years old,” he said smiling, “a complete success story.”

Co-founder and Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who was unable to attend the press conference, said it is his hope that this catches on like the Teenage Trust did in the UK, “because it does save lives”. Townshend could not make it due to visa problems. ”He’s here in spirit. We are a team,” Daltrey said later.

Daltrey has supported many charities both as a solo artist and jointly with other members of The Who since 1976. Daltrey said of Plant, “He’s been supportive of this for years. He’s done shows at the Albert Hall. It means a lot. He’s a very well-respected guy, and there will be some fan out there who’s in another band, who will say, ‘Robert Plant’s doing this? We will do it.’ I’m hoping.”

Hope we can all – as musicians – keep this kind of spirit going!