Monday, April 27, 2009

Release show

All these photos were taken by the great Bruce Hicks.
Thanks Bruce!
The magical encore finale! Dancers, beat box, horns, and the leap!

Charlie was rocking out to a degree unachieved before in the history of mankind. So many faces were melted by his six-string wizardry, that the janitors are gonna be cleaning up that auditorium for at least 3 weeks.

Wireless. Such a great invention!


Action shot. Having fun!



So i dont knwo about you, but i've never felt an energy like that one that night before. It was beautiful!



Mr. Neil Keating. He was crazy hanging in with Cameron and I during the "jumping" section in the encore!


The big bird rockin out!


Michael was an his A+ game all night. Rockin the organ and synth! Mmm! And Paper Dreams was fantastic! Truly.

Dominic was rockin hard too! Risers are so nice!


More Charlie!



What a night! There was so much dancing, i got comments and emails about how sore folks were on Sunday! Now THAT is the best kind of dancing!
Thank you.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Reviews

Akron Beacon Journal

Zach teams up with Falls High
Saturday release party for singer/songwriter to benefit school theater
By Malcolm X AbramBeacon Journal music writer
Published on Friday, Apr 24, 2009

Locally based, nationally touring artist Zach will play a concert Saturday at Cuyahoga Falls High School that serves a dual purpose: raising money for the school's theater department while doubling as the release party for the mono-monikered singer/songwriter's latest album, What I Meant To Say, to be released on the same day.

Zach is not an alumnus of Cuyahoga Falls High — he was born in Parma — but he does have direct connections with the city and the school.

''I have done a lot in the Falls and have a decent fan base there, plus my favorite soundman [Charles Korecki] in the area runs their sound department, and when we were looking for a place to have the release, he offered up using the school. And then he just said, 'Why don't we make it a benefit for the school?' '' the singer said recently after a gig at the University of Akron.

The school's theater department is not in imminent danger, but during times of economic crisis, the arts areusually the first in the budgetary crosshairs, making the show a pre-emptive musical strike.

''It's a shame. Arts are always the first thing to go,'' he said.

Though not a theater geek in high school, Zach did perform at his high school's talent show, and he says he has seen the value of arts education.

''I've had a lot of friends [since high school] and met a ton of folks for whom those programs have been instrumental in getting them through high school, and helping them find out what they want to do with their lives.''

What I Meant To Say is Zach's ninth album in a decade of performing, touring and recording. The bulk of the disc's songs were written during his father's battle with pancreatic cancer and shortly after he succumbed to the disease in 2006. But while such a deep personal loss might inspire some songwriters to fill an album with songs of pain and mourning, Zach took a different approach.

''I always try to look for the positive and the record is me searching, looking for that, and finding my way through that stuff. [The songs] are much more upbeat and hopeful that there is a way through it and a way to deal with it,'' he said.

For Zach fans, the show will likely be the last time to see him perform with his full quintet before he takes off for his annual West Coast summer tour. The show will feature several songs from the new album and some special guests, including a horn section, but there also is a good chance that the prolific songwriter will play even newer tunes.

''I'm writing new stuff constantly. I'd say I've written about 40 songs since January, so usually by the time a record comes out I've got a bunch of new material beyond that,'' he said.
A local high school band will open the show and What I Meant To Say will be available for purchase, with each ticket entitling the bearer to $3 off. Fans who can't attend will be able to purchase the CD online at Zach's Web site as well as at iTunes and other online music storefronts.

Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.

Monday, April 20, 2009

CD Release This Saturday!

CD RELEASE CONCERT!
THIS SATURDAY APRIL 25th!


Come one come all!
Cuyahoga Falls High School
2300 4th St.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Doors open at 6pm, and the show starts at 7pm.
Tickets are $7 or 2 for only $10!
Order tickets now at the Cuyahoga Falls High School Box Office, or online at www.zachmusic.net/order.html
Proceeds go to the Cuyahoga Falls High School Theater Department.
PLUS - each ticket gets you $3 off the new CD!
Yes!
See you then!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Brother's


Brother's Lounge is possibly the best venue in Cleveland for music. They have a nice stage, atmosphere, lights, and sound. And they are cool to work with - at least they have been with us. We were asked to perform there as part of an unsigned music series.

Bruce Hicks - http://www.brucehicks.com/ - came out again and got these wonderful and candid shots of us! Thanks Bruce!


We got there and loaded in. They have a patio section good for loading. But i have to say a major downside is the lack of parking. There is a lot across the street behind my friends restaurant. However this lot is apparently only for my friends customers. The entire lot holding a good 100 spaces. I parked there to unload as it was the easiest option at the moment. I got 1 load across the street and into the club.
The second one however, prompted the owner of the My Friends (of manager) to come actually running out into the street to tell me that she's gonna tow my car cuz it's only her customers who can park there (and there was actually only one sign in one small section of the lot - not where i was parked - that mentioned anything about parking only for her place). I politely told her i would move my van as soon as i unloaded my gear. I had my last load in my hands, and my hands were full.
To this, she said you cant park there. I'm gonna tow you, shrugged, and made to go back inside. I raised my voice and said i will move as soon as i put this stuff down. To which she shrugged - which was from her body language the same as flicking me off. There happened to be a space opening up in the club parking lot, so i dumped my gear there, and Jen sat in the spot while i moved my van.

So i would advise not dealing with that establishment. I dont think they have much in terms of vegan dining anyway, but she was harshly over-dramatic for no reason whatever. It quite upset me. Silliness.
But all that went away when we set up to rock. We were the middle band. We plowed through a pretty upbeat set, bringing it down a little for one of our best versions of Some Love, and then took it back off ending with a romping Ever After.

Which included a nice dancing section, and some dance-off head butting between Cameron and I!


Our now famous TV. People love watching TV. So now they can. At our shows.



Dominic rocking out a groove.


After our set, we roamed around and made our way to the outdoor patio for a few band shots. We have never had a full band picture taken. So, we thought we'd give it a try.



Backstage. Shenanigans... And you know we'll probably end up using this one...