((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html John Montagna: Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:50:07 -0800 stacking http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#392
What's stacking? Cedric The Entertainer explains it in the movie "The Kings Of Comedy." Instead of doing one big gig that pays a ton of money, you do several gigs that pay a little money. Tuesday nite you make $80. Wednesday you go across town to a different club, make another $80. Thursday somewhere else, $100. Friday $150. By the end of the week, that's $410.

It's not so much a process, but a point of view: everything's connected, so long as you are engaged in your craft and presenting yourself well. You're not doing "a bunch of little gigs;" you're maybe spreading it out across more nites. But you're still in the game, so shut up and count your blessings. (In that order.)

Tomorrow nite we rock Prohibition on the upper west side with Godfrey and Murphy. Saturday I do a private event. Sunday morning I stack, still in the game. New songs coming out of me as well, more than usual; stay tuned.

Life is grand!
Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#392 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#391
Re-connected with many Berklee peeps, including Professor Danny Mo, the man responsible for making me a fan of the bass. Had the good fortune to perform with Kira Small and Mike Keneally (see video footage below). Made some new friends, including Paula and John Wehmiller, Wes' lovely parents. Good times all around, and we raised nearly $20,000 for the Wes Wehmiller Memorial Scholarship fund for Berklee (our projected goal)!

Managed to squeeze in some family time as well, which included a cut-throat game of Beatles Rock Band. I did well, but it's harder than I thought! Stay tined for video highlights.

Local action for a while, plus some new works in the works; stay tuned!

Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#391 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog "you are safe" vocal rehearsal http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#390

Myself, Kira Small and Mike Keneally backstage at The Roxy, before WesFest. Thanx to Mike for suggesting that we run the vocals one more time!

Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#390 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#389
I am not needed at the Big Dress Rehearsal until later tonite, so until then I'm visiting west coast family and soaking up what little LA sunshine is peeking thru the rain here. I should have been here yesterday, but Mother Nature and her snowy accomplices had other plans for anyone planning on leaving NYC. Needless to say I've had smoother trips...but Father Time always seems to erase the memories that are the most irritating, so I choose to blast ELO from the iPod dock, get some pants and shoes on, and seize both some coffee AND the day.

More updates as they happen.
Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#389 Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#388 Late Monday nite, should already be in bed (both ladies are), but I'm feeling the need to keep the blog up to date.


Saturday nite was a private event in New Jersey. Great to see the band again and do what it is that we do, but if I never drive the Holland Tunnel-Rt 1/9-280 West route anywhere again it will be too soon. I've played at NJPAC twice, and both times I got lost in that Rt 1/9 nonsense coming home. It is my belief that they change the signs in the middle of the nite and don't tell anyone; it's the only logical explanation for why I, a grown man, a college graduate, a father, can't figure out how to get into or out of the Holland Tunnel without much slamming of the steering wheel and cursing out loud in the car by myself. Never again.


Having another recurring romance with the bass. My main bass, to be exact. Every now and then I find myself swooning over the sexy black cherry finish on my fretted Spector 4-string. I'm in the mood for her yet again. Don't know what brings this on, but if loving a piece of wood is wrong I don't want to be right.


ReBop4DLSBlkChry_11_cropped.jpg


George Harrison tribute at BB King's tomorrow. I get to play slide guitar, yipee!


Be well


JM

]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#388 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog HAY JUDE! VIDEOS http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#387

LOVE ME DO


COME TOGETHER


Special thanx to Hay Rich for doing the video, and to Hay Margaret for uploading!
Smell the Hay.
Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#387 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#386
Yes, THAT Steve Holley, the drummer from the final lineup of Wings. Steve played on the "Back To The Egg" LP (an underrated gem), "Goodnight Tonight," and the Concert For Kampuchea. He was also on the Japanese tour that got cancelled when McCartney got busted for weed at the airport. (I made sure not to mention that.) Dude has a solid-as-a-rock pocket that was tons of fun to play with. We rocked thru some early Beatles, and I was out of there, back into the subway home to Brooklyn. Good times.

Private event this weekend, then back to BB's next week for the Here Comes The Sun multi-media George Harrison tribute. The train keeps rolling.

Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#386 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#385
Solo bass last nite at Perch Cafe in Brooklyn. 4-string Spector, Tech 21 VT Bass pedal, hot cup of Irish Coffee, good times. Always unchartered turf with solo bass, even though the crowd mainly consists of friends and family who have known me all my life. Looking into new ways to perform for larger groups of strangers, stay tuned.

Relaxation for the rest of the weekend, then we hit BB King's on Monday with Hay Jude. Every day that passes is another day closer to the end of winter, which I'm officially tired of. Keepin' on truckin'.

Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#385 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog "Are We Doing This?" Recording the theme to "WTF With Marc Maron" http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#384

Lock the gates!
Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#384 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#383
Met up with guitar Josh Max, drums Rich Zukor and photographer Seth on 23rd and 7th. We then crammed ourselves into a red Camaro that Josh has possession of for a few days. (Josh writes about cars for a living. Yeah, I know.) We pressed our faces up to the driver's side window, then up to the windshield, while Seth clicked away. We stood against the side of the car and Seth clicked away.

Then we headed into the Malibu Diner, commandeered a booth in the back with our instruments, and Seth clicked away to the amusement of diner patrons. Favorite quote from a grey-haired gentleman at a table of six: "Are you guys gonna play, or do we just have to stare at you while you smile for the camera?"

Back out on the street again, Seth stood in place and clicked away as we walked toward him, ran toward him, jumped up in the air, and stood in place. Can't wait to see the results; I have to think that we got something useful!

Afterwards I stopped up at Rich's place to eat my salad bar salad. I also got back the CDs that Rich borrowed from me the last time he was over my place, and I raided his collection as well. That's what Rich and I do: we both have huge media collections (well, mine is huge, Rich's is GARGANTUAN), and we exchange stuff when we meet up. (That's his Beatles Mono Box in my video
.)

Today he returned:
-John Lennon - Imagine, AND Walls and Bridges
-Ringo Starr - Photograph: The Best Of Ringo Starr
-Badfinger - Straight Up, AND The Best of Badfinger
-The Hollies Greatest Hits (2-disc set)

And from his collection I made off with:
-Queen - Queen (first album)
-Thin Lizzy - Black Rose
-T. Rex - The Slider
-Chicago - Chicago V
-Pink Floyd - Piper at the Gates of Dawn
-The Ethel Merman Disco Album

Now that's a party mix.

Walking back to the N/R train at 23rd and 5th, I stopped at the Van Leeuwen truck for a latte. A skinny man in his late 40s-early 50s walked past, dressed like one of The Ramones (jeans, leather jacket) but with bleached blonde hair. He was walking fast, and shouting into a cell phone with a heavy Noo Yawk accent:

"First of all, you lie. Second, you don't appreciate it. Third, you lied again. You're ALWAYS LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING!"

Stay tuned for the results of yesterday's Street Art. And don't forget to catch Hay Jude at BB Kings on Monday, February 15th at 8pm.

Duo gig tonite at PJ Harper's in Valley Stream with Godfrey Townsend.

Be well
JM]]> http://johnmontagna.com/news.html#383 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800 ((( got bass? ))) - John Montagna - Blog