John Montagna: Archives

So we're gearing up for the City Winery gig tomorrow nite. Q104.3 FM (NYC's flagship classic rock station) is hosting a "Music and Wine Pairing," featuring us playing the "Top 20 Classic Rock Songs of 2009." (Every year the Q's listeners vote for their favorite classic rock songs, and a list of 1,043 songs is created. The top 20 of those makes up our setlist Thursday nite.)

BTW "Us" consists of Godfrey Townsend and Steve Murphy, the guitarist and drummer from the Alan Parsons Live Project respectively; and three members of Long Island's own Wondrous Stories: guitarists Tommy Williams and Kenny Forgione, and keyboardist Mark Bonder. Plus me. We big men, make much rock noise. We come to venue, crush gig.

Anyways. Rehearsed last nite, nailed it. KJ Farrell's let us use their stage on an off nite while a few spare locals watched the game. We'll smoke the City Winery for breakfast, no problem.

A few things I noticed: Only 4 of the 20 songs are under 5 minutes long. The remaining 16 of them are epic-length: extended "rock god" guitar solos, long forms, etc. You know...the songs that young bands tend to tackle too early in their development, as if being able to cover an 8-minute song makes the band a better one. (You can play "Paperback Writer, "Rain" AND "Nowhere Man" inside of 8 minutes, but anyway.) Are we still judging the quality of our classic rock songs by their running times? Does size actually matter?

Also: this Springsteen fellow. He's got 3, count 'em THREE songs on the list. And if these songs are any indication, apparently all he wants to do is get out of New Jersey with his long-suffering girlfriend as soon as possible. And the girlfriend's parents don't approve, and with good reason: he's a lowlife with no money and no prospects. As the father of a girl, if I found out that my daughter was hanging around with a loser like this, and he was planning on sneaking her out of my house behind my back and driving away with her to points unknown, I'd be sitting on my porch waiting for him with a baseball bat.

Or maybe I'd just put out an APB: - Caucasian male, wearing a leather jacket. Last seen on motorcycle heading towards the Lincoln Tunnel. Has been known to make defamatory remarks about the state of New Jersey. May have accomplices: large African-American male carrying a saxophone, and short, caucasian male wearing a bandana with possible links to organized crime.

Why couldn't she like that nice McCartney boy up the street? He's so polite. And he knows how to manage his money!

Gig's gonna rock anyway. Stay tuned for post-game wrap-up.

Be well

JM

Yes, I know the year is 4 days old.  But today is the first Monday, which really signifies the start of the New Year for me.  And what better way to turn the calendar than with some hot, buttered Beatles music with a country flavor, at the Rodeo Bar in NYC on a frigid Sunday nite.  

L to R: Josh Max, Rich Zukor, Yours Truly.  Photo by Margaret Romolo Zukor.

 

Something very special happens when we 3 come together to play.  I would come out in any kind of weather to hit it and quit it with these gents.  Managed to catch a few songs on video; stay tuned. 

 

Going out for a morning walk with Francesca now, to keep the blood flowing.  Gonna get up to 30 degrees today; positively tropical! 

 

Be well

JM

Happy New Year!  Indeed. 

SO: do I need to keep a blog separate from the one on my website?  I love blogging, and naturally I want to reach as many readers as possible.  What do y’all think?  

Lemme know.

Be well

JM

http://johnmontagna.wordpress.com

Home with my Ladies, enjoying the alternate reality that is the time between Christmas and New Year's.  Holiday was beautiful.  Santa got it right: Beatles Mono Box looked gorgeous under the tree! 

Working a private party for New Year's, then spending the early part of 1-1-10 digging the annual Honeymooners Marathon on Channel 11.  (Yes, I own all 39 episodes on DVD, but they're just different coming on TV on New Year's Day.)  January is turning out to be pretty busy, and obviously you'll hear all about it here: Hay Jude, NAMM, etc.

Music I discovered in 2009:

Tuung - Good Arrows

Juliette Commagere - Queens Die Proudly

Pugwash - Giddy

Monsters Of Folk 

Also rediscovered Squeeze and XTC in a big way, and of course the Stereo and Mono Remasters of The Fab Four reminded me who's really in charge (as if I'd forgotten).

I wish you all that you wish for yourselves for 2010, and I thank you all for your continued support and enthusiasm for my work! 

Happy New Year

Be well

JM

 

 

 

  

NYC getting pounded with snow today, How does that affect my ability to get to and from my gigs, you ask? Depends on the location of the job site; in this case the Westin on 43rd Street in Times Square.

I never, EVER drive into Times Square. I'll never deal with that traffic again. Usually I'm in TS to play BB King's, where there's a nice house bass amp. Westin, not so much. So I went commando-style on this one.

Parked the car in an indoor garage on East 9th St first. (Keepin' it dry.) Humped amp and bass into subway, rode up to Times Square fairly easy. Rocked gig, then packed up to head out into The Storm.

Rolled amp on cart thru 4 inches of snow, past happy, partying, amp-free New Yorkers out on the town. (Try it some time and get back to me.) Humped amp and bass back down into train, rode down to 8th ST & B'way. Rolled amp on cart thru now-deeper snow, past more happy, partying, amp-free New Yorkers out on the town to 9th St garage. Loaded into the warm, dry car. Drove slowly to FDR Drive, sat in Brooklyn Bridge-related traffic, opted for the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel instead (now a $5.50 toll).

Got to my Brooklyn 'hood in less than an hour, then spent 15 more minutes negotiating a knee-high snow bank, wheels spinning in place, before settling into my parking space. Left amp and cart in car. Now I'm in my kitchen, shirtless and shoeless, enjoying a piece of dark chocolate and a cup of decaf with added cinnamon and cardamom.

John: 1
Old Man Winter: 0

Be well
JM

Only about half of my status updates fit onto this collage, which means that there were too many, which means that I spend too much time on Facebook!

Be well
JM

MONO!
Be well
JM

Be well
JM

Recovering from a glorious food coma, gotten from having about 20 people in our home on Thursday for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I even got some sage wisdom from the turkey pan: ALWAYS SUPPORT THE BOTTOM. Good advice, no matter how you interpret it!

Today I'm doing a photo shoot for Diller, Scofido & Renfro, aka the architects/design team responsible for the renovation of Lincoln Center. They're planning a multi-media display within the center, featuring images of musicians. That's where I come in. I actually don't know much more than that, other than to be at a photo studio on 26th Street later this afternoon with my axe and my 'tude. Stay tuned for more info, as I quite possibly could become a fixture of the 21st Century NYC landscape. (Not that I'm not already, you understand.

Always support The Bottom.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Be well
JM

Just finished off breakfast with Francesca. Tremendous gig at Cabaret Duplex last nite with The Maxes (Josh & Julie), featuring my drum bro Rich Zukor pounding them pagan skins. (And a nice turn by pianist Greg Mayo.) Set was early enough to allow for a dinner out with my Wife afterwards. Good times.

Got my paws on Zukor's Beatles Mono Remasters as well; being blown away. Report to follow. Sunny day here in Brooklyn, time for a walk!

Be well
JM

Blessed Day Off, chilling with my ladies, shopping and strolling. Friday nite's solo bass & vox set at Perch was fabulous, if I do say so myself. Finding my groove as a solo performer is a fun ride! Many thanx to all who made it out. I even sold a few of the "Killed CDs!" (Read news item below.)

Thursday nite I hit it at the Cabaret Duplex with The Maxes, featuring my drum brother Rich Zukor on the skins. I'm just busy enough, which is how I like it. Life is grand!

Be well
JM

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - NYC-area bass guitarist and recording artist John Montagna fought off an unwelcome guest Thursday morning, using his primary weapon of choice: his music!

An unidentified insect "the size of a sun-dried tomato," according to Mr. Montagna, scurried down the wall of his Brooklyn home, ultimately hiding behind a bookcase while his wife, Jill, trembled and said "EEEEwwwww!"

After an unsuccessful attempt to evict the critter with a vacuum cleaner, Mr. Montagna paused to consider another option. Suddenly, the repulsive polypod ran across the living room floor, in a brazen (if not ill-advised) escape attempt.

Without saying a word, Mr. Montagna grabbed a cardboard box containing 40 copies of his latest critically-acclaimed CD "Senza," and in one swift motion flattened the fuzzy fellow. All that remains of the unfortunate infiltrator now is a stain upon the bottom of that box.

"Thank God for 'Senza,' that's all I can say," says Mr. Montagna, who is also a prolific video blogger and noted Beatles expert. "Besides being loaded with tasty bass playing and catchy hooks, it will protect you from undue harm. Anyone who thinks that CDs are becoming obsolete needs to think again; this could have happened to anybody."

Mr. Montagna also added that the 40 copies of "Senza" in that box/weapon are "priced to move." Listeners who want a piece of rock and roll history can visit johnmontagna.com and click on "Shop."

-TOM WALSH (staff writer)

Be well
JM

Un-seasonably warm here in NYC. Got outside with Francesca earlier today, now enjoying some Daddy Time while she naps.

Friday nite was the George Harrison tribute at Hofstra University, with Joshua Greene, Godfrey Townsend and the gang. Excellent show, made even more special by the appearance of As Kindred Spirits, doing all things eastern. Also got a chance to belt out a few lead vocals on a Harrison-heavy Beatles request set afterwards. Good times.

Editing the next Beatles remaster review as we speak, stay tuned.

Be well
JM

Had a disturbing dream last nite, and I'm feeling like I need to share it.

I was hanging out at the Air America Radio studios with my bass and my amp, when Marc Maron came in and started recording an episode of his WTF podcast. I was impressed, and (I'll admit) a little star-struck, but I had to leave to get to a gig. I gathered up my bass and my amp and headed out, but after walking a few blocks away from the studio I stopped in my tracks. I decided that I ought to go back and introduce myself to Maron, since I'm such fan of his. I turned around, leaving my bass and my amp in the street, and ran back to the studio.

I found him, said hi, and he was friendly but a little distracted since he was busy recording an episode of WTF. i was a little disappointed that he wasn't in the mood to hang, but I got the hint that he was busy so I took off quickly.

I ran back to the spot where I had left my gear, and everything was gone. Bass, amp, cables; the only thing left was the hand truck that I carry my amp on. i immediately felt like an idiot: why would I leave thousands of dollars of gear unattended in the middle of a busy street? so I could meet Marc Maron? I mean, the guy's brilliant and everything, but now my stuff's been stolen! I can't do my gig tonite, and now I also have to explain to The Wife how I allowed thousands of dollars of gear to be stolen so I could meet Marc Maron. I started freaking out in the street, when I turned around and noticed a bunch of tough-looking dudes selling basses off of a blanket on the street.

I immediately ran over to them, looked over their selection of weird-looking basses, but I didn't see mine. I accused the dudes of stealing my axe and hiding it, which they denied of course. But right before the argument escalated into a physical confrontation, I woke up.

I'm relieved that I still have my gear, but I'm trying to make the connection between meeting Marc Maron and my gear being stolen. Any ideas?

Otherwise, it's a glorious Autumn in NYC.

Be well
JM
http://wtfpod.com (Explicit content, so watch your ass.)

YES!
Be well
JM

Tuesday nite, just put the baby to bed.

Got some spectacular news today: Apryl Allen, an artist I've worked with recently, has won the NAMMY (Native American Music Award) for "Best Pop Recording" for the title track of her CD "Shape Shifter."  I co-wrote 2 of the songs on Shape Shifter with Apryl, and played bass on 5 of them, so naturally I'm proud and trilled to be on a project that's getting some major attention!

In other good news, the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences (aka NARAS, aka the Recording Academy, aka the People Who Give Out the Grammys) accepted my application to become a "voting member."  So this weekend I did something I've never done before: I voted for Grammy nominations!  The timing couldn't be better, since Apryl and "Shape Shifter" have been pre-nominated in several Native American categories.  Let's see what the New Year brings us all...

Go to http://aprylallen.wordpress.com for more info. Congratulations Apryl!

Be well
JM

Checking in to stay current. Autumn in NYC is sweet so far. Enjoying a slower schedule, which means more time with Francesca. Solo bass & vox tonite at Perch Cafe on 5th Ave right here in Brooklyn. Coffee and ELO taking effect as we speak. Life is grand!

Be well
JM

Packing up, getting ready to fly home to my ladies today after a triple-shot of Alan Parsons Live Project.

9-9-09: Potawatomi Casino in Milwakuee (500 seats) rocked as usual, even though it was the first gig with the regular band since July. The "first gig back" is always the time to shake the dust off, and usually half-way thru the set we hit the groove and stay on it.

9-10-09: Bottleneck Blues Bar, at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, MO (300 seats). Tiny club. Played two one-hour shows, just enough time to warm up a bit and then get outta there. Second show crowd was more fun (they usually are!).

9-11-09: Star Pavillion, at the Ameristar Casino in Kansas City, MO (1300+ seats). Much bigger venue, biggest on this run. Could easily fit five Bottleneck Blues Bars inside this place. Crowd was lit up and energized from the moment we hit stage. Awesome. Hope to return to this venue next year.

Worked the merch table shamelessly all three nights as well, which paid off quite nicely. Flying home today, getting in with an evening free to chill-ax at home. Life is grand!

Be well
JM