John Montagna: Blog

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

beat-ard (BEET-ard): An obsessive, compulsive, incurable fan of The Beatles and their works (group and solo). Will wait in lines at record stores at midnight for new product. Knows every lyric and chord change to every song, can recite dialog from the films, quotes from interviews, etc. *See "Beat-ardedness" (disease).


Exposure to other genres of music (jazz, hip-hop, classical, etc) will help manage the condition, allowing the Beat-ard to live a relatively normal life. But on days when, say, the ENTIRE REMASTERED CATALOG IS BEING RELEASED, AFTER 22 YEARS OF LISTENING TO CRAPPY DIGITAL TRANSFERS MADE BEFORE ANYONE KNEW HOW TO ENGINEER IN DIGITAL, one is advised to stay out of the Beat-ard's way.

So there's this cd store that's like a 20 minute walk from our hotel in milwaukee and they're releasing the remasters at midnite so i'm gonna go downstairs and see if anyone wants to go with me and then we'll come back and listen to them cause the rooms here have really great-sounding JVC desktop stereo systems so we can play them real loud and stuff..

All you need is love!
JM

Checking in to stay up to date. Rounding off a splendid week in Tucson, AZ with the family. (That's Francesca up there, running thru Udall Park in Tucson.)

Flying home to NYC on Monday, back out again on Tuesday nite for a triple-shot of APLP, then home again Saturday. Not playing a bass for a week wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. (Actually cheated a bit today, while browsing at Guitar Center. But that doesn't count, does it?)

Keep on checking in for more stuff!
Be well
JM

Checking in to stay current. Rocked the "stagemobile" in Throgg's Neck, NY (aka Da Bronx) with the Alan Parsons Live Project Riddim Section 2 nites ago, good times.

Yesterday we took delivery of the new dishwasher, paid for by sales of "Senza" at the merch table in Reno. Today I'm showcasing with the "private events" band, and tomorrow I'm guesting with Wonderous Stories out on The Island (aka Long Island).

I also finished my first video editing commission, for master guitarist Alastair "418" Greene. Enjoy:

Life is grand!
Be well
JM

Wednesday morning, just getting it together to blog about the double-shot of Alan Parsons Live Project in Reno last weekend.

It was exhilarating, both in its simplicity and complexity. Simple because we've played at John Ascuaga's Nugget almost every year since 2003; 2 consecutive nites in the same venue, which is housed in the same structure as the hotel, and the airport pickups and drop-offs are usually in a limo, and there's a great jacuzzi by the pool, and you get your meals comped and the staff is great so no problem there. Complex because half the band was missing!

That's right: with Godfrey, Manny and Steve previously engaged on the HippieFest all summer and unable to get out for the pair of Reno dates, some subs were called in. Alastair "418" Greene had already performed guitar duties with us in LA, San Diego and Vegas last week, so no worries there. Then Mr. Parsons made two more calls: one to keyboardist Tom Brooks, who learned an impossible load of keyboard stuff in record time, and one to legendary drummer Chester Thompson.

Yes, THAT Chester Thompson! Zappa, Weather Report, Genesis, drum duets with Phil Collins, Chester Thompson.

Anyway. One four-hour rehearsal/soundcheck later, we were ready to hit it and quit it. Any loose musical ends were unnoticed by the audience, who gave us a tremendous response. Perhaps it was the slight edge that any band gets when there are several new players who are still getting comfortable with the material; in any case, we raised the Goblet Of Rock on high for two consecutive nites, and I GOT TO PLAY WITH CHESTER THOMPSON! (There, I finally said it. Very cool.)

Another discovery this weekend? The merch table; it's the new after-party! Hanging out at the merch table, fresh off the stage with the Glow of Rock still on me, I sold more CD's than ever before. Many thanx to all of you in Reno who purchased "Senza," and special thanx to Alastair "418" Greene for reminding me how to truly work it.

Home until September, busying with some local action. Keep on checking in for new stuff all the time!

Be well
JM

Traveling to Reno for a weekend hit with the Alan Parsons Live Project. Got home from the West Coast Triple Play late Sunday, did some laundry and got in quality time with Franchy & Jill, and now I'm back out thru Sunday again. iPod is loaded with fresh ELO, up-to-the-minute photos of Franchy are on the Mac. Life is grand.

Watched "Real Estate Intervention" on HGTV last nite. Listening to the score, I heard a string pattern and drum beat that sounded familiar; realized that they were both loops that come built-in with GarageBand on the Mac. So it's now THAT EASY to score a TV show?

We've come a long way, haven't we! Quincy Jones spent the better part of the 60's and 70's busting his ass writing and arranging scores for Ironside, Roots, The Pawnbroker, etc., and basically worked himself almost to death doing it. Now we open up a pre-installed computer app, click and drag a little, and presto! Instant Cash. Interesting.

Meanwhile, I'm looking around for an online music service that allows me to upload, and then sell, one song at a time. I record one song at a time, and I no longer want to wait until I've got ten of them finished and mastered and printed on shiny discs with artwork to bring them to market. Any ideas? Send us your thoughts to jm (at) johnmontagna (dot) com.

Be well
JM

Home late Sunday nite/Monday morning. LA, San Diego and Vegas was some fun. Enjoying three full days of blessed down time, before heading out again on Thursday for a weekend hit in Reno. Until then it's Trader Joe's, Yo Gabba Gabba and my own bed. Life is grand!

Video and photos being edited as we speak, stay tuned.
Be well
JM

I can see it.  Tomorrow morning.  Up with the sun, stretch, wash face.  Put on clothes that have already been laid out, grab bass and bags that were packed last nite.  Open door, scan empty room one last time.  Got everything!

Boogie down the hall, push elevator button and wait. Take out iPod, scroll thru photos of Francesca.  Ding!  Ride elevator to the ground floor.  Bolt thru through the casino, dragging suitcase and dodging cigarette smoke, oxygen tanks, and button-down short-sleeved shirts with drawings of flames on them, until reaching the gigantic double glass doors.  

Get to front desk.  "Checking out of room #@% please."  I didn't eat one morsel of food in this establishment, and the bottle of water in my hand came from backstage last nite, so there are NO INCIDENTAL CHARGES and I am free to go without signing anything or spending any dollars.
Drop off suitcase and bass with bell desk.  Push gigantic double glass doors open, step outside and savor the hush of no casino noise.  

A few strides to the corner, run across dangerously wide 4-lane street to Starbucks.  Use remainder of yesterday's per diem to purchase latte and muffin.  (Breakfast buffet?  I don't think so.)  Stand in the 'bucks for an extra second and imagine that it's the one on the corner of Court Street and Wyckoff Street in Brooklyn.  

Bust out of the 'bucks, back across dangerously wide 4-lane street back to casinohotel.  Get suitcase and bass from bell desk, slip bellman a few dollars, and park my carcass on a bench outside with my Starbucks until airport courtesy van arrives.  When up he rolls, load bags and bass into the trunk, and settle into the bench seat with ELO on the iPod asking the sweet talking woman to slow down. I'm closer to home already.

Maneuver through airport situation smoothly, make it to the gate with minimum hassle, and board the aircraft. Reach cruising altitude, put iPod back on and Freddie asks me to find him somebody to love. Land at LAX, change planes. Board second aircraft, and John tells me that he wants Yoko so bad it's driving him mad. That's when I drift off to sleep, only waking up as we begin our descent into New York's John F. Kennedy airport.

De-plane, get my bags off the carousel, hop in the taxi and jam thru the nite down the Belt Parkway, roll up to the pad. Up the elevator, tiptoe thru the door, leave bass and bags to be unpacked in the morning. Slide into bedroom, squeeze into bed next to both of my babies.

Home. I can see it.
Be well
JM

Sunny morning in LA. Rocked Club Nokia Live last nite. Great show; after 2 days of tech-related activity, running thru song portions to sync up with various visual-type stuff (with Any Colour You Like's gear set up around us), it was such a relief to get onstage with the boyz and hit it and quit it. Alastair Greene did his homework and nailed everything, the "la-sers" didn't fry anyone's eyes out, and the Goblet of Rock was raised on high.

We were preceded of course by ACYL's rendering of the entire Dark Side Of The Moon LP, with Boss Parsons behind the mixing desk. Not only were their visuals stunning (lights, lasers and multi-screen projections), it was the first time in rock history that the headlining act did sound for the opener. Great show, good times.

Tonite is a full 2-hour set in San Diego, at the outdoor Humphrey's By The Bay. No screens, lasers or click tracks; just us and the music. Bring it on.

Be well
JM