John Montagna: Archives

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

Early morning in LA, can't tell if I'm still on NYC time or not.

Arrived out here yesterday afternoon, chilled at our dazzling urbanite hotel for a while before heading to Club Nokia for rehearsal. We're breaking in a new guitarist: Master Alastair Greene, a fellow 4-18. AG did his homework and nailed everything, so no worries there.

Opening the show is Any Colour You Like, the Pink Floyd tribute band that will be playing the entire "Dark Side Of The Moon" album with Alan behind the mixing board. Nice guys all, letting us use their backline for rehearsal, including a slew of sweet vintage keyboards (moogs, wurlys, hammond thru leslie, etc). Didn't get to see any of the "la-sers" though; we'll have to wait until later today for all that.

Grabbing breakfast in a few, relaxing until we hit the job site. Trying my best to get cool photos and video while I'm here.

Be well
JM

Back on the trail this week, West Coast. Stay tuned.

Be well
JM

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people you like. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)"


Pick Your Artist: John Montagna

Are you a male or female: Big Man

Describe yourself: Breathing

How do you feel: Grandiose

Describe where you currently live: Blues For The City

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Miles Away

Your best friend is: Sweetness

You and your best friends are: Saying Yes

What's the weather like: Golden Garden

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called: All About Me

What is life to you: Stone In The Water

Your last relationship was: Nothing But Words

Your fear: Why Do You Make Me Drive So Far?

What is the best advice you have to give: You Are Safe

How you would like to die : Ticket To a Sunrise

Your soul's present condition: Oblivious

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Comments?
Be well
JM

And why do I keep writing in the blog? I mean, I've got my Twitter account at http://twitter.com/JonMon that tells you what's up in 140 characters or less...many of you have come to my shows and seen me in action, and maybe even spoken to me afterwards and heard what's up...so why do I keep logging in to this page and blathering on?

Perhaps I'm hopeful that some people still want more than just a tweet. I'm sure that there are people who still have a substantial attention span and will read more than one paragraph of written words by an artist that they're into. And as an artist, naturally I feel the need to communicate directly with my audience, wherever they may be. Back in the mid-70's, Glenn Gould predicted that artists in the future would relate to their audiences "on an altogether more meaningful level than that which relates any stage to its apron," and of course here we are. Ten years ago I wouldn't have dreamed of this kind of real-time communication with such a large number of people!

So I guess I feel a certain responsibility to utilize any advantages that today's technology affords me. Trouble is, not everything that happens to me is glamorous, exciting rock n' roll hootchie-coo-type stuff.

Last blog entry was posted right after Detroit's Alan Parsons Live Project show on 7-18. Since then we've raised the Goblet Of Rock in West Virginia and Annapolis, Maryland, and then returned home. The Boyz continued on to the HippieFest tour, while I settled in at home in Brooklyn with Francesca, Jilly, my ProTools rig and my daily dose of Gorilla Coffee. Got out on Tuesday nite to see McCartney at CitiField, which was mind-blowing and subtly life-changing. Enjoyed some local action on Saturday nite with a solo bass & vox set at The Perch Cafe here in Brooklyn, another evening of discovery. Each solo show is a journey; the more I learn, the less I know. Love the ride though!

I don't travel with APLP again until the first week of August, so I'll be seeking and/or creating local action until then. Among other things, I intend to wrestle the mini-rock opera to the ground. Stay tuned, and thanx as always for being there.

Be well
JM

Rocked Detroit last nite, big shed venue (DTE Energy Music Theater, formerly known as Pine Knob). Opener was The Orchestra, featuring original members of ELO and a set jam packed with ELO favorites that were a blast to hear played live.

Bus pulled out sometime after midnight, with George Carlin on the DVD player. Enjoyed an iPod-induced bunk sleep, and the bus pulled up to Wheeling Island Hotel/Casino/Racetrack 8am-ish. Did 25 minutes of podcast yoga, freshening up and enjoying Tunng's "Good Arrows" album. (To the good folks I chatted with after the show last nite who asked me what "new" bands I'm into, Tunng is the newest addition to my short list.)

Soundcheck in a few hours, going exploring until then.

Be well
JM

Coming at you from Dressing Room 2 at the DTE Energy Music Theater in Detroit (formerly Pine Knob). Just about an hour before The Orchestra (featuring original members of ELO) hits the stage, and then we hit at 9pm.

The Ottawa Blues Festival rocked. We followed Shamekia Copeland (who absolutely KILLED), hitting stage to a beautiful sunset. Excellent crowd, and we shook off the dust of not having played since January. Afterward we drove thru the nite in the rock and roll tour bus. The bunks are window-less, and with the hum of the engine you sleep like a baby. I generally wake up in those things not knowing where I am or what I'm doing for a minute or so. Much easier than flying though, and the lounge up front has a big screen TV and a DVD player so we can watch The Honeymooners.

And......that's about it for now.

Be well
JM

Easy flight to Ottawa last nite, followed by the traditional APLP first nite hang in the hotel lounge. Slept like a log, took my vitamins, feeling good. Did Starbucks breakfast this morning, and took a nice walk around town. 2pm checkout, then climbing aboard the rock n roll tour bus to the venue and the rest of the week.

Watching McCartney's "Late Show" roof gig online, and getting much inspiration. Dude is 67 years old and can still hit a high B above A440! I have no excuses. Life is grand.

Be well
JM

Monday morning, sunny and warm in Brooklyn.

Had a busy Saturday, pulling a double. (Industry jargon for "two gigs in one day.") Windsor Park Pool in Bayside in the afternoon, with an amalgamation of Wondrous Stories and Godfrey's band. First time Francesca got to see me on a gig; she seemed impressed. Evening was the full APLP riddim section at KJ Farrell's in Bellmore. 2 long-ish sets, did it TO them and not FOR them. Goblet of Rock was raised on high, perfect warm-up for our 4-show run with Mr. Parsons later this week.

Scanning the internet for news.....Kim Jong Il has pancreatic cancer. Modern-day racism in Pennsylvania, followed by day-late and dollar-short backpedaling ans emergency PC spin control. Middle-aged ad execs worldwide are struggling to keep up with teenage media trends, making themselves look ridiculous in the process. And me? My wife and daughter are beautiful and healthy, and I'm playing and singing and writing my arse off so all is well in my world. Life is indeed grand.

Check in later in the week for Tales from the Trail!
Be well
JM

Last year we did a week-long tour of Europe with the Alan Parsons Live Project. We flew KLM/Royal Dutch Airlines the entire time, and they simply proved themselves to be the greatest airline on Earth. I felt compelled to show my love, via this musical love letter that I've only finished and posted now.

Enjoy!
Be well
JM

83 degrees and sunny in NYC, a perfect day for hanging with Francesca and working on a mini-rock opera. The studio is sloppy with cables, guitar picks, finger cymbals and effects pedals. Fortunately I'm set up next to the window, so there's plenty of fresh air and sunshine as well.

Thursday nite we rocked BB King's in NYC with the Godfrey Townsend Band (aka the APLP rhythm section; for all you AP fans out there, that's what we're calling ourselves now). Good times, good rockin' and good traffic/parking karma.

We hit The Road next week for a quick 4-show run with APLP, so stay tuned for tales from the trail. I'll be coming home to more solo bass at the Perch Cafe in Brooklyn on Saturday, 7-25. And Francesca is almost walking. Life is grand.

Be well
JM

Got nailed by some Brooklyn mosquitos last nite, which means that it is officially summertime in NYC. Nothing a little Caladryl wouldn't fix, but still.

So what am I up to these days? Three words: mini rock opera. That's all I'll tell you for now; you'll have to keep on checking in!

Be well
JM

Be well
JM

"Man, that stuff you and Michael did? Me and Duke would never have even dreamed about nothin' that big. You hear me? We wouldn't even dare to dream about it!"

- Count Basie to Quincy Jones, circa 1984.

RIP MJ
Be well
JM

Hot and sticky in NYC, plus plenty of clouds.  Makes it real humid, but with an occasional breeze that refreshes.  The studio is messy and unorganized, lousy with cables and mics and picks and finger cymbals, which means that it's being used frequently so I don't mind!

Tuesday nite was solo bass at the Bitter End on Bleecker Street.  More exploration into (fairly) new territory; I never know where the solo shows will take me, but the act is sharpening and I'm whittling away at all the unnecessary elements.  It's a journey, not a destination, and I love every terrifying moment of it. Many thanx to all who came on down to listen! There will be another one soon, so stay tuned.

Be well
JM

A preview of what you'll see at the Bitter End on Tuesday, 6-23-09 @ 10pm. Happy weekend, and Happy 67th Bday Sir Paul!

Be well
JM

Lest we forget that for all the glamour, travel, and perks that the Musician's Life can bring, we're still freelance vendors who handle clients. Believe it or not, I have heard many of these lines myself throughout my career!

Laugh, enjoy, and above all NEVER accept less than what you are worth.

Be well
JM

Hot and sticky in Brooklyn, with rain waiting just in the wings.

Saturday we rocked the Belmont Raceway Park with Godfrey and the APLP Riddim Section for nearly 6 hours. (With breaks in between, of course.) I never realized what a big scene the Belmont Stakes is! The park was packed with people, many of whom claimed their territory hours in advance with lawn chairs, coolers, etc. Reminded me of Prospect Park on a weekend, but with a much more pronounced Long Island/Queens vibe. (Whatever that means.)

Fashions were interesting as well: ironic urban hipster mixed with Long Island barhopper, with a dash of 1800's "Day At The Races" flair. Plenty of those tiny Norman Lear-type hats on the men, long-sleeve button down shirts with the sleeves rolled up, khaki shorts and boat shoes; big flouncy party dresses and gigantic floppy hats for the ladies. Excellent people-watching opportunity, and fortunately they all dug us as we raised the Goblet Of Rock until 6pm (house rules, big race at 6:30pm).

Saturday nite Jilly & I celebrated 10 years together, partying like it was 1999 (literally). That's all I'll tell you.

More stuff happening soon, so stay tuned. Enjoy the summer!

Be well
LUV U SWEETNESS XO
JM

Sunny Monday in Brooklyn; Francesca naps, Daddy blogs.

Friday nite's solo bass show at Perch Cafe was a good time; lots of friends old and new came by to dig on the sounds. Perch has a very relaxed vibe to it, and it's small so it's easy to play right to the people. Perfect intimate setting for my solo set. Looking forward to doing it again. And the coffee's good too.

Rest of the weekend was downtime with the family and the friends. Enjoying Springtime in Brooklyn is my business. Life is grand.

Be well
JM

Allergy season here in NYC, and I'm sneezing up a storm. Nothing that a little ginger tea won't fix though, so no need for a swine-related quarantine or such hysteria. Weather is gorgeous anyways, sunny and breezy and clear.

Enjoyed a very chill Memorial Day, barbecuing with some Brooklyn FWB's. (Friends with babies.) Friday nite I'm solo bass-ing at the Perch Cafe, on 5th Avenue right here in Brooklyn. Until then I'm busy keeping busy, doing home-type stuff and watching Francesca practice walking. Life is grand.

Be well
JM