Uncategorized Archives

24Dec

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

Woodstock, NY: Jeffrey Gaines Returns

Jeffrey Gaines By John W. Barry Musician Jeffrey Gaines isn’t much for the holidays. “I don’t do any holidays,” he said. “I don’t celebrate my birthday. I don’t just blindly carry on traditions because they were already going. I don’t join a lot of parties. Valentine's doesn't mean extra love. I love ya all the time. “My birthday, I had nothing to do with it. It’s just a happenstance. I’m lucky, I’m happy that I get to have another one. But I’ll keep it to myself. It’s nobody else’s news.” This honest, authentic and transparent approach to zigging while others zag is reflected in the music that Gaines performs. The creativity he generates is raw, real and ready. His solo, acoustic version of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” sizzles and crackles like a roa...

There’s Nothing Phish-eee Here: Artist’s Proof of ‘New Piece,’ aka The Rhombus, Goes Up for Auction

12Dec

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

There’s Nothing Phish-eee Here: Artist’s Proof of ‘New Piece,’ aka The Rhombus, Goes Up for Auction

By John W Barry A timeless piece of art that can hold as much meaning for fans of the band Phish as it does for creative minds around the world is going up for grabs at an online auction set to go live on Monday, Dec. 15—at 4:20 p.m. Call it what you will. “New Piece.” The rhombus. And hail it as a testament to the creative genius of sculptor Tony Smith; or marvel at the inspiration it delivered to Phish co-songwriters Trey Anastasio and Tom Marshall. Hell, if you attended Phish’s 2023-2024 New Year’s Eve concert at Madison Square Garden, you were immersed in an entire world—“Gamehendge”—that unfolded like a rock opera and evolved around a giant rhombus. The actual “New Piece” sculpture sits on a lawn at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, NJ. The IAS is one o...

Lost Leaders, Ginger Winn Deliver Captivating Show and Head for Hudson, NY

19Nov

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

Lost Leaders, Ginger Winn Deliver Captivating Show and Head for Hudson, NY

By John W. Barry Ginger Winn, center, performs with Lost Leaders, Peter Cole, on the left, and Byron Isaacs, on the right, at The Falcon in Marlboro, NY, on Nov. 15. Photo by John W. Barry. A capacity crowd and a rainy night set the stage for a most compelling performance at The Falcon in Marlboro, in New York's Hudson Valley, this past Saturday, Nov. 15. This auspicious occasion featured the band Lost Leaders singer-songwriter Ginger Winn. Lost Leaders features on bass and vocals Byron Isaacs, who is currently on a break from touring the world with The Lumineers. Byron played in the Levon Helm Band and is in roots ensemble Ollabelle. Guitarist and vocalist Peter Cole is well-known for the band Lava Baby. Winn's songwriting and stage presence charmed the crowd. Lost Leade...

Springsteen, ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ and the American Way—Whatever Your Definition of America

5Nov

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

Springsteen, ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere’ and the American Way—Whatever Your Definition of America

Jeremy Allen White, as Bruce Springsteen, surrounded by actors portraying the E Street Band in "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere." Roughly 40 years after first hearing Bruce Springsteen’s “Nebraska” album in the dishroom at Lock, Stock & Barrel restaurant in Bardonia, NY (Yes, New Jersey, I’m a BENNY), I continue to struggle with that collection of songs. I have been trying and trying to wrap my arms and my brain around “Nebraska.” I’m getting there, but I’m also still working at it. I really enjoyed my first job washing dishes, earning $3.50 an hour when the New York State minimum wage was $3.35. I remember a close friend poking fun at me, earning 15 cents above what most of our peers were making, and singing David Lee Roth’s hit song at the time—“He’s just a gigolo” while ...

‘Deliver Me From Nowhere:’ Bruce Springsteen on set was ‘Just Standing There, With Tears Rolling Down His Cheeks’

23Oct

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

‘Deliver Me From Nowhere:’ Bruce Springsteen on set was ‘Just Standing There, With Tears Rolling Down His Cheeks’

Bruce Springsteen in London, England. Courtesy Photo/Shore Fire Media Very early in the Bruce Springsteen biopic, “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” there is a scene in which Gaby Hoffman, who portrays The Boss’s mother, exits the family home. According to Hoffman, the structure was designed to replicate Springsteen’s actual childhood home in Freehold, NJ, where he grew up. For example, the decor included an actual portrait of Springsteen’s aunt, who died when he was a child. And while Hoffman is currently starring in what will without doubt become the cinematic blockbuster of 2025, about one of rock music’s most enduring stars, biggest names and familiar faces, the actress is going to remember the experience for something extremely, well, human. Hoffman clearl...

Bruce Springsteen, ‘Nebraska,’ Photo Gallery Gratitude for the Jersey Shore and a Directive from The Boss: ‘Let’s Hear Three Cheers for Asbury Park!’

22Oct

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

Bruce Springsteen, ‘Nebraska,’ Photo Gallery Gratitude for the Jersey Shore and a Directive from The Boss: ‘Let’s Hear Three Cheers for Asbury Park!’

With the impending release of the major motion picture, "Deliver Me From Nowhere," about Bruce Springsteen and his 1982 album, "Nebraska," the time is right for a deep dive on all things related to The Boss. By way of federal highways, Nebraska is roughly 1,500 miles from Asbury Park, a trip that, by car, would take just less than 24 hours if driven in one clip. But, in reality, Nebraska, and "Nebraska," are much more closely aligned with New Jersey than what appears at first glance. The distance between Asbury Park, Nebraska and "Nebraska" grows shorter by the day this week. Asbury Park is a seaside community on the Jersey Shore that will forever be linked to Springsteen, the E Street Band and the legacy of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees who changed the course of modern m...

Bruce Springsteen, Jeremy Allen White and ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere:’ A Photo Gallery

17Oct

By John BarryNo Comments

Features, Film, Music, Uncategorized

Bruce Springsteen, Jeremy Allen White and ‘Deliver Me From Nowhere:’ A Photo Gallery

The long wait is almost over. After months (years, maybe?) of anticipation, we are just one week out from the cinematic release of "Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere," the 20th Century Studios that chronicles the making of Bruce Springsteen’s groundbreaking and game-changing 1982 album, “Nebraska.” Springsteen at the time stood teetering on the cusp of global superstardom. In the wake of his colossal hit album, "Born to Run," and the success of "The River," Springsteen took a hard left turn and recorded the spare, personal, intimate and haunting "Nebraska" on a four-track recorder in his New Jersey bedroom. The film stars Jeremy Allen White as The Boss and is based on the book, “Deliver Me from Nowhere,” by Warren Zanes. The courtesy photos below come by way of Dis...

John Conlin is Giving Electropop Heartbreak in “I Die Again”

28Jun

By Charlotte MooreNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

John Conlin is Giving Electropop Heartbreak in “I Die Again”

Boy, do we have a treat for you, dear readers - electropop artist John Conlin released a new single today. If this latest season of Bridgerton isn't getting you deep enough into your feels, then perhaps a few spins of "I Die Again" will. Or, at the very least, this song will get you up and dancing. And who couldn't use a little more dancing in their lives right now? In short, listening to this song is a good way to let yourself feel sad and dance it off. All About "I Die Again" by John Conlin Despite being a song about heartbreak, "I Die Again" is, putting it simply, quite fun. One thing that really stood out after our initial listen is that through the delivery of his vocals, Conlin seems to relish in his pain, but shows no intentions of wallowing in it. Instead,...

18Apr

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

The Tragedy of MNQN: the AI Gone Rogue

Six years ago, Dustin Bates shared a copy of a cease and desist order that he issued against Ohio-based tech company, The Sentience Corporation, due to complications with one of its AI projects, MNON (later called 'MNQN'). In his letter, Bates alleges that this AI project, and thus the company who created it, was guilty of "stealing and advertising the likeness of [his] voice in music works and marketing materials." The offending songs not only contained unauthorized use of the STARSET frontman's voice, but were also distributed to all major streaming platforms without his knowledge, thus "intentionally violating [his] rights and the rights of [his] songwriting business." He goes on to explain that these actions "constitute theft, conversion, misrepresentation, and unfair competiti...

House of Harm Announces Playground: A Sonic Journey of Shadow-Pop

12Oct

By SimonNo Comments

Features, Music, Uncategorized

House of Harm Announces Playground: A Sonic Journey of Shadow-Pop

Photo Credit: Gerson Vargas In a revelation for fans of the buzzworthy three-piece group House of Harm, album news has dropped. Their latest album Playground is set for release on December 1st. This new record sees them expanding on their signature shadow-pop sound. You'll hear blending of midnight atmospherics, '90s jangle pop vibes, and catchy synth hooks. Alongside vocalist Michael Rocheford, House of Harm features Cooper Leardi (guitar/synths) and Tyler Kershaw (guitar/synth). Together, they've cultivated a dedicated and growing fanbase, selling out shows on both coasts purely through the power of word-of-mouth. New Single In conjunction with the album announcement, House of Harm has released a new single and music video for "Roseglass." An interesting departure from their...