Tag Archives: Capital District

Local music

Report: Sean Rowe gets signed to Anti Records!!!

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A big announcement was made in the Capital District of local music today. What is that announcement? Local Capital District, singer/songwriter, Sean Rowe, has been signed to Anti Records. He’s now on the same label with other famous acts such as Tom Waits, Neko Case, Booker T, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Beth Orton, and more. Keep in mind, that Anti Records is a pretty big label, this label became well known when Tom Waits won a grammy for his album, “Mule Variations”.

Read more on the story, here.

I’ve admired Sean’s music for a long time. Will he ever be big & famous someday? I think he’ll get there, and him getting on this label is the right direction for him to get there. Congrats to Sean. “Magic” is my favorite local album. I’m always listening to that album on my Ipod, all the time, it’s an addicting album to listen to. That album means a lot to me and it’s very inspiring. I think he’ll go very far. Maybe we’ll start seeing him perform on national TV. I have a feeling Sean will no longer be local. He’s a talented songwriter and the best in the area.

For those who haven’t heard him, check out these videos.

Kev

 

Local music

CD Review: Rob Skane “Phantom Power Trip”

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Rob Skane is a Capital District local solo rock musician who has been playing gigs either solo or with a full band for over 20 years. Back in 2002, Skane released his debut solo record titled, “Self Noise”. Now that’s it’s 2010, Rob Skane is finally back with a new record titled, “Phantom Power Trip”. Skane didn’t really actually take a break from music after all this time, he has always been gigging in between those years he hasn’t released a record. Now that he finally has a new record out, I thought I would give it a review since I have his new CD and heard it.

I would like to say that I can’t stop listening to this record. “Phantom Power Trip” is very addicting. Very catchy and fun upbeat rock songs. What’s the difference between this and “Self Noise”? Well, “Self Noise” is a little mellower and slow. Every song on “Phantom Power Trip” is fast and upbeat rock n’ roll. The songs on “Phantom Power Trip” will remind you of such artists like the Ramones, Elvis Costello, The Knack, and Cheap Trick. The CD “Phantom Power Trip” gave me strong goosebumps all the way through. I was never bored listening to the record and didn’t skip any tracks. This record will make you want to listen through the whole thing. The CD has excellent sound production as some of it was recorded at Rob Skane’s home and some of it was recorded at Edie Road studios in Greenwich.

Skane sings with passion in all of these songs and the guitar playing is just what the song needs. Tight, energetic and powerful. The songs are very simple and pretty short, but that’s all you need to write great rock n’ roll songs! Skane knows how to write true rock n’ roll songs. He knows the genre and knows the sound. I absolutely love the entire record all the way through but my favorite tracks are, “I Waited”, “You Preach Peace”, “Girl Next Door”, “The Idiot Show”, and “Army of Individuality”. The songs on the CD makes you want to sing along to them and bop your head up and down all the way through. Congratulations to Rob Skane on a fantastic record. Some of the best local rock n’ roll I’ve heard in years! Skane is a musician friend of mine. I’ve seen him perform live lots of times and we’ve shared gigs lots of times! He is also a cool as hell guy!

Check out “Phantom Power Trip” at his official website, you can listen to the whole thing there, click the play button next to the album cover:

http://www.robskane.net/

Kev

Local music

Q&A with the Brock: Ill Funk Ensemble

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I have came up with a cool idea for my blog site. Each month, I will do a Q&A session interview with a different local band. This month, I will start off with a Q&A session interview with Albany local rap and R&B band, Ill Funk Ensemble. They are a five piece band that is fronted by, Jermaine Wells, who is a local rapper, and he is also an actor. This band does a mix of both covers and originals at their live gigs. They are fun, entertaining, and you can dance to their music. So if you go check out a show of theirs, be sure to bring your dancing shoes!

Q&A with Ill Funk Ensemble:

  • When did the band first form?
    Ill Funk formed in 2005 with the idea to create a live hip-hop R&B experience in the Albany area.
  • How did you guys find each other to form a band?
    BJ hand-selected the members of the band because of their combination of professionalism, musical ability, and positive personalities.
  • What made you want to start a rap/hip hop/R&B band?
    It’s a genre we love and is underserved in the area.
  • You guys do a mix of originals and covers both, who does the writing for the originals? Does Jermaine do all the writing or all of you guys write together?
    The originals came from Jermaine and BJ writing the outline of the song- chord progression, lyrics, flow- and then they present the songs to the band to create the whole sound.
  • You just released a brand new song called, “Summertime”. What inspired you to write that and what is the song about?
    Our best moments have occurred in the summer, and we’re pretty sure people relate well with the subject.
  • Got any crazy road stories to share?
    We plead the 5th Amendment.
  • What other local Capital District bands do you support around here?
    We’re big fans of The Getdown, Soul Session, The Hillbilly Horns, and IMI, but there are loads of others we respect and enjoy performing with!
  • Since you released, “Summertime”, does that mean you got a new album in the works? When do you expect the new album to be released?
    Right now, we’re focused on getting Catching Wreck to be the biggest album that it can be.  We’ve received a number of great reviews from media types and fans alike, so we’re running with that for the time being.  Jermaine and BJ are always full of ideas, so the next album won’t be far off!
  • How did you learn to rap and how long have you been rapping for?
    Jermaine Wells: I started writing poetry at 5 and rhyming at that point. I have always been a writer and a fan on rap.
  • Who are some of your favorite rap artists of all time?
    Jermaine Wells:  I am a fan of Jay-Z, Big Pun, Nas, Biggie and Pac and others but these are my favorites.
  • Do you like Eminem at all? What do you think of his new album, “Recovery” if you’ve heard it yet?
    Jermaine Wells: I have alot of respect for Eminem. What I like most about him is his ability to create what he feels freely. I have not heard the Recovery yet.
  • What do you like to do in your free time other than music?
    Jermaine Wells: Other then music, I write books, stories, etc. I also volunteer and help youth.
  • Do you like any other type of music other than rap and R&B? Do you like rock n’ roll or other genres?
    Jermaine Wells: I am a fan of good music. So I do listen to many genre’s of music.
  • On your website, it said, you are also an actor, do you want to be a movie star one day or is your main focus is on music?
    Jermaine Wells: The plan is to do movies and TV in conjunction with the music. I started acting before doing music.

I would like to thank the band for this opportunity in working on this Q&A for this blog.

If you would like to learn more about Ill Funk Ensemble check out these links:

Official website: http://www.illfunk.com/

Official Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jermaine-Wells-The-Ill-Funk-Ensemble/28912977566

Booking contact: booking@illfunk.com

Kev