Fall On Me (Or, Q4 In A Nutshell)
Despite these challenging economic, political and existential times, the first three quarters of 2008 found Benjamin Wagner Deluxe, LLC, on solid ground thanks to a technological innovation, new product development, and the recent merger will Keller Industries.
Q4 looks to be similarly stable and rewarding for shareholders. Here's a preview from Chairman and CEO, Benjamin Wagner's, keynote speech this morning:
August 29 - September 1: Seattle
Abbi's high school pal, Carmen, is getting married. I'll be wearing plenty of flannel, and ...
Strangers Into Starmen: Aimee Mann At Highline Ballroom
Rock 'n roll is all about release.
Leonard Cohen calls it "the minor fall and major lift." Bono says it's "when God enters the building."
Call it what you will; it's all about transcendence. And it's difficult to come by, even when you try.
I'm not entirely sure Aimee Mann was shooting for any sort of transcendence at last night's Highline Ballroom show. Her defiant avoidance of it, in fact, may have been a fairly radical choice. Or it may have just been a bad call. I'm not sure.
Of course, Mann's solo career has been ...
Magic In The Night: Bruce Springsteen At Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium. Dusk. The house lights flicker, then fade. Carnival music wafts from the PA. The E Street Band emerges: Little Steven, Patti, Clearance. A spotlight burns a white-hot line through the summer haze. A figure ascends: rounded shoulders, unruly mane. The cheer rises up.
"Bruuuuuuce!!!"
Springsteen returns the greeting.
"New Jersey!" he yells into the microphone. "New Jersey!! Newww Jerseyyy!!!"
And then it happens, the countdown that's launched a million songs.
"1, 2, 3, 4!!!"
The band catapults into "Out ...
In Search of Paradise
Save for a few nights traversing the Midwest on his former 1985 Eagle Classic tour bus, I have little affinity for Marvin Lee Aday, aka Meat Loaf.
Still, I was thrilled when I spotted his brand-new documentary, "Meat Loaf: In Search of Paradise," was on the MSG Network last night. (My wife, in contrast, was less enthused, so I set the DVR, continued reading New York Magazine until "The Closer" ended.) I turned it up, locked it in, and leaned back...
Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" is one of the best-selling albums of all time, moving ...
Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock & Out
Even within the context of my well-chronicled rock bio addiction, this is an anomaly: 608 pages about neither a singer, guitarist nor even a bassist or drummer.
Nope.
Six hundred and eight pages about a rock 'n roll promoter.
That said, Bill Graham was no run of the mill rock 'n roll promoter.
Until his death in 1991, he played a role in almost every major moment in rock 'n roll, from The Grateful Dead's first club show (part of what would come to be known as The Acid Tests) to Woodstock to Live Aid.
Along the way, he ...
Bouncing Over A White Cloud - Video
Rockwood was rowdy. I was anxious. And then it all turned.
Chris was on at 8. I was on at 9.
So I left the office at seven o'clock and struck out through a sweltering Times Square with my guitar, computer, camera and a bag of CDs strapped to my back. I jammed onto a crowded F, turned up my iPod, and began worrying.
Suddenly, all of my own songs sounded foreign. Suddenly, rushing through rehearsal seemed imprudent. Worse, I was suddenly at Delancey Street -- one stop too far.
I hopped off the subway, and headed for the ...
Benjamin Wagner, Chris Abad & Jamie Leonhart At Rockwood Music Hall - Photos
July 11th, 2008
Rockwood Music Hall (New York, New York)
Rock & Roll Show
No matter how good you know your best friend's band sounds, you can't really know until you're sitting on the floor in the aural center of the kick drum, bass and guitar amps.
Wow. Molecules are movin' here, fo' reals.
You know Chris Abad and I are performing a double bill at Rockwood Music Hall Thursday night, right?
Well, since we share bassist Tony Maceli and drummer Jamie Alegre, we're also sharing a rehearsal.
So it's 11:30 on Tuesday night, and I'm sitting on the floor here at Ultrasound Studios on 30th & Eighth with the ...
Benjamin Wagner & Chris Abad With Jamie Leonhart This Thursday Night!
Dear Friends,
Please join me this Thursday night for an awesome double bill.
The evening kicks off with a set from the always-rousing, Chris Abad, followed by your truly. Both will be backed by the fabulously capable Tony Maceli (bass) and Jamie Alegre (drums).
The uber-talented Miss Jamie Leonhart will join me for "Promise," "Breathe In," and "Killing The Blues," just as she does so beautifully on my brand-new CD, "The Invention Of Everything Else."
What's more, we'll be recording the set for an iTunes exclusive ...
