Luke Metzler - Fairport, NY

www.lukemetzlermusic.com

Luke Metzler releases album: “Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist”

Rochester, N.Y. – ​Luke Metzler is a breath of fresh pop music with catchy and captivating songwriting front and center on his debut album, Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist, and a deft melding of styles across every track.  The album includes the recently released singles Disco Therapy, Something and Home.

Portrait’s tracks range from the contemporary funk throwbacks, Disco Therapy and Power, to the arrow­-straight-­to­ the-­heart pop musings of Home, Something and Set It Free. The hard­ driving I Don’t Want to See You Cry channels The Black Keys while layers of uplifting vocals inform the storytelling in Reach and 12 Hours in Oxford. Strings resonate with poignancy in Phoenix, and Shake (Just a Little Bit) attacks with full force as a grimy dance number. A Pretty Good Year is a full-­throated, bar-­waltzing nod to Metzler’s Irish heritage, and the album closes with In the Springtime (Hannah’s Song), an emotional tribute to Luke’s late sister.

Triumphant vocals and memorable hooks abound in this debut effort, highlighting Metzler’s keen melding of the personal and the profound. It’s all deftly wrapped in an amalgam of styles with a unified pop sound.

BACKGROUND: Luke’s singing career began in elementary school talent shows back in Minnesota, singing the likes of The Middle by Jimmy Eat World and Guster’s Careful. By middle school, he was on to his first original, Girl with No Place in My Heart dripping with imagined angst. Aside from high school musicals, the creative juices truly began to flow with his basement band, Clearly From Negligence, which was named a Top Ten Teen Band by SchoolJam USA in 2011.

College beckoned, however, as did the a cappella bug with The Yellow Jackets of the University of Rochester. After a great college run, it was time to “light out for the territory,” as Huck Finn said. Luke has embarked on his indie music odyssey in support of Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist, and is in the process of setting the Guinness World Record for most friends’ couches slept on in one year.

Michael Biddlecom - Then Came Silence

Michael Biddlecom - Then Came Silence CD art.

First before I write about this tribute CD I must thank Cheryl LaDuca for sending me a copy of Then Came Silence to review. Thank You for thinking of me Cheryl!
As I listen to the music Mike created and performed a flood of memories comes to mind of Mike and I when we wrote music and performed many times together. It makes me wish for those days when I was younger and lived for the music we created together. It also makes me wonder what would have happened if we would been able to get together to make music one more time. Once again I have to thank Cheryl and all the people who were involved in putting this CD together so that Mike's music can be heard after his untimely death. It's obvious that Mike was a enormously talented individual and a prolific songwriter.

Then Came Silence review by Joe Tell.
The first song, It's A Shame, really has a great melody with a harmonious hook. The sound initially reminded me of a 80's pop song because of the bright sounding keyboard track. Mike really rocks it up with a fantastic solo that takes the song out. I'm not sure if this song was chosen first because of the title but it describes how I feel about Mike's untimely death.
Everyone can relate to the lyrics of the next song, Doubt, in one way or another. The song has a melancholy feel with a strong chorus that hooked me in on the first listen. A melodic guitar solo reinforces the melody while it weaves in and out the rhythm track.
Testing 1-2 is a rocker that packs a punch. A strong rhythm track carries a melodic line with lyrics full of double entendre.
Mike shows a softer side with Tears In The Night. A clean lead guitar solo punctuates the music lifting the energy of the song a bit higher. Lifting the song up even higher Mike rips another heavy solo.
Every Buffalonian can relate to the lyrics of Frost On My Window. Once again Mike whips up a magnificent melody reinforcing it with a dual keyboard and guitar track. The song has a smooth flow and feel until it's rocked up with a blazing lead guitar solo. I can picture snow flying in the frosty air as I listen to this track.
One A Kind picks up the pace with a heavy intro that reminded me of the music of Michael Schenker. Mike plays a tasteful mid-tempo rhythm track filled with bass guitar fills that keep the energy flowing. Mike's vocals top off this rocker perfectly and keep it moving in the right direction.
Faces is driven by the clean sounds of a Stratocaster and the lyrical content of what can best be described as a living nightmare.
Gotta Stop Lovin You is a love ballad that slows the pace with a beautiful melody that is punctuated with more Stratocaster guitar solos and fills.
Destinations is a uptempo percussive track that delivers a different sound than the rest of the CD.
Empty Rooms is a slow and spooky track that would fit right in a horror movie soundtrack.
All the music on Then Came Silence was written and performed by Mike.
Special thanks goes out to Cheryl.
Post is dedicated to Mike's memory and his music.

The Stray Birds

The Stray Birds are playing The Sportsmen's Tavern on 11/18.
The Stray Birds released their new album titled Magic Fire in August, which was produced by Larry Campbell. Magic Fire builds on the success of The Stray Birds' 2014 Yep Roc debut, Best Medicine, which was hailed by NPR's World Café for its "strong harmonies and sharp songwriting" and debuted at #2 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart. Wide Open Country called Magic Fire "captivating," while Elmore praised their sound "that is so well-crafted; so tightly knit and synergistic, that to imagine them missing a member is to imagine a jigsaw puzzle with a missing piece."
No Depression deems the trio "a delight," while Pop Matters commended their ability to "make beautiful bluegrass, a lush sound characterized by tight harmonies and all-encompassing instrumentation." It was that unique formula that first brought them national attention and fueled their breakout in 2012, when their self-titled/self-released debut landed amongst NPR's Top Ten Folk/Americana Albums of the Year and earned them major festival performances everywhere from MerleFest to Scotland's Celtic Connections.

They won best song @ Folk Alliance this year for the title track "Best Medicine"

NPR Announced the record with really nice things to say about the band & the way they play their instruments: http://www.npr.org/2016/06/06/480638472/songs-we-love-the-stray-birds-shining-in-the-distance
Some other recent press:
http://www.npr.org/event/music/382366561/the-stray-birds-on-mountain-stage
http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2016/08/the-stray-birds-the-tvd-first-date/
http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-stray-birds-philadelphia-folk-festival-20160818-story.html

Thank You Tim!

Rokkin' T-Shirts For Sale

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https://teespring.com/iplaymyguitar#pid=2&cid=2397&sid=front

Drew Angus

A promising young voice in songwriting, Drew Angus is just the kind of new blood that makes pop music so enduring. With indelible hooks, and savvy craftsmanship, and city informed lyrics, he brings a certain verve to his work that has resonated with audiences and fellow performers alike. His work ethic and effortless appeal have led him down some pretty amazing paths. He was a finalist on the Farewell Season of American Idol, has had the opportunity to share the stage with Anders Osborne, Marc Broussard, Nakia from Season 1 of the Voice, and sing with Blondie Chaplin and Ivan Neville on a record produced by the legendary Rob Fraboni (Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, and more). His 2013 single Something Crazy, produced by Joe Vulpis(Lady GaGa) made it to #30 on the iTunes Singles charts.

Drew has maintained a tireless writing and performing regimen since deciding to pursue music full time in January of 2012. For the past four years he has been playing out several nights a week, clocking 100+ performances a year at venues like Rockwood Music Hall, Brooklyn Night Bazaar, and The Bitter End, as well as festivals like SXSW, NXNE, and more on the strength of his early demo’s. He even made a surprise appearance on a Southwest Airlines flight, and sang his way into the top 10 on Boston’s Community Auditions: Star of the Day. With his star so clearly on the rise, Drew Angus has established himself as a talent to watch.

This Fall, Drew hits the road in support of his new EP Hold onto Something (Streetdate - 11/4/16) recorded at Degraw Sound in Brooklyn, NY, produced by Harper James, and mastered by Sterling Sounds’ Joe LaPorta.

www.drewangus.com

Thank You Tracy!

The Sportsmen's Tavern - Buffalo, New York

Jess Chizuk - Buffalo, NY

Lehigh Valley Line review
The title track, Lehigh Valley Line, sets the mood for the rest of the music with a great roots rock sound. The style can be compared to Americana or Country. Jess' voice sounds polished and has a mature quality that defies her young age. A lead acoustic guitar fills the spaces between the verses perfectly. The lyrics convey a feeling of melancholy and hope for a brighter future.
Eyes On The Horizon continues in the same vein as the title track. The acoustic guitar track lets Jess' outstanding and melodic vocals shine through. The chorus has a strong hook and a uplifting sound.
Steady As The Rain features a single, percussive acoustic guitar track that allows Jess' vocals to float above the music like a rainbow floats above stormy weather. One of the best songs on this release.
China Plates has that special, timeless quality that great songs always have. The musical melody is provided by a well played piano and the lyrics contain words and feelings that everyone can relate to. China Plates is the best song on Lehigh Valley Line.
The Distance has a new country sound. The song has a great sound and Jess' vocals have a ton of soulful feeling. The background vocals and electric guitar add much to the overall sound.
Somber Is The Night has a slower tempo with a keyboard backing track. Jess' voice sounds beautiful on this track.
Guilty Pleasure has a rock and roll sound. The lyrics tell of a questionable, all consuming love affair.
August Carnival closes out Lehigh Valley Line in style.
In closing, Lehigh Valley Line is a strong release, full of great songs. Jess Chizuk is a very talented singer and songwriter who is sure to go far in the music industry.

I'm excited to introduce you to award-winning indie/folk songwriter Jess Chizuk. Jess is a young female artist that is making big waves in the Buffalo music scene. The immensely gifted 22 year old, whose voice has been favorably compared to legends such as Joni Mitchell and Jewel, is set to release her first full-length album Lehigh Valley Line on September 16. Check out her popular single "China Plates" here https://soundcloud.com/jess-chizuk/china-plates

Aside from supporting national artists like Howie Day, Davina and the Vagabonds, and Dylan Jakobsen, Jess was the recipient of the Best Original Solo Act award at the 2015 Buffalo Music Awards, the winner of the 2014 Yellen Foundation Songwriting Contest, winner of the Folk category at the Smoky Mountain Songwriting Festival Songwriting Contest, a semi-finalist in the 2015 Songwriter's Serenade Contest in Morovia TX, and a top five finalist in the singer/songwriter category of the Great American Song Contest – a contest receiving submissions from nearly 2000 songwriters worldwide. For fans of: The Lumineers, Ed Sheeran and Joni Mitchell.

Jess Chizuk Bio: Compelling, vivid stories from the heart told emphatically by graceful vocals, accompanied by little more than an acoustic guitar. These are the building blocks for most of Jess Chizuk’s songs. The young singer-songwriter has her musical roots firmly divided between both old folk tunes and new indie music, but the result of this combination is her truly captivating writing. It has been garnering the attention of audiences in her hometown of Buffalo NY and beyond. Drawing on life experiences, honest stories, and the city she calls home, her music is soulful and truly genuine. This award winning songwriter already has an impressive catalog of accomplishments at only 22 years old.

Jess’ first release, Shine A Light On, came out mid-2012, produced in Los Angeles by serious and talented industry professionals. “I had a blast really working in the studio for the first time, and that’ s when I got serious about making music,” she says. “But I knew within that year I had a different direction I wanted to take my songwriting and sound.” This began several years of thoroughly exploring her songwriting abilities, working towards creating something 100% self-driven.

China Plates was the first song to emerge from this practice. Winning the Yellen Foundation/Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Songwriting Contest in 2014 made her an award-winning songwriter at just 20 years old. “To this day, getting that phone call was one of the happiest moments of my life. It’ s amazing to be recognized for what you love,” she says. Released in March of 2015, Jess took China Plates across the country, picking up awards, nominations, and recognitions as she went. This, along with an incredible local reception to her new sound, spurred the idea of a sophomore release.

Now, scheduled for release in September of this year, Lehigh Valley Line is a true singer-songwriter record. It’s not over-produced, it’s not flashy, and it’s not even backed by a full band. The focus is all on the songs themselves, with each telling a unique tale of its own. Themes of love and longing are present throughout the extremely thoughtful and well-developed lyrics, as are a few homages to the Buffalo backdrop in which the songs were created. And as always, Jess’ smooth and airy vocals tie things together and tell the stories she’s penned with strong emotion. “This is my most favorite project,” she says. “I listen back to the tracks and say, ‘ This is who I am right now, put down in words and turned into songs. This is me."

Official Website: http://www.jesschizukmusic.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesschizuk/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jesschizuk
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jesschizuk

Press contact: Joe Ballard (joe@muddypawpr.com)
Thank You Joe!

Michael Biddlecom - Buffalo, NY

Michael Biddlecom - Then Came Silence CD art. Thank You Cheryl!

Strange Therapy kicks off with "A Race Against The Sun". The sound of the track can be described as new wave hard rock. The feel of the intro is heavy and the verse music is keyboard driven. Mike's vocals sound like Geoff Tate on this track. The chorus music drives hard and the guitar solo is melodic, fitting in perfect within the melody of the song.
Youtube music video link http://youtu.be/7gLp0SRM8tM
"A Miracle Of Life" shows off more of Mike's musical and vocal versatility and his guitar and bass playing talent. The track starts off with a very melodic musical figure played simultaneously by a keyboard and guitar. The music has an 80's sound and the chorus has a haunting quality that drew my listening ear in right away. After the second chorus the song takes a heavy twist with a powerful guitar riff which leads into a ripping, guitar solo. This is my fave song on Strange Therapy.
Youtube music video link http://youtu.be/rxhfy7vJ5QM
The third song, "Electro Plated Man", is a heavy rock song with a new wave, 80's sounding verse. Mike uses alot of different guitar sounds on this song and they all sound great. The chorus is heavy with some sweet, pinch harmonics. The guitar solo is Mike at his best, with blistering runs and double tracked harmonies that remind me of George Lynch. The guitar lead morphs into a cool, spooky, bass and keyboard dominated ending...
Youtube music video link http://youtu.be/Qj9VW-y0CQM
"When Should I?" seems pensive in lyrical content and the guitar figure is fairly clean in sound. The vocals and guitar have alot of reverb and digital delay which creates the mood for the song. The keyboard fills add color into the fairly sparse, musical, landscape of the song. A hard driving, guitar riff kicks in which leads into another great, sharp, guitar solo.
Youtube music video link https://youtu.be/dk2otuvx97g
"Big Sky Fallin" reminded me of Queensryche. This song is Mike at his hard rockin' best, the guitar rhythm is hard and heavy and the song kicks ass. This song is sure to please any 80's hard rock fan.
https://youtu.be/r8LL5GxyUEc
"Passages In Time" highlights Mikes keyboard playing and song orchestration skills. The intro sounds like it would fit right in on any horror movie soundtrack.
https://youtu.be/ACXw4VVS41A
"With Friends Like You (I Don't Need No Enemies)" has an 80's musical sound. The lead guitar on the intro is melodic and strong. I just figured out who's Mike's voice sounds similar to. Mike's voice can be compared to the vocalist from the Sisters Of Mercy. (great band, look them up on youtube) Mike sings in a higher range on this particular track. After listening to most of "Strange Therapy" it seems to me that one of Mike's main musical influences was the Sisters Of Mercy. The guitar solo on this track is one of the best on the "Strange Therapy".
https://youtu.be/ECY1NeLQAzY
The beginning of "Disconnected" is rather sparse and mellow, alot of the musical spaces are filled with percussion and clean guitar fills. This groove continues on for the first 3 and half minutes of the song then the music abruptly stops. A powerful, guitar dominated, groove kicks the song into high gear. The mood of the first few seconds of the song is shattered by the powerful, guitar part that follows and takes out the song.
https://youtu.be/sqScjklqgJQ
"In The Clouds" has an 80's new wave feel and sound.
https://youtu.be/2emG5OBl8WE
"Emeralds" is an instrumental track. The intro has a new age feel and sound. Once the multi-tracked, guitar melody kicks in the song takes on a rock/new age kind of sound. The guitar sound is similar to Gary Moore and Thin Lizzy. Once the guitar part is over the song switches into a new age sound only to switch into to a heavier type of rock sound with blistering, quick, guitar leads taking precedence. This is the Mike B sound that I enjoy the most.
Youtube music video link http://youtu.be/kO1XxZWKZYM

Strange Therapy is a very impressive effort as Mike wrote, performed and recorded all the music parts and wrote all the lyrics himself.

Michael Biddlecom, Buffalo Guitarist and Songwriter

Michael Biddlecom is a very talented, accomplished rock and roll guitar player and songwriter. I've witnessed Michael's unique and diverse talents firsthand and I recognize and appreciate Mike and his music. Mike is an excellent guitar player and he has demonstrated his abilities live and on recordings in and around Buffalo for many years.
My first contact with Mike was during my audition for the bass position to complete the original metal band called Bad Blood. This band was formed in the early 90's and the other members included Chris Barron (Ezekial) on vocals and Ric Proctor on drums, Ric was formerly with a band called Actor, which featured Buffalo favorite Jesse Galante on vocals. I was brought on as the new bassist. After learning Bad Blood's original material, we went on to change the name to Vicious Circle. Vicious Circle went on to record and release 8 original songs.

Mike's recent return to the Buffalo music scene was with a CD of his own instrumental music songs. Mystic Compass was released in 2010. Mystic Compass has Mike playing in a different style highlighting his diversity and talents on the electric guitar. Mystic Compass has elements of trance, acid jazz, jazz, techno and rock music. I was pleasantly surprised by this CD because I am used to hearing Mike play the guitar in a upfront, aggressive metal style. The music on Mystic Compass has an ethereal quality to it, spiritually soothing and great for daydreaming. If you want to relax and forget about your daily toils and troubles, playing the Mystic Compass CD will do it for you. Listen, Breathe and Relax. All of these songs are melodically driven by celestial sounding guitars, jazzy lead guitar solos ebb and flow seamlessly throughout these compositions. The title track Mystic Compass has a jazzy, bluesy feel to it, the melodic guitar lines feature some great bended notes.
Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/6jUAj7qc5fY
Sydonia contains some great bell-like tones throughout the song offsetting the guitar rhythm, a speedy guitar solo highlights Mike's skillful solo guitar playing.
Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/vwMIwyx7iNs
Track 3, After The Rain is an acid jazz, bluesy composition that features some great bended, melodic guitar lines along with some more somewhat speedy solo guitar playing. Here's the YouTube link http://youtu.be/rjolyrAval8. On What Does It Take Mike demonstrates his jazz guitar playing skills. Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/rjolyrAval8
The final track Sapphire Blues has a great, somewhat dissonant sounding guitar rhythm track but Mike somehow still manages to make it sound pleasant and soothing. This song also features some great guitar slides, harmonics and some more awesome bluesy, jazzy lead guitar playing. Add some volume and distortion to all the solos on Mystic Compass and you've got yourself some great rock guitar solos.
Here's the Youtube link to Sapphire Blues https://youtu.be/4nNaWNJEeaA
I highly recommend Mystic Compass to any fan of instrumental guitar based music.
Mystic Compass is a tour de force of some excellent, well composed instrumental guitar-based music. Mystic Compass was mixed by Kyle Wierzba and produced at Audio Magic in Buffalo NY.

Mike has posted a few brand new compositions on YouTube. Mike posted the song Into The Nebula in 7/10, Into The Nebula continues in the trance, acid jazz, meditation musical vein. Into The Nebula features some very unique, cool, buzzing, distorted guitar sounds, along with some feedback driven lead guitar lines.
Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/haoR7BKP0o4
Lost As Love, which Mike posted in 9/10, has a very melancholy feel to it, this song highlights some cool volume knob swells and a piano track that mirrors the rhythm guitar. At exactly 3:36 Mike unleashes the metal guitar sounds that I've known him for all these years, Mike rips out an excellent, distorted guitar solo on this track, the song closes with the piano track and a bell-tone at the very end. Very Cool! Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/Ly0w3q95ewA

Mike has most recently joined forces, once again, with Joe Cristofanilli of Ratt fame. Mike and Joe's debut song, The Enemy, was posted on YouTube in 12/10. The Enemy features a live action video of a blighted Buffalo landscape. This instrumental song is filled with some great musical sounds, the keys in the intro jump out of the mix, grabbing the listeners attention right away, a track that sounds like a helicopter keeps the listener interested and wondering what may come next. The Enemy starts out mellow but at 1:21 Mike lets loose with some metal chords and a killer, face melting solo. The songs continues on with a distorted, pulsing rhythm guitar and at 3:20 Joe lets loose on a sweet sounding electric bass solo. The songs closes with a jazzy wah-pedal driven guitar solo.
Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/sP_q11738j8
Mad Theater is Mike and Joe's most recent composition, this song has a distinct metal sound and feel, sounding like Judas Priest at times, the bass jumps out of the mix for a brief solo at 1:51. At about the halfway mark the song takes a twist as a bell-tone leads the listener into an acoustic guitar track. A thick, distorted guitar solo then takes over, after all that Mike once again shows his musical diversity taking a solo on the acoustic guitar which leads into another bass solo. Mad Theater closes out with the double tracked, melodic guitar line which was introduced earlier in the song.
Here's the YouTube link https://youtu.be/Q-PpzkHnzzk

Thank You Mike!

Buffalo Ukulele Club

In The Whale

WED - SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 - 7:30 PM
In The Whale  Verified-artist-flat
Studio at Waiting Room
334 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY
Electric Six

http://www.inthewhalesucks.com/