joe viglione's writings in Metronome Magazine
Willie Loco/Boom Booms, Steve Cataldo, Unnatural Axe
Appears on Page 9 of the April 2005 issue of Metronome Magazine
also on http://jvreviews.blogspot.com
LIVE AT THE MIDDLE EAST, Saturday Night, February 19, 2005by joe viglioneThe power of the new wave unfurled in all its glory as members of the original Boston scene gathered at the place where all the action is, Central Square's Middle East. Unnatural Axe played a short but explosive set of their greatest hits, and for someone who has watched the Axe over the decades - moving in on three decades now - it was more than impressive to see them deliver one of their best sets ever. Maybe it's automatic at this point, but this set had the energy, enthusiasm and refinement many of the groups playing upstairs at the same venue are searching for. They should have put their instruments down and ventured to the cellar - class was in session. The tough thing for this writer through it all was the 3 Thousand Dollar camera I was using refused to record! It is a major shame as I was getting some great shots in the viewfinder. Luckily Artie Freedman, Boston's irrepressible documentarian, had his tripod up and running - but it would have been a marvelous 2 camera shoot.Steve Cataldo had Richie Bartlett from The Fools in this incarnation of The Nervous Eaters. They were great, of course, but not the original grunge sound of the band that held court down The Rat. It was Steve playing his familiar music with a cultivated intensity. Maybe somewhere between the old live show and the Elektra album - which is a nice combo as the Elektra disc never got the respect it deserved - because it was too polished. "Last Chance" and"Loretta" were highlights, and this was the perfect bridge between The Axe and the Godfather of Boston Rock & Roll (imagine a nice Don Michael Corleone!), Willie Loco Alexander and his original Boom Boom Band. Having watched El Loco onstage since he and The Mezz opened for TELEVISION in 1975, having listened in on a practice of the old Wild Honey band when Billy Cole was fronting the eventual Boom Booms - Sev Grossman, Billy Loosigian and David McLean, I can assure you these fellows were outrageously good. "Som Som Somerville" is a tremendously hypnotic hook - and it was performed a few years back at the same venue by a band called SLIDE at a tribute to Willie, but Loco's voice put the tune in its proper setting, the band not skipping a beat from when they packed the Paradise and helped pave the way - opening the floodgates for not hundreds but thousands of local acts who probably never even heard of them. As with The Axe the set by The Boom Booms was masterful - the volume much too loud for this critic who went to the very back of the room. And there is the paradox of Saturday, February 19, 2005. What were we doing here? Haven't we grown up yet. I walked up to one local rock legend who is scheduled to be on my tv show. He said "Can I help you?" I just looked at him. He stared back, then said "Oh, Joe! I got your email today." He shouldn'tfeel badly - all our looks have altered, and this depressed me no end. I had to ask Mach Bell who an old colleague of ours was! And Frank Rowe of The Classic Ruins looked at me, I looked at him, we needed about 10 seconds to recognize each other. Like The Oracle as played by Mary Alice in THE MATRIX III saying she doesn't recognize herself anymore (having replaced herBroadway friend the great Gloria Foster, the script blamed the powerful Merovingian for altering the equally powerful computer program's "looks"). So here we were, all back together again. Like some kind of Class Reunion for the "in with the outs" who made up the Boston Scene thirty years ago (and those like Brett Milano who came in the "second wave", or chapter, of the community). Willie Loco took the stage like a veteran minister and believe me when I tell you this, he had the energy of a twenty year old. It was tough for me to deal with the volume, I'm thinking "How on earth are these guys - Frank Dehler, Tommy White, Richie Parsons, Steve Cataldo, Sev, Billy, David and Willie - how are they able to get up there and do it all these years later? Have they found a rock & roll viagra?Remember the culture shock at the Paradise when a rock & roll show would be invaded by theEuro people from the next room? It was two crowds who couldn't figure out what each other was into. At least at the Middle East you have a young twenty-something contingent who have a comprehension of the magic being generated underneath their "happening" scene upstairs.So when a straggler takes the flight of steps down and into the dungeon, they have a chance to be splashed with something very real - a music that has survived in a way it is safe to say the myriad collection of new songwriters in the street level rooms of The Middle East won't ever know in the year 2035. How can they? Architects of the Boston scene like Willie Alexander are once in a lifetime heroes. It is also safe to say Willie Loco will probably still be outplaying those thirty years his junior, his musical grandchildren, when that day rolls around.
Rock Journalist Joe Viglione
http://www.joeviglione.com
http://www.971zht.com/iplaylist/album/554504/
Loco Live 1976
Willie Alexander & The Boom Boom Band
Released 2001 on Captain Trip
Available on: CD Willie "Loco" Alexander
Diana Martin / Tim Eichler Tribute Page 17, April 2005 Metronome Magazine
A familiar face on the Boston music scene in the 1970s and 1980s was live sound engineer Diana Martin.
Diana was born on August 26, 1953, in Oceanside NY. She was 51 when she died after cancer surgery. Her first work was with the band Reckless in 1978,which evolved into work for other bands and clubs including The Paradise as house engineer, Bunratty's,Jumbo's and other happening spots of the day. Herfavorite groups to work with were The Angry YoungBees, Ball & Pivot and The Wicker man. Jorma Kaukonen(Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) loved working withDiana. At the Paradise, she did shows with BillyJoel, David Johannson, U2 and many more.
Former BEAT columnist A.J. Wachtel was a close friendand wrote to the family:
Hi Laura,
Joe Vig left a message on my machine aboutDiana so I called up Sus who filled me in. I am SO sorry for you and Wayne. Although I hadn'tseen Diana in at least 10-15 years she was a goodfriend of mine during the 80's and I always kept up todate about her from my occasional conversationswith DB (David Butler) or Sus. One great memory I haveof her was when I was staying at DB, Rimas and Hans'place one summer she brought over some of the guysfrom the Smithereens after they played at theParadise and we stayed up all night partying. The lead guitarist , Pat Dinizio was also from NJ and had wire frame glasses and a little Australian moustache(down under the lowerlip!!!) so we became immediatefriends.
Or all those years she and Tim (Eichler,former manager of The Paradise) would get me in free to see Johnny winter when he came to town. And she always cracked me up and was a person I enjoyedhanging out with. So please accept my condolences and tell everyone who shows that I am still in the familybut I am just missing this sad event.
Love, aj
From Jonathan Paley: (This one hits the mark)I am very sorry to hear about Diana passing on.
Although I hadn't seen her in over twenty years Ithought of her often. She was behind the board formany of the gigs I played with different bands. Not only was she a very talented sound person, she was a genuine "real" person, a friend, an original.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Much Love,
Jonathan Paley
A Celebration for the life of Diana Martin was held onSunday, February 27, 2005 at 2 P.M. where friendsrecalled the good times, remembered the music and celebrated the life of Diana Martin. A fund is being established for Diana's 2 children(13 year old twins, Elissa & Lenwal).
Donations maybe sent to:
Ellen Snedeker (Diana's mom)
3 Anchorage Court
Savannah, GA 31410.
Doubly sad is the news of the recent passing of TimEichler, the former Paradise manager and colleague ofDiana's.
From the January 2005 issue of Metronome
TRIBUTE TO JOHN KALISHES
By Lisa Ralphs and Joe Viglione (with contributions from Sandy Higgins and Vin Kalishes)
JOHN KALISHES (Boston)
(Guitarist with Ben Orr of "The Cars", Jon Butcher, Charlie Farren, Riser, ForeignLegion, Susan)
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520E89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB674AB7BB0FD2EA45F43D4C0EF53F6DC632D5DF0&sql=11:j4jyeal14xd7Published
in the January 2005 Issue of Metronome Magazine
IN MEMORY OF JOHN
by Lisa Ralphs (with thanks to Joe Viglione, Vin Kalishes and Sandy Higgins)
Guitarist John Kalishes passed away on January 9,2004. It was a shock to those of us who found life atThe Rathskellar in Kenmore Square such an importantpart of our reality. Many of the 70s scenesters gotto meet John when he was a member of SUSAN, the band which featured the Leland brothers' rhythm sectionflanked by guitarists John Kalishes and Tom Dickie.When the band signed to RCA they didn't bring Johnwith them - and that was a mistake. His crushingleads were an essential part of their sound, asevidenced by his presence on the LIVE AT THE RATalbum. None of the power found on "Ride Away", one oftheir two tracks on that live double lp, is found ontheir "Falling In Love Again" 1979 release. Withoutthe band "Susan" John Kalishes continued his efforts,jamming with the legendary U.F.O., making tapes withRiser and Foreign Legion, eventually joining the lateBen Orr of The Cars for a phenomenal stretch of gigs,a few preserved on videotape. Full House Recordingissued a Riser CD "Resurrection" in 2000 and localsinger/songwriter Paul Hultman interviewed John for acable television program while at the record releaseparty for "Resurrection".
Sandy Higgins, moderator ofCharlie Farren's Yahoo group, had these memories of John: "I only had the pleasure of meeting John Kalishes once or twice.
I never really got to know him all that well. However, my neighbor across the streetfrom me, Tommy Fey, knew him very well & played inseveral bands with him over the years. Tommy cameacross the street several years ago to ask me if Iwouldn't mind letting John use my 100W Marshall headto take on tour with the Ben Orr Band overseas. I toldhim I had no problem with that. John seemed verytrustworthy, and I wasn't using it at the time...so,why not? When John came back to the states, so did myMarshall - in perfect condition. Only thing was, hehad to cut the power cord due to the different plugsover in Japan - but he did splice & tape it backtogether!" One of John's great strengths along withsongwriting and furious guitar leads was recordproduction. He captured the essence of the garagemusician's triumph in something called "I'm Still Standing". Charlie Farren sings the lead vocal onthis track co-written with his friend Adrian Medeiros. Adrian and John also worked with Boston guitaristBarry Goudreau and Cars members Greg Hawkes and Ben Orr on a fantastic song called "Send Me".His brother Vin Kalishes sent an official message from the family: "John Kalishes, one of the moving forces of theBoston Rock & Roll scene since the late '60s, diedunexpectedly on January 9, 2004 following a briefillness. Born in 1950 in Dorchester, a neighborhoodof the city of Boston, John began studying the guitarwhile in third grade, immediately showing his greatpotential. At age 15 Kalishes formed his first band,the Rhymney Blues, which played "the high school dancescene."John Kalishes was a graduate of Catholic Memorial HighSchool and The University Of Massachusetts at Boston.In the 1970s and 1980s Kalishes worked as the bookingagent for "The Rat" in Kenmore Square and "TheBellboy" in Scituate Harbor in addition to writingmusic, engineering and performing. His bands included"Susan" then "Foreign Legion" and in later years,"Riser".Over the years he recorded with some of the best knownartists in rock & roll music, on occasion using thealias of "Mississippi Blind Driveway." (John may haveworked with Toy Caldwell as well as a member or two of"The Band" - Lisa). In recent years John wasaffiliated with the late Ben Orr of The Cars, Ben andJohn co-writing a number of songs. While touring asORR, playing coast to coast, John was Orr's guitarplayer and band-leader. In 2002 and 2003 John workedon his solo album, Mirage, after building his ownstate of the art facility, "Black Hole Studios." Mirage was released two months before his passing.In an unplanned career move John began co-composingand producing television and movie soundtracks withhis dear friend Jon Butcher.John is survived by his wife, Judith Wilson, a brotherVincent J. Kalishes III, and his nephew Vincent J.Kalishes IV.
John requested that he be remembered by making adonation in his name to his nephew's school "ThePerkins School for The Blind" located at
175 NorthBeacon St.,
Watertown, MA 02172.
from http://jvbiographies.blogspot.com
Riser "Resurrection"
Review by Joe Viglione on AllMusic.com
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB676AB7AAFE02CA45A0A9FCBE455FAD667352DED93&sql=10:2b6uak3k0m3c
Riser is a pivotal Boston band formed by songwriters Adrian Medeiros, who was with Tangerine Zoo on Mainstream Records in the '60s, and guitarist/songwriter John Kalishes, who worked with the late Ben Orr of the Cars. This material, tracked in the '70s, including three unreleased tunes by Guess Who producer Jack Richardson, gives a taste what could have been. The strongest songs are the Medeiros composition "Was It The Last Time," with Tom Fey's extraordinary vocals, and "Story in Your Eyes," written by multi-instrumentalist John Garr. "Story in Your Eyes" is a totally different song than the hit recorded by the Moody Blues, and is the one tune not sung by Fey on the disc. The voice is that of songwriter Garr, who displays a fondness for progressive rock hooks that might have been a little too much in the land of Aerosmith, Boston, J. Geils, and the Cars. Sure, Brad Delp of Boston has that high-octane, high-octave tone, but the work of Tom Scholz was so unique it put the band Boston into another realm, almost sci-fi rock at the time. Riser had to face the Supertramp/Styx/Starship with Mickey Thomas categorization, and in the hip Boston underground that launched Willie Alexander and the Rings onto MCA Records, and the Fools onto EMI, well, teaming a progressive rock band up with a producer of hitmakers like the Guess Who was not what "the scene" wanted back then. "Tin Shield" sounds like the group Yes with thick textures, and very un-Richardson-like sounds. His production of "Never Get to Heaven" is more in line with what listeners have come to expect from his work. Those titles and "They All Come out at Night" are the three lost tracks by that major record producer of a Boston band that came so very close to stardom. Riser evolved into Foreign Legion, and true to their craft, they kept playing progressive rock, resulting in the video Chrissie's Sister, but a diverse New England scene which includes the likes of funk-rockers the Jonzun Crew on A & M, degenerate punks the Nervous Eaters on Elektra, and Byrds-inspired Robin Lane & the Chartbusters on Warner Bros. pretty much insured this locally popular group would remain obscure.
Catalog #
2000
CD Full House
Appears on Page 9 of the April 2005 issue of Metronome Magazine
also on http://jvreviews.blogspot.com
LIVE AT THE MIDDLE EAST, Saturday Night, February 19, 2005by joe viglioneThe power of the new wave unfurled in all its glory as members of the original Boston scene gathered at the place where all the action is, Central Square's Middle East. Unnatural Axe played a short but explosive set of their greatest hits, and for someone who has watched the Axe over the decades - moving in on three decades now - it was more than impressive to see them deliver one of their best sets ever. Maybe it's automatic at this point, but this set had the energy, enthusiasm and refinement many of the groups playing upstairs at the same venue are searching for. They should have put their instruments down and ventured to the cellar - class was in session. The tough thing for this writer through it all was the 3 Thousand Dollar camera I was using refused to record! It is a major shame as I was getting some great shots in the viewfinder. Luckily Artie Freedman, Boston's irrepressible documentarian, had his tripod up and running - but it would have been a marvelous 2 camera shoot.Steve Cataldo had Richie Bartlett from The Fools in this incarnation of The Nervous Eaters. They were great, of course, but not the original grunge sound of the band that held court down The Rat. It was Steve playing his familiar music with a cultivated intensity. Maybe somewhere between the old live show and the Elektra album - which is a nice combo as the Elektra disc never got the respect it deserved - because it was too polished. "Last Chance" and"Loretta" were highlights, and this was the perfect bridge between The Axe and the Godfather of Boston Rock & Roll (imagine a nice Don Michael Corleone!), Willie Loco Alexander and his original Boom Boom Band. Having watched El Loco onstage since he and The Mezz opened for TELEVISION in 1975, having listened in on a practice of the old Wild Honey band when Billy Cole was fronting the eventual Boom Booms - Sev Grossman, Billy Loosigian and David McLean, I can assure you these fellows were outrageously good. "Som Som Somerville" is a tremendously hypnotic hook - and it was performed a few years back at the same venue by a band called SLIDE at a tribute to Willie, but Loco's voice put the tune in its proper setting, the band not skipping a beat from when they packed the Paradise and helped pave the way - opening the floodgates for not hundreds but thousands of local acts who probably never even heard of them. As with The Axe the set by The Boom Booms was masterful - the volume much too loud for this critic who went to the very back of the room. And there is the paradox of Saturday, February 19, 2005. What were we doing here? Haven't we grown up yet. I walked up to one local rock legend who is scheduled to be on my tv show. He said "Can I help you?" I just looked at him. He stared back, then said "Oh, Joe! I got your email today." He shouldn'tfeel badly - all our looks have altered, and this depressed me no end. I had to ask Mach Bell who an old colleague of ours was! And Frank Rowe of The Classic Ruins looked at me, I looked at him, we needed about 10 seconds to recognize each other. Like The Oracle as played by Mary Alice in THE MATRIX III saying she doesn't recognize herself anymore (having replaced herBroadway friend the great Gloria Foster, the script blamed the powerful Merovingian for altering the equally powerful computer program's "looks"). So here we were, all back together again. Like some kind of Class Reunion for the "in with the outs" who made up the Boston Scene thirty years ago (and those like Brett Milano who came in the "second wave", or chapter, of the community). Willie Loco took the stage like a veteran minister and believe me when I tell you this, he had the energy of a twenty year old. It was tough for me to deal with the volume, I'm thinking "How on earth are these guys - Frank Dehler, Tommy White, Richie Parsons, Steve Cataldo, Sev, Billy, David and Willie - how are they able to get up there and do it all these years later? Have they found a rock & roll viagra?Remember the culture shock at the Paradise when a rock & roll show would be invaded by theEuro people from the next room? It was two crowds who couldn't figure out what each other was into. At least at the Middle East you have a young twenty-something contingent who have a comprehension of the magic being generated underneath their "happening" scene upstairs.So when a straggler takes the flight of steps down and into the dungeon, they have a chance to be splashed with something very real - a music that has survived in a way it is safe to say the myriad collection of new songwriters in the street level rooms of The Middle East won't ever know in the year 2035. How can they? Architects of the Boston scene like Willie Alexander are once in a lifetime heroes. It is also safe to say Willie Loco will probably still be outplaying those thirty years his junior, his musical grandchildren, when that day rolls around.
Rock Journalist Joe Viglione
http://www.joeviglione.com
http://www.971zht.com/iplaylist/album/554504/
Loco Live 1976
Willie Alexander & The Boom Boom Band
Released 2001 on Captain Trip
Available on: CD Willie "Loco" Alexander
Diana Martin / Tim Eichler Tribute Page 17, April 2005 Metronome Magazine
A familiar face on the Boston music scene in the 1970s and 1980s was live sound engineer Diana Martin.
Diana was born on August 26, 1953, in Oceanside NY. She was 51 when she died after cancer surgery. Her first work was with the band Reckless in 1978,which evolved into work for other bands and clubs including The Paradise as house engineer, Bunratty's,Jumbo's and other happening spots of the day. Herfavorite groups to work with were The Angry YoungBees, Ball & Pivot and The Wicker man. Jorma Kaukonen(Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) loved working withDiana. At the Paradise, she did shows with BillyJoel, David Johannson, U2 and many more.
Former BEAT columnist A.J. Wachtel was a close friendand wrote to the family:
Hi Laura,
Joe Vig left a message on my machine aboutDiana so I called up Sus who filled me in. I am SO sorry for you and Wayne. Although I hadn'tseen Diana in at least 10-15 years she was a goodfriend of mine during the 80's and I always kept up todate about her from my occasional conversationswith DB (David Butler) or Sus. One great memory I haveof her was when I was staying at DB, Rimas and Hans'place one summer she brought over some of the guysfrom the Smithereens after they played at theParadise and we stayed up all night partying. The lead guitarist , Pat Dinizio was also from NJ and had wire frame glasses and a little Australian moustache(down under the lowerlip!!!) so we became immediatefriends.
Or all those years she and Tim (Eichler,former manager of The Paradise) would get me in free to see Johnny winter when he came to town. And she always cracked me up and was a person I enjoyedhanging out with. So please accept my condolences and tell everyone who shows that I am still in the familybut I am just missing this sad event.
Love, aj
From Jonathan Paley: (This one hits the mark)I am very sorry to hear about Diana passing on.
Although I hadn't seen her in over twenty years Ithought of her often. She was behind the board formany of the gigs I played with different bands. Not only was she a very talented sound person, she was a genuine "real" person, a friend, an original.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Much Love,
Jonathan Paley
A Celebration for the life of Diana Martin was held onSunday, February 27, 2005 at 2 P.M. where friendsrecalled the good times, remembered the music and celebrated the life of Diana Martin. A fund is being established for Diana's 2 children(13 year old twins, Elissa & Lenwal).
Donations maybe sent to:
Ellen Snedeker (Diana's mom)
3 Anchorage Court
Savannah, GA 31410.
Doubly sad is the news of the recent passing of TimEichler, the former Paradise manager and colleague ofDiana's.
From the January 2005 issue of Metronome
TRIBUTE TO JOHN KALISHES
By Lisa Ralphs and Joe Viglione (with contributions from Sandy Higgins and Vin Kalishes)
JOHN KALISHES (Boston)
(Guitarist with Ben Orr of "The Cars", Jon Butcher, Charlie Farren, Riser, ForeignLegion, Susan)
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520E89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB674AB7BB0FD2EA45F43D4C0EF53F6DC632D5DF0&sql=11:j4jyeal14xd7Published
in the January 2005 Issue of Metronome Magazine
IN MEMORY OF JOHN
by Lisa Ralphs (with thanks to Joe Viglione, Vin Kalishes and Sandy Higgins)
Guitarist John Kalishes passed away on January 9,2004. It was a shock to those of us who found life atThe Rathskellar in Kenmore Square such an importantpart of our reality. Many of the 70s scenesters gotto meet John when he was a member of SUSAN, the band which featured the Leland brothers' rhythm sectionflanked by guitarists John Kalishes and Tom Dickie.When the band signed to RCA they didn't bring Johnwith them - and that was a mistake. His crushingleads were an essential part of their sound, asevidenced by his presence on the LIVE AT THE RATalbum. None of the power found on "Ride Away", one oftheir two tracks on that live double lp, is found ontheir "Falling In Love Again" 1979 release. Withoutthe band "Susan" John Kalishes continued his efforts,jamming with the legendary U.F.O., making tapes withRiser and Foreign Legion, eventually joining the lateBen Orr of The Cars for a phenomenal stretch of gigs,a few preserved on videotape. Full House Recordingissued a Riser CD "Resurrection" in 2000 and localsinger/songwriter Paul Hultman interviewed John for acable television program while at the record releaseparty for "Resurrection".
Sandy Higgins, moderator ofCharlie Farren's Yahoo group, had these memories of John: "I only had the pleasure of meeting John Kalishes once or twice.
I never really got to know him all that well. However, my neighbor across the streetfrom me, Tommy Fey, knew him very well & played inseveral bands with him over the years. Tommy cameacross the street several years ago to ask me if Iwouldn't mind letting John use my 100W Marshall headto take on tour with the Ben Orr Band overseas. I toldhim I had no problem with that. John seemed verytrustworthy, and I wasn't using it at the time...so,why not? When John came back to the states, so did myMarshall - in perfect condition. Only thing was, hehad to cut the power cord due to the different plugsover in Japan - but he did splice & tape it backtogether!" One of John's great strengths along withsongwriting and furious guitar leads was recordproduction. He captured the essence of the garagemusician's triumph in something called "I'm Still Standing". Charlie Farren sings the lead vocal onthis track co-written with his friend Adrian Medeiros. Adrian and John also worked with Boston guitaristBarry Goudreau and Cars members Greg Hawkes and Ben Orr on a fantastic song called "Send Me".His brother Vin Kalishes sent an official message from the family: "John Kalishes, one of the moving forces of theBoston Rock & Roll scene since the late '60s, diedunexpectedly on January 9, 2004 following a briefillness. Born in 1950 in Dorchester, a neighborhoodof the city of Boston, John began studying the guitarwhile in third grade, immediately showing his greatpotential. At age 15 Kalishes formed his first band,the Rhymney Blues, which played "the high school dancescene."John Kalishes was a graduate of Catholic Memorial HighSchool and The University Of Massachusetts at Boston.In the 1970s and 1980s Kalishes worked as the bookingagent for "The Rat" in Kenmore Square and "TheBellboy" in Scituate Harbor in addition to writingmusic, engineering and performing. His bands included"Susan" then "Foreign Legion" and in later years,"Riser".Over the years he recorded with some of the best knownartists in rock & roll music, on occasion using thealias of "Mississippi Blind Driveway." (John may haveworked with Toy Caldwell as well as a member or two of"The Band" - Lisa). In recent years John wasaffiliated with the late Ben Orr of The Cars, Ben andJohn co-writing a number of songs. While touring asORR, playing coast to coast, John was Orr's guitarplayer and band-leader. In 2002 and 2003 John workedon his solo album, Mirage, after building his ownstate of the art facility, "Black Hole Studios." Mirage was released two months before his passing.In an unplanned career move John began co-composingand producing television and movie soundtracks withhis dear friend Jon Butcher.John is survived by his wife, Judith Wilson, a brotherVincent J. Kalishes III, and his nephew Vincent J.Kalishes IV.
John requested that he be remembered by making adonation in his name to his nephew's school "ThePerkins School for The Blind" located at
175 NorthBeacon St.,
Watertown, MA 02172.
from http://jvbiographies.blogspot.com
Riser "Resurrection"
Review by Joe Viglione on AllMusic.com
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE47319DD49A87520C89B2C45F6A672FE19D650DA971F28455A92B63E45913E65CA46F68BA5DBB676AB7AAFE02CA45A0A9FCBE455FAD667352DED93&sql=10:2b6uak3k0m3c
Riser is a pivotal Boston band formed by songwriters Adrian Medeiros, who was with Tangerine Zoo on Mainstream Records in the '60s, and guitarist/songwriter John Kalishes, who worked with the late Ben Orr of the Cars. This material, tracked in the '70s, including three unreleased tunes by Guess Who producer Jack Richardson, gives a taste what could have been. The strongest songs are the Medeiros composition "Was It The Last Time," with Tom Fey's extraordinary vocals, and "Story in Your Eyes," written by multi-instrumentalist John Garr. "Story in Your Eyes" is a totally different song than the hit recorded by the Moody Blues, and is the one tune not sung by Fey on the disc. The voice is that of songwriter Garr, who displays a fondness for progressive rock hooks that might have been a little too much in the land of Aerosmith, Boston, J. Geils, and the Cars. Sure, Brad Delp of Boston has that high-octane, high-octave tone, but the work of Tom Scholz was so unique it put the band Boston into another realm, almost sci-fi rock at the time. Riser had to face the Supertramp/Styx/Starship with Mickey Thomas categorization, and in the hip Boston underground that launched Willie Alexander and the Rings onto MCA Records, and the Fools onto EMI, well, teaming a progressive rock band up with a producer of hitmakers like the Guess Who was not what "the scene" wanted back then. "Tin Shield" sounds like the group Yes with thick textures, and very un-Richardson-like sounds. His production of "Never Get to Heaven" is more in line with what listeners have come to expect from his work. Those titles and "They All Come out at Night" are the three lost tracks by that major record producer of a Boston band that came so very close to stardom. Riser evolved into Foreign Legion, and true to their craft, they kept playing progressive rock, resulting in the video Chrissie's Sister, but a diverse New England scene which includes the likes of funk-rockers the Jonzun Crew on A & M, degenerate punks the Nervous Eaters on Elektra, and Byrds-inspired Robin Lane & the Chartbusters on Warner Bros. pretty much insured this locally popular group would remain obscure.
Catalog #
2000
CD Full House
posted by vrtv @ 10:18 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home