Andy Reed Does it Again!

                                      

                                     

   

                                                                                

Andy Reed Relay Vol .1

Reed Hits a Home Run

Try as he may Andy Reed can’t help but to fashion these tasty little pop-up gems for the true believers. Doesn’t matter that power pop never truly existed save for Alex Chilton and Badfinger. All the rest is just a compromise and too much blah, blah, woof,woof. All in all I’m still a sucker for that saccharine music. It’s so sweet, like taking a huge spoonful of Duncan Hines chocolate fudge frosting when no one is looking. It’s totally addictive! But it’s when I slap the disc in the CD changer and Relay Vol. 1 comes on all nice and pretty that I’ve found a purpose and once again I’m a believer and though I’m actually working class, I want to  be a closeted bourgeoisie dilettante in the worst way; And I want to be respected! It’s a tall order, brother.

Relay 1 begins with an attack on my senses and I can’t stop it no matter what I do. Reed is the puppeteer and I’m the puppet. I cannot help but to do his bidding. All he had to do was build the music, write the lyrics and I’m his adoring pawn. For Reed, music is his life and it runs soul deep. It adorns all parts of his existence. Music feeds his sense of belonging to something bigger. He creates his own internal  and sends it to you, me and anyone who cares about  love, beauty and music.

Reed has done it again with Relay Vol. 1. It is the first of two eps that will hopefully be collected into a vinyl release in the spring of 2016.  It recalls early period Move, mid-stream Eric Carmen with a dash of Carl Wilson. Not bad!

But now let’s take a peak at @ Vol. 1

The disc opens with Waves. It’s an echoed atmospheric gem. Minor chords, strummed acoustic and piano accents segue into Reed’s backyard lead guitar. His vocals are front and center and the drummer kicks it in with plenty of heat and rim shots. Reed’s vocal is reminiscent of Bruce Johnston’s role in the Beach Boys with perfect mid-level harmonies; Reed sings “Will we ever get out of here.” But the west coast is a dream and a nightmare, depending on what’s next; too much heat and too many wildfires. But a great vision!

Love is Gone is based in minor chords that reflect the pain. The marching drum seems to be a call to arms. Reed is lyrically astute we are boys that become men. Hard lessons scaffold our lives. Wordless sound echoes at the coda.

Darlin’, You Don’t Know sounds like a Cars outtake, guitar and keys are prominent along with another set of atmosphere affects that give the song a boost. Sample lyrics:

Girl, you always talk about tomorrow

And you wake up the same as yesterday

I love a Long Goodbye is a cover by Sloan (not P.F. Sloan)/. Sample lyrics;

No one knows for certain

Where or when I’ll draw the curtain

I need to know you love me

This is a spectacular little gem with Beach Boys harmonies, perfect guitar breaks full bodied notes. Reed fills it all out. This could be a top forty hit!

Reed hits gold again with the help of the following musicians:

John Fossum, Cody Maracek, Donny Brown , Jason Reed and Ryan Fizgerald

The Bossmen Reunite

The Bossmen Reunite

Dick Wagner & Lanny Roenicke

This disc contains four versions of an incredible song simply entitled Lanny’s Song. As these two old friends reminisced, they no doubt cleared out a path of old wounds and treacherous memories that are not so easy to forgive or forget. Yet Wagner and Roenicke had far too much in common. Some might say they were at their most innocent peak of creativity when the Bossmen were riding high on the local charts and enjoying the view. Times were simpler and the music was amazing, even if some of the riffs were derivative and Beatle-ish. From 1964-66, they were our Beatles and they topped the charts on WNEM, WTAC and WSAM, right along side the Stones, Dave Clark 5 and the Beach Boys. But then Wagner formed the Frost and went on to create an incredible ahead-of-its-time supersonic band by the name of Ursa Major. He went onto massive fame with Alice Cooper and Lou Reed combining muscular guitar with rich harmonics that dazzled fans and critics alike. It was quite a ride!

Eventually Wagner returned to Saginaw and resurrected his career with notable gigs @ SVSU Stadium- The Remember The Child Concert, Callahan’s in Detroit, A Dick Wagner/Cherry Slush reunion at Titibawassee Park and the 1999 Frost Reunion Concert @ the Saginaw Civic Center. Through it all Wagner was a consummate showman with a huge list of famous songs such as Only Women Bleed, Rock & Roll, and Go To Hell. When he was in the right mood, Wagner would pull out all those golden chestnuts @ White’s Bar and get the ravenous crowd hungry for more. It was a moment of innocence recovered and memories preserved. I loved Wagner for his genius guitar work, exceptional arrangements and a wicked sense of humor.

Dick Wagner died on July 30^th, 2014 at 71 years of age.

                                               

However, Roenicke and Wagner recorded one last song together. And it is a harrowing epitaph about love and loss and looking into the abyss. It is a dark Nursery Rhyme that is uncomfortable to hear; yet speaks volumes about living near the edge of eternity and wondering how much time we all have left. Wagner’s long time partner in Desert Dreams, Susan Michelson remembers that Lanny wrote the song but didn’t know how to finish it. So he called Wagner in the winter of 2013 to seek his help in completing this labor of pain and suffering that was caused by a break up. Wagner added acoustic guitar, keyboard and a Yamaha synthesizer. Wagner devoted two full days to the project in Fountain Hills Arizona.

Wagner played all the instruments, atmospheric synth, primitive piano, and muted drums. Vocals were occasionally double tracked, sometimes to add accents and close harmony. The lyrics are incredible, stark and filled with the never ending pain of betrayal. Listen…

At a second hand store, was very poor

Saving for the day, for a house we could afford

We shook hands and we agreed, someday when we succeed

To build a house together and spend eternity

She…devised a plan to extend power and fame

With a man she revered, who promised everything

He was a business man, had a deceptive plan

Went riding in his truck, she gave him all her trust

They built the walls and laid the bricks, put in carpet and pretty sinks

But I just stood there helplessly as my whole world fell apart

She sued to hold me close, so tenderly

But she was plotting in her heart, to tear my world apart

When I found out the news, they put me in a room

It was just a mild case of severe heartbreak

And my whole world fell apart

I just stood there, my whole world fell apart

This is the last great Wagner vocal, subdued yet painful; tortured yet elegant. Sadness washes over Roenicke’s lyrics, it obliterates his sense of everything that gives him a glimmer of hope; a breath of sanity hovers over the song like a dark cloud. He gazed into the abyss and the only solace is the pain. This is a lost masterpiece, a tale of deep sorrow with a dark lyricism and Dick Wagner’s long shadow.

Peace

Bo White

However, Roenicke and Wagner recorded one last song together. And it is a harrowing epitaph about love and loss and looking into the abyss. It is a dark Nursery Rhyme that is uncomfortable to hear; yet speaks volumes about living near the edge of eternity and wondering how much time we all have left. Wagner’s long time partner in Desert Dreams, Susan Michelson remembers that Lanny wrote the song but didn’t know how to finish it. So he called Wagner in the winter of 2013 to seek his help in completing this labor of pain and suffering that was caused by a break up. Wagner added acoustic guitar, keyboard and a Yamaha synthesizer. Wagner devoted two full days to the project in Fountain Hills Arizona.

Wagner played all the instruments, atmospheric synth, primitive piano, and muted drums. Vocals were occasionally double tracked, sometimes to add accents and close harmony. The lyrics are incredible, stark and filled with the never ending pain of betrayal. Listen…

At a second hand store, was very poor

Saving for the day, for a house we could afford

We shook hands and we agreed, someday when we succeed

To build a house together and spend eternity

She…devised a plan to extend power and fame

With a man she revered, who promised everything

He was a business man, had a deceptive plan

Went riding in his truck, she gave him all her trust

They built the walls and laid the bricks, put in carpet and pretty sinks

But I just stood there helplessly as my whole world fell apart

She sued to hold me close, so tenderly

But she was plotting in her heart, to tear my world apart

When I found out the news, they put me in a room

It was just a mild case of severe heartbreak

And my whole world fell apart

I just stood there, my whole world fell apart

This is the last great Wagner vocal, subdued yet painful; tortured yet elegant. Sadness washes over Roenicke’s lyrics, it obliterates his sense of everything that gives him a glimmer of hope; a breath of sanity hovers over the song like a dark cloud. He gazed into the abyss and the only solace is the pain. This is a lost masterpiece, a tale of deep sorrow with a dark lyricism and Dick Wagner’s long shadow.

Peace

Bo White

Chris Zehnder is back with a spectacular new CD

                                                                

                                                       Chris Zehnder

                                Meaning Making and Going Back to the Future

Chris Zehnder has been a compelling presence in the Music Scene in the Great Lakes Bay Region of Michigan. He cut his teeth with the Avery Set, a great band that was done too soon. College, travel and life itself intervened to give Chris a wanderlust that served him well. As a result, Zehnder matured and blossomed as an artist. He can do rock, country, alternative and acoustic solo without blinking. He’s earned his stripes the hard way, moving out and moving forward but never leaving us behind. This disc is the proof that great music continues to be crafted. Thank god for Andy Reed, Donny Brown and the host of musicians that created this living document of great music.

Donny Brown - Drums/co-production

Hank Horton - Bass

Jim Alfredson - Organ, Wurlitzer

Ron RoscoSelley - Harmonica

Scott Vandell - Lead Guitar

Andy Reed - Bass on "Cold Water Blues"

Me - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Piano, Rhythm Electric Guitar

                                                         

Goin’ Through the Motions–

Opens in a high pitched howl, like a green manalishi with a two pronged crown; segues into a country guitar like Don Rich admiring Porter Waggoner’s doo. The guitar slices, moans, bends the e-string and comes back for a cool bass line. He sounds like Red Rhodes from Michael Nesmith’s Ist National Band. Zehnder is an exceptional singer. He’s matured as a vocalist and is able to hit the notes strong and pure with cool vocal asides that help tell the story. Sample the lyrics

I got ghosts that are changing my luck

Sacrifice as a symbol of love

Sign me up as a candidate and cast your vote

Spill my blood on the parish lawn

Flatter me with a eulogy song

If you’re note broken hearted something's wrong

Baby I'm just going through the motions

Watching love from behind the gates

Step inside, you get flooded with devotion

I guess the devil says what he needs to say

Tablets roll down a lost highway

We shattered stone that should never break

Be my witness, but don't give me away

But now my baby's got a criminal past

She treads lightly on the capitol grass

Leave your footprints mama, I'm coming back

                                          
                                                           

                                                

Charlie's Smile begins with a staccato piano chords and the high hat signals the rhythm section to kick it in, bass, guitar and organ and hand claps for emphasis. Electric guitar solos, sweet as cornbread. Zehnder sings with feeling and a deeper sense of who he is and will be. He’s come along way

We're paying off the fisherman to catch us a note

A stranger to the faces that have made up that band

But native to the feeling of compassionate hands

But I don't know if we'll ever feel it again

And we been righteous so long,

All our disciples are gone

And I've been swimming the lengths of the river

Living it Down

The song opens with a cool circular guitar pattern followed by a high pitched ooh that signals the band it kick it in with some righteousness. Tambourine and drums pound out the heavy feel as circular guitar patterns give it a lift. The e-string gets a workout with a sweet unencumbered sustain

Escapist heart road a western wind

On a weak handshake for love to begin

Put faith in dirt if you wish to bloom

And the pouring rain fell none too soon

And your bags are packed with all you've got to prove

I'm living it down

I can't hold on

When you’re running around

We Ride Again. This is another countrified chestnut, acoustic struming, moaning guitar trills that sound like a pedal steel. The music is rich, layered, beautiful…and sad. Roscoe Selley fills it out with his evocative harp patterns, perfect! Zehnder sings with a cry in his voice like George Jones coming off a bender. It all coalesces at the end with a brush of organ, harp and guitar. I’ve been waiting for music like this since the Band called it quits

They said I'd never live to see tomorrow

They said my heart was gonna storm

And I will return what I have borrowed

The souvenirs that I've adored

But I never understand what you gave me

Like I never understand what it means to be a man

But holding it now makes me feel lucky

But I never understand what you gave me

Like I never understand how I vanish through your hand

It's only the living who could feel lonely

When all our time amounts to nothin

Round and again, round and again, we ride again

Cold Water Blues. The song opens with a false beginning followed by guitar and vocals. An organ screams and gives the music a punch. A slide guitar sneaks in, tough and provacative. The guitarist is a master, using economy as he goes from e-string to the bass string like ringing a bell. You can tell these cats are having the time of their lives.

I'm goin down to the cold water

Gotta bring my soul to life

Whatever’s in the river gotta get me in your graces on time

Well I'm goin’ down to the cold water

Gonna dress myself in white

Clean these evil urges gotta hide em from a Saturday night

I've never been a stranger to touch

Your medicine is never enough

You hope for liberation and end up getting caught in the mud

All these sounds that pass for rhythm

They sit crooked in my bones

Wave your flag and take me home

A Note from Chris Zehnder: I did most of the arrangements, Donny Brown also helped with arrangements and production. 

I was lucky enough to work with so many amazing musicians