Arts/entertainment

-West Herr Riviera Theatre-North Tonawanda, NY-October 5, 2024-

Herman Hermit’s starring Peter Noone rolled into the historic West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY on October 5th, 2024 for a show before a sold out crowd of nostalgic music fans. In the ‘60’s Herman Hermit’s was one of the most successful bands of the British Invasion racking up numerous chart topping hits in the States and England. The seventy six year old Noone still has his mop of hair and mega watt smile that endured him to legions of teens back in the heyday. His energetic seventy five minute set covered most of the Hermit’s hits and more with a voice still clear and strong.

Hitting the stage with “I’m Into Something Good” followed by “Wonderful World”, Noone prowled the main floor singing and interacting with the crowd for the first couple of numbers before rejoining his band mates on stage. A riff on the Beach Boys “Barbara Ann” featuring lyrics changed to mention Cheektowaga brought smiles and chuckles from the audience as did Gerry and The Pacemakers’ hit “Ferry Cross the Mersey” with lyrics changed to mention Tonawanda this time. A main point of Noone’s show is to interact with his audience telling jokes, asking them to sing along (which they joyfully did) and other playful banter. The man is a consummate showman. From the Herman Hermits’ catalog Noone offered up “Dandy”, “A Must to Avoid”, “Silhouettes”, “Leaning on a Lamp Post” and “No Milk Today”. In addition to the Hermits hits Noone covered The Searchers “Love Potion #9”, Huey Smith’s “Sea Cruise”, The Monkees’ “Daydream Believer”, Manfred Mann’s “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” and Cliff Richards’ “Travellin’ Light” with lyrics changed to name check North Tonawanda. Throughout the show Noone would offer snippets of songs ranging from Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”, Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” and the Stones “Start Me Up” complete with some signature Jagger dance moves from Noone. Closing out the show Noone reached for Herman Hermits biggest hits including “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”, “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”, “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am” and a beautiful show closing rendition of “There’s a Kind of Hush”. After the show Noone came out to the merch table where a long line of fans waited to meet him as he gladly signed autographs, took photos and engaged with his fans.

Opening the show was The Shades of Blue who performed a fifty minute set of classic Motown and other soul hits from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s including “Disco Inferno”, “Stand By Me”, “Higher and Higher”, “Sex Machine” and “Love Train” among others.

For more information about Herman Hermits starring Peter Noone check out www.peternoone.com

For information about the West Herr Riviera Theatre and upcoming shows visit www.rivieratheatre.org

The Missing Worker is an experimental rock band formed in Buffalo around 2016. During that time they have released three studio albums and one EP of adventurous and rewarding music. For their latest album titled Behold…a Miracle!, the band consisting of Matthew Cieluszak (bass/percussion/backing vocals), Mike Hermann (guitar/piano/guitar synth), Demetri Realmuto (lead vocals), Erik Reinhardt (drums/percussion) and Todd Reinhardt (guitar/synthesizer/guitar synth), headed to Mammoth Recording Studios in Buffalo with Justin Smith behind the board to lay down the tracks. The nine tracks land on the heavy metal/progressive side of the musical spectrum but with a broad appeal to all music lovers. The album kicks off with “The John Keats Cybrid Retrieval Project” a pulsating sonic assault of the senses followed by the high energy rocker “The Possessed”. Other highlights from Behold… a Miracle! include the trippy vibe of “Confrontation in Sarasota”, the shades of scream-o tune “One Year”; the ringing guitar sounds of “Dolly”, the atmospheric rocker “The Burning of the Treeship Yggdrasil”, the musically adventurous opus “When the Machine Breaths” and the hard charging LP closer “Justify”. With a knack for mixing songwriting and musicianship into an interesting blend The Missing Worker has a bright future. 

September 3rd, 2023 seemed as unassuming as any other gig for this band of road tested warriors except tonight the tapes would be rolling for a possible new live album. And thank goodness those tapes were rolling as musical magic was made. The band ,Willie Nile (guitar/piano/vocals), Johnny Pisano (bass/backing vocals), Jon Weber (drums) and Jimi K. Bones (guitar/backing vocals), are a band at the top of their game able to give powerful and emotional performances of songs that they have played countless times. The thirteen songs on Live at Daryl’s House Club span a considerable portion of Nile’s career. The album begins with Nile asking the crowd “Are you ready?” before he and the band launch in to a celebratory “Places I Have Never Been” which sets the mood for the evening’s performance. An absolutely incendiary version of “This Is Our time” and the spot on social commentary and funky blues work out “Earth Blues” keep things rolling along while the melancholy grandeur of “Lost And Lonely World” and an epic rendition of “Shoulders” change the pace a bit. Other highlights include “New York At Night”, “The Day The Earth Stood Still” and “Trouble Down In Diamond Town”. A galloping run through “House Of A Thousand Guitars” and the sing along anthem “One Guitar” round out the album. If you have never heard Willie Nile and his band live in concert then their latest album Live At Daryl’s House Club is the perfect place to start. For more information about Willie Nile including tour dates and how to purchase Live at Daryl’s House Club go to www.willienile.com or visit www.facebook.com/willie.nile
Album photos by renowned photographer Cristina Arrigoni. 

You can view more of her work at her website www.cristinaarrigoniphotography.com

Handsome Jack is back with a new slab of their swaggering psychedelic blues rock on their latest release A Good Thing. As usual the band, Jamison Passuite (vocals/guitar), Joe Verdonselli (vocals/bass) and Bennie Hayes (vocals/drums), wrote, recorded, mixed and produced the album on their own. They recorded the album at the old Harrison Radiator factory building in Lockport, NY on tape using a Tascam 388 with John Angelo doing the mastering. Evan Laedke stops by to add keyboards to the session. Highlights among the eleven tracks on A Good Thing include the bluesy rocker “Wind It Up” which opens the album and sets the tone for what’s to come, the brash yet soulful “Tough Love”, the greasy rocker “She Don’t Know How to Rock and Roll”, the groovalicious title cut “A Good Thing”, the down home comfort of “Sasparilla”, another soulful number “Nobody Left but You” and the musical nod to the late Band bassist “Rick Danko’s Red Floor”. Handsome Jack’s timeless fusion of boogie, blues, rock, soul and country makes A Good Thing another great album from these master purveyors of music. For more information about Handsome Jack and their latest release visit www.handsomejackmusic.com or go to www.facebook.com/handsomejackband

Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne has turned out a new album titled Ooh Yeah! a rollicking twelve song slice of boogie woogie piano blues. Wayne who turns eighty this year shows no signs of slowing down with a full slate of tour dates across the US, Canada and numerous Blues Cruise on slate. For this album Wayne picked his twelve favorite original songs and ones that he was sure his fans would love too. Wayne (piano/keyboards/vocals) is assisted by Jimmy Bowskill (The Sheep Dogs and Blue Rodeo) Joey DiMarco, Nick Succi, James Anthony, James Rasmussen, Ian McKeown, a full blown horn section and many others. Tracks to check out on Ooh Yeah! include the hot piano boogie woogie title cut, the two social commentary numbers about climate change and making the world a better place “Whatcha Gonna Do Now?” and “My Point of View” respectively, the rolling and tumbling love song “Baby I’m Your Man” and the shades of New Orleans instrumental “Sailing With The Sunset”. Wayne doesn’t stop there though continuing the party with the piano and horn driven rocker “Honey, Honey, Honey”, the funky tale of a bad relationship “Blacklist”, the Southern Soul comfort food number “It’s Pourin’ Down”, the previously released “Wishing Well” reworked and updated with a modern urban groove and the horn blasting country Gospel funk tune with banjo, yes banjo, “Try It Out”. The last track that needs to be mentioned is “I Wish Things Were Different” a touching homage Wayne wrote for his wife Karen who currently is in a care home touching upon how things sometimes turn out different than what we had planned. The song is both beautiful and heartbreaking at once. You can find out more about Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne by heading over to his website www.kennybluesboss.com or go to www.facebook.com/kennybluesboss

The latest release from Austin, TX based husband and wife duo Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus titled Harbortowne features twelve tracks of sketches of everyday life written in song. The folk rock Americana style of the music lends itself perfectly for the characters in the songs to spring to life and sometimes even reflect what we all go through on our own journey. Patton who handles vocals and guitar and Brokus on vocals and percussion have brought some fine talent to flesh out the songs including Ron Flynt on vocals, bass, keyboards, harmonica and acoustic guitar in addition to recording and producing the album, Rich Brotherton on guitar and mandolin, Warren Hood on fiddle, John Bush on percussion and BettySoo on backing vocals. Tracks of note on Harbortowne include the heartfelt “Missing You”, the wishful thinking of “When You Win The Lottery”, the title track “Harbortowne”, the beautiful “A Woman Like You”, “Never Going Back”, “Sally Brown”, the tale of life’s woes “Back in the Storm” and the piano and fiddle ballad “Start Again”. With comfortable melodies and relatable lyrics the latest from Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus, Harbortowne, is an enjoyable listen. For more information about Patton & Brokus and their new album Harbortowne visit them at http://www.pattonbrokus.com or go to www.facebook.com/jimpattonsherrybrokus

Acclaimed Tennessee singer songwriter Teni Rane has released her debut album a thirteen song collection titled Goldenrod. The album focuses on change and the profound impact it has on our lives including the good and bad and coming out the other end still whole and ourselves. Rane (vocals/guitar/Guitalele) has an adventurous folk rock style and a gorgeous honey supple voice and is joined by musicians Dave Egger (cello/piano), Phil Faconti (acoustic, electric, classical and baritone guitars/ukulele), Jonathan Shumaker (bass) and Roger Gustaffson (bass/steel guitar) on Goldenrod. Highlights off Goldenrod include the opening cut “Firefly”, the waltz time title track “Goldenrod”, “Caramel”, “Small Steps”, the edgy “So Beautiful”, “Cinnamon”, “Cold Wind (Ghost)”, a cover of the classic “Killing the Blues”, “Don’t Look Back” and the instrumental LP closer “Reprise (Firefly)”. For more information about Teni Rane and her stellar debut album Goldenrod go to https://tenirane.com or visit www.facebook.com/teniranemusic

Austin based singer songwriter/guitarist Nick Taylor has released a new album titled Not Alone featuring his strong confident vocals and just a bit of swagger. The eleven tracks (ten plus the ole hidden bonus track) are in the roots rock style with a dose of outlaw country. Taylor (guitar/vocals) is joined by Wayne Killius (drums), Dave Francis (bass), Pat McGrath (acoustic guitar), David Flint (acoustic, electric and baritone guitars/mandolin), Chris Nole (keyboards), Deanie Richardson (fiddle), James Paul Mitchell (steel guitar/Dobro) and Billy Thomas (backing vocals) for these sessions. Highlights from Not Alone include the jangly rocker “Dogs”, “3AM on the Interstate”, the haunting “Dead Land Future”, the country waltz “Getting Along”, the sure and steady “Kentucky Girl”, “Hearts on the Run”, the reflective “Futures Past”, “Songs About the Glory” and the bonus track an acoustic and laid back “Lover’s Dream”. For more information about Nick Taylor and his new album Not Alone visit his website https://nicktaylormusician.com or go to www.facebook.com/NickTaylorSingerSongwriter

Tour de force blues power trio Jay Gordon and Blues Venom have released a new album titled Live at Woodystock 2022. The album is culled from an appearance the band made at the 2022 Woodystock Blues Festival in Laughlin, NV and features Jay Gordon on guitar and vocals, Sharon Butcher on bass and Tom Parham on drums. The nine tracks are raw and passionate and show off the band’s command of the rock and boogie blues sound. Lots of tasty tracks to choose from off the album including a face melting cover of Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man”, an impressive and fervent “Crossroads”, a smooth cover of George Thorogood’s “I Drink Alone”, the slow burning “Slow Burn Biker Mama”, the tight boogie blues number “Fire and Brimstone Boogie”, a heavy run through a medley of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Green River/Suzie Q” and a rumbling run through Blackfoot’s “Train Train”. The latest from Jay Gordon and Blues Venom Live at Woodystock 2022 is a keeper and one you want for your own music collection. For more information about Jay Gordon and Blues Venom including how to purchase Live at Woodystock 2022 head over to https://bluesvenom.com or visit www.facebook.com/jay.gordon.3114

For twenty years now Blues Hall of Fame inductees the Scott Weis Band have been plying their trade all over the globe. Over that time many fans had clamored for a live album from the band. Finally on their last tour they got to work on the album. Recorded over many nights in four different cities across Europe the band stuck to their DIY work ethic and simply hung four microphones and ran a two track board mix to record the shows. The result is Live in Europe a raw and gritty album with a distinctive “bootleg” sound and feel to the recordings. The heavy sounding power trio consists of Scott Weis (guitar/harmonica/vocals), Robert Kopec (bass/backing vocals) and Roger Voss (drums/backing vocals). Highlights off Live in Europe include the slow growling blues number “All Over Again”, a run through ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago”, a sweet cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey”, the swampy and heavy “Pride and Soul”, the funky “Into Your Eyes”, the blues moaner “Something is Wrong with My Baby”, the hard charging “Right Where It Belongs” and a cover of the Billy Myles written “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” most notably covered by Freddie King and later by Eric Clapton. For more information about the Scott Weis Band and their latest release Live in Europe check out https://scottweisband.com or go to www.facebook.com/ScottWeisBand

Tucson, AZ based rock and blues outfit Black Cat Bones have released a new album titled Troublemaker an eleven song mix of original tunes. The band is fronted by founder and lead vocalist Charles Pitts (he is also the principle writer for the group), Jeff Daniels and Bill Greenberg on bass and drums respectively and the twin guitar attack of Richard Rivera and Kid Dynamite aka Devon. Guests along for the ride include Mark “Doc” Holladay on keyboards, Mike (Johnny Guitar) Blommer and former Outlaws member Billy Yates on guitar as well as production and engineering duties. Highlights from Troublemaker include the thumping LP opener “Bad Enough”, the tight groove on “Jekyll and Hyde Woman”, the heavy bottom title track “Troublemaker”, the dark and bluesy “Junkie”, the slow blues moaner “Yesterday’s Gone”, the high energy rocker “What I Should”, the rolling and tumbling “Playing Games With Words” and the gritty album closer “Anything Can Happen”. For more information about Black Cat Bones and their latest release Troublemaker check out their website at www.blackcatbones.net or go to www.facebook.com/blackcatbonestucson