Janelle Sadler

Janelle Sadler was born loving music. Her Father, a public school teacher, and her mother, a bookstore owner, encouraged her as much as they could. Being the middle child of three siblings, Janelle was rather shy, but music brought out her stage-loving side

Picking up the guitar in her teens, she soon started performing in churches, coffeehouses, high school choir concerts, and anywhere else that was available for a young singer. Her early influences were Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Atlanta’s Mother’s Finest, and Chaka Khan. During a stint in college, she found real paying gigs entertaining the tourists in the beach clubs and never looked back. “Once I figured I could support myself doing what I loved, it became my obsession!” she says.

After years of singing everything from jazz to heavy metal, she twice won the award for Tampa Bay’s “Best Female Vocalist.” With these awards and the surprise landing of a background singing gig with Donny Osmond, she finally found the courage to move to Los Angeles in the summer of ’91 where she’s worked professionally ever since.

Janelle has sung leads on TV themes for “Brothers And Sisters” and “Smallville,” and has toured the world singing backups behind mega talent Natalie Cole and many others.

“Los Angeles taught me that even though the world is filled with incredible musicians, there will always be a place for me if I hold true to myself and stay prepared,” Janelle explains. “The minute you quit dreaming and creating musical goals to work toward, you’re done. I’m sorry world, but I’m never going to stop!”

Catch Janelle Sadler with John Orsini December 2 at Heidi’s (7 N. Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach). Call 783-4559 for ticket information. Watch videos and hear song samples at www.janellesadler.com

The Legend of the Seagullmen

Who are the Seagullmen? What is the Legend? I’m not quite sure myself, but I was lucky enough to witness its origins unfold nearly three years ago in Cocoa Beach’s Casablanca bar.

It was a slow night, and apart from the bartender and a wraithlike figure skulking in the shadows near the door, I was the only other one there not applauding a truly terrible band called the High Voltages.

Toward the end of their set, a bearded, piratical-looking character in sodden galoshes and faded, blood-besmirched yellow oilskins entered soaked to the follicle, which I found odd, considering how dry and clear it was outside. The man approached the trio and I could barely overhear him murmuring something about a treasure chest and endless riches and omnipotence. It seemed to me that some sort of diabolical pact was being arranged, and part of me wanted to stop the endearingly awful musicians from sealing the deal.

Word has it that the Legend that began that night will unfold further this Thanksgiving weekend in a multi-media extravaganza the likes of which we’ve never seen. Don your ghost-crab carapace and show your loyalty to these extraordinary men on November 25.

The Legend of the Seagullmen continues on Friday, November 25 in downtown Cocoa Beach at an as-yet-undisclosed venue. Check their websites online — www.theseagullmen.com and on Facebook: “Cocoa Beach Seagullmen” — or check www.thebechsideresident.com for further details as they emerge. You can also see video samples of their performances and short clips of the planned film.

Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones

Nominated as Ireland’s Best Traditional Folk Group, touring over 180 concerts in 2010 throughout six different countries, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones are known throughout the world for their quality musical presentation of Irish patriotic songs and traditional music.

Fronted by outstanding singer, stage personality, composer, and historian of music and song tradition, Derek Warfield is a legend wherever Irish roots have been put down. He has enjoyed phenomenal success for some 40 years with the old Wolfe Tones, with best-selling albums, number one hits, television appearances and shows in Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. Derek has also been prolific as a solo artist, releasing an astonishing eleven albums in just over a decade. Ten years on from the beginning of his solo career, the man often described as “Ireland’s greatest ballad singer” is bringing an old tradition with a young sound to his legion of fans across the world.

The Young Wolfe Tones feature some of the finest Irish musicians and singers from a younger generation and bring guaranteed excitement, fun, and passion to every performance. Comprised of Demaris Woods (tenor banjo), Alan Murray (guitar), Fintan Warfield (guitar), Dan Lowery (flute, tine whistle, and guitar), and bassist Luke Ward, the band share with their mentor a passion and enthusiasm for their shared Irish heritage.

2011 has been a busy year for Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones. The band have recently completed a Spring tour of Australia, which included numerous performances at the prestigious National Folk Festival in Canberra, as well as shows in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Sydney. To coincide with this nationwide tour, they recently launched their latest album, Far Away in Australia. The title track, popularized by Peter McNulty, reminds listeners of the realities of emigration. Included on the album are 19 fantastic ballads and tunes, all associated with Ireland and Australia, including “Back Home in Derry,” written by Bobby Sands, and “Take Care of Your Fenians, or the Yankees Will Steal Them Away,” an Australian ballad detailing the infamous Catalpa rescues.

Of the well-known tunes they perform, Derek say: “People can get sniffy about these songs and not many bands are actually doing this material these days, but they’re great songs and part of a legacy which stretches back many generations. I believe that these songs will be renewed and will remain important, but you can’t take any tradition for granted. So we’re presenting an old tradition in a new package — and I’ve the same passion for it now as I had when it all started 44 years ago.”

Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones perform Sunday, November 13 at Nolan’s Irish Pub, located at 204 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy. (520 and A1A) in Cocoa Beach. For ticket information, call 783-8499.

Tom Curren

In his five-year rise to World Surfing Champion, Tom Curren led the way in cutting edge, perfectly tuned performance. Despite his youth, he was acknowledged as surfing’s first genius, and he single-handedly altered the anti-establishment mindset of hundreds of thousands of American surfers before turning pro.

To surfers, Curren was bigger than the Beatles. Rolling Stone gave him headline space as a matter of course.

Curren has played a variety of instruments since the age of fifteen. His drumming, bass, guitar, singing, and composition took a form that reflected his unique personality. Famously reclusive, his musical gift was only recognised — although highly regarded — among a small enclave of musical celebrities.

Curren broke track in late 1993 by committing to a 27-stop national American tour, in which his band Skipping Urchins drove to every hardcore surfing outpost. The tour was a stunning validation of his artistry and endurance.

His musical depth grew through the mid ’90s as he collaborated and jammed with premier talent. Curren also relocated from France back to Southern California. It was during a visit to Sydney in ’98 that he revealed himself to be a prodigious musician. One evening, unannounced, he walked in off the street to EMI Studios. Curren laid down six live tracks with just guitar and voice.

Curren’s tunes feature raw and honest performances. The folk influence, and bluesy, gritty feel rendered with a minimalist approach may have been seen as contradictory to what some believe as the “surfing music market.” However, the recording success of his longtime friend Jack Johnson, is testament to the fact that the “surfing music market” is a past tense definition, and that the market is receptive to a wide variety of styles.

Curren’s music goes beyond the immediate “surf market.” He explores musical styles and combinations of sounds that reflect his unique take on music — and a glimpse into the Curren persona.

Composing and recording is now routine, as is rehearsing his band for performances at major surfing events (whether he’s competing or not), as well as mainstream venues. The expansion of Curren’s horizons into music seems a natural path to him. In many ways, the culture and lifestyle of surfing and music are one and the same. “Curren’s reputation as one of the world’s greatest surfers in history is supported by his accomplishments as a competitor,” writes Matt Warshaw in “Surf Riders.” “But most surfers would define Curren as an artist, then as a world champion.”

Tom Curren performs Wednesday, November 16 at Rusty’s Seafood & Oyster Bar (628 Glen Cheek Dr. in Port Canaveral). Show begins at 7 p.m. Supporting acts include the Josh Miller Blues Revue and William Kimball. To learn more, call Rusty’s at 783-2033.

Bone Dogs

Nominated for the 2009 Brevard Music Award’s Entertainer of the Year, in the Favorite Keyboardist and Guitarist categories, Bone Dogs have made a huge impression on the beachside music circuit since they formed. Also sponsored by Gwin Amplification and East Coast Music, the quartet is one of the hardest working, most sought after bands in the area. They got their start playing throughout the Palm Bay area, but have since come to the beaches to broaden their fan base.

The lineup of guitarist and vocalist Russ Kellum (formerly of True Bluez), drummer Michael Wright, bassist Mark Glisson, and keyboardist Derek Castello (formerly of Groove Monsters), delivers the promise of growling rhythms, barking grooves, and solos with a bite. They’re well versed in a number of musical genres, including rock, blues, jazz, and country, as heard on many of their original songs and their eclectic choice of covers.

Since forming, they’ve performed with the likes Pat Travers, Dangerous Dan Toler of the Greg Allman Band, Todd Sharpville, Jason Ricci, Leanne Binder, and Michael Allman, Greg Allman’s son, and opened for one of their favorite bands, Gov’t Mule, at a recent show in Cocoa. Their recent appearance at the 2010 Space Coast Music Festival, which was held this past September in Cape Canaveral, earned them scores of new fans and cemented their reputation as one of the best live bands in the area.

Catch Bone Dogs Saturday, November 26 at the at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy.; Cocoa Beach; 783-2250). Visit the band online at: www.myspace.com/bonedogsband

Mud Rooster

Taking their name from the tail of mud that arcs up behind bikes and fourwheelers, this popular, Ocoee-based blues trio enjoys a strong beachside following.

Comprised of Dave DeQuasie (guitar and vocals), Jim Young (bass and vocals), and drummer Jorge Villar, Mud Rooster are known for their stylishly funky takes on blues standards. With influences ranging from Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf to Deep Purple and the Allman Brothers, all three members also moonlight as instructors at music schools in Casselberry, Winter Garden, and Oveido.

Despite their solid reputations as some of Central Florida’s most accomplished musicians, DeQuasie, Young, and Villar aren’t afraid to inject decidedly unpolished swampiness into many of their renditions. It makes for exciting listening, whether they’re channeling the wildness of Hound Dog Taylor or churning out a sleek cover of Steely Dan’s “Pretzel Logic.”

Mud Rooster perform on Friday, September 23 at Paddy Cassidy’s Irish Pub (2009 N. Atlantic Ave.) in Cocoa Beach. Visit the band online at: www.reverbnation.com/mudrooster

Justin Murphy

Justin Murphy has been playing Irish traditional music for over twenty years. Having immigrated to the U.S. as a boy in 1978, he discovered the music of his roots while attending Tulane University in 1989.

Under the tutelage of Dublin native Richie Stafford, a player of both Irish traditional flute and fiddle, Murphy began a 15-year stint as one of the house musicians at O’Flaherty’s Irish Channel Pub in New Orleans. Initially mastering tin whistle, flute and bodhran (traditional Irish drum), he later added vocals and guitar to his repertoire. In addition to playing gigs in the Orlando area, Murphy currently teaches anthropology at Seminole State College in Sanford, FL.

Murphy was a founding member of the critically acclaimed New Orleans-based Irish band the Poor Clares, which debuted at the 1993 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. With band members Betsy McGovern, Patrick O’Flaherty, and Beth Patterson, the Poor Clares recorded three albums and headlined festivals and concert venues throughout the U.S., including the Milwaukee Irish Festival, the North Texas Irish Festival, and Carnegie Hall. Murphy also plays in Legacy, along with Don Penzien and Valerie Plested. Focusing on the traditional dance music of Ireland, Legacy has drawn the enthusiastic attention of Irish music fanatics all across the country.

From foot-stomping jigs and reels to pub favorites and Irish songs in the tradition of Planxty and Paul Brady, Murphy’s performances offer a slice of Irish music that’s hard to beat.

Catch Justin Murphy September 16-17 at Nolan’s Irish Pub (204 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy. in Cocoa Beach) for their “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” celebration. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Visit him online at: www.justinmurphymusic.com. For more information, call Nolan’s at 783-8499.

Hymn For Her

Multi-instrumentalists Lucy Tight and Wayne Waxing are Hymn For Her, a rock duo that hails from anywhere they can park their 16-foot, vintage ’61 Bambi Airstream.

Describing their music as “stomp-grass punk folk with a hint of Americana,” Hymn For Her recorded their latest release, Lucy & Wayne and the Amairican Stream, in this same trailer with the help of Jim Diamond (producer of the first two White Stripes albums). Lucy plays a
three-stringed, broom handle/cigar box guitar, banjo, and sometimes a glockenspiel. She shares vocal duties with Wayne, who also plays acoustic guitar, banjo, dobro, and/or harmonica, all while handling percussion on bass drum and hi-hat. Bullet microphones and an arsenal of effect pedals give this band a much larger sound than you’d expect. Their show is further enhanced by a slide show of original photos projected on an old-fashioned slide projector.

Wherever they play, Hymn For Her win over audiences with their twisted take on bluegrass and folk for engaging shows that offer haunting covers of Led Zeppelin or other classic rock bands. Having played hundreds of shows over the last six months, the duo has no plans
of ending their musical odyssey any time in the near future. They’ll keep to the road through the end of 2011, while they continue to write new tunes they hope to record at the end of the year.

Catch Hymn For Her on Saturday, September 10 at 8 p.m. at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., downtown Cocoa Beach; 783-2250). Visit the band online at www.hymnforher.com

Strings of the South: A Celebration of Americana Music
By M. A. Rivera

You say this economy has you down and out, stuck slumped in front of your TV, wishing you could get out? Never fear! If you have $10 — or even just $5 — here’s a night out you won’t soon forget.

On Friday, September 9, in downtown Cocoa Village, Built on Strength Productions will present a block party and an evening of the finest Americana music Central Florida has to offer. Presently, folk and Americana are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and some of the best and most unique acts are coming of out Florida.

With nine bands on three stages, you’re sure to get your money’s worth. Outside at the Gazebo (9 Stone Street), the all-ages show starts at 7 p.m., with performances by Damion Suomi, Roadkill Ghost Choir, the Lonesome City Travelers, and Goodrich & The Die Tryin’s. Just $5 will get you admittance to these Gazebo sets.

Upstairs at the Hippodrome, another fiver gets you in to see critically acclaimed artist Ben Prestage, who’ll perform two sets of his unique one-man-band show, which needs to be seen to be believed. DC Wilson performs as the opening act.

Downstairs, at the Dog N’ Bone British Pub, catch free performances from the Bloody Jug Band, Chopper Stepe, and Bartender Brian.

“Strings of the South: A Celebration of Americana Music” takes place Friday, September 9 in downtown Cocoa Village. Enjoy the music of nine bands on three separate stages — the Gazebo, the Hippodrome, and the Dog N’ Bone British Pub, all of which are located in the heart of downtown at 9 Stone Street. Admission is $5 for one stage; $10 for all-access tickets.

Reunion with Damion Suomi and The Cook Trio

On Sunday, August 28 at 4:30 p.m., Paddy Cassidy’s Irish Pub will be hosting a Reunion gathering, beer tasting, fundraiser, and live music extravaganza.

Terrapin Brewery’s Reunion Cask Ale will serve as the event’s “Beer for Hope,” in their efforts to gather funds to support cancer research. Also on hand will be potluck dinner comprised of patrons’ favorite dishes and the chance to reconnect with friends both old and new.

And who better to provide the soundtrack for this special evening than Paddy’s favorites Damion Suomi and the Cook Trio?

Apart from being exceptional musicians, both Suomi and the Cook Trio also share the distinction of being criminally underrated (at least on a national level). In an ideal world, both would be showered with untold riches. That they’ve stayed true to the spirit of their music, rather than its potential marketability, only makes them that much more precious.

You could say that Suomi comes from the Woody Guthrie-Bob Dylan school of singer/songwriter thought, but as much as his stirring originals reflect a questioning interest in spiritual concerns, they’re also leavened with the boisterous, devil-may-care ethos of Chuck Bukowski and potent revivalist Americana.

The Cook Trio, on the other hand, play music steeped in the jazz manouche tradition of France, best exemplified by gypsy innovator Django Reinhardt. But the atmosphere they create is no less affecting, incorporating, as it does, elements of technique-driven American jazz and more primal Moorish and Romany rhythms.

Above all, both acts uncover music’s vital soul, one that quietly reflects and loudly celebrates with equal verve.

Paddy Cassidy’s Reunion takes place Sunday, August 28 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Expect a special tasting of Terrapin Brewery’s Reunion Cask Ale, a potluck dinner, and live music from Damion Suomi and the Cook Trio. The event offers the chance to reconnect with old friends — and meet new ones — and raise money for cancer research (as such, smoking will only be permitted outside during the celebration). For more details, call Paddy’s at 783-0810. The Pub is located at 2009 N. Atlantic Ave. in the Publix Plaza, Cocoa Beach.

Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder

The participation of German blues musicians in the world’s largest blues competition on American ground itself is extremely unusual, but Georg Schroeter (piano, vocals) and Marc Breitfelder (harp) winning the 27th International Blues Challenge 2011 in Memphis, TN, cannot be overestimated.

Fact is that the two musicians from Kiel (Northern Germany) are the first European musicians in the IBC’s 27-years history to run away with this prestigious award from the U.S. — the home of the blues. The duo took its first try to win the IBC in January 2010. By gaining the German and Baltic Blues Challenges 2009 in Eutin, Germany, they met the requirements to get nominated for the IBC 2010 by the Baltic Blues Society Eutin. Last year, blues lovers in Memphis already paid attention as they came in second place in the semi finals. By winning the German Blues Award 2010 — also sponsored by the Baltic Blues Society Eutin — they were entitled to participate in this year’s IBC again.

Well experienced and self-assured from last year’s competition, Georg and Marc went straight through two quarterfinals and the semi final in the clubs on Memphis’ legendary Beale Street to the final competition at the time-honored Orpheum Theatre. In front of an audience of nearly 2,000, the two showed their excellent skills and delivered a brilliant set during their 20-minutes performance. Carried and pushed by the overwhelmed and often spontaneously applauding audience, Georg and Marc brought their show to a thundering climax that swept the audience off their feet.

See Georg Schroeter & Marc Breitfelder perform a special engagement on Monday, August 29 at Heidi’s (7 N. Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach; 783-4559). Visit the duo’s website at: www.bluestour.de

The Paul Stott Group

Described by some as “Orlando’s best kept secret,” the Paul Stott Group have only been together for a short time, but the members have been part of the Central Florida music scene for years.

Led by guitarist/vocalist Paul Stott (two-time winner of Guitar Center’s “King of the Blues” Competition), the quartet is widely considered to be the premier blues band in the Orlando Area. Other members Rick Plate (harp and vocals), Joey D. (bass and vocals), and Dave Fiaccato (drums) contribute to their old-school, Southern-blues sound. Stott, who’s also veteran of the Chicago blues scene, provides clean, intense riffs and puts an urgent spin on classic standards and originals.

Renowned for their many appearances at blues festivals throughout the state, the Paul Stott Group perform at the Beach Shack on August 21.

Catch the Paul Stott Group Sunday, August 21 at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 783-2250). Check the band online at: www.paulstottgroup.com

Sally Hart with Terry Myers

Vocalist and multi-talented performer Sally Hart (née Flynn) first earned fame on “The Lawrence Welk Show” in 1968 as part of the beloved singing act Sandi & Salli. The duo, which also included Sandi Griffiths, was very popular on the show until late 1972, when Sally left to pursue a successful solo career on Broadway.

On December 6, 1974, she married Clay Hart, a country singer who was part of the Welk show from 1969 to 1975. Shortly after their marriage, Sally and Clay began singing together professionally, often as an opening act for performers such as Red Skelton, Juliet Prowse, and Mel Tillis. Together, the Harts have also released several albums, owned a tote bag business (Get Sack), and have hosted their own show on the Nashville Network called “Remodeling & Decorating Today.” They’ve also appeared in wraparound segments for reruns of the Welk Show on PBS and have toured the United States with fellow Welk stars in the “Forever Blowing Bubbles” concert series.

For her scheduled dates at Heidi’s Jazz club this month (August 19 and 20), Sally will be accompanied by featured multi-reed instrumentalist Terry Myers (famed for his own orchestra’s Benny Goodman Tribute shows and his playing with Bill Allred’s Classic Jazz Band), pianist Ron Teixeira, bassist Rabbitt Simmons, and drummer Stan Soloko.

Sally Hart performs with Terry Myers and Heidi’s house trio Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20. Shows are from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is $10. Heidi’s Jazz Club is located at 7 N. Orlando Ave. in downtown Cocoa Beach. Call 783-4559 for more details, or visit www.heidisjazzclub.com

Local band “Squonk Opera” to perform live on America’s Got Talent

Satellite Beach resident, Kevin Kornicki, aka “Squonk Opera Drummer” and his band are among the top 48 finalists in this season of America’s Got Talent. Kevin is the globally renowned group’s assistant musical director and percussionist. His realm of drumming expertise ranges from traditional drumkit, to electronica and world percussion. Squonk Opera is based in Pittsburgh, Pa. and its five members perform original music mixed with performance and props. Although Kevin tours extensively with Squonk, and at one time performed a stint on and off-Broadway, he can be seen performing throughout local venues with Flamenco trio, Don Soledad Group. Kevin’s live performance with Squonk Opera will air Tuesday, July 12 on the NBC realty show from 9 p.m. – 11 p.m. EST. Afterward the public will have the chance to vote. On July 13 the group will appear back on the show to find out their fate. You can follow him on his Hollywood Journey this week by “liking” them on Facebook, twitter and/or by clicking through NBC’s site. http://www.nbc.com/americas-got-talent/contestants/squonk-opera

Comedy at Slow & Low Bar-B-Que

Beginning Friday, July 29, Slow & Low Bar-B-Que will begin hosting live comedians as part of their ongoing Comedy series.

Held the last Friday of each month, these events are organized by comedian Duncan Jay, whose Southern charm, mixed with a sarcastic quick wit is something he likes to call “Southern Hostility.”

Originally from Alabama, Jay spent the majority of his childhood in Brevard County and a majority of his adulthood in New York City, where he moved after graduating from Merritt Island High in 1994. There he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and performed in regional and off off-Broadway theatre before starting to hone his comedy routine in 2002. He’s since moved back to Florida to concentrate on performing throughout the area, and came up with the idea of helping other comedians garner local attention through venues like Slow & Low.

“As I was doing shows, I noticed the caliber of talent in Central Florida area, and wanted to give something back to the area that helped mold me into the character that I am,” Jay says, citing now-famous comedians with Floridian connections, Darrell Hammond and Jim Breuer from “SNL,” Mitch Hedberg, Larry the Cable Guy, Carrot Top, and Daniel Tosh from Comedy Central’s hit “Tosh.0.”

“My goal in doing a monthly showcase was to bring the best comedians in Florida to Cocoa Beach, and when Nicole and Joel at Slow & Low heard my idea, they allowed us the opportunity to do just that,” Jay explains. “The guys we bring in are guys who usually travel the country, but are always happy when they don’t have to go that far to do their thing. Shows consist of nationally-touring headliners that call Central Florida home and some of the best up-and-comers around. Occasionally we’re graced with some local talent as our ‘guest’ acts. One of the best things about doing a show with local talent is that so often as a performer your family asks when you’re doing a show where they can come see you. Well, this is that show.”

The July 29 show features performances by Jay Duncan, Danny Davenport, and headliner Ian Gutoskie. Show begins at 8:30 p.m. Slow & Low is located at 306 N. Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Call 783-6199 for details.

Tory Wynter

Jamaican-born Tory Wynter is an internationally-recognized star of stage and screen as well as an acclaimed ambassador for World Music.

Though born in Kingston, Wynter spent his early years in London before moving to New York City, where he studied voice and acting. He soon began performing with some of the greatest names in entertainment, and for some of the most prestigious audiences. Early fans included such figures as Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. The immortal conductor Leonard Bernstein thought so much of Wynter’s talent that he provided him with an opportunity to perform on the “Merv Griffin Show.”

Soon after, Wynter burst onto the recording industry, writing several albums and singles for major record labels. The experience and expertise he picked up along the way allowed him to open a highly successful publishing company and record label, Laykash Records. Wynter has since recorded several hit songs that have reached number-one positions on the Billboard Music Charts.

An award-winning singer, composer, arranger, music producer, and recording artist, Wynter is also known for his work on television and stage as a producer, director, and actor. He’s hosted his own TV specials in Jamaica, Curacao, Nassau-Bahamas, and Saint Maarten, but is known in this country primarily as the leader of the Cosmic World Beat Band, a multi-instrumental outfit that explores the rhythms of the globe. In describing the idea behind Cosmic World Beat, Wynter says, “It means the cosmic universe which we are all a part of. We all come from one tree.”

Spirituality is an integral part of Wynter’s musical aesthetic, an approach that’s defined as much by his personal relationship with Bob Marley as by his love of legendary American ballad singer and bandleader Billy Eckstine. “I write all kinds of songs,” Wynter explains. “I write prophecies, I write love songs… I don’t have any limitation on my music. It’s just music. Cosmic music. People need those labels to sell records. I’m just a messenger of God, just bringing out what God tells me to bring out.”

Tory Wynter performs on Saturday, July 16 at Heidi’s Jazz Club (7 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 783-4559). Admission is $10; please call or stop in to purchase tickets.

The Lights Out Project

This July 30 sees the return of popular local sons the Lights Out Project to Coconuts on the Beach.

With ex-Indicasol members and native Brevardians Jason Noon, Eric Hill, John Hulland, and Ivan Grammer acting as the core since their 2005 inception, the Project has since expanded to include a large, rotating cast of multi-instrumentalists who now call Oahu home. As a testament to their musical power, they’ve opened for Ziggy Marley, Maxxi Priest, Toots & the Maytals, UB40, and Third World throughout an impressively prolific career.

Combining all the laid-back precepts of island living and serious roots rock reggae with upbeat ska and surf rock, the Lights Out Project convert casual listeners into diehard fans wherever they play. Along with principal songwriter Noon’s positive lyrics and heartfelt singing, the band rides high on a constant wave of inventive percussion and warm, coaxing saxophone.

The Lights Out Project play Saturday, July 30 at Coconuts on the Beach (2 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 784-1422). Visit the band online at: www.lightsoutproject.com

John Emil

John Emil, an accomplished singer/songwriter, guitarist, and a master of slide guitar, has delivered showstopping performances at major music festivals like the Telluride Blues and Brews Fest, the Lake Occonee Music Fest, the Florida and South Florida Folk Fests, and the Decatur Blues and Bluegrass Festival.

Equally adept with the acoustic Hawaiian lap steel guitar and dobro, Emil first appeared on the South Florida music scene in 2000. Fans hear haunting, subtle hints of Delta bluesmen Son House and Blind Willie Johnson, but Emil ultimately creates a unique style all his own by integrating country blues, folk, bluegrass and lush Hawaiian sounds into his repertoire.

Routinely taking the lost art of slide guitar in a new direction, Emil has composed a wealth of slide guitar tracks for media production libraries. His instrumental tracks have been published by LA Post Music in Los Angeles, Westar Music in Canada, and Strange Fruit in South Africa. Emil recently became the first American musician to be published by London’s KPM, one of the world’s largest production libraries. Among the many television and cable network shows Emil has supplied music for are “Dateline,” Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations,” CMT’s “Cribs,” and several international wildlife and nature documentaries.

John Emil performs Sunday, July 10 and Sunday, July 24 at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 783-2250). Shows begin at 6 p.m. To learn more about his music, visit www.myspace.com/johnemilmusic

The Bird Dog Bobby Band

The Bird Dog Bobby Band delivers upbeat creative originals with deeply-rooted versions of blues classics, all of which reflect the members’ extensive range and depth of experience.

Their encyclopedic knowledge of the blues is evident in the tasteful composition and razor-sharp execution of their original songs, marked by guitar wizardry and smooth, emotional vocals. All of these factors make the whole of this band greater than the sum of its parts. Listen, and you’ll be rewarded with one well-executed riff after another, each new, but inextricably linked to long traditions of other blues masters.

Drummer Reno Mussatto’s powerful vocals and solid grooves always have just the right feel, and Gary Whitehead bonds the rhythm section together with perfectly balanced bass lines. The band’s namesake, Bob “Bird Dog” Rhoads (guitar and vocals) rounds out this trio comprised since 2008 of former members of the Smoking Torpedoes and the Honey Hounds. Mussatto describes BDBB’s founding thusly: “Gary Whitehead and I had been playing with the Smoking Torpedoes when the group disbanded, leaving he and I without a frontman. I remembered hearing Bird Dog Bobby and how he really rocked, but that his band, the Honey Hounds, weren’t interested in playing original music. So we went to him and proposed we start a band to play original songs.”

The band have two CDs under their belt, the propulsive Live at the Plaza Theatre (recorded in late 2008 after being together about six weeks), and the Time to Live In, released in 2010. Made up of 13 original tunes, Time to Live In stems from the members’ personal experiences and is truly a labor of love. Bouncing between accounts of life on the road and clever subversions of classic blues tropes. Overall, the album showcases the silky smoothness and steely precision of a band in command of both the stage and the recording studio.

Catch the Bird Dog Bobby Band July 29 at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., downtown Cocoa Beach; 783-2250) from 8 p.m. to midnight. They’ll also be performing at Lou’s Blues in Indialantic July 2 and 31. To learn more about the band, visit www.birddogbobbyband.com, or search for them on www.reverbnation.com. Check back with the Resident next month for a review of Time to Live In.

The Myra Watters Irish Dancers

The highly popular Watters School of Irish Dancing was established in 2001 by Irish-born Myra Watters, who, after studying her craft in Dublin, went on to tour extensively in well-known shows like “Lord of the Dance” and “Feet of Flames.”

Having competed all over the globe at a host of events and venues, Watters has earned several World dancing titles, and in addition to her teaching, serves as the Worldwide Irish Dance Commission Representative for the U.S. Southern Region. With teacher and one-time student Cristi Cameron, Watters has earned renown for her skills as a choreographer and educator, helping her Orlando-based school garner critical acclaim wherever they perform.

Locals should be familiar with the Myra Watters girls, a rotating cast of dancers ranging in age from 6 to 16, who perform regularly during local St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Crowd favorites whenever and wherever they take the stage, the Myra Watters Irish Dancers have developed a special relationship with Nolan’s Irish Pub. Each time they dance here, the girls draw hugely enthusiastic crowds eager to feel the infectious rhythms of step dancing, reels, jigs.

This June 11, the Myra Watters Irish Dancers will help Nolan’s celebrate their 3rd Anniversary with the Brevard Police and Fire Pipes & Drums and Ennis & Craig.

The Myra Watters Irish Dancers perform June 11 at Nolan’s Irish Pub, located at 204 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy. (A1A and 520, a few doors down from the Dinosaur Store), for their 3rd Anniversary. Enjoy live entertainment and food, prizes, and giveaways. Call 783-8499 for more information.

Karalyn & Dawn Patrol

Melbourne-based musician Karalyn Woulas began playing guitar and singing in 2003, and took her first shot at performing at open mics just six short years ago.

In 2006, Karalyn brought together three other local musicians to form the surf punk/alternative-influenced Lady and the Tramps. Though she continues to perform regularly with them all over Brevard as singer and lead guitar player, Karalyn began leading the blues-based Dawn Patrol in January of this year. With Dawn Patrol, she performs many of her original songs and several blues-based covers and has appeared three times locally with other groups for benefits for battered women and Haiti. If that weren’t enough, Karalyn also heads a southern rock/country band called Swampfox and supplies backup and harmony vocals in the all-original band Italian Plush.

Having earned two B.S. degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mathematics from FIT, Karalyn also works as an Avionics Test Engineer for the Shuttle Program through United Space Alliance. She’ll start work for the Navy on the Trident Missile Program as an Electrical Engineer in March of this year. Her love for surfing inspires her highly infectious original songs.

Catch Karalyn & Dawn Patrol Saturday, June 11 at Sandbarpalooza (at the Sandbar, 4301 Ocean Beach Blvd. in Cocoa Beach; 799-2577) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and on Sunday, June 12 at The Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 783-2250) from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Troy “Satchmo” Anderson

Troy Anderson got his first taste for music while growing up in a Bahamian family filled with musicians. At the age of 10, he began playing the trumpet and went on to perform in the Florida Sunshine Band and the Gospel Sounds before being introduced to the world of the drum and bugle corps in school. A later stint with the Florida Vanguards taught him how to be an effective lead soprano soloist while performing in front of thousands of screaming fans. Subsequent tours with the famous Bayonne Bridgemen Drum & Bugle Corps helped hone his showmanship skills.

Anderson first fell in love with the music of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong while playing with the 2nd AD (Fwd) Jazz Band in Germany where he was stationed as a paratrooper. Following one such performance for some high-ranking officials, the Command Sergeant Major of the U.S Army asked Anderson put together a show of nothing but Armstrong’s greatest hits. Anderson was known throughout Germany for playing like Satchmo, but singing like him was a different story. Practice, however, made perfect and he soon managed to replicate Armstrong’s trademark growl with stirring accuracy.

After a tragic 10-year illness sidelined Anderson’s career as a musician — he was told by doctors he would never be able to play trumpet again — he miraculously recovered to form the Wonderful World Tribute Band, through which he’s brought the legendary music of Louis Armstrong to life. Today, the South Florida resident regularly takes the stage at O’Hara’s Jazz & Blues Café in Fort Lauderdale with his five-piece to pay tribute to Satchmo. But Anderson’s Armstrong is too natural to be called uncanny. Starting out with the look, he slips easily into the rest — the dinner jacket, the trumpet and hanky, the roly-poly voice, and above all, the contagious the joie de vivre that made Armstrong so beloved. Anderson’s set includes Armstrong favorites “Mack the Knife,” “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “What a Wonderful World,” and many, many more.

Troy Anderson performs with Terry Myers on June 10-11 at Heidi’s Jazz Club (7 N. Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach; 783-4559). Shows begin at 8:30 p.m. To find out more about Anderson, visit his Facebook page: “Troy Satchmo Anderson.”

The Stephan Michael Connection

The Stephan Michael Connection combine the sounds of soul and funk with the lyrics of familiar classics — sweet soul music and funky dance tunes from Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Sam and Dave wedded to the soulful rock n’ roll of Van Morrison, J. Geils, Bill Withers, and Billy Preston.

Growing up in the Detroit area, it’s easy to see how vocalist and harmonica player Stephan Michael keeps being pulled back to his roots of ’70s soul and funk, and the Motown, Stax, and Hi Records style is where he’s most at home. Dubbed “The Voice” in many music publications, he’s been placed in the ranks with greats such as Dio (for his power) and Jack Bruce (for his soul). Drummer George Wilson relocated to Central Florida from Connecticut, where he gained extensive playing experience from rock to jazz, and he’s one of the most power groove-oriented drummers you’re likely to witness. Locally, George has played with Killer Dudes, The Groove Monsters, One of a Kind Ron Jon Band, Rory Pastorius, Don’t Quit Your Day Job, and Michael Leasure. If that weren’t enough, George also works by day at 89.5, WFIT radio as an Underwriting Executive.

Guitarist Johnnie Cable brings a multitude of experience to the band, having performed with and opened for acts as diverse as Bo Diddley, Charlie Daniels, Billy Preston, Lee Greenwood, Eddie Rabbit, The Grass Roots, and the Coasters before returning to his home on the Space Coast. Johnnie delivers the top level of musicianship that The Stephan Michael Connection is known for. Originally from Hollywood, California, Caesar D. grew up playing sax on funk and soul music as well as all styles of music. A seasoned studio musician, Caesar spent most of his musical career in the L.A. area. Keyboardist Jay Yerkes has been playing keyboards in working bands for almost 40 years, and has appeared played with or opened for such names as Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys, The Rascals, Gary US Bonds, and Johnny Thunder. Together, the Stephan Michael Connection make one helluva noise — don’t miss them live.

The Stephan Michael Connection plays Friday, June 24 at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 783-2250). Visit the Connection online at www.stephanmichaelconnection.com

The Bloody Jug Band
By M. Alberto Rivera

You say you’re in the mood to hear something slightly different. The usual assortment of acoustic artists reinterpreting Buffett for the millionth time won’t cut it. Come here, my pretties and try this on for size…

Orlando’s Bloody Jug Band will cast their dark shadow across Brevard when they bring their updated and skewed version of a modern jug band to Cocoa on June 24. The band leans heavily on the influence of jug bands that peaked in popularity in the late 1920s and early ’30s.
Jug bands were originally traveling vaudeville acts that generally consisted of musicians playing homemade or found instruments such as the washtub string bass, spoons, washboard, and not to overstate the obvious, the jug. TBJB are musical purists, and some might say lyrically as well.

Lead singer Cragmire Peace has always been fascinated with campy horror films and the sort of eerie campfire tales that make people seek refuge at the bottom of their sleeping bags. Like a lot of traditional Americana, folk and country music, jug bands often sang about murder, mayhem and darkness.

In 2009, when Peace was assembling the octet of like-minded musicians, those he spoke with either loved the idea or thought he was nuts. One of the first members recruited was jug player Big Daddy Jerm, who soon brought with him vocalist Stormy Jean, who suggested… you get the idea. “A lot of the players are pushed out of their comfort zone,” says Peace of the unique challenges presented by being a true-to-form traditional jug band.

For your listening pleasure, The Bloody Jug band performs original compositions as well reinterpretations music by Judas Priest, the Misfits, Johnny Cash, and as of late have added Bob Dylan’s “Tombstone Blues.”

The Bloody Jug Band performs at the Hippodrome (9 Stone St., Cocoa) on Friday, June 24 with DC Wilson (from the Nine Volts) and Goodrich & The Die Tryins..

CHRISTIAN TAMBURR

Christian Tamburr is a multi-instrumentalist, accomplished on the piano and trapset as well as world and orchestral percussion.However, his true talent is exhibited on his instrument of choice, the vibraphone. Tamburr currently leads the critically-acclaimed Christian Tamburr Quartet, a four-piece acoustic jazz group.

Tamburr first started performing jazz at the age of 14. Now 34, he’s had the opportunity to work and tour with many jazz legends, including Ira Sullivan, Kenny Barron, Billy Drummond, James Moody, Milt Hinton, Bucky Pizarelli, Slide Hampton, and Bunky Green. He’s also performed as a guest artist with Dave Brubeck and as a solo percussionist with Michael Feinstein, and has opened for Harry Connick, Jr.

Over the past 7 years, Taburr and his band have performed at such venues as The Lincoln Center in New York City, The Blue Note, Small’s, Yoshi’s, the Atlanta, San Jose, and Cocoa Beach Jazz Festivals, the Ravinia Jazz Residence in Chicago, and various Jazz Cruises around the world.

Although rooted in jazz, Tamburr’s ability to be diverse in the music industry has allowed him to be successful in multiple genres of performance and recording. He also works as a producer, arranger, and composer for TV, film and stage productions around the world. Offstage, he also works as a clinician and lecturer, teaching high school and college students all around the country.

Christian Tamburr performs May 6 at 8:30 p.m. at Heidi’s Jazz Club (7 N. Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach; 783-4559). Tickets for the special performance are $20 each.

Red Soda Returns

By M. Alberto Rivera

The scars on skin prove they’ve earned the right to be back. Red Soda underwent a great many changes during their original inception, but they are back, however briefly, and should not be missed. Reuniting the classic 1992-1995 lineup of Adrian Mol, Chuck Fleming and John Archibald, they will be performing at Surfer’s Sports Pub in Cocoa Beach, on May 21.

Formed in 1988, the band went through numerous lineups, but it wasn’t until 1992 that a cohesive sound gelled and Red Soda truly took shape. Drummer John Archibald joined the band and they developed a more raw and aggressive sound. This version of the band gigged heavily throughout the southeast, honing their playing and songwriting to become a taut, aggressive, and musically muscular band to be reckoned with. They became regional favorites playing with touring acts and packing venues on their own.

In late 1995, this lineup gave way to growing musical differences. Mol took the band with him to Brooklyn, where they soldiered on in various incarnations until 2005. This became a more musically introspective and artful period for the band.

During their tenure, Red Soda recorded several albums — Halo (2000), The Slow Circular (1998), Underneath the Moon and Eyelashes (1997), as well as several 7″ singles. During the early to mid-1990s they released several lo-fi cassettes, which are currently being remastered for re-release. The cassettes were part of the pre-internet fanzine and tape trading culture. These include recordings done by the classic, reunited lineup made with underground legend Hal Spector.

This is the third reunion show in recent years. And if the previous shows are an indication of what to expect, you don’t want to miss out. This is not nostalgia on display, nor is it older men reliving youthful indulgences. This is Red Soda sounding better than ever before.

Catch Red Soda on May 21 at Surfer’s Sports Pub, located at 350 N. Orlando Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Call 784-2858 for more details.

Jonny Mogambo

This month, Vail Colorado’s legendary Jonny Mogambo will be making his way to here a week of shows at Coconuts on the Beach.

Mogambo, known for his high-energy funk rock grooves, plays a variety of crowd favorites and originals from his six-album career. He’s also known for getting everyone — both young and old — involved in his shows, which revolve around classics and great takes on tunes most everyone will recognize. He draws on influences from funk, rock n’ roll, blues, and bluegrass, along with some Motown, soul, ska and reggae thrown in.

Some of Mogambo’s most requested songs are originals like “Telluride,” “Dinner in Paradise,” “Rise Up,” “Go Home, Haole,” and “Colorado Golden STP Orange Barrel Sunshine.” One of the main things that separates Mogambo from most slope-side and beach bar players is the way he connects with his audience. As he puts it, “Everyone loves music. Whether you play it or just love to listen and dance, we all can relate to it. Music transcends all that is happening today and takes us all to a better place. When I feel that connection with the audience, I know that’s why we all came together.”

In Vail, Mogambo recently opened for Buckwheat Zydeco and The Grey Boy All-Stars. He just finished the 2010-11 ski season playing five days a week in Vail and is now touring in the spring and summer, making stops at B.B. Kings’ in Memphis, Chicago, Denver, Charleston, Michigan, and Madison, Wisconsin.

Catch Jonny Mogambo at Coconuts on the Beach (2 Minutemen Cswy.; Cocoa Beach) May 16–21, nightly from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.). For more information, visit www.jonnymogambo.com

JOEY GILMORE

Born in Ocala on July 6, 1944, Joey Gilmore came to South Florida in the ’60s and has been there ever since. Gilmore found his niche playing behind all the great soul, blues and R&B stars that passed through town, as well as leading his own successful bands and recording along the way. His love affair with the guitar began in his teens. “In the town that I lived in, there was a barbershop,” Gilmore reminisces. “And the barber that owned the shop was a sanctified preacher. He was a minister, and he had this little flat-bodied guitar. It was electric, no amplifier to it. And he would bring it to the shop with him, and he was trying to learn how to play. So I would get to the barbershop early whenever I would go to get my hair cut, or even after school, I would hang around at the barbershop, because I wanted to get my hands on that guitar. I would take the guitar and they had these old wooden benches. I would lay the guitar on top of the wooden bench and when you would strum the strings, the wood, the bench, would vibrate, and the floor would, the sound would resonate, and you could hear it without the amplifier. I learned just from watching him.” Decades later and now established as a Florida legend, Gilmore provides a highlight at blues festivals and clubs, and his career has spanned 40 years with performances throughout the United States and Europe.

Joey Gilmore plays Saturday, May 21 at 8 p.m. at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy.; 783-2250).

LURRIE BELL

Born in 1958, the son of famed harmonica master Carey Bell, Lurrie Bell was raised in a Chicago household naturally steeped in the the blues.

“Because of my dad, there was all kinds of music growing up in that house,” Bell reminisces. All manner of blues greats would regularly drop by to rehearse: Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Dawkins, Eddy Clearwater, Big Walter Horton, Sunnyland Slim, and Muddy Waters sideman Lovie Lee, whom Bell came to regard as his “spiritual grandfather.”

Having taught himself guitar at an early age, Bell soon began adding elements of gospel to his musical studies, and went on to enjoy success fronting several Chicago blues bands.

After wrestling and conquering some personal demons during the ’80s, Bell now finds that life — as it is always has been — is all about the music. “Being able to record, to get up on stage and perform, makes you want to get up in the morning and face the day,” he says with relish. “Every day.”

Lurrie Bell performs with the Scott Cable Band on May 19 at 8 p.m. at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy., Cocoa Beach; 783-2250). Visit Lurrie Bell online at: www.lurrie.com

Patti Wicks

In a jazz marketplace saturated with singer/pianists, Patti Wicks stands apart.

Patti is the real thing — a pianist with a highly personal style of playing and a singer with an instantly recognizable voice. Her superior musicianship, impeccable taste and singular ability to dig deep inside the meaning of a lyric have earned her the respect of her fellow jazz musicians, the unqualified praise of jazz critics, and the admiration of a constantly expanding audience of devoted fans.

Despite the inherent difficulties of a career in jazz, Wicks has remained steadfast in her commitment to the music and in her determination to find success on her own terms.

Patti Wicks learned to overcome challenges at a very early age. Born two months premature, with a medical crisis that left her visually impaired, Patti found that her hearing more than compensated for her limited eyesight. At the age of three, Patti sat listening to her mother play the piano. She then walked over to the piano and played, note-for-note, the song her mother had just finished. Her stunned parents realized that Patti had a special gift and decided to find her a piano teacher. A Julliard graduate, Kleinmeyer developed an innovative teaching method that would allow Patti to learn to play the piano by ear. In addition to the traditional classical piano training, she also encouraged Patti’s natural interest in composing and improvising and taught her basic music theory.

Over the next 30 years, Patti Wicks honed her craft playing New York City jazz clubs as well as clubs and concerts up and down the East Coast jazz circuit from Maine to Florida. Her trio featured a variety of musicians including bassists Sam Jones, Richard Davis, Brian Torff and Mark Dresser, and drummers Curtis Boyd, Louis Hayes, Mickey Roker and Alan Dawson. In addition to her work as a leader, Wicks played with veteran jazz musicians Flip Phillips, Clark Terry, Cecil Payne, Frank Morgan, Ira Sullivan, Pete Minger, Richie Cole, Larry Coryell and Turk Mauro. She has also accompanied jazz vocalists Anita O’Day, Sheila Jordan, Carol Sloane, Rebecca Parris, Roseanna Vitro and Giacomo Gates. Throughout her career Patti has also been actively involved in jazz education teaching jazz piano at the college level, as well as working as a private vocal coach and jazz piano instructor.

Patti Wicks appears at Heidi’s Jazz Club (7 N. Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach; 783-4459) on April 8 and 9 from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Admission is $10. To find out more about Patti Wicks, visit: www.pattiwicks.com