The first Wednesday of the month, starting in April, the Attention Mongers will be performing their light and contemporary acoustic guitar and vocal duo at Gus O’Connors. Jake Tobias and Melissa Behring perform three sets full of material you know and love. True classic anthems from great bands like the Rolling Stones, Jewel, the Who, Van Morrison and Feist. They cover over 100 pop, rock, classic and folk songs.
Gus O’Connors Attention Mongers Show Dates:
Wed April 7
Wed May 5
Wed June 9
Showtime 9 pm -1 am
Gus O’Connors is located at 42875 Grand River Avenue Novi, MI 48375-1782 (248) 465-9670.
Featuring 7 Million Jigawatts
wsg/ HouseCall, Bobbing for Piranhas, and other musical talent
Live at the Stanley Beck Auditorium in Alpena
Saturday January 23, 2010 7 pm
Alpena MI – Thunder Bay Arts Council presents the 6th annual Guitar Summit at the Stanley Beck Auditorium located on the campus of Alpena High School. Don’t miss the chance to see some of Alpena’s exceptional musical acts on Saturday January 23rd, 2010.
Start the New Year out right by coming to Alpena’s 6th annual Guitar Summit to experience some of Northeastern Michigan’s finest musicians. Headlining the Summit is 7 Million Jigawatts (7MJ) who have recently been making quite a name for themselves. Their unique style of music is infused with rock and soul and has caught the attention of Ford Motor Company; their song “I’ve Got You Covered,” is featured on the 360 view of the 2010 Mustang on www.the2010mustang.com. They’ve also had a successful release their new CD ‘Taking Flight’ which is available online at ITunes, Last FM, Digstation, and CD Baby.
Two of the band members are Alpena natives; Melissa Behring and Nathan Montgomery. They both graduated from Alpena High school but ironically didn’t know each other until they relocated to Metro-Detroit. Melissa Behring is the front woman of this rockin music ensemble; after graduation she studied at Central Michigan University where she acquired a Bachelor’s degree in voice performance and is currently pursuing her masters at Berklee College of Music. Nathan Montgomery plays guitar as well as bass and keyboards for the band. After high school, Nathan went to Wayne State University where he graduated with a degree in jazz performance. On top of being in 7MJ he has also released two solo instrumental CDs. To complete 7MJ these two are perfectly complemented by Jake Tobias on guitar/bass and Jon Vidal on Drums.
Another great addition to this year’s summit is the band Bobbing for Piranhas. They are an Alpena rock band that has a lot of soul. This fantastic three-piece features front man Ethan O’Brien; he plays guitar and sings lead vocals. O’Brien has a voice that might have come straight out of the 70s; his expressive voice is pure talent. On bass and vocals as well is Conor Larkin and coming in to bring the tempo together is James Daoust on drums and backing vocals.
Kicking off the summit will be the doctor duo HouseCall who sing and play guitars in a Simon and Garfunkelesque style. Also to be featured will be local guitarists’; Wayne Kendjiorski, Pete VanVlera, and Larry Daoust.
Guitar Summit VI will take place at the Stanley Beck Auditorium at 3303 South Third St., Alpena MI 49707 on Saturday, January 23rd at 7pm. Tickets are $12 at the door. For more info call 989-356-6678 or email mtbarts@freeway.net
The Melissa Behring Project
By Natalie Sugarman
Jan 5, 2010, 12:56
The Colors Of Jazz
The experience of jazz is a creative fantasia of music. The Melissa Behring Project offers up classic songs by Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer. They also incorporate more mainstream songs by artists such as Prince and Sade and put their own jazz interpretation into it. Each musician that makes up the components of the Project offers a creative spark of talent that forms one fluid motion of music. They will be playing the first Friday series at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill in Canton. The theater is a 400-seat premiere performing/visual arts center offering opportunities for all ages to experience culture and the arts as both participants and patrons. The theater features different styles of music the first Friday of every month and is located in the historic district in the west of the township at the intersection of Cherry Hill Road and Ridge Road.
Melissa Behring is the passionate and talented frontwoman that started this jazz ensemble in 2005. She has assembled a team of extraordinary and gifted musicians. Neil Donato plays piano and has established a professional standing that involves him in many creative projects that keep him in the studio and on stage across Southeastern Michigan. He has performed at numerous venues including the Ark in Ann Arbor and the Fisher Theatre in Detroit; he has also toured with the major Broadway show Mamma Mia! Clint Sabon is a percussionist who was trained with Larry Fratangelo who has shaped some of Detroit’s most talented drummers. Fratangelo has played with the likes of Kid Rock, Aretha Franklin and Anita Baker to name a few. Add an upright bass to the mix of these stellar musicians played by Michael Rais and you have a complete recipe for the blue notes of jazz mixed with a hazy violet sound that translates into relaxed perfection.
When I asked Behring what drew her to the sound and fluidity of jazz she responded with:
“When I was a kid I used to watch Lady Sings the Blues all the time; it’s a film about Billie Holiday’s life. I loved the music and memorized all the songs. A few years later, someone gave me a box set of Billie’s Decca Recordings and I was really hooked. I started buying all the great jazz singers CDs: Ella, Sara, Lena, Dinah and the sheet music, too. I learned as many of those songs as I could. A few years ago, I was introduced to Neil Donato, who is an amazing jazz pianist. We decided to start my dream group and to work on some of those old songs. We wanted to put an updated twist on the standards. So here we are playing this show in Canton and getting ready to go into the studio to record some of those songs that really inspired me to form the Melissa Behring Project.”
The live jazz performance by the Melissa Behring Project will take place on January 8. Come experience the colors of jazz as we enter the beginning of our new year with the sultry vocals of Melissa Behring and the fluid melodies of Neil Donato’s hypnotic piano playing. Add in Clint Sabon on the drums and Michael Rais on the upright bass and you have very a talented jazz quartet that will have you floating away in a dreamlike jazz trance. Because jazz is not just a sound; it’s a state of mind. | RDW
Vic Faust and Joanne Purtan interviewed Melissa Behring and Neil Donato about their upcoming performance at the Canton Theater on WXYZ ABC’s Channel 7 News on Sunday January 3.
Canton MI – The Village Theatre presents: a live jazz performance by the Melissa Behring Project. Come experience the colors of jazz with the sultry vocals of Melissa Behring and the fluid melodies of Neil Donato’s hypnotic piano playing, add in Clint Sabon on the drums and Michael Rais on the upright bass and you have very talented jazz quartet.
The experience of jazz is a creative fantasia of music. The Melissa Behring Project offers up classic songs by Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer. They also incorporate more mainstream songs by artists such as Prince and Sade and put their own jazz interpretation into it. They will be playing the first Friday series at the Village Theater in Canton, which features different styles of music the first Friday of every month. Each musician that makes up the components of the Project offers a creative spark of talent that forms one fluid motion of music.
Melissa Behring and Neil Donato Piano/Vocal Duo
Melissa Behring is the passionate and talented front woman that started this jazz ensemble in 2005. She has assembled a team of extraordinary and gifted musicians. Neil Donato plays piano and has established a professional standing that involves him in many creative projects that keeps him in the studio and on stage across Southeastern Michigan. He has performed at numerous venues including the Ark in Ann Arbor and the Fisher Theatre in Detroit; he has also toured with the major Broadway show Mama Mia. Clint Sabon is a percussionist who was trained with Larry Fratangelo who has shaped some of Detroit’s most talented drummers. Fratangelo has played with the likes of Kid Rock, Aretha Franklin, and Anita Baker to name a few. Add an upright bass to the mix of these stellar musicians played by Michael Rais and you have a complete recipe for the blue notes of jazz mixed with a hazy violet sound that translates into relaxed perfection.
The Melissa Behring Project will arrive at the Village Theater in Canton at 50400 Cherry Hill, Canton MI 48188 on Friday January 8th at 8:00pm. For more info call 734-394-5300. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Village Theater Box Office, http://tinyurl.com/yg9llz6 or you can call the Box Office at 734-394-5460 x0.
To any contemporary country fan, Chad Jeffers has one of the coolest gigs anywhere — going out on tour playing beside the likes of Keith Urban (see photo at left) and Carrie Underwood. In his new book, 25 Notes for the Successful Musician, he writes that he’s constantly asked how he landed such a killer job. The answer? In short, he’s been networking like crazy, practicing all the time and accepting nearly every Nashville gig when he’s available. The former member of Pinmonkey also tackles topics like moving to a city with a professional music scene, studying other realms of music like jazz and simply being nice to the sound guy at fairs and festivals. I’m not a musician, but I wholeheartedly agree with one of his main themes — identifying what “success” means to you, whether it’s writing a No. 1 country smash or just making a living as a musician. If you’re already in the biz or curious about what it takes to get inside this crazy world, don’t pass on Notes.
Published December 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pm | By: Craig Shelburne on CMT.com
About MusicRow is Nashville’s Music Industry Publication.
As the go-to source for music business news, industry experts rely on information from our top-notch staff of reporters and critics. Whether it be record reviews, the latest stories, timely interviews or discovering rising talent first, MusicRow is known for its candid voice and accuracy.
What they have to say about Chad Jeffers’ new book, 25 Notes for the Successful Musician:
Chad Jeffers is a successful in-demand road musician; he currently tours as Carrie Underwood’s steel guitar player and previously toured with Keith Urban, playing a variety of instruments. He was also a member of the group Pinmonkey, which had several singles released by RCA.
Jeffers’ new book, 25 Notes for the Successful Musician: The Ultimate Guide to Making It in the Music Industry is aimed at aspiring musicians. First, he wants to bring a dose of reality to those who believe playing music for a living is all glitz and glamour, by stressing the importance of professionalism.
What sets Jeffers’ book apart is that he stresses the networking aspects of being a musician. A musician certainly has to be able to perform at a professional level in the industry but, after that, it’s personality and networking that determines who gets the gigs. He also stresses that practice and preparedness are essential—something many young musicians overlook. It’s more than just getting your guitar tuned, it’s getting yourself in tune with who’s going to hire you and the audience you’re playing for.
In his “notes” on “Work Hard and Be Nice” and “It’s All About Sales. Are You a Salesman?” Jeffers confronts the issue of whether its “music” or “business” (he’s also got a chapter by that title). The answer, of course, is that it is a mixture of both and those who ignore one side in favor of the other are doomed to come up short when they chase their dreams.
Finally, Jeffers ends his book with some practical advice with “Save (and Invest) Your Money” and “Taxes.” He is right on about these important topics. Too many musicians proclaim that they love the music and hate the business, but those who want a long-term career that ends with some dignity need to keep an eye on the business side, whether they “love” it or not.
Musician Chad Jeffers Publishes ‘How To’ Book On MAKING IT In the Music Industry
Nashville, TN December 2, 2009 – Groovenslide Publishing has just released 25 Notes for the Successful Musician, written by Chad Jeffers. The book is the perfect primer on how to become a successful professional musician, written by a musician who has honed his craft with some of music’s biggest acts. Designed as a step by step instruction book on the do’s and don’t’s of the music business, as well as a bit of an inspirational journey for those ready to take the next step, Jeffers draws upon his considerable experience to make the book both entertaining and instructional.
Jeffers knows of what he writes. Through the years, he has performed with such superstars as Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Kenny Loggins. As a member of fan and critic favorites, Pinmonkey, Jeffers had his own record deal with RCA. So when he offers up a chapter titled “Being Signed as an Artist and Being Dropped As An Artist,” he draws from personal experience. The beauty of the book though is that even with chapters that could turn into a negative session on the music business, Jeffers instead singles out the positive aspects and what to take away from the experience to make the next round even better.
“I’ve been lucky enough to perform with some of the industry’s biggest stars and travel the world,” Jeffers said. “No matter where I am, I always get asked the same questions—‘how did you get this gig?’ or ‘what did you do to get where you are today?’ Meeting so many people who truly have a passion for music and honestly want to know how to do this inspired me to put my experience into a book.”
The result is a book that is an informative guide for the aspiring musician or artist. Though some of the chapter titles may appear to be givens, not everyone acknowledges their importance. Jeffers offers another example, the section titled “Work Hard and Be Nice.”
“That is certainly an obvious statement but you’d be surprised at how many people think they can blow off giving a good performance because they partied all night the night before. And the statement that no one wants to help a jerk is true in any business,” Jeffers said.
Stay warm as TOAST in the coldest conditions. TOAST SKIRTS are the latest and one of the best inventions to beat the cold – it’s a winter skirt that works like snow pants but is more convenient and prettier to boot!
TOAST SKIRTS pop on to instantly turn your short jackets into long coats.
Drawing on her experience of coping with bitter cold during Canadian film shoots, musician VIVIAN GEORGE designed TOAST SKIRTS to keep warm.
Since then TOAST SKIRTS have graced the hips of many film/tv cast and crew including Jennifer Stone (and her mom) on the set of Disney’s Harriett the Spy.
TOAST SKIRTS are perfect for tailgate parties and cheering on your favorite team in warmth and comfort. Waterproof, windproof, cushy snug and flattering, TOAST SKIRTS will make you stand up and cheer for freedom from the clutter of carrying seat cushions and blankets to the game.
Film crews, Musicians, Actors, Hockey Moms, School Crossing Guards, Cottagers and anyone who walks a dog rave about popping TOAST on (even sometimes over pajamas!) for convenient warmth against the elements.
TOAST SKIRTS are available online at: www.toastskirts.com $145.00 USD
Hard Rock Cafe & Dream Town Media Partner to Benefit Toys for Tots
Featuring: 7 Million Jigawatts wsg/ Kevin Roney
Live at the Hard Rock Café Detroit
Thursday December 10th
Detroit MI – Dream Town Media presents a evening filled with music for a great cause. Come out and help bring a smile to a child this holiday season at the Toys for Tots fundraiser at the Hard Rock Café on Thursday December 10th.
Toys for Tots is a great and simple way to spread some holiday cheer this year to those who are less fortunate. This program which was founded in 1947 by the United States Marine Corp. is truly a blessing to those in need that may not be able to provide their children with a gift for the holidays. The mission is to collect new, unwrapped toys and to distribute them as gifts to needy children.
7 Million Jigawatts will be in the holiday spirit and rocking the stage. Coming off their recently successful CD release party at Next Step Studio art gallery for their new EP called ‘Taking Flight.’ Their song from the album, “I’ve Got You Covered,” is featured on the interior 360 view of the 2010 Mustang on www.the2010mustang.com.They will be playing a mix of covers as well as originals from their new release. This group has been playing together since 2003 and has an impressive collective onstage presence.
Kevin Roney has been playing professionally around metro Detroit for 5+ years. He is a singer/songwriter creative who merges folk, funk, and hip hop. He plays his acoustic guitar like a bass, beatboxes, and sings soulfully. If you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing Kevin, come out and see him!
The Toys for Tots fundraiser takes place at the Hard Rock Café Detroit on Thursday, December 10th at 7:30 pm. Free admission with a new unwrapped toy or a $5 donation at the door. Hope to see you there!
