"Family & Friends" - The Gospel According to Tommy Botz

The art of the songwriter does not come without pain and suffering. A true wordsmith must have a story to tell, whether it be a tale of redemption or the road to recovery. Without falling, one cannot learn how to pick oneself up, and without sharing what he or she learns through hard life lessons, one cannot serve any kind of artistic purpose of any significance.

Tommy Botz comes from the realm of the old school troubadours, the singer songwriters of the road. He has battled with alchohol addiction and come back from the darkness to tell his tale through song form. It's a place of sincerity and brutal honesty that his songs come from, much like the legends of the past- Gene Clark, Merle Haggard, Townes Van Zandt. He has written over 200 songs and recorded several with a full stacked top notch backing band to boot. Of these songs, you will discover Tommy Botz' authenticity, his voice and passion come through in only the way of legends.

"Maggie" starts up with pedal steel guitars and a heavy back beat with lyrics about sleeping on trains, barflys and the loss of a good woman. It's the way the 12 bar country blues was meant to be, performed with devotion and heartache.

"Train of Glory" rumbles a half-step, up tempo drum beat with Johnny Cash style vocals. It's produced like it's blasting out of a jukebox down south in a vintage concert hall filled with drifters and wanderers. 

"Teddy Bear" is Botz' prettiest ballad, a song featuring female vocals reminiscent of Emmy Lou Harris and Linda Ronstadt. Brings back memories of the early '70s L.A. Troubadour country scene. The song is a conversation with the lord, a spiritual song with beautifully arranged strings and piano. 

Tommy Botz has been around the bend, a hidden gem among singer songwriters of epic folk lore. The music is executed in a masterful way unlike most mainstream country artists who just don't have much wisdom in their music. Botz' music is filled with clever wordplay, painful honesty and the poetry of the influential roadmasters of the 1960's and 70's. Perhaps a renaissance of this musical genre is coming... and Tommy Botz is willing to lead the way. 

AP: What was the first album you ever purchased?

TB: Elvis 

AP: At what age did you first learn an instrument? 

TB: Ten 

AP: Have you ever played in any other projects or has it been a solo trip from the beginning? 

TB: Was lead singer in the Chevells group and the Caesars 5 

AP: What are your thoughts on the modern country music industry? 

TB: I miss old school country and gospel 

AP: How have you evolved creatively through your experiences with addiction and recovery? 

TB: I hold the pen and GOD writes the words please listen to the words in my song Teddy Bear and I’ve never had children of my own 

AP: What should we expect next from you in the wild world of country rock? 

TB: Magic and Miracles

The "Empirical Truth" and Blues of Mark Newman

Mark Newman is a modern day bluesman. Contemporary blues is a path for the troubadour, the one who sings you songs about your everyday life. The barstool philosopher in song form...

On his newest release "Empirical Truth", Newman presents his most rockin' songs with a hell of a tremendous backing band. Reminiscent of the great Duane Allman and Lowell George, this is some of the best slide guitar playing anyone's ever heard! A twelve song powerhouse album filled with prime songwriting and a couple of kick-ass covers too. (Little Feat “Roll Um Easy” and John Oates "Mississippi Mile”) 

The album rolls through a pack of road songs, the kind of music you hear in the background of a bar in a Quentin Tarantino movie. It's a collection of swampy blues mixed with some killer acoustic tracks. Newman's vocals are as raw and vibey as his guitar playing. "Empirical Truth" shows a lot of variety, like a jukebox shuffling between every style of the blues, and acoustic songs that stick in your head for days. 

"Sharin' The Blues" is a throwback to old fashioned bar room blues. A song for every nine to fiver, getting by check to check. There's nothing like the healing medicine of an authentic blues number like this one. It's gritty and bass rumbling, like most of The Stones' "Exile on Main Street". The band sounds like they're in a smoke filled studio, very analogue sounding, smooth production. Newman's vision of the blues is a bit upgraded though, like a player who's studied all the classics from Clapton to Stevie Ray Vaughan, taking the genre to the next level. This album and new direction is the coolest thing happening in blues rock today. Catch Mark Newman live and see for yourself!



A New York native, Mark Newman’s musical prowess has taken him around the world several times over, playing with an eclectic mix of noted musical talents from Sting to Elvis Costello, and Travis Tritt as well as his own solo work. A multi stringsman, Mark has mastered electric/acoustic/lap steel guitar as well as the mandolin and dobro, and with a voice reminiscent of many rock and blues men before him- it has the familiarity of an old friend yet the power and soul of many of today’s rock, soul, folk and R&B icons. For over five years, Newman and fellow songwriter Naomi Margolin have run the “Music From the Hive”  Singer/Songwriter Series, and for the past three years- “The Original Music Series” for bands, in an attempt to keep original music alive and thriving.

Blues Rock Singer/Songwriter Albert Cummings comes to New York For TWO SHOWS August 18 and 19

Having hit both coasts already this year performing to sold out crowds of adoring fans, Blues Rock and Americana Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Albert Cummings is ready to head to Long Island and the Big Apple this August with stops at the YMCA Boulton Center in Bay Shore on Saturday, August 18th AND The Loft @ City Winery on Sunday, August 19th!

With his latest CD/DVD/Blu-Ray collection “Albert Cummings Live at the ’62 Center” making its mark on the live music world, Cummings recently told The Herald Palladium “It’s amazing what’s been happening with it,” continuing “It’s opened doors left and right with people starting to see who the band is and what it does. It started out as a video project, but we figured we might as well make it a live album as well. It just evolved into this whole thing.”

Outlets like Rock and Blues Muse have also noted “His muscular guitar work is simply outstanding.” and “He’s a great blues singer as well, with passion for the tunes inherent in his full throttle approach.” with The Cleveland Plain Dealer calling it “...a pulsating concert film”.

Albert Cummings Upcoming NY Tour Dates (CLICK LINK FOR TICKETS):

Date/Time	Venue/Location	Details
Saturday, August 18th, 2018 8:00PM	YMCA Boulton Center Bay Shore, NY	Age Limit: All Ages    Tickets: $35.00
Sunday, August 19th, 2018 7:00PM	The Loft @ City Winery New York, NY	Age Limit: 21+   Tickets: $20-25

Now as he gets ready to take on Long Island and New York City, fans will have not one but TWO chances to catch his extraordinary talents LIVE!

For More on Albert Cummings, VISIT:

www.AlbertCummings.com

Facebook.com/AlbertCummingsMusic

Albert Cummings Official YouTube Channel

Blues Rocker Albert Cummings Releases CD/DVD/Blu-ray “Live at the ‘62 Center”

Dubbed “A Great Guitarist” By The Legendary B.B. King, and Having Played with the Likes of King and Other Blues Legends From Buddy Guy to Johnny Winter - Singer/Songwriter and Blues Guitarist’s Full Concert Experience Set to Be Released Via Ivy Music

Following the release of 2015’s “Someone Like You”, Blues Rock and Americana Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter Albert Cummings is back with a brand new Live CD/DVD/Blu-ray collection out now! Recorded at a recent performance in his hometown of Williamstown, MA the aptly titled “Albert Cummings Live at the ’62 Center” features the widely respected bluesman and his band performing their hits past and present.

Albert Cummings has always loved being spontaneous when it comes to his music, and this creative spirit certainly came to the forefront during the recording of his most recent Live Album/DVD/Blu-ray collection. Putting together a newly formed version of his usual trio that afternoon of the October, 2016 recording- Cummings added keyboards and background singers for what would be their very first performance together.

With the crowd’s anticipation building, the lights came on and the band found their groove on song after song following the star effortlessly as if they had played together for years. With longtime friend and Grammy Winner Jim Gaines behind the soundboard, what comes through in both sight and sound is an incredible journey into the live performance world and artistry of one of today’s most seasoned blues musicians.

Sure to be a favorite among his fans both new and old, “Live at the ‘62 Center” captures Cummings’ unbounded joy for his craft performed in his very own hometown.

Mark Newman & The Doobie Brothers at The Paramount, October 13

Having recently performed at LIU Post for the “Musicians Without Borders” Benefit Concert this past September and releasing a bluesy new single titled “Scapegoat” singer/songwriter and guitarist Mark Newman is getting ready to open for legendary rockers The Doobie Brothers this Thursday, October 13th at The Paramount- 370 New York Ave, Huntington, NY!

Although Newman has played a ton of exciting solo and full-band showcases in the past few months--notably NYC’s B.B. King’s for the Delbert McClinton Birthday Show, The Space at Westbury opening for the one and only Don Felder, The Blue Note in Tokyo, Japan, The Space at Westbury opening for David Bromberg, NYC’s Legendary Bitter End, and the Pig’n Whistle in Los Angeles with Fred Herrera and Alex Del Zoppo, founding members of Sweetwater--he has also worked as sideman to so many soul, blues, and rock greats of our time like John Oates (Hall and Oates), Jim McCarty (The Yardbirds), Willy DeVille, Sam The Sham, and Sam Moore! 

A New York native, Newman’s musical prowess has taken him around the world several times over, playing with an eclectic mix of noted musical talents from Sting to Elvis Costello, and Travis Tritt as well as his own solo work. A multi stringsman, Mark has mastered electric/acoustic/lap steel guitar as well as the mandolin and dobro, and with a voice reminiscent of many rock and bluesmen before him- it has the familiarity of an old friend yet the power and soul of many of today’s rock, soul, folk and R&B icons. For over five years, Newman and fellow songwriter Naomi Margolin have run the “Music From the Hive” Singer/Songwriter Series, and for the past two years- “The Original Music Series” for bands, in an attempt to keep original music alive on Long Island. Newman also records and produces local artists in the Long Island/NYC area. 

“Walls of Jericho,” which was released in 2010, is filled with intricate guitar work and mixed with a plethora of sounds from hard rock to a lighter more Dylanesque folk tinge, but this style comes even more to the forefront on 2015’s “Brussels” out now on Danal Music and available via iTunes and CD Baby. The live acoustic-driven EP packs a bluesy punch reminiscent of Clapton’s “Unplugged” album through both the guitar work and raw vocal power. On the first track “Mean Season (Lucille, Lucille)”, Newman bellows “I waited til’ dawn, see if the sun will shine when you’re gone // You turn away, I just can’t stay where I don’t belong” and like many early bluesmen before him, you can hear the soulful longing and strife in his voice. With the brilliant slide-guitar work in “Dead Man’s Shoes” we’re easily transported in our minds to the West in the era of outlaws and cowboy boots, and in “Must Be A Pony” reminded about the power of a child’s enthusiasm and the efforts not to lose it as time goes by. 

His most recent release “Scapegoat” is yet another tune that brings Newman’s full-scale musicianship into the forefront as not only a brilliant slide-guitarist, but a gifted lyricist as well. His imagery depicts an innocent man on the run from the law after being framed for a murder he didn’t commit when he bellows “Walking home through an alley when I witnessed a hit, he was fightin’ for his life when his throat got slit // I screamed ‘hey stop!’ but not in time, I saw their faces and they saw mine”. The story takes an even darker turn when he continues “The police showed up to take care of business // They were looking for a weapon, looking for a witness // Though I know who it was I refused to name names // They took me downtown, I think I’m about to get framed”. Though a darker tale, the song itself verges more on the upbeat and danceable blues feel with a hammond organ solo that wouldn't be out of place in The Band, The Doors, or many of the great iconic rock songs of our time. But to judge for yourself, check it out via SoundCloud. 

With further shows coming up in the next few months including a Tao Jones Reunion (8PM) performance in Sea Cliff, NY Monday, October 17th and Saturday, December 3rd at Bar Louie (Commack) (10PM), you won’t want to miss a great opportunity to see Mark open for The Doobie Brothers on the Main Stage at The Paramount Thursday, October 13th at 8PM!

Mark Newman's Americana & the American Dream

World renowned multi-instrumentalist Mark Newman is touring on the heels of his latest album: "Walls of Jericho" and it's a mountain sized record of songs of Americana and the American dream. He is a masterful composer of many styles along with his talents for a variety of instruments, but for now he is focusing on his own material with a brand new collection of funky raw jams and smooth mellow grooves.

"Walls of Jericho" is a real singer/songwriting guitar slinger album. Newman has the mystical vibe of Neil Young with the bluesy rasp of Stevie Ray Vaughn. He sings about politics, life and women. The album features some of the most remarkable slide guitar playing I've ever heard, impressively reminiscent of the great Lowell George. This is more than 'a casual blues band at the bar' record. It's Mark Newman's vision of the modern day blues and contemporary rock and roll. 

Mark Newman has shared the stage with such legends as Sting to Elvis Costello and performed numerous times all around the world. He is in a sweet spot in his career right now and the music is reaching masses. "Walls of Jericho" is essential for the serious and sincere listener and I highly recommend that Mark Newman's predecessors should listen to this too. 

THIS IS HAPPENING.

Upcoming dates:

Dec. 28, 8 pm - Still Partner's, Sea Cliff, Music From The Hive Singer/Songwriter Series

Jan. 13, 9 pm - The Bitter End, NYC