Monsieur Job Tops Latin Billboard and Heatseeker Charts with BASS PA$$I

Having recently dropped their lead single and Video “Chow Chow Eyyy Pow Pow” Feat. No Mercy followed by their full BASS PA$$I LP via Basswalk Latino and Musik and Film, Latino/Pop/EDM superstars Monsieur Job are continuing to climb charts worldwide, with the album hitting #6 on the Billboard Latin Charts this week!

Toby Holguin dreams music, lives music and gives music life. It was Toby’s vision to create Monsieur Job, a band that will rock you make you move your feet. A band that will make you cry with passion. Formed by Toby Holguin from Cali, Colombia, a beautiful place high in the mountains above the clouds . Toby then asked Stan Kolev from Sofia, Bulgaria, Charlie Illera from Barranquilla, Colombia, and Leo Jaramillo from Bogota, Colombia. To become one musically as Monsieur Job.



“It makes some demands of the listener, but none they won’t be happy to oblige. The demands are centered on how artfully ‘Chow Chow eyyy Pow Pow’ upends expectations for pop music in this vein thanks to its strong musical pedigree and vocal presentation. The performance is unfailingly accessible, but there’s a real sophistication present in the song as well.The three and a half minute radio edit of this initial offering from the quartet is augmented by the presence of guest star Martin Cintron, lead singer for the band No Mercy, and the Bronx born vocalist is the added cherry on top of what will likely prove one of 2018’s more delectable musical confections” - No Depression

All of them them live and breathe their own style of music combined they are Monsieur Job. Toby, Stan, and Charlie spin records as DJs constantly for different pools and venues around the world. Moreover, Toby had the idea to start doing Urban Music besides Chill Out and Electronic Music, which is the vision that created the album “Bass Passi”. they started dropping broken beats with a more festive, shaky, groovy Caribbean latin flavor turning it into an international exclusive mash up of world talents and a unique blend of genres.

For their debut release of Chow Chow Eyyy Pow Pow , The record has hit the Euro Indie Music Chart at #1 for 9 consecutive weeks, the Digital Radio Tracker Top 10, and the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Top 100 Songs for their single and Top 200 for Best Albums for their album “Bass Passi”.

The album “BASS PA$$I” was recorded in Bogota and Miami at Basswalk Studios, Outta Limits Studios in Miami, and Barba Studios in Belgrade and mastered at Sterling Studios, New York.



Purchase: Monsieur Job "BASS PA$$I 1" Feat. "Chow Chow Eyyy Pow Pow" via iTunes

LISTEN: Monsieur Job "BASS PA$$I 1" Feat. "Chow Chow Eyyy Pow Pow" via Spotify



Purchase: Monsieur Job "BASS PA$$I 2" via iTunes

LISTEN: Monsieur Job "BASS PA$$I 2" via Spotify

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!

Gnarly Karma start up 2016 with new album and show at The Bitter End, January 23rd!

New York alternative rock band Gnarly Karma just debuted a fresh new album called "Classic Breeze" and play The Bitter End, Saturday - January 23rd.

Gnarly Karma is one of the most interesting bands on the New York City scene right now. They have a unique sound made up of guitar, bass, drums, sax, keyboards, harmonica and vocals. Mike Renert is an emotional singer with a dynamic range, full of classic rock influences and a grungy rasp. He has the lyrical wit of Neil Young, or similar to Adam Duritz on the softer songs, songs about 'love and life' from a storyteller's point of view. The more upbeat acoustic tracks are in the vein of the Dave Matthews Band and O.A.R.. There's always a great groove. There's always a solid pulse. The saxophone gives the music a transcendental vibe and contemporary jazz/rock feel that works with Renert's hypnotic songwriting style. They are an exciting act to catch live and always impress. Top notch musicians.. Check them out at The Bitter End, January 23rd!

"Classic Breeze" is now available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Apple Music, and more.

Oogee Wawa and the age of modern medicine in music...

There have been few bands to mix multiple music genres over the past 20 years successfully. This was a ‘thing’ in the 1970’s after the breakout of The Beatles’ drug explorations of 1967. It is argued today that The Beatles may not have been the most original band, copying and inserting influences into their music to call their own, but The Beatles were the most famous band of their time so they were the ones to show the world new movements in pop rock culture. The 70’s brought on bands like Led Zeppelin or Yes, bands that could actually play blues and jazz to a progressive extent, thus forming the genre: progressive rock. 

By today’s standards, labels are not so important and the younger generation of musicians can play many styles more instinctively. Over the years, we’ve had bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction and Radiohead, bands that fuse different styles with ease commercially. The commercial part is the tricky part. How does one self indulge in whatever they want to do when it’s against the public norm and sell tickets to see it? Few bands try... some succeed, some don’t.

Oogee Wawa come from Long Island, New York, a place where everyone’s trying to ‘make it’ at what they want to do. Long Island has reggae bands, funk bands, jazz, rock, hip hop, blues, folk and any other kind of approach you can think of. Oogee Wawa (sounds like a Frank Zappa album title, no?) are mixing all of this into their trademark sound and drawing huge crowds to boot. They are exceptional musicians with ambitious hearts in a growing music scene where everyone’s competing for attention and the better gig. But they seem more focused on having a great time and making feel good tracks more than fame and fortune. Nevertheless, the grab bag of fame and fortune seem to be heading their way. This is how most great bands move ahead, by doing what they do and not trying to copy someone else for superficial purposes. 

When listening to their songs, I feel uplifted, like everything’s gonna work out and there’s no reason to stress about things. I get this feeling when I listen to Bob Marley. It works like an herbal supplement for depression. Their music is more than catchy pop tunes with a funky beat. It has a flow to get you through the day and each song has a simple clear message for the listener like “Go Your Way” and “Feelin Alive Today”. This was the essence of reggae pioneers- The Wailers. Poetry for the every man and grooves that put a smile on your face.

Not only have Oogee Wawa tapped into something the majority of New Yorkers seem to like, they are hard working players, performing every week and pumping out new material faster than anyone else as far as I can see. They won first place at the Indie Music Fest in Las Vegas, NV and racked up an impressive amount of shows, over 100 in a year, making them incredibly prolific to say the least. They headlined Long Island’s premiere venue The Paramount and continue to draw big crowds wherever they play. 

I love the fact that they combine such eccentric tastes from Eminem to The Beach Boys over beats Lee “Scratch” Perry would flip over. No one else is doing something so fresh and new, it gives a music journalist like myself a rush to the head when I listen. The band has also shared the stage with their predecessors like Slightly Stoopid and Sublime, but I gotta say, I think Oogee Wawa are better! Their jams are even more alive and thousands of people are reacting that way. It’s a party on stage and you’re all invited!

You can experience the Oogee Wawa sensation for yourself by checking their website for tour dates at a venue near you.

Remember what Bob Marley said: “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” There’s nothing truer in life and Oogee Wawa epitomize the talent to do so.