The YLM story

Jambrain provides a historical perspective to the beginning of Youngstown Local Music - YLM.

"VexFest proved it was possible to have a major musical event in downtown Youngstown without the hassles associated with the area in the past. That was not a minor accomplishment.

Now, knowing they could do it, DeCapua and his Youngstown Local Music partners wanted to do a festival that was purely festive; to kick off springtime downtown with good time music, games, food, drinks. That’s what JonesFest, May 31 will be. Good music, positive vibes, all day; influencing local music by selecting and promoting it.

Jimmy D envisions Jones For Revival as a regional touring band, playing 100 shows a year on three tours and providing a living (and health insurance) for the band members, and sees Youngstown Local Music influencing the development of local music and even the rebirth and growth of Youngstown, which he loves."

read more on the players involved and upcoming events here.

everyone needs a 3rd arm

The Jambrain blog features some local cooperation:

"Jason Tibolla is on a musical mission: he and his cohorts are making a market for original, local music. Their Pre-Pat Party Saturday at Salty Grog’s was one shining example of their work.

Tibolla, Viking Jim and Pete Drivere host the Sunday night (9-10) Home Grown show on Clear Channel 93.3 which they started this past Thanksgiving to feature local bands doing their original work."

"Most of their shows are at Salty Grog’s (where Commesso tends bar), Barley’s downtown and the Cellar in Struthers. “We are putting 3-5 bands in each show,” Tibolla explained. “They get part of the door, so they know they’re getting something. We take care of all the up-front costs: venue rental, sound, lights, security,” and then make sure it works with a very visible presence.

Cooperative contacts with promoters in other tri-state areas are broadening the exposure for local bands and bringing other bands to Youngstown."

more here.

the unforgettable Sean Jones

The Youngstown Moxie blog recalls Mr. Jones and his trumpet:

"I don't know exactly why Sean Jones popped into my mind this morning but he did. I was drinking my coffee as usual and reading the daily blogs - and there he was playing in my mind's eye. I went in search of a video to share with you. I hope you enjoy it."

"When I first heard Sean I think he must have been about nineteen or twenty years old. Since then he has traveled far and wide playing awesome music. Occasionally, he has dropped in at various clubs in town, usually around the holidays, but I haven't heard tell of him being around lately, except this morning in my head, so hit the button to demand that he make a visit home."

Sean Jones is one of this country's greatest jazz musicians, and just a few years ago he was tearing down the house at YSU's Jazz Ensembles.

She has started a online petition to bring Mr. Jones back to town. Read more here

news: 28 Feb 2008

Youngstown approves contract to aid YSU project
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"The city’s board of control approved a $393,000 contract to have six structures demolished and asphalt removed from a parking lot.

The work is needed for a $30 million Youngstown State University building and a street extension project."

CIC Suspends Rules on How It Sells Properties
in the Business-Journal

"The board of the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp. placed its purchase program in abeyance Tuesday, that is, it suspended its procedures on the sale of the 12 remaining properties it could offer in the downtown.

Last week, the CIC’s counsel, Edwin Romero, advised the property committee that the commercial real estate in the downtown is rebounding, becoming a sellers’ market. The redevelopment agency, he said, should reconsider how it transfers ownership of the properties in the Masters block, the Kress Building and Two Guys Clothing Store."

Singer finds Self in Youngstown
in the Youngstown Vindicator

"Youngstown even inspired one song on the record. “‘Just Plain Whiskey’ was written while reflecting on that lost month in Youngstown,” said Palka. “You can almost hear the crackling ice drenched in whiskey on this jazzy midnight groove.”

Palka and The Caravan will give a preview of the new album, including “Just Plain Whiskey,” when the band performs at Cedars Lounge in Youngstown on Saturday."

pulling out of town

Matt Palka writes about his recording session in Youngstown the his most recent departure in the snow:

"The bus swung slowly out of downtown. I leaned my head against the window and turned the volume up on my CD player. The scratch demo spun hard inside. Youngstown was to be my final time in the studio. Barely five minutes on the interstate, I knew that was a false statement. I had to cut new vocals. The focus on my Youngstown sessions was brass and keys. I left vocals for last minute when everyone in the studio was glassy eyed from exhaustion. Vocal quality had been sacrificed."

What will he do next? read more here

his night on the streets of the Yo

Matt Palka describes his recent return to Youngstown and the recording studio (and downtown establishments):

"I've been back in the studio in the YO (Youngstown, OH) adding brass, keys, harmonica and vocals. What was supposed to be one full day of recording turned into a week of adventures."

"Working with engineer Pete Drivere was a privilege. He gets the classic, timeless landscape that I inhabit and captured that in the recording. I even got Pete to lay down some guitar licks on a couple tracks, which really glued the whole composition together.

Local keys wizard Chris Leonardi worked his magic armed with a 1971 Hammond B3 w/ Leslie, Fender Rhodes, and piano to boot! The result being - half of the record sounds reminiscent of the late 60s and early 70s. Rounding out the caravan of musicians was Fredo on Saxophone from local jam band Jones 4 Revival. What a positive personality to add to the mix, not to mention soulful phrasings."

and then after some film editing . . .

"I was locked out of his apartment complex. By 3 AM I was wandering the Youngstown streets among snow flurries . . .

Then salvation came in a phone call. My heavy boot steps plodded over the snow dusted sidewalks. Minutes later my limp body fell into the couch and I was out. I think I've earned my Youngstown stripes."

read more on Matt's adventures here.

the appalachian influence

from JamBrain:

"Dulci-More, a loose association of about 100 folk and traditional musicians formed in 1993, gave their 15th annual concert, Feb. 10 at the First United Methodist Church in Salem before an enthusiastic audience of more than 100.

The 25 members who performed Sunday played a wide variety of Appalachian-style musical instruments: mountain and hammer dulcimers, guitars, harmonicas, autoharps, fiddles, bass, recorders, cello, banjo, mandolin and jug. They were joined by six members of the Dulci-More Little Eagles from United Local Elementary School, a group formed three years ago with help from a one-time arts grant."

read more here.

plan b

Matt Palka is moving onto another plan, now that his credit cards are maxed out:

"Instead, I have plan B. I am selling my motorcycle. My 1972 mustang convertible didn't fair so well on E-bay. Everyone wanted a crazy deal on a car I had invested $15,000 into over the years. Seven grand was a paltry sum. Luckily a good friend has graciously stored the mustang in his barn for the winter. In the meantime, what's an artist to do? I need to sell the motorcycle so I can finish recording the album. I'm confident something will work out. Come on craigslist! Bring me a buyer!"

read more here.

2 touring bands, 2 playing bands, 2 new blogs

The Stage at the Oakland blog reviews the recent The Zou - Posture Coach west coast roadtrip and tour:

"Better yet, chickity check 'em live and in person at Cedars on February 22. Lead singer and band founder Khaled Tabbara will be flying solo this Friday for the Strength of Strings show at Cedars, and he'll be reviving his first solo CD, The Bright Blues, along with assorted musicians at Cedars on January 26.

If Youngstown isn't good enough for you, The Zou will be rockin' the House of Blues in Cleveland on February 23 with another hometown fave, Red Wanting Blue.

And if you're bored over Spring Break, pencil in a roadtrip weekend and catch the Zou in Florida on March 15 or North Carolina on March 16."

AND

discusses the upcoming show at Cedars with the Sadies from Ontario and local band Bob's Country Bunker.

AND

there are two more local blog to link to now:

Jambrain: Local Live Shows
The Wizard of Yo

Youngstown Symphony Webisodes

Accent Media Matters is preparing for the winter season and discusses thier projects in Cali, with Coach's Jumpstretch, and making webisodes for the Youngstown Symphony. You can read more here.

And you can watch the symphony pieces here.

"In completely unrelated news, we got a new coffee maker at the office. We're talking the king of the coffee makers, a Keurig single-cup machine that will make coffee, cider drinks, hot cocoa, and tea. It keeps us warm in this cold Ohio winter."

Palka's 07

Matt recalls some recent events in 2007 and looks forward to 2008. Read more here.

"I'll be back recording in early January to finish up my FIRST STUDIO ALBUM with the Bihlman Bros! Look for the new album early this spring. Then I'll be tripping back to the West Coast. What's to follow that? Relentless touring and some other surprises."

news: 04 Dec 2007

MAYNSTREAM Launches New Magazine

review of red carpet party at B&O Station downtown for new Youngstown music magazine

Youngstown Magic Sends Ohio State to the BCS

Youngstown's Bob Stoops, head coach of Oklahoma, kicked Missouri's butt to send OSU to the Championship.

Youngstown's Jim Tressel, head coach of Ohio State, will be going to New Orleans as #1 in the country.

Youngstown's Bo Pellini, now at LSU and new head coach for Nebraska, should just leave the South now and get busy with the Cornhuskers.

Youngstown's Mark Mangino, head coach of Kansas, can be proud of reaching the #2 ranking this season.

All of these men, who so impacted 1-A football this season, have one thing in common . . .

Grand Buffet & The Realtime Digimob

Abraham White posts this story about the upcoming Grad Buffet and The RealTime DigiMob show at Cedar's this Saturday (december 8th)

"Now to get back on topic. If you decide you want to brave the music scene in Youngstown you should keep checking this site for our recommendations. And we highly recommend that you come out to Cedars Lounge, Saturday December 8th at 10:30/11ish and gear up for a night of good music.

The Realtime Digimob is coming into town hot off the heals of their humorously spaced out, disasterous, gorilla costume-clad performance at Halloweens even at the Stage, (aka Stage Fright). So if you desire a more cohesive less chaotic performance from the group and want something that doesn't involve the tri-jock area then this is your night."

Mark your calendars:
Grand Buffet
w/ The Realtime Digimob
11pm @ Cedars Lounge

Looking for Operatunities

The Stage @ The Oakland provides this interesting look at the emerging opera scene in town.

"Did you know that our little rust bucket houses one of the only Opera companies in the state? Opera Western Reserve began 4 years ago on little more than a pile of dreams and a whisper of hope. Oh, and a buttload of talent.

I don't know what it is about this area, but we breed opera singers. The level of talent amongst us is amazing. I mean, we know we harbor some of the most talented singers, actors, dancers, artists, photographers, clothing designers, sculptors, directors, and writers -- but who knew we had a little bunch of mad good barritones, sopranos, and tenors (ughh, tenors) in our midst as well?"

"Most of the aspects of pop culture we love most take root in opera. Operas are notoriously full of love, passion, sex, affairs, betrayal, naivitee, murder, plotting, back-stabbing, fights, assassins, villains and heroes and heroines. Operas usually involve goofy mix ups -- think Three's Company but with every plot sung by the actors as they yuk it up with prat falls. Think The Sopranos but somehow even more Italian. Think every drag show you ever saw, ever, because people are always disguising themsleves as the opposite sex in Opera -- often with dire consequences. Operas don't usually have happy endings, either. They are painful and abrupt, leaving you contemplating deep issues or sometimes sobbing."

There's more to this post. Check it out here.