Christian Beach (with yours truly) to perform at The Strand in Lakewood, NJ, on Feb. 7

My friend, singer-songwriter Christian Beach, will be bringing his band to the stage for a four-song set at the historic Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ, on Saturday, February 7, 2009. I will be part of the backing band, playing organ and accordion.

The set will be part of Main Man Records’ CD release party for “A Few Uneven Rhymes: A Tribute to Winter Hours.” The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are just $10!

Just go to http://www.strandlakewood.com to order tickets.

Christian recorded a cover of Winter Hours’ “I Want” for the CD, which is available on the Main Man Records web site and on iTunes. He will be performing that song, as well as three tracks off his soon-to-be-available, self-titled CD.

The headlining act is Gordon Gano (Violent Femmes) and the Ryan Brothers, so it is sure to be a great night of music at The Strand.

UPDATE: The show is not being broadcast by WBJB-FM 90.5 The Night. That info was based on an ill-advised assumption (and aren’t all assumptions ill-advised?) on my part based on something I saw on the radio station’s web site. So unless you buy a ticket, you are going to miss this incredible show…and that would be a shame.

“Hair Apparent” available Sept. 9

Hair Apparent - The Main Man Records Tribute to Hair Bands
“Hair Apparent – The Main Man Records Tribute to Hair Bands”

A couple of weeks ago, I posted that “Hair Apparent – The Main Man Records Tribute to Hair Bands,” featuring a bluegrass version of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” recorded by Christian Beach, was going to be on sale at www.mainmanrecords.com today, Sept. 2. That information was taken from a blog posting on Main Man Records’ MySpace profile.

Well, Main Man has just set up a “Hair Apparent” MySpace profile, which states next Tuesday, Sept. 9, as the actual release date (it will be available on iTunes in October)…so look for it then.

Christian’s version of “I Wanna Rock” will be the fifth track on the CD and also features Dan Mulvey on upright bass, Michael Scotto (of Agency) on drums, John Pfeiffer on Dobro, Gorgo on mandolin and yours truly on accordion.

Another appearance on a Main Man Records CD

Hair Apparent CD Cover
"Hair Apparent" CD Cover

A few weeks ago, my friend, singer-songwriter Christian Beach, recorded a bluegrass version of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” for an upcoming Main Man Records tribute to 80s hair metal. I contributed the accordion part and some backing vocals to the track.

Well, Main Man Records posted a blog on its MySpace site a few days ago to announce that “Hair Apparent” will be available for sale at www.mainmanrecords.com beginning September 2, 2008.

Here is the tracklisting, as posted in the Main Man Records MySpace blog:

1. Heavy Metal Love – LaBooze
Originally recorded by Helix
2. Cum On Feel The Noize – Bob “Derwood” Andrews
Originally recorded by Slade… and then again by Quiet Riot
3. Malibu Beach Nightmare – Mutant Monster Beach Party
Originally recorded by Hanoi Rocks
4. She’s Tight – Frankenstein 3000
Originally recorded by Cheap Trick
5. I Wanna Rock – Christian Beach
Originally recorded by Twisted Sister

6. Ballad of Jayne – Wynntown Marshals
Originally recorded by L.A. Guns
7. Chatterbox – K Roth
Originally recorded by The New York Dolls
8. Big Bottom – The Dennis Dunaway Project
Originally recorded by Spinal Tap
9. Babylon – Bad Biscuit
Originally recorded by Faster Pussycat
10. It’s So Easy – Pillow Theory
Originally recorded by Guns ‘N’ Roses
11. Another Piece of Meat – FourYearBeard
Originally recorded by The Scorpions
12. Shoot ‘Em Down – AB
Originally recorded by Twisted Sister
13. Public Enemy 1 – Mars Needs Women
Originally recorded by Motley Crue
14. 18 & Life – Johnny Dey
Originally recorded by Skid Row
15. Little Fighter – AB
Originally recorded by White Lion
16. Final Countdown – Killing Phantom
Originally recorded by Europe
17. After The Rain – Days Before Tomorrow
Originally recorded by Nelson
18. Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You – Frankenstein 3000
Originally recorded by Spinal Tap
19. Here I Go Again – Dan Maxwell & His Band
Originally recorded by Whitesnake
20. Wanted Dead Or Alive – Early Times
Originally recorded by Bon Jovi

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Christian for allowing me to be a small part of this project.

Just a reminder, Christian’s cover of David Bowie’s “Five Years,” on which I played organ, appears on “Hero: The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie,” which was released last Christmas Day. Look below for our live performance of that song, recorded at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ, on March 28, 2008.

Upcoming show with Christian Beach on March 28

Main Man Records

Just a quick announcement…I will be playing organ and tambourine as part of Christian Beach’s backing band when he plays a four-song set at The Brighton Bar (121 Brighton Ave.) in Long Branch, N.J., this Friday night, March 28. The performance is part of Main Man Records’ CD release party for “Hero: The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie.” Christian recorded a cover of Bowie’s “Five Years” for the 2-CD set.

Actually, if you check out Main Man’s MySpace site, Christian’s “Five Years” (listed as “5 Years”) can be found on their music player so give it a listen.

Again, here is the info:

Main Man Records “Hero” CD Release Party
The Brighton Bar
121 Brighton Ave.
Long Branch, NJ
Friday, March 28, 2008
Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there.

Bowie tribute album set for Christmas release

A few weeks ago, my good friend Christian Beach invited me to play organ on a recording of David Bowie’s “Five Years.” Well, I am pleased to report that Christian’s cover of “Five Years” will be the first song on the second disc of a 2-CD Bowie tribute album to be released by Main Man Records on Dec. 25.

Follow the link to find out more about Hero-The Main Man Records Tribute to David Bowie.