Plugged In CT: March 2011

Sunday, March 20, 2011

3rd Chance at Life

I met Mike Falzone at the mall. Well, I actually "met" him last year, when I hosted BRENTAPALOOZA, an awesome multi-band music festival in Bridgeport. But I met him at the mall for this interview. And in true, "Hey, I'm a musician, I'm probobly gonna blow up soon" fashion, he made me wait. But it was ok, 'cause my pretzel bites were deeelicious. I've been a fan of his music since right before the festival last year. (go check him out here out after you read this k? k.) The music is good, but the dude is funny. Funny on stage, funny sometimes in person. But REALLY funny on YouTube. What? Yes, ladies and gents, this guy and others are proving the interwebs are the way to do the music thing. You get people to subscribe to your channel, or you put your tunes on facebook and twitter, and the audience grows without a hell of a lot of legwork. Mike Falzone has been doing this for about five years now on 'the YouTube'. But more seriously for the last several years. He does a cover song or some other funny bit just about every week, and makes sure he interacts with every person who comments. The response to his work has been amazing. And the reason I am writing this, is because I am very excited about his new venture. He is about to fly to Orlando and take part in something called PLAYLIST LIVE. Falzone describes it as the the Lollapalooza of YouTube, with 50 artists and personalities performing. He doesn't really know what to expect, but he's siked to go. "I would love a music and comedy blend to be able to able to help me pay for my groceries, and I've recently decided that I don't want to work for anyone else anyway," Falzone says.
Well, his attitude may have changed a bit since he ALMOST DIED TWICE IN A MONTH. Last fall, his appendix burst, he had two kidney stones, and then he had a pulmonary embolism (that's when a blood clot floats to your lungs. Check Serena Williams. Falzone did it first. And he lost his job while he was sick. Good times.) So, the 26 year old is on blood thinners, he isn't really drinking (imagine if you were 26 and told alcohol is just not a good idea), and he's thinking a tad differently. He's jumping on opportunites, he's hitting his music pretty hard. (Michael Mangini recently produced an EP with Falzone. Mangini has done albums with Joss Stone, the Jonas Bros and local band Kicking Daisies). "When you hear a doctor say 'you almost died twice in one month' you start to realize what wouldn't be there again. I am done getting mad at the small things. And I am very appreciative of people who watch my stuff on YouTube. I know how precious time is, and I want to thank them for watching," the guy who almost died says.
He tours too, he just wrapped up a NYC, Philadelphia, Hamden CT and Cleveland tour, and according to his facebook posts, sold every show out. He says people travel from all over to see him, after following him on YouTube.
Playlist Live is next. Then, who knows. Perhaps a mall tour? I asked him if he knew who Tiffany was. He said "I would love to hang out with Tiffany. She still looks good."

Plug it in people...and enjoy the musical ride. xoxo

Saturday, March 12, 2011

My Skin is Painfully New...

I love it when you find an album that moves you. I mean truly moves you. To the point where you listen to it over and over again, and hear different things each time. One that speaks to you. One you may happen to revisit over a few glasses of wine a few years after you first fell in love with it, and you realize you still know all the words.
SKIN by Melissa Etheridge.
I will try to tell you what it means to me by telling you how it makes me feel. (And yes, I am very well aware she is gay and is singing about her break-up with Julie Cypher, who was Lou Diamond Phillips' ex-wife. They had two children together, fathered by David Crosby--I got the back story. And I don't care who she's singing about, a chick or a dude, it is an amazing album.) It may help that I first fell in love with this while I was trying to repair my own heart after a pretty painful break-up years ago. I love that SKIN tells a story. That doesn't seem to happen in albums anymore, in part because people tend to buy single songs these days, in part because some artists realize that and therefore some don't think people appreciate a story...so I appreciate being taken on a journey from the first song.
(I approve the following interpretation, well, cause it's mine)

Track-1
"Lover Please". As in Don't go. Come back. This hurts.
Track-2
"The Prison". About not being able to break free from the pain that becomes your prison. She knows what needs to be done, but she cannot get out.
Track-3
"Walking on Water". Wishing things could change. Wishing for a miracle to bring it (the love) back.
Track-4
"Down to One". And the fun stuff. Realizing you are solo. Trying to fix what's in you, that you feel broke the love between you two.
Track-5
"Goodnight". The tables begin to turn. You begin to feel a little bit again, a sharp, cool breath in. "called a new friend for a second time", she sings. When you say Goodnight out loud before you go to sleep, and no one hears you.
Track-6
"It's Only Me". Mmm....a tad pissy now, grit your teeth as if to say, you will never know love like I showed you. You will never feel the way I made you feel.
Track-7
"I Want To Be In Love." (this was the song that got radio play) OK, bring it on! Ready for love...give it to me!!!
Track-8
"Please Forgive Me". This song is so powerful. Lyrics: "Please forgive me/if I don't know what to do/it's an old fire/this familiar desire/but my skin is painfully new." This is the sing out loud part. LOUD.
Track-9
"The Different". Time to take a chance, a risk, to fall. "It's time to fly..."
Track-10
"Heal Me". A plea. In a place that was so dark but now can see the light and bask in it. I picture arms lifted, open, still sore, yet determined to make it...and be ok.
I am exhausted from writing that. Ride the wave, until it comes ashore. May you love deeply, and if it ends, may you heal and be able to bask again.
OK, your turn. :)
Peace, love and musica.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Black Rock does indeed, Rock!

It was, in a word, "Jam-tastic"! I'm talking about Black Rock Rocks, an annual event in Black Rock, a small area nestled between Fairfield and Bridgeport. The Mardi Gras styled day was filled with good music, good people and it went really well. I had the pleasure of emceeing, so I had my schedule in hand for most of the night, to make sure I didn't miss my next stage announcement, raffle prize winners, tip your bartenders speech. I started at Neutral Ground (former Lady Luck), to introduce the Michael Cleary Band, or MCB (not to be confused with the Mike Cusato Band). It was early, but they rocked it. I headed across the street next to wrap up Iron Chicken Foot. They were playing in Marty's Brick Oven pizza. Small venue, with a big pepperoni smell. It was two dudes, one with a fiddle and the other with a banjo. They were pretty tight, sounded good. Next up, Acoustic Cafe to introduce King For a Day, a new and improved KFAD, if I may. Three guys with guitars and mics, sitting on stools, perfect for the stage at Acoustic Cafe. They were...AWESOME. Granted, I am biased. I know these fellas, I interviewed Benj, Dan and Randy last year for an article for the Fairfield Weekly when they released their rock CD. This time, they were broken down, minus a drummer (although I told them I am planning to take cajon lessons, and they told me to call them when I was ready to play with them. HA!). They really were fantastic. They rocked their harmonies, songs are a little different....good music. More and more people came in to listen...filled up the dance floor area, where there are usually small tables and chairs, right in front of the stage. The Acoustic Cafe is a great place to see shows. Intimate, comfortable, with cool paintings on the walls and nice bartenders. Bands of all genres play there, and there's a pretty diverse open mic scene on Tuesday nights, as well. I then popped back across the street to intro Otis and the Hurricanes. My friend Doug, who occasionally plays with my brother, is one of the sax players in this band--that was a nice surprise. They've been doing this a loooong time. And it shows. They got Neutral Ground rocking, quickly. Back over to the Acoustic Cafe to introduce my friend Renard Boissiere and his band Nardy Boy. You see, this is Renard's Christmas, Mardi Gras time. He is from New Orleans, and doesn't really need to play with anyone else, in that he can make all the horn sounds with his...mouth. But he does have a band and they were FANTASTIC! They made everyone move in song #1. A cool side note, the dude on drums Michael Paolucci, was ON BANJO in Iron Chicken Foot! Multi-talented. A lot of these guys/gals are. Many of them lend their talents to several bands, which means more musical goodness for us. Every time I went on stage, I'd say "I'm Kristen Cusato from News 8, but I'm really just a big groupie..." Tis true. And I like it when I get new bands to dig. The last one I intro'd at Neutral Ground is on my list. The Primate Fiasco is a band out of Massachusetts, they played The Gathering of the Vibes last year...and it's like the crazy members of my high school concert band...on steroids! Tuba? check. Clarinet? check. Trumpet? check. Banjo player? check. They started across the street at Acoustic Cafe and led a parade of folks over to the bar, where they paused to plug in...and let the tv girl say a few words. Think Squirrel Nut Zippers. They played themes from Star Wars, 2001 A Space Odyssey. And this is just a few hours after they played...a funeral. They look like college kids...they make adults dance around with no cares, they were very fun. You should check them out if you get a chance.
Thanks to Nicole and Angel and Juan and Darian and all the other folks who made it a great, smooth, musical night...twas most enjoyable. Thank you for including me. And proving, once again, that Black Rock, does indeed, Rock!!!

Plugged In CT