Local Spotlight Concert Series Continues to Shine
by Scott Kuchler
For the past few years, The Inside Connection has presented the Spotlight Concert Series at a variety of venues throughout Long Island and the five boroughs. These shows are designed to provide a vehicle for bands to further their careers in the music business by illustrating that they have significant support and that they know how to promote a major show.
Bands that are successful in drawing well at one of these shows are then given the opportunity to perform at one of the magazine's Spotlight Premium Showcases at a major live music venue, where they will not only have the opportunity to play on a large stage at a large capacity venue, but also to perform in front of an audience of executives and A&R personnel from record labels, music publishers, and television and movie music supervisors who are transported by limo to the venue courtesy of The Inside Connection.
It all starts with the smaller shows that are held twice a month, and this past June the 2007 summer Spotlight Concert Series kicked off with shows at the Krazy Kangaroo in New Hyde Park and Katies of Smithtown.
The Krazy Kangaroo (www.krazykangarooli.com), which hosted the Spotlight Show held on June 16, is a great venue for live music. Located on the site of the old Dublin Pub, the Kangaroo is a spacious venue with a great selection of beer and a courteous and competent staff. U.S. Smokeless Tobacco was on hand with giveaways on this particular evening, for which the music was provided by a diverse lineup of bands.
The evening kicked off with a set by Celtic-rock band Bangers & Mash (www.bangersandmashband.com), who played a set that was so high-energy that fiddle player Deirdre Woodford actually joined members of the audience for a bit of Irish stepdancing during one of the band's impressive instrumental passages.
Next up were pop-rock veterans the Mondays (www.themondays.com), who, in spite of being forced to operate without their bass player (who was home sick), proved themselves to be consummate professionals with an exciting set as a power trio for the evening.
Wrapping things up were A World Away, whose loyal following stayed until the end of the evening to support this band for their second appearance at a Spotlight Concert Series show.
Sound for the evening was provided by Rock-Co. Sound, much to the satisfaction of all of the performers.
The following week, the Spotlight Concert Series came to Katies of Smithtown for the second time this year. Bomba energy drinks were on hand (www.bomba.at), and Great Radiance (www.greatradiance.com) filmed all five bands performing that night. (Clips will soon be available at www.insidecx.com).
The first band of the evening, Drop (www.myspace.com/dropny), started things off with an intensive set of grinding music that helped set the tone for a diverse night of music. SisterBlind (www.myspace/sisterblind) came next, a professional and hardworking rock band whose set harkened back to the glory days of the 1980s club scene, as did the final set of the evening by the Eden Project (myspace.com/theedenproject), a four-piece metal band featuring Maureen Stasi on vocals, who simultaneously brought to mind great vocalists as varied as Nancy Wilson and Vince Neil, while guitarist Greg Policari exhibited an impressive array of guitar chops.
However, the evening truly belonged to prog-metal band S.T.E.M. (www.myspace.com/stemny), who brought down the largest and most enthusiastic following of either evening, and who consequently qualify to play at a larger Spotlight Premium Showcase at a later date. S.T.E.M.'s influences can be traced to such prog-rock luminaries as Tool, Dream Theater and even King Crimson, but in their hands the result is a unique blend of aggressive yet melodic tunes, with a high level of musicianship evident from every corner of the stage. Their confidence and musicianship are a lethal combination, and great things are undoubtedly in store for them. This is definitely a band to watch out for.
Each of the bands who performed as part of the Spotlight Concert Series in June are hardworking professionals whose dedication to their craft is worthy of admiration, and the opportunity to work with each of them has been a pleasure. Podcast interviews with many of the these artists, including Bangers & Mash, the Mondays, A World Away, Gump and the Eden Project, are available for download at www.fluxedojunction.mypodcast.com.
Artists who are interested in participating in one of our live music showcases may submit their material at The Inside Connection's ReverbNation page at www.reverbnation.com/main/inside_connection.
