Check out this article from the Long Island Pulse about "Pros & Cons" the new CD from Allen Santoriello: Long Island Pulse April 2016

Some things in life are just worth waiting for. One of those things is Russ Seeger’s Live in Peace, the debut solo CD from a living legend on the Long Island music scene. For a remarkable four-plus decades, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Seeger has performed at virtually every venue in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, playing acoustic and electric guitars, fiddle and more, singing his songs and uniquely interpreting the tunes of those who’ve influenced him along the way. He’s made music with such greats as Peter Rowan, Vassar Clements, Paul Siebel, Peter Stampfel, Rick Danko, John Hartford and—the one he’s most proud of—the late, great Levon Helm, who anchored a band with Seeger called the Last Hombres, who released an album, Redemption, in 2003.

So why has there never, until now, been a Russ Seeger CD?

“I’ve been at this game a long time,” Seeger explains, “but between raising children and bringing home the bacon, working as a lineman for the county, climbing telephone poles and driving trucks, I never had the time to go into the studio and make a proper album. The whole time, I always kept writing songs though, and now that I’ve retired from my day job it was time to put this stuff into a new package.”

Live in Peace (Paradiddle Records) is a stunningly potent and intriguingly diverse collection of some of the best of Seeger’s hundreds of compositions. Recorded at Paradiddle Studios in Huntington N.Y., the album was co-produced by Seeger and Bill Herman and mixed by 2012 Grammy-winning producer Bob Stander. In addition to guitars and violin, Seeger plays keyboards and bass, and is joined by a host of well-known virtuoso players and vocalists from the local scene.

“All of the musicians are generous and highly creative people who simply knew what to do after one or two takes, which made my job much easier,” says Seeger. “Playing what essentially matters” is how he describes the contributions of his support team. There’s an economy and confidence that speak to the maturity of Seeger as a performer and recording artist. “I tried to settle in with this record. I like giving a ‘surreal’ lyrical touch to the words and I wasn’t out to gun-sling solos. Working with drummer Roger Murdock, who co-wrote three of the tunes, was an exercise in how not to push too hard or complicate too much.”

Seeger’s music is distilled from his journeys across the human landscape, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and styles as accomplished as anything being done today, and he manages it all with wicked wit and great compassion. “There is a grand story of love, betrayal, redemption and death that link all of the songs,” says Seeger. “I love the idea of that.”

Among the highlights of Live in Peace are the title track, “Requiem,” “Hang Me Out to Dry” and “California Blues,” songs that “really tell my whole story,” Seeger says. “‘Requiem,’” he adds, “was the first time I attempted overdubbing a string section and I’m pleased with how it came out. When I mention the ‘Bee’ in that song, I’m talking about Beethoven, pompous as that might be.”

Pompous is one word that you’ll never see used as a description of Seeger’s music. More probable are adjectives like rebellious, tough, prickly, charismatic, highly cool and so damn funny. But this is no stage persona—as anyone who knows him can attest, that’s just Russ. Born in Rockville Centre on Long island, Seeger grew up in the hamlet of Franklin Square, where he was picking out boogie-woogie rhythms on a broken Spanish six-string guitar by the age of seven. “My first influence was the archetypal cowboy with a horse, who at night played a guitar and sang by a campfire,” he says. “I also loved the idea of making coffee in a tin pan...and it was always in black and white.”

Seeger made his earliest appearances as a singer/guitarist at church affairs and house parties and by junior high he was already playing in local rock bands, writing his own songs and remaking in his own image the tunes of some of his heroes, which included such classic-rock icons as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, the Grateful Dead, Brian Wilson, Randy Newman, Iggy Pop and “the whole gamut of country bands.” And two more that must be noted: Ray Davies and Bob Dylan. Seeger has paid tribute to those two inspirational figures by contributing to the Paradiddle albums Dylan Uncovered and Kinks UnKovered, and he’s taken part in Dylan tribute concerts on the Island.

In the early ’70s, along with keyboardist Steve Sollog and guitarist Dana Gaynor, Seeger formed a band at first called the New MississippiSheiks and later the Sheiks that ultimately became one of the most in-demand—and most innovative—bands in the area. He continued to work both solo and with countless other musicians in the wake of the Sheiks’ split, including one popular outfit called the Sons of Sweden. But playing in the Last Hombres with Helm for a few years was of course a major highlight, and Seeger feels honored to have had the experience. “It was awe-inspiring, to say the least,” Seeger says, “getting to rehearse up in The Barn in Woodstock and meeting his beautiful wife, Sandy. It was really a dream come true.”

Throughout all of those years, however, Seeger—as so many artists must—financed his music habit with day jobs and family life. It wasn’t until recently, with his kids grown and retirement papers in hand, that he was able to make music a full-time pursuit. Traveling to San Francisco for the annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival inspired him to go back into the studio and finish up the CD that ultimately became Live in Peace.

As for the title, Seeger waxes philosophical when he talks about it. “It’s giving a positive expression of solidarity to all of us humans who have suffered in this world,” he says, “some at the hands of armies and war and some on a more personal level. I think it’s a message that always needs to be spoken about.” The title song, he adds, “was written from the perspective of an Iraqi war veteran who returns home and finds life hard to deal with. The song ‘Red Rose’ comes from a similar place.”

The opportunity to record his first solo album after so many years of building a regional fan base and attracting the attention of fellow musicians is one that Russ Seeger savors. He turns to a quote from the Russian poet Boris Pasternak to put it into perspective: “When a great moment knocks on the door of your life, it is often no louder than the beating of your heart, and it is easy to miss it.”

Live in Peace is that kind of great moment—one not to be missed.

Jeff Tamarkin

Jeff Tamarkin is a veteran music journalist whose writing has appeared in Newsweek, Mojo, Relix,JazzTimes, Playbill, Billboard, Goldmine, CMJ, Sing Out!, the New York Daily News,All Music Guide, and Newsday.

With a dusty voice and resonant lyrics, the songs of Mike Meehan contribute to the alt.roots canon with tales of hard luck, worn paths and wide open vistas. "...Meehan seems to have smartly studied Warren Zevon for both his shadowy viewpoint and vocal edge" --Jerry McCulley, All Music Guide

Digital download of Butchers Blind new release "Thursday Girl". B/W "Mystery".

Butchers Blind are a critically acclaimed Americana band from New York City. In 2011 they signed with Paradiddle Records and released Play For The Films. The album was a critical success, garnering the band favorable reviews and radio airplay around the world. In 2013 they released their second album Destination Blues, which was a significant step forward for the band. Shortly after it's release they found themselves opening for bands such as Blues Traveler and Marah and sharing the stage with influential songwriters including Robbie Fulks, James Maddock, Steve Forbert and Iain Matthews.

Their new single, Thursday Girl, marks a stylist departure for the band and has already been played on prominent New York radio stations such as WFUV and WUSB among others. The melody and driving rhythm instantly recalls the sunny power pop of Big Star and Teenage Fanclub, which is propelled forward by a lyrical narrative reminiscent of the Pernice Brothers. The B-side, Mystery, is a tribute to the founding fathers of Seattle grunge: The Wipers.

When you listen to the music of Butchers Blind you know the future of Alt-Country shines blindingly bright. Butchers Blind encompasses the rich history of American Roots music, then broadens and reshapes it into something exciting, refreshing and uniquely their own.

Destination Blues marks a significant step forward for the band. They are venturing into new musical territory while keeping one foot firmly grounded in the sound they established with their first record, Play for the Films. The focus for this CD was on capturing the live energy of the band and the result is a resounding success.

While bands like Whiskeytown and Uncle Tupelo helped shape their Americana roots, the raw energy of influences such as the Replacements and the Hold Steady give them a rock sensibility. Pete Mancini’s confident, yet vulnerable vocals give their sound a rich texture. His songwriting draws you in and if you listen close enough you can hear the future of Alt-Country music in every note.

Produced by Bill Herman & Mick Hargreaves with Buddy Woodward on mandolin.

"[Destination Blues] proves they are a band that is evolving while creating and maintaining their very own identity in the alt-country world." - From Under the Basement (Best of 2011)

"[Destination Blues] follows a great American tradition: excellent songwriting, genuine musicianship and ballsy rock n’ roll and country songs about drinking and fucking up and pouring your heart out." - Jersey Beat

"The songs are tight, well written, and this is alt-country music at its finest. " - Red Line Roots

"Destination Blues follows in the footsteps of the alt-country greats. I have a feeling that, pretty soon, Butchers Blind will be able to count themselves on that list." - Adobe and Teardrops

"...strong melodies with intriguing themes...disciplined and focused songwriting, and that bodes well for this promising band." - Sun209

Paradiddle Records is proud to present "Play for the Films", the debut release of Butchers Blind. Encompassing the rich history of Americana Roots music and taking their influences from early pioneers like the Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons and the Band, melding it with today's forerunners of the genre like Wilco, Butchers Blind creates a sound uniquely their own. Pete Mancini's confident, yet vulnerable vocals convey songs about adventure and discovery. "Play for the Films" is inspired in part by Mancini's interpretation of his father's cross country travel journals, discovered by Mancini after having made a similar journey himself. "Play for the Films" will take you on a journey, too.

Butchers Blind: Play for the Films

Rocking alt.country from the heart of Long Island, NY

This Long Island trio dropped a few demo tracks in 2009 (reviewed here), promoting the catchy "One More Time" into a single and attracting some local attention. They've returned with a full album that leans on both their alt.country and rock roots. The Wilco influence is strong (unsurprising, given the band is named after one of Wilco's lyrical creations), and Pete Mancini's voice favors the reediness of Jeff Tweedy; but there's also a melancholy in his delivery that suggests Chris Bell, and a soulful bottom end in the rhythm section that gives the band plenty of rock flavor. Mancini's latest songs were inspired by travel journals kept by his father, as well as his own cross-country travels. From the opening "Brass Bell" you can feel the wanderlust, the urge to blow town, the expectation of the journey ahead and the confidence of someone young enough to enjoy (or at least react to) the moment. The previously released "One More Time," is repeated here at a faster tempo, adding a measure of urgency to the road's opportunities and challenges. There's discord and difficult choices, and emotional dead-ends magnified by the relentless closeness of travel. Communication shuts down, relationships split, and roundtrips don't always end in the same emotional spot they began. The album tips its hat to Steve Earle, as "Highway Song" opens with the signature guitar riff of "Devil's Right Hand," but where Earle's early work, especially Guitar Town, pictured small town inhabitants dreaming of escape, Mancini's protagonists are looking back from the road. The album closes with "Never Changing Thing," a letter home filled with the growing realization that a return trip may not be in the cards. It's a fitting end to an album of emotional changes wrought by physical travel, and physical changes wrought by emotional travel. [2011

"Their melodies are ingratiating in the way of fine pop records, and Mancini is a vocalist whose vulnerability holds you from the first word."

• Hyperbolium, August 2011

"Butchers Blind has a mournful pop songwriting style, slightly reminiscent of the Counting Crows, but blended with a folk-country sensibility to form a sound that is all their own."

• Long Island Pulse Magazine

Five Bob Dylan songs from one of the East Coast's premier Bob Dylan cover bands. The Ghosts of Electricity never fail to put their own, unique twist on Dylan's music.

Tunnel-Vision is the debut release from Long Island trio Johnny Zarrow.

The Celebrity Cafe Review: A Trip Called Life, by Iridesense, is full of simple and pretty melodies and lyrics. The duel vocals, one being masculine and the other feminine, is a nice balance, which adds to the sweetness of the music. Many of the tracks are catchy, radio-friendly, and good to sing at a karaoke night. The love songs are entertaining and I can see girls singing to them in their rooms and in the car. They do show the potential to be a power within the realms of pop; it is clear they ...can go far.

Reviewer: Marie J. Pellegrino Once in a while a truly original and inspired act breaks through the mold and creates change through music. At it's true core, Iridesense is a celebration of sounds. From Rock and pop, to psychedelic, folk and post-punk/new wave their music is unparalleled and unique. Brother and Sister Rick and Tara Eberle's uplifting and thoughtful lyrics easily inspire, and they sing with harmonic intricacies and counterpoints as their rhythm and bass guitars dance and crunch. The lead guitar riffs of Rob Viccari and drum rhythms of Rich Drouin create a bed of melody and weave the sound together in a steady flow and it's all fused together creating one of the most intoxicating and invigorating aural experiences you can or ever will find. It all comes together in their new CD "A Trip Called Life".

Live in the Lobby started as a way to bring people to Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) on nights that the Main Stage was dark. We soon learned that there is a deep talent pool for Local Original Music on Long Island. We then heard from the musicians that very few venues welcomed and even preferred original songs and put the music first. We sought to become that venue. We created a seated, comfortable, acoustically appropriate, all ages alternative to late night bars, and went to work. With a dedicated group of volunteers setting up and breaking down, and the volunteer team from Paradiddle Records handling production, we've proudly become a "venue within a venue" that The New York Times called, "A felicitous space for music listening."

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that we'd do 100 shows and beyond, but here we are, having just completed our Tenth season.

Even as more venues have embraced #Local Original music, audiences still flock to the Lobby because it's a unique space with a great vibe. I'm proud of what we've built and eternally grateful to the PTPA Board and Staff for their support, to the Village of Patchogue for maintaining this amazing building and to our volunteers who have become my family of fellow music lovers.

Long live Live in the Lobby!

Christopher Capobianco PTPA Board member and curator for Live in the Lobby June 16, 2015

Dedicated to all the volunteers who make these shows happen!

Executive Producer - Christopher Capobianco Mixed by Bill Herman Lobby sound team : Bill Herman, Tim Strohsnitter, Phil Tully, Kat Pulsonetti

On January 28th, over 200 people, including performers, staff, volunteers and audience members showed their support for the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti at a special Live In The Lobby at the Patchogue Theatre. The event raised over $4,500 for the American Red Cross to help support their humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti. The concert featured The Michael Jazz Trio, Iridesense, Johnny Cuomo, Miles To Dayton, Martha Trachtenberg, The Sun Gets Down, Katie Pearlman, The Lone Sharks, Michael Korb and Rorie Kelly. These are excerpts from the show.

In response to the growing need for relief after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, members of the Patchogue Theatre Live in the Lobby family have mobilized to present a special concert to raise money in support of the humanitarian efforts of the American Red Cross. The concert will be held on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the lobby of the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts and feature popular local performers, including the Michael Jazz Trio, The Loan Sharks, Miles to Dayton, The Sun Gets Down, Iridesense and more. The organizers also plan to have drawings for donated artwork from the Patchogue Arts Council and gift certificates from local restaurants and shops in the Patchogue area.

The event came to life through the efforts of Theatre board member Christopher Capobianco, Bill Herman of Paradiddle Records, Andrew Steeley of WEHM-FM radio and John Govia of 101.7 “The Beach” radio.

“We all felt that there was something we could do, so we started working the phones,” said Capobianco. His first call was to Patchogue Village Trustee Jack Krieger who serves as liaison to the theater. Krieger helped to secure partial funding for expenses through a sponsorship pledge from the Patchogue First community organization of which he is a member.

“I was happy to help get the ball rolling,” commented Krieger, “but we could use a few more sponsors to cover the costs of producing the show. I’m asking for $200 more, and then 100 percent of what we bring in on the night of the show will go to the Red Cross.” If you would like to be a sponsor, or donate items for the drawings, contact Krieger at 631-987-2972 or e-mail jackkrieger@optonline.net.

Krieger also spoke with Patchogue resident Hamilton Merilus, a native of Haiti who described the plight of family and friends who have suffered in the aftermath of the quake. Merilus, who is already working with the Red Cross in Medford to raise funds, was enthusiastic about participating in the Live in the Lobby event. “I think we can all make a difference if we work together and I thank the Patchogue Theatre and the Patchogue community for helping the Haitian people in their moment of misery and sadness,” he said. Merilus will be at the event to speak and plans to introduce some Haitian musicians who will perform during the evening.

According to Capobianco, the Haiti Relief event will be run like a regular Live in the Lobby with limited capacity for about 100 people, but he hopes that more people come by to drop off their donations. “We’re keeping the admission price at our usual $10 a person, but will encourage people to reach deeper into their pockets and donate as much as they can afford.” The theater will be accepting donations by check only (made out to the American Red Cross) at the box office everyday from noon to 6 p.m. or you can mail them to the Patchogue Theatre, Box 2400, Patchogue, NY 11772.

"Live in the Lobby" The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) Paradiddle Records (2008) This concert series, now in its fourth season, has become a major player on the Long Island music scene. The Thursday night series showcases some of the area's hardest working and most deserving artists playing a variety of original music such as rock, folk, funk, jazz, bluegrass, Latin, blues and R&B. A group of volunteers converts the beautiful art deco lobby into a small concert hall with sound and lights, seating for 50 and standing room for another 50.It’s an intimate listening room with excellent acoustics that is recognized as one of the best venues for original music on Long Island.

THANK YOU Thank you to the musicians and songwriters who donated the use of their songs for this CD.

This CD is dedicated to - The Volunteers who make Live in the Lobby happen including our sound team of Bill Herman, Tim Strohsnitter and Joseph Fogarazzo; our photographer Walter Petrule; the “Chair Man” Ryan Gilligan and the many other volunteers who set up it all up and take it all down; our ticket takers Christine Rudkowski, Erin Connick and Melissa Gilligan; the “listening committee” who help choose the performers and Christopher Capobianco who coordinates it all. - Trustee Jack Krieger whose idea has blossomed into a fantastic event - The PTPA Board of Directors for keeping Live in the Lobby alive. - Our sponsors for their generosity - John Ashline for his never ending support

1. Here We Are - John Flor
2. Where Are You Going Now? - Chris P. Cauley
3. Heaven's Gate - Johnny Cuomo
4. Corner Conversation - Dave March
5. Another Match - Jesse Haynes
6. Pushing Up Flowers - Johnny Lee Jordan
7. Multiple – Rob Caniglia, guitar, Jon Preddice, cello
8. Fall In Place - My Last Band
9. Pits & Cherries - Cathy Kreger and What It IZ
10. Gribble – Hydroyum
11. Photographic Memory - Camera-Head Shark 12.Moment In Time - Jay Scott and Grand Case Scenario 13.Snake Oil Man - Smile Pretty Misery 14.Someday – Iridesense 15.Alaska - Karama Sutra

Produced by Bill Herman and Christopher Capobianco Engineered by Bill Herman Mastered by Bill Sperl Live Sound by Tim Strohsnitter and Joseph Fogarazzo Cover Photographs by Walter T. Petrule Cover Design by Jason Tebaldi and Christopher Capobianco Art Direction and Layout by Jason Tebaldi

It’s all about the music! www.LiveInTheLobby.org

Paradiddle Records (2006) Come celebrate the holidays with Paradiddle Records with Happy Holidays from Paradiddle Records. Some of Long Island's top talent is featured on this CD doing their take on some of your holiday favorites. Happy Holidays from Paradiddle Records also debuts two new original holiday songs-"Christmas Eve" by Revolver and "A Christmas Letter" by Chairman WOW. It makes a great gift for the music lover in your family! Complete track listing: Winder Wonderland-Cadillac Moon Little Drummer Boy-The Lone Sharks Silent Night-Johnny Cuomo Do They Know It's Christmas-Iridesense Boogie Woogie Santa-The Little Wilson Duo God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/Auld Lang Syne-Bob Westcott A Christmas Letter-Chairman WOW Christmas Time is Here-Denise Donahue Silent Night- Marc Andrew Christmas Eve-Revolver Jingle Bells-The Ghosts of Electricity Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring-Joseph Fogarazzo O Come All Ye Faithful-Jera Denny Rock of Ages-Judith Merrick.