The Loudini Rock and Roll Circus

Amie Penwell, Music is Cheaper than Therapy!

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Amie Penwell music is alternative, piano pop, with enough soul to dip it's foot into alt. country and gospel, joining the likes of Ray LaMontagne, Annie Lennox, Melissa Etheridge, and Peter Gabriel.

I believe all of us are trying to better navigate and understand our roles, plights, masks, defenses, and reactions to a world in an increasingly, desperate need to experience more of ourselves in these confines, real or imagined. Giving voice to our own truths, our realities, our power, our fear of that power, and the paradox of the need to admit powerlessness before true change proceeds. I’ve spent the last few years working on a collection of songs that came out of conversations I had, and experiences I’ve shared, with women of diverse ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds. With the help of my collaborators, that collection has become my new record, Windows. It’s an intimate, firsthand look into the lives of nine women on nine different journeys. Each song is a portrait of individual and collective exploration through acceptance, power, will, humility, denial, willingness, faith, surrender, and freedom. The ultimate goal of this work is to stimulate conversations with one another, to help each other and the upcoming generations be more awake, objective, vocal, and free. To walk with one another through the sometimes brutal inventory of facing of ourselves, through the society we find ourselves in.

My main objective as an artist is to focus on what the moment has to teach me, to extract truth, the lesson from the beastly, the beautiful, and every ordinary passing in between. My experience has made clear to me that the more honest I am with myself, the more connected I can be with others. I believe there is no work worth sharing that won't at least try to be of service to another. With this in mind, when I began working on Windows, the songs were in charge the whole way through. They arrived one by one like premonitions pushing and pulling against each other. The first one pulled me out on a rainy night to catch Maia Sharp (Bonnie Raitt, Dixie Chicks, Art Garfunkel) live at a show in Berkeley CA. As soon as I heard Maia sing her song Underneath, I knew I wanted to write with her. I worked up the courage to send my song “Dogfight On The Moon” This led to my sending the first iPhone recording of “Window” about a successful executive woman in the middle of a meeting for a moment baring witness to the stark contrast of reality right outside the window. I remember standing in the middle of a playground watching 5-year-olds at work listening to the way she changed some phrasing at the end of “Window.” I knew it was special. Maia sent along a verse, chorus and melody for a title she’d been kicking around. It was "Noticing Place.” a song about a middle-aged woman realizing what she is allowing herself to become. I sent back “This Ain’t Happening To You,” an alt-country song about a woman in her late 30’s diagnosed with MS expressing how angry she is at everyone telling her what to do and how to feel when all she wants is to be pissed off. Lastly, we wrote “Angels In The Sand” about an older woman who has reached a place of seeing the spectrum of her experiences both joyful and at times horrific and how they have made up the mosaic of her life. It felt like an effortless songwriting tennis match—or like having a new pen pal. The remaining songs I wrote alone. To raise enough funds to begin, I set out to do a small crowdfunding campaign. After a first go of recording the record, I decided I needed to set them aside and approach the work more organically. Songs can sound perfect, but not feel right. I took another big gamble. I booked six days at Tiny Telephone Recording in San Francisco to record and mix. I will be forever grateful to John Vanderslice (founder and owner of TT) for building his version of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, for maintaining an affordable creative oasis for DIY musicians to work in the midst of one of the most expensive cities on the planet. Partnering up with Engineer, Multi-Instrumentalist and Arranger Adam Hirsch, (Ex Eye, Sam Amidon). Drummer Jason Slota, (The Mountain Goats, John Vanderslice) Bassist Matt Penwell, Guitarist Jeri Jones, (Blame Sally) Jeff Oster (Will Ackerman, Deepak Chopra) on Trumpet and Flugel Horn, Pianist Adam Rossi (Luce, Brad Brooks), Cellist Marissa Dietze, and myself on piano, Rhodes, pedal organ, vocals. Over four days, we recorded nine songs on analog tape, leaving the last two to mix. I later re-recorded my song “Mercy” about a young woman who has had faith but lost it, with producer Adam Rossi for Notes4Hope, a breast cancer benefit compilation and decided to add it to the record. Finishing up one of the tracks “Unstoppable” with my long-time collaborator, Drew Pearce, and engineer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Gawain Matthews (guitar, organ, bass) about woman willing to stand in her full unedited strength, calling on other women to unite in mutual respect, to stand together in the face of everything. The song immediately caught the ear of Director Windy Borman, making it the credit song for her film Mary Janes The Women Of Weed. Lastly, I called on Jim Greer (Foster The People, Yoko Ono) to mix Unstoppable and Window, and master the record. I was raised in Massachusetts by an Irish/Italian family the youngest of four siblings, all avid music lovers. My upbringing was full of religion, poverty, love and the savior of stereos blasting the likes of The Police, U2, Van Halen, Rush, Journey, Prince, Pavarotti, Kris Kristofferson, and Fleetwood Mac, among many others. My core influences are Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, and Prince. My underground hit single, “Mercy,” was featured in the award-winning 2012 documentary, The Eyes of Thailand, which was narrated by Ashley Judd. In 2013, my EP Under City Lights was featured on Season 2 of Web series “Bloomers” and The Ask BonBon Show. In 2015, I was a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Contest (ISC) in the Adult Album Alternative category for my song “Dogfight On The Moon”. In 2016, my song “Somewhere The Sky Is Blue” with Grammy Award-winning Producer Ricky Kej, in the Dominica Scorsese film Almost Paris.

Links:

https://www.amiepenwell.com

amie youtube video

 

Counting Down Metallica's Top Ten Songs

Do your part to keep guitar driven rock ALIVE... join Loudini LIVE! Go to http://LouLombardiMusic.com/InnerCircle to find out how you can be a part of our LIVE online audience and get access to exclusive music and video!
No band has caused as much controversy among fans as Metallica. From the death of their bassist to their lawsuit with Napster, and various style evolutions these kings of thrash metal are intent on carving out their own path in the industry whether you like it or not! This week on The Loudini Hard Rock and Metal Circus we do the impossible, we synthesize and quantify the best of this eclectic (pain in the ass) heavy metal outfit.
Topics covered:
-Origins
-stylistic journey
-controversies
-bass player changes
-top ten tracks
Featured Loudini Artists: Broken Rail Cellar Darling Fist Fight In The Parking Lot Lou Lombardi's Strangelove

10 Bands That Should Have Been A LOT More Famous

Do your part to keep guitar driven rock ALIVE... join Loudini LIVE! Go to http://LouLombardiMusic.com/InnerCircle to find out how you can be a part of our LIVE online audience and get access to exclusive music and video!

This week on The Loudini Hard Rock and Metal Circus we discuss 10 Bands that should have been a lot more famous
-what did it take and what DOES it take for a band or artist to become rock start famous
-why some bands don't get very famous even if they have all the right stuff
-what can hold a band back from becoming REALLY big
-this day in rock music history Featured Loudini Artists: Flying Joes Albany Down Silk9 Strangelove Reign Of Z

Top 10 Hair Metal Videos of All Time

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This week Lou and Lily (still a duo until Keith gets back) count down the greatest hair metal videos from the MTV era. Topics include:
-Various media and internet lists
-what makes a great hair metal video?
-funny stories behind the greatest hair metal videos
-leonardo decaprio's penis size...says bobbie brown Featured Loudini Artists: Strangelove Graveyard Vrana(Fantasm)

The Top Ten Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time

Do your part to keep guitar driven rock ALIVE... join Loudini LIVE! Go to http://LouLombardiMusic.com/InnerCircle to find out how you can be a part of our LIVE online audience and get access to exclusive music and video!
On this week's Loudini Hard Rock and Metal Circus Lou and Lily count down the greatest heavy metal songs of all time!
Topics include:
-What makes a great metal song?
-history and backstory behind the greatest metal songs
-Keith sends in his list via facebook messenger since he's now a big time rock star!

 

Carry On Wayward Son; Writer's Block Turns To First Major Hit. Wicked Riff Wednesday Ep 12

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This Week's Wicked Riff is the break out hit for the band Kansas, "Carry On Wayward Son"
In this week's show we discuss:
-The composition of the song
-How it got added to the album Leftoverture
-The lyrical double meaning
-It's success and unusual cover versions
-a few words about Kerry Livgren's solo album, Seeds of Change

 

What the Hell Is Blues Rock Any way? Bluesy Tuesday Ep 12

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This week's Bluesy Tuesday (Episode 12)... we ask the question what the hell is blues rock and why should you care?
Topics Covered:
-the roots of the music
-the blues scale
-blues goes rock...and HARD ROCK!
-Jamming to Elevated Jam Tracks... got here to check out their YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKC0RVVk85M

Robert Berry opens up about his friendship with the late Keith Emerson

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Robert Berry has managed to survive in the treacherous minefield that is the music business and flourished as a performer, songwriter and producer. It seems he's done it all. While he may be best known as the vocalist/bass player in the ELP spinoff, 3, with Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer, Berry impressive list of credits include a stint fronting Ambrosia, and long running affiliations with Alliance, December People, and the Greg Kihn Band.

Berry has released 5 solo albums, contributed to a number of high-profile tribute albums and has an impressive track record in the studio.

He grew up in a musical family in what would become Northern California’s Silicon Valley. It didn’t take long before he appropriated a Vox Continental organ from his father’s music store. By the time he was a freshman in high school, his group had released a single that went on to become a regional favorite. Although he denies it, according to his school mates, Berry was known as his school’s first full-fledged rock star. His bands became solid fixtures on the Bay Area college and club circuit, where they worked constantly. It was during this period that his interest in multi-track recording blossomed. Legend has it, Berry somehow finagled the very first Teac four-track recorder to arrive in the valley. It wasn’t long before he had written and recorded an experimental twenty-two song ‘rock opera’. As his quest for knowledge grew he managed to snag a part-time position as ‘assistant everything’ person at a busy San Jose recording studio. By the time he was a senior in high school he had acquired a reputation as a solid performer and in-demand studio musician.

After graduation, Berry entered San Jose State University as a music major and again carefully balanced his academic and professional interests. It was at this time that a booking agent devised a plan to create a local ‘super group’ by recruiting members from several recently disbanded outfits. The band that resulted was known as Hush.

From the beginning, as main songwriter and chief strategist, Berry was the guiding force in the group. It didn’t take long before he snuck his new band into the studio and onto tape. Hush became popular up and down the west coast. Their independently released single garnered significant air play on Bay Area FM stations. They were included in several radio stations produced compilation discs. They won numerous radio competitions, one of which gave them the distinction as ‘Northern California’s Best Unsigned Band’. While they didn’t take that label seriously, the notion did prompt the release of their first complete album. That self-titled album ultimately landed them a contract with a major label, a across country tour, and even a minor hit single in Japan. Then suddenly their record company folded.

After returning from the tour, Berry built and opened Soundtek Studios, his own recording facility. He began writing new tunes and mapped out plans for Hush’s next album. A cut from the forth coming album, Gotta Get Back to You, won another radio station contest and became one of the station’s most requested cuts. Berry and band wasted no time and released their self-produced Hot Tonight album on their own imprint. That album went on to win the coveted BAM Magazine/Bay Area Music Archives’ “Bammie” Award for the year’s Best Independent Album of the year.

Berry continued to write and recorded Back To Back, his first solo album. With a collection of songs that were stylistically different from the Hush material, Berry stretched out from his role as band member, this time singing and playing all the parts himself. Included here were nine new original songs and powerful covers of Lennon and McCartney and Eddie Cochran. Back To Back shows Berry’s writing, playing, and producing skills reaching new levels of sophistication. The important music trade magazines, Cashbox, Record World, and Billboard, each gave the album high praise and “Pick of the Week” recognition. The influential Bay Area radio station KOME, announced they would be adding “Life the Game” to their regular rotation. The album landed on the desk of the legendary John Kalodner from Geffen Records. Kalodner soon set up live showcase performances in Los Angeles and San Francisco. A couple of interesting scenarios resulted from those showcases. One with Sammy Hagar’s recently orphaned band, and another with legendry British drummer, Carl Palmer.

Both scenarios ultimately worked out as Berry formed long term relationships with Hagar’s drummer David Lauser and (now Boston) guitarist Gary Pihl in the band Alliance and would eventually embark on an exciting new project with Palmer. On the strength of Back To Back and continued interest from Geffen, Berry moved to the UK where he found himself working with Yes guitarist Steve Howe in his new band, GTR. He also received a fortuitous invite to dine with Keith Emerson at the Savoy in London. It seems Palmer and Emerson were imagining a new project and they invited Robert Berry to join. Together the new band simply known as 3 would purposefully step away from expectations, aiming instead to break new ground. The union resulted in album ‘To The Power of Three’ on Geffen Records, a supporting tour and eventually the release of several live 3 concert recordings.

Upon returning from the 3 tour, Berry and Hagar band alums, along with former Night Ranger, Gamma, Montrose keyboard player, Alan ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald got busy and formed Alliance as an ongoing project. The band has released 4 well received CDs. With his stature elevated by numerous high-profile projects, Berry found his recording studio busy with a long list of notable clients from around the world. At the same time, he was being offered numerous opportunities to perform with prominent recording artists. He signed on for the daunting task of trying to fill in for David Pack during a stint fronting Ambrosia. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has occasionally performed with The Tubes when they need a hand. He has established himself as long-time bass player for the Greg Kihn Band and has developed a strong songwriting partnership with Kihn.

2010 marked the live concert debut of the December People - Classic Rock Christmas. Berry developed a concept band that performs around the country during the Holiday season. The band includes friends from renowned classic rock acts such as Boston, The Tubes, Sammy Hagar, Y&T, Greg Kihn Band and occasional special guests, performing classic rock versions of popular Christmas songs. The project is designed to make holiday music hip and relevant for today's listeners and as a way to raise funds, gather food and clothing donations through Community Food Bank donations. December People have released 5 albums of classic Christmas songs recorded in the imagined style of great classic rock bands.

2016 was a big year for Robert Berry as he met with pal Keith Emerson in Los Angeles to discuss a 30th anniversary release of the long awaited follow up to the debut 3 album. If that wasn’t enough, he co-wrote 11 all new songs, produced and played Rekihndled, the Greg Kihn Band's first studio album in over 20 years.

The year 2017 was noteworthy for some major efforts. Early in the years, Berry, on bass and lead vocals joined with Terry Brock (GIANT, STRANGEWAYS) on lead vocals, Gary Pihl (BOSTON, SAMMY HAGAR, ALLIANCE) on guitar, and Matt Starr (ACE FREHLEY, MR. BIG) on drums, to form ALL 41. They release the band's debut album, "World's Best Hope". Simultaneously, he mounted a dedicated effort to complete his collaboration with Keith Emerson on the long awaited 3 follow up. That album, which took shape in 2016, was nearly shattered with the news of Keith Emerson tragic death. Ultimately and as a tribute to the friendship of Emerson and Berry, it somewhat painfully got back on track and is set for a summer of 2018 release date as 3.2 – The Rules Have Changed on Frontiers Music SRL

 Links:
Robert Berry website: http://www.robertberry.com

Robert Berry Wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Berry

Robert Berry FB page: https://www.facebook.com/Robertberrymusic/

3.2 video link to Powerful Man: Powerful MAN

Where Do Wicked Riffs Come From? The Secret is FINALLY REVEALED! Wicked Riff Wednesday Ep 11

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For this week's Wicked Riff Wednesday, Lou shows the secrets to where most wicked riffs come from
Topics include:
-Getting an inspiring guitar tone
-Starting with chords or single note lines
-Starting by jamming to classic riffs

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The Top 10 Most Disappointing Albums of All Time

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On The September 25th Edition of the Loudini Hard Rock and Metal Circus the crew discusses the most disappointing albums of all time.
Topics include:
-Disappointing doesn't mean bad
-We end up with 3 lists of ten between the three of us because we cannot settle on just one...That's weak.... I know!
-Keith and Lou argue about Metallica's Black album
-Keith thinks that Revolver is a better album that Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
-Does KISS have any bad albums?
-Keith drinks Minute Maid orange juice
-Keith hates Def Leppard's Hysteria
-Lou won't shut up and Keith and Lily threaten to walk off the show.

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