Tag Archives: Zach Djanikian

Live Review: Chris Kasper, Chris Grunwald – April Residency at The Grape Room: 2nd Show (April 12, 2011)

April 13, 2011 – 9:38 pm

Yes, another Tuesday night in April and you know where I was – The Grape Room, of course. It was the second show of the Chris Kasper/Chris Grunwald dual residency. So, this week’s show opened with a set by Patrick Dyer Wolf, a singer-songwriter from North Carolina. Wolf is on tour with Megan Slankard, a singer-songwriter from California. Wolf and Slankard were a nice addition to the Tuesday night bill and I enjoyed both of their sets. Chris Grunwald and band played next and brought some fabulously groovy vibes to the room and everyone seemed to be rockin’ along. Chris Kasper (with Philip D’Agostino and Kiley Ryan) closed out the show with a rather loose yet musically outstanding set. Only a gifted singer-songwriter like Kasper could have the audience hanging on to every single note. Ok, maybe I can’t speak for everyone but I know that look when someone is so into the music that they’re practically mesmerized. Everyone was treated to some of Kasper’s new material which sounds great. I was unaware of Chris Grunwald’s and Zach Djanikian’s drumming ability until I saw them fill in on drums with Kasper for a few songs each. Great set!

REMEMBER… there are 2 more Tuesdays left in April so I highly recommend you come to The Grape Room for the remaining shows of the Chris Kasper/Chris Grunwald dual residency.

Tags Chris Grunwald, Chris Kasper, Kiley Ryan, live reviews, Megan Slankard, Patrick Dyer Wolf, Philip D'Agostino, The Grape Room, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comment (0)

Reviews

Album Review: Ross Bellenoit – Eight Track Mind

January 23, 2011 – 9:57 pm

Ross Bellenoit
Eight Track Mind
(2010)

Track list:
01. Mysterious Child (Oh God!)
02. Heart of Creation
03. Now Is the Time
04. Wicked Love
05. Human Nature
06. Speak Clear
07. Different Crown
08. Don’t Tell Me
09. This Time Around
10. Borderline
11. Coda

Eight Track Mind is the debut album by Ross Bellenoit, a name that has been associated with many great artists (Amos Lee, Birdie Busch, John Francis, and The Sweetback Sisters – just to name a few) is finally taking his turn as a solo artist; testing his singer/songwriter skills. Eight Track Mind has a pop body, a rock and roll mind, and a folk soul which delivers a clever, and genuine effort by Bellenoit.

“Now Is The Time” has the most beautifully haunting backing vocals like a spirit calling from the other side. “Human Nature” might be familiar to some because of its WXPN airplay. “Speak Clear” starts out small and contained but soon breaks free with a near arena rock appeal. Wendy Gaynor contributes excellent vocals on “Don’t Tell Me”. And “you have a face unfit for your tongue ‘cause all that you’ve said isn’t all that you’ve done” are some notable lyrics heard on that track. Oh my, the pedal/lap steel (actually maybe it’s just an electric guitar with impeccable control) – anyways, it adds the most amazing layer to that track (and several others on this album) with so much feeling. “This Time Around” is the fun song of the album and features Suzie Brown, Birdie Busch, Zach Djanikian, Wendy Gaynor, Craig Hendrix, Chris Kasper, Andrew Lipke, Jaron Olevsky, Allison Polans and Adrien Reju on vocals providing an impervious wall of sound. Nate Gonzalez’s accordion playing on “Borderline” is impressive and joyous.

All in all, I think Eight Track Mind is a great debut album from Ross Bellenoit and proves him to be a gifted singer/songwriter, solo artist. I hope that this is only the beginning. Nice work by Jaron Olevsky (recording, bass guitar), Freddie Berman (drums) and everyone involved in this album. By the way, I’m definitely feeling the overall production quality on the album – it’s crisp.

[LISTEN] “Human Nature” by Ross Bellenoit from the album Eight Track Mind

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Ross Bellenoit: website | Facebook | Myspace

Tags Adrien Reju, album review, Allison Polans, Amos Lee, Andrew Lipke, Birdie Busch, Chris Kasper, Craig Hendrix, Eight Track Mind, Freddie Berman, Jaron Olevsky, John Francis, Nate Gonzalez, Ross Bellenoit, Suzie Brown, Sweetback Sisters, Wendy Gaynor, WXPN, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comment (0)

Reviews

Live Review: Citizens Band Radio, Zach Djanikian Band, and Suzie Brown at Dawson Street Pub (1/8/11)

January 9, 2011 – 10:50 pm

A last minute cancellation put Suzie Brown on the bill who was the first artist of the night. I’ve seen Suzie Brown perform a couple times before and I like her music. Brown delivered an enjoyable solo, acoustic, folk set. Oh yeah, she did invite Zach Djanikian to sing a song with her and they sounded really nice together.

Next to play was Zach Djanikian Band. A few weeks ago I saw Zach Djanikian do a great solo set at Johnny Brenda’s but it was nice to see him with a full band this time. It was a great set and I was glad that I was there to hear it. Unfortunately, there was no Fliptography going on last night so you’ll have to take my word on how great a set it was. Anyways, I’ll keep an ear out for any future Zach Djanikian Band shows.

The night ended with a set by Citizens Band Radio (CBR). I’ve seen Citizens Band Radio several times in the past although I’m not sure if I ever took a moment to write anything about that band. Well, this is their much deserved moment. Citizens Band Radio really wowed me with their performance last night. CBR is very energetic, great country rock music, and their performance simply won me over. I was not familiar with CBR’s music other than the cover of “Wagon Wheel” but their music really makes you want to get up out of your seat and dance. And if I danced in public I would have but I opted for some enthusiastic foot tapping instead. Yes, Citizens Band Radio was fantastic!

Based on last night’s show looks like I should hang out at Dawson Street Pub (Philadelphia, PA | Manayunk) a lot more and maybe I will but only so long as there is live music. After all, that is the only thing that draws me to bars.

Tags Citizens Band Radio, Dawson Street Pub, live reviews, Suzie Brown, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comment (0)

Reviews

Live Review: Amos Lee, Mutlu @ The Grand Opera House (Nov. 6, 2010)

November 7, 2010 – 10:05 pm

Saturday night was all about taking a trip to Wilmington, DE to see Amos Lee live at The Grand Opera House. I had never been to The Grand Opera House before but I soon discovered how beautiful a venue that place is. There’s such a large and majestic ambiance to The Grand Opera House that makes it the perfect place for live music.

Mutlu opened the show with a solo, acoustic set that went over well with the audience. I think Mutlu got the most response from the “Board Games” song because at times during that song there was nothing but a chorus of laughter heard in the venue. So, Mutlu’s opening set was enjoyable and the show was off to a great start.

After a short intermission it was time for AMOS LEE to take the stage. There is always something so magical during that brief moment of silence when the band walks out onto the stage and then the crowd erupts into applauds. Amos Lee was joined by Freddie Berman (drums), Vicente Archer (bass), Jaron Olevsky (keys, piano, vocals), Zach Djanikian (guitar, vocals) and Mutlu (vocals, aka: The Angel…hehe). Lee’s set began with “Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight” with several songs from his 3 released albums (Amos Lee, Supply And Demand, and Last Days At The Lodge) but there were also several songs from his forthcoming album, Mission Bell (release date: January 25, 2011). Of the new material I really liked hearing “El Camino” (free download on www.amoslee.com), “Flower”, “Cup of Sorrow”, “Windows Are Rolled Down” and “Violin”. It’s going to be tough having to wait until January to hear the new album.

Anyway, Amos Lee’s performance was awe-inspiring and more than worth the drive down I-95 from Philly to DE. Also, being in attendance, it was amazing to see that mutual respect and appreciation between the artist and audience from the moments of pin-drop silence to the standing ovations. It was all kind of unreal yet perfect and expected for Lee is an exceptional songwriter with a soulful voice and musical style that is diverse enough to encompass a little bit of everything especially R&B, Soul and Folk. Lee is fortunate enough to be joined by such a talented group of musicians (Berman, Archer, Olevsky, Djanikian, and Mutlu). Thank you all for such a wonderful show!

I know there are a lot of things that I didn’t mention and I really wished that I had some live footage but in all honesty Amos Lee is one of those artists that you really need to experience live for yourself. Well, I’ve seen Amos Lee grace some smaller stages fairly recently but I haven’t seen him on a big stage since October ‘06 when he played the TLA in Philly. Nonetheless, no matter what the size of the stage, or no stage at all, it’s always nice to hear Amos Lee’s music.

Amos Lee: website | Facebook | Twitter | Myspace

Tags Amos Lee, Freddie Berman, Jaron Olevsky, Mission Bell, Mutlu, The Grand Opera House, Vicente Archer, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comment (1)

Reviews

Album Review: Ben Arnold – ‘Simplify’

October 31, 2010 – 9:59 pm

Ben Arnold
Simplify
(B.O.S. Music, 2010)

Track list:
1. Depend on Love
2. Simplify
3. Slow Learner
4. Baby, Let the Tears Roll Down
5. Love Don’t Lie
6. Fishin’
7. O’ Holy Ghost
8. Breakfast for Dinner
9. Woman’s Intuition
10. Upstate New York White Out
11. Watching the Wheels

Ben Arnold’s newest album, ‘Simplify’, is a solid, filling and enjoyable album from start to finish. On this album Arnold blends an eclectic mix of styles and delivers them all with respect and the utmost songwriting and musicianship possible. Oh my, listening to ‘Simplify’ by Ben Arnold makes my ears smile and my feet want to dance.

“Depend on Love” is a very welcoming, positive and motivating opening track. It’s followed by the title track with a great message – “SIMPLIFY”. A simple, sincere message intertwined with a nice full, layered sound and you’re got a perfect song. Arnold slows the tempo down on “Fishin’”, “Slow Learner”, and “O’ Holy Ghost” making these songs have a more personal feel. “Baby, Let the Tears Roll Down” is my favorite song on the album for the appeal of being effortlessly created, backed with such a beautiful melody (it will haunt you), and cathartic lyrics. “Breakfast For Dinner” – I’m a huge fan of the idea and this song makes me hungry. Wow, what better way to end an album than with a great cover of a John Lennon song, “Watching the Wheels”. MAN, nice touch!

One thing I love about Ben Arnold’s voice is it’s raspy enough to give it a unique tone, yet still remains easy on the ears. On this album Ben Arnold is accompanied by: Matt Muir, Zach Djanikian, Adam Flicker, and Jason Loughlin with additional musical help from Jim Boggia, Mia Johnson, Barrie Maguire and many more. So, if you’re shopping for some new music you can’t go wrong with picking up a copy of Ben Arnold’s new album, ‘Simplify’.

[LISTEN] Here’s the title track from ‘Simplify’ by Ben Arnold:

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Ben Arnold: website | Myspace

Tags Adam Flicker, album review, Barrie Maguire, Ben Arnold, Jason Loughlin, Jim Boggia, Matt Muir, Mia Johnson, Reviews, Simplify, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comments (2)

Reviews

Ben Arnold: Tuesday Night Residency @ The Grape Room – June + July 2010

June 18, 2010 – 2:20 am

Ben Arnold (photo credit: Lisa Schaffer)

Tuesday nights have been fairly lackluster since The Philly Folk Parade residency at The Fire (Philadelphia, PA) wrapped up at the end of May. Well, Tuesday nights are fun again now that Ben Arnold has a residency at The Grape Room (Philadelphia, PA). I missed the first night of Arnold’s residency on June 8^th with Huffamoose (a reunion show) but I was there for the second night of the residency this past Tuesday, June 15^th. On that bill was, of course, Ben Arnold with Citizens Band Radio, and Chris Grunwald. Chris Grunwald preformed a good solo set of music and I really liked what I heard. Ben Arnold (and band: Zach Djanikian, Adam Flicker, Matt Muir, and Eric S.) played the penultimate set which I really enjoyed. Now, I don’t have much history with Arnold’s music and I would consider myself a somewhat new fan but based on that performance, a representation of the new material on Simplify (upcoming release), I’m excited to hear the new album. Wow, Ben Arnold is such a great singer/songwriter and hearing him with a band is a fantastic musical experience. Citizens Band Radio finished out the night with some powerful Americana, country rock tunes that I enjoyed a lot more than I had anticipated. Overall, it was an excellent night thanks to Ben Arnold, Blinkin Lincoln Productions, The Grape Room and all the other artists that played. Yep, there’s a good chance I’ll be there several more Tuesday nights during this residency.

Here’s how Ben Arnold’s residency at The Grape Room looks thus far:
6/08 – Ben Arnold w/ Huffamoose (reunion)
6/15 – Ben Arnold w/ Citizens Band Radio, and Chris Grunwald
6/22 – Ben Arnold w/ Late Night Drifters, and Reed Kendall
6/29 – Ben Arnold w/ Zach Djanikian Band, and Andrew Lipke
7/06 – Ben Arnold w/ Josh Komorowski Band, and Ben Carroll
7/13 – Ben Arnold w/ Julius Curcio Band, and Frank Brown
7/20 – Ben Arnold w/ Cowmuddy, and Lee Morgan

Tags Adam Flicker, Ben Arnold, Blinkin Lincoln Productions, Chris Grunwald, Citizens Band Radio, Huffamoose, Lisa Schaffer, live reviews, Matt Muir, The Grape Room, The Philly Folk Parade, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comment (0)

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Featured Show: The Fractals – Heavy Rotation CD Release show @ Johnny Brenda’s – May 14, 2010

May 9, 2010 – 7:20 pm

The Fractals
Friday, May 14, 2010 – 9pm
Heavy Rotation − CD Release Show
At: Johnny Brenda’s
(1201 N. Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA)
With: Status Green, and Zach Djanikian
$10.00 | 21+

Friday night (May 14^th) join The Fractals at Johnny Brenda’s for their Heavy Rotation CD Release Show celebration. The doors open at 8:00PM and the show starts at 9:00PM so 1201 N. Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA is the place to be. Heavy Rotation is a collection of some really well executed pop/rock tunes, with strong songwriting and fleeting moments of a jazz undertone – making it quite an enjoyable listening experience. And just imagine, this Friday you can enjoy it all…LIVE!

For more information:
The Fractals: website | Facebook Event
Johnny Brenda’s: website | Ticket purchase

Tags Johnny Brenda's, Status Green, The Fractals, Zach Djanikian | Permalink | Comment (1)

Reviews

The Blinkin Lincoln: 1 Year Anniversary Celebration (11/28/09)

November 30, 2009 – 1:03 am

On Saturday night I went to The Blinkin Lincoln to witness the 1 year anniversary celebration show that included: Andrew Lipke, Zach Djanikian, Cowmuddy, and Chris Kasper all on the same bill. The show began with Andrew Lipke performing an incredible solo, acoustic set. Zach Djanikian and band (Jaron Olevsky-bass, a drummer, Andrew Lipke-keys, for a few songs) followed with a good set and although I’m not too familiar with Djanikian’s music I really enjoyed listening to it. Then it was time for Cowmuddy and band (Chris Kasper-guitar, Freddie Berman-drums, and Jim Stager-bass) and that was one great set. Not only do I like Cowmuddy’s (Michael McShane) music but it’s always fun to see what random bits of wisdom he might share with his audience. Last, but by no means least, was Chris Kasper who performed a solo, acoustic set that was so amazing. Kasper even played a few brand new songs (with Freddie Berman on drums) which was a nice treat. Needless to say, it was a fantastic night of music at The Blinkin Lincoln and the perfect anniversary celebration. So, happy 1 year anniversary to The Blinkin Lincoln and I wish you many more.