"I bit the head off a live bat the other night. It was like eating a Crunchie wrapped in chamois leather."
- Ozzy Osbourne
Trust me, the food in Italy is much better, but man there are a lot of McDonalds in Rome!!! I will try to get through this e-mail with the least amount of typos as possible...
Okay... to the business of Rock 'n' Roll... Some gigs:
Playing with Top heavy at 10pm this Friday 07.11 at Millys Tavern in Manchester NH. We play one power packed set of power pop!!!!!
http://www.millystavern.com/
Saturday july 12th at 7pm Black Fortress of Opium plays as a Duo (just Ajda and me) at the Channel Cafe. We will be doing songs with acoustic instruments... Will be doing all your favorite hits plus some new tunes and a couple of covers!!!
http://www.channel-cafe.com/
Monday July 14th I am at Charlie's Kitchen in Harvard Square with Nate Gibson playing Honkey Tonk at 9:30pm
Topheavy Gig, Shred from the Past, Pics From Italia...
Hey Guys,
Just back from italy. Got some pics for you all to check out. Posted some linkys down at the bottom
Got a gig this Friday at the Abbey with my buds TopHeavy: Here's the official Copy:
"This is Topheavy's first performance at The Abbey Lounge in years..and will feature our pal and guitar-god, Tony Savarino...joining us for a killer set. We're on early (9pm SHARP!) and we'd love to have your support.
The Abbey's a small place...and we wanna fill it with Topheavy fans! Come early and be ready to rock! We'll be hanging afterwards for our friend's Melt and their CD release! Come on down!"
Also got some tunes I recorded in my old apartment in the North End of Boston from the early'90's. I was really into shred guitar at the time. They were recorded on a Tascam casette 8 track!!! Here are the links:
Rome day 1: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/madcap70/Rome%20Day%201/?albumview=grid Rome day 2: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/madcap70/Rome%20Day%202/?albumview=grid Rome day 3: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/madcap70/ROme%20Day%203/?albumview=grid Giordini Naxos: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/madcap70/Giordini%20Naxos/?albumview=grid Taormina: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/madcap70/Taormina/?albumview=grid Campo Bello Di Licata: http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h148/madcap70/Campo%20Bello%20Di%20Licata/?albumview=grid
I looped the changes to the solo of "I Don't Even Know Your name" as recorded by Alan Jackson and played the guitar solo as close as possible from the studio recording...
A brief Rockumentary about the band and new s/t album. Including Interviews with producer Martin Bisi, Ajda the Turkish Queen, Tony Savarino, and Joe Turner. The piece was filmed, directed and edited by Jake Hamilton
Just wanted to let you know about a couple of shows and give you some other session news.
First off Nate Gibson and The Gashouse Gang will be resuming their once a month residency at The Alchemist in Jamaica Plain, MA Starting May 18th (This Sunday!!!). Will be a Honkin' and a Tonkin Starting at 10pm .
The Alchemist is located at:
435 S Huntington Ave Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (617) 477-5741
I will be playing with Black Fortress Of Opium at The Middle East Upstairs May 20th 20008
The Lineup is:
What Time is IT Mr. Fox? 8:30pm Black Fortress Of Opium 9:30 Martin Bisi (CD Release. He also Produced BFoO CD)
Middle East Restaurant www.mideastclub.com 472 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 492-9181
Black Fortress of Opium will be performing songs from our new s/t debut. Still need a copy? Try:
Newbury Comics
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bfofopium
iTunes
Stingray Bodyart & Tattoo One Harvard Ave Allston, MA 02134 Phone: (617) 254-0666)
Looney Toons www.vinylhigh.com 1106 Boylston St Boston, MA 02215 (617) 247-2238 Get directions
Session News:
I have been laying down guitar tracks for The Montgomerys new CD. The songs are great and I have been enjoying working with Producer Barry Marshall who I have known for years.
I also put down some guitar solos for Dave Smith. He was the guitarist in the seminal Boston based reggae/punk outfit Jaya the Cat and was singer, songwriter, guitarist for Dry County Sorrow, and Ragged Old Flag. It was a real honor to record with him. I went out to Slaughterhouse Studios in Northampton and had a real blast. Great studio. I'll have more info when that's released.
http://www.myspace.com/davesmithrebelcountry
A hard rock album I played on that has been four years in the making has just been released. The band is called Dope Fiend and The Cd is called "Relapse".
it's Availble at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/dopefiend
The band features the singing, songwriting, guitar and bass talents of Jake Hamilton (There), The drumming of Steve Hart (Give, Claymore), a guitar solo by Brian "Oozy" Hinkley (Never Been Caught, Tree, Clutch) and myselff trying to keep up.
I am also going back in the studio this weekend to produce and play guitar for singer songwriter Robin Brodsky who I have been working with for about 4 years.
I put some guitar on "Darling" Simon Ritts upcoming album which is being finished up about now.. Should have more details forthcoming...
http://www.myspace.com/simonritt
Heres my current gig schedule. Check my my space page for updates: http://www.myspace.com/tonysavarino
5.18.08 Nate Gibson at The Alechemist JP,MA 5.20.08 BFoO at The Middle East UP Cambridge MA 6.08.08 Nate Gibson at The Alechemist JP,MA 6.13.08 nate gibson and the gashouse gang at the plough and stars Cambridge MA 6.27.08 Top Heavy @ The Abbey Somerville MA 7.10.08 Black Fortress Of Opium at The Abbey Somerville, MA 7.11.08 Top Heavy at Millys Tavern Manchester, NH 7.14.08 Nate Gibson At Charlies Kitchen Cambridge, MA 7.20.08 Nate Gibson at The Alechemist JP, MA 7.31.08 Black Fortress Of Opium at Church Boston, MA 8.01.08 nate gibson and the gashouse gang at the plough and stars Cambridge MA 8.22.08 Simon Ritt at The Cantab Cambridge MA
Just a quick note to let you all know about tree (that's how they say "three" in my part of town) shows this weekend.
I was invited by the band Top Heavy (named after a song by the Gentleman) to play guitar to help support and celebrate the release of their new CD. It's at the MIDDLE EAST up tonight 04.18.08. We go on around 11pm.
Black Fortress of Opium will be playing NYC this Sunday 4.20.08 at a club called Rehab (formerly Club Midway) 25 Avenue B, New York City, New York 10009 Cost : 5
Friday 04.25.08 I'll be appearing with The Fighting Cocks at Ralphs Diner in Worcester MA. We go on at 9pm. We are sharing the stage with: Super 400 (a kickass rawk trio from Albany).
happy