Songs News: Barry Mac

Showing posts with label Barry Mac. Show all posts

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

New Episode of Ensemble on YouTube (James Anthony, Al Lukas, Mary Simon, Barry Mac)

Links: James Anthony, Al Lukas, Mary Simon, Barry Mac, More Ensemble Episodes, Video courtesy of Cable 14

Since we haven't featured Al Lukas on this blog before, here are two bonus videos from his YouTube page

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Wednesday, 12 September 2012

New Caretakers CD: Love, War + PRopaganda

Love, War + PRopaganda is the latest CD from Hamilton's own folk-rock band with a conscience, the Caretakers.

The group have taken the amazing sound from their debut disc and journeyed beyond. The bedrock is still classic, melodic folk rock though. Lena Montecalvo's powerful vocals and Jeffrey Martin's character-filled voice are on full display, as always.

In this cool collection, you get the funkiness of Just Like California, the pop-flavoured Flowers for Peace, the countrified Left a Friend Behind, the catchy I'm the Happiest Man (featuring some cool Ukele work) and much more. Lyrically, they cover many social issues (especially on songs such as On Becoming Noam Chomsky and In Humanity We Trust).

Jeffrey and Lena are the core duo of the Caretakers. Joining them are a number of amazing local musicians such as Mike Trebilcock (who also produces), Carrie Ashworth, Barry Mac, Kim Deschamps, Jesse O'Brien, Matt Coleman and former Caretaker Norm Van Bergen

The CD is available at their live shows and can be downloaded on Bandcamp.

Below is a song from the CD, courtesy of the band's YouTube page.

Blast from the past: Review of their debut CD + Videos

Links: Caretakers, More Caretakers Stories

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Wednesday, 21 September 2011

Barry Mac@Upper James Neighbour Block Party (September 17, 2011) Part 2

Click here for Part 1

This performance was a fundraiser for the Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre, click picture below to donate.

Bonus videos courtesy of DirkFimBob

Links: Barry Mac, More Barry Mac Stories

Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Barry Mac and Lena Montecalvo@Upper James Neighbour Block Party (September 17, 2011) Part 1

Click here if you can't see the videos.

More to come . . .

This performance was a fundraiser for the Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre, click picture below to donate.

Bonus videos from This Ain't Hollywood courtesy of Deadendly

Links: Barry Mac, More Barry Mac Stories

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Tuesday, 13 September 2011

Caretakers@Supercrawl (September 10, 2011)

Click here if you can't see the videos.

Videos below courtesy of Mama Loves Music

More Supercrawl Videos

Links: Caretakers, More Caretakers Stories

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Friday, 1 April 2011

Local Monkees Tribute CD Fundraiser (First HBL Records Release)

The Hamilton Blues Lovers have decided to get into the music business. Our first release will be Monkeeing Around, a charity CD featuring the songs of the Monkees covered by local, talented musicians.

We caught up with the ever-elusive Hamilton Blues Lovers Inc. CEO, Lou, for an exclusive interview at his mansion.

“Our initial offering had to be special, so I immediately thought of doing a fundraising album,” he explained. “There are many worthy non-profit organizations around but I wanted to do something unique. Then I thought - What better cause than to help our poor politicians? Despite all their money, there's still one thing they can’t seem to afford - A CLUE. Heck, we'd just need to buy one for them and we're all set!”

As a result, Lou founded a new organization: the Democratic Understanding House - dedicated to buying a clue for our politicians. Then, after watching a parliamentary debate on TV, inspiration hit Lou like a flash - “MONKEES!”. He decided the disc would be a tribute to the classic band.

After intense negotiations with the Monkees' management (“The band were holding out for 2 buckets of chicken each,” Lou explained) he got their blessing, and searched for local musicians to help him.

A number of tracks have already been recorded:

Monkees Theme by the Dharlings
Last Train to Clarksville by Frank and Kim Koren
Daydream Believer by Barry Mac and Lena Montecalvo
(I’m Not Your) Stepping Stone by Mark Vanderheyden
I’m a Believer by Les Smith (Trickbag)

The CD will be available exclusively at Eatons, Consumers Distributing, and Luigi's House of Muffins 'N' Haggis.

In related news - After hearing Les Smith's work on the disc, the Monkees have decided to hire him as a replacement for Mike Nesmith, who won’t be part of their upcoming reunion tour. Good Luck Les!

Sample cover artwork provided by April Fulcilli.

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Friday, 18 February 2011

Cool You Tube Videos (Ben Somer, Barry Mac, Robin Benedict)

Links: Ben Somer - More Ben Somer Stories

Video courtesy of Southern Souls

Links: Barry Mac - More Barry Mac Stories - More From this Performance

Videos courtesy of Deadendly

Links: Robin Benedict - More Robin Benedict Stories

Videos courtesy of Mama Loves Music

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

Barry Mac and the One Eyed Jacks @ Westside Concert Theatre (November 20, 2010)

This was part of the Hamilton Music Awards Showcase.

Click here if you can't see the videos.

Barry Mac (Vocals, guitar), Spider Costello (drums), Lena Montecalvo (harmony vocals), Carrie Ashworth (bass)

Links: Barry Mac - More Barry Mac Stories

More Performances from the Westside Concert Theatre HMA Showcase:

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Open Streets Hamilton (James Street) June 6, 2010

Click here if you can't see the videos

Links: Caretakers - More Caretakers Stories

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Links: Dave Gould - More Dave Gould Stories - More Crackers Stories

Tuesday, 11 May 2010

The Caretakers and Friends @ Vibewrangler Studio (May 8, 2010)

Click here if you can't see the videos.

The Caretakers are (left to right): Norman Van Bergan, Jeffrey C. Martin & Lena Montecalvo

They're joined by Paully Vas (harmonica), Mike Vertimiglia (guitar-left), Dan Stadjuhar (drums), Nick Cino (guitar-centre, lead vocals on You Can't Always Get What You Want), Dave Marini (bass), John Daly (guitar-right), Barry Mac (slide guitar)

More Bob Dylan Covers/Stories

More Rolling Stones covers/stories

This was a CD release party: Click here for our review of the CD (and more footage from this show).

Barry Mac and the One Eyed Jacks were one of the opening acts: Click here for that performance

Links: Caretakers Site - More Caretakers Stories

Barry Mac and the One-Eyed Jacks @ Vibewrangler Studio (May 8, 2010)

Click here if you can't see the videos.

Left to right: Spider Costello (drums), Barry Mac (guitar, vocals), Carrie Ashworth (bass) and Lena Montecalvo (vocals)

They were opening for the Caretakers CD Release Party. Click here to view that performance.

Links: Barry Mac Site - More Barry Mac Stories

Sunday, 9 May 2010

New Caretakers CD: Unfinished Thoughts

With a core of three distinctive vocalists and a talented team of musicians to back them up, the Caretakers have created an incredibly diverse new CD, Unfinished Thoughts (and Other Stories from the Songwriter's Den)

The Caretakers are Jeffrey C. Martin (guitar, vocals, main songwriter), Lena Montecalvo (vocals), and Norm Van Bergen (vocals, guitar). Though they each have a distinctive voice, the trio also work really well together when the song calls for harmonies.

The band takes the CSNY/Buffalo Springfield/Byrds style folk rock sound and updates it. Elements of southern rock, pop, country, and more can be heard throughout the disc. Lyrically, the songs also explore a number of political themes.

Standout tracks include the epic sounding Seven Monkeys On My Back, the sweet, soulful Daddy Laughed, and the incredibly catchy opening number, It's Thinking Time.

Helping the trio with this great CD is an amazing array of local talent. They include members of the Mississippi Kings and Freedom Train along with Barry Mac, and Mike Trebilcock, and others.

The disc is available at their shows and Picks N Sticks. It call also be downloaded by clicking here. A dollar from each CD goes to War Child Canada.

Below are videos from their CD Release Party at Vibewranger Studio on May 8, 2010.

The Caretakers are behind the mics (left to right): Norman Van Bergan, Jeffrey C. Martin & Lena Montecalvo

They're joined by Mike Trebilcock (Mandolin on Daddy Laughed), Paully Vas (harmonica), Mike Vertimiglia (guitar-left), Dan Stadjuhar (drums), Nick Cino (guitar-centre), Dave Marini (bass), John Daly (guitar-right), Barry Mac (slide guitar)

Click here for more video from this show.

Links: Caretakers Site - More Caretakers Stories

Saturday, 6 March 2010

Barry Mac and the One Eye'd Jacks @ This Ain't Hollywood (March 5, 2010)

Click here if you can't see the videos.

Left to right: Mike Blackborow (guitar, vocals on T for Texas), Barry Mac (guitar, vocals), Spider Costello (drums, vocals on Dead Flowers), Lena Montecalvo (harmony vocals, lead vocals on Tennessee Waltz ), Frank Koren (bass), and Greg Brisco (keys)

Click Links for More Stories: Barry Mac, Spider Costello, Lena Montecalvo, Frank Koren, Greg Brisco

Sunday, 7 February 2010

Thunderbolt Brothers (JP Riemens & Dan Walsh) @ This Ain't Hollywood (February 4, 2010)

The duo opened up for the Barry Mac CD Release Party. Click here for that show.

Click here if you can't see the videos below.

Links: JP Riemens - More JP Riemens Stories - Dan Walsh

Saturday, 6 February 2010

New Barry Mac CD: Figment of My Mind

Don't let the Cowboy hat on the cover fool you. Barry Mac's new CD, Figment of My Mind, is far from your typical country album.

This singer/songwriter masterfully blends his country sound with flourishes of blues, folk, rock, and more. Standout tracks include Now You're Gone, Start Right Now, You and Me, and the extemely catchy I'm Not Looking For A Friend.

As if Mac's unique voice and talented guitar work weren't enough, he's joined by an incredible group of local players: Russ Wilson (Junkhouse) - who also co-produces, Mike Blackborow (Backroom 11), Midnight Jon, Jesse O'Brien, Joe Clark and the beautiful harmony vocals of JP Riemens, Lianne Cranfield and Lena Montecalvo.

You can pick up the CD at his shows.

Links: His Web site - More Barry Mac Stories

Check out the videos below from his CD Release party at This Ain't Hollywood, featuring Mac and his One-Eyed Jacks: Mike Blackborow (guitar), Spider Costello (drums), Lena Montecalvo (harmony vocals), Pete Sisk (bass), and Greg Brisco (keys).

Click here if you can't see the videos.