N-POP!
VOL. # 2,Issue #9
5-21-00
Hello to all of you out there
in N-POP! Cyberspace,it's been an exciting couple of weeks for the band since
last we talked. I always like to start off by mentioning the upcoming November
Project show dates. Their Boston (Somerville really) debut is just around the
corner next Wednesday on May 24th. One added note on this appearance at Johnny
D's,we just found out that local favorite Jennifer Kimball will be opening for
us at this show. I'll again be in attendance,and likely doing the band's merchandising,so
if you come to see NP that evening stop by the table and say hello. The other
three announced gigs are all grouped during the last weekend of June(23rd-25th)
and they are--Alexandria, VA,--Chapel Hill/Carrboro,N.C--and Atlanta,GA..
In conjunction with the May 24th
Johnny D's/Boston area date,November Project will be appearing live in the studios
of WXRV-92.5-"The River" in Haverhill,MA. the afternoon of the show. I'm not
sure of the time yet,but expect an interview and live acoustic performances
of a couple of songs. While there NP will also tape the "River Music Hall" segment
for future broadcast. Between that,the drive up and back from Beantown,and the
show that evening it will be a full day ! Unfortunately XRV is not broadcast
over the internet at this point,so the only folks that will be able to listen
in are those in the Greater Boston Area--Sorry!!
Here's the station's info:
WXRV--Haverhill,MA. *92.5* http://www.wxrv.com
General Listener Line: 1-800-352-9250
E-mail: TheRiver@WXRV.com
Ass't. Music Director--Bob Angell
Music Director--Keith Andrews
On Friday,May12th the band arrived mid-afternoon in Philadelphia to set up for their taping of the World Café for WXPN-FM.This syndicated show will eventually be aired across the country on a network of radio stations. I will do my best to let everyone know the times and dates as they become available to me. The World Café is now recorded at Indre Studios in Philadelphia,and XPN invites a pre-selected audience for its' taping. From what I was told the crowd for November Project,which numbered about 80 people,was one of the best turnouts they've had recently.The band was interviewed at length,and then performed six songs which will then be mixed in with their thoughts during the broadcast. I'll give you a little bit of a teaser and tell you that the songs NP performed included two OP tunes,three NP A Thousand Days Demo tunes,and one NP number not heard on the Demo EP. The band and audience were having such a good time that the band ended up performing two additional numbers before spending a great deal of time among the crowd post-show. I must add a big thank you to all the hospitable folks at both WXPN and Indre,especially Program Manager Bruce Warren,who was pressed into last minute interview duties and did a wonderful job,despite his protestations to the contrary.It was great to once again run into Nancy Falkow,who is Indre's Studio Manager. Some of you may remember Nancy when she did such a bang-up job opening for November Project at The New Market Cabaret back in mid-January.I suspect that since seeing NP live at that show,Nancy was working behind the scenes on our behalf in getting them onto The World Café. Regardless,thanks to all of you who made it happen!!
The following evening at the Tin Angel was pure magic.Playing two shows in front of appreciative sold out audiences,November Project really did themselves proud. I thought maybe it was just me thinking "Boy they're really on their game tonight!",but many concert-goers told me the same thing afterwards. In fact I found myself getting the old "OP goosebumps" throughout both shows. One of the things that made it a special night was the debut of the song "So Much". This beautiful,sparse ballad reminded me of the Beatles to some degree--I hope Emil(who credits the Fab Four as a major influence) doesn't blush at the comparison. There were a number of other amusing things that happened at the Tin Angel last Saturday,but I'll let others who were present tell you about them…which leads into the Fan Feedback Forum--click here to read their comments.
It seems like November Project has been blessed with a series of outstanding supporting acts coming on before them,and Philadelphia was no exception.Terry Morrison,a Canadian artist who I believe hails from the Alberta province,played two very well-received sets prior to November Project taking the stage. A couple of people in the audience commented to me on her guitar playing,saying she had excellent "harmonics". Well such terms are somewhat lost on this layman,all I know is she sounded great,and I purchased No Covers,a live CD she was selling after she finished performing.Check out her music yourself at her website : www.yellowpencil.com
While on the topic of good music and other acts,let
me comment on a local Philly band Second Story.Their bass player Mark Gollihur,is
a big NP/OP fan,and is on the band's e-mail list.After the World Café taping
I went with two other NP fans to a little club called La Tazza to check them
out.There had been parallels drawn between them,Grey Eye Glances and October
Project,so I wanted to see what they were all about. Well despite horribly muddy
acoustics in this downstairs venue I really enjoyed what I heard. I'm not really
sure if I see the connection to the other groups,but I'd rather hear music that
sounds "different" anyways. I did purchase their self-titled CD,and can see
some similarities to GEG in their studio sound. I actually would classify their
style as somewhat of a throwback--you'll hear lot of harmonies, synthesizer,and
even a little bit of flute thrown in for good measure.To give them an online
listen go to: www.second-story.net
While at La Tazza to see Second Story I also got say hello to Irene Lambrou,who
is another long-time e-mail list member. I had no idea of this until I met her,but
Irene is also part of an Philadelphia area band called Medea.I haven't had a
chance to see them live yet,but based on what I heard online of their "Dreams
and Revelations" CD at the group's website,I do hope to have that chance someday
soon! Here's yet another good musical website to surf to: www.medeamusic.com
As always the dedicated November Project fans arrived
from far off places,and at great expense to attend the shows in Philadelphia
at The Tin Angel. What I'd like to do is to make mention of these folks if they
like…so starting with the next issue of N-POP! I'm going to create a regular
"Road Warrior" section--what I need from you if you want to be included in it
is the following:
1) Your name(s),where you came from,and where the NP show was you attended.
2) The distance you traveled roundtrip.(approximately-you don't have to get
out a map and a ruler and
measure…hehe!)
3) What mode of transportation you took to get there.
4) What number November Project performance this was for you.
I have one final thing to mention before signing off. By mutual agreement lead guitarist Rob Friedman has left November Project. As a fan who enjoyed all the times I got to see Rob play live with the band I'd like to wish him good luck in his future musical endeavors. Gerry Leonard did yeoman's work on lead both nights in Philadelphia,and you can expect to see him perform with NP at other upcoming gigs. For the Johnny D's performance next Wednesday we'll all be treated to the skilled fretwork of Marc Schulman.I have not yet seen Marc perform in person,but based on the raves coming from the other band members in November Project I am really looking forward to seeing him play in Boston.I'll be back with a recap of that show next time out--until then… Be Well…Alan
Please visit
November Project at their website:
www.novemberproject.com
Click
here to join
the UNOFFICIAL November Project eGroup Discussion List.
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N-POP !, THE NOVEMBER PROJECT ONLINE NEWSLETTER, IS A FAN-BASED PUBLICATION. ITS CONTENTS DO NOT REPRESENT OR EXPRESS THE OPINIONS AND THOUGHTS OF THE BAND ITSELF, OR THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS THEREOF.