Downtown After Dark is award winning journalist Russ Tarby's weekly take on the best and brightest of happenings inside and outside of Downtown Syracuse. Each week he adds best bets too.
Bio:
Central New York journalist Russ Tarby has been writing about entertainment, crime, sports and politics since the 1970s. His reviews and feature stories have appeared in newspapers such as the Village Voice, the Dallas Observer, the Auburn Citizen and the Syracuse Post-Standard.
For 12 years, he worked as music and books editor for the Syracuse New Times and while there he won several Syracuse Press Club awards including a Best Feature Story award for 'The Sweet Man,' his 1998 profile of 95-year-old jazz trombonist Spiegle Willcox.
In 2000, he was named music writer of the year for weeklies with a circulation of less than 55,000 by the international Association of Alternative Newsweeklies.
Tarby was a member of the steering committees which founded the Syracuse Area Music Awards(Sammys) and the Syracuse Walk of Fame.
He has been a member of the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse's Board of Directors since 1993.
In 2007, Tarby edited "Into The Deep," a book by Dr. Andrew G. Hodges about the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway on the island of Aruba.
Tarby now works as a free-lance writer and editor. He compiles two weekly columns, Downtown After Dark for the Syracuse City Eagle and Livin’ in Liverpool for The Review, both published by Eagle Newspapers.
He can be reached at 457-1517, or via e-mail at russtarby@netscape.net.
For a quarter-century now electric guitarist Ron Spencer has rocked righteously in any number of Central New York jam sessions, blues bands and studios.
He toured with Chicago blues diva Big Time Sarah, traded licks on stage with Rhode Island guitar great Duke Robillard and backed up Syracuse’s Godfather of Rock’n’Roll, Jimmy Cavallo.
A chance collaboration in 2007, however, has led Spencer down a new path on which “less is more.”
Memorable moment
Eleven years ago, Spencer brought his four-piece group, the Nite Crew, to national attention with the CD, Burnin’ Desire. After the turn of the century, he added formidable frontman Dugan Henhawk and a horn section to create Jumpstart. Henhawk, who previously sang for White Boy & The Wagon Burners and The Insurgents, left Jumpstart to relocate in Las Vegas.
While leading the Syracuse Blues All-Stars two years ago at the NY State Blues Fest in Clinton Square, Spencer welcomed to the stage singer Mark Gibson (formerly of The Mercurys), someone Ron had known for 30 years but with whom he had never performed.
Apparently channeling Ian Drury, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Rotten simultaneously, Gibson literally threw himself into “I Got Loaded” and “She Tried to Voodoo Me.”
It was a memorable moment for the audience and a life-changing moment for Spencer. He’d found his new lead singer!
‘Devil Baby’
Now, Ronnie’s back in the quartet bag with the Ron Spencer Band featuring vocalist Mark Gibson, bassist Jay Gould and drummer Ross Moe.
“We’re streamlining to a four-piece format,” he said, “but we’re broadening stylistically.”
The band’s width and breadth is apparent on the new 13-track disc, Roller Coaster Blues, released in September on Real Gone Records. The record, which runs the gamut from blues to rock to rockabilly, was mixed by Ron “The Ear” Keck at SubCat Studios in Skaneateles and the jacket’s graphic design was handled by Gretta Gallivan.
Seven of the CD’s songs, such as “That Door” and “Devil Baby” are Gibson originals, two are Spencer’s including the rural Louisiana anthem “Your Kiss,” three are collaborations and the opening track is a “20-Second Boogie Woogie” care of guest keyboardist Dan “Cato” Eaton.
“We’re four musicians connected to each other by a common goal to make the biggest sound possible,” Spencer writes in the liner notes, explaining how “less is more.”
Marvelous Mark Gibson
After Gibson’s eye-and-ear-popping performance at Blues Fest ’07, Spencer and he began writing songs together. The result is this new disc and this band.
Former Muddy Waters’ Guitarist Bob Margolin has praised Spencer’s six-string work for its “taste, tone and fire.” And now listeners will similarly admire Gibson’s vigorous vocalizing and intense stage presence.
“Sure, Mark sings great,” Spencer said, “but he’s also an entertainer par excellence! Isn’t that what people come out for – entertainment? For my money he’s one of the best in CNY and possibly the most underrated. But all that’s changing now. I’m proud that I’ve given Mark the freedom to concentrate on singing instead of also having to play guitar…This is my best band yet.”
Coming from the cat who led the Nite Crew and Jumpstart – that’s really saying something!
Catch RSB live at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, at Cooper’s Landing in Cicero; and at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at The Mill Bar & Grill, on the city’s West End, at 1417 W. Genesee St.; 424-0268.
North Side goddesses
Nights Lights have faded. The longtime topless-bottomless dance club on North Salina Street near the corner of Wolf Street is now known as Valkyrie Adult Fantasy Club.
Valkyries are lesser gods from Norse mythology whose task was to welcome Aryan heroes into heaven. In later years Valkyries were routinely represented as curvaceous women abreast winged horses.
If that’s the kind of fantasy the Valkyrie club presents, we’ve come a long way from the days of G-strings and pasties!
Ambassadors at Al’s
Gonstermachers’ honcho Leo Crandall debuts his new band, Ambassadors of Love, around about 10 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, Oct. 1, at Al’s (no longer awful) Wine & Whiskey Lounge, downtown.
The quartet includes former G-men Crandall on cello and guitars and Richard Curry on washtub bass.
They’re now joined by accordionist Bob Alexander (the acclaimed abstract painter) and drummer Vinnie Ludovico (a former member of Masters of Reality).
The amorous Ambassadors perform eerie blues, Crandall’s original compositions, plus a smattering of klezmer and Middle-Eastern music.
Admission is always free at Al’s; 703-4773.
Ride ’em, cowboy!
Here’s an idea that could kick up a lot of dust at the 2010 State Fair:
Book a rodeo at the grandstand.
SSO celebrates jazz
Nostalgic sounds of old New Orleans will fill the Crouse Hinds Concert Theater when the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra opens its 2009-10 M&T Bank Pops series this weekend with “Big, Bold & Brassy: American Jazz Classics.”
Trumpeter Byron Stripling and saxophonist Chris Vadala team up again with conductor Jeff Tyzik and the SSO for a night of jazz favorites by artists such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Tunes will include “West End Blues,” “Black Bottom Stomp,” “Night in Tunisia” and “Take Five.”
The concerts start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3, in the Mulroy Civic Center, 411 Montgomery St., downtown. Ticket prices start at $20. To order, call 424-8200 or (800)
724-3810, or visit SyracuseSymphony.org.
Atlantic Flyway ascends
Atlantic Flyway, comprised of fiddler Andrea Asprelli,, who also performs with the neo-bluegrass band Boots N’ Shorts, guitarist Jason Borisoff and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Bob Elfenbein, will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Sparky Town Restaurant’s Supper-and-Song Series. Admission is free.
Playing progressive bluegrass, folk and old-time, Atlantic Flyway aims to make traditional music accessible in the modern age. The trio brings an, energetic edge to melodies that have been entertaining people for generations.
For sample songs, check out myspace.com/andreaasprelli. For dinner reservations, call 422-8401 and stay for the show or stop in later for dessert and coffee.
Sparky Town is located at 324 Burnet Ave., at the corner of Catherine Street; sparkytown.net.
Russo on Radio LPL
Liverpool Public Library has instituted its own online radio station, and it’s dedicating well-deserved airtime to local musicians.
This month, Radio LPL’s Local Artist Spotlight program features pianist Andrew Russo everyday at 1 and 7 p.m. A Grammy-nominated performing artist, Russo talks about participating in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, attending the Julliard School of Music and serving as artist-in-residence at Le Moyne College. This program also includes selections from Russo’s recordings as well as a live performance of “Maple Leaf Rag.”
To listen, visit lpl.org and click on Radio LPL.
‘Taste of Fear’
One of the darkest bands on the American heavy metal scene, Shadows Fall, performs Monday, Oct. 5, at the Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St.
The thrashing quintet completes a quadruple bill also including Five Finger Death Punch, Otep and 2cents.
Shadows Fall – Matt Bachand, Paul Romanko, Jason Bittner, Jonathan Donais and Brian Fair – is touring in support of its spanking new CD, Retribution. Fair, 34, is the band’s dread-locked lead singer who has also fronted another shadowy band, Overcast.
Expect to hear upbeat tracks from Retribution such as “The Path to Imminent Ruin,” “My Demise” and “The Taste of Fear.”
Admission to Monday’s all-ages show at the Westcott cost $20; 299-8886.
Air and Heat
The Syracuse Cinephile Society continues its fall film series at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at the Spaghetti Warehouse with the 1936 “airport” film, Thirteen Hours by Air, starring Fred MacMurray.
The following week, on Oct. 12, the Cinephiles will screen White Heat, the 1949 crime drama in which Michael Mann directs James Cagney in his last great gangster role.
The autumnal screenings continue through Dec. 7, at the Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., near the Inner Harbor. Admission to each screening costs $3 or $2.50 for Cinephile members. For info, call the Spaghetti Warehouse at 475-1807.
BTW, the Cinephile Society now has a Web site which can be accessed via two different addresses: syracusecinephile.com and syracusecinefest.com.
What? No pigs feet?
The Syracuse Chiefs and Centerplate are now serving Dinner at the Diamond from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through October, at the Hank Sauer Room at Alliance Bank Stadium.
Oct. 6 is Southern Night with a menu of fried chicken, macaroni & cheese, cole slaw and baked beans along with hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs off the grill. Sorry, no collard greens or pickled pigs feet.
Following its debut in fall 2007, Dinner at the Diamond continued last off-season and is back for a third go-round this autumn.
Fans are treated to a different all-you-can-eat buffet-style menu each week for $12 per person, $10 for children ages 12 and younger. The price includes soft drinks and dessert and a cash bar will also be available.
In addition to the buffet, there will be drawings for door prizes like SU football tickets, Crunch hockey tickets and autographed memorabilia.
Reach Russ at russtarby@netscape.net.
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Syracuse Cinephile Society,fall film series,Byron Stripling,Atlantic Flyway,Valkyrie club,Gonstermachers’ honcho Leo Crandall debuts his new band, Ambassadors of Love,Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Maple Leaf Rag, Mark Gibson,Ron Spencer, Jimmy Cavallo,pianist Andrew Russo,Julliard School of Music and,artist-in-residence,Le Moyne College,the Mill Bar & Grill,Valkyrie Adult Fantasy Club,Richard Curry fiddler Andrea Asprelli,saxophonist Chris Vadala,conductor Jeff Tyzik SSO jazz,Spaghetti Warehouse,Entertainment syracuse,1936 airport film, Thirteen Hours by Air
