Frank Marzano: News

Hi, everybody! Welcome to the April edition of the frankmarzano.com newsletter!

There have been a couple of additions to my musical instrument collection. I purchased a Fender Stratocaster on Ebay. Lite ash body, birdseye maple neck & fretboard, Seymore Duncan pickups... All my life I’ve wanted a genuine Fender Strat. Now I’ve got one. I RULE!

I’m also making my first tentative steps toward adding harmonica into my act. I purchased one of those “around the neck” harmonica holders. The plan is to eventually play guitar and harmonica simultaneously.

The CD has been getting noticed. It received a positive review in Venangago (a Venango County arts blog):

http://venangago-go.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

(scroll down to March 12),

and a rather negative view in the Chautauqua Region Word:

http://www.3thick.com/WEB%20FILE%20WORD%20Issue%2012_32008.pdf

Funny thing… Later that week I played at Ryders Cup Coffee (in the heart of
Chautauqua County). When I mentioned the review there were some people in the audience who knew the reviewer personally. They confirmed that he does indeed suffer from rectal-cranial disorder. (He’s got his head up his…)

Last week I returned to the Barking Spider. What a great place. Being a Wednesday night, it was a smaller crowd, but they were enthusiastic (and, unlike a lot of venues, actually there to hear music). If you’re ever in the Cleveland area, I urge you in the strongest possible terms to check them out:

www.barkingspidertavern.com

It’s official: Google video sucks! I got an account with Motionbox. Yes, it’s $29.99/year, but it’s so much less aggravating than either YouTube or Google video. In particular, I uploaded “Naked Part III”. This is a somewhat different arrangement than the version on Foul Weather Friend:

http://www.motionbox.com/video/player/a099d9b41f1ae128

Gigwise, here’s what I’ve got coming up:

Sat. 4/19 – The Caretaker’s House (Lake City, PA)
Sat. 4/26 – Edinboro University (part of EUP’s Earth Week festivities)
Fri. 5/2 – The Market House (Meadville, PA)
Sat. 5/17 – Borders Café (Erie, PA)
Fri. 5/30 – The Creative Crust (Meadville, PA)
Fri. 6/13 – The Barking Spider (Cleveland, OH)
Sat. 6/21 – Berry Jam n’ Jazz Festival (Conneaut Lake, PA)
Sat. 7/5 – Enclave Coffeehouse (Willoughby, OH)
Thurs. 7/17 – Dewey’s Coffee House (Cleveland, OH)

RockErie voting has started. Right now, only registered RockErie artists are allowed to vote. Once the first cut is made, voting will be open to the general public. Wish me luck!

My buddy Dave Devine now hosts an open mic night at the Crossroads Dinor in Edinboro, Sundays at 7pm. I was there last Sunday and had a wonderful time.

Finally… thanks again for your continued support. Without you, it would be – well, not impossible – but substantially more difficult.

Rock long and prosper,

Frank

Hi, everyone!

They liked me so much at the Barking Spider that they’re going to have me back! On April 9, I’ll be the headliner! (Yeah, it’s a Wednesday night, but still…) On June 13, I’ll be opening up for Anne E. DeChant, a very popular Cleveland entertainer. Check out the Barking Spider’s website at:

www.barkingspidertavern.com

I had to cancel my gig this past weekend at Ryders Cup Coffee in Lakewood, NY because of inclement weather. (Some parts of the tri-state region received 24 inches of snow!) Fortunately, I was able to reschedule for Saturday, March 22.

Other gigs I have coming up include:

April 4 – Eclectic Etceteras (Edinboro, PA) 5 – 7 pm
May 17 – Border’s Café (Erie, PA) 7 – 9 pm
May 30 – The Creative Crust (Meadville, PA) 6 – 8 pm
June 21 – Berry Jam n’ Jazz Festival (Conneaut Lake, PA) 4 – 4:45 pm
July 17 – Dewey’s Coffee House (Cleveland, OH) 7 – 9 pm

Justin Hoenke (Zomo, Belsapadore) and I have been tossing around the idea of doing some recording, possibly with Dustin Miller (Zomo) on drums. Nothing definite yet, but I’ll keep you posted. (A special shout-out to Justin for his superb cover of “Hot Mama” at Brother Bean Coffeehouse last month!)

A Japanese music blog, Future United of Blue, listed But Enough About Me as the # 4 album of 2007! I’m right up there with the Smithereens, the Nines, Queens of the Stone Age, and Travis… some pretty good company.

You can view the entire Top 25 here:

http://fieldmaker.blog18.fc2.com/blog-date-200802.html

2) I uploaded another song, “What Goes Around”, to Google video. You can see it at:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8688834057601759858

(I’m trying to post songs that, for one reason or another, didn’t make it onto either of my CD’s.)

Rock long and prosper,

Frank

Well, after several years paying my dues playing to small, disinterested crowds, the big gigs are finally starting to come my way. Last night (Feb. 2), I played at the Barking Spider Tavern in Cleveland. It’s THE place in Cleveland for live acoustic music.

It’s been a while since I played at a venue that served beer. I’d forgotten what an advantage that can be! This was the best crowd I’ve played to in a long time. It’s one of those places where you’re not just drowning out conversation; the people are actually there to hear music. It’s refreshing to know places like this still exist. Check out their website:

www.barkingspidertavern.com.

Closer to home, northwest Pennsylvania has a new website: www.rockerie.com, dedicated to the local music scene. Artists can upload songs and videos, and communicate with other artists. Given that Erie has over 100,000 people, it’s about time something like this came along. My own page on RockErie is:

http://www.rockerie.com/jamroom/members/405/.

Check out some of the other artists as well.

More to the point, the 2008 RockErie awards are coming up. I’ve decided to put my hat in the ring for “Male Vocalist”. Voting hasn’t started yet, but once it does, I’ll make sure you folks are among the first to know about it.

Speaking of websites, I’ve added a few more links to frankmarzano.com:

Eclectic Etceteras (coffeehouse in Edinboro where I play frequently):

http://www.myspace.com/eecoffeehouse

Dustin Miller (outstanding songwriter/guitarist in New Jersey):

http://www.myspace.com/themusicofdustinmiller

Belsapadore (very original pop/rock outfit in northwest PA):

http://www.reverbnation.com/belsapadore

I also hope to put some pictures up from the Barking Spider gig very soon.

I uploaded another video to the Internet. I tried YouTube, but it’s unbearably slow (assuming it’s successful at all). Google Video is much better.

You can hear me play one of my earliest songs (“Second Thoughts the Third Time Around”) at:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7378821317673587115&q=frank+marzano&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=1.

My goal for 2008 is to play at least two shows every month. Gigs I have coming up include:

Friday, 2/8: Eclectic Etceteras (Edinboro, PA), 5 – 7 pm

Saturday, 3/1: Borders Café (Erie, PA), 7 – 9 pm

Saturday, 3/8: Ryders Cup Coffee (Lakewood, NY), 8 – 10 pm

Keep checking the website, as new dates are always being added.

Thank you for your continued support and please keep in touch.

Rock long and prosper,

Frank

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the Fall/Winter edition of the www.frankmarzano.com Newsletter! In this letter you will find out what’s been going on musically with me, and what’s coming down the pike.

I finally got the “Marmalade Skies” review of my CD translated into English. (Thanks, Paul!) You can find it in the “News” section on the website. Since then, my CD has been reviewed by another Italian website, “Under the Tangerine Tree”. (Are you sensing a trend here?) It’s the same review as on the “Marmalade Skies” website, but even repeat publicity is good publicity.

I’ve taken my first tentative baby steps into the world of video. A clip of me singing “Rocky Raccoon” may be found on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfpKBCW9ip8.

It’s funny how one thing leads to another… Early in October I attended the Mayville Guitar Festival in western New York. There were workshops, live performances, and vendors. Being in the market for a new PA system, I was especially interested in the latter.

The following weekend, I traveled to Germaine & Pappalardo Music in Jamestown, NY, where I bought my new PA system, a Kustom Profile System Two.

While paying for my new PA, I offhandedly asked if there were any good venues in the area for live acoustic music. The salesman immediately gave me the names of two places: the Labyrinth Press Company in downtown Jamestown, and Riders Cup Coffee in nearby Lakewood.

Thursday morning a couple of weeks later, I didn’t have to be at work until 10am, so I got up super early and visited each of these places. Bottom line: I’m playing at Labyrinth Press on Saturday, November 24, and at Rider’s Cup on Saturday, December 1. Also, I’ll be returning to the Artists Cup Café in Meadville (one of my favorite places to play) on Friday, January 25. Check the “Calendar” page on the website for directions, showtimes, etc.

Well, that’s what’s been going on with me. How about you? Drop me a line, either at this address or at fmarzano2003@yahoo.com.

Stay warm, stay cool, and have a safe, sane holiday season.

Rock long and prosper,

Frank

(The following review appeared in "Marmalade Skies", an Italian webzine. To view the article in Italian, go to their website at:

http://cielidimarmellata.splinder.com/archive/2007-06)

I would like to begin discussion of this disc with a note of useless but nevertheless proper patriotism. From the time of Rain Parade with Matt Piucci (or better still, the Beau Brummels with Sal Valentino), how much have Italians contributed to guitar pop? Overall, intelligence seems to be disappearing from melodic rock; one can even see the vacuousness of pop music in this country.

Our Frank, however, is American, born in Chicago (probably to Abruzzese parents) and writes the kind of songs that bring tears to one’s eyes. Independence (in the true meaning of the word) clashes with the “indie” label stuck on to today’s neo-MTV rock and rollers (who do not even have different haircuts). But where does this Italian-American come from, who looks like he could be a character out of a John Fante novel?

In the early ‘80’s, Our Guy was already playing and composing. During that time he formed the band Childhood’s End, which until 1991 played at various locales throughout Illinois. Then he relocated to Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and began to assemble material for his first solo effort, FOUL WEATHER FRIEND, released in 1999. Eight years later, here is the worthy successor, BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME (the CD we are reviewing). The incubation period for Frank’s albums is always particularly long (recording began in 2001), and yet the result is damnably simple.

This is because Our Guy is a perfectionist; there is not a bridge out of place, nor a superfluous fragment of melody. “A Girl Named Sam” reminds me of Gene Clark (if Gene Clark were a serene person), and all 15 tracks feel the propulsive thrust of Liverpool. There is a Southern ballad (“Ladies’ Night”), and unrestrained rock and roll (“Let’s Get Married in Vegas”). Above all, Frank has a profound love for the kind of sunshine-pop of Klaatu (present in massive amounts in the tracks “Hard to Get” and “Making Up for Lost Time”), and of Brian Wilson (by himself in “To Both of Us” and with the rest of the Beach Boys in “She’s at the Beach”). A very enjoyable disc, full of real-life stories told with a touch of irony; “Hot Mama”, for example, deals with hurt feelings and the joy of becoming a father. Banal, certainly, but absolutely true.

To understand the essence of this person (who plays every instrument on this disc), I conclude this review with a statement of his that renders the idea well: “My objective is to take my music as far as it will go. If I’m capable of playing Carnegie Hall, then I want to do that. If the best I can do is a street corner in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, then I’m happy to do that.”

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the Fall edition of the frankmarzano.com newsletter.

What a summer it's been! I had gigs all over the place: Meadville, Edinboro, Rochester, NY, even the Shriner's hospital in Erie. The highlight was definitely the Mount Hope Music Festival in July.

It's been a tough summer for music venues in the area, though. BMI and ASCAP have really been cracking down on northwest Pennsylvania.

To wit, if you copyright a song, that asserts your authorship of that work. However, if you register that song with ASCAP or BMI, that entitles you to performance and broadcast rights. For example, if you're playing in a bar or club and you play "Blowing in the Wind", then Bob Dylan is entitled to certain royalties from that club. If I play my own song (say "Hard to Get"), and it's registered with BMI, ASCAP, then I'm entitled to royalties from the club.

Here's how it works: The club pays ASCAP an annual fee (a few hundred dollars). After you play at this club, you send ASCAP a copy of your set list. ASCAP then sends royalties to the composers of those songs on your set list which are registered with ASCAP. I haven't tried this yet, but I plan to soon.

An unfortunate consequence of this is that a lot of smaller venues, like the Main Perk in Girard, are being forced to discontinue live music. This was one of my favorite places to play.

The Internet is a good thing. Would you believe some guy in Japan bought my CD? It's true! My name also came up on a Spanish-language power-pop discussion group.

There's this painter... She did a painting called "A Girl Named Sam", and wants to use my song "A Girl Named Sam" for a YouTube video of her painting. I can't wait for this.

More to the point, an Italian webzine, Marmalade Skies, reviewed my CD! Here is the URL:

http://cielidimarmellata.splinder.com/archive/2007-06

Unfortunately, the review is in Italian. I tried to translate it using Babelfish, but the results were less than edifying. My buddy Paul Gall is fluent in Italian and says he can translate it. Once that happens, I'll put it on the webpage.

I wrote a few songs this summer: "Mandy Jean", "June", "Humble Street". I hope to play the latter two live very soon.

Speaking of which, I've got a couple of gigs coming up: The Market House in Meadville (Sept. 1, 11am - 1pm), and Eclectic Etceteras in Edinboro (Sept. 14, 5 - 7 pm). Check the website for directions, etc.

So that's how my summer went! How about yours? Feel free to drop me a line, either at this address or at fmarzano2003@yahoo.com.

Here's to a great fall!

Rock long and prosper,

FJM

Hi, everyone! Welcome to the summer edition of the frankmarzano.com newsletter. Again, we start by saying that, if any of you wish not to receive this newsletter, simply send me an e-mail with "unsubscribe" in the subject line, and it will be taken care of. No fuss, no muss.

Last week I played at an open mike night at Bodhi's, a restaurant/bar in Rochester, NY. The audience appeared to be college students, or else bohemian types just out of college. I played three songs. First, I played "Like a Rolling Stone", to calm my nerves and help me get acclimated to the stage. (It didn't work.)

Next, I played "Alone", a song I wrote about Princess Diana which somehow fell through the cracks and managed not to get recorded for either CD. The third song was "She's at the Beach" (from BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME).

I was really nervous. I don't know why; I've played in front of people countless times. Moreover, this audience was very receptive. It was one of my better performances, too; I remembered all the lyrics, my voice didn't crack on the high notes, and I didn't make any major mistakes on the guitar.

I've written a couple of new songs since the last newsletter: "College Man", and one that I'm particularly proud of, "Life Is Short". Meanwhile, I've got some more gigs lined up:

1) Friday, June 8, 5 - 7 pm, Eclectic Etceteras Coffeehouse

This is right in downtown Edinboro. If the weather's nice, I'll be able to play outside. This ought to be a lot of fun.

2) Saturday, June 9, 6 - 8:30 pm, The Main Perk Coffeehouse

It's a bit out of the way (Girard), but this is one of my favorite places to play; a wonderful coffeehouse with great food and very friendly people.

3) Saturday, July 14, 4 pm (?), Mt. Hope Music Festival

At the Mt. Hope Golf Course in Guys Mills, PA. This will be a day-long festival, starting with acoustic acts (like myself), with bands later in the evening. This will be my first festival gig!

Additionally, I have been keeping busy as a backing musician for others. On June 3, I'll be playing mandolin with Dave Devine at Unity Church in Edinboro, and on July 21 I'll be playing lead guitar for Marty Rice at Louis Hannah Days in Girard. My dance card is very full!

Well, that's about it for now. Keep checking the website, as new gigs are constantly being added. If you'd like to contact me, I can be reached at this address or at fmarzano2003@yahoo.com.

Keep rocking and hopefully we'll stay in touch.

Musically,

FJM

Hi, everyone!

First, I'd like to thank Lauren Vokish for the wonderful article she wrote for the March 30 Edinboro University "Spectator" about my CD, "But Enough About Me". The website has gotten a lot more hits lately, so this was excellent publicity.

Since the CD came out in January, I've been gigging regularly, about 2 -- 3 shows a month. Check out the "Calendar" section of this website for upcoming gigs in Erie, Girard, and Edinboro.

With all this gigging, it's hard to find time to write songs, but I've written a couple ("Daddy's Little Girl" and "The F-Word") which I hope to play live very soon.

Anyway, that's about it for now. Take it easy, and hopefully it won't be as long until the next update.

Rock long and prosper,

Frank

Yes, folks... the long awaited follow-up CD is finally done! It was 6 years in the making, but after listening to it I think you'll agree it was worth the wait.

It's 15 songs.. over 70 minutes of music! While my first CD (FOUL WEATHER FRIEND) was 11 songs recorded in as many days (on a computer), BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME was recorded in a real studio, where we would spend several days on a single song.

Mind you, I don't disown FOUL WEATHER FRIEND - it was an incredible learning experience - but this new CD is so much better.

I play most of the instruments on it myself: 6- and 12- string guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, and dobro, and got other musicians to play what I couldn't handle: Tom Hitt (drums), Laurie Hitt (piano), and Phil Popotnik (saxophone).

BUT ENOUGH ABOUT ME will be available to buy right here on frankmarzano.com, and at gigs.

Speaking of gigs, I've been playing 2 - 3 shows every month since last spring: Edinboro, Girard, Meadville, Cambridge Springs... I'm also researching venues in Linesville and Conneaut, OH. So, if you're upset that there's no opportunity to see me live... you're not looking hard enough!

Anyway, welcome to the new frankmarzano.com, and I look forward to seeing you at some of the upcoming shows!

FJM