Tune In, Turn On
By Doug Deutsch
The big-name free shows continue every Wednesday night through Sept. 6 at Kennedy Plaza on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, with a terrific double bill Wednesday, Aug. 30 (7 p.m. start time).
Featured will be LaBamba’s Big Band and special guest, Billy Walton (Billy and his band will also perform at BayFest, an open-to-the-public event at the Brigantine Elks this Saturday night, Aug. 26).
“I was born in Philadelphia, picked up trombone at age fifteen, and attended the Philadelphia Musical Academy, (where I) studied jazz and orchestration,” said Richard ‘LaBamba’ Rosenberg, who fronts LaBamba’s Big Band, in a recent email interview.
Rosenberg, who spent 25 years as a member of late-night TV talk show host Conan O’Brien’s band, the Max Weinberg 7, said Rick Gazda, trumpet player and fellow Philadelphian, has been influential in his career.
“Rick invited me to join Southside Johnny (and the Asbury Jukes). He will also be playing with us (at the Mardi Gras AC concert.)”
Among the other noteworthy names Rosenberg has performed with include Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Little Steven, Diana Ross, the late Robbie Robertson, Dave Edmunds, Bon Jovi, and many others.
According to Rosenberg, trombone players who have impacted his career include JJ Johnson, Curtis Fuller, James Pankow (from the group Chicago), and Fred Wesley. His orchestration influences include Thad Jones, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson and Nelson Riddle.
“People (coming to the Atlantic City show next Wednesday) can expect to see and hear a twenty-piece big band including four trumpets, four trombones, five saxophones, and a rockin’ rhythm section led by myself and Mark ‘The Luvman’ Pender on trumpet, and the great local recording artist Billy Walton, all performing blues (and) rhythm and blues,” says Rosenberg, who now calls Los Angeles his home.
Let’s Get Amish: The Jersey Shore is famous for featuring some of the Tri-State’s best Top 40/cover bands (think: LeCompt, Fatt Mezz, Billy Walton Band, Don’t Call Me Francis, to name but a few), and the Amish Outlaws rank right up there with the best.
The six-piece band – who dress in Pennsylvania Amish-style clothing (a few of the members are really Amish, the others aren’t) – make their debut at The Royce Social Hall in the Tropicana 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, and there’s no cover. To see them live is to appreciate them. Highly recommended.
Life of Agony/Sick of It All: Anchor Rock Club presents two longtime indie, somewhat underground bands, Life of Agony and Sick of It All, this Saturday night, Aug. 26. If you like it hard, loud and fast, don’t miss this one! www.anchorrockclub.com.
red Alert: News from our musician pal Bob Kimmel that his band red has just released a new album, “the red album,” and we really like what we’ve heard.
“You can find (the red album) here at this site (https://red3.hearnow.com/) where you can listen to full-)length versions of all the songs on the album,” Kimmel told Tune In Turn On this week. “There are also buttons there that will take you to the album at Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora and Deezer. It will be available on iTunes and about one hundred and fifty other streaming and download sites in the next week or two,” he adds. red perform every Monday night at the Deck at the Golden Nugget Casino, and just had a CD release party this past week for the red album.
Help if You Can: A GoFundMe has been established for Steal the Sky drummer Randy Elmy, who needs a serious operation for multiple hernias. Here’s the link to donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-randy-get-emergency-surgery?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer.
Doug is the owner/operator of Doug Deutsch Publicity Services, which since 1995 has been servicing nationally touring acts, and working record release campaigns for clients. Doug also hàs experience writing for the one time shore-based weekly publication, Whoot! He also was a team member with Chip Braymes Advertising. Doug loves bicycling and aspires to bring the Blues to Atlantic City. He can be reached at ShoreLocalDoug@gmail.com and www.facebook.com/dougdeutschpublicity.
