lsg spot – Snowbound – Feb 17 2013

lsg spot
by Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez
http://www.facebook.com/lsgoriginal

Twitter at @lsgoriginal
2.17.2013

HOT Rewind

Another great few weeks have gone by.  We had 5000 feet of snow (ok, not 5000) but I had between 3-4 feet at my house and it…sucked!  During that time…

Downtown Hartford opened its doors to an amazing musical event benefitting our neighbors in Newtown.  I personally caught 19 bands (holy Jeebus!) and was so impressed by the entire event.  The organizers of Downtown Rocks for Newtown as well as all of the performers and folks who worked the event should be so proud.  It looked seamless from this woman’s point of view.  It just went to prove that Hartford is the Heart of CT…and it was beating strong and loud!!

Then…in the midst of rehearsals for the Vagina Monologues, I checked out my favorite CT Jazzman, Isaac Young at Arch Street and then hit up Arch Street again for the latest edition of Live and Local and caught Goodnight Blue Moon.

And then 30 thousand feet of snow… Thank you Nemo!

And speaking of Nemo…The highly anticipated Jeff Mangum show that was postponed multiple times because of Nemo’s dump on CT will finally happen on February 19.  Additional tickets have been released for the show.  Check out Manic Productions to get yours!  http://www.manicproductions.org/

The New England Music Awards Nominees have been announced!  And CT is very well-represented in not only the CT category but in multiple genres.  Voting has begun and is open to the public.  Please support our amazing CT bands and musicians who have been nominated by casting your vote!  Simply click on this link and then click on your choices.  It’s that easy.  I’ll be doing a special piece on this event in the next few weeks but…GET CLICKING!!  Let’s bring some of these awards back to CT!  Awards will be given out a special ceremony on April 13.  http://www.nemusicawards.com/vote/

Look out, Brian Boitano…Oh wait.  That’s ice skating.  But after you watch this video, you’ll know what I mean.  Radio 104 FM radio personality and all around good guy, (David) Fisch, has taken up ballroom dancing for charity.  Fisch will be paired with a professional dancer for The 4^th Annual Dancing Under the Stars event.  All proceeds from this black tie optional dinner and dance benefit The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut.  Click here for more details – http://www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse-ct.org/dancing-under-stars

Here’s a little sample from his rehearsals.  Put down your coffee cup because you’re gonna laugh out loud!

Easing into my hellacious birthday week…  Let’s see what I can manage to check out!

Peace…and Occupy a Venue!!

lsg

“Spot”light on… FiKus
http://www.fikusband.com/

FiKus

I had this revelation today.  I would say that I enjoy the “jam band” genre, but I am not necessarily a follower.  So, this one slipped through the cracks for me.  But, thanks to Derek Haviland at Full Circle Music, I have been redeemed!  I sat today and just grooved all day on music that just made me want to get up and dance starting with a song called Birthday Cake.  They are coming to CT next week and I cannot wait!

Fikus is a 5 piece “Electro-Funkadelic Hip-Rock” band self-described as follows:  “FiKus is a synthesis of analog and digital sounds that combines progressive melodies with tasty grooves, electronic beats, and edgy vocals to form their own signature style of music.”  Hailing from New Jersey, they have released two EP’s in the course of the last 2 years, Plus and Mover Shaker.

I was able to spend a few minutes speaking with guitarist Steve Malone.

Lsg:  I have apparently been living under a rock.  Who are FiKus and why should  I be paying attention?

Steve:  FiKus are 5 guys from New Jersey.  Most of us met in high school and we really started getting serious after I graduated college in 2008.  We have tons of energy on stage.  We have a lot of fun and I think we really transfer that to the people in the crowd.  Everyone seems to have fun and come prepared to dance a lot.

lsg:  You guys have released 2 EPs already and you are set to release a 3^rd this year, when is that going to happen and compare it/contrast it to your 2 previous EPs.

Steve:  We’re going into the studio in April.  Probably the first weekend.  I think that the approach to the new one, I feel like we’ve gotten a more patient and focused sound.  Maybe more rocking.  More dancing.  And more vocals.

lsg:  You have a fairly extensive tour under way with a stop here in CT.  What’s your favorite part of gigging?

Steve:  My favorite part of gigging, honestly, is just playing.  I love playing and seeing everyone smiling and dancing with us.  We are always having fun and having a party on stage.  And we just hope everyone will join us.  That’s really what it’s all about.

lsg:  What does the rest of 2013 look like for FiKus?

Steve:  Mainly doing shows.  Tomorrow we start doing 9 shows in a row and up until basically St Patrick’s day.  We are ending with our home away from home, Olives in Nyack which is like 15 minutes from my house.  We’ll hopefully have some time to record some stuff.  Definitely looking forward to playing Connecticut and plan to play a few times there this year.  We also have a lot of festivals we are doing as well.

lsg:  It’s Valentine’s Day.  Cupid.  Friend or Foe?

Steve:  He’s a friend.  There is a lot of love.  We may be from New Jersey but we have a lot of love!

Pretty sure a show with FiKus is definitely going to be a love fest!  – lsg

Catch FiKus with warm up, Hartford’s Klokwize, at Up or On the Rocks in Hartford on Wednesday, Feb 20.  You can purchase tickets here http://www.ticketfly.com/event/224299-fikus-klokwize-hartford/

Here’s a little taste of what you’ll get from a live show!

HOT local video of the week…BRAZEN HUSSY
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brazen-Hussy/38569008446

I LOVE THIS BAND!  I just do.  They are brash and bold and well, brazen!  Check it out!

What’s Playing in “The Flounce”? Daphne Lee Martin
(Music in my car CD player this week!)            

Band:  Daphne Lee Martin
Album: Moxie
Genre:  Indescribable
http://daphneleemartin.com/

Fave Track:  Belly

PLEASE LIKE MY FACEBOOK PAGE…WORKING HARD FOR CT LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT http://www.facebook.com/lsgoriginal – and follow my antics on Twitter at @lsgoriginal.  Web page forthcoming!

Peace…

lsg

Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez – lsg Original

Lover of music and the visual arts, Lisa Sanchez Gonzalez is the insanity behind lsg original photography. lsg specializes in artist and performer photography. She’s had the honor of photographing national bands such as Weezer, Snoop Dogg, A Simple Plan, Paramore, Whitesnake, Wye Oak, and The Antlers along with countless local bands and performers.

Hailing from Hartford, CT, Lisa is a life- long music connoisseur. Growing up, her mother exposed her to everything from The Stones to Simon and Garfunkel to Earth, Wind, and Fire to Loretta Lynn…and everything in between. No genre was left unexplored in her vinyl collection. She saw her first concert at 14…Rod Stewart at the (then called) Hartford Civic Center. Thirty years later, it’s still her favorite pastime.

Lisa has two kids (grown!) and a day job. Her loves of music and photography have melded into a second career. And her love of CT keeps her promoting and pushing for local artists and performers. Lisa spends the greater part of her free time seeing and shooting live bands, performers, and artists and art work…and purchasing vinyl!

Scene Queen lsg on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scenequeenlsg

lsg Original Photography on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lsgoriginal

Lisa on LBR: http://www.localbandreview.com/author/lsg/

OCCUPY A VENUE!