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2015

 

I AM ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE
August 25th, 2014 - Original Article ► Click Here

Songwriting - 7.0 || Music - 8.0 || Vocals - 7.5
Web: www.JoeVitaleJr.com
Location: Canton, Ohio
Genre: Rock / Alternative

Joe Vitale, Jr. has released one of the coolest, classic rock albums available this year with, DANCING WITH SHADOWS. This 13 track project is a powerful demonstration of Joe’s command of the rock and roll genre, and on it he leaves no gaps for anyone to doubt his understanding of the history of the genre. Joe’s talents are reminiscent of great rock artists like Axl Rose, Steven Tyler, and more recently, Sugar Ray. So, when you get into this album, just expect a ton of music that makes you move and sing.


DANCING WITH SHADOWS is comprised of a number of excellent songs, but if I had to pick a favorite (hard to do with this album) it would be the title track, Dancing With Shadows. The reason I chose this song is because I really enjoyed the early 90′s rock and roll feel to this song. The melodies are incredibly catchy, the vocal arrangements and performance is top notch, and the music is very well produced and played. This isn’t the kind of rock song that’s being made anymore, which is why I love it. Also, it’s got every element in it that made the earlier mentioned rock artists so awesome. Vitale outdid himself on this record and I’m glad I got the opportunity to hear what he’s bringing.

 

Overall, DANCING WITH SHADOWS is a must listen, must purchase release for anyone who loves great rock and roll music. With so much music being released these days, it’s great to finally hear someone give me a taste of great rock and roll music. I can’t imagine that you wouldn’t agree with me about Joe Vitale’s album, especially if you claim to enjoy rock music from before 2005.

Reviewed By: Shaine Freeman, host of The Miews podcast (Twitter - @ShaineFreeman)

 

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PURE TIMES ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE . MUSIC TRENDS

May 9th, 2014 - Original Article ► Click Here

Joe Vitale Jr. |  What's in a Name?

Joe Vitale, a name most music fans of the 70's and 80's would definitely recognize. Synonymous as the drummer for Joe Walsh, Joe Vitale is the name most of us knew as the powerful percussion behind various tracks from such hit albums as CSN (Crosby, Stills and Nash) and Hotel California (the Eagles). But the legacy of Joe Vitale does not end with his notorious past. It continues on through his son, singer songwriter and visual twin Joe Vitale Jr. In this deeply personal interview with the ever talented and entertaining Vitale Jr., we take a look at the legacy of the past and the legacy currently being built from the music man with the very familiar last name.

 

In our recent interview with Joe he had a great deal to say on where he has been, is and is going:

 

PT First things first, would you please tell our readers a little but about yourself? Where did you grow up?

 

JV I grew up in Canton, Ohio and I have lived there my entire life. My parents wanted me to have a normal and well grounded childhood.

 

PT Speaking of your parents, your father is music legend Joe Vitale....what was it like growing up as the son of a rock n roll legend?

 

JV For me it felt like a completely normal childhood. It never felt different. Everyone on the road, including the stars, were really wonderful to me and it was like a second family. I loved being out on tour. It is actually very relaxing for me and I feel very comfortable traveling. I didn't really realize the significance of who my dad had played with until I was in college. For example, in 2000, I discovered my dad was the drummer on "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo", it's one of my favorite songs, and I never knew he played on it till then!

 

PT Please share with us a memory or two of this time period in your life.

 

JV Probably the best memory from this time period would be when my dad was out with Joe Walsh opening for the Doobie Brothers. It was the summer of 1991, and during the tour, the Doobie Brothers thought it would be a funny practical joke to serve the Joe Walsh Band drinks, like waiters, during their set. This triggered a full scale thermal nuclear practical joke war for the rest of the tour. Every night, there was something hysterical happening at some point in both band's sets. It culminated in Cincinnati when the Doobie Brothers shot silly string all over my dad and the other drummer during the drum solo in Funk 49. My job on the tour was to catch any sticks that would fall between the drum kits, as my dad and the other drummer would toss drum sticks back and forth while soloing. We call this stick toss. That night, the wind blew all the silly string to right where I was sitting between the kits and I was covered like pasta. We all had a good laugh but later on during the Doobie Brothers set, Joe Walsh had something up his sleeve to win this war. Earlier, he had gone to the Cincinnati Zoo and had them bring a LOT of animals to the show to parade across the stage during the Doobie Brother's song "Jesus is Just Alright" complete with Walsh dressed as Noah. To use the phrase, it was truly epic.

 

PT Any other memories you'd care to share?

 

JV Probably my favorite memory from those 1996 when Crosby Stills and Nash were playing at Blossom Music Center (in Ohio). For years I had wanted to play drums on their song "Woodstock". I had spent countless hours copying every one of my dads drum fills. There was a possibility of me performing this night butno one had said anything and I felt like it wasn't going to happen. Then, as CSN were going back out on stage to perform "Woodstock" as the encore, my dad pointed to me and then the drum kit and I ran out and hopped on his drum set and the song started. It was a sold out crowd, I was 18 and I had the best time of my life playing. It's something I will never forgot and I still think back to that day.

 

PT So, what led you to a career in music? What would you say was that definitive moment? Was it a Family Business type of situation?

 

JV My parents never pushed me into music. They wanted me to choose what I wanted to do with my life. When I was 10 years old, like many kids, I wanted to be an astronaut. I had studied all the cool NASA acronyms and loved to watch all the Space Shuttle lift offs. That summer my dad was on tour with Crosby Stills and Nash and they were performing in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The evening of the show, CSN & my dad asked me if I would be interested in coming out on stage and playing tambourine on "Teach Your Children." I was like, "absolutely yes, I would love to!" I was so nervous when it came time to go out on stage, not that I was nervous to be in front of all the people, but because I was afraid I would throw off the band. In retrospect I don't think I was even miked, but that's beside the point. When I went out on stage to play, the sold out crowd of over 19,000 people started screaming. At that very moment, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and I started to pursue a career in music. It was a huge rush and I loved it. You are clearly a front man performer, even though percussion is in your blood.

 

PT How did your path lead to the singer, guitar player you are today?

 

JV I started learning to play the drums when I was 12, and being I am a rather hyper person, I would constantly learn to play other instruments. When I was in high school I realized that the drummer couldn't be the front man as easily, so I started to learn guitar and sing. But I noticed that percussion still played a big part personally in your music career.... I had an opportunity to play percussion with the Stephen Stills Blues band in 1998 which led to a job playing with Crosby Stills and Nash. Around 2000 I felt it was time to try to write my own record. After years of recording, and rerecording, I released my debut album "Dancing With Shadows" in December of 2008.

 

PT Speaking if your music, what are your current musical ventures?

 

JV Presently I am back in the studio working on a new full length album to follow up my "Dancing With Shadows" album. My band and I are gearing up for our summer performances and I am working on new music videos for this year.

 

PT What is the one thing you hope to accomplish with your career versus the many musical careers you witnessed as a child or in reverence to what you witnessed growing up?

 

JV I would say this, I want to write the best music I possibly can, bring strength and happiness to people who hear my music and be a roll model for young musicians and young adults so they see that you don't have take drugs and party to rock. The overall message in my music is triumph over adversity.

 

PT In reference to Jr. versus Sr....?

 

JV It can be difficult not only that both of us are in the music industry but also having the same name. I do feel the pressure to live up to expectations. But I try to push past that and concentrate on the performance or the song I am working on.

 

PT When it comes to music and life, what do you hope to pass on to the next generations of Vitale's?

JV I would hope that I would pass on our family heritage of musicians and pure joy of performing music. I would love to teach all the recording techniques my father passed on to me through years of watching and working with him in the studio. I would also like to pass on my faith in Christ and how you have to stay well grounded in life especially in the music industry. My faith has guided and directed all my decisions in this business and I would like to pass that on to future generations.

 

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BOOKED PROMOTIONS CD REVIEW "DANCING WITH SHADOWS"

August 3rd, 2013 - Original Article ► Click Here

Album reviewed by: Andrew Maffettone (Founder/CEO)

Joe Vitale Jr. is a hard rock band from Ohio and their album “Dancing With Shadows” is absolutely fantastic. With high quality sound and some incredible instrumentation this is bound to be the next big hard rock band to make it out of Ohio.

The album opens up with “I Don’t Belong Here” which gives a great arena rock vibe that you can tell has the local bar sing-a-long sound to it. Upbeat but simple keeps you listening and wanting to learn the lyrics so you can join in. Then you have “Break!” which is just a stereotypical fantastic rock song. Powerful lyrics complimented by powerful instruments that basically punch you in the face. Two songs in and you can already tell this is a great album. Following right behind is the album title track which has a small blues kick to it but it brings in a modern rock kick to it that screams radio play. If this song doesn’t get consistent radio play I would be shocked. “Beautiful Girl” brings the feeling of the album down a little bit with a well-written track that is just incredibly catchy. The chorus of this song is so catchy listening to it the second time was like I’ve listened to this song a million times. Then you have “I Only Need You”, which, if you can’t tell from the title, is a great love track. A simple slower romance song with some of the sexiest guitar you’ll hear on this album. This whole album has classic rock album written all over it. You’ll tell your kids about this, guaranteed. I want to take a moment to thank Joe Vitale Jr. for writing “It’s Not Me, It’s You”, this is a great for everyone who is breaking up with someone. We haven’t heard a good break up track in a long time. It’s a very simple song from the instruments to the vocals but either way it’s got a slight pop-punk feel to it. “Mysterious” is another great straight hitting rock song. It’s songs like these that make you feel like Joe Vitale Jr. should be playing in arenas, one because I’m sure his fan base will become massive but because I’m sure it would sound fantastic. Following behind is “Never Look Back” which gives off the feeling of an anthem, it just sounds like an ideal song for some kind of sporting event. Then, “By the Shoreline” comes in which brings down the vibe of the album. Mostly acoustic sounding until it picks up a little bit towards the end by this is another great romantic track. “Infectious” is exactly that, an incredibly infectious song that makes you want to listen to it over and over again. It has an amazing upbeat rock kick to it but still leaves the catchy lyrics for everyone to join in on. Another track that gives off a slight modern kick to their classic rock feel is “You Make Me Feel Alive” which will definitely appeal to today’s market of rock fans. Nearing the end of the album is “Fight It or Self Destruct” which is a great way to end an album by keeping it entertaining but still leaving you wanting more so you’ll start the album over again. Then we end with “Dancing With Shadows (Dark Matter Remix)” which is a remix of the album title track which is a great way to appeal to the masses and bring in a larger fan base.

This album has #1 written all over it. It has everything needed to bring in a larger fan base for Joe Viatle Jr. This is an album I highly suggest for anyone who is a fan of any kind of rock genre, these guys are going to be huge. Get this album so when they release another one you can be just as excited as I am.

 

 

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VENTS MAGAZINE CD REVIEW "DANCING WITH SHADOWS"

January 5th, 2013 - Original Article ► Click Here

The fact that this album is amazing should not come as a surprise to anyone, considering who we’re talking about, a man who met, learned from, and shared the stage with a number of music legends from an early age. If you haven’t had the opportunity to meet the father, let me introduce you to the great son.

 

Dancing With Shadows by composer and guitarist Joe Vitale Jr. is the type of rock album that unfortunately society today can’t really find in the mainstream music scene, having to look in other old bands to know what pure rock and awesome music is all about.

 

“I Don’t Belong Here” is everything that rock should be and is. Powerful riffs, fun and ready to drive you crazy without breakdowns or anything like that. The bass lines and drums are felt from the beginning to the end, along with Joe’s vocal that really remind us of yesteryear rock bands. The sound is like a cross between Foo Fighters and Rush.

 

“Break!” continues the wonderful line of hard rock we have been delighted with since the beginning, along with elements of what appear to be synthesizers, in the middle of the verses that add an epic touch to the track. The guitar solo and rhythm guitars are just amazing, making it clear that “You can’t break him down” … and that is clear in the course of the entire song.

 

“Dancing With Shadows” has some of that Rush type of sound. It also has this funky vibe while still being pure rock n ‘roll. It’s a song for dancing, commercial, entertaining, and funny, and the guitar effect before hitting the chorus is simple, and in my humble opinion, makes me want to listen to what’s about to come next. The solo, again, is just amazing.

 

“Beautiful Girl” and “Mysterious” follow the same line as the track mentioned before. The rhythm guitars are so simple but work perfectly with the great bass lines and drum beats. They have a touch of what seems to be Poison or Def Leppard.

 

“She Intoxicates” gives us the more Zeppelin side of this band. It has impressive guitar hooks and that brilliant sound that as the song goes by turns less like Led and more like Kravitz.

“Never Look Back,” on the other hand, with the synthesizer, has a touch of Nine Inch Nails mixed with what we have been hearing so far. So to some extent, unfortunately, Vitale does look back… but for good.

 

Finally, after so many good songs that could become classics more than just simple big hits, we find this remix of “Dancing With Shadows.” It’s basically a combination of the original song with a little bit of NIN in it.

 

In conclusion, this album is a perfect presentation card for Joe Vitale Jr. It just gives us a very clear identity of who he is and is a record that will make you want to listen over and over again. It’s almost like a Bible: no matter how many times you read it (or in this case, “hear it”), you will always find something new and exciting.

 

Rating: 7/5

Review by RJ Frometa

Edited by Marion Lougheed

 

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VENTS MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

December 27th, 2012 - Original Article ► Click Here

I’m the son of veteran rock n’ roll drummer Joe Vitale. I grew up on the road with acts my Dad performed with, such as Joe Walsh, Crosby Stills & Nash, Dan Fogelberg, The Eagles, and many others. I toured as a percussionist with Joe Walsh, The Stephen Stills Blues Band and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

 

I’m a songwriter, a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, drums, vocals, keyboards, bass, etc.), a digital audio engineer, and an award-winning director & cinematographer.

 

I’ve had the opportunity to work for Sony Media Software creating loop libraries (Latin Percussion, Junkyard Rhythms, Organ Donor, and Vital Drums: The Vitale Drum Collection) for ACID. I presented at the 2007 and 2008 NAMM shows as a key speaker for Sony Creative Software™ describing my work on several music videos that I wrote & directed.  Also, I did the digital audio editing work on the 2005 Stephen Stills’ album “Man Alive,” which won Stephen Stills a Humanitarian Award from UNICEF for the song “Feed the People.”  I was the digital editor and pre-mastering engineer on the Stephen Stills album, “Just Roll Tape,” as well as edited, mixed, and pre-mastered the 2009 Stephen Stills video and CD, “Stephen Stills Live at Shepherd’s Bush.”

 

After ten years of writing and recording, I completed my first solo album, “Dancing With Shadows.” My sound is a blend of rock and industrial influences. The album reflects my struggles and triumphs over adversity with the tracks: “Fight It or Self Destruct,” “I Don’t Belong Here,” “Mysterious,” “Never Look Back,” and “Break!”  My relationship issue songs include: “It’s Not Me, It’s You,” “Beautiful Girl,” “You Make Me Feel Alive,” and the title cut “Dancing With Shadows,” giving the album a full emotional range.  While my album is biographical and secular in nature, my faith in Christ, which has kept me going, is woven through the entire album.

 

In September of 2010, I released the single “Jingle Jingle,” an industrial remake of the popular Christmas song “Jingle Bells,” and a somewhat comical music video.  That same month I started working with Smooth Stone Productions™ on a post-apocalyptic thriller film called “SAFE” released at film festivals in 2011, winning honorable mention at the Myrtle Beach Film Festival. I composed the soundtrack and was the Director of Photography for the production. Also, I worked on soundtracks for several other films including “Making Friends” (2011) and “The Teacher’s Lounge” (2011). My music video “Never Look Back” won Best Music Video at the Canton Film Festival. In 2012 I directed the short film “Encryption” which won at the Canton Film Festival.

 

In 2011, I formed The Joe Vitale Jr. Band to perform my original music and I’m currently touring.  My band consists of three fabulous musicians: Ryan McDermott on guitar/bass, Trevor Wozniak on guitar, and Dylan Gomez on drums.

 

How did you get started in the music scene?
I got started at a very young age. My family never pushed me into a career choice. They always let me choose what I wanted to do and supported my decisions. When I was a boy, I wanted to become an astronaut. However, when I was 10, I had a chance to play tambourine on stage at Blossom Music Center (in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) with Crosby Stills & Nash on their song “Teach Your Children.” I was so nervous because I didn’t want to throw the band off even though, if I remember correctly, I wasn’t even mic-ed up. The sold-out crowd went crazy, and from that moment on I decided that I wanted to become a professional musician. Growing up on the road gave me a unique perspective of how the music industry works.

 

What are your music influences?
Because I grew up watching my dad on tour all my life with a variety of styles combined with my own band likes, my musical influences are fairly vast. I draw a lot from The Who, Joe Walsh, Crosby Stills & Nash, Jimi Hendrix, and even more modern groups/acts such as Lenny Kravitz, Nine Inch Nails, Thomas Dolby, and Gary Numan among many others.
How it has been to tour with acts such as Crosby Stills, Nash?

It was always a great experience. They were like a second family to me. I played Latin percussion as well as doubling on drums when my dad would play keys. I always approached my performances as a serious job. Every night I would record the shows on a tape cassette (yes, that retro) at the mixing board, and then after the show I would listen to my performance back and see where I could make corrections. I always wanted each night to be better than the last. I wanted to do my best to make their live performances sound like the original recording. I took the same approach when I performed with the Stephen Stills Blues Band, and was always mindful to what Stephen wanted for parts combined with my style of playing.

 

What you enjoy doing the most, be a director or make music?
Along with writing music, directing film is almost equal. I played around with my parents’ video camera when I was young and learned to make music videos and short films, and I kept that going. I mainly direct music videos for myself along with other artists, and recently started to get into directing short films again. It’s a fun marriage of the audio and visual senses. What I create musically I can then present visually. So basically– I love them both!

 

Encryption. What’s the concept and can you tell us more this short film of yours?
“Encryption” is a short film that my wonderful girlfriend, Kathy Vogel (a local Morning Show radio personality from Mix 94.1FM/WHBC in Canton, Ohio and a writer), and I conceptualized together. I was researching and reading stories about secret societies with a possible connection to the music industry. I thought this could make a fantastic thriller. The film deals with a struggling musician named James (played by myself and loosely based on my life) who finally gets his big break—but he ends up becoming the pawn of an evil mastermind with unsavory intentions. “Encryption” won the 2012 Canton Film Festival and is currently making its rounds through the film festival circuit.

 

Dancing With Shadows. How was the recording and writing process? How you guys came out with the album’s title?
My album is biographical and personal. I wrote the album over a 10 year period and it focuses on triumph over adversity. With the way the world is, I wanted to give people something to draw strength from through my lyrics and music. My personal faith in Jesus Christ has always carried me through all the hard times and even though the album is secular, a lot of it is based on Biblical principles. I also have a lot of fun relationship-based songs as well. The writing and recording processes were a fun, but mixed with frustration because I’m a perfectionist by nature, so I wanted to give my best. If my performance wasn’t right, I would re-record the track as many times as possible until it was right. With that being said, I love to work in the studio, and it was exciting to hear the songs coming together. Regarding the album title, I went through a variety of different ideas and cover images. In the end, I felt that “Dancing With Shadows” was the perfect fit for the message of the album, and I thought it sounded really cool.

 

There are also new album rumours. Any details/insights you can tell us? Title, release date in mind?
The rumors are very true. I am presently back in the studio working on a new EP to be released early-to- mid-2013. I’m bouncing around some ideas for an album title, and will be deciding that soon. My debut album “Dancing With Shadows” was very thematic based around personal strength. With the new album, I want to have a lot of fun with some heavy and powerfully raw guitars, grooves and lyrics. While I’m maintaining the personal strength angle, this album will be more upbeat and high energy. I’m almost finished, and everything is on track.

 

So you are planning to hit the road?
Yes, my band and I are presently in rehearsals for the next month focusing in on the album cuts as well as the new songs, and getting ready to promote them. We’re still in the early phases of getting dates together and we’re looking at several large festivals this year. Our high-energy shows feature an awesome computer controlled laser-light show, which makes them really cool. I feel that 2013 is going to be a great year, and we’re all looking forward to getting out and playing.

 

Are there any more plans for the future we should be aware of?
Yes, along with working on my next album I’m also in the pre-stages of releasing an acoustic album and another remix album later this year. I’m also working on the early stages of “Encryption II” and a new short film called “Tagged” with my girlfriend. She is a fabulous writer and we work very well together on our films. I’m also working on several upcoming music videos for myself and other clients. It’s going to be a great year, and I’m really excited.

 

What has been the funniest moment you guys have been or took part while touring or playing a gig?
The funniest moment I’ve personally experienced would actually be the time when my dad was playing with Joe Walsh during the early 1990s opening for the Doobie Brothers. As many people know, Joe Walsh is quite a character and likes to have a lot of fun. In Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1991, during the drum solo on Joe Walsh’s “Funk 49,” the Doobie Brothers hid behind a wall with a ton of cans of silly string. When the drum solo started they popped up over the wall and fired 20 cans of this silly string over both drummers (including my father). My job at the time was to sit down low between the kits and during what my dad refers to as stick toss (bother drummers throw drum sticks between the kits while soloing), and if drum sticks would fall I would catch them and give them to the other drummer so they didn’t run out of sticks. It was an outdoor gig and the wind blew ALL the silly string on me like a pile of pasta. Joe Walsh retaliated by going to the Cincinnati Zoo and getting a parade of animals including, emus, to walk across the stage during “Jesus is Just Alright”. Joe dressed like Noah, like he was leading the animals two-by-two to the ark. It was an insane night, and every now and then I see the guys from the Doobie Brothers and we still talk about that night.

 

Where can we find more about your music?
My albums can be purchased through iTunes, Rhapsody, CD Baby and through my website www.joevitalejr.com.

 

Web Presence:
Official Website: www.joevitalejr.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joevitalejrofficial
Twitter: www.twitter.com/joevitalejr
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/joevitalejrofficial
MySpace: www.myspace.com/joevitalejr

 

Do you feel you are moving on the right direction?
Yes, I do. We’ve all worked very hard, and each day I try to do something to take my band up a notch. I try to write the best music I can. I try to write about topics people can relate to, gain strength or a feeling of relief from, or have a good laugh and enjoy themselves. It’s a lot of work but I love every second of it.

 

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BUCKEYE MUSIC MAGAZINE REVIEW

February 10th, 2012 - Original Article ► Click Here

Joe Vitale Jr. - Dancing with Shadows
Written by Jimmy Cummings

The Buckeye State is without a doubt one of the best places for music in the country. Okay, I may be a little bias but who could argue? And it seems it doesn’t matter if you’re in Cincinnati, Athens, Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and all parts in between you can find great local music and some of the most talented musicians you will find anywhere. To prove my point I am going to introduce you to Joe Vitale Jr. from Canton, OH. Joe is a multi-instrumentalist playing Guitars, Drums, Synthesizers, Percussion, as well as being a Producer, Songwriter, and Vocalist. Wow, put that on a resume. Vitale comes by his talent honestly, his father is Rock & Roll Drummer Joe Vitale who has played with Rock legends Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joe Walsh, and the Eagles to name a few. According to his bio Joe spent the majority of his childhood growing up around these Rock greats soaking up everything around him. In 2008 Vitale Jr. released the CD titled “Dancing with Shadows” and the hit single of the same name. Joe played many of the instruments on the album with some help from his Dad Joe Vitale and David Santos playing Bass on many of the tracks as well as Tom Bukovac playing Lead Guitar on the tune “I Only Need You.”

 

Vitale Jr takes his Rock influences and combines them with an Electronic-Industrial groove for a unique sound. I think Joe’s bio puts it best, “The best way to think of Joe's sound is "The Who" meets "Nine Inch Nails.” The album begins with the tune “I Don’t Belong Here” and features Vitale Jr. on Guitar and Vocals with his father playing Drums, Synthesizers, and Backup Vocals. The song shows a little of Joe’s rebellious side. The first verse reads, “I’m just a stranger lost in the city, passing by all the towers of glass. I’m goin out on the town, I’m getting reckless and wild, I’m gonna blow all my money like a prodigal child.” I can relate! The next song on the CD called “BREAK!” is a heavier tune that has that classic rock/industrial we talked about earlier; Joe’s Guitar skills are on full display on this song, it’s a great tune! Another one of my favorite tunes on the album is the title track “Dancing with Shadows.” The song has a great groove and one of the best Guitar riffs on the CD.

 

The song “Beautiful Girl” is about leaving your inhibitions at the door and taking a chance at the beautiful chick in the corner; it’s a track I think every guy can relate too. “I walked into the unexpected just to see what I’d find and there she was, just sittin in the corner, playin with her ice. I had to take a chance and left pretension, I took a roll of the dice.” I’m guessing Joe has no problem with the ladies however. The song “I Only Need You” shows Vitale’s softer side and features Tom Bukovac on Guitar. Next up is a rockin nugget that reminds me of the band Queensryche and features Joe on every instrument; this is my favorite tune on the CD, it freakin ROCKS! The song “It’s Not Me It’s You” gives folks a glimpse into Joe’s since of humor and it’s followed by “Mysterious” and gets back to what Vitale does best, hard pounding Rock & Roll. One of the best lines on the CD is featured on this tune, “You’ve got your plans, Life’s demands in your hands, but you never know what lies ahead.” This is a killer tune!

 

The song “Never Give Up” is one of the songs that really combines Vitale’s Rock background with his admiration for the Industrial/Techno grooves. Vitale’s video for the song was the Best Music Video winner at the 2011 Canton Film Festival. One look at the video and you will see why it was a hit at the film festival, it is visually stunning. In addition to producing the record, Vitale also directed and produced the video.  “Along with being a musician I am also a cinematographer & director. I always strived to make visually interesting, creative and compelling music videos & films.” I have to say it was a job well done. “By the Shoreline” is a beautiful tune and is a love song of sorts; it’s one of those tunes where you can close your eyes and reminisce of your time on the shoreline getting it on with your honey. Ah, memories!

 

The final three songs on the album are heavy handed Rock gems that leave you wanting more. “Infectious” and “You Make Me Fell Alive” more than any tunes on the CD has that Nine Inch Nails thing going and is guaranteed to get the blood flowing. The final tune called “Fight It or Self Destruct” is a fist pumping tune that encourages us to hit life’s struggles head on. The course goes, “Fight it or self destruct, Fight it or self destruct, when life is crushin you down just plant your feet on the ground and fight it or self destruct.” Hell yeah, great advise Joe!

The CD “Dancing with Shadows” is a great listen and I recommend adding it to your music collection. Joe has been hard at work assembling a great band and is currently touring the Buckeye State. Vitale has also been nominated for a 2012 Columbus Music Award in the Rock category. Vitale will be releasing a new CD in February of 2012 called “The Virulent Strain – The Infectious Remixes.” The album is a remix of several of the tunes on the “Dancing with Shadows” CD. Be sure to check out Joe’s Website and check out his Bio; it’s a great read and highlights some of Vitale’s other accomplishments. I can’t wait to see this guy live, I bet he puts on quite a show!

 

Joe Vitale Jr.

“Dancing with Shadows”
Vari Loud Records

Produced by Joe Vitale & Joe Vitale Jr.
 

 

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BUCKEYE MUSIC MAGAZINE REVIEW

February 10th, 2012 - Original Article ► Click Here

Joe Vitale Jr. - Dancing with Shadows
Written by Jimmy Cummings

The Buckeye State is without a doubt one of the best places for music in the country. Okay, I may be a little bias but who could argue? And it seems it doesn’t matter if you’re in Cincinnati, Athens, Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland, and all parts in between you can find great local music and some of the most talented musicians you will find anywhere. To prove my point I am going to introduce you to Joe Vitale Jr. from Canton, OH. Joe is a multi-instrumentalist playing Guitars, Drums, Synthesizers, Percussion, as well as being a Producer, Songwriter, and Vocalist. Wow, put that on a resume. Vitale comes by his talent honestly, his father is Rock & Roll Drummer Joe Vitale who has played with Rock legends Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joe Walsh, and the Eagles to name a few. According to his bio Joe spent the majority of his childhood growing up around these Rock greats soaking up everything around him. In 2008 Vitale Jr. released the CD titled “Dancing with Shadows” and the hit single of the same name. Joe played many of the instruments on the album with some help from his Dad Joe Vitale and David Santos playing Bass on many of the tracks as well as Tom Bukovac playing Lead Guitar on the tune “I Only Need You.”

 

Vitale Jr takes his Rock influences and combines them with an Electronic-Industrial groove for a unique sound. I think Joe’s bio puts it best, “The best way to think of Joe's sound is "The Who" meets "Nine Inch Nails.” The album begins with the tune “I Don’t Belong Here” and features Vitale Jr. on Guitar and Vocals with his father playing Drums, Synthesizers, and Backup Vocals. The song shows a little of Joe’s rebellious side. The first verse reads, “I’m just a stranger lost in the city, passing by all the towers of glass. I’m goin out on the town, I’m getting reckless and wild, I’m gonna blow all my money like a prodigal child.” I can relate! The next song on the CD called “BREAK!” is a heavier tune that has that classic rock/industrial we talked about earlier; Joe’s Guitar skills are on full display on this song, it’s a great tune! Another one of my favorite tunes on the album is the title track “Dancing with Shadows.” The song has a great groove and one of the best Guitar riffs on the CD.

 

The song “Beautiful Girl” is about leaving your inhibitions at the door and taking a chance at the beautiful chick in the corner; it’s a track I think every guy can relate too. “I walked into the unexpected just to see what I’d find and there she was, just sittin in the corner, playin with her ice. I had to take a chance and left pretension, I took a roll of the dice.” I’m guessing Joe has no problem with the ladies however. The song “I Only Need You” shows Vitale’s softer side and features Tom Bukovac on Guitar. Next up is a rockin nugget that reminds me of the band Queensryche and features Joe on every instrument; this is my favorite tune on the CD, it freakin ROCKS! The song “It’s Not Me It’s You” gives folks a glimpse into Joe’s since of humor and it’s followed by “Mysterious” and gets back to what Vitale does best, hard pounding Rock & Roll. One of the best lines on the CD is featured on this tune, “You’ve got your plans, Life’s demands in your hands, but you never know what lies ahead.” This is a killer tune!

 

The song “Never Give Up” is one of the songs that really combines Vitale’s Rock background with his admiration for the Industrial/Techno grooves. Vitale’s video for the song was the Best Music Video winner at the 2011 Canton Film Festival. One look at the video and you will see why it was a hit at the film festival, it is visually stunning. In addition to producing the record, Vitale also directed and produced the video.  “Along with being a musician I am also a cinematographer & director. I always strived to make visually interesting, creative and compelling music videos & films.” I have to say it was a job well done. “By the Shoreline” is a beautiful tune and is a love song of sorts; it’s one of those tunes where you can close your eyes and reminisce of your time on the shoreline getting it on with your honey. Ah, memories!

 

The final three songs on the album are heavy handed Rock gems that leave you wanting more. “Infectious” and “You Make Me Fell Alive” more than any tunes on the CD has that Nine Inch Nails thing going and is guaranteed to get the blood flowing. The final tune called “Fight It or Self Destruct” is a fist pumping tune that encourages us to hit life’s struggles head on. The course goes, “Fight it or self destruct, Fight it or self destruct, when life is crushin you down just plant your feet on the ground and fight it or self destruct.” Hell yeah, great advise Joe!

The CD “Dancing with Shadows” is a great listen and I recommend adding it to your music collection. Joe has been hard at work assembling a great band and is currently touring the Buckeye State. Vitale has also been nominated for a 2012 Columbus Music Award in the Rock category. Vitale will be releasing a new CD in February of 2012 called “The Virulent Strain – The Infectious Remixes.” The album is a remix of several of the tunes on the “Dancing with Shadows” CD. Be sure to check out Joe’s Website and check out his Bio; it’s a great read and highlights some of Vitale’s other accomplishments. I can’t wait to see this guy live, I bet he puts on quite a show!

 

Joe Vitale Jr.

“Dancing with Shadows”
Vari Loud Records

Produced by Joe Vitale & Joe Vitale Jr.
 

 

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TOWER RECORDS ARTIST REVIEW

May 9th, 2011 - Original Article ► Click Here

I have been asked a few times on how I choose who is a “Tower Records Profile Artist.” First, this is not something that I pick out of a hat or random – I believe that these are artists that capture what Tower Records is about and hope will be again. Please note that

As a courtesy, I contact the artist to request permission first before taking artistic license with their images (and to also make sure all licenses are cleared). I have never had one turn us down yet.

What about the images?
Usually these are recreated from photos of the artist and are my interpretation of this artist. For an example here is the thought process below:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joe Vitale, Jr. – The first time you hear the name you most likely think of his dad…Joe’s talent is real based on individual merit not from his family name…the image is flashy but, to me, only covers the musician in Joe.  It is contradictory to his humbleness and closeness to family and friends.

 

 

 

 

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CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER INTERVIEW JULY 14th, 2010

 July 14th, 2010 - Original Article ► Click Here

Teach your children: As a child, Joe Vitale Jr. grew up in the shadows of his dad, who for years played with rock 'n' roll giants (Joe Walsh... See More; Crosby, Stills & Nash; Dan Fogelberg; the Eagles). Today, the Canton native is following in his father's footsteps recording and playing out. "At the moment, I'm putting together a band for my record 'Dancing With Shadows,' which is released at the end of 2008," said Vitale, a 1996 Jackson High School graduate. "I refer to it as industrial classic rock. It's rock 'n' roll with a lot of electronic edge to it. It's The Who-meets-Nine Inch Nails but with cleaner lyrics. I also play with tribute band OHIO: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. My dad, Joe Vitale, plays with Crosby, Stills & Nash. He's actually out with them now, so I started playing with them because I kind of grew up with the music from my dad playing it all through my youth and knowing all of the songs. I thought it would be a lot of fun, and also I play the character of my dad. So it's kind of surreal." OHIO: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is scheduled to play at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester Tavern & Music Hall, 12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood.

 

Tickets are $15. Call 216-226-5681


Written by: John Benson

 

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2009 LANCE RECORDS ALBUM REVIEW BY BEVERLY PATERSON

Spring 2009

Joe Vitale Jr. “Dancing With Shadows” (Vari Loud Records)

 

“n air of suspense also guides the record, as inventive structures and moments of nervous tension wash over the landscape.”

They say talent is genetic, and Joe Vitale Jr., who is the son of drummer extraordinaire Joe Vitale, is no exception. Introduced to the rock and roll life at an early age, Joe Jr. was still in elementary school when he made his debut performance, playing tambourine on stage with Crosby, Stills and Nash. Since then, Joe Jr. has established himself as a singular music machine. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer, Joe Jr. shines ever so brightly on his first album, “Dancing With Shadows,” which deftly injects modern pop sensibilities into classic rock scenarios.


Stirring rhythms, complemented by throbbing breaks and tugging hooks tend to characterize the music here. A hypnotic touch is visible throughout, particularly on the title track, which certainly does evoke images of one dancing with shadows. Dark moods, intertwined with rays of light give the material a nice balance. Rumbling keyboards rub shoulders with slaving guitar riffs to the tune of Joe Jr.’s strong and sturdy vocals, which strike a commanding presence. An air of suspense also guides the record, as inventive structures and moments of nervous tension wash over the landscape. “She Intoxicates,” “Mysterious,” “Infectious” and “I Don’t Belong” are just a quick mention of the other gems featured on the disc. “Dancing With Shadows” is a stone cold accomplishment, and it’s only the beginning for Joe Jr., who obviously has an ear for imaginative sights and sounds.

 

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW INTERVIEW

February 4th, 2009
Where Are They Now - Joe Vitale Jr.
Where Are They Now? - OH - Music - 02/04/2009
Submitted By: Staff
Name: Joe Vitale Jr.

Band: I am a solo Artist

Instruments you play: Guitar, Drums, Singing/vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Bass

Hometown: Canton, Ohio

What kind of music do you play and what type do you like to listen to: I like to play a large variety of music be it Rock to Electronic. I like to listen to everything but I LOVE classic rock, Industrial, Blues and Latin.

When and why did music become important to you: Right around age 10 when my dad, Joe Vitale, the drummer, had me come out on stage with Crosby, Stills and Nash and I got to play tambourine on Teach your Children. It was such an electrifying experience hearing the crowd cheer and I knew that I wanted to go into music as my career. Up to that point I really wanted to be an astronaut, and I still follow the space program very closely, but music took over very quickly. When I was in high school I was given one of those really cool Tascam Porta Studio 8 track recorders. I started to write my own songs around age 14-15 and I never stopped! Music was always a way for me to express the way I was feeling…be it good or bad…I found that I had been given the gift from God. I wanted to use that gift to not only express myself but to try to write songs that people could gain something meaningful from for their lives, as well as have a fun escape from our crazy day to day lives and rock out.

Do you come from a musical family and if so what do they do: I do come from a musical family. My father is a famous drummer who has played with some of the top names in the industry including the Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Dan Fogelberg and many others. My dad’s side of the family were all musicians as well. My grandfather, grandmother, uncles, etc.

Tell us about your school experience, particularly middle and High School: School was always interesting for me. I love to learn. I went to Jackson Memorial Middle School and then Jackson High School. I joined the band in 6th grade and it was a struggle at first learning to read music and figure out what all those crazy circles and lines meant, but I stayed at it and eventually it was second nature to read it. I had a lot of friends through the band both in middle School and in high school… some of which I still talk to today, 11 years after high school. Band was always my favorite class. I was in the marching band in high school and was section leader of the drum section my senior year. Those were my favorite memories growing up. I’ve performed in my alumni marching band every year since I graduated and every time I’m standing under the goal post getting ready to go out on the field with the stadium crowd cheering, the smell of the damp grass and the weight of my snare hanging from my shoulder still sends massive chills down my spine. I love it. My friends and I always had cover bands throughout high school and tried to set up gigs at friends houses for parties and we also played at a couple dances. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right? All through high school I continued to write music and learn as much as I could. After high school I went to Mount Union College and continued to learn music there as a percussion performance major. I was in a fraternity in college, Sigma Nu. Several of my brothers were also in the music program which made for lots of fun and jam sessions at the frat house. After two years, I had an opportunity to go out on the road with The Stephen Stills Blues Band as a Latin percussionist and as difficult of a decision as it was, I dropped out of school to pursue my career. A few years later, I went to Malone College for a year for audio engineering.

Tell us about your first time performing for a live audience: I touched on this earlier but the very first time I was ever on stage was late August, 1987. I was brought out on stage at Blossom Music Center in NE Ohio with Crosby, Stills and Nash for a sold out crowd of 19,000 screaming people. I was 10 years old and only playing a tambourine, but I loved every second of it! It really changed my life that first time. I knew from right at that moment what I wanted to do the rest of my life.

Who is most influential in your music (other bands): The Who, Joe Walsh, Nine Inch Nails, Joe Vitale Sr. (my father) and Crosby Stills and Nash.

Where does the inspiration for your music come from: Like the saying goes “Write what you know”. I try to write about experiences that happen to me throughout my life. It is hard to make up song lyrics if you haven’t really gone through it. I mean it can be done but won’t have that edge that really talks to your audience. I will say though, I feel that God allows the events in my life, good or bad, to happen so that I can write the way I do. So, I would say that my inspiration comes from God in a major way. I have had to struggle with a lot over the years and while I always wish it could have been smooth sailing; my lyrics wouldn’t say anything of personal feelings or truth if everything had been great. My album has a lot of concept songs on it dealing with triumph over adversity. It is the central theme of the album. But I am also a romantic so I have a lot of relationship songs as well. I wanted something funny on it so I included my humorous breakup song, “It’s Not Me, It’s You” which is getting a lot of attention and everyone really seems to like it.

Have you been a member of other bands and if so tell us about those experiences: I have played in several cover bands here locally, both my own and others. At the moment I have been asked to play in a Crosby, Stills and Nash tribute band called “OHIO,” which is great because I know all the songs! I have also played for Joe Walsh, Crosby Stills and Nash, and The Stephen Stills Blues band. Every band I play with is a unique experience. I have really enjoyed all the groups I have played with and I have lots of very fun memories of life on the road.

What goals do you as an individual and a band have: I have worked my entire life to do what I do. I sacrificed a lot during my life, when a lot of my friends were out partying I was in my basement working. Not saying I didn’t want to be out having fun, but I just knew I had to work hard if I ever wanted to make it. I absolutely love what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Honestly, I want to take this as far as I can imagine and that God has in mind. As does any musician in this industry, I would love to have a song hit #1 on the Billboard Charts and I would love to be blessed to play in large arenas. Right now, that is just a dream and a prayer, but it is that dream that God has placed in my heart that drives me to be the best that I can possibly be. I am a perfectionist and I have always tried to perform to the best of my abilities and gifts. Sometimes you have good nights sometimes you have bad nights, but you always try to give the best performance of your life.

Tell us about a teacher who made a big difference in your life: Timothy DeStefano was my band director and very close friend all through high school and college. He taught me how to write music for and direct an orchestra, allowed me to perform a piece of mine with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra when I was a junior in High School, and brought me to Mount Union College. He and I still talk over email to this day. He was tough and expected the best from everyone who played for him and we wanted to be the best for him. He made you feel a sense of pride in your achievements, made you want to be the best, work harder, and strive for excellence. He is a very good Christian man and he has changed the lives of thousands of students over the years. When I was in high school the average size of the marching band was over 300 and grew to 348 the year I graduated. Take that number and realize that he had been doing this since the mid 1970s and you can imagine just how many students lives he has touched.

Did you play sports in school, if so what were they and what is your best memory from them: Every time I play sports I more and more realize why I am a musician. I tried tennis, baseball, basketball and swimming, but never joined a team once I got to high school. However, I do really enjoy playing golf. High scores are good, right?

What's going on with the band now:

New CD: I have my debut album out called “Dancing With Shadows” It is a 14 song album which I have been working on for 9 ½ years now. It is finally released and available.

Tour: I don’t have a set schedule for myself yet. However I am going out on the road with the Band “Ohio” this spring and summer and will be performing around the country.

Concerts: See above.

Studio: Always in the studio working on new songs for my second album as well as working on an industrial remix album of a couple songs from the first album.

Do you have CD's out now and if so what are they and where can people get them: I do. My debut album “Dancing with Shadows” can be bought through my website: www.joevitalejr.com. It is also available on CD Baby, Digstation.com, Amazon.com, iTunes, and Atlas Books. Retail stores coming soon.

Where can people go on-line to find out more about the band, your music, and how to book you for a show: Through my website, www.joevitalejr.com and MySpace and my record label.

Official Site: www.joevitalejr.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/joevitalejrofficial
MySpace: www.myspace.com/joevitalejr
Record Label: www.variloudrecords.com

What are some of your interests outside of music: I love videography, photography, web design, graphics design, jet skiing, boating, hiking, fishing, camping, golf, amusement parks, traveling, seeing all my wonderful friends, video games.

Anything else you would like to add: My CD, “Dancing With Shadows,” was released with two other products…my Dad, Joe Vitale’s, CD, “Speaking In Drums” and his book, “Backstage Pass.”

 

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40th Anniversary of Woodstock Concert with Joe Vitale Jr. playing drums with
 Crosby Stills & Nash Tribute Band "OHIO" from Michael Standard

August 2009

As you know, "OHIO"  blew the crowd away last August at our "Woodstock Tribute Concert ". There were 12,000 people in attendance and your performance on Saturday was the hit of the weekend. No kidding. We just had to have you back for a solo performance.
 
 I wish I had a better command of the language, because I find it difficult to express how  pleased we are with your February 6th  performance here at the Woodstock Opera House. The place was packed and the "buzz" afterwards was that "OHIO" was. . . awesome.
 
 As you know, Artie Kornfeld producer of the original 1969 Woodstock Music Festival, was our guest of honor at your show. As Artie and I stood back stage, he told me that he thought you  guys might be even better than his friends in CSN&Y. That's a hell of a compliment from a man who's career spans over 45 years in the music business and  was the producer of "Woodstock", the most important music and cultural event in American in history.
 
 Congratulations on two awesome performances.
 
 Best personal regards,
 Michael Stanard
 One Zero Charlie Productions, Inc.

 

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SONY CREATIVE SOFTWARE UNVEILS NEW "ROCK ROYALTY"
SOUND SERIES LOOP LIBRARY Vitale Drums: The Vitale Collection

January 20, 2007 -  Original Article ► Click Here

Sony Creative Software announced today the availability of the Vitale Premium Sound Series Loop Library Collection. A must-have for every aspiring drummer, this Loop Library is unique in offering the track collections of one of Rock n' Roll's most influential combos, drummer Joe Vitale and his son Joe Vitale Jr. Joe Vitale Sr. is a renowned musician whose career has spanned over thirty years of touring, recording, and song writing and production with legendary and Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame artists such as The Eagles, Joe Walsh, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, John Lennon and Keith Richards. These are just a few of the many artists who have called upon Joe to anchor their platinum hits with his rock solid yet completely transparent drumming. The elder Vitale's son, Joe Vitale Jr., engineered the sounds for this loop library.

 

The Vitale Sound Series Loop Library will appeal to songwriters and producers of rock and pop music who want the best possible performance and recording quality on their tracks. "The Sony Sound Series collection now boasts the addition of rock drumming legend Joe Vitale at the Premium Collection level," said Dave Chaimson, vice president of marketing for Sony Media Software. "The Vitale father-and-son team deserves nothing less than a Premium Collection presentation, with 24-bit sound engineered by Joe Vitale Jr., performances by both artists, extensive liner notes, and bonus video content. Now, music producers working on every platform at every tier of the industry can enjoy the Vitale sound on their tracks, and gain instant access to the kinds of rock music foundations that lead to smash hits."

 

The Vitale Premium Collection tier includes 862 files comprising more than one gigabyte of material, extensive liner notes and a behind-the-scenes video that explains how the library was produced. The Vitale Premium Collection library is a 2 disc, highly specialized collection that includes sophisticated, royalty-free Premium Projects composed with ACIDized .wav file loops.

 

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STEPHEN STILLS "MAN ALIVE" ALBUM RELEASE CANTON REPOSITORY

September 23rd, 2005


 

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PRO AUDIO REVIEW  |  SONY SOUNDBYTE MAGAZINE SUMMER 2004

Summer 2004

Click images above for full stories from Pro Audio Review Sony Soundbyte Article on digital audio work & editing on Stephen Stills' album "Man Alive". 

 

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REMIX MAGAZINE  LOOPS FOR ACID PRODUCT REVIEW "JUNKYARD RHYTHMS"

July 1st, 2002 - Original Article ► Click Here

The art of percussion mandates beating, bashing, crashing, shaking, striking, kicking and several other violent noise-associated verbs. Many times, the more primitive the approach, the more real and raw the emotion. With Junkyard Rhythms, Joe Vitale and his son, Joe Vitale Jr., explore their inner-drumming Neanderthals while rummaging through the rot in their local junkyard. The CD's documentation is minimal, but guessing where these sounds come from is half the fun. In terms of performance, the majority of the loops evoke a Latin flavor much in the vein of the Vitale family's well-received sample CD release Latin Percussion (also from Sonic Foundry). But this time, their modus operandi is to beat the clunk outta the junk — without any help from traditional bongos, congas and timbales.


Despite the junkyard theme, the infectious salsa moods, percolating dance rhythms and traditional Brazilian samba are fresh. Most of the samples were recorded dry with minimal effects processing except for a smattering of tasty compression and interesting room-style reverbs, which contribute to Junkyard's overall esoteric vibe. When diving into the more than 420 MB of Junkyard Rhythms' loops, you'll hear bells, buckets, bumpers, tubs, trash cans, pots, pans and more than a dumpster full of unrecognizable timbres that Vitale and son are probably still chuckling about.
 
 Each loop is preconfigured to work with Sonic Foundry Acid Pro and other loop-friendly applications (Ableton Live, Cakewalk Sonar and so on). The collection is divided into three sections: Ensemble Grooves (221 MB), Individual Grooves (201 MB) and One-Shots (52 MB). Especially cool are the Junkyard Kits, which comprise all kinds of knickknacks, plastic shapes and metal scraps. These hybrid toys for experimental drummers may just be the missing percussive ingredients for those in search of a little dirty spice. And though you may think these guys played everything including the kitchen sink, there is no junkyard dog.


Overall Rating (out of 5): 4


Sonic Foundry

 

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STEPHEN STILLS BLUES BAND AT LOS ANGLES HOUSE OF BLUES

January 3rd, 1998

Stephen Stills celebrated his birthday to a packed house at the House Of Blues. The set list as I can remember it is as follows (not necessarily in order).


Love the One Your With
For What It's Worth
Change Partners
Helplessly Hoping
So Begins The Task
Long Time Gone
Born in Chicago
Born Under a Bad Sign
Carry On
Woodstock
49 Bye Byes

 

Two new songs:

One I think was named 'Back Home' (dedicated to Johnny Rivers in the audience). I didn't get the name of the other song, a blues number with Michael Finnegan dedicated to his daughter
Tree Top Flyer (electric)


Dark Star

The band members were Mike Finnegan, Joe Vitale, Joe Vitale, Jr., Gerald Johnson and second guitar player, didn't catch his name. Tall and lanky with glasses, and looked totally uninspired. John McEnroe came onstage to lead the audience in rousing "Happy Birthday to You".

 

I gotta tell you, I found the performance totally not satisfying and I'll tell you why. Please bear with my thoughts here. I love Stephen Stills, to begin with. He is a great artist, musician, songwriter and performer. I have been a dedicated fan ever since the first time I heard a Buffalo Springfield record.

 

I was particularly disappointed with the repetoire of this performance. I could see this playlist if it were a CSN concert or a Stills concert with a bigger venue, but with the House of Blues I expected something different. I saw Stills there three years ago and the set list was practically identical. I expected (or hoped for) a different type of performance in this venue both last night and three years ago.

 

I guess my issue is that Stills has a great body of work. He also has very impressive influences. I guess I would love to see him abandon the "greatest hits" formula and perform a combination of other great Stills compositions with some blues/rock covers from other artists. Standing there as everybody mouthed the words to For What It's Worth or Helplessly Hoping has just turned into the type of performances which are just too predictable.

 

There were two blond, 19 year old, bimbettes rocking away and begging for Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. My favorites songs were Born Under a Bad Sign and Born in Chicago along with the new material. The rest of the songs were just rehashes of performance I have heard already. Though Stills guitar work, as always, was stunning. The songs were just vehicles for some great licks.

 

I also understand that you don't get a packed house by boring the rank and file with non-hits. And not to compare, but except for a limited number of songs, Neil Young always surprises the audience with a different set list to keep the performances interesting.

 

I hope you all understand that it is not my intention to bash Stills. But I would love to finally see a performance which doesn't begin with Love the One Your With and end with Woodstock.

 

J. Starret

 

 

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