I was looking forward to the night because I would be venue hopping with the Carlon boys. I forced them to cancel practice to come out that night because an opportunity to network such as this doesn’t happen often. So many bands cramped into the Lower East Side for a night of auditory curiosity. Initially, it was only going to be the songwriting duo of Ryan and Mike (note: Mike actually went to two panels with me, which not many musicians I know took advantage of) and myself, but Jared had a second wind and met us at the Mercury Lounge.
However, first I had to make sure I went to see Marco Benevento for the IMA Showcase. He ripped through some songs off his new album, “Invisible Baby” as well as some choice covers including songs by Pink Floyd and My Morning Jacket. I’ve said that he is the most adventurous and versatile keyboardist of our time since the first time I heard him play on a bootleg of the Headcount Fundraiser from 2004. Seeing him with Garage A Trois in August proved my point to a new level and his solo performance at CMJ was no different.
Good stuff, Dave. Just came across your blog and have found many familiar names in here. Glad CMJ was good to you-
As for Marco- you’re dead on. Marco can shred like nobody I’ve ever seen.
We had a local funk band called Suburban Transit open for the Duo last time they were in Harrisburg- Marco sat in for a couple of songs with them and just MELTED the faces off of everyone onstage and off.
Keep up the good work, brother.