Monday, 5. June 2006, 13:49:06
blues, Buffalo, concert, Mark Winsick
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I went to the Sportsmans again, this time to record for a podcast featuring Peter Case. He was playing there with Mark Winsick, Jim Whitford, and Rob Lynch backing him.
Peter is a former Buffalo-area resident who left the area and found fame as a songwriter and leader of the punk band The Plimsouls. After they left the scene, he has been playing as a solo act as well as collaborating with many other respected artists.
His songs have been covered by so many people it would be impossible to list them all here. A charity organization, Hungry For Music, which raises money to support music in education, much as Bufalo's Music Is Art group does, has put out a tribute CD - three CDs in fact - of other artists covering his songs. His tour through Buffalo was to support this CD. The CD is called A Case for Case, and has 48 songs, every one of them a great track.
I've been talking with Mark Winsick about doing a podcast for some time. We've been waiting for the right time to do it - a date where he can do at least a set of his original material, but haven't done it yet. I hope we still will. I think Mark and his band, Jim Whitford and Rob Lynch, is one of the best blues bands you will see anywhere. They are each exceptional musicians, but when they play together, they just click. It's easy to see why they play together. They would have been the perfect band to back up Case, even if Mark and Jim weren't long-time friends.
I recorded the show. It was the first show I used my new Fostex MR8-HD recorder on and I put up three mikes and a direct feed out of the sound system and it came out great. It is so cool being able to play around with the four tracks after the fact and tweak things just so.
Peter felt he didn't have the best night and asked me to let him preview the recordings before I use them for a podcast. I'm a bit dissappointed in that, but I hope when I get back with him and let him hear the show, he'll approve it. I thought it sounded great and - as I always say - the podcast isn't a studio recording, it's supposed to have the feel of a live show, crowd noise and all, so perfection isn't necessary.
In any case - no pun intended - I had a great night enjoying a legend perform in an intimate venue and got some great recordings out of it. I'm happy, but I'll be happier when I can share it in a podcast.
Tuesday, 2. May 2006, 14:41:27
blues, music, Buffalo, Mark Winsick
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Last Friday, I went out to see Mark Winsick play at Vizzi's in Kenmore. It was a last-minute decision, so no recording for a podcast was done. But due to a cancellation, I had a free evening and had to go see him and his band play. I was treated to some of the best blues in Buffalo.
Let me introduce the band. Besides Mark on guitar and vocals, is bassist Jim Whitford, another Buffalo legend. On drums was Rob Lynch, a highly-regarded musician in his own right. If someone had thrown a hand-grenade through the window at Vizzi's that night, the overall level of talent in the Buffalo area would have dropped noticably!
Watching these musicians play was an experience. While I've seen many good musicians lately, not very many made it look so effortless as this trio did. Whitford's bass playing was subtle and strong at the same time. Never showboating, just damn good playing. He sang on a song or two and added harmony on many others. Lynch's drum skills were impressive as well, again not for being showy, but for his ability to feel the music and always play the perfect rythms for the song.
Winsick, was of course the lead man of the group. His voice is good for the blues, not trying to follow some other artist's style, but his own unassuming style. His guitar work was impressive too. Effortlessly playing what most other musicians would struggle with, but always serving the music, not showing off. Journeyman is the term that comes to mind.
They played three sets, mostly covers of blues standards, to an appreciative audience. There was plenty of dancing going on and his fans were from all generations, from mid-20's to the senior citizen crowd.
Vizzi's is an interesting place. A neighborhood bar in a typical storefront building, it looks more like a restaraunt than a bar, and in fact does seem to have a decent menu. The decor is unlike many bars, light and colorful, not black and dark. It would be a good place to go catch a beer and sandwich and watch some sports.
I'll be getting with Mark in the future to put a podcast together. He has a good catalog of original songs as well and we hope to showcase some of them soon.