Frank Wyatt & Friends Featuring Members of Happy The Man, Oblivion Sun & Pedal Giant Animals To Release Project Album 'Zeitgeist'

Zeitgeist is a collaborative music endeavor led by Happy The Man legend Frank Wyatt featuring members of the progressive rock bands Happy The Man, Oblivion Sun, and the Pedal Giant Animals Project. Zeitgeist started out as an idea for a Happy The Man reunion CD, but evolved to include other musicians Frank has performed with during his career. The music has been produced in the studios of the respective artists and at Frank's Crafty Hands Studio. This unique gathering of such great musicians has delivered a beautiful and exciting musical experience.

The Artists:
Frank Wyatt: Compositions, Keyboards, Engineering, Project Management
Stan Whitaker: Guitars and Vocals
Kit Watkins: Keyboards
Rick Kennell: Bass Guitar
Mike Beck: Percussion
Cliff Fortney: Vocals
Ron Riddle: Drums
David Rosenthal: Keyboards
Joe Bergamini: Drums
Bill Brasso: Drums
David Hughes: Bass Guitar
Chris Mack: Drums
Peter Princiotto: Orchestration, Sitar
Andrew Colyer: Keyboards
Michael Phipps: Artwork

“The album's concept turned into a sort of  'goodbye, or one last swing at it'  as I had been diagnosed with the big 'C' and told I was short on time. I had no idea  the project would take so long! I'm five years out of warranty now and still kicking. Perhaps the project has been what's kept me going; I've been too stubborn to give up on completing it. I plan more work already... music is great medicine. Recording the music was a great joy but very difficult to coordinate as everyone performing lives in another state. I was constantly having to put things on hold as one treatment or another made me too sick to function, but the result, I believe, has validated the struggle. The guys all delivered amazing performances. The project musicians are all friends I have played with over the span of my career. They all generously donated their time and talent for the project, and I am so thankful for them.” ~ Frank Wyatt

Track listing
1. Zeitgeist
2. Leaving
3. Twelve Jumps
4. Eleventh Hour
5. The Approach
6. Fred's Song
7. To Venus (Perelandra Mvt. I, Andante)
8. The Green Lady (Perelandra Mvt. II, Allegretto con moto)
9. The Golden Feast (Perelandra Mvt.III, Allegro)
10. Blessed Be He (Perelandra Mvt. IV, Presto)

In closing Frank has this message to impart, “Don't surrender to the daily fog and fear.  We are all moving forward on our journey and I am going to keep writing and recording music as long as I am able. It is my voice.”

To purchase: https://frankwyattmusic.com/the-zeitgeist-music

For more information: 
https://frankwyattmusic.com/about-zeitgeist
https://www.facebook.com/FrankWyattMusic

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 1-828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Frank Wyatt & Friends Featuring Members of Happy The Man, Oblivion Sun & Pedal Giant Animals To Release Project Album 'Zeitgeist'

Zeitgeist is a collaborative music endeavor led by Happy The Man legend Frank Wyatt featuring members of the progressive rock bands Happy The Man, Oblivion Sun, and the Pedal Giant Animals Project. Zeitgeist started out as an idea for a Happy The Man reunion CD, but evolved to include other musicians Frank has performed with during his career. The music has been produced in the studios of the respective artists and at Frank's Crafty Hands Studio. This unique gathering of such great musicians has delivered a beautiful and exciting musical experience.

The Artists:
Frank Wyatt: Compositions, Keyboards, Engineering, Project Management
Stan Whitaker: Guitars and Vocals
Kit Watkins: Keyboards
Rick Kennell: Bass Guitar
Mike Beck: Percussion
Cliff Fortney: Vocals
Ron Riddle: Drums
David Rosenthal: Keyboards
Joe Bergamini: Drums
Bill Brasso: Drums
David Hughes: Bass Guitar
Chris Mack: Drums
Peter Princiotto: Orchestration, Sitar
Andrew Colyer: Keyboards
Michael Phipps: Artwork

“The album's concept turned into a sort of  'goodbye, or one last swing at it'  as I had been diagnosed with the big 'C' and told I was short on time. I had no idea  the project would take so long! I'm five years out of warranty now and still kicking. Perhaps the project has been what's kept me going; I've been too stubborn to give up on completing it. I plan more work already... music is great medicine. Recording the music was a great joy but very difficult to coordinate as everyone performing lives in another state. I was constantly having to put things on hold as one treatment or another made me too sick to function, but the result, I believe, has validated the struggle. The guys all delivered amazing performances. The project musicians are all friends I have played with over the span of my career. They all generously donated their time and talent for the project, and I am so thankful for them.” ~ Frank Wyatt

Track listing
1. Zeitgeist
2. Leaving
3. Twelve Jumps
4. Eleventh Hour
5. The Approach
6. Fred's Song
7. To Venus (Perelandra Mvt. I, Andante)
8. The Green Lady (Perelandra Mvt. II, Allegretto con moto)
9. The Golden Feast (Perelandra Mvt.III, Allegro)
10. Blessed Be He (Perelandra Mvt. IV, Presto)

In closing Frank has this message to impart, “Don't surrender to the daily fog and fear.  We are all moving forward on our journey and I am going to keep writing and recording music as long as I am able. It is my voice.”

To purchase: https://frankwyattmusic.com/the-zeitgeist-music

For more information: 
https://frankwyattmusic.com/about-zeitgeist
https://www.facebook.com/FrankWyattMusic

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 1-828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Rock/Surf Punk Review: Olivia Jean-Night Owl

Release Date:  August 30, 2019

Label:  Third Man Records

Website

After waiting five years for something new, fans finally got their fix with Olivia Jean’s latest release, "Night Owl." On her debut album, the versatile Ms. Jean plays all the instruments.  Night Owl brings reinforcements in the form of a backing band that helps to refine her unique and enigmatic sound. Ms. Jean blends rockabilly, surf & punk with soft and expressive vocals to produce a sharp and infective result. 

Born out of Jack White's Third Man Records incubator, Ms. Jean broke from her first band, The Black Belles, and now stands apart from Mr. White's shadow with her signature hook-driven sound. And they call them hooks for a reason. They're sharp and instantly take hold of you. Her signature black Gretsch guitar is searing, burning holes through the listener's preconceived notions and expectations. Like a pro surfer riding a cruncher, Ms. Jean's haunting melodies ride the shifting riffs masterfully. Occasionally veering off for a stunt or two, she returns to ease the listener safely to shore. 

"Garage Bats," "Night Owl," and "Brushfire" are rockers while the obscure cover of the classic Bollywood song "Jaan Pehechaan Ho" is a ride to the ocean in a convertible with the top down. Unlike her debut album, where Ms. Jean breaks out the acoustic guitar for the aforementioned "Haunt" me, on Night Owl, she opts to stay plugged in. Therein lies my sole wish for this album, that she gives us more of a taste of the stripped-down Patsy Cline inspired sound, which exposes both her vocal range and musical vulnerability. It seems "Can You Help Me" and "In Two" pose significant opportunities to unplug for a bit.

All told, Night Owl crackles with an energy that a 3-minute song structure struggles to contain. The fourteen songs packed into this thirty-seven-minute album pull no punches whatsoever. Play it loud, play it often, and please, Ms. Jean, don't keep us waiting another five years for another release.    

Tom Endyke - MuzikMan.net Staff

November 5, 2019

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Tracks:
01. Garage Bat
02. Night Owl
03. Shut Your Mouth
04. Brushfire
05. In Two
06. If You Don’t Love Me by Now
07. Rhinestone
08. The Hunt
09. Jaan Pehechaan Ho
10. Can You Help Me?
11. Siren Call
12. I Used to Be Lonely
13. Perfume
14. Tsunami Sue
 

New Group RUFFYUNZ Featuring Guest Artists Pat Travers & T.C. Tolliver To Release Debut Album

Featuring Pat Travers and members of The Plasmatics and Cactus!

RUFFYUNZ is a partnership between Randy Pratt (Cactus/The Lizards), Emmy winning engineer JZ Barrell, and singer Ed Terry and a collection of drum and guitar masters. Guest artists include guitar legend Pat Travers and drummer T.C. Tolliver from The Plasmatics. The songs are mainly about sex, animalistic sex, with a couple of “Dark Dread” numbers thrown in for bad measure.

“Funky, Heavy & Tight” is RUFFYUNZ credo!

Bassist Randy Pratt on bass, pedals and riffs and is best known for his work with The Lizards & Cactus. Singer Ed Terry has sung live with Stevie Wonder, Sister Sledge, John Oates, Sissy Houston, Slash and recorded with John Lennon, Keith Richards, Talking Heads, Simply Red, Little Steven, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, David Lee Roth, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner! JZ Barrell handles recording, engineering, mixing and arranging…he earns his writing credits. Jesse Berlin is the band's “go-to-first guitarist” usually and helps set a bedrock with embellishments.

The band's concept is to use “known” drummers and guitarists as guests on their records. Once the guest guitarist has done his or her thing, Jesse trades solos with them…and he really throws down the gauntlet, as he SHREDS!!

Says Randy, “The songs are written bass/drums first, creating a lot of grooves and BIG RIFFS. From decades of reading Bass Player magazine, it seems most song writing bassists don’t write on bass…so I hope that gives us a bit of a unique vibe….plus my ever growing collection of uncommon effect pedals, not intended for bass, influence the way I play and the stuff I come up with. After the sessions, my partner JZ Barrell arranges the music into more  defined song form. Usually, Ed Terry writes his vocals and lyrics, quickly, and records them at his home studio. Amazingly, it seems like we go with his first takes 90% of the time! Also, he writes most of his vocals to bass and drums, which is 'different', too, isn’t it? Josh and I produce the records. Then guitar is added to make the compositions come alive, searching for that sweet spot where James Brown and Black Sabbath collide.”

RUFFYUNZ next record is in the works now with and exciting new cast of guest players!

Listen to RUFFYUNZ new album:
To purchase: genius@optonline.net

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 1-828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

New Group RUFFYUNZ Featuring Guest Artists Pat Travers & T.C. Tolliver To Release Debut Album

Featuring Pat Travers and members of The Plasmatics and Cactus!

RUFFYUNZ is a partnership between Randy Pratt (Cactus/The Lizards), Emmy winning engineer JZ Barrell, and singer Ed Terry and a collection of drum and guitar masters. Guest artists include guitar legend Pat Travers and drummer T.C. Tolliver from The Plasmatics. The songs are mainly about sex, animalistic sex, with a couple of “Dark Dread” numbers thrown in for bad measure.

“Funky, Heavy & Tight” is RUFFYUNZ credo!

Bassist Randy Pratt on bass, pedals and riffs and is best known for his work with The Lizards & Cactus. Singer Ed Terry has sung live with Stevie Wonder, Sister Sledge, John Oates, Sissy Houston, Slash and recorded with John Lennon, Keith Richards, Talking Heads, Simply Red, Little Steven, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, David Lee Roth, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner! JZ Barrell handles recording, engineering, mixing and arranging…he earns his writing credits. Jesse Berlin is the band's “go-to-first guitarist” usually and helps set a bedrock with embellishments.

The band's concept is to use “known” drummers and guitarists as guests on their records. Once the guest guitarist has done his or her thing, Jesse trades solos with them…and he really throws down the gauntlet, as he SHREDS!!

Says Randy, “The songs are written bass/drums first, creating a lot of grooves and BIG RIFFS. From decades of reading Bass Player magazine, it seems most song writing bassists don’t write on bass…so I hope that gives us a bit of a unique vibe….plus my ever growing collection of uncommon effect pedals, not intended for bass, influence the way I play and the stuff I come up with. After the sessions, my partner JZ Barrell arranges the music into more  defined song form. Usually, Ed Terry writes his vocals and lyrics, quickly, and records them at his home studio. Amazingly, it seems like we go with his first takes 90% of the time! Also, he writes most of his vocals to bass and drums, which is 'different', too, isn’t it? Josh and I produce the records. Then guitar is added to make the compositions come alive, searching for that sweet spot where James Brown and Black Sabbath collide.”

RUFFYUNZ next record is in the works now with and exciting new cast of guest players!

Listen to RUFFYUNZ new album:
To purchase: genius@optonline.net

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 1-828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com