The City's Backyard

Today, Darker Lighter — the captivating project of Los Angeles-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Salar Rajabnik is releasing his highly anticipated self-titled debut record. Recorded at the legendary Studio 606 with Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Robert Adam Stevenson (Paul McCartney, Queens of the Stone Age, The Kills, Jeff Beck), Rajabnik brings years of experience from behind the scenes in the indie rock and post-punk worlds. With a resume that includes collaborations with icons like Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Kim Gordon, Rajabnik now steps fully into his own sound.Darker Lighter is Rajabnik's cathartic exploration of loss, heartbreak, identity, isolation, and political unrest — a deeply personal and emotionally charged debut. Following the singles “Nice To Meet You” and “Open Up, Sunshine,” the album arrives today alongside the release of the focus track, “Be.”Performing every instrument himself, “Be” is a richly layered and evocative track, blending heavy guitar riffs with a soaring string arrangement. Rajabnik's lyrics—“you're on your own, you should have known” and “living in a house won't make it home”—echo the album's central themes of longing, disconnection, and the elusive search for belonging. It's a poignant reflection on the age-old truth: wherever you go, there you are.Salar Rajabnik (Darker Lighter) on the track, "“Be” is one of the most deeply personal songs i've ever written. It's about a feeling I get often; which is that I find myself feeling out of place. Whether ideologically, artistically or socially, often due to being unwilling to compromise my identity or principles. Themes of biculturalism, socio-political alienation, the fallout and consequences of activism and more influenced the meaning of the tune. The ultimate conclusion of the song is that “The price you pay is who you have to be."

Joanna Serenko is an original singer-songwriter. She grew up in Cleveland and moved to St. Louis at a young age, where her professional career as a musician began. Joanna found her voice by performing and exploring different outlets of music, such as choir, musical theater, and singing in church. By high school, Joanna began writing her own songs and performing as an opening act for local bands in St. Louis. It wasn't long before Joanna was headlining her own shows and recording her own original music. At 18 years old, shortly after her high school graduation, Joanna got the incredible opportunity to perform on Season 18 of an international reality television singing competition, NBC's “The Voice”. During her time on the show, she worked with renowned celebrities such as Nick Jonas and the Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, and James Taylor. This experience helped to open many doors for her music and served as a great launching pad for Joanna's long-term success in the music industry. After the show, Joanna released her debut album, “Best of Me,” available on all streaming platforms. Since then, Joanna has graduated from nursing school and now embarks on a new adventure of pursing full-time music as she tours the country. Learn more under the "2025 Tour" tab! Also Tyler Dale is featured along with Joanna on this episode because of their duet of the song TWIN FLAME! You will love this song from these super talented singers songwriters! Tyler Dale is an accomplished country artist, songwriter, and producer hailing from St. Louis, MO. Alongside his sister Kristen Anne, he has fronted various cover bands, traversing the Midwest and sharing stages with luminaries such as Josh Turner, Uncle Kracker, and Lady A. The year 2020 marked a pivotal turn in his career when he ventured into releasing his own original music, birthing the project Tyler Dale & Co. On December 31st, 2023, he released his debut album, “Salutations”. https://www.joanna-serenko.comHere is the video episode of her on The VOICE in 2020! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O_P3MMV9mo

Dennis Dunaway was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011 as a founding member of the band named Alice Cooper. Dennis and the group are in the Grammy Hall of Fame for co-writing “School's Out.” The original Alice Cooper group have sold millions of singles and albums and were on the cover of Forbes for having the largest grossing tour in 1973 over Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. The original Alice Cooper group is in the Guinness Book of World Records for largest indoor audience of an estimated 120,000 to 148,000 in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1974. The Billion Dollar Babies album reached number 1 in America and Britain, and the group are recognized as the innovators of theatrical rock shows, which included giant balloons, hangings, snakes and spidery eye makeup.Dennis currently records and tours with Blue Coupe featuring Joe and Albert Bouchard of Blue Öyster Cult fame and singers Tish and Snooky of Manic Panic.The original Alice Cooper group recorded 3 songs on Alice's Welcome 2 My Nightmare album, and re-recorded “School's Out” with Brian Johnson, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp for the Hollywood Vampires album. The Alice Cooper group reunited to record several songs on Alice's Paranormal album produced by Bob Ezrin, and the group did a five-city tour in the United Kingdom in November 2017, which included 14,000 people at Wembley. Dennis is constantly recording and playing shows with bands involving his musical friends. His fans inspire him to take new risks while remaining true to legendary roots.For more on Dennis....https://www.dennisdunaway.com

On this episode we feature two outstanding New York comics! Matt Vita and Sharon  Simon! Of course we joke around and have some laughs while finding out how these two comedians became friends over the years of being in the biz and performing along the comedy circuit! For more on Matt and Sharon check out their websites or follow them on social media to find out where they will be making you laugh next! And get your tickets soon for a good laugh! https://www.mattvita.comhttps://www.simonsayslaugh.com

Led Zeppelin shook the world of rock & roll for little more than a decade, but their legacy lives on stronger than ever. Masters of creativity and diversity, their music covers such a wide range of styles and genres that they are difficult to define. Their collective talent remains unmatched and unchallenged.  There will never be another Led Zeppelin.  Their songs are still aired regularly, and their recordings are being bought in droves by new generations, but fans of the band still crave the raw energy of a live show.  Enter Black Dog.  Black Dog proudly pays tribute to the mighty Led Zeppelin with an extensive catalogue of songs comprised of classic masterpieces like "Dazed and Confused", "Heartbreaker", and "Stairway to Heaven", as well as the less heard  B-sides to satisfy the more discerning fans.  A complete acoustic set recreates an intimate setting with mandolin and custom tuned guitars played on stools, bringing to life songs like "Going to California", "Friends", and "That's the Way".  The show also includes extended versions that recapture the true live experience such as The Song Remains the Same's "Whole Lotta Love", complete with Page's magical Theramin solo!  The members established the band in early 2000, and they are all accomplished musicians with considerable experience. Black Dog is the definitive Led Zeppelin tribute band.  Keeping the music of Led Zeppelin Live!http://blackdogzeppelin.com

We check in with our friend Steve Cooper, executive director at The Milford Performance Center! It is always fun chatting about upcoming shows including Who's Next and Gold Rush! For tickets and more info log on to the website! https://milfordperformancecenter.org/

Co-founder of the Yardbirds, Jim McCarty, continues to lead this ground-breaking British Invasion Rock band that provides the crucial link between the Blues, British R&B, Psychedelic Rock, and Heavy Metal, while pioneering the use of innovations like fuzztone, feedback and distortion. This drummer, singer, songwriter, and producer is said to be one of the driving forces responsible for the band's haunting sound.Since the birth of the band from 1963 to 1968, to its 1992 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Yardbirds have been revered for the legendary guitarists who have contributed to the band's history including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page all ranked in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time (#35, #5, and #3 respectively).Originally a Blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental jams covering Blues classics like Howlin Wolf's "Smokestack Lighting" and Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man," the Yardbirds later broadened their range into Pop, pioneered Psychadelic Rock, early Hard Rock / Heavy Metal, and contributed to many electric guitar innovations marking those musical genres. The band had a string of hits in the mid 60s including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things", and "Over Under Sideways Down".The Yardbirds are on tour now! For more log onto their website!https://www.theyardbirds.com

Grady McAuliffe's debut single "On the Edge" released on March 7th 2025 to worldwide streaming platforms through Pilot Light Records. The single was produced by McAuliffe with Ethan Isaac, Tom Stewart and Joel P. Kelley. It was recorded at Isaac's owned and operated Factory Underground Studio in Norwalk, CT and mastered by John Shyloski, along with many more songs to be released soon. McAuliffe performed at Daytona Bike week on March 3rd & 5th ahead of his single's release. "We were a hit with the beer drinking bikers in Daytona. That felt really good. When they like you, they really let you know it... and they let you know when they don't!" said McAuliffe. McAuliffe first found success with his song "All Time Low," which was featured in the Christmas movie for the television series "Heartland." It was during this period of writing and recording in Nashville TN that he first began to hear his songs recorded in a Nashville-country style; he realized what a natural fit it was to his style of storyteller-songwriting. Today he calls his style of music "northern country," a mix of Nashville Country and Alternative/Southern Hard Rock. "Rock or Country, we're an American band, playing music from the heart. People respond to that," he said.Here is the new video of On The Edge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6VVr6XHoRgFor more on Grady log on belowhttps://www.gradymcauliffe.com/

The backyard of New York City has so much to offer especially when it comes to the arts and music in the suburbs! We check in with President and CEO Mike Moran about the history of this beautiful theatre and his longevity with The Palace Theatre in downtown Stamford, CT! Mike is enthusiastic about the music and arts in his community and is working hard to have more options with The Palace Theatre's "Upstage" series of events within the large venue itself! For more info on shows and events log on to the website! https://www.palacestamford.org/events/all

Comedian Joe Pontillo checks in to the backyard of NYC to talk about Laughing Gas Comedy at The VFW Post in Westport! We talk about the tri state comedy scene, a little bit about his career and the line up on Friday April 11th at The VFW Post in Westport! Exit 17 off 95....465 Riverside Ave in Westport along the river! 

American Nomads is a roots rock band based in Brooklyn and Woodstock, New York. Inspired by artists like Bruce Springsteen and The Band, they dive deep into the heart of American music with blends of Country, Rock, and Blues to cultivate their own unique contemporary style. Receiving national radio play, they reached #6 on the Billboard AC chart, as well as passed the first round of Grammy nominations for their song, A Revelation's Gonna Come. Constantly pushing forward, their newest 10-song album, Hats Cleaned  is produced by Joe Vitale, a longtime drummer and contributor of Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Eagles, and Joe Walsh. Members of the band include Walter Kenul on lead vocals and keyboards, Susan Darmiento on lead and background vocals, Matt Schneider on lead vocals and guitars, Joseph Humann on harmonica and percussion, Joe Conoscenti on drums, Jay Rivera on bass and background vocals, and Andrew Friedman on pedal steel and guitars. American Nomads was founded by Walter Kenul and former guitarist Dante DeLemos, along with celebrated artist and lyricist Richard Humann.https://www.americannomadsband.comCheck out the music video of " Wanted Man"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBfgo8MrP8s

Years ago, on the iconic American Bandstand show, TV legend Dick Clark stuck a microphone in young Bruce Sudano's face and asked, “What is your musical ambition?” The teen fans who filled the audience didn't have to wait long for Bruce's answer: “I want to perform in Madison Square Garden.” It happens that Sudano, then a member of a trio named Brooklyn Dreams, had already played in that fabled venue a few years earlier, opening with his band Alive ‘N Kickin' for Eric Burdon and War. But in ways that were then beyond his imagination, he achieved much more than that one gig in the Garden. He continued to love playing live shows but his true passion quickly became songwriting. Back then, Sudano cultivated a style that combined pop and soul sensibility with jazz-worthy polish.   Sudano's journey provided ample inspiration for his new album Talkin' Ugly Truth, Tellin' Pretty Lies. It begins in Flatbush, where his father helped kindle his curiosity about music. “He used to have a jukebox route,” Sudano says. “He'd come home at the end of the week with a box of 45s. The thing that always intrigued me, even more than the singers and musicians, was the names under the title in parentheses – the songwriters.” His career in music began when he co-founded Alive N Kickin'. They released one hit single, “Tighter, Tighter,” which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard charts in 1970. Tommy James (“Hanky Panky,” “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover,” “I Think We're Alone Now”) wrote the tune and co-produced the album. Sudano had written much of the band's repertoire, but it was James's mentorship that helped him to elevate his work. His focus intensified as his songs were picked up and recorded by some of the major artists of the day, including Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Michael Jackson with his brother Jermaine. But his most fruitful association dates from 1977, when Brooklyn Dreams was hired to provide background vocals for Donna Summer on her album I Remember Yesterday. In 1980, their relationship blossoming beyond the studio, Donna and Bruce married. The fusion of their professional and personal lives boosted each one's creativity as they co-wrote her world-wide smash hit “Bad Girls,” as well as  “Lucky,” “On My Honor,” “Can't Get to Sleep at Night” and “Starting Over Again,” which Dolly Parton recorded and lofted to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Music Charts. Tragically, Donna succumbed in 2012 to cancer at age 62. Though shattered by her passing, Sudano understood that even in the depths of sorrow, seeds of creativity continue to grow. “Suddenly I was in a new situation,” he says. “I didn't have Donna to write for anymore. I was at the age where I'm not gonna put another group together. Instead, maybe I could be the singer/songwriter that I didn't take the opportunity to be before. Out of the deep hurt of the situation, I felt challenged to continue to be an artist. That's an essential element, to continue to be challenged, to be forced to go to other places, to feel other things, to know you're not stagnating.” This great loss in his life opened the door that led ultimately to a period of creative growth, releasing 6 albums and numerous singles in the last decade, and now  Talkin' Ugly Truth, Tellin' Pretty Lies. For more log on to his website link below.https://www.brucesudano.com

Our friend Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling drops by the backyard of New York City to chat about his comedy shows in the tri-state area! We also catch up with him about his new role on a TV show called "The Better Sister" on Amazon Prime coming out in May 2025 where some of the scenes are shot from his house in Bayville, Long Island! You can also see Jackie live at The Suffolk Theatre in Riverhead, NY Saturday March 1st, The Stress Factory in Bridgeport on March 7th, Max's Es-ca in Staten Island, NY Friday March 14th, and Catch a Rising Star in Princeton, NJ on Saturday April 19th! For more info go to his website! https://www.jokeland.com

SEAN CHAMBERSrecorded his 9th album“LIVE FROM DARYL'S HOUSE CLUB”Featuring The Savoy Brown Rhythm Sectionon MAY 2ND 2024.The release is scheduled forFEBRUARY 28TH, 2025The album consists mostly ofChambers' past material as well asa few SAVOY BROWN songs.Florida born Sean Chambers began his career in the Blues back in 1998when he toured with the legendary Hubert Sumlin as his guitarist andband leader until 2003. During Sean's tenure with Mr. Sumlin, Britain'sown Guitarist magazine named Chambers as “One of the top 50 bluesguitarists of the last century.”Sean Chambers and the members from Savoy Brown all became friendsafter playing a festival together in 2019. In 2023, shortly after theunfortunate passing of Savoy Brown's founder & leader, Kim Simmonds,renowned guitarist and songwriter Sean Chambers teamed up with theSavoy Brown Rhythm Section consisting of Pat De Salvo on Bass, andGarnet Grimm on drums. Being that Savoy Brown and Chambers areon the same record label together, Quarto Valley Records, this changemade sense and felt right to all three musicians. Kim Simmonds was infull support and gave the three his blessings shortly before his passingon December 13th, 2022.These three accomplished musicians have come together to createwhat is undeniably one of the most entertaining, and powerful musicaltrio's on the scene today!Sean Chambers, along with Pat De Salvo & Garnet Grimm continue totour together throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. For more go to his website! https://www.seanchambers.com

Andy Aledort is widely known for his transcriptions, instructional columns and DVDs and has also toured throughout the last two decades with Dickey Betts and the Jimi Hendrix Tribute.Andy's latest album is In A Dream, featuring five originals and covers of Jimi Hendrix's “Pali Gap,” Cream's “Lawdy Mama” and Albert King's ‘Can't You See What You're Doing To Me.” The album has garnered incredible reviews from today's most respected players: Warren Haynes says,Andy's playing his ass off as always and the guitar sounds are great. I love the harmonized slide guitars on ‘Hymn,' and I'm digging the jazzier tunes too. And on ‘Moonwaves,' he's mixing Hendrix and Zappa vibes. I dig it!” Joe Satriani state, “Nice playing all over this album!  ‘Pali Gap' sounds killer and ‘Moonwaves' is awesome! And Steve Vai adds, “‘In A Dream' reveals Andy's authentic love of blues and it shines through in the atmosphere he created. He is burning an old torch in a new way and it works. It's great to have a record like this that captures that authenticity.” In A Dream is available from Long Song Records.https://andyaledort.com/https://friendsofthebrothersband.com/

Saxophonist, singer-songwriter, arranger, and Gulf Coast Records recording artist, Jimmy Carpenter is on a roll! He is coming to play this area! For area dates and venues click on the website:https://jimmycarpenter.net/tour-datesJimmy won the 2021 and 2022 Blues Music Award for Best Instrumentalist/Horn. And he is now a Grammy-Winning Composer, for a composition he contributed to the New Orleans Nightcrawlers' winning album, Atmosphere. Recently, Gulf Coast Records released Soul Doctor, the new studio album from saxophonist/singer-songwriter Jimmy Carpenter. Jimmy was excited to be invited to record on Gulf Coast Records, founded by his long-time friend and frequent collaborator, Mike Zito, and new friend Guy Hale. Soul Doctor is Jimmy Carpenter's fourth solo project, produced by Jimmy and recorded in Las Vegas at Nonebody Studio 1.  Jimmy assembled a first-class group of musicians on Soul Doctor which features Jimmy Carpenter on saxophone and vocals, along with Cameron Tyler (drums/percussion/background vocals), Jason Langley (bass), Trevor Johnson (guitar), Chris Tofield (guitar/background vocals), Red Young (keys), Carrie Stowers (background vocals), and Queen Aries (background vocals). Soul Doctor also features special guest appearances by guitarist Nick Schnebelen on the track Soul Doctor, The Bender Brass: Doug Woolverton (trumpet), and Mark Earley (baritone sax), and Al Ek on harmonica on Wrong Turn. Musician and Gulf Coast Records co-founder, Mike Zito also contributed guitar & slide on Wild Streak.

Singer Songwriter Pop Artist Emeli DonDey drops by from Stockholm, Sweden to check into The City's Backyard to tell us about her musical career and her inspirations to become a singer! She has a new single out called Lifta Blicken! We play it on this episode! Does she sound like ABBA? You decide! We love her Swedish accent and her new song!  Follow Emily on social media! https://www.facebook.com/a7essi

 Our guest is classic rock legendary drummer "Corky" Laing from Mountain! .....was born in Montreal Canada on January 26, 1948 as the youngest of five siblings.... formed a number of local bands with his best friend, George Gardos...... lived the high life of rock ... was awarded with gold records...worked e.g. as the Vice President of Polygram, Canada (here signing Bootsauce)... was inducted to the Long Island Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 (doesn't appear there as they later found out that he is Canadian).... was awarded with the Bonzo Bash Legend Award in 2014.... continues to perform, write and produce. (Here producing LVTR in Berlin, Germany with Gary Lyons.)To see Corky play live find out where here on the link belowhttps://www.corkylaingworks.com/tour

Lee Rocker made his mark singing, playing, standing on, spinning and rocking his giant upright bass as a founding member of the Grammy nominated music group The Stray Cats. The Stray Cats sold over 10 million albums, garnered 23 gold and platinum certified records, and were music video pioneers of the MTV.  The Stray Cats' worldwide mega hits “Stray Cat Strut”, “Sexy and Seventeen” and “Rock this Town” have become a part of the fabric of rock and roll. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has included “Rock this Town” as one of the 500 most important songs in rock. Lee Rocker has been consistently touring, recording and performing around the globe since 1980 and has cultivated a fanatically loyal following of rockers, rebels and all types of music lovers.   He is known for making his upright double bass appear as if it were a lightweight instrument as he spins, throws it about and stands on it during his high energy and fun concerts. In concerts Lee Rocker shares behind the scenes stories about his days and nights on the road and in the music business for the last 40 years. He rocks every town and leaves every audience cheering!For tour info click on Lee's website! https://leerocker.com/shows

On this episode of The City's Backyard Podcast we  go out to Seattle, Washington to chat with Steve Fossen Co Founder and Original HEART Bassist about his days in HEART! Today Steve is in a new band called HEART by HEART! The Story of Heart By HeartThe original rhythm section for Heart - one of classic rock's most successful and revered bands - is still locked in and delivering those iconic songs as faithfully as possible, says bassist and co-founding member Steve Fossen (a member of Heart from 1969 to 1982), of his band Heart By Heart. Along with former Heart drummer Michael Derosier (1975-1982), vocalist Somar Macek, Lizzy Daymont on guitar, keyboards and vocals, and guitarist Chad Quist, Fossen says Heart By Heart is committed to playing the music with as much reverence and respect as possible. “Our mission is to perform the classic Heart music as faithfully as we can,” according to Fossen. Heart By Heart began organically as a duo when Fossen met vocalist Somar Macek in 2008. “We started out playing dinner parties, bistros and jam nights around town,” Fossen said of the musical pairing. By 2009, Fossen and Macek were a couple and have since married. “We were so in love, we decided to call the project Heart by Heart,” Fossen says. When booking agents began requesting a full band, Fossen welcomed the opportunity to once again play professionally with Derosier while sharing the stage with his new love, Somar. Heart By Heart presents a powerful, dynamic show that includes all the favorite Heart hits such as Barracuda, Straight On, Crazy On You and Magic Man, as well as deep album cuts that Heart fans will love. “We take the music very seriously,” said Fossen. “Ann and Nancy Wilson are rock's premiere sisters, and with Heart By Heart, we respect and honor that music we made together.” Aside from regular repeat appearances around their Pacific Northwest home base, Heart By Heart has been touring the US since 2014, taking their show on the road to Performing Arts Centers, indoor and outdoor theaters, casinos, fairs and festivals. Fossen says that one of the most rewarding aspects of Heart By Heart is meeting with fans, who are encouraged to bring Heart memorabilia to shows for the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers to sign afterwards. “We have people coming up to us after shows with tears in their eyes,” he said. “They thank us for bringing back memories of those days. Somar and I started singing these songs out a pure love for the material, and now that we've branched out and are touring around the country, it's really rewarding to talk to fans and hear their stories and memories.” For more click on the website! https://www.heartbyheart.com

Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band ~ Fleetwood MackedFleetwood Macked the Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac is a New York based Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band. Hailed as the most authentic Fleetwood Mac tribute band in the U.S., much of the realism comes from the bands history. Husband and wife musical team Hillary and Michael (Stevie and Lindsey ) and friends Caroline, Jay, Phil and Andrew (Christine, John and Mick), that have made great music together in various incarnations finally all came together with their mutual love of Fleetwood Mac. All the members of Fleetwood Macked are and have always been professional, touring Rock musicians, which also adds to the authenticity of the sound of the band. Fleetwood Macked live brings the passion, depth, heart and the musicianship Fleetwood Mac's music requires. Whether performing the Rumours album in it's entirety or a decades show featuring Fleetwood Mac's hits from the 70's, 80's, 90's and today, every performance transports audiences to another time and place. Complete with costume changes, dialogue and video backdrops it a show not to be missed.If you are looking for the most authentic Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band, visit and like us on Facebook to stay up to date and keep in touch with the Fleetwood Macked family!https://fleetwoodmacked.com/tour

The Lake Sirens are a community band of 5 women that are having the time of their lives singing together! Sande Alessi (Casting Director...owner of her own casting company in LA)Shannon Ggem (award winning interior designer with a career spanning two decades)Gina Marcione (caterer for the stars and owner of Blue Table wine and cheese bar with deli)Windy Wagner (Professional Singer, seasoned session vocalist)Sharon Woods! (CEO of ITS Inc. a nature enthusiast at heart)All of these lovely women live within a few houses of each other around a little lake in the Santa Monica Mountains.They started singing around a camp fire then it grew from there, singing backup on Jesse's Girl for Rick Springfield at a house party… and then things started getting fun!Blue Star Night is their 3rd single and first Christmas song. Be sure to check out their other two  songs  called Hard and  David Bowie  streaming platforms! They rock!The Lake Sirens have performed at Jazzfest in front of 24,000 people singing back up for Anders Osborne and sang on his new record too.Check out the youtube sizzle reel which gives a visual of the band in action having fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az939mZg-CY

On this episode we talk with Executive Director Lou Ursone from Curtain Call about theatre and shows in 2025! CURTAIN CALL: A THEATRE COMMUNITYAs Stamford's longest-running and only year 'round, nonprofit producing theatre company, we are proud to offer 10 to 12 (or more) full-scale productions each year in our two venues: The Kweskin Theatre  and The Dressing Room Theatre. Professionally managed but primarily a volunteer organization, Curtain Call is the proud recipient of: .The Governor's Award for Excellence in Culture & TourismAn ACE Award from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield CountyHas been named the area's Best Local Theatre 10 years in a row.For more info > https://www.curtaincallinc.com

WE chat with Mark Larson from FREE FALLIN The Tom Petty Concert Experience, about their Saving Grace Tour 2024! We chat about TOM PETTY and his music, the Petty Park in Florida where Free Fallin played at the dedication of the park,  the people connected to Tom, the new museum and the show coming to The Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford January 11th!For more info on Free Fallin check out their website:https://www.freefallin.usTo buy tickets to the Oakdale Theatre January 11th log on to their website:https://www.oakdaletheatre.com

Sal Marino is an Entrepreneur/Author/ and most recently got a role as an Actor portraying none other than himself! Sal owned Kartele Cellular Phone regional retail chain in the 90's! He sold cell phones with his own company throughout Connecticut! Imagine that! Sal recently in the last ten years has become an author writing funny short books about dating in midlife and older....but then he suddenly got sick and almost thought he was dying! No one knew what was happening with Sal including himself until  finally it was his doctor that put him on a certain medication! He tells the story here...no this is not an infomercial...but a real story of Sal and his journey! Sal is now back to himself doing what he loves...listen here!To see Sal and his son in action click on the link and scroll down!  https://www.hcmrealtalk.com/real-hcm-stories#backgroundcontainer-c3d864e922

Jim Conroy is an Actor/Writer/Producer. His 20+ years in the industry runs the gamut from Voice Overs featured in commercials, cartoons, animated film and video games, to On Camera work in film, television, commercials and interactive gaming. He was recently seen as Agent Jack Wagner on the CBS hit series FBI. His work for “Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman” on PBS has garnered Jim five Emmy Nominations over the 100 episode series. Jim is currently featured in the new Disney animated series PRIMOS. Other recent credits include the Max Animated Series Jellystone, where he voices the roles of Huckleberry Hound and Captain Caveman, Dee & Friends in Oz (Netflix), Alma's Way (PBS), Bea's Block (Max), Big City Greens (Disney) and The Cuphead Show (Netflix). He's currently working on other animated projects for Disney Junior (ROBOGOBO), Netflix (DEVIL MAY CRY) and a future animated series for Build-A-Bear (KABU).Check out Jim's commercial with Lionel Richie! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg-8iZwBEWAHere is Jim in an AT&T spot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mY07YgEyf8

EXPERIENCE THE VIVID, ELECTRIFYING SOUND OF LED ZEPPELIN THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE OF New York session musicians. REIGNITING THE POWER OF THE ROCK GODS, FOUR STICKS BRINGS IT. ALWAYS. Four Sticks returns to the podcast this month to talk about their regional dates in the area at Daryl's House in Pawling, New York, The Rustic Barn Pub in Troy, NY and The Music Room in Cape Cod, MASS! For more...... https://www.four-sticks.com/https://www.facebook.com/FourSticksNYC

For eighteen years (1983-2001) a fixture of radio & television's Howard Stern Show, comedian Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling was born and raised in East Norwich, a tiny hamlet on the glorious North Shore of Long Island, New York. He graduated in 1966 from Oyster Bay High School and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1971. In March, 1979, he created a dirty joke line, “Use Your Finger! Dial (516) 922-WINE!,” which has been in uninterrupted operation since 1979 [516-922-9463].​The jokes worked. Jackie released three self-produced comedy lp's, 1979's “What Did You Expect?,” 1980's “Goin' Ape!,” and 1981's “Normal People Are People You Don't Know That Well” on his own label, OHR Records.​In 1982, after founding “Governor's Comedy Shop” in Levittown on Long Island and touring as a national headliner, on a suggestion from a Washington DC comedy club owner, he blindly sent his three LP's to Howard Stern upon Howard's arrival at WNBC-AM in New York City. Howard called him to make a guest appearance on his radio show. In 1986, Jackie became a full-time cast member and the head writer of Stern's show, and as they say, the rest is history. Remarkable radio as well as show business history.​Jackie left the Stern show in 2001 after fifteen-year run as head writer of the radio show, four television series, and three Pay-Per-Views. He's released six dirty joke CD's … “The Joke Man,” “Sgt. Pecker,” “Hot Dogs & Donuts,” Come Again?!,” F. jackie,” and “snart,” as well as three videos, five joke books and countless joke gadgets of all kinds, for children as well as adults.​In 2006 he released a CD of his original music entitled “Happy Endings,” that he co-produced with guitar legend Frank Vignola.From 2007-2014, Jackie wrote and performed his own radio show on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, “Jackie's Joke Hunt,” and he wrote the joke page for Penthouse magazine for 17 years.Jackie is featured in the red-hot comedy documentary, “The Aristocrats,” over a dozen other independent films and has appeared on many television shows.​He still works all around the country performing his solo act of rapid-fire filthy jokes and the classic finale, “Stump The Joke Man.” and guests on many of the top national radio shows and podcasts.For shows click on the link!https://www.jokeland.com

Steve Holley from Paul McCartney & Wings is a great friend and band mate of the late rock legend Denny Laine! On this episode we chat about his time in WINGS, and his relationship with Denny, after all Denny was the guy that helped open the door for him to play in WINGS! Steve tells the story....also we play the new tribute re release track of Time To Hide,  the song that Denny wrote, sang and played Harmonica on for Paul McCartney & Wings! Steve plays drums on the new re release of Time To Hide with the band McDonald's Farm! They are Denny's house band from the late 80s and early 90's! A little more on Steve....Stephen Jeffrey Holley was born into a musical family in London, England. His father, Jeffrey, led a Swing band and his mother, Irene was the singer. By age five, Steve was fascinated by drums and his good natured neighbor, who was the drummer in Jeffrey's (his father) band, gave him guidance. At age eleven, Steve formed his first group, The Formula, and entered a talent competition at a local Methodist church. Upon winning the competition, Steve was hooked. Music became his first priority. For more about his story listen to the podcast episode with this amazing English drummer and click below on this link about STEVE HOLLEY! https://pearldrum.com/artist/steve-holley/15651 

It's a true crime episode with the cast of How (NOT) To Get Rid Of A Body Episode 3 "Graveyard Shift"  featuring John Campanile from Chicago, Kathy Sanders from the Maryland area, Dave Eggers II from Long Island, and yours truly Matt Zako from Westchester, New York! We talk about the filming of this True Crime episode and go behind the scenes of the making of a true crime story that takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! This episode airs on HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and ID Discovery! 

Former bandmates of the late Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician, Denny Laine, just released a new tribute version of one of Laine's signature songs, Time To Hide, to coincide with what would have been Laine's 80th birthday, October 29. The song, released under the artist name McDonald's Farm, will feature Steve McDonald, Grant Roberts and Laine's former Wings bandmate Steve Holley, with keyboards and production by Graeme Watt at the Seagate Studio Dundee. Through the magic of digital recording technology, it will also feature Laine on harmonica taken from the last time he performed on stage with them.When producing the accompanying music video, the assistance and generosity of Paul McCartney's company, MPL Communications, was invaluable in allowing Graeme Watt who produced the video the use of both photos and video footage of Denny with Paul and Linda McCartney from his time in Wings. This was combined with footage from Denny's later years playing with Steve and Grant at London's Marquee Club and The Old Trout in Windsor (sadly no longer there). To complete Time To Hide, the cover artwork was created by world famous artist Shannon MacDonald. It captures the man, the musician, and the vision of Denny in a spectacular new painting.https://mcdonaldsfarmband.com/homehttps://www.facebook.com/mcdonaldsfarmbandDenny performing Time To Hide on Rock Show! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nLYtVrUf6Y

Joe Walsh is coming to QUEENS, NEW YORK for VETS AID 2024 with his drummer Joe Vitale! We love having Joe drop by ...that's "Joe Bob" to Don Henley from The Eagles as what he calls him not to confuse him with Walsh when they all have played together on tour. We catch up with Vitale to talk about VETS AID coming to New York in November, plus we chat about the catalog of albums and songs with Walsh over the years. We  like to dig deeper and discuss what are some of the Joe Walsh album cuts or deep cuts that Vitale enjoys playing out live. Joe Vitale  but has played with The Eagles,( Joe Walsh of course), CSN, Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and more!For more on Vets Aid tickets and this iconic classic rock drummer check out the two links while you listen to this episode!https://joewalsh.com/pages/vetsaid-homepagehttps://www.joevitaleondrums.com/

Comedian JOEY CAMEN originally from the streets of DETROIT makes his way from LA to NYC! Here is what he said...."A big thanks to United Solo for having the NYC world premiere of my new seriocomic one-man play Laughing Through the Pain on Nov 9th at Theatre Row!  Here's a promo trailer to give you a little preview. Enjoy. Get your tickets @https://festival.unitedsolo.org/show/1722894607414x392580299845533700https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOJRONMPbLMShow SummaryLaughing Through the Pain: My Journey from Detroit to Hollywood Standup Comedy and Beyond is a thought provoking one-man play based on the autobiography of standup comedian, voice actor and author Joey Camen. It's the story of a young Jewish boy growing up in Black neighborhoods in Detroit in the 1960s, making his way into the world of Hollywood standup comedy in the 1970s and working as an actor and voiceover talent. This insightful seriocomedy delves into Joey's not so pleasant home life with an abusive father, his leaving home at 17 and becoming one of the youngest professional standup comedians at the World Famous Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. Naturally funny, he finds himself working with comedians Richard Pryor, Paul Mooney and others. Joey's story is also a tale of childhood survival, ups and downs, laughter and pain, engagingly written and performed by someone who has spent decades in the world of entertainment.

Are You An Ozzy Fan? Then Get Ready to Rock! The members of the band take great pride in creating the next best thing to a live Ozzy performance that transports you through time to experience the energy of Ozzy Osbourne capturing his solo career from Randy Rhoads to Zakk Wylde. As the song says, “You can't kill rock-n-roll, it's here to stay!” Ozzmosis proves it every time.  Join us on this journey of classic metal and relive the complete Ozzy phenomenon.On this episode we chat about the band...the real OZZY and more with lead singer Ricky Woods and Bassist Andre! Mike and Jimmy are part of the band as well and you can see all of them this October at Park City Music Hall in Bridgeport, CT! For more on this killer tribute log onto their website for other tour dates in your area!https://officialozzmosis.com

Rock Legend DENNY LAINE is featured in ONE HAND CLAPPING, a Paul McCartney film that was just released for limited showings in theaters. In a PART 2 conversation we chat with Denny's lovely wife Liz Hines and now widow. We recap the film and get her thoughts on it....plus we also play clips of Denny from his previous interviews on "The City's Backyard Podcast". In this episode Liz comments on the audio clips from her late husbands interviews and chats about the rock n roll legend's legacy plus his role in Wings as Paul's right hand guy... in a Part 2 interview!Denny Laine was an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and co founder of Wings with Paul McCartney, with whom he played from 1971 to 1981. Laine has worked with a variety of artists and groups over a six-decade career, and as a solo artist. In 2018, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues!The City's Backyard would like to thank Liz for her honesty in these conversations and making sure Denny's music and legacy lives on! 

Denny's wife Liz Hines and now widow joins us on "The City's Backyard Podcast" to talk about the rock n roll legend's legacy and his role in Wings as Paul's right hand guy... in a Part 1 interview ...we also chat about the Paul McCartney film with Wings called One Hand Clapping showing this week!Denny Laine was an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and co founder of Wings with Paul McCartney, with whom he played from 1971 to 1981. Laine has worked with a variety of artists and groups over a six-decade career, and as a solo artist. In 2018, Laine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Moody Blues!https://www.onehandclapping.film

Eliot Lewis was with Hall&Oates for almost 20 years...and we had to ask him if he had seen the break up coming....also we chat about his experience working on the show LIVE FROM DARYL'S HOUSE and his current solo tour! Eliot is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and has toured the world over as a member of the Daryl Hall & John Oates band, as well as a former member of The Average White Band. Eliot has also been the only musician to appear on every episode of Daryl Hall's popular, "Live From Daryl's House” show all while keeping his own solo career going at a seemingly impossible pace. Over the course of his career he has worked with the music business' elite including, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Joe Walsh, Sammy Hagar, Todd Rundgren, Train, Cheap Trick, Grace Potter,  Squeeze, Rob Thomas,  Jason Mraz, Darius Rucker, Gavin DeGraw and many, many others. Having mastered four instruments over the course of his career; guitar, keyboard, bass and drums, Eliot's shows will find him moving from one instrument to another. Equally at home in front of 100 or 15,000, Eliot has performed on the worlds most legendary stages, including Madison Square Garden, Japan's Budokan, Red Rocks, The Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall as well as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Conan O'Brien, The Today Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and many others.Here is Eliot's website for more info on shows!https://eliotlewis.com/shows https://eliotlewis.com/ Here's a couple of Eliot's songs "What We Make It" and "Anything is Possible" on YouTube!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=555KY3VZHg4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TahRXZHuYy8

Is it safe to walk alone in New York City? We chat all about how times have changed in the big city with licensed therapist PAM GARBER who developed a new safety app called NEVER WALK ALONE! For more info check out the website! http://www.neverwalkalonesafetyapp.com/

L.A. neo-psych group, Dream Phases, share their new LP Phantom Idol on this episode. On the album, Brandon Graham says, "Phantom Idol is our third full length album that was written and recorded between 2022-2023. It has by far the most collaborative writing of any of our albums so far, as Shane, Keveen and I co-wrote about half of the tracks on the album as opposed to writing the songs individually. We initially recorded demos for all of the songs, and some extra outtakes, and then we brought those to producers Matt Schuessler (Cat Power, Kurt Vile) and Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Beck, Dr. Dog). With Matt and Rob we re-recorded everything, refining tempos and espeically the tones of the instruments. We also had the pleasure of having several guests perform on the album including Jeff Schroeder (ex-Smashing Pumpkins, Dan Gee, Marc Agostini, and Omar Medina as well as having our part time band mates Anthony Marks and Pablo Orue, who have recorded on many of our songs over the years. For the artwork we collaborated with Asuka Watanabe on the album cover and design and Scott Duffey (Toucan Tango) on all of the singles' art. The vinyl and digital release is coming out on Coconut Spaceship Records, while the tape will be released on Mutation Records. We are going to do an initial run of California and Nevada shows, with further dates later this year. Like our previous album, 'New Distractions', this new album was very much conceived as a complete album as opposed to singles compiled together.  Thematically the album deals with a good amount of self discovery and self reflection as well as personal relationships. It also continues our influence of living in Los Angeles, and our love of California in general with a healthy dose of escapism mixed in there. 'Phantom Idol' comes the closest to what we initially envisioned both sonically and performance wise, and we can't wait to share the record."

Grammy Recording Bassist & Songwriter Scott Spray is our guest! Scott is a local musical legend in Connecticut...a killer bassist who has played with rock and blues legends Edgar Winter and Johnny Winter....also Rick Derringer, Ronnie Spector, Peter Criss from KISS, The Rascals and even Eric Clapton in the studio! Scott has written music for TV shows such as SEX in The City and more! Currently Scott will be jamming in a local band called MY BROTHERS BAND who play The Norwalk Oyster Fest Friday night September 6th in the beer tent at 7pm! For More on Scott or My Brothers Band visit their social media pages! https://www.facebook.com/scottjwsprayhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550922144334

ZX3 is a heritage Alternative Rock band with powerful, memorable songs. We check in with the original members Z and the crew to chat about the new songs, some of the new members and their local dates in the area! We play a couple of their new tracks and chat about the band and how excited they are to be back on the music scene. ZX3 plays the Norwalk Oyster Festival Saturday September 7th at Veterans Park in Norwalk! https://www.facebook.com/zx3bandhttps://www.youtube.com/@zx3band

Our guest on this episode is JD SEEM from the band FASTER THINGS- THE ALLMAN BROTHERS TRIBUTE! Faster Things conjures the twin guitar harmonies and searing slide guitar sounds of the original Allman Brothers band as created by Duane Allman in 1969. Their tight sound recreates the energy of The ABB!For more info on shows click on their website! https://fasterthingsabb.com/

Amanda Rowe is our guest from Springfield, Massachusetts! Her band ROWE COUNTY is a tribute to the greatest female country artists of the 90's to today with a twist of your favorite rock classics! For more on Rowe County check their website for more! https://rowecountyband.com

 The granddaughter of Academy Award winning  actress Loretta Young and the daughter of Peter Lewis, a founding member of ‘60s psychedelic cult heroes Moby Grape . . .  Arwen's  EP is available on the  OMAD RECORDS . . the imprint of Oscar-winning singer/songwriter John DeNicola. . .  While Arwen's self-titled debut, features her interpretations of her father's songs, this time out she's flying higher, as both producer and writer. Self-penned tunes include the layered, wistfully longing “Man on the Moon” and the beautiful heartbreak of “Winter,” showcased in two arrangements—once with gently growling guitar and again accompanied by piano and cello.  Not that Arwen could resist digging into her dad's archive, with a lilting, countrified cover of his “Black Moon.” Plus, she brings her earnest, unaffected gift to a pair of iconic tunes: a trumpet-driven version of Jackson Browne's “Doctor My Eyes” and a frankly folky take on Joni Mitchell's “I Think I Understand.” The EP came together organically, at first just she and a friend—guitar impresario Jonathan McEuen—“scratching out ideas in my living room,” Arwen says. Jonathan mentored me,” Arwen candidly admits. “He also arranged everything perfectly—truly the musical director for this project.” A select few recruits from the deep end of the California talent pool came aboard next, including rock and roll “space traveler” Jason Achilles, Los Angeles film composer/all-around scene staple George Adrian, and trumpeter Jeff Elliott. Plus, yes, Peter Lewis is present as well, slinging a Strat on one track. The recording was finished at Surprise Studio with Graham Palmer as the engineer. “While I had complete creative control,” says Arwen, who also plays guitar on the record, “I was lucky enough to get together with amazing musicians who were in sync with the way I hoped to express these songs.”   “The songs I wrote as well as the ones I chose reflect the music I was raised on: Joni, Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, Nina Simone,” she says, noting that embracing the music of others, adding your unique twist, and the putting it out there is “basic to the communal tradition of folk, passing the songs from person to person, generation to generation.” That's why, while she has no big tour plans, Arwen will play live, here and there, from South X Southwest to the local West Coast venues she loves. Indeed, she might well be singing about the importance of performance on “Man on the Moon” when she promises: “Believing in the stars that I cannot see, I know there's a way to where you are.” Arwen's talked about her famous grandmother Loretta Young hosting episode on her TV Show THE LORETTA YOUNG SHOW...here are a couple from youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MhWK6o306Uhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVX0tkfWRN8https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=2Ua5T9t7qPY 

If you love the Allman Brothers Band you will love this episode with Dr. Bob Beatty -historian/author of the book PLAY ALL NIGHT: Duanne Allman and The Journey To FILLMORE EAST!  Dr Bob Beatty is recognized as one of the most respected historians of the Allman Brothers Band and their important legacy and influence on American music, politics and culture. For more on Bob and his work about The Allman Brothers log onto:https://www.longlivetheabb.com/https://www.facebook.com/LongLiveTheABB

For eighteen years (1983-2001) a fixture of radio & television's Howard Stern Show, comedian Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling was born and raised in East Norwich, a tiny hamlet on the glorious North Shore of Long Island, New York. He graduated in 1966 from Oyster Bay High School and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1971. In March, 1979, he created a dirty joke line, “Use Your Finger! Dial (516) 922-WINE!,” which has been in uninterrupted operation since 1979 [516-922-9463].​The jokes worked. Jackie released three self-produced comedy lp's, 1979's “What Did You Expect?,” 1980's “Goin' Ape!,” and 1981's “Normal People Are People You Don't Know That Well” on his own label, OHR Records.​In 1982, after founding “Governor's Comedy Shop” in Levittown on Long Island and touring as a national headliner, on a suggestion from a Washington DC comedy club owner, he blindly sent his three LP's to Howard Stern upon Howard's arrival at WNBC-AM in New York City. Howard called him to make a guest appearance on his radio show. In 1986, Jackie became a full-time cast member and the head writer of Stern's show, and as they say, the rest is history. Remarkable radio as well as show business history.​Jackie left the Stern show in 2001 after fifteen-year run as head writer of the radio show, four television series, and three Pay-Per-Views. He's released six dirty joke CD's … “The Joke Man,” “Sgt. Pecker,” “Hot Dogs & Donuts,” Come Again?!,” F. jackie,” and “snart,” as well as three videos, five joke books and countless joke gadgets of all kinds, for children as well as adults.​In 2006 he released a CD of his original music entitled “Happy Endings,” that he co-produced with guitar legend Frank Vignola.From 2007-2014, Jackie wrote and performed his own radio show on SiriusXM Satellite Radio, “Jackie's Joke Hunt,” and he wrote the joke page for Penthouse magazine for 17 years.Jackie is featured in the red-hot comedy documentary, “The Aristocrats,” over a dozen other independent films and has appeared on many television shows.​He still works all around the country performing his solo act of rapid-fire filthy jokes and the classic finale, “Stump The Joke Man.” and guests on many of the top national radio shows and podcasts.For shows click on the link! https://www.jokeland.com/shows

Dominic a young artist who is just beginning his professional musical journey.  Based in California, Dominic is excited about the release of his debut album, Happy Little Accidents, which was released June 28 on Quarto Valley Records.Happy Little Accidents is fresh music but with hints of nostalgia from the many artists that influenced him since he was a kid, such as the Beatles, Aerosmith, Rick Nelson, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams III. This album is laced with touches of humor, great melodies and catchy lyrics while paired with a completely unique vocal style which all help make this an extremely well-balanced collection of get-off-your-chair-and-dance tunes. The album features a cast of stellar musicians assisting Dominic in his maiden musical adventure including premier players like guitarist Doug Pettibone (whose impressive list of credits include Sting, Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, Joan Baez, Jewel, Tracy Chapman, John Mayer, and many others),  iconic drummer Kenny Aronoff (whose off-the-hook credits include John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and a ton more) , bassist Jorgen Carlsson (ex-Gov't Mule) and bassist Brent Harding from Social Distortion.  Every song on the album showcases the amazing musicianship of these incredible artists with Dom doing all the lead vocals.The album was produced by Dave Jenkins (producer and co-writer who studied under Brian Wilson – he produced Dolly Parton's version of Heart's classic “Magic Man” with former Heart guitarist Howard Leese). The album was recorded the “old fashion way” with stand-up bass and vintage condenser microphones. The music is both a rockin' album of classic rockabilly and classic country influences along with a few ballads that slow down the frenetic pace a bit.  One can hear the influence in Dominic's music that pays a debt to artists like Johnny Cash,Merle Haggard, Bo Diddley, Elvis and the Beach Boys, along with a lot of rockabilly in general.Dominic wrote “Song for Nick” about his brother's passing. Songs “La Verne” & “Ely May,” “Hard to Say Goodbye,” “Just Take it All,” “Poor Me Another,” “Wanna Good Time,” “Rosie” are based on Dom's real-life experiences. While Happy Little Accidents is Dominic's debut album, he has written and previously released two singles “What a World We Live In” and “Out of Control” which were played on US and UK radio.   He's also done a little acting on the side, having a bit part in the film, Happy Birthday, which starred Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. https://www.daqofficial.com

Insult Comic Lisa Lampanelli drops by The City's Backyard to chat about retirement and her new show called "IRRELEVANT"! ANNOUNCING “LISA LAMPANELLI: IRRELEVANT!” TWO NIGHTS ONLY!MTC is thrilled to present an exclusive 2-night fundraising event: comedy icon Lisa Lampanelli's brand-new solo show! In this script-in-hand performance, the former comedian reveals all about her path to find relevance after her 2018 retirement. The ultimately hopeful journey will leave audience members saying: “If there's hope for Lisa, there's hope for me too!” Following each show will be a Q&A and talkback, as well as a post-show reception! Performances are Saturday, August 3rd, at 8:00pm and Friday, August 9th, at 8:00pm.INFO & TICKETS: https://www.musictheatreofct.com/irrelevant

On this episode we welcome back our local friends from The Tom Petty Project! They have some shows lined up in the area! For more on the band check out their social media or the website to see if they are playing in your area of New York City's Backyard! https://www.facebook.com/tpp203https://www.tpp203.com/

BEYOND PURPLE performs a showcase of the biggest hits from Deep Purple and Whitesnake, as well as Rainbow and Dio; all born out of the Deep Purple family tree. The band faithfully re-creates the vivid experience of live, high-energy music from what many consider to be Rock's greatest era. ​Beyond Purple consists of elite musicians with national ties, including guitarist Jimi Bell (Autograph, House of Lords); his amazing skills and prowess on guitar are truly world class. Mike Gill (Livesay, Johnny A.) is the lead voice of the band, with powerful soaring vocals in the style of Ian Gillan, David Coverdale, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner, and Ronnie James Dio. His energetic stage presence brings every song to life. Drummer BJ Zampa (Dokken, House of Lords) pounds out thunderous beats with a huge groove that locks in the band on every note; he also contributes harmony vocals. Bassist Brian Camilleri rounds out the rhythm section, laying down the low-end thunder and locking in with BJ, to create a solid musical foundation. Welcome Gary Fox Jr. on keyboards and backing vocals, a long standing member of legendary Led Zeppelin tribute “Physical Graffiti”. His talent is beyond amazing.    Their high energy show fully engages the crowd, with accurate song renditions that capture the raw energy and power that has made this style of music one of the most popular of all time.For gig info clicl the link:https://www.beyondpurpleband.com/gigs

OTIS  drops by The City's Backyard this week...The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a storied music history and a large catalog of renowned artists. While it's most famous for producing more country music stars per capita than anywhere else in the United States, musicians all across the spectrum —from bluegrass to rock and roll—have called Kentucky home. Out of this musical melting pot comes the blues based, rock 'n' roll band OTIS. With Boone Froggett on guitar and vocals, John Seeley on bass, Alex Wells on guitar, and Dale Myers on drums, the members of The Otis Band are staying connected to their Kentucky roots. Growing up around traditional instruments like piano, fiddle, and guitar instilled in them an appreciation for country-rock, bluegrass, gospel, and folk music. Kentucky's rich musical heritage led them to discover the Rock and Blues heroes that continue to influence the bands original material today. While it would be easy to categorize the work of OTIS as Southern Rock, being from Kentucky, their musical background is much broader. In addition to being guided by the classic rock giants of the 1960s and 70s era, the members of OTIS draw inspiration from true greats—people like Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, and the artists of Motown—to create their own unique rock and roll sound. After releasing Tough Times: A Tribute to John Brim,—Former Chess Records Blues Recording Artist— in 2014, OTIS joined Cleopatra Records in 2017, with the release of their second album Eyes of the Sun. A chance meeting with ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons led to the legend listening to Otis and becoming a fan—even handing their albums off to the likes of Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck! Four songs from Eyes of the Sun were also included in the soundtrack of the 2020 film Street Survivors.OTIS comes to The Iridium July 13th!https://theotisband.com