The Meadows is not the only big multi-day festival coming to Citi Field this summer. Taking place over the course of two days, The Classic East comes to Citi Field on Jul. 29 and 30 with the same lineup as its Jul. 15 and 16 shows at Dodger Stadium: Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Journey, and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Undoubtedly inspired by last year’s Desert Trip festival in Southern California — which included The Beatles’ Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, Bob Dylan and The Who — The Classic East and The Classic West were put together by Live Nation with legendary music manager Irving Azoff. Said Mr. Azoff to the New York Times of these events: “Classic-rock radio listeners have been underserved by current festival lineups.”
Tickets for the full two-day event — no single-day tickets will be sold to the public — go on-sale today, Apr. 7. Prices range from $150 to $950, not including fees.
Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel / Photo: Todd V Wolfson
Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel / Photo: Todd V Wolfson
If you are a fan of rock & roll, you have heard Bobby Whitlock play music. Beyond his long-standing solo career alongside wife CoCo Carmel — who herself has performed with Jon Bon Jovi, Dr. John and Phoebe Snow — Bobby also played and wrote on three of rock’s most iconic albums: George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, Derek & The Dominos’ Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs and The Rolling Stones’ Exile On Main Street. He is also notably a co-founder of Derek & The Dominos, and was the first “friend” in Delaney and Bonnie. While Bobby has a new album in the works, he and CoCo have opted to travel the road for The Sparkly Shoes Tour, which hits B.B. King’s on Jun. 13.
One thing that makes the Sparkly Shoes Tour even more interesting is that each date of the tour features a special guest guitarist. The Jun. 13 show includes Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd, who played in Joan Jett & The Blackhearts for many years; he has also performed alongside Southside Johnny, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, and Mott The Hoople’s Ian Hunter, among others.
Downtown had the pleasure of speaking with both Bobby and Ricky via e-mail. Interestingly, the two have never met in-person, so day of the B.B. King’s show will likely be their first meeting. Bobby and Coco can be visited online at www.bobbywhitlockandcococarmel.com, while Ricky keeps an online home at www.cleangetaway.nyc.
How did you two first meet?
Bobby Whitlock: We have yet to meet face to face, but have talked over the telephone…
Ricky Byrd: I haven’t actually met Bobby or Coco yet. My wife Carol Kaye is their publicist, so that’s my connection. I had seen a post on Facebook from Bobby that they were playing BB’s in June and I remember my pal Godfrey Townsend — who played with them last year — said he wasn’t available this year, so I asked Carol to reach out to them and offer my services. No doubt I’m honored to play with them. I have also agreed to do a short opening acoustic set of songs from my solo CD Lifer and some tunes I wish I had written. (laughs)
Ricky, you’re considered a sideman yet have also put out solo albums. Do you like being thought of as a sideman, though?
RB: Honestly, I have more of a frontman personality. I have been up front singing lead and driving the bus for so long, it’s a natural place for me to be. With that said, the fact that I’m a professional, I understand the concept of playing a supporting role and I have been that guy many, many times as well. At this point I have quite a list of people I have played alongside…everyone from Roger Daltrey to Smokey Robinson, and now Bobby Whitlock and CoCo Carmel
Sometimes I’m lead dog …sometimes you are there to help pull the sled. I just bring my tools and do whatever job is at hand!
BW: We will be playing the Dominos songs that I wrote on the Layla record and some new originals that CoCo and I have written, along with a couple from my upcoming solo record.
On each date of the tour you’re playing with a guest guitarist. Did you have the cities picked out first? Or the guitarist?
BW: We have the dates and cities picked out before we get the guitarist.
How have you and CoCo been able to keep long-standing relationships as both collaborators and a married couple? I mean, few other musical couples have lasted decades…
Whitlock: CoCo and I are friends, lovers, husband and wife, and also musical partners…And we are together 24/7. We are equals in everything that we do. There is no “mine and yours.” It’s all ours. I never tell her what to play or sing. She knows what to do. We have great respect for each other and each other’s abilities. We are both free to be.
Ricky, where was the first gig you ever played in New York City?
RB: Hmm, probably a church dance in Queens. We were too young to play clubs. Eventually I made my way playing upstairs at Max’s Kansas City and other 70’s rock joints in New York City.
RB: Back in the early 80s, I was out there often because Jett lived there. Over the past few years, I’ve played a few gigs in Long Beach, and you could find me at a restaurant or two there occasionally.
BW: Aside from the B.B. King date. which is in the middle of our Sparkly Shoes Tour, I am working on finishing my first solo recording in years. It has some new songs, some of which we are performing on this tour, and the band is great! Darryl Jones on bass, Colin Linden and Nick Tremulis on guitars, Charley Drayton on drums, with Stephen Barber on keyboards along with myself and of course my darling CoCo Carmel singing and playing sax. She also has about six songs that were co-written with me, and her song “Nobody Knows” is on my new solo record. I could not resist doing her song.
RB: I’m currently working on a CD filled with original songs I play at treatment facilities around the U.S. I have been in recovery since 1987 and a huge part of my world is trying to help those fighting addiction just as I was helped. The songs are about addiction, recovery, hope and inspiration. There will be some very special guests, including Bobby, but in the end the message of recovery is the special guest! I’ll be handing the CD out to patients at my groups. Knowing music is a healer, hopefully it will help save a life.
When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?
BW: When I am not singing and playing or writing a new song or working on my poetry book, I enjoy whatever comes my way by the way of the creative process. I love walking in our woods with our dogs, and simply strolling down the street in our neighborhood with CoCo. I have a passion for working with wood, namely tree stumps. I call it root art. As a matter of fact, some people came from Japan to our home several years ago and they all were captivated with my artwork. I told them that I call it “root art” and they said that it is a very spiritual art in Japan, as it gives eternal life to the root of the tree.
RB: Watching baseball. Trying to navigate around a 15-year-old daughter. And napping. (laughs)
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
BW: I don’t really have a favorite restaurant anywhere, as I prefer CoCo’s cooking at home.
RB: Wo Hop on Mott Street. I’ve been going there since 1974.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
BW: Final word for the children…Listen…Just be still and listen for that still small voice.
RB: If you want to be a music lifer, go out and play the joints to zero people on a Tuesday night. Learn the craft, play every day, make your bones the old-fashioned way, and let rejection roll off your back or you’ll go nuts.
SSHH may be a relatively-new band, but its members — guitarist Zak Starkey and vocalist Sshh Liguz — are not so new to the music scene. Sshh began recording with Zak around a decade ago under the name PENGUINS. Beyond that collaborating with Sshh, Zak has played drums for The Who, Oasis, Paul Weller, Johnny Marr and father Ringo.
Issues, the new album from SSHH, features 11 great rock covers. Beyond Sshh and Zak, Issues includes appearances from Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, The Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock and Paul Cook, Primal Scream’s Darrin Mooney and Simone Butler, Mott The Hoople’s Mick Ralphs, The Pretenders’ Martin Chambers, Blondie’s Clem Burke, Marilyn Manson’s Twiggy Ramirez, and Nathan Allen and Dale Davis of Amy Winehouse’s band. All proceeds from Issues will benefit the U.S.’s Teen Cancer America and the U.K.’s Teenage Cancer Trust.
Downtown had the pleasure of conducting Q&A with both Zak and Sshh following their October show at New York’s Roxy Hotel. More info on SSHH can be found at www.sshh.co.uk.
Where did the nickname Sshh come from? Was it always spelled that way?
Sshh Liguz: We decided to change the name of the band last year. Zak had always wanted to call the band SSHH, but I fought against it for years. First we were PENGUINS, then PenguinsRising, now its SSHH. We like SSHH the best. We’re also loud AF, so it’s total dichotomy. That’s kinda the point. I got the nickname because I have an amazing ability to not shut up.
SL: Recording Issues was a total whirlwind. We were just talking about it the other day, actually. This time last year we hadn’t even started the record — the idea hadn’t even occurred to us! But then everything just fell into place really quickly. We did a few sessions at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, that took about a week, then we flew back to London on the Friday and hit the studio on Monday. We recorded two tracks a day with each band. So in two weeks we recorded 20 tracks! It took about another month or two to master it. It was amazingly-intense.
SL: I find it really difficult to chose just one song as a favorite…All of them! (laughs) Different tracks have different elements that appeal to me. I love “Problems.” It’s really therapeutic to sing — get some aggression out. “Get Up Stand Up” is another big one. “Private Life” is also pretty cool. “Shoot Speed Kill Light” is great, too. We merged two Primal Scream tunes together for it, and it has an almost Bowie-esque guitar vibe. I really like “Back To Black” too. It’s got a kind of psychedelic dub take on it. “Jah War” is super-cool, too. Argh, can’t pick just one!
ZS: “Get Up, Stand Up” — it’s the most powerful lyrically. Sshh really sings it great.
SSHH
There are lots of great guest appearances on Issues. Were any planned but hadn’t happened?
SL: The great thing about this project is that it can be the gift that keeps giving. We’ve been talking to some people who can’t be named about working together in the future. Never say never!
Folklore goes that Keith Moon taught you how to play the drums. Do you have a lot of memories of Keith?
ZS: I spent a lot of time with Keith when I was young. I used to go and stay at house and play Monopoly. We talked drums but we never sat at a drum kit together. Keith was very encouraging though, and taught me a lot about surfing and girls!
Who had recommended you for The Who gig? Had you been on Pete or Roger’s radar as a drummer?
ZS: I had played in a band with John Entwistle and recorded with Roger in my teens, so they convinced Pete!
What do you remember about the first gig you ever played in New York? Was it the one last month in Manhattan?
ZS: I’m not sure where or when!
SL: I’ve been going to New York City for years, but my first gig in New York City was a couple of years ago. We supported Ride at Williamsburg Music Hall and we played our own show at Santos Party House in Manhattan. We had done a photoshoot earlier in the day and Zak still had this metallic jacket. We had a load of people back to our hotel after the show and everyone had a go wearing this jacket. It was kind of like the mascot of the night. Shits and giggles!
Any musical projects coming up for you beyond promoting the new SSHH album?
SL: Obviously Zak has other gigs going on playing the drums, and I’ve been collaborating with other musicians as well. But we plan on releasing an album of original material.
When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?
SL: I started making art when I was a teenager. Using wax as a medium over collage. Painting portraits. I won awards and went to art school in Australia but dropped out to make music — archetypal musician, it’s almost a bloody rite of passage! Anyway, I still make art. Wax will always be a material I love to work with. I’m in the process of putting together a body of work for an exhibit of wax artworks. I also love baaaaaaad tv. Like really shockingly-bad. Theres a show called Sex Sent Me To The ER, which is pretty funny. I’m pretty sure it’s meant to be amusing. Shit. Maybe not. Errrr. I like long walks on the beach…
ZS: I play music all the time. Obviously sometimes I watch TV or go out, but music is where it’s at for me.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
ZS: Good ones!
SL:I love the wonton soup from Republic. It’s like a hug from a long-lost friend. It’s soooo good. Proper comfort style. The sandwiches at Katz’s Deli are obviously amaze, too. And there’s always Nobu if you’re feeling fancy.
Originally from Cincinnati, Steven Reineke is not only an in-demand conductor, composer and arranger, but also the Music Director of The New York Pops. Steven joined The New York Pops as Music Director during the 2009-2010 season, conducting the Pops’ annual concert series at Carnegie Hall in addition to Pops tours, recordings and television appearances. Those responsibilities would be enough for most artists, yet Steven also makes time to serve as the Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Houston Symphony; he also frequently guest conducts with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Boston Pops.
On Dec. 16 and 17, Steven will be leading the Pops for the holiday-themed Make The Season Bright. The Carnegie Hall’s event will feature four guest artists, sisters Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway and brothers Anthony and Will Nunziata. Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA will also be on-stage at the Stern Auditorium for Make The Season Bright. The Pops’ 34th season continues on Mar. 10 with another Carnegie Hall event, Life Is A Cabaret: The Songs Of Kander And Ebb, which coincides with John Kander’s 90th birthday.
Downtown spoke with Steven about his work with the Pops and what life is like as a conductor. The New York Pops can be visited online at www.newyorkpops.org and followed on Twitter via @NewYorkPops.
What led to you becoming a conductor instead of a musician? I understand you had also majored in trumpet performance in college.
Steven Reineke: Conductors are musicians, too! My fondest childhood memories are ones that involve making music. Whether it was playing my trumpet, playing the piano, or acting in plays and musicals, I knew from an early age that music would become my livelihood somehow. I loved playing in bands and orchestras through high school and college, but I really found my passion in conducting. There’s something magical about standing in front of an orchestra and shaping the sound of a group of musicians.
SR: Conductors have a lot of say in how a piece of music is performed. Conductors make decisions about the tempo of the music, how loud or soft particular players should be, and which portions of the orchestra should be highlighted at any given moment. It’s very much the same as a director being presented with a Shakespeare play. You could see two completely different productions of Romeo and Juliet — the words and story are the same, but the performances are completely different. In music, it’s about how interpret the score.
Do you hang out with other conductors?
SR: I have a lot of good friends who are in the music business; many are conductors, but most are singers and instrumentalists. It’s a soloistic field, so we almost never get to work together with other conductors!
Do you ever play music for fun?
SR: Absolutely. I’ve been known to tickle the ivories at parties around town!
Steven Reineke / Photo: Richard Termine
Outside of the classical realm, who are some of the artists and musicians that you regularly listen to?
SR: I’m a huge fan of Ella Fitzgerald but I also love listening to other great singers of that era, including Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra to name a few. People that know me understand my huge love of Dolly Parton as well. I’m also blown away by recent solo albums by my friends Megan Hilty and Carrie Manolakos.
When it comes to the New York Pops, do you have any responsibilities beyond your work as a conductor? Do you help book any of the talent?
SR: A lot of my work at The New York Pops is behind the scenes! I work with our office staff to set the direction for the orchestra, which includes planning concerts and building programs as well as booking talent. I feel lucky to be the Music Director and Conductor at The New York Pops because that comes with the perk of seeing my vision for the organization come to life. It’s been amazing to watch programs I dreamed up become reality at Carnegie Hall!
Tell me more about the upcoming 2016-2017 season. What are some of the highlights?
SR: To be honest, I’m really excited about the whole season. We’ve had two fantastic concerts already, and the rest of the season is going to be incredible. December is always a lot of fun — we do three shows at Carnegie Hall. On Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17, we will do a concert called Make The Season Bright. I’m particularly excited to invite my friends Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, and Anthony and Will Nunziata to sing some really fantastic holiday quartets with the orchestra. Then we’ll do our annual Family Concert, this year: Twas The Night Before Christmas. In April we’ll celebrate Kander and Ebb, another legendary composer and lyricist team. Finally, in April, we’ll explore singer/songwriters throughout history. It’s going to be an awesome season.
Steven Reineke / Photo: Richard Termine
Are there any special events coming up that are off-site or in a unique venue?
SR: Our summer series is already in the works — we are the resident orchestra at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. The venue is absolutely legendary. It seats 13,000 fans, and bands like The Beatles and The Who have played there. Barbra Streisand did a huge solo show there in the 60s. 2017 will be our third summer out there, and it’s really going to be spectacular.
What was the first big event you ever conducted for the New York Pops?
SR: Oh wow. It was a big one. My first concert with The New York Pops was like a conductor audition, without them even telling me that’s what it was. It was our 25th Birthday Gala in 2008, and it was my Carnegie Hall debut. Talk about a lot riding on the show! I guess it went pretty well, since they hired me that summer, and I became the second Music Director of The New York Pops in 2008!
Do you have a “bucket list” when it comes to pieces or performers that you’d like to conduct?
Do you presently have any orchestrations or compositions in the works?
SR: Nothing on my plate at this exact moment, since I’m gearing up to do all of my holiday concerts around the country. December is my busiest month of the year. I’ll be doing Christmas concerts with all four of my orchestras — The New York Pops, National Symphony, Toronto Symphony and Houston Symphony.
When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?
SR: My husband and I love to travel. A lot of times that will be getting away to a sunny beach for a few days of R&R. Other than that, we like to cook and spend time with friends.
What is your favorite restaurant in New York?
SR: Oh, that’s so hard to say because there are so many! I typically don’t need super fancy places. For barbecue, we love Blue Smoke, great Italian at Cafe Fiorello, Mexican at Rosa Mexicano, or Asian at Tao.
Finally, Steven, any last words for the kids?
SR: The single most important thing that made my dreams become a reality were the incredible teachers that nurtured and influenced me along the way, the ones that saw a special spark inside of me and fanned that flame with their knowledge and inspiration. Whether one chooses to make a career out of the arts, or simply spend a lifetime enjoying them, an early cultural education is an invaluable part of childhood development. I want every young person to have that opportunity. Don’t give up!
Last week, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) hosted its 19th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Benefit Dinner & Auction at Cipriani Wall Street. Beyond marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation by noted oncologist Samuel Waxman, M.D., the event also made history in introducing the SWCRF Vince Camuto Memorial Cancer Research Program in honor of Mr. Camuto; the founder of Camuto Group passed away from prostate cancer in 2015. Louise Camuto, Chief Creative Officer of Camuto Group, accepted the honor in memory of her late husband. Downtown interviewed Dr. Waxman in advance of the event, who was in attendance among notables that included Jean Shafiroff, John Varvatos and Michael Nierenberg.
This year’s event was attended by more than 750 corporate executives, board members and their guests. It was hosted by Chris Wragge — co-anchor of CBS 2’s News This Morning — as master of ceremonies, and raised approximately $2.5 million for SWCRF cancer research programs. The money raised will support the Foundation’s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer by reprogramming cancer cells and to deliver tailored, minimally toxic treatments to patients. The scientists funded by the SWCRF have made significant breakthroughs in cancer research, including identifying pathways to deliver novel therapies to treat cancer.
The evening was capped off by a full-length performance by Roger Daltrey of The Who. Daltrey, a regular supporter of cancer-related causes, played nearly every song by The Who that a classic rock fan would want to hear, as backed by a five-piece band that included guitarists Simon Townshend and Frank Simes, bassist Jon Button, keyboardist Loren Gold and drummer Scott Devours. For a handful of songs, the group was joined on-stage by singer/songwriter Willie Nile, who recently premiered a music video through Downtown. Daltrey and band closed the evening with an impromptu Johnny Cash medley, which highlighted Daltrey as a guitarist. Beyond Daltrey, other celebrity performers at SWCRF events have included Ziggy Marley, Train, Peter Frampton, Gregg Allman, Kid Rock, Steely Dan, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, John Fogerty, and Counting Crows.
For more information on the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, please visit www.waxmancancer.org.
The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Professor of Medicine, Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology, and the Distinguished Service Professor of Oncological Sciences at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, Dr. Samuel Waxman has been part of the Mount Sinai faculty for over 30 years. Within those decades of experience, Dr. Waxman has written hundreds of published scientific papers and textbook chapters. As if those titles and credits were not enough, Dr. Waxman is also the founder of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, which has provided over $90 million in grants to more than 200 researchers.
The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation has regularly presented high-profile events, and continues that tradition with its Collaborating For A Cure gala on Thursday, Nov. 10. This year’s event, which celebrates the foundation’s 40 years of making a difference, will take place at Cipriani Wall Street. Tickets and more info on the gala — which will include an appearance by Roger Daltrey of The Who — can be found on the foundation’s website.
Dr. Waxman spoke to Downtown about Collaborating For A Cure, how he got involved with cancer research and what else is coming up for him. The inspirational Dr. Waxman can be visited online at www.waxmancancer.org.
Dr. Samuel Waxman / Photo: Jared Siskin
Where does your passion for cancer research come from?
Dr. Samuel Waxman: The death of my mother from cancer when I was 16 affected me very deeply and inspired my passion to eradicate cancer.
When you were studying to become a doctor, what was your initial specialty?
A lot of people are skeptical about medical foundations. When someone donates to your foundation, what exactly does the money go towards?
SW: The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation specializes in funding research that identifies and corrects faulty genetic behavior that causes cancer and our grantees are all leading researchers who collaborate on projects across cancer institutes. Donations sustain their progress by covering the cost of laboratory equipment, staffing and administrative expenses that allow them to test their theories, hopefully leading to clinical trials for new cancer treatments.
Is there an accomplishment related to the foundation that you are most proud of?
SW: My collaboration through SWCRF with two distinguished cancer researchers from Shanghai, Professor Zhu Chen and Professor Zhen-Yi Wang, produced a cure for APL, a form of leukemia, that improved the five-year survival rate of patients from 25 percent to 95 percent. It remains the standard of care for APL today.
What can you tell me about this year’s gala? What’s to be expected from it?
SW: This year’s event is special because it commemorates the fortieth anniversary of the year I founded the SWCRF with a $10,000 donation I received from an executive from the fashion industry. We honor fashion leaders every year and at the Gala we are announcing a new research program named in honor of Vince Camuto, founder of Camuto Group, who passed away of prostate cancer last year. Louise Camuto will accept the honor in his memory. Our musical guest is a rock legend, Roger Daltrey of The Who.
How did you wind up working with Cipriani? Are you a member of Cipriani’s Wall Street location? Or have attended a lot there?
SW: This will be our third year holding the Collaborating For A Cure Gala at Cipriani Wall Street. It is a beautiful venue that we selected for its fine reputation and it always delivers a top-notch experience for our guests. I’m looking forward to seeing our supporters there on Nov. 10.
Do you have any other events planned beyond this year’s gala?
SW: The Gala is our final fundraiser in 2016, capping our year-long anniversary celebration, but we’re looking forward to next year’s benefits, including our annual ladies’ luncheon, our golf tournament, A Hamptons Happening and the 20th anniversary Collaborating For A Cure gala. We never tire of raising funds for cancer research.
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
SW: I enjoy relaxing activities such as gardening, golf, reading a good book and spending time with my family.
