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Archive for the ‘Press’ Category

New Mobile Mirror

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Happy to announce that we’ve installed some new fancy WordPress plugins here at http://www.nickedelstein.com, and one of ‘em is a mobile mirror site!  What does that mean? Well, from now on when you visit us from your mobile device – Blackberry, iPhone, Google phone, Palm, etc. – you’ll get to enjoy a clean site designed just for you!  No more blue Lego cubes, Adobe Flash problems, Java jumbles … okay I don’t know a whole lot of tech talk but I do know it’s cool!  Next time you whip out that PDA, connect to some free WiFi and check out NICK EDELSTEIN mobile!  

ps: the other plugin we installed sends neat little tweets (to Twitter) whenever I post a new blog … can we say “trial run?”  

Related articles:

• Why Isn’t Adobe Flash on the iPhone, iPod, iPad? (chris.pirillo.com)
• Palm and Motorola smartphones to get Flash 10.1 support soon (infoworld.com)
• Apple Video Shows iPad Flash Support, But Don’t Believe It (wired.com)

Tags: Adobe, Adobe Flash, Adobe Systems, apple, blackberry, fancy, flash, google, iPhone, mirror, mobile, Mobile device, palm, plugin, Smartphone, tweets, twitter, WiFi, wordpress
Posted in Press | No Comments »

WUGA 90.1 FM / TV today!

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Nick is on the radio today! From 4-5 PM EST, tune into 90.1 FM or click here for live streaming audio for a live performance and interview on “The Classic” Athens, GA station.

Tags: 90.1, arts, Athens Georgia, cable, Formats, Friday, Last.fm, music industry, radio, Streaming media, tv, United States, WUGA
Posted in Press | 1 Comment »

Happy Rosh Hashanah! לשנה תובה

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

As you may know, the Jewish New Year is upon us! This fresh recycling of Life brings many exciting beginnings and reminds me to think about all for which I am thankful.
Dominating those thoughts is my newest musical adventure, one that I hope will last for many years ahead. I’m speaking of course about Five Star Iris.
If you haven’t heard, I joined the Rock band in early August and couldn’t be happier. They rock, their songs rock, and their lyrics relay positive messages. I hope you will all take a moment to visit www.FiveStarIris.com
Of course I will continue to write and record, both with 5si and in my spare time. I’m hoping to release a record of organ-focused Rock by the end of December.

Tags: 5769, happy, new year, rosh hashanah
Posted in Press | No Comments »

Les Paul, R.I.P.

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Whether or not you play the famous Gibson model, guitarists worldwide owe a debt to the late Les Paul.  Even if you’re an acoustic artist, the fact is that most of the melodies, chord voicings, and techniques we use evolved from the advent of electric guitar.
The ability to play thinner-guage strings gave way to techniques like “bending,” “hammer-ons” and “pull-offs” and all sorts of artificial harmonics (not to mention … the “whammy bar”)!   Can you imagine what Eddie Van Halen’s music would’ve sounded like if he couldn’t do “dive-bombs?”   And don’t even get me started on FX pedals (which never would have been invented if there were no electric guitars to use them).  Not unlike Michael Jackson, the legacy of Les Paul will forever live in the History books.

What follows is Roger “Hurricane” Wilson’s article, courtesy of Atlanta Blues Society:
“Les Paul
Born Lester William Polsfuss on Jun 9, 1915 in Waukesha, WI
Died Aug 13, 2009 in White Plains, NY

We are all saddened by the loss of the legendary Les Paul. We know that he changed the world of music with his inventions of sound on sound recording, as well as the invention of the solid body electric guitar. Many know that he crossed many boundaries by winning multiple awards for his achievements, as well as inductions to various halls of fame. Many obituaries, tributes, and eulogies are being written about Les Paul. When I was in the broadcast news business, one of my bosses told me, “If you are going to write something, tell me something I don’t know!” Well here goes! It is true that for me, being friends with a guy like Les Paul would never be an unwanted attribute, but in my case, it was truly unexpected.

In September of 2003, I was on tour in the Northeast, and I decided I wanted to catch one of Les Paul’s weekly shows in New York City. A couple of friends and I decided to make the trip to the Iridium Jazz Club near Times Square to catch Les’ show. After paying the thirty or so dollars each to get in, we were there! I was really excited to be able to catch the guy in action that I had read about for many years, plus for the years of my playing the model of guitar named after him… The Gibson Les Paul! I had determined that I was going to make this night pleasurable and go easy on myself. I wasn’t going to try to get an autograph, or get on stage, or schmooze, hustle, or do any kind of PR or music business. It was just going to be a guitar lesson for me.

The lights went down, and Tom, the sound man announced, “And now the man that has changed the course of popular music for all of us, Mr. Les Paul and his trio.” It was amazing, and I was enthralled! There he was, in the flesh… the guy that invented multi-track recording, and the solid body electric guitar. I was savoring the moment and was oblivious to everything else around me. This was what I was waiting for. After about 3 or 4 songs, Les starting cutting up with the crowd and the band. It seemed that someone on the front row was talking to him, and had said something on the order of “I play guitar too”. Les replied, “so you play too, well come on up here and show us what you can do.” At that moment, a well dressed Middle Eastern Indian gentleman approached the stage. He strapped on the guitar that Les keeps on the piano for just such occasions. I wasn’t sure what was happening here, and I was trying to figure it out. The guy started playing the introduction to T-Bone Walker’s Stormy Monday… BADLY! Now    I was getting worried! The hair on the back of my neck was starting to stand up. My friends, Bobby and John, knew I was starting to get restless.

I was trying to keep from turning green and to not have my clothes split off me like The Incredible Hulk. The guy played the one song, and he was off the stage. It really wasn’t a pretty site. By this time, I was fit to be tied, mainly because I couldn’t leave this night with that vision in my head. Les resumed his show and I did eventually calm down to enjoy the rest of the set.

At the close of this, the first show, the announcement was made that CD’s could be purchased from Les’ son, Russ. I immediately went to him, bought a CD, and asked him if that last appearance had been planned. He said that they had never seen the guy before. I explained to him who I was, and that I was on tour, and that I had my first Les Paul guitar when I was 18. Russ said if he had known I was there, he would have gotten me up to jam. I immediately said, “I’m still here!” He said OK, come on back and I’ll introduce you to Dad. I was caught off guard by his response and ecstatic at the same time! When I met Les, it was like talking to an old friend. I explained to him my situation, and he seemed pleased. He said to stand by the stage and he would get me up with him. I did that and was beside myself. In the next set, he called me up with no idea of who I was or what I could do. I introduced myself to the audience over the mike telling them my name and how honored I was to be there. I immediately launched into a simple version of “Everyday I Have the Blues”, with the band following. As I played and sang, Les was smiling. After that song, he said, “Well what else ya got?” I went into a slow B.B. King Blues classic, “Sweet Little Angel”. That was exciting since, I made it to the second song!” Les and I swapped some licks back and forth. He and I were having a ball! The first guy got the hook after the first tune. When I came off stage, I was walking on air. This was a day I would never forget!

Over the next few years, I would return to jam with Les and the band another 6 times. I became friends with the band and crew, Lou, Nicki, John, Tom, and Chris. Les’ son, Russ, and I would stay in touch, and during my trips to the northeast, I would attend his Sunday night jams at various locations around northern New Jersey, and then go into the city to see Les. The stories I was hearing from him were priceless. He told me how he got Mary Ford to speak into a mike down the hall, and when he heard her voice repeated on the extra tape head he installed, he knew he had found the thing that would change music recording forever. He told Mary to grab the laundry, throw it in the car, and that they were heading to Chicago. She kept saying, “What if it doesn’t work?” During that trip from California, by the time they were in New Mexico, he was wondering if it would work. He then said, “By the time we got to Chicago, I had convinced myself that it wasn’t going to work”. He was thankful that when they drilled the first hole in a new Ampex tape recorder in Chicago to add the extra record head, that “we didn’t screw anything up!”

During another of my visits, Les simply said, “Man, if I was to ever retire, I would just die!” He was 89 then! Another time, I was helping the guys carry some gear up to the street to put in the car. After 2 shows, he had signed autographs for a line of people that circled the inside of the club. He had signed everything from guitars to pictures, to records, to pick guards, to you name it! After signing every last item, Les was still downstairs in the rest room. As I headed back in, the manager at the door with keys to lock up said, “What did you forget?” I said Les is still in the club! I ran back down and got him. I’ll never forget Les Paul holding on to my arm as we climbed the stairs at 1 AM.

When he turned 90, it seemed that the world showed up to witness him. The crowds were lined up out the door at the Iridium on Monday nights. Interviewers from all walks of media were at the dressing room door for weeks before and after his birthday. I had the pleasure of sitting in with him 3 days before his actual 90th. The big event was a couple of weeks later at a star-studded event in Carnegie Hall.

My last visit with him was in November of 2007, at age 92. When my friend, Bobby Lyons, and I arrived at the Iridium early, Les was having his usual dinner in the dressing room. He was always eating his dinner on a turned on the side audio monitor cabinet. I always wondered why they didn’t get him a small table in there. This time, when I arrived, Les responded and waved slowly. It was a little disconcerting to me, be we left to grab a bite before the show. When I returned, I happened to be in position to help him on to the stage. He ambled to his chair, picked up his guitar, and as soon as the introduction announcement was made and the lights came up, “It Was Showtime!” He was back! I got to sit in both sets that night! After the second show, he came back into the dressing room, collapsed on the couch and said, “Man I’m Tired!” I said, “Les! Are you OK? I was really quite concerned about you earlier”. He said, “Oh yea, I’m fine. I’ve just been putting in these 14 hour days”. I replied, “14 hour days! What are you doing?”  He said, “I’m still working on these guitars”. “What are you doing to them?” I asked. “I’m still trying to get that sound right!” I was amazed! This is why he would jump out of bed every morning to keep “chasing sound”.

The amazing thing about Les, is that, with as many important and well-known people that he associated and rubbed shoulders with, he would always remember the guys, like me, who loved to play guitar. He would sign guitars when I would take them in, and he would always write something nice. “Keep picking” was a favorite, but the night he wrote, “Those Were Some Great Blues!” I was pretty well knocked out. He actually confessed to me that since he was more commercially oriented, he didn’t know much about the history of the Blues. He asked me to explain it to him. I sat in the dressing room of the Iridium one night and gave him my basic simple interpretation of the origin of the Blues. He sat there listening carefully, really soaking it in. I couldn’t believe that Les Paul was actually learning something from me!

Just during the month of June this year, I attended one of Russ Paul’s jams in New Jersey. My plan was to go into New York City on the Monday afterward to see Les. Russ told me that Les hadn’t been able to make some shows in the last few weeks, and he had been in and out of the hospital. He had even missed his 94th birthday gig on June 9. I was concerned about it, but Russ said his Dad was doing better, and that he was itching to get back to work. If I knew anything at all about Les, I knew that was true. He said that his Monday gigs at the Iridium were just like celebrating New Year’s Eve every week.  He proved to me many times that having a passion for something in life will keep one alive. For a guy like Les Paul, and with a life like he had, we can’t afford to mourn his loss as much as we need to celebrate his life. We need to “KEEP ON PICKING”!

Roger “Hurricane” Wilson
August, 2009″

Tags: acoustic, artist, atlanta, atlanta blues society, bending, chords, dive, eddie van halen, electric, GA, georgia, gibson, guitar, hammer-on, les paul, melody, michael jackson, musician, NY, obituary, pull-off, roger wilson, strings, technique, waukesha, whammy bar, white plains, WI
Posted in Press, Tangents | No Comments »

Alanna Fox joins us on WUGA!

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Excited to announce the first radio appearance of Alanna Fox, who will be our “opening act” on WUGA FM & TV simulcast!  Originally scheduled for Nov.6, we are now set on Nov. 20 from 4-5 PM on the “classic” Athens station.

Alanna will entertain during the first half, followed by 30 minutes of our new original tunes and interview!  The show airs live on 97.9 FM and local cable TV, and will be re-broadcast on Toccoa cable the following week!

Tags: alanna fox, band, Blues, cable, FM, GA, guitar, live, nick edelstein, piano, radio, rock, toccoa, tv, WUGA
Posted in Press, Tour Diary | 1 Comment »

New Facebook URL

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

Well we finally updated our Facebook Band Page URL … what a mouthful!   Click to visit and become a fan (if you’re not already!)

Tags: band, custom, facebook, nick edelstein, url, vanity
Posted in Press | No Comments »

iPhone app is public!

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Tags: app, apple, free, iPhone, itunes, music, nebula
Posted in Press | 5 Comments »

Mudcatz Recap #2

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Another successful jam at Mudcatz!. Thanks to everyone who came out and played, and to those who supported the players. My favorite songs of the night were “Whipping Post,” “Mr. PC” and “Shotgun!”

The latter sounded dead-on too, thanks to the horns of Earl Williams and Tim Fash. We even had some couples on the dance floor! I can’t wait for next Wednesday

Tags: atlanta, dunwoody, GA, jam, mudcatz, mudcatz bayou bar grill
Posted in Press, Studio NEws | No Comments »

Mudcatz #1 Recap

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009

Well, our first night at Mudcatz was a huge success! We had easily over 100 people turnout, probably closer to 200. Amazing players, too. I was very pleased to say the least, and found myself grinning ear to ear throughout the evening.

Jazz and Blues licks filled the air. Saxophones, harmonicas, guitars and bassists, organists, it was a blast. Super thanks to Shari O’Hallaran and her staff for supporting us – that’d be myself (Nick), Barry Richman, and The Alternators band!

Big thanks also goes out to Joel Edwards, Mark Bond, Earl Williams, Tim Fash, Randy and all the other amazing players who joined us for the first of many jams at Mudcatz!

Tags: alternators, barry richman, Blues, first, free, jam, mudcatz, open
Posted in Press, Studio NEws | 1 Comment »

Mudcatz Super Jam!

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Beginning July 22nd, the weekly Park Bench Jam will officially move to Mudcatz Bayou Bar & Grill in Dunwoody, GA. It’s only 20 minutes drive Northeast from Park Bench, and has a MUCH bigger stage and better lighting! Not to mention AMAZING food (PB didn’t have a kitchen, just drinks). We’re calling it a Super Jam because Nick will share hosting duties with none other than The Alternators band and Barry Richman!

Another point for Mudcatz falls under the category “Family Friendly.” Bring your kids, no smoking indoors! For the smokers, Mudcatz has a lovely covered brick terrace with seating and full-service wait staff (and you can still hear the music loud’n'clear). Check it out!

Tags: Blues, dunwoody, free, jam, mudcatz, open
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WRFG interview!

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

It was a real pleasure appearing on WRFG FM with early morning host Marian Daigler. Not only is she a jem to talk with, but the audio quality of my in-studio performance was great! They really do a find job over at WRFG.

When I first arrived I didn’t know what to expect, as the station is housed inside an old school building. To be more specific, my interview was in the principal’s office! But I loved every minute of it. Even the waking-up-super-early part wasn’t so bad . Thanks WRFG!

Tags: atlanta, edelstein, FM, GA, L5P, little 5 points, marian daigler, nick, non-commercial, radio, wrfg
Posted in Press, Studio NEws | No Comments »

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