Saturday, May 30, 2009

Stopping by. .

Another awesome night at BBQ Inc last night, very special thanks to everyone that made it out. As we broadcast to the streets of Rockville Centre all week long, everyone is welcome to come by and sing a song with us.  In fact you're welcome, invited and encouraged to do so.  It's not a show without all of you guys, so endless high fives, handshakes and pats on the back.

There's a good chance you'll hear some new additions to the catalog in the coming weeks.  Pat and I have been throwing darts with our eyes closed to try and incorporate new songs into the repertoire and have come up with a few that we enjoy playing and we feel you will all enjoy listening to.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for songs we should play or that you'd like to hear us play please feel free to e mail us!  BrianRipps@aol.com will do just fine.  You can text also if you're so inclined.  

Off to Gabrielle's to end the Park Avenue Tour for the week of 5/25/09.  See you at the show.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Songs are Skyscrapers

Think of how it feels when you try to look at the Empire State Building from the windshield of your car as you cross 34th Street.  You need to squeeze over the wheel, and peer up. . narrowly avoiding the taxi that just cut you off while you were staring google eyed at only 2/3 of the building because it's so tall.  If you have a sun roof you can look through that and you'll be able to catch almost 100% of it.

But you need to stay with the flow of traffic, so you keep going before you actually get an opportunity to view the whole thing.  Next time you drive by, you'll have to look again.  And again.

That's what a great song can do to you.  You listen all the way through, and you know you love it before it's even over.  But by the time it's over you can't figure out just why you loved it, so you have to listen again.  Even the second listen won't do it justice.  So you listen to Use Somebody repeatedly.  You turn it up every time you catch it on the radio.  You stay a minute longer wherever you are to hear it.

Songs are Skyscrapers.  Just keep looking.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Sunday, May 24, 2009

CHOICE

Many, many thank yous going out to Choice NYC and everyone that made it out last night for the show.  The impromptu crowd that came out to Rock The Turn on a moment's notice was overwhelming and we love you all insanely.  It was an interesting night and there will be pictures to follow.  

The next full band show is in the planning stages, and in the meantime we'll be all over the place. Summer is just about to get started, so I'd like to invite you all to The Turn show.

Stay tuned.


B

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Hello New York

Last night's show at The Parkside Lounge was straight up awesome.  I want to thank everyone that made it out so much for coming to Rock The Turn.  The December Sessions has officially been released to the world now that we made some noise downtown.  We premiered two new songs (A Thousand Words and The Sound Of Me Breathing) and I'm very excited to upload the audio.

The next step is finding out from you the people where we are taking the show next.

There's a bunch of venues we are currently scouting, but I want to hear from you guys where you wanna come party with us.  In subsequent posts, I'll have links to all of the possible places, and we'll get on them to Book The Turn so we can go and rock the walls the way we do.  You guys are all a part of this team and we couldn't do it without you.  I think I speak for all four members of our band when I say there's no greater pleasure than getting on stage and playing to a room full of people that helped bring us there.  We're following your lead, so keep on pushing we'll keep on playing.

There will be many pictures available soon I'm sure, along with further information on where we're bringing the next Rock Party.

Have a great memorial day.  

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Friday, May 22, 2009

Checkin In. .

The busiest week ever bled over into this week too.  I haven't been around or in front of a computer for long enough to put in my two cents.  I suppose I could "tweet" more.  If everyone wants to follow us on Twitter, we will most assuredly be doing that starting right now.

We're playing at The Parkside Lounge tomorrow night at 8:30PM.  We're gonna break out a few new songs too, so come on out and Rock The Turn.

I'll update in full as soon as I can.  I don't love you any less, I promise.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Thank You New York City!!

This has been the busiest week of 2009 no question about it.  There will be a more lengthy and detailed update later on today or early tomorrow (which also promises to be rather busy) but for now. . .

Thank you so much to S.E.G Presents for putting us up on 74th and Riverside along with The Shells and The BadSpells.  It was a great time and there were an overwhelming number of people involved in the walk.  The response was great and even though the weather could probably have been better, everyone (up to and including Pat and I) had an absolute blast.

Stay tuned for pictures and video from this morning's festivities.  I'll be back with a full on update in a little bit.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Intro To Backtracking. . .

First of all, the song in the listening section "Moth's Wings" by Passion Pit is a song I've been listening to constantly as a result of reading about it in John Mayer's blog.  They're kind of an MGMT band (Electric Feel, Time To Pretend) an electronic based band with total rock feel.  This is the kind of stuff I love, and always have.  It's cool when a new band comes along to remind you of some of your old influences.  It's clear that the two aforementioned bands enjoyed listening to bands like Depeche Mode, The Cure and Erasure.  Those three bands all have songs that I would probably have once referred to as my favorite song.  The thing I love about Rock, is how usable it is in almost every other distinct genre.  In some way or another at some time or another, everyone just wants to Rock.  So bands with an electronic, or acoustic, or piano/mellow foundation will find ways to bring the Rock.  Keane somehow manages to do so without a guitar. But roots in Rock are very important.

That serves as a longwinded introduction to what I will be calling "Backtracking".  I just knocked out three bands (Depeche Mode, The Cure, Erasure) that will most assuredly be included.  I intend to go back and listen to some stuff I haven't heard in awhile, and some stuff I've never really given the college try.  I'll openly admit to never really sitting down and listening to a Doors record.  

I did so tonight for the first time in my life.  It so happens that due to their prominence once upon a time, I've had an awful lot of exposure to Doors songs without even trying.  For my first legitimate listen, I'd say that they appeal to me more now than they ever might have before. Maybe I'll try and spin on a Doors song some night soon.  Look out for that.  I think the new game is gonna be grabbing songs by bands I don't hear a lot of requests for (Aerosmith for example, again) and seeing what it sounds like when The Turn plays it.

Welcome to BackTracking by The Turn.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

B

Monday, May 11, 2009

On Screen. . .

Thanks to the lovely camerawork of Marina and Heather, we have a growing collection of videos for your viewing pleasure.

Come on over, leave your comments, enjoy the show.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Mother's Day. . And So On

A bunch of little things on my mind.  First and foremost, I'd like to wish everyone and their mother a Happy Mother's Day.  I will concede to the fact that this is not my favorite day of the year, but it gives me an opportunity to publicly send my love to my mother, and anyone who has acted as a mother to me in any way over the course of my life.  I hope everyone has had a wonderful day to this point!

Some goings on. . 
Thank you to everyone that made it out to Gabrielle's last night.  It was a great time as usual. The doors were wide open and we were projecting onto Park Ave from the other side of Merrick Road.  You'll have another opportunity to catch us out at BBQ Inc this coming Friday 5/15 10PM-1AM.  We'll sing your song, so come on out and Rock The Turn.

We will be performing at the New York City Walk for AIDS next Sunday morning May 17th, 2009 @ 11am.  In cooperation with the Show Entertainment Group, we'll be stationed at 74th and Riverside playing for all of the walkers and passersby.  

The Parkside Lounge extravaganza is right around the corner.  Friday 5/22 @ 8pm, 317 Houston Street.  Be there, we'll Rock out together.

Grumblings. . Somehow, with all of performances we've made, and venues we've played, the request lines have found a way to overlook one of Rock and Roll's most prevalent and otherwise enduring groups.  So I ask you. . Where is the love for Aerosmith?  It only occurred to me recently while enjoying Tell Me What It Takes To Let You Go on the radio that we have received exactly zero requests for Aerosmith.  I'm open to interpretation, but I'd love to know why.  The fact that we more often receive requests for *NSYNC (twice this weekend) and Britney Spears begs the question again, Where is the love for Aerosmith?  I think the move is for Pat and I to learn a couple of songs and mix them in so you all have no choice.  Consider it done.

We've been writing a bunch of new songs recently.  The process that we go through to write songs is constantly growing and evolving to incorporate ideas that we might not have previously had, and being influenced by more newer different types of music.  With that in mind, I sometimes return to what I call "default inspirations".  These are songs that I've listened to an innumerable amount over the course of my life, and will keep listening to indefinitely.  Those might be favorites, or "bookmarks", but they're influences.  Whatever it takes to get the creative juices flowing.  On my list of songs to address again in the very near future is "A Day In The Life".  I think it's time to go back and try to nit-pick every aspect of that song and identify them.  Getting to know that song on a personal level is something I think anyone attempting to write a song should do.  Interview it, dig deep, find the answers you're looking for and apply them to your own craft.  Again, there's something to be learned from everyone. 

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies



Saturday, May 9, 2009

UGroove and GigMaven

In progress:

ugrooveonline.com/rocktheturn

gigmaven.com/rocktheturn

Between The Couch and My Bed

Stopping in quick.  Will come back and update everyone later on.

Played at McBride's tonight, thank you to anyone that made it out.

Got a cup of Celestial Seasonings tea just before I went on, and the tea-bag had a Swedish proverb on its tag.  "Those who wish to sing will always find songs".  My only response to that:


Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

B


Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Here Comes The Sun. . .

I woke up on the couch with my guitar in my lap.  SportsCenter on MUTE and the remote on the floor in three pieces (four if you count both batteries and the back plate individually).  I looked out the window and found the sky was this color 
though sadly, the view from my living room wasn't quite as exquisite.

Across from me on the floor was the pad and pen I had been using before I fell asleep.  We've got a new song in progress, its working title is "Stormy".  Pat and I played it with Chris and Brian last night for the first time all together and I have to say that it sounded very similar to, if not exactly how it sounds in my head.  Just need to write the second verse and I think we've got something on our hands.  Maybe we'll call our full length Operating On Time.  

Back to bed.  

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

B

Monday, May 4, 2009

Myspace Version 2.0

Just recently uploaded by the good people at The Black Axe, it is time for everyone to go over and visit our new digs.  Check out the new look, and enjoy the music.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Early Morning Pondering. .

First of all, I owe massive hugs to the following people:
Beth Melillo, Christina Ferrara, Frank Festa, Ben Rocco, Andrew Guttilla, Marina Golfo, Heather Cahill, Anthony Zizzo and Paul Ianuale.  You guys are all fantastic, thank you for coming out to Rock The Turn and making any venue I/we play feel like home. 

To The Turn's newest fan Alana Simone Purvis - Friday night on a whim, hugs and kisses.

We'll be in Times Square at The Pig 'N Whistle tomorrow night from 10-1.  Come on out, it's gonna be a party.

We're into May!  Three weeks until the next big show at The Parkside Lounge, 5/22 @ 8PM. .  

There's other stuff on my mind, but I'm gonna give it a rest for now.  Just wanted to stop in and give everyone a little love.  I'll start fresh tomorrow.

Peace Love and Vocal Harmonies