Rich Whiteley’s Ruby Fizz CD

Bay Area guitarist/songwriter Rich Whiteley was born in Wilmington, DE but currently resides in Tampa. Good thing, too. It would really be a pitiful shame if Delaware – not Florida, was the soul-beneficiary of Rich’s groovey-styled musical offerings. Whiteley’s 2009 CD-release Ruby Fizz is chock-full-of swarthy, blues-laden riffs and grooves that bend the most sensitive ear for the purpose of pure enjoyment. He’s an extremely gifted songwriter and multi-faceted performer – he skillfully plays guitar, harmonica, banjo, and piano on Fizz, Whiteley’s fourth studio project since A Dog or a Bicycle in 2000.

Whiteley’s band history includes  Earth Bombs Mars, Uncle John’s Band, the Rich Whiteley Band, Magnolia Creek, Whiteley & Phillips, and countless others. He’s shared the stage with The Codetalkers, Oteil and the Peacemakers, New Monsoon, Jake Shimabukuro, Jerry Joseph, Beth Hirsch, Baye Kouyate, Melvin Seals, Tom Constanten, Leni Stern, Richard Drexler and many others.If you’re looking for great songwriting, poignant lyrics, and skillful musicianship mastery, then check out Ruby Fizz at www.richwhiteley.com

The GreyMarket is a one-stop-shop 3-piece electronic rock band (drummer Michael Gargiulo , guitarist / vocalist Cave McCoy s and a laptop) that’s pretty self-sufficient and efficient. The human duo performs, produces, mixes, and masters GreyMarket’s material and, amazingly, markets, promotes, and subsequently books tours, and as well as creates and manages the band’s web site. Hailing from Tampa, Grey Market’s ardent commitment to self-sufficiency, and, above all, willingness to do “whatever it takes to get the job done right” is seemingly evident in their latest CD Some Orbits Will Never Decay and their 2006 release Dauntless.

It’s quite amazing to conceptualize that GreyMarket is basically a two man operation.

 If you browsed the GrayMarket website and listened to their music you would discover gallons of different musical flavors, including new wave, neo-UK and plenty of USA off-beat goodies. GrayMarket is Bronski Beat in the meat and poultry department. Masters of Reality (remember them?) in the frozen food section.  RadioHead in produce. The Cure down the health and beauty isle. Queen and U2 in the ethnic food section. When you’re finished shopping, your grocery bag will include enough eclectic influential musical ingredients that will forever feed your starving musical soul. Yes down load and buy there music. If you’re an80’s child and your CD collection is void of 80’s hair bands, then you would love Grey Market’s approach to new wave post punk. The next time you invite musical guests to dinner, serve ‘em something from the GrayMarket. We guarantee the tasty morsels will delight those ears who need a break from Paula, Randy and Simon!

at the Harbor Bluffs Park in Largo on May 23 at 5 p.m.  They are also scheduled to play at the Sheraton Sand Key in early June and, hopefully, throughout the summer.

Bet Me I’m Lying is more or less an alternative a rock band; most of the songs are up-tempo yet display a degree of melody. This is quite monumental considering they’ve yet to reach high school. They’re adamant about not being a clone of, say, Jonas Brothers, or any type of teenage boy rock band usually heard on the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon. The songs have some really catchy guitar riffs and guitar solos.  What’s most impressive is the lyrical content. Songs like “Slowly Fading” discusses global warming; “Hey Nietzsche”  was based on a poem written by Adikes describing 19^th Century German Philosopher Frederic Nietzsche’s deterministic existential view. For a bunch of preteens, these kids definitely have something special in store! For further information go to: http://www.myspace.com/betmeimlyingrockband or call 727/580-3828.

Bet Me I’m Lying

I really dig these guys. I saw The Basiqs perform last year at the Tampa Hip-Hop Convention and really dug the vibe and presence. “Your Life is Calling” has some really cool, no-nonsense hip-hop flavored elements yet maintain a semblance of rock-oriented roots throughout. Producer Gage and his partner-in-crime, Mr. Sin, bring honestly and blessed fortitude to the Bay Area Hip Hop Community. Click on the image and be whisked away to The Basiq’s interactive web site. Can’t wait to hear the new CD “This Lie” slated for release later this year! Go to www.basiqs.com

Granted The Gravesiders’ 2008 cd release The Horror has Begun has two songs (actually three if you include the thumpy bass introduction), it’s jam-packed with wall-to-wall wallop of heavy bass, crunchy axe-grinding, and nonsensical horror crunch reminiscent of, say, old Misfits and classic early 80’s horror core punk with a grizzled edge. Check out The Gravesiders at www.thegravesiders.com for more information.

The Psychedelic hippie/trippy power Dance/pop outfit and Mad Monk, LTD recording artist Beatnik Castle is, perhaps, one of the Bay Area’s true hidden treasures. This 2009 CD release not only features the smokin’ hot Lenny B radio edit version of the hit single “Will U B Mine?”  but a Electro Remix from noted Miami DJ Cato K and, of course, techno, 70’s disco, Latin, industrial, but an exquisite mesmerizing acoustic version from Beatnik songwriter/producer Quincy B. Scovill. As of this writing, “Will U B Mine?” is being added and subsequently played on dance mix radio shows across the country, as well as XM/Sirius BPM and 13 countries in Europe. What’s most impressive, though, is the lovely, seductive persona of Francillia, Beatnik’s lead singer who, for all intense and purposes, skillfully and soulfully executes a Rihanna-styled vocal semblance coupled with the hard edge of, say, Pat Benatar or a female-styled (dare I say?) Ne-Yo. Francillia’s a rarity –a stunning, captivating presence who can really sing – or should I say, “sang.” This charming power-packed Tampa-based/US Virgin Islands singer adds soulful flavor to every version of “Will U B Mine?” included on this release, and her voice, especially on the slower, more somber  “Rock/Island version” (chock-full-of-crunchy heavy metal guitar leads!) Granted, this is only a maxi-cd single but Scovill’s inclusion of the aforementioned versions (including the Lenny B Extended Club Mix) makes for quite a pleasant experience. Scovill is a creative, old school songwriter rooted in old school vibes and personalities. “Will U B Mine?” in its original version, (also included herewith), was originally released in 2008 by Scovill Avenue, yet another unrecognized Bay Area gem whose 2007 Mad Monk, LTD CD “Big House” amazingly garnered seven Grammy nods from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Committee last year, including the coveted categories “Record of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” and “Song of the Year”. Incidentally, “Will U B Mine?” in its original version, was in the Grammy category “Dance Single of the Year” as well. For the record, Quincy B has allowed me to preview some of the new material (including a hipped-up cover of an Alice Cooper song from 1971!) from Francillia’s solo cd “Temptation” and, believe you me, 2010 will be a heckuva year for this extremely talented Bay Area duo!