Music Friday Live | Music Junkie Press

Korby Lenker at Hotel Café: a cinnamon tinted daguerreotype evening. by Patrick O’Heffernan

March 8, 2014

Korby Lenker at Hotel Café: a cinnamon tinted daguerreotype evening. by Patrick O’Heffernan, Host, Music FridayLive! You knew the show by Korby Lenker was going to be an entertaining adventure before he even got on stage; the pedal box mounted on a skateboard sitting next to the microphone stand gave him away. And the adventure started the minute this curly-headed, mischievous grinning minstrel walked out in a wine-red velvet jacket, jeans and bow tie and said “hi”. Lenker has explained that what he does is make music that’s easily likeable but with a kind of secret sophistication. He pulls it off well, which is why he has opened for bands like Willie Nelson, Ray LaMontagne, Nickel Creek and Keith Urban, among others. Everything he does – and did Friday night at the Hotel Café – is entertaining, hummable and deeply layered. He started the show off gentle and soft with simple chords for a haunting effect on “If I Prove False”, hitting the long high notes in a way that evoked memories and images of [Read More]

The ROAMies at Hotel Café by Patrick O’Heffernan

March 8, 2014

The ROAMies at Hotel Café by Patrick O’Heffernan Music lovers at the Hotel Café discovered that the way you spell fun is R-O-A-M-i-e-s, as in the ROAMies, the delightful married duo of Alexa James and Rory Partin. They had the audience rocking, clapping, laughing and singing for almost an hour with a 9-song set that ran the gamut from original songs to early Beatles to Cajun classics. Alexa James – who is a song writing and vocal power in her own right with several hit albums, a number 1 single and 5 top ten songs, not to mention several film tracks and a new single out now, “I Don’t Know How To Be Here”- kicked things off with a conversational nod to Mardi Gras and the upbeat happy tune “Fun To Love You” on the guitar. Her husband Rory backed her on the keyboard and Peter Cho added to the lightheartedness with his wicked banjo chops. You knew immediately, the evening was going to be fun! With her Betty Boop eyes, curly crown of bright [Read More]

The ROAMies at Hotel Café by Patrick O’Heffernan

March 8, 2014

The ROAMies at Hotel Café by Patrick O’Heffernan Music lovers at the Hotel Café discovered that the way you spell fun is R-O-A-M-i-e-s, as in the ROAMies, the delightful married duo of Alexa James and Rory Partin. They had the audience rocking, clapping, laughing and singing for almost an hour with a 9-song set that ran the gamut from original songs to early Beatles to Cajun classics. Alexa James – who is a song writing and vocal power in her own right with several hit albums, a number 1 single and 5 top ten songs, not to mention several film tracks and a new single out now, “I Don’t Know How To Be Here”- kicked things off with a conversational nod to Mardi Gras and the upbeat happy tune “Fun To Love You” on the guitar. Her husband Rory backed her on the keyboard and Peter Cho added to the lightheartedness with his wicked banjo chops. You knew immediately, the evening was going to be fun! With her Betty Boop eyes, curly crown of bright [Read More]

Yulianna gives fans at Molly Malone’s a glimpse of the future (of rock and opera) by Patrick O’Heffernan

March 6, 2014

Yulianna gives fans at Molly Malone’s a glimpse of the future (of rock and opera) Patrick O’Heffernan Yulianna, the Kazakhstan-born, LA-based opera singer turned pop songster gave the early audience at Molly Malone’s Saturday night a look into the future of music as she would like to create it and how we may all be seeing and hearing it. After immigrating to the U.S. from Kazakhstan as a teenager, and winning awards for her vocals and classical violin concerts, Yulianna studied pop and classical musical genres with top musical professionals at California Institute of the Arts She focused on opera to take advantage of her world class vocal power and precise vocal control, even singing with small operas. After releasing her critically acclaimed full length dance album, Californ-i-a, and her hit single “Don’t Take Your Love “ and wowing crowds at Coachella, she decided now is the time to experiment with “popra” – music combining the hooks and grooves and beats of pop and the drama and thematic power of opera, both to satisfy her [Read More]

Global rocker Eric Zayne sits down with Music Junkie Press and it’s a wild ride, by Patrick O’Heffernan

March 2, 2014

Global rocker Eric Zayne sits down with Music Junkie Press and it’s a wild ride. by Patrick O’Heffernan, Host, Music FridayLive! Unbridled, unleashed and almost uncontrolled enthusiastic talent -that is Eric Zayne and his electronica-influenced, soul and blues-infused, pop-inflected and sometimes just plain over the top creative funk/pop/rock. I first saw him live at a pre-Grammy Party in LA and knew this was a talent going places fast. We talked afterwards about his gig at Sundance and his upcoming gigs and recordings. Eric and his band can turn on a dime from infectious alt. pop to ballads with a twist. He is always trailblazing, always out of the box and into your pleasure centers. Put on your headphones, clear out the dance floor, forget everything you think you know about rock and pop. Whether he is live onstage or erupting from a EP, Eric Zayne’s music mainlines a pure dose of the most unique sound coming out of the LA rock scene today directly into your brain. Patrick O’Heffernan, Host of Music Friday interviewed Eric [Read More]

Lily Elise surprise show blows away Molly Malone’s Saturday night. By Patrick O’Heffernan

February 24, 2014

Lily Elise surprise show blows away Molly Malone’s Saturday night. Patrick O’Heffernan, Host of Music Friday Live! Patrons at Molly Malone’s Saturday night got a nice bonus, thanks to a cancellation and some rescheduling: the nationally recognized R&B singer Lily Elise rocked them out at the coveted 10:45 pm slot. Lily Elise, best known for being coached by pop icon Christina Aguilera on NBC’s The Voice, is a powerful R&B vocalist who can hit the high notes with ease and belt the blues with best of the blues queens of any era. And she did both to the delight of a house full of dancing fans. Lily Elise got things going right off the bat with “Dance with Somebody”, the George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam song made famous by Whiney Houston on her first album. She carried it off with her own high energy style that got everyone moving and brought cheers from the floor. She followed with “Kaleidoscope” and “Crash”, each one showcasing her powerful voice and her ability to connect with an audience. When [Read More]

Review of Too Worn To Mend by American Beauties from Patrick O’Heffernan

February 4, 2014

Review: Too Worn To Mend by American Beauties by Patrick O’Heffernan, Host Music FridayLive! Having been raised with the lush harmonies of Crosby, Stills Nash and Young, and even working with Stephen Stills for a little while, I resonate with bands that understand how to construct layered harmony vocals in earworm arrangements – songs that make you hum and sing . American Beauties is a band that does that. They happily insinuate their music into the soundtrack of your life. They’re not quite folk, not quite pop, not quite rock and not quite country; they skillfully blend all these genre’s into something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Rich guitars, gentle bass, steel pedal hints, subtle drum beats and great background vocals enable American Beauties to paint their lyrical vignettes with skill and grace. It is the kind of music you can put in your playlist to cushion the day. American Beauties is an indie folkrock band that emerged from the Cambridge, Massachusetts music scene a few years ago and has been [Read More]