Parris In Spring

3/22/2012  - BB King Bar and Grill - New York, NY 

Gil Parris Strikes Back

Parris in spring heats up New York City at the BB King Bar and Grill with another knock out performance by the Gil Parris Band and special guests.  Parris comes fresh off of two all star performances from the Kitano Hotel’s “Jazz at Bar Lounge” where he and New York Yankee great, Bernie Williams painted the town with two sensational and unbelievable music sets early this month.  Both the BB King Marquee and Times Square shared one thing in common, Parris in spring has sprung up in New York City paved way by one super sizzling performance last night and I was there.  Let’s get down to the details shall we?

Matt King On Keys

“It’s been five years since I last headlined at BB’s and I recently played here a different times this year with the great Diane Schuur, Bobby Caldwell, and a special tribute show for the late Cornell Dupree.  I shared this stage here with Joe Cocker, Dr. John, and Paul Shaffer and other friends and talents over the years.  So much has happened for me musically since I last headlined here.”  Parris said just before taking the stage.  “I feel at home and I’m gearing up to book more shows here at BB’s more often.  The sound here is amazing and the performances are up close.” Gil added in as he walked up to the stage entrance. People still talk about Gil’s impact rendition of “Little Wing” at the Jimi Hendrix’s 69th Birthday Tribute celebration, where he, along with Larry Coryell, Leon Hendrix, Godfrey Townsend and other music legends, payed honor to a fallen musical icon.

Josh Dion & Joe Piteo

Kip Sophos brings a gritty and abrasive sound on bass, accompanied by Matt King on keyboard, Joe Piteo on drums and percussion, and New York City’s hidden treasure, Josh Dion featured on vocals, drums and percussion.  Parris naturally molds himself into any genre of music without effort and with remarkable success.  He surrounds himself with a kaleidoscope of music virtuosos in order to deliver, delight and fascinate his fans at each show he plays.  The scope of this show expanded beyond any other rock and blues fruition presented by the Gil Parris Band playlist that covered an astonishing arrangement of Jimi Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic”, Jeff Beck’s “Freeway Jam”, and The Meter’s “Crissy Strut”.

Williams Solo Stuns Parris

Surprise music guests included Gil’s Lazy Lounge Music Jam partner, Curtis Winchester on vocals, Andre Lassalle on guitar and long time friend, Bernie Williams.  38 year old Jennifer, from Somers, NY said, “We’ve been seeing Gil and Bernie a lot recently playing together outside of the weekly jams in White Plains.  You have to wonder if something bigger is evolving because each show they play the music is just getting tighter and tighter.  They have such incredible chemistry together and they support each other not just on guitar from what I see.”  Frank, of Mamaroneck, NY said, “This was some show.  From the start to the end.  It just shows you never know who you may see playing in New York City at any given time.  I walked in not knowing what to expect to hear with such a diverse and talented band and I’m walking away wishing to hear more.”  There will be more from Gil Parris and Bernie Williams, who are booking more dates around the New York City area.  Parris and Williams return to the Iridium, home of the late and great Les Paulin Time’s Square on May 5-6, 2012 at the and they are back for another two nights at the Kitano Hotel this coming September.  

Parris & Williams Exchange Guitar Riffs

I will also be watching very closely as Gil Parris and Bernie Williams continue to hit show after show out of the park, but tonight’s show was a long over due home coming celebration for Westchester’s very own Gil Parris.  “There are very few people I know who can jump from tour to tour, put out multiple albums in multiple genres, yet maintain one of the longest running music jams and play shows all in a year.  When does this guy ever sleep?” asked Ricki and Lisa of Tarrytown, NY.  My answer to your question is when Gil’s rose painted guitar is hung up, and he walks away to find a new adventure then maybe he will take a break to rest, but I don't think that is going to be anytime soon from what I just heard played live from BB King Bar and Grill tonight.

Miami’s Gone Green For Green Day

Miami has come a long way since the blue collar trend setters of the 1980's, Crocket & Tubbs A.K.A - the blazer jacket fashion police of Miami Vice, and even more so from the spectacular rainbow connection faux showgirls of the Bird Cage. No matter which image you mirror your wardrobe after, one thing is for certain, tonight not all Miamians slipt themselves into Custo Barcelona like I did. Green Day and Kaiser Chief made an "All Post Bulletin" for all in need of economic rehabilitation and who want to infuse diesel driven energy, raw metal music, and tantric lyrics to relieve their personal woes. American Airlines Arena was the epicenter of this quake and it burst at its seams with the infestation of dedicated fans and a trickle of a few newbies. The local radio stations gathered under the palm trees just adjacent to Biscayne Boulevard where a mirage of CSI Miami's Lt. Horatio Caine would preparing to investigate the onslaught about to take place on center stage.

Kaiser chief is a music experience that never ceases to shock me and thanks to the brilliant organization and guidance of manager, Mike Darling, the lads from Leeds have made a brilliant british march across the pond that make even the snootiest of Brits loosen their nickers for a night along with a grinning nod of approval. Their ability to make instant connection has been followed by the increase of their ever expanding nexus of a fan base. Lead vocalist, Ricky Wilson, blitzed the stage and posed statuesque like front and center atop his stage monitor. His fists punched the electrified air with his glory stick in hand to pay homage to the gods of rock above. They must have given him the green light because the reception from the fans pushed the air out of the building and the deafening answer was, "WE ARE READY TO GLORIFY YOU!" Kaiser Chief brings a new attitude to the stage underlined by the homage they pay to the influential bands before like Blur, Madness, and The Jam.

"Off With Their Heads" is the fourth Kaiser Chief album under the Universal Music label. The band shows no signs of slowing down and like a fine wine fermenting on a Napa Valley vineyard Kaiser Chief will only become more substantial to young music fans yearning for a unique blend of fresh music. Let's face it. Generation "X" & "Y" are victims in the political game of radio and MTV to the point that they are dumbed down to a cookie cutter lifestyle that just doesn't extend past Juicy wear and Nickel Back. Kaiser Chief's song list was heavy and flavored including their recent money song "Never Miss a Beat," "Good Days Bad Days," and "Like It Too Much." Once again I spun out of the photographer radar in a spiral to the first riff of "Ruby." As quick as the boys jumped on stage they were off and the unlucky lost souls outside were surely green with envy to not be inside because the arena's foundation fissured from the opener and the Gods of Rock could only guess what would happen next.

It amazes me to see that no matter who you are at a concert, no matter what your role is, when the lights black out your heart races, your eyes widen, and you lose yourself completely. If our own exits from this planet would mimic the feeling of waiting for a band to take stage then my exit will be one with the horns of rock blazed in the air on one hand and a flickering lighter in the other. Miami roared so loud that the sound track playing on stage sounded more like a gnat buzzing in your ear outside during a hurricane. Green Day's entrance immediately followed when a spectrum of LED lights broadcasted an eye popping scene of the Manhattan skyline stunningly portrayed on stage. Views of the Empire State Building, Midtown, and Downtown areas were broken by the bullets of spotlights targeting their aim on Green Day. One by one the mayhem crept out from behind the stage much like a grungy New Yorker exiting a Bleecker Street night club just before dawn. The adrenaline poured through the stoked fans, the band was pumped, and I was numb because it's moments like this I get to look back on my life as a music fan who once swore I would always be in the front row of a show. Twenty some odd years later and a life filled with enough events and adventures to write a full feature screenplay about, I was where I wanted to be. In front of the tall guy who was blocking my view.

Green Day is an atomic blast that erupted over a decade ago and the power they push increases with no tell-tale sign of a break up or side project. Their days of grunge and ripping the listener a "new one" still dominates the music industry. Their longevity is partly due to their consistent sound, radical presence, and most importantly, "keepin' in real" (staying true to their sound) while other bands have faded and vanished during their unjust reinventions. Green Day is what they are and have always been. The sentinels of rockdom. The song list expanded over three pages and well past the 10:30 PM curfew that a majority of the fans were given this night and who without a doubt will sleep tonight tucked in their beds happily dreaming of moshpits, fists of fury, and a band-aid box worth of battle scars. Green Day and Kaiser chief continue their march forward to bring sheer madness to a city near you and I will have to remind you of this. Don't wait for the golden reunion tour. Get yourself to the show now because this will haunt you as the "would of, should of, could of concert" your kids will hark on you one day for missing.