LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Meroke Sky Records) - The last-Friday-of-every-month happening known as Meroke Sky Records Night continues to establish its place in L.A.'s independent music scene, especially for fans of "indie folk-rock." Poughkeepsie native
Kevin Kelly will lead off yet another gathering of the Meroke Sky faithful on Friday, July 31st, as they showcase the new label's eclectic and diverse material at Hollywood's venerable Pig'N Whistle venue, 6714 Hollywood Blvd.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m., the entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m., and admission is still just $9.00!
The musical evening, hosted by long-time Hollywood promoter Michael Giangreco's upstart indie label, Meroke Sky Records, and his legendary Hollywood Concerts promotion firm, will feature several artists currently signed to the roster and working under Giangreco's production umbrella, among them Kevin Kelly (pictured), The Conleys, Joseph Eid, Joe Hajek, Phil Hyland, Tito, Lizzy Williams, and Asa Danekind.
Kevin Kelly is currently in the studio with Giangreco. Kelly recently released his independent debut album, "Lost in the Cracks of the Modern World," and is now recording his first EP for Meroke Sky Records, including such titles as "Coney Island Angel," "Go to the Wall" and "Far Away Star." "Kevin is a real storyteller and has a real flair for the dramatic aspect of the story," enthuses producer Giangreco. "Putting his words to music has been a rewarding challenge and a fun experience; he is a brilliant songsman, certainly worthy of a good ear to listen to him."
Illinois-born singer-songwriter Joe Hajek released his debut album, "The Ramblin' & Regret," in late March on the Southern California imprint. The disc, produced by Giangreco, features Hajek's original material, backed by a stellar cast of musicians, including keyboardist Barry Goldberg, Sweetwater's Alex Del Zoppo, and Victor Bisetti from Los Lobos. In addition, Louis Lista, Michael Gurley, Tony Marsico, Leo Valenzuela, Chad Christ, and Andy Ireland all contributed to the album, which was recorded and engineered by Dave Williams.
If you haven't yet had a chance to see a Meroke Sky Records show and enjoy the work of these talented writers and performers, we encourage you to come out on July 31st to the Pig'N Whistle in Hollywood and see what all the excitement is about.
"HITS" Senior Editor Roy Trakin had this to say about Joe Hajek in his April 3rd "Trakin Care of Business" column:
"This twenty-something Midwestern singer/songwriter and University of Illinois alum did what so many dream of, but rarely do, packing up his Jeep and driving to L.A. in search of a music career. 'I'm crazier than crazy,' he sings over the mournful strings of 'Mr. Cliche',' and you have to be to try to break into the beleaguered biz at this time, but this regular Joe got lucky. He ran into Hollywood Concerts' Mike Giangreco, a longtime fixture on the L.A. scene as a social activist and promoter of shows at clubs like the Whisky, the Rainbow and, more recently, the Pig and Whistle and the Cabana Club. Giangreco took Hajek into the studio, brought in such talented players as legendary Dylan keyboardist Barry Goldberg, Sweetwater's Alex Del Zoppo and a variety of musicians who've worked with the likes of Tom Waits, Los Lobos and Matthew Sweet, produced the album, then released the results on his own indie label. From the Latin-flavored ambience of '4100,' the address of an unnamed Sunset Blvd. club where everyone knows your name, and the flickering harp of 'Acapulco' to the playful 'Tangled Up in Blue' narration in 'Lipstick' and the Van Morrison-like lament for the middle-class 'American Dream,' Hajek remains true to his own muse, living up to his vow, 'I'm getting out of this town.' He contemplates his own childhood over Del Zoppo's tinkling barroom piano in the bittersweet 'Chicago,' reminiscing about collecting baseball cards and 'finding his soul in that southern song,' wondering aloud why it's taken so long. On 'Always the Same,' he laments his lack of money ('It comes and goes') over somber strings, while Goldberg's patented Hammond B3 organ helps tell the Springsteen-ish story of a small-town relationship going nowhere fast in 'Only Thing He Knows.' The deliberate 'Belong' is an expression of the leap of faith which keeps him going, despite the obstacles, accompanied by a shimmering, sad-eyed guitar, as he sings, 'Someday I'll find out...where I belong.' Thanks to guardian angel Giangreco, it sounds like Joe Hajek's finally done just that, promising, 'We'll stand up from the breakdown, and we'll build, build, build...'"
To see the original column in context, visit "Hits Daily Double" at:
https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news07522m01
or "Sonic Boomers" at: https://www.sonicboomers.com/boomerangst/fridays-five
More Meroke News
Influential keyboardist Barry Goldberg will not be performing at this month's show, but his new album will be released by Meroke Sky Records in August. Goldberg and producer Mike Giangreco collaborated with some well-known players on the endeavor: Alex Del Zoppo on synths, bassist Gerald Johnson, guitarists Jack Sherman, Greg Leisz, and Dave Williams, vocalist Melanie Herrold, and drummer Gary Malabar, from Van Morrison's "Moondance" album and a longtime stint with Steve Miller. The album is dedicated to Michael Bloomfield and Jerry Colonna.
Goldberg's self-titled 1974 solo album, produced by Bob Dylan and Jerry Wexler, has just been reissued on the Micro Werks label, with previously unreleased tracks and a restored sound.
"I have been a fan of Barry's for many years," allows Giangreco," and had the good fortune to start working with him and Mick Taylor in the early '90s. We have worked together on various projects since then, but actually started recording together when he came into the studio to do some tracks on Joe Hajek's album. The collaboration worked so well that, when the opportunity to record a live set presented itself, we jumped at it.
"The finished project is 'Barry Goldberg's Soul Riot!' The album took about eight months to complete, with both of our busy schedules, but the finished product - the live show [recorded at Hollywood's Cabana Club] along with some songs Barry had from previous sessions - was well worth the wait. The level of professionalism and craftsmanship Barry displayed while we worked on this showed me just what a master musician and songwriter he is. I am not only proud to be associated with him, but also anxious to start the next project!"
Future releases from Giangreco's label will also include the August solo album debut of Alex Del Zoppo, co-founder of the famed L.A. band Sweetwater and a session player on a plethora of Meroke Sky recordings. So far, besides Del Zoppo himself, the already-recorded tracks feature Sweetwater's original and only bass player, Fred Herrera, and Voyce McGinley III on drums. Planned participants also include Don Peake, Tony Sales, Gary Popenoe, Patrice (Candy) Zappa, and Nolan Porter.
Logistics
There is valet parking next to the Pig'N Whistle venue, with an entrance on McCadden Place (a side street off Hollywood Blvd.) for $10.00. Self-parking is also easily accessible, on either McCadden or Las Palmas. You may enter the club from either the main Hollywood Blvd. entrance or on the side through the McCadden Place parking lot.
In addition, if you don't mind a short walk, there are 3,000 parking spaces below the Kodak Theatre/Hollywood & Highland Center complex, with entrances on Highland Avenue and Orange Avenue, north of Hollywood Blvd. Parking rates are as low as $2.00 with validation.
For additional venue details or dinner reservations (for parties of 3 or more), please visit https://www.pignwhistle.com or call the Pig'N Whistle at (323) 463-0000. The restaurant is open 7 days a week, Thursday - Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 2 a.m. and Sunday - Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Please visit https://www.kevinkellylive.com or https://www.myspace.com/kevinkelviskelly for Kevin Kelly's information and samples of his music.
To learn more about Joe Hajek and hear song excerpts, go to https://www.joehajek.com or https://www.myspace.com/joehajek.
To find more about Michael Giangreco's new record label, club bookings, and musical ventures, click on https://www.merokeskyrecords.com and also check out https://www.hollywoodconcerts.com.
If you need any additional information about Joe Hajek, Kevin Kelly, Barry Goldberg, Alex Del Zoppo, Michael Giangreco or Meroke Sky Records, including current photos and bios, or to arrange an interview, please contact our KubRo Group office at (818) 343-1510, or send us an email at [email protected].
