Hi Everyone!
A great friend of ours Bill Rogers dropped by the other night and left this great review and photo of the Oct. 9th Reiserstown MD show.

Bill you have a way with words!.......Rock on bro! and thank you so much for the wonderful review and photo!.

The KEYS


10/09/2009  Reiserstown MD


to preface this entry, I need to add that I have known Mark Alexander for somewhere around 35 years.  I met Kasim, for the first time, in the late 80s, while Mark was starting to tour with Meat Loaf.  The first performance that I saw was in a small (yet potent) club called The Bayou, in the Georgetown section of D.C. --- Not the first performance of MARK, but the 1st I saw with him as a member of the Neverland Express. 
 
It seemed like the good thing to do to get in the car and travel the hour and fifteen minutes from home (just outside Washington, D.C.) to Reiserstown, Maryland.  Reiserstown is just outside of Baltimore, and the new Kasim Sulton Band was to make it's debut performance at Micho's Stage 35.
 
I'll admit that I am not one who can recite lyrics or song lists of Kasim's solo work.  I am familiar with quite a bit of it --- mainly because I became a big fan of his 'Back Stage Pass' series on Youtube ... and looked at other entries.  Am I a fan:  Absolutely. 
 
Mark and I gave each other blow-by-blow updates of our respective rides to the venue, via cell phone.  Of course, my hour and 15 minutes of travel was far easier than the band's trip from the NYC area (um - even though it took me about 2 hours).  I hope, by the way, that the grasshopper that latched itself onto the band-mobile, and bailed out somewhere in Jersey, is alive and enjoying itsefl after it's relocation...  Enough of that ...
 
I mention the trip by car (SUV) for a reason.  Kasim, Mark, Mike and Tad doing an 'old school' road trip to a gig three states away - in a (somewhat cramped) Dodge Journey is a story in itself.  We're talking about grass roots love of the sport.  No bus - no plane - But, just the way it goes when there is a quest to do your music in front of anyone who will listen.  THAT is the feel of the show.  Stage 35 is a nice room.  It's a LITTLE bit smaller than, say. Wembley Stadium.  Right - A place that both Mark and Kasim have played before.
 
The show started just a bit after nine.  There was no 'back stage', really (well, actually, there WAS... the door led outside to a cat walk and stair well - and it is through that door that the band emerged to play).  Room capacity was 120 ... I estimate about 110 in attendance.  Nice atmosphere .. food and drinks being served to tables and booths prior to a crowd that was intent on seeing Kasim and his new band.  It's a nice room.  Appropriately crowded and comfortable. 
 
Kasim mentioned that he had performed many of the tunes we were to hear many times before. But NEVER with a full band.  Someone asked if he was nervous....  the banter that emerged from that question set the tone.  Kasim is connected to his audience.  There was a casual feel ... almost like this was a band that rolled into your family room, set up and started to play.  When the music started, it became apparent to ME that this was the real deal.  The band was tight - the feel was right.  Kasim definitely didn't put himself out on a limb, here.  This band is well rehearsed, connected and ready to roll.  And, still --- Kasim's relationship with this audience was, for lack of a better term, conversational.  I think that everyone felt that they knew each other, to a degree, in that room.
 
As for the music ... the show:  Kasim's guitar work sounded great - throughout.  The performance of 'the band' really impressed me.  I wasn't skeptical going in.  This was a GREAT mix of sounds.  The background vocals were worked out well.  Sounded great.  In retrospect, maybe the volume could have been pumped up a little (although they sounded balanced during sound check).  Don't get me wrong.  They sounded GREAT.  But, this is not a technical 'review'.
 
I'm a fan of the new band,  Kasim's passion for his music (and his audience) is sincere and it seemingly drives his performance.  Excellent guitar work --- flawless vocals.  Clearly, the band was connected.  Yes - - I'm a bit partial.  But I REALLY enjoyed this show.

 
 
Photobucket
 
 Photo By Bill Rogers

Reveiws


Have you seen Mark Alexander in concert?, listened to his music? or have you met Mark Alexander?. Share your reviews and/or stories with other fans, just email me with them and we will get them up on the site.

 thekeys56@tampabay.rr.com

Video by Brooklyngirl......MSG   may want to turn the sound down her scream may break your ear drums or speakers





                                                                                     
                                                               

LOVE, JANIS Review / Fort Lauderdale, Fl. March 1st, 2008

7:00 PM, March 1st, a beautiful evening in Fort Lauderdale, Fl as I arrived at the Parker Playhouse. A theatre with a forty year past....the walls adorned with pictures and paintings of artist and performers past and present.....chandeliers hanging majestically in the lobby from an era past.

As I found my first row orchestra seat I new I was in for a magical evening into the past, that of the late 60's early 70's that of singer Janis Joplin.

Now I don't want to give the whole thing away, (which I could do real easy) so I am going to hit some highlights. As the show opens and the lights go down  Janis comes to the stage dressed in beads, jeans and tie die shirt accompanied by rose colored shades and speaks to the audience with her harsh witty voice only then to give way to a full band behind her doing the original songs in between the spoken text. Songs like "Piece of My Heart", "Summertime", "Ball and Chain" and Me and Bobby McGee.

The band is heart pounding, letting you feel the guitars, bass, drums and keys,   Mark Alexander was brilliant .....laying down beautiful soulful blues to rockin piano riffs ringing through the house sharp and clear behind Janis Joplin’s forceful soulful voice.

 

The acting and music is wonderful and full of life capturing the era, complete with psychedelic backgrounds

As the show comes to a close, Janis comes to speak to us one last time, yes close your eyes and feel the summer of love, feel the tragedy.

If you have an opportunity go see LOVE JANIS and Mark Alexander at his best.   

The Entire spoken text of LOVE, JANIS comes directly from Janis Joplin herself from actual letters to her family and from the press, radio and tv interviews