Music is a safe way to have a voice and create a community. Whiskey Blanket embraces the ability to use hip-hop music as a tool for social consciousness about current social issues. A diverse group, Whiskey Blanket consists of three talented members: Steakhouse (recording engineer, MC, producer, turntablist), Funny Biz (MC, cellist beatboxer) and Sloppy [...] Continue Reading…

Songwriter, musician and producer Vic Ruggiero of the Slackers has played in several ska/reggae bands including the Stubborn All-stars. The Bronx native is also associated with Rancid and Crazy Baldhead, has released three solo albums and has played with acoustic ska musician Chris Murray. While he is mostly known as an organist, he also plays [...] Continue Reading…

The Gallery of Contemporary Art at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield opens its new 2011-2012 season with a compelling, thoughtful and provocative exhibit, curated by Deborah Frizzell, “Fluidity, Layering, Veiling: Perspectives from South Asian and Middle Eastern Women Artists.” The public is invited to the opening reception, on Sunday, Sept.18, from 1 to 3:30 pm. [...] Continue Reading…

As Forever Motown (formerly the Magic Of Motown), the 12-piece show band of which I am a member, gears up for a late-September re-launch, I paused to reflect on the influences that were so central to my development as an artist. Those who know me pretty well know that Stevie Wonder is my favorite vocalist, [...] Continue Reading…

So let’s be honest here: Music has a large impact on social change and vice versa. It’s interesting to look at music from a sociological aspect. Is music a reflection of a social shift or does music push social shifts onto people? For many people, music is an essential part of life that often provides [...] Continue Reading…

As we hit mid-summer, I took time over the past couple of weeks to think about a few things as they relate to music in the Bridgeport area. As the temperature heats up, the entertainment bar is raised, and being the opinionated journalist that I am, it would be irresponsible if I didn’t weigh in. [...] Continue Reading…

Back in the fall of 2003, my band, MDIII, was born out of an assumption. The organizers of the brand-new Sweetport Arts & Music Festival asked me to open up the festival as a solo act, meaning singing to canned music, instrumental tracks. Needless to say, I was not thrilled with that proposal, having sung [...] Continue Reading…

In 1996, Ken Hays gathered friends together in Purchase, N.Y., to throw a memorial party for Jerry Garcia and called it “Deadhead Heaven, a Gathering of the Tribe.” The following year, the celebration was relocated to Croton Point Park, N.Y., and renamed “Gathering of the Vibes.” The Gathering of the Vibes Music and Art Festival [...] Continue Reading…

The crowd goes wild and throws their hands in the air, trying to match the infectious sounds blaring out of the large speakers. Glow sticks get tossed in the air, bright lights shine in various directions and college kids wear bright, funky clothes. Up-and-coming Colorado-based musical artist Derek Vincent Smith, known as Pretty Lights gets [...] Continue Reading…

Last late summer, I was referred by one of the drummers in my band, MDIII, Pete Hines, to a bandleader/bass player based in Middletown, Neal Hatcher, who was knee deep in the process of forming a Motown tribute band, costumes, choreography, the works. It was being overseen by an agent out of Massachusetts with a [...] Continue Reading…