Paul Fresty is Creative Director at Optiem in Cleveland, Ohio. Optiem is an interactive marketing firm that helps clients develop bold marketing strategies that produce
results — online and off. We build brands and websites. We get email and search. We love design and are always on the lookout for the next big thing. But we also understand that marketing's future will require a mix of fuels - fossil and alternative, traditional and digital.
It may be pitiful... but we have always made music for the right reasons... and no one will be able to take that away from us. And honestly, it may not be the Beatles, but we will leave a legacy of music. That is more than most other people can say. If that is something to pity, then you go right ahead. LOL
Cool Cleveland Sounds Echo Grove Assah Mahtak Afakt FameTrack
Over the years, the phrase "there's a lot of musical talent in Cleveland" has been thrown on the table during a debate. But, it's rare for an original band to hang on to what it wants to do for a very long time. Many area musicians start out doing their own music and eventually morph into playing classic rock or, even worse, lounge music. Reggae, jazz and blues bands in Cleveland seem to live forever, but when it comes to original rock, bands seem to have a short shelf life. Then there are the exceptions like the band Echo Grove. They don't play out every week-end at some club where you have to sell tickets like a Ponzi scheme to all your relatives just to get a gig. Echo Grove doesn't put out a lot of music, with Assah Mahtak Afakt being only their second released disc. Yet, after meeting in school twenty plus years ago, the core of the band is still together, hanging out and putting their ideas into the grooves. Assha Mahtak Afakt will throw some people off, due to the cover art work, many thinking it is some kind of raga rock fare a la Kula Shaker. Although some overtones are there, thanks to Billy Sullivan's guest sitar, the disc is what I would call old school eclectic. There's hard rock and pop and country (old brick house school, on that one) dotted throughout the project that is a potpourri of styles. Sounds include music to get a serious beating by during "I Like You Too" to the aforementioned country tune "I'll Never Know," with an assist from Brian Hukill's piano and Bob Feinberg's pedal steel work. "Go To The Womb" has a psychedelic overtone to it as "5th Of May" is a throwback to when pop wasn't a dirty word. Guest Ron Latare welds some trumpet into "It's Me (It Isn't You)" and Echo Grove shows off their roots via the Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart-written "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone," the latter tune so juiced, it would probably be called to Congress to testify against Barry Bonds. Jethro Tull once had a release titled Too Old To Rock n' Roll, Too Young to Die! Thanks to their latest release, Echo Grove proves that theory very, very wrong. from Cool Cleveland contributor Peanuts hostofthenorthcoast@yahoo.com
I'm listening to your new CD as I write this, amazing guys, I knew you were good, even if I've never seen you all live. I forgot what real rock sounded like.
Maybe you will get the next one out just a bit quicker.
Awesome job guys...and I love to hear you sing Johnnie...always sounds like you're having a party.
88 Comments:
I am posting here to try the new blog. Blog? That's a strange word. I hope you all enjoy the new blog like I will enjoy the new blog.
Johnnie
Hey,
Didn't u used to play at Fairview High?
Neato
Yep... Graduated there 1983. We were known as Stonehenge at that time... but if you look closely, you will see the same 4 guys... pitiful huh?
It may be pitiful... but we have always made music for the right reasons... and no one will be able to take that away from us. And honestly, it may not be the Beatles, but we will leave a legacy of music. That is more than most other people can say. If that is something to pity, then you go right ahead. LOL
Echo Grove took over the stage last weekend at that bar in North Olmstead. When is the next gig?
Cool Cleveland Sounds
Echo Grove
Assah Mahtak Afakt
FameTrack
Over the years, the phrase "there's a lot of musical talent in Cleveland" has been thrown on the table during a debate. But, it's rare for an original band to hang on to what it wants to do for a very long time. Many area musicians start out doing their own music and eventually morph into playing classic rock or, even worse, lounge music. Reggae, jazz and blues bands in Cleveland seem to live forever, but when it comes to original rock, bands seem to have a short shelf life. Then there are the exceptions like the band Echo Grove. They don't play out every week-end at some club where you have to sell tickets like a Ponzi scheme to all your relatives just to get a gig. Echo Grove doesn't put out a lot of music, with Assah Mahtak Afakt being only their second released disc. Yet, after meeting in school twenty plus years ago, the core of the band is still together, hanging out and putting their ideas into the grooves. Assha Mahtak Afakt will throw some people off, due to the cover art work, many thinking it is some kind of raga rock fare a la Kula Shaker. Although some overtones are there, thanks to Billy Sullivan's guest sitar, the disc is what I would call old school eclectic. There's hard rock and pop and country (old brick house school, on that one) dotted throughout the project that is a potpourri of styles. Sounds include music to get a serious beating by during "I Like You Too" to the aforementioned country tune "I'll Never Know," with an assist from Brian Hukill's piano and Bob Feinberg's pedal steel work. "Go To The Womb" has a psychedelic overtone to it as "5th Of May" is a throwback to when pop wasn't a dirty word. Guest Ron Latare welds some trumpet into "It's Me (It Isn't You)" and Echo Grove shows off their roots via the Tommy Boyce/Bobby Hart-written "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone," the latter tune so juiced, it would probably be called to Congress to testify against Barry Bonds. Jethro Tull once had a release titled Too Old To Rock n' Roll, Too Young to Die! Thanks to their latest release, Echo Grove proves that theory very, very wrong.
from Cool Cleveland contributor Peanuts hostofthenorthcoast@yahoo.com
I'm listening to your new CD as I write this, amazing guys, I knew you were good, even if I've never seen you all live. I forgot what real rock sounded like.
Maybe you will get the next one out just a bit quicker.
Awesome job guys...and I love to hear you sing Johnnie...always sounds like you're having a party.
Me
What's goin' on? Nice website! Glad to see you guys are still at it. 26 years or so right? C'mon down to Columbus.
Russ Graziano
Do you play Pig-Roasts?
Do you really mail the CDs when people order hem?
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actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
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Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
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Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
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Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
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640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates 81
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Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
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actually, that's brilliant. Thank you. I'm going to pass that on to a couple of people.
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
If ignorance is bliss, you must be orgasmic.
C++ should have been called B
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
I'm not a complete idiot, some parts are missing!
Build a watch in 179 easy steps - by C. Forsberg.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
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What is a free gift ? Aren't all gifts free?
Clap on! , Clap off! clap@#&$NO CARRIER
Please write anything else!
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
Calvin, we will not have an anatomically correct snowman!
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies
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Suicidal twin kills sister by mistake!
The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience.
Oops. My brain just hit a bad sector.
640K ought to be enough for anybody. - Bill Gates 81
Please write anything else!
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
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