BeatleCUSE

06/10/2024

Onto happier things - GIGS!

Here is my calendar for the 2nd half of June, with three "new room debuts" in a row the last week. I don't think that's ever happened before!

Meanwhile, I've been using this photo from FLA since March 2021. It makes me happy remembering the sand between my toes and writing a couple of songs for my first album. Second album recording begins in August! 😎

I hope to see old friends & familiar faces this month!

04/11/2024

Thank you to all who wrote with some venue leads after my "looking for gigs" post. 💙

But, here is one that's been on the books for a while...it's my annual "birthday party gig"! Thu Apr 25th @ Maplewood from 7-10p

This time, I'll be joined by my Tip Jar Junkies buds, Mark Leon TannerTanner and Kevin Dean. Here's the invite event with more info:

PS. My actual birthday is 4/26, but I'm gigging at Captain Jack's in Sodus...just so I can eat the 2 dozen free birthday wings!

02/09/2024

In case you missed it...here is the Bridge Street on NewsChannel 9 segment me & Christopher Ames did on BeatleCUSE this morning!

And, the song we played as a duo was a great match for today's record high temp, blue skies and.....

(WSYR-TV) — It was 60 years ago this week that the boys from Liverpool known as “The Beatles” hit American shores and changed the world. Back here in Central New York, this weeken…

02/09/2024

Late to bed, early to rise...boy, do I have a *day* today! In a few minutes, Christopher Ames and I will be taking off to "Bridge Street" on Channel 9/WSYR. Thank you, Tim Fox!

Then in the afternoon, off to CNY Central for a "piece" for tonight's evening news. Thank you Matt Mulcahy!

Here's my final BeatleCUSE Scrapbook Memory:

The BeatleCUSE All-Stars is a fancy name for "a bunch of Beatle Geek friends who know all the songs and parts without rehearsing!"

Two of my anchors have given me immeasurable help and tribute-level talent over the past 10 years. BC10 co-music director Chris Ames, and renowned Beatle gear expert, Mark Barnes. A couple of rock solid mockers.

When I need live horns for the show, he's always there! I appreciate Shufflin' Hungarian sax player, Don Williams (whose favorite album is "Revolver", by the way...)

Same with woodwinds expert, Donna Vallese. Her flute, piccolo flute and recorder skills add so much authenticity to the sound.

Here are this year's new members to the BC Family...welcome kids!

Shaena Brasz - who will join Donna for some "flute harmonies & counterpoints".

Michael Bowers - a local open mic night regular with his arsenal of exotic hand percussion instruments

He's got a gig down the street, but legendary front man of FATE Tony Masterpol is gonna stop in to BC first, and sing a Beatles classic cover

And good ol' Joey Travato...the high school wonder on the drum kit. He's already in two working bands! It's young'ns like Joey that are going to keep this music alive for years to come.

02/08/2024

Today, BeatleCUSE (2014-2021) tips our collective hats to the ladies!

Coming up with the concept for THE FAB FEMMES is definitely one of my best ideas building this franchise. I put three local front-women together with a tremendous harmony blend, and added three more monster musicians together on guitar, bass & drums...and it has turned into a fan favorite!

Anna Marie Lopez-White (The Billionaires)
Sheela Tucker (Little Queen)
Sharon Allen (who we will miss this year😢)
Susan Royal (Barndogs Plus)
Sue Karlik (Amerikan Primitive)
Cathy LaManna (The FabCats & several other groups)

More BeatleCuse veterans include classically trained vocalists Julia Scranton and Juliane Price (also a stellar violinist), but they know how to rock! Both are from the Utica/Rome area, so I am grateful for their dedication

New to the BeatleCuse Family is a rising star and award-winning singer, Natalie Brushell...whose grandmother is one of my most valued volunteer helpers all these years - Marie Brushell, whose musical partner in crime is savvy marketer Debbie Robson Burr and Chris Warring (in charge of heavy lifting - yay!)

And finally, my "Queen Volunteer" - Peggy Sandner Francher. She knows how to make things happen just making a quick phone call to her vast network of friends. She is supportive of the entire CNY music community through sponsorships and resources.

I cannot thank all of these ladies enough for having my back behind the scenes. Maybe you folks can give them some thanks on Saturday, too....that would be a nice thing.

02/07/2024

BeatleCUSE Scrapbook Memories of The Day:

Twist & Shout-outs to the fine musicians in our vocal group, "Crosby Steals The Hash"!

Over the past 10 years, Tim Burns, Shawn Halloran and I discovered we had an awesome vocal blend on harmony songs like "This Boy", "In My Life" and then Beach Boys, Eagles and CSN&Y classics.

Plus, the important guitar leads are masterfully played by Ed "The ToneMeister" Gorham.

Lastly, I gotta praise Mark Ballard - the 5th Hash Stealer. He plays great guitar *and* keys...and is a One Man Overdub. Especially when we go into Buffalo Springfield territory.

This Saturday, we reunite to do some Beatley harmonies and a short 3-Crosby-song set tying in his major influence on pop music in 1965, between The Beatles and Bob Dylan.

What a blessing for this "harmonies addict" to have these lads bring such joy to myself...and the crowds in front of us.

Lastly, here is the official BC2021 graphic (courtesy of one Dave Porter) we used for the 75 minute NYS Fair show, raising over $1,000 for Clear Path For Veterans with the RW&B portrait painted *during* the show by Kara Daviau Studios.

I was told by a Fair official that BC2021 was the #1 local music draw of the entire 18-day run, with almost the same headcount as Herman's Hermits the day before! That speaks volumes about *you folks...the *FANS*, so thank you all for 10 years of support, with one last celebration on Saturday. ✌️💝🎼

02/06/2024

Today's page from the BeatleCUSE 2014-2024 scrapbook....

These fine fellows have taken part in multiple shows, and they also happen to be members of the SAMMY Hall of Fame.

This Saturday, we have the pleasure of presenting Dave Porter, Scott Sterling, Joseph Skip Murphy and Mark Hoffmann in various roles throughout the show.

Ronnie Leigh and Todd Hobin signed up at the beginning, both had "things pop up" (that were great opportunities, professionally) and bowed out graciously with phone calls to me. Ronnie & Todd regret not being able to clone themselves to make it work. They are good friends and gentlemen to the core.

You know Dave from 805, and he always adds his creative "prog spin" on things, keeping us on our toes!

Skip will be blowing harp on a couple tunes, as well as being "Chief Musician Shepherd" to keep things running smoothly and on time.

Scott and his MR MONKEY partner Patti Dillman ("PD2"!) will be monkeying around on a classic #1 hit, and a " #2".

And what else can be said about the GOAT of Syracuse guitar slingers? I mean, the guy opened for Jimi Hendrix and was in a band with a future WING in Sir Paul's new band!! Mark will be literally stepping off a plane from New Orleans, and coming to the show to jam on some bluesy tunes. Now THAT is commitment!!

Tickets (still available!) and info: www.BeatleCUSE.com

02/04/2024

Home stretch time....Big Kahuna rehearsal tomorrow night!

Every day 'til Saturday, I will also be posting spotlights on the incredible pool of talent I consider my "BeatleCUSE Family", of whom I can not thank enough for 10 years of stellar music-making!

Today, it's all about my Beatle Barndogs Buds, Pete Szymanski and Mark Westers...drummer extraordinaire, Kevin Dean and bass bud, Mark Leon Tanner

They've become great friends and collaborators since they first took part since 2014, and *always* bring their 'A Game'!

I have the luxury of having KD & MLT as the most solid rhythm section (ever!) in our power pop trio, The Tip Jar Junkies!

I get to play in a duo with Mark W a handful of times every year, and Pete is our solid backup drummer for the TJJ's when KD can't swing the gig.

Hats off to these mod rockers!

01/23/2024

Onto Round 2! Keep on voting 👍🏻👌🏻🙏🏻

Get in on the Sammys’ action by participating in our annual People’s Choice vote. Each year we host a web-based competition to see whose fans are the most psyched about their favorites in each of four categories: Artist or Band, Event or Series, Academic or Musical Organization, and Venue. Since...

01/23/2024

I'm all packed up and ready to go on my "Winter Wonderland Working Vacation"! To any FB friends in the Keys or Delray Beach....all of these performances are FREE to the public, (but check with me first to "register" for Billy & Cindy D's Garden Party next Monday).

For full Beatles On The Beach info, click the

01/16/2024

Hey Beatle Peoples...do you want to know a secret?!

Tonight at the legendary Maplewood Bar & Grill Tuesday Open Mic, my BeatleCuse All-Stars (Christopher Ames, Terry Quill & Rick Basha) will be performing some pretty little ditties to help promote the "really big shoe" on Sat Feb 10th at Middle Ages Brewing Company new music hall.

The secret is....

*** I will have *20* BeatleCuse tickets on my person tonight, and you can purchase them at *HALF PRICE/50 PERCENT OFF/REALLY CHEAP...with no extra fees!*

I can take cash or Venmo at $15.00 each....PayPal or via Square for CC's at $16.00 to cover the processing fee for both vendors.

First come, first sold. Any leftovers will be offered up here on FB tomorrow morning. See you tonight...let's rock!

12/31/2023

BC10 ticket update:

Find tickets for Beatlecuse 10 showing at the Middle Ages Beer Hall - Syracuse, US Saturday Feb 10, 2:00PM Tickets starting at $35.96

11/30/2023

"BeatleCuse 10" updates:

1) Don't wait much longer if you want a guaranteed seat for the show. Out of the 150 available, we've just reached the "100 seats sold" mark.

Note: When they sell out and you need to purchase General Admission/SRO tickets, there *will* be about 50 seats (chairs & tables) in the back room bar area. Those are first come, first seated.

2) I'm excited to add some *more* top notch talent to the production!

* I'll be reuniting SAMMY Hall of Famer (via Los Blancos) Colin Aberdeen with SAMMY GOAT Mark Hoffmann...seen here from the 2015 Landmark show! Photo: Sandy Roe

* Plus, BC 2019 alumni Ben Blujus & Samuel Roux from BSG will bring on the rawk, too!

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PLEASE NOTE: At this point, I cannot "hold" or personally handle any Guaranteed Seats anymore.

Soon, I will carry some Gen Adm/SRO tix on me, at my gigs in Dec/Jan....but not 'til next week.

You can order Seats at the Ticketweb link on the BeatleCuse.com home page. Or, stop by the Middle Ages Brewing Company Tap Room during normal business hours, where you can avoid web fees by paying cash for hard tickets.

Thanks to all for you support. It's gonna be a great finale!

11/24/2023

I've got a (relatively) last minute filler-inner gig tonight from 5p to 8p at Shaughnessy's Irish Pub in the Downtown Marriott/Hotel Syracuse (where John & Yoko and Ringo stayed in Oct '71!).

If you are going to the Crunch hockey home game across the street, come on over to Shaughnessy's and pre-game with me!

And now here's Jamie Lee Curtis with a very important public service announcement......

10/26/2023

I am happy, excited and exhilarated to announce, on the heels of the last Beatles song being released next week....

Details for the full blown "BeatleCuse 2024: *60* Years Of The Beatles (& Paul's Retirement Party)" have been finalized for Sat Feb 10th! SAVE THE DATE!

Plus, to accomodate those who don't like driving/parking at night during the winter months, or who want to be home in time to watch Wheel & Jeop 🤭...it will be a matinee at 3pm!

I'll make the official announcement tomorrow afternoon, regarding the venue and ticket info.

Let's go out with a bang with a sell out!