 |
The Band |
Merchandise | Press Kit |
Contact | Mailing list |
Links |
News...
Collaborative efforts throughout the Mind Sky camp has everybody involved in several different projects that are going on simultaneously and due to all of our busy schedules, no immediate Mind Sky dates have been scheduled, but dates are being planned…keep on the look out for a summer performance in the local Upstate New York area. The latest is:
Justin Yates is in high demand these days playing in several different local groups, and you can follow his whereabouts and his current show dates by going to the forum page. In addition to the numerous band activities he’s involved with, Mike Caputo and Justin are also working on a new recording / performing project, writing new material in the likes of Frank Gambale, Alan Holdsworth, & Al DiMeola.
Mike is also putting the finishing touches on his latest solo CD titled "Mosaic” and it will be released in June on Prism Break Records, a new independent label that Jim Zerbe has formed and steam rolling. Look for Mike’s performance schedule beginning this summer and where to get his latest CD and for more news about Prism Break Records to be announced shortly!
I’ve started and formed a new jazz fusion group called FOOTNOTE that’s just starting to compose original music that includes fellow MIND SKY alumni Herb Renke & Jon Tucker, along with a great friend and guitar phenom Jon Greeno. Be on the look out for FOOTNOTE's website coming shortly.
Chris Meeker is back on tour with The Waiting Room and the band is presently on the road….check out their web at www.genesistribute.com for all their latest.
Josh Gleason is also on tour with K2. For more details about Josh and K2, go to www.kenjaquess.com.
Bill Bunny and Random Order are about finished with their latest CD. A release date has yet to be determined.
That’s it for the moment. I hope this update finds you all well…
Peace..
KW
Happy New Year! Ok, so I am a little late? There has been much happening since our last update and you will notice some visual changes to the website. We’ve updated the entire site and now you can even hear and purchase all Mind Sky merchandise via Paypal.
The band has been getting so much feedback about our CD (especially from our European fans….thank you). We would like to thank all of our distributors for helping get our music out there and making it available and to encourage all of you to use our new forum and guest book and let us know what’s up out there in progland…
On the notable music front, Mike and Jim Zerbe are in the studio working on Mike’s new solo album and I have been supporting the r & b group “PROMISE” as drummer. The enigmatic and talented vocalist Josh Gleason recently went to the West Coast to record with K2 and will be on their next album. Check out www.kenjaquess.com for more details.
And if we aren’t busy enough, Mike and myself have once again teamed up with original Mind Sky bandmate Chris Meeker (also formerly of The Waiting Room) and are working on a new project with guitarist and fellow prog-collegue John Covach of Land of Chocolate. This new configuration is producing some fresh and exciting material… more on this as it evolves.
Peace,
KW
Hello again to all you Mind Sky fans. Just a brief update....
Be on the look out for the latest issue of Guitar Magazine (Paul McCartney on the cover). Our own Mike Caputo has the spotlight section in the November issue and I am pretty interested to hear what it says myself. Who is this guy? and where does he come from? LOL.......Anyway, congrats to Mike for getting some well deserved print.
It seems through all the feedback thus far that our latest CD is doing quite well and has been airing on the internet, via web stations such as http://www.deliciousagony.com and http://www.progressivesoundscapes.com . Thanks Don and Ken!
I would like to welcome Dave Malloy of http://www.pendragonusa.com who is presently distributing our CD and other great music as well and. Please go to http://www.pendragonusa.com and get as many of our CD's you can cause Christmas is coming!
The website will be changed a little bit in looks and soon you may be able to download some material from the CD and perhaps an mpeg of one of our performances earlier this year, so be on the lookout.
Please email us with any feedback, because we always look forward to hearing from all of you. You can drop us a line at info@mindskyband.com.
Talk to you soon.
Peace...
KW
Coming Saturday May 28, 2005 to Rochester New York at Milestones is the world-renowned jazz-fusion band GAMALON, along with Rochester’s own premiere progressive rock band MIND SKY. Our new CD will be available at this show so please come join us for an incredible night of music. Tickets are only $5.00 at the door. Show begins at 10:00pm. Milestones is located at 170 East Avenue, Rochester, N.Y. For more info 585-325-6490 or go to their website at www.MilestonesMusicRoom.com.
Mailing list announcement will follow shortly to remind our subscribers of the upcoming show at Milestones.
Also, please check out WITR’s Jack Luminous and his “Night Vision” progressive radio show this Friday May13, 2005 from 8 to10 pm EST (that’s 89.7 fm on your radio dial) and listen to the debut of our latest CD release “Timewise”.
WITR also simulcasts online at www.modernmusicandmore.com in two formats; 32 kbps RealAudio (for slow connections), and 128 kbps ShoutCast (basically mp3, stereo hi-fi for high speed Internet users.
I would like to wish my Webmaster and good friend Kevin Pharoah the best of luck in his new endeavors when he moves to Amishville (Pennsylvania). He has been the most significant part of this website and has always been there to support the band. He is still part of the band and will still be the webman, but never the less, he will be missed….good luck bud!
On another note, please don’t miss “The Flower Kings” in their one and only show in Rochester Fri May 27, 2005 at the Water Street Music Hall, located at 204 N. Water Street. For more info call 585-325-5600, or go to www.waterstreetmusic.com.
Rochester’s phenomenal Genesis tribute band “The Waiting Room” will also be playing with TFK’s. This is such a rare event for progressive music fans that shouldn’t be missed. The Flower Kings are absolutely the best Symphonic Progressive Rock band in the world today!
See you at Waterstreet & Milestones for what will be a very special Memorial Day / Prog week-end.
Peace,
KW
I am real sorry I haven't attended to the website lately. Lots of stuff happening these past 2 months, but I am real happy to announce that our debut CD titled "timewise" is released! There were a couple of bumps in the road that set us back a little bit preventing our initial release date around the end of Feb / March. It is available through the website, and also at our gigs, and at some of the local record shops (tba). Please contact us here for details regarding CD's. In the next month, I will be updating the sound page with alot of the info that went into the making of "timewise" and a little history of each song, including lyrics and the musicians who played and sang on each song... maybe even a sound byte or two from the CD. Please visit the site often for latest update...The official CD release party will to be announced in June.
Our next show?....We will be playing Milestones in Rochester Sat May 28, 2005 at 10 pm and Josh Gleason, the lead singer from the Genesis tribute band "The Waiting Room" will be singing a song or two from our new CD with us on stage, so please dont miss this show and if thats not enough, "Gamalon" will be taking the stage after our set. We'll be sending out the info to our mailing list subscribers here shortly
Speaking of CD's, Bill Bunny and his other band "Random Order" is presently in the studio with his bandmates Craig and Gary recording their next CD. Should be ready sometime in the summer (I think).
Stay tuned for more.....
Peace
K.W.
So much has been happening since our last update that I don’t know if I am coming or going….at the moment I do know that I am sitting down typing this though! Anyhow, all the dubs and vocals for our CD titled “timewise” have finally been completed!!! and Jim is now busy with the mixing and mastering and I have just completed all the artwork….so if all goes as plan, it will be released at the beginning of March 05…. whew.
There is a surprise or two on the CD that will be announced after it’s release, but you will have the chance to hear it first before it’s release date on WITR radio. Very shortly, it will become available through our website and of coarse at any of our shows and in stores TBA. So be on the lookout for the next update, details, and hoopla about our CD release….
On Fri March 4, Mind Sky will be going on WITR radio once again with Jack Luminous and we will be playing some of the songs from “timewise”, and promoting our next show, so please tune in and check out Night Vision, your Progressive alternative, which airs Friday nights from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm EDT on 89.7 FM WITR in Rochester, N.Y. or hear us live online at WITR's website http://www.modernmusicandmore.com
via 32 kbps RealAudio….or their 128 kbps ShoutCast audio stream.
Our upcoming gig at The Tralf, with Gamalon and Random Order in Buffalo on Fri March 11 which is sponsored by The Mighty Taco, will without a doubt be a superb night of jazz fusion & progressive music and we look forward to seeing you there. Tickets just went on sale and are available at any Ticketmaster outlet, http://www.ticketmaster.com , and at The Tralf. Our mailing list subscribers should look for this show announcement next week in their mailbox.
If you are not on our mailing list, but would like to be…please send an e-mail to:
news-subscribe@mindskyband.com
If you wish to unsubscribe, send email to: news-unsubscribe@mindskyband.com
it’s that easy…
We also would like to formally announce that Bill Bunny of Random Order will be taking up the microphone for us again at the show and permanently thereafter as our new permanent - temporary lead singer for Mind Sky, so please welcome Bill to the band. Look for his picture and bio on the website very soon. Of coarse, Bill will remain a fulltime member of RO and we want to thank Gary & Craig (his band mates) for letting him cross-pollinate. Some now may call us Random Sky or even Mind Order…Peace...
KW
The Mighty Taco presents an evening of progressive music featuring Mind Sky, Gamalon, and Random Order at The Tralf in Buffalo, New York on Friday March 11, 2005. Show starts at 8:00pm with Random Order, Mind Sky and then we'll finish the night with Gamalon. For ticket info please contact here here us or to go www.newtralf.com and ticketmaster.
I will update the newspage page in full very shortly with additional news of our upcoming cd....Hope to see you there for a great evening of progressive & fusion music!
KW
Mind Sky will be opening for Gamalon on Sat Nov 13, 2004 at 10 pm at the California Brew Haus, 402 Ridge Rd., Rochester, New York. Joining Mind Sky on stage as our guest singer will be Bill Bunny, from Buffalo's own Random Order. So you could call us Mind Order or Random Sky for this performance. We would like to thank Bill's bandmates for letting us borrow him.
On Fri Nov 12, 2004 at 8 pm, we will again be at WITR studio's for another Night Vision show with DJ Jack Luminous. Please listen in to some great prog music from Gamalon, Random Order, and of course, Mind Sky as well as live interviews of all the musicians.
For those who know about Gamalon, we'll see you at the show, for those who dont know about Gamalon, please read their bio below and we will see you at show as well....
Gamalon has been dazzling progressive jazz/rock fusion fans in Buffalo and Western New York since the release of its self-titled debut album in 1987 by Buffalo-based Amherst Records. The CD climbed with a bullet to the number 8 position on Billboard Magazine's contemporary jazz charts and received medium to heavy rotation on a wide variety of radio formats throughout the U.S. Michael Bright, program director of WFNX in Boston, MA reported, "The new fusion record by Gamalon is provoking three or four of the old Œwho the #*@*! was that?" phone calls every time we play it. If you spice up your playlist with Jeff Beck, Al Dimeola, Stanley Clark or Allan Holdsworth, absolutely do not miss the blistering guitar attack from this Buffalo quartet."
Their second project, a collaboration with veteran saxophonist Ernie Watts titled Project: Activation Earth, was released on the Amherst label in 1989. The 11-city tour supporting that cd was enthusiastically received by both audiences and the press. In his review for the May/June 1990 edition of Saxophone Journal Tim Price commented, "The band functions very well as a strong showcase and launching pad for Ernie's fire-breathing sax solos ...
Project: Activation Earth is an exhilarating set of serious rock energy, and all out excitement."
In the summer of 1990 MCA signed Gamalon and released its third project, Aerial View which received more positive industry reviews, both in the U.S. and abroad. "The groove is entrancing, leaving you without words, especially the work of the two guitarists," wrote Rick Huisseune in his piece for the Rock Report, Belgium. That week Bruce Brucato's composition, "1969" was #3 on AlpenRadio's playlist.
Gamalon released its fourth cd, High Contrast in 1991 on the Amherst label. In a review which appeared in Amsterdam's Metal Hammer/Hardschok in April 1992 the writer said, "In my opinion Gamalon is one of the most progressive rock groups in this world. If you are searching for a bit of adventure and brilliant riffs, you definitely have to try out this album."
Gamalon returned to the studio in the fall of 1996 and independently released their next cd, Held To The Light. John Collinge of Progression Magazine reviewed this cd for the winter 1997 edition. He wrote, "This issue's contemporary progressive jazz-rock award goes to Gamalon for issuing a challenging yet accessible album. Held To The Light has a little swing here, a little funk there, some tasty ethnic flavors and plenty of confident virtuosity."
Gamalon Live at The Tralf was recorded in September of 1997, during one of the band's many appearances at one of Buffalo's most highly acclaimed venues. After attending the cd release party Toni Ruberto of The Buffalo News wrote, "Live recordings aren't usually as they sound. Live cd releases are often the combination of the best of hundreds of performances smoothed over in the studio. A live release culled from one show can be a testament to the strength and talent of the musicians. Gamalon is one such case."
During Gamalon's twenty year history it has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many world class musicians. In Buffalo the band opened for Allan
Holdsworth in April of 1986 and again in September of 1987. They opened for Stanley Clark's Jazz Explosion tour featuring Allan Holdsworth, Steve Smith, Bernard Wright and Randy Brecker in January 1988. In July of 1988, at the Newport Jazz Festival, held at the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center Gamalon shared billing with Miles Davis, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Larry Carlton, Dianne Reeves and Lee Ritenour. Gamalon headlined the Bethlehem Musik Fest in Bethlehem PA in Aug. of 1991. Other opening performances were for Steve Morse of the Dixie Dreggs (June 1990), Stanley Jordon (June 1993), Billy Sheehan's Niacin (April 1997), Gongzilla (Sept. 1998), Vital Information (April 1999), Bon (May 1999), Schileigho (Aug. 1999) and Tunnels (June 2002).
Gamalon's line up has changed over the years ... consistently showcasing the talents of extraordinary musicians.
The most recent constellation of players consists of drummer Ted Reinhardt, his brother Tom Reinhardt on bass, Bruce Brucato on guitar and newcomer, guitarist Nori Bucci. Ms. Bucci placed second at the 2002 North American Rock Guitar Competition, a highlight of the annual Buffalo-Niagara Guitar Festival. Jeff Miers of The Buffalo News wrote: "Nori Bucci showed that she had the talent to take it all." A year later she won the best rock guitarist category at the Buffalo Music Awards. Nori shines in Gamalon. She plays from her heart, combining masterful technique with delicate sensitivity. Her songwriting collaboration with Bruce Brucato has so far produced three new compositions making the release of the next Gamalon cd a good bet within the next year.
Dawn E. Mullen Gamalon Publicist
gamalon1@hotmail.com
What else is there to say? Please stop by The Brew Haus and witness an incredible musical event you havent witnessed in a very long time...
Peace,
KW
The Prog in the Park show at the Highland Bowl was a big success! We would like to thank all the bands for making it one of our best gigs and for just making that day special. Prog musicians are very unique people. My hats off to everybody involved and to Mike Martin & Jack Moore at Prog 90, Steve and Pete from Igloo Yew, Jack Luminous at WITR radio, Don Cassidy at Delicious Agony, Ken Soloman at Progressive Soundscapes, and for all the people who came from outta town to hear us.....Thank you so much. Speaking of which, please check out the Image page for new pics taken at PITP.
We will be playing at the California Brew Haus again Sat Oct 9th and we will be recording our entire show for an upcoming live CD. So please come down and be apart of the cd! And on Fri Oct 8, we will be with WITR' s Night Vision host & DJ Jack Luminous broadcasting live from the radio station from 8 to 10 promoting the Brew Haus show and listening to some great progressive music along the way. Check it out next friday. Night Vision, your Progressive alternative, airs Friday nights from 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm EDT on 89.7 FM WITR in Rochester, NY. The rest of God's creation can hear them live online at WITR's website - http://www.modernmusicandmore.com - via 32 kbps RealAudio or their 128 kbps ShoutCast audio stream.
And now, a very special announcement. On Sat Nov 13th at The California Brew Haus, Mind Sky will be playing with one of the most renowned jazz/ fusion bands in the world today. For many years Western New York has had the privilege of quietly incubating some fine, world-class musicians. A few of these amazing players have, at one time or another, found their ways into, out of, and back into one of Buffalo's most mind-blowing bands Gamalon.
Stay tuned for complete news here about Gamalon very shortly and for drummer Ted Reinhardt's annoucement of their new line - up.
To get Gamalon's concert updates and announcement of cd release, join their mailing list by emailing gamalon1@hotmail.com. For "snail mailings" call (716) 883-8879 and leave your name, address and phone number after the beep.
Peace,
KW
The gig at the California Brew Haus with Buffalo's own Random Order was a great & fun time for us (Random Order is a must see band!) Bill, Craig, and Gary are phenomenal musicians...Mind Sky has been asked to come back and play there again, so please come and see us Sat Oct 9th along with "5 o clock Charlie". Show begins at 9:30 pm.
Mind Sky will be doing a show in Buffalo with Random Order sometime soon too. Prog in the Park is this Sat Sept 11 and we are hoping to see you there. There is a rain venue just in case Hurricane Frances reaches upstate New York and in that case the show will be held Sat Sept 11 at The Montage Grille, instead of the Highland Bowl. Details to follow here very shortly.
We hope everybody down south stays safe from the storm and our thoughts are with them.
We would like to welcome aboard 2 internet prog radio stations to our site, Delicious Agony (http://www.deliciousagony.com) and Progressive Soundscapes Radio (http://www.progressivesoundscapes.com).
On Wednesday 9/8/04 at 7 PM to 11 PM EST, Delicious Agony will be broadcasting a Prog in The Park Special. Their special will feature music from the Prog in the Park bands. In addition, they will have new interviews with Frogg Cafe and Mind Sky. Please log on to their site and listen to one of their best DJ's, Don Cassidy, and catch Mind Sky's interview around 7:45ish.
Please check in for Prog in the Park rain venue details that will be added here shortly.
KW
We will be playing at the "California Brew Haus" Sat Aug 21, along with Buffalo's own progressive band, "Random Order". Billed as "A NIGHT OF PROG", we want to give all our friends a taste of what we'll be playing at this years "Prog in the Park" PROG 90 event. The Brew Haus is located on 402 Ridge Rd. W Rochester, NY (Next to Kodak) Show begins at 9:30pm. Please join us for another musical journey.
KW
We are happy to announce that we'll be playing at the 2nd annual Prog in the Park festival Sat Sept 11, 2004 at the Highland Bowl located in Rochester New York. We hope to see you there. This is an all day event of Progressive music for the progressive connoisseur and Mind Sky is looking forward to playing along side with these great bands:
For more on these bands, just "click" on their name.If you would like tickets (only $10), please contact us here at Mind Sky. For more Prog in the Park info, please go to http://www.prog90.com.
IZZ, Frogg Cafe, Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble, Land of Chocolate, and Random Order.
KW
As you can see (and soon you will also hear), the site has changed with a new intro page. In addition to that, the members page has also changed. Sound bytes will soon acompany these pages that reflect the bands' personality.....
Speaking of the band, the band is working hard on the CD (The incredibile Justin just finished 3 songs in one session with Jim the awesome engineer!)
A gig?........We are planning on playing in June somewhere in Rochester!.... we will let you know where and when very soon.
Peace,
KW
You can finally see what our newest bandmates look like. We've updated the band members page with bio's and pictures of Herb & Jon. After all of our vacations are over with and we are all in the same room together at the same time, we will get a new group picture taken and post it here very soon. Please keep checking for other upcoming updates here shortly.....
KW
Mind Sky would like to introduce our newest member to the band since our last update, Bassist Herb Renke. We are very fortunate to incorporate his talents into the band and this will only enhance our line-up that much more. The band members page will be updated shortly with their pictures and bio.
The Mind Sky page will also be updated with a new group picture.
Mike Caputo....Guitar
Mind Sky is now:
Herb Renke....Bass
Jon Tucker....Keyboards
Keith Welch....Drums
Justin Yates....Keyboards
Peace,
KW
Sorry for the delay. We have been busy recording our CD and since the last update we have added a new member to the band, Keyboardist great Jon Tucker (George Duke's lost son?). Jon is also very well known for his work with Steve Grills. Chris has also moved onward with the very spectacular Genesis tribute band "The Waiting Room", and you will find him here at www.genesistribute.com. Although we'll miss Chris, he is a great addition to TWR and we cant wait to see their next show.
Speaking of tribute bands, Lou's cousin, Peter Grammitico has asked Justin to sub for their keyboard player in the Foreigner tribute band "Stranger", so be on the look out for Justin at their up coming gigs.
Our CD recording status has Jim Z busy with all of us. The drums tracks are finished. Mike has been busy dubbing his guitar parts as well as Chris with the Stick / Bass and Justin is next up at bat. It seems to be going at a slow pace, but after all, it's like a fine wine in the making.. To let you hear some of our "footsteps" on this journey, the sound page will have some musical bytes on it that reflect moments taken during our individual or accompanied "performances", starting with the drums, so please check this page periodically. Also during this time, we have been writing & creating new material for the next CD. And yes we are planning to play a gig or two here shortly. Date TBD.
To all the progressive music connoisseurs out there, I must do a plug for the band "The Flower Kings". They released a new dvd a little while ago called "Meet The Flower Kings" and IT IS A MUST SEE & HEAR. This group is one of the best bands I have ever heard. Their music is a gift to the genre. A word of warning though, be careful because you will get hooked. Get this dvd, all their cd's, and spread the word www.flowerkings.se.
Talk to you soon,
KW
My sincere apology to you all for being late with our news page.
Well it took sometime, but we finally have our website up and running. During the next couple of days or weeks you may notice ongoing changes to site that need tweaking, but it’s to better serve you…our fans and friends. We hope that you check out all of our pages and download our Demo CD.
It has been quite an adventure for us these past two years and we are very please to announce that in the beginning of November 2003, we will begin recording our first full-length CD. Periodically we will update the sounds page for a “Work in Progress” so you will be able to hear a drum roll or guitar here, a bass lick or key board there, as we continue on with the recording.
We recently played the first annual “Prog in the Park” a progressive musical event on Sept 7, 2003 at Mendon Ponds Park, in Rochester New York. It was a great success that was sponsored by “Prog on the 90”, for which we our proud to be apart of. Check out www.prog90.com for details of the local progressive music scene that’s happening here in Upstate New York.
Upcoming gigs are in the works for Mind Sky, but at the moment, some of the band members are doing other musical projects to, most notably is Chris taking on Mike Rutherford’s musical role in the Genesis tribute band “The Waiting Room”. If you love Genesis, you will love The Waiting Room. They will be playing with Neal Morse here shortly so check out their website at www.genesistribute.com for their upcoming gigs as well.
Also, coming soon will be a mailing list for all of you who wish to sign up. This way we can let you know the latest news and events involving Mind Sky. Our guest book is a great place for our fans to give us feedback, so please let us know how you like the demo, the site, a particular show or anything your heart desires. We will respond.
Stay tuned for more updates… Thank you for visiting our new website and we want you to keep coming back. We hope you become a fan of our music and will continue with us on our musical journey.
Peace,
K.W.
