Music Art Culture Rejuvenate August 2019 Volume 1, Issue 7 Buck Dharma Inside the green room with one of 22 the most iconic rock guitarists.. Graham Tichy Passing on a life-long tradition 18 to create tomorrow’s sound.,. www.radioradiox.com Free August 2019 Page 3 Music Art Culture Revolution The Nice People on the Planet Graham Tichy A new generation of players are learning to take over the Capital Region, and Graham Tichy’s at the blackboard. Page 18 Photo provided. (l - r) Pete Donnelly, Pete Hayes, Mike Gent With a raw determination to gather no moss, The Figgs forge ahead on a massic project, one of evolution and revolution. bUCK dHARMA Neither Blue Oyster Cult nor The Figgs are a band that transformative too. When you guitarist Buck Dharma are By Liam Sweeny haved carved out their own lem- go back from your earlier work fearing the reaper as they continue to tour. onade stand on the edge of that to now, how would you say its Page 22 usic’s a hard road. The superhighway. Thirty years out, evolved with the time, either as rock and roll dream is close to as many albums released, the pure music itself, or in the Msomething you can do The Figgs (Mike Gent, Pete Don- way you put it together? with a guitar, a garage and a ful- nelly, and Pete Hayes) deliver Mike: We started in August of ly-stocked bar. No, I’m talking a very textured and energetic 1987 so I guess we’ve now been at Observations about music. Because if you’re se- sound that can quickly get stuck it for 32 years? Yeah, I don’t often and Ramblings ........32 rious about it, if your souls have in your head. listen to our earlier work much Sassy Says ...............34 tasted the sonic superhighway I sit down with Mike Gent to because since the band started, I and you take your place trudging talk about the hot dog vendors at was really the one that was ready Liars’ Almanac .........38 along the shoulder, it promises to the American Revolution. to move on to the next thing be- be an elusive lover, a passion that RRX: The Figgs has been fore we had the previous work you can just touch every once and in wattage for over thirty years finished. So if we are working on again. The rest is blood, sweat now, and you’ve all seen the a record, I am already thinking and tears (and a few fully-stocked music world go through trans- about the next one after that. Our bars.) formations. But music itself is music has obviously changed and Page 4 August 2019 Music Art Culture Revolution evolved in many ways over the the years live, which songs were States. His influences were 60’s Graham did show us how to course of three decades. I think requested at shows the most, sin- soul and early ska. There have slow down and groove more than for the better. Maybe some of gles, and also some of our own fa- always been differences between we did at that time in ‘96, and at our fans from the 90’s wish that vorites. For the most part though, US and UK music fans and I love the same time, we lit a bit of a fire we still made records like that, we tried to stick to fan favorites. reading about what was big over under his ass circa ‘96. but I think our records from the RRX: You guys spent some there, did nothing here and vice RRX: I’m jamming on a live 2000’s and 2010’s are way bet- time working with singer/song- versa. The UK kind of gave up on set right now. The Figgs sound is ter. Better songs, better playing, writer Graham Parker, who, by Graham once the Rumour broke pretty diverse, got to admit. It’s a singing, better production, better the time you guys were playing up, he moved here and started tough balance for any band to lay artwork. with him, was a regular fixture making records with American down a sound that’s “signature” RRX: In 2012, you celebrat- on the charts in both the UK and musicians. So the UK kind of without every song sounding like ed your thirtieth anniversary as a the US. I’ve worked with UK writ- missed out on this huge, fantastic the same riff in a different key. band, releasing a Figgs antholo- ers, and I know there’s an excite- chunk of his career, with almost If you had to describe what you gy called “1000 People Grinning.” ment and a slight culture change. 20 years of us being involved feel is your signature sound, what I know that when you’re putting Is it that way with music? and they only in the last 10 years would you say? an anthology together, you have Mike: No, not really. We both woke up and started listening Mike: Thats a good and tough to cleverly mix your own unsung enjoy listening to and perform- again when the Rumour reunion question. When people ask what favorites in with the crowd favor- ing good music. Ha! I guess the happened and he started play- kind of music we play, I usual- ites. Can you tell us a personal fa- only difference is that we have a ing over there again. We’ve only ly answer “rock and roll music”... vorite you threw in, and why? fondness for hard rock and that’s toured Europe once without Gra- which confuses people because Mike: Yes, when we compiled not Graham’s bag. I quickly real- ham, so very little of his fanbase they are probably expecting a that, we looked at what songs ized that he wasn’t really into 70’s over there even know that we made up sub category and like people reacted strongly to over hard rock, especially from the exist. you mention, we can be diverse NEW YORK-CENTRIC BEER & SPIRIT SELECTION NAME THAT TUNE PUB TRIVIA 54 PHILLIPS STREET, ALBANY, NY 12207 518-462-0690 | OPEN FOR LUNCH DAILY! August 2019 Page 5 Music Art Culture Revolution especially with our live act and giving out speeding tickets. Shady Grove and he was also at that can confuse the average mu- RRX: And not to rest on your the same time recording a double sic listener at times also. I nev- laurels at all, you’ve got a tri- solo album. perience er really thought about what our ple-LP coming out, Shady Grove. Shady Grove has been a very signature sound is. I think we try And you’re re-releasing your first difficult record to make for many Monthly to write catchy songs that people album, Ginger. How much of a reasons. One of them being that will hopefully remember. difference is it putting out a new it’s a triple record with 24-25 RRX: Most of you grew up LP and re-releasing an original songs! Art Fredette Publisher in Saratoga Springs. And as you one that’s three decades old? Are RRX: Here’s where you get to know, we Capital Region folk are they night-and-day processes, or answer the question I didn’t ask. Liam Sweeny a plucky bunch. Now you guys have they looped around to being Shout outs welcome. Further the Editor-In-Chief tour everywhere, and maybe the almost similar? knowledge that Saratoga is the Creative Director stage is the stage, but you have to Mike: Both projects have home of the potato chip? Edu- hit the general stores and 3 AM taken a lot longer than most of cate, enlighten, emote – the floor Ralph Renna diners too. What are 518 habits our other recent studio albums is yours. Music Editor that you didn’t think were 518 and reissues. Ginger took many Mike: Check out thefiggs.com habits until you spent thirty years years to finish because we had , and you can find us on all of the Dick Beach away? to get the masters back which social media junk food that’s out Staff Geek Mike: When we first start- involved negotiations and deals. there. Lots of records to check out ed touring down south, we of We then had to bake and trans- at our store, if you are new to the course discovered Waffle House, fer the tapes, then from there we band, dig in! Contributors which is something the 518 is had to work around Pete’s al- One more thing.....I saw a t missing, a 24/7 breakfast chain. ways busy schedule because he shirt recently that stuck in my Rob Smittix Here’s a bad 518 habit...having was in charge of that reissue. head “There are tons of nice peo- Debora Bump state troopers between every exit This was all happening while we ple on this planet. If you can’t on the Northway and Thruway were recording the new album find one, BE ONE. Sassy Autumn Fred Aseel Jeff Spauling George Glass Contact 35D Saratoga Avenue, Waterford, NY 12188 (518) 326-1673 [email protected] Published by Imperial Broadcasting in conjunction with RadioradioX.com. Photo provided. The Figgs performing live at Cozy Cabin Concerts Page 6 August 2019 Music Art Culture Revolution The Long Journey to the Front Desk long-time friend and supporter. John Glenn from Stellar Young is another good friend and super talented guy, so he will be do- ing a very rare solo set, and John deVries from Poughkeepsie NY, of Agitpop and Cellophane re- nown will be making a return to the stage after a long hiatus.