Art Music Culture Revolution Erin Hanna Art Student and Singer/Songwriter set to 14 make waves at Troy River Fest Tony Lindsay New solo project for Hudson Valley native 18 and former Santana singer May 2019 Page 3 Music Art Culture Revolution Plugging In the Unplugged When 12-strings, mandolins, violins and MOOG Minitherimins attack: Acoustic Trauma and its neverending quest to redefine the words ‘Acoustic’ and ‘Trauma’ Photo by Jessica Maceli (l - r) Patrick McNulty, Paul Nunzio Maceli By Liam Sweeny a little bit of everything else, see yourself as an acoustic set, or Acoustic Trauma has been blow- was that a crown given? hen I was jamming ing minds from the cradle to the Paul: It’s actually an inter- out, my sound stage cap and gown. esting story. To give you some Wwishes and wah ped- I sit with Paul to mull over the background, my early influences al dreams in tow, I’d heard of finer points of interstellar traffic included classic rock, mostly pro- Acoustic Trauma. I’d never seen law. gressive rock and heavy metal. Tales from the Door ....................20 them, but I’d heard a bootleg RRX: You really push the In my teen years, I quit playing Observations tape, so I knew what they were envelope when it comes to an music to go to college for busi- and Ramblings ..27 laying down. That was in the late acoustic sound. In fact, I don’t ness, knowing that the only way Liats’ Almanac ...28 90s, and Acoustic Trauma has think many people hearing you I would ever get back into mu- Uncovered .........30 been laying it long since I laid my for the first time would have the sic was if I was to do something guitar to rest. word ‘acoustic’ as first choice original that no one else was do- With Patrick McNulty on bass, - there’s so much more in the ing. Fast-forward to my twenties, Jason Ellenbogen on drums, and sound. When you started jam- in the midst of trying to find a Paul Nunzio Maceli on… well, ming out, maybe pre- ’97, did you Continued on Page 4... Page 4 May 2019 Music Art Culture Revolution Continued from Page 3... folk tune that everyone already that song!” I thought to myself. bass guitar. It can get pretty loud loved. No one was plugging an Of course, I didn’t worry about it and the term “acoustic trauma” hobby better than my unhealthy acoustic guitar into an amplifi- because I thought it would be a describes damage done to the barhopping, I was hanging out at er and putting it through effect stinker, but lo and behold: it was ear as a result of loud sounds. I my apartment with my Uncle Pe- pedals and turning it up, let alone a hit! In addition, it had become a thought it was pretty smart. ter (bassist at the time of the funk having the nerve to jump in front trend and EVERYONE began un- RRX: I have a good sense of rap band Shootyz Groove) show- of a kick ass bass/drum rhythm plugging their songs! Now I was what you’re playing in your songs, ing off a 12-string acoustic guitar section to blow people away. That on a mission to defy the mass- instrument-wise, but it’s a sense that I just purchased. I started sound was right up my alley! That es and alas, in 1996, I was back – I could be way off. I think any- banging away on it as if it was an also happened to be around the playing music again. By 1998, I one just hearing you on the radio electric guitar and he said to me same time that Eric Clapton had had incorporated the violin into or on their laptop or phone might “hey, you’re playing that thing released the unplugged version of the mix and then the mandolin. want to know, so would you mind like it’s an electric guitar! You’re his energetic 70’s hit “Layla.” The As of lately, I also whip out the giving us a sneak peak of your in- not supposed to do that!” I asked electric version of “Layla” was one MOOG Theremini (modeled after gredients list? What instruments “does it sound good?” and he said, my favorite songs of all time and the MOOG Theremin) because it’s go into an ‘Acoustic Trauma’ “Yeah! It’s different!” So, that when I heard it all toned down just so much fun! Plus it’s differ- jambalaya? started the wheels moving in my and quiet, I wanted to puke into ent. I mean, how many people do Paul: The Acoustic Trauma head because in the 1990s, the my shirt! Especially after what you see jamming on a Theremin jambalaya consists of a drum only thing you heard from anyone I felt I had just discovered about on a rock and roll stage? kit (always played by a rockin’ with an acoustic guitar in their the energy of the acoustic gui- RRX: When I heard the in- drummer), a driving but funky hand was an “unplugged” version tar. “No! You can’t do that! You struments you all play, I would’ve bass guitar, and depending on of a rockin’ song or a sweet little don’t have to sit down and ruin expected an atmospheric kind of the song, I am proud to be the music, but that’s really not what chef that decides whether a vi- you guys are laying down. Less a olin, acoustic guitar, mandolin, misty morning, more a tempest. and/or MOOG Theremini is the Is that why you guys named your- lead meat of the song. Sprinkle selves Acoustic Trauma? Is it a a little vocal expression over that cool name or a warning label? and voila: the delicious power trio Paul: Ha! It’s both! The name known as Acoustic Trauma! Tickets Available on BrownPaperTickets.com serves as a definitive pun because RRX: AT has been on scene “TROY, NY’S HIDDEN VENUE” even though the lead instruments since ’97, so twenty-two years. So are acoustic, they are plugged you’ve had a chance to see the lo- into a powerful amplifier to keep cal music scene evolve, and your- up with the drums and electric selves along with it. Have you all periencePublished by Imperial Broadcasting Monthly in conjunction with RadioradioX.com. Art Fredette Liam Sweeny Ralph Renna Publisher Editor-In-Chief Music Editor Creative Director Mailing Address: 35D Saratoga Avenue, Waterford, NY 12188 675 RIVER ST, TROY, NY 12180 | (518) 272-9740 Email: [email protected] WWW.THEHANGERONTHEHUDSON.COM Phone: (518) 326-1673 May 2019 Page 5 Music Art Culture Revolution ever had to take a year or two off internet came along and changed rang but everyone seemed pretty in all that time? Have you ever everything. There are websites to comfortable calling it that af- New to RadioradioX had a chance to be surprised by show off music, photos and where ter the first private party, so the something happening to the 518 we play out. We could get more name just stuck. We pretty much Band of Horses- The scene? exposure on YouTube and you can Funeral had our own live venue with Paul: There is so much tal- share whose videos on your so- full lights, fog, sound and peo- Silversun Pickups- Lazy ent in the area, as well as people cial media, which is where most Eyes ple! Our friends and fans always who are warriors of promoting people are on these days. There is came to those. It was wonderful! Interpol- Evil the arts. Like the X, for example. easy access to get music and in- It became such an event, that we Iron Maiden -The Trooper What you guys are doing to sup- formation on a band now. decided to record our live CD/ port the independent arts is what RRX: A long time ago, I heard The Replacements- Black DVD there. As for the “legend- Diamond keeps a scene like this going. It’s about the Trauma House. Whis- ary” stuff…I’m saving that for the humbling and I know that we ap- pers, really, maybe legends when Michael Martin Murphy- book. As of current, we had a par- Geronimo’s Cadillac preciate it! That’s the surprise: we kicked the bottom shelf stuff. ty in 2018 and I am happy to say there are always people who care You also have a live album from Jane’s Addiction- Mountain that if things line up they way we Song about and cherish artistic creativ- the Trauma House. So, the fire’s want, there will more of them. ity. From venues to bars to spe- going, and the legend is yours to Sharon Jones and The Dap Acoustic Trauma will be per- Kings- Searching for a New cial events to charities, there is a tell; what was, or is, the Trauma forming at the Flyday Music Fes- Day support for the local arts. House? tival at the Blackthorne Resort Kongos- Come with Me It has been an interesting Paul: The Trauma House in East Durham, NY, May 17th Now journey throughout the years in is pretty much my house and - 18th. Hayes Carll- Days Like the 518. When AT started, the Acoustic Trauma headquarters These big deal was making a CD and for practicing, writing, hanging To read the full article, please Hamish Anderson -Break- getting your songs played on the and house parties, thus the name visit radioradiox.com and click ing Down radio, even if it was just on the “The Trauma House.” At first on the ‘Xperience’ tab.