On my way to see Spring Awakening at the Auditorium

Taylor Trensch of the Broadway touring company of Spring Awakening. Photo by Paul Kolnik 2009. I hope his hair really looks like that tonight.

yours in music,
Tracy

Spring Awakening opens at the Auditorium Theatre this Tuesday night!

Check out this link to see a clip from Spring Awakening. I will be at the Auditorium Theatre this Tuesday night to experience the show that is said to be QUITE the experience!

Spring Awakening is the coming-of-age story of three teenagers in oppressive 19th century Germany. The score, by Duncan Sheik, is supposed to ROCK. The show deals with some pretty heavy subjects, including teen pregnancy, teen suicide, homosexuality, masturbation and abuse--with a brief nude scene and songs with titles that I can't list here. This show is NOT for children, but it has run to rave reviews across the country and has received eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, and a Grammy!

I'm looking forward to it. The show runs Feb 9-14th, 2010, and tickets start at $30.50. If you want to sit ON the stage (partial view) for a unique experience, they're only $25. Get them here.

yours in music (and musical theatre!)
tracy

Ralph's Anniversary

Today is a difficult day for the many people who knew and loved Ralph Ortiz. One year ago today, he left this world to go and teach the Angels how to be funky.

We have lost many of Rochester's musicians over the past few years. That's one of the many reasons why creating the Rochester Music Hall of Fame is so very important - to honor those musicians who have passed on, so that they and their contributions to the Rochester music scene may never be forgotten. Another reason for the creation of RMHF is to honor those who are still here making music in Rochester as well as those from Rochester who have gone on to make music all over the country and all over the world.

Rochester has been blessed with an abundance of wonderfully talented musicians. Let's honor and celebrate them.

yours in music,
Tracy

Rochester Music Hall of Fame - How You Can Help

Since last spring, many people have been working very hard to get the Rochester Music Hall of Fame (RMHF) off the ground. Musicians, lawyers, professional consultants and friends of the Rochester music scene from all walks of life have been giving of their time, energy, talent and money.

Things have to happen in a particular order, and right now RMHF is very close to having its 501(c)(3) status which allows it to be a charitable nonprofit entity. This status allows anyone who donates to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame to take the donation as a tax write-off.

Right now, RMHF is less than $100 away from having enough money to file the final papers to get that 501(c)(3) status.

If you would like to help, please email me at rmhof2009@gmail.com and I will tell you how you can be a part of this exciting and very important endeavor.

yours in music,
Tracy

A Music Riddle

Can you guess which of the following three cities does NOT have a Music Hall of Fame? a) Buffalo; b) Rochester; c) Syracuse? If you guess b) Rochester, then you are correct! Ask me how you can help make the Rochester Music Hall of Fame a reality.

Prime Time Funk is at the Chocolate Ball tonight! I can't wait; the last time I saw them all together was at the freezing cold Lilac Festival. At least this gig's inside!

yours in music,
Tracy

Who are these kids, anyway?

Co-Existence was playing tonight in the village at Towpath Cafe, and my daughter suggested I go down and catch their show. We have their CD, and I do like it, so I decided to go down. Ryan Johnson on guitar, Danny Nguyen on sax, Colin Fleming on bass, and Dan Knorr on drums - that's who those kids are, anyway. "Co-Existence is an original musical project, blending aspects of funk, jazz, rock, and soul. The band hails from Rochester NY, and is comprised of students from SUNY Fredonia and the University of Buffalo." That's what their MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/coexistence07 - says. Check them out; they're worth a listen. They could be big someday.

yours in music,
Tracy

Bad news . . . again.

I found out late. Peter Grammatico died. At 40. With a wife and small child who is not even two years old. I didn't really even know him, but my heart breaks for him and for his family.

Peter reached out to me through my MySpace and asked me to come and listen to his band, Chasing Giants. I did. They were fun. I never even got the chance to have a conversation with him, though. He seemed like a warm and loving human being.

We are at a loss, again. My sympathies to his family and friends; may he be singing with the angels.

Tracy