We are traveling across the pond for today’s artist, Paul Diello. Diello was awarded the Best Solo Artist distinction at the Brighton Music Awards in 2010, and has since released his debut album The Last Green Bottle in October 2011 to positive reviews. He has toured the album extensively, playing across the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Holland, and America, where he is currently. His burgeoning popularity is for good reason; Diello possesses a masterful, genre-bending voice.
That is, of course, one of the most important prerequisites of any solo artist. Stripped down to the purity of artist and song, Diello is able to take listeners on an emotional odyssey that turns on every nook of his vocal. By far, this is Diello’s most endearing quality. His vocal is one part Tim Rice-Oxley, one part Adam Lambert – a mixture of subtle, timorous falsetto and flamboyant, impassioned chops. To express Diello’s voice I am choosing to share a song without any window dressings. This is the piano (radio edit) of his song “You Lose.”
Notice the fluffy airiness that is masterfully mixed with his ardent timbre. Diello’s controlled vibrato echoes over the keys with clean efficiency. It is simply a joy to listen to him sing. Then as the song reaches its climactic end, Diello pours emotion into the remaining notes but never loses his vocal discipline. It’s a wonderful example of firm flexibility. Great piece by an up-and-coming artist!
Summer is creeping closer to the shores of Long Island and soon the lingering cold will be replaced by a moist warmth that will hover over the pencil-like island that juts out of New York for a few months. With an impending fresh Long Island summer comes the 2013 Jones Beach Theater concert schedule. So, to continue my preview of New York outdoor concert venues (a few weeks ago I previewed the Summerstage schedule), let’s delve into the always eclectic Jones Beach Theater line-up.
Jones Beach Theater is one of my favorite concert venues. On a toasty evening, the music takes on an etherial feel as it oscillates with the cooling ocean breeze. The venue is spacious and comfortable, and, because of its openness, the music carries beyond the confines of the stage to a small patch of beach adjacent to the theater and to the parking lot where I have seen many individuals bring beach chairs to enjoy the music without a fee.
If you are planning to make your way out to the Theater this summer for a concert, here is a list of my top five concerts on the 2013 schedule.
Top 5 Shows:
5.) Fleetwood Mac – 6/22
Touring for the first time since 2009, Fleetwood Mac is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its album Rumours, which featured tracks like “The Chain” and “Don’t Stop.” The band will truck through the vast majority of its extensive hits collection, and I’m sure a crowd of eager Mac fans will be in attendance. The concert is one of the earlier shows on the schedule.
4.) Bob Dylan & His Band / Wilco / Ryan Bingham / Beck (Acoustic) – 7/27
The collection of sheer musicianship power here is tremendous. The collective makes sense, as each act plays with an Americana/Folk flair – some experimenting with more alternative sounds. The “AmericanaramA Festival,” as it is coined, will actually feature artists like Bob Weir and My Morning Jacket at other locations. The sweet concoction of artists is malleable. No My Morning Jacket at Jones Beach but instead a Beck acoustic set. The concert, like the name, will probably be a bit jumbled, but in a good way like a satisfying puzzle.
3.) Imagine Dragons – 7/25
Imagine Dragons is an Indie Rock band from Las Vegas that is touring its tremendously successful debut full length Night Visions. It’s a jam-packed album with around 5-6 memorable songs – an excellent haul for a first release. If you do not think you know of the band, you most likely have heard “It’s Time,” which hit mainstream success and went platinum in the U.S. (below). This is a show I’d be interested in scoring tickets to. The band still has some of the debut gold dust aura surrounding it and will most likely put on an exciting show.
2.) John Mayer / Phillip Phillips – 8/28
Phillip Phillips’s final song on American Idol (the song that was written for him and ultimately won him the competition) was “Home.” The song has ballooned. It fits Phillips’ folk croon perfectly, and it is germane in the current climate of Indie folk resurgence heralded by bands like Mumford and Sons. Phillips, though, has proven he is not a one-song pony. His debut album has a few memorable tracks on it aside from home. Pair him with guitar demigod John Mayer and you have quite a show.
1.) Allman Brothers Band / Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – 9/7
There is not much that needs to be said about this show. Anytime the Allman Brothers are playing anywhere you should see them. Add Grace Potter and the Nocturnals to the mix and you have one awesome show at the end of the season.
And…of course…how can I forget the King of Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett, who will bring his Coral Reefers to Jones Beach to embrace the annual flock of parrotheads. To get you all thinking of summer here is Buffett’s classic.
With the eccentric musical flair of Grizzly Bear and a penchant for 60s pop psychedelia, DAMEDAS is about ready to take the Los Angeles scene by storm. Founded in 2007 by musician Felipe Damedas, DAMEDAS has just recently expanded to include a full group of musicians…and words. The transformation from instrumental to lyric-laden psych/pop was not a difficult for the foursome.
What is perhaps most striking about DAMEDAS is its clear appreciation for the roots of rock n’ roll. The art (above) is reminiscent of the Beatles, and, class-style portraits aside, the music bears a neat resemblance to Beatles-style psychedelia – infectiously effervescent, heavily melodic, and elusively organized. Let me explain:
“All I Need is All I Have” is a tight single by DAMEDAS. The music is crowded with drenched harmonies, twangy guitar, and spondaic percussion. The instrumentation combines a wall of sound approach with portions of sincere quiet. Although I already made this comparison, I can best describe the music as a mix between old and new psych/pop. While the synth fits in with newer Indie Psych/Pop, the sing-song swooning melody is much like late 60s psych/pop. Excellent track!
Let’s be realistic. This has been an unsuccessful season for the declining singing talent show, American Idol. After 12 seasons it seems that the show is losing touch with the viewership and the loss of ratings evidences this theory. The show is formulaic, almost intransigent in its weekly routine. Superficially, there have been some changes to how the results are revealed, for example, but these are not extensive. It seems like I am a bit captious in this brief synopsis, but after so many years of watching the show I’d love to see American Idol transform with the times. The basic structure will always be effective and enjoyable, but the show needs to do a massive re-haul of the judges (which seems to be happening) and the creative content.
For the most part, Season 12 of American Idol came down to two singers. Putting aside the sycophantic, effusive praise machines that were the four judges this year and the top 10 that was almost completely devoid of talent, the show was saved by two vocal powerhouses – one a gritty country vocalist and the other an Aretha Franklin-like, soul superstar. Back on March 11 when I made my predictions for the Idol Top 10, I went on the logic that these two singers would be in it until the end, and I am happy to report that I was accurate in my guess. Kree Harrison and Candice Glover make up your final two.
Of all of my predictions, I was most wrong about Amber Holcomb. I initially viewed her as a throw-away contestant who would be the first eliminated in the Top 10, but she made it all the way to 4th place. This was more of a testament to the lack of talent among the top 10 than her own ability. For some reason the judges gushingly extolled her like she was the second coming of Beyonce. Holcomb’s voice only worked in the lower register, and when she tried pushing it higher she was invariably flat. Yet despite her clear inability, the judges praised her with impunity. It was strange. Sometimes it felt like the judges were listening to another artist.
Back to Kree and Candice. Who will win? In my initial predictions I chose Kree. The country audience is just so strong. Now, I’m not sure. Candice has proven that her voice is freakishly good. She is a vocal spectacle. It is an absolute wonder to listen to her sing. In March I compared her with Jennifer Hudson and said her “big voice should help her sail through the competition.” It may help her win it. Check out her performance of “Somewhere.” Just mind-blowing.
Kree “has rangy chops and her voice just fits today’s country music scene.” I agree with my assessment from March. She has displayed her relevance and ability. It would not surprise me if she made good on my March prediction and won Season 12.
Ultimately, though, I will be happy with whoever wins, and it will be good to see “American Idol” have its first female winner since Season 6 and first all-female final since Season 3 when Fantasia won.
The Music Court 