Wednesday, 1 June 2011

Jimmy Chamberlin Skysaw Tour Update - 3

5/30/11

Three shows in the beautiful Carolinas and the band is on fire. We've taken the songs to another level live and the crowds are right there with us. After struggling a bit with the sound in Greenville, Wilmington was a standout show as well as Charleston last night. I am really impressed with the bands ability to translate the music into a live context. It's not the easiest thing to get up and play a bunch of songs that no one has ever heard and win a crowd over. In fact , it can be downright difficult under the best circumstances.  This music clearly has a destination beyond any of our dreams and a heartfelt embrace to those of you who have hitched your wagons to the Skysaw express.

That's all for now but those of you who know me know I could have said much more.

With love and respect,

JC

SKYSAW - [Live Review]

http://stereosubversion.com/reviews/minus-the-bear-live-the-handlebar

I assume Skysaw takes their name from the Brian Eno song of the same name, because, like Eno, their music is full of tension, yet melody.  And, like Eno, they know the importance of texture.  Singer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Reina’s voice comes out like a mixture of Ted Leo and Peter Gabriel—a forceful tenor able to capture a melody and make it his own.  Skysaw’s drummer is none other than Jimmy Chamberlin, formerly of Smashing Pumpkins—a fact I found out only a day before the show. As always, his style is tight and rapid-fire, but oddly enough, a bit understated.  As it turns out, Skysaw was originally Chamberlin’s outlet for some of his new musical ideas post-Smashing Pumpkins, and Reina worked with Chamberlin to flesh out the ideas along with the other band members.  But Skysaw aren’t the single vision of anyone, as it’s clear that the band is well-rehearsed and embodies a symphonic space all their own.  I’m anxious to hear more from them in the future.
http://illinoisentertainer.com/2011/05/file-june-2011/

Jimmy Chamberlin’s new outfit, Skysaw, come to Metro on the 25th. The former Pumpkins drummer brings former Jackfields Mike Reina and Anthony Pirog with him, for a more pop-oriented project than his ongoing fusion gig, Jimmy Chamberlin Complex. “This is more about songwriting, orchestrating, being in a band with collaborators,” he says, “as opposed to going out to play jazz fusion, which is a part of me, just not this part.” For now the goal is to play handfuls of shows and record, record, record. “I know I’m having a great time now. We’re on the road, I’m setting my stuff up, we’re in a van with a trailer. I’ve never really asked much more of music that that. We don’t have any preconceived notions or grandiose expectations, especially in light of the current music business profile. The goal is just to have fun and put out as much music as we can, and maintain an economic profile so that we can keep doing it.” Great Civilizations (Dangerbird) arrives on the 21st.