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ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites...10/8/15
By Danny Coleman
originally published: 10/08/2015
"We all have dreams and aspirations; I used to make plans and I don't anymore. Life is happening now and if you don't go with what's happening today; how can you tell what may happen in the future? I just go with what comes along and it seems to be working at the moment," says the self made
"Social Media Artist" Tyler Ward about his future plans as he embarks on his
"Yellow Boxes Tour."
To understand the significance of "Self made" and "Social media," one must get a bit of background on this young super talent. Born and raised in Colorado, Ward chose music after a series of misfortunes in his athletic career and he credits his father, who imposed a time limit, for playing a large part in his success. This chain of events and some brilliant marketing on his part; catapulted Ward into the limelight. "Yeah, I grew up in Colorado around the Parker, Aurora areas; Denver too. Originally I was thinking of joining the Air Force so I spent a semester there and then onto another college and I played football. After a couple of concussions I decided to try and do something else and started playing guitar. My dad was very cool about it all; he made me an offer. He said, "I'll let you move in here with me. You've got two years to make this music thing work; after that you need to get a real job." So I went out and got a regular gig at a place and started doing really well and I thought; hey I can make this work. In 2010, the "Winter Olympics" were held out here and I'd heard that a bunch of artists were getting together to remake "We Are The World;" so I got together a bunch of my friends and decided to do a cover version of it and I posted it on YouTube. I posted it within hours before theirs hit and mine was actually right below theirs! Every time theirs was searched, mine popped up as well and the views skyrocketed. So I continued to do that with songs and video posts and the next thing I know I have this great following; all done through YouTube and social media."
YouTube took notice; awarding him with the distinction of being one of the "2015 YouTube Awards Top 50 Artists to Watch." On the strength of the award and his recent disc, Tyler has been receiving collaboration offers from industry heavyweights such as Jason Mraz, Earth Wind and Fire and Jason Derulo ; something he finds quite humorous. "People keep reaching out to me and asking, "Will you work with my client?" he stated with a hearty laugh. "Earth Wind and Fire; to be able to do a song with them and be in on the production, I mean, they're legendary, it was like, are you kidding? I am still just amazed; it's a great feeling."
"Yellow Boxes Part One" is a 19 track effort which Ward feels is all about the changes that he's made and about moving on; hence the yellow boxes. He says that there will be a "Part Two," tentatively scheduled for a January 2016 release but he's enjoying the moments that "Part One" is producing. "Yeah, it's been a real ah moment," he explained in reflective tones. "Since I started this, I've done everything advised to me. I couldn't make decisions on my own and I fell into some bad habits; started drinking and what not. I realized before it was too late that it needed to change, so this CD is really my story. I did this myself, no producer and it is 100 percent authentic; it's my story of what's happened to me over the last year."
Ward says he, "Used to be formulaic" in his songwriting but that has all changed as he gains more experience and perspective. "I didn't want to be cookie cutter like," he said again with a slight chuckle. "I've used skills that I've learned from Nashville songwriters and watching and learning from others. Now, it's just as it is. I used to sit down and write and try and force things at times but not any more. Songs can hit me at any moment, I used my phone memo app or write ideas and lyrics and melodies down. Some songs take 15 minutes, some a year; it's kind of wherever I am at the time I go with it."
So far the tour is only ten dates young and with a stop in Asbury Park, NJ tonight at the Wonder Bar located on the corner of Ocean and Fifth Avenues; the good vibe that Ward sends out is sure to continue. "We're only ten dates in with a couple of months to go but so far this is the best tour yet. The connection with the audiences so far is the best I've ever experienced. My shows have become kind of like a conversation because the sets seem to go in different directions. I try to stick to my set list but the variations wind up making the show for me. Interacting with the people is the best and when they come up to me after a concert and say, "This is the best concert I've ever seen," well that cements it for me; what I'm doing is working."
Ward takes the stage at 8 p.m. EST tonight in a great seaside venue; big enough to feel like a concert, yet small enough to be intimate. To discover more about Tyler Ward, please go to www.tylerwardmusic.com.
A quick side note; The Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ has just announced that film star and living legend Sophia Loren will be coming to town for one night and one night only on March 17 2016 for a discussion and audience Q & A. Tickets for this unique and possibly one time only event go on sale tomorrow October 9. To purchase tickets, please go to www.countbasietheater.org .
That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS
Alchemist & Barrister
28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 9 p.m. "Thursday Jazz" feat. Jim Popik Trio
Sun. 9 p.m. (TBA)
Wed. 8 p.m. Arnie Baird
All shows 21+
Amalfi's Restaurant
146 Lawrenceville-Pennington Rd. Lawrenceville
(609) 912-1599
Fri 8:30 p.m. Radio Fiction
Sat. 8:30 p.m. No Way Out
Amarones Windsor Inn
29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-7144
Fri. 8 p.m. Gyrl Band
Sat. 8 p.m. Rick & Kenny
Bill's Olde Tavern
2694 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-0192
Sun. 12 p.m. "Oktoberfest" w/ Radio Fiction
Blend Bar & Bistro
911 Highway 33, Hamilton
(609) 245-8887
Tues. 8 p.m. Triviajam
The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton
Fri. 7 p.m. Mad Kings, Sad Lips, Chiaroscuro, Crosshead, The Growling Hounds. All ages, $10
Sat. 5 p.m. (TBA). All ages, $10
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612
Sat. 3 p.m. Lynn Riley Sax Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)
Chickie's & Pete's
183 US Highway 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-9182
Tues. 8 p.m. Acoustic Music Night feat. The Dawgs
Wed. 9 p.m. Trivia Night
Dog & Bull Brew House
810 Bristol Pike (Rte. 13) Croydon, PA.
(215) 788-2855
Thurs. 8 p.m. Gypsy Mother
Fri. (4 p.m.) "Happy Hour Jam" feat. Visoon. (9 p.m.) Mike Estabrook
Sat. (11 a.m.) "Saturday Brunch Jam" feat. Michael Leggerie (9 p.m.) Good Time Folk Show
Sun. (11 a.m.) "Sunday Brunch" feat. Keli Vale Jazz Duo (3 p.m.) Vic's Mix
Mon. 8 p.m. Perry Wolfe
Tues. 8 p.m. Brian Cono
Wed. 8 p.m. Mia Johnson
Fran's Pub
116 S. Main St. New Hope, PA.
(215)862-553
Mon. 8 p.m. Open Blues Jam
All shows 21+
Halo Pub
4617 Nottingham Way Hamilton Square
(609) 586-1811
Sat. 7 p.m. Joe Zook & Paul Plumeri
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main Street. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897
Thurs. 10 p.m. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party
Fri. 8 p.m. Jamison "Celtic Rock" Doors at 6 p.m., $15
Sat. 8:30 p.m. Schubby Buzzer
Sun. 3 p.m. Ladies 2000
Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran & Friends
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Fri. 10 p.m. F2 & The Anchovy Brothers
Sat. 10 p.m. Infinite Bandwidth
Tues. 7:30 p.m. Teddy Z Memorial Jam
All shows 21+
John & Peter's
96 S. Main Street New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981
Fri. 8 p.m. Billy Hector
Sat. 3 p.m. Lincoln Durham. $10 (cover charge)
Sun. 9 p.m. Stone Age Rhapsody
Mon. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Tim
Tues. 9 p.m. Be ThisBell
Wed. 9:30 p.m. The Invitational
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern
2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton
(609) 586-2678
Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
Millhill Basement
300 S. Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-1600
Sun. 7 p.m. Down By Law. $15 (advance)
Wed. 9 p.m. ShellShag (Record Release), Brick Mower, The Groucho Marxists, Nervous Triggers, Weird Fantasy Band. $10
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979
Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke
All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing
1339 River Rd. Titusville
(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Steve Bross
Sat. 7:30 p.m. The Soul Kitchen Band
Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008
Fri. 9:30 p.m. Crosswick
Sat. 9:30 p.m. Deb & The Sons of Rock
Randy Now's Man Cave
134 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 424-3766
Sun. 4 p.m. "Meet and Greet" w/ Dave Smalley & Down By Law
RHO Waterfront
50 Riverview Plaza Trenton
(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. "College Night" w/ DJ Wessy Wes
Fri. (4 p.m.) Happy Hour Buffet. $10 (8:30 p.m.) The Soul Cruisers
Sat. 10 p.m. "Money Over Emotion" w/ DJ Weswill / B-Day for Big Ooh and Fuzz. Ages 21+, dress code required, $25
Tavern On The Lake
101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Jazz Night
Wed. 8 p.m. Karaoke Night
The HOB Tavern
146 Second Street
(609) 291-7020
Sat. 9 p.m. Karaoke
The Ivy Inn
248 Nassau St. Princeton
(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron
Fri. 10 p.m. DJ Darius
Sat. 10 p.m. River Dogs
Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv
Wed. (8:30 p.m.) Tune Trivia (10:30 p.m.) DJ Rockn Ron
The Record Collector
358 Farnsworth Avenue Bordentown
(609) 324-0880
Sat. 8 p.m. Michael Gallant Trio. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $12 (advance)
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. Rhythm Wrangler
Sat. 9 p.m. RiversBend
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Check web site for upcoming events
Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554
Fri. 9 p.m. Mike Barniskis
Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Taylor Reed
All shows 21+
Trenton Buzz
702 Pine St. Trenton
(609) 392-6000
Thurs. 8 p.m. Open Mic. w/ Hek Cat
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street Trenton
(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8:30 p.m. Cinema Thursday Presents: (TBA)
Fri. 7 p.m. First Friday
Mon. 9 p.m. Monday Night Karaoke w/ Benny P
Tues. 7 p.m. Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300
Fri. 10 p.m. Dreams Of June. ($5 cover charge)
Sat. 10 p.m. Nick D' & The Believers. ($5 cover charge)
Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night (Sign ups 6:30 p.m.)
Wed. 9 p.m. Sydney Eloise & The Palms
All shows 21+
Wildflowers Inn
2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington
Sat. 9 p.m. Acoustic Rock
All shows 21+
Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.
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