PROFILE: ‘No Reservations’ for local musician
June 30, 2008 10:19 am
— KENMORE — Rock music once had a business model based on movies and sitcoms from the 1950s, one that involved neighborhood kids in a basement, constant practice leading to a gig in a bingo hall or at a school dance, and the requisite lucky break that got the band recording deals and radio airplay.
A look at Nelson Starr’s career suggests that the old paradigm for success went out with the Studebaker.
Better still, look at Starr himself, a Kenmore product who has the respect of his peers in the industry, a steady stream of appointments and no lack of ideas. At age 40, he looks like the rock and roll version of 30. A consummate musician, he has co-authored a book on electric bass technique, toured the world as a session and concert performer, scored films and television programs, taught music instruction, and has played in nearly every venue and recording studio in Western New York.He nearly got Anthony Bourdain, the globe-trotting chef of The Travel Channel’s “No Reservations” television program, to come and sample Buffalo’s cuisine. And that’s in the past two years.
Another positive review of ALCOHOLOCAUST
http://www.elrose.co.uk/CD_Reviews/body_invisigoth_cds.html
Is progressive rock still alive? Are there still bands or musicians that dare to be different? It seemed that in the late 90s, the prog rock world had dozed off into a safe state of music. But in the recent years bands pop up that dare to be different, original and fresh. Bands that take their listeners on a musical journey that is far from safe and boring.
One of these bands is Invisigoth and with their debut album Alcoholocaust, they shake the foundations of the prog rock world. Invisigoth is a duo from Buffalo, NY, by the names of Cage (instruments) and Viggo Domino (voice). They have a history in esoteric philosophy, theology, dark arts and Arabic music. They have revived the true rock and roll spirit, by abandoning a lucrative corporate life and pursuing the musical journey.
I found this review to be rather interesting and very detailed:
To make it as a musician in this town, you have to diversify your portfolio
By Jeff Miers NEWS POP MUSIC CRITIC
Updated: 05/27/07 10:04 AMThe path to becoming a professional musician used to go like this: A young person with a dream nurtures his instrumental skill over long hours of practice that turn into months and then years. The talented dreamer meets others with the same dream, forms allegiances, swears blood brothers or sisters until the end, and a band is born.
First, these young talents learn the songs of their heroes. Over time, they grow to believe they have something unique to offer audiences. Happy-ending versions of this story find the dreamers quitting their day jobs and suddenly they’re in an office with a guy with a cigar hanging from his mouth, signing on the bottom line. Those days are long gone.
Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
MUSICIAN NELSON STARR: “I need to ... be fluent and competitive in every avenue of musical endeavor — from jazz to hip hop, from music education to music production.”
Even the most talented and prolific local musicians know the facts: In all but the rarest of exceptions, if you plan on making your living as a musician in this area, it’s likely that you will have to play in many different bands, in many different venues, offering many different types of music, at all hours and days of the week.
For musicians in Buffalo and many cities like it, refusing to give up on your musical dreams means making yourself over as a “talent for hire,” and several local musicians have done just that. (For more in individual musicians see following story, "The Genius Department.")
One reason for this, said Nelson Starr, an independent musician working in Buffalo, is that many area clubs play prerecorded music, and that’s diminishing in the demand for live music. “The decreased size of that niche has made success more elusive for anyone but the established or, oppositely, flavor-of-the-month cover bands,” he said.
Instead, today’s independent musician needs more of a skill-set than ever before. This means being well-versed; being able to make musical contributions to a wide variety of situations at a moment’s notice, without the benefit of abundant rehearsal; and learning at least the basics of recording studio production and engineering.
It's extremely rare to encounter a pure musician- the unique artist who can skip the middle step of trial and error and translate a melodic idea straight away into a credible performance.
Whenever I've had the pleasure of working with Nelson, both on the stage and in the studio, I have left feeling both amazed and inspired by his effortless mastery of all things musical.
His brilliantly crafted songs, distinctive and memorable vocals, and always innovative music production make Nelson Starr the Steve Winwood of his generation... the total package.
I am a huge fan of his musical artistry and extremely humbled and proud to call him my friend.