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Napa Register, 8/07/05, NAPA BANDS DRAW BIG CROWD TO COPIA
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES...
"The biggest party in town last Thursday night was on the lawn
at Copia. As the setting for performances by a pair of popular
wine country bands, it was loud, frisky and fun. While a crowd
of over 400 didn't do much dancing, there was a lot of groovin'
in place on the sloping amphitheater lawn as the Moonlight Dance
Band and the Brian Cline Band each got to perform close to an
hour's worth of repertoire. Led by local guitar stalwart Leigh
Wyckoff, the Moonlight Dance Band mixed up tasty jazz with
bright Caribbean rhythms and themes. Cline and company blended
originals and a bunch of rock classics.
The nine-member Moonlight Dance Band swelled to 10 as Tower of
Power veteran brassman Mic Gillette alternated on trombone and
trumpet to fill out silver-tongued trumpeter Don Maas' slick
arrangements. The group's post-intermission set ranged from the
jazz-rock-with-a-hook of "Rocky J" -- which had soul-stirring
Ylonda Nickell wailin' on sax and fiery Michael Meredith on
potent percussion -- to the R&B funk of "What Is Hip?," the
three-decade old classic from the East Bay's Tower of Power. The
set featured some very nice songs composed by keyboardist
Winston Wallace. One was as breezy as an afternoon on a
Caribbean island, featuring some torrid guitar licks from the
bandleader and an extended thematic solo by the pianist. This
was mojito music, sort of Cuban big band with a gringo accent.
Equally attractive was a song from the group's "Moonlight Cafe"
CD. Titled "Spanish Dreams," the material conjured up a sunny
afternoon in a Spanish village square overlooking the
Mediterranean. Providing additional rhythmic spark were drummer
Gary Mass, bassist Kirk Brown and congaman Larry Silverman.
Tilley Key lent her dynamic vocals to set opening and closing
numbers.
Singing lead vocals and playing electric and acoustic guitars,
Cline led his quartet through a set of original songs that
alternated with covers, including Queen's "Crazy Little Thing
Called Love" and the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin'."
Including Dan Hayes on electric guitar, Jason McGrath on bass
and David Parker on drums, the quartet proved strongest with its
instrumental licks, like the nice guitar work on Maroon 5's
"This Love." Its weakest moments were the vocals offered for the
original songs. A nice finish to the Cline set was the 1973
Dobie Gray hit, "Drift Away," recently revived by Uncle Kracker.
All in all, it was a fun night at Copia. Napans got to party
with bands they know and like. And, as trite as it might sound,
a good time was had by all." Written by Pierce Carson[top]
Napa Valley Life Magazine, July/August 2005, COPIA TO FEATURE
LOCAL BANDS AT THIS YEAR'S OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES...
"On August 4, 2005, COPIA will be featuring two popular local
groups as part of their Outdoor Summer Concerts Series. It's
been a few years since local groups have taken the stage for
this series, but out-and-about performance manager, Richard
Miami, came across these groups at local events and decided the
time was right and so were the groups. After hearing Moonlight
Dance Band at Yountville Days last October and Brian Cline Band
at a holiday event with the Napa Valley Conference and Visitor's
Bureau, Miami was convinced it was time to feature some of the
area's best talent on their summer series. Not only will the
groups be providing great music and high energy performing, but
it is also hoped that they will be bringing their large local
fan base to COPIA. "We would love to showcase COPIA for fun,
letting your hair-down entertainment - a great place to enjoy a
beautiful Thursday night of music making." "We'll be offering
grilled burgers and sausages, salads, sandwiches along with a
selection of wine and beers out on out Terrace Grill starting
one hour before show time. And since the concerts are now on
Thursdays, concert patrons will have the option of early dining
at Julia's Kitchen." says Miami.
The 2005 series features a new Thursday evening time slot and a
great line-up of music perfect for this outdoor setting:
pop/soul, Cajun/Zydeco, funk, rock, jazz, bluegrass and blues.
The series offers everything from favorite local musicians to
legendary blues harmonica player, Charlie Musselwhite. COPIA
hopes to appeal to locals with a time slot which won't cause as
many conflicts for people involved in the hospitality and
tourist industry, and also by pulling in some favorite local
groups. "Most local groups only get to perform in the street
fairs and festivals in this area and I wanted to provide a real
concert setting for these great groups," says Miami. On
performance nights, the Terrace area will open at 7:00 p.m. with
concerts beginning at 8:00 and ending promptly at 10:00 p.m.
"You can pack in a wonderful night out and still be in bed by
10:30 or 11:00," says Miami.
…featured on the August 4th concert is the Brian Cline Band.
This group has been a favorite at local hot spots for years, but
often in their smaller configurations due to space limitations
and budget. Brian Cline describes the group's style as "modern
rock" with "elements of classic rock, R & B and funk." The group
is heavily influenced by popular music styles of the 70's,
"which is when we were kids," admits Cline. Cline is lead
vocalist for the group and has written much of their original
material. "Our music is melody-based with lyrics that reflect
our personal experiences. In many cases, the melodies came first
and the mood of the melody prompted the lyrics." The COPIA venue
will give BCB the opportunity to perform their best material
with their original 4-piece ensemble. Brian Cline sees this as
an opportunity to show the community his group's full
capabilities. For the COPIA performance, BCB will be packing in
unique arrangements of favorite cover tunes, many of which are
featured on their new CD, Got It Covered, as well as original
compositions. When asked how the COPIA concert will impact his
group and other performers in the area, Brian noted "there is
much untapped talent in Napa...groups that never get exposure
locally because we are saturated with cover bands and more
'commercial' groups from outside the area. I think this will be
an ideal setting for us to satisfy our local audience." Written
by Christina Andrews[top]
Napa Register, 8/03/05, PUT ON YOUR DANCIN' SHOES, COPIA
SPOTLIGHTS WINE COUNTRY BANDS THIS WEEK ...
"Celebrating what's hot in our own back yard, Copia turns the
spotlight on a pair of local bands as its outdoor summer concert
series continues Thursday night. Featured at 8 p.m. in the
grassy amphitheater "Hot Nights, Hot Music" series will be the
Brian Cline Band, along with the Moonlight Dance Band, led by
popular wine country guitarist Leigh Wyckoff. Each band is
slated to perform a set of songs and dancing is encouraged,
notes concerts producer Richard Miami.
Serving up styles that range from acoustic pop to alternative
rock, the Brian Cline Band feels it reflects a variety of
musical influences, including progressive, funk, rhythm and
blues, Americana and modern rock. Bandleader Cline says his
quartet's music "is positive, melodic, and dynamic; being rooted
in the tradition of the '60s but with the edge and style of
modern rock." Including solo performances and those with the
quartet, Cline is well known throughout the Bay Area for his
energetic and powerful performances. Cline and his musical
cohorts play approximately 120 concerts a year and have become
forerunners in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene. Fans of
the Brian Cline Band feel the quartet's songs break new ground
with meaningful, well-crafted lyrics, unshakable hooks, and
driving rhythms.
Cline launched his professional career in 1997 when he released
the recording, "Hold The Keys," on his own label. The CD took
almost a year to record and includes 10 originals and two bonus
tracks. On the recording, Brian served the role of producer,
co-engineer, played most of the acoustic and electric guitars,
and performed all vocal, bass, keyboard, and electric cello
parts on the disc. In February, 2000, the album was re-released
nationally and in Japan by Icourse Recordings with distribution
through Valley Media/DNA. Despite being released by an
independent record label, all the major retail chains and online
stores picked up the release and soon thereafter, it worked its
way up the radio charts.
In 2001, the band's first recording, "Within Without," a six
song EP, was released. On the CD, Cline added piano and cello to
the arrangements. After the release of "Within Without," the
Brian Cline Band was reformed in its current lineup. The quartet
includes Jason McGrath on five-string fretted/fretless basses
and vocals, David Parker on drums/percussion and vocals, and Dan
Hayes on electric guitar and vocals. Brian plays both acoustic
and electric guitars and sings lead vocals.
Earlier this year, the Brian Cline Band began to call itself BCB,
and released "Got it Covered," a 14 song CD and the first
recording featuring the current lineup. The CD was recorded live
at Napa's Chef's Market in the 2004 season and documents some of
BCB's covers often performed at live shows. The 10 cover songs
range from Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" to James Taylor's
"Fire and Rain." Also included are four originals, plus two
remakes of originals from "Hold the Keys" and "Within Without. "
Written by Pierce Carson[top]
Napa Register, 6/08/05, DISAPPOINTED BY OPENING DAY AT CHEFS
MARKET...
"I always look forward to the time of year when the Chefs Market
begins. It has always been a fun time. I had read in the paper
about the controversy of this year's market, but had decided to
keep and open mind. After all Akanthos and Brian Cline Band were
going to be there, and I always enjoy them…The first
disappointment was there were no craft booths. The market did
not seem to have as many people attending, but maybe that was
because there was so much open space, because of the lack of
booths. So, on we went… so far no Brian Cline Band, but I was
still hopeful… some produce and more food booths. Where was
Molly's Angels, where was the Humane Society, where was the area
where the fund-raisers had music? And how would we dig up
another wine glass? And where the bleep was Brian Cline?…What
were they thinking? And still no Brian. At this point my
co-worker and her husband bailed. It was not even 8pm., but they
had seen enough…Never found Brian Cline, missed the Bohemian
Stage…I do believe this is the first market I've ever left
before 8:30pm. Wake up, downtown Napa! You are going to kill the
Chefs Market…I doubt I will be back this year, unless the bad
judgment of this year's market is corrected." Written by Sandra
Page[top]
Napa
Register, 7/25/04, BEER DOGS AND THE CHEFS MARKET...
"Chef's Market has given local business a whole new venue for
introducing products to the markets. Since the first Chef's
Market 10 years ago, organizations have always been committed to
giving local businesses the first nod in getting booth space.
The commitment extends to musicians as well.
Brian Cline discovered Chef's Market when he moved here eight
years ago. A career banker who began as a regulator for the
Treasury Department, he is also accomplished musician, with more
than 20 published songs under his belt. And he loves to perform.
"It was easy to see that playing Chef's Market was a great
showcase for local musicians. At took a couple of years to get
in, but it's a great gig, and the audience is the best. I've
gotten 10 to 15 regular corporate clients from it," said Cline.
He also stated that it's a two-way street. "Many of the people
who book music for their corporate parties are not nightclub
regulars, and have no way of knowing who the available musicians
are or how good a band would fit their event. But they can go to
Chef's Market, which is a family event they are likely to go to
anyway, and can not only hear the music themselves, but can see
how the crowd reacts to them."" Written by Craig Smith[top]
The Chimes- Capital University, OH, 4/25/02, Volume 79, Issue
26, BRIAN CLINE BAND RELEASES NEW EP...
"Imagine if Matthew Sweet became abducted by the Borg and
changed into a even better singer/songwriter. If this happened,
his Borg name would probably be Brian Cline. Brian Cline is an
upcoming singer/songwriter and front man of the Brian Cline Band
(BCB).
The California quartet has just released their second disc,
Within Without EP. With hints of Duncan Sheik, David Grey, and
Matthew Sweet, this EP is definitely in my runnings for best
record of the year. The six tracks found on the album are
acoustically-driven pop-rock perfection. I doubt this album
would get any smoother if you dropped it in a blender for a few
days.
The EP kicks off with Day to Day, a 3:28 masterpiece. Cline's
vocals are provokingly honest and alluring. Day to Day, has a
definite Matthew Sweet I Wanted to Tell You vibe but then comes
into its own with, Cline's vocals and the bands musical
excellence. The track grabs your attention like a monkey in a
bull dozer and then plows over all your emotions and captivates
you as you are ensnared on a musical voyage.
Track three on the EP is What's on My Mind, a personal favorite
of mine. It is a well-driven pop rock tune and drives through
from beginning to end, only slipping with the occasional Bryan
Adams-ish rhyme.
The whole album continues in pop rock excellence from beginning
to end, with more endurance than your common "street worker"-not
faltering on any level. The vibe and lyrics of the band are a
much welcomed break from the "poor unfortunate me" garbage rock,
which seems to dominate the mainstream. The BCB chums out tunes
for people who like crafty music, not people who enjoy eating
children and things of that sort. Cline's lyrics are warm and
heart-felt with humanity and kindness found through them like
Winnie the Pooh at a humanitarian conference, only a lot more
respectable.
The entire band blends together brilliantly with a seasoned
flare, which is most appreciable by the listener. The album
sounds like it should be a seasoned album from a long
songwriting veteran inside the second album from an upcoming
artist. If we had more albums out today like this one, I might
have some faith left in pop society. I can only hope Brian Cline
might arise to infiltrate radio and save the souls of this
generation. Overall, I give this album twelve thumbs up. If you
only purchase one new artist this summer, I really suggest this
one. It's crafty, well written and you don't have to listen to
Cline complain about being beaten in a trashcan by his father as
a kid.Quot; Written by Dan Hille[top]
enet7, Newswire, 4/8/01, LOCAL FAVORITE CRUISES THE AIRWAVES...
"NAPA - The established rock quartet that is the Brian Cline
Band has done well in recent time. The band has found a solid
home on the airwaves in California and beyond. Currently,
thirty-four commercial radio stations carry the group's
material, with the New Music Weekly charts placing "Hold The
Keys", single from the album of the same name, #47 nationally.
The band's success in gaining exposure is certainly not limited
to radio, though. Brian Cline Band recently found their music
backing the soap opera Guiding Light, and was not the band's
first appearance on daytime television." Written by Adam Miller[top]
New Media Music, 1/26/01,
Musicdish Launches New Session of Its Indie Artists'
Competition, Bandwars...
"MusicDish, a leading music industry e-Journal, has launched the
first BandWars (http://musicdish.com/bandwars/) of the new year.
The year and one half old competition pits tracks from various
indie artists reviewed in MusicDish for voting by music fans.
The new session of BandWars include seven artists/bands: the
reigning champion Rockenfield/Speer, Malcolm Hunter, Brian Cline
Band, Eric Folkerth, The Pasties, Wed, and Scott Howard."[top]
Live Magazine, Vol 12, Issue 9, July 2000, BRIAN CLINE BAND AT
EAT'M...
"On a very windy stage, by the casino's pool, Brian Cline Band
played a set at this year's EAT'M (Emerging Artists and Talent
in Music) conference, in Las Vegas, that was chock full of
killer guitar riffs and evocative vocals. Songs sounded a little
like REM, which is a good thing, especially those with a
rambling guitar line. This was more great desert music, despite
the flying debris! Someone mentioned Dave Mathews as a reference
point, but I think that's insulting to the band, their songs are
much more dynamic. "What's That Do For Me" had a great guitar
opening and expressive vocal harmonies between Cline and his
drummer, while the closer, "Within" ensured that the band went
out with a bang, on this kickass rocker, with southern rock
overtones." Written by Sue Nami[top]
The
Lance Monthly, 3/1/00, BRIAN CLINE'S "HOLD THE KEYS" GETS
NATIONAL RELEASE...
" NAPA, CA: Last year, The Lance Monthly picked "Hold the Keys"
by Brian Cline as one of its monthly featured albums (May 1999)
and out of the dozens of CDs this newsletter receives each
month, this one was an easy choice for excellence. All of the 12
tracks are "of a soft, classic, folk-rock genre masterfully
written, sung, and arranged by the artist, Brian Cline." So it's
no surprise to us that Cline has scored a major label and
distribution deal with Icourse Recordings and DNA Distribution.
This now means that "Hold the Keys" will be stocked by the major
record shops throughout the Country and carried by the high
profile Internet retail stores. In addition, Paul Loggins
(Kenny's cousin) of Loggins Promotion out of L.A. has come
aboard and will be in charge of radio marketing. Says Cline, "He
has worked for some real heavyweights like his cousin, Queen,
Elton John, and millions of others."
Brian's passion for music can be traced back to when he was
five-years-old. That's when the Beatles broke up which crushed
him. But the group also gave him the inspiration to one day
become a musician of excellence. Says Cline, "Ever since, I have
had a passion for good songs, good vocals, and good
musicianship."
Fortunately Brian was born into a family loaded with musicians
who were all pros at one time or another, and by the time he was
twelve, he was playing in a group that specialized in Rush
covers. His first big break came at the age of 14 when his uncle
invited him into his band as a guitarist which resulted in a lot
of gigs and his first experience in a sound studio recording his
talents on his uncle's tracks.
Brian's first main project was with a group called Enchant but
left it in 1991 because he wanted to shift gears and go in
another direction. This led to an identity crisis, which
resulted in frequent band jumping and finally a period of
burnout that all musicians experience at least once in their
lifetime. In most cases, burnouts are the last chapters in the
careers of professional musicians, but Cline was one of the
exceptions. He knew he had the right stuff and persevered.
In 1996, Brian reemerged as a solo, vocal act and an
accomplished acoustic guitarist playing mostly originals which
put into effect the recording of his first album, "Hold the
Keys."
Says Cline, "As a result of the solo stuff, I have scored a
number of publishing deals which have resulted in a lot of
network T.V. placements (i.e., MTV, VH-1, Another World, and
7the Odyssey Channel), cd sales at gigs and via the Internet,
radio play, endorsements, and industry attention."
Because of Brian's renewed success, it was obvious to him that
his next important step would be to form a complete band which,
in fact, he has. Now known as the Brian Cline Band, the new
members are old high school buddy, Andrew Lion (bass), and Rob
Sherman (lead guitar). Drummer, Aaron Gottlieb, who was with
Cline for a year and a half, just left the group to pursue a
career with a California band called Idle Society.
The Brian Cline Band is presently recording tracks for a new CD
and one that they're presently working on is called, "Sea of
Lies" in an unplugged style. Says Cline, "The song should end up
on network TV and possibly on a film soundtrack in about a
year." Written by Dick Stewart [top]
All
Music Guide, BRIAN CLINE- ARTIST BIOGRAPHY...
"When I grow up I want to be a musician so that I can meet new
people and make people happy." Brian Cline wrote that for a
school paper when he was eight years old and has been attempting
to make it a reality ever since. Cline grew up in a musical
family, and both his mother and uncle were professional
musicians. Inspired by the Beatles, he learned a few guitar
chords from his uncle and took piano lessons from his mother,
and, eventhough none of his 7-year-old friends would form a band
with him, Cline's passion for music took off from there. Cline
got his first professional gig at age 14 as part of his uncle's
band, and he played electric guitar on his uncle's album.
Shortly thereafter, he formed Mae Dae and started playing bass,
writing songs, and, because no one else would, singing in the
band. Gradually, Mae Dae morphed into the progressive rock band
Enchant in an attempt to emulate some of his primary musical
influences of the time--Marillion, Rush, and Genesis. Enchant
was Cline's main project until he left the band in 1991, mostly
because of artistic direction. He found himself wanting to be a
male Sarah MacLachlan rather than Rush or Dream Theatre. By the
time he left the band, Enchant was well on their way to becoming
established. They had even forged a relationship with their
idols Marillion. In 1993, Dream Circle Records, under the aegis
of IRS Records, released Enchant's &Quot;A Blueprint for the
World&Quot;, produced by Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery and
with Cline still in tow. The recording sold over 25,000 copies
in Europe and Japan. Cline also wrote music and played bass on
Enchant's third release in 1997.
Post-Enchant, Cline found himself going through something of an
identity crisis, ending up in a different band every two months.
After awhile, he began writing more and playing with working
bands, which, if they did not necessarily satisfy him musically,
they at least gave Cline a sense of structure, helping him learn
how to read an audience, how to be professional, and that when
you do something from the heart, that people respond. While
taking time off during his wife's pregnancy, Cline developed the
idea to strike out as a solo artist. Within three months, he was
gigging on his own, playing original and cover material.
Requests from audiences for a tape or CD to purchase came more
frequently, so in early 1998 he entered the studio and recorded
&Quot;Hold the Keys&Quot, consisting entirely of his original
songs. The album was released on his own Dionysongs and sold at
his shows. After the album, Cline began searching for musicians
to play with in a full band context. Bass auditions were held,
and an old acquaintance of Cline's, 5-string fretless bassist
Andrew Lion, turned out to be the right fit. Aaron Gottlieb took
the drummer seat after getting up on stage at a Cline gig,
singing harmonies, and confidently telling Cline "If you want
funky, I'm you're man." Electric guitarist Rob Sherman had been
in a favorite local band of Cline's, None of the Above. He was
saved from the disco band he was playing in that made him wear
polyester and an afro wig. His addition rounded out the newly
christened Brian Cline Band. They began building up a following
by playing myriad dates ranging from concerts and festivals to
night clubs and corporate events, and they began recording as a
full band in 1999.&Quot; Written by Stanton Swihart
[top]
Napa Register, 6/11/98, CLINE RELEASES "HOLD THE KEYS"...
"After spending nearly a year in the studio fine tuning a
collection of original songs, Napa's Brian Cline is set to
release his debut solo CD effort, "Hold the Keys." A CD release
party is scheduled from 3-7pm Sunday at Downtown Joe's, 902 Main
St., where the copies of the new recording will be available for
$10 each. The artist will be on hand to sign all purchases. The
28-year-old guitarist served as producer and co-engineer for the
debut recording. He played most of the acoustic and electric
guitars and all the basses, keyboards and electric cello parts
on the disc, which contains 10 original compositions. Joey Jam,
who has performed with John Fogarty, Mariah Carey and Pete
Escovedo, plays drums and percussion on the new CD release. Mark
Yamamoto, who engineered and co-produced "Hold the Keys,"
contibutes a few guitar parts on the disc as well.
Stylistically, Brian has been categorized as modern, alternative
and acoustic rock. The artist says his style is a combination of
his folk, acoustic, and 1960s/1970s rock influences as well as
his love of modern alternative pop and rock. Cline was a
founding member of and writer for the progressive rock band,
Enchant. In 1993, Dream Circle Records, under the aegis of IRS
Records, released Enchant's "A Blueprint for the World,"
produced by Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery. The recording
sold over 25,000 copies in Europe and Japan. Cline also wrote
music and played bass on Enchant's third release in 1997."
[top]
© 2006 Brian Cline Band. All
Rights Reserved. |
