News – Page 6

GARY‘S BAND APPEARING ALONG WITH TV’S ROB MORROW AT BOGIES, JULY 15

Posted onJuly 10, 2018

GARY‘S BAND APPEARING ALONG WITH TV’S ROB MORROW AT BOGIES, JULY 15

So… famous TV actor Rob Morrow and I share a common connection: He once appeared in a Broadway play with Penn Jillette and Mia Farrow called ”The Exonerated.” Now, I know people who know Mia Farrow, but I ACTUALLY know Penn Jillette and have appeared onstage with him many times in different musical situations. Hey, maybe I’m not famous, but I’m fame-adjacent.

And now, I‘m appearing with Rob at Bogies in Westlake Village this Sunday, July 15. It’s a 7:00 show. We are each doing a full set with our original material, and with our own bands.

Not exactly a “6-degrees of Kevin Bacon” moment (although Rob’s guitarist sidekick Carlos Calvo did play with the Bacon brothers), but it’s close enough, and it’s gonna be a great show. Besides being an award-winning actor, Rob is a hell of a strong music performer, and he and Carlos and the band are guaranteed to rock the joint.

Here’s where you get tickets: (PLEASE NOTE: advance reservations are strongly recommended) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gary-stockdale-band-rob-morrow-band-featuring-carlos-calvo-tickets-47097544022

Rob and I met doing one of the Tribe benefit shows last December, and together with our friend Lauri Reimer, a true showbiz Jacqueline-of-all-trades, we hatched the evil plan of doing a co-bill. If you have not yet been to Bogies, it is rapidly becoming one of Southern California’s hottest venues for live music. Ken Greene, a musician himself, runs the club, and makes sure sound, lighting, and artist support are the toppermost of the poppermost. It’s always a joy to play there.

And besides getting to play yet again with guitar-god Grant Geissman, I’m joined by John Daren Thomas on drums, Steven Lawrence on bass, and backup vocals from the above-mentioned Lauri, and Joe Turano who also doubles on saxophone.

LOCAL HOUSE CONCERT, with GRANT GEISSMAN, WENDY LIEBMAN’S SHOW, KAREN TOBIN FIDDLER’S CROSSING FIRST FRIDAY

Posted onMay 28, 2018

LOCAL HOUSE CONCERT, with GRANT GEISSMAN,

WENDY LIEBMAN’S SHOW,

KAREN TOBIN

FIDDLER’S CROSSING FIRST FRIDAY

It isn’t often that I get to do a house concert in town, and even less likely that I get to do one in my own neighborhood (Eagle Rock/Glendale). Some years ago, when I got nominated for an Emmy I met Patty Silversher. She and her then-husband Michael have written tons of songs for Jim Henson and Disney movies. Patty has become a dear friend and, besides being so talented herself, she enthusiastically supports other singers and musicians, sometimes having concerts in her own home. She is holding one for me on Saturday, June 16, in her beautiful English-garden-backyard. Appearing with me once again will be the amazing Grant Geissman, who will undoubtedly play the theme he wrote for the comedy series, “Two and a Half Men” (Charlie Sheen not included). Bring-your-own-beverage and some picnic food for before the show. Picnic 6:30, Concert 7:30. Desserts provided.

RSVP to psilversher@gmail.com or 818-244-3814

This will be a super-fun, full concert evening, with some surprises, so come join Grant and me!

In 1992, I did music for a comedy special on the Lifetime Network. Besides somebody named Ellen DeGeneres (wonder whatever happened to her?), one of the stand-ups who really stood out in the show was Wendy Liebman. She had the most amazing way of delivering her punch-line as if it were an afterthought – and she was hilarious. Some years later, I got to write music on The Aristocrats, a movie with some of the world’s greatest comedians all telling the world’s dirtiest joke. Wendy’s version of the joke killed, and you’ll have to go see it to see how she turned the whole joke on its head.

Anyway, she asked me to perform on her comedy showcase, Locally Grown Comedy, Upstairs at Vitello’s this Tuesday, May 29th, at 8pm. Doors 6:30 pm / Show at 8 pm. Tickets are $15.

Here’s the ticket link: https://vitellosrestaurant.ticketfly.com/event/1653951-wendy-liebman-locally-grown-studio-city/

Come enjoy the great young comedians on the show, along with some crazy hat-wearing songwriter who’ll be playing there.

On Sunday, June 10 at 3pm, I’ll be opening for my friend and fine singer-songwriter Karen Tobin as part of the popular Cellar Sessions series, at Old Oak Cellars in Pasadena. This is her CD Release Concert, so come and enjoy her songs, take her music home with you, and hear me play an opening set. Here’s a ticket link: https://cellarsessions.thundertix.com

Last, but certainly not least, I’m going up to Tehachapi for a visit to the great Fiddler’s Crossing venue, created by Peter Cutler and Deborah Hand-Cutler, for their “First Friday” series, Friday night June 1st. If you’re in the area, stop by. It’s always a great time there. Check the auto-links for info.

More cool shows coming up in July, stay tuned!

CEDAR CITY, UTAH and EAGLES’ FLIGHT

Posted onApril 27, 2018

CEDAR CITY, UTAH

and

EAGLES’ FLIGHT

I’ve recently gotten some good advice from two fine artists who I’m lucky enough to call friends: James Hurley and James Lee Stanley. Besides being a fan of their songs as well as their performance skills, I was picking their brains for how to book road gigs, and successfully fill a tour with enough dates to make the trip not only worthwhile, but fun. It should be noted that I offer to buy breakfast or lunch for whichever friend whose brain I’m downloading information from (a handy thing to remember if you should have any good stuff you think I should know, and you like free meals). It would be nice if we, as performing artists, had managers and agents who did tour booking for us. And, of course, if you’re someone like John Prine, you probably do. But for the rest of us, we are our own managers, agents and bookers. It’s gonna be a while until I’m as accomplished as the “James Gang,” but I’m working on it.

I’m doing a cool show this Saturday night, April 28 at 7pm, in Cedar City, Utah, of all places. Address and contact info below. How this show happened is that last November George Loosley – who hosts the Saturday Singer-Songwriters with George on Thunder 91.1 KSUU, Saturday at 11:00 am MDT (streaming at suu.edu/ksuu) – read on my Facebook page that I was traveling through Cedar City on my way up to Salt Lake City, and he messaged me suggesting I come do a show in that beautiful part of the world. So we scheduled it. George is a Cedar City native, and a 20 year veteran in broadcasting who has worked all over the country. It’s at the Off the Cuff Improv Theatre 913 S. Main St., Cedar City. And I’ll be on his radio show Saturday morning at 10am PST.

For more information, call 435-590-2590, or go to https://otccomedy.com/concerts

Helping me out on a few tunes, and singing a couple of his own, is my old friend Art Kaufman, who lives there. I’ve known Art since we were both in the Summer Theater Program at Occidental College (Obama’s alma mater) in the early ‘70s. Art went on to have a successful career producing “song-poem” music; that is, when people send their lyrics in to a company and get finished tracks back from “real professional songwriters.” There’s a whole lore to this strange corner of the music business. The late Tom Ardolino, of the great band NRBQ put out a whole series of CDs with notable (and wacky) examples of this sub-genre. I have even been hired in the past to sing on some of these by another “song-sharking” (a less-affectionate name) company here in LA. These sessions presented two challenges: 1. Sight-reading the music to get it done in one take (time is money), and 2. Doing your best not to laugh while you’re singing it.

I was never a “country-rock” guy in the ‘70s. I was mostly listening to R ‘n’ B (Donny Hathaway forever!). But I’m having a blast doing The Tribe’s upcoming Eagles tribute show, performing the entire “Desperado” and “On the Border” albums with the likes of Dave Pearlman, John Pratt, Maitland Ward, and Rosemary Butler at Bogie’s in Westlake Village. The show is May 6th, and is close to sold-out. Tickets available here.

See you on the road.

Gary Stockdale’s “Keep Letting Go” Review By Marc Platt

Posted onJanuary 10, 2018January 10, 2018

By Marc Platt (posted January 10th, 2018)

Gary Stockdale is a music “Lifer.” He has been nominatefd for Emmy Awards and often gets his music placed in films and television projects, along with making solid records as a singer-songwriter. His music crosses over many musical genres.

To my ears, I hear traces of some Hall of Fame artists like Peter Gabriel and even Stevie Wonder in the grooves. This is a record worth checking out made by a man who knows his territory.

His ballads shine like “I Still Love You,” which seem unique to him, yet would be coverable in the Adult Contemporary market easily. This song is inspirational and moving, but solidly written in structure.

The most rocking tracks come near the end of the 14-song musical journey that this CD is. Check out “You Don’t Know,” which has a huge chorus. This song would have fit nicely on any Toto album and has a current commercial feel.

The record ends with my favorite track, the country-tinged “Live Fast.” This song has a lot of placement and coverage potential for the tunesmith.

“KEEP LETTING GO” was co-produced by Greg Prestopino. Stockdale’s band includes Grant Geissman on guitar, Steve Deutsch on bass, MB Gordy on drums.

So if you are in the mood for solid commercial music, I highly recommend Gary Stockdales “Keep Letting Go.”

https://open.spotify.com/album/6P7Z0mVkEEPSu1XbL3gsyc

Direct link to the review on Marc Platt’s “Politics*Music*Life” Blog

LET’S GET HIGH – A new song for the New Year / KEEP LETTING GO – Gary’s new CD

Posted onDecember 28, 2017

LET’S GET HIGH – A new song for the New Year

KEEP LETTING GO – Gary’s new CD

First off, please check out our new song video, Let’s Get High. The description on the YouTube page says, “Our suggestion for dealing with the impending craziness of 2018.” For those of you who don’t partake, just remember – it’s the thought that counts. Do whatever YOU need to do to manage the upside-down world of our current times. Other eras might have been worse, but NONE were crazier than now. The song is written by Spencer Green and myself, Spencer being the co-writer of our two musicals, Bukowsical and Bumpersticker. He’s a former MadTV and In Living Color writer, and one of the funniest people on the planet.

Let’s Get High: https://youtu.be/u6JoexYzQGk

There was a CD Release concert on Nov. 17 for my new CD, Keep Letting Go. The concert was more than sold out, people were turned away, which I’m very sad about. IF you came to the show and were turned away, please let me know and I will either send you some kind of consolation prize, or free admission to one of my other shows. I’m grateful so many people showed up, and for the amazing work of Lauri Reimer, who knew the show would be a smash all along, even when I fretted about it.

Opening for me was the great comedian Matt Kirshen. If you don’t know his work (he’s appeared on @Midnight on Comedy Central, and Last Comic Standing) check him out here: https://youtu.be/3avd7i6g2xk

And now, a mea culpa…I worked as hard as I could to make sure the liner notes on the album (adorned with the great photo work of Jill Jarrett) were correct grammatically, and that everyone who worked on the album was mentioned in the proper way.

Well, on the song Today You Are A Man, I screwed up twice. The biggest error was leaving off the name of Jill Freeman, who sang in the Cór na hÉireann (“Irish Choir” in Irish – which I also screwed up by calling it Curfa na hÉireann, which means “Irish Clash” which, come to think of it, isn’t a bad name). So apologies to Jill who is an amazing songwriter and performer. Her CD “A Handmade Life” is a work of art.

Also, when mentioning Renee French, my amazing artist friend whose drawing of “Ivey” graces a pin on my jacket on the back cover, I wrote “…who’s face…” when, clearly I meant “whose face.”

I apologize to everyone whose grammar I ever corrected.

Of course, I’d love it if you bought the CD (Amazon, iTunes, etc.), but I understand the era we’re in, so if you want to hear it, here are the links:

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/6P7Z0mVkEEPSu1XbL3gsyc

YouTube: http://bit.ly/2CWo7Ix

Happy New Year, everyone. It’s gonna be a doozy.