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NEWS:October 2014
ACOUSTIC MADNESS WELCOMES JORIAN OLK-SZOST
Bob & Mitch warmly welcome virtuoso upright bassist Jorian Olk-Szost to Acoustic Madness. Jorian played his first gig with the band October 11 at Stony Creek Roadhouse and sounded like he has been playing with the guys for years. Jorian replaces Ken Pesick whose contributions to the band for the last 4 years are far too numerous to name here.
December 2014
ACOUSTIC MADNESS TRACK FEATURED ON WDET/101.9FM
"I Feel Like A Number", the Bob Seger classic that closes 2014's ACOUSTIC MADNESS album, was played by Rob Reinhart on his always excellent "Essential Music" radio show in the afternoon of Saturday, December 13. "Essential Music" is broadcast from the Detroit NPR affiliate WDET/101.9 FM. Rob Reinhart also hosts the well known nationally syndicated show "Acoustic Cafe".
"I Feel Like A Number" was first performed by Bob Monteleone at the Trinity Theater Bob Seger tribute "Singers Sing Seger" hosted by John Lamb that featured other songwriters Jill Jack, Dave Edwards, Chris McCall and more in September 2013.
Acoustic Madness recorded "I Feel Like A Number" in December 2013 at Sterritt Sound studio. It is a drastic re-imagination of the Seger version. Where Seger's is up tempo rock & roll and in a Major key, Acoustic Madness' version has a slowed down electronica vibe and is in a Minor key.
Summer 2015
Acoustic Madness is enjoying it's busiest summer performance schedule yet. Along with the weekly Tuesday gig at Uptown Grille and the twice monthly shows at Stony Creek Roadhouse, the band is enjoying some great summer parties and private affairs.
Acoustic Madness is wrapping the summer up with a handful of showcase shows at the following outdoor festivals: Sunday August 2 at The Village of Rochester Hills (outdoor mall) Rochester Hills, noon-3pm; Thursday August 20 (w/Ken Pesick) at Grand Circus Park (Detroit) 7:30-8:30PM; Wine & Food Festival (w/Ken Pesick) at Meadowbrook Festival (Rochester Hills) 2:30-5pm; Saturday September 5 at Arts, Eats & Beats on the Acoustic Stage (Royal Oak) 8-9:30PM; Sunday September 13 at Arts & Apples Festival (Rochester) 11am-1pm and Sunday September 13 at the Plymouth Fall Festival 3-6pm.
IN THE STUDIO
The guys have been working on the follow-up to last year's self-titled release at Bob's Sterritt Sound studio. The recording is about 80% complete. Former "Nashville Cat" session keyboadist Bob Wilson (Bob Dylan's NASHVILLE SKYLINE, J.J. Cale, George Jones, etc..) came by the studio in June and played on the instrumental "Day Dream" and the rocking "Why Did They Kill The Radio?".
The finishing touches happening at the moment include some sax overdubs by Pete Kahn.
FALL/WINTER 2015
The guys & April appeared on both Fox 2 and Channel 7 News on the morning of September 5 promoting that evening's headlining appearance on the Acoustic Stage at Royal Oak's Arts, Eats & Beats festival.
Emilee Patrishkoff filmed the guys performing in the WXOU-FM studio for an upcoming video of the new Acoustic Madness song "Why Did They Kill The Radio?" Special thanks to WXOU host Todd Greenbaum for letting us loose at the university radio station. The song features Bob Wilson on piano and a hilarious monologue by radio personality & musician Mark Pasman.
Looking forward to a special New Years Eve show at the Stony Creek Roadhouse and an appearance at downtown detroit's Winterblast in mid-February.
WINTER 2016
The band along with ace saxaphonist Pete Kahn filmed a video of the song "Leaving Welinoph" over the holiday week. It was filmed on the stage of the Utica, Michigan venue Circa 1901 (formerly Hatchy's) by Emilee Patrishkoff.
On the afternoon of Valentine's Day the band played a solid set at the Meridian Winter Blast at Campus Martius in downtown Detroit.
SPRING 2016
The band played at the annual Electro-Con event for the 2nd straight year at Ford Field, the home of the NFL Detroit Lions on March 23.
EARLY APRIL
The working title of the recently completed full length album is SURROUNDED IN BIG TOWN. It is 9 original songs with appearances by saxophonist Pete Kahn on the tunes "Leaving Welinoph", "24/Seven" & "Let It Go". Legendary Nashville session pianist Bob Wilson lends his talents to the instrumental "Day Dream" & "Why Did They Kill The Radio?". The later tune has a just completed video shot by Emilee Patrishkoff and features a rant by longtime Detroit radio personality Mark "The Paz" Pasman.
The band continues to play weekly on Tuesdays at Uptown Grille in Commerce Twp. (and also the 2nd Friday of every month) and twice monthly (2nd Saturday & last Friday) at Stony Creek Roadhouse in Shelby Twp.
Looking forward to a busy summer with festival appearances at Wixom Fireworks (June 30), Sterling Fest (July 28), Arts, Eats & Beats (Labor Day weekend), and Rochester's Arts & Apples & Plymouth's Fall Festival (both the weekend of September 10-11).
SUMMER 2016
Some interesting gigs popped up for us this summer. Playing the Blue Water Fest in Port Huron on July 16 was a highlight, opening for the Guess Who. We played the brand new minor league baseball stadium, Jimmy Johns Field in Utica, on July 22, before several thousand folks. We played before, during and right after the game. Playing the Sterling Fest on July 28, and later that night, we'll be debuting at the new Gross Pointe club, Whiskey Six. SURROUNDED IN BIG TOWN is now available at gigs and a few indie record stores. Look for it to be available for purchase here shortly and for streaming in early August.
Waiting to hear any day what slot we will fill at Royal Oak's Arts, Eats & Beats festival Labor Day weekend. Last year we closed the acoustic stage on the Saturday night.
SEPTEMBER FESTIVALS!!
We are proud to announce we will be HEADLINING the Sprint Unplugged Stage for the 2nd straight year at Royal Oak's massive Arts, Eats & Beats Festival! We are playing Saturday, September 3rd at 8PM. Look for an interesting set with songs from our brand new SURROUNDED IN BIG TOWN and 2014's self-titled release ACOUSTIC MADNESS along with some choice covers including our "special blend" of "Classical Gas" and Prince's "When Doves Cry".
We are also playing Rochester's Arts & Apples Festival at Rochester Municipal Park on Saturday, September 10th from 5-6PM.
On Sunday, September 11th we will HEADLINE the annual Plymouth Fall Festival in downtown Plymouth's Kellogg Park from 4-6PM.
2017
October/November 2017:
2017 has been an extremely busy year for Acoustic Madness. While continuing our two "residences" at Uptown Grille (5 or 6 gigs a month) and Stony Creek Roadhouse (twice a month) we have also worked regularly this year at various Metro Detroit establishments like Whiskey Six (Grosse Pointe) and Twisted Tavern (Ferndale).
We've also made multiple appearances at the esteemed music venue Otus Supply in Ferndale as well as the brand new Homegrown Brewing Company in Oxford, Michigan.
One special gig this year was in June at the Creem Magazine Reunion at the Birmingham Museum that featured a rare performance of the respected band Black Market (w/Mitch & Bob from Acoustic Madness).
And of course all the fine festivals we had the pleasure to appear at this year: Detroit's Winter Blast, Port Huron's Blue Water Fest, Royal Oak's Arts, Beats & Eats, Plymouth Fall Festival and the upcoming (December 2) Wixom Holiday Market.
2018
2018 continues to be a busy year for Acoustic Madness. Regular appearances at the Uptown Grille, Stony Roadhouse and Whiskey Six have continued this year along with
various Concerts In the Park (Utica, Commerce Twp.) and a few weddings and engagement parties.
Annual celebrations include the Kentucky Derby party at Otus Supply and the Weaver Family 4th of July bash.
A highlight of the year so far was performing and backing up Sacred Steel legend Calvin Cooke and Detroit's Queen of the Blues Thornetta Davis at the Henry Ford Living Organ Donors Program benefit at Otus Supply June 11. Acoustic Madness also performed with Calvin Cooke that morning on WDIV TV's "Live At The D".
2019
Detroit Music Awards (the DMA's)
Acoustic Madness is proud to be nominated for Outstanding Americana Group/Artist for the 2019 Detroit Music Awards to be held April 26 at the Fillmore Theater and Hockeytown Cafe in Detroit.
Acoustic Madness guitarist/singer Bob Monteleone is nominated for Outstanding Instrumentalist in the Americana category.
Also, Bob & April are nominated for Outstanding Video (budget under $10,000) for "Summer Song" and Bob & Coltrane for Outstanding Family category.
FESTIVALS SUMMER OF '19:
Acoustic Madness is playing the Michigan Made Fest at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, Michigan on Sunday, July 27.
Acoustic Madness is excited to be invited to perform again at the huge Arts, Beats & Eats Festival held annually every Labor Day weekend in dow
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