The triple disc (2CD/DVD) “Bob’s Birthday Concert” is now available here.
And if you are in the Metro Detroit area you can purchase it at any performance of the following acts:
Acoustic Madness
Dave Edwards & The Look
the Stumbling Mice
Bob & April
Raggamuffin
Winestoned Cowboys
The concert celebrated Hanzie Records founder Bob Monteleone’s 50th birthday and featured many Hanzie artists like Luck and Trouble, the Stumbling Mice, Dave Edwards Band, the Belle Islanders, Robert Thibodeau, Acoustic Madness and featured the reunion of the seminal Detroit reggae band, Black Market. Recorded & filmed at Callahan’s Music Hall in Auburn Hills, Michigan on March 11, 2011, “Bob’s Birthday Concert” was mixed by Bob & Josh Ford at Sound Shop Studios and the DVD was edited by Bob & Barry Ryan at Echo Multimedia. The 29 songs spread over two CDs features the best material of 8 different artists and the 60 minute DVD contains live footage from the concert mixed with vintage performances, Belle Islanders rehearsal footage and a rare interview with Luck and Trouble founder and ex-Refreshments guitarist Brian Blush. Also included is a double-sided 14" x 9.5" full color poster with photos by noted rock photographer Steve Galli.
Acoustic Madness is nearly finished with a brand album tentatively title Tiffany. Look for a vinyl version as well as a CD version here.
Bob Monteleone is putting the finishing touches on the long awaited 2CD+DVD Bob’s 50th Birthday Concert recorded in 2011 at Callahan’s Music Hall outside Detroit. It features great live performances from the reunited (especially for that event) Black Market, Luck & Trouble, the Belle Islanders, the Stumbling Mice, Dave Edwards and the Look and more.
The 2021 Detroit Music Awards was held virtually on April 11 for the 2nd year in a row due to the pandemic. Hanzie related artists were nominated for 10 awards and the Reefermen WON for Outstanding Rock Group and Bob & Coltrane WON for Outstanding Family Act. Robert Thibodeau was nominated for 3 awards including Outstanding Songwriter in the Americana category, Acoustic Madness members Bob Monteleone and Jorian Olk-Szost were nominated for Outstanding Instumentalist in the Americana category, Bob & April were nominated for Outstanding Artist/Group and Outstanding Recording (the 2020 lockdown single “Never Thought I’d End Like This/Coronavirus Song”), both in the Americana category and Bob for Outstanding Songwriter Americana category.
On top of playing the normal busy schedule, Acoustic Madness has been and will be making several appearances at various festivals around Michigan. In June Acoustic Madness played at the Wixom fireworks celebration and in July opened for the Guess Who at Port Huron’s Blue Water fest. August 20 they appear at the Pontiac Power Week opening for Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. Saturday, September 3 (8PM) they headline the Acoustic Stage at Royal Oak’s massive Arts, Eats & Beats festival. The following weekend Acoustic Madness play Rochester’s Arts & Apples festival (Sat. Sept. 10, 5PM) and headline the Plymouth Fall Festival (Sun. Sept 11, 4PM).
Two track’s from the Hanzie release HEART’S DESIRE (HR-018) by the Dave Edwards Band are nominated for a Detroit Music Award. “Tell Me About It” (w/Jill Jack) for Outstanding Country Recording and “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” for Outstanding Gospel/Christian Recording. Both songs were recorded & produced by Bob Monteleone at Sterritt Sound studio.
The Reefermen, whose EP SUNDAY MORNING SMOKE was released on Hanzie Records (HR-012), are nominated for Outstanding Blues Artist/Group. Reefermen guitarist Bobby East is nominated for 2 DMA awards: Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist and Outstanding Blues Instrumentalist.
Hanzie CEO Bob Monteleone is also nominated for 2 DMA awards: Outstanding Americana Instrumentalist and Outstanding World Music Instrumentalist.
The Detroit Music Awards will take place April 29 at the Fillmore (formerly State) Theater in Detroit.
The Dave Edwards Band filmed two videos from the 2015 Hanzie Records release HEART’S DESIRE at Josh Ford’s Sound Shop studio in Chesterfield, Michigan. The Sam Cooke cover “Bring It On Home” featured Jimmie Bones (from Kid Rock’s band) dueting with Dave and playing some tasty piano and organ licks.
Top Michigan recording artist Jill Jack came out to re-create her Tammy Wynette part to Dave’s Delbert McClinton in the country track “Tell Me About It”. Emilee Pastrishkoff did an excellent job filming and editing.
Acoustic Madness also shot two videos with Emilee Pastrishkoff. “Why Did They Kill the Radio?” was shot on location at Oakland University’s WXOU studio and at Nashville session legend Bob Wilson’s house. One scene was filmed at Bob & April Monteleone’s backyard featuring their boys Miles & Coltrane and Emilee’s son Kaiser dressed up as radio/record executives totally destroying a bunch of radios.
“Leaving Welinoph” was shot right after Christmas on the stage upstairs at the Utica, Michigan venue Hatchy’s. Pete Kahn was featured on alto sax on this video track.
Legendary Nashville session keyboardist Bob Wilson (Bob Dylan, Charlie Daniels, George Jones, Freddie King and too many to name here) came by Sterritt Sound studio and played on 2 tracks from upcoming Acoustic Madness project: “Why Did They Kill the Radio?” and “Day Dream”.
Incredible jazz saxophonist Pete Kahn (Laith Al-Saidi, Pat Metheny and more) played soprano & alto sax on 3 upcoming Acoustic Madness tracks: “Leaving Welinoph”, “Let It Go” and “24/Seven”.
Finally, radio personality (and excellent blues guitarist, by the way) Mark “The Paz” Pasman came by to do a rant/monologue dissing today’s listening habits at the end of “Why Did They Kill the Radio?”.
Hanzie artist Acoustic Madness headlined the Acoustic Stage at the huge Art, Eats & Beats Festival in Royal Oak , Michigan, USA on Labor Day weekend. Acoustic Madness also headlined the Plymouth Fall Festival and performed at the Arts & Apples Festival in Rochester, Michigan.
In July, Hanzie Records artist the Dave Edwards Band performed at the international Windsor Blues Fest along the banks of the Detroit River across from the Motor City in Windsor, Canada. Dave tore it up performing many songs from Hanzie releases like LONE SURVIVOR & HEART’S DESIRE as well as nuggets from his former band, The Look.
Hanzie artists Dave Edwards & Bob Monteleone have been nominated for 5 Detroit Music Awards, to be presented April 10 at the Fillmore in Detroit. Dave is up for Best Vocalist & Best Songwriter in the World Music category. Bob for Best Instrumentalist Americana category and Best Songwriter World Music. Dave & Bob are members of Hanzie artist, the reggae band The Belle Islanders, which last released an album, NOTHING’S GONNA STOP US in 2013. “Bring It On Home”, from Dave’s HEART’S DESIRE, is nominated for Best Recording Rock category. It features Jimmie Bones and was produced & recorded by Bob Monteleone at Sterrit Sound.
Dave Edwards has released his 5th Hanzie solo record. Recorded at Sterritt Sound from January-October 2014, HEART’S DESIRE was produced by Bob Monteleone and features special guests Jill Jack (on “Tell Me About It”) and Kid Rock keyboardist Jimmie Bones (“Bring It On Home”). Myles Rutledge of the Stumbling Mice plays drums on 4 tracks and Ken Pesick contributes on 2. The album also features various Dave Edwards Band members Rusty Russum, Jim Megerian, Jason Van Doorn & Dave Mazzara. April Monteleone sings on the title track & “Good Times”. Tony Ugval mastered.
Singer/songwriter/astrologer/poet Robert Thibodeau released a new album on Hanzie Records called FOLK ROCK LOVE and was recorded mostly from April - October 2014 at Sterritt Sound studio. It contains 14 original compositions and was produced & recorded by Bob Monteleone, who provided most of the instrumentation along with some vocals & banjo by Holly Bernt. It was mastered by Tony Ugval.
<p>The Belle Islanders are nominated for 2 Detroit Music Awards (<span class="caps">DMA</span>’s). Best Group in the Reggae/Ska category and Best Recording (<span class="caps">NOTHING</span>’S <span class="caps">GONNA</span> <span class="caps">STOP</span> US) in the Reggae/Ska category. Bob Monteleone is nominated for Best Instrumentalist in the Pop/Rock category. The Detroit Music Awards will be April 25 at the Fillmore in Detroit.</p>
<p>The Hanzie Records family mourns the sudden and unexpected loss of guitarist Brian Silverman. Brian contributed guitar & keyboard parts on the Belle Islander’s self-titled debut in 2008 (CD HR-007). His unique approach was a big part of the sound and template of the Belle Islanders. He also played on and co-wrote the instrumental “Cali-Jam”, which closed the 2nd Belle Islanders album <span class="caps">NOTHING</span>’S <span class="caps">GONNA</span> <span class="caps">STOP</span> US (CD HR-015) in 2013. Brian had lived in Negril, Jamaica since the 1980’s, but had spent much of his last few years in Oak Park, Michigan, <span class="caps">USA</span>, a suburb of Detroit, tending to his elderly parents. He leaves behind his lovely wife Toral and many loving friends in both Jamiaca and the <span class="caps">USA</span>. He played and toured with such reggae luminaries as the Gladiators and Toots & the Maytals among others. More important than being a wonderful musician, he was a kind, humble man who touched everybody he came in contact with. He will always be missed.</p>
