photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos, Right Stuff Studios

Ever since I reviewed Taylor Tote’s eponymous EP back in 2015, she has continued to impress new fans and make great strides in the world of music. A native of Tinton Falls, New Jersey, Tote and her top-notch band have been taking the musical world by storm. Since I last covered her 4-song project, Taylor has continued to perform many high-profile out of state shows including venues in NY, PA, MD, CT, DE, TN, CA and potential upcoming shows to AZ and VA.   Her audience continues to expand gaining exposure across the nation at each show.

Taylor has performed at the world’s most significant trade-only event for music products industry, NAMM, in both Nashville, TN and Anaheim, CA.  This past Winter NAMM there was over 99,000 attendees from across the world.  She performed at the 2017 Penn State THON for over 10,000 students and was recently named NYC Hard Rock Rising 2017 Division Champions.

Tote’s main influences include Amy Winehouse, Grace Potter, Adele, Maroon 5, Train, and Stevie Nicks. American Songwriter called Tote’s full-band performance as one of the highlights of the New Jersey Light of Day festival for her “wide, emotional vocal range and pop sensibilities.” The Asbury Park Press cites a “lilting twang in her voice that shades from corn-fed country to big pop and vampy jump blues.” I described Tote at the Aquarian as an “Artist that is dominating, empowering, strong, soft, sexy, and insanely fun. Her attitude and stage presence is smooth, sweet, and controlled. However, it can be flipped like a switch to a rock and roll, hell-stomping diva. Her range is one of a rock ‘n’ roll vixen that will send your music senses on the ride of your life.”

Totes award-winning “Fighter” music video received three prestigious awards in 2017 from Garden State Film Festival, The Asbury Park Music and Film festival and Los Angeles Movie Awards in Hollywood, CA. “Fighter” has had over 125,000 views and has been written up in numerous publications, including a national feature on Joan Lunden’s blog. The long-time host of Good Morning America called the song a “must download, ” and Tote is even conscientious enough to contribute all proceeds from Itunes downloads to childhood cancer research through Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer.

Between all the live work and video’s that Tote handles, she also has found the time to work on new material with Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum engineer, and producer David Ivory. Ivory, who has worked with some of the music’s best performers such as Grammy-Winning Halestorm, The Roots, Patti Labelle, Silvertide and much more. Ivory is in the process of getting ready to record a pair of live Taylor Tote band shows coming up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The band will also be utilizing the film crew of Right Stuff Studios (New Jersey) who will be on hand to capture performance and audience interaction with the group. Ivory will be putting the band through its paces on October 13 at the world-famous Stone Pony in Asbury Park and then at Puck Live, an intimate live music venue in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on October 21.

I had the recent opportunity to hear some of the new music, and while it is still unreleased, I can say that she is on the right track. Songs such as “Forever Young,” a mid-tempo country-flavored number featuring outstanding guitar work from Nick Ryan. Clean and concise, his playing helps the song stand out in spades. Tote’s toned vocal skills are the guiding light on this sure fired hit and a highlight of what was sent to me. Other songs include “Please Don’t Break My Heart,” a poppy, jazzy feel over the top of Totes powerful pipes. Choruses pop where they should as does the verse work and bridges. Another song that is sure to turn heads and garner attention for the band.

They also sent me a song called “Mama Told Me” Steeped in the traditions of R&B and Blues, “Mama” lays in the pocket in just the right way. Tote and company prove they can rock-and-roll but also find a different musical voice that works well for them in within a different format. Guitars are soulful and bark when needed. The middle-Eight solo (Performed by Tom Briant) is Clapton-inspired gold straight out of 1970. Drums and bass nail this bluesy gut-wrenching hit to the proverbial floor. The chorus for this song is my favorite out of all that I had the chance to listen to.

I can’t really discuss anything else about the yet to be titled record, but Taylor said songs would be unveiled at the live shows. The upcoming live Stone Pony show will be a “hands-on” test of new material aimed at old and new fans alike. Tote utilizes a crack band of players which includes Tom Briant, Tote, Aaron Manzo, Anthony Flora, and Nick Ryan.

photo by Kostas Lymperopoulos, Right Stuff Studios

Tickets for The Stone Pony show are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. There will be limited VIP tickets available for $40. That fee includes a meet and greet, a T-Shirt, autographed poster and early entry. For advanced tickets and VIP packages contact taylortotemusic@gmail.com. Advanced tickets are also available at The Stone Pony Box Office.

The Doylestown, PA show will offer similar arrangements for the 10-21 date at Puck Live. For more information on Taylor Tote band, please go to their website. That address is www.taylortote.com..

Written by John Pfeiffer

Photo by Ron Best

Mike Montrey is a singer songwriter that has had great success playing with the Samples, as well as touring in the Everyone Orchestra. The list of Everyone Orchestra participants includes members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, Moe, The Flecktones, Club Adrian Belew, Taj Mahal, and many other performers. But now, Montrey and the band take a new step far outside of the standard format of simply releasing 12-songs on one disc with their third, and most challenging undertaking.
The new project will feature Montrey and company focusing on one song at a time, with an accompanying video to be released alongside the composition in specific time intervals. Along with this dual attack, the MMB will also be offering more visual accompaniment in the form of original artwork (Supplied by fans) that will tie into the overall presence of the video and song set as a symbol of each piece.
The result will feature twelve original songs, (one each month) presented with an emphasis on the building blocks of freeform creation instead of running along the standard, music industry guidelines. At the end of that 12 month period, the MMB will present the overall sessions as a complete set of multimedia art that will fit together like arabesque puzzle pieces with intricate meaning to match.
The idea came about as the band, which has been hailed as “On the verge” By Relix Magazine, grew tired of following a formula that hasn’t changed in decades. Matter of fact, the idea of recording individual compositions puts the act of chance back into the game. It’s the thinking process of a chess player as he plans his next of several moves. It also harkens back to the old days of recording and performance where an artist had to rely on wood shedding pre-production and insight. They didn’t rely on surveys, or Pro Tools and video editing suites to get their point across.
The MMB has always been a band that leans toward the organic side of compositional design, and Song by Song by Song pushes that style to its furthest possible limit. The first track, “The Sunshine” will be released in September and will be available on ITunes, Reverbnation and Facebook as well as the band’s website.
The MMB consists of Mike Montrey on vocals and guitar, Anthony “Duke” Duca on bass and vocals, Rob Smith on drums and backing vocals, Karl Dietel on keyboards and backing vocals, and Adam Garnys on saxophone.
For more information on the MMB and their new step by step release, Song by Song by Song, head over to www.mikemontrey.com

by John Pfeiffer

(John is a contributing writer from The Aquarian Weekly)