Brooklyn Music Milestones – August 2015

August 10, 2015 by David K. Moseder

Little Anthony & The Imperials_John Mitchell

Little Anthony & The Imperials Photo by John Mitchell / courtesy of Wikipedia

August 14, 1966: Little Anthony & The Imperials, with Fort Greene native Jerome Anthony Gourdine on lead vocals, headlines a concert at the Surf ’n’ See Club in Seabright, New Jersey. Among the support acts is a local band, The Castiles, featuring 16-year-old vocalist Bruce Springsteen.

August 16, 1994: Criss, a band formed and led by former Kiss drummer Peter Criss, releases Cat #1. Of the 11 tracks, 10 are co-written by Williamsburg native Criss, including the autobiographical Blue Moon Over Brooklyn and an acoustic rendition of his 1976 Kiss hit, Beth.

August 23, 1970: Toward the end of the Velvet Underground’s three-month residency at Max’s Kansas City, Lou Reed performs with his long-time bandmates for the last time (until their 1993 reunion tour). It would be nearly two years before the Brownsville-born Reed would resurface with a self-titled album, the prelude to a successful solo career.

Lou Reed Photo by Howard B. Leibowitz/ B.L.Howard Productions

August 27, 1996: Bedford-Stuyvesant-born Aaliyah releases her second album, One in a Million, which goes on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide and be certified double platinum.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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