There are many traditions associated with March Madness: filling out a bracket, slacking off at work to watch games, drinking all day and then getting up and drinking all day.
Another is the playing of "One Shining Moment" during the epic video montage CBS compiles at the end of the tournament.
This year, a version of the song sung by Jennifer Hudson, the first female given the honor, will be aired April 5 at the conclusion of the championship game.
Written by David Barrett, the song was first used in 1987. Previously the station played versions of the song performed by Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross.
Hudson recorded the track on Feb. 13 in Los Angeles with producer Harvey Mason, Jr. a member of the 1988 University of Arizona NCAA Final Four team. By Andrew Kahn \ 1 comment
Asking a band whose bread and butter is playing live to cut a studio album that both captures the energy of a live show and has the cohesiveness of a good recording can be a daunting proposition. Carry Me Home the debut from the local R&B and contemporary soul group The Right Now manages to do a damn fine job of straddling both worlds.
Lead by lead singer Stefanie Berecz, Carry Me Home is mix of funk, soul, R&B and pop. The band tours relentlessly and when given the chance shows off the tight chops and comfortableness expected from a road tested group.
Probably more R&B than anything, the groove oriented band has a soulful feel but Berecz’s vocals are pure pop R&B: not quite Sharon Jones but more like Mariah Carrey. The funky wah wah guitars and classic horn riffs combined with guitarist and main composer Brendan O’Connell’s vintage sensibilities makes the music old-school. Berecz’s versatile and contemporary vocals sound like she would be comfortable both at the Apollo and on the American Idol stage.
Carry Me Home opens with the strongest track, “Ain’t Going Back” featuring the album's funkiest groove and fierce but controlled vocals from Berecz. She goes from nitty gritty soulful verses to a clean and booming chorus on the album’s most memorable song.
On the boogie “I’ll Get Down” she and the band venture in to a neo-soul shuffle reminiscent of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and once again the experience of playing many live shows gives the band a tight but relaxed sound.
They cite Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Chicago Soul and somewhat surprisingly Wilco among their influences and you definitely hear a bit of each throughout this album. Especially Keys as Berecz’s delivery and inflections often mirror those of the popular R&B singer like on the track “Better Way to Live.”
A small complaint is the lack of space given to the band. It’s hard to find a single break on the entire album which is surprising for a band that bills themselves as soul. And as previously mentioned the band is tight and more than deserving of the occasional spotlight.
Berecz certainly and quickly proves she is an able vocalist, but sometimes the overdubs and self harmonizing and sheer amount of lyrics begins to feel a bit excessive and makes the lack of breaks even more apparent.
The unsung heroes of the album have to be bassist Greg Nergaard and drummer John Smillie. From start to finish the rhythm section provides the backbone to the layers of vocals and interjections of Jonathon Edwards and Jim Schram’s saxophones.
So if you don’t have a chance to catch The Right Now live at one of their many upcoming shows, or even if you do, pick this record up to get a taste of what this band can do.
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Catch The Right Now Friday, March 19 at the Lincoln Hall for the Carry Me Home record release show. Buy tickets at Lincolnhallchicago.com right now.
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The Right Now - "Nobody" - Live on Wisconsin Public Television
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAifwGShDYw
By Andrew Kahn \ comments
Having just finished a run of shows that culminated with a stellar performance Feb. 20, at Lincoln Hall, it now appears Tortoise is poised to head back out on the road.
Several venue websites have indicated the post-rock group is planning an extensive tour that will take them from coast to coast in June and September of this year.
The Troubadour in Los Angeles has the band slotted for a June 12 performance. New York City’s (Le) Poisson Rouge lists a June 23 show and The Bishop in Bloomington, Ind. has them booked for June 26.
A show on Sept. 7 appears on The Paradise in Boston’s website. Richmond, Virgina’s The National indicates a Sept. 9 concert and The Orange Peel in Ashville, NC posted a Sept. 10 date.
Tickets for some of the shows are already on sale (The Troubadour, (Le) Poisson Rouge) while others will be open to the public on Saturday, March 13 (The Paradise and The National) and Friday, March 19 (The Orange Peel). By Andrew Kahn \ comments
Chicago Independent Radio Project
Fake Shore Drive
Giant System Chicago
Lost In Concert
Outside The Loop Radio
The Deli Chicago
Turn It Up (Chicago Tribune)
Underground Bee
Windy City Rock
WXRT
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