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Behind The Board – Sometimes We Have To Say Good Bye(Originally Posted 05/09/2012)

During the summer of 2011 we got the chance to work with Cynthia Sandola at JB’s Of Wilton as they put on a biker bash to bring back the old Marcus Dairy days. For non-CT people, Marcus Dairy was a restaurant/dairy in Danbury, CT where bikers would gather through out the summer with bands and vendors. It was closed a few years ago and turned into Audi/Porsche of Danbury. Cynthia and the JB’s crew wanted to bring back that magic and hired BNK Productions to help them put on the musical side. Cynthia had an immediate and strong effect on us. She was beautiful and caring, with a child like excitement and a sweet laugh. We enjoyed working with her, sharing laughs all summer long. On the tenth anniversary of 9-11 we worked together to raise money for Tuesday’s Children. Preparing for this you could really see her caring nature. To meet her you would just feel in your heart that you just met a genuinely sweet person. Sadly, we received word last night that Cynthia had succumbed to her battle with cancer. Our hearts are heavy and broken today. We’ll truly miss you and your smile.  It was always fun to sit and talk with you after the shows and share laughs. To leave us so young is truly stunning. Thank you for those wondeful moments.

“B”, Nick, & Keith

 

An Unexpected Pic of Nick with Cynthia Sandola

The last show we did with Cynthia included The Matt O’Ree Band and this song is very fitting.

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Behind The Board – April’s NEXT Charity Concert Series Show (Originally Posted 05/04/2012)

Once a month we work with Chris Bro of NEXT (a new music show/podcast www.allthingsnext.com ) at his charity concert series. These shows are the greatest experience for us. We meet and work with different musicians and musical styles on a monthly basis. This is incredibly fun for us as it brings us new things to work with while we enjoy music we might not have found on our own. That’s what NEXT is! That’s what Chris does! He introduces you to something you may not have known you would like.

The last show was April 21st. A Saturday. This isn’t the normal time for The NEXT Charity Concert series as they’re usually scheduled on the second Friday of every month. Performing on the 21st were two amazing bands, one, The Attic Ends, we knew would be amazing. The other, The Modern Electric? A pleasant surprise. The night was opened by the lovely Lily Arnell who with her acoustic guitar started the night elegantly.

The Modern Electric had such a great energy seemingly pulling 70’s pop rock vibes into a tight show. The show started with Where I Belong which has the strength to be played on any of pop music  radio stations.

The highlight of the show arguably may have been their song David Bowie (Save Us All). It seemed from the position of the production desk, looking around, people really caught the groove here.

Really looking forward to them coming back to headline a NEXT show in the near future.

Headlining the night was The Attic Ends. This was a great bunch of musicians to work with. The setup of three keyboards, a guitar, and drum set was simple and achieving a clean sound was easy.
Musically they were a different trip from The Modern Electric as they have a rather ethereal sound with Indian/Asian influences. Samantha Rex’s beautiful and soulful voice seemed to linger over a bed rolling tones from the rest of the band.

They moved through nearly 50 minutes of changing emotions. Personal highlight was listening to Samantha sing Manic Moon. Which hopefully I can post soon!

May’s show is just over a week away featuring a Boston band this time, In Like Lions. Having looked at some of their stuff, it appears this is going to be another fun show. This show returns us to the Friday norm! These shows are really fun and they support 2 charities. If you like watching live music these shows are a must see!

 

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Anticipation (Originally Posted 4-19)

At the beginning of this week our good friend, guitarist extraordinaire, Chris Bickley released a preview of his upcoming album Tapestry of Souls. The song, Race Car Guy, is an instrumental trip into the heart of an open wheel race car driver (based on open wheel driver Tonis Kasemets). 

 

Chris has an incredible ability to look deep inside of his subject and turn it into a painting of musical expression of which The Race Car Guy is a great example. I have had the chance to hear previews of other  songs on the album and can tell you the tracks are fantastic.

This highly anticipated debut of one of America’s best session musicians will be available for pre-orders on Itunes this Saturday April 21st, with the full release coming on May 1st. Learn more about Chris at http://chrisbickley.net 

Meanwhile, BNK Productions will be at work again for Chris Bro and NEXT Music ( http://allthingsnext.com/ ) on April 21st at Paulie’s Bar in Pleasantville, NY. The weekend’s performers are Lily Arnell, The Modern Electric, with headliner The Attic Ends. Usually these shows are on the second Friday of every month but this one is on a Saturday for those of you who are easily confused. Paulie’s is an easy to find, cool little place not to far from the Saw Mill Parkway and the Pleasantville train station. This show is going to be awesome! So pre-order Chris’s new album and head up to Paulie’s this Saturday and lets have some fun!

“B”

 

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Behind The Board – Preparing For TV?

Working for TV shows is fun. This Friday on the other hand, it’s also going to be work. An interesting twist to the NEXT Charity Concert Series. A kind of “hybrid” show if you will. This one’s going to be live in a TV studio at PCTV in Pleasantville, NY, with a block party outside the studio watching from a large screen and 12,000 watts of BNK Productions power while the whole thing is streamed out over the internet. Some of this is the same work for us. Some of it is a little different. We still have to set up a stage. We still have to set up house sound. And we have to mix a TV show. All in different places. Outside there will be food, and drink from the NEXT Sponsors Captain Lawrence Brewery & Q Restaurant.  The band is Robbers on High Street which is going to be fun. This show is selling out (Obviously) but if there are tickets left you can get them here: https://tickets.tikly.co/-/event/539

 

http://youtu.be/IHq-B06PP3k

 

 


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