University Student's Band Performs at BitterEnd
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Hyperlink: http://www.pacepress.org/arts/university-student-s-band-performs-at-the-bitter-end-1.7784...Hyperlink: http://www.pacepress.org/arts/university-student-s-band-performs-at-the-bitter-end-1.778472
On Sept. 22 Walking Upright took the stage at The Bitter End, a renowned NYC venue that has hosted such greats as Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Norah Jones, Miles Davis and many more.
The show opened up with the surprisingly wonderful acoustic sound of Alfa, a Philippine-born singer-songwriter. Alfa played acoustic guitar, accompanied by an upright base, drums, violin, a vocalist and even a melodica. She even switched to a couple of solo songs on a grand piano.
The music of Walking Upright is an ingenious blend of rock and soul, often dabbling in funk and other genres. Most of the songs were written and composed by Bryan and Patrick Logan, the brothers who started the band back in 2003.
They collaborated with electric guitarist Al Domingo, drummer Cliff Ribiero and bassist Yvans Jean-Michel. Jessica Hamaker joined the family in 2009 as lead female vocalist and is currently a musical theatre major at the University.
Since then, Walking Upright has been rocking various venues around the city such as the Westside Theatre, Sullivan Hall and Arlene's Grocery.
The crowd shifted from Alfa fans to Walking Upright fans. Hamake explained, "At this point we're in the networking phase. Most of the people that come to the shows to specifically see us are friends of friends of friends, plus there are a few loyal fans that we've picked up along the way.
“These people are either close friends or have become close friends. At The Bitter End, we had a lot of University students, some family and some other musicians and then there were the regulars at The Bitter End or just people stopping in for some NYC music.”
Those who stuck around were in for a treat. The songs ranged from the sweet and catchy "Lila Dhara" to the intense soulful song "Fire." They even pulled a Paul Simon song. Bryan Logan and Hamaker's harmonies wonderfully melded together on songs like "Shadow of Doubt."
Hamaker's smooth and sultry vocals made "Walking Papers" seep into the soul. Her facial expressions made you feel the depth of the words she sang. Her versatility lends a softer tone for the newer song, "The Fall." Adam Zirkin of Carver joined Walking Upright on the keyboard for a couple of songs, adding some musical flair.
Not only were the musicians experienced and talented, they also loved to play. The interaction of the band members made it a joy to watch them perform. The music often let loose and Hamaker danced her heart out in excitement as the guys rocked out on their instruments. She confessed that they were all a little nervous since they had not rehearsed in about a week. Despite this fact, their performance didn’t show it. The infectious way they enjoyed playing their music spurred the audience to applaud.
When asked about how the show went, Hamaker said, "I felt very good about it. We hadn't rehearsed in about a week, so the whole band was a little nervous about how things would go. However, we're a very close group and these musicians don't mess around.
So, the set came together beautifully and we were able to play a solid show and have a really good time. Plus, we had such a wonderful crowd.
We're always so thankful to have people to play to. Did I mention that we were playing on a stage where Stevie Wonder once sang his songs? That is enough to make any show special!"
University Student Rocks New York City Venues
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Sophomore Jessica Hamaker is a full-time musical theater student at the University by day and lead v...Sophomore Jessica Hamaker is a full-time musical theater student at the University by day and lead vocalist for Walking Upright by night.
Hamaker grew up on a farm in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and started singing at a very young age. Her mom was always singing and involved in community theater. Hamaker eventually sang along and grew to love it.
Deciding on where to go for college, Hamaker had to choose between Pittsburgh and New York City. She said she had a lot of friends in New York and knew that "even if [she] didn't have a music or performance major, [she] could use the city and [her] own drive to give [herself] opportunities".
After coming in as undeclared, Hamaker later auditioned and was accepted into the musical theater program. When asked what musical theater meant to her she said, "I love it because I like sharing stories with an audience. When I can sing or dance to share that story I think the depth can be heard and expressed on a very special level that is almost unreachable with other means."
While Hamaker was still going to school, she was looking for another creative outlet. That answer would soon become Walking Upright.
Walking Upright started out with Patrick Logan and Al Domingo playing together at Mass in 2001. Patrick had picked up the guitar and began writing his own songs.
His brother, Bryan Logan, began to collaborate with him to write the lyrics. Patrick was studying studio production and they began to record and rerecord their music.
Cliff Ribeiro came along in August 2008. Before, Bryan had been doing the drumming, but he described it as "amateurish. If you listen to our early recordings, you'd be like, that drum part is cute. We needed a real drummer." Bryan said.
Around New Years 2009, they came across a musical jem. Oddly enough, they had found her on craigslist. "Yea...on Craigslist, you'll find like 99 percent nothing and percent diamonds. It's kinda hard not to fall for Jess immediately and realize you're looking at lightning in bottle.
I saw a video Jess had put together for her portfolio online in conjunction with an ad that she was looking for a band. I flipped out when I heard and saw what she is capable of. I started jumping in my seat. I called Patrick over and it took him five seconds to say, 'Go get her. That is exactly what we've been searching for...we need her.’”
Hamaker admitted, "It was weird but nice. They had been auditioning girls and I guess I didn't quite understand why they finally decided on me! haha... But, honestly, after only a few rehearsals, we really clicked in a way that was almost spiritual. I felt at home with them very quickly.
“I met Bryan first on New Years Eve at the Westside Theatre where he works, and I was so nervous. I had brought my friend Kyle along with me as a bodyguard just in case. But Kyle actually hit it off so well with Bryan instantly, and that helped me relax.
"I sang the songs, we went to Chipotle, and soon it was 2009, and I was in a band! The rest of the guys I would meet a couple days later," she said.
"I think back to that first rehearsal with everybody. I guess I was still in the process of making my final decision. But, I think I just felt the music that they were playing and it like reached into my heart and say 'Jess, this is where you need to be'. I remember that feeling so vividly.
"I really did feel at home, and I guess that feeling has been the foundation of all of my work with them this year. I remember standing in awe of Patrick's guitar lines and I couldn't get over the fact that maybe Bryan and I sounded quite good together!"
It has only been a little less than a year, but the five of them have since then become family. Their "collaborative energy", as Bryan put it, adds another dimension to both their stage presence and recordings and separates them from other bands out there.
One example of how connected [these guys are] is how one of their new songs "Jack and Jill" came about. "Jess was messing with a chord progression and had written a verse and chorus by herself.
At the same time, an hour away, Patrick was playing something similar. The next evening at my apartment, they were playing and were like 'Hey I was just playing that yesterday!' They basically came up with the same song but in different keys.
It's hardly ever that you have well polished lyrics ready to go to someone else's musical idea that neither has told the other one about." Bryan explained.
He continued, "Most people anticipate what people like and try to make music according to that, but we play what we like and hope that people like it. We have a lot of fun on stage. And when you're at our shows, you might enjoy it, but we're enjoying it a lot more."
Patrick added, "I think the term 'finished' is very flexible for us. We like to keep things fresh and change the songs from show to show. It keeps the shows fun for us and our fans,"
"I think we bring a new groove to music. The music we play has been developed by many very talented musicians with very strong styles and visions. It's always unique and it has a lot of really diverse elements," Hamaker said.
When asked what genre their music is, Bryan replied, "Yvans called FFPR–folk funk pop rock...we were labeled as a groove rock act when we played in PA and I guess that wasn't too off the mark."
Their recently released debut album Patchwork was the result of layers of reworking original old recordings and adding the talents and skills of the current members and guest musicians.
Bryan said, "I wish I could say we all contributed an equal amount to the editing process, but that's all Patrick. You could say we condensed 'Patrick's Work' to 'Patchwork'."
Patrick added that it wasn't so much "editing,” but more of finding "the
moments where everyone really shined". The band has been rehearsing at Astoria Soundworks, trying to write more songs. Everyone works together to write the songs and the music.
One thing that makes them different is that each person in Walking Upright really does love what they do. Most of the band members work yet, they make time to make the music they enjoy.
"I know everyone in the band would want to be up on stage every night if they could. I think it is where everyone's heart is. Some shows are tough after a long day of work or after a long week, but I think once we hit the stage, we have the best time. And until we can afford to do this every night, we will do our best." Patrick said.
With such strong passion for both music and musical theater, there is often a struggle in balancing the two.
"The musical theater helps the band. The band helps and hurts the musical theater. The musical theater background has taught me a form of communication with music and words, and I use those skills when I sing songs with Walking Upright.
"It's just still difficult for me to switch back and forth, and for some reason I struggle to get back to the musical theatre more often. Fortunately, a lot of the musicals on Broadway right now are a rock/pop based, and hopefully both of my skill areas can be used there," she said.
Hamaker went on to say, "I honestly don't think I'm very good at communicating on an everyday basis, but with a song and my voice, I feel like I can truly express to people that I can see that they're struggling, or that I'm so happy for them, or how much I love something or someone in ways I just can't express without music.
"Maybe that's a flaw of my character, but that's what I'm doing when I perform. That's why I love to have people come hear the music because I love what particularly Walking Upright’s music can do for the human spirit."
These multi-talented, multi-tasking musicians pour their love into their music. You can find them on Walkinguprightmusic.com, Myspace.com/walkingupright or iTunes.
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