Dante Mazzetti

****
A must in any music lovers collection.

The CD is great- whenever I wanted a chill CD to listen to I always turned to the usual James Taylor or early DMB but now I have a new CD to enjoy. I checked him out because he is opening for Ben Folds this summer and I am glad I did. I can't see anyone who likes music not liking this CD. - Kate

*****!
"A young hot Dylan"

This cd is so good. The lyrics are mesmerizing and thoughtful, the tunes run through my head all day long, it is something that everyone should listen to. - Ashtyn Taylor

*****!
The song "The Dead Man" could be an anthem for our times. The song evokes both the horror and the pathos associated with war. Evidenced by the other songs, Dante is obviously not a political writer, but he so squarely hits the mark here, it's a wonder that this song is not filling the airwaves. - Leon Zebrowski

September 24, 2003
Dante Mazzetti graced us with his presence today. He traded anectodes with Scayne about Frankenstein babies, and played a few songs off his album. However, things took a dramatic turn when Scayne demanded that Dante play a song about kittens. After much debate (and eventual fisticuffs), he ended up playing a song about a rabbit in the sun.
- Scayne

What a songwriting treat here that Dante delivers. Quite an artist who should be watched. Looking over his bio, Dante has been rewarded and listening to this CD, would expect more is heading his way!
Rating: 10 (Of 10)
- Spindoctor

This is a great collection of songs, with stylized lyrics and artful melodies. From the upbeat "A Walk Through the Streets" to the mournful "Dead Man," this CD takes you on a journey. But Dante isn't just a great songwriter, he's also a soulful singer. And some of the songs have a groove!
Rating 10 (Of 10) - Scranger

November 7, 2003 / Issue VIII
Big Ben rocks Oswego State

By Carrie Rosati
A&E EDITOR


Ben Folds is not only good at "Rockin' the Suburbs," but he proved that he could also rock small towns like Oswego.

Fans of Folds could not wait to get in the doors for the concert. One group of students waited outside the doors to Laker Hall all afternoon Sunday, and by 6 p.m., plenty of others had joined them.

Sunday afternoon Folds and his crew set up and did a sound check in Laker Hall in preparation for the evenings' show.

"Every night is so different, and you have to be prepared musically," Folds said. "I have kind of a rough voice, but it will last.

Folds' voice lasted through almost two hours of a crowd pleasing, one-man show. He showed off his musical talents, both on the piano and singing, and also spent time talking to the audience about his music.

Folds was not the only crowd-pleaser at the concert Sunday night. Dante Mazzetti, a singer/songwriter from New York City, opened for Folds at the concert.

Despite recent confusion on campus regarding the opening act, the audience appeared to enjoy Mazzetti's performance.

Mazzetti said he thought his performance went pretty well, and he would perform at Oswego State again.

"The people were really nice and friendly," he said.

Mazzetti's opening act was about 30 minutes long and consisted of all original songs that he wrote, with the exception of one cover song.

After Mazzetti's performance, the crowd chanted in anticipation for Folds to make his way to the stage.

# # #
- SUNY Oswego State, NY

Just Plain Rock
by Rommel Wood

On Sunday, November 2, SUNY Oswego was entertained, to say the least, by the one-man powerhouse of the piano-playing Ben Folds.
Formerly the leading man of the popular trio Ben Folds Five, which released four studio albums, Folds has branched out to form a solo career. Since September of 2001, Folds has released four albums, two EPs, a live album, and a studio-released album.

Guitar solo artist Dante Mazzetti opened the show, and despite audio and equipment problems later in his set, he played a variety of original songs, as well as some cover songs. His soulful yet almost country-influenced sound, accompanied by a rugged harmonica, offset each other rather nicely.

But just the sight of a single piano centered on the stage created a buzz among the crowd. Even without a backup band, Folds was still able to endear and captivate the gymnasium full of people. He played a lot of his less popular songs from his early days with Ben Folds Five, such as “Philosophy” and “Underground”, which many of his diehard fans appreciated. He also played some of his newer material, like “Rock in the Suburbs” and the always-popular “Brick”, which almost anyone would recognize.

In addition to his songs from the past, he gave the audience a taste of his new material that has just been released from Sunny 16, but not yet heard by many.
Probably the most memorable performances of the night were the ones that encouraged crowd participation, in both “Not the Same” and “Army”. But what really made the night was Folds’ ability to not only entertain, but to humor his fans as well between songs. He is a true showman, who really appreciates the support of his fans. He appreciates them so much that he was almost willing to stand at the door and shake everyone’s hand as they left, but he tried that once and found that after the first few handshakes, it wasn’t funny anymore.

If you weren’t a Ben Folds fan going into the show, you were when you left it.
- Oswego County Arts & Entertainment

Dante Peaks; he stops at Cove first
by Rema Rahman
Staff Writer
rahmanre@shu.edu

After opening for such acts as Something Corporate and Ben Folds Five, there is one more stage that begs for the artistic gift of an upcoming singer/songwriter.

And that stage is Seton Hall University.

That’s where Dante Mazzetti will end up Wednesday at 9 p.m. when he plays the Pirates’ Cove.

Mazzetti’s four-song EP, “Lost in Drifting,” is circulating fast, while his 12-track debut album of the same title will be released Nov. 2.

The title track “relates to a lot of the themes in the songs,” Mazzetti said.
“the songs are about finding yourself, a journey in oneself and certain adventures in an abstract way,” he said.

The 25-year-old New York City native started playing guitar at the age of seven and has been recording and performing since he was 15.

“I had a lot of people who played instruments in my family,” Mazzetti said. “ I listened to old records at a young age.”

On playing a larger concert venue versus the college crowd, Mazzetti said he prefers the latter.

“College is a strange circuit because you could either be playing for 100 people or seven people,” he said, “but its good experience.”

Mazzetti finds it different playing for people in a learning environment rather than in a concert venue where people are drunk and rowdy.

Though that can also very well describe a college crowd on a given night, “they are much better drunks,” he said.

Mazzetti has been circulating the colleges for a year and a half, which he says makes it easier to get picked up later because of the exposure.

“The audiences were different [for Ben Folds Five and Something Corporate], but it’s nice because you have a built-in audience,” he said.

Mazzetti’s appearance is part of SAB’s fall concert series. Admission is free.

Rema Rahman can be reached at rahmanre@shu.edu.
- Seton Hall University

Artist lights up Cove
by By Lindsey Czarnecki
Staff Writer
czarneli@shu.edu


With the Yankees/Red Sox game seven in full effect and dreaded midterms looming over, students still came out Oct. 20 to see singer/songwriter Dante Mazzetti perform.

The show opened with “Lost and Drifting,” an example of the personal touch Mazzetti infuses into his lyrics.

“A lot is a mix of personal experience and people I’ve known,” Mazzeti said, adding that real life joined with “fantasy and fable” is what to expect when listening.

Mazzetti accompanied his original work with several covers of Nirvana, The Cars, Tom Waitts and The Pixies, skipping on Bob Dylan, whom he named as his biggest vocal influence.

Mazzetti jokingly called covering Dylan “a good excuse when I’m singing crappy.”

The first set on Wednesday was enough to bring people back to see the second.

Mazzetti’s intrigue and distinct vocal styling was clearly noticed by Cove passersby.

“As an up-and-coming artist, I think he shows a lot of promise,” freshman Jacquelyn DeAngelo said.

The show ended with a reprise of “Lost and Drifting,” the title track on Mazzetti’s upcoming CD.

In addition to the album release, Mazzetti announced that plans for a tour with Something Corporate are in the works.

Lindsey Czarnecki can be reached at czarneli@shu.edu.
- Seton Hall University