Early Elton

Early Elton is a Tribute to the Elton John, Dee Murray and Nigel Olsson trio tours of 1970 - 1972 featuring Jeff Kazee of Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes (piano, vocals), Rich Pagano of The Fab Faux (drums and vocals) and John Conte of Southside Johnny And The Asbury Jukes (bass and vocals). With only two years since its inception, the Early Elton show is playing to capacity audiences in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut tri-state area.

As the story goes, Elton's label didn't have the funds to send him out to tour the US with a full band, yet Elton need to promote his imminent releases. Having decided on Dee and Nigel, Elton then rearranged the songs and vocals to fit within the limitations of his new lineup. Suddenly, a new sound emerged that was both raw and poignant.

While Jeff, John and Rich have painstakingly scoured the net for rare video, bootleg recordings and even Elton's own home demos in shaping their collective vision of Elton's Trio Period, they blur the line slightly between replication and innovation -- while still capturing and utilizing the spirit, mood and energy from those early tours.

GLAD: The Music of Traffic

A night of music devoted to the groundbreaking group that blew open the conventions of Rock with their influences of Jazz, Folk & Progressive Rock. Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason & Chris Wood's visionary band remains as relevant, rocking and fresh today, as it was in its 1967 inception.

Musicians Mark Rivera, Jeff Kazee & Rich Pagano—bandmates & sidemen to many of the largest names in Rock (Billy Joel, Ringo Starr, Bon Jovi, Roger Waters, to name just a few)—are excited to share their passion for the music of Traffic, with a setlist that features such classics as: Freedom Rider, Dear Mr. Fantasy, The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys, Empty Pages, and Pearly Queen—plus some deep cuts and other Traffic-related material that'd make any Rock-loving fan swerve the car.

Mark notes, "It's been a dream of mine to perform this incredible music—a band, whose records I grew up spinning endlessly—with my good friends Jeff and Rich, who just happen to share the same love for all things Traffic."

Get out of your car—and into the Traffic.

rich pagano + the sugarCane cups

rich pagano + the sugarCane cups is a New York City based rock band led by singer/drummer, songwriter, Rich Pagano. Rich also produces all of the material at his New York City studio, New Calcutta Recordings. New Calcutta was built for the sole purpose of facilitating the original music endeavors of RP+SCC but as soon as local musicians and songwriters heard the sonics of the studios initial releases, Rich found himself with a successful recording and co-wrting career that sidelined his personal musical output. Once Rich put some brakes on the commercial side of the studio, the ideas started flowing, making the studio his inner sanctum again.

Although primarily known as a drummer, Rich Pagano moved to New York City from Long Island to develop as a songwriter and producer. Juggling a life of touring, family, the constant hustle of making a living as a musician and a period of uncertainty with a level of dependency has given this artist a portal of expression. Pagano recently commented, “Some people must create art to live, otherwise one can feel less than alive.”

Rich Pagano + the SugarCane Cups has a sound that will remind the listener of solo Pete Townshend, John Lennon, 70’s colors and a roots music pulse. Lyrically, themes live between heaven and hell, strength over weakness, perseverance, defeat and escapism.

In 2009 Hi-Fidelity Music released the debut, 'Rich Pagano + the SugarCane cups' to positive reviews (voted 'best of 2009' - Blurt Magazine). The record included guest artists, Ian Hunter, Trey Anastasio, David Johansen, The Fab Faux, John Leventhal, GE Smith and Willie Nile.

Other reviews have described Pagano as “a revered musical figure” and have called the CD “an original and creatively exciting work,” and “timeless, well-constructed rock.” Other rave coverage included FOX-TV’s GOOD DAY NY, The CW NETWORK, MASSLive and Entertainment Weekly.com.

Rich is currently recording the follow up to his debut, this time planning to release songs in pairs as downloads with a deluxe package CD to follow. For more info: info@richpagano.com

Steve Conte & Blues Deluxe: The Music of Classic Rod Stewart

A body of music devoted to the British blues and prolific songwriting period of Rod Stewart and his musical career from '68 - '72. It was during this time that Rod forged his way as a compelling frontman and vocalist with the masterful ability to react with the band and its groove and lyrically on par with the likes of Bob Dylan and John Lennon.

From The Jeff Beck Group to The Faces and onto an incredible run of solo albums, the material includes some gigantic hits that still sound fresh today because of the loose nature, breath and honesty of the performances.

Steve Conte (New York Dolls) and Rich Pagano (The Fab Faux) have assembled an extraordinary and impressive group of players featuring Andy York (John Mellencamp), John Conte (Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes) and Andy Burton (John Mayer) to realize the sway and pulse of tunes like, "Beck's Bolero," "Maggie May," "I'm Losing You," "Stay With Me," "Gasoline Alley" and early influences like "Twisting The Night Away," to name a few.

Steve branches out on the tree a bit further by acknowledging the fruit of the Small Faces, the group that eventually morphed into Rod's 'Faces' that was led by another incredible vocalist, Steve Marriott. When Rod replaced Marriott in that band he brought along his pal Ron Wood from the Jeff Beck Group, adding their formidable presence to the remaining Small Faces and - voila - The Faces were born. You can expect to hear a few classics from that era as well, such as "Itchykoo Park" and "My Mind's Eye."

Classic Rod. It doesn't get much better, especially with Steve Conte & Blues Deluxe: The Music of Classic Rod Stewart tuning in the musical picture and telling the story.

The FAb Faux

With a commitment to the accurate reproduction of The Beatles' repertoire, The Fab Faux treat the seminal music with unwavering respect, and are known for their painstaking recreations of the songs (with emphasis on the later works never performed live by the Beatles). Far beyond a cover band, they play the music of The Beatles so impeccably that one must experience it to believe it. Imagine hearing complex material like "Strawberry Fields Forever" or "I Am the Walrus" performed in complete part-perfect renditions; or such harmony-driven songs as "Because", "Nowhere Man", and "Paperback Writer", reproduced not only note- for-note, but with extra vocalists to achieve a double-tracked effect.

The musical virtuosity of The Fab Faux – in actuality, five of the hardest working musicians in NYC – completely up-ends the concept of a Beatles tribute band. Far beyond being extended sets of cover versions, their astounding shows are an inspired re-discovery of the Beatles’ musical magic, as The Fab Faux tackles the group’s most demanding material live onstage in a way that has to be experienced to be believed.

Calling them, “the greatest Beatles cover band – without the wigs,” Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke wrote, “the Faux invigorate the artistry of even the Beatles’ most intricate studio masterpieces with top chops and Beatlemaniac glee...” Approaching the songs with the intent of playing them live as accurately in musical reading and in spirit as possible, The Faux’s breathtaking performances tend to dispel all concertgoers’ previous notions of a Beatles tribute act.

"The Fab Faux have the hardest job in the history of R & R and they pull it off damn well. All rock bands want to be like the Beatles; these guys have the nerve to BE the Beatles. Amazingly, they're so good at it you learn new things about the originals" - Dave Marsh, legendary Rock Critic and Sirius Radio Host.

The Fab Faux are a labor of love that was born in 1998 when Will Lee (who’s played with all 4 Beatles), bassist for Paul Shaffer’s CBS Orchestra on the Late Show With David Letterman decided that he was determined to organize the greatest Beatles band without any props (sans period wardrobe, fake accents, wigs) and focus on the intricacies and soul of the music.

Rounding out the line-up are Jimmy Vivino, Music Director/Guitarist for 'Conan' and long time music partner of Levon Helm, John Sebastian, Laura Nyro, lead-singing drummer/producer Rich Pagano (Rosanne Cash, Roger Waters, etc.), guitarist, Frank Agnello (Marshall Crenshaw, Phoebe Snow, etc.) and multi-instrumentalist, Jack Petruzzelli (Joan Osborne [producer, Love And Hate], Patti Smith, etc.). All five principals contribute vocals, making the Faux’s soaring harmonies as resonant as their multi-instrumental chops, which are further enhanced on select shows by the four-piece Hogshead Horns (with Blues Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears and SNL band alums) and The Creme Tangerine Strings.

The Faux’s high energy shows have generated serious buzz not only at top NYC venues including sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall and The Beacon Theater in New York City – with Beatles fans, movie stars and world class musicians in attendance – but at major dates in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Park City, Utah (Sundance), Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago and Toronto, among other locales. They’ve headlined 5 of Liverpool’s annual Beatle Festivals, playing before 35,000 Beatle fanatics – while in England, they had the rare honor of recording an original song at Abbey Road Studios – and also delighted the masses performing live on the Howard Stern Show and The Mark And Brian Show. Benefit and corporate dates have included events for JVC, the N.B.A. and the Michael J. Fox Parkinsons Research Foundation. TV appearances include Late Show with David Letterman and "Conan."

“It's not just a cover band,” says the Faux’s Pagano. “This is the greatest Pop music ever written, and we're such freaks for it...Vivino adds, "It’s constant archaeology.” Imagine the instrumental complexities of “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “A Day in the Life” performed part-perfect with an orchestra. The lush, multi-layered harmonies of “Because,” and “Eleanor Rigby” sung note-for-note. The adrenaline rush of “Helter Skelter,” "Tomorrow Never Knows" and “Paperback Writer,” delivered spot on…Agnello adds, "Even more difficult than the later period material is recreating the exuberance and energy of the early records, but we love to play it all." "Whenever anyone saw The Beatles perform it was just the four guys," Lee continues. "You never saw them on stage with a sitar or a string section. When the show calls for it, we have all that stuff."