Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers gets there with folk strings style

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, “Almost There” Label: Words and Music Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers starts this dozen-song collection off with “Eight Days in January,” an interesting story in which the Syracuse singer, songwriter and acoustic strings player enlists the help of Rani Arbo on fiddle and harmony vocals. I thought I was off on a trip to…

A gift of song from Todd Hobin

Syracuse singer and songwriter Todd Hobin sent out an email to friends and family last night, and I just opened it now. The member of the Syracuse Area Music Awards Hall of Fame talks about a fruitful 2014, tells of good plans ahead for 2015, and, most importantly, shares the story behind his original Christmas…

All-Beatles show will visit ‘Abbey Road’ this time around

This year’s Syracuse Beatles spectacular will send its all-star cast out on the Landmark Theatre stage to deliver the goods from the memorable album “Abbey Road.” The name of the evening is “Beatlecuse,” and it’s the work of Paul Davie and his My Generation Music Promotions Company. Davie also plays guitar and bass and sings…

What’s Phantom Chemistry, you ask? Hot rock, to start

Listen attentively to the lyrics “Whiskey Slurs” and you’d think these could be the stories of people fighting out their living one block over, one street down, one neighborhood away. Maybe even in the garage next door. They sing about being in a band and how proud they are of it and hell no, that…

Dylan covers Sinatra, too much or too late?

When Brian Williams told me on “NBC Nightly News” earlier this week that Bob Dylan had recorded an album of Frank Sinatra songs I sat up and listened harder. Ten songs. Title of ““Shadows in the Night.” Coming out in February. Williams, such a music lover himself that he has a pretty cool online series…

Collecting coats and gloves to help children in need

It’s become a regular mission for Syracuse hip-hop artists R Source and Tyler Walton. For the fourth year in a row, R R Source and Dutch Beetz have organized their Beat the Cole for the Kids campaign. The versatile entertainment veterans ask everybody to open their hearts and look in their closets for new warm…

Syracuse’s best will be honored on March 5, 6

The Syracuse Area Music Awards will present its Hall of Fame inductions on March 5 at Upstairs at the Dinosaur and annual awards ceremony March 6 at the Palace Theatre on James Street. Performers for the ceremony will include Joanne Shenandoah, who’s a member of the Sammys Hall of Fame and a Grammy Award winner;…