Now that’s a plate worthy of the Dinosaur

Our friends Georgia and Bert had an idea for Easter brunch. Upstairs at the Dinosaur had a little get-together planned, she informed my dear wife Karen. Two settings were available, noon and 3 p.m. I said I’d rather go early. I walked through the buffet line and said yes to the Spanish frittata, ham, prime…

The Shop gets back together at Upstairs at the Dinosaur

Music lover and writer Chris Rapp sent over a message a couple of months ago to alert me about a favorite old Syracuse band of his that was getting back together next weekend. Rapp urged that I alert the world through my blog. He even sent the pictures here along with his text. Rapp wrote…

A mix of big time, little city at Syracuse Area Music Awards get-together

Joe Whiting stood at the podium in front of the asssembled and interested folk in the Palace Theatre on Syracuse’s James Street this morning, a quite capable and appropriate choice to fill them in on the 2015 Hall of Fame class and list of nominees for the Sammys ceremonies that will take place March 5…

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;…

Discovering a new angle of an old friend

When my dear wife Karen and I settled in to eat bodadcious barbecue Sunday night before Castle Creek took the stage at Upstairs at Upstairs at the Dinosaur, two friendly faces asked if two chairs either side of us were taken. Peter Allen and his wonderful wife Sherry joined us. We’ve been friends through three…

A rocking party to celebrate a special album

Many of you took the time to comment about my Friday review of Castle Creek’s new recording “The Only Life,” so I thought you might like to share the vibe of the duo’s Sunday night CD release party at Syracuse’s cool room Upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. I had my iPhone 6 warmed up and…

New rooms, familiar players, cool release … and I still dig the Syracuse sound

Back when I covered the Central New York music scene for the big daily, I always had it in the back of my mind somewhere that these voices, these talents, these people I was hearing, seeing, watching, following, talking with, tracking, well, they were as good as the folks other people doing this job in…

What do you call the event to honor the best musicians in your city?

Perhaps you have heard of the Gramophone. That’s the machine invented to listen to recorded music. Alexander Graham Bell was involved. Then Emile Berliner came up with a process in 1887 that used records. Records evolved to black vinyl, topped with grooves. The early record players were equipped with a horn-shaped speaker of sorts. That’s…