Author: John Giotto

The Confetti Clatter- January 2020 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

Reflecting on 2019

As we look back at 2019 in photos, we hope that all of our fans and followers will have a happy and prosperous new year. 2020 will be a special year for us, as it is our 35th anniversary. Thirty five years as a group means saying hellos and goodbyes many times, to both followers and group members. Whether a person performed once, or for several years with It’s My Party, we hope that they developed some esprit de corps through their participation in this group. Your efforts are appreciated and you will not be forgotten.

2019 was an exciting year for It’s My Party. We performed eighteen times over a 6-week span. Highlights for the season included the Lyons, NY performance for their farmers’ market, and the well-attended annual performance at What’s ‘Ur Scoop Ice Cream. We also returned to Honeoye Public Library Concerts and the Sodus Bay Lighthouse Concerts after a long hiatus from performing at both events. New venues included the Rochester Country Club and Ferris Hills at West lake.

It’s My Party is truly a grassroots enterprise, we do not have a professional photographer, videographer, merchandiser, or manager, rather we rely on the generous contributions of family, friends and fans, The following slideshow are shots taken by our fan Ken Kleinendorst at our Hammondsport and Shortsville performances this past Summer:

New Performance dates for 2020:

23jul6:00 pm8:00 pmEvent CancelledHammondsport Music in the Park

06aug6:00 pm8:00 pmEvent CancelledIrondequoit Farmers' Market

The Confetti Clatter- December 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

“Where words fail, music speaks.” ― Hans Christian Andersen

To Cover, or Not to Cover (When it’s a good idea to leave well-enough alone)

This article was originally posted in March 2013, but is worth reposting for our new fan base.

It’s about that time of year when the group decides to add new songs to the play-list for the upcoming concert season. IT’S MY PARTY! is faced with many challenges when selecting songs. On the odd showcase event, it’s a no-brainer to perform as many original and arcane tunes as possible. However, that strategy would fail at our typical Western, NY performances, where the audience leans toward songs they know and already like. Although we try to strike a balance between a few originals, some esoteric numbers, and a good amount of charting songs from the ’60s and ’70s, we still have folks, from time-to-time, approach us after shows upset that they didn’t recognize many songs we performed. Recalling the big hits we just performed like, “Chapel of Love,” and “It’s My Party,” doesn’t propitiate these audience members, and they leave the concert disappointed. Unlike 2013, our recent balance of songs leans toward more recognizable tunes, including a spattering of male vocal hits.

This brings me to my thoughts on when and how to cover a particular song. There are some songs I would view as untouchable, in that the original shows such genius and musical pathos, it simply can not be attempted as a cover. Almost every Shangri-las song falls into this category. An attempt to cover “Leader of the Pack” would come off as stilted, that one, although recognizable to all, is best left alone. On the other hand you could give “Long Live Our Love” a try. We had included Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want To Be With You,” in the past, but the attempt fell flat; clearly we were reaching too far on that one. We added this song back into our set list in 2018.

Sometimes the best strategy for some covers — and this would not sit well with those wanting to hear a recognizable tune — is to interpret that song in a unique or creative way. If you will, making that song your own. Look for the girls trying a few of these this year. Was Santana’s version of “She’s Not There” a good cover? Sure, and he put his own spin on the song. Any Zombies song is pretty much untouchable; don’t even try to replicate them! The entire Zombies album Odessey and Oracle is a masterpiece, but that’s a subject for a future post.

On the very rare occasion, the cover can actually eclipse the original recording. For this to happen, it can’t be one of those untouchables. The one instance that comes to mind is the artist, Lick the Tins and their ’80s cover of “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” originally recorded by Elvis Presley in 1961. This song is ripe for a cover, hey, it’s not from one of the Sun sessions! Some may argue, it’s not one of his best. Lick the Tins took the song in a whole new direction. As Ron Stein, of whom It’s My Party is the brain child, said, “Lick the Tins performed the song the way it should have been originally recorded.” That coming from one of the top Elvis fans of all time!

So I will leave you with two links, one to the original Presley version, and the other to the wonderful rendition by Lick the Tins. Give a listen, and feel free to weigh in on this subject by posting your thoughts.

 

The Confetti Clatter – November 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

We have our first show booked for 2020!

We’re back at Dairy Queen next July.

05jul6:00 pm8:00 pmEvent CancelledDairy Queen Car Cruise Night

New video uploaded to YouTube

Our official YouTube channel has a new video from our August 14 performance in Shortsville. We would like to thank Ken for making the close to 200 mile trek to see us on a regular basis, and for bringing along his video recording gear. This is a good year to release videos because we feature an experienced lineup of vocalists and musicians. By the middle of August, we were running on all cylinders. 

This segment is a cover of The Cowsills song, “The Path of Love.” We chose this song for two reasons, first off, Emma sounds great singing this one, and it is one the band likes to perform. Secondly, it is a tribute to the Cowsills, and specifically John Cowsill, who sang lead vocals as a youth on the original recording.

Back in 1999, we played in Los Angeles for the first time. The venue was a club called The Gig in Hollywood and we were one of several bands performing that night. Of course we were nervous, but the reception couldn’t have been better. Well, we started played “On the Beach Tonight,” and for some reason the girls were singing a half-step out-of-tune. We thought that when Don, our guitarist, started playing the solo, the girls would hear the key and adjust, but no, they came in again off-key. This was one of the most bizarre moments in group history!

Well, the guys held their heads low leaving the stage, but the girls were all smiles. We sulked back into the dressing room.  Soon thereafter, one of the bouncers asked if someone could come backstage to meet us. We said, “Sure.” So in walks this guy who was just gushing about our performance, and mentioning that it reminded him of a band he once had with his family. He made us feel a lot better than we had about the show. When he left, the bouncer asked if we knew who he was. We didn’t and he said, “That’s John Cowsill of The Cowsills.” He only mentioned his name was John, and we were impressed by his humility, as he never mentioned his family band by name. 

Later in the night, we cheered John on as he played drums in his band. I will never forget that night and the impression John made on us. From that moment I knew we had to cover a Cowsills number as a tribute to John, and finally in 2019, we did. 

Fast-forward to 2012, and Paul and I went to see the Beachboys perform at Darien Lake. John was playing drums for them at that time, and Brian Wilson was back in the fold. It was a super concert. John Cowsill is an accomplished drummer, and Darian Sahanaja, a great guy, and fan of It’s My Party was playing keyboards and percussion that night. It was Darian who mentioned too us how much the vibraphone was used in ’60s girl group music, which led to us buying the instrument. He was so impressed that we brought our own glockenspiel the LA show, which he also attended. Unfortunately, our attempt to catch up with the guys back stage didn’t happen.  It’s refreshing to see that accomplished musicians like John and Darian are grounded and supportive of others like us.

A Look back at the March 22, 1986 live performance at The Casablanca

(We originally posted this article in 2011, but it’s worthy of re-posting for our new followers)

This historic post contains a play-list of four live recordings by the original IT’S MY PARTY! girls. The date was March 22, 1986, the venue, the now defunct Casablanca on East Henrietta Road in Rochester, NY. Our road manager at the time, Arnie Kraft, captured the recording on, of all things, a cassette boom-box. Listen to that recording wonder machine “hard limit!” Which brings me to a one of my recording philosophies, equipment is the least important aspect of the recording process; all the equipment in the world will not compensate for a mediocre performance.

Liz, singing at the Casablanca

Track one is Liz, the second IT’S MY PARTY! girl to join the group, performing a Revillos/Rezillos’ tune “Bitten By a Love Bug.” The early group played seventies and eighties girl groups as well. Listen to Dave Carroll’s nifty guitar work on this track. Gary Skinner– the guy responsible for coming up with the name for the group — shows his versatility by adding the second guitar. This song was always fun to perform and a real crowd-pleaser.

Sonia, girl number three, sings our namesake, “It’s My Party.” What struck me immediately about Sonia was her ability to blend in a vocal harmony, a talent very few singers possess. On this track Sonia shows she can sing a strong lead vocal as well. It’s no surprise that someone with Sonia’s talent continues to endeavor in music; to see what Sonia is doing musically today, click Sonia Lee to arrive at her official website.

Sharon singing at the Casablanca

Never a group to shy away from performing an esoteric track, “On and On,” was originally recorded in the ’60s by Joy and the Sorrows. Sharon, the first girl to join the group, takes lead. This is an honest recording, perhaps the vocal ensemble is a bit out of tune here and there, but hey, you try singing while a band is blasting in your ears! And besides, I really like the emotion in Sharon’s delivery.

Gary, Dave, Liz and Sonia at the Casablanca


Finally, listen to Liz singing lead on The Chiffons’ classic “Sweet Talkin’ Guy.” Her brilliant rendition carries the proper emotion and more than compensates for the “tricky” drummer — myself! — who had to overplay. Sometimes it takes awhile to figure out that drums are an ensemble instrument. Listen to Gary Skinner’s solid opening on the keyboard and his attention to detail during the music break.

The Confetti Clatter – October 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

New instrument acquired for recording purposes

Ever since I was was child, I have found the pleasant plucking tone of the harpsichord irresistible. I was immediately drawn in whenever I heard the instrument being played on recordings or the radio. Coincidentally, while listening to the my father’s Swingle Singers records, I gained an appreciation for all things baroque. As a youth, I studied piano, thinking that the baroque pieces I worked on would sound so much better, if played on harpsichord. 

Through my younger days, songs including a harpsichord crept onto the pop music scene. The Jamies recording of “Summertime, Summertime,” being one of the earliest from 1958, but the one that made an impression on me was Paul Mauriat’s instrumental cover of “Love is Blue,” in 1968. If you are not familiar with this recording, the harpsichord is prominently featured in this heavily-orchestrated piece.

In college, I studied, among other things, percussion and piano, and although my piano teacher intimated that I could perform my assigned baroque pieces on the school’s harpsichord, it never happened.

I’ve always wanted to play or possibly own a harpsichord. And now, that dream has become a reality. Sam Nitsch, one of our talented violinists, let me know that his father was thinking about parting with his harpsichord. It was built in 1972, and was in need of some repairs. Kevin, Sam’s father, was at a crossroads with the instrument, thinking it may be time to part with it. One visit to Kevin’s house convinced me that it was going to be mine. Fortunately, the greater Rochester area has a harpsichord craftsman who completed the repairs on my instrument and had it playing good as new after working on it for about a week. 

My harpsichord is a single manual instrument, meaning there is only one row of keys, but it’s not exactly light. Somehow, my sister and I were able to carry it into the house, even though it had to be tilted to fit through the front door. I sat down and familiarized myself with the levers and lute stop that shape the sound of the instrument. Interestingly, the harpsichord can not be played dynamically from the keys, it does not matter how hard you depress them, the jacks pluck the strings the same way.

After my initial fascination, I began to play passages from some pop and rock songs that feature harpsichord, from the opening to “I Haven’t Got the Nerve,” by the Left Banke, to the harpsichord solo in “I Think I Love You, “ by the Partridge Family. Next, I played the part to “Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat,” by the DeFranco Family, and then, having recently seen the Linda Rondstadt documentary, thought about the solo to the Stone Poneys’ tune, “Different Drum.” And yes, I finally played some of my old college pieces on the instrument, better late, than never.

The most exciting part of this acquisition is the possibility of using the harpsichord on an It’s My Party recording. We have one song we have been working on called “Mister Sunshine” that lends itself to adding a harpsichord to the ensemble. I have been working on some riffs for this song that are promising. I’m sure, by trial and error, we’ll find exactly where this instrument should sit in the mix. We’ll keep you posted.

Apparently this harpsichord replicates a traditional Flemish design

Upcoming editions of the Confetti Clatter

October and November are typically slow months for news about the group, but we will keep the newsletters coming to you. We are expecting new video footage of the 2019 tour from Ken, one of our fans, who records most of our performances. We will upload them to YouTube, and give you a heads up here on our website. There should also be more photos from the past season we will also share with you.

Feel free to leave a comment or question. Pop music has many examples of the use of the harpsichord, from the Beachboys to the Rolling Stones, to the Kinks and of course the Beatles. Perhaps you have a favorite example, if so please start a discussion here.

 

 

The Confetti Clatter – September 2019

Posted on by John Giotto

The Finale that almost wasn’t

The following article is a fan-submission that focuses on our final performance of the 2019 season in Newark, NY. We would like to thank this fan for his observations and kind words — enjoy!

Fan submission:

My spouse and I definitely do appreciate the music, the joy, that you folks in It’s My Party give as a group.   
 
We’re fortunate to have caught several It’s My Party band performances in the 2019 season! Now, it’s a waiting game of nearly 10 1/2 months until such time when we can again receive that It’s My Party! brand of joy in live concert format.  We are indeed fortunate for those live concerts, and yes, recorded versions do help It’s My Party fans, to varying degree, in filling in that 10 1/2 month hiatus when no live performances are given. 
 
I offer some comments on the last performance of the season, the partially rain-eclipsed scheduled show in Newark on Friday 8/16/2019.  Awesome! …, the “partially unplugged” iteration of It’s My Party, while shorter in concert duration was even richer in presentation & enthusiasm level in some respects. Perhaps in part due to the vocalists being sans bright lighting in their eyes — the lighting gear was not functioning after the rain — and also due to the intimacy and enthusiasm of the audience, interaction with the band members, and adding one more It’s My Party Girl — Sarah briefly returns to make a foursome of It’s My Party girl vocalists — certainly helped.  As well, perhaps being the last summer 2019 opportunity to perform together, and the camaraderie — it is evident — that exists in It’s My Party lent to this uniquely dynamic performance. Oh, and then too, there was that new 3 year old sensation, Bianca — yes, her favorite colors are purple and pink — who sang the concert’s closing song along with the It’s My Party vocalists. She’s a band fan, a huge appreciator, and wow how cool to have opportunity to sing a song as an It’s My Party girl, replete with Sierra’s microphone, and be “killin’ it” at the tender age of 3 years old. The It’s My Party girls, especially Sierra, did a wonderful job encouraging this very young singing sensation, as did the audience. 
 

Bianca closes the night with her rendition of “It’s My Party.”

 
Those who did not wait out the rain surely missed a very special It’s My Party performance, while total it was probably less than an hour performance, none-the-less well worth waiting out the rain, sticking around for, and our making the hour plus travel to get there. To expatiate some, here is more about the 8/16/2019 Newark concert, and about the group.  John, the band manager, early on had apparently been monitoring weather radar on a mobile electronic device. Having some experience with thunderstorms, band performances and safety of band members and audience, John announced that it was not a question of “if,” but rather “when,” the thunderstorms would be tracking over the concert location and suggested to audience members they may consider picking up their chairs and waiting out the storm in safety of vehicles. The concert performance would be on hold, waiting for the approaching stormy weather to pass. Thereafter the majority of the audience dispersed, finding “cover” in one manner or another, albeit some waited out with their chairs on the warm evening, and some umbrellas appeared, … all this before rain started. Well, a possible turn of events and things cleared a bit, and It’s My Party in yeoman’s fashion started performing. Meanwhile, one It’s My Party fan had gone to the nearby grocery store, and decided in waiting for the performance, it would be “ice cream for all” and so bought boxes of ice cream sandwiches for handing out to band members and concertgoers alike. Rain sprinkles came, then rain, then rain and blowing, and of course the band stopped playing. Enough room existed under the pavilion that the audience, now pared down in numbers, was graciously invited to “come in out of the rain” joining the band in veneration under the pavilion to stay dry and safe. And it was Ice cream time under the pavilion, and too for those under cover of the gazebo and the “covered bridge,” for those who chose to partake in the sweet treat. Eventually the two separate banks of thunderstorms ran their course and the weather cleared. So, yep, … time for It’s My Party to perform.  And it was then that the lighting would not operate, so it became the “partially unplugged” It’s My Party performance. And what a performance it was! 
 
One of my observations, Emma, particularly at this 8/16/2019 unplugged concert was really into the performance, more so than usual. The vibes she sent out, in form of vocalizations, energy, and body language said so. If you’ve never seen It’s My Party in live concert, well, you may not realize that certain songs that are performed by respective lead vocalists are “owned” by the lead vocalist. What does that mean?, you may ask. Well, the vocalist and the song simply jive together so well, that the delivery can be received by audience members as nothing short of spectacular, beyond the usual great delivery of sound by this group. Sierra, Emma, and Frankie each exhibit this phenomenon, and too this evening so did the special duet of James and Sarah. Of course, instruments and back-up vocals may lend to this phenomenon. And, yes… it is possible to feel the “owning” in some back-up vocals as opposed to the lead vocal, and yes it can be both in some instances. I’m guessing this “owning” reception may be more likely felt by those folks who deeply connect with music, perhaps some folks may not feel the level of “owning” enthusiasm. 
 

Sarah returns, and with James sings “I Just Want to Stay Here.”

 
It’s My Party concerts provide multiple opportunities for those in the band. James the multi-talented instrumentalist gets in some singing, even Paul the bass player, and sometimes some other band member may get some vocalist line(s). And, yes, there are others in the band who also play multiple instruments and with versatility make the band larger for it. Beyond the vocalists, there is indeed “singing” by instruments. The violin section, in particular, has some showcasing “singing” segments. Respective wind instruments, prevalent saxophone, trombone & trumpet too, keyboards, guitar, bass, and numerous percussion instruments all have their moments and lend to the richness of an It’s My Party performance, and have capability at times to “own” particular parts of various songs.  
 
I’d not wish for rain when an It’s My Party concert is scheduled. Heck, most concert appreciators would not wish for rain when an outdoor music concert is scheduled, albeit folks who do not like outdoor concerts and prefer the indoors atmosphere may make such a wish, in hopes that a concert rain location, indoors, may be utilized. Those folks are in an extreme minority, I’d guess. I’ll say this, … it can be those oddity scenarios, such as when rain has come and gone yet the It’s My Party concert continues to be held, that creates opportunity which leads to unusual bonding moments between band members and fans. I’m fortune to have experienced this on more than one occasion, and the Friday 8/16/2019 Newark concert was indeed among such scenarios.         
 
Not lost on me, that the parents of the young performers in this band have lent huge developmental support to these capable vocalists and instrument players alike, and continue support of these musically talented performers. And for the older band members, long out of JHS, HS, & college, yes we recognize you too likely had some of the same support by parents, teachers, and mentors, and that support has lent to talents you showcase in It’s My Party band.
  
Disney World has been dubbed by its promoters as “the happiest place on earth,” I’ve “been there, done that” on multiple occasions. And while I’ve never been to a Beatles concert, I feel I’ve had enough exposure to numerous other concerts and “Beatles experiences” to have a flavor of what going to a Beatles concert would be like.  For pure joy, given the choice of going to Disney World, a Beatles Concert, or an It’s My Party Concert, my preference is, and continues to be, a concert performed by It’s My Party. Thank You, It’s My Party, for the joy you send into the world and for the unique way in which you do so! 
 

In Closing

Let us know if you have a special It’s My Party moment you would like to share. Contact us by email to share a full article, or simply leave a quick moment as a comment to this post.

Although our performance season has ended, we will continue to work on a new recording, possibly our first “long-player” in quite some time. Also, 2020 is our 35th anniversary as a group, and we are planning a special year. So, keep returning to our newsletter for updates on these events as well as other developments.

 

The Confetti Clatter – August 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

Four Shows in Four Nights

We never turn down an opportunity to perform, which led to an interesting twist to the summer 2019 tour, a cluster of four performances on consecutive nights. This is the first time in group history that we faced such a task, and quite frankly some of us had our doubts. Would voices hold up? Could the crew, many of whom are also musicians, endure four ten-hour days of toil and performance? What would be the effect on the show, especially on shows three and four? All of these questions were answered, and we’d like to tell the story in this edition of the Confetti Clatter.

First Show: Wednesday July 24 Ferris Hills at West Lake

This was the first time we played at this venue, which is a senior living home on the west side of Canandaigua Lake. Claire, the events coordinator, was helpful in making sure we had everything we needed to have the show go smoothly.

We were hampered during set up by afternoon showers, but eventually the skies cleared. The show ran only one hour, from 7 to 8 PM. The residents were not shy about sitting very close to the band and seemed to enjoy every note. Several folks danced or mouthed the words to some of the hits. A big bonus for us was being able to perform for residents of the nearby VA hospital, who were bused in for the special occasion.

One down and everyone was happy, but how would we hold up for the rest of the stretch? Since our next gig was in Hammondsport, there was no sense driving the gear back to Rochester. Instead the crew secured a room at the Canandaigua Econolodge — more on this later.

Second Show: Thursday July 25 Hammondsport, NY

The weather report was questionable for the afternoon, but we received a call at 11:00 from the Trinity with the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce, that the concert was a go. This show has become an annual for us, and the community always looks forward to our return. Trinity helped by securing parking along the village green for our truck and trailer in advance of our arrival at noon. 

The journey from Canandaigua to Hammondsport is both scenic and hilly. Descending into Potter, NY is always interesting with a trailer in haul! We always stop by the Crooked lake Mercantile, in Branchport, NY for a sandwich along the way to Hammondsport, and this time was no exception. The food and service was top-notch, as usual.

Always look forward to lunch at the Crooked Lake Mercantile

Arriving in Hammondsport, we began setting up. This takes two people about six hours, maybe less, if we don’t carry a percussion player, which was the case for all four of these shows.

Ken, formerly the head of the Chamber of Commerce, introduced us and the show went off without a hitch. The village green was full of appreciative attendees. This is the farthest we travel from our home base, and it is worth every mile. As soon as the concert ended, thoughts of returning in 2020 came to mind. Some of us dined at the various eateries after the performance.

At show’s end in Hammondsport

Show Three: July 26 Veterans’ Gazebo, Honeoye, NY

After the performance in Hammondsport, we returned to the Econolodge in Canandaigua for our second night. The facility was clean and obviously well cared for. I struck up a conversation with the owner about his garden along the side of the building. He shared one of his hot peppers, and said I could take any plantings I liked in the future. We talked about Indian cooking, and then it was on to Honeoye, about 45 minutes to the south west.

The Econolodge in Canandaigua as we depart Friday morning

The weather forecast for Honeoye was perfect, but the clouds quickly accumulated, as they often do in Western New York during the summer. The crew had sandwiches at the nearby ShurFine supermarket, and stopped by at Ward’s Lumber to purchase some tools before the task-at-hand. One of the appeals of performing small towns and hamlets is supporting local vendors, rather than the usual big-box stores. It wasn’t long after we began pulling gear from the trailer that the sky began to look ominous, and distant thunder was apparent to the north. Four outdoor shows on consecutive nights is asking a bit much for this part of the world, and it looked like this one would be cancelled.

Honeoye: Let the set up begin!

Just before showtime, a few raindrops fell, but most of the activity was to the north and south, Honeoye was in a corridor that dodged the major downpours. Admittedly, the crew was a step slower, due to a third show in three nights and the oppressive heat.

The skies cleared somewhat for the performance, and Wendy, the organizer was thrilled with the turnout and performance. It had been six years since we played this venue, and hopefully we’ll return sooner. 

So far voices were holding and the band continued to play enthusiastically. One glitch was the PA system, which failed to output the left channel. We quickly switched to mono for the show, and wondered what went wrong. Would this happen again tomorrow at the next show, with no time to troubleshoot?

Show Four: July 27 Country Club of Rochester 

Our final stop of the marathon was in our hometown of Rochester, NY. The Country Club of Rochester is steeped in tradition, it is the home course of  legendary golfer Walter Hagen, where he began as a caddie. This show was part of an evening dining experience for club members, which included lobster and drink. We performed on the terrace, under an awning, fortunately, as the mercury soared to 89 degrees. The skies threatened, but once again we dodged the rain. It was quite a walk from the driveway to the terrace, and it seemed as if we were in moving slow motion. 

Don “Riffin” Griffin joined us on guitar, here at the Country Club of Rochester

The performance was surprisingly strong, with high marks going out to our string section. We were well-received, with a few members taking cards at the end of the night, while others made positive comments on our Facebook page. As for the PA, the left channel output came back to life; fortunate, but would the problem arise again? The run of four shows was over, and it was time to recuperate!

 

New Show announced, a reschedule of a rain out

08aug6:00 pm8:00 pmGeneva Lakefront Park

The Confetti Clatter – July 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

2019 tour begins at Burgundy Basin

The group opened its live performance tour on June 18 at the Burgundy Basin car cruise. The weather, always a deciding factor, was perfect, which brought out cars in force. The organizers counted 235 cars on the lawn, with an estimated crowd of well over 500 attendees. The vendor sold out food and drink before the end of the night, an indicator of a successful event.

Sierra, Frankie, Emma and young friends before showtime

After shaking off some understandable rust and jitters, the group performed a strong second set. Two new additions to the repertoire, “He’s the Greatest,” and “Path of Love,” were big hits, especially with long-time fans.

The violin section was particularly strong during this performance. Props go out to Matt Doi, who filled in admirably on guitar, and Drew, who covered piano after only one practice. Ed and Jakob set up the sound system, lighting truss and backline, in addition to running sound and lights during the show.

Our next performance is in Batavia, at the Jackson Square alley on July 5. Regulars James and Dylon will cover guitar and keyboards at this show, while Matt Doi shifts to saxophones. Our former singer, Michelle, will be our special guest.

New show added!

We have been invited to perform on Sunday, July 7 as part of the Greece Dairy Queen’s Sunday car cruise. We would love to see you at there. This is our one-and-only show on the west-side of town this year! 

07jul6:00 pm8:00 pmDairy Queen Classic Car Cruise Night

Social media guru needed

It has become clear to us that we are not documenting our live shows or news as effectively as we could. This is the result of one or two people wearing too many hats, and the fact that we are in-the-moment and not observers. We would like to reach out to any of our local followers who may be interested in becoming part of our team as a social media specialist. This assignment would entail taking photos at live performances, photo sessions, and recording sessions, and then adding catchy additions to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you are interested please contact us my email, or by posting a comment below.

The Confetti Clatter – June 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

From Casual Fan to Support Crew Technician

One of the benefits of performing with It’s My Party is meeting so many outstanding people. Sometimes fans become an integral part of our team. Ken Peters, became our guitarist and songwriter from 1986 through 1988. Arne Kraft was our road manager from 1985 through 1986. Cedric Young played guitar for us in the late 2000s. Kevin Plinzke, a friend with a passion for music, was our outstanding sound technician in 1988. Recently, Ed O’Connell, a loyal follower, joined the group in many capacities.

Here is his story: 

Ed was raised in Bayonne and Princeton, NJ in the early to late ’60s. After winning an AM/FM radio in his youth, Ed began tuning into 77 WABC from New Your City and the Philadelphia Sound from 56 WFIL. Listening to these stations, Ed gained an admiration for the rock-n-roll and pop music of the time. Although his aunt was a musical, owning a baby grand piano, Ed never considered himself a musician, giving up on French horn. “I hated lugging that heavy case around and I didn’t think it was a cool instrument,” Ed recalled. However, in high school he joined chorus and in his senior year some members of the chorus, including Ed, began singing  doo-wop songs at school functions. 

During his college years, Ed started to listen to contemporary FM stations, which opened him up to new genres of music. Later on, through his passion for model railroading, Ed met two fellow model railroaders who happened to also be musicians, Bob, the guitarist in Big Tree Road, a classic rock cover band, and Joe, the drummer in Four Man Trio, which covered the music of the ’50s &’60s.

In 2009, while still living in New Jersey, Ed happened upon It’s My Party by way of YouTube. As he recalls, “I was looking for the 1968 hit ‘Will You Be Staying After Sunday’, but did not know the name of who recorded it, since it was by a lesser known group. I Googled the title and in addition to a YouTube video of the Peppermint Rainbow doing a lip-synced performance on a TV variety show, the second thing on the list was a recently posted video of three attractive young women in period outfits performing the song backed by several musicians in black suits.” Of course, he was referring to It’s My Party.

After checking the link to our website, Ed discovered that we were from Rochester, NY, where his sister and mother happened to live. Although Ed did not get a chance to see one of our shows shortly after discovering us, he ended up moving to Rochester, on New Year’s Eve 2010. 

The next three seasons Ed caught about three shows a year. And at our What’s ‘Ur Scoop performance in 2013, he reunited with John Clemente, the author of Girl Groups – Fabulous Females Who Rocked The World, in which John had included It’s My Party. John was the lead singer of the aforementioned Four Man Trio. Surprised to see his erstwhile friend, John sent a selfie of himself and Ed to Joe, the drummer, along with the caption, “Look who I found!”

After following us for several years, Ed asked if he could help in any way, that’s when his involvement began. Ed started out by helping tear down gear at the end of the performances. He organizing skills and trailer packing prowess were evident. Slowly Ed’s involvement expanded. From merchandising, to running lights, and even sound, Ed did it all, providing yeoman service. At the end of the 2017 tour, Ed helped store gear and repair any equipment that may have taken a beating during the touring months. One example was repairing the broken frame of an expensive glockenspiel.

He may not play an instrument, but he is instrumental.

In 2018, Ed contributed to every show, juggling his work schedule as an EMT. Ed has proven invaluable with everything he does for us.  For his efforts, Ed enjoys the camaraderie among the It’s My Party team, which includes hanging out with those who can at an after-gig, late-night meal, usually at Denny’s.

Ed recalled one special after-gig gathering, “While several of us were eating at Denny’s, someone commented on the multitude of talents I had assisting the band. I replied that I could do just about anything except play an instrument. James quickly responded,  ‘He may not play an instrument, but he is instrumental.’ I took that as the ultimate compliment.” 

From left to right: Ian, James, Steve and Ed provided setup at tear down during the 2017 season.

We appreciate Ed and all our attendees, and we are certainly looking forward to our first show of the season on June 18th at Burgundy Basin Inn. We know Ed will be there, six hours before showtime. Ed at times longs to return to New Jersey,  however, in his eyes there would be a price to pay, “You can take a guy out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey out of the guy. Maybe I’ll go back there someday, but then I’d really miss It’s My Party!” We would surely miss you too, Ed!

18jun6:00 pm8:00 pmBurgundy Basin Inn Cruise Night

Readers make Guesses on our Cover Song Artist

In our May newsletter we mentioned that our group is recording a cover song from an unlikely artist. We have had three very excellent guesses thus far: Darlene Love, Jon Bon Jovi, and George Harrison, however they are all incorrect. This is a solo artist who also performed with a group and garnered accolades from the music industry. Another clue is that it is male artist. Again, this artist’s songs appear to be very unlikely picks for an It’s My Party cover rendition, especially if you are not familiar with his entire catalog. If you would like to try and guess, please leave a comment.

The Confetti Clatter – May 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

Saying goodbye to Sarah

Sarah performs at Silver Lake Drive In/ Charcoal Corral

After a four-year run with the group, we would like to wish Sarah the best, as she moves on to further her academic career.  Sarah began singing with us in 2014 when she filled in for Shelbie for a few performances. The following year, Sarah became a full-time member of the group and participated in the recording of the EP “He Wasn’t Like That (When He Used To Be Mine).” For more information on that recording, follow this link to a previous post.

Although Sarah was only able to sing once with us last year, it was a memorable closing show of our 2018 tour. Many fans attended along the Erie Canal in Newark. If you were there, you know she did an outstanding job.  

Here is the promotional video for the song “In Your Letter,” from the EP “He Wasn’t Like That (When He Used To Be Mine),” featuring Michelle, Sierra, and Sarah.

Surprise Track Recorded

This past December, we recorded another track for our forthcoming release. This cover song is going to surprise a lot of people, as it is not a girl group record. If you thought recording “In Your Letter” was a reach, you’ll be stunned by this one! The original artist’s career spanned four decades. The artist recorded both as a solo act and under band names. The original recording of this cover was credited to a band. If you think you know who this is, leave a comment on this post. We’ll reveal more information in upcoming news updates.

Random Music Thoughts: The Jam or The Style Council?

Paul Weller is quite a musician, he was a founding member of the Jam before leaving that group to form The Style Council, which allowed him to venture in different musical directions. Some Jam fans felt Paul was wrong to form The Style Council, as the music of his new project was so different from The Jam. What do you think? You can take our poll by clicking the link below:

 

The Confetti Clatter – April 2019 Newsletter

Posted on by John Giotto

Getting Caught Up

If you were a regular attendee of the group’s performances in 2018, you could have seen as many as five vocalists form our trio of girls. Up until last April, we were counting on returning Emma, Sarah, and Sierra again in 2018.

At this point it would remiss of me to leave out an online introduction to Emma. Emma, a recent graduate of Bloomfield (NY) High School, joined the group in June of 2017 to replace Michelle, who after seven seasons with the group went on the med. school.  Emma lends a strong lead vocal, especially on the Eddie Gorme song, “Don’t Try To Fight It Baby.”

Emma, performing in Canandaigua

Welcome Frankie!

Our plans to return the 2017 line-up in 2018 changed when Sarah announced that she accepted an internship in New Jersey over that summer. Because of this opportunity, Sarah was unavailable to perform at most of our shows. To fill the void, Sierra brought her neighbor, Frankie, a then-junior at Penfield High School, into the fold.

Frankie has an extensive theater background, including productions of Fiddler of the Roof, Shrek, the Musical, and Wizard of Oz. While at Bay Trail Middle School, Frankie played the lead in Annie, Jr. In addition to theater, Frankie performs with the Penfield High School Jazz Choir.

Frankie proved to be a fast learner, and in less than one month’s time, from mid-May to early June, Frankie grasped the basics of the performance. Almost by providence, a mid-June performance was cancelled due to the threat of thunderstorms. The group certainly would have been less than ready to perform that show with total confidence. In July, Emma, Frankie and Sierra had a successful, and well-received, debut at the Burgundy Basin Inn car cruise night.

Emma, Frankie & Sierra carried most of the 2018 performances, seen here at Marge’s Lakeside Inn.

Enter Michelle!

Another challenge arose during the 2018 tour when Sierra, who had previous commitments, could not sing at two shows. Amazingly, Michelle, on two-days notice, returned to sing with us at the What’s ‘Ur Scoop performance in Penfield with Emma and Frankie. With no practice, the girls rose to the occasion. Only a periodic drizzle dampened the event. Once an It’s My Party girl, always one, as Michelle proved that night. Needless to say, Michelle’s performance was fantastic.

Michelle “hit it out of the park” at What’s ‘Ur Scoop.

Our final show of 2018 in Newark was postponed two days because of a threat of rain. Sierra had to leave for college and was unable to sing on the rate date. Michelle was also unavailable, but by this time Sarah was back in town. With two just practices, the group of Emma, Frankie and Sarah performed to a receptive audience on the Erie Canal, even adding two new songs to the repertoire.

Many of our local fans are asking if Frankie will return this year. Happily, the answer is yes. Many concert-goers commented on her singing, highlighted by her rendition of the Lesley Gore tune, “You Don’t Own Me,” an absolute bear of a song to sing.

So, if you see us this summer, and you have not done so already, please welcome Emma & Frankie to the group.

Frankie, singing in Canadaigua

It has been awhile since we last posted. Feel free to comment on your most memorable moments from Emma’s debut during tour 2017, and Frankie’s debut tour of 2018. We have some exciting updates on the upcoming 2019 tour and the time we have spent in the recording studio, which we will share in future posts.