October 8, 2006 by PT Rothschild.

BIG MANNY’S CLASSICS – THE BIG MANNY BAND CD Review
Taking the main stage as the ‘headliners’ for the night at the Temecula Arts Festival Day 2 (9/30/06, see archives) was a seasoned band that played some snappy ditties named The BLAZERS. First the back-story: THE BLAZERS are the band that debuted the Temecula Community Theatre, a brand new made-to-look-old structure located in the heart of the tourist area known as Old Town Temecula. If you know Old Town like I know Old Town, well, that says a lot in itself. This band from East L.A. is also known for a side project called Big Manny’s Band. THE BLAZERS are really two old high school friends, Ruben Guaderrama & Manual “Manny” Gonzales, both whom also provide guitar licks along with vocals. Though touring to support their latest critically acclaimed release ’17 Jewels’ on Little Dog Records, Grammy Award producer Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam, Roy Orbison, k.d.lang), Manny, who is big, decided to also release a classics collection featuring selections from all of the bands CD releases. Included is their first regional hit, ‘Just For You’, a happy 50’s style rocker straight out of an Archie Comics’ Riverdale High School prom dance. Two songs from their latest CD are included as well, the mellow urban pop tune ‘Next To Me’ and ‘And I Feel It’, a fun filled finger-snapper that reminds one a bit of Pablo Cruise in the late 70’s. Not to be missed on this compilation of yet another great ‘undiscovered’ songwriting team, are ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’, a raucous country rocker with the most classic guitar intertwining this side of the Grand Ole Opry, ‘Well Excuse Me’, a Saturday night ‘prop me up by the jukebox’ song about a lover’s distress, and a Jerry Lee Lewis fashioned redneck R&B rambler that makes you flashback to the first time a ‘trailer trash’ hottie left her scent on your skin, the sultry ‘So Long Time Sally’. Production quality is excellent for the studio portion but drops a bit in the two live selections – PT ROTHSCHILD

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October 8, 2006 by PT Rothschild.

‘THE CASTAWAY’ – BLAKE WILLIAMS EP CD Review 

PT ROTHSCHILD 

From a summer that brought some extraordinary acoustic talent through Java Jo’z, perhaps the most appreciated musician was BLAKE WILLIAMS. For me it was when he sang a version of MARVIN GAYE’s ‘Sexual Healing’ during one set. It was so heartfelt that I believe Marvin himself would have been moved, had he heard it (and maybe he did with the goose bumps I experienced while listening). After asking (begging) for it all summer, BLAKE WILLIAMS recently delivered into my hands, his CD. At the time I didn’t know he had released three other prior (‘Solace’ [2002], ‘The Lonely Sessions’ [2003], ‘untitled’ [2004]). 

Fresh from the studio comes ‘The Castaway’ EP CD and it is everything I hoped for, plus a bag of chips. The production values are excellent, the fidelity the highest highlighting the additional musicians and backing vocals used, and a new song or two that hadn’t been heard down at JJ’z. The clear sound is dead flat perfect and showcases both Blake’s smoothly rugged voice and creative songwriting. This is a CD to both own and treasure. Once again I am amazed to hear such talent still DIY. To put this CD into your ‘heavy rotation’ as it is in mine, go here. Of the five songs, ‘You’ and ‘Wilting Lullabye’ are silver bullets on any college, AOR, alternative or ‘pop’ chart record index. 

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October 8, 2006 by Bill Gould, Publisher.

Reported By: Jourdan Sales

Slim Chances:
Slim Chances, at only 12 years old, is already rocking the Temecula music scene on their first night. The three members are Kyle Everett on guitar, Ryan McDiarmid on drums, and David Jankay who plays bass. These young images of Blink182 brought in over 40+ fans, all who of are proud and supportive friends and family members. They may be beginners, but Slim Chance is still fun to see and aren’t just a few deer caught in head lights.

Strike Twelve:
Strike Twelve is a well known band who originated in Temecula. They will give you many different pleasures. One is the pleasure, and privilege, of listening to gnarly music; and another of laughter about things ranging from their favorite things to do and ‘popping cherries’ [tough luck to those of you who don not comprehend what term means]. Strike Twelve, through some ears, sounds similar to No Use For A Name, but only when being compared with a few of their songs.

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