Joe Cassady (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Aaron Gardner (Bass), Shu Nakamura (Lead Guitar--www.shunakamura.com), Robert Bonhomme (Drums)
Part-Time Players: Anthony Bax, Eric Seftel, Justin Masi (Drums), Ernie Vega, Jim McGee (Lead Guitars), Dan Nachimson (Keyboard on Recordings)
Influences
Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, The Rolling Stones, The Velvet Undergound, The Band, Townes VanZandt, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Kurt Cobain, Wilco, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, R.L. Burnside, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kinky Friedman, Donovan, Regina Spektor, Roy Harper, Willie Nelson, The Little Willies, Elliott Smith, Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Jack Kerouac, Oscar Wilde, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ayn Rand, e. e. cummings, James Joyce, Jackson Pollock, VanGogh, Picasso, Alexander Calder, Auguste Rodin
"Wasn't necessarily expecting good alt-country from a Manhattan band, but got it anyway. The songs' obvious intelligence doesn't get in the way of the solid, often enthralling music."
Ken Barnes--Music Editor, USA Today.
Well Ken, there is something happening down on the Lower East side of Manhattan that has the NYU intellectual types pushing their horned-rimmed specs back up their noses and the downtown cowboys dancing in the isles (dancing’s illegal in NYC bars though, so please don’t tell!). There’s an Americana scene emerging just blocks away from where Dylan first showed up with his acoustic guitar and where Joey Ramone tore through CBGB’s, that somehow embraces the spirit of both yet has the down-home feel that only the world’s biggest small town can provide.
Out of this NYC Americana scene come Joe Cassady & The West End Sound with their Avenue A Records debut release, What’s Your Sign?
Raised on Waylon, Willie, Johnny and Kris, schooled by Bob Dylan, and having done some post-grad studies in the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, and Steve Earle, songwriter Joe Cassady’s musical scholarship leads the listener through the diverse cross-section of the Americana soundscape that is What’s You Sign? All the while, the lyrics draw on historical, religious, literary, folk and pop-culture references to structure a sometimes poignant, sometimes hilarious dreamscape counterpoint to the oft-troubled landscape of our times. While acknowledging and even embracing the uncertainty around us the songs on What’s Your Sign? profess a persistent belief in the presence of good old fashioned hope at the bottom of it all.
“I’ve heard this guy lots of times and never realized the wealth within so many of his songs . . . There’s a lot to recommend this. [The songs in What’s Your Sign?] open, yielding further benefit with each subsequent listen.” Urban Folk
“Their music delivers what exists now like a mirror reflection . . . It tells it like it is in a folksy/poetic style, baring the wounds in an undisguised, thought provoking oration.” Northeast In Tune
"Imagine yourself on the road in an old school Cadillac, your friends by your side with the open road in front of you. It's an image that should make you smile. Now all you need is some Joe Cassady music in the background and you're set. His calm yet upbeat sound made me want to get in a car and drive, and I don't have a license . . . Cassady's lyrics tell stories which made me want to write my own." HOT INDIE NEWS .com
Joe Cassady & The West End Sound's Friend Space (Top 16)
Joe Cassady & The West End Sound has 7864 friends.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CD TODAY! When I finish filming and editing for my video ill make sure to send it to you. I still have to make a decision on what song to use.
Just read the USA Today "Favorite CD's of 2007 list" (I'm a little behind the times...), and there you are --- as you should be! And in good company too: just above Jarvis Cocker (despite the alphabetical order); I have a good story about how I chased Jarvis down the street in NY several years back, but never mind, back to the list ---- the album's up there with Adam Hood and Joe Ely too! Kudos!
I'm so glad I came across your "Sound"!
Nice profile photos (don't recall where I was in 1937 though). And any friend of GP is a friend of mine.
When are you coming on my show? Oh yeah --- MARCH 22nd!!!!!
First Ever Open Mic Night @ The Ship Inn, Milford, NJ 9pm This Tuesday and every one after that! Come, Chill, Listen to Music, Play Music, Drink Beer, Have Fun! See you there!
I was gonna roll on up to Circa tonight but I'm feeling kinda lousy....achy like I'm getting sick...I'd push myself to go out, but I'm gonna stay in instead.......
Anyway....hope you have a good turnout and I'll see you sometime soon.
