Great Ideas: Official Blog of Singer-Songwriter Christian Beach

• With the holiday season upon us, please enjoy my 2009 cover of The Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight." http://t.co/22j3UuWg #

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Since the blog has been a little quiet lately, we thought we would kick things up a notch with this little video featuring a bluegrass-style cover of Twisted Sister’s “I Wanna Rock” that Christian Beach recorded in 2008 for Hair Apparent: The Main Man Records Tribute to Hair Bands.

The track also features Dan Mulvey on upright bass, Michael Scotto on drums, John Pfeiffer on Dobro, Gorgo on mandolin and Brian Kelley on accordion. Enjoy…

Christian Beach -- “I Wanna Rock” (Twisted Sister bluegrass cover)

• Christian Beach has a show on 09/24/2011 at 08:00 PM @ Buddies Tavern in Parlin, NJ http://t.co/aOvdBDjP #concert #

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• Christian Beach has a show on 08/22/2011 at 08:00 PM @ Buddies Tavern in Parlin, NJ http://t.co/MLw4AJ9 #concert #

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"Christian Beach" CD

Christian Beach’s self-titled solo debut CD, released in 2009, has been ranked as one of the top 100 albums of 2001-2010 released by New Jersey artists in “Are You Listening?”, a new book by music writer Gary Wien.

Between September 2010 and January 2011, Wien listened to over 2,200 albums by New Jersey artists released within the last decade in order to compile the list featured in the book. The list features many national acts with New Jersey origins, such as Fountains of Wayne, Bruce Springsteen, My Chemical Romance and Pete Yorn.

“Considering how much great music was produced by New Jersey artists during the first decade of the 21st century, I feel quite honored and humbled to have my work included in this list,” said Beach after learning his CD earned the No. 67 spot in the book.

“The layers of sound are never more pronounced than in ‘Stuck Here Awhile,’ which features piano reminiscent of Elton John and a chorus that features guitar licks that evoke George Harrison’s work on the solo releases of John Lennon,” Wien writes about the CD. “Together, the piano and guitars combine to produce a truly amazing song.”

“Are You Listening?” also lists the CD’s lead track, “Open Spaces,” as No. 77 on a list of the top 100 songs by New Jersey artists from 2001-2010.

Here is some more information about “Are You Listening?” by Gary Wien…

"Are You Listening?" by Gary Wien

“While New Jersey has seen its ugliest sides dominate the reality TV world in recent years, music is what the state should really be known for,” said the author. “New Jersey has played a major role in the country’s musical history from jazz to rock and roll and everything in between. This book shows that history continues to be written.”

“Are You Listening?” represents a diverse look at New Jersey’s rich rock and roll scene. Artists span from all parts of the Garden State including the music scenes of Asbury Park, New Brunswick, Hoboken, Trenton, and Jersey City. Popular national artists like Bruce Springsteen, My Chemical Romance, and The Gaslight Anthem are featured alongside independent singer-songwriters like Keith Monacchio, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Anthony D’Amato. Genres range from the folk of John Gorka to the indie rock of Titus Andronicus; from the Americana of Brian Molnar & the Naked Hearts to the punk of The Bouncing Souls; and from the Beatlesque pop of Fountains of Wayne to the post-hardcore of Thursday.

“Are You Listening?” by Gary Wien is available in either full-color or black-and-white print versions, or as an e-book. For more information, click here.

For more information about the “Christian Beach” CD, click here.

To listen to “Christian Beach” in its entirety, watch the embedded YouTube playlist video below:

Christian Beach CD Video Playlist

Cover of "Are You Listening?" by Gary Wien

Hi everybody. It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything on here. Without going into too much detail, some amazing things have happened in my personal life over the past few months so things have been kind of quiet on the music front.

However, behind the scenes, I have been working on new music and a new recording studio…and you should start hearing the results of these efforts later this summer.

Here is one bit of news that I thought I would share with all of you at this time…I recently learned that my self-titled CD released in 2009 is featured in Gary Wien’s new book “Are You Listening?”, which highlights what he has ranked as the top 100 CDs released by New Jersey artists from 2000-2010. Considering how much great music was produced by the state during that time, I feel quite honored and humbled to have my work included in this list. More information about the book will be posted here when it is released.

As mentioned previously, there should be more activity on this blog in the comings weeks and months. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, don’t forget to “like” my Facebook music page at www.facebook.com/ChristianBeach.

Thanks…and take care.

- Christian

Christian Beach recorded this cover of The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight” for Main Man Records’ “Santa’s Soundtrack for the Happenin’ Holidaze” CD released in 2009. The track also features Gorgo on mandolin. Enjoy…and have a happy, safe and peaceful holiday season!

Christian Beach -- “Christmas Must Be Tonight” (The Band cover)

• Christian Beach has a show coming up on 11/12/2010 at 07:00 PM @ The Brig… in Long Branch, NJ http://soc.li/Msl6iDB #

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Christian Beach will perform a set of three songs, including his cover of Alice Cooper’s “You and Me”, during Main Man Records’ CD release party for “Remember the Coop! A Tribute to Alice Cooper’s Killer Classics” at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ, this Friday night (11/12/2010).

The show starts at 7 p.m., with Christian and his band taking the stage around midnight.

Visit Main Man Records for more information about the CD release party.

Here is the lineup for the show:

Friday November 12, 2010
The Brighton Bar
121 Brighton Ave. – Long Branch, NJ
www.brightonbar.com

Schedule (subject to change):
Gin House Bandits 7:10
Johnny Dey 7:35
The Swales 8:00
Mad Man Moon 8:25
Stag 8:50
Blue Fox 9:15
Jack Brag 9:40
Deena & The Laughing Boys 10:05
Richard Barone 10:30
Richard w/Frankenstein 3000 10:40
Frankenstein 3000 10:50
Dead Elvi 11:10
Tara Elliott & The Red Velvets 11:35
Christian Beach 12
Well Of Souls 12:10
Scream 12:35
plus special guests

Remember The Coop: Main Main Records' Tribute to Alice Cooper's Killer Classics

Christian Beach has contributed a his take on Alice Cooper’s “You and Me” for Main Man Records’ upcoming “Remember The Coop! A Tribute to Alice Cooper’s Killer Classics,” which is scheduled for release on November 9, 2010 (pushed back slightly from the previously announced October 26 date). Please visit the Main Man Records web site for details.

In addition, Christian — as well as his cohort John Pfeiffer and his reunited Well of Souls — will be performing at the “Remember The Coop!” CD release party at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ, on Friday, November 12. Details are below…

REMEMBER THE COOP!
Alice Cooper Tribute CD Release Party

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2010

THE BRIGHTON BAR
121 Brighton Avenue • Long Branch, NJ
(Google Map)

SCHEDULE
(subject to change)

Gin House Bandits 7:10
Johnny Dey 7:35
The Swales 8:00
Mad Man Moon 8:25
Stag 8:50
Blue Fox 9:15
Jack Brag 9:40
Deena & The Laughing Boys 10:05
Richard Barone 10:30
Richard w/Frankenstein 3000 10:40
Frankenstein 3000 10:50
Dead Elvi 11:10
Tara Elliott & The Red Velvets 11:35
Christian Beach 12
Well Of Souls 12:10
Scream 12:35
Reneé Dunaway 1:00
Special Guest 1:25

And, as a special treat, here is Alice Cooper’s performance of “You and Me” from a 1978 episode of “The Muppet Show”…