Tony Deziel Thrusday night Roundup

04/25/07 • 18 min

A guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, he is meticulous, whether it is perfecting a guitar riff or working on a lyric.But then again, its always been that way. Ever since he first saw The Beatles on television, Deziel has been involved in music, whether playing, writing or admiring. He grew to love vocal harmonies and layered guitars, and used them in his own compositions as well as those he has written with other artists. In 1991, Deziel met Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special through a meeting arranged by a friend. After that initial meeting, Carlisi became Deziel's mentor, and Deziel began sending him tapes of his own compositions to critique and judge. Carlisi would respond by phone or by mail with his compliments and comments. This is something that to this day Deziel claims to be an invaluable asset to his work. However, Deziel doesn't do everything solo. In 1993, Deziel founded the Connecticut band Sundance. As a guitarist/vocalist, he is one of the principal songwriters in the band. Sundance released its first full-length album, "Pearls of Wisdom" in November 1995. The band was a popular draw throughout the Northeast, and could be heard on many radio stations. With the group Deziel was also the subject of a television special called "Behind the Scenes With Sundance".

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The Radiators Back Alley Blues friday Edition

Like the other great album to come out of post-Katrina New Orleans, Allen Toussaint & Elvis Costelloâ€TMs The River in Reverse, the Radiatorsâ€TM latest consists mainly of songs written before the deluge. But the long-running Crescent City band catch a definite sense of time and place on this disc, which was recorded in the studio during the first post-hurricane Mardi Gras. Many of the lyrics sound too appropriate to be accidental, especially the opening â€œAce in the Holeâ€? (â€œWhen the big wind blows chilly and cold, the wise fool flies southâ€?) and the closing â€œShine Tonightâ€? (â€œWeâ€TMre all in the same boat, it sunk without a traceâ€?). It also makes sense that the band sound even more New Orleansâ€“ish than usual, adding sax on the â€TM50s-style jukebox rocker â€œRollercoasterâ€? and banjo on the Preservation Hall homage â€œDesdemona.â€? The overall mood is more intense than usual for these guys, notably on the Richard Thompsonâ€“esque â€œDonâ€TMt Pray for Meâ€? and the sexy/swampy â€œRub It Inâ€? â€” the first time the standout track on a Radiators disc has been a love song. Their trademark two-guitar workouts are kept tight enough to serve the songs, and the mood is muted but still celebratory. The chanted choruses that close â€œShine Tonightâ€? attest to a city â€” or at least a few individual souls â€” slowly coming back to life.