The City's Backyard

With a collection of 21 albums it’s no wonder Gary Hoey is listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. The world renowned rock guitarist’s first break came in 1987 when Ozzy Osbourne liked Hoey’s tape enough to fly him to LA for an audition and encouraging him to move to the West Coast. In 1990 Hoey was signed to Reprise Records with a short lived band called Heavy Bones but followed up in 1993 with a solo album and Gary’s cover of “Hocus Pocus” rocketed into the Billboard’s Top 5 Rock Tracks. He went on to score the successful “Endless Summer II” soundtrack for New Line Cinema and in 1995 started a trilogy of “Ho!Ho! Hoey,” a collection of instrumental Christmas classics that continues each year in his Rockin Holiday shows. But whatever style he plays, one thing is certain, Gary Hoey is a fiery, charismatic player who connects with the crowd.

Sometimes working with what you have is better than moving and starting all over! We are talking about the process of doing home additions and revovations on this episode with guest architect Mark Alex Maidique from Brider AAD in Westport!
When Mark was 11, he disassembled his sister’s bicycle just to figure out how it worked. Granted, she was not amused to come home that day to find it in pieces, but eventually, he did get it back together. This was an early example of what has become a life-long curiosity about how things function and how they’re made. This curiosity, coupled with a passion for the arts, led him to pursue a career in architecture.

After architecture school, he was the first person from his graduating class to receive his license. Mark immediately started his own practice, focusing on working with developers, designing condo buildings, office buildings, and multi-unit subdivisions. In the process, honed his understanding of the client’s needs and wants.

Despite finding success in architecture, he felt too removed from the hands-on aspect of building that he felt early on in life and became a project manager for a Northeast developer, managing $20m a year of construction. He is a master at repositioning buildings, and from him he learned the art of transformation and how certain cues make us feel about our interaction with the physical world.

Wanting even more direct control over the finished product, he started a custom kitchen design studio. This is where his passion for design finally met his desire to solve problems. Working with renowned architects and designers to bring their design ideas to life, many beautiful gems were created, from Boston to Maine and Sedona along the way.

Today, Actor, Comedian, Playwright Peter Fogel is one of those performers audiences have seen and enjoyed countless times on television, but you probably didn't know his name. Shows like "An Evening at The Improv," "Comedy Central," and "Comic Strip Live."

On a balmy Saturday night in a South Florida theatre, funny man Fogel presented his multi-media solo show "Til Death Do Us Part, You First!" to a packed house. Little did he know that Chazz Palminteri was in attendance. The Broadway/Film Star was so impressed with Fogel's auto-biographical tale and the tremendous audience response-that he met Fogel after his show and offered -- on the spot -- to take his show to the next level and direct it himself!

Well, "Til Death Do Us Part...You First!" is coming to Off Broadway. Chazz directs it and you can even hear his voice throughout the show as — what better - Fogel's conscience!

In this week's episode we chat Coast to Coast with a few members of Doctor WU!
Doctor Wu has been at it since the year 2000. An 11-piece L.A.-based band comprised of 3 background vocalists, 4 rhythm and 4 horns fronted by lead singer Tony Egan.

Doctor Wu shows consist of fan-favorite Steely Dan blockbuster hits, their groovy lyric-driven songs as well as full album shows. Every song is handled with wicked attention to detail - from the slick vocal harmonies, edgy jazz/rock rhythm grooves
and searing guitar leads, to the infamous Wu horn section. Wu recreates the textures and believability of Steely Dan's music.

With appearances from San Diego to the Santa Ynez Valley - Palm Springs to Vegas and beyond, and as regulars at Herb Alpert's Vibrato, the Point Loma Summer Concert Series, SoHO, Vitello's, the Santa Monica Summer SOULstice Music Festival and more, we've earned a lot of die-hard Wu Fans.

Doctor Wu's members have been been featured on top selling recordings, television and on stages worldwide. The Voice, Chaka Khan, Jay Graydon, Stanley Clarke, Patti Austin, UB40, Echo & The Bunneymen, Rod Stewart, Mel Tormé, American Idol Live, Rikki Lee Jones, Poncho Sanchez and more. This exciting group of industry pros has the chops and are dedicated to sharing the joy of performing the iconic music of Steely Dan.
Doctor WU brings the Dan!