New York Drummer/Music Producer Steps Out For First Solo Effort
Classic-Influenced Rock and Roll Record to Feature a 'Who's Who' of Guest Artists, Including Trey Anastasio and Ian Hunter.
Rich Pagano and the SugarCane Cups: Free EP to be Available at 9/20 Radio City Music Hall Fab Faux Concert, Full CD Release in December
After years of working behind the scenes to make extraordinary music for and with some of the industry's most revered artists, Rich Pagano, a respected New York sideman, decided it was time to work on a record of his own. Pagano is known for his expertise in producing, recording or playing drums live, with artists including Patti Smith, Rosanne Cash, Robbie Robertson, Ray Davies, Willie Nile, gospel icon Marie Knight, Joan Osborne, Levon Helm, Mott The Hoople legend Ian Hunter and the premier Beatles band The Fab Faux, among others.
Now, he steps into the spotlight with his solo debut 'Rich Pagano and the SugarCane Cups', an classic influenced rock and roll record of angst and escapism that aims to, in his words, “take listeners along a journey of being pissed off at politicians, moving on from comforts and codependencies, suicidal thoughts, society's extreme need for distraction, love's transformations and religious freedom."
Pagano's band represents the best in New York's 'Community of Musicians', and includes Andy York (John Mellencamp), GE Smith, Brian Mitchell (Bob Dylan), David Johansen, Steve Conte (New York Dolls), John Conte (Rosanne Cash), Jeff Kazee (Southside Johnny), Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith, David Gray), all the members of The Fab Faux (Will Lee, Jimmy Vivino, Frank Agnello and Jack Petruzzelli) and more.
A three-song EP sampler will be given away for free at The Fab Faux's 10th Anniversary Concert at Radio City Music Hall, on September 20th. Pagano's full CD will be available in late December. The final CD will also feature guest performances by a 'who's who' of All Star artists – (the Guest line-up, which includes Ian Hunter and Trey Anastasio, will be announced in the weeks ahead, and will not disappoint.)
Pagano's solo songwriting emerged from a tumultuous period in his life. From watching 9/11 first hand, to alcohol and opiate issues…from bad business to political disappointments and other levels of temptation, this 11-song collection is a chronicle of a whirlwind episode of desperation and emotional extremes.
“These songs are a bloodletting. Some people find religion, join a racket club or get divorced to save themselves. I decided to lock myself in a studio control room."
As Pagano experienced, a recording studio can be a magical place. His New Calcutta Studio became a setting where rock and roll, blues and songwriting were the parameters for everything coming in and going out. Suddenly all of Pagano's favorite musicians were on hand to help out – in fact, the 11 songs on the upcoming CD were for the most part recorded when other sessions at the studio were just ending. It became commonplace for Rich to ask the artists to stick around and put down a musical part for him…and luckily, they all obliged.
Pagano adds, “since the whole record was recorded on the borders of Hell's Kitchen and midtown in New York City, the energy of my neighborhood is clearly reflected. The music is dirty, hard, yet cerebral."
Rich Pagano will perform at Radio City Music Hall on September 20th, as part of The Fab Faux's 10th Anniversary Concert. Pagano, a founding member of the acclaimed band, looks forward to giving Fab Faux fans a taste of his solo debut CD, as free EPs are handed out at the Radio City lobby merchandise counter.
For more information contact Seth Cohen PR.
