Dickey playing at Syacuse

[cofi]

Dickey Betts headlines Taste of Syracuse



Tuesday, March 27, 2007By Mark Bialczak Staff writer

Pam Levine, of Galaxy Broadcasting, said it wasn't a tough decision to pick Dickey Betts and Great Southern as the national headliner for A Taste of Syracuse's main stage on June 2.

"We brainstormed about who would be a good, upbeat party band," Levine said Monday morning in her Galaxy office with the main wall decoration consisting of a Clinton Square-area map and restaurant-labeled Post-its.

"With Dickey Betts' work with the Allman Brothers, he was a perfect fit. If you look, all the classic Allman songs were Dickey Betts songs," Levine says.

This winter, Syracuse-based Galaxy bought A Taste of Syracuse from Center Stage Events, which had run the Taste since Center Stage president Jim Horsman started it in 1996 at the Central New York Regional Market.

Center Stage also produced Taste at the state fairgrounds before moving it to Clinton Square in 2001.

"It was an amazing event to us," said Levine, the wife of Galaxy President and founder Ed Levine; she joined the company specifically to run A Taste of Syracuse.

She added that she wanted to concentrate on presenting local talent. In 2005, Horsman brought in The Bacon Brothers, featuring actor Kevin Bacon. Last year, he hired Billy Joel's daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, as well as classic rocker Eddie Money.

"We looked a bit into the pop factor, the curiosity factor, like The Bacon Brothers and Alexa Ray Joel," Levine said. "But those people - (actor) Gary Sinise has a band we looked into - have caught on, and the price has gone way up, around $100,000. The days of The Bacon Brothers are gone."

Levine said the operating budget for Taste of Syracuse is "several hundred thousand dollars," and most of it comes from sponsors that include Turning Stone Resort and Casino and Verizon.

The Syracuse Area Music Awards board will announce later the June 1 acts that will perform on the main stage.

"It's a natural fit for the Sammys and us," Levine said. "We love having them as part of this. People have come to expect the Sammys to happen at the Taste of Syracuse."

SubCat Records and Studio of Skaneateles will sponsor an emerging-artist stage for the second year in a row. Its staffers will choose those acts.

That left Levine to consult with longtime Galaxy radio disc jockeys and music programmers Dave Frisina and Mimi Griswold before selecting the Central New York bands for the main stage on June 2 and Clinton Square stage both days.

"I got information sent to me by bands from all across the country," Levine said. "But I want the event to be what it is. A Taste of Syracuse. And that's not just the food. It's the music."

Mark Bialczak can be reached at [e-mail] or 470-2175. His blog "Listen Up" is at blog.syracuse.com/listenup/.



Thank's to No1ToRunWith for the heads up on the interview

[punk]

Hopefully, I'll be there, I'm about an hour north of Syracuse.

[punk]

Not a bad show in Syracuse. I was lucky enough to get a spot up front, about four rows from the stage. There were a few sour notes, but all in all, a pretty good show.

[cofi]

Hi punk, you lucky ***** ;D

I'm glad you enjoyed the show, i cant believe what a few folks are saying on the blue and the red site about Dickey and his playing, seems to be a mixed reviews, like two people at the same show, saw two different shows

Mark, what was the set list, tell us a bit more, was Duane playing a lot of the solos, and Dave

you had some good seat's there M8 did you get any photos??

thanks punk

[punk]

Well, I don't want to bash Dickey. And I would really hate to critique him. But if I had to, then I guess it would be as follows; The show wasn't as good as when he played at the Turning Stone Casino, but it wasn't THAT bad. He is getting old. And probably had a few drinks in him. (God bless him, to quote a friend) I think the people who are complaining are expecting too much. Though, I am concerned about Dickies health, all that drinking can’t be good.

We set our chairs up early and watched the first few bands. And moved our chairs forward as the opportunity arose.
I was close enough to notice that Dickey was changing chords late. (As a guitar player you know probably know what I mean). Some of the harmonies (Guitars) were off, but I really couldn't tell who was at fault. Duane did many of the solos. Duane looked absolutely miserable, It was clear to me that he didn’t want to be there. IMO.
But at the end of the show, gave Dickey a pat on the back.

The brews were going down pretty good. Since I don’t usually drink, they hit me pretty hard. I simply don’t remember the set list. But I did get some pictures. They are a bit grainy, ( my camera is old). I’ll email you some. (What’s the file size limit on your Email?)

I really enjoyed the show.

[punk]

I also wanted to add that everyone around me also enjoyed the show. People were dancing, and cheering him on. I didn't hear any boos. So putting aside some of the small mistakes and whatever. I stand by my orignal post. All in all, a pretty good show.

[sparky]

Nice one punk Yeah i'v read a few bad mouthing him, saying things like missed notes and been drunk on stage, shit i's seen Metallica's guitarist totaly missing his cue and the whole band missing out whole verses of their songs, bands/singers to wasted to get on the stage, and falling off, thats Rock & Roll

anyway i'm going to see him at THE VILLAGE AT COPPER MOUNTAIN Copper Mountain, Colorado, and at CERVANTES BALLROOM Denver, Colorado, and I'm looking forward to see them

[cofi]

There are a few, that will always knock Dickey, for whatever reason, his playing or whatever else they can find to knock him for, IMO,
but like you say the guy is getting on a bit, and kudos for him for still going out and playing for his fans
i don't think it would worry me if he played one or two, three, bum notes in his show, at least he played, not like some shows that i have gone to see, and get canceled while sitting there waiting for the band to come on, (Van the man, and G & Roses, for example)
I know I'm a Dickey fan, but a few bum notes really wouldn't bother me to much,
I am glad you got to enjoy the show punk, like i said earlier, i am frigging jealous
would have loved to have been there, and seen the great cat in the hat strutting his stuff

here's a photo that punk took at the show, thanks man, great photo,


punk is having puter trouble, so i will be posting a few more for him, when i receive them,

[cofi]

Oh i forgot to say, sparky, you enjoy the shows bro, another lucky f****r

[sparky]

Thanks cofi ;D i syre will bro

Great pic punk, three Les Pauls