UPDATE on "THE CHAIN"

"HELLO EVERYONE",

Well, it has been a very busy and exciting three months for THE CHAIN. We traveled to Erie Pa for a convention and Wellsburg, WV for a concert and was presented with "The Performance Achievement Award" for music. What a surprise and honor that was! We also played a couple of times at one of our favorite spots which is the Hard Rock Cafe, in Pittsburgh, Pa and as usual, both shows were sold out and standing room only.

It never ceases to amaze me that for the entire length of the concert, people are either singing, clapping or dancing to every song of either Stevie or Fleetwood Mac. We are not talking just a certain age group either, but folks of all ages! 21yrs - 90yrs. The Power of "The Mac"!

We have added a new guitar member to the band, Bill Duff. School Teacher, guitar collector and most importantly... an excellent guitarist and vocalist! He'll be our "Peter Green" for THE CHAIN. Bill's first gig with us will be at THE ALTAR BAR, in Pittsburgh, Pa on Dec 3rd, 2011. If you can, come on down and start your Christmas Season off with us. The Opening band will be very good friends of ours, The Mahajibee Blues Band. Tickets can be bought from TICKET FLY http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/71223?utm_medium=bks. Doors open at 9:00pm and Show starts at 10:00pm.

If you would like to book THE CHAIN for a performance or if you have any questions, feel free to contact Brian Drusky @ http://www.druskyentertainment.com or contact us @ info@harderedge.com.

THE CHAIN in Concert

Well....., ever since "Stevie" mentioned that the Mac might be going on tour again in 2012, the demand for THE CHAIN has increased at least 10 fold.  Awesome!  No matter what age or generation, EVERYONE loves the Mac!  It will certainly be a sad day on this planet when the Mac does hang it up for good and retires.  I ain't looking for that day to come anytime soon, for sure!

  THE CHAIN just played to a "Sold Out" and "Standing Room Only" crowd at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh 6/11/11 and what a fun crowd that was!  If it was left up to the audience, there would have been a second show. (lol)  I think I should invest in Geritol, ha ha. (I wonder if they still make that stuff anyway?)  Every Table had been reserved weeks in advance and tickets were sold months in advance as well.  We had NO idea what the day was going to hold for us until we got a call from HRC wanting to confirm the reservations we made over a month ago.  That never happened before.  The hostess at that time said the phones were going off the hook with people calling in wanting to see THE CHAIN so they were calling everyone to confirm their reservations.  How cool is that I ask you? A GREAT TESTAMENT to FLEETWOOD MAC!
  I'm sure we have have been called many things, (ha ha) but never have we been called "The Best Fleetwood Mac tribute Band In The World".  We were Sat nite and considering how many OUTSTANDING FMTB's there are floating around, I'm honored and humble to say the least and we stand in very good company.  FYI, We will never use that statement for any PR purposes unless we hear it directly from any members of the REAL Mac and only them and only if they give their permission for us to do so.  One of my biggest pet peeves is when others make claims that aren't 100% true or they'll say,  "A friend of a friend who does my hair said, and she knows So and So who said they said etc..." get my meaning?  Kids, if it doesn't come directly from the horses mouth, you shouldn't say it! I only will mention it here because it was said Sat night. Which is a very nice compliment and greatly appreciated.  The other pet peeve that I have (thank God I only have 2) is when bands sells their CD'S of someone Else's music.  I always wonder if the original artists are getting any royalties from those Cd's that are sold (not that they need it, but still it would be nice to at least ask the artists permission first don't you think?)  We do not sell Cd's!  We sometimes give a couple out at different shows to show our appreciation for the fans.

    The MOST IMPORTANT thing to us as a band....is to make sure that all of our fans are happy!   We want to Thank all of the 300 + family, friends, fans and acquaintances who came to the Hard Rock on Saturday June 11th.  We are very grateful......more than you know!  And we Thank-You so very much.  Your enthusiasm and support mean the world to us!!!

     THE CHAIN will be back at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh, Pa on Oct 1st, 2011.  If you happen to be in Pittsburgh, please stop by and say hello.
Please check out or TourDate page on our website for other shows you might be able to come too!  http://www.harderedge.com/ or http://www.thechainfm.com/.

TESTAMENT TO FLEETWOOD MAC!

 

"THE CHAIN"

  WELL it's been a little less then 2 years since Harder Edge decided to also become THE CHAIN, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band.  Brother and Sisters, it has been an awakening experience!

  Their music is not the norm of only 3 cords in a song.  Add a few more, look at the structure of the song, the thinking and the words that are woven into it, then add the feelings and the rhythm to spice it up and you got a heck of a good recipe for outstanding songs and a band that stands alone!

  In all the gigs we have performed as THE CHAIN, there has NOT been one performance that the audience has not danced to and sang to as well!  I'm not talking about a song here and there, I'm talking about EVERY song for the whole two hours of the concert!

  When I first started to listen and learn the Mac songs, I was thinking "people won't be able to dance to these songs".  Brother I was wrong!

  Being the drummer, I do have the drummer's curse of not being a dancer.  I have four limbs that can do four different patterns at the same time ( Not to blow smoke but I can even play in 2 different time signatures at the same time, go me) when I drum but when it comes to dancing...

I look like a cross between someone suffering a major heart attack and having an epileptic fit!

Kids....this boy can't dance!  So as I'm sitting there drumming my little heart out, I look out in the audience and see people dancing like there is no tomorrow, singing along with us, clapping and most importantly...having fun!  THAT Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel is what the MAC is all about!

  Their music has lasted over generations and continues to do so.

Tribute Bands to the Mac can Never fully duplicate their uniqueness.  All we are, is a temporary Fix till the Mac goes on tour again. 

Until the next time my friends...Keep Rockin'

"THE CHAIN" in concert

The Blog #3

 

Hello again Friends,

Well lets see what's new for THE CHAIN. 

  We've been asked to fly to Sunny California (before it falls into the ocean, lol) to play a concert near Sacramento.(How cool is that I asked you?)  There's a lot of details that have to be worked out yet though. 

  We also have a few more positive reviews to be added to our web site and probably will get to that in a couple of weeks.

  We have added another guitar player to our group of happy campers.  His name Tony Acker, Pittsburgh,Pa, and he's been playing guitar for over 30 years.  Great on guitar as well as vocals, so we should have a good time.

  You know finding a decent player with a personalty that fits with the rest of the band is hard enough.  However trying to find one that can handle Lindsey Buckingham's guitar playing is just insane.  Lindsey, to me, is just the best guitar player I have ever heard.  So it takes at least two good people that we have now, Keith Cole and Tony Acker to come close, to what Lindsey plays.

  FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

   When you see the Real Mac in concert, you see the 4 remaining originals (we still miss Christine though and what a class act she was on stage), Mick, John, Stevie and of course Lindsey but you also see several additional people. One or two extra guitar folks, a couple of extra drummers and at least 3 background singers, which add so much to the overall sound not to mention the visual enhancement of the show.

  Now along comes us trying to be as close as one can get to one of the greatest bands ever.  Talk about Hard...Holy Cow Batman!  We have two guitars players trying to do what Lindsey did. (that alone should start you drinking, lol) and we have me(drums) trying my best to play parts of three drummers without having a stroke. Ha Ha. 

  The good news I believe is we're holding our own with trying to live up to the expectations of the audience as coming close to the real Mac.

After performing at the Hard Rock Cafe and The Total Trib Amphitheater in Pittsburgh, Pa last year, we received several emails via our website, www.harderedge.com, from people from New Jersey, Indiana, Ohio and a few other States that traveled down just to see us.

 

Here are a few of their comments:

1)  I wanted to email you folks earlier but we just got back from our vacation yesterday.  We saw you, THE CHAIN, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Pittsburgh, Pa and wanted to let you know that your band Was EXCELLENT!   OMG, Close your eyes and you hear Fleetwood Mac.  There is another tribute Band not far from us so we get our Stevie & Mac "Fix"  from them every so often,  but WOW...you Guys are 2nd ONLY to the REAL Mac.  Wished we lived a lot closer.  Please let us know if you ever Get out to New Jersey and in the meantime we'll watch your tour date page.  Hopefully we'll catch You again soon.  All The Best,"Sue P." Lakewood, NJ   6/16/10

2)  Saw THE CHAIN at the Amphitheater in August and at first thought it was the "REAL" Stevie Nicks on Stage.The drummer even LOOKS and ACTS like the real Mick!  I also noticed the entire site came to a complete stop while the band played. Very cool I thought. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE!!!Sherri B  Indiana. . . . . 12/12/10

3)  I wanted to let you know that we stayed at the Comfort Inn in Harmarville Sat. Night and decided to get a "Night Cap"  before going to bed.  We ended up with several night caps and never thought we Would see ...THEE ... Fleetwood Mac in concert!  I have to tell you that you guys are FANTASTIC!  "Mick" was very gracious and one hell of a good drummer - even looks like the real Mick - and MY GOD what great singers "STEVIE" & "CHRISTINE" are!   If you closed your eyes EVERYONE sounded just like the real Fleetwood Mac.  My hat is off to you guys and I wished I lived closer so I can hear you more often.  We had a great weekend, we listened to one of the best bands we have Ever heard and we beat the Steelers!  

PS.  I've book marked your site to see when you'll be coming To Ohio."Tim"   Ohio    11 / 17th

Stay Tuned Folks.  THE CHAIN'S journey continues.....

THE CHAIN take 2

                                                                   
HELLO AGAIN my friends,

  ON THIS POST...I'd like to make some interesting comparisons between "FLEETWOOD MAC" and "THE CHAIN".  (Well we find them interesting anyway, lol) and list some of the Do's and Don'ts of THE CHAIN.

In a interview for a newspaper I was asked;
1) What is it about Fleetwood Mac that continues to resonate/touch people today? 

Fleetwood Mac is a never ending story.  Musically as well as their personal lives.  It is one constant in our ever changing lives, that we want and can hold on to.

2) How would you assess the strengths of your group/s? What would you tell people about the talents of your band members?

Sandy does an excellent Christine McVie both vocally and on keyboards.  By the way, did you know that Christine played her accordion for a song or two with the Mac? Well Sandy can also. 
Rob covers John McVie to the "T".  He is one of the best bass players I have ever had the
privilege of playing with.

Both Keith and Mike cover Lindsey well.  Both guitarists will switch leads off and on and complement each other when they do so.  Lindsey is one excellent guitar player and plays some really hard material.  So to have a couple of guys in the band that can try and keep up with him...speaks volumes.

Kimmy is Stevie Nicks!  She's a class act both on and off the stage.  She, like Stevie, has a voice that one never tires of listening to. 

 Myself ;  well I've been called The other Mick.  I believe Mick is around 6'6" and I'm only 5' 10".  The band has offered to put me on a rack and stretch me,  I think they meant that in a nice way. Ha Ha. So, I guess I kinda look like Mick and I do try to copy his style. When you first listen to Mick, you find that he keeps things simple and effective but ...
When he comes to a drum solo,  he plays some complicated patterns and plays them "clean".  He's a excellent drummer.

Some other cool comparisons:

 There's been approximately 16 different members over the years for Fleetwood Mac  -  Yep, you guessed it... 16 different members for THE CHAIN/Harder Edge as well.

Stevie Nicks and Kimmy:  Both are excellent lead singers; Both beautiful women (yep kissing up here but I'm honest!); Both have unique, one of a kind voices; Both are roughly the same height, etc; Both are grace and class rolled into one; and both are two of the kindest people you'll ever want to meet.

John McVie and Rob:  Both outstanding bass players,  Both look similar, Both are quiet (at least on stage, :-)), Both love Blues, Both like to add some "serious, solid, rhythmic, harmonic parts" when performing. (say that 3 times fast, ha ha))

Christine McVie and Sandy:  Both are classy, "spot-on" wonderful women, Both are Charming, both are multi-talented players, both play accordion, I believe Christine is very reserved, (oops, Sandy isn't Ha Ha She's very outgoing). Both are excellent singers.

Mick Fleetwood and Jim(Doc):  Both look similar, Both have similar drumming styles, Both are the leaders / spokesmen of their bands,  Both are aggressive and creative during solos.  Both are extremely intelligent to leave the singing to others, (Ha Ha). Mick is a class act and Jim...well God knows he really does try.

Lindsey Buckingham and Mike, Keith:  Yep it takes at least two people to try to even come close to Lindsey.  Lindsey is just a "one of a kind", creative player.  Lindsey and Keith both great singers, All have excellent sounds coming forth from their guitars.  All are dedicated musicians/performers. 

Do's and Don't's of THE CHAIN:  1) We do try to have fun while we're out performing.  Otherwise why do it, right?
  2)  We do try to keep the image and interest of the real Mac alive as much as possible.
   3) For a few hours while we're playing, we do our best to make the audience forget their  day to day problems and try to transport them to another time and place that's a little happier.
(sounds corny but very true.) 
Don't's:  1) We Do Not sell any cds that we make.  Never believed in that. ONLY THE ARTISTS THEMSELVES should be getting any monies from CD's!   We give them away to good friends that come out support us when we're out gigging.
   2) If we can't play/perform a song that compliment's the original, then we don't do it.  Close...does not cut it.

 Some COMMENTS from Fans/Venues from around the world about THE CHAIN: 

 1) Your performance was spot-on, you really had fantastic energy and Vibes. None of us could stop dancing and singing your songs, You were superb and I would highly recommend you as a Fleetwood MAC tribute band!!  UK.


2) "What I liked about your band was you were able to hold the crowd the entire length of your show.   Your lead singer is "Stevie" to the "T".    Your band was The "Fleetwood Mac" band to the "T".   You All sounded just like the real "MAC"!    Very nice job and very professional! . HRC Pittsburgh,Pa


3) Wow your music has even hit down under, heard some of your tunes and just wanted to let everyone know how impressed I was... Aus.


4) “THE CHAIN is an incredible recreation of the classic days of Fleetwood Mac – the sound is as close as you can have it without actually seeing the band.  The Hard Rock Cafe will definitely invite the band back for an encore.” HRC, Pittsburgh,Pa

About THE CHAIN:When you play professionally with people over a period of time, you become a very close family.  At least it's that way with us and I have to tell you that it has been, (and is) an honor for me to be on the same stage and perform with this group of talented people!   As it is in the case with Kimmy & I, we have been together since the early 90's and she "IS" the sister I never had.   I'd like to thank each of them for putting up with me (and my Insanity, LOL) and hope only for the best to befall on them in the future.  Winning The Lottery would be good also!   Doc

PLEASE stop by our web site www.harderedge.com and check out our music and videos.  Also please vote on our MORPHINESS page for members of THE CHAIN that look the closest to the "REAL" artists themselves.

                                                                     


 

Since this is THE CHAIN's first Blog entry, it would only be fitting to give credit to whom we owe it.  That would be to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac!  Without them, my friends, we wouldn't be here today!  

   Their music has lasted generations, has influenced so many individuals and of course "want-a-be" bands like ourselves. If there is one band you should do a tribute to, it has to be them.  As I have indicated on our web site, www.harderedge.com, Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac are often imitated but can NEVER be duplicated.  They're like a very fine wine...keeps getting better with age!

   I can only hope and pray for Kimmy and myself, that before we both Bite the Big One and croak, (lol) we meet the real Stevie and Mick. What a heck of an honor that would be for both of us.  I can picture myself in a motorized wheel chair in some strange nursing home, going up and down the hallways screaming "Guess who I met"! (Yep...better get the net ready, ha ha)

   In any case, a BIG Thank You to Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac!

About THE CHAIN:

   Kimmy and I have been playing in several bands together since 1991 and for years we have always contemplated doing a Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band.  We just never seemed to have the right combination of sound, personnel or personalities to make it work until last year.  HARDER EDGE aka THE CHAIN, has always had people come up to us while we would be playing different venues and compare us with the real Stevie and Mick.  Kimmy with her looks and voice and myself with my looks and drumming style as the real Mick. (see our Morphiness page on our web site and vote) So, last year we made that decision to give it a go and Merry Christmas Boys and Girls ... "Go it did!"   In just a very short period of time, the response has been overwhelming!  We've played at The Hard Rock Cafe(Pittsburgh) to a sell out and standing room only crowd; opened for Eddie Money at The Trib Total Amphitheater,(Pittsburgh) and by special request, played for Real English Royalty at a private party.  Not too shabby I believe for just starting out as a tribute band.

  During a recent interview I was asked,

Do you try to capture the band note for note, or just the spirit of Fleetwood Mac?   We're from that old school of thought that if you're going to do it, then do it right.  We're a Fleetwood Mac tribute band which means "we are the Mac" when we're out performing.  If they play "X" amount of chords in a song, then we do the same.  If they play 16th notes, then we do the same. We try to do exactly what the Mac does.  I have to be honest and tell you, it does get frustrating and very hard at times because THE MAC is that good, but in the long run, it's worth it.

  We're a firm believer that anything we do while we are in costume/character and performing as THE CHAIN, reflects back to to the real artists themselves, so we are constantly trying to watch our P's and Q's!

    Any comments, please send them to, thechainfm@gmail.com and we'll do what we can to post them.  Also please stop by our web site, give a listen and don't forget to vote on our MORPHINESS PAGE. :) http://www.harderedge.com/


   "THE CHAIN's" last concert of the year will be at the Hard Rock Cafe, Station Square, Pittsburgh, Pa on Saturday, November 6.  If you came to the last performance we had at the Hard Rock Cafe, you'll remember it was sold out and Standing room only!  If you can make it, and we hope you can, try to come early and get a seat.  Kicking things off for us will be Pittsburgh's #1 Blues Band..."Mahajibee Blues".  Show starts approx 9:30pm  Adv tickets from each band will be $5.00.  At the door,$7.00

 Until the next time...Stay Well and if you get the chance stop by and say hello.

Doc