I met John Heino on the set of Iron Will in 1993. We were extras in a celluloid production that was bigger than life for most of us small town folks here up north. The thrills and stimulation created by the Hollywood film making machinery invigorated nearly everyone involved. Few of us will ever watch a movie without noticing those extras.Our creative interests ultimately led to a friendship that now extends fifteen years. Hard to believe it has been that long! The band for which John plays keyboards has been out there making music for decades... which is probably hard to believe for the band.
That story is for another space in time. For the moment, I just wanted to introduce their music to a wider audience. The following is a portion of the review that appeared this week in Duluth's Reader Weekly. The link at the bottom here will lead you to the full story. But to really get the most of it, you will want to obtain the CD.
New Centerville All Stars CD Offers Audio Satisfaction
Have you heard the news? Party With The Band is now in stores everywhere, or ought to be.They’re back. The Centerville All Stars have given birth to a new CD. One criticism of last year’s supergreat Not Dead Yet CD was that people were expecting to hear Lance Cloutier on vocals. Maybe it wasn’t clear to some folks that it was a John Heino assemblage. Heino had wearied of putting off his desire to get some tracks down somewhere in this lifetime, and despite a Centerville All Stars cast, circumstances did not really make it a true All Stars CD. But the effort ignited a spark, and this year the band is back. And their CD is gift to the City by the Lake, and an homage to its soul, its spaces, its people and places.
With the full band in place, the All Stars put in motion some great energy toward preserving for a wider audience their special breed of rock, blues and creative power. Their fans reap the benefits. This is a true mirror of a band Twin Ports clubbers have grown to love and admire. It’s solidly produced, thoroughly entertaining and is clearly a tribute to every facet of the home town that has inspired and motivated them. What’s more, the All Stars step out with a range of styles and sounds that will surprise a few listeners, combining re-energized inventiveness with its classic sounds.
Here’s my take of the CD’s contents, before interviewing the band.
City by the Lake
Unless a group is utterly unknown, you always approach a new album with a certain set of expectations. For this reason, the band chooses an opening cut that sends a signal: Lance is back. It also sends a second signal: This album will be a tribute to its roots. The opening number tips the hat to Duluth. Right away we also have echoes of riffs from Not Dead Yet so that while something new, there is a measure of continuity in this offering.
Prelude
The second and shortest song, also sends a signal: this CD is going to be something different. Prelude has a Scottish Highlands feel… I can hear Braveheart, and Rob Roy, tender waves of simple longing. Julie and Lance blend their voices into the gentle stream of sound, a beautiful lead in to the next tune, a playful instrumental.
Troll
Continuing out of the Scots/Irish firmament, Troll is an exploration of the joy of making music. The acoustic guitars, synthesized flute, dancing keyboards, vibrant with life and spirited beauty.
I Believe
Organ music introduces a short duet by Lance and Julie, which releases itself into a caliente calypso rumba. The song is built on a syncopated rhythmic frame with keyboard embellishments and slithery guitar work. The emotive exchanges between Lance and Julie on vocals are effective. Lance wrote the song as a tribute to his beloved Barbara, one of three wonderful people to whom the CD is dedicated.
The rest of the tracks include a jazzy I’m Not Done Lovin’ You Yet, Dirt Track Rocks, From the Heart, Bayfront Blues, Misery Loves Me, No More Tears, and the raucous exclamation point at the end titled Party With The Band (All Night Long).
It’s obvious the band is here to have fun, and they want you to have some fun, too. To lose yourself in the music pick up a copy at the Electric Fetus next time your downtown. Or, if you prefer the thoroughly modern method of acquiring music, you’ll be able to soon download your CD from cdbaby.com or Itunes.
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