Monday, May 7, 2018

HANDS THAT ROCK TRIBUTE BAND MUSIC FESTIVAL

May 4, 2018 – Providence, RI – The Hands That Rock (HTR), a non-profit organization providing massage therapy at music festivals and special events to raise money for underserved community music programs nationally, is pleased to announce the first annual Hands That Rock Tribute Band Festival, an event that will focus on raising needed funds to support music scholarships for Narragansett and South Kingstown High School students. The event takes place on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 3:00 PM at the Bonnet Shores Beach Club in Narragansett, Rhode Island and features tribute performances by Total Access (Chicago), Merchants of Cool (Foreigner) and Barefoot Rebel (Lynyrd Skynyrd). This flagship production will become the model for future events to be produced by HTR by local residents in all 50 states.

“We are very excited to be hosting this important program supporting music scholarships in our home state of Rhode Island,” says Darcy Lynch, executive director. “Since inception in 2012, we have raised tens of thousands of dollars for underserved music programs through providing chair massage services for audiences at major concerts and festivals featuring superstar acts such as Bon Jovi and Katie Perry, to name a few. Needed dollars were donated to music programs in need local to each concert venue or to national child-oriented organizations. While this avenue of endeavor has been very successful for our mission, we wanted to create an event model that focuses on local school districts and music education programs that can be easily repeated in towns and cities across America. Our Tribute Band Festival is that vehicle and we believe this will be very successful.”

Tribute Band Festival kicks off at 3:00 PM at the Beach Club pavilion with tickets set at $35. Light beach fare will be served (cash bar), a silent auction of rock memorabilia and donations from local businesses, and a musical instrument donation drive round out the fundraising festivities.

“Each tribute band will deliver stunning performances of the three 1970’s era music giants,” continues Lynch. “We are looking for additional business support for our efforts through raffle donations and sponsorships. The excitement is growing for this event, so interested parties can contact me through the Hands That Rock website (www.handsthatrock.org) or email at handsthatrock@gmail.com. Tickets can be purchased on the home page. Please join us for this important cause – a splendid time is guaranteed for all.”

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Join us for this worthwhile event supporting music education for under privileged children!  Proceeds support  music scholarships and instruments for those in financial need!  #handsthatrock #tributebandmusicfestival #bonnetshoresbeachclub

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Ian Hunter and the other Noine*

this article submitted by Mark Bloomstein from Boston Partymakers.


In the words of should be "Sir" Ian Hunter, if you have stumbled upon this Stagehands Massage Blog, "Ello, ello, ello.". Each month I will post 10 tunes, new or old that I think are worth a listen. We will start off with the amazing Mr. Hunter.

Ian Hunter is best known for leading the glam rock band, Mott the Hoopie, in the 1970's, and having a hit on one of David Bowie's best songs, All the Young Dudes.  This song with it's immortal closing remark of, "Hey, you with the glasses", is something I related to all to well as a 12-year old with big, black, Mad Men glasses with coke bottle lenses. 




Ian had a second career as a solo artist in the mid to late 70's thru the early 80's, partnering up with David Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson to put on a series of blistering live shows and writing songs that became hits for Great White (Once Bitten Twice Shy) and even Barry Manilow (Ships) along with the theme to the Drew Carey Show, Cleveland Rocks. 
  
This creative period culminated with one of the best albums of the time, You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (something I know all too well thanks to family history on my father's side, thank you very much. My mother figured this out one day when she was driving in the car with my father and he started muttering to himself and she said "Mowie, who are you talking to?". He then looked at her and said "They don't want you to know."


This post Mott period of the 70's was so strong that Ian's number one fan, Def Leppard lead singer Joe Elliott put together a fantastic tribute album called Joe Elliott's Down N Outz, My Regeneration where he sings Hunter tunes and other songs by post Mott the Hoople alumni from that era.
  
For an Elliott interview about Ian...   http://bestclassicbands.com/joe-elliott-ian-hunter-11-17-16/
  
Once Mick Ronson left Ian Hunter, he went into a creative funk until re-emerging in 1995 with the solid Dirty Laundry and it's follow up Red Letter Days. Then in 2001, at the age of 62,he put out the spectacular Rant album, which has been followed by one amazing album after another culminating with this years release of  one of his finest records, Fingers Crossed (at age 77!). What ever kind of deal with the Devil this guy has made is fine with me because what he is doing during his senior years is pretty much unparalleled in Rock and Roll history. 
  
Here's a couple of tracks to check out from Fingers Crossed. The title track and Bowie tribute Dandy...

https://youtu.be/gKo_ZrPC4iY   (Fingers Crossed)



Counting Ian as one track (math was never my strong point), here's a quick hit of 9 other songs/links you will definitely love if you are lucky enough to have the exact same musical taste as me...


Hank Wangford...the harmonies on this are so good they should be illegal or if they make the ballot, decriminalized.




Vintage Trouble are a band with a sound more than songs who take everything to another level live. If you  wanna see a band work a festival crowd like no other check out this Glastonbury footage...... 


The Record Company....Like Vintage Trouble this is a band with a sound more than songs who put on a spectacular live show with echo's of blues icons like John Lee Hooker and 70's stalwarts like the Allman Brothers, Vintage Eric Clapton and even Foghat. This is a band you want to catch hen they come to you town (and they will). Here they are on Conan.  


Christine and the Queens. The number one thing I love about this french chanteuse is that she is beyond quirky without piercings, crazy clothes, tattoos or any of the other usual rock and roll visual accoutrements.


Miley Cyrus  In case you haven't noticed Bob Dylan songs tend to sound a lot better when someone else is singing them and this Miley Cyrus version of Baby I'm in the Mood For You is no exception.


Wolf Parade  Great to see them back together, maybe one day they will be filling the arenas they so deserve to have filled for them. 


Tommy Womack A rock and roll history lesson from the musical treasure that is Tommy Womack.


Ron Pope  There is no American atist putting out better music than this guy. This is one of 50 songs by him I could list for you.


Avett Brothers Who's better than the Avett Brothers. Nobody, that's who!

https://youtu.be/vyDCoMNMqIA


 #stagehandsmassagetherapy, #ianhunter, #avettbrothers, #ronpope, #mileycyrus,
 #tommywomack,  
#wolfparade, #christineandthequeens, #vintagetrouble, #hankwangford, #therecordcompany, #bostonpartymakers, #mightymusicbingo

Thursday, September 22, 2016

We are deeply touched by the passing of Michelle Owens!

We are deeply touched by the passing of Michelle Owens! Michelle is our therapist in Atlanta GA that passed away yesterday from ovarian cancer. She worked for us for several years before she got sick. We will miss her...



Michelle has been involved in the pageantry arts for over 25 years. Originally from New Hartford, NY, Michelle currently lives in Woodstock, GA where she is a licensed Massage Therapist. Michelle began her performing career as a 7th grader in the New Hartford High School marching band. She went on to perform with the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 1990-1994, a perennial DCI finalist during those years. And she was member of Independent World Class finalist Field of View from 1994-1995.

Michelle has been teaching, writing, and designing since 1992. Some of her teaching experience on the scholastic side includes: New Hartford HS 1992-1996, North Penn HS 1996-1998, Ridgewood HS 1999-2001, Randolph HS 1999-2001, Morris Knolls HS 1999-2001, Hicksville HS 1999-2001, Huntington HS 1999-2001, Lassiter HS 2002-present and McEachern HS 2014. At Lassiter HS, Michelle was the Director of the color guard program from 2002-2013. She was part of the team when the band won the BOA Grand National Championship in 2002.

Michelle has also worked with some independent groups such as: Field of View winter guard from 1996-1999, Salem Blue winter guard 2002-present, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps 1995-2000, Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps 2001-2002, The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps 2003-2008 and the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps 2014. Michelle was part of the team at The Cadets when the corps won the DCI Championship in 2005. Michelle continues to share her knowledge, talents, and passion to an activity that has given so much to her and she is excited as an alumnus and former staff member to return to the Crossmen for 2016.

 http://www.crossmen.org/michelle-owens-bio

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

September Events

We are excited to announce our list of events for September. While summer might be over, we're happy to give you something to look forward to in the month to come!


Rhythm & Roots Festival  – Sept. 2nd-4th – Charlestown, RI




North Coast Music Festival – Sept. 2nd-4th – Chicago, IL




Peoria Blues Festival – September 2nd-3rd – Peoria, IL




Riot Fest  – September 2nd-3rd – Denver, CO




"We Are LA" Family Music Festival – September 17th – Los Angeles, CA




AmericanaFest – September 20th-25th – Nashville, TN




Pilgrimage Music and Arts Festival – September 24th-25th – Franklin, TN

Friday, August 5, 2016

August Events

The Hands That Rock is happy to announce the following events that we will be participating in!







The Billboard Hot 100 Music Festival – August 20th-21st – Long Island, NY


Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Welcome Ken Burke, Out Newest Board Member




We would like to give a warm welcome to Ken Burke, a strongly committed member of the Rhode Island community. As a University of Rhode Island Alum, Ken has made it his mission to serve the state and its people through various nonprofits and state programs. Ken won the Providence Engineering Society's 2015 Humanitarian of the Year Award for his dedication to the community. When not working, Ken enjoys hiking with his two dogs, mountain biking, and fishing and quahoging along Rhode Island's salt ponds and coastline. It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome him aboard our team, we greatly look forward to what is to come.