Colin Stack News

Website Undergoing Construction

2006-10-23T13:27:00.000-05:00

Greetings,
So sorry for my dissappearance from colinstack.com as I have been posting all current information on the myspace accounts. This site will soon be up to date with all current information concerning gigs, recordings, and other random projects. For the time being, please visit these two sites for all current information.

www.myspace/colinstack
www.myspace/colinstackandnoveltyact

Summer Schedule

2006-06-29T11:38:00.000-05:00

Hi all!
I'm off to teach courses on songwriting, composition, and blues guitar at the National Guitar Workshop for a total of five weeks (this will be my third summer). While enjoying the change of scenery, I also plan on writing a bunch of new tunes for Novelty Act that will hopefully result in the recording of our first studio album sometime this fall. For those of you in Rochester NY, we will be playing "Open Fest" on Saturday the 22nd at 7pm. For more information concerning this event, please go to: www.openfest.com and www.myspace.com/colinstackandnoveltyact If you're around, come check us out! And finially,my new album with The Leftovers is out!!! Please check us out at www.myspace.com/colinstack to hear bits and pieces of "BANG! BAM! BOOM!" -Colin

New Myspace Website For The Leftovers!

2006-06-22T21:50:00.000-05:00

The new album is now out and the Leftovers and I couldn't be more happy! "BANG! BAM! BOOM!" can be purchased at my various shows (both with Novelty Act and The Leftovers) and at cdbaby.com. Please check us out at our new myspace website for more information concerning our new record. -Colin

www.myspace.com/colinstack
www.cdbaby.com

New Article in Boston’s “Globe”!!

2006-05-17T19:48:00.000-05:00

The Socially Awkward Composers (a new music collaborative that Colin co-founded) was just recently given an Article in the Globe. Check it out at this address!

http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2006/05/03/music_for_a_not_quite_classical_crowd/

New Album to be released on May 26th

2006-05-17T19:41:00.000-05:00

It’s finally done!! Colin Stack and The Leftovers will be releasing their new album, "BANG! BAM! BOOM!" on May 26th. The album can be purchased at various Colin Stack shows, through this site, and on CD baby.com

New MP3 of Colin Stack and Novelty Act

2006-04-20T14:28:00.000-05:00

Novelty Act recently recorded a new version of “My Shallow Fantasy” live in the studio over at Emerson College this past week. Check out that new recording on johnservo.com!

May 4th, Socially Awkward Composers Concert

2006-04-20T14:27:00.000-05:00

Colin Stack and The Leftovers will perform two songs from their new album “BANG! BAM! BOOM!” on the May 4th Socially Awkward Composers Concert at Mcintyre and Moore Booksellers, Somerville, MA. The show starts at 7:30pm.

May 28th, World Premiere of “Self-Sabotage” in Chicago

2006-04-20T14:26:00.000-05:00

Colin’s new trio for oboe, piano, and viola titled, “Self Sabotage” will be priemered by virtuoso violist Gabriel Schlaffer and his entourage at Du Paul University on Sunday, May 28th. The piece was commissioned by Schlaffer last fall for his graduate recital. This event will also feature the world premiere of a new work by Jonathan Kupper.

May 19th, Colin Stack and Novelty Act/Daniel Bennett Group

2006-04-20T14:21:00.000-05:00

Be sure to catch Colin Stack and Novelty Act, along with the Daniel Bennett Group, live at the Lily Pad: 1355 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA. The show starts at 10pm. $8 cover at the door.

May 21st, Daniel Bennett Saxophone Quartet to perform two of Colin’s pieces.

2006-04-20T14:19:00.000-05:00

The Daniel Bennett Saxophone Quartet will perform Colin’s “Perpetual Déjà vu” and “Radio Child” at the May 21st Powers Music School Faculty Concert. Daniel will also be performing several of his own pieces for sax quartet. The show is free and starts at 6:15 pm! Directions: Payson Park Church, 365 Belmont St, Belmost, MA.

July 1-22/July 30-August 13th, Teaching at National Guitar Workshop

2006-04-20T14:17:00.000-05:00

This will be Colin’s third summer teaching courses in songwriting, composition, blues guitar, and voice at the National Guitar Workshop in New Milford, CT. He will be performing weekly at their faculty concerts throughout his five-week stay. For more information on the National Guitar Workshop, please visit www.nationalguitarworkshop.com

July 22, Colin Stack and Novelty Act to perform at Open Fest

2006-04-20T14:15:00.000-05:00

July 22nd
Colin Stack and Novelty Act to perform at Open Fest (Honeoye Falls Firemen Field). For more information on this event, please visit www.openfest.com

"BANG! BAM! BOOM!" Mixed and Ready To Go!

2006-03-15T00:28:00.000-05:00

The new album has been mixed and is ready to be sent to the lab for duplication! Below is the track listing for "BANG! BAM! BOOM!"

BANG! BAM! BOOM!
1. Joey’s Lost Horizon
2. Maybe I’m Dreaming
3. ...Kim...
4. Those Impressionable Days
5. Priority No.2
6. An Evening At The Red Barn
7. And So It Shall Be...
8. Somewhat Melancholy (Instrumental)
9. Cold Wind Blows
10. Goodbye To My Old Playground
11. BANG! BAM! BOOM!
12. Beautiful Girl Syndrome (Instrumental)
13. I Drink Till I Have My Fill
14. Gone

March 31st/Colin Stack and Novelty Act

2006-03-05T16:49:00.001-05:00

A three band extravaganza!! Colin Stack and Novelty Act will perform along with the Daniel Bennett Group and the Quartet of Happiness on Friday, March 31st at the Lily Pad (formally know as the Zeitgeist) in Cambridge. The show starts at 10pm. $8 cover at the door. More information on the show goes as follows:

March 31, 2006
Live at the Lily Pad: 1355 Cambridge St, Cambridge, Ma
Daniel Bennett Group/Colin Stack and Novelty Act/Quartet of Happiness

1st set-10pm
Daniel Bennett Group
Daniel Bennett's music is often referred to as "folk jazz." Pure folkmelodies played on saxophone, mixed with acoustic guitar and bass. Asalways, Daniel Bennett is joined by acoustic guitar genius Chris Herschand maverick bassist John Servo. Daniel Bennett has performed at Lincoln Center, Jordan Hall, Eastman Theatre, George Eastman House, Merrill Auditorium, as well as clubs across America. Go to www.danielbennett.net for more information!

2nd set-10:45pm
Colin Stack and Novelty Act
Novelty Act was formed by Composer/Singer/Songwriter Colin Stack this past January. The band features Christopher Hersch on guitar and banjo, John Servo on electric and acoustic bass, and Steve Turcott on drums. The music can best be described as an eclectic mix of rock, rhythm and blues, jazz, folk, and vaudeville. Colin Stack has four CDs on his own label (Stacktone Productions). His fifth CD will be released this April.

3rd set-11:30pm
The Quartet of Happiness
The Quartet of Happiness was formed in the spring of 2003 by saxophonists Rick Stone and Kelly Roberge. Along with Stone and Roberge the group includes bassist Kendall Eddy and drummer Austin Mcmahon . The main focus of this ensemble is to perform original compositions written in a performance art/theatrical style. The members of the quartet draw from a wide range of musical backgrounds and styles, including jazz, rhythm and blues, rock, folk, and classical music. Another objective of the group is to set up a series of concerts/clinics at public schools and colleges to teach role-playing, movement, and improvisation through music. Please visit www.quartetofhappiness.com for more info.

New MP3s of Colin Stack and Novelty Act

2006-03-05T16:47:00.000-05:00

I would like to thank all of you that came out to hear our premier performance at Rutman’s Violin Shop last month. Both Daniel Bennet and I were very pleased with the turn out. We hope that you will all come again on March 31st to hear us perform at The Lilley Pad over in Cambridge for our second show. Three MP3s (from our Rutman’s gig) of “Kate’s Parade”, “I Drink Till I Have My Fill”, and “Fantastically Inspired” can be heard on johnservo.com (what a guy!).
-Colin

More on Colin Stack & Novelty Act

2006-02-15T17:36:00.000-05:00

Hi all,
I’ll be performing with my new band “Novelty Act” on Saturday, February 25th at Rutman’s Violin Shop in Boston. Our set list will consist of original songs from my previous three albums, in addition to a few new tunes from a CD that I will be releasing this spring. The Daniel Bennett Group will kick off the show at 7pm. So come out if ya can!! Both bands would love to give you a pleasant evening of strange song.
-Colin

Rutman’s Violins is located on 11 Westland Ave. Boston, MA 02115.

Novelty Act is:
Colin Stack- guitar/vocal
Christopher Hersch- lead guitar
Thaddeus Bell- piano
John Servo- electric and acoustic bass
Steve Turcott- drums

Colin Stack & Novelty Act
Set list for February 25

1. Maybe I’m Dreaming
2. I Drink Till I Have My Fill
3. Phone Call From The Deep End
4. Kate’s Parade
5. My Shallow Fantasy
6. A Product of The Coca-Cola Company
7. Graceland
8. Nothing In Particular
9. That Old Brick Building
10. Goodbye To My Old Playground
11. Sincere Reactions
12. Fantastically Inspired

“BANG! BAM! BOOM!” almost completed!

2006-01-23T15:52:00.000-05:00

My new album with The Leftovers is just about finished and I couldn’t be more excited. “BANG! BAM! BOOM!” has been three years in the making. The album consists of tortured love songs sung by an unconventional vocalist who is backed up by a fourteen-piece chamber orchestra. WOW!! I still have a hard time believing that I actually found musicians of such high caliber that were willing to do this project with me. Most of them were performance majors from NEC; Half of them are also Tanglewood fellows. The recording sessions all took place in Boston at The New England Conservatory’s Carr Organ Room with no fancy studio tricks or orchestral overdubbing. All the reverb comes from the natural acoustics in the organ room. "BANG! BAM! BOOM!" sounds as if it might have been recorded in the 1950s, which is exactly how we intended it to sound. The Leftovers and I now plan on taking our new material to various art galleries and odd performance venues that will take a chance on booking such an unusual group.
-Colin

Colin Stack and Novelty Act/Daniel Bennett Group to perform on February 25th

2006-01-23T15:16:00.000-05:00

Colin Stack and fellow musicians Christopher Hersch, Thaddeus Bell, John Servo, and Steve Turcott came together this past month to form “Novelty Act.” The band will make their Boston premiere with the Daniel Bennett Group on February 25th at Rutman’s Violins. The show starts at 7pm. Tickets: $5 at the door.

Directions
11 Westland Ave.
Boston, MA 02115

Green Line Symphony Stop
www.rutmansviolins.com

December 10th: The Socially Awkward Composers are at it again!

2005-11-16T20:57:00.000-05:00

December 10th: The Socially Awkward Composers are at it again!
Colin Stack’s wind quintet “Of or Pertaining to My Human Condition” will be performed in addition to other works composed by his fellow awkward composer buddies at the 1st and 2nd Church of Boston on Saturday, December 10th. The show begins at 4pm. The press release for this event is listed below.

Saturday, December 10th at 4:00PM
The Socially Awkward Composers present
An afternoon of not so awkward compositions
66 Marlborough Street
MBTA Green Line: Arlington
Admission: $10.00/students $7.00

The Socially Awkward Composers (SAC) begin a third concert season with their signature programming of diverse concert music. Following the path of many young composers, SAC aims to present a rich tapestry of music by presenting music that spans the many genres that makeup our 21st century musical world. From trance music to Post-modern concert music, rock to world folk music, all genres are equal and inform the music of the Socially Awkward Composers guaranteeing one of the most diverse programs heard from the Boston new music scene.
Founded in 2003 by composers Michael Miller and Colin Stack they were soon joined by composers Andrew Bisset, Montserrat Torras, and Michael McLaughlin, and performers Harry Cherrin and Sofia Koutsovitas. This season they happily announce their newest composing member David Cucchiara. SAC continues its practice of bringing in new young guest artists including guest composer/trombonist Jonathan Sokol. violists Katrin Meidell, saxophonist Rick Stone, and the contemporary chamber pop, vaudeville ensemble the Leftovers.
This afternoon’s concert will feature the music of Michael Miller, Colin Stack, David Cucchuiara, Michael McLaughlin and guest composer Jonathan Sokol.

"Perpetual Deja Vu" to be performed on Dec.4th

2005-11-16T20:30:00.000-05:00

Colin Stack’s saxophone quartet “Perpetual Deja vu” will be performed on the Daniel Bennett Concert on December 4th at the Dana Hall School of Music in Wellesley, MA. The program will feature a wide variety of music composed by the Boston-based saxophonist Daniel Bennett for both his quasi-jazz ensemble and his saxophone quartet. Mr. Bennett has performed many of Colin’s concert works and is currently an active member in Colin’s vaudeville-chamber-pop ensemble“The Leftovers.”

The Daniel Bennett concert will begin at 7pm. Admission is free, so please come! Directions are listed below.

December 4 at 7pm
Daniel Bennett Concert with special guest Colin Stack
Dana Hall School of Music
45 Dana Rd.Wellesley, MA 02482

Back to Boston!

2005-10-10T23:34:00.000-05:00

Greetings fellow musicians and good friends. I have just recently relocated back to Boston (my unofficial home from 1998-2004). Not to worry, my email address and phone number are still the same. My new additional contact information will be posted on the home page of colinstack.com very soon.

In other news, The Leftovers and I are very busy recording our new album now titled, “BANG! BAM! BOOM!” As of this fall, the group has now expanded to thirteen players (WOW!). Please listen to some of our songs posted on the home page! I am also in the process of writing two concert pieces (classical), one of which will be premiered in Chicago by my good friend Gabriel Schlaffer in February of 2006. Also, The Socially Awkward Composers and I plan on programming a concert sometime in December. More information on that event will be posted soon!
-Colin

New "Trio" commissioned by musicians from Du Paul University

2005-06-24T00:40:00.000-05:00

Colin Stack returns to composing concert music after one years’ hiatus working with The Leftovers (Stack’s vaudeville-chamber-pop ensemble) for their new album “Alla Carte.” He has been commissioned by his good friend and former member of The Fever String Quartet Gabriel Schlaffer – who is now a sought-after violist working in Chicago. The trio will be scored for oboe, piano, and viola. The premiere is scheduled for sometime in December of 2005 at Du Paul University for Schlaffer’s graduate recital. Additional performances will take place at Roosevelt University and other performance venues in Chicago.

"Maybe I'm Dreaming" EP to be released on June 30th.

2005-06-23T01:24:00.000-05:00

The “Maybe I’m Dreaming” EP will consist of live versions of songs from past Colin Stack albums, two new songs from his new album “Alla Carte” with The Leftovers (to be released this fall), and one song from “Troubleshooting” (an album of up-beat songs to be released sometime in 2006). The EP will be released on June 30th.

Tracks
1. Maybe I'm Dreaming
(with The Leftovers from their new album "Alla Carte.")
2. Kate's Parade
(solo guitar version; recorded live in Jordan Hall, Boston MA for
New England Conservatory's Concert X. Recorded in November of 2003)
3. Perfume
(solo piano version; recorded live in Jordan Hall, Boston MA for
New England Conservatory's Concert X. Recorded in November of 2003)
4. Those Impressionable Days
(with The Leftovers from their new album "Alla Carte.")
5. From The Leftside Of Irrational
( from "Troubleshooting", to be released sometime in 2006)
6. Goodbye To My Old Playground
(solo guitar version)
7. Those Impressionable Days
(solo guitar version)
8. Nothing Particular In Mind
(with Missing Link; recorded live in Jordan Hall, Boston MA for
New England Conservatory's Concert X. Recorded December of 2002)

Summer 2005: Colin teaching and performing at the National Guitar Workshop

2005-06-22T00:32:00.000-05:00

Colin will be teaching courses on songwritng, composition, music theory, guitar, paino, and vocal performance at the National Guitar Workshop in New Milford CT from July 1st through August 15th. He can be heard performing his songs on their weekly faculty concerts. This will be his second summer teaching at the workshop. For more information on the National Guitar Workshop, please visit their website at www.guitarworkshoporders.com

Colin Stack and The Leftovers to release "Alla Carte"

2005-06-22T00:24:00.000-05:00

Following the lush over-orchestrated collection of pop-art songs featured on Colin Stack’s last album “Commercial Suicide”, comes the first full-blown production of opuses composed in the avant-pop genre on his up-coming release titled, “Alla Carte.” Stack’s vocals are backed up by The Leftovers; a chamber group comprised of brass, woodwinds, and saxophones. Additional string and percussion players were employed to provide variation in timbre for some of the songs. Stack’s own instrumental contributions include guitar and piano.
Drawing from the influences of George Gershwin, Kurt Weill and early Tom Waits; Stack creates a kaleidoscope of different soundscapes in his orchestrations for The Leftovers. The songs are cynical, mostly dealing with dating dysfunction and strange love. Other songs take the listener down odd corridors of the human condition with surprising twists and turns. Guaranteed to provide the music lover with something different; Colin Stack and The Leftovers hope that you’ll spin their new album “Alla Carte” this November when they release it. More information on Colin Stack and The Leftovers will be made available soon on colinstack.com