This eclectically charged reflection of the 60's and 70's music in an original concept album style brings with it many well done genre and styles of that time period. It is pogniant and soulfull with it's title track being the heart of the collection. Winner of the VH1 song of the year honorable mention for lyrical content"Shake hands with the Moon"is one for the ages with literally something for everyone. Want to relax and unwind, this is the disc for you!
Formed in San Jose and Palo Alto Cosmic Buffalo has mainly worked in the studio to create their new release "Shake hands with the Moon". A project that has taken the better part of 6 years. With the help of many many good and talented people it is now available for the general public to enjoy.
Though the principle architects of this CD grew up on opposite coasts in America. They both gravitated to very similar styles and roots of music, which is why they found collaborating somewhat of a familiar experience. Paul grew up near Washington D.C. in a town called Wheaton. Began singing at the age of 16 on the street corners of Georgetown.
First major collaboration came when called up to sing with the Persuasions at the Childe Harolde. Chain Gang was the song and it was Jimmy Hayes that lit the fire that still burns. Thank you Jimmy and all the Persuasions for that gift.
Now 34 years later Paul has been blessed to perform with many great artists. A short list includes Danny Gatton, John Hartford, KoKo Taylor, Rick Danko, Emmy Lou Harris, B.B. King.
Chris though born in Chicago spent most of his life in the Bay area in a town called Portola Valley. The first major band he was part of was Full House a dynamic band that opened for The Tubes, Robin Trower at the Keystone Nightclub in Palo Alto. Since then he has played with many other artists domestically and abroad. Auditioned for Ozzy Ozbourne and Steppenwolf.
Jimi Hendrix heavily influenced both Paul and Chris and this is the greatest bond for them. Introduced in 2000 at the Crossroads in Woodside Ca by Larry “Gypsy” Sales a local blues legend they talked at length and ultimately decided to collaborate on this original collection of songs we call “Shake hands with the Moon”.
In 2005 “Shake hands with the Moon” was awarded an honorable mention for lyrical content in the VH1 Song of the Year contest. It is a song about the joyous relationships with friends and about how the best times and people in our lives are sometimes overlooked from being to pre-occupied with temporary routine worries like bills or work. It is also dedicated to Paul’s recently departed Uncle Joe Anastasi.
Without the help, advice and support of many, many, terrific artisans and friends we could never have completed this CD. We are blessed to have so many talented musicians work with us on this and great friends to support and console us during difficulties. Blood, Sweat and Tears are a good analogy for the 6 years completing this effort. Thanks also to Brian Vaughan who recorded / sound engineered / mastered this collection.
This CD is a concept album and like the title track indicates there are references in each of the songs to the moon. Also, because of the overwhelming impact that Pink Floyd had on both Paul La Bonte (lyricist) and Chris Corso (guitarist) this is meant to also be a tribute in the form of a thank you to Pink Floyd for their inspiration by example.
Though there were many Pink Floyd albums that had impact. It was "Dark Side of the Moon" that created the far reaching influence and preference in musical style that can be heard on the track " Mobile Maroon Living Room" with it's heavy psychedelic and swirling sounds driven by Moog and synthesizer and a strong driving Bass line.
If you are a fan of classic 60's and 70's styles and genres of music than this is the one for you. A major goal in creating this CD was to include all the musical styles that shaped our developments in music in the first place. Therefore, we planned to make each track a different style or genre of what we considered the golden age of rock. And even though every song is done in a different style they lead into and out of each other with relevance and continuity.
"Naugahyde" is a song with an urban Blues/Jazz signature in the vain of Hendrix/Traffic.
And the story includes a young man wandering at night seeking answers for his own perilous situation when he enters a diner. There he discovers a young woman very much like him and she too is skittish when approached. He calmly approaches her sits down and reaches out for her to talk about her problems. What he hears is very sad so he simply listens to her but lets her know he is no threat to her either.
"Always with me" Southern Rock styles of the Allman Brothers/Derek and the Dominos can be heard in this song.
And now we hear about the lamenting of a heartbroken man that wishes he could know where his lover went to and his own introspection of what may have gone wrong. So in the first song we have two people meeting and gingerly exchanging pleasantries. To a later date where now our main character has found himself alone and not really sure how, when and where she left.
"Moorockin" Grateful Dead freeform and Jim Morrison infused poetic spoken word for this song.
This song is about adventure and rediscovery in the exotic land of Mooroco. Our main character in an attempt to leave his lament behind him has left his Country with good friends to explore the world. His trek takes him beyond his expectations and in this strange land he finds cooperation, friendship and gracious people between ancient surrounding and strange but pleasant experiences in the food, the culture, the animals, the desert. Quite by surprise one night in the tent of a Chieftain he meets the daughter of the Chieftain and rediscovers love once more.
"Shake hands with the Moon" is done in more an Adult Contemporary/Easy listening style.
Now, after meeting Leila the Chieftains daughter and being invited by the Chieftain to stay with them as long as he liked and his friends have long since left to return to the states. Their love blooms in this desert city of Morroco. This song embodies what love is to them and to anyone that is lucky enough to ever knowing it he or herself. It is also about appreciating the small things in life, which are actually, the biggest ones. A trusting friendship, happy faces, warm days by the sea, sharing a good meal with good friends and the love of a soul mate. Listening to nature as it talks to us and acts as the liaison to the spiritual world if we only pay attention.
"Buenos Aires" is done in a Bosa Nova style of "The girl from Ipenena".
After a year or so of living in Morroco our main character and Lelia wed and now he has resumed his work and is traveling around the world again as an entertainer. Though he must be in Buenos Aires he buys her a ticket and asked her to meet him there, which she does. She looks just like and heiress when he sees her and they spend a wonderful week of honeymoon together. She has never seen a disco or nightclub so she is enthralled by the idea.
"Platform Shooz" is a disco parody done in a Zappa / Beefheart style with sarcastic descriptions of the songs events.
While on a cab ride through Buenos Aires our couple are discussing disco and the nightclubs when their driver Jorge not only tells them about where he likes to go to disco but continues on unabated about how he just found some old paten leather platform shoes and his recent exploits in them. The goings on of the Argentinean nightclub scene.
"Stained" is more like a New Age / Folk type of celebration song.
Our main character has now returned to the San Francisco Bay area with his beautiful bride Lelia to visit with a spend time with Family and old friends. Woken to a foggy morning with bright sunshine blasting through the Stained glass window of his bedroom he watches as the colors shape themselves over his brides face and he smiles. Upon waking they head to the Pacific Coast through the Redwoods. In transit though they are both stuck with a strong spiritual feeling so they pull over and hike into the Redwoods. Coming upon a Native American Shaman dancing and chanting around a medicine wheel. They sit quietly observing his ritual and when he stops he approaches them and imparts his wisdoms on them about love and giving. About how we are all part of the one thing.
"Cedar Still" done in a Country Blues or Bluegrass style in the vain of say Taj Mahal or John Prine.
On a gig in W Virginia our hero has now stumbled onto a community in the Shenandoha mountains. One of the support musicians he has had help him on the East Coast swing of his tour has invited him up to hang one weekend. Taken by the beauty of the area and the closeness of the Family and friends in the community. He observes a little boy for couple of days and then asks him where he goes. And so the little boy tells him about his adventures likes and dislikes. All about his family too.
"Mobile Maroon Living Room" done in the Psychedelic Acid Rock style of Pink Floyd / Spirit
The traveling is now weighing heavily on his mind because now he misses his wife and wants to be with her. This song is about the hardship of making a living in any way that constitutes being on the road or traveling constantly. How things can happen to make the situation more difficult than it needs to be already.
"Broken Cup" done in the vain of Southern Rock/ Lynyrd Skynyrd and the like.
Things build up and up until they are no longer manageable for Lelia with our character on the road constantly and the gigs making less and less money they can no longer live the life they have grown accustomed to. After she leaves him and he loses his passion for the road and performing live altogether he gets injured real bad and now has a hard time with many things. Eventually he loses his home and is now homeless. This song is about being homeless in America. And how living in a Cypress stand inside the off ramp to the interstate is where he finds home. It is about how he has found freedom in this harsh environment and his queen (his dog) and he will keep on living free and being what they want to be. Taking place outside a fancy home with a big picture window with Him and the dog in the fore ground. And through the glass we see a big Thanksgiving feast taking place. When one of the owners notices him there they call the police and the story ends with the Police pulling up to arrest him and impound his dog.
