OOT News

Sapphire Blue is a culmination of the area’s best players playing the best music. “It’s just not what it once was,” says Lexi (the band’s lead vocalist), “The women have taken over the music scene on a world level and that’s what makes us so different. If you take any Katy Perry or Pink song, they rarely have horns or that funk sound that you used to hear in clubs ten years ago. Now, it’s all about keyboards and pop/dance music. Young people will run for the hills if they see a band doing that ‘I love you more today than yesterday’ stuff. Believe me, I’m twenty-one, the same age as the other front person, bassist, and guitarist, so we know what people that come out to spend money want to hear. What we do is play pop music in high energy mode, so it works in even hard rock clubs, too. The band is equally comfortable in upscale settings, since the material we do and how we present it appeals to every age bracket and event, be it nightclub, casino or private affair.

The Sapphire Blue band is a seven piece band, and all of the guys are good looking and personable, if I do say so myself. One of our first official gigs was at Chickie’s and Pete’s New Years Eve party two weeks ago, and it was really jumping. It was one of the very few area clubs that had a good turnout. See, that’s what this band does. We’re all at the age of having hundred of friends just looking to go out, and it doesn’t take months of promoting. The bottom line is that you will have fun at our shows.”

BOOKING INFO: 215-921-0358

We made contact with JOHNNY O over the phone about his up coming reunion show that will be taking place at the end of January at Michaels Cafe in Bensalem…here’s some info on things…

OOT Question: How did it all begin for you and when?

JOHNNY O – “1985 is when we started, but didn’t get on a roll until 1986. It was the time of big hair bands, Tommy Conwell.and the like. Not too much soul or funk going on.  So, being the “brain” I was, and broke as all hell, came up with name first(which everyone hated)…then put the members together. had some help from Bobby Micheals, who had me front his band “V-8″ for a year or so before the dogs. Bobby was ‘blues”, but I wanted funky stuff , so on October 31st, SWEENEY’S TAVERN was the first to see THE CLASSIC DOGS OF LOVE!  This was a  combo of Motown,blues, funk and soul,with medleys to die for! no “stop and start” for us…which I think was one of the keys to our success. People loved it.Thanx to “saturday night live.” the horns were most important. Now we could do “Chicago”,Lighthouse, Sly, Blood  Sweat and  Tears and the like….which the clubs wanted badly but couldn’t afford. With a 5 dollar cover and adds from ‘OUT ON THE TOWN”….lol, we became the”TALK OF THE TOWN’….
OOT Question: So how was the money back then?
“We made a few bucks playing the music we loved” …yes we all made some good bucks back then”

OOT Question: What can we expect to see at this upcoming Reunion Show?

Johnny O -“What you will see on Jan. 27th are most of the ORIGINAL PLAYERS from that first band! Gary, Tony,Cassius, Ray,Wally, Billy….are all originals. Ted, my favorite sax player of all time, won’t be there because of health issues.Bobby Micheals will do sax and is more than qualified, and was there in the beginning also! This show will be special because it’s in the northeast, where it all started! I remember having one of biggest shows ever at the”BARN”…so many people there, the upstairs floor would move up and down from the dancing! Tommassos,where we got our”miller genuine draft” sponsor was another one….just crazy… the ski trips..wow. Anyway, i hope you all will have a ball, just like the good old days, when the crowd told us what to play…AND WE PLAYED IT!!! Hope to see everyone there! remember…no Justin Bieber here…no rap…,just good old rock and soul!There have been a lot of versions of the dogs since the beginning, but this version was always my favorite”

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEARS EVE?? 93.3 WMMR’s Artist of the Month, OCTANE, will be playing the PARTY OF THE YEAR at the ELECTRIC FACTORY with SPECIAL GUESTS Kid Felix, BHFJ, and The Endless March. The first 500 tickets are only $10 and nowhere else will you find such a spectacular deal to ROCK in the New Year 2013! Be prepared to hear BRAND NEW TUNES mixed with your old OCTANE favorites in an EPIC fashion. DON’T MISS OUT ON PHILLY’S BIGGEST ROCK PARTY OF THE YEAR.

Get your tickets now! www.OCTANEROCKS.com or www.electricfactory.info

Get to know Joe Q’s & A’s

Having come from the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Region, which is known for its cover band scene, who & what type of music lead you to where you are now?

The Philly Cover Scene has been my career and passion for over a decade now.  I have played 200+ shows per year for the last 10+ years.  I’ve covered every genre of music from metal to country to hip/hop to ShowTunes to Disney songs to Celtic.  The scene has certainly helped me evolve into the entertainer I am today.

When and why did you start playing Music?

Music is all I’ve ever known and loved.  When I was (3) years old, the first gift I begged my parents for was the 4 KISS dolls.  My room was covered with Gene Simmons posters in blood at the age of 3!

Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

I have Bob Marley, Bono and John Lennon all tattooed on me.  I believe so much in the idea of “one love.”  The idea that we can all treat one another as equals regardless of race, social status, religion, or gender.  I admire all 3 of them for their undeniable passion for music, life, and love.

Who are your favorite musicians? Groups?  CD’s? Music you must always have on your iphone , Ipad Mp3 player?

Musicians/Bands I could NOT live without would be:  Zac Brown Band, Lee Brice, U2, Counting Crows, Garth Brooks, Florida Georgia Line, Dan Adams, Willie Nelson, Bob Marley, The Beatles, and Lionel Richie!

What are your fondest musical memories onstage or off?

On May 1, 2011 I was playing in Key West for the Key West Songwriter’s Festival.  That afternoon, I was playing on the beach with my dear friend, Cliff Cody.  We played one of Cliff’s songs that is on my album called, “Back Home.”  We got to play for a couple hundred of our Armed Forces.  You could hear a pin drop on the beach.  It was surreal.  We invited the troops back to my show that night at Sloppy Joes.  Shortly before my show started, one of the members of the US Air Force approached me onstage and said, “Please make an announcement, we just killed Osama Bin Laden.”  I made the announcement in front of 600+ people in attendance.  We brought members of our Armed Forces onstage with us as the held the US Flag and we sang with them.  It was a moment I will NEVER forget.   30 days later, when I arrived home off my tour/shows, there was a package in my mailbox.  It was a US Flag and a plaque.  It was presented to me by the US Navy that was watching my show that night online LIVE from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  They flew a flag over GTMO for 9 minutes and 11 seconds and presented it to me as a token of their appreciation for my patriotism.  It is truly my MOST prized possession I own.

How many members are in your current touring band? Names?

I have a HUGE band!   8 members, a Tour Manager, a Sound Engineer, and a Merch Girl!  We need a bigger bus already!

Stephen Turner- Lead Guitar

Chris “Oz” Ferrara- Acoustic Guitar/Vocals

Stephen Rose- Acoustic Guitar/Vocals

Kyle Campbell- Rhythm Guitar/Vocals

Brian Walsh- Keyboards/Fiddle/Vocals

Garret Watts- Bass Guitar

Jared Lerew- Drums/Percussion

Kevin “Sully” Sullivan- Tour Manager

How often and for how long do you & your Band practice?

“Practice” the way I used to know it in the Philly Cover scene no longer exists.   Now, we practice for Tours/Shows.  When we schedule a tour… or a series of shows, I will write a set list and we’ll go into rehearsal for apps 4-5 hours per day for the week leading up to the tour.

Your debut album “ONE” has a lil’ of everything from the modern country- rock vibe to that classic down home feel.  Was your intention to have songs that appeal to fans of all ages and musical tastes?

YES. 100%.  Because that’s who I am!  When I sat down with my Producer, Arlis Albritton in May of 2011, I said…  When I play shows, I try to take people on a roller coaster rise.  I want to make them party, I want to make them think, I want to make them cry, and then I want to make them leave the show wanting more.  That’s the album I tried to make.  It was really important to me that I was able to show the different sides of who I am.  That part is difficult because I am certainly not your typical “ballad” vocalist!  But, when you see me sing my songs LIVE…  I promise to make you feel what I feel!

“Small Town Rock stars” is the current single on country radio across the United States, and also is a very cool “party anthem” video. Ya’ll have to check it out! Where was the video Shot and Produced? Tell us about the theme and vibe of the Video?

I shot the video at BLARNEY ISLAND in Antioch, IL.  (50 miles North of Chicago).  When I met with my Director (John Fucile of SmackDab Media)… I said,  “I need the video to be sexy and fun.”  I knew the song was a bit tongue-in-cheek, so I wanted to make sure the video did not come across as cheesy.  I’m so happy with the way it turned out.  In less than 3 minutes, it takes you on a journey of what one of our “days of our shows” is like!   We get to the venue, party with the people, and it starts out fun and low-key… but by the end of the night, it’s an absolute PARTY!

If you had to pick one song off your current Album “ONE” that means the most or touches your heart or says what you’re about which would it be?

WOW.  That’s a loaded question for me.  Every song TRULY means something to me.  I’m going to go with “Tired Of Running.”  Track #8.  It’s a very personal song for me.  It has several meanings to me.  I’m going to keep them to myself.  I tattooed the title of the song on me… along with “a bunch of airplane bottles in a paper sack.”

When down in Nashville or NashVegas as some call it, Who do you Collaborate With?  Do you have any song writing influences or mentors in Music city?

The more you write with people, the more comfortable it gets.  I write a lot with Jay Brunswick (Better Angels Publishing), Dan Adams, and Mitch Rossell.  All 3 of them are close friends of mine and they happen to be some of the best writers in town in my humble opinion.  I’ve written with Jett Beres  (Sister Hazel), Arlis Albritton (Grammy Nominated Writer/Producer for Jamey Johnson), Brian Davis (currently on tour with Brantley Gilbert), and many others.  I have been so fortunate to have friends that enjoy writing with me and vice/versa.

Yes you can name drop here. Who have you met whether it be Musically related or otherwise that has influenced you, gave you inspirational advice or just plan had you star struck while you made the journey to the musician you are today?

I’ve honestly met most of the stars by now.  The one guy that continues to be a mentor of mine… and idol of mine… and most importantly, a friend of mine is Lee Brice.  Lee has it all.  He has the STRONG, POWERFUL, AMAZING voice.  He is an incredible writer.  He is an amazing performer.  He can sing “Love Like Crazy” and make the entire venue cry… and 30 seconds later, he can make everyone crack open a beer and have you screaming, “Parking Lot Party.”   He is the EXACT type of artist I want to be.  We write very different styles, but we share so much in common as artists.  In addition to Lee… Jason Aldean and his band have been amazing mentors to me.  They have pushed me to take this thing as far as I can.  I text with Rich Redmond (Jason’s Drummer) 2-3 times per week.  Just amazing people.   Lastly, one of my VERY best friends is Tyler Hubbard.  Tyler is one of the lead singers of Florida Georgia Line.  We talk almost every day.  He’s my brother.  We have an incredible bond and respect for one another.

What advice would you give to beginners who are trying to break into the music scene?

I know this is cliché, but “JUST DO IT.”  That’s the honest truth.  Chesney gave me that advice 4 years ago and it’s some of the best i ever got.   If you want it that bad, then just do it.  Don’t make excuses why you can’t… just make it happen!

After Promoting your Current CD “ONE” across the U.S. on your current  Radio tour do you and the band plan on going back in the studio to record more music?

OH HELL YES!  We’ve already started!  I’ve been writing NON-STOP.  I wrote 14 songs in the last 5 months out in Nashville…. which is a ton with my crazy touring and press/radio schedule.   My band has been amazing going into the studio and cutting their parts while I’m out on the road promoting the album.  In addition, my life-long manager, Frank Annunziata has been Producing some of my most recent songs and we’ve had a blast working together on that level!

Joe Bachman tell the fans how & where to get your music , your  tour dates, and how we can all come enjoy your ride to the top on your awesome musical journey as you head towards the stars towards bigger and brighter things.

First and foremost, www.joebachman.com   That will direct you to my Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Pages, Videos, Songs, Tour Dates, etc.    In addition, please download my FREE App if you have an iPhone, iPad, or Droid.  Just search my name in your store.  It’s free and it’s a really cool app!

Being a huge country fan & performer myself its been a privilege Having Known Joe Bachman and his band members for a few years and watching them all work hard night after night playing their hearts out in all the clubs and music venues  for all of us music fans . Im Proud they represent our music community and look forward to seeing them perform and the new music they will bring.

Reach for the stars! And as Joe Bachman would tell Ya’ll “Keep it Country”

As Always I am  Proud to call you guys my “Brothers”  Cowboy Bob…………