Nicholas James: Top 10 Artist!

Nicholas James in the Studio

OurStage certainly seems to think so. Nicholas' song "Safe In My Arms, produced at Threshold Recording Studios NYC with James Walsh and Jeremy Sklarsky, has made it into two top 10 lists on ourstage.com, including the Subway Fresh Artists National Competition. It is currently #19 on their indie pop charts. Look for bigger things coming from this very talented young singer/songwriter in 2011. Take a listen in the studio jukebox to the right...

Nicholas is currently seeking a top spot @ Sonicbids Bonnaroo contest.

Download his song SAFE IN MY ARMS today and give him your vote!

http://bonnaroo.sonicbids.com/BandDetails.aspx?b=27092&sr=false&bn=Nicholas+James+Band

Recent Sessions @ Threshold Recording Studios NYC

We've had a a busy 2011 recording at Threshold Studios. Here are some of the early highlights:

- Big Mosey

Brooklyn based blues-rock band was in to record their debut EP entitled "Homeward at Daybreak." A unique sound with an even more unique vocalist. It's been too long since we did some serious guitar work so it was a lot of fun breaking out the Marshalls...

- Neil Perlman was in to record some Scottish-jazz fusion! His piano jazz trio featuring renowned Scottish fiddler Alasdair Fraser. All these guys had some serious chops.

Neil Perlman and co with Alasdair Fraser

- The UN Jazz Band (working title). We recorded a small jazz ensemble composed of United Nations Staffers, including players from Madagascar, South Africa, Sweden, and Austria. The group's leader, Herbert Grubmair mentioned long time friend of the studio and fellow Austrian Hans Glawischnig. Hebert said about Threshold, "If it's good enough of Hans it's good enough for me!" We hope to have them back soon.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Freelance Whales back at Threshold Recording Studios, NYC

Freelance Whales' Judah Dadone with

Jeremy Sklarsky @ Threshold Studios

Produced by Jeremy Sklarsky, Freelance Whales returned to Threshold Studios this month. This band is so great- it is always good to have them back in the studio. Big chunks of their highly regarded debut "Weathervanes" were recorded here at Threshold with Jeremy at the helm. We'll post a link to the song they recorded here upon its release, which should come sometime during their upcoming tour with Foals (which takes them across the continent including a co-headlining show at Terminal 5!).

NY Times POPCAST series at Threshold Recording Studios, NYC

In 2009/ 2010 Threshold Recording Studios, NYC began hosting the NY Times POPCAST series hosted by Ben Sisario. Recent sessions have included The Black Keys, Grace Potter, Junip featuring Jose Gonzalez, Josh Ritter, Jonsi from Sigur Ros, The Morning Benders. It has been awesome to have such varied and talented people come through the studio. You can check out POPCAST here on the NYTimes website or on iTunes.

with guest host Melena Kyzik after taping their episode

Edelweiss

A very beardy Jeremy Sklarsky with Edelweiss!

Had a KILLER time at Threshold Recording Studios NYC with Edelweiss, a young band from Stroudsburg, PA. Check out their maxi single "(No)" and b-side "Fiasco" engineered and produced by Jeremy Sklarsky @ Threshold Studios over the Christmas break. A very talented bunch, we hope to working with them again soon.

Road Recovery John Varvatos fundraiser with Peter Frampton and Dennis Leary a great success!!

What a night! MajorWho was thrilled to help support Road Recovery's benefit concert last week at John Varvatos' store in NYC. His store is located in the old CBGB's and gets used occasionally as a performance space. So many of the performers and Road Recovery staff walked in with nostalgia in their eyes, remembering back as many as 30 years since their first gigs they played and attended at CBGB's.

Emceed by longtime Road Recovery supporter Matt Pinfield and his radio partner Leslie Fram, the show opened with performances by Road Recovery Performance Workshops, followed by the Road Recovery Staff band including: Knox Chandler on bass, Adam Roth on guitar, Mark Boquist on drums, Owen Comansky on guitar, Tom Dudley bv's- and Road Recovery house band Crazy James. It is such a thrill to see the kids perform the songs for a packed house that we've produced and recorded with them in the studio. The staff band was joined by MajorWho artist Todd Alsup, who sat in on keys and sang a fantastic version of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground."

Road Recovery Participants Meet With Peter Frampton Before The Show

Following the opening bands, the first of the two headliners performed. Denis Leary and The Enablers (featuring Road Recovery staff Adam Roth and Owen Comaskey) did their hybrid comedy-rock routine, including some of Denis' more well known songs such as "The Rehab Song," "F*** You," and his most famous, "A**hole."

Then came the headliner - the legendary Peter Frampton. Peter played a mostly acoustic set, but was joined by a keyboard player and bassist. The crowd loved hearing his classics - "Show Me The Way," "Baby I Love Your Way," and "Do You Feel Like We Do." He broke out the Framptone guitar/vocoder sound to raucous applause. For his encore, Frampton did his rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and then invited the Enablers on stage for a reprise of "A**hole."

The show was packed, John Varvatos was a gracious host, and was a terrific night for Road Recovery. All of the artists voiced their overwhelming support for Road Recovery, who both raised money and awareness for their cause. Congrats to Gene Bowen, Jack Bookbinder, and the entire Road Recovery family for such a successful event. We look forward to many more amazing Road Recovery events and collaborations in the new year.

John Varvatos with MajorWho Artist Todd Alsup

Kirsten Thien - Featuring the legendary Hubert Sumlin in the Studio!

Great session down in the studio this week. Kirsten Thein, who was recently honored with a Songwriter's Hall of Fame Abe Olman Scholarship, came down to record some basics with her band. Kirsten has a classic sound and a great, smoky voice.

Kirsten Thien

Kirsten was backed by as good a group of musicians as you're likely to find, including Steve Holley (who played drums with Wings in the 70's!), Erik Boyd on bass (and producing) Tommy Mandel on keys (check out his credits btw), and Arthur Neilson on guitar.

The biggest surprise of the day was the arrival of Hubert Sumlin, who sat in on guitar for two songs. Hubert is on Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists of All Time list. He played with Howlin' Wolf in the early days and is a major influence on the British guitarists of the 60's who basically set out to copy American blues players. Jimmy Page even stole a Hubert Sumlin lick for Led Zepplin's Lemon Song. Don't be surprised if he finds himself into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...

Jeremy and Engineer Dan Myers w/ Hubert Sumlin