The O-town Scene

reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews reviews Top 23 Idol contenders announced The second elimina- tion round of the 2011 Ultimate Idol was Wednesday, July 13, with 20 performers sing- ing to get into the top group for the semifinal round, which is Wednesday, July 27, at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center in Oneonta. As with the first elimination round, a group of audience members decided the top three performances of the evening: 1. Ron Leone of Bovina, singing “Luck Be A Lady” by Frank Sinatra Leone dazzled with his spot-on Sinatra vocals, and his enthusiastic swagger, highlighted with a hip-swiveling dance interlude during an instrumental break. Leone is a pro, he liter- ally is a Sinatra impersonator who can be hired for events. The crowd Wednesday didn’t mind, though. The older gentleman from Bovina entertained. 2. Alan Vanderpool of Rome, Pa., singing “International Harvester” by Craig Morgan Vanderpool gave one of the evening’s most entertaining performances. His energy got the crowd hootin’ and hol- lerin’, even those who were not country fans. Although he doesn’t have one of the best voices in the competition, he definitely proved that he can give one of the best shows. 3. Tera Aikens of Oneonta, singing “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum Aikens has a genuinely sweet voice, and even though she followed Leone, she held her own on stage with an attention-holding performance. 3. Lori Koblanski of Bainbrige, sing- ing “Get Here” by Oleta Adams Like Ultimate Idol, which had a three- way tie for the top 20, we had a tie for the third best performance of the evening between Aikens and Koblanski. Koblanski, a regular musical theater actress, gave a moving performance. Her rich, full voice and story of how her husband is often away from her made it seem like she wrote the song. HONORABLE MENTION: Ron Pleban of Oneonta, singing “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans. This guy probably has the most natural confidence of any contender, and looks like he genuinely enjoys entertaining people. He’s got an average voice, but his easy, joyful stage prescene makes him a pleasure to watch. The Top 23 Idols (Due to a three-way tie, 22 contenders made the top group. A wild card contes- tant will join the group to perform at the semifinals at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center at 24 Market St. in Oneonta) Tera Aikens, of Oneonta Jessica Austin, of Norwich Jackie Brando, of West Edmeston Bonnie Burt, of Greene Cindy Dann, of Binghamton Angela Ellwanger, of Oneonta Nicole Frank, of Oneonta Michael Grey, of Bainbridge Mallory Hunter, of Meridale Lindsay Johnston Franklin Lori Koblanski, of Bainbridge Ron Leone, of Bovina Christopher McCracken, of Davenport Mary Francis Perricone, of Sidney Center Ron Pleban, of Oneonta Tio Schluter, of New Berlin Nicole Townsend, of Cobleskill Solon Tsangaras, of Afton Alan Vanderpool, of Rome, Pa. Liz Walker, of Delhi Pamela West, of South Kortright Terri Whitney, of Franklin Jon Keegan, of Oneonta (voted into the top 23 by Central New York Radio Group listeners) Local Americana group rocks the Blues Train The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys brought their strings, boots and whiskey to the outside car of the Cooperstown Blues Express on July 2 for a train-rocking good time. The band plays a fusion of bluegrass and old-time that form an original backwoods Americana sound a sizeable crowd danced to for their literally moving performance. As the train moseyed through rolling hills and baby corn just beginning to sprout, the gather- ing of fans and friends drinking libations in the fresh, open air, you couldn’t help but think, “This is summer right here.” While the sun was still burning brightly in the cloudless sky, sounds meshed together between the band, the crowd and the rattling rail cars. With amplification of the band at one end of the train, people got acquainted with fellow passengers. But even from the caboose, Darin Trass’ improvisational fiddle solos carried and stood out. Trass led the band to billowing climaxes with rapid-tempo solos and accompaniment from the other instruments, often kneeling toward the ground with the band caddy-cornered him, their energies tunneling off of the stage. “The dancing is spreading,” said a passenger as the sun set below the mountains and stratus clouds wisped in, layering the sky. As the Blues Train reached its turn around point in Cooper- stown, so did the night. People were less intent on socializing and more engrossed in the music, as the dancing spread all the way to the soundboard at the end of the car. What is so engaging about the Horseshoe Lounge Playboys is their old-time folk and blue- grass style, which fits in with the rural landscape. Trass and lead singer Randy Miritello provide many of the vocals (upright bassist Ben Gross and mandolin player Will Lunn also contribute). The different textures of their voices comple- ment each other _ Trass has a scratchy and smoky growl while Miritello has a smooth, tradi- tional country sound. As the train slowed to its lowest possible speed, no one wanted the evening to end. If the rickety old train had broken down in the countryside between Milford and Cooperstown, that would have been just fine. As the train pulled into the Milford Train Deport, the blasting of the horn coincided simultane- ously with the end of the final song, “T for Thelma,” and to cheers, whistles and stomps from the passengers. The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys will perform at the Americana Fest at Brewery Ommegang on Aug. 5, along with Steve Earle, The Felice Brothers and Langhorne Slim. _ Emily Greenberg July 21, 2011 O-Town Scene 15 Genevieve Pedulla The Horseshoe Lounge Playboys perform on the Cooperstown Blues Express on July 2.

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