Hey X'Plozionz Band,
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Music-related DownloadsHere's some basic lead sheets for the songs we play (plus a few more we're talked about playing). They're basically the lyrics and guitar chords, and you can download either the pdf or the Powerpoint if you'd find them useful.
The printed chords on all of these lead sheets is in Concert Key of C (so a E on the sheet is an E on the guitar, bass, or keyboard). The other random notes in the margin are in my Key of Bb (and so is the Key marking in the upper right hand corner), so you can ignore those.
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Dear X'Plozionz,
Sandy sent me a bunch of info and here's a first draft of the article we might want to send to What's Hot. All of the quotes in the article are there as examples. If you agree with them we can keep them, if you want to be quoted as saying something else, we'll plug that in instead.
Right now it's at about 850 words. The minimum number needed is 400, and I think we're about at the max.
Sandy sent me a bunch of info and here's a first draft of the article we might want to send to What's Hot. All of the quotes in the article are there as examples. If you agree with them we can keep them, if you want to be quoted as saying something else, we'll plug that in instead.
Right now it's at about 850 words. The minimum number needed is 400, and I think we're about at the max.
The X’Plozionz!!! -- The Rock & Soul Show Band of the Finger Lakes
The X’Plozionz!!! -- The Rock & Soul Show Band of the Finger Lakes
When the lead singer of a band looks like a defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, three things happen. People stop, look, and listen.
First, they STOP talking. Second, they LOOK and see his firecracker red suit and matching red glasses, Fedora, and shoes. Then, they LISTEN to this “All Pro” performer when he snatches his microphone and begins channeling the singing voices of everyone from Wilson Picket and the Temptations to Rick James and Bruno Mars.
Mr. E Hunner is the dedicated front-man of one of the funkiest, eclectic Rock & Soul show bands in the Finger Lakes. “The X’Plozionz!!! have been around for about 10 years,” said Hunner, “We went dormant because of COVID. Now we’re back, and we’re bigger and badder.”
When the band’s beloved drummer passed away during COVID, the band wanted to honor his aspiration to move from being a fun bar band to being "the Rock and Soul show band of the Finger Lakes." “To put on that kind of show we needed the right mix of people, songs, and places to play,” said Hunner.
The Right People
Along with Hunner, The X’Plozionz!!! are anchored with long-time bassist, John Busch, widely known in Central New York as an owner of the original Third Rail in Cortland and former bass player for the eclectic “Eddy’s Basement” band back in the 80’s. Caine Davenport – the youngest band member at 25 – was brought on as the lead guitarist because of his versatility with a wide range of styles. He elaborates, “The Motown types of songs need to be note-for-note like they sound on the record, but then the next minute you have to play a crazy rock solo for Sharp-dressed Man or Radar Love. Then I'll need to do another change-up and play a jazzy-type solo for something like Crystal Blue Persuasion or I Can't Go For That.” Busch added, “A lot of guitarists can rock out, but to find someone like Caine who can also play with discipline, precision, and finesse was key . . . plus he sings.”
Next came the return of singer-keyboardist-guitarist, Steve Giocondo, who had left the band years before to write music and perform as a solo act. “His keyboard work helps give us that big sound. It fills out some songs and gives other songs a real rocking rhythm,” said Busch.
The two newest recruits in the band are drummer, Drew Martin, who was previously with Holy Smoke, and saxophone player, Brian Wansink, a recently retired Cornell professor. “Drums and horns were really the two things that helped the Motown Sound really pop,” said Busch. “They put the icing on the cake.”
The Right Songs
Martin’s big drum bang opened The X’Plozionz!!! recent lounge show at the Tioga Downs Casino and Resort. Martin and Busch kicked off the song Boogie Shoes and then settled into it’s toe-tapping, head-nodding groove while the microphone stand stood empty. After two minutes of grooving, it was time for the crowd to stop, look and listen.
From the side of the stage, Mr. E. Hunner appeared, gyrating and finger-snapping. His red Boogie Shoes dance-stepped to the beat as he dance-stepped to the microphone. He snatched the mic, and shot his arm up, pointing high in the air. At the very instant he belted out the opening line of the song, he dropped his arm to point at the audience, as if he was insisting it was time for each of them to personally change into their Boogie Shoes and start dancing.
Hunner’s a show unto himself. His spins, moves, and gestures all echo the classic stage showmanship of the Motown, Funk, and R&B greats. He continued grooving and spinning that night with funky and fun versions of Knock on Wood, Play that Funky Music, and Come and Get Your Love before handing off the seemingly magic microphone to Giocondo and Davenport who changed up the pace with Brown Eyed Girl and Jenny Jenny (867-5309).
Giocondo said, “Because we have three singers and a keyboard and a sax, we play a lot of fun songs that other bands can’t play. One minute we'll be playing some 80s stuff like Baker Street or Maneater, and the next minute we'll light it up with Kung Fu Fighting or Uptown Funk.”
The Right Places
“We’re having a blast, and they're having a blast, Giocondo continued. "It doesn’t matter where we are – casinos, county fairs, dance clubs, weddings, or company parties – we’re going to do everything we can to make sure people have a legendary good time.”
“I love to see a whole table of people laughing and pointing at each other as they're singing along to Super Freak. I love seeing a group of strangers all of a sudden spontaneously start a Congo line to Love Train, or a seeing a wedding party of grandkids and grandmas line-dancing to Uptown Funk. And I really crack up every time I see people in suits or tuxedos doing Karate moves when we play Kung Fu Fighting.
"They’re spending time and money to be here with us. We're going to make darn sure they look back and say, “I had a great weekend.”
Contact info:
The X’Plozionz!!! are the Rock & Soul show band of the Finger Lakes. They are available for events, weddings, and private and company parties. To help make your next event as memorable and fun as it can be call Sandra (607-283-6327) or Eric (607-745-3740) for ideas on how the X’Plozionz can work with you. For more information about upcoming shows, visit the webpage at http://www.brianwansink.com/xplozionz.html.
Videos from Cortland Brewing Company (11-13-21)
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