To assign oneself documentarian status amid the great cornucopia of singer/songwriter/musicians in the New York City tri-state area is daunting. So much to discover, so little time. Fortunately, anyone looking for new talent to rally behind can count on John Platt’s monthly On Your Radar series at Rockwood Music Hall on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I happen to be among those who attend regularly. On the second Tuesday (the usually scheduled day) of September, the 13th, the faithful gathered to hear the customary three acts John selected. We were rewarded with Canadian Shawna Caspi, New Jersey-born (now living in NYC) Danny Greenberg, and the biggest treat for this author, the indie-rock band Great Caesar, based in Brooklyn. In the absence of keyboardist/singer Niki Morrissette, leader/frontman, John-Michael Parker, normally a singer/guitarist (judging by numerous online videos), played Stage Three’s ever-present baby grand piano while handling powerful lead vocals. Guitarist Mike Farrell, on top of accomplished lead patterns, employed an array of intriguing atmospheric effects. Bassist Adam Glaser and trumpeter Tom Sikes were seamless in providing a musical foundation. Sikes’ trumpet added a layer of drama to any composition in which it was featured and precise harmony vocals from Sikes and Glaser were an added enhancement. Perhaps the biggest treat of the evening was the drumming of Tom Stephens. He was a model of restrained intensity, propulsive when he needed to be and softly nuanced where necessary. Since we were sitting right in front of the drum kit, it was especially rewarding that he made no attempt to be overpowering — simply blending in — an indie-rock equivalent to a jazz drummer. At the end of the set, I approached him and conveyed my appreciation for his richly colored percussive fusion. Roots John-Michael Parker formed Great Caesar & the GoGetters, first as a jazz trio, then a ska band, with Adam Glaser, Tom Sikes and Mike Farrell during high school in Madison, Conn. They went through other phases — punk, acoustic rock and emo — while honing their sound (and dropping the last part of their name). The name grew out of an in-class reading of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, purely as a humorous take on the play’s “All hail the great Julius Caesar!” but it then stuck. The band played on a lot of ska bills in Hartford and Danbury as well as its hometown venue, the Madison Arts Barn. Parker studied biology at Yale and intended to become a doctor. The other band members went to college elsewhere. Meanwhile, they continued playing gigs at each other’s schools. By the time Parker graduated, he realized he didn’t want to go to med school. He moved to New York to pursue music instead. The other band members joined him there and Morrissette and Stephens were added. Music Parker has described the band’s music as “Anthemic, lush, brass-fueled, choral.” Its most recent EP, Jackson’s Big Sky, was conceived in winter at a house in the Hamptons bearing that name. It’s tough to pick a favorite from its six songs, but the leadoff track, “Kiss Me Again,” with Mike Farrell’s staccato guitar tremolo, gets my vote. Others might prefer the gospel-like original, “Take Me to the River,” with group handclapping and Niki Morrisette’s soaring vocal backup. The entire EP is available for listening at the band’s website. Another project getting a lot of notice is the video for “Don’t Ask Me Why,” an inspirational plea for greater understanding of racial and gay issues. After losing its original video funding, the band’s Kickstarter campaign raised $50,000. The results are a testament to Parker’s and the group’s humanitarian vision and desire for societal change — as well as being a great piece of music. We encourage our readers to check out this band while it’s playing smaller local venues (they’re on tour in the West and Midwest as of this writing) and before their shows become all arenas all the time. Website: http://www.greatcaesarband.com

To assign oneself documentarian status amid the great cornucopia of singer/songwriter/musicians in the New York City tri-state area is daunting. So much to discover, so little time. Fortunately, anyone looking for new talent to rally behind can count on John Platt’s monthly On Your Radar series at Rockwood Music Hall on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I happen to be among those who attend regularly. On the second Tuesday (the usually scheduled day) of September, the 13th, the faithful gathered to hear the customary three acts John selected. We were rewarded with Canadian Shawna Caspi, New Jersey-born (now living in NYC) Danny Greenberg, and the biggest treat for this author, the indie-rock band Great Caesar, based in Brooklyn.

In the absence of keyboardist/singer Niki Morrissette, leader/frontman, John-Michael Parker, normally a singer/guitarist (judging by numerous online videos), played Stage Three’s ever-present baby grand piano while handling powerful lead vocals. Guitarist Mike Farrell, on top of accomplished lead patterns, employed an array of intriguing atmospheric effects. Bassist Adam Glaser and trumpeter Tom Sikes were seamless in providing a musical foundation. Sikes’ trumpet added a layer of drama to any composition in which it was featured and precise harmony vocals from Sikes and Glaser were an added enhancement.

Perhaps the biggest treat of the evening was the drumming of Tom Stephens. He was a model of restrained intensity, propulsive when he needed to be and softly nuanced where necessary. Since we were sitting right in front of the drum kit, it was especially rewarding that he made no attempt to be overpowering — simply blending in — an indie-rock equivalent to a jazz drummer. At the end of the set, I approached him and conveyed my appreciation for his richly colored percussive fusion.

Roots

John-Michael Parker formed Great Caesar & the GoGetters, first as a jazz trio, then a ska band, with Adam Glaser, Tom Sikes and Mike Farrell during high school in Madison, Conn. They went through other phases — punk, acoustic rock and emo — while honing their sound (and dropping the last part of their name). The name grew out of an in-class reading of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, purely as a humorous take on the play’s “All hail the great Julius Caesar!” but it then stuck. The band played on a lot of ska bills in Hartford and Danbury as well as its hometown venue, the Madison Arts Barn.

Parker studied biology at Yale and intended to become a doctor. The other band members went to college elsewhere. Meanwhile, they continued playing gigs at each other’s schools. By the time Parker graduated, he realized he didn’t want to go to med school. He moved to New York to pursue music instead. The other band members joined him there and Morrissette and Stephens were added.

Music

Parker has described the band’s music as “Anthemic, lush, brass-fueled, choral.” Its most recent EP, Jackson’s Big Sky, was conceived in winter at a house in the Hamptons bearing that name. It’s tough to pick a favorite from its six songs, but the leadoff track, “Kiss Me Again,” with Mike Farrell’s staccato guitar tremolo, gets my vote. Others might prefer the gospel-like original, “Take Me to the River,” with group handclapping and Niki Morrisette’s soaring vocal backup. The entire EP is available for listening at the band’s website.

Another project getting a lot of notice is the video for “Don’t Ask Me Why,” an inspirational plea for greater understanding of racial and gay issues. After losing its original video funding, the band’s Kickstarter campaign raised $50,000. The results are a testament to Parker’s and the group’s humanitarian vision and desire for societal change — as well as being a great piece of music.

We encourage our readers to check out this band while it’s playing smaller local venues (they’re on tour in the West and Midwest as of this writing) and before their shows become all arenas all the time.

Website: http://www.greatcaesarband.com