Press & Booking Information
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Tony Mecca: Press/Reviews
Interviews
Tony Mecca - Salisbury Daily Times (MD) - September 15, 2011
Writer Josh Davis asks Tony about his beginnings, his singing voice and the cast of "misfits" that usually populate his songs.
Tony Mecca - Junior's Cave (Brunswick, GA) - September 2011
Isaac Davis Jr of Junior's Cave Online Magazine gets deep into Tony's head for his opinion on the plight of the independent musician among other timely issues.
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Cyndy Says..."After seeing Tony Mecca and his band perform at the North Star Bar this past Mischief Night (10/30/09), it made me lament for my days of playing local bands’ music on the radio. If I still had my show “Street Beat” I surely would have featured Tony on the air to turn other people on to his music and passion, and let them know about his show."
"What keeps me coming back to see Tony Mecca live is his songs. Tony is a solid songwriter with catchy melodies, thoughtful lyrics, and music that transports you to another place. Put that together with a band that plays flawlessly and you have a top-notch night of entertainment. Such as it was that night. Bravo!"
*Cyndy Drue has been an on-air personality at rock radio stations in Philadelphia since 1977 (WYSP, WMMR, WXPN, WMGK) - Her weekly, hour-long show "Street Beat" that featured unsigned bands from the area aired on WMMR from 1986-1996. She now works as the Event Reporter on Classic Rock WMGK (102.9 FM) and is on the air occasionally. Check out Cyndy's web site - www.cyndydrue.com
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Reviews, Articles & Blogs
Tony Mecca @ World Cafe Live - July 20, 2011
A short reflection of The World Cafe Live (Philadelphia) show by freelance music reviewer/lover, John Slights.
Tony Mecca - Live at Van Blunk's - May 2011
The "Living Room Concert Series" is a very special and unique event. Jay Schweitzer offers his take on the performance.
"A Night at Cookies Bar"
Eric Cholminski reviews Tony Mecca's 3/22/08 live performance at Cookies Bar in South Philadelphia.
Tony Mecca - Live At Van Blunk's - May 19, 2007
Jay Schweitzer reviews and lends his impressions of Tony Mecca's performance at this unique "Living Room Concert".
"The Neighborhood As Muse"
This opinion and analysis of Tony Mecca's work was submitted to our site by esteemed Philadelphia writer and filmmaker Joseph Van Blunk.
"The Tony Mecca Sound"
This description of Tony Mecca's music was submitted by former HABITS/MECCA promotion guru and longtime band supporter, Tom Betteridge.
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Quick Quotes
"HELLO, GOODBYE & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN is the Everly Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp from a blender, poured into melodic Americana via street-level tales of everyman and his or her tales of love and longing, work, and watching life play itself out. A great slice of Americana! "
- John Collinge, Progression Magazine (Aug 14, 2007)
"Beautiful east coast Romanticism! "HELLO, GOODBYE …" recounts tales of life and love in the blue-collar South Philly, Irish/Italian neighborhood where Mecca has spent his life. “Americana rootsy” w/ lyrics reminiscent of Springsteen or Cohen but with a gritty Philly twist. A wonderful effort - Highly recommended"
- James MacMillan, Amazon.com (Oct 12, 2007)
I'm going to stop at “Plain Jane and Average Joe” because I'll write forever. “Just two unknown faces in the book of so and so” – Like just another dreamer dreaming about everyman. I thought Tony’s new CD was four stars and I thought his live concert was even better. I have paid good money for bigger names and received far less. As I exclaimed that night – BRAVO!
- Jay Schweitzer - Pine Island, New York (Jun 2, 2007)
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Magazine & Newspaper Reviews
PROGRESSION MAGAZINE #51 - SUMMER 2007
TONY MECCA:
HELLO, GOODBYE & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
Released: March 2007 - Style: Pop/Rock
Format (CD) - Time (70:05)
Composition, Performance, Musicianship, Sound:
“12” of “16” stars"
Sometimes it helps one's musical perspective to step out of your comfort zone and explore other "worlds". But if I hadn't already known Tony Mecca was a proghead, I never would have guessed by the music he makes.
HELLO, GOODBYE & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN is the Everly Brothers, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp from a blender, poured into melodic Americana via street-level tales of everyboy and everygirl. Genuine innocence - whatever became of it? Mecca and friends turn back the clock keeping it sweet and simple via tunes like "An American Kid," "Annie Walks Through Town," "The Night We Danced" - pretty much any of the 22 tracks offered here. (Take your pick.)
Nothing remotely, at all, suggesting even a hint at progressive rock. No, that's light years in the future, if at all, for grandkids of the protagonists populating Mecca's sweet tales of love and longing, work, partying and watching life play itself out.
But wait - wasn't that a Moog (synthesizer) line dancing around "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"? Tony, you scoundrel!
John Collinge - Progression Magazine
(Jun 20, 2007)
PROGRESSION MAGAZINE #50 - FALL 2007
TONY MECCA:
PURPLE MONKEYS
Released: October 2003 - Style: Pop/Rock
Format (CD) - Time (42:56)
Composition, Performance, Musicianship, Sound:
“11” of “16” stars
TONY MECCA:
PRINCES OF THE NEW DARK AGE
Released: March 2005 - Style: Pop/Rock
Format (CD) - Time (46:13)
Composition, Performance, Musicianship, Sound:
“11” of “16” stars
Philadelphia balladeer Tony Mecca might best be described as an "undiscovered talent" who, in the hands of the right production team, could generate ripples on the Pop/AOR front. His music is not "progressive rock" per se, though it does feature the occasional symphonic flourish and sprightly synth solo. Rather, this is rootsy pop a la Bruce Springsteen/Billy Joel/Tom Petty, etc., that is melodically accomplished, catchy and fun to listen to. In fact, the material on these two self-produced discs is strong enough to question why some label hasn't snagged the guy and given him a shot at wider audiences.
Mecca has a slightly rough voice that fits the lyrics well - ruminations on friends, loves, growing pains and life's ironies. He also plays guitar and bass, assisted by David Decca on keyboards. Pick most any track from these two albums and you'll find a ditty worth sinking your teeth into. A gem like "Say Goodbye to Judas," (from Princes... ) for instance, might leave you wondering what radio station you heard it on first.
John Collinge - Progression Magazine
(Dec 9, 2006)
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GarageBand.com Song Reviews
The Girl from the Sand
Logic
Suzie Lone Star Hero
Boy Meets Girl
Dennis and I
We Always Lie
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