mastodon 4.7.3Ferocious Designs is the mostly DIY music project of central New Jersey-based songwriter Brian Kelley. Influences: Peter Gabriel, Todd Rundgren, Kate Bush, Midge Ure/Ultravox, Howard Jones, Talk Talk/Mark Hollis, Tears For Fears, Simple Minds, Lo Moon. Pronouns: he/him/his
So…in the past 24 hours, I’ve written what is kind of an incomplete song for the WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge, based on the prompt “freedom.” This version will suffice for now, but it needs more work. Because this year is a “Philly Anthems” edition, I tried to make it an anthem…and also included nods to Philly like the bell and the melodica (Philly’s own The Hooters!). And the “Trenton Makes” shirt returns! Here’s “Nobody’s Coming to Save the Day”… #xpnsongchallenge
My janky basement studio is ready for the WXPN 24-Hour Song Challenge this weekend. Am I? Who knows? But I’ll give it a shot.
Here’s more info about the contest…
Happy 80th birthday to legendary bassist Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel)! @ChristianBeach@universeodon.com and I saw the Tony Levin Band play at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ, 20 years ago and we had a chance to briefly chat with Tony and synth wizard Larry Fast (Synergy, Peter Gabriel, Foreigner) after the show. Here I am with Tony.
Wow! It is so great to see Geddy and Alex back on stage doing their thing. And Anika is just crushing it on drums. They sound great.
Rush is back!
Very cool to see so many folks out there for the #NoKings protests today. That very spirit of coming together and defying the fascist regime in power right now is at the heart of "It's All Around You"...
Miles Davis was born 100 years ago today. Next month marks 40 years since I saw him perform at the Amnesty International Conspiracy of Hope show at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. I was just shy of 15 years old and even then I knew it was a special moment. Here is an epic performance of "Burn" from that day (with Carlos Santana on guitar)...
Since WXPN in Philly launched the 24-Hour Song Challenge in 2024, I've given myself time around mid-May to write and record a song in about 24 hours as a warmup. My 2024 warmup song wound up being "Beyond Forever," which I released with my eventual entry "Summer's Not My Thing" on my Open Your Eyes EP. Last year's warmup song will be on my next album. And I'm pleased to report it will be joined by this year's warmup song, which name-drops @marillion.com
Coming in early 2027.
Three years ago today, I released my first full-length album, Looking for the Light. Currently working on album No. 2...
https://ferociousdesigns.bandcamp.com/album/looking-for-the-light
RE: @ChristianBeach@universeodon.com
If there are any New Jersey fedi folks out there, my longtime friend and collaborator Christian Beach is playing a set at the Middletown Arts Center on Sunday from 4pm-6pm EDT. It's a free show so come on out if you can. I will be there.
Whoa! Recently released footage of @marillion.com performing at the 1987 Lesyin Festival in Switzerland!
35 years ago today, @marillion.com released “Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)” as a single. Five years ago, I took a lyric from that song to use as the name of my little, (mostly) DIY music project.
Legend...RIP...
40 years ago today, Peter Gabriel released his masterpiece, So. Every damn song is brilliant in its own way, but my favorite track is "That Voice Again." Happy 40th, So!
