Images from December Gig with Boogie Fever Newly acquired images from Belsito's December 12th gig with local band Boogie Fever at a private function. Above: Mark Oliverio (Boogie Fever) and Belsito. Below: Oliverio, Belsito and Tracey Hilderley (who played drums in Belsito's band at the Bell Border Jam in 2008). Photos courtesy of John O'Donnell. (February 8/10) Belsito's "Best Albums of 2009" So Belsito thinks he is Paste or Spin Magazine and has released a list of his favorite albums of 2009. It is the New Year, so it is as good a time as any to sum up all that was musical the previous year. All those hours that Belsito clocked hunting out and listening to new music should be of some use to the general population. For those who are interested, here is his Top Ten list: 10) You Say Party We Say Die! - Xxxx; 9) Fever Ray - Fever Ray; 8) Mastadon - Crack the Skye; 7) The xx - xx; 6) Sunparlour Players - North; 5) Alberta Cross - Broken Side of Time; 4) Florence and the Machine - Lungs; 3) Metric - Fantasies; 2) White Lies - To Lose My Life; and the number one album of the year in Belsito's world - Bat for Lashes - Two Suns. Happy New Year! (Jan 1/10) New Song Leaks Reported The TMZ department of chrisbelsito.com is reporting that some unreleased songs have been leaked to the net. Lawyers have been called, suits have been filed and hissy fits of Axl proportions have been had. If you find them, let Belsito know what you think - maybe he may eventually let them see the light of day officially with a little prodding. (Oct 1/09) Belsito Cranks It So, Belsito pulled out a couple classics for the Crankshaft show. Rancid's "Ruby Soho" and Social Distortion's take on "Tainted Love" were the songs du jour and came off swimmingly. Pictures above courtesy of the talented Donna Hopper. (July 1/09) Belsito to Perform with Crankshaft Chris Belsito is scheduled to perform a couple of songs with local rockers Crankshaft at a special private function at Loplops Gallery and Lounge. The event is taking place on Tuesday, June 30. Belsito, who briefly fronted the high energy band in the early 2000s, is expected to pull out his seldom seen rocker persona and voice for the show. So, if you happen to be attending this invite only gig, see you there. (June 28/09) Pictures of Yourself: Marillion Weekend The better part of 9 hours of your favorite band live over the course of three days in Montreal. Let's call it a special dedication to music appreciation - on both the band and fan's part. Marillion booked a special weekend event at L'Olympia where they played three nights in a row with three entirely different sets of music. For the fan...unbeatable. The marathon performances were as impressive as they were exhilarating. Belsito got to briefly meet a few of the guys in the band - as well as openers The Wishing Tree, John Wesley and newcomers Sun Domingo. And being in Montreal? An added bonus. Anyway, if you don't know the band - do yourself a favour and check them out. Besides you'll be hearing one of the long-term influences on Belsito's music. Pictured: Marillion (on Night Deux) - Steve Hogarth, Mark Kelly, Ian Mosely, Steve Rothery - Sorry Pete (Trewavas), don't know where you were at that moment. (April 7/09) A Tale of Two Extremes Belsito recently returned from his annual pilgrimage to Buenos Aires where he was able to meet up with many friends - old and new. He even had a chance to emit a few musical notes one night in the Boca district and develop some new song ideas. As always, the visit was a case of extremes (especially in terms of temperature), going from a might bit chilly -30 in Canada to a balmy +32 degrees in Argentina. Belsito's friends in the south have a knack for reminding him to take time to look at life in different ways. And for that he thanks them. (January 18/09) Happy New Year...and all that jazz. Happy new Year. (January 1/09) Long Time No Chat Ok. So we seemingly disappeared from the web for months. Yes, we are bad. Sorry. It's not that we aren't busy doing musical things, it's just that we aren't doing anything that we are ready to talk about. No yet anyway. But the holiday season is upon us and the snow is piling up outside the studio doors. The New Year promises to bring new things for Belsito's world. Stay tuned, we will be sharing exciting tidbits after we sing Auld Lang Syne. (December 15/08) Belsito Accredited with FACTOR News just came in that Belsito has been accredited as a FACTOR juror and he has the pin to prove it. FACTOR, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings, was founded in 1982 as a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian independent recording industry. Belsito is proud to be chosen to be part of jury process for FACTOR and do his part to help support the indie record industry in Canada. (September 20/08) Aarkvark Hits The Market Belsito warranted a mention in a recent Sault Star article about psychedelic, folk-rock band Kensington Market. Kensington Market was a band from one of the golden eras of Canadian music, the same scene that saw the rise of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot and many more national icons. From a local, historical perspective, the Market featured two Saulites, Keith McKie and Alex Darou, and put out two critically acclaimed albums, Avenue Road and Aardvark (the latter being the superior). The two albums were released for the first time on CD by Pacemaker Entertainment Ltd. and have now happily found their way into Belsito's archival collection. Belsito recently had the pleasure of meeting up with Keith McKie at the Border Jam. To read the Sault Star's take on the long-overdue release of the Market's music on CD, click here. (September 19/08) A Well-Fed Crowd Belsito's solo Chilifest gig went well. The Bondar Pavilion had a capacity crowd who were both well-fed (with every variety of chili available) and well-entertained (with some of the best in local music). Belsito hit the stage following a great set by Patti Good (and Frank Deresti). His short set included both new and old: September Like You Said, Curve of the World, Blurring, Save Yourself, The Day They Shot The Groom, Viking, One by One, Room 702 and And Cinnamon. Belsito was followed by the jazz-infused Steaming Hot Tea and the funkified Big Wheel and the Spokes. The entire event was mixed soundly by Crank Sound. (September 7/08) Chili and Belsito Hot and spicy? No problem. Belsito will be performing a short solo set at the weekend's Chilifest, another fundraising event for the Sault Area Hospital. Some of Sault Ste. Marie's favourite restaurants will be serving up their hot and spicy Chili as a number of local acts play music. We hear that music is good for digestion, so Belsito will do his part. The event takes place Sunday, September 7 from noon until 4:00 pm at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion on SSM's waterfront. Belsito's stage time? We're not sure, so plan to eat bowls of chili until he hits the stage. (September 4/08) Thanks from the Band The Belsito Band wants to send a quick thank you to everyone who came out to watch the show, to the amazing sound and light companies (DBSL/Crank) and to all of the organizers of the event for their hard work and efforts. Everything was exceptionally well-organized, the bands were treated well and the music was top quality - across the board. Best yet, the local acts, who truly put on high-level performances, were included in the event without hesitation. This made for a truly a community-spirited event. Thanks to all involved. Pictured above: Belsito band (l to r) Craig West, Jay Case, Chris Belsito and Tracey Hilderley. (August 21/08) Original Incarnation of the Belsito Band Meet at Border Jam Back in 1991, the Chris Belsito Band was an acoustic-based trio. Belsito had been a member of an odd musical collective known as 40,000 Years and decided to branch off to do his own thing. As he was leaving 40,000 Years, he took Mike Collins (drums and percussion) and Craig West (guitar) with him. The Chris Belsito Band was formed. The outfit was quickly noticed by CBC Radio who came to Sault Ste. Marie to record six tracks in a hotel room for broadcast. The popularity of one of those tracks, "Until They Sail," led to the CBC wanting to record a full concert for their broadcast. Belsito's outfit added a bass player by the name of Paul Belair, began booking live shows and the rest is history. At this past weekend's Border Jam, photographer Donna Hopper happened to be walking by when Belsito, West and Collins were catching up. Above is Hopper's photograph of the original three-piece Belsito band - 17 years later. Oh, how time flies. (August 19/08) Belsito Border Jam Setlist Revealed The Border Jam Festival gave birth to series of new live songs. The performance included five new tracks, as well as a few old favorites. The setlist was as follows: Room 702, The Day They Shot The Groom, Blurring, Get the Camera, And Cinnamon, One by One, Pencils, Break My Heart, and Don't Know. Below: Live shot (l to r) Craig West, Tracey Hilderley, Chris Belsito and Jay Case. (August 18/08) Photos of Belsito Band Live at the Border Jam The Border Jam Festival was a success. There weren't as many people as hoped for, but the music was top notch throughout the weekend. The audience was treated some of the best music SSM has seen in some time. New friends were made: Keith McKie (Kensington Market, MYBand) and Michigan rockers Bad Side (Melissa and Jason) come to mind immediately. Both were exceptionally cool and supportive. The Belsito Band had a great time and performed well. More details and photos from the Border Jam will be posted soon. (August 16/08) Band Lineup and Performance Time Change The Belsito band will be performing as a 4-piece for the Bell Border Jam this Saturday. The band will be performing sans keys for this gig, harkening back to the traditional Belsito sound. The band will be hitting the stage at 12 noon as opposed to 12:30. Hope to see you at the show. (August 14/08) Something Borrowed, Something New: Band Line-Up Revealed With the Border Jam right around the corner, Belsito has let the new band member line-up out of the bag. Belsito band stalwartes Ed Young and Lindsay Pugh will unavailable for the upcoming show at Runway Park due to their world travels. In their stead, Tracey Hilderley and Brian Holmes will be joining the Belsito Band for the show. Hilderley, a high-school era friend of Belsito's, will take on the drum throne. She has done it all - from metal to disco to all-out rock, Hilderly is also an amazing vocalist and a personality to be reckoned with. Brian Holmes, from local metal favorites Gates of Winter, will be playing keys for the band - a first for a live Belsito show. On lead guitar, Fade Dissolve-era Belsito guitarist Jay Case will take over all axe duties. Filling in for the absent Mr. Pugh on bass duties will be (oft-guitarist) Craig West. A little of the old, a little of the new, a little of the reconfigured. The show will lean heavily on new Belsito tracks - until this point - never heard. Should make for an interesting performance. Hope to see you at the show.(July 23/08) Day Change for Belsito's Bell Border Jam Performance Belsito will now be playing Saturday, August 16 at 12:30 pm - kicking off the day's events. Later that day Kim Mitchell, Sass Jordan and a host of others will be performing. Early bird three-day passes are still available on the Bell Border Jam website (click here) as well as at local ticket outlets. Proceeds from the event go to a great cause - the Sault Area Hospital. (July 2/08) Happy Canada Day! Hope everyone did very little, relaxed and enjoyed themselves on this loveliest of holidays. Belsito burned wood and turned his brain off for the day. (July 1/08) Tickets for Festival on Sale June 4th Tickets for the upcoming Border Jam Festival, which features a combination of classic rock favourites and artists from the Sault area, will be on sale June 4. Belsito, who has probably been around the Sault scene long enough to be considered classic rock, has recently been working on his first collection of new songs since 2005's Fade Dissolve. To read the Sault Star's slightly cynical take on the Bell Border Jam, click here. To find ticket outlet locations or to purchase tickets online, click here. (June 1/08) Belsito to Play Major Festival The Chris Belsito Band will be hitting the stage with the likes of classic rock artists Marshall Tucker Band, War, Foghat, Kim Mitchell, Blue Oyster Cult, and others. The Bell Border Jam Festival will be taking place on August 15-17 in support of the Sault Area Hospital Foundation. Belsito will be hitting the stage on August 15 (Time TBA). This will be the performer's first show of 2008 in the Sault and area. More details to follow. To read more about the Bell Border Jam, click here. (May 30/08) Mission Complete: Juno Awards 2008 Belsito survived the Juno Awards, catching up with some of the stellar unsung heros of the weekend along the way: including Joel Plaskett, Serena Ryder, Alex Cuba, Jeremy Fisher, Tegan Quinn (Tegan and Sara), Corb Lund and Wintersleep. The red carpet was colder than expected (unlike how it appears on television). At least Belsito didn't get tackled by security trying to get too close to Sarah Brightman. (April 20/08) Remembering the Northern Lights Chris Belsito was recently quoted in an article about the Northern Lights Festival in Sudbury, Ontario. Belsito played the festival twice in the mid 90s with his band Rainhorses. To read the brief article taken from the Sault Star, click here. To see Chris Belsito and Rainhorses live in action at the Northern Lights circa 1996, click here. The track "Land Over (Heisenberg's Dream)", taken from the August Mask cd, was in Belsito's mind a combination of Leonard Cohen and Led Zeppelin. It never really acheived the realm of either - but is a fun track nonetheless. The studio version of the song is available for listening or download in the SOUNDS section of this website. (April 2/08) Heading to the Juno Awards Chris Belsito will be attending the Juno Awards in Calgary on April 6th. For some time, the singer/songwriter has been a member of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and had voting privileges for the award ceremony, but this will be his first time attending the annual event. Red carpet here we come...or at least, other side of security, near the red carpet here we come. (March 16/08) Belsito Attends Independent Music Awards in Toronto What independent artist wouldn't want to be at an event the recognizes independent artists? Belsito caught the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards in Toronto which featured live performances by Tokyo Police Club, The New Pornographers, The Cliks, Attack in Black, [the amazing] The Besnard Lakes and a one-off by The Lowest of the Low. The event was filled with the who's who of the Canadian indie world, as well as the who are you's of that same world. Belsito even ran into fellow Sault-boy Frank Guidoccio (Memory Bank) roaming around the event. Ok, some quick name dropping: Daniel Victor (from Neverending White Lights), Miss Canada (we don't know her name), Jian Ghomeshi (from CBC and formerly of Moxy Fruvous), Ramones drummer Tommy, Kyle Gas (other half of Tenacious D) and many others made up the surroundings. Belsito made some new contacts, watched performances by some of the best new bands in Canada and generally took in the evening's atmosphere. Click here to see who won the awards that evening. Pictured above: Miss Canada, Daniel Victor and Kyle Gas - and no, they were never on the stage at the same time. (March 9/08) Making Connections: CMW Brings It Home Belsito's stint at music week provided a number of positive new connections for the singer/songwriter. Although making connections is what the event was all about, a little music idolatry was also in order. Belsito encountered Garth Hudson from The Band, Moby (pictured above, adorned in a blurry haze courtesy of Belsito), Moe Berg (Pursuit of Happiness - band, not movie) and Tommy Ramone. Belsito got to meet a whole whack of famous, semi-famous and unknown artists, watch performances by diverse acts from Ace Frehley to Montreal's Plants and Animals. From the songwriting end, catching up with super-songsters/producers Mark Hudson (Burt Bacharach to Alice Cooper) and Glenn Ballard (Michael Jackson to Dave Matthews) was a highlight. Hudson told some of the most amazing first-hand Beatles stories we have ever heard. Needless to say, Belsito was in his element. In the up-and-comer department, Belsito met UK's Stef Fraser, who at 15 is simply an amazing singer/songwriter. Click here to visit her MySpace and check out the demo of her song "Since I Saw You." Someone to watch to be sure. Anyway, Belsito came across a few songwriting opportunities, as well as some possible alternate avenues for his music to take. When we know more, we'll tell you. Stay tuned. (March 8/08) Artist of the Week Belsito is once again MFM's Artist of the Week. Music and Film in Motion is an organization based in Sudbury that offers support and opportunities for musicians and filmmakers in Northern Ontario. Among other things, they organize the Northern Ontario Music Awards and provide ThinkNorth Distribution which Belsito uses to get his music out there. Although their info is slightly outdated, click here to read what they said about Belsito. Thanks again MFM! (March 6/08) Taking It To Canadian Music Week Belsito is taking part in Canadian Music Week (CMW) in Toronto, rubbing elbows, schmoozing and all that fun stuff. In preparation for the week, we uploaded a few extra songs off the Fade Dissolve and Turbulence CDs on the Belsito MySpace page. These are available for free download for those interested and don't already have a copy of the CDs. We aren't quite ready to release any of the brand new songs as of yet, but give him a bit more time. For music industry types who want to know more about Belsito, click here to view Chris Belsito's EPK. Oh yeah, above is an updated Belsito photo so if you are at CMW and run into him you will know who you are talking to.(March 2/08) Belsito for President Now that Ralph Nader has again joined the presidential bid in the U.S., it got us to thinking. Let's get Belsito to run for president. Ok, we know that it is apparently "against the rules" to have a foreigner run for president - but surely Arnold Schwarzenegger is working on solving that little hiccup. Unlike Nader, who the young Belsito fondly remembers being perpetually lampooned by Mad Magazine, our musician friend is not a U.S. citizen. He did live in the U.S. for a time though...an impressionable time. As a young child, Belsito resided in St. Cloud, Minnesota, during which time, he was given a book called "Christopher for President." Skipping the logic of an adult, Belsito thought it more than coincidental that his name was there for all to see, clearly linked to the presidency. With its clear instructions on how to throw your hat in the ring (literally) and take the side of either the Republican elephant or the Democrat donkey, being president didn't seen all that unattainable. Besides, it kinda looked fun sitting in that big ol' desk. We suspect Belsito may have missed the whole part about having to be a millionaire or selling your soul to the devil to get to that stage. Back to 2008, this quick "news" diversion leads us to ask, why is there not a book called Christopher for Prime Minister? Or Dave for Prime Minister for that matter. Maybe then that book could have influenced more political-minded youth with creative streaks and imaginations. Perhaps then, we would not have been stuck with the stick-in-the-mud dud we currently have. (February 26/08) Welcome to the Year of the Rat In Leviticus 11:29, rats are prohibited as food. Unfortunately for rats, like all mammals, they are in fact very edible and frequently eaten in some cultures. In Canada, the rat is fortunate not to be viewed as a food staple - especially in this, the Year of the Rat. Said Rat, first sign of the Chinese Zodiac, is a creative problem solving, imaginative, hyperactive worker respected for its resourcefulness. That being said, in many cultures, Sir Rat is also the feared spreader of disease and death. Such is the duality of this symbol. In the "Who Knew?" category, rats have what is referred to as "tickle skin", an area of the body that, if touched, will generate laughter - a positive emotional response. Still, being described as "rat-like" generates a negative emotional response. Charlie Brown used the expression "Rats" as a substitute for a much worse alternative. On the Isle of Man, mere mentioning of the word "R*t" is considered extreme bad luck. So this, being the Year of the Rat, leads us to believe that the next 12 months will be full of turbulence, push and pull, and polarizing duality. According to the Chinese Zodiac, Rats are incompatible with Belsito's sign. Unfortunate. Looks like it is going to be a trying year. (February 7/08) Belsito Live in Buenos Aires Belsito hit the international stage with a live performance on January 16th in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. The gig took place in the heart of Palermo, a bohemian, but fashionable, district in the Northeast of the city. Palermo is known for its hip clubs, restaurants and street culture. The small club, called Pampa Picante (Grill and Nights), was filled to capacity with an exceptionally welcoming group made up of both old and new friends that Belsito has met on his various trips to B.A. over the past few years. The show consisted of a mix of old and new originals, with a handful of covers thrown in for good measure. The crowd gave the Canadian a warm and raucous reception that he will surely remember for a long time to come. Thanks to all our friends in Argentina who showed their support at the performance. (January 18/08) When LonPoPo Met Mr. Young When Belsito was holiday shopping a few weeks ago, he came across a children's book that caught his eye. The Caldecott Award winning LonPoPo is a book that retells the Little Red Riding Hood story as a Chinese fairy tale. Aside from having amazing artwork, LonPoPo was written by someone claiming to be Ed Young. The Belsito musical associate Ed Young claims no knowledge of the book, but we are suspicious. As many of you may have noticed, Young has been branching out having recently fronted his own band as lead singer/songwriter. We knew it was only a matter of time before he took the next step and became a writer. So next time you see Mr. Young out and about, shout out the words "LonPoPo" at him and then keep walking like nothing happened. We suspect he will eventually confess his literary talents - or at the very least - inherit a new nickname. To buy the other Ed Young's LonPoPo, click here. (January 3/08) Happy New Year from Belsito New Year's is a chance to start again, a time of renewal. It spawned at least a few classic songs: U2's New Year's Day and Auld Lang Syne come to mind immediately. There were some famous New Year's babies in the songwriting world: Townes Van Zant, Hank Williams and Canadian Hagwood Hardy (enter the familiar piano notes of "The Homecoming"). And although it doesn't actually begin until February 7, this year is the Year of the Rat. The rat was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity (more on that come February). On top of it all, it spawned some creepy New Year's themed art (see above). May the New Year be a happy one for all of you. (January 1/08) Repeat Performance at Bottom's Up For the second night in a row, Belsito performed in his hometown - this time at local lounge, Bottom's Up. For this performance, the singer was joined by Ed Young on drums, Craig West on acoustic guitar and Dwayne Slack on bass. The capacity crowd at Bottom's Up received a special encore performance of the three new original songs Belsito had performed the night before at Loplop's 12 Musicians event. This time the songs were presented in a different musical configuration. Belsito was followed by prog favourites IT and then an acoustifed Startlefish (who featured special guest Jim Hopper). The night marked the last of two shows that were to be Belsito's first and last local performances of 2007. Thanks to those who came out and caught the shows. (December 29/07) Belsito Debuts New Material Live at 12 Musicians Event Belsito hit the stage for the first time in over a year at one of Sault Ste. Marie's greatest annual music showcase events. The 12 Musicians of Christmas event put a spotlight on the city's immense talent pool with twelve singers, songwriters and musicians of all sorts, in various configurations, performing to the standing room only crowd at Loplops. The appreciative crowd showed their support for the musicians with a strong response to each of the acts. Belsito took to the stage shortly after midnight, performing three new songs "Room 702", "One By One" and "Pencils", songs recently penned for his next CD. The songs were performed with the help of three of SSM's most talented musicians - Rachelle Deresti on piano, Frank Deresti on bass and Ed Young on the drums. Belsito took the to the microphone, shunning his acoustic guitar for the evening's performance. Despite the quartet having never actually performed together before they hit the stage, the new songs came off well and gave the crowd a glimpse into the music to come. When not performing, Belsito took in the show watching his peers put on what will be remembered as one of the best musical events of the year. To read media coverage and see a photo gallery from the show, click here. Photo collage courtesy of Donna Hopper, Curt O'Neil and Sootoday.com. (December 28/07) Belsito To Perform Mini-Sets Over the Holidays For the first time in the better part of the year, Chris Belsito will be hitting the stage in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie. The singer will be debuting a handful of new songs at two short performances in late December. The first show performance will be at Loplop Lounge and Gallery on Thursday, December 27 as part of the 12 Musicians of Christmas event. For this performance, Belsito will be joined by drummer Ed Young, as well as Frank and Rachelle Deresti, on bass and piano respectively. His mini-set will be from 12:10 until 12:30 am. To read a preview article on this event, click here. Belsito's second performance will be the following evening, Friday, December 28, at Bottom's Up on Queen Street. Belsito will be a special guest at the IT/Startlefish show, performing a few songs with members of the two groups during the show. Hope to catch you at one of these rare Sault appearances. (December 22/07) Belsito Demoing New Recordings The Sault-based singer songwriter has been demoing some of the first new material since the release of Fade Dissolve. His new writing has been taking on different radically different forms and directions - so much so that he is looking at the possibility of multiple projects. One step at a time though, at this stage, he is working on the new demoes at the 'mansion'. A couple of song clips may temporarily make it on the site in the coming months. In addition, Belsito is the Artist of the Week at Music and Film in Motion. (September 13/07) Belsito Hits the Stage As some of you are aware, Belsito has been on a bit of a live performance hiatus in recent months. Last night, he hit the stage for the first time in a long time...to MC a performance and live filming by IT. IT was performing at Algoma University's Auditorium, a stage they have shared with Belsito in the past. The band is filming a live DVD to be released with their forthcoming Departure CD. Belsito was likely asked to MC the evening because he would be sympathetic to the amount of work involved in such an endeavor, as the effort required to coordinate the live DVD that accompanied Fade Dissolve is probably still fresh in his mind. IT band sounded fabulous and they should have a solid document that captures the essence of the group as live performers. Also performing at tonight's show was London, England's DiceJar and the always incredible Gates of Winter, who literally had the small but mighty crowd fist pumping throughout their show. The evening went smashingly well, and yes, Belsito seemed to enjoy being on stage again - if only to talk. (August 31/07) Another Star Sighting It was in the stars or at least in the Sault Star. Belsito was, along with Mark Dunn, Startlefish and a host of others, invited to be part of the launch of a new Local Music section in the Sault Star online. We are pleased to have been asked to participate in the launch by music afficianado Brian Kelly. You can even listen to a couple of tracks for free. To visit the Local Music section of the Sault Star, click here. (July 25/07) For more NEWS, click here. If you would like to receive brief updates and live performance notices by email, send your name and email address to chrisbelsito@hotmail.com.