Happy Summer, everyone!
I’m long overdue for this newsletter, but I’ve been running around like a chicken with its head cut off and have let things pile up on my to-do list. (Sorry about that)
Anyway, hope you’re all staying cool and finding some time to travel, chill out, and catch some live music.
Speaking of live music… Kansas is in the middle of an epic tour with our friends 38 Special and the Outlaws. As a young kid in the 80’s for whom MTV was the gateway drug that led me down the “evil” path of rock n roll and away from my parents’ classical music aspirations, 38 was one of the bands I’d listen to on a regular basis. It’s great to get to know these guys and watch them kick ass every night before Kansas goes on.
We’ve been playing mostly outdoor amphitheaters, and have had to deal with rain.. a LOT of rain! In fact, the first ten shows in a row were monsoon gigs! It’s like a cloud was following us everywhere we went! But fortunately, outside of the recent Richmond, VA, show where everyone risked getting struck by lightning, we’ve had no cancellations, just a few delays. The show must, go on, as they say!
Here are all the dates for the tour with Outlaws and 38. We also will have other artists joining us, like Dave Mason, Jefferson Starship, Eli Young Band and Blue Oyster Cult. Please visit kansasband.com for ticket links to all the shows for tour and beyond.
Stratospheerius stuff
The “Impostor!” Album keeps making waves all over the world! We are so grateful to our label, 7D Media, for helping this album grow, as well as our European distributors Burning Shed and Just for Kicks, and The Bandwagon USA!
Our music has been streamed and purchased across 5 continents and in countries including the US, Canada, Brazil, India, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, Japan, Viet Nam, and all over Europe!
“Outrage Olympics” has gotten over 60k Spotify streams and the video has been featured in 5 international Film Festivals. We are so grateful to all the fans, old and new, who have embraced this album and hope that we can follow it up with something beautiful and continue building the buzz!
Here are some more recent reviews of “Impostor!”
“. Chasing The Dragon is diverse, dynamic, bombastic and 100% harmonious; indeed, a classic prog rock epic for sure, and a powerful end to a magnificent album.
Impostor! is a MUST have album for fans of Kansas, Spock’s Beard, and The Neal Morse Band, so check it out indeed!”
READ BACKGROUND MAGAZINE REVIEW
If you haven’t already, check out THIS LINK which will take you to all the places where you can stream, purchase, or download the album.
And here again is the video for our “smash” single, “Outrage Olympics.”
Kansas’ relentless touring schedule has limited Stratospheerius from booking live shows, but all that is about to change. Stay tuned for soon-to-be-announced dates!
In the Press
Joe Deninzon NicknLex reaction video and interview
Reaction videos have become all the rage in recent years, and Stratospheerius is honored to get our first one from the awesome NickNLex! These guys are passionate and knowledgeable about music and are just the nicest people you can talk to. Check out their reaction video to the song “Impostor!” And the interview I did with them for their show. And please subscribe to their channel!
Joe “Mojo Sauce” on MTV’s “Say What Karaoke!”
Back in the year 2000, I was a hungry 25-year-old newcomer to NYC, taking any gig or opportunity that came my way. My wife Yulia was finishing her Master’s degree at Juilliard. In 1999, MTV held their VMA’s at the Met Opera and put up ads at Juilliard looking for seat fillers and people to appear in the crowd. Yulia signed up but didn’t take part….but they had our contact info in their database. A few months later, I got a call from MTV saying they were holding auditions for the show “Say What Karaoke” and asking if I’d like to try out. I thought, what have I got to lose? It could be an interesting experience!
The auditions were held at Fordham University. I picked the song “Get a Job” by the band OutKast and sang my heart out! A few weeks later, I got the call inviting me on the show. They filmed the whole season in one day at MTV studios in Times Square.
The judges were Mandy Moore, the late great Ananda Lewis, and Luke Esterkyn, the lead singer of Stroke 9.
I actually had hair back then, and a pair of purple magenta glitter Doc Martens, and could show my bare chest without shame (before the beer belly, haha!) And I knew how to ham it up for the crowd. I still do. Anyway, that’s all I’m gonna say. I found the videotape and had it transferred to digital, and here it is in all its glory. Enjoy!
Joe Deninzon guests on new Nad Sylvan album, “Monumentata“
Nad Sylvan is a Swedish singer best known for his work with Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett. Nad does an amazing job recreating Peter Gabriel’s vocals on the classic Genesis material, but he is also a great songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and has released a string of great records. The latest, “Monumental,” on the Inside Out/Sony label, features me on the second, single, “I’m Stepping Out.” The album also features an all-star cast of musicians, including bassists Nick Beggs, Jonas Reingold & Tony Levin, drummers Marco Minnemann, Felix Lehrmann & Mirko De Maio, as well as a few guest guitarists with Randy McStine, David Kollar & Neil Whitford. Such an honor to be among these legendary musicians on a beautiful record that is very well-written and well produced. I think you’ll dig this one. Order the album HERE and watch the video below.
Joe Deninzon String Arrangements for sale
Some people do Sodoku puzzles to chill out. I write rock and pop string arrangements. In fact, I’ve written over 300 of them, and have over 200 currently available for sale! Check out my catalogue HERE! I call it “Joey D’s Rock & Pop String Arrangement Emporium!”
Well, that’s it for now. Have a great summer and I hope to see you all down the road.
Carry on!
Love,
-JD
