Wildy's World Music Blog by
Pill Hill Radio - Pill Hill Radio2008, John RaffertyBrooklyn’s Pill Hill Radio, previously known as Gutenflower, formed in 2005. After a name change and a couple of years playing in Brooklyn and...
Citizen Kane by
BROOKLYN EAGLECitizen Kane: Bay Ridge Beatby Tom Kane (tk@brooklyneagle.net), published online 02-21-2008By Tom KaneKettle Black is looking good … with their new sign and new bathrooms, Kettle...
Wildy's World Music Blog by
Pill Hill Radio - Pill Hill Radio
2008, John Rafferty
Brooklyn’s Pill Hill Radio, previously known as Gutenflower, formed in 2005. After a name change and a couple of years playing in Brooklyn and Manhattan clubs, they return as Pill Hill Radio Their self-titled debut came out in January 2008, and combines pop hooks with early punk energy to drive memorable melodies into your brain to stay.
From the opening notes of Pill Hill Radio I was convinced I had been transplanted by time and place. I was suddenly back in my sophomore year in college and listening to Blue Rodeo for the first time. From a songwriting perspective Pill Hill Radio could have gone to the same songwriting school as Jim Cuddy & the gang. The set opens with Halfway, which has one of the catchier choruses I've heard in some time, lyrically (I'm a heart break / I'm a head case / I'm a long way from a song I wrote). Pill Hill radio then backs into Bridgette.
Pill Hill Radio sticks to the Americana sound throughout. Campfire Song is a driven country-rocker about trying to recapture old magic with an old flame. Whiskey Pride is perhaps my favorite song on Pine Hill Radio. It has a melancholy feel that fits the lyrics perfectly. Also be sure to check out Tomorrow and Mary. These two songs stuck at the very end of the album show a little more of the depth of Pill Hill Radio and are definitely worth seeking out.
Pill Hill Radio is one of the stronger pure Americana albums I've heard this year. There's definitely a lean to the country side of the perspective here, if that makes a difference to you. The songwriting is outstanding, and Pill Hill Radio is a plus performer. It would be interesting to see this material in a live setting to see how Pill Hill Radio interacts with the audience. Check Out Pill Hill Radio. You'll be happy you did.
Citizen Kane by
BROOKLYN EAGLE
Citizen Kane: Bay Ridge Beat
by Tom Kane (tk@brooklyneagle.net), published online 02-21-2008
By Tom Kane
Kettle Black is looking good … with their new sign and new bathrooms, Kettle Black was host to the new CD release party for Pill Hill Radio (that’s John Rafferty, Tom Casatelli and Mike Giugliano) on Sunday, Feb. 17. Playing to a full house with High Tide doing the opening set, they rocked the joint as usual. They played all their new stuff, including my favorite (at the moment) Campfire Song, which reminds me of the old Lemonheads: great riffs, memorable hooks and real honest-to-goodness rock and roll. Brooklyn Eagle by
Pill Hill Radio: As the Venues Get Bigger, They Keep Giving Back in the Community They Call Home
by Brooklyn Eagle (), published online 04-17-2008
By Courtney Sessa
Brooklyn Eagle
Five years ago, singer/songwriter John Rafferty (retired NYPD) and instrumentalist Mike Giugliano (FDNY) were introduced by a mutual friend who knew they shared something in common. “I was playing gigs with a piano player, John Comer, who happened to know Mike,” Rafferty explained. Together they formed a band called Gutenflower.
One night, while Rafferty was performing solo at The Kettle Black, he was approached by co-owner Tommy Casatelli. “You look like you’re having a lot of fun up here,” Rafferty recalls Casatelli saying. Rafferty of course agreed and with that Casatelli began learning the bass. Months later he approached Rafferty with hopes of joining him and Giugliano. “I recognized a definite talent in Tommy,” Rafferty said. “I could just see it in his hands.”
Out of this, Pill Hill Radio was born.
THE FIRST ANNUAL RIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL by
THE FIRST ANNUAL RIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BENEFIT BURN CENTER
The Brooklyn Eagle
Tom Casatelli is a retired firefighter also a co-owner of the popular Kettle Black Bar and Restaurant on 3rd Ave in Bay Ridge. Add that to being the bass player in a Rock 'n' Roll band called Pill Hill Radio and you've got one pretty busy guy. But he is not too busy, to organize a Christmas Benefit Concert benefiting the NYC Firefighters Burn Center, it's called The Ridge Music Festival.
BROOKLYN HOME REPORTER/ SPECTATOR by
MUSIC FESTIVAL TO AID BURN VICTIMS
The Home Reporter
There is a renaissance of live music in Bay Ridge" quoted Pill Hill Radio Bassist Tommy Casatelli who is also co-owner of The Kettle Black and co-ordinating this years Christmas Benefit titled The Ridge Music Festival. All proceeds will benefit the NYC Firefighters Burn Center. We are proud that bands like Pill Hill Radio and individuals like Tommy are ready to give back to their neighborhoods and fellow firefighters.
