An Evening of Music & Comedy with Dave Rave and Friends September 23, 2011

Dave Rave is a musician’s musician. To the general public, he’s the manic Teenage Head rhythm guitarist who graduated to lead singer and catapulted the band back into the charts; but musicians know him as a valued session player (Daniel Lanois, Andrew Loog Oldham, Alex Chilton, and countless others) who can play the best version of a song he’s never heard.

Dave began his music career in his high school years writing songs and performing driving acoustic rock and folk-pop in and around their native Hamilton. This evolved into the wildly popular, The Shakers, from 1979-1982 with Rick Andrews, Tim Gibbons and Claude DesRoches. They charted many singles with albums produced by Daniel Lanois (U2) and Jack Richardson (Guess Who, Alice Cooper). Their garage rockapunkabilly sound ignited the masses during their reign.

Following the break-up of The Shakers, Dave took over as lead singer of the already popular Teenage Head. Dave replaced Frankie Venom who incidentally had worked with Dave on several other projects from their early teenage years. Dave Rave continued to take Teenage Head on an upward trajectory with radio friendly hits like “Can’t Stop Shakin’”. Dave left Teenage Head after a successful run to try things out on his own.

Often referred to as a Canadian Nick Lowe, Dave was the first North American artist to sign to Russia’s Melodiya record label and recorded Valentino’s Pirates in 1989 as The Dave Rave Group. They were originally known as the Dave Rave Conspiracy but this name was changed to appease cold war era Russian sensibilities. Press surrounding this release included a CBC documentary revisiting Russia with the group as well as 3 promotional videos that were in heavy rotation at Much Music in Canada. Some of the players on this album included Gary ‘Pig’ Gold, Coyote Shivers, Jack Pedler and Television’s Billy Ficca. Bullseye Records re-issued the album for the first time on CD in 2001 and the positive reviews continue to pour in.

The next Dave Rave Conspiracy album, Three Octave Fantastic Hexagram, included many of the players from the Valentino’s album with the addition of former Washington Squares player, Lauren Agnelli. Lauren and Dave formed an incredible creative partnership that resulted in 3 Agnelli & Rave albums over the next ten years including the critically acclaimed Cowboy Flowers Sessions, Heaven and Earth, and Confetti!, not to mention a song writing partnership that flourishes to this day with hundreds of songs to their name.

Media continually notes “his sharp pop intelligence means the songwriting is of high standard.” Dave continues to produce incredible music in a wide variety of genres from jazz to folk to rockabilly to punk. But it is Dave’s pop sensibilities and his devotion to making music that is honest, intimate and real regardless of whether he touches you with smiles, tears or the occasional urge to pogo in your living room.

The Dave Rave Group’s second album, Everyday Magic, was released in 2003 and features players from his former bands such as Teenage Head, The Shakers and bands and musicians whose projects he has worked on in either in a musician’s capacity and/or in production roles such as The Trews, Joe Mannix and Kate Schrock. “Love Fades” and the title track “Everyday Magic” featuring ECMA winners and Juno nominees, The Trews, received airplay at Rock, AC and Campus radio. Dave also co-wrote the Trews current single, ‘I Can’t Say’ with the Trews and Jack Richardson. Other co-writing credits include bands such as Oliver Black, now Townline, and the Maddhatters and he continues to work with and mentor some of the hottest acts today.

Dave spends his time in Canada and the US playing live, producing, writing and coming up with more ideas to bring great musicians together for the purpose of entertaining themselves and the masses. Dave Rave released his Anthology in 2 Volumes worldwide on Bullseye Records in January 2006.

Dave Rave released his second jazz-pop album entitled In The Blue Of My Dreams with Mark McCarron in 2007 under the Bongobeat label which was shortlisted for a Grammy that year.

Dave Rave has spent 2008 recording a new album as the Dave Rave Group set for release in 2009 and continues to tour internationally with over 100 dates this past year in Canada, The US and Europe.

Daves love of comedy made him have the idea to bring his favorite comics to join in on the fun:

Mike Yard

Born on the luscious island of, St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands, Michael Yard gave up his dreams of becoming a professional baseball player and moved with his family to New York in the winter of 1986. "Seeing the New York skyline for the first time was a real trip! I couldn't believe how tall those buildings were. I guess they don't call them skyscrapers for nothing!" After experiencing snow for the first time and surviving both his first New York winter and the New York City Public school system, he began his comedy career on a whim in 1993. " I kept going to comedy clubs and open Mic nights and watching comics do their sets but on the inside I was itching to hit the stage myself. The problem was that every time I would try to psyche myself up to get on stage I would get sick to my stomach! One day I just decided to go for it and my goal was simply not to get booed off stage -- and I didn't!" Fast forward to over a decade later and Michael Yard has become one of the hottest comedians touring the country today. In addition to being one of the most sought after acts on the college and university circuit, Mike's made a name for himself as one of New York City's premier comedians.

Michael was honored to be named one of Comedy's most thought provoking comedians by The Black Comedy Awards. His quest to delve deeper into the minds of the masses paid off when Rev. Jessie Jackson invited Mike to perform twice for The Rainbow Coalition/ Operation PUSH national conventions in New York and Chicago.

When not on stage making new friends at well-known venues like The Improv, Caroline's, The Comedy Store, Rascal's, Stand Up NY, The Laugh House or The Mohegan Sun, Mike likes to flex his writing muscles. He had a chance to do so as a writer and voice talent on an animated pilot for Spike TV. He's also been a cast member and writer on the Internet radio sketch show Mo' Funny Comedy Hour! Michael loves writing screenplays as well and hopes to one day direct and star in one of his works. In addition to his writing, Mike is rapidly becoming well known for his ability to morph into anyone right before your eyes. His repertoire of voices includes dialects from The Caribbean, Africa, India, Ireland, England and many more exotic lands. He has a knack for making his audiences see, hear and feel his comedy. Mike's quickly becoming a familiar face with his numerous television appearances. They include, The Apollo Comedy Hour, Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, (All Star Edition) BET's ComicView (1998-2002) and Video Vixens on MTV.

Mark Riccadonna

Mark isn’t “New York’s hottest new comic” or “Young fresh face of comedy” he is a hard working comic that gets the job done with a truthful style and a positive message He doesn't just tell jokes; he turns stories into life. Based out of New York, Mark is like the Johnny Cash song but global. He has played everywhere in the country and around the world. Mark has opened for other Comics, Puppets, Magicians, Rock Bands and Celebrities and now headlines in NYC and on the road. Mark has the charisma and is a gifted storyteller who can transform a crowd into an audience. The minute Mark gets on stage, you’ll laugh and feel like you've known him forever. His unique delivery and voice combined with his likeability on stage and off made Mark into a favorite in clubs and theatres everywhere.

Mark is a native of Youngstown, Ohio, who moved to New York after high school to study at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts, at the age of seventeen. After Graduation he was selected to represent his class in AADA’s exclusive Theatre Company. Mark then continued his studies at The Upright Citizens Brigade, learning from Ian Roberts and Amy Poehler, while continuing his love of the art at The Peoples Improv Theatre and Neighborhood Playhouse.

Mark began standup comedy accidentally, as a struggling actor waiting tables at a comedy club in New York City. “Why not watch comedy while you are waiting tables?” he thought. One night a comic didn’t show, so the host brought Mark on stage to repeat the stories he heard Mark tell earlier. Mark was a success and continued performing getting the chance to work with the legends of comedy, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, Dave Attel, Dave Chappelle, Freddy Roman, Chris Rock, Jim Bruer and Carl Labove.

Currently Mark has been touring across the country doing stand up comedy (with the Average White Guy Tour) and the USO, writing and acting in short films, working as a voice over artist and on camera talent (in several national commercials and appearances on Spike TV, Good morning America, Maury Povich, The History Channel and SPEED Network). Mark can be heard on Sirius and XM digital radio and is in an International film “Alibi”. He has acted, written and directed several Independent Films and was just in an off Broadway show "Happy in the Poorhouse" which recieved amazing reviews. Mark is currently was in the Laughing Skull Festival and 360 Comedy Festival writing on a new pilot due out in fall.

Also on the bill writer and comedian: James Oakes.

Official Website: http://www.41bridgestreet.com/calendar/index.php?id=206