What's Up
Thursday, August 14th, 2008 7:02 PM
MSG Update
Many of you are wondering what happened with Gillen & Turk and MSG's
show NYC Soundtracks. We are as well. We were on the show, in the
competition and in the round of 16 and, like you, looking forward to
this past Sunday's episode. If you saw Sunday's episode you heard
that Gillen (who's name was misspelled as Gill) & Turk "got a touring
gig" and could no longer be on the show. This was news to us. We
toured back in May and June and will now be pretty local until
November when we hit the midwest again. We were pretty shocked to
hear on television that we were currently on tour. You'd think that
someone from MSG and NYC Soundtracks would have informed us we were
off the show because of our touring schedule before they broadcast it
to their viewers. Considering that two days after that 8/10 show was
aired we were in NYC again playing in the subway at 125th and 8th, the
story they told of us "being on tour" seems a bit ridiculous. You'd
think they would have at least checked our website which shows our gig
schedule before they broadcast this. We would have appreciated a
courtesy phone call before the show was broadcast. We would have
appreciated and welcome a public apology from MSG and NYC Soundtracks.
As it is we have received a private apology from production and have
been offered a short list of possible opportunities (gigs, radio
appearances, MSG website coverage, etc...) for MSG to make this up to
us. Did someone just screw up or was there some other reason we were
pulled from the show? We are trying to get to the bottom of this
question and will keep you informed. To be honest we weren't too
excited about the contest aspect of the show, but felt honored and
flattered to be in a show with Gibran Soul, Matt Nichols, Dorian
Spencer, Trevor Exter, and all of the other artists, some of whom we
know from the subways or from their music careers outside the
subways...
Many of you know how much we enjoy playing in places like 125th and
Lex, in the subway. You know how grateful we are to be a part of
Music Under New York and to work with the M.T.A., New Yorkers, and
music community. We will continue to play in the subway, our freedom
of speech intact, protected by the First Amendment.
When we were kids, one of the first things we saw on MTV was "Video
Killed a Radio Star." For anyone who thought reality TV is real,
consider our current experience and we challenge songwriters to write
the new song, "Gillen & Turk killed Reality TV"
If you'd like to communicate with MSG directly, please email
msgnetpr@thegarden.com
show NYC Soundtracks. We are as well. We were on the show, in the
competition and in the round of 16 and, like you, looking forward to
this past Sunday's episode. If you saw Sunday's episode you heard
that Gillen (who's name was misspelled as Gill) & Turk "got a touring
gig" and could no longer be on the show. This was news to us. We
toured back in May and June and will now be pretty local until
November when we hit the midwest again. We were pretty shocked to
hear on television that we were currently on tour. You'd think that
someone from MSG and NYC Soundtracks would have informed us we were
off the show because of our touring schedule before they broadcast it
to their viewers. Considering that two days after that 8/10 show was
aired we were in NYC again playing in the subway at 125th and 8th, the
story they told of us "being on tour" seems a bit ridiculous. You'd
think they would have at least checked our website which shows our gig
schedule before they broadcast this. We would have appreciated a
courtesy phone call before the show was broadcast. We would have
appreciated and welcome a public apology from MSG and NYC Soundtracks.
As it is we have received a private apology from production and have
been offered a short list of possible opportunities (gigs, radio
appearances, MSG website coverage, etc...) for MSG to make this up to
us. Did someone just screw up or was there some other reason we were
pulled from the show? We are trying to get to the bottom of this
question and will keep you informed. To be honest we weren't too
excited about the contest aspect of the show, but felt honored and
flattered to be in a show with Gibran Soul, Matt Nichols, Dorian
Spencer, Trevor Exter, and all of the other artists, some of whom we
know from the subways or from their music careers outside the
subways...
Many of you know how much we enjoy playing in places like 125th and
Lex, in the subway. You know how grateful we are to be a part of
Music Under New York and to work with the M.T.A., New Yorkers, and
music community. We will continue to play in the subway, our freedom
of speech intact, protected by the First Amendment.
When we were kids, one of the first things we saw on MTV was "Video
Killed a Radio Star." For anyone who thought reality TV is real,
consider our current experience and we challenge songwriters to write
the new song, "Gillen & Turk killed Reality TV"
If you'd like to communicate with MSG directly, please email
msgnetpr@thegarden.com
Friday, July 11th, 2008 2:04 PM
G&T on TV
Gillen & Turk on MSG, NYC Soundtracks
Gillen & Turk were singing and playing, wash boarding and doing what they do when folks from MSG asked if it was ok for them to film a G&T Music Under New York performance in NYC's Union Square. MSG then asked, would G&T be a part of the new show, NYC Soundtracks which airs July 13? G&T said yes and on July 10 performed with many others on the MSG stage on 33rd and 8th in celebration of the new show. It was a glorious summer day. G&T are happy to be a part of this music show that features so many incredible New York musicians.
Viewers will pick one artist to open a show at MSG, Radio City or the Beacon.
In addition, Gillen & Turk have entered into an agreement to score music for The Wyoming Channel. Soon, this fantastic web TV channel promoting eco-tourism will launch.
Thursday, June 26th, 2008 7:32 PM
KUSP's Mike Pierce showing his copy of Backs to the Wall during G&T's June 13, 2008 visit. Everyone's glad Mike is no longer doing the graveyard shift. And we loved seeing KJ Denhert's poster nearby, made us feel at home. The session is soon to be in the KUSP archives.
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 2:40 PM
G&T in the Studio
Fred and Matt are hard at work in Woody's House producing tracks for the upcoming Gillen & Turk debut. The title has not yet been inked, but our reliable sources assure us it will not be called "The Black Album". Many tracks have been cut. Some hit the heart, others the hips and still others the spirit.
How are they getting it done? We hear there have been a lot of shipments arriving at the studio of Newman's Dark Espresso Chocolate. As well there are constant sightings in Croton-on-Hudson's Black Cow. Fuel for the Revolution indeed! Fred was spotted wheeling a shopping cart to the studio for a noisy session involving clanking and banging. The washboard happily now has a playmate. Stay tuned, Gillen & Turk will be announcing a release date soon. G&T's debut CD is coming.
Friday, January 11th, 2008 12:13 AM
New Years Eve "Resolution for Peace" with Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Gillen & Turk were among the artists performing at 's New Years Eve shindig in Manchester, NH. After a brief poetry reading by Fred Gillen Jr., he was joined by Matt Turk in an a capella rendition of the Stephen Still's classic "Find the Cost of Freedom". A little after midnight Gillen & Turk brought in the New Year singing with Jenny Scheinman, Todd Sickafoose, Chris Brown, Teddy Butter and Anton Fier.
Sunday, November 25th, 2007 4:06 PM
WY? The Wyoming Channel.tv
A new film project directed by John Mournier, with music by Gillen & Turk will soon launch on the net. In segments ranging from five seconds to three minutes, Mournier shoots Wyoming's tremendous scenery, capturing it. The music is serene and uplifting with acoustic guitar, mandolin and harmonica. Fred Gillen Jr. recorded and mixed the project at "Woody's House" in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Gillen & Turk both agree that John Mournier's images of soaring clouds, roaming bison, enormous mountains and endless sky made it easy creating music for the Wyoming Channel. Sunday, November 25th, 2007 3:58 PM
Music Under New York
Fred Gillen Jr. and Matt Turk won a coveted spot in the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Music Under New York program this May, 2007. The auditions were covered in the national and major New York media. News of the washboard and harmonies went out over the Associated Press newswire reaching Hong Kong, Singapore and who knows where else. Fred and Matt are performing for straphangers in the subways. Check the gigs page for details.Sunday, November 25th, 2007 3:14 PM
"Fred Claus" Movie Soundtrack
Matt Turk's version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" with Matter and Gaby Moreno can be heard in David Dobkin's movie, "Fred Claus," and appears on the film's soundtrack as well. "Fred Claus" opened November 9, 2007, and the soundtrack is available on Warner Brothers. Matt recorded the track at Matter Music in Los Angeles in August, 2007. In addition to singing the lead vocal, Matt plays a Depression-era Martin nylon-string guitar, lap steel, banjo and mandolin.