Along For The Ride by Flipside

Pianist LoCascio teaches piano in Falmouth and is also a painting contractor.

The duo speak effusively about finding each other, because as many musicians know, it is kismet to be able to "click" musically as well as personally. This doesn't happen often, and both Weidman and LoCascio feel blessed to have found each other, as they share musical influences of Bob Dylan, The Band, Muddy Waters and others. As former members of favorite Cape band Joe Sutton's Safe Sextet, they then branched off to create some music on their own. According to LoCascio, Weidman's prolific lyric writing had her leaving stacks of lyric ideas on LoCascio's piano. He then comes up with the music at the piano.

Both Weidman and LoCascio had musical parents - LoCascio's father is a guitar player and whenever he gets the chance, they play together. He took piano lessons from an early age and was encouraged heartily by his parents. Weidman's mom was an opera singer who encouraged the young Melissa with piano and voice lessons, hoping her daughter might follow in her classical footsteps. Sadly, Weidman's mom passed away when Melissa was only 18, without leaving a single recording for daughter Melissa to cherish. Flipside's debut CD brings her music full circle. Now her kids will be sure to have a CD of their mom's.

Weidman left music alone for awhile after her mom passed, and came back to it later on her own terms. "Janis Joplin was one of my heroes," she says. Everything Weidman sings now she dedicated to the memory of her mother.

This is a bluesy, folksy, hip, and interesting mix of sounds by Weidman and LoCascio. Weidman's sensual vocal quality is reminiscent of Carly Simon or Carole King, very smooth, mellifluous, and velvety-toned. The duo's sound is fresh and to these ears, offers something for everyone.

In making the CD, guest musicians were invited to offer their interpretation of a song. "We told them we want you to put your imprint on it - do what you think, because we love the way you play", says LoCascio. This is evident in the CD's cut "Missing You Lover" with LoCascio’s raw vocals juxtaposed with his arpeggiated, sometimes classically sounding piano.

The opening track "Flipside" is a nice upbeat song, with catchy lyrics and tasty guitar work. Next, in "Do It Again" Melissa sings some sexy blues, uttering "I love the way you move your hips". This is an stirring role reversal, with a woman leading with carnal complements stirring images that just might wake you up, complemented by the talented harmonica of Todd Johnson. One cut, "Uptown" is an instrumental jam showcasing LoCascio's facile blues piano playing. The guy can play more notes than I've heard in a long time!

"Root Canal Blues" was written as revenge, right after Melissa's root canal surgery. She reluctantly admits, "I wrote the song in the car on the way home from Hyannis."In the car?? "I do my best writing in the car, to the dismay of my husband."

Luckily for Weidman, her day jobs have earned her the skill of writing without breaking eye contact. Er ... with the road, that is. "I wanted to write it as revenge for the $800 I spent for the root canal!" As it turned out, the entire dental office came to Weidman's gig where she premiered Root Canal Blues. With hilarious lyrics, this clever jazz/alternative blues tune even has LoCascio's piano mimicking the sound of the dentist's drill.

"The Wind" was written with lyrics from Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses," featuring the wind itself playing its own instrument. Other tunes include titles like "Disposable Income," "Along For The Ride," "Wake Up Call" and more. Overall, this CD just delivers in so many ways. It is evident that beyond being solid musicians with original, quirky material, these folks are having fun. It is music that at first listen charms you, then ever so slowly becomes the favorite one that you pop daily in your car or home CD player.

"Flipside: Along for the Ride" can be purchased at Instant Karma at Earth House in Orleans; other locations will be announced on their website, www.flipsideduo.com. A CD release party will be on Jan. 14 at Coffee Obsession in Falmouth, and on April 22 at The Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans.

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