http://www.knocksfromtheunderground.com/ny-bands/2...

a review 2009

Allow me to introduce the TOUGH GEMS - an incarnation of the Rough Gems with my brother Adam and his Wife Teresa (of Marrionettes of Satan, NY Howl, Screaming Tea Party and just about anything else loud in Bushwick...) 

We had our first show Sat Jan 17th at the Howl House.  Dave Lindsay tore it up on guitar and space echoed us to another realm.  I played bass (my first instrument)and can't say I ever had more fun.  Adam played congas.  I am not saying it cause he is my brother, but I truly felt like I was playing with one of the best musicians ever.  We never have played together like that and it was long overdue.  Teresa played the full set and left a beautiful wash of cymbals and drums.  Her and I improvised most of the low end.  It was cosmic to say the least. 

The TOUGH GEMS were long overdue.  My interest in playing bass loud, heavy, instrumental, space driven and informal has been something folks have heard me blab about for ever.   I can't wait for more performances and songs that we will do.  Eventually I will put up some songs on another myspace page for us.  Until then we strictly play house parties and I gotta find a way to get Adira in on the action!

http://lucidculture.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/concert-review-the-lost-crusaders-at-the-loving-cup-cafe-brooklyn-ny-11109/

As seen in:
Ff, Public Nuisance, Action Swingers, Porno Dracula, Holy Crow, God's Crotch, Purple Wizard, Wizard's Beard, Prissteens, Mother Jugs and Speed, Gossamer Phantom, Hammerbrain, Pig Pen, K.O. James, Old Rugged Sauce, Iron Poodle, Fluffy, Ed Gein's Car, Iconicide, The Myrmidons, White Clam, Oscar and the Pidgin Sisters, Unwanted Children

http://neufutur.com/?p=1841

Alana Amram & The Rough Gems – S/T

Alana Amram & The Rough Gems – S/T / 2007 Zealous / 5 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/alanaamram / http://www.zealousrecords.com /

"Blackest Crow" is the first track on this EP, and it showcases Amram's work as something that can fit in well with the work of Alison Krauss or even the re-imagined folk genre of the current period (which has adherents including Akron/Family and Devendra Banhart). There seems to be a slight bit more rock influence during "Blackest Crow", but individuals could easily hear this style of music in 1967 as they can in 2007 (or 2008, for that matter). The meandering style present during "Painted Lady" continues with the same general style of "Blackest Crow", ensuring that Amram does not lose anything in the way of listeners. The emotion present in the vocals is interesting, because it is presented to listeners by a fairly deadpan style of delivery.

The slight differences in intonation are what provides this difference, and why tracks like "Painted Lady" are so special. Instead of going to the limits, the slight modifications made to the general sound of the EP yield tremendous differences. "Miss You While You're Away" is the shortest track on the disc, and it marks a different type of style for Amram. Where the previous tracks went more towards the folk genre, "While You're Away" is a track that is firmly rooted in the country and western genre. The vocals are what link this track to the previous two efforts, and create a fuller sound for Amram that was present during the ending of "Painted Lady". "Take A Drink" keeps with the C&W sound, but throws a little bit more of a curveball into the track – this ploy ensures that Amram will have a large fanbase by the time that eir LP comes out. If you miss the style of a Ronstadt or a Parton, give Amram's EP a few good listeners – I think you'll like it.

Top Track: Take A Drink

All us Rough Gems love playing music. Here are some things we do when we are not jamming together:

We are still looking for a full time drummer...

Alec "Emerald" Higgins (guitar,piano, organ, harmonica, vox)- plays with The Above and The Morning Pages (our label mates on Zealous.) He also has a passion for minivan racing and is known in the Bed Sty/ Bushwick racing circles as a top ranking racer.

Phillip "Geod" Sterk (Pedal Steel Guitar, Banjo, vox)- plays with Phonograph and is currently touring. He also plays with C. Gibbs and a variety of other musicians in NY. He can be found doing sound at Goodbye blue Monday when he's not playing. Known as Dr. Brain he also practices internal medicine.

Matt Sapphire Stoulil (bass)- Critically recognized as "the best bass player in the universe," he can be found holding it down in the Morning Pages. He is also a professional food taster and critic or the NY Times along with his wife, Chef Sapphire Lindsay.

Adira Amethyst Amram (vox)- Adira is a world renowned comedian, performer and keyboard virtuoso. She studied with Victor Borgia and Liberace. At age 3 she gave a performance in front of the Dutch Monarchy who were rendered speechless. She often performs original material at Comix and other notable NYC clubs. Her new hit, "I Want Some Dick Tonight" is 1 on Z100.

Alana CUBIC ZIRCONIUM Amram (songwriter, guitar)- Alana can be seen this winter at the Basil Miami playing bass for Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black. She is currently working on a feature documentary film about obsessive record collecting and preparing for her full length album with the Rough Gems. She also spends time writing goofy blogs on Myspace making her late to her money paying job at way too many bars in NYC.

http://blog.limewire.com/posts/752-Show-Review-Alana-Amram-the-Rough-Gems-Glasslands%22

Show Review: Alana Amram & the Rough Gems @ Glasslands
By Jens Carstensen
Posted on Nov 8,2007
alana.jpg

Wednesday, November 7th - Alana Amram & the Rough Gems, w/ The New York Howl and Puddin' Tang, Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn

Whether the blame lies with modern Nashville, or modern hicksters, or both, it's hard not to be instantly suspicious at the mention of a good country act. But last night, i saw a great one.

Alana Amram & the Rough Gems are the real deal. Wednesday night's festivities at the Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn saw the release of Amram's eponymous 5-song EP, and a performance that was among the best i've seen all year, by anyone. Refreshingly pro, while still retaining every amount of showmanship, good looks, quirks and energy expected of acts in Brooklyn, Alana Amram confidently led her 6-piece band through a roughly 14 song set, while her audience - packed with old guard New York rockers - danced during the up-tempo numbers and hung on every note of the quieter songs.

Amram is an effortlessly captivating performer, with a beautiful, affectation-free voice. In addition, her material is so straightforward, heartfelt, and lived-in, it's almost astonishing that her songs – primarily self-penned - haven't already existed for decades. Everything she writes and plays would not sound out of place in a classic country comp, in the background of a Dolly Parton biopic or coming out of a dusty Waffle House juke box. All this as she cleanly avoids every dopey country music trope, and every opportunity to pander.

But, it doesn't stop there. The Rough Gems - a rotating squad of accompanists of all backgrounds - are a talented outfit that plays both loose and on-point with the material, highlighted by Philip "The Geode" Sterk, a sublime pedal steel player who clearly knew his stuff. He alone was worth more than the price of admission ($5 cheep in this case), let alone in tandem with Amram.

It was a family affair too; great news for those in attendance, considering Amram's lineage. Not only was her sister Adira a pitch-perfect compliment as harmony vocalist (as tends to be the case with siblings), her father David, a revered beat-era composer most notably responsible for the soundtrack to the original Manchurian Candidate, took some deft solos on the tin whistle. Or in some cases, two simultaneously, Roland-Kirk style. One of many astonishing unexpected twists from a group that hardly need one to make an impact.

And, is there a better place to see a local show right now than Glasslands? The sound, the decor, the feel, the cheap drinks and admission. Together enough to act as a real venue, loose enough to never feel like one, colorful but obscure, it was the perfect place – and the perfect audience - for Amram to showcase her work. The show was bookended by the Stones-y Puddin' Tang (featuring ex- members of the Witnesses, for those of you scoring at home) and the frenetic cabaret-rock of New York Howl, who closed out the show with a bang. Which makes sense, as they feature an Amram of their own: Alana's brother Adam on drums. Talented family, that bunch.

Sample "Miss You" or "Painted Lady" on Amram's myspace page. If you aren't sold, there's no hope for you.

Good early afternoon- I never wake up this early... Its not so bad. However that midday crash where coffee can't save you and you can't understand what anyone is talking about is pretty rough.

Recorded with Darian again yesterday with a window of time he had in his studio. Just me, Phil Sterk and Darian. Was so fun! In one hour we cut my favorite track I have recorded yet. I got to play bass too! Gave me some confindence because recording is always so frustrating. I have always much prefered playing live. But I guess they are not all that different after all.

In between pouring beers and music I am trying to work on my feature length documentary. Anyone with some good camera skills thats interested in helping me shoot, drop me a line!!! So far i got killer footage with Kim Fowley and a bunch of willing folks ready to be shot. Its about obcessive record collecting and the changes as music once again becomes existant only in space. And some other strange stuff too.

Heavy eyes... want a nap.

Fighting the urge.

AA