Chris Cernak
Wurtsboro, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
“Downward Spiral,” the lead track on Chris Cernak’s new CD “Down the Road,” opens with the plaintive yet gorgeous sounds of a lone acoustic guitar and violin. It’s a fitting intro to a ballad about self-inflicted pain and redemption, and a powerful kickoff to the upstate New York native’s latest recorded effort. Unlike a lot of stripped-down singer/songwriters who can be monotonous, Cernak manages to not only hold the listener’s interest, but to keep them fully engaged. Part of it is deft use of varied tempos and the other is that Cernak is also a strong songwriter who uses blunt language to effectively convey blunt feelings: sadness, regret, longing and hope. That said, his cover of Jackson Browne’s “Running on Empty” is a meandering and repetitive misfire on an otherwise very strong record. The track that follows, “Do What You Want With It,” is an upbeat love song punctuated by Cernak’s lively acoustic guitar, which is a welcome return to form. Rich, velvety tones, crisp playing and compelling songwriting make “Down the Road” a winner. – MC - On Tap Magazine
Upstate singer-songwriter Chris Cernak has released his first full length CD called “Down the Road,” recorded nearby at Leopard Studios in Stone Ridge.
A bar-room performer who shows his sensitive side here, Cernak rides the thin line between folk and Celtic, with its lovely harmonies and fine fiddle (Timothy Allen), like in first track “Downward Spiral, where fiddle, accordion and acoustic guitar join Cernak’s dynamic delivery, and Kesley Reiber’s angelic voice.
That template continues with the haunting “Something Special” and “Sunday Morning,” with Cernak and Reiber’s voices perfectly blending and complimenting each other’s.
In the driving “Running On Empty,” he sings of love, longing and dedication, then Cernak goes for broke in the passionate “Satisfied,” as he sings “I ain’t never been satisfied.”
But we don’t believe him. He surely has to be satisfied with this fine CD. - The Daily Freeman, David Malachowski
Chris Cernak will be kicking off Saturday night entertainment at the Lodge on Saturday January 15th at 8 pm. Be sure to come check him out, it should be a great day of snowmobiling followed up by one of the most entertaining solo performers in the North Country!! - Kristel's Lodge
I am currently waiting on press reviews for this upcoming album. The ones posted here are from live performances. - Chris Cernak
Poor White College Kid from NY, his new alblum "Out Of Nowhere" is also ripe for the picking. A really cool melodlic disc filled with great songs. - nhur music
"The hottest thing in this area with an acoustic guitar" says DJ Mike Garassi of Music Man Entertainment!!! - Music Man Entertainment
"Chris is a very relaxed performer, it makes for a great night of music when you see him play"
Jason Keller
Host of Big Break Show
WHRL 103.1-FM, Albany, NY
- Joe Black Entertainment
“Chris is a great performer—the bigger the crowd, the more he steps it up. He keeps the performance loose and is interactive with the audience.”
P.J. Anadio
General Manager
The Caboose, Gloversville, NY
- JBE
“Chris is a great performer—the bigger the crowd, the more he steps it up. He keeps the performance loose and is interactive with the audience.”
P.J. Anadio
General Manager
The Caboose, Gloversville, NY
- JBE
Discography
The first group of songs from 'Free' The Ep are completed and will be officially released in Nov, 2013. Making an album like 'Free', and having a band to support have long been dreams of Chris's and it is finally becoming a reality.
In early 2011 Chris released his first official studio album Down The Road. During the writing and recording he experimented with a fairly new sound and style to him which was fashioned after the way his late mother always liked to hear him sing. Down The Road was a solid stepping stone to help propel him back into the career that he had valued so much in his early twenties.
Photos
Bio
Insert catchy and clever descriptive phrase about how many different styles the artist twists together like everyone else in this world but somehow sets him or her apart here____________.
What it boils down to is Chris Cernak loves playing music. You can see it in him every time he picks up a guitar. Whether it’s by himself on the side of a road in the middle of nowhere, or in front of 500 people(biggest show to date,) music has just always felt right to him. He had to walk away from a dream come true in late 2006 and it took a few years to realize that he belonged back chasing his heart all around the country side.
In early 2011 Chris released his first official studio album Down The Road. During the writing and recording he experimented with a fairly new sound and style to him which was fashioned after the way his late mother always liked to hear him sing. Down The Road was a solid stepping stone to help propel him back into the career that he had valued so much in his early twenties. Now 31 years old and of a different mindset he has a few substantial tours under his belt, a new band together and the first four songs off of his new album 'Free' will be release in Nov 2013.
Chris has a unique sound all his own. He prides himself on the fact that he can finish the sullen singer/songwriter show at 8pm; be at the bar by 9pm to rock and roll for another 4 hours; then get up the next morning to head to the next town and do it all again. To quote his good friend and frequent guitar player Mike Lerario “a bad day with a guitar in his hands is better than a good one without”.
Chris was recently reviewed as "a songwriter who manages to not only hold the listener’s interest, but to keep them fully engaged. Part of it is deft use of varied tempos and the other is that Cernak is also a strong songwriter who uses blunt language to effectively convey blunt feelings: sadness, regret, longing and hope." –Michael Coleman, On Tap Magazine(September, 2011)
Notable venues played:
The Van Dyck- Schenectady, NY
Plattsburgh State University- Plattsburgh, NY
Musselman Triathlon Festival- Geneva, NY
The Great Escape / Splashwater Kingdom (Six Flags)- Lake George, NY
Northern Lights- Clifton Park, NY
George Mason University- Fairfax, VA
The Skyline- Albany, NY
Revolution Hall, Troy, NY
The Bitter End- New York, NY
Millenium Music Conference- Harrisburg, PA
Cape May Singer Songwriter Series- Cape May, NJ
Times Square (The Real Radio Show)- New York, NY
Hotel Indigo Singer Songwriter Series- Nashville, TN
Battery Park- Burlington, VT
The Grape Room-Philadelphia, PA
Level X Lounge- Washington, DC
King St Blues- Alexandria, VA
The Aulde Shebeen- Fairfax, VA
9:30 Club- Washington, DC
The Purple Fiddle- Thomas, WV
The Midtown Scholar- Harrisburg, PA
Rosendale Café- Rosendale, NY
Acoustic Coffeehouse-Johnson City, TN
Commodore Grille- Nashville, TN
Milkboy Coffee-Ardmore, PA
Links
