Foster McGinty

In the vein of his blues forefathers, Foster McGinty has flash and gumption but in the end, it all comes down what he and his band can do with their instruments. And fortunately for those blues fans in NYC, they can play. Foster has put together a crackerjack band that really helps propel his Cropper/Hendrix guitar strokes to another level. David Butler and Trifon Dimitrov lay down bubbly bluesy grooves while Doran Danoff and his Wurli float just above the fray adding texture.

McGinty has slightly dented Johnny Depp good looks, and a voice that evokes a young Steve Winwood or a Jimmy Vaughan. A new resident of NYC (formerly from California and Missouri) McGinty takes a few veiled shots at hipsters in his deep blues sendup – “Can’t Help But Shine.” They’re pretty innocuous, but then, I wouldn’t suspect his targets care much about the blues. There’s more than a few nods to Ol’ Slowhand in here, but the energy and fire of the band really come across on the recordings – this ain’t just some tribute record. - Deli Magainze

By way of NYC and many different points prior, Foster McGinty comes to revitalize a seemingly long-lost sound of rock'n'roll's roots. Peach Red is a symbolic release, demonstrative of the man's similar-yet-contested influences from rock, metal, blues, jazz and funk, all melded together in a not altogether unique, but altogether enjoyable package. His backing band have all the tools at their disposal to bring his nostalgic vision to life, and the 10 tracks here all offer something powerful, groovy and/or inspiring.
The album opens on a Hendrix-esque guitar ditty "Can't Help But Shine", which fluctuates between a steady-headed bass groove and a well-played organ punctuating the finer moments. That instrument plays a major role in the entirety of Peach Red. 10 Moons has an Aerosmith vibe in it's vocal-guitar interplay, and stands out for being hella catchy. "Hard Jelly" (interesting name) has a very powerful, steam-engine-driving groove that doesn't let up, featuring some of the better vocals on the album. When Foster slows it down for the mellow, jazz club stylings of "Turqoise", he shows another layer of the bottomless chameleon-shifts he's capable of.
While some songs drag a bit (Burning Bee Hive, Darlyn Giver, My Time of Uncertainty), none are truly bad and, for fans of the old rock like Cream, Hendrix, etc, hearing this blend of rock, blues and funk played now will be a dream come true. Major props to Foster McGinty and his band for developing one of the most enjoyable nostalgia-trips of the year. The modern production values do wonders, as well, to help the listener appreciate each and every musician's contributions and the fantastic songwriting weaved throughout the record. - Music Emissions

5. Foster McGinty: Peach Red

Sounds Like: Heartfelt Classic rock and southern blues intertwined
Perfect For: An empty bar late at night
For Fans Of: Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Eric Clapton
Check Out: "Hard Jelly"
Foster McGinty is an amazing songwriter and obviously has a passion for the music of the past. Peach Red demonstrates his talent as a guitarist and vocalist. Jimi Hendrix and other classic rock influences are prevalent throughout the album. Overall Peach Red is a well executed album, and Foster McGinty is a truly impressive musician. - The Villanova Times

Snow may whip outside, and a golf ball sized piece of hail may beat on your skull, but when Foster McGinty is blaring through the headphones, this chill feels like walking through sunshine and smiling at the ladies. Psychedelic bell-bottoms flare from your feet and mirrored sunglasses bounce with your smooth stride. Then the song climaxes, and boom! The guitar wails, and the ladies, the sunshine, and the bellbottoms disappear beside the frenzy ripping forth from McGinty’s guitar.

That’s the feeling of the lead off number from this Foster McGinty album, Peach Red (2009). “Can’t Help But Shine” is a great hit from McGinty’s newly budding career. The song praises McGinty’s loved one for having grace, charm, and the natural ability to shine. That shining charm of which McGinty speaks radiates from the song, and gets this album rolling right out of the gates.

The next few songs proceeding “Can’t Help But Shine” carry on with a similar exuberance. “10 Moons” and “Hard Jelly” both breach the realms of funk, but not that space ship '80s funk that’s so silly, it hurts to listen to. McGinty adds enough Hubert Sumlin and Clapton licks, real bluesy, quick and tong-out fillers, to turn Sly Stone like grooves into soulful and rocking tracks.

Once or twice a song tends to simmer off and wilt, mostly toward the end of the album. Peach Red may occasionally linger in slow, vocally driven ballads like “Turquois,” but expect to be blown away by the guitar work on this album. Songs like “Dreamcatcher” and “Darlyn Giver,” or any song for that matter—McGinty’s guitar moves this album with force, even in the slow ballads. Take “Turquois” again: Foster’s voice falters a bit, but his rare ability to blend the guitar god’s like Clapton and Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan is remarkable, and in this ability, the song jells. His solos are ferocious, sometimes sublime and soothing, but always in departure from that all too prominent cliché solo we tend to hear. There hasn’t been a decent, well-known blues band in decades that can produce a unique solo with spunk and force. McGinty is making that bid. With the release of this album, he’s putting himself right there.

Peach Red is a breath of fresh air from current music. From the Jonas Brothers to the new, often heavy electric sounds of indy bands, McGinty’s sound injects a feeling that rock really needs. It’s got a swagger to it. It gasses up your spine with some life.
- Knocks From the Underground

When people say that there is no one out there creating straight-out rock music anymore, they just don’t know where to look. Throughout the last decade, many bands and musicians have been going back to the bands and musicians that were big in decades past and taking these people as influences. As a result of this, many classic rock sounds are making their ways back into the music being made by today’s musicians. One of the people who have incorporated a lot of the classic rock sound into their modern day music is the musician Foster McGinty. When listening to Peach Red, the debut album from Foster McGinty, the first thing that immediately comes to mind is that McGinty seems to channel musicians like Hendrix, and bands like Cream or any of the other bands that were around at the end of the sixties and beginning of the seventies. In fact, had Foster McGinty had been alive and about 20 years old at the time of Woodstock, he could easily had fit with the rest of the musicians that had taken to the stage at that famous gathering of some of the most popular musical acts of the time.
Foster McGinty’s writing, guitar playing and singing are perfect to create a classic rock sound, but to create the whole package; McGinty had some help in creating the music on Peach Red. Along with McGinty, the other musicians on Peach Red include: Trifon Dimitrov on electric bass, David Butler on drums, and Doran Danoff on organ & Wurlitzer. These musicians help to create a wonderful musical combo that sound like they were born to play this style of rock. And together, the four players make a combo that would give any classic rock lover plenty to enjoy with their style of music.
Other things that make the listener think that Foster McGinty’s music fits into a different time period would be the subject matter of the songs and the production value of the music. The songs written by McGinty reflect back to a time when people were interested in peace, love, and harmony. When not singing about the emotion of love, songs like “Dream Catcher,” ”Turquoise,” “Can’t Help But Shine” and others from McGinty contain elements of colors, sights, and feelings. McGinty even takes a stand against conflict with his anthem “War Machine”.
When talking about the feeling of the album, the production value of the music includes things like music fading from one channel into another, which creates a stereo effect, the use of a wah-wah pedal, and echo effects on the vocals, all of which give the album a great retro feeling. If it was McGinty’s desire to make an album that takes the listener back to a time that featured some of the most creative writing, he certainly achieved that with his debut album of Peach Red.
Peach Red features ten tracks of great classic rock. Starting with “Can’t Help But Shine,” and going all the way through to “My Time of Uncertainty,” there isn’t one track that will disappoint. Along with “Can’t Help But Shine,” some of the best tracks to jam out to include: “Hard Jelly,” “Burning Bee Hive,” and “Darlyn Giver”. These and other tracks are great to listen to and hard not to sing along with.
If you like people like Hendrix, Clapton, Cream, or other bands from that time period, Foster McGinty has created a great release of music that you need to hear. McGinty’s Peach Red is the ultimate time machine to the era when people were making the style that has since been called “Classic Rock”. To discover the music of Foster McGinty, you can find him at www.fostermcginty.com. You can also find him on MySpace at www.myspace.com/myfostermcginty. - The Rock and Roll Report

“Can’t Help But Shine” is the first single for Foster McGinty off his new album “Peach Red”, and it is a hell of a single. For those that have not had the chance to listen to McGinty in the past, the style of “Peach Red” blends together seventies rock, funk, and soul into something that draws on an earlier tradition but is decidedly rooted in the present. “Can’t Help But Shine” simultaneously takes on Audioslave and Frank Zappa, while the vocals on the track are an amalgamation of Lenny Kravitz and Jimi Hendrix.

The band that McGinty has surrounded himself with on “Peach Red” creates some of the tightest music I’ve heard; the bombastic nature of this collection of musicians ensures that everyone, no matter whether they play bass, guitar, or slap skins, has their moment in the sunlight. “10 Moons” is a perfect example of this, as Foster McGinty brings a delta rock approach that takes on a swath of band that goes all the way from Leadbelly to The Animals all the way out to sludge-rock like Fu Manchu, Monster Magnet, and Corrosion of Conformity.

The crisp arrangements laid down on “10 Moons” further show the talent of each member of the band, and put them in the realm of sotired musicians like The White Stripes or Derek and the Dominoes. “Peach Red” does not only stick to the faster, harder-rock tracks; McGinty takes on a slower tack during segments of “Peach Red” that needs to be heard. Nowhere is this better shown than during “Turquoise”, a track that blends equal parts indie rock and Red Hot Chili Peppers-like soul into something unique, compelling, and mind-expanding. There are not any limits to the styles and approaches that McGinty can bring to bear on “Peach Red”, and fans of all stripes will be able to find something that they can like on the album. Without a weak spot to be had, Foster McGinty is destined to rocked up the college and alternative charts until that point when his name is as common as those individuals that provided inspiration in the first place. If you can make it to that part of the United States, go out to see McGinty and his band live April 24th for their CD release show, 10:00 PM at New York City’s Delancy.

Top Tracks: 10 Moons, Turquoise

Rating: 9.1/10 - Nuefutur Magazine

The moment that I heard the first beat, tune, lyric from Foster McGinty I instantly became a fan. He has managed to recapture a sound from an era that truly represented an arsenal of talents from such iconic legends as Jimi Hendrix, The Who, and others. Now Foster has managed to put his own spin on this era's sound into an updated version that makes him a gem to listen too. In this recent interview, I caught up with the talented musician as he gives our Webzine the 411 on who he is and what are his goals. Enjoy this spotlight.

Isaac: Hi Foster. Welcome to your interview with Junior's Cave. Now that 2008 has officially ended, what are your reflections of the year 2008 for as a performer?

Foster: I spent a lot of the year building the foundation for 2009. 08' brought found me in a time of growth, creativity and what ultimately has become Peach Red. I went from playing basements around New York City to playing some pretty reputable rooms.

Isaac: What has drawn you to infuse Rock and Funk into a melodious tune?

Foster: I was born in Memphis, Rock- n- Roll, Blues; all that good stuff is in the river. The funk comes from how music makes me feel. Music makes a person feel sad, dark, happy, rejoice, pray...funky and on the verge of combustion is how music makes me feel. Most of the time...

Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why (Jimi Hendrix being one of yours)?

Foster: Jimi Hendrix is a given. He gives me cold chills when he just tunes his guitar. We share the same birthday which is cool. Bob Dylan, Betty Davis (not the actress), Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Elmore James and many more old souls have influenced me as well in there own provocative way. Outside of the music industry, my Father and his brother, my Uncle Chuck, are the two that got me into music. The play in a Mowtown Dance Band still today called Midlife Crisis. Music runs thick in my family.

Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel Foster McGinty will bring to the music industry?

Foster: A brave new face ready to make a splash in an industry I feel has gone a little soft. The feeling that a lot of popular music today has lost guts and character is unmistakable. I hope to make a difference in an admirable way...

Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?

Foster: Bob Dylan. Not only has he released hundreds of outstanding songs and done countless tours/performances, he has lived to tell his story unlike so many other influential artists in music history. I'm actually reading his autobiography, Chronicles Volume One right now. Every page is full of wisdom and just about everything else imaginable. He is a true pioneer, that man has truly made a difference in the world through his music.

Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?

Foster: It's funky Rock- n- Roll like people have not heard in a while. You will hear a lot of old school elements without a doubt and I attribute that to my old soul. Bluesy elements are peppered through out my music as well. I never play the same performance or a song the same. I like to keep the audience to feel like the show is new every time ultimately giving them a reason to come back again. Expect to dance to the music and for you seats to get cold.

Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from your previous releases?

Foster: I only have one, an EP that I recorded in Greenwich Village at friends apartment in the fall of 2007. The E.P is titled State of Mind Music Box and it features six tunes that show my power trio Hendrix/Cream influence too much. It sold well at shows and people seem to enjoy it--I on the other hand have a hard time not talking over it when it's playing in the room. State of Mind Music Box was the birth of my vision, Peach Red is Foster McGinty.

Isaac: What can fans expect from your latest CD, Peach Red, you are working on currently? What is the inspiration behind the CD?

Foster: Peach Red was written entirely here in New York City where I have been living the past two years. Coming from a smaller town, New York opened a wide door off creativity and inspiration that finally had enough space to burst wide open. The door that opened and what spilled onto the carpet is Peach Red. I feel like Peach Red picks up where a lot of the sixties/early seventies left off, but shines a light on the wave of out modern scene as well. This album has been a series of firsts for me one being that I broke out of the trio mold for the first time. I added B3 Organ to six of the ten tracks--a friend of mine, Doran Danoff, did all of the work on keys. I also have experimented with background vocals for the first time--I really dig the results. For those that have my E.P State of Mind Music Box, you will notice an immeasurable amount of maturity with Peach Red.

Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?

Foster: The mothership is www.fostermcginty.com. I can also be found at www.myspace.com/myfostermcginty, and at www.sonicbids.com/fostermcginty. I keep everything fresh; any of those sites will hand over whatever you are looking for whether it is news, shows, contact info, merch, and on and on.

Isaac: What can fans expect from Foster McGinty in 2009?

Foster: For starters, my debut album, Peach Red. I will also be releasing a music video to one of the tunes from the album, "Can't Help But Shine", at the same time. The video was shot in the East Village here in New York City. I will be booking a tour behind this record sometime late this summer hopefully.

Generally speaking, expect to here a lot more from me. I'm working hard, planting seeds, and moving forward all the time.

Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…

Foster: Chelsea, Jesse, Dubway Studios, Dan, Antonio, The McGinty's....

Isaac: Final words from Foster McGinty …

Foster: Until we meet again!


- Isaac Davis Jr., MBA

Artist: Foster McGinty
Title: Peach Red
MySpace: www.myspace.com/myfostermcginty
Style: Blues/ Rock/ Roots/ Funk
Rating: 8.9 out of 10
By C.W. Ross

Foster McGinty, who probably could have made a living as a Johnny Depp impersonator, with his very similar look to Depp, is a singer songwriter who is now based out of N.Y.C. that has been described as, the love child of Jimi Hendricks and the band Creme (Eric Clapton).

Peach Red is McGinty’s debut full-length release and the follow up to his 2007, State of Mind Music Box EP. What you’ll find on this new album is a sound that draws on classic rock of the past and adds in elements of a modern rock sound. You’ll also hear a lot of roots and blues-rock along with a big heaping helping of funk that’s also found on several of the tracks.

The sound that McGinty goes for on this release is very organic and unpolished. When asked about it he said, “…I could have added a lot of studio touches and gone electronic, but I wanted to go a different route and make a truly organic album. It’s retro meets modern rock and I think it’s the kind of style a lot of young rock performers are getting too far away from.”

The songs have subjects that deal with McGinty’s life experiences and observations set to music. Musically the release features songs that are driven by the explosive guitar playing of McGinty, who also handles the vocals. Joining him is David Butler (drums), and Antar Goodwin (bass), and Doran Danoff (organ and Wurlitzer). Besides the fine guitar work from McGinty I also thought that the organ and Wurlitzer parts by Danoff really helped to give many of the songs their spirit, especially on the songs, “Burning Bee Hive” and “Circus Mind.”

The first track, “Can’t Help But Shine,” is the best example of the blues-rock mixture that’s found on several of the songs on this album. The song starts out meandering and builds up to a rocking track. The song deals with McGinty’s reflection of his time spent living above a headshop, and observing all of the costume type apparel every one would wear trying to create a false persona and how refreshing it is when people can just be themselves.

McGinty has gotten a lot of questions about the releases title, the fact is that it isn’t really related to any specific event in McGinty’s life. He says that, “…When I first picked Peach Red as the title, it was just a cool phrase to me and I didn’t know how it would apply to the music. Then I started to realize it’s all about being youthful, vibrant and sounding fresh.” McGinty is only in his mid-20's.

Whatever the reason behind the release’s title the one thing that I’m sure of is the 10 tracks found on it offer up some great music. Anyone that’s in to root music, The Blues, retro rock, and like some funk with their rock will find themselves very satisfied after listening to Peach Red. - CW's Place Indie Music Blog

We are constantly searching the web for up and coming musicians. Recently, we were very pleasantly surprised. Foster McGinty is right up our alley, and probably yours, too. Southern Tracks Media caught up with Foster and had the opportunity to ask one of our new favorite musicians a few questions.

McGinty's latest record "Peach Red" is available on iTunes, Amazon, and CDbaby. Enjoy the article, and be sure to check Foster out on the following pages:

www.myspace.com/myfostermcginty
www.youtube.com/fostermcginty
www.twitter.com/fostermcginty


STM: Where are you originally from, and where do you call home these days?

FM: I am currently living in New York City, but I was born born in Memphis and grew up in a town in southeast Missouri called, Cape Girardeau. It's a historic little college town that sits right on the mighty Mississippi.

STM: Who are your biggest influences?

FM: My biggest influences are Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, John Frusciante, Jack Bruce, and The Beatles. Blues legends such as Howlin Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy have also influenced me, but I don't call myself a blues man. A lot of people use the word "blues" in when describing my music and I am not very sure where that comes from. When some folks hear music featuring guitar they call it "bluesy" when often it's not.

STM: What are your current touring plans?

FM: I am very excited about hitting the road, but all touring efforts are currently on hold. I am preparing material for a new album and focusing on the scene here in New York City for the time being. Most of my energy right now is focused towards bi-monthly shows in NYC, promoting Peach Red, writing, and making plans to record a new record. I will be hitting the dusty trail soon enough though. When I do, we are hoping to make a couple of European stops for the first time.

STM: We discovered you on YouTube and became instant fans. It appears that YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook are the right tools for the trade these days. Can you explain how tools like YouTube have helped promote your music?


FM: Youtube has been an incredible source for my music and me. I've done expensive promotional campaigns in the past and the results I have gotten on YouTube surpass the campaign results by far. All of my current promotional efforts behind Peach Red are done right here on YouTube. I will never pay for another campaign out of pocket again and I advise other artists not to do so either. I run my YouTube page with help from my friend Antonio. I write every message and leave every comment myself. Promoting on YouTube is a lot of administrative work, but the results are rewarding. I want to add that I have a new music video coming to my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/fostermcginty) for a song off Peach Red called, "Dreamcatcher". I'll be posting in it sometime this month.

STM: What is the highlight of your career thus far?

FM: My debut album, Peach Red, is the highlight of my career right now. It was an opportunity for me to go into a real studio and track music that I wrote without any outside influence or interruption. Peach Red was recorded in New York City at a fantastic studio called, Dubway. I can't give the studio owners, Al Houghton and Mike Crehore, enough credit for the facility and the staff the have put together there. As an independent artist you have big dreams and a tiny budget, but they made it possible for me. It was a five-month process to complete the ten tracks featured on the record. It was the best five months of my life so far. I did not spend much time on pre-production; a lot of the magic on the album was captured on a whim. I would be standing in the control room listening to the play back and declare, "Record this!" Then, I would run into the other room and lay it down. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it was silly. Like the time I grabbed huge empty plastic water jugs and banged them on the floor...it didn't capture the sound I was looking for. I love the spontaneity on Peach Red--it's a party. My backing band was assembled right here in New York City. They too did a fantastic job.

STM: What's up with your "Foster the Giant" video?


FM: The Foster the Giant video documents me in my first apartment here in NYC located on historic (and outrageous) St. Marks Place in the East Village. It was the upstairs of a head shop called Funky Town. The video documents me on my last night there and shows how tiny the apartment is. I can't even put the awkwardness into words--you'll just have to watch it. I still watch it sometimes and think to myself, "was I insane to live there for almost two years?" I used to refer to it as my shoebox.

STM: If you had to recommend one song of yours to folks who have never listened to your music, what would it be?

FM: I would recommend listening to "Hard Jelly". That is my favorite track on the record.

STM: What is on heavy rotation on your iPod or CD player right now?

FM: Right now I have been rotating Clapton's album Money and Cigarettes, Howlin Wolf, John Frusciante's record To Record Only Water For Ten Days, Bob Dylan's album John Wesley Harding, and my new material I have recorded at recent rehearsals.

STM: If you found yourself stranded on a desert island and could only have five items, what would they be?

FM: A guitar, pen, notebook, camera, and a cell phone to call someone to get me off the island once I get hungry.

- Jm Mullins/Southern Tracks Media

The name McGinty is well-known to local music fans, who are accustomed to seeing jeweler Chuck McGinty and his brother Frank perform as two parts of the rock band Mid-Life Crisis.

But another generation of musical McGinty is looming on the horizon, ready to make a name for himself beyond Southeast Missouri. Last October 22-year-old Foster McGinty hopped on an airplane bound for New York City with the goal of realizing his dream of playing his original, vintage-rock-style music in the Big Apple, using the city as a starting to point to launch a bigger career.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Foster makes his homecoming with the Foster McGinty Trio, which includes Bulgarian-born musicians Rossen Nedelchev on drums and Trifon Dimitrov on bass. The performances will take place at Port Cape Girardeau.

McGinty talked via cell phone with the Southeast Missourian Tuesday, fresh off his shift at a SoHo vintage clothing store.

...interview at the link below.

http://www.semissourian.com/story/1232228.html - South East Missourian

Foster McGinty: "State of Mind Music Box"

For those who like Cream, Jimi Hendrix and the Experience and other bands under the "power trio" label, "State of Mind Music Box" is exactly what you're looking for. For those who enjoy blues and its great guitarists, Foster McGinty burns up the guitar in a style favorable to that of a Robert Johnson or a T. Bone Walker.

But for the most part, the six-track EP, featuring Bloomfield, Mo., native McGinty (vocals, guitar), Trifon Dimitrov (bass) and Rossen Nedelchev (drums), pretty much shakes the labels and rocks out. Tracks like "Circus Mind" and "Message To Relay" may or may not actually be great lyrically — McGinty's voice isn't what shines through. What is noticeable; however, are the hypnotic beats and powerful yet slick guitar.

"Pillaging Boxcar Blues" is the highlight of the album with its straight-up blues sound and stick-in-your-head catchiness, but it's catchy without being commercial. The only song I had any problems with was "The Queens Jam," which was sang a couple of octaves above what it sounded like McGinty could comfortably reach. You can purchase the album by visiting the Foster McGinty official Web site at www.fostermcginty.com.


For full article go to:

http://www.semissourian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080320/ARTS01/264994284 - The Southeast Missourian

For those who like Cream, Jimi Hendrix and the Experience and other bands under the "power trio" label, "State of Mind Music Box" is exactly what you're looking for. For those who enjoy blues and its great guitarists, Foster McGinty burns up the guitar in a style favorable to that of a Robert Johnson or a T. Bone Walker.
..."Pillaging Boxcar Blues" is the highlight of the album with its straight-up blues sound and stick-in-your-head catchiness, but it's catchy without being commercial. - South East Missourian-James Samons

Foster McGinty at the Bitter End
Live Review: The Bitter End
February 12, 2009
By Sam Houghton

Watching a Foster McGinty show is like transporting yourself back to a day when music had gall, when it still hammered home close to the blues roots and howled with grit and soul… and whiskey.

At the Bitter End, last Thursday, the large, young and unruly crowd that gathered to hear Foster, got a taste of that power that fueled the 60s and 70s. The blues/funk vibes that boomed out from the stage resembled something like a Hendrix or Cream type sound, but unlike paying 300 bucks to watch a gang of saggy, crackly voiced old men mope around up on the gallows for rock and roll, Foster gave his crowd something to celebrate and helped purge themselves of the desperate times.

Grounded solidly on the grooves of bassist Antar Goodwin, Foster’s band radiated a funked-up, sunglasses-wearing swagger similar to a Sly and the Family Stone sound that let the crowd boogey. Drummer, Dylan Wissing, filled in with hard driving beats for the heal stomping and shouting, and Doran Danoff, on keys and harp, brought a more bluesy feel to the funk: all of which set the stage for Foster to wail.

And wail he did, shredding, ripping high notes and calling all the ladies to get off their seats with his bends and shrieking vibratos. His solos had a Hendrix vibe: bluesy, erratic, stinging the inner cavities of the lobe, but in a sublime kind of way. It made for loud cheers from the 20 – something crowd, if not for some pretty nice air guitar shows.
"Can’t Help But Shine" was a hit with the crowd, the highlight to the show, if not Foster accepting a shot from a fan. The band showed their prowess in their ability to build up a climax in the song. The drums came galloping up like Zeus’s stead, smashing, and the bass vamping louder and louder, and the keys accentuating in the back, combined tightly to blast off and simmer just in time for Foster’s solo to take control and wreak 60s soul-havoc. "Daryln Giver," the follow-up to "Can’t Help But Shine," was another highlight, proving the band’s got energy. In their closing remarks, the band showed they had some versatility, slowing down for a blues ballad in "Turquoise."

Given the chance, I’d check out Foster McGinty. March 21st, he’s playing at the Sullivan Hall at 9:30. Rumor has it an album release party is on the horizon. If you’re not into music, Foster attracts a handsome crowd.
- Knocks from the Underground