About the Author Bounty628 Epinions.com ID: Bounty628 Location: Bridgewater, MA Reviews written: 538 Trusted by: 78 members New Release by Mimi Betinis Glitters Brilliantly Written: Jan 29 '12 Pros:Guitar work is second to none. Cons:None. The Bottom Line: Betinis’ self-proclaimed power-pop is for music lovers who are seeking out an album that musically can resonate with the listener on so many levels Mimi Betinis is perhaps best known for being the creative force behind the band Pezband. Betinis brings an impressive uniqueness to his music and calls the genre “power pop.” There is certainly a good focus paid to the power side of things as the guitar work that Betinis brings to his albums is absolutely amazing. The vocals and lyrics do indeed bring a pop sort of feeling to the music but what really stands out is the dynamic punch that Betinis infuses into his music thanks to his skillful guitar work. Betinis has branched out and released a solo album called All that Glitters and the album is textbook musical quality that is both enjoyable to listen to and about as skilled as one can hope for on an album. When you listen to the album you almost feel as though you are a student of music being taught a lesson about what music is supposed to be. It becomes evident that what glitters on this album is just about each and every track. Come on Down to My House is one of the highlights on the album as there is the perfect matching of vocals to guitar play and at times Betinis leaves the vocals off to the side while he busts out some fiercely played guitar notes. There is a danceable nature present on this track and even though I was listening to this track for the first time while driving, I was almost moved to pull over and bust a move on the side of the highway. The single released from this album is Love Is Just a Thin Veneer and the selection was probably a really good one. Smacked right on the first track of the album, this track is sort of the quintessential Betinis track complete with a pop-filled sound that at times sort of comes across like a modern track from The Beatles. The music changes pace throughout the track but remains focused on ensuring that all of the sounds come together in a symbiotic sort of way. Even though there is some good variation of sounds on the track, the track is cohesively wrapped together nicely. Snoop Dogg asked “What’s my name” and Snoop he is not but Betinis’ track What’s Your Name is an excellent track consistent with the rest of the album and the rifts on this track are some of the best. There is an impressive infusion of some female background singers into this track and you can almost envision singing at the front of the stage with the background ladies behind him singing into oversized microphones from a musical period in the past. This track has a sort of blues bar feel to it and Betinis proves that his music is not one-dimensional yet he is still able to have a great fusion of vocals and musical instrumentation on each track. Track Listing: Love Is Just a Thin Veneer Come on Down to My House Blue Sky Romance Me Walk With Me Summer Rain Say the Word What’s Your Name Every Little Thing Across the Universe Mimi Betinis is not a musician that is going to be heard on Ryan Seacrest’s weekly radio show anytime soon, and that is a good thing. His music is too good for those charts. Betinis’ self-proclaimed power-pop is for music lovers who are seeking out an album that musically can resonate with the listener on so many levels. The pure brilliance of the musical instrumentation is enough to make you want to keep coming back for more. All That Glitters is produced by Stan Skora and is a self-released album. For more information on Mimi Betinis, check out his website at http://www.mimibetinis.com/. Recommended: Yes

We had a great time at Durty Nellie's playing and seeing so many great friends and musicians. The charity fund that everyone played for went well beyond expectation and a good time was had by all.

A warm, intimate, cozy holiday song I hope all will enjoy

Tune in tonight! Right away soon. Send in a request from the Glitter CD. Tonight on THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO, we've got new music from THE GRIP WEEDS! New music from THE ACE! New music from JAMIE & STEVE! Music from Pezband's MIMI BETINIS! PEZBAND will also be our featured act, so expect just oodles 'n' oodles of irresistible '70s power pop. Join us! Sunday night 9 to MIdnight Eastern, www.westcottradio.org .

The proceeds from the February 26th date at Durty Nellies will go towards purchasing musical instruments for less fortunate children. Many groups will be performing that evening including Tantrum, Bitch and of course my group among others. We will be doing some Pezband numbers with the help of Mike Gorman and maybe even Tommy Gawenda. This is being billed as the Haymakers reunion gig. All the the groups playing played Haymakers in the 70s and early 80s before it closed. Should be some nice organize chaos!!

Very super excited about Micheal McCartney and stations KEAO,KONI, KPMW have "Love Is Just A Thin Veneer" on rotation for the second week in a row! WOW! Please help me keep it there by emailing Michael's site and requesting the song. Website http://manaoradio.com/. "Veneer' is also being played on Snap Crackle Pop, KWVA Website http://www.kwvaradio.org, Eugene, OR. Please email the station and request "Veneer" or any of the songs you'd liked from the Glitter album to hear on the radio. One more station WBZH 1370 AM wbzh@wbzh.net has played the song. I'm positive they'd like to hear from you friends and fans. They all want to hear from YOU!!!! So let them hear!

The day that PEZBAND changed my life! by Gary Ritchie on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 11:44am The year was 1974. I was gaining a little reputation as a hot-shot drummer. Lot's of "Funk", heavy foot, fast hands, rocked like crazy. Even held my sticks properly (drummers know what I'm talking about). I was really into the Blues/Rock scene at the time. Playing ZZ Top, Mountain, Bad Company, Edgar Winter's White Trash....cool stuff! Then one day, the bass player, Chris mentioned that there is a band making a lot of waves around town (Chicago). He said that they were named PEZBAND and they were going to be playing in my neighborhood (NW side of Chi-town) that week. I thought,"Ah what the heck, I don't get out much." So, the weekend came and I proceeded to comb my "3 Dog Night" moustache and put on my favorite faded denim shirt, and probably some denim bell bottom jeans, also needed to check my "Down to the elbow" sideburns. OK, I'm ready to go see a good band (probably some blues rock band?). I trek on over to "Clowns Alley" on west Belmont to see PEZBAND. I walk in and the place is JAM PACKED. I'd never seen anything like it before! A little while later out come the band. They push their way through the crowd to reach the stage. They hit the stage, no goofing around, no tuning up, no announcements of any kind..... Mimi looks around and Yells "LETS GO!", and they proceed to change my life forever!! This was the most immpressive thing I've ever seen or HEARD in my life. Why, you ask? Well, back then they were a 5 piece band. Cliff Johnson on vocals commanded your attention and the rest of the guys weren't far behind. Cliff, swinging his leg over the mic stand, green shorts, curly blond hair and prowling like a caged lion. Mimi Betinis and Tommy Gawenda on guitars, slashing back and forth, ala The Yardbirds. These guys meant business!! Mike Gorman on bass, solid as you'll ever hear someone, AND doing his (to become famous) "Rocking & Swaying" move. Mic Rain on drums and I mean drums!! First of all, he had the biggest Bass Drum that I have ever seen, a 28" (I played a 24" at the time and thought that was big!). He was a monster. He rocked and bashed beyond belief!! AND, jumped over his drum kit at the end of the set. Coolest thing ever. I ended up copping all of his moves. I bought a 28" bass drum, went with one rack and two floors AND jumped over my drums after a set!! Years later I told him that he totally inspired me! He got a kick (pun intended) out of it. Truthfull, I probably had more actual chops than him but he blew me away as a rock machine!! Also, they must have been in the "Turn it up to 11 meeting", because they were what you would call "Loud." And they were as ferocious as anything EVER! It was like The Yardbirds meet Bowie while The Beatles were in the corner observing. So, as I'm watching these guys, people going goofy, I'm thinking to myself....."Ah oh, I've got work to do." They totally changed my focus. I thought, "This is what I want to be doing." It still took me a few years to clean my act completely, but I saw light at the end of the tunnel. Moustache...gone! Denim shirts....gone! Bell bottoms.....gone! White shirt, thin tie, vest...check! Most people these days know PEZBAND as really good 4-piece Pop Band. And they are!! But for a little while as a 5 piece band, they were a crazy, rockin' machine (Rush West, how are you?) Cliff was totally unpredictable and charming at the same time. Too bad they never recorded anything "Proper" together. If you can find some of their early demo stuff...grab it! So, for me, I'm completely indebted to PEZBAND for pointing me in the right direction many years ago. And to complete my homage to them (and only I would know this and the few folks reading this). I start my new cd with the famous words that changed me forever....."LET'S GO!!" First photo shows me days before seeing Pezband (front and center). Second photo show shows me a little while later. Still needed to get that thing off of my face though. Sluggo: Chris, Frank, Jim, Jim & Me up front. Ah....Those 70's

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I am excited to announce my brand new release "All That Glitters" and the first single "Love is Just a Thin Veneer"! I’m so proud of this effort and the incredible response from everyone!

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