Johnny Cash – Downtown Magazine

Seth Kessel

Meet Seth Kessel, the rising rockabilly artist we’ve been craving since the dawn of icons like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Roy Orbison. Kessel marries a modern sound with this nostalgia for yesteryear. Having been a band member, producer, and studio engineer, he is a true musical veteran, and now he’s started his own band. Kessel just dropped his latest album, “Ride on Through”. Leading up to his record release with Gotham Easy at Berlin on July 17th, we had a chat with him about his career, inspiration, and everything in between.

Downtown: Who/What are some of your major musical influences?
Seth Kessel: Some of my influences include Chuck Berry, The Misfits, Johnny Cash, and Tom Petty. I’m also really attracted to artists from various genres that have a “rawness” to them.

DT: This isn’t your first rodeo with music. You’ve been in the industry for a while, as a band member, a producer, and a studio engineer. What made you move toward being a solo artist?
SK: It wasn’t really a conscious decision, I’ve always written songs, and starting my band was just something I sort of gravitated towards that felt right.

DT: Through listening to your music, it is clear that there is this sense of nostalgia for classic, rockabilly style music. What made you want to put more of this vibe back out into the world?
SK: I’ve been heavily influenced by a lot of the original purveyors of rock and roll and it filtered through these songs. With that being said, these songs have one foot in the present time lyrically and emotionally.

DT: What sets your album, “Ride on Through” apart from other work that you’ve done before?
SK: “Ride on Through” is the most legitimate record I’ve made so far in my career. I’m a control freak and had never felt comfortable giving so much freedom to someone else working on my songs. My producer Steve LaRosa, made this record cohesive.

DT: We love that you’re a Brooklyn native. Has your birthplace saved as a vessel of inspiration for you?
SK: I believe everyone’s hometown influences them whether they realize it or not. Being in Brooklyn, I was able to have the freedom to attend Punk shows and be exposed to many environments that most people who don’t grow up in New York aren’t.

DT: What do you love most about NYC? Where is your favorite spot to perform?
SK: What I love most about NYC is the people. You never know who you’re gonna meet and NYC has all walks of life here. My favorite spot to perform would be Skinny Dennis in Williamsburg.

DT: If you could travel back in time, and perform with an idol of yours, who would it be?
SK: Bad Brains. I think they’re the greatest band of all time.

Join Kessel and Gotham Easy on July 17th at 9 pm at Berlin on 25 Avenue A, NYC 10009.

Can’t make it? Listen to “Ride on Through” here.

For more Downtown Q&A, click here.

Last week, the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF) hosted its 19th Annual Collaborating For A Cure Benefit Dinner & Auction at Cipriani Wall Street. Beyond marking the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation by noted oncologist Samuel Waxman, M.D., the event also made history in introducing the SWCRF Vince Camuto Memorial Cancer Research Program in honor of Mr. Camuto; the founder of Camuto Group passed away from prostate cancer in 2015. Louise Camuto, Chief Creative Officer of Camuto Group, accepted the honor in memory of her late husband. Downtown interviewed Dr. Waxman in advance of the event, who was in attendance among notables that included Jean Shafiroff, John Varvatos and Michael Nierenberg.

This year’s event was attended by more than 750 corporate executives, board members and their guests. It was hosted by Chris Wragge — co-anchor of CBS 2’s News This Morning — as master of ceremonies, and raised approximately $2.5 million for SWCRF cancer research programs. The money raised will support the Foundation’s research efforts to produce a cure for cancer by reprogramming cancer cells and to deliver tailored, minimally toxic treatments to patients. The scientists funded by the SWCRF have made significant breakthroughs in cancer research, including identifying pathways to deliver novel therapies to treat cancer.

The evening was capped off by a full-length performance by Roger Daltrey of The Who. Daltrey, a regular supporter of cancer-related causes, played nearly every song by The Who that a classic rock fan would want to hear, as backed by a five-piece band that included guitarists Simon Townshend and Frank Simes, bassist Jon Button, keyboardist Loren Gold and drummer Scott Devours. For a handful of songs, the group was joined on-stage by singer/songwriter Willie Nile, who recently premiered a music video through Downtown. Daltrey and band closed the evening with an impromptu Johnny Cash medley, which highlighted Daltrey as a guitarist. Beyond Daltrey, other celebrity performers at SWCRF events have included Ziggy Marley, Train, Peter Frampton, Gregg Allman, Kid Rock, Steely Dan, Glenn Frey, Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, John Fogerty, and Counting Crows.

For more information on the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, please visit www.waxmancancer.org.