Welcome to the Funzalo / Mike Lembo newsletter #12 folks!
Two and a half years ago when we started this newsletter giving you new news, updates, fun photos, stories and business from Mike and Funzalo, we really didn’t know how well received this blast would become. But as we head into our twelfth issue, we’ve heard directly from you about how much you dig it. Every time we hit send, we get such great feedback from our subscribers, it’s almost like a Sally Field at the Oscar’s moment: “You like me! You really like me!” Well, just know we love to hear from all of you and just know that know that we like you too!
As you know from our prior newsletters, in 2022 ex-pat music industry veteran Mike Lembo moved to his ancestral home of Italy, settling in Sezze, not too far from the Amalfi Coast and Rome, believe it or not. It’s been a move he wouldn’t trade for anything. He’s still in the music business, just in a much nicer locale. And while Spinal Tap II : The End Continues has now landed in theaters lampooning the music industry, we thought we might quote director Marty Dibergi (Rob Reiner) in the first film, “Enough of my yackin’. Let’s boogie!” On with the newsletter….. |
Funzalo’s Not Here Mrs. Torrance!
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Last month, the Jack Torrance pub in Sezze hosted a live event – filmed and recorded for posterity – of the band that makes up Spaghetti Punk, the project Mike launched to have Italian musicians cover classic punk songs in Italian. This gig below was the first for the Spaghetti Punk crew and if the audience was any indication, this went over VERY well. The crowd loved the show but when the band broke into the Italian punk version of “Volare” aka “Nel blur, dipinto di blu,” they went nuts! Kinda makes you wish you were there, huh? All work and no play, makes Mike a dull boy. |
Mike has worked diligently on Spaghetti Punk: Grande, an ever-expanding release of tracks covered and sung in Italian of classic punk songs. New tracks added to the project are a track Dean Martin made famous, “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu,” two Motown classics including the Four Tops, “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” and The Supremes, “You Can’t Hurry Love. You can preorder from Amazon or Apple. |
All tracks are pre-approved with the publishers making for easy clearance!
The idea for Spaghetti Punk came to Mike after arriving in Italy when he took a trip to Rome to see Marky Ramone of The Ramones play live. The compilation also features some of punk rock’s most enduring anthems, such as Talking Heads “Psycho Killer,” Patti Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot,”(“A Piedi Nudi”), MC5’s “Kick Out The Jams,” (“Balla Con Me”) and The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” – all sung in Italian with their original arrangements recognizable.
Additionally, a more recent cover of “Palisades Park,” done in the Ramones punk sound (a la their iconic cover version), is the latest track, which was written by none-other-than Chuck Barris’ of The Gong Show! Take a listen to that track here.
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The Spaghetti Punk version of the Talking Heads classic, “Psycho Killer” even made this Spotify playlist of Psycho Killer covers!
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As some of you know, and we’ve mentioned this in prior newsletters, Mike used to manage the seminal band NRBQ for years. Here is his friend and former client Al Anderson being interviewed on local news in his native Connecticut about his career in music around a rare live appearance in the Constitution State. Ladies and gentlemen, Al Anderson! |
As part of his move to Italy, Mike made it a point to travel more within Italy. And with that, Mike recently took another trip to Matera, this time with his cousin Grace Lembo (his father’s brother and partner in the contracting world of old New York City) as she wanted to visit her mother’s side of the family, the Ventura’s. They met up with Anna, their cousin, who was great as were all the rest of his extended family. They stayed in an old (everything is very old) magical place with 100 horses looking fabulous with their riders. It was Mike’s second trip to Mattera but the first for Grace. They even stayed for Festa Della Bruna! So great! |
More on Mattera here if you are thinking of a vacation!
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Do You Know The Funzalo Catalog?
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No? Well we have a terrific Spotify playlist for you to check out here. Clocking in at 72 songs and more than 5 hours of music, you will be familiar with us after taking a listen to this baby. Go ahead. Try us out! |
Mike’s Speaking Italian….Sort of…
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As many of you know, Mike has been diligently learning to speak Italian and as he often reminds us, it’s not easy at his age but it’s a fun challenge. He watches television in Italian every day, takes lessons twice a week from the great Vanessa Pecorilli and is asking most people here to speak to him in Italian to really hammer it home. He estimates he understands about 70% of the language & it’s getting better all the time.
Every once in a while it jogs his memory as a word or a saying comes flying into his head from his mother pops in his head! Mama Rose Alfieri was born in Brooklyn in 1914! She spoke in a Naples dialect, directly from her parents. It’s very different from what he’s learning now!
The other day, a word Fanabola popped in his head! His mom had lots of great Italian curse words too! (She never cursed in English). It was always fun to watch this elegant woman with a sailors mouth swearing in Italian! Did we mention she always cursed in Italian? Never English?
Anyway, Mike called his sister Camille about Fanabola and she remembered this too! But no one knew the word Fanabola here in Sezze. If you Google it, it means GO TO HELL! Fanabola!
Such fun, nostalgic memories and to think mama knew lots of great nasty words she learned from Naples! To say he loves his new life and the learning new things at 72 years old is an understatement. |
Friend and former client Brian Lopez has itchy feet. He simply doesn’t stop. Be it as a solo performer with solo dates in France or in his “Desert Goth Chicha Warriors” in Xexa who are currently on tour in Europe, Brian just keeps on going. Want to learn more about Brian? You can start here!
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Sean Slade Spills the Tea
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Client Sean Slade (Radiohead, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Tracy Bonham), musician and noted music producer recently spent two weeks in Shanghai, China, teaching a two week music production course at the Rosso Arts Academy. He was accompanied by his #2 Son, Reuben, who served as his interpreter and all-around China guide. The students were an unusually talented bunch, and the event turned out to be a fun Summer Camp experience for all involved! Check out these photos!
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This past Sunday might have been one of last days of summer but a few friends came by, ate franks & had a bit of a swim! Here’s Patrica Jobling diving! With great form! Her daughter Daisy & friend Francesco- Peppe Novelli and his wonderful sister Stefany! & Willi!—joined by Joey-Nera Thomas & Ezio! The big snow ball!—the pool is still warm! Be well everyone!
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Gianni & Cuba Las Vegas are here
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Aside from Spaghetti Punk: Grande, Mike isn’t finished signing more Italian clients. A new release from Gianni Centanni entitled, Un Mare a Quadretti is out now. You can listen here on Apple Music or Amazon. Gianni is an Italian old school singer-songwriting with accordion melodies meets Americana arrangements & sounds. |
If you are a music supervisor and wanted to hear some new music that’s easily licensable for both sides, here’s a sampling of both Gianni and the LA band Cuba Las Vegas. Click here:
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And as we always do, let’s close this newsletter out with more photos of Mike’s beloved dogs with more photos of his naturalized and native Italian pals, Mike loves so much! Check out these photos of Joey, Nera and Thomas! Click on the photos for a music dog themed link brought to you by Funzalo and Bad Tourist & their song “Who Wants a Treat (Dog Song)”!
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You did’t really think that was it did you? The pups made a new friend. They had a fun afternoon / lunch with new friend Patricia Jobling & her big pup Ezio! |
And that’s a wrap! We’ll be back with a new newsletter soon with more from Mike and Funzalo. Don’t forget to reach out directly to Mike if anything is of interest to you for licensing or sync opportunities. He’d love to hear from you!
Best,
Mike Lembo & Funzalo Music |
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