The CleenStreet Project is coming to Central New York
In music, as in most things, experience matters.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that a band needs a combined century of experience, but it can’t hurt.
Just ask the band CleenStreet.
CleenStreet (now known as The CleenStreet Project) was started nine months ago and has played mostly in the Albany area where two of the players live. But expect to see more of them in Central New York as the summer months come upon us.
Made up of veterans John Readdean on bass/guitar and vocals, Joe Sanges on guitar and vocals, Joe Alberico on drums, and David Battelene on guitar and vocals, CleenStreet is a Classic Rock/R&B band with some country songs thrown in for good measure, or, as Alberico describes it, “a little bit for everyone.”
“All of us have been around for many years and people can see that we are seasoned players. The fact that that we are doing this for fun projects to the audience,” notes Alberico. “We are all seasoned players and we’re making some good noise out there.”
Readdean, the founder and leader of “CleenStreet,” noted that the band has taken many forms through the years, from a four-piece band to a 10-piece band with a horn section, and other variations.
Dave Battelene and Joe A. had a band when they were young, but Dave moved away to the southwest for several years where he built a solid career writing, playing and touring. When he returned to the area, the longtime friends considered forming a power trio, until the opportunity to play with CleenStreet happened almost by accident.
“Many musicians gathered together last spring at the Play It Forward event in honor of my father and brother, Sal Alberico Sr. and Jr.,” Joe recalls. “A drummer friend at the event, Carl Marucci, mentioned that the two guys he used to work with were looking to put something together. So, Dave and I ended up getting together with Joe and John.”
The newly formed “CleenStreet Project” played their first show in Wells, New York, at the local field days, and their wealth of experience paid off immediately.
“Joe and John already had their song list,” says Alberico, “and Dave and I made it to the end of the gig.”
Alberico is a member of a legendary local family of jazz musicians and took drum lessons from an early age, but a certain quartet from Liverpool pointed him in a different direction.
“I really didn’t have any interest in reading music. The Beatles came out and I was pretty sure Ringo didn’t have to do that ‘stuff’, says Joe. “He was rocking out and the girls were loving it. That’s what I wanted.”
Well, many years later, Joe and the band are still rocking out and, as for Ringo’s added benefits? Well, that doesn’t appear to be his goal anymore.
“Each time we play, more and more people come to listen,” says Alberico. “They like what we’re doing.”
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Music column: The CleenStreet Project is coming to Central New York
