One-Word Folk
Nuvo, Indy's Alternative
Voice
May 2, 2007
Zach
Cleveland-based Za
ch
has found his Indianapolis home at Spencer’s
Stadium Tavern. “I tour over 230 dates a
year and am always happy to bring my show to
Indianapolis,” he says. “The last time I
performed there, I made a passing comment to
the bartender about wishing they had
something chocolate, and 15 minutes later,
Spencer comes over with three different
kinds of candy bars he bought at the store
up the road!”
Tavern owner Spencer
Valentine says, “Zach is a great talent and
an awesome performer. His song,
‘Distracted,’ has such a good hook; I swear
you’ll be singing it in the shower for a
week. If that isn’t enough, he usually gives
out free car air fresheners too.”
Zach is celebrating his
latest release, 1-19-2007. The CD
is a live recording of his acoustic folk
rock show. The album is named for the date
of what would have been his father’s 56th
birthday. Chuck Freidhof died Feb. 18, 2006,
of pancreatic cancer.
“For the last seven years
of his life, he was my manager and
soundman,” Zach says. “He always said that
he had more fun and made more meaningful
friends than he had in over 30 years in the
business world. He was and still is an
inspiration and a guide. We had the great
blessing of having a wonderful relationship
and were able to work together very
positively. He always liked my live show
better than my recordings, and so I couldn’t
really not have this live CD in tribute to
him.”
-- Nora Spitznogle
The Kids Are All Right
Akron
Life and Leisure
June 2006, page 26
"The
Kids Are All Right." British rock'n
roll legends The Who penned that song title
more than 40 years ago and, ever since, it
has been a rallying cry for generations of
youthful music
lovers who feel their musical tastes are
misunderstood, if not vilified, by their
elders. While there will always be
youthful music that deserves a little elder
paranoia, plenty of adult-friendly music is
created by musicians barely out of their
teens.
In recent years, the Akron area has been
blessed with a bumper crop of such
performers, along with high quality venues
in which to perform. Our area is home
to a growing assortment of respectable small
clubs where today's young musicians can
creatively hone their skills and try out new
songs to cozy but appreciative audiences
that seem to have no age barriers.
So,
who's making music that transverses a once insurmountable
generation gap? On any given night,
there are honestly many. Leading the
charge are two guys not yet 25...
...Singer-songwriter
Zach Freidhof was y our typical clean-cut
Brecksville High School student who turned
to music to pass the time when temporary
health concerns sidelined his basketball
game. Basketball's loss was music's
gain. In the ensuing years,
"Zach," his official performance
moniker, has released six CDs and has piqued
the curiosity of more than one major record
label.
The
very definition of "working
musician," Zach performs more than 200
shows a year, playing on stage with both
contemporary and classic performers like
Chicago, Bad Company, Catie Curtis, Rick
Springfield, Rusted Root and Michael
Bolton. A repeat winner of many
regional music awards, Zach channels smart
and sensitive James Taylor-esque lyrics and
melodies, peppered with the contemporary
zing of Gavin DeGraw or Jason Mraz.
His spunky live shows are mostly Zach
originals, and his goose-bump-inducing cover
of John Lennon's "Imagine" is
worth the price of admission. Rarely a
week goes by that Zach, solo acoustic, or
with his full band, isn't playing someplace
in the Akron area.
Ratings:
Zach CD-"Face With A View"
released 5-05 4/5 stars
http://www.zachmusic.net
--Bill
Gruber
RELISH
MAGAZINE
March
30, 2006 (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, Page 8)
It's
hard to imagine that anybody who goes to
clubs hasn't heard of Zach Freidhof, a young
singer-songwriter known, simply, as ZACH (at
least there's no exclamation point). ZACH
(why is he shouting?) essentially lives on
the road, playing 200-plus shows a year in
every club, room or lean-to that will have
him. He has released a pair of good albums,
and his better-than-average songwriting --
emotional, witty and surprisingly kinetic
folk-pop – has started to win him a legion
of fans. He sounds a bit like Dave Matthews
– make of that what you will – but he
carries himself with soul and elegance.
-- Ed Bumgardner relish staff writer
Cleveland
Plain Dealer
January
27, 2006 (Friday Magazine)
"Mesmerize"
(Crooked River Groove Records)
If you're a fan of
old-school Dave Matthews Band, Parma native
Zach Friedhof's "Mesmerize" is
worth your attention. The 11
acoustic-guitar-filled tracks feature solid
vocals and confident songwriting that might
be folk-based but possess a distinct
classic-rock vibe. Friedhof's passion is
evident on standout track
"California," which features
biting lyrics ("Do you like your life .
. . is this what you wanted?") coupled
with an impressive guitar break that
requires multiple listens to fully
comprehend its gripping beauty. Still
decidedly in the shadow of obvious vocal
influence Matthews, this 23-year-old shows
plenty of promise. Here's hoping he finds
his own voice soon. Grade: B+
-John Benson
Artist
Spotlight: Zach
Saturday,
07 January 2006
Zach
A Face With A View
I First met Zach back in
2000 during the taping of our local music
program which was on our previous Internet
Radio project. I was impressed with this
young, energetic, and very talented Singer /
Songwriter. I kept a close eye on him, and
have tried my best to support his efforts
over the years.
Zach is definitely a
local Cleveland artist worthy of national
exposure!
Legato Cafe artist, Maia
Sharp had this to say about Zach:
"He's (Zach) very
cool. I think "Distracted" is my
favorite one. I also love the guitars in
"Son Of The Circus." Nice and
crunchy. I hope it does well. He definitely
deserves to be heard." -- Maia Sharp
His latest release
"Face with a view" showcases his
latest works, and finds Zach revisiting some
of his earlier works. We feel you'll be
impressed with his latest release.
For
information on how to obtain his latest CD,
visit his website www.zachmusic.net
-
C.
Gould
RELISH
December
29, 2005 (Smitty's Notes, Winston-Salem, NC)
ROCKIN'
ZACH RETURNING TO RUBBER SOUL TONIGHT
ZACH
is back. Zach, a tree-time Cleveland Music
Award winner, returns to the Triad bringing
his blend or rockin' folk-pop songs and love
on the rocks ballads for an evening of
awesome entertainment. Zach is getting to be
a regular at Rubber Soul, making
Winston-Salem his new Southern base camp.
Don't miss it!
-Jeff
Smith
The
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES
December
7-13, 2005 (Vol. 13, No. 33)
ZACH
Mesmerize
(Crooked River Groove)
www.zachmusic.net
The
second release on the Crooked River Groove
label, Zach’s Mesmerize
was recorded by student recording engineers
Kevin McFadden and Thomas Jeffries at the
Cuyahoga
Community College
studios.
The guys have done a masterful job
here, as the semi-acoustic music sounds
crisp and Zach’s soulful vocals really
resonate.
You can even hear every last whisper
in the title track.
It helps that Zach, a
singer-songwriter who performs some 200
shows a year, is a seasoned musician and a
great songwriter, even if he tends to evoke
that faux hippie Dave Matthews on some of
the ballads.
While most of the 11 songs here fall
roughly into the singer/songwriter genre,
Zach branches out a bit, adding vocal
percussion to “Life” and rocking out for
“The Fade,” one of the disc’s best
tracks.
--
Jeff Niesel
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES
August
24-30th, 2005
(Vol.13
No.18 Pg. 28)
ZACH
Face
With a View
(Buffalo
Zef Records) zachmusic.net
Between
the John Mayers and Jason Mrazs cluttering
up the airwaves, there’s a surplus of male
singer-songwriters these days. That’s why
it’s remarkable that Zach stands out. The
22-year-old’s latest album features
everything from self-righteous folk songs (“BLT”)
to radio-ready pop tunes (“Distracted”)
and love-on-the-rocks ballads (“Traces”).
Recorded in
Cleveland
at Buffalo ZEF and Metrosync Studios and
produced by Jason Lustig and Zach, it’s a
professional sounding recording. It features
a number of cameos, including an appearance
by bassist Jeff Berlin (Al DiMeola, George
Benson), who adds an understated elegance to
the Dave Matthews-like ballad “Girl in the
Corner (Chase Me Away).”
– Jeff Niesel
GO
TRIAD
May
12th, 2005. Winston-Salem, NC
Last
year, I stumbled upon a new singer on the
horizon, and I'm pleased to announce that he
is returning to the Twin City. Simply known
as ZACH, this talented singer/songwriter has
performed more than 200 shows a year for the
past three years. He has toured all over the
country and shared the stage with Chicago,
Bad Company, Rusted Root, Jen Chapin, and
Buckwheat Zydeco.
Zach's
high-energy shows and spiritually emotional
material have generated a devoted following
and give him the ability to win audiences
both in and outside his genre.
"People
want to be entertained, but you can't always
be mindlessly entertained," Zach says.
"That only goes so far and only
fulfills so much. You need substance,
too."
The
coffee-shop scene permitted Zach the
opportunity to begin and grow as a
performer, and he still gravitates toward
more intimate settings.
Case in
point: He'll perform Tuesday night at RUBBER
SOUL, 1148 Burke St, and it's a free show.
That's right, free.
Zach's
heavy performance schedule has also landed
him such accolades as No.3 All-Time Best
Artist as nominated by the 20,000 listeners
of WAPS (91.3 FM), a popular public radio
station in Akron, Ohio. (Think WNCW, except
in Ohio.) Zach also earned a spot as a
finalist in the Soul City Cafe Music Quest
sponsored by pop-star Jewel. Zach is hitting
the road to promote his new CD, "Face
with a View," which may quite possibly
be his best effort to date.
Check
and see for yourself. Next Tuesday.
Remember, it's free.
--Kim
Thore
Cleveland
Musician to Perform on
Show Today
Ashland
Times-Gazette
April 30th,
2005
Kim
Sweet hosts a weekly radio show, “The
Sweet Spot,”
9 a.m.
to
noon
every Saturday on
Ashland
University
’s radio station
WRDL 88.9. Each week, an artist or band is
featured on “The Sweet Spot.”
Cleveland
performer Zach will be
the guest today.
Not many
artists can say actor Kevin Spacey called to
say he liked their CD. Especially not an
independent artist from
Cleveland
. Given that criteria,
Cleveland-based Zach probably is in a pretty
exclusive club.
Zach’s last album, “Beautiful
Possession,” somehow ended up in the
Academy Award Winner’s hands. The actor
liked the 2002 project so much, he called
Zach to let him know. Spacey obviously has a
good ear for music.
Zach is a prolific singer-songwriter who
plays acoustic and electric guitar, as well
as harmonica. His music is catchy pop/rock
with a touch of folk.
Zach’s new project, “Face With a View,”
is scheduled to be released Tuesday.
A song from that CD, “Chase Me Away,” is
licensed for use on the next season of MTV’s
“The Real World.”
On his new project, Zach again falls nicely
into that singer/songwriter niche
popularized recently by artists such as John
Mayer and Jason Mraz.
However, Zach is no carbon copy of any other
artist. His originality is welcome in an
industry that oftentimes relies on cookie
cutters to create “The Next Big Thing.”
At times, Zach’s vocals are reminiscent if
Bono’s falsetto croonings, other times you’d
think he was channeling Adam Duritz of the
Counting Crows.
Zach’s music has won him numerous awards
and opened doors for him to open for artists
such as Chicago, Michael Bolton, and Bad
Company.
Zach
will be performing May 6th at
Friendzy’s.
For more information on Zach, visit www.zachmusic.net.
--Tim
Busbey
T-G News Editor
GO
TRIAD/www.strutteronthetown.com
Zach
- Kim's Review
My
personal taste in music may be as varied as
my wardrobe but there's one characteristic
that must remain consistent -energy and
passion. There is nothing that will bore me
faster than a musician or band that plays
their music with the vigor of a slug. I'm
not saying once on stage you have to act
like you've been on a steady diet of Hydroxy
Cut and Mountain Dew, but please at least
act like you are enjoying what you are
doing.
If
there is one musician that I will never have
to worry about fitting into the
afore-mentioned slug category, it's Zach
Friedhof. Zach is a young 23 yr old singer
songwriter from Ohio who has started making
some rather impressive waves in the music
industry and my guess is after seeing him
perform at Rubber Soul Thursday, he and his
music might hit Sunami proportions in the
near future. When I wasn't watching Zach
move effortlessly from acoustic to electric
guitar and from profound and evocative songs
to crowd pleasing covers, I was watching the
crowd. Not many singers can boast a fan base
that ranges in age from 21 to 51, and in
that Zach has an edge over most. His youth
and effervescent personality draws the
younger crowd in as this feels like
"their" music and the more mature
listeners wish for the same. As one person
commented to me, "you can't
"act" like you're having that much
fun". Indeed it is no act. Zach is
truly enjoying himself and it comes through
in his music. Songs like "A Beautiful
Possession" and "Liar" stick
with you in a catchy way but there's also
another quality to Zach's music that is
often a rare find. His songs weave a
tapestry that paints you a landscape and
serve as a backdrop. Much like the last
words of a good novel stick with the reader
so do the notes of his guitar and the echo
of his voice. So good are both, you don't
want to shake them off. Zach's cd "A
Beautiful Possession" is a must have ,
if for no other reason than it is probably
the most aptly named cd of the summer.
GO
TRIAD / www.strutteronthetown.com
Published
June 24th, 2004
Zach
- Thursday, June 24th at Rubber Soul
Thank goodness for appendicitis. If it
weren't for a rather nasty attack of it, you
wouldn't have the chance to see a "on
the rise" musical star this Thursday at
Rubber Soul. Meet Zach, an award winning
Cleveland based singer songwriter, who after
recuperating from the antics of a surly
appendix with a mind of its own, decided to
take up music and become a singer
-songwriter. I interviewed Zach by phone,
listened to some of his songs and I have to
admit I was quite impressed. His lyrics are
more world weary than is his age and he's
been pounding the music circuit for the past
5 ½ years. His very first open mic set
caused the club owner to book him for an
entire year afterwards. His performance
opening up for
Chicago
ended with band waiting for him offstage to
congratulate him. His last cd netted him a
phone call from actor Kevin Spacey who
wanted to tell him how much he enjoyed it.
Zach's music is thoughtful and provocative
in a Lennon-esque- U2 kind of way and you
can catch him live at Rubber Soul June 24.
Rubber Soul is located at
1148 Burke Street
. Call 721-0570 for ticket info. Oh, and did
I forget to mention MTV came calling and his
song "Chase Me Away" is slated for
the next Real World? Catch Zach quickly,
this may be your last chance to see him in a
small club. Kim will be reviewing the show
so ck back for the details. In the meantime,
click here for a link to Zach's website http://www.zachmusic.net/
RELISH
MAGAZINE
Published
June 24th, 2004
Smitty's
Notes
Weekend to bring some excellent sounds
Thursday,
June 24, 2004
A
musician name Zach is coming to attack
Winston-Salem
.
You can beat the heat if you head to the
foothills after work this Friday. A singles
party is coming to the Piedmont Club, and a
blast of Fleetwood Mac is coming to The
Garage.
Looking
for something to do after Alive after Five
this week? You just might enjoy a - ZACH
Attack! An award-winning pop/rock artist
from
Cleveland
,
Zach Freidhof will bring his solo act to the
Rubber Soul for a
10
o'clock
show
tonight.
Friedhof
has been named Best Pop/Rock Act at the
Cleveland Music Festival for the past three
years, nominated Best Singer/Songwriter by
the Free Times Music Awards, and has opened
for such acts as Bo Diddley, Michael Bolton,
Buckwheat Zydeco, Chicago and Bad Company.
Sounds
like Zach is coming to
Winston-Salem
to
put on a show. Admission is free.
Don't
let anything stop you from your ZACH Attack!
RubberSoul
Bar is at
1148 Burke St
. For more information, call 721-0570.
--Jeff
Smith
-- relish
columnist
REGION
ROCK MAGAZINE
Published
June 2004
Allow
me to take a few minutes to introduce you
to one of Cleveland's best
singer-songwriters: ZACH. At only 23, ZACH
is well on his way to making himself
a household name.
In
a matter of only a few years, ZACH has
taught himself guitar, has been the house
band at Peabody's concert club, was named
BEST ACOUSTIC ACT three years in a row for
the Cleveland Music Festival,
and has started touring the U.S.
It
all started in high school. ZACH (known as
ZACH) was hoping to be a basketball
player, but this dream was cut short
when he became very ill due to
appendicitis. He was admitted into the
hospital where he almost died.
It
was during this time that ZACH found
music. Music helped him deal with the
situation. As for his basketball dreams,
they were permanently shelved. The
try-outs for the basketball team happened
only 2 months after ZACH got out of the
hospital. Needless to say, ZACH did not
make the team.
ZACH
took this as a gift, not as a bad
thing. Music was more important to him at
that point anyway, and if it wasn't
for the illness, ZACH wouldn't
be where he is today.
After
teaching himself to play the guitar, ZACH
starting frequenting open-mic nights all
over Cleveland. ZACH attributes part of
his success to Charley Brown, host of the
first open-mic night that he performed at.
From that night, ZACH got his first gig,
thanks to Charley helping him sound good.
"I
didn't have any long term goals when I
started," ZACH said. "It was
pretty much just havin' fun and really
enjoying the music."
After
a while, ZACH started getting more and
more gigs. And then, in 2001, ZACH
received the titles OF BEST ACOUSTIC
ACT, and BEST OVERALL ACT for the
Cleveland Music Festival.
In
2002 and 2003, ZACH walked away from the
CMF with BEST POP / ROCK ACT.
ZACH
has also been nominated for BEST
SINGER-SONGWRITER in the FREE TIMES MUSIC
AWARDS in 2002 and 2003.
Along
with being nominated for and winning
awards, ZACH has opened for a plethora of
people. Some of these include: BO DIDDLEY,
BAD COMPANY, CHICAGO, BUCKWHEAT ZYDECO,
and MICHAEL BOLTON.
One
of ZACH's goals is a big one, but one day
it will come true. The goal is to play
every venue in Cleveland. Having already
played the NAUTICA COMPLEX, the ODEON,
PEABODY'S, SHOOTERS, the BARKING SPIDER
(in UNIVERSITY CIRCLE), the HARD ROCK CAFE
(CLEVELAND), and even the defunct EUCLID
TAVERN, ZACH is well on his way to making
the goal a reality. He has even played THE
ROCK-AND-ROLL HALL OF FAME.
"Success
to me would be to play to as many people
as possible. My main goal is to get my
songs heard by people."
"I
think if you're having fun and having a
good time, then it really doesn't matter.
Everything else will fall into
place," ZACH says.
ZACH
hasn't just played Cleveland. He has
performed in Detroit, Pittsburgh, and New
York City.
He
even spent three months in Florida; a
month and a half in Miami alone. "A
friend of ours who does a lot of
promotions and things ended up getting a
few things kind of put together down there
for us, and we went down there for about a
month and a half, and we played all over
the area.
In
2001, ZACH headlined the Midwest Music
Summit in Indianapolis, and he opened the
2001 Farm Aid Concert.
In
2003, he performed at the AAA
Non-Comm-Vention in Louisville, Kentucky,
and he was a finalist in the 2003 Soul
City Cafe Music Quest.
ZACH has
released four albums on his own BUFFALO
ZEF RECORDS. These include: 1998s
DELUSIONS, 2000s TURQUOISE DREAMS, and two
in 2002: BEAUTIFUL POSSESSION, and LIVE!
ZACH
has sold 5000 copies of all of his albums.
Although
ZACH has sold out of CDs, some may still
be available at CDBABY.COM
If
you're looking for something new, a new
album is currently in the works. First,
ZACH has to decide which of his 63 songs
will make the final 10-12 tracks. Then he
will go in and record. An album should be
coming sometime in the fall.
During
the summer, ZACH will be going back on the
road. In June, he will perform in
Philadelphia, and Atlanta. In July, he's
heading back to New York.
As
far as the near future is concerned, ZACH
will perform in Lakewood at the Winchester
on June 19.
If
you like the sounds of John Mayer, Jason
Mraz, or even Norah Jones, then ZACH is
for you.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION, VISIT ZACH'S WEBSITE AT:
ZACHMUSIC.NET. OR, E-MAIL HIM AT VFRE@AOL
.COM
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES
Published
July 9th, 2003
Zach-
A Beautiful Possession
Earnest
to a fault, side-burned singer/songwriter
Zach Freidhof is one of Cleveland's most
active musicians. When he's not playing the
city's assortment of coffeehouses and small
clubs, he's opening for acts such as folk
icon Richard Thompson and classic rock acts
Chicago and Bad Company. Freidhof comes off
as Counting Crows without the schtick.
Unlike the Corw's Adam Duritz, to whom he
bears a vocal resemblance, he doesn't get
too pretentious and just writes good songs.
Produced
by Jon Denney and Freidhof, A Beautiful
Possession, has a full, rich sound, as
Freidhof, who plays guitar and harmonica, is
assisted by keyboardist Jon Denney and
percussionist Mike Holloran as well as
guests such as guitarist Jeff Nagel, drummer
Charley Newcomer, and bassist Mike Crow. One
of the albums best songs,
"Distracted," is an infectious
ballad about a dreamer, and it's already
gotten some well-deserved airplay on local
college radio stations. On occasion, Zach's
feel-good sentiments get in the way -- he's
a bit too cheery in "Here is
Today" and too lovey-dovey on the
synth-heavy track "Lavender (Part
Two)" -- but in these troubled times,
it's hard to fault a guy for sounding too
happy. --Jeff
Niesel.
ASHLAND
TIMES-GAZETTE
Published
March 8th, 2003
Cleveland
musician to be on AU radio show today
by
Tim Busbey
Kim
Sweet-Buzzard hosts a weekly radio show,
"The Sweet Spot," every Saturday
from 9am to noon on Ashland University's
radio station 88.9. Each week, an artist or
artists from Ohio are featured on "The
Sweet Spot." Zach of Cleveland will be
the guest today.
Zach
Although
he has been playing the guitar for just more
than four years, Zach has already
accomplished much in his relatively short
musical career.
Cleveland-based
Zach is a prolific songwriter, having
released four CDs since 1999, including his
latest, 2002's "Beautiful
Possession."
Zach
plays acoustic and electric guitar as well
as harmonica.
His
music is pop/rock at its best, with catchy
hooks and insightful, clever lyrics. At
times, Zach sounds like James Taylor, others
like "80's group Crowded House. But
through it all, he is forging his own unique
sound that is getting attention.
Music
legend Dick Clark wrote Zach after hearing
his CD and said that he "really enjoyed
it." There is talk of him performing on
Jay Leno's "Tonight Show."
Last
year, he was invited to showcase at S.I.R.
studios in New York City in front of three
major labels.
His
work has also earned him many awards and
honors. Zach was named best acoustic act and
best overall band in the 2001 Cleveland
Music Festival and best pop/rock act in the
2002 festival. He was also a nominee for
best singer/songwriter in the 2002 Free
Times Music Awards.
He has
opened for acts such as Chicago, Michael
Bolton, Bad Company, Bo Diddley, and the
2001 Farm Aid show featuring Dave Matthews,
Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson,
and the Doobie Brothers.
Zach
plays every other Tuesday at the Riverfront
Coffee Mill in Cuyahoga Falls form 7-9pm.
For more information on Zach, visit his
website at www.zachmusic.net.
Zach
Wins CMF Award Third Time
Musician
tops in CMF Pop/Rock
from the
Record-Courier Thursday, March 13th, 2003
Local
singer/songwriter Zach has taken home the
award for best pop/rock act in the Cleveland
Music Awards for the third straight year, as
part of the third annual Cleveland Music
Festival. Because of his past success, this
hard-working musician was selected by the
CMF to headline one of its venues, the HiFi
Club in Lakewood. After all the
performances, people who attended the
showcases were asked to vote for the best
artist or band in the various genres, and
Zach once again came out on top in his. Zach
is being deemed a "breath of fresh
air" with a unique pop/rock sound that
earned him an invitation to showcase at
S.I.R. Studios in New York City this past
September in front of three major labels.
His first two albums, Delusions and
Turquoise Dreams, have sold out. Currently,
Zach is touring in support of his 2002
releases, A Beautiful Possession and Zach
Live. In addition, he has just signed a
distribution deal with Cleveland-based
UnderCover Records.
Zach
Once Again to Headline
Cleveland
Music Festival
Posted on Sunday,
February 09 @
14:27:33 GMT
-6 by sergio_101
CLEVELAND
,
Ohio
, February 8— Coming off a very successful
Florida
tour, local singer/songwriter Zach is
preparing once again to headline the
Cleveland Music Festival, a showcase that
has brought him much recognition the past
two years both locally and nationally.
His showcase, with a full band, will take
place at the Hi-Fi in
Lakewood
on Saturday, February 22nd at
10:00 PM
.
Zach is
being deemed as a “breath of fresh air”
with a unique pop/rock sound that earned him
an invitation to showcase at S.I.R. Studios
in
New York City
this past September in front of three major
labels. “His soft voice has immense
range and depth and his well-written lyrics
are clearly understandable on every track,”
says music critic Marly Koskinski of the Record
Courier.
But great
songs are only part of the reason for the
label interest. Zach has been a
fixture at coffeehouses and clubs in
Northeast Ohio
both solo and with his band. Last
summer he opened for national acts such as
Bad Company, Chicago, Richard Thompson,
Christopher Cross and Michael Bolton.
Zach has
a fan club of over 2,000 members, a mailing
list of 13,000 and has been averaging 7,000
hits per month on his website, www.zachmusic.net
. He has sold out of his first two
releases, Delusions and Turquoise Dreams,
and is currently planning more tours in
support of his latest releases, A
Beautiful Possession and Zach Live.
As part
of the Cleveland Music Festival, Zach won
the awards for best overall act in 2001 and
best pop/rock artist in 2002. He also
was nominated for best singer/songwriter in
the Cleveland Free Times Music Awards
the past two years.
For more
information contact:
Michael
J. Media Group/Mike Farley/216-548-2434/
farleypr@yahoo.com
Management:
Chuck Freidhof/440-666-3977/ cfreidhof@earthlink.net
Zach
strikes chord at Hillsdale
From
Michigan
’s oldest college newspaper: The Collegian
September
19, 2002
The quad shook with the
sound of music Friday night as Zach
entertained an intimate, intense and
involved crowd of Hillsdale students.
Kids of all classes and social groups
danced, or attempted to dance, beneath a
gold-and-white-striped tent illuminated by
colorful kaleidoscopic lights and resonating
with vibrant tones and notes.
Zach
Freidhof, 21, in his black-rimmed glasses
and trademark black derby, played guitar and
sang with quick fingers and wailing vocals.
Wally Spizak, 32, jammed on bass guitar, as
his shaved head, flowing hands and bouncing
knee moved rhythmically with the music.
Unexpected 19-year-old Angela Cutrone, in
her white T-shirt, child-like bangs and
unguarded, disarming grin, attacked the
drums with a forceful, yet graceful vigor
that involved her entire petite body.
While Zach performed its unique,
simple-but-confident tunes, the crowd
jumped, laughed and swelled to at least
twice its original size. With each
succeeding song, bodies pressed closer to
the stage and closer to one another as the
steady beat overtook their minds and limbs.
Not one person stood still.
The band did not sound like any other band.
Though it covered the songs “With or
Without You” by U2 and “All Along the
Watchtower,” Zach succeeded in making them
new by adding its own style and flavor.
The band’s original tracks rocked with the
combination of rich vocals, solid
instrumentation and fluid movements that
signified self-possession and cool stage
presence. The band alternated between
showcasing rock, funk and punk styles and
often exhibited a form that combined each of
these varied modes.
As the players wound down and announced
their last song, the crowd cheered and
begged for more.
“Hmmm. Maybe we should,” Spizak said,
followed by strong approval from the crowd.
And they continued to play.
Freidhof picked up a guitar for the first
time four years ago. For three years now, he
has been writing, singing and performing at
places like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
in Cleveland, the 2001 Farm Aid in
Indianapolis
and
the Cleveland Music Festival 2001, at which
he was named Best Acoustic Act and Best
Overall Band.
He has headlined at the Akron City Fair
2001, the Crooked River Blues, Jazz and Arts
Fest in
Cuyahoga
Falls
,
the Midwest Music Festival in
Indianapolis
and
nearly every coffee shop in northern
Ohio
.
Fox 8 Morning Show has featured Freidhof
several times as well.
He has been billed with national acts such
as Catie Curtis, Bo Diddley, Mountain, War,
the Colin Johns Band, the New Rascals,
Buckwheat Zydeco, and the Rugburns.
His albums include Beautiful Possession
(June 2002), Turquoise Dreams (April 2000),
and Delusions (Dec. 1999).
The crowd favorite “Chase Me Away” was
chosen and licensed for use on MTV’s Real
World series.
Spizak and Cutrone are relatively new
additions to Freidhof’s band, which has
played with Frank Romano, Guitar One
Magazine’s
New
York
“studio
ace,” among others.
The band has recently begun touring the
regional college circuit, which fortunately
includes Hillsdale.
As with most campus events in Hillsdale, the
crowd that gathered to hear Zach was not of
epic proportions. But those that did attend
will undoubtedly attest to being entertained
and pleasantly surprised.
“Despite the lackluster turnout, the band
performed beyond my expectations,” said
senior and Student Activities Board officer
Erik Butcher.
The band members seemed to enjoy themselves
as well.
“You guys are awesome out there,”
Freidhof said. “I want to send a little
something to everyone out there because you
guys are the best.”
“We love you Hillsdale,” Freidhof said
at the end. “Have a good night.”
By Rachel Womelsduff
Collegian Reporter
|
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES MAGAZINE
|
|
LOCAL
DISCOURSE
SHORT TAKES ON RECENT LOCAL CD
RELEASES
|
Published
January 16 - 22, 2002
Various
Artists
91.3
The Summit Bandwith v2.0
One
of the only radio stations in Northeast Ohio
spinning alt-country and adult alternative,
Akron’s WAPS 91.3 FM provides a
much-needed regional outlet for acts such as
the Old 97s, Jay Farrar and Lucinda
Williams. The Summit, as the station’s
known, also supports local artists in the
same vein, and this disc shows that the
style may be underrepresented here, but isn’t
unappreciated. For the most part, the songs
here compare favorably to the artists that
make up the bulk of the station’s
playlist. Don Dixon & Marti Jones’
live rendition of "Praying Mantis"
has all the pop smarts of Squeeze, Tim
Easton’s "Carry Me" recalls the
tough country of Steve Earle, and Zach’s
"Distracted" has the quiet
intensity of Elliott Smith. Only a handful
of tracks fall short of the mark. The
Twistoffs’ "Rolling Over" is
superficial ska and Time No Reason’s
"So Gone" a cliché-ridden ballad.
But on the whole, this solid collection is
bound to appeal to fans of the station’s
format. B — Jeff
Niesel
Contact:
www.913thesummit.com
The
Summit CD Release Party, featuring Don
Dixon, Dan Rose, Chris Allen and Time No
Reason, takes place at 7 pm on Sat., January
19, at the Lime Spider (207 S. Main St.,
Akron, 330-762-2350).
CLEVELAND
FREE TIMES MAGAZINE
For a guy
who’s relying on his own grassroots
production and distribution channels,
singer/songwriter Zach Friedhof maintains an
ambitious recording schedule. More than just
prolific, though, Friedhof is consistent as
well. Turquoise
Dreams – which follows his previous
effort, Delusions,
by a little less than two years – is a mix
of competent songwriting, solid musicianship
and well-balanced arrangements.
Sounding a lot like John Lennon and a little
like Bob Dylan, Friedhof pensively makes his
way through 10 tracks that examine the
deeper questions in typical
singer-songwriter-guitarist style. Standout
tracks include the uptempo
"October," with bassist Mike Crow
stepping up to help move the song forward,
and "The Dream Is Dead," with Jon
Denney’s keyboard work and Frank Romano’s
electric guitar riffs helping to solidify
the rhythm. More prominent, though, are the
backing vocals of Cory Farinacci, who adds
depth and resonance to Friedhof’s style
without overpowering him. She brings
personality and nuance to the quirky
"There She Goes," her sole stab at
lead vocals.
Despite its speedy arrival on the heels of
its preceding effort, Turquoise
Dreams is never rushed or forced.
Friedhof obviously has a vast creative
storehouse to draw from, and a good sense of
songcraft and arrangement. He’s one to
watch on the local scene. Grade:
B PLUS – John
C. Bruening
Testimonials:
-
"Zach
is an awesome talent! John Lennon's
Compassion courses through his veins.
I'm very impressed with this kid and
believe he is a star. He is also a
down-to-Earth, level-headed, decent
human being willing to do whatever it
takes to make it. Also, I've seen
him live and he's just as good live as
his recorded presentation and a charmer
as well.”
--Tom Kent - Elektra Records,
formerly a DJ on WHBQ Memphis,
WIXY Cleveland, KLIF Dallas, WIBG
Philadelphia, WLS Chicago, WAVA
Washington
-
“ZACH’s
performance is in a word,
INCREDIBLE! I have never
seen a solo performance like it.
If you've never seen one of his solo
shows you gotta go.”
--Rick Reich - Rudedog Music
Promotions
-
"I
put local Cds we get in the changer with
four national discs to see if the local
stands out... when i heard Zach's, i had
to take (the CD) out and see whose it
was. I said, 'Wow, this is really good.
Who is this guy?'" -Bill Gruber
Program Director 91.3 WAPS The Summit
-
"He's
(Zach) very cool. I finally caught some
quality time to sit down and listen to
it (Beautiful Possession) this weekend.
I think "Distracted" in my
favorite one today. I also love the
guitars on "Son of the
Circus." Nice and crunchy. I hope
it does well. He definitely deserves to
be heard." -Maia Sharp -
Singer/Songwriter
-
"What's
clear is that people loved Zach's stuff.
We received emails and message board
postings from people who are blown away
by his work. His music has touched many
lives through this competition and we're
all very grateful for his participation.
Soul City Cafe is extremely proud of its
association with Zach." -Ken
Calhoun - Soul City Cafe
-
"I
enjoyed listening to the CD (Turquoise
Dreams), someone (record companies,
publishers, etc.) will recognize his
talent." -Dick Clark
-
"We
applaud your talent and your commitment
to America's family farmers." -Carolyn
Mugar - Executive Director for Farm
Aid
-
"The
CD (A Beautiful Possession) is excellent
and a unique blend of acoustical
showcases, lyrical magic and hard
rockin' electric guitar and drums. His
soft voice has immense range and depth
and his well-written lyrics are clearly
understandable on every track." -Marly
Kosinski - Kent Record Courier
-
"Zach
is a breath of fresh air."
-Village-buzz.com
-
"Zach
has the quiet intensity of Elliot
Smith." -Jeff Niesel -
Cleveland Free Times
-
"It
[Turquoise Dreams]'s really cool stuff!
I love it!"
-Steve Poltz
Mercury Recording Artist/Co-writer of
the number one hit "You Were Meant
for Me"/ Front man of the Rugburns
-
"The
title track ["Turquoise
Dreams"] and "The Invisible
Man" are songs that make you feel
like you are experiencing brilliance on
the rise."
-Mike Farley
Renegade Magazine
-
"He
[Zach]'s not just good for his age; he's
just good."
-David Martin
The Scene Magazine
-
"Freidhof
obviously has a vast creative storehouse
to draw from, and a good sense of
songcraft and arrangement. He's one to
watch on the local scene."
-John C. Bruening
Senior Editor, The Free Times Magazine
-
"Your
[Zach] CD's rock man! Your talents amaze
me!"
-Stinky
Drummer of The Rugburns
Parma-born singer-songwriter
Zach is tireless. In the last
decade, the Akron native has released
nine albums and performed 200+ shows a
year. He's played onstage with everyone
from Dave Matthews and Neil Young to War
and Chicago. And on his latest soulful
effort, What I Meant To Say, he
delivers his ten best and most
organic-sounding tracks yet. He veers
away from John Mayeresque territory and
stretches out into a distinctive
folk-rock/Americana take on pop music.
Think Counting Crows with a Freedy
Johnston-like sensitivity... and yet, he
can get the funk out when he likes.
