Progressive Roots & Blues Band

Mankato Free Press, January 2007
Keepin' On: Mankato-Based band brings “Roots Rock” style with a blend of rock, funk, blues, and jazz
By Amanda Dyslin, Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO - It was quite a year for Mankato bluesy rock band NiteRail. The four-piece released its first EP, recorded at Two Fish Studios in Mankato. The guys celebrated their one-year “gigging” anniversary in June.

They shared a stage with renowned blues musician Ross William Perry at Old Town Summerfest in Mankato. They even got to open for Willie “Big Eyes” Smith as Hooligans. And on a personal note, drummer James Schneeberg and his wife, Jessica, had a baby girl, Bria, in November.

Throughout it all, Schneeberg, vocalist Mike Fugazzi, guitarist Korey Hicks, and bassist and keyboardist Konr Ness played shows all over the region and in the Twin Cities and kept writing and performing new music. That’s just their style---they’ve got to keep it fresh for their fans.

And at the start of a new year, the guys seem to be sticking to their usual modus operandi---gigs and more gigs in cities such as Rochester, St. Paul, and Waseca. NiteRail’s first show of the season is Friday night at Pub 500 in Mankato.

The “roots rock” band plays rock, funk, blues, and jazz, among its other improvised music during live shows. Their set list is constantly changing and includes original music and a few favorite covers. One noteworthy aspect of the band is its frontman, Fugazzi. By day, he’s a teacher at Franklin Elementary School in Mankato.

NiteRail formed in 2004 after guitarist Korey Hicks of Roseville put out the word that he was looking to start a blues band. Fugazzi and Schneeberg of St. Louis Park joined first and Konr Ness of Maple Grove joined soon after.

The band’s roots are in blues. But they’re careful not to limit themselves to that definition. “We’re not a retro act. We’re not trying to be clones of Stevie Ray Vaughan or Muddy Waters,” Fugazzi said in an interview last year. The guys offer blues something fresh. There are elements of funk and a classic rock kind of sound reminiscent of Zeppelin in a lot of the music they play.Fugazzi says the band’s sound is influenced by Freddie King, Johnny Winter, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, which also are bands they cover during shows.

Blue Monday Monthly, November 2006
NiteRail Rocks the Eagles
By Blueshammer, Editor

Good friends Mike, Korey, Konr, and James; collectively known as NITERAIL regaled the Eagles Club in Owatonna on their first BBQ and Blues night. Del Point and his crew of volunteers slaved over a hot grill all afternoon just to make sure there were enough ribs and brisket for the music lovers that came out to hang.

Always fillin' the dance floor, there was even a gal in a whellchair so inspired by NiteRail blues she had to give it a whirl. As always, Korey's guitar work was jaw dropping and Mike complemented the scene with his Mississippi Saxophone.

Blue Monday Monthly, May 2006
NiteRail
By Blueshammer, Editor

April 7, NiteRail rolled into Owatonna for a rockin' set at Buster's in Southpark Lanes. Buster's is billed as Owatonna's newest hot spot and is where the 21 1/4 year old crowd hangs. Guys group with their buddies, drinkin' like amateurs and posin', hopin' some gal will notice how cool they look and take them home. ...

What does this have to do with a quality up and coming blues band like Niterail, you may ask? They were our most recent success story in bring quality entertainment to our backyard. These boys have a rock solid and blue playlist you can sink yer teeth into, featuring tunes by Robt. Johnson, Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, SRV, Freddie King; (just to name drop a few), as well as some pretty hip originals. Fronted by Mike Fugazzi on scorching Mississippi saxophone/vocals, Korey Hicks on absolutely stellar guitar; Konr Ness on solid bass, and James Schneeberg keepin' the beat like a metronome on the skins; these guys dazzle.

Niterail plays music that speaks to their souls, and that enthusiasm translates to a great time for fans. About 3 years into this group, these guys have a lot to offer and have many more bright spots ahead of them. They have a very active schedule. Be sure to check out their calendar at www.niterail.com for the opportunity to catch NiteRail in yer backyard.

Applauze Magazine, February 2006
Album Review (Critics Corner): NiteRail breaks out the blues with debut Back & Forth EP
By Mike Sjulstad, Contributing Writer

Niterail released their debut EP, Back and Forth, last month at the Fat City Blues show benefit, held at Busters in Mankato. Having myself played with members Mike Fugazzi and Konr Ness, I knew this album would hold something special for me. Not to be disappointed, I discovered almost immediately that band members Korey Hicks and James Schneeberg contribute strong talents to the band.

The opening track, "Apart" pretty much sets the tone and style of this straight up blues outfit. Catchy, with a pop-sound backing vocals, this tune simply rocks. Hicks (guitar) and Fugazzi (harp) double up on the opening riff that lingers long after the song has ended. This is one of those songs that combine elements of a standard blues, pop and funk into a landscape of fun music. The song leaves you wanting more, and also is appealing to those non-hard core blues lovers.

Keeping with the tradition of standard blues formats, tracks 2, 3, and 4 are straightforward blues progressions and shuffles. Musically, these tracks are quite nice, and Fugazzi's vocals along with his harp solos show his proficiency of the blues sound. On "Leave It Alone," Konr Ness plays a nice blues solo on bass and shows a real feel for the blues. "Which Way to Choose" features very nice guitar and harp work. I especially enjoyed Hicks solo with its rootsy feel.

The instrumental, "The Stumble" is worth the price of the EP alone. Upbeat, pure blues tone and some strong rhythms by Schneeberg and Ness along with Hicks great guitar tone will make you tap or even stomp your feet. The final track, "Selfish Ways" is a smoky club blues ballad that is dripping with feeling. Hick's guitar work is strong and enjoyable with some expert fills and features a very nice solo tone. Ness adds his flair with a strong bass line that's jazzier and gives the song its smoky nature. It's nice to see a young group that is working hard to write and play the blues; this EP is proof of their desires and convictions.

Don't miss Niterail as part of our February installment of the High Note Series, spotlighting the most talented artists in the region in a unique performance venue. Check them out February 10 at 9 p.m. at Mankato's Pub 500. And don't forget to catch them as part of the upcoming Dead of Winter Jam 2: Back for Seconds, March 4 at the Kato Ballroom. Niterail will also be one of the special guests for the night, coinciding with a separate "after-jam" performance at the Whats Up Lounge in Mankato later that night. More information on Niterail can be found at www.niterail.com or at www.deadofwinterjam.com.

Static Magazine, January 2006
Album Review: NiteRail, Back And Forth
By Nick Iverson, Contributing Writer

The Blues band NiteRail presents their first release, an EP, titled "Back And Forth." Haven't heard of NiteRail before? You will in the next few months as this release helps place the band in the Minnesota Blues spotlight. The 6 track release features a balanced mix of lively and grooving original Blues music from this young band. Don't let the young part fool you, the band's roster includes three well-trained musicians in Fugazzi (harp, vocals), Schneeberg (drums) and Hicks (guitar).

On "Back And Forth," NiteRail pays respect to Blues standards along with their own contemporary twist on the roots of Rock-N-Roll. The disc could be set as the soundtrack of a party - think Texas Blues with a Chicago twist.

While the band is new, having played gigs for less than a year, they bring enough energy and musicianship to entertain and garner a wide variety of fans. 4 out of 5 stars

Mankato Free Press, January 2006
Blues 101: Mankato teacher fronts funky blues band
By Amanda Dyslin, Free Press Staff Writer

By day, Mike Fugazzi is a fifth-grade teacher at Franklin Elementary School in Mankato. By night, he's the lead singer of a funky blues band called Nite Rail, which plays various bars and clubs in the Mankato, St. Peter and Twin Cities area. Pencils and arithmetic and 10-year-olds don't seem to go together with guitars and amps and Stevie Ray Vaughn. But they can. At least a little bit. Fugazzi's class knows all about Nite Rail, which plays Pub 500 Friday night. So he decided to teach outside the curriculum and order harmonicas for the whole group, an instrument he'd studied under Clint Hoover, a well-known Minneapolis jazz and blues musician. A few lessons later, Fugazzi's class entertained school staff and parents with bluesy renditions of When the Saints Go Marching In and Jingle Bells during the holiday concert this year. It sounded really good, too, said Fugazzi, 25, of Mankato. It was fun to bring a little of his night life into the classroom, he said. His teaching job is what brought Fugazzi to Mankato after studying elementary education at the University of Minnesota-Morris.

His passion for blues is what brought his band together about a year ago. Both are big parts of his life. Nite Rail formed in November 2004 after guitarist Korey Hicks of Roseville put out the word that he was looking to start a blues band. Fugazzi and James Schneeberg of St. Louis Park joined first and Konr Ness of Maple Grove joined soon after. The band's roots are in blues. But they're careful not to limit themselves to that definition. We're not a retro act. We're not trying to be clones of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Muddy Waters, Fugazzi said. And they probably couldn't pull it off if they tried. All four guys are in their mid-20s and couldn't sell the dark, majestic, powerful music of artists like Waters who shaped the course of blues. But that's a good thing. The world already has that music. The guys offer blues something fresh.

There are elements of funk and a classic rock kind of sound reminiscent of Zeppelin in a lot of the music they play. Improv also is key. A Nite Rail concert is never the same two nights in a row. The set list is always changing and so are the songs, based on mood and the drive to experiment and stay fresh. We play the songs over and over, but we want them to have a different feel, Fugazzi said. We want it to be really for the moment. The group has a lot of original material, six songs of which they just recorded on their first EP at Two Fish Studios in Mankato in December. Fugazzi and Hicks did most of the writing. Even though they've only been playing together a year, Fugazzi said they felt ready to record. We wanted a really good snapshot of where we are now, he said. Fugazzi says the band's sound is influenced by Freddie King, Johnny Winter and The Fabulous Thunderbirds, which also are bands they cover during shows. At the Pub 500 show Nite Rail will play a lot of originals, including tracks off the EP which will be for sale at the show.

MSU Reporter, January 2006
Twenty-First Century Blues With Niterail Local four-piece blues band is making blues music 'for the people'
By Drew Lyon, staff writer

The current generation in the blues family tree is stagnant, holding guitar exhibition and phony posturing more dear than adherence to the music's valued tenants. To pacify such cynical notions, the blues in the 21st century exists as anything other than Congressional remembrances and generic 12-bar romps serving as car commercials themes, Niterail Ñ a four-piece blues unit Ñ have become a welcome fixture on Mankato's late-night music scene in recent months.

To celebrate the unveiling of the band's debut EP, Back and Forth, Niterail, along with local blues mainstays Lonnie Knight and Billy Steiner, are bringing their workingman's blend of boogie blues to Buster's Saturday as part of a fundraiser for KMSU radio. Niterail's valiant goal: articulate the blues message directly to the people.

With its intimidating musical history hovering over them, it takes intrepid souls to eagerly wave the blues flag for the unenlightened, persuading them of the power, vitality, freedom and wisdom alive inside the blues songbook.

Born in November 2004 through common musical interests and ideas, Niterail have focused their concert schedule centrally on Mankato and the Twin Cities. On the band's sporadic touring docket, where Back and Forth will be available for purchase, Mankato is its primary location. Back and Forth is a six-song introduction to the blues of Niterail. Recorded at Mankato's holy Two-Fish studios, the EP is good-time, Saturday night music. Chock full of loose grooves ranging from Latin funk to bass-driven jazz, Back and Forth nevertheless stays close to traditions of the music.

On "Leave it Alone," vocalist Mike Fugazzi, howling over a dependable rhythm section, tells his old flame: "I'm not sayin' love don't deserve a second chance/how can you call it love when there was never any romance?" "The Stumble," an instrumental shuffle, underscores the band's heavy reliance on drummer James Schneeberg, an accomplished jazz drummer, and bassist Konr Ness.

"Our rhythm section is really experienced," guitarist Korey Hicks said. Hicks said the band has fought to rid itself of the repetitiveness of 12-bar blues without abandoning its spontaneity. "We like to keep everything fresh all the time," Hicks said. "We rarely rehearse and like to play a lot of improv. We're all growing so quick now. Mike, for one, keeps getting better and better."

Fugazzi, the band's lyricist and harmonica ace, said he was introduced to the sonic wonders of the harmonica by harp wizard John Popper of Blues Traveler, before falling under the voodoo spell of pioneering harmonica bluesmen. "I was a late bloomer," Fugazzi said in a phone interview in which we exchanged musical affections for harmonica legends Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson [II]. "I knew I really liked music with harmonica, and I'd been singing since elementary school and figured it was time to learn an instrument." Fugazzi soon discovered the technicalities of the harmonica, a small, seemingly uncomplicated instrument, far more elaborate than first believed. "I really was under the impression that learning the harmonica would probably be easy enough to learn to do a couple songs a night with a band," the fifth-grade Mankato elementary teacher said. "I quickly realized that it's way harder than most instruments."

Though noting he still holds his influences in the highest esteem, Fugazzi said it's not his goal to intimate a bluesman in a 1950s Chicago pool hall. "Early on, I was really into old school guys," Fugazzi said. "I still love those guys, but in terms of learning things, I wasn't alive in the '50s; I'm not a black man. I didn't feel like my voice was anything like those." Under the tutelage of Clint Hoover, whom Fugazzi considers a master of his instrument, Fugazzi Ñ growing weary of simply emulating past greats Ñ dedicated his musicianship to fostering the intricacies of the so-called "Mississippi saxophone." "I knew I didn't want to be paired up with someone who was really traditional; I wanted to be able to find my own thing and not be a knock-off artist," Fugazzi said. "[Hoover] was showing me much more technical stuff than the old school guys, following chord changes in a much more contemporary way."

If Niterail were the typical posturing, guitar-oriented blues band du jour, they'd likely place the late Texas blues star Stevie Ray Vaughan favorably on their list of supreme guitar gods. Hicks shrugs at such notions, citing Vaughan's unheralded brother Jimmie as a heavy influence on his blues styling, reflecting the band's refusal to drown in the cesspool of the bland modern-blues mainstream. "I think everyone's a little too into him," Hicks said, referring to the late "SRV," who unknowingly spawned a generation of slick, brash disciples who have proceeded to water-down the genre. "I go out of my way Ñ I sold four Strats 'cause I didn't want to sound anything like him." (Stratocaster guitars are SRV's instrument of choice.)

Hicks proudly notes while other contemporaries are interested in guitar pyrotechnics, Niterail is dedicated to molding a cohesive sound. "We wanted to be a band where every person was equal," said Hicks, a full time guitar teacher and former student at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. "There are no blues bands out there where everybody's on equal footing." "We're still learning ourselves," Hicks said, "and hopefully we'll find our own sound."

Niterail hardly denies their robust respect for the roots of their music. They embrace it, rather, and are determined to pay tribute to its past, while remaining cognizant of their duty to mold Niterail's own future. "You need to know the rules to play the game," Hicks said.

Applauze Magazine, January 2006
High Note: NiteRail Lights Up Mankato
By Mike Sjulstad, Contributing Writer

Blues. Simple, straightforward, play it like you feel it blues. This is what Nite Rail is all about - a relatively new band whose unwritten motto is "just blues." They have been dedicating their charter year to "learning the old" before they create their own songs. Now, after nearly a year of rehearsals, some small gigs, and a Tree Frog Music Festival (www.treefrogmusic.org) appearance under their belts, these four band members are busy writing and recording their blues breakthroughs. All of their shows this winter already have promised to be bigger and better, with some originals and perfected arrangements. In the band's own words, "You'll never hear the same song played the exact same way twice. The vibe is intense, the set list is always evolving, and the result is unpredictable." Even though the Tree Frog performance was plagued with sound problems, NiteRail persevered and played with intensity and conviction. At times, they appeared slightly confused, but their talents carried the show. The songs they played were covers of the old school blues, yet they seemed fresh and inviting. This is a band that is certainly worth watching and hearing as they complete their charter year of performing live together, things will come together nicely for them in the future.

Band leader, singer, and harmonica player, Mike Fugazzi is a blues purist at heart, constantly thinking and studying music. Korey Hicks, a Berklee trained guitarist, teaches guitar full time as his day job. Bassist Konr Ness is probably one of the best bass players in the state and is always a pleasure to watch and hear. Rounding out the group is drummer James Schneeberg who seems right at home behind the kit.

Together this group of relatively young men are working hard to hone their art, and to keep the blues alive. The music they play is good blues - the old school blues that is the foundation for most modern music today. As Nite Rail continues to discover their sound, and to develop their live music performances we are almost certain to hear more from them. They are working hard to book gigs nearby and you can often find them on a Saturday evening in downtown Minneapolis or Mankato.

Mankato Free Press, January 2006
Fat Fund-Raiser: Fat City Blues Show to Benefit KMSU Radio
By Amanda Dyslin, Free Press Staff Writer

By day, Pick a reason, any reason, for showing up at Buster's Saturday night.

For one thing, four bands will be performing back to back, including a reunion performance of Lonnie Knight and Big Shoes with guest Billy Steiner of City Mouse. For another thing, the event---called the Fat City Blues Show and sponsored by Mankato's Static Magazine---serves as the official CD-release party for NiteRail's new CD, "Back & Forth."

And finally, the three bucks you pay at the door is going to a good cause. The show is a fund-raiser for KMSU, the independent public radio station at Mankato State University.

... "KMSU (via Mark Halverson) is the main source for blues music in southern Minnesota and Static Magazine supports the arts," Nick Iverson, of Static Magazine, said. "So, if we could tie it all in and raise some cash for KMSU, who could complain?"

KMSU's cause will share the spotlight with NiteRail Saturday. The, fronted by Franklin Elementary School teacher Mike Fugazzi of Mankato, thought the Fat City Blues Show would b a great time to release their first EP, which they recorded at Two Fish Studios in December.

Despite only being together for a year, they wanted a snapshot of where they are now, Fugazzi said, and had plenty of original material to record.

NiteRail, made up of Fugazzi, Korey Hicks of Roseville, James Schneeberg of St. Louis Park and Konr Ness of Maple Grove, formed in November 2004. Their funky blues sound is influenced by Freddie King, Johnny Winter and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

We play blues that everybody could use," Fugazzi said. "We want people to have a party with us and enjoy the highest quality music in town with a bunch of awesome bands."

Saturday the guys will play the kind of music they always play---a mix of covers and originals, some of which can be heard on the new EP. But they probably won't sound the same. The guys twist and curve their songs night after night to offer something fresh to their audience.

We play the songs over and over, but we want them to have a different feel," Fugazzi said.

The Gustavian Weekly, October 11 2005
NiteRail Rolls Blues into Town
By Laura Groenjes, Staff Writer

So it's Friday night an you haven't any plans to speak of---what's an of-age Gustavus student to do? Minneapolis-based blues band NiteRail offers an option tonight with their gig at Patty's Bar from 9:00pm-1:00am.

Though based out of the Twin Cities, NiteRail plays shows in Mankato and St. Peter on a regular basis. The members are all 24-years-old but possess an impressive combined total of 52 years of musical training and experience.

Vocalist Mike Fugazzi fronts the band. A Mankato resident, Fugazzi attended the University of Minnesota, Morris and holds a notable 14 years of experience under his belt, including practice in another blues outfit which opened for Corey Stevens and Indigenous. Fugazzi cites B.B. King, Albert Collins and Billy Joel as major vocal influences. His own voice is smooth and soulful, and not overpowering---a perfect blend into NiteRail's sonic mix. Fugazzi is not limited to vocal participation, though, as he also plays harmonica for the band and is currently studying under renowned harp player Clint Hoover.

The band is backed by guitarist Korey Hicks, whose guitar riffs provide the backbone for many of NiteRail's funk-inspired tunes. A graduate of Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, he holds a day job as a full-time guitar instructor. Hicks brings ten years experience to the band---and it shows. Hicks provides both rhythm and lead guitar parts, alternating toe-tapping blues, funk, latin and rock solos. Hicks has both the talent to dive head-first into Santana-esque solos and the humility to tone it down and provide backing rhythms for Fugazzi's vocal or harmonica spotlights.

Bassist Konr Ness graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and brings 13 years of bass experience to the band. Listing the popular Ben Golds as a major musical influence.

Minneapolis native James Schneeberg has 15 years of drumming experience and graduated from the Minnesota School of Business. His familiarity with the drum set is made apparent in every song as he provides a perfect background for the complex and ever-evolving NiteRail music.

Together the members of NiteRail bring a well-rounded history of music to the group. "People think blues and dozens of cliches may pop in their head, but they usually find themselves caught off-guard by our delivery; heavily seasoned with funk, jazz, Cajun, rock Latin and other overtones." said guitarist Korey Hicks. The band draws from a variety of influences in addition to pulling a great deal of unique ideas from their intense individual training.

The band puts a heavy emphasis on their live shows and is known for never playing any song the exact same way twice. As Fugazzi said, "Everything is for the moment. Unless it is a prearranged part, all the solos are improvised. Every song has to be its own experience." So if your Friday night looks painfully open, take the opportunity to get off campus and catch NiteRail starting at 9:00pm at Patty's in St. Peter.