Review by Sylvie Abate & Staff
Annemarie Picerno is a Grammy member, Americana Music Association member, and Indie Collaborative Artist. She is a 2018 Josie Music Award Winner for her hit song "Bonfire" and was presented a 2019 The Gran Royale Music Award and a LDM Radio Music Award. She has performed in theater, bands in every musical genre, comedy shows, film, radio and television. Select releases of her hit songs can be found on the popular Bongo Boy Records albums. She has topped indie radio charts with her powerful voice and harmonies in rock, pop, blues, and American Roots.
For her latest single, "Money Pain," Annemarie Picerno teamed up with renowned Nashville producer Bob McGilpin who has produced 9 of Annemarie's radio releases. Bob McGilpin's first release was 1978's "Superstar" on Butterfly records which became a Billboard hit along with "Sexy Thing" and "When You Feel Love." He had multiple major label record deals with Casablanca, RCA, and Butterfly/MCA and landed three #1 hits on the coveted Billboard Dance Charts. This year they have received 5 nominations for the Sept 5 2020 Josie Music Awards in Tennessee, as well as nominations for the Gran Royale Music Awards in Richmond, Ca, The LDM Radio Awards, the Red Carpet Awards in Holland, as well as being submitted for Consideration on the 1st ballot for the 63rd annual Grammy© Awards.
A robust and rockin' sound commences "Money Pain", written by Larry Morton and Bob McGilpin, and performed by the fiery duo of Annemarie Picerno and Bob McGilpin. Getting listeners into the blues-rock vibe, a soulful guitar solo commences with a melodic blues riff against crunchy rhythm guitar, strutting eighth-note bass, and slick drums. This is not a song you will sit still to. Your head will be bobbing, to both the music, and in recognition of the truth of... money pain.
Annemarie commences the first verse by setting up the scene of a mailbox filled with unpaid bills. "I opened my mail box, nothing but bills. A house with no heat, gave my blues the chills." Picerno digs in and pulls out the stops with a gutsy and earthy alto voice that has just the right amount of swagger. She's not just singing the blues, she's feeling it and bringing every word to life.
Tasty guitar riffs transition the verses that are handed off between the two singers. McGilpin comes in next singing about his own money problems. There's a lot of fun interplay between the two singers with lines like, "Yeah, you think you've got problems, let me tell you about it." McGilpin adds his story about going to the doctor for a bad case of money pain. His vocal performance is the real deal. He has the blues running through his vocal cords and through the six veins on his guitar. Picerno adds soulful background vocals and the two artists sound like friends who have been singing together for years blending together like the emotion of blues mixed with whiskey in a tin cup. They go down smooth.
Take a moment to check out their video. It's as entertaining as the song and showcases this duo's fabulous chemistry.
Lyrically, "Money Pain" is clever and amusing from beginning to end. Yes, the duo are singing about being flat broke, but they do this with a fair amount of light-heartedness. "I’d sell my soul for a dollar or two - Devil said no thanks, you’re born to lose." By taking this approach, "Money Pain" doesn't wallow in misfortune; instead, the songs is more like a blues banger and a pick-me-up for empty pocket musicians scorched by the music industry and the pandemic. It's the kind of song that you can sing a-long with and shout "'Amen!" because they are telling it like it is without feeling sorry for themselves.
With plenty of vocal swagger, a catchy as hell tune, real-deal blues guitar riffs, and a message that just about everyone can relate to right now, there is no doubt that "Money Pain" will have a lot of gold coins (or awards) tossed into it's down-on-the-street, musician-got-the-money-blues guitar case. Annemarie Picerno and Bob McGilpin do a fantastic job giving the song fire and fun. "Money Pain" is this year's blues banger for musicians and ordinary people out of work - turn it up if you "ain’t got nothing but money pain!"
For more information on Annemarie Picerno, please visit her website.
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