As I try to figure out the compexities of changing web hosts and website formats I feel I need to keep posting or lose people's interest completely. This could take some time.  However banal my posts at least I am providing some content and coverage of local music. I enjoy the exercise and some of you seem to enjoy the posts.
   My recent weeks have been full of excitement and other dramas but as it all relates to live music not so much. I have been consumed by so many other things.
   I was traveling for the only vacation(s) my modest life affords. We took a trip upstate to Loon Lake (thanks again Raymondo) for an annual visit with good friends and some simple pleasures which included;lake activities, board games, some drinking and story telling... the stuff secluded lakehouse outings are made of. Fun was had by all as far as I could tell and we made it home in time for our once-every-five-or-so years trip to LA to visit that side of the family.
   That trip coincided with hurricane Irene and we got stranded out there for an extra three days as flights to NY were backed up and trains were stopped for even longer. We were holding stand-by tickets so we were getting bumped like old bad habits.
   Finally back on LI I was not able to get out for an actual show until Sunday over Labor Day weekend. I took the opportunity to go to the Brickhouse Brewery for Jim Kolman's Sunday night jam. The place was packed pretty well and the cast of characters was entertaining. Picture a stage with Jim K and Jay Sharkey and Tru Doty and Paul Gilmore and Steve Interrante. After that the cast included many others like Chrissie O'Dell and Anthony Steele. Clutch Reilly and Steve Sclafani and Billy Quinn and on and on. It was a full night of excellent entertainment.
   During my travels I was not able to take in any music so I was hungry for some live, in-person musical expression and collaboration. 
   I will be working on a new layout for the blog. In the meantime stay tuned for the same old stuff; the calendar, an occasiional post and whatever else I have time for.
   Thanks ya'll for your help and inquiries.
bill





 Blues, Blues, Blues

The International Blues Competitionwhich is hosted by The Blues Foundation takes place in Memphis early in the year. Every region (Blues Society) hosts a local competition and sends a solo/duo act and a band each year. In case you missed it and most of you did, the Long Island event took place this past weekend at Bobbique's. I happened to be chauffering family to CT this past weekend but I posted the event and I was at least "following" it.

   The number of competetors has been bigger in the past as has been the turnout but the winners are good acts and even in a low attendance year we can offer quality blues artists. I will say that there are some local blues acts that I would have liked to see in the competition but for whatever reason they did not enter.

   The winners and this years entries in the Memphis event are The Gary Sellers Band and the duet; Billy Quinn and Tommy (T-Bone) Mezzapella.

   Gary Sellers is a Sam Taylor student and former collaborator and Billy Quinn is a keyboard player with Chrissie O'Dell and One Hot Mess and also recorded on Albert Castiglia's recent release. Mr T-Bone is a grizzly veteran of the LI scene having performed for many years with Franny Mae at Riverhead so many times and all over Long Island. Stay tuned for upcoming events that will feature these artists and others to raise funds for their trips to Memphis early next year.

   The Long Island Blues Society is a not-for-profit group that donates their time for the benefit of blues artists and fans. It's a tough job "selling" blues. Most people consider it something down and out. In reality (and in my perspective) blues is an expression of all emotions including the pain we all feel. It is unafraid to share that as we all should be. Please open your hearts to Blues. It's an act of love. It is certainly not about money or greed.

   As for my own blues travels I had some new experiences this week as promised. I look for inspiration in numerous genres lately as it fits my schedule.

   Last week I took in a Tuesday instead of my usual Wednesday night and I stopped in again for Ian Petillo's jam at Murphy's in Mineola. On piano was guest player Oliver Von Essen and included again was a fine collection of horn players. Ian himself filled it out with percussive flair and sophistication and some fine sensibilities. That's an excellent assortment of musicians and I suggest you pop in for a taste.

   My weekend began with a short visit with the Mercury's at Big Daddy's in Massapequa. They are a new "jump blues" ensemble including Bill Marino and Ralph Santiago with Drew Davis and Mike Brier. They were a fun show and Chrissie O'Dell  showed up to inject some hip-slappin blues vocals. The "One Hot Mess" recording artist was a great fit and a nice surprise with the tight little blues band.

   Saturday I was a late escape from a family function and I was pondering what to go to late when I got a mystery text to go see Melody Kills at Grey Horse Tavern in Bayport. I was an easy sell at that point as I had never been to the room or the act before.

   Grey Horse turned out to be a nice room for music. It was a decent size restaurant room with only a few tables on the perimiter and a bar at opposite end from the duet. Melody Kills is Leslie Mendelson (acoustic guitar/vocals)and Steve McEwan (keys). The two are Grammy nominated writers/performers and post quite a resume especially for young folk.

   The folk/pop music was mostly original and well written and performed. Ms. Mendelson has a delicate but strong and finely tuned(and toned) voice. It was a nice listen and I was happy for the referral. I went to ReverbNation afterward and gathered some information on Melody Kills and I will give them more of a listen.

   I also stopped in again on the jazz jam at Declan Quinns in Bay Shore on Saunday night. It's so close to home I have to go and it's always a good cast of players and vocalists... and a nice room.

   In the next week I am taking my one and only vacation of the year. I will be upstate lounging by a lake hopefully and I may post the calendar late (Tuesday or Wednesday). Please forgive the tardiness this one week of the year. You can use the venue and musician links to look up events if you can't wait.

   Thanks for stopping by and thanks for all the good information.

bill

   There are so many shows in the evening that I would like to attend but my circumstances just don't allow that right now. Check the calendar on any day, especially weekends and you will find excellent shows with start times of 6, 7 and 8pm.

   After good reviews by friends I have been wanting to hear Lisa Gary, jazz vocalist, who on weekends has been performing in the evening (or far away on a night I can't get out) and one of my favorite local guitar players Bobby Sexton plays every weekend at 7 in Sayville. There are also the Beach Hut shows in the summer and those are also early starts times and they are always good shows. Even though I have not been getting to many of these events I want to mention them because many people do get out at those hours and I can recommend many shows even if I can't get to them all.

     In the past week I enjoyed my old friends SmokinGun Band again at Giacomo Jacks, Bill Marino is a joy on guitar and the band has good balance with Jeannie B delivering good edgy vocals and Rich Theil and Ralph Santiago keeping the rhythm with some style.

   I also stopped in on Ian Petillo's jam again on Tuesday night in Mineola. The cast was excellent again with Oliver Von Essen sitting in on keys and a good group of horns joining Ian who is always excellent on drums.

   My new jazz jam exploits (Sundays with Melody Rose) have been refreshing. I still enjoy blues and the local players but since I can't get to a lot of the shows I have improved my chances of fullfillment through musical performance by finding some good jazz to go with my soulful blues.

    I promise to get to something new this week and I will get to the Blues Society competition on Sunday at Bobbique's.

   Thanks again to those who send me info, Allan Trompeter, Elaine D and the booking agents and bands.. it all helps. The calendar gets longer and longer and traffic gets busier and busier.

   I am always willing to take ads for business and venues and if you want to put up an ad for an event down the road I will sell a spot for a poster. I just post the upcoming weekly stuff. Keep that in mind. I would like to build some income somehow and I am trying to be creative. I will always post the gigs for free.

   Have a fun week and enjoy some live music.

bill

  

   In between my frequent panic episodes over work and money I was lucky again this past week in finding escapes through quality live music and good company. 

  So I spent a good long Saturday at Bobbique's (again) for a fundraiser and a great cause (Joe and Christins Oliva). The music was also a success. Kerry Kearney again offered his formidable talents and he put on a terrific show with Jimmy Flemming (among others) and members of the Electrix. The cast also included Finally Balanced, Kathy Meyers and lot's more. It was another successful event at Bobbique's in Patchogue and a great day/night of moody rock/blues music.

   Sunday I was again happy to attend Melody Rose's jazz jam at Declan Quinns in Bay Shore. I know there are numerous good jams on Sunday night these days; Brickhouse Brewery, Cafe Oasis, Lefty's... but this one is in my home town and the quality is excellent. Melody Rose has had various casts of jazz players and they have all been good. I caught Bob Lepley (keys/vox) who was awesome, Ian Petillo (drums), Al Cardillo (bass) Miss Melody (vox) Giovanni Von Essen (vox) and many more and it's only been three weeks. There was also free cheese, crackers and pastries. I'm glad to see such sincere effort going in to jams and shows these days.

   I also happened to be in Mineola on a recent Tuesday night and I checked out Ian Petillo's jam at Murphy's Pub. Talk about quality music!! That was one of the best collections of musicians at one jam I have been to in a long time. The horn section was inspired and the keyboards were off the charts. The cast included Tim Regusis on keys, an excellent horn section including Sam Dillon, Johnny X-Ray on bass and Jon Mele sharing on drums with Ian Petillo. Check that one out some Tuesday night!

   I also stopped in that Tuesday at Iavarrone Cafe in New Hyde Park for Al Cardillo's show and that was something different. The cafe is an italian restaurant with a nice ambiance and the small ensemble was a nice fit. It's an earlyish event so I had a cup of cappuccino and enjoyed a couple of tunes with Mr. Al and friends.

    I am having all kinds of fun discovering the local jazz world while still enjoying the blues in the later hours and on the occasional Wednesday night at Mr. Vicino's jam. That's still good with visits by John Judd among others and a good regular cast.

   This weekend is another  action-packed summer weekend of music. Check out the calendar and take in some inspiring live music. It's too good to be ignored.

  Thanks again for stopping by.

bill