aural . joy

exciting things are constantly happening in the local music world, and i simply don’t have enough time to explain it in detail. i have been fortunate enough to be introduced to a string of new local acts that i will be filling you in on in the immediate future.

first of all, the return of Patchogue’s Alive After Five has been such a success with new bands playing in the streets, and after-parties that have been exquisite with performances from Hank Frank & Bible Johnson, Reggae DJs, and Jellyband to name a few.

The Great South Bay Music Festival went off without a hitch, with notable performances by The Forensics (http://www.reverbnation.com/theforensics4nzx), Hydroyum & myraid others.

coming up in September, Bradstock will be making it’s annual return, this time with camping! Fun, Fun.

August 23rd i will be making yet another appearance with my great songwriter friend Will Knox and his very talented tour partner mister Ari Herstand for a downstairs (full band?) show which will hopefully turn out to be a grand old time.

There are plenty other things i need to fill you in on, which i will not leave you hanging for anymore! 

stay tuned & keep listening.

For all you wonderous local musicians/people who would like to try out a couple diddies for an audience, I highly encourage your attendance at BOTH of these open mics. They are jam-packed with talented people & a veritable petrie dish of potential collaborators (not that i would ever compare anyone to a microscopic organism, but i digress)!

TUESDAYS: The People’s Open Mic @ The Grey Horse Tavern, Bayport. Hosted by Tom Gronenthal (of Agent Danger & The Forensics). Downstairs Bar. Sign up @ 9pm.

WEDNESDAYS: Brickhouse Open Mic @The Brickhouse Brewery, Patchogue. Hosted by Kyle Fitzpatrick (of Funkin’ A). Sign up (i think) is at 9pm.

Both of these nights are pretty much my favorite nights of the week. Awesome people, great music & a chance to debut new songs/check out new music/revel in the fact that we’re surrounded by some pretty talented cats.

&& if you simply can’t get enough of the local musical nightlife by Wednesday (which, if you’re anything like me, you can’t)…THURSDAYS @ The Harbor Crab there is ALWAYS someone jammin out in the front bar with Andy Drake werking behind the stick/drink specials/ usually some sort of late night sing-a-long, which essentially turns into an open jam/mic type style thingy.

so yeah. i’ll see you there.

If you are at home this saturday night (and by home, by god, i mean in New York) after a lovely family & food filled week, and you’re thinking to yourself, well, I’m certainly relaxed, but I need some sort of stimulation…you probably should do two things. maybeeee three (maybe four if you’re really feeling frisky, but let’s not right now, shall we?) first off. you have my permission to stand up. THEN, come see me (me!) sing at a lovely establishment called La Tavola & grab a glass of their red wine. feel good. let it soak in. let it warm your insides & settle into some folky cass music. THEN! at approximately 10pm saturday night, there will be a band that is guaranteed to rock you (hard) featured at The Grey Horse Tavern called Easy Chief. These guys are great friends & even greater musicians. I MEAN REALLY. I am going to write more about them after the show, but I felt as if I had knowledge of an amazing concert & a great time, and I didn’t want to not share it with you. If at all possible, come down, check it out, get rocked (hard). Mkay? Mkay.

The Grey Horse Tavern is located on Bayport Avenue, South of the train tracks on the left side of the street. For more info, visit: www.greyhorsetavern.com.

Hey! Go pick up the latest issue of American Songwriter Magazine & check out the ‘On My Deathbed’ Section! Your girl is on the left hand corner, representin’!!! :) :)