David Bailey and friends at Woodsongs at the Movies
It all started Wednesday, March 4, at the Clearview Cinemas in Babylon. They have been hosting “Woodsongs At The Movies” for a while now, and although it has been reduced from weekly to just the first Wednesdays, this is a great idea that needs to be promoted better. The Folk Music Society of Huntington, local hosts who provide the local artists, have been doing a great job. But Cablevision/Newsday – the owners of Clearview Cinema – have barely mentioned this venture. The way it works: a local musician – this week it was my friend David Bailey – plays a set live in the theater, then they play a recording of one of the recent Woodsongs shows, recorded in Kentucky and syndicated on radio, TV, and internet. This week was Richie Havens; past shows included Dar Williams and John McCutcheon.
Open mic participant at Samantha's Lil' Bit Of Heaven
The next night, Thursday, I attended Samantha’s Li’l Bit Of Heaven, in East Northport. This Christian coffeehouse offers great music of praise and worship, and weekly classes and readings. Every first Thursday, they hold an “open mic” that you need to sign up for in advance. After a few months of emails and phonecalls, I arranged my schedule with Samantha. Now, I let it be known that I was not a believer, somewhere between a lapsed Lutheran, a proto-Buddhist, and an anarcho-agnostic-pagan, but they were most welcoming. Before we started, Samantha took all the participants to a back room to introduce ourselves and have a quick prayer circle. Most of the singers performed to CD backing tracks, and were more than competent as singers, and obviously inspired. As I started the ostinato riff for “I Need Help, Lord,” the audience clapped along. This was a truly involved crowd, and the most responsive one I’ve ever faced. “Blue Crayon” generally gets a laugh at the third verse’s “magnetize it to the refrigerator,” but this group was chuckling from the beginning, on the line “why do I always wind up wielding the blue crayon?” I guess my music is passing an “ecumenical test,” as I have entertained Secular Humanists, Unitarians, Peaceniks, and many others.
Northbound Train at ISS Open Mic, Syosset Borders
Friday evening I finally managed to attend the open mic run by Island Songwriters Showcase, at the Borders Books in Syosset. I’ve been a regular participant at the ISS’s workshops, and I met the very personable Vinny Crici who hosts the evening. Antonio and Greg were the featured act, performing as Northbound Train. Antonio has a pleasantly mellifluous baritone, and their Americana songs flowed easily, but I found nothing memorable in lyrical or melodic content. Greg’s acoustic leads were basic and aimless. Vinny then started the open mic portion with two inventively melodic tunes. I don’t know how I’ve managed to avoid his music this long. He was followed by Ken Krummenacker, a recent attendee at the ISS workshops. His set impressed me as well, very melodic. Then Suzanne Ernst came up. She has won the monthly Writers’ Choice at the workshops a number of times. Suzanne is a masterful melodist as well. What I mean, when I praise melody, is that these writers go beyond the basic chords and simple structures. The bar was set high as I hit the stage, and I half-regretted not choosing my more melodic efforts. But both “Robert Johnson Knew,” a Writers’ Choice last December, and “Toodle-Oo,” were well-received. Unfortunately I had to hit the road to get to work, and couldn’t stick around for the rest of the guests.
David Massengill and Jack Hardy - The Folk Brothers - at Folk Music Society of Huntington
The “First Saturdays” series at the Folk Music Society of Huntington brings performers from the top of the folk world to a humble church, and this month two singer-songwriters who could have, each one alone, provided a fascinating evening, teamed up for a delightful show. David Massengill and Jack Hardy have combined forces as The Folk Brothers and sing their own songs, those of other writers like Dave Van Ronk, and traditional tunes. She-who-knits and I have seen Jack several times and are confirmed fans. David was new to us but is already a favorite. Their soft but ragged voices blend well, with Jack taking the higher harmony. Highly recommended to thinking people everywhere.
Sunday, March 8, we went for brunch to a local restaurant, the
Grey Horse Tavern. Our friend Dave March, bassist for Miles To Dayton, was performing, and we finally met his niece Ruby Faith, born last December to Krista and Jon Preddice, Dave’s sister and brother-in-law as well as bandmates.
Music From The Hive, March 2009
I had been hearing about
Mirelle’s restaurant in Westbury for several months, especially about Music From The Hive, a songwriters-in-the-round series transplanted from another restaurant. Each month, four local songwriters are invited to share a stage and do a round-robin. My friends Roger Silverberg and Marci Geller were up, as well as two folks who were new to me, Jeff Lubin and Deena Miller. This is a good format, with variety guaranteed. This was also the most intense “scene” I’ve been to in a long time, with musicians and supporters I haven’t seen in months or even years. I’ll be attending monthly!
Mambo Loco at Astoria Federal Savings Bank, March 2009
I took a break from live music for a day, then had a recording session, and then attended yet another great venue that was new to me. Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts presents monthly shows in the historic Art Deco lobby of the Astoria Federal Savings Bank, in downtown Babylon. Admission and refreshments are free, and first-class entertainment is provided… this month from Mambo Loco, a latin band with excellent chops.
Tom Paxton
Kerry Kearney
Cindy Lopez and friends
Leslie Mendelson on piano, with Jack and friends
Leslie Mendelson
Andy Falco and Jack Licitra
Miles To Dayton
The Congregational Church of Patchogue
