Surprising that I have not heard more about the Nancy Atlas Project considering the success and the following she/they have out east and in other parts south of here. (NancyAtlas.com)

   The Long Island native (Commack and now Montauk) has a star-studded resume and a genuine rock-n-roll voice and they put on one helluva show.

   Last night at Mirelle's in Westbury I caught the southern rocker with her regular cast but also with Andy Aledort and a kick-ass violinist (who's name I am still searching for). Atlas' voice is right on. Her vocal range is perfect for the genre and when it tops out she has the perfect rasp...so to speak. She has a confidence and a presence that carry her tunes real well.

   NAP covered some Johnny Cash, some Jimi Hendrix, even some Elton John if I was not mistaken. I heard an original or two in the one full set I heard and I am definitely interested in hearing more. The lady has something to say for sure.

   Mirelle's is a good room with the perfect size stage and viewing area but the cover ($20) and the drinks were a bit steep. Oh well, I  enjoyed the show, I ran into some fun company and I heard a new voice. It was a good  Friday night.

   Whie there I picked up a copy of Elmore Magazine. The first time I laid eyes on that one. Good reading. I posted a link to it and to a new blues music site (blue storm music.com). Check out both new links on my Cool Links Page.

   Thanks for stopping by.

bill

  

   My Wednesday night proved informative...if not entertaining.

   I have to admit it gets routine going to the same place with the same entertainment so often but there are not a lot of choices on a Wed. night and the entertainment isn't always exactly the same.

   There are other jams, and good ones, but not as close to home and I enjoy seeing some of the people that are working on their skills get up and perform for a song or two. There are often pleasent surprises too like when some good players come down and jamalama.

   Last night we were lucky enough to have Joe Bevona, Josh Allen and Jim Coleman on guitars, not to mention Bill Post on drums and Djembe (did I spell that right?). Those guys make some cool music especially when sitting in with the Blue Matter boys (and girl). Speaking of which, Ms. Kelly Tyrell-bass-lady is going to be moving onward and outward after next week. She is a kind and peaceful soul and her bass playing will be missed too.

   As I posted here by Announcements, there will be a documentary recorded next week at the Lefty's jam on Wed. night. That should be interesting...and how fortunate that it is right there at our very own Wed night jam. I would not be surprised if it ends up being something that shows up elsewhere. If they are serious about getting only original stuff they may have to travel a bit to get a lot of it. The "originals" are rare and precious commodities.

   I noticed that Nutty Irishman in Bay Shore is also seeking "original" music for their Sunday nights. I like what is going on around here. It feels like a "creative" enviornment being fostered.

   Well, with the calender of great shows for the coming weekend and coming weeks I am optimistic, musically speaking.

   Come on out and see a few shows...and get inspired! It is necessary for a generally healthy outlook.

   Thanks for checking in.

bill

  

    There wre a number of shows I wanted to see last night. Andy Aledort and The Groove Kings were a priority as they are not regulars around here and they can rock! Aledort plays with some of the best guitar players and shows in the country.

   Also on my wish list was Pam Betti with Blue Ruin (at Bobbiques) and a favorite from the Funk/Soul genre, O'Zone were at Lefty's. T-Bone and Franny were out there too.

   The only trouble was the usual logistics of family and my girl's B-day. I did finally manage to get out, late and since The Viking is, like, my backyard I got to see some ass kicking music...figuratively speaking. The show there was later starting than the others also.

   Aledort and The Groove Kings have a great cast and they had Bobby Rondinelli sitting in on drums. 

   Aledort was on fire. His masterful playing was so articulate and expressive every riff was entertaining. A few times he sparred with his keyboard player, Mike DiMeo and on Black Magic Woman the guitar and piano pieces played by both created a little tornado of swirling sounds that danced in the space between them creating a magical synergy and uplifting music. I found what I seek in my musical wanderings. Aledort and Thre Groove Kings are as good a blues/rock band as I have heard in a long time.

   Thanks to The Viking for that one. They get some good stuff down there.

   Aledort and The Groove Kings will be in the area again in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

   Thanks for checking in.

bill

    Thirteen years ago I became a father. I remember the day. It was early in the morning, not my time of day. I was standing outside the hospital in Harbor City, CA smoking a cig.(ah the good old days). I was newly a father and I needed to call someone. The news had to be told. For the record I called my dad first. I guess I wanted to hear a prototypical "father" response which my dad was good at. He mastered the "subtle" style though. On occasion I would have liked a scream of joy. It just wasn't his style.

   Part of me never thought it would happen. I was 36, I had already had a few "lifetimes", one of which brought me to the left coast. Marriage was even doubtful until only two years prior. There I was, a father and I had no idea what was unfolding.

   In the thirteen years since, I lost the mother of my child (cancer). I moved back to NY (why again?). I remarried (I'm pretty sure I'm married. It was Vegas and the Justice look like an entertainer).  I found blues (gee, what a surprise) and I have a bright, good child, now 13. Yikes. A teenager, Yikes, me a father of a teenager. Yikes, yikes yikes.!

   With the array of birthday events (seems 13 is a big one for Miche Miche) and the usual weekend chores I will be desperately trying to get to a show or two tonight. Last night did not work out for music. Tonight there are a few shows I would love to see so, fingers crossed, it will all work out and the new teen will have her day and the new teen-dad will have his (later on).

   I hope you get yours this weekend too. I know you all have had your lives changed by unwanted events and for that reason I know (whether you know it yet or not) you need your blues. It keeps the soul company...at least mine. Thanks for stopping by and thanks for listening.

bill

   I spend a good amount of time searching the internet for local entertainment and for interesting sites that might discuss local entertainers and events. There are not many sites on the internet that focus on local entertainment. I find myself hitting on the same few sites again and again as I follow leads from some of the obvious sources like Newsday and Long Island.com.

   There are chat rooms and Groups pages that are interesting sometimes. There are a few sites that host blogs but they are not "on" the "www". They are on sites that are on the www.   Billfoolery is on the www and I like being on the web even better than on My Space, for instance.  I do recognize My Space as an important entity for artists. I spend time there listening to music, looking at artists and peoples "spaces" and for gig information. I do, however, prefer to be on the www with a domain name independent of another domain. Call it a real estate preference. Maybe someday, like real estate, domain names and places will have value.

   I try to build value with my own unique content and eventually some commerce and not by advertising alone. I have another job right now and this is time consuming enough, being that I am a parent and a homeowner on Long freaking Island. It is borderline criminal how hard it is to sustain a life here and still have time to smell a few roses, not to mention create something for the sake of it..

   I will continue to peck away at some of the broader websites to include more local entertainment content. In the meantime keep asking them yourselves for more information about local gigs and performers. The venues, as well as the artists, need greater flow of information to more people and if we don't ask they will not inform.

   Thanks for listening and, as always, for stopping by.

\bill

   There are days, sometimes weeks, when the pace and the "attitude" of life take on a different feel. It could be that a huge obstacle has passed or another is approaching. It could be that some subtle change has occurred like someone has stopped calling to break a routine or someone has changed the coffee or it could be that school is back in session. That is a possibility but there has been something else. I know my writing routine has changed and that is more a symptom than a cause. Lately I have been in sort of a numb-brained funk. I haven't felt much or been able to generate enthusiasm much. The funk is on and I need to get out of it.

   There is the Cedar Beach Festival this weekend. That could help. The weather is supposed to be good so maybe a day outside taking in some musical inspiration will snap me out of it.

   I thought maybe my Wednesday night out (at Lefty's again) would get me going but that turned out to be amateur night and the good music was few and far between. I didn't mind the group of intoxicated young ladies getting up there and belting a few out. It was nice to see a good size group there and they were having fun. I am sure they had no idea they were being accompanied by a good group of players. There were the Blue Matter players with Arty Panico, Ralph Santiago, Ray Wade, Kelly on bass and Johnny Cola sitting in. There were even a few fairly capable singers there to help out (Mary, Rob) but the girls-gone-wild wanted no help and they wanted their moment on stage.  Fame and celebrity are rich and heady experiences I guess. They were feeling heady allright.

   Whether you get to Mt. Sinai or one of the many other quality shows this weekend I hope you find inspiration and rejuvenation. In fact if you do please let me know where you are...immediately. I need help.

   Thanks for checking in.

bill

  

   The horror and realization of how evil people can be was sobering. The realization of how many people lost loved ones was staggering. Imagine seeing the burning buildings knowing that someone you loved was there especially on the upper floors.

   It was at least satisfying hearing that a unified America was reacting together and handling it with a sense of shared vulnerability. We were all hurt and it was a common enemy for all Americans bringing us together for a short while.

   What strikes me today is how short that time of unity was. Today I heard so much politicizing of the event, the response, the outcomes, the expressions and the causes. It hurts to listen to all that. It hurts that people take politics so personally that they express hatred towards their political opponents. The passage of time has caused the road to fork along the old, well worn political lines.

   Are there so few free thinkers here in the free country of America? Are there so few people who can think outside of their political agendas and outside of the opinions they hear on TV? Are there so few people who question "political authority" and the voices of media?

   Are there so many people who distrust the other half of the political spectrum? Think of how many people that is. Think of how many people you have chosen to demonize and think of how nice it was to feel unified for that short time. It took historic pain and vulnerability for us to overcome our blindness to the objective truths.

   That is what I think about today. If we were unified we would be farther along today than we are ... in having resolution. Blame everyone who has chosen to blame "the other party" here in America for the disparity between our desired goals and where we are today.

   Let's hate the bombers and love ourselves and choose the best course today.

  

  

      Friday night I was able to catch a show a bit later on at night. I headed to Sunset Grill in Seaford. I had seen a listing that a group called The Bassenettes were playing there. I had not seen them. I had not been to Sunset Grill either. In a former life (it seems) I was there when it was called Septembers (and wasn't it called Evergreens before that?). I barely recognized the place. It is a good size room though. It looks like a great place for a good band. The location is good (Sunrise Hwy., just east of 135). There was good space for the band and the bar man and apparent manager, Ed, was approachable and seemed like a nice guy.

    They are a cover band of a vast repertoire of classic rock and more. Good stuff. Female vocalist/keyboard player, Willa Bassen, bass player/vocalist, Larry Bassen(brother), drummer extrordinaire, Pat Adkins and six-string player, Danny Begelman, that did everything right.

      So it was not a bad night for getting out late and traveling alone (pretty typical for me). I heard some new players and found a new venue to check in on. Today, Saturday, I was relaying my story of Friday night to a friend and she mentioned that the drummer was part of one of the award winning blues acts this summer. He played with JP Blues who won the LIBS band competition. Now that she mentioned it I had heard the name and I would have loved to mention it as he was standing right next to me at the bar.  These are the kinds of little things it would have been helpful to remember. These are the moments when I curse my age and my frailties.

   In any case I did get out and I learned smoe new faces and names. A good night.

   Thanks for checking in and have a good night for yourselves.

bill

   It is fitting, although not all that pleasent, that the last day of my childs summer is today, Wednesday. That means that on my weekly night of musical exploration and social engagement I will be hastened home by an early alarm for an early day. The end of "summer" is clearly marked. Early mornings are sobering for me in so many ways.

   The night has become my time of creative thinking and soul searching. It is my time to read, to write, to search the internet, to search for music and to just let thoughts travel through my brain (that vast space) like a dog let loose in a field. Wednesday nights offer me the opportunity to bring my body along for the ride.

   I feel some sadness but luckily, with that, comes days without my child at home pecking at my heels for a ride here or a ride there or for something to do or for money for this and money for that. I don't remember needing money everyday for my summertime entertainment as a kid. We just grabbed our baseball mitts, jumped on our bikes and took off to someone's neighborhood and played some ball...or something.

   Wednesday night. Hmmm. I suppose I will be Lefty's tonight for the Blue Matter jam. Jam nights and local weekend gigs have been a bit slow toward the end of summer. I still enjoy the music no matter the crowd but I know the bar-owners need bustling crowds on a fairly regular basis. I'll keep doing my part if for no other reason than to keep my favorite local place open for my selfish needs. The boys (and girl) in Blue Matter are a good bunch and Arty Panico, who's guitar caught my ear a few years ago, still plays a pleasing guitar and I still get to hear the occasional Johnny Cola, Josh Allen or Josey Wales or Popa G or Johnny (Tsunami) Anderson. There are often some vocalists popping in too. It is the cameo's that keep it fun. It is always the new stuff that keeps things fresh. In fact I recommend that you come down and plug in your instrument sometime or come down and give a listen...either there or on whatever night you can free yourself from your suburbia.

   The dogs need to run free on occasion. Give them some space.

   Thanks for stopping by. If you hear of any gigs I failed to post let me know.

bill

   With a typically late start, friends otherwise occupied and a holiday weekend almost blown completely I chose the Brickhouse Saturday night. I had not seen the current cast of the band and I am friendly with keyboardist, Tim Dorsey, formerly with Juice and a few other local funk episodes.

   O'Zone, a funk/R&B band, was the show. The had a smooth lead singer/guitar, Ahmad Ali with bass, drums and keyboards and a repetoire that includes some R&B as well as George Clinton and James Brown funk. It is a fun sound and with a good crowd there is dancing and upbeat waves of bounce beating through the room. The waves were there pretty often last night and there was some dancing.

   Noteworthy were the amount of stunning women patronizing the Brickhouse. Maybe it is the funk/R&B element as I have been frequenting blues shows. Maybe there was a wedding letting out and the bride and groom were models or better yet, young and wealthy...or maybe I just never noticed the crowd there. On doctors orders I am on a temporary "wagon". I am assured it is temporary while some routine tests are being done but this non-drinking stage is producing some eye-opening realizations.

   Not just the amazingly good looking crowd at the bar but I am less amused by more music. I am also less afraid to go greater distances for more types of music. This adds up to some confusing circumstances. I am able to get to more shows but I am amused by less music but keener about those in attendance. This sounds eerily familiar. In fact it reminds me of my younger years tracking local rock clubs in pursuit of less artistic forms of satisfaction.

   Anyway, the observation and analysis shall continue and I'll be happy to report my findings here for your entertainment (yeehaa) and for my journalistic experience. It is all about experiencing the performance and the more states I can create for myself the more angles of perception I can report from thus offering a more well rounded journal of your local music scene. I feel so scientific.

   Thanks for paying attention...hope to see you soon.

bill

   A strange ending seems to be developing for the summer of 07.

   Last year there were the multiple shows of Blues Divas who were heading to Memphis and raising money for the trips. The shows offered big headline bills featuring three and four top notch bands and they were really entertaining. It seemed every weekend had a big show and there were lots of "hot" acts in full swing.

   This year there are a number of factors making this a "quirkier" summer so far. One of the big name local acts from last summer, Sweet Suzi & The Blues Experience, have been laying low as "Ms. Sweetness" just gave birth. Congratulations, Suzi! I have been missing SS and some her BE boys as they used to be seen around these parts jamming and belting out a few on off nights and the off nigths were few.

   Another last-summer-phenomenon Pamela Betti & Dirty Love have had profesional issues and while Ms. cherry cherry Pam Pam is always busy she has been less "regular" on the local circuit and I am really interested in seeing her new direction unfold. ..as well as the boys in the band of DL who I expect to see soon as Smoking Gun.

   Also, last summer Mr. Sam Taylor was feeling better and his summer was busier than this. He is back and still a joy to behold so I'm glad we have him back for the end of summer.

   The festivals seemed to be spread out better last summer. Every few weeks there was one and in between there were significant shows at various venues. This summer there have been more than a few quiet nights at the very same venues from last summer.

   The new winners of the LIBS are good players and bands. They just aren't as busy locally as prior winners, nor as charismatic. Thats fine. How much a band chooses to play locally is entirely a matter of choice and does not seem to be related to long term results. Some of the contestants who did not get the nod to Memphis (like Jacks O Diamonds) are busy boys and have some juice but there were not enough of those "hungry and ambitious" artists out there. Those are the ones that makes things fun.

   Some of the local players that have been active include some of the jazz/funk and "independent" players and they have been fun to find. Giovanni von Essen and EssenTial, Popa G, Henning Stumm, Shenole Latimer, the boys in O'Zone and Soul Be It and Smiling Dogs, eXonda and some other new finds look interesting.             

    MISbHAVIN has been all over thank you very much. Donnie Celenza is always busy. Kerry Kearney is always busy. T-Bone and Franny Baby have been accessible. Joe Vicino, Killer Joe have been busy as has Big Daddy, Tommy Keys and Dee Harris and Bobby Sexton and Gail Storm, Cathy Kreger. There have been some good ones...just not as many. Long Island can sustain a lot more. The jams help of course. Blue Matter with Arty Panico, John Judds jam, Reflections, Oasis, Wasabi...

    I am hoping things kick in as the dog days wind down and the reality of the coming school and work seasons come into focus. People will hopefully see the oncoming doom of bad weather and long work weeks and seek out the escapes of blues and music, nightlife and companionship, creative recreation and aural physotherapy.

   I have been lacking satisfaction this summer season. I have had some trouble getting out, thats true, but that has been the case since I have had a child and on the few nights I do have I need to find satisfaction.

   Well there's more coming. Port Jeff Festival, Cedar Beach and this IS Labor Day so let's take it in while the weather's nice and hope that we'll have more, better and juicier when we need it.

   Thanks for stopping by. There's still plenty out there and I'm going to find it.

bill