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Publication:
The East Hampton Press & The Southampton Press
Article & Photos
By Pat Rogers
Fans of live music,
take heart: original tunes can still be found on stage. Once a
month, music lovers and musicians can hear what their peers are
up to and even play a few songs of their own during “A Night of
Original Voices at the Vail.” It all happens at the Vail-Leavitt
Music Hall in Riverhead on the third Thursday of every month.
The format is similar
to open mic nights in bars or coffeehouses: walk-in musicians
can sign-up to perform when the doors open at 7 p.m. Groups are
announced by the hosts, who also play a song or two or three. A
featured guest takes the stage for 30 minutes, sandwiched
between performances by walk-ins.
What differs about
Original Voices is that only original music is welcome on the
stage. Unlike many venues, there is no bar or food service, so
audience attention is placed front and center on the musicians
performing.
“This is more of an
original music-friendly place,” said Eva Adalai of East
Moriches, a guitarist and singer/songwriter who performed last
week. “There’s no clinking of glasses or screams about football
in the bar. People are here for the music.”
Original Voices takes
place in the black box theater on the first floor of the
Vail-Leavitt Music Hall. The room is cozy and has space to seat
50 people. Microphones, a drum kit, electronic equipment,
technical assistance and even sound checks are provided by the
hosts. If a solo musician wants an instant back-up band, most
likely one will materialize on the spot.
The effort is led by
Original Voices founder Jessie Haynes, an East Quogue musician.
The singer/songwriter/guitarist has led open mic nights in
venues across Long Island. Her co-hosts are all musicians as
well. They include Chris Bruschi of Hampton Bays, who is a
Vail-Leavitt board member. Mr. Bruschi typically mans the
theater during the event and makes sure the $5 door donations
and tips for the musicians get where they need to go.
John Brzoza handles
the sound and is there to lend a hand when an extra guitarist is
needed. Robb Patterson of Riverhead emcees the evening and Gregg
Gennari records all the music and brings CDs to the next
session, held the following month. Volunteers are always sought
to help the event run more smoothly.
Volunteers may also
help the open mic night to grow so the musicians might be able
to use the main theater upstairs. This shared hope was echoed by
nearly all the musicians interviewed last week. So was the hope
that getting the word out will bring musicians out in droves. A
typical evening features about 10 to 15 soloists or groups that
want to play. When the crowd outgrows the 50-person room, a
request can be placed to the board of the Vail-Leavitt to use
the main theater.
“I hope that a lot of
people spread the word about the scene there,” said Ms. Adalai.
“It would be a great experience for people starting out to play
a big stage like those in the city. It would be amazing.”
Mr. Patterson was
optimistic that Original Voices will take off and that Riverhead
is on the cusp of burgeoning musical scene. The open mic night
began in March and has been held once a month ever since.
Photos, feedback and future events are posted at
www.myspace.com/orginialvoicesatthevail .
“There’s really no
reason why it can’t grow,” said Mr. Patterson. “There’s no
shortage of talent and there’s a lot going on in Riverhead right
now. The East End Arts Council has a new recording studio and
they’re trying to get things going. East Enders Coffee House has
live music a few times a week. There’s a little scene here in
Riverhead.”
Greg Gennari plays
with his band, Celestial, during Original Voices at the
Vail-Leavitt on September 18. PAT ROGERS
For now, there are
plenty of accolades for the scene already playing out. Each
month draws a new crop of musicians plus some returning ones. A
broad range of music has been taking the black box stage. Among
other acts, there has been an experimental jam set to a backdrop
of projected surf images, an a cappella group, gospel singers
and lots of singer-songwriters who appear solo or with a band.
Acoustic and electric
are equally welcome. So are all ages. Performers range from the
occasional teenager to those in their 20s right up to those in
their 50s. New music by established performers is encouraged.
“No one is going to
judge you here,” Ms. Haynes said to the crowd that gathered last
week. “You’ve got a supportive group of musicians who want to
hear what you want to play. Use this place as a way to try out
new material and take chances.”
Some of the players
did exactly that last Thursday, while others performed songs
from upcoming releases. Some of the musicians took the stage
solo for the first time in many years, because they are now
playing with bands. Others don’t play professionally but enjoy
performing a song or two at this open mic night and others on
Long Island.
In all cases, playing for
an audience offered a welcome opportunity to hone their chops and
experience the joy of playing their original music. Return
performers have the chance to apply to be the featured act of the
night. Last week featured John Brzoza & Friends. Next month puts
Jeremy Sears center stage. November’s headliner is Last Charge of
the Light Horse. December has the fifth annual Toys for Tots benefit
that brings a slew of talent together for a good cause.
Tom Hood and The Trailmen
of Eastport took the stage as a walk-in last week but the band has
been the featured act before. After performing, Mr. Hood passed
around copies of his latest recording, “Riding Into Town.” Musicians
are encouraged to bring their cds along. Their website or myspace
accounts are announced by the emcee so more of their music can be
heard. All in all, Original Voices at the Vail is a special
combination, Mr. Hood said.
“This is a venue totally
devoted to music,” he said. “After a few times, you have the chance
to become the featured performer. It’s a real showcase for
musicians. Plus, people are here because they want to hear the
music. There’s really not another place like this on Long Island.”
Separately, Ms. Adalai
agreed. “There’s really no place like this where original music is
welcomed at open mics. At other open mics there’s a lot of covers
because that’s what the audience likes to hear.”
Original Voices at the
Vail is held the third Thursday of every month at the Vail-Leavitt
Music Hall, 18 Peconic Avenue in Riverhead. Doors open and sign-up
begins at 7 p.m. The evening runs through 10 p.m. For information,
visit
www.myspace.com/originalvoicesatthevail . Basic information can
be found at
www.vail-leavitt.org.
The people who help make Original Voices at the Vail work each
month relax for a moment while performers claimed audience attention
on September 18. Clockwise from top left are John Brzoza, Gregg
Gennari, Robb Patterson and Jessie Haynes. PAT ROGERS
Issue #18 - July 25, 2008
Back Beat
Hot Music Scene Develops in Riverhead - Yes, Riverhead
By Tiffany Razzano
Nestled between the North and South Forks, on the Peconic Bay
waterfront, downtown Riverhead is poised to become a new music and
arts center for the East End.
Sure, there are a number of empty storefronts - including the
abandoned 900-seat Suffolk Theatre - giving the area a semi-rundown
vibe, but there are clear signs of a burgeoning original music scene
that's struggling to grow. Eastenders Coffee House schedules an
original music act - covering all genres, from blues to indie folk -
every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And though they recently
cancelled their weekly open mic night, owner Diane Reeve has hinted
that it might come back in the fall.
Across the street from Eastenders is the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall, an
intimate and historic 220-seat theater, which also has a smaller,
black box theater - the home of the new open mic series, "Original
Voices at the Vail." It's held the third Thursday of every month and
includes a different featured performer each time. "We're really
looking to create a scene," said Jessie Haynes, a singer-songwriter
and one of the organizers of the series. "We're not cliquey. This
isn't a club house." She said they're always looking for new
musicians - of all genres - to join the open mic. Though it just
began five months ago, the series usually attracts between 30 and 35
musicians and listeners from east of Patchogue, predominantly coming
from the two forks.
The waterfront is also home of the annual Riverhead Blues Festival,
and the East End Arts Council, though it focuses mainly on visual
arts, holds occasional music programs, including a weekly outdoor
drumming class, and the Mosaic Street Painting Festival, which melds
together all of the arts and features performances by local
musicians.
Riverhead was an artistic powerhouse as little as 10 to 15 years
ago. In fact, at a point, Town legislation maintained that the
apartments above the shops that lined Main Street were for artists
and musicians only. This legislation was altered about eight years
ago, when the artistic population began to dwindle, said Vincent
Tria, who sits on Vail's Board of Directors.
Reeve thinks the main reason for the lack of a cohesive arts scene
in recent years is because of the development of the Tanger Outlet
Center and other big box stores along County Road 58, which forced
the mom and pop shops in downtown Riverhead to shut down because
they couldn't compete. In order for there to be a vibrant music and
arts scene, most of the storefronts need to be occupied. "There's a
tremendous, tremendous amount of potential," Reeve said. "I've been
waiting for Riverhead to come to life and I think it will in its own
time. There's a whole lot of potential here."
"I really feel like it's going to happen. It has that artsy in the
making kind of vibe," Haynes added.
And a lot of things are scheduled that will transform Riverhead -
Riverhead Resorts will be built on the old Grumman site, Atlantis
Marine World is planning a hotel of its own and, next week, a local
developer will raze a dilapidated building on Peconic Avenue to make
way for brand new shops and a restaurant facing the waterfront. The
Town also recently took over control of the Suffolk Theatre - which
Tria, Haynes and Reeve think could become a Stephen Talkhouse for
the area.
These changes could bring in the foot traffic needed to transform
the downtown from merely a handful of single destination attractions
into a destination unto itself, much like Port Jefferson or
Greenport Village. "Riverhead will eventually become a tourist
attraction," Tria said. "In not too many years, we'll be able to
offer people a lot."
And when this happens, the local music scene will be in a place
where it has everything it needs to grow.
For more information about what's going on at the Vail or Eastenders,
go to vail-leavitt.org and eastenderscoffeehouse.com.
If you're a band or musician interested in being featured in our new
music column, email
tiffany@danspapers.com.
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