Author: Stephen Yusko

Mary Lamont Queen Of Long Island Country Music

Canadian transplant and Queen of Long Island Country Music, Mary Lamont took me on a roller coaster ride of an interview recently on The Long Island Sound Podcast. The twists and turns of her entry into the music business is quite a story to behold. A story I would have never imagined that would take us from Anne Murray to Alice Cooper!

Mary Lamont “Queen of Long Island Country”
photo by Jim Marchese

Not only is Mary a fine country crooner and singer/songwriter, but she’s also a fierce advocate of original music as a DJ with her long-running show, Down Home Country, alternate Sundays at noon on WUSB 90.1 FM, the University of Stony Brook radio station.

That’s part of the fun of being part of WUSB, because there are so many different genres they cover. I mean, anybody can find a show on WUSB, who will be playing the type of music that they like. And you can’t really say that about the other stations and, as you say, the support of local talent.
Mary Lamont

Navigating the Music Industry

Mary found her way into the music industry by happenstance, cutting her teeth in the trenches as a receptionist for Alice Cooper and then progressing through an unofficial apprenticeship with a booking agent, and an industry magazine called Crawdaddy’s. Her early inspiration came from her father.

But my dad said you can sing. You’re going into the church choir. And my first reaction was No, no, I can’t do that. I can’t do that. And he says yes, you can.
Mary Lamont

Coincidence, inspiration, and encouragement collided to move Mary from her comfort zone to become a singer/songwriter. Mary credits her music career to two men in her life, her dad and her Husband, Jim Marchase. Jim is a well-respected photographer in the music business, having once landed a gig as Bruce Springsteen’s photographer on a European tour. He is also the guitarist in the band.

… my husband has been so for lack of a better pun instrumental in, in putting this band together, in encouraging me to, you know, to be the head of the band, you know, in the guitar work that he does, in the riffs that he plays around the house, that inspire me to write music.
Mary Lamont

Mary Lamont’s band has opened for Delbert McClinton, The Marshall Tucker Band and the Charlie Daniel’s Band. She continues to be an ambassador for country music from covers of classic songs to her own catalog of music.

Opportunities Abound Spreading the Goodwill

A fateful phone call came to Mary’s husband, in 2002 when a Chinese foundation was seeking the Mary Lamont Band for a goodwill tour of China.

Mary Lamont Band in China 2002 – Photo by Jim Marchese

I mean, we’ve gone through Alice Cooper and Bruce Springsteen, and now China wants us to bring the band over!
Mary Lamont

Over a two-week period Mary and her band would travel throughout China, covering 23,000 miles from Beijing to the Great Wall.

China was fantastic, the whole musical tour was like our one “Hard Day’s Night”! The schedule was hectic but exhilarating. Our shows were varied, from large outdoor concert events with thousands of people, as well as beautiful large concert halls such as Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall.
Jim Marchese

They say music is the universal language that can heal the world. We sure need ambassadors like Mary Lamont spreading the good news and building bridges between people, cultures with kindness. Join me for the rest of the conversation with Mary Lamont on The Long Island Sound podcast.

During this holiday season, may your generosity of joy inspire everyone you meet, and as always, let the music take you on a journey!

December 24, 2022
Sam Woolf, American Idol at the Crossroads

The network of original artists on Long Island have brought me from dive bars to aspiring stars. Sam Woolf is a young man with the courage of his convictions. When faced with the pressure to be reinvented to suit the market, Sam chose to stay true to his art.

Intrigued by two recent guests on The Long Island Sound podcast , brothers Como, Andrew and Matt, I was introduced to Sam Woolf. The Como Brothers collaborated with Sam Woolf, and I was impressed both with the original songs and vocal accompaniment. A particular jem is “Give a Little Love”

Sam Woolf & Como Brothers, Andrew and Matt

American Idol Competition

At the age of seventeen Sam Woolf, through the encouragement of his mother, took a chance at an audition for American Idol back in 2014. As an uneasy teen with little to no live performance experience, Sam Woolf got the golden ticket to Hollywood to perform on American Idol. He made all the way to the number five spot in the contest. When I asked Sam about the scrutiny on national television, he has this to say:

… I had really no experience performing live,… no real experience performing in front of an audience. So that that part was like, I just kind of had to muster up the courage and just be like, I gotta do this
Sam Woolf

2014 Sam Woolf on American Idol

American Idol judge Keith Urban was impressed with Sam’s perfect pitch as he performed Ed Sheeran’s Lego House during auditions. Woolf climbed to the number five spot before elimination. What intrigued me was his determination to retain his identity as an independent singer/songwriter. When the American Idol team wanted to transform Sam into some sort of a teen idol, this is how he responded:

Yeah, I certainly was going against it. Because that was the bubble they put me in. The heartthrob, which is how they labeled it… I don’t want to be the heartthrob. Come on, I’m just trying to be that indie singer songwriter
Sam Woolf

A Decade Later

It’s been a decade since Sam competed on National Television, and he has recently moved to New York City to continue with his music career. He’s opened for Jefferson Starship, War and the Doobie Brothers. He stays in touch with Alex Preston and Caleb Johnson who were contestants with him on American Idol. In January he’ll be releasing a new song called, “Worst Thing” and this is what he said about the new release:

It’s called “Worst Thing “, to me, it’s my favorite song, I think, the most honest song I’ve ever written. And I hope people can relate with it in some way, or they could connect with it.
Sam Woolf

Now that Sam has settled in New York, I’m excited to see where he pops up next. I’m sure there will be more collaborations and great music in this guy’s future. If you’d like to hear the rest of the conversation with Sam, check out his episode on The Long Island Sound Podcast.

December 19, 2022
Blake Sandberg of ALIENS: a Post-Punk and a 9-11 Story of Survival

Never considering myself attracted to post-punk, I was engrossed by the story of both a visual and audio post-punk artist, Blake Sandberg of ALIENS. His story opened me up to a genre I would have not considered to be in my wheelhouse. It is one of a thousand 9/11 attack survival stories and how an artist can dig into his craft to cope with suffering on the way to survival. You can hear the rest of the story in the interview I conducted with Blake on The Long Island Sound Podcast.

EP Release Party in Brooklyn

Blake Sandberg’s New York City post-punk band ALIENS announced the last show of the year and EP release party at Littlefield in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Friday December 2. I was able to sample their songs a few weeks ago.

The AGORAPHONIC EP compiles singles from 2007 to the present. ALIENS new songs were captured in Brooklyn at B.C. Studios, by Martin Bisi. The singles are “Leave Luck to Heaven” and a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Tower of Song.” The songs feature Blake Sandberg on guitar and vocals with ALIENS new bassist Kevin Jones and George Fiala on drums.

AGORAPHONIC is getting steady radio airplay across the country landing it in the NACC Top 200 and in the Top 20 Alternative Chart – currently at #13.  Check out the Brooklyn Release Party at Littlefield’s here.

Blake Sandberg is an accomplished American artist. He creates iconic images and uses words in his paintings to explore meaning and associations with objects in our environments.

The Best Laid Plans

Blake Sandberg battles a rare inner-ear disorder and illnesses from exposure to Ground Zero after 9/11. Blake died in a hospital in 2005 and was resuscitated. He is an artist and has been described as an “idea machine.” His first guitar was given to him by a friend, it became a mission. Words he wrote quickly became songs. Chords bashed out on the guitar to carry them. And his 9/11 story begins with the planned opening of his art exhibit.

BLAKE BY ANDREA BUCCI

… and then 911 happened. And I had an art opening a couple of days before that. And my parents and my brother were in town for it. You know, there were fires a few blocks below me. It was a strange world to be in. So I think it naturally went to painting and writing and things.”
Blake Sandberg

The New EP

ALIENS frontman, Blake Sandberg says “Tower of Song” became important to him during the Covid shutdown.

I thought I might learn the song. I was home playing guitar and looking out the window
Blake Sandberg

Leonard Cohen’s lyrics have similar imagery. One day while walking to get something to eat he found a vinyl copy of Hank Williams Greatest Hits album someone had put out on their steps. He took it as a sign. In the song Cohen says “I said to Hank Williams how lonely does it get?”

Leonard Cohen

 Sandberg sped up the song up to a runaway train pace, while managing to cram all the words into the song without ruining it and making something of his own out of it. He also related the current times with political upheaval and division to the lyrics of this song. “I see you standing there on the other side. I don’t know how this river got so wide.” Sandberg takes on the weight of this cover song and his vocal performance is noteworthy. Martin Bisi’s production work keeps the train on the tracks.

“Enjoy Killing Time” was released in the first Covid shutdown in NYC. This track was recorded with guest drummer Hunt Sales, the legendary drummer for Iggy Pop “Lust For Life” and David Bowie’s Tin Machine.

ALIENS are Blake Sandberg, Miguel Vela, and Kevin Jones. Vela has taken over the drums over the last 12 months. As a trio they form a powerful post-punk band capable of scream-along anthems, searing sci-fi guitar riffs, with a heavy dose of Jones’s bass and Vela’s pounding drums.

It’s refreshing to come across an artist who takes his suffering and joys and bangs out raw emotion into his music. Post-punk is a discover, I need to explore, it’s an appropriate megaphone to express what we need to hear. ALIENS deliver!

November 29, 2022
Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) Opens Doors to Visitors

The Long Island Music Hall of Fame is homeward bound and opened its doors in Stony Brook after two decades of planning the nonprofit’s first physical facility. On Friday November 25th, LIMEHOF celebrated its grand opening with a preview for former inductees and the media.

Ribbon cutting of the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF)

Guests and former inductees were treated to performances by Long Island Music Hall of Famers, including Randy Jackson from Zebra. We were treated the grand tour of this building which holds so much history. Visitors will note the wall of photos that adorn the entryway which reflects the well-spring of talent from Long Island. Currently there’s an exhibit on the Long Island Club scene from the 1960’s through the 80’s. Members dontated musical instruments, memorabilia, including one of Billy Joel’s motorcycles, Joan Jett’s Jaguar and Dee Snyder’s wardrobe.

Joan Jett’s car

It’s a place that’s gonna give Long Islanders, a sense of community, a sense of pride. I dare anyone to find a place not just in the country, but in the world with as much musical talent that has come from one island.
Erinie Canadeo, Chairman

Energy, Exhibits and Excitement

The excitement was palpable as we witnessed a rock-n-roll stew of performers, music industry executives, and entertainers across the spectrum. From doo-wop to rap, rock-n-roll to folk, artists gathered with a renewed sense of community and pride.

Mark Mendoza expressed his indebtedness to the fans:

It took too long. It’s about time it happened? No, but we are grateful to the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, you know, entertainment Hall of Fame, really grateful. But I’ll tell you what, if it wasn’t for all these artists, including us and their fans, we wouldn’t be here. It’s really the people that will see on the map.
Mark Mendoza

Parish Smith, Mike Ricciardella, LAW and Rob Tellerman

Two Floors Jammed Pack with Surprises

The Hall of Fame will have a rotation of exhibits twice a year. Award winning designer and board member Kevin O’Callahan, designer of the iconic “popcorn” trophy for the MTV Movie Awards, created the premiere exihibit, Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene, a “club crawl” through the nightclubs of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. There is also a theater, gift shop, performance area, and an official Hall of Fame Museum filled with memorabilia from over 120 inductees.

JJ French, Mark Mendoza

Paying It Forward Supporting Education

Typically the Arts are on the chopping block when school districts are faced with difficult budget decisions. Gratefully, the LIMEHOF is a 501(C)(3) non-profit dedicated to supporting the arts though education and various scholarships. There are some exciting partnerships to be announced in 2023 which will pass the torch of encougement onto the next generations.

Mark Mendoza and LAW

Steve Vai guitar

LIMEHOF

LIMEHOF

Parish Smith from EPMD

JMJ ADIDAS sneakers

Parish Smith, Mike Ricciardella and L.A.W

JJ French from Twisted Sister

JJ French and Kevin O’Callahan

JJ French and Kevin O’Callahan

Ernie Canadeo

Richard L’ Hommedieu

Wayne Robins, Norm Prusslin, Ernie Canadeo

2022 inductee Wayne Robins

Steve Yusko (right)

LIMEHOF

LIMEHOF

LIMEHOF

LIMEHOF

LIMEHOF

Elliot Murphy

LIMEHOF

November 27, 2022
Homeward Bound: The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame to hold Grand Opening on November 25

Ernie Canadeo

Thanksgiving is a time for homecomings, reminiscing, laughter and song. After 18 years, The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame will have their homecoming on November 25th in Stony Brook.

I had the opportunity to interview Chairman Ernie Canadeo on the latest episode of The Long Island Sound Podcast. You can join the conversation right here.

The organization was formed in 2004, by educators and musicians who really, really have a passion for music. And they created it to preserve and celebrate Long Island’s musical heritage
Ernie Canadeo

Grand Opening

Joan Jett

The Hall of Fame will feature world-class displays and unique memorabilia that showcases Long Island’s rich and diverse musical and entertainment history. This past week Joan Jett’s classic Jaguar will be on display along with other donated memorabilia from Billy Joel, Twisted Sister, The Good Rats, Debbie Gibson, Blue Oyster Cult, and from the families and estates of Harry Chapin, Guy Lombardo, John Coltrand and so many more.

The Hall of Fame and Museum is open Wednesdays-Sundays from noon to 5pm. The first exhibit, created by world-renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan, is titled “Long Island’s Legendary Club Scene – 1960’s-1980’s and is designed to be “a club crawl” through Long Island’s legendary 60’s, 70’s and 80’s club scene.

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) is dedicated to preserve Long Island’s musical heritage for future generations. To date the organization has inducted more than 100 musicians and music industry executives and also offers educational programs, scholarships, and awards to Long Island Students and educators.

Besides supporting future musicians, Chairman Canadeo spoke to the healing power of music and how LIMEHOF will be partnering with one of their sponsors, Catholic Health Services:

We will be partnering on a program called Health and harmony next year, where we will be sending musicians and comedians and bold types of entertainers into senior centers into hospitals.
Ernie Canadeo

During the interview on The Long Island Sound podcast Erne and I both recognized the pent up need to reconnect with the community after the quarantine and Covid. There is great pride in being a Long Islander, and recognizing the wellspring of talent in the region. I invite you to review the List of over one hundred LIMEHOF Inductees over the past years, it’s quite remarkable.

Grand Opening in Stony Brook

Simon and Garfunkel (inducted 2008) and their song Homeward bound is so appropriate for the emotions surrounding this Grand Opening:

Home, where my thought’s escaping. Home, where my music’s playing. Home, where my love’s lie waiting, silently for me, silently for me.
Simon & Garfunkel

Everyone needs a place to call home. Now the musician and entertainment community with roots on Long Island have a place to call home in Stony Brook. With the rotation of new exhibits, the Hall of Fame is sure to attract musicians, students, educators and those headed homeward bound.

During this holiday season, let’s be generous with our joy, and let the music take us on a journey.

November 19, 2022
Como Brothers Emote Passion and Persistance, Delivering Sweet Harmonies

The recipe for success in the music business starts with honing your craft. Add the right ingredients rooted in passion and persistence, rightaway top it off with a consistent social media presence and you’ve got a winning combination. To put it mildly, the Como Brothers Band is cook’n.

It’s Kismet

It was Kismet that I discovered the Como Brothers when they performed in Bay Shore. While at Fire Island Vines, a relatively new wine and craft beer bar that profiles original music, I was approached by the owner. This particular evening I came to hear Gene Casey, another one of the fantastic guests on The Long Island Sound podcast. I was greeted by Antonio, who said if you like Gene Casey, you’re gonna love the Como Brothers!

Harken the Harmonies

What caught my ear were brothers Andrew and Matt’s vocal harmonies. The music had a familiar rock/pop sound. When they were four to five songs into the set, I realized these guys were pumping out some great original music. As fate would have it, I “checked in” on Facebook, and soon, my daughter Fatih recognized the brothers as the sons of her math teacher, Mr. Como in High School. Como the senior would play his son’s music on occasion in class a decade earlier.

Curiosity Clinches

Curious about the artists behind the music and this kismet connection with my daughter, this had to be some sort of sign to investigate. A quick Google search of the Como Brothers, increased my curiosity as a plethora of songs and collaborative music videos appeared.

After a short conversation the Brothers Como agreed to be on The Long Island Sound podcast. The famous broadcaster Paul Harvey would opine, “And now the rest of the story” can be found in the latest episode of the podcast.

Content is King Backed up by a Queen

Fascinated by the wellspring of music that comes from Long Island, I am intrigued by the exposure artists receive or lack in the marketplace. The Como Brothers seem to have the success recipe nailed down. Maybe it is the Social Media generational divide that is the disadvantage for many artists. For the Como Brothers Band, Social Media is their superpower.

If you take a look at their website, you’d be amazed at the exposure they’ve gained in the marketplace surprisingly in a relatively short period of time. Whether it was being featured in a Canon trade show commercial, or having their music featured on Keeping up with the Kardashian’s, and MTV”s Real World, these guys seem unstoppable.

Secret Ingredient

When I asked about their social media presence, both Matt and Andrew heaped praise on Matt’s fiance Tatiana.

Tatiana is super, she’s actually super involved in what we do not from a songwriting perspective, but she films all of our music videos, helped set up on our website, our online shop. So she has type A, and she’s a band member’s dream. She’s like the Anti Yoko Ono!
Andrew Como

In promoting any artist or creative on the web, I’m intrigued at what seems to be successful. Whether it is deciphering the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or understanding what a particular platform’s algorithm likes to see, I’m happy to integrate and learn something new.

Collaboration is Key

The common denominator with the video on the band’s site seems to be like-minded collaboration. Sam Woolf, one of the contestants on American Idol, joins the Como Brothers in several videos. Sam’s pop sound blends well with the band, accentuated by Andrew’s creative guitar licks. The humility of the brothers is by their willingness to explore and share their talent with other artists. The collaborators behind the scenes read as a Who’s Who of industry professionals backing up the production of the band’s endeavors. Industry legends grace various tracks. There’s drummer Steve Jordan (John Mayer, Saturday Night Live band, Late Night with David Letterman), keyboardist Andy Burton (Little Stephen & the Disciples of Soul), Aaron Sterling (Taylor Swift), and many others.

How can two young brothers make the industry connections that lead to collaborative projects? I asked them how do you do it? How were you able to connect with Sam Woolf or Kayla Stokert or the many other notables on your tracks? The simple answer I surmise, is that they’ve worked hard traveling and gigging around and they just seem to be nice guys. Artists willing to take the collaborative leap and say, “let’s give it a go”.

The two words that came to my mind when I encountered the Como’s was passion and persistence. As full time musicians with a creative need, they pump out content with Tatiana’s helping hand. Together they package it up into video and social media posts, ever increasing their growing list of fans. I can see their consistent creative content calling me back to discover what they’ve been up to each week.

You can find more on their YouTube Channel, Instagram site and Spotify playlist. Call it Kismet, by looking into my crystal ball, I can see the day when I’ll recount, “you know I knew them way back when.”

November 12, 2022
Gene Casey’s Alt-Country Music Captivates

The simple definition of a troubadour is that of a poet bringing lyrics to song. Gene Casey’s music has been captivating the East-end of Long Island for decades. During the first week in November, I had the honor to interview Gene Casey on The Long Island Sound podcast. A self-defined Roots-Rock, Alt-Country musician, Casey and the Lone Sharks deliver a show to behold. Gene’s deep baritone voice smoothly moves between covers of Cash and Presley to his vast catalog of original songs.

The Lone Sharks – The Bar Band of the Hamptons

Most of my interviews are done virtually, which provides a speed-dating type of vibe, which allows a deep dive into the artist behind the music. As luck would have it, Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks were playing in my backyard, at a venue in Bay Shore, called Fire Island Vines. The crowd thoroghly enjoyed the show and could not wipe the smiles off their faces.

Well-known as the “Bar band of the Hamptons” Gene and his troupe ventured West. The Lone Shark’s lineup includes Chris Ripley (drums), Tom Hopkins (Upright Bass), Paul Scher (Tenor Sax) and Gene Casey (Lead Guitar). Gene’s performance harkened my mind back to a time when a 1950’s four-piece could provide the big sound and the simplicity of arrangement that draws you into another time and place, allowing you to forget the troubles of the day.

Stellar Performance

I was captivated by Friday night’s performance. Gene is a master entertainer, connecting and cajoling the audience as several danced to his Rockabilly rhythms. His song, “I love what I do”, is a memorable diddy well worth the download.

During Gene’s podcast episode, we were able to gaze into his songwriting process, his sojourns to Nashville, and adventurous career.

In 2014, Gene and the Long Sharks received the Long Island sound Award by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, “for contributions to the Island’s musical landscape.” Over the years, Gene’s music has been on the soundtracks of television shows and featured films. Gene Casey has shared the bill backing legends of Rock & Roll acts such as The Band, Wanda Jackson and Bo Diddley

Songwriting Style

I queried Gene about his Alt-Country and Roots-Rock writing style:

Writing a country song. And I liked that, because, you know, just get to the point, back up the point and move along. Lyrically, yep. And it’s not easy to do. Because there’s no filler, no waste, you got to be every syllable, every syllable in a Hank Williams song is there for a good reason. There’s nothing, no waste.
Gene Casey

Gene and the Lone Shark’s dance card is full these days. Besides the various gigs and shows Gene hosts “Down Home Country” on WUSB 90.1FM, as the alternate host for this long running radio program covering a century of Country Music every other Sunday.

If you want to Rock the Town during the holiday season, there’s one Rock & Roll Christmas show not to be missed at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, NY. This annual holiday event dubbed “A Rockabilly Christmas” features the great Jason D. William, his pumpin’ piano along with Gene and the Lone Sharks.

You can find Gene Casey’s music right here on Spotify. Be sure to visit Gene’s website to find out where he’s playing next, and enjoy his episode on The Long Island Sound podcast.

November 8, 2022
Gregory Dwane: A Music Industry Veteran Worth Emulation

After interviewing dozens of music industry up-and-comers to bonafide professionals, there is certainly much to learn from Gregory Dwane who is a music industry veteran worth emulating. I was captivated by his song, “When You Say California”, which has a Tom Petty feel to it and was a great introductory track exposing me to want to dive deeper into his catalog. You can find Gregory Dwane on Spotify.

I had the pleasure to interview Mr. Dwane on The Long Island Sound podcast. This minstrel hails from a small town in North Carolina and ultimately settled into the New York City music scene in the 90’s.

He’s a sort of a utility man in the music industry where the road to success is littered with its own detours and off ramps, Gregory Dwane is a survivor whose skill was to not only be good at his craft, but through an honest demeanor, made the best of the opportunities set before him.

A Road Well Chosen

Touring the world with Alanis Morrisette, Gregory Dwane worked with David Navarro, Macy Gray, Jane’s Addiction and Joan Osborne. The serendipitous twists and turns, set him on a trajectory from alcohol abuse to sobriety.

“I went from thinking my world was over to touring the world”
Gregory Dwane

Dwane’s resume would detail skills in record engineering, producing, fine art, singer/songwriting, jingle writing, and Country music entertainment. Sojourning from New York to Nashville, and from L.A. to Connecticut, provided this multi-talented music industry professional with a multi-dimensional group of experiences. HIs keen ear manages to guide an artist through the wormhole of production frustration to a fully produced album ready to launch on the market.

Alternative Country, a place worth the visit

With a firm footing in the Alt-Country genre, Gregory Dwayne’s songwriting presents an artist weathered by life’s experiences moving from rebellion to redemption. After a short hiatus from the music business, it was his reinvention as a fine-art painter that would eventually lead him back to songwriting.

I want my MTV

When I read Gregory Dwane’s EPK, I thought I spied a misprint. How could this rural North Carolinian be inspired by a combination of MTV, and the movie Beat Street and then move to New York City in the 90’s, finally settling in as an Americana and Alt-Country Singer/Songwriter?

I believe what separates the creatives in our world from the rest of us, is that an artist acts on the muse and opportunities they find within reach. Gregory Dwane’s humility and good-nature seemed to open doors, as his cohorts recognized his honed craft, ultimately opening doors to further expose his art.

Gregory Dwane is unstoppable. While continuing to produce his own music, he has also applied his expertise as a producer for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls as well as other artists.

During the interview, I found a skilled artist whose creativity could not be contained. Dwane mirrors the desire we have to find understanding and equilibrium in our lives. Enrich your playlists with his music, and you will not be disappointed.

November 3, 2022
How to Reinvent Community with a Rock Choir

They say there is no such thing as coincidence, well that was before Artificial Intelligence was deployed in our browser searches. In the case of Rock Voices and Tony Lechner, its founder, I’m grateful either way.

The Collision of AI & Coincidence

The impact of harmony cannot be denied when you discover a new ways to connect in community with Rock Music. I spied the Rock Voices advertisement on Facebook, combing the Internet for potential guests on my podcast The Long Island Sound. Intrigued by the YouTube video of various people singing a choral arrangement of Rock songs, I am reminded of the Playing for Change, Songs Around the World videos, which began on the web during the Covid quarantine. Leave it to the musician community, who will not be deterred from delivering their art to the masses, while endeavoring to draw communities together. Ever amazed at the seeds of creativity, I am drawn to unpack Rock Voices, an amazing program. Taking a stab at an invitation and reaching out to Tony Lechner, we were drilling down on the particulars after a couple of days for an interview.

Follow the full conversation with Tony Lechner, a music professor turned entrepreneurial rock coral arranger on The Long Island Sound Podcast.

Professor Tony planted the seeds of a rock coral group ten years ago in Hadley, MA. Our cousins across the pond in England had flushed out the idea and Mr. Lechner knew the time was right to start a no-audition Rock chorus in America. He was so amazed with the early impact and results, he told the pioneers of Rock Voices that he’d quit his full-time job as music teacher and pursue the dream of bringing a Rock-based choral group to life.

Recalling the many Zoom calls we all engaged in during quarantine, and recognizing the need to stay connected to the community, Rock Voices is well worth investigating. The program seems to be a prescription to allow singers of every skill level re-enter the local collective and have some fun along the way.

I don’t even like to call it a choir, I’d like to call it a Rock Band with a ton of singers
Tony Lechner

Communities Making Connections

Today, Rock Voices has chapters in six states, and there is a waiting list for new locations as the vetting process for directors continues. New York State has chorus’ in Albany, Brooklyn Heights, Saratoga Springs, Syosset, and Syracuse. They perform concerts in the Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons.

The various Rock Voices Choral Groups have performed selections from the Beatles, James Taylor and the Foo Fighters to name a few.

I was amazed at the arrangements, in particular, the cover of “Somebody to Love ” by Queen, raised the hair on my arms and pulled at my heartstrings.

A choral group is a great place to hide and learn in a no judgment zone
Tony Lechner

Healing Harmony

Tony spoke about the various studies which highlight the mental health benefits for the participants who engage in harmony singing. The positive feedback from the choral group members is an endorsement of the healing powers that music can bring to a community. Rock Voices flings the door wide open and provides an easy entry point for everyone to participate in a fun-loving learning experience. So if you’re ready to Rock, this just might be the therapy you need.

October 24, 2022
Dante Mazzetti’s Music, an Inferno from a Balcony

When you spy a fireman on a balcony, you pray for lives to be saved. When that fireman is Dante Mazzetti singing from a balcony, your ears perk up and your attention becomes fixed.

With over forty-two thousand followers on Facebook, Dante Mazzetti must be doing something right. As both a singer/songwriter with a folksy style, and as New York City fireman, Dante Mazzetti has become quite an unintended social media master.

In the continuing search for guests on The Long Island Sound podcast, I came across Dante on Facebook. I’m positive that the AI (Artificial Intelligence) led me to him, or maybe it was some sort of cosmic connection that led to our interview.

Covid Creativity

The impact of the quarantine and Covid changed our lives forever. Even the landscape of the New York City workplace has taken on a new shape, as many refuse to go back to the old normal and reimagine their workplace as more mobile than ever. Musicians accustomed to working out in the trenches of pubs, bars and music festivals were relegated to their homes to sort out the next steps in their creative careers. Some felt the stifling effect of not being heard, and others turned to their creative minds to discover new outlets for their art. Everyday people resorted to Zoom calls to keep connected to family, friends and community. Yet the desire to connect with each other on a deeper level was a thirst unquenched.

Technology can be a challenge to baby boomers like myself, whereas younger generations seem to be born with a Matrix-type connectivity which still amazes me.

I’ve followed some musician’s live streams on Facebook, some great, and some not so great. I was introduced to Twitch, as an alternative to the Facebook Livestream, which has brought a modicum of success to performing musicians during quarantine. Twitch was originally started by a group who built a community of like-minded video gamers in need of a competitive environment to showcase their skills. Eventually the platform, geared to quality video, evolved into a virtual stage for musicians seeking the thrill of a live performance. The ability to have a virtual tip cup, allowed musicians to generate income during the shutdown.

Maybe it’s the lack of a live audience that hindered many musicians from effectively commanding the virtual live stream. Maybe it was the perceived chasm of technology to overcome which encumbered the performance, I don’t know, but I do know when someone is able to command the platform. The ability to have themselves heard and drive more and more fans to their music, and seemingly crack the social media code to build a new fanbase. I put Dante Mazzetti in the win column. Facebook has been Dante’s goto platform for live streaming, supported by Instagram ads to attract new fans.

“The first time I was like, you know, it’s like, sideways, the whole show, but then, you know, people really started to jump in.”
Dante Mazzetti

There’s a Dylan-like quality to Dante’s demeanor and performance. He invites you onto his balcony as his intimate style of performing allows you to peer into his world. We can read about Dylan’s entrance to the Folk scene in Greenwich Village, and imagine what it was like to see him at Cafe Wha. I would think the impact of these early hootenanny’s may have been the inspiration for Dante Mazzetti’s daily balcony sessions during the Covid quarintine.

Bellowing from a Balcony

The live steam balcony sessions started out as a daily routine as his followers on Facebook and social media began to grow. The marketing and business acumen of his wife Jessica, helped propel them into the stratosphere of notoriety, allowing this humble podcast host to take notice.

With my suburban mindset, I asked Dante, how did his neighbors react to the sessions? He said they started their queries, when his sessions became less frequent, as they hope for more. It appears the community was not only building on the Internet, but locally as well.

Dante and Jessica were recent guests of mine on the Long Island Sound podcast, and I began to digest his music in preparation for the conversation. I became intrigued by the depth of his lyrics, especially in the song, Blue and Gold. Dante seems to be very prolyfic in his songwriting, hitting the studio every six weeks or so to nail down more tracks and recently written songs. We explored the song Hey Mama, which made me reminisce about the musings of Hank Williams, as Dante painted his landscape in lyric and melody, accented by an old soul in a young man.

Dante is a multi-instrumentalist, covering the gamut of styles that we now call Americana. His music is comforting and warm, as he seems ready to pick up the guitar anytime, anywhere to entertain or just hang out. Here’s what Jessica had to say about his songwriting:

“And, and I think in all of Dante’s music when it does have a positive spin, which he’s doing a lot more lately, there is this dose of reality.”
Jessica Gerono

Prior to Covid, Dante would perform over sixty shows a year, Mazzetti has been featured on radio stations throughout the world, has opened for several major artists, such as Ben Folds, Guster, and America, and was chosen to star in Levi’s “What’s True” national television commercial campaign. Ten years into his formal musical career, I believe he is on the brink to set things ablaze with his music.

As an active New York City Fireman, the reality of the day hits you in a moment’s notice. Each call to respond could just be an unintended alarm or chance to save a life from a burning inferno. Dante’s development of the muse is both tangible and sensible, calling us to be present in the moment, with the promise of igniting an interest to know more about this artist, and reminding us that maybe it’s time to just hang out on the balcony.

October 13, 2022

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