As Autum begins, haunting imagery invades media marketing and entertainment. Maybe that’s why I decided to drive into National Cemetery to find some solice time after work to write this article.
The world is a scary enough place, I can do with less creepy in my life. The days are getting shorter and finding a quiet spot as the working day draws to a close seems harder and harder.
In 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan went electric, everyone thought it was the death knell of folk music.
I mistakenly thought folk music was dead and gone, until I was able to connect with the “folkies” here on Long Island. It started with the interview I conducted with Linda Sussman, which led me to Josie Bello.
The Resilience of Folk Music
I recently interviewed Josie Bello from Huntington New York, you can find her episode on The Long Island Sound Podcast. Her voice is akin to Emmylou Harris which artfully draws us into her lyrics. Her songwriting is honest, emotional and straignt from the heart. Like many of her counterparts, she’s not afraid to lament social justice issues, especially in her song “They lie”.
I am enamored by singer songwriters who can express what I often cannot in their song. Their ability to expand upon the muse and deliver poignant messages so important to hear. Josie calls herself a late bloomer, having sprung onto the music scene only seven years ago. After accompanying her husband Frank in the coffee houses in and around New York City during their college days, Josie decided to pick up the guitar woodshed the instrument and start writing music. Turning to her guitar teacher, Mike Nugent. Yes, the very Mike Nugent from the Cadillac Moon band and the Walkers, encouraged Josie to record her music in his Melts in Your Ears Studio. With two albums and a few singles under her belt, I see a bright future for this folk singer/songwriter. Nugent plays many of the instruments throughout the albums which are rich in texture while crossing into waters that incorportate, Folk, Americana and a smattering of the Blues.
Where Hope Blooms
In Josie’s music, I found both a lament and a prayer. A thread of spirituality and a hope for change. But there’s another interesting aspect to Josie Bello, at least for me. This “late-bloomer” provides unintended consequences with her career as a singer/songwriter. I found hope for all singer/songwriters who have written tens of thousands of versus developing the Muse but not quite woodshedding the song to full potential. I am inspired by the encouragement of Mike Nugent, her guitar teacher. It is common to find singer/songwriters who are also music teachers encouraging their students at every level level, which is a testimony to generosity of the musician community. As with any artist, a little encouragment can go a long way. As an underdeveloped songwriter myself, I have discovered a glimmer of hope in Josie’s story. The hope that our voices can be heard through our own songs, good intentions and most importantly, follow through.
Bridging The Divide
Folk Music in particular, brings the hope of an increasted dialogue in a divided country. To jump on the soapbox for a moment, there is a great need for us to converse with our neighbors, no matter how much we disagree with their politics. How can we be the “United”States of America, if we don’t talk to each other in a peaceful and deep dialogue? Music can help us reach understanding the big question, “Why do you think this way?” The honesty of a folk song can place us in the starting gate for reconciliation.
Give Me Original Music
As I continue to explore the Long Island music scene, through my podcast, The Long Island Sound, I’m no longer amazed about the diversity of genes in my own backyard. At first glance you think that every bar in town, every small stage is trying to find the next great cover band. After all, Mike Nugent says: “It’s the age of the Tribute Band”. But if you are intrigued about original music, you can still find the enclaves of originality, featuring folk music, bluegrass, punk, rock and roll and of course the blues.
“It’s the age of the Tribute Band”
– Mike Nugent
I lament about the days of my youth,before the disco era in the mid 80’s, it seemed that every bar and pub had a live original band playing. Today there are there are a handful of bars and venues that help support our original artists. I was thinking about Katie’s of Smithtown, Bartini in Babylon village, just to name a couple. And of course there are the big stages the Paramount of course in Huntington, 89 North in Patchogue and the ever resilient Eppy Epstein’s rebirth of My Father’s Place, at the Metropolitan in Glen Cove. We need more venues and people like Eppy who support original music.
Josie Bello’s music is streaming on Spotify, and you’ll be able to see her live at local venues on the North Shore as well as at festivals from time to time. There’s a need for music that is unaffraid, inspiring and which calls us into deeper conversations. Thank you Josie for putting to song, that which we often struggle to say!
