Roots Review 51

American Roots Live 51 was brimming with excitment last week. Maybe it was everyone's anticipation of ARL 52 - this week's one year anniversary celebration. Maybe it was because our friend, NYC firefighter, Brian Z was back on stage again. Maybe it was because guitar legend, Dave DiPietro was making his American Roots Live debut and smoking the house slow.

Maybe it was because Arlene Schar and Mimi Nowak sparkeled like diamonds or maybe it was Len De Piano, John Powers or JR Bradfield showing everybody how it's done with class, ability, humility and dedication.

OR just maybe it was that charbroiled 16oz steak with all the trimmings The Rail serves-up for just $9.95.

Whatever it was, we raised the bar again at American Roots Live 51 and we're looking forward to seeing all of you this week down at the station as we click past ARL 52 signaling one solid year of "open" roots rockin' fun.

It seems like just yesterday when I introduced our first co-hosts, Bassboards Blues Band with our friends Kate Weber and John Caruana



...then co-host Duane Chez
and, so sad to say adios when he left for Puerto Rico after ARL 8


...then so fortunate to come together with the incredible John Powers who co-hosts ARL to this day.



There are so many wonderful, solid people to recognize and thank including, but not limited to Billy K, Ed Pampani, Elliot "Win" Newcomb, Johnny Charles, HoneyBoy Dupree, Eddie Ray, Bobby Malavenda, Larry Gliozzi, Charles T. Wegman, Mike and Lynn Ruane, Elmore Magazine, Ben Elliot, Joe Karam, and Richie Zupko RIP.

ARL 51's role call includes John Powers, JR Bradfield, Ed Pampani, Len De Piano, Mimi Nowak, Dave DiPietro, Keith Mc Gonigle, Tommy Fuller, White Knight; Ed, Glenn, Shawn and Tom, Arlene Schar, Randy Marinelli, Carlo, Robert Zee, Arne Englund, Chris O'Sullivan, Uncle Wayne, Joe Sax, Dennis Macarone, Rob Fraser, Cal Richards, Brian Z, Chris Porto, Dave O, Bones Sanford, Roy MacNamara, and Metal Bob.

With lots of Roots fun in the future, including our long awaited TV show by the same name (which is just on the horizon), please don't forget the American Roots All-Stars autographed guitar that is being given away this Sunday at ARL 52. With only two opportunities left to buy tickets; this Thursday night and early in the evening Sunday, be sure and get yours.

Remember we're raising money with the guitar raffle as a part of the Blaze Benefit for our friend Harry Okie and his kids.

Hope to see you all soon.

Keeping it real,

Nasty Ned

Roots Review 49 & 50

I'm having so much fun hosting American Roots Live that I almost feel guilty. I ask myself, how can one person enjoy such satisfaction when there are so many other unhappy, discontented people in the world complaining, "I can’t get no..."?

Well, the answer is simple really. I'm surrounded by satisfying people - some of the most talented and dedicated musicians you'll find anywhere. And damn nice people at that and they all come together to play and celebrate American Roots Music.

And where would we be without John Powers, JR Bradfield, Len Depiano and Mimi Nowak.

I didn't set out to save the world with American Roots Live, just the music. And, as I soon realized, many others felt the same way and recognize American Roots Live as a viable entity. A noble cause. A great forum from which to play. To emote. To share. To bear one's soul and to build their chops. Can I get an amen?

It really is the spirit of the people who come to American Roots Live open mic celebrations that make it work. And not just the musicians, but the listeners, too. Have you ever tried eating peanut butter without the jam? It's like playing music with no audience or being in the audience with no music. A little hard to swallow. But fortunately, we have both at ARL.

And that's why we all have so much fun at American Roots Live. If you have never joined the fun at one of our shows, you must put it on your grocery list of things to do. Please do join us. We're having an abundance of good times and there is plenty to go around, besides, we want to share it with you.

Ask any of these recent participants and they will tell you the same thing: American Roots Live with Nasty Ned every Thursday and Sunday night at the Rail in Bound Brook, NJ's historic train station is the place to be when your hungry for some good music – John Powers, Keith McGonigle, Josh Gebhardt, JR Bradfield, Johnny Charles, Ed Pampani, Len Depiano, Mimi Nowak, The Congregation; Evil, Chuck, Rich and Sal, Bobby Malavenda, Jaimo Flynn, Robert Zee, Roy MacNamara, Bob Del Rosso, Walter Foot, Bones Sanford, Dennis Macarone, The Doctor, Arlene Schar, Sonny Young, Billy K, Mike Carrol, Metal Bob, Chris Porto, John DiGiovanni, Paul Nagy, Dave Lippencott, Katmandu; Randy, Corey and Tal, Tommy Fuller, Bob Giglio, Rotten Robert, Carlo, Joe Sax, Brent Meyer, Calvin Ritchie, Gavin Lawrence, Chris O Sullivan and many, many more...

Many thanks to all who have come to listen and win prizes and to the management and owner ship of the Rail, our supporters, volunteers, sponsors and ambassadors.And many thanks to Charles T. Wegman for the beautiful enhancement of our American Roots Live logo.

See you all soon.

Keeping it real,

Ned

Roots Review 46, 47, 48

Well, I've been going a hundred miles an hour in every imaginable direction and do apologize for (this time) being three weeks behind on your Roots Review. The good news is, the dust is beginning to settle and we're gearing up for some great new American Roots Live open mic shows at the Rail and a brand new, long awaited, American Roots Live with Nasty Ned TV program that will air initially on Cablevision's channel 22 in Green Brook, Dunellen, Piscataway, Middlesex, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Manville, Raritan and Bridgewater, NJ.

I'll send an email with the air dates soon so you'll be sure not to miss it.

We have one more sponsorship spot left to fill so if you or someone you know would like to support American Roots Live and have your business message delivered on TV (very affordably to 40,405 central Jersey households) please contact me by email with your phone number at nastyned@att.net and I'll be sure to be in touch with you. Please mention a best time to call.

As for American Roots Live 46, 47 and 48, our open mic celebrations of American roots music at the Rail, we have had a blast and it's sure to get even better as the weather begins to break!

A few weeks back we were honored to have nine year old Brent Meyers playing his guitar with us on stage. Brent is the young man we first met at the Bluetone Cafe in Easton. He has a natural gift with his guitar abilities and an interest in American Roots music. We are always pleased when his father Eric brings him to our shows because sharing the music with young people is what American Roots Live is all about.

What was so cool about the last time Brent performed with us is that he didn't want to go on stage early, opting to wait until a larger audience was assembled - I love that!

Many thanks to John Powers for steadfastly co-hosting American Roots Live for all these weeks and special thanks and appreciation to all the dedicated musicians who make it happen week after week, namely: JR Bradfield, Ed Pampani, Len DePiano,
Mimi Nowak, Robert Zee, Roy McNamara, Arne Englund, Walter Foot, Keith McGonigle, Josh Gebhardt, Johnny Charles, Jaimo Flynn, Vern Mobley, Bobby Malavenda, Jake Jar El, Chris Porto, Randy Marinelli, Bob Giglio, Gavin Lawrence, Eric Plotkin, Dave O, Mike Mastrianni, Dave Rivera, Carlo, Metal Bob, Chris O'Sullivan, Paul DeLoia, Tommy Fuller, Arlene Schar, Dexterity, Summer Project, Evan Coniglio, Steve Yadlosky, Rotten Robert, Jim Michaels and more.

We are approaching our one year anniversary of American Roots Live and will celebrate the milestone on Sunday April 1st at the Rail where we'll give away the ARL autographed guitar to one lucky winner in attendance. As you know the guitar has been being raffled off for the past several weeks with all proceeds going to our friend Harry Okie who lost his home and all worldly possessions in an ugly house fire just before Christmas.

There is still time to purchase a ticket or two or six or ten - just come to American Roots Live any Thursday night starting at 9pm or any Sunday night starting at 7 at the Rail in Bound Brook and join the fun.

Thanks to Bobby Malavenda of Manville Music for donating the guitar. Many thanks to Rail ownership; Lynn and Mike and special thanks to the infamous Byron J for the kit. Props to Win, Ed Pampani and Eddie Ray and all our volunteers, sponsors and supporters and thanks to Elmore Magazine and publisher Suzanne Cadgene.

See you all soon.

Keeping it Real,

Ned