Our one year anniversary celebration of American Roots Live at The Rail last week had me feeling like Lou Gehrig. By that I mean I felt like the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
And when I think about American Roots Live and the tight little artist's community that has come together over the past year, I realize I am the luckiest man on the planet. To be surrounded by so many talented and dedicated musicians and coordinators who have helped me to realize a dream, and one that has become their own - working to preserve American roots music for future generations - I am most fortunate indeed.American Roots Live 52 Sunday night was a masterpiece. After the raucous crowd response to our national anthem played on harmonica,
Chuck Wegman and
Evil Dick of
The Congregation embraced the honor of kicking off the show with an unplugged, unpretentious set of Congregation originals and covers. Awesome.
Then, on to the youngsters. Nine year old
Brent Meyer, with his big Fender Stratocaster
(pictured left, below) and his parents and sister in attendance, stood proud center stage picking strings before an enthusiastic audience supported by
Jaimo Flynn on drums,
JR Bradfield on bass, and ARL Ambassador from Pennsylvania,
Billy K on guitar.
After Brent breezed through his set he was followed on stage by his seniors, 14 year old
Dolan Kutzman playing drums and 16 year old
Tim Beery on bass, both rockin' in the free world with Dolan's father, Billy K center stage.
What followed was a roots revival to be rivalled by no other - remember, there's no other show like American Roots Live anywhere!
ARL 52 Sunday was also the night of the all-stars autographed guitar contest, completing the blaze benefit for
Harry Okie and his kids who lost their home to fire just before Christmas '06.
Phil Ouellette of Union, NJ was the lucky recipient of the autographed guitar donated by
Manville Music. He smiled shyly with pride in accepting the prize knowing that he - along with many other people - donated to the cause that, all totalled, raised $1,960.02.
No one knows from where the two pennies came, but they were in the bucket and appreciated non-the-less.
Everybody was jacked both Sunday and Thursday nights as tremendous performances were put in by the afore mentioned players as well as
John Powers, Mimi Nowak, Ed Pampani, Big Daddy & the Wild Cats, Roy MacNamara, Johnny Charles, Len DePiano, Robert Zee, Snakeman Runyan, Arne Englund, Metal Bob, Gavin Lawrence, Randy Marinelli, Al Madison, Johnny Thompson, Uncle Wayne, Bob Giglio, Chris Porto, John DiGiovanni, Steve Pozzelanti, Ray Mack, Mike Carrol, Dennis Macarone, Saxophone Joe and
Cal Ritchie with special thanks going to
Elliot "Win" Newcomb ,
Elmore Magazine and much appreciation to many others.
Also, as an aside - for those aware and concerned - Monday's surgery was a success and I'm recovering nicely wrapped in terry cloth and perched atop a bag of frozen peas. Thank you all for your generous gifts and offers of assistance, and your prayers, thoughtful emails and phone calls.
I'll see you tomorrow night down at the station for
American Roots Live 53 and can't wait to experience the excitement this next year will bring!
Keeping it real,
Nasty Ned
PS - Happy Birthday to Muddy Waters - April 4th
Labels: American Roots Live, Dennis Macarone, Elmore Magazine, John Powers, Johnny Charles, JR Bradfield, Muddy Waters, Nasty Ned, The Congregation, The Rail
From Middlesex looking west toward Bound Brook.
Gus Bardaji stands six feet tall.
I've been excited with anticipation to review the first two absolutely amazing American Roots Live shows of our second year celebrating the music, but now find myself seriously lost for words.
Bernie Brausewetter at Orphan Annie's.
BB at ARL in the early days at the Rail.
L2R Bernie, John Powers, Paul Daloia, Johnny Charles.
Bernie and Michael Krizan, Zupko's, August '06.
L2R, Byron J, Ame, Ed Pampani, Ned, Lori V, BB, John Powers, Jeff Page.
Bernie and mom. ARL, Zupko's August '06.
Have a fantastic journey BB...
...we'll meet and play together again dear friend.
