American Roots Live

Tuesday

ARL Roots Review 81

What a wonderful week of music.

It started Wednesday at Writers in Raritan with John Powers and Aster Pheonyx (pic) dealing strong songcraft in solo, acoustic performance with Jim Popik and Kevin Reavey - then me and Bradfield and Jim Popik really getting into something at the end.

Aster Pheonyx, who you'll hear more of in the future, is where passion and pain meets "strong songwriting and dynamic vocals". Watch for good things for her.

Thursday's American Roots Live 81 was a talent packed, horse-choking line-up of great musicians all showin' their stuff, starting with Johnny Charles, Kim Brewer, JR Bradfield ,Ed Pampani, Tommy Toye, Tony Pilleggi, Bobby Z, Keith Autocunas, Lisa Batruch, Ron Seibert, Dice; Rich, George and Al Pilleggi. Randy Marinelli, Hershall Dow, Mordechai Jones, Steve Pozz, Rich Keorner, Carl Marcantonio, Corey Small, Ed Avilia, George Nicola, Jerry Lanza, Rob Bianco and Ernie Fortunato.

Continued fun Friday night when I joined the DelRosso Experience at the Blue Moon Cafe and laid it down all night with Bob DelRosso, Vinnie Capodice and Kevin Brennan with a sit-in visit from ol' 88's Jim Beckerman. What a groove...

Then Saturday night at the Stanhope House hearing the magnificant Jo Wymer & the Itty Bitty Band open for Christine Martucci Band, who put a solid ass whoopin' on the house with two and a half solid hours of good rockin originals and big Janis gems. Damn that girl can sing and them boys can play!

Sunday night American Roots Live 81 featured a cool new band, Reality Addiction. Dustin (pic), Adam, Robby, and Jonathon brought a good sound, a good vibe and good originals.

The night's playlist included a young new friend from Oxford, NJ on guitar named Justin Kamm, then JR Bradfield, Evan Miggs, Ed Pampani, "Phishboy" Keith Autocunas, Ron Seibert, Sticks Obremski, Chris Mongiello, Carl Marcantonio, Rich Keorner, Mike Coyle, Phil Liebergall and Gene Goodman.

Thanks to Win for the "timed" ARL 80 group photo that'll hang on the "Wall of Fame" at Orphan Annie's. That's Win, down low in the foreground and HoneyBoy Dupree on the cell phone. Can you find yourself here?

Thanks again to all the folks who work hard to keep the music alive. And Ed Pampani for the Live pics.