ARL Roots Review 56

Our open mic celebration of American roots music is really spreading its wings. Week after week American Roots Live gets better and better and gains more and more notoriety among musicians and music fans as people from far and near continue to stream in.

There really is no other show like it anywhere!

As we gear up for HoneyBoy Dupree's return to our stage from Phoenix, Arizona in July, we've played host over the last two weeks to players from NYC, Allentown, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ and all whistle stops in between.


As was American Roots Live 55, the Royal Memorial for BB, this past week's ARL 56 was spectacular. Player after performer after picker after participant - each as impressive as the one before.

What astounds us all is not only the abilities of these fine musicians who make the pilgrimage each week, but the joy and passion they bring to the stage. With each show the sweat music of our immensely talented All Stars fills the room and - matched by the energy and ability of our newcomers - this is what marks American Roots Live as the premiere open mic show anywhere.

American Roots Live may be habit forming.

John Powers' love of song and enthusiasm for performing is contagious. JR Bradfield's tireless dedication to the live show is invaluable and tantamount to our success. Len DePiano, Mimi Nowak and Ed Pampani - invaluable to ARL and a joy to watch. Each is the type of warm, engaging person that is a pleasure to meet. Come out and get to know them. Play with them. You'll be hooked - you'll want more.

Arl 56 featured captivating performances by half of the Congregation, Johnny Charles and Tommy Fuller, Nancy Coletti, Roy Macnamara and Bob Del Roso, newcomers Roz King and Earl Fonnastock, my boys; the Noo Dogs, and many, many more.

Roots rockin' fun at its finest!

Here's the playlist in no particular order including those mentioned above. Keep in mind some of these folks make both Thursday's and Sunday's shows: John Powers, JR Bradfield, Len DePiano, Mimi Nowak, Ed Pampani, Chuck Wegman, Evil Dick, Bones Sanford, Randy Marinelli, Freddy Macarone, Arlene Schar, Lee Fink, Mike Flynn, Gene Downin, Jake Jar el, Robert Zee, Johnny Charles, Roy Macnamara, Brandon, Kurzawa, Metal Bob, Carlo Trentacosta, Tommy Fuller, Ron Michaels, Bob Giglio, Saxaphone Joe, Dennis Macarone, Nancy Coletti, Roz King, Earl, Fonnastock, Mike Carol, Bob DelRoso and myself joining many to blow and sing and get a cardio work-out behind the drums.

Wishing our friend Win a speedy recovery and looking forward to his return to ARL soon. Many thanks to all who make ARL a success each week and special thanks to the Bound Brook Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and Bound Brook Mayor and Town Council for their efforts in helping us plan and take the right steps toward organizing the Bound Brook Spirit Festival tentatively scheduled for a Sunday in July. More on Spirit Fest as it develops. Thank you.

Keeping it real,

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