ARL Roots Review 72

If you missed week 72 of American Roots Live with Nasty Ned, you missed some of the most honest, young performances of individual roots styles you may've ever seen or heard... anywhere.

First, the long-awaited arrival of Smokestack the Foothill Fury, from north Georgia, was nothing less than inspiring and entertaining.

Full of fury, like a rolling and tumbling ball of energy, Smokestack played raw, down-from-the-hills blues. A refreshing slap in the face to pretentious, over-produced pop.

Here's a back view of his home-made, one-man-band-contraption and guitar. (tip-bucket normally hangs in front.) He plucked, strumed and slid all over that guitar attacking the neck from below and over top. With wailing vocals and kicking feet, Smokestack the Foothill Fury is a crowd pleaser and authentic bluesman.

In his own words he is carrying the torch for a music that he loves and encompassing the very feeling of what good ole' blues is all about.

We are proud to have presented him on our stage and look forward to his return. He's coming back, maybe as early as next week after a swing through New England and Nova Scotia. Keep an eye out.

Then, we were thrilled to welcome back our friend Johnny Thompson, one of the smoothest, most talented young blues guitarists in New Jersey.

We're used to hearing Johnny burn it up on the electric guitar, but were far from disappointed by his flawless, enthusiastic set of acoustic pickin' and singin'. At just 22 years of age Johnny Thompson is facing sunny horizons.

We look forward to his return very soon.

Hershall Dow, with a sound and presence as big as Texas was a crowd favorite twice at ARL 72. His "up yours" outlaw-country swagger set the tone aptly for his witty, often humorous songs.

At this pace good 'ol Hershall may become an American Roots Live all star, too.


All totalled, number 72 featured 25 unique individual musicians and singers - one for the first time and one for the 100th.

Our playlist read: Smokestack the Foothill Fury, Johnny Thompson, Hershall Dow, JR Bradfield, John Powers, Ed Pampani, Mimi Nowak, Keith Autocunas, Len DePiano, Mike Carroll, Lisa Batruch, Ron Seibert, Randy Marinelli, Rich Peterson, Frank Cerulli, Paul Obremski, Ed Avilia, Carl Marcantonio, Rich Koerner, Joe Salerno, Tommy Toye, Gene Gigliardi, Chaz, and drummer Adam Pliss.

Thanks to Orphan Annie's, Rick, Karin, Kate and our photographers; Ed and Win.

See you soon.

Keeping it real,

Ned

PS - Happy belated birthday to our dear, departed brother Bernie Brausewetter 9/10/07

ARL Roots Review 70

American Roots Live with Nasty Ned is not only about the music - it's also about the people. Those special people who make the music on our stage every Thursday and Sunday. Those passionate about the music we promote to preserve.

And it's about the vibe those people put out. Mimi Nowak is one of those people.

She is a talented singer who is out-going, fun loving and enthusiastic - all about the show - all about learning, sharing and expanding her abilities - and she puts out that good vibe.

Mimi Nowak is an American Roots Live All Star and we're proud to call her our friend.

Her autograph is among other ARL All Stars' autographs on the All Stars signature guitar we're raffling off at the end of the summer to help raise money for new stage equipment.

Only $3 a chance, two chances for $5 and five chances for $10, so please give yourself a chance (or chances) to win this awesome one-of-a-kind, signature guitar when you come out to American Roots Live. It's not a toy, it's a quality Austin electric guitar and a real collector's item. Johnny Charles plays one exactly like it and makes it sing when he performs.

So, if you win, you don't have to hang it on the wall if you don't want to. You can plug it in and jam on it.

Johnny Charles' autograph is on this guitar as are other ARL All Stars; John Powers, JR Bradfield, Snakeman Runyan, Len DePiano, Nancy Coletti, HoneyBoy Dupree, Lee Fink, Steve Pozz, Chuck Wegman, Evil Dick, Rob Fraser, Jamo Flynn, yours truly and many, many, many more.

And speaking of winning a guitar - Orphan Annie's is giving away a six string acoustic guitar at American Roots Live 71 this Sunday night, September 2nd compliments of Heineken - be there!.

Winning the Heineken guitar is super easy, too. All you have to do for a good chance to win is show up, buy a coke or a beer or anything from the bar and you'll be given a numbered raffle ticket. And you'll be given a guitar raffle ticket every time you purchase ANYTHING - all night long- a drink a burger a coke a bag of chips - anything!

Around 12 O'clock we'll draw the winning number and somebody will go home with that guitar. Pretty cool huh? I think so.

Last week's ARL playlist included a very talented 16 year old guitar protege of John Powers named Matt Stelljes. If you were there, you caught a pretty cool performance by the youngster. If you missed it, don't fret - Matt promised to come back again soon.

The entire ARL 70 playlist read: Matt Stelljes, John Powers, JR Bradfield, Len DePiano, Bones Sandford, Mimi Nowak, Phil Leibergall, Ed Pampani, Randy Marinelli, Corey Small, Chris O'Sullivan, Chet Smith, Ed Avilia, Don Howland, Keith Autocunas, Lisa Batruch, Ron Seibert, Rich Peterson, Doug Deittmann, Steve Klem, Kate Weber, Mark Weber, John Caruanna, Mike from Bassboards Blues Band, Chaz, Joe Salerno, Gene Goodman, Garry Hodgson, John Breen, Bob Giglio and our resident singing bartender, young Joe DeRogatis.

A great time was had by all - why not join us next time?

Thanks to all the usual suspects for making it happen. We encourage you to support live music where ever it is played and we hope to see you again this week at American Roots Live 71.

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