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Hi everyone! I hope this email finds you well. As usual here is another update, this time about a very special open mic night at the Stephen Talkhouse with former member of Modern English and Mi5 Recordings President Ted Mason, an upcoming show and new video of THIS, a last-minute call to perform for Amma, The Hugging Saint, an impromptu performance with Nancy Atlas and Red Hot Chilli Peppers's Drummer Chad Smith, and more upcoming shows.
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Mi5/UMG Open Mic Night
As an A & R, I am super pleased and honored to be organizing the upcoming Mi5 Recordings/Universal Music Group Open Mic Night at The Stephen Talkhouse. This will be slightly different from a regular open mic because performers will have the chance to play right in front of (and jam with) music industry executives. President Ted Mason, former guitarist, singer, co-writer/producer, and manager for the British rock band Modern English, will host the event along with me, and after starting out with some Modern English hits and originals, we'll open the night up for all the very talented musicians in the Hamptons, Long Island, New York City, and friends of the Stephen Talkhouse (a.k.a. "y'all") to show their best material, and we'll all be jamming out with the House Band, with Klyph Black, Joe Haines, Sean Rafferty and Mike Mazzaraco. The date is Thursday, September 20, so we've got a while, but for all artists that might be interested, please stay in touch and contact me for more details when you get a chance so that we can organize everyone's time together that day. There is more information on the Facebook event page too.
Also, I am equally pleased to announce, I have recently become a regular member of the House Band for The Stephen Talkhouse Outrageous Open Mic Night, most Mondays until Labor Day and most Thursdays between Labor Day and the end of October. You are all welcome to come down, hang out, and jam, and this is also a good chance to share each other's music a little bit, and if you are interested, have some preparation before the Mi5/UMG Open Mic Night.
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THIS at The Stephen Talkhouse
Another very exciting announcement: the next show of THIS at The Stephen Talkhouse is on Friday, October 19. I have been working on new music, and by then THIS will have new songs to share, so I hope you would like to come. Of course, I will be reminding you of it later. In the meantime, we have a new video out of our latest show at the Talkhouse, featuring originals and covers that I hope you enjoy.
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THIS
With:
Josh LeClerc on Guitar & Vocals
Klyph Black on Bass & Vocals
Anthony Genovesi on Drums
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Playing for Amma, The Hugging Saint
Last 4th of July was a very special evening when I got called at the very last minute to perform for Spiritual Leader Amma, The Hugging Saint, in Times Square. This performance was a violin accompaniment for Samuel J, a very fine singer-songwriter focusing on healing music. The event was full of followers who gathered to receive Amma's hug and blessings. Samuel and I also went up to see her, we got hugged, and finally Amma blessed my violin by playing a few notes on it and dropping flower petals on it.
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With The Nancy Atlas Project and Chad Smith, of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Playing music in the Hamptons is always a treat, especially with a stellar songwriter of the caliber of Nancy Atlas. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter and many of you already know, local legend Nancy Atlas is a very talented and a very much alive and energetic Americana singer-songwriter. Among other shows, she has a residence on Fridays at George's Lighthouse Cafe in Montauk, and I've had the pleasure to join in for the past few weeks. Two Fridays ago, seemingly out of nowhere, Red Hot Chilli Peppers's drummer Chad Smith came up on stage to sit in on drums for a few songs, and it was an unforgettable experience to play with such incredible talent.
Chad Smith is one of Nancy's special guests on her latest album Cut & Run. He is featured on "The Tale of Johnny Load," Nancy's gorgeous song based on the true story of a rescued fisherman who fell overboard in the night and survived swimming in the Montauk waters for 12 hours. A lot has been written about the story (made into a book and soon into a film) and about The Nancy Atlas Project on several newspapers. In "Nancy Atlas Finds Push And Inspiration for New Album," Annette Hinkle of the East Hampton Press and Southampton Press, describes in very good detail Nancy's process of composing "The Tale of Johnny Load" and Chad Smith's contributions in it. The band will perform this Friday again at the Cafe (tomorrow), then take a break for two Fridays, and return on August 17.
Speaking of the Lighthouse Cafe, I am very happy to announce I am also starting a residence there, playing a duo with Tony Villar every Tuesday at 3 pm. I will also be playing there with a few other very good bands and artists. George's Lighthouse Cafe is a great spot, literally at the very end of Long Island, all the way East, right where the road makes a loop to go back West. It has a fantastic view of the beach, the ocean, and the woods, and great food, drinks, and vibes. So I hope to see you at one of the upcoming dates (see below).
Thank you very much! I'll talk to you next time.
Omar
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