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Category: Long Island Music Scene

Music,Love and Healing,This is how we Roll with out Rock

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How the power of music saves our souls, by Neil Miller /The New York Extra/The NYExtra.com

The usual suspects enjoying a summers night at the Salt Shack Neil Miller/The New York Extra/The NYExtra.com

It’s March 24. And usually ,in a spring frame of mind, all of us involved in the Long Island Music Scene , are pulling out our calendars, looking at Sherri’s Scene, and Ira’s List , and planning our opening day at the Salt Shack, our memorial day weekend at Jones beach ,Woodstock at Old Bethpage and our 4th of July on the East End. Evenings at Freeport , Lido Beach, and Patchogue also fill our minds with anticipation.

Neil Miller /The New York Extra/The NYExtra.com

But stuck in the blue and harsh reality of the pandemic now on us, what gives us strength is what lies ahead. We hope that the virus goes away soon, and that it doesn’t hurt our famlies , our friends, the community that we live in. All we want is to have a big party as soon as it’s clear. We crave to hear The Murphy’s,Wonderous, 45 RPM, Streetfighter, The 70’s Band, The Mystic , The Almost Brothers , and Desert Highway.

Woodstock Festival, Old Bethpage .2019 Neil Miller/The New York Extra/The NYExtra.com

Our strength lies in the love and passion for the music on the Island( and other places too), and the the joy that we draw from being with our friends “.The coming summer will take away the pain of right now for all involved the club owners, the bartenders, the musicians, and all the people that make it work. Stuck in the present vacuum of no live shows, lets all hang tight and hope things return to normal soon!

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Silent Spring

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The possible loss of beloved Long Island Music Scene by Neil Miller/The New York Extra

As the spread of Corona Virus creeps into every part of our life on the Island, none is so painful to local music lovers as the possible loss or reduction in the music scene as we know it.

What we do know as of today, is Gov. Cuomo has now stopped gatherings of any group over 500, and those places under 500 have to cut the amount of people attending by 50%

What does that mean for us as of today? No Coliseum , NYCB Music Fair , The Space, The Tilles Center, and perhaps Nutty Irishman, Mulcahy’s, 89 North among others. And if the ban continues, add The Salt Shack, The Boatyard, and Lido Beach as well.

The smaller venues like KJ Farrells, The Warehouse, Sunset Grill, Beau’s and others will stay open for now, but with reduced music fans. All we can do is pray for the health of our country and Long Island and that this terrible time of disease goes away as quick as it came.

Desert Highway plays K.J. Farrell’s, by Neil Miller /The New York Extra

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What is it about bands that play at K.J.’s? It just seems to bring out the best in a band and in a crowd. And that was the story Saturday night 03/07/2020.

Neil Miller/The New York Extra/copyright 2020

The first set contained Eagle’s favs of Witchy Woman, Lyin Eyes, and Peaceful Easy Feeling. Also played was Runaway, the old Bonnie Raitt hit, and Boys of Summer.

The second set just kicked butt with Hotel California, The Long Run and Already Gone. The band of Richie Naso , lead guitar, Mike Green, guitar/vocals, Reggie Bell, keyboards, Edgar Bettancourt guitar /vocals, and Larry Lipman , drums and /vocals just smoked the crowd with terrific solos, great vocals, and altogether a very tight and fun performance. A must see! Please visit their web site,deserthighwayband.com for future dates.

Musician’s Night at The Local Tavern

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Another interesting event at one of Kevin Sheehan’s bars by Neil Miller/The New York Extra

Rich Naso ,right and Paul Scollo ,left play at the opening night of the Musician’s Night at The Local Tavern,Levittown/Neil Miller/The New York Extra/copyright 2020

March 3,2020 started another new treat at The Local Tavern ,357 Wantagh Ave,Levittown N.Y. 11756 516-595-7570. One Of Kevin Sheehan’s newer bars now has a Musician Night every Thursday at 7 PM.

Rich Naso and Paul Scollo video at The Local Tavern ,Levittown N.Y. March 05,2020/Neil Miller/The New York Extra/copyright 2020

Not to be confused with an open mic, the hope is that this will be a place where the best of the Long Island band members will come to hang out and play , adding to the unique vibe at The Local .

Rich Naso Plays at Musician Night at The Local Tavern,Levittown N.Y./Neil Miller/The New York Extra/copyright 2020
Paul Scollo plays at Muscian”s Night at the Local Tavern,Levittown/Neil Miller/ The New York Extra/copyright 2020

Rich Naso and Joe Scollo will host this event ,and as the spring music scene heats up, this will be a good place to hang and chill.

Mountain Jam Orchestra

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A photo gallery at the Connequot Public Library by Neil Miller/The New York Extra

Photo Galeery Credit /Neil Miller /The New York Extra

Today, The Mountain Jam Orchestra did one 1 1/2 hr long set at the library to a diverse crowd of different ages.With Jim Leach,bass,Steve Killian and Al Murphy, guitars,Phil Franco ,lead vocals,Steve Farella and John Laguzzi,drums, and Jim Sotis key boards the attentive crowd had a fun,if somewhat restrained good time,given the venue.

The set list was the standard Allmans every one knows and loves ,including,Southbound,Blue Sky,One Way Out and more favorites.The night before ,the band played at the always popular Sunset Grill in Seaford, to a packed house, with a waiting line outside.It wont be long till this band will be playing at larger venues on the Island, given their following .

Rock and Roll , Kevin Sheehan style by Neil Miller /The New York Extra

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Why Kevin Sheehan has the pulse of Long Islands Rock clubs.

Neil Miller/The New York Extra

A few weeks ago, I reached out to Kevin Sheehan about doing an article of the 4 bars he now owns in South Eastern Nassau and Amityville . KJ Farrell’s, in Bellmore, has been a go to place in Nassau County for the best cover bands for years. Sure,there were other places around, but KJs was always busy.

Gallery Neil Miller /The New York Extra

With the addition of the much larger, The Warehouse, with in the past year,Kevin added an important piece in the local music scene.Not content to have just the status quo, he added a county night, and a Latin night, for variety.

The new The Local Tavern in Levittown is a neighborhood bar, which is home base for a lot of people. Laid back and a little smaller than the other bars, Kevin says, “It’s relaxed vibe,large craft beer selection and friendly staff makes it a neighborhood place to go”

Kevin’s newest bar in Massapequa Park will be called Prohibition. The music format hasn’t been decided on as of now, but Kevin says,”We are very excited to be apart of the dining and bar scene in Massapequa Park .We hope by offering area residents a different experience,they will stop in and visit”

One things for sure, where ever you go on the South Shore, Kevin’ s bars offer a lot of different choices for the club goer to enjoy every day.

PS! Don’t forget! East on Main,,,,,,,,,,,Kevin is affiliated with this restaurant on The North Fork in Mattituck .When you are doing a winery crawl stop in for some good eats!

The Sunset Grill hosts the Mountain Jam Orchestra by Neil Miller/The New York Extra.

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The Mountain Jam Orchestra at The Sunset Grill ,Seaford N.Y. Neil Miller/The New York Extra copyright 2019

If some one tried define what the Long Island Music Scene to a friend, they would show them the Sunset Grill 4068 Sunrise Highway Seaford N.Y. 11783 ( 516-785-4952).Its not a pretty ,glitzy place, but a bar with good drinks with good prices, and a decent kitchen.Comfortable and freindly ,it has been hosting bands since the early 90’s. Its the type of place, if you love classic rock and roll, that you feel at home with.

Tonite’s band is the always favorite Allman’s Brother tribute band,The Mountain Jam Orchestra.There are a few Allman’s tributes bands on the Island,But Jim Lynch ,the bands bassist, says that MJO idea is to present what a Allman’s concert feel like.

The Mountain Jam Orchestra at the Sunset Grill Seaford,N.Y. Neil Miller/The New York Extra, Gallery images copyright 2019

The first set featured Come and Go Blues,Black Hearted Woman ,Midnite Rider and Southbound among others.Bringing their own style of tribute of the Allman’s, the patrons of Sunset, as always ,had a good time.

Nicky’s on the Bay, a beautiful restaurant in Bayshore by Neil Miller nysportsextra

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Nicky’s on the Bay 150 South Clinton Ave Bayshore 631-206-3311, has it all. At a very sweet location off Bayshore’s marinas,Nicky’s has a large oval bar and “L” shaped outside deck on the first level, as well as table seating that is protected from the weather.It overlooks both Bayshore harbor, and the outlet to the Great South Bay.

The upper level has even better views ,again with a “L” deck where bands play. The menu is large and varied, including standard bar starters and main courses, and a complete seafood menu.

Today’s band was the RapidFire Band playing the songs that the Sunday crowd enjoyed.

Lisa Polizzi’s Janis Joplin Experience plays the Jones Beach Band Shell on Woodstock Weekend by Neil Miller nysportextra

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Neil Miller/nysportsextra

If you grew up in the 60’s, then Janis Joplin was one of your most loved stars.Her voice ,passion, and tragic life captivated young and old.Fifty years ago this weekend Janis was on the stage of Woodstock.

Lisa Polizzi’s band captures the energy ,fun and good music of those times.Lisa’s voice has the grit and sound of Janis from those days.Her band is composed of herself on vocals, Mike Leccese guitar,Rick Thomas

bass, Rick Wolanski ,drums,Stewart Leiberman ,keyboards,and Eddie Berg ,sax

Her set on saturday had many of Janis’ hits for the crowd to enjoy.

Billy’s by the Bay, a Greenport place for good eats and fun by Neil Miller nysportsextra

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Neil Miller/nysportsextra

Billy’s by the Bay is one of the many very good restaurants in the Greenport area.Its location at 2530 Manhasset ave (631-477-8300), is at one of the marinas that boaters and diners go to in the North Fork seaport.

Neil Miller /nysportsextra

Billy’s has a excellent menu that includes a raw bar as well standard starters.Salads ,sandwiches, baskets , burgers and of course lobster is served.The crowd is relaxed and friendly.On the Sunday when nysportsextra visited, Gene Casey and The Lone Sharks played a variety of favorite hits.An easy going and fun place to go, Billy’s is a must when you visit the Greenport area.