2nd Quarter Report Card (Just Kidding)
“Hey friends! Just some updates on what’s been going on this spring. Plenty on the way from LongIslandSound.love!”
Shaking Hands With Heroes
Sometime in February, tickets for Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls at The Paramount in Huntington, NY were announced, and I scooped a handful knowing how many of my friends are huge fans. I was stoked. I had quickly became an avid appreciator of his endlessly relatable lyrics and subtly complex tunes sometime last year after a few folks were horrified to learn that I didn’t know his work. Folk punk singer-songwriter Frank Turner has played to a sold out Wembley Stadium, sung at the 2012 London Olympics, and nurtured hope in millions of fans across the world. On a whim, I reached out to his press team and ask for an interview. In a wild roll of the dice (Natural 20!) we were given the green light and Travis Ryan and I got to meet the legend—and more importantly, incredibly nice guy—in May. You’ll hear all about it in the near future (I promise! Travis has to let his tattoo heal for the press pics) but it was easily one of the coolest things to ever happen in my life.
After the interview we still got a killer show from Tim Barry, Murder By Death, and of course, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls. He started his set in the crowd before taking the energy to the stage and kicking off a night of memories for a huge audience in Huntington. Standing shoulder to shoulder with my friends, singing songs that mean the world to us at the top of our lungs is exactly where I belong, always.
↓↓ Camping & Updates
Baby’s First Camping Trip
I survived 27 years before putting my foot down, purchasing a tent, and going camping. Granted my version turned glamping very quickly—what can I say, I’m a nester. After a few years of planning on going up to Narrowsburg, NY for the Froggy Daze Festival, I finally made it this May. I’m new to music festivals all around, let alone ones where I have to drive a few hours and sleep in a field. I wasn’t expecting the magic. The cries of “We love you,” “Welcome home,” and “Happy Froggy Daze!” from perfect strangers may have felt silly when I first drove onto the campground—a beautiful site north of the Delaware Water Gap—but by the time I set up camp I truly did feel at home.
Even a rainy Friday was full of laughter. Bright green plastic frogs kept popping up in mud puddles, and there was a crew tending a cauldron of stew over at The Chris Ruben Band’s campsite. The camping part was great, but seeing so many of my favorite local bands play for new audiences was just incredible. Long Island favorites Aqua Cherry, Monkeybite, The Big Happy, Whole Sum, The Chris Ruben Band, Samurai Pizza Cats, and The Scofflaws all made the trip upstate from Long Island. My heart swelled every time I met a new friend who was excited to listen to the music my friends from home made. I’ve already signed on to go back up for Froggy Daze 10 in September!
↓↓ Updates
The Team Grows
When I started LongIslandSound.love in August of 2018 I couldn’t have imagined the support the project would receive or the opportunities it would bring. When it began, it was just my voice and grammatical support via Travis. Now we’re preparing to introduce some new voices to the conversation via text, audio, and video in the near future. We’ve been lucky enough to partner with Star*Pulse Studios for a video interview series conducted by Brianna Coccia and directed and produced by Andrew Zajic. Travis and our friend and master of publicity Ryan Dobby will also be picking up the pen (er…keyboard? It’s wireless, go crazy!) to amplify the local buzz.
I’m terribly excited to see where we will go next and to find new ways to share original Long Island music. Thanks for being the best!