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Issue 1299 • March 16 - April 12, 2021
TAYLOR SWIFT
Madison Beer From Jericho To Gigantic Pop Hits
2 Swift Surprises
BOUNTIFUL GOURMET
No Good Burger Joint
HOT TIPS
ED SHEERAN Classic Video Games Live On in Garden City
2 • Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021
HOT TIPS Note: Some photos used are to illustrate activites at events, and do not depict the actual events or venues themselves.
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Wrestle On Your Couch: Victory Pro Slates Classic Mat Event To Watch At Home Long Island’s Victory Pro Wrestling will celebrate its 15-year anniversary on Saturday, March 27 at 7 pm on Facebook Live and You Tube. This event, promoted as a tribute to Victory Pro Wrestling’s greatest matches, will feature classic bouts from anniversary shows from this now-veteran promotion. A highlight will be The Church of Tibbs versus VSK and A.J. Styles. Victory Pro Wrestling has a long history of presenting wrestling on Long Island, performing in Centereach, Deer Park, Babylon, North Babylon, Islip, Sachem, Hofstra University, Brooklyn, and Queens. Full info: victoryprowrestling.com.
Long Island Winterfest: Get In On Its Final Days For 2021
Publisher Richard Branciforte
The annual Long Island Winterfest has shifted its focus to a virtual and safe-events “pandemic version” status for 2021. Since 2007, Winterfest has featured several weeks of live music and cultural events which highlighted the area during the off season with less traffic and more intimate experiences. With uncertain times and travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the program has shifted to be a guide for where to go and what to do safely during the traditional Winterfest season. It’s a way to support local businesses, particularly those in arts, entertainment, hospitality, and tourism that have been hit hardest. For complete info, write to liwinterfest@gmail.com.
Editorial Contributors Lloyd Carroll Jimi LaLumia Cody Bell Photography Randi Savron Wayne Herrschaft (headlampdigital.com) Distribution Barry Oliver Paul Timmons Mike Courtney
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Next Publication Date:
April 13, 2021
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Cover Photos: Madison Beer courtesy Epic Records/ Amber Asaly; Taylor Swift courtesy Republic Records
Baseball’s Back: Tickets On Sale For 2021 Mets Games Finally, fans will be allowed at ballparks again, although, at press time, on a limited basis: Tickets are now on sale for 2021 New York Mets games at Citi Field in Flushing. Log on to Mets.com or call (718) 507-TIXX for information on available games, COVID rules, and other factors involving ticket purchases for this upcoming season. Now in spring training, the Mets team features new stars in shortstop Francisco Lindor, pitcher Carlos Carrasco, and catcher James McCann, as well as returning favorites Michael Conforto (pictured right), Jeff McNeil, Jacob deGrom, Luis Guillorme, and Dominic Smith.
Bob Smith
Donkey Kong Lives On: Arcades Are The Rage In Garden City Classic video games are back at The Cradle Of Aviation Museum in Carden City as its “Arcade Age Exhibit” offers 90minute sessions on on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 and 3 pm at the famed Garden City museum; for times, dates, reservations, and protocols, call (516) 572-4111. Play the games: The Arcade Age explores the short history of video arcade games through exhibits and gameplay, just as they were intended to be experienced – in an arcade. Featuring Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Space Invaders, Centipede, Donkey Kong, and more, all of the games are set to free play – so grab a joystick and get in on the fun.
Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 3
THIS IS MY COLUMN announced a pilot program to test the Excelsior Pass at Madison Square Garden and Barclays Center. The Excelsior Pass, developed in partnership with IBM, will use proven, secure technology to confirm an individual's vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test to help fast-track the reopening of many entertainment venues and other businesses in accordance with state guidelines. This new technology was successfully tested during the initial phase of the pilot during The Brooklyn Nets game at the Barclays Center on February 27. It was tested for a second time during the New York Rangers game March 2 at Madison Square Wow: It's hard to believe, some important announceGarden. but it has been exactly one ments have given some This brings us to the year since we closed down signs of a partial return to touchy subject of vaccinaGood Times for seven normalcy. First, the tions: With the addition of months, following our March Governor has removed Johnson & Johnson's vac16, 2020 issue. The world some of the restrictions on cine, we are moving ahead has shifted in that time. entertainment venues, of scheduling in getting Rather than rehash everyallowing them to open with everyone vaccinated. This thing that has gone wrong, 33 percent of capacity as of is not a political issue; the let's look at some positive April 2. I believe music vaccines save lives. You signs for the months ahead. locations will now be able to cannot catch COVID by Businesses have pretty advertise their acts and getting vaccinated. Reading much re-opened, although charge an admission fee the notices of those who traffic is certainly sluggish while still keeping requirehave passed on Facebook, as people have been proments for masks and social there is no doubt that this is grammed not to leave their distancing. Madison Square hitting us in our backyard. homes. Some brick-andGarden and Barclays The only way to herd mortar stores report that Center are once again immunity is if a large business is improving as welcoming fans for sports – majority of the population more people tire of the and we can expect that gets vaccinated. This online shopping experience. baseball will follow suit means that outdoor It seems shoppers want to with some sort of hybrid concerts, club re-openings, interact with real people and admissions. Broadway plays, our have conversations, not Both Barclays Center performing arts centers, Zoom meetings. We have and MSG participated in a and The Paramount all noticed that the print test the past few weeks could reopen sooner rather version of Good Times is using a digital wallet than later. getting picked up better developed by IBM for large Vaccinations in the past than ever. events. week have become much In the past few days, New York State more available. After trying 4 • Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021
B yy R B R ii cc hh B Brr aa nn cc ii ff oo rr tt ee for two months to get an appointment and dealing with scheduling Groundhog Day, I finally got my first dose through Walgreen's – and, ironically, within the same week I received notifications from Northwell Health and Langone Medical Center that they were making appointments. If the promise of there being a vaccine for everyone by the end of May, this summer looks like it could be the breakthrough time for live shows, although we are already seeing shows being booked. For Good Times, I'm not sure what this all means; we are in desperate need of support by way of advertising. Our regulars have dried up for now, and we have cut back to publishing monthly. We can't cover our expenses coming out once a month, so we need to expand our advertising base. Bands, restaurants, health services, lawyers, events all can find a waiting audience in our readers for their services. The next issue of Good Times is out April 13 – and it is our 1300th issue and our 52nd Anniversary issue as well. We would greatly appreciate your support by advertising in this issue, and patronizing all the Good Times advertisers who have supported us. There is more to come: Don't forget Long Island Music Week this November. There will be 150 acts at more than 100 clubs and restaurants at The Support Long Island Music Festival. Thanks, and here's to another 52 years. Write to us at gtmag@optonline.net.
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Now Carrying Basses email: murphysmusicny@gmail.com • website: murphysmusicshop.com Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 5
LI BITES Pickup Powerhouses: Let’s face it: Take-out has become the norm for many people in this area, either because it’s all that is available, or perhaps some foodies are quite wary (and we can’t say that we blame you) about sit-down restaurants during this period of the pandemic that never seems to end. Thankfully, more than a few Long Island businesses have adapted to takeout with aplomb, and picking up delicious meals and snacks at so many food emporiums in this region has become a breeze. We now devote this month’s column to places both national and local that have made “eating out at home” a lot easier for so many of us: The legendary Mineola Diner in, well, Mineola (138 Jericho Turnpike, (516) 877-1370) has handled the sudden shift to take-out wonderfully – but then again, this local favorite
always has excelled at offering hearty breakfasts and quick lunches (the burgers here are legendary) for area workers and families. Nothing has changed here – and we can offer no bigger compliment that that … One of the easiest and Staff photo most seamless experiences in the area for curbside pickup has been Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza (locations in Carle Place, call (516) 877-7750; Bohemia, call (631) 647-2625; Commack, call (631) 858-2625; Wantagh, call (516) 6792625; and Woodbury, call (516) 3673625) – simply call or order online, drive to an assigned pickup location near the entrance, and a staff member comes out to place the wings, pizza, salads, and any of the other Anthony’s original dishes in your trunk or back seat. No muss, no fuss, and exceptional eating … Sure, McDonald’s, we know, we get it – but their app has become an industry standard, and their Contactless Mobile Order & Pay is even better than it sounds. Download the app, enter your credit card, and park in one of the “contactless mobile order and pay” PRNewsfoto/McDonald's USA, LLC designated parking spots. In just a few moments,
The Best (And Worst) Of Inexpensive Food Fare a server delivers your meals directly to your car – no need to reach for your credit card or walk inside the restaurants. Soon, you’ll be able to try Mickey D’s to grab one of the returning Hi-C Orange Lavaburst drinks as easy as a Hot Apple Pie (yeah, we went there) … Now among the reigning kings of wings in Long Island, Garden City Park’s Spanky’s Food Factory (call
Spankyʼs Food Factory
them at (516) 280-8440) not only now offers a new and expanded takeout menu, but it also can bring its exceptional food to you thanks to its partnered delivery team for a small $5 fee. The amazing take-out menu features one-of-a-kind dishes Staff photo such as Deep-Fried Ribs (go head, try ’em), mac and cheeses with add-ons, and deep-fried Oreos, Twinkies, and brownies. This is a place you’ll become addicted to after just one visit or order. The Chicken Wars: First, Chick-fil-A started the trend with a fried chicken sandwich that so many people (including Long Islanders, based on the long lines at the drive-ups) believe is out of this world. Then, Popeye's came up with a chicken sandwich so good that it also prompted lines around the corner of its locations – no to mention fistfights, car mishaps, and a lot of other silly nonsense that made newspaper headlines. Clearly, the Chick-fil-A and Popeye's sandwich hits are the new gold standard for a quick, tasty grab-and-go. Of course, that has led to every other fast food chain the land scrambling to come up with their own souped-up sammiches – it's recently been announced that Burger King has a new one in the offing. McDonald's has beat the crown to the punch with its new Crispy Chicken Sandwich, released just a short time before this issue went to press. It is in the same realm as the other vaunted cluck choices? If first impressions count for anything: No way. Not even close. Our first attempt at trying the Crispy Chicken Sandwich was at a local McD’s drive up in New Hyde Park; the sandwich comes in a foiled envelope-style bag clearly reminiscent of you-know-who. However, the sandwich was shoved
6 • Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021
Crispy Chicken Sandwich: McMeh
Staff photo
into the back of the bag so hard that it had completely fallen apart; the bun was seperated from the meat. We hastily reassembled it so it could appear in the photo you see here. The sandwich comes in spicy and “deluxe” versions; we opted for the spicy version. However, what makes it “spicy” apparently is the same “spicy peper sauce” that's been available for some menu items for years. Our McReview: Meh. McDonald's mega-meh. No comp for the big two, not even close. We'll try the nonspicy version sometime soon … well, maybe.
In other McDonald's news, the chain is finally going to offer plantbased burgers, once again copping an idea from other chains. It was announced early this month that McDonald's has reached an agreement with Beyond Meat, makers of the Beyond Burger; reported is the emergence of the now-being-tested McPlant burger, which should go wide any day now. In addition, Beyond Meat and McDonald’s are looking into plant-based options for chicken, pork, and egg in a part of the menu which apparently will be dubbed “McPlant” as well.
BOUNTIFUL GOURMET: No Good Burger Joint By Rich Branciforte; Photos courtesy businesses
Recently we ran a request on social media sites and in Good Times asking readers their picks for what restaurants had the best burgers in Long Island. This is important to us: We take burgers seriously, and apparently you do as well. We received more than 300 suggestions, but one choice led the pack: No Good Burger Joint in Baldwin. I have to admit, when I went to their Facebook page, I was confronted with a gargantuan burger that looked like the holy grail. Because our readers are important to us, I packed my passport, dodged roadblocks, and made my way to Baldwin, all for a chunk of chopped meat. Your editor has eaten thousands of burgers in his time, and the owners of Burger King once suggested that I should be nominated for patron saint of the burger industry. Not a bad idea. Back to the burger at hand: No Good's burger was simply one of the finest I've ever tried. No doubt about it. Years ago, we named Ceriello Fine Foods the best burger in Long Island, that was before NGBJ.
No Good Burger Joint is a small family-run business that takes burgers seriously – as well as your safety. When you enter, your temperature is taken. The place is small, and with social distancing protocols, there are only about a half dozen tables being used at present (of course, this could change with changing restaurant regulations). Be warned: The seats fill up quickly, and you have to wait for one to open up. The best time to get there is around noon on weekends. As an appetizer, we recommend the Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad, which is Brussels sprouts, crumbled bacon, parmesan cheese and house made Caesar dressing. Heavenly, but we're here for the main course, aren't we? We went with The Farmer Kev, a football-sized burger made with eight ounces of their signature blend topped with barbecue pulled pork, crispy bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion straws, and coleslaw covered with a barbecue and ranch combo, all on a brioche roll. Now I know what heaven is like: An endless supply of Farmer Kev burgers, cooked to perfection. This was juicy, delicious, and mammoth sized. It must be eaten with a knife and fork; there is no way this will fit in your mouth. Another top choice is The Pops Burger, eight ounces of their meat blend with sauteed onions, bacon, and American cheese; add mushrooms for only $1 more. It must have been at least a pound of mushrooms, or that's what it looked like. Stupendous!
The burgers come with delicious homemade fries; the sweet potato ones were a mountain, and nice and crispy. Also on the menu are Chicken Chimi Chimi, a veggie Green Thumb burger, and the Pollo Loco sandwich. Salads include Watermelon Spinach, Southwest, TBJ Cobb, and That Ice Burger. Owner Marcello has carved out a prominent place in Long Island Burger history. Stop in and say hi, you won't be disappointed – but you will be full. Why the name, you ask? Marcello was all ready to run with the name The Burger Joint when he was contacted by the consigliori from another restaurant that was already using that name. Thus, No Good Burger Joint. It's located at 930 Atlantic Avenue in Baldwin. Call them at (516) 442-5434; deliveries are available through Grub Hub. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 7
SPORTS BEAT With the 2020 NFL season in the books, The the CBS show “NFL Today” as it spoofed its various air personalities with its cold opening New York Jets and new head coach Robert Saleh are going to have to make some tough which designed to tie in with the next day’s Super Bowl. Beck Bennett, Mikey Day, Chris personnel decisions, the biggest one being Redd, and Kenan Thompson were fine as who should be the starting quarterback. Incumbent Sam Darnold hasn’t set the world Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms, Nate Burleson, and James Brown respectively, but Alex on fire with his play, but he has been Moffat really killed as Bill victimized by injuries, illness, and a “Coach” Cohwer, as he lack of decent offensive linemen and Jacob deGrom accurately captured his voice quality receivers. and mannerisms. CBS Sports held a Zoom press Savvy New York Mets fans conference the Wednesday before always knew the preferred Super Bowl LV with a number of their destination of pitcher Trevor NFL air personalities. I spoke with the Bauer was always downtown terrific trio who anchor “That Other Los Angeles and not Flushing, Pregame Show” on CBS Sports Network – Amy Trask, Kyle Long, and Queens. Bauer grew up in the London Fletcher – about whether San Fernando Valley not far Darnold could still be the Jets’ savior. from Universal Studios, and I asked Trask, who worked for The graduated from UCLA with an Oakland Raiders under the aegis of engineering degree. Throw in Al Davis, if her old boss would have the fact The Los Angeles Bob Smith taken a flyer on Darnold: “Well, it Dodgers have played in the would have depended on our needs at the last two World Series, and were willing to pay time, but to answer your question honestly, him $40 million in 2021, it would be hard to probably not,” she replied candidly. Long and quibble with his decision. While I never begrudge the compensation Fletcher were concerned about his inability to an athlete can command, the reported $40 stay on the field. NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” paid tribute to million per season seems an excessive
amount to pay Bauer. He’s not the Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Aaron Nola, and certainly not the Mets' Jacob deGrom. Former Mets general manager and current SNY baseball analyst Jim Duquette forthrightly wondered why the Mets were not as aggressive in their pursuit of centerfielder George Springer, who they really needed; Springer wound up signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mets outfielder Michael Conforto (below left) and Yankees infielders Gio Urshela and Luke Voit were honored at the annual Thurman Munson Dinner which was held virtually this year. This annual gala, named after the Yankees captain whose life ended in a tragic place crash in 1979, benefits AHRC, a non-profit whose mission is to Bob enhance the lives
BOWLING
From PBA Legends To Local Lanes
The Kids Get Canceled: The International Bowling Campus Youth Development team has canceled the events on the 2020-2021 USA Bowling Regional Tournament schedule due to ongoing public health concerns and local regulations surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. IBC Youth Development already had postponed the first five tournaments on the 16-event schedule, and continuing to postpone additional events was not a viable option, due to local restrictions and the availability of bowling centers. The 2021 USA Bowling National Championships, scheduled to take place July 7-8 and 11 in Indianapolis, also will be canceled. The cancellation of the USA Bowling Regional Tournament events and USA Bowling National Championships does not affect the 2021 Junior Gold Championships or Bowling.com Youth Open Championships. Both events still are scheduled to take place from July 5-25 in Indianapolis. The 2021-2022 USA Bowling Regional Tournament schedule will get underway in
October 2021, and more information concerning the dates and locations in each of the regions will be available at a later date. “The safety and well-being of the athletes, coaches and staff is our top priority, and we felt this was the best decision looking ahead at the rest of the USA Bowling schedule for the 2020-2021 events,” said IBC Youth Development Managing Director Gary Brown. “We are disappointed to not be able to see these young athletes compete this season, but we are looking forward to the launch of the 20212022 USA Bowling Regional season.” USA Bowling Regional Tournament events started in 2013, building the foundation that would lead to the inaugural USA Bowling National Championships in 2016. The national event grew from the USA Bowling program, designed as a team-based youth program to introduce the sport to children. USA Bowling Leagues share a teambased structure, similar to all youth sports, where young athletes receive instruction, have regular practices with a coach and compete against other teams during an eight- to 12-week season.
8 • Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021
Smith
For more information on USA Bowling, visit BOWL.com/USABowling. – USBC Rollin’ ’Em Hot: This took place right after we went to press with our last issue, but in case you haven’t heard: The New York State USBC reported that New York State notched another insane league bowling accomplishment on February 11, as Rich Wagner of Batavia, New York, bowled games of 300, 300, and 299 for an 899 series in the Toyota of Batavia Thursday FiveMan League at Mancuso Bowling Center. “On the last ball, I was thinking just hit the head pin; don’t throw it in the gutter,” said Wagner, who left a 6 pin on his last shot (and the only non-strike of the series), to The Batavian website. “My legs were shaking. I couldn’t feel them. I didn’t want to fall down on the lanes. It was just get it there. I tugged it just a little bit, but it could have gone.” The United States Bowling Congress, the sport’s national governing body, lists that 36 bowlers have registered 900 series as official achievements in bowling history – which means that Wagner’s stubborn 6 pin is the only thing that prevented him from joining that list of perfect bowlers.
W ii tt hh LL ll oo yydd CC aa rr rr oo ll ll W of those with cognitive disabilities, especially minors. It has raised more than $15 million through the years. Voit spoke passionately about his younger sister who has Down’s Syndrome in a Zoom press confab before the start of the event. Conforto told the press there was nothing new to report regarding a contract extension. He said he would very much like to remain a Met. He also has been the Mets union representative for the last few years. He ducked my question about what the Major League Baseball Players Association’s demands would be in the
upcoming negotiations with the owners, since the current collective bargaining agreement expires after this season. Two veteran sports authors, Russ Cohen and Howie Karpin (who is also one of Major League Baseball’s official scorers) have written a fun paperback, Baseball’s Best Rookies (Authors Place Press). Cohen and Karpin grew up in Brooklyn and the Bronx, respectively, so it’s not surprising there is a lot of Mets and Yankees content. The authors, to their credit, also dedicate early chapters to a pair of great and often overlooked hitters, Tony Oliva and Richie Allen, who died this past December. They even pay tribute to one of the more obscure American League Rookies of the Year, former Seattle Mariners reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki, who won the award in 2000. Actor and director Ed Burns, who grew up in Valley Stream, pays tribute to his hometown with a new series, “Bridge and Tunnel,” which is set in 1980 and airs on
the premium cable service Epix. Burns is a huge Mets fan, and he uses archival footage of the Mets playing at Shea Stadium, with the late Bob Murphy doing play-by-play. This is a fun show. East Meadow native Matt Doherty is a Long Island basketball legend and remains one of the best players to ever come out of Hicksville’s Holy Trinity High School. He went onto star at the University of North Carolina, where he also coached. Doherty has just published his memoir, Rebound, in which he discusses his career ups and downs with candor and humor. He details how he believes saintly Lou Carnesecca put the kibosh on him getting a head coaching job at St. John’s because Lou held a grudge against him for not visiting the campus when he was trying to recruit him out of Holy Trinity. Rebound is a lively read.
Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 9
APPLE SAUCE
NYC Is Coming Back
The Bright Lights Slowly Emerge: Things have been dormant on the Broadway scene for more than a year, but finally, things seem to be just about ready to resume – but quite slowly, and with an abundance of caution. Until there are shows and sports every day of the week, there are are now plans for things for fans to go and see just a few days from now. It was recently announced that The Apollo Theatre, Broadway’s Music Box Theatre, St. Ann’s Warehouse, La MaMa, and The Park Avenue Armory are now among the entertainment buildings – being called “Flex Venues” – that will begin to repopen starting April 2 as a new concept called The NY PopsUp series. According to organizers, NY PopsUp is an expansive festival consisting of hundreds of pop-up performances that will “regularly permeate the daily lives of New Yorkers,” according to a press release. “It is intended to revitalize the spirit and emotional wellbeing of New York citizens through the energy of live performance. The programming for NY PopsUp will be led by the interdisciplinary artist Zack Winokur, in partnership with a hand-selected council of artistic advisors who represent the diversity of New York’s dynamic performing arts scenes and artistic communities.” NY PopsUp will run through Labor Day – and will host the 20th anniversary of The Tribeca Film Festival and The Festival at Little Island at Pier 55 as part of the process. Here’s what make all this so different: Most events associated with NY PopsUp will be unannounced (and unticketed) and will be designed so that New Yorkers happen upon them in their everyday lives. NY PopsUp is a surprise that you happen upon, rather than an event or concert you are alerted to via a notification or a schedule. The best way to find out about events that will “pop up” is through social media (@nypopsup on Instagram and Twitter; the organization is also on Facebook). Since this is all going on during a pandemic, The New York State Department of Health and NY PopsUp are working with Broadway theaters in order to come up with specific safety plans for venues before the first performances are staged in April. It’s hoped that this will essentially be seen as a program that will become a primer for Broadway, and will eventually allow show to increase audience size gradually as the health officials will deem responsible. The term “Flex venues” signifies that the performance spaces are able to be retrofited for social distancing guidelines. Read all about it at nypopsup.com.
10 • Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021
Spring Has Sprung (With Spools): North Hempstead Hosts Drive-in Movie
The North Hempstead Town Board has announced the return of the Town’s drive-in movie series with an upcoming screening of the hit Pixar film, Onward. The screening will be Saturday, April 10 at North Hempstead Beach Park. Cars will be admitted beginning at 6:30 pm, with the movie scheduled to start at 8 pm. While the event is free, the Town is encouraging attendees to bring non-perishable and canned foods as part of North Hempstead's food donation drive. Advance registration for the film showing is not required, but residents must show proof of residency before entering the park. There will be no food available for purchase at these events. However, residents are encouraged Courtesy North Hempstead Town Board to bring their own snacks. Restroom facilities will be available. For more information on this event, call (516) 869-6311.
HEALTH & WELLNESS Northwell Health Honors Frontline Staff: Northwell Health frontline staff, leaders, and former patients marked one year since COVID-19 began its deadly rampage through New York State by dedicating a mural at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center. To commemorate the anniversary of LIJ’s first COVID-19 patient, a 15foot painting titled “Frontline Warriors 2020” was displayed in the lobby. Created by New Yorkbased artists Sergio Barrale and Angela China, the painting had been on loan until LIJ administration and Northwell Health Courtesy Northwell Foundation purchased it at Health auction and donated it back to Northwell. In it, nameless masked frontline health care workers stand together with arms intermeshed in an unbreakable human chain. It is more than symbolic. The health system treated more than 163,000 COVID-19 patients in the span of a year and acted as a bulwark in the communities it serves during this time of crisis. In leading the way, Northwell also lost employees to the virus. As a memorial to fallen team members, the health system will pay tribute with remembrance circles and other events at its facilities, a town hall for its 75,000 employees and with a light installation at the corporate headquarters. Then came the vaccine. When Queens nurse Sandra Lindsay became the first American to be vaccinated on December 14, 2020, the image of her getting the shot ricocheted around the globe and instantly changed the trajectory of the virus from grim specter to one of hope. New CBD Reality Series: “Deadliest Catch” and “Ice Road Truckers” creator Thom Beers is planting his latest seed in TV ground with a new reality series
By Rich Branciforte about CBD, “Kings of Kush,” which premiered March Ethan Zohn & 9 on Vice. The series follows Anthony “Sully” Sullivan, Andrew Sullivan a celebrity TV pitchman best known as “the OxiClean guy,” as he launches a new hemp farming venture. Sully took a departure from his 30-year career in selling products on TV when his daughter was born with a rare genetic disorder and needed an alternative to prescription medication. After witnessing the benefits of CBD, he started a 116-acre organic hemp farm and enlisted his friend and TV adventure racer Dave Christian to help, although neither of them knew anything about farming. Despite this, they built Montkush Farms in Vermont and let Beers and his team film it. Also in the series is famed “Survivor” winner Ethan Zohn, a longtime friend who battled cancer and relied on cannabis in his post-cancer recovery. After learning of the mission, Ethan joined the crew and spent the summer at the farm becoming an investor himself. Support For Those In Need: Therapy My Way, a counseling service, has opened its second location in Roslyn Heights. It specializes in personalized psychotherapy and social skills. Sessions feature the most current, proven approaches for anxiety, depression, relationshipiIssues, moderate OCD, phobias, social anxiety, substance abuse, parent issues, trauma, and panic disorder. Dr. Fred Holtz (pictured left) hosts a Zoom support group Mondays at 7 pm for people involved in both parental and romantic, narcissistic relationships. Holtz and his colleague also host a live broadcast Fridays at 5:30 pm discussing various topics involving narcissistic abuse in relationships. Info: (516) 888-3000. Courtesy Therapy My Way
Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 11
STREAM TEAM Roses & Revolutions
VV iirr tt uu aa ll & & SS tt rr ee aa m m iinn gg C oo nn cc ee rr tt ss –– LL iivv ee FF oo rr You C Sessions Live
Live Music Lives: Actual live concerts and comedy shows are still quite the rarity because of COVID-19 restrictions – but for just a few dollars (or sometimes free), streaming events are going strong. Here’s what’s in the offing in the coming days: SessionsLive.com remains a top source for virtual entertainment of all kinds. On the schedule there are The Disco Biscuits, performing March 20 at 9 pm; the veteran but ever-vibrant Glass Tiger on March 21 at 2 pm; area favorites Postmodern Jukebox on March 20 at 5 pm and March 21 at noon; and red-hot Roses & Revolutions on March 25 at 8 pm. Log on to the website listed above for tickets and information. Such Charlatans: Indie/alt rockers The Charlatans return for a special steaming live performance on March 28 at 2:30 pm via Songkick.com. The Charlatans (sometimes known as The Charlatans
Postmodern Jukebox
Sessions Live
UK) are an English indie rock band formed in 1989, from both the West Midlands and Northwich, Chester. Much More To Find & Enjoy: Some of the biggest names in pop, rock, and more will be beamed to homes and tablets worldwide win the coming days – including Dropkick Murphys with a celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 at 7 pm (listed as a free show; get the scoop at dropkickmurphys.com; there is a section on the website for fans to chip for the expenses of the broadcast). That same day, Flogging Molly will be part of another St. Patrick’s concert at 3 pm, live from Dubland, Ireland. This show can be found at floggingmollylive.com. March 17 will assuredly be a full day of Irish rocking fun. Here’s a big one back for another go, but this time as a streamer: John Oates is teaming up with Bob Weir, Dave Grohl, Sammy Hagar, Jim James, Keb Mo, Shawn Colvin, Michael Franti, and his Hall & Oates partner Daryl Hall on March 20 for Oates Song Fest 7908, a streaming concert that will raise money for Feeding America. The show is free, but viewers will be asked to donate to the cause. It will be streamed across multiple platforms via Nugs.TV. Weir’s Blue Mountain, his first original album in 30 years, is now available on LP and CD, and can be found at iTunes.
12 • Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021
CALENDAR March 17, 24, 31 • Open Mic • The Homestead • Oyster Bay March 17 6 pm • Bryce Larsen • Garden Social • East Meadow March 17 4 pm • Mr. Chrisp • Long Ireland Beer Co. • Riverhead March 17 • The Mystic • 317 Main Street • Farmingdale March 17, 24, 31 6 pm • Tiger Rose • The Warehouse • Amityville March 17 • Super Sonic Blonde • KJ Farrell’s • Bellmore March 18, 25, April1 • fiZ Open Mic • Dylan's • Forest Hills March 19 • The Mystic • G's Club • West Hempstead March 19 7 pm • The Courtesy Live From Las Vegas Remedy • Napper Tandy’s • Smithtown March 19 6:30 pm • Acoustic Hand • The Bench • Stony Brook March 19 6 pm • The'90s Band • Mulcahy's • Wantagh March 19, 26, April 2, 9 • The Blend • Eleanor's Lounge • Bohemia March 20 7:30 pm • Live Vinyl • Bartini’s • Babylon March 20 Fools For Kings • G's Club • West Hempstead Yngwie March 20 6pm • Malmsteen Streetfighter • The Warehouse • Amityville March 20 • The Mystic • K.J. Farrell’s • Bellmore March 20 Noon • Tony Aetoglou & Jimmy Loeffler • Mulcahy’s • Wantagh March 20 6 pm • All The Blind Things Duo • Mulcahy’s • Wantagh March 21 • Dead Ringers • K.J. Farrell’s • Bellmore March 21 1 pm • Bryce Larsen • Minnesota's • Long Beach March 21 6 pm • The David Lamm Trio • Bacaro • Massapequa Park March 22, 29 6:15 pm • Maxwell Peters Open Mic • Country Corners • Setauket March 24 6:30 pm • The David Lamm Trio • The Spotlight At The Paramount • Huntington March 25 7 pm • Rusty Spur • Daisy • Patchogue March 26 7 pm • Brothers & Friends • Napper Tandy's • Smithtown March 26 • Fivestone • G's Club • West Hempstead March 26 7:30 pm • Buttered Soul • Katies Of Smithtown March 26 5 pm • Sunrise Highway • Mulcahy's • Wantagh March 26 6 pm • '70s Rock Parade • The Warehouse • Amityville March 27 • Dead Ringers • Beau's Bar • Greenlawn March 27 • RPM • G's Club• West Hempstead March 27 • Cover Girl • The Warehouse • Amityville March 27 8 pm • Lady Picture Show Stream •
Your Guide To Local Events
89 North • Patchogue March 27 7:45 pm • Wild Honey • Ristegio's • Patchogue March 27 6:30 pm • Terror Garden • Buckley’s • Valley Stream March 27 6 pm • Mach 5 • Hopwin’s Brewery • Bay Shore March 27 6 pm • Warped Tour Trio • Mulcahy’s • Wantagh March 28 5 pm • Live Vinyl • Nutty Irishman • Farmingdale April 1 7 pm • Acoustic Hand • Country Corner • Setauket April 2 7:30 pm • Face First • The Loft • Bellmore April 2 8 pm • Bad Reputation • Butterfields • Hauppauge April 2 6 pm • E3 • Back Bar • Riverhead April 2 6 pm • Jimmy Kenny Jam • Mulcahy’s • Wantagh April 3 • Undercover • G's Club • West Hempstead April 3 6 pm • Mike Delguidice • Mulcahy’s • Wantagh April 3 8 pm • UnDeCoVeR • Eleanor's Lounge • Bohemia April 5 6:15 pm • Open Mic/Maxwell Peters • Portside • Port Jefferson April 6 6:15 pm • Open Mic/Maxwell Peters • Country Corners • Setauket April 9 • Rockin' 45s • G's Club • West Hempstead Live Streaming Shows March 20 7:30 pm • Yngwie Malmsteen live stream from Las Vegas. For tickets and other events: yngwie.veeps.com March 26 7 pm • Live Stream Flushing Town Hall presents The Songbirds, performed by The Mala Waldron Quartet. Tickets $5; available on-site at flushingtownhall.org March 26 6 pm • Live Stream: Old School Hip Hop, Legends 2 Legend. Tickets yourshow.live March 27 6 pm • The Art Of Comedy. Tickets: yourshowlive April 1 • Joe Bonamassa live from Austin City Limits. Tickets: joebonamassa.com
Joe Bonamassa
Robert Sutton
Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 13
Photo: © Dave Meyers
Late October brought on the beginning of the holiday music buying season – and from the moment it was annouced, multi-platinum superstar Ariana Grande's new album, Position, was destined to be #1 on the Billboard 200 from the day it was released, marking the fifth time the singer has gone to the pinnacle of that chart – in fact, she is the only artist in history to debut at #1 in that fashion. The album was a smash even before it was released, and remained high in the Top 10 as we went to press. The new effort is being buoyed by smash singles such as the title track and “34 & 35,” which sent fans scurrying to lyric sites to check out what the quite provocative “adult” lyrics of the song really were. Let's put it this way: “34 & 35” is clearly the 27-year-old pop star's most, shall we say, provacative and mature work to date. It all is working extremely well: In 2020, she's scored #1 singles with "Positions," "Stuck With U," and "Rain On Me (featuring Lady Gaga).” On November 18, it was revealed that Grande is the first woman to surpass 64 million monthly listeners in Spotify history.
Ariana Grande Her ‘Positions’ Are Always #1
BOOK BEAT Arezzi’s Awesome Adventures: Long Island’s John Arezzi has had quite a life in moving from career to career, following his passions – and on April 6 ECW Press will bring his life story to his fans around the country. Arezzi is a lifelong Mets fan who dreamed of a job in baseball. In 1981, he took a job with the Mets Class A team in North Carolina – but Arezzi had another love: professional wrestling. He ran a fan club for the villainous Fred Blassie as a teenager, then progressed to wrestling photographer, and finally even stepped into the ring himself as John Anthony. Eventually, he escaped to pursue a new life in an altogether different world: country music. After adopting a new name, John Alexander, his many accomplishments include discovering both Patty Loveless and (decades later), current country superstar Kelsea Ballerini. Wrestling, however, proves tough to shake: In the 1990s, Arezzi hosted the pioneering radio talk show Pro Wrestling Spotlight here in Long Island. He also ran the first major conventions in this area, assembling a wrestling “who’s who” to meet with fans. He promoted mat shows both at home and abroad, and was a key figure behind importing lucha libre into America. The new book Mat Memories – written with the internationally renowned wrestling journalist Greg Oliver – is Arezzi’s chance to hold
14 • Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021
the mic, and he holds nothing back — he names names and tells the untold behind-the-scenes stories from the ring, the stage, and the diamond. The book will be released worldwide on April 6 in both Courtesy traditional and e-book formats, and will be Frank Troiano available wherever books are sold. Music Musings: In the works in Canada is a biography of the renowned (and vastly underrated) guitarist Domenic Troiano (who replaced Joe Walsh when the soon-to-be Eagles member left The James Gang) and The Guess Who (an eventual replacement for Randy Bachman), who went on to record a trio of fondly remembered progressive rock albums Domenic Troiano under his own name. Music journalist Mark Doble is reportedly part of the project; no release date has been reported … Speaking of The Guess Who, the legendary Canadian group is the subject of a new book, Wheatfield Empire: The Listener's Guide to The Guess Who, available in all formats. Robert Lawson, who has penned similar books about Cheap Trick and Nazareth, offers a detailed account of the band’s history, including quotes from the group members during The Guess Who’s heyday of 1969 through 1975. It’s an effort worthy of The Beatles – the astounding amount of painstaking research offered in this book assuredly makes it a rock fan’s dream.
Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 15
Enhanced Waters: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
By Rich Branciforte
I am a man who has seen the error of his ways. Diet sodas: Perfect for those who want to cut out sugar, right? Not really. After years battling my wife and son about the ill effects of drinking diet sodas, I'm ready to run up the white flag. It's not that I'm addicted or anything, you have to understand. I actually like the taste of diet soda, and I only drink two to three cans per day. Although I've read articles about the ill effects of aspartame and other sweeteners, an article online that listed the 20 best and worst diet drinks an eye opener. The sweeteners used actually make the drink taste sweeter than sugar, some by a huge multiple. Apparently, your kidneys can also be affected, and of course, the carbonation isn't good for your gastro system. What really worried me was that all my favorites were on the bad list: Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry, Diet Dr. Pepper Cream, Diet Pepsi Cherry, Barq's Diet Root Beer. What's left to drink? Ah yes: enhanced waters. I was now on a mission, and I loaded up on five brands. Here are my findings: Ugliest by far was Hint, water infused with cherry essence. Wow; the boys back in the lab must never have tasted this stuff – there’s no taste whatsoever. it made plain tap water taste flavorful. Zero calories and zero grams of sugar. Next was Core, a nutrient-enhanced water beverage with “organic hydration.” Wow, that's a mouthful. The watermelon lemon flavor was pretty good; mild taste, but the taste was there. I would put this high on my good list. It sports 10 calories and one gram of sugar. Then we had Trimino protein-infused water. I tried the coconut pineapple and it was pretty good, strong flavor taste, and at zoro grams of sugar and 28 calories, it's a good choice. Next up we have Stop & Shop's Nature's Promise Water Beverage. This stuff is pure rotgut, the ripple of the water business. It's made with synthetic colors, artificial flavors, and added sugar. No calories, though. The watermelon flavor was totally tasteless. Truly the ugliest of the ugly. Last in our sample was Bai, antioxidant cocofusion. This brand was voted best in the article I had read. This really tasted good. I had the Andes Coconut Lime, and it was rich tasting and flavorful. It was like drinking a Pina Colada. Also tried the cherry, and was excellent also. At 10 calories and one grams of sugar in an 18ounce bottle, it was good on that score also. It is the most expensive of the group, costing about twice what I normally paid for two two liter diet sodas – but you can't put a price on quality, right? The moral of the story, my friends, is each to his own. I went cold turkey on diet sodas and lasted nine days before I caved and had a few for old times sake. I am happy to report that I'm back on the wagon. But boy, do I crave my Diet Dr. Pepper Cream. This all comes at a time when Burger King has machines where you can come up with dozens of diet soda combos. Oh, well; I guess I'll just have to try the new KFC Crispy Chicken sandwich for some healthy food. Have a favorite diet water? Let us know what it is. Email us at gtmag@optonline.net. Down the hatch!
16 • Good Times Magazine • February March 16 - April 12, 2021
Proudly Presents
Long Island Music Week Nov. 5-14, 2021 • Saturday November 6
• Saturday November 13
Open House At 25+ Recording & Rehearsal Studios Meet The Owners & Engineers Tour The Studios
Musical Instrument Super Sales Super Deals, Giveaways, In Stores To Bring People Into Brick And Mortar
Support Long Island Music Festival Friday november 12, saturday november 13, sunday november 14
200 Acts Appearing at 100+ Clubs, Restaurants, Bars, Performing Arts Centers, Libraries All Genres of Music Showcased February 2022 - Long Island Music Business Association Awards Dinner honoring those iconic Businesses that have supported The Long Island Music Scene including clubs, studios, MI stores, Tribute and original bands from the 60's & 70's, radio station personalities and stations Purpose: To promote brick and mortar music businesses and bring people into stores, studios, clubs and performing arts centers to experience all that LI music businesses have to offer
advIsory board Kevin Sheehan, owner KJ Farrells & The Warehouse Jerry Ricci, owner Long Island Drum Center Dan Welsh, owner 89 North Karl Groeger, owner, Looney Tunes Mike McElwee, founder Nutty Irishman, owner TJ Finleys Lou Plaia, founder and EVP Reverbnation
Jodi Giambrone, Director of Marketing, Patchogue Theatre Jeff Frohman, owner Murphy's Music Alissa Marti, Director of Business Development, Mulcahy's David Saul, owner Marketing Masters NY Ben Metzger, owner Studio Noir, Director, Long Beach Ukulele Orchestra Heather Draskin, Communications Manager, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center
For More InFo ContaCt rICh at lIMusICbusInessassoC@gMaIl.CoM Good Times Magazine - March 16 - April 12, 2021- 17
WHEELS & DEALS
B yy R B R ii cc hh B Brr aa nn cc ii ff oo rr tt ee DeJesu’s original song has been integrated into the organization’s marketing and fundraising campaigns. To watch “United Together (We Will Survive)” and to make a contribution to The United Way of Long Island, visit unitedwayliorg/unitedtogetherwewillsurvive. To follow Joe DeJesu on Facebook, log on to Facebook.com/joedejesumusic.
Photo:Marianne Stone
DeJesu Scores For United Way The Huntington-based musician Joe DeJesu recently arranged an original song for The United Way of Long Island to inspire hope and bring positivity during these difficult times. His song, “United Together (We Will Survive),” accompanies a poignant video demonstrating United Way’s continued efforts to help those impacted by COVID-19, including health care responders, families, mothers with newborns, seniors, and the unemployed. DeJesu’s dedication to helping others as well as his commitment to the not-for-profit’s mission is a testament to the goodwill of the Long Island community. The video featuring
A Songwriter Workshop In Westhampton Beach The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center's Songwriter’s Intensive is a six-week workshop focusing on the art and craft of writing songs. In the creative and supportive environment of WHBPAC, participants will be encouraged to write and share their songs with a group of like-minded writers of different levels. New writers will be given the opportunity to learn from the group and give them the tools to develop their own voices in song. For writers who attended our fall session, we will build upon the skills they developed in our fall session but we will focus on helping them to take songwriting to the next level. The program will be individualized based
18 • Good Times Magazine March 16 - April 12, 2021
on each writer’s experience. The Intensive will work with developing lyrics, melodies and chord structures. Additionally, licensing, copyrights, and performance rights organizations will be discussed, as will the different ways artists can monetize their songs. The final session will be an individual live video recording of the artists’ songs that developed during the course, performed on the stage of Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center.
Photo:Frank Russell
The Latest News On Hot Area Music & Entertainment
WHEELS & DEALS Storm played to a packed house at the legendary My Father’s Place in Roslyn. It was a spectacular show and they are looking forward to coming back in the future
from all over the globe. Bands who would like to submit their original unlicensed songs should send MP3s or YouTube links to daveblackrocks @aol.com or terrortrashsnake @yahoo.com.
Photo: Joe Picket Music
Piket Voted Best Instrumentalist/Singer/Songwriter Long lsland-baed multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriterJoe Piket, has been voted the “#1 Piano Entertainer on Long Island” in the 2021 Best of Long Island Contest. This is especially noteworthy because Piket is the first person to win in this new category, which was added for 2021. Piketh has worked with Chuck Berry, Leon Russell, Jason Bonham, Dee Snyder, Johnny Maestro, and a slew of other stars. Piket’s music and videos are available on iTunes, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, and most other digital formats, including CDs. Prior to the pandemic last January, Joe Piket & The
Photo: Marc Weiss Photo:Rockinʼ Robin
Double Trouble Radio Show Highlights Unsigned Bands On Tuesday, March 16, “The Double Trouble Radio Show” will broadcast a live three-hour event playing the music of unsigned bands. The show will also be archived. The show airs 7 to 10 pm on iradiousa.com, and will feature emerging artists
Dj Chef Marc Weiss Featured In 'Supermarket Stakeout Challenge' Marc Weiss – better known by his fans as DJ Chef, who recently won Food Network’s “Cutthroat Kitchen” hosted by Alton Brown – headed back to TV to compete in another challenging Food Network cooking competition show, “Supermarket Stakeout,” which aired on March 9; catch it on replays through the service. “'Supermarket Stakeout' was a fun experi-
Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 21, 2021 • 19
The Latest News On Hot Area Music & Entertainment
WHEELS & DEALS ence,” said DJ Chef. “It’s basically a potluck dinner competition. You get a grab bag of ingredients, and you have to make the best of it while cooking in a parking lot. It’s really the luck of the draw. I always try to go with the flow and make it entertaining, as it's not normal cooking conditions. Alex called me out for being great on 'Cutthroat Kitchen' just before the shoot, so I was thinking the judges were going to hold me to a higher standard and that gave me a little extra motivation." DJ Chef ranks as he only entertainer who simultaneously cooks and deejays for private parties and events worldwide. He’s been dubbed “The King of the Hamptons” for his wildly popular, interactive cooking class parties for bachelorette and birthday parties that fuse food, music and fun. The chef received his training under world-renowned chefs Bobby Flay, Matthew Kenney, and John Tesar in Manhattan’s fine dinning scene. A Long Island Van Halen Tribute Some of Long Island's finest bands have gotten together and released a tribute to Van Halen and Eddie Van Halen, featuring Hellgate and a impressive list of locals. Get the info at livanhalentribute.com. All
Photo: Courtsey Hellgate
proceeds go to The New York Lung Cancer Research Foundation “in oving Memory of Eddie Van Halen,” according to a press release. Hellgate has also released a video for their track "1984-Panama" as a teaser; watch it at youtu.be/bQtjJhZ. Cactus New Album Tightrope! Classic rock legends of the 1970s, Cactus came to be known as “The American Led Zeppelin,” a moniker they owned by virtue of their explosive blues rock stylings and subdued yet undeniably brilliant musicianship, not to mention their energetic stage presence which made them a staple of arena rock venues around the globe. Now, the band has returned with a new album, Tightrope, that strikes a delicate balance between powerful, driving rockers and more complex, heady album tracks. Still led by iconic drummer Rick Eberle PR
Elektragaaz: It’s A ‘Synaesthetic Picture Show’ Elektragaaz is a global live and virtual instrumental group featuring a mix of live and electronic music with most of its members based in the New York metropolitan area – but headed by a mysterious and intensely private Frisian composer using the pseudonym of Poppo Redband, usually referred to as simply Redband. This unique unit has released a new digital EP – The Synaesthetic Picture Show Now Playing Part 1 – now unleashed worldwide on AIS Records. The group exists in both the real world and in a fictional universe, a volatile blend that can be bewitching or bewildering or both. The music too may leave listeners both bewildered and bewitched, drawing on such far flung influences as classical music, hip hop, rock, club, techno, pop, dance, film noir, comic books and video games – all precipitated by Redband's neurological condition which causes him to see music as well as hear it. Additional EPs from Elektragaaz will be released every three to four months after the initial release.
20 • Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021
Carmine Appice alongside longtime members Jimmy Kunes on vocals and Randy Pratt on harmonica, the trio is joined by new lead guitarist and vocalist Paul Warren (who has worked with Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and Joe Cocker) and James Caputo on bass. Tightrope will also give longtime Cactus fans a reason to cheer as it includes special guest appearances from original Cactus guitarist Jim McCarty and singer Phil Naro.
DEMOLITION Nina Et cetera Triptych Independent Who: Having her return as part the area recording scene is like a welcome warm breeze after a very cold winter: Long Island's Nina Et cetera returns with this bluesy nine-song album that adds to her quite unique canon, and it's right on time. Released in September, this new disc finds Nina penning new tunes and covering classics in her usual irrepressible style. “This our American triptych – songs of where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we’re headed next,” Nina wrote in her album description on the Bandcamp website. All the songs here were performed and arrranged by Nina – she plays guitar, harmonium, autoharp, baritone guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, synthesizer, banjo, Hammond organ, drums, stylophone, and more – with Tim accompanying on bass. There's nobody else like her on the musical scene; she's completely original and utterly indescribable – and that’s a good thing. The record was recorded at The Din, and it sounds sonically perfect. The Songs: “Mixed Up Blues,” “The Long Goodbye,” “One For My Baby,” “This Life,” “Satisfied Mind,” “It Hurts Me Too,” “Procrastinatin' Blues,” “House Of The Rising Sun,” “Road Reprise.” To Find Out About This Artist & Buy This Music: Find Nina Et cetera at Bandcamp.comp; her website is ninaetcera.com. Hear her at iTunes and Spotify as well.
MUSICIANS WANTED DRUMMER WANTED for classic rock quartet. 50+. (631) 462-5987 (1298) SINGER/SONGWRITER looking for a lead guitarist and female lead singer to interpret and play my original songs. Hoping to record and play live. Michael (631) 475-2316. (1298)
connections with bars, clubs, restaurants? Introduce us to your connections and we we’ll pay you for what they buy. Our prices and service put you in a position to make extra money. Position is commission-based. Nassau County, Eastern Queens only. Contact: Nick@ Classic-Beverage.com. (1297)
ORIGINAL GOSSIP band is looking for a bass player. All original music only. Log on to OriginalGossipBand.com. Check us out and contact Tania at: ionlyrocknroll@hotmail.com (1298) GUITARIST SEEKS Drummer for original duo performing rock, pop, and country music. Call Mark at (718) 757-9435 or write to siegtec@ icloud.com. (1299) WHO WANTS to jam? Guitarist/singer seeks all other instruments for fun jams. I know lots lots of jam band stuff and classic rock, too. Based in Huntington, I don’t mind driving to a convenient studio for all – give a call! Rob (516) 672-3957. (1310) OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU currently sell products or have
Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021 • 21
RHYTHM TRACKING
With Jimi LaLumia Mary Wilson
The 'Supreme' Ms. Wilson: Ths ranks as just my own opinion, of course: The greatest decade in the history of modern popular music was the 1960s. Of course, I might be inclined to feel that way because my coming-of-age teen years happened during that world-shaking pop culture upheaval time frame. The Beatles, above and by themselves, might be able to substantiate that claim, but another recording group added just as much weight culturally. The Supremes, a black female trio, became the biggest American success story of that era, laying claim to being the most successful group ever on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, delivering 12 chart-topping hits to reach the numberone position there – which ranks as a feat that has yet to be duplicated by any U.S. recording group. While the group's success was built around the AM radiopiercing sound of lead singer Diana Ross – cutting through the static with that pulsating Motown beat – equal homage must be paid to the late Mary Wilson, who The Supremes died recently. Wilson, alongside Florence Ballard, enhanced the perfect harmonic sound of the trio in its prime – and in 1970, when Ross left the group to pursue a solo career, Wilson remained with several new lineups of Supremes, never taking the lead spot, but keeping the spirit and the visual aura of the group alive and well. Wilson went on to write several sometimes controversial books about her days in The Supremes and her musical life afterwards, and managed to keep her name and image afloat for decades after The Supremes were no longer on the scene. Most recently, Wilson was featured on the TV series "Dancing With The Stars," and was involved in upcoming celebrations commemorating the 60th anniversary of The Supremes existence. She will be missed.
Jimi LaLumia Publicity/PR I made “Death To Disco”/Psychotic Frogs an international sensation, and work with worldwide icon Jayne County. I am available for consult on publicity/media angles for bands, actors, politics, and more. Facebook/lalumi-dia public relations
22 • Good Times Magazine - March 16- April 12, 2021
JAZZ & BLUES Spicy McCormack: BEM Records will issue Storyteller on May 21, the new album from Irish guitarist Eamonn (pronounced “A-min”) McCormack; the charismatic fretslinger is already wellknown throughout Europe. Storyteller is his seventh album and features 11 original tracks, the core of which were recorded live in the studio to capture the true essence of Eamonn and his energetic young band: bassist Edgar Karg and drummer Max JungPoppe.
Courtesy Mark Pucci Media
Bob's Shining 'Light': Singer/songwriter Bob Bradshaw announced an April 30 release date for his new CD, The Ghost Light, coming from Fluke Records, which blends influences from folk, rock, country, Americana and blues into one cohesive package. Bradshaw is a storyteller – and like any good one, he possesses the ability to transform himself right before your very eyes, to not only craft a cast of characters, but to inhabit them with conviction. One listen to The Ghost Bob Light reveals a true Bradshaw chameleon at work. One moment he’s an impulsive daredevil plunging over Niagara Falls in a wooden barrel; the next, a seaweary pirate lured to his death by a choir of sirens. More often than not, Rafi Sober though, he’s simply one of us, just an ordinary, everyday soul searching for meaning, hope, and redemption wherever he can find it. “I’ve never been the kind of writer who picks up a pen to process his personal life or purge his emotions,” said Bradshaw. “I write to create, to imagine, and every track on this album is its own little world.” 'Tick Tock' Returns: Tick Tock Tick, the soul-drenched roots disc from San Francisco-based singer Will Porter, will be reissued on the Gramofono Sound label on April 16. Recorded at Esplanade Studios, Tick Tock Tick also showcases stellar work from a host of Michael S. Ray additional Crescent City titans and SF Bay Area horns. Tick Tock Tick pairs Will Porter with an array of special guests including Dr. John and Bettye LaVette, as well as guitarist Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, Yellow Jackets bassist Jimmy Haslip, The Womack Brothers (Curtis & Friendly), and The Louisiana Philharmonic Strings. Tick Tock Tick was first released in 2016 with extremely limited distribution in the Will Porter USA, as the deal Porter signed with the ACE UK label called for hard copy distribution In Europe, Japan and Australia, but not the United States. After a problem with a streaming agency, Porter decided to pull down all digital streaming. Nearly all of the limited American media that received a copy wrote about it or played it, and it made “Best Of The Year” critics’ lists.
BITS & PIECES Hailey’s ‘Dream’: Rising country star Hailey Whitters has released Living The Dream, a deluxe edition of her album The Dream. The deluxe album finds Whitters moving from fantasizing about “the dream” to actually living it, calling upon her close friends Brent Cobb, Jordan Davis, Hillary Lindsey, Little Big Town, Lori McKenna and Trisha Yearwood to contribute vocals to the fresh tracks.
Following two “surprise” albums, Taylor Swift can’t stay off the top of the charts. Her latest single, “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” from the second of her two recent albums, Evermore, dominated airplay. “To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs,” Swift wrote on Instagram. “To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music. We chose to wander deeper in." Folklore mark’s Swift’s ninth studio album.
Taylor Swift’s Second ‘Surprise’ Smash
Republic Records/Beth Garrabrant
Harper Smith
Elektra Records
Get Hazy With Maisie: Rising British pop stars Maisie Peters has unveiled “John Hughes Movie,” the first single from her debut album. It’s an infectious song about unrequited love, inspired by the legendary film producer and his classic coming-ofage teen comedies (Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink). Peters explains: “I wrote ‘John Hughes Movie’ when I was 17 about a house party that I had gone to. It’s a really honest depiction of being a hopeless, melodramatic teenager, being awkward and drunk and getting your heart broken by people you don’t even remember anymore. John Hughes films encapsulate that foolish romantic energy of high school and everything that I, a small town English wannabe Molly Ringwald wanted to be, but was not.”
She’s Gaga For Safety: As the world battles COVID-19, a host of celebrities – including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Michael B. Jordan, Robert DeNiro, Venus Williams, Wolfgang Puck, and Deepak Chopra along with Surgeon General Richard Carmona — are raising awareness about the importance of the WELL Health-Safety Rating. The evidence-based third-party designation verifies that a building or space has taken the necessary steps to prioritize the health and safety of its staff, visitors, and other stakeholders. The ambassadors are encouraging people to look for places with the WELL Health-Safety seal on their windows or doors so they can feel more confident in their decision to go inside. The ads are currently in rotation all over major TV networks. WELL Health-Safety
Chart Room Media
Farewell To An Innovator & Legend: Jazz and progressive rock legend Chick Corea died on February 9 at the age of 79 from a rare form of cancer that was reportedly discovered not long before his death. The iconic keyboardist, composer, and bandleader was a DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, as well as one of the most nominated artists in Grammy Awards history with 67 nods – and 23 wins, in addition to four Latin Grammys. From straight-ahead to avant-garde, bebop to jazz-rock fusion, children’s songs to chamber and symphonic works, Corera touched a number of musical bases in his career since playing with the genreshattering bands of Miles Davis in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
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24 • Good Times Magazine • March 16 - April 12, 2021