Spotlight Artist: Luka Bloom

Our next Spotlight Artist is renowned Irish singer and songwriter Luka Bloom. Luka will be performing two shows in New York in October, as part of his tour to support his latest release, "Dreams in America". Our friend Christopher Deignan at the NY Irish Center arranged this interview for us.

Luka Bloom:

photo by Giorgia Bertazzi

Are you touring solo, or will you have supporting musicians?
I am the band, me and my 3 guitars.

How is your 2010 tour going?
Swimmingly.

You used to live in NYC. What were some of your favorite bars or restaurants back then?
Oh dear, my favorite places to sing in were The Red Lion (not the coolest place on earth, but I had the most memorable shows there in the winter of 1987/1988); Continental Divide, Under Acme, until eventually I graduated to The Bottom Line and CBGB!

My favorite restaurant was Quantum Leap on West 3rd. Very simple veggie fare.

What do you see are some of the biggest differences between NYC of the late 80s/early 90s and today?
The obvious ones. Cleaner, easier to get around. Not as edgy... I loved it then, I loved it now. I don't do nostalgia; everything changes including New York, and me.

What are some of your favorite venues to perform?
I love performing everywhere. It's the best job imaginable, and sometimes the smelliest dives you don't want to be in, are the best shows.....go figure.

Musical influences:
The usual; Van, Miles, Bob...I'm a simple guy.

photo by Giorgia Bertazzi

Linkage:
Official site: LukaBloom.com
facebook: lukabloom
Myspace: lukabloom
Youtube: lukabloomvideos
Wikipedia: wikipedia.org/wiki/Luka_Bloom

Where can we buy your music?
LukaBloom.com (new record 'Dreams in America' from Compass Records.)
Tell us about your newest release, "Dreams in America".

It is a moment of gratitude for the records and shows since Riverside came out 20 years ago. We launched Riverside in Maxwell's in Hoboken in January 1990, and I've been rockin' ever since. This tour is about saying thank you for that time, and the CD contains tracks from all the years since. I recorded it in my living room over last Christmas.

Can you share a story or anecdote about performing live in New York?
I remember seeing a queue in the snow outside The Red Lion in January 1988 one Wednesday night, and I knew something was happening.

Any advice to someone just starting out?
Never give up; don't take yourself too seriously. Its none of your business what anyone thinks of you. Always love what you do. Just give of yourself and you will somehow be taken care of.

Thank you!

Cheers Sean

Luka Bloom appears twice in New York next week: Sunday, Oct. 3 at City Winery and Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the NY Irish Center.

Tuesday, October 5
New York Irish Center presents...
An Evening With Luka Bloom
Tickets are $42 each (no limit on individual purchases)
There is an 80 seat limit so book your ticket(s) early.

Tickets can be purchases ONLY via Credit Card or Paypal using the following link: Paypal.com
Doors open 7pm
Complimentary cocktail hour downstairs
(donations to the Center for cocktails hour are encouraged)
The downstairs area will also be open after the show for drinks
General admission seating, so arrive early
8pm showtime (No admittance to the show after 8pm)
at:




New York Irish Center
10-40 Jackson Ave.
Long Island City, Queens, NY
718 482-0909
NYIrish.org

also appearing this Sunday at City Winery...

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Luka Bloom
Tickets:
* Bar Stools $20
* Reserved Tables $30
* Reserved Best Tables $35
* VIP Tables $35
8pm
at:
City Winery
155 Varick St.
(bet. Spring & Vandam St.)
New York, 10013
(212) 608-0555
citywinery.com

Below is a clip from last year's appearance at City Winery, performing "Dreams in America".

The Fall Naked Painting Party at Gallery Bar

The Naked Painting Party is back for their fall event...
Wednesday, September 29
Social Exposure Media presents...
The Fall Naked Painting Party
Sally Golan of Social Exposure Media invites you to once again, leave your inhibitions at the door...along with your pants... and get body painted...while body painting your friends...or a stranger ( it's a good ice breaker.)

The Naked Painting Party is a group art collaboration supporting NYC artists and culture. This is the third in a series. They are holding one for every season, so the theme for the fall is The Metamorphosis. The party will feature live art installations, dance performances and contests.

Featured artists:
Liam Alexander - Live Installationist
Aeric Meredith-Goujin - Portraitist and Fashion Photographer
Hassan Kinley - Editor in Chief of Karin + Raoul Magazine
Elina Miettinen - American Ballet Theater
Chong Cha - Body Artist and Fashion Designer
Matt Mikas - 2nd Skin Artisan Body Painting
DJ Ebar - International DJ and Music Producer, Quarterlife Records, Central Park Recordings

Sally says, "yes, bare nudity is encouraged. No, it is not a demand. But good luck hanging out on the side lines." Note, this event will be photographed. Nick McGlynn's excellent website Random Night Out has some fun pictures from the previous ones in February and May. (Note, the pics may be NSFW, depending on where you work).

You don't have to get naked, but you wouldn't want to get paint on your clothes now, would you?
$20 at the door includes a one hour cocktail reception by Chairman's Reserve Rum.
Must RSVP in advance to save your door ticket.
RSVP via facebook
8pm - 2am
at:
Gallery Bar
120 Orchard St. (between Delancey & Rivington St.)
(212) 529-2266
New York, NY
GalleryBarNYC.com


There are some basic rules, just to keep things cool:
1. By entering the venue, you agree to photographs and live recording
2. Bring flip flops to protect your feet, no hard shoes on the plastic.
Only plastic cups will be served at the bar to avoid glass.
3. Secure coat check in effect, but leave your expensive stuff at home.
Social Exposure Media is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
4. Photos and videos are allowed. But please ask your subjects first.
5. No paint throwing
6. No painting on the walls
7. No hitting, splashing or unethical conduct

Grand Opening - The Three Monkeys

Congratulations to our friend Mike & Patrick McNamee on the opening of their brand new bar, The Three Monkeys:
Tuesday, September 28
Grand Opening Party
Open bar 7-8pm
Complimentary hors d'oeuvres 7:30 - 9:30pm

Free with RSVP:
RSVP@TheBlaqGroup.com
at:
The Three Monkeys
236 W. 54th St. (between Broadway & Eighth Ave.)
New York, NY
TheThreeMonkeysbar.com

The Three Monkeys has two levels, with a bar on each floor.
They have 36 different beers on tap, and every hour is happy hour:
$4 Draft beer
$5 Sangria
$5 Cocktails
$5 Monkey Punches

The Three Monkeys is the sister bar of another west side favorite:

The Mean Fiddler
266 W. 47th St.
(bet. Broadway & Eighth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 354-2950
TheMeanFiddlerNYC.com

Clash of the Trivia Champions

Our friend Noah, host of The Big Quiz Thing, is blowing it out with a $1,00 "Clash of the Trivia Champions" tonight at Highline Ballroom. The Big Quiz Thing is a twice-monthly live trivia contest usually held alternately at Crash Mansion & Le Poisson Rouge. But tonight, they bring trivia whiz kids from all over New York to compete for a $1,000 grand prize.


Monday, September 27, 2010
Clash of the Trivia Champions
$100 per team of four; click here to register.
$10 admission to watch and not play (tickets available at the door)
$10 food/drink minimum per person
$1,000 grand prize ($400 to the runner-up, plus various other prizes).
8pm
at:
Highline Ballroom
431 W. 16th St.
(bet. 9th & 10th Ave.)
New York, NY
HighLineBallroom.com

Below, you can view Noah's promo for The Clash of the Trivia Champions:


There are trivia quizzes held in NYC pubs each week night.
Check out the MurphGuide Directory of NYC Pub Quizzes.
MurphGuide.com/pubquiz.htm

Stone Street Oyster Festival

The annual Stone Street Oyster Festival is one of our favorite events of the year.

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Stone Street Oyster Festival

Featuring live music all day by
Winston Irie
Milo Z
The Young Dubliners
at:
at:
Ulysses'
95 Pearl St./58 Stone St.
(Hanover Square)
New York, NY
(212) 482-0400
Ulyssesfolkhouse.com





and here are some other spots on Stone Street you can check out:

Mad Dog & Beans
83 Pearl St. / 50 Stone St.
New York, NY
(212) 269-1177
MadDogandBeans.com



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Beckett’s
Bar and Grill
81 Pearl St. (Stone St.)
New York, NY
(212) 269-1001
BeckettsNYC.com





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The Dubliner
45 Stone St.
(bet. Coenties Alley & Mill Lane)
New York, NY
(212) 785-5400
DublinerNYC.com

Toasting Timbo 6: Casino Night

Friday, September 24, 2010
The Timothy C. McWilliams, Jr. Foundation’s
6th annual fundraiser
Toasting Timbo: Casino Night
with Blackjack, Texas Hold'em, Craps & Roulette
$150 donation includes
five hours of great food and open bar
Live and silent auctions and raffle
Live music
and the chance to celebrate Timbo while helping out some great causes

Buy tickets on-line at timbofund.org
Tickets are also available at the door
8pm - 1am
at:
Pier Sixty
Chelsea Piers
12th Ave. & W. 23rd St.
New York, NY
PierSixty.com




About Timothy McWilliams:
On March 16, 2005, Timothy C. "Timbo" McWilliams, Jr., a beloved son, brother, family member and friend, passed away at the age of 27 from complications related to a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that he had sustained three years earlier. During his life, and especially throughout his rehabiliation and recovery, Tim exemplified a boundless will to live and an innate ability to positively affect those around him.






The Timothy C. McWilliams, Jr. Foundation is a 501 c3 organization dedicated to helping victims of traumatic brain injury through a two-pronged giving strategy of small grants to patients and their families, and large grants to rehabilitation organizations.
It's mission is to make a difference in the lives of individual TBI patients, and to help organizations who believe in the long-term treatment of patients and their families.

To learn more about the charities that benefited from the donations made by the Foundation,
please visit timbofund.org and like Timbo Fund on facebook

Adams Angels Salute to Firefighters

Our friend Jill invites her fellow MurphGuide readers (you) to this very worthy fundraiser. Adam's Angels presents the 5th annual Salute to Firefighters tonight at Saloon:
Thursday, September 23
Adam's Angels
Fifth Annual Salute to Firefighters
To benefit The John Bellew Fund & The Chris Engeldrum FDNY VFW
Honor our fallen heroes & recognize the sacrifices made everyday at Salute 2010.
Firefighters, military members, veterans, 9/11 family members, and compassionate supporters of NY's Bravest will attend "A Salute to Firefighters" to honor fallen heroes and recognize the sacrifices made every day.

The 2010 Adam's Angels Heroes & Halos Awards will be presented to the:
FDNY Boxing, FDNY Football and FDNY Hockey teams for their steadfast commitment of giving back to the community. Each of these teams have not only been great friends to Adam's Angels over the years, but they also raise crucial funding for an array of non profit organizations.

Admission: Firefighter / EMS / military tickets are $5 and friends tickets are $15. Purchase tickets on-line at AdamsAngels.org

Live Music by Ready in 10:
DJ Bubba Guitar
Discounted beverages courtesy of Saloon
7pm - 11pm
at:
Saloon
1584 York Ave.
(between 83rd & 84th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 570-5454
SaloonNYC.com

Adam’s Angels is a completely volunteer- driven program in memory of firefighter Adam David Rand (FDNY, Squad 288 & Bellmore Volunteer Fire Department), who became an angel on September 11, 2001 while saving others. They work tirelessly to help promote, advocate and support worthwhile causes in Adam’s name. Adam’s Angels is a program, not a 501c3. They select non-profit charities to support. When you attend an event hosted by Adam’s Angels, you make your check out to the 501c3 non-profit organization you wish to support (or pay online directly through that 501c3 non-profit organization’s bank account), not Adam’s Angels. For more information, visit: Adamsangels.org or email AdamsAngels@gmail.com

Every dollar collected from admission and raffle ticket sales will go directly to the benefit the following two 501(c)3 charitable organizations:
The John Bellew Memorial Fund
Originally created to be a Scholarship Fund for the children of members of the FDNY, the John Bellew Memorial Fund has extended its purpose to also provide financial assistance to the families of members of the FDNY and NYPD who have suffered non-line of duty deaths.
To make a donation please make checks payable to: John Bellew Memorial Fund, 44 Abbey Court, Ramsey, NJ 07446. JohnBellew.com

The SSGT Chris Engeldrum FDNY Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #12033 was instituted on 8/12/2005, in memory of SSGT Christian P. Engeldrum, the first New York firefighter to die in Iraq out of those who have been activated since 9/11. In keeping in the spirit of their national organization, they have been steadfast supporters of the rehabilitation of disabled veterans from Walter Reed and Bethesda Hospitals, assisted the widows and orphans of disabled and needy veterans and promoted Americanism through education in patriotism and service to the community of New York City. FDNYVFW.com

Links:
AdamsAngels.org
SaloonNYC.com
Ready in 10
John Bellew Memorial Fund
FDNYVFW
See event flyer:

Half Way to St. Patrick's Day in NYC: September 17, 2010

September 17 is 6 months from March 17, which is, of course, St. Patrick's Day. It sounds like a lame excuse for a party, but who are we to complain? There's no such thing as a lame excuse for a party!

Our friend Terence throws an annual Irish music & film festival around St. Patrick's Day called The Craic Fest. (Craic is Irish for fun). So for half-way to St. Patrick's Day, how about a wee Craic...
Friday, September 17
The Wee Craic: Irish Short Film Festival
11th annual Shorts Night (aka A WEE CRAIC)
The best of Irish short films and short films from local Irish filmmakers.
This one night festival combines award winning shorts (animation, comedies)
tied in with live music at the after party.
$20 includes short film admission and after party (Stella Artois from 8-10pm).

Special Musical guest: Colin Devlin
7pm
at:
Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick St. (at Laight St.)
New York, NY
(212) 941-2001
thecraicfest.com
-------------------------------------------------------
Our friends at T.G. Whitney's are celebrating this weekend...
Friday, September 17 & Saturday, September 18
Half Way to St. Patrick's Day
$5 pints of Guinness
$4 pints of black & tan
$5 Car bombs
$4 Jameson / Paddy shots
$3 Nutty Irishman shots
Food specials & give aways all night
plus the usual 2 for 1 happy hour drink specials
at:
T.G. Whitney's
244 E. 53rd St.
(bet. Second & Third Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 888-5772
TGWhitneys.com
---------------------------------------------------
If you are in Westchester, our friend Jim invites you to his first ever half-way to St. Patrick's Day party...
Friday, September 17
Half Way to St. Patrick's Day Party
Beat-the-clock pricing on Guinness
$4 shots of Jameson
unlimited corned beef and cabbage for $17 all day long
Live music with Chris Brown at 10pm


at:
Murphy's Law
110 Halstead Avenue
Harrison, NY
Call for reservations
914-630-2760



-------------------------------------------------
Friday, September 17
Half Way to St. Patrick's Day Party
Drink specials, music and mayhem
RSVP at daniellamjs@gmail.com or 212 358 9946
at:
M.J. Armstrong's
329 First Ave. (19th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 358-9946
MJArmstrongs.com


-----------------------------------------
Not U2, but the worlds second best U2 show...
Friday, September 17 2U
Tribute to U2
at:
Stout
133 W. 33rd St.
(bet. Sixth & Seventh Ave.)
New York, NY
(212) 629-6191
StoutNYC.com
NotU2.com
------------------------------------------
Friday, September 17
Half-Way to St. Patrick's Day
A Night of Great Guinness and Great Irish Music
If you can't wait for Paddy's Day...well you don't have to.
Guinness Promotion: 6pm-8pm
Learn to pull your own pint of Guinness with our Guinness Specialist, (everyone receives a complimentary pint) and test your knowledge of Guinness with the Guinness Model to win more free pints in our Guinness trivia. Shenanigans kick off at 6pm.

Live Irish music starting at 7pm:
Sean Mc Nally & Company: 7pm-8.30pm
(energy packed ballads and fired up rebel songs)

Streams of Whiskey: 8.30pm-10.30pm
(the great music of the legendary band "The Pogues", a must see tribute band)

Prodigals: 11pm-2pm
(jig-punk at its best)
RSVP via facebook
at:





Paddy Reilly's Music Bar
519 Second Ave. (29th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 686-1210
Paddyreillysmusicbar.us
----------------------------------------
Just like the real St. Patrick's Day, half-way to St. Patrick's Day does not necessarily have to be confined to one day. The folks at The Rambling House in Woodlawn will be celebrating all weekend:
Friday, September 17 - Sunday, September 19
Half Way to St. Paddy's Day

The Rambling House
4292 Katonah Ave.
Bronx, NY
(718) 798-4510
RamblingHouse.com
----------------------------------------
Saturday, September 18
Celebrate the end of summer
and the half way point until St. Patrick's Day at Marty O'Brien's
There'll be plenty of Guinness and Jameson to allow you to get yourself ready for the big day in March. Drink specials during the night also.
at:
Marty O'Brien's
1696 Second Ave.
(between 87th & 88th St.)
New York, NY
(212) 722-3889
facebook.com/MOB1696




-----------------------------------
Last, but certainly not least, this weekend is the annual Great Irish Fair of NY in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20 The Irish American Building Society Charities presents...

The Great Irish Fair of NY
A Family Friendly Event Celebrating
New York City’s Great Irish-American Heritage & Culture
Music – Food – Dancing – Irish Goods
rain or shine
at:
MCU Park
1904 Surf Ave. (W. 16th St.)
Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
GIFNYC.com

See also our friends at Peggy O'Neill's for post-fair action...






Peggy O'Neill's
1904 Surf Ave. (at MCU Park)
Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
(718) 449-3200

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Fundraiser Happy Hour

Our friends Tom and Mark are hosting their annual fund raising happy hour tonight. Each year, they raise funds as part of the Race for the Kids, to support Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City. This year, the happy hour fundraiser is Wednesday, September 15 at Croton Reservoir Tavern, and the Race for the Kids will be held on Saturday, September 25.


Wednesday, September 15
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Fundraiser
A night dedicated to raising funds for the 6th annual
Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City RBC Race for the Kids
hosted by Tom Basile & Mark LoGrippo
Happy hour drink specials throughout the evening.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15 and will include two drink tickets. All proceeds will support Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC. You will also have a chance to win one of these great raffle prizes, including:
Concert tickets, wine basket, Croton Reservoir gift certificate, Rangers and Devils tickets, Mets tickets, Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets, Toys R Us gift certificates, NFL Memorabilia
plus additional items

If you can't attend, but still wish to support BBBS of NYC, you can make a donation at Tom or Mark's pages.
Happy hour 6-9pm
at:

Croton Reservoir Tavern
108 W. 40th St.
(bet. Broadway & 6th Ave.)
New York, NY
212 997-6835
Crotonreservoirtavern.com


The 6th Annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City RBC Race for the Kids is part of Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play. Come celebrate the power of mentoring, while promoting the importance of health and exercise.

Saturday, September 25, 2010
Race for the Kids
4K Run/Walk and Picnic
10am
at:
Riverside Park
at W. 72nd St.
New York, NY

To learn more about the Race for the Kids, see the video below or visit RacefortheKids.org

Spotlight Artists: The Urge

On Sunday, Sept. 12, nine Long Island bands performed at the JDRF Jam to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. One of them, the Urge, is our next spotlight artist. Guitarist Michael Leccese answered the questions for us:

Spotlight Artist: The Urge

photos by Ocean Moonshine Imaging

Lineup
Bob O'Neal - Guitar and vocals
Ed Sisali - Bass and vocals
Michael Leccese - Guitar and vocals
Rick Wolanski - Drums

How long have you been performing?
The Urge was an acoustic 2 piece band from 1980 til 1994, consisting of Ed and Bob. I joined them in 1994 and we made it a bit more rockin' and have been together ever since.

Past lives (i.e., previous bands, your early years, etc.):
Mainly in Queens in The 70's. No big names.

Favorite venues to play:
Any place with a lot of unfamiliar faces.

Musical influences:
So many... from Mark Farner to Andres Segovia. Can't play like any of them, I just admire them :)

Blatant self-promotion: What would you like to plug?
What?... or who? Seriously, catch one of THE BEST little rock shows on Long Island with The Urge at Seabreeze Cafe. We play there 45 times a year for the past 4 years! You will find very few bands that rock like this. Don't believe it? Come see for yourself. If, after a full night of The Urge, you can look me in the eye and say, "You ain't awesome!", I'll give you 10 dollars!!! Is that shameless enough?


The Sea Breeze Cafe
470 Fire Island Ave.
Babylon, NY
631 669 9790




Linkage:
The website urgentview.blogspot.com has awesome photos by Ocean Moonshine Imaging.

Where can we buy your music?
Can't. . .we are a bar band.

You performed in the JDRF Jam, a benefit for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. How did you get involved in this event?
My very excellent friend, Mike Masciale needed my assistance, period :)
Note: To check out how the fundraising efforts fared, visit:
jdrfevents.donordrive.com

Tell us a little about the guitar smashing.
The ' guitar smashing'? love it! ... I prefer to call it a ' sacrifice'. Actually, it's fun to smash guitars and it's fun to watch guitars get smashed. The last one I sacrificed was auctioned off for 150 bucks and that money is going to JDRF, also. Mr. Masciale liked the idea and found a nice little promotional axe to sacrifice and auction off at The Concert. I could not do this with expensive guitars, of course. Nor, could I do it frequently, not on a Long Island musicians' salary. . .LOL!

Guess which guitar Michael smashed? (answer below)

Tell us a little about performing live.
Take no prisoners, make no excuses! Go in, guns blazing with the intent of slaying the entire audience. Intensity is instrumental. As the performer, you should let that fact be known with your presence. Do not think of yourself as one of the 'regulars' ... you are not! One more thing, bring some damn lights! You look terrible in the dark!

Any advice to someone just starting out?
Learn music: reading, theory, harmony, modes. . . practice from the beginning...Camptown Races, Jingle Bells. Sorry to say, if you don't give yourself a musical edge, you will sound like the rest of those who didn't give themselves the background. There are too many who haven't actually studied music and they are easy to spot. You never stay to listen to them. Only a handful can get away with it.

Below is a clip of Michael smashing a guitar at the JDRF-Jam at Mr. Beery's:

Happy 3rd Birthday to The Australian

Congratulations to Owen, Glenn, Matt and all of our friends at The Australian on their 3rd anniversary. Celebrating tonight...
Friday, September 10
The Australian's 3rd Birthday
Bogan Party
To make things fun, they are going with a theme, and it is Bogan
Unleash your inner Bogan, dress to impress (other Bogans!)
Prize for best Bogan
Free Bronzed Aussie beer and Jacobs Creek Wine
(from 7pm for an hour)
at:
The Australian
20 W. 38th St.
(bet. Fifth & Sixth Ave.)
New York, NY
(212)869-8601
TheAustralianNYC.com