JerseyMic.com

Alternative Soul at Wash’s Inn on October 27th, 2009

Let me also highlight two of the people I noticed in this video, Ray Tyler and Cole Eubanks.

Ray Tyler has been a host of so many open mics, I don’t even know where to begin. I owe a lot to him for being the source for a lot of gatherings in the South Jersey area. From Pratt’s Hill of Beans Alternative Soul (back in the good days) to Wash’s Inn to Unrestricted, Ray swims upstream in South Jersey. He is a poet and a writer for the AC Weekly

Cole Eubanks is a friend of mine and an amazingly talented poet. He turned me on to Bogart’s Poetry on High, a great open mic out in Millville.

Thanks Ox!! Ox Roxley is generously contributing some of the best videos I’ve ever had the pleasure of putting on the site. Take some time to check out his page:

myspace.com/oxroxley

[Hey everyone, Carolyn Messina from Jersey Idol emailed me this release, and I agreed to put it on the site. It’s great to see musicians growing and playing out — especially someone as talented as Carolyn!]

Fairfield, NJ (November 3, 2009) – Don’t miss local singer/songwriter Carolyn Messina (www.CarolynMessina.com) at the legendary club The Bitter End on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Carolyn will perform a solo acoustic set (7:30pm – 8:00pm) as part of the New York Singer/Songwriter Sessions. The 30-minute set will include her original songs “Walls,” “Insomnia,” “Don’t Say Goodnight (TWLOHA)” and “Poverty USA.”  Doors open at 6:30pm, and tickets are $5 at the door or in advance by emailing .

Caroyln Messina

Carolyn’s music has been described as Acoustic/Folk Rock – a blend of Joan Baez and Melissa Etheridge. She has a passion for writing music that tells a story, a gift for creating memorable melodies, and a profound understanding of the real world and the people who live in it today.

Carolyn’s talent was recently acknowledged when she was named a Finalist in Jersey Idol, an American Idol-style music competition and fundraiser that benefitted St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center. Her performance of an original 9/11 tribute song “The Fall” moved the audience and a few of the judges to tears. One judge commented:

This song needs to be recorded and played on every radio station across the country by next September.

Carolyn has been playing piano and guitar almost her entire life and has been writing original music and lyrics since she was a teenager. At the age of 18, Carolyn was in a serious car accident; the head injuries she sustained left her with little or no memory of her life before the accident – names, faces, events were all a blur. Fortunately, she retained the ability to play music.  Making a living in marketing communications, Carolyn’s passion for making music has never waned. Her original compositions have won national awards, including her score for “Women Raise the Roof,” a documentary for Habitat for Humanity featuring an all-women build in Paterson, New Jersey.

Twenty years after Carolyn graduated West Essex High School, she is actively pursuing her dream of becoming a published songwriter. She began performing at Open Mics and Coffeehouses in the NY/NJ Metro area just to get the songs “heard.” But her well-received performances have secured bookings at several venues throughout the area, including upcoming shows at The Fine Grind Downtown in Little Falls on November 14, 2:00pm – 4:00pm; and three nights at Piano’s Bar & Grill in Bloomfield; November 17, 24 and 30, 7:30pm – 9:30pm.

“Places like The Fine Grind, Piano’s, and the Tasty Coco in Caldwell offer aspiring songwriters and musicians the opportunity to play their music and be heard by a new audience every week,” explained Carolyn. “But of course, I’m really excited about playing The Bitter End this month. It’s the most famous club in the Village, a living, breathing part of the entertainment industry. Many legends have launched their careers in front of The Bitter End’s famous brick wall, so it’s an honor to be able perform on that same stage.”

Carolyn has already recorded more than 25 original songs which can be downloaded at Broadjam.com/CarolynMessina. CDs can be ordered by contacting her at [email protected]. A schedule of upcoming performances are posted on her website at www.carolynmessina.com.

The Bitter End (147 Bleecker Street in the West Village) presents a weekly acoustic show with New York’s best singer/songwriters every Sunday night.  Since 1961, thousands of musicians have graced the stage of The Bitter End, including Joan Baez, John Denver, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan, Bette Midler, Carly Simon and James Taylor.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Carolyn J. Messina

Messina Music Publishing

Ph: 201-247-3887

[email protected]

www.CarolynMessina.com

www.Broadjam.com/CarolynMessina

I’ve got THREE new videos from Ox Roxley! He went to Hibiscus, Sherlock’s, and JR’s Tavern. I haven’t even been to Hibiscus or JR’s Tavern. He voted Hibiscus as his favorite, so I’ll be out there soon enough!

Thanks Ox Roxley!