Rondout Music Lounge Makes Broadway Swing

July 11th, 2011

Kingston’s burgeoning music scene just got a boost with the opening of the Rondout Music Lounge. It’s open from 5 to midnight every day except Monday and features live music most nights (definitely over the weekend). Located in a handsome, vintage storefront with high tin ceilings and wood floors, the venue brings back a tradition of music that once happened here when it was the Sturgeon Bar. The lounge specializes primarily in jazz and blues, taking advantage of the numerous world-class musicians who happen to live in Ulster County, such as Joey Eppard, Harvey Sorgen, of Hot Tuna, and Michael Bernier, who has toured the world numerous times with Tony Levin. Right now, there is no cover, and a Budweiser is only $3 ($2 during a special happy hour some nights).

Owners Jared Zwiefel and Michael McGrath hail from Dutchess County—they were classmates at Arlington High School–and have migrated across the river partly because of the area’s cultural vibrancy. Zwiefel, who works at Hudson Valley Auto Interiors, located in Gardiner, during the day, bought a house in Uptown Kingston, while McGrath commutes from Millbrook. The two said their model was a club in Millbrook run by a friend called Millbrook R&B. “It books lots of bands and gave us the experience,” said Zwiefel. They landed in the Rondout partly because their landlord offered a very reasonable rent. Plus, he had restored the space beautifully, finishing of the wood floor and putting in new heating and AC and the vintage wooden bar.

Besides beer and wine—there are plans to serve hard liquor and soda soon–Rondout Music Lounge also serves burgers, quesadillas and other bar food, so one can have a meal prior or while listening to the music. Andy Parker, a musician and native Kingstonian, is booking the acts, and the work of two local artists hangs on the walls. (The large exposed side brick wall is bare, which Zweiefel hopes to cover with art; local artists, take note.)

The lounge has a Facebook page, and so far it is relying on word of mouth and the musicians’ substantial network to attract customers. Zwiefel said the central location was also a boon, with many walk-ins. In two short weeks, the place has already attracted many tourists, including a couple from Long Island visiting the area on their boat. “They were thrilled,” Zwiefel said. “They said there was nothing like this where they live.”

He and McGrath are considering opening the lounge in the afternoon, when they’ve noticed a bustle of activity before people disappear for dinner. There’s always something interesting playing on the sound system—even if it isn’t live; Parker promised to “play my harmonica while slinging drinks” as part of the entertainment. Joking aside, the venue is aimed at the 28-plus crowd—music lovers who are into jazz and blues.

Among the coming attractions are a performance by blues-guitar wunderkind Connor Kennedy, who is only 16 years old, and Roy Bookbinder, a folk blues guitarist with a direct link to the geniuses who defined the Delta Blues.

“I love the foot traffic,” said Zwiefel. “It’s a beautiful location. And we’re near the bridge, so we’re getting a lot of people from Rhinebeck.”

 

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Barcone’s Music: Grace Note on Broadway

March 21st, 2011

Tim Barcone started his music supply business in the garage of his Stone Ridge house in 1970. In 1995, he moved to Broadway, the last 10 years located at a 4,500-square-foot single-story brick building just beyond the rail overpass. With its handsome façade, accented with a decorative molding and old-style brackets, the building is a visual treat, perking up an otherwise glum stretch of Broadway.

The bulk of Barcone Music’s business, which has six full-time employees, is servicing school music programs in seven counties—supplying rentals and selling instruments to school bands, as well as doing servicing and repair work (during the summer, his staff is busy fixing 4,000 musical instruments). Barcone also has a sideline selling guitars, following the purchase of Allegra Music several years ago, with a room in the back of his establishment now stocked with an enticing array of used and new instruments. Another room is filled with violins. Drum sets, used violas, strings accessories, microphones, and other musical paraphernalia as well as a vast array of instructional booklets are stocked in the main store. Barcone also rents out rooms to highly qualified guitarists, vocalists, and other professional musicians for private and group lessons.

Music has been central to the Barcone family at least as far back as Tim’s great-grandfather, who performed as a traveling musician in his native Italy. His sons, Tim’s grandfather and great-uncle, played in bands after immigrating to New York City in the 1920s—typically, Tim’s grandfather would travel to a new town and at the request of the mayor compose a special song for the place. After getting his teacher’s certificate, his grandfather was instrumental in introducing music programs into the public schools, an initiative that found its way up to the Hudson Valley thanks to the family’s summer house in in Greene County. After Tim’s dad got out of the Navy, at the end of World War II,  he settled on Wittenberg Road and started a music program at the Onteora School District, using 25 instruments given to him by his father. The business grew to include Rondout Valley and other regional school districts.

Tim Barcone

Tim, who since the age of 12 had been “working on the bench,” graduated from Onteora High School in a fortuitous year, musically speaking—1969. He supplied and repaired instruments to many of the musicians hanging out in Woodstock at the time, some participants in the famous festival and a few later becoming famous. Wanting to go into business for himself, he purchased a music business in Sullivan County that serviced the schools there and was grateful that his father, who was still in business, graciously co-signed his business loan. At one time, there were four Barcone music businesses—one in Long Island and another in New York City, besides the two in the Hudson Valley. Today, there’s just the business owned by Tim; its vast geographical reach encompasses his father’s former turf.

With the support of the previous mayor and credits from the Empire Zone, the business-assistance program formerly operated and funded by the state, Barcone, who was operating in another store down Broadway but needed more room, purchased his current building, which was three dilapidated storefronts, in 2000. (Barcone considered relocating to Town of Ulster, but he said the real estate was too expensive; plus, he liked Broadway’s nice enclave of small, friendly businesses.) He did a complete overhaul, which included rebuilding the façade a foot or two back from the sidewalk and hiring Kingston architect Scott Dutton to do the design. The decorative details Dutton added to the brick front successfully integrate it with Kingston’s still numerous 19th-century mercantile storefronts. 

Barcone said his Empire Zone incentives expire in two years. He hopes to remain in his building—space is tight; he’s currently looking for an off-site storage facility—although he said the high property taxes are an issue, seriously boosting his overhead. There’s some other things he’d like to change, such as not having to be responsible for cleaning up the graffiti on his building, which has become a recent problem. (He said he feels the perpetuator, who was caught and is currently being held in the county jail, should be required to do this). A crab apple tree he planted out front was unfortunately destroyed by an out-of-control car, and attractive planters he and his wife put out front were taken away by city workers one winter and never returned.

Barcone said being near the high school is an advantage, and he’s long been at home in the area. There’s plenty of parking. His grown son and daughter work in the business, and he’s hopeful that Barcone Music will continue to thrive for many more generations to come—and here in Kingston, we in the business community hope.—Lynn Woods

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In Kingston, the Music Never Stops

May 4th, 2010

On any given night, but especially on the weekends, Kingston resounds with music.  Strolling down the street past that open restaurant or tavern door, one hears the sultry strains of a jazz singer drifting on the air,  the twanging notes of a rockabilly band, or perhaps the throttle of an electric guitar, which sounds darn good. Whatever your taste, you’ll hear something that catches your fancy, making that evening out especially memorable.

Several of Kingston’s restaurants feature live music on weekends, such as The Steel House Restaurant.  Frank Guido’s Little Italy often enlivens its happy hour with a combo. Savona’s features jazz singer Nancy Tierney, newly arrived from northern California, once a month. Mint has showcased well-known jazz singer Rebecca Martin and singer-songwriter Mark Brown. Other businesses are also getting into the act. Half Moon Books, for example, features musicians during the First Saturday gallery openings. Artie’s, the bar on North Front Street, also entertains its patrons from time to time with noteworthy local acts. 

Keegans At Keegan Ales and The Basement, however, music takes center stage. The microbrewery, located at 20 St. James, features music five nights a week. According to Tommy Keegan, who opened the brewery in 2003 (the pub followed four years later), Wednesday is devoted to bluegrass and Americana, Thursday is the same, with a little rock ‘n roll mixed in, Friday and Saturday is “straight up rock and roll,” and Sunday is a mix: the first Sunday of the month is tango dancing, with lessons offered from 2 to 3 p.m., and the third Sunday is jazz, with a 15-piece band playing classic Big Band tunes as well as fusion compositions. There’s usually no cover–though the musicians are tops.

Keegan’s has three beers on tap: Old Capital, Mother’s Milk, and Hurricane Kitty (named after Keegan’s grandmother, who got the nickname from the cops). The brewery also makes seasonable beers—one, Joe Mamma’s Milk, has become so popular it’s being made year round (it’s infused with coffee and brown sugar, to increase the alcohol content and won Best Beer in New York State from the TAP New York festival competition.) Keegan’s also serves food—burgers, salads, nachos. It opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays, 11:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

The Basement, a mysterious storefront at 744 Broadway, just before the turn off to Albany Avenue, cooks on weekends. Last Saturday, Pearl, featuring famous 1980s singer Meatloaf (Pearl is Meatloaf’s daughter), took the stage. Guitar player Scott Ian hails from the famous heavy metal band Anthrax. Another nationally known band that recently played The Basement is The SuperSuckers, who play rockabilly.

It never hurts to solicit a famous band, said Kevin Rowe, who does the booking and marketing. “We send an e-mail to the band or tour manager, and if we get a reply, we work with them,” said Rowe. The Basement rents out office space across the street at Seven21 Media Center, where Rowe does the bookings. Bands also rent out rehearsal space at the center. (Rowe has long-term plans to establish a recording studio at Seven21.)    

Sometimes the headliner is featured on a Tuesday or Wednesday. “A lot of times we’ll get a touring band coming through the middle of the week,” Rowe said. Most nights feature both a touring band and a local act. Admission ranges from zero to $12, with $5 the standard. The Basement serves wine and beer and “top shelf liquor,” according to Rowe. Most shows start at 9 p.m.

Rowe said the March 19 show for Murphy’s Law, an old punk band, sold out. But local bands can also hold their own. Nightmares for a Week, for example, is an up-and-coming band that “just got into the alternative press as one of the top 100 bands of the year,” according to Rowe.

Owner Robert Stango opened The Basement three years ago. Rowe, a native of Cleveland who was living in Georgia, spent three days in Kingston while traveling with a band from Detroit. He liked Kingston and asked Stango if he had a job. Stango hired him, and the 25-year-old Rowe has been loving his life in Kingston ever since. “Everyone I’ve met has been the kindest, nicest people ever,” said Rowe. “There’s a lot of history in this town, and I want to see it do well.”

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