Auster Extravaganza for Issue Project Room

January 3, 2012 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

Sophie Auster, Marilyn Laverty, Paul Auster, and Karen Auster at Issue Project Room fundraising reception

Interior of Issue Project Room at 110 Livingston Street in Brooklyn, which New York Magazine dubbed "Little Carnegie"

Mary Pat Thornton and Cormac McEnery hosted a wonderful evening of music and literature at their Pierrepont Street home in support of the Issue Project Room, an exquisite performance center at 110 Livingston Street (Brooklyn) that is becoming a hub for creative culture for all of New York. In keeping with Issue Project’s philosophy of presenting groundbreaking work in all the arts for audiences of all ages, the evening featured a reading of unpublished letters by literary icon Paul Auster as well as a musical set by his gorgeous and charming daughter Sophie.

I’m really grateful to my colleague Karen Auster, the dynamic founder of the Auster Agency, for introducing me to the Issue Project Room, which is not only a breathtaking jewel of a space but also a nurturing community that fosters artistic collaboration and experimentation. What a treat it was to meet Paul Auster and receive a signed copy of his novel Sunset Park, which I read on Christmas vacation and found to be irresistible, moving, and quite devastating. Hearing Paul’s daughter Sophie perform was a revelation — she’s got a rich and expressive voice and I look forward to hearing her new EP, “Red Weather”, when it’s released this year. If you want to follow Sophie, you can find her @SophieHAuster.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Art, Auster Agency, brooklyn, Creative NYC, Issue Project Room, NYC, Paul Auster, Sophie Auster, Sunset Park

Time flies and Fruit flies

November 15, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

When super talented singer/songwriter Nikki Jean and I lunched at The London Hotel’s Maze restaurant, we were tickled to see star chef Gordon Ramsay, looking thinner and younger than on his TV show, as he walked briskly through the restaurant to his kitchen. We had a great lunch (NJ proclaimed her fare as ‘the best grilled cheese sandwich ever’) but were surprised to spy a coupla cute little bugs (both flying and crawling) at our table. Hey, if we had wanted a picnic, we would have gone to Central Park… If Chef Ramsay had returned from the kitchen, we would have enjoyed pointing out our little insect visitors to the picky prickly owner!

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Dining, Fly in my Soup, Gordon Ramsey, London Hotel, Maze restaurant, Nikki Jean, shore fire

LA Fun with Kenny, Kathy, Bill and Graham

October 20, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

Though I’m a homebody and try to stay within approx 65 miles of the Jersey Shore (which will take me to Brooklyn and also Philly, generally satisfying my urban desires), my recent trip to LA to spend time with Kenny Chesney was just delightful. Kenny was in great voice when he made a rare acoustic appearance at the Clinton Foundation Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, where Bill Clinton thanked him onstage for his performance and for “being the only other person on the stage who doesn’t have an accent.” The weather was perfect in LA, and the open air concert on Saturday featuring Kenny, Usher, and Gaga was historic.

I got to hang out a bit with Kathy Kane, a brilliant woman who’s known in the music field for her work with Bonnie Raitt but whose interests and talents are very broad as befits the holder of a degree in International Economic Relations: The Developing Countries – from U of Michigan. With those credentials, no wonder Kathy fit in so well with the many other eggheads at the concert (see photo, Kathy’s the pretty lady with glasses right next to Bonnie Raitt.) I waved at the President when he arrived and though the secret service folks were asking everyone to move back, President Clinton walked right over to me and shook my hand, then proceeded to greet at least 25 stagehands who were working outside the VIP tent — what an impressive gentleman the former President is! Speaking of impressive gentlemen, it was an unexpected bonus to find myself in LA at the same time that the elegant and accomplished film producer Graham Leader was also visiting from the east coast. After rehearsals at the Hollywood Bowl, I met up with Graham at the Hotel Café to see singer Tom McBride, then joined Graham and a group of his filmmaker friends at the ultimate hipster hamburger joint Umami. Gee, if traveling were always this fun and interesting, I might be tempted….

Marilyn Laverty got a great seat for the show from Kenny’s management but you can’t see her here, this is a shot of Bono singing to Kathy Kane (and also Bonnie Raitt, Jane Fonda and of course the Clintons). Photo courtesy: Clinton Foundation

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Bill Clinton, Bonnie Raitt, Clinton Foundation, Graham Leader, Kenny Chesney

Sonic Garden Blooms at All Tomorrows Parties

September 13, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

We always look forward to Asbury Park’s exciting roster of weekend events, and are keenly anticipating Sonic Garden’s fringe festival of performances and talks at Café Volan, Thursday September 29 through Tuesday, October 4th.  Event programmer and impresario David Spelman has truly outdone himself in concocting a line up of film and music events which reflect the creative interests of Asbury. Spelman’s festival coincides with All Tomorrow’s Parties, and is envisioned as a thought-provoking counterpoint and complement to ATP.  Its scope will appeal to the spectrum of artists, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, surfers, scenesters and scholars who make Asbury unique. If this festival is anything like David’s recent Ellnora Guitar Festival, which American Songwriter praised for its “extraordinary artistry, extraordinary diversity, and extraordinary generosity”, it is sure to please crowds and critics  and will achieve Spelman’s  goal of creative comingling of vibrant cultures here on the Jersey Shore.

Impresario David Spelman

I’m particularly looking forward to the screening of the documentary “Heartworn Highways,” followed  by a Q&A with the film’s producer, Graham Leader, on Thursday, September 29th at 8pm. Directed by James Szalapski and scheduled for a much deserved, major DVD re-release in 2012, the 1975 documentary explores the  contemplative side of country music as the director captures singers and songwriters outside the core of the Nashville establishment. The intimate performances and conversations with artists such as Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe, Guy Clark, and Rodney Crowell during the early stages of their careers will captivate country fans and general music lovers alike. This should really be a stand out event!

Can’t wait for this!

I am honored to take part in this festival by introducing the highly celebrated cartoonist and country-crooner  Andy Friedman on Monday, October 3rd at 8pm. Andy has been described as an “erudite redneck” (Boston Globe) who has a “mastery of wordy self-loathing that many white dudes with guitars would kill for” (Nashville Scene). Although stories of his early mailroom days may have audiences roaring with laughter, his deep, scratchy vocals and crafty guitar melodies will have them swooning as well. I hope to give him the introduction he deserves because I know his appearance will be meg awesome.

Marilyn Laverty to introduce Andy at Café Volan

These events, plus appearances by director Aaron Schock, musician Vernon Reid, and filmmaker/photographer Ralph Gibson are all happening at Café Volan, 510 Bangs Ave., Doug Parent and Paul Cali’s hip addition to Asbury Park’s culinary and cultural community.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: All Tomorrow's Parties, Andy Friedman, Asbury Park, ATP, Cafe Volan, David Spelman, Graham Leader, Heartworn Highways, Marilyn Laverty, Sonic Garden

Shore Fire South finds world-class coffee in NoCo, world-class fun in Belmar

July 25, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

This summer’s all about trying new things! We’re adding lots of new elements to our Shore Fire client campaigns, including more social media, contests, and lots of other goodies. And on vacation, I stayed in Ocean Grove (home of Shore Fire’s NJ office) and planned daily adventures including ‘firsts’ for me such as surfing, paddle boarding , and parasailing.

Marilyn and Margaret Laverty enjoy a refreshing dip courtesy of Belmar Parasails

Then recently, Ocean Grove-based music producer and generally cool guy David Spelman introduced me to a hip new cafe in Asbury Park. Cafe Volan (510 Bangs Avenue) is already attracting a who’s who of local artists, musicians, surfers, and entrepreneurs. Owners Paul Cali and Doug Parent offer a selection of teas and espresso drinks featuring coffee by Philadelphia-based roaster La Colombe, which is also served at top New York restaurants including Daniel and Le Bernadin.

Parent describes the owners’ intention as creating “an environment where people can come to meet a friend or make a new one. There’s zero pressure for customers to leave at any time, in fact the greatest pleasure we have is to introduce people and foster creativity.” In fact, I was only in the shop a few minutes when another creative Asbury resident, hipster and writer Tim Donnelly burst in, bubbling with excitement over a new free surfing clinic for Asbury’s Boy’s and Girl’s Club that’s being sponsored by some of the city’s community oriented entrepreneurs. BTW, Cali and Parent keep their surfboards at Café Volan, and regularly take surf breaks when the conditions cooperate.

Marilyn Laverty with Cafe Volan owners Paul Cali (left) and Doug Parent in front of their La Marzoco espresso machine from Florence, Italy

We’re still fans of the many wonderful businesses on Ocean Avenue and Cookman Ave, but are enjoying getting to better know this neighborhood some are calling NoCo (short for North of Cookman). In addition to Cafe Volan, this block of Bangs is also home to Chakra Salon & Spa, Rebirth Art Supply, Wood Shop Skateboards, M Studio Design & Marketing, and Sweet Joey’s (featuring vintage clothing and custom jeans).

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Asbury Park, Cafe Volan, first time, La Colombe, Ocean Grove, parasailing, summer, surfing

Staff Promotions, Additions to Staff

May 26, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

I wanted to share a bit of Shore Fire news, our recent press release about promotions and additions to our staff is below.

-Marilyn Laverty

SHORE FIRE MEDIA ANNOUNCE STAFF PROMOTIONS, ADDITIONS TO STAFF

(Brooklyn, NY May 25, 2011) Shore Fire Media announces staff promotions which recognize the personal growth and team contributions of several of its staff to the venerable agency and its clients. The five members of the staff who were promoted are as follows:

Chris Taillie has been named Senior Account Executive. A graduate of University at Buffalo, Taillie joined Shore Fire Media’s Online Marketing department in 2007 after having worked at Velour Music Group. Taillie reports to VP Matt Hanks.

Andy Silva has been named Senior Account Executive. A graduate of SUNY Fredonia, Silva joined Shore Fire’s Online Marketing department in 2008 after previously working with Fanatic Promotion. Silva reports to VP Matt Hanks.

Lauretta Charlton has been named Account Executive. Charlton graduated from the University of San Francisco where she was a DJ at KUSF. Before joining the Shore Fire team in 2008, she worked as an editorial assistant at Simon and Schuster. Charlton reports to VP Rebecca Shapiro.

Jon Bleicher has been named Account Executive. A graduate of George Washington University, Bleicher joined the Shore Fire team in 2010 after having worked with XM Radio and The Muse Box. Bleicher reports to VP Rebecca Shapiro.

Anthony D’Amato has been named Junior Account Executive. A 2010 graduate of Princeton University, D’Amato joined the company full-time weeks after graduation, having spent several summers as a Shore Fire intern. D’Amato reports to Senior Account Executive Carrie Tolles.

Shore Fire also announced today the addition of three new staff members to the Shore Fire team. The new additions are as follows:

Kyle Wall has joined the company as Junior Account Executive. A graduate of Penn State University, Wall joins Shore Fire after previously working at Daddi Brand Communications and writing for Spectrum Culture. Wall reports to Account Executive Jon Bleicher.

David McTiernan has joined the company as Publicity Coordinator. A 2010 graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, McTiernan joins Shore Fire after having worked at Wildflower Records. McTiernan reports to Senior Account Executive Elizabeth Lutz.

Carrie Hall has joined the company as Publicity Coordinator. A graduate of Florida State University with a Communications major, Hall comes to Shore Fire after working as Senior Editor at Sentimentalist Magazine. Hall reports to Senior Account Executive Brendan Gilmartin.

About Shore Fire Media

Shore Fire Media is a standard-setting, public relations and online marketing firm whose clients are bellwethers in the worlds of music, film, books, technology, fashion and special events. The company’s music roster ranges from stadium-packing superstars to breakthrough young artists and genre-defining masters of their craft. Shore Fire has represented award-winning authors and game-changing mavericks of technology and fashion. Recent and current clients include top musical artists in virtually every genre, including Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Kenny Chesney, Diana Krall, Neko Case, Bon Iver, and Maxwell; companies such as A2IM, TuneCore, NARAS, Toyota, and Hennessy; media clients such as Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Elvis Costello’s Spectacle TV show, and Sirius Satellite Radio; books including Donald Passman’s All You Need to Know About the Music Business and Max’s Kansas City: Art, Glamour, Rock and Roll; the venue The Iridium; websites Headliner.fm and Take GreatPictures.com; the charity WhyHunger; and the application iSheetMusic.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Promotions, Shore Fire Medoa, Staff

Dan Reed, Radio Royalty at the Queen

May 20, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

It was hard going to the gym today after getting home at 1 a.m. from the Non-COMMvention in Wilmington, Delaware, but at least I was styling in this cute COMMvention T-shirt from Anti- Records:


What’s a publicist to do at a radio convention? Have a great time and hang with friends old and new! NON-COMM founder and WXPN producer Dan Reed [pictured below with Shore Fire's Marilyn Laverty] extended me an invitation to the 11th annual gathering of radio stations and promotions folk that was held for the first time at great new venue, World Café Live at the Queen.

Since WXPN hosts the 3-day fest, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s scribe Dan DeLuca [pictured below with his student sidekick Lauren DeLucca] was on hand to report on the highlights at the Queen.

The historic site has been renovated and is now home to a world class performance and production studio, and it was a great spot for artists and industry alike. I caught Glassnote’s Givers, my idol Todd Snider (with dashing manager Burt Stein) and was charmed by SubPop’s hot new act The Head and the Heart (sorry I missed saying hi, Matt Shay!). Q Prime’s Cliff Burnstein inspired the crowd with his brilliant comments on the non-commercial format, and I met new friends at a great dinner hosted by Sean Coakley and Melanie Shrawder of top promotion company Songlines.

At Songlines’ dinner at the Chelsea Tavern, I was delighted to schmooze with public radio deities Bob Boilen and Bruce Warren, and was tickled to hear great war stories from ATO’s Rick Brewer, RED’s Danny Buch, and my Songlines hosts. Other highlights: meeting KUT Austin’s Jeff McCord, chatting with KSMT Colorado’s Stacy Howar [pictured below with Sean Coakley], meeting new friends from fave labels such as Jagjaguwar and Six Shooter, and reconnecting with buddy LiveNation’s Harvey Leeds back at the Queen.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Delaware, non-commvention, Radio, WIlmington, WXPN

Tropical Treats and Triumphs in Travel to Tampa

March 24, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

Wow, what a treat it was being on hand at the first stadium show on Kenny Chesney’s 2011 Goin’ Coastal Tour. The day began with an early morning expedition in a caravan of golf carts to the very last seat in the last row at the top of Raymond James Stadium, where Chesney viewed the stage from the vantage point of his fans and psyched himself for the show. Here’s the view from the very last seat:

And a shot of the gigantic pirate ship that adorns the Buccaneers’ stadium and is so appropriate given Mr. Chesney’s affinity for pirates:

Joining us at the top of the stadium were Sony/BNA execs CEO Gary Overton (in profile), Director of National Promotion Buffy Cooper and Vice President of Media Wes Vause:

Later I got to hang out backstage and hear photographer Danny Clinch and Kenny’s tour manager Robin Majors jam on their harmonicas a bit before lunch:

The tour catering was terrific (yum, Mexican food) but I’m sorry I ate so much because I didn’t have my typically robust appetite when I sauntered over to the Eat and Greet sponsored by Zac Brown Band for their fan club. Zac Brown Band are the featured guests on Kenny’s 2011 Goin’ Coastal tour, and I got to hang out with their team a bit while viewing their incredible new facility for feeding their fans, a gleaming bus-turned-kitchen that’s aptly named Cookie. Pictured here: Lynn Oliver of Zac’s label Southern Ground Artists, Southern Ground recording artist Sonia Leigh, me (Marilyn Laverty)  and ROAR’s Director of Communications Liz Norris:

Many superstar athletes are fans of Kenny, and as a life-long Phillies fanatic I was grateful for the chance to meet and talk to Chase Utley and Cliff Lee (both photo’d here with me, Marilyn Laverty) while they gathered at Kenny’s tour bus to say ‘hi’ before the show:

What nice guys they were and they assured me that the Phils will dominate this year.

The day’s music started with Uncle Kracker and Billy Currington, then featured artists Zac Brown Band, and finally Kenny Chesney and his powerful band in a great set punctuated with a terrific encore in which they were joined by Zac Brown Band. The ’super moon’ illuminated Raymond James Stadium, adding a fairytale glow to a really fun day.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: chase utley, cliff lee, goin coastal tour, Kenny Chesney, sonia leigh, tampa bay, zav brown band

Cornell Club + Rolling Stone + Atlantic Records + great weather = big fun in Big Apple

February 18, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

I admit I’m a bit Brooklyn and Jersey-centric these days, and usually venture into Manhattan mostly after dark, but Wednesday’s Big Apple foray was a special treat. The day was ushered in with spring-like weather and an interesting and elegant lunch at the Cornell Club with travel agent-to-the-stars Carol Green of Tzell Travel. We exchanged some great stories and discussed sales strategies, then I headed up to the bustling offices of Rolling Stone to pick up Issue 1125 with reviews of our own The Low Anthem and the Lemmy movie, as well as a Random Note on Elvis C. Creative director Jodi Peckman greeted me and introduced me to their new web whiz Alex Levy, and I was able to pop into a planning meeting with the powerhouse of Will Dana, Nathan Brackett, Jon Ringen, Andy Greene and Brian Hiatt. What a  knowledgeable and personable group they are, and to me one of the best and brightest Rolling Stone staffs since I was a baby publicist and worked with Kurt Loder, Sheila Rogers, and other incipient legends. Rolling Stone recently announced a nationwide talent search in partnership with the Atlantic Records label, which coincidentally was my last stop of the day.

Thanks to Atlantic’s communications honcho Sheila Richman for welcoming me warmly despite her having just returned from an exciting Grammy weekend in LA. It was a pleasure hearing Sheila’s insights into current media trends and sharing her elation at Atlantic’s many wonderful Grammy appearances and  the double win by last year’s Best New Artist and Shore Fire favorites, Zac Brown Band. Fueled by a small Coca Cola in a glass bottle (the only way to drink it) from midtown’s best gourmet grocer, Ernest Klein, I climbed into my pumpkin chariot, thanked my mice attendants, and rumbled off into the sunset and the NJ night.

Marilyn Laverty reads about The Low Anthem, the Lemmy movie and Elvis in the new Rolling Stone

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Atlantic Records, Big Apple, Cornell Club, NYC, Rolling Stone

NARAS’ Glamorous Pre-GRAMMY Bash at Gracie Mansion

February 11, 2011 By Marilyn Leave a Comment

GRAMMY season is a great time to celebrate our favorite stars, many of whom attended NARAS’ pre-GRAMMY bash at Gracie Mansion, but for me, there are few stars I’m more enamored of than New York’s Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who co-hosted the event in his breathtakingly restored official residence. Meeting the mayor was the realization of a dream for me, and the mayor in person far exceeded my expectations.

The party was a blast and gave us Shore Fireians the opportunity to hob-nob with old friends and meet some new ones. It was a delight to work with the New York Chapter of NARAS’ wonderful staff, especially the brilliant and beautiful Executive Director Elizabeth Healy, and the consummate professional Candace Jones, and to reconnect with some of our favorite music industry pals such as entertainment lawyer Andy Tavel, So What Management’s Lisa Barbaris, A2IM President Rich Bengloff, Grammy nominee as producer of Twilight for best soundtrack / founder & CEO of eye2ear / founder & CEO of commit media Paul Katz, and songwriter Gordon Chambers. We were also delighted to meet New York NARAS’ President Jennifer Blakeman and Billboard publisher Lisa Ryan Howard. The Mayor’s staff were incredible too, as impressive as you would expect from such an impressive mayor, and special thanks to Jennifer Brown, Evelyn Erskine and Diana Toole. I was so proud of our Shore Fire PR team of Rebecca Shapiro, Elizabeth Lutz, and Madelyn Frascella, whose tremendous efforts resulted in an extremely well organized and well covered event for both artists and media.

We’re looking forward to GRAMMY night as always, and wish our clients good luck with their 17 nominations, but it would be hard to beat this special evening at Gracie Mansion.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg was witty and insightful in conversation with Marilyn Laverty

The Shore Fire staff gather around NY NARAS Executive Director Elizabeth Healy. (L-R) Carrie Tolles, Rebecca Shapiro, Madelyn Frascella, Elizabeth Healy, Marilyn Laverty, Josh Page, and Elizabeth Lutz.

GRAMMY Nominee Will Sheff with Mayor Bloomberg and NY NARAS President Jennifer Blakeman.

Ronnie Spector and Mayor Bloomberg.

The Historic Foyer of Gracie Mansion, restored by Mayor Bloomberg and his staff to museum quality.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Gracie Mansion, Grammy, NARAS
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