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of presenting groundbreaking work in all the arts for audiences of all ages, the evening featured a reading of unpublished letters by literary icon Paul Auster as well as a musical set by his gorgeous and charming daughter Sophie.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

A Crooning Country Gem in Brooklyn

December 6, 2011 By Kyle Leave a Comment

Here’s a voice you need to hear to believe.

I’ve previously blogged about Gypsy jazz virtuoso Stephane Wrembel – the Django-schooled guitarist who has composed for the last few Woody Allen pictures – and his regularly mind-blowing shows throughout NYC.

I’d now like to make note of another Brooklyn-based gem seemingly from another era: Tamar Korn, whose angelic, old-timey voice is just as jaw-droppinrg as Stephane’s breakneck swing licks. At shows with her groups Brain Cloud and Cangelosi Cards, as well as various other side projects, she croons on vintage country classics from the likes of Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Louvin Brothers, and Bob Wills.

Though an online video doesn’t come close to showcasing her live presence, below is Korn at Williamsburg’s The Drink performing with a few musically like-minded friends of mine from my hometown of Scranton:

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Brain Cloud, brooklyn, Tamar Korn, Vocalist

Brooklyn Honey Bees do not care, Brooklyn Honey Bees do not give a…

June 14, 2011 By bgilmartin Leave a Comment

After weeks of wondering what the unexplained boxes on the rooftop across from our downtown Brooklyn offices were, I finally confirmed my suspicions – BEES!

Check out this beekeeper tending to the hive, a full 15 stories up in the air!

I guess the Bees here in Brooklyn haven’t read the reports of their species’ inexplicable die-off.  And what is this experiment anyway?  Some sort of locavore honey-making scheme? Check out their view too, it’s a long way to Prospect Park or Staten Island for pollen…

I’ll keep my eye on this work-in-progress and keep my window shut in the meantime.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: bees, brooklyn, local honey, roof

You Wanted The Best…Shore Fire Is Alive

June 1, 2011 By Lauretta Leave a Comment

You know we all love music. What you didn’t know is, the majority of our staff plays music regularly either in a band or at home with/to their cat or indoor plants. Some of my favorite memories here include walking into a colleague’s office and them picking up their guitar to play a Chuck Berry riff while we wax best practice, our favorite new bands and music blogs, and, of course, the merits of good bacon (in that order.) It’s important for us to know what we’re talking about; being music publicists, knowing the technical aspects of the craft is very helpful.

Also important: having fun.

In the spirit of fun, we decided to toss a party, a battle of the bands, as it were, during which all of the staffers with current bands showed their swag at Union Hall in Brooklyn. Shore Fire came alive! Here are the highlights:

Anthony D'Amato

First up: Anthony D’Amato. Armed with just a guitar, winning vocals and shining lyrics, Anthony really set the bar very, very high. He’s touring. He has a website. He has an album. You should buy it.

Ghost Bunny (with Chris Taillie, far left, on keyboards)

Second there was our very own Chris Taillie and his out harey outfit Ghost Bunny. I had a great conversation with the drummer about the various reincarnations of the band’s name after Ghost Bunny dies. My favorite was Jesus Hare: 33 years in the making. Ghost Bunny has an intricate, multi-layered sound that will appeal to fans of Muse and Nirvana.

Arvel (with Madelyn Frascella, far right, on bass)

And, I am SOOOO not playing favorites, but Madelyn!!!!! Ladies and Gentleman Madelyn Frascella can handle the bass. She is badass. MOVE OVER Gene Simmons, Flea, and Robert Trujillo. Her band Arvel is totally rocking and they brought serious fun to the stage with their alt-rock indie revival sound.

Firenza (with Chris Brudzinski, left, on guitar/vocals)

Another awesome thing about working with all of these stellar people is that we share iTunes and I’m constantly trolling for new music in my colleague’s iTunes library. Chris Powers has some the best Brit Pop, indie, Shoegaze. I knew I was going to love his band live and Firenza’s power pop delivered.

The Middle Eight (with David McTiernan, far left, on keyboards)

Last but certainly not least: THE MIDDLE EIGHT! The venerable David McTiernan spins his classical background into blissful neo-classical indie rock.

Filed Under: Blog, Featured Tagged With: Anthony D'Amato, Arvel, brooklyn, firenza, Ghost Bunny, shore fire, The Middle Eight, union hall

Delicious Dish on Court St.

October 5, 2010 By Matt Hanks Leave a Comment

Celeb sighting: Just saw Ana Gasteyer walking down our block of Court Street and it reminded me that we’ve booked a lot of NPR shows for our clients, but this is one we have yet to crack!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Ana Gasteyer, brooklyn, Celeb Sighting, Schweddy Balls, SNL

Hot Time at Hot Bird with Guster and Vanity Fair

September 16, 2010 By Matt Hanks Leave a Comment


The guys from Guster were in town this week for, among other things, a photo shoot with Vanity Fair. They chose my new favorite neighborhood hang, Hot Bird, as a location (I happen to live three blocks away).

VF’s Justin Bishop – who also snapped these amazing shots of the National – photographed Guster, and I can’t wait to see the results on the printed page.


Brooklyn, I’m here to tell you, if you haven’t checked out Hot Bird you need to. It’s in a former auto garage (you can still smell the oil), decked out with old gas station signs ($.35/gallon!) and industrial machinery that I’m not near man enough to be able to identify. There’s a sizable courtyard with a food truck too. And the folks who work there couldn’t be nicer. They even supplied free beer for the band. Go.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: brooklyn, guster, hot bird, vanity fair

Celeb Sighting Across the Street!

July 14, 2010 By Josh 1 Comment

As us Shore Fire folks strolled on into work yesterday morning, we had to make our way around a swarm of people who had gathered in front of the Brooklyn Courthouse. Turns out that modern day R&B icons John Legend, Melanie Fiona, Common and The Roots were filming a music video right across the street from the Shore Fire offices!

Unluckily for them (and those hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars), it started raining cats & dogs in the late morning and sent everyone running for cover.

Check out the action from our 16th floor view:

Can you spot the stars?!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: brooklyn, music video, Shore Fire Media

Ain't No Party Like a P-Funk Party

July 13, 2010 By Nancie S. Martin Leave a Comment

The Mothership landed in central Brooklyn last night – George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic played free at Wingate Field courtesy of the amazing Martin Luther King Jr. concert series hosted by Friend of Shore Fire Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. Controlled anarchy – 20 people on the stage, 10,000 people on the field, me dancing with a goofy smile on my face in the 3rd row. It funked and rocked so hard! A great tribute to P-Funk’s late music director Garry Shider. Funk In Peace, Starchild. And yes, I brought my flashlight. Ohio Players opened – a great choice, especially when they closed with [Shore]“Fire.”

Here’s a P-Funk clip from 1978:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JbUP-skb7E]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: brooklyn, funk, LIVE, YouTube

The Man, The Myth, The Legend

July 25, 2008 By Nancie S. Martin Leave a Comment

Monday night I ventured out to farthest Brooklyn to see John Legend at Wingate Field, part of the excellent and free MLK series presented for three decades by inimitable Brooklyn Borough president Marty Markowitz.

Legend put on a strong, energetic show for the 16,000 attendees that demonstrated his range, from big numbers with the other 11 people on stage (including horn section and three backup singers) to my favorite, just him at the piano singing “Ordinary People,” one of the best relationship songs of the past decade. Estelle, just shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, opened.

I so love that I live in a city that puts on free shows like this, and the Philharmonic, and the Metropolitan Opera, and Central Park’s Summerstage.

I love even more that Legend donated his performance fee to his own Show Me Foundation, which helps kids in Ghana, and to Camp Brooklyn, which sends Brooklyn kids to sleepaway camp.

Coming soon to Wingate: Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Patti Labelle.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: brooklyn, soul

Blues In Brooklyn

June 4, 2008 By Nick Loss-Eaton 1 Comment

Went out to Ruthie’s in Fort Greene last night for some excellent soul food with American Routes producer Scott McCraw, followed by a performance by Greenville, Mississippi’s own T-Model Ford at Frank’s Cocktail Lounge in Brooklyn. He did some blues standards like “44 Blues” and “Big Boss Man” and some original grooves and punctuated with shouts of “It’s Jack Daniels time!” Terry “Harmonica” Bean played some excellent harp and took the lead on “Bright Lights Big City” and something that sounded like a Slim Harpo number. Appropriately, the venue was unventilated and everyone was packed in and dancing and sweating all over the place. Spotted in the crowd were folk-rocker Langhorne Slim, Ponderosa Stomp photographer Joseph Rosen, and Shore Fire’s own Eli “Paperboy” Reed. There are more events for Brooklyn residents this week. Both Ruthie’s and T-Model are the good stuff.

Here’s some T-Model to drive the blues away this morning: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOGfbzmHVK4]

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: blues, brooklyn
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