The wait is over, live music is back. Music people are happy again, musicians are able to play for the people, and crowds of people are showing up to listen. Live music is energizing and uplifting, not only hearing the music, also seeing and feeling it.
These same emotions go for musicians as well, the exchange between the audience and artist is the unique experience of performing live.
How did musicians survive the pandemic’s more than 18 months of separation from their audiences, bandmates and performing?
For Greece musician Jerry Falzone music has been his focus since he was 14 years old. “When I was ten I saw the Beatles on TV on The Ed Sullivan Show. That was pretty much it for me. I knew what I wanted to do,” Falzone said. Growing up in Summerville Falzone played guitar, wrote songs and played in bands. Throughout his 20s he toured around the country in the rock band Pearl.
“When I was 29 my touring days came to an end. I was hitchhiking home and a talent agent gave me a ride. He asked me if I needed a job,” Falzone said. That random meeting resulted in five years as a talent agent, putting together bands and scheduling bands in clubs and on the road, similar to the job he is still doing today. Falzone currently works in marketing for The Penthouse, One East Avenue, Downtown and Markethold Productions, both jobs involve the music industry. Falzone also is on the Board of Directors of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
Just before the pandemic Falzone put together a new band, Liar’s Moon, with friends and fellow musicians. In 2019 Liar’s Moon played their first show in the Record Archive Listening Room, to a great crowd that loved their music. The band was just taking hold when live performing came to a standstill. “During the pandemic we had very little contact within the band. After many months, a phone call brought us back in contact, the band got together on the deck at our mandolin player’s cottage. We brought our instruments and just started playing together again,” Falzone said. They have been together since, and recently started playing live shows. “The audiences are phenomenal, it is amazing, everyone is just so happy to be out and enjoying music again,” Falzone said. During their pandemic time off, Liar’s Moon recorded a new album that comes out in the fall titled Eastman Town.
Jonathan Allentoff is President of the community organization, Greece Performing Arts Society (GPAS), and a nationally acclaimed conductor, composer, performer and educator. In addition to serving as musical director for GPAS’ orchestra and overseeing the choral and concert band, Allentoff is also founding music director of the Brockport Symphony and Temple Beth El Orchestras. He also manages his own publishing business, Allentoff Music.
During the pandemic GPAS musicians and performers survived by staying in touch. Group members met through Zoom meetings, and connected with their audience through virtual performances. “We kept very active during the pandemic months. We studied music and our charts, practiced and wrote new music. We also made GPAS masks. Live rehearsals and connecting together as a group started up again in September of 2020,” Allentoff said.
All along, the GPAS recorded and performed new music. In combination with previous performances they offered virtual performances of their music, including Valentine and St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations, A Holiday Concert and a Spring Concert among many others.
“With help from staff and board members we were able to keep our members vibrant, comfortable and engaged. With our virtual concerts we were able to reach our out-of-town members. It really was a celebration that we all enjoyed, ” Allentoff said.
After a successful Summer Outdoor Pops Concert on June 6, GPAS closed out their season on June 26 with a virtual presentation of “We Will Rock You! Hits of the 80s.”
Allentoff said he is looking forward to resuming live performances in the fall, “I feel we need live in-person music now, more than ever before. Music brings people together. It really means a lot to us to share what we love with our community. GPAS has music for everyone, all ages, because music is for everyone.”
For more information on Greece Performing Arts Society visit www.greeceperformingarts.org
Max Doud is a 16 year old singer, songwriter and guitarist who grew up in Spencerport.
“When I was younger I was into sports, my whole family is into sports. I was in 5th grade and my mom took me to the Record Archive to see Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls. He looked at me and said, ‘That’s rocker hair dude.’ Then later when he was performing, he asked me to play a song with him. At first I didn’t want to, my mom told me I should do it. We played the song Slide. That was my first real inspiration. I loved that feeling on stage and performing,” Doud said.
Since that experience at 10 years old, Doud has been seriously working on his music. He keeps a busy schedule playing venues all around the Rochester area. When the pandemic hit Doud said, “Everyone was scared. I did do a few live streams called Quarantine Karaoke. Then I got Covid myself, all that stopped.”
Doud continued working with his vocal coach Richard Fink during the pandemic. His teacher had an interesting approach to bringing out creativity and ramping up Doud’s production during his down time. He challenged Doud to write 30 songs in 30 days. “That was quite a challenge. Some of my songs were literally about brushing your teeth. We are going over all the songs that I wrote now, and finding some good ideas to work on,” Doud said.
Since music has opened up Doud has been playing live shows again. “It is really great to be out playing again, I really like playing outside. Last summer there was nothing, this summer is quite nice,” he said.
Doud recently released a video and cover of the Britney Spears song …Baby One More Time. He is also recording a couple of original songs, including one he wrote “Never Far” about his Grandmother who passed away when he was two months old. “The song is the story of my Grandmother I wrote thinking about all I have heard and learned about her. She was also the first person to hold me when I was born,” Doud said.
To learn more about Max Doud visit www.maxdoud.com
Gary Lewis is a national performer and founder of the 60s group Gary Lewis and the Playboys. They headlined this year’s 4th of July Celebration in Greece, it was only their second concert since touring shut down 15 months earlier.
Lewis lives in suburban Rochester and said he “became domestic” during his time at home. “I spent all my time at home. We didn’t go anywhere. I became very domestic, doing laundry, chopping wood and cutting the grass. There was nothing you could do about it. I just accepted the fact that we couldn’t work, and knew that it wouldn’t last forever,” Lewis said.
Since Lewis couldn’t rehearse with the band they met occasionally over Zoom. Gary Lewis and the Playboys performed their first concert after the pandemic on June 25 in Las Vegas. “The audience was great. We all just couldn’t wait for music to happen again. It was an almost full house and we had great fun,” Lewis said.
“ During the pandemic I just did what I had to do. I am lucky because I have royalties coming in, and that got us through. There is a reason why the pandemic happened, and there is a reason why it is over, and everything will be OK,” Lewis said.
For Gary Lewis and the Playboys touring schedule and to learn more about the band visit www.garylewisandtheplayboys.com
