Sadly, it’s the end of our road trip series, which began in Sothern California, stopped in Austin, followed by Nashville, and finally ending in New York City. It’s been a great ride and we’ve met so many great artists and learned so many fun facts about these cities.
Known as The Big Apple and the city that never sleeps, New York has a rich musical history from early jazz and rhythm and blues to the emerging punk rock scene in the ‘70s at iconic venues like CBGBs.
| The city began welcoming new immigrants through Ellis Island in the late 1800s, and the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, was erected on Liberty Island and dedicated in 1886.
Visitors to New York (pre-COVID) experienced pizza, hot dogs, bagels, street vendors, street buskers, and music! Sadly, with the lockdown and restrictions placed on live music performances, venues and musicians are suffering severely, making this edition an emotional one. Here we are introducing you to some local musicians and music stores with the hope of shedding light on their talents and instruments to offer. From classical guitarist Sharon Isbin, Latina artists Eljuri and Sus Vasquez, rockers Moriah Formica, Debra Devi, Marlene Mendoza, and Meg Toohey (who performed with Sara Bareilles’ Broadway show The Waitress), to Kaki King known for her unique percussive style of playing, country artist Jessica Lynn who graces our cover, and children’s entertainer Laurie Berkner . . . and this is just a sampling. Several guitar companies we checked out are Sadowsky Guitars and D’Angelico Guitars, both with roots in NYC. Sam Ash opened his music store in New York, and the city is riddled with unique guitar stores where you can find your perfect instrument. Our lesson on Punk Rock Guitar 101 will have you experimenting with your new sound, while our wellness tips will hopefully help guide you on finding the proper balance between work and pleasure to have you on your best musical journey. And, of course, our mind games and fun stuff will give you something to do during your downtime. For gear reviews, we tried our hand at the Martin 00L-X2E Acoustic-Electric Guitar, a Yamaha bass and Fender guitar, and the Spark amp, which we’ve been waiting on for a while, so we were excited to check that out. During this time, let’s take the time to reflect on this past year and look at ways to readjust to life in this new environment. New York has its struggles, but New York residents are strong and are ready to bounce back. Stay safe, wear a mask, and let’s get COVID behind us! Read on and enjoy it! ~ Tara Low |
