Underground Microphone
The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple
420 N Washington Ave, Scranton, PA 18503
USA
UNDERGROUND MICROPHONE
Jason Brian Merrill of The Secret Reasons, Host
Jason Brian Merrill bandleader from The Secret Reasons, is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter from the Northeastern PA region. He is the former guitarist for the Gabby Borges band (featured on her latest album as producer and guitarist), and has fronted several acts over the years, most recently Rare Form. He is currently starting his project, The Secret Reasons, which can be found at www.thesecretreasons.com. He originally hails from Bellmore, NY and still visits there as well as performs back in his hometown area. He started with Clarinet, but he started listening to Nirvana in early 1994 (before the untimely death of Kurt Cobain) and then picked up a guitar in 1996. He is self-taught but has a degree in education and uses his experience with self-teaching to enable students to find their own voice, and own ability to self-teach. His influences range from the aforementioned Nirvana, The Beatles, Neil Young, Nine Inch Nails, Gypsy Jazz, and Video Game soundtracks. He has also come to appreciate some 80’s alternative music lately. Jason is a strong believer in connecting through music of all types, and his eclectic style reflects his influences. He has a recording studio in Hawley, PA and works for Songbird Studios in Narrowsburg, and the Black Bear Conservatory of Music in Hawley, PA. He is eager to continue with his solo project and new band, which features Joey Aikens and Steve Kurilla, but as is his custom, will likely have some rotating members such as Mark Woodyatt and Stephen Faubel as well as guest drummers and bassists. He loves putting a new spin on old music, and taking extended solos and jams to see how far he can push his improvisational skills. He plans to do music for the rest of his life, and music is the main part of his income.
Joey Aikens
He didn’t play piano, but 15-year-old Joey Aikens had an ear for perfect pitch. When a family friend gave him a small console piano, he could hear it was out of tune. A hands-on kid who took his electronic toys apart, diagrammed them and put them back together for fun, Aikens went into his dad’s toolbox. He found a hex fitting and locking pliers, which he used as a makeshift tuning lever. After graduating from Mountain View High School in Kingsley, Aikens attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and traveled the country as a working, recording guitarist.
Twenty-five years later, Aikens is one of the few remaining piano tuners in northeast Pennsylvania. As pianos continue to remain a centerpiece of classical and modern music, opinions differ on whether piano tuning is reaching its swan song. Aikens remains true to his”scientific art” and spends most of his time in his thriving piano tuning business. In between finding that perfect pitch, the multi-instrumentalist plays with The Secret Reasons and is currently working on a solo album.
Owen Walsh
Owen Walsh has been performing music in PA and NYS for the past 7 years. He performs across genres, but folk, rock, and blues music is where he feels most at home. He has been in various bands— (Dead Tracks from Honesdale, PA and South Hill Revival from Ithaca, NY). His current group is called O&Co. He recently graduated from Ithaca College after studying journalism and music. Owen is now writing for the local River Reporter newspaper, and will be releasing his first solo EP in the next month. Hear his music on Instagram @music_by_walsh or on SoundCloud at https://m.soundcloud.com/user-598199740.
Robert Tellefsen
Bob was born in Brooklyn and has played with the likes of Bob Dylan and Richie Havens. Known for his Richie Havens style, he can take you back to the days in The Village, while also throwing in some modern touches, such as Dave Mathews.
https://www.reverbnation.com/roberttellefsen
Lighten Up!
Randy and Rose Light have been playing music together from the time that they first met in Athens Ohio over 30 years ago. Both Randy and Rose had experience as street musicians In cities such as Seattle, Austin, and New Orleans, among other places. Rose fingerpicks and strums guitar and has always been enamored with the swing music and vocal stylings of Ella Fitzgerald. Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt influenced Rose deeply, and their music is evident in her repertoire. Randy grew up in a house where his mother was a leader of a Dixieland band and he was exposed to swing and jazz music at an early age. Later Randy played in an electric bluegrass band and spent 10 years playing Americana and Irish fiddle tunes and mandolin (studying with Jethro Burns of Homer and Jethro and Kevin Burke). Playing acoustic and electric guitar, he opened concerts for John Hartford, Leo Kottke, Mickey Gilley, and Bobby Bare.
Randy and Rose got together and started a family while still playing as “Weekend Warriors “ at many night clubs, honky-tonks, social clubs, restaurants , weddings and a plethora of any location that would want music of varying styles.Since moving to the Poconos of Pennsylvania, Lighten Up shifted to playing the blues Playing gigs with local blues experts such as Clarence Spady, Slam Allen and Little Sammy Davis. Randy also plays currently with a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band called Green River.Lighten Up! recently reconfigured with Chip Forelli on bass, who is best known for his professional photography ( chipforelli.com) however he continues as an artist in many ways musically with Bob Tellifson, and Kat n Randy and others. Andy Pace has played percussion with Lighten Up! over the years and with the Hideout Blues Band. Andy played professionally with Gary US bonds and C&C Music Factory and toured with many national artists.
Lighten Up! places a heavy emphasis on tight vocal harmony and arrangements of the “Roots”-oriented blues, swing, rock-a -billy , light-rock , and bluegrass that is likely to be heard from this variety band. Find them on Facebook @lightenuppa
ABOUT UGM:
Underground Microphone is NEPA’s premier LIVE performance series which features our region’s finest talent. Each week we bring you an exclusive up close and personal lineup of poetry, comedy, music and more! Voted 2017’s Best New Event by readers of Electric City, Underground Microphone offers the unique experience that honors the Weekday Warrior! Reward yourself with an evening out downtown or a quick drink and entertainment after work.
Located in the Lower Level, the Raymond Hood Room is transformed into a listening room café where artists and their work are respected and supported. This very special space is named after the architect who designed the Scranton Cultural Center in the 1920s. Hood is widely known for his Art Deco and Neo Gothic design style which is evident throughout the entire building. Nationally recognized works include 30 Rockefeller Plaza, American Radiator Building, Daily News, The Emporis, Tribune Tower and The Ocean Forest Hotel in Myrtle Beach among others.
Doors open at 6:00 PM and entertainment starts at 7:00 PM!
No Cover – Cash Bar for 21+ – Valid ID required
Exceptional Entertainment — Classic Atmosphere
Artists: For anyone interested in performing: there are no rules. We encourage free form prose, poetry, stand up, improv and original music. It’s the perfect space to test out new material or projects. For information on how you can become involved, contact Maria at marias@sccmt.org or (570) 346-7369 x102.
Guests: Please be reminded that since this is a performance space, we do ask that you keep the conversation to a whisper. We recognize that this is a social setting, and there is ample lobby space for interacting and networking.
Sponsored by United Gilsonite Laboratories and LT Verrastro. Supported by Lackawanna County and the PA Council on the Arts.
