UNDERGROUND MICROPHONE

Rich Janov, Host
Rich Janov is deep underground East End music royalty.  His folk/blues-hybryd brand of pickin’ licks and singin’ slick poems tickles the soul in all the good spots.  Hot tracks soon to be released….

Stephen Faubel
Stephen Faubel is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, music teacher from Hawley and NEPA.  His main instruments are piano/keyboards and voice, and also plays guitar, ukulele, bass, etc…  Steve plays keys with The Village Idiots, Friends of the Family, The Casper Band, and Petty Theft.  His original music ranges from folk, bluegrass, reggae, gospel, jazz and space piano music, weaving honest, soulful lyrics with improvisational explorations.  In 2016 he released his first solo album “Serenity”.  Steve is excited to return to the studio in 2019 to undertake his next solo original record.

Aaron McCurdy
Aaron McCurdy is a Mountain Top native who first picked up a guitar when he was 8 years old.  He has been playing on the NEPA music scene since age 16, when he used to have to convince bar patrons to sponsor him since he was underage.  Since then, he has played on PA Live and Mountain Sky Music Festival with Katie Kelly in “The Clamstopmpers”, and also co-wrote their EP “Dwayne” which was released in 2016.  Aaron plays lead guitar and sings with “The Wells River Band”, who recently won country act of the year at the 2018 Steamtown Music Awards.  Other current projects include the traditional folk duo “Plausible Possums”, and the all-eras cover band “Downside UP”.  Aaron is also a solo artist, playing original music on guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and tin whistle.  He can be seen from time to time sitting in with friends he has made over the years, such as “Oldies Rockin ‘ Duo”, “The Charming Beards”, and Rich Janov.  By day, Aaron is a mild-mannered social worker, a not-for-moral reasons vegetarian, and a committed Scofflaw with a cooking problem.

Brandon Cook
Brandon Cook is a Wilkes-Barre based singer-songwriter. Self-taught on various instruments he has crafted an original 40 song catalogue that is colorful and inspired. After recording in Austin TX 05’ he found his calling. Nowadays he plays bass and writes with the STMA winning band Zayre Mountain. In the process of finishing their sophomore album he’s still transfixed by music and is always honing his song’s and Solo act so his musical visions can be enjoyed by as many ear holes as possible.

Gabby Borges
Awkwardly strumming an Epiphone guitar that was much too big for her body, ten-year-old Gabby Borges began writing music in the small town of Hawley, PA. At that time, she wrote about the essentials: her friends and the unrequited love that every middle-schooler experiences. As she grew older her writing ability grew as well. High school years brought confusion with life, and with that came dozens of folk-punk tunes that helped her endure. She was inspired by artists such as Bob Dylan, Kimya Dawson, Amy Winehouse, and the Front Bottoms. Although the lyrics came pouring out of her, she never felt the overwhelming need to share them. Then came the end of high school, where every graduate was expected to know what they want to do with their lives. Gabby new what she wanted to do: music. She gathered her life experiences and wrote her most honest originals and recorded her first album “Linoleum Complex” and released it in April of 2017. She has also just released her Sophomore effort “If My Eyes Could Talk”. She has played locally in Scranton, Philly and New York City and wants to continue to grow her fan-base.

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.