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Happy 2013 everyone! Welcome to the first entry of the MOAM
blog. 2012 was a fun and exciting year. Here’s a recap of some of our favorite
moments:
January 2012: We hosted a show during Asbury Park’s annual Light of Day event! Performers included Matt Kay, Tommy Strazza, Frank
Lombardi, Sarah Donner, Mike Askin and Mike Butterfield.The funds from Light of
Day go to support the fight against Parkinson’s disease and related illnesses.
Money helps fund research into better treatments, cures, and support for
patients. The weekend-long Asbury Park shows in 2012 raised nearly $300,000
(!!), and we were honored to be a part of the effort. For more information
about Light of Day, visit www.lightofday.org.
February
2012: MOAM partnered with the
Monmouth Museum to host Come To Your
Senses. This “feast for the senses” included 5 genres of music by Ronnie Brandt, Wakah Chan, Joel
DeWitt, Arlan Feiles, and Gary Wright. Attendees enjoyed gourmet treats, hand
and chair massages, and a juried art show and checked out the various herbs and
gift basket raffle tickets for sale. We enjoyed partnering with the Monmouth
Museum and can’t wait for the next Come To Your Senses which is scheduled for
April 6, 2013.
March 2012: Our friends at Espresso Joe’s in Keyport, NJ
hosted the first MOAM Open Mic of
the year. Featured artists included Lo Kloza and Colie Brice, and thanks to the
attendees’ generosity we collected donations and food for the FoodBank of
Monmouth and Ocean County.
April 2012: On April 12th, 2012, MOAM
officially became a federally recognized 501 (C)(3)
public charity! Woohoo!! We were able to celebrate with many friends at our Food Bank Benefit on April 26th
at Rockn’Joe in Point Pleasant. Thanks to Clan Suibhne, Danny Rongo
and Virago for contributing their time and talent. This event raised more
donations and non-perishable food for the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean
County!
May 2012: We got the awesome news that MOAM had been chosen as the charity to receive the proceeds
of a Summer Sunset Blues Cruise originally
organized by the United Jersey Blues Network, a blues society from the Northern
New Jersey area.
The sunset cruises through New York
Harbor on the historic tall ship the A.J. Meerwald, have been departing from
Liberty State Park in Jersey City every
summer for 11 years, with the proceeds from the event going to various
charities. The 2012 cruise took place in July and featured music by the Chuck
Lambert Band. Thank you, UJBN!
June 2012: We had fun running the Riverfront Stage at the Red Bank Riverfest. From June 1st to 3rd we
enjoyed the music of MaggiesInACup, Alexandra Inglis, Emily Grove, Jeff Rupert,
Lo Kloza, Kevin Basko, The Wag, Don Lee, Beannacht, Michael Brett, Arlan Feiles,
Keith Monacchio, Michael Patrick, Clan Suibnhe, Frank Lombardi, George Wirth,
Lightning Jar, Aine O’Dougherty, the Tony Tedesco Band, Victoria Q, Sofia
Nicole, Michael Dante Summonte, Petal Tree, Jaymie Gerard, the Leroy Place
Band, Bern and the Brights, Inland Traveler, and Michaela McClain.
Shortly after came the very first MOAM-A-Palooza, an all-day music listening party where people came
to play, listen, take workshops, win prizes, and enjoy food and drink with
their friends. This event featured an unplugged show by The Wag and friends,
and raised $500 and lots of food for the Howell Emergency Food Pantry. Thanks
to workshop leaders Rob Dye, Steve Romanowski, Peter Prasa, Al-Vis Al, Carol
Barbieri, Cat Cosentino, & Rich Genoval, and to Pastor Stephen from Pierce
Memorial Presbyterian Church for hosting us.
July 2012: Another
Food Bank Benefit! This one was held at Rockn' Joe in Point Pleasant.
This show featured Sofia Nicole and Kevin John Allen & the Lonely Teardrops
Band and raised funds and non-perishable food for The FoodBank of Monmouth and
Ocean County.
August 2012: MOAM had a booth at the NJ Friends of
Clearwater Festival and also welcomed new Board Members Jerzy Jung, Matt Kay,
and Brian Ostering.
September 2012: We announced a songwriting contest that
challenged our members to “Change the
World; Win $100.” Artists were invited to write a
song about a social problem, issue or community need with the chance to win
$100.00 for themselves and $100.00 for a charity of their choice.
MOAM also brought music to the Not
Yo Mama’s Parks and Crafts Series in Van Vorst Park, Jersey City. Paul Sissick,
Michael Brett, Jenna DQ, Jay Everett Band, Zara Phillips Band and Art Servilla
were kind enough to donate their time and talent.
Early October
2012: We finalized production
on “MOAM: The First Two Years,” a
compilation CD of songs by local artists/MOAM members who donated their time
and talents during our first two years. Several MOAM Board members sat in a
room together and concentrated very hard on making sure each song transitioned
properly into the next one for maximum mixtape feel. That is how much we love
you.
Late October
2012/November 2012: Tragically,
our 2 Year Anniversary Gala also became a Hurricane Relief Benefit. We really wish Sandy had never happened.
Ever. But a bright spot during that time was the massive support from everyone
who attended. Thanks to Chico’s House of Jazz/Urban Nest for hosting, emcee
Cook Smith, and artists Tommy Strazza, Gary Wright,
CAT, Gerald Edward, George Wirth, Michael Patrick, Lightning Jar, Michael
Askin, Art Servilla, Jo Wymer, Michael Brett, Arlan Feiles, The Wag, and Jenny
Woods, Matt O’Ree, Jeff Cafone, Deseree Spinks, and Sandy Mack & lots of
friends. Attendees donated $2125 and $360 in gift cards not to mention
hundreds of pounds of food and other donations to help their neighbors. Special thanks to Joe Whyte, who won our songwriting
contest and donated every cent of his winnings to the cause.
December 2012:
The Jersey Shore Musicians Hurricane
Relief Fund began giving small grants to musicians and members of the local
music community who were affected by hurricane Sandy, and continues to reach out to find others in
need. If you are a part of the music scene in any way
and have suffered losses due to Sandy you can apply for aid by filling out the
form below. If you know someone in need,
please pass along their name.
(If you have any trouble with the
form, just email us at musiciansonamission@gmail.com.)
If you would like to donate to the
fund you may do so at http://hurricane.musiciansonamission.org
THANK YOU, thank you,
thank you to anyone who contributed, in any way at all, to the MOAM
activities of 2012. We are grateful to you. Stay tuned for
information about 2013 events!!
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