Waltz Astoria

The Great Astor ..remembered @Waltz-Astoria

2007-08-18T12:09:00.000-04:00

WALTZ-ASTORIA

Our name comes from the location of the space created , created to try in a way to find open ears to listen to things other than the Jack FM ,Smooth Jazz, Light FM ,Metal ..nonsense that

flows out on the airways in this Metropolis ...

Astor Piazzolla - The Great Astor as he was known... Tango like it was meant to be he wrote

and played the finest Tango's ....Obscure little instrument in his hands.

Obscure everywhere , except in the Hearts of Tango Lovers..

Astor was not always the great Tango Lovers hero.. as this blip shows..

This is from his own writings .....

When I met her, I showed her my kilos of symphonies and sonatas. She started to read them and suddenly came out with a horrible sentence: “It's very well written.” And stopped, with a big period, round like a soccer ball. After a long while, she said: “Here you are like Stravinsky, like Bartók, like Ravel, but you know what happens? I can't find Piazzolla in this.” And she began to investigate my private life: what I did, what I did and did not play, if I was single, married, or living with someone, she was like an FBI agent! And I was very ashamed to tell her that I was a tango musician. Finally I said, “I play in a night club.” I didn't want to say cabaret. And she answered, “Night club, mais oui, but that is a cabaret, isn't it?” “Yes,” I answered, and thought, “I'll hit this woman in the head with a radio....” It wasn't easy to lie to her. She kept asking: “You say that you are not pianist. What instrument do you play, then?” And I didn't want to tell her that I was a bandoneon player, because I thought, “Then she will throw me from the fourth floor.” Finally, I confessed and she asked me to play some bars of a tango of my own. She suddenly opened her eyes, took my hand and told me: “You idiot, that's Piazzolla!” And I took all the music I composed, ten years of my life, and sent it to hell in two seconds.

Things change , and sometimes overnight ... The Great Astor was no longer ashamed of who he was.....

I love that little story... and I Love the group that came to Waltz this past Friday night

and played the music of Astor Piazzolla... Tom Piercy & this trio were exceptional .

Its was really cool to see, the people that came into Waltz to Listen and Hear

the work of the Master .... The Great Astor... Thank You Tom Piercy & Friends ...

You were awesome.....

Whats starting to happen in the new Performance Space, is people are hearing about Waltz

seeking it out and finding it to be a "listening room" not just a cafe' or bar... with a band strumming and banging it out.

The motto @ Waltz-Astoria ......... "You never know what you'll hear next"

is the BEST PART of this little joint.

Check the shows coming up , or just stop in.

You really can't go wrong.... There is nothing like Waltz-Astoria

in NYC.......

www.waltz-astoria.com

Do I hear a Waltz ....It looks like it.....

2007-08-15T15:36:00.000-04:00

Funny , But Waltz-Astoria has grown up.
The cafe has grown a stage, and stairs and added room so we can all follow the Lyric

"
Very odd, but I hear a waltz.
There isn't a band, and I don't understand it at all.
I can't hear a waltz,Oh, my lord, there it goes again.
Why is nobody dancing in the street?
Can't they hear the beat?
Magical, mystical miracle,Can it be?
Is it true?
Things are impossibly lyrical,Is it me?
No, it's you.
I do hear a waltz,I see you and I hear a waltz,It's what I've been waiting for all my life, to hear a waltz.
Do you hear a waltz?
Oh, my dear, don't you hear a waltz?

Such lovely Blue Danube-y music, how can you be still?
You must hear a waltz!
Even strangers are dancing now.
An old lady is waltzing in her flat,Waltzing with her cat.
Roses are dancing with peonies,Is it true?
Can't you see?
Everything's suddenly Viennese,Can't be you,Must be me.
Do I hear a waltz?
I want more than to hear a waltz,I want you to share it, 'cause oh, boy, do I hear a waltz!"- Steven Sondheim

If youv'e been inside the new Waltz space you can see we are changing , right before your very eyes....I know you will love the set up .... The open Mic, the Comedy nights , the
dozens of musical , theatrical and flat out other worldly acts lined up to grace the new stage.

Gotham Radio , has been messing it up with us for a few months now and the craziness
continues with this weeks show Live@waltz on Gothamradio.org ( WWW.Gothamradio.org)

This has been big fun... Listen to Sal Casabianca , and the rest as they make things
flow on the radio .... These guys are fucking crazy and the whole city is starting to know
Wednesday's at Waltz is the Best Room in the city.....

Don't be offended by the curse words , the love keeps growing and the show keeps
kicking ass.... the comics , the live stage fuck ups & soon the different hosts that will be here to host this thing...

Mike Drucker , Bob Allen's biggest fan ( Rep. House Member -Florida )
2007 , anti gay advocate, was outed by Mike, Wednesday nite....
we all know Bob's fear of black men , is why he took to blowing them....

Guest hosting an open mic, is not for the faint of heart.. But we already have a number of mutants and human's believe it or not that want to try this.... Be forwarned ... its like
the local drug dealer says..."the first one is free " ...

The "Only Hope" show hosts are going to do one of the open mics soon
and so is Gotham Radio's own "Aeric" ..

Dave Middleton got up there this last week and did a bit, he came in to buy coffee and I
put him up there and made him do this ....
( it didn't take too much arm twisting )

He did a great intro for a guy who e-mailed me all the way from St.Louis the week before
...now I'm not one to keep anyone off the stage , but if you want to play bad enough to e-mail
me ( openmic@waltz-astoria.com) then your going up there...
John Goolsby..was nothing short of AWESOME... I love this guys sound and so did the room
( listen on GothamRadio.org ) you will see what I mean....

EJ ( yup we have had more than one guy named EJ ) @ Waltz over the past few months.
and both have made the cut onto Gotham Radio.

This EJ, might have written the "Theme song for every guy who comes into Waltz"
He sat at the Piano and I'll tell you what..... You gotta hear this guy..
I love everyone that comes in to play and listen and have some laughs with the Waltzing crowd.
But .... some guys have a knack for a "Love Song".....

Drop in again soon ...
You "never know what you'll hear next " @ Waltz-Astoria

New Waltz Astoria ( come see the joint )

2007-07-11T12:44:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone ,

Just a couple of quick things.
You all know that Waltz was growing, I wanted to let you know that I hope you love the new space.
I have a few little bits and pieces I wanted to share. You all know that Waltz Loves all of you that frequent the place and takes your suggestions seriously in terms of how to do things
better.....

Its a struggle to build a business like this and its out of love not a desire for profits that
it continues to survive.

You people are the reason the cafe strives to find new ways of supporting the arts , music and
just share the love in general. You guys rock...
Without all of you ,Waltz could not possibly continue to grow.
You know that ..

With growth and success comes the inevitable nasty comments of a few who just live to
judge .
Consider this an open letter to those who felt in the past few weeks , the need to
be negative....

Waltz is not here to be judged by people who have neither the spine nor the courage to
take chances.. If you think Waltz can do better, please say so.
If you are here just to complain, go elsewhere....

Its hard enough to have the instestinal fortitude to do this , without having people who have never taken a chance to do anything for themselves actually now have the courage to
leave a note or e-mail....

You are NOT what Waltz is here for.

To everyone else, Waltz loves you guys... and I mean it when I say YOU ROCK.....

Waltzing Moose or is it Mooses ?

2007-07-09T17:46:00.000-04:00

I was thinking that maybe you Waltzing fools might not get the whole picture on this very hot July day.
I mean it seems that after the show on Saturday , at the Moose you may be thinking its too hot to
stop in and get a cold drink @ Waltz......

Well like the big guy says in the billboard above....

You can stop in see the New Space, look around , strech out. I know you... you will no doubt love the space now. Room to squeeze in and hear something new. Room to open your lap top or you may be a new I-Phone owner.. room to text or e-mail the one you love. Love is right. I mean , I would rather that you fall in love rather than fall down our new steps ( did he say steps ?)

Ok so I will not say another word ,you just have to see for yourself.

A big thanks to everyone that made it to the Moose, it was fun.

Bullwinkle wasn't there but the ghost of moose' past were and the place is really a great room.

Ya! gotta love it..

Of course there are still lots of little bits and bobs to be added to the new Waltz.

The stage and bar are new so come on down and help us break them in.

WALTZ-ASTORIA SUMMER BASH 7-7-07 !!!!!!

2007-06-28T14:52:00.000-04:00

That Big Ball Room upsatirs at the old
Loyal Order of the Moose Hall
On Braodway & 41st Street in ASTORIA...

$15.00

Stephane Wrembel ( if you haven't seen him yet, you really shouldn't miss this )

Dave Rudbarg & Friends.. ( For those of you that have heard Big Dave,, this is gonna Rock )

The Last Broadcast ( Trip Hop that Rocks )..

Full Wine and Beer Bar.

Matt Taylor ( to MC the event ) Mr. Chalk the sidewalk himself...

Maybe a suprise or two... a huge dance floor
and 300 fellow Astoria/ LIC/ New Yorkers
in one place...

Waltz-Astoria did it in January in NYC's Merkin Hall
This is THE SUMMER thing.......

July 7th 8 pm Doors open,
Till ????

www.waltz-astoria.com for tickets
or at the door night of the event ( $18.00 )

Back in a New York Groove ...@ Waltz-Astoria

2007-06-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

June 27 and Waltz is Back.

I wanted to take a few minutes to tell all of our Waltz friends about what is happening here in

Waltz-land... You guys know that Waltz has done a little re-painting and we moved some stuff around , and we think you will love it... It being Waltz latest configuration.

You will just have to stop in and see , all should be done by Saturday June 30 , just in time for the WINE PARTY... I have been busy with all kinds of changes here and the one I am most

in love with is the GOTHAM RADIO Hour each week Live @ Waltz-Astoria.

If you haven't yet checked us out on the internet you can hear all kinds of nonesense

at http://www.gothamradio.org/ click on the Waltz show each week and listen in or download it

for your Pod ... This past show we did the show at my home, since Waltz as closed for Vacation

( if you call painting a vacation )

We had Kyle Marshall and Preston Edmands on hand and we even managed a little live

music round the dinner table for you all to enjoy.

Along with the craziness at my place you'll love the set Matt Taylor did for Gotham Radio

@ Waltz on one of his typical Tuesday Night comedy shows ...

Of course no Waltz Show would be complete without someone being offended and

Bob Muir and the Enemy Below pulled out the stops on Stacy ...
Such a touching love song...

Brian and Spencer also show up on this show . So you get a good feel for the love that is in the room when we are Live@ Waltz-Astoria.

Tonight we are working under " Pardon our appearance " conditions but that has never stopped the Waltzers from getting up on stage ( did he say stage ?)

and doing it and doing it and doing it well....I expect this night to be no different ..

You never know what you will hear next at Waltz and Come July 7th... You will hear three

seriously Kick ass bands at the Moose.... 41 st Street and Broadway in Astoria

We know you are going to Love Stephane Wrembel's hot new band

along with Our Friend

Dave Rudbarg ... & special guests

The Last Broadcast

Featuring our buddy Scott Thomas F.

Matt Taylor has offered to help out with the inbetweenies and

the beer and wine and soft drinks will be flowing..

This place is huge and has a big open wooden dance floor ,

so bring out your high heel sneakers, put your wig hat on your head and

be part of this Love Fest.

Don't think for a moment this isn't going to be the hippest party in Queens this summer

If you were at our Merkin Hall show in January

then you know we expect this one to be looser, more open and filled with

fun

Stop by Waltz, buy a ticket $15 ..
and then get up to the Moose on July 7th and see
what we are up to now...

Whats the Big Idea ... Waltz @ Gothamradio.org

2007-06-05T15:29:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone.... Long time no hear ...

Well as I always say @ Waltz..You never know what you'll hear next.

and in this case its true ....

Starting this Saturday June 9th.. on www.Gothamradio.org

there will be a little show called Live@Waltz Astoria

A one hour Internet radio show that will showcase the best of our Weekly events here at Waltz.

Hosted by Bill E , with all kinds of nutty , fun and semi serious guests...

You'll also get a chance to listen in on our legendary Open Mic , Wednesdays @ Waltz...

I know you are gonna love it... and if you don't love it , I know I will hear all about it ...( don't throw anything just send a blog response and dis me all you want ) ...

Speaking of Love, the Calexico cover of Arthur Lee & Love

Alone again or.. is this weeks "I love it song " ... listen up and see if you can identify it while

your sipping a cool one @ Waltz...

You can't always get what you want , as the Stones once said.But you get what you need and what we need most right now is for YOU to send us your ideas on how we can

make this little place even more fun... Send them ideas, cards and letters , or just fan mail

..it don't matter as long as you send em..

Waltz this Way....

2007-04-26T15:45:00.000-04:00

For the last couple of weeks, I have seen a host of new people at the Open Mic. Last night was no exception, Buddy sang an "Oliver " tune

and " I love the flower girl " was the song that ran through the evening.

The Rain the Park and other Things was the actual name of the song

and Buddy who is new to Waltz, stopped in and had serious courage to get up there and sing, with no band , no instrument and no net.

You never know what you'll hear next @Waltz and its proving itself

to be a good catch phrase. Almost two years later the open mic remains new and free form.

Last week, Bald Joey ( Joe Thompson ) did a couple of ass kicking songs that reminded us of

just how many great people have popped in on Wednesdays Open Mic. I love the fact that

you sit "eyes wide shut" week after week and are amazed at Astoria's wealth of great artists.

It was Ella's Birthday last night and Spencer Morris did justice to a couple of her trade mark

songs. It was also Albert Kings Birthday and I love that fact that in the early Fillmore Days

Bill Graham actually booked him to play with Jimi, they both played lefthanded an consequently the guitar was upside down . He is famous of course for his version of Born under a Bad Sign

which Booker T. wrote ... Speaking of writting, Jerry Lieber of the great songwriter team of

Lieber and Stoller had his birthday also last night. These guys were awesome

Songs like

Jailhouse Rock

Kansas City

Love Potion #9

The Leader of the Pack

and a little known fact the last big hit they wrote

Steelers Wheel's " Stuck in the middle with You "

Last week Chelsea Lynn and Tom Hayes wowed us , this week ever single person was awesome

Little Billy killed us with his , stand up ( even if he called me an asshole )

and we raised a few bucks for the " Wheelchair Access / Access a ride " campaign I'm on.

( I will continue to shake everyone down for a dollar or some change till we get some money to pass along to the ultra wonderful Pam for her hard work on this )

* ask me about it and I will give you the details of her quest of love ....

I know one thing for certain, the vibe at Waltz on open Mic nite continues to

be Peace Love and everything in the middle. I hope the spring keeps bringing us back to the

the Rain , the Park and Other Things.......

4-11 not 9-11 You know the difference don't you .?

2007-04-12T13:08:00.000-04:00

4-11 happens in April first of all. Don't you Love April.? the snow , the rain , the

hint of the springtime... Its the tease we love .. That and the fact that our friends

find the way back to Waltz.. They drop in, they sing , they smile they share the

love ....I for one think its what happened last night at the open "Love Fest" Mic.

Things started out innocently enough, Brahms on the Steinway .

and Pam Keating back again to show us knuckleheads just what love means.

I think maybe I should explain. You see Pam came in last week and sat through a couple of

not so G-rated songs and comedy bits. Then she came up on the stage and told us about her

friend how she ws trying to raise some money to buy a Handicap Access Van to help her.

The songs seem to just come out of her and I for one, heard the power .

You couldn't be in the room and not feel it , you would have to be made of wood. Which is possible but here at Waltz we try to keep things human and real. ( we might be crazy but you all have hearts )

The night took shape and Spencer's version of Joy to the World , followed by God Bless the Child

( that gots its own ) made the wine taste even richer.

If you haven't heard Brian & Spencer together , you need to . ( the soft in the middle song )

is excellent.

Sky Seals ( a new feature in the Zen Roses troupe ) told of his rush to make it to an audition and

how his much loved guitar tried to escape on its own.. You can always expect something moving from Sky and he did not depress anyone ( even though he told us he might )

The end of the first set of performers was the biggest little guy around

"Billy the Kid " 15 years old and soon to be driving. ( Like he says he's Asian & Irish so you better watch out crossing the streets )

Breaktime - and Its time here to tell you we are selling Pam's CD's in a effort to help her raise the loot to buy the van. SO don't make me turn your ass upside down and shake the quarters out.... You can afford to drop a coin or a buck in the donation jar, we will pass it on to Pam and

you will finally have done something good in your pathetic life. ;;;)

Free form knows no boundries and set # 2 proved just that.

Bob Muir and Enemi ( yeah I ) below .. killed Things Purple

( cool that fucking dinosaur is history )

Kyle Marshall took free form to a new level... bass, limbo, breakdance and all

Emily ( Accordian and all ) .. taught us what girls do when they break up and then re-consider

they grab an accordian of course and write a new song

Vanessa Boyd ( w/Kyle on Bass ) - rocked the joint

Ashley .... popped her cherry and tore the roof off the sucka..

Joe Rock... ( a fan fave ) graciously thanked all the performers and played a few of his own

Vinny ( the wolf ) ... plugged in the electric and did a version of Stevie Ray ,,

we tried to get him to light the thing up or play with his teeeth , but he was't wearing his

flame retardant gear.

Lastly,

Newcomer, Jim Parenti - did a cover of a Elliot Smith song and one of his own

to close out yet another... " Best Open Mic " night.

We are all lucky to have all the things we do in life.

Thanks to the players tonight ..

In the immortal words of Leonard Cohen

" I can't forget but I don't remember what "

p.s. A special Happy Birthday shout out to " The Insect Girl "

hope you slept right through it .......Bob and your husband missed your help

on the Killer sheep song....... Happy BHAAA HAA Birthday !!!!!!!

Weather or Not ...here comes Waltz

2007-04-06T15:03:00.000-04:00

Hi Kids....

Sorry to have missed the last week of bloggin.
My weather man job at the Jingle Dingle station had me all tied up . What with Twisters and
Sun-Volts and cold fronts and warm north-easterly winds.. Well I just got blown away.

But , there is no place like Waltz and we sure are glad your still here catching up.

Our schedule has been nuts lately.
Waltz-Nuts ( thanks to Joe Rock for this one )

What with Our Monday Jazz Lounge thing, its become a hip smoke filled room kind of night without the smoke , but with the Ella and Louis vibe in full swing.. If you haven't been in
grab your beret and get your ashes down here...

Tuesday whats left of your ashes are going to be laughed off... Comedy in the original Astoria
joint. "Agents don't come to Astoria " continues and the crew is truely Nuts....

Wednesday's has been voted NYC best open Mic, who voted ?.....We did. I mean I did.
Anyone who has ever been here for Wednesday nights open mic's knows that this ain't no
bragg , just fact... Wednesday Night is the "Shit "

The past couple weeks , what with Art Openings for Astoria's Own Anna Flechter and
Song-writters in the Round with the re- appearance of Warren Kimmel , the nights have been magical.... Wendy Colona up from Austin Texas last Friday night was seriously fucking cool
she rocked.. and this week Stephane Wremble brings his gypsy jazz to Waltz... I can't say enough about this group. They are destined to be huge.. See them in a intimate setting , they are what one Waltz regular described as " A force of Nature "

ME 3 , takes the joint over this weekend and regardless of Nasa's forecast we will have lift off.

So take it from the Jingle Dingle Weather report, its partly sunny, partly cloudy
with a good possibility of having the time of your life , right here , in the hood....

Next week we got the Beer... yeah the Beer tasting.. hic-up , Pete comes in and rocks the room with a fun night of beer, prizes and just plain fun....

So don't touch that dial, just hang out and enjoy the weather