25 years ago two Long Island dentists had a vision. What started as a basement jam is now a musical tour de force that has been wowing audiences for over two decades. Comprised of some of the best musicians the New York/tri-state area has to offer, FM: A Steely Dan Tribute is still in top form as was evidenced at their 25th Anniversary concert held at The Warehouse in Amityville, NY. The only thing scary about this band is the level of musicianship on display, along with their obvious comradery on stage. Impressively plowing their way through a hit-filled set of Dan favorites such as Reelin’ in the Years, the band is equally at home offering up some of Fagen and Becker’s lesser known deep cuts the likes of Fagen’s Green Flower Street. If you haven’t yet witnessed this ensemble you’re missing out on musical nectar rarely found. Come join the party and see what you’ve been missing at My Father's Place in Glen Cove on Friday, March 31st. Doors are at 6 pm, show is at 8 pm.
The Old Roslyn address 19 Bryant Avenue resonates with musical legend and history. Originally a country-western bar owned by Jay Lenihan, the place was bought by partners Michael “Eppy” Epstein and his cousin Richie Hersh in 1971. After teaming up with local radio station WLIR-FM, My Father’s Place—affectionately known as MFP—quickly became a hotbed for concerts and concert broadcasts. MFP presented Billy Joel’s first show after the release of his debut solo LP Cold Spring Harbor and Bruce Springsteen’s first show out of New Jersey, along with seminal radio concerts (including a classic by Lowell George and Little Feat in 1974). The venue kept live performance vital when the rest of Long Island—and perhaps the country—was discoing the night away. Besides reggae, punk music found a place to grow. Unlike most other clubs that highlighted one genre or one particular era of music, the variety of My Father's Place was possibly its most important trait. The club debuted in America most of reggae's biggest stars, helping to make the genre mainstream. Along with CBGB and Max's Kansas City, My Father's Place was a nurturing ground for young punk and new wave acts like The Runaways, The Ramones, Blondie, The Police, and Talking Heads. Country, bluegrass, and blues artists like Charlie Daniels, Linda Ronstadt, and Stevie Ray Vaughan performed early in their careers, while artists like James Brown, B.B. King, Johnny Winter and Bo Diddley played in the twilight of theirs.. My Father’s Place closed on May 3, 1987, with a blowout performance by the funk rock band Tower of Power, and an era came to an end. Today, the club lives on in the works of the many artists—now legends—who first performed on its stage and in the memories of those fortunate to have been a part of it all.