DAN'S PAPERS, April 24, 2009 Page 60 www.danshamptons.com
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Arts & Entertainment
By Tiffany Razzano
Montauk-based Suddyn Returns to its Roots Splitting their time between both sides of the Atlantic for the past several years – the East End and Ireland – Montauk brothers Alan and Jarrett Steil are back in the United States with their band, Suddyn, and gearing up for an April 29 gig in Manhattan. Fans of the group’s fusion of Brit rock and American alternative rock can even hop on a chartered bus with the band for an easy commute to the venue, which is Piano’s on Ludlow Street. The group spent much of November in Ireland, writing and recording the songs that make up its latest EP, Dark Lights. So this will be the first time in months that the foursome has been on stage, which they’ve been itching to get back to. “Our live show is definitely a big part of us,” said Bren Connolly, who plays drums. “We love playing live in front of people.” The closest the group has gotten to being on stage has been in their garage in Montauk, as impromptu groups of friends have gathered while the group has been practicing for the upcoming show, said Jarrett Steil. The Steil brothers (Alan on piano and vocals and Jarrett on guitar and vocals), who grew up in Montauk and whose parents own the Montauk Bake Shoppe, originally headed to Ireland nearly four years ago with their original line-up simply looking to book a few shows. But when they lost their original drummer and bass player and hooked up with Connolly and bassist Collin O’Dwyer, two friends from Tipperary, Ireland, they decided to stay. As an unsigned band, they had several songs hit the Irish charts – “Drowning Souls” spent two weeks in the Top 10, while “Gravity” and
Art Commentary by Marion Wolberg Weiss
“Letting Go” made it into the Top 20. Well known British rock magazine, NME, even named them a breaking band to watch. Used to splitting time between Montauk and Ireland, the group headed back to the East End last summer with the intention of staying for good. However, a record deal fell through and the group found itself back in Dublin working on the songs that would make up Dark Lights, which really shows how much the group has evolved over the
past several years. “We moved towards a big, American sound with this,” said Jarrett Steil. “It’s more polished than anything you’d hear in Ireland. Bands there go for a more grungy, stripped down sound. Our sound hasn’t changed, but it’s more refined. It’s the sound we’ve always been shooting for.” It also became apparent to the band that it needed to leave the insular and somewhat confining music scene of Dublin. The group has already played every major venue across that country and realized it was ready to take aim at the United States again. So the four of them headed back to Montauk. “The Dublin scene is a different style from us,” Connolly said. “We didn’t fit in. We’re a different genre from a lot of the bands in Dublin.” Steil added, “Our sound is a lot bigger than other bands in Ireland. We try to make it as full and as big as possible. They’re more stripped down. And we’ve been around everywhere Ireland. We’re ready to try something new.” Suddyn is hoping the show at Piano’s will grab the attention of some record industry folks. The group is especially interested in hooking up with a booking agent in order to set up an American tour to gain some more exposure stateside. For more information about the band and to purchase Dark Lights, go to myspace.com/suddyn or suddyn.com. For more information about booking a seat on the bus heading to the group’s April 29 NYC show, e-mail Linda@suddyn.com. For $40, you’ll get a seat on the bus as well as admission to the show.
Ibram Lassaw at Open Studio
Ibram Lassaw’s studio in Springs wasn’t too hot in the summer or too may be a far cry from the Sassi cold in the winter. Not to mention, (stone) caves in Matero, Italy, where there are no spiders in the caves. his sculptures were last exhibited. No matter where the sculptures But it’s somehow easy to imagine are or what the temperature is like, the metal works anyplace in the the most salient aspect of Lassaw’s world, including the prehistoric rock art is its meaning. Drawing from settlements of Matero. science and philosophy, Last year’s show at the Museum of Lassaw’s connection to the cosmos Contemporary Sculpture Matera (a and Zen finds a home in his work. UNESCO site) was organized by Or, in the case of his piece, Ellen Russotto and Giuseppe “Dharmadhatu,” his aesthetics Appella, with plenty of help from examine the “ultimate reality of Lassaw’s daughter, Denise, who how things are.” As Lassaw curated the exhibit. She looks at explains, this concept relates to Tao October Continuity, 1959 home standing in her father’s studio (“The Way”). Ibram Lassaw on this sunny, crisp Easter morning The work’s title, taken from which is understandable, considering that the stuSanskrit, is particularly fascinating because we cannot define it in words. It is truly universal, as is dio is also her home. A multitude of objects, drawings and photoits signification. graphs fill the space, recalling decades of achieveOther works are easier to figure out. Consider ments relating not only to Lassaw, a beloved and “Meta Galaxy” and “ Milky Way.” The texture and well-known Abstract Expressionist, but also to the material of “Milky Way,” (metalized paste over wire) Abstract Expressionist movement itself. The Sassi especially connote the fluid, changing nature of the universe. caves in far-off Italy may have given credence to the archetypical soul of Lassaw’s sculpture, but “Binary Interspace” is another outstanding piece here in this 40-year-old concrete studio, the same that uses a fitting material (phos copper) to reprefeeling echoes throughout the space. sent the affirmation of life. It’s remarkable how Of course, there are some logistical differences Lassaw can communicate similar themes with between the caves and Lassaw’s studio, according diverse metals, colors and shapes – from long, to Denise Lassaw. Contrary to popular belief, the sinewy forms to box-like configurations. “Calliso” caves provided a safe environment for the sculpassumes other rectangular shapes that connect to ture, having a consistent temperature where it each other as parts of the cosmos do.
We don’t exactly know why we are moved by Lassaw’s sculptures, we just know that we are. We don’t exactly know how we get his meanings either, we just know that we do. There will be a showing of Ibram Lassaw’s work at his studio on April 25 at 6 p.m.. Refreshments will be served. The Open Studio will continue on April 26, 27, 28. Call 631-324-4575 for directions and times. Highlights from Lassaw’s exhibit in Italy will be featured at the Pollock Krasner House on April 25 from 1-5 p.m. Call 631-324-4929.
Karaoke
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phere is very laid back. The bartender and the manager, Laura, sing tunes at the end of the night. Jim and Nanci LaGarenne’s karaoke list includes over 80,000 songs. Later in the season (after July 1), there’s karaoke at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on Wednesdays, hosted by Harry LaGarenne. Bartenders Stephen Day and Phil Vega sing weekly. The Havana Beach Club in Montauk has karaoke Saturdays – bartender Jimmy Giles belts out Sinatra. Montauk’s Sail Inn, perhaps the most intimate of all karaoke venues, welcomes singers on Fridays. Big Rich, who has the voice of Billy Joel and Elton John, handles the karaoke at Sails Inn and Havana. He’s considered the friendliest of all karaoke MCs because of his good-natured, stress free style. If you haven’t given karaoke a try, perhaps now, in these times, is the right time to go for it.