Babylon Musician is Playing for a Cause

Babylon musician and singer-songwriter Mike Longo is gearing up for an epic battle of the bands. On February 20, he will take part in a full day and night of music at Mr. Beery's bar in Bethpage, as 22 bands perform to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Longo, who along with owner Steve Beery, helped create a popular Thursday open mic night at the club, will play the benefit with his indie rock band, My Summer.

The band has been performing since 2005 and consists of Longo, Joe Lambiaso on drums, Joe Gruber on bass, and Dave Ferrara, who plays guitar. The band cites its influences as Radiohead, Interpol and The Strokes.

"We've been great friends and playing together for at least three years now, and have toured the U.S. six times," Longo explains.  He also plays and records as a solo artist, and works as a guitar instructor and sound engineer.

Long Island has a long history of incubating waves of garage bands, some that have gone on to major league recording contracts and national fame, but making it as a professional musician in the suburbs can be challenging, as Longo knows.

"There [aren't] really a lot of clubs on Long Island dedicated to original music, which is basically my only interest in the field. We mostly play in Brooklyn these days; music is alive and well there, with some shows sprinkled in at Mr. Beery's. They have a big local music following and it is what attracted me to the bar."

Longo, who grew up in Babylon and continues to call the village his home, does appreciate what the area has to offer.

"Thank God for the beach. We have a ton of things available to us here, being an hour from the city and 20 minutes from the water. It's a wonderful place to live, especially when the summer is in full swing." 

Longo is optimistic about his musical future, both with My Summer, which will sign with a promotion company called Big Picture Media this spring, and as a solo artist.

"I've been paying my rent and bills off just being a musician for about six years now so I'd have to say I'm fairly happy with where I am. I've never had any interest in doing anything but playing music, and I get to be involved in it every day so I'm happy. "

Asked to offer advice to aspiring young musicians, Longo recommends taking professional lessons, saving money for top-notch equipment, and getting your friends involved.

"When you play with people you like it's one of the most amazing things you can do."

The benefit concert, which starts at 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, has a $10 cover charge.