Why 'Live Music' in Montauk Was A Win For The Community: Opinion

There is a magic to live music in Montauk that is very special to all those there who are either listening to it or busting their tails to make it.

In 2016, due to what I believed was some overzealous New York State licensing issues, "live music" was halted at the start of the summer season. By the middle of July the issues were ironed out and this summer there was a constant flow of live music every day all over Montauk. If you attended any of the concerts, happy hours, shows, performances, or benefits you could not help but notice the pure joy music brings to so many.

It is tragic that there still are some who have issues with "music" being played live outdoors but what is celebratory is the overall joy and good feeling it brings to the community as a whole. This week, with elections for new East Hampton town board members and supervisor, trustees, judges and other town positions, those running should note that almost everyone who lives and votes in the town will attend a venue with live music every year.

All benefits to raise money for the best causes such as injured soldiers, cancer victims, fire victims, and so forth always have live music, usually provided by the local musicians for free. Many of these musicians have other jobs to support themselves and then work the hours performing live music at wages that quite frankly are less then I earned playing in a band in the mid 1960s, when a loaded Cadillac was less than $7,000.

However, this isn't a salary type article but a congratulatory type article to the town for understanding the power and importance of "live music" in the Town of East Hampton; specifically, in Montauk.

I once lived in Montauk and had to scrape by doing sometimes up to 4 jobs. Today, I live up-island on the other side of the canal and yes, I am one of those folks paying funny money to spend a few choice days in Montauk in the summer.

Head's up, it is cheaper to fly to Cancun, Mexico and stay at the Ritz Charlton for a week than it is to rent a room at standard motel in Montauk Village for a week in July and August.

My wife, who treats us to our Montauk stays as an annual wedding anniversary gift, has watched the cost of that gift skyrocket over the last few years, so I am sure other visitors have noticed, too.

The fact that we can go out and hear some great quality live music takes some of the sting out of the ouch of those motel/hotel bills. I am sort of now part of the summer problem local Montauk natives talk about, one of those tourists who come out to Montauk to use the beaches and sample the many quality restaurants. Quite frankly, the traffic in town still freaks me out, too. I know what it is was like to drive through town in February to go home and see no cars.

My point is, "live music" is not just for the tourist but also for the locals who bust their tales doing 3, 4, or even 5 jobs during the summer and need to go out and relax see others and hear/support their friends.

Sometimes their friends are in the local bands doing their second or third jobs. Bands and musicians such as Manny, Jettykoon, Telly and Brad/Hopefully Forgiven, Deep C Revival, Gene Casey and Lone Sharks, Joe Delia and PJ Delia sometimes with Helen McGuire, Lynn Blumenfeld, The Nancy Atlas Project, Black and Sparrow, Dan Bailey, the 3B's and LOL occasionally even that down on his luck dude Jimmy Buffett are up on stage busting their butts so we can chill, sip a beer and take stock of how wonderful Montauk can be, even in the now crazy summers. I won't thank all the venues that carve out niches in their business models to support live music but I salute them all for paying the musicians. So many times the venues and the musicians both donate their services for the benefits that we all go to when Montauk/East Hampton neighbors need help.

Live music is the magic glue that helps hold a great community like Montauk together. I lived in more than a few places over my 65 years but never anywhere quite like Montauk. The way Montauk takes care of its own is so very special, if you live or have lived in Montauk you understand how special that is. Montauk can also lift up and heal a lonely soul down on his luck. I know — I was once one, before life with my new wife changed my personal fortune.

Let's make sure we support and protect the legality of live music in Montauk .

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