P’ville Monthly Concerts Big Hit for Music Lovers, Charities
If you enjoy watching and listening to up and coming bands, it doesn’t get much better than the second Friday night of each month at Paulie’s Bar and Grill in Pleasantville. The same can be said for the charities that split the proceeds raised from the shows.
Since June, the second Friday night at the neighborhood establishment has been reserved for Chris Bro’s charity concert series. Each month another metropolitan area group on the rise from takes the stage, preceded by a Westchester artist. The proceeds from the events are split between Gilda’s Club of Westchester, which provides services for cancer patients, and the Greyston Foundation, a Yonkers-based nonprofit that supports low-income individuals and families to become self sufficient through various programs.
This Friday, the Brooklyn-based My Pet Dragon with Esteban Rivera is the headliner.
“I look at my life and just because of where I am I want to give back,” said Bro, a former PEAK-FM disc jockey who has been hosting his own Internet show, “All Things Next,” for nearly six years spotlighting new bands. “I am thrilled that a concert can raise a little bit of money for me, but it feels so much better to write a check for (the charities). I know it’s not a huge check, but every little penny I’m sure helps.”
A couple of years ago Bro had organized a charity concert series for Big Brothers Big Sisters in Stamford. He was approached to restart a series, only this time in Westchester. Bro was introduced to Paul Martinelli, the owner of Paulie’s on Marble Avenue, who had been looking to feature live music regularly on the weekends.
After taking a look at the bar, Bro knew it would be a perfect home for the series, evoking images of some of the grungy establishments that have been popularized in the Manhattan music scene.
“It’s a great raw space and it’s my kind of place,” Bro said. “I hate hoity, I hate toity.”
Most importantly, money is raised for the two charities as well as generating good publicity. Jonathan Greengrass, vice president of development and public relations for the Greyston Foundation, said raising awareness for a charity to an audience who may not be aware of its existence or function is critical.
In addition to providing services, Greyston operates an $8 million a year bakery that employs more than 50 people who face obstacles in obtaining regular work. The bakery produces more than 20,000 pounds of brownies a day and supplies Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with its brownies.
“The money’s been great, anytime you get any contribution,” Greengrass said. “But as important or even more important is to be able to have Chris get up in front of a couple hundred people once a month and say ‘This concert’s for Greyston and if you want to learn more about Greyston go to our web site.'”
Not to be forgotten is the good time for those who want to see some talented musicians. Now, Westchester music lovers don’t have to pay for a ride on Metro-North into the city or drive and pay for parking to see some highly regarded bands. Some outstanding groups have been featured, including Black Taxi, which will be making its second appearance at Paulie’s in February, and Deadbeat Darling, Bro said.
Venues like Paulie’s are important for groups because unlike in previous generations, record labels have little interest in sticking with and developing promising talent, preferring to chase the quick buck instead of supporting talent.
“There is another Bruce Springsteen out there and the fact that it could just go away is disheartening, or just be listened to by the people who are listening to ‘Next’ and that could be a couple of thousand people instead of millions,” Bro said.
Cover charge for the concert charity series is $10. Concerts start after 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.allthingsnext.com .
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/