Onward: When ‘date night out’ becomes ‘date night in’

MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey Editor

The old man and I went downtown to listen in for a couple of sets of Julie Black and Dave Eichenberger, a local duo playing at Sip, a wine and craft beer bar, now called Sip on Grand since changing ownership.

It was a fun night, chatting up people inside and out. Downtown was busy with lots of folks milling about and music emanating from the local bars and restaurants.

Then COVID-19 hit, and that night out was the beginning of “the way it used to be,” for us.

In the following weeks we missed out on a Buddy Guy/Kenny Wayne Shepherd concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Blues night at the Chasco Fiesta where Black and her full band would have performed along with Damon Fowler, a Tampa Bay grown, slide guitar aficionado who’s a pleasure to watch and listen to. The typically busy Florida music festival season was a bust and a sorry loss.

Music is a healer, one that provides a healthy distraction from what ails us. It soothes the soul, gets us moving and singing, sometimes in unison.

I miss that.

We’ve been missing out on some pretty good times. Musicians are missing out on making a living, and are trying to find a way to make things work, sometimes in a patchwork kind of way. (Read more on that in Dave Eichenberger’s ‘Your Voice Your Vision’ guest piece)

With restrictions lifting, Black and her band have been back to performing at one of their usual haunts, ZenfiniTea, an “alcohol-free, cover-free, drama free” venue in Holiday that boasts an extensive menu of teas, other healthy alternatives and some fun events.

Been there, done that and it’s a very nice take.

We’re just not ready to go out yet.

With few exceptions.

We have seen Black and the band perform at her Sunday Porch Concerts (for pictures, using a telephoto lens from a safe distance), a work/pleasure outing that provided a fleeting sense of normalcy.

We’ve also taken in those front porch performances virtually while enjoying a cocktail on our back porch. And we watched Black perform a virtual concert held in late May at the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala.

That enviable community venue is home to the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. It is also a host for national acts such as Wynonna & The Big Noise, who will perform on July 3 at Ocala’s Drive-In Theatre, meaning fans get to watch from the safety of their car. The center is also the launch site of the Reilly Digital Series, a growing collection of stage performances — jazz, classical, blues and more–that you can stream live, or watch via the archives.

The digital series is supported by sponsors and individual donations. It serves to connect people to the arts in a time of social distancing, while supporting musicians, lighting and sound technicians and the venue.

Virtual concerts here have been offered locally by downtown businesses in New Port Richey such Ordinance One and Cotee River Brewing Company, where featuring independent musicians was part of the draw before the pandemic. Like Black, some musicians are offering virtual performances from home via their own social media pages, with options to donate through Paypal and Venmo.

On a broader scale, local musicians such as Taylor Reed, the band Stonegrey and others have been featured on DTSP Live: Saved by Streaming Sessions. That streamlining platform was created by Katie Talbert, a booking agent and musician based in St Petersburg, and comes with a notice of COVID-19 guidelines, upcoming line-ups, and a virtual tip jar.

These are lonesome times, for sure, but for those not yet ready to rub elbows with the general public, this can be an alternative way to enjoy a “night in,” support local musicians, and help boost our local economy until we all get back on our feet again.

So go ahead and gather round the wide-screen telly in the living room. Belly up to that back-porch table in front of your computer, tablet or smart phone.

Sit back and enjoy the music live-stream.

And don’t forget to tip your musicians.

Contact Michele Miller at mmiller@whatswhatnewportrichey.com

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Related

• DTSP Saved by Streaming Brings Local Music, Performances to Community, Melissa Eichman, Spectrum News/Bay News 9
• Livestreaming music is getting more sophisticated, Bill DeYoung, St. Pete Catalyst
• Front porch concerts help Pasco musicians keep an audience and some income, Michele Miller, Tampa Bay Times