BY MICHELE MILLER
What’s What New Port Richey
Eric and Marina Mullins had been eyeing space for a while where they could open a new live music spot with a different feel in the downtown New Port Richey area. A place where musicians could strike a chord with the audience in a more intimate way, sans the typical distractions and din of the local bar scene.
As musicians in their own right, the two have played in a variety of venues and were inspired by the loft spaces they had been to in New York City and closer to home, the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin where the audience could get up close and personal.
“We were wanting to create an opportunity for local musicians,” said Eric, who plays saxophone in a few local bands, including The Jazz Phools and TBone Hamilton. “We wanted it to be a place that musicians want to come. We wanted it to be a good experience for musicians as well as the guests.”
Timing is everything they say, and in May opportunity struck for the husband and wife team who first met at a summer music camp in Memphis, TN. Since then the couple have long been fostering burgeoning talent as teachers at local private schools and as the owners of Mullins Music, a non-profit music school they first opened in 2007 in a storefront church in downtown New Port Richey.
In early June the couple hosted a soft opening to the Music Gallery offering friends and family the opportunity to listen to Eric’s debut jazz CD, Unexpected Beauty a long-time project recorded in Dec. 2021 at EastSide Sound in New York City.
The celebratory release of the instrumental recordings, which features Marina as a guest pianist as well as Grammy-nominated trumpeter Bruce Harris, and several other veterans of the NYC music scene including Barry Olsen, Frank LoCrasto, Renée Cruz, Brandon Lee Lewis, and Saturday Night Live percussionist Valerie Naranjo, helped set the tone for the perfect introduction of what the Music Gallery was all about.
About 40 people attended the event as Eric, flanked by Marina and co-producer Nate Najar in a living room-type setting, talked about the motivation and background behind each of his songs.
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
The 2,000-square-foot venue is located on the second floor of the historic Boulevard Building, adjacent to Mullins Music on Missouri Ave. Erected in 1925 as the Morey-Bowman building, the space originally was home to a Masonic Lodge. Later occupants include the New Port Richey Public Library, a martial arts school, a children’s theatre, and more recently, a second-story retail space for Lis’s Pieces, which is still located on the first floor.
“The Music Gallery is what some people might call a listening room,” Marina said. “It’s all about the music.”
“It’s not like playing in a restaurant or bar where music is the background, Eric said. “It’s a place where you turn off your cell phones and listen.”
The Music Gallery officially kicked off the concert season on June 25 with a Swing Dancing Night with the Jazz Phools, a group of Tampa Bay musicians with a flair for old-time jazz and swing standards.
Next up on August 27 is Taylor Reed, an original, alternative musician who melds violin melodies with “groove-infused creations” and has spent some time touring nationally as well as in the Tampa Bay area.
Future performances include Julie Black Band, Black Valley Moon, Rebecca Chase, Gypsy Star, Walt Andrus and the J.R. Farley Big Band, Nate Najar & Daniela Soledade and Arbour Season.
Because seating is limited, tickets are only sold in advance at a cost of $12. Seating for the venue is set up according to the needs of the band. For instance, while chairs were set up in rows for Eric’s CD release party, chairs were moved to the side to accommodate swing dancers for the Jazz Phools performance.
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
The expanded space also benefits students of the music school in creating an in-house performance and recording area for the young musicians who attend the Mullins’ annual summer Rock Week camp.
“I love it. It’s amazing,” said Rock Week percussion teacher, Rick Mongaya. “It’s a very promising venue for bands and promoters. I think it will give places like The Attic in Ybor City a run for their money.”
The venue is creating a little buzz among performers eager to be part of a scene that is dedicated to the creators of original music, such as Julie Black, a local singer and songwriter who has been a frequent performer at local venues and festivals such as the Chasco Fiesta.
“As an ardent supporter of Florida culture, arts, and music I’m delighted we now have this beautiful listening space in downtown New Port Richey,” she said “As a music artist, I’m excited to present our original music there on September 3rd. We have some great surprises in store including a new song debut!”
Julie Black and Dave Eichenberger
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
“The Music Gallery is an oasis for music lovers right in the heart of downtown New Port Richey,” said Dave Eichenberger, who plays guitar with the Julie Black Band and also teaches at Mullins Music. “By providing a space for original and historical music, it is as wonderful for the performers as it is for the audience. As a musician who lives, rehearses and records downtown, the new music-focused venue is a welcome edition.”
“I like the fact that it is run by two musicians,” said Gypsy Star vocalist Belinda Brodsky. “They have the sensibility on how to treat the musicians because they know what we go through, too.”
While concerts are the primary draw, the Music Gallery is available to rent for special events. There are also plans to upgrade soundproofing and to open up the opportunity for bands to hold recording sessions there. And they’ve added a monthly jazz session to the mix.
“We know there is an appetite for this,” Eric said, noting the recent growth in nights spots offering live music in downtown New Port Richey.
Members of Gypsy Star recently recorded a video at the Music Gallery for their new single, “Dancing To The Beat Of Your Heart”, which is scheduled to be released in September 2022. They typically perform at venues such as The Listening Room of Sarasota, The Firehouse Cultural Center, and Euphoria Emporium in Spring Hill.
“I really liked the idea and I would hope that trend continues,” said band member Billy Keen. “It’s in line with the kind of venues we are looking to perform in. Our music lends to being performed in a cultural arts center. This is a nice situation in that is a little more intimate than a stage or a theater. It’s a nice in-between. I think the venue itself is really nice. It has a lot of potential.”
IF YOU GO
The Music Gallery is located at 5734 Missouri ave in New Port Richey. A wide variety of live music performances are currently scheduled. Individual and season tickets are available for purchase online. Click here for tickets. The Music Gallery also is available to rent for private events and band rehearsals and will continue to support the mission of Mullins Music through student performances, classes, recording sessions, and a monthly jazz jam session.
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