A few short years ago, based on a rare recommendation from a friend
named Ray who also was an open mic host, I learned about Amy Regan, at
the time a Skidmore junior.
Based on this alone, I made it a point to listen to a song of hers that was on a home-burned CD that he gave me. And that was enough.
Amy returns to her college roots next Thursday, October 8 for a solo show at Fallstaff's on the Skidmore College campus. No objectivity whatsoever here. Go there and hear a star.
Back to that CD: (you can experience what I felt yourself. Go to her site www.amyregan.com or her myspace page) all I needed to hear was a song called "Nighttime Bird" to know that - even among a highly prolific Skidmore songwriter colony - this was a Standout.
When you listen to Amy, you'll hear the complete vocal package; the sweetness, scatting ability, lyrical craft. The whole deal in one song.
A little later, we met on campus (she is a class of 2007 music graduate) and Amy greeted me with a cheerful attitude, and confident concepts about her music and what she wanted to do.
It was a pleasure to get to know someone with obvious talent, zero angst and enough faith in herself to know that she could do what she aimed for. It was easy to be impressed with her. Even then she had the poise of a veteran performer; a rare combination of New York motivation (understated yet apparent) and a sweetness that dovetails nicely with her California-like surfer girl look.
Since graduation, Amy has made her home in the NY City area, and has taken advantage of the networking opportunities ("The talent level in New York City is incredibly inspiring," she says) and the terrific venues (among them indie leaders the Living Room and Rockwood Music Hall) where industry leaders go to listen and maybe find the next thing.
They apparently are hearing Amy. The prestigious Music Connection magazine did a feature story on her last November, stating:
"Just when it seems there are few good songwriters anymore, Amy Regan comes along to dispel that notion." - Henry Lewis
This was followed the next month with a designation as one of Music Connection's "Hot 100 Unsigned Artists" on planet Earth, or at least as far as the magazine reaches.
The accolades are well-deserved whether they lead to a contract or not, and are based in large part on the reception that her debut CD ('And Then There is This') enjoyed when it came out last March. These days, it's mostly Amy on her own looking to place music on TV shows and films, playing with a band or solo in the Northeastern markets, and generally looking to conquer the world.
Look out, world.
For now, she's excited to be returning back to Skidmore, a seasoned performer at age 24. "I actually get to hear my brother John perform! He's at Skidmore now, in a band called The Deal." (Note: opening for Nate Wilson Group at Putnam Den on October 9 - see accompanying article.)
"I haven't seen the foliage in almost 2 years since my last trip upstate. I'm also looking forward to getting a sandwich at Putnam Market. And I'll have to have a doughboy at Esperanto too!"
Yes, those simple pleasures. Like seeing talent blossom, and watching it come into full flower.
Amy returns to her college roots next Thursday, October 8 for a solo show at Fallstaff's on the Skidmore College campus. No objectivity whatsoever here. Go there and hear a star.
Back to that CD: (you can experience what I felt yourself. Go to her site www.amyregan.com or her myspace page) all I needed to hear was a song called "Nighttime Bird" to know that - even among a highly prolific Skidmore songwriter colony - this was a Standout.
When you listen to Amy, you'll hear the complete vocal package; the sweetness, scatting ability, lyrical craft. The whole deal in one song.
A little later, we met on campus (she is a class of 2007 music graduate) and Amy greeted me with a cheerful attitude, and confident concepts about her music and what she wanted to do.
It was a pleasure to get to know someone with obvious talent, zero angst and enough faith in herself to know that she could do what she aimed for. It was easy to be impressed with her. Even then she had the poise of a veteran performer; a rare combination of New York motivation (understated yet apparent) and a sweetness that dovetails nicely with her California-like surfer girl look.
Since graduation, Amy has made her home in the NY City area, and has taken advantage of the networking opportunities ("The talent level in New York City is incredibly inspiring," she says) and the terrific venues (among them indie leaders the Living Room and Rockwood Music Hall) where industry leaders go to listen and maybe find the next thing.
They apparently are hearing Amy. The prestigious Music Connection magazine did a feature story on her last November, stating:
"Just when it seems there are few good songwriters anymore, Amy Regan comes along to dispel that notion." - Henry Lewis
This was followed the next month with a designation as one of Music Connection's "Hot 100 Unsigned Artists" on planet Earth, or at least as far as the magazine reaches.
The accolades are well-deserved whether they lead to a contract or not, and are based in large part on the reception that her debut CD ('And Then There is This') enjoyed when it came out last March. These days, it's mostly Amy on her own looking to place music on TV shows and films, playing with a band or solo in the Northeastern markets, and generally looking to conquer the world.
Look out, world.
For now, she's excited to be returning back to Skidmore, a seasoned performer at age 24. "I actually get to hear my brother John perform! He's at Skidmore now, in a band called The Deal." (Note: opening for Nate Wilson Group at Putnam Den on October 9 - see accompanying article.)
"I haven't seen the foliage in almost 2 years since my last trip upstate. I'm also looking forward to getting a sandwich at Putnam Market. And I'll have to have a doughboy at Esperanto too!"
Yes, those simple pleasures. Like seeing talent blossom, and watching it come into full flower.
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