Jennifer Lopez – “Starting Over” (Saturday… by pmpblues
He has recorded and toured with Jennifer Lopez (video above) and Marc Antony, and performed with Santana, on some of the world’s biggest stages.
Now, guitarist Mario Sebastian is going for something a little more… intimate, at Morristown’s End of Elm.
He will fly solo at the gastro-pub on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at 9 pm. There is no cover charge, but a reservation is wise–the cozy space formerly known as Hennessey’s Washington Bar seats fewer than 200 people.
Sebastian, as he is known professionally, is part of a new Saturday music series produced for End of Elm by a pair of accomplished local musicians, Eric Hayes and Bobby Syvarth.
Eric, who sings and plays piano, has opened for the Dave Matthews Band, Gavin Degraw and Ziggy Marley. In 2011, he produced a popular open mic series at the Dark Horse Lounge in Morristown.
Guitarist Bobby Syvarth has performed in Europe, done charity gigs for the United Nations, and composed original music for the Cartoon Network and an award-winning short film, Peter’s Hope.
“End of Elm is a cool crowd,” said Eric, 32, who is moving to Morristown from Somerset County. “It’s not kids drinking beer and going crazy and throwing up. It’s more of a scene for people my own age and a little older, who are trying to have fun in a more relaxed experience.”
The series runs through May, and will feature music pals of Eric and Bobby. Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth is booked for April 19; on April 26, it’s bluesman Junior Mack of the Allman Brothers Band.
End of Elm owner Paul Haley said the series idea hatched as he got to know Bobby Syvarth, a regular customer and friend of Eric.
“They know what they’re doing,” Paul said of the series producers. “They’re professional musicians who know how to play to a space for volume. You’re not getting blasted out. When I find someone who knows what they’re doing, I let them do what they do.”
Paul, who owns retail shops in Harding, celebrated his first anniversary at End of Elm last month. Replacing the venerable Hennessey’s, a Cheers-like neighborhood pub serving Morristown for nearly three decades, was a tall order.
The new incarnation is more upscale, with specialty cocktails, craft beers, a small-plate menu and an atmosphere meant to welcome commuters from the train station across from his 140 Morris St. establishment.
“It’s going fantastic, better than we could have expected. We hit a niche that wasn’t being served,” Paul said, contrasting his clientele with the younger, more boisterous weekend crowds that flock to bars near the Morristown Green.
He’s hoping music fans from neighboring towns will hop NJ Transit trains to check out the series.
A previous Saturday performance featuring Danny Myers from the band In Good Homes packed the place just from word-of-mouth notice; if the series keeps growing, Paul said he may tack on a cover charge to keep things manageable.
Like Eric’s prior series at the Dark Horse, this one will welcome amateurs to the microphone at some point each evening.
That Dark Horse series generated some buzz. But Eric said his busy touring schedule got in the way. “It was tough to keep the momentum going,” he said.
To ensure success at the End of Elm, Eric said he has committed to staying put through May.
“It’s exciting to do this again in a town that I love,” he said. “It’s great to have live music in Morristown again. It’s been awhile.”
