STROUDSBURG — The Living Room is an arts space, associated with the Sherman Theater, that features regional talent and has been used as a venue for musical performances, art galleries, comedy shows and special events. An artfully decorated setting with a capacity of only 100, the non-profit space is an intimate room for lesser known artists to gain exposure. For Hectic Management and Promotions, it’s a perfect place to showcase talent from Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In an event billed as Rogue Synergy, acts from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre music scene will perform starting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Living Room, 524 Main St., Stroudsburg. Mock Sun, Umbriel, Quoth and Zayre Mountain will all be on a bill that will feature Stroudsburg native Marcus Milazzo, who performs as The Gary Goblins, as the headliner in a homecoming for the electronic artist.
Milazzo, an Archbald resident since 2006, said fans from his early performing days in Stroudsburg continue to show support but often can’t make the trip to see him play in the Scranton region.
“A lot of the people that were involved in one way or another, whether supporting me, buying my handmade CDs or just listening to my tapes and giving me some feedback when I was really green, they didn’t get a chance to see how far it’s come,” Milazzo said. “For me, it’s a way to give a payback and thanks to the people who have stuck with me as much as they could over the long haul.”
For those who knew him in the beginning, Milazzo said, the Living Room show will showcase his development over 16 years.
“Prior to my moving, playing live shows, not only from my personal skill level but just from a technical standpoint, I didn’t have the equipment to even fathom doing something live back then,” Milazzo said.
The four acts that were brought together to perform with The Gary Goblins, were handpicked by Stephanie Hill, an electronic musician, who performs under the name Lady Hectic, and owner of Hectic Management and Promotions. For over a year, Hill has arranged musical mixers as networking platforms for bands to share work and for musicians to mingle. Many of the mixers have featured artists of varying genres.
“I always try to go for those bands that don’t get a lot of exposure or they get the same kind of exposure all the time,” Hill said.
The five acts on the bill range in genre from electronic to rock and roll to psychedelic pop and acoustic, indie soul. Together, they will draw a diverse crowd.
“Pretty much every act that I’ve booked on a show has gained new fans from just performing on that mixer,” Hill said.
While The Living Room show is not an official Hectic Management mixer, Hill said it has the same feel.
“I’ve been doing these for a little over a year now, and everybody really enjoys the fact that they can come out and maybe support their friend who’s performing for an hour but then get to see other types of music,” Hill said.
Hill touts all of the musicians on the bill.
“As far as Umbriel is concerned, they’re pretty much what everybody’s been calling the NEPA supergroup with Aarika Whittle and Grant Williams and Katie Kelly,” Hill said. “Having them involved was really great.”
Hill said Zayre Mountain blew her away when she first heard them, prompting her to buy their CD. She has just as much praise for Mock Sun.
“I love Mock Sun,” Hill said. “Jami, who sings for them, she’s amazing, amazing local talent.”
Jami Kali of Mock Sun said her band has played at the Living Room twice, and she and her bandmates enjoy the change of venue.
“When we go out of town to play, like a place like Stroudsburg, nobody really knows us. It’s neat to reach out to a different creative community. There were even people who saw us in Stroudsburg and made the trip all the way back to Wilkes-Barre to see us, and that’s an awesome feeling.”
Kali said camaraderie has developed among the diverse groups of musicians involved in the mixer series.
“All of us are very unique and we have a different, experimental style … yet we go out to each other’s events. We always support one another. We even collaborate on songs together.”
Brandon Cook, bass player for Zayre Mountain, said the band’s first trip to the Living Room will be exciting for them.
“It’s a great experience, I think, for a lot of the bands that are playing,” Cook said. “I know for us … any time we get to go out there and do what we love in front of a new crowd it’s always amazing.”
Going to another region with other acts from Northeastern Pennsylvania, Cook said, will allow the bands to highlight what the area has to offer.
“When we do shows, it’s normal for us to play with a bunch of bands who are different,” Cook said. “I think our area has a lot of talent that never gets to be showcased. Hopefully this place is going to be pretty rockin’.”
