Live and Local: Anthony Messano

Tony Messano was one of the first people I saw perform in Gettysburg, when I first moved here about 4 years ago. Here’s this guy with a piano, wailing out some Springsteen, some Billy Joel, and a solid few originals. He played piano and sung like someone who’d been doing this for pay for a long time. His piano playing had that smooth-but-urgent thing that you only hear in people who do this like making coffee as long as they could do it. And I could tell by the way he sang, this guy’s from Jersey.

So far, the only few other people I saw were playing acoustic guitars, singing Dylan and Eagles and maybe a Dead tune…so this was culture shock. Like Tony was on his way to Atlantic City and got off the wrong bus stop.

Toward the end of his set, he asked around for requests and I asked for Harry Chapin (I always ask for Harry Chapin, if you’re dumb enough to ask me for a request)…he said he didn’t have any Harry, but he thought about it for a minute and said “But..yknow.. I should. Let me see what I can do about that…it’s a little tricky on piano, because he wrote his songs on guitar, but I’ll see.”

Now, I should tell you, I’ve heard this before. There are a few default, polite “I don’t have any Harry Chapin songs, you weirdo”  answers, and I’ve heard them all. They vary from “I don’t know who that is, sorry…” to “oh…wait, didn’t he do that….what was it? That song….” To “oh, I love Harry Chapin, man I haven’t heard that in years. Cats in the Cradle, right?” Tony’s naturally kind and thoughtful, so I thought he was just embellishing it with the “I should really look into that part”.

Imagine my surprise when, a couple months later, he’s back in Ploughman, and about ½ hour into his set, he busts out “Cats in the Cradle” incredibly well done and interesting to hear on piano. I thanked him for it, and we started talking about music. Was a great time.

Net time I saw him, he had an album release party at a BBQ place in Dillsburg, as I recall, and he was gracious enough to invite me back with some guys he’d played with on the album to jam in his living room.

It was amazing. There was a drummer, bass player, tony on his keyboard, and Bob Sushko sitting on the couch with a telecaster.

We’ll get back to Bob in a few minutes.

So they all started noodling and playing a little Motown. I was amazed at how tightly they played together, even a few mins in on stuff they were deciding to play on the spot, in someone’s living room.

Then Bob Sushko started playing. He started out with a stones song that the band just kind of picked up and went along with, then he switched into Pink Floyd, some other blues song that could have been one of many because he was just using it as a starting point and going off on in in a way I’d only ever seen jazz guys do…but he was working all around and through what started out as a 12 bar blues jam.   It was easily one of the most amazing pieces of spontaneous guitar work I’ve ever heard.

Meanwhile the bass and the drums just kept working it, steady and solid. And Tony just went along, embellishing with piano riffs in and around what bob was doing, matching and complimenting, never stepping on each other. Subtle mastery of true pros who love what they do. It’s a gift to just be there.

I was sitting there on the dining room table, sipping a Gentleman Jack (neat), and getting a master class right in front of me. Check out Bob on facebook, and look for his Vudu Bluz Quartet playing around New Jersey if you get out that way (hoping to get him out this way some time). He also loves Keith Richards as much as I do…so he’s wise as well as being brilliantly talented.

Tony, however, is - happily - a local. He has about a dozen cats in and around his farmhouse out in the sticks, and I was surprised to learn my lovely companion knows him and his cats. If there’s a cat anywhere near Gettysburg that you see bopping around some night, chances are good my lovely companion knows it’s name, who it’s momma is, and whether or not it’s been fixed. Tony takes his being owned by his cats very seriously.

Turns out other local musicians knew him as well. He’s currently doing another album with some friends – all notable artists in their own right – called the Stehman Messano project – The Hallway. It’s an impressive mix of jersey rock and some more expansive pieces with master-level instrumentals and vocals by Tony and others. It will amaze you that something that refined and creative comes out of a farmhouse among chickens and cats in the hills of Bieglersville.

Tony’s not only a world class musician and songwriter, but he’s also quite an artist and writer. I recommend you check out Messanomusic.com to get The Hallway, and all of his other work. He’s intentional, loves his craft and has a lot to say, and we’d all be much better served if I could get his ass back into town to gig some more! He’s also far more complimentary of my musical knowledge and skills than I deserve whenever I’m around him. Go check out his website and tell him to pack up that keyboard and get out here.