Rock and Roll Then and Now: Band plays classics and their own variations on a theme

Every Friday night, a group of local musicians head over to Anthony Liberatore’s home in Northwest Woods where they get together to play a few tunes from the good old days — specifically, rock and roll from the period 1965 to 1970. 

The band calls itself the Lost Keys, and they love music by all the artists you’d expect — Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, to name a few. Though their repertoire includes songs by the most well known bands of the era, the Lost Keys keep it fresh by playing the more unusual tunes by those bands. 

“We play music from Derek and the Dominos,” says Anthony, “but we don’t play ‘Layla.’ Instead, we play ‘Tell the Truth,’ or ‘Let it Rain.’ We try to find songs that are a little more challenging and kind of familiar.” 

“There are a lot of facets to the band,” adds Anthony. “The Lost Keys play the music of the late ‘60s because we love it and it’s increasingly not played as often. There are a lot of people of our vintage who like that music.”

When asked why the band picked 1965 as the starting date for their music, guitarist and singer Randolph A. Hudson III is quick to explain.

“That particular year, you had the Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds,’ ‘Are You Experienced,’ and ‘Monterey Pop,’” explains Randy. “Also, in a great earmark of the day, people produced more than one record a year.”

In addition to Anthony and Randy, the Lost Keys are guitarist/singer Michael Weiskopf, bassist Steve Watson, drummer Bruce Beyer.  Mariann Megna, a singer/ songwriter and keyboardist, has also joined the group and is now writing original songs for the band. 

It’s a big change for Mariann, who has recorded two cds of original music as a solo artist, but admits she never saw herself as a singer in a rock and roll band.

“I was really shy to do it,” confirms Mariann. “I went to the concerts back in the day and knew all the music — but I never thought I could do it.”

“It’s different for me being in a band,” she adds. “I’ve been writing over the last two years. I never stopped writing. But now when I write, I hear guitars and bass. I hear them playing.”

“My music’s changing because I’m changing,” she adds. “I’m doing more blues. I’m braver and I’m more confident. I’ve also been doing it a while so it’s easier — and Anthony sings with me.”

Finding people of like mind to make music with, especially in a place as quiet as the East End in winter, can be a challenge and this group came together as many groups do, musical or otherwise. A chance meeting, a recommendation, a Sunday afternoon jam session (or two or three) at Crossroads Music in East Hampton — and pretty soon, these musicians realized that despite their backgrounds, they had one thing in common.

“It’s the love for the music and the passion that is similar,” says Bruce.

“And we’re all the same vintage,” adds Anthony.

The band has played gigs around the East End, including a well attended concert at Stephen Talkhouse, and this Saturday, they bring it home to Sag Harbor when Mariann Megna and the Lost Keys perform a “Jam for Washington DC: A Politically Inspired Journey of Hope.” The concert, which begins at 8 p.m. at Bay Street Theatre, is a fundraiser for the Pierson eighth grade class trip to the nation’s capital. 

“They’re going to DC in May and it’s $650 per student,” explains Mariann. “One of the mom’s said, ‘It’s hard to come up with it this year.’ So I talked to these guys and they were willing to do a fundraiser.”

So with the concert, the band not only saw an opportunity to raise funds for a worthy cause (Mariann’s son, Timothy, is one of those eighth graders), but a chance to introduce some of Mariann’s newest music to Sag Harbor audiences as well. Half the concert on Saturday will feature original songs by Mariann, which the band hopes to begin recording soon.

“The real gem is the music that Mariann’s bringing into it,” says Steve. “We’ve done other gigs with this group, but the opportunity to do a concert of Mariann’s music as a collective has not happened as often.”

“The music is genuine and heartfelt and we’re really onto something that’s special,” he adds.

Tickets to “Jam for Washington DC” with Mariann Megna and the Lost Keys on March 14, 2009 at 8 p.m. at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor are $25 at the door on concert night or in advance at Megna Glass Studio in Sag Harbor (725-1131).