Backstage Pass with

Backstage Pass with... Sosume

Sosume Proves that Even Small Bands Can Perform in Great Venues

By Sharon Chapman

If you've ever picked up an instrument or sang a tune in public, you have probably wondered what it would be like to perform in a well-known venue in front of an appreciative crowd. In January 2005, TunedInMusic.com watched Sosume rock out at The Bitter End in New York City. Afterwards, we talked to the amateur band about the gig.

Sosume (pronounced So, Sue Me!) formed over ten years ago, and guitarist Andrew Riddle and drummer Gerald Lebovits are the remaining founding members who are still with the band. The name of the group is a play on words that was particularly a propos at a time that all of the band members were attorneys.

Lebovits tells us that Sosume was born with the help of The Studio, an organization that helps musicians form groups, provides them with practice space, and assists them in arranging for gigs. Individuals or groups in the New York City area who are looking to play with new people can contact The Studio at (212) 967-6124 or online at http://www.thestudio.org/.

Sosume practices regularly, has played at well-known New York City locations such as The Lonestar Roadhouse and The China Club, and has even appeared nationally on The Today Show. While organizations like The Studio are helpful for groups wishing to book such gigs, there are other resources available for groups who love performing live.

Riddle advises, "To get to play venues like The Bitter End, you need to make a lot of contacts among amateur musicians in the city that you live in. By talking to others in the same situation, you learn about opportunities to play in clubs and other venues."

The key, though, to success as an amateur band, according to Riddle, "is to find a group of people that you enjoy spending time with. No band will hold together if there isn't a basic friendship among the members."

Sosume is a group that enjoys playing together and has the opportunity to have a glimpse of the rock star live without having to compromise their professional lives and personal commitments. Anybody who loves playing live music just for the joy of it should look to Sosume as an example of how you can live out your musical dreams without giving up your day job.