Clamor Rocks the Hamptons

Monday, June 30, 2008

Mike Garabedian and Andrea Harum Schiavoni

From left to right, Mike Garabedian, Andrea Harum Schiavoni, Mark Garabedian (partially blocked), Ray Diaz and Zachary Lazar

Mike Garabedian and Brian Dyer

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Set List

Get Off of My Cloud (Rolling Stones)
2 Kool 2 Be-4-Gotten (Lucinda Williams)
Dreaming (Blondie)
Music When the Lights Go Out (The Libertines)
Other Side of the World (KT Tungstall)
Trouble (Pink)
I'm Gonna Crawl (Led Zeppelin)
Please Please Me (The Beatles)
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)
Bohemian Like You (Dandy Warhols)
Hard to Handle (Black Crowes)
Bang a Gon (T Rex)
Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane)
Dance With Me (Old 97's)
I Will Follow (U2)
Little Miss Can't Be Wrong (The Spindoctors)
A Common Disaster (Cowboy Junkies)
You Can't Do That (The Beatles)
Statesboro Blues (The Allman Brothers)
I'll Melt With You (Modern English)
Vertigo (U2)
Our Lips Are Sealed (The Go Gos)
Brass In Pocket (The Pretenders)
Don't You Evah (Spoon)
A Hard Days Night (The Beatles)
Sweet Child `O Mine (Guns N Roses)
19th Nervous Breakdown (The Rolling Stone)
Short Skirt / Long Jacket (Cake)
Who Knew (Pink)
Mercy (Duffy)
Message of Love (The Pretenders)
Drowning in the Sea of Love
New Shoes (Paolo Nutini)
Tuesday Morning (The Pogues)
Fire (J. Hendrix)
Crazy (Seal)
I Feel Fine (The Beatles)
Hazy Shade of Winter (The Go Gos)
Kid (The Pretenders)
Cold Shot (Stevie Ray Vaughn)
Mystery Achievement (The Pretenders)
Message of Love (The Pretenders)
I Can't Explain (The Who)
Unwind (Pink)
Don't Let It Bring You Down (Neil Young)

Sag Harbor Express, August 9, 2007

A Rock & Roll Midlife
By Marissa Maier

Two summers ago, Mark Garabedian met Ray Diaz at a party. While milling about amongst fellow doctors - Garabedian is a pediatrician in East Quogue and Diaz is an obstetrician and gynecologist in Southampton - the two struck up a conversation about their shared passion of playing music. Garabedian, a drummer, hadn't played alongside another musician in years, nor had Diaz, a bassist.
They agreed to a jam session and their practices soon became a common occurrence. Slowly other musicians began to trickle in on the sessions. Garabedian invited his brother, Mike, to play the guitar. He later asked his friend Andrea Schiavoni, an attorney and nominee for Town Justice, if she would practice with them. Schiavoni was a seasoned performer, who had appeared with several jazz bands on the side while pursuing her career. Sarah Lazar, an Ob/Gyn and partner of Diaz, suggested that her husband, Zachary, come to the sessions to practice his lead guitar. A few months ago Brian Dyer, the Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff and a friend of Mark's, joined in with his keyboard and back-up vocals.
Suddenly, before many of them had planned, a band was formed. The group of middle-aged professionals, who call themselves Clamor, have been making the rounds and playing at East End fixtures like La Superica in Sag Harbor. This Sunday, August 12, the band will be playing their milieu of unconventional covers at B. Smiths restaurant.
At their first live performance, in June at La Superica, Clamor played classics like "Sweet Child of Mine," by Guns n' Roses, and more contemporary songs like "Short Skirt, Long Jacket," by Cake, and "When the Lights Go Out," by the Libertines. "We want to keep things interesting," said Mark Garabedian, "but there is a fine line between songs that people connect with and songs that have been played to death." Mike Garabedian adds "we don't want to be just another bar band."
Mark Garabedian is the one who usually comes to a practice with a list of potential covers. When looking for songs he dips into his substantial CD collection, that boasts over 1,000 titles, and listens to alternative radio stations religiously. The band now has 23 to 24 songs in their repertoire, and likes to continually change their set list.
Clamor tries to fit in a weekly practice, in the midst of their hectic work schedules and family lives. Each band member is very successful professionally, whether that be with their medical or law practice, Mike is also an attorney, or writing career, Zach's novel on a 1960's band will be published by Little Brown in the fall. Mike Garabedian credits their supportive families with making the band possible.
"We are very fortunate to have families who support us. They understand how much we enjoy each others company," says Mike, "But we are all very family oriented. If a rehearsal conflicts with a children's recital, the band understands."
Garabedian credits this shared top priority of family, combined with a similar state in life, as what makes the band get along so well. Everyone in the band have been musicians for several decades, but their musical life has taken a back seat to their careers and family. Many of the band members performed live for the first time at La Superica. For Clamor, the goal is to play collectively, and "let off some steam," says Mike Garabedian, who adds "the band isn't about money or fame." Mark Garabedian cites the gratification he feels from playing as what drew him to the band. "I play because of the rush I get. Some of my best memories are from when I was playing," he said
Making the transition from the garage to the stage, still proved a little nerve wrecking for the band. Although, the band has been seriously practicing for a year and a half, with the exception of Dyer, it wasn't until this spring that they had the confidence to perform live. The band didn't expect to be as well received as they have been. Mike Garabedian said that he is still surprised that anyone is interested in the band at all. But there popularity was proven during that first show, when they had quadrupled La Superica's projected mid-week night earnings. In the crowd that night, Mike Garabedian says that some audience members were surprised to find their child's pediatrician playing the drums or their lawyer taking hold of the mike, though he adds that many of them thought it was hysterical.
This Sunday, expect to see a band that plays for "people who want to have a good time."
Clamor will play from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at B. Smiths restaurant, Long Wharf in Sag Harbor.

Monday, June 30, 2008

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Sag Harbor Express, August 9, 2007