Interviewed by Gary James of Classic Bands

My Book: “On the Guest List: Adventures of a Music Journalist”

I was recently interviewed by Gary James of the Classic Bands website, in the “Rock Authors” section: http://www.classicbands.com/MaryanneChristianoMistrettaInterview.html

Career

My book, “On the Guest List: Adventures of a Music Journalist”

What a pleasant surprise this morning to see my book, “On the Guest List: Adventures of a Music Journalist” pinned on a “Career” board on Pinterest, amongst other music journalist greats like Lisa Robinson and Lester Bangs, which is such an honor because these are the journalists I’ve read when I was 12-years-old! I am humbled as I’ll never have the writing chops they do. “Guest List” is more of a love letter to myself, a recollection of things that meant a lot to me, not necessarily others, but if someone gets it, more power to them! Nevertheless, I’m still stoked to get royalty checks and unexpected surprises like this. I never expected my book to be doing as good as it is!

Check it out: ww.pinterest.com/emilybenda/career/?utm_campaign=activity&e_t=a0bfed66774b49e5b2e80aeb1a342f06&utm_medium=2003&utm_source=31&e_t_s=board_teaser

To order “Guest List” please visit my publishing company Next Century: http://www.nextcenturystore.com/on-the-guest-list-adventures-of-a-music-journalist.html

When Stars Were In Reach: The Who at Union Catholic High School – Nov. 29, 1967

Author Michael Rosenbloom, it was an honor to meet him!

New Jersey has the coolest surprises!

Michael Rosenbloom, author of “When the Stars Were in Reach: The Who at Union Catholic High School – November 29, 1967”  gave an amazing presentation at the Fanwood Library last night.

The short of the tale is that The Who performed at this NJ High School while they were big in England but not yet in the U.S. Union Catholic had them as a fundraiser. The warm-up act was a band called The Decoys. Donation: $2.50.

Can you imagine?!

Some people who attended the library event were actually at the show and shared their stories.

“When Stars Were in Reach” is available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/When-Stars-Were-In-Reach/dp/1482052636 and it has great reviews! I look forward to reading my copy!

I attended the book signing with my husband Dennis and our friends Paul and Mair met us there. And Pat DiNizio,  of The Smithereens was in the audience! I introduced myself and got a photo.  Then I met Michael Rosenbloom and his wife and got our book autographed.

I wish Michael all the best. If you have a chance to see this presentation — don’t pass it up!

After the presentation, my husband drove by the legendary Union Catholic High School. Ah, driving along the same road as The Who … long live rock!

With Pat DiNizio

 Mair and Paul with Michael Rosenbloom

Being silly after the event

Outpost in the Burbs: Willie Nile, Allison Moorer, Joe D’Urso and Joe Rapolla

Willie Nile

Thanks to Outpost in the Burbs for second row comp tickets to a very special songwriters evening at Outpost in the Burbs featuring Willie Nile, Allison Moorer, Joe D’Urso and Joe Rapolla — all outstanding talents!

I’ve always loved Outpost in the Burbs, as I used to cover shows there when I worked as a journalist for Montclair Times. So six years later, I felt very nostalgic walking in again with my husband to see a show. Special guest Anthony D’Amato was already playing as we got there a little late. We were thrilled it was him, as we saw him earlier in the summer perform with The Smithereens and he is a great guitarist and song writer.

Here’s a song from Anthony D’Amato:

Next up were Willie Nile, Allison Moorer, Joe D’Uros and Joe Rapolla. The artists went around about four times, each singing a song and playing acoustic, though Willie Nile played piano as well. He was my favorite of the four and really brought the house down with  “One Guitar.”

Then at the end, D’Amato was brought back to the stage and everyone performed a few songs together by The Beatles and The Band.

It was a wonderful evening for my husband and I — truly an unexpected treat as I wasn’t familiar with any of the artists except for D’Amato and Nile (who I saw perform back when I was a teenager).

Here’s a taste of all the artists that performed:

Allison Moorer:

Joe D’Urso:

Joe Rapolla:

Willie Nile:

Indian Summer in New Jersey

Enjoying some bullet proof coffee at Cave Paleo

It was the most gorgeous Indian Summer day in New Jersey today, so my husband and I enjoyed it to the max!

First we had lunch at Cave Paleo in Avon-by-the-Sea. We had coconut pumpkin soup and flank-steak “burritos” (lettuce as the “burrito.”)

Then we spent two hours on the beach; I had a good book and the time just flew by.

And finally hit a record store.

Life is good!

Spring Lake Beach

The Record Store in Howell, New Jersey

Halloween Hello Kitty

Paterson Youths Look for Better Lives in Free Teens Program

Free Teens Members (photo by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta)

On Monday afternoon I had such a fantastic time covering the Free Teens kick off event. I met some very impressive teens as well as councilwoman Ruby Cotton and children’s author Felicia Capers. And I was invited to speak as well, which was an honor.

Here is the article on NorthJersey.com: http://www.northjersey.com/news/paterson-youths-look-for-better-lives-in-free-teens-program-1.1106158

“Guest List” Book Signing at Randy Now’s Man Cave in Bordentown

Stu Deutsch, Maryanne Mistretta and Randy Now

(Posing for photograph for newspaper photographer, Deirdre Ryan!)

Today was absolutely incredible for me.

I was signing copies of my book “On the Guest  List: Adventures of a Music Journalist” alongside of Stu Deutsch, original Plasmatics drummer!

Now, go back to 1980. I had first met Stu Deutsch at a record store in Wayne called Looney Tunes. Stu was signing autographs with The Plasmatics. I was a fan and only 17 and Stu was cool enough to put me on the guest list to see the show that night. Back then they didn’t have “all ages” shows like they do today. Plus the fact that I was bullied in school, having a super cool rock star like Stu put me on the guest list meant the world to me! Who would have ever thought one day we’d be signing autographs together?!

It was so great conversing with fellow Plasmatics fans. I met the coolest people today! I loved seeing all the Plasmatics shirts people wore, and all the old vinyl they brought for Stu to sign. It was also cool that a woman got my book just because she’s collects books that authors sign! And gorgeous NJ weather too!

Thanks so much to Randy Now of Man Cave for having me at this extraordinary event! It was the experience of a lifetime. I’m ecstatic!

If you want to purchase “Guest List” (which has a few Plasmatics stories) please go to Next Century Store: http://www.nextcenturystore.com/non-fiction/other/on-the-guest-list-adventures-of-a-music-journalist.html

Stu Deutsch and Maryanne Mistretta

Signing autographs

With my husband!