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Arts & Entertainment

Nina Et Cetera Performs at Sachem Library

Versatile band performed a mix of original songs and covers, blending rock, folk, soul, country, and blues.

 Nina Romano, frontwoman for Nina Et cetera, is a singer-songwriter from Sayville that is a throwback to another era.  Her influences include Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, The Velvet Underground, Dusty Springfield, Billie Holliday, Johnny Cash and The Carter Family; as well as philosophers and beat poets such as Nietzsche and Ginsberg.  These ingredients combine for quite an innovative sonic stew.

On Friday, Nina and her band (Tim Smith on bass and synthesizers; Sue Porcaro on Keyboards, harmonium and glockenspiel; and Mark Rios on drums and percussion) heated up a cold autumn evening with their undeniable warmth and fiery stage presence.

 Romano is a virtuoso on guitars, vocals, piano, harmonica, auto-harp, lap-steel, synthesizer and special effects, harmonium and baritone and slide guitar.

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The quartet played to an intimate gathering in the library's Community Room. They were introduced by the library's director of public relations, Anne Marie Tognella.  She said, "I want to mention how much work they have done; they've been here for a few hours setting up.  Look at all these instruments. They're true perfectionists."

After releasing their debut CD of all original music in 2008, Many Hands Make Murky Work on Paradiddle Records, Nina Et cetera has been playing live almost constantly.  They can regularly be seen at venues all across Long Island.  The band typically played three or four shows a week over this past summer, and at times as many as six.  "Right now we're mostly focusing on performing," said Romano, "It's hard to have studio time when we're playing so much."

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Playing live is at the heart of even the recording aspect of this band, which is the antithesis of most music made today.  When recording their album the musicians insisted that all takes be live with no tweaking via pro tools, and with everything done in mono.

"The stuff today doesn't have the same character:  It's all pro tools and digital — it's so overproduced," Romano said.

The set opened with a rendition of a Johnny Cash song recorded early in his career, "Big River."  From the first note it was evident that Romano and the gang would play with the same intensity whether in front of 20 or 20,000 people.  The song was followed by the rockabilly Buddy Holly tune, "Rave On", which segued into one of two original songs included in the performance, "The Road to Good Intentions."

Romano seems to be a woman hailing from another time, with a voice echoing through the ages; hovering between a purr and a growl.  She wore her signature ensemble:  tight black pants and matching black jacket embellished with white and red embroidery, with dark bangs veiling her eyes — an icon in the making.  Even her black elfin shoes were used as an instrument, stomping in time to the beat, and adjusting a 1970s synthesizer; while she simultaneously sang, whaled on guitar and played harmonica.  She, humbly, attributes her ability to multi-task to "soft shoes."

As Porcaro set up the harmonium on the ground, a pump organ like an accordion, but with a much different sound, Smith said, "Please excuse all the instrument changes; we try to get the maximum variety of sounds with the smallest group possible, like a small orchestra."  The bassist filled the gaps between songs with snippets of music history related to the song selections, and informative anecdotes about the origins of the unusual instruments used.

The evening took a psychedelic turn with their stellar rendition of Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody To Love."  Romano seamlessly stepped from Elvis' shoes to Grace Slick's without ever losing her own unique footing.

The captivating singer said a key component to the band's success is their willingness to think outside the box.  "You have to make yourself uncomfortable to grow," she said, "I think the audience appreciates that — not playing it safe."

Many Hands Make Murky Work is available at local record stores, on iTunes and through the band's website.

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