Amber Blues go way beyond playin' the blues
Local band finds its groove at bars and clubs in N.Y., N.J.
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

JESSICA SMITH Amber Blues, including (from left) Tarek Ismail, Jimmy Clark, Dave Brumberg, Seth Pincus and Mark Nettingham, perform during a recent gig at The Saint in Asbury Park. Not pictured is Lamar Prout, the band's drummer.

EAST BRUNSWICK - Many musicians, when asked what type of music they play, say they cannot describe it because it doesn't fit neatly into any one category.

The music of Amber Blues also spans a variety of genres, but the members of the band are able to describe it to a T.

"Hard rockin' blues folk funkified jazzidelic and beyond," several of the band members chanted in perfect unison during a recent interview.

Attending one of the band's shows proves their description, with audience members getting a taste of each of those musical avenues, with a little reggae and heavy metal thrown in for good measure.

"We emphasize the 'and beyond,' " guitarist Seth Pincus, of East Brunswick, said.

With Dave Brumberg on bass, Jimmy Clark on guitar, Lamar Prout on drums, Mark Nettingham on percussion, Pincus on guitar, and Tarek Ismail on keyboards, the band members have a wide array of musical tastes, and it shows.

"A lot of ideas get thrown on the table and we kind of swim through them all," said Nettingham, of Little Silver.

The band members said they try not to let any one person take creative control of the music, instead incorporating input from everyone. Vocals on different songs are performed by different band members, and there are a variety of instruments used to give the music a flavor all its own.

"One thing people love about Seth is that he can make music out of anything," Ismail said.

Brumberg agreed.

"Seth is the universal musician," he said.

As if to demonstrate the truth of his band mates' sentiments, Pincus produced a dan moi, or Jew's-harp, from his pocket and began to play. He pulled a nose flute from his other pocket, playing a little nostril-ditty to the laughter and disgust of the rest of the band.

Pincus even uses his own voice as an instrument, adding wah-wah pedal sound effects to the band's funk-flavored numbers.

Nettingham plays a number of percussion instruments, including the congas, as well as African djembe and dumbek drums. Several members of the band also play the didgeridoo, a wind instrument that originated with the Aborigines in Australia.

Amber Blues takes more than just its instruments from around the world. Ismail, of New Brunswick, moved to the United States from Egypt in 2005, and has brought an Eastern influence to the band.

Ismail's band mates said they are sure he was famous in his home country, but just won't admit it. He will, however, admit that he was in a number of bands before joining Amber Blues about a year ago. Pincus and Ismail were at the same party, and Ismail was jamming on the piano. Pincus heard it, and immediately asked him to join.

"Seth embraced everything very lovingly," Ismail said.

It was good timing, Ismail said, because it was the day before the piano he had mail-ordered was to arrive.

Along with Clark, of East Brunswick, Ismail writes the band's lyrics and most of the music. Many of the songs he brought with him to the band were co-written with his friend, Mohamed Diaa, back in Egypt.

While most of their songs are original, Amber Blues pays homage to some of their musical influences with the occasional cover tune. During their Jan. 31 performance at The Saint in Asbury Park, they did a rendition of the Grateful Dead's "Fire on the Mountain," as well as their own take on "The Ocean" by Led Zeppelin, which had Ismail out of his seat at the keyboard, belting out lyrics.

Prout and Nettingham joined the band about the same time as Ismail.

"We basically wrote down everything we wanted in a drummer and a percussionist," Pincus said.

In an impromptu ceremony around a campfire, the original band members read their writings aloud, then burned them in the fire in order to manifest their future band mates. By watching them interact both on stage and off, it could be said that their efforts yielded just what they were looking for.

Brumberg recently organized a charity show at the Stone Pony, where Amber Blues played with other bands to raise money for the Valerie Fund, which helps children with cancer and blood disorders, and for the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County. The show, dubbed "Groovin' for Goodwill," generated over $1,300 for the causes.

Brumberg chose an Asbury Park venue for a reason.

"Asbury Park was the first place that really gave us our break on the scene," Brumberg said.

The Saint's owner, Scott Stamper, as well as those at the Stone Pony helped to kick off the band's success, Brumberg said.

Since their beginnings about five years ago, they have played throughout the state, including appearances at Siberia and Mean Fiddler in New York, and at the Fire in Philadelphia. They have also played in Trenton at the 449 Room and Conduit, and at several New Brunswick venues, including Harvest Moon and Old Bay earlier this month.

On Feb. 24, the band will hit New York again at Siberia. There are several other shows in the works, which can be found on their Web site, amberblues.com.

The site offers a free EP, and Amber Blues is currently in the studio producing their CD, which will consist of 11 or 12 tracks. Band members said they have completed the better part of it, so fans can anticipate its release in the near future.

Prout, who works for the National Basketball Association (NBA), has big dreams for Amber Blues.

"I'd like to get these guys on a half-time spot," Prout joked. "Get them to play after Christina Aguilera."