Home › News › Conejo Valley
Musicians turn garage into venue
Music career dreams revived
Video: Teardrop Garage performs "Slow Down"
Watch as Teardrop Garage performs "Slow Down."
Watch now »
Photos by Chuck Kirman / Star staff Every Tuesday night, members of Teardrop Garage gather to play in the Newbury Park garage of Steve Greenwood, left. All the band's members were musicians at one time but gave it up for steady careers.
STORY TOOLS
More from Conejo Valley
From left, Teardrop Garage members include Corky Tanassy on guitar, drummer Bill Robe and singer/guitarist Jay Friedman. Robe and Friedman played together in a band in high school.
It's a classic case of "if you build it. ..."
Steve Greenwood did indeed build it — inside the garage of his Newbury Park home. They came. They rocked.
Anyone in the neighborhood of Teardrop Court on a Tuesday night might hear rock music echoing out of an unassuming garage.
The members of the band — Teardrop Garage — are 58 to 60 years old. Three are old classmates and two are old bandmates, but all of them at one time had to give up rock 'n' roll in favor of more steady careers.
Greenwood, who plays bass and sings, is an estate planning attorney. Jay Friedman, guitarist and vocalist, is a loan officer. Guitarist Corky Tanassy is a software engineer, and drummer Bill Robe is a real estate developer.
By Tuesday evening, however, their day jobs are forgotten as they run through their favorite tunes — classic rock hits and blues standards.
"For three hours on a Tuesday night, basically from six to nine, I'm 18 again," Friedman said.
For three of the band's members, the connections go way back. Greenwood and Friedman were once in rival bands, with Greenwood even auditioning for Friedman's band at one point.
Friedman and Robe played in a band in high school, then got together again after college, playing professionally for several years.
Greenwood also played professionally in the 1970s but stopped to become a lawyer.
He recalled having a hard time thinking he could make music on par with artists like Joni Mitchell.
"I remember very distinctly thinking to myself, If I couldn't produce that kind of quality, I'm not competitive, and I don't want to end up six nights a week in the Midwest playing Holiday Inns,'" Greenwood said.
It was a familiar path for the other band members.
Friedman had to look for a different career when disco all but killed live music in the late 1970s. Robe put away his drums when he decided he wanted to make more money.
After Greenwood decided to pull out his bass and start jamming, he concluded that toting around a bass guitar and amplifier in his small vehicle was too much of a hassle.
That's when the idea of a converted garage came into his head. His vision involved a room where musicians didn't have to bring in a truckload of gear. Much would already be set up, including the drum set and speaker system. All the guys had to do was bring their instruments.
Greenwood and Friedman started getting together to play regularly, shuffling through various other musicians before Greenwood bumped into a guy carrying two pieces of a Fender Stratocaster near his office. Before long, Tanassy was a fixture at the Tuesday night sessions. Robe committed to being in the garage every week. Teardrop Garage was born.
According to one neighbor, there has been no opposition to the live music on the 14-home cul-de-sac.
"I would imagine some people are probably offended by it," said Thomas Cohen. "But I would think that for the most part everyone is really good with it."
Greenwood said there was a request by a neighbor to end an hour earlier, and the band complied. Other than that, many on the street have been supportive of the group, occasionally coming out into the driveway to listen or dance.
For Teardrop, though, there is no pressure. "It's a dream come true," Tanassy said. "Just to have friends that you can get together, have a good time and be creative."
When asked if the band would jump at a chance to play a gig at a club or bar, the members agreed they would turn down the opportunity.
"We're too old to be carrying this (equipment)," Friedman said.
Posted by RedTail on May 11, 2008 at 9:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great story! That's awesome!
Posted by clementine on May 11, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Finally - a cheerful, uplifting story from the Star!!!
Posted by Tom_Johnston on May 11, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
absolutely an awesome story and video!!
Guys...you really do ROCK! OLD GUYS RULE!!
Great video editing by the Star staff by the way!
Think....I just might drive by there next Tuesday!
Posted by DamnSkippy on May 12, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to bring a lawn chair and kick it out on the driveway! Sounds like a great way to spend a tuesday night!
Posted by awalkawalka on May 13, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just to give this story a bit more background, this same "hip" rocker Greenwood is my cranky neighbor that once yelled at me when I was in junior high for riding a dirt bike on our street. Came out on a huge power trip, stopped me in the street, and screamed at me like a toddler on a temper tantrum. My apologies if I find it a bit hypocritical that he is now playing live music for a three hour block every week.
Posted by lorigirl91360 on May 13, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh please awalkawalka, get over it, BITTER PARTY OF ONE!!
Posted by ballpark on May 14, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does the community care about 60 somthing's rocking out in their garage? It would be a great story if it were about kids staying out of trouble by forming a band, but basically its about older men who have nothing better to do. Hardly a human interest story when a majority of the block becomes quite annoyed every Tuesday night when they are trying to enjoy a quiet evening at home with their families and children.
Posted by LakersFan on May 14, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"If you build it" there in lies the problem. It seems that this vindictive cranky neighbor has once again ignored the rules that he has so vigorously fought to uphold in the past. The difference here is that the rules would go against him and not others in our neighborhood. A man who sticks strictly to the Homeowner's association rules has built an office and this atrocity in his garage, a clear violation of the rules. Such utilities are not to be built in garages, furthermore having this 'band' play disturbs the rest of the neighborhood. Also, having an office in his garage often caused this man to complain of more minuscule noises that he would hear, because he was working in his garage where the sound is much more likely to penetrate. This in no means is 'awesome' this man has made living in this neighborhood as miserable as possible, has threatened neighbors over tiny violations, hes a huge hypocrite and has a terrible temper. Please do your background searches better next time you try to write an 'uplifting' story Star.
Posted by rockesq1 on May 15, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Lakersfan,
Inasmuch as you have chosen to personally attack me behind the (thin) vineer of anonymity, I feel compelled to respond.
1. I am neither vindictive nor cranky as anyone who truly knows me will attest;
2. I have broken no rule I am aware of;
3. I have neither an "office" nor an "atrocity"
in my garage;
4. It is regrettable that you feel "miserable" living in what I believe to be a great neighborhood;
5. Since when are "garage bands" not permitted to play in a garage?
I could go on and personally attack you as you have me, but this would not be in my nature. I only hope you will some day release the anger you apparently continue to feel.
Sincerely,
Steve Greenwood, Teardrop Estates
Posted by awalkawalka on May 15, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Steve,
I feel disappointed that you did not respond to my post. While you're handing out explanations, I would appreciate having my issue dealt with as well. You see to this day I have never been yelled at in the tone and manner in which u yelled at me, not even by my own parents, and to a junior high kid nonetheless. Never did you give me any warnings that maybe my riding was a disturbance to you, not once did you to MY PARENTS or myself about it. So forgive me if I sound like "a bitter party of one." I feel such conduct was totally uncalled for and embarrassing as an adult. Maybe here in lies the problem with why people may perceive you the wrong way.
And while you are offering explanations, can u please explain to me how your band is not totally and completely hypocritical. Your complaint was that my riding was too loud and it bothered you. I rode 2-3 times a month for no longer than 15-20 minutes just to keep my bike running well. You play your music for three hour blocks every week, and in case you haven't noticed it's quite loud. You may argue my bike was not street legal and suppose to be ridden on dirt. It was a hassle to try and find places around here to ride and took quite the effort to get my bike to those locations. Riding was my recreation so when I wanted to have some fun I would take a quick ride around the block.
I would argue that your music does not belong on our street, rather in an auditorium or club, or at least in a more sound protected garage. But I understand playing music is your recreation and your hobby, and it may be a hassle for you to find a more appropriate venue. I would just like to know why your needs and interests are more important than other members of the street.
Sincerely,
Austin Walker
Teardrop Estates
Posted by rockesq1 on May 15, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Austin,
Sorry for not responding to you. I had no idea your anger on this matter continues to this day. Further I had no idea you were impacted so deeply. For that I do apologize. I have no intention, however, of continuing this conversation in a public forum. If you would like to discuss this in an attempt to resolve our differences as adults, feel free to call me.
Steve
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.