Nancy Altas Montauk's Rockstar Mom
by Nicole Wilson

After spending a Sunday afternoon dancing in the back of my truck for four hours straight as The Nancy Atlas Project rocked Nick’s On The Beach, I was looking forward to falling into a deep, blissful sleep. Instead, I found myself lying awake staring up at the ceiling trying to remember the last few words to one of Nancy Atlas’ new songs! “Shake it…Bake it….Soft, Sweet …something about white meat????” As the sun came up and I had yet to figure it out or sleep, it became clear that the only thing to do was track down the Lady Atlas herself, and get some answers!

Nancy and her band kicked off the season rocking the Friends of Erin party at Gurny’s back in March. She went on from there to help organize a benefit that raised $2500 to help save the Montauk Summer Green concert series. Summer hit and she took the season by storm blasting out a bunch of new songs and old favorites, drawing some impressive crowds to the Montauk Green and Gosman’s Dock. Not to mention, breaking the former house record, AGAIN, at The Stephen Talkhouse, on July 4th.                 

Other highlights included opening up for Crosby, Stills and Nash at this summer’s UJA Benefit in Oyster Bay and Nancy’s favorite night, sharing lead vocals with Billy Campion from The Bogman and Chad Smith from Chickenfoot and The Red Hot Chile Peppers on drums at The Stephen Talkhouse in August. With a dreamy smile, Nancy comments: “I was in ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN. I had to stop the set three songs early because I couldn't breath. I was so caught up in it I almost passed out on stage. They are both ANIMALS when they perform. What an absolute treat to share the stage with both of them.”
           

Nancy may best be known as our favorite local rockstar, but she is also a wonderful writer. The lyrics to her songs can stop you in your tracks, make you cry, laugh and dance! Being so creative and needing to write about it, sometimes writing songs just isn’t enough to achieve that artistic release. So she has also started a new blog, www.rockamom.com, here she can ramble on to her hearts delight about everything and anything, not just about her band and music career. I highly recommend checking this out! Every time I do, I find myself laughing!

And if that wasn’t enough for this chick, she is also writing and illustrating a children’s book called “Rockstar Pigeon” that she hopes to self publish by next spring(ish). Each Christmas, Nancy tries to make an illustrated book for her son. Oh yeah, didn’t I mention she does ALL this while raising a 3 year old? “Rockstar Pigeon” was inspired by a song she wrote with her husband for their son. It’s basically about the life of a pigeon residing in England and happens to be a musician in a band! She explains, “ RockStar Pigeon is a lifer as we call it. Someone who cannot deny doing music and it's in his bones... Or feathers I should say.

AND, for all you NAP fans out there, I am happy to report that a new cd is definetly in the works, which will feature some killer new songs in true Atlas style. A release date has not been set yet but it's coming folks!  I think that about sums it all up! Mission Complete! Except for one thing…. I totally forgot to ask her about that damn new song of hers! “Peach…Pear…something about white underwear??? Or is it no underwear??? ” Oh well I could think of worse things to keep me up at night! Here’s to you my friend!

  If you’d like to find out what song I’m referring to and how it REALLY goes, you can catch The Nancy Atlas Project at The Stephen Talkhouse on Oct. 9th.  They will also be at Second House Tavern, here in Montauk,  Friday nights from 6PM-8PM. You can also find them in NYC at The Parkside Lounge and Ulysees Bar. Check out www.nancyatlas.com for complete listing of show dates and news.