Nice Ash in a nutshell

by Ash Fischbein
(Ctr. Ossipee, NH, 03814 USA)

Ash Fischbein started playing guitar at the age of 8 when his parents bought him a $40.00 Harmony acoustic guitar. Falling in love with this instrument, plastic strings and all, he began his journey. He had about 6 years of professional lessons and in high school became active in the Music Dept. taking every music course available. And then he went out on his own. But as any musician knows, the road is a rough one. One evening in January 2005, Ash severely injured his right hand; a freak accident, but one that left him with major nerve damage. Even after surgery and rehabilitation, it was doubtful he would play again. But after more than a year of recovery and determination, dropping many guitar picks along the way, he was able to scale the walls of disability and once again able to perform-better than ever. Playing at benefits, private parties, weddings, many local bars and clubs, headlining and/or just doing open mic nights, he felt blessed to be playing again.

A life changing event, Ash's music composition and guitar playing has become more creative and adventurous using alternative tuning and tapping. His instrumentals are described as "making a guitar sing". Over the years his main influences have been Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Phish, Keller Williams, Bela Fleck, Michael Hedges and Les Claypool to name a few.

In 2003, Ash, a graduate himself of Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, NH, recorded the Music Department's Christmas Pops concert and produced in his own studio (The Falls Productions, Wolfeboro, NH) a CD for the students to sell as a fundraiser for a trip to New York City. This resulted in a donation of more than $500.00 helping the students meet their fund raising goal. According to Music Director William Gibson "The KRHS Music Dept. wishes to salute Ash Fischbein for his dedication to his alma mater, and we look forward to working with him in the future."
(The Granite State News March 20, 2003)

In 2004, Ash once again recorded and produced the KRHS Music Dept.'s Christmas Concert, raising an additional $500.00 adding to the students fundraising goals.

Ash also performed for the American Cancer Society's Walk-For-Life in the summer of 2006 and will be performing for this great charity event again at "The Nick" in Wolfeboro, NH. June 23rd.

On March 18, 2007, Ash performed at the Whittier House Restaurant for the 15th Annual "A Taste of the Bearcamp Valley Food Festival", a benefit to support the Bearcamp Valley School and Children's Center of Tamworth, where Ash was once a student. His new CD was available with $5.00 of every purchase donated to the school.

In April of 2007, Ash released his debut CD "Daydream" under the pseudonym "Nice Ash" ("ASH" was already trademarked)."...The album captures Fischbein's assorted styles and interests. It is all acoustic, and mostly recorded without overdubbing or needless editing. His songs range from country to acoustic pop to instrumentals that reflect his interest in guitar greats like the avant garde Michael Hedges and jazzy Pat Metheny...." --Bill Huffman-The Conway Daily Sun

Nice Ash was chosen as a featured artist on 100.3 WHEB's "Local Licks with J.R." radio program in April and July 2007, having selected songs from his CD played for all of Maine, Mass., Vermont and NH to hear.

Nice Ash was selected as an "Editors Pick" for the month of March at Indie-Music.com.

Just recently he has become a member of the Maine Songwriters Association out of Portland, Maine.

He has opened up for, and/or shared the stage with such headliners as Jonathan Edwards, Anais Mitchell, David Jacobs-Strain, Dave Crossland, Joel Cage, Carrie Cheron, Northern Lights, The Barra MacNeils, Mike Morris, The Don Campbell Band, Amy Dalley, Kristy Jackson, Tom Dean, Chuck Nash, Amanda Williams and Ricky and the Giants.

To contact Nice Ash:
www.myspace.com/niceash603
www.niceash.net
Email: niceash603@aol.com