The Cutchogue New Suffolk Free Library will kick off its 2025 concert series with a performance by Long Island's The Como Brothers on Sunday, Jan. 26. The free event, starting at 2 p.m., will feature the duo's blend of original songs and classic hits. The performance is expected to draw fans from across the East Coast for a special reunion.
The brother duo of Matt, 35, and Andrew Como, 33, have built a following while touring the East Coast, particularly on Long Island. Meeting up with their fans again adds a special magic to the occasion, said Matt Como in an interview with South Shore Press.
“Honestly, we're a very musical family. We grew up playing The Beatles with our dad and uncle in a tribute band,” Como said. “We pretended to be The Beatles, and that was the cool high school job that we had,” he added, with him as John Lennon and his brother as George Harrison.
Over time, their passion for music evolved, and today they focus on creating rock songs that explore themes ranging from love and relationships to their neighborhood, everyday life, and pride in being American.
"My brother and I write songs together and play music and have a fun time. Once we decided to do it professionally, it was around 2012 when we put out an album together, Baby Steps," Como said. "It was about growing up and taking small steps to achieve goals."
The duo has produced numerous singles, with some of their work featured on soap operas like The Young and the Restless. They are currently halfway through a new album, which Como said will represent the duo in 2025.
Explaining their songwriting process, Como said, “We make the songs and play them out. If people like them, we go ahead and start recording. We pride ourselves on our own instrumentation.” Their recent collaborations include American Idol finalist Sam Woolf.
The Comos said they enjoy hearing their songs in public spaces, such as supermarkets or dentist’s offices, and being able to make money from their musical aspirations.
Some of their most popular tunes include "And Then I Met You," which Andrew sang at Matt’s wedding in 2023, and "See The Light," which is "getting a lot of streams."
Their performance is part of a concert series the library has sponsored monthly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, concerts were held quarterly.
“We know people want to get out and enjoy life,” said Library Program Director Dawn Manwaring, who took advantage of her husband Richard’s connections in a band to launch what has become a popular series. “We found such a need. We’re like the center of the community in Cutchogue.”
Many performances, including The Como Brothers and country musician Gene Casey on Feb. 16, quickly fill up, but Manwaring said cancellations do happen and encouraged people to reach out.
There is currently no waiting list for the March 29 concert, which will feature classical music from Young Concert Artists, a New York nonprofit.
According to Manwaring, the library’s second-floor reading room offers excellent acoustics in an intimate setting that brings performances within close reach.
"The audience really loves it," she said, noting that attendance often exceeds 100 people. “We get compliments all the time about what we do here. There’s also a meet-the-artist reception after every concert. It’s an experience,” she added.
With sold-out performances becoming more common, Manwaring said the negotiations to bring acts from their NYC comfort zone to the North Fork are well worth it. She also noted that since COVID, the North Fork has become a real estate destination.
The library is located at 27550 Main Road. For more information, contact the library at https://cutchoguelibrary.org.