Aaron Stein conservatively claims to *only* see about five concerts per week, but anyone who knows Aaron would guess that number is closer to an average of five concerts per night.

His torrid love affair with live music began in 1989, when he saw the Rolling Stones at the Carrier Dome in his hometown of Syracuse…but things really kicked into high gear on March 14, 1992. Aaron had come to the New York area to see the Grateful Dead at Nassau Coliseum, but the night before, he’d learned that Phish was playing at Roseland Ballroom. He bought a ticket and had a great time during his first of many Phish shows. It was also his first ever concert in New York City, and after the show, when he spoke to someone who had just seen the Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon Theater, he realized that the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers Band, and Phish were all in town at the same time. In young Aaron’s mind, this realization crystallized the concept of New York City as a live music mecca, a notion that forever changed the mindset of Aaron and the many people who’ve subsequently befriended him.

There once was a time when Aaron was known for his orange Syracuse cap, but these days, Aaron is known as an ardent supporter of live music, consistently uncovering new live bands and tirelessly curating a weekly list of noteworthy concerts in the New York City area. While he may double, triple, and quadruple stack concerts in one night, his days are spent working in a nanoscience laboratory near his Huntington, Long Island home.

Don’t bother asking Aaron to pick a favorite live band, but he would love the chance to see Elton John someday, and he’s hoping to catch Grave Flowers Bongo Band for the first time this year. If you’ve never heard of that group, it’s only because sharing new and emerging musical acts is one of Aaron’s many passions. He considers himself lucky to live in the “live music capital of the universe,” and FAN enables him to capture what’s great about our live music community, giving back to those who aren’t quite as lucky and are in need of our help.