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Friday, February 24, 2012 MEG HUTCHINSON"Every day I'm struck by something that leaves me speechless. Usually it's something very simple, very ordinary... What are the words that have never been used before to describe something we all know? That's what I'm after." Listen to Meg live on Michaela Majoun's Women's Hour at 9:00 AM Friday morning on WXPN FM88.5. |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Meg Hutchinson is an award-winning songwriter who artfully documents the human condition. With a poet’s ease, she makes the personal universal, allowing people’s stories to come alive through her unique vocals and haunting melodies. Since the release of her Red House Records debut COME UP FULL, she has won high praise for her songwriting and has been featured nationally on NPR Music, XM/Sirius Radio and several times on the syndicated show Mountain Stage. Publications like The Winnipeg Free Press have compared her songwriting with that of veterans Dar Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Joni Mitchell.
Growing up in the Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, the woods and ponds were her childhood muses, as were songwriters like Greg Brown and Joni Mitchell, and poets like Mary Oliver, William Stafford, William Butler Yeats, T. S. Eliot and Robert Frost. When Hutchinson inherited her grandmother’s 1957 Martin guitar at age eleven, her love of words found an inspiring instrument, and there was no turning back. “Songwriting is not something I chose, I’ve just somehow always known that this is what I love to do. This is what I can’t help but do,” she says.
After graduating from college with a degree in creative writing, Hutchinson quit her longtime job on an organic lettuce farm and settled in Boston. In between gigs at pubs, coffeehouses and train stations, she won a Kerrville New Folk Award (2000) and was nominated for a Boston Music Award for her first studio album AGAINST THE GREY.
She went on to win awards at the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, the Telluride Troubadour Songwriter’s Showcase in Colorado and The Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at Merlefest in North Carolina, all in the course of a year, causing national publications like Performing Songwriter to take notice, calling her “A master of introspective ballads filled with understated yearning and an exquisite sense of metaphor.” She quickly became an integral part of the vibrant Boston songwriting community. Like every great performer who has come out of the Boston scene, Hutchinson took to the subway, performing in Park Street, Downtown Crossing and Davis Square stations–honing her chops in the same method of predecessors like Martin Sexton, John Mayer, Paula Cole and Tracy Chapman.
After recording her live CD ANY GIVEN DAY in 2001, and continuing to build a fan base throughout the Northeast, she went into the studio with esteemed producer Crit Harmon (Lori McKenna, Martin Sexton, Mary Gauthier) to record THE CROSSING. Released in 2004, this album was enthusiastically received by critics and DJs across the country, catching the attention of renowned folk/roots label Red House Records. Label president and veteran producer Eric Peltoniemi knew there was something special in the young singer-songwriter, “Meg won me over with the profound yet easy depth of her lyrics—rich words married to melodies I just can’t get out of my head.” Knowing her songs could stand alongside those by Red House heavyweights Greg Brown, Eliza Gilkyson and John Gorka, Peltoniemi signed Hutchinson to the label. Teaming up again with Crit Harmon, Hutchinson recorded her Red House debut COME UP FULL over the course of more than a year in Boston. An instant folk hit, the album was one of the most played on folk and college radio and landed her on many “best of the year” lists.
In 2008, Meg Hutchinson went on to tour with such artists as Lori McKenna, Martin Sexton, Susan Werner, Luka Bloom and Joe Pug, handily winning over new fans on both sides of the Atlantic. She was also a favorite at South By Southwest (SXSW) and the International Folk Alliance Conference, showing that this was a young talent to be reckoned with.
In fall the of 2009, Meg Hutchinson joined fellow songwriters Antje Duvekot, Anne Heaton and Natalia Zukerman to record the holiday EP WINTERBLOOM: TRADITIONS REARRANGED. A collection of eclectic holiday and wintertime tunes, the CD features original and traditional songs from a variety of backgrounds–from a German hymn to a Yiddish folksong to a midwinter Greg Brown ballad. Touring in support of the album, the four women performed concerts in 12 cities, making appearances on such popular stations as WFUV, WUMB and WKSU FolkAlley.
Now, with the release of her new album THE LIVING SIDE, Meg Hutchinson shows that she is a songwriter that has fully arrived. Combining her raw storytelling folk style with tasteful, intimate production, the album showcases her sweet, earthy vocals and her most powerful songwriting to date. It confirms that she is indeed one of the great voices of the next generation of acoustic musicians.
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Friday, March 2, 2012 MIKE + RUTHYMike + Ruthy met in NYC, just out of college. Daughter to Hudson Valley fiddling legend Jay Ungar and folk-singer Lyn Hardy, Ruthy’s was a past steeped in the folk tradition. Mike had his musical roots planted in the rock scene blasting from the college radio station in his hometown of Durham, NH. The two fell in love and went on to form the folk-rock behemoth The Mammals, which toured the world many times over. |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Woodstock, New York’s Mike + Ruthy have been harmonizing for over a decade. Founding members of “post-apocalyptic-stringband” The Mammals, as a duo Mike + Ruthy have refined their sound down to the the very core of acoustic American music, demonstrating an uncommon ability to create songs as lyrically sophisticated as Bob Dylan or Leonard Cohen and as harmonically beautiful as Gillian Welch & David Rawlings or Simon & Garfunkel. With an arsenal of fiddle, banjo, guitar, ukulele and their hallmark harmony singing, a Mike + Ruthy concert is overstuffed with soulful songs and stories and a timeless sound that is spellbinding and pure. As the daughter of fiddle legend, Jay Ungar, and country singer Lyndon Lee Hardy, Ruthy is no stranger to roots music and harmony singing.
Despite her innate knowledge of American folk and country music, Ruthy opted to steer clear of the musician’s life and in 1997 moved to New York City to pursue a career in the theatre. It was in New York that Ruthy was introduced to Michael Merenda, an aspiring playwright and songwriter from New Hampshire who himself had just recently arrived in the big apple to test his mettle. With this meeting Ruthy’s interest in music was stoked, with Mike becoming entranced by the deep well of folk music from which Ruthy’s talent poured: the duo began collaborating immediately. A romantic relationship began not long after the musical partnership was sparked and in 2000 the couple resettled just outside of Northampton, MA where they met Tao Rodriguez-Seeger (grandson of the legendary folk singer Pete Seeger) and soon formed the "subversive, acoustic, stringband" The Mammals.
The Mammals toured the world for 7 years including trips to Australia, Denmark, and Canada and even a six month stint opening for and backing up the great Arlo Guthrie during his 40th Anniversary of Alice's Restaurant tour which culminated at New York's Carnegie Hall. With the birth of their son, Will, in 2008, Mike + Ruthy, announced a departure from The Mammals to focus on their growing family. During this time the couple rediscovered their joy of playing together as a duo and over the following three years produced three sparkling albums including "The Honeymoon Agenda" (2008), “Waltz of the Chickadee" (2009), and 2010's critically acclaimed "Million to One" all on their own independent record label, Humble Abode Music, based just outside of Woodstock, NY.
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Saturday, March 3, 2012 ALFRED JAMES BANDAlfred James is the only cellist in the world playing a black, 5 string carbon fiber cello -- standing up! |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
NPR featured the song, Better Days, on their online music show, All Songs Considered where it received the highest rating of any artist on the program.
XM Satellite Radio's XMU named Alfred James one of their Elite 27 of 2007 - the best 27 unsigned artists in the XM Nation and featured us on their year-end best of show.
The band toured Greece and Turkey in June 2007 accompanying The Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale. While we were on tour, XM Satellite Radio selected us as their Artist of the Week on The Radar Report.
They won a Grammy songwriting contest in May 2007 and performed at 2 Grammy showcases.
They opened for Rufus Wainwright at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Valentine's Day 2009 and opened for Bruce Hornsby, Dave Mason, Marc Cohn, They Might Be Giants, Suzanne Vega... and Alfred was featured in the August issue of Main Line Today Magazine as one of the Main Line's Artists to Watch.
Currently touring colleges and acoustic venues nationally (while planning our next international tour!).
Lucky If Easy was nominated for 2 Underground Grammy's in 2006 -- for Album of the Year and Song of the Year. After a trip out to LA, it took home 4th place out of over 3000 submissions!
Alfred started playing the cello as a young boy after his father (a surgeon and amateur cellist) suffered a stroke that ended both his surgical and musical careers. Alfred picked up his dad's cello where he left off and the rest as they say is history... His influences range from Pablo Casals, Ralph Kirshbaum, Yo Yo Ma, Sting, Dave Matthews, etc. etc. etc.
Welcome to the high energy sounds of the Alfred James Band and remember, the cello isn't just for classical music anymore.
Band Members...
Alfred Goodrich: Cello, Vocals, Didgeridoo
Avery Coffee: Electric & Acoustic Guitars
Chris Despo: Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Pat Brennan: Bass
Matt Hepler: Drums
Julie Eubank: Back-up Vocals
http://www.alfredjamesband.com/
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Friday, March 9, 2012 DALA"Dala seem bound for a loftier place where substance stands equal to style." "…the angels of folk music. Ethereal, eloquent and downright beautiful, the music they create is faultlessly performed." |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Juno nominees and winners of the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala have come a long way in a short time. These two best friends met in their high school music class and wrote their first song together in 2002. Since then they have released five albums and toured extensively across North America. Darlings of the Canadian music scene, Dala are now poised to bring their fresh brand of acoustic pop music to the world.
Drawing upon influences like The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, Dala write songs that are both catchy and insightful. Amanda’s ethereal soprano voice blends seamlessly with Sheila’s velvety alto, creating the lush harmonies that have become their trademark.
“Dala can sing! What beautiful flights of melody and harmony, reminiscent of the Everly Brothers, the Louvin Brothers, Emmylou Harris and associates; though Dala can trade a melody line and leave one wondering who is taking the lead and simply leave one behind when the harmonies kick in.”
- Peterborough Examiner
The sheer joy with which they perform is infectious, turning first-time listeners into instant fans. Dala have opened for artists such as Tom Cochrane, Stuart McLean of the CBC’s Vinyl Café, Richie Havens and Arlo Guthrie. No strangers to the festival scene, they have also performed at The New Orleans Jazz Festival, The Edmonton Folk Festival, California’s Strawberry Festival and Mariposa. In 2009, they were the only Canadian act invited to play at the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival.
Dala’s album “Everyone Is Someone” was released in 2009 to critical acclaim. It earned them their fifth Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Folk Group, and it was touted by The Irish Post as the Album of the Year. The song “Horses” was nominated by National Public Radio in the US as one of the “Top Ten folk songs of 2009″.
In the summer of 2010, Dala’s PBS special “Girls From The North Country” was broadcast across North America. This concert features Dala’s own songs weaved around classics by Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot. The live cd and dvd for “Girls From The North Country” earned Dala the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for “Vocal Group of the Year”. The live album was nominated for a 2011 Juno Award in the category “Roots and Traditional Album of the Year: Group”.
Dala have recently signed with US record company Compass Records
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Saturday, March 10, 2012 JD Malone & Rupert WatesVeterans of the PSALM stage, these gentlemen will please and astonish. Polished songwriting and explosive delivery... true musical artistry. |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
JD Malone was born and raised under a bright blue sky in a small town called Bennington in the Green Mountain State of Vermont, U.S.A. He writes and sings songs about love and hate, angels and demons and the universal struggle to feel safe under the stars.
J.D was the founder and frontman for the pop/rock band Steamroller Picnic from October 1993 – September 2004. During that time, Steamroller Picnic performed more than 200 shows a year. Steamroller Picnic was sponsored by (COORS Light 1996-2000) and (BUD Light 2000-2004) and had billboards on Interstates 95 and 76, (courtesy of COORS Light). In 2002, the band released an independent CD, Grow, engineered by Andy Kravitz (Billy Joel, Paul Simon) and was the featured act on the MTV show Advance Warning, (July 2003). During this time J.D also founded, produced and booked the Y-100 Tuesday Night Music Club, a local, regional and national music showcase.
In September 2004, J.D began to work with Gerry McWilliams and in January 2005 released, Malone and McWilliams, Greatest Hits, engineered by Pete Donnelly (The Figgs, Graham Parker). J.D and Gerry then went out west to record and in March 2006 released Malone and McWilliams, Los Angeles, engineered by Barrie Maguire (The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant, Amos Lee).
In May 2008, J.D released his first solo EP, Dia de los Muertos, once again engineered by Pete Donnelly and recorded at Philadelphonic Studios in Philadelphia, PA. In December 2007, J.D was selected as a semi-finalist in The Plowshares national songwriting contest and in May 2008, he was one of six winners in The Philadelphia Songwriters Association contest. On October 29th, 2008, JD’s song “Emmitt meets a Demon” was the WXPN (Philadelphia) Pick of the Day.
In January 2010, JD was a featured artist on 6ABC Tuned In. (www.6abc.com) and in March 2010 a video for his song “Emmitt meets a Demon” was featured on Alternate Root TV, a weekly syndicated Americana Roots music video TV program.
In April 2010, J.D released his second solo record, Use This Side and Save My Face, with the help of his amazing band, The Experts (Tommy Hampton, Avery Coffee, Jim Miades and Tommy Geddes) and engineered by James Stapleford at Chaplin’s in Spring City, PA.
J.D has shared the stage with many national acts: Third Eye Blind, Eve 6, Sugar Ray, Vertical Horizon, Fuel, Familiar 48, Living Colour, The Fixx, July for Kings, Lola Ray, Robert Hazard, Silvertide, John Faye Power Trip, The Martians, The Bogmen, Dee Snyder, John Eddie, Danelia Cotton, Craig Bickhardt, Jim Photoglo, Idlewheel, Eric Andersen, Tommy Gillam, Phil Vasser, Terri Clark, Steve Forbert and John Gorka.
Rupert Wates was born in London.
He has been a full time songwriter since 1992 when he signed an exclusive deal with Eaton Music Publishing. He has written songs in all kinds of styles for all kinds of artists. During the 1990s he worked with jazz singer Liz Fletcher, recording the albums ‘Mellowmania’ and ‘Live in the Park,’ both released on the Sanctuary label, and ‘Blue Afternoons’ on Mainstem.
Moving to Paris in 2001, he developed his skills as a singer and performer and formed his own group. In 2005 he recorded the album ‘Sweet or Bitter Wine,’ his first as a solo artist. The album was released on the Mainstem label in autumn 2005.
Since September 2006, Rupert has been based in the USA. His music has found a warm reception in America. Between 2007 and 2011, he has won over 25 songwriting awards.
Rupert Wates plays between 120 and 150 live shows a year, and he has performed in every state in America. Audiences everywhere respond to his brand of acoustic, melodic art/folk: haunting songs that ring true.
Wates' albums 'Coast To Coast' (2007) and 'Dear Life' (2008) have gained outstanding reviews and both continue to be aired on college and mainstream radio all over the world.
In 2010 he released ‘Joe’s Café,” an album of 15 original songs based on true stories, each interpreted by a different vocalist, retelling the stories of ordinary American people. Through them we trace the story of America itself: through two world wars, the Dust Bowl depression, Vietnam and the struggle for Civil Rights, all the way to the present day. Recorded live in the studio in a single weekend, the album's warm sound evokes the welcoming atmosphere of an all-night café, where friends gather to share their stories. Featured virtuoso musicians on the recording include Darol Anger on violin and Michael Manring on bass.
‘Joe’s Café’ has been presented very successfully at the Fringe Festivals throughout North America including Hamilton (Ontario), Kansas City, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Victoria (British Columbia) and San Francisco, and in other venues from New York City to the Southeastern United States.
The show won Best Music Revue in the San Francisco Fringe Festival
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Friday, March 16, 2012 ODEAN POPE TRIO"Max Roach's longtime saxman Odean Popes Philly proud saxophone ensemble was one of the most explosive units of the 1994 Montreal Jazz Festival." "Tenor man Odean Pope builds a richly arranged environment deserving of the choral moniker |
CONCERT - $25 Online/$30 Door, 8:00 pm
Odean Pope was born in Ninety-Six, South Carolina to musical parents who rooted him in the sounds of the Southern Baptist Church. After moving to Philadelphia at the age of ten, his lifelong study of music began in earnest and was buttressed by The Graniff School of Music and Benjamin Franklin High School’s music program.
Odean grew up in jazz rich territory with other Philadelphia notables such as: John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Clifford Brown, Benny Golson, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy and Percy Heath, Ray Bryant, Bill Barron, Kenny Barron, Archie Shepp, Jymie Merritt, Jimmy Garrison, Philly Joe Jones and Dizzy Gillespie. Coltrane chose Odean to replace him in Jimmy Smith’s Group when he left for New York to join Miles Davis. Although he was close to Coltrane and continues to revere his artistry, Odean was always searching for his own musical sound. This led him to study with Ron Rubin, the principal woodwind player in the Philadelphia Orchestra. At a later time he studied at The Paris Conservatory for Music under Kenny Clarke. It was there that he received his Certificate in Orchestration, Modern harmony, African rhythms, Be-Bop Art Forms and Arrangement. He studied with the pianist, Ray Bryant, bassist, Jymie Merritt and was significantly influenced by the brilliant, if not eccentric pianist, Hasaan Ibn Ali. Odean adds, “Then being able to study with Max (Roach) from ’79 up until ’02, was like going to one of the highest institutions in the whole world.”
Integrating several musical influences including the church choir of his youth, Philadelphia jazz and R&B of the 50's and classical woodwind chamber music, led Odean in the early 70's to help form Catalyst, a collective of musicians and music representing his new aesthetic. A two-CD set was reissued in 1999 on 32 Records as: “Catalyst: The Funkiest Band You Never Heard.” It was music ahead of its time. In 1979, Odean joined the Max Roach Quartet as a regular member for more than two decades. It was as the tenor man with Max Roach that Odean perfected the techniques of circular breathing and multiphonics, both allowing him to stretch his solo improvisations from dazzling elevations to the throbbing, husky sounds for which he is so well known, to all kinds of delicacy in getting from one to the other. Odean won acclaim from Australia to Japan, even winning “Best Tenor Saxophone Player” at the North Sea Jazz Festival.
Odean works with his trio, (Lee Smith, Craig McIver) quartet and saxophone choir. The saxophone choir is formatted with nine saxophones, and was established by Odean in 1977 and premiered in 1985 with a Soul Note album called “The Saxophone Shop.” The saxophone choir has been the realization of his southern legacy; a medium for creating the richly textured harmonic sound that has permeated his musical soul since childhood. Even though he plays clarinet, oboe, piccolo, flute and piano, Odean feels an affinity for the tenor saxophone because it most closely mimics the human voice. He constructs layers of melodic sound by playing within the fourth system in different tone scales using multiphonics, achieving several pitches together, for which he is well known. The choir reaches a stunning intensity that is simultaneously one voice and is also, as described by Francis Davis, “harmonically engorged.”
Odean has led two musical lives. Whereas his musical legion left for New York, Odean kept Philadelphia as his home base. Having grown up in North Philadelphia, Odean has always felt a strong commitment to his community through working musically with the children. He was musical director of a Philadelphia cultural initiative, “Model Cities.” He started the jazz studies program at the Settlement Music School and he continues to give master classes in the School District of Philadelphia, as well as nationally and internationally.
Odean Pope’s artistry as performer, composer and arranger has earned him many citations from the City of Philadelphia. Among his many awards are: The Pew Fellowship in the Arts for Music Composition (1992), The Rockefeller Foundation (1992) and several from Chamber Music America.
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Saturday, March 17, 2012 MICHAEL LONDON & FRIENDS"I heard Michael's music for the first time on WXPN (Gene Shay's show) and was blown away by the ways in which he wove the exquisite poetry of Rumi with his own inspired musical creations. Hearing him in concert less than a week later, the intensity of the passion and magic increased 100-fold. Sitting in the audience, surrounded by souls listening with rapt attention, I was moved with a certainty that the poet himself was whispering in Michael's ear throughout the performance. At turns, deeply peaceful and vibrantly energetic. What a gift!" Michael will be joined by Paul Butler (clarinet and sax) and Jim Hamilton (percussionist) as well as many other notable musicians |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Michael London's music is inspired by the deeply moving, transcendental poetry of Rumi, the 13th century Persian Sufi mystic. He'll be performing selections from his new CD, "The Field". Much of the CD was recorded live before an enthusiastic audience at the PSALM Salon at a previous performance, with more new compositions self-recorded at his personal studio.
"I am deeply touched by the poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi, a 13th century Sufi poet whose work is infused with his profound relationship with the divine. My own encounter with Rumi has been a life changing inspiration that has moved me to create music and songs with his magical words at the center. Many of these pieces came through meditation and improvisation, and were composed and refined over time. In staying true to the essence of Rumi's spirit, I wanted the music to be immediate - born in a state of flow and carrying that loving energy to others as they experience the words and music together in a new way. In performing these songs, I've been struck by the incredible chemistry that happens. The words and music seem to be a channel for each other, the room becomes alive and all of us in it wake up. That they can connect with us so effortlessly and completely is both a testament to the translators, and to the exquisit e beauty, soul and power of the work, originally written in Farsi (the Persian language)."
A local favorite, Michael London performs in concert, at workshops and conferences, and in support of sacred rituals. He is also a teacher of leadership, organizational behavior, group dynamics, and management at Muhlenberg College. Michael records his original compositions in the meditative space of his own recording studio. He has released two albums of original music.
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Friday, March 23, 2012 ERIC TAYLOR"Live at the Red Shack" - Philadelphia CD Release Concert! "He's the real deal. Eric Taylor was one my heroes and teachers when I started playing around Houston in the early 1970s." - Nanci Griffith |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
The official release date for Eric's new "Live At The Red Shack" CD is January 3rd. The film crew just finished a video montage of the recording of Live At The Red Shack. Great film of Eric, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith and all involved:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLDuJ3Q4biQ
People have been talking about Eric Taylor and his songs since the early 1970s, when he was an integral part of a Houston songwriting scene that included Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, and Guy Clark. Taylor is one of the most influential songwriters to ever come out of Texas. Over the years, as his reputation and song catalogue have grown, he has had a profound effect on the evolution and development of such well-known Texas artists as Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, and others. "Eric Taylor was one of my heroes and teachers when I started playing around Houston in the early 1970s," says Earle. "He's the real deal."
Taylor released his first album, the masterful Shameless Love, in 1981 and shortly thereafter decided to take an extended sabbatical from the music business. Over the years his songs would appear on albums by the likes of Griffith, Lovett, and June Tabor (from Steeleye Span).
It wasn't until 1995's Eric Taylor release that he reentered the music business full-time. Hailed by fans and critics alike as one of the finest albums of that year (it was voted Texas Album Of The Year at the Kerrville Music Awards), Eric Taylor pushed Taylor back into the mainstream folk and singer-songwriter limelight. He began to tour on a steady basis and in 1998 put out his third album, Resurrect, recently named one of the "100 essential records of all time" by Texas magazine Buddy.
2001 brought forth Scuffletown, and following its release, he was a featured artist on Austin City Limits and NPR's Morning Edition. The Kerrville Tapes (2003) is Eric's first live album, recorded during three years of appearances at the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival. In 2004, heeding repeated requests by fans and media, Eric re-mastered the vinyl Shameless Love and reissued it as a CD with 2 never-released-before bonus tracks.
In the spring of 2005, Taylor returned to Rock Romano's Red Shack in Houston to record his 5th studio album, The Great Divide. Garnering rave reviews at home and abroad, The Great Divide quickly reached #3 on the Euro Americana Chart and in 2006 was named one of the Top Releases Most Played by Folk Radio.
Hollywood Pocketknife is a 10-song collection (7 new songs, 3 surprising covers) that shows Taylor in his prime as a writer and performer, with his exquisite narrative style, his keen, studied observation of the human spirit, and his intricate, roots-driven guitar work. Produced by Taylor, Hollywood Pocketknife also features a stellar cast of musicians, including Eric Demmer (saxophone), David Webb (keyboard, Hammond organ), Mathias Schneider (lap steel), James Gilmer (percussion), Vince Bell (vocals), Steven Fromholz (vocals), and Susan Lindfors (vocals).
In early 2008, Eric Taylor and Hollywood Pocketknife were nominated for Folkwax Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year. In addition to receiving rave reviews, Hollywood Pocketknife reached #3 on the Euro American Chart and #5 on the Freeform American Roots Chart. And the nationally revered Sing Out! magazine included "Peppercorn Tree" in its summer 2008 issue and 20-song sampler CD.
A mesmerizing performer, Taylor has been a featured artist at many festivals, including Kerrville, Newport Folk Festival, Woody Guthrie Folk Festival and the Take Root Festival in Holland. His U.S. tours have taken him to the Northeast (Club Passim, The Bottom Line), Northwest (Civic Auditorium, Walters Cultural Arts Center), Southeast (Bluebird Cafe, Eddie's Attic), Southwest (The Outpost) and Midwest (The Ark, CSPS, Cafe Carpe).
Taylor also tours extensively in Europe, playing notable venues such as the Paradiso (Amsterdam), Theatre Kikker (Utrecht), The Errigle Inn (Belfast), Hotel du Nord (Paris), Grey's Pub (Brighton), The Bein Inn (Perth), The Borderline (London) and The Mercat (Edinburgh). During his past four European tours, Taylor has played sold-out shows throughout The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Germany, and the UK.
In addition to his appearances on Austin City Limits and NPR's Morning Edition, Taylor has performed on Late Night With David Letterman (with Nanci Griffith), NPR's Mountain Stage, and BBC Radio Scotland.
He has taught at the Kerrville Folk Festival Songwriting School, and has conducted songwriting workshops at the Fulston Manor Performing Arts Centre (Kent, UK), CARAD (Rhayader, Wales), and the Plowshares Coffeehouse (Pennsylvania).
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Saturday, March 24, 2012 MANDALA'Just wanted to let you know how very, very, incredibly wonderful your music was! It went straight into my soul, opened me up, and connected me to the endless sea of all other souls. There is really no better way to describe it.' "Your music touched me very deeply: I found, more than once, tears on my cheeks, I had gooseflesh creep on my back, I could barely stay in my seat for wanting to dance, and at the same time, I found myself feeling something similar to the feeling I get when I meditate. What an amazing thing you do." |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
"Mandala is an international ethnic fusion music group with loads of eclectic talent. The CD, Bhakti, offers kirtan, Sufi-style zikr, Turkish and Indian beats and Georgian chant – a whole new kind of devotional music; it is not your typical kirtan. These accomplished musicians and singers have created a compilation of music with beautiful inspirational messages that all devotional backgrounds can enjoy." --Yoga Life Journal
"These accomplished musicians and singers have created an album of devotional music that is an intricate blending of sounds and styles. They bring in Indian, Turkish, Celtic and Gregorian chant music and create a soaring beautiful collection of kirtan chants. Andi McGraw Hunt has a voice that invites the listener to imagine lofty cathedrals and echoing choral performances. Scott Robinson’s harmonium is as deep and epic as his vocals and Paul Butler’s reed instrument accompaniment is a perfect match to these singers. The combination of Gregorian-style chanting with harmonium is quite breathtaking...Mandala Band creates an soaring and epic blend of Eastern and Western religious songs...All the music on this album is stunning, tightly performed and beautiful." –Elephant Journal
Mandala does kirtan--the audience-participatory call-response devotional singing that is sometimes referred to as "yoga chanting." While most kirtan uses Hindu mantra texts in Sanskrit, Mandala take a uniquely interfaith approach, combining Hindu, Islamic and biblical traditions in their music and choice of words.
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Friday, March 30, 2012 MYRICK/PEACOCKNow-Nashville-based singer/songwriter Alice Peacock's new collaboration with Danny Myrick has produced a polished eponymously named debut album that is hot off the presses, and catching well deserved attention nation-wide. |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
"We've spent many, many hours searching for a band name, but nothing really hit us," explains singer-songwriter Alice Peacock of her duo project with fellow troubadour Danny Myrick. "We just went with Myrick-Peacock by default, even though it kinda sounds like an accounting firm. We’re open to suggestions."
"It’s mainly because the music and the chemistry behind it mean so much to us, so we got hung up a little bit on the name," Myrick adds. "We didn’t want to go with just anything."
The Nashville-based pair's struggle to find a fitting moniker is in stark contrast to the ease of their collaboration. After a raft of breezily productive writing sessions, they recorded their eponymous, 10-song album in just two days. They even tracked many of their vocals together, which is virtually unheard of in these days of collaboration by Internet and slice-and-dice editing. But being in the same room gave their gorgeous harmonies the same glow that has been enchanting audiences in their live performances.
"We just knocked this album out," Peacock says. "It’s really organic-sounding, and that’s what we were going for. A lot of people say it reminds them of classic Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp."
The rootsy, rocking uplift of such influences is particularly evident in such anthems as the dream-chasing "Great Big Love," the saved-by-love exaltation "Right on time" (with its bottom-heavy guitar riff) and the warmly nostalgic "Brave New World," while the edgier side of their classic influences can be heard in the rocking "Distant Thunder" and the serpentine, banjo-spiced funk workout "Sooner or Later."
Frequently these songs address profound pain - from front-page tragedies ("Isn't It Amazing") to personal loss (the exquisite, spiritual closer, "In All Things") - but invariably they light on some kind of consolation, invariably through love and faith. But whether Myrick-Peacock are channeling sorrow or exhilaration, the result is always deeply melodic, grooving and brimming with harmony.
The Minnesota minister"s daughter and Mississippi preacher's son found a deep chemistry while collaborating on Peacock's 2009 solo album, Love Remains. Though both had become skeptical of the religious certainty they'd grown up with, they shared a profound spiritual connection to music that had begun in church. "I've felt the same thing at a Springsteen concert that I felt in a Pentacostal congregation," Myrick volunteers. "Alice and I approach life's big questions in similar ways, so we’ve been able to convey our faith - and even our uncertainty - through music without getting preachy about it." Adds Peacock, "It’s all about connection, which I remind myself every time I’m about to go onstage."
Myrick quickly became a fixture at Peacock's live shows as a sideman and harmony singer. They continued writing and playing her material but began to realize that the songs they were crafting together were better suited to a duo.
Myrick describes them as musical soulmates. "We have a blast writing, playing and just hanging out," he says. "You can feel that synergy in the room. Vocally, it's like a third presence - there's almost a mystical quality. We've had that from the get-go, and the more we focused on it, the more strongly people responded."
How would their preacher pops feel about the use of Biblical figures as romantic analogies ("Like Moses at the Red Sea/Baby, that was you showing up for me," they harmonize in "Right on Time")? Hard to say, but clearly such lore remains at the core of their musical imaginations - even if they've gone on to compose their own versions of belief. And judging by the reaction of audiences at their shows, they're making a profound connection.
http://myrickpeacock.com
http://www.alicepeacock.com
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Saturday, March 31, 2012 TIMOTHY HILL"Timothy Hill is an outstanding singer-songwriter whose beautifully expressive voice and texts, by turns warm and strong, personal and transcendent, are enchanting in their scope and range. The breadth and depth of his musical experiences, from some 30 years of overtone singing in The Harmonic Choir to pioneering contemporary, jazz and folk collaborations with a wide range of artists, gives his music and texts a special resonance and subtlety. An artist not be missed." |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Timothy Hill is a singer and composer whose musical explorations have spanned genres including folk, jazz, world, contemporary classical and improvised music.
As a member of David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, he has been a pioneer in the art of harmonic singing. Writing in The New York Times, critic Robert Palmer called Hill "a virtuoso of the Tibetan chanting technique." Hill appears on eight of the Choir's recordings, including their seminal work, Hearing Solar Winds.
His wish to deepen his understanding of music brought him to the study of Indian Classical music with Sheila Dhar and Pandit Vijay Kichlu; music in the teaching of Gurdjieff with John Pentland and others; and several rare intensive workshops with pianist Keith Jarrett.
Hill has produced three recordings of original songs, This Bright World, The Human Place, and Spirit's Body, and appears on recordings by artists such as alternative rock singer-songwriter Katell Keineg, klezmer clarinetist Giora Feidman, composer-cellist Robert Een and Irish traditional singer and flautist
Cathal McConnell. Hill leads or co-leads several ensembles devoted to performing original music, such as Wayfarer, with Brandon Ross, Jeff Haynes and Doug Weiss, and Weave Vocal Research Group.
He has performed onstage with Bill Frisell, Jeff Buckley, Allen Ginsberg, Odetta and Pete Seeger, and has participated in premier performances under the direction of composers John Cage, Joe Maneri, Butch Morris and Carter Burwell.
Hill teaches singing and has been a visiting lecturer at the Bard College Conservatory Graduate Vocal Arts Program under artistic director Dawn Upshaw since its inception.
http://www.timothyhillmusic.com
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Friday, April 6, 2012 SARAH PEACOCKBig things definitely come in small packages! Sarah Peacock is a powerhouse pop country vocalist and performer with a style reminiscent of Heart’s Ann Wilson and a boot-kickin’ twist of the Sugarland “country-ness.” Add a hint of classic rock on the palate, throw in the fact that her songs are melodic and catchy, and you’ve got a star in the making! |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Averaging over 200 dates a year, Atlanta native, Sarah Peacock tours full time to cities all over the globe. You may have seen or heard her on Comcast, WGN, Me.TV, various FOX network stations or radio stations across the country. Her debut album, "Straight For Your Heart" was released on Maze Records in 2009, but she purchased her contract and rights to masters in March of 2011 and will re-release the project under her own label this year. Peacock has a new album that released March 29th, which is her first independently owned project. It is a live album recorded at the premier music venue, Eddie's Attic in Decatur, GA. She has shared the stage with Barry Waldrep, Levi Lowrey, Clay Cook, and many others!
Peacock grew up in a musical family. Both of her grandmothers are accomplished pianists and vocalists, and fortunately the musical gene was passed down to all the Peacock girls. One sister is a professional opera singer and the other a piano prodigy with a voice to boot! The oldest of 3 girls, Peacock began taking piano lessons at age 4 and seemed to always be performing no matter where she went. At age 7 she was making home-made stages in the closet and performing talent shows with her sisters and grade school neighborhood friends at home. Growing up, there was always a performance, at least somewhere almost every week; piano recitals, singing in the church youth band on Wednesday night, school chorus shows, high school musicals, and special choral honors programs.
At age 11 Peacock picked up a guitar for the first time. It was her uncle’s first guitar, which was cheap, badly warped and nearly impossible to play. But, that didn’t stop her from muscling up and beating out the chords until her fingers bled. Every day after school she would practice and eventually proved herself worthy of owning her very own guitar.
Writing song after song throughout her teenage years, the passion grew and grew. Peacock wrote what was at the time her best song yet during her senior year of high school and auditioned to perform her song at graduation. She was one of the selected few to perform for the commencement ceremony, and it’s been nonstop since that day.
Sarah left home later that fall at age 18 to attend Belmont University in Nashville, TN where she graduated with a commercial music degree in 2005. It was during her time at Belmont that Peacock truly honed her craft of songwriting and vocal performance. During her time at Belmont, she was one of the few students selected to perform in the annual Commercial Music Showcase- two years in a row. It was also at Belmont University where Peacock met instructor Kelly Garner, who played an instrumental role in developing her as an artist, vocalist, musician, and performer. Garner would later sign Peacock as the very first artist on her record label, Maze Records in 2008. Garner was responsible for the successful production and was the executive producer of Peacock’s debut album, “Straight For Your Heart” at Big Dog Studios in Franklin, TN.
Up until the release of “Straight For Your Heart” in 2009, Peacock continued to tour part time on weekends while teaching private voice, piano, and guitar to students in both Nashville and Atlanta. She even partnered with a local Atlanta visionary to start a rock school, which would receive endorsements and support from Warner Brothers, PRS Guitars, Marshall Amplifiers, Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Comcast, local Atlanta vendors and restaurants, Atlanta radio stations, and other television networks.
Peacock resigned from the rock school in May of 2009 to pursue her own musical career full time, and it’s been an insanely hard but insanely beautiful, wonderful, amazing, and unforgettable journey. She spent a large majority of this time frame writing, recording, and touring with country artist, Jessi Lynn. The two artists toured the entire country including the US Virgin Islands three times since 2009! In the beginning and throughout Peacock's plunge into full time touring, Lynn, an experienced and well seasoned artist and businesswoman, took Sarah under her wing. Lynn's positive attitude and motto, "Dream Bigger," became an inspiration to never give up. Lynn's ceaceless willingness to help regardless of circumstance has also shaped Peacock as a person, a businesswoman, and an artist. Not giving up is harder than it looks sometimes, but the journey is not ending anytime soon. Peacock continues to tirelessly tour nationally and internationally performing for anyone who will listen in any kind of venue that will have her. Her songs are heartfelt, and her personality heartwarming and genuine. She won’t give up. She’s a girl with a dream, a dog, a story, and her Grandaddy’s ’92 Volvo. 250,000 miles young, the Volvo is a faithful tour bus, carrying the Peacock and her songs to you.
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Saturday, April 7, 2012 THEATRE DZIECI
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Dzieci (djyeh-chee) is an international experimental theatre ensemble dedicated to a search for the "sacred" through the medium of theatre. "Dzieci" is the Polish word for children, and hints at the guiding ethos of this unique theater company based in New York City.
Using techniques garnered from such theatre masters as Jerzy Grotowski, Eugenio Barba and Peter Brook, ritual forms derived from Native American and Eastern spiritual disciplines, and an ethic based securely in Humanistic Psychology, Dzieci aims to create a theatre that is as equally engaged with personal transformation as it is with public presentation.
Towards this aim, the ensemble balances its work on performance with work of service, through creative and therapeutic interaction in hospitals and a variety of institutional settings. Dzieci believes helping others generates a profound healing effect that not only serves the patient but also strengthens the ensemble's work.
Dzieci is firmly dedicated to process. Their theatrical creations come organically over a long period of time, and a relationship with the world at large is essential. Therefore, public demonstrations of the work in progress are offered along the way, along with para-theatrical workshops, which invite participants to experience the work underlying the most current investigations. This follows the statement by G.I. Gurdjieff, "...in art there is no final goal. There is always further to go. It is a voyage of unending discovery, and as in all such voyages, what is gathered by the wayside is often as valuable as what is found at the destination."
Dzieci will perform "Fool's Mass". In this work, a motley group of medieval village idiots are forced to enact their own Mass, due to the untimely death of their beloved pastor. Though it sounds grim, Fools Mass is full of buffoonery and comic audience participation. This, along with goreous choral singing of sacred hymns and chants from the 8th through the 17th centuries, combines to create a work which travels from the ridiculous to the sublime. It is filled with deep spiritual meaning and illustrates the "fool's journey" toward divine realization.
Matt Mitler, the company director, was initially trained in Humanistic and Existential Psychology, before discovering the healing potential of theatre. He considers his therapeutic study with such masters as R.D. Laing and Carl Rogers to be equal to his theatrical study with Jerzy Grotowski and Eugenio Barba. Combining these two pursuits, he began to lead workshops in a variety of settings including Hutchings Psychiatric Center (NY); The National Theatre School of Sweden; and the graduate school of The University of Psychology of Warsaw, where, in 1980, his essay, "Art and Therapy" was published in the anthology, New Directions in Psychotherapy.
To date, Matt has designed and directed over 70 theatrical productions, appeared on numerous television programs, and starred in over a dozen independent feature films. Though continuing to act, teach, and direct, Mr. Mitler's primary focus is on Theatre Group Dzieci, which he founded, here in New York City, in 1997. He and Dzieci are featured in the book, Working on the Inside: The Spiritual Life Through the Eyes of Actors by Retta Blaney, and profiled in the current edition of The Encyclopedia of Religion.
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Friday, April 13, 2012 HARPETH RISINGWe are about to go into the studio to record a new album, consisting entirely of the songs of Jordana’s father, “Wildman Green aka David Greenberg” the acclaimed writer of “Abraham” from our first album and several songs on “Dead Man’s Hand.” The new album will feature not only his songs, but also vocals and guitar. We are so excited and proud to be making this album and can’t wait to share it with all of you! |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Billed as an “Americana Sensation” by WSM 650, this group of young classically trained musicians is making an immense impact wherever they play. The quartet brings an exciting and distinctive sound to the Americana genre." With a banjo and fiddle, you might think they’re traditional bluegrass, but think again: cello and hand drums round out the group, creating a truly new sound. A little bit bluegrass, a little bit folk, a little bit classical and whole lot of original, Harpeth Rising is a band to watch.
”An Americana Sensation” – WSM 650
“The future of original string music…” Keith Harrelson, Moonlight on the Mountain
“Harpeth Rising, warm, honest and true music by four exquisite musicians.” Peter Zeijl, Folk En Zo
Harpeth Rising recently returned from a tour of the UK, where they were acclaimed as “absolutely fabulous”, “brilliant” and “…some of the best three-part harmonies we’ve heard…” They were invited to return to play the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival in Summer 2011. This year they were voted ‘Best Local Band’ in Nashville, Tennessee, appeared on the critically acclaimed shows “Music City Roots,” and “Nashville Traditions” and completed successful US tours of the Midwest, South, and Northeast. The ensemble’s debut album was released in 2010, and is available on iTunes and at live shows.
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Saturday, April 14, 2012 COPAL
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Copal sets an evocative tone; lavish voices of violin and cello flicker against a twilight scape of electronic swells and textures, impelled by a driving rhythmic sense, and original melodies steeped in global musical traditions. NYC-based, Copal is lead by violinist/composer Hannah Thiem surrounded by an impressive cast of talented collaborators: Isabel Castellvi (cello), Rob Chamberlain (drums, electronic pads), Lorenzo Wolff (bass), Tripp Dudley (percussion). The band’s sound is a steampunk melding of styles set on a world stage. Nordic melodies ride Middle-Eastern rhythms into the halls of a remembered past, Hungarian riffs blush hotly against Spanish-cadence, opulent harmonies from far-gone depths.
Copal’s 2010 aptly named ‘Into the Shadow Garden’, is a moody arabesque of cultural influences and sonic tapestries. The music here is darkly intimate, compelling on multiple levels. “Beguiling” (First Coast News) and “artistically beautiful yet darkly tantalizing” (Maximum Ink), like lucid dreams, the sounds of Copal will take you away.
Hannah Thiem — is the violinist/vocalist of Copal and violinist of Nyxyss, and solos with DJs in New York, Boston, and San Francisco. Hannah accompanied hip hop icon Kanye West in New York (Madison Square Garden) and in Boston where they opened for The Rolling Stones. She is a resident at NYC’s Church and Alex Grey’s Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM). Hannah studied classical, world, and jazz, with emphasis on Middle Eastern, Eastern European, Nordic, and Spanish Gypsy traditional styles at New England Conservatory in Boston, MA; as well as field studies in Spain, Morocco, Greece and Germany. In studio, she recorded with Grammy nominated Irma Thomas, rising stars Beats Antique, and Mark Saunders (multi-platinum producer: Cure, Cyndi Lauper, David Byrne). With her bands Copal and Nyxyss, or alongside DJs spinning dubstep, glitch-hop, or brokenbeat, Hannah’s inspired melodic sense stirs both deep emotions and dancefloors.
Isabel Castellvi (cello) — is a versatile musician performing and composing a broad range of music including classical and contemporary classical, rock, jazz, world, free-improvisation, experimental, electro-acoustic, hip-hop and theatrical performance art. Currently she is the cellist for the contemporary classical ensembles: ai ensemble, dal niente, MIVOS quartet, NYSound Circuit, ThingNY, and Wetink, for bands The Bell Cycle, CelloVox, and Copal. Multidisciplinary collaboration is an integral part of her work, which has led to various projects with composers, dance, theater and visual artists. Isabel received a Master’s Degree in Contemporary Music Performance at Manhattan School of Music, and B.M. from DePaul University. In addition to an active performance career as a cellist she is studying Hindustani classical music, is active as a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Isabel is dedicated to sharing music with diverse audiences, expanding consciousness and promoting peace.
Rob Chamberlain (drum kit, electronic drum samples) — had the good fortune of being born into a prestigious lineage of musicians and wizards. Directly descended from Lord Reginald Chamberlain, first Duke of Boston, Rob developed a drumming style that balances traditional military marching percussion techniques with the subtle nuances of drum set playing commonly found in early-to-mid 90′s grunge rock. Pursuing his formal education at the illustrious School of Hard Knocks in western Massachusetts, Rob earned an advanced degree in Rocking the F. Out in percussion, with a minor in Straight Killin’ It on acoustic guitar. He has made his career in Brooklyn, NY as so many of his ancestors have, composing music for modern dance, backing worldbeat electronica groups, and busking in streets and subway stations, gracefully negotiating the age-old balance between starving artist and legitimate hobo.
Lorenzo Wolff (bass guitar) — has been playing bass since he learned what instrument caused the rumbling in his stereo. He is currently playing with a wide range of performers, from acrobats to burlesque troupes to good old fashioned rock bands. You can hear him playing in New York with artists like Bill Irwin, Michael Cerveris, The Lisps, and Henry Wolfe. He’s shared stages and arenas around the country with artists like Joss Stone, Genuine, and Amanda Palmer and has worked as an engineer for Regina Spector, Loudon Wainwright III, and Terence Blanchard.
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Friday, April 20, 2012 the NIELDSThe Nields story begins with the two sisters. Nerissa and Katryna grew up singing folk songs in the kitchen and in the back seat of the family car. Katryna learned to sing melody with their father, eventually making her an ideal front person for the band. Nerissa, on the other hand, tackled the harmonies; with that skill, she provided a natural counterpoint to her sister's vibrant lead. |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
To the songwriter/musician who has neither burned, bailed nor sold out, there comes a time when he or she turns from writing about who they are in the current moment to writing about who they have always been, addressing head-on their roots, sources and influences. SISTER HOLLER, the newest and 14th career release from Nerissa and Katryna Nields, is a "roots album," but with a difference. Rather than simply reinterpret or re-record the music what brung 'em, the sisters from Western Massachusetts, have decided in Sister Holler to retool, assimilate and flat out burgle the music they grew up with to create something new. They tell the listener right up front that they're even going to lift entire lines from some of the best songs ever written, and then they do it, right before your very ears. The result is a delightful oxymoron of songs simultaneously familiar and surprising.
On Sister Holler, the Nields’ "Moonlighter" revisits the old folk song, "Moonshiner" (about an alcoholic in love with the bottle) with songwriter Nerissa incorporating the actual lines, "I'll eat when I'm hungry, I'll drink when I’m dry." But in Nerissa's version the new narrator is in love with an unattainable lover. "Abington Sea Fair" is "Scarborough Fair" from a woman's point of view, with genders swapped. "This Train" is a populist anthem for today and kind of a commentary on the state of the nation, particularly the polarization between Republicans and Democrats. "We'll Plant an Oak" is a post-modern response to "The Water is Wide". On the song "Endless Day", Nerissa made the decision to use the progression from Johann Pachabel's "Canon in D", commenting, "but Blues Traveler used it. Sophie B. Hawkins used it. You can find it all over the place." Indeed, part of the fun of Sister Holler is listening for the references.
Nerissa and Katryna Nields have been the darlings of the coffeehouse/festival scene since 1991, with tunes ranging from off-the-hook idiosyncratic to kicking to heartbreaking. "Our parents were total folkies," says Nerissa. "Their first date was a Pete Seeger concert and their second was a Harry Bellefonte concert. We used to go to a family camp in the Adirondacks every summer where people sat around a fire. That's where I learned how to finger pick. The music teacher at our school, Jack Langstaff, was more of the English tradition of folk music than the American, and his legacy was really strong. We grew up on simple folk songs."
"The thing about that camp," Katryna recalls, "was that it was just part of the community. One of my top five musical memories in my entire life was one night at camp when it was cold and the fire was blazing and everybody sang 'When the Saints Go Marching In.' Just a couple guitars or maybe a banjo and people swapping songs with everybody singing along. Woody Guthrie and Weavers songs, Odetta. 'Charlie on the MTA,' 'The Frozen Logger,' 'Goodnight Irene,' 'This Land is Your Land,' 'Wabash Cannonball.' Maybe a little Bob Dylan. Bill Staines would have been considered really edgy. I know people think those old songs are quaint, but when everybody is singing them, it becomes such powerful music. Music you eventually can’t even remember where you learned it, but it becomes part of your vocabulary – I love that."
Sister Holler demonstrates that it is possible to return to tradition while growing musically into new sounds. The rhythm section from the Nields' former eponymous five-piece band remains the same, with Dave Chalfant on bass and Dave Hower on drums. Though now the hot electric guitar leads and the folk-rock attitude are replaced with banjos and accordions and mandolins and a more refined sensibility. The other significant difference between now and then is that both Nerissa and Katryna have become mothers, the presence of children in the house bringing with it a desire for greater musical directness.
"Having children has brought us back to our roots in a powerful way. I'm much more drawn to the honesty of folk music, the simplicity of it. Writing songs for this record was like falling off a log. They were all so easy to write; like coming home," says Nerissa. With Katryna adding, "My kids love singing songs from Sister Holler. And I love how, when we sing these 'Nerissa' songs in concerts, everybody sings along, even though it’s the first time they've heard them. They're songs that really invite the listener into the music making process."
And when the listener is thus invited and engaged, something happens, and for a moment, the coffeehouse, the church basement, the folk festival — or just the space between the ears of a listener wearing headphones with Sister Holler on his CD player or iPod — is turned into an Adirondack summer camp campfire sing, and we are all reminded of who we’ve always been.
That's no small thing.
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Saturday, April 21, 2012 CHRISTIE LENEE BAND
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Christie Lenee is a progressive guitarist and conscious singer/songwriter from Tampa, FL. She has been living in Philadelphia for the past two years, reaching a wide audience between solo tours and special band events. An artist of musical mastery, Christie has been seen many times performing with Tim Reynolds (guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band and TR3), and is now releasing a brand new EP showcasing her growth as an artist. The 5 song disc, entitled "Patience EP" includes a special performance by Jeff Coffin (sax player for Bela Fleck and Dave Matthews Band) on the song "Give and Take In". These recordings also feature a quartet of Philadelphia musicians, including Chris LeFevre on bass, Andy Meyer on drums, and Chris Farrell on electric guitar and mandolin.
Christie has recognized how magic comes alive when these musicians join forces. Be sure to get your tickets in advance for the official EP Release at PSALM Salon, Saturday, June 25th at 8pm, with a live performance by Christie Lenee Acoustic, and The Christie Lenee Trio. Every show is an experience- it's awe-inspiring, enlivening, often described as "a breath of fresh air."
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Friday, April 27, 2012 LIZ LONGLEY
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
In the short time since her graduation from Boston’s renowned Berklee College of Music, singer-songwriter Liz Longley has assembled quite an impressive resume. While best known for her stop-you-in-your-tracks voice, Liz has quickly built a reputation as an accomplished songwriter, crafting intimately personal portraits through her music.
Liz's ever expanding fan base is not the only group to acknowledge her talent. In 2010 alone, Liz took home top prizes at some of the most prestigious songwriting competitions in the country; the BMI John Lennon Songwriting Scholarship Competition, the International Acoustic Music Awards and the Chris Austn Songwriting Contest. While she has frequently opened shows for established artists such as Mindy Smith, Nanci Griffith, Paula Cole, Livingston Taylor, Amos Lee, Shawn Colvin, Colin Hay and America, it is becoming clear that Liz is coming into her own as a performer.
The Washington Post declared that she is “destined for a bigger audience,” Dig Boston called her “a rising acoustic sensation” and even John Mayer is a fan, calling her music “gorgeous, just gorgeous.” Most recently, executives at Sirius XM caught wind of Liz’s cover of Van Morrison’s hit “Moondance” and added it into regular rotation, along with her award-winning original song, “When You’ve Got Trouble.” They even invited her to perform live in their studios - not too shabby for a recent college grad.
Liz may blush at the mention of her many accomplishments, but, if the last year is any indication, the momentum won't be slowing anytime soon. Liz is currently touring the country in support of her latest album, Hot Loose Wire, and has recently moved to Nashville, TN where she hopes to write and record with some of the best in the business.
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Saturday, April 28, 2012 ONE MAN WITH ONE GUITAR
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
E.J.SIMPSON's life has been Music for as long as his life has been Life, beginning on piano and vocals as a child in Kansas. Returning to his native Philadelphia, E.J. sang in a church choir and played bass in the political rap group The Goats before touring internationally and recording 9 CD's with the trio Maggi, Pierce And E.J.(MPEband). He is currently at work on his 2nd solo album while playing with many varied bands and songwriters in Philly and New York as well as a solo, annual performance of JCSuperstar.
This is where the needle digs across the record and there's a sudden deafening silence--- Did you say SOLO PERFORMANCE OF JESUS CHRIST SUPER STAR?? THAT ENTIRE {AWESOME} MUSICAL ... DONE BY ONE PERSON??! Indeed true, friends. One Man With One Guitar- that is to say E.J. Simpson solo, and the entire Rice/Webber penned super opus!
E.J. has been performing this annually for 5 yerars and is thrilled to be bringing it BACK to The { fabulous and unique} Philadelphia Society of Arts, Literature and Music-PSALM Salon- in Overbrook, just blocks from City Line Avenue, near St.Joeseph's University, returning from a national tour for a hometown welcome!! Yes, you DO know how to love him: welcome him home with some Brotherly and Sisterly Love!!APRIL, 2012. Everything's Alright, yes!!!
" Truely a Tour-de Force!" THAT's the buzz!!!
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Saturday, May 5, 2012 ANGELA EASTERLING
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Angela Easterling was raised in the South Carolina foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Much of her childhood was spent on the Greer, SC farm that has been in her family since 1791, seven generations. She embraced her heritage in a big way as a writer and an artist on her debut album, "Earning Her Wings", chosen as "Americana Pick of the Year" by Smart Choice Music.
Her second album, “BlackTop Road”, produced by Will Kimbrough, was released in July ’09, landing in the top 5 for adds to the Americana radio charts and debuting on the Americana top 40 chart in September, where it remained for 7 weeks. It has been highly praised in the press and was chosen as a top pick in both Oxford American and Country Weekly. The title song tells of her family's struggle to hold onto their farmland in the face of widespread development and represents a bold new step in her singing and songwriting. She was selected for an official Americana Convention Showcase and also named a 2009 & 2010 Kerrville New Folk Finalist and a 2011 Telluride Troubadour. The Boston Herald named her song “The Picture” “Best Political Country Song” in their 2009 Year’s best music. WNCW Listeners chose the album as one of the top CD’s of the year and one of the Top 20 by regional artists.
Angela's music was featured in commercials (Southwestern Bell) and several of her songs were used in the series "Horsepower" on Animal Planet. She appeared alongside music legend Charlie Louvin on WSM radio’s “Music City Roots Live from the Loveless” show and was invited to appear on the WSM-hosted stage at the 2010 CMA Music Festival/Fan Fair, where her entire set was broadcast live. Angela has appeared on the nationally broadcast public radio program “Michael Feldman’s Whad’Ya Know” and was also recently interviewed by noted NPR journalist Bob Edwards. She has received much airplay on Sirius/XM “Outlaw Country” channel and was invited to perform at the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibit New Harmonies: Celebrating American Root’s Music.
Angela constantly tours the east coast, both solo and duo and has appeared with her crowd-pleasing band The Beguilers at numerous town fairs and music festivals throughout the Southeast. She has opened for, among others, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sarah Jarosz, Robbie Fulks, Mary Gauthier, Ray Price (at the Birchmere), Suzy Bogguss, Ellis Paul, Radney Foster, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Lori McKenna.
Angela’s last album “Beguiler”, produced by Will Kimbrough and recorded with her band plus special guests Byron House (Band of Joy), Fats Kaplin & more was released July 19, 2011. She will release a new album “Mon secret” (My Secret) on February 14, 2012. This album is notable as it is her first to be entirely in French, with original songs by Angela and her co-writer, Marianne Bessy.
Roger McGuinn, founder of the Byrds, called her "a bright shining star on the horizon!" and went on to say, "Her gift is so special. Her CD BlackTop Road brought me back to the time the Byrds recorded "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" - tradition meets youthful exuberance."
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Friday, May 11, 2012 BEI BEI
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Bei Bei is an internationally acclaimed Gu Zheng (Chinese Zither) performer, composer and educator. She was born in Chengdu, China and now resides in Orange County, California.
She started to play the Gu Zheng at the age of seven and received her professional musical training, majoring in the Gu Zheng at the Central University of Nationalities in Beijing, China and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong from several Gu Zheng masters such as Li-Jing Sha, Mu-Lan Hai, Chun-Jiang Teng, and Ling-Zi Xu.
She is a multi-award winner of many national and international competitions such as the 1993 National Chinese Instruments Competition, the 1999 College Students Art Festival in Beijing and the 1st Dragon Cup International Gu Zheng Competition in 2001.
Bei Bei has been collaborating with musicians from different genres such as Classical, Jazz, Alternative, Electronica, Hip-Hop, and dancers. Bei Bei has been featured as an instrumentalist and composer at venues including Knitting Factory Hollywood, Ford Amphitheater, Barclay Theater in Irvine, Illinois Wesleyan University, Gustavus Adolphus College, and National Arts Center (Ottawa, Canada).
As a studio musician, she recorded for the hit Sci-fi Channel series “Battlestar Galactica”. As a composer, she composed and recorded for China Central TV documentary series “Dun Huang”. She released her debut album “Quiet your mind and listen” in 2006. Her collaborative album “Heart of China” with Richard Horowtiz was released by Killer Tracks in 2008. Her dance music works include “Dancing Dream” which was premiered at the Asian American Children’s Dance Festival in 2007.
Bei Bei was the member of the Orchid Ensemble from 2008 to 2009 and the group toured through United States and Canada. She is the director of Lotus Bud Gu Zheng Academy in Hacienda Heights and Irivne, CA, where she teaches students to play and perform. She is the author of English/Chinese Gu Zheng Textbook “Gu Zheng Sessions” which was published in 2008. Bei Bei’s new collaborative album “Into the Wind” with U.K. based multi-instrumentalist/producer Shawn Lee was released through Ubiquity Records in Jan 2010.
The feedback that she has received as she has introduced American and international audiences to the Gu Zheng and its broad and varied repertoire has been extremely positive. Her passion for her instrument and the beauty of her music have touched people across the world.
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Saturday, May 12, 2012 HEATHER MALONEY
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
"...Maloney's lyrics are enough to stop you dead. Poetic and powerful, Maloney's talents come to you in layers."
- Rochester City Newspaper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRUXn2dXPHQ
"(Cozy Razor's Edge) highlights her nearly unlimited vocal range and ability to write melodic tunes that somehow ride the line between playful folk/pop and depth-defying soul."
- The Middletown Press
And she spent two years in the woods refining this unique sound. Letting herself break the rules of her classical operatic training and filling notebooks with confessions and reflections, she waited for those moments where melody and lyric collide. With a guitar named Joni, a piano, mandolin, ghatam, and a tenor guitar named Baby, she captured those moments until she had an abundance of polished songs to deliver to the world.
Heather's critically acclaimed debut album Cozy Razor's Edge, filled with "poetic and powerful" lyrics that "penetrate the core of humanity," continues to be celebrated in the press, on the radio and in independent film. Its title track was voted by WRSI The River listeners as one of the best songs of 2009, Worcester Magazine calls it "stunning folk-rock... tender moans tucked in tight with brisk musicianship.", and the Portsmouth Herald says "Sharp, poignant lyrics housed in clever acoustic compositions, accented by Maloney's melodious, 'operatic' tendencies', are really what separates her music from straight ahead, folky pop tunes. You have to hear it to fully understand."
Heather now tours up and down the East Coast, performing songs from Cozy alongside a relentless stream of new songwriting. Her live shows, whether solo, duo, trio or full band, combine the coffee shop intimacy of folk with the passionate emotional narrative of opera. They reach audiences in legendary venues like the Iron Horse (MA), The Living Room (NYC), Club Passim (MA), One Longfellow (ME), Puck Live (PA), and The Purple Fiddle (WV). She is also booked in living rooms across the east coast as the house-concert scene grows in popularity.
Along the way, Heather has been co-writing with Grammy-nominated guitarist/composer Hui Cox. She has also shared the stage with celebrated acts like Guy Davis, The David Wax Museum, Caravan of Thieves, Carsie Blanton, Mike and Ruthy, Jill Sobule, Meg Hutchinson and The Stone Coyotes.
When Heather is not on the road, she is either playing her piano in her pajamas, listening for the next collision, or back in the studio recording tracks for her sophomore album, "Time & Pocket Change," due for release in Spring 2011.
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Friday, May 18, 2012 CATIE CURTIS“Folk-rock goddess” “With a clear, deceptively gentle voice, she can turn on a dime and thrill the listener with unforeseen power and emotion.” |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
The Boston-area folk music scene is a vibrant one, boasting a variety of diverse artists. But if pressed to name the region's defining musician, it would have to be singer-songwriter Catie Curtis, who has called it home for nearly all of her twenty-year music career. Since the release of her last album in 2009, Curtis has toured extensively, playing a number of diverse venues ranging from Chicago's legendary Old Town School of Folk Music to the White House. She's also spent that time writing and testing out new material, developing a collection of masterfully written lyrics that serve as the heart of her newest record, Stretch Limousine on Fire.
On the new album, Curtis, a Lilith Fair alum who's been dubbed a "folk-rock goddess" by The New Yorker, delivers some of the finest material of her career: ten original songs that push at her own musical boundaries and explore "the difficult edges of passing events" in life, harsh realities that are tempered with moments of fleeting beauty. This temporary nature of life is a theme that pervades the album from the first notes. Opening song "Let It Last, which features folk powerhouse and former tour mate Mary Chapin Carpenter singing harmony, finds Curtis pleading "I know it can't last/And all I ask is let it last a little longer."
The sound, like the subject matter, is rawer than Curtis' previous work, which has been featured on episodes of Grey's Anatomy, Dawson's Creek and several other hit shows. "There's a lot of texture that makes you feel like you're really close to it," she explains. Recorded live in Los Angeles' Stampede Origin Studio, Stretch Limousine on Fire harnesses the energy of her concerts, thanks in part to a fiercely talented band featuring drummer Jay Bellerose and bassist Jennifer Condos, both of whom are currently touring as part of Ray LaMontagne's Pariah Dogs. "When Jay Bellerose plays the drums, he's so tuned in that he's basically an extension of the guitar; sometimes you'll hear a wood knocking sound [on the record] and you don't know if it's me knocking on the guitar or Jay playing something on the drums that's very sympathetic with what I'm playing."
"My singing was inspired by their playing," says Curtis of her backing band. "It felt like a live performance, and engineer Ryan Freeland kept it sounding very present. [Producer] Lorne Entress and I put a lot of faith in the idea that if we brought together the right people…we would have the vibe that we wanted."
That vibe is spirited, unique, and best embodied by the album's title track. "Stretch Limousine on Fire" is an infectious song whose central image takes on the idea that "when bad things happen, you sometimes take comfort in realizing they happen to everybody." It's this portrayal of universal life experiences, wrapped in Curtis' brand of evocative songwriting that won her the 2006 International Songwriting Competition, that appeals to her legions of dedicated fans.
With her Aspire to Inspire Endowment providing musical instruments to seven youth-oriented music organizations, a busy schedule officiating nontraditional weddings, and the fulltime job of raising two daughters with her partner, Catie Curtis is stretching her own boundaries to ensure that, despite the rough edges in life, there will always be those moments of beauty.
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Saturday, May 19, 2012 GINA SICILIA BAND
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Only once in a great while an artist comes along with the power to cause jaws to drop in awe, ladies and and gentleman, meet Philadelphia's own musical own dynamo Gina Sicilia
Exposed to music early on by her music-loving family, Gina began singing at the age of 3 and wrote her first song at the tender age of 12. Upon hearing blues legend Bobby Bland for the first time at the age of 14, she became instantly enthralled by the raw emotion and power of blues & soul. After spending her teenage years polishing her vocal and songwriting skills, Gina began singing in clubs around the Philadelphia area, and has since branched out worldwide.
As an artist who has been performing on the blues circuit for only a few short years, it is obvious to see that Gina's star is rising, and it is rising fast.
In December 2007, only five months after the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, "Allow Me To Confess", Gina signed with t he prestigious Piedmont Talent booking agency, which represents such legendary acts as Johnny Winter and James Cotton. That same month, Gina's impressive talent was recognized by the Blues Foundation, earning her a 2008 Blues Music Awards nomination for "Best New Artist Debut".
Gina Sicilia is an artist in high-demand, and continues to receive rave reviews from critics and music fans alike.
More than just a throwback to the great blues & soul vocalists of the 50's & 60's, Gina uniquely separates herself from the pack of current vocalists with a style that is distinctive, magnetic, and anything but cliche.
Now an internationally touring artist, Gina's ability to evolve as a vocalist and songwriter is boundless. This is only the beginning for Gina Sicilia, as she will undoubtedly continue to make her mark among the new generation of musical artists.
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Saturday, May 26, 2012 BROOKE SHIVE & THE 45'S
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
"I was born to be on stage," says singer/actor Brooke Rachel Shive, who has been on and around stages since the age of two. Her fondest childhood memories were when she and her mother Shelle, would travel to see her father, Steve Shive, perform. Steve, a professional musician for over 40 years, has recorded and toured with artists such as Tim Moore, Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates, Robbie Dupree, David Lindley from Jackson Brown, Skip Scarboro from EWF, and legendary record producer/engineer Ken Scott, who has worked with The Beatles, Procol Harum, Jeff Beck and Elton John. According to Brooke, this unique upbringing has played a major role in who she is today. "I have been around the stage my entire life, and I plan to be on it the rest of my life. Whether that stage is in an arena, on Broadway, in a movie, on television, or in a club is irrelevant. As long as Im entertaining others,I know Im where I belong."
Brooke is the lead vocalist of Bucks County, PA's Brooke Shive & the 45's, a band that she formed with her father, Steve. A dynamic performer that leaves everything on stage, Brookes love of rock n roll, blues, soul, country and pop shows through on every performance. She has a grittiness and an emotional honesty on stage that only a few talented souls possess, igniting a fire deep within herself with every note she sings. Her range and unique musical background has her poised for international recognition. Whatever "it" is, Brooke has it.
In addition to Brooke's singing talents, she is also an accomplished actor, making numerous motion picture, television, and commercial appearances. Most recently, Brooke co-starred in the motion picture, Homecoming, and has also appeared in the film Jesus' Son. Her television credits include appearances on Rescue Me, All My Children, As The World Turns, Hope & Faith, Third Watch, Hack, and The John Walsh Show. Brooke has also done numerous motion picture and commercial voiceovers.
Brooke attended the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre in New York City, and trains vocally with the legendary Katie Agresta, whose client list includes the likes of Jon Bon Jovi, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, Jackson Browne, Lenny Kravitz, Matthew Sweet, Dave Matthews, and many more. She also studied dance for 17 years at the Knecht Dance Academy in Levittown, PA and was also crowned Miss Bucks County in the Miss America Pageant Organization in 2000.
A passionate supporter of ALS, Brooke consistently donates her time and money in order to find a cure for Lou Gehrigs disease, in memory of her grandfather, Harry.
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Saturday, June 2, 2012 TRIO CRISOL
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Magdaliz Roura is the founder, manager, guitarist, and lead singer of Trio Crisol. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from an early age, she showed a talent for music by singing, playing instruments by ear, and improvising. She has performed with many and varied musical ensembles, and choirs, in Puerto Rico and the USA. Since 1994 she has been living in Philadelphia where she has been a Music Therapist, Recreational Therapist Director, Translator/ Interpreter/ Voice Over (English/ Spanish), and Teacher/ Instructor (Spanish, Music, Latin dances). She is currently finishing a Masters in Creative Arts Therapies (Music Therapy) at Drexel/ Hahnemann University.
Crisol, Spanish for "melting pot," founded by Magdaliz Roura and Robin Moore, is an ensemble that has been performing in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas since 1997. This group is dedicated to the interpretation of a variety of folk and traditional musical genres from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and other parts of Latin America. Mexican huapangos popularized by Cuco Sánchez and Lola Beltrán, boleros written by Silvia Rexach, Rafael Hernández and Los Panchos, and Cuban sones including those by Miguel Matamoros and Compay Segundo, constitute much of the group's repertoire. Some other styles Crisol performs include Mariachi music, Cumbia, Danza, Salsa, Rancheras, Merengue, Plena, Cha-Cha-Cha, Habaneras, Bossa Nova, and more.
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Saturday, June 23, 2012 VICTORIA SPAETH and the SPAETH CADETSwith ANGELA SHEIK"It was as if she sucked all of the air and light out of the whole room and surrounded herself with it, so that you couldn’t survive in the vacuum unless you were right there with her in the moment." |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Combining elements of blues, soul, jazz, and folk rock with catchy, honest, and soulful lyrics, Victoria Spaeth and the Spaeth Cadets are taking the Philadelphia area by storm with their original and infectious tunes.
Victoria Spaeth (Lead Vocals & Guitar), Michele Lynn (Bass), Dena Miranda (Backup Vocals & Keys), John Glaubitz (Lead Guitar), Tamara Kalkstein (Drums)
Angela Sheik is an electro-acoustic musician who blends the soulful, feminine vibe of Billie Holiday with the innovative spirit of Imogen Heap. Her music bridges the divide between a traditional singer/songwriter and an electronic innovator. Using her layered voice, an arsenal of unique instruments, and looper machines, she breaks all expectations of what a solo performer can accomplish on stage while charming the audience with a smile.
Among Angela's influences are Portishead, Regina Spektor, Radiohead, Hooverphonic, The Chemical Brothers, Massive Attack, Ingrid Michaelson, and Imogen Heap
"BOSS Corporation U.S. recently held the U.S. National Finals for the Loop Station World Championship 2, its annual international competition for loop-based musicians. From a field of six talented finalists, loop artist Angela Sheik of Wilmington, Delaware, was crowned U.S. Champion for 2011."
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Saturday, June 30, 2012 LARRY HANKS
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Larry can be heard on recordings of David Grisman, Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Mike Seeger, and many others; and has performed with Utah Phillips, Gordon Bok, Fred Holstein, Martyn Wyndham-Read, Elizabeth Cotten, Malvina Reynolds, Geoff Muldaur, and on and on...
Now performing with wife and musical partner, Deborah Robins, the two are becoming even more beloved for an eclectic repertoire of American traditional, work, blues, and political songs; the music of Utah Phillips, Larry Penn, Leadbelly, Sam Hinton, Stephen Foster; and others in the pantheon of American vernacular/working people's music.
Actively touring Europe, the UK, and US, Hanks & Robins bring a warm and homey stage presence, most comfortable in creating an intimate musical evening, long remembered by all in attendance.
Michael Cooney, beloved folksinger in his own right, raves of the duo's recent "No Hiding Place" CD, "...This is why I got into folk music to begin with!", and remarks of their recent performance, "The BEST live music I've been to in recent memory!" The Boston Globe's Folk Music Critic, Scott Alarik, calls their brand new CD, "NO HIDING PLACE", "A drop of the pure!" The New Lost City Ramblers' John Cohen's glowing critique includes, "Wonderful and challenging!", amongst his fond comments.
Larry Hanks is a complicated guy who sings songs of other people's complicated lives in an uncomplicated manner. His earthy and deeply resonant voice draws us into worlds of people and places where we may never otherwise go, and elegantly embroiders landscapes that never existed, save in song.
For 5 decades, Hanks has been delighting audiences with his rough-hewn bass vocals, tastefully spare 6 and 12-string guitar accompaniments, and virtuosic Jew's Harp playing. Listeners respond warmly to his easy, unpretentious mannerisms, and a loving approach to the repertoire he painstakingly selects to reflect the many facets of the human condition. Larry Hanks brings charm, depth, and a heart full of tenderness to every song he sings.
Influenced by the music of Sam Hinton, Leadbelly, and Woody Guthrie, Hanks is also known for his many old songs of the American West-- both sad and rollicking cowboy and work songs, topical and political songs, and Traditional American ballads.
Larry has performed with hundreds of musicians throughout his long career. Some of them include: Gordon Bok, Jody Stecher, Mike Seeger, Utah Phillips, Michael Cooney, Geoff Muldaur, Malvina Reynolds, Roger Perkins, Janis Joplin, Fred Holstein, Mike Marker, Deborah Robins, and Kenny Hall, to name a few.
After a lengthy hiatus, Hanks has come back to his first love of performing and recording, with a recent successful 2010 UK "Boll Weevil Tour", brand new album with wife and musical partner, Deborah Robins; and increasingly active live-performance schedule.
Larry Hanks & Deborah Robins' first duet album, "No Hiding Place", produced by Steven Strauss, features 19 brand spankin' OLD songs, and is now available (along with Hanks' other recordings) through the artists or via CDbaby, Down Home Music, Amoeba Records, and other fine retailers near you.
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Saturday, July 7, 2012 JIM PATTON
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Acoustic folk rock songwriters, Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus will celebrate the release of Ray of Hope in their now hometown of Austin, Texas before embarking on a month long tour including an official showcase at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Memphis, Tenn. and a journey to their first hometown, Baltimore. Backed by a wall of solid harmonies woven throughout with fiddle, mandolin, and acoustic guitar, Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus passionately perform Ray of Hope's eleven songs, songs which dive deep into characters whose lives haven't worked out as planned.
Raised in Baltimore, Jim Patton paints with symbolism in the poetry of his lyrics. His songs tell common stories: the man who keeps getting back up after being knocked down; the woman who loses everything she cares about; a couple celebrating thirty years of marriage; people who discover an alternate definition of success; relationships that end and relationships that endure, as in his long term marriage with wife and singing partner, Sherry. Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus have played together for over twenty-five years. Tight harmonies have emerged along with a quick understanding of each other's nuances, patterns which create an easy feel to their songs, rhythms and rhymes. Come out and enjoy their show.
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Saturday, July 14, 2011 HYMN FOR HER"Like Morphine on speed." "The Ramones of bluegrass." |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Lucy Tight & Wayne Waxing are “Hymn For Her”, a band that hails from anywhere they can park their trailer.
H4H live, tour and record in their 16 foot, 1961 Bambi Airstream (comes with dog and baby). Their new release, ‘Lucy & Wayne and THE AMAIRICAN STREAM’ was entirely recorded in their classic trailer on a coast to coast U.S tour. They stopped at various campgrounds and friends driveways between shows, set up their gear in their Bambi/home recording studio, rolled tape and rocked out. Armed with 2 bullet mics, a three-stringed broom handle/cigar box, banjo, dobro, bass drum, hi-hat, and harp, this ‘lil duo causes massive earthquakes wherever they play.
“Created using broom handle cigar box banjo, dobro, bass drum, hi-hat and harmonica, the music of Lucy & Wayne and The Amairican Stream by US duo Hymn For Her, proves categorically that you don’t need a megabuck budget to create some high-end kick-ass boogie. Recorded in the classic sixteen-foot 1961 Bambi Airstream trailer (caravan) that they call home, it’s an impossible-to-categorise and unforgettable sonic wall of banjo-thrash-country-rock-acid-blues of the sort that you could imagine Jack White having on his iPod“.
- December 2010 issue of UK’s R2 (Rock ‘n’ Reel) magazine
“Fuzzed out folkie Americana straight outta the Airstream!!”
–Jim Diamond-engineer/producer (White Stripes)
The level of enthusiasm over Hymn for Her’s particular approach to that whatever-it-is kind of music they do was akin to some of the punk rock shows I went to in college…They play as hard as is humanly possible.
- No Depression/Kim Ruehl
“Awesome!!! The sound is so spot on old country shot out of a cannon… yehaaooolyyshiiiiiiiiit music!”
–Dave “Stiff” Johnson- producer (G. Love & Special Sauce)
“From otherworldly meditations to fire-breathing rave-ups where banjos are banged like bongos, their live show is riveting and transcendental. H4H conjure a grippingly modern vision of folk that’s completely free of cliché…intensely haunting.”
–Bao Le Huu- Orlando, FL Weekly
“‘Lucy & Wayne and THE AMAIRICAN STREAM’ explores a fast-paced landscape of wildly original rock & folk with lots of fun & funky detours. The CD captures a remarkable musical journey, and like all great trips, you’ll want to go back and experience it again as soon as it’s done.”
–Eric Fiedler-producer of MiND TV
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Saturday, July 21, 2012 JENI & BILLY
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Jeni comes by her mournful, lonesome voice honestly. Born in the coalfields of Southwest Virginia, her singing has been compared to that of Mother Maybelle Carter and Hazel Dickens. A born storyteller, she has been a writer almost since she could put pen to paper, a vocation inherited from her journalist father and grandfather. Jeni honed her powers of observation and turn of phrase as a student of Pulitzer Prize winning Northern Irish poet (and sometime rock lyricist) Paul Muldoon who with his typical brevity called Jeni & Billy's 2006 EP Sweet & Toxic "Great Stuff!!!"
Billy comes to the duo with a long history of music-making. He has been everywhere from Germany to the Grand Ole Opry playing his guitar and singing. A Baltimore native, he was introduced to the world of country music through the fateful movie house experience of seeing Bonnie & Clyde. He loved the music of Flatt & Scruggs so much he went back just to listen fourteen times. He has played numerous bluegrass festivals sharing stages with Jim & Jesse and Jimmy Martin. Billy has also performed solo at nationally known venues such as the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, the Lonestar Cafe in New York, the Kennedy Center and the Birchmere, opening for Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Kathy Mattea, Janis Ian, and Joe Ely among others. He has leant his talents to the shows of many folk luminaries including Oscar Brand, Christine Lavin, and Tom Paxton, as well as producing and touring with Debi Smith.
Jewell Ridge Coal is the new record from acoustic duo Jeni Hankins and Billy Kemp. Drawing from Traditional Country, Appalachian, Old-time, Country Blues, Bluegrass and Folk music to create their original songs, Jeni & Billy have crafted a unique sound that is truly their own. With their sparse sound and absorbing lyrics, they have caught the attention of Americana greats Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller and folk-rock artist Jim Reilley of the New Dylans. Yet one of their favorite reviews comes from Asheville, North Carolina, antiquarian map dealer John Ptak who writes, "I knew within 10 seconds that you guys were for real . . . Jeni's voice is that clear Mother-M kind of quality that I love. I like the music you two make inspired, true-to-your roots, spare (excellent) guitar. I like silent places in music . . . Quiet, silent places give you time to listen, and also time to think they are vast ly underrated."
Jewell Ridge Coal chronicles the changing fortunes of the Southwest Virginia coal mining community of Jewell Ridge. Though the subject is regional, the songs are meant to present universal themes -- earth & heaven, rich & poor, love & loss, work & rest. Local 6167, named after the UMWA Local in Jewell Ridge follows a laid-off miner as he rambles and reminisces among the places that boomed in big coal's heyday. In Oxycodone, a song based on a January 2008 Washington Post feature story by Nick Miroff, a miner contemplates the advice of his estranged father after a prescription drug addiction has left his home in shambles. Middle Creek is sung from the perspective of grandchildren trying to braid together the strands of their moonshining grandfather's life and to understand his hardness and his outsider status in their community.
Though many of the tracks on Jewell Ridge Coal feature Jeni & Billy only, they couldn't resist inviting a few friends to take part. Grammy award winning artist Jim Lauderdale and his Grammy award winning producer Randy Kohrs sing harmony. Virtuoso fiddler Shad Cobb of the John Cowan Band lends his soulful strokes to a couple of tunes. And singer-songwriter Kim Peery Sherman lends a gorgeous alto harmony and twinkling guitar to the ballad Tazewell Beauty Queen.
Together, Jeni & Billy will draw you into captivating narratives of heartache and hard living, of true life blues and unexpected grace. Images of coal & crowns, trash & trailers, and glass and gasoline recur, and Jesus and the Great Speckled Bird are never far off.
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Saturday, July 28, 2012 JOHNNY KAY and the
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Johnny Kay...
Dedicated to keeping the ORIGINAL sound of ROCK 'N' ROLL fresh and alive...
For this Comet, the rockin’ clock just does not stop as Johnny Kay, lead guitarist from Bill Haley & The Comets is back with the new JK Rockets band. “Rock ‘n’ Roll is still with us today, grander and more varied than ever,” said Johnny Kay. “I remember 1953 when there was no such thing. Then in 1954, I heard Crazy Man Crazy by Bill Haley & The Comets. What is that sound I asked myself? That’s when I decided to learn guitar and I’m still rockin’ today!”
The show is a musical history of early rock ‘n’ roll from a man who lived it. Johnny shares his stories about music before rock ‘n’ roll and what early rock ‘n’ roll was all about! The show features original songs written by Johnny Kay as well as songs that influenced Johnny’s 50 year career. He plays tunes from artists he loved and shared the stage with including Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Big Joe Turner, The Beatles, some British Invasion bands, and of course, Bill Haley and the Comets.
At the age of 14, Kay took up the guitar and by 16 formed a band call The Sensational Youngsters. They played in the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware where they would sneak in some of that new rock ‘n’ roll to the delight of teens and dismay of parents. In 1958, the band's manager changed the name to Johnny Kay’s Rockets and opportunity came knocking. “I got a call from Bill Haley’s Manager,” remembers Kay. “He said Haley wanted to catch our group. I did not think it would happen - but it did on a Saturday evening in West Chester, Pa. However, when Haley left after listening to only two numbers, I thought that was the end. But, it was only the beginning. I auditioned and by the age of 19, I was singing & playing guitar with Bill Haley & The Comets and traveling the world. It must have been fate!"
Today Johnny is still rockin’ with the new JK Rockets band & has just released his third album of original songs called, "Ready 2 Rock" in the great style of ORIGINAL rock.
An anthology of Johnny Kay's work as a Comet called "Tale of a Comet", on Hydra Records (Germany) has broken the top 20 chart as reported by Now Dig This magazine in England. He is currently working on his 4th album of original songs "Just Playin the Blues".
Come out & hear Johnny Kay’s story, the songs that started rock & some new & original songs too.
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Saturday, August 4, 2012 DANIELLE MIRAGLIA
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SARAH BLACKER “Sarah Blacker’s got a talent far and above what most singers can deliver. Her work is soulful, powerfully emotional, and can make you laugh, cry, or just forget whatever it is you’re thinking about and be absorbed by the music. Such is the case with Come What May, Blacker’s sophomore album and a continuation of her unique lyrical abilities and compelling songwriting. Listen to this album and you’re a few steps closer to knowing the woman behind the words. Do yourself a favor and listen to it twice.” |
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
"A beautiful, charismatic woman with a sexy voice, she doesn't have to be a good songwriter-she could fill a room if she performed exclusively Hall and Oates covers- but she is. A heart-on-sleeve storyteller with an innate sense for melody, her voice bends and sinks and floats in all the right places, with a raspy, whiskey bottle scrape most reminiscent of Lucinda Williams."
-Dissolver Magazine
A strong steady thumb on an old Gibson guitar is the driving force behind Danielle Miraglia's delta blues influenced guitar style. Add a raw, powerful, whiskey tinged voice and one might be tempted to label her a blues artist. But while Miraglia's style pays homage to these blues traditions, her classic rock verve, catchy melodies and eclectic array of song subjects give it an original twist that is all her own. A fresh sound along with a sharp wit and a captivating stage presence is gaining her fans all over the map.
Danielle Miraglia's country/folk/blues sound descends in large part from Mississippi John Hurt, and she is a worthy carrier of that guitar-picking tradition. Her voice, reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt's, is strong but vulnerable, feminine but never precious, with a gutwrenching catch to it. Her guitar playing is both accomplished and soulful, and her songs tap into the ur-melodies and fundamental chord changes that form the essence of western music, while still saying something in a distinct and original voice.
The songs on her latest release, "Nothing Romantic" range from heartfelt as in "Moment by Moment" a gospel-like promise to live in the present, to thought-provoking as in "You Don't Know Nothin'" which Jon Sobel of Blogcritics.com describes as "One of the best new folk songs I've heard in years. Its depiction and dissection of human misunderstanding is both sharp and tender. All you need to know about what drives people apart and what draws them together can be witnessed in a few hours spent in a bar. Many of us feel something along those lines, but Danielle Miraglia is that rare songwriter who can put it into words."
"Inspirational!"
- John Hammond
"Fans in the Northeast are already hip to the talents of Danielle Miraglia. It's only a matter of time before the rest of the country takes notice."
- Performing Songwriter
Sarah Blacker’s music is a unique blend of acoustic rock, folk, and jazz with stand-out vocals and quirky yet catchy songwriting, that set her apart from other female singer/songwriters in her genre.
When describing Sarah Blacker’s impressive vocals,
music blogger ‘Oliver Di Place,’ wrote,
“Sarah Blacker sings in a twangy alto that floats in the quiet numbers, while still being full of emotion. Sarah Blacker sings in a twangy alto that swoops andsoars in the all-out rockers. It’s clearly the same singer in both contexts. Some singers have a rock voice and a folk voice that could be two different people, but Blacker doesn’t need to do that. She doesn’t strain to get the volume, and she loses none of her feeling when she sings more quietly.”
She is a highly impressive guitar player, mandolin player, and percussionist, with a sound much bigger than her size, and a DIY drive, which has impressed many in the music business.
She is regularly compared to Natalie Merchant, Joni Mitchell and Regina Spektor, yet is consistently told that her sound is all her own.
Blacker was the recent winner of Radio 92.9/Boch Subaru‘s artist competition, and became the voice and face of Subaru of New England’s “Ooh, ooh it’s love,” TV and radio campaign airing throughout New England and the mid-atlantic region for several months this fall/winter.
She was named Number 1 artist of 2009 by Max Bowen, writer for Noise Magazine, with her first release, ‘The Only Way Out is Through,’ [fall '09] and Number 2 artist of WMVY’s [Martha's Vineyard] Unchartered Waters Series. Her song ‘Smell of Caramel,’ off of ‘TOWOiT,’ was recently signed by Black Cloud Promotions for licensing in TV and movies, and it also garnered her the recent win in the Subaru competition.
Sarah Blacker has just begun presenting her new CD, ‘Come What May,’ [funded mainly by her Kickstarter campaign where-in she accepted pledges from her fans] to music scribes, radio DJs and fans nationally, with high levels of adoration coming back in response. When describing this sophomore album, Di Place also mentioned,
“Over all, what is clear is that Blacker has a clear sense of the subtleties of human emotion, and she can write songs of finely shaded emotion. Those fine shadings mean that Come What May is the kind of album that will start conversations about how each song should be interpreted. That is something that only fine songwriters achieve. Sarah Blacker proves here that she belongs in their company, and she backs it up with the quality of her performance.”
Blacker is a full-time, independent touring musician, having supported Jason Isbell from the Drive By Truckers, at the Fairfield Theater Company in Fairfield, CT, Farren-Butcher Inc. at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, MA, the Rustic Overtones, the Wood Bros. and Entrain at the Stone Church in Newmarket, NH, and Sarah Bareilles at the Granada Theater in Lawrence, KS to name just a few.
Having studied Music Therapy at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Sarah Blacker is also a Board-Certified, part-time Music Therapist for children with special needs, involved with the Doug Flutie Foundation, and is an Ambassador for Ernie Boch’s Music Drives Us Foundation. She currently works in a school settings specializing in working with children with Cerebral Palsy. She was presented by an award for fundraising efforts and commitment to helping individuals with Autism, by AFAM. [Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts]
Last year, Blacker even released an electronic dance track titled, ‘Am Alive,’ which she co-wrote with Egyptian DJ’s Shiha, and Nii. This song was signed to Frisky and Armada records, and picked up by the Grammy-nominated DJ, Martin Roth, who chose to remix the song for his latest release as the CD’s single. The song has been eating up the electronic charts since, and Blacker hopes to work on this side of the music industry again in the future!
Blacker is now touring behind her new CD, both solo and with her band, All Kinds of Sugar featuring Chuck Fisher on lead guitar, and Sean McLaughlin on bass, with her sights set on the stars, and her heart behind the wheel.
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Saturday, August 11, 2012 MOCH PRYDERIAmerica's Premier Welsh-American Band Celtic Music of Wales, Brittany and other Celtic Nations
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Moch Pryderi (Welsh for "Pryderi's Pigs") is a six piece Welsh-American band firmly rooted in the traditional Celtic music of Wales and Brittany, interwoven with traditional music from Ireland, Scotland, Turkey, and the American-Appalachians. The band has performed widely on the east coast, including the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Celtic Classic in Bethlahem Pa., the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Washington Folk Festival, the Potomac Celtic Festival, the Fredericksburg Welsh Festival, the Philadelphia Welsh Festival, as well as the Historic Rugby Tennessee Festival of British & Appalachian Culture, the Celtic Nations Heritage Festival in Lake Charles Louisiana, and the Welsh Heritage Center in Wymore Nebraska.
The band's instrumentation includes the rare Welsh triple harp and Welsh pibgorn, as well as small and great pipes, Breton bombard, Celtic bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, flutes, whistles and percussion. Moch Pryderi's vocal abilities create a diversified pallet for Moch’s distinctive and haunting sound.
Together since 1998, the band's four CDs, "Dancing in the Pigsty", "Belly Jerk", "Jig Moch" and "Moch IV" contain a rich selection of Welsh, Breton, American and Irish materials as well as original works. Moch Pryderi’s members are; Mary Triola, Dave Rich, Rik Rice, Bob Roser, Deborah Wenrich, and Bill Reese.
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Saturday, August 25, 2012 CHUCK ANDERSON TRIOCD release party for new CD "Night Hawk" “I have known Chuck for many years. He’s still one of the finest guitarists on the planet. Glad he is back on the scene”. |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Chuck Anderson is currently based out of Philadelphia, PA.
Chuck began his career as staff guitarist for the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at the age of 21. Here he performed with legends such as Peggy Lee, Billy Eckstine, Bobby Darin, Nancy Wilson, Michel Le Grande and Sammy Davis Jr among many others.
Having founded the Chuck Anderson Trio with bassist Al Stauffer and drummer Ray Deeley, he recorded his first jazz LP "Mirror Within a Mirror" in 1974.
After spending many years as a composer and educator, Chuck has returned to his jazz concert career with performances and a new CD on the Dreambox Media label called "Freefall". This CD features Eric Schreiber on bass and Ed Rick on drums. The project consists of twelve original works. Chuck's unique jazz compositions differentiate him from all other jazz guitarists.
A prolific author, Chuck has written and published fifteen books on the guitar and creativity in music.
He currently writes for Just Jazz Guitar, All About Jazz, Jazz Inside and Jazz Inside New York. He is also a master for MikesMasterClasses.com
He maintains a busy schedule performing, teaching and lecturing in the United States and abroad.
http://www.chuckandersonjazzguitar.com/
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Saturday, September 8, 2012 JON HERINGTON BAND"But tops was Fagen doing Steely Dan’s always cool “Reelin’ in the Years” - not enough can be said about guitar master Jon Herington, who made a great guitar solo greater." Jed Gottlieb - Boston Herald "Guitarist Jon Herington was the instrumental star" Jon Bream -Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) "...quicksilver guitarist Jon Herington picked, scratched and poked his way to standing ovations in the encore on fan favorites My Old School' and 'FM'" |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Jon Herington is the veteran touring and recording guitarist for Steely Dan, and the lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the New York City based JON HERINGTON BAND. Jon's newest solo release (his follow-up to "Like So") is a collection of instantly classic sounding pop-rock songs called "shine (shine shine)," now available at cdbaby.com and on iTunes. Great support is supplied by a no-nonsense, take-care-of-business band including Dennis Espantman on bass and Frank Pagano on drums.
Jon's love for music surfaced early, and he studied piano, saxophone, and harmony in his grade school years. Just before his high school years, however, he developed a passion for pop music and the electric guitar, and soon was writing songs and performing with his own band near his New Jersey Shore home doing opening slots for local hero Bruce Springsteen, beginning a performing career that has continued ever since. College followed, with extensive musical studies in both classical and jazz composition and theory at Rutgers University, and private jazz guitar study, with the help of a National Endowment for the Arts grant, with the late, great jazz guitarist, Harry Leahey. Next came several years of study with the late Dennis Sandole, the acclaimed music teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who once taught the late greats James Moody and John Coltrane.
Jon's gigging life took a detour for about three years when he moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, home to jazz guitar great Wes Montgomery. There Jon played jazz, with the many accomplished local players and former band-mates of Wes, including Wes's brother Buddy Montgomery, "Killer" Ray Appleton, "Pookie" Johnson, and Terry Hayden, as well as the many talented young players who were students or residents in Indiana, including Jim Beard, Bob Hurst, Kenny Aronov, Chris Botti, and Shawn Pelton. Jon also began doing extensive session work at the time in several of the local studios, and played on dozens of jingles and albums made there.
After a return to the New York area, Jon began the challenging process of establishing a working life in New York. His work included performing with many different bands and for many Broadway shows; session recording, teaching, and an occasional writing or arranging job.
Since late 1999, Jon has been the guitarist of choice with Steely Dan for both recording and touring. Jon has also toured with Donald Fagen; Boz Scaggs; Bette Midler; the Jim Beard group; The Blue Nile; Phoebe Snow; Madeleine Peyroux; Bobby Caldwell; Catherine Russell; Rob Morsberger; saxophonist Bill Evans; the contemporary jazz superband Chroma; Lucy Kaplansky (of Cry, Cry, Cry); jazz/blues organ great Jack McDuff; and most recently with the Dukes of September, a supergroup with Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, and Michael McDonald.
ESC Records has recently released Jon's "Pulse and Cadence," a remastered and retitled instrumental recording from 1992 which features eight of his own compositions as well as the brilliant playing of keyboardist Jim Beard, bassist Victor Bailey, drummer Peter Erskine, and percussionist Arto Tuncboyacian.
Some of Jon's recording highlights (aside from "shine (shine shine)," "Like So," and "Pulse and Cadence") are the newest Walter Becker release, "Circus Money;" the newest Donald Fagen release, "Morph the Cat;" the Steely Dan albums "Two Against Nature" (Grammy Award Winner) and "Everything Must Go;" Jim Beard's five recordings (the first four co-produced by Jon); two Bill Evans records, "Escape" and "Starfish and the Moon;" Michael "Patches" Stewart's "Penetration;" Bob Berg's "Riddles" and "Virtual Reality;" Lucy Kaplansky's "10 Year Night;" Michael Brecker's "Now You See It...(Now You Don't); " Randy Brecker's "Toe to Toe;" Victor Bailey's "Bottoms Up;" Chroma's "Music on the Edge" (with Mike Stern and others); Rob Morsberger's "The End of Physics," "Relativity [Blues]," "A Periodic Rush of Waves," and "The Chronicle of a Literal Man;" and Lynne Robyn's "Red Bird in Snow," one of Jon's production efforts. Jon can also be seen on Steely Dan's live video and DVD and is featured on the "Making of Aja" video/dvd, from the brilliant Classic Albums series. Jon's current work remains a combination of free-lancing as a guitarist and producer in New York, song-writing and band-leading work with his own group, and world-wide touring in support of some of the world's most renowned musical artists.
The JON HERINGTON BAND is currently the hard-hitting, stripped-down guitar, bass, drums power trio version of the band which is specifically designed for the club and theatre concert scene, with a blues/rock/pop vibe and an emphasis on the SONGS and the GUITAR PLAYING. There is plenty of killer guitar for fans of Jon's playing, and the lyrics are often funny in addition to being clever and compelling. All three band members sing, providing a much bigger sound than a typical trio. After years of playing the supporting (though highlighted) role, Jon has stepped out on his own in a major way, deciding it's time to shine (shine shine).
The Jon Herington Band is Jon Herington (guitar, vocals), Dennis Espantman (bass, vocals) and Frank Pagano (drums, vocals)
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Saturday, September 15, 2012 LISA BRIGANTINO
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Lisa Brigantino is an award-winning singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She is an engaging performer whose original songs span a variety of styles including Folk, Blues, Americana, Old-Time, Rock and more. She will be accompanied by her sister Lori Brigantino for this Psalm Salon performance.
Lisa's latest CD "Wonder Wheel" continues to receive international airplay and outstanding reviews including a five star review and "Pick Of The Week" from Indie Music Critic and MuzikReviews. KRUU-FM says "Lisa’s voice moves fluidly from style to style, earthy on the blues and rocker songs, liquid sweet on the acoustic and pop tunes…Is there anything she can’t do?" Lisa continues to tour in support of “Wonder Wheel” and is currently in production on her next CD release.
A trained composer with a Master of Music degree in music composition and music theory from SUNY Fredonia, Lisa also writes for film, TV and more. Most recently, Lisa and husband Tom Millioto co-wrote and recorded the music for a national TV and radio commercial for Plato's Closet, an apparel store chain. Lisa also scored music for the short films "Taken" and "Game Night" both written and directed by Jennifer Williams.
Lisa received a Citation of Merit Award from past Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden for her work on her debut CD "A Brooklyn Night". She is a recent finalist in the 6th annual International Acoustic Music Awards for her song "Used To Be A House" from Wonder Wheel, and is the recipient of numerous honorable mentions in the past eight consecutive Annual Billboard World Song Contests.
In addition to her own singer/songwriter performances, Lisa performs with her sister Lori Brigantino in “The Vickie & Nickie Show!” a wacky musical-comedy act. Jenna Esposito of Broadway World says “The talented Brigantino sisters put on a show unlike any other - their characters are complete, well-rounded, and immensely entertaining, and their musical talent is undeniable.”
Lisa was an original member of Lez Zeppelin, the world's first all girl, all Led Zeppelin tribute band, playing bass, bass pedals, keyboards, mandolin and doing backup vocals. While Lisa was with Lez Zeppelin, they toured internationally playing A list venues and festivals including Bonnaroo (US), Voodoo Fest (US), Download (UK), Rock Am Ring/Rock Am Park (Germany) and garnered rave reviews in publications ranging from Rolling Stone and Time Out New York & Chicago to The London Times and The Boston Globe. They also made television appearances on CBS Sunday Morning, Plum TV and Music Fair TV in Japan. Lez Zeppelin's debut album was released in 2007 was recorded and produced by the legendary producer and engineer, Eddie Kramer. Lisa left the band in 2009 to get back to working on her own original material.
“Rock, Blues, Folk, Ragtime, Tex-Mex, and Country impulses collide (on Wonder Wheel), but it's all held together by Brigantino's expressive vocals (and) her expert playing…There isn't a weak track here…” - All Music Guide
"Lisa is one of the most versatile songwriters we've heard. She is a true artist who has mastered countless styles of writing, singing and performing. This New Yorker moves effortlessly from a sensitive acoustic ballad to an in-your-face bluesy romp without skipping a beat." – Women of Substance Radio
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Friday, September 21, 2011 LISA CHAVOUS and the PHILADELPHIA BLUES MESSENGERSFeaturing: |
CONCERT - $20 Advance/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
The Blues Messengers are a rock-solid innovative Philadelphia blues quintet who have established their reputation as a good-time jam band by playing and singing the soulful music of men like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Elmore James, as well as original compositions that reflect the band's respect for and interest in groove-driven roots music. They have forged a connection to world beat music and avant-garde jazz through their long association with Philly saxophone legend Byard Lancaster and didgereedoo guru and percussion powerhouse Harold Smith. The Blues Messengers believe in the power of music to bring all people together, and in the power of the blues as an ancient connection to basic life energy.
The Philadelphia Blues Messengers grew out of monthly blues jams at The Mermaid Inn in Northwest Philly, and a serendipitous encounter in Center City for blues harpist Larry Hambrecht. Before dropping in on the Mermaid blues jams, Larry was a part of the blues scene in New York City's East Village during the '70's, where he played with Louisiana Red, Lefty Diz, Bill Dicey, Sugar Blue and Brent Rosato. While Larry was eating a customary lunch at Ludwig's Garden in Center City, Paul Olivier mentioned that he needed a band. In response, Larry said he had a great blues band, even though at the time he only dreamed of one. With necessity breeding invention, Larry turned to his Mermaid Inn jam buddies for a pickup blues band. It is a tribute to the abundance and depth of musicianship in Philadelphia that he came up with a pickup band of veterans from various genres that would be the envy of any city anywhere. His first recruit was vocalist, songwriter and guitarist Mike Albrecht, whose backgound includes The Blues Astronauts, an '80s blues, punk-funk, world music band, and who forms the nucleus of the Philadelphia Ceili Band along with is wife, Irish fiddler Kitty Kelly. From the Ceili Band, Mike recruited mandolin, bombarde and bass player Tom Gittelman, who has played bass with the Chieftians, and drummer-singer-songwriter Pete Currie, a veteran of several Philly rock bands - Disband, The Eccentrics, The Djangos, No Turn on Red, and others. To round out the core group with some deep southern spice, Larry and Mike turned to fellow Mermaid Inn jammer David Dogget who grew up in North Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennesse playing sax and steel guitar in rockabilly, blues, country, and country-rock groups. David has recently played around Philly with Fred Stucky's neo-rockabilly/alt-country group Gas Money and Pete Marshall's alt-country group The Broken Prayers.
No sooner had this core group begun to churn out their own brand of electric blues and blues-flavored originals, than Larry had another encounter in Center City, this time with a jazz saxophonist on the street at Broad and Walnut, who turned out to be Philly free jazz legend Byard Lancaster (aka Pennsylvania's First Jazz Lobbyist). Byard led the group to collaborations with percussionist and didgeridoo player Harold E. Smith, Southeast Philadelphia R&B belter Lisa Chavous, blues-gospel screamer Rev. Joe Craddock, and another Philly sax legend, Odean Pope, who played with Max Roach, and recently has an international jazz hit album, Locked and Loaded, with his Saxophone Choir. Philly sax journeyman Elliot Levin (also of the Saxophone Choir) and Don Williams have also become part of the sax rotation with the Blues Messengers. The boiling pot of diversity, that is uniquely Philadelphian, has spawned a repertoire steaming with classic electric blues, R&B, and jazz-funk that wanders into avant garde territory. And to bring their music full circle, for their first album, "Blues for Sale," the Blues Messengers pulled in South African drummer and singer Mogauwane Mahloele to expand into Afro and world music.
At the initiative of sultry soul songstress, Lisa Chavous, The Messengers have enlisted the talents of additional collaborations, Billy Holloman, "King James" Levy, Monnette Sudler, Kenneth Taylor, and Marc Johnson to create their newest CD, Blues Addiction".
In addition to local alternative music clubs, The Philadelphia Blues Messengers have performed with a varying lineup of their collaborators at George Manney's Brotherly Love All-Star Show at World Cafe Live, The West Oak Jazz & Arts Festival, Tranestop Festival, and Philly's top blues club, Warmdaddy's. The CD "Blues for Sale", was a featured "new Blues" CD on WXPN on Johnny Meister's Blues Show, and has been receiving airplay on WMKV in Cincinnati, OH and WURD jazz in Philadelphia, and stations in Canada and France.
One race - human; one people, one world, one blues.
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Saturday, September 22, 2012 DON WHITE
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CONCERT/COMEDY - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
If you laugh and cry within the same ten minutes, you either need a vacation or you are sitting in the audience at a Don White show. This working class family man from Lynn, Massachusetts has emerged as the thoughtful songwriter of the decade whose relevance to our lives is evidenced by the powerful reaction he evokes at every concert. Radio audiences, too, are not safe from the Don White experience. Valerie Adams of WNCS Radio, Vermont said, "I've never seen anything like it. Every time I play I Know What Love Is the phones light up like a Christmas tree. Stereo Review Magazine called it "...A candidate for song of the year."
In 1974 Don started hitch-hiking around America. "I went to Alaska and New Foundland. That first trip I was gone eleven months and I only spent $1,100," he says gleefully. His wife--then girlfriend--Theresa joined him on the road. They backpacked around the country for three years with a guitar and their dog--a female whose first 'heat' inspired the breathtakingly funny The Shameful Ballad of Lijah The Orchard Queen--finding occasional work as itenerant farm hands and laborers. "Th freedom was addictive," he says.
Since settling down in Lynn, Don has worked on a craft of songwriting and performing. He learned his art in the trenches: often doing nine shows a week at Catch A Rising Star over two and a half years. Studying the masters who passed though that fabled club, he developed his own infectious brand of humor and pathos that rivets the crowd wherever he plays.
Don conducts a performance skills workshop at Club Passim, Cambridge's legendary folk club, where he passes along his experience to aspiring performers. Guest instructors are veteran comics, performance poets, actors, and folksingers. "I see little difference between the skills of various performance artists", says Don, "I most admire someone like Utah Phillips who weaves a seamless stream of song, story-telling, poetry, and comedy."
Don White illuminates the human experience though his writing and performing. His motivation for doing so is eloquently expressed in the spoken word piece he performs after singing Heartbeat of Heaven. Whether he is singing, speaking, or setting up the sneakiest punch line of the night, Don has the hearts of his audience. They know they have his.
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Friday, September 28, 2012 ATWATER - DONNELLY"Atwater-Donnelly are marvelous musicians. Their voices blend beautifully, their instrumental work is sparkling, and they are captivating performers. I could listen to them for hours." |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
About Atwater-Donnelly
Traditional American and Celtic Folk Music and Dance
"To those who...deny the human spirit, I give you these chroniclers of its joys and sorrows, light and dark, hope and despair and say that they have but liberated what is in us all. Their dancing notes say, 'Here it is! Humanity's real self. Look! Isn't it wondrous?"--From "The Folk Singers" by Philip R. Pearson, Jr. in his book Poetry is to be Consumed, Vantage Press, New York
Award-winning, internationally recognized folk duo, Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly present delightful programs of traditional American and Celtic folk songs, a capella pieces, hymns, dance tunes, and original works. Elwood and Aubrey blend gorgeous and unusual harmonies and play guitar, mountain dulcimer, mandolin, tin whistle, harmonica, banjo, bones, spoons, limberjacks, and other surprises including Appalachian clogging and French Canadian footwork. Their performances appeal to all ages, and with humor, audience participation, and a relaxed stage presence, Aubrey and Elwood explain song origins to create deeper understanding of the music and its cultural history. With their extensive repertoire, special programs and workshops are available for festivals, schools, colleges, libraries, cultural series, retirement communites, holidays, and more.
Aubrey and Elwood are at times joined by up to eight additional band members. Cathy Clasper-Torch on fiddle, cello, and vocals, adds a deeply rich third dimension and Kevin Doyle, a U.S. Champion Irish step-dancer, adds an exhilarating level of excitement to the Atwater-Donnelly look and sound. The full band includes Cathy and Kevin as well as award-winning musician Heidi Cerrigione on autoharp, hammered dulcimer, and vocals, John Cerrigione on stand-up bass and vocals, and Uriah Donnelly on keyboard, guitar, and vocals. 2007 release “The Halfway Ground” won “Album of the Year” in Motif Magazine’s music awards and the band won “Best Act” in the Americana category in 2008. More recently, Atwater-Donnelly and these five musicians have completed a beautiful CD/songbook of Celtic and American songs and ballads called The Weaver’s Bonny. Three other dancers/musicians that appear occasionally with Aubrey and Elwood are teenagers Ruby May, Evelyn, and Samuel Miller, highly accomplished step-dancers, singers, and multi-instrumentalists.
Self-taught musicians, Aubrey and Elwood met as volunteers at the Stone Soup Coffeehouse in Providence in 1987 and quickly formed a duo. Married since 1989, they perform widely in the US and abroad and their many recordings receive international airplay. Highlights include airplay on NPR’s "All Things Considered," Fiona Ritchie's "Thistle and Shamrock," and the nationally syndicated "Midnight Special" out of Chicago. Atwater and Donnelly have performed and researched traditional folk music and dance extensively in Ireland, England, Prince Edward Island, New England, the Ozarks, Appalachia, and other key places in the United States. They have performed or shared festival billing with folk legends Jean Ritchie, Pete Seeger, and Doc Watson. During trips to festivals and camps such as the Hindman Settlement School in Eastern Kentucky, the Augusta Heritage Center in West Virginia, the Old Songs Festival in New York, the Ozark Folk Center in Arkansas, the Swannanoa Gathering and the John C. Campbell Folk School in western North Carolina, Aubrey and Elwood have taught classes, studied with traditional musicians and folklorists, played and called dances, appeared on television, and received standing ovations for their concerts. In addition to twelve recordings, Aubrey and Elwood have produced three books of poetry and three song books and the duo is part of more than twenty compilation CDs as well as numerous recordings of other musicians.
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Saturday, September 29, 2011 SPUYTEN DUYVIL"Spuyten Duyvil were standouts at the Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists Showcase this year. They draw on traditional roots, but with a contemporary point of view and a truly spirited presentation." |
CONCERT - $20 Advance/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
"Spuyten Duyvil's songs draw on the roots of American music and history, but in the hands of eight superb performers they crackle with energy that's both contemporary and downright irresistible." —John Platt, Director of Communications & Special Projects, "Sunday Breakfast" Host WFUV Radio
"With "New Amsterdam", Spuyten Duyvil delivers a wonderfully boisterous collection of songs that define what "roots" music should sound like. Spuyten Duyvil roll like an old time tent show, but instead of selling worthless snake oil, they deliver a package of gems, well crafted tunes and stories that are pure fun to listen to." —Ron Olesko, "Traditions"Producer/Host WFDU
"Wow… from the opening notes on New Amsterdam, the energy, the excitement, and the pure joy of playing and singing together is palpable. Spuyten Duyvil is more than a band, it’ s a community. Infectious and fun- inviting us in to sing, dance, and celebrate. I’ m basking in their musical glow." —Joe Crookston, Songwriter/Performing Artist
"From the first note Spuyten Duyvil grabs your attention, drawing you in with their joyful, uplifting and spirited music. This is contemporary old time music at its best played with heart, soul and sass." —Maggi Landau, Producer, Caramoor American Roots Music Festival
"I can't remember when I enjoyed an evening of music more than at the WFUV Living Room show watching Spuyten Duyvil. The group possesses an incredible musical energy that was immediately infectious to everyone. It was like getting your favorite friends together to play and they all happened to be really great musicians!" —Tina Shafer, Artistic Director of SongCircleMusic(songwriting credits include Celine Dion, Phoebe Snow, and Donna Summer)
Mark Miller, Tenor Guitar, Vocals and Bouzouki
Beth Jamie Kaufman, Vocals
Tom Socol, Guitar, Dobro
Sarah Banks, Fiddle and Vocals
Jim Meigs, Harmonica
Lou Geser, Drums
John Neidhart, Bass and vocals
Rik Mercaldi, Lap Steel Guitar, Guitar and Electric Man dolin
http://www.spuytenduyvilmusic.com
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Saturday, October 6, 2012 LOOP 2.4.3
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Praised for their "taut compositions with a stunning improvisational sense" (Time Out Chicago) and their "intricate, energetic performances," (New York Times) the percussion-based ensemble, Loop 2.4.3, creates and performs original music that resonates with American musical traditions of Jazz, rock and roll, and contemporary classical chamber music. Their music has been described as "transportive percussion odysseys," (The Boston Phoenix) "dramatic, layered, colorful and brilliantly constructed," (FirstCoastNews.com) and full of "action-adventures and reveries.” (NPR) “Loop 2.4.3 redefines [percussion] as tuneful, melodic instruments capable of expressing more than base emotions.” (Alarm Magazine) Loop 2.4.3 is founded on the work of the New York Percussion Duo (composers and performers Thomas Kozumplik and Lorne Watson). After the release of their first album for percussion duo, Batterie, Kozumplik and Watson expanded their writing to encompass strings, electronics, and voices. Often compared to the voices of Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Harry Partch, Loop 2.4.3’s music conveys a deep humanity and warmth that carries the listener from grounded primal energy to cosmic atmospheric reaches. “If Partch had been warmer, more linear and had a better sense of dramatic narrative, he might have made music like this.” (Fresh Air – NPR) Loop 2.4.3 is an original voice that "all sounds like part of a well-thought-out tradition. Only the tradition has never existed until now." (Milo Miles, Fresh Air - NPR)
Loop 2.4.3 has toured internationally as the New York Percussion Duo and in expanded formation in collaborations with Clogs, Newband (Harry Partch Ensemble), Dafnis Prieto, Belle Orchestre, the Books, Evan Ziporyn, Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond, the Decemberists), Joe Morello, their late mentor Robert Hohner, dancer/choreographer Alan Good, and director John Jeserun. They have soloed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at the BAM Opera House, and performed at Times Square in a collaboration with Robert Indiana, Michael McKenzie and Teresa Smith. They have performed for radio, theater, and television, including The Learning Channel and MTV, and have appeared at the Sydney Festival, the London Jazz Festival, Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Japan Society (NYC) among others.
James Armstrong has performed and taught on five continents as solo artist and clinician for Yamaha, Sabian, Vic Firth, and Latin Percussion companies, as well as a member of the internationally acclaimed MARASSA DUO, the ROBERT HOHNER PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE and several other notable artists. He has recorded on the RCA/DMP, Albany Records, Tinkle Tone, I-Town, and C.Alan record labels and is a published composer and author through Drop6 Media, Carl Fischer, Mel Bay Publications and House Panther Press. Mr. Armstrong is currently the Instructor of Percussion at Elizabethtown College and remains extremely active as a freelance percussionist in the greater Philadelphia and New York areas.
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Saturday, October 13, 2012 MINAS
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
As a prominent member of the Philadelphia Jazz community, MINAS frequently performs original music in concert. The group's repertoire includes selections from its 4 independent releases, "Num Dia Azul", "Dreams of Brazil", "Blue Azul", and "In Rio", as well as selective Brazilian standards. MINAS' original sound is defined by the unique blend between Orlando and Patricia's vocals and the interaction of their Brazilian classical guitar and cool jazz piano. The full ensemble's rich instrumental harmonies, creative solos, and the complex layers of rhythms, rooted in traditional samba rhythms, provides an evening of uplifting, sophisticated, and unique music.
In concert, MINAS typically performs at festivals, art centers, college/universities, jazz series, and at smaller venues such as listening clubs and coffeehouses.
Minas performs in many configurations, from the duo of guitar, piano and vocals through the sextet, adding drums, bass, percussion and horn, up to an orchestral setting (Big Band and Strings, or Pops Orchestra).
Orlando Haddad and Patricia King formed Minas in 1978 at North Carolina School of the Arts to bring Brazilian music to stateside audiences. They proceeded to play all over the eastern US before going back to their musical roots in Brazil, where they entertained, traveled extensively and recorded their first album, Num Dia Azul.
Today Minas is one of the most sought after Brazilian bands in the United States. Minas is built upon the duo's multiple talents as vocalists, instrumentalists and composers with an impressive grasp of the whole range of Brazilian musical idioms.
At the core of any Minas show are the voices of the duo, which reflects two decades of vocal and instrumental blending. Warm and engaging, this magical sound becomes infectious when Minas adds bass, drums, percussion and horns to Orlando's guitar and Patricia's keyboards. One can experience Minas in a variety of formats, intimately, as a duo or trio, and in exciting venues with larger ensembles up to orchestra and Big Band arrangements. Orlando and Patricia have been composing original material together since the moment of their first meeting in 1974. Their recorded material consists exclusively of originals.
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Saturday, October 20, 2012 DAVID BERKELEY
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
David Berkeley is a romantic realist, known for his ability to look at the human condition in all its complexity and give us luminous songs full of sunshine and anguish, melancholy and delight. He brings the people and situations he sings about to vibrant life with a warm, rich tenor that often slips into an aching falsetto to underline the overwhelming emotions that can move us to tears or laughter. On Some Kind of Cure, his fourth studio album, Berkeley delivers some of his most heartfelt tunes blending folk, rock, and classic pop to create timeless expressions of love and longing.
The majority of songs on Some Kind of Cure were written while Berkeley and his family were living in a remote 35-person village in the mountains of Corsica. The silence and wild island landscapes seeped into Berkeley’s soul, bringing forth a collection of lingering beauty. “There were no stores in our tiny town,” Berkeley explained. “No cafes. No post office. No Internet. It was silent. I had very few distractions, which was quite different from life in a big city. Because no one spoke English, I could sing rough drafts of lyrics without being embarrassed. When I played songs for the villagers, I had to make sure the emotion came through in the music, as well as the words. That had a big effect on the way I wrote my songs.”
Berkeley recorded the album after returning to the States, working in Atlanta with producer Will Robertson. The project was entirely funded by Berkeley’s fans. “We took our time making this record. We went through the lyrics, almost line by line, translating words into music and emotion.” The core band for the project was Robertson on piano and bass; drummer Kevin O’Donnell (Andrew Bird); Kim Taylor (Over the Rhine) on background vocals; Jordan Katz (De La Soul, Sara Bareilles) on banjo and horns; and Lex Price (Mindy Smith) on mandolin and guitars. Most tracks were cut in the studio with Berkeley singing and playing guitar live while Will played piano or bass. “The recording has a lot of breadth and a natural, relaxed feel,” Berkeley explains. “It sounds more like I do in concert than my previous recordings.’
“The best of the young American songwriters, a voice full of feeling and a big, big heart. And the balls to say what he thinks.” —Boston Phoenix
The words and music on Some Kind of Cure capture a wide range of emotion, employing shifting tempos, a dynamic range and diverse arrangements that suggest traditional folk, British Invasion pop, and rock. “George Square” opens the album with its subtle cinematic arrangement. Berkeley’s hushed staccato vocal and Robertson’s distorted Rhodes create a delicious tension that’s resolved by the soaring strings that lift the last verse to the clouds with Jordan Katz playing an almost subliminal trumpet line to hold the song together. “It’s a relationship song,” Berkeley says. “Love is the solution, but the resolution is often deeper and more mysterious than we know.” The tinny sound of music coming through an old fashion car radio sets up “Parachute,” a bright, bouncy rocker with an irresistible chorus. The voices of Berkeley and Kim Taylor dance through the mix like hesitant lovers, finally coming together in celebratory harmony for the hook: “Your heart is like a parachute, it only opens when you fall.”
Peter Bradley Adams adds subtle piano accents to “The Blood and the Wine,” a quiet love song Berkeley wrote for his wife. It’s one of Berkeley’s most intimate vocals and shows off his remarkable range as it shifts from a low vulnerable whisper to a wordless, plaintive falsetto on the chorus to express a sense of emotional fragility. The song’s intricate lyrics, sophisticated rhymes and overlapping images use simple language to convey love’s emotional complexity. Katz adds a sense of poignant yearning to the track with his melancholy flugelhorn.
The dark, sparse opening of “Hope for Better Days” slowly builds to a rousing rocking climax, ending with a vocal round that is tough not to sing along to. “Shenandoah” is a timeless frontier ballad; understated piano and electric guitar and the close harmonies of Berkeley and Taylor underscore the song’s gentle beauty. The album closes with “Winter Winds,” a song that imagines a father’s deathbed conversation with his son. A simple, repeating melody keeps your attention on Berkeley’s aching vocal singing a heartbreaking lyric, sounding more and more desperate as the song draws to a close, echoing the father’s reluctance to leave this life. Ominous strings and woodwinds rise up to intensify the song’s drama, then fade away leaving Berkeley and his acoustic guitar alone to deliver the final benediction.
Some Kind of Cure shows Berkeley at his best, delivering songs marked by warm, rolling melodies, fervent lyrics and his genuine desire to connect with his audience and his own soul. “I work long and hard on every song,” Berkeley explains. “I don’t write throw away lines; there’s a reason for every word in every song. Will did an amazing job finding the essence of these songs and layering the arrangements to create a sensual landscape that does each piece justice.”
“Dashing singer-songwriter David Berkeley delivers his warm, thoughtful songs, along with a reliably hilarious line in onstage banter.” —Time Out New York
In concert, Berkeley wins crowds over with his low-key charisma and hilarious between song banter. He usually introduces songs with long, intricate anecdotes and branching commentaries, using a manner that’s more front porch than show biz, relaxing people without any apparent effort to be funny, a difficult balance to achieve. He weaves together fact, fiction and hyperbole into stories that often leave audiences in hysterics without resorting to obvious punch lines. His on stage narratives rarely repeat themselves and are full of the same astutely observed details that propel his songs.
As you might expect from his witty and erudite stage patter, Berkeley is a talented prose writer. He kept a diary of his stay on Corsica, which became the basis of his accompanying book, 140 Goats and A Guitar: The Stories Behind Some Kind of Cure. Like his songs, the stories are well-constructed pieces filled with revealing details and poetic language. Berkeley’s concept is a unique one: The book will include a download code for the album, and readers are encouraged to move through the book reading each story and then listening to the corresponding song. Berkeley explains, “The stories give you a look behind all the songs on the record. I often tell stories that explain a song or that led to a song. When I got back from Corsica, I realized that many of the songs were created out of situations and events--some funny, some awkward, some painful.” He writes these stories with an openness and honesty that matches his music. “Ultimately, I believe my music conjures an eerie optimism, a mysterious kind of hope,” Berkeley says. “I think that sentiment hovers over most of the album and most of the book.”
David Berkeley never intended to become a professional musician. “I sang all the time, almost before I could talk,” Berkeley recalls. “My parents didn’t take me to anything like Star Search performances, but they did take me to New York a lot to see Broadway shows. I had a good ear and could remember the words and melodies to the songs I liked, but I didn’t start playing music myself until fairly late.” Berkeley grew up in New Jersey. He usually took the lead in class musicals, but he’s modest about his early success. “I don’t think that was a formative experience. I started on guitar when I was 15, like a lot of teenagers, mostly to get girls. I was happy singing other people’s music, greats like Neil Young; Crosby, Stills and Nash; the Grateful Dead and other California sounds. I loved Paul Simon’s lyrics, but my chops weren’t that good. They still aren’t. I do have a style, but I’m a singer before I’m a guitarist.”
Berkeley played in various bands in high school and during his years at Harvard, where he studied philosophy and literature. He busked in Harvard Square, but he didn’t get serious about music until he fell in love. “I started writing songs in my last years of college, when I had my heart broken. My first songs were written in an attempt to get my girlfriend back. I ultimately did, and married her, but it took a while. “When I graduated, I wanted to be a travel writer. One summer, I went to Alaska and wrote for Let’s Go Alaska. I worked five summers as a whitewater rafting guide in Idaho. After college, I moved to Santa Fe to work for Outside magazine. While I was there, I managed a band and that got me excited about the music business. By the time they broke up, I’d amassed a lot of songs and wanted to make a record. I decided I wanted to be onstage, not backstage.”
Berkeley recorded his first album, The Confluence, in the fall of 2001. He started playing live to support the album, working days as a teacher in a public school in Brooklyn. “I was allegedly teaching creative writing, but mainly I tried to control the kids and not get hurt. I played shows on nights and weekends.”
Berkeley’s second album, 2004’s After The Wrecking Ships, featured “Fire Sign.” The next year, Berkeley made Live From Fez, recorded at his favorite club just before it closed, but working day and night was taking its toll. “I was losing my voice and exhausted. I decided I had to do music full time.”
Berkeley’s music started getting national attention when a producer of the CBS drama Without a Trace saw him play live. Berkeley wrote “Fire Sign” for the show and went on to perform on World Café, Mountain Stage, XM’s Loft Sessions and radio stations across the country. He has toured in support of Dido, Don Mclean, Billy Bragg, Ray Lamontagne, Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, Nickel Creek and many more. He received ASCAP’s Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award and, perhaps most notably, performed on PRI’s This American Life, telling the awkward and hilarious story of a private serenade he was hired to perform to help a guy win back an ex-girlfriend. Berkeley moved from New York to Atlanta “so my wife could go to grad school. We survived on my wife’s stipend and record sales.” While living in Atlanta, Berkeley wrote the songs for Strange Light (2008), which he recorded in Chicago with producer Brian Deck (Iron and Wine, Modest Mouse). While there, Berkeley started the ATL Collective, an organization of local musicians that put on productions that recreated classic albums with food or beverage hooks. “We did Johnny Cash’s Live at Folsom Prison with prison food (grits and refried beans served on cardboard). We had bloody marys for Blood on the Tracks. We did Dr. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The shows are still going on in Atlanta, and hopefully I’ll start doing them in the San Francisco Bay Area as well.”
Berkeley relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area with his young family after returning to the States and will be touring nationally to support the album.
Though unexpected, Berkeley’s music has also made its way to the world of dance music. Club remixes of his “Fire Sign” have attracted the attention of major DJs like Tiesto, Sean Tyas, and Pedro Del Mar, and Berkeley has begun collaborating to create new original dance music with his signature vocals.
Some Kind of Cure showcases Berkeley’s melodic and lyrical gifts, but the album is held together by his unique, expressive voice. “I was singing almost before I could speak,” he says. “I’m more natural singing than I am doing anything else.” His ease is apparent as his vocals glide from a warm, high baritone to a rich full tenor, sometimes slipping into an aching falsetto. “It may be pop music, but my goal is to be open and honest. I’m not afraid to show fear and weakness. I want my songs to convey hope without denying the hard times we all face.”
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Saturday, October 27, 2012 ZACH BROCK AND THE MAGIC NUMBERTwo years ago, when Jean-Luc Ponty was asked by Stanley Clarke to recommend the "new cat" that had "the stuff," Ponty recommended Zach Brock |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Having found a collaborative niche for himself in New York's vast jazz community, Zach Brock's next grand artistic step was finding a way to promote his name and his music.
To a degree, the Lexington-born violinist already knew the path. He had released a series of fine indie recordings while based in Chicago with his contemporary-minded troupe, The Coffee Achievers. All picked up favorable critical notice as Brock's career moved him to New York in 2005 and sideman duties alongside veteran bassist Stanley Clarke and Gypsy swing guitarist Frank Vignola, among others.
"The main sticking point for me was the fact that since I've been in New York, I had not really done anything as a band leader," said Brock, 36. "I've been doing so much sideman work. And I have loved every bit of that. It's been very rewarding and a great learning experience.
"But over the last couple of years, I've started to feel this nagging urge to be out there working on my own music again."
Thus began The Magic Number, Brock's new band of violin, bass and drums. The format seemed remarkably direct and simple, even though few recordings exist of trios with a similar instrumental makeup.
"Within a jazz context, I was thinking of albums like Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard," Brock said. "There was just a lot of open space with those kinds of trios. But the violin doesn't have to play like a horn (Rollins is a legendary jazz saxophonist). I can play more than one note at a time. But I can't do, say, what a guitar can with all of those big chords. So you have to get into inferring things more than spelling them out. It forces me to choose what notes can bring out the color of a chord."
With that, Brock enlisted a longtime pal, bassist Matt Wigton, and drummer Frederick Kennedy to come up with The Magic Number. They released an EP disc last year that reflected a broad musical vocabulary — from swing to rockish drives to bright, post-bop lyricism.
"Trying to do a trio project with violin where there is no piano, no guitar, no chordal instruments at all is a challenge. It's really important to have a solid, almost telepathic rhythm section — the kind of rhythm section where the players fill in the ends of sentences for each other. I'm lucky to have these guys. They definitely lighten the burden of what I have to do on violin."
Then there was the matter of making a full album with his new group. Brock wanted the thing all artists want for their music: creative control. But with almost any record deal he faced, be it with labels big or small, some level of commercial compromise was inevitable.
So there was the question: How does an ambitious young jazzman find the route to introduce his newest musical voice to the world with out having to put a muzzle on it?
The result came via the micro-funding Web site Kickstarter.com. There, Brock spelled out his plans to record his novel violin trio and then appealed for online donations to make The Magic Number a recording reality. As a result, he raised $8,000 to cut an album.
"I think there is just something about having a solid creative goal, especially when you're tied to a budget," Brock said. "It can be a blessing to not have the option of using credit card A, B or C to fund your record. The situation was, 'I have X amount of money. How do I make this work?'"
The album, titled The Magic Number, was recently released. And sideman work with Vignola and collaborative New York ensembles like The Mahavishnu Project (a daring tribute ensemble devoted to the music of the '70s-era fusion band The Mahavishnu Orchestra) will continue to figure prominently on his work calendar, but so will the music that Brock bends to his own bow.
"It's just important for me now to work with this trio," he said. "I want to go from this new record coming out to booking as many concerts as I can to developing music with this group. We're kind of lean and mean and are ready to drive up to Canada for a show or down to Kentucky and, of course, all places in between. I just want to be playing as much as possible."
Zach Brock also performs and tours with a diverse roster of artists that includes Stanley Clarke, Bob Dorough, Frank Vignola, Snarky Puppy, The Mahavishnu Project, and the gypsy-punk band Mad Juana.
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Friday, November 2, 2012 KIM & REGGIE HARRISKim and Reggie Harris are natural teachers, using song to tell of freedom struggles through history. It is a lively lesson, including pieces that will be familiar to many who grew up in the American South, and many more who were present for or learned of Civil Rights gatherings in the 1960s. Slave songs and other musical artifacts of early African America would certainly disappear without the caretaking of Kim and Reggie Harris. It's doubtful, though, that anyone would bring them so thoroughly to life. The exuberance and festivity are impossible to resist. |
CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Consummate musicians and storytellers, Kim and Reggie Harris combine a strong folk and gospel legacy with a solid background in classical, rock, jazz and pop music. Creative curiosity, years of road and stage experience and interactions with performers such as Pete Seeger, Ysaye Barnwell, Jay Leno, Tom Paxton, Bernice Johnson Reagon, Harry Belafonte and others, has led them to produce music that entertains and inspires.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, a city rich in cultural and musical heritage, Kim and Reggie's early exposure to the diversity of musical styles and genres was nurtured in the schools and churches of their youth.
Audiences at venues such as The Kennedy Center, The Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Smithsonian Institute, Reunion Arena in TX, the Psalm Festival in Graz, Austria, as well as a myriad of theatre arts centers, festivals, universities and schools, have given this inspiring duo standing ovations for their vibrant performances.
As a result of their CDs "Steal Away" and Get On Board" (Appleseed Recordings) and materials developed in their work with the Kennedy Center, Kim and Reggie have earned wide acclaimed for their contributions to the resources and knowledge base - in historical and educational circles - on the Underground Railroad and the modern civil rights movement.
With numerous recordings on the Appleseed recordings and the Folk Era labels they are also featured on a number of compilations, films and educational projects worldwide.
Kim is presently pursuing a Ph.D. at Union Theological Seminary in NYC and both continue to write, record and produce music as a means to promote creativity, education, social responsibility and understanding in the world community!
Kim and Reggie Harris are dynamic and superbly talented traditional folk performers, whose captivating stage presence and unique harmonies has earned the respect and love of audiences throughout the US, Canada and Europe for over 30 years. They are unique in their ability to entertain audiences of any age and background as they blend their talents as singers, songwriters, educators, interpreters of history and cultural advocates.
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Saturday, November 3, 2012 GINA SICILIA BAND
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Only once in a great while an artist comes along with the power to cause jaws to drop in awe, ladies and and gentleman, meet Philadelphia's own musical own dynamo Gina Sicilia
Exposed to music early on by her music-loving family, Gina began singing at the age of 3 and wrote her first song at the tender age of 12. Upon hearing blues legend Bobby Bland for the first time at the age of 14, she became instantly enthralled by the raw emotion and power of blues & soul. After spending her teenage years polishing her vocal and songwriting skills, Gina began singing in clubs around the Philadelphia area, and has since branched out worldwide.
As an artist who has been performing on the blues circuit for only a few short years, it is obvious to see that Gina's star is rising, and it is rising fast.
In December 2007, only five months after the release of her critically acclaimed debut album, "Allow Me To Confess", Gina signed with t he prestigious Piedmont Talent booking agency, which represents such legendary acts as Johnny Winter and James Cotton. That same month, Gina's impressive talent was recognized by the Blues Foundation, earning her a 2008 Blues Music Awards nomination for "Best New Artist Debut".
Gina Sicilia is an artist in high-demand, and continues to receive rave reviews from critics and music fans alike.
More than just a throwback to the great blues & soul vocalists of the 50's & 60's, Gina uniquely separates herself from the pack of current vocalists with a style that is distinctive, magnetic, and anything but cliche.
Now an internationally touring artist, Gina's ability to evolve as a vocalist and songwriter is boundless. This is only the beginning for Gina Sicilia, as she will undoubtedly continue to make her mark among the new generation of musical artists.
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Friday, November 9, 2012 BRYAN BOWERS"To call Bryan Bowers' performance simply a 'concert' would be inadequate if not inaccurate ... (it) could better be described as an experience!" "Bowers is widely regarded as the leading virtuoso on the autoharp... Bowers also has distinct gifts as a singer and songwriter." "...This man makes more music from an Autoharp than you can imagine from a 12-string guitar and a harpsichord combined. He has more stage presence and charisma than any stage performer in recent memory."
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Born August 18, 1940 in Yorktown, Virginia, Bryan Bowers was raised in New Bohemia near Petersburg of the Civil War's Battle Of The Crater fame. As a child, Bowers would tag along with the field workers and gandy dancers and learned to sing old call-and-answer songs. Bowers recalls, "The music I heard while working in the fields was mesmerizing. And, I'd see the gandy dancers coming down the tracks, setting the rails and getting their ties straight. You've heard that song `Whup Boys, Can't you line 'em?, Chack a lack.' Whup Boys, can't you line 'em? was the call the leader would sing. Chack a lack was the bounce-back of the hammer after falling on the pin. I just thought that music was something that everyone did. It was years later that I realized what I'd been raised around."
Bowers enrolled at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, but found that college was not satisfying an emptiness he felt. Three hours short of earning a degree in Spanish, Bowers dropped out. About the same time (the late '60s), Bowers discovered music when he took up the guitar. "The roots of the music had gone real deep in me. Music was real fulfilling, unlike anything I had ever done before."
It wasn't long before Bowers encountered the autoharp. "I ran into a guy that played several instruments and could get the harp in good tune. He played without any fingerpicks, just with his fingernails. He had a real sprightly style on it. It was the first time I'd heard someone play it in good tune and play it well. It opened my eyes and my ears. I went out and got one the next day."
Bryan relocated to Seattle, WA in 1971 and played for coins as a street singer and in bars for the right to pass the hat. Once he had polished his technique, he headed east in a 1966 Chevy panel truck he affectionately called "Old Yeller." "The Dillards heard me in DC when I went to the Cellar Door," recalls Bowers. "I introduced myself and played the `Battle Hymn Of The Republic' to show them how the harp worked. Sam Bush, Curtis Burch and Courtney Johnson of the New Grass Revival were there. I didn't realize how presumptuous I was being. The Dillards took me to a bluegrass festival at Berryville, Virginia and when they got an encore, they put me out there for their second encore, saying `Here's a guy you ought to hear.' The bluegrass community has been real supportive."
Bower's creativity and talent have won him induction into Frets Magazine's First Gallery of the Greats after five years of winning the stringed instrument, open category of the magazine�s readers' poll. This distinction put Bowers along side other luminaries, such as Chet Atkins, David Grisman, Stephan Grappelli, Itzhak Perlman, Tony Rice, Rob Wasserman and Mark O'Connor, recognized for their personal accomplishments. In 1993, Bryan was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame to stand only with Maybelle Carter, Kilby Snow, and Sara Carter.
From his rather unglamorous beginning as a street singer, Bryan Bowers has become a major artist on the traditional music circuit. He has redefined the autoharp and is also well known as a singer-songwriter. Bryan has a dynamic outgoing personality and an uncanny ability to enchant a crowd in practically any situation. His towering six foot four inch frame can be wild and zany on stage while playing a song like `Dixie' and five minutes later he can have the same audience singing `Will The Circle Be Unbroken' in quiet reverence and delight.
For nearly three decades, Bryan Bowers has been to the autoharp what Earl Scruggs was to the five-string banjo. He presents instrumental virtuosity combined with warmth, eloquence, expression and professionalism.
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Saturday, November 10, 2012 MIKEY JR
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
When the oldest continuously running blues society in the world says youʼre the “real deal”, that has to mean something. When blues forums toss your name around with the likes of harmonica masters like Little Walter and Sonny Boy...that has to mean something.
Of course, there will always be skeptics; but to blues fans all over the United States, there is no doubt that this young talent is chasing the masters at a pace that is truly frightening.
Growing up on the tough streets of Trenton, New Jersey, Mikey Jr. is a self-taught prodigy. With his impressive collection of vintage tapes, cdʼs and videos, Mikey spent the better part of his youth immersing himself in the world of blues music. By the time he was twenty-one, he was already a road-tested player, making even ardent blues purists, take notice.
Since that time, Mikey Jr. has released an impressive six cdʼs as well as a documentary DVD. Heʼs been praised by blues societies as well as players for his original take on ʻold schoolʼ styles and his latest release, ʻPocket Full of Moneyʼ, an acoustic effort, only further demonstrates Mikeys command of the harp.
Mikey Jr. never set out to re-write the pages of blues history, but through his true love of the music and his undying dedication to the masters that came before him, it seems all but certain that Mikey Jr. will scribe his name in the annals of blues history - right along side the very masters that influence him.
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Friday, November 16, 2012 DIRK HAMILTON
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Dirk Hamilton's music career began in the early 1970s in and around Northern California. Wanting to make records, he ventured to Los Angeles and quickly caught the attention of influential producer Gary Katz - at the time working with Steely Dan. Katz arranged a deal with ABC Records and produced Dirk's first album, You Can Sing on the Left or Bark on the Right, using elite session musicians that included Elliott Randall, Jeff Porcaro, Victor Feldman, and Larry Carlton. Dirk had his own vision about the way he wanted to make his music and put together his own band and co-produced Alias i with Stephan Goldman.
In 1978 he left ABC for Elektra/Asylum, and made Meet Me at the Crux, which was called "hilarious and chilling" by Ken Tucker in the Rolling Stone Record Guide. Years later (1990), respected music journalist Steve Pond named it as one of the essential albums of the 1970s in an article also published in Rolling Stone. Dirk toured with Warren Zevon and produced one other album for Elektra, but his adamant stance on making the music he heard in his head rather than trying to make "marketable product," ended his affiliation with the company.
After leaving the business for several years, Dirk realized that, come what may, his mission in life was to make music, and he returned to a career of his own design which continues to this day. In 1989 he was surprised to discover that he had a large following in Italy and has toured there every year since.
These days he tours Italy at least once a year with his American band and once a year fronting an Italian band. He also plays solo and with his band here in the United States. Six of Dirk's albums have been released on Italian labels. Dirk has been called "A true American master" by well-known producer Dusty Wakeman (who produced his 1996 album, sufferupachuckle), and he has been compared over the years to Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, and Bruce Springsteen.
Music reviewers have said: "One of rock's best-kept secrets...a gripping live performer" (Los Angeles Times), "One of the few legitimate poets on the scene" (New York Press), "Lucid, intelligent, and distinctive songs...as well as a winning presence onstage (Austin Chronicle), and "Brilliant songwriting and goose bump-inducing singing" (Tower Pulse). Dirk Hamilton is all that and more, and he continues to hold true to his stance that his career be conducted without compromise.
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Saturday, November 17, 2012 MEG BRAUN / BRITTANY ANN"She reminds me of Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams, two of the folk scene's finest singer-songwriters, and her voice has that clear, strong snap of self-awareness." |
CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
"Meg Braun captures strong emotions in her songs. She can certainly put these across with just her voice and guitar, but the arrangements on the album enhance the effect. Braun sings in a clear soprano, and the quality of her voice reminds me of the best Irish singers."
- Oliver Di Place
Meg Braun is a Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter known for her fearless writing, her dynamic vocal style and performances that have charmed audiences from California to Texas and throughout the Northeast.
The Toledo, Ohio native arrived in New York with her diploma and the hopes of building a career in non-profit advocacy. What she found instead was admission into the City’s vibrant creative class. While living in Manhattan’s East Village, Meg covered for a friend one Tuesday evening as host of the open mic at the legendary C-Note. Immediately, she knew she had found her place. When the host position opened up shortly thereafter, Meg gladly took the helm and guided for years what became a weekly salon of sorts, welcoming a distinctive collection of songwriters. As host, Meg encouraged writers to share new songs each week, and gradually built a community that inspired its members toward sharper skills and wider success.
Finally, after spending time working on her craft in peer groups such as the Manhattan Songwriters Circle and SummerSongs songwriting camps, Meg released her first CD, “Tomboy Princess” in 2009. These tunes have since earned Meg invitations to share the stage with The Kennedys, Catie Curtis, Greg Greenway, and Severin Browne.
In 2011, Meg released her second CD of original songs, “Broken Places.” Produced by Tom Prasada-Rao in his Richardson, Texas studio, these songs explore the facets of brokenness both in relationships and the world, and how surviving makes us each stronger.
Even as she begins to tour more often, Meg continues to nurture the acoustic music scene in New York City in her work as co-founder of the Christopher Street Coffeehouse, which celebrated its second anniversary in May 2011.
Brittany Ann (of Easton, PA) could sing before she could talk, or so says her mother. Growing up, when her father wasn’t serenading her and her sisters, she would sometimes pick up his guitar and teach herself some chords.
She eventually attended the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts in Bethlehem, PA with a concentration in vocal music. Around this same time, she became enamored with legendary song crafters like Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell and continued building on her growing musical prowess. Brittany began penning one heartfelt song after another, weaving the sophisticated folk tapestry that would come full circle in 2010 on The Good in That, her first full-length studio recording, a collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Glenn Barratt.
That recording process, which began in the summer of 2009 at Morningstar Studios in Spring House, PA, allowed Brittany’s songs to take full shape and evolve before her. With the help of some well-established local musicians and friends, she emerged from the experience with a collection of ten beautifully polished and eloquent tracks, which together peer into her widely imaginative, sagacious mind. The Good in That was released in the fall of 2010, and has since received much critical acclaim.
Now a 20-year-old Temple University junior, Brittany Ann has bloomed into one of the Northeast’s most inspiring, ambitious young songwriters, winning over listeners with her trademark ethereal melodies, intricate finger-picking, and "wise beyond her years" lyrics. She has a genuine and endearing stage presence, and a rare knack for connecting with her audiences. Brittany Ann is an artist who is rooted in the folk tradition but not necessarily bound by it, a refreshing and enchanting new voice with much, much more on the horizon. -Kevin Brosky
"This young lady is the future of folk music" -Gene Shay, WXPN and the Philadelphia Folk Song Society
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The 1st Wednesday of Every Month 7 - 10pm BLUES JAM
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Guest players should plan to do 1 or 2 songs. Blues music only! There will be a sign-up sheet by the door for your name and instrument. The Philly blues kings will play the first and third 45 minute sets, and guest players will play for the second hour and a half set.
The PHILLY BLUES KINGS features:
Georgie "The Blacksmith" Bonds" - vocals and guitar
David "Bluesman" Reiter - 7 string lead guitar, keyboard and vocals
Jamey Reilly - 5 string bass guitar
Gary Hyde - harmonica
David Madora - drums
We make it easy for players by supplying a full sound system, drum kit, keyboard, and several amplifiers. All you need to bring is your favorite instrument. All levels of proficiency are welcome... from seasoned professional players to amateurs with a story to tell. Solo and acoustic artists are accommodated as well.
The Blues found its voice in the deep south from the Mississippi Delta to Memphis Tennessee during the times of African-American slavery, when field workers would holler and moan to break the heat and monotony of cruel work under the hot sun... often communicating spiritual sentiments, social commentary, personal tragedy or news of escape in the underground railway.
From these early traditions of one man with a guitar, steeped in the rhythms of Africa, came influences from places as diverse as the Celtic Isles, France and the Carribean which blended to create a style of music that developed regional inflections which came to be known as "Folk, Country, Delta, Texas, Memphis, Barrel House, Chicago, East Coast, Electric, Piedmont, Jump, Swamp, Boogie, etc.". From the raw and earthy power of the Blues emerged the genres of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Rock 'n' Roll. Having come full-circle, the Blues has finally earned worldwide respect, with broad appeal to audiences and players of all races and social statures.
Many of the founders and popularizers of Blues music are still with us or recently passed. Greats like BB King, Son House, John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Rodgers, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Blind Lemon Jefferson, JB Lenoir, and so many more old-timers. Modern adherents of the tradition have carried the Blues into the present day and given it new sounds... including Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Bonnie Raitt, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Susan Tedeschi, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa, Samuel James, Keb Mo, Magic Slim, Deb Callahan, Don Evans, Danielle Miraglia and Rory Block, among many others. Echoes of the Blues can be heard in almost all popular music today.
PSALM honors these and others who preserve and extend the joy and sorrow of the Blues, and opens its doors the first Wednesdays of every month from 7pm to 10 pm free of charge to invite both players and lovers to join for a few hours in an intimate concert-like environment to enjoy the spontaneous expression of the USA's original musical art-form. The Blues Jam is hosted by PSALM's Jamey Reilly and WXPN's Jonny Meister, host of "Blues and Beyond" and the "Blues Show."
Our listening room holds 60 guests comfortably, and we welcome aficionados to come, kick back and enjoy an evening of good music and good company. BYO snacks and drinks are welcome.
Come and enjoy!
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Saturday, December 1, 2012 DEB CALLAHAN BANDDeb Callahan is most often compared to singers such as Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Lydia Pense. She says "for me it is the blues and soul singers that have always gotten to my gut which includes people like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Nina Simone, Otis Redding, Billie Holiday, Buddy Guy, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Bessie Smith, Joan Osborne, Ray Charles, Al Green and Mavis Staples and Irma Thomas…to name a few.
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CONCERT - $16 Online/$20 Door, 8:00 pm
Philadelphia’s blues and soul drenched vocalist and songwriter released her 4th CD entitled “Tell It Like It Is” in October of 2010. The new CD is another successful collaboration between Philadelphia producer/songwriter, Chris Arms and Deb and was recorded at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA by Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Phil Nicolo. The CD features 9 new original songs and a cover of “Funkier Than a Mosquita’s Tweeter” originally performed by Tina Turner and written by her sister Aillene Bullock as well as “Cold Irons Bound” a Bob Dylan tune. The road tested band including guitarist Allen James, bass player Garry Lee and drummer, Tom Walling with special guests Jason Crosby on keyboards/violin, (Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph) and Matt Cappy on trumpet, (Jill Scott, MJ Blige, Jay-Z, John Legend), bring a live, spontaneous feel to the tracks. The songs are blues based with forays into gospel, soul, rock and jazz and thematically explore a range of topics and issues including feeling love and joy, finding spirituality, giving voice to the experience of homeless children without family support, how hard it can be to make changes and are both serious and playful. Since 2002, Callahan has released three CDs, If The Blues Had Wings, The Blue Pearl and Grace & Grit. She performs many of these original songs live as well as putting her own twist on some standards.
Her 2008 CD, “Grace & Grit” also produced in collaboration with Chris Arms, has been given significant airplay on stations around the country (including regular rotation on XM/Sirius Radio’s bluesville station) and debuted on the Living Blues Radio Charts for November 2008 at #16. She has been touring up and down the east coast and the mid-west performing at many festivals, concerts and clubs on the strength of this release. “Grace & Grit” features original music with a cover of one of her favorite Ray Charles songs “Hallelujah I love him so” and a few a capella snippets of songs sung by Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell and Aretha Franklin who have all been strong influences. . Grace & Grit has a strong blues base but brings in gospel, soul, rock and jazz elements and the material ranges from songs about being a single mother trying to make it in America in “Food on the Table” to the humorous No Taxi Driver about receiving to many wrong number calls from people who are looking for a taxi to the playful “Obstacle of Love" where she creatively sings about the challenges of being in a relationship with someone when they’re a complete opposite.
Deb Callahan grew up in the Boston area but has been a fixture on the mid-Atlantic music scene since the late 90’s. During this time she has gained a reputation for writing creative blues, soul and roots influenced original music and using her powerful, emotionally expressive voice and engaging stage presence to deliver a unique, high energy live show. Doing social work in the heart of Philadelphia would be a good place to learn about life’s hard knocks and this urban school ground taught singer/songwriter Deb Callahan well. Her rich, honest and soulful tunes resonate with listeners and run the gamut from soulful ballads to upbeat, dance oriented romps
Blues Revue Magazine says of Grace & Grit “Deb Callahan possesses an instinctive feel for the blues. As a songwriter, Callahan’s gift lies in bringing fresh perspectives to classic lyrical themes. Vocally she understand her strengths a pure, resonant tone and expressive phrasing and employs them to great effect. She also stands as a first rate song interpreter.” Jazzreview.com says “ Her powerful, soul-tinged bluesy vocals showcase both an abundance of grace along with more than just a smidgen of grit. On the grace/grit scale, she weighs in heavily alongside the finest female blues belters ever. In fact, the potent force of her vocals should secure her presence on the national blues scene for years.”
Deb’s 2002 debut CD If the Blues Had Wings, garnered her positive acclaim from the blues and roots community and was featured as the hot debut in the Oct/Nov 2004 issue of Blues Revue Magazine. Blues Revue referred to her as the next Bonnie Raitt and raved "Philly’s Deb Callahan has the pipes, the songs and the raw talent to graduate to the next level". Deb released her sophomore CD The Blue Pearl in November 2005 where she teamed up with producer and song-writer Chris Arms, to craft a contemporary sounding CD with all the elements of timeless blues, soul and rock music. From the New Orleans blues/funk of the title track "Blue Pearl Moon " to the marriage of traditional and modern in the "Credit Card Blues ". Deb incorporates thoughtful and often funny lyrics to tell a modern day blues tale. In a review of The Blue Pearl, Living Blues described Deb as a “gifted song-writer whose voice is matchless in the ring of sultry blues singers”.
Since 2005, the band has been touring nationally up and down the east coast and beyond, both at festivals and clubs including the kick-off event for The St. John Blues Festival in the Virgin Islands, The Monterey Bay Blues Festival in California, The Fargo Blues Fest, Fargo, ND, The Rockin the Bay Music Fest, Gladstone, MI, the Springing the Blues Festival in Jacksonville, Florida, Florida International Blues Fest, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, The White Mountain Boogie Fest in Thornton, NH, The Bayfront Blues Fest in Duluth, MN, The Boundaries Water Blues Festival in Ely, Minnesota, The Trempealeau Blues Fest, Trempealeau, WI, Cookin at McCooks Festival in Niantic, CT, The Western Maryland Blues Festival in Hagerstown, MD, the Heritage Blues Festival in Wheeling, West Virginia, The Pittsburgh Blues Festival, Pittsburgh, PA, The Philadelphia Blues Festival at The World Cafe Live, The Berks Blues and Jazz Festival in Reading, PA, The Red Bank Blues Festival in Red Bank, NJ, The Great Eastern Blues Fest in Masanutten,VA, The Briggs Farm Festival in the Poconos, PA, The Lehigh Valley Blues Festival in Whitehall, PA, The Turks Head Festival in Westchester, PA. The Media Blues Stroll in Media., PA, The Shenandoah Valley Blues Bash, in Luray, VA, The Wilmington Riverfest in Wilmington, DE, The Chesapeake Blues Festival in Anapolis, MD, The Central Delaware Blues & Jazz Festival in Felton, DE, The Safeway BBQ & Blues Fest in Washington DC, The Belair BBQ & Blues Fest in Belair, MD, The Bucks County Blues Society R & B Picnic in Morrisville, PA, and many more.
Deb’s music has been played at radio stations around the United States and Europe. She has shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Billy Preston, James Cotton, Shemekia Copeland, Hubert Sumlin, Debbie Davies, Savoy Brown, Big Jack Johnson, Sean Costello, The Holmes Brothers, Phil Guy, Deanna Bogart, Ann Rabson, Nick Curran, Southside Johnny, Floyd Lee, NRBQ, Joe Bonamassa, Guitar Shorty, Little Ed and The Imperials, Bob Margolin, Paul Cebar, Tommy Castro, Anthony Gomes, Johhny Lee Hooker Junior, Sister Monica Parker. Marcia Ball, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Duke Robillard, Eric Lindell, Indigenous and more.
http://www.debcallahanband.com
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Saturday, December 8, 2012 THE DAN MAY BAND PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER: "exceptionally well-crafted and well-written...full of insistently catchy, emotionally substantial songs"
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Join us for an intimate evening with Gene Shay, the world renowned, Grammy nominated "Grandfather of Folk" featuring stories, jokes, artist interview and an evening of stellar music, all in Philadelphia's best listening room.
Singer-songwriter Dan May’s career path has taken more twists and turns than a corkscrew in a hurricane. He has worked as a grave-digger, television cameraman, short-order cook, nuclear missile security guard, gas station attendant, ice cream truck driver, delivery man, amusement park worker and greenhouse laborer; all before the age of 25.
While studying music composition in college, he inadvertently stumbled upon an international opera career that forced him to leave a promising future as a songwriter behind. Cut to 15 years later, and after a vocal chord surgery that left him no longer able to meet the demands of opera, Dan returned to doing what he does best; writing and performing his own songs.
Since his crossover from classical to popular music, Dan has hit the ground running. With three critically acclaimed albums already under his belt, his latest release, Dying Breed, has quickly become his most successful project to date.
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Friday, January 18, 2012 BURNING BRIDGET CLEARY
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CONCERT - $20 Online/$25 Door, 8:00 pm
Rose is now a senior at Temple University, studying Communications. In high school, Rose participated in orchestra, concert, advanced, and show choirs. For four years, she played with the Itinerant Fiddlers at the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival in northern Montgomery County, PA. As part of a father-daughter duo, she and dad, Lou, provided musical entertainment for Civil War balls, living history events, local clubs, community, private and business venues in PA and DE for several years before the advent of "BBC".
Rose teaches fiddle lessons to students of all ages and is happily working as an intern for the Philadelphia Folksong Society.
Kat Watson - Fiddle, vocalsKat Watson lived most of her life in Texas, surrounded by Celtic music from an early age. Her Dad is a native Scot - and the Texas Watsons’ still make their traditional family shortbread - now in the shape of armadillos!Kat began studying violin at ten years of age and fiddle-style at eleven. During high school, her family moved to the mountains of central California where she continued playing both classical and fiddle styles as she studied with Mischa Lefkowitz of the L.A. Philharmonic and played with the Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra. Fiddle teachers included Andy Stein (Prairie Home Companion), Sandy MacIntyre (Cape Breton), Natalie Haas (cello), and Alasdair Fraser (Scottish fiddle).
After graduating with a B.S. in Accounting in 2009, Kat landed an accounting job and moved to Harrisburg. Finding few Celtic musicians in the area, Kat played with several rock groups, polishing her audience skills and developing an exceptional, high-energy performance style.
Kat is excited to return to her Celtic roots and BBC looks forward to exploring new directions with her.
P.S. Kat's given name is Katherin (kath-AIR-in), but she's happy to let us shorten it to “Kat”.
Lou Baldino - Guitar, vocals Lou, a veteran in the music business, had a guitar in his hands at age 5 and began playing professionally at age 12. Throughout the 60's, 70's and 80's, he traveled and recorded with a variety of bands - including 3 years of travel with the famous Platters, as part of their backup band. Lou spent a good part of the 80's playing with the Michael Carney Orchestras out of NYC. With this orchestra, he had the honor of performing in Washington D.C., for the inauguration of President George H. W. Bush in 1988. Lou began backing up Rose's fiddle playing in 2002 and soon became immersed in a love for Celtic music. The rest is history.
Peter Trezzi - djembe drum
http://www.burningbridgetcleary.com/
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