NYS Music 20​14

Author: Tabitha Clancy

  • Susquehanna Breakdown at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

    From the banks of the Susquehanna to the energetic song where the currents of water and music collide, Cabinet hosts their growing festival at Montage Mountain. The Susquehanna Breakdown Music Festival, formerly known as Old Farmer’s Ball, will be held Saturday, May 10th in Scranton, PA. This year’s festival is jam packed with music and activities in a kid-friendly environment.

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    Firmly rooted in Americana and Appalachian tradition, Cabinet hosts the festival in their neck of the woods. Delivering soaring vocal harmonies and instrumental mastery honoring bluegrass, folk, country and rock and roll, Cabinet meshes well to produce soundscapes that capture the heart appealing to souls of all ages. Susquehanna Breakdown offers a schedule of bands and fun activities for the young and young at heart.

    Performances are staggered between two stages and begin late Saturday morning and alternate into early Sunday morning. Cabinet will close the festival, delivering their brand of infectious jam-heavy newgrass. Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, a seven-piece ensemble, will bring the fire of the soul to the surface with an explosive high-energy performance. Arleigh Kinchloe’s sultry vocals backed by the Birds’ penchant for dirty melodic infusions of jazz and funk would seduce an audience.

    An undercurrent connects each artist to the next. Marco Benevento will dazzle contemporary music fans with his jazz pervaded experimental rock piano compositions. Drifting in from NY are progressive bluegrass rockers, Floodwood. Tenor saxophonist, Ron Holloway has earned accolades from his predecessors and has played with Warren Haynes, Allman Brothers Band, Derek Trucks Bands, Taj Mahal, Peter Frampton, Bruce Hornsby and many others.

    Other performances scheduled are: Terrapin Flyer, Driftwood, Leroy Justice, And the Moneynotes, Coal Town Rounders, Kalob Griffin Band, Fright Train, Eastbound Jesus, The Brummy Brothers, Blind Owl Band, Tom Graham, FMO, and Schooley Mountain Band.SBMF

    Susquehanna Breakdown is bicycle friendly! Cedar Bike & Paddle’s mobile retail store will be on hand for product demonstrations, maintenance clinics and a biker’s lounge. There will be family friendly activities including a bike ride around the scenic venue grounds.

    RV rentals are now available, though in a limited quantity. However, the RV camping tickets have sold out. Children ten and under are free with purchase of an adult ticket. Cabinet’s Pappy Biondo has a special acoustic set planned for the kids. Other child activities include yoga, coloring, a hand drum workshop, hula-hoop workshop, face painting and a caricature artist.

    Vending includes some of the finest crafters and food trucks. The Grateful Gallery is returning to Susquehanna Breakdown. The Grateful Gallery offers vintage and modern concert poster art from bands from The Grateful Dead to New Riders of the Purple Sage. Other vendors include: Cabin Fever Hoops, CoreStone Massage, Dancing Hands, Eden’s Rose Foundation, Everyone’s Drumming, Grateful Don, Hooked, Jerky Hut, S.A.W. Family Creations, Serigraph Factory, Uncle John’s Outfitters, Shady Grove and Gouda Boys.

    Susquehanna Breakdown is proud of their charity partner, St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen that provides free hot meals to their guests every day of the year. Volunteers and staff strive to serve with compassion, respect and dignity. Canned good donations are requested and appreciated. Those bringing five or more items to donate will be entered into a drawing for a limited edition festival poster signed by festival bands.

    Tickets available at Toyota Pavilion Center Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or charge-by-phone 800-745-3000.

  • Hearing Aide: The Brummy Brothers ‘On Our Way’

    BrumBrosThe Brummy Brothers created their first full-length album of Neo-Traditional Bluegrass songs with lyrical stanzas fitting the modern-day doldrums and delights, titled On Our Way. “Cell Phone Blues” is the bluegrass answer to text message break-ups in a playful song. A touch of naughty is recognized in “No Good” when the pluck of the banjo hangs on the strumming edge of the guitar leading into the “stars, they light my way because the no good can’t travel in the day.” Guest, George Maher taunts and teases with his trumpet. But, ho-hum, the doldrums won’t get these boys down. Redemption enters the disc with “Wise and Jaded.”

    Their story is a romantic tale of meeting the right people at the right time. The Brummy Brothers have been charming their way through clubs from Maryland to Maine for the better part of two years, which has earned them some notoriety. However, with the dream in their hearts and the love of their fans, it was as simple as a Facebook post and an encouraging band manager that landed them not only in the studio, but also into the proverbial loving arms of violinist and producer, Timothy Carbone. All the pieces fell into place.

    The delights of life don’t fall short in this album either. The appealing nugget of “Weed, Whiskey, Women” would surely entice a crowd in this quick-to-learn sing-a-long. Timothy Carbone sits-in on piano, adding a frisky energy to the lively lyrics “nothing like being horny, drunk, stoned and laughing.” No bluegrass album would be complete without a breakdown of sorts and the Brummy’s hit their mark with instrumental, “Hub City Hoedown.”
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    The light and breezy travel songs offer a glimpse of beginning a life on the road, both metaphorical and literal as in “60 Miles to Boston;” the harmonization is a breadth of fresh air. “Cruisin’”, another travel tune utilizing a striking blend of vocal quality could easily become the annual Jam Cruise anthem.

    The cohesive approach to the sound and camaraderie of Andrew Morris (Guitar) and Russell Gottlieb (Banjo) and brothers Dave (Standup bass) and Eric Brumberg (Mandolin) bring forth a delightful and lively collection of songs. The Brummy Brothers kick off a late spring and early summer tour May 10th at the Susquehanna Breakdown Music Festival in Scranton, PA.
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    Key Tracks: Weed, Whiskey, Women, Cruisin’, No Good

  • EXIT 97.7 WEXT Announces Fund Drive

    “Leave Regular Radio Behind” is their motto, they focus on local 518 artists, they dig through endless catalogs of forgotten songs, they are supported only by their listeners; they are Exit 97.7 WEXT and they command a unique on air musical experience rivaled by many, with a new Fund Drive coming up.

    Presented from March 21-28, WEXT-FM announces the Songwriter Showcase, an ideal platform respecting various musicians, navigating the sound waves to where songs begin.

    The Songwriter Showcase is a group of songs played on air from years past through current or new artists. The rotation of songwriters presented range from Neil Young to Josh Ritter. There will be songs that are political to songs that tug on the emotional heartstrings and everything in between. The Songwriter Showcase is only one example of programming 97.7 WEXT presents. Other special shows include countdown lists that no other radio tackles such as: the 500 greatest bands and albums of all time, as well as 977 greatest songs of all time. Other equally unique programming includes the 200 women who rock on International Women’s Day and an entire week is devoted to songs of freedom and protest.

    The EXIT 97.7 began July 7, 2007 making this year their lucky seventh anniversary. The station is not only proud of their commitment to music but also maintains a strong community based ideal sponsoring events such as Tulip Fest, Lark Fest and Art on Lark. Members of the community are also invited to partake in MY EXIT programming where the listener creates their own playlist and becomes the DJ for an hour. WEXT is a huge supporter of local talent, providing 518 artists with an outlet for their creativity with live in-studio performances. Local musicians are showcased throughout the day.

    Defying commercial radio, WEXT has a stronghold on local public broadcasting, setting their own policies and program decisions based on the desire and needs determined by open communication with the community. The community-owned and operated station relies heavily on financial support of its members, as there is no commercial advertising on air. During the Songwriter Showcase, listeners will have an opportunity to make a contribution during WEXT’s spring fund drive. In exchange members will receive a gift. Based on the contribution, each member will be able to choose from CD’s such as the re-mastered Uncle Tupelo’s No Depression, or concert tickets to upcoming shows. The sold out James Taylor show at Tanglewood is one package offer. Other available contribution packages include tickets to Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Breckell at The Palace Theatre or Jake Shimabukuro at The Egg.

    Exit 97.7 WEXT is still in its infancy yet the station has become a staple of the community and did so through grassroots efforts using the co-op paradigm as its model. Turn the dial to 97.7 FM and be the judge. Contributions can be made online at exit977.org or by calling toll free 1-800-272-6492.

  • ‘Let it Go’ with The Infamous Stringdusters, The Conservation Alliance and Upstate NY

    “If you think you can make a difference and the fire is in your soul, go ahead and take your stand and if you can’t, let it go.” – The Infamous Stringdusters

    Words of wisdom and truth sung in five-part, heartfelt harmony isn’t preached, but instead, practiced. The Infamous Stringdusters make good on their own philosophy as proceeds from each album sold and every ticket for the Let it Go Album Release Tour is donated, in part, to The Conservation Alliance. According to their website, the mission of The Conservation Alliance “is to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values.” The Stringdusters know they can make a difference and creatively found a way to help their fans recognize and contribute to environmental issues brought into awareness by The Conservation Alliance. New Yorkers have two opportunities to see a performance as well as purchase an advanced copy of Let it Go at The Wescott in Syracuse and Club Helsinki in Hudson on March 22 and 23 respectively.

    Official album release is slated for April 1 on High Country Recordings. The title track appears last on the disc perhaps making a larger impact of the lyrical stanzas and driving home the philosophical stand point of being true to oneself – a theme weaved throughout Let it Go. Disc opener, “I’ll Get Away” gently nudges the listener in the direction of soothing folk instrumentation and humming the “ohhhh’s” slightly hints at the cohesive as well as expansive string explosions presented within the eleven-track disc.

    A naturalistic approach to life themes told in tune using the imagery and temperament of Mother Nature present a dynamic dichotomy. “Where the Rivers Run Cold,” symbolically declaring never giving up in the refrain and “Winds of Change,” where moving on is encouraged, are contrasting emotions just as life and death exists in nature. Gentle picking and soft fiddle bowing add to the sweetly sorrowful ballad of “Rainbows” communicating a simple naivety in daydreaming.

    Let it Go Infamous StringdustersAndy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (upright bass) are no strangers to raising awareness and making a difference. In 2013, the band invited fans, affectionately known as Jamily, on a six-day float trip through the wilderness. The excursion brought water sustainability issues to the forefront in partnership with Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, and Osprey Packs. “Middlefork” was created paying homage to the location of the trip in an instrumental dominated by a fiddle and dobro composition matching music with nature’s soundscapes.  Likely brushing off the dust the great outdoors can kick up, surely these boys were left yearning a bit for the Colorado country flare proclaiming “I wanna get mile high/touch the sky/get lost in mountain time.”

    The album was recorded at White Star Sound boasting a rustic farm off a dirt road in Virginia. The seclusion and natural surroundings offered an opportunity for The Stringdusters to be present in the music making process; enabling a more focused song crafting and musical stylings seemingly contradictory to their live performances and periodic improvisation, though airy nuances throughout whisper like Father Time plays tricks on the mind.

    The Stringdusters have evolved personally and musically. They continue to host  The Festy Experience.  The fan favorite festival is in its fifth year and will be held October 10-12, 2014. The annual event is held at The Devil’s Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, Virginia. Tickets for the event go on sale coinciding with the album release on April 1 and various package deals will be available.

    The self-explanatory, “Light & Love” hits a high note of positive thinking on the metaphorical Universal energy that runs through nature and human emotion. Tales are told in these Infamous Stringdusters tunes of evolving sounds of folk, bluegrass and country jam. Most certainly, the first step in being true to oneself is to Let it Go.

  • Gathering of the Vibes 2014 Announces Initial Lineup

    Gathering of the Vibes 2014 organizers knocked this year’s lineup out of Seaside Park and clear across the Long Island Sound for a grand slam. Rounding out the mid summer festival season with a variety of performances, Vibes promises four days of unique musical experiences and collaborations, friendship renewals and spiritual awakenings – traditional VibeTribe happenings – founded on celebrating the life of Jerry Garcia.

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    Gathering of the Vibes will return to Bridgeport, CT from July 31 – August 3, 2014. Widespread Panic and John Fogerty are making their first appearances to the festival. As southern rock outfits perfectly suited for the other, on stage collaborations are likely. The biggest surprise to this year’s lineup and perhaps the most talked about is the appearance of the Disco Biscuits featuring Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. Keeping with the Dead theme, this promises to add an element of unique musical styling and soundscape. Rounding out the Grateful tradition will be performances by Dark Star Orchestra, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and Keller Williams Grateful Grass.

    Completing the spotlight are moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. Other acts set to perform are Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Ziggy Marley, Latin duo Rodrigo Y Gabriella, Left Over Salmon, Rusted Root and many more. A variety of acts put Vibes on track with a special musical experience for its nineteenth year.

    Tickets can be purchased at the Gathering of the Vibes website.

  • The Brummy Brothers at Red Square, February 14th

    Upcoming bluegrass stompers and folk artists, The Brummy Brothers played a special gig in Albany on February 14.  It might have been the collective whole, grasping at that bubble of love that Valentine’s Day captures but the vocal harmonies pulled especially tight on the heartstrings, bass and guitar strings too. Kicking the evening off with “Cruisin,” a lovely melodic display of the harmonization and getting right to the point, “Music fills the air”, making it evident that The Brummy Brothers are serious musicians ready to be known by a wider fan base.

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    These banjo playing, bass beating, gee-tar slappers and singers have taken on some pretty big endeavors recently. The old adage, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” holds true and while The Brummy Brothers know a lot, the network of musical friends has helped them push forward in recording their first studio album. Over the course of two years, The Brummy’s have toured the Northeast incessantly, getting their music out and forging a reputation. They recently went behind the scenes and recorded their first album, aptly titled On Our Way. After witnessing their stage prowess in Albany, they are very clearly “on [their] way,” if not already there. Evidenced by their work with fiddler and producer, Timothy Carbone, The Brummy’s proclaimed the recording was a “musical boot camp!”

    Andrew Morris (guitar) and Russell Gottlieb (banjo) and brothers Dave (stand up bass) and Eric Brumberg (mandolin) are currently fundraising, offering album presales and special packages through a grassroots campaign on Indiegogo. The Brummy Brothers tour locations across the Northeast beginning March 11.

  • And the Final 2014 Mountain Jam Headliner is…

    The Allman Brothers Band is the headliner for the 10th annual Mountain Jam Festival to be held June 5-8, 2014. Making a return to the mountain, the Allman Brothers Band will perform a special set in which they will play their first two legendary albums in their entirety, The Allman Brothers Band and Idlewild South.

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    This is a big year for the Allman Brothers Band, including an earlier announcement that guitarists Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks will be departing the band at the conclusion of 2014. Founding member, Gregg Allman also noted that this might be the final year of touring while the Allman Brothers Band is celebrating their 45th anniversary.

    Coincidently, Gov’t Mule is celebrating its 20th year and Mountain Jam is in its 10th year, inevitably marking this years festival a big anniversary party. Mountain Jam founder Gary Chetkof stated, “we really aimed to bring the best of the last 9 years back for this year’s milestone and having The Allman Brothers on board feels extremely fitting. The Festival takes its name from one of The Allman Brothers’ most beloved songs and I don’t think there will be a dry eye at the conclusion of their set.”

    Mountain Jam also welcomes back Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Robert Randolph and his band performed at the first three Mountain Jams and are currently touring in support of their latest release, Lickety Split.

    “Pretty Early” tickets are on sale now and offer tickets at up to 22% off day­of­show prices. 4-­Day and 3-­Day Passes are available with and without camping, as well as Jammer (VIP) Passes, Super Jammer Passes and the brand new Ultimate Jammer Pass Package. Single Day tickets will be offered for sale in the Spring.

    View the full lineup and purchase tickets at Mountainjam.com

  • Yarn and The Brummy Brothers to Perform at Red Square on Valentine’s Day

    On Friday, February 14th, Yarn, a Brooklyn based band with members originally from Schenectady will take the stage at Red Square. These fellas have cultivated a following across the United States to which the fans affectionately call themselves the “Yarmy.” Perhaps it is the incessant touring that attracts old and new fans, but more likely Blake Christiana’s art of song crafting captivates and rivets the world of Roots Americana. The Brummy Brothers will be making their debut appearance in Albany as they open for Yarn.

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    After spending a few weeks in the recording studio, these bluegrass rockers are ready to stretch their legs for a lively night of song and dance. Eric (mandolin) and Dave Brumberg (upright bass) were joined by Andrew Morris (guitar) and Russell Gottlieb (banjo) in 2012 to form The Brummy Brothers, touring the Northeast heavily. These New Jersey boys would inspire all to “shake their brum.” Doors are at 8 pm, show starts at 9pm. Don’t miss this one! Pick up tickets at the door for only $10.

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  • Hearing Aide: Bear Bones Project “Live at the Rustic Barn”

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    There is nothing more delightful or more comforting than hearing from an old friend. The Bear Bones Project Live at the Rustic Barn brings that same sense of nostalgia and peaceful joy as if they’re old friends picking up where they left off – an impressive feat considering this is their first album release.

    Although, The Bear Bones Project have been cultivating a close network of friends and fans at small town shows and parlor romps which has kept them virtually a hidden little secret, to the public, they have been largely unavailable – until now. The jam friendly soundscapes created in Live at the Rustic Barn are welcoming to all who have an ear; and even to a stranger, listening is as though an old friend is beckoning.

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    Rustic Barn taps into the roots Americana and acoustic realm of folk lyrics but a euphonic blend of electric bass and guitar driven by a gentle beat of the drums will, at times, incite a feeling of familiarity. A nostalgic nod to an era long past, “Into the Air” lovingly pays tribute to Mr. George Harrison. Keeping with the inviting and classy rollicking upbeat tune, “Grandma Moses” is an ode to a sensible yet free spirited philosophy of life. “Lonestar” gives us a casual little pause with a vocal change up and an accordion. But it’s not until “Big Sister” we get the feeling something dreadful is looming yet the omnipresent flute captures a touch of a playful sentiment and creates a song that makes The Bear Bones uniquely them. Tucked in between Carey Ahner (guitar, lead vocals) originals are obscure covers. The Bear Bones Project breathes new life into Jorma Kaukonen, Lee Alaxander, and Paul Barrere. Randy Newman’s “Sail Away” is arranged in such a way that it is completely different, but only recognizable in the lyrics.

    The Bear Bones Project is Carey Ahner (guitar, vocals), Pete O’Hearn (electric guitar, vocals), Sandy Decker (flute, accordion, vocals), Bill Decker (bass) and Eric Johnson (drums). Together they create an organic blend of complicated arrangements from various backgrounds in musical training. Pushing the envelop by releasing a live album first speaks to their sense of musicality, successfully conveying the spontaneous and intimate nature of their performances. The Bear Bones Project will be at Pauly’s Hotel on February 22.

    Key Tracks: Into the Air, Grandma Moses, Big Sister

  • Getting to Know M.R. Poulopoulos

    In the historic Stockade district of Schenectady lives a creative song crafter we will come to know as M.R. Poulopoulos. The singer-songwriter will be performing on January 17 at Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs. We wanted to get to know M.R. Poulopoulos a bit so we sat down with him at Ambition, a small sandwich eatery located on the trendy and quaint Jay St. of downtown Schenectady.

    Tabitha Clancy:  Lets start with where you were born and raised.

    M.R. Poulopoulos: I was born in Albany, NY. So I’m a local boy. I was raised where Bethlehem, Albany and Guilderland meet. It was rural suburban area. As I grew up over the course of 15 years, all of that space was developed. I grew up on the outskirts of Albany. I went away for college but I always gravitated toward Albany.

    TC: Where did you go to college?

    MRP: Undergraduate I went to Providence College in Rhode Island. I always reminded of a Janeane Garofalo quote. She went there for a little while. There is a dorm called McVinney Hall but everyone called it the virgin vault. It was an all female dorm with restrictions that males couldn’t be in the building after 9 pm – rules that were consistently broken. The point that Garofalo made was that “you could stand on top of McVinney and drop a rock on anyone walking by and it wouldn’t matter because they’re all the same.”

    After a few years of going to school there, I found a group of friends I truly connected with on a music level. I discovered I wanted to share myself and express myself in a musical medium.

    TC: Is this the period when you started playing guitar?

    MRP: Yes. A buddy of mine has a Fender Stratocaster (which I now own) and a small little amp and I would play around on just making sounds. I learned a few chords from him. That was freshman year. Then sophomore year I found a group of folks and we would just sit around. They would teach me standard chord progressions and melodies. It was all these different of angles of music, a number of different approaches. Part of hanging out was trying to fuse our different styles together and make something fun of it. We all ended up playing in a band together called Men are Broccoli. I think that was my senior year.

    TC: What did Men are Broccoli end up sounding like?

    MRP: It had more of a groove to it – a groove rock. We would give it a harder edge. We also did a lot of covers that reflected our styles.

    TC: How did you break away?

    MRP: My contribution to that group was blues music. I think it was the raw expression of the blues soloists that I particularly enjoyed. I was trying to learn that style. I started playing at a place called Savanna’s in downtown Albany. It’s now no longer. It was such a great room and they had an open mic night. I played bottleneck slide on a Robert Jonson composition but I learned Eric Clapton’s arrangement.  It took me four times just to get started. By the fourth time the room was dead quiet and focused because I kept screwing up. But that fourth time I nailed it. A group of guys liked what I did and asked me to be part of a band – Manikin Ed. That is when I stepped into playing in the Albany area.

    We were playing the River Street Pub as Manikin Ed and there was a guy that was coming to these open mics. His name was Matt Durfee. We ended up hitting it off musically. I started straying away from the electric sound and started gravitating towards the acoustic again. Matt was playing acoustic. We ended up forming a band called Palatypus (intentional misspelling). We released an EP in 2007 called Lazaretto. We carried some weight with that. We travelled the Northeast a little bit.

    TC: Palatypus sort of ran its course. How did you get to the point of being a solo singer-songwriter that you are now?

    MRP: Matt wanted to do some solo work and I was going through some personal things in 2010-11. I put out a solo album called Greenhorn. That carried it’s own weight. That set me off on a solo route.

    TC: You have come a long way, learning your craft and then establishing yourself. How did you decide that this was the direction you wanted to go in?

    MCR: I don’t think its something I decided on, I think its something that decided on me. I have a drive to share myself artistically. I like playing music, I really like singing and I like stories. It’s a good little trio that can work toward a song.

    TC: Describe how you create the song from the melodies to the lyrics.

    MCR: The lyrics come from a variety of sources either a personal trial or a personal triumph. Those are some standbys, but I love books. The first two tunes that I really enjoy were a personal experience and a book, respectively. “Drunk,” the lead track off of Greenhorn is totally personal. It’s a pretty generic experience but I think the tune sounds good; it has something new to provide despite the generic title. Then there was another tune that made it onto the Palatypus CD called, All I Own. The song is loosely based on William Kennedy’s character, Francis Phelan from the book, Ironweed. I read that book and it floored me.

    TC: Clearly you draw inspiration from books but who are some of your musical influences?

    MCR: It goes all the way back to being kid. I was a fiend for Beach Boys tapes. I wanted all the Beach Boys tapes I could find. I got into a period where I wanted to listen to everything that was Billy Joel. That was probably sixth grade. I just loved Billy Joel. I think there was something natural about his voice and you could tell he was singing from somewhere. Then there was that period in high school where I got into rap. I listened to a lot of Tribe Called Quest and Wu Tang Clan. I started gravitating towards them because I liked the beats and I liked the jazz samples in Tribe Called Quest. I also liked where they were coming from lyrically. Then when I got to college I was introduced to Phish, Grateful Dead, all sorts of contemporary jam music and well-orchestrated music – I didn’t know music could or should sound like that. I took a class called the history of jazz. I got hip to John Scofield. Then I got into songwriters. I started focusing on the presentation of lyrics. Probably like most people, just a variety of influences coming together.

    TC: Lets talk about both albums.

    MCR: Anybody who listens to both of them they will know that they are two very different albums. I named Greenhorn because I wanted it to be an introduction into an artistic project. I wanted people to know that I’m not coming at this from the angle of a professional. I wanted people to know that I was just testing this out. I wanted to start from where I was actually at and not peek before I was out there. That is where the name came from and the approach I took. All the tunes were recorded live.

    Then on Harvest the Heart I wanted to show people the progression. I learned a lot. We did a lot of separate tracking. You’ll notice the arrangements are tighter. The musician parts are a lot tighter. We had gotten some really good recording equipment by chance. It’s very much a contrast to Greenhorn.

    TC: You are progressing from singer-songwriter but now you are also playing out under another moniker, Rebel Darling. Lets talk about Rebel Darling.

    MCR: It was just one of those names that came together. When the idea hit, it was such a ‘Wow, that’s a good name!’  I uttered the name on stage. It was just a good idea, people liked it and it really describes the sound. The improvisation is there and it gives us an edge. The arrangements are tight but there is that vibration, that communication on stage.

    TC: Who exactly is Rebel Darling?

    MCR: Its this amorphous collection of guys who play music together as a group and sometimes not. There is a Rebel Darling that I play with in Cambridge MA. She is a viola player. Sometimes we play other songs, but by in large, it is my songs.

    TC: You seem to have a soft spot for playing Caffe Lena. Would you consider this home base?

    MCR: Caffe Lena is the kind of room where I don’t get to make that decision. That room is really something special. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have a gig there. That room is historic and full of spirit without a doubt.

    M.R. Poulopoulos will be at Caffe Lena on Friday, January 17, 2013. Poulopoulos will share the stage with NYC singer Caitlyn Canty.

    You can also catch M.R. Poulopoulos on the following dates in the Upstate area:

    Friday, February 21: Shelburne Falls, MA
    Friday, February 28: Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
    Saturday, March 1: Peekskill, NY
    Saturday, March 8: Easthampton, MA
    Sunday, April 6: Saratoga Springs, NY