Category: Blues/Jazz

Supergroup Childsplay Fiddles with One Final Tour

After 32 years Childsplay, comprised with some of the world’s best fiddle players, announced they would be going on tour for the last time. The short six-stop-tour across the Northeast starts in November and will include a performance at Symphony Space in New York City on November 22. Once again, famous fiddler and fiddle maker, Bob Childs, will lead this group as their time together comes to a close. Other members of the group range include Irish and Scottish fiddle champions to performers from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

It is hard to believe from that first show in 1986 that this day would come, but we have arrived at the final tour of the band. We’ve performed throughout the United States and Europe showcasing different styles of fiddle music. Through all of this, we have experienced so much pleasure and joy performing in front of some of the greatest audiences. This last tour gives us one more chance to savor and enjoy the magic that happens between our audience and the band.
Bob Childs, Childsplay Frontman

Special guests Sheila Falls, National Scottish Fiddle champions Hanneke Cassel and Katie McNally, Boston Symphony Violinist Bonnie Bewick and the talented Virginia fiddler Steve Hickman will be joining the group as they play music selected from their seven albums. Along with exceptional fiddle playing, one can expect original dances by by Molly Gawler, formerly of Pilobolus, Kevin Doyle contributing step-dancing routines. Irish folk singer Karan Casey will also be on the tour, all contributing to what will a series of extra special concerts.

The group formed over 30 years ago with only one common denominator, they all played instruments made by Childs. Thus Childsplay was formed. A majority of the music that Childsplay performs is written and arranged by the group with the intention to cover as many fiddle traditions as possible, from Irish to Celtic to the classics and more modern sounds.

Tickets for the concerts are on sale now at www.childsplay.org.

Childsplay Tour Dates

Nov. 14 – Stockbridge Theatre – Derry, NH

Nov. 16 – State Theatre – Portland, ME

Nov. 17 – Latchis Theatre – Brattleboro, VT

Nov. 21 – Monomoy Regional High School – Harwich, MA

Nov. 22 – Symphony Space – New York, NY

Nov. 24 – Sanders Theatre – Cambridge, MA (two shows)

October 25, 2019
In Focus: Harvestfest, Tribute to Mother Earth Puts the Focus on the Ladies

Four years ago Matt Strong had an idea — an idea that came to him as he admired a painting a friend of his had done. The idea was to put together a fall festival celebrating Mother Earth and female musicians. As the owner-operator of Rooted Entertainment Solutions, he was finally able to bring that to fruition at Woods Valley Ski Area in Westernville, site of the past two Woods Fest Music Festivals, this past Saturday at Harvestfest: Tribute to Mother Earth.

Woods Valley owner-operator Tim Woods and Strong put their heads together to create a regional fall festival drawing from bands with strong female musicians. The result was a full day of music, collaboration, vendors, good vibes and hats, lots of hats, that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. The event culminated with a female-heavy superjam that saw the ladies collaborating on stellar versions of Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

Headliner Hayley Jane sat in with a number of the acts throughout the day and performed two sets with Rob Compa of Dopapod as well.

The lineup included Ithaca ska band Â¡Viva Mayhem!, Connecticut neo-soul act Erica T. Bryan and the New Mosaic, Utica folk artist Lady Daisy River, Syracuse reggae-roots rockers Root Shock and Syracuse indie-punk-ska outfit Late Earth.

The running theme throughout the day was community. Attendees of all ages, including families, attended the event, greeting familiar faces and befriending unfamiliar faces. Attendees and musicians alike were seen mingling, talking music and art and just enjoying the beautiful weather.

Despite the fact that each band came from different backgrounds and different areas, there was a true sense of community felt among the musicians at Woods Valley. Many of them were meeting each other for the first time and became fast friends, with some even making plans to perform together in the future. This may have been an unintended goal in putting together such a festival but one that will surely benefit the Northeast music community for some time to come. The intended goal was surely achieved. This was a day to celebrate the power of women in music. There were several powerful performances throughout the day and one powerful organization that is quickly making its name in the live music scene.

The non-profit organization Groovesafe was on site during the festival. Groovesafe is a 501(c)(3) organization that brings awareness of the need for consent, to stand against sexual assault and unwanted touching at shows and festivals and to create safe and respectful dance spaces. It is a movement founded by Ashley Driscoll, following an incident at a Phish show in Las Vegas in the fall of 2016. To learn more about the Groovesafe movement and how you can donate or contribute to the cause, visit their website here.

Plans are already underway for Harvestfest 2.

Kari Feingold of Tailfeather, Hayley Jane and Ashley Driscoll of Groovesafe

Evan Bujold and Andrea Canale skanking during Viva Mayhem’s set

Dwayne Keith from the New Mosaic sits in with Late Earth

Emily Hoyt, Hayley Jane, Andrea Canale and Erica T. Bryan Superjamming

Emily Hoyt, Andrea Canale, Hayley Jane, Erica T. Bryan and Jessica Brown (L to R)

Hayley Jane, Erica T. Bryan and Rob Compa

Hayley Jane

Brian Lauri, Jessica Brown/Root Shock

Matt Strong

Rob Compa and Hayley Jane

Root Shock

Root Shock

Root Shock

Viva Mayhem

Viva Mayhem

Erica T. Bryan and the New Mosaic

Andrea Canale/Late Earth

Brock Kuca/Annie in the Water

Evan Bujold/Late Earth

Rob Compa

Erica T. Bryan

The New Mosaic

Late Earth

October 23, 2019
‘One Night Only Again’ Delivers Unique Jams for a Good Cause at The Cap
One Night Only Again brought awareness to an unfortunate disease called EB, thanks to a few incredible musicians who came together for a special night of jamming at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY last weekend. The night started with a few EB patients on stage rallying for debra of America, the only U.S. non-profit that provides all-inclusive support to the EB community, and ended with two sets of soul satisfying blues standards, jazz, funk and southern rock.

The EB patients take the stage

The show began with several patients on stage discussing the difficulties associated with EB, also known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, which causes extremely fragile skin. These brave individuals rallied for Debra, as their bandages can cost up to $85K per month and Debra helps defray this cost and much more. Please visit http://www.debra.org/ for more information.

Warren Haynes

After the heartfelt moment with the patients, an all-star cast of musicians emerged on stage to rock out in honor of them, including Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule) on guitar, Joe Russo (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) on drums, John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood) on keys, George Porter Jr (Meters) on bass, and Karl Denson (Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe) on saxophone, flute and percussion.

These musicians are feeling it!

Jazzy undertones were present throughout the night as this group had great stage karma, wove through musical genres, and delivered a delicious setlist. Notable jazz-infused rock covers included The Rolling Stone’s “Honky Tonk Woman” and The Allman Brother’s “Whipping Post.” Unfortunately, these songs could only be heard for one night only.

George Porter Jr.

Set One: Warren Hayne’s 3 “String George,” Warren Hayne’s “Sick Of My Shadow,” The Meter’s “Just Kissed My Baby,” Allen Toussaint’s “From A Whisper To A Stream,” The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women,” “Good Morning, School Girl” (blues standard), and “32-20 Blues” (blues standard)

Set Two: The Staple Singers’ “Hammer & Nails” > Smokestack Lightning (blues classic), James Brown’s “The Payback,” Jesse Stone’s “Don’t Let Go,” Warren Hayne’s “River’s Gonna Rise,” The Rolling Stone’s “Let’s Spend The Night Together,” Gov’t Mule’s “Sco-Mule,” The Meters’ “It Ain’t No Use,” The Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post”

Encore: Cream’s “Politician”
October 23, 2019

The Music of Cream Announces 2020 Disraeli Gears Tour

The Music of Cream, the pedigree of the hallowed ’60s trio Cream: Kofi Baker (Ginger Baker’s son), Malcolm Bruce (Jack Bruce’s son) and Will Johns (Eric Clapton’s nephew), have announced an exciting new tour for 2020. Honoring the legendary band’s landmark album, the 40-date North American tour will feature Disraeli Gears performed in its entirety followed by a set of additional hits and rarities from Cream, Clapton, Blind Faith and more. The upcoming tour finds The Music of Cream continuing their celebration of the extraordinary music and legacy their family members created more than 50 years ago via their extensive live show and personal stories and footage of their fathers and mentors.

**Will Johns**, **Kofi Baker**, **Malcolm Bruce**

Kicking off February 28^th in Victoria, BC, Canada, the Disraeli Gears Tour will travel all across North America stopping everywhere from Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Phoenix, Boulder, Baton Rouge and Fort Lauderdale to Birmingham, Atlanta, Annapolis, Long Island, Boston, Toronto, Chicago, Milwaukee, Omaha and all that’s in between, before wrapping May 3^rdin Austin. See below for the full list of tour dates. Tickets are on sale starting this Friday, October 18 at 10 a.m. local time; visit www.musicofcream.com for ticketing information.

With primal riffs, soaring operatic choruses, poetry, fashion and theater rolled into one, Disraeli Gears defined the era in which it was written. The super-group’s second studio album, released in November of 1967, is often considered Cream’s crowning achievement. Disraeli Gears, featuring the singles “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Strange Brew,” was their American breakthrough reaching #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart before ultimately becoming a platinum-seller in the U.S. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and Rolling Stone included Disraeli Gears in their list of the Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time saying, “Cream’s sharpest, most linear album focused its instrumental explorations into colorful pop songs.” In addition to critical acclaim over the decades, the original band members themselves praised their work on Disraeli Gears. Ginger Baker noted, “You can’t escape the fact we were having such fun playing with each other,” while Jack Bruce said, “This was a whole new beginning for the band and I loved that time very much,” and Eric Clapton added, “We had found ourselves…it was a pivotal point in the history of popular music.”

For the members of The Music of Cream, who first launched their celebratory 50^th Anniversary World Tour in 2017 and have since performed over 100 shows together worldwide, including a string of recent sold-out UK shows, honoring Disraeli Gears and the storied history their family members created on this new tour was an easy choice.

“To follow our 50^th Anniversary Tour, it was a no-brainer to go out and celebrate Disraeli Gears in its entirety,” shares Kofi Baker (drums). “There are songs that are quite different, they wanted to challenge everything! And from a personal point of view, it gives me the opportunity to perform another song my dad wrote called ‘Blue Condition’ that I really like. I also loved the artwork for the album; my sister and I used to laugh because we said you could see up my dad’s nose. Happy memories that we can bring to the stage.”

“Why Disraeli Gears? Well, that’s easy for me,” says Will Johns (guitar, vocals). “It was the birth of the wah-wah pedal and you gotta love the wah-wah! That we can interpret such groundbreaking music and continue to tell Cream’s story is as exciting for us as we know it was for the band when they recorded it all those years ago. Like my uncle, I am a blues man through and through, and on this record there’s some fantastic interpretations of this genre, the likes of ‘Lawdy Mama’ and ‘Outside Woman Blues,’ so it doesn’t get better than that!”

“There are many reasons I love the idea of performing Cream’s second album Disraeli Gears,” adds Malcolm Bruce (bass, vocals). “Many of Cream’s best-known songs are on the record including ‘Sunshine of Your Love,’ ‘Strange Brew’ and ‘SWLABR.’ But importantly to me, perhaps my favorite Cream song, and I think my Dad’s too, ‘We’re Going Wrong’ is on there as well. It has always been such a special song to perform, so open in its possibilities for improvisation, and lyrically, the song works on a number of levels, both personal and universal. I also love some of the less well-known songs on the album like ‘World of Pain’ and ‘Dance the Night Away.’ It even contains comedy elements in ‘Mother’s Lament.’ Overall, it is a very cohesive set to perform. We are looking forward to it!”

During its heartbreakingly short lifespan, Cream was an explosive musical cocktail that provided the super-group blueprint for others to follow. Their third album, Wheels of Fire (1968), was the world’s first platinum-selling double album, and collectively Cream sold more than 15 million copies of their albums worldwide. Not surprisingly, Rolling Stone ranked the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group (inducted in 1993) as 67^th in their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list. The trio originally said farewell on a 1968 U.S. tour, and apart from a brief reunion in 2005 at London’s Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Madison Square Garden, Cream retained an almost mythological status in the music world, right up until the passing of Jack Bruce in 2014. This, for many fans, marked the end of an era and an acceptance that there would never really be another opportunity to celebrate the group’s legacy. That is, until The Music of Cream emerged. And with the recent passing of Ginger Baker, the new trio (Kofi, Malcolm, Will) look forward to sharing more of their stories as well as Cream’s incomparable music with fans new and old to keep Cream’s legacy alive.

For more information on The Music of Cream, visit:

w ww.musicofcream.com

w ww.facebook.com/musicofcream

THE MUSIC OF CREAM – DISRAELI GEARS TOUR DATES

Friday, February 28		Victoria, BC @ McPherson Playhouse
Saturday, February 29		Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
Sunday, March 1		Bellingham, WA @ Wild Buffalo House of Music
Tuesday, March 3		Seattle, WA @ Triple Door
Wednesday, March 4		Spokane, WA @ Bing Crosby Theater
Thursday, March 5		Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theatre
Friday, March 6		Mill Valley, CA @ Sweetwater Music Hall
Saturday, March 7		Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho Restaurant and Music Club
Sunday, March 8		San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theatre
Tuesday, March 10		Folsom, CA @ Harris Center for the Arts
Wednesday, March 11		San Juan Capistrano, CA @ The Coach House
Saturday, March 14		Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Sunday, March 15		Tucson, AZ @ Fox Tucson Theatre
Tuesday, March 17		Beaver Creek, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
Thursday, March 19		Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theatre
Saturday, March 21		Greenville, TX @ Texan Theater
Sunday, March 22		Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
Tuesday, Mach 24		Ponte Vedra, FL @ Ponte Vedra Concert Hall
Wednesday, March 25		Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ The Parker Playhouse
Thursday, March 26		Lakeland, FL @ Youkey Theatre
Friday, March 27		Bonita Springs, FL @ Southwest Florida Event Center
March 28-31		Miami, FL @ Flower Power Cruise
Thursday, April 2		Birmingham, AL @ Workplay
Friday, April 3		Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage
Monday, April 6		Greensboro, NC @ Carolina Theatre
Tuesday, April 7		Annapolis, MD @ Rams Head On Stage
Thursday, April 9		Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
Friday, April 10		Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Tuesday, April 14		Ridgefield, CT @ The Ridgefield Playhouse
Thursday, April 16		Huntington, NY @ The Paramount
Friday, April 17		Montclair, NJ @ The Wellmont Theater
Saturday, April 18		Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
Sunday, April 19		Boston, MA @ The Wilbur
Tuesday, April 21		Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
Friday, April 24		Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Sunday, April 26		Chicago, IL @ Park West
Tuesday, April 28		Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater
Wednesday, April 29		Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
Friday, May 1		Jackson, MS @ Duling Hall
Sunday, May 3		Austin, TX @ 3Ten ACL Live

October 21, 2019

Jazz Rabbi Greg Wall Digs Downtown NYC Roots for 60th Birthday Gig

Update 11/27/19: Per an email this week, this event is cancelled. The official statement reads:

Unfortunately, the Museum at Eldridge Street has cancelled the December 1 Greg Wall concert to benefit the Museum due to unforeseen circumstances. We will notify you when the event is rescheduled.

Saxophonist and composer Greg Wall, a staple on the downtown avant-garde jazz scene since the early 1990s, celebrates his 60th birthday with a benefit concert in the stunning historic sanctuary of the Museum at Eldridge Street on Sunday, December 1 at 3 p.m. Wall will perform with his longtime working bands including: Zion80, Hasidic New Wave, Portal, Klezmerfest, and Greg Wall’s Later Prophets, as well as the Ayn Sof Arkestra and Bigger Band which returns for this concert. Proceeds will benefit the Museum.

A leading figure in the Jewish music scene for over thirty years, Greg Wall is a pioneer in blending Jewish music with jazz. After early training under Archie Shepp and Max Roach in Amherst, MA, Wall finished his apprenticeship at New England Conservatory in Boston, studying and performing jazz with Jaki Byard, George Russell, and Jimmy Guiffre, and was part of the Klezmer revival scene at NEC.

After graduation he headed to New York and together with classmate Frank London, helped define the sound of “Jewish Jazz” with groups like Hasidic New Wave, Midrash Mishmash and later, the Ayn Sof Arkestra and Bigger Band, Shechina Big Band, Later Prophets and Zion80. He toured with the late Yosi Piamenta, the “Hasidic Hendrix,” and released several recordings playing original compositions alongside spoken word.

Wall played regularly at the original Knitting Factory locations, Tonic, the Nuyorican Poet’s Cafe, and the Stone, as well as making frequent tours abroad to Europe and Israel, maintaining a parallel career performing classic and mainstream jazz. While on the road, Wall pursued Talmudic study and was ordained as a Rabbi in 2006.

Wall is no stranger to Eldridge Street. In the early- to mid-90s he frequented the venue at a time when the landmark was dilapidated and only beginning to establish itself as in important cultural hub for families, hipsters, artists and religious and secular Jews.

My relationship with the museum goes back almost 30 years, when the restoration of the Eldridge Street Synagogue was the dream of a few determined, hard-working individuals. They never forgot their roots, and simultaneously became an important national cultural icon, while continuing to serve the folks in the neighborhood – It’s my kind of place.
Greg Wall

In 2009, Wall was appointed rabbi at the Sixth Street Community Synagogue in the East Village and continued to exhibit his particular blend of spirituality and avant-garde music with regular performances in the temple’s sanctuary. He was the founding Artistic Director of the synagogue’s Center for Jewish Arts and Literacy, which was an incubator for cutting edge modern music with a Jewish flavor. That practice continued, in 2013, when Wall became rabbi at Beit Chaverim Synagogue, in Westport,CT, where he’s continued to perform regularly his eclectic mix of classical and experimental jazz, Eastern European and African American roots music with a rotating group of influential musicians.

Wall’s latest release is The Book Beri’ah with Zion80, on the Tzadik record label of legendary producer John Zorn. A live recording with jazz pianist Andy LaVerne is scheduled for January, 2020.

The Museum at Eldridge Street is housed in the Eldridge Street Synagogue, a magnificent National Historic Landmark that has been meticulously restored. Opened in 1887, the synagogue is the first great house of worship built in America by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Today, it is the only remaining marker of the great wave of Jewish migration to the Lower East Side that is open to a broad public who wish to visit Jewish New York. Exhibits, tours, cultural events and educational programs tell the story of Jewish immigrant life, explore architecture and historic preservation, inspire reflection on cultural continuity, and foster collaboration and exchange between people of all faiths, heritages and interests.

October 19, 2019
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band announces Blues Revolution Tour featuring special guests

The Big Damn Blues Revolution Tour will bring together three artists who are both master musicians and amazing showmen. With five stops across New York in November, The Reverend Peyton, Dom Flemons and J.D. Wilkes will take the blues-roots-folk music that they love and live on a unique tour. Each night will culminate with a special jam session featuring all three artists.

The tour begins November 6 in Asheville, N.C., then heads north for a date in Brooklyn at Knitting Factory on November 13. From there, shows in Saratoga Springs (Nov 16), Syracuse (Nov. 19), Buffalo (Nov. 20) and Corning (Nov. 21) will bring blues-driven folk across the Empire State.

The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, a 2019 Blues Music Award nominee, includes the Reverend’s wife, “Washboard” Breezy Peyton, drummer Max Senteney and is led by the Reverend Peyton, considered to be the premier fingerpickers playing today. A singularly compelling performer and persuasive evangelist, the rootsy, country-blues styles that captured his imagination early in life led him to Clarksdale, Mississippi to study under such blues masters as T-Model Ford, Robert Belfour, and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. The recently released album Poor Until Payday debuted at #1 on the iTunes Blues Chart and #4 on the Billboard Blues Chart.

Joining Reverend Peyton is Don Flemons, who draws from a repertoire of more than 100 years of American folklore, ballads, and tunes. A Grammy Award winner and two-time Emmy nominee, Dom Flemons is known as “The American Songster” and is a music scholar, historian, and multi-instrumentalist – an expert player on the banjo, fife, guitar, harmonica, jug, percussion, quills, and rhythm bones. His 2018 Smithsonian Folkways release Dom Flemons Presents Black Cowboys received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. Flemons co-founded the Carolina Chocolate Drops, who won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2010 and were nominated for Best Folk Album in 2012.

J.D. Wilkes is a true Renaissance man — musician, visual artist, author, filmmaker, and self-proclaimed “Southern surrealist.” Also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist (notably on harmonica and banjo), Wilkes has recorded with Merle Haggard, John Carter Cash, Mike Patton, and Hank Williams III. Wilkes is perhaps best known as the founder of the Legendary Shack Shakers, a Southern Gothic rock and blues band whose fans include Stephen King, Robert Plant, and former Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra. Rolling Stone named Wilkes “best frontman” at the 2015 Americana Music Association Festival for his performance with the band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wItG_D3Vuvc

Big Damn Blues Revolution Tour Dates:

Wed., Nov. 6 ASHEVILLE, NC  The Grey Eagle

Thurs., Nov. 7 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. The Ramkat

Fri., Nov. 8 RALEIGH, NC The Pour House Music Hall

Sat., Nov. 9   LEESBURG, VA  Third Annual Chad Dukes Veterans Day Jamboree @ Tally Ho Theater; without Dom Flemons

Sun., Nov. 10 ANNAPOLIS, MD Rams Head On Stage

Tues., Nov. 12 BOSTON, MA  City Winery

Wed., Nov. 13 BROOKLYN, NY Knitting Factory

Thurs., Nov. 14  SELLERSVILLE, PA   Sellersville Theater 1894; without Dom Flemons

Fri., Nov. 15  TUCKERTON, NJ   Lizzie Rose Music Room; without Dom Flemons

Sat., Nov. 16  SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY   Cafe Lena; without Dom Flemons

Sun., Nov. 17 HAMDEN, CT Space Ballroom

Tues., Nov. 19  SYRACUSE, NY   Westcott Theatre; without Dom Flemons

Wed., Nov. 20 BUFFALO, NY The Tralf

Thurs., Nov. 21 CORNING, NY Corning Museum of Glass

Fri., Nov. 22 MORGANTOWN, WV 123 Pleasant Street

Sat., Nov. 23 COLUMBUS, OH Woodlands Tavern

Fri., Nov 29 INDIANAPOLIS, IN  The Vogue; without Dom Flemons

Sat., Nov 30  NEWPORT, KY  The Southgate House Revival; without Dom Flemons

October 16, 2019
Guest Contributor Exclusive: Mike Powell & Chris Merkley Wrap Up MicroTour at Local 315 in Warners
Editor’s Note: Mike Powell is a singer-songwriter from Central New York. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he also leads the soulful rock band The Black River. Powell and fellow CNY singer-songwriter Chris Merkley have embarked on a four-show mini-tour of microbreweries across the state searching for the connection between songwriting and brewing. This stop brings us to Local 315 in Warners

Powell will be returning to the studio soon to record another solo album and his band The Black River is releasing its second full-length album ‘Gypsy Winnebago’ on Nov. 1.

Merkley is the owner of Old Boy Records and curator of the Seedstock Festival in Cortland each summer. He also performs with The Crooners and Digger Jones and has composed original music for television and film, including the acclaimed HBO series Generation Kill.

This is the final installment of a four-part NYS Music series documenting the Original Gravity Tour and contributed by Powell. The first installment of Powell’s tour diary can be found here. Day two can be found here. Day three can be found here.

This past Sunday was the final show of the Original Gravity MicroTour and before I share my final recap I would like to first say thank you to Mike Kohli and NYS Music for allowing me the opportunity to be a guest contributor over the course of the past week. I highly value, respect and appreciate the energy that your team puts into keeping music fans like me up to date on the happenings around this state and beyond. I don’t get to exercise my journalistic side of the brain very often so, needless to say, this experience truly scratched a long burning creative itch.

I brewed my first batch of beer roughly ten years ago and have been homebrewing sporadically ever since. As I told Mike Kohli on the phone last night when he was asking about the timing of this final piece, I’ve always lived my life like a starved trout swimming against the stream ready to chase anything shiny that catches my eye. I guess you could say that I’m very curious by nature and I seemingly find a strong sense of comfort when I’m traveling down an unfamiliar road. I’ve learned over the years why I choose to live this way. When I learn a new skill it gives me a deeper understanding and a newfound appreciation for those that do it and those that do it well.

I knew that after I went through the process and experienced each step of brewing I would never taste a beer in the same way. After I wrote my very first song as a teenager I started to listen to music differently and on a deeper level. I started making furniture after college and since then I’ve never again sat in a chair without recognizing the craftsmanship and design. So I guess what I’m getting at is, diving headfirst into new things and venturing into new territory gives me a look under the hood on what makes it go. This approach has added color to my life’s wheel and simply fills me with deep admiration.

Coming from a former professional athlete this may sound a bit odd but I’m not a very competitive person. Well, not in the expected sense anyway. I never set out to become better than anyone else, that’s not what drives me. My drive lives on the inside, its a challenge within myself. For example, I know I will never write songs better than Bob Dylan and I’m one hundred percent aware of that fact, but I know that there’s a song in me somewhere that’s better than my last one. That is what keeps me moving. After exploring and talking with brewmasters over the past several years I think we share a similar mentality.

Our last performance saw our biggest crowd of the tour at Local 315 Brewing Company in Warners. I’ve played at this establishment quite a few times and what strikes me most is the cult-like following this brewery has created over its short time in existence. Surrounded by nothing but hop poles, goats and donkeys, this farmstead brewery has put out top quality brews and supported live original music since its inception. The weather on Sunday was absolutely perfect with the sun shining over the cornfields and illuminating the laid back outdoor area that has become this joint’s centerpiece.

With dogs chasing frisbees and kids running after one another, this atmosphere feels like you’re at a family reunion in a relative’s back yard. So Chris and I approached it that way and treated the afternoon as loose as we possibly could. Having fun with the crowd and realizing that although everyone was listening to us, we weren’t the center of attention, we were simply just playing our part and fitting into where we should. I’m happy to report that we were able to continue our live poetry on-demand experiment throughout the duration of the tour and people really seemed to get a kick out of it, everyone except Chris and myself. We closed out the Original Gravity MicroTour with our twist on “Got My Mojo Working,” finished our final beers and headed our separate ways.

This run has been a short but adventurous ride and as the sun sets on the horizon I would like to reflect back on some memorable moments.
1. Chris Merkley is awesome. His performances are so dialed in and tight. What I find amazing is how his musical style seems to fit in just about any scenario. Mine isn’t like that so it really stood out to me. He could play the same set at a festival, a club, a theater or a house concert and it would work and work well.
2. Chris Merkley almost killed a kitten with his Prius. While we were loading out our gear at Abandon Brewing we heard some purring coming from the engine. Which is normal but not when the car is off. Chris popped the hood and found a kitten sitting between the fuse box and the windshield washer fluid. Luckily he coerced it out without some old sheet pizza and carried it to safety.
3. We saw photographer and good friend Brian Cornish at two of the stops and he told us two separate jokes. Both of which made us laugh and neither of which would be appropriate to publish here.
4. I didn’t even take my camera out of my truck at Local 315, so the visual content of this post is brought to you courtesy of your very own Mike Kohli. Thank you, dude.
5. Although there were many highlights and funny moments when it came to the live poetry challenge we were having, my favorite moment was Chris’ lovely work of art titled “Bloody Mary” when the audience gave him the words “Worcestershire” and “butt” to work with.
6. Seeing familiar faces. We had several people come to every show and have fun touring with us. I think they were more into the beer component.
7. And finally tasting the amazing beer. Worth noting that if either of my grandfathers were alive and walked into a bar to find me smelling and swirling a flight of beer they would both kick my ass. But times have changed. I loved the Woods Valley Witte and Pocket Change IPA from Copper City, the Session and Dunkel at Abandon, 20 East NEIPA at Heritage Hill and Soul Kissed IPA from Local 315.
You haven’t see the last of Original Gravity MicroTour.

Over and Out,

Mike
October 16, 2019
Sweet Megg & the Wayfarers to bring a modern twist on 1920s to Brooklyn’s Jalopy Theatre

Sweet Megg & the Wayfarers have recently announced details about their album release party, set for October 19 at Jalopy Theatre in Brooklyn. With a jazzy style, Sweet Megg & the Wayfarers take audiences back to the 1920s, with a six-member band consisting of a wide range of instruments, including three types of saxophones, upright bass, guitar, drums, and lead vocals by Megg Farrell.

Farrell describes the new album as a return to “earlier repertoire of the 1920’s and 30’s, but we’ve also been mixing that with some modern elements.” The lead guitarist adds sweet tones of a telecaster and pedals to the album, creating a sound similar to Les Paul. This new album also features some heart-felt original songs, written and performed by Megg. All members of the band have special arrangements in the album—creating a one-of-a-kind, old-fashioned jazz style with a touch of modern bluegrass and western swing. Listen to the band’s first album below.

Guests of the October 19 show will get a sneak peak of the album debuting in December, which features an array of songs from nearly a century ago. Songs by Jellyroll Morton (“Why”), Billie Holiday (“I Cried For You”), Fats Waller (“Sweet & Slow) and Bessie Smith (“Devils Gonna Get You”) are performed by Megg and the Wayfarers, with their own personalized takes on the ageless tracks. Originals by Farrell are also found on the album (“Under the Moonlight” & “When the Moon Covers Up the Sun”), which drew their inspiration from the moon. The band’s trombone player, Sam Chess, was utilized heavily in these songs to create a youthful and swing-type style.

Throw on your dancing shoes and join the band at the album release party on October 19th at Jalopy Theatre. Doors open at 8 PM and tickets are only $10! Click here for more info.

October 13, 2019
Guest Contributor Exclusive: Mike Powell and Chris Merkley Explore Abandon Brewing Co. in Penn Yan

Editor’s Note: Mike Powell is a singer-songwriter from Central New York. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he also leads the soulful rock band The Black River. Powell and fellow CNY singer-songwriter Chris Merkley are embarking on a four-show mini-tour of microbreweries across the state searching for the connection between songwriting and brewing. This stop brings us to Abandon Brewing Co. in Penn Yan.

This is the second of a four-part NYS Music series contributed by Powell. The first installment of Powell’s tour diary can be found here.

“I am my own captain

On this ship I sail to sea”

I don’t have a manager. I don’t have a booking agent. I don’t have a publicist. I’m completely independent in every way but I’m certainly not alone. There are thousands of artist just like me that are making lives in music while handling their own booking, designing their own show posters, running their websites, printing their own shirts and funding their own records. There’s a real freedom that lives inside this type of self-reliant approach to making art. It’s certainly a major challenge and it definitely forces you to become a Swiss army knife in many ways. But I love everything about it…well, everything except the booking component.

I hate booking myself. It’s the absolute worst.  It’s an incredibly time-consuming process that just really frustrates the hell out of me. But worst of all is I just can not stand “selling” myself to venues. It goes against everything that my parents taught me about being humble.  Telling someone that you’re good is just about the most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.

I have a public confession to make. When I first started booking tours for myself back in 2008 I created a separate Gmail account to send my press kit from because the whole self-promotion thing weirds me out so much. I even used a fake name, Theo. It seemed to work out okay and made me feel a little less guilty about self-promotion until I would be loading in for a show and the talent buyer would ask if Theo was going to be around.

“Theo”

Through my years of traveling and having countless green room conversations with fellow artists, I was happy to find out that I’m certainly not the first or the last to try the old fake name trick. In fact, I’ve laughed with dozens of songwriters about the fake name that they used and some even continue to use.

Theo was getting gigs for me but it just didn’t feel right so I made a conscious decision to stop forcing it and just try to focus on playing rooms that feel right and fit my music. It was this simple decision that freed me up to focus more on what I needed to, writing better songs and honing my performance. Soon I realized that the opportunities started to reveal themselves. I started to find fun in the word of mouth search for venues around my region that are true gems. I realized quickly that you can Google search all you want but you won’t organically find the right rooms that way.

I began asking questions. I started to talk to music lovers about their favorite places to see live music. I would ask touring songwriters that I opened for where their favorite places to play were. This approach has worked out for me and taken the pressure off of the awkward cold email approach.

Three years ago I started to notice a tall shadowy figure in a trench coat, cowboy boots and a ponytail was attending many of my shows. I like to personally thank everyone that comes out to see me play with a handshake. So after about the third time I saw this man at one of my shows I decided I needed to go introduce myself to him. His name is Patrick O’Malley and from that day forth we have maintained a wonderful relationship. He’s just a great dude that loves music, has experience booking acts at various venues around the state and has a great understanding of how to create a cool experience for the artist and the audience.

Three months ago I got a text from Patrick and he said, “You’ve gotta see this room.” He attached a picture of a big stage in an old barn surrounded by rustic beams and elegant string lighting. He knew it, it was my kind of place. I immediately fired back and said, “WHERE IS THIS?” and he replied “Abandon Brewing in Penn Yan.”

Yesterday was in my opinion, the perfect New York day. The leaves were turning, the sun was shining and the air was clean.  I hopped in my truck and headed west from my home in Cazenovia bound for stop number two on the Original Gravity MicroTour at Abandon Brewing. I love driving and there are few drives more magical than the one that threads through the Finger Lakes on a classic fall day.

I arrived at about four o’clock while the sun was high but dropping fast and my first glimpse from the parking lot revealed an incredible old barn that sat overlooking beautiful Keuka Lake. What an expansive and magical view. I passed through the giant doors and found a perfect sized bar and a solo performer on that familiar stage I recognized from Patrick’s photo. Patrick’s picture just did not do the place justice.

Chris arrived and we shared a tasty session Saison created by the talented and prolific brewmaster Jeff. Our eyes drifted all around this geothermal powered farmstead brewery and we talked about how amazing the acoustics were in this old barn. We met one of the owners, AJ, who happens to also be in a Rochester-based bluegrass band, thus reinforcing that connection we’ve set out to explore on this tour between beer and music. So needless to say we felt right at home.

The sun went down and they fired up the heaters inside the old barn and we played our sets for a playful and respectful crowd.  The beer options were plentiful and flat out fantastic and again, the sound was top notch. I can see this venue really becoming a place that traveling acts of various genres will seek out for years to come because of the vibe, location, sound, the aesthetic and overall experience at Abandon.

Thank you to Patrick for sending that text message and everyone who came out to see Chris and me. Such a killer night. Its nights like last night that make me say to myself, “Man, I am so lucky to be doing this”.

Sincerely,

Theo

The video below gives a view of the second stop of the Original Gravity Tour at Abandon Brewing Company in Penn Yan with interview footage of tourmate Chris Merkley.

Powell and Merkley continue their Original Gravity tour on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 3:00 p.m. at Heritage Hill Brewhouse in Pompey and Local 315 Brewing Company in Warners on Sunday, Oct. 13, also at 3:00 p.m.

October 12, 2019
Guest Contributor Exclusive: Mike Powell and Chris Merkley Kick-Off Original Gravity Tour at Copper City Brewing in Rome

Editor’s Note: Mike Powell is a singer-songwriter from Central New York. In addition to his work as a solo artist, he also leads the soulful rock band The Black River. Powell and fellow CNY singer-songwriter Chris Merkley are embarking on a four-show Original Gravity mini-tour of microbreweries across the state searching for the connection between songwriting and brewing.

This is the first of a four-part NYS Music series contributed by Powell. Additional photos contributed by NYS Music staff.

There are few relationships more felicitous than the one that exists between beer and music. My love for songs and storytelling began in the late ’80s when I was just a kid laying on a shag carpet underneath our Formica kitchen table. My father would regularly invite his work buddies over to our house after the whistle blew at the paper mill and they would sit around banging away on old guitars, breathing into harmonicas and drinking cases of Genny Light. I would hide quietly, listen closely and watch as their oil-stained work boots tapped along to the beat of songs like “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, “Desperados Waiting For A Train” and “On The Road Again”.

At the conclusion of just about every song, one of the men at the table would take the floor and share an often hilarious story with the others. These stories and these songs from hardworking men in greasy blue uniforms in many ways became the backbone of what I’ve spent the past ten years of my life doing. Above the sound of the human voice, the wailing tone of a harp and the thump of a dreadnought I so vividly remember the signature snap of that blue aluminum can popping open – beer was just part of the ceremony.

The genesis of the Original Gravity MicroTour was a simple phone conversation I had in August with my friend and fellow songwriter Chris Merkley. He and I became fast friends last year while doing a run that included stops at some of the best little theaters in Central New York like Nelson Odeon, Borodino Hall, Earlville Opera House and the Auburn Public Theater. His ability as a performer is undeniable but what I find most admirable is his strong sense of community and ability to inject creativity into all that he does. Take a trip out to Cortland for one of his Seedstock Music Festivals and you’ll see exactly what I am talking about.

This particular conversation centered around playing shows together again but we didn’t want it to be standard boilerplate. We both needed to do it differently and find a way to shine a light on other like-minded folks doing amazing things in their own arenas. Our talk quickly spun out of control, per usual, and our minds started collectively racing towards the topic of a small craft brewery tour.

We talked about how craft breweries have created a whole new stage for original musicians like us and how grateful we are that they exist. We started asking each other deep psychological questions like, “Do people that prefer a craft beer experience have something in their make-up that makes them more apt to digest original music?” “Are there similarities between songwriters and brewers?” “Why make your own beer when there’s plenty of great beer being made all around the world?” “Why write songs when there are millions of amazing songs already written?” The aim of the Original Gravity MicroTour is to take a four-night deep-dive exploration into the analogous union between original songwriters and craft brewers.

After I hung up with Chris I immediately put in an excited call to my dear friend Mike Kohli who happens to be one of the biggest music supporters I know, a lover of craft beer and the editor of this here media outlet. I told Mike our plans and I asked if he would perhaps allow me to be a guest content provider during the MicroTour and he graciously agreed. He told me that he has had a very similar idea kicking around in his brain for quite some time and has been waiting for the right moment to tell the story.  And since I had him on the phone already I decided to push the envelope and take it one step further. I said, “How about we kick the thing off on your home turf, Copper City Brewing Company?” And he said, “HELL YEAH…I mean, let me check with the owners Dan and Lori.”

For over 80 years, the city of Rome has lacked the presence of a local microbrewery. Prohibition effectively shut down the last of them in the 1930s and the void remained until the visionary couples Dan and Lori Colasanti Frieden and Eric and Erica Sheible Daniels spoke up in 2015 and announced their ambitious plans to bring brewing back to Rome. After looking all over town for the right property they landed on a renovation project at 1111 Oneida Street on Rome’s east side.

When you push through the doors of CCBC you’ll most certainly be greeted with a big smile from behind the bar as your eyes scan around the modern industrial motif. The fresh grainy smell will hit your senses, your mouth will water and your palette will prepare. As a musician, the first thing I noticed walking in was an elegant nook off to the left with comfortable seating, board games and a guitar on a stand that is welcome to be played by any and all patrons. The room itself is an interesting juxtaposition because although it has several rigid metal touches it somehow gives off a thoughtful warmth. I’ve played shows at Copper City three or four times now and I’ve come to realize that the warmth comes from the people inside it.

Chris and I had an awesome time on night number one.  Perhaps my favorite part of the night was our attempt at doing on-demand poetry. During Chris’ set, he asked the crowd to throw out a couple of words and I would be tasked with writing a poem related to them in real-time and present it by the time I took the stage. Well, the audience gave me “Camel Unicorn” and I thought I wrote a pretty good poem under pressure. But after my reading, I asked for the audience to now give me a couple of words for Chris to work with and I selected “Asbestos Shed”. I thought he was going to struggle. But in true Merkley fashion, he won the night and got the biggest eruption from the crowd with his incredible tale of smashing his face after falling not so gracefully from a shed as a kid.

Big thanks to Copper City for the incredible hospitality, wonderful beer and all that came out to hear us. This train rolls on to Abandon Brewing tonight in Penn Yan where I plan to dethrone Merkley as the top on-demand poet on this tour.

Below is a video documenting the first night of the tour. Featured are Copper City Brewing Company co-owner Dan Frieden and the brewery’s talent buyer and NYS Music Editor-in-Chief Mike Kohli.

Powell and Merkley continue their tour on Friday, Oct. 11 at Abandon Brewing Company overlooking Keuka Lake in Penn Yan. Tickets for the 8:00 p.m. show are available at the door. Additional dates on the tour include Heritage Hill Brewhouse in Pompey on Saturday, Oct. 12 and Local 315 Brewing Company in Warners on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Mike Powell & Chris Merkley perform at Copper City Brewing in Rome

Mike Powell interviews Chris Merkley

Chris Merkley

Chris Merkley

Mike Powell

Mike Powell

October 11, 2019