The new Stew review, comin’ right at you!

Posted on February 22, 2010 | Leave a comment

Stew in his breakup show, "Making It," at St. Ann's Warehouse on Feb. 21. (Copyright 2010, Steven P. Marsh)

I avoided reading reviews of Stew and Heidi Rodewald‘s new show, Making It, playing  at St. Ann’s Warehouse through tomorrow night. I wanted to go to tonight’s show with fresh, unsullied eyes, ears and mind.

But somehow I just couldn’t resist. And then, once I read the pan by Jon Caramanica, I just knew Stew had to have had something to say about it on his blog. Stew goes in fits and starts, but recently he’s been taking to the blog to set the record straight about inaccuracies in things that have been written about his work. And boy, he didn’t disappoint with his response to Caramanica. He wrote  a highly entertaining, deliciously acerbic post that you can read for yourself by clicking here. (One inaccuracy that Stew didn’t correct in The New York Times review is the tagline that said  the show “continues through Sunday,” it has another performance tomorrow (Monday) night. Has the Times‘ fact-checking  department been eliminated?)

Bottom line here, is that everybody’s entitled to an opinion. But I couldn’t disagree with Caramanica more. Stew’s response may have been rather, ummm, emotional (understandably), but he’s still right. I don’t know what Caramanica was seeing the night he reviewed the show, but he must not have seen the show I saw tonight.

Sure, Making It is not Passing Strange. But it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a document of a breakup — somewhat fictionalized, like every good work of art— presented in the form of a staged concert. And it rocks!

If you want to see this show, you are probably out of luck. The last show is tomorrow (Monday, Feb. 22) night, and as of a couple of minutes ago, there were only three seats left, priced at $78 apiece. But don’t take my word for it, check out the St. Ann’s Warehouse  web site. If you do get to see it, you’ll be glad you made the effort. It is an amazing show.

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New music from Philadelphia heroes Marah!

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

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Posted in Music, Pop and Rock

The news at 11, Smithereens style

Posted on February 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Jim Babjak, Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion and Pat Dinizio of The Smithereens rock B.B. King's. (Photos copyright 2010, Steven P. Marsh)

Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? has been preoccupied with paying the bills and going to shows in the first weeks of this year. As a result, we’re way behind in posting.

Sid Bernstein introduces The Smithereens at B.B. King's.

The Smithereens played their annual B.B. King’s show last month. It was a powerful set, the first half of which was a beautiful rendition of the hard-rocking band’s third official album, 1989’s 11. They opened the show with some early footage of the band performing and an introduction by Sid Bernstein, who brought the Beatles to Shea Stadium and who’s been a huge supporter of the Smithereens.

The band also played some of its superb cover of The Who’s Tommy, in anticipation of its participation in the March 2 Carnegie Hall tribute to The Who, in which The Smithereens have been invited to participate.

Dennis Diken keeps the beat.

Yes, this really is Pat DiNizio in the early days of The Smithereens.

The Smithereens have a great time.

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Care Bears on Fire playing Nassau Coliseum

Posted on February 9, 2010 | Leave a comment

Care Bears on Fire, Izzy, Sophie and Jena (from left) rock Cake Shop on Saturday afternoon. (Photos copyright 2009, Steven P. Marsh)

Amazingly fun teen pop-punkers Care Bears on Fire pulled together the second in their series of Saturday afternoon showcases on Feb. 6 at Cake Shop on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The tiny basement club is a perfect place for the girls to work on their sound and snarl in front of hardcore fans and with little to distract them from the music.

Things will be very differen this Saturday, when CBoF is on the Pop-Con bill at Nassau Coliseum opening for riot-inducing kiddie pop star Justin Bieber. Saturday’s show is probably one for parents to drop off their children and pick them up later. It’s not the kind of show that even I, a hardcore CBoF fan, will probably be able to tolerate. But it’s a great opportunity for the high-energy trio. And you can catch their next Let Them Eat Cake show at Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St., on the Lower East Side on Saturday, March 6.

Check out more photos of the Cake Shop show and the other bands that performed at the showcase to benefit Haiti after the jump. Continue reading →

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Posted in Benefit, Concerts, Music, News, Pop and Rock, Punk

Stew sez: The Negro Problem is touring this fall!

Posted on February 8, 2010 | Leave a comment

Stew and Heidi perform as The Broadway Problem at Lincoln Center Out of Doors last summer. (Copyright 2009, Steven P. Marsh)

Deep in his critique of the New York Magazine‘s piece about his upcoming show Making It, composer and bon vivant Stew lets drop a little bomb that is sure to please his fans, especially those outside of New York City: “The Negro Problem will be on tour this Fall.”

Stew, is that a promise? Or a tease? Let’s hope it’s the former.

Some form of The Negro Problem —  with Stew and Heidi Rodewald at the core but under names like The Broadway Problem — has played around NYC in the last year. But fans elsewhere have had to rely on the movie version of Passing Strange (on the big screen, on PBS, On Deman, or on DVD) to get anything resembling a TNP fix. So this is nothing but good news.

More on Making It, which begins its six-show run at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Dumbo, Brooklyn on Feb. 17, will follow. I just wanted to get this tidbit on the table.

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Music raises money for Haiti

Posted on January 23, 2010 | Leave a comment
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The Young Peoples Chorus of New York City kicked off the evening at City Winery on Wednesday. (Photos copyright 2010, Steven P. Marsh)

John Wesley Harding

The Carolina Chocolate Drops

Michael Stipe didn't sing, but his mere presence got the crowd stirred up.

Patti Smith and Lenny Kaye are always there for a good cause.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, aka The Swell Season

Yo La Tengo

Joshua Bell and friends

There was a bit of irony in a crowd gathering at City Winery in TriBeCa to feast on great food and wine and listen to some of the most-loved bands around play to raise funds for those suffering in Haiti. But Wednesday night’s show, the first of four aimed at raising $100,000 for Haiti by charging $75 a head ($200 for VIP).

The irony quickly faded to the background once the part started Wednesday. There was a real feeling of joy from the performers and artists alike. This tremendous tragedy seems to have galvanized New Yorkers in gratifying ways.

The sets were all too-short, but consistently well-done. It was a very impressive effort.

Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? didn’t have a prime spot for photography, but got some images that will help us remember the great night

Tim Griffin got some truly awesome photos, which you can check out by clicking here.

And please consider attending on of the two remaining shows. Mystifyingly, ticket prices are lower for the remaining shows than for the first. Rosanne Cash, Nada Surf, Tabou Combo and others are performing at 8 pm tomorrow (click here for more information and tickets at $50; $200 VIP), while piano-based singer-snogwriter Vienna Teng and guitarist singer-songwriter Ari Hest are two of the better-known indie artists on Monday night’s show, which also starts at 8 (click here for more information and tickets at $20; $75 VIP).

City Winery is at 155 Varick St. (between Spring and Vandam). Doors open for dinner at 5 pm. Seating is first-come, first-served, so if position matters, be early. Showtimes are pretty accurate.

Meanwhile, if the City Winery lineups do nothing for you, check out A Night of Comedy and Music to Benefit Haiti at the Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight. It’s presented by Bowery Presents and BrooklynVegan. It features short sets by: Zach Galifianakis, Britt Daniel (of Spoon), Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), St. Vincent, Janeane Garofalo, Wyatt Cenac (of the Daily Show), the live debut of John Shade (ex Dave Godowsky) & possibly more. Advance tickets appear to be sold out, but some may be available at the door for $40. The Music Hall of Williamsburg is at 66 North Sixth Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

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Beth Orton in the spotlight at The Bell House

Posted on January 20, 2010 | 1 comment

Beth Orton charms at The Bell House on Monday night. (Photos copyright 2010, Steven P. Marsh)

Beth Orton is always charming and has a brilliant way with songs. She brings new life to the tunes she resurrects and covers, and has a unique sensibility on her new numbers as well.

At The Bell House in Brooklyn on Monday night, Beth pulled off a strong performance despite battling the remnants of what she described as walking pneumonia. Despite her vocal challenges, Beth’s understated vocals reminded the audience of her amazing ability as a song stylist.

As a performer, Beth comes off as a perfectionist and a bit awkward at the same time. She started a couple of songs over because she wasn’t satisfied with the way they were going.

Early on in her set, Beth deadpanned: “Hi, I’m shy.”

Sorry to disagree, Beth, but no, you’re anything but shy.

It feels like Beth rarely tours here. This visit one was tiny — one show in Los Angeles, at Largo, and two in New York, the first on Sunday night at Manhattan’s City Winery. But she did five shows in NYC less than a year ago. As I recall, she was getting over an illness that time, too.

This mini-tour took advantage of a budding partnership between Beth and her opener, Sam Amidon. Sam is a Vermont-born singer who has come to specialize in quirky interpretations of traditional American folk songs. Sam’s spare, airy, almost stumbling version of O Death is one of my favorite takes on the tune. He and keyboard player Thomas “Doveman” Bartlett worked together in the opening set, with a bit of help from Sam’s brother, Stefan. Beth joined them for a bit, too. Sam and Thomas returned the favor during Beth’s set.

A full set list and some of my photos also made it onto Beth’s official fan site. Thanks to the great webmaster, Tim, for that!

More photos of Beth, Sam and Thomas after the jump.

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Passing Strange‘s Eisa Davis in song and conversation

Posted on January 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Eisa Davis

Eisa Davis, who played the mom in Passing Strange, a musical play that probably needs no introduction to readers of this blog, and the equally awesome Angela’s Mixtape (Eisa’s autobiographical show that focuses on her aunt, activist Angela Davis) is a featured artist  at Manhattan’s Symphony Space next month.

On Monday, Feb. 22, as part of Symphony Space-New York Times “Speaking of the Arts” series, The New York Times’ culture writer Daniel J. Wakin will speak with five composers who work with very different types of music. Eisa will represent the singer/songwriter genre, while Joan Tower will talk about concert music, Arturo O’Farrill about Afro-Latin jazz, Henry Threadgill about jazz and Jeanine Tesori about musical theater. Tickets for that event, at 7:30, are $25 and available here.

Then on Friday, Feb. 26, Eisa will return to the Symphony Space stage to perform old favorites and new songs with some of her “favorite musicians.” No word yet on who those favorites are, but I’m sure she’s trying to line up some of her friends from Passing Strange. Showtime is 7:30, and tickets are $25 and available here.

Eisa has a warm and lyrical vocal style, a magnetic stage presence and a charming personality. Don’t miss either event, as they’re bound to be entertaining and insightful. Both performances are at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, Manhattan. Call (212) 864-5400 or visit the web site for further information.

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RIP Kate McGarrigle

Posted on January 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

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Canadian folksinger Kate McGarrigle, the head of a musical dynasty, who’s best known known by younger music fans as the mother of Rufus and Martha Wainwright, died last night. She was 63, and died of clear-cell carcinoma.

Kate, a Juno award winner and Member of the Order of Canada, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

Click here for a blog post on her death from the National Post, a Canadian newspaper, and here for the Toronto Star report.

Kate gave birth to Martha and Rufus, two gifted singers, during her marriage to singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III.

Kate performed for many years in a duo with her sister Anna as Kate and Anna McGarrigle, passing their folk-music traditions along to a large, extended family family of musicians, which, in addition to Loudon, Rufus and Martha, includes Maggie, Terre and Suzzy Roche who perform together as The Roches (the link: Suzzy had a daughter, singer-songwriter Lucy Wainwright Roche, with Loudon). The family had a tradition of gathering annually for Christmas concerts, sometimes at New York’s Carnegie Hall. The last McGarrigle Family Christmas concert, A Not So Silent Night, was held last Dec. 9 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Here’s a video of Kate singing a new song, “Proserpina,” at that show:

Last Friday, Rufus’ web site announced that he was canceling his February/March tour of Australia and New Zealand “due to an illness in the family.”  Martha’s site indicates she has no upcoming concert dates.

Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? sends best wishes to Kate’s extended family at this time of loss.

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City Winery’s four nights for Haiti relief

Posted on January 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

Patti Smith is just one of the artists who will perform for Haiti relief at City Winery. (Copyright 2010, Steven P. Marsh)

Will You Miss Me When I’m Gone? will be at the first of four nights of fantastic Haiti-relief. I’d like to make all four, but I’m not sure I have the cash (it’s $75 minimum,  but it’s worth as it’s for an important cause!) or the free time to do that. But everyone who cares about music and about the tragedy in Haiti should try to make it to at least one of these shows. It’s a great way for music fans to make a contribution.

All four nights are shaping up to be amazing. Patti Smith, Yo La Tengo, John Wesley Harding, comedian Lewis Black, Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Roseanne Cash, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Carolina Chocolate Drops and many more entertainers of all types. City Winery promises that more will be added.

The third night (Jan. 25) in particular, should be a great party given that U.S-based Tabou Combo (misspelled on the poster as Tambou Combo), one of the longest-running bands specializing in an irresistible Haitian dance music called compas (or konpa direk), is on the bill. I haven’t seen TC in years, but by all accounts it remains an amazing dance band.

City Winery’s goal is to raise $100,000 for Haiti relief over the four nights. Tickets ($75 general admission, $200 for Big-Hearted Donor tickets, which include a bottle of special wine) are tax deductible. Proceeds are being split among three charities: Wyclef Jean‘s Yele Haiti Foundation, Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health.

Click here for more info and to buy tickets. As of this posting, it seems that tickets are still available for all four shows. Showtimes vary slightly from 8 to 9 pm, so check the time when you buy tickets. Unlike many City Winery shows, these shows are all general admission — although the $200 ticket will get you into the VIP area. My advice to you is to ignore your New York concert-going instincts to arrive late. If you want a good spot, arrive on time. Or even early! The good people at City Winery assure me that the kitchen will be open for all four shows, so you’ll be able to pass the time until the show starts with eating as well as drinking.

City Winery is at 155 Varick St., New York, NY 10013. Call (212) 608-0555 or email info@citywinery.com for more information.

[picapp align=”none” wrap=”false” link=”term=carolina+chocolate+drops&iid=3352167″ src=”9/d/7/4/2008_Stagecoach_Country_6d14.jpg?adImageId=9282703&imageId=3352167″ width=”500″ height=”356″ /]

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