The Postcrypt Coffeehouse is located in the basement of St. Paul's Chapel on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. We feature live acoustic music from national and local acts. When we say acoustic, we really mean it: there are no microphones. Columbia is located at 116th Street and Broadway and is accessible by the 1 and 9 subways. Admission is always free and open to all. Performances start at 9 p.m. and generally run through 12:30 a.m. on every Friday and Saturday during the school year. For more info, call 212-854-1953 or send email to [email protected]. Please browse our World Wide Web page at http://www.postcrypt.org/.
Note: All shows list performers in the order of appearance: 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.
Amy Fix -- Amy Fix quickly became a Postcrypt favorite thanks to her witty and poignant songs about life, love and New York City. She was last with us in the fall of 1998, and it's been far too long. Sam Fenster joins her on guitar that matches perfectly with Amy's poetic singing style and expressive stage presence.
Edie Carey -- According to Richard Cuccaro, the editor of AcousticLive!, "Edie Carey's soaring voice and breathy vocal attack may remind some of Ani DiFranco. However, her growing legion of fans know that Edie's clever lyrics on the inconsistencies of romance fall closer to wry humor that they do to Ani's angst. Another folk diva has arrived!" She loves to play at the Postcrypt-once calling it "a singer-songwriter's wet dream"-and always puts on a great show.
Li'l Mo Duo -- Evoking the golden age of country music in her twangy vocals, Monica "Li'l Mo" Passin has been delighting New York City audiences for several years now. Her latest album was voted one of the top 10 CDs of 1999 by Country Standard Time. Tonight she's joined by ace guitar picker Doug Walker, who has a few catchy tunes of his own up his sleeve. This is their Postcrypt debut in this formation.
Danny Weiss and Bob Green -- Danny Weiss is one of the New York area's great bluegrass guitar players. He's played for many years as a member of Skyline behind Tony Trischka, just released a CD with Barry Miterhoff and Larry Cohen as Silk City and also plays with Sheriff Bob and the Goodtimers. Bob Green is a world-class fiddle player who plays everything from bluegrass to klezmer to Celtic music. He's performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Bluegrass Unlimited calls him "a musician who taps a wide variety of inspirations and who is equally comfortable navigating them all." This duo is not to be missed!
Michael Jonathan -- A transplanted New Yorker, Michael Johnathon moved to Mousie, Kentucky in the early 80's to learn the craft and experience the lifestyle of being a folksinger. For several years, he roamed the hills and hollers of Appalachia with his guitar and banjo singing the songs of his trade at hundreds of colleges, schools and fairs. Billboard Magazine headlined him as an "UnSung Hero." Last year, he was the opening act for Judy Collins at major outdoor concert venues. He is also the host of the Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour.
Tristan -- Tristan Kromer is not afraid to explore a variety of genres: blues, folk and north Indian raga to funk, hard rock and industrial. He has studied classical and north Indian music theory, has taken lessons in opera and in north Indian raga and studied poetry at Carnegie Mellon University with Jim Daniels. He is the musical director of Deridian, a folk group that performs eclectic world music. Tonight is a special solo show and his Postcrypt debut.
Andrew Vladeck -- Despite having graduated from Columbia in 1992, Andrew Vladeck remains both a fixture and a favorite at the Postcrypt. Whether it's his unique slide-banjo style, his percussive guitar playing or his harmonica stylings, Andrew's music and songs delight audiences.
The Wicomicos -- Mikel Campbell and Carmen Yates are the songwriters behind The Wicomicos' original, soulful, urban folk. Carl Kassell of National Public Radio says, "The real news in contemporary acoustic music is The Wicomicos. Their songs are vivid and compelling, their performance is heartfelt and engaging."
Tim Robinson -- Bob Hillman calls Tim Robinson, "One of the best singer-songwriters that I know," and we're inclined to agree. He helped us put together this same line-up last spring on short notice, and it turned out to be one of the best nights of the season. So we asked him to do it in advance this time, and we're sure that it's going to be another wonderful night of music.
Frank Tedesso -- Frank Tedesso's visceral, unpretentious philosophical insights echo everything from Alan Ginsberg's poetry to Van Morrison's soulful mysticism. He's been compared to the likes of Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. You don't want to miss Frank Tedesso at the Postcrypt.
Jack Hardy -- Few people have been as instrumental in building today's vibrant New York City folk music scene as Jack Hardy. The founder of The Fast Folk Musical Magazine and still the host of regular songwriting circles, Jack Hardy has overseen the development of stars like Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, The Roches and Richard Shindell. The Boston Globe has called him "one of the most influential figures in defining the American folk song." John Gorka says, "Jack Hardy was the first person I met who really worked at writing songs, who took it seriously and went after the songs rather than waiting around for them to show up."
Stephanie Corby -- Ellis Paul says, "Stephanie has the kind of voice that can make the waters part; loud, sweet, and soulful, and she has an engaging, original stage spirit as well." Stephanie transcends the borders of musical style. She has successfully fused her classical, jazz and blues backgrounds into a distinct R&B-flavored acoustic sound. Recently she performed on the main stage at the Kerrville Folk Festival as a New Folk Finalist . This is her Postcrypt debut.
Kyle Shiver -- Kyle Shiver was born and raised in Albany, Georgia. He grew up playing with plastic guitars until he got his first real one for Christmas at age 8. His early infatuations were diverse: Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, Jimi Hendrix. In 1992, he discovered the Atlanta open mic circuit and laid down his roots in acoustic music. Kyle draws inspiration from the grittiness of city life as reflected on his latest CD, From the Concrete Park. The songs are vivid, compelling and sometimes humorous pictures of the foibles of modern life.
Kris Delmhorst -- In the musically bustling city of Boston, new singer-songwriters pop up on a daily basis, but few earn any lasting attention. Kris Delmhorst has been commanding more and more of it, gaining momentum steadily since her arrival in town in 1996. Kris's combination of true musicianship and consistently compelling writing has earned her the respect of her fellow artists and the enthusiastic support of audiences wherever she goes. She uses her rhythmic guitar style and a warm, effortless voice to deliver songs which are lyrically memorable and emotionally true, weaving their spell around anyone in earshot. Kris's skills on cello, fiddle, and voice are also in constant demand by a long list of artists, including Pamela Means, Peter Mulvey and Jennifer Kimball.
Kristin Cifelli -- Holding a degree in songwriting with magna cum laude honors from the Berklee College of Music, Kristin Cifelli is a rising talent on the Boston scene. WCUW-FM of Worcester says, "Her voice is a practiced instrument; she is in full control while singing with thrilling emotion-striking, tender at one moment-then powerful, soaring, carrying us along to a musical and lyrical peak." Please welcome her for her Postcrypt debut.
Nate Borofsky -- Richard Fox of WCUW-FM says, "An intensely personal songwriter, Nate's lyrics are a stream of introspective images accented with gentle irony and honest reflection. He delivers his words with a smooth and yearning vocal style and emphasizes key phrases with an appealing inflection. Nate's musical heroes range from Beethoven to the Indigo Girls and he has an interest in atonal musical composition. This diversity of styles finds its way into his guitar playing and can create an intriguing contrast between voice and instrument." We agree.
Kyler -- With highly intense and personal songs, Kyler is a performer who gives of herself freely. She mesmerizes listeners with the "richness, depth and breadth of emotion" in her songs and a voice that has been described as "alluring," "sultry," and "thick as molasses." At 23, she has been performing original music for over five years. Born and raised amidst the beauty and Southern charm of North Carolina, Kyler got her start on the campus of her alma mater, North Carolina State University in Raleigh. She has just moved to New York City from Boston, and this will be her first time at the Postcrypt.
Josh Ritter -- Since graduating from Oberlin College in 1999, Ritter has become a keystone of the revitalized Providence and Boston folk scenes. Ritter has cut his teeth opening for such performers as Gillian Welch, Lucy Kaplansky, Carrie Newcomer and Pamela Means. National Public Radio did a feature on him and said, "You can detect hints of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Tom Waits, and maybe some Lou Reed...not bad company to be compared to." Not bad indeed. Please welcome him for his Postcrypt debut.
Howard Emerson -- Howard Emerson learned to fingerpick the guitar while cutting class at the Berklee School of Music. In the mid-1970s, he toured with Eric Andersen and was a part of Billy Joel's band. Last year, he released his first CD, Crossing Crystal Lake, which Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary called "a delightful collection of wonderfully inventive guitar pieces-a jewel of an album." Jimmy Vivino, the guitarist on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, says, "Howard Emerson has the touch we all strive for." He's been performing at the Postcrypt for years, and we're happy to welcome him back.
Peter Keane -- Of Peter Keane, the Boston Globe says, "A sublime mix of acoustic blues and country folk...his marvelous guitar playing evokes the best of the gentle blues players like John Hurt and Dave Van Ronk. Keane's voice, full of husky sustain and grainy texture, give his phrasing an honest authority and confidentiality that makes everything he sings sound personal and immediate." The Washington Post says, "Keane puts the Hurt on the blues and the fingerpick on the bluegrass. It's what they used to call good-time music when the Boston folk scene was green." Please welcome Peter back to the Postcrypt for his first show since the fall of 1998.
Laura Kemp -- Laura Kemp has gained a reputation on the West Coast as one of the finest performers and songwriters on the scene. Since 1990 she has been captivating Northwest audiences with her unique brand of acoustic poetry, earning herself comparisons to the likes of Bob Dylan and Nanci Griffith. Please welcome Laura to the East Coast for her Postcrypt debut.
Anne Marie Menta -- Anne Marie Menta has been a part of Connecticut's music scene for over fifteen years. A native of Hamden, Connecticut, Menta's musical credits include fronting various rock & roll, folk and country bands as a singer/guitarist. Hank Hoffman of the New Haven Advocate writes, "Playing contemporary folk music, her songs are filled with heartfelt sentiment but delivered free of cloying sentimentality." This is her Postcrypt debut.
Taqui Inti -- The Postcrypt is pleased to welcome this group of Ecuadorian musicians to our stage. With a mission to bring the music and culture of the Andes to the United States, Taqui Inti performs the indigenous folk music of South America on traditional instruments. We promise some great pan-piping. This is also their Postcrypt debut.
Open Stage -- Folk, blues, bluegrass, jazz, reggae: you name it! We also welcome poets, storytellers, actors, comics, and performers of all kinds. Performances start at 9:00; sign-up begins at 8:45. Eight to ten minute limit.
Patty Giurleo -- Starting in 1994, with a two track, live acoustic seven-inch single on Mag Wheel records, Patty was named by Musician Magazine as one of the year's top ten unsigned bands and received a glowing review by Charles Aaron in SPIN. Matt Ashare of the Boston Phoenix writes, "She's got a knack for channeling mixed emotions, wounded pride and unpleasant memories into sweet-sounding folk-pop tunes that never confess too much, just enough to make you wonder." This is her Postcrypt debut.
Jen Shankman -- When you listen to singer-songwriter Jen Shankman for the first time, be prepared to catch your breath. With penetrating lyrics, melodies that reach the deepest hidden truths and a voice that rings out from the caverns of her soul, Jen will keep you on the edge of your seat gasping for more. Her joy and pain in facing the daily rhythms of New York City and places beyond come to life in her extensive, original repertoire.
Terry Kitchen -- Stephen Ide of Dirty Linen magazine has called Terry Kitchen, "One of New England's finest songwriters." Singer-songwriter Vance Gilbert says that he "picks up where Elvis Costello and Tom Waits merge and leave off." He's released four CD's of his songs, and he stresses that he's more of a storyteller than a musician.
Please note that the Postcrypt is closed on 3 and 4 November because of the Election Day holiday.
Meg Hutchinson -- The winner of the 2000 Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Award, Meg Hutchinson describes her sound as, "lyric-based, post-punk, post-feminist (but not post-modern) folk-pop, barn-raising music with perhaps too much idealism and maybe a touch of the real sad blues." She was one of the performers in the 2000 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival showcase, and we're very pleased to welcome her for her Postcrypt debut.
Deborah Berg McCarthy -- Endorsed by Terre Roche as a "great songwriter," we're pleased to welcome Deborah Berg McCarthy for her first show at the Postcrypt. She's been playing around New York at venues like The Bitter End and the Living Room, and now we're bringing her uptown.
Pamela Means -- Ani DiFranco has said to Pamela Means, "You've got such a deep groove... I can't get out. And I wouldn't want to." That's no small praise. Matt Smith of FolkWeb and Club Passim says, "With just her voice and guitar, she'll have you believing that you're listening to a whole band." It's been an exciting year for Pamela; we saw her at the Hudson River Revival singing the songs of Phil Ochs and at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival singing Woody Guthrie tunes. Now she's back at the Postcrypt with a bag full of her own songs.
Open Stage
The Garden Verge -- The Garden Verge was conceived by accident in New Jersey 17 years ago when the second-grade teacher of Tammy Greenstein and Doris Muramatsu sat the two girls next to each other in class because she was certain they would never speak to one another. Instead they've embarked on a musical career that is winning them rave reviews from press and fellow performers alike. Postcrypt regulars Erin McKeown and Nate Borofsky have both highly recommended them. They've played our open stages a few times, and we're very happy to welcome them for their first full set at the Postcrypt.
Colleen Sexton -- Critics have described Colleen Sexton's songs as "contagious" and her bluesy voice as "alluring." She has been making big waves in the Boston-area scene, where she released her debut CD in 1998 to a sold-out Club Passim audience. The Boston Globe has called her a "very promising new songwriter," who is "very much her own songwriter," yet shares some of her brother Marty's best attributes.
Tom Burris -- The heart and soul of the New York incarnation of the semi-acoustic pop band Jabbering Trout, Tom Burris is a songwriter and guitarist with a lot to say and a lot to play. Spanning the genres of folk-rock, pop and alternative, his music is infectious and can be reminiscent of everyone from Bob Dylan to Pavement.
Antje -- With music that recalls Shawn Colvin, Joni Mitchell and Ani DiFranco, Antje is a Chicago-based artist who writes songs that are at once both introspective and socially aware. Chicago Sun Times' critic Jim DeRogatis says that her songs "mine a field midway between classic 70's folkies and their slightly edgier 90's offspring." This is her Postcrypt debut.
Damion Wolfe -- Independent artist, Damion Wolfe has become known for his original and eclectic sound, as well as his raw and energetic live show. As one Virginia newspaper said, "Wolfe's aggressive style on the guitar and jazz improvisational influences free him to create a unique expression outside any pigeon hole."
Amy Gallatin and Stillwaters -- With a voice reminiscent of Nanci Griffith and Emmylou Harris, Amy Gallatin fronts a talented group of musicians who explore the roots of American music: bluegrass, country, folk, Western swing and beyond. Though she makes her home in Connecticut these days, her roots are in the South and the West, and they shine through in her music. Please welcome her for her Postcrypt debut.
The Postcrypt will be closed on 24 and 25 November because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Ina May Wool -- Ina May Wool has been a Postcrypt favorite for several years now. With the February 1999 release of her first album, Moon Over 97th Street, which Dirty Linen called "a scrupulously conceived fin de siecle classic," the demand for her music is only growing. Songwriter's Monthly calls her songs "little fragments of poetic geography" and instructed readers to "follow the sound of her voice and enjoy."
Robert Messore -- From New Haven, Connecticut, Rob Messore brings with him instrumental mastery. In response to his entry in the singer-songwriter category of the New Haven Advocate "Grand Band Slam" poll, Rob claimed that he didn't belong there because it was his guitar that did the singing not him. His dedication to the music has also been instrumental in revitalizing the New Haven folk scene. Check out this acoustic guitar wizard.
Sloan Wainwright -- In 15 years of performing, Sloan Wainwright has mesmerized audiences throughout the Northeast and Midwest, garnering enthusiastic and rave reviews. Mike Joyce of the Washington Post calls her "an extremely gifted lyricist... introspective but not self-absorbed, concerned with issues of childhood, love, growth and clarity."
Kevin Briody -- Kevin Briody is a two-time finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Contest, and he showcased at the 1999 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Briody's voice is honest, and his performances are intimate. With his simple style and warm sense of humor, he makes you feel welcome and comfortable as if the stage were his own front porch. He lets his songs stand in the spotlight, and his writing shines. This is his Postcrypt debut.
Kevin Danzig & Cat Woolley -- Kevin Danzig and Cat Woolley have been performing together for the last five years. Kevin's songwriting, lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica and tambourine are accompanied by Cat's mandolin, bells and harmony vocals. Their music is a mixture of styles that they call Dysfunctional Folk. Often rhythmic and uplifting, the lyrics can be thought provoking at times, humorous at others, but always crisp and clear. Rod Kennedy, the founder of the Kerrville Folk Festival, once compared Kevin to a young Andrew Lloyd Webber, in "an off-Broadway sense." This is their Postcrypt debut.
Minus Ted -- A perennial Postcrypt favorite, Minus Ted is an eclectic band that usually sets the joint to rockin'. Formed by Skipp Sudduth and Brian O'Neill, the cast of characters has since expanded so that the band has a full groove that will have you dancing in your seat-just be careful of the candles. They just released a CD called really really.
Orrin Star and Russell Scholl -- Orrin Star is a nationally recognized folk & bluegrass performer and teacher based in Brooklyn, NY. Winner of the 1976 National Flatpicking Championship, he plays guitar, banjo and mandolin, sings and performs both solo and with his trio Orrin Star & the Sultans of String. His diverse repertoire features old-time, Western swing, Celtic and original songwriting in addition to more mainstream bluegrass and folk material.
Bill Christophersen and Gil Sayre -- Bill Christopherson lives only a few blocks from the Postcrypt, but the music that he brings with him is rooted deep in Southern, old-time tradition. He is a wonderful fiddler who has played as a member of the Lazy Aces String Band and the Fly By Night String Band. Gil Sayer is a terrific banjo and guitar player, who performs regularly with Hills and Hollers and The Stillhouse Ramblers. You don't want to miss the sounds of Appalachia that these two bring to the 'crypt.
Lenahan -- Led by singer, songwriter, guitarist and bagpiper Tom Lenahan, one of the foremost American Celtic rockers, Lenahan is making waves on both sides of the Atlantic. Tom Lenahan's personal musical influences range from Irish legend Tommy Makem to folk rockers such as Fairport Convention and the Pogues to blues greats Howling Wolf and Elmore James. Lenahan presents a culturally rich, dynamic live show which draws on the musical traditions of Ireland, Scotland, England, Brittany and America. Lenahan is renowned not only for their "blistering bagpipes, dynamic live shows and hot fiddle tunes" but for their critically acclaimed songs which combine traditional and original Celtic music with American and world roots music. This is their Postcrypt debut, and we're not kidding about the bagpipes.
Mike Agranoff -- Mike Agranoff is the guy who walks into a song circle at a folk festival at three in the morning and introduces some long-forgotten British ballad which fits in perfectly with every other song and which he sings with a strong voice and dramatic intonation. His folk music knowledge and commitment to promoting artists and the music in general have made him a great resource. He also writes some terrific songs and plays fingerstyle guitar, concertina, banjo and harmonica. He is a word-smith and raconteur and that makes for a terrific live performance.
Akire Bubar -- Akire Bubar is a spirited performer from Philadelphia with an engaging presence and polish. She has a strong and moving voice and is a wonderful guitar player. Her repertoire encompasses traditional folk, the work of contemporaries like Bob Franke and Joni Mitchell and her own material. The Folk Project has described her as "the voice that could launch a thousand ships."
Alien Folklife -- Consisting of Joan Kosby and Paul Mercer, Alien Folklife combine offbeat humorous material with deeply emotional story-songs. They mix traditional and contemporary folk influences to craft original songs of everyday life. Dirty Linen says they have "unique chemistry...stunning original folk material...with unforgettable characteristics." They don't make it to New York City often, so please welcome them for their Postcrypt debut.
Please confirm all shows by calling 212-854-1953.