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].
Note: Shows list performers in the order of appearance: 9:00, 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. Call on night of performance to confirm times.
OPEN STAGE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ONLY:
In an effort to promote Columbia University's own musical talent and to foster student awareness and support of the Postcrypt, we have dedicated one open stage per semester to Columbia student musicians. And while folk music is our specialty, poetry, spoken-word, and instrumental performances are more than welcome. So if you're a musician at Columbia with an itch to show the world (albeit a little folk world) what you've got, this is your chance to come on out and shine. Additionally, we encourage our non-Columbia-students fans to come experience a night of great music and fun. Here's how it works.
Jack Hardy: Lucinda Williams says, "Jack Hardy has written some of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard." And the Boston Globe adds, "Jack Hardy is one of the most influential figures today in defining the American folk song." (www.jackhardy.com)
James O'Brien: According to the New England Folk Almanac, Boston singer-songwriter James O'Brien has a "unique raspy tender/aggressive voice and an aerobic guitar style that guarantees he'll never need to pay dues at a health club." In June 2000, he released his first studio album, Life Underwater. (www.jamesobrien.cc)
Andy Germak: Love, loss, introspection, observation and doubt-- Andy Germak achieves a unique blend of emotional perspective in every song he writes. Having grown-up in six different states, lived in Italy, and traveled throughout the United States and Europe, Germak's writing is representative of the dynamic world in which we live. (www.andygermak.com)
"SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND" FORMAT, WITH:
Tina Vero: "Tina speaks to the poet in us all. That part of our person which half-seeks truths, but also wants to discover. Read her words once, you might not understand fully. Read them again, and the language becomes clearer. Listen to the music and all eyes will open", says reviewer Ben Ohmart. (www.tinavero.com)
Paul Brubaker: At a benefit concert at Fordham University, Natalie Merchant pulled him up on stage to share a vocal. Now Paul Brubaker has a stage of his own to showcase his brand of acoustic pop. Brubaker's show mixes his edgy, backhandly romantic tunes with some off the beaten path covers from the likes of Weezer, Fuel, Ben Folds Five, They Might Be Giants, and Elvis Costello. Don't mistake Brubaker as an imitator, though. (www.paulbrubaker.com)
Dave Murphy: Gifted singer and songwriter Dave Murphy takes you on a lyrical pilgrimage through the American soul. Born in New York and currently based in Montclair, New Jersey, Murphy weaves a musical tapestry through the genres of Americana, alt-country, contemporary folk, and folk-rock. His music draws stylistic inspiration from a myriad of distinctly American influences, including Steve Earle and Neil Young. (www.murphyworld.com)
Joe Cacnio
John-Flor: John-Flor's music combines soaring Brit-pop melodies with introspective image-adorned lyrics. His songs tackle subjects ranging from humbling life experiences to spiritual malaise to the under-world of today's dating scene. Fans say his guitar based songs are uplifting pop gems, while his piano based songs often showcase his vulnerability and humility. (www.mp3.com/johnflor)
Jonathan Pointer: Jonathan Pointer runs, musically speaking, in the same circles as Tom Waits and Randy Newman. A wry satirist, Pointer's penchant is the heartland: yard sales, men firmly planted on barstools and highways disappearing into the horizon. This ain't the heartland, but Jonathan is making an exception in our case. (www.jonathanpointer.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works.
Terence Martin: Born in London and raised in Los Angeles, singer songwriter Terence Martin is a recent transplant to Larchmont, New York. His musical background includes work as a double bassist in the Burbank Symphony and in several rock bands. Currently a teacher of English literature, his work as a poet is recognized in the anthology, "Four Valley Poets." (www.martinsongs.com)
Jodelle: By relying on her classical piano training and pop, folk, and rock influences, Jodelle has created a truly unique contemporary pop rock sound. In a genre typically dominated by guitars, her use of piano distinctly stands out. (www.jodelle.net)
We're About Nine: Folk music superstar Vance Gilbert calls We're About Nine, "Fantastic...some kind of cross between The Kingston Trio, The Four Tops, and The Story!" We're About Nine brings their own brand of songwriting to life with striking three-part harmonies, acoustic guitars, and electric bass. All three members are multi-instrumentalists, adding varying degrees of piano and percussion depending on the needs of the venue. (www.circanine.com)
Erik Balkey: The music of Erik Balkey is reflective, intelligent, tasteful, finessed, and sparse. Balkey has captivated audiences with his trademark delivery: honesty and intimacy. His performance features an agile voice and thoughtful lyrics accompanied by sparse and deliberate acoustic guitarwork. (www.erikbalkey.com)
Karen Mal: Originally from New England, more recently from Wisconsin, Karen worked in regional theatre for several years as an actor and musical director/composer before settling in Austin, Texas to play music full-time. She has lived and worked in places from Manhattan to Memphis, from Wisconsin to California, and toured in 40 states. (www.karenmal.com)
Laurie MacAllister: New York City's Laurie MacAllister has an eye for genuine detail and honest insights. MacAllister crafts character portraits and stories that charm with authenticity. The Bergen Record says, "MacAllister writes impeccably detailed songs of longing and redemption, and backs them up with with a clear, achy-yet-defiant voice." (www.lauriemacallister.com)
Karaugh Brown: After writing notebooks full of songs, Brown has established an individualistic style, reflecting the stubborn self-belief it takes to succeed in this field. Her songs don't follow basic verse/chorus structures, tending to float from passage-to-passage in stream-of-consciousness music structures. (www.karaughbrown.com)
Butch Ross: A crypt favorite, Butch Ross calls himself a �self-descriptive artist.� He's sharp, irreverent, compassionate and, more often than not, funny. So funny that has just started his own one-man show. And much like the live performances of Cheryl Wheeler or Vance Gilbert, Ross' funny songs and funnier banter are a foil to offset the barbed and often heart-breaking tales of his songs. (www.butchross.com)
Pamela Means: Ani DiFranco, the muse of the Postcrypt, writes this about Pamela Means: "You've got such a deep groove...I can't get out. And I wouldn't want to." Enough said. (www.pamelameans.com)
CC Railroad: Carolann, Cheryl, Ryder and Rich met each other in the Summer of 1999 at the Tuesday night open mics at the Sun Music Company on New York City's Upper East Side. Originally solo singer/songwriters sharing a New Artist showcase, they thought it would be fun to back each other up on a few songs. After the show, audience members insisted they form a band. Hey, we aim to please! (www.ccrailroad.com)
Laura Thomas: Laura Thomas, a 27 year old singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, has been compared to Alanis Morissette, Ani Difranco, and Sarah Maclachlin. This Birmingham, Alabama native isn't just another girl singer who can hold a tune. Laura has a voice you can recognize in a millisecond. Somehow, her voice is technically proficient and emotionally raw, quietly subtle and blatantly complex, hard, soft, funky, lyrical. (www.laurabama.com)
Karl Huth: It is rumored that Karl Huth was raised by polar bears in Alaska; that his music thrashes against the restraints of bourgeois society; and that he plays fingerstyle guitar. It is a given that Karl, a law student in the Columbia Law School, is one of the Postcrypt's favorite open stage performers.
Jen Shankman: Armed with her guitar and a voice that rings out from the caverns of her soul, Jen Shankman will keep you on the edge of your seat. At a mere 5'1", when this New Yorker takes the stage, she is anything but small. With the right combination of bare-boned honesty, carefully-crafted melodies and a wry sense of humor, Jen will make you want to laugh and cry, and above all, she will make you think. She is a force to be reckoned with, a performer who has truly learned to stand on her convictions. (www.jenshankman.com)
Terry Kitchen: Terry Kitchen is a performing artist who's as much a storyteller as a musician. Richard Middleton of Victory Review writes that his "songs are portraits of ordinary people and emotions, captured with extraordinary compassion, honesty and humor." (www.terrykitchen.com)
Stephanie Fix: Both a truth seeker and a truth seer -- Stefanie Fix delivers unmistakably direct and impassioned vocals with subtle undertones of intense, lyrical beauty all entwined in a variety of guitar styles from intricate picking to acoustic slide, to 'roots rock' rhythms. She is one of those rare birds that successfully merges instinct with craft. (www.stephaniefix.com)
Greg Tannen: Born in Australia, raised in Toronto and New York, Greg Tannen is the son of an amateur jazz pianist and the grandson of a traveling salesman and a magician. According to Indiemonkey, "his music is not only defined by the irresistible melodies and some great acoustic playing, but also by the journey his lyrical detail will take you on." (www.gregtannen.com)
Carolann Solebello: Born and bred in the city of New York, Carolann spent several years touring the nation as a professional theatre actor before finding her way back home as part of an original "folkabilly blues" duo called Blind Diva (with singer/guitarist Hope Nunnery). Since going solo in 1998, her distinctive brand of "urban folk" has been heard all over the New York City folk/rock circuit, as well as in such far-flung locales as Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kansas. (www.elizabethrecords.com)
Jake Stigers: Just one listen to Jake Stigers and you're a fan. Catch a live show like ours and you're a fan for life. Jake's melody driven, hook-laden tunes will keep you singing for days. (www.jakestigers.com)
Dan Smullyan: Dan Smullyan lives and works in the Columbia University community and is a regular performer at the Postcrypt Open Stage. He has written nearly a thousand songs over a forty year period, ranging from blues to country to folk to many that defy categorization. But in all of them there is an uncompromising lyric clarity and attention to song craft that makes it impossible not to be drawn in to the stories he tells. Although a veteran performer, Dan rarely performs a full set these days, so this is great chance to catch him.
Russell Wolff: Mentally stable? Nope. Voted most likely to succeed? Not even close. Writer of some of the most poignant and entertaining songs on the planet, Russell Wolff is a musical time bomb. "A sonic orgy of life, love, nipple rings, and road rage, he will grab you by the #@$%!, squeeze hard, and hold on tight until he sees fit to release you." (www.russellwolff.com)
Saul Zonana: Saul picked up his first instrument, the guitar, at age five inspired by his older brother Joel's collection of Beatles, The Who and Black Sabbath LPs. He later grew to become a proficient bassist, guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist. A prolific writer, Saul's archive of recorded songs numbers by now in the hundreds. (www.saulzonana.com)
Andrew Kerr: Andrew Kerr sings stories. Whether he is singing about his childhood dreams of becoming a rap star or about teaching Coal Miners in Kentucky how to plan for retirement, he delivers his unique brand of �truth is stranger (and often funnier) than fiction� tales with catchy melodies and a hearty dose of sarcasm and wit. His live shows are high-energy and interactive, and have been described as a folk-rock-comedy blend. (www.andrewkerr.com)
Sam Shaber: Tom Neff writes, "Sam Shaber is the soul of New York folk. She walks a high wire between lyrical high-rises of raw, open emotion and brash NYC 'tude--and does it with an infectious energy and joy in every note. That's what music is about for me." She's been touring around with the Live from New York musical revue, and we're pleased to welcome her back to the Postcrypt for the final weekend of the season. (www.samshaber.com)
Wendy Woo: From one of the best music towns in the country, Boulder, Colorado, comes a singer/songwriter who has been one of its driving forces, Wendy Woo. Like the community which inspired her, Woo displays a blend of soul, vibrancy, and wild child attitude. A passionate live performer who connects instantly with her audiences, she has been playing to sold out venues every week. (www.wendywoo.com)
"SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND" FORMAT, WITH:
Open Book: The duo of Michele Rubin and Rick Gedney, has drawn many to their beautiful melodies, harmonies and honest, hopeful lyrics. Their live show is intimate and compelling, where their individual writing styles, guitars and voices weave seamlessly. Hugh Blumenfeld writes of their midway performance at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, "You don't hear such careful attention to the sounds of words very often in folk music, and they were fine musicians to boot." (www.openbookmusic.com)
Dan Bonis: Dan Bonis is a multi-instrumentalist who plays resonator guitar, mandolin, banjo, lap steel, weissenborn Hawaiian guitar (played on the lap). Dan's slide instrumentals range from moody intricate fingerstyle to offbeat and insightful musings.
Ina May Wool: Ina May's simple images and emotions are universal, and she is finding an audience all over the world. Besides clubs in her own NYC back yard, she's toured the U.K. and performed in festivals in Scotland. As Jennifer Layton said, "her songs celebrate life through all the dark times. The instruments include the mandolin, accordion, harmonica and violin, which often give the songs a fairy tale feel." (www.inamaywool.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works. Note new sign-up time: 8:20PM. Come early!!
Patsy O'Brien: Patsy originally hails from Ireland, where he played in a mind boggling arrray of different bands, ranging in styles from big-band swing to Hardcore punk, with everything in between. Hailed by critics as "One of Ireland's best kept musical secrets.", Patsy has been on the road for the last 4 years, hitting venues as far flung as Stockholm, Hamburg and San Francisco, playing whenever and wherever he can, expanding his audience with every gig, drawing them to him with every song. (www.patsyobrien.com)
Andrew Vladeck: A slow-moving cab hit Andrew Vladeck's mother when she was pregnant with him and his twin sister. She was carried on its hood several blocks down 2nd Ave until the cabby, who was fighting with someone in the front seat, finally stopped the vehicle. This might or might not explain anything about Andrew Vladeck. (www.andrewvladeck.com)
Chip Robertson: From the mean streets of Keansburg, NJ (actually, it was a lovely 4 bedroom home with a nice big yard) to the stately suburbs of Bergen County, it has indeed been a long strange trip for Chip. (www.chiprobertson.com)
Allison Cipris: Since the age of 6, when she used to wear t-shirts that read "Future Rock Star" and sing for anyone who would listen - Allison had a pretty good idea that music would somehow become a big part of her life. Her endeavors would eventually find her touring around the country with various shows and even cruising the Caribbean as a showgirl, headpieces and all! (www.allisoncipris.homestead.com)
Nicole McKenna: Nicole Mckenna is a New York based singer and songwriter. She began song writing at an early age, collaborating with her father, writing and recording songs on a four track in their basement. Now, Nicole's music captures it's listeners with guitar driven pop hooks and a hypnotic earful of vocal melodies. (www.nicolemckenna.com)
Porterdavis: Rising up from the subway and their previous band the Daniel Barrett Group, Mike Meadows and Daniel Barrett have been reborn as the band porterdavis. Inspired by the earthy sound of roots music combined with the urban edge that comes with doing time in the big city, the porterdavis sound is rhythmic and rich, innovative yet familiar. (www.youlikeporterdavis.com)
Mark Berube: Berube is an old French name that means "the guy who ordered the tuna melt." This means nothing to you. What's important is that you listen to him, and believe me, he'll make you (even if you'd rather not) as he sings his quirky, catchy tunes about people he hates, people he tolerates, sex, insects, cheese, matzoh, and the beeper in his pants. (www.elizabethrecords.com)
Matt Turk: Turk has performed with such performers as Fiona Apple, The Band, Blues Traveler, Jeff Buckley, Dave Matthews Band, and Pete Seeger. Matt sings what he sees and in the process creates a connection with the listener which is palpable and true. (www.turktunes.com)
Molly Pitcher: Molly Pitcher is the space where two women from different countries, backgrounds and religions meet in a recipe for sweet musical harmony, each bringing her own style and influences to the table. Together, the two are that very rare combination of honesty and electricity; direct and approachable, yet thrilling to hear. (www.elizabethrecords.com)
Chris and Meredith Thompson: These two bring to the stage a harmony that only siblings can. Their music combines genres from all over the world to serve up a beautiful array of sound. With their fifth album finding a place on the "folk DJ list," they have become well established in the folk world. (www.cmthompson.com)
Cadence Carroll: Norwalk, CT based singer/songwriter Cadence Carroll has made quite an impression on acoustic music fans in her home state since graduating from Ithaca College in the spring of 1995. With guitar and djembe in hand, Cadence is a regular feature performer at venues up and down the east coast. (www.cadencecarroll.com)
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. (www.meghutchinson.com)
Kristin Cifelli: Her unforgettable voice, at times soothing and at times full of intense energy, has become a favorite amongst music fans up and down the East Coast. WCUW 91.3 in Worcester said: "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." (www.kristincifelli.com)
Kyler England: What is truly unforgettable about singer-songwriter Kyler is her ability to peel back all the layers, holding nothing back. She mesmerizes listeners with a voice that has been described as "breathless and fragile at times and then it catches you off guard and pins you to the wall." (www.kylerengland.com)
Deirdre Flint: The cast of characters that make an appearance during an evening with Deirdre Flint says it all. Songs about narcoleptic hand models operating chippers, polygamists and deadbeat boob fairies all make an appearance, establishing this former elementary school teacher as one of the funniest dames on the folk music circuit these days. (www.deirdreflint.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works. Note new sign-up time: 8:20PM. Come early!!
Trina Hamlin: With a sound that ranges from grassroots and R&B to rock and roll and a musical background that includes childhood piano playing and professional training, Trina is prepared for success. Her voice soars, her harmonica playing attacks and the songs stick with you. (www.trinahamlin.com)
Edie Carey: Armed with her graceful, soaring voice, and her undeniable skill for carving out everyday images in almost startling detail, Edie Carey grabs hold of her audiences and doesn't let go until she steps off the stage. While her songs are what first draw listeners in, it's what she says in between them that keeps them there. (www.ediecarey.com)
Teddy Goldstein: Teddy Goldstein is known as much for his clever songs - whether sensitive or comedic - as for his energetic and unpredictable shows. A master of both songwriting and theatrical timing, he keeps his performances fresh with hysterical ad-lib lyrics and improvised musical solos within the tight structure of his well-crafted songs. (www.teddygoldstein.com)
Please call 212-854-1953 to confirm performers and times.