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.
Flynn: Whether it is concert halls, intimate coffeehouse settings or Hollywood blockbuster movies, Flynn combines his uncanny ability to reach people through song; drawing from the wisdom and insight that comes from surviving a life-changing event. The songs are as honest, passionate and exciting as his life has been. (www.flynnmusic.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)
Michael Ciccarone
Matthew Gibbons: Matthew Gibbons, composer, musician and Irish poet, made his professional debut on St. Patrick's Day playing and singing traditional Irish tunes with a smattering of popular, folk and original music. He played both Garvey's Pub and Jonathan's Grille in the Jamesburg area of Jersey that night. (www.mattgibbons.com)
Adrianne Gonzalez: Debbie Catalano of Soundcheck Magazine says, "If you can imagine a pure musical embodiment of soul- songs brimming with sumptuous vocals, lyrics that clearly bridge the mind with the heart, and instrumentation that delicately yet powerfully completes the picture, then step out of your imagination into a pleasant reality- for this is Adrianne." (www.adrimusic.com)
Liz Moore: Liz Moore is a 20-year-old singer/songwriter currently attending Barnard College. Her songs reflect a unique lyrical take on the everyday and a gift for melody. Liz is now performing regularly in New York and is quickly making a name for herself on the independent music scene, winning praise from the likes of Edie Carey, who says "A wonderful demo--I was truly impressed".� (www.lizmooremusic.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works.
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)
Joe Brack: Joe's music has been described as a mix of folk, pop, rock and alternative. Imagine if you will, James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, and John Hiatt getting together for a Dave Matthews concert. Something like that... (www.joebrack.com)
Charlie Liu: Strumming his guitar with closed eyes, Charles Liu will carry you to his world of emotional lyrics and mellow vocals. His musical style will capture you with his first note.� As a singer/songwriter, Charles now exposes his personal life to a devoted NYC audience through his soulful lyrics.� His energetic guitar rhythm sets the stage for his soothingly addictive baritone voice, and you'll be hooked! (www.clacoustic.com)
Bobby Syvarth: Bobby Syvarth began his career as a musician while enrolled in the music business program at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. In September, 1990, a song-writing master class with Paul Simon unlocked a growing passion within Bobby for the art of song-writing, and the sound of the acoustic guitar. It was then that a choice was made to dedicate his lifetime to music! (www.bobbysyvarth.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)
Denny Tilton: Denny began his professional music career over 20 years ago. Billed as Denny Tilton and Friends, he has often collaborated with other musicians, both on his own projects and through his encouragement of others with their projects. Tilton has since gone on to open shows for a wide array of performers, including Roger McGuinn (The Byrds), John Sebastian, David Bromberg, Chris Hillman, John Hartford, The Strawbs, Renaissance, and the Moody Blues. (www.dennytilton.com)
Acoustic Music In-the-Round
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.
Rob Messore: Robert Messore has been called Connecticut's finest fingerstyle guitarist. He plays beautiful instrumental guitar music and he is noted for composing tuneful pieces which work well as *music*, and not simply as fancy guitar playing.� "When he plays the instrument, it sings... absolutely sings... and you'd be hard pressed to hear a sweeter song." ~ Karen E. Reynolds, WDVX FM, Clinton, TN. (www.robertmessore.com)
Steve Barney: Steve Barney's work on six and twelve string guitar is characterized by foot-tapping rhythms and great melodies.� A Connecticut-based musician, Steve will be playing songs from his debut CD, "Treeline." (www.steve-barney.com)
Noam Weinstein: Called "a thrilling songwriter" by The Nashville Rage, "a young Elvis Costello mixed with Randy Newman" by PasteMusic, and "a talent who croons lovely songs" by The Boston Globe, Noam Weinstein is the world's most complimented man. (www.eNoam.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)
Felix McTeigue: Felix McTeigue spent the last few years travelling the country - hitchhiking, hopping trains, walking. He has ended up on NYC and just put out Radio Perfecto. He's joined on the record by friends Jess Klein, Ron Sexsmith and Erin McKeown. (www.felixwebsite.com)
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)
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)
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)
Sonya Heller: Sonya started playing guitar at the age of fourteen, and studied voice with Julliard Alumni Liz Howard. Her music emanates from the streets of NYC and an "old hip soul." She weaves her voice like golden thread throughout her lyrics, delivering her "message in a bottle" gently and powerfully. This has become her trademark. (www.sonyaheller.com)
Laura Thomas: Laura Thomas, a 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)
Saro Liotta: Although born in Palermo, Sicily, guitarist/composer Saro Liotta began his musical journey in India. While studying sitar with Apurba Choudury, Saro asked his teacher: "Maestro, how can I continue to learn without you?" Apurba answered: "The music will teach you the music." Saro then asked: "And how can I find the music?" Apurba replied: "Look for it with your eyes, not your ears, and you will find it." Following the maestro's advice, Saro now performs throughout the world, using his hands to transport his audiences to realities he has seen through his eyes. (www.saroliotta.com)
Lisa Bastoni: Lisa Bastoni is a popular Boston busker with an easy, engaging presence. She has been touring the country for the past few years, making deep impressions everywhere she performs with her warm folk-country sound. The Boston Globe has described her latest album "Your First Sweetheart" as "impressive...spare and inviting." (www.lisabastoni.com)
Terry Kitchen: Terry Kitchen's songs are portraits of ordinary people and emotions, captured with extraordinary compassion, honesty and humor. He will be performing songs from his new CD That's How It Used To Be, a dark back look at the present from the future, which reached #29 on the national Folk-DJ airplay chart. His songs have won the grand prize in the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, first prize in the USA Songwriting Competition, and runner-up in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. (www.terrykitchen.com)
Michael Holland
Martha Trachtenberg: Martha Trachtenberg is a founding member of the Buffalo Gals, the first all-female bluegrass band. She has sung on records by Marty Stuart, Tony Trischka, Stacey Phillips, Lewis London and Bottle Hill, as well as on commercials for everything from Miller Beer, Campbell's Soup and Kudos to Red Lobster Seafood Restaurants and Easy Bake toy ovens. Her solo for Folger's Coffee brought calls from friends and fans across the country who recognized her distinctive voice. (www.momandpoprecords.com/abouttime.html)
Scott Sylvester: Scott Sylvester has a talent for writing catchy, lyrically-rich songs. His 1996 debut album, "Sign On," met with rave reviews. And his compelling follow-up, "The Unintended EP," boasts outstanding musicianship. (Scott on cdbaby.com)
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)
Jenny Bruce: The realm of bittersweet is the emotional playground of born and raised New York singer/songwriter Jenny Bruce. Welcoming the eternal struggle between yin and yang, Bruce battles her demons with gratitude and wistful familiarity on her 3rd upcoming release, "Left Of July." Always an observer with an intuitive eye and an open heart, this time an-expecting mother, Bruce looks inward and unfolds a more personal perspective allowing her voice to carry more raw emotion than in her previous releases. (www.goodgirl.com)
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)
Amy Correia: Amy Correia believes in ghosts. That's not what accounts for the otherworldly quality of her remarkable voice, but it may have something to do with the timeless-sounding ambience of her exquisite new album Lakeville. The New York Times described her as "An astute songwriter who avoids cliches... [She] is not just another quirky girl, the label often affixed to women who use their heads as aggressively as their hearts." (www.amycorreia.com)
SPECIAL COLUMBIA OPEN STAGE
Anyone from the school can play, 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)
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)
Chris Moore: Chris Moore still looks like the quintessential skateboard punk. But beneath his deceptively boyish face hides one of indie rock's most enduring figures-and perhaps its best kept secret. "Chris is like a great redwood tree," notes long-time friend and producer Adam Druckman, "If you could look inside, you'd see a cross section of underground rock history." (www.mooresong.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works.
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)
Tim Whalen: A singer/songwriter who loves music. Honest lyrics with the company of guitar make Tim true to his songs. With his powerful voice that rarely requires any amplification, we know you'll enjoy this performer. (www.tim-whalen.com)
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)
Juliet Wyers: After performing as a finalist at six national songwriting competitions last summer, Oregon's Juliet Wyers was invited to perform at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.� The Kennedy Center became the first gig of Juliet's first tour ever, including a stop at Boston's historic Club Passim and a showcase at the annual NorthEast Regional Folk Alliance Conference.� Singer Magazine says: "She's just as much fun to watch as she is to listen to... just plain cool..."� (www.julietwyers.com)
Erik Balkey: Philadelphia touring songwriter Erik Balkey cut his teeth among the songwriters in the New York City in the 90's.� He listened and learned as an active volunteer and performer at the now-defunct Fast Folk Cafe.� Of Balkey's debut album, "Negotiations & Compromise," SingOut! Magazine wrote, "These songs are literate, exacting portraits in amber..."� His 2003 release, "God's Poet Now," was praised by Buddy Mondlock who calls the collection "heartfelt songs about real emotions, gracefully portrayed." (www.erikbalkey.com)
David Lamotte: In the thirteen years since David LaMotte has had a real job, the North Carolina songwriter has released eight albums and performed over sixteen hundred shows in forty-five states and ten countries.� He's shared stages with artists like Arlo Guthrie, Shawn Mullins, Gillian Welch and John Gorka.� A typical evening of performance with David includes everything from lyrically challenging, high-energy percussive songs in strange alternate tunings to more traditional songs of home, hope and inspiration.� (www.davidlamotte.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)
Mieka Pauley: Her voice ranges from haunting, delicate beauty to an explosion of shattering, soaring soul. Her lyrics bloom from a place of uncompromising honesty and naked emotion, aimed straight for the heart. Her roots are the blues, classic soul and R&B, gospel and folk and the result is a sound that blends and transcends these genres into a unique and personal brand of pop music all her own. (www.miekapauley.com)
Dan Smullyan: Dan, a long-time Morningside heights resident, is a familiar face here at the Postcrypt, both as a featured performer and as a participant in our Open Stage. Having written more than a thousand songs in a wide range of styles, he decided two years ago to teach himself to play slide guitar and put together a collection of original songs evoking the spirit of classic delta blues. As Dan said, "Comes a time you gotta push that li'l bird out the nest, see if it can fly." Tonight's set will consist entirely of these new songs.
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works.
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)
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)
Sloan Wainwright: Sloan Wainwright has been a pioneer all her life. A forerunner in the independent music scene long before it became hip to walk the road less travelled, Sloan is an artist whose passionate work and extraordinary life have fused to burn a new definition for women in music. Grown-up girl style. An outstanding and highly original singer, Sloan is a compelling performer best known for her rich contralto voice, intensely personal lyrics, and an innovative approach to song. (www.sloanwainwright.com)
Scott Fruhan: Scott Fruhan, who (due to a hastily shouted interview over the din of a gig) is better known in England as "Scott Fern", hails from Boston, Massachusetts. No one is quite sure what he does for a living, but he emerges occasionally to add to a growing repertoire of self-produced songs. His style combines fingerpicked guitar, piano, and vocals for an aesthetically pleasing product that falls somewhere between generic and mind-blowingly original. (www.fruhan.net)
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)
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 brand new graduate from the Columbia Law School, is one of the Postcrypt's favorite open stage performers.
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)
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)
Michael Campion
Please call 212-854-1953 to confirm performers and times.