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.
Mark Holden: Mark is the founder of the band Head Cleaner. His vision was to form an acoustic band that would bring together varied musical styles and sensibilities to produce an upbeat and wholly original sound. He wanted the music to be organic enough to be played without electricity while reflecting the electric pulse of modern city life. To put it in Mark's words: "Hey, we live in a world of microchips, genetic engineering and the 'Big Mac'. I'm just creating folk music that speaks to that... that sounds like that". (www.headcleanermusic.com)
Dan Smullyan: Having written at least a thousand songs over the last 40 years, Dan figures that by now he has pretty much catalogued the entire experience of being human at this juncture in history. Funny, sad, angry, thought-provoking, his songs are uncompromising in their quest for clarity and insight.
Ellie Lawson: Born in South London and raised on welfare by her single mother, vocalist/lyricist/musician/ composer Ellie Lawson is an artist whose compelling voice and rich sonic landscape reflect a life journey of personal determination and self-discovery. With musical influences ranging from Kate Bush to A Tribe Called Quest, Tracy Chapman to KRS-One, Nick Drake to the Fugees, Ellie has invented a unique musical world that is both beat-driven and organic, lyrical and edgy, thoughtful and entrancing. (www.ellielawson.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)
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)
Brianna Sage: (www.briannasage.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works.
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)
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)
Arlon Bennett: Jane Falvey of WRIU Kingston says, "Every decade or so, a voice appears on the folk music scene that makes you sit up and take notice. When that voice is paired with songs and lyrics that tell a story or sing of the human spirit, it is truly magical. That voice is Arlon Bennett, and his CD "The Watch Man" leaves you wanting more of this great talent. Listen to it. Listen again and again..." (www.arlonbennett.com)
Janet Feld: Janet is not only an outstanding vocalist but also one of the best guitarists you'll ever see. Using a variety of innovative styles, she uses the guitar as an integral part of her performance. Janet's engaging original songs and wry sense of humor have made her a crowd favorite all over the country. She writes songs that can be touching and amusing at the same time. (www.janetfeld.com)
Michael Hsu: If what it takes to succeed are songs that are "thoughtful and beautifully executed," then Michael is in good shape. His flowing melodies, poignant lyrics, and electrifying stage presence have brought him to some of the most prestigious acoustic music venues in the country. Michael's songs are carefully crafted vignettes. His lyrics may speak explicitly of the present, but they are rich with implied pasts and futures. (www.michaelhsu.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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Cheryl and Charles: Cheryl and Charles met at NY City's legendary Fast Folk Cafe. Together they perform their own solo material as well as their collaborations. Anything goes, from Jazz to Celtic. Richard Cuccaro writes: "The marriage of Cheryl's musical versatility to Charles' originality of vision is a gift to fans of acoustic music"
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)
Leni Stern: Leni Stern is perpetual motion. When she's not wearing one of her many professional hats (singer, guitarist, label owner, author, composer, orchestrator), she is wearing one or more of the other many hats that make her who she is: social advocate, martial artist, cancer survivor, proud New York City resident... the list goes on and on. (www.lenistern.com)
Matt Singer: Matt Singer writes personal and expressive folk, but it would be hard to bottle him up into that tiny word. When he's low, he's Ben Harper, when he's high, he's Cat Stevens, but his songwriting is totally his own. Matt Singer has been writing songs since age four, when he spawned "Beep-Beep-Bop-Bop-Bop-Beep," a whimsical yet touching piece about a boy's love for eating toothpaste. But it really began five years ago in Cordoba, Spain. Without the comfort of old friends or a familiar anything, he perched himself on the roof of his residencia, and wrote his first tunes. Since then, it's been hard to stop him. (www.matt-singer.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. As a versatile and prolific singer/songwriter, Bruce's songs, written on guitar and piano, are triggered by inspiration rather than to suit a specific genre; the fertile depth of her work no doubt influenced by the dynamic and eclectic melting-pot of her Manhattan upbringing. (www.goodgirl.com)
Rachel Loshak: What makes singer/bassist, Rachel Loshak's music and sound so unique is a sophisticated, orchestral approach to traditional pop music. Imagine a string quartet stripped of its native instruments and handed electric guitars and amplifiers. Melodic bass figures move like a boogied cello weaving with guitar, drums and piano beneath her pure and bell-toned voice. This forms an accessible foundation to the wide-eyed wonderment of her lyrics and beautifully haunting melodies which Loshak paints in broad strokes with a graceful sadness. (www.rachelloshak.com)
James O'Malley: From his website, "Thinking back, I can remember my first song. I was about nine or ten. My cousin Joe Hall and I had been playing Chinese handball in the alleyway behind a hardware store, not far from my Grandmother's home in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, New York. We would sing the hits that were currently on the radio. Joe had a pretty good voice! Anyway, we began to construct a SONG out of the blue. Singing it as we played, changing a word here and there. Suddenly, we were singing a whole verse and chorus...magic. I was hooked." (www.jamesomalley.com)
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)
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.
Keith Zarriello: Born and raised in the South of France, Keith Zarriello moved to Boston at the age of nineteen. Twas in the green pastures of a Harvard University where Keith bumped into the infamous Mark Cohen and Mindy Smith. After hearing Keith's French hit, "My Favorite Color is Lilac," Mark and Mindy immediately signed on as his managers. Keith abandoned his dream of becoming a Harvard Philosopher/Historian and in two months he was living in a cozy apartment in Astoria, Queens and performing regularly at Sidewalk Caf� in Manhattan's East Village. (www.antifolk.net/artists/keithzarriello)
Sylvie Lewis: If, indeed, we are the yarns we spin, then Sylvie Lewis is a living, breathing romance - heady, impulsive, bittersweet and a bit tragic. So it stands to reason that Lewis' debut album Tangos & Tantrums feels like the soundtrack to some newly unearthed turn-of-the-century movie, complete with its own cast of eccentric characters. (www.sylvielewis.com)
Laura Tsaggaris: With songs detailing feelings that couldn't just keep quiet and stay inside, Laura Tsaggaris will show you what it's like to want to share something that is bigger than yourself. Tsaggaris (suh-GAIR-iss) writes strong melodies, using her vocal arrangements and lyrical poetry to convey a wistfulness and honesty that make you feel like she's telling you something she hasn't told anyone else. (www.lauratsaggaris.com)
AN EVENING WITH THE WRITER'S HANG, FEATURING:
Jessica Owen: Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Jessica's captivating voice and enthralling stage presence have been winning her high accolades, in the form of awards, showcases and press, both in Canada and the United States. She is a compelling songwriter with an unmistakable ability to draw you into her explorations of life and the human experience. (www.jessicaowen.com)
Scott E. Moore: Scott E. Moore is a true renaissance man: a gifted musician, songwriter & performer; an accomplished televison producer/director; and as founder & host of "The Writer's Hang" he single-handedly created a local scene for modern acoustic arists of all genres. (www.wingtip.net)
Joe Rathbone: Joe Rathbone is an edgy, roots-rock/pop tunesmith whose new record, "I Can Hear the Windows of Your Heart Breaking," is already getting national attention, including an upcoming appearance on Mountain Stage and airplay on AAA radio stations like WFUV in NYC. Joe's tunes combine classic American sounds with hooky, poetic, and Beatles-esque melodies. Critics like The Village Voice often compare his songwriting to legends like Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, and World Party. Joe's a great guitarist and a fixture on the modern singer-songwriter scene, touring the U.S. relentlessly. (www.joerathbone.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)
Butch Ross: When Butch Ross was given an Appalachian Dulcimer for his birthday 3 years ago, he had no idea that it would alter the course of his career. Ross fell in love with the primitive sound of the instrument and the creative possibilities that abound in it's limitations. n addition to his command of the traditional (lap) style of playing, he has been known to play it upside down, and backward and re-strung like a guitar. Musicially, he has turned the whole repertoire of the instrument on it's head. In Butch's hands traditional tunes become pop-rock masterpieces and classic rock tunes become paeans to simpler times. (www.butchross.com)
OPEN STAGE
Anyone can play, here's how it works.
Pat Wictor: We've all heard the story: an old lost guitar, which family members had wondered about, is discovered in the attic after decades of neglect. It turns out to be a priceless masterpiece. The guitar is taken to a master craftsman, restored with care, and becomes a valued family inheritance. Passed down from one generation to the next, the guitar has a story, waiting to be told by a sympathetic musician. Pat Wictor wrote the songs on his latest CD, Temporary Stay, on just such an instrument, a little 100 year-old heirloom guitar with a big sound and stories to tell. (www.patwictor.com)
Dave Murphy: According to the Fairfield County Weekly, "Murphy is a natural storyteller who uses both image-rich lyrics and compelling melodies to illustrate his tale. His music, at once thought-provoking and an easy listen, graciously rides the fine folk-Americana line." "Chasing Ghosts," his latest LP, is receiving radio airplay nationwide. (www.murphyworld.com)
Red Molly: Red Molly is a female trio combining the talents of singer/instrumentalists Laurie MacAllister, Abbie Gardner and Carolann Solebello. Weaving their voices in harmony over a myriad of strings (guitar, banjo, mandolin and dobro), Red Molly's repertoire includes carefully-selected material, ranging from Appalachian ballads to 20th century pop/country standards and contemporary folk.
Anne Heaton: Anne Heaton has been lauded by The Boston Globe as "easily [one] of the area's most notable female singer-songwriters." Chris Smith, former editor of Performing Songwriter Magazine, wrote "Heaton is one of the finest writers and performers I've come across in years." Heaton recently returned from opening up for Jewel on her June 2004 west coast tour. (www.anneheaton.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)
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)
Amy Hills: Since moving to Manhattan in June of 2002, this feisty young southern songwriter has released three CD's including her most recent full length studio album "Heroine" (2004). In August of 2004 she was one of the headlining acts at the 20th Anniversary Antifolk Festival with shows in Central Park, Tompkins Square Park and the Sidewalk Cafe. After a stint hosting the famous Anti-hoot open mic at the Sidewalk Cave, she founded an open mic for songwriters in 2003 and continues to host the standing room only crowd and over 30 performers every Wednesday at DTUT in the Upper West Side. (www.amyhills.com)
Bonnie Lee Panda: Bonnie Lee Panda has the voice of an angel heard through songs that soar with spirit. In 2004, Bonnie Lee advanced into the regional finals in the Nashville Star Competition. She recently completed her debut CD, "Within," recorded at Signature Sounds Studio. She's accompanied on this release by Duke Levine who toured with Mary Chapin Carpenter's band for five years, accompanied Bonnie on guitar. After seeing Bonnie Lee perform, Ralph Hohman from the Record Journal stated that "her presentation was relaxed and confident, her voice commanding and expressive." (www.bonnieleepanda.com)
Erik Balkey: Erik Balkey has spent the last three years on the road. Keeping just a post office box in Philadelphia, he has taken to the road with his guitar and notebook as well as paint brushes and rollers. He picks up interior house painting jobs to sustain his travels, and performs over 200 times annually. His latest recording, "While The Paint Dries," includes songs that have won him honors in over a dozen song contests nationwide, and have been heard on over 100 radio programs including Sunday Morning City Folk with John Platt (90.7 FM, WFUV, Bronx, NY). (www.erikbalkey.com)
"SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND" FORMAT, WITH:
Rod Picott: According to Fish Records, Rod Picott is "an Americana singer/songwriter in a similar mould to Slaid Cleaves (with whom he wrote the massive hit 'Broke Down', and they share two writing credits here), but he has an individual style all of his own. His gravel-tinged vocals are smooth and effortless, the musical backing is varied and dynamic, and the overall sound is elegant and sophisticated." (www.rodpicott.com)
Alastair Moock: Moock writes tunes that are wise beyond his years. His lyrics are short on navel-gazing and long on wit, expounding on love lost and found and the struggles and gifts of daily living. The Boston Globe calls him "one of the town's best and most adventurous songwriters" and The Washington Post declares "every song a gem." Not content to simply serve up a laundry list of tunes, Moock mixes his own songs with spoken word pieces, stories from the road, and even a bit of American history, providing context for the traditional blues and ballads he includes in every performance. (www.moock.com)
Milton: After achieving glory briefly as a soldier, lecturer, goalie and animal tamer, young Milton got out of bed, got dressed and went to school. There he stayed until graduation. After college, Milt wandered around the American Middle West wearing a tasseled hat and holding a guitar case. Eventually he accumulated a satchel full of song compositions which he performed for a variety of sword swallowers, fortune tellers and coffee baristas in public houses of the interior. (www.miltonmusic.com)
Sharon Edry: With a sweet, soaring voice, catchy hooks and emotional, thoughtful lyrics, singer-songwriter Sharon Edry has made her mark on the New York City scene. A long-time Manhattan resident and Long Island native, Edry grew up as a suburban kid who loved ballet, books and Billy Joel. Today, this city girl's passion is writing intelligent, melodic folk/pop -- Aimee Mann meets Lucy Kaplansky meets Shawn Colvin -- and singing bittersweet tunes about love, rejection, identity and independence. (www.sharonedry.com)
Carl Cacho: Written with stunning detail and clarity, Carl's songs draw the listener into focused snapshots of events and people that usually pass unnoticed. An eclectic mix of musical styles is evident throughout his work - bluegrass, blues, country and rock all make appearances, depending on the need of the lyric. (www.carlcacho.com)
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)
Jennifer Downward: With the release of her new CD, City of Rust, Jennifer Erb has hit the music scene running, captivating audiences everywhere she performs. She has a dynamic style, that can remind you of Tracy Chapman, Loreena McKennitt, and Dar Williams all at once as she combines Celtic, Middle Eastern, Blues and Popular Folk influences with one of the most captivating voices in contemporary folk today. (home.earthlink.net/~jendownward)
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)
Joe Rapolla: Joe Rapolla is very familiar singer/songwriter around the New Jersey Shore. His debut CD, entitled Listen To This has been very well received. AAA radio stations across the northeast have been giving Joe's music a lot of spins. His songs have been described as "a unique and seamless blend of The Beatles, Van Morrison, Matthew Sweet and Bruce Springsteen." (www.joerapolla.com)
Christopher Dallman: Christopher Dallman's debut CD is an entertainingly literary pilgrimage into the inner sanctum of the songwriter's psyche. If good songwriting confronts listeners with truth about themselves, their emotions, and their world from a fresh point of view, then the songs on Race The Light represent songwriting at its best. Dallman's lyrics speak of thoughts and emotions that are common to most of us, but what is uncommon is the ability to express these things in an understandable and yet profound way. (www.christopherdallman.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)
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.
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)
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)
Heath Brandon: With introspective and reflective lyrics, Heath Brandon's songs are mini screenplays, snapshots of relationships and life experiences. Redefining the singer/songwriter label, misguidedly attached to every solo artist with an acoustic guitar, Brandon sets out on his own path, creating an entirely new genre of music. (www.heathbrandon.com)
"SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND" FORMAT, WITH:
Special Guest: Did you miss the last one? Then you won't want to miss this one!
Tim Robinson: Tim is a singer/songwriter from NY, currently living in Brooklyn. Jack Hardy considers him "one of the best songwriters in the country", and Acoustic Live magazine raves, "Tim is flat-out, without a doubt, one of the greatest lyricists around." He prefers songs about something rather than nothing and he is amazed at how hard the former are to find. Having learned that looking underneath and behind small things can work, he's certainly found some keepers. (www.timrobinson.cc)
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)
Please call 212-854-1953 to confirm performers and times.