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Posts Tagged ‘Caffe Lena’

Five Firsts: Mary McCaslin

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

NAME: Mary McCaslin
INSTRUMENT: Guitar, banjo

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … Marty Robbins’ “Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs” (Vol. 1 – followed by Vol. 2)

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … Marty Robbins

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … an accordion!! (Took up guitar at age 15 – accordion taught me rudimentary music theory)

4. THE FIRST SONG THAT I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … “Beautiful Brown Eyes”

5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … solo / Mary McCaslin

Mary McCaslin returns to the stage at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs at 8pm Friday, as the coffeehouse continues its Decades Concert series in celebration of the Caffe’s 50th anniversary. McCaslin will team up with Garnet Rogers to represent the ’80s.

Tags: Caffe Lena, Mary McCaslin, Saratoga Springs
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LIVE: Michael Eck @ Caffe Lena, 3/7/10

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Michael Eck at Caffe Lena

It’s not like singer-songwriter Michael Eck has been holed up in some deep, dark cave, hiding out. For the past several years he’s been rolling around from one area stage to another, as a member of the Lost Radio Rounders, as well as Ramblin Jug Stompers.

Or maybe you’ve seen him sittin’ in with Frank Jaklitsch. Or conducting onstage interviews with the performers for Caffe Lena’s Decades Concert Series. Or stepping up to the microphone to add his two cents at the recent Johnny Cash birthday tribute night.

But it’s been three years since he last dove head first into his old “maximum solo acoustic” mode, playing a full evening of his own music by himself.

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Tags: Andrzej Pilarczyk, Caffe Lena, Michael Eck, Saratoga Springs
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Celebrating Caffe Lena With Mary McCaslin

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

The decades are rollin’ by up at Saratoga Springs’ venerable Caffe Lena, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of the celebration, Caffe manager Sarah Craig has put together a series of Decades Concerts – each one representing one of the five decades that the famed second-floor coffeehouse has been in continuous operation.

The series started off on Friday, January 22 with Jack Landron (aka Jackie Washington) and Bill Staines playing the ’60s Decade Concert. Livingston Taylor took over for the ’70s Decade Concert on Saturday, February 27.

And longtime Lena’s regular Mary McCaslin returns for the ’80s Decade Concert on Friday, March 12.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, Mary McCaslin, Saratoga Springs
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CD: Michael Eck’s “In My Shoes”

Friday, March 5th, 2010

(Mandala Hand, 2010):

Before he began banging around Nippertown with such bands as the Lost Radio Rounders and Ramblin Jug Stompers, singer-songwriter Michael Eck was a solo man-with-a-guitar-about-town, pumping out what he likes to describe as “maximum solo acoustic.”

But it’s been a full decade since the release of his last solo album, 2000’s “Small Town Blues” on the Dancing Druid Music label.

He comes roaring back with the new “In My Shoes,” a snappy collection of 11 original songs and a well-chosen cover of “Beyond the Blues” penned by the triumvirate of Peter Case, Bob Neuwirth and Tom Russell.

Unlike his previous solo efforts which usually featured a cast of prominent back-up musicians – “Small Town Blues,” for example, was bolstered by contributions by Rick Bedrosian, Sam Zucchini, Adrian Cohen, Jim Haggerty, Kevin Maul, Rosanne Raneri, MotherJudge and more – this time around, Eck is going it alone.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, In My Shoes, Michael Eck, Saratoga Springs
Posted in CD Reviews | 1 Comment »

Be Here Now: SAM Fund Benefit Concerts @ Caffe Lena, 3/6-7/10

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

It’s a very busy weekend at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs with two shows by Red Molly on Friday, dobro master Stacy Phillips on Saturday and Michael Eck’s CD release party on Sunday night, but somehow the coffeehouse managed to find time to squeeze in an additional pair of benefit concerts for the SAM Fund on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Dedicated to the memory of beloved banjo and mandolin player Chan Goodnow, the Southern Adirondack Musicians Fund was formed following Chan’s sudden death in 2001. The not-for-profit organization raises funds to help local musicians and their families who may fall on hard times due to health issues or accidents.

The concerts are slated to run from 1-4:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, and among the many musicians donating their time and talent to the cause are Bob Warren, Jim Gaudet & the Railroad Boys, the BlueBillies, Addie and Olin-Unleashed!, Wanda Fischer, the trio of Phil Henry, Kate Blain & Gary Moon, the Stony Creek Band, John Kribs with Dannielle Spindler-Swart & Doug Moody, Michael Jerling & Terri Huxtable, the Whippersnappers and more.

Admission is $15; students $10; children free. Seating is general admission.

Tags: Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, Southern Adirondack Musicians Fund
Posted in Be Here Now, Music | No Comments »

Five Firsts: Abbie Gardner of Red Molly

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Red Molly

NAME: Abbie Gardner
BAND AFFILIATION: Red Molly
INSTRUMENT: Dobro

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … The California Raisins

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … My dad, playing with the Galvanized Jazz Band (dixieland)

3. THE FIRST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I EVER OWNED OR PLAYED WAS … violin, though I quickly switched to flute.

4. THE FIRST SONG THAT I EVER PERFORMED IN PUBLIC WAS … probably a classical flute piece at my first recital, though I don’t remember which one. (It was 4th grade.)

5. THE FIRST BAND I WAS EVER IN WAS … The Bluefield Elementary School Band. The first modern band I was in was Silent Q, a garage rock band, playing bass and singing backup. We did Rush, Yes, Pink Floyd and Genesis covers.

Abbie Gardner and her bandmates in Red Molly take to the stage at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs for two shows (7 & 9:30pm) on Friday in support of their brand new album, “James.”

Tags: Caffe Lena, Red Molly, Saratoga Springs
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Jonathan Edwards, What Was the First Album You Ever Bought?

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

“It was a calypso album – the Harry Belafonte album with songs like ‘Jamaica Farewell’ and ‘Day-O’ and all that stuff. That was my first LP.

Then, of course, I bought everything by the Kingston Trio and some other folk groups like Peter, Paul and Mary.

I’ve always had an ear for the popular – the popular side of folk music.”

Jonathan Edwards makes tour stop at the venerable Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs on Sunday (February 21).

Tags: Caffe Lena, Jonathan Edwards, Saratoga Springs
Posted in First Record | 1 Comment »

Five Firsts: Jim Gaudet of the Railroad Boys

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

NAME: Jim Gaudet
BAND AFFILIATION: The Railroad Boys
INSTRUMENT: Guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … This is sort of tricky because the first album I ever owned was by the Beach Boys (“In My Room,” “Little Deuce Coupe”). However, it was not purchased. I think it’s in the best interest of protecting the credibility (and liability) of Nippertown.com that we don’t go into detail about that.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, Jim Gaudet, Saratoga Springs
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Five Firsts: Jonathan Russell

Monday, February 8th, 2010

NAME: Jonathan Russell
BAND AFFILIATION: Several bands including the Hot Club of the Lower East Side, but this weekend I’ll be playing with the Doc Scanlon Trio in Saratoga
INSTRUMENT: Violin

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … The first album I ever bought was the soundtrack from the new “Star Trek” movie.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT THAT I EVER SAW WAS … My mom says that the first concert I ever went to was one of hers when I was six weeks old. I don’t remember it. The first one that I remember was a klezmer band playing at a library near me.

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Tags: Caffe Lena, Dance Flurry, Doc Scanlon Trio, Jonathan Russell, Saratoga Springs
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Be Here Now: Ladies Sing the Blues @ Caffe Lena, 2/6/10

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

MotherJudge

At 8pm on Saturday (February 6), some of Nippertown’s finest female vocalists will band together to present a one-time-only tribute to some of the all-time great blueswomen at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs.

Sponsored by the Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society, “Ladies Sing the Blues” will feature performances by Mikki Bakken, the Dwyer Sisters, MotherJudge, Sarah Pedinotti (of Railbird), Thomasina Winslow, Annie Rosen (of Annie & the Hedonists), Gail Sparlin and Becky Walton (of Big Medicine).

MotherJudge, for example, will be paying homage to Memphis Minnie and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, two women whose brand of the blues owes a debt to the gospel music tradition. She’ll be accompanied by guitarist Mark Tolstrup of Street Corner Holler.

Blues greats such as Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Sippie Wallace, Billie Holiday and more will also be honored throughout the evening.

“Ladies Sing the Blues” is a special benefit for Caffe Lena, which is celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Tickets are $20.

Tags: Annie Rosen, Becky Walton, Caffe Lena, Dwyer Sisters, Gail Sparlin, Mikki Bakken, MotherJudge, Sarah Pedinotti, Saratoga Springs, Thomasina Winslow
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Five Firsts: Andy Campolieto of Jo Henley

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Jo Henley

NAME: Andy Campolieto
BAND AFFILIATION: Jo Henley
INSTRUMENT: Vocals, rhythm guitar

1. THE FIRST ALBUM I EVER BOUGHT WAS … First album I ever bought for myself was a Beatles compilation called “Beatles Love Songs.” It’s out of print now, but I must have worn that tape to shreds. I actually almost picked up a copy of it last week on eBay, coincidentally.

2. THE FIRST CONCERT I EVER SAW WAS … My first real concert was Lynyrd Skynyrd at SPAC, probably in ‘89, I would say. I still can picture when they closed the set with “Sweet Home Alabama” and dropped the most gigantic Confederate flag behind them. The biker chicks, the tailgating, the loud guitars, the beauty of SPAC, the sense of freedom – yeah, it was love at first sight!

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Tags: Andy Campolieto, Caffe Lena, Jo Jenley, Saratoga Springs
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LIVE: Murali Coryell @ Caffe Lena, 1/29/10

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

Murali Coryell

Murali Coryell is a ball of passionate energy when he’s onstage singing and playing guitar. But he also had that same non-stop enthusiasm when he was on his break at the Saratoga Springs coffeehouse, chatting with the members of the audience about his legendary father (guitarist Larry Coryell), the blues and soul masters who influenced him or his latest album, which he recorded in Nashville with his dad and blues great Joe Louis Walker.

Making his Caffe Lena debut as a solo acoustic artist, Coryell’s voice had a bit of Rod Stewart’s rasp, and his superb guitar playing had some of that old-style, back-porch Mississippi bluesman-bite. But Coryell is very much his own man, and he gets at the heart and soul of any song, regardless of whether he wrote it or not.

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Tags: Andrzej Pilarczyk, Caffe Lena, Murali Coryell, Saratoga Springs, Tequila Mockingbirds
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