Last night I had a musical doubleheader. Months ago Emily Mure announced the date for her EP release, September 12. Then Joe Iadanza told me the date for his album release, September 12. I thought I had something for that date but wasn’t sure what. Then I saw it was Emily’s EP release and was crestfallen as I’d have to miss one of them. Then came the good news. They were both at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, one after the other. I could do both!
Joe was up first. This was a gathering of the tribe. Everyone in his Beautiful Band, that’s the name of the band, is a friend; Paul Silverman on keyboard, Craig Akin on bass, Jagoda on drums, Catherine Miles on vocals, and Sophie Buskin on vocals, electric, and acoustic guitar.
In the audience I was joined by Allison, Mark & Beth, Ereshnee, and Judy. This was my fifth time seeing Allison the last three and a half weeks. Ereshnee is Paul’s wife and i haven’t seen her in a month of Sundays. I last saw Judy when Joe and Carolann played at Bri’s House. Mark & Beth are people I used to see all the time but haven’t seen in ages. I was surprised that Allison and Beth didn’t know each other as they are both in my inner social circle and there is so much overlap in theirs.
I went in photographer mode; I brought my real camera. Sorry, can’t show you the pics as the card is still in the camera. Instead of taking one of the Statler & Waldorf seats, like I usually do, I chose to stay at floor level to socialize and shoot pictures and videos.
I love Joe solo but he really shines with a band. He owns a meditation studio, he seems like a guy that would own a yoga studio, he steps on stage with a band and he becomes a rocker. His lyrics are folk but the feel rock, hey let’s call it folk-rock! It’s music you find it difficult to stand still to.
After his set we retired to the backroom, technically Rockwood 3, but everyone thinks of Rockwood 3 as being the stage below the backroom. They started having a band play on the balcony there. That defeats the entire reason people go to that room, to socialize after the concert. One of the things we talked about was how much we hate having to talk over the music.
One fortunate thing, there is a projection TV showing what’s going on in Stage 2. I could watch that to see when the show was about to start. I held off as long as I could then dragged myself away from my friends to see the wonderful Emily Mure.
Emily is decidedly not rock. She’s a classically trained oboist (don’t you want to say o-boyst when you see that?) turned pop-singer/songwriter. Is she folk? Is she really pop? What she really does is make art songs, even when doing pop covers. For the EP release she had a full band.
The EP is all covers. Her musical world is not mine, the covers are of, The Shins, Willie Nelson, The Cranberries, Wilco, Radiohead, and Coldplay. The arrangements are my world, most of them have cello and all of them are brilliant.
I didn’t know anyone in Emily’s crowd other than her husband, Dom. I always have to pat myself on the back when I remember his name. It’s one I needed a mnemonic for. He’s a brewer that shares a name with the most famous brand of champagne.
My dinner was simple, dollar pizza. It’s on the way to the subway so when I need something quick it’s perfect. As usual instead of getting on the F train I walked one stop to Broadway Lafayette to catch the D and make it home on one train. If the weather is good the walk feels good after a concert.
Today I’m going to therapy then coming straight home. Tomorrow I’ll be out all day at the Hudson West Folk Festival. Look at this lineup;
Rumor has it that a cute guy will be selling merch.
Wise Madness 