Erin Markey, Reverend Billy, Mara Wilson, Villalobos Bros and More to Play Joe's Pub, Now thru 5/11
By: BWW News Desk Apr. 29, 2014
Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its upcoming performances, April 30 - May 11, 2014. Details below!
PAUL MULDOON & WAYSIDE SHRINES
Wednesday, April 30 at 7:00 PM
$20
In an evening of poetry and smart rock, the Wayside Shrines play songs with lyrics by Paul Muldoon, a Pulitzer Prize winning poet and Poetry Editor of The New Yorker. The Princeton-based music collective is Muldoon, Ila Couch, Chris Harford, Ray Kubian, Norika Manabe and Nigel Smith. They will be reprising some numbers from The Word on the Street (2013), described by Princeton Magazine as "a life-saving album," as well as new songs from their album in progress.
Wednesday, April 30 at 9:30 PM
SOLD OUT
Lily & Madeleine is a pair of teenaged sisters who, at a pivotal moment in their lives, wrote an album called The Weight of the Globe. With Madeleine at college and Lily following soon after, both sisters find themselves pulled in two directions-between love for the hometown they'll be leaving and their burgeoning wanderlust. When the sisters began writing together just over a year ago, nobody expected their first song, "In the Middle," a bittersweet and understated melody, to rack up a quarter of a million YouTube views. But the gimmick-free, black & white video grabbed the hearts of a notoriously fast-moving Internet audience.
VALERIE GHENT: MUSE CD RELEASE
Thursday, May 1 at 7:30 PM
$15
Powerhouse recording artist Valerie Ghent brings her deep NYC blues-soul groove and intimate piano ballads to celebrate the release of her latest album, Muse, and her birthday! Ghent's powerful voice, piano chop and "soul-stirring, uplifting songs full of vitality and joy" make every concert unforgettable. An outstanding live performer with a 3 ½ octave vocal range and funky piano style, it is no surprise that she has toured with music legends Ashford & Simpson and Debbie Harry, and shared the stage with artists Dr. Maya Angelou, Defunkt and Billy Preston. Ghent brings an all-star groovalicious band to Joe's Pub and very special surprise guests.
ANI CORDERO: RECORDAR CD RELEASE
Thursday, May 1 at 9:30 PM
$15
Brooklyn-based Ani Cordero is a beloved alternative world music singer and drummer, who set out to re-make an important group of Latin American classic love and protest songs to tell the stories behind their heroic writers from 1930s-1970s. Called Recordar, her latest album is co-produced by the legendary Sergio Dias of Brazil's Os Mutantes, and brings old traditions to new audiences with music from the Nueva Canción movement (Latin American and Iberian folk-inspired and socially-committed music). This special May Day concert will be the world premiere of the album. Cordero introduces these beautiful, historically momentous songs to a newer generation, as well as raising awareness about the significance of political art in social change.
Thursdays, May 1 at 11:30 PM
$15 in Advance / $20 at Door
Acclaimed East African vocalist and songwriter Somi returns to Joe's Pub for a three week late night residency. She and her band will preview music from her forthcoming album and major label debut The Lagos Music Salon (Sony/Okeh) which will be released this summer. Her NightSPRING residency is inspired by the unfolding season and the magic of the night. Somi's band is Otis Brown III (drums), Toru Dodo (piano/keyboard), Nir Felder (guitar), Michael Olatuja (bass) and Alicia Olatuja (additional vocals).
AMANDA MARTINEZ: MAÑANA CD RELEASE
Friday, May 2 at 7:00 PM
$20
Amanda Martinez is a Canadian-based singer-songwriter whose music blends her unique Mexican and South African roots with Flamenco soul. Her songs have appeared on three Putumayo world music collections, including Latin Dreamland and Cafe Latino. Martinez has headlined concerts at the 2011 PanAmerican Games in Guadalajara and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Her newest album Mañana (released April 22, CEN/Red via Sony Music) is produced by Grammy Award-winner Javier Limón (Buika, Mariza), who praises Martinez as "one of the greatest voices in the world."
THE LIFE & DEATH OF KENYON PHILLIPS
Friday, May 2 at 9:00 PM
SOLD OUT
The Life & Death of Kenyon Phillips is a 90-minute rock opera that tells the story of the colorful New Yorker's life (and death, since he's executed at the end). In addition to Phillips and The Ladies In Waiting, his all-girl backing band, the cast includes pop culture commentator Michael Musto, Daphne Rubin-Vega, David Cale, Flotilla DeBarge and Chaske Spencer (of The Twilight Saga). Heavily influenced by Max Ophül's Lola Montes, Fellini's 8 1/2, and John Waters's entire film canon, The Life & Death of Kenyon Phillips is a hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking examination of identity, responsibility and truth.
Dubbed "the love child of Luther Vandross and Steven Tyler" by Musto, Phillips is a wildly theatrical singer, songwriter, actor, writer, model, dancer and DJ.
Friday, May 2 at 11:30 PM
$45
Broadway Battles Bullying is a concert to benefit the newly-founded Michael Morones Foundation, which was started to educate communities about youth suicide prevention and the effects of bullying. Scheduled to appear are: Chondra Profit (Disney's The Lion King), Heather Parcells (A Chorus Line Revival, Wonderland), Brian Craft (Avenue Q, Revival of Let My People Come), Anthony Crouchelli (The Adventures of Tom Sawyer National Tour, Step Up 3), Rachel Lorin (E! and Oxygen's The Next Big Thing, Recording Artist), John Ryan Del Bosque (Revival of Let My People Come), Matthew Pritchard (The Spazmatics, Bald Diva) and Alex Bennett (Cabaret). Dougie Meyer and Greg Hoagland will emcee for the evening. Music direction is by Michael James Roy. The band features Max Yassky on drums and Isam Rum on guitar among others.
The Michael Morones Foundation was created following the attempted suicide of 11-year-old North Carolina student Michael Morones. The young boy was severely bullied by his fellow classmates for his love of the My Little Pony TV series. Morones, who attempted to hang himself, was found in time to save his life, but is currently undergoing intensive rehab due to the severity of the brain damage he sustained. He will need ongoing managed care for the rest of his life.
Saturday, May 3 at 7:00 PM
$20
Belter and bad decision expert Tori Scott, a Garland for the Grindr era, returns for another evening of brassy songs and slurred autobiographical stories. As a singer, she's graced the stages of 54 Below, the Laurie Beechman, the Metropolitan Room, and every gay bar on the Eastern Seaboard. As an actress, she's counted to 20 as a singing garbage woman on Sesame Street and dubbed the vocals of a singing hooker on HBO's Cathouse: The Musical. As a woman, she strives every day to be a consummate lady and sometimes wonders if she actually still has a liver or not. If you missed her previous packed shows at the Pub, all is forgiven; just get a ticket, get a drink, and let Scott belt your troubles away.
The show is written by Scott and Adam Hetrick, and directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn, with musical direction by Jesse Kissel.
Saturday, May 3 at 9:00 PM
$15
Known for her dark, absurdist humor and "magnetic diva aggression" (The New York Times), Erin Markey creates a riotous and unexpectedly moving performance about figuring out who you might be. Pop covers and original music score Markey's tales of Midwestern family life and her salvation by Bible-Belt Christians, birthday presents and Ypsilanti strippers. Erin Markey at Joe's Pub is directed by Ben Rimalower (Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches) with musical direction by Tony-nominated Kenny Mellman (The Julie Ruin, Kiki and Herb, Our Hit Parade).
Markey creates comedic performances and original music for stage and video. Major works include Puppy Love: A Stripper's Tail (P.S. 122), The Dardy Family Home Movies by Stephen Sondheim (San Francisco Film Society) and Looking for Limbo (Lincoln Center Director's Lab). She was a featured artist in the critically acclaimed Our Hit Parade show.
Saturday, May 3 at 11:30 PM
$12
Blending intimate vocal performance with the obscure synthetic textures of alt-R&B producer Toulouse, Kiah Victoria emerges from the great city of New York. Having garnered the attention of NYC's Broadway stages (starring in The Lion King as young Nala at age ten), MTV and the world renowned Tisch School of Performing Arts, the powerhouse songstress is steadily building on her young career. After singing her way into a feature in JAY Z's video for "Picasso Baby", Victoria released her second EP Gravitate, which is now available on Spotify and iTunes.
REVEREND BILLY & THE STOP-STOPPING CHOIR: THE HONEYBEELUJAH! SHOW
Sundays, May 4 - June 22 at 2:00 PM
$15
Reverend Billy & the Stop-Shopping Choir return to Joe's Pub for a two-month residency. What time is this? Time to party before the plague? Or is it more like the 20's between world wars? In 2014, stepping on stage in fire and drought, freak storms and extinction... we feel a strange joy in these first days of apocalypse. We need to rededicate ourselves to the politicizing of survival, pitting our freedom against the financiers of climate change.
The singing-activists return to Joe's after last year's performances in Chase Bank lobbies, and New York jails and courts. In 2013 we were inspired by the extinction and resurrection of the Golden Toad. This year, the Honey Bee is the hero. The presence of the pesticides of "Big Ag" and the struggle by bees to survive, is inspiration for new songs, songs with lots of Bee-atitude, hard-working and sticky sweet. Honeybeelujah!Sunday, May 4 at 7:00 PM
$14
Julia Haltigan's upbringing in NYC's Lower East Side gave her an edgy perspective that has shaped her songwriting and dynamic character today. Growing up in a musically inclined family, she picked up on melodies with a natural ability, nurtured by her father's record collection, which included Lou Reed and Tom Waits. Not only is she merciless like rockers Joan Jet & Wanda Jackson but her sultry voice can melt your heart. Haltigan is able to captivate an audience with stories of her travels around the country and leave you wanting more of her seductive and flirtatious music. Her critically acclaimed album My Green Heart and EP Magneto gained her national recognition. She has shared stages with many amazing singer-songwriters including Judy Collins, The Waterboys, Cory Chisel, Norah Jones and Justin Townes Earle.
Arum Rae, formerly known as White Dress, is a modern day siren. Her ability to transcend style and genre allows her music to complement country, resurrect the soul, feel the blues, and ruin then reinvent rock, through her deeply rooted foundation as a singer-songwriter. When she plays, the room falls silent except for her sultry voice and electric guitar. Often compared to PJ Harvey and Patti Smith, Arum Rae accomplishes a wider range of sound and feel with minimal accompaniment - at most, a drummer and bassist - often playing alone. Rae has worked with everyone from The Black Keys, Peter Bjorn & John, Gary Clark Jr., and The Civil Wars, but she is now primed to take command of her own destiny.
MARA WILSON: WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?
Sunday, May 4 at 9:30 PM
$12
Mara Wilson's What Are You Afraid Of? is about fears, anxieties, phobias, dealing with them, getting through them, and laughing at them. Death, commitment, sock puppets - everyone's afraid of something. Laugh at your fears as host Wilson takes you through the anxieties of performers, comedians and a few of her own. Her guests: Kevin Allison, host of storytelling show and podcast RISK! and member of The State; Joseph Fink, creator of hit podcast Welcome to Night Vale; and Chris Gethard, comedian and host of The Chris Gethard Show.
Wilson is a recovering former child actor who writes plays, fiction and nonfiction. Her writing has been featured on Cracked.com, Jezebel, Theatermania.com, Yahoo News, BUST, The Huffington Post, and her own site MaraWilsonWritesStuff.com. She has told stories for ASSSSCAT 3000, RISK!, Showgasm, The Story Collider, The Jukebox Show, Tell It: Brooklyn, Funny Story and more. She is currently working on a novel and trying to stop telling everyone about it.
NYU TISCH PRESENTS: PRIVATE IN PUBLIC
Monday, May 5 at 7:00 PM
$10
Emerging artists from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and the Department of Drama at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts come together for Private in Public, an evening of music and stories. Drawing from personal experiences, current events, and a combination of favorite and original songs, they will give voice to the hopes, dreams, and fears we all notice, but can so easily ignore in the chaos of the city.
Private in Public is directed by Joe's Pub favorite Nora York with her collaborator pianist/composer Jamie Lawrence and choreographer Barbara Allen.Monday, May 5 at 9:30 PM
$20
Come celebrate Cinco De Mayo with The Villalobos Brothers, a trio of virtuoso violinists, singer-songwriters, composers, and arrangers. The band masterfully blends the indigenous rhythms and melodies of their native Veracruz, Mexico with the intricate harmonies of jazz and classical music. The band delivers an intoxicating brew of musical brilliance, cadence and virtuosity that awakens the senses as it redefines the notions behind Latin music. The Villalobos Brothers have been acclaimed as one of today's leading world music and classical crossover ensembles. "They played with exuberant intensity for the appreciative audience...with their heads bowed...fingers jumping and feet tapping, they weren't just playing music, they were living it..." said Devan Sipher of The Forward.
CATIE LAZARUS: EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00 PM
$20
Ever wonder what it's like to have a dreamy job? Comedian Catie Lazarus did too, so she created an utterly addictive, candid and fun talk show about work. Come see why The New York Times calls Employee of the Month "beloved." May's Employees of the Month are Paula Pell (writer, SNL & 30 Rock),Sheila Nevins (President, HBO Documentary Films) and Josh Russ Tupper (co-owner, Russ and Daughters). Music is provided by David Berkeley (singer, Fire in My Head) and Beyondo. Past guests include Rachel Maddow, Gloria Steinem, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andrew Rannells, Lewis Black, Robert Smigel, Esther Perel and Grover the Muppet.
Tuesday, May 6 at 9:30 PM
$20
In a daredevil variety cabaret, the masterful entertainer, Amy G deconstructs before your eyes, and rebuilds beauty from the inside out. She gleefully defies shame and categorization. Prepare to be seduced and surprised, touched and thrilled, as the sensational singer and comedian, finally back from a world tour, touches down for a moment in NYC, her hometown. This night may contain traces of rollerskates, ukulele, and/or a live chicken. Directed by John-Stuart Fauquet and featuring the legendary rock band, Gag Reflex.
Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 PM
$10
Emerging artists from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and the Department of Drama at NYU's Tisch School of the Artspresent Inside Up, a cabaret that seeks to express truth through song. This unique collaboration includes a wide range of musical styles that incite social awareness and change. From love songs to jazz standards, original compositions to pop ballads, this one-night-only performance will combine the innermost thoughts, wishes, and values of twelve unique individuals who are hopeful for a brighter tomorrow.
Inside Up is directed by Joe's Pub favorite Nora York with her collaborator pianist/composer Jamie Lawrence and choreographer ofBarbara Allen.Wednesday, May 7 at 9:30 PM
$20
Mem Nahdar, also known as simply "M", is an internationally acclaimed vocalist and film composer. Widely known for her Off-Broadway performance art piece entitled: Madwoman: A Contemporary Opera, Nahadr returns to the international stage with a bold new work entitled: Femme Fractale - An Opera of Reflection. With a nearly six octave range and mesmerizing stage presence, Nahadr has captivated audiences worldwide. She is also very well known for her performance of the ballad "Butterfly" on the soundtrack to the classic Japanese Anime film Cowboy Bebop -The Movie. In addition to her work as a musician Nahadr is an author, composer, independent filmmaker and social activist for Albinism worldwide.
AMY LYNN & THE GUNSHOW W/ SPECIAL GUEST SHAYNA STEELE
Thursday, May 8 at 7:00 PM
$20
Amy Lynn & The Gunshow blows glitter all over their signature Memphis-meets-Motown soul/rock style with their debut album Don't Trip On The Glitter, which was produced by Steve Greenwell (Joss Stone, Diane Birch, Steve Cropper). At the helm of this seven-piece band is Amy Lynn, a vocal powerhouse whose quirky flair and down-to-earth humor is bolstered by the serious musicianship of The Gunshow (baritone sax, tenor sax, trumpet, keys, bass and drums). The group has performed with Roberta Flack, Spoon, Bette Midler, Red Baraat, St. Vincent, The National, Yo La Tengo, Loser's Lounge, Duffy, Antibalas, and the Radio City Orchestra.
Thursday, May 8 at 9:30PM
$12
Champagne Jerry continues to roll out the hits every month! Real beats, real rapping, real champagne, real realness. As Champagne Jerry releases singles monthly from his forthcoming album For Real, You Guys, the rapper pairs each to a show themed to that single at the legendary Joe's Pub. Champagne Jerry, also known as Neal Medlyn, is a rapper and performance artist who, along with his main producer, Max Tannone and his onstage entourage, the Champagne Club, seek to transform the world every single time they hit the stage.
THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY CHORUS
Friday, May 9 at 7:00 PM
$20-45
The Children's Aid Society Chorus program strives to impart confidence, self-esteem, vocal excellence and team work through the lens of a musical education. The CAS Chorus program engages youth from across the Children's Aid Society community centers and schools, spanning neighborhoods from the South Bronx and Washington Heights to Greenwich Village, Brooklyn and Harlem. The CAS Chorus has performed at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Belmont Stakes, Joe's Pub, the Naumberg Bandshell, and the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. One of the key components to the program is their focus on giving their young singers professional experiences in NYC's theatrical and musical venues.
Friday, May 9 at 9:30 PM
$15
Fredericks Brown is vocalist Deva Mahal and keyboard player Stephanie Brown. Influenced by Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone and more, the duo creates compositions with lyrics that combine imagery and narrative to deliver a startling blend of strength and intimacy. Moreover, they draw on their wide-ranging cultural heritage - Mahal, the daughter of legendary blues musician Taj Mahal, unearths her rich organic soul and blues roots, while Brown uses the sublime grooves from her native New Zealand - to create energetic live shows, rich harmonies and beautifully crafted songs. At the Pub, they will play music from their newest EP release, entitled Glass House Mountains.
Bonzie, 18-year-old Chicago native Nina Ferraro, is not a traditional confessional singer-songwriter. She's more of an observer and commentator, drawn to expressing the concerns of her generation with unwavering honesty, and delivering them with powerful abandon. It's partly for this reason that Ferraro has chosen to release her songs under the moniker Bonzie (an image and word she has long associated with her creative output) as opposed to her own name.
JOHNNY SHOWCASE & THE LEFTY LUCY CABARET
Friday, May 9 at Midnight
$12
Johnny Showcase is an electrifying experience: a joyful, innovative tour-de-force that blissfully toes the line between performance art and a psychedelic soul revival. Carrying the torch of funk-rock pioneers like Funkadelic and Frank Zappa, their blistering live show has gained a massive following and propelled Johnny to something that of a funky Philadelphia folk hero legend.
Saturday, May 10 at 7:00 PM
$30
Holly Near has worked for over 40 years as a singer, songwriter and teacher. With her powerful voice, wry sense of humor, and curious mind, she interprets the songs of the folk tradition, Broadway, cabaret and pop with equal grace. Near is joined by pianist Adrienne Torf, bass player Jan Martinelli and special guests Emma's Revolution, a duo that contributes guitar, banjo, ukulele and exquisitely complex vocal harmonies. In an uplifting and entertaining evening of music, Near and friends perform material from her recent album Peace Becomes You, old favorites and a few standards from the American Songbook.
Saturday, May 10 at 9:30 PM
$18
Emerson Hart, frontman for the multi-platinum band Tonic, comes back to time and again on his new record, Beauty in Disrepair, his first solo release in over six years. The album touches on loss, but also the beauty of rebirth, newfound love, family and starting a clean slate. Beauty in Disrepair marks a remarkably polished and honest follow-up to his 2007 solo debut Cigarettes & Gasoline, a critically-acclaimed album that spawned two Top 20 singles.
EVERYTHING'S COMING UP BROADWAYWORLD.COM: A JULE STYNE TRIBUTE
Sunday, May 11 at 7:00 PM
$35
BroadwayWorld.com continue its ongoing 2014 concert series at Joe's Pub, hosting an all-star tribute concert and benefit celebrating the music of incomparable multi-award-winning composer Jule Styne. This event will also honor Mother's Day and raise funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This evening is directed by BroadwayWorld's own Pat Cerasaro, creator of the popular InDepth InterView series and a wide range of other innovative content for the site, with music direction by Broadway and cabaret veteran Phil Hall.
Jule Styne is a Tony Award- and Academy Award-winning composer known for writing over 1500 songs over the course of his career, including scores for notable Broadway musicals: GYPSY, FUNNY GIRL, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, PETER PAN, BELLS ARE RINGING, DO RE MI, SUGAR and HALLELUJAH, BABY! With lyricist Sammy Cahn, he created a string of Hit Parade leaders and chart-topping hits, including the Oscar-winning "Three Coins In The Fountain," plus countless hits from his film, TV and theater scores. Styne's other illustrious collaborators include Stephen Sondheim, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Bob Merrill, Leo Robin and E.Y. Harburg, producing legendary standards like "Everything's Coming Up Roses", "Don't Rain On My Parade", "Let Me Entertain You", "People", "Never Never Land" and "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend."Sunday, May 11 at 9:30 PM
$14
NYU's hottest rock a cappella group the N'Harmonics return to Joe's Pub for their final concert of the year! The N'Harmz are known for their eclectic song choices and arrangements (i.e. The Allman Brothers, John Legend, Radiohead, Rihanna and more) and their fresh looks, loud belts, whistle tones, high Cs, riff #210 and FIERCE beatboxing. Their ridiculously fabulous alumni have and can be seen on Broadway in Wicked, Mamma Mia!, Spring Awakening and a slew of other productions. The N'Harmz have performed at venues like Lincoln Center, CBGB's and The Beacon Theatre.
Visit joespub.com for a complete list of shows and to purchase tickets, or call 212-967-7555 or visit in person at The Public Theater Box Office (1:00-6:00 PM), 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.
ABOUT JOE'S PUB AT THE PUBLIC Named for Public Theater founder Joe Papp, Joe's Pub at The Public debuted in 1998 and plays a vital role in The Public's mission of supporting young artists while providing established artists with an intimate space to perform and develop new work. In 2013, Joe's Pub celebrates 15 years of the best in live music and performance nightly, continuing its commitment to diversity, production values, community and artistic freedom. It received a top-to-bottom renovation in 2011, leading to improved sightlines, expanded seating capacity and a new menu from acclaimed Chef Andrew Carmellini. With its intimate atmosphere and superior acoustics, Joe's Pub presents talent from all over the world as part of The Public's programming downtown at its Astor Place home, hosting approximately 800 shows and serving over 100,000 audience members annually.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC THEATER AT ASTOR PLACE Under the leadership of Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham, The Public Theater is the only theater in New York that produces Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental pieces in equal measure. The Public continues the work of its visionary founder, Joe Papp, by acting as an advocate for the theater as an essential cultural force, and leading and framing dialogue on some of the most important issues of our day. Creating theater for one of the largest and most diverse audience bases in New York City for nearly 60 years, today the Company engages audiences in a variety of venues-including its landmark downtown home at Astor Place, which houses five theaters and Joe's Pub; the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, home to its beloved, free Shakespeare in the Park; and the Mobile Unit, which tours Shakespearean productions for underserved audiences throughout New York City's five boroughs. The Public's wide range of programming includes free Shakespeare in the Park, the bedrock of the Company's dedication to making theater accessible to all, new and experimental stagings at The Public at Astor Place, and a range of artist and audience development initiatives including its Public Forum series, which brings together theater artists and professionals from a variety of disciplines for discussions that shed light on social issues explored in Public productions. The Public Theater is located on property owned by the City of New York and receives annual support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust provides leadership support for The Public Theater's year-round activities.
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