Fusing elements of dubstep, drum & bass, electronica, hip hop, and rock, Visible Wobble will keep you movin' and leave you groovin' long after the set is over. Sean Pietras on guitar, Carter Sessoms on drums and Laurence Driggs on bass and bass synth and samples.
Proceeds of this show will benefit the Talbot County Humane Society.
Bess Rogers NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md CD RELEASE w/ Allison Weiss and Lelia Broussard (Indie-Folk) Thursday, September 9th, 2010 8 pm, $8 advance/$10 door
“Mostly I write songs that are upbeat, energetic or even aggressive. I like people to be able to dance and even head bang to my music.” That's how Bess Rogers describes her not-so-typical singer/songwriter style. “I'm not afraid to take risks with my music and that's exciting,” she continues. “Infectious”, “catchy”, and “hook-laden” are just a few words used to describe her memorable indie-pop-rock sound. Her 2009 EP Travel Back reflects these beliefs and has set the stage for her brand new full-length release titled Bess Rogers presents Bess Rogers.
Gareth Asher NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Singer-Songwriter) Friday, September 10th, 2010 8 pm, $10
"Gareth has the most soulful voice I have ever heard. The first time I heard his music I just had to stop and take it in. I imagine that is what it was like for those who heard Ray Charles or John Lennon for the first time." - Holly Firfer (92.9 Dave FM On-Air, Atlanta & Company)
Born in the small town Bowdon, GA, Gareth Asher was raised on a steady diet of old school funk, rock and soul. Asher attributes many of his musical sensibilities to monumental artists like Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and groups like Chicago. As a writer, he respects the work of iconic performing songwriters like Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, and Don Henley and The Eagles. "I feel like my shell is finally cracking, and the best songs are starting to emerge on this new record. All my inner most thoughts and emotions are breaking through to the surface, and insisting on a ray of light to shine down", says Asher.
"Soulful to the max - brought tears to my eyes." -Bob Power Legendary Producer & Engineer for: Erykah Badu, D'angelo, Michelle ndegeocello
"This album is a symbol for all that M&TT represent: Uniqueness, passion, & exceptional talent, moving music forward for generations to come." -Michael O’Donnell Soul Discovery 209 Radio/Solar Radio
"To spend the day listening to Symbols is to breathe love all day. Going beyond mere song, Marcell & The Truth’s music nurtures, inspires, reveals, romances and, at times, even causes your soul to dance."
Ambition is evident in Matthew Perryman Jones' third record, but first proper release. From the sense of hope that swells from the darkness of the opening track to the epic reinterpretation of the spiritual, "Motherless Child" to the closing track's two minute mantra, "Where can you go? Can you Swallow the Sea?", this record is the sound of Jones simultaneously putting his neck on the line and shedding musical inhibitions, and finding his voice in doing so.
"I have always gravitated toward records that were grand and a bit overly ambitious. With "Swallow the Sea" I didn't want to go the route of the low-fi indie record. The title represents what I was going for. I also have to stay true to my roots. I'm a product of the 80's and my musical taste was shaped largely by bands like The Pixies, REM, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen and other underground bands of that time. It was the era of epic art-rock and smart pop. I ate it up. This record certainly nods to my influences without apology."
Like his earlier albums, Smith’s latest work defies easy categorization; he pulls from the deep well of American blues and many of its offshoots, including soul, country, and folk. Still, his raw talents as a writer and performer shine on stage irrespective of his unclassifiable style. Smith is essentially a songwriter with the voice of a soul singer.
Luke Brindley
w/ Tom McBride CD Release Party Sept. 18th, 8 P.M. $12
One of our favorite acts here at NightCat.
Arguably the most promising singer/songwriter to emerge from the Washington, DC area in recent years, Luke’s self titled release is called "one of the best roots-rock records of the year" by The Washington Post. With no song going “untouched by the energy and pure infectious joy of Luke's performance (The Washington Times),” Luke’s show will feature music from the 2008 WAMMIE winner for Best Contemporary Folk album and his latest release 5 Songs.
Tom McBride opens.
Scott Miller NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Alt-Country) Sunday, September 19th, 2010 7:30 pm, $15
One of our all-time favorites, Scott combines biting songs, nasty hooks and a lethal dose of humor into a solo set that leaves first timers delightfully reeling.
The one-time frontman for the V-Roys and house band leader for the Blue Collar Comedy Television show, Miller has settled into the role as one of the Americana world’s most reliable acts.
A true storyteller, Miller’s shows are humorous and compelling – just ask any of the fans that travel hundreds of miles to see him when he plays here.
Mark Olson is a founding member of The Jayhawks, the most acclaimed band to emerge out of the alt-country scene. He left the Jayhawks in 1996, after the release of the band’s biggest-selling album, Tomorrow The Green Grass, but continued to record music with his new band, The Creekdippers, at his new home in the California desert.
In 2007 Mark released his first true solo album, The Salvation Blues. A deeply personal album, it also featured the long-awaited reunion with his former Jayhawks bandmate and writing partner, Gary Louris, on three songs.
In 2008 Mark and Gary got together and recorded an album Ready For The Flood, and toured the world extensively after its release for the better part of 2009.Now it's 2010 and Mark's second solo album Many Colored Kite is scheduled for release on July 27, 2010 on Rykodisc.
We are very excited to have this living legend return to NightCat.
Jason Reeves
w/ Joe Brooks Sept. 23, 8 P.M. $12 Adv./$15 Door
If you haven't heard of Jason Reeves, you've almost certainly heard his music. With multiple hits around the world and collaborators from Colbie Caillat to Kara Dioguardi, Jason is one of the most sought-after new co-writers around. Yet Jason is also an artist in his own right, with a fresh honest approach that is rapidly winning fans everywhere. His debut album in 2007 earned raves from iTunes and a nod as one of the top indie songwriters of the year. Now signed to Warner Bros. Records, he is ready for his major label close up. Still don't know who he is? You soon will...
Joe Brooks is a British singer-songwriter, born and raised in Southampton, United Kingdom. He started playing the guitar at the age of 15 and became a MySpace phenomenon over night. He is currently signed to Universal Republic/Lava records, and has his debut album "Constellation Me" due out September 7th.
Paper Doll, the second album by vocalist, songwriter and CBS recording artist Sharon Little, is the artist’s response to a pop culture mindset that seems to require female entertainers to adopt a particular look or behave outrageously in order to gain attention. Blazing her way on an accelerated career path – she went from waiting tables in a Philadelphia coffee shop straight to a debut album and a national tour with Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and T Bone Burnett – Sharon was exposed to many forces pulling at her, offering advice, direction, and often, confusion.
Paper Doll is Sharon’s manifesto that she be judged on what she offers through her music, and not by the outfits she wears or who she’s been dating. She delivers this message through songs that effortlessly fuse pop, rock, R&B, and even a taste of electronic music in a direct, emotionally potent style,
Richard Julian NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Indie) Saturday, September 25th, 2010 8 pm, $15
You only have to hear Richard Julian’s voice once to understand why this is one of the most respected singer-songwriters going. His shows always leave us wanting more, and he returns to NightCat with a brand new CD, titled “Girls Need Attention, which Julian describes as “a musical atonement.”
“I don't know how to not write confessionally... the songs always feel like a shopping cart that veers in that direction no matter which way I try to steer it.” This, Julian's Compass Records debut and first album since 2008's Sunday Morning in Saturday's Shoes, still serves up the occasional helping of his razor-sharp wit but ultimately reveals the singer at his most emotionally-charged. “This is by far the most raw I've ever been on an album,” says Julian, and his uncloaked narration is served well by lean and elegant arrangements.
If you haven’t seen him here before, do yourself a favor and come check this show out: it’s a great night out with a very captivating artist.
Swift Robinson NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Rock) Sept. 25, 10 P.M. $12
Recommended if you like: The Black Crowes, Southern Rock
An unquenchable thirst for making music and searching for truth is the driving force behind Swift Robinson. There’s a palpable urgency in their dynamic arrangement of song, stemming from hook-infested dual-harmony vocal lines, soaring guitar riffs, ambient glitch-pop sampling, and Velcro-tight rhythms.
Swift Robinson’s sound is impressively unique, while cohesive and accessible, taking cues from mainstream pop/rock and experimental tangencies alike.
In their song "The Journey" ("To Speak, To Love, To Listen" 2007), Chris Pearson of Sleeperstar shouts to the heavens, "If I said that I was wrong, and if I wrote you this song would it bring you back to me?" Ironically enough, it is this question that forms the statement for this alt rock band out of Dallas, TX. Their music seeks to inspire and to make the audience keenly feel the pleading vocals, the "U2-meets-Third Eye Blind" guitar-work, and sentimental arrangements of every song.
Jer Coons NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md w/ special guests Seth Glier and Jesse Ruben (Pop-Rock) Friday, October 1st, 2010 8 pm, $10 Advance/$12 Door
Jer Coons grew up in Vermont, a small rural state that did not have television until 2004 (or internet until 2008 … hoping to get high speed this year). In 2000, at age 11, an impressionable young Jer went to visit his cousins and saw something on their “picture box” that would change his life forever. That of course was the MTV music video for “Bye Bye Bye” from ‘N SYNC's platinum selling album, “No Strings Attached.”
Was it Justin Timberlake’s piercing brown eyes? Or Lance Bass’ frosted tips? Maybe it was the group’s dazzling dance moves? One thing is for sure, after seeing “Bye Bye Bye,” Jer Coons knew he had to be a musician.
Eric Scott NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Pop/Singer-Songwriter) Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 8 pm, $12
Recommended if you like: Martin Sexton, John Mayer, Ryan Montbleau
"If you're looking for an album full of intelligent, incredibly catchy, soulfully funky pop songs, you need look no further than RED. Brimming with melodies that just won't quit...RED is superb." Michael Macey, The Chesapeake Music Guide
"Whip smart...hard to resist...clearly the work of a pop artist talented and resourceful enough to stand on his own." Mike Joyce, The Washington Post
One of those rare albums that’s filled with ebullient choruses and complicated moods, literate verse and ravaged guitars, and a level of composition and craftsmanship that brings to mind Lucinda Williams, Tom Petty, and Ryan Adams. - Boston Globe
White has married Americana craftsmanship with alt-rock invention in a way that one element bolsters the other. - Washington Post
With smart songs sand a folk-pop style reminiscent of Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin, “Candy Heart” is both gritty and pretty, benefiting from deft production and engineering… - Boston Herald
The Vespers NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Bluegrass/Americana) Friday, October 8th, 2010 8 pm, $15
Recommended if you like: Patty Loveless, Linda Rondstadt, Allison Krauss
The Vespers are a seamless union of two brothers and two sisters that conceive a creative blend of music that gives their audience a sense of family unity, similar to the secret ingredient in Grandma’s gravy at a southern family reunion. The Cryar Sisters and Jones Brothers have been marinated in a plethora of musical backgrounds and compromise to find a unique blend of their styles; resulting in the group’s harmonious resonance.
Call It Folk prophesied that The Vespers “are sure to garner lots of national attention” and Todd Mayo, producer of Music City Roots in Nashville gleamed, "The Vespers are fresh and infectious. The sisters ethereal look and sound is grounded by the brothers tight and creative rhythm section. I've seen them mesmerize audiences live several times."
Naked Blue and Ellen Cherry NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Pop/Singer-Songwriter) Saturday, October 9th, 2010 8 pm, $15
Recommended if you like: Sheryl Crow, Aimee Mann, Jonatha Brooke
Borrowing from the Americana tradition, but firmly grounded with a pleasing pop sensibility, the performing songwriter team, Jen and Scott Smith, and their band, Naked Blue, have become a mainstay on the folk/pop scene. They met in a music store in Baltimore in 1989, quit their day jobs together in 1991 and have been writing, recording & performing music ever since. The strength of their songwriting is evident in the way they have continued to trasition between full band performances at venues like DAR Constitution Hall & Webster Hall and acoustic shows at small intimate venues & house concerts.
Once a character in a novel, ellen cherry sprung from the pages of a book in 1997, and began her life as a living, breathing, dynamic performer. Mixing equal parts of pathos and humor throughout her songs, ellen cherry is mysterious and powerful on stage. She seamlessly fuses her love of History, Poetry, and Literature with the Usual Suspects of Love, Loss, and Despair, with a powerful, commanding voice and a command of Power Chords on her guitar.
Berkeley has earned ASCAP's Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award, was named one of WXPN's Artists to Watch for 2004 and showcased at SXSW two years in a row. His song "Fire Sign" was featured in the CBS series Without a Trace. He has also shared bills with Nickel Creek, Howie Day, Dido, Ben Folds, Rufus Wainwright, Ray LaMontagne, Rhett Miller, Rachael Yamagata, John Hiatt and many more.
James Maddock NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Rock) Friday, Oct. 15th, 2010 8 P.M. $15
Sunrise on Avenue C's impeccably crafted pop - down-to-earth yet elegant with its occasional use of strings - is full of strong melodies and subtle dynamics; the title track, for one, a vividly sketched slice of urban romanticism, comes with a trombone solo in the coda that reinforces the sense of aching longing. That's the way it goes throughout, with the music as emotionally resonant as Maddock's songs, from the quiet intimacy of "Stars Align" to the rock-edged urgency of "Hollow Love." --Philadelphia Inquirer 11/8/09
Matt the Electrician NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Austin Singer-Songwriter) Saturday, October 16th, 2010 8 pm, $15
Recommended if you like: Bob Schneider, Charlie Mars, Jack Ingram
Once upon a time, there was a young man named Matt Sever. He lived in Austin, TX, and he worked as a journeyman electrician. Every morning, when it was still dark outside, he would go to work, and wire houses all day long in the blistering Texas heat. When he would come home, again, it was dark outside. And then, sometimes, with no time to shower or change his clothes, he would go straight to the bars and nightclubs of Austin to play his songs for whomever would listen.
He would apologize for his appearance, and explain to the audience that he was an electrician, and he found a certain nobility in this, even if no one wanted to sit too close to the stage. So they called him Matt The Electrician, and he did not mind this, for he was proud of himself, for there is no shame in a hard days work.
But eventually, he quit his job as an electrician, to spend more time writing and playing songs, and the name stuck with him, because everyone needs an electrician sometimes. And there are some who say, that when the moon is full, and Jupiter is aligned with Mars, you can often hear Matt The Electrician in the distance, wiring a house, and whistling softly to himself.
Susan first entered the pop-culture spotlight at the age of eight, as the youngest member of the ’60s musical family the Cowsills. In adulthood, as a member of the beloved alt-pop supergroup the Continental Drifters, she reemerged as a vocalist and songwriter of remarkable depth and insight.
In 2005, Susan made an inspired solo debut with Just Believe It. But the album’s creative triumph was overshadowed by the intrusion of real-life events — namely the deaths of Susan’s brothers Billy and Barry, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which temporarily displaced Susan and her family from her adopted hometown of New Orleans.
Native New Yorker, London resident, former Kindergarten Gym Teacher and one-time Parisian Street Sweeper, Julian Velard is a true original. The kind of character in a Wes Anderson or Quentin Tarintino film you’d like to grab a drink with. A real-life, musical version of Philip Marlowe (more Elliot Gould than Bogart) fusing the effortless cool of Robert Downey Jr. with the self-depreciating humor of Woody Allen, serving up slices of old-school Pop perfection with a raised eyebrow.
Velard has straddled both sides of the Atlantic, writing songs for himself and others, and playing shows alongside Jamie Cullum, Goldfrapp, Shelby Lynne, Amy McDonald, Kate Nash, Jose Gonzalez, Marc Broussard, Tom Baxter, Horatio Sanz, Ben Kweller, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and others, and is currently working towards the release of his label debut.
We are VERY excited that Catie is returning to NightCat!
Catie Curtis has been a fan favorite on the acoustic music scene for a number of years now. Her well-deserved reputation as one of our very best singer/songwriters has followed her through nine critically-acclaimed recordings. With her tenth and newest project, Hello Stranger, released in August 2009, she gifts her loyal fan base and entices new listeners with a recording that captures some of the magic of her live performances.
Andy Davis’s smart and seductive blue-eyed soul music weds indelible hooks to sly, incisive lyrics, creating songs that sound like newly minted pop-soul classics.
A Louisiana native, Davis released his first album, “Thinks of Her,” in 2004. “Thinks of Her” struck a chord on college campuses, selling out its initial print run. The original pressing of the CD -- with Davis’s hand-written lyrics and stenciled cover art -- became a collector’s item within months of its release.
In 2005, the remastered rerelease of “Thinks of Her” gained Davis national exposure and brought him to the attention of legendary music producer Mitchell Froom (Paul McCartney, Sheryl Crow, Elvis Costello). The result of their collaboration was “Let the Woman,” a sophisticated, sonically adventurous album that ignited a bidding war. Barnes and Noble won the exclusive rights to distribute “Let the Woman” online and and in their stores all over the world. The album’s single, “Brown Eyes,” became a staple on AAA radio stations nationwide, and “Let the Woman” became a bestseller.
Yarn NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md presented by Andy's Friday, Oct. 29th 8 P.M. $12
Yarn's music -- just like the band's namesake -- aims to be simple, functional and fun. Blake Christiana, guitarist, vocalist and primary songwriter for the band, formerly fronted a jam band called Blake & The Family Dog, but decided he didn't like the musical direction the band was heading and formed Yarn, which began as a primarily acoustic outfit.
Listening to Yarn's music -- complete with mandolins, fiddles and banjos -- it's almost difficult to believe the band is based in Brooklyn.
It’s the trumpet that gets you first. Or maybe the drums. Once John McGrew starts singing “standing in line for bread and for wine, hoping and praying that all will be fine” - you're hooked. Apollo Run’s songs will be in your head for days.
Comprised of John McGrew (lead vocals, piano, trumpet, guitar), Graham Fisk (drums and vocals) and Jeff Kerestes (bass and vocals), Apollo Run can mimic the grieving tempo of a New Orleans funeral march, flutter sweetly like a stroll down a country lane, or drive to the beat of a thousand angry voices. Their sound - a haunting piano, urgent guitars, and McGrew’s tenor, at times both innocent and corrupted - calls to mind Jeff Buckley and Tom Waits in the same refrain while flirting with indie contemporaries such as Sufjan Stevens and Beirut.
Apollo Run is a music hall chameleon best known for the passionate energy of their live shows, whether it manifests itself in Jeff Kerestes throwing his body into a bass riff, Fisk’s enthusiastic command of the drums, or the pleased smile that spreads over McGrew’s face as the last notes of the piano fade.
The Chapin Sisters NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Indie) Saturday, October 30th, 2010 8 pm, $15
Abigail and Lily Chapin are singing, songwriting sisters who have been performing under the name The Chapin Sisters since 2004. They are known for pristine harmonies and haunting melodies that have gained comparisons to sister acts of old and Appalachian family groups, yet their songs and arrangements have a very contemporary aspect, with elements of pop, blues and psychedelic rock.
Since graduating from college and pursuing music professionally, the sisters have recorded vocals on many albums, Vetiver, Lavender Diamond, Gary Louris, Ann Magnusen, Will Oldham and Marie Sioux, among many others.
In spring of 2010, Abigail and Lily set out on tour with SHE & HIM (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) as members of their band. They also opened a number of those shows, including the one at D.C’s 9:30 Club.
The title of Elizabeth and the Catapult's Verve Forecast debut album Taller Children reflects the unique blend of pop playfulness and grown-up introspection that defines Ziman's distinctive songwriting. Such memorable originals as "Rainiest Day of Summer," "Apathy," "The Hang Up" and "Hit the Wall" embody a vibrant mix of open-hearted wonder, whimsical humor and forthright emotional insight, merging classic pop melodicism with an array of acoustic textures, jazz twists and orchestral flourishes.
The qualities that make Taller Children such a refreshing surprise have already made Elizabeth and the Catapult a beloved favorite on New York's downtown club scene, where the threesome's winsome tunes and energetic, surprise-filled live shows have won them a large and devoted local fan base.
Chicago-based singer/songwriter Alice Peacock’s new disc, Love Remains, celebrates faith and human connection with buoyant, outwardly focused lyrics, feel-good guitar hooks and heartland grooves.
Working in Nashville with co-writer/co-producer Danny Myrick – who, like her, is the child of a minister – Peacock found herself addressing issues of faith in myriad ways on Love Remains, on songs like the anthemic “If I Could Talk To God,” the rollicking “Real Life,” the expansive, gospel-inflected “Trying To Hold Back Time,” the punchy, resolute “Forgiveness,” the devastating, indelible “I Am Mary” and the timeless-sounding title track.
Still, lest anyone think the making of Love Remains was all weighty discussion and Sunday-school testifying, Peacock notes that the process was more like a family hootenanny with a ’70s, California-country sound. The skilled ensemble that helped achieve this sonic landscape includes players who’ve worked with the likes of Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes and Gretchen Wilson, among others.
“Can music change the world?/Yeah, I think it can,” Peacock sings in “Forgiveness.” Love Remains is a testament to the transformative power of love, belief and song.
Curtis Peoples, songwriter with a defined understanding of creating a dynamic pop music—crafting songs that fans of rock, acoustic folk, and pop can enjoy equally. With a mix of free-spirited choruses and addictive rhythms, Curtis’ style of “coffeeshop arena rock” is genuinely his own unique musical fingerprint.
Although brand new to the Los Angeles music scene at the time, it took merely a matter of months for Curtis Peoples to score his first big break via a national tour with friend and fellow singer-songwriter Tyler Hilton (Warner Brothers Records, One Tree Hill, Walk The Line).
The road certainly agreed with this native of San Diego as tour dates with Josh Kelley, Hanson, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Tim Reynolds (longtime Dave Matthews collaborator), Joe Firstman (Carson Daly Show), and others quickly followed. An appearance on Ryan Cabrera's on-air songwriting competition MTV's SCORE also served as a platform to perform his original material in front of a national audience.
Peter Mulvey
w/ special guest Andy Friedman Nov. 9th 8 P.M., $15
A house favorite.
Over the past 20 years, Mulvey has pursued a restless, eclectic path as a writer and musician - immersing himself in Tin Pan Alley jazz, modern acoustic, poetry, narrative, and Americana stylings.
Relentlessly touring as a headliner – his attitude is, "When you love what you do, you can work all the time," – he has also shared the stage with luminaries such as Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, and Greg Brown, and has attracted an audience that stretches from Anchorage to Amsterdam.
Jim Bianco knows how to captivate an audience. You can't help but be drawn in by his charisma, and you never know what to expect when he takes the stage.
Bianco’s new record, Sing, is the first album to be released by the Hotel Cafe record label. Like his previous albums, Sing showcases his playfulness. "I Got a Thing for You" is destined to be a hit with burlesque troupes, and lyrics from songs like "Painkiller" don't disappoint:
Your skirt blew up high enough That I could see your skin It appeared as though I was owed A favor by the wind…
Jamie McLean is no stranger to those who have their ears to the ground and their eyes on the skies of American music.
As a songwriter, singer, and guitarist, he has won praises for his uplifting, exhilarating performances sharpened by first-rate musicianship. He has been called to play sessions for artists as diverse as Norah Jones and Chuck D, shared the stage with Elvis Costello, The Black Crowes and Dave Matthews, toured the world as a member of the celebrated Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and rocked the worlds of fans in small clubs, in Madison Square Garden, and before crowds that sprawled toward the horizons of Bonnaroo and Japan’s Fuji Rock.
McLean is an astounding songwriter, vocalist and player in that place where Southern and streetwise rock, roadhouse blues, downtown R&B and swampy soul music find communion. We think his new album, Completely, is one of the year's best.
This is one debut we have been waiting a long time for.
Whether Jimmy Thackery headlines a festival in South Dakota or jams for hours in one of numerous blues bars that dot the musical landscape, he'll always unleash an intense volley of rockin' blues guitar guaranteed to leave crowds emotionally spent.
His double edged guitar dynamics allow him to fire off tracer missiles, bend a note so it will fit under a limbo bar, run off dive bomber riffs, and find space within the trembling of one stinging note. "I put all my senses on hold and find the zone and follow what's inside. There's an electricity from your mind to your heart to your fingers. You just try and remember to breathe."
Elizabeth Cook NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Country) Friday, November 19th, 2010 8 pm $15
Recommended if you like: Loretta Lynn, Good Ol’ Country
To say that Elizabeth Cook’s background is like something out of a country song would be wildly underestimating the entire genre. The youngest of 11 half-brothers and sisters, she grew up in rural Florida where her musician parents met while playing in local country bars. Her father learned to play upright bass in a Georgia prison band while serving 11 years for running moonshine. Her mother, a singer and mandolin player from the hills of West Virginia, wrote her daughter’s first songs, including “Does My Daddy Love The Bottle More Than He Loves Me,” and had Elizabeth singing on stage at 4 years old.
In contemporary country music, it’s a rare performer who will dare to take on the industry on her own hogs-and-kisses terms. But for the artist whom Nanci Griffith has called “this generation’s Loretta Lynn,” it takes a certain tenacity to meld smart attitude with classic tradition, the credibility of a life lived with genuine hillbilly passion, and the integrity to write an acclaimed cache of uncommonly cool songs.
A native of Cambridge, Maryland, Arty played bass with local bands at VFW and American Legion halls while still in his teens. Though Nashville was solidly rejecting steel guitars and fiddles in favor of a more pop-oriented sound, the music of Hank Williams and George Jones remained popular in Arty's hometown. He spent hours learning the country "canon," and reveling in the joy and pain heard in the music of his singing and songwriting heroes.
We've done tons of shows here, had plenty of big names and reputable artists, but no night better exemplifies the spirit of NightCat better than Kentavius' shows here.
This is always a party, and always a special show. Being Thanksgiving time, you can expect many surprises and several tricks up our sleeve - this is going to be one to remember.
Angel Band NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Folk) Saturday, November 27th, 2010 8 pm, $15
THIS IS THE RESCHEDULED DATE FROM AUGUST 14. ALL AUGUST 14 TICKETS WILL BE HONORED.
Angel Band makes big noise. Loud noise. Boisterous, sad, sweet, goofy, glorious and angelic. Any which way you look at it this stuff gets your attention. Whether it’s the crazy tight three part harmony, the killer backup playing, the stories, the passion or the compassion, it gets your attention.
The core of the band is held by the singers: Nancy Josephson, Alison Paige, and Kathleen Weber. All are experienced on lead and backup vocals. The love of the sound that three female voices make together is at the center of this group. The chord rules the day. Both mystical and elemental when the three hit “it” the hair on the back of your neck’s gonna stand up.
Well, finally one of the most oft-asked questions from NightCat questions will be answered. "When is Big Joe coming?" We've been asked 100 times if we've been asked once, and we can finally give people an answer.
Joseph Maher, a/k/a "Big Joe" Maher, has been a performing drummer/singer over the past 30 years. His list of credits is like a "who’s who of blues & jazz," having performed with greats like Clark Terry, Urbie Green, Mudell Lowe and James Moody, just to name a few.
Classy and exciting, classic and hip - Big Joe's shows are good times - not to be missed by fans of any music genre. We are glad to finally get them here!
Rocknoceros Christmas Party NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md presented by Mangold Entertainment Saturday, December 4th 11am and 1 P.M. $10
Rocknoceros have become local favorites in the kiddie-rock scene. They perform more than 20 shows each month, independently produce a bi-weekly video podcast series, and they have just completed their second animated music video for the PINK! CD. They have sold 10,000 CDs, with their first two CDs each winning Best Children's Recording from the Washington Area Music Association. As their popularity and reputation spread beyond the DC Metropolitan area, Rocknoceros is poised to entertain much larger audiences, and with the release of PINK! it is clear the band is ready for the national stage.
Metropolitan Klezmer, established in 1994, brings eclectic exuberance to Yiddish musical genres from all over the map. Performing vibrant versions of lesser-known gems from wedding dance, trance, folk, swing and tango styles, as well as soundtrack material from vintage Yiddish films, they re-invent tradition with both irreverence and respect... an exhilarating journey!
Ellis Paul is a critically-acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, and troubadour originally hailing from a potato farming family in northern Maine. He is the recipient of thirteen Boston Music Awards, second only to multi-platinum act, Aerosmith. Over the course of fifteen years, Ellis Paul has built a vast catalog of music which weds striking poetic imagery and philosophical introspection with hook-laden melodies.
One of our favorites, Chris returns to NightCat for the first time in way too long with a brand new CD release.
If you aren't familiar with Chris, all you have to do is take one listen to his songs and you'll be hooked; all of his songs sound like pop hits taht have already been on the radio for years. The fact that they aren't probably means they will be - you'll just get to hear them here first.
Mickey Cucchiella of 98 Rock NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Comedy) TWO NIGHT STAND!!!! December 10th and 11th $20, 8 P.M each night
Anyone who has seen any of Mickey’s shows here know that he isn’t just a morning DJ trying his hand at stand-up; on the contrary he is one of the region’s BEST comedians. His sometimes angry, stream of consciousness delivery, superimposed over his Catholic schoolboy persona, is winning over every audience he faces. Mickey's unique style is hard to pinpoint, although some have said he's an interesting cross between Sam Kinison, Dennis Leary, and Billy Idol. We just think he’s funny as s#%*!
Jim Boggia NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md (Rock) Friday, December 17th, 2010 8:00 pm, $15
Recommended if you like: The Beatles, The Kinks, Great Pop Music
Philly icon Jim Boggia has gained impressive career momentum in a short amount of time. Blackberry selected one of his tracks for a new ad campaign and his songs have also been featured on MTV’s Real World and ABC-TV’s Men In Trees. He’s developed a loyal grass-roots fan base for his dynamic, improvisational live shows. His work has been embraced by numerous fellow artists and kindred spirits, many of who have lent their talents to Boggia’s albums.
Tom Principato Band NightCat | 5 Goldsborough St | Easton, Md presented by Mangold Entertainment Saturday, December 18th 8pm $20
More often than not, the settings for the oft-told stories about legendary music performances are typically small, intimate jazz and blues clubs. The stories themselves are part of the music scene’s mythology; interlaced in what becomes the legacy of any great musician who develops a reputation as one of the best in their business.
Tom Principato is regarded in that way in his hometown of Washington D.C., and the legendary performances in that city’s small venues that created his reputation are well documented on his website. There are pictures of Principato with his friend and frequent playing partner, the great Danny Gatton, before Gatton’s untimely death in 1994. There are also pictures of him with a who’s who of Blues legends; Stevie Ray Vaughan in Baltimore in 1984 and B.B. King in D.C. during the same time period.
Mainly, though, there are just pictures of Principato doing what he did best, playing music in clubs for people who appreciate him.
