Confessions of the Starving Artist - 12/24/07

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a blog?! Well, it doesn't rhyme, so I guess I have to write it.
First, I want to wish you all a beautiful and wonderful Christmas full of peace and love.

Friday evening, December 21, we were treated to the uplifting music of Laura Berman. All inspirational music is supposed to be spiritually uplifting, but this woman and her husband Craig Benelli have their own brand that made the faces in the audience glow. I watched them cast a spell that night that I bet lasts all Holiday Season. Laura's vocals are crazy good and soulful. Craig's guitar work (on a beautiful Taylor) matched perfectly the music, lyrics and vocals. Laura also played keyboard adding yet another dimension. Make a promise to your soul to see them next time they play the Starving Artist Cafe & Gallery.

When I was young in the 1960s, music kept me from some of the pitfalls my friends fell in. I believe that I was too busy playing and missed a lot of the problems of idle youth. I also caught a break here and there along the way. My feeling is we have a responsibility to pay it forward. In that spirit, we have Young Musicians Night and we showcase really cool, young songwriters. First up this past Saturday, December 22, was Ken Connolly. He writes songs like an old soul. He plays old school too. He was in fine voice and turned in a great set. Watch for this veteran of SAC&G. Love, Mara Jade always seemed a combination of clever songwriting and what I describe as "performance art." Anthony C writes the songs and sings and plays guitar. Davey B plays keyboards, percussion, kazoo, and has been known to play Fisher Price xylophone. You've got to see this for yourself. Jenn "Angel Wings" Santise is an alternative acoustic (don't you hate categories, labels and such?) singer-songwriter. At once intense and witty, her songs transcend age. She lays bare the raw emotion of relationships. Keep an eye on these young people and support them.

Sunday afternoon, December 23, we were simply "charmed" by Peter C. North. The American Songbook was never played with such charm and reverence. He plays guitar (a great old Martin) and ukulele. With Peter, you get the back story on the songs. He often reads the lyrics as poems first so we are as beguiled as he is by these gems he's found. He peppered his act with Holiday songs. Peter even does all the original intros, some long forgotten. I advise you to make a reservation next time he plays the "Artist." He's gaining a following here.

I want to wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas . Thank you for your support. If you wish to spend New Year's Eve with us (and the jazz of Lou Volpe) call or e-mail right away; seats are going fast!

Click the links, click on Glick at Neil Young's Living With War web site - #92 and #96 this week - be good to yourself and others, have a great holiday - and come in, and live right!

Elliott Glick

Confessions of the Starving Artist - 12/17/07

Chestnuts and eggblog.

I enjoy our Monday rendezvous. Each week, I get to look over my work and get a new perspective, and I get to share the enthusiasm I usually keep contained.

Pleasant Bud came to SAC&G on Friday, December 14. He turned in great sets of original songs. Bud accompanied himself on both the six and 12 string guitars. He played in open tunings, giving him a unique sound. His use of effect pedals and technique further rounded out his act. His lyrics told the story of what it's like to be here now, coming from where we do. And yes, he is indeed both pleasant and a bud.

Blogging along, we get to Saturday night, December 15. If you were there, you spent Saturday night with a pretty girl. What else would we do? Christine Dominguez is not just another pretty face. Her brand of R&B is both intensely personal and sensual. She has supreme control over a beautiful and flawless voice. Her guitar work is very good and very interesting. Her act is peppered with one or two covers that also pleased the crowd. Watch this girl - she's going places, but she'll be back.

Sunday, sweet Sunday. I grew up watching 50s and 60s TV and all those Christmas specials. Well, Sunday, December 16, we had our own. The sweetheart of the Starving Artist, Theresa Sareo, roasted all those old chestnuts and more. A great performer, I've never seen (or heard) a song or genre she couldn't make her own. If you just took the tone of her voice (and you could get lost in that), she would be great. But, she is so much more; a great songwriter, a versatile singer who can go from opera to country in the same set, and a stage presence that endears her instantly to all. Joined by Ethan Hearthrob - a/k/a Ethan Hartshorn - believe this, on guitar, ukulele, percussion and - for the first time anywhere - vocals. Each table had jingle bells for the audience to play. Just a great old-fashioned Christmas. What more can you want? We even had eggnog. Oh, did I mention she's a sweetheart?!

Make your reservations for New Year's Eve at Starving Artist - if you haven't already; we're filling up fast. And for now, go and check out the music of these performers. Use the links. Buy a CD - "I've Been Told" by yours truly will be on CD Baby by week's end! - and support live, independent music. "Click on Glick" at Neil Young's Living With War web site - #83 and #89 this week, in the top 100 again this week - and do it often. And, for goodness sake, come in and live right.

Elliott Glick

Confessions of the Starving Artist - 12/10/07

Howdy Blogaroos!

You know, one of the great things about running a coffeehouse like the Starving Artist is getting to meet new artists. This Friday, December 7, was to be the "second" debut of Paul Sachs. Call it bad mojo or whatever, but this was the second time he's had to cancel his gig. So, Friday night we hung out with regulars like Frank and Cheryl, and my drummer friend Joe Bruno. We keep a supply of old movies, early 1950s TV shows and shelves full of books and board games so we're well-prepared for this eventuality.

Saturday night, December 8, marked the return of Dorothy Potter, formerly of Gilmartin Potter Band. This world traveling songwriter turned in two well-crafted solo sets of originals and covers. Her beautiful voice was crystal clear throughout. She accompanied herself on a great mahogany Martin guitar that I would love to add to my collection. Her songs were sensitive and moving. We'll be seeing her again.

Sunday afternoon into the early evening is usually filled with culture. Jazz, classical, and world music all find their way to SAC&G. This Sunday, December 9, was filled with the amazing Port O' Monkeys. These guys took us from Spain to Afghanistan with all the stops along the way. They played Flamenco and Gypsy songs on Spanish guitars and Middle Eastern music on instruments like an oud. The sound was rounded out with trombone, violin and other instruments too numerous to mention and too difficult to spell. Their authentic arrangements make you want to dance in some primeval way. Some of us do anyway. We've been recording them, so look forward to a taste of the exotic on our site. And this past weekend's performance was featured on WNBC-TV's "best bets" for things to do in New York City this weekend.

Well, I'm fairly blogged out now. But did want to mention that this blog is now on an official blog site - www.confessionsofthestarvingartist.blogspot.com - so tell your friends. And I'll just remind you to click the links in this blog, "click on Glick" at Neil Young's Living With War web site - #93 and #95 this week, back in the top 100, give the "gift of Glick" for the Holidays, support live, independent music, and "come in, and live right."

Elliott Glick

Confessions of the Starving Artist - 12/3/07

Hi Starvarinos! It's blogging time again, and we've had another action-packed weekend.

As you know the last Friday of every month is Open Mic Night at SAC&G. There are many reasons we have this event. The biggest is that a good open mic is not only entertaining for an audience and good business for the proprietor, but also a great school as well. It serves as a proving ground, a place to hone your skills (i.e., stage craft and other performing skills), and an opportunity to break in new material. The night also can be an audition. We have almost any kind of art performed and Friday night, November 30, was another mixed bag. Poets Magic Alex, Josh Glick and Marc Kaplan stirred us. Comedians Ira Wunder and Al Wagner made us laugh. The musicians were Love, Mara Jade, Marian Mastrorilli of Project Mercury, Jenn "Angel Wings" Santise (who will play our Young Musicians Night on Saturday, December 22, at 8 p.m.), and too many more to mention. You never know who or what will be happening. For me, the night was capped off by my beautiful wife, Monica, singing two of her favorite covers with great style and grace. (Can I come home now, honey?)

The next night, Saturday, December 1, was a fantastic "Saturday Night Blues Party." Bennett Harris plays the blues and plays them right. From deep and brooding to wild and rollicking. His finger-style attack on either his Gibson or his great old National Steel, played with a slide, took us all through songs by Robert Johnson, Reverend Gary Davis, and Blind Willie McTell, to name but a few. It takes a lifetime to play like this man; make reservations next time because the place is always packed for him.

Warm food and cool jazz is a great way to deal with Sunday snow. The City Island Jazz Quartet took the stage December 2 and warmed the day old school style. Jazz standards performed flawlessly by band leader Roger Scala on sax, Gene Zilempe on bass, one of my favorite drummers, Mark Pultorak, and on guitar, jazz legend Lou Volpe. The solos from these guys were at once hot and cool. Roger, weaving his way beautifully through the songs, plays his melodic West Coast style to rounds of applause. Gene on bass copped some great moments too. Lou on guitar - with his flying fingers and masterful technique - painted the day with fire that is all his own. Mark's turn came when they traded fours and he played like he lived inside that moment. By the time the last set ended, night had fallen, and we had forgotten about the weather and went home with our souls warmed against the night.

Click the links in this blog. Click on Glick at Neil Young's Living With War web site - #103 and #105 this week. Tune in next week for the next episode of "the blog." And of course, come in, and live right.

Elliott Glick