Gallery 263 Cambridge, Mass. !

We just got back into town yesterday and, well, it turns out that Cambridge was full of some really cool surprises.

I got an email from Danny Roaman (Jonah Tolchin's guitarist), on Friday, saying that he was playing a show with Julie Rhodes at Club Passim Saturday afternoon for the "Locals Covering Locals" project (produced by Brian Carroll of Red Line Roots), and that he and Julie were going to head down to catch my show at Gallery 263 later that evening. I had met Danny and Jonah and Mike (Jonah's drummer) for the first time in Nashville this past September during AmericanaFest. They are amazing performers and just some of the nicest and most down-to-earth people you could ever meet.

So I left NY earlier Saturday morning than I had originally planned -- so I could get to Club Passim in time to see Julie and Danny play, and, man am I glad I did. The performers at this event were amazing. Haunt The House, a folk trio of guitar, accordion and stand up bass, played a rousing set.

Then came Julie Rhodes accompanied by Danny Roaman on guitar, with a second soulful electric blues guitar, a thumpin' stand-up bass and a smokin' hot blues harp. This band was absolutely incredible! If you haven't yet heard Julie sing, you need to hear her now! Julie has the most authentic down and dirty, blues vocal I've heard in decades. When someone tries to sing the blues, well, you can tell when they're just trying. Those "singers" should listen to Julie Rhodes, to hear the blues...done right...without even trying. Julie is the unmistakable real deal. There's no doubt that we all will hear more and more about this incredible vocalist and her band in the days to come. Look for the release of her debut album (maybe this Spring?), produced by Jonah Tolchin.

Next up were The Whiskey Boys and their virtuoso set of authentic bluegrass/folk music of the best kind.

We spoke with Brian Carroll after the show--a musician himself--about his vision of organizing local musicians to support each other by performing each other's music, locally. This night's event at Club Passim was a great success.

After the show we crossed over Church Street, rounded the corner and stopped into The Just Crustfor some righteous pizza.

Next stop, Gallery 263. Singer-songwriter, Annie Johnson -- a 4th-year Berklee student from Idaho--and her sister, Katie Johnson, opened the show with a half hour of Annie's masterfully-written original compositions. The duo were captivating and performed flawlessly. Don't just take my word for it though. Have a listen for yourself on Soundcloud. You wont stop until you've heard every one of Annie's songs.

I enjoyed performing at the Gallery. Aside from having Danny sit in on a few of my songs, the highlight of the evening for me, was being able to close the night with Julie and Danny both joining me on stage to perform one of Julie's songs. Yep. Cambridge was full of some really great surprises. The road doesn't get much better than this.

We left Massachusetts the following morning and headed to New York City for Guitar Mash at the City Winery. Guitar Mash was really cool. Great concept. Great performances. The Greg Allman Band's musical director, Scott Sharrard started off the show which included phenomenal performances by Mark Stewart (Paul Simon's guitarist/Music Director), Duke Robillard (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Robert Randolph (Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarists), Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers),  David Bromberg ....and a bunch more. If you couldn't get there this year, plan ahead and be sure to get there next year.

I'll be performing next at The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts this Friday 11/21, in Patchogue New York.I hope to see you all there!

Here's a link for more info about the show... http://patchoguetheatre.com/event/Love-in-the-Lobby-A-Benefit-Concert-Food-Drive/4133.

 

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