To promote Caitlin Mahoney’s “West for a While” EP release this Friday, She, Kat Quinn, and I shot this cover we do sometimes. This is the only place I plan to make a public apology to Chris Thile for my mandolin playing. You are welcome to give me lessons though. Thile? You listening?? Mmm???
HEY
This Saturday, March 7, 2013 at 10pm (followed by my lovely friend Caitlin Mahoney): The Path Cafe on Christopher and Hudson, NY, NY
This coming Tuesday, March 12 at 11pm: Pete’s Candy Store (Lindsay Dragan playing before me. That girl is Crazy good)
Saturday March 30, 4pm at Pete’s Candy Store followed by Benjamin Scheuer and Rue
I’m a songwriter.
So I think, “I should probably Post about song-y stuff: Where I’m playing and when, progress on the new EP, youtube clips, music I like…”
And I do.
But, presumably, you are here because you like the way I frame my experiences. And this is what I’m experiencing these days: My dad, after already having a heart attack and a stroke a few years back, has recently been diagnosed with colon cancer. Nasty, aggressive, mean, selfish colon cancer. And I’m sad and angry and scared and socially awkward and fine and not fine.
I’m also posting about it for a few reasons.
1. To remind you to take care of yourself. Even if you’re going through a shitty time and don’t FEEL like caring for yourself and don’t FEEL like anyone else cares, they do. It will mean a lot to them if you take care of yourself. And on a day when you’re feeling better, it’ll mean a lot to you, too.
2. Because I feel guilty. That’s right. I feel guilty. I was talking to someone who said that all she knew about my relationship with my dad was what she’d heard in my songs, and that didn’t seem great. And suddenly I feel guilty and then I’m all INDIGNANT at myself, like, “Screw you, Insecurity, I can write WHATEVER I WANT!” but I still find myself second guessing whether or not I should include this track or that track, or play certain songs live during this time when I’m scared about my father’s health. So here I am.
I could talk for hours about what I’ve written in most songs and why, but I’m not quiiite enough of a narcissist to think that that’s why you’re here. I AM, however, enough of one to bring this up so please know that a) I love him, b) family relationships = weird and difficult
c) lyrics have many meanings, and that’s what I find fascinating, fun, and maddening about what we do. As I’ve said before, people can be married for decades and still not really know what their spouse is talking about sometimes, so I seriously doubt any two people hear the same thing in the same lyrics, yeah?
Anyway, it’s Colon Cancer month, so talk to your family about health history. Get a colonoscopy if you’re at that time of life. If you’re not…. go hug someone. and cut down on your red meat or something. I’m only saying it because I love you.
xo
-J
Hey my people.
Have I told you lately that I love you?
I got sick a lot this fall. It was the worst. Now I’m playing music again. I mean, sometimes I played when I was sick. But I’m less sick. So here come the shows.
I’m going to recommend you keep your eye on the facebook or reverbnation pages just to keep up, but for now, some upcoming dates:
Sunday, December 16th, LIC Bar (backed up by Kat Quinn and Caitlin Mahoney) 7pm
Monday, December 17th, backing up Kat Quinn at Rockwood Music Hall, 7pm
Tuesday, December 18th, The West Cafe (Wburg, Bk, across from Barcade) 8pm
Thursday, December 27th – little cameo at Mike Short’s comedic movie viewing, holiday edition: “Down in Front Presents: A Traditional Christmas.” The PIT theatre, 11pm
Friday, December 28th – The Path Cafe, 9pm
Saturday, January 12th, Pete’s Candy Store with Rue and The Gantry, 4pm
Friday, January 18th, Zinc Bar with Jon Christopher 7pm
Keep your eyes open. There are at least two more big fancy-pants shows coming up.
Okay, I’m about to give you a ton of music. Here’s the deal with all of this music. Full disclosure. It’s all friends. I like these people. I get no money for promoting them, but I am pretty sure you will like something. If you don’t, y’know, I’m not too worried about it. But, for instance, Jasper Lewis’s “High Strung Poets” is just about my favorite song for early fall. I know it’s late fall now, but it’s always good to stock up for later. He also sounds like an old-timey folk-genius. That’s not everyone’s thing, but if you like old-timey folk geniuses…
High Strung Poets
The Gantry makes my train rides all rock and roll and bouncy. I haven’t loved dancing to a band live this much since … well, let’s just say I REALLY like dancing to their music. Kevin writes the best rock/pop hooks around and the boys harmonize like the grandbabies of the Traveling Wilburys. Again, if you’re looking for through-composed concept thrash-metal, remixed by Bjork, this is not for you. But if you always wished that Weezer and The Band would mate…
Years and Years by The Gantry
The Sky Captains of Industry makes me feel like I accidentally stumbled into a car while my friends were hotboxing and one guy was watching reruns of “Happy Days” while two guys, dressed as Trey Parker and Matt Stone (I guess it’s Halloween) discuss the future. That sentence is definitely the ultimate test of who reads this biz.
Rocket City by the Sky Captains of Industry
And finally, Matt Sucich. I listened to Matt Sucich’s album “Jubilation and Jealousy” a LOT two summers ago when I was on the road between California, NY, Connecticut, and Seattle. I’m pretty sure now that he’s come out with another album, “Layers” I’m going to need a new proper road trip.
Layers by Matt Sucich
As a rule, I don’t post on days when my writing comes out sounding like eighteen convoluted inside-jokes, but the reality is I’m just amusing myself. I got puked on today, so I feel like being a little silly.
Come to a show, and I promise I will either be MORE coherent, or we will both be drinking.
xo
J
Nothing like inclement weather to bring people together. There’s a lot of dancing happening at our place as we prepare to be locked in for a few days. Wish you were here, cooking, chatting and dancing, too. Stay safe, East Coast.
xo
J
“Come, little leaf,” said the wind one day.
“Come over to the meadow with me and play
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
for summer is gone, and the days grow cold…”
It is definitely autumn, friends. My feet are cold and my face is pink and there are apples everywhere. It’s great. Often times I take early autumn slow, show-wise, while I fend off the busyness everywhere else in my life, but this year has been jam packed with Living Room, Rockwood, Path Cafe, The American Folk Art Museum, Caffe Vivaldi, LIC Bar, and cameos on albums and sets. So much for taking it easy! 
It’s the best.
Also the best? Kat Quinn and Caitlin Mahoney. If you don’t know these girls, they are AMAZING musicians. And it just so happens that they came and sang a few harmonies with me at this last Caffe Vivaldi show. I am so honored and excited. I realize I was remiss in not getting footage of it for you, but my phone is a dinosaur… time for a new one, I guess. Any favorite phone arguments you want to pose to me? In any case, next time we’re around a living room practicing, I promise to grab some footage for you. In the mean time, here’s a clip of “June” from the Folk Art Museum show.
All right, off to keep up with laundry, pack for a wedding, and listen to Mumford and Sons’ “Babel”.
xo
J
Hello beautiful creatures! I have to say a huge thanks to everyone who has been bouncing around showing up and being supportive lately. Especially last weekend around the bday show. Below is a video of rehearsing with the gentlemen of The Gantry for their cameo on “Gum and Cigarettes” at the end of the birthday show. The coolest thing about it is that they’re swinging by the Labor Day wknd show tomorrow at The Living Room on Ludlow before their own show to make it happen again. I can’t believe what an amazing whirlwind summer it’s been. Between the travel, the video shoot, the recording, the new collaborations, the festivals and house concerts – I feel like the luckiest lady. Hope you can make it to the Living Room tomorrow. You’re the greatest!
xo
J
ps – Skip to :30 for the song…
Ok, it’s been a minute since I posted over here. I’ve been all over the place like a crazy lady and I’m gearing up for the bday bash over at Rockwood. I hope you guys are ready.
Also, this coming Tuesday at 7pm I’ll being playing Friggin Fabulous Tuesdays at Path Cafe (Christopher and Hudson Sts.). The Path Cafe is a second home to many artists in NYC, and, fun fact, the “David” in the song 254 is David Sheridan, owner of Path Cafe. So swing by if you’re free and have some yummy food. If you get done there and you’re dying for more music, my AMAZING friend Solomon Douglas is playing at Radegast Beer Garden in Brooklyn. He’s a stunning pianist and one of the most coveted Blues danincing partners (I hear…). So please check it out if you’re in town.
Next Saturday I play at Googie’s Lounge, above the Living Room, also at 7pm. The Lineup is incredible, with Kat Quinn, Rue, Jem Warren and Ace Elijah, and I highly recommend you come. Who knows, maybe there will be leftover cupcakes from the birthday show…
Probably not. But it’ll still be a killer great time.
You guys. I just got back from this incredible trip all over. And one of the things I did along the way was pick up little treats and kitsch I thought you might like from the cities I visited, like Cincinnati, Oh; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Los Angeles, CA. There are currently at least 3 types of treats being cooked in my house in the hot summer heat just for you for tomorrow. Not cause I think you need bribes (you guys are too smart for that, anyway) but because I want to start this year off right. Pay it forward, you know?
So come eat cupcakes and see if you score a Casey Black album or some swanky coffee from Portland or a paper hat from In n Out burger in LA… or somethin’ else entirely. Can’t wait to see you down at Rockwood.
xo
J
Genghis Cohen August 15, 9pm
Did I mention I’m playing when I get out West? Did I mention that??
Summer! The last 4-5 summers I’ve spent mostly in Southern California, the last being in Norwich, CT. I stayed local this year, and I can’t believe this one is flying by so quickly, even with the stuffy heat of New York City slowing it down. Nonetheless, my favorite month of the year is officially here. AUGUST!
And as my birthday moves closer, I want to share it with you! The good folks over at Rockwood Music Hall are giving me a 2hr slot to do with what I please, so I’m having some amazing musicians swing by to help me ring in my new year.
Rockwood Music Hall August 26, 3-5pm
The next show after that is Googie’s (upstairs from the Living Room) on September 1 with Rue, Jem Warren, Ace Elijah, and Kat Quinn. Should be a beautiful night. Before all this, there’s travelling to do, to Cincinnati, Seattle, and the great Los Angeles.
Also, I’ll be making early Autumn appearances at Niall Connolly/Big City Folk’s Wednesday Night Song Club at Ceol in Brooklyn and Nick Ciavatta’s Friggin’ Fabulous Tuesday night at Path Cafe on Christopher and Hudson. Dates to come.
I’m also STUPID EXCITED to start working with the Lovely Laura Graham ( This one: http://theeggcollectors.blogspot.com/ ) starting to shoot this coming Friday. Her short film, “The Orchard” is gorgeous, and she is a fierce and inspiring woman with at least one blue cap gun.
Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who came out and supported the first annual Big City Folk Fest. It was a huge success and I was honored to be a part of its maiden voyage. You can still sample the artists at http://bigcityfolkfestival.bandcamp.com/
Can’t wait to see you, here or on the road!
xo
J