theHIDDENCITY.com | underground arts | albany, new york

Events

Summer 2001.

Why Can't I Be You?

photo by peter barvoets

Another special event brought to you by your friends at TheHiddenCity.com.
Sunday, April 1, 2001. Lionheart. Lark Street. Albany, New York.
Photos below by Peter Barvoets. Click the thumbnail for the big deal.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery. That's why TheHiddenCity.com artists gathered at Lionheart Cafe on April Fools Day 2001 to cover one another's songs and poems all night long. It went something like this.

photo by peter barvoets photo by peter barvoets photo by peter barvoetsphoto by peter barvoets

Mary Panza and Norman Kee and Don Levy and Dan Wilcox and R.M. Engelhardt became each other in a beautiful poetry medley.

photo by peter barvoets

Matt Loiacono performed Jump Cannon's "Scotland." Of Matt's interpretation, the Times Union the next day would say: "Even taken out of the band's gothic, ethereal context the song was eerie and beautiful." Matt also performed Bone Oil's "Witch Trap." Unh.

photo by peter barvoets

Amy Abdou performed "Crazy Life" by the Bionic Beans. She also did a haunting version of MotherJudge's "Nervous."

photo by peter barvoets

Bryan Thomas made it through Rosanne Raneri's "I Won't Show Me" only with the help of a bottle of expired, prescription-strength, codeine-laced cough syrup. (Doctor's diagnosis Monday? Bronchitis.)

photo by peter barvoets

Troy Pohl married Bryan Thomas' "First" with his own "I Am."

photo by peter barvoets

Rosanne Raneri performed "Invisible Armies" by Amy Abdou. "I wanted to cover 10 songs tonight." said Rosanne. "It was so hard to pick just one... but this was the one." Indeed.

photo by peter barvoets

You could hear a pin drop during Mitch Elrod's performance of MotherJudge's "Daily News."

photo by peter barvoets

If Tom Burre isn't this year's Best Jason Martin, perhaps an honorable mention is at least due for his version of Martin's "Raise Your Cape."

photo by peter barvoets

John Brodeur performed songs by Rich Baldes and Jason Martin and John Powhida of the Staziaks. When signing up to do the show, Brodeur remarked that everyone should be required to perform a Staziaks song. Amen.

photo by peter barvoets

Jason Martin performed an unbelievable Gordon Lightfoot / Kamikaze Hearts / Gaven Richard / Bryan Thomas / Pink Floyd medley. As only Jason Martin could.

photo by peter barvoets

Rich Baldes rocked Bryan Thomas' "Six" and John Brodeur's "Remains of a Heart."

photo by peter barvoets

Mother Judge's beautiful read of Mitch Elrod's "How Do I Get to Heaven?" ended with everyone singing along.

photo by peter barvoets

It didn't take much arm-twisting to get Mitch, Bryan and Jason back on the stage for a rousing tribute to Captain Beefheart - with some vocal assistance from Knotworking's Mike Hotter.

Why Can't I Be You? 30K jpg

Audience sightings: singer-songwriter Siobahn; Mr. Maximum Acoustic Michael Eck; guitar god George Muscatello; Metroland's Stephen Leon, John Rodat and Kate Sipher; Paul Maceli of Acoustic Trauma; and members of Jump Cannon, Knotworking and the Orange.

Much love all around. See ya at the next one.

[Extra special props to Peter Barvoets for the photos.]

Here's how it went down in 2003.

theHIDDENCITY.com | underground arts | albany, new york