Events
Summer 2001.
Why Can't I Be You?
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.
Mary Panza and Norman Kee and Don Levy and Dan Wilcox and R.M. Engelhardt became each other in a beautiful poetry medley.
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.
Amy Abdou performed "Crazy Life" by the Bionic Beans. She also did a haunting version of MotherJudge's "Nervous."
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.)
Troy Pohl married Bryan Thomas' "First" with his own "I Am."
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.
You could hear a pin drop during Mitch Elrod's performance of MotherJudge's "Daily News."
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."
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.
Jason Martin performed an unbelievable Gordon Lightfoot / Kamikaze Hearts / Gaven Richard / Bryan Thomas / Pink Floyd medley. As only Jason Martin could.
Rich Baldes rocked Bryan Thomas' "Six" and John Brodeur's "Remains of a Heart."
Mother Judge's beautiful read of Mitch Elrod's "How Do I Get to Heaven?" ended with everyone singing along.
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.
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.]