THE BEAT
House concerts, Skin, Greg Brown
by Seth Rogovoy(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Nov. 7, 1997) -- We live in a time when people think nothing of plunking down $70 for the privilege of sitting outside in a football stadium in 40-degree weather to watch rock stars who, from the vantage point of the 40-yard-line, look like the size of ants.
We also, however, live in a time when people are increasingly turning away from such mass spectacles in favor of more intimate formats, some of which actually allow for give-and-take between performer and audience.
One such platform is the house concert, as exemplified by the Old Stone Church House Concert Series in Williamstown, which presents a double-bill of singer-songwriters Tom Prasada-Rao and Dana Robinson this Sunday at 7 at the Old Stone Church on Green River Road.
As the name indicates, house concerts are informal events that, instead of occurring in public arenas, take place in people's homes. They are particularly popular in the contemporary folk world, as a way of introducing new artists to a community where they are not well known or have not played before.
"The house concert is more relaxed," said Maryl Neff, a co-organizer of the Williamstown series, which has already presented two concerts this season in the acoustically-pleasing setting of the converted 1830s-era Baptist Church where she lives. "It is typically a smaller setting with fewer people than at a regular concert, allowing for attendees to get to chat with the artists during breaks or after the concert. They're usually held in someone's living room, so they are very comfortable and intimate."
House concerts also provide the opportunity to strengthen ties among listeners, especially in small towns that lack more established listening venues. "With such a great grassroots-level music community in this area, this is the perfect type of gathering," said David Nickerson, a co-founder of the Old Stone Church series, noting the concerts are preceded by a pot-luck dinner.
Prasada-Rao is a highly-touted performer who was a top vote-getter in this summer's new artist showcase at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in nearby Hillsdale, N.Y. A Washington, D.C. resident who was born in Ethiopia to Indian parents, Prasada-Rao boasts a rhythmic, jazzy, pop-inflected style as heard on his latest, self-produced CD, "Hear You Laughing" (Ahimsa Acoustics).
Robinson is perhaps more familiar to area audiences. A native of California who lived in Vermont in the 1980s, Robinson now calls the thriving folk mecca of Northampton home. As heard on his new CD, "Midnight Salvage" (Alcazar) -- which was recorded locally at Derek Studios in Dalton and features Pittsfield native Adam Rothberg on bass guitar -- Robinson draws on a more traditional-styled folk palette, with a voice that harkens back to Cat Stevens and Jim Croce.
Neff and Nickerson plan to continue the series, which has already been met with enthusiasm. Upcoming shows include Eastern Massachusetts singer-songwriter Maria Sangiolo, with local artist Jared Polens, on Dec. 14, and nationally-known singer-songwriter Bernice Lewis performing in her hometown, with Windsor artist Ed Kohn set to open, some time in January.
"It always takes a while to build a series," said Neff. "We want to keep on bringing quality music to the area, to continue to introduce quality artists to people who want to hear good music."
House concerts are run differently from more typical public performances. Those interested in attending are asked to contact the presenters in advance for an "invitation/reservation" and precise directions to the church. For more information on how to reserve a spot, call 458-3188 or send E-mail to DCNEnt@aol.com.
Critic's picks
Maya Dorn's slinky, sinuous, elastic vocals soar over the funky underpinning's laid down by the Berklee-trained rhythm section of Skin, a Boulder, Colo.-based quartet that plays the Macano Inn in Housatonic tonight. Drummer Dave Watts and bassist Edwin Hurwitz, former members of Boston-based Shockra, lay down the jazzy polyrhythms atop which Dorn raps, rants and pleads with soul recalling boho-soul singers such as Deb Pasternak and Rickie Lee Jones. Percussionist Stacey Ludlow rounds out the group, whose latest CD is "Don't Buy the Man Another Drink" (Double Dig).The Pioneer Valley's Salamander Crossing brings its fresh, contemporary-sounding take on original bluegrass to the Windsor Town Hall on Sunday night at 7. For more info call 684-1731.
There may be no more consistently compelling a contemporary singer- songwriter than Greg Brown, whose newest CD, "Slant 6 Mind" (Red House), continues his winning streak as an astute, acute observer of societal ills and personal transformations. Brown shares with Bob Dylan an earthy, rootsy musical approach born of the blues and a misanthropy bred from disappointment and lost idealism. Brown is at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Monday at 7 with longtime sideman/producer Bo Ramsey.
Every year those attending the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in nearby Hillsdale, N.Y., vote on which of the showcase performers they would most like to see return to the Mainstage the next year. This year's top vote-getters were The Nudes, an unusual cello-guitar, folk-pop duo that warms up the crowd for Susan Werner at the Iron Horse tomorrow night at 7.
New venue
Thelma's Roadside Diner in Great Barrington is the latest Berkshire venue to jump into the live entertainment business, kicking things off tomorrow night at 8:30 with a "circle sing" to benefit the Community Action Council Thanksgiving Basket Fund. Hosted by Lisa and Joel Sturz, the event has an admission fee of $5 or two non- perishable food items from this list: turkey gravy, canned fruit, or stuffing.Upcoming shows at Thelma's include the Berkshire's own Ed Kohn (Nov. 15), Tamboura (Nov. 22) and The Joint Chiefs, featuring Louise Lindenmeyer, Eliot Osborne and George Potts (Nov. 29).
[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on Friday, Nov. 7, 1997. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1997. All rights reserved.]
Seth Rogovoy
rogovoy@berkshire.net
music news, interviews, reviews, et al.
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