9/23/99: Rose Polenzani, Dream Away Lodge, Boss is coming
by Seth Rogovoy

(WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., September 23, 1999) -

Rose Polenzani: Achy longing

I'm not exactly sure just what it is that has had me listening to Rose Polenzani's new CD, "Anybody" (Daemon Records), over and over again. It could be the naked, organic quality of her vocals, filled with achy longing. Or the intimacy of her presentation, mostly just her voice and guitar, with an occasional color or texture added - Andrew Bird's gorgeous violin or some harmonies by the Indigo Girls, who have become mentors of a sort to the 24-year-old singer-songwriter, who has already played Lilith Fair and the Newport Folk Festival.

It could be the haunting, timeless quality of "Molly's Lily," a traditional-style, original ballad, about a young girl's date with the devil - sort of an old-time "Blair Witch Project" (or so I surmise, not having seen the film) with lyrics like: "She's an auburn woman, on mahogany mare, she was dressed full bloody for the devil's despair. And it was no lily for his cardamon lips, but for girl and filly, and for hooves and hips."

Or it could be the way her words trip along effortlessly with her swooping, Irish-influenced melodies. It could be eavesdropping on the raw sensuality of "Abalin," a sort of letter to a former lover in the style of "Blood on the Tracks"-era Bob Dylan, or the Tori Amos-like dynamics of the post-abortion "Shake Through to Ugly."

Notwithstanding that songs of lust like "Olga's Birthday" and "The Chalice" might be about the pleasures and pain of lesbian love, they're simply brilliantly subtle, sexy songs, full of tension of the physical, emotional, societal, spiritual and religious kinds.

It's even a greater surprise to learn that "Anybody" is actually just a collection of early songs recorded here and there, demos and outtakes, sort of Polenzani's "Basement Tapes."

In just a few years as a professional musician Polenzani has shared stages with Joan Baez, Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin, The Nields and Jonatha Brooke. She's been compared to Leonard Cohen, Tanya Donnelly, Jane Siberry, Rickie Lee Jones, Jewel and P.J. Harvey. She performs at the Iron Horse in Northampton next Wednesday, Sept. 29, at 7, and again on Nov. 18 with fellow up-and-comers Erin McKeown, Jess Klein and Beth Amsel. Call (413) 586-8686 for more info.

Life is a but a Dream Away

The Dream Away Lodge in Becket is still hosting music several nights a week, including tomorrow night, Sept. 24, when house favorite Robby Baier holds forth with his original soul-folk compositions. This Saturday night, the Berkshires' newest band, Dr. Isosceles, is at Dream Away. A sort of Berkshire all-star band, the group includes singer-songwriters Adam Rothberg, Russell Miller and Jamie Choquette, of Dead White Males. That's a lot of singing and songwriting talent for one band. Baier will be back at the Dream Away on Oct. 8, followed by Bobby Sweet, another Berkshire singer-songwriter talent, on Oct. 16. Then all of them - Baier, Sweet and the boys from Dr. Isosceles, team up for a Halloween party at the Dream Away on Oct. 30.

Leonora Toomey has gone south for the winter, but Wednesday is still "Music Night" at the Dream Away. The weekly, democratic song-swap begins each Wednesday at 7:30 and typically lasts well into the night. Food from the bar menu is available on Wednesdays, and the full dinner menu is available Thursday through Saturday. The Dream Away is also open for Sunday brunch. If you haven't already been, the Dream Away makes a great off-season escape. Call 623-8725 for more info.

Backstage bits

Former George Harrison sideman Ravi Shankar, the foremost international sitar virtuoso, is at the Calvin Theatre in Northampton on Wed., Sept. 29. Those who haven't gotten their fill of neo-hippie groove music will want to shuffle on over to the Calvin next Tuesday, Sept. 28, when Strangefolk and Percy Hill share a double-bill. Need a miracle? Call (413) 586-8686….

When Bruce Springsteen first launched his reunion tour with the E Street Band in Europe last spring, no one knew for sure what his intentions were for touring the U.S. At first he announced his record-breaking 15-night stand in New Jersey, and then just a few other dates in major cities, including five sold-out nights in Boston.

After that, it was anybody's guess what would be his next move. Apparently spurred on by the unanimous rave reviews and huge, pent-up demand for tickets among fans who haven't seen the Boss perform in nearly a decade nor with the E Streeters in nearly 15 years, Springsteen has decided to bring his music back to the people all across the land, including Albany, where he'll be performing at the Pepsi Arena on Nov. 21. Typically the Albany market is not served by major, national tours until they have already made at least one pass through the circuit of primary, big-city markets. Call us lucky.

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[This column originally appeared in the Berkshire Eagle on Sept. 23, 1999. Copyright Seth Rogovoy 1999. All rights reserved.]