JULIAN VELARD

1/3

ERIN BODE GROUP

1/9

GUGGENHEIM GROTTO

1/10

THE TEENAGE PRAYERS

1/16

TOM LARSEN (DUO)

1/17

DAVID GRIER

1/22

CHRIS AND THOMAS

1/23

WRITERS IN THE ROUND

1/24

AMY SPEACE

1/30

SHARON LITTLE

1/31

Saturday, January 3rd $15 9 P.M.

Pop-Rock

We don't play favorites here, but since Julian Velard was the first headliner to grace our stage, it's fair to say that there will always be a soft spot for him here. The opening keyboard notes of "Jimmy Dean and Steve McQueen" have been the post-show house music for over a year now, and the song's chorus is as familiar to our regulars as the taste of our brews. Since his appearance here, JV has moved to London, and is on the verge of becoming the U.K.'s breakout act in 2009. Come see why.

Friday, January 9th $15 8 P.M.

jazz-pop

Vocalist Erin Bode (pronounced BOH-DEE) has a beautiful, crystal clear voice that is too exquisite to miss. She has consistently won over audiences with her sweet personality and sincere performances. Her distinctive repertoire and crossover appeal - evoking comparisons to Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones - have proven equally at home in grand venues or relaxed clubs.

Bode has performed nationwide at venues such as Blues Alley in Washington D.C., Zanzibar Blue in Philadelphia, and at Sweet Rhythm in New York. They have opened for legendary Supremes' singer, Mary Wilson; for Michael Buble at St. Louis' newest premiere venue The Pageant; with Macy Gray on the steps of the Gateway Arch; and for Jamie Cullum at the Sheldon Concert Hall.

Saturday, January 10th $12  7 P.M.

folk-rock

Over the past three years Mick Lynch and Kevin May of pop/folk act The Guggenheim Grotto have touched U.S. and U.K. audiences in a way the duo couldn’t have imagined. From setting out as Dublin songwriter circuit to building a devoted cult following in the U.S. with warm embraces from media and competitive iTunes charting, the band has captivated audiences and tastemakers on both sides of the pond with its mix of poetic, often literature-inspired lyrics set to timeless, soaring pop melodies.

"...one of the most beautiful albums of the year"

- Nic Harcourt (KCRW)

“…one of the past year’s most promising new acts” – Washington Post

Friday, January 16th $12 8 P.M.

rock and roll

In the summer of 2002, Teenage Prayers' founding members Tim Adams and Kyle Chrise met and befriended soul legend Solomon Burke, who flew the band out to Los Angeles so that he could produce their cover version of his hit song “Goodbye Baby”, which appeared on the band’s debut album, “Ten Songs”.

In May 2004, the band played on a bill with indie rock pioneer Steve Wynn, whose band The Dream Syndicate helped forge the post-punk sound of Los Angeles’ Paisley Underground in the 1980s. In 2005, Steve signed on to produce the band’s sophomore effort, “Everyone Thinks You’re the Best”, which was completed and released in early 2008.

Today, the Teenage Prayers are a 5-piece act with keys, guitars, bass and drums making up the core sound, which has been steadily evolving away from the garage soul of its youth and toward something altogether more unnameable and alluring. 

Saturday, January 17th $15 7 P.M.

blues

Tom Larsen has been a major player on the east coast music scene for the last twenty-five years. Originally, a solo performer, Larsen specialized in the acoustic blues of the 1920’s & 30’s, covering such artists as Robert Johnson and Blind Willie McTell.

Tom’s Expanding love of Blues music soon moved him to add the electric styles of Muddy Waters, Guitar Slim and B.B. King. Tom became especially noted for his intricate clean slide guitar playing and for his abilities to play harmonica and guitar simultaneously.

Besides performing his solo Blues act, this was a period of intense wood shedding as Tom taught himself electric guitar by listening to old Blues records from the 60’s & 70’s. To date, Tom’s music has been covered by Johnny Winter and recorded by Delbert McCinton, Roy Buchannan, and Tinsley Ellis. His music has been featured in movie soundtracks, commercials and many of his songs are in the repertoires of regional acts looking to perk up their shows with an original Larsen tune.

Thursday, January 23rd $15 8 P.M.

bluegrass guitar

Along with Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Tony Trischka and Mike Marshall, David Grier sits on the Mount Rushmore of Contemporary Bluegrass instrumentalists. For the past several years, he has been voted by the members of the International Bluegrass Music Association as Best Guitar Player of the Year. He has also appeared on two Grammy- winning recordings: "True Life Blues-A Tribute to Bill Monroe" and "The Great Dobro Sessions," and is also included in the book, "1,000 Great Guitarists."

His father, Lamar Grier, played banjo with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and Grier had an opportunity to learn from a number of musicians, including legendary guitarist Clarence White. Although surrounded by bluegrass musicians, Grier counts Ry Cooder, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton as influences.

Friday, January 24th $10 8 P.M.

pop-rock

In 2003 chris and thomas arrived in Los Angeles, California. The duo’s live debut was on 11/18/03, opening up at the Hotel Café for singer/ songwriter Alexi Murdoch. Their unique live performance which involved playing with one condenser microphone and gathering around it like some modern day Carter Family, quickly earned chris and thomas a name on the L.A club circuit.

With sounds gathered from the landscapes of the American Southwest, chris and thomas’ music could just as easily find its home in the rainy hills of the early 1970’s English countryside. Combining American roots instrumentation with soothing vocal harmonies, the duo’s rustic sounds and heartfelt songs are filled with thoughtful lyricism.

Chris and Thomas’ woven harmonies and sparse instrumentation will make you think of big skies with small clouds.

Saturday, January 24th $15 7 P.M.

folk

These writers in the round showcases always end up at the top of our patrons' list for favorite shows. And why not? The opportunity to see four of the region's greatest, most diverse songwriters is one that needs to be taken advantage of. Click below on the artist info link below to see a full page of descriptions, song clips, etc..

Friday, January 30th $12 8 P.M.

folk/Americana

On her new album Songs for Bright Street, New York-based singer/songwriter Amy Speace demonstrates why she's quickly become one of her adopted hometown's most celebrated emerging artists. Possessing a commanding voice, a distinctive melodic sensibility and an uncanny knack for nailing complex emotions in song, Speace makes music that's both illuminating and effortlessly accessible.

Amy has already won a loyal grass-roots fan base, thanks in large part to live performances that merge warmth, humor and emotional immediacy, and to a tireless touring schedule that's already taken her across the United States. She's also won considerable critical acclaim, with The Village Voice observing that Speace is "taking her Americana away from twangy contemplation toward tangy confrontation" and noting that she's "not another of those breathy would-be child poets, but a real singing writer of songs." Time Out New York stated, "Amy Speace plays sweet, twangy folk music with a clear voice and an innocent vulnerability," while The Nashville Scene noted that she "balances wry humor with open-hearted honesty." And renowned Nashville critic Robert K. Oermann, writing in Music Row, dubbed her a "new star."

Saturday, January 31st $12 8 P.M.

folk

At the start of 2008, Sharon Little was working as a waitress. Less than five months later, she was appearing in concert halls throughout the country as the opening act on the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss and T Bone Burnett “Raising Sand” tour.

While this might seem that she’s an “overnight sensation,” Sharon is anything but a flash in the pan. She’s a singer of intense emotional honesty and the songs she’s written reveal an old soul that just happens to be within a person possessed of undeniable physical and spiritual beauty.

It’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on to what the tour audiences are learning first-hand: Sharon Little is a unique voice in a crowded landscape and she’s here to stay.