Mixed Media

Concert Spotlight: Ellis in Ithaca

While covering music in Greater Binghamton for the past few years, I’ve seen plenty of performances. Needless to say, some of them have been wonderful experiences, while others … well, perhaps the musicians were having an off day. (That’s me, Mr. Benefit-of-the-Doubt.)

Ellis, though, is in a class by herself. This folk-rocker, while always full of passion in her songwriting and live shows, has matured into a charismatic performer over the past 10 years. Her lyrics and poetic and personal, yet somehow approachable; her guitar-playing and sense of melody are moving targets, never static from song to song. While she can be a deep thinker and empathetic songwriter, she also isn’t afraid to write humorous songs that poke fun at herself and society.

She has built up a considerable fanbase in her hometown of Minneapolis, and she has toured nationwide at colleges and on the women’s circuit. In the past few years, her music has gained wider acclaim: 2007 Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest Top Ten Finalist; 2006 Emerging Artist Showcase winner at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (voted on by festival attendees); 2006 “Best Female Artist” nominee in Campus Activities Magazine.

I saw her in May as part of the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival preview tour as well as on the main stage of the 2007 festival in July – two of the “prizes” for the three showcase winners – and she was magnetic each time. She definitely made quite an impression on the festival attendees that I spoke with, and she sold a ton of her CDs – both rather exceptional at a festival that included such heavy-hitters as Mary Gauthier, Dar Williams, and Arlo Guthrie.

Ellis will be playing Saturday for the Cornell Folk Song Society, where she’s sure to preview songs from her new CD, Break the Spell (out early next year). It’s great stuff.

Hope to see you there.

- Chris Kocher is a writer and editor for the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton and a guest blogger for Mixed Media.

You're invited...

I'm sitting at my table at the Cyber Cafe in Binghamton, drink in hand and a delicious dessert on the way. Sally Morgan and Peter Sharpe are doing their soundcheck and I already know I'm going to like this show. Sally has been compared to Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Bob Dylan (at least as far as his ballads go). She's got a little twang in her voice, and just by listening to Peter's pickin' skills during the soundcheck, there's going to be some serious guitar-work tonight. The show starts in about 15 minutes but she'll be playing for a couple of hours.

If you can't make it down tonight, then try to catch Rachael Sage tomorrow night at the cafe for her sound of "lovely and literate folk-pop-rock." Think of Tori Amos married to Norah Jones, with a sparkling sense of humor and intelligent songwriting that sounds effortless - that's Rachael Sage. She's on the stage tomorrow night at 9.

My Harmony Cheesecake just arrived. Time to enjoy the show (and the dessert).

by Crystal Sarakas

Staff Picks: The Duhks

It’s a challenge when someone asks me what my favorite music is lately. I have always been a “match the music to my mood” person and that hasn’t changed. Some days I listen to Prokofiev’s Cinderella suite while cooking dinner, the next day it may be  music by Donna the Buffalo or the filmscore from Pan’s Labyrinth. I’ve also been prone to Earth Wind & Fire, Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, or Tony Trishka and Skyline.

Last night it was a 1996 Sugar Hill release, Psychograss- Like Minds.

With all that in mind I guess it’s not surprising a group called The Duhks, from Winnepeg, would catch my ear. They are eclectic in their choices of music styles. Their self-title album, The Duhks, has a little gospel, a little bluegrass, some celtic flavorings, some zydeco and  blues, and their most recent release, Migrations, has a fun swingy version of a Donna the Buffalo tune, "Down to the River."

I heard the band at the 2006 Grassroots Festival in Trumansburg NY and was thrilled they made it back this year. When I saw the band highlighted on the Grassroots website, I noticed a new lead singer in the publicity photo. “Oh no!”  I thought, “is this going to change their style?” I have very much enjoyed Jessee Haveys voice, both soulful and edgy, but was pleasantly surprised (ok, relieved too) by the Duhks' new singer, Sarah Dugas, of the Candian band Madrigaia. Sarah has the same emotion and sometimes growl to her voice and delivery that Jessee did, and the blend of voices and musicians were still tight and nearly always danceable.

I was happy to see their video for "Out of the Rain" on a cable tv channel when I went to pay my bill last month. I think the band is still adjusting to the recognition they are getting as they travel, forgetting what a reach the videos have. The Duhks have developed a distinctive style and have scored a Grammy nomination as well.

The band has had some notable producers, including avante-garde banjo player Bela Fleck and Tim O'Brien at different times. My only wish is they would bring out some more recordings. I have all three releases (Migrations, Your Daughters and Your Sons, and The Duhks) and they're all wonderful.  I'm getting to the point where I know the recordings too well. Sometimes I don’t even distinguish one from the other because I frequently listen to all three in one playing. Hopefully, that new release will come soon. 

Check out their website for information about upcoming tour dates and bios on the musicians. And to whet your appetite a little more, here's a video of the afore-mentioned "Our of the Rain."

by Kathleen Cook