Joes Pub Presents Nick Hallett 8/16, Peterson 8/17, And Matt Doyle 8/17

Joe's Pub presents Nick Hallett: Man in the Matriarchy August 16; Peterson, featuring Mr. Peterson (of the Petersons) August 17; and Matt Doyle of Spring Awakening and the upcoming Bye Bye Birdie August 17.

Nick Hallett will perform August 16 at 7:30pm, with tickets costing $15. Nick Hallett attempts once again to bridge the gap between artified and folksy via the format of popular song. He is joined by a cast of gorgeous and unique women's voices: Jennifer Black, Katie Eastburn, Daisy Press, and the legendary Alice Playten. This cabaret-song cycle of exclusively original material focuses on lyrics about women and maybe even for women, written by a man who is not generally identified as the world's leading expert. Ruminations on the gender divide and the struggle for pleasure abound, as do premieres from Nick's "vernacular opera"-in-development, in addition to wit-drenched gems from the back catalog.

Peterson, featuring Mr. Peterson (of The Petersons) is on August 17 at 9:30pm. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The Petersons have been upstate New York's favorite family band for nigh on a decade . Led by Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, a husband-and-wife team both onstage and off, they've redefined the boundaries of life, art, love, music, fidelity, religion, civics and, quite possibly, penology. At least in their home town of Essex-on-Haugatuck, just off Route 17 in the Susquehanna River Valley.

In addition to Mr. P, a mailman who moonlights as the frontman of the outfit, and Mrs. P, a self-described "sensualist" who sings and plays the percussive egg, the group includes: Pete Petersen (no relation), who drums and lives in a Coleman Spider trailer parked in the Petersons' driveway; Julio, on bass, a Mexican immigrant formerly married to Mrs. Peterson's sister Claudia, but who now sleeps above the Petersons' garage ("Como El Fonz"); and Father Tom, the lead guitarist, a defrocked priest who bunks in the Petersons' attic.

They've played sold out gigs all over New York, at such venues as Joe's Pub, Caroline's Comedy Club, Ars Nova, the Bottom Line, Sin-e, Galapagos, Fez, Union Hall, the West Bank Café, N.Y. Stage and Film, and-wait for it-the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art.

This gig, however, marks an exciting new direction in the life of the group. Booked not long before the two bandleaders decided to "take a break" (his words), or "call it quits" (hers), August 17th will now celebrate the debut of PETERSON, Mr. Peterson's greatly anticipated solo project. "Bands are a kind of democracy," says Peterson, "and deep down, I think, I'm more of a monarchist. Going solo will be refreshing insofar as I won't have to worry about other people's stupid feelings and ideas."

With very special and surprise guests, including (quite possibly) members of The Petersons themselves.

(The Petersons comprise, but are not limited to, Adam Stein, Keira Naughton, Matt Saldivar, Pete Simpson, Evan Robertson, and Rick Holmes.)

Matt Doyle will perform on August 17 at 7:30pm. Tickets cost $12. Matt Doyle, who got his start in the smash hit Spring Awakening, makes his Joe's Pub debut. Matt is also known for his work on the CW's Gossip Girl and on the studio recording of Bare: A Pop Opera. A month away from returning to Broadway in the highly anticipated revival of Bye Bye Birdie, Matt will debut with exciting night of Rock, R&B, and Soul classics.

Photo: Matt Doyle