Joe's Pub Announces CD Releases for Upcoming Week, 5/24 -5/27

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette St.) announces performances from May 24th to the 27th. The week includes CD Releases from Judith Berkson, Pete Francis, and Lauren Kinhan, solo shows from Sean Bradford and BrenDan James, along with other performers. Ticket prices range from $12 to $20.

 

JUDITH BERKSON: CD RELEASE: May 24 at 7:00 pm

The music of New York-based singer Judith Berkson has been described by The NY Times (Ben Ratliff) as "Intriguing... She's creating an atmosphere, one long reverie". On the eve of her ECM CD debut, the arresting and highly original singer will perform a program featuring her own idiosyncratic songs and instrumentals, plus jazz standards, Schubert Lieder, Jewish cantorial music, and Yiddish folk song. Tickets are $12.

Sean Bradford: May 24 at 9:30 pm

An evening of rock, pop, and everything in between will mark Sean Bradford's debut concert at Joe's Pub. Sean Bradford is currently originating the role of Ozie Powell/ Ruby Bates in the world-premiere of Kander & Ebb's The Scottsboro Boys. Sean made his Broadway debut shortly after graduating from Northwestern University as a Simba Cover in The Lion King. In addition to performing at venues throughout New York City, including Jazz @ Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, and Carnegie Hall, he is frequently a guest soloist for numerous events, most recently singing with the Young People's Chorus of New York City. Expect special guests, a rocking band, and an unforgettable evening. Tickets are $15.

THE Madison Square GardenERS: May 25 at 7:00 pm

Brooklyn, NY based band the Madison Square Gardeners play "sing along song" rock 'n' roll. Claiming The Heartbreakers: both Petty and Thunders as their musical road map, the band has a powerful and exciting live show that has earned them support slots for the likes of The New York Dolls, Black Joe Lewis and The Honey Bears and even Southern Rock legends, Drivin' N' Cryin'. The bands acclaimed debut album "Don't Name The Pig" featured the song "My Ex-Girlfriend" which the Examiner.com named it's Number 1 Song Of The Year for 2009. The band's latest EP "Tune It Up, Dime It Out" was released during their most recent tour centered around a performance at The Warren Haynes X-Mas Jam as well as their triumphant homecoming show at the legendary Bowery Ballroom. It should be noted that this band is no stranger to Joe's Pub, having played there several times as the backing band for their good friend and one of their musical heroes, Jill Sobule. Tickets are $12.

WORLD RECORD APPRECIATION SOCIETY: May 25 at 9:30 pm

Dubbed "Best Oddball Night" by New York Magazine, the World Record Appreciation Society features an ever-changing lineup of eclectic performers setting unique world records. The night is hosted by the Universal Record Database (URDB.org), a Web site The New Yorker says "is to the Guinness World Records as Wikipedia is to the Encyclopaedia Britannica." World records set at previous events have ranged from 'Most Cocktail Umbrellas Fit In Hair In One Minute' to 'Tallest Drawing Of A Midget' to 'Most Bananas Fit In A Pair Of Pants At Once.' URDB are regular guests on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and host thousands of unique records on their site. Tickets are $12. Their next upcoming show at Joe's Pub is June 29th at 9:30 pm.

PETE FRANCIS: THE MOVIE WE ARE IN CD RELEASE w/ Special Guest ANNIE AND THE BEEKEEPERS: May 26 at 7:00 pm

New York City based singer-songwriter, Pete Francis, is to release his new album The Movie We Are In this May 2010. Whereas Francis' previous solo albums were largely self-produced, he uprooted his more traditional approach to album-making and assembled an entirely new crew with Los Angeles based producer Jeff Trott (right hand man to Sheryl Crow as writer and guitarist). He formed the fiercely independent band Dispatch in 1995 whose uncommonly loyal fan-base bid them farewell at The Last Dispatch concert in 2004. Since then, his career has infiltrated many musical worlds including performing his solo music at festivals around the country, reuniting with his Dispatch pals for three sold out nights at Madison Square Garden and having his solo music featured in films and television. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

OUR HIT PARADE STARRING Bridget Everett, Kenny Mellman AND NEAL MEDLYN: May 26 at 9:30 pm

Our Hit Parade is a live top-ten countdown show created by Tony nominee and Obie winner Kenny Mellman (Kiki & Herb), carnal chanteuse Bridget Everett (At Least It's Pink at Ars Nova), pop song opera impresario Neal Medlyn (Neal Medlyn's Unpronounceable Symbol at P.S. 122), producer and MTV cameraman Brendan Kennedy, and writers Ada Calhoun and Peter Schjeldahl. The show is inspired by the musical sketch series "Your Hit Parade" that ran on radio and then television from 1935 to 1959. On that show, cast members performed the week's most popular songs as comically literal skits. In this show, the hosts and special guest stars from the local performance scene present their renditions of current popular hits live on stage. Tickets are $20. The next upcoming shows are June 30th, July 28th, and August 25th.

BRENDan James: May 27 at 7:00 pm

With his warm, rich tenor and emotionally powerful songs, BrenDan James announces himself as an artist-to-watch on his dazzling debut album The Day Is Brave. Rooted in the classic singer/songwriter tradition, with its introspective lyrics and unforgettable melodies, the album is 11 tracks of stunning songcraft: elegant, earthy, and displaying a total lack of artifice that is rare in the pop world these days. Tickets are $12.

Lauren Kinhan: AVALON CD RELEASE: May 27 at 9:30 pm

Singer/Songwriter Lauren Kinhan has been creating genre merging music for years as evidenced in her latest collection of songs, Avalon and her 2000 release Hardly Blinking. Tonight she is joined by her band and special guests to celebrate the new release on E1 Records. Legendary Phil Ramone says, "She is musical, lyrical, and really delivers vocally." Her versatility in singing and contributing original music is evidenced in her 18 years with New York Voices, and co-founding Moss and JaLaLa. Moss was voted Downbeat's Best CDs of the 2000s! $15

Tickets can be purchased on-line at joespub.com, by phone at 212-967-7555, or in person at The Public Theater Box Office (1 PM to 6 PM), or at the Joe's Pub Box Office from (6 PM to 10 PM) both located at 425 Lafayette Street, NYC.

For table reservations please call 212-539-8778. Purchase of tickets does NOT guarantee a table reservation; you must call to reserve seats. Seating, as well as standing-room, is available only on a first-come, first-served basis for all shows without a dinner reservation. Two drink or $12 food minimum per person is standard.