On Tuesday, July 4, a New York Downtown rooftop is the only place to be. A drink in your hand, fireworks in the sky and friends by your side make for a celebratory day of merrymaking in honor of our country’s history and freedom.
But for the rest of the week, try celebrating with music. Downtown is home to a wealth of venues, and we’ve highlighted upcoming shows from some of our favorites. Be sure to buy your tickets early, as many sell out on the day of. “We the People” shall revel in the music of New York this week.
This multi-piece Americana groupis taking over the City Winery tomorrow night. Formed in 2007 in Venice, Cali., the group brings together as many as 15 members to create a stomping, rollicking sound, rooted in folk, swing and bluegrass. Don’t miss their NYC show.
The Mae Trio is a sweet Aussie triad from Melbourne. Members Maggie Rigby, her sister Elsie and Anita Hillman incorporate elements of bluegrass and folk to create a pleasing harmony. Their second album, “Take Care Take Cover,” was released in April. Skilled in instruments like the banjo, cello and ukulele, they are sure to make your foot tap.
You’ve probably forgotten about Rooney, the group made famous for their song “When Did Your Heart Go Missing?” – which probably circled your high school playlists a few times in 2007. It turns out they’ve been making music since then – three albums worth – and now they’re taking on 2017 with a summer tour. Run River North, a six-member group from California, joins them this Wednesday at The Bowery Ballroom. You’ll fall in love with the charming group, who filmed a music video in the back of a Honda.
(Sandy) Alex G has made one of the best and most interesting albums so far this year, as hailed by the likes of NPR and Pitchfork. His record “Rocket” has been praised by indie rock fans and critics alike. Japanese Breakfastis another up-and-coming soloist, and released a new single, “Boyish,” this month.
Tickets are sold out, but may be available from third party sellers.
Friday, July 7, 8:30 p.m., doors at 7:30. The Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St.
This band got its start right here in Lower Manhattan, when members created their group on the Lower East Side in 2013. They combine funk, rock, blues and garage music to create their danceable sound. The Mercury Lounge hosts them at the end of the week for lively jam session.
Trip.com is an innovative planning tool that tailors recommendations for places to stay, eat and play to your specific tastes. It also allows you to share your great experiences with people who have the same interests as you; people in your “tribes.” Trip.com’s TripPicks This Week feature empowers you to discover and take advantage of great events, openings and exhibits throughout the city each week.
Here are some exciting events and sites to check out this week in Downtown New York, courtesy of Trip.com. Visit the Trip.com site or download the app for more upcoming events.
1. Uptown/Downtown/Dance Schimmel Center at Pace University (Financial District) Friday, Apr. 28 and Saturday, Apr. 29 at 7:30pm
Audiences are in for a real treat when New York Theatre Ballet’s series Uptown/Downtown/Dance new season opens with two as-yet-untitled world premiers from Martin Lawrance and Zhong-Jing Fang. The program also includes Pam Tanowitz, whose works are set to live music by Lou Harrison, David Lang and Beethoven and Edward Henkel’s restaging of “Re-Vision,” with music by Edvard Grieg. Tickets $29
What’s better than a wine tasting event with over 200 wines from over 30 regions served by the finest New York sommeliers? A wine tasting event that gives 100% of the proceeds to Wheeling Forward, an organization that helps people with disabilities “experience life to the fullest and enable them to see possibility where others see insurmountable obstacles.” Tickets start at $99.
3. Indie Bookstore Day Check site for participate stores Saturday, Apr. 29 (Check site for times)
New Yorkers are independent-minded individuals and so it is our duty to defend independent business that have made this city what it is. Saturday is Indie Bookstore Day and we are going to be hitting one or two independent bookstores in our area to pick up a few reads, snatch up really cool limited edition art pieces, listen to live music and author readings, eat cupcakes and much more.
4. Pop-Up Chelsea Market 8th Ave. (14th St. – 23rd St.) Saturday, Apr. 29 from 10am-6pm
Pop Up New York returns to Chelsea, transforming 8th avenue into a hopping street fair block party. Count on live performances, entertainment, lots of yummy food, trendy goods, a few surprises and an all-around good time!
5. Bubble Tea Pop Up Exhibit 355A Bowery (East Village) Monday-Friday from 11am-9pm; Saturday-Sunday from 11am-10pm (through Saturday, May 6)
Continuing New York’s sugar obsession – seriously it’s a problem – is the Boba Room, a 3 week “pop up theme park for boba lovers.” Of course you’ll be able to have your fill of bubble tea from New York favorites like Tea and Milk, Pa Tea, Vivi Bubble Tea, and Gong Cha, but the real fun is the exhibit. It features giant bubbles, murals, sculptures, funky neon art and other artistic homages to boba. Tickets $10.
Every year when March rolls around, music fans in New York City know to expect a major concert benefit being presented by City Winery’s Michael Dorf. This year is no exception as Mar. 6 brings The Music Of Aretha Franklin at Carnegie Hall, the 14th installment of Michael’s Music Of series. Among the artists slated to perform the works of the Queen Of Soul are Melissa Etheridge, Kenny Loggins, Glen Hansard, Rhiannon Giddens, G. Love, Sam Moore, CeeLo Green, Todd Rundgren, Antibalas, Allen Stone, Taj Mahal, Living Colour, and Bettye LaVette. Arguably the most prominent and impressive lineup ever assembled by Michael and team.
Downtown had the pleasure of speaking with six of the evening’s performers: Kenny Loggins, Sam Moore, Ron Pope, G. Love, Ruthie Foster, and Richard Thompson. Few artists can bring entertainers of all genres together like Aretha Franklin, and this Q&A helps explain why that is. 100% of the net proceeds from the Mar. 6 event are given to music education organizations for underprivileged youth, including Young Audiences New York, Little Kids Rock, and Church Street School Of Music; well over $1 million has been raised through prior events.
More on Michael Dorf and his event series can be found at www.musicof.org. Those looking to catch a public dress rehearsal of the Carnegie Hall event can try finding tickets via the City Winery website.
Do you remember the first time you heard Aretha Franklin? Or at least the first song by her you’d heard?
Sam Moore: I’ve known Aretha since she was a teenager playing piano for her father the famous Reverend C.L. Franklin. That’s around 60 years ago.
Ron Pope: There was never a time in my life before Aretha. Her voice was always there. I remember singing along to “Respect” as a really little kid. Sometimes I’d sing lead, sometimes I’d sing the background parts. I remember when I learned that she was singing the word “propers” in that song; when I was little, I always thought it was “popcorn.”
Ruthie Foster: I grew up listening to Aretha. Her gospel recordings with her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, were a mainstay in our house when I was a little girl.
G. Love: I’m thinking that I surely grew up listening to the sounds of Aretha on the radio my whole life. I do remember my parents being crazy about the soundtrack for this movie The Big Chill, and I’m pretty sure “Natural Woman” was on that cassette. They wore it out! As I grew up and into music my Uncle Billy turned me on to Booker T & The MGs, who were the Stax Records backing band and recorded many of Aretha’s hits with her. So I always loved Aretha and the sounds behind her.
Richard Thompson: It would have been “Respect.” I was at school over in London, and that must have been 1964? It’s the first record of Aretha’s that got much airplay.
Do you have a favorite Aretha song?
Kenny Loggins: “What A Fool Believes” — I totally went to school on her reinvention.
Sam Moore: Well, she won the Grammy for my song “Hold On I’m Coming” in 1981, and I’ve stolen her arrangement done by the brilliant Arif Martin for my live performances. I recorded one of her big hits written by Ahmet Ertegun, “Don’t Play That Song For Me,” and I’ve heard her performing it and her shows with my arrangement.
Ron Pope: “Baby, I Love You” is my very favorite song of Aretha’s; it has everything I want in a record. Her lead vocal is lights out, the harmonies she sings with her sisters are interesting and effective, Jimmy Johnson’s guitar is so damn smooth driving it all along, they have King Curtis and those horn parts that feel iconic but are still understated. The recording is absolutely everything. The Swampers and King Curtis!? Unreal! And it’s like two minutes long! You want to explain to someone why she’s the Queen? Play them that!
Ruthie Foster: Her rendition of “Amazing Grace” is my favorite!
Richard Thompson: I love her version of “You Are My Sunshine.”
Where was the first gig you ever played in New York City? What do you remember about it?
Sam Moore: Oh my goodness. The Apollo Theater on the package as an opening act in 1963, I believe. I remember legendary female comedian Moms Mabley telling me, after Dave [Prater] and I sort of phoned in a performance because there were very few people in the house at the time we went on, “not to be lazy on stage and to get out there, even if there’s only three people in the audience and give them the show they paid their money to see! Do your best don’t ever shortchange the house, even if it’s just the waiters and waitresses at a club you’re playing as your career progresses.” Her words have never left me since and every time I walk out on stage I strive to give the audience 100% or more of me and my vocal gift.
Ron Pope: My first real gig in New York was at The Bitter End when I was about 19 or 20, playing with my band The District. I remember feeling excited. Here I was, just some kid from Georgia playing a stage Bob Dylan had been on! Lots of our friends came out since it was our first show — and we begged them. Afterwards, Paul and Kenny from The Bitter End were so complimentary of the band, and we established a relationship that put us back on that stage at least 200 times over the next few years. No matter how many times I go to that club, I’ll never forget that first night.
Ruthie Foster: My first gig in New York City was at a place called Terra Blues, just off Bleecker and Thompson in The Village. The blues artist — and actor — Guy Davis was playing and took a break, I talked to him for awhile about music and told him that I played and sang to and had just moved from Texas. He let me play during his breaks that night. I had a gig two nights a week at that venue for three years afterwards!
Kenny Loggins: Two months before I played for the first time in New York City, I was there as a tourist. When I walked past Carnegie Hall, I said to my girlfriend, “Maybe someday I’ll get to play there.” Ironically, two months later I played there with Jimmy Messina as the opening act for Delaney & Bonnie and Billy Preston.
G. Love: My first gig, aside from busking in Washington Square Park a couple times in 1991 on a road trip down from Skidmore College — where I went to school for a year — would’ve been The Grand for our showcase for the New Music Seminar. I remember the crowds were a bit tougher than the amorous crowds we had achieved at the Irish pubs in Boston but we kept our head down and played that shit proper. Right after that things started clicking and we played Brownies, Cafe Sinead, The Bottom Line and CBGBs Gallery, where we scored our first deal with Epic Records in 1993.
Richard Thompson: It was the Fillmore East, 1970. The bill was something like Fairport Convention — my band — Savoy Brown and Traffic. Bill Graham was at the side of the stage as we came off, and said, “Wow! I’ve never seen that before.” We were feeling quite pleased with ourselves, till he added: “I’ve never seen a band go onstage not knowing what the second number was going to be!”
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
Sam Moore: There are so many great ones. I haven’t really been in New York a lot in the past couple of years.
Ron Pope: Awash on 6th Street, for sure. As I tour, I try to find Ethiopian food that good all over the world, but it never stacks up to Awash! When I lived in The Village, I’d eat there at least twice a week. When I come home to New York from the road, that’s the first place I want to eat.
Ruthie Foster: I recently visited and played New York City and had a great experience at a wonderful restaurant called Khe-Yo in TriBeCa, that’s become my favorite! It’s has a lot of Laotian-inspired dishes which are great for sharing with friends.
G. Love: That’s a tough one, but I sure love Joseph Leonard’s and The Diner in Brooklyn.
Richard Thompson: I love Avra, the Greek seafood restaurant. I think it’s at 48th and Lex.
What’s coming up for you besides this show at Carnegie Hall?
Sam Moore: On Thursday night, the 9th, I will be at the Beacon Theater with a bunch of amazing artists at the God’s Love We Deliver fundraiser, and then I’m going to Scottsdale, Arizona the weekend of Mar. 18 at the Celebrity Fight Night tribute to a dear friend who we lost last year, Muhammad Ali. I’m also in the studio recording an album project actually a couple of album projects with the award-winning and most amazing producer, an artist Rudy Perez. Rudy has an album launching in the next couple of weeks, and the single from that album is a duet I was humbled to participate on, a little song written by Charlie Chaplin called “Smile.”
Ron Pope: I will be back in October to play at Terminal 5. I can’t wait for that one; I’ve never played there but I’ve seen so many incredible bands on that stage.
Ruthie Foster: I have U.S. and European tours coming up with my new CD on the horizon! Joy Comes Back is the title; it’s a celebration of all the transitions in my life, love and music since my last recording.
Kenny Loggins: My new children’s book: a reimagining of Footloose in which Jack, now a zookeeper, secretly lets all the zoo animals out of their cages to dance under a full moon.
G. Love: I’m writing this in Byron Bay, Australia, where I performed last night at the Byron Bay Surf Festival. Next stop is NYC, and the day after Carnegie Hall, I fly to Phoenix to start a month-long West Coast tour with my band Special Sauce. The original trio is still going strong closing in on 25 years!
Richard Thompson: I’m out the whole of April, and I’ll be fairly local a couple of times — Tarrytown on Apr. 14 and Port Washington Apr. 19. I’m also releasing two acoustic records, Acoustic Classics 2 and Acoustic Rarities, probably in May.
Finally, any last words for the kids?
Richard Thompson: Listen to Aretha! There is such a thing as musical intelligence. Her voice is at the service of the song, not the other way ’round. She doesn’t show off, she uses her extraordinary vocal gifts sparingly to emphasize the emotional peaks of the songs.
Sam Moore: I actually working with my wife on a project with Florida International University developing curriculum to teach kids grades K through 12 the great and rich histories, legacies and contributions of the amazing American-born talented musical artists of past decades and generations who brought — to not only American culture — but the world the gift of music all of the joy it brings.
Also, my great-niece Courtney Trice is going to be duetting with me at Carnegie Hall. Not bragging or prejudice, she is amazing! I am so proud to have the pleasure and joy of introducing her to the world the right way and I want to thank Michael Dorf and his entire organization for affording me the opportunity to pay honor and tribute to my “Ree Ree” and do my portion of her salute justice with Courtney and her powerful vocal abilities at my side performing my duet version from my Overnight Sensational album of “Don’t Play That Song.”
Ron Pope: 10 years ago, I sang on the subway platform to make a living, and now I’m playing at Carnegie Hall. Whatever you decide to do with your life, stay focused and do it with your whole heart. You’ll end up where you’re supposed to be.
Ruthie Foster: My words for the kids would be to stay true to who you really are and when times get tough remember that music is a healer. It’s definitely been my light!
G. Love: Be original, be passionate, bring enthusiasm, energy and love. Make a connection and expect magic to happen. Leave it all onstage every night and stay on the hustle. It’s about the journey in music there’s no top to the mountain — you just gotta keep on climbing and enjoy the view! The best thing about music is that every night can be your best show ever, and that’s what I say the minute I wake up on show days, “Tonight I will play my greatest show ever.” Then I beat it the next night.
Kenny Loggins: Follow your dreams. They will always take you somewhere fun.
When it comes to Geoff Tate, forget everything you would expect from a hard rock vocalist. He has a multi-octave vocal range. He is very well-read. He makes wine. He enjoys the house restoration process. And 35 years after he co-founded Queensrÿche — whose hits like “Silent Lucidity,” “I Don’t Believe In Love” and “Jet City Woman” remain classic rock radio staples — Geoff is still touring and recording in peak form.
Geoff Tate makes a return to New York City on Feb. 20 with a headlining appearance at City Winery. As part of The Whole Story “Ryche” Acoustic Tour, Geoff will be fronting a seven-piece acoustic band and playing songs from all 17 of his albums. Downtown spoke with the Washington native about his City Winery appearance, his history with New York, and what else he has coming up. Beyond www.geofftate.com, more on Geoff Tate can be found by following him on Twitter via @GeoffTate.
Where was the first concert you ever played in New York City? What do you remember about it?
Geoff Tate: My first concert in New York City was at the Beacon Theatre in 1983. It was my first tour and everything was new and exciting. The theatre, at that time, was fairly run down and dirty. It smelled of stale beer, vomit, urine, cigarette smoke and sweat. The audience was young, angry and physical, punching the air with their fists in a staccato rhythm while my band baptized them with 115 decibels of metal.
GT: This Acoustic Tour is one of the most enjoyable tours I have ever done. The intimacy of the venue really showcases the players abilities and talent. The audience experiences the true emotion of the song in such detail. Every note and each breath is on display.
There are more people in your acoustic backing band than in your typical backing band, yet most artists perform acoustically in a scaled-down format. Is this your first acoustic tour?
GT: When I was in Queensrÿche, we regularly performed acoustically. In fact, almost every song I’ve written, was first written on acoustic guitar or piano. What I wanted for this tour was to have acoustic instrumentation that could creatively represent the songs. Orchestra instruments play a major role in my recorded music, so I wanted to have violin, cello and acoustic bass for the tour.
Another notable thing about your City Winery show is that you make wine. Where did your interest in wine begin? Was it always in your tour rider?
GT: I made my first wine when I was 14 and I’ve been into it ever since. When I became a traveling musician and began visiting the great wine making regions of the world, I was inspired and decided to release my own wine, and in 2007 my brand Insania was released. We make a red which is a Pinot Noir and a white, which is a Pinot Grigio.
You were a part of Hear ‘n Aid. Looking back, was that an enjoyable experience? Or at least as fun as the music video made it look to be?
GT: I was very honored to be part of the Hear ‘n Aid project. It was a very challenging project to lead and Ronnie Dio did a fine job of bringing many great musicians together for a wonderful cause.
When not busy on tour, how do you like to spend your free time?
GT: When I’m not making a record, touring or working on my Insania wine project, my wife and I enjoy house restoration. We recently acquired our second project home. It’s a 110-year old Dutch Colonial Revival. It’s all original, which is rare. We are modernizing it with thought and restraint.
Is there something you wish more people knew about Geoff Tate?
GT: No, not really. It seems my life is an open book.
Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?
GT: It’s a tie between Nomad, because of the roast chicken and The Rolling Stones inspiration, and Trattoria Trecolori for some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had.
Finally, Geoff, any last words for the kids?
GT: Thanks to everyone who has come out to my shows throughout the years and bought my records. I hope to see you at the show at City Winery.ᐧ
Over 10 years ago, Matisyahu experienced the joy of having his first hit single, “King Without A Crown.” Not only did “King” crack the Top 30, but its accompanying album sold over 500,000 copies within a year of release. Many critics were quick to dismiss Matisyahu as a novelty artist — the lone Hasidic Jew within the reggae world — yet things never slowed down for him. He had the unofficial theme song of the 2010 Olympics. He has toured alongside Sting, 311 and Sublime With Rome. He has collaborated with a wide array of artists, including P.O.D., The Dirty Heads, Wyclef Jean, The Crystal Method, Moon Taxi, and Avicii.
Back in November, Matisyahu released a new EP, Release The Bound. In support of that, he kicked off his annual Festival Of Light tour on Dec. 14, which included three nights at Manhattan’s City Winery. Downtown caught up with Matis for some Q&A to learn more about his past, present and future; the near-future will reportedly include a new full-length album later this year. Matisyahu can be visited online at www.matisyahuworld.com and also followed on Twitter and Facebook.
What do you wish more people knew about you?
Matisyahu: That I am single. (laughs)
In putting out nine releases over the past 11 years, plus some collaborations and one-offs, you have released more music than the majority of major artists. Are you writing frequently?
M: I take opportunities to write and record in collaborations with other artists or musicians pretty much constantly. Most of my time in music though, is spent playing shows. Every two years or so I go into an intensive process of writing. For example, we came off the road in September and went immediately into writing mode. Then I spent three months writing and recording my new record to be released this spring. In a sense though, we write as a group every night when we play because If the improvisational nature of my live show. So even though we only spent three months writing and recording, we spent the better last of two years as a unit on the road creating a sound and experimenting with what the next record will feel like.
How would you describe Release The Bound to a longtime fan of yours that hasn’t heard it yet?
M: It’s a collaborative piece. Three different producers, so there are a few different vibes. It’s a typical Matisyahu melding of sounds and styles blending of genres, but it definitely leans towards a more danceable upbeat up lifting modern sound.
Do you have a favorite song on Release The Bound?
M: Don’t really have a fav. The songs are kind of like kids. Kind of love them the same for different reasons. I guess I was gonna to point to one tune it would be “Shade From The Sun.” It has a more organic sound, kind of African vibe, dancehall reggae flow.
I remember watching Jimmy Kimmel Live the night you made your TV debut. Looking back, was that an enjoyable experience?
M: YES! That was such an exciting time for me. Coming out Yeshiva and the books and the basement in Crown Heights to realizing my dreams in such a surreal way. It was also a lot of travel, and being tired, and waiting around. So it was fun and awesome and at the same time a bit of a reality check on what having a music career is made of.
For your December shows in New York, did the disco dreidel make an appearance?
M: Yes, the disco dreidel made a comeback and was in full effect at this year’s Festival Of Light tour. I love that thing. It lives in my house.
A video of you dueting with a performer in Hawaii that didn’t know it was you went viral recently. Has anything similar happened to you before?
M: Not really. I’ve heard people listening to my music before. I do love the element of surprise, though. That’s always been fun for me.
When not busy with music, how do you like to spend your free time?
M: Well, I manage myself and have four kids under 12, so I don’t really have much free time. If the weather is good and I have a few hours free, I will most likely call up my dad and we’ll go ride motorcycles up state for a bit. Other then that, I like watching my kids play sports and expanding my consciousness.
What is your favorite restaurant in your neighborhood?
M: There is a cool Israeli cafe type place where I live. They have good coffee and it’s a nice environment. It’s called Art Cafe. But my main spot is called Gypsy Donut. Great coffee and mainly just a nice destination when I need to take a walk. Actually all the dudes that work there are in a band, and I’ve even recorded vocals for “Storm Tossed,” a song I released this summer at their studio in town.
What about a favorite restaurant in downtown Manhattan?
M: Downtown, nothing comes to mind. Guess I haven’t been out for a while. Damn.
Other than your EP, what is your favorite music release of 2016?
M: That’s a tough one. Probably the new Bon Iver and then Frank Ocean in a close second. Ooohhh, Flume Flume Flume and my favorite, probably Vince Staples and Popcaan and Jon Belion, Tycho…Lots of great music out there now.
M: For the kids: “Stay calm, breathe deep, listen to music that makes you feel better, trust your instincts, pray for a teacher, find a friend. If you have a passion spend your time in it, if you don’t, then just enjoy the ride and emphasize with your fellow humans and the environment you live in. Put down your phone when something really awesome is happening and just breathe it all the way into your soul. It will make a greater impact than capturing it for social media. Peel off the shell and love with all your heart.”
The Church Street School for Music and Art — as located in Tribeca — is the area’s only non-profit school for the arts. The institution has served the downtown and outer community since 1990. On Jan. 4, City Winery will be hosting a fundraiser for the school with plenty of stars present. Performers are scheduled to include Sugarland vocalist Jennifer Nettles, Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, screenwriter/producer Ed Burns, actor Harvey Keitel, DJ Spooky’s Antartica Symphony, and actor/author Eric Bogosian.
Downtown had the pleasure of conducting Q&A with not only Eric Bogosian in advance of the event, but also City Winery owner Michael Dorf and its marketing director Jillian Santella. Other performers at City Winery include Teddy Thompson (Jan. 1), Buster Poindexter (Jan. 13), Alejandro Escovedo (Jan. 19-21), Bettye Lavette (Jan. 29), and Marc Cohn (Feb. 14-15). Michael will also be presenting his annual benefit at Carnegie Hall on Mar. 6; this year will be a tribute to Aretha Franklin including performances by Todd Rundgren, Taj Mahal, Living Colour, Allen Stone, Kenny Loggins and Melissa Etheridge.
For tickets to the benefit show, click here. The Music Of Aretha Franklin at Carnegie Hall has a home at www.musicof.org. Eric Bogosian can be followed on Twitter via @Eric_Bogosian.
You have written and starred in plays, produced plays, written multiple published novels, appeared in a lot of film and television projects, and have even produced dance-related events. Do you have an easy way of describing how you earn a living?
Eric Bogosian: I describe myself as an author and actor.
Is there a particular project of yours that you are most proud of?
EB: The website 100monologues.com — currently featuring over 60 videotaped monologues by New York’s best actors — is a huge project we’ve been working on for over three years. I’ve very proud of it. We will keep building the site through 2018 when all 100 monologues will have been posted. The site is free and like I say, features many of the most popular and exciting actors who live and work in New York City. Take a look!
Do you remember the first show you ever attended at City Winery?
EB: I have never been to a show at City Winery. Michael and I go back to The Knitting Factory days. Because I don’t drink alcohol, City Winery has been off my beaten path.
EB: I will perform a couple of monologues from the 100 Monologues.
City Winery is known for hosting a lot of benefits. Do you have specific criteria for when it comes to getting involved with a cause?
Michael Dorf: No criteria, there are so many issues in the world today. It is balancing out how we can spend our resources helping out. We have a platform to both raise money and awareness — I feel it is our responsibility to try and make the world a better place.
A lot of huge artists have played at City Winery in New York. I remember reading about Billie Joe from Green Day performing on-stage there. Gregg Allman had his recent residency…Is there anyone you’re still hoping will perform at City Winery?
MD: So many. We have a long list. I want Bonnie Raitt. We did a private show with Neil Young, would want that every night if we could. [Bob] Dylan, Bruce [Springsteen], oh yeah, Ryan Adams, how amazing would that be. How about a special night of Rihanna?
Before City Winery, you had The Knitting Factory. Do you see City Winery as a continuation of The Knitting Factory? Or are they entirely different venues in your eyes?
MD: Well, people have said, City Winery is a Knitting Factory for grown-ups. Yeah, there is some overlap. We had all standing shows mostly with a beer in-hand…That worked great then. Now being more calorie-conscious and having achey knees, I’d rather sit. It will be 30 years since I started The Knitting Factory and I guess both have worked in the lifecycle of myself downtown, serving many friends.
City Winery has locations in multiple cities. How involved are you in other cities’ locations?
MD: I run them all. And of course, when I say run, it is a great team running currently 750 employees growing to 1,000 employees in a year — take that Trump, that’s real job creation! I picked the name “City” so we could grow to many markets. Our business is very scalable and I am planning on aggressive growth over the next few years to more than 10 locations.
MD: A great burger goes with Bordeaux. But somedays I’m more in the mood for a white wine, so I go for a piece of fish. Our menu was really designed to complement your wine, not wine to go with your food. We inverted the typical process of ordering.
EB: My non-fiction book on Armenian assassins, Operation Nemesis, will come out in trade paperback in February via Little, Brown. Also I am guest starring in numerous episodes of The Get Down and Billions this coming season.
Jillian Santella: As always, we have music almost every night of the week! Some musical highlights in early 2017 include Art Garfunkel, Shawn Colvin’s January residency featuring Graham Nash, Richard Thompson and Patty Griffin, Josh Ritter and more. We’ve got a fantastic New Year’s Eve Party in our Barrel Room, featuring entertainment from Wasabassco Burlesque, open bar and light bites. In addition, we are open in the Barrel Room restaurant for dinner and drinks every day, lunch on weekdays and Sunday brunch — including a bottomless brunch drink option. We also have some exciting wine classes coming up, such as “Wine 101: Brunch & Wine Pairing” on Sunday, Jan. 8.
Will you be hosting another March benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in 2017?
MD: Yes, March 6 is the music of Aretha Franklin. It will be my 14th year raising money for music education programs, there are nine different organizations this year getting funds.
When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?
EB: Gardening, jigsaw puzzles and model airplanes. But I don’t think of my time as free or not free. It’s all one to me.
MD: I love giving interviews. I spend time with my family, kids. Two are now in college and one still in school downtown. She still likes me… I will admit that I like to golf when I can early mornings, hiking and being upstate when possible.
EB: I have lived in Tribeca for over 30 years. Our neighborhood was built on music, dance and art. It is our lifeblood. For me, children playing music is a symbol of peace and love between neighbors.
MD: Shit, does that mean I’m suppose to be an adult? I don’t feel like one. Nah. I think what Lisa [Ecklund-Flores] is doing at Church Street School is critical for the community. It is more than an after-school music program and also more than just serving a rich Tribeca community. In fact, I think being in Tribeca hurts the perception of them needing funding. They offer many scholarships and the teaching staff give much more time and effort than they are paid for. They are teaching kids to practice, giving them self-confidence, unleashing an inner creative streak that they might not have developed at home or regular school. They serve a very important role in our community, especially as more music programs get stripped away from public school budgets. Add to that the very challenging Tribeca real estate issues, which really don’t allow a non-profit — or many creative for-profits — to exist. Rent and getting enough space is a huge challenge for the arts, especially downtown. Right now, they are seriously-challenged and I hope this benefit helps them through part of it. I encourage all to come.
