Well folks, the results are in, the audience voted and NYC Subway Girl made it to the next round. Now it's up to the internet audience to pick who should represent Manhattan. Vote for your favorite Manhattan band before Friday, April 9 at 11:59 pm EST. The finalist from Manhattan will be announced Monday, April 12 at 4pm EST and will compete in the Ultimate Battle of the Boroughs. Watch The Friday Night performances of all Five finalists link to vote My experience performing was actually quite surreal, I never expected such an amazing in the pocket response from the audience. Maybe I have been performing underground too much! I went on about 5th in line which was perfect. My Sugar Bar open mic warm up of the night before was more than I could have hoped for too, as it got me in the mood of performing on a stage with lights and an audience.
Read MoreHeidi Kole and Cathy Grier jam
Diva's Underground Union SQ 3/25/10
performing Heidi's song "It Goes Back To You"
filmed by Tim H.
ORB Confidental, B. Cormier & G. Reitz
The bluesy folk stylings of Cathy Grier very quickly sets one to tapping, snapping and humming along. Her quirky sounds with politically correct themes bring infectious melodies to socially relevant issues. This collection of tunes from Grier's portfolio reflects her understanding of the audience's sensibilities as well as their desire to be entertained. Grier is truly a musician with a voice.ORB Confidential - B. Cormier & G. Reitz
Battle of The Boroughs and me?
Thanks for so many supportive responses to my email about the Battle of the Boroughs: Talent Throwdown at WNYC’s The Greene Space Some of you have asked... But what exactly is it? Yes I know it's confusing. Artists initially selected by WNYC judges, will perform this Friday April 2nd to stay in the competition to represent Manhattan. It's a round of elimination that takes place, where the top five artists selected by the audience, will then move on in the competition. The other dates listed on the Greene Space website, are the elimination rounds for the other Boroughs, Here are the basics:
Read MoreDivas Underground Union SQ 3/25/10
What an amazing day of women musicians performing at Union Square Thursday March 25th,
I created a photo gallery of some of the women I was able to catch.
A montage video of part of the day is up on my artists page.
here's a fun shot taken by Music Under New York's Tim Higginbotham:
Cathy Grier, LEFT on RED's Liah Alonzo & Kelly Halloran and Heidi Kole
Update on 2010-03-30 14:04 by NYC Subway Girl
thought I'd share these words, as it would be difficult for me to describe the amazing support we get from the director of MUNY, thanks Tim!
Incredible show yesterday @ MUNY's Divas Underground"! Each one of you with your unique talent and energy, and to be surrounded for a day by your depth of spirit, character and guts is a beautiful thing!
And thanks for bringing a hopeful and joyous presence to the underground world, everytime you go out!...a wonderful light burning bright. best- Tim
Divas Underground
NYC Subway Girl Cathy Grier, at Divas Underground - March 25, 2010 - Union Square.
With fellow divas Heidi Kole, Nicola, Arlethia, Samantha Margulies, Neffe Kragh-Muller, Martina Bruno, Alice Tan Ridley, Wendy Sayvetz, Left On Red, and Manze Dayila. Images by Tim Higginbotham and clip by NYCSubwayGirl.
'Question of Desire' and 'Good Thing': words/music C. Grier Singerfish Publishing SESAC
Jamming with Carolena @ GCS Graybar
ran into Carolena of Electric Mermaid while performing at Grand Central Station Graybar!
Cool Trick words music C. Grier Singerfish Pub SESAC
clip montage by Brendan Padgett
student research paper on subway performers
Performing in the subway, students often contact me to interview/film/photograph my experience for a class paper. In NYC it's easy to find subway performers and the subject is too perfect to overlook. I thought you might be interested in reading how I responded to a recent request from a student doing a paper on subway performers: Good Morning, of course I'd love to help out in
Read MoreBe there! WNYC The Greene Space Friday April 2nd
I've been selected to perform in the Battle of the Boroughs representing Manhattan April 2nd 7pm. Come and listen, party and vote in the wonderful new performance space of WNYC.
Ten diverse acts were selected for the first round. On April 2nd five of these ten performers will be chosen by the audience. It would be fantastic if you could come and support NYCsubwaygirl.
THE JEROME L. GREENE PERFORMANCE SPACE | 44 CHARLTON STREET NEW YORK, NY
Reserve early, limited seating. Please come. support and vote!!!
tickets $15 1-866-811-4111 or https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/7971985
The Greene Space is:
@ 44 Charlton Street (on the corner of Charlton and Varick) New York, New York 10014
BY SUBWAY:
1 to Houston Street or Canal Street; C/E to Spring Street.
Easy-Bake Orchestra performance at Music-Theatre Group DUMBO space
When I listened to Easy-Bake Orchestra perform At Music-Theatre Group’s (MTG) new performance space @ OneArmRed/ in DUMBO March 4th, I heard the survival of the Big Band. Oh yes, brass, big, solid, and fluid. But what smooth, elegant and luxurious music, with bandleader composer arranger Joshua Shneider at the helm. Funny thing about big bands, although they are a vibrant genre, they are still very much overlooked and feel somewhat dated. Here in NYC, we are lucky to have many big bands performing regularly, but
Read MorePatty Larkin at City Winery
For those of you like me who have followed the musical mastery of guitarist songwriter Patty Larkin, it was a treat to have her back in NYC at the City Winery last night. For those of you who don’t know of her, and wonder if a female guitarist of her caliber exists, don’t delay go discover her. Patty’s celebrating 25 years in music, hence
Read MoreLondon, Time Out
“Funkily melodic in a mature and assured style.”
Time Out, London
THE REAL UNDERGROUND By Jacquie Brophy
I was completely taken over by the rich and powerful
voice of a petite woman playing a guitar in the
first level of the subway. Her sound was that of
an experienced musician, yet she played while
the N train flew her by. I stood, listened for a
moment, and continued on my way home. I would
see her here and there and I knew she was
something special.
showbizdigest By Jacquie Brophy
Cocooned at Le Poisson Rouge 3/15/10
Cocoon is Mark on guitars and Morgan on electric piano, charming and French (they wanted to be clear, “we are not together…”) Quiet, soft performances at Le Poisson Rouge Bleecker Street last night, in the heart and birthplace of the American folk scene. Who knew the rightful heirs would be this French Duo decades later! A patient audience intently listened, although
Read MoreDivas Underground Thursday March 25th
14th Street/Union SQuare near N/R
- my timeslot will be 3:30-4:15 but come to catch all the other fab acts:
March 25, 2010
‘DIVAS UNDERGROUND’
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TIME |
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PERFORMER |
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12:00-12:30 |
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Wendy Sayvetz, Folk & tradition www.abacaproductions.com |
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12:30- 1:15 |
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Arlethia, Gospel youtube clip http://bit.ly/bc3uLY |
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1:15- 2:00 |
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LEFT on RED, alternative originals www.leftonredmusic.com |
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2:00- 2:45 |
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Samantha Margulies, Opera & Broadway |
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2:45- 3:30 |
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Neffe Kragh-Muller, Jazz, Blues www.NeffeKragh-Muller.com |
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3:30- 4:15 |
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Cathy Grier, ‘folked-up blues’ nycsubwaygirl.com |
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4:15- 5:00 |
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Heidi, Singer songwriter www.thesubwaydiaries.com |
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5:00- 5:45 |
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Manze Dayila, ‘empress of Haitian roots music’www.myspace.com/manzedayila |
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5:45- 6:30 |
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Nicola, Rock/Pop singer songwriter www.nicolanicola.com |
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6:30- 7:15 |
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Martine Bruno, Popera |
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7:15- 8:00 |
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Alice Tan Ridley, ‘goddess of Soul’www.myspace.com/alicetanridley |
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Location - 14 Street Union Square…the south side of the Union Square, between the N/R/W uptown, downtown stairs… follow the inspirational vocals and you’ll be there.
Lee paints in the subway
amazing story while I was performing at Grand Central, Lee arrived, sat down and started to paint..... from my perspective, it was fantastic watching him paint me and watching the people who stopped to see what was going on...a true subway moment, of art and music and people and life!
Read MoreSouth Ferry Installation by Doug and Mike Starn
I had the pleasure of performing for a tour of this amazing installation during Arts Week while the artists discussed their work. I love it when music and art are present in the subway. And the South Ferry Starn's installation is one of my favorites.
Doug and Mike Starn with Arts For Transit director Sandra Bloodwurth and assistant director Amy Haussmann
link to Arts For Tranist page about this installation
Luiz subway guitarist N line
caught Luiz on the N line, great clip to show how much balance you need to do this!
Joe Del Priore, Hudson Current
Cathy Grier is versatile to the extreme... her folk/blues, political sensibility and dynamite voice make for a powerful dose of reality.
Grier is a storyteller drawing steely insistence and quavering tenderness out of the same cigar box. Her guitar work tends towards rhythm and blues, with elements of traditional folk and supercool jazz riffs tossed in. One aspect that distinguishes her from other performers is her concern with political and environmental issues, layered over that blues/rock melodic base.
Joe Del Priore Hudson Current
WRSU Radio Rutgers interview video excerpt
excerpt from Larry Wolfert's interview at Rutgers Radio, we chat and I perform my song Dedicated "no hate, no war"