{"id":3954,"date":"2010-07-01T18:51:56","date_gmt":"2010-07-01T22:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/?p=3954"},"modified":"2010-07-01T20:11:20","modified_gmt":"2010-07-02T00:11:20","slug":"amber-rubarth-and-adam-levy-at-rockwood-music-hall-stage-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/2010\/07\/01\/amber-rubarth-and-adam-levy-at-rockwood-music-hall-stage-2\/","title":{"rendered":"ambeR Rubarth and Adam Levy at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Another night, another show at <a title=\"Rockwood Music Hall\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rockwoodmusichall.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Rockwood Music Hall<\/a> Stage 2, same old, same old. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>This night featured a totally different type of music, but was similar in that we love this group of performers as did the rest of the crowd.<\/p>\n<p>The co-billed show was <a title=\"ambeR Rubarth\" href=\"http:\/\/www.amberrubarth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">ambeR Rubarth<\/a> (we love her solo, with a band, and when she\u2019s half of the duo <a title=\"The Paper Raincoat on MySpace\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/thepaperraincoat\" target=\"_blank\">The Paper Raincoat<\/a>) and <a title=\"Adam Levy\" href=\"http:\/\/adamlevy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Adam Levy<\/a> who is a wonderful guitarist and singer\/songwriter.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AdamLevyAmberRubarth.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"AdamLevyAmberRubarth\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AdamLevyAmberRubarth_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"AdamLevyAmberRubarth\" width=\"244\" height=\"185\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Adam had his band, the Mint Imperials backing him (I\u2019ll cover them later), and they backed up ambeR on the majority of her numbers as well.<\/p>\n<p>Adam, ambeR and the band came out together and opened with an Adam number. Then Adam introduced ambeR\u2019s song Edge of My Seat with a crack that didn\u2019t seem like a song intro until the last second.<\/p>\n<p>After that, it was a bit more of ambeR\u2019s set than Adam\u2019s, with Adam supporting her (with his patented bluesy guitar riffs and harmony vocals).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/amberRubarthGuitar.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"amberRubarthGuitar\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/amberRubarthGuitar_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"amberRubarthGuitar\" width=\"240\" height=\"244\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Then she invited <a title=\"Alex Wong\" href=\"http:\/\/www.highceilingsmusic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Wong<\/a> up, her cohort in The Paper Raincoat. They played In the Creases (one of our favorites) just the two of them. ambeR offered Alex the guitar, but he deferred to her, so Alex just sang with ambeR supplying the music.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AlexWong.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"AlexWong\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AlexWong_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"AlexWong\" width=\"176\" height=\"242\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Just as quickly as he was on the stage, Alex was off like a shot. He had his own show across town starting a bit later that he had to get to. I\u2019ll write a <a title=\"Alex Wong at Caffe Vivaldi\" href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/2010\/07\/01\/alex-wong-at-caffe-vivaldi\/\" target=\"_blank\">separate post<\/a> about that right after this one.<\/p>\n<p>ambeR also performed solo and one number on the Grand Piano accompanied by the band. She closed her set with Novocaine, one of my personal favorites!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/amberRubarthPiano.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"amberRubarthPiano\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/amberRubarthPiano_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"amberRubarthPiano\" width=\"225\" height=\"243\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The focus shifted to Adam\u2019s songs. Adam had excellent energy and the crowd was definitely feeling it. He played quite a few numbers, including No Dancing, a <em>ton-of-fun<\/em> song.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AdamLevy1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"AdamLevy1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AdamLevy1_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"AdamLevy1\" width=\"221\" height=\"244\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>They wrapped it up with a song that they co-wrote (the first one they wrote together), Washing Day. It\u2019s a wonderful song and doesn\u2019t require any <em>extras<\/em>. But, what an extra they threw in to delight us last night.<\/p>\n<p>They invited <a title=\"Ian Axel\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/ianaxel\" target=\"_blank\">Ian Axel<\/a> to join them (recall our experience from the <a title=\"Ian Axel at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/2010\/06\/30\/ian-axel-at-rockwood-music-hall-stage-2\/\" target=\"_blank\">night before<\/a> in the same place!). Ian played a wonderful piano solo that was icing on a soulful cake. A great way to end an excellent show.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/IanAxel.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"IanAxel\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/IanAxel_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"IanAxel\" width=\"244\" height=\"244\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back to the band.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Tony Mason\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/masonio\" target=\"_blank\">Tony Mason<\/a> played drums. He\u2019s a solid drummer and took a wonderful solo on No Dancing. We\u2019ve seen him with Adam once before.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/TonyMason.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"TonyMason\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/TonyMason_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"TonyMason\" width=\"190\" height=\"243\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Andy Hess\" href=\"http:\/\/www.andyhess.com\/fr_home.cfm\" target=\"_blank\">Andy Hess<\/a> played the electric bass. This was our first time seeing Andy as Adam had a fill-in bass player the last time we saw him. I was very impressed with Andy and I look forward to seeing him play again.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AndyHess.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"AndyHess\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AndyHess_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"AndyHess\" width=\"128\" height=\"239\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Opening for ambeR and Adam was <a title=\"Ed Romanoff\" href=\"http:\/\/www.edromanoff.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ed Romanoff<\/a>. We\u2019ve seen Ed once before at the Haiti Benefit at <a title=\"City Winery\" href=\"http:\/\/www.citywinery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">City Winery<\/a>, but haven\u2019t had the pleasure of seeing him perform a solo set.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/EdRomanoff.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"EdRomanoff\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/EdRomanoff_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"EdRomanoff\" width=\"244\" height=\"235\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He has an extremely mellow folk\/blues style and we really liked his set a lot. He\u2019s very warm on stage and we chuckled a bunch. He also told one very personal story as an intro to a song. He\u2019s a good story-teller, but the story itself is even more incredible. Even though he told it publicly, and I feel I could repeat it, just go see him and hope he tells it himself.<\/p>\n<p>Accompanying Ed was <a title=\"Oscar Albis Rodriguez\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/eyesareshutting\" target=\"_blank\">Oscar Albis Rodriguez<\/a> on electric guitar and very light harmony. I have to start a separate paragraph to make sure you\u2019re paying attention:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wow<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/OscarAlbisRodriguez1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"OscarAlbisRodriguez1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/OscarAlbisRodriguez1_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"OscarAlbisRodriguez1\" width=\"178\" height=\"243\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I was hugely impressed with Oscar. He gently danced in and around Ed\u2019s acoustic guitar and singing, always complementing and enhancing, and never interfering or overwhelming. On the few occasions where Ed stepped back and invited Oscar to take the lead, he was incredibly tasty and interesting.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/OscarAlbisRodriguez2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"OscarAlbisRodriguez2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/OscarAlbisRodriguez2_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"OscarAlbisRodriguez2\" width=\"206\" height=\"243\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Wow<\/strong>, just to make sure you didn\u2019t miss it above. What makes this even more amazing to me (after the fact) is that I checked out some of Oscar\u2019s own music, and it\u2019s much harder rock, so he\u2019s really versatile!<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Adam Christgau\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myspace.com\/adamchristgau\" target=\"_blank\">Adam Christgau<\/a> (one of our favorite drummers) joined Ed and Oscar on stage for one number. He didn\u2019t play the drums. He played a <strong>frisbee<\/strong> with a single brush stick. It\u2019s one of Adam\u2019s signature things. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AdamChristgau.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: inline; border: 0px;\" title=\"AdamChristgau\" src=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/AdamChristgau_thumb.jpg\" border=\"0\" alt=\"AdamChristgau\" width=\"116\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>ambeR also joined in on the same number that Adam Christgau played on, sitting at the piano (without playing). She and Ed sang very nicely together.<\/p>\n<p>We ran out immediately and grabbed a cab with another couple to head over to see Alex Wong\u2019s show. Check out the <a title=\"Alex Wong at Caffe Vivaldi\" href=\"https:\/\/www.opticality.com\/blog\/2010\/07\/01\/alex-wong-at-caffe-vivaldi\/\" target=\"_blank\">next post<\/a> to read about that one. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Another night, another show at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, same old, same old. \ud83d\ude42 This night featured a totally different type of music, but was similar in that we love this group of performers as did the rest of the crowd. The co-billed show was ambeR Rubarth (we love her solo, with a band, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":4,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,2],"tags":[490,489,483,482,690,688,601,689,395],"class_list":["post-3954","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music","category-2","tag-adam-christgau","tag-adam-levy","tag-alex-wong","tag-amber-rubarth","tag-andy-hess","tag-ed-romanoff","tag-ian-axel","tag-oscar-albis-rodriguez","tag-the-paper-raincoat"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3954"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3976,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3954\/revisions\/3976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opticality.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}