The Jist

Delighted to join the distinguished stable of Stanwood artists, The Jist checks its rock and roll reputation at the door to deliver cherished songs in the purest form: Dressed-down vocals and guitar.

The Jist (better known as Mary O'Reilly and Dave Patrikios) has been promoting the 20th-century musical canon for decades. In Philadelphia bars, Mary's voice found strength in everything from The Supremes to The Smiths. In New York City clubs, Dave chiseled his chops playing everything from loud rock to, well, louder rock.

Performing selections that will incite nostalgia and feverish iTunes downloading, The Jist will be appearing behind the hedge at Stanwood May 7, 2011. And we couldn't be happier about that.

Shiksa Goddess

Shiksa Goddess is the nom de performance of singer/author Brian Kay and ad hoc ensembles of musicians of every stripe and aptitude adapting and adopting Jewish songs and artists, real and implied, literal and figurative, into elegaic evenings of entertainment. Since beginning in Detroit in the mid-'90s playing bar mitzvah versions of Van Halen songs, Shiksa Goddess has evolved into a jew-normous cabaret platform as capable of playing weddings (Jewish and Gentile) as performance art festivals (presumably non-denominational). The results are always cheeky, entertaining, and convincingly blurry Lenny Bruce-by-way-of Nina Simone iPod dissertations that keep it Israel.

The Artists

Two years ago at an open mic at The Pig N Whistle, Kit Pongetti and Jean Villepique performed their cover of "How Deep is Your Love" to a confused room of aspiring stand-ups. As they left, the door man said, with plenty of sarcasm, "Goodnight, Artists." And The Artists were born.

They cover songs that we grew up with, and infuse them with their unique harmony blends. They have no website, but you might catch them at The Hyperion Tavern or in a variety show about town.

And they're just lovely.

I met Jean and Kit playing Bingo at a Fourth of July party two summers ago. When they sang the sweetest "Star Spangled Banner" you ever heard, I knew they were Stanwood girls.

I can't imagine you not coming to see them play Stanwood on Saturday, November 7 at 9pm sharp.

John Gold

And on Saturday, July 11 ... Sweet John Gold will play songs smooth as a baby’s bottom (and just as new) as well as a couple few from the Stanwood Songbook of Treasures.

If I told you, you wouldn't believe it ... You'll just have to come and see for yourself.

Seek him out on iTunes or listen here or watch here.

Kashmere

Stanwood is pleased as punch to have Kashmere, the latest musical project by one Mr. Barry Davis, performing March 21.

Mr. Davis and his associates will play songs in the Stanwood tradition, along with some new-fangled Songs of Now. (We may be a simple people, but we do like to keep up with the times...)


You can find him on iTunes, or listen at www.kashmeremusic.com

Dan John Miller

Dan John Miller is a fine musician and actor who is based in the fair city of Detroit.

Miller fronts Blanche, a "gothic-country/garage-rock" group with his wife, the lovely painter Tracee Mae Miller. He most recently appeared in Leatherheads and as Johnny Cash's guitarist Luther Perkins in Walk the Line.

For this night's solo set, he might, could or would be playing songs by the Ink Spots, Hank Williams, Sons of the Pioneers, Blanche, Willie Nelson, et al.

Listen here: http://www.myspace.com/blanchedetroit