ROBERT BRUNEAU IS MAY’S STUDENT OF THE MONTH

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Robert may only be 4½ years old, but he knows how to rock. He takes guitar lessons with Rich and is already playing barre chords! He’s also a very talented drummer who from time to time brushes up on his skills with Steve Collins. Robert is a big fan of Keith Moon from The Who, and has been learning how to play Pinball Wizard. He is also a member of one of the most musical families in Chatham (His sister Noelle is a singer songwriter in Brooklyn and his sister Kelly is one of Musica’s all time most popular employees), but he has had little problem living up to the high expectations of the Musica community. Robert is one of the most enthusiastic and dedicated musicians you are ever likely to meet.

posted by Rob on May. 5 08

Zahnarzt returns to Chatham supported by the articulate DJ Barry

Zahnarzt in reverie

Dj Barry and friend performing

So then - bit of the concert news… D J the county’s premiere rapper arrived early - pacing in anticipation - chomping at the bit so to speak - and was soon joined by his entourage of fans and supporters who wandered in Chatham’s most dynamic and creative back alley (the entrance to Musica’s illegal back room), smoking, nodding, shifting their feet in the unseasonable cold.

Zahnarzt and special guest Gavin soon joined them and wheeled their equipment into the entrance, cocking their heads and then raising their chins in an effort locate source of the eerie wailing and angry shouts pouring from an open window above the music store.

The hall was carpeted with bubble wrap - staccato pops in random rhythms accompanied the readiness for the Return of Zahnarzt to the village of Chatham.
D J performed first gaining momentum with each selection - expressing joy, regret, pleasure and pain through rap and freestyle. He was joined by a friend for a few pieces and D J then took a few final solo turns.

As a special treat, GR, a member of the popular capital district band Kamikaze Hearts sang a solo set featuring a number of original poignant and eerie ballads which seemed to me to have a bittersweet and respectful reference to the traditional Child Ballads of England and the Appalachian versions of those ballads. His only accompaniment was electronic beats which implied a strange similarity to the rap which preceded his set.

And then came Zahnarzt.

So - here’s a bunch of descriptive words for the very loud set.

Angst Complexity Fear Rapture Indifference Disturbing Engaging.

Wait - I think there was some blood as well.

Yeah.
Definitely.
There was blood

A little bit nice and a little bit Creepy.

for more on Zahnarzt go to http://www.amazingplaid.com

A Zahnzarzt performance communicates a strange combination of emotions and effects, there is a distinct European vibe. The band was recently based in Berlin where they met another of Chatham’s favorite bands Hellvar. See below for a review of last summer’s Zahnarzt/Hellvar concert. 

posted by Rob on Apr. 3 08

The Party’s (not really) Over. . .

Given that Musica is a quirky store operating in a rural town; in a nervous economy; in the hands of a curmudgeon (albeit, a lovable one), it’s really something that this year the business will be 10 years old. Certainly it deserves a celebration. So we (Rob and all his girls) decided to honor Musica’s 10th birthday by hosting a relaxed drop-in-when-you-can Sunday afternoon recital/open house for the community. Marsh at the Blue Plate said we could take over the restaurant one day in early February, when it sits dormant, if we chaperoned the booze behind the bar. We thought we could handle that.

Rob picked a date and time for the event, then we went to work making posters, sending emails, alerting customers, and circulating a proper press release to all the really important papers, like the Chatham Courier. We also started a free raffle for 2 very special guitars (one pink!) to get the buzz going.

Meanwhile, we speculated---who would come and when? How many kids would play? Should there be a referee at the mic or could we keep it informal? What was the weather looking like? Do you think so-and-so will make it? Where should we put the tables? How many donuts do we need? Party favors? Fancy cheese or the deli stuff? Cider or soda? Don’t forget the forks… Lots of tricky details like that.

Nonetheless, the day before the event everything started to come together. Rob made a big pot of chili, Roberta got the crackers and cheese (fancy), Jackie was on the fruit, I made one of those triple-decker cakes, Pooja cooked mountains of Indian dahl and vegetables, and Chrissie, Anaman, and Emma and Elana strung up the party lights, plus more than 200 vintage Polaroids of students and loyal customers collected over the last ten years (a veritable treasury of bad hairdo’s). When Sunday, February 3rd, arrived with clear skies and forgiving temperatures, all Rob had to do was battle with the PA system in the morning and then, victorious, slip into his thrift-store tuxedo tails. So handsome, like a musical maitre d’.

At noon, a handful of guests arrived. And then a few more. And more still.  Before we knew it, the place was thick with bodies and a whole lot of instruments. Starting us off at the mic was 73-year-old cowpoke and consummate yodeling guitarist Mickey Holt. He got things warmed up and from that point the music just kept coming; for over 5 hours straight more than 37 friends/students of Musica took a turn at the mic, including heretofore shy musicians who felt safe enough to share their favorite tune with the world beyond their bedroom.

It was a stupendously good time, even for Rob, who had to admit, “This was the best-case scenario.” Indeed. And for that we have so many people to thank heartily. Foremost, Marsh and Judy, for allowing this party to happen on their turf (hopefully those missing chairs will turn up). Then thanks to the many guests who came bearing reinforcements for the food spread; not a scrap was left. And big hugs to the friends and Musica staff who helped schlep and set up and clean up.  Finally, an enormous thank you to all the music makers (listed below) who played generously and helped turn this celebration into an affirmation of why this town is the right home for Musica. Rob opened the store 10 years ago to support your musical mojo and share in the results. He’s really glad he did.

Performers:
Mickey Holt Heather Fisch Kristen Hogan
Elana Carroll Jim Barker Marisa
Josh Stairway Nick Annas Eric Erkinnen
Ben Lanphear Azim Tammy Walters
Jan Douglas Otto Gardiner Ki Light
Sara-Kate Silva Luca Pearl Khosrova Chris Jones
Pat Barnett Mulligan Wendy Barnett Mulligan Paul Trapenese
Trevor Depew Lydia Curran Jackie Rogers
Marsh Curran Emma Sawyer Elaine Khosrova
Heidi Trytten Steve Collins Bob Crosby
Nellie Rustick Aubrey Koch Alexa Baker
Gavin Shelow DJ Barry Rob Caldwell

contributed by Elaine

posted by Rob on Feb. 8 08

Hellvar: Icelandic Rock in Chatham America

Thanks so much to everyone who attended and helped with the mad sick Hellvar concert. Heida, Sverrir, Alexandra and Elvar are back in Keflavik sending promos to journalists and getting ready for the Airwaves concerts. Heida, who is working on a solo acoustic album, has since played Icelandic radio a few times.

Copies of their great new album BAT OUT OF HELLVAR have finally arrived and are now on sale at Musica!

posted by Christy on Sep. 19 07

Contact Musica

25 Hudson Ave, Chatham, NY 12037
518-392-5006