Mon, Sep 12 - 8pm - $7

Justin and the Salty Dogs began making music out of necessity. When Brownie McGhee (1915-1996) so astutely said years ago that “Blues is Truth,” he exposed the roots of an ancient philosophical tradition that regards music as playing an important role in the welfare of a troubled mind. The ancient Roman philosopher Seneca (ca. 4 BCE-65 CE), for instance, speaks like a bluesman when he says, "Let the mind be soothed by the reading of poetry and occupied by the tales of history; it should be treated with sensitivity and finesse. Pythagoras used to calm his worried mind with the lyre; and who does not know that the cornet and trumpet act as stimulants to the mind, just as certain songs provide it therapeutic relief" (De Ira 3.9). The songs by Justin and the Salty Dogs, initially self-prescribed medicines, have precisely this aim. The “physicians” with whom they have consulted are numerous, but a few are especially worthy of mention: Mississippi John Hurt (1893-1966); Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933); Woody Guthrie (1912-1967); and Muddy Waters (1913-1983). They tip their hats to these sage musicians and others like them, in all their complexity and problems, for pointing the way.

Brian McDermott is a songwriter based in Chicago who's just trying to stay out of trouble. He'll be playing original material including songs from his CD 'Deep'. The band features Ben Lansing on guitar,Mitch Straffer on bass and Tim Mulvenna on drums.

CAFE ANTARSIA ENSEMBLE performs nouveau gypsy music and working-class operas with roots in Greek and Balkan blues, Arabic percussion and Americana cabaret. Nikos Brisco’s hauntingly urgent melodies are complemented by Ruth Margraff’s panoramic and portrait-driven lyrics, Rami El-Aasser’s exotic percussion and Ron Riley’s rock steady groove. CAE took their name from a Greek word meaning “rebellious” in Astoria, NYC in 2002 and have been touring ever since all over the world to Azerbaijan, Egypt, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Czech Rep., Hungary, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Russia, India, etc. Their stories will transport you to Sarajevo marketplaces and Dubrovnik fountains, or paint the darkness of Virginia coal mines and the timeless taverns of Crete.