Phil Ochs Song Night

“His lyrics in the early 1960's represented, as those of perhaps no other song writer of the time, a bitter, unequivocal pacifist view that on more than one occasion provoked brawls in both coffeehouses and concert halls.” — New York Times

A celebration of the music of Phil Ochs, the hard-hitting, iconic topical songwriter, a legend of the '60s musical counterculture and a fixture of the era's Greenwich Village underground folk scene.

BETTY & THE BABY BOOMERS, GREG GREENWAY, REGGIE HARRIS, MAGPIE, PAMELA MEANS, KAL TEAUX and PAT WICTOR each perform two Ochs songs and one original in a tribute to the prolific and passionate master of protest song.

“There was no shortage of singer-songwriters in the 1960s who gave potent voice to the dreams and the protests of that era, with songs that echo to this day. Yet, few of them were as poetic, poignant and powerful as that of Phil Ochs, the folk singer, guitarist and lyricist who took his own life at age 35. Ochs, whose music provided some of the strongest protests against the Vietnam War and insightful commentary on civil rights, freedom of speech and the values of the day, is remembered as among the most important folk musicians of a decade that showcased such talents as Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.” — Daily Hampshire Gazette

Phil Ochs nights began as an annual New York City concert organized and hosted by his sister Sonny. The first featured Suzanne Vega, Melanie, Tom Paxton, Christine Lavin and Dave Van Ronk. In the 1990s, Sonny moved Upstate and presented the shows annually at 8th Step in Albany, where they became a long-running series of sold-out concerts. The roster varied, with a core group that included Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie and later Greg Greenway. The shows eventually reached radio listeners via WAMC-FM, often co-hosted by Wanda Fischer of “Hudson River Sampler.”

Sonny also took the show on the road, playing stages big and small, including in Toronto, at Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and at The Kennedy Center. Each night captures Ochs’ passionate belief in music as a vehicle for cultural change. This Phil Ochs Song Night celebrates his life, music, heart and deep love of country, in anticipation of America’s upcoming midterm elections.

Performers

• BETTY & THE BABY BOOMERS: From the Hudson Valley to Ireland, Steve Stanne (vocals, lead guitar, dobro), Betty Boomer (vocals, mandolin, whistling), Jean Valla McAvoy (vocals, songwriting), Paul Rubeo (vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bodhran) and Robert Bard (vocals, bass, tambourine) perform traditional, contemporary and original songs. Their close four-part harmonies and varied instrumentals draw on an extensive repertoire.
• GREG GREENWAY (vocals, guitar, keyboard): From the Boston folk music scene, Greenway is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has played Carnegie Hall and appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” “Mountain Stage” and “Car Talk.” He is a founding member of Brother Sun and one half of Deeper Than the Skin with Reggie Harris.
• REGGIE HARRIS (vocals, guitar): A vocalist, arranger and guitarist whose music rewards the ears, opens the heart and earns the admiration of audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
• PAMELA MEANS (vocals, guitar): An Easthampton, Massachusetts-based independent artist whose “kamikaze guitar style” and punchy songs have worn a hole in two of her acoustic guitars. Her performances combine wit, poetry and charm.
• KAL TEAUX (vocals, guitar): Organizer of the New York City-based musical project Peaceknicks, Teaux is dedicated to bringing protest songwriting into the 21st century. Inspired by Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, as well as Stevie Wonder and the Bee Gees, his songs invite audiences to sing and chant for a better tomorrow.
• MAGPIE: Terry Leonino (harmonica, mandolin, dulcimer, guitar, vocals) and Greg Artzner (guitar, vocals) have long focused their music on peace and justice, singing about corruption, the environment and the downtrodden, as well as performing swing tunes and songs including “White Wings” and “Hugh the Manatee.”
• PAT WICTOR: An innovative slide guitarist known for fresh interpretations of traditional and contemporary songs, Wictor is also a singer-songwriter and instrumentalist. Song Nights inspired his CD “This Is Absolutely Real: Visions and Versions of Phil Ochs.”