Brooklyn Songwriters Launch “Live From The Vault” Series

April 18, 2019 by David K. Moseder

VAULT_SESSION1_02- no watermark/ photo by Kimberly Nicholais

Carolann Solebello Performs Live At The Vault/ photo by Kimberly Nicholais

A new acoustic music series – Live From The Vault: Songwriter Sessions – debuted on April 11, 2019, thus ushering in a new performance space in Clinton Hill. The Vault is a smartly re-imagined coal vault in the basement of Putnam’s Pub & Cooker at the northwest corner of Myrtle and Clinton Avenues.

VAULT_SESSION1_04- no watermark / photo by Kimberly Nicholais

Karen Dahlstrom On The Guitar / photo by Kimberly Nicholais

Amid brick and wood-slat walls, with plenty of wrought iron and a few artworks to boot, guests sit on small, cushioned whiskey barrels or tall stools on either side of the performers. Alternatively, they can park themselves in U-shaped cubicles with banquettes and a low table. The center one of these provides the best, most comfortable view, while the others afford a greater degree of privacy for those who are content to just listen, but not watch, the performances. A small but well-stocked bar occupies one wall of the intimate space.

Live From The Vault is curated by Brooklynites Devlin Miles and Carolann Solebello, with performances slated for the second Thursday of each month. The inaugural show featured Solebello, Virginia native Chris Hewat (aka Solar Hearts), and Karen Dahlstrom of the Brooklyn band Bobtown performing in-the-round style, each singing and strumming in turn, occasionally accompanied by one or both of the other two. There were six rounds in all for a satisfying 18-song set.

VAULT_SESSION1_01-no watermark-photo by Kimberly Nicholais

Sessioners Karen Dahlstrom, Chris Hewat and Carolann Solebello / photo by Kimberly Nicholais

Solebello led off with, appropriately enough, “Brooklyn in the Rain,” a break-up song that is ultimately an ode to our fair borough. “We burn in the fire” – a coincidentally fitting sentiment for a coal vault setting – “but we’re cold to the bone,” sang Hewat next, after which Dahlstrom took the crowd 2,400 miles west to her home state of Idaho with “Galena” from her Gem State EP. On the evening went, one well-crafted song after another. Among the many standouts were “Iron Pan” and “Meeting the Muse” from Solebello’s latest album, Shiver; Hewat’s “Shine Like You Shine,” in which he tells the woman he loves that “You can be a cowgirl … a queen … a medicine woman when the healing is needed … a light for darker times” and Dahlstrom’s powerful and liberating feminist anthem, “No Man’s Land,” from Bobtown’s new album, Chasing the Sun.

Up next at The Vault, Miles will perform on May 9 with Jill Sobule and Nick Zork, followed on June 14 by Solebello and her No Fuss and Feathers bandmate, Karyn Oliver, together with Paul Sachs.

Artists on our Radar

Ricky Stein: Texas Roots in Brooklyn

Ricky Stein/ photo courtesy of the artist

If you’re looking for music inspired by New York City with a Texan flare, look no further than Ricky Stein, a Brooklyn-based artist originally from Austin, Texas. Stein is a singer-songwriter whose music is grounded by a combination of his upbringing in Texas and his present life in the bustling streets of New York City and Downtown Brooklyn. Stein has an impressive discography of singles and albums, and since moving to New York City in August 2016, he has released a full album, “Long Summer” and many singles. Stein’s music is best defined as Americana and roots, with folk-infused acoustic and electric guitars, and his lyrics paint vivid images of nature and life. The listener feels connected to Stein, as his musical stylings resemble talent from the likes of John Prine and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent single, “Passenger,” highlights Stein’s talents with a strong harmonica section. The song’s instrumentation and structure is built on one verse, which compliments the song’s message about the uncertainty and ominousness of being a passenger on a long journey. Another standout, “Street Lights,” is a lighthearted commentary on the comfort of hope, the street lights representing persistent light even in the dead of night. Stein’s live performances are carefully tailored, his sets performed at local venues in Brooklyn like Pete’s Candy Store and many other venues known to support live roots and country music. His talents are always showcased, whether performing a solo show with a guitar and harmonica or being supported by a full band. Stein’s upcoming months are packed with performances at many venues, including Saturday, January 11th at Skinny Dennis Bar in Williamsburg and Friday, March 7th at Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook. You won’t want to miss it!

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