/  by Michael Arthur

joespub:

[Over the next several months leading up to the celebration of our 15th Anniversary in October, Joe’s Pub will be highlighting drawings from archival artist Michael Arthur who has captured the likes Amy Winehouse, Pete Townshend, Alicia Keys, Carly Simon and many more on our stage. Read about Michael’s story, and stay tuned for details on how you might earn the opportunity to work with Joe’s Pub as an archival artist by submitting your artwork via Tumblr.]

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CARLY SIMON

Carly Simon is notoriously stage shy. Over the years, she has developed a public reputation for being anxious about live appearances (her first SNL performance was pre-taped), so it was great to have her within the intimacy of the Pub. Her band has been with her for a long time  (her son, Ben Taylor, played with her as well). It felt very much like a gathering of friends that were both protective and supportive of her. I remember feeling the audience had a similar protective impulse, probably because a lot of the people in the house were long-time admirers and friends. It very much felt like being a guest at someone’s (really good) party. I think the only nod she gave to her classic catalog was a cover of You’re So Vain. My Mom (who passed away over ten years ago) was a big Carly Simon fan and I remember wishing she could have been with me for this show …

LADY RIZO

If Carly Simon is shy, Lady Rizo is audacious, bold, both innovative and timelessly classic and always present. Getting to see Lady Rizo’s development as an artist is one of the best gifts I’ve received in my time at Joe’s Pub. She is hands down the only performer I’ve ever known who is always, always, always better than the last time I saw her. Am I a fan? Yes. And I’m glad to have become friendly with her as well over the years. I think there might be a similarity between my approach to drawing and Lady Rizo’s notion of live performance which has to do with presence and being open to the creative possibilities of any given moment. I think Lady Rizo is great because (1) she is always ready for the wheels to come off and (2) expert at finding a way to drive without wheels. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a great singer, interpreter and fast thinker. Good improv artists (like Lady Rizo) know their craft and are unafraid of risks.

UTE LEMPER

I’ve only seen Ute Lemper a few times over the years, and she is always intimidating to draw—perhaps because like a classic vamp, she is both alluring and intimidating in general. Her shows are sophisticated cabaret, both cold and blood-tinglingly warm. Like Carly Simon, she has a very dedicated crowd, but she requires no protection. She’s fierce and sexy and I enjoyed trying to capture that.

Captions by Michael Arthur.

Memories…

/  by Michael Arthur

joespub:

[Over the next several months leading up to the celebration of our 15th Anniversary in October, Joe’s Pub will be highlighting drawings from archival artist Michael Arthur who has captured the likes Amy Winehouse, Pete Townshend, Alicia Keys, Carly Simon and many more on our stage. Read about Michael’s story, and stay tuned for details on how you might earn the opportunity to work with Joe’s Pub as an archival artist by submitting your artwork via Tumblr.]

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PETE TOWNSHEND

Pete Townshend used to co-host (with his wife, Rachel Fuller)  these occasional shows  in which they’d invite special guests to first play a stripped-down, solo acoustic set of a few songs and then Townshend would join for the second half of a guest’s set and play along. It was called In The Attic and it was all very unrehearsed, spur-of-the-moment, and amazing music. When I was younger, I had had a cassette tape of Townshend playing solo acoustic at the Secret Policeman’s Ball—the charity for Amnesty International—and I was really excited to be able to experience an intimate acoustic set from him—while not in my car driving. It was surreal, really. There were many other guests that night and a few other drawings, which we’ll be sharing later. Some official footage of this night was released on a CD/DVD  set (remarkably priced over here). Someone in the audience taped and uploaded Townshend’s complete solo set here.

NELS CLINE

This was drawn during a set by Jenny Scheinman, a long time collaborator of Nels Cline. I think Cline had only recently joined Wilco at this point—he’d been in the band a year or two or so. I’m a huge Wilco admirer and I was really excited to see this show, both because I enjoyed Scheinman’s work and I liked that Cline’s idea of a night off was to play. Cline wasn’t feeling very well—he had chicken pox and was woozy. But he was amazing.

SXIP SHIREY

I’ve actually known Sxip for a long time. In the nineties I lived in Austin, Texas and Sxip was sound-designer/music-composer for Craving Gravy—a play by John Walch that I acted in. We never actually met in Austin, but over the years, after moving to New York our paths crossed more than a few times. Still, we never really connected personally until we both found ourselves at the Pub. Sxip has a gift of bringing unique talent together and creating music out of … well, really anything. His Hour of Charm shows were where I first encountered so many performers whose work I continue to admire: Reggie Watts, Adam Matta, Corn Mo, Rachelle Garniez, Amy Gordon—the list goes on and on. The friendship that emerged between Sxip and I via the Pub resulted in a collaboration (with John Ivy as well) of an animated music video that debuted over at The New York Times OpEd.

Captions by Michael Arthur.

Drawing on memories of drawing at Joe’s Pub!

/  by Michael Arthur

thegreatiq: There’s a gentleman doing live art onstage with Balthrop that’s being projected behind them during their set. It’s rather lovely and quite entertaining to watch! (at Littlefield)

thegreatiq:

There’s a gentleman doing live art onstage with Balthrop that’s being projected behind them during their set. It’s rather lovely and quite entertaining to watch! (at Littlefield)