This Sunday Nov. 6th will be the next installment of the regular feature, Everything Old Is New Again – Live. It takes place at The Metropolitan Room at 12:30pm with guest performances, prizes and interviews. This Sunday’s guests will be Alfio, Danny Bacher, David Hajdu, Larry Kerchner, Luba Mason, Tanya Moberly, Karen Oberlin, T. Oliver Reid, The Starlite Sisters & Jacob Storms. See below for a report on the October addition for this ongoing series.
On October 2, David Kenney returned for a new season of live broadcasts from The Metropolitan Room for his classic radio program, Everything Old Is New Again, broadcast on WBAI, 99.5 FM. Each afternoon runs about two hours or a bit more, and is then quickly edited down for the same evening’s airing. Every episode features a wide range of performers (and musical styles), with upcoming gigs and CDs to promote, basically serving as a great preview for the coming month in cabaret and theater happening across New York City.
The music on this particular Sunday ranged from Broadway to traditional cabaret to blues and jazz and some classic rock as well. David Kenney is a charming, witty host, not only introducing performers, but interviewing them as well, asking about not just the facts of the upcoming events, but what has inspired them to choose their material. With the various participants, he also held several raffles, giving away CDs, books and tickets to the Cabaret Convention to the audience. Frank Dain, as editor of Cabaret Scenes, shares the hosting duties and offers up the magazine’s picks of the month.
Among the performers: KT Sullivan, wearing her hat as the Artistic Director of the Mabel Mercer Foundation, discussed the Cabaret Convention and introduced two young performers featured during the special week, Matt Baker and Eric Yves Garcia.
Sister Stacy Sullivan was also present, with her cabaret teammate Todd Murray (certainly one of the best-looking cabaret couplings at the moment) offered two medleys from their new show. Both using the lower ranges of their fine voices, blending effectively on several torch songs.
Beloved cabaret booker Sidney Myer, with the assist of pianist Tracy Stark, charmed the audience with two campy, delightful songs from his upcoming show, “Pocketful of Miracles” and “It’s So Nice to Have a Man Around the House.” Cabaret crooner Jeff Harnar offered up “All the Way” and “Marry Me a Little.”
The energetic Jim Caruso introduced several performers due to appear at Birdland: the “goddess of cabaret” Natalie Douglas, who thrilled as she always does; pianist/singer Brian Nash, who offered a very unusual rendition of “When Doves Cry” from his new CD, Forever After: An Accidental Concept Album; and internet sensation and political satirist Randy Rainbow, who had the audience in hysterics about his phone interview with Liza Minnelli, some of which couldn’t make it on to the evening broadcast.
In a more classical vein, Melissa Errico and Ryan Silverman offered several lovely selections from the Irish Repertory Theatre’s current revival of Finian’s Rainbow. In sharp contrast, the troubadour Allan Harris preformed a number of songs from his new album, Nobody’s Gonna Love You Better, an intoxicating mix of jazz and R&B, accompanying himself on his guitar.
The series promises to be a unique and entertaining cavalcade every time. The next show is Sunday, November 6 at 12:30 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by calling 212-206-0440 or at www.Metropolitanroom.com, for $20 plus a two-drink minimum. The Metropolitan Room is located at 34 West 22nd St, New York.
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