Showing posts with label Cafe Reggio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cafe Reggio. Show all posts

Friday, February 20, 2015

THE FOLK PROCESS- PORCO STYLE

Me with two hands on Richie Havens
©bobporco, Vincent Vok photo

HAPPY CHINESE NEW ERA!

Exactly 5 years ago……

I was at the bar that was once Folk City on 3rd St with Vincent Vok. We were just talking. And he said, 'If you build it they will come.' He was right.

And later that night Vincent barged his way backstage at Carnegie Hall using, of all names, mine.

He was right on that scheme, too.

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2.20.15

exactly 5 years ago, on 2.20.10, I woke up and got ready for my second day of work.

I was meeting with Happy Traum

and Eric Weissberg to interview them in person. I was just armed with a pen and paper for my interviews back then, but for some reason, I recorded Happy and Eric with my old DV cassette recorder. I saw it once. It's around here somewhere….

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Exactly 5 years ago on February 19, 2010, I got the grand idea to host a 50th Anniversary concert for Gerde's Folk City.

It was quite a day. Unlike any other. And many of my days have since have also been quite unique.

Vincent Vok told me, "If you build it, they will come."

The party went off without a hitch, thanks to help from friends.

Later in 2010, I continued to informally interview many of Folk City's stable of artists. In 2011, not much happened. In 2012, I hosted a monthly concert at the Gaslight in Macdougal Street. In 2013, I started filming the documentary in Gerde's. In 2014, I marched on with the material I've gathered on Mike and Gerde's.

Along the way, cool things have happened.

One day, I ran into Peter Yarrow on Bleecker Street. Another day, I was invited to Arlo Guthrie's house to interview him. Another day, I spent an afternoon with José Feliciano. What happens tomorrow is anyone's guess. Joan Baez may fall in love with me... but I'm stretching it.

I have an idea of what may take place tomorrow.

Even if you don't believe in sending distant "POSITIVE VIBRATIONS" as my Rasta friend says, maybe just give it a try.

I was involved in- not one- but TWO meetings where the future of Positively Porco was sent down the road with more rubber under the cushion. It's all good. But I thought I'd ask for an extra dose of "good."

This isn't an "oh by the way, I happen to be raising funds for the film" kinda post. Just a mention that, your good wish will only translate in more entertainment for YOU some day in the future. You're welcome.

The film is a part of it but it includes more concerts, benefits for kids' music lessons and just more good-deed-doing in general. It's the Folk process- Porco style.

Five years ago, I didn't plan to meet Terre Roche, Suze Rotolo and Richie Havens all in one day. That's just how it happened. 

Don't be shy. Think Porco.

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As Uncle Bobby said on a recent album: "If ya see me go by/ put up a prayer"

Positively,
Bob



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2.20.15

Richie Havens didn't make the 50th Anniversary. Neither did Suze.  Richie was touring and toured on until a year ago. Suze was ill, and that was the only day I met her. Just that day. Day one.  






(blog post under construx……..

Sunday, June 9, 2013

DOMINIC CHIANESE AND VINCE MARTIN - BROTHERS IN ARMS

Vince Martin, Dominic Chianese
(a Still from documentary footage)
The Cafe Reggio has been an institution on MacDougal St for decades. It's seen dozens of other clubs and shops along the strip thrive, close and re-open under aliases. The original Kettle of Fish is a Vietnamese eatery today. The Folklore Center is a clothes boutique. The Cafe Wha? Is one if the few venues still thriving just a half a block south.

The Reggio, at 119 MacDougal, is not only still open but it still sports the same decor as it has for many years. It's reminiscent of McSoreley's on 7th where oil paintings depicting the inside done in the 1920s can be used to describe how it STILL looks to this day.

The Reggio is known for being the coffee shop where musicians, actors and luminaries would meet or hang out to "kill" a little time. It's central to everywhere and yet out of the way. It was a perfect place for us to wait for the call to begin shooting the next interview for my GERDE'S FOLK CITY DOCUMENTARY IN PRODUCTION.

However, we didn't wait to shoot and the patrons of Reggio's this past rain-drenched Friday were treated to a two hour show featuring the guitar playing and sweet singing of Vince Martin and Dominic Chianese.

Vince, the one time recording partner of legend Fred Neil, was a hit entertainer for decades on these streets. I wanted to hear my friend Vince talk on camera about my grandpa Mike Porco.

Dominic, known for roles in feature films and -most notably- as family patriarch Corrado Soprano on HBO, was instantly recognized by many of the patrons who stuck around extra to listen to the show. What they may not have known was that Dom is a musician at heart. Case closed.

He spent many years emcee-ing at Folk City for Mike Porco and because of his Italian upbringing, forged a bond with the Porco name that lasts to today.

These men are family. The outpouring of love for life and song was palpable. I thought the rain would dampen our original plans to shoot video in Washington Square. Boy, was I wrong. 



Vince, Dom, Bob and Jonathan Levin



Set and crew at 130 W3rd
Familia



Satisfied Minds