JoesCafe

Artist Information

Biography

"Warm, witty, tender, poignant" (Rita Kohn, NUVO, Indianapolis)
"A thoroughly enjoyable evening of toe-tapping music" (Katelyn Coyne, Indianapolis Fringe Reviews)
"A fast moving one hour of accomplished entertainment" (Danny Gaisin, Ontario Arts Review)
"Magic goes into overtime" (Tim Koetting, Hamilton Fringe Reviews)
"Top notch storytelling" (Katie Penrose, 'The View')
"The less than an hour it takes seems too short" (Tom Mackan, Hamilton Fringe Reviews)
"Riveting stories told in song" (Roberta Parker, Minnesota Fringe Reviews)
"Joe's Cafe" is the name of my latest CD. It's also a musical revue and a traveling road show. It consists of original songs based on true stories, each with a specifically American theme. Onstage I sometimes perform it alone, but I like it best of all when I perform it with friends, and we share the songs between us. On the CALENDAR page of this site you will see where "JOE'S CAFE" is scheduled to be performed over the coming year. On the PRESS page you can read reviews of the album and some of my other CDs. On the AUDIO page you can read lyrics from the show, and hear a selection of songs from the CD. The recordings feature a full band, including Michael Manring on bass and Darol Anger on violin. The songs are sung by the vocalists who took part in the first ever performance of "JOE'S CAFE", at the Metropolitan Room in New York City in December 2009.
If you come to a performance of "JOE'S CAFE", I and my fellow performers will keep you entranced for more than an hour with fifteen songs that convey the experience of ordinary American people. "Sally's Farm" is the story of Kathleen Kincade, the founder of the commune movement in the '60s. "Days Of Mercy" tells of the exodus of one poor family during the Dust Bowl depression. "Miss Burgoyne And The Old Milwaukee" narrates the strange habits of a lonely spinster in the midwest. Each story is a peice in the mosaic that is the history of America itself: from the Civil War through to the present day.
I'll be happy to perform "Joe's Cafe" tonight at a venue near you - alone or with friends.
Rupert Wates
NEW YORK CITY
REVIEW OF "JOE'S CAFE"
"Wates doesn't withhold his power as a poet, tearing through the veneer of consensus reality to bring listeners the raw truth of the human condition..."JOE'S CAFE" swings, ponders, rambles and scotts a boot or two across a gin-stained dance floor, but mainly it burrows deeply into heart and mind. This play of seemingly innocent musics with stark reality is something not often attempted in popular music. Expect to recall...Steinbeck, Fitzgerald...even Nathaniel West as you sink into the groundlevel splendor of this unusual release" (Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange)
REVIEWS FOR RUPERT WATES
"Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling, witty messages. An inspirational artist" (Leith FM Radio Scotland)
"A new and unique songwriter/musician already in the front ranks by dint of timeless work" (Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange)
"A delight to listen to...These are songs crafted with care and imbued with sincerity and conviction" (Britsound Radio New Jersey)
"A songwriter of the very highest quality" (Musik Online, Germany)

Instrumentation

Friends, a guitar and a true story

Discography

JOE'S CAFE (bitemusiclimited)
BR12109
Released date: 03 10

Official Website

http://www.bitemusiclimited.com

Links

• MySpace

Audio

• Prayer (Rupert version)
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• Sally's Farm
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• Dick And Delores (The Loving Kind) (Vocal: Dave Turner)
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• The Skies Of South Dakota (Vocal: Ashley Gonzalez)
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• Days Of Mercy (Lead Vocal: Katie Pearlman)
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• Days Of Mercy (Edited version) (Lead vocal: Katie Pearlman)
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• More Holy Ground June 2010
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• Prayer
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Lyrics

• Prayer
• Sally's Farm
• Dick And Delores (The Loving Kind)
• Days Of Mercy
• Miss Burgoyne And The Old Milwaukee
• Snow In New York
• Days Of Mercy (edited version)
• More Holy Ground
• (When I Get Over To) California

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "A quiet storm" [+ Show ]
  

  "From the moment you lay eyes on the reverse-Norman-Rockwell cover of this mellowly beautiful but su..."From the moment you lay eyes on the reverse-Norman-Rockwell cover of this mellowly beautiful but surprisingly dark CD, you know you're in for a quiet storm. Be prepared to shed a tear or two. Wates doesn't withhold his powers as a poet, tearing through the veneer of consensus reality to bring listeners the raw truth..."JOE'S CAFE" burrows deeply into the heart and mind. This play of seemingly innocent musics with stark reality is something not often attempted in popular music" (Mark S Tucker)

• "Magic goes into overtime" [+ Show ]
  

  Joe’s Cafe Some times it is best to do what you are told: “Joe’s Cafe… Come in hang your coat up. ...Joe’s Cafe
  Some times it is best to do what you are told: “Joe’s Cafe… Come in hang your coat up. Take the weight off your feet…check your worries at the door.”(from the title song)
  
  The moment Rupert Wates strikes the first chord on his guitar and begins to welcome you, you will know you are in good hands and in for a real treat. Wates along with two of his friends, Stacey Loren and Valerie Miller spend the next sixty minutes telling stories and creating poetry with music all of which are his original compositions based on true American stories from the first World War to the present. Some of the topics are huge in scale like forgiving your son’s killer. Some deal with a small quiet incident- a ten year old girl’s day in a snowy New York City with her brother. Wates has a true poet’s gift to create images that leave lasting impressions. How wonderful to encounter lyrics that tell a story again. They have been absent far too long.
  
  The other element of this wonderful evening is Wates’ virtuosity on the guitar! His finger picking is mesmerizing as are his melodies.
  
  His two friends display their own virtuosity as well. Ms. Loren with a haunting a capella rendition of The Skies of South Dakota and Ms Miller on the moving Darkness Darkness.
  
  When all three sing together, the magic goes into overtime.
  
  Don’t miss this show.
  
  Tim Koetting
  

• "Highly recommended for a change of pace and heart" [+ Show ]
  

  Joes’ Cafe is an American journey in song and story Rupert Wates is a musician and song-writer and ...Joes’ Cafe is an American journey in song and story
  Rupert Wates is a musician and song-writer and plays a mean guitar. Flanked in a simple setting by his two songstresses Stacy and Valerie (I think I’ve got their names right, as there’s no programme) the group takes us on an American journey through the 20th century. It’s a seamless and smooth trip, with only minimal intros by Wates, and a word or two from his partners. Val has the look and sound of the sixties, singing her ballads in the kind of defensive detachment we remember from seeing US TV and films of the period. She has a clear and convincing delivery. Stacy is warmer, evoking recollections of her country’s folk tradition, of snow falling in New York and tragic love in South Dakota. Wates takes centre stage with more of a poet-balladeer to his stories, touching on disparate subjects from George Carlin to the emotions of the American experience in their several wars. One senses his quiet leadership of the group, of the gentle director, like a leader of a commune. It is a real pleasure to hear and feel the sounds of our southern neighbours, and sense the genuine affection they have for their century of troubles and tendernesses. The less than an hour it takes seems too short. Highly recommended for a change of pace and of heart. It has five more performances to go, and the next is today, July 18, 3:30 pm at the Studio Space, Theatre Aquarius. Tom Mackan
  

• "A fast moving hour of accomplished entertainment" [+ Show ]
  

  Since the 19th century, both German & American cultures have been fertile ground for Fol... Since the 19th century, both German & American cultures have been fertile ground for Folk Music. Today, Guthrie, Dylan, Baez, Ochs, Cohen & Mitchell are icons of the genre. Rupert Wates; Valerie Miller and Stacey Lorin, are all about as professional as it gets, with voices and momentum that project the story behind each varied offering. Wates, a facial clone of actor Jere Burns (Dear John etc.) also supplies backup on acoustic guitar. Sans sound monitors, his instruments oftimes overpower the lyrics, but we feel this will be modulated during future performances. There was one offering sung a cappella by soprano Lorin- chorus line …‘in South Dakota’, that left the audience so spellbound that applause was both hesitant and delayed. If you are a Folk fan, or even if you are not…this is a fast-moving one hour of accomplished entertainment. DG

• "Succeeds Brilliantly" [+ Show ]
  

  "This impressive album...succeeds brilliantly in conveying the warm atmosphere of Joe's Cafe. In my..."This impressive album...succeeds brilliantly in conveying the warm atmosphere of Joe's Cafe. In my opinion (Rupert Wates) will quickly make a success from this disc"
  (Johan Schoenmakers)

• "Every cut's a gem" [+ Show ]
  

  'Every song yanks the listener fully into the story and rhythms, not to mention an emotionality imbu...'Every song yanks the listener fully into the story and rhythms, not to mention an emotionality imbuing Wates' plaintively melodic voice. Every cut's a gem, completely absorbing, enthralling, and thus we have a new and unique songwriter/musician already in the front ranks by dint of timeless work' (Mark S Tucker, Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange, review of Rupert Wates CD "Dear Life" (2008))

• "An inspirational artist" [+ Show ]
  

  'Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling, witty messages. An inspirational artist' (L...'Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling, witty messages. An inspirational artist' (Leith FM Radio Scotland, 2009)

• "A delight to listen to" [+ Show ]
  

  '...A delight to listen to...These are songs crafted with care and imbued with sincerity and convict...'...A delight to listen to...These are songs crafted with care and imbued with sincerity and conviction" (Rob Quicke, Britsound Radio New Jersey, review of Rupert Wates' CD 'Coast To Coast' (2007))

Setlist

JOE'S CAFE
SALLY'S FARM
MISS BURGOYNE AND THE OLD MILWAUKEE
STAND UP COMEDIANS
THE SKIES OF SOUTH DAKOTA
SNOW IN NEW YORK
A SUNNY AFTERNOON IN THE BRONX
OLD MAN ON A MOUNTAIN
WE REGRET
DARKNESS, DARKNESS
DICK AND DELORES (THE LOVING KIND)
THE VOODOO DOLL
DAYS OF MERCY
PRAYER
JOE'S CAFE (REPRISE)

Basic Requirements

Calendar