Old Springs Pike

An old friend talked me into heading down to Sin-e Wednesday night to catch the show from local foursome Old Springs Pike (Myspace). I had a feeling this would be a different kind of performance than we're typically used to when I saw the stage setup, with four microphones and equipment set up in a row across the procenium. And different it was, but a lot of fun. They played a country- and folk-twinged pop, with a bit of barbershop quartet mixed in. All four members have great voices (quite refreshing in today's indie rock world) and four-part harmonies added an enjoyable twist to their songs that you just don't hear everyday.

It was one of the more energetic performances I've seen in a while, with stomping and jumping on stage making nearly as much noise and the banging of the bass drum. Often making jokes with friends in the crowd during the show, they certainly didn't take themselves too seriously at all, and for the most part the banter was pretty entertaining, adding another dimension to their performance. Some of the better numbers of the set included the original "Drowning In Sobriety" and a really nice cover of Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels." - Indie-licious

Off Off Broadway, Ars Nova

PLOT DESCRIPTION

With four of New York's hottest young musicians, including Spring Awakening's John Gallagher, Jr., Old Springs Pike "blends the cricket chirp of a suburban slow-fade with the subway scream of metropolitan mayhem." Using four- part harmony as a diving board, these early twenty-somethings find themselves in stylistic depths ranging from a fair-paced folk to a rarely restrained roots rock. — TheaterSource - New York Times

Ars Nova and NYMF will "jointly present a phenomenal series of concerts and special events showcasing New York's top theater artists, with a focus on some of musical theater's most promising newcomers," according to press materials. Old Springs Pike will perform Friday, September 29 at 8:00 PM. "With four of New York's hottest young musicians including Spring Awakening's John Gallagher, Jr., Old Springs Pike blends the cricket chirp of a suburban slow-fade with the subway scream of metropolitan mayhem. Using four-part harmony as a diving board, these early twenty-somethings find themselves in stylistic depths ranging from a fair-paced folk to a rarely restrained roots rock. With an energetic, spontaneous live act, Old Springs Pike proves that it's not just a concert but an event."

Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street and tickets can be purchased at Theatermania at 212-352-3101 or www.Theatermania.com. All tickets are $20 for NYMF events at Ars Nova.All tickets are $20. Visit www.arsnovanyc.com for more information. - Broadwaywolrd.com

Actor John Gallagher Jr, who is known for his performance as Moritz in the Broadway-bound musical Spring Awakening, will join his band Old Springs Pike in a concert on August 9th at downtown venue Sin-é (150 Attorney St., at Stanton). The show is from 10 PM to 11 PM.

Gallagher was also seen on Broadway in last season's Tony-nominated play Rabbit Hole, as well as in the film Pieces of April.

"Old Springs Pike is a four-person band of early 20-somethings who use four-part harmony as a spring board for an indie-acoustic rock sound, with diversions into country and folk styles," state press notes.

The band members grew up together in rural Pennsylvania and Delaware. Gallagher says, ""Because we all grew up in the suburbs I've always considered Old Springs Pike to be very homespun, so it's thrilling to be making any kind of a splash in the New York City music scene. I think it shows that people respond to something they feel they can reach out and touch. What we do comes from us."

Old Springs Pike is:
•John Gallagher Jr. – guitar, vocals
•Heather Robb – keyboard, melodica, vocals
•James Cleare – guitar, vocals
•James Smith – guitar, percussion, vocals

As to the venue, Sin-é is a favorite of Old Springs Pike. James Cleare says, "We're thrilled to be playing a venue as historic as Sin-é, where people like Jeff Buckley and David Gray got their starts. These artists have been inspirational to us, and we're honored to share the same stage."

Tickets are available at the door for $6. Upcoming show dates, mp3s, and video clips are available at www.oldspringspike.com - Broadwaywolrd.com