For over 10 years, Columbia's 2nd Saturday Café has brought some of the most respected veterans of the regional music scene to Howard County. This season, though, the series will kick off with something different — come Saturday, Oct. 8, 2nd Saturday will open its six-concert season with a new band, Alice Anna.
The five-member, Baltimore-based, piano-rock band might be new in and of itself, but it features musicians who have been around a while. It was founded last year by veteran Florida musician Daniel Straunch, who previously performed with the Florida band the Secret State.
When that band ended, Straunch found himself living in Baltimore and decided to record an EP to mark his new music start. That EP, which was recorded with producer Jeremy Griffith (Saosin, Cartel, Norma Jean) documented Straunch's life as a musician on the road and the experiences he his lived along the way.
Although the EP wasn't really intended for mass consumption, it became popular when a copy of it started to receive play at J.A. Murphy's Tavern on Aliceanna Street in Baltimore. When the music caught on, Straunch decided to put a band together and named the group in honor of the street on which his music received such a warm welcome.
Like the accordion-fueled band Boister, which opened 2nd Saturday's season last year, Alice Anna exemplifies the type of fringe band 2nd Saturday specializes in bringing to town. The group is proving popular in the region, and the series is giving the musicians a forum and potential new audience in a different locale.
For its current season, 2nd Saturday will be introducing some other new acts locally and also bringing some old favorites back to town. Scheduled acts include Washington, D.C.-based jazz singer Mary Ann Redmond (Nov. 12), legendary D.C. guitarist Tom Principato (Dec. 10) and Baltimore jazz rock guitarist Carl Filipiak (Jan. 14).
Also appearing will be the popular Washington, D.C.-based blues rock singer-guitarist Tommy Lepson (Feb. 11) and the Baltimore Jimmy Buffet tribute group, the Beach Bumz Band, which closes the season March 10.
Besides bringing this variety of artists to Columbia at a time when Merriweather Post Pavilion is dormant, the series also dedicates itself to raising money for charity. Its proceeds benefit the Agape House, a Baltimore City-based charity that helps recovering addicts with children and working mothers.
"It's really a neat charity that helps people who fall through the cracks of government assistance," explains Dennis Ottey, who serves as the series' producer.
"One of the things Agape House does is picks (Baltimore City) kids up from school and gives them constructive things to do and keeps them off the streets. They conduct Saturday programs and the Kittamaqundi Community — members of that church — go down there on Saturday and work one-on-one with the kids."
Ottey notes that the series is family friendly in that it keeps its focus on providing entertainment that can be enjoyed by people of all ages at not too high a price.
For the $20 admission, patrons enjoy live music and a selection of appetizers. Beer and wine are available for $3 extra, while the candlelight tables give the venue the atmosphere of a refined nightclub.
The staff is all-volunteer and 100 percent of the proceeds goes to charity. Ottey notes that such altruism is contagious — last year, a Columbia couple donated around $8,000 because of its enthusiasm for the series. This year, Ottey is hoping the series will hit the $100,000 mark for total amount of donations received since its inception in 1999.
Alice Anna opens the 12th season of the 2nd Saturday Café Saturday, Oct. 8, 8-11 p.m., at Oliver's Carriage House (5401 Leaf Treader Way, Columbia). Doors open at 7:15 p.m. for appetizers and beverages. Admission is $20 per person. Tickets can be purchased on line at http://www.2ndSaturdayCafe.com.
New old sounds
In other area music news, Columbia resident Joseph Gascho returns with his early-music ensemble, the Harmonious Blacksmith, in a concert titled "Viva Venice!" this Friday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m., at the Divinity Lutheran Church, at 1220 Providence Road in Towson. The concert will be a musical celebration of the Carnivale di Venezia, a popular Italian celebration.
In addition to harpsichordist Gascho, featured musicians will include soprano Jolle Greenleaf, violinist Johanna Novom, recorder player Justin Godoy, cellist Emily Walhout and therobo and guitar player William Simms.
Admission is $15. For more information, go to http://harmoniousblacksmith.com.