Bryan Thomas | Soul Rock | Singer Songwriter

February 3, 2002

Songs from the Fishbowl

The Eighth Step at Cohoes Savings Bank Music Hall

See also: VIDEO: Sarah Paul and Matt Loiacono.

"Random drawing determines who's on stage with who on Sunday at the Eighth Step"

Eight Step. 25K gif.By GREG HAYMES, Times Union.

First published Jan. 31, 2002.

Just in case you hadn't heard: The Super Bowl takes place Sunday.

Fortunately, it's not the only Bowl on the menu.

Sunday at the Eighth Step at the Cohoes Music Hall, it's time once again for the Fishbowl. Or, to be precise, "Songs from a Fishbowl."

 

Here's how it works: A dozen musicians converge on the Eighth Step around dinnertime. Each of their names is placed in a fishbowl, and the names are randomly drawn in twos or threes, which results in some rather unlikely musical combinations. Each group of musicians has about two hours to figure out what they're going to do and to rehearse two or three almost-impromptu collaborations. At 7 p.m., they step into the spotlight and perform their brand-new mix-'n'-match music for the audience.

It's not only fun, it's often unexpected and sometimes simply brilliant.

Joining in the collaboration-without-a-net festivities on Sunday will be such radically diverse Capital Region musicians as: ambient vocalist Sara Ayers, country-pop singer-songwriter Valerie DeLaCruz, drummer-mandolinist Matt Loiacono, Jump Cannon vocalist Sarah Paul, and former Ominous Seapods guitarist-vocalist Dana Monteith. Also tossing their proverbial hats into the ring are Troy Pohl, Rosanne Raneri, Bryan Thomas, Bob Warren and performer-hosts Roy Donkin, Michael Eck and Deb Cavanaugh.

It all promises to be wild, wonderful and -- unlike the Super Bowl -- pretty unpredictable.

All proceeds benefit the Eighth Step.

Bryan Thomas | Soul Rock | Singer Songwriter