Singer-songwriter Mary Fahl, formerly of October Project. (From maryfahl.com)
Mary Fahl sounds great playing with musicians from Syracuse.
Mark Doyle told me so this spring, when we were talking about his “Guitar Noir” performances coming up at the Auburn Public Theater and the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest.
One of the important musical elements in the veteran Syracuse musician, band leader, arranger and producer’s life at the time was his collaboration with Fahl, the singer-songwriter from Rockland County, N.Y., who in the 1990s was known as the lead singer for the folk-rock-adult alternative group October Project.
Doyle had brought together Fahl with the Syracuse musicians from the world fusion rock band Grupo Pagan, the same talented group he was using for his lush and elaborate string arrangements for the Guitar Noir shows.
A couple weeks ago, Doyle dropped the new two-CD set “Mary Fahl Live At the Mauch Chunk Opera House” in my Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood mailbox. (Yes, small world lovers, he and his wife Liz live in Eastwood, too.)
Amid the 22 cuts, you can hear Fahl praise the work of music director Doyle, who also plays piano and acoustic and electric guitars, as well as Grupo Pagan members Edgar Pagan on bass, Bill DiCosimo on keyboards and Josh Dekaney on drums and percussion, complimented bu John Lissauer on piano.
Recorded Sept. 7, 2013 at Mauch Chunk, in Jim Thorpe, Pa., one of America’s oldest vaudeville theaters, the music is stunning. Fahl’s voice is always in command. She’s strong, beautiful, vibrant, rich, dreamy, exciting, peaceful … Part Celtic Woman, part Pink Floyd, part Joni Mitchell, in the reminds-me-of portion of my listening pleasures. She’s daring enough to cover “Us and Them/Brain Damage/Eclipse” on side one and “Both Sides Now” on side two. Yet she’s all Mary Fahl every note of the journey, on her pulsing originals like “Gravity (Move Mountains Turn Rivers Around),” “Siren,” “Dawning of the Day,” “Meant to Be” and right on down the line through infectious writing collaborations and other choice cover selections.
The national press has caught on.
“Mary Fahl’s striking voice, with its wide range, full-bodied amplitude amd stately, formal tone, marks hjer as a first-rate, smart pop diva,” proclaimed the Los Angeles Times. “Fahl also has the artistic temperament and emotional radar to avoid the show excesses of divadom.”
The concert was in Pennsyvlania was recorded for broadcast on PBS this fall.
And there’s a tour. Syracuse made the cut, thank you very much, Mr. Doyle. They’ll play a show at the intimate Red House Arts Center in Armory Square at 8 p.m. today. Tickets to see her with about 100 or so other smart folks are just $25.
Here’s the link for the Red House, which includes a click to buy tickets.
Here are the other tour stops, if you want to be one of the smart folks where you live:
Nov. 8 at Tin Angel in Philadelphia.
Nov. 15 at The Cutting Room in New York City.
Dec. 13 at Kennett Flash in Kennett Square, Pa.
Feb. 14 at Towne Crier Cafe in Beacon, N.Y.
Feb. 21 at Club Passim in Cambridge, Mass.
March 19-22 with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
April 15 at New Hope Winery in New Hope, Pa.
Here’s the source for the top photograph, Mary Fahl’s web site.
Here’s a YouTube video from the double-album session.
Have you ever seen a performer daring enough to cover Pink Floyd and Joni Mitchell? Do you think you’d ever get a chance to see a show like this in a 100-seat theater? Will you be checking your local listings to catch Mary Fahl’s performance at Mauch Chunk, and would you consider a drive to the theater nearest you on her tour?
Mark Bialczak 
You stumped me again. I’ve not heard of Mary Fahl. As for your questions, I’ve seen both David Gilmour and Roger Waters separately… they both performed solo stuff as well as Pink Floyd. But I don’t think that’s what you were going for. 😉
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I’m glad you saw David and Roger apart. That’s a good contribution, Rachel, no matter what I may have been looking for. I saw Pink Floyd and I’ve seen several pretty cool Pink Floyd tribute bands, too, but that wasn’t what I asked, either, but I figured what the heck, let’s throw it in. 🙂
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LOL! When I was a teenager, I painted a giant replica of The Wall on my double closet doors. It’s in my Facebook photos if you want to see. 🙂
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You are too much, Rachel. We don’t need no thought control!
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LOL! Mother! Leave those kids alone!
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I loved this and would listen to her, should she perform in Ohio… I love how you point out connections and ways people have shared their musical lives, as with Mary and Mark. Wow! You know I love Joni M., Carly S. and Carole King, along with many other ‘hippies’ who did not make it but sing with such passion and heart!
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Joni and Carole more than Carly for me on your trio, Robin. When I was going to college in Morrisville, here in Central New York, I went with a friend to his hometown near the Canadian border. We then went to Montreal to see a Carole King concert. This was in 1976, her peak period. I thought I was in heaven! That is one of my favorite concert memories ever, in an exotic city for this teenager seeing a favorite from my New York City home area. Thanks for making me remember, that, Robin. You have the knack for jogging loose these great thoughts for me, my friend. 🙂
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wow–what a voice! Classy lady. I’d go see her for sure.
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Maybe she’ll take a Midwestern trip out to Minnesota, Liz, if the tour picks up some momentum. Beth wants her in Ann Arbor, so the seeds are startiing. 🙂
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great idea, mark )
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What a VOICE!!! Thank you so much for the introduction, Mark. So many talented people out there that we just don’t hear of without people like you pointing us to them. I do hear traces of Joni.
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I like being the dot-connector between talent and music lovers, Barb. Thank you!
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wow, what a wonderful and versatile talent she is. i love her wide range and wish she was coming to ann arbor so i could see her perform in the ark )
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Maybe she will read this, Beth, and start a midwest tour out your way. Stranger things have happened. Or go to her sight and tell her you want to see her at your place! ))
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She has a low register and then she can hit the high notes, too. I thought she was going to tell me one pill makes me larger and one pill makes me small.
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Another great comparison, Kerbey. You are right on with that one. Go ask Alice, indeed, Jefferson, before you step on that airplance with Gracie.
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Mark … Your comparison to Joni Mitchell is spot on. Mary Fahl does have a haunting, beautiful voice. Great selection and excellent review.
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Thanks, Judy. I was glad to spread the word about Mary and the guys from Syracuse, too.
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Pink Floyd and Joni Mitchell? Okay. As Bukowski would say, “scramble to.” The Cutting Room is a beautiful venue here in New York. I wonder if I’m free that evening?
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Check it out, Mark.
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JM is a poetic dream…she is the loveliest. I couldn’t imagine singing her songs. This post was a joy to read, Mark.
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Thank you, Aud. Appreciate the kind words. I hope you liked the video of Mary Fahl and the band.
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Hmmm, neat story Mark. I like Mary’s voice – it has a kind of haunting quality to it. I’m not so sure about the song Exile. It has possiblities, but I’m not sure Mary’s rendition quite got it quite right. The song seemed a bit flat. I kept expecing it to sweep up to a climax and it never did. Seemed technically well done, but I had to make myself listen to it after the half way point.
I’d love to hear her in a small venue – I bet she could fill a room with sound. Alas, the closest appearance is too far for me. Unless she comes to Ottawa, I doubt I’ll have a chance to hear her. Are you going tonight?
Interesting post Mark – thanks very much for the introduction to Mary.
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Thanks for the observations, Paul. I won’t be there, though I agree that it would be an exciting night. I have previous commitments.
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Thanks for your review of this talented singer and for also sharing the youtube link Mark. Her hauntingly beautiful voice reminds me a bit of the Woodstock era.
Yes, if I were able, I would travel to one of those places to watch her perform. When I first read Beacon, NY, I thought it said Bacon! Now I’m hungry. 😉
Diana xo
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Canadian Bacon.
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haha Paul, maybe we could name one of our towns that?
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I think the Joni part of her voice is the Woodstock-like vibe, Diana. It’s a nice sound.
It would be a wicked long drive for you to make any of the shows on this tour of hers. Oy. I’m glad I was able to put a Bacon thought in your tummy though. 🙂
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mmmm bacon! (said in Homer Simpson voice)
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I always enjoy seeing daring performers, Mark, here and elsewhere. Mary has a great voice (and so do you). Many thanks, friend.
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She’s playing in Cambridge, Ann, and I thought of you and Aaron going to the show when I typed that date in. It seems like the kind of performance you and your son like to share together.
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Oh! I didn’t notice, Mark. I wonder if she’s going to be at Passim’s, T.T. The Bear’s, The Middle East, or the Plough and Stars? And when? I am a little distracted right now; Aaron is getting his wisdom teeth out as I’m writing this. The music playing in the waiting room is “Signed, Sealed, and Delivered” by Stevie. I want to sing along but somebody else is waiting here too.
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Ouch. It’s a Wonder how we worry about our kid’s pain, Ann.
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I found the data, right there, Mark. At Passim’s (where I instantly pictured her and where I saw Robert Klein perform in the 1970s when I was in college). And February 21, two days before Aaron turns 17. I am sure he’ll be covered from all wisdom teeth extractions by then.
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Good pre-extraction, pre-17 plan, I think, Ann.
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Post-extraction. Post. After. Following.
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I followed you, Mark, perfectly.
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