Come hear Joy Adler Extraordinary performer

Rare, Stunning, Transcending

4.0 Excellent- By Robert Michael Sutton- Folk-pop singer/songwriter, Joy Adler balances the mellow, peaceful spirit of country, jazz, and the blues with a cover of a Goth-rock classic from the Cult

Folky and intimate with tasteful flirtations in country, jazz, and the blues, the last think you'd expect from an album like this would be a cover of the Cult's mid-'80s Goth-rock anthem "She Sells Sanctuary." For those not paying attention to the track listing, singer/songwriter Joy Adler's lovingly realized stripped-down take on a post-punk dance classic is quite startling. Thankfully, Adler doesn't add a blemish to the Batcave nostalgia of the original. While now torn from its New Wave roots, "She Sells Sanctuary" still retains its dreaminess, an enigmatic love song with an undertow of spirituality ("I'm sure in her you'll find/Sanctuary") that is actually consistent with Adler's own explorations of religious faith. Remaking a Cult cut also further conveys Adler's creative versatility. The opening slice, "By Your Side," is propelled by guitars that suggest the influence of country music or Americana. It is rootsy pop with a solid vocal performance that is sweet but not as sugary as you'd hear from today's Nashville populace. "Prayer" turns the page immediately after it, letting Mike Steiner's fiery blues riffs loose while Adler's voice soars through the clouds. "Our Rapture," on the other hand, is a delicate piano piece reminiscent of Tori Amos (minus the personal issues) and Norah Jones. Comparisons to other contemporary female artists are inevitable since most of them are mining similar inspirations. But Adder is her own person. There is a mellow, peaceful spirit at play here, one that seems to be seeking calmness and stability more than expressing rage. While her singing on "Feels Good" may recall the husky tones of Fiona Apple, Adler is stating her happiness here and not introspective gloom. It all equals all pleasant, sunny-day affair, a welcome alternative to the upcoming wintry darkness.

Partial List of Past Performances

The Center for Natural Wellness, Albany NY
WAMC, The Linda, Albany, NY
Proctor's Theater, Schenectady, NY
First Congregational Church, Santa Cruz, California
Reed College, Kaul Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
First Unitarian Church, San Francisco, California
The Regent Theater, Arlington, Massachusetts
First Parish Church, Weston, Massachusetts
Society for Ethical Culture, New York City
Ananda Ashram, Monroe, New York
Benaroya Hall, Seattle, Washington
Rio Theater, Santa Cruz, California
Baha'i Center, New York City
Caffe Vivaldi, NYC
The Bitter End, NYC
Arlene's Grocery, NYC
The Cake Factory, NYC
The Cutting Room, NYC
The Meta Center, NYC
The Showbarn, Smithville, NJ
The Trump Plaza, Atlantic City, NJ
The Chapel at RPI, Troy, NY
Java Jazz, Delmar, NY

Music Festivals/Music Series

M.E.A.N.Y. Fest, NYC
Mamapalooza Festival, NYC & Harvard Square, Mass
Riverfest, Rensselaer, NY
Albany Musicians Association, Noontime Concert Series
Chick Singer Night, NYC
The/Aut/Bar "Girls Night Out", Ann Arbor, Michigan
Art & Music Fest, Clinton, NY
Hats off, Saratoga, NY
Art of Music, Open Door County, Wisconsin
Make Music New York, NYC

Private Music Events:

Napa Valley, CA
Shannonsbridge, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Maui, Hawaii
Miami, Florida
Cape Cod, Mass.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Sedona, Arizona
Ocean City, NJ

On the internet, www.WRPI.org and WRPI FM 91.5, Troy, NY

Partial List of Past Performances