Please join us for Gilda's Club Western PA's Great Comic Search!

Three Stand-Up Comedy Nights with local comedians will be held at Club Cafe on March 14, April 18 and May 16 . Audience members and guest celebrity judges will choose the best acts of the night who will then perform at The Improv this summer where the crowd will vote on Pittsburgh's Best Comedian!!

Doors Open at 7 pm and the shows start at 8pm. Cost is $5 at the Door .The door proceeds of the night will benefit the local non-profit Gilda's Club Western PA's whose mission is to create welcoming communities of support for everyone living with cancer - men, women, teens and children - along with their families and friends.

Lineup for this event includes Adam Seese, Josh Keener, Carl Shimel, Alex Stypula, Dan Jenniches, Jason Baer, Ricky Smoove, Tim Ross, Mark McCall, John Kurtik, Derrick Knopsyder, Alan Olifson, Zach Funk, Keane Cobb, Erick Williams, Ray Zawondni, John Winters and hosted by Randy Baumann from the WDVE morning show. show less

The son of a Methodist preacher and a concert pianist, Jim Avett has been singing and playing guitar for most of his life. He's done a lot of other things in the meantime - built a business as a welder in North Carolina, served in the Navy, raised three children with his wife - and now he returns to performing. In 2008, Avett released his first album on Ramseur Records, "Jim Avett and Family," a beautiful collection of gospel songs recorded with daughter Bonnie and sons Scott and Seth of The Avett Brothers. He returned last year with "Tribes," seven original songs that speak of love and loss. When Avett performs, you feel like you're sitting in a friend's living room, telling stories and sharing a beer. His performance style is warm and relaxed, genuine and endearing. show less

For most of his life, San Francisco has been Chuck Prophet's muse...or more accurately, his drug of choice. "It can suck you under. That first hit. It really does a whammy to you. And if you're like me you can find yourself chasing the San Francisco dragon for the rest of your life. That's what the record is about."

Named for the ill-fated rock club of the same name, Temple Beautiful was "made in San Francisco, by San Franciscans about San Francisco." Roy Loney, vocalist and wildman in legendary Bay Area band The Flamin' Groovies contributes guest vocals to the title track.

One of the driving forces behind cult heroes Green on Red and the influential L.A. Paisley Underground scene in the 1980s, Prophet's creative mold was actually cast in San Francisco. Recalls Prophet, "Temple Beautiful is the name of a long closed rock and roll club which was between Bill Graham's iconic Fillmore Ballroom and the tragic storefront church founded by the Reverend Jim Jones. It's where I saw my first gigs".

Inspired by current San Francisco artists, Prophet felt compelled to pay tribute to the history and weirdness that brought him to the city nearly 30 years ago. "There's a kind of rock and roll psych renaissance going on in this town at the moment with bands like Thee Oh Sees, Girls, The Fresh and Onlys, Kelley Stoltz and Sonny and the Sunset's. I'm very encouraged by all this stuff going on here."

Part love letter and part unsentimental tour, Temple Beautiful attempts to capture San Francisco in all it's forms: romantic port-of-call, bohemian utopia, but even more so, an often unforgiving pioneer outpost filled with the freaks and characters not welcome in America's heartland. And musically, there is no doubt that San Francisco is one of the country's most enduring scenes, home to decade after decade of classic artists and albums. Temple Beautiful is at once a look back at the inspirations that spawned them and the next installment in its discography.

In addition to releasing two amazing albums in Soap & Water and iLet Freedom Ring! over the past several years, Chuck's music has been heard in hit television series True Blood (HBO), Californication (Showtime) and Sons of Anarchy (FX). Prophet also cowrote all the songs on Alejandro Escovedo's critically-acclaimed album Real Animal. show less

A folk troubadour whose talents have been lauded on the national and international scene for almost a decade, Jess Klein writes songs that tell the story of the soul - from wrenching heartbreak to finding the strength to pick up and move on.

Jess Klein emerged from the Boston music scene in 1998 with her independent release, Wishes Well Disguised, but it was her later releases - 2000's Draw Them Near, 2005's Strawberry Lover and 2006's City Garden that would capture the attention of critics and fans worldwide.

The Rochester, New York native picked up the acoustic guitar and started writing songs while living as a student abroad in Kingston, Jamaica in her late teens. Her first songs reflected a bittersweet culture shock as well as the warmth and musical vibrancy of her new surroundings.

Klein returned to the states, moved to Boston, and began performing locally. After independently releasing her first two albums, winning the Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest, and garnering several Boston Music Award nominations, Klein was spotted and signed to Rykodisc in 2000. Her first release for Ryko, Draw Them Near, [3.5 stars, USA Today], launched Klein on a worldwide tour where, among other highlights, her relaxed confidence and rootsy soulfulness wowed 70,000 attendees at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan.

Klein returned to the U.S. and joined the songwriter collective Voices on the Verge, along with Erin McKeown, Rose Polenzani, and Beth Amsel. The foursome was featured on Good Morning America performing Klein's song "Little White Dove" and brought sold out crowds in small theaters across the U.S. to their feet nightly with their blend of harmonies and eclectic styles.

Looking for a new phase in her creative life, Jess moved to New York and recorded her second solo effort for Ryko. Strawberry Lover [2005], debuted as the No. 1 most added album at triple A radio a week before its release, was given four stars by MOJO, a plug from the nearly 80 million readership Parade, and the emotive and sensual title track was named one of the "Top Ten Sexiest Songs of the Moment" by the NY Daily News.

Klein moved to her current home, Austin, TX in 2008, inspiring her 2009 release, Bound To Love. Shining as Klein's most confident work to date, Bound to Love evoked the dusty roots of Texas songwriters and made her a household name in the Austin music world. Bound to Love again took Klein across the globe, including a tour of Ireland supporting folk legend Arlo Guthrie. In between tours Klein found time to collaborate with some of Austin's most talented artists: Jon Dee Graham, Randy Weeks, Jimmy LaFave, Slaid Cleeves, Matt the Electrician, Shelley King, Betty Soo and Oklahoma- based John Fullbright.

Jess Klein continues to be best known for her compelling and passionate live show. The Boston Globe describes her as "Quite simply one of the most gifted performers this area has produced".

Jess' newest album, A Room of Your Own, reflects a maturity and seize-the-day attitude influenced by her father's inspiring battle with the disease ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) which took his life in early 2011. With the loss of her father to ALS, Klein learned much about her own strength and resiliency, and about the supportiveness and depth of character of her fans and community. In the midst of all this growth, she decided to leave the record label she had been with and venture out on her own.

Jess proclaims, "It's a new day for me, and that's what the songs on A Room of Your Own are about: stepping into my strength, owning myself, dreaming big, and being proud of who I am, even on the rough days. I hope these songs inspire you to do the same. This journey has not been without challenges, but it's no exaggeration to say that my fans get me through those challenges. Singing for you is medicine for me."

A Room of Your Own, Jess's first independent album in 14 years, will be released in April 2012.
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The Steel City Comedy Tour, showcases Pittsburgh's top comedians who have joined forces to make "yinz" laugh your ass off! Featuring Mike Wysocki(WDVE), Chuck Krieger, Tom Kupiec, and three rising comedy stars from Pittsburgh! Tickets only $8. show less

Beginning, Sunday May 20th - 10:30am-2:00pm
More details to follow... show less

No Cover!

Pittsburgh's #1 Open Stage returns to Club Cafe with host Williams Band. Fashioned after some of the high profile and wildly successful open stages in Nashville and New York City, AcoustiCafe's open stage intends to create a supportive environment for artists to network with their peers, test new music or haul out old favorites, and most importantly, extend their reach in the local scene.

Ages 21+ Only. show less

"I think people are surprised when they see us live," says Peter Liddle, frontman of Dry the River. "They expect us to be really calm and quiet, but in some ways, we're just the opposite."

Whatever the expectations, Dry the River is blowing right past them. Even before the release of their debut album, Shallow Bed, the band has been selling out shows, stealing the spotlight at festivals, and earning raves from the critics.

Listing the band as one of the "100 Best Things in the World Right Now," British GQ called the forthcoming album "a masterpiece in the making, packed with catchy riffs and overlaid with lyrical intelligence." The BBC recently highlighted Dry the River as one of the "Sounds of 2012," while Q magazine called the band's music "breathtaking stuff."

They might look like another 21st century folk group, with their beards and acoustic instrumentation (even a violin), but Liddle decribes Dry the River's music as "folky gospel music played by a post-punk band." Between their diverse list of influences- Leonard Cohen, Fugazi, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bruce Springsteen, Devendra Banhart-and their backgrounds in hardcore and emo bands, they stake out territory that is truly their own. (As Q put it, Dry the River is "the folk band that thinks it's a rock band.")

Norwegian-born Liddle formed Dry the River as a solo project while he was at university studying medicine and anthropology. He had already met the other band members—guitarist Matthew Taylor and violinist Will Harvey, plus Scott Miller (bass) and Jon Warren (drums)—on the DIY scene around Reading, and, while on summer break, he called on those old friends to record some of the songs he had written.

When the group began playing live, the response was immediate; a publishing deal and widespread touring followed. Soon, they all left their jobs and studies and moved into a

shared house in London, where they continue to live.

In March 2011, the band traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut to record with producer Peter Katis, known for his work with The National and Interpol. "We tried to preserve the fragility and honesty of the more stripped-down tracks, but still get the intensity of the live show across," says Liddle.

The first result of those sessions was the EP, Weights & Meaures, which went to Number One on the NME chart. The London Times described Dry the River as having “a musical maturity that Weights & Measures showcases to sensational effect.”

While in the US recording, Dry The River, staying true their punk roots, continuously played New York clubs, packing houses at venues like Pianos and The Knitting Factory. Following a memorable series of shows at the South By Southwest festival (where they performed without a drummer, due to visa troubles), Reading and Leeds, Glastonbury, Bestival and CMJ, the band have recently supported Bombay Bicycle Club, Foster The People, and the Antlers on their European tours.

With the release of Shallow Bed, it's Dry the River's moment to step out on their own. Set aside your assumptions, labels, expectations. Brace yourself. Now-listen. show less

This show has been rescheduled from April 11. All previously purchased tickets will be honored.

A soulful vocalist and innovative keyboardist, singer/songwriter and producer Rachael Sage has become one of the busiest touring artists in independent music, performing 150+ dates a year with her band The Sequins throughout the US, UK, Europe and Asia. She has earned a loyal following for her infectious melodies, poetic lyrics, and often-outrageous, colorful stage banter.

Sage has shared stages with Sarah McLachlan, Colin Hay, Marshall Crenshaw, Marc Cohn, The Animals and Ani DiFranco. She has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and received numerous songwriting awards including The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Grand Prize) and several Independent Music Awards and OUTMusic Awards.

MPress Records will release her 10th album, "Haunted By You" in May. Featuring The Sequins as well as guest appearances by Dar Williams, Mike Visceglia (Suzanne Vega), David Immergluck (Counting Crows), Doug Yowell (Duncan Sheik) and more, it was self-produced by Sage and mixed by Kevin Killen (U2, Elvis Costello). show less

For the moment, Joe Pug has it figured out, career if not life: Just write the songs that have to be written, play them for anybody who will listen, tour as if you had no home. Oh, and give your music away. Which isn't to say he won’t be selling his debut full-length offering, Messenger ( Released 2/16/2010 on Lightning Rod). But free is how he came to make it, more or less.

It worked like this, for Joe Pug anyhow: The day before his senior year as a playwright student at the University of North Carolina, he sat down for a cup of coffee and had the clearest thought of his life: I am profoundly unhappy here. Then came the second clearest.

Pug packed up his belongings and pointed his car towards Chicago. Working as a carpenter by day, the 23 year-old Pug spent nights playing the guitar he hadn't picked up since his teenage years. Using ideas originally slated for a play he was writing called "Austin Fish," Pug began creating the sublime lyrical arrangements that would become the Nation of Heat EP.

The songs were recorded fast and fervently at a Chicago studio where a friend snuck him in to late night slots other musicians had canceled. He was short on money, but his bare-boned sincerity didn’t require much more than a microphone and it dripped off of each note he sang.

The early rumblings of critical praise for the EP were confirmed when his first headlining gig sold out Chicago’s storied Schubas Tavern in 2008. As word spread, Pug struck upon an idea that would later prove to be one of the most significant in his young career. He offered his existing fans unlimited copies of a free 2-song sampler CD to pass along to their friends. He sent the CDs out at his own expense, even covering the postage. Inside each package was a personal note thanking the fan for helping to spread the word. The response was overwhelming, and to date he has sent out over 15,000 CDs to 50 states and 14 different countries. Without access to radio, Pug managed to turn his fans into his very own broadcast system. The offer still stands, and to this day it's featured prominently on www.joepugmusic.com.

"Look, in the end, I just trust my fans, and the nature of people in general. I need to pay my bills like anyone else does. But I also don't think it's right to ask someone to pay $15 when they don't know what they're getting. So in a way by sending out these CDs, I'm wagering that they'll like my music, and that if they do they'll come to shows, buy CDs, and help me spread the word even further. And so far I've been proven right. Without question, the more sampler CDs I send out, the more music I sell."

Nation of Heat took on a life of its own, passing from friend to friend and iPod to iPod. The crowds swelled and the media took notice. Tours with Steve Earle, M. Ward, and Josh Ritter followed, as did invitations to Lollapalooza and the Newport Folk Festival. He crisscrossed the country incessantly, traveling mostly alone in his 1995 Plymouth Voyager with no stereo or air conditioning. As the tours went on, he became closely linked to the burgeoning indie-folk scene that was coalescing loosely around Pug and his young contemporaries in bands such as The Low Anthem, Langhorne Slim, and Horse Feathers.

After over 200 shows, Pug took a brief respite to record his full-length debut. If Nation of Heat heralded the arrival of a talent to watch, Messenger assigns Pug a deserved spot among the finest songwriters of his generation. From the opening notes of the title track that leads off the record, it's clear that the artist has no intention of retreating to the comfortable or the familiar. While the scathing war indictment "Bury Me Far (From My Uniform)" and the sparse, poetic "Unsophisticated Heart" illustrate that Pug is still a master of the guy-and-guitar song, it’s the supporting cast Pug brought on board that truly brings out the record's subtle beauty.

From the haunting, ethereal pedal steel guitar that sneaks delicately under "The Sharpest Crown" to the barrelhouse rhythm section that propels "The Door Is Always Open", it's clear that Pug is as comfortable exploring this new territory as he is solo. "The first record, it was a breeze," he says. "Didn't even know we were making it, just me and a guitar…the songs completely unadorned. This one, it's like that thing where there's an explosion and you realize how many options there are in the world." show less