News
May 3, 2017Tom Paxton and the DonJuans at the Eighth Step
THE EIGHTH STEP presents folk legend TOM PAXTON & The DonJuans [Grammy winners Don Henry & Jon Vezner] in a knockout concert at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 12, 8th Step at Proctors, 432 State Street, Schenectady.
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award-winner, folk icon and fun topical songwriter, PAXTON teams up this time with the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter duo The DonJuans; Don Henry & Jon Vezner. Not only that, but Paxton brings along yet a brand new album, Boat in the Water.
After 56 years of performing around the world and writing and recording innumerable songs and recordings, Paxton has found yet another outlet for his creativity; he has joined his friends and song-writing colleagues in a writing and performing experience calculated to keep them too busy to get into trouble.
Within days of writing and playing together, the three knew they were on to something. Now they’re taking it on the road! A trembling world awaits…
Tom on guitar/vocals/stories
Don on guitar/vocals/uke/banjo/grins
Jon on piano/vocals/guitar/uke/kitchen sink
Collectively, Paxton, Vezner and Henry songs – from sublime to satiric, romantic to offbeat, from satire to children’s – have been covered by Harry Belafonte, John Mellencamp, Miranda Lambert, Neil Diamond, Ray Charles, Nancy Griffith, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, Kathy Mattea, John Denver, Faith Hill, B.J. Thomas, Blake Shelton, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Kingston Trio, and Bob Dylan … just to name a very few.
Vezner & Henry received a Grammy in 1990 for “Where’ve You Been,” while Kathy Mattea’s version of “Where’ve You Been” swept song of the year honors from ACM (Academy of Country Music), CMA (Country Music Association) and NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International). “Where’ve You Been” thus became the first song in Country music history to be awarded all four honors in the same year.
Paxton penned such cultural staples as “Ramblin’ Boy,” “Bottle of Wine,” “The Last Thing on My Mind,” “The Marvelous Toy” and innumerable other hits familiar to three generations. The new album introduces yet another crop of vintage songs from the master of sing-able melody and pithy cultural observation.
P.S. We’re eagerly awaiting Tom’s latest crop of “short shelf-life songs,” i.e., brief, satirical ditties based on current news that fade with the latest headlines. Such material coming out of Washington – wickedly tasty!
Doors open at 7 pm; 8th Step at Proctors (Underground) is accessible; free audience parking is available around the corner in the Broadway Garage.
TICKETS are $28 advance / $30 day of show / $50 Gold Circle), available through The Eighth Step Tix/Info Line at (518) 434-1703 (Visa/MC/Disc/AmEx); online at 8thstep.org; through Proctors Box Office (518) 346-6204/proctors.org; also in Albany at Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza.
For further information call The Eighth Step at (518) 434-1703 or visit online at www.8thstep.org.
