OSWEGO COUNTY – The Oswego Music Hall presents Carsie Blanton on Saturday, Nov. 2. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the McCrobie Civic Center, 41 Lake St. in Oswego. Doors open at 7 p.m.
Carsie Blanton is a songwriter with hooks, chutzpah and revolutionary optimism. Inspired by artist-activists including Nina Simone and Woody Guthrie, her catalog careens through American popular songs from folk and swing to pop-punk protest anthems.
With her unique mix of humor, soul and political wit, and over 15 years on the road, Blanton has amassed a dedicated fan base and a small menagerie of viral hits such as “Rich People” and “Fishin’ with You.” Her most recent album, “After the Revolution,” was released in March and produced by Grammy-winner Tyler Chester.
Carsie Blanton is that rare artist who knows how to combine savvy stagecraft and airtight songs with a revolutionary spirit. Take her latest hit, “Rich People,” which swept TikTok by storm with over three million views and, true to its name, laid bare wealth inequality in the process.
Despite the struggles she readily acknowledges, Blanton retains a sense of hope, which shines through in her songs and performances.
“When you spend your time watching the news or social media, people seem cruel and stupid,” Blanton said. “But I think that by a wide margin, people are good and want to take care of each other.”
Her songs “Be Good” and “Lovin’ is Easy” are steeped in that spirit, inviting us to “love everybody alive.”
After keeping her band afloat throughout lockdown with live-streamed “Rent Parties,” going viral with a song memorializing John Prine (“Fishin’ with You”) and releasing a critically acclaimed mid-pandemic album (2021’s “Love and Rage”) Blanton chose to bring some nuance to her success, with her recent exposé in “The Nation” laying bare the economics of the modern-day music industry.
The galvanizing spirit of her work is backed up by expertise. Blanton and her impeccably dressed “handsome band” bring skills betraying their long tenure as live musicians. Accompanied by Joe Plowman on bass, Patrick Firth on keys, and Sean Trischka on drums, their performances are a rich musical gumbo of genres, meandering from Americana and rock to cocktail jazz, Motown and pop punk.
Blanton makes no attempt to disguise her far-left political leanings, but at the heart of her music is love, and her songs are capable of tethering us to our shared humanity across socio-political lines. No matter where they begin, every audience leaves her show transformed into friends and comrades, united in laughter, camaraderie and hope.
For more information, visit https://www.carsieblanton.com or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16kNBkDIa9Q.
The Oswego Music Hall’s season continues with Abbie Gardner and show-opener Ryan David Green on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Shows start at 7:30 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m. for all National Stage concerts. For a complete performance schedule and ticket information, visit the Oswego Music Hall website at https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or stop at the river’s end bookstore, 19 W. Bridge St., Oswego.
Ticket prices for the National Stage range from $17 to $30 at the door. Admission is half-price for children aged 6 to 16 and free for those aged 5 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at any concert, online, or at the river’s end bookstore in Oswego. The community is encouraged to buy tickets early to ensure a seat. Tickets are cash or check only at the door.
Located in the McCrobie Building, the wheelchair accessible venue is adjacent to Breitbeck Park and overlooking Lake Ontario and Oswego Harbor. The atmosphere is intimate with candle-lit tables surrounding a small stage. Light refreshments will be available at reasonable prices.
The Oswego Music Hall is a family-friendly, non-profit organization that has been run entirely by volunteers from its inception over 40 years ago. Volunteers can earn admission to shows through various tasks, from running the sound board to making popcorn. Students can also earn credit for community service. To volunteer, email Volunteer Coordinator Michael Moss at [email protected].
For more information about the Oswego Music Hall, visit https://www.oswegomusichall.org/ or email [email protected].
Oswego Music Hall concerts are made possible in part with funding by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the governor and New York Legislature. Other major supporters are the City of Oswego and Shineman Foundation.
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