Anyone interested in catching some clever live music should check out Angelo Palma at the Northberg Tavern tonight.
Originating in Pittsburgh, Palma has been in the music scene for about three years, playing such Columbus venues as Andyman’s Treehouse, Ludlow’s and Little Brother’s.
“We play Andyman’s a lot,” Palma said. “Andy is a DJ for CD101, it’s his club, and he’s been really cool with me. It’s a real cool place to play.”
Palma describes his music as, “melancholy, really introspective, confessional song writing.”
He enjoys stark acoustic music and performs with a single guitar player, Seth Phillips.
“Seth’s a good kid. He needs to get a little criminal in him, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Palma said.
Palma said he got into music because his mother was a nightclub singer in the Catskill Mountains, who opened up for Frank Sinatra-style performers.
“I used to be backstage and I was up until midnight and 1:00 a.m. with my mom,” Palma said. “I saw people drinking and having fun and I thought it was cool.”
His set is comprised of mostly original songs with a few cover songs thrown into the mix.
“We’ll play some really weird stuff like some old Velvet Underground songs or Sid Barret,” Palma said.
Within the next five to six months, he plans on playing an all original set.
Palma said there are not many contemporary artists he enjoys, he likes older music and was influenced by Lou Reed.
Today’s music is not original and it lacks heart and soul, Palma said.
Palma gets ideas for his songs from reading books, watching films and his friends.
“I have a slightly neurotic, dysfunctional group of friends, but I write my best songs in the car,” Palma said.
Palma said he gives lyrics to Phillips, whose sunnier personality balances out the duo.
“I sit down with Seth and we go into a direction,” he said.
Thursday at the Northberg Tavern, they will be playing their original set, with songs such as “Girl You Need Fixin’ Bad” and “I Love You Good-bye,” along with some quirky covers.
Angelo Palma can be contacted at [email protected].
