CONCERTS ON MAIN
Emanuel Ayvas, singer-songwriter
an acoustic afternoon of original folk and rock songs from the frontman of the noted (and eclectic) band Emanuel and the Fear
WHEN: Sunday, January 10, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church, 286 Main Street, Chatham, NJ
ADMISSION: freewill donation
www.ConcertsOnMain.org
Lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and composer of the symphonic rock band Emanuel and the Fear, Ayvas is known for intertwining original pop songs with extravagant and complex orchestral compositions. His influences include the likes of Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Philip Glass, Bob Dylan, the Beatles and Daft Punk.
Emanuel and the Fear has released four albums and toured extensively, sharing the stage with Joanna Newsom, The War on Drugs, Wilco, Beirut and Here We Go Magic and others in venues ranging from NYC’s Gramercy Theatre and Joe’s Pub to Berlin’s Deutsches Theater. A recent solo European tour for Emanuel included stops in Germany and the UK where critics enjoyed his music’s connections to the Rat Pack and Shirley Bassey.
The Guardian highlighted his music’s “keen sense of theatre and drama.”
Jordan Blum, the Philadelphia Rock Music Examiner, noted that the band’s album “Listen is undoubtedly one of the best debut records I’ve ever heard, as well as one of the best albums I’ve ever reviewed… [the] chance to see lead guitarist/pianist/vocalist/songwriter Emanuel Ayvas in a humble, personal setting is an opportunity you’ll kick yourself for missing” (Examiner.com).
Emanuel’s appearance with Concerts on Main features original songs from his upcoming solo album. A folk-influenced project, the album will be recorded later this winter and will highlight Emanuel’s prowess as a vocalist, guitarist and pianist. The lyrics offer a reflective and sometimes humorous look at how popular culture affects individuals and their emotions. Emanuel will also share solo arrangements of songs from Emanuel and the Fear, including some from Primitive Smile, an album that is all about returning to family and roots. A native of Wood-Ridge, NJ, Emanuel now makes his home in Brooklyn. He is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he competed as a pole vaulter and studied composition and piano performance. For more information visit www.emanuelandthefear.com.
About Concerts on Main: Free and open to all, varied hour-long performances by NJ and NYC professionals are held during the fall and winter in Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church’s historic and acoustically-engaging sanctuary. As needed, younger listeners can take advantage of a nearby indoor playspace. Ogden is located a block from Chatham’s train station, with easy and fast NYC access; there is ample free parking in the vicinity of the church. The series continues on Sunday, March 20 with a 12pm performance by the Reeds Amis woodwind trio.
