The Callen Sisters

Live @ Club Passim 5-29-10

2010-06-18T13:55:00.001-04:00

Dear BP, What the HELL?!

2010-06-04T13:27:00.007-04:00

There are three things that disturb me most about this tragic oil disaster:

1. We are still going to be using oil after this mess is cleaned up. Shouldn't this be a wake up call to utilize clean, renewable energy?

2. Innocent animals are suffering

3. Public figures, such as Sarah Palin are blaming this disaster on environmentalists. I think this tactic is called projecting.

So, what can we do? Repower America may be a great place to start. Secondly, why not invest in a bicycle?

2010-05-27T13:27:00.001-04:00

Full band rehearsal for our mini tour this weekend. Boston Saturday, NYC Sunday!

To Flyer or Not to Flyer - It's Better Face-to-Face

2010-05-17T12:14:00.006-04:00

Those of you in bands may have faced this dilemma before. What is the most effective way to promote your upcoming show? Flyers are an old-fashioned, yet tried and true tactic to let people know you're coming to town.

So, with several shows on the horizon, I went down to the Lower East Side yesterday (in the greatest city around, NY, NY) with a purse full of flyers and some freshly purchased mailing tape. (You know, the kind you pay too much for at the post office).

I walked around several city blocks and saw that ATMs and outdated telephone booths (remember those?!) were the areas reserved for posting flyers. I saw flyers for only 2 bands, and the remaining space was taken by cell phone companies, street fairs, and a company promoting CD replication services. I ended up not putting up any flyers at all, and saved a heck of a lot of expensive mailing tape.

Feeling like I had hit a dead end in the goal I had set for the day, I walked around the corner to Rockwood Music Hall, where I was handed a flyer. Hmm, I got to thinking. Maybe getting the word out about your band, concert, etc. is better done face-to-face, or hand-to-hand, for that matter. Who even looks at telephone booths anyway?

The person handing me the flyer was a volunteer for Oxfam, an international relief and development organization that works to solve poverty, hunger, and injustice. They were hosting a benefit concert, featuring three New York-based artists.

What did I learn from this experience? Well, there is something special about personalization. It makes your experience count. Who cares about some random band on some random flyer posted on an ATM. What people respond to, at least what I responded to, was someone talking to me and promoting themselves, their cause, etc. face-to-face.

Busking in Brooklyn

2010-04-12T12:54:00.020-04:00

This weekend Jessa and I packed up our gear and headed to Brooklyn to busk at an outdoor farmers market in McCarren Park. Although summer-like days were bookends to Saturday's performance, it was a chilly 45 or so and cloudy when we began playing (should have worn my fingerless gloves!)

The cold weather did not, however, stop people from enjoying the day outdoors. Young families wandered the market with their children, who were mesmerized at the sight of a harp and guitar. We met musicians, social activists, fruit farmers (selling a dozen different kinds of apples) and some passionate dog owners out enjoying the afternoon sun. Among my favorite neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Williamsburg and Greenpoint have a strong sense of community, beautiful parks, an artistic flair, and a sense of peace and quiet not easily found over the bridge in Manhattan.

After our market outing, I am now beginning a portable garden. Our "next tent neighbor" was selling a "garden in a bag," a simple portable gardening system for sprouting different seed blends. Sprouts are really easy to grow in the cramped comfort of a one bedroom apartment (yay, city dwellers!) and are more nutritious than their adult counterparts. I tried a sample of the sprouts with some delicious peanut sauce and bought the garden bag right away (I'll let you know how it comes out).

If you've never been to a farmer's market before (and why not, they are awesome!) visit LocalHarvest.org or another community website and find one. Buying local supports the economy of your community and is better for the environment.

The Power of F.O.C.U.S.

2010-03-31T00:34:00.007-04:00

Hello! Jessa just returned from Anaheim, CA where we attended a week-long business conference. I have since returned and my head is swimming with ideas!

I'd love to share some of the pearls of wisdom I took from the conference with you. Please leave comments and share some of your stories, thoughts, and ideas.

PEARL #1 The Power of F.O.C.U.S.

One of the recurring themes of the week was the power of focusing on a goal, a plan, etc. I particularly liked the acronym Follow One Course Until Successful. (thanks Mari Smith!) It's so often that people begin a project or a business or a song, for that matter, and never follow it through to completion!

This week I am going to focus on performing live as much as possible. Last night I got off to a good start and played the open mic at Lucy's in Pleasantville. Then, today, I booked The Callen Sisters at The Living Room in NYC on June 22!

How can you apply the power of focus this week?

<3>

2010-03-06T19:05:00.001-05:00

Printing setlists

2010-03-06T19:03:00.001-05:00

Rehearsal with our band!

Hunting for Flea Market Gems

2010-02-23T14:13:00.003-05:00

Flea market in Chelsea (NYC) ... searching for clothes for our album photo shoot next weekend

2010-02-07T18:13:00.001-05:00

Arranging and rehearsing!

Guitar Kitty

2010-02-04T13:24:00.002-05:00

2010-01-26T12:22:00.009-05:00

The Callen Sisters have been listed in this year's All Music Guide, The Definitive Guide to Popular Music, 4th edition!

See the book on Amazon.com

New Year's Resolutions, Callen-Style

2010-01-13T12:43:00.001-05:00

2010!

Happy New Year from Beth and Jessa! For the past few years I've made New Year's resolutions, but this year I think I came up with some really good ones.

* Do something every day that makes me joyful, no matter how basic the activity
* Be present in each moment (whether this means petting my kitties, washing dishes, or playing "Here Comes the Sun")

Backstage at the Bitter End in NYC

2009-12-15T15:05:00.001-05:00

Currently Listening To ...

2009-10-08T11:29:00.002-04:00

Father Lucifer by Tori Amos.

The track is from Boys for Pele. This song reminds me so much of London. It was impossible to ever be sad while singing in my head "Nothing's gonna stop me from flo-o-o-o-ating." I love the piano part and the beautiful sparse arrangement - - - especially the addition of trumpet (yea James Watson!). What lovely colors!

The Tale of Molten Java and My Shower Curtain

2009-06-22T22:41:00.006-04:00

This past weekend we played a show at this sweet little coffehouse called Molten Java in Bethel, CT. Upon entering their restroom, to my delight, I discovered that the curtain hanging from the ceiling, whose job it was to conceal cleaning supplies (I think that's what it was hiding, although I didn't even sneak a peak behind it), was a twin to my very own shower curtain! See image below for visual reference. Exciting, yes, I know. ;-)

Hudson Valley Concert Series

2009-03-17T13:07:00.007-04:00

Join us for a concert with our full band in April:

We will be joined by David Gluck on drums, Dan Castellani on keyboards (and perhaps accordion??) and Chris Anderson on bass. Wine and light refreshments will be served before the performance and during a post-performance reception.

One Week Til Memphis

2009-02-13T23:30:00.003-05:00

Hey Y'all! Jessa and I are gearing up for the trek to Memphis on Wednesday! (Hence me practicing my greeting with you). We've been invited to perform on Friday night at the ASCAP showcase as part of the 2009 International Folk Alliance Conference. We open the show, which begins at 6:00 - and are followed by musicians from Los Angeles to Galway, Ireland. Jessa and I will play an acoustic set of songs from our debut album as well as two new songs which we are currently recording. We've been laying down tracks for a new record - due later this year on Cordless Recordings.

Joining us on the drive south is Anais Mitchell - check her out online here

We hope you will stop by if you are attending the conference and look forward to meeting you.

Beth

Airplane in the Hudson River

2009-01-16T14:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I drove into NYC and brought my Taylor to get repaired at 30th Street guitars. Little did I know, just a couple hours later, a commercial airline plane would be making a crash landing in the Hudson River! It is a miracle that everyone walked away alive, and a testament to the pilot's skill. One of the really touching aspects of the whole event was how many different people, who did not know each other, came together to rescue the passengers. Ferry boats and water taxis, filled with tourists and sightseers, rushed in to help immediately. The bravery and compassion that these New Yorkers showed makes me proud to call this city home.

CMJ

2008-10-27T00:50:00.003-04:00

We had an awesome time playing CMJ on Thursday. Our set was at The Living Room, a sweet singer/songwriter-friendly venue on the lower east side of manhattan. We had the full band there, and started the set with three accordion-laden tunes. We played three brand new new songs during the set that we will record when we go into the studio officially next month! Here's the setlist from the show:

Tangled Up
Like You
No Shelter (new one)
Irrelevant
Reincarnate
Lullaby
My Own Way (another new one)
Life (impromptu)
Between Us (yet another new one)

At the show we had the pleasure of meeting and hanging out with Gliss from LA, and tried to catch their set at The Delancey the following night, but missed them by 5 minutes. I blame it all on traffic and not on my propensity for being late ;-)

All in all, it was a great weekend ... it's fun and exciting to see so many musicians littering the streets of new york city, gathered in their tour vans, lugging guitars and amps and cymbal bags, double parked or searching for a spot. License plates from Wisconsin, California and Ohio, people dressed up and dressed down, whiskey and beer flowing, and an electric vibe of "happening-ness." I love this time of year.

We Signed to Cordless!

2008-09-30T22:32:00.005-04:00

Hey all,

Just in case you didn't see the news on our website, we just signed a deal with Cordless Recordings!

We wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes sneek peek at the signing, so we snapped some photos with my camera phone. Check it:

Beth

Jessa

Mark making sure it's official

Our Show at Purchase College

2008-09-28T20:08:00.018-04:00

On Thursday we played a sweet show at Purchase College for the first time since we attended as students. I actually can't remember the last time I was at Purchase - - - hmmmmm. I'll have to ponder that for awhile. Abby Payne opened the set with some stellar songs from her new record. The sounds were lovely. I found myself humming some of her songs in my head at the after party.

The Callen Sisters followed suit by debuting three new and as-of-yet unrecorded songs. One is a ballad that Jessa sings by herself. It's a beautiful heartfelt little tune. She played it in the middle of our set on the stage by herself. When the band came back to join her, Chris, our bassist, belted out a hilarious Tom Waits cover.

The other two new songs rocked...partly because I was playing my new ASAT Classic. It is pretty sexy as far as guitars go, I must admit. Here, to your left, is a nice pic for your viewing pleasure.

My new song, as Dave, our drummer, likes to tell everyone, begins in the time signature of 5/8. If that is musician garble to you, just know that it sounds like a funky groove - and it's really fun to play with the full band.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show. We had fun playing for you and experimenting with the new sounds of the accordion and stand up bass. If you missed the show, then boo hiss! Haha... we are going to be adding a string of tour dates in New England this Fall/Winter, so stay tuned.

Love,
Beth

Studio Time

2008-09-12T10:56:00.006-04:00

Hello kids. It's an exciting time of year, what with all the school busses back on the roads, and we have good news for you. We started production on our sophomore album! Woo! At band rehearsal this past Wednesday we ran through two of the new tunes and started getting ideas for arrangements. If you are in southern NY on September 25, come by and give them a listen at Purchase College. We're playing an alumni concert with Abby Payne. This particular concert is going to be really fun because Dan is going to rock the accordion and Chris will man the upright bass.

These photos are from one of our demo recording sessions. Jessa keeps her harpy downstairs, and when we record, she and Dan get the exciting task of lugging it upstairs (that are slightly too short to fit any large items up them).

The Callen Sisters' Sophomore Album - Planning Stages

2008-08-15T22:05:00.009-04:00

Hello all,

I know it's been awhile, but my sister and I have been up to no good - and by that assertion I mean that we've been writing our follow-up album to our debut. I am very, very close to being done with all the writing for this record!! (yaaaaaay!) I have a total of 11 songs, 9 of which I plan to record, and 6 of which will most likely (cross fingers) end up on this next recording.

This week I'm dog sitting for our drummer, Dave. He has a very sweet Australian Shepherd mix named Leia, and she and I have become quite good friends. Dave also happens to have a piano, which I find myself seriously lacking in daily life. Because of this easy access to a keyed instrument, and perhaps because of the lack of responsibility to tend to my own home - and let's not neglect to mention the amount of beer I have been consuming - I finished a track I was having a lot of difficulty with. It was mainly the lyrics that were perplexing. I had two lines that just would NOT come. No amount of coaxing was doing the job. It's a funny thing, lyrics. I don't know why they take so long for me sometimes. I suppose it's because I base a lot of what I write on actual experience...even if that is exposure to someone else's experience.

Whew!!! I feel as if I have been 'talking' a lot... so I will bid you adieu. Keep your eyes and ears alert, as we will post more on the recording progress (and other exciting news that you will have to join the newsletter to experience).

Love and Peace,

Beth

P.S. This is an election year. I encourage you to register to vote. Please visit our website, www.thecallensisters.com and click on the "Register to Vote" banner to register.

Join The Callen Sisters Street Team

2008-04-28T23:48:00.001-04:00

Harmony, Melody, or Lyrics?

2008-04-13T16:58:00.004-04:00

As a songwriter, how does the creative process begin? By plugging away at some guitar chords? Some plunkety plunk on the piano… or perhaps a melody that has you entranced?

At a very early age, I loved to write lyrics and build little melodies around them, but as of late, I find myself mostly writing the harmony first. (Being mainly a guitarist that means a chord progression or riff, although the piano is transforming that process for me). Lyrics are written in a slew of notebooks in various corners of my ‘music room' and melody always comes last. Now this is a very personal formula…a custom formula, you could say. I'm sure many people have it quite different than that.

The most blessed experience is when a song comes all at once – like a little lightbulb being switched on in your head. It's like you take a breath in, and there it all is, simultaneously and unwavering. I have only had one of these moments, but I always hope more will come.

On the Radio

2007-12-30T20:52:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Just a quick note to let you know that "Like You" was featured on Longtown
Sound 262 on WLSO.FM.

the link is:

http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/918

Hope you all have an amazing New Year!

Win a Harp and The Callen Sisters album

2007-12-16T23:12:00.000-05:00

Check out The Callen Sisters on Harp Magazine - www.harpmagazine.com for your chance to win a small harp and The Callen Sisters debut album (go here: http://harpmagazine.com/promotions/sweepstakes/the_callen_sisters/). You can also download one of their songs on the Harp magazine site for free (find it here: http://harpmagazine.com/promotions/downloads/). Tell all your friends!

Love :)

Universal Healthcare

2007-11-25T01:17:00.000-05:00

Canada, France and the United Kingdom provide quality healthcare for its citizens. Why is the United States the only country in the Western world without Universal Healthcare?

Are you or anyone you know not covered by health insurance? Do you currently pay out-of-pocket for your health insurance? Have you been denied coverage for any reason?

This is a problem!! Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. How have we become a nation that supports a system that rewards people for NOT caring for the sick? This is amoral and disdainful.

“If you can find money to kill people, you can find money to help people.”
--French doctor, Sicko

Please, please, please, I beg you... write your Congresspeople, your Senators, sign petitions. Use this link as a starting point:

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/PNHP/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=629&t=SickoCure.dwt

~Beth

The Callen Sisters Album is Complete

2007-11-19T16:44:00.000-05:00

Our debut album, (self-titled) is finally complete! It only took us two years and change, but finally all our hard work has paid off. In celebration, we'll be hosting two CD release parties. . . one will be in our hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY the other we'll hold for all you Cosmo types in NYC. ;-)

I really want to thank everyone who had a hand in making this record. Your hard work and dedication made it all possible. It's funny, because Jessa and I went into the studio separately at first. We each were recording a set of our own tunes with two different producers. Neither of us had any plans or vision of making an album, and certainly not together. I really need to say thanks to Dan Castellani - a true visionary who helped bring this together, who assembled the wonderful musicians, and got us on our path to where we are today.

With Gratitude!!! ,

Beth

Photo shoot in Greenpoint, Brooklyn

2007-06-17T18:04:00.000-04:00

Well, our photo shoot with Merri Cyr went swimmingly! We're really excited to see the results...which we'll hopefully get next week. We found out, interestingly enough, that we all grew up in the same hometown - Westport, MA! As the words rolled out of her mouth, our jaws just dropped. It's not too often that you meet someone from Westport out in the world. Most people have never even heard of the town. And the world grows even smaller!

We took some studio shots and then found this really neat cafe in Greenpoint (Brooklyn, for those of you who aren't familiar with the area) with really beautiful yellow walls and got some interesting shots there. The light was just right, so we're thinking those may be contenders for the album cover. Merri and our makeup artist Lauren Gott were the best, most relaxed yet professional people to work with. Can't wait to give you all a peek! My hair is wavy in the pics! ;-)

Beth

Little Musical Snapshots

2007-06-01T22:21:00.000-04:00

There's this funny lag time between writing a song, presenting it to the musicians you play with, recording it, and releasing it. It's really kind of strange. It makes me see how the songs I've written are really like little musical snapshots. The songs on our first record (still unreleased - I'm so sorrryyyyyyy and I can't wait until it is!) were written nearly two years ago or more. "Like you" was probably written when I was only 19 or 20 years old. Anyway, thing is, this first record hasn't even been released yet and I already have six or more songs/song sketches for the next recording.

The nice part about songs, unlike clothes, though, is that I find that I don't grow out of them. They don't become tired or ragged, no matter how many times we play them. They are sweet little reminders of where I've been and how much I've grown.

~Beth

Photos for our record with Merri Cyr

2007-05-25T14:53:00.001-04:00

In a few weeks, Jessa and I will head into the studio, this time the photography studio, to take photos for our upcoming record! We will be working with critically acclaimed photographer Merri Cyr, who has done album covers for such luminaries as Yo Yo Ma, Paula Cole, and Jeff Buckley (including the cover of Grace, one of my favorite albums musically and photographically!), to name a few. View her lovely work here: www.merricyr.com

Although we'll be taking a break for the month of June, we hope to see you all again soon! Stay tuned for album release info!! (we are so excited)

;-)

Love,

Beth

New Track Posted!

2007-05-22T11:41:00.001-04:00

Jessa and I posted a new track from our upcoming album! This one was penned by yours truly...it's called Anomie. A comment on the social state of our present culture, it touches on the themes of disillusionment, alienation, and anxiety.

Let us know what you think!

Listen to Anomie on myspace: www.myspace.com/thecallensisters
or at our home: www.thecallensisters.com

~Beth

Thanks for coming to Arlene's!

2007-02-16T11:13:00.000-05:00

Hey all,

Just wanted to thank all of you who came out to Arlene's Grocery last night - braving the cold, outside and inside! Brrrr - I think at one point they even had the A/C on in the venue. Craziness.

Despite the cold, and my constant losing of my guitar pick, we had an excellent time! I have made up my mind that I am going to invest in one of those mic stand pick holders. (The fact that this product exists proves I'm not the only pick-losing musician out there!)

If you didn't get a chance to come out to Arlene's Grocery last night, check out our next show at Wicked Willy's (formerly Asylum) on Wednesday, March 15, 8pm.

For random enjoyment and informative purposes, here is the setlist for last night:

1. Wake up
2. Wildfires
3. Life
4. Between Us (new song!)
5. Reincarnate
6. Like You
7. Phase
8. Lullaby
9. Tangled Up

Cheers,
Beth C

Lucky Number 3

2007-01-17T17:21:00.000-05:00

My lucky number is 3. I remember when I was a kid, I went to a yard sale on my street with my best friends from the neighborhood. We all had our eyes on this one beautiful, amazing ring. Everyone wanted it and no one was backing down. The seller of the lux bling, if you will, told us all to pick a number between 1-10. Whomever was closest got the ring. Well, you know what number I picked? 3. And I won! Yesssss.

What's your lucky number? Please embellish with personal accounts of lucky number victory!

~ Beth

A January Favorite Song/Viral Video

2007-01-04T11:45:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a song comes along that I become completely obsessed with. I have to listen over and over and hear every aspect of the music - melody, guitar riffs, organ pads, rhythms, areas of tension and release, the climax, subtle vocal effects... I literally get high listening - it MOVES me. I know there must be some people out there who feel the same way. For this reason, I've decided to post my favorite song of the month. I'd love to hear what you are listening to, (and maybe discover a new band or two) so feel free to leave comments!

Favorite January Song

I'm totally rocking out to Jeff Buckley's Lover You Should've Come Over on the train home last night...and this 50-something year old business man, armored with suit and tie, newspaper in hand, glances at me in that "you're-a-bit-off-kilter-and-you're-disturbing-my-equilibrium" kind of look, to which I just laugh and smile and fall back into the groove. I'm not sure I can fully explain in words how this song makes me feel. I feel like I'm in love. I feel euphoric, I feel alive. The song is so sweet and somber and utterly desparate. My favorite lines:

It's never over,
My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder
It's never over,
all my riches for her smiles when I slept so soft against her...
It's never over,
All my blood for the sweetness of her laughter...

If you don't know the song, I defintely recommend giving it a listen.

Favorite January Viral Video

I recently came across the funniest and most unique flash animation by a man named Alan Becker. I think you will appreciate:

Animator vs Animation
http://www.atomfilms.com/film/animator_vs_animation.jsp

and the sequel

Animator vs Animation 2
http://www.atomfilms.com/film/animator_vs_animation_2.jsp

Hearts!
Beth

Thanks! and Caffe Lena

2006-12-10T17:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all who came out to The Underscore on Friday! The sound was amazing - it was one of our best shows yet. We met a traveler from Maine - and another man who told us we sounded like the Sundays. I've never heard them, so will have to give a listen this week. We did a short set ... only 7 songs:

1. Reincarnate
2. Life
3. Tangled Up
4. Like You
5. Phase
6. Wildfires
7. Lullaby

Jessa and I are really excited for our next show on December 22nd at Caffé Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY. It will be our first show in our hometown in two years!! Caffé Lena is a really special venue, too. It's intimate and a little weather-worn. This stage has seen such greats as Bob Dylan (on his first tour!), Arlo Guthrie, and Don McLean. We really hope to see you there!

Show information:
December 22, 8pm, $10
Caffé Lena. 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Telephone for information and reservations: (518) 583 0022

Until next time, I bid you adieu!
~Beth

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought."
-Buddah

New Site, Taking a break...Poland?

2006-10-17T16:13:00.001-04:00

Finally the new site is up...songs, photos and all! After several full days slaving away at my computer... color changes, font changes, layout changes, etc. later... I can finally say that it is in working order. That doesn't necessarily mean it's finished by any means. I am always in the process of editing and trying to make things perfect. (Deep breath...and let go.) ;-)

Jessa and I are taking a break from performing for the rest of this month and next to record and find a new place to live. Yes, we are moving in together, which could prove to be a very volatile situation. ! Luckily Dan is moving in, too... should make an interesting tricycle of human interaction.

Do you ever get really excited about a plan-to-be that ends up falling through? I am the queen of this heartwrenching experience...so not to get my hopes up... but Jess and I have been asked to open for a band that is touring in Poland. Everything is very up-in-the-air...cross fingers ;-) I'll keep you posted.

If you haven't seen the new site... click here to see it in all its splendor and glory.

talk soon.
xoxo

Beth

2006-10-17T16:13:00.000-04:00

The Callen Sisters at Sin-e

2006-09-25T10:34:00.000-04:00

Thanks all for coming to our acoustic set at Sin-e September 18. So happy to see all of you there. This venue was so special to us, knowing that greats like Jeff Buckley graced this stage. I even met this really cool guy from Italy who captured my soul on his video camera! ;-) Our next show is set for October 14 at 8PM at Desmond's Tavern (Park Ave South). We hope you can make it!

~ Beth

New Song Posted!

2006-08-25T14:46:00.000-04:00

A demo version of the track "Irrelevant" from our upcoming release is now available on MySpace and The Callen Sisters website. The track was written by Jessa, our in-house "rock harpist." We are planning to release 2 singles before the album release, "Anomie," (by yours truly), and "Irrelevant." Stay tuned for dates!

~ Beth

The Callen Sisters' Band Debut

2006-08-25T09:49:00.000-04:00

The Callen Sisters performed with a band for the first time in NYC this past Tuesday, August 22nd at Kenny's Castaways for a 7:00 show. A large crowd arrived for the performance, one spectator commenting that the act was "intriguing and genuine" and pleasantly surprised that "the harp is actually part of the band, not a novelty!" The instrumentation included the Callens' voices and their harp and guitar, along with Dan Castellani on keyboards, Chris Anderson on bass, and Dave Gluck on drums. The band performed songs off the upcoming album, scheduled for release at the end of 2006. "We had so much fun!" Jessa Callen commented after the show, "We definitely want to play with the band more. It brings so much more energy to the performance!" The Callen Sisters' next show will be on September 18th at Sin-e. The show starts at 7pm, and the sisters will be on at 8.

Jessa Struts her Classical Chops at Mo Pitkin's

2006-08-10T15:57:00.000-04:00

The Callen Sisters' very own Jessa Callen showed off her Classical side at an event hosted by The Orchard at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction in NYC on July 5, 2006. Jessa entertained guests as an 'opener' for featured performer Ana Vidovic, one of the world's most accomplished classical guitar virtuosos. Jessa performed songs from her eclectic reperotoire, including Celtic and Classical harp favorites, for an hour-long happy hour prior to the show.

Jessa will be performing next at Kenny's Castaways, 157 Bleecker St, NYC on August 22 with her group, The Callen Sisters. She will be accompanied by an accomplished crew of musicians, including Dan Castellani of Slice Records on keyboards, Chris Anderson on bass, Rhythm and Brass' Dave Gluck on drums, and her sister, Beth Callen on guitar and vocals. To read more about the show, please visit The Callen Sisters website.

Dan Castellani, Slice Records Production House

2006-08-08T22:10:00.001-04:00

The subject of this post is the ever-creative, ever-versatile, man of many music-related trades, Dan Castellani. Dan is producing our debut album (as yet untitled). You could safely say that he helps make magic happen. In addition to being a phenomenal pianist and bassist, Dan's studio work is creative, intelligent, and plainly: good.

Dan is currently forming a network of musicians, audio engineers, writers, and fellow companies under his Production house, Slice Records. The production house can offer services such as: recording, mixing, and engineering; lessons in the art of digital recording; lessons on just about any instrument including harp, bass, piano, guitar and voice; musicians to play live or in the studio; and many other music 'solutions.'

Visit Slice Records Production House for all the details.