Last Friday’s acoustical performance by Folk-Artist Gregg Cagno at Mother’s coffeehouse was trulty outstanding.
Cagno’s powerful down-to-earth voice—often compared to James Taylor’s—and very skilled play on 6 and 12 stringed guitars produced a very spirited, moving show. His gentle, descriptive lyrics edged with a touch of humor captured the essence of the emotion surrounding life’s joys, sadness, and abundant absurtities.
Although I must admit that I mostly prefer modern rock and alternative rock music, I found Cagno’s quieter sound to be very “rockin’” and dynamically soothing.
My favorite songs from his show were “The Grind,” about the tension built up working day in and day out at a job you really don’t like; “Junkyard Reunion,” about Cagno’s time spent with his father at the junkyard collecting parts for his car; and “The View from Here,” about life working in the bustle of New York City.
Unfortunately, the turnout for Cagno was not very high, especially considering admission to all shows at Mother’s is free to all Rensselaer and Russell Sage students.
Cagno has recorded three CDs during his musical career: Backroad Driver, Tales from the Sixth Extinction, and the live album Present Moment Days.
His new song, “Just the Three of Us,” recently won the prize for best mellow song of 2002 in the South Florida Folk Festival’s singer/song-writer competititon.
Cagno’s next performance will be on February 8 at the Baron Arts Center in Woodbridge, NJ.
If you wish to find out more information about Cagno’s music, visit his website at http://www.greggcagno.com.
I encourage RPI students to consider attending a Mother’s show during this semester for good Friday and Saturday night entertainment.
The next Mother’s event will be a performance by Rory Block and The Holmes Brothers in West Hall auditorium on February 8.
