[00:00:11] Speaker A: Hello and welcome to the first episode of the Marshall Arts podcast. I'm Rick Marshall. Over the last two decades, my journalism career has taken me around the world, covering art and the people who create it. But it all began in New York's Capital Region.
In this podcast, I'll talk to a wide range of local artists in various mediums about their work and inspiration, as well as the shared interests and experiences that connect us all, regardless of where you call home. I hope you'll join me.
My first guest is Erin Harkes, one of the region's most prolific entertainers, who's been named the Capital Region's best musician and comedian many times over. During her long career, she's performed on The Jimmy Fallon Show and opened for a long list of musical and comedy acts in this region and while touring around the country. She's also been my friend for several decades now, which I'm sure she'll agree is her greatest achievement so far.
With plenty on her performance plate these days, I sat down for a fun, meandering conversation with Erin about her music, her comedy, and both the past and potentially bright future of the regions art scene.
[00:01:27] Speaker A: Erin, I want to start by actually talking to you a little bit about how far we've come, because I was thinking about it the other day, and I realized that the first time I met you was in a bar that was absolutely flooded with cigarette smoke. And I think that it's so telling that you and I go so far back that we come from a point where people didn't realize that cramming everyone into a small, enclosed space and filling it with secondhand smoke was maybe not a good idea.
[00:01:57] Speaker B: Yeah, weird. Also, as a vocalist, that it didn't bother me. I mean, I smoked myself at the time, so I didn't care.
Oddly enough, I did get hired by Savannah's one time because I was trying to make some extra scratch, and they hired me to clean the walls of the place. So I can tell you how much tar existed on those walls. It was one of the most disgusting jobs I ever did. It was like it got painted. That's how different it was when I got done with it.
[00:02:27] Speaker A: Well, I can tell you that after the smoking ban went through and the next time that I went back to that bar, I didn't realize the floors were that color. I was like, is this a new bar? Did they refinish the place? Is it different? Am I in the right place?
[00:02:41] Speaker B: Did they refinish the place? Cause I think there was carpet for a while, which was bad idea.
[00:02:47] Speaker A: Well, that's how far we go back, though I like bringing that up about the fact that we predate nationwide bans on smoking.
[00:02:56] Speaker B: We go very far back. I would say at least half our lives.
[00:03:01] Speaker A: Life moves pretty fast.
[00:03:02] Speaker B: Yes!
[00:03:03] Speaker A: I hadn't even begun my career in journalism when we met, and you were still sort of figuring things out musically, I know, as well. Fast forward a few decades. Now I'm sitting here interviewing you in a fancy studio. You are an award-winning, multitalented musician, comedian. You've got a recurring gig at Caffe Lena. This is the point where you're like...
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Bring it. I love it. I won't be able to fit my fat head out the door.
[00:03:29] Speaker A: But, you know, I got started covering the arts scene in the region, and I left for a little while. I came back. But you were in it. You've been in it all that time. How have things changed? Because I feel like you have a unique perspective on it from the inside.
[00:03:43] Speaker B: Yeah. What's funny is that when we first met, I didn't even know that you had any, like, journalistic ambitions, and then you started to work at Metroland. So, like, that, normally, I would find that thing out first, and then that is why I would befriend you. But we went, again, against the grain, like, completely opposite of all the other friendships that I had when I first kind of came to the Capital Region.
But, I mean, it's changed. It changes every minute, the landscape. I'm very excited now for what I have seen in the Capital Region, especially with the Caffe Lena show. And just amount of talent of original music in the Capital Region is so inspiring that it actually caused me to shift my priorities, which were playing covers in bars, which paid well, but I started to really resent. And so seeing some of these other musicians doing it made me completely shift and want to get back into the original music, and I really want to see that grow in the Capital Region. Like when we first started out. When I first started out, it didn't matter what kind of music, but there was, like, a hopping scene in downtown. Like, you could get dropped off on Pearl Street and have 15 bars to choose from. Broadway, maybe make it up to Lark Street. There was either a band or a DJ, but every single place had something rocking all the time, and I don't think we'll ever get back to that. But, I mean, honestly, the talent in this area, I feel like we could have some sort of festival that would rival something in Austin. I know that's a bold statement, but I believe in it.
[00:05:27] Speaker A: Hey, you have to start somewhere. Bold statements.
[00:05:29] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:29] Speaker A: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
[00:05:30] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: But before we get into some of your current projects, I do have a really important question for you here.
[00:05:35] Speaker B: Please!
[00:05:35] Speaker A: So have you reached the point where I can sell this off and afford a small island?
[00:05:41] Speaker B: No.
[00:05:41] Speaker A: This is a classic. This is a collector's item.
[00:05:44] Speaker B: Does it still have my lipstick in it?
[00:05:46] Speaker A: It is a burned CD of your first album.
[00:05:49] Speaker B: Oh, my God.
[00:05:50] Speaker A: Your lipstick is on the inside cover, which is handwritten. There's not even a sticker on the CD. It's just handwritten. And there's even. I think my favorite part, though, however, is the hotmail address.
[00:06:01] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:06:02] Speaker A: Underneath the track listing.
[00:06:03] Speaker B: Yes. That was how to get in touch with me. Cause I never, ever wanted to give out my number. That CD and the giving it to you is one of my all-time favorite musical memories. Because we were at Savannah's, I was very new. That CD. Not only did I produce that CD, if you can even call it that all by myself, I did. I burned copies of it. I stuffed the CDs. And it's like, it's not a regular sleeve. It's like an old plastic CD ROM, whatever the hell. And the spine and everything. I had to cut it to certain proportions. I mean, you could see I used the best printer possible.
But the crew that you hung out with, you guys came to Savannah's. It was your birthday. I played Murphy with the blues band.
[00:06:55] Speaker A: My favorite.
[00:06:56] Speaker B: And your face will forever be etched in my brain like you were swooning a little bit. And it was really sweet because nobody had ever really made that big of a deal about me. And so giving that to you and knowing what that meant to you meant so much to me. So there's been a mutual, you know, admiration kind of thing brewing for over two decades now with us.
[00:07:19] Speaker A: Thank you. That's very nice of you. You know, I first got to know you as a musician, of course, and we've talked a lot about that here. But I do think it's interesting that you made this pivot to comedy. And I remember when you told me about it, when I heard about it, the first thing that went through my head was, that tracks. I mean, that makes sense.
Because sometimes people make this switch to different sort of stage performances, and you're like, how's that gonna work? But it made perfect sense to me. And your latest album, Uncle Ernie, just came out.
[00:07:51] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:07:51] Speaker A: So I do wanna know maybe a little bit more about what comedy does for you. Cause you and I have talked privately about what comedy means to you and what being up there has done for you and has meant for you. But I'd love it if you could talk a little bit about why comedy.
[00:08:08] Speaker B: Sure. I think it all boils down to, not to be super reductive, but I think that I've realized, and as much as I hate to admit, I've realized in the past few years, that there's something about having undivided attention that I guess I have craved my entire life. And so the way music played into the comedy and then back into the music is interesting because I would do these solo shows where I was completely ignored and it never bothered me. And then I would do a show where I did original music and had a captive audience, and I would start to tell stories in between the songs and I would get the laughter. And that felt like that was just an endorphin that I hadn't experienced sober, I guess. So when I first decided to try comedy, like, when I got done, I was shaking. I was just, it was like such an adrenaline rush and I wanted to chase that. And so over the years, doing comedy, like good or bad, like the best show is just having people just sit and listen and tell the jokes and just feeling that connection with the audience that's kind of spilled back into the music, which made me want to do more originals, more listening room kind of vibes where people are just engaged. And I always feel embarrassed to say that I want that kind of undivided attention. But overall, I'm not embarrassed because who wouldn't want somebody to pay attention to their art?
[00:09:34] Speaker A: That makes sense. What is the hardest part of comedy for you? Because a lot of people when they hear about stand up comedy, they're like, oh, I could never do that. And that's the biggest obstacle for a lot of people. Years ago, I did a feature where I followed local stand up comedians, sort of who are just getting to learn how to do it, to sort of going to classes. I believe it was out in Broadalbin area there, to a comedy club that used to be out there.
[00:09:57] Speaker B: Was that a barn?
[00:09:58] Speaker A: Yes!
[00:09:59] Speaker B: Yeah, the farm?
[00:10:00] Speaker A: Yes. And I followed the comedians who were taking the class there and it sort of culminated with them doing a performance on New Year's Eve opening for the act that had come in. And it was wonderful to watch them overcome that hurdle. And I'm curious for you, what is the hardest part of comedy for you? Is that a big hurdle just to get up there? Cause it seems like it's not. You're used to the stage, it would seem.
[00:10:21] Speaker B: I'm faking it. You know, the thing about comedy that has always been so interesting to me is the dichotomy between being so afraid and so self conscious about things and really needing that kind of validation and then putting yourself in this vulnerable position where if it doesn't go well, it's a horrible feeling.
[00:10:48] Speaker A: You're out there. You're out there in front of everyone.
[00:10:50] Speaker B: So I can't think of anything else where it'd be, like, a firefighter who's afraid of fire. Not to reduce that or anything, but it's the only career that I can think of where we're kind of broken individuals. We've had a lot of trauma. We've had drug or alcohol problems. I'm painting a broad stroke. But if you talk to any comedian, most of them have had some sort of trauma in their life, and we just need that kind of validation. And we put ourselves in this position where we don't know if we're gonna get that or not, and we risk it every time, and that is terrifying, but we do it anyway, you know? So I'm proud of myself for doing it, but also, I'm like, what are you, an idiot?
[00:11:35] Speaker A: There's always that voice. Well, I do want to switch gears because I really want to talk about one of the biggest things that you have going on right now, this Caffe Lena recurring series, the Lena Go Round songwriter showcase. For those who might not be familiar with either a, the series, or b, Caffe Lena, because it is a massively historic venue. Talk a little bit about that.
[00:11:56] Speaker B: Yeah. Thank you. Again, in my process of trying to find more ways to do original music, I played my very first show at Caffe Lena last summer, and a lot of people said, which was very flattering to me, that they couldn't believe that was my first time. Like, I had people that worked there. They're like, you should have done this, like, years ago. And I was like, to me, I was doing all the covers, and I was, you know, playing, like, eight or nine times a week, and I was like, I wanted to wait until I knew I could bring a show that I could be proud of and a show that would sell very well. And that was last summer, and I sold out. It was all but four tickets. But then somebody in the audience got up and bought the last four, which was like, I still don't know who it was.
[00:12:38] Speaker A: That's amazing.
[00:12:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Like, the woman came by the door, she was like, you sold out. And I was like, it was just a nice moment. So, like anything else, like, with comedy and music, is when I don't see enough opportunities to do something, I try to create those opportunities. Like, that's why I produce so many comedy shows, because there's not very many places to perform in the Capital Region otherwise. And so I noticed that there was things like Song City in Troy, which did a songwriter in the round thing, a la Nashville, which I saw down in Nashville years ago, and it was just so great.
And then my friend Josh was doing something up in Glens Falls, where it was the whole songs in the round thing. It's just. It's a really beautiful concept. And I was like, all right, well, there's one in Glens Falls. There's one in Troy. There should be one in Saratoga. And I actually approached another venue first, and they kind of took the idea and ran with it in a completely different direction. They turned it into, like, a karaoke contest. And they were like, you can still be involved. And I'm like, no, I can't.
[00:13:44] Speaker A: Yeah, that's not the same.
[00:13:45] Speaker B: No, that's awful. And I don't want to be. And I was talking to somebody, and they were like, why don't you ask Caffe Lena? And I was like, because there's no way.
[00:13:54] Speaker A: It's Caffe Lena!
[00:13:55] Speaker B: It's Cafe Lena. Like, why am I. Am I really gonna shoot above, you know, my pay grade?
[00:14:01] Speaker A: Bob Dylan played there!
[00:14:01] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. Like, I played the first Eddies hall of fame, where, for the Lena award, they asked me to play a Bob Dylan song. Like, I know the responsibility that you have if you get the chance to play a club like this. And so I was like, you know what the worst they could say is? No. And I'm no stranger to rejection. And I messaged Sarah, and she wrote back pretty quickly, and she goes, I love this idea. And I almost burst into tears. I still pinching myself. I still can't believe that I get the opportunity to do a monthly show at this place.
[00:14:37] Speaker A: Tell us about the monthly show.
[00:14:40] Speaker B: Locally, it's myself and three others I've just been able to pick. I try to keep, like, a good variety. Like, I'll get, you know, the first few that I did, I got people that don't normally play acoustic, so it was fun to, like, you know, have them, like, the unplugged. Yeah. Like, one of my favorites was John Glenn, who I love the bands that he has been in over the years, and he goes, yeah, so such and such is gonna come with me. I go, no, no, no. You're playing solo, and it's gonna be acoustic. And he was, like, okay. And he was, like, terrified in a way. Like, just nervous. And he did so well, and it was so great to hear the songs that I knew of his stripped down like that. And, I mean, I've had Girl Blue. I've had Josh Morris. I've had Reese Fullmer. I got Kim Buckley, who's kind of, like, coming out of retirement. She was huge for me when I first started out.
[00:15:32] Speaker A: Oh, for sure.
[00:15:33] Speaker B: It's really inspiring. And if anything, like, it just keeps me on track to commit to doing the original music, which is really what I want to do very badly. And I've been writing more, and I've just. I'm so inspired, and I just, like I said, I can't believe I get to do it.
[00:15:53] Speaker A: Well, I did want to ask you about the original music side, because music and performing and all of these things locally, that's such a churn. It can really, like, burn out a lot of people. A lot of the performers that were regulars around this scene back when you and I first met aren't performing anymore. I've seen a lot of people who used to be performing all over the place. You'd see them everywhere, who have sort of vanished. Now, what keeps you going? How do you feel about sort of making, you know, music these days?
[00:16:22] Speaker B: For me, I think the most important thing is don't try to compare. Don't overthink things. Like, when I write a song, I just have to just let it out, and then maybe I'll go back and fix it up later. But I've always impeded myself by going like, oh, no, that's not good, or, that's not this, or that's not that. It's like, just write it.
Go back and fix it later. Just write it. And that's been helping me a lot. I mean, it's. I get burned out three, four times a day, you know? But I. Luckily, I'm still an optimist because I remember the best shows and how those feel, as opposed to the awful ones that make me just wanna quit everything I do. I definitely, like, I had something happen last month which really put me in this very, like, deep depression for a few days. And luckily, I can usually get myself out of it pretty quickly. But it was something. It was a rejection that hit, like, a ton of bricks, and I took a day and just, you know, licked my wounds, and I had people going, like, listen, it's not. And I go, I need a day to feel horrible about this. And I had this moment where I was like, you could either just say, like, screw it and be done or go for something bigger. And I like a masochist. I decided I was like, cause it was comedy related, I was like, I should quit. And I was like, nope. Instead, I threw myself out there, and I went and I did a week of comedy in New York, being one of strap hangers, getting no money, maybe having a great audience, maybe having a terrible audience. And I took the risk, and it was great. I'm so proud of myself that I did it because it could have gone either way. And so I guess ultimately, I'm still optimistic about things and my career.
[00:18:16] Speaker A: Were you out on the street trying to get people into your comedy show? Were you one of them?
[00:18:20] Speaker B: No, I have not had to.
[00:18:23] Speaker A: I've lived in New York. I know them.
[00:18:24] Speaker B: I have not had to bark. Luckily, I've done well enough where I get to just be on the show. But it is so sweet, though. I see some of these younger comics that are just starting out, and they're like, they're barking.
I appreciate that drive and that ambition because I had days like that. I had a show that I tried to produce 20 years ago where I literally flyered Lark Street, like, literally just, like, threw flyers out in the air in, like, hopes that people would pick it up and come to the show. So it's like, that's how you learn. You have to be willing to do the odd jobs that nobody else wants to do. Like, you have to shovel crap and just do the things that nobody else wants to do.
[00:19:05] Speaker A: You have to scrape cigarette tar off of bar walls.
[00:19:07] Speaker B: Exactly, exactly, exactly. You have to. Yeah, volunteer to do things like that, but whatever helps get you on somebody's radar. And also, you have to make sure that you're not being taken advantage of, because there are some clubs around that will just use you, and you have to just step back and be like, is this going to lead somewhere, or am I happy with just being able to perform there? Because if you think it's going to lead to something, you're probably wrong.
Especially, like, some of the places in, in the city that do bringers. Like, there was this one guy, I did, like, eight bringers for this one club, and I finally got the chance to audition for the owner, and Jerry Seinfeld showed up right before my set, and the owner left with him. So after doing, like, eight bringers, where I brought, like, 15-20 people each time, my big shot was blown, and they were like, well, he'll watch your tape. And I don't know if he ever watched my tape, but I had to kind of sever ties with that. And I would love to work at that club, but I'm not gonna go through that again. I'm not gonna make my New York friends come out and see the same six minutes every time. Now when I go down, I don't even ask people to come out. I'm like, if they hear about it and they wanna come see a show, like, I met my cousin for dinner, and I said, don't come to the show. Just meet me for dinner. And he was like, oh, all right. You sure? I'm like, yeah, you've supported me enough.
[00:20:27] Speaker A: You've put in your time. You've bought enough of the necessary drinks.
[00:20:32] Speaker B: You're tapped out. It's fine. When it matters, I'll ask you to come.
[00:20:36] Speaker A: Well, I do want to know, too, where else we can see you lately, because you have so much going on. I know you have several monthly programs that you're doing. Where else can we see you? Music, comedy. What's going on?
[00:20:48] Speaker C: All right, well, music, obviously, the Caffe Lena thing, we're taking the summer off, so after May, we're not doing June, July, and August, but we're gonna pick up with a vengeance in the fall. Hopefully by this time next year, it will be successful enough where we can keep it going throughout the year. We're kind of like, still. It's doing well, but it's still, like, you know, with what they can do there in the summertime. It was like, let's not risk it with, you know, the track and everything like that. So hopefully next year it'll be, like, kicking, and it will be a no brainer that we keep it running all year long. So that's the last Wednesday of every month. This one coming up. Speaking of, like, older performers that I adore, I've got, like, Roseanne Merneri on this. I'm gonna cry the whole time she performs. Like, I love this woman. I cannot believe that I get to work with her again after all this time.
[00:21:34] Speaker A: You know, that can go either way, the crying the whole time she performs.
[00:21:38] Speaker B: Listen, I'm emotional. I don't know, but that's amazing. I'm looking forward to that. And then I have the first Wednesday of every month I'm at universal preservation hall for a show I have called women aren't funny, and it's all female comics. And that's been going great. What's funny is sometimes when we only get, like, 60 or 70 people out. To me, it feels like a failure if I don't sell it out. And I'm like, could you have gotten 60 or 70 people to come out three years ago on a Wednesday in the middle of winter? It's like, this is a success. Like, it's okay. Like, it's a win. Go easy on yourself. I've just put so much pressure on myself. So that's been going very well. I've been getting to work with some really amazing female comedians from, you know, New York and Boston and locally, and then my other regular monthly one, which is something that has shocked a lot of people.
[00:22:31] Speaker A: Me included.
[00:22:33] Speaker B: Yes. I'm doing a kid's open mic at Emack and Bolio's the first Sunday of every month.
[00:22:39] Speaker A: That is just playing with fire. As a parent myself, I just. I wouldn't do a kids open mic in my own home, let alone in a public venue.
[00:22:51] Speaker B: I would never do an adults open mic ever again.
[00:22:55] Speaker A: Okay, fair enough. Fair enough.
[00:22:57] Speaker B: But kids, they are amazing. It is so. Like, I could cry right now. It is so fulfilling. They are so sweet, and they just want it. And honestly, I started out. I'll be completely honest, I started out as a businesswoman. My friend that just bought Emack and Bolios said that she was trying to think of some things to do in the colder months to bring in when not everybody was eating as much ice cream.
Like, hit me, like, a few days later, and it was a complete business move on my part. I said, you know, you get kids, all of these family members are gonna come in and watch them. And then I did my first one, and I was like, oh, my God, I love this. These kids, they're just so, like, we had our second one just last Sunday, and this one little girl who came and played the fiddle the first time, when I called her up, she comes, like, running up. Like, she was excited to see me. And, like, they're just. They're awesome. They're. And they're going for it. And I'm so glad that even though I said it started out as a business move, that I get to provide an opportunity for these kids. You know? Like, there were no open mics for kids when I was first banging it out on the piano.
[00:24:06] Speaker A: Not at all. This was a shock to me when I saw that you were doing this, and this could have been excruciating, or it could be absolutely rewarding, which is what it sounds like it's been.
[00:24:15] Speaker B: Yeah, it really has. I look forward to it. These kids are amazing and they're so grateful. And they have, like, different levels of talent. Some of them are brand new. Some of them have been working on it for a while. But, I mean, I feel like, you know, maybe at this time in my life, in my career, I can focus on helping other people do some of the things that I've done and maybe even being more successful than me without being bitter about it at all.
[00:24:42] Speaker A: And the best part is this time you're not doing a open jam in a cigarette smoke-filled bar.
[00:24:48] Speaker B: That is true. That is true.
[00:24:50] Speaker A: I feel like it's come full circle, but in a much more rewarding, enriching way.
[00:24:55] Speaker B: Yes. I mean, that was fun and that was a good start, but, I mean, I'm lucky that I got out of that scenario alive, you know?
[00:25:02] Speaker A: I think we all are.
[00:25:03] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. It's really interesting to be on the side of that.
[00:25:07] Speaker B: Erin, I gotta say, thank you so much for doing this. I really do appreciate. This has been a weird, wonderful trip down memory lane. Yeah, there's been music, there's been comedy. There's been hazy periods, both literally and figuratively, that we've talked about here. But I am so glad you could be a guest here.
[00:25:24] Speaker B: My pleasure. Thank you so much for having me.
[00:25:31] Speaker A: This has been the Marshall Arts podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like what you heard and want to hear more, make sure to subscribe to this show wherever you get your podcasts and tell your friends about it, too. They'll thank you. For more coverage of the region's arts and entertainment scene, head to dailygazette.com and Nippertown, covering music and arts around Albany, New York and the surrounding area.
This episode was produced by me, Rick Marshall for the Daily Gazette and Nippertown. If there's a local art story you'd like to hear more about in this podcast, you can contact me at
[email protected] or via various social media channels.
