Chris Kowanko and Syd Straw

This event reprises a collaboration at Lake Flower Landing two year ago, when Chris Kowanko and Scott Renderer backed Syd Straw, just a few hours after their first-time meeting. Syd dubbed their effort “Monsterdoe.” Chris will be joined by Scott Renderer and bassist Jesse Murphy (Nora Jones, John Scofield, Brazilian Girls). Syd will be a special guest, in addition to her own opening set.

Chris, was a contender in the Indie-Rock scene back-in-the-day, with his first album produced by Lenny Kaye, and his second produced by Steve Fisk. Since moving to the North Country, he’s fronted the trio Monsterbuck with the Renderer brothers, Scott and Chris. The band was the de facto house band for the Recovery Lounge, which the Renderer brothers ran as their upholstery shop and performance venue. Scott was the director of what became the Upper Jay Art Center. The venue has nurtured a cultlike following with a word-of-mouth buzz. Byron moved away, and Scott moved on from being at the helm of the organization.

Indie-rock legend, actor, personality and wit, Syd Straw has remained a fixture in wildly diverse music-scenes: Pop, Folk, Indie Rock, even rubbing elbows with Avant Garde performers. Syd first attracted notoriety backing Pat Benatar. She went on to be the principle-vocalist in the Golden Palominos, alongside Jack Bruce, Bernie Worrell, with occasional guests such as Michael Stipe, T Bone Burnett, and Richard Thompson. For her concerts, she’s pulled guest appearances from Roseanne Cash, Rikki Lee Jones, and Loudon Wainwright. Regular collaborators include Marc Ribot, Dave Alvin, and Peter Holsapple.
Syd’s live shows are as much comedic as musical. Her in-the-moment rapport with an audience is a delight not sufficiently captured on the records. She’ll be bringing Don Piper, to accompany her on guitar.