"One guy, a mic, and a guitar. Good stuff."
NOBANDWITHABANDON   NOFANSONLYFRIENDS
Check this out:  the "typo" says it all


GIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGSGIGS

THIS WEEK     THIS WEEK      GIGS  THIS  WEEK      THIS WEEK      THIS WEEK
Saturday May 25THE SPAGHETTI STAIN
Dover, NH  6pm

NEXT WEEK      GIGS  NEXT  WEEK      NEXT WEEK
IN CONCERT
Saturday June 8THE BACK ROOM
at The MILL
Bristol, NH  730pm



"When I am on earth, I listen to Joel Cage"


I believe that all the songs I play,

no matter how I play them,

are truly great songs.

I just try to do them justice
...

and hopefully then some.



My Favorite Compliments "From The Book" Department

"Bravo in paradise! As gentle as ever, but still play possessed.  Remarkable."

"People don't generally well up with tears when listening to a single musician's interpretation of a rock song. It is more typical of those viewing an opera for such an emotional response to be evoked. There are many factors that blend together when watching you perform. Your passion and sincerity, prodigious skill combined with humility, rapport with the audience. Your performance last night was a transcendental experience. You reached for something metaphysical, whether intentional or not, that resulted in beauty."

"The energy you give has always been good (could always feel your passion for what you do), but of late, it has been unbelievable and charged with so much positive energy—it washes over those of us out there listening, watching, even those who aren’t paying attention, and we can’t help but send that back to you.  Dare I say it?  It’s as if you are actually having fun…yes, I know you always have fun, but it’s nice when you let us into your world to witness that, other than through your music.--your laughter, smiles, stories, sense of humor.  That you connect with people through that AND your music…a powerful combination."

"Guitar sounds scha-weet!"
•  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 
Just a few words that come to my mind when I think of you and what it is that you give to all of us ordinary people…

Amazing, Remarkable, Wonderful Incredible, Marvelous, Mind-blowing, Phenomenal, Extraordinary, Exceptional, Unique, Rare, Unparalleled, Unmatched, Beyond compare, Breathtaking, Brilliant, Awesome, Awe-inspiring, Stunning, Astounding. And the list goes on…

Thank you Joel—what I loved most about last night wasn’t just the music, but it was the reaction of everyone who was listening to you…even those who you might not think were listening heard you and that made me smile.  It was so good to see and hear that appreciation—that awe—for you and what you do and THAT is what made the night for me.


•  •  •  •  •  •  •  • 
" What a great night! I'm amazed at how every time I see you it is a different experience.
Thanks for making music to make the world more sane."

" Some people deserve to get rich playing music, and you're one of 'em"

What a lovely thought! Thanks Dougie !

" I NEVER clap for every song!"

"dude....listening to streets
again.... and again....and again....
wondering, were you born with extra fingers??"

if ever there was a smile put down in words ... thanks k

"I remember hearing the sounds of what I thought were two or three guys playing...
I came around the corner of the venue
and saw this guy
just beating
the piss out of his guitar..."

MARTIN SEXTON



"Joel Cage blew me away.
Quietly asserting a complete commitment to sound and performance while allowing
others a chance to experience his experience of some 'great tunes'.
Looking forward to sippin and listenin again soon."

SOURCE UNKNOWN
my favorite kind

"Masterful guitarist. Exceptional singer. His performance is both
powerful and sublime at the same time. "

Matt Lindi - The Rose Garden, Upton, MA

"I always figured that if ya died broke & crazy then ya did the art thing just right!"
A Dear Friend and Fine Artist

Many musicians play and sing well and have a decent repertoire, not so many have truly unique qualities. Joel is truly unique; his guitar playing is friggin' wild, his song choices are wicked cool.
He is at once a throwback to the great days of rock and roll and
a
modern songsmith of the highest order.
You will leave saying "WOW".
The Dolphin Striker- Portsmouth, NH


WOW!
"What a pleasure to listen to you! To try to describe my appreciation of your music, your guitar playing, your voice, your compositions & your sound would be like describing a song of yours instead of just hearing it. So let "wow" suffice. - Although, your open chord sounds and the wide open counterpoints that the vocals create and the cascading intricacies and the rhythmic percussiveness are amazing."
~anonymous~
"... your unique, sweet, honest, strong & true sound ... Anyone within earshot of [JC] is a lucky person."
~ anonymous, but real !! ~


"Joel Cage is probably one of the best kept secrets in the music business."
IndieMusic.com
( Review - Read It! )


"He's worth going out of your way to find."
Roberta Schwartz
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
( Review - Read It! )



~~ I've been blogged! ~~
"Joel Cage is a solo acoustic-rock singer/songwriter. Joel's style is unique, passionate, and somewhat eccentric, a hard-rocking style that's both emotionally and intellectually stimulating, accented by heart-felt rhythms and melodies with some impressive (but not oppressive) guitar licks. What few cover songs he plays are decidedly in his own style, in the manner that one would expect someone with his passion and love for music the present them.
One of Joel's fortes is his ability to musically illustrate imagery, presented in short soliloquies that punctuate the performance."

Anonymous Blogger


Why We Need Live Music

By Randall Richards

Tonight, I heard my good friend Joel Cage play an evening at the Sunapee Community CoffeeHouse. This will be one of the harder posts to write because no words will justify the experience. You had to be there. Nevertheless…

Joel has always been the consummate professional. When I first heard him during our early days, when the CoffeeHouse was just starting out in Sunapee Harbor, he blew us all away with his style and technical know how. But hearing him tonight was like hearing a different person. He seems wise beyond his years, and presents an affable style.

Aside from his stunning guitar playing and vocals, he's really made a major shift skyward. He’s whole energy, the way he takes the stage, the feeling put into every note, brings the audience, at least those willing to go, to a new level of warmth and community. It seems he’s been on a long journey in a short time. He’s making the most of his journey with the time he’s given – that is clear.

The second thing I noticed about Joel, (The first thing I noticed immediately, was his total commitment to the performance, right from the first note) was his guitar.

At first I thought, “That’s an interesting sound hole placement for a guitar”, and “what a cool finish and woodwork.” Then I realized what I was seeing. It wasn’t a sound hole. Joel had actually worn away the finish, and then the wood just above the strings with his strumming, until he created the hole after years of playing .” That in itself might be a curiosity, but it’s how he plays the thing, and how he and the guitar are one. The guitar is an extension of Joel.

Joel Cage consciously creates a space, for himself, the audience, and each person in the room. He’s got the technical skills to pull off an amazing performance, but more importantly has put the heart behind his craft that puts him at the cutting edge, leading the way.

Often I talk about leadership in these posts, and the “Courage to Create” comes to mind (Read Rollo May’s book about this, with the same title). Joel is a true leader. It takes courage to present and show a new way, and break the mold of what we think music should or shouldn’t be. The gift that Joel brought to the audience tonight, was his ruthless walk to the edge and his skill in bringing us with him on his journey





© Joel Cage

cool   
     upcoming
          
shows

"We were wow-ed!
You are a feeling guy!"

- Autumn's End -



"You make your instrument sound like a whole orchestra, a lone soaring violin, a full-on rock band, a frat-house beater, and, mostly, a beautiful, beautiful acoustic guitar, sometimes all
in the same song!"

~anonymous~

"frat-house beater"
right on!