TICKETED
In early 2023, Sean Kiely wrapped up a year’s worth of stellar, mostly sold out shows as part of his NICE Night series at Jersey City’s Fox & Crow. Did you miss it? Well you’re in luck, because it returns Thursday, July 11th for ONE NICE NIGHT ONLY.
What is a NICE night? Well, it’s pretty good. Not bad. You wouldn’t complain about it. Join Sean Kiely and his friends and collaborators for an evening of music, comedy, novelty, and sneaky feelings. It’s all but guaranteed to exceed your tempered, moderate, not-too-high expectations.
Thursday, JULY 11th will feature an opening set of music by the incredible and versatile Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter KATIE MARTUCCI; standup comedy by longtime WFMU deejay and master of ceremonies to the Cavalcade of Stars, TODD-O-PHONIC TODD; and a full set of music by SEAN KIELY and his band. You never know who might show up to sit in.
KATIE MARTUCCI is a superlative performer, bandleader, singer, and composer. Her latest release ‘Note to Self’ on La Reserve Records is a collection of songs about the “unspoken third thing in the room” — stories surrounding friendship, family history, imposter syndrome, her own personal journey with epilepsy, and more.
In addition to her solo project, Katie tours nationally with The Ladles, her folk-pop trio, while providing music workshops for local communities and developing sustainable touring methods. She is also the bandleader for Tucci Swing, a jazz ensemble featuring intricate three-part vocal harmony. Katie has been featured on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and scored film for National Geographic.
TODD-O-PHONIC TODD is a deejay, interviewer, comedian, concert promoter, and maven of the NJ/NYC music community. You can hear him every Saturday 3-6pm on WFMU’s Todd-o-phonic Todd show, where he interviews legend after legend, the likes of Richard Thompson, Thurston Moore, and Robyn Hitchcock (July 27th), on his world famous Cavalcade of Stars. Dangerous Dave Feldman of WYLDLIFE offers, “Todd-O-Phonic! Terrific friend, generous soul, and has probably forgotten bigger and better stories than you and I will ever collect in our lives. Probably the biggest sore loser in the history of bowling, but a very funny guy nevertheless.”
SEAN KIELY “writes and performs music that is gentle but stubbornly unusual — full of pivots, compositional left turns, and unexpected note and chord choices. Though he and his collaborators never sound drilled, his music is impeccably performed, evocative of folk traditions, but more often redolent of the waterfront at night and the strangeness of the Hudson County post-industrial landscape than it is of the woods. Kiely is pleasantly uncompromising: friendly and approachable, but sharp-toothed. Attitude hums and hisses in his grooves.
His realization of this sound has made him a favorite in his hometown. Since the release of Your Logo, My Logo in 2015 and It Sure Was Good in 2018, he's become a regular attraction on local stages large and small. As his reputation has grown, so has his scope — and his curiosity. Kiely’s recent music is the result of exploration and inquiry with new and varied collaborators from the folk, jazz, and pop realms. Everything that endeared this artist to Jersey City remains here, including the adventurous melodies, the radiant harmonies, the smart, sharp-minded lyrics, the distinctive combination of open-heartedness and world-wise wariness, the heartbroken confessional storytelling, the nods to classic ‘60s pop, ‘70s AM gold, and ‘80s college rock recalcitrance.” – Tris McCall