Monday, March 28, at the Anyway Café

 Puma, Joe (Sztabnik) and Dave (Donen) had a great time at our monthly residency at the Anyway Café, 34 East 2nd Street, NYC. Despite the unseasonably cold weather, we had a full house of both friends and diners who stumbled onto our show.

As per usual, we played for two hours, and included poetry, original songs by Joe, and two covers. Two of Joe's recent songs, "Lucy Dust" and "Home," are especially meaningful in light of the Russian war on Ukraine. We will be performing those songs on April 14 at a benefit to help Ukrainians who have been displaced by the war. The venue is the Parkside Lounge at Houston and Attorney. 

Our next two shows at Anyway Café will be May 2 and June 6; starting in July, we will continue our residency on the second Monday of every month.

Photos: Don Sztabnik, Johan Vipper, Last two by Shelley Fromm

Puma Perl by Donald Sztabnik

Dave, Puma and Joe by Johan Vipper

 

Joe Sztabnik by Shelley Fromm

Drummer Dave Donen by Shelley Fromm

 

Stand with Ukraine: April 14 at the Parkside

 On April 14, 2022, a fundraiser for Ukraine will be held at the Parkside Lounge, Houston and Attorney Street. Puma Perl and Friends is one of many bands supporting the cause. Starts at 7, ends?

Meanwhile, check out another great song and video by Joe Sztabnik.

Lucy Dust. Take Out the Power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqQOUYr32Yc

March 18, 2022, at the Parkside Lounge

Photo, Alan Rand, Puma Perl and Friends

Photo, Alan Rand, joining the Cynz on Fun

Photo, Don Sztabnik

Photo, Joy Grenauer, More Fun with Cyndi Dawson, Anne Husick and the Boys

We opened the night for Cyndi Dawson's birthday bash at the Parkside Lounge. The Puma Perl and Friends lineup was Joe Sztabnik, guitar, Dave Donen, drums, and Angello Olivieri, bass.

Photos by Alan Rand, Don Sztabnik and Joy Grenauer and here are a few by Phil Simkowitz:

 

February 28, 2022 - Anyway Café

                               Photos, Bob Krasner

Our monthly residency, Puma, Joe and Dave at the Anyway Café.

(Puma Perl, Joe Sztabnik, Dave Donen)

February 23, 2022 - 11th Street Bar

Photo, Mark McKay, backdrop Eric Seftel

 

Photo, Phillip Giambri

Back at the 11th Street Bar, 2/23/22, with SoulCake again opening for Puma Perl And Friend - Joff Wilson, Joe Sztabnik, Dave Donen, with special guests Gass Wild, who sang "Stray Cat Blues" and Seaton Hancock on sax. We will return on May 18, 2022, once again with SoulCake.

 Photos by Mark McKay and Phillip Giambri

 

February 9, 2022 - City Winery Loft, Teen Cancer USA

Photo, John Richards

Photo, Don Sztabnik

Dave Donen, drummer, and Puma Perl
Photo, Mark Pollott

 We were again included in the Teen Cancer USA benefit, which raises money  for music programs for teens in treatment. The theme was the album "Beggar's Banquet" and we performed our arrangement of "Stray Cat Blues" with the insertion of my original poem, "She Breaks."

Photos John Richard,  Don Sztabnik, Mark Pollott

January 17, 2022, Anyway Café

Puma, Joe (Sztabnik) and Dave (Donen) returned to the Anyway Café on January 17th, 2022 to continue our monthly residency. We have been very careful about avoiding exposure to COVID during times when NYC cases were on the rise and are cautiously optimistic about the near future. Upcoming dates at the Anyway Café are 2/28, 3/28, 5/2 and 6/6. Beginning July, 2022, we will be there the second Monday of each month doing a 2 hour set of original songs, poetry, and covers, 8-10 each month.

Photo, Rosie Kahn

December 9,2021 Alan Rand's Birthday Party

Photos by Don Sztabnik

Puma Perl and Friends lineup for the night was Puma Perl, Joe Sztabnik guitar, Dave Donen percussion, Angello Olivieri Bass, Danny Ray and Seaton Hancock, sax

December 6, 2021 Teen Cancer USA Benefit at the Cutting Room

Photo, Anne Husick

L-R Joe Sztabnik, Puma Perl, Dave Donen, Arno Hecht, Joff Wilson

On December 6, 2021, the first of series of benefits for Teen Cancer USA was held at the Cutting Room. The theme was connected to the recent release of "Get Back,"a three part documentary series by Peter Jackson, which includes the Beatles' last live performance. All of the bands created a song connected to the Beatles.

Joff Wilson, guitarist and vocalist, arranged a version of "Eleanor Rigby" and I recreated a poem, "Why Do I Write?" to support the teens living with cancer and enhancing their lives through the arts. The charity was started by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Bassists/writers Tom Semioli and David C. Gross conceived and implemented this series.

Puma Perl and Friends was honored to be included and to have the great Arno Hecht joining us onstage.

Photos by Anne Husick

 

November 6, 2021 Celebrating Marky

Marky Iannello, 9/28/53-2/17/21, Photo Puma Perl

 

Joe Sztabnik, Dave Donen, Rick Eckerle and I
did a few songs. Photo, Don Sztabnik

With Cathy Boruch

Marky owned many guitars and apprenticed as a luthier when he was young.

Losing Marky Iannello was a shock to his friends and family. He was a behind the scenes legend, a gardener, a sailor, a business owner, and a beloved friend and supporter of the music and arts world.

On November 6th, 2021, his friends and family came together to celebrate his life.

In true Marky fashion, he had left behind money and a playlist so all of his friends could have a great party in his honor. And it was.

October 17, 2021 Female Fronted Bands at O'Henry's Publick House, Staten Island, NY

Onstage with Joe Sztabnik

With Pupa, Rick, Joe, Puma, Julie

Pupa, my friend for over 40 years.

I was invited by Kitty the DJ to be one of three female fronted bands playing at the O'Henry Publick House in Staten Island. Joe Sztabnik accompanied me at this event made possible by the New York Artists Corp. A bunch of our good friends came out to see us. 

September 9, 2021, SoulCake Record Release in Rochester

 We had a great time accompanying Joff Wilson, Sarafae and Laura Sativa to their SoulCake record release party in Rochester, NY.

Top photo is at Murph's, the best blues bar in town, taken by Thomas Richards.

The second is at the Photo City Music Hall, where the actual record release took place. Photo by Mary Monroe, Joe Sztabnik, Nate Coffey on bass, Mary Monroe did double duty on harp, and lo and behold Joff Wilson is a drummer.

Video What in the World

 One of my favorite recordings, with Joe Sztabnik, Joetone Studios.  Original poem, "What in the World" and vocals by Puma Perl, original music and production by Joe Sztabnik, percussion, Dave Donen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MPIsDowcPg

8/27/21 Opening for Wreckless Eric

Onstage with Joe Sztabnik, Photo Don Sztabnik

Wreckless Eric, courtesy Eric Goulden

Group shot backstage, L-R Sarafae, Amy Rigby, Puma Perl,

                     Jules Styles, Wreckless Eric, Joff Wilson

Jules Styles, Gass Wild, Joff Wilson, Joe Sztabnik, Puma Perl, Sarafae

                                         Photo by Shelley Fromm   

Joe Sztabnik and I were happy to be invited to open for the fabulous Wreckless Eric at Our Wicked Lady, located in Bushwick, Brooklyn. We played a 45 minute set to a packed house and then enjoyed Wreckless Eric's set.                                              
                   

June 25, 2021 Follow up with Michael Anthony Alago

Images by Michael Anthony Alago will be include in his upcoming book.

In our interview, he discusses the ways in which the pandemic affected him and how he got his creative juices flowing again. Read the Chelsea Community News article here:

https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2021/06/25/pandemic-warriors-third-tour-of-duty-found-in-the-faces-of-fellow-travelers/ 

June 7, 2021 at the Anyway Café

Dave, Puma, and Joe, Photo John Richards

Gass Wild joining us for a song, photo Anne Husick

Photo, John Richards

 June, 7, 2021

Another night with Puma, Joe (Sztabnik) and Dave (Donen) at the Anyway Café.

Full house with the choice of indoor or outdoor seating.

Poetry, original music, and a few covers.

 

April 24, 2021

Writing the Apocalypse: Is it Life or an Illusion?

https://chelseacommunitynews.com/2021/04/24/writing-the-apocalypse-is-it-life-or-an-illusion/

Photo, Alan Rand

Puma Perl reciting poetry with SoulCake at the Nexus Flea Market.

L-R Laura Sativa, Joff Wilson, Puma Perl, Sarafae

 

May 9, 2021

Tuesdays in May: Howl Arts Presents Puma Perl and Friends | Howl! Arts Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the past and celebrating the contemporary culture of the East Village and Lower East Side. This month, Tuesdays at 8pm, their Artist-in-Residency at Howl Arts program presents performing poet Puma Perl, so described because Perl, whose first of five books (Belinda and her friends) was published in 2008, began to collaborate with downtown musicians when giving public readings of her work. By 2012, she had formed the improvisational band Puma Perl and Friends. This residency reflects that journey, with spoken word and musical performances from writers and artists personally curated by Perl. Using material from Perl’s body of work, the four shows will reflect the author’s journey from street poet to published writer and seasoned performer. Chelsea Community News readers will recognize Perl’s name, as it appears pretty much every week via a fresh, new entry in our Writing the Apocalypse series, in which Perl uses poetry,  prose, and past incidents to document her life as a longtime Lower East Side resident living through the pandemic. As for the Howl Arts residency, here’s the schedule: Last week’s debut featured Nicca Ray. On May 11, Perl is joined by musicians Joe Sztabnik and Dave Donen, with intermission by Nicca Ray. On May 18, Perl’s guests are Joff Wilson and Seaton Hancock, with intermission by Jane Ormerod. The series concludes on May 24, with Perl and musicians Joff Wilson, Joe Sztabnik, and Dave Donen, with special guest Seaton Hancock. Intermission by Joff Wilson and/or Joe Sztabnik. For more information on this residency, click here. To view the program, which goes live at 8pm every Tuesday, click here. The May 4 installment can  be viewed any time, via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5axtVJ-_8Nc.

Published in Chelsea Community News, May 10, 2021

Top photo courtesy of HOWL Happening!

L-R, Dave Donen, Joe Sztabnik, Puma Perl, Joff Wilson, Jane Ormerod, Seaton Hancock

Second photo, courtesy of HOWL Happening! Poets Nicca Ray, Puma Perl

and Jane Ormerod