Sweet Harmonies and Flying Fingers: Don’t Miss Arc Iris at The Loft

LaGamma: A couple of years ago I attended The Low Anthem’s performance in The Allen Room at Lincoln Center. (The room overlooks Central Park—and Columbus Circle.) What was it like to play that room the night after your David Letterman appearance?

JOCIE: The night of the Letterman taping, my friends and I went to see Mat (former member of The Low Anthem) play a Spirit Family Reunion show on the Lower East Side. As the clock neared midnight and one of my friends, not being able to contain herself, let out a little squeal at Mat mid-song that we were going to leave to watch him on Letterman. We found TV’s. A giant doorman changed all of the channels in a nearly empty sports bar (there were about 50 TVs in there) to Letterman/The Low Anthem.  It was pretty hilarious and mortifying all around. 

LaGamma: What were some of the highlights you experienced while a member of The Low Anthem?

JOCIE:  My fondest memory of the American Songbook Series was Ben making his little brother—who by my standards is a giant—power the 600 pound pump organ that we had on a whim decided to bring to the show via a crank.  That was very funny!

In my days of touring and playing with The Low Anthem, my favorite part was singing three or four- part harmonies and feeling the mutual spirit of the band coming together— and working on songs with Ben and Jeff. The End of The Road festival, Glastonbury Pyramid Stage, and touring with Emmylou Harris were unforgettable landmarks.

LaGamma: Tell us something about the newest Arc Iris band members.

JOCIE: Zach Tenorio-Miller (keys), Ray Belli (drums), and Max Johnson (bass), played together in high school as members of the School of Rock All-Stars.  They toured as teens with The Butthole Surfers and with members of progressive bands such as Yes, King Crimson, and Asia. Mike Irwin plays trumpet (the trumpet that sounds like 20 different instruments). Nora Fox sings harmonies and comes from a background of opera and dance.

LaGamma: What was the first instrument you learned to play?

JOCIE: Clarinet.  My teacher in high school, Julie Vaverka, was wildly influential on my musicianship.

LaGamma: Who are some of your musical influences?

JOCIE: Well, it’s always in flux but the staples are: Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Harry Nilsson, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan.

LaGamma: What are you currently listening to?

JOCIE: Graham Nash, Songs for Beginners, has been on repeat.  Also the last track of Nilsson Schmilsson, “I’ll Never Leave You” and the last track of Randy Newman’s Harps and Angels, “Feels Like Home.”  What’s with last tracks?

LaGamma: Tell us what fans can look forward to on Friday, December 6

JOCIE: A full band and a lot of “what the f*&k,” in the best of all possible ways, I can only hope!  Sweet harmonies, sparkles, flying fingers as well as docile fingers, and stories.

Arc Iris covering Fiona Apple’s “Every Single Night”