Vikesh Kapoor - Tractor Tavern - Seattle, WA

After a long and lonely tour Vikesh Kapoor made his way back to the West Coast and the Tractor Tavern. Vikesh Kapoor is an incredible talent who carries shock value in his back pocket.  Normally performing without a backing band Vikesh's bright and empowering vocals command the attention of the crowd in a completely unexpected way. Vikesh maintains a lyrical honesty without fluff or filler but rather instills in his words a level of depth and meaning that lacks in most music these days. 

Tour Dates

Feb 23 Sweetwater Music Hall w/ Eleni Mandell Mill Valley, CA Tickets RSVP 

Feb 27 Noise Pop Festival w/ Mark Mulcahy San Francisco, CA Tickets RSVP 

Feb 28 McCabe's Guitar Shop w/ Eleni Mandell Santa Monica, CA Tickets RSVP 

Mar 03 Bootleg Theatre w/ Moses Sumney Los Angeles, CA Tickets RSVP 

Mar 20 Treefort Music Festival w/ The Joy Formidable, Boise, ID Tickets RSVP

Vikesh Kapoor * New Video-"Searchin' for the Sun" * On Tour Now!

Vikesh Kapoor is an old soul that produces heartfelt and compelling songs. He keeps you in the moment and tuned in to a feeling of purpose. Vikesh is truly enjoyable to watch live and I cannot wait for his up and coming album!

Three years ago, Vikesh Kapoor performed at Howard Zinn's memorial service in Boston, in front of Zinn's family and colleagues (including Noam Chomsky). Inspired by Zinn's lifelong battle against class/race injustice, Kapoor spent the next two years in Portland, Oregon working on a concept record based on a related newspaper article. His debut album, The Ballad Of Willy Robbins, out this Fall, chronicles the brutal but hopeful story of a working class man who slowly loses everything: ambitions, health, family, shelter. The album was co-produced by Adam Selzer (M. Ward) and features stellar participation from Nate Query (Decemberists, Black Prairie), Jeff Ratner (Langhorne Slim) and Birger Olsen (Denver). 

For more information visit Vikesh at facebook or his web site.

"Searchin' for the Sun" is from the upcoming debut album "The Ballad of Willy Robbins" due out in the Fall. This live video was shot at the beginning of this run of tour dates in Portland, Oregon at Star Theater when he supported the amazing Laura Marling.

VIKESH KAPOOR / SEARCHIN' FOR THE SUN / STAR THEATER from Vikesh Kapoor on Vimeo.

 Tour Dates:

• Wed June 19 TT the Bears, Cambridge MA w/ Sam Amidon
• Thur June 20 Spotty Dog Books & Ale, Hudson NY
• Fri June 21 Make Music Philly (multiple shows), Philadelphia PA
• Sat June 22  Rockwood Music Hall, New York NY
• Sun June 23 Hillstock Festival, Brooklyn NY w/ Saintseneca
• Sun June 23 The Port at 745 Westminster, Providence RI
• Mon June 24 The Red Door, Portsmouth NH
• Tue June 25 Wooden Dinosaur House Show, Guilford VT
• Wed June 26 Cameo Gallery, Brooklyn NY
• Fri June 28 Iron Horse, Northampton MA w/ Night Beds
• Sun June 30 Mississippi Studios, Portland OR w/ Frontier Ruckus
• Thur July 18 UMS Festival, Denver CO
• Fri July 19 Daniels Hall w/ Tift Merritt
• Fri/Sat July 26-27 Timber! Outdoor Music Festival, Carnation WA 

Looking back... Newport Nightcap 2011

Words // Scott Pingeton

Six months ago I was counting down the days to another Newport Folk Festival...and our Newport Nightcap afterparty.  Putting together a lineup of four fantastic artists, organizing beer sponsorships, ticket sales, lighting/sound, coordinating with a venue ill-equipped for an event of its size and everything else that went into the party (not to mention holding down a demanding day job) was tough.  But ultimately so so worth it.  The party was a huge success - great music, a HOT, packed, sold-out venue and even a little mention in Billboard magazine for our troubles.  It was a ton of fun for me personally and hopefully for everyone that could make it.

After Newport weekend we wrapped up our coverage of the festival, but what seemingly got lost in shuffle was coverage of the Nightcap.  I was too busy to take photos or video, and only managed to get recordings of two of the four bands.  Then just a few days ago, the good folks and Kitchen Sessions sent over some incredible videos shot that night - I didn't even know these existed!  The audio is a little inconsistent, but I think these show what an incredible night it was.  Great memories.

Vikesh Kapoor - Mack The Knife

Pearl And The Beard - Sweetness

Swear And Shake - Johnnie

Kingsley Flood - I Don't Wanna Go Home

Vikesh Kapoor added to Newport Nightcap lineup!

We're excited to announce the fourth and final artist for the Newport Nightcap...VIKESH KAPOOR.  The former Bostonian and current Portlander (Oregon, that is) will make his triumphant return to the East Coast to play the Nightcap.  Armed with an acoustic guitar and personal slice-of-life songs, Kapoor's music recalls days gone by, before folk went electric and mainstream and Starbucks-approved.  If you're going to the folk festival, you're guaranteed to dig this.

Vikesh Kapoor joins Kingsley Flood, Swear and Shake and Pearl And The Beard, rounding out a lineup that I can say with certainty is arguably pretty much the best unofficial Newport Folk Afterparty ever.  There are still a handfull of advance "VIP" tickets left - for just $10 these get you guaranteed admission, a poster and some CDs and other goodies (BUY HERE).  There will also be tickets available at the door for $5. Join us at 7pm to cool off and stick around for the live music all night long. 

Check out Ryan's Smashing Life for an exclusive premier of a brand new Vikesh Kapoor video!

Vikesh Kapoor - Sherene, Don't Be Alone

Vikesh Kapoor has been quiet over the last few months, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy.  The singer-songwriter moved from Boston to Portland OR and has been working on a follow-up to last year's promising Newspress Scare 7".  No details yet on when we'll hear that follow-up, but a new track has surfaced as part of The Sights Of Sounds video series.  Fans of Kapoor's carefully-spun folk songs will enjoy "Sherene, Don't Be Alone", a sweetly melancholy song to an estranged lover.

Vikesh Kapoor: Lizard Lounge Cambridge 5.11.10

Vikesh Kapoor at the Lizard Lounge. Photo by Maria Cristina Romero

Vikesh Kapoor brought his timeless folk songs to the Lizard Lounge last week.  Standing in the single spotlight with harmonica around his neck and guitar slung off his shoulder, he looked the part of a troubador and sang songs of struggle and heartache.  The excellent 40 minute set featured a mix of songs from his debut EP On the Tail of a White Donkey as well as the recently released Newspress Scare 7".  In the dimly lit basement that is the Lizard Lounge, it felt like it could have been 1962.  The songs are pure folk songs that recall the social commentary of Dylan and Seeger, but are wholly relevant to today's unique issues and concerns.  Vikesh Kapoor is a true songwriting talent, and I'm looking forward to hearing much more from him in the future.  Check out more photos from the show here.

Full soundboard recording is available for stream or download below.  Sound is excellent, but we were only able to get a mono feed, which I think gives the recording a vintage feel.  Thanks to Vikesh and the Lizard Lounge for making this recording possible - please support Vikesh Kapoor by buying his music and visiting his myspace.  Check out his live show at Club Passim's campfire festival on Saturday 5/29 - tickets available here.

Vikesh Kapoor
Lizard Lounge - Cambridge, MA
May 11, 2010

Careless Love
Down by the River
Willy Robbins
Butcher Boy
Newspress Scare
If I Had a Song
Mack The Knife

Full set download:  mp3 zip

I was able to capture Willy Robbins on video, one of many highlights. Video quality is somewhat mediocre, but I think it captures the ambiance of the room and power of the live performance pretty well:

Recommended: Vikesh Kapoor

  

Vikesh Kapoor writes folk songs that sound as if they were teleported from 1960s Greenwich Village - but rather than shallow nostalgia, the songs take real modern issues and wrap them in language and delivery that recall the past.  Newspress Scare, a freewheelin' protest song,  uses a metaphor of a broken newspress to comment on topics such as political deception, the failure of media and public apathy -- or at least that's my interpretation.  Listen for yourself:

Vikesh Kapoor - Newspress Scare

Get the Newspress Scare 7" here.  Vikesh Kapoor opens for John Shade at Lizard Lounge tomorrow (5/11), tickets only $5 - get them here.