James Barbour at Bill's Gay Nineties

[LadyDramaturg2]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 4:30pm

Jim Barbour is again presenting his Holiday Concert (having opened on Friday 12/11, running through 12/19) with different guest performers every night. Saturday night, his guest was the lovely Stacy Francis, whose self-titled website offers many samples of her work [stacyfrancis.com/portfolio].

Jim's set list on Saturday the 12th:

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Blue Christmas
I Hear Bells
Jingle Bells
Mele Kalikimaka

- -Stacy's set:
Silent Night
The Christmas Song
Oh Come All Ye Faithful

- -James resumes:
The Twelve Days Of Christmas (with audience)
If You Just Believe
The First Noel
Dreidel Song
Measure Of A Man
O Holy Night

The Musical Director is Constantine Kitsopoulos. Terrific performances in a landmark setting ("A New York Original Speakeasy"); try to catch his show if you have a chance.

Updated On: 12/13/09 at 04:30 PM

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 9:05am

LadyDrama, I responded to the other thread where someone talked about the concerts, before I saw this one. Thanks immensely for that great line-up of songs from the concert! Ususally it is hard to get people to list them, and James does not comment in his blog about such things.
I'll ask you the same question about the venue: How is the layout, how far is the stage from the audience, etc...
Was the concert sold out? because Smartix is saying that all his shows are "sold-out"...(?) And if you get a higher priced ticket, do you have to sit at a certain area, or can you choose to sit further back?

[madscientist]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 4:10pm

I would also like to thank you for the update! I'm planning on going also and I'm really looking forward to it! Glad to see 12 days of Christmas is back! I was also curious about the layout of the venue. I was wondering how dressed up the people were at this concert? I did not see anything about a dress code on the website, but I want to be sure I don't show up overdressed or underdressed.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 5:03pm

Keeping with the message of the season, everyone in the audience was dressed in swaddling clothes.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 5:57pm

The venue is perfect !! Its actually more intimate than "Sardi's", and despite a bad cold, he sounded great.

There are no "bar seats" like they had at "Sardi's"-

So, there is really no bad seat in the entire place.

Even the $25 seats are pretty close.

[madscientist]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 7:09pm

Wow! that is great news about the seats! As for the dress code, I'll just have to be the oddball because I don't own any swaddling clothes .

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 12/16/09 at 1:28pm

I had a terrific time at James Barbour's show!
Barbour brings 'Holiday' cheer to Christmas cabaret

[sanda]

Posted: 12/17/09 at 1:22am

Thanks for the song list.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/18/09 at 4:05am

Since I did not make any of the concerts last year and in February, I am so very glad that I was given the opportunity to go this Christmas :)
James's voice was powerful, as always, and I loved his choice of music. I found the venue to be just right, giving that Christmas warmth and setting. Great place to see! When I walked around, there was a lot of singing going on downstairs, as well...not from the concert...I think they have a singer at the bar to keep the crowd lively.
It was not too small, just cozy enough, and I agree that you can see very well from any angle :)
And, it was nice to be able to grab one of his new CD's with "Twas the Night..." and "O Holy Night". I absolutely love the way he sings the latter song.
If you have a chance, GO!

Forgot to say that he also has a zany sense of humor which which I am sure all his fans adore (me, for one) Yet, he can keep a certain sense of seriousness, when needed.


Updated On: 12/18/09 at 04:05 AM

[eponine88]

Posted: 12/18/09 at 7:06pm

I saw last night's concert (with Robert Cuccioli, Michael Hayward-Jones, and Michelle Wolf as guest performers) and it was phenomenal. The selection of music was great- the perfect combination of fun and moving pieces- and the guests were excellent. Michael Hayward-Jones sang a truly entertaining rendition of Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer that had myself and my mother laughing out loud.

It was incredible to hear James sing in this type of venue- it was so intimate! And I'm going to have to agree with bwaybabe2 about his zany sense of humor. He really kept the audience engaged the entire time, and was very gracious about speaking with everyone and signing things afterward. Overall, a great night! I would definitely recommend seeing one of the final concerts if you can!

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/18/09 at 8:26pm

Supposed to be going back tomorrow night, but doesnt look like the weather here in NYC is going to cooperate (

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 5:09am

Sanda...not sure if you know, but yours and my post were "highjacked". Some"one"...you know what I would love to insert in that "one", right? :{...apparently tried to come off as amusing by changing the title, but fell short (actually , don't you apparently-no-better-way-to-get-your-kicks posters know that it is QUITE boring by now, honestly!) I edited mine, and hope you can still edit yours, Sanda.

Now, to the matter at hand...anyone who went to the Thursday night concert (Cuccioli and Hayward-Jones), please! give us a report. By now there's also the Friday night, where Michelle wolf was supposed to be singing as well. It'll be nice to get the different impressions from those who attended...I've never heard of her.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 11:52am

Yea, some of the other "posts" were deleted... They are beyond boring at this point...

On another note--- anyone going tonight? Still trying to see if the show is still going on (due to the weather forecast)

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 12:25pm

Burrr! At least if anyone braves the weather, they will be inside a very cozy space, inside Bill's Nineties Hope everyone can still make it, as it is very worth the effort.
Good luck! So glad I went earlier!

[Soliantu]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 12:31pm

sigh, I was going to go tonight.. Now I don't know if I wanna commute in.. Depends on how the weather looks later.. I'm especially dissappointed because I wanted to buy a hard copy of his Holiday album..

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 12:39pm

In the same boat as you, Soli--- we are just waiting it out to see what happens- Supposed to get 12-18 here in Brooklyn, by time its all over, AND supposed to be taking the lil one with us, so really dont know if we are going to attempt it.

Glad we were able to go last Sat night, in case we dont get to see it tnite.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 1:42pm

James (and Smarttix) now offering a $20 PREMIUM seat for both shows today, due to the snow... Just enter "SNOW" in the Promo box-


Updated On: 12/19/09 at 01:42 PM

[Soliantu]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 4:02pm

I know I guess I shouldn't have waited till the last night to see it.. although I didn't see any harm in it. Would anyone who's going tonight be willing pick me up the CD? I'd of course reimburse the price of it plus the cost to mail it to me... Let me know please, I'd really appreciate it.
Updated On: 12/19/09 at 04:02 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 4:18pm

Just called (and e-mailed) Smarttix, and was told that tonight's show is still scheduled, but there is really no way that we can go out in this weather (especially with a young one) ---

I worry about being able to get home--- If we do decide to risk it, will definitely pick you up the CD-

[Soliantu]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 4:25pm

Thank you Testing, that would be great. I definitely understand your concern for the travel as well, I'm from out East on Long Island.. so I know the conditions with the LIRR would already be too problematic for me

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 4:41pm

I hear ya--- the other problem is that its quote a trek from the venue to a train station, and we called out local car service, and they cant even promise that they will be able to pick us up tnite--- not a good thing (

[Soliantu]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 5:00pm

ah, yea I know what you mean. That definitely wouldn't be good either.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 6:26pm

I DID receive an e-mail back from Customer Service at Smarttix - anyway, basically, explaining that the show had not been cancelled, so there was nothing that they could do-

We did attempt to take the train into NYC at 5:30PM, but turned back once we saw that the snow and wind had picked up, and were told that the trains were having major delays. (when you are not underground, and that third rail gets icy, there are always problems. )

Anyway, so glad that we were able to go last week, and my guess is that James does the "Love Songs" concerts again- he hinted about them on his blog.
Updated On: 12/19/09 at 06:26 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 7:36pm

Just an update--- received a call from Smarttix, and they are going to refund my money for tnite's show (less the service fees)

I sent them an e-mail, and they called the venue- the gentleman from Smarttix told me that they never received a call back so fast--- the person that called them back was James Barbour- he asked them to please refund our money.

Incredibly nice thing to do !!!!!

[Soliantu]

Posted: 12/19/09 at 7:58pm

wow! That was very nice of him.