Phoebe Legere Performance Living Room at 35East Sunday October 27

PATCH caught up with Legendary singer/songwriter Phoebe Legere, who is performing at the Living Room at 35East in Ardmore on Sunday, October 27, 8 pm. Ms. Legere is a "musician’s musician," known for her 4-octave voice, dazzling virtuosity and songwriting, She has played with some of the most creative personalities of our time: David Bowie, Billy Joel, Steve Martin, Jimmy Webb, and Joni Mitchell, as well as symphony orchestras like the Cleveland Chamber Orchestra and the Boston Symphony.

Her original song Marilyn Monroe was a hit on college alternative radio, and she is recording an EP, The Montreal Sessions for Artic Records, Quebec. This is a sneak preview of one of the songs, “In Shipwrecks, Pianos Always Float” https://phoebelegere.bandcamp.com/releases

PATCH: What can your friends in Ardmore expect on October 27?

PHOEBE LEGERE: I’m first and foremost a songwriter. Every song is like a little movie. The setting is always the heart, because that is where music comes from.

Sometimes I’m writing about characters who live on the street in the East Village. Sometimes I’m writing about my fascinating friends.

My song “Vampire Nurses” is about Hunter Thompson. My song “Male Groupie” is about Johnny Depp. My song “Armageddon A Go Go” quotes from Ezekiel, one of my favorite Old Testament prophets. I wrote a song called “New York Wine” about David Bowie. He was living next door to my cousin in Woodstock, NY at the time. That song will be on my new album.

PATCH: Tell us about the camp you work with here, and also about your Foundation for New American Art.

PHOEBE LEGERE: My neighborhood, the East Village on the Lower East Side of New York City, is a place that has spawned five major art movements. Traditionally it has been “artist area.” However, the schools in our district are no longer teaching art and music to students.

Art and Music saved my life. I feel that it is my duty to bring art and music to every child. We have an art camp on a farm in Allentown, PA where we give free art, music and dance lessons to underserved children from vulnerable communities.

I am dedicated to teaching the visionary artists of tomorrow. Artists provide more than entertainment and distraction. Artists who are really doing their job are prophets.

PATCH: In addition to your hits like, Marilyn Monroe” and your recent Roots Music Radio Hit “Heart of Love,” tell us about the new song you’re premiering?

PHOEBE LEGERE: My new song is called ”(In Shipwrecks) Piano Always Float.” That’s about what the rescuers saw when they arrived at the scene of the Titanic disaster – 1400 lifeless bodies in the freezing water, a beautiful iceberg, and two grand pianos that floated out of the Titanic ballroom. But at the same time the song is also about my sadness watching the effects of climate change.

Every song is operating on two levels. The top level is the metaphor and the deep levels are like the hidden part of the iceberg – the unconscious part of the mind from which all songs come. That hidden place is the land of dreams and love.

PATCH: Any last words to your fans in Ardmore?

PHOEBE LEGERE: I love Pennyslvania and the great personalities who lived there historically. I love the great artists, farmers and entrepreneurs who live there now. To me, Pennsylvania is the quintessential American state. When I played “Ziggy Stardust” and “Heroes” in a recent David Bowie tribute, I was blown away by the passion and great vibes of the Bowie fans. In addition to some toe-tapping, cover songs, I will play my own songs, my little movies from the heart, and I look forward to meeting at my show at the Living Room East 35 – a great little listening room if there ever was one.

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