Buffalo Rising Online

Mar 3rd 2006, 8:28am By

Friday in Buffalo means Fish Fry, Gusto at the Gallery and PeopleArt Coffeehouse. Friday nights at 9, come in from the cold to check out this hidden treasure (in the basement of Unity Church on Delaware) for some live music, hot coffee and a good time.

PeopleArt Coffeehouse Cool Music, Warm Atmosphere by Ray Kelley Venture into any one of the myriad bars, taverns, cafs or coffeehouses hosting an open mic night in Buffalo and you are likely to find a small crowd of people quietly socializing. Some will be drinking coffee, wine or beer; others will perhaps be writing in a journal, chatting with a friend, or reading a book. If, as you scan the faces of those present, you see a wizened older gentleman with black-frame eyeglasses and a salt-and-pepper Grizzly Adams beard walk over and say hello. You are in the encyclopedic presence of a true Buffalo institution: meet Bob Stalder.

Read more about the evolution of PeopleArt in Ray Kelley's article below, published in the current issue of Buffalo Rising Magazine.

An aficionado of original music, Stalder spends eight nights a week cruising the local music scene in search of new voices. He has no shortage of venues from which to choose: Nietzsches (in Allentown); The Sportsman (Amherst near Military); Caf Allegro (Hertel Avenue); and, Central Park Grill (Main Street) are but a few of his favorite haunts. Although Bob enjoys listening to live music more than anything else, his nearly nightly forays into the Buffalo music scene are not merely about passing an evening with good entertainment. Indeed, he is also continually searching for artists to invite to perform at the PeopleArt Coffeehouse.

Every Friday night at 9 oclock, PeopleArt hosts a two-hour performance by a featured local or regional musician, who performs original material. Located in the basement of Unity Church at 1243 Delaware Avenue (between Gates Circle and West Ferry), the PeopleArt Coffeehouse was originally founded by Stalder and local musician Mike Meldrum in 1978. At the time, we thought our informal gatherings might last a few weeks, Stalder says with a charming mid-western drawl. Twenty-eight years later, PeopleArt continues to feature both established and new performers 40 times a year (the Coffeehouse shuts down around the holidays and during the summer months: no-one comes then anyway, says Stalder).

Today, Stalder works with a small committee (including Mike Meyer, W.K. Moberly, Pat Munter and Joe Todaro) who transform the church basement into something more closely resembling a coffeehouse. Together they set up a few lights, place coffee tables and chairs around the room and decorate the walls with posters and banners. The setting is intimate, and most artists perform acoustically, although a few do use small PA systems. A $4 cover charge helps offset the cost of renting the space; coffee, tea and pastries are sold at reasonable prices. All meager profits are handed to the performers: were basically a not-for-profit organization, Stalder wryly muses, and were very good at it.

The PeopleArt Coffeehouse provides musicians with a good place to play new and original material before an appreciative crowd. An average night has 15-20 attendees, although the number occasionally approaches as many as 50. Universally, the crowd is appreciative and respectful of each artist as they perform. Although it is a social scene, there is little doubt that the main focus of the evening is the music itself. Mike Meldrum, an original founder, still plays at least once each year, as do local favorites Mike Sheffield, John Brady, and Tom Stahl among others. A young Ani DiFranco played at PeopleArt in her early teens (she was quite good, Stalder reflects) and local legends John & Mary have made a few appearances. I like to listen to others do what I cant, Stalder drawls. Im no kind of musician.

I dont think most people appreciate just how many fine musicians and songwriters live and work here in Buffalo, Stalder reflects. Some have lived here for years, others come and go, exploring another scene or opportunity, but this community is as talented as just about any you can name. Although PeopleArts roster of performers is mostly Buffalo-based, an un-official exchange with like-minded Rochester musicians continues to flourish, providing a fresh breath of new talent in both cities roughly half a dozen times each year. Always an advocate for new musicians looking for an audience, PeopleArt also hosts four or five open mic nights each year.

So, the next time you find yourself with little money in your pocket on a Friday night and a hankering for some great original live music played in a friendly atmosphere, head on over to the PeopleArt Coffeehouse. If you are a musician who writes your own material and you are interested in performing for an appreciative crowd, contact Bob Stalder at 878-4041 for more information.

PeopleArt Coffeehouse (at Unity Church) 1243 Delaware Avenue Every Friday night at 9 PM (except during the holidays and summer months) Admission $4