John Wesley Harding is a lot of things: a smart singer-songwriter, a whimsical novelist, a guy whose real name is Wesley Stace.
But for the next few weeks, Harding will be focusing on the "party-planner" part of his resume. He's been hosting the John Wesley Harding Cabinet Of Wonders variety show around New York for a few years now, and he's gathered a solid lineup of musicians and authors for his upcoming Cabinets, which will take place at the City Winery.
Bluesy singer Nicole Atkins and punk hero Ted Leo have been added to maximize the Nov. 18 session's New Jersey vibe. That one will also feature comedian Eugene Mirman, authors Myla Goldberg and Audrey Niffenegger, songwriter/former Giant Sand frontman Howe Gelb and The Blue Fisherman. Additionally, that show will feature house band The King Charles Trio, which features Harding, former (sigh) R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck and Decemberists members Chris Funk, John Moen and Nate Query. Tickets for this performance are available here.
The Oct. 28 Cabinet will feature Roseanne Cash, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats, Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen, comedian John Hodgman, Cabinet show regular Eugene Mirman and author Emma Straub. If you're going to this one, be careful with your wine intake. Finn's lyrics get complicated and Darnielle's get depressing, so it might be in your best interest to stay relatively clear-headed.
