June 30-July 6, 2005

music

Gotta Keep Moving

3PEAT: "Lounge-core" artist Wayne Hsu, a 3onTuesday regular, will take the stage at the anniversary show at Sal's on 12th.

Kendall Roark's 3onTuesday is a low-key listening night for the ADD set.

by Patrick Rapa

"Part of the reason I don't like to play out that often is that I have a really quiet voice and I fingerpick," says Kendall Roark, a local musician with a penchant for gentle guitar movements and moody vocals. But her ideal audience isn't just paying attention to the music. "I'm a songwriter. I want you to hear the lyrics. I want to play and hear music in venues that allow people to listen, and that don't mind if the promoter asks rowdy bar patrons to quiet down a little." That's why she created 3onTuesdays, a "'mostly' acoustic music series" that puts an emphasis on listener satisfaction while creating a comfortable environment for the performers. The former is achieved by the format, which rotates three-song sets by the evening's three acts, thus ensuring a steady pace and stimulating variety. As for the artists, Roark, the host, simply encourages politeness and quiet. "It's really a listening night," she explains. 3onTuesdays started out a year ago at the Manhattan Room before moving to the now-defunct LaTazza and finally upstairs at Sal's on 12th. Currently a monthly (it was biweekly for a while, and may be once again), 3onTuesdays has provided a stage for local artists/bands as varied as GhettoSongBird, Amy Pickard, The Weeds, Monica McIntyre, Larry D. Brown, Brian Seymour and Birdie. Roark has taken the stage at 3onTuesdays a number of times — "I am the main and most convenient backup if someone cancels" — but also enjoys lurking behind the scenes, learning to work the soundboard and promoting the event. "It's just plain easier promoting other people," she says, though she admits "self-promotion is a rude but necessary evil." For the anniversary gig next week, Roark plays host to singer-songwriter Susan Steen, bluesy-folkie Aiden James and "lounge-core" act Wayne Hsu.

We caught up with Roark to talk about the power of threes and the importance of switching it up.

City Paper: Why three?
Kendall Roark: It's a good number. Each act performs two rounds of three songs each. This is enough to get a feel for the style of the songwriter, and not too long if you came to see one of the other people. I'm like a lot of Philadelphian audience members — kind of ADD. When I go out to hear a friend or a singer-songwriter that I really like, I don't always show up early to hear three straight sets of singer-songwriters. I think the format makes people more open to hearing new things. I try to mix up the genres as well — a jazz trio, Greek music and North Carolina bluegrass rock, or a keyboard-playing blues belter, a folk-rock local singer-songwriter and a '70s-style pop duo. All good music.

CP: Why Tuesdays?
KR: Tuesdays are a good night for low-key music. Venues always seem to be trying to fill Tuesdays. The audience seems to be more low-key as well. Listening is important.

CP: Have people varied from the "mostly" acoustic format?
KR: Most notably, GhettoSongBird, who is a regular. We met when she was hosting the open mic at the Manhattan Room last summer. And many of the regulars play hollow-bodied electrics. We get some electric bass players and some singer-songwriters, like GSB, who may use their distortion pedals sparingly for the night.

CP: What's the 3onTuesday philosophy?
KR: No divas. Respect for the audience, yourself and the other performers. Every performer gets treated the same whether they're a full-time musician or just getting up the nerve to perform. I host the show and do most of the sound, so there's no one to pay and therefore no cover.

I think it's really important to put on free events. That said, if you're willing to support the performers and the show, I'm always collecting tips for the performers. I also think it's nice for a performer to actually be able to pay for gas, a cab or at least the subway to and from a gig. I try to leave a spot for people just starting out. Occasionally 3onTuesday is the first time a person has been paid for a show. That can actually boost confidence, and that's nice to see. The night's about supporting and listening to quality "mostly" local and "mostly" acoustic music.

3onTuesday's one-year anniversary show with Wayne Hsu, Aiden James and Susan Steen, Tue., July 5, 8 p.m., free, Sal's on 12th, 200 S. 12th St., 215-731-9930, www.geocities.com/vireo_warbler.