British Folk Rocker James Maddock and Chanteuse Eleanor Dubinsky Bring World Wind Tour of Music to Local Coffeehouse

NEWTOWN SQUARE–Friday night was another successful evening for Newtown Square's cultural coffee and music hotspot. showcased two very diverse artists. Opener Eleanor Dubinsky brought a jazzy, eclectic and international sound, while headliner James Maddock rocked with a raw vibe that comes with years of songwriting and performing. The pair created a unique bill that treated audiences to tales and sounds from England and France.

Dubinsky was born in St. Louis, but has lived in various cities throughout the world; her travels have deeply influenced her music. Dubinsky's familiarity and connection to French and Spanish culture can be heard in her bilingual songs along with the international blend of musicians she tours and records with.

The diverse nature of her music and travel allows her to market herself differently for each country's market.  In America, she bills herself as an "indie singer-songwriter," while over in Europe she tends to be described as a "chanteuse."

"I used that word [indie] to sort of put me into the American category of singer-songwriter of 'doing it on her own.' I think my music fits into the genres of world music and singer-songwriter, maybe not so much folk, but 'indie ' is that catchword for independent music in the U.S.,” she explained. In Europe, the term chanteuse would refer to artists like Adele, or as Dubinsky put it, "someone [female] who really sings from the heart and soul."

Dubinsky's music is jazzy like Bebel Gilberto, but with subtle hints of trance in the background. Her guitarist Vita Tanga (from Paris), accompanied her during Friday evening's show. She began with a slow melodic number that lured the audience under her spell. Tanga's guitar work uniquely contrasted with Dubninsky's simple acoustic sound.

The highlight of her set was "Jeu De Duex," off of her latest album Touch the Sky. From exoctic to amazing, the song began in French then switched over to English. As the lyrics were revealed to the audience it became less exotic, but the simple descriptions of the French countryside while traveling by bike heightened the beauty of the song. Tanga's guitar created a driving tone that could be compared the beat of Pink Floyd's "Astronomy Domine."

While Dubinsky may have lured the audience softly, Maddock took a more direct approach with loud, rough, raw classic rock hooks. He has the sound of Bruce Springsteen and early Rod Stewart, but the storytelling skills of Bob Dylan. 

Maddock came off of a 10-year recording hiatus, but his performance proved he had been collecting stories and songs throughout that time and the smile on his face during his show bared the excitement to share them all. 

"I try to be honest emotionally. I try to go to that place where you're baring your soul a little and you have to be a little bit angry at the world," he said. "You have to be prepared to go the side. I'm not particularly fond of happy music. I like it to be a little more introspective or emotional. But don't write it in a way that is too morose."

Maddock believes the honesty in his music is something people can really relate to.  His music deals with a range of emotions and topics like relationships and love with honesty and truth as key elements to his love songs. Despite the cliché nature, people need a good love song now and then. 

"They [songs] put things in a way that maybe another person couldn't say. That's what songwriters do, they put thoughts into words that ring true with people," said Maddock.

His set included collection of classic songs and a few new ones off of his latest album, Sunrise on Avenue C, which was funded by fans using a Web service called pledgemusic.com. 

Maddock's lyrics are full of wit and snapshots of life's little ironies, like "Never stop believing; I love that lie," or the stories in his song  "Stars Align." Maddock filled the little coffeehouse with a big sound of rock and roll. He may have flubbed a lyric or two, but he kept going. Only someone with his lengthy experience in the music industry can just brush it off as if he never missed a beat.