JoesCafe

"This impressive album...succeeds brilliantly in conveying the warm atmosphere of Joe's Cafe. In my opinion (Rupert Wates) will quickly make a success from this disc"
(Johan Schoenmakers) - www.altcountryforum.nl/

"From the moment you lay eyes on the reverse-Norman-Rockwell cover of this mellowly beautiful but surprisingly dark CD, you know you're in for a quiet storm. Be prepared to shed a tear or two. Wates doesn't withhold his powers as a poet, tearing through the veneer of consensus reality to bring listeners the raw truth..."JOE'S CAFE" burrows deeply into the heart and mind. This play of seemingly innocent musics with stark reality is something not often attempted in popular music" (Mark S Tucker) - Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange

"A singer-songwriter album with a difference" (Mike Davies, NetRhythms) - NetRhythms

'Every song yanks the listener fully into the story and rhythms, not to mention an emotionality imbuing Wates' plaintively melodic voice. Every cut's a gem, completely absorbing, enthralling, and thus we have a new and unique songwriter/musician already in the front ranks by dint of timeless work' (Mark S Tucker, Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange, review of Rupert Wates CD "Dear Life" (2008)) - Folk And Acoustic Music Exchange

'...A delight to listen to...These are songs crafted with care and imbued with sincerity and conviction" (Rob Quicke, Britsound Radio New Jersey, review of Rupert Wates' CD 'Coast To Coast' (2007)) - Britsound Radio

'Truly gripping lyrics with great themes and troubling, witty messages. An inspirational artist' (Leith FM Radio Scotland, 2009) - Leith FM Radio

Joe’s Cafe
Some times it is best to do what you are told: “Joe’s Cafe… Come in hang your coat up. Take the weight off your feet…check your worries at the door.”(from the title song)

The moment Rupert Wates strikes the first chord on his guitar and begins to welcome you, you will know you are in good hands and in for a real treat. Wates along with two of his friends, Stacey Loren and Valerie Miller spend the next sixty minutes telling stories and creating poetry with music all of which are his original compositions based on true American stories from the first World War to the present. Some of the topics are huge in scale like forgiving your son’s killer. Some deal with a small quiet incident- a ten year old girl’s day in a snowy New York City with her brother. Wates has a true poet’s gift to create images that leave lasting impressions. How wonderful to encounter lyrics that tell a story again. They have been absent far too long.

The other element of this wonderful evening is Wates’ virtuosity on the guitar! His finger picking is mesmerizing as are his melodies.

His two friends display their own virtuosity as well. Ms. Loren with a haunting a capella rendition of The Skies of South Dakota and Ms Miller on the moving Darkness Darkness.

When all three sing together, the magic goes into overtime.

Don’t miss this show.

Tim Koetting
- Hamilton Fringe Reviews

Joes’ Cafe is an American journey in song and story
Rupert Wates is a musician and song-writer and plays a mean guitar. Flanked in a simple setting by his two songstresses Stacy and Valerie (I think I’ve got their names right, as there’s no programme) the group takes us on an American journey through the 20th century. It’s a seamless and smooth trip, with only minimal intros by Wates, and a word or two from his partners. Val has the look and sound of the sixties, singing her ballads in the kind of defensive detachment we remember from seeing US TV and films of the period. She has a clear and convincing delivery. Stacy is warmer, evoking recollections of her country’s folk tradition, of snow falling in New York and tragic love in South Dakota. Wates takes centre stage with more of a poet-balladeer to his stories, touching on disparate subjects from George Carlin to the emotions of the American experience in their several wars. One senses his quiet leadership of the group, of the gentle director, like a leader of a commune. It is a real pleasure to hear and feel the sounds of our southern neighbours, and sense the genuine affection they have for their century of troubles and tendernesses. The less than an hour it takes seems too short. Highly recommended for a change of pace and of heart. It has five more performances to go, and the next is today, July 18, 3:30 pm at the Studio Space, Theatre Aquarius. Tom Mackan
- Hamilton Fringe Reviews

Since the 19th century, both German & American cultures have been fertile ground for Folk Music. Today, Guthrie, Dylan, Baez, Ochs, Cohen & Mitchell are icons of the genre. Rupert Wates; Valerie Miller and Stacey Lorin, are all about as professional as it gets, with voices and momentum that project the story behind each varied offering. Wates, a facial clone of actor Jere Burns (Dear John etc.) also supplies backup on acoustic guitar. Sans sound monitors, his instruments oftimes overpower the lyrics, but we feel this will be modulated during future performances. There was one offering sung a cappella by soprano Lorin- chorus line …‘in South Dakota’, that left the audience so spellbound that applause was both hesitant and delayed. If you are a Folk fan, or even if you are not…this is a fast-moving one hour of accomplished entertainment. DG - Ontario Arts Review