BY EVERYNIGHT CHARLEY CRESPO | Jesse Malin, a singer-songwriter and revered mainstay in New York’s music scene, celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut solo album, “The Fine Art of Self Destruction,” at a sold-out Webster Hall on March 25.
Lucinda Williams, Butch Walker, Tommy Stinson of the Replacements, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Cait O’Riordan of the Pogues, Catherine Popper of Puss n Boots and Diane Gentile of Diane & the Gentle Men were among the musicians who joined Malin on stage.
Fantastic Cat, comprised of four local singer-songwriters, Don DiLego, Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne and Mike Montali, opened the night with a half hour of folk-rock songs from the band’s 2022 debut album, “The Very Best of Fantastic Cat.”
After an intermission, Malin’s band took the stage to back three of Malin’s musician friends, each of whom covered one of Malin’s songs. Cait O’Riordan, formerly of the Pogues, sang “Shane,” a song Malin wrote for Shane MacGowan, her band mate in the Pogues. Catherine Popper of Puss n Boots sang “Swinging Man.” Aaron Lee Tasjan sang “Shining Down.”
After a second intermission, Malin performed a lengthy set, singing the songs from his debut album along with other songs. As always, Malin told numerous anecdotal stories between songs.
Tommy Stinson of the Replacements joined Malin on “State of the Art” and “Meet Me at the End of the World Again.” Butch Walker sang on “Modern World.” Lucinda Williams sang on “Room 13” and “Jukebox.” All the guests returned to the stage for covers of Johnny Thunders’s “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” and The Clash’s “Rudie Can’t Fail.”
Malin, who is originally from Queens, first came to the East Village as a 12-year-old member of the band Heart Attack. He later relocated to the East Village and led two bands, D Generation and Jesse Malin & the Saint Marks Social.
More recently, he has partnered with local entrepreneurs as part owner of several East Village bars, some of which feature live-music nights. Locals often call Malin the Mayor of the East Village music scene.
For more of Everynight Charley Crespo’s coverage of the city’s music scene, check out TheManhattanBeat.blogspot.com.
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