On Tuesday night, Funk ‘n Waffles will host Rebecca McDonald, Sydney Irving and Mark Zane as part of its Salt City Showcase series.

Heading into the event, each performer said they are prepared to give the audience something to remember. The central vision of the show, Irving said, is that she — along with McDonald and Zane —  will play some original songs and explain the stories behind them.

McDonald will be performing solo, which is unusual, she said, considering that she has her own band. The group, “Rebecca Colleen and the Chore Lads,” regularly plays shows throughout the Finger Lakes region, performing at wineries, festivals, music series and other events.

Splitting time with two other musicians makes preparation difficult, Zane said. Each performance will be limited to about 30 minutes, he added, so he had to pick the six or seven songs he likes most — making him abandon some songs that he said are worthy of unveiling.

That said, the songs he does perform will be valued. Tuesday night is about the musicians, Irving said, and they will each be able to showcase the personality behind each song.

“My plan is to ask the other performers a lot of questions about how the show unfolds,” she said, in an email, “and then I’ll have to determine what songs to play.”

The time limit is also on McDonald’s radar. This show is shorter than a number of her previous ones, she said, so it’s important to create a set list that exemplifies the variety of music she performs.

The variety is consistent with the type of music she plays. Alluding to how she engages with the audience, she said she tries to play “happy” songs for the crowd, but her performances typically reflect how she values “really depressing” songs.

Although she plays somber music, McDonald said she finds this event electrifying. This will be her first performance at Funk ‘n Waffles, but she’s been to the venue as a concertgoer a few times, and added that she always has a good time.

Rebecca McDonald, one of the featured acts in Funk ‘n Waffles’ Salt City Showcase, has been performing since she was 13 years-old. Courtesy of Rebecca McDonald

For Zane, Funk ‘n Waffles is a great venue to play because of its excellent sound system and staff, he said. Zane said he enjoys the approaches organizers take while planning the event, such as deciding the lineup and discussing their music and songwriting processes on stage.

While songwriting might be a passion for all of them, it’s not something that came to them suddenly. It’s been a long time coming for all three.

Music has been a part of Irving’s life since adolescence. Her parents introduced her to songs from The Beatles and The Doors — she said artists like them became role models for her. At nine, she received her first guitar but didn’t use it until her dad talked her into starting lessons. Three years later, she wrote a few songs and decided to pursue a career in music.

Similarly, Zane said he grew up in a musical neighborhood in Utica, which led him to playing electric guitar in high school and college. He took a few years off, after college and then moved to Syracuse in 2003, which is when he began writing and singing songs, he said. Since 2007,  he has been performing solo, in a duo and sometimes as part of a full band.

McDonald also has music in her roots. “My whole family is very music, so music has always been a central part of my life,” she said. “I started playing in a family band with my father and one of my brothers when I was about 13 and never stopped.”

Published on April 14, 2019 at 9:52 pm

gfpagano@syr.edu