Live from the Artists Den

Judson Memorial Church was built in 1890 with the vision of aiding Lower Manhattan’s growing immigrant population through social services in addition to religious ones, but it was in the mid-1960s that Judson earned its national reputation as a progressive church – both by organizing politically around social justice issues and opening the church to experimental, avant-garde artists from many genres (dance, painting, theatre). The Artists Den hosted an intimate performance in the famous Lombardo-Romanesque building by multi-platinum songstress Alanis Morissette, who gave a taste of her new album, Flavors of Entanglement, on the eve of its release.

Prolific producer and performer Raphael Saadiq warmed up a cold winter night in Boston with a nine-piece band performing the soulful songs from The Way I See It, his masterful new album that reflects his deep love for 1960s rhythm and blues. The special show took place at the Harvard Club, in the Main Clubhouse on Commonwealth Avenue built in 1912, and showcased the rich blend of funky grooves and smooth balladry that is Saadiq's calling card.

In through the 19th-century archway, across the ivy-covered courtyard, and up worn stone steps sits the Refectory of the Desmond Tutu Center, located on the campus of the oldest operating seminary in America, in the heart of New York’s vibrant Chelsea neighborhood. The wooden Gothic architecture of the hall provided the backdrop for a special performance by Jakob Dylan and his band, the Gold Mountain Rebels, in celebration of his first solo release, Seeing Things.

The Veterans Room of New York City's Park Avenue Armory set the stage for a private concert by Tori Amos for 100 lucky fans. Described as "Greek, Moresque, and Celtic with a dash of the Egyptian, the Persian, and the Japanese," the room provided a fitting setting for one of the most eclectic and culturally curious artists in music today. Amos performed a career-spanning set featuring classics from her debut Little Earthquakes through to Abnormally Attracted to Sin.

David Gray brought his signature mix of acoustic instrumentation and electronic samples to Wall Street for an intimate performance at the Broad Street Ballroom, housed in a 1920s building renowned for its austere Classical Revival style. The breathtaking hall of the former Lee-Higginson Bank (now part of the first-ever private elementary school below Canal Street) provided a colorful setting for the multi-platinum singer-songwriter as he played songs from the eagerly anticipated Draw the Line and his hits.

The Season 3 opener features Elvis Costello, backed by his acoustic band the Sugarcanes, at the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building.

Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs perform at the Don Strange Ranch in Boerne, Texas. Included: "For the Summer"; "New York City's Killing Me"; "Beg Steal or Borrow"; "Repo Man"; "Henry Nearly Killed Me (It's a Shame)"; "Like Rock & Roll and Radio"; "You Are the Best Thing"; "Trouble"; "Hey Me, Hey Mama."

Vermont rockers Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, filmed at sunset in New Yorks Bryant Park

Adele at the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club in Santa Monica, California "Nothing in life moves me as much as being on stage does,” said Adele, who recently received 6 Grammy Nominations, at her Artists Den taping at Santa Monica Bay’s Woman’s Club. “I love the closeness of playing in small rooms, and this room was lovely and simple, just beautiful."

The Fray at the Angel Orensanz Foundation on New York's Lower East Side

Death Cab for Cutie at the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY

The Wallflowers perform. Included: "Three Marlenas"; "Devil's Waltz"; "Hospital for Sinners"; "6th Avenue Heartache"; "Reboot the Mission"; "Sleepwalker"; "Misfits and Lovers"; "Closer to You"; "Love Is a Country"; "Witness"; "One Headlight"; and "The Difference."

The 1920s glamor of the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles provided a stunning setting for a triumphant performance by Mumford & Sons for an upcoming episode of Live from the Artists Den. The band delivered songs from its recent Number One album, Babel, along with such hits as “Little Lion Man” and “I Will Wait.” In a rousing 16-song set, Mumford & Sons thrilled the invitation-only crowd of 800 by stepping in front of the microphones for an unamplified take of “Timshel,” followed later by a joyous cover of Neil Young’s “Dance Dance Dance” before closing the evening with a blistering rendition of “The Cave” from the classic, multi-platinum debut Sigh No More.

On a warm February night in Los Angeles, the legendary Seattle rock band Soundgarden concluded a sold-out winter tour in support of King Animal, their first studio album in over 16 years. The Artists Den was there to document this unforgettable night within the historic art deco setting of The Wiltern. In front of a rapturous crowd, Soundgarden interwove brand new songs with classics, radio hits with rarities never before performed for a live audience. Over a varied 28-song set, they showcased their history, dazzled with their musicianship and captured the imaginations of everyone in the room.

The Killers played an unforgettable show in New York City at an iconic old bank in the heart of Chinatown for a taping of Live from the Artists Den. Opening with the propulsive new single, “Runaways,” the Las Vegas-based band drew on material from across their multi-platinum catalogue, including such smash hits as “Mr. Brightside,” “When You Were Young,” and “Human.” The performance took place in front of 600 invited guests at the magnificent Chinatown landmark Capitale, designed in the 19th Century by influential architect Stanford White as the home of the Bowery Savings Bank.

It was a school night to remember when international superstars Phoenix performed a spectacular show in the gym at L.C. Anderson High School in Austin, Texas. Following a main-stage set at the Austin City Limits Festival the day before, the French band played for 800 invited guests – including several hundred students – for an episode of the public television series Live from the Artists Den. They blasted through 16 songs, including such hits as “Lisztomania” and “If I Ever Feel Better” and selections from their most recent album, Bankrupt!, before singer Thomas Mars invited the audience to join them on stage at the home of the Trojans for thrilling, chaotic renditions of “1901” and “Rome.”

On the eve of the release of her album, Feels Like Home, nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow delivered a powerhouse performance in the ornate Grand Ballroom of The Plaza. In a taping for an episode of Live from the Artists Den, Crow tore through eighteen songs at the New York City landmark, leading her six-piece band in a career-spanning show including her breakthrough hit, “All I Wanna Do.” Whether seated for a three-song acoustic set or blowing an electrifying, rocked-up harmonica solo, Crow thrilled the invited audience of 600.

Los Angeles’ historic Orpheum Theatre hosted a dynamic performance from musician Sara Bareilles one late October evening. One-thousand guests filled the downtown theater, built in 1926, to witness the singer-songwriter’s soaring set. Bareilles performed several songs off The Blessed Unrest, her Album of the Year-nominated fourth studio album, including the hit single “Brave,” a song that champions gay rights. The singer showcased her powerful, evocative vocals on fan favorites like “Love Song” and “King of Anything,” ending the set with an emotionally compelling rendition of her breakout song “Gravity.”

Country superstar Tim McGraw performed for an intimate audience at The Corinthian in downtown Houston for his episode of Live from the Artists Den, tearing through a dozen songs, including hits “Southern Girl” and “One of Those Nights” as well as his single, “Lookin’ For That Girl.” Set among the neo-classical columns of the century-old former bank building, McGraw also previewed a number of songs from his forthcoming album, Sundown Heaven Town, due later that year. Over the course of his career, McGraw has garnered 35 Number One songs, over 40 million album sales as well as multiple GRAMMY, CMA and ACM awards.

On the eve of the release of their album, 9 Dead Alive, the incomparable Mexican guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela performed at Upper Manhattan’s Hispanic Society of America for an episode of public television’s Live From the Artists Den. The two virtuoso musicians played a dazzling 12-song set in the century-old museum’s Bancaja Gallery, surrounded by the fourteen paintings that make up Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida’s masterwork “Vision of Spain,” a celebration of the country’s diverse customs. It was a breathtaking setting for Rodrigo y Gabriela’s unique fusion of musical genres, a mix of melodic beauty and percussive fury which drove the 300 invited guests into clapping, stomping glee.

On a stormy New York City night, the always-cheeky, always-entertaining Lily Allen thrilled the crowd at the Manhattan Center’s stunning Grand Ballroom with a typically irresistible spectacle featuring multiple costume changes and a battery of back-up dancers. The set focused on her brand-new release, Sheezus — her return to recording after a five-year hiatus—including the two singles, “Hard Out Here” and “Air Balloon,” which were simultaneous Top Ten hits in the UK and closed with two of her signature smashes, “The Fear” and “Not Fair.”

On a warm summer evening, the GRAMMY award-winning Zac Brown Band brought music back to the historic Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, NY with a hit-filled performance for the sold out stadium crowd under the stars. Zac Brown Band, one of the most successful and critically-acclaimed acts of its generation, incorporated a mix of country, bluegrass, reggae, Southern rock, and jam music into its performance which included such fan favorites as the Caribbean-inspired “Jump Right In,” lush ballad “Colder Weather,” free spirited anthem “Free” before sending the frenzied crowd home with the boisterous “Day For The Dead” from the 2013 EP, The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1.

Alabama Shakes delivered a crushingly electric set at the rustic-chic Loveless Barn outside of Nashville, behind the famous Loveless Café. Beneath white lights strung from the rafters, the crowd of 500 cheered each song as the band delivered a thrillingly uninhibited show which aired as part of the ninth season of public television’s acclaimed series Live from the Artists Den. The six-piece band dashed through blistering rockabilly boogies, eruptive country-soul ballads, and plenty more from both their 2012 debut album, Boys & Girls, and the collection of new material earmarked for a much anticipated follow-up. Front woman Brittany Howard testified to the deeply felt truths of the songs with ferocious flamboyance, and her bandmates were with her all the way—gutsy, dynamic, and altogether riveting.

Cage the Elephant brought their funky, soulfully psychedelic sound to the stage at the Santa Barbara Art Foundry for their episode of Live from the Artists Den. Thriving off the energy of the crowd of 400 invited guests, frontman Matt Shultz delivered an epic performance in an intimate setting, hurling himself around the small space like a man possessed, while the rest of the band equaled his intensity. The set, drawn mostly from the band’s Grammy-nominated album, Melophobia, ended with a shirtless Shultz held aloft by the cheering crowd, a triumphant exclamation point to an unforgettable night.