If moving your body is a resolution you fear might fall by the wayside in 2024, get thee self to Catskill’s Avalon Lounge this coming Friday night. The music of Blueberry will have you shaking parts you forgot you had.
Blueberry is also known as Gwen Snyder Siegal, who writes, produces and arranges all the music, plus plays half the instruments herself.
“Blueberry is my alter ego,” Gwen says, “she exists in the musical-astral plane.”
The cosmic-sounding claim is not so farfetched, as Blueberry’s music does seem to exist in its own universe. Her songs feature instrumentation of a roughly 70s soul vintage, lots of Fender Rhodes, with a fat funky groove to match. But where the BPM of that era’s soul music might’ve hung back, just a little, Blueberry powers forward with an unrelenting sense of urgency. It’s a wild ride.
All Blueberry’s albums are readily available on Soundcloud. Twilight, released in 2000, is a great place to start, followed by Have Another Pillow (2003), Organika (2008), and Tempest in a Teacup (2018). A new album, Karma Clear, is coming this March.
One of the ways Gwen describes her own music is “faerie funk,” which also seems appropriate thanks to a certain conjurer’s quality to her vocals.
“I think most people assume that the vocal is the most important part of a song,” Gwen says. “I do take much care with the message, poetry and melody, but in the end, as a producer, I give the vocal just as much importance as every other part. Together everything tells the story.”
It’s no small point that Gwen produces her own music, given that, while there are certainly plenty of female musicians in the world, something like less than five percent of the professional producers out there are female.
Originally from Oswego, Gwen moved to NYC at age 18 where she studied experimental theater at NYU, an influence that perhaps helps explain a theatrical element in Blueberry’s music. It was in NYC that she met music producer Kenny Siegel and joined his band, Johnny Society. The two got married and eventually moved up to the Highwoods area of Saugerties. Kenny continues to produce albums at his Old Soul Studios in Catskill, and the couple has two daughters.
“Being a Mom has completely changed my life as a musician,” Gwen says. “Phoebe is an out-of-this-world singer, guitarist and bassist and Ava is the best 9-year-old drummer/singer you have ever seen! I’m serious. They thrive in the Woodstock Rock Academy program and we are so grateful for this. We all play together, they sit in with Blueberry and with Johnny Society. We carry the torch together.”
Musical life is indeed busy for the Siegal family. In addition to the upcoming release of Blueberry’s new album, the gang is about to record the first new Johnny Society album in over ten years, adding to their discography of well-respected indie albums.
One pictures the bass guitar getting handed around a lot, as Gwen plays bass for Johnny Society and Kenny plays bass for Blueberry. Gwen also credits drummer Brian Geltner as a core player in Blueberry, and gives shout outs to Captain Kirk Douglas, Lee Falco, and Jay Collins who will be appearing on her new album.
Gwen is constantly inspired by hiking around and taking in the mountain views as well as the historic character of the surrounding towns.
“The natural beauty of this area, the intriguing old buildings at every turn, this is heaven on earth,” Gwen says. “Songs arise in my head as I walk or drive.”
She also finds inspiration blasting obscure 70s funk on her car stereo, and is obsessed with listening to horror novels and ghost stories on Audible. “This and coffee are my only addictions,” she says.
Living in Saugerties with all its antique stores seems like it would be quite handy if one has a taste for vintage and retro things. Does Gwen take advantage of this aspect of town?
“Yes! I frequent the Saugerties Antiques mart. I believe that Fed-On Lights is the best resource for antique lighting anywhere, and I mean anywhere!”
Every Blueberry show is different. Friday night is set to be particularly experimental, featuring songs from her new record in “a wild karaoke style,” a live set from Blueberry featuring hubby Kenny and others, plus an extended DJ set by “Les Freqs” aka Matthew Cullen, who is the main engineer at Old Soul. Expect a variety of special musical guests to be sitting in, including Gwen and Kenny’s daughters.
Blueberry at Avalon Lounge seems to be a perfect fit. Since from some angles the Avalon scans like the Brady Bunch dad designed it while tripping on acid, the evening has the potential for being, as they say, an immersive experience.
Blueberry / Les Freqs @ Avalon Friday Jan. 19, 8pm
29 Church Street, Catskill. Tickets $15.
For more info, see: https://www.blueberrylounge.com
Join the family! 
