Sep 2, 2005 5 min read

CALIFORNIA – Before packing his guitar and heading out for Nashville, Rice’s Landing native Dave Pahanish performs a farewell concert at Jozart Studios, 333 Second St., California, on Friday, Sept. 9. At 7:30 p.m., the concert opens with Adam Sutch, a hammered dulcimer player who performs a mostly Celtic repertoire. The contemporary acoustical sound of Baltimore group, IlyAIMY, leads into Pahanish’s performance.

“Dave has played in Nashville and L.A. before, and now things have begun to happen for him,” said Jozart co-owner Joe “Bish” Morosky. “I think the time is here for him to make it big. We’re running his concert at Jozart Studios as a benefit to help him make the move.”

Although Pahanish appears regularly on the circuit between New York and Nashville, often opening for nationally known artists such as Richie Havens, Todd Runngrenn, John Hiatt, Chicago and others, he remains a familiar local figure.

He hosts a songwriters’ night at Lagerhead’s in Coal Center at 10 p.m. Tuesdays and performs regularly at Lakeview Resort at Cheat Lake, the Hard Rock Caf? and Club Caf? in Pittsburgh and Caf? Bean in Washington.

In July, edging ever closer to Nashville, he appeared at The Gopher Hole in Clarksville and The Rendezvous in Erwin, Tenn. On Sept. 11, Pahanish will move to the Bluebird Caf? in Nashville.

In October 2002, Pahanish, who says he loves to travel, performed a series of concerts at air bases in Osan and Kusan, Korea.

Then, in October 2004, he went to Afghanistan and Pakistan to play at American military bases throughout the area.

“It really made me feel good,” he said. “The troops appreciated having us there. We tried to bring them a little taste of home.

“I began my musical career as a pianist,” Pahanish recalled, “but one summer afternoon, while waiting for a music lesson, the sounds of a guitar rehearsal next door caught my ear. I switched instruments and have been inseparable from my guitar ever since.”

The guitar, along with a warm, melodic tenor voice served the singer-songwriter well. In addition to his in-person career, he has recorded three highly regarded CDs, “Dave Pahanish Live,” “Shine” and “Anywhere.”

The collection of songs recorded on these albums reflect his belief in the value of life and the importance of friendship to this popular performer.

“The story of a lost friendship inspired the song ‘My Friends and Me,'” Pahanish said. “It focuses on the essence of relationships that is often forsaken, reminding us that ‘My friends to me must be remembered.'”

In another song, “Love the World,” Pahanish said he “comes to terms with his personal fears” by observing his father “surrender to the reality of his own life.”

Pahanish’s “music from the heart” works well in an intimate setting. Though Jozart Studios can seat more than 200 people, its sofas, easy chairs, assorted houseplants and at-home flavor make it a comfortable venue for this native son’s farewell performance.

“It’s an ideal place to see him off,” Morosky said. “There’s far more intimacy here than in a bar or a restaurant where only part of the audience came in for the performance. Everyone here will want to pay attention to the music undisturbed by clinking glasses, rattling dishes and loud talk.”

Jay Paroda, the other half of the Jozart team, who can usually be found 12 feet up on a ladder working on the new stage lighting system or at his computer developing fresh ideas for the studios, agrees that the California venue earned the right to give Pahanish his send-off concert.

He pulls up IlyAIMY’s Web site to prove his point and reads from the description: “Jozart Studios is an incredible multi-media sort of arts hub tucked into the back streets of a little East Coast college town with a big West Coast name – California.”

IlyAIMY, a group that performed hundreds of concerts in 20 states, described by Paroda as “a bone-rattling acoustic act,” has worked with Pahanish before, both locally and in the Baltimore area.

They met in Jozart Studios on Oct. 28, 2004, during the group’s third visit to the California site. Their Web journal records lead singers’ Rob and Heather’s first impression: “At first iffy. The man is built. His songs reference the fact that he’s a guitar playing football star… But his voice and his songwriting were beautiful. I was totally blown away.”

Their appearance at Pahanish’s farewell concert will be their fifth visit to Jozart Studios. They plan to stay the night.

As Rob wrote in his journal: “So, California, Pa. I love this town – tiny and beautiful.”

Adam Sutch, a talented 14-year-old boy from Daisytown, opens the concert playing his 85- string hammered dulcimer.

“He’s amazing,” Paroda said. “He came in for one of our Jozart’s Wednesday Open Mike sessions and made believers of us all. We’re pleased to have him back for this concert. With Adam leading off, followed by IlyAIMY, and then Dave rounding out the concert, we have a great line up for what has to be an incredibly memorable event. It will be a fitting going-away party for Dave.”

Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance by contactin Morosky, Paroda or Fred Lapisardi, who has recently movied his bookstore into Joart Studios.

They can be reached by calling 724-938-9730.

There is a cost to the concert.