Write a commentLeslie Mendelson is a singer and songwriter from Brooklyn, New York. She's playing at the Oswego Music Hall on Saturday evening, February 22.
She first played at the Music Hall in March of 2023, and received a standing ovation from the large crowd that night. IHeartOswego was at that show, and interviewed her at that time.
Mendelson is touring again, playing songs from her new album, After The Party. I spoke to her recently, to see what she's been up to since her last trip to the Port City.
We spoke about her touring and performing with her new music. "After The Party came out in June of 2024, but I had been working most of them into my shows before that," she said.
I noted that she had played one upbeat song from the new album when she performed in Oswego previously. "Yes, Rock & Roll On The Radio is a song I wrote a couple of years ago," she said. "Most of the songs on the album were written pretty recently, but that one's been around for a bit. The opening track, Have A Little Heart, is another one - I first wrote it almost ten years ago. It was a different song then, though. I changed the tempo a year or so ago, and the song seems to become more introspective. It really sounded so much better."
Leslie said that the new album was recorded in Los Angeles, and it seems that the New Yorker was going for a definite "California vibe." She worked with famed producers Peter Asher and young Tyler Chester, and such stellar West Coast musicians as guitarists Waddy Wachtel and John Jorgenson, bassists Leland Sklar and Derrick Anderson and drummers Jim Keltner and Abe Rounds.
Mendelson gave credit to her longtime songwriting partner Steve MacEwen, who also co-produced After The Party. "Steve has been with me from the very beginning, back in 2009. I've invited him to come and play with me on this upstate New York leg of the tour," she said.
Speaking of touring, Mendelson said she had played in D.C. and Baltimore in January, "We'll play three shows in Buffalo, Oswego and Albany next weekend, then a week of shows in Ohio, Indianapolis, the Chicago area and Michigan in early March." Later in the spring she'll be in the Denver area, and is trying to finalize dates to play on the West Coast shortly after that.
Though her albums have been recorded and released with accompaniment from a host of musicians, she likes to play solo or in a duo for smaller rooms like the Oswego Music Hall. "I think the songs take on a more intimate feel," she said. "Steve will be able to add in some nice guitar fills, and I think people will really enjoy them."
Readers can visit Leslie's website at https://www.lesliemendelson.com/ or view a video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ3Xr5Ni9Qg.
Leslie Mendelson's show at the Oswego Music Hall is at 7:30 pm on Saturday, February 22. Doors will open at 7:00pm. Tickets are available online at www.OswegoMusicHall.org. Advance tickets can also be purchased in downtown Oswego at The River's End Bookstore.
The nonprofit Oswego Music Hall is located in the historic McCrobie Civic Center at 41 Lake Street in Oswego. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and non alcoholic beverages and desserts will be available for purchase.
There is an Open Mic Night scheduled at the Oswego Music Hall on Friday, February 21. Old Man Jam founder Matt Talamo will be the host. Doors open at 6:30 pm that night.
