Joanne DelCarpine – An Xperience Interview

Joanne DelCarpine – An Xperience Interview – by Niki Kaos.

Joanne DelCarpine’s music caught my ear when I heard her at 344 2nd Street’s Original Music Open Mic. Her sense of rhythm, arrangements, and playful lyrics are complemented by a voice that pulls your attention to the stage. I had to introduce myself. The 518 network of open mics is beautiful in this way – offering the opportunity of connection and collaboration.

RRX: I understand you moved to the Capital Region a few years ago. Since arriving, you’ve got a new band together, Joanne’s Driving The Bus. What’s the vibe of the music, and who’s in the band?

JD: Music brings me joy. You know, life can be hard, and music doesn’t change that, but it can give you a break and help you forget for a little while. I love being able to bring that to people. I want to create a scene that’s fun and relaxed and joyful when I play, so that’s what I look for in my bandmates. Paul Rosamilia on bass, Bob Neiman on lead guitar, Ben Rau on drums. They each bring a lifetime of experience playing all kinds of music.

They’re all so talented. It’s easy ‘cause all of us love to play and we trust each other’s abilities. So we take chances, and we laugh a lot. The music we choose also reflects this. We cover rockabilly, blues, R&B, soul, pop, and rock ‘n roll spanning the ‘60s through the 2020s, and we put our own spin on it all. That’s our art, and people appreciate hearing new treatments of songs they’re familiar with.

RRX: You also host open mics on alternating Fridays at Northern Lights Dispensary in Menands, and you are starting to branch out – running sound at WAMM Fest and for 344 2nd St. Open Mic. What’s it like being on the other side of the microphone?

JD: I’m always happy to do what I can for the scene. Running sound and hosting and supporting other people’s talent brings me joy too, ‘cause you never know what someone’s going to bring, or where your next inspiration will come from. People are amazing. Running sound is a skill I developed out of necessity. Being in bands that couldn’t afford a sound person, I needed to figure it out.

And hosting is just another version of being a front person. I used to literally pretend to put on a “coat of confidence” before walking on stage. I had an imaginary suit of armor that allowed me to stand strong at the mic when I was totally winging it. So, I figured it out. You need to know your talking points, how to read a room, and keep the show moving. It takes a team to make the magic happen, and at heart, I’m really a team player.

RRX: What got you started writing music?

JD: Writing is probably the most challenging aspect of being a musician for me. I’ve struggled with that little voice in my head telling me what I’m doing wasn’t good enough. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to banish that voice. I lived in Boulder, CO from 1990 – 2001, and the live music scene there at that time was almost exclusively original. So, when in Boulder, do what the Boulderites do. I had the opportunity to work with a lot of great writers and collaborate on arrangements in those years. I learned so much. Again, it’s about taking chances – trusting and letting go. Sometimes a song just falls out. A few of my songs have found new life in the past two years, new grooves or one chord change that shifted everything. That’s really exciting for me.

RRX: When I see you perform live, I feel an authentic connection to you. What about music inspires you to connect with other people?

JD: Yeah, people tell me that. For me to perform a song, I have to find my own truth in it. Somehow, the story has to become my story. That’s the only way I can memorize it and share it from my heart. I think that’s what people connect with. We all do it with our favorite songs, the ones we belt out at the tops of our lungs in the car, whether we think we can sing or not. We call them “our songs” ‘cause they reflect some part of our story. I look for that in every song I sing. Then, if I lock eyes with someone and I see them feeling it, that’s such a great moment. I get a lot of those. It’s really a blessing.

RRX: What’s next for Joanne? Where’s that bus going?

JD: As you said, I’m pretty new to the Capital music scene. I’ve been doing open mics for the past year and a half, getting to know people, giving people a chance to know me, and it’s starting to pay off. I’ve joined the Albany Musicians Union, and I’ll be playing a holiday craft fair at the Clinton Collaborative Park with keyboardist Azzaam Hameed on November 29. Joanne’s Driving the Bus will be at Play by Play in Schenectady on Friday, January 9.

I’ve also had a great time playing with WAMM (Women Are Making Music) this past year. I’ve been asked to pull together a WAMM ensemble for Women’s History Month 2026, and a set of ‘70’s music to celebrate a library’s 50th anniversary next spring. So opportunities are starting to present themselves. There’s such a great live music scene here – so many talented folks. I want to create opportunities for people to get out of their homes and off their screens, to connect face-to-face and talk and sing and laugh and dance.

RRX: That’s great news! I love your enthusiasm for that in-person connection. I feel the same way!

Don’t miss your chance to join the party! For more news about Joanne and her band, follow her Facebook page Joanne’s Driving the Bus.

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