Photos: Amy Klemme
Josh Chambers was not a name I knew or a face I would recognize until I attended the 2022 Josh Chambers Annual Memorial show at Caffe Lena. I will say, I wish I had the honor of meeting him in his lifetime and experiencing just one of the many amazing moments, songs, laughs, or memories that everyone in the room had experienced by knowing Josh. He seemed to have had it all – a poet with stunning blue eyes, a charming smile, amazing musical ability from songwriting, singing and playing instruments, to being able to captivate an audience with his charisma and charm on stage performing. Not just music performances but theatrical too.
Off the stage, he was raw, funny, lewd at times but full of life, love and optimism. Always wanting to make people smile, cheer them on and bring out not only the best in people but the most. His friends and colleagues stood up on that stage last Friday, and told us all how he simply believed in them and encouraged them to take risks, but mostly he tried convince them to be in a bands with him. After attending and photographing this yearly event in 2023, I was honored to be asked back to photograph this year by Josh’s dad, Joe. It was an absolute honor and an event I will look forward to every year as when you hear the word “Memorial,” you instantly get a sense of sadness and loss but that is NOT what I felt at both of these Memorials for Josh and Caffe Lena but rather a sense of community, love, laughter, and an incredible night filled with music, sweet memories of a man who touched and continues to touch so many lives in such a positive way and tiny pigs!
Below is a message from Joe Chambers, Josh’s father.
Lena’s and Sarah Craig were always very supportive to Josh. We are in debt to them for having this show in Josh’s memory again this year. The performers this year, very generously volunteered their time and effort in support of both Lena’s and Josh. This year there was not a big name band. It was very much a friends night to honor Josh, but very talented friends and many songs, some of those that Josh wrote or favorites of his that he sang. Josh wrote over 750 songs. There was a large turnout from his theater company Fovea Floods in the room as well as on the stage. On the video tribute for Josh, was a video tribute for another Fovea Floods member who passed away, Coleman O’Toole. It featured a song “Coleman ” that Josh wrote. Dave Bengle and the Radio Junkies carried the majority of the show with help from other talented artists, Sue Kessler, Michael Eck and E.B.Brooks. Jane Picket sang a song that she cowrote with Josh called “Honeysuckle.” My wife, Betty, and I would like to thank everyone who came out to support Caffe Lena and honor our beloved son, Josh. Thanks, Joe
Gallery: photos by AKphotos
