Acting, Songwriting and Nightclubbing with Renaissance Man Neil Howard

At first glance, he looks like a hard-boiled private eye who stepped out of a ’40s noir flick. With his lanky frame and ever-present fedora, Neil Howard seems more like an old-school Hollywood character actor than what he is today – one-half of the husband-and-wife team running Colony Woodstock, one of Woodstock’s most popular music venues.

Howard’s throwback style represents how he spent much of his time before opening Colony in 2017. The San Francisco native was a working actor appearing on stage, in soap operas, and even as the lead voice actor in one of the most popular video games of the early aughts. His love of classic Hollywood acting legends like Marlon Brando and James Dean is only equaled by his fandom of musicians like Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, Elvis, Buddy Holly, and The Stray Cats. They are some of the stylistic touchstones that have informed his other creative outlet – that of a singer-songwriter and leader of the delightfully-named folk and rockabilly-fueled quartet, The Strumlords.

While the story of the rebirth of Colony under Neil and his wife Lex is well-known, there’s another fascinating side to this Woodstocker that you should know.  It is one that may explain the unique environment and community that the Howards have brought to life in the beautiful, nearly century-old, former Depression-era hotel on Rock City Road that now houses Colony.

Read on to hear more about the hidden passions of this popular Woodstock club owner.

INSIDE+OUT: Tell us a little about your youth, where you grew up, and when you developed an interest in the arts – acting and music.

Neil Howard: I was born and raised in San Francisco, the East Bay town of Lafayette.  I always had an affinity for performance.  I started doing school plays in kindergarten and performed in A Christmas Carol every year. I just liked doing theatre, and it became my main extra-curricular activity, as opposed to something like sports.  My basic life plan was to head to Los Angeles or New York City to be an actor.  Sometime in my early teens, I became a huge Elvis fan. I got way into ’50s culture – actors like Dean and Brando, music from Presley, Buddy Holly and Little Richard, especially rockabilly and its neo-movement bands like The Stray Cats. To this day, I prefer old movies, music, industrial design, and anything made from the ’30s to the early ’60s.

As for music, I got a guitar pretty late when I was 18. I never thought I’d be good, but I learned to play, sing, and write songs of a particular style through my 20s. I decided to get out of the basement with my music after 9/11, which was a wake-up call on the ephemeral nature of life. I’m glad I still play and perform, as all the artists at Colony have inspired me to this day.

Why did you and your wife Lex decide to go into the crazy business of running a music venue in Woodstock? What have been the joys and challenges of this phase of your life?

First, we were just crazy enough to do it. We bought a weekend place in Woodstock in 2008 and gradually became more full-timers. We had been to The Colony Cafe many times, and we loved the building and thought it had so much potential. In 2015, we saw a “for sale” sign and went for it. It had been our longtime dream to open a venue like this. It took us a couple of years to get the place in shape for our opening in 2017.

Lex is my partner in all things. We met in 2003 and moved to New York City in 2005.  In fact, when living in San Francisco, one time in Golden Gate Park after we got engaged, we took out a napkin and wrote down our dreams and hopes for the future, and doing a music venue was one of them.  Lex still has the napkin we wrote them on.

There are many upsides to our experiences with Colony. I feel we’ve made a difference in the lives of the many musicians here and in the community. It’s a nice, safe place that expresses our positive attitudes and those of the musicians and audiences we attract.

On the negative side, we’re in a small town with a big name, but it’s still a small town, and it’s a constant challenge to keep the programming fresh and folks walking in the door.  It’s a struggle but a delightful one most of the time.

Colony was one of our community’s saving graces during Covid-19.  During the pandemic, you were pretty much the only game in town with the opening of the Beer Garden.  How do you think that helped solidify your position as one of Woodstock’s most essential venues?

It was very clear that we did the right thing and that it engendered a lot of goodwill.  We were actually able to audition the Beer Garden concept in real time to fast-track it.  At any other time, it would’ve been a longer road. From a business standpoint, the Beer Garden makes a big difference.  It brings in more revenue and is an ideal site for private events and celebrations, which are essential for a venue.  And as for life during Covid, our Beer Garden was the only space in town where people could enjoy a taste of normality.  We worked hard to ensure everyone’s safety.

How has Colony evolved since you opened it seven years ago? What have been some of your favorite shows?

I had substantial ideas of what I thought it should be. Colony was a movie, and I was the director. But I learned you must choose your battles and not sweat the small stuff. Initially, I wanted everyone to dress the same, in white button-down shirts and ’40s ties. Some staff quickly replaced those with wacky, wide “dad ties,” so we eased the dress code.  I also don’t fight with the evolution of the staff or kitchen as much.  Folks know what they are doing, and I let things develop over time without too much interference.

I have so many favorite shows. We’ve presented well over 1,000 since 2017. My favorite was a Christmas rockabilly concert with Reverend Horton Heat, Junior Brown, Big Sandy + The Blasters. I actually got to go on stage and introduce The Blasters, just like on their live album.  And being a rockabilly devotee, I have to say the shows by the late, great Robert Gordon. As a songwriter, this summer’s concert with Loudon Wainwright III was a true highlight.

Let’s talk about your music.  Who were your early influences, and how did they shape your new project?

With my fascination for oldies, I was inspired by 50’s music and culture, then Brian Setzer and The Stray Cats. I have always loved their music and their style. And I was also drawn to Brian’s big Gretsch guitar. My mom is Irish, so I listened to a lot of traditional Irish music growing up.  I lived in Ireland for a little while and couch-surfed in London.  That’s where I first heard and was blown away by Leonard Cohen. He is one of my biggest influences.  I sang his song “Famous Blue Raincoat” at a recent Cohen tribute show organized by Robert Burke Warren here at Colony. Growing up, I was also influenced by some of the pop music my mom listened to on the radio, artists like Neil Diamond and even Engelbert Humperdinck.

I am generally a solo singer-songwriter who sits and plays moody songs with my eyes closed. Recently, though, I’ve put together a quartet called The Strumlords. People say it sounds like Roxy Music Meets Tom Waits, but maybe the latter comparison is because of the hats I always wear. The music is very influenced by Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave. My songs have what you might call a dark, baritone energy with mature themes and such. I also have a rockabilly side that refuses to die. The Strumlords played Colony on July 17, on my birthday. I have the pleasure of strumming my guitar and singing with three great players: guitarist Josh Roy Brown, bassist Chuck Cornelis, and drummer Joe Cosgrove.  I have an album called Bottle Letter that you can find on Spotify. It’s a few years old now, but the material is essentially what I still perform and work from.

Let’s move to your acting career. What have been some of the high-water marks of your career?  Are you most drawn to any genre – comedy, drama, etc?  Who have been your acting role models, and is there any kind of project that you still hope to do?

Last spring, I did a production of God of Carnage with Performing Arts of Woodstock, which was very enjoyable and a hit.  I played Alan, the lawyer who is on his phone a lot, which was a lot of fun. I mainly did theater on the West Coast, the majority in the Berkeley/Oakland area – stuff like Shakespeare and Marlowe interspersed with modern classics like Glengarry Glen Ross and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, all as part of a group called Subterranean Shakespeare. I did several plays in Sacramento at the B Street Theater, founded by actor Timothy Busfield and his brother Buck.  I also did a bunch of commercials and a recurring bit part on the soap opera All My Children.

Strangely, I’m probably best known for my voice work on the Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies video game. It’s one of the most popular combat fight simulation games, and it was released in 2001 with the introduction of PlayStation 2.  I was AWACS SkyEye, one of the main voices that walks you through the game. It’s funny; there are Reddit threads out there, and I keep getting comments from fans on Ace Combat videos and blogs. Many comments on Reddit and YouTube ask me when they will return me to the game as SkyEye. The last edition came out in 2019, and another is in the works, so who knows? Maybe I’ll get to do it again.

What three albums have most inspired you and why?  Same for films or plays.

First and foremost, The Best of Leonard Cohen. I remember having chills all over the first time I heard it. I loved his voice, energy, and authenticity. It was the way he communicated genuine emotion without being performative.  Tom Waits and Nick Cave also have this character in their music.  I have to put Stray Cats up there; their debut album, Built for Speed, was the coolest thing. I don’t only love their commitment to the music but to the style and fashions of the ’50s. I also love Chris Isaak’s first few records. Nirvana’s Nevermind was huge; it gave me a whiplash that pulled me out of the past. It made me realize there was so much good current music in the ’90s.  Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville did the same.  It showed me how fantastic modern music could be.

David Mamet is my theater guy in terms of what he accomplished and the meat he gives an actor to play with. Same with Quentin Tarantino in the film world.  When Barry Levinson’s Diner came out, it went straight to the top of my list.  My friends and I were those guys – hanging out late at night getting French fries with gravy.  That was a tradition in the theater – going out after the show at 11pm to an all-night diner to drink coffee, eat fries and wind down.

Who would you choose if you could have dinner with three other musicians or actors, alive or dead?

Hmmm, this is a hard question. I couldn’t go wrong with Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, or Frank Sinatra.  The book about Frank, The Way You Wear Your Hat, is one of my favorites.  And, of course, Elvis Presley. I’d be happy just to shake his hand and skip the dinner!

What are you working on now that you’re most excited about?

My music and playing with The Strumlords. Now that I have a great band, I want to write and record some fresh material. I have some strong ideas that I want to set into motion.

What are the best films or TV shows you’ve seen recently that we need to see?

I’m all about doing “deep dives” into something that is not necessarily new but is new to me. Somewhat recently, I watched something with actress Jean Arthur and was charmed, so I went and watched all of her films I could find; I did the same for Ronald Colman. There are so many rabbit holes to dive into on YouTube if you’re into the old stuff. I love silent movies. I am fascinated by folks like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, who were the biggest worldwide stars of their era but are largely forgotten now.  I remember as a teenager doing a deep dive into the life of JFK, reading many books about him, his reckless youth, and his lifestyle. I guess I haven’t changed.

What about the Hudson Valley makes it unique to live + work here?

The physical beauty of it.  All the seasons here are gorgeous. Also, the lushness of the foliage. I love the rain, but not what it does to my business. And I love that we’re not that far from New York City, and I can drive down to take in a matinee without much hassle.

What impact do you have on your community?

I think Colony has helped revitalize the village of Woodstock.  Somebody called it “the pilot light of Woodstock,” and I think that’s true.

What local businesses do you rely on to be successful in your career and just in enjoying life?

Our many talented local craftsmen. I work exclusively with them on everything related to Colony.

What is missing in the area that you wish we had?

A tremendous old-school diner in Woodstock proper would be nice to have.  As a matter of fact, that’s another dream of mine – to open one of these.

What would be your dream assignment/gig?

Being a solo touring musician who did his entire tour by Amtrak.

Who or what inspires you personally?

Organization and minimalism. I’m the kind of guy who enjoys cleaning out the attic. In theory, of course. Never in reality.

Tell us something about yourself that people might be surprised to know.

I was born the day Neil Armstrong blasted off for the moon, and that’s how I got the name.

What are your favorite non-musical activities?

Cooking comfort foods at home. Watching old movies on YouTube and studying acting.  Digging deep into the lives of old Hollywood set designers, stuntmen, scriptwriters, and the like.

Photos courtesy of The Colony | Portraits of Neil Howard by Franco Vogt @franco.vogt | James Orr Photography
Contributing writer Sal Cataldi is a musician, writer and former publicist living in Saugerties NY.

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