THE NEW YORKER | JULY 3, 2000

STEPPING UP From mid-nineties midnight shows at Brownies and the Mercury Lounge, the singer and songwriter Peter Salett has used his time on the downtown circuit to hone his rich voice and his emotionally transparent pop sensibility.  Last April he enjoyed spending the night on the Bowery Ballroom's grand stage in a show celebrating the completion of his self-produced album, "Heart of Mine," backed by such musicians as the lap steel guitarist Don Piper and the organist Joe McGinty.  Salett returns to the same spot this week for a rare solo acoustic performance as the opening act for former Soul Coughing front man M. Doughty.  Catch him now, while he's on the rise.