hi, friends—happy holidays, all!
When I run into folks, I’m often asked “how’s the music going?” This is a question I’m never quite sure how to answer. My inner cynic/cranky old man likes to complain, if I let him (“I’m so broke! The album’s still not done! The turnout at my last show was light…”) You get the idea—the inner crank is unhelpful. :7
For me, success has always meant continuing to do things I love to do: write new songs I’m excited about, play them for people (mostly at small shows), play sax & harmonize with others, enjoy the great songs so many of my talented musician friends write, and getting excited about new music. The fact that I’m still doing all those things, having put out my first cassette tape release in 1992, seems pretty miraculous to me! As a writer, you always wonder if it’ll “dry up” some day (do chefs or shoemakers have this problem? a fear that inspiration will vanish overnight? I doubt it.) So, I’m grateful that I’m still writing songs that matter to me, 10 so far this year:
nothing rings as brightly, two left feet, carnival balloons (written while doing my annual Bethel Park H.S. residency), stalking poetry (inspired by a trip to Germany & Switzerland), just in case,better with practice (big & catchy, very ADHD!), mulberry tree (quiet & pretty), I was a terrible waiter (funny, and a contest winner!), ghost of me, and what God likes (a sermonette, really, advocating for my GLBT friends.) I just rehearsed those last two new ones last night, with the super-talented Jason Rafalak, who continues to patiently learn my new songs and rehearse older ones, and whose musical depth and insight always make any show I do with him more fun, and way better.
I also have 3 unfinished songs with nifty music and incomplete words (which I really want to be playing right now! :] )
This year, I got to:
—back up Jon Vezner (on sax) at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival—tons of fun, and great songs!
—play at a wedding in Germany, then travel and see old friends in Germany & Switzerland (and speak some German & French.)
—open for the unbelievable Bobs at Caffe Lena, a club I’ve wanted to play for years (now I have!)
—organize the “Musical Chairs” showcase at both the International Folk Alliance & NERFAconferences, & play with amazing people, including Pierce Pettis!
—got the next CD ready to mix (a process that should start any day/week now?)
—continue to work at my very fun day job, coordinating a Tutoring program for East End Cooperative Ministry here in Pittsburgh. So, I have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks to you, for listening, coming out to shows, and being connected to my musical life.
News
Full Band show this Friday, w/Putnam Smith!
Once again, I’m activating my “undercover” rock band, consisting of Ryan Socrates on drums, Jason Rafalak on bass, and Corey
Congilio on electric guitar, for a show. We’re playing this Friday, Dec. 11th, at 8pm at Yoga Matrika, (6520 Wilkins Ave., in Point Breeze). Should be a fun show, and probably the last full band show till the next CD release!
Opening will be Maine’s Putnam Smith. I got a copy of his newest CD, Goldrush this year at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and really loved it.
Apple Fest Pix!
I got to play the 2009, 4th Annual Apple Festival, including 2 of me & Ryan Socrates (on percussion) playing music there at the Union Project (on Sat., Oct. 24, 2009). The pictures were taken by Larry Rippel.
Needless to say, the Apple Fest was tons of fun, with a Pie-ku poetry contest, music by us and also the Unitarian Folk Orchestra, and we even got to taste the winning pie!
Harrisburg Show: Dames Review
Last month I played at the terrific new Midtown Scholar Bookstore space in Harrisburg, PA. Karyn Albano of Discovering the Area’s Music & Entertainment or DAMES, came out to the show, and wrote a really nice review.
Contest Winner! “I Was A Terrible Waiter…”
Each August, Paul Loyd (aka “Just this Guy”) puts on a Songwriting Contest. Last year’s challenge was to write a song about a toy, and my song Lite Brite took 2nd place.
This year’s contest had the following criteria:
—write a song about the worst job you ever had.
—use the words: boss, work, pay, co-worker
—bonus points for the word “monkey” (as was the case last year.)
So, I came up with a song called I was a terrible waiter, which I thought was pretty amusing. And, I just found out today (M, 10/12/09), that I won this year!
The song I wrote for the 2007 contest was Java 13, which also turned out nicely.
Full Band Show: Thursday night (Mill Site Tavern)
I’m playing a rare Pittsburgh-area full band show with Jasonon bass (or mandolin), Ryan on drums and/or glockenspiel, and Corey on electric guitar, this Thursday night at 8pm, at the Mill Site Tavern (2512 E Carson St.) on the South Side.
I haven’t promoted this show as much as I’d like, in part because I’ve been super-busy trying to keep the next CD moving forward (just got strings recorded today!). But, you should come out because these guys sound great, plus the super-fantastic Autumn Ayers is opening.