NEWS FEATURES, Nov 12 edition, Acoustic Americana Music News 2008

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"Tied to the Tracks"
ACOUSTIC AMERICANA
MUSIC NEWS
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NEWS FEATURES edition for November 12, 2008
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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WELCOME to the ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC NEWS, our weekly news feature companion to the ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE (formerly called the calendar). Here, you’ll find news for artists and music fans alike, ranging from the immediately useful to the merely informative, from gig opportunities and festival deadlines to early bird discounts, from venue openings and closings to career tips, and hot tips for acoustic music fans.
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The Acoustic Americana Music Guide (formerly called the calendar) with frequently updated posts of upcoming events well into 2009, is available at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com and various other places around the web. We post links for current editions on our Myspace page, but new editions of the calendar are no longer there. Myspace has made changes that limit the size of posts, and that makes it far too time-consuming and ponderous to post the calendar there in far too many small pieces.
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Our myspace site, www.myspace.com/laacoustic is still the place to go for news of the syndicated “Tied to the Tracks” radio show, and its new TV counterpart that launches soon.
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LATEST NEWS FEATURES always post separate from the Acoustic Americana Music Guide (formerly called the calendar).
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MOST RECENT previous News Features posted OCTOBER 30, at
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2008/10/news-features-oct-29-edition-updated.html
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Recent weeks and months’ editions are available on Blogspot at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com; older archived editions are available on the myspace page (www.myspace.com/laacoustic), by using the “View All” button and scrolling, and if you don’t see what you want, then journey farther back by using the “older entries” button and scrolling, as many times as necessary. You can go all the way back to when acoustic music was made by trees crashing to the floor of the primeval forests when the dinosaurs got too rambunctious.
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COMMUNICATE WITH US about anything related to the Acoustic Music Guide & News, or “Tied to the Tracks,” at tiedtothetracks@hotmail.com.
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Please don’t send us anything through myspace email. It’s esoteric, can’t be auto-forwarded into a “real” email account, and we just can’t keep up with it. So, communicate through the above address.
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NEWS FEATURES:
November 12, 2008
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1) “CHRISTMAS ON THE RANGE” LINEUP ANNOUNCED
On Sunday, Dec 14, at 2 pm, the annual holiday-themed benefit concert at the Autry Museum will be presented by the Western Music Association. Our editor and “Tied to the Tracks” host LARRY WINES is the emcee. It’s in the splendid Wells Fargo Theatre at The Autry National Center / Autry Museum of the American West, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park, L.A. 90027; 323-667-2000.
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This promises to be a great afternoon of entertainment, with first-rate traditional and original western music and cowboy poetry, featuring:
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* JOYCE WOODSON, 2008 Academy of Western Artists “Female Vocalist of the Year;” composer of Western Music Association-nominated “Song of the Year,” “If I Hadn’t Seen the West” and of the hit, “He’s Courtin’ Annie”
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* TOM HIATT AND THE SUNDOWN RIDERS a western band with STEVE THOMAS, TOM HIATT, & MARVIN O’DELL (Marvin is a host on web radio’s “Classic Heartland)
* JOE HERRINGTON, award-winning Cowboy Poet, with poems and stories of the season
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* JOHN BERGSTROM, historical balladeer
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* CLYDE LUCAS, western singer-songwriter
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* LARRY WINES, Master of Ceremonies, host of “Tied to the Tracks,” radio / internet personality, writer, songwriter, man of many surprises
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Reservations: call Marilyn Tuttle, 818-365-8709 or e-mail lindaleegreen@earthlink.net. Special advisory: The famous Griffith Park Holiday Light Show will be operating, so you are advised to enter the park from the North, via Victory Bl., to avoid traffic diversions.
Tix: Gen’l $20; WMA or Autry mbrs $15; children under age 12, $10.
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The annual WMA “CHRISTMAS PARTY & JAM” follows the concert, and it’s at the nearby Viva Cantina / Viva Fresh, (900 Riverside Dr, Burbank; 818-845-2425; next to the L.A. Equestrian Center) from about 5:30-9 pm, everyone welcome.
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2) 12TH ANNUAL UNISONG SONGWRITING CONTEST DEADLINE IS NOV 15
It was extended this year, and there’s still time to enter, through Saturday. The contest deadline was extended, they told us, because “We received numerous last minute requests and panicked e-mails from people finishing up songs they wanted to enter but were not able to get their songs completed in time for various reasons including the Presidential election falling on November 4th this year. In response, we have decided to extend the entry deadline to November 15th in order to give everyone the extra days they need to enter their songs. So if you haven't already entered or you were rushing trying to beat the deadline, you still have until November 15th!”
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It could be as they say, or it could just be that the terrible economy finds too many artists short of funds for contest entry fees. Draw your own conclusions.
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If you’d like to enter, all songs are due on or before 11:59 PST, Nov 15, 2008. They add, “We will continue to accept entries online, as well as through the mail to that point, but this extension is the FINAL deadline!”
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The contest has over $60,000 in total cash and prizes to be awarded in 16 music and lyric categories. There are “features and options” for the winners, including these:
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a) The Grand Prize winner can jet off to an all expenses paid international writing and performing retreat, choosing the BRETT PERKINS INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS RETREAT in Ireland, Denmark, Crete, Sweden, Big Sur, or Spain.
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b) Win up to $2,500 cash
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c) Prizes are offered from Sony, Sure, Sonicbids, Line 6, TAXI, FXPansion and others. See all of the prizes at www.Unisong.com/Prizes.aspx
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d) There’s an extra $500 "People's Choice Award" (Chosen by on-line voting)
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They have a “standard” or more “in-depth” custom critique of any song, offering valuable feedback, and a “category selection option” wherein they will pick the best category for your song if you can't decide yourself. You can enter on-line, at www.Unisong.com/eologin.aspx, or through Sonicbids, at www.Sonicbids.com/Unisong, or you can download an entry form from their site and mail-in your entries; see www.Unisong.com/EnterContest.aspx. They add, “Be sure to use PROMO CODE TBYH when entering.” (No, we don’t know why.) More at their web site, www.Unisong.com.
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3) “INTERNATIONAL BLUES COMPETITION” IN LONG BEACH NOV 15
The Southern California portion of the IBC arrives in the Cellar – not figuratively, but literally – in the venue called, The Cellar, at 201 S Broadway, in Long Beach. It’s sponsored by the Southern California Blues Society, under the auspices of the Blues Foundation. Info, via email, at SCBluesSociety@aol.com. BERNIE PEARL, himself a fine blues artist and an IBC judge, tells us, “The winner will go to Memphis in February to compete against other winners from around the globe. The competition starts at 4 o’clock and runs for several blues-drenched hours until around midnight.” It all happens Saturday, Nov 15, from 4 pm-midnight, with a truly cheap $5 cover.
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4) “WESTERN WAY” MAGAZINE ADVERTISING AVAILABLE - DEADLINE NOV 15
If you perform Western or Western Swing or traditional or original cowboy music, we’ve already said that you should look into membership in the nonprofit Western Music Association (WMA; www.westernmusic.org) for the career advantages it can bring you. WMA also publishes a slick magazine, “WESTERN WAY,” available by subscription to non-WMA members and sent automatically to its members. AND, it recently became available to read for FREE, on their website. The magazine also goes to museum libraries for current exposure and archives, and sells in some museum gift shops. They sell ads in the magazine, and those ads also get many thousands of views on the web. Deadline for an ad to appear in the next issue is Nov 15. For info on schedule of publication, rates, and how to submit your ad, contact Lindalee Green, Director of Sales & Marketing, at 661-297-5955 or lindaleegreen@earthlink.net.
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5) OVERHEARD THIS WEEK: FROM D.L. HUGHLEY & OTHERS…
“That Joe the Plumber? I thought he was a bodyguard from Jerry Springer. I saw Joe the Plumber on stage with Palin, and a Indian – it looked like the Village People.”
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Even before that, JIMI YAMAGISHI, a producer for radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” and exec director of SONGNET, wrote the clever “Plumber Named Joe” song. It’s on his myspace page, at www.myspace.com/mtnbch
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And we’re having a fall close-out sale on Palintology: DAVE MORRISON wrote to say, “the audio from the radio prank where Sarah Palin thought she was talking to the president of France... It's unbelievable. Not to kick a girl when she's down, but ohmygawd, this woman could have been a heart-attack away from the presidency.” It’s at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV_IphAIGPg&feature=related
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6) “STAGECOACH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL” TO RETURN IN 2009
It’ll be the 3rd annual installment of the massive festival at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, where it’s scheduled for Sat & Sun, Apr 25 & 26. It will, thankfully, again include many Americana and bluegrass and blues and western and roots music stars on several stages, along with the predictable gaggle of today’s red-state-trailer-park-rock “country” acts on the main stage. As of Nov, 2008, the confirmed lineup includes KENNY CHESNEY, BRAD PAISLEY, REBA McENTYRE, KID ROCK, LITTLE BIG TOWN, MIRANDA LAMBERT, and fortunately, also, EARL SCRUGGS, JERRY JEFF WALKER, RICKY SCAGGS, RALPH STANLEY, PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE, LYNN ANDERSON, DOYLE LAWSON, JIM LAUDERDALE & THE DREAMPLAYERS, PETER ROWAN BLUEGRASS BAND, THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND, THE DUHKS, WADDIE MITCHELL, HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN, REVEREND HORTON HEAT, THE KNITTERS, DALE WATSON, & JAMES INTVELD. There’s also RANDY HOUSER, DANIELLE PECK, DARIUS RUCKER, CHRIS CAGLE, LADY ANTEBELLUM, ZAC BROWN BAND, & POCO. More at www.myspace.com/goldenvoice and www.goldenvoice.com. Apparently this year is Sat & Sun only, and the gates open at noon on Saturday. There is no camping at the site. It’s $99 for a full weekend pass, and you need to come and go each day on your own. Tix go on sale Fri, Nov 14 at 10 am.
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7) LISA O’KANE NOMINATED AS “FOLK ARTIST OF THE YEAR”
Lisa checked-in to tell us, “I've been honored with the nomination for ‘Folk Artist of the Year’ for the ‘Roots Music Awards,’” held this week in San Marcos, Texas. More at http://worldunitedmusicfestival.com/index.php?page=vote. More on Lisa O'Kane and her music at www.myspace.com/lisaokane
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8) I SEE HAWKS IN L.A. GET SONG IN HBO’s “TRUE BLOOD”
The guys tell us, “It's a new day in America. An intelligent and sane man will be President for the first time since Jimmy Carter. And the Hawks have a song on a trashy, big-budget vampire show. Curious to see how ‘Hallowed Ground,’ the sentimental Hawks song about love and marriage, fits into graphic sex and violence? Us too!” Between their tours of the US and back and forth for gigs and festivals in Britain, I SEE HAWKS in L.A. have performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.” And they are currently on the Grammy Ballot for Best Contemporary Folk Americana album.
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9) MARINA V ON GRAMMY BALLOT
Last time, we gave you some info on past guests from radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” who are on this year’s Grammy ballot. We rushed to include a feature based on the artists who told us they were on the ballot. Lo and behold, there are more who hadn’t told us before our last edition was published. One of those is the charming and talented MARINA V, who is on the Grammy ballot in two places. One is “Album of the year” for "Modern Fairytale" (#643), the other is “Best Short Form Music Video” (category 108) - Marina V - "Hope" (#360). There’s also a chance she will be nominated for the album art of her "Modern Fairytale" album. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, Marina is on tour on the East Coast. More at www.MarinaV.com
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10) ALLAN COMEAU ON GRAMMY BALLOT
Allan qualified and made the ballot for his 2007 CD, “Life Is in Session,” and for individual tracks from that CD, “You Can’t Catch Me,” “Sin to Be Saved,” and “Homeless Man.” Allan is in: Category 1, Record of the Year, for “You Can’t Catch Me,” #133, and Category 2, Album of Year, for “Life is in Session” #118, and Category 3, Song of Year, for “You Can’t Catch Me” (co-written with Loni Specter), #724, and Category 4, New Artist, Allan Comeau, #075, and Field 4 / Category 15, Solo Rock Vocal, “Sin to Be Saved,” #014, and Field 4 / Category 20, Best Rock Song, “Sin to Be Saved,” #152, and Field 8 / Category 37, Male Country Vocal, “Homeless Man,” #020, and Field 8 / Category 41, Country Song, “Homeless Man,” #058, and Field 14 / Category 69, Folk Album, #046.
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More at www.TopangaRecords.com
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11) PETE HOPKINS WINS “CODE BLUE” CONTEST’s TOP PRIZE
He’s from Seattle, and you’ve heard his music on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.” Pete Hopkins’ performance style is all his own, with a lot of grunge-influenced new folk and sometimes some rock ‘n roll attitude, but not the in-your-face kind. His stuff is good, it’s fun to see him perform, and his music works. Pete checked-in to say, “I am pleased to announce that my song, ‘I Won't Cry,’ won the final week of ‘Code Blue,’ an eight-week competition sponsored by Webceleb, Mikal Blue and Immergent Records. I was chosen by renowned producer Mikal Blue (One Republic, Colbie Caillat etc) and Immergent Records as the top winner and will be recording my music at Revolver Studios with Mikal as the producer in the coming weeks. Awesome!”
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12) BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY LANDS TV DEAL
They were just in Southern Cal, where they played the big Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, and the intimate Coffee Gallery Backstage, with both those shows on our list of “Picks of the Week.”
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They’re so excellent that Darol Anger (Republic of Strings) has called BOULDER ACOUSTIC SOCIETY (BAS, www.boulderacousticsociety.net), “The future of string band music.” The Colorado-based group has played Red Rocks Amphitheatre (the Centennial State’s Hollywood Bowl) and they’ve performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.”
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Now they’re freshly returned home from months on the road, and they checked-in to tell us, “On Nov 11, there is a new original comedy (kind of like ‘The Office,’ or ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’) going live on ESPN.com, called ‘Mayne Street.’ BAS (with the help of their ukuleles) did all the original music for it! If this short web season goes well and gets lots of hits, it may go live to ESPN network next season. I think you can find it on the 11th here: http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/espnshows “
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The guys aren’t resting long. This month, they’re playing with a great band from NY called The Wiyos, who, like BAS, have also been guests on radio’s “TttT.” The Wiyos play hillbilly / vaudeville / hot jazz and BAS says, “they are the bee's knees.” Info at www.thewiyos.com
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They’ll be co-headlining the big indoor Colorado venues, including The Boulder Theater, The Steamplant, and Swallow Hill, with BAS offering their hometown fans a taste of the new music they’ve written while spending all summer on the road.
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13) HOLLY NEAR ORGANIZES “SING OUT THE VOTE” FOR OBAMA IN OHIO
As time grew short before the Nov 4 election, folksinger-songwriter HOLLY NEAR (www.hollynear.com) organized a portable music festival that ran 11 days, aimed at promoting the candidacy of BARACK OBAMA in the Buckeye state, expected to be a critical “swing state.”
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JOHN McCUTCHEON (www.folkmusic.com) wrote to tell us about his part in it, saying “I spent a week in Ohio during October as part of “SING OUT THE VOTE OHIO,” a group of 20 musicians who barnstormed around the state encouraging early voting, volunteering in the final days of the campaign and bringing out the vote.”
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The same artists could not be at every show, and joined the tour as their schedules allowed. Participating artists included HOLLY NEAR, JOHN McCUTCHEON, LAURA LOVE, EMMA'S REVOLUTION, WISHING CHAIR, THE PRINCE MYSHKINS, ANDRE dos SANTOS MORGAN, ROY ZIMMERMAN, TORY TRUJILLO, VANESSA & TAMARA TORRES, POET ON WATCH, COLLEEN KATTAU, DEBORAH VAN KLEEF, ANNE FEENEY, and TRACY WALKER.
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HOLLY NEAR, who led the effort, is a longtime social activist whose website banner proclaims, “Bring a friend, start a movement, stop a war.”
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McCutcheon continues, “We sang on college campuses, street corners, rallies and at concerts.” The concert in Columbus was recorded, and was broadcast on XM on Nov 1; it MAY be rebroadcast, so check at www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=15 for info. John adds, “a number of NPR and Pacifica stations are going to be airing portions of the concert.” There isn’t a central source for info, so google “Sing Out the Vote," or check Holly Near’s site.
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Listeners to radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” may recall that San Francisco-based ROY ZIMMERMAN has done a pair of live performance-interviews that focused on his brilliantly funny political songs, and the DC-based duo EMMA'S REVOLUTION also performed live on TttT, doing some of their fine songs of social and environmental consciousness.
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If HOLLY NEAR decides to release a double-or-triple CD of the Columbus show, buy it! Meantime, you can get a free download of the tour poster at www.hollynear.com
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14) CINDY KALLET & GREY LARSEN RADIO INTERVIEW IS NOW ON-LINE
They’re based in Maine, they perform roots music on traditional instruments, they’ve built a Southern California fan base from playing tour dates here (as they have everywhere), and you’ve heard their music on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.” They also did an interview with ANDREA SEABROOK on NPR’s “WEEKEND ALL THINGS CONSIDERED” on Saturday, August 2. If you missed it, it’s available at www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93130817
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15) MICHELLE SHOCKED PUBLISHES NEW SONGBOOK
Michelle checked-in to tell us, “We have a Nov 1st release date for the limited edition songbook, ‘A Hundred and Twenty Babies.’ As soon as pre-orders are available, I'll let you know.” It’s a songbook with lyrics and guitar tablature for 120 songs, reaching all the way from the “Texas Campfire Tapes” to the not-yet-released new CD, “Soul of My Soul.” Sounds like a good holiday gift.
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And what’s that about a not-yet-released album? Michele says, “We have a tentative Feb 3rd release date for the new limited edition album, ‘Soul of My Soul.’ Other than that, hang in there as capitalism implodes all around us!” Artist info, www.michelleshocked.com and www.myspace.com/mshocked
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16) MICHELLE SHOCKED ON YOU TUBE
Videos on www.youtube.com/user/mshocked include “Yes God is Real,” “Anchorage,” “When I Grow Up,” “My Little Sister,” “On the Greener Side” and “Come a Long Way.”
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17) WORTHY CAUSE: ONLY $1 TO HELP THE FAMILY OF A SILENCED MUSICIAN
Indie folk-rock singer-songwriter KATIE REIDER died this summer from a rare tumor. In addition to remembering a lost artist as a unique creative presence, her illness left her family with debts from her treatment. Enter “KATIE'S VOICE” at www.500Kin365.org . Together, we can make the world aware of her wonderful voice and her music, and help those she left behind.
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Katie's first CD was released in 1998, and she was just reaching the peak of her music career when she developed a tumor in her upper left jaw that progressed into her sinus, her skull, and the orbit bones of her left eye socket. Over the course of one year, the rare facial tumor took away her sight in one eye, then her voice, and with it, her ability to perform. With the help of Katie’s loyal fans www.500Kin365.org was created to introduce 500,000 people to Katie Reider, her music and her story over the next year.
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For only $1 you can download nine of Katie's songs. Just $1 and 100% of the proceeds go to a fund to help support Katie's family with the expenses that accumulated during her illness. Katie had two young children with her devoted life partner Karen, with whom she had been for 10 years. Our thanks to singer-songwriter DEBBIE HENNESSEY (www.debbiehennessey.com), who has performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and who wrote to tell us about this. Debbie adds, “[Katie’s] voice and music are truly beautiful and I hope you will take the opportunity to get to know this genuine talent who was taken far too soon. Please go to www.500kin365.org for more info.”
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18) THIS WEEK’S MUSIC VIDEOS…
First, some bluegrass with a twist. Last year, PETER FELDMANN (Peter Feldmann & the Very Lonesome Boys) joined French violinist GILLES APAP in recording sessions for Gilles' latest CD, "Friends." The resulting album features the virtuoso fiddler in collaboration with an array of bluegrass, old-time, and Cajun musicians. The session for one of the disc’s tunes, "Jerusalem Ridge," can be seen on You Tube, and is well worth the trip, at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpVeNtem5Yk&fmt=18
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Peter points-out, “Note that the whole band is playing live, with no overdubs or tracking, just like the old days!” Also, note that the "&fmt=18" in the above address insures that the music will be heard in stereo and better-than-usual digital quality. Peter adds, “The video was shot by audio engineer DREW DANIELS while we recorded at his ‘Sound Path’ studio near Van Nuys, CA. Gilles and Ventura fiddler PHIL SALAZAR do a great twin fiddle version of this outstanding BILL MONROE tune.”
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More info on the recording is in Peter’s column, at http://bluegrasswest.com/wordpress and you can subscribe to Peter’s “Bluegrass West” newsletter, free, at www.bluegrasswest.com/pform1.htm
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Second, we’re recommending the pick from the California Traditional Music Society (CTMS). Their “traditional music video” pick again features performers they met at this year's “Irish Fair” in Milwaukee. This time, it’s the trad band LAU from Edinburgh, Scotland. LAU is KRIS DREVER on guitar, MARTIN GREEN on accordion, and AIDAN O’ROURKE on fiddle. LAU was the BBC2 “Folk Group of 2008” and has been described as “a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music in Scotland today.” Being from the big city, their music has a definite jazz influence while maintaining their traditional roots. View their video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qD-2gF6Q2Y
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For more on LAU, their myspace page is www.myspace.com/laumusic and their website is www.lau-music.co.uk. Two of their CD are available from Amazon: “Lightweights & Gentlemen,” and the personal favorite of the CTMS folks, “Live.”
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You can subscribe to the CTMS e-newsletter at newsletter@ctmsfolkmusic.org
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19) “ITHACA" - CAVAFI'S POEM, WITH SEAN CONNERY & VANGELIS
This is one you’ll enjoy, especially if you remember studying Greek mythology. CONSTANTINE CAVAFI wrote it, SIR SEAN CONNERY brilliantly recites it, and VANGELIS performs the music for it. Out thanks to jazz singer / actress ANGEL BEE for sending us the link: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1n3n2Ox4Yfk
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20) JIM DINE: POET SINGING “THE FLOWERING SHEETS” AT GETTY VILLA
While this runs Oct 30, 2008–Feb 9, 2009, and it may be just what you need as a break from news overload. It’s the first contemporary art project at the Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu; 310-440-7300. The installation by artist Jim Dine combines sound, poetry, and over-life-size sculptures inspired by ancient Greek statues in the Museum's collection. On Nov 7, it was accompanied by a documentary illuminating Dine's creative process and an evening of discussion with the artist www.getty.edu/visit/events/jimdine.html?cid=egetty084 and if you didn’t get there, both parts will be available as streaming web video. Admission to the exhibition is free, but require reserved free tickets, and parking is $10. Get the free tix at www.museumtix.com/ticket/programset.asp?pvt=gtyv&vid=571&pid=208044
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21) THIS WEEK’S CLEVER GIG PROMO AWARD GOES TO…
L.A. based singer-songwriter DAVE MORRISON, for this little gem:
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“SeeYaThereTomorrowNightWhenYouGetThereAndWeShareACordialGreetingAndShakeHandsOrHugDependingOnHowWellWeAreDealingWithTheSimmeringResentmentsWeHaveBuiltUpOverTheYearsThoughWeAlwaysDenyThatAndLaughLikeOldFriendsWhichInAWayWeReallyAre,
Dave”
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The same promo also said, “Show starts at 7, I go on at 9, at the Talking Stick, 1411 Lincoln Blvd. in the El Pollo Loco center (kinda like the Staples Center, but smaller).” For those not in L.A., the Staples Center is where the Lakers play basketball.
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Taking a little time to be creative with your gig posts can make a difference.
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Radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” was privileged to have the world premiere of Dave’s CD, “Times Like These,” on Trough Records, and he’s currently working on a new one. More on Dave and his music at www.myspace.com/davemorrisonmusic and www.davemorrisonmusic.com.
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We’ve also included his YouTube performances in recent picks, so here’s more:
YouTube: "Times Like These" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD-G11Eeg7s
YouTube: "Almost A Relief" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zZl-nEEEwk&feature=related
YouTube: "Standing By The Bridge" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li0VDr8cMG0
The album is available at http://cdbaby.com/cd/davemorrison
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22) MORE CLEVER PROMO FROM MURPHY’S FLAW…
They’ve captured our more-or-less weekly prize at least twice, and they deserve the Honorable Mention this time. Enjoy, get ideas for your own clever promo and gig posts. Oh, and the asterisks in their announcements really do refer you to notes at the bottom:
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“Saturday, we'll be in amongst the pumpkins at the [festival, where they were headliners]. You'll be able to tell us from the pumpkins because somebody will buy them and take them home. For those not hanging on every off-key Flaw note, there will also be other acts including a fantastic juggler, and equally fantastic barbecue.* Full details are here [clickable link to festival]. Come on out and buy stuff - these people do great work and need your money. For a $500 donation, we will stop playing. You may want to take up a collection in your neighborhood.”
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”On Sunday, the Flaw staggers out to [a different festival, where they were again headliners], once again offering a living tableau of "What Happens When You Don't Practice". There will be two Flawed sets out there, one at the unheard-of hour of 10 a.m. and the other at our normal rising hour of 2 p.m. In between will be other, fantastic bands, or you can just gather around and watch us argue about who messed up the first set. (Answer: banjo player). Details are right here [clickable link to festival]. We hope to see you one last time before you develop musical taste and leave us forever.”
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There’s more… (again, the asterisks really do refer you to notes); keep in mind, the band’s name is Murphy’s Flaw:
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“Many people** have been clamoring for details of our recent stock issue under the (tenderly) holding company of Flawco Inc. The stock, traded under the counter under the symbol PTUI, has been a rock of consistency in the volatile storm that is the current stock market, trading unchanged at $0.00. We believe this reflects the true worth of the company, and therefore are quite happy. Stock certificates will be available both at Tierra del Sol and Moorpark, with our business plan printed on the back of the certificates.”
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“Billionaire Warren Buffett, whose motto is, ‘be greedy when others are fearful; fearful when others are greedy’ *** has lately been extolling stock purchases as a rare bargain. However, he has somehow neglected to include Flawco among his holdings. We're assuming it's a clerical error.”
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*However, juggling barbecue=bad idea.
**By which we mean nobody.
***Flawco motto: "Would you like fries with that?"
www.murphysflawband.com
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23) BIG BROTHER REALLY IS WATCHING YOU, ESPECIALLY IN THE U.K.
A number of touring artists have mentioned to us that when they play the British Isles, there seem to be video surveillance cameras mounted everywhere. Indeed, sales of those cameras have become VERY big business in Britain. They call them “CCTVs” in the UK, and the reported number of them there, so far, is 4,200,000. Now, the total land area of the UK is 94,526 square miles. (For comparison, Wyoming is 97,818 square miles.) That makes the average number of video surveillance cameras in the UK, per square mile, a rather astonishing 44.4 individual cameras. And you though Google’s earth mapping project was scarey-intrusive. Since much of the UK is rural, presumably with no need for 44 spy cameras per square mile, what does that mean for the concentration of spying glass eyes in urban areas? And with the seven-year old culture of fear of terrorists that some politicians chant like a mantra on this side of the Atlantic, is the US far behind? It certainly ain’t the cowboy way to watch every move everyone makes. Let’s hope the new administration puts a stop to all this here in America. More at http://londonsentinels.blogspot.com
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24) Special “In depth” feature… critique on a festival, with ideas for you…
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“OLD WEST” THEMED HARVEST FAIR: A MODEL FOR OTHER EVENTS?
It was in San Bernardino the first two weekends of November, and it was one of the most geographically distant “SHOW OF THE WEEK” picks in the Acoustic Americana Music Guide. The 28th annual “HARVEST FAIR – JOURNEY BACK TO THE OLD WEST” (www.harvestfair.net) has become both a yearly tradition and a major fundraiser for the Center for Independent Development (C.I.D.), a regional center for people with disabilities located in San Bernardino. There is a cursory resemblance to the Long Beach Bayou Festival, because that’s also a benefit produced by a community-based charity as its key annual fundraiser.
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Billed as “An Old West Festival For The Whole Family,” and named “One of the Best Western Events in America!” by American Cowboy Magazine, it may have just seen its final incarnation, a victim of the collapsed economy. The sponsors made it clear, well in advance: “This year might be the last Harvest Fair, so ya better see it while you can.”
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That being the case, we can’t simply tell you that you should go next year. Instead, we’ll offer that it was, in many regards, a model event. They built an entire Western town for it, not just cheesy little false front props, but real wood, small but substantial structures, assembled from individual rustic boards into flats that made sides and fronts and backs and rudimentary roofs, each structure of unique size and character. Yep, pardner, many had all four sides and looked good inside and out. We had never before seen a festival where the food vendors each occupied their own building, on a whole street of food vendors (both sides). Saloons that served beer were in both the wood structures and on open-air bars in front of tents, just as they were 150 years ago in mining towns that had thirsty people and no time to build infrastructure. Merch vendors were arrayed in a combination of buildings and tents, with all the tents authentic in appearance to 19th century canvas shades and shelters, and shopkeepers were interspersed with the camps of reenactment troupes, where cowboys tended coffeepots over wood fires, or played harmonica from beneath wide-brimmed hats, or poker on barrels, or napped with heads resting on saddles on the ground. It was saturated with atmosphere. Kids activities included an open-sided tent with rusty relics, “please touch” signs, and a knowledgeable attendant to play “what is it?” games.
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The event featured four stages with hay bale seating. Two sections of the "town" were roped-off for the gunfighter and living history and frontier comedy shows. One stage included Native Americana flute music performers in its daily lineup. Another stage mixed re-enactors with music. A one-man show was presented by an Arizona re-enactor who portrayed a sergeant from the Buffalo Soldiers (10th US Cavalry, a black regiment on the frontier). Many women and a good number of kids appeared to be members of various troupes, dressed in 19th century garb. There were women’s suffrage activists, strong-arming the men to give them the right to vote. There were sheriffs and ne’er do wells, saddle tramps and respectable townsfolk, ladies with parasols, and plenty of saloon gals.
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The scale of participation was impressive, and represented the scope of many sectors of history-based and musical performers, along with the host’s own resource base. Therein lie keys to the model that others can emulate: think big, big enough to attract others because they see a part for themselves, doing what they do, that’s different from what you do, but compatible with your vision. Add several dimensions of diversity to yours, and next thing you know, “you doing what you do” is in conjunction with the larger context, and the total event can soon be greater than the sum of its parts.
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Of course, there’s much more to consider. You can bet that an event like this would never be allowed in a public park or at a public school: the layers of bureaucracy would necessitate impossible adherence to building codes, inspections by the city building and safety inspector, or depending on what kind of publicly-owned land, the county or state architect, and none of those charming, temporary structures would meet earthquake codes (or whatever), and they simply would not allow you to have the public in the same place as your temporary village.
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The event worked, where it was, because the host and beneficiary owns the site. It’s a large parcel of land that’s already used year-round for their programs. All the outdoor areas have grass, and stages are reasonable distances from electric power. You can also imagine that the host’s clients are learning as they assist in constructing the Old West town, and their family members are surely involved. It all combines into a charming escape to a sort of temporary Disneyland.
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If there was one major weakness, it is that the entertainment bookers don’t know the difference between roots Americana music, western and bluegrass and prairie grass music on the one side, and homogenized generic “country” from out-of-place bar bands on the other. Crashing ‘70s rock cover tunes reverberating off those Old West buildings, and punctuated by gunfights from re-enactor shows, wasn’t just incongruous, it was goofy. We’ll offer that as a caveat if you’re reading this for ideas.
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We hope they decide that CID determines that they can afford to produce the event again next year. It’s quite special. And if they do go forward, we’ll do our best to hook them up with artists whose music fits perfectly with everything else they’re doing.
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That’s it, for the biggest edition of News Features that we have yet published! We’ve heard that some of you print it out and read it on the light rail or the bus, and some of you read it from this itty bitty PDA screens, and while we don’t know how anybody can do that, we do appreciate that you include us in your quest to be informed and entertained. Drop us a note, and let us know what you like and don’t like about what’s here or in past editions! (Email address below.)
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NEXT WEEK, we’ll bring lots more news.
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copyright (c) © 2008, Larry Wines. All rights reserved.
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Be sure to check EVERY WEEK for
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+ the extensive and always huge ACOUSTIC AMERICANA MUSIC GUIDE’s event listings at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com, or at www.myspace.com/laacoustic.
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+ news of the “TIED TO THE TRACKS” radio & TV shows coming soon in syndication.
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+ the latest NEWS FEATURES from the acoustic music universe!
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WANT TO CONTACT US?
tiedtothetracks@hotmail.com
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