NEWS FEATURES - Nov 19 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 19, 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 NOVEMBER 12, at
http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2008/11/news-features-nov-12-edition-acoustic.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 19, 2008
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*** IF YOU’D LIKE TO RECEIVE A NOTICE when we update the Acoustic Americana Music Guide, and when we post fresh NEWS FEATURES, send your email address to tiedtothetracks@hotmail.com - don’t worry, we won’t sell or distribute your address.
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1) ANNE McCUE WINS ROOTS MUSIC’S “FOLK ARTIST OF THE YEAR”
Aussie expatriate ANNE McCUE is on a roll. Last week, from a field where the other nominees included JOHN HIATT, JAKOB DYLAN, and DAR WILLIAMS, Anne was voted “Folk Artist Of The Year” in the annual Roots Music Association Award (www.rootsmusicassociation.org). On top of that, Anne is a finalist in the prestigious Indie Music Awards.
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Anne McCue and JANET ROBIN did a still memorable live performance on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” three and a half years ago. Each did selections from her own originals, backed by the other. Then the pair did some dazzling covers, including the old Appalachian favorite, “Grey Eagle Hornpipe,” and Django Reinhardt’s “Minor Swing.” Those two live tracks have been replayed often since then on TttT, and the former became a “Listener Favorite.” We’re still waiting for that collaborative album from Anne and Janet.
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Meantime, Anne is collecting great comments from her latest CD, “East of Electric.” GURF MORLIX, producer of albums by Lucinda Williams and Mary Gauthier, says, "Anne's got a great set of studio skills. A one-woman tour de force on all those instruments," and NANCY WILSON of HEART says, "This new album is such a beauty. The song ‘Beautiful Thing’ is stunning. I love every song on this record...maybe because Anne McCue is my Aussie clone!"
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DUSTY WAKEMAN, producer/engineer on albums by Dwight Yoakam and Michelle Shocked, says, "Anne McCue has made an amazing album - produced and recorded by herself. It sounds great, with her usual high standard of songwriting. I only wish I could have played on it."
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2) WANT TO BID ON A “SILENT AUCTION” PRIZE YOU CAN RIDE?
This tops anything we’ve yet seen in a silent auction, because it features a real, live horse, and she’s one with quite a pedigree. And bids will be accepted by phone, even if you’re not there. The annual WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION (WMA) FESTIVAL is now underway, and, well, it always features some out-of-the-ordinary items.
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The horse is named Belle, and she is a 5 year old gray AQHA Mare, donated by Clearview Ranch, LLC / Lisa & R.W. Hampton. Yep, that’s the same R.W. HAMPTON who is the award-winning western singer-songwriter / recording artist, a favorite at cowboy festivals, and he’s been a performing guest on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.”
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Lisa Hampton says, “Belle is a grand-daughter of both CD Olena and Smart Mate. This 5 year old mare offers the best of NCHA Cutting Horse bloodlines. A sweet mare, Belle was broke to ride, started on cattle and is a real athlete with a great stop and the ability to turn right over the top of herself. Belle is very sensitive and most suitable for experienced riders. With her breeding and age she will make an excellent broodmare. Clearview Ranch will guarantee her sound to ride and breed and will provide all health papers necessary for transportation within the US. Actual transportation from Clearview Ranch (located off of I-25 in Northern NM) would be the responsibility of the bidder. If bidding goes over $1,000, CV Ranch will include an additional 30 days training. We still own her mother and two sisters and her full brother is R.W.’s personal riding horse these days.”
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For photos of Belle, contact Lisa or R.W. Hampton at Hamptons@rwhampton.com. Keep in mind they are at the festival, so you may not get a prompt reply. To bid on Belle or any other items in the Silent Auction, and for an extensive list of all the items, email Auction Manger Lindalee on her Blackberry at LindaleeGreen@earthlink.net or call her cell phone at 661-992-6200. Lindalee says, “Send me your top bid and I will continue to inch up to it at the auction. Should the article that you desire reach your top bid I will notify you, and give you the option to stop bidding or increase your top bid. Make sure I have an active phone number and email address for you during this process as things will move quickly!”
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We understand that the Silent Auction will conclude Sunday afternoon, Nov 23. The WMA Festival runs Nov 20-23 at the Marriott Albuquerque, 2101 Louisiana Bl NE, Albuquerque, NM; 505-881-6800. It’s a conference and festival, with annual awards, panels, workshops, performances, and more. Info at www.westernmusic.com
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3) TOM RUSSELL DUE IN L.A. FOR TWO SHOWS
He grew up in Southern California, and he has many fans here, but Tom Russell doesn’t play here all that often. Now on the road, he hits the Acoustic Music San Diego series on Nov 28, McCabe’s in Santa Monica on Nov 29, and the Bodie House Concert series on Nov 30. He’s at the Thatcher School in Ojai on Dec 2, and he plays the sold-out Tales from the Tavern series in Santa Ynez on Dec 3, but that’s it for any nearby opportunities to catch him this time around. He promises “new songs and new stories,” and he’ll be adding them to an extensive repertoire that includes a great many audience favorites.
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Tom has a new 37-track “Tom Russell Anthology,” and a Tom Russell-Ian Tyson DVD, both now available from www.villagerecords.com, and he promises, “a new Tom Russell - Bob Dylan painting” that will be finished by the time he gets here. He’ll have plenty to share. He organizes and performs on a train ride for fans, and he says, “details on the Southwestern Train next year should be up soon on www.rootsontherails.com.” He’ll likely talk about the “cowboy film” he’s doing with ERIC TEMPLE, because they will preview parts of it at the Elko Cowboy gathering in January. You can check out Tom’s “blog and rant” at www.russelltom.blogspot.com
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4) SONGSALIVE! “CD SAMPLER 10” DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 30
The global songwriter organization, Songsalive!, has done this nine times before, beginning in 1997, and the deadline is nearing to submit your song for their tenth promotional compilation CD. They emphasize, “It's all about the song, and the songwriter is represented on the packaging.” You can apply through Sonicbids or direct with Songsalive! at www.songsalive.org/cdsampler
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The CD is intended to bring “exposure of great talent to the world's music markets, select music conferences, festivals, film and TV music supervisors, music industry executives, radio, labels, producers, publishers, print media, [and be] a unique promotion of independent songwriters throughout North America, Europe and Australia.”
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Songsalive! is the largest international non-profit organization supporting songwriters and composers. All genres are accepted and songs with vocals or instrumentals are welcome. Submission deadline is Nov 30. Questions that cannot be answered by the info on their website can be sent to usa@songsalive.org.
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5) GILLI MOON OFFERS “DEFINING THE ARTIST WITHIN – WORKSHOP,” DEC 13
Co-founder of the international nonprofit SONGSALIVE, Australian expatriate, artist, book author and record producer GILLI MOON presents a workshop focused on the artist’s need to craft an image. Gilli says it’s “First come first serve, limited seating.” Advance registration is possible, and recommended.
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The workshop is Sat, Dec 13, from Noon to 6 pm, in Sherman Oaks. Gilli calls it, “An intense one day workshop for artists who want to explore who you are, what you want, and how you can get it. Whether you want to be a rock star, or a consummate artist, or both, you need to be clear and focused with what path you take and how you are going to promote yourself. But it all begins with who you are. This workshop helps artists become clear with their innate qualities, and how best to go about promoting that and capitalizing on that to create a successful career in the arts.”
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The day includes the topics, “Who am I as an artist?” “Getting real with my talents, my dreams, and what I have to offer the world,” “Finding my competitive advantage,” “Goal making exercises - bringing the dream alive,” “Image defining - from concepts to concrete plans through creating the music, the art, the projects - to executing the marketing and promoting of all of it.”
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Bring a song or two, with lyrics; your artist's promo kit and other items pertaining to your artist's image; writing pen and paper. More info at www.gillimoon.com/Workshop and advance registration at www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=170727
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More about Gilli's past and future workshops is at www.warriorgirlmusic.com/workshops
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6) ONLY 7 SPOTS REMAIN FOR THE 5TH ANNUAL “CALIFORNIA LISTENING ROOM INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS RETREAT, JAN 18-25, 2009
Southern Cal music fans have fond regards for BRETT PERKINS for his years as a performing host and presenter of the monthly “Listening Room Songwriters Showcase,” a series that moved and has expanded to numerous venues all over Europe. Brett’s alter ego has become his primary identity in recent years, with the success and acclaim for his global series of “Listening Room International Songwriters Retreats” held in many inspiring places around the world. Each site repeats at least annually, and only one is in the US, on the scenic Central Coast. And that one, held in January, is so popular that only seven spots remain for the week in Jan, 2009.
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Songwriter participants for the California retreat will converge from Denmark, England, Ireland, and the US. They include 2008 “Berlin Troubadour Competition” winner Nanna Larsen and Sonicbids Listening Room Retreats Winner Colin McGrath from NYC.
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The Listening Room Retreats are a great way to network with writers from other countries through co- writing, as well as a powerful source for new inspiration. They're a demonstrated way of rapidly developing ones' work in the company of other writers - and getting a fresh perspective on how to make the songs as effective as possible in communicating your intentions to an audience.
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The price for the California Retreat is $975 (US), inclusive of seven nights shared housing, group dinners, all workshops and concerts. Transportation is also available to and from the retreat for those starting from Los Angeles prior to the event - and assistance is available with setting up additional performance opportunities, pre and post retreat. Brett tells us, “You can now use credit cards, via Paypal, to make the $100. required deposit to secure one of the maximum 7 remaining spots at this event. Interest Free Payment Plans are also offered for those who want to attend and need a bit of help to make that happen.”
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Write to brett@brettperkinspresents.com for further information and read more at www.listeningroomretreats.com and www.listeningroomretreats.com
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7) “NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS” DOCUMENTARY SEEKS SUPPORT
Filmmaker SUZY ROTHFIELD THOMPSON is a year into working on a documentary film about the legendary New Lost City Ramblers, produced by the nonprofit Arhoolie Foundation (CHRIS STRACHWITZ) and directed by YASHA AGINSKY. Suzy tells us, “The film is just about done now, and includes a rich mix of archival footage and photos, interviews, recently shot footage, music, etc. It's not only about MIKE SEEGER, JOHN COHEN, TOM PALEY, & TRACY SCHWARZ, but also includes great footage of many of the traditional musicians they've performed with, recorded, filmed, and otherwise documented -- including MAYBELLE & SARA CARTER, GEORGE LANDERS, THE BALFA BROTHERS, LIBBA COTTEN, ROSCOE HOLCOMB, HAZEL DICKENS, etc.”
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Suzy continues, “This hour-long film has been made on a shoestring budget of $200,000, but it turns out that there is an additional $25,000 in unanticipated finishing costs. I had the thought that perhaps I could find 25 people who would each make a tax-deductible donation of $1,000, and then we could get the film done and release it by spring of 2009, just in time to coincide with the 50th Anniversary NLCR Box Set that Smithsonian Folkways will be releasing. I started putting out the word on November 7, and have already raised $5,000 towards my goal, but there's still another $20,000 to go.”
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Suzy is looking for tax-deductible financial contributions (made to the tax-exempt nonprofit Arhoolie Foundation) - donors of $1,000 and up have the option of receiving a credit at the end of the film. And, she asks, “Help me to get in touch with the folks that you know personally who you think would be able and willing to support this film. Either you contact your friends and share this information with them, or share your contact information with me and I will contact them directly, using your name as a reference. Please let me know if you have any ideas, suggestions or question; you can email me at suzy@ericandsuzy.com.”
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8) “CELTIC CONNECTIONS” IN SCOTLAND TO FEATURE “TttT” ARTISTS
They’re a band of four guys based on the Central California coast, they’ve played the top folk festivals throughout the country, and in Australia and China, and now they’re invited to the most prestigious event in the heartland of Celtic music. When they’re lucky, they add the talents of a top multitalented Southern California based female artist.
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MOLLY’S REVENGE wrote to tell us, “Every year during the last couple of weeks in January, the city of Glasgow hosts the most star-studded Celtic music festival anywhere in the world – ‘CELTIC CONNECTIONS’ (www.celticconnections.com). We've been invited to be part of a series of concerts featuring 80 hand-picked performers, after which six of the bands are nominated as the best of the bunch. This series has been a stepping stone in the careers of many well known Celtic performers and we're over the moon that the band, along with the incomparable MOIRA SMILEY, has been invited to participate.”
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MOLLY’S REVENGE is a band comprised of DAVID BREWER, PETE HAWORTH, STUART MASON, and JOHN WEED, sometimes with special guest MOIRA SMILEY. The band brings Scottish and Irish music, traditional and original, with song, guitar, bouzouki, mandola, bagpipes, whistle, and fiddle.
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MOIRA SMILEY is sought-after as a guest vocalist, composer-arranger, solo performer and collaborator. She won the West/Midwest USA Division of the “All-Ireland Singing Championship.” Moira is best known, in recent years, as the mastermind of VOCO, the wonderful female vocal harmony group that incorporates body percussion and tight choreography, along with cello and Moira’s banjo.
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MOLLY’S REVENGE and VOCO have each performed live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks” to the delight of listeners, and VOCO scored a “Listener Favorite” on “TttT” with Moira’s original, “Stand in That River.”
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The inclusion of the guys and Moira in Scotland’s prestigious “Celtic Connections” brings a special opportunity for all our readers.
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The guys in MOLLY’S REVENGE tell us, “Flying us all over to Glasgow is an expensive proposition, so we've come up with a great way to raise the money. It's a very special limited-edition collection of music called ‘Evolution.’”
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It’s their eighth CD, and it is “an insight into the band's history,” a “retrospective tracing the very origins of the Molly's Revenge band. There are tracks from CDs that are no longer available featuring past band members, solo tracks featuring each musician in their musical development, and some smoking-hot, previously unrecorded live tracks from the modern era, featuring Moira Smiley.”
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“Evolution” also features past band members VALERIE ROSE, GEORGE GRASSO, and MARK BORONKAY, and guest musicians CARL VACHAL, JEFF PARSONS, HEATHER BRIDGER, JOHN BALLINGER, and PIERCE. The album was produced and mastered by PETE HAWORTH, with sleeve design by STUART MASON.
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“Evolution” is being produced in a limited edition of 1000 copies. The guys say, “once they are sold, we won't produce any more. We're selling this one-of-a-kind CD for just $10. You'll only be able to buy it at live performances and online,” at www.mollysrevenge.com/evolution.shtml
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With the holidays coming, it would make a great gift for any Celtic music lover, and for your own CD collection. And if you’ve heard Moira Smiley’s vocals, or heard the guys when they played live, or heard any of the CD tracks by any of them on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” you know it’ll be good. And $10 for a limited edition CD that gets ‘em to Scotland? That’s win-win.
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9) MELE KALIKIMAKA IS THE THING TO SAY ON A HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS DAY
Brand new for Christmas 2008 from JIM “KIMO” WEST is "Kimo's Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas," just released and getting some great reviews. It’s warm, relaxing and island-y slack key arrangements of well known Christmas songs to bring some "aloha" to your holiday season. Original cover art is by Caren Loebel-Fried (www.carenloebelfried.com) and the CD is available on Amazon (www.amazon.com/KImos-Hawaiian-Slack-Key-Christmas/dp/B001GAGLS8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1222132135&sr=1-3) and CD Baby (www.cdbaby.com/westjim4).
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10) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S "WORKING ON A DREAM" DUE JAN 27
Recorded with the E STREET BAND, featuring twelve new Springsteen compositions plus two bonus tracks, it’s the Boss’ twenty-fourth album and his fourth collaboration with producer and mixer Brendan O'Brien. It was recorded and mixed at Southern Tracks in Atlanta, with additional recording in New York City, Los Angeles, and New Jersey.
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After early roots acoustic tracks and the album, “Nebraska,” The Boss has expanded his fan base in recent years with “The Seeger Sessions” and chock-full of Americana classics, “Live in Dublin.”
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Springsteen says, "Towards the end of recording 'Magic,' excited by the return to pop production sounds, I continued writing. When my friend, producer BRENDAN O'BRIEN, heard the new songs, he said, 'Let's keep going.' Over the course of the next year, that's just what we did, recording with the E Street Band during the breaks on last year's tour. I hope 'Working on a Dream' has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we've ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end."
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So, will it be just another pop record? We’re betting no, given Springsteen’s past and his rich catalogue of iconic originals.
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11) BRETT DENNEN TO LAUNCH “HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS” TOUR
Brett’s tour, if you’re wondering about that title, is named for his latest album, which is a big hit on the charts. The tour runs January through April, 2009 at major venues across the country. It includes two nights in Brett’s hometown of San Francisco, at The Fillmore, and two nights in his adopted hometown of L.A., at the House of Blues Sunset Strip. On these tour segments, ANGUS AND JULIA (www.AngusandJuliaStone.com) will open. Tix go on sale this Sat, Nov 22.
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BRETT DENNEN has built a fan base that includes folk, rock, and pop audiences; he’s as likely to play solo acoustic with a six-string as he is to perform with an acoustic and electric band.
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His new album, “Hope For The Hopeless,” debuted as the #4 Independent Album, the #6 Digital Album and entered the Billboard Top 200 Chart at #41. Brett landed a “Good Morning America Weekend” performance of his song “Make You Crazy” on Nov 15. That song, his first single, is in the top ten at AAA stations across the country and features Nigerian Afro-beat legend FEMI KUTI. The video of the song co-stars actress and fan MANDY MOORE and is featured on AOL Music sites and other places across the web.
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Rolling Stone named Dennen one of their “Artists to Watch in 2008” and said “his third disc suggests he may soon give Dave Matthews a run for his tour grosses.” John Mayer, Michael Franti and Jason Mraz are outspoken advocates for Brett. His songs have been featured in episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scrubs,” “House,” and other TV shows. NPR, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and The Washington Post are among the publications that have spotlighted his narrative-rich lyrics and distinctive voice. Find the entire tour schedule and more at www.BrettDennen.net.
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12) ROCK ’N ROLL WITH BANJO & ACCORDION?
No, it’s not a lost track from Weird Al Yankovic. The band is called CLEM SNIDE, and their CD “Hungry Bird” is set for release Feb 24. The record will be supported by a tour through as much of Europe and the US as the can arrange. It’ll be their sixth full-length recording and release will be on the 429 Record Label, part of Savoy Label Group (SLG), the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (CME), the oldest music company in Japan. Completed way back in the spring of 2006, the soon-to-be-released record was produced by band founder EEF BARZELAY and recorded and mixed by MARK NEVERS. Throughout 2006, a series of painful and bitter breakups both within the band and with their longtime manager and booking agent ensued, in typical rock ‘n roll fashion. Yep, they are primarily known as Indie rockers. So why are telling you about them here? Well, because what other indie rockers feature banjo and accordion?
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The tracks on “Hungry Bird” include EEF BARZELAY on vocals and guitar, PETE FITZPATRICK on guitar and banjo, BRENDAN FITZPATRICK on bass, BEN MARTIN on drums and percussion, TONY HAMEL on piano, organ and accordion, ROY AGEE on trombone, and a special spoken word performance by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet FRANZ WRIGHT on the track, “Encounter at 3AM”.
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It all serves to illustrate that, once again, artists shouldn’t be jammed and crammed into a single genre. Whether or not others would bring traditional instruments like the banjo and accordion to a rock record, we can be sure that ANY musician would welcome a Pulitzer Prize poet. We don’t know if 429 Records regards this album as particularly risky, and we have yet to hear any of its tracks. But we do congratulate the band, and the label, for a project that breaks what, usually, are barriers to anything innovative.
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13) ‘FOOD ON FOOT” GETS HELP FROM MUSIC COMMUNITY
We learned about this worthy charity when Hollywood’s Amoeba Music sponsored it for a day on Sun, Nov 16. Once a week, “Food on Foot” provides meals, and every day, they do much more. A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, in addition to providing L.A.’s poor and homeless with nutritious meals, they are dedicated to providing clothing and assistance in the transition to employment and life off the streets.
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The organization began in March 1996 as one man's response to the hunger he witnessed among the poor and homeless of Hollywood. What initially began as the distribution of meals from the trunk of a car has grown through the dedication of its volunteers and now serves more than 500 meals each week to homeless, disabled, elderly and low-income adults and children.
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Volunteer spots quickly filled for the Amoeba-sponsored day, but plenty of other opportunities to help are ongoing. If you’d like to make a donation or volunteer, see www.foodonfoot.org
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14) PETE SEEGER WITH THE MAMMALS & GUY DAVIS, ON LETTERMAN
Yep, we let members of our list know when they played the CBS Late Show, but many missed it. Fortunately, you can still watch it online, as MAMMALS RUTHY and TAO RODRIGUEZ-SEEGER sing with PETE SEEGER, joined by JACOB SILVER, and GUY DAVIS. It’s at http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/live/index/php/966231.phtml?play=1
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If you like what you see on the Letterman video, there are some live Mike & Ruthy videos at www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mike+and+ruthy&search_type=
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Meanwhile, MAMMALS band mates Mike & Ruthy have been touring with JAY UNGAR and the MOLLY MASON FAMILY BAND. (You know Jay’s famous fiddle tune, “Ashoken Farewell,” the theme for Ken Burns’ PBS documentary, “The Civil War.”)
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Mike & Ruthy have a new CD, "The Honeymoon Agenda," available at www.mikeandruthy.com and www.cdbaby.com/cd/mikeruthy. Plus, they tell us, “We have two new releases currently in the works. One is a short roots music record including new songs and tunes due out this spring. The other is our next full length record which we'll be recording over the winter. This record should be available by fall 2009.” If you’re in the East, check their tour dates at www.mikeandruthy.com/Tourdates.html.
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15) THIS WEEK’S (OTHER) MUSIC VIDEOS…
We’re going where we haven’t gone before, to call your attention to two performances that are not acoustic, but electric. As soon as you’re over gasping, we’ll tell you why.
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First is one from EMITH, a duo we know and like, and whose original song “San Bernardino” earned “Listener Favorite” status on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks.” Now comes their first foray onto You Tube, with their song, “High Sierra.” We decided to share it to solicit your comments about what we see as a well-produced but absolutely incongruous contrast between a song about being in the High Sierra, and a series of visual images that center mostly in an urban subway and include a Dutch windmill. Maybe we’re just the ones who don’t get it. Have a look, enjoy the song, and send us your thoughts, along with any note you’d like forwarded to emith (yes they spell it in lower case). The video is at www.youtube.com/emithband
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Second is BIG RED SKY, an up-and-coming western honky-tonk band. Their video is a live performance of their original, , “Shut Up and Dance.” We are mightily impressed by how clear the vocals are - exceeding many studio albums. Wide-brimmed hats-off to these guys and their producer / sound engineer. Watch and listen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=x32rOKnvGCc
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16) A VERY DIFFERENT, VERY FUNNY, MUSIC VIDEO
Remember those classic Warner Brothers cartoons, wherein the character looks directly into the camera and says, “If I dood it, I get a whippin. - - - I dood it anyway!” Yeah, well, that’s where we are with this one. Still, there is so much of today’s Nashville country music that’s just plain awful, and when you find something this entertaining, you’ve got to just go with it. (Warning: you may want to keep the kids occupied somewhere else when you click this one.) It’s RODNEY CARRINGTON, performing in a very large concert venue, his original, “Show Them to Me.” It’s at www.tagtele.com/videos/voir/11924
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17) QUOTES FROM MUSICIANS (AND OTHERS)
"Life's as easy as a hard days work...simple as dirt!" - Chris LeDoux (the late cowboy singer)
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"His common sense can scuff a scholar's pride" - James Garver
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“There’s nothing as quiet as night with no music or as dark as a night with no stars” - Guy Carawan
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“Rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read.” - Frank Zappa
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"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." - proverb received from FolkWorks columnist Joel Okida
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"Imitation is the sincerest form of television." - Fred Allen (1894-1956)
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and our current favorite:
"Been there...done that...bought the t-shirt...wore it...wore it out...used it to clean up the mess!" - McAleenan O'Malley
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That’s it, for this edition of News Features. 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 on those itty bitty PDA screens. While we don’t know how anybody can do the latter, 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 and features.
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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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