NEWS FEATURES, Oct 7 edition, Acoustic Americana Music News 2008

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"Tied to the Tracks"
ACOUSTIC AMERICANA
MUSIC NEWS
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NEWS FEATURES for October 7, 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 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 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 calendar.
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MOST RECENT previous News Features posted SEPTEMBER 28, 2008, at http://acousticamericana.blogspot.com/2008/09/news-features-sep-28-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 Calendar & 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 (except we’ll be gone for a week and a half, so bear that in mind…)
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NEWS FEATURES:
October 7, 2008
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1) 9th ANNUAL “GO GIRLS MUSIC FEST” 2008 LAUNCHES IN LONG BEACH
This year’s coast-to-coast tour has the theme, “Independent women musicians promote donor awareness.” Their press release asks, “What can independent female musicians do to help the more than 100,000 people waiting for an organ transplant in this country?” and answers the question with, “GoGirlsMusicFest founder MADALYN SKLAR will tell you they can help two ways - 1) spreading the word about organ and tissue donation, and 2) raising money to help further the cause.”
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Sklar and her GoGirls Elite members are bringing more than music to local venues this year. Proceeds from each city's event benefit the United Network for Organ Sharing. Info will be available at each show about donation and how to sign up on the registry in your state. At some of the festival venues, women personally touched by organ donation and transplantation will be on hand to share their stories. "When people make a personal connection to someone who has been affected by organ or tissue donation, they are more likely to take action. That's why it's so great that GoGirlsMusicFest invited donors and recipients to the shows,” said UNOS Executive Director WALTER GRAHAM. “Volunteers will be able to share their stories and provide information on donation," added Graham.
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"Everyone here at GoGirls is thrilled to be working with UNOS. It's such a wonderful and well respected organization," says Sklar. "I'm always looking for ways to help spread the word when it comes to important issues and this is one I feel strongly about."
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GoGirlsMusicFest Schedule:
Oct 16 - Long Beach, at The Liquid Lounge: Kelly's Lot, Che Zuro, Corday, Holly Light
Oct 17 - Costa Mesa, at Westside Bar and Grill
Oct 18 - Los Angeles, at Tangier: Kelly's Lot, The Conlons, Crazy Aunt Mary, & more
Oct 18 - Wilmington, NC - The Soap Box & Bottega Art Gallery
Oct 25 - Atlanta, GA - The Drunken Unicorn
Nov 1 - Houston, TX - Last Concert Cafe
Nov 7 - Austin, TX - Momo's
Nov 8 - Dallas, TX - Opening Bell
Nov 14 - Albuquerque, NM - Atomic Cantina
Nov 14 - Brooklyn NY - Hank's Saloon
Nov 15 - New York, NY - Otto's
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GoGirls is a unique organization on that focuses on advancing the careers of independent female artists. Founded in early 1996, the organization works tirelessly to help artists through education, networking, and events like the GoGirlsMusicFest, Invasion of the GoGirls @ SXSW, Folk Alliance and more. Artists who become involved have the opportunity to perform, have their work reviewed, and get involved with a hardworking group of women who "get things done" in the music scene. More at www.gogirlsmusic.com. The annual festival promotes independent women in music while supporting various charities which have included MusiCares, Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls, American Liver Foundation, The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research and more. Since 2000, well over 100 all volunteer run shows have taken place throughout the U.S. Info at www.gogirlsmusicfest.com.
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UNOS is a private nonprofit organization that manages the nation's organ transplant system under contract with the federal government and oversees the world's most comprehensive database of clinical transplant information. UNOS staff operates the 24-hour computerized organ sharing system, matching donated organs to patients registered on the national organ transplant waiting list. UNOS seeks to increase organ donation through education and improve transplant success rates through outcomes-based research and policymaking. UNOS-developed technology applications are recognized internationally by transplant scientists and health officials as the model for organ sharing. More at www.unos.org.
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See the Acoustic Americana Music Calendar for more on the Southern Cal events.
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2) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IN THE NEWS
“The Boss” will play “the biggest television event in the nation,” the 2009 Super Bowl halftime show. The Boss has been on the road the past week, performing Americana standards and his own rock classics at campaign rallies and fundraisers for BARACK OBAMA. Recently, Bruce contributed a solo acoustic performance of “Thunder Road,” via satellite from Europe, to the memorial service for the late TV journalist TIM RUSSERT. His storied career has, in recent years, included a pair of CDs of Americana standards, ensemble tours, and a long-awaited return to his rock roots with his latest album in 2008. And, late last week, the NFL announced that Bruce will play the Super Bowl halftime show with his E Street Band, February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, at the conclusion of the current pro-football season.
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Super Bowl halftimes are stage and technical extravaganzas. Recent years have featured TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (viewed by 148 million US viewers), the ROLLING STONES, U2, PAUL McCARTNEY, pop musician PRINCE, and the notorious 2004 pop tart “wardrobe malfunction” with JANET JACKSON and that male pop tart what’s-his-name. For years, the halftime show had simply brought award-winning local and college marching bands and drill teams. But those days are long gone.
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CHUBBY CHECKER became the first popular musician to perform at halftime in 1988, and MICHAEL JACKSON brought a huge viewing audience for the mid-game show in 1993. Michael’s sister Janet, whatever else you thought of that fiasco, was responsible for the NFL picking “straight ahead rock acts” ever since ’04. We’ll see if Bruce will include some of his beloved Americana music, as well. More at www.nfl.com.
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3) MUSIC, THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND A TALE OF TWO SARA’S
It’s getting ugly out there, not just because the election is less than a month away, and the attack apparatus that Karl Rove built is finding itself trailing, but also because we’re facing economic collapse unparalleled since 1929. We expect that it’ll all be reflected in the music, and we wonder if the vitriol will begin to be evident there, as well.
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For months, there’s been no shortage of songs related to politics and election issues, folk/Americana and otherwise. They’re all over You Tube, and, of course, on Neil Young’s “Living with War” website, and elsewhere. Many songs, old and new, are given voice in performance venues nationwide, as a once endless campaign finally nears its end. It’s understandable because it isn’t lost on songwriters and artists that this presidential campaign is the most crucial in the lifetime of over half the people alive in America today. (Yep, most of the US population was born after Kennedy vs. Nixon.)
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You can find, write, or perform your own song, but we wanted to share “the intro, a back story” to one song we received from FRED STARNER. Fred has performed worldwide with PETE SEEGER, he’s played live on radio’s “Tied to the Tracks,” and he is the reigning “Grand Duke of Hobo Minstrels,” elevated to that title after first being voted, a few years ago, as official “Hobo Troubadour” by his beloved “hobo community” at their annual gathering / respite from riding the high iron, in Britt, Iowa.
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Fred cites how ugly it had already become during the Republican National Convention in Minnesota. He tells us, “SARA COFFEE, a lawyer and member of the hobo community, was put in handcuffs outside a St Paul house. The house was a center for INDEPENDENT MEDIA who were in St. Paul for the Republican Convention. They were there, of course, to cover the events. At gunpoint, the local SWAT team busted down the door, and arrested a number of the young reporters. In handcuffs, Sara told the press she was a ‘liaison’ with Independent Media. Also, outside the Convention Center, ‘Democracy Now!'s’ AMY GOODMAN was handcuffed and taken away, even though her press credentials were prominently around her neck. As she was ‘escorted’ to the paddy wagon, a Secret Service fellow ripped her press credentials off! All this recorded on home video. I had met SARA COFFEE several times at hobo gatherings.”
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Fred has added a song by LARRY PENN to his performance repertoire, ostensibly one about “the other” Sarah, SARAH PALIN. Penn’s song speaks to what was happening outside the RNC as well as characterizing the “Drill Baby Drill” chant that became Palin’s mantra. Fred adds, “All this intro explains Larry Penn's reference [in the song] to the Brown Shirts.” Fred tells us he was well-received last week when he performed the song at “The Motley,” the coffeehouse venue at Scripps College, one of the Claremont Colleges, east of L.A.
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We still wish the Palin in the news was MICHAEL PALIN, from Monty Python, so the humor would be by intelligent design, instead of unintentional, and it wouldn’t be Francis-McDormand-in-“Fargo”-you-betcha cutesy – or so damn scary.
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4) “WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?” IS A PROJECT FROM – NASHVILLE?!
We are accustomed to the uninitiated’s question, “What’s the difference between ‘Americana’ music and ‘country music?’ and to giving, as one of those flippant stock answers, “Country music is Red State trailer park rock, controlled and made by Republicans in Nashville, and Americana music is from everyplace else, made by and for Democrats and progressive independents.”
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Except there’s risk in stereotyping anything. Just when you thought you had those Nashville Music Row people as neatly labeled and categorized as they try to do to everyone’s music, well, along comes a new CD titled, “WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?” with “twenty new multi-genre tracks of social and political conscience.” Moreover, it comes from more than thirty top Nashville session musicians and vocalists, performing multi-genre, humorous, satirical and some serious songs, all with current political and social relevance. Topics addressed include poverty, healthcare, anti-war sentiments, immigration, taxation, congressional corruption, neo-Cons and the “religious wrong,” environmental concern, civil rights, Native rights, gun control, globalization, and more. You can sample tracks at www.airplaydirect.com/NashvilleSessionPlayers
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5) SAN GABRIEL VALLEY HAS A REPLACEMENT FOR BEAN TOWN
While Bean Town in Sierra Madre still operates, it ceased being a venue for music the end of March. It was a sad time then, as the venue had presented soooo many delightful acoustic shows from nationally touring and Southern California-based musicians alike.
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Soon after came word of the acoustic music offerings at another San Gabriel Valley venue, SIERRA CUP, 409 S Myrtle Av, Monrovia 91016; 626-301-4214; www.sierracup.com. LOIS TEDROW, who costumes performances in a number of theaters, also books the fine performing duo of multi-instrumentalist folkies, TIM TEDROW & TERRY VREELAND, and they’ve been playing occasional gigs at Sierra Cup since the spring. Lois has kept us posted as the venue expanded its menu from ice cream, yogurt, and cupcakes, to include sandwiches and coffeehouse beverages. When she reported that they also have their own sound system, and a real stage, all in a quiet and acoustically-inviting courtyard framed by high brick-walled buildings, a huge shade tree, shade awnings for afternoons, some couches with big pillows, and portable gas heaters for chilly nights, we decided to go. Like the lost scene at Bean Town, patrons are of a wide range of ages, and listen to live music as they ply their laptops, enabled by the free wifi. The concert sound is fine, and run at a good level. The after-dark lighting is adequate, though some spots aimed at the stage would be a big improvement. Sierra Cup’s schedule of shows has gradually expanded so they now offer music several nights a month. They’re in the charming old-town village of Monrovia, a little north of the 210 Fwy. Check their website or call them to learn who’s playing. Very worth a visit.
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6) A TOUR OF “THOSE OLD WESTERNS” IN SONG AND IMAGE
If you just can’t take it anymore, and long for a return to times when all was portrayed in simple, monochromatic large-and-small-screen black-and-white, and larger-than-life Cinerama color, when war heroes AUDIE MURPHY, JIMMY STEWART, LEE MARVIN, and others became screen icons rather than candidates for political office, then mosey on over to this website. Music is the STATLER BROTHERS, “Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott?” and some other recognizable instrumental themes. Thanks to Lindalee Green from the Western Music Association for stopping by the telegraph station and sending word on down the line. Enjoy, pardner. http://oldfortyfives.com/thoseoldwesterns.htm
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7) BANJO TAB BOOK NOW AVAILABLE
Florida State banjo champ, and lap dulcimer champ MARY Z. COX recently recorded a performance-interview for the new “Tied to the Tracks” TV show, in which she demonstrates her prowess on a variety of banjos, from top-of-the-line Cadillacs to a Cuban cigar box banjo. She wrote to tell us, “Finally! It came back from the printers yesterday afternoon and it looks real nice. The FLORIDA BANJO TAB BOOK is 45 pages this time, with simple tabs to the tunes on the CD plus a bonus tab for ‘Coo, Coos Nest.’ There are historical and playing notes, pictures, photos, and extra tidbits of Florida history, too. The new tab book and the new Florida Banjo CD are both available on my website, www.maryzcox.com. We hope you will want one or both for yourself--and if you are pleased--consider them as holiday gifts for your banjo and dulcimer friends.”
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That fits perfectly with our recently expressed intention to introduce prospective holiday gifts here in our News Features. In addition to Mary’s main website (above), you might also enjoy her other cyber presence, at www.secretbanjo.blogspot.com - a secret life of banjo blog.
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That’s it for this week.
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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 CALENDAR’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 (Bear in mind, we’re gone for an entire week, plus the bracketing weekends.)
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