So, this is a first for me, but ... I'm on TV! The lovely Joanna Lubbes invited me to play on her show, Backstage Pass. It's currently airing on Comcast Cable 10 through March 19th. (Then, like most things on cable, it will rerun here and there.)
Here's the schedule for this week:
- Thursday 3/6 -- Debut at 11:30pm
- Friday, 3/7 -- 6:30am, 9:30am, 12:30pm
- Saturday, 3/8 -- 1:30pm, 5:30pm
- Sunday, 3/9 -- 8:00am, 9:30pm
- Monday, 3/10 -- 8:00am
- Tuesday, 3/11 -- 8:30am, 1:00pm
- Wednesday, 3/12 -- 12:30am, 7:30am, 11:00am
- Thursday, 3/13 -- 8:30am, 11:30am, 2:30pm
For additional air dates, check local TV listings in the Frederick County area. Once I get the DVD, I'll try to snag a screen shot for those of you outside the viewing area.
Now, go fire up that flat screen TV!
March is Women's History Month, and ArtNext is hosting a performance that features local women singers, dancers, actors, and poets. Performers include yours truly, singer/songwriter Sarah McKay, poet/dancer Kristie Culler, Equinox Dance Company, actresses from the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, and more! Admission is FREE and open to the public. For more information, call 301-662-4190 or email info@frederickartscouncil.org.
Gallery open M-F, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and by special appointment
Cultural Arts Center, 15 N. Market St., Frederick
Also in March, the Cultural Arts Center will be home to a nationally touring photo exhibit called "Changing the Face of Power: Women in the U.S. Senate." The exhibit, sponsored by the Frederick Arts Council and the Frederick County Commission for Women, features photography by Seattle-based photojournalist Melina Mara ... This image (above) takes my breath away, so I can't wait to see the others.
Chapter 12, "The Power of Place," was one of the best so far. When I got to the section about "Authenticity," my highlighter almost ran out of ink. I'm already a complete fanatic when it comes to supporting local music, and this section just added fuel to the fire.
Basically, it provides an economist's spin to what's already pretty obvious to anyone who knows anything about the music business. Independent musicians, especially those with active touring schedules, can live and work (and pay taxes) anywhere they want. There's no reason to live in an unsupportive environment that offers few opportunities for inspiration and collaboration. If a city wants to reap the benefits of a vibrant music scene, all the stakeholder groups (musicians, non-profits, government, businesses) must do everything in their power to create an environment that provides opportunities for local musicians.
Some of the best passages:
"Music is a key part of what makes a place authentic, in effect providing a sound or "audio identity." Audio identity refers to the identifiable musical genre or sound associated with local bands, clubs and so on that make up a city's music scene: blues in Chicago, Motown in Detroit, grunge in Seattle, Austin's Sixth Street. This is what many people know about these cities ... it is also the way these cities promote themselves.
"... it's hard to think of a major high-tech region that doesn't have a distinct audio identity. In addition to Seattle and Austin, consider the San Francisco Bay Area. It was home to perhaps the most creative music scene of the 1960s with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Haight-Ashbury and the seminal Monterey Pop Festival. Chapel Hill, North Carolina, at the heart of the Research Triangle, was recently named as having one of the best local music scenes in the country. Technology and the music scene go together because together they reflect a place that is open to new ideas, new people and creativity. And it is for this reason that frequently I like to tell city leaders that finding ways to help support a local music scene can be just as important as investing in high-tech business and far more effective than building a downtown mall."
Please, somebody, send my local elected officials a copy of this book. Lord knows they need to read it.
Of course, this book is not just about music. In fact, it's mostly about other things. If you have any interest in economic & community development, creativity & creative industries (including graphic design, industrial design, research & development, information technology, biotechnology, and many others), this book is a must-read.
Last night's gallery opening at Studio 11 was a really great night. If you missed it, here's a rundown of the highlights:
- A gallery-walker got up in my grill and told me that I would never be a real artist unless I was passionate enough to quit my day job. He also thought that I should make my songs "more danceable" and improve my image (i.e., American Idolize myself). As you might imagine, I became somewhat hostile.
- I sold 11 CDs and, therefore, will be donating $55 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund in memory of my friend Emily. I realize this is not shattering any fundraising records or anything, but I was pretty happy with this.
- Barb Campbell's photos of Frederick were really awesome. I really love this one (above), taken inside The Temple. She also had some beautiful (not too traditional) images of the spires and Baker Park. They'll be up during the entire month of February, so go check them out.
- Due to Mike's new obsession with my version of "Ain't No Sunshine," the Bill Withers favorite has now surpassed all other songs to win the title of most-requested cover song. In celebration of this momentous occasion, I'm posting this awesome video, via Krissy's other blog, art is the new religion.
Exciting news -- Yesterday, The Frederick News-Post printed an article about my music on the front cover of its weekly A&E publication, The Next 72 Hours! Reporter Lauren LaRocca and photographer Shannon Zirkle did an outstanding job, and I thought you'd like to see the story. If you live in Frederick, the issue was probably delivered to your home, and you can pick it up many places in town. If you're outside the Frederick area, you can read it online here.
There are plenty of fantastic opportunities for arts and cultural activities in Frederick, so the FNP has its hands full trying to cover everything. I'm hugely flattered that they chose to spotlight my music, and I'm really pleased with the way the story turned out. Most of us have an overly glamorous view of what it must be like to be a musician, and some of that is fostered by media coverage of arts & entertainment. So many publications only print brief listings of events, and reserve feature stories for touring artists that are just passing through. The FNP continues to impress me with their commitment to unique, local coverage, and this story gets extra bonus points for providing such a realistic view of what it's like to be a part-time singer-songwriter.
The article mentions two shows that are coming right up. Here’s the lowdown:
Saturday, February 2, 2008 -- 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Studio 11, 109 N. Court St., Frederick
I'll be playing an unplugged show during First Saturday Gallery Walk. This month's show at Studio 11 features gallery owner Barb Campbell's work. Her photography is amazing, so don't miss it! This show is free, but of course, I'll be selling CDs, and $5 from each album goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, in memory of Emily Bright.
Monday, February 4, 2008 -- 8:20 p.m.
Brewer's Alley (Upstairs), 124 N. Market St., Frederick
I play a 3-song set as part of this weekly songwriters showcase, hosted by Ron Goad and sponsored by BSA and SAW. Stick around for Kenny Meek's set at 8:40! This show is also free, and I'll have CDs for sale. The event organizers collect donations for the featured artist, who plays an extended set at 9:00.
These two will be solo appearances, but Bill and Art played last week's show with me at The Music Cafe. The venue was great, and we had a wonderful time. If you missed it (tsk tsk), you can read all about it in my Vox post, below.
Special thanks to Chris and Randy, the venue owners, for inviting us to play and letting us use some of their top-notch equipment. And a special shout-out is due to John and Sukey, fabulous fans who recommended us in the first place!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Music Cafe
26528-B Ridge Road, Damascus, MD
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
With Bill Gardner (bass) and Art Krum (percussion). Soups, salads, sandwiches, coffee, and smoothies available for purchase -- Come enjoy dinner & music! This show is FREE and open to the public. I'll have CDs for sale, and the venue will probably set out a tip jar.
Saturday, January 5, 2008 -- 5 to 9 p.m.
Studio 11, 19 N. Court St., Suite 102, Frederick
I'll be playing a solo, unplugged performance during First Saturday Gallery Walk. Studio 11 will also be celebrating the opening of the "Flashes of Life" photography show by Chris Kolobow (that's his artwork, above). The show is free, and of course, I'll have CDs for sale.
And if you don't think you'll get enough live, local music on Saturday night, make plans now to spend Friday night at the Cultural Arts Center. Pros and Cons are playing a free rock show with two other Frederick bands. (My very talented bass player, Bill Gardner, also plays with Pros and Cons, which he describes as "if Neil Young was a geeky college student" ... Whatever that means!) More info here, on FredRocks.net.
M-----l inspired me with his post about magical deer the other day, so I staged a vignette with these little ceramic critters, which we inherited earlier this year. Please enjoy this silly scene, and don't forget to make a wish. Apparently when three happy deer gather together in one place, they gain the power to grant wishes.
As usual, we're heading into the boonies of Pennsylvania to visit family around the holidays. This year, I'm preparing for the anticipated lack of internet and other modern amenities ... I've been downloading podcasts to entertain myself while the guys are hogging the TV with old school Nintendo games. Here's a list of some of my favorite, music-related podcasts:
- WYPR - The Marc Steiner Show: This is a public affairs show on the local Baltimore NPR affiliate. This past week (December 17-21) they changed gears to spotlight some favorite Christmas songs. So far they only have one episode from this past week posted ... But there's a list of the playlists from each day on the show's blog.
- NPR - All Songs Considered: I'm woefully out of touch with music released in 2007, so I enjoyed the most recent episode - The listener-generated list of top 25 albums of 2007.
- WFUV - Take Five: The best of the modern folkies talk about their music. WFUV is a fantastic station, and one of the only things I miss about living in the New York metro area.
- CD Baby - DIY Musician: If you're a working independent musician (full time or part time), there's really no better resource than CD Baby. With this podcast, launched in 2007, they've gone beyond album distribution and are providing some industry-insider information to help educate independent musicians. Awesome.
Enjoy!
