last day of the year

A long and involved week; so no entries since last sunday. The Greens - tonight- at the wheel house; hope to see a good crowd of celebrators. Haven't talked to andy through the week, since we just saw him last week; eager to catch up and hope he's in good energy and health for tonight. One brief stop in at the Wheel house this week (to collect THE TOP SELLING LOCATION FOR THE CHILDREN"S HOME SOCIETY LITTLE RED STOCKING CAMPAIGN IN THE PARKERSBURG AREA's donation) and folks seemed excited about not only last week's show/ turnout but anticipating this week.
Getting some good early enthusiasm for the Johnny Cash tribute, too. A few musicians nibbling at the opportunity. Despite a little lag in the early advance publicity, we hope to hit it hard after the first of the year, and new years, bowl games, etc. are out of the way.
Sorry to have had to miss Todd Snider at the Beachland ballroom thursday night; work was a little encompassing this week. And I'll have to miss the Canal Street Tavern show in Dayton OH the end of January also.... alas, sigh, etc. I'll be starting to map out some shows to look forward to next week also. I got good news that there is NOT a conflict between a possible Fred Eaglesmith show May 20th in Nelsonville and Todd Snider (who now is slated for Madison Indiana May 26th (the date keeps changing!! and its too early to get any info on the folk festival there...........)
I walked into River City Bagels this morning to the sound of Jerry Garcia's guitar work!!! That was a fine end of the year experience!
Got a nice surprise visiting Peter Case's website last evening; he has a great rambling story about his arrival in San Francisco in 1973-1974 on there. His tribute album is slated to be out soon, with a good line up of "kindred spirits." He and John PRine's Space Monkey is a connection, for instance. He was on mountain stage with todd snider when it was at the white water rafting locale a couple of years ago.

new years eve show

The Greens will be at the wheel house (again) for new years eve. Its still a little unclear the "configuration"- so stay tuned. Nathan is still struggling with the pain in his arm/ wrist. This will be three years in a row, for a wheel house show; it will be a vantage point of changes undergone, but definitely with some continuity. Here's hoping there will be a continuation of the energy and fun from this past friday night's show and crowd. Spread the word.

review of friday's show at the wheel house

The expanded Greens had the wheel house rocking friday night. A big, big crowd of holiday partyers were enthused by the Greens diverse high energy show. The Phillip's brothers added much drive and spunk to the steady trio, that has been the greens of late. Aaron's sax work in with Andy's guitar work was "reviving the sound" of the Greens of 1-2 years ago. The set list (first set only- I got too caught up in the second set to write 'em down, included:
beekeeper
what is today?
paint it black
without mercy
starving artist
cars and horses
(from strange language - all over everywhere?
don't you worry baby
flyin solo
ain't too proud to beg
West virginia dream
California stars
and the two banjo tunes- adam phillips on banjo; aaron on vocals, guitars, etc.

the second set started out:
big ol bessie
little warrior
she's a busy girl
el dinero (I need money)
apocalypso

then I didn't keep track; but it got rocking with a lot of dancing etc.
(most of the great dance tunes, etc. etc.

friday night december 23rd

The Greens will be playing tonight (friday the 23rd) at the Wheel House in downtown parkersburg. Aaron Phillips will be re-uniting for this show, with his multi-instrumentation viruosity. short notice; hope the word gets out, for a rollicking reunion.

andy playing at the wheel house new years eve

Andy will be playing at the boreman wheel house on new years eve. We'll keep getting clarification whether it will be a Greens show, or just a solo. We keep trying to get an update on Aaron Phillips holiday plans. The Sunday newspaper had this show in the community calendar page, which is a refreshing extra bit of publicity; since most of the local gigs are not listed in the paper; and contrary to popular opinion (!) SOME people still do read newspapers....... There is a private party on for this coming week sometime/ somewhere that Andy mentioned. We had two visits to local music stores yesterday to replenish some gear, and check out a few guitars. CA House Music, and Gallaghers, were hoping with christmas shoppers.

flyers for the johnny cash tribute -now available!

Robert has made 4 versions of the announcement flyer for the johnny cash tribute Feb. 25th. The one of johnny defiantly giving the finger is for limited public use, but probably will be most people's favorite. The one of johnny in front of the folsom prison is going to be the main one I go for; the other two will certainly do fine for the recognition. Anybody wanting to distribute them around the area would be greatly appreciated. We're waiting now till after the holiday to really get the publicity going, but wanted the early attempt to try to line up some musicians.

friday night's great greens show

It was great to have the Greens back in action friday night at Bogies in Parkersburg. There was great interaction with the audience; lots of folks had been at andy's solo show the week before there at bogie's; so they got a good picture of the versatility of his performances- many many songs that are really enhanced with the band version. They got a little of a late start; so the show was over too quickly; leaving many requests "on the floor." But a good solid 2-3 set show all the same. Hope Nathan's arm didn't get over exerted. It was good to see Jan after too many weeks. Andy had a christmas party for his construction work earlier that day in Morgantown, at a bowling alley! (he talked about his "128" game he bowled). He engaged the audience quite a bit throughout with between song commentary. There was a very appreciative audience for his guitar work. At the set break, a lot of CD's were distributed (I hope he sold them, rather than giving them away!!!- the Tuck business acumen is not the sharpest)
A real kooky version of "I need money" stands out; a real wild beat. And they hadn't done the bob marley (could you be loved, etc.) for awhile. Good to see Jeff Fox out and about; I made sure he was there for "bushwacker." As he said, the patriot act (parts of it anyway) were voted down that day in congress.
Saw several folks that tend to be able to get out for live music around the holidays so that was nice. Good mix of songs from all CD's- the longer the experience goes on, the more you appreciate the breadth of songs and arrangements they've been able to genertae.

fred eaglesmith at hocking folk festival may 20th

Just found out fred eaglesmith is the headliner at the hocking folk festival in may in nelsonville- that will be a GREAT show to take in; following up on iris dement as headliner last year; lots of good local acts throughout the day, and a rollicking square dance late into the night. May 20th I believe is the date. Will it be the flat head noodlers version of the back up band? May have a bit of conflict as Todd Snider is supposed to be in Madison Indiana at a folk festival that same day. Madison is where Beth goes to college; so its a great excuse to visit, close to the time her school gets out. Todd Snider is at beachland ballroom december 29th in cleveland; the day before in louisville kentucky at
"headliners." Will have to tell marty about that one..... he saw Todd for the first time at a record store on bardstown road in louisville at a CD signing earlier this year. John PRine's tour dates for 2006 are starting to be posted. just 4 so far.

friday night

Andy is on the bill at Bogie's in Parkersburg tonight for a night of listener-engaging music. Andy will do his inevitable knack for "giving the fans what they want to hear"- and hopefully work some new songs in along the way. People have been asking about any Aaron Phillips sightings over the Christmas holidays...... hope to hear any word on that tonight. Professor "SY" from WVU-P was hungering for a Greens show the other day at lunch, and was one of the ones who asked about Aaron. I'm always glad to be the one passing the live music news on to any one I can.

travelin' music - cold trip to charleston

Goin' to charleston for a meeting and return: listened to Townes Van Zandt (high and low and in between) (compilation of two early 1970's albums) Larry Groce doing "Poncho and Lefty" the other night led to this choice. 2nd up: Going Driftless (an artist's tribute to Greg Brown) 14 woman singers giving versions of Greg Brown songs. Lucinda williams, ani difranco, iris dement, etc. Listening a little fresher and newer to Mary Chapin Carpenter's "spring and all."
3rd up: (back to Parkersburg)- Bleecker Street (greenwich village in the 60's) orginal songs by folkies from the 60's with new renditions from a wide variety of "current" performers..... my back pages, pack up your sorrows, reason to believe, thirsty boots, the last thing on my mind, etc.

Late Friday; Andy at Bogies

After the Todd Burge show, I made it over to Bogie's - got there at Andy's first break between sets. He was playing solo, and had an appreciative audience; by the time I got there, there were a lot of calls for cover tunes (unfortunately, I think I missed some debut songs in the first set). Brandy made it to her first show in Parkersburg in a very long time; maybe this whole school year! Had a long talk with Ian Williams; an appreciator of Phish, the Dead, etc. and he really likes andy's song Bushwhacker. Another guy who knew andy both from parkersburg days and morgantown, was leaving for colorado soon, and was kinda getting a parting musical memory. Andy is making the adjustment of trying to keep the audience pumped even doing a solo gig (rather than a more reflective acoustic show)- he got a goodly group up dancing, even with out the full band accompaniment! He will be back at Bogie's next friday night, the 16th, and plans are in the works for the third year in a row to be at the wheel house on new years eve.

todd burge's CD release party

Friday, December 9th, we went to the blennerhassett hotel for todd burge's CD release show. Billy Matheny opened up with a set of songs, and then Todd Burge played songs off the new CD. Billy accompanied him with a variety of instruments. Then Michael Lipton joined for a few songs backing up Todd. Then Larry Groce came up and sang a set, accompanied mostly by Michael Lipton; then finishing up with all four musicians; before Todd actually finished with a Roger Miller tune, Kansas City Star. Larry Groce had an excellent choice of songs; some covers; the Bottle Rockets song about Welfare Music; a Rick Danko (The Band) song, and a couple of his own. It was a small intimate setting, and an appreciative audience. Good stories between songs.

recapping 2005 concert highlights

January 2005- saw Fred Eaglesmith twice; stuart's opera house on the 4th and at the purple fiddle, the 23rd (BBBBRRRRRRRR)
february: Robert Earl Keen, Paul Thorn, Christine Lavin- all at stuart's opera house; saw the Greens a couple of times in Parkersburg
march: the red stick ramblers at stuart's; commander cody at the front row (national act in Parkersburg!!!!!)
april: todd snider at stuart's; going to elkins to see the greens at Jabberwock!!
the big annual trip to see John Prine: at the beautiful palace theater in louisville and at the taft theater in cincinnati, with a total of 11 folks from p-burg.
may: tom paxton at stuart's; and iris dement at the hocking folk festival in nelsonville
july: the dirty dozen brass band in nelsonville "on the square"- seeing steve mcginnis there! at the Rosewood Theater in morgantown andy opening for Grace Potter and the nocturnals; plenty of chances to see the greens: mountwood park on the 4th weekend for the triathlon; in marietta at the speed boat races; wheel house, bogie's, front row.....

through out the year: at least 4-5 trips to mountain stage?

october: athens hosting the mountain stage with adrienne young;
marty stuart at the front row; our very own John Prine Birthday tribute fund raiser......
Jamie Hartford at the clay center in charleston- november.............

vinyl record "side business"

Robert picked up a load of records yesterday, and in the bustle of storing them (for what ever future entrepreneurial venture 2006 holds for THAT fund raising effort) we saw two Miles Davis records that we wanted to research a little; there may have been some other intriguing ones through the stax o' wax..........

friday- too many options

The roads are icy this morning; wondering who will get where tonight for various live music shows. Too many options for one night. We will be going to Todd Burge's CD release party (with Micheal Lipton and Larry Groce- weather permitting?) and then catch Andy at Bogies (weather permitting?) And that's just staying close to home; I would have liked to see the two mandolin players at Stuart's Opera House in nelsonville, and I got word there is live music at the wheel house tonight (which I would always like to support).

andy playing at bogies friday night, the 9th (and the 16th)

Andy will be playing a solo show at bogies in Parkersburg this friday night. He is playing at Black Bear tonight in morgantown, from 6-9 ish. We had lunch there today, squeezing in a little catch up visit. Saw his name on the chalk board. Then he is also playing at bogie's friday the 16th. He mentioned a new creative song writing spurt - so look for some new songs the next time you hear him play.

traveling music for wednesday

Going to morgantown and return; Tom Waits' 56 birthday today. So I listened to Heartattack and Vine; kd lang's (Hymns of the 49th parallel)- songs of canadian songwriters (neil young, joni mitchell, leonard cohen, bruce cockburn, etc.); michelle shocked (mercury poise 1988-1995); John hiatt (crossing muddy waters) and woody guthrie (dust bowl ballads). blowin' snow - gritty windshield; highway hypnosis on the way home........

gearing up for writing the summary of highlights of 2005 music shows attended

I don't have the time today, but I am preparing in my mind my looking back on shows attended this year- highlights anyway. I am also that much closer to some details about the Americana music tribute series. After one more day of travel (wednesday) I hope to settle in for a few days and get those two postings set up. Bought some CD's for some christmas presents on-line yesterday; in my (hopefully) serious attempt to avoid mall shopping........

travelin' music - frosty daze

parkersburg to charleston and return on monday: nitty gritty dirt band (will the circle be unbroken- volume 2; todd snider (east nashville skyline); sarah guthrie and johnny orion (exploration) and lucinda williams (world without tears).

tuesday: parkersburg to clarksburg and return: robert earl keen (gravitational forces); mindy smith ( one moment more); jason wilber (behind the midway)

music on the cd player - monday to charleston

I listened to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band going to charleston in the morning. I listened to Todd Snider (East Nashville Skyline) while driving around charleston; and listened to Sarah Guthrie and Johnny Irion and Lucinda Williams on the return trip.

2006 Children's Home Society of WV-Parkersburg music fund raisers series

We have settled on the name for the 4 event series for 2006 of our musical tribute benefits. "Americana Music Tribute Series." Americana is defined variously as: " music that defines the heartland, and associates with artists whose work is timeless, like Woody Guthrie...." "music that somehow identifies, inspires, and encapsulates the heart of tradition and the American experience."
We'll begin the publicity next week; including seeking sponsors for the series with benefits of good publicity for community minded music-related businesses. Stay tuned........

passed along web sites of music interest

Looking for a name for the 2006 CHS musical fund raisers series, I came upon a website: http://folkmusic.about.com that covers a lot of the music I follow. Lots of directions to go from that first site.
www.pitchforkmedia.com has some stuff about independent music.