musicians get together tomorrow (Wed) for Neil YOung tribute friday

I'm getting any of the musicians together tomorrow (Wed) at 7 pm who might want to meet others playing Friday at the tribute show and to share song lists and ideas. It will be in the main area of the Wheel HOuse, with a chance to look at the stage area upstairs perhaps if you haven't seen it.

mountain stage revu

Disappointed Greg Brown had canceled for the mountain stage last night- his daughter was having a baby (first grandchild). The other 5 performers were good- John Gorka was a first time, even though I should have seen him before- good songs, a funny in between songs banter. The two women singers were not known to me, and they were both excellent and had good back up musicians playing. The Sierra Leone Refugee All stars were stunning in their orange outfits- lots of character in those faces- mostly a reggae type music, I liked when they came back out for the group finale in their street clothes and various percussion instruments, too. Alejandro Esca...... was very good to finally see- he has a nice band and a wide variety of music within a set- lots of connections from his music to others I know/ like. Brenden really liked the loud and fast rock and roll parts. Nice violin and steel guitar parts throughout. That guy that had the keyboard had some major computer electronics gadgets going on.
Mountain Stage band had an additional female background singer who added a lot to a number of songs throughout the evening- no woman no cry by John Gorka at the end of his set was a highlight, and joe cocker's feeling alright as the finale was really rocking with lots of solos for all.

Mountain Stage tonight

Going to MOuntain stage again tonight- my main draw is Greg Brown, and I'm intrigued by the sierra leone refugee all stars; saw a brief review when they were in Nashville recently, but couldn't get a sense of what they will be like- so that's worthwhile in itself. John Gorka will be good I'm sure; alejandro is someone I've been reading about for years, but haven't had a sense of his sound- so that's pretty big, too (as an opportunity). I don't know the other two acts at all. I am also already anticipating the nov. 19th show at tamarack; hoped that works out to make that little bit of extra driving trip then- who knows?

Neil YOung countdown continues

I got a good boost from last night; hearing about several more musicians (and sets) that are going to play, and a lot of buzz of excitement and looking forward to the event- everything seems ready from the wheel house side; I'll be calling the sound man today to check in and keep some communication going about that. Putting some flyers up around town. Keep giving feedback and suggestions right up to the event; there's always room for ideas and building on the festivities.

Greens saturday night show at the wheel house

The Greens had a rollicking show at the wheel house saturday night- a halloween party with about 50% of the folks in costume. The Greens kept the audience a slight bit on edge, knowing they were coming back from Athens Ohio, an earlier gig at the huge and chaotic Athens street halloween bash. They report a good time there; they played on one of the two outdoor stages for a time slot- and took in the scene. They made it to the wheel house on time, and had an appreciative audience patient to wait for their setting up. A good attuned audience despite the distractions of the costume arrivals! The guy in the skimpy female attire (a fairly large fellow) was catching the most double takes. We liked the Devo guy in his yellow jumpsuit and flower pot hat; among the folks I was sitting near. Andy had a panama hat, a flowery shirt, white shoes and a black mustache; and spoke in a spanish accent throughout the evening. He was disappointed I had not dressed up. They interjected two new songs somewhere in the middle; but mainly kept to familiar party songs for the adoring fans; especially the ones who sat up close and danced most of the evening. Andy changed enough lyrics skillfully to make it a halloween special set. Jan, fresh off his wedding, sported a huge afro wig at first and at the end; Nathan did NOT have his "scream" costume, and played it "working man." Brandy was some sort of exotic flamingo dancer with a long black wig (for a while anyway). There was a breath-alyzer guy; several other cross dressers; a nun, geisha girl (and a geisha type guy?) the usual assortment of pirates and french maids; fred flintstone and wilma; the nirvana cheerleaders came in late, and gave me an update on the hank III show in huntington recently, as well as assuring me there is high anticipation of the Neil YOung show next week among THAT particular crowd...
The one guy who is heading off to the navy today- Great Lakes; enjoyed a good last night in Parkersburg with his crew of loyal greens fans.
It was nice meeting the director of the boys and girls club in marietta; who seemed to appreciate the Greens alright.
A good solid Greens show, as they are getting fewer and farther between in Parkersburg you appreciate the experiences; as always lately, by the time they are done, you know they haven't been able to play all the favorites anymore; too big of a set list for one night anymore...... we didn't get bushwhacked for instance, and truck stop religion and big ol bessie kinda shared a billing......... and we didn't get starving artist (moving picture?) and we didn't get the Tom waits song (woke up this morning with the cold water..............) I think the dancers were satisfied however, and that's pretty important for a party atmosphere. We'll see where this evolving "touring" schedule goes over the next three months- they've got that gig in Huntington on the 10th of November, and a Marietta one, and 6 pence pub.
Just a very brief check in with andy; regarding his new job up in Morgantown, and its impact on his gig scheduling; more next week I figure.
The wheel house staff was great- exhausted by the end and a little frustrated with some of the over-imbibed towards the end. I just didn't quite have my energy to help much more than I did to clean up.

Greens on Saturday

I hope the double booking works out tomorrow for the Greens. They are playing in Athens, at the imfamous halloween street party in the early evening, and then have a booking at the Wheel House in Parkersburg at 10 pm. It seems a long time since they have played in Parkersburg- Front Row? The upcoming schedule is encouraging with marietta brewing co; 6 pence, etc.
I don't imagine I can meander over to Athens.......... but we hope for a good turnout at the Wheel House. No costume for this introvert.

Neil YOung tribute count down begins (7 days)

I've had a hectic week; but its for the most part over with (workwise)- so let the countdown begin to the neil young tribute show, next friday, november 3rd at 8 pm at the boreman wheel house upstairs ballroom- $5 donation to the children's home society of west virginia. Live local musicians doing sets of tribute songs to neil young and his influence and creative genius. I will know a little more after tomorrow about the line up, so will hold off throwing out names now. I will be hawking the last of the t-shirts for the full 2006 series, leaving only a few for historic purposes and collectors items for the future. I will be hawking raffle tickets on the guitar right up to the drawing - $5 for a good (odds) chance on a good quality guitar. I will not be able to fully announce the 2007 line up but will throw out enough teasers to keep people interested. I hope some folks will rally forward to offer to help with the planning. I've got some scrambling to do to get flyers up and word out, and a few details organized into next week. There will be countdown updates but please communicate any thoughts/ loose end questions, or suggestions going down the home stretch.

Mountain Stage was excellent

Went to a GREAT Mountain Stage tonight- Todd Snider was of course my favorite- but Chris Thile (from Nickel Creek) new band was fantastic sounding and put on a great show; charlie musslewhite (a older blues singer and great harmonica player) started it off and was solid- the Irish lads Guggenheim Grotto- first time in this country were good first exposure to them- Guy Clark finished up the show- a great story teller, a great voice- one of Jerry Jeff's buddies and writer of a number of JJW's most memorable songs..... A truly great evening of music- especially great back to back with last night's adrienne young show- its been awhile since I've been to a mountain stage, and they've been traveling quite a bit, so they seemed comfortable settling back into the familiar place.
Michael Lipton had some great guitar work during James Talley's set; I had a little nostalgia for Graffiti during Michael's editing for some reason.
I also had a brainstorm for the Neil YOung tribute show which I'll report out later.

Adrienne Young and Little Sadie show last night

Went to a fantastic show at washington state community college last night- Adrienne Young and Little Sadie. A pretty small little theater, and not really very big crowd, considering it was a great show, and modest price. They are really high energy and good musicians, and she's got some great songs and good messages. They are relaxed and pace their show well- with a great high energy finish with some good instrumental work at a feverish pitch there at the end. They did most of what you'd expect/ want to hear off of their two CD's and did some songs off the upcoming CD- that blended in nice with familiar ones and show an evolution of their sound. She's fun to watch- enjoying herself, and she impressed me with the ad lib story about disney world, when the stage curtain malfunctioned and started to hide the fiddle player. Her advocacy for locally grown food is intriguing to follow up on. She clearly loves the Purple Fiddle and that part of WV- I'll keep checking her touring schedule- she would be one to try to get to come to Parkersburg if she was in the area passing through.

not much to say; chomping at the bit

Well my number one critic of my music events tells me people don't like the big upstairs room at the wheel house for the tributes- not intimate enough. I had plenty to say in defense but then come off as just defensive. C'mon help me out here a little..........
I was glad free time gave me the advance notice announcement about the neil show nov. 3rd- that helps me get the buzz going I hope. I will be gone three days next week, so lose a little momentum that way- but I'll keep trying to get the publicity machine going. If anyone can distribute flyers please contact me.
Steve Markle showed interest in drumming if he's available; we appreciated him at the johnny cash show sitting in with different combinations of musicians.
Going to see Adrienne Young in marietta saturday night at WSCC. Going to mountain stage sunday night- todd snider- yeah. and other good acts.
Does anyone know a good t-shirt source? I wanted to look at some neil young t-shirts for part of my door prize package............... its probably getting too late- a lot of these ideas I'm just saving up for next year.
Helpless, helpless, helpless (there is a town in north Ontario........)

moved the blog over to "beta blogger"

I don't quite understand the implications but I did something to change how I get into my blog- watch for the "new and improved" aspects/ features..... (ha ha ha)

did I tell you about my idea to have one of the americana music tribute events next year be a recreation of the Last Waltz (the band's farewell show)?

traveling music monday- all neil all the time

I went to a meeting in flatwoods monday, and had time to listen to four CD's- living with war, greendale, silver and gold and after the goldrush. A good immersion in Neil tunes. I even started listening to living with war again at the end with a little more time.

Neil YOung tribute look ahead

I'm surfing the internet for Neil YOung info in anticipation of the tribute November 3rd. Toying with being generous and having half the proceeds go to the Bridge School.................... I don't really make very much money as it is for the CHS effort.............
The Neil YOung Appreciation Society sounds like something I would come up with. Broken Arrow...................
Trying to gauge who will actually commit and to how many songs...........
Don't know how I could show a DVD during the course of the evening............
Its actually okay to have only 3 weeks between benefits now, as it keeps a certain momentum going. I never did set up a specific meeting time/date/place for folks to get together to plan the 2007 series.
Neil Young won artist of the year at the 5th annual americana music awards in september- that's a pretty fitting lead in for the final event of our 2006 americana music tribute series...............................

Mountain Stages upcoming

I've got tickets to Mountain Stage Oct. 22- when Todd Snider will be there among other good acts. Then Oct. 29th is also a good looking show; Greg Brown is who caught my attention on that line up. Abigal Washburn is in November, but at Tamarack not charleston- the week before thanksgiving- we have totally absorbed her first CD since hearing her on mountain stage some time back.

Greens battle of the bands outcome

The Greens got a second place at the battle of the bands friday night at WVU-P. I was sorry to not get more information late that night, due to the John Prine tribute benefit I was occupied with, Andy seemed satisfied with the performance. Torture Shop (?) won? something like that...... Andy and Nathan were talking briefly about the performance late that night at the Wheel HOuse, but then off to Jan's wedding in wheeling the next morning. The Greens have somewhat of a halloween gig at the Wheel HOuse Saturday Oct. 28th. I hope their schedule on their various sites is accurate going into second half of october, all of november. Andy says he will be available for the Neil YOung tribute show Nov. 3rd.

john prine show re-cap

Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated John Prine's music last night. We really liked being in the upstairs ballroom I think; many enthusiastic anticipations of the Neil Young show in three weeks up there. Thanks to the musicians- lots of good stuff- a good solid steady line up far into the night- thanks to JT for the sound; to the wheel house for the hospitality and being willing to try the upstairs idea. I hope everybody had a good time; I couldn't circulate around enough to talk to everybody. The wheel house people were happy with how it went; I was happy; so I think we will just keep building on the basic concept, unless I get other feedback. We got a few ideas for next year's shows, but we'll need to refine that and build on that if I want to be able to announce it by Nov. 3rd. The guitar raffle needs pushed over the next few weeks to get some excitement built up, and I need a good last push on the t-shirt sales for the 2006 series. I have some prizes built up, but can always use some more. I can use any help with publicity, too.
thanks to everyone who participated.

tonight's the night

Tonight is the John Prine tribute benefit in downtown Parkersburg 8 pm- $5 donation for the worthy cause of children's home society of west virginia-parkersburg. Its upstairs at the wheel house- come ready for some good music and good cheer- be generous with buying a raffle ticket for a guitar, and a t-shirt if you don't already have one. Give me some suggestions on the 2007 benefit music series; I'll have some paper and pens to write down ideas. I hope to have a few contests intermingled with the music- I often don't end up doing much of that as the music gets going- but I have a few lined up, if the audience shows some enthusiasm and engagement with the spirit of honoring John Prine's music. I hope all the logistics work out all right to have moved it upstairs- we'll sure give it a good try-
I get worried about musicians forgetting or backing out right about now, but its always been working out. Its hard to know if there will be any mystery performers till you get there.

two nights till john prine celebration

Yesterday was John Prine's 60 th birthday. Nice little balloon on the www.jpshrine.org website. Saw where a group in Wisconsin, a community theater, has a show of john prine's songs- fish and whistle- 19 songs performed into a little production. I'd like to find out more about that.
All the musicians keep checking in and everything seems a "go" with them. Its pretty far along to do anything different with getting the word out. Just thinking through the details to make sure everybody enjoys a good time.

any body going to be filming the tribute for you tube?

anybody going to be filming at the tribute for you tube? I don't know anything about it (yet) but have been told that it is an opportunity.......................

john prine tribute lead up

Its been finalized; we're going "upstairs" for this show- it will be in the upstairs ballroom at the wheel house. Brenda, Chris and I worked out the details today. There will be tables set up for plenty of folks and then plenty of extra chairs, so everyone will have a good view of the stage, and a comfortable perch. Bottles and cans and simple mixed drinks will be available upstairs at the show, and other fare will be available downstairs for those looking to stretch their legs, etc. There will be plenty of room for our t-shirt sales and raffle ticket sales and john prine memorabilia- and the folks staffing the tables will be able to take in the music and not take up valuable listener space. This will be our trial run for the Neil Young show, also upstairs, and then hopefully all the events next year. We'll have a new venue to make wry observations of how John Prine would look at the place- the big F.O.E. eagle in the middle of the floor, etc. Bring plenty of folks with you, and assure them there will be plenty of seats. We might scare the musicians a little with the sweet little stage and the stage lights, etc. but they'll do fine.

monday weekend wrap up and look ahead

The tribute to Smokestack Betty last night at the art center was very nice- she did a great job belting out some songs, and had a nice little jam group helping her - very good musicians to jump in and play well together- I got some more flyers distributed for the john prine show- somewhat of a connection there. Plus a few on neil young- though I am looking for a better flyer design for that one. Got a few e-mail addresses kicked back from the john prine tribute announcement e-mail- checking around with the musicians to see if they have set lists set up yet. Had an inquiry about the battle of the bands at WVU-P which reminds me I know very little about it yet, too.
Down the home stretch for the JOhn prine show- trying to get the word out, and refresh myself on the songs/ lyrics- and contest ideas......... I will be sweating some merchandise getting in on time....................

5 days till John Prine tribute night

A quick, first apology- I mentioned musicians performing and misstated the names of Matt and Will Kirkland in my last entry. Will is coming back for the event all the way from Tennessee, where he is working after graduating last december from UK. He plays the guitar and fiddle. It will be interesting to see if anyone out-distances him for coming the farthest. We expect a good fiddle part for Paradise (Muhlenberg County) for a finale again this year! Someone bring a mandolin, too, if you can.
I am dusting off the contests; they never really go over too big, but I'm refining my craft of contest-leading; so people have to bear with me. I thought the contest of people reading off the town names on I've been everywhere, during the JOhnny Cash tribute was a nice touch. I've got a few variations of past contests that I'm considering for this week.
I stopped in to the wheel house last night, just to make sure we were all squared on the date, since the parkersburg news and graffiti are messing with me- they both gave the date as Saturday Oct. 14th- which is NOT RIGHT- this morning's paper had both days in it!!! I love John Prine, but I don't know if I could pull off two nights in a row- its kinda exhausting running this show; plus I will immediately begin planning the Neil Young event, and the 2007 events, so I'll stay busy (if anybody was worried about me getting too bored.....)
I'll go make a plug tonight at the Back to the Beat monthly get together at the art center- hope that doesn't interfere with Mary's gig, but we are kindred spirits. Got to get a few more flyers around, to counteract the newspapers blunders.

john prine tribute count down

6 days till the 4th annual john prine tribute show - oct 13th 8 pm at the boreman wheel house- $5 donation. Don Baker, Don Howerton, Nick Barry, Todd Heslep, the Kirkwoods, perhaps Fred Shreve among others. If Andy doesn't make it back from the battle of the bands, I'll be forced to sing two acapella numbers in stead; but will hold out for a few of our duets. I'll be dusting off the e-mail list from last year tomorrow to see if everybody kept their e-mail address from that group. talk it up- see ya there.

vinyl record sale

Today (saturday oct 7) there is a vinyl record sale in front of the sound exchange from 10 am to 2 pm- come early - the rabid fans will have picked over the good stuff in the first hour= there is plenty of new and intriguing stuff- lots of good classic country came in yesterday- merle, george jones, etc. and some more good mix of classic rock came from somewhere while I was out of town wednesday and thursday.

Greens friday night recap

The Greens had a good crowd and great show Friday night at the Front Row in Parkersburg. This was a quickly announced show, but many of the die hard fans must have found out quickly- as there were many familiar faces, and many requests for Greens songs throughout their song list. Andy's birthday was referenced several times including an end of the show round of happy birthday.
The Greens will be subbing in a bass player at the battle of the bands, Oct. 13th at WVU-P as Jan is getting married that weekend. A rehearsal was going on last night to get the bass player up to speed.
Keep encouraging the fellers; Andy gets a little discouraged at the West Virginia music scene.