John Prine tribute benefit - two week countdown

Things are shaping up alright for the 5th annual john prine tribute benefit; friday, october 12th at 8 pm at the boreman wheel house. $5 donation goes to the work of CHS in the Parkersburg area. It is reported the agency's CEO will be in attendance. He has been skeptical of these fundraisers as a bona fide / legit fundraiser for the agency; so I hope the Parkersburg music lovers come out to show him how we enjoy our live local music.
Andy (Tuck) assures me he will be here; matt starcher is a new recruit; don baker will be there toward the later part of the night. I am sure jonny nutter is working up some numbers, and don howerton will likely be there. Todd Heslep hopes to be there too.
I have raffle tickets for sale - both in advance, and that night, for two tickets to see John Prine himself on dec. 7th at the municipal auditorium in charleston; and I think I have the deal sealed to have a room at the embassy suites for that night for the winner too.
I have some door prize- john prine stuff too, as usual, though I may back off on the trivia contests this year. Hope to see you there.

I fully admit I was just seeing if the internet worked on this computer

I really didn't have anything musical to write about; I was just seeing if this computer was connected to the internet; now I am drawing a blank as to something to write about.
I heard Todd Snider's song that he sang on the kris kristofferson tribute album the other night. It was played right after a song by sam baker; their voices eerily similar. I have only the briefest of reports on how todd's show at stuart's went the other night; i guess i better visit www.eighteenminutes.com and see what the set list was.

I just needed to check something out

abracadabra by steve miller was the number one song on this day in 1982.

JOHN Bonham, the drummer for led zeppelin was originally a member of "terry web and the spiders"- he died while reportedly trying to consume his body weight in vodka at the age of 32.

Greens show at Front Row friday night re-cap

Two nights in a row at the front row! The Greens (with Ben on bass) played this past friday night at the front row. A little slow crowd trickling in at the beginning, the crowd got up to its (still only partly decent) height clear toward the end; with lots of normal greens fans missing.
A good two hendrix mini-sets - one early and one late. A reference to the "drag yourself" video during that song- folks have got to see this video (you can access it off the myspace site, or through Tony's you tube site (pretzellogic74) - this is fine work - the guys facial expressions are classic and convey the song so well. The vacuum cleaner is hilarious, and the dragging on the cardboard- Tony's little move in the tunnel is fantastic. More, more more.
October is bringing some more travels for the greens, and hopefully release of vol. 2 of broken science. keep looking for the updates.

Anais Mitchell at the Front Row

Anais and Michael and Noah put on an excellent show for the audience at the Front Row in Parkersburg WV Thursday night. They played two sets of solid songs with great intensity and enthusiasm. They had the audience rapt with attention. I was worried about the "sports bar" crowd on the other side of the bar, distracting the band, but for the most part have cast off that worry, as it not only seemed that those who had come to listen were pleased and satisfied, but she "held her own" with the distraction, and hopefully even won some admiration there. Of
the songs that I have become familar with in her two albums, she played many; with several now holding fast in my mind. She did "time after time"- cyndi lauper's song toward the end and the instrumentation was so right. Her dylan's chimes of freedom as an encore was hauntingly beautiful and she put her own meaning into the lyrics.
Anais is a very gracious guest; and her enthusiasm and joy of life are apparent in meeting her. The traveling trio have been on a whirlwind tour and things have to be blurring together, but they kept a good spirit about them. We will have fond memories of their visit, and will keep a special attention to the further development of her musical journey from here on out.
Enough people came out, to revive my faith in Parkersburg area music crowd; and I definitely appreciate Bill's support of such ventures.

john prine tribute benefit

have I mentioned that the john prine tribute benefit is still on for the wheel house? I am firming up the musicians line up; can still fit in some other newcomers if you want. I'm exploring a covered dish prior to the event, with some additional activities, contests, prizes during that phase; if it would work out for the wheel house. sorry to be missing prine in morgantown next friday; but having been to a show in lexington in the spring and seeing him in december in charleston will make for a good year's worth of john prine fix and morale boost.

"protest singers" at Wittenberg

When I was a 18-19 year old, I got to see Phil Ochs and Holly Near, among several others I'm sure; when they would make tours through mid-west college towns during the war in vietnam protests. These were pretty powerful impressions and great opportunities. Then there were big demonstrations in washington dc with big name performers of the day. Soon after, it was mostly "home made" music for a few years among friends in the peace movement; learning a whole lot of those songs.
I don't recall much about music while in San Francisco in 1974; I don't think I had enough money to go to too many shows. I walked the city; finding haight-ashbury and the original grateful dead house. There were more events such as caesar chavez and the united farmworkers marches with its own blend of music. and then it was on to grand rapids, previously mentioned.

Greens in kingwood wv today

We're having a very fall weather cool day here in WV- probably even cooler up in the mountains of preston county. The Greens were at Gibbie's last night; hope they got the crowd going strong. Next friday, back here in Parkersburg at the Front Row- an old familar venue. I've been working with Bill Poole a lot on the anais mitchell show; and he's been asking a lot about my fund raiser benefits.
Nathan was talking to JP Henry's this week about possibly lining up some shows there; we'll give updates, or watch the myspace schedule.

Anais Mitchell -down the home stretch

Anais is moving her way this way, with shows in tennessee over the next few days, and lexington ky on wednesday. I' m hoping for a good turnout- I'd really like to give her a good welcome here in WV. I just have to think we'll be wow-ed by her music and personality. I wouldn't mind seeing some sign of life!

8 days till Anais Mitchell's show at the Front Row

We're getting to the countdown of the sept. 20th show; and most of the publicity is out there, its mostly going to be word of mouth appeals at this point; hopefully things fall into place with some good spreading of the word, about what a great opportunity this will be for folks around here; hopefully, it could be the start of a good relation with a musician for our area, and some good connections. Her folk opera- sounds very intriguing and good; it would be nice to hear more about it, and the possibility of bringing a version here!!! check it out, by way of her my space site, and it has its own myspace site.

John Prine Tribute is still going to be at the wheel house

Despite the recent closing of the latest version of the wheel house management, the Oct. 12th tribute benefit will be held at the wheel house. There may be slightly different arrangements to the servers, beverages, etc. but "the show will go on." For this (and not having to change the location that has started to be advertised, etc.) I am very grateful to Chris and Shawna and for their steady on-going support. The musicians are falling into place well, and keep checking back for updates.

Greens had a good show friday night

The Greens broke in the new bass player well friday night at a good "nostalgic" show at the wheel house. It was never quite said, but there were rumblings of that being the last night under this particular short lived management. What will become of the wheel house?
But the Greens had a rollicking good time for their loyal following, and people enjoyed it regardless of where the next venue would emerge. The greens are at the front row in two weeks (the 21st) and some shows at 6 pence in the fall, too, so they will be around- Marietta Brewing Co. etc. We'll keep asking about the wheel house's future. I am hoping I can still have the oct 12th date for the john prine tribute benefit...........

Springfield Ohio 1972-3

I think the coffee house was called "three doors down" or "two doors down" and that's where I got my best, first introduction to the wandering folk singers. It was my subtle, gradual movement from 60's radio music to what else became my musical interests. That's where Pop Wagner, Bodie Wagner, Cowboy Bill Stockwell came through to play on the midwest circuit. I'm still trying to dredge back other names. Yellow Springs also obviously had its influence at that time (Antioch). I was at Wittenberg University for those two years, right out of high school, before I went vagabonding. The music was a grounding source in a somewhat lonely, lost young fellow.

Anais Mitchell - less than 2 weeks to the show

Anais is going to have two musicians with her, I guess the usual touring support musicians for this stretch; michael chorney and austin nevins? They can be linked through her my space site; to get a little picture of their music and connections; sounds good. Visit her site (website and my space sites) prior to the show, and you'll be getting pumped up that she will bring a good show to us. I'm in communication about our hospitality for her whirlwind pass through WV; stay in touch.

Grand Rapids Michigan circa 1974-1975

So I used to visit this live music venue in Grand Rapids sometime around 74-75; it was in a specific neighborhood of GR, which I don't recall the name of; 5 corners, old town, whatever; it had a cool neighborhood name. And the place was somesortof saloon or something. The band I recall was called Paddlefoot (there was a animal character from a cartoon - speed racer type thing?) and they (to my recollection) played: pure prairie league; new riders of the purple sage, the flying burrito brothers, nitty gritty dirt band, loggins and messina? type songs- I remember the glendale train, and the house at pooh corner being two regular songs. Elderly instruments in Lansing, and possibly a satellite store in Grand Rapids where a housemate worked; that's where I got the Yamaha guitar to learn on, and hitchhike all over lugging, before settling in WV. You had to learn "you ain't going nowhere" by bob dylan as a first song.

John Prine tribute benefit

I got a moment of panic today about my venue for the john prine tribute oct. 12th; which I'll report on more after stopping down there friday night for the greens show. I'm sure it will all work out but stay tuned in case I'm scrambling!!!

Anais Mitchell coming Sept. 20th

I hope folks are still keeping this date on their calendar; its going to be a good show. Read her journal entries on her website to get a little flavor of her outlook on life and her joie de vivre. I'd still like to sell more advance tickets just to ease my mind a bit. I have an e-mail in to her person doing advance work to see what kind of hospitality we can provide that day. stay tuned

Greens - tomorrow night at the wheel house

The Greens are playing tomorrow night (Friday, sept. 7th) at the boreman wheel house in Parkersburg. Come on out and have a good rawkin' evening and encourage them on as they enter the fall season. Nate informed me of a change of location for the october 26th "pre- halloween" show - moved to the Front Row on Oct. 26th- this will be somewhat of a benefit for children's home society - details forthcoming. The following day the Greens return to NYC (Oct. 27th to Fat annie's for a weekend show, after their debut up there this summer they've been asked back for a weekend show. Stay tune for details and news.
I took some new Greens CD's to the sound exchange, and they were very excited to receive them; they are on sale there, the guy said the greens are probably their biggest seller of a local band. They have a new website for the sound exchange (www.myspace.com/soundexchangepkb) so check it out and encourage them to promote that Greens tie-in.

other recent listen's

Vic Chestnut on Mountain stage last night from Athens Georgia, and some other musicians local to that area. Mindy Smith on the CD player now. I heard another song from Sam Baker on crossing boundaries the other night; for some reason I knew it was him when I heard the song, even though I've only heard him once, and read several intriguing reviews.

Songwriter night on 106 FM tonight at 7 pm; don't know who will be on particularly. Todd Burge has several songwriter events throughout the region over the next month or so- Athens at Donkey Coffee, club cafe in pittsburgh, some in marietta.

Greens

I haven't heard how the show at 123 Pleasant st. went friday night; other than a post or two on the myspace site. The Greens will be in parkersburg friday night at the wheel house; we'll see what the line up is that night; and hopefully get some updates on other fall developments.

john prine birthday tribute benefit october 12th

I resurrected the flyer from last year, just to make sure I was getting some out- the JOhn Prine birthday tribute is friday october 12th at the wheel house in parkersburg. Andy expresses some commitment to being here; Matt Starcher is a new contact who seems eager to play. Jonny Nutter has been working up some Prine songs. I will get hold of Don Baker this week to try to secure it on his calendar. Todd Heslep; I've got his cell phone number to give him a call. I'm sure Don Howerton is on board.
I have the raffle tickets made up for two tickets to see John Prine himself in Charleston in December (7th) and will make one attempt to sweeten the raffle this week and see where it goes. Contact me if you want some early tickets, or to help sell them.

Anais Mitchell "count down"

We've hit September, so the fall music events are close at hand. Anais Mitchell, a folk musician from New England will be coming to Parkersburg, on Thursday September 20th to play at the Front Row at 9 pm. Tickets are $7. I have some, or you can get them through Bill Poole at the Front Row. Flyers are going up around town; Bill has made some pretty nifty ones, and there are promo ones from Righteous Babe Records for her album The Brightness. I sent up a batch to Marietta to hopefully draw some folks from that neck of the woods. I sent press release info to: Athens, Charleston, Morgantown, Marietta, Graffiti. I sent things in today to the local entertainment sections of the paper. I will hit some e-mail address lists next week.
Anais is playing a solid few weeks around the show in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, DC, Philadelphia, and on MOuntain Stage a few days after being here. There are some pretty impressive venues she is playing on this whirlwind trip; she will have a hard time remembering where she is, and where she will be the next day. Take a listen to her music on her website: www.anaismitchell.com and see her journal writings and links.