song rolling around in my head THIS morning

It was Tuck's Riff playing in my head this morning, as I made my Saturday rounds of morning routine on this sunny, yet frosty cold morning. A little post office stop; never really enough time to defrost before ending up at work. Tuck's Riff makes a good song for either a full Greens tilt, or a solo acoustic set. "A barber with ugly hair."

Andy - solo show Saturday night at 6 Pence

Depending a little I am sure on the road conditions, Andy is scheduled to play a solo show at 6 Pence Pub in Parkersburg tomorrow night. I drove by the sign out front at 6 Pence last night, and it says- "Fat Dog Andy Tuck Saturday" I assume that means a band called Fat Dog is playing one part of the club, and Andy is in another, but I didn't want to think they were giving him their own special nickname of Fat Dog. Talk about Big Ol' Betsy, aaaawwwwwwwwww. If you can get out of the driveway, or off the cul de sac, come on out and get warmed up by a little acoustic solo tunes.
This morning's song playing around in my head was: Its Not Enough.

dream last night of musicians

Last night I had a dream that I was at a Mountain Stage-type show, beforehand, jason Ringenberger and Justin Townes Earle (who were going to be on the show) were sitting on some steps (in a fairly fancy, old theater like the Taft in Cinci, or something) and I was striking up a conversation with them about places I had seen them play, and people they played with etc. That was an unusual type dream for me.

more to try to convey the exciting opportunity to see Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart

Some bio tidbits about Stacey and Mark (who are appearing here in Parkersburg Feb. 16th):

Their new CD "Town Square" is being sold during their shows. Their individual solo CD's of recent release: Mark's "left of Nashville" and Stacey's "The Ride"(it may just now be released). They are social active as indicated by their promoting a Food Drive during the International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis in February (after they leave here, they are going to be there several days). They are at the Cold Snap Festival in Prince George British Columbia, and a few shows in Vancouver. They are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their own record label: Gearle Records. They met in 1992. Stacey had first performed live with brother Steve's band in Sydney Australia, then returned to Nashville to work as a staff writer for Ten Ten Music. Mark had been playing since age 15, with his dad's band, and then out on his own at 17, and in Freddy Fender's band before he was 20. He also had a stint with Steve Earle's band The Dukes. Their my space site lists an impressive list of friends in the music world- check 'em out!!! Listen to their tunes!!!! Come out to see them in Parkersburg; a fantastic opportunity!!!! You'll leave a fan of theirs!!!

National Record Store Day, April 18, 2009

A great quote from Tom Waits; honoring the independent record store clerk!!!!!!

Folks who work here are professorsDon't replace all the knowerswith guessorsKeep'em openthey're the ears of the town-Tom Waits


here's to post # 1234!!!! always looking for those milestones!!!!

www.recordstoreday.com to get in the know about the upcoming event!!!

Peter Doggett's "Are You Ready for the Country?"

I fiinished the book last night, and will be incorporating some material, reactions, suggested listenings, to a future post. This was a very good read, which helped fill in many connections and gaps in knowledge about the flow of all this great music.

Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart coming to town

Well, their traveling plans were ambitious for winter months, as they are in British Columbia this week for some festival shows. They are venturing into the Virginia, North Carolina, WV, PA area beginning in a week or so, ending up here on February 16th for a Monday show, on their way to the Folk Alliance event in Memphis later that week. Their music is so uplifting, inspiring, authentic, please take this opportunity to see them in our little ol' town, in an intimate setting where they thrive and shine. They are some performin' -lovin,' hard workin', harmonizin' folks.

this morning's song rollin' around my head

"The Tide Turns Again"- This is the Greens song rolling around in my head this morning as I scurried about getting ready for work, and battling the icy roads and crunchy sidewalks.

One of Andy's songs playing in my head

Andy's new(er) song, "Man with Dirty Hands" has been playing in my head this morning, bustling around, dealing with icy, slushy road conditions, getting to work with nobody else around. There is a "song cycle" developing with "Drag Yourself Through the Day" and "Natural Voice."

The Forbes Brothers list some of their musical influences and links to other music sites

SOME MUSICAL INFLUENCES Some other links for the Forbes Brothers
WFBE "B-95" Contiuous Country
CSN & Y
Grateful Dead
Sunny Girl Her new CD
Johnny Cash
Spirit
Detroit Music Awards
Gram Parsons
Beatles
White's Bar
Hank Williams Sr.
Poco
Tenny Street Roadhouse
Buffalo Springfield
Kentucky Headhunters
Detroit News
Conway Twitty
The Band
Detroit Country Music
Merle Haggard
Earl Klugh
Ms. E's Country
Waylon Jennings
Eagles
Sonic Metropolis
Bob Seger
The Byrds
Jam Rag Magazine
Mitch Ryder
Rolling Stones
Western Beat
Emmy Lou Harris
Ernest Tubb
No Depression
Highwaymen
Fleetwood Mac

Greens updates

The Greens played at River City Grille in Marietta last night. This was a small-ish crowd; lots of Greens fans regulars were not in attendance. It was an appreciative crowd, but more of a listening crowd than a dancing crowd. It allowed the Greens to include a few more songs of variety than when they get a dance crowd going, so that was nice to have the opportunity. They introduced at least one new song that was well received and will likely be incorporated into the steady set list. I got a chance to catch up with Andy and Danny prior to the show, as they stopped by the house on their way into town, and were treated to a home cooked meal! They were excited by the show the previous night in Pittsburgh, at Moondog's (www.moondogs.us) run by a very friendly and enthusiastic music lover, Ron "moondog" esser. The Greens really felt hosted well, and are eager for more shows there, and future contact with Ron. Euphonic Brew, a band from the Pittsburgh area, who the Greens have struck up a connection with through some festivals, etc. also played, and the Greens feel a good connection there, too.
Andy and Danny talked about the band's efforts to get a van, so that they could venture out on a potential tour, as outlined in their my space site starting in May. These dates are just the "tentative" dream sequence of cities; so stay tuned for updates. As they make their contacts and connections and use existing friends and relatives, this tour will take shape.
They also talked about submitting "Little Warrior" to www.taxi.com (the website service that helps promote bands songs to various leads/ resources.) Check out this website to see what it is all about.

still been reading Peter Doggett's book

I have continued to enjoy Peter Doggett's book "Are you ready for the country?" and keep meaning to excerpt from it, or give some indication of some of the content, but I leave it at home, and don't take notes! It is filling in many interesting connections between music of different eras and making connections between musicians, and citing many interesting influences and key recordings and performances.

Greens tonight in Marietta

The Greens return to the Mid OHio Valley tonight to play in Marietta at the River City Grille. Their last appearance here, was for Lyndsey's graduation party before Christmas, and it is a nice venue for the Greens. There is plenty of seating with good views of the band, and some dancing room. I'm eager to get a little taste of the Greens music again after a brief lapse while they played elsewhere.

Paddlefoot- Forbes Brothers

I wrote about my time in Grand Rapids Michigan a few months back, and how there was this band I really liked that played there, and was playing the kind of music I loved at the time, and still love called Paddlefoot. Well, one of the great satisfying things about this blog, and the internet is that someone connected to that band, the sound man, Don Henderson, must have searched the internet to discover my post about Paddlefoot, and just today sent me an e-mail making this link to the current incarnation of Paddlefoot, called The Forbes Brothers, who apparently have been great troupers in the Michigan country-rock scene - see their website: forbesbrother.net or their my space site. Thanks to Don for tracking my e-mail down and brightening my day with good memories of live music in Grand Rapids Michigan circa 1974-1975.

Greens post an ambitious May 2009 tour

Check out the Greens My Space site to see listed an intriguing set of dates for a tour starting May 11th. You'll have to inquire and get it straight from the (various) horses (hey, why the long face?) mouth, as to whether these dates are really set or if its a planned/ hoped for, sort of thing.
I'm figuring Danny is the horse with the longest face, what about you?
If they pull it off, it will be sort of like Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere." (Speaking of Johnny Cash Tributes...... look for information about the Mid Ohio Valley show Feb. 28th elsewhere on this blog........)

Greens: PIttsburgh last night , Huntington tonight BBRRRRR

The Greens are trying to keep their musical equipment safe and warm bundling down to Huntington tonight I suppose.
I didn't hear yet if they are playing in the Blues Festival in Marietta in mid-Feb. It will be a little hard to confine their song selection to the straight up blues required for the contest. I recall the event a few years ago in a crazy blizzard and shutting down the roads kinda February. We liked their Blues alright, but its awful hard to come up with one winner.
Next Saturday its finally a mid Ohio Valley appearance at the River City Grille in Marietta.

didn't have a lot to say

I am in a winter doldrums for blogging about music. I am expending all my energy just hunkering down and staying warm. I did go for a brisk 4 mile walk this morning as the only soul crazy enough to walk at city park. The music in my head was "country-folk-rock." This meant from reading a book from the library "are you ready for the country?" about the links between country and rock. I am only a little way into it. Gram Parsons/ flying burrito brothers / clarence white. Bob Dylan in the Nashville Skyline process. Charlie McCoy (in the WV music hall of fame) a studio/ session whiz. The Band. The Byrds. The Dillards. Gene Clark. Chris Hillman. I will give my next report after some more reading. Johnny Cash. Hank Williams Sr. Doesn't this all run a thread through it?

when we see John Prine in Asheville NC in March

I just found out that Sara Watkins is opening for John Prine when we go see him in Asheville NC in March. She is branching out on a solo from her years with Nickel Creek, so that will be something to look forward to, too. She is having a solo release early this year too. Brother Sean was just on Mountain Stage, the one in Morgantown with his new act.

not much else to report/ say; just getting ready to hunker down with a cccooooollllddddd night.

Traveling Music while traveling today

I was listening to Malcolm Holcombe already in the car CD player when I started the trip, so just finished that one up. Great songs which match perfectly with his voice and the life he has led. They evoke such a deep chord of what tough living feels like. Then I listened to the Greens new CD and even though I had heard it once on a computer and have heard the songs live for a number of months, it was a great listen. I was just groovin' on it down the highway, and marveling at the versatility and the creativity and the catchy music-ness of it. I then listened to a CD Fred Shreve had given me; raving about the guy, whose CD was produced by Radney Foster, one of Fred's favorites. This guy is Brandon Rhymer; the CD is "Every Night." I am so blessed to have a good circle of music lovers around me, who share their enthusiasm for music. When Fred takes the time out of his busy/hectic days/ weeks to come over and share his "finds" I feel greatly honored. I finished up the ride with Lucinda Williams newest CD LIttle Honey. Bringing me back to Parkersburg in fine spirits, with her rockin' out songs, her ballads, and her voice that will always be among my most favorites.

review in No Depression about an Avett Brothers New Years Eve concert in NC

The Avett Brothers find themselves in an unusual situation at the dawning of 2009. Much of the country has just been through an extraordinarily difficult year. The music industry is morphing into an entirely different animal, with the value of recorded works continuing its spectacular nosedive toward zero. The Concord, North Carolina, band has strong ties to neighboring Charlotte, whose primary industry – banking – is in disarray at best (Bank of America), in shambles at worst (Wachovia). Most everyone across the nation is bracing themselves for a year that may well be even more difficult than the extraordinary one we just lived through.Amidst all this, brothers Seth and Scott Avett and their bandmates are square in the midst of a glorious wave of prosperity that is probably beyond their wildest dreams. After years of gradually ascending as an independent act, they struck a deal with Rick Rubin to make their next album with him for the American/Columbia label. They routinely pack thousand-plus-capacity venues across the country. And, coming home to North Carolina in late December for their annual New Year's Eve shindig, they managed to sell out not just one but two shows at Charlotte's posh 2,100-seat Belk Theater, after an extraordinarily successful one-night event there for New Year's Eve 2007.The Avetts always have gone against the grain, but they almost surely never envisioned ringing in 2009 quite like this. The best they could aim for on the capper of this two-night stand, perhaps, was to deliver us from the new depression, at least for a little while. And with help from an expansive cast of cohorts – openers Jessica Lea Mayfield, Paleface, and Jason Webley – that's precisely what they did.The highlight of the slightly too long stretch of supporting acts was Mayfield's "For Today", on which she and her band were joined by the headliners – Seth Avett on piano, Scott Avett at the mike dueting with Mayfield (plus Joe Kwon on cello). The song was a natural for collaboration, seeing as how the Avetts apparently became so enamored with it at one point that they began covering it themselves. Mayfield's fairly easy to peg as a slightly more rootsy incarnation of Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval, but "For Today" is a step above, one of those instantly knowable songs that don't come around every day, or for every artist.Jessica Lee Mayfield and friends play "For Today" on New Year's Eve at the BelkThe Avetts took the stage at about 11:15 p.m., opting for one long set straight into the midnight countdown (rather than last year's two-set performance in which they returned right before the magic hour). While they not surprisingly drew heavily on numbers from 2007's breakthrough Emotionalism (the set-opening "Die Die Die", "Will You Return", "Salina") and the 2008 EP The Second Gleam ("Murder In The City", delivered solo by Scott), they also reached into their back pages for numbers both well-known ("Talk On Indolence") and obscure (Seth's spotlight-turn "In The Curve").And there were quite a few as-yet unreleased songs, though it'd be hard to call many of them "new", given that the ardent hard-core Avett faithful sang along frequently, almost as fervently as they did on the older favorites. Best of the bunch may have been "I And Love And You", which features no one on guitar (Seth moves to piano and Scott to drums, with Kwon on cello and Bob Crawford switching from upright to electric bass); and "Laundry Room", with a key lyric that seemed especially appropriate for New Year's Eve: "I am a breathing time machine."The Avett Brothers perform "Laundry Room" on New Year's Eve at the BelkPerhaps the most revelatory selection of the night was a rare cover, a soulful reading of the 1967 Aretha Franklin hit "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman". Seth sang lead from behind the piano in another no-guitars arrangement. Gender-bending turns on hallmark tunes aren't really new territory – remember Lyle Lovett's remake of Tammy Wynette's signature "Stand By Your Man" – but the Avetts weren't playing it for novelty; it just seemed like something toward which they wished to apply their passion, and their singing. It worked precisely because passionate singing is at the heart of what the Avetts are all about.

Tim O'Brien and Todd Burge last night in Charleston

Woody Hawley Series performances last night from Tim O'Brien and Todd Burge at Charleston's Clay Center's Walker Theater was excellent, with a large sell out crowd enthusiastically responding to the fine music. Tim is a wildly versatile musician and songwriter; a master of a number of traditional music genres, as well as a up to the minute modern songwriter and interpreter. He is very personable and engaging, and connects well with an audience. Todd Burge opened and impressed some folks sitting around us, who haven't seen him before. Tim came out for two fiddle tune duets and harmonizing, including Telephone Girl from the Blind Alfred Reed tribute album. I bet they both sold a bunch of CD's out front, because this seemed a very impressed and appreciative audience, of true music lovers, eager to expand their horizons of music. Tim's album, Chameleon would be a good current place to start - but only that, he has a deep discography and evolving interest areas; undoubtedly many collaborations too. His multi-instrumental skills are crazily impressive and show a deep rooted passion for all kinds of music, and an appreciation of masters in many instruments that came before him.

Tim O'Brien and Todd Burge tomorrow night at the Clay Center

The Woody Hawley Series event tomorrow night at the Clay Center's Walker Theater features Tim O'Brien, with Todd Burge opening. Show starts at 7:30 pm. A nice venue, an appreciative music crowd, good folks organizing it. Picking some great musicians/ songwriters etc. for a good string of shows coming up. You can get the info from the clay center website: www.theclaycenter.org Tim O'Brien has had a good run and is well respected among many sub-genres of folk/ bluegrass / traditional music. We like that he is a WV native; he's received some awards and accolades; helps out with great collaborations such as the WV Music Hall of Fame, the Alfred Reed tribute and such. He helped Todd produce his last CD. Crossing my fingers the roads aren't bad tomorrow evening.

Greens all over everywhere (except Parkersburg soon... sigh....)

The Greens are cranking out some high energy bookings here to start the new year. Check out their ever expanding gig list on their my space site or regular web site. www.myspace.com/thegreens or www.thegreensmusic.com

They seem to have an enthusiastic group down in Huntington when they play the Shamrock, and its good to see some gigs in Pittsburgh branching out. AND Morgantown is bound to be hopping with the new semester starting up at WVU. I'll be looking for a Marietta Brewing Co. date to pop up; the first date in the new year at 6 Pence is April 11. Anything with River City Grille in Marietta? Or JP Henry's? or anywhere else around the Mid Ohio Valley?

We'd love to have the Greens participate in the Johnny Cash tribute on Feb. 28th but undoubtedly they'll book up.

something that sounds right up my alley!!!!

Music Swap Meet
Jan 31 2009

12:00pm
Presented by Aquabear Legion and Stuart's Opera House!Come on down to Stuart's lobby and browse records, cd's, tapes, local music, instruments, music gear, and much more! And you can check out another sweet art show of rare and unique record album art from Paul Tescher. This event is presented by Stuart's and the Athens-based Ohio music and art collective Aquabear Legion. Admission is free!!! 12pm-5pm.
If you are interested in setting up a table please contact us at info@stuartsoperahouse.org for more information.

4th annual Mid Ohio Valley Johnny Cash Tribute

Reminder to keep talking up the Johnny Cash Tribute show on Feb. 28 (Saturday) at 6 Pence Pub on 7th St. in Parkerburg. This 4th annual event, a benefit for Children's Home Society of WV features local musicians paying tribute to the Man In Black. I am taking names of interested musicians. Any help with promotion and aspects of the benefit will be appreciated. $5 donation. We'd like to promote some advance ticket selling, so we have an idea of numbers attending, and also since it is a donation, it may spur more folks to actually come out that night, instead of leaving it as "good intentions" - which seemed to be the case at some of our tribute shows toward the end of last year.

New show; first coffee house of the year

I am very excited to announce that I have been able to arrange to bring Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart to Parkersburg for a show. It will be on Monday, Feb. 16th at 7 pm at our store front coffee house at 1739 St. Mary's Ave. Parkersburg. 3rd storefront. Contact me for tickets or information: Steve Tuck, 485-0650, or through the blog or my e-mail. Stacey and Mark are great musicians and performers, who really enjoy the small intimate type settings of house concerts and coffee houses. I have seen them twice in Nelsonville in recent years. visit their website at: www.staceyandmark.com for information about them. They are sure to please and entertain. You can see they are very active tourers, and play all kinds of venues. They are well connected in the music scene. They are at the PUrple Fiddle a few days before being in Parkersburg, and have a few other days in the mid-Atlantic region before heading to Memphis for the Folk Alliance annual festival and events. More details to follow, but give their music a listen, and talk this great local opportunity up. You can also visit their my space site, and see some of their influences and connections to many great musicians in the Americana, Roots, etc. genres.

Greens on Z 106 local music monthly show this Sunday evening at 7 pm

Todd Burge's local music radio show that is once a month on Z 106 here in Parkersburg will feature among several, the Greens. If you go to the website: www.songwriternight.com you will hear the Greens 10,000 Days playing behind Todd's introduction remarks for the show. See all the music acts featured on that website.

Todd Snider's blog: explanation of being abducted and forced to write peace songs

PEACE QUEER
PEACE QUEER / Todd Snider





PEACE QUEER: THE BLURT BLOG
Mis Spellers Of The World Untie


I would like to take this gracious opportunity that the fine people of Blurt have given me to tell all of you about the night I was abducted by and later escaped from the International League of Peace Queers.

I remember East Nashville was in the middle of a two-week kind bud drought that had set our neighborhood into a small state of confusion, chaos and tension. I was recording a song called “Last Summer At Band Camp I Did It With This Chick” with my so-called friends Eric McConnell and Kevn Kinney, when a crash through the control room door brought with it two large and heavily armed men identifying themselves as members of an International League of Peace Queers They were looking for me. Not Kevn, not Eric, but me.

They asked if I had written "Conservative Christian Right Wing Republican Straight White American Males." I tried to deny it. The next thing I knew, I was blindfolded and stuffed into a small closet, where I was forced to listen to early Phil Ochs and Joan Baez material.

I was also brutalized beyond what I consider an acceptable level of sanity. I remember saying over and over that I was already for peace, but they claimed I wasn’t, quote, “for it enough.” They demanded I write songs for an album that they boasted would easily outsell Thriller.

Fortunately for me, I already had a batch of songs similar to what they were looking for, so I assumed things were going to work out splendidly... or at least easily.

I could not have been more wrong. Later that night, I was forced to sing “Beer Run” until I vomited, and yet sadistically, every time I played it, I was electrocuted by some sort of device they called The Peace Keeper.

Then I realized not only were there a lot of them, but I recognized many of the voices. I couldn’t put an exact name to the voices, but I knew the voices. They taunted, they mocked, they emasculated and they spat — many of them screaming that “Beer Run” had set back the movement at least a million years.

I was forced to smoke weak marijuana and pretend to care about the world. It upset me. I called them folk Nazis and was beaten heavily for it.

But I gotta tell you, as much as I love hockey fights, I did eventually grow sympathetic to the cause, and I recorded the album for them. After the album was completed, they took off my blindfold, and it was then I learned that my captors had been a loose assortment of Americana shit storm artists that I like to call my peers.

Last year I was nominated for Unsuccessful Country Artist Of The Year at the AMA awards, and I lost to none other than high-ranking I.L.P.Q. member Patty Griffin. It was Patty, in fact, who told me that on my next mission, I would be trusted on my own to walk to the Three Crow Bar for a short interview to promote 'Peace Queer,' the album. She said this interview would be for "Peace Queer," the bio, so I set out for the Three Crow.

On my way, I spotted an old nemesis from the Nancy Kerrigan camp who dated back to my Oregon years. This all would have been fine had he not spotted me, too, but he did, and his attitude toward me was egregious. I thought it smart to run, which I did. But by the time I ditched the guy, I thought I might be late for my interview. Luckily, I wasn’t.

At the Three Crow, I was poured a glass of wine and introduced to a kindly old gentleman named Cokie Roberts. I found his questioning style a bit aggressive, but in the end, felt I charmed the pants off him. We said our goodbyes, and I was headed back to Camp Peace Queer when it occurred to me that I didn’t have to head back if I didn’t want to. It was my chance to escape the Peace Queers, and I took it.

Golly, you hear a lot of strange and unnatural things about people these days, and with that very thought in mind, I'm personally just happy to have my old life back.

And I must say that while I will never forget that glorious creative summer with Patty and Kevn and the other Peace Queers, I will never, for the life of me, understand the beatings.