In this issue:
Signature Sounds News - July 1998
Michael McNevin House Concert
Lucinda Williams on Letterman!
FS - Falcon Ridge Tickets
Patti Griffin's new release (Flaming Red)
Seattle House Concert July 11th
FESTIVAL: ACOUSTIC SUMMIT III
Red House Records/"Cowboy Ceilidh"
Re: Patti Griffin's new release (Flaming Red)
Folk musicians postage stamps
Riverside House Concert Review - Tom Hampton
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:30:58 -0400 (EDT)
From: Jim Olsen <jolsen@javanet.com>
Subject: Signature Sounds News - July 1998
Signature Sounds News July 1998
Salamander Crossing Signs On With Under The Hat Productions
Salamander Crossing has signed an exclusive world-wide booking agency
contract with Under The Hat Productions of Austin, Texas. This
prestigious agency is home to an impressive roster of American roots
music acts including Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Front Range, Balfa
Toujours, Katy Moffatt and others. With this new agreement, Salamander
Crossing looks forward to performing in new regions both domestically
and internationally.
Tom Rozumís Jubilee Now Set For August Release
The release date for Tom Rozumís debut album, Jubliee has been pushed
back to August 18th. Produced by Tom and musical partner Laurie Lewis,
Jubliee features an all star cast of musicians including Darol Anger,
Mike Marshall, Herb Pedersen, David Grier, Rob Ickes, Todd Philips and
others. A deft mixture of bluegrass, old time and western swing, the
album is a collection of little-known gems of country music interwoven
with great contemporary songs by David Olney and Mark Simos, among
others.
Promotion plans for Jubilee include a 700 station Americana, NPR and
bluegrass radio mailing with promotion by Jon Grimson and Counterpoint
Music Group. Michaela OíBrien of Youg/Hunter publicity is heading the
national publicity campaign. Print advertising for the album will run in
Bluegrass Unlimited, Bluegrass Now, No Depression, Dirty Linen, Sing Out
and Acoustic Musician.
Louise Taylor Returns to Ireland For Summer Tour
Signature Artist Louise Taylor returns to Ireland for her second tour
this year beginning July 20th. Taylor toured Ireland for the first
time this past February, and her trip garnered rave reviews and an
invitation to return this summer. She Will be performing at the
prestigious Galway Festival with Kelly Joe Phelps July 22nd, then
touring the country for two weeks including several dates with Chris
Smither. Louise is also playing several important US festivals this
summer including Ben & Jerryís One Heart Festival, Kerrville Folk
Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival.
Salamander Crossing Featured on World CafÈ
NPRís syndicated World CafÈ program will feature a 30 minute live in the
studio segment with Salamander Crossing on Thursday, July 23rd.
This is the second time the Salamanders have appeared on the program.
July 23rd also marks the beginning of a two month listening station
feature in all Borders stores for their album Bottleneck Dreams. The
album will be sale priced throughout the period.
In The Signature StudioÖ..
As always, thereís lots going on in the Signature Studios this month.
Pete Nelson continues to work on the follow up to his 1996 album , The
Restless Boyís Club. Once again Pete has invited a number of special
guests to perform. Joining Pete in the studio this month are Dar
Williams, Patty Larkin, Ellis Paul Cliff Eberhardt, Peter Mulvey and
Susan Werner. Also in to record demos this month are Erica Wheeler and
Brooks Williams.
Jim Olsen
Signature Sounds Recordings
PO Box 106 Whately, MA 01093
Phone 413 665 4036 Fax: 413 665 9036
http://www.signature-sounds.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:30:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: R42N81@aol.com
Subject: Michael McNevin House Concert
A little bit of background here might be appropriate. This was my first
experience of Mr. McNevin in concert, I had only heard about 4 of his songs
before on our local community radio and was extremely impressed, so when a
last minute house concert was announced in my area, I knew where I was going
to be Sunday night.
Technically it wasn't a house concert in that it was held in a Unitarian
Church, but the Hostess was also the church's preacher (I'm not sure if
that's the technically correct term as I'm not familiar with the Unitarian
denomination).
Acoustically it was a warm room, and the sound system was adequate, although I
think in the future they may get a better sound out of it.
Michael was very personable and relaxed for what was a last-minute gig in a
space that could have held 3 times the crowd of around 30 that showed up on
short notice. He brought with him a sampling of another of his major
talents, photos of his Etch-A-Sketch Art. He's very accomplished at drawing
with the Ohio Art Toy, and they have even made him an offer for his services
to be used in their commercials. Look for that soon, his work is amazing.
Needless to say he has recorded a soon to be released song explaining his
artistic philosophy "Life is like an etch-a-sketch, It's better than a TV
set".
Getting back to the concert, he has a high, clear, sweet voice reminiscent of
Ellis Paul, Dan Fogelberg and others. I'm not an expert, but his
fingerpicking impressed me. He was fast, and melodious. Most importantly his
songwriting is wonderful. It's packed with concrete imagery that taps into
the common denominators in so many of us. He writes about childhood, small-
town life and relationships, little league baseball (has anyone ever heard a
bad baseball song?). But it's the insights that he brings to the songs that
make his work special.
Second Hand Story is about a letter he found in a back-pack that he was
looking at in a second hand thrift store, and in the last chorus says
It's a second hand story,
Of a second hand life,
And I won't know the ending,
Like I'll never know mine.
His 2 sets contained about 14 songs ranging in subject matter from outrunning
a train on a railroad trestle, to reminiscence of the neighborhood curmudgeon
from a 4 year old.
If he comes to your area, treat yourself and go see him. If he performs half
as well as the night I saw him you'll go home with a smile and his CD.
Rich Brown
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:30:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Henry L. Lefkowitz" <henryl@moon.jic.com>
Subject: Lucinda Williams on Letterman!
This may not get out to the list in time (sorry for not sending it
earlier), but just in case, Lucinda Williams and her band are going to be
on "Late Night With David Letterman" tonight (6/30) on CBS! Lucinda is
also scheduled (according to the web site of one of her band members, Bo
Ramsey) to be on Conan O'Brien's show on July 10th, as well!
- --
Henry Lefkowitz
henryl@moon.jic.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:31:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: Betsy Dake <bdake@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>
Subject: FS - Falcon Ridge Tickets
Ooops - I bought too many tickets for Falcon Ridge! I have two (2) extras
- - 3-day with camping and will sell them for the $60 each I paid for them
(the early bird price). Festival is in Hillsdale, NY (south of Albany) on
July 24-26th. Private replies, please.
Betsy Dake
Johns Hopkins University
bdake@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu OR NewFolkie@aol.com
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:30:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: David Elbert <elbert@jhu.edu>
Subject: Patti Griffin's new release (Flaming Red)
Hi Folks,
Just in case anyone failed to notice... Patti Griffin's new release, titled
Flaming Red, hit the stores last week. I hope that most of you are already
familiar with her terrific first release (Living With Ghosts); it is one of
those albums that I simply cannot live without... it combines the whole
package: great writing, singing and production... but I digress!
Flaming Red is quite different from Living With Ghosts. As we where all
told it would be, Flaming Red is much less a folk album and more of a
rocker-although only the first track (title track) is really raucous to my
ears and most cuts are like little homages to various types or examples of
rock/pop (listen to track 8 and say..."Purple Haze!"). While I am someone
who really, really decries "over production", and this album may take a few
listens for die-hard Living With Ghosts fans... in the end, it is another
fantastic album. Oh, I could quibble (but that wouldn't really be useful
or polite!) with a few things, but... in the end, the bottom line is these
songs are absolutely so good and Patti Griffin's voice and unusual phrasing
are so fantastic, that everything else dissappears and the listener is
simply moved. Several cuts sound radio friendly and Patti Griffin will be
at Lilith Fair, so maybe we'll get to see another great crossover act at
the Grammys...but even if that is somehow a "bad" thing to you (yes... I
get that way sometimes :), this album is really great and Patti Griffin is
a realy treasure. Check it out.
Ciao-
David Elbert
elbert@jhu.edu
ps. My favorite Patti Griffin performance remains her backing vocals on
Ellis Paul's cut "Last Call". When she harmonizes "lay my head in the arms
of the sofa", I just melt. I have to pop that great CD in just to hear
that line sometimes!
pps. Lucinda Williams long awaited Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is also in
stores. What a great week!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:30:54 -0400 (EDT)
From: Christopher Bingham <naked@serv.net>
Subject: Seattle House Concert July 11th
Hi folks! You are cordially invited to a house concert Saturday, July
11th, 8pm, at our house (Chris Bingham and Sue Tinney) at 11515 - 26th Ave
NE #202, Seattle. Doors open at 7:30.
Jef Jaisun and Gaia Consort will split the bill for an evening of
acoustic
blues and urban world folk.
Suggested donation is $6 to $15.00 - more if you can less if you can't.
Feel free to bring food for an after concert / intermission potluck and
folding chairs or pillows if you want to be sure to get a seat. It's a
non-smoking, low alcohol event.
Call (206)368-7534 or go to http://www.serv.net/~naked/direct for
directions.
My partner Sue Tinney and I are now performing as Gaia Consort
(Guy-uh)
We make music that celebrates the earth and life on it. Some of you will
remember my stuff from my first two CDs, The Burning, and Angel and the
Hanged Man. Gaia Consort will perform music from our upcoming CD, Gaia
Circles. The new stuff is upbeat, singable and blatantly Pagan. But don't
let that scare ya - normal folks seem to like it too....
Jef Jaisun's musical career probably got off on the wrong foot. Or
at least
the left one. His 1966 satire "Friendly Neighborhood Narco Agent" topped
the Dr. Demento Show in 1975, and still gets air play today. Meanwhile,
Jaisun's been busy writing a thousand other tunes, recording three albums
and developing his love of the blues. Jef toured Europe extensively in the
Eighties, playing prestigious folk festivals from Switzerland to Denmark to
Cambridge, England. Though he pretends to be "semi-retired," he frequently
finds a way to crash his friends' gigs. There's no telling what he'll pull
out of his musical bag at any given moment, but it's bound to be
entertaining. On June 16th Jef celebrated 35 years of guitar-playing. This
is the party.
Let us know if you're a fellow F_Mer!
Christopher Bingham
Suddenly Naked Arts Collective
naked@serv.net
http://www.serv.net/~naked
"You're just jealous cause the voices talk to me!"
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 14:31:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: RoarStream@aol.com
Subject: FESTIVAL: ACOUSTIC SUMMIT III
The weather in the Northeast has finally cleared... so ACOUSTIC SUMMIT III at
Opus 40 (Woodstock, NY) is on for Sunday July 5. The final lineup is PATTY
LARKIN... ARTIE TRAUM (with Josh Colow)... TOM PAXTON... and LESLIE RITTER AND
SCOTT PETITO. The setting is astounding... acres of stone gardens, sculptures
and lawns... the music is sublime... the day will be spectacular. Looking
forward to seeing you there! For information, call Opus 40 @ 914 246 3400.
Patty Larkin and Artie Traum will both be interviewed on co-sponsor WKZE 89.1
out of Sharon CT this Thursday between 12.30 and 1.30 PM.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 17:37:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: RHRPUB@aol.com
Subject: Red House Records/"Cowboy Ceilidh"
Red House has just one June release, but if you're familiar with David Wilkie,
you'll know it's a great one.
Coming Soon:
July 21: Stephen Fearing, "Industrial Lullaby"
August 18: Chuck Brodsky, "Radio"
Various Artists, "Treasures Left Behind: Remembering Kate Wolf."
David Wilkie & Cowboy Celtic
"Cowboy Ceilidh"
RHR 117 * available on CD and Cassette
What could be more natural than blending traditional Celtic melodies and
instrumentation with good old Cowboy music from the American west?
It sounds like an unlikely mix, but as David Wilkie proved with "Cowboy
Celtic" and now with its follow-up "Cowboy Ceilidh," it results in
intoxicating and very imaginative music. On the album, Wilkie, who has been
called Canada's premier mandolin virtuoso by western and folk music critics,
explores the melodic link that developed between the Old and the New World.
The cowboys of the nineteenth century were often immigrants from Scotland and
Ireland, and on the western plains Gaelic melodies drifted through the evening
air at many cowboy campfires and during lonely shifts at night guard. These
melodies came to be known as cowboy music, but their foundation was in
traditional Irish, English, and Scottish folk music. The songs were brought
over from the old country and often refitted with lyrics to suit the singer's
new occupation. When you're in the middle of nowhere, nothing lifts your
spirits more than a familiar tune from home.
A Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) is a gathering with song, drink, dancing, and
good times, and "Cowboy Ceilidh" has the spirit of such an event. It also has
the melancholy air associated with Celtic music, which gives the album a rich,
bittersweet tone. The CD was recorded on both sides of the Atlantic, in
Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and the United States, drawing on exceptional
musicians in each location. The songs range from foot stompin' to mesmerizing
with a mix of traditional cowboy and Celtic tunes ("The Cowboyís Lament," "The
Water is Wide," and "Buffalo Skinners,"), and a few surprises (such as a
Celtic-style version of the familiar theme from "High Noon"). Also featured is
the haunting "Farewell to Coigach (Mo Shoraidh Leis A íCoigach)"--possibly the
only surviving North American cowboy song in Gaelic. Finally, "Cowboy Ceilidh"
includes more of Wilkie's own compositions and more vocals than the previous
outing, including a guest appearance by America's foremost cowboy singer,
Michael Martin Murphey.
"Cowboy Ceilidh" melts the rolling hills of Ireland into the dusty trails of
Texas; the rugged Scottish Highlands into the majestic Alberta Rockies; and
the gentle English chalk streams into the roaring rivers of Montana. With this
elegant and beautiful recording David Wilkie once again drives a herd of
western classics back to the Celtic home range.
"An intoxicating meld of Old and New world sounds, enough to make you shake
the trail dust from your jeans and wash it down with a jug of Irish Whiskey."
- --Vancouver Sun
"Hauntingly beautiful, it is easy to get lost in these rich and wonderful
combinations of sounds."
- --Cowboy Magazine
"If anything, the melancholy beauty and earthy, romantic moods are even more
striking [on 'Cowboy Ceilidh']."
- --Calgary Herald
"Sometimes rollicking and footstomping, elsewhere displaying majestic, solemn
beauty, this is rich melodic music to treasure."
- --Folk Roots
"This is what the Chieftains might sound like playing around a great plains
campfire."
- --Brum Beat
"A perfect marriage between the dry, dusty North American heartland and the
rain-soaked, misty Scottish Highlands."
- --Sing Out!
Contact: Megan Rubiner Zinn or Emilie Liepa
Red House Records
P.O. Box 4044
St. Paul, MN 55104
800-695-4687 or 612-644-4161
612-644-4248 (fax)
rhrpub@aol.com (Zinn)
RHRRadio@aol.com (Liepa)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 20:33:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Dennis McManus <mcmanusd@ne-optometry.edu>
Subject: Re: Patti Griffin's new release (Flaming Red)
I've seen Patty and Ellis in concert together several times and they really
do sound wonderful together. I hope someday they'll do a whole album together.
>David Elbert
>elbert@jhu.edu
>
>ps. My favorite Patti Griffin performance remains her backing vocals on
>Ellis Paul's cut "Last Call". When she harmonizes "lay my head in the arms
>of the sofa", I just melt. I have to pop that great CD in just to hear
>that line sometimes!
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 20:33:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: Laurel Rezeau <laurelr@apple.com>
Subject: Folk musicians postage stamps
The USPS recently issued a set of four stamps depicting folk
musicians (all 4 types on one sheet, 20 stamps total per sheet).
Those included are Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Sonny Terry, and
Josh White. Pretty cool to be able to put a folk musician on
our snail mail!
Laurel Rezeau
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 1998 20:33:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Jerry Baum - The 3 of Us" <triplejpub@csonline.net>
Subject: Riverside House Concert Review - Tom Hampton
The warm June air was thick with the threat of rain as singer / songwriter,
Tom Hampton, and his manager, Matthew Asbell, arrived at the Barnard House
Bed & Breakfast for the first of our Riverside House Concert Series shows.
Even though the sky was screaming rain, the forecast was gently saying no.
Only one hour to showtime and a decision had to be made. With one look at
the scenic Allegheny River serving as a backdrop and the wooded
amphitheater in which the concert was to be held we decided to indeed have
the concert outside and enjoy God's nature in concert with the excellent
music that was about to be presented.
As Tom finished setting up his equipment for that afternoon's performance,
he spotted two small toddlers who had filtered in with their parents to
enjoy the concert. Tom seemed to light up as his charm and gentle, cordial
nature was brought to the forefront with the arrival of these youngsters.
5 minutes to showtime and Tom was found playing with the 2-year-olds by the
river that would serve as his panoramic setting for the afternoon.
As Tom opened the set, we knew that we were in for a perfect afternoon.
The fingerstyle accompaniment on his well-traveled Martin guitar was a
matchless complement to his smooth, emotion laden voice. His songs and
stories seemed to take life as he wove tales of loves found and lost. The
audience laughed as he shared stories of his life as an aspiring artist and
sat spellbound as he shared songs from his CD, "Our Mutual Angels".
Tom captured the audience in his first set and endeared himself to them
during the intermission. During the break he took the time to sit among
the 25 audience members and talk to each one, answering their questions and
graciously accepting their comments. He was explaining an alternate
'Stephen Stills' tuning to one of the audience members and within seconds
an impromptu jam of "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" broke out with Tom and several
musician members of the audience, bringing the crowd to its feet.
Following a captivating second set we sat down to dinner and then formed a
musician's circle where we shared the music of our past and the music of
our souls until the evening's waning light bid us goodnight.
As Tom and Matthew pulled away from the Bed & Breakfast to continue their
late-night trek back to Philadelphia I smiled inwardly as I knew that I had
not only experienced a memorable musical experience, but also a rare life
experience.
Jerry Baum
Riverside House Concert Series: http://listen.to/folkmusic
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End of FOLK_MUSIC digest V1 #2438
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