Chaka Khan meets Dr Teeth & the Electric Mayhem in a tune that boldly makes a few suggestions on how to show up in the world.
Every now and again someone will approach me in person and request to be a part of the Songography project directly. After my good friend Skip Heller viewed a livestream of “Gospel,” he commented immediately Continue reading “#38 “The Gospel According to Me” with Skip Heller and the Carnival of Soul”
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A Word on the Engineer/Co-Producer:
Doug Messenger‘s audioGrand is a blast from the past – his studio is fully analog, which was a great pleasure for me, being amongst sights and sounds and even smells I remembered from my childhood when my dad ran a recording studio in the 80’s (if you listen carefully to the beginning of the track, you can hear the tape starting and Doug’s voice saying “Rolling!”). Doug himself has worked with innumerable A-listers, including-but-not-limited-to Jimmy Eat World, Beck, and Milla Jovovich (who knew??), as well as played tunes with Van Morrison back in the Boston days… The man has been everywhere and done everything, and now tends his studio contentedly, happy to take on the shoestring, crack-knuckled projects of maelstrom waifs out for blood and water in the Los Angeles desert. He’s careful and meticulous, was incredibly encouraging to me and my crew, and went out of his way to make certain I was happy with my product and had everything I needed. Thank you, Doug!
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More than one of my friends have invested time, money, and pain in a tattoo that says “Be Here Now,” and through the pressures of life I figured I’d submit my version. I leave it to the listener to decide how to quell their own dissatisfactions.
A Word on the Engineer/Co-Producer/Accompanist/Studio:
It would seem there are very few people with whom Ted Wulfers has not worked in some capacity or another. Rife with creative ideas, add-ons, and ability – patient with foible, experimentation, and rejection – happy to speak honestly, encouragingly, and hospitably – these are all accurate summations of Mr Wulfers the engineer and producer. There was nothing he boasted as an accompanist that he could not execute. His upstairs studio is a sight to behold: littered with instruments, cases, cables, jerry-rigged objects about whose application you’d be forced to ask, amps of all ages, analog and digital mixing applications, and about a trillion stories on a hair trigger, 663 Studios reeks of good use and good coffee. Well worth it. Thanks a mil, Ted! Good times leading to more good times!
And thanks to Jagger, the Good Vibes Cat, as well.
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So back in January there was a special sort of single – the kind that is terrifying to undertake because it is so bare. The kind that leads me to the soft dry hills of Sunland, where I spent a good chunk of my childhood. The kind that even though you can’t afford the cello and the viola this month, you’re not so disappointed because the alternative turned out to be just as interesting in all its quiet simplicity.
The story of Michael and Sarah is not a new one, and not a true one, but I have to hand it to Dave Morrison and Greg Krueger for bringing it to light in such an honest, laceratingly raw fashion. Thank you, gentlemen.
A Word on the Studio and the Engineer:
I made up the name Krueger Studios since Mr Krueger has never settled on a title for his amalgamation of high-end gear, exceptional resume, and sensitive ear. His sense of humor coupled with his in-studio efficiency made for a truly enjoyable experience. For more information write me. He’s worth a bit o’ diggin’.
A Word on the Accompanist:
Dave Morrison is not accustomed to singing without a guitar. The man has a shining, well-deserved reputation around the Los Angeles scene as one of the finest American songwriters around, and I have had the pleasure of sharing a stage with him, accompanying him, and seeing his genius for myself. He presents a concert series in Pasadena called “Quarter Moon Revue” at an ancient Unitarian church by the name of Throop, makes the audience dinner with his two hands, and never puts on a bad act. Dave is in the process of forming the 2.0 version of the Dave Morrison Band, and for goodness’ sakes, keep your ears peeled.
Help Crowd-Source Music as a Second Language!
I have just launched my first GoFundMe campaign. [insert intense music]
What it’s somewhat about is learning music. I’ve tried teaching music before, and while it’s functional, I just don’t feel it’s as effective as learning music. Like the way children learn their native tongue – nobody gives them lessons, they just listen and watch and absorb. Me I never took a guitar lesson in my life – I was just lucky enough to always be around friends and family members who played, and I would harangue them to “show me that!” As annoying as I probably was, I definitely now feel comfortable and friendly with my instrument, an adequate player at least (jazzed by the notion that I will always have more to learn)!
What it isn’t really about is words: If you know me, you know the love affair I have with words – you know how I agonize over spelling, grammar and punctuation; the bad poems I’ve written and the good ones; the lavish letters I’ve exchanged with some of you over the years…you know how I love spinning an esoteric, parabolic yarn, and how non-contrived alliteration is always appreciated (dang it…). You’ve seen me melt into a puddle after using words badly. Maybe you’ve gotten gifts from me that were nothing but words, but they were words I pulled together specifically for you, and hopefully that meant something more than a giftcard could supply. I love words. But they’re such a little tool.
What this GoFundMe campaign is definitely about is Communication. I went and got two degrees in the theatrical arts and I thought what fun to be an actor or designer or stuntman or a director or something…and I’ve done that and I still do and it is fun…but what’s really cool is the community the communion the communing the common the camaraderie. In the skeleton of this is the notion that there’s a lot to be shared between humans without having to hire a translator. According to the International Diplomacy Guidebook, “the best way to forge a lasting friendship is to create something together.” You don’t really need words to communicate the fact that you’d like to jam.
Which is the core of the workshop I’m developing. Listening and watching is too underrated in our culture (unless it’s coming from an electronic device). It’s a good thing, then, that everyone wants to be a musician, because Music IS communicating – watching each other, listening to the harmony, embodying the groove – collectively endeavoring to make everyone else sound as good as possible. It’s learning a language, it’s creating an experience together, without a script. And like a friend of mine said, it’s hard to practice a language if you’ve no one to talk to!
You are more than welcome to contribute to my crowd-sourcing campaign to get me to Laos to continue developing this stuff! …But if by the end of this paragraph all you really want to do is travel, or call a friend, or make up a song or practice your instrument…that’s good enough for me and I’d love to hear about it.
Many cool things happening, including-but-not-limited-to Amanda Carr sending me some great questions to answer about being a woman entertainer in Boston! Enjoy!
http://bwme.org/the-entertainers-corner/
While Olivia Brownlee is learning painful lessons about the nomenclature of websites, domains and their names (and how much they cost) OliviaBrownlee.com will temporarily be found under OliviaBrownlee.wordpress.com. (PS: The artwork is by James Suhr. He’s in LA and i don’t know him but i totally usurped the illustration, because he’s good and it shows what it means.)
In other news, i will soon be writing a regular blog about Doing Music for Therese Barron’s entrepreneurial online magazine entitled, Thriving and Striving Magazine. Come back for news on that!
…In Washington, with a few exciting events planned…
Opportunity Presbyterian Church Centennial Event!!
Sunday, June 10, 1p
It’s a great privilege for me to play at what I still consider my home church (even though I’m 3000 miles away most of the time). They host live music the second Sunday of each month, and I’m Miss June! It will be a coffeehouse-style performance, just girl and guitar, making as much thought-provoking noise as possible.
The Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center!!
Friday, June 22, 7p
This is good because not only will there be Great Original Americana Music (courtesy of this girl and her awesome band!), there will also be Great Americana Consumables: It’s a $15 ticket, but only $5 more if you want the “picnic package,” which includes 2 hot dogs, a beer and a bag of chips. Not to mention “Olivia Brownlee and the Gin ‘n’ Tonics” with a lot of brand new music = Exciting times!! Dancing and singing along strongly encouraged. Call 208.457.8950 for tickets.
Saturday, June 23, 6.30-9.30p
If you’re not already a wine enthusiast, Josh Wade will guide you – AND he just purchased the 1000 sq ft next door to ensure that there won’t be any more raves while his earnest singer-songwriters try to make sensitive music to the winos! He’s such a nice man… (PS: The place is also available to rent for events, at quite reasonable rates!)
Can’t hardly wait!!
Some of you have gotten the memo already, but on May 5 between 4 and 7pm, I am going to be a chick singer. On May 5, Johnny D’s house band is going to learn 21 songs by 7 different chicks, and I will be among them boasting 3 originals. It will be my honour to play on such a renowned stage with such fine professionals on a Saturday evening. Here is the facebook thingy:
http://www.facebook.com/events/166685420119023/
Here is the pertinent info if you don’t have fb or are just cozy and want to stay here:
PLACE: Johnny D’s in Somerville (across the street from the Davis MBTA stop on the Red Line) http://www.johnnyds.com/directions/
DAY/DATE: Saturday, May 5, 2012
TIME: 4pm-7pm
LINEUP:
Mary Jennings; Olivia Oppedisano; Kristin Bythewood; Haley Chiocciarello; Valerie Giglio; ME!!; Marcia Macres; INTERMISSION; Anne Stott; Jennifer Truesdale (hostess with the mostest)
COST: $10 ~ All proceeds go to benefit the Music-In-Schools program
OTHER INTERESTING NOTES:
1) Cinco de Mayo AND Kentucky Derby. There will be food, drink, raffles and – yes – a “Best Derby Hat” contest.
2) This CSN Boston showcase is hosted by Jennifer Truesdale, Kristin Bythewood and the CSN Boston House Band (who are awesome, professional, and organized).
3) This is the 8th Anniversary of CSN Boston! In honour of this there will be VIP tickets available as well as the regular general admission tickets. VIP tickets are $40 and include a buffet dinner and preferred seating. If you are interested in purchasing this special offer, please call Jennifer Truesdale at 617.563.4553.
4) CSN is looking for sponsors! If you or your business might be interested in sponsoring the show, please call Jennifer Truesdale and she will send you the Sponsorship Pack.
Songography 