mick hargreaves blog thing

Consider This: Add Your Segment to "Major Glitch"

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:32:00 +0000

Mick Hargreaves "Major Glitch" Short Film | Mick Hargreaves on Vimeo

Sometimes you can fix something by adding a song-segment...

Chris Butler's playful, joyous, and just plain FUN "Major Glitch" is an ever-lengthening crowd-sourced song. Begun in 2008, the "Major Glitch" expands on Butler's original 69-minute "Devil Glitch", which was released in 1996 and certified "World's Longest Recorded Pop Song" by the Guinness Book for World Records in 1997.

I like to say that the "Major Glitch" is kind of like a record label that accepts ALL artists, but where each artist contributes verses to the same song. You record and mix your segment, then send it in to Scott Anthony at the Viewing Room, where it gets mastered and then added to The Glitch, appearing at this page. After segments from Jim Turner and myself (both recorded with the Lantern Sound Recording Rig) were added this past week, the total running time of the Major Glitch is now at 3 hours, 2 minutes and 32 seconds!

SO... Please consider contributing a segment. People like Kramer, Freedy Johnson, The Cucumbers, Gary "Pig" Gold, Ralph Carney, R. Stevie Moore, and Harvey Gold (and Manny Moore, as they say) are in on this thing, so you'll be in good company. All the details on how to do it can be found at:

http://www.majorglitch.net

Tequila Jazz Bass gets Sexy: "Extra Life" DR Black Beauties

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:29:00 +0000

An update on stringing the basses. I had some round-wounds on the Fender Midnight Wine Tequila Jazz bass, which reminded me why I don't like round-wound bass strings. They eventually snap, wear out, and they sound... too bright. It's called a "bass", not a "treble".

Anyway, the update to the last bass/bass string post is this: I put a set of DR "Extra Life" Black Beauties on the Tequila Jazz Bass, and I'm liking them so far. I may actually have this bass onstage as a backup behind my Lakeland "Duck" Dunn bass at The Elvis Show 2012 (YMCA Boulton Center, Bayshore NY, SOLD OUT).

The Black Beauties are certainly brighter than conventional black tape-wounds, and not as smooth to the touch. Like I've said before, if I'm gonna have a brighter / less smooth string set on a bass, it may as well be on one with a Jazz pickup configuration. If I get to liking these, I may put a set on the Fender Jaguar Bass...

Major Glitches, Everywhere...

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:27:00 +0000

The original cover art for Chris Butler's "The Devil Glitch"
Full details at http://www.majorglitch.net

Being alive to finish things feels good, especially in light of the life-sized Major Glitch that my summer/fall of 2011 wound up being. But that was then. Fast forwarding to NOW, two musical "Major Glitches" (plus an accompanying film) are done and being mastered, and will soon see the light of day at majorglitch.net.

Begun in 2008, Chris Butler's web-based, crowd-sourced "Major Glitch" expands on his original 69-minute "Devil Glitch", which was released in 1996 then certified "World's Longest Recorded Pop Song" by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1997.

The two new segments were recorded with the Lantern Sound Recording Rig (LSRR), one featuring Jim Turner in a stompin' wood-cabin send-up (complete with Harp-Tar and Electronic Tennis Racquet instruments), while the segment from yours truly will be a rock-pop freak-out with an accompanying film. We're confident that these additions will push the total "Glitch Length" to over three hours. No release dates have been pegged yet. The moment it's known, we'll send up a flare. Soon.

Listen to any/all the existing segments, and get info on how to add your piece at majorglitch.net. There's also a 2008 interview with Chris about The Major Glitch at NJ dot com.

We now return you to our previously scheduled program, titled "Mick Gets Back to Finishing His Next Solo Record".

And, darn it, I just Lost The Game. Sorry.

Update: A New Year.

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:25:00 +0000

December 2011 was a wild musical finish. Me 'n' The King Guys (Michael D. Bifulco, Gary Dawson, Don Mangels, Jeff McLary, and sometimes even Sister Jen on backup vocals) were able to return to the Grey Horse Tavern (Bayport, NY). At a performance on Friday, 12/30/11 we, Matthew Grimm, Jeff McLary & The Heavy Duty Haulers, the GHT, and you guys stood up for all that is good.

A card sent, something said on the phone, a visit, a post in the internet, a movie sent, the book loaned, a song played, the time you came and hung out for a while, the benefit you played and/or helped organize, the joke you made onstage or in person about me getting attacked followed quickly by "sorry Mick, too soon?" (This Hangdogs on-stage gag never gets old, by the way)... you were SO there for me at the best and worst of times in 2011. Now that stink-year is over. There's a lot of thank-you cards to write (with trinkets maybe, even), and they are coming. Meantime, a continued, gigantic, THANK YOU. Onwards. MH

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2012 begins. Feeling great, doing everything I want to do. Some of the last medical red tape involved, such as that which needs to be sent to the NYS Crime Victims Bureau, almost complete. When that dust settles, much more will be known, and haggling with medical creditors will commence. Then a pony will come.

Booking a lot of solo and MH & The King Guys shows for 2012. Lantern Sound Recording Rig making some good things. There will be a Redemption Center II release as soon as possible. Finished segment/contribution to Chris Butler's Major Glitch, awaiting release, with promotional film. There's a new music vid for the song "Crystal Ball" (written by whole lotta Joe Delia, and little bit o' Mick), now also in the live set.

GET TIX: NYRMA presents The Elvis Show 2012 at the YMCA Boulton Center Theatre (Bayshore NY) on Saturday January 28, 8pm. This is a particularly meaningful event to me, as it benefits emergency food supplies courtesy of the efforts of the Rock CAN Roll organization, and it will sell out for sure. Tickets Link

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Things previously viewed as vital become meaningless. Television. The "10 Items or Less" express lane. Most magazines. The surfing "scene".

Things formerly taken for granted become powerful. Stuff kids say/do. Raisin toast. The "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" chord changes. Calling to say hello. Writing stuff down. Surfing.

R.I.P. Tommy Ardolino (1955-2012)

http://mickhargreaves.com

"Crystal Ball" Music Vid

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Mick Hargreaves "Crystal Ball" from Mick Hargreaves on Vimeo.

Early in the summer of 2011, Joe Delia was pretty far along writing this song, and asked me to contribute some lyrics to get it 100% done. The morning of Saturday, July 30th, we completed a piano and vocal demo of the song at his place in Montauk NY, USA. That very night, after the debut show of Mick Hargreaves & The King Guys at the Grey Horse, I was brutally attacked outside the club, which put me in hospital for five days and out of commission for almost two months. This performance is just me with guitar, recorded live at the secret hideout on December 16 2011, with the Lantern Sound Mobile Rig. Thanks to Chris Mehos for video gear loaner.

It's good to be back.

Mick Hargreaves - December 17, 2011

Crystal Ball (Delia, Hargreaves) © 2011 All Rights Reserved
(Slymoon Publishing BMI / Crazy World Ain't It Music BMI)

joedeliamusic.com • mickhargreaves.com

"Redemption Center II" Track Details

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Redemption Center II is comin'...

No Release Date Yet
While organizing my musical archives in early 2011, I found some recordings never finished, others never released, and other deep, unheard rarities; enough songs to justify release of "Redemption Center II". Straight-forward pure-pop rocker songs dominate, blending in some mild psychedelia, crunch-rock, and even an anti-ballad. Initial release will be digital-only, with limited promo editions for radio, press, etc.

Guests
In the past couple weeks, rippers like Anthony Liberatore (M.U.R.M.U.R., Complete Unknowns), King Guy Mike Bifulco, and Pete Mancini (Butcher's Blind) have graced the Lantern Sound Mobile Rig with their kickin' guitar parts recorded for the release, with a couple more due in. Then mixing will commence.

Track Details
Six tracks were mined from the analog reel-to-reel tape archives, completed digitally late 2011 with the Lantern Sound mobile recording rig: Compromise, Hometown, I Don't Know Why, Anna All Along, Real Fine Beauty, Hey Hey. Three MH-penned Tonebenders (NYC) demo/rehearsal takes survived a flood and a band breakup: Let Me Be, Days of Lost Love, Found a Girl. Three additional bonus tracks will be included when "Redemption Center II" is purchased digitally, in it's entirety.

http://www.mickhargreaves.com

MH Shows @ Turning Point 12/17, Grey Horse Tavern 12/30 Close Out 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:10:00 +0000

Finishing out the "Worst and Best Year Ever" with two nice MH shows:

Sat Dec 17th - 9pm - $20
Joe Delia and Thieves CD Release

Mick Hargreaves - Solo Acoustic
Turning Point Cafe (Piermont NY)
http://turningpointcafe.com/

A Thieves CD release party can't be anything but great, especially at this venue. As an honorary member of the Thieves "extended family" I'll be in good company, made doubly exciting by their new disc, which features the band's usual cast of characters plus guest appearances by folks like Max Weinberg, Tony Garnier, and Nancy Atlas. I'll do an acoustic set of old and new material to open the night, with unexpected things surely to follow.

photo: Falsalama.com

Facebook Invite Page
Friday December 30, 2011 - 9pm
"Getting Back on The Horse"
Mick Hargreaves and The King Guys
Jeff McLary and The Heavy Duty Haulers
Matthew Grimm (The Hangdogs)
Grey Horse Tavern - Bayport NY
http://www.greyhorsetavern.com

Peace, Love, Grey Horse: Leave New Year's Eve to the amateurs… Join The King Guys and I on "Professionals Night", Friday 12/30/11, as we finally rattle back to life with a return to the incredible Grey Horse Tavern. The raucous entertainment will include a set by Jeff McLary and The Heavy Duty Haulers, musicians Mike Bifulco, Gary Dawson, Don Mangels, an opening set by Matthew Grimm (The Hangdogs), and who knows what surprise appearances. It's 12/30, so you won't feel obligated to kiss a drunk, strange person next to you at midnight, although you'll still be allowed, and perhaps even encouraged to do exactly that.

MORE SHOWS

FRI 12/09 Joe Delia and Thieves CD Release

Stephen Talkhouse (Amagansett, NY);

SAT 12/10 Caroline Doctorow and The Steamrollers

Buckley's (Valley Stream NY);

SAT 12/17 3pm Matinee Show / THU 12/22 10pm Evening Show:

THE HANGDOGS
Religiously boozed-up holiday hayride (FREE), Rodeo Bar NYC;

SUN 12/18 - Annual Hoboken Holiday Party

Maxwell's (Hoboken NJ)
Benefitting the city's public film series will feature the usual (and unusual) cast of characters, many of which I will truly need to catch up with. Among many others, Matthew Grimm to perform.

Full details on all shows here.

http://www.mickhargreaves.com

"Major Glitch" Segment, Film Completed

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:38:00 +0000

Still image from the promo film. Camera: Hayley Gordon

My contribution-segment to Chris Butler's "Major Glitch" is finished and mastered, and there's also a "promo film" completed to go along with the music. Addition/release dates for both will most likely be announced with very little advance notice - it'll just happen... Wait for it. My over-arching goal: Get others to contribute segments, too, and push the lyrical mantra of "Sometimes you can fix something by.... " further into the collective Lexicon ("Collexicon"?).

Chris (The Waitresses, Tin Huey, Legendary Wild Ensemble, Purple Knif) first released the "Devil's Glitch" in 1996, a nearly 70-minute song that was subsequently certified "Longest Recorded Pop Song" by the Guinness Book Of World Records. Since then, the larger "Major Glitch" has grown to nearly three hours in length, and has received many segment contributions from the likes of Freedy Johnson, Kramer, The Cucumbers, Ralph Carney, Gary Pig Gold and "Manny Moore".

Performing with Chris over the years has been a joy, he's given me a valuable songwriting tip here and there, and even he schlepped out to eastern LI to perform at a benefit for me on 9/16/11, so it's only right for me to give back, via "The Glitch". I'm gently beating the bushes in my small corner of the world to continue doing so. Backwoods planetary bluesman Jim Turner has just recorded a segment using the Lantern Sound Mobile Rig, while the Butchers Blind guys have indicated a desire to do a segment in early 2012. We're just trying to fix something... by making it longer. You can help make the "Major Glitch" even longer by contributing your segment. Get info at: http://www.majorglitch.net

MANY THANKS to D C Deforest, Lisa Renaud, Carrie Ann Silvi, Chris Mehos, Tom Ryan, Sally Stryker, Scott Anthony, Hayley Gordon, and of course Chris Butler, for helping make the recording and film happen. Y'all are awesome!

The Guinness Book of World Records "Longest Recorded Pop Song"

Tip O' The Hat: The Photographers

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:45:00 +0000

Photographers do more than just document a happening. They interpret, tell a story, inspire other creative types, and sometimes just plain make us say, "Wow". I've been lucky to cross paths and stay in touch with some great ones right in our own backyard here, and I'm sure more will be added to this list, probably soon...

Robert D. Comes is the resident lensman at the Stephen Talkhouse and has taken photos of just about everyone who's performed there, but he also does a lot of great nature photography. I've known Robert for quite a while, and his images are great every time out. It's always nice to see him at the store for morning coffee. http://www.stephentalkhouse.com/photoGallery.asp


photo: Robert D. Comes

Ken Farrell is at almost every New York Roots Music Association (and Saturday Night Social Club) event, and his style is unique. I particularly like his portrait and slow shutter speed/motion blur work. http://www.facebook.com/#!/justkids25


Photo: Ken Farrell

While she was an official photographer at the 9/16/11 Stephen Talkhouse benefit, Kristina Gale does so much more than shoot live music. She says "I especially enjoy portrait work, blurring the line between fine art and portraiture, creating something deeper." Her gallery certainly bears this out: http://kristinagale.redbubble.com/


photo: Kristina Gale

I first encountered Daniel Gonzalez at a Sag Harbor "barge party", and most recently saw him in Zuccotti Park, NYC. There's been a lot of top-notch work in between, to say the least. http://gonzophotostudio.com

photo: Daniel Gonzalez

Liz Malone's images often look like they were plucked right from a 50-year-old treasure-box of slides that you found at the thrift store. (Indeed, she's actually found some great images this way, too.). She's retro without being corny, which isn't always easy to do. http://www.photographynerd.com/


photo: Liz Malone

Jim Marchese is also a regular photog at NYRMA events, but his lens has also taken him around the world, often with some of the musical greats. He always delivers lots of great images. http://jimmarchese.com/

photo: Jim Marchese

If you ever sang or performed at a NYRMA gig or an Elvis Show, chances are good that Tom Pfeifer took a photo of you. Tom's photos are amazing and he's selected some of his best shots and put them up on line where you can buy prints or merch, with proceeds actually directed towards my medical expenses. I'm happy to say that soon, this might might not be necessary. More on this ASAP. Thanks, Tom! http://www.naturalvisionsimaging.com/

photo: Tom Pfeifer

Bonus Tracks Added To All Releases

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:17:00 +0000

Back to Work - Feels Good.

Today I added bonus digital tracks to all digital releases at Mick Hargreaves Dot Com. Purchase a digital copy (name your price using Paypal, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amex) and you'll automatically get extra hidden tracks. CD / 7-Inch releases purchased at the website are mailed to you, and they always include a full digital version download (including bonus tracks).

Details? Mostly Secret.

Culled from unreleased stuff, studio sessions, instrumental versions, rarities, rehearsal takes, there's even a holiday song. Bonus tracks can only be had when you purchase releases at Mick Hargreaves Dot Com, where most songs can be listened to before purchasing. When the full-length Redemption Center II comes out later this year, it will have bonus tracks, too.

"Bridget" b/w "Can't Keep Track of You Blues"

3 bonus tracks, total of 5


Redemption Center I

4 bonus tracks, total of 16


"Legendary Wild Kingdom" 7-Inch

3 bonus tracks, total of 5


Redemption Center II - Late 2011

Coming Late 2011, the full-length Redemption Center II will have bonus tracks, too.

Thank You.

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:02:00 +0000

[Edited October 14 - Addition of the band El Camino Real (Ronnie Desiderio, Brian Luckey, Brian Moritz, Dan Trunk, MH) to the thank-you list of performers at the Stephen Talkhouse 9/16 benefit. The band was a very late addition to the show, and didn't make either the poster or the Facebook invite, which is what was being used for proofreading checks. Many apologies, guys!]

Never before have I used the phrase "Thank You", and had it mean so much.

They say that when a life-challenging event occurs, "you find out who your friends are". This summer, I found out who my friends' FRIENDS are... and made a good number of new ones in the process. My family also discovered a musical second cousin we didn't know we had... Paul Schmitz, which could take up a whole 'nother blog post, and maybe it will.

Speaking of blog, I'm glad that edits can be made to it - I'm convinced I'm going to leave somebody out in this post. If you are aware of any glaring omissions, let me know. I'll cover a lot of often-forgotten people right away, by thanking the men and women in the ranks of the Suffolk County Police Department, Patchogue Ambulance Crew, and the Brookhaven Memorial Hospital... who saved me, in the middle of the night. There's at least one more thank-you that will wait to go out... until after the criminal case is finished.

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

It's hard to measure the awesome power and immediate effect of waking up in the emergency room surrounded by an ever-growing crowd of loved ones. This helped me in an immense way, and folks, your showing at the hospital grew so intense that police decided to institute control measures in the lobby to prevent the situation from turning into an even bigger circus. We actually needed crowd control.

It wasn't long before the phone / internet chain got out the word truly far and wide, and soon after, while I was still in a hospital bed, cards and letters started coming in, people visited with things I'd need in hospital, and folks were conjuring up benefit events to help pay anticipated medical bills. My friends really made things happen, and much of it they made it happen with music, and the music community. My family of course, were superstars, handling everything that came their way, at all times. And that includes mom and dad hosting my month-long recuperation at their house. Thank you!

The many who came to my side, literally and figuratively, are lumped into one gigantic group of wonderful people in my mind. But, for the sake of organization and in the name of being complete, thank-you's detailed here will go out according to benefit event. Keep in mind that some folks pitched in on more than one benefit event.

Friday Sept 16 2011
Benefit @ Stephen Talkhouse
Amagansett, NY

Peter Honercamp and Nick Kraus of the Stephen Talkhouse offered everything, paving the way for the incredible night that was to take place there 9/16/11.

Laura Perotti took charge, enlisting Cynthia Daniels to host (Cynthia also kindly recorded the evening with her mobile rig), Randolph Hudson lll to be musical director, and Tim Bando and Tim Conners of The Meeting House Restaurant to provide food for the musicians before the show. Mike Mazzaraco handled the technical requirements of the ever-changing stream of artists on stage (playing some bass as well).

Laura arranged for Tropical Mixmaster Mike Versandi (of Big Kahuna Creative) to design event posters (he already had the T-Shirt in motion), and she not only wrote, but distributed press releases to the media, including Ken Gustino of the Montauk Pioneer, who ran a full-page advert, gratis. Laura also secured radio appearances with our wonderful friends at WPPB 88.3FM, WEHM 92.9 and 96.9FM, WPKN 89.5FM and the late WEER 88.7FM for many of the performing musicians (and yours truly), certainly helping affect a large turnout at the show, and arranged for photographers Krisitina Gale and Abby Rose to officially document the evening.

John Hanford engaged a virtual money-raiser over the internet, while Crossroads Music kingpin Michael Clark not only spread the word amongst musicians and customers, but put a gigantic smile on my face and "tear in my beer" with just a ukelele.

The dizzying array of performers included El Camino Real (Ronnie Desiderio, Brian Luckey, Brian Moritz, Dan Trunk, Me) James Benard, Chris Butler (of The Waitresses and of Tin Huey), Gene Casey and The Lone Sharks (Chris Ripley, Paul Scher, Tom Hopkins), Sarah Conway, Joe Delia and The Thieves, Caroline Doctorow and The Steamrollers (including Andrew Carillo and Gary Oleyar), Inda Eaton (joined by Mama Lee, Chris Mehos, Tom Ryan at one point), John Hanford, Randolph A. Hudson III, Tali "Icepack" Jackson, Jettykoon (Tom Muse, Abby Levin, Bill Lucey), Anthony Liberatore, Matty Liot, Michael Mazz, Alfredo Merat, Walter Noller, Dalton Portella, Jim Turner, and Michael Weiskopf.

Friday Sept 16 2011
The Hangdogs @ The Rodeo Bar, NYC

Matthew Grimm, J.C. Chmiel, Rob Gottstein, Automatic Slim, and Dave Stengel staged their own "pass the hat" benefit for the "Mick Hargreaves Cranium Repair Fund", simultaneous with the Stephen Talkhouse event that night. Thanks, guys! A planned stage-to-stage cell phone hook-up did not happen, but the hat WAS filled. Original drummer Keven Baier sent kind regards from Washington State, where he recently moved. We may be seeing him over the 2011 holidays though. Stay tuned.

Sunday Sept 18 2011
Benefit @ Greenlawn Moose Lodge
Greenlawn NY

My close friends in and around the New York Roots Music Association and Saturday Night Social Club (NYRMA) circled the wagons immediately after hearing the news, and got right to work spreading the word, putting together an afternoon/evening of music. There's so much talent in them there hills that it was certainly tough deciding on a final musical lineup. Time/length of event changes forced the original bill to be trimmed back a bit, but the end result was still spectacular, with The Butcher's Blind, Lost Hombres, The Dixie Bee-Liners, The Hangdogs, The NYRMA All-Stars and Los Blaggards crankin' it up all day and into the evening.

MC's Joe Rock (helped by Rich Wisneski) presided over the festivities. Gary Dawson coordinated the backline, and many musicians graciously allowed their equipment to be used for the day. Don Nostrand donated his time and services with the PA system, and Tom and Heidy Ryan (of course) hosted rehearsals for the NYRMA band at The Bunker. The poster was designed by Jeff McLary.

Paul Schmitz, Sue Rassekh, Rich Wisneski, Davidson Electronics, Steve Prisco, Peggy English, Claudia Jacobs, LaScala Restaurant, and Eric Crugnale brought incredible raffle prizes, while photographers Ken Farrell and Tom Pfeifer are donating their work to the cause. Maroni Cusine provided some incredible meatballs, and Heidy Ryan, Patty McLary, Lizz Prisco, Annie Mark and Eunice Dawson did what needed to be done. Phil Tully lent a big hand, and Ms. Tully brought big trays of salad.

Musical performers included Butcher’s Blind (Pete Mancini - Guitar, Vocals; Brian Reilly - Electric Bass Guitar; Paul Cianciaruso - Drums, Vocals; Joe Sanders - Guitar, Towel), The Dixie Bee-Liners (Buddy Woodward and Brandi Hart with Skip Ward, Bennett Sullivan, & the ever awesome Todd Patrick Livingston), The Hangdogs (Matthew Grimm, J.C. Chmiel, Rob Gottstein, Automatic Slim, Dave Stengel, me), The Lost Hombres (Russ Seeger, Michael Meehan, Paul Schmitz, with special guests Tom Ryan and Chris James), Los Blaggards (Steve Prisco, Tom Ryan, Rich Umbach, me), and a special ”Best Of NYRMA” set by The NYRMA All-Stars which included Annie Mark, Chris James, Russ Seeger, Claudia Jacobs, Rich Wisneski, Terry Day, Eric Crugnale, Pete Crugnale, Jeff McClary, Mike Drance, Bobby Barca, Jenna Silverman, Dave Wise, Tom Ryan, Mike Bifulco, Steve Prisco, Howie Silverman, Rich Umbach, Ben Silverman.

Friday Sept 23 2011
Lone Sharks @ Grey Horse Tavern
Bayport NY

Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks held yet another fundraisin' effort where you can "relax by the tracks", The Grey Horse Tavern in Bayport, NY. Irene and Linda run a grrrrrreat place, and I'm convinced everyone will like this establishment; GO. I would have been there for this event, but I had to leave town for a NJ wedding. Thanks, Gene, Chris, Paul, and Tony!

Cards and Letters
There's still something special about opening a letter delivered from near or far by the US Postal Service, and some of them came from far away, indeed. Thanks for sending them in, and I've got your address now, so... :)

-+-+-+-+-+-+-

While still in the ICU, I was totally unaware of the supportive efforts that were quickly evolving in the nearby outside world, that is, until my sister said, "You won't believe what's going on out there about this." The scale that the caring and concern would soon take on was unimaginable to me at the time. I am blessed.

The medical bills have come, of course, and as much coverage/assistance that can be obtained is being applied for. Funds that have been raised to date will make a HUGE dent in the bills. But the numbers get blown away by the awesome effect of family, friends, fans, and complete strangers showing up in support, whether in person, by phone, email, postings, cards, letters, or what have you.

It really has made a huge difference, folks. I'll never forget this, and I'll never forget you. Call me if you need me. Reach out. I'll be there. MH

THANK YOU.

CD Giveaway at 9/16, 9/18 Benefit Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:27:00 +0000

Hi everyone.

I'm feeling great, anxious to put this entire bizarre life-chapter behind us all, but truly excited for this weekend's benefit shows (Stephen Talkhouse Fri 9/16 7pm, Greenlawn Moose Lodge 9/18 3pm). It's a great opportunity for me to thank as many people as possible in person for the incredible support that's come my way. Through your compassion alone, you guys have made it so much easier for me to deal with everything. Can't wait to see everyone.

The earliest of arrivals at the shows this weekend will be treated to a free "bootleg promo" copy of the "Redemption Center" CD, for the first time garnished with four secret bonus tracks. I don't know how many copies are going to be duplicated and available by showtime, but it's going to be quite a limited number.

After the shows, the four bonus tracks will be available only when the entire 16-song (12 plus 4 bonus tracks) Redemption Center CD is purchased in low or hi-quality electronic form at http://www.mickhargreaves.com

If you're NYC-centric this weekend, head over to see THE HANGDOGS Reunion Show at The Rodeo Bar Friday 9/16 7-10 pm. They're calling that one the "Mick Hargreaves Cranium Repair Fund Benefit". And I approve. (They're also appearing at the Sunday Benefit). MH

Mick Hargreaves "Redemption Center" CD

Update, Mon Sept 12: Getting There.

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:55:00 +0000

I'm in the home stretch of the physical healing process. One of the hardest things that remains to do is to make sense of the really horrible thing that happened to me in the wee hours of Sunday July 31st 2011 after playing a great show. I've tried this enough to know it's impossible to do. By comparison, the approximately $50,000 in medical expenses (incurred over five days in hospital with subsequent outpatient cat-scans and doctor visits) are easy to think about; they're just inanimate numbers on billing statements, and gee, they didn't try to do me in. But there are shiny, bright pieces of good news beginning to pave the way towards getting back on the happy-horse, and returning to musical productivity:

Doctor's Report

Thursday, September 1st was a big, big day. That was when the neuro-surgeon stated there would be no more cat scans and no more visits to see him; I had accomplished an incredible amount of healing since the ambush, and I could start getting back to normal life. While being around loud music would be OK, there would be NO surfing just yet. I would still need to be resting and gaining back strength. I'll take miracles like this one.

With Gene's Case, backstage with the Lone Sharks at Wade's Beach Blast (Robin Paltis)

Test-Driving the Car

Jetty Koon, Joe Delia & The Thieves, The Lone Sharks and a nameless Bachelor Party Band all had me sit in at recent live shows in the past two weeks. It was great to let the horses out of the barn for a test-run, and I can say with confidence that vocals and bass/guitar playin' are all in order and feeling great. Another miracle.

Three Benefit Shows - Sept 16-18 2001

Musicians & Friends, led by some incredible people including Laura Perotti, Steve Prisco, Tom & Heidy Ryan, Randall Hudson III, Matthew Grimm, and Cynthia Daniels, have miraculously set up THREE different benefit shows to raise funds going towards my medical bills.

To fill in listeners on the benefit show info, there will be some radio this week. On WEHM 92.9 & 96.9FM, Inda Eaton appears Tues 9/13 7:20pm, Joe Delia and I appear Thurs 9/15 7:20pm, and Bonnie Grice will welcome Joe, Inda and myself to her morning show on WPPB 88.3FM Wed Sept 14 at 11am. More detailed info will be posted on Facebook.

"East" show, Friday Sept 16th 7-10pm
Stephen Talkhouse (Amagansett, NY)
(THANK YOU, Peter, Nick, and everyone else at our fave east end music room). A vast array of performing talent, including James Benard, Chris Butler (of The Waitresses and of Tin Huey), Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks, Sarah Conway, Joe Delia and PJ Delia (of the Thieves), Caroline Doctorow & The Steamrollers, Inda Eaton, Randolph A. Hudson III, Tali "Icepack" Jackson , Jettykoon, Telly Karoussos, Anthony Liberatore, Michael Mazzaraco, Alfredo Merat, Walter Noller, Dalton Portella, Jim Turner, and Michael Weiskopf. https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=244877942212074

"West" Show, Sun Sept 18th 3-8pm
Moose Lodge 318 (Greenlawn, NY)
It's band night! The Hangdogs, Last Hombres, Butcher's Blind, Buddy Woodward and Brandy Hart (Dixie Bee-Liners), and the NYRMA All-Stars join forces for a rock-and-roll Sunday to be remembered. Please Note: It's been recently discovered that the Last Hombres' Paul Schmitz is Mick's second cousin. Various extended family members previously unfamiliar with each other will be on display for no extra charge. https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=233280386709939


Funny Poster of The Week

The Hangdogs, Friday Sept 16th 7-10pm
Rodeo Bar NYC
Yep, The Hangdogs have graciously taken it upon themselves to raise some extra samolians for the "Cranium Repair Fund" at the altar of Hangdog-dom, the Rodeo Bar. As always, they'll use music and beer to "chart the uneasy commerce between the personal, social and political realms that simultaneously spawns horrors and offers solutions". https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=141581645936307

Thanks, everyone... for caring, sharing, communicating, and loving.

http://www.mickhargreaves.com

Quick Medical Update 8/29/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:20:00 +0000

Well, we managed to keep ourselves and our stuff safe from Hurricane Irene. Right now, I'm thinking about the flooding hell going on in many towns and cities north and west of our region, and the friends who are stuck dealing with it. It hit so fast, there was never time to sandbag...

The cat-scan place here on Long Island has electrical power (post-Hurricane Irene), so in I go Tuesday morning 8/30/2011 for a fourth electronic check-up from the neck-up. Fingers are crossed that Thursday the neuro-surgeon will look at the brain images and find further healing, additional progress, and happy thoughts. MH

Cat Scan, Literally.

New Music Video - Storyboard Detail

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 06:03:00 +0000

Because I'm healing from a serious head injury, performing, recording, even singing... is out of the question for now. No coffee or beer either. No internal variables. I think about a lot of things, from medical bills to the history of whaling to general life philosophy, to new song ideas, and I stay up quite late doing so. Asleep, I even dream more.

Tonight, it's truly hard to doze because of the approach of Hurricane Irene, and the preparations she necessitates. Vehicles, property, and boats might be saved, but you never know - they might not. People are helping me, and I'm helping people.

This week, I realized one bit of creativity can still happen while healing: Shooting footage for an upcoming music video. It's already begun, bolstered by the awesome eye of a very talented cinematographer. All will be revealed when the vid is complete. Here's a teaser doodle-sketch "storyboard" sketched at night, shot the following day.

Be safe out there. zzzzzzzzz MH

Where We're At - Monday Aug 22, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:12:00 +0000

Progress continues. A third cat scan (head only) and subsequent doctor's visit last week confirmed that advances have been made, with more expected. More rest is planned for the remainder of August (in advance of another cat-scan), monitoring of some very important symptoms, along with some "normal" activity (walks, low-impact swimming, reading, some fiddling about on guitar, getting life organized once again) folded into the routine. There's also immense amounts of paperwork to do, but that's a boring story for another day.

Officially, I feel it would be prudent to now announce that any performances by yours truly won't resume until approximately the third week of September, at the earliest.

While I calmly and slowly navigate the "recuperation road" back to health, I send endless hugs to you incredibly thoughtful, compassionate, and supportive folks out there (many from some pleasantly surprising corners of the world), who, through even the smallest of gestures, have continued to make a huge difference. I'm a very lucky man - Bless you all.

Monday Morning Update

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:19:00 +0000

Everyone's been asking, so...

Two weeks and a day now since the "Midsummer Night's Hurt".

Still considerable head pain, eye aches, dizziness. Some days, it's really been rugged. Accomplished a very abbreviated short walk several mornings ago. It's still mostly couch, eat, tub, couch. Keeping reading/typing to a minimum, in light of aforementioned pains and difficulties. Can't tax the eyes.

The good news: Exterior wounds, bruises, and raccoon eyes are healing. Finally picked up a guitar this morning, an electric, not plugged in, to keep volume low. Can't tax the ears, but gotta notate the ideas. Mom, dad, family, and really everyone out there... have been superstars.

The rest of the comeback could figure to be a slow, methodical slog. Dying to get back to being a productive member of society, but there's no way to put a timetable on that, and assumptions must be kept low when you're dealing with a fractured skull. Can't tax the fractured skull: I'd like to show up in good shape for scheduled cat-scan & neurosurgeon visits later this week.

So, a special message to everyone out there: When you sing, play, perform, surf, sail, write, create, shred, whatever... please push it up to 11 for me, and I will smile for you.

I will now return to the simple pleasures of cinnamon raisin toast with butter. Really, really digging that. MH

News Direct From Mick Hargreaves

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:29:00 +0000

Hello everyone; this is really Mick, typing for the first time since July 30th 2011, a night that featured a great gig with a horrible aftermath. I need to keep this brief, as I am still dealing with weakness, dizziness and brain-pain.

Yesterday was a momentous one; an engaging doctor/surgeon removed staples that had been attached to my skull in the trauma unit as soon as I was wheeled into hospital early the morning of Sunday July 31st. Apparently there was no time to waste that fateful night - without any painkillers or anesthesia, the skillful experts went right to work bringing two several-inch long slices in my head back together. It was nasty, but necessary, and they did an incredible job. With staples now removed, those wounds can proceed to heal further.

What remains now is a waiting game. A skull fracture is a tricky thing that will only heal with time. I am feeling better, bit by bit, day by day. I've begun to sleep longer than an hour or two at a time. I also feel very lucky to be blessed with such caring people. Everyone from family, friends, fellow musicians, fans, right down to complete strangers have truly stepped up and made a real difference in my life. It is already impossible to ever forget any of you.

Please keep in mind that for now, although they still appear on my itinerary, all performances are on hold, pending an improvement in health. We'll get there, a day at a time, and when I know, you will, too.

In the meantime, I want to start what will be a long, pleasant journey of thanks by offering everyone some free music. Simply go to http://www.mickhargreaves.com figure out what you'd like to download, enter a price of "$0.00" and your email address, and you can have what you like. If that means every song there, so be it - I want you to have them. This is just the start of ways that I will be offering thanks.

In closing, I'd like to relate some eastern-tinged philosophy that was related to me by the very doctor who was in the midst of removing my skull-staples. He said something about how life is just a road, we never know what turns are involved, but we can still get somewhere nonetheless. He unwittingly hewed very close to a favourite George Harrison song of mine, so I will simply include a link to that song here.

George Harrison "Any Road"
http://youtu.be/mePp1l299EE

Bass Players Who Deliver Pizza

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:06:00 +0000

DISLIKE. Source: randork.com

I like playing the bass. I also like pizza. Now imagine the excitement of playing bass AND delivering pizza, like Ben Silverman (Mick Hargreaves & The King Guys) and Brian Reilly (Butchers Blind) do. We had a chat.

Please respond to the statement that applies to you:

a) Thanks for bringing pizza to rehearsal! By the way, you're late.

b) Why didn't you bring pizza to rehearsal? By the way, you're late.

BEN: Yeah…the owners have been stingy with the free pizza of late.

Bassist Ben Silverman. (Kirill Klimakhin)

MH: What's the fave bass in your arsenal right now?

BEN: Right now I'm playin the Ibanez Artcore. I never thought of it as a particularly good bass, but lately I've been getting a lot of compliments on it.

BRIAN: Well I only have two basses (bassi) - the first is a Mexican Jazz bass the second is a Gretsch jet bass. I'd have to say the jazz bass. I've had it longer, it has more personality, and I've played every memorable gig with it.

MH: What's your amp rig?

BEN: GK head, with a 15 inch speaker in a mesa cabinet.

BRIAN: I play through an Ampeg SVT400-T.

MH: As a bass player who doesn't deliver pizza (yet) but is intrigued, what am I missing out on?

BRIAN: You're missing out on the best job ever! Blasting music in your car and eating free pizza all the f'n time!

BEN: The occasional scantily-clad woman hands you money for services rendered. Also some easy money, time to read, and young girls to leer at. Basically, its a job whose fringe benefits vastly outweigh the actual benefits.

Bassist Brian Reilly (Gonzalo Romero)

MH: How's the pizza - what do you recommend?

BRIAN: I recommend any specialty slice - at my place they change them up every day.

BEN: Francesco's where i work, across from the Whitman Mall (plug) has some badass grandma pizza. Little V's in the H-Ton Village is probably the best post-bar snack ever (cold cheese slice is THE classic Huntington foodstuff).

MH: What's your hoopty-ride pizza delivery vehicle?

BEN: My used Hyundai Santa Fe, in black (duh.)

BRIAN: I've delivered pizza in five cars so far - 1987 Toyota Camry, 1996 Honda Civic, 1990 Buick Skylark, 1990 Oldsmobile 88, and finally, my current car, a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass. The most practical car was the Honda cause it was stick shift and great on gas. But my favorite has to be the 88 cause it was one of the shittiest cars I've ever seen, yet alone owned. I love my current car but it sucks on gas (Delivery guys pay their own gas so tip well!).

MH: Weirdest pizza delivery story?

BEN: Got a delivery to a house on a high hill: I had to use an intercom to get into a gate at the bottom of the driveway that curled around the hill. When I reached the house, sitting in the driveway was AN F-ING HELICOPTER. The 12 year old son in the family then proceeded to tip me 15$ on 45$ worth of food.

BRIAN: This story did not take place in current pizzeria I work at but this is probably the weirdest story. One time an old drunk - a regular customer - was hanging around in the store. I was relaxing on a slow day with the old man, some 16 year old kid, and my boss. My boss started taunting the old man about not having hair on his legs. The old man replied, "well I got hair where it counts!" and pulled down his pants in front of of us, exposing his parts to the entire dining room.

MH: Funniest pizza delivery story?

BRIAN: Again the setting is at my old pizzeria: My boss used to serve Carlo Rossi out of styrofoam cups because he did not have a liquor license. If you have never tried Carlo Rossi it probably is not considered restaurant quality wine, especially out of a styrofoam cup. I frequently had the long, slow, day shift on Sundays and I would get bored often. One of these Sundays I saw a local bum walking down the street so I invited him in and gave him a glass of the Carlo Rossi. I went into the kitchen to fetch him a slice of pizza and when I returned I saw him walking out the door with the styrofoam cup of wine, still full, in the gabage. Not even an alcoholic bum would want to drink that.

BEN: I took a delivery to the Abby Motor Inn, which is seedy at best. The guy who answered the door was a heavily muscled, excessively tattooed, Latino in his underwear. I was a bit startled. I have a quiet speaking voice and anything this guy didn't hear was followed by an off-putting and sharp "HUH?" But before I left he stopped me and asked (and I quote) "You smoke trees my nigga? I got weed in here my nigga."

MH: Saddest pizza delivery story?

BEN: Lonely old people who can barely get to the door in adult diapers, or are on oxygen, or have some other obvious disability and don't have loved ones to help them out.

BRIAN: I once gave my standard "how are you?" greeting as I handed a distraught looking man his regular cheese pie to which he replied: "Not great I just buried my mother." Okay then "have a nice day!"

MH: Do you ever deliver pizza with a bass in the vehicle?

BRIAN: Frequently my bass is hanging out in the trunk or laying down in the back seat as I sling pies the day after a gig!

BEN: Only accidentally.

MH: Anyone allowed to ride shotgun on the pizza delivery route? Because, like, I wanna go.

BRIAN: You are absolutely allowed to ride shotgun as I do my route, however, you must not eat any pizza and you have to read me the addresses.

BEN: Totally. As long as the owners aren't there. You just gotta buy beer, and be willing to deal with the smell of cigarettes and tomato sauce.

MH: What happens if you get pulled over by the cops while delivering pizza? Does a slice count as a bribe?

BRIAN: I've been pulled over for an illegal u-turn and the cop let me go after I told him I deliver pizza because "I [the cop] don't ticket pizza guys."

BEN: No Comment. In an unrelated note: Special shout out to Officer Magee!

MH: Do you deliver beer?

BRIAN: I am not allowed to deliver beer for the new pizzeria I work at; as for the old one, however, I have taken many six packs and cigarettes to their respective destinations along with regular orders.

BEN: Unfortunately, No. Write your congressman about that one.

http://mickhargreaves.com

SAT 7/30/11 Hargreaves, McLary & Friends in Midsummer Night's HOOT, Grey Horse Tavern

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:23:00 +0000

Facebook Invite Page for 7/30 Grey Horse Tavern

The New York Roots Music Association (NYRMA) presents a night of down-home, rabble-rousing acoustic and electric music in a MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S HOOT, July 30th 2011, 9:30pm, at the Grey Horse Tavern in Bayport NY, featuring MICK HARGREAVES (Los Blaggards, Caroline Doctorow, Hangdogs), and JEFF McLARY (LI Hornets) with their backing bands. Expect some NYRMA friends to join in the performance. Admission is 5 bucks, leaving more cake to spend on the GHT's great beer & wine selection, and if you like, menu choices culled from local and organic food sources. Relax by the tracks, baby.

PHOTO: Electric Bass Guitar Arsenal

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Thu, 26 May 2011 01:40:00 +0000

Back in October 210, I obsessed in a blog entry about getting the right strings for each of my basses. This post updates that one slightly, detailing modifications to two of these four "weapons":

Basses L to R: Jazz, Jaguar, "Duck" Dunn, Precision

Fender 2006 MIM Jazz Bass - This "Midnight Wine" bass now has round-wound strings, Dean Markley Blue Steel .45-.105 medium light gauge. If I'm going to have only one bass with roundwounds, it should be the J-Bass, to take advantage of all the tonal variety it offers. Used extensively on stage with Los Blaggards, is basically a recording bass now.

Fender 2006 MIJ Jaguar Bass - Really loving this bass, now that it's had the whimpy white pickguard replaced with a black one. With Matty Liot & The Big Up, this bass had the "Joe Lauro setup": E and A flatwound, D and G Roundwound; now it has the set of GHS Flatwounds (.45-.105) pirated from the Jazz Bass. This is now the secondary, B-number-2 stage bass.

Lakland 2007 Donald "Duck" Dunn Bass - Strings haven't changed, but this whimpy white pickguard is the next one to go. Thinking about something in a lighter-colored tortoise-shell. This is the primo, A-number-1 stage bass (also pictured at the top of this blog).

Fender 1961 Precision Bass - Nothing's changed with this bass. Same log, same James Jamerson Strings, same incredible sound, same rule: NO GIGS - it's the A-number-1 recording studio bass. The sound of this thing plugged into the '64 Ampeg B-15N, then recorded with a mic on one channel, and DI'd on the other... is "money in the bank" as they say. Wait, one thing has changed on this bass; I recently added the "Ashtray" bridge cover, which can be seen lower right in the photo.

Previous Blog: Basses and Their Strings

mickhargreaves.com

SETLIST: Montauk Music Fest @ The Montauket, Fri 5/13/11

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Sat, 21 May 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Acoustic set w/Mike Bifulco - electric guitars

Hard to Get
Lost Highway (N. Atlas)
Queen of Hearts
Can't Keep Track of You Blues
Other People's Houses (K. Baier)
Always Come
Half as Much (H. Williams)
Hangdog Hotel Room (G. Lightfoot)
Bridget (G.J.Anderson)
Twirl (K. Friedman)
I Only Have Eyes For You (Flamingos)

mickhargreaves.com

Report: Playing The Montauk Music Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 16 May 2011 12:36:00 +0000

Thank you.

To the dog owner who corralled their barking hound three songs into my outdoor showcase set at the Montauket Friday evening, 13 May. A dedicated fetcher, he seems like an awesome pooch. Pure Montauk.

To Joe Delia, who then showed up during my set with a BOX OF MILKBONES. Thanks for spearheading the PA system arrangement, and for having me sit in with the Thieves for both our shows together.

To Mike Bifulco, who joined me on electric guitars at the Montauket show.

To the awesome west-facing Montauket.

To the proprietors of Gurney's Inn. Great opening party, very nice staff. Sound treatment in the big room, please?

To performers Urban Sun, Grand Folk Railroad, Joe Delia and the Thieves (of course), the always-awesome Jewlee Trudden, and Marianne Megna's entire crew. Too busy to see many more.

To Anthony Famiglietti of WEHM-FM 92.9 & 96.9FM and Bonnie Grice of WPPB 88.3FM for having me on the air the week before the festival.

Opening party at Gurney's Inn, Thursday May 12 2011.

Observations.

I took the time to talk to many fans, the organizers, other artists, and anyone else willing to chat, and I can say that the people who came for the music at the Montauk Music Fest universally loved it.

Knowing that performers do not get paid MMF, I was a bit wary about doing it for 2011. I'd been through this in NYC at the CMJ fest, with varying results. If I had a whole band of musicians to pay I might not have played the fest, but after I did a bit of triangulation and research, I tipped in favor of performing as a solo artist.

As a bassist/singer/guitarist/recordist who's performed with many bands in and out of the area over the years, I've embarked on doing solo performances of late, slowly building a band around myself. With some upcoming solo releases in the works, I deemed it important that I get my name out there. Gig opportunities, along with some local radio appearances the week of the fest (thank you, WPPB-FM and WEHM-FM), along with organizers gracious hospitality, also figured in my decision.

One other BIG factor that swayed me: Back in December of 2010, fest organizer Ken trekked to Huntington to see me do a solo set at the New York Roots Music Association's "Holiday Hootenanny". I believe the subject of the music fest was broached at that time, and I remember being impressed that he made the schlepp all the way over there, essentially to invite me to the fest.

The MMF secures "out of town" bands hotel/motel accommodations for the duration of their gigs, which is nice, but that should not be equated with actual payment. It's a consideration, not compensation, balanced by the fact that local acts (such as me, for now at least) aren't saddled with sizable travel time, and fuel / transportation costs.

Thank you to the festival organizers.

You're Ken, Lawrence, along with your respective significant others, and, from the beginning, your small four-person team has built something from absolutely nothing, making it up as you go. You're working insane hours, unpaid, probably with fitful sleeps. The festival is tied in with the Montauk Sun Newspaper, but perhaps because of this, other local print media seem to shy away from covering the fest. (Radio jumps on it, though.) You need to make sure that, right out of the gate, it's a success, on people's radar to extent that they actually show up.

At this point, you might come to the conclusion that, at least to start out, the festival would be a free-admission event, and you won't be able to pay performers. This is where the Montauk Music Fest is at the moment.

It's very important to stress here that the business model of not paying rank-and-rile performers at multi-club citywide "industry" festivals was established long ago at the CMJ (New York City) and South-by-Southwest (Austin, TX) music festivals, and if you've ever attended either event you'd agree that it has been proven to be quite a workable blueprint. Performers are stepping over each other to perform for free at these important events. That's the reality.

In an ideal world, The Montauk Music Festival would eventually be able to attract some national acts by getting sponsorship and underwriting, perhaps charging a modest admission price. The fest could sell three-day, two-day, one-day passes, with free outdoor shows on the town square. As many other festival organizers have done, they would evolve, learn, adjust, and invent.

But starting out a festival in these tight times is an unenviable, wait, let's just call it DOWNRIGHT CRAZY, undertaking, one that can, and often does, mean losing money initially.

So go easy on these guys. Thank them for putting this festival together from scratch. It's about a whole community, not just a community of performers, and most of all, it's about the fans. Without the fans, we are nothing, and connecting with the fans sometimes outweighs the importance of getting paid to perform.

I know that's a hard pill to swallow for some, but for the time being, it's the way things seem to be going.

To the recording studio, James.

For free MP3 downloads, show schedules, and release news, it's still:

mickhargreaves.com

Montauk NY Music Fest To Stay The Course for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Mon, 16 May 2011 11:39:00 +0000

Ken Giustino of the Montauk Music Festival in a YouTube video, late April 2011.

(Montauk, NY) - Organizers of the Montauk Music Festival (MMF) will most likely decide to stay with the "free admission" and "unpaid performer" business model for next year's edition of the popular event, due to take place for a third consecutive year in May 2012 at many venues, clubs, and bars in the Village of Montauk, NY.

On the eve of the May 12-15 2011 version of the Montauk Music Fest (MMF) last week, much of the chatter amongst local performers and music fans centered around the thorny issue of non-payment for performers at the fest.

However, the existing arrangement between organizers and performers at the MMF echoes similar relationships at well known, larger multi-club/venue festivals such as South By Southwest (SXSW, Austin TX) and the CMJ Music Marathon (NYC), where rank-and-file performers are not paid for performances.

For music fans, the free-admission Montauk fest is a good deal; SXSW attendees can spend as much as $1,250 for a "platinum pass" covering all aspects of the Austin TX festival. For performers, The Montauk festival can be more welcoming, too: Non-local artists at the MMF are extended the courtesy of hotel rooms, something not even dreamed of in New York or Austin.

The ranks of artists willing to perform at the Montauk Fest continues to swell. Some speculate that for every performing artist choosing to pass on the Montauk Music Festival, dozens of others are willing to step in and perform for free. It's a giant battle of the bands, where the importance of connecting with fans new and old trumps the lack of payment.

It will almost certainly be up to individual bands and performers to figure out alternative ways to capitalize on 2012 MMF appearances, if they choose to participate.

SXSW Proves Austin is No Bolshevik Commune (Austin Statesman)
CMJ Marathon: Fame, Yes; Fortune, Not So Much (NY Times)
SXSWland Tales (Nick Cross Blog)

Free MP3 downloads, show schedules, info:

mickhargreaves.com

PHOTO: Too good not to add to blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Mick Hargreaves) — Wed, 04 May 2011 20:57:00 +0000


Silverface Fender Bassman, Fender MIM Jazz Bass, NYC rehearsal w/ Karen Hudson 5/2/11