Our BIG news to share with you all is the announcement from the National Constitution Center of their plans to bring a fabulous Bruce Springsteen exhibit to the City of Brotherly Love!

The exhibit – From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen – will be displayed at the National Constitution Center beginning on February 17  of next year & continuing until September 3rd. This is the same exhibit that ‘wowed’ them in Cleveland when it was shown at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and this appearance is planned to be the only one on the east coast of the USA!

Here’s part of the press release from the NCC:

“Celebrate the right to free expression at an exhibition that rocks!

“Explore Springsteen’s career in From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen, the first major exhibition about the American songwriter. Created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, this must-see exhibition makes its East Coast debut at the National Constitution Center – the first and only venue where it is slated to travel.

“Through his lyrics, Springsteen gives voice to the struggles of the working class, veterans, immigrants and other groups whose unique stories add to the definition of “We the People.” His distinctive brand of heartland rock brings a sense of urgency, patriotism and realism to popular music.

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land takes a comprehensive look at Springsteen’s catalog, from such early bands as Child, the Castiles and Steel Mill through his work with the E Street Band and as a solo artist. Visitors have the rare opportunity to view several of Springsteen’s guitars, including the Fender Esquire from the cover of Born to Run, as well as the outfit he wore on the cover of Born in the U.S.A., numerous handwritten lyric manuscripts, posters and handbills from all phases of his career and various awards and honors. In addition, the exhibition features Springsteen’s 1960 Chevrolet Corvette, which he purchased after the success of Born to Run.”

We ‘Main-Pointers’ know that Bruce’s ties run deep in this area – The Bryn Mawr club was one of the first places where Bruce performed his music and honed his skills. It’s not a stretch to say that his experiences in the Philadelphia area during the early part of his career helped to shape the person he became.

We at MainPointMusic.com are extremely PUMPED about this exhibit coming to town, and cannot wait to check it out – Hopefully with several members of our Main Point family! More details & links to follow… Stay tuned!

Folks around the Philadelphia-area have a special relationship with John Prine – one that began way back at the Main Point in Bryn Mawr (where Prine appeared about ten times between 1972 – 1974) and continuing on through what has become an illustrious songwriting career. But Prine was already a legend when he performed at that venerable coffeehouse with songs like “Paradise,” “Illegal Smile,” “Spanish Pipedream,” “Angel from Montgomery,” and “Hello In There” that were written a few years earlier while he was working as a postal carrier and hiding from the winter winds in the suburbs of Chicago.

The genesis of this collection was actually the result of an accident – It seems that Prine’s wife, Fiona, was after him to clean out the garage after a recent move and he found a box of old reel-to-reel tapes that included these recordings. The result has become two CDs – One a studio recording made at WFMT in August of 1970; the other being a live performance at The Fifth Peg in Chicago that was recorded in November of that year. Those early studio and live recordings became the foundation of Prine’s first album that was released by Atlantic Records in 1971. 

2011 marks the 40^th year of performing for John Prine, and this release provides a great opportunity for us to look back to those early days and to witness an budding artistry that that has not diminished throughout the years. Here’s hoping he uncovers another treasure – as in some live recordings done at some little club in Bryn Mawr – the next time his wife nags him into doing his chores!

GREAT news reported by our friend Luke Larsen over at Paste Magazine… Here’s what he wrote:

“The 77-year old legendary singer-songwriter and poet, most famously known for penning songs like “Hallelujah” and “Suzanne”, has announced a new studio album. According to the New York Times, the new album, entitled Old Ideas, is slated to be released sometime next year.

The album will include 10 new songs, which apparently have already been recorded. Old Ideas will be Cohen’s 12th studio album and his first since 2004’s Dear Heather.”

Very cool news indeed! We here at MainPointMusic.com will keep you in the loop and will post a review of the album around the time it is released!

Main Pointers should be familiar with the name Daryl Hall as he and partner John Oates not only played the famous venue a number of times back in the early 1970′s, but Daryl was known to just ‘dropped in’ to the Main Point from time to time so he could check out the vibe & listen to the music.

2011 finds this half of music’s most successful duo venturing out on his own and delivering one of his solo finest efforts to date.

His latest, Laughing Down Crying, has been described by some as “the jukebox of Hall’s mind” and contains all the iconic soulful vocals that are his signature style as well as the  songwriting prowess that his fans have come to expect over the years. Hall’s newest collection feels fresh and current while still maintaining a connection to his phenomenally successful efforts from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. This album – His first solo studio effort in over 10 years – features a new collection of material co-produced by Greg Bieck and Paul Pesco. Hall’s longtime studio collaborator, the late T-Bone Wolk, also lends a hand on tracks “Lifetime of Love”, “Wrong Side of History” and “Problem With You.” During the past few years, Daryl has been able to reach a new, younger audience through his highly successful web show called Daryl’s House, along with his appearance at the annual Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee.  

His brand of blue-eyed ‘rock & soul’ has never sounded better and Daryl Hall continues to be a force to be reckoned with for yet another decade.

John Hiatt, a man the Los Angeles Times called “one of rock’s most astute singer-songwriters of the last 40 years,” returns with a new rough-hewn rock and blues-driven album.

Produced by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley (Silverchair, Aerosmith, Joe Bonamassa), Hiatt’s timeless songwriting and guitar work is paired in the studio with his regular touring combo of Kenny Blevins on drums, Patrick O’Hearn on bass and Doug Lancio on the electric & mandolin. As for the songs themselves, they sparkle and shine. There’s equal parts acid and spit in lead track “Damn This Town,” a stompin’ roots-rock anthem of bitter resentment, Lancio’s stinging guitar smolders while it ramps up the tension to a sweet release. “Til I Get My Lovin’ Back” is a classic Hiatt bar stool ballad, his well worn voice the perfect instrument for the quiet anguish buried in the lyrics.

This project follows Hiatt’s rejuvenated return to his heartland roots with last year’s The Open Road, but there’s a ragged, deep, blues streak running through these songs, assisted by a raw, rough production, that compliments Hiatt’s weary vocals.

The band America may be best known for tunes like “Ventura Highway” and “A Horse with No Name,” but now they are back with a new CD that features the band paying homage to some of their favorite songwriters.

Titled for the Bob Dylan classic of the same name, Back Pages shows the gutsy side of America, in that they weren’t afraid to tackle some iconic material that many would have shied away from. Iconic songs like Joni Mitchell’s “Woodstock,” Neil Young’s “On The Way Home,” Paul Simon’s “America” and Jimmy Webb’s “Crying in My Sleep” are covered here, with additional music provided by some of the best Nashville session players. But instead of going strictly for nostalgia, Bunnell and Beckley were smart enough to realize that there have been some pretty good songwriters out there since the ’70s. On this CD, they included works by some more modern writers, including “A Road Song” by Fountains of Wayne, “Til I Hear It from You” by the Gin Blossoms, and the New Radicals’ “Someday We’ll Know.” Mark Knopfler’s excellent story song “Sailing to Philadelphia” is also featured here, with Knopfler himself providing some great guitar.

As you may recall, America was a trio when they performed at the Main Point back in February of 1972 – They became a duo a few years later when Danny Peek left the band to pursue a Christian music career, but Beckley & Bunnell continued to carry the America ‘torch’ for all these years. This release has become especially poignant with the news of the recent passing of original band member Peek. In that light, it seems that Dewey and Gerry have lovingly delivered this album to all fans of America. This collection is beautifully sung and produced with wonderful performances of some great material.

This site is an homage to The Main Point, the legendary coffeehouse & musical venue in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania that hosted the biggest names in music – just as their careers were getting started.

This will be an online community that celebrates & remembers all things Main Point!

Please join us on our journey as we spread the news about the Main Point across the world-wide web! Soon, you will be able to follow us with Twitter, Facebook and, of course, right here at www.MainPointMusic.com!

Folks may not remember this, but Keb’ Mo’ appeared a few times at the Main Point before he began his solo blues career. Back in the day, he was part of the Papa John Creech band & they came through Bryn Mawr a couple of times back in the late 1970s. Since then, he has continued to perform music & his latest effort, The Reflection, is his first studio release in about five years.

A lot of things have changed for him during that time; he married and had a child; he started his own record label; he moved from L.A. to Nashville; and he survived a flood that devastated several of his prized instruments. Needless to say, it’s been an ‘eventful’ number of years – the kind that would give sometime a reason to pause and reflect on what has happened, and what is yet to come.

The result has become The Reflection, a twelve-track collection of songs that not only have deep, emotional connections, but also show Keb’ to be a master at blending blues, jazz, R&B and soul through melody and rhythm. It’s all evident here – from the smooth opening track “The Whole Enchilada,” to jazz-phrased title track, continuing with his soulful cover of the Eagles “One of These Nights,” and the country-tinged “My Baby’s Telling Lies.” His thoughtful look at today’s tough economic situation on “We Don’t Need It” will pull at your heart-strings, while tracks like “Just Lookin’” and “Walk Through Fire” show Keb’ returning to blues form. The closing track, “Something Within,” turns out to be a family affair with additional vocal support provided by many family members and friends – both living and deceased. The CD truly encompasses a lifetime of his influences, and features a stellar supporting cast with duets by India.Arie and Vince Gill, as well as performances by Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Mindi Abair, and David T. Walker along with his bandmates Jeff Paris, Reggie McBride, as well as his family and friends.

Over the years, Keb’ has consistently garnered acclaim, with three of his records winning the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album. His trademark honest, unadorned vocal, his deceptively simple, sublime guitar work, and his catchy melodies are present on The Reflection, of course, but with this recording Keb’ is more expressive than ever.

Yes, it’s been quite a journey to get from packing his Suitcase to this moment of Reflection, but one listen to this latest effort and you’ll see that it was time well-spent.

Folks around these parts have become quite familiar with David Bromberg over the years – from his many performance dates at the famed Main Point coffeehouse in Bryn Mawr – to his appearances over the years at summer festivals like the Philadelphia Folk Festival – to his more-recent activities in and around Wilmington, Delaware. Through it all, one constant remains; his deep abiding love and passion for his music. 

The idea for this new release – which has been released on the West Chester-based Appleseed Records label – began when he was in the studio with John Hiatt. Bromberg wondered if he might impose upon Hiatt to write a song for his new album. This led Bromberg to asking a number of other friends to each write a song for him. Some offered compositions and others contributed in the way of producing or performing with him. Dr. John answered the call and penned “You Don’t Wanna Make Me Mad,” which is a piece of New Orleans funk on which Bromberg’s slide guitar and Dr. John’s piano trade leads. One of the standout tracks here is the old blues tune, “Diggin’ In The Deep Blue Sea,” with Keb’ Mo’ producing and providing some scorching electric guitar work. “Tongue,” the album’s lone Bromberg original, has Levon Helm on drums; Linda Ronstadt puts in a rare appearance on the soulful Brook Benton ballad “It’s Just a Matter of Time;” Los Lobos contribute the Mexican-flavored waltz “The Long Goodbye;” even Vince Gill and Tim O’Brien are here to take care of the country and bluegrass quotient. Bromberg also gets to add his own style to the proceedings, by employing his trademark ‘scatting’ on the the title track – an ad-lib concept brought forth during his session work with Joe & Phil Nicolo (The Butcher Brothers), who teamed up once again for this project.

Bromberg’s idea of appealing to his friends for help proved to be inspirational. He has created a diverse and entertaining piece of work that cuts across a lot of styles. Use Me is an interesting piece of work that will bear repeated listens.

Late June brought the release of a brand new live Chris Smither album, LOST AND FOUND, on the Signature Sound label, and we wanted to bring that news to the attention of our Main Point people.

Over the years, like most touring musicians, Chris has collected countless tapes, CDs, DATS, etc. of his live concerts. Often these recordings can be a bit rough, but Chris struck gold one afternoon when he came upon a box of CDs and DATS from concerts performed between 1993-2003. Upon listening, he discovered recordings of some real gems from his catalog; the sound quality and performances were outstanding. This new collection of 14 songs, Lost and Found, joins Another Way to Find You and Live As I’ll Ever Be in Chris’ catalog of live recordings. Here’s a chance to hear live versions of “Train Home”, “Hey Hey Hey”,” Time to Go Home”, “Lola”, and ten other Chris Smither favorites.

Sadly, we don’t have any live music from Chris’ Main Point days (yet!) even though he played there a BUNCH (over 130 nights!) between 1967 to 1980 – But we’re working on tracking some of that stuff down and will update you once we’ve located it!

BTW – This CD will NOT be available in stores. It is for fans only, and only available online at www.smither.com.