Under the Ash Tree

Ice Storm '08

2008-12-30T10:55:00.005-05:00

On December 11th the ice began to fall and kept on falling. About an inch of ice encased everything. We went without electricity and running water for 7 long days. National guard, power co., phone co., and tree removal trucks descended on our little town. Now everything is back to normal except for massive tree damage. On some roadside stretches of woods almost every tree is damaged or snapped in two. Disaster can bring out the best of people and show you what community is all about and for that I'm thankful. But boy there is nothing like a long hot shower.

Whole lotta love

2008-10-10T14:41:00.003-04:00

Here’s a rare photo of the songwriting process in action. My ten day retreat (read: house-sitting gig) on the Long Island Sound was good for the creative soul. So was the 4 pm happy hour on the porch over looking the water every afternoon.
NYC singer/songwriter Kay Ashley joined me there for a few days of intensive rehearsal for our new harmony-driven super duo: Grace & Havoc. More on that in the days to come. We had a dinner party one evening and Kay broke out her ‘Kayzoos’ and treated us to a lovely rendition of “Whole Lotta Love.” That’s my dear friend Annette Guarrasi enjoying the serene sounds of Kay's kayzoos. She is a supremely talented actress/writer/comedian/singer and soon-to-be mom. Go Annette!

Well, a whole year has gone by since I began my most recent incarnation as a singer-songwriter. Let us pause briefly to reflect on the past 12 months:
-I was heckled (once) and appreciated (more than once.)
-I brought some people to tears. I bored some people to tears (note to self - inebriated college-aged men in bars are not my target demographic.)
-I was a winner and a loser, but it was an honor to be nominated (for real).
-I was discovered. I was ignored. On those occasions I was ignored I would sometimes think to myself ‘Do you know who I am?!” and chuckle.
-It sometimes takes effort to remember I’m driven by a love for music (ultimately fulfilling) and not by a desire for positive feedback and recognition (nice, but ultimately unfulfilling).
-I’m so grateful for everyone who has let me know how much they enjoy "Under the Ash Tree". I want more people to hear my CD. A lot more.
-I’m not a natural entrepreneur. Are you? I need ideas.
-I love musicians. I love people that get music and musicians. Now that's a whole lotta love.
J.

Two Good Things

2008-08-03T18:05:00.002-04:00

On Friday I found out that Under the Ash Tree debuted at #12 on The Roots Music Report Folk Chart and Erik came home from a hike with a plateful of chantarelles (that we're having for dinner right now)!

Let's catch up

2008-04-17T18:34:00.003-04:00

What's that you say? Am I playing in a quaint cafe nestled in a rustic Tuscan village [see photo]? Why no, it's me at my last gig at Lago Trattoria in Meredith, NH right on Lake Winnipesaukee (yes, I did have to look up how to spell that.) I appear to be concentrating deeply, though I'm only play a D chord. Hm.

The big event since my last post was taking part in the Plowshares Coffee House Songwriting Contest in Phoenixville, PA. When E. and I left the house we had a fresh 4 inches of snow, but by the time we got to PA it was a lovely spring day. We stumbled upon a great restaurant for lunch (The Fine Diner in Clinton, NJ).

The venue was a stone Quaker meeting house - a beautiful open space with plaster walls and wooden benches on three sides and lovely acoustics. Alas, I did not win. Except in the sense that we're all winners!! The grand prize winner, Kierstin Gray, brought the house down. Definitely one of the highlights of the night.

In other music news, I got a sweet little review in this Month's issue of Minor 7th and my song Broken was the Single of the Day on March 11th. Also nabbed a couple other finalist spots in some upcoming songwriter competitions. Speaking of competitions, have you been watching American Idol? Yeah, me neither. I am obsessed with Battlestar Galactica, however, which is not a competition, but simply a science fiction television show that is occasionally a thinly veiled allegory for the war in Iraq.

Conversation on the lunar eclipse

2008-02-24T18:03:00.007-05:00

Me: Wow...that's wild.

Erik: Yeah, its red.

Me: It's fierce.

Erik: Moon, you're still in the running to become America's Next Top Model.

Here's a riddle

2008-01-23T16:18:00.000-05:00

What do Tracy Chapman, Patty Larkin, Jay Leno, and Andy Kaufman have in common? They've all performed at The Nameless Coffeehouse in Harvard Square, a volunteer run monthly music series located in a Unitarian Church parlor (which makes for a lovely listening space.) The hosts George and Maureen LeBlanc do a wonderful job keeping this venue going. It's the oldest, all volunteer, donation-funded coffeehouse in New England. How 'bout them apples.

I played on a (freaking) cold January evening with three other top notch acts to a more than full house. The space was beautiful and warm and the audience kind and attentive. Gig rating: A+

In other news... I found out this week that I'm in the finals showcase for the 2008 Plowshares Songwriting Contest in Phoenixville, PA. So, to mentally prepare for the event I've been watching American Idol auditions. Here's what I've learned so far:

1. Do not approach the judges' table in an abrupt and seemingly threatening manner
2. Do not attempt to sing a song spanning 3.5 or more octaves
3. Do not attend the showcase in costume, especially a costume that is a tribute to a character from the Star Wars Trilogy.

yeah, that last one's going to be tough.

During the past couple of weeks ...

2008-01-16T16:15:00.001-05:00

... my cat started lounging in the following manner:

Should I be worried?

Entering the Fray

2007-11-29T17:53:00.000-05:00

It's the middle of November and I'm knee deep in the former Borsht Belt in a radiation rose hotel room that has seen better days. Why you ask? Because it's the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance annual conference (NERFA) held at Kutsher's Country Club in Monticello, NY. I'm here because I have a CD to peddle and a music career to embark on and this seems like a good place to gain some insight on how I should proceed from here. My bellhop has asked me to let him know if I happen to procure any alcoholic beverages this evening, the water coming out of my bathroom faucet is brown, and I'm about to spend the weekend with 700 some odd people that I've never met before. What could go wrong?

The answer is NOTHING. Because people who listen to and play folk-inspired music are some of the friendliest, most down to earth people on this planet. Alright, I did have one unfortunate interaction with an inebriated sort of person, but that incident aside, it was a really great four days meeting lots of new people who didn't hesitate to share advice and make me feel welcome.

From what I've seen so far, being a solo singer/songwriter is a lonely biz and I really have to hand it to those that choose the path full time. Events like NERFA help ease the loneliness and give you the sense of being part of a greater community. So here I am, back at home, feeling all alone in this endeavor and at the same time, part of a greater community. Just one more contradiction in the human experience. At least mine, anyways.

The best part of NERFA, however, was hearing new music. Okay, let's say for the sake of this blog that I had become jaded and bitter and just barely able to muster any interest in music in a long while. Let's say I was starved for a skosh (it's a word. look it up) of inspiration and excitement about some kind of music I hadn't stumbled on before. Music that makes you feel. Well here are some folks that caught my ear. Check 'em out.

Marc Douglas Berardo - Atlantic-influenced snapshots, yummy chords, killer vocals

Beaucoup Blue - I rarely listen to blues. This is blues that I love - ethereal writing and sweet harmonies

Kim and Reggie Harris - see them live if you can. A sure tonic for bitter-and-jaded-ness.

Okay I lied, I had met 1 of 700 some odd people who attended the conference: my friend Dave Potts. I sang harmonies for a record of his a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. He invited me to sing along with him at a 1 am NERFA showcase. We hadn't rehearsed in 10 years and it showed, but it was a blast nonetheless.

Shiny and New

2007-11-05T07:28:00.000-05:00

I'm very happy to announce that my brand new CD, Under the Ash Tree, is available for purchase online through that classy distributor of independent music CDBaby. If you visit my CDBaby site, you can listen to clips of each song on the record, order a hard copy of the CD, or if you find jewel cases "so 1990s", you can download the entire record right then and there.

Self-promotion don't come easy to me that's for sure, but I really love this record (see the first few blog posts for the rundown on how it was made) and that makes it easier. Don't take my word for it though. Go listen!

It's a Wrap

2007-10-18T12:56:00.000-04:00

I've been home 4 days already. I think it's time to do the final "2007 Midwest Tour with Beth Amsel" wrap up. The tour has actually been re-christened "The 2007 Damn Run-Flat Tires are Expensive Tour".

So we had a lovely two days off in Iowa City where I visited a raptor center and nature preserve with a towheaded 3 year old who stole my heart. In the evenings we were treated to healthy and delicious meals (and one late night pizza) by our dear friends and we laughed until our faces ached.

We drove up to Chicago a day early and visited the remarkable Shedd Aquarium where we saw a baby beluga who was born just 8 weeks ago. The place is huge, but we managed to see it all. Though towards the end we got very tired and a skosh seasick and glossed over some exhibits - "Small fish, small fish, yada yada, - ooh poisonous frogs come look!" I've never been to Chicago before and our gracious hosts took us to two of the best breakfast joints I've ever visited and treated us to a crazy delicious stuffed pizza. Mmm. The company was great too.

The show in Chicago was sold out and the audience was fab. Finally it was onward to Indianapolis - my final show with Beth. My parents drove down from Detroit to see us and brought us a pre-show Cajun dinner.

Hm, I seem to have recapped our meals in more detail than our performances. Priorities people. Priorities.

Back in Iowa

2007-10-09T12:35:00.000-04:00

(Photo credits: Kerry Nikutta)
Today we don't have to drive anywhere! Woo-hoo! Since I last checked in we played a house concert in West Allis, WI hosted by two fabulous women and three precious little dogs. It was there I met my mystery guest - a sweetheart of a Joni-lister from Texas. A wonderful surprise. It was a great show and probably the only time I will ever perform next to a life-size cardboard cutout of Xena the warrior princess.

We drove to Minneapolis for another house concert - or rather, Beth drove to Minneapolis while I slept for 3 hours in the bed she has constructed in the back of her Sienna. Very comfy. Mmm. Finally it was back to Ames, Iowa for a show in an art gallery. It was sparsely attended but the space was beautiful.

We haven't had a flat tire in days! (Knock on wood). Next stop, Chicago ...

Cheese curds

2007-10-05T09:54:00.000-04:00

Cheese curds are a delicacy in Wisconsin and this is the first I've heard of them. I haven't tried one yet, but I think today is the day. For the past couple of days we've been staying with a friend of mine in Waterford, WI. We each have our own bedroom and bath and let me tell you, this is the life.

It's been an interesting (in a good way) week - a public radio broadcast, a gig in a funky basement wine bar, and one in a lovely cafe overlooking a lazy river. We narrowly avoided spending the night in a flophouse and managed to get 2 flat tires (one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday). With the exception of one rainy day in Cedar Falls, IA the weather has been warm and blissful. Tonight we play a sold out house concert and some friendly faces will be there, including one "mystery guest" who travelled a distance to get here. Hm ...

Road Rules

2007-09-30T15:40:00.000-04:00

We're 4.5 days into the tour and we're having a warm and breezy day off in Iowa city with some dear friends who are taking very good care of us even though it's their anniversary today and we should be taking care of them. I'm feeling supremely lazy.

We've had gigs in Kansas, Nebraska, and a handful in Iowa and each and every venue owner/host has been gracious and welcoming, which makes waking up in a different city every day that much easier. I thought I'd be getting lots of reading done but I feel an inexplicable pull towards People magazine and US Weekly. That's all my weary brain can handle. That and a mediocre mystery novel.

My opening sets are going well. Each day I work more of the kinks out. Beth is a joy to watch and to sing with and the best travel companion. We're driving around in her new (to her) Toyota Sienna - a mini-van that drives like a car. Very comfortable. We try to conserve our voices during the day but give in to our urge to gab often. We've driven though many sleepy midwestern towns and it's full on indian summer. Lovely. Has anyone heard of "The Chubby Pickle". We drove by this fine establishment on our way from Hays, KS to Lincoln, NE. We didn't have time to stop in. Very curious name don't you think...The Chubby Pickle.

Stop the presses!

2007-09-20T13:28:00.000-04:00

The CDs made it. They take up quite a bit of room. They unfortunately suffer from a mild font-disorder. So, 120 of them are coming on the road with me, fonts be-damned, the rest are going back for therapy. It's looking like another month or so until Under the Ash Tree is available for sale. Unless you come to a show in which case you can get yourself a rare first-issue misprinted collector's item kind of thing.

I'll be reporting from the road so stay-tuned!

Any day now

2007-09-16T17:33:00.000-04:00

How much space do 1,000 CDs take up? In the next couple of days I'll know for sure. Though I didn't set out to create a project with an over-arching theme, all but two of the songs were written when I returned to the Northeast after a 10 year detour in the Midwest and West. So, more than anything the record is a love letter to New England and its summer green, shorelines, infinite kinds of trees, humidity, rain, everything I felt starved for while out West. I know most folks think 'autumn' and 'peak foliage' when they hear 'New England', but I think early summer and skunk cabbage bursting along the side of the road and spring peepers and foggy mornings. I've been back for eight years now and it never gets old. The record is called "Under the Ash Tree" and it'll be available for purchase about a month from now.

On the Record

2007-08-04T07:28:00.000-04:00

I recorded at Signature Sounds studio in northeastern Connecticut with Mark Thayer acting as engineer, co-producer, coach, and occasional chef. Mark has a well-earned reputation for recording acoustic music and he created warm, spacious, and just plain yummy tracks.

The first two days in the studio were spent with my dream rhythm section. Jim Henry(Tracy Grammar, Mark Erelli) played all but one song on acoustic guitar and he patiently learned to play them very close to how I do (but better). For the song "Compass" I told him not to worry about playing it how I do and to go ahead and do his thing and he came up with the most beautiful arrangement. When I asked him to show me how to play it, he replied, "It's really hard". Hokay. So if you see me playing that song live and it doesn't sound quite the way it does on the record, now you know why.

Richard Gates (Suzanne Vega, Patty Larkin) arranged and played electric bass and did so in such an understated and beautiful way. He created especially beautiful lines on "Mainesong". Eric Platz rounded out the rhythm section with drums. I didn't expect to have percussion on all but one track, but because Eric played to perfection it worked out that way. I've never played with a drummer before. Let me tell you, I could get used to that.

Over the next few weeks we brought in other musicians and laid down the vocal and harmony tracks. Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jonatha Brooke) came in cold and put down guitar, mandolin, and banjo tracks. He has an uncanny sense for shaping a song and taking it to a whole different place. Janet Taggart Blake wrote beautiful cello parts and learned and sang my harmony parts easily. Seth Glier - a fantastic keyboard player, singer, and songwriter in his own right - came in on very short notice (as in the morning we called him) . He's a natural and has what seems to be an unlimited amount of energy. Ah youth. Finally Chris Turner, a world class harmonica player, came in and did his thing and a record was born.

Flash back to 6 months ago ...

2007-07-11T22:07:00.000-04:00

It was at the 2007 Northeast Jonifest (What is Jonifest you say? See below) that a musical fairy godmother of sorts planted a seed in my wee head and there was just enough sunshine and warmth for roots to take hold and soon the first signs of green were coming out of my ears ... alright let's ditch the flowery metaphor and get on with it - I made a record - or CD as we’re calling it these days. You could also think of it as 12 digital downloads if “CD” is too old-fashioned for you. In about a week I'll have a thousand of them sitting on my front doorstep. I'm figuring it all out as I go along which is wonderful and terrifying at the same time, mostly terrifying , but worth it.

**Jonifest: 4 days of musical bliss hanging with some of the best people in the world who share a love for the music of Joni Mitchell and are simply passionate about music in general. www.jmdl.com/jonifest.