Entering the Fray

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

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!