Ice Storm '08

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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

Should I be worried?