Women Rule!

No surprises there, but Heather Kropf writes with that info and more:

Women Rule Cefalo's Tonight

Hi friends -

So I had no luck winning the acoustic challenge at Sing Sing's on Tuesday. Sigh. The guitar duo of clean-cut boys won instead. Good thing they sounded alright or I'd be perturbed.

Anyhooo, I'm so excited about this last-minute show I got invited to be a part of. Tonight at Cefalo's Club in Carnegie, PA, I'll be playing some songs in the round with Eve Goodman, Joey Murphy and national recording artist, Kyler England. It's a 21+ show, $5 at the door. I've heard Cefalo's is a former church that has been converted into a beautiful club. http://www.clubcefalo.com.

Other in-the-round events:

Fri., Oct. 14, 8 PM
Siba Cucina
Seven Fields, PA
with Philadelphia writer Robyn Harris. Also Brad Yoder, myself, and Jason on bass
Free, All Ages

Monday, Oct. 17, 8 PM
Starbucks on Murray Ave
Pittsburgh, PA
with Eve Goodman and friends
Free, All Ages

I've promised a mad-lib song at this event. :)

OTHER NEWS

The record is mastered! I can't wait to share it with all of you. Details for the the CD release party are a few weeks off yet, but I'll let you know just as soon as I can so you can mark your calendars.

peace,
Heather

Robert's Weekend

The only thing missing is a couple of daytime workshops. Read on and find out what's happening in Robert Wagner's world.

Friends,

I'm playing a couple of shows in the area this weekend.
Friday, I'm at the Borders in Monroeville. 7:30 pm
Also on Friday, Jack Erdie is hosting a JOHN PRINE Tribute at The Starlite as part of The Threepenny Opry. I'll be rushing over after the Borders thing to play a few tunes and enjoy the festivities.

Saturday, I'm with John Wells at The Starlite Lounge as part of The Threepenny Opry series. 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

If you, like me, watched that Scorsese thing about Dylan with great interest, you'll want to hear John Wells. John reminds me of Dave Van Ronk. He's an encyclopedia of musical knowledge and a compelling (though too real for some tastes) performer. John's music connects me to a world of characters and events as interesting and sophisticated as anything I've found in Dostoyevsky or Dickens, except it's music so twice as much fun. If I'm exaggerating, forgive me, but I'm a fan.

Sincerely,

Roberto

Saturday Night at the Starlite

Courtesy John Wells:

Dear Folks,

HELP!

I've been very bad. I spent all my money on stupid things like food. I let the 19 viruses my computer got from PeoplePC keep me off line for weeks. I haven't done my practicing. I haven't done anything to be responsible about being given the sacred duty of hosting this Saturday, Octopus 1, 2005's Three Penny Opry at the Starlight.

I figure it's all Carol's fault. It's only logical:
Something's wrong.
Carol's the nearest blond.
Therefore, It's all her fault.

Wait a minute. ... Ahh! I'm feeling better now. The U.S. Postal service just sent this girl to my house. She didn't want to stay, even though I told her Carol wouldn't be home for a while, but she did leave me this box. And inside the box was a carton of Camel Filters Hard Pack for Carol, and a box of La Gloria Cubana Cigars for me. Thanks, Carlton. You shouldn't have.

Anyway, you've all stayed away in droves on previous occasions that I've been listed as the host or featured performer. This is your last warning. Show up and be ready to play, or I'll still love you. That'll teach you a lesson. I know who you are. I'll find out where you live. I expect all of you to show up at the Starlight at 8:00 PM, EDT SHARP, Saturday, Octopus 1, 2005.

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!


Sincerely,
GLORM, the worm from outer space now inhabiting and controlling the body of the human being previously known as John D. Wells

Prine Numbers

All right. Here's a request for favorite John Prine lines. Here are a few of my own favorite lines from the song "Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)":

For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter.
You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there
Wrapped up in a trap of your very own
Chain of sorrow.

Not laugh out loud hilarious, perhaps, but funny in the way that Ecclesiastes or Buddha was funny.

Send me yours and come to listen and play this Friday.

Born to Cook Cookin'

Joey Murphy writes:

My fellow musicians-

Born to Cook has not one, but THREE huge events this
coming week!

Thursday, 9/29/05
8:30 pm-5.00
Cefalo’s
Kyler England is the featured songwriter. Hailing
from North Carolina, Kyler’s independent release A
Flower Grows in Stone has been well received by
critics and featured in Performing Songwriter’s DIY
Spotlight. Joining her will be Heather Kropf, Eve
Goodman and Joey Murphy.

Friday 9/30/05
9:00 5.00
Quiet Storm
Steff Mahan, rising star from Nashville and circuit
favorite. Steff will be joined by local emerging
talent Autumn Ayers and BTC stalwarts Eve Goodman and
Joey Murphy.

Tuesday 10/4/05
Club Café
7:00 5.00
Hallie Pritts and Boca Chica. Hallie will be joining
us in the round and Boca Chica will play the
headlining second set. The Circle will include the
fabulous authentic roots musician Rick Malis, as well
as Joey and Eve.

We are pleased to announce that several local
businesses and cultural organizations have, in a
gesture of support for live local music, donated
prizes for the fundraising raffles we will be having
at each event. Gift Certificates, T-Shirts, Cds, DVDs
and music memorabilia have been generously donated by
Pittsburgh Guitars, The Square Café, WYEP,
Screeprints, and the Murphy Cultural Emporium.

Musicians need venues to play in. Venues need people
to attend. We’re asking for your help. Come to one
of the shows, bring a friend or two, join us in
building a better songwriter’s community, help us
enrich Pittsburgh.

We need you - on the stage and in the audience- get
involved for a better musical world!

Acoustic Challengers

Heather Kropf writes

Hey friends,

I've joined up for an Acoustic Challenge contest at Sing Sing at the Waterfront.

My round is tonight, 8 PM. I think it's free. Come on down to cheer on my "originality, stage presence (!?!?), and musicianship." Whoohoo!

Also "competing" tonight are:

Jason Kendall
JD Strum
Rubbie Greenwald

I haven't heard of any of them, but then I don't get out much. But I did get out this past weekend when I drove an AMAZING Syrian band, Hewar, around the east coast. We were at the Kennedy Center in D.C. on Sunday where they blew the audience away.

American Master?! He's Just a Singer/Songwriter!

Just want to interrupt our week-long salute to John Prine for one entry. Watched the Bob Dylan thingie last night. As much as it was devoted to appreciating and understanding Bob Dylan, the images that stick in my head are of Gene Vincent's guitar player, Johnny Meeks. Vincent sings a little, then Meeks tears through a solo, and as soon as he's done, puts his pick in his mouth and starts clapping like a man possessed. As Ronnie Hawkins demonstrated in The Last Waltz never underestimate the ability of a mad hillbilly to steal the show.

The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars...
— Jack Kerouac, On The Road

John Prine Tribute This Friday

Jack Erdie writes . . .

First, I want to thank everybody who attended the PUMPKIN CD release party two weeks ago at the Rex. It was one of the highlights of my life. In fact, I've been in a sort of artistic post-partem depression ever since. There were a couple of moments where I thought I would levitate from a mystical blend of gratitude and the energy and attention coming from everybody. Thank you all.

Second, and now more pressing, since it has the potential to be another fantastic night for all involved: This Friday's Three Penny Opry will be a tribute to John Prine. Ten local singer/songwriters will play one John Prine song, and one of
their original tunes that they can somehow connect to Mr. Prine. So far, Robert Wagner, Joey Murphy, Howard Davidson, David Wells, Mark Stroup, Sue Gartland, Peter Donovan, John Hayes, and myself are all signed up.

It's rumored that Ron "Moondog" Esser might play a Prine tune, too.

After the "official" tribute, there will be an open mike where performers are encouraged to do the same -- Prine songs and songs influenced in some way by him.

I'll videotape the whole thing and send it to John!

John Prine was a formative influence on my musical direction, starting when I was about thirteen. I sometimes lean more to the hyperverbal, Dylanesque side of the equation, just because I have so much to say, so little time in which to do it, and not enough craft yet to simplify and encapsulate. But I've been striving for years to get to the John Prine-like core of things, to be able to impart both the overwhelming humor and pathos of life with the single well-crafted line. I may have finally done this with Speed of Darkness, which is directly influenced by two songs of Prine's. (Anybody care to guess which two?)

Thanks for your time. See you there.

Your Servant in Song,

Jack Erdie

News from Jay Hitt

Antonio and I will be doing our Simon and Garfunkel thing at a benefit for the victims of Hurricane Katrina at the Hard Rock Cafe in Station Square on Sunday evening. There will be much music and merry making so stop in after the game. I've heard that we'll be playing at about 8:00 so come in and listen to all the bands.

Americana Night at the Starlite
Rick Malis will be hosting Bluegrass Night this Saturday. He'll be there with singer, songfinder, and songwriter Ben Hartlage, banjoist and fiddler Don Shean, guitarist John Mackin, and dobro master Ron Mesing.

Here's a sample from Rick -- Blue and Broken Hearted -- more on the honky-tonk side, but, believe me, Rick can cover a lot of ground: country, bluegrass, and traditional. Go hear him for yourself.

Katrina Benefit Bluegrass Concert at Synod Hall

Friday September 23
7:30 - 10:30 PM
Synod Hall, Oakland

Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers
The Allegheny Drifters
Timber Ridge
M & M Express
Nine Mile Run

Parking:
Behind St Paul's and Synod Hall or across Craig Street in the Oakland Catholic parking lot behind the school

Donation asked: $15.00

More info here, or e-mail pdvorc@ccpgh.com

Sam Flesher Comes Through

Sam wrote this one this morninglast week, and I'm happy to send it out to the world. Sam always reminds me of Joni Mitchell, and to some of you that might seem highly unlikely. When I'm listening to some of Sam's songs, though, I'm put into this particular location, and I say "I've been here before. Joni Mitchell sent me here once."

Here's Loose Ends. Let Sam know what you think.

I'd like to thank you for your comments.
I always have a real good time when I'm picking up loose ends.

What Did You Hear?

What did you hear this weekend? What did you see? What did you play? What barriers were broken? Did you, in the words of Sylvester Stone, take anybody "higher"? Were you able to achieve the sort of fire Joey Murphy did in this picture taken at a Three Penny Opry a while back?

Another Saturday Event

Jay Hitt writes:

Hello!

Just a reminder that I'll be at Borders in Northway Mall on Saturday, September 17 at 8:00.

Thanks to everyone who said they voted in the Best Of Pittsburgh poll. If you haven't voted yet, I'd really appreciate it if you'd visit www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/cp_extra/best_of_pittsburgh_'05.htm and cast a ballot for me as Best Acoustic Artist.

I'll be at Siba on Rt 228 in Seven Fields on Friday, September 23 to 7:30. Great restaurant and atmosphere. I imagine I'll be outside if the weather cooperates.

Thanks and I hope to see you Saturday!

Jay

More on Saturday's Show

Robert Wagner writes:

Gerard Rohlf and Art Gazdik's show for Friday, September 16 will be part of a larger Hurricane Relief Fundraiser at both The Starlite and Moondogs. There will be no cover-charge at either club, but donations will be collected. 25% of the bar at both clubs will also be donated to hurricane relief. If you have the chance, come down to listen, play, and support the cause.

Gerard Rohlf writes:

Doubtless, you know already that Artie and I are hosting the Three Penny Opry at the Starlite Lounge this Friday night. Originally, it was intended as an incestuous affair (Hey! I'm from Fayette County) featuring my nephews, Chris and Michael Rohlf, just back from Ohio state, my daughter, Haley, in from Illinois and my daughter, Colleen, on loan from CUA in D.C. (I can fill the place with my family alone, after all - we're all performers, going back 5 generations.) Add to this the new dimension of a "Fund-raiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina": i.e., numerous other acoustic performers - so we hope!

On the South Side of the Allegheny

Rick Malis writes:

The Mavens will be sharing the bill with our friends Soda Jerk this Saturday night at the Thunderbird Café in Lawrenceville. This alternative country extravaganza will begin at 9:30 p.m. The Thunderbird Café is located at 4023 Butler Street in Lawrenceville.

It's Coming

The growth of podcasting is chronicled by Technology Review.

Jack Erdie CD Release Party

Jack Erdie CD Release Party

Here's a photo from the show by Renee Rosensteel.

Jack Erdie, Pittsburgh-based singer/songwriter, released his HOT new CD titled "Pumpkin", last night at the Rex Theater. He's got a style that's gritty, with a wry, slightly-sinister edge.
Great show!

What'd Ya Think?

I only got to see the last few songs of Jack Erdie's show on Friday. Obviously he had people going before I got there. "Sorry, Jesus," had a great vibe going. Imitating Pentecostal ministers requires a certain touch. Jack has, I think, the touch, a combination of smart-ass humor and empathy.

What did you think of the music? The back-up band? The lights? The comfy theater seating?

Friday Night!

As you know, Jack Erdie will be having his CD release party with a whole bunch of people at Southside's Rex Theater at 9 p.m. If you go, you can hear songs like Africa.

What Will Drive This Site

We have a number of different artists: folk singers, traditionalists, alt-rockers, and singer/songwriters. I think by constantly working together despite our differences towards common goals we can build a great website, a mixture of diversity and perserverance that I like to call "perversity."

Mara Levi Here Tomorrow
Just found this out from craigslist:

DC Indie Singer-Songerwriter Mara Levi plays a FREE SHOW Thurs., Sept. 8 at the Firehouse Lounge at 9pm. No cover, show is 21+ (or bring an adult).
Bring friends, make friends, enjoy the show.

Pop music with a singer/songwriter sensibility.

Sorry, Jesus

Sorry, Jesus is maybe not the full Jack Erdie theology course, but it's at least a peak at the syllabus. I love the sly guitar intro, which prepares you for the deadpan exegesis of the resulting carnival.

I've Wheedled and Cajoled . . .
and begged and nagged. It seems to have worked. Jack Erdie has sent me some .mp3s. Make sure you get the rest of the CD. You can pick one up at his CD release party at the Southside's Rex Theater, next Friday, September 9th.

The party begins at 9 p.m. Five dollars gets you some prime Jack Erdie entertainment, plus backup by Doug Wilkin, Mark Perna, Art Gazdik, Stacy Mates, and Andrea Scheve. Jack will be psyched. Be prepared.

Go, Jack Erdie. Go, Jack Erdie.

Oh, yeah, here's the song.

Songwriters' Circle
George Kantor writes that songwriters will be meeting 7 p.m. next Tuesday, September 6th, at at the Bloomfield Bridge Tavern. The topic for the month is "what the world needs", and I will be the featured songwriter. Remember, Mr. Bachrach beat you to the "love, sweet love" answer, but we might need other things. Mmmm, sweet love.