Tumbleweed then “Back to the Studio”

TUMBLEWEED

From Hank:  We did it!  Had a great weekend in Richland, WA.  It was our first visit and performance at the Tumbleweed Folk Festival; great music on four stages, and great weather!  We also had fun jamming with friends from Portland, Seattle, and Eastern Washington.  Keep the festival in mind next Labor Day, and take in some wineries while you’re at it.

Tumbleweed fun in the sun

Windy and sunny all weekend in Richland, WA

We took I90 on the way there, and made some time for the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park by the Columbia River. It’s been at least 10 years since I stopped there last, and it only takes an hour or so to take in the displays at the visitor’s center, and walk the trails around the petrified logs.  And don’t forget to walk around the back of the visitor’s center to see the petroglyphs that were relocated there before they raised the Wanapum Reservior.  Not only was it a reminder of how quickly the landscape can change, uncovering features buried under lava for millions of years; but it was a healthy reminder that power and bridges in that area were non-existent in our parents’ lifetime; some of our parents were truly pioneers.

For the return trip we stayed on the “Blue Highways” through Yakima – picked up some crates of tomatoes and peaches – and across White Pass on the south side of Mt Ranier.  It’s a drive I always enjoy.  The mountain was weathered in this time, but I’m sure it was standing proud behind those clouds.

STUDIO

We had about two weeks to listen to the rough mixes of the studio recordings, and returned last week to do some final editing and adding a few tracks.  We got some great results and will probably be in the studio for one more day to complete the editing and mastering.  Yee-Haa!  If the stars are in proper alignment we could see a completed project as early as Thanksgiving.

CD PACKAGING PREP

This weekend was spent at the “Villa” in Ocean Shores, where we went to the jetty to get some photos.  We had nail-biting fun scrambling on the jetty rocks with our guitars and subjected them to more salt spray than they should ever sea, but we did get some interesting shots.  After it was over, I wiped down the Larrivee guitar and applied a good coat of polish.  But I was not apologetic – this is the beach guitar after all.

in search of the perfect CD cover. This was close, but not the winner.

From Claire:  Our first music festival together was a surprise in one special way – many of our now-dearly appreciated music buddies were there from Seattle, Portland, and places beyond. Ellen van der Hoeven came down from Canada to perform with her sweetie Tom Rawson, who snapped the two photos of us – thanks, Tom.  We got all fouled up on directions Saturday night to a jam at a nearby home, but tried again Sunday and had a delightful musical time from 7pm to 2am or so Monday morning.

As for the petrified ginkgo trees, well they were sooooo memorable that I totally forgot I’d walked the trail to see them with Mimi, my amazing daughter, about 10 years ago or more. Unfortunately, because of looters, the individual logs in situ are encased in metal cages that could hold King Kong at bay. Very off-putting. And the trail was up a hill in the blazing heat of an Southeastern Washington late summer roast. But I don’t think Mimi and I stopped at the visitor’s center and that’s where the really interesting specimens and information was on display. Well worth the detour even though the gift shop was all out of T-shirts my size.

And kudos to our wonderful friend and photographer Angela Wilson, for chasing us around at the jetty and on the beach, snapping everything that happened, including my taking a tumble in the soft sand as we escaped the raging surf. Notice my guitar held higher than my head, which meant digging sand out of my ear but not out of my sound-box!

an elemental moment

proper protocol for falling with guitar

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Going to Play at Tumbleweed Music Festival September 4

On the banks of the Columbia River at Howard Amon Park in Richland, WA, the Tumblweed Music Festival will hold its 13th annual event over the Labor Day weekend. Hank and I were accepted and will be performing Saturday, September 4 from 5:45-6:30pm on River Stage. This is our first folk festival gig together, and we know we’ll be in good company as lots of our Seattle folksinging pals, who count this one of the most pleasing for both audience and performers, enjoy appearing there, even with the occasional downpour. Stages are well situated for maximum acoustic effect and everyone can dip there toes in the river if it’s hot. For more about the festival, visit their website: http://www.3rfs.org.

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MARCH “MUSIC” MADNESS

They’re cheering or crying in living rooms and sports bars across the country; leaning forward on easy chair or bar stool, praising or cursing the flat screen icon.  That’s how March Madness is experienced by millions who may or may not have game tickets.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, and some of my best friends don’t, let me clue you in…it’s the national college basketball tournament.

The anticipation and excitement of March Madness give rise to an emotional intensity we don’t usually access in our normal daily lives.  In that way, it’s a lot like LIVE MUSIC!

Claire and I experienced our own March madness in a whirlwind of  emotionally exhilirating music-making events.   In addition to performing three times as Hankster and the Lovely Claire this month, we attended five concerts and a music jam.  But it’s not over yet; this weekend we are headed to Portland for three days of music camp.  We didn’t set out to break a record for the most music crammed into a 31-day period, but we wound up setting the bar quite high for a future attempt.

Here are the highlights of our MARCH MUSIC MADNESS!

March 5^th – Joe Hickerson in a house concert.  Joe was singing for audiences in the 1950’s as a member of the singing group The Folksmiths. He shared lots of personal stories weaving in well-known names from the folk revival.  From 1963 to1998, Joe was Librarian and Director of the Archive of Folk Song at the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.  Now he’s back on the road keeping the songs and history of roots music alive.

March 8 – Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Many friends and co-workers don’t recognize Ladysmith, even though they do remember their singing on the 1986 Graceland album.  This a capella group from South Africa was started by Joseph Shabalala in 1960.  They came to international attention in the mid 1980’s when Paul Simon incorporated their traditional African sound in the Graceland album.  Claire said she can’t help smile and weep when she hears the richly resonant singing of these men.  Twenty-minute-long songs are accompanied by high-stepping athletic dance moves.  The founder of the group, Joseph Shabalala, is now turning leadership over to his sons but still sings, jumps, and kicks his foot over his head.  His distinctive tremolo will be much missed.

March 10 – HATLC in Bellingham.  This Roeder Home concert was more like a house concert with lots of group singing, participation, and interaction with friends old and new.  It was fun to learn that many of the songwriters whose songs we performed, had sung at the Roeder Home in past months or years.  We did bring a few original songs which added to the Roeder Home collection.

March 11 – HATLC at Hearthstone.  Singing and connecting with this retirement community on Green Lake was a blessing.  Seeing the heart-to-heart connection reflected in someone’s face as we sing to them is what this is all about.   And a retired music teacher came from the audience to say how much he liked “that a capella song with the open fourths and fifths.” We knew we had connected.

March 12^th – Unpaid Bills & Cruzers at the Wayward.  Bill Murlin, Bill Rose and Jim Portillo.  When Jim plays bass they are the Unpaid Bills.  When Bill Rose plays bass they are the Cruzers… aptly named due to their preference for Santa Cruz guitars.  Great harmonies, guitar playing, and just enough banjo flavor to make it tasty. We had a very enjoyable evening in the audience, feeling the heart-to-heart connection their music inspired.  This Greenwood concert at the Wayward Coffee House is a regular third Saturday event sponsored by the Pacific NW Folklore Society.  Keep tabs on upcoming events at their website http://pnwfolklore.org/.

March 13^th – Music Jam at the Couth Buzzard.  This bookstore in the Greenwood District hosts a music jam on Saturday mornings at 11 AM.  Playing is almost as much fun as seeing the smiles on shoppers’ faces when they come through the door and discover live music-making in the middle of the day.  You can support the Pacific NW Folklore Society and the Couth Buzzard by dropping in to sing, play, or listen.

March 13^th – Jake Shimabukuro.  Just go to YouTube and see what Jake is up to!  From Flamenco to the Beatles you wouldn’t believe what a lone ukulele can do.  There is no describing Jake or his music that is comprehensible for those who haven’t seen and heard him.  He toured with Bela Fleck, and Jimmy Buffett.  He went to England with Bette Midler and played for the Queen!  And he’s such a nice kid…

March 20^th – HATLC at Family Promise.  It was an honor to entertain at this fundraising dinner for Family Promise.  Family Promise is a relatively young organization which is addressing the needs of the homeless in West Seattle.  Learn more at www.FamilyPromiseofSeattle.org.

March 20^th – Si Kahn at Phinney Ridge.  Songwriter and activist.  Wonderful songs that can change a person’s life.  And if you think struggles for social reform are finished, check out this Founder and Director of Grassroots Leadership, a non-profit organization that advocates for several causes, including prison reform, improved immigration detention policies, and violence prevention.

March 26^th to 28^th – Singtime Frolics.  This is a great annual event sponsored by the Portland FolkMusic Society.  Three days of food, lodging, and all the music you can stay awake for.  Song circles, jamming, and workshops.  Guest artists this year are Steve Einhorn and Kate Power, a duo I’ve only heard on YouTube, but look forward to hearing from in person.

I could go on writing about all the music missed in the month of March… that would be “MARCH MISSED MUSIC MADNESS”… but even if you read this far down the column you would probably not have the time or inclination to continue.

Just remember there are a multitude of music experiences every month in the NW.  I hope you all take the opportunity to share some of them.

PS: We’re back from Singtime in Portland, OR.  Humming snatches of songs we just HAVE to add to our own repertoire.  But more importantly, we’re filled to overflowing with gratitude and humility in the face of so many (90+) creative, funny, joyful people making music and connecting in friendship together.  Everyone from rank beginner (not a value judgment!) to high-caliber professionals sharing gems we’ve discovered and learning from each other. Guest musicians were Kate Power and Steve Einhorn (www.qaulityfolk.com) — who proved yet again that the core of folk music is as much about being lovingly and fully engaged with our own lives and with each other as it is about excellence in our craft.

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Roeder Home Venue

The Roeder Home is a beautifully appointed old mansion in Bellingham, WA, the site of many a marvelous live acoustic concert in its present incarnation as a public space for rent. The dedication of local musicians and music-lovers are keeping the live concert tradition alive.

We especially enjoyed the “Green Room” –one of the cozy bedrooms upstairs complete with private bath. Very elegant to drift down the wide staircase and appear at the appointed hour to sing and play in front of the massive fireplace in the main drawing room. We debuted a couple of new pieces, or new to us anyway — Libby Roderick’s “Dig Down Deep” and Si Kahn’s “Gone, Gonna Rise Again” — both performed a cappella.  A modest-sized, but enthusiastic audience graced us with their presence and their pleasure.  Several were regular attenders and a few were there for the first time. We hope they enjoyed it enough to continue supporting live acoustic music in Bellingham.

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Bellingham Concert And How to Host a House Concert

Bellingham Concert

Hank and I will be at the Roeder Home in Bellingham Wednesday, March 10 at 7:30 for a 2-hour gig.  Hosted by the Whatcom County Homemade Music Society. Address: 2600 Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA and phone number for information: 360-734-7872. It will be great fun to see our northern-ish music buddies again — Bellingham has a thriving folk music community and many Bellingham musicians attended the New Year’s Retreat we’re still savoring. 

Hosting House Concerts

Think of a house concert as a rare gift for everyone involved.  The musicians have an audience without booking venues or dealing with agents, the host enjoys their choice of performers right in their own home, and invited guests experience a musical treat.  This is all in the tradition of live music for small groups of appreciative listeners, a type of community music making that stretches back to the beginnings of human culture.  Your house may glow with delight for days afterward.

Hosting a house concert can be as simple or complex as you wish. Performers like Hank and me–and of course we’re up for doing house concerts pretty much any time–don’t need much space in your living room (or on your deck or back yard if it’s nice weather).  A space of about 5 feet deep by about 8 feet wide would suffice. Figure a little more if it’s outside and we need to set up our sound system but that doesn’t add much to what we need. If you are intending to host only one or two of these and you have people in mind for your invitation list, here are the basics:

1. Schedule date/time with performers and estimate number of audience members you can accommodate.
2. Include a “space limited” note in your invitation…get reservations by email or phone if you like.
3. Arrange decent lighting for the performers, whether it creates a spotlight effect or not.
4. Put signage on bathroom door open to your guests.
5. Have beverages for the break–water at least. Snacks or finger foods are optional – maybe ask friends to bring some.
6. Set up table for taking donations and selling performers’ CDs, etc. Position this close to the entry to encourage financial support for the performers. They’ve worked hard to learn all those words!
7. Have a great time!
8. PS…hosts usually get a free CD for their efforts. What a great way to build a music collection!

Tips:

• Suggested donations are usually $10-15 for the performers. This is a private party so there is no admission fee, but folksingers have to eat, too!
• To be fair to the performers, it’s a good idea to be able to comfortably seat at least 15 people . The upper limit would depend on your space and whether a sound system is involved.
• Parking needs to be considered – keep your neighbors happy.
• Schedule the performance so that all is quiet again by 10-ish. Although the actual music will most likely not be heard beyond your house, the coming and going of  appreciative listeners can be joyfully noisy.

If you are in the mood to hold multiple house concerts as a dedicated patron of live music, here are a couple of things to consider:

• You will run out of your personal friend list eventually and need to do some publicity.  Friends we know in Seattle who host many house concerts post their concert information (minus their actual address) at Dusty Strings, Seattle’s premier folk music shop.  If you’re not in Seattle, then find a similarly likely location for potential audience members.   Include the performers’ contact information as well as your own and indicate the general location of your home.
• Ensure that people coming late do not need to tromp through the performance area.
• If possible, prepare the beverages and snacks someplace where the noise will not “leak” into the concert area.
• Develop great rapport with your neighbors.

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Mid-winter Music Happenings

Our concert January 17 was very well attended – standing room only in a space intended for about 80 people. We had to pare our playlist down to fit the hour slot but made sure to include a few pretty duets, some a cappella mountain-style songs, a couple of cowboy tunes, and Hank’s song about healthcare reform, which we had deeply hoped would be irrelevant by now, but apparently we all need to sing LOUDER!

Claire and Hank in Everett January 17, 2010

 Hank gave me a wonderful CD for Valentine’s Day of a new project that singer/songwriter Linda Allen has just produced, called “Here’s to the Women.” It’s a tribute to the courage and persistence of the women involved in the suffrage movement with a focus on the people and events here in Washington State. You can get more information about this fascinating project and the songs themselves on Linda’s website, www.Lindasongs.com.

From Hank:  I had the opportunity to see Linda Allen at a house concert on February 7 in Everett.  Bob Nelson opened the concert with some commentary and ballads.  Bob has a wonderful bag of songs from years of collecting and it’s always interesting to see what he will pull out.  I particularly liked the the Mary Garvey song Steamboat Slough (“…build a boat, find a crew, and bring those salmon home…”), which is representative of her songwriting about charming, yet determined folks, whose livelihoods depend on fisheries, the economy, or other less than predictable factors.   

Linda Allen presented her songs in an oral history format. Did you know women’s voting rights in Washington State preceded the 19th ammendment by a decade?  You can learn about this and more by attending one of Linda’s upcoming ”Here’s to the Women” programs, which occur throughout the State between now and April.  You will also have the priviledge of hearing Linda’s heartfelt singing up close and personal in intimate venues including public libraries and colleges auditoriums.  Check Linda’s web site for details on dates and locations. 

Our next post will be a how-to on hosting house concerts and a reminder of our own upcoming musical events.

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Singing the New Year In

The new year is here, and we were very happy to sing in our first New Year together, with friends old and new at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop (PSGW) New Year’s retreat. This is such a good deal I want everyone to know about it; food and lodging for four days and nights, and singing/playing  till the wee hours every morning.

These camps attract musicians at all levels, from beginner to professional. There were many guitars along with basses, fiddles, banjos, dulcimers, and the like. There was even a double-strung harp played by a very accomplished musician. The most unique instrument, however, was the ”banjo-bass.” It was constructed by Peter Jones of Port Townsend, who is also known for his racing kinetic sculptures. The bass has a good thump to it and was used for a fiddle jam Saturday night. If you don’t want to drag an upright bass to the parking lot jam, I’d recommend it over a washtub for its volume and portability.

Jammin' at PSGW New Year's Retreat 2009-2010: Hank Payne, Larry Leggett, and Zeke Hoskin

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Claire’s four bits: I have often wondered what it would be like to be part of a community where music-making is almost more important than eating, and over New Year’s I got my answer.  This community was not the rarefied environment of a music school where everyone is about the same age and the focus in on preparing to make a living or take the world by storm. It was also not the music theory-oriented environment I knew as the daughter of a college music professor.

This was a rag-tag, pick-up band kind of gang, with kids (and grown-up kids) playing Ping-Pong, Boggle, and Catan when they were not themselves wowing the rest of us with their fiddle or guitar playing.  No planned activities at this camp, beyond a fancy dinner and Auld Lang Syne on New Year’s Eve, and a concert we gave ourselves on Friday night. Oh, and there was that whistle choir!

About 40 people total, we convened in groups of 2, 5, 8 or more, scattered throughout the roomy spaces available.  At any one time, except during meals, there were 4-5 separate clusters of music-makers.  Someone would sit down and begin playing: swing, jazz, blues, folk. I was pulled into one group of 6 people who were determined to get the harmonies right in the Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tune Helplessly Hoping. We did, too.  Within a few minutes of someone settling down to play, others gravitated like iron filings to a magnet, adding their unique musical gifts and exploring one piece after another, sometimes in the manner of a song circle, and sometimes with no particular protocol. No one was in charge of the music we made.  Someone would get up to stretch or find something to eat, and the dynamic shifted.  All day long, the energy shifted again, and again, and again, until everyone had reluctantly gone to bed, only long enough to rest fingers and shoulders and backs so they could work their marvelous magic again the next day.

So, I like the answer I got about community music-making. I’ll do my small part (with Hank’s help) to carry it on every New Year’s and keep it alive from January to December every year.

This New Year’s retreat is surprisingly affordable as far as New Year extravaganzas go.  PSGW sponsors two more weekend retreats in February and May, as well as three weeklong workshops in July/August. If you have any interest at all in playing, singing, or learning, check them out on-line at  http://www.langston.com/PSGW/.

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SFS Song Circle

Last Sunday Claire and I wound up the weekend in Seattle and decided to attend the Song Circle sponsored by the Seattle Folklore Society (SFS). There were about fifteen voices and song leaders that evening. This weekly circle has been going on for three decades or more thanks to the dedication of SFS members.

Singing is not icing on the cake, it is bread for the soul. Songs circles are a wonderful place to find your own voice, and enjoy the healing benefits of community singing. There is usually an opportunity to present three or four songs in a typical song circle. It doesn’t hurt to prepare a list of songs so you are ready when your turn comes around. I try to present a song for a reason … like something old, something new, something funny, something true… and occasionally something irreverent.

Something old comes from a body of shared songs everyone knows and can sing freely. A well known Bill Staines song like Roseville Fair, a ballad like Red River Valley, or a rock&roll song like Bye Bye Love, helps to open voices and build harmonies. Everyone singing freely and openly is what it is about… otherwise we might as well stay in the shower.

The circle is a great place to try out a new song. This may be an old song just learned, a new song which might stand the test of time, or maybe a recently completed original song. Like some others in the circle I believe a song worth singing is a song worth memorizing, so this is a good place to test the memory as well as try out the song. If it is a song you believe in don’t be shy about repeating it in future circles… how else will it become an old song that everyone can share with vigor?

Funny and true may be done for entertainment and that is encouraged too. That’s how you develop confidence in your voice. It doesn’t hurt though if there is a good chorus to bring the community along. Of course plans change and you may not do any of the songs you prepared. You may be reminded of a different song by one you hear, or a theme may develop and you just have to sing that one frog song in your repertoire.

What ever you sing, sing it with conviction. You will gladden those around you, and lift your own spirits through the week that follows. Hank

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