blue this
marika
And, I thought we were just going to skip winter. Duh on me! Had me
looking at Daffodils sprouting and little buds on forsythias and even
some onions in the grass. Too good to be true. But it won't be long.
For now, the only thing that breaks a sweat on me is good chili.
What's been happening? November's highlight for me was on the 10th,
when my trio, WOODY played at 3rd Street Coffeehouse in Old Southwest
Roanoke. After almost 20 years, it's still a great place to play and a
great place to sit in the audience. It's probably the only venue in
town where the performers and the audience are so tightly connected.
It's all about the music at 3rd St., whether you play it or just like
to listen to it. It's both for me.
After such an exhilarating evening, I was brought to my knees by the
news that my musical brother, Samuel Thomas Mann had died in his
sleep earlier in the evening. Sam's passing dominated the weekend and
will continue to dominate many moments in my mind as I reflect on the huge
impact he had on me in the 7-1/2 years I knew him. There were several
tributes to Sam locally, in the form of music, of course. The 23rd saw a
packed house at the Green Dolphin Grille in downtown
Roanoke. Steve Virts, Al Coffey and I hosted the Grand Finale of
Sam's Flat Broke Open Mic. If you missed it, we assume that you just
couldn't get in the door. It was amazing. We're hoping that we got
enough good video footage to put a nice DVD together. More on that
later. Meanwhile, see my pictorial tribute to Sam at my web site:
http://billpaynemusic.net/photos-group-23.html
In the 2 weeks prior to the 23rd, we raised $800 for Sam's favorite
charity, St, Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Thanks to all those
who contributed - you know who you are.
We all wished for some good news, and prayers were answered. A couple days
after our 3rd St. performance, Sonny Campbell (WOODY's
bassist/vocalist) and his wife Annie had their brand new baby
daughter, Marion. Cool, huh? Wish them well at your first
opportunity. While we loaded out after our 3rd St. performance, Sonny
told us that Annie was in the hospital about to pop. The boy has
class! An original WOODY. Gotta love him!
December is the month for the always-fun party at Catawba Sound
Studio (pssssst.: it's also proprietor, Wayne Weikel's birthday).
Sorry if you missed it. Just sorry.
The group also played for the second time at Edinburgh Square
Retirement Comminity in Roanoke in January. These folks are a
wonderful audience, and we truly enjoyed playing for them. We'll be
back. If you're a performer, contact me for info about playing for
these fine folks.
OK, on to what's gonna happen soon. I look forward to playing
at the Southwest Virginia Songwriters Association Songwriters In The
Round night there on March 2. It's your chance to see and hear a
dozen or so of the finest regional songwriters around, and I'm proud
to participate with them. See below for the location of 3rd Street
Coffeehouse. NO COVER CHARGE.
Original WOODY, Al Coffey, will be playing at Coda on Grandin Ave. in
Roanoke on Friday, February 9 from 7:30 - 10:30. Rumor has it that the
other members of WOODY will sit in for an impromptu set. You ought to
be there. NO COVER CHARGE.
Spring will bring festivals, and I'll be a part of as many as I can.
On the schedule, with more to come, are the Nashville Songwriters
Festival in June and the Mountain Stage Newsong Festival in August.
More calendar news later. Check it anytime at:
http://billpaynemusic.net/calendar
Last year, I started recording my next album. This year, I'll start
all over again. I'll be more ready this time. The album title will be
called "Speechless" and will have my guitar instrumental by that name
on it. I'm looking forward to being joined by Donna Pearson on vocals
and Pat Jenkins on pedal steel on a duet version of "In Your Past".
Byrd Burton has promised to accompany me on an as-yet-unnamed song.
"Byrd Who?', you ask? Just Google him.
I'm also planning on a few cover songs by regional artists. Among
them will be a song I call "Miz Lillian", which is a derivative of
"Miz Darby", written by friend Anthony Elmore.
Visit Anthony at:
http://www.geocities.com/bteambluesband/btbbhome.html
And, I'm thanking the following in advance for their assistance and
support:
1. Sonny and Al
2. Wayne and Nita Weikel of Catawba Sound Studio
3. You. Yes, you. You can always help by recommending the "Naughty
And Nice" CD to folks, gifting it for special occasions and such.
Sales of the first CD help finance the next one, the expenses for
which seem to grow all the time. There's studio time, production
time, mastering, graphic design, replication, promotion and inventory
costs. There's packaging, shrink wrap, bar codes, boxes, shipping
envelopes, postage, etc., ad infinitum. Not to mention untold hours
of writing, rewriting, practice, performing and worrying. So, thanks
in advance for your help!
Many of you know that I've recently added a new p.a. system to my
arsenal, which sounds amazing. In addition to using it for playing
gigs, I intend to use it in my new persona as the "Double-Play
Dee-Jay". Yeah, yeah, I hear ya; what's that going to do for the
local live music scene? Well, for one thing, it will permit me to
afford to be able to do more charity events, which seem to represent
about half my schedule. Besides, when it comes down to what's good
for the local music scene (which is bigger than I am, of course) and
what's good for me, well - what's good for me wins out. I'm going to
live out my remaining years in the music bidness one way or another -
or both. So, both it is.
Consequently, if you know of a group that is planning an event at
which they will not be having live music, please contact me at
doubl...@billpaynemusic.net. I'll be happy to do the music for you
live or recorded (thus, the "double-play") or both. No event too big
or too small.
3rd Street Coffee House Schedule:
April 13: 20th Anniversary Celebration (6-10 PM), featuring David
LaMotte, Trifolkal, 3 Old Guys With Guitars.
3RD ST. COFFEEHOUSE IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF 3RD STREET AND
MOUNTAIN AVE. IN OLD SOUTHWEST ROANOKE. THOUGH IT'S IN THE BASEMENT
OF THE TRINITY UNTIED METHODIST CHURCH, IT HAS ITS OWN ENTRANCE.
NEVER A COVER CHARGE!
FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE MONTH
I've started this new department in order to offer a special service
to those people who would like to have MP3 copies of "Naughty And
Nice" tunes on their computer and/or iPod.
By request, I've made this month's free download "Springer". It's
about what you think. The TV show. I watched about 15 minutes of it
once and then wrote the song. Although it doesn't have any 4-letter
words, the content is somewhat adult (or, at least adolescent) in
nature. I hope you'll take advantage of the free download by clicking
on the following link and selecting the download:
http://billpaynemusic.net/music-8.html
SALES DEPARTMENT
Thanks to everyone who has bought and/or listened to "Naughty And
Nice". The countdown to the break-even point stands at 89 to go. You
know what to do. Digital distribution has passed 4,000 now - another
milestone (mostly listens, of course - they net me anywhere from .01
to .09 each, depending on the source). There are links below that
will take you to digital music sites, many of which offer free sample
tracks. I hope you'll check them out and feel compelled to support
independent music by making a purchase of a single track or whole
album. Thanks!
I'm fortunate to be included on a compilation CD
released by Catawba Records, titled "Blue Ridge
Music Today - The Whole Caboodle". This is a
fantastic collection of 21 songs by Catawba Records
artists and those who have recorded at Catawba
Sound Studio. There are tunes by Steve Virts,
Donna Pearson, Samuel Thomas Mann, Al Coffey,
Heather Berry & Virginia Carolina, the Bluegrass
Brothers, Locust Mountain Boys, and a bunch of
other artists, including WOODY! Check it out at the
CD Baby site, and buy it there if you like, or order a
copy from the Store page at my site:
http://billpaynemusic/products
http://www.cdbaby.com/catawbarecs