The scheduled outdoor concert for the Beth. Fine Arts Commish moved indoors into the Rotunda of the City Center.  Lined up behind me was the arch of leather seats and microphones for City Council, perfect back drop for my backup group, The Supremes – 5 for rightwingers, 4 for liberal commie-types. 

The audience was kid-less, so I could do a full set of the real good stuff, with some very funny ad lib moments and songs that were fun to do with adults.  It felt good to play for a sophisticated audience.  Yes.

Ansel backed me up for the evening, and wowed ’em with two fine harp solos as well as his tasteful backups and leads.  A treasure to play with.  A lady bought the Live at GD CD, and remarked, “Ansel plays harp, too?”  I had to explain that harp and harmonica are the same things…..

None the less, a very fine evening of music amongst friends.

Tomorrow morning, 10:30 set for kids at a hippy happening in Schuylkill Haven and the lads from CT are coming in for Godfrey’s in the evening.

This one’s only a block away from 4th Street, and fun one to do, though notably lacking in tips.  It’s a two hour gig, and Ansel came by to sit in and practice for the weekend.  Early on, several familiar handicapped adults stopped by, asked for Splish Splash several times (which I obliged), a familiar family (I told the one daughter that I didn’t recognize her without her tutu), and other folks took in the afternoon.  Nice to have some time to play and stretch.  Ready for a weekend of quality gigs….

We’ve been asked back many times for dance marathon at this big special needs school.  Again, its not the highly educational show, but more of a ‘get up and dance’ event for kids from pre K through late teens.  It’s a real treat to have the kids get up and dance in a safe situation.  And, I’ve been breaking out the hand-held rhythm instruments which is especially good for the wheel-chair bound kids.  It’s a 2.5 hour drive from PA, but it always feels good driving back.  Farmers’ Market tomorrow.

I spent most of the day in the offices of YANJ working on some new charts on RockRoots and my solo show, trying to use ‘edu-speak’ to describe what I do.  It’s all part of YA’s emphasis on documenting the real benefits of arts in the schools.  good session….

A market day for Dave.  I played my first Madison gig of the year for three hours that passed quickly.  I learned my lesson from the Milford gig earlier this month and set up amongst the vendors.  I used to set up in the middle of the big green and enjoyed the space.  But few folks tossing in a buck.  No matter, cause some familiar folks showed up, spread blankets and hung out for the festivities.  It didn’t rain, though the probability was high. 

I headed up to Collinville for Eric Paradine’s Friday Open Mike.  Quite an active event with lots of good friends on hand.  It was good to have the opportunity to reconnect with Ron Anthony who rode shotgun.  I premiered ‘Born to be Wild’ to good effect, with folks eagerly joining in on the anthem-like chorus.  I then did ‘Pay Bo Diddley’ with Coyote on guitar (nice interplay), a fine pick-up conga player, Patti on vocals.  We rocked.  It was nice to play to a bar-like crowd and make it work.  Looks like I could pick up a gig there.  a busy day of play….

I returned to the smaller stage on Thursday, but only 4 miles from home.  I played at a day care center in North Branford.  Nice to go back to a ‘no sound system’ gig with just my instruments.  There was about 20 kids and teachers and we mixed it up nicely.  Home before noon.

I make the trek back to CT for a very prestigious gig on the green in New Haven.  This is a 15 day festival of music, movies, arts talks, food explorations – a kind of a ‘fringe’ festival.  I was the day’s family performer, and was treated very nicely by the fest, with great sound on the big stage, a private trailer with food and drink.  It was a beautiful day and a small gathering of families.  I eventually got the kids up on stage, with parents.  A good gig, and an honor to be asked.

I made the big trip to PA for a Monday evening birthday party outside of Allentown.  Gaia greeted me before I could even get out of the car, describing her blue tutu with bows.  She made me her special friend, asking me to sit next to her for dinner, escorting me around the house and lawn. 

The kids really took off on ‘Bear Hunt’, starting to roar and attack me during the song.  It got as close to out of hand as it gets, and reminded me of some of my bar gigs a long time ago. 

Tomorrow, the big stage in New Haven.  little gig, big gig.

My first visit to Milford’s Farmers Market on a parking lot in the center of town.  It was a three hour gig for $50 so I was hoping for tips, and it turned out well.  I was in amongst the vendors, so there was a lot of passing by folks who tossed in a buck.  The time went fast, but it seemed the few kids that showed up with parents and grandparents could stick around for even one song.  Curious.

We finished up the school year as part of Devon ES’s last day of school.  Two assemblies and the kids ate it up.  The principal was very cool, and the band played very well.  Such a treat to be able to perform with these guys.  Home to CT for a few days.

RR did an afternoon gig at a special needs school in Wharton, NJ on Wednesday and the kids came to dance.  I brought out my bag of rhythm instruments to expand the experience, so there was lots of dancing, banging on shakers and more.  The kids were great and I got an email from one of the moms today.

“Thank you for the wonderful event yesterday at my son’s school – Celebrate the Children.  My 9 year old son Robert had an amazing time.  He is usually far too self conscious to participate at this type of event but I understand he danced the entire time. He even told me he invented a new dance – “The Tummy”.  Thank you again for a great event and for making your music accessible for kids like Robert.”

We did a rare Saturday gig at a public library in Monroe, NJ, and it proved to be very interesting.  It was mostly seniors, so we had to play much softer, which went particularly well.  One 92-year old lady, one of the Arts Committee that sponsored us said afterwards that she didn’t expect to like the show, but had a great time.  The informative part was well received, and the band played great at low volume.  Several elder piano players were there, and they really had a good time.  worth the trip…..

Boy, was it hot on Thursday.  I had two solo sets of music in an ES in Easton in an “air-conditioned” auditorium, and the kids had a good time, in spite of having to dance in rows of folding seats.  A two sweat day, and the end of the year assemblies roll on.  Back to CT for one day for Jaimie’s senior dinner and back to NJ for a library RR gig on Saturday.

A wonderful small town in central NJ, and a wonderful ES, as well.  Real air-conditioning, and a great group of elementary kids and teachers, as well.  I love being able to cruise into these little hamlets and see the world, school by school.  Tomorrow, solo in Easton.

RockRoots has the opportunity to return every couple of years to the same school, which means we return to familiar teachers, custodians and new kids.  Today, we returned to this middle school again for us, early sets (8:30/9:30 am), to play for the 5th and 6th graders.  We kick off their field day with our shows, and the kids were great, again.  I was impressed by the band, with their resilience to deliver, in spite of hitting the road before 6 am.  Good stuff.

Third gig in a row tomorrow in Three Bridges, NJ.

We had the pleasure to play for the little kids at a nice, rural primary school in Long Valley on Monday.  It was a 9 and 1 day, so big space in between.

The first set was K and 2nd grade in a gym, and went well, the lads playing light.  Weird room with a staggered echo that took some getting used to (actually, we learned to ignore it).  As we often do, we ask it there are any Irish step dancers for the jig part (early on), and a K girl eagerly volunteered and did a great job.  Amazing to see the kids and teachers and band react to such a wonderful event.

We tend to make friends with the custodians since they are the folks we deal with loading in, and often they are musicians as well.  Today, we connected with one who played country music, and he really had a good time.  He helped haul stuff, too.  Yes…

The second show was a K and 1st, and during the jig part, a girl with a poofy dress got up and did an improvised twirl, enjoying her dress as only little girls can do….  how cute. 

I stayed over in Bethlehem this weekend for a run of gigs next week, so I signed up to emcee the GD Open Mike.  Good turn out with some new faces and voices (for me)  as well as visits from some old friends.  Bob Flower, former Skiffle Band and Sheik, showed up from Alburtis, and played some delightfully obscure tunes.  Dick Boak came down from Nazareth to tune up on his autoharp playing, and such a fine autoharp it is.  Nice to see a finely-crafted autoharp, and my good friend, Dick.  He’s finely crafted, too.

Ansel, Jason, Mike Holliday, Dave Reber, Billy and more….such a display of artisanship and friendship…

Double header for RR tomorrow.

I have an annual field day gig at Cheston School in Easton.  Two sets, one at 9:30 am and one at 2 pm.  It makes for a long day, but the kids are always ready to go, so they help me out a lot.  today, we featured the fashion show, with kids wearing all my Cheston shirts from the last five years as my back up singers.  We also opened up conga lines for every one, a gamble on my part, but it worked, especially for a field day event.  I’m beat, though.

I headed over after my North Bethlehem school gig to set up for the farmers’ market at Campus Square.  I unloaded and saw a group of day care kids and teachers hanging out, so I stopped over and did some stuff for them, and they did ‘Cookie Jar’ for me.  I caught my breath for a half hour, and then headed back to set up and play.  Several moms and kids were waiting for me, so I started my official set with them.  A great day weather-wise and it was good to play outside.

I played for two hours, got a traffic ticket (by 10 minutes) but had a good time.  I was done with two gigs by 2 pm.

The first of two gigs on Thursday, opening up International Day at the school.  I worked in a few international songs, including Irish jigs on the mandolin (which six girls from the school came up and did a fine tandem routine to the amazement of all) as well as adding La Bamba to the end dance.  Spontaneous conga lines formed, and its something I could use again.  Off to the Bethlehem Farmers’ Market at noon.