I got this from Kristin on FaceBook today: 

She wrote: “Well, Dave if you ever doubt your influence on the younger generation…I was talking to my 30 year old daughter out in San Francisco last night and she said something about “down by the bay” and I said “where the watermelons grow” and she yelled DAVE FRY!!”   nice….

I returned to the Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, CT for my second family show there, and was rewarded by a nice, full house of folks, grandparents, shy and not so shy kids.  It was a treat, and so very nice to see some of my friends from the Buddhist gatherings over the last year.  Still plowing the fields of CT for gigs.

I was a featured performer for my friend Frank Pergola’s ‘Frank and Friends’ at the Huntington St. Cafe on Saturday, Jan. 15th.  I shared the evening with Bob Csugie and Katie Wilson, and I got to do a full set, for a change.  Accompanied by my friend Ron Anthony, I hit the second set hard, and surprised quite a few folks.  some stuff was recorded for You Tube and local cable, but the best part was playing in front of new folks.  Stealth folk, at its best….

Hello Dave –

I just wanted to write you a quick note to tell you how much we enjoyed your performance at the Christkindle Market in Bethlehem last month… you were the highlight of our visit…my son is singing your songs (to the best of his abilities, he’s almost six)… I regret that we didn’t pick up your CDs while there…

We loved your performance and just happened upon in when having our lunch.

We will continue to check back for where we might meet up with you again… I wish you could visit my son’s school.  You are so excellent – so talented – a joy!

Cheers,  Kim (a mom)

I hit the road this morning from CT at 4:30 am for Howell, NJ for one RockRoots at a 3-5 grade ES.  It was our first assembly of the new year, and it went well.  The kids were great and the teachers really appreciated it.  Drive to Bethlehem, to find out my Tuesday gig in NJ has been moved.  Foul weather headed this way, so I may have to hunker down til Thursday.  Ah, winter!

I finally got a chance to run a CT Open Mike.  So, you get there late, set up mikes, hope that the sound is right for your first song, break an A string, and then introduce folks.  It was vintage Gibson night, with Ron’s jazz acoustic, and Mark’s Kalamazoo beaut. 

As always, I’m impressed by my CT friends, with their dedication and ever-increasing stage skills.  My family!

Down time at home, in several ways.

I had heard about Lou’s New Years’ Day bluegrass jam and food fest, so I made a point to plan my dogged ass back to CT on New Year’s Day.  Nestled in a neighbor hood in New Haven, in a classy house filled with world class art, and some friendly folks.  I played some with Ron and a several other new folks, and struck some fine music, idle chatter, instrument talk, and food, food, food. 

I got to scan some of the New Haven pickers, including Roger Sprung on the banjo.  Very healthy scene.  I’m glad I did it.

What a fine evening of music that crossed a lot of genres, audiences and ages.  I started out with a ‘kids’ set though there were five seniors at a table to my left, and they worked well with the kids.  Many special moments when just a kid’s voice rang out for all to enjoy – a big part of the show.

I was surprised right off the bat when a curly moppet came up and asked about the ‘BB Song’.  Ah, ‘Santa Assasin’, but where did she hear me do that?  Not exactly one I feature in family shows.  But she said she heard me do it at Symphony Hall in November, (and that ‘I rocked’).  So I did it first, and it was cool.

I did the second set with more ‘adult’ stuff, and the same girl sat at the front table, with her twin sister and their twin sisters (4 of the same family).  So, in her honor I reprised ‘Santa Assasin’ for the second show.  A full house, with Dina and Mike backing up on ‘Pay, Bo Diddley’ adding Brittany Ann on ‘Peanut Butter’.

Brittany Ann commented that it was cool that she wang backup on that tune, since she (among many) grew up listening it  on my tape.

It was booked as Three Generations of Home Grown Godfrey’s, so Brittany Ann followed with her fine set.  She’s really developed as a singer and songwriter while still playing some ‘retro folk’ tunes.  And she had a nice crowd of younger folks, mixed with my older and younger crowd.  Nice.

Dina Hall followed suit with some fine originals, powerfully rendered, tasteful guitar with Mike Fritz, and Brittany and Mike’s daughter filling in some harmonies and mandolin.  I made an appearance as a chick singer, and almost got away with it. 

Checked out the fireworks from the bathroom window and checked out to sleep shortly after.  Happy New Year.

Ah, yes.  I returned to my favorite day care center in the world, in Madison, CT for a holiday fest.  And we fested….  so nice to sit and play (really just play) with the kids, mixing it up, having fun, dancing, making stuff up, and getting down.  A great way to take me home for the holidays.

I played at Peep’s Fest 2010 today in front of some good friends.  Big tent, small crowd, but quality folks.  Two of a Kind, fellow travelers in this family music circuit, played in front and after me.  So fine, and we shared the plight of the new arts/biz scene. 

Seems some of the big festivals no longer book groups like us, and ask the Main Stage performers do double up and do a kids show.  Tain’t right….

Back tomorrow for another set, and then to GD’s for a  7pm family show, and then share the stage with ‘three generations’ of GD.  Brittany Ann, Dina Hall and moi.  A very nice arrangement of styles, perfect for a New Years Eve.

I was impressed that I rose with the sun in my windshield in the morning and in my windshield headed back in the afternoon.  The days are short, but this was a long day.  I left Bethlehem before 7 am for Trenton for two RR’s at an ES, and, as expected, two fine dancing groups of kids at an inner city school.  The lads in the band were so fine…

We then lit out for Moorestown for a private school assembly in the early afternoon, and it was a hassle.  We loaded in at the school, only to find that there was a ES assembly going on, so we unloaded and moved to a second site for our MS assembly.  …all under the time restraints of Donnie’s gig in the Pocono’s later in the afternoon.  We did a crisp 45 minute show in a noisy gym, with lethargic teens (god bless the 5th grade) and did well.  It was tough, though. 

A long drive back to Bethlehem in Friday traffic, but got to check in with the Kennedy’s before their evening at Godfrey’s.  Good to make connections.

Tomorrow, my last Holiday gig at Christkindlemarkt.  I have some chores to do at Godfrey’s over Saturday and Sunday, and home to CT for the holiday’s….

Ron Anthony and myself trekked off to Willimantic, CT for a showcase at the Bread Box.  It’s pretty far into CT, so it was an effort, especially after a drive from PA that morning.  Knott Brothers, Ron and myself were the anchors, it seemed, for the evening. 

I played a tight set of  ‘Santa Assassin’, ‘Zat You’ and ‘Mary had a Baby’, with brevity and interaction in mind and it was good.  My friends commented on how I ‘commanded the stage.’  That’s what I want to do.  Nice to hear.

Off to PA for a couple of RockRoots on Friday.  Slouching towards Bethlehem.

650 kids and teachers today in Fountain Hill.  Lots of brown faces and smiles as we filled up the gym with singing and dancing.  Great to see the teachers out there, mixing it up with the kids.  Home tomorrow.

I appeared on the morning new show on WFMZ in Allentown this morning, to play a tune and chat with Eve Tannery.  It was somewhat early for me, and I bounced a few verses to Zat You, Santa Claus, but I was the only one wiser.  The crew really enjoyed my music, and I got a call about a gig in 2012, believe it or not.  A good experience.  Tomorrow, Fountain Hill ES in the afternoon.

Brookside Country Club always is a fine affair for their families, many of whom I’m getting to know via their kids.  I share great food, a very good Santa with two seatings (9 am and 12:30 pm), playing holiday music, watching the kids dance in their holiday finery.  One family commented that their two daughters look forward to seeing my more than ‘the big guy’ (Santa).  Very nice.  It’s a full day’s work.

I had the opportunity to play down at Wildflowers on Saturday night, opening up for Paul Thiessen and his sister Joy.  Very few folks, and several inebriated guys (including Paul), but a chance to play my ‘adult ‘stuff. I had a good time, and played fairly well.  I expected to play for a younger crowd, but the ‘younger crowd’ doesn’t pay money, or come see old farts.  so it goes.

Brookside Country Club always is a fine affair for their families, many of whom I’m getting to know via their kids.  I share great food, a very good Santa with two seatings (9 am and 12:30 pm), playing holiday music, watching the kids dance in their holiday finery.  One family commented that their two daughters look forward to seeing my more than ‘the big guy’ (Santa).  Very nice.  It’s a full day’s work.

Sunday was a mixed bag at the LVMA festivities.  Nice to see old friends, hear some new folks, and not pick up my LV Acoustic Performance Award.  It was a jumble of awards, music acts and food, as well, and, though there were hitches, it was a noble effort, and the folks pulled it off.

Craig Thatcher’s new band did a nice version of Zep’s Kashmir, Dina Hall was on stage quite a bit, a solo opera singer was an artistic surprise, etc.

My new pal and fellow Acoustic winner Peter Scapegrace attended and commiserated about the non-recognition, and I chalked it up to the overwhelming complexity of the afternoon/evening, but I would have like to have my street cred in the LV recognized. …so it goes…..

Ron and I trekked off to Simsbury for Robert Allan’s open mike, and the folks really came out for this one.  Nice to see some familiar faces all gathered to celebrate.  Worth the trip, too.

I performed at Abbey Hill Theater in Easton Saturday night, as part of a FMZ-TV taping for play on Dec. 13th in the Lehigh Valley.  I met up with Peter Scapegrace who I met at the Acoustic Performance contest in Nov.  I remain impressed with his songs and his playing. 

I did 20 minutes with Mary Had a Baby, my zither tunes, Zat You, Santa Claus, and Pay Bo Diddley.  It wasn’t perfect – I got lost in the tunes, and had slight tuning problems in Bo Diddley, but I’m the only one who knows for sure.  Anyway, a chance to play with lights, sound and video in a beautiful acoustic space (former church sanctuary). 

Off to LV Music Awards on Sunday afternoon in Allentown.