All entries filed under Dave Fry Gigs

Sunday, July 22^nd, 2018

Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market on Sunday

It’s been a rainy weekend in the Lehigh Valley and I was lucky that the weather for Sunday morning was precipitation free. I was set more in the middle of the vendors today and it’s great to get some positive reactions from the vendors, some dancing to the music and clapping after some songs.

I had a special encounter with a young Chinese-American girl and her Chinese grandmother. The girl brought a play guitar and was ready to jam. I asked her what song whe wanted to do and then she played London Bridges (with several verses). I asked if she had any others and, quite cooly said, it was my turn. The grandmother, who spoke no English was taking video and pictures and delighting in the process. It made my day.

The girl hung out for 40 minutes, strumming along (on beat) with everything I was playing, even my excursions into my adult repertoire, occasionally tuning her inoperative plastic tuners. She was quite serious and often broke into a smile during Skip to My Lou. The passing marketeers enjoyed the scene.

I was really warmed up from my recent gigs and played better than usual, laying into my Martin to the point of breaking three strings. The vendor next to me took note that I was not going to break even on this gig with all the collateral damage.

The sun even came out on I Can See Clearly Now.

I love what I do. Blueberries are cheap, I got a free coffee, a bag of cool mushrooms, a tomato and a sourdough biscuit for the trouble. Not much in the way of tips, but some cold cash from the market staff. They do appreciate what I bring to the table.

Sunday, July 22^nd, 2018

Camp Happiness in Milford, CT on Thursday

This is one of my favorite annual gigs – a special needs summer camp in CT. I’ve been doing this one for 10 years or so, so the kids, counselors and staff are primed and ready for my show. We do it in the auditorium of the local high school with lots of room on the floor for the crowd.

You look like a psychopath.

This one was quite orange and recalled Trump.

This group is special for me because the counselors ‘get it’; they have as much fun as the kids, participate in the silliness and songs. It’s actually rare to have summer counselors this perceptive but, I guess it comes with the situation.

Since I’ve been here many times, the kids have their favorites so I roll out Peanut Butter and Jelly, The Cat Came Back and others. I did sneak in I’m Gonna Tell and I Wanna Be a Dog (for Sam), and a special rendition of Down By the Bay with rhymes for the different camp groups (Hurricanes, Dolphins, Monkeys, etc.).

I finished up with All Around the Kitchen with the kids (and counselors) coming up with some interesting dances (my favorite was from a counselor doing the “Water in My Ear” dance, jumping around with his head cocked to the side).

I took time to thank them all and Marleen presented me with some special crayon drawing of me done by the kids. I thanked each one. We finished up with Baby Shark, a camp favorite. I left with a warm heart once again. Camp Happiness!

Off to Louis Audette’s for an overnight stay and Madison Farmers’ Market on Friday afternoon.

Friday, July 13^th, 2018

A curious gig along Bridle Path Road

I was invited to do an evening’s entertainment at a gated community’s social club north of Bethlehem along Bridle Path Road. Some good Godfrey’s volunteers Dale and Georgia had suggested that I do an evening of folk music for their community and the group offered a small fee plus tips for this gathering.

I suspected that I would be background music for a social mixer and I was fine with that. As it turned out, as I set up on the patio on a fine July evening, folks gathered to listen to a concert. I remarked at the beginning that I was not used to folks listening, especially having played Allentown Center City on Wednesday.

So, I launched into an hour and a half set of my good stuff, complete with chat, sing alongs, biographical floss, mandolin and guitar tunes, etc. It was a good exercise of my concert material and it worked well. My Martin 00015M and my Gibson mandolin were in tune, my small PA was doing fine so I was in good shape for the evening.

Towards the end, some requests came up for Blowing in the Wind, Guthrie tunes and some more “pop” folk tunes. I had to spend some time reflecting on my inability to cover these folk classics and promised to return with an evening of these tunes. It remains an abrasion that I don’t know these hits, but I tried to say that I’m lucky that I’ve been able to build a career by performing my own ‘songbook’.

As I broke down my small setup, I talked with some folks, including a Lehigh professor I had taken Physics with a long time ago. I told him that I had actually aced my Physics test to my eternal surprise. He smiled.

As it turned out, it was a successful evening, surprising both the booking committee and myself. The tip jar was quite remarkable, and coupled with the fairly low fee, a very profitable gig. I hope to return with a more marketable folk music evening.

Whodathunk?

Wednesday, July 11^th, 2018

Center City Allentown – Summer in the City series

I usually get one of these downtown Allentown gigs a summer and I believe I’m the only solo act. Ostensibly they book me as a kids performer but I really like to stretch the boundaries with my adult stuff.

It was a hot but not unbearable day on the PP&L Plaza with a surprising wind whipping around. In fact the pop-up tent nearly took off before I started. I grabbed my guitar while several alert folks came up and held the stakes down until a few more cement blocks were found. Danger in the city!

There were a few familiar faces there at the beginning and was able to exercise some of my general folk/rock tunes. My friend Dancing Pat showed up (she normally frequents more R&R events) and I was glad to feed off her energy. Some friends’ grandson was in town, a DF fan, and he supplied some of his manic energy, too. In fact, Pat and Charlie worked off each other and the crowd dug it.

Later on, the kids and staff from the Montessori school a block away came over and I had to change direction and aim my material towards them. That’s fine because it’s still great theater for the other folks, and the city promoters particularly like it, snapping photos, etc. for their purposes. As they eventually crowded under the small tent with me, it got a little hairy and up close. My focus shrunk to the 10 feet around me.

I was hoping to work on my adult stuff some more, but them’s the breaks. The time went quickly, the Chamber of Commerce folks loved it and I got to work my skills on several levels.

I got paid, too.

Sunday, July 8^th, 2018

Christ Lutheran in Hellertown

I’ve enjoyed my yearly visits to Christ Lutheran Church as part of their summer series of services. Normally, there has been a fairly sparse turnout but today was a full house, thanks, mostly because of the return of their youth group from a week of outreach in Houston.

Regardless, I have had the opportunity to play some of my family songs, usually aimed at the children. (The elders like these songs, too.) Today I took a different aim.

Pastor Phil was in the house for the first time (usually out of town) and it was good to have his leadership. He asked me to do Little Boxes by Malvina Reynolds (performed by Pete Seeger) and I was glad to be able to work it up. “All made out of ticky tacky….”

I started with a mandolin medley as folks gathered. The folks were quite chatty (and late) so I ended up running through quite a few of my tunes. Long medley! After the minister prefaced the service, he introduced me to the congregation and we sang Little Boxes. As Phil delivered the children’s message and felt moved to join the kids on the edge of the “stage”. A couple of “cools” from the kids.

After the youth group’s presentation about their trip to Houston (this takes me back to my time in First Pres in Albany), I sang We Are Welcomed with the lyrics in the bulletin. This sanctuary is a delicious place to play, with copious wood and a congregation that is willing to take chances and sing along. It rocked.

I decided to do Lessons from Pete as the anthem and introduced the song with Pete’s ” It’s not so important to have music in people’s ears. It’s more important to have it on their lips.” I also talked about the hormonal “trust” that happens when we sing together. I added ‘church’ to the lyrics (that’s where we sing together…). Only screwed up once.

I finished up with Chuck Pyle’s Step By Step and the congregation picked up on the chorus nicely and, at the end, I let them hear their voices alone. It was a pleasure to play today.

As I was wrapping up my instruments, a gentleman came up and purchased two Troubadour CDs. His grandchildren were in town for the weekend so I offered Peanut Butter and he said they had it already, so I gave him Playground for good measure. He then talked about how his mother had a grand piano in his home. Oh, my! I asked if he listened from underneath it and he said enjoyed crawling around under it. But he related how his family would gather around the piano on Sundays and sing hymns and songs along with that magnificent instrument and his mom on the keys. Powerful stuff.

As he was telling me this, relating this story to my Lessons from Pete, he started to mist up. He said that this song touched him deeply and he had teared up while I was playing it. My goodness. This moment brought the whole gig home for me.

Afterwards, the minister thanked me, bought a CD and asked about my religious upbringing. I mentioned my Presbyterian roots in Albany as well as our youth group’s activism. I had, at the time, considered becoming a minister. I also mentioned my lapsed UU background. He said that this congregation is similarly progressive and I did recognize it.

I get to play a wonderful variety of venues, in front of a wide demographic of audiences and in some sonically wonderful rooms. This one had it all; one of the good ones.

Saturday, June 30^th, 2018

Westbrook morning

I was booked at a daycare center in Westbrook, CT, about 180 miles from home on Friday morning at 10 am. I planned to couple this with a pickin’ party at my friend Ron’s house that night. I left at 5 am in order to miss I-95 traffic and it was smooth sailing up to the shoreline.

I got a call from the center two days before saying that they couldn’t swing the two sets and would I be able to cut my price in half. I said I couldn’t drive 8 hours to play for half but settled for 60%. I talked myself into being comfortable with that. As it turned out, the single show was enough, the teachers and the owner were quite pleased and are willing to have me back during the school year as well as for next summer. So I guess that’s all for the best.

It was a facility with some toddlers as well as some kids in the K – 3rd grade level. They had the toddlers in a play area fenced in from the other kids due to some regulation but it was strange to play for two sets of kids, one group separated by a fence. Shades of the current brewhaha.

The teachers particularly had a great time. There’s lots of spaces for some extemporaneous humor and they caught all the bait. These show are really for the kids and the adults and that’s what makes them successful.

I was done at 11 and took my time headed back to Northford to Ron’s place. I checked in with my neighbor Mike and gave him a CD.

The pickin’ party was just among a few friends and I was disappointed that more of my old friends didn’t make the time to stop over. Perhaps this ship has sailed, now eight years after my departure.

I split for PA at 5:30 am. I like getting up and out and driving at dawn. I made it back by 8 am thanks to little traffic. A nice hop, skip and a jump to CT.

Wednesday, June 27^th, 2018

Dave’s Night Out with Jay Ansill and Anne Hills

Tonight was another special evening with my friends Anne Hills and Jay Ansill. They are working on a special folk music program about Robert Graves and his connection with English and Scottish ballads. It was a workshop for Jay and Anne as they prepare for a concert in Majorca at the Graves’ family home next month. They’ve already done a more classical concert of Grave’s poetry and a string ensemble but are preparing a different presentation for this trip.

It was good for Anne and Jay to play these songs in front of people and it was an opportunity for me to present the idea of folk ballads in this series. I did have to guide them occasionally into the DNO format, encourage questions and play a few of my songs in the process.

Thankfully, Anne and Jay are pros. They were able to present their material, talk about Graves and this special project. The audience was primarily Anne fans so that was fine. The chat was quite fun, spontaneous and informative. I asked some related questions (unaccompanied ballads, song derivations, etc.) and we tumbled on. Anne and Jay have done some heavy lifting in developing this Robert Graves show. It will be quite the event, and an international feather in their caps. I love the fact that my friends can travel the world and play in some incredible venues.

I got to play Tom Lehrer’s Irish Ballad for some levity and The Ballad of Ned Kelly, a more recent tune I’ve been working on, in order to maintain some presence in the process. It worked out fine.

I’m not sure that the DNO audiences realize how consistently amazing these nights are. Jay, Anne and I really enjoyed tonight’s gathering.

Wednesday, June 27^th, 2018

Summer Slide I – Bethlehem

I had my first of four summer slide programs in Bethlehem today – one session at Marvine and one at Fountain Hill. As I found out each site has three of the local schools represented so the kids are mixing with other kids outside their home school. I’ll be working with new 1st graders in this program.

Marvine had about 15 kids and it’s interesting to see them warm up to me, the other kids and the situation. Eventually they loosened up as a group and as individuals. The teachers also got a slice of my tricks, too.

We did Bear Hunt and added a verse about a spidery forest, and we did All Around the Kitchen with their dance moves. I hope to graft their work with the kids at Fountain Hill. I didn’t get around to using the bag, but that’s not bad. Later.

Fountain Hill was a much larger group of about 30 kids so we met in the gym. I decided to to do one session with the big group and perhaps do two smaller sessions in a smaller space for the remainder of this residency. It was good to do the whole group to start off with and get a sense of a larger community. Again, some of the teachers were not aware of what I do, so that was cool.

We added a Red Tornado to Bear Hunt which was wonderfully peculiar. I will share this with Marvine next time. I opted to break out the bag and give the kids some jump time.

All in all, it was a good breakout session with both groups. We now have a relationship we can build on.

Sunday, June 24^th, 2018

Home Stretch – Farmers’ Market III

I particularly enjoy this farmers’ market. It centers me on a Sunday morning, connects me to vendors and the passing community, and I get to play my stuff for two hours.

Today was particularly light on the kids spectrum so I got to stretch my adult material. I was able to fine tune some songs I need work on, get serious with my guitar and play to the ether. Even though the market was slow early on, my songs evoked some nice response from the surrounding vendors. That’s quite appreciated.

I took time to appreciate the vendors who put in a lot of time and effort for very little bucks. We’re in this together. I thanked the lady next to me before we started for her artistic display of her veggies. She thanked me for me eye.

As always the time flies by, there are nice interactions with young kids and their folks at an intimate level, and folks appreciate what I do. Lemonade, cool mushrooms as vendor tips. A wad of $1’s for laundry. And I’m done at 11 am on a Sunday.

Home to recoup from a long weekend of gigs.

Sunday, June 24^th, 2018

Godfrey’s Saturday Night

I set up this gig with my friend Kris Kehr on bass at Godfrey’s, looking for some sort of presence this summer, especially with a new CD coming out. I, of course, had no product in hand (…next week for sure, Rocky) but perhaps spurred some interest for tonight’s show. I notoriously have a poor turnout for my sets at Godfrey’s but was glad to see folks come in off the streets before we went on at 8 pm, each a warm surprise.

Kris and I have a long time respect for each other and having his support on stage as a musician and friend means alot to me. Even with just two players, we are able to deliver a remarkably full sound to go along with my esoteric repertoire. He has a chance to improvise and play “lead” on bass, and still sink back into his support position, so he has a chance to express his creativity while supporting my music. Win/win. And the audience digs it.

The first set was well over an hour, which surprised me and seemed to fly by. I played some new and some old tunes, while having the chance to chat about the songs, my kids’ music, my travels and recent gigs over the last few days. The banter among the audience, Kris and myself is worth the price of admission.

By the way, tonight’s door charge was part of Ramona’s summer pricing: $10. I joked that they (the audience) were sitting in the $10 seats.

In spite of blowing the initial song’s (Ireland) intro, I was able to pick up the pieces and deliver some strong music. This Martin still focuses my guitar play, Kris is there to give me space to explore my guitar work, and there is a friendly and appreciative audience for me to react with. This is why Godfrey’s exists on this planet. Welcome to my living room.

We did well, got a prolonged ‘ovation’ at the end and finished with a very raucous Giants to send the mob back onto 4th Street satisfied, if not foaming at the mouth.

Sunday, June 24^th, 2018

Rose Garden Farmers’ Market – FM Tour part II

After a long day on the road on Friday, I headed just cross town to Saturday’s FM at the Rose Garden. When I got there, there was a municipal band playing on the bandshell stage half way across the park. My first impression was, “That’s cool!” The right thing to be playing in a public park. But, I had a job to do and the market manager was somewhat befuddled with the situation, citing lack of communication with the city.

I figured I had to fulfill my commitment to the market so I set up behind a tree, pointing in the opposite direction. A few kids and parents stopped by, along with some friends who live nearby doing their Saturday cruise of the vegetables. While I was playing, I couldn’t hear the band and we negotiated the sound space.

I found out that the band using the bandshell was a guest band from NC, part of a lend/lease program with the Allentown Band. I imagine that it’s hard to find practice space for a large municipal band and this site on a Saturday morning was a good thing.

I wrapped up my set at 11:30 am and as I put down my guitar, the Allentown Band was finishing with The Stars and Stripes Forever, the quintessential community band song. They were in the piccolo part heading for the grand finale. I savored the situation and the powerful ending. Amazing to share this small park with such a great tradition.

Two hours playing under a tree in my hometown flew by. I got a fresh tomato from one vendor and a check for the whole season. Tonight, back on the SouthSide at Godfrey’s.

Sunday, June 24^th, 2018

The First of Three Farmers’ Markets

I wonder why I signed up for these treks to Madison’s Farmers’ Market but somehow, I drive away feeling good about what I do. The drive up from PA was fairly benign and I had some good podcasts to listen too. I got into town with some time to spare and had a chance to meditate in a parking lot nearby. I got a cheap coffee at the Cumberland Farms and headed over to the Green to set up.

It was a beautiful day. I parked my chairs, bag and instruments under one of the big trees in the midst of the vendors, said hello to some the familiar ones and started to play to the big open lawn. Amazingly, I got a couple of bucks right off the bat, and caught the ear of one new vendor down the line. Gradually, several familiar kids came up and joined in, and that broke the ice for the rest of the three hour gig.

We mixed it up with kids, families, grandparents stopping by and reacting, right down to the last few minutes before 6 pm. The woman in charge gave me my check and thanked me, saying that her son loves it when I play. The Cheese lady, to whom I had my back turned on, came up with a gift of a chunka cheese. I was taken by surprise by the tip and the nice gesture. I packed up, waved to the families on the blankets enjoying the evening on the green.

One older gentleman from the Lions Club, who were setting up for an event on Saturday, came over with an errant parrot puppet and laid a wonderful observation on me. He said that in strange times like these, he was moved when he saw me playing music, kids playing and dancing freely on the green. He said that what he saw was beautiful. The complement came out of nowhere and I drank it in.

I headed out of town, into the teeth of heavy traffic around the GW Bridge, but glad I had made the trip.

Thursday, June 21^st, 2018

Camp Smile – Pediatric Cancer Camp

It was a good day to play outside with these campers under a large catalpa tree on the grounds of Cedar Crest College. I did this last year with Star Wars actors roaming the building (yes, I insulted Darth Vader), but today it was just me and the ice cream truck.

I had to tell the ice cream guy to turn off his sound track and as I did my first couple of songs, sections of the audience went off to get Italian Ice. I then had to limit my material to non-dance, non-hand movement, non-hands on instrumentation. I managed to find the songs to navigate these limitations.

As is the case with summer camps, I also have to negotiate with the high school and college age counselors who haven’t been prepped with their obligations to help guide the campers and help me engage them. I have to gently remind them that they have to participate with me and the kids to insure a truly community event. I struggle in making this clear, and without support from the main organizers, it comes off somewhat arrogant on my part.

For the most part, the kids sang along, and eventually finished their treats, got up and danced and had a good time. It was hard work though on my part. At least Darth Vader didn’t confront me like last year.

Tuesday, June 19^th, 2018

Moorestown Family Night on Monday

I picked up a nice gig with Young Audiences for an opener for a family concert on the lawn of a nice New Jersey town near Bordentown. The summer series is based on a kids’ performer opening for a musical act in the middle of town. Tonight featured the local high school jazz band and vocal ensemble.

I got there in plenty of time and set up off to the side under a nicely shaded section of the spacious lawn. This was the first show of the season and they had moved the kids’ section up a half hour to 6 pm. Only a few families spread out some blankets and I began a little early. The sound system helped spread the music out across the lawn and I began to engage the few folks who settled in. I picked up some rapport with them and took it from there.

The Ice Cream truck also helped bring some folks in, though singing and playing my instruments was somewhat compromised with the frozen sugar treats. I only had a 40 minute set, which was fine by me and wrapped it up in time for the high school kids to get started.

I was surprised by the sponsors of the event who loved what I did and want to bring me back next year. Well, all right!

Tuesday, June 19^th, 2018

The Ambassadors Club in Palmer Township on Monday afternoon

I get to play for this gathering of seniors at a large community center in Palmer Township. I perform for about 150 seniors who come together for lunch, dessert and good company and some mild entertainment on a monthly Monday afternoon. I’ve done it before and I never quite know how to approach this. As it turns out, I try to engage them as best I can, play some of the kids’ songs, talk about my travels and gigs and play a few tunes they might know. I really don’t get visible feedback from the group as a whole but try to connect as best I can.

As it turns out (and I should know this by now) that the folks have a good time with what I do, though they really don’t sing along with my odd set list. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant time, a challenging gig and a nice check for a hot Monday afternoon in June.

Sunday, June 17^th, 2018

Easton Farmers’ Market with Mike Duck

It was great to return to Easton’s City Square/Circle at the invitation of my friend Mike Duck (Not for Coltrane). It was a spectacular day and we set up in a nook among the many vendors at this impressive farmers’ market. I’ve tried valiantly to play here but I have been the victim of a vast ocean of local folks that play here. Thanks to Mike I got to reintroduce myself to the market.

I appreciate the chance to trade songs with Mike. I get to back him up on my mandolin, a rare and wonderful chance to pick on my Gibson. He, in turn, gives me a chance to bring out songs as I see necessary, especially if kids are on the radar. It’s what I do.

All of this happened. Mike has some new songs that are outside of my radar and he’s getting good at presenting them and playing them strong and clean. I got to play Billy Jean on mandolin for the first time.

I broke out the bag and soon had kids and families gathering into the space. One lad, perhaps a preteen came up to play tambourine. He was pretty serious about it. As I found some of Mike’s tunes beyond my mando skills, I picked up maracas and a tambourine, too, and I noticed that this kid was picking up on the beats. (His dad was noticing, too.) Eventually, his older brother came up and joined in. As I found out later, his older brother played in a garage band and it became evident that his little brother could play, too. These small things matter in real time.

Over the two hours, Mike and I traded tunes and the time disappeared, as it should among friends.

Later this afternoon, I have a gig back in the neighborhood at Holy Infancy’s Multicultural Festival. Good start to the day.

Sunday, June 17^th, 2018

Dick Boak and Friends at the Sculpture Garden

It was an honor to return to the Bethlehem Sculpture Garden along side the City Hall. A lot of love and attention has gone into making this a space as an oasis on the northside of town. I’ve done various concerts here over the last 14 years and haven’t played here for 4 years. Luckily, my friend Dick Boak was asked to put together a show with Craig Thatcher and Nyke Van Wyk and myself. I jumped at the chance.

Craig put together a set list, provided a rather extensive sound system and was the center of the project. And folks come out to see him. That’s quite an amazing thing for the Lehigh Valley.

Dick started out on his wonderful autoharp with an original song (with a quick wink about Godfrey’s… not unnoticed.) He brought the folks into focus. Craig backed him up on another one and then Craig and Nyke did some fine instrumentals. Craig invited me up for my small set.

I began with Giants and invited the only young lad in the audience (trying to bring the average age of the band down…) up to play Thunder Tube. He brought his granddad up, too. He whispered to me that he knew this tune. So we did the song and it brought a different kind of focus to the show.

I followed with Rosie is a Friend of Mine and both Craig and Nyke sat in. Craig had played on the recording and it was new for Nyke. No problem because they both have innate performance sensibilities. It was nice, and a surprise for parts of the audience who have not heard my newer stuff.

After a short break, Craig and Nyke did Urge For Going, a tune I heard Tom Rush do a long time ago and one I played back then. Dick came up for some of his tunes while roamed the area to take in the scene. It’s actually nice to be ‘out there’ for parts of the show.

When called to come up again, I asked Nyke to sit in for Giant, the Stan Roger’s tune. Again, it was a nice break in the guitar intensive show and Nyke and I took the audience up into Canada. I followed with Lessons from Pete, again, Craig shines on the recording, but Nyke sat in for the first time. Delicious. It really landed. The audience was taken by surprise and I felt that I had made my mark.

I sat in on mandolin for some other tunes with Dick, Craig and Nyke and it felt comfortable to be a side mandolist. We rapped up the evening with some blues. I wrapped up chords to help the pack up but eventually headed back to the car with my friend David Sloan.

All in all, it was a great stage with some wonderful friends in my hometown. I wish I could have helped shape the evening some more, but enjoyed being part of the festivities.

Thursday, June 14^th, 2018

Opener for SouthSide Children’s Festival on Thursday

I was asked to do a set for the red carpet opener of the Children’s section of the SouthSide Film Festival. The Festival shows sets of animations and films over Thursday, Friday and Saturday days but they do a ‘Gala’ opening on Thursday night. It seem natural that I should do this.

There were only a few families tonight at 6pm, with the show at 6:30, but I launched in with one family of grandad, dad, son and daughter. The girl wanted no part of participating and refused to grab an instrument to play. Boy, that put her on my radar. I worked on the three generations of guys, and the young son really got into it and it was a delight to observe these three boys have some fun. The young girl watched them having fun and, lo and behold, she gradually joined in. I struggled to give her some ownership, and through some tried and true techniques, she participated. (!!!)

Another young mom with a toddler and a crawler also came in and it was delightful to witness their reactions. The young girl and mom had fun together as the very young boy started to explore, seeking out the room, the music, the instruments, the centers of activity.

There were lots of cell phones and cameras in action tonight. Per capita, too much. But the interaction among this small gathering was rich and challenging for me. I got paid my fee, worked the room and gave my CDs to the families that committed as an audience.

Another gig on the planet.

Wednesday, June 13^th, 2018

Hellertown Library Rocks!

I did a nice library gig tonight with the new summer library theme Library’s Rock. A nice choice and I’ve picked up a couple of gigs this summer with this angle. It’s still a vehicle for my regular material but I involve the kids with the instrument bag, dance and some rock and roll tunes from my repertoire.

Tonight was a cloudy night but no rain on the radar so we went outside the library on the spacious lawn. It was a good choice. Lot of room for blankets, chairs and romp space for the kids. I started with Summertime Blues, armed the kids with shakers and away we went. I Like Peanut Butter, Tutti Tah and I broke out Nursery Rhyme Rock from my first album (I had to relearn it). Things fell in place from there with parents and kids took over the space.

I broke out the scarves for Jelly in the Dish and that provided a nice break from shakers and provided a great visual for the evening. It was nice to see kids utilizing the space of an open lawn to explore with the puppets, scarves and room to move and dance.

One librarian came up and said that her son, now in his 30’s, was raised with my music at the nearby St. Theresa’s School. She posed with a picture with me, and she bought two CDs for her grandchildren to send to her son in Westchester, PA. Generations.

It was a good start to my summer shows and the library folks loved it. It turned out to be a perfect night for music on the library lawn.

Sunday, June 10^th, 2018

Spring Picnic at Cliff Cole’s

My friend Cliff Cole has an annual Greens and Grains backyard gathering and I always enjoy dropping in to play a few songs and graze the food tables. There’s always some new faces there, as well as some old friends, and it’s always good for the soul to not do the gig hustle for a change.

Cliff and Pamela set up a large tent and a sound system and folks come from miles away to play during an early jam time as well as to do short 4 song sets until things wind down around 8 pm. I particularly like the jam session where I get to noodle on guitar and mandolin, not be on stage and enjoy the conversations. I got to play one tune – We Are Welcomed – and it’s a good (and challenging) jam tune.

Things shifted over to the short sets and I settled in with Rich, Rick and Tom so we could converse quietly away from the stage and still listen to the individuals and small acoustic groups. I was particularly pleased when Rolly Brown showed up, having seen him just last week with Girls from Mars. Our paths have crossed over the last 40 years and I really respect his guitar work and general musicality. We share a lot.

Rolly did a nice folky set – not necessarily doing his mind-blowing guitar stuff – and I complimented his choice of material that fit the nature of the afternoon. Tom Walz followed with another fine set. I opted not to close out the afternoon, seeing how I wanted to play while Rolly was still there. I did Don’t Call Me Early, Giant, It’ll Be Me (with Tom on harp) and finished with Lessons from Pete. I played well and got some nice compliments from Cliff, Rolly and others. Lessons continues to surprise people.

I headed out a little after 8 pm, having spent a good afternoon among people who like folk music.

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