News
Return to the Club Cafe, December 2nd, 2011
A really fun night at the Club Cafe before Christmas, with long-time collaborators Jim Spears on bass and Mark Weakland on drums, plus new-found soulmates Vince Camut on pedal steel & electric and David Hart on mandolin, and Paul Eiss adding some spice on tenor sax. Things were sounding country, and folky, but funky on occasion, especially on a very extended version of "Gas It Up". A couple of Ruth Hendricks pictures of the occasion below.
Recording "Suburban 2-Step"
I'm in full recording mode at the moment, with a dozen tunes on the way. For two weekends last June Mark Weakland and Jim Spears (drums & bass, respectively) were in to get the rhythm section foundation solid for 8 of them. Lots of the usual suspects (see below) will be appearing on these tracks, and we're planning on showcasing the songs in early 2012 with a release party. Have a sneak-peak listen to "The Numbers " in the music box on the home page, as well as "Home At Last " featuring Gordon Kirkwood and Regina Ketter on strings. As 2012 beckons, I'm well into the mixing and mastering phase, aiming for a CD release party in April of 2012.
Report from Club Cafe, Saturday, April 16, 2011.
A good night at the Club Cafe with the Family Band on Saturday, April 16. I was joined by Reel World (and family) members Karen Jones on fiddle and Bev Futrell on mandolin, guitar and harmonica, as well as by David Gillespie, guitarist and cousin down from Detroit for the occasion, Jim Spears on bass and Mark Weakland on drums. Highlight's were new songs "Home At Last" and "The Numbers," Marc Reisman sitting in for two songs, including a mean "Hoop Dreams," Bev's new song "Carcassonne" and Karen's fiddle madness. The rhythm section was stellar throughout, and cousin Dave great on both ensemble and mad solos.
My friends Curt Cooper and Annie Trimble, who form the folk duo Southwind did a well-received opening set, featuring Annie's "You Can't Get There From Here" about the pleasures of driving in Pittsburgh's hills and valleys.
Saturday Light Brigade
On Saturday, January 29th I spent a fun hour with Larry Berger on the Saturday Light Brigade. If you missed it, here's the link: