Double Bill at Hideaway last Saturday: McMahon & Smith

Saturday there was some good sound down at the Hideaway.  Jeff Smith opened and Shannon McMahon ended the night. Both have strong, emotive voices that really communicate, as well as finesse at the guitar. I enjoyed the listening. The Guatemalan coffee was pretty good too.  Both players have tunes online: http://shannonmcmahonmusic.com and  http://myspace.com/jeffsmithexperience.com

Rev Bill, from Worchester way shares poems

Last week "Rev." Bill MacMillan, a national slammer, poet and most especially a human being interested in what happens to fellow humans - featured at the Wednesday Night Poetry Series in Newtown, CT.

Until recently he was slammaster of the Worchester Poetry Slam.  Among the many wonderful poems he presented in Newtown were two items I found particularly interesting for my own hair-brained reasons. The first was a poem called "Reentry (for Larry Walters)" which is about a guy dubbed Lawn Chair Larry, who apparently many years ago, launched himself to 16,000 feet while sitting in a lawn chair dangling from some hot air balloons.  I'd never heard this true tale before. It really is an amazing story of human endeavor and eccentricity!

Besides Larry himself, lawn chairs are peculiar items, colorful and odd. When I lived in North Conway, I believe there was a summer parade featuring a precision marching troupe which slung aluminum lawn chairs around in maneuvers the way Marines might sling their weapons. Another point for lawn chairs. Amazing. I also have a poem titled "I Sing the Lawn Chair Electric" (see the poems page for a video of that one), though riding one airborne was certainly not what I had in mind when I wrote it....

The other item that knocked my socks off was a "last will" poem called "A Humble Request"  MacMillan said he handed it to his attorney and said "Make it so...."  It bans services and memorials in favor of a bon voyage party, requests the singing of the Monte Python song "Always Look on The Brighter Side," and the distribution of his ashes to everyone in tiny vials with a long list of interesting places they might be scattered. All excellent notions and quite similar to a half written will I have on hand. He carries it a bit farther though than I did and I really like where it ended up with a final request on how we should "be yourselves, be the people I knew and loved," and to move on and live on with joy.

Both poems can be found in his chapbook Searching for DB Cooper, which has many other gems. Check out his facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rev-Bill-MacMillan/169733419736107

My Dad's Truck had Molten Jumpin' Again

On Saturday, September 10, I got to hear one of my favorite local groups. It's always a happy night when you get to hear My Dad's Truck, a Danbury based trio comprised of Susan Lang, Leif Smith, Bill Wisnowski. They play what they call "Free Range Acoustic," which is a wonderfully flavorful description of the smorgesborg of sound they offer. They have a great fan base of regulars who attend their gigs also.

"My Dad's Truck performs with rich harmonies, diverse instrumentation, and an improvisational spirit. All of the members play multiple instruments, which include percussion from around the world, bluegrass instruments, assorted reeds and horns, ukulele, accordion, guitarron (a fretless Mexican bass), acoustic-electric bass, mandolin, mandola, and, of course, guitar."

-- from their Facebook fan page  

For 9/11 - Never forget.. to go on living

(Video is from the http://www.youtube.com/user/JBransVideo Youtube channel.)

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Never forget has become the patriotic watchword of the aftermath of 9/11.  At this ten year anniversary I think we as a nation, desparately need to refine that idea.

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If by never forgetting you mean - always having in your mind the fresh memory of trauma, loss and vulnerability then I say - now, after ten years, it's time to begin to forget - not our beloved lost, but our fear and anger.

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But if by "never forget," you mean: take a lesson and go forward with courage, with prudent preparation, endure this all and rise to find joy once again and to live life freely as if no terrorist had ever touched you, then by all means - go forward, remembering, but growing, going on to a renewed life.  I think a perfect example is the memorial on site in New York. There is incredible beauty, and ongoing life in the presence and movement of that cascading water pouring down into the footprint of ground zero. It's a fitting, beautiful tribute and remembrance of those lost.

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Unexpected results

Sometimes, you take a picture and get odd results. This photo, if you tip it landscape fashion, is actually of the side of a car with an ascending asphalt driveway, all bathed in sun and shadow. With a little tweaking, not much, the pavement turned to purple which contrasted nicely with the reflections of trees in the window. I like it much better tipped on its side - because it removes the visual cues and it makes it easier to see as an abstract composition.

Wishing Stone (Long Pond is Cold)

Every so often I like to post a song of mine.
This one is available in two versions. One with just myself and the guitar and pictures of Maine via YouTube video. The other is via BandCamp and on this version Dickie Tilton is playing the electronic keys. He also did the digital recording - which at that time, was a brand new thing to do and the equipment was not readily available.

Songwriters workshop & Open mic

September 1st was another great night at the Hideaway Cafe in Newtown.

I heard a variety of acoustic acts and if my phone could shoot in low light I might have some pics. Jeff Smith, Mary Mitchell, Jay & Richard, Joe Vee and many others turned in some fine performances.

Earlier there was a songwriter's workshop with Daryl Gregory who suggested daily journaling as a source of ideas for songs.

I played three original songs: In Search of Our Dreams, Stranded in the Starlight & Love Makes You Free. And thanks Lou for the pic!