Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4575

Well, I'm trying to "expand my experience". I went to an open mic last night and went way out on a limb, way out of my comfort zone. The good news is, it is a small intimate venue in a coffee shop, and the audience is very forgiving. So, the first thing I changed was, I played standing up. I almost always practice sitting on a stool at home, and playing standing up is a really different feel. Next, I played 2 songs using a thumb pick and a Travis picking style. Now, I do practice the two songs I did at home; BUT, sitting down. It wasn't a total suck out, but I sure wish, in hind sight, that I had used a stool. It may have come out a little better. The audience did give me a very nice approval type response.


phil g.

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Kevin Emmrich
#4576
Marc-Alan Barnette said...
...
A note to Justin, Phil and Kevin.
You will be playing on the show at Bobby's Idle Hour on Thursday the 20th. Since you are all here a day or so before, I would suggest you listen to each other's songs, see if there is anything you can add to each other's songs. Harmony, different instruments, etc. 

BUT BE AWARE
That sometimes if you are new to this, it can make things MORE DIFFICULT for each other, so if you go through it and find it harder, then it might be best to STAY off of it. 
...  MAB


Phil has emailed us three of his songs and I have played around with two of them.    July is still 10 weeks away.  I will be practicing and learning Phil's songs and when we get together we will try them out and see what happens.   I have to lean on how Phil feels about it.  If he is comfortable, then we will give it a try.   I was thinking about trying out a bunch of esoteric modal scales!

Also if the Kid records his songs on his iPhone and sends them to me, I will try to add to his stuff also.   If it doesn't work out at least we can play them in the secrecy of our nashville house that we are staying at.   BUT there is no way I would even try if I don't get the music early.  I am not good enough to just wing it with only a day to learn/practice.

Kevin
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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4577
That's very good Kevin. Just something I wanted to put in everyone's ear, sometimes if you don't feel that comfortable playing by yourself, it might help to have someone who might be a little more experienced help you out. But it all has to be CLEARED first. Going through things a couple of times should say if they should do it or not. 

It can also be HORRIBLE, like Phil described above. I have TERRIBLE people play while I was doing something and it SUCKED! One 13 year old boy one time was a "local celebrated fiddler." I was asked to come to this show and everyone thought I was this big Nashville deal and I was going to be his ticket to stardom. His Dad asked if he could get up, because he had been studying my songs.
He did and I was doing my song "Too Much Blood." I told him to "listen for the breaks." From the first moment I started to play, he started sawing away. He just went on and on and on through every song and every break, never listening to what I was doing. Finally, at the last chorus, I grabbed the neck of his fiddle, stopping him from playing. That was the only break he took. After I let go, HE KEPT GOING ALL THE WAY OUT.

You always have to LISTEN to what OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING!!! I'm sure you'll all do fine.

MAB
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Kevin Emmrich
#4578
Marc-Alan Barnette said...
...It can also be HORRIBLE, like Phil described above. ...

You always have to LISTEN to what OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING!!! I'm sure you'll all do fine.

MAB


Maybe when we get further along we can ask that you listen to a recording of us and you can tell us if we are on the right track.  We are OK right now, though --  we have OD telling us we suck.  All the bases are covered at the moment.

Kevin
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Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4579

Hey MAB!! WAKE UP!!

Now, I realize it's barely the first of June, but I'm getting excited for you already. I know you're playing at the Spoke for it's reopening on June the 9th and 10th. I want a full report. Please? I'm really interested in how many writers show up, how big a crowd, and how the crowd is. I remember the Spoke was a listening room when I used to go there. I hope they maintain that. Also, if they know, will it become a regular writers room, and how many nights a week?


Looking forward to seeing you in July, and maybe you can get scheduled back at the Spoke that Friday or Saturday. I want to go to the Spoke while I'm in town.


phil g.

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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4580
Hey Phil,

I'm always awake bud. Just had a bit of tour business lately, as well as having to travel down to Birmingham for family stuff.  The Spoke will re-open this weekend and I am sure the turn out will be a good one. A lot of the old hands will show up, Reese Wilson, Craig Martin, Chris Wallin, Tony Lane, I am sure several others who came through at that time, will be there.
Should be a cool two nights.

As far as going further, we'll see. The Broken Spoke is in a pretty bad section of town. One of the problems it had a long time ago, were people having their cars broken into. And with a lot of places like that, the old HALL OF FAME, BOGEY'S, etc. that were attached to hotels (The spoke was a Ramada Inn) ran into problems when the hotels decided to divest themselves of the bars or lounges. They would contract those out to other people and the income was not enough to keep them open. 

Songwriters are traditionally, water and tea drinkers. And much less food. They have very little money, so it is not enough to keep a bar open. For a few years, the Spoke had a front bar, which featured a band, food, and a good deal of activity. That is where the tourists would come and stay. Now, with the onus to get people to the downtown area, (we are now New Orleans every night) not many people stick around the hotels. 

And, as I said, the area is not the best. So we will see what happens. I would look to them to have two nights a week at first. We'll see if they do week nights or weekends. If It were me, I'd be pushing Monday and Tuesday nights. The overflow from the Bluebird on Monday and Douglas on Tuesday, would create a decent crowd.

The thing to remember now is that there are so many people wanting to do this, you get a lot show up, play and then leave. And they are often pretty rude while they are there. Phil I'll tell you, that the "listening room" aspect in most places are not there anymore unless someone REALLY blows people away. And some times even if that happens, a large segment of people just don't listen. They are on their phones and into themselves. 

As I have said on numerous occasions, music is NO LONGER IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR LIVES. It is in the BACKGROUND OF OUR LIVES. Music is everywhere now. And for the most part, free. People don't have to work (or pay) to get it. It is just another APP on a phone, or something that plays in the background of a bar. Most writers/artists don't command attention with their performance or songs in the first place, so why should people be that concerned with it? And of course in this day and age EVERYONE is a writer or artist also, so they would just as soon have their own music as opposed to someone else's. 

So yes Phil, the Spoke will be back, at least for now. But like all places that do this, we'll have to see how long it goes. My bet is probably not too optimistic.

MAB
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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4581
                                                                           FESTIVAL TIME IS ON THE WAY

I am mostly about GETTING OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM. The best way to do that for songwriters/artists is to visit a major music center. New York, LA or Nashville are the primary ones in the US, although there are other centers that have a music scene, venues, bars, songwriter's groups etc. and now most even smallest towns and hamlets usually have an open mic, open stage or talent night somewhere. You have to find them, and integrate oneself and even if they are not the classic "Nashville songwriters night", any place to perform your material is better than just sitting at home. And meeting some other people with the same hobby is essential to understanding what this is all about.

But outside of that, there are many FESTIVALS around the country. The BMI KEY WEST songwriter's festival is one that comes up a lot, but I find that really expensive and very limited to how many writers that have involved. And as an ASCAP writer, I don't really qualify (or afford) so I don't go there. 

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST in Austin, Tx. is very much for artists and is one of the primary showcases for alternative, rock, blues, music around. Again, really congested, a LOT going on, and like most modern festivals, pretty expensive.

KERRVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL, in Kerrville, Texas, is the yearly pilgramage for people who want to camp out and get into the folk scene.

All of these are very interesting, and should e checked out. There are numerous others around the country, I see almost every city and town having a "taste of the town" or arts and crafts fairs. All of those are important and if one comes to your area, I hope you support it.

For me, Basically two festivals (with a possibility on a third) are on my radar screen. And as of last week, I'm invited and playing on TWO. But here they are, in order:

SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, August 16-20. GATLINBURG TN.
This is the 6th year for this one. Nestled in the beautiful Smokey Mountains, this one is really finding it's groove. About 100 writers in 8-10 venues. Mostly East Tn. writers featured here, along with around 65 of Nashville hitmakers.

The thing to be remembered going to them, is that you want a place where YOU could perform. Smokey Mountain has DICK'S LAST RESORT, where they do a daily open mic, that anyone can sign up for, and a late night guitar pull on the front porch of the GATLINBURG INN, the old style hotel where Fedelice and Boudeloux Bryant wrote "WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE" and ROCKY TOP, as well as hundreds of other standard songs. 
IT is "off season" being at the end of the summer and a few weeks before the fall explosion, so rooms are reasonable.
And for the scenery, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS.

FRANK BROWN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, Nov. 9-19, PERDIDO KEY, FL./GULF SHORES, AL.
Of course, my favorite. This will be the 33rd year for this one and my 23rd year. It is the MOST PERFECT festival, in that it is at the beaches, a lot of regular tourist traffic, and a tradition of including the community, make this my favorite.
The locals are amazing and a wide variety of venues, writers and music.
The key place is the FLORABAMA LOUNGE, which is the biggest dog on the block. A daily open mic there on one of the most famous stages in songwriting. A central location, people can rub elbows with the hit makers.
About 200 of Nashville's top writers, and a lot of up and comers. 

The Mississippi Songwriters Festival, Ocean City Ms. Sept. 16-18.
This one I am still wondering about. The 5th year for it. but they are trying to decide what it is going to be. Mostly Mississippi writers. (My Dad was from Philadelphia Miss. and my relative was Jimmie Rodgers, so I am sort of a legacy) A few Nashville writers go over, Mostly Tommy Barnes and a few more hit makers, but this one is mostly for the locals. They are trying to decide on having me do a workshop this year so I will have to see how that goes. 
They do have a late night guitar pull at a historic old hotel, and the overall feel is of some pretty good people. 
But they are still trying to find their identities. I do like the fact that the six or seven venues are all in walking distance of each other. 
But this year, unless they offer me a workshop, I probably won't go. But if you are near that area, it is a pretty good expense of time to go see what it is all about. 

Those are my choices, hope you can make one or more of them or find ones on your own. They are a way to get seen, meet people, and find out you are not so alone in a very interesting art form.

MAB
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Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4582

MAB, thanks for the detail on the Smokey Mountain festival!! It sounds like a really great festival. And, since it is so close to you, it may start running a close race with FBISF. If I weren't coming up there in July, I would definitely try to make Smokey Mountain. AND, you are right. I AM looking for festivals where I can show off. Now that I know Smokey Mountain has an open mic, it sounds like another place for me to try to get involved.


By the way, I may not be getting your tea or sodas, or ushering your Flora-Bama crowd at FBISF this year. I'm leaning towards not volunteering so I can spend more time just enjoying the festival and not have to worry about being there at specific times.


phil g.

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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4583
Hello Phil,

Good to hear from you. Smokey Mountain is another one building. But like a lot of Festivals, there are always cost issues that go with them. Frank Brown even had to cut back this year on venues and size. For the past 8 years or so, BP has been funding a lot of the festival, due to the GULF OIL SPILL in 2010. I guess that money has run out and they are back to having to fund it themselves. Festivals are extroidinarily expensive and have to have big corporate sponsors like banks to survive. It's another reason why most of them never last very long. Frank Brown surviving 33 years is pretty amazing. And abnormal.
I do understand about not volunteering as well. Takes up a lot of time. But it does give you access to a lot of the writers and people you'd like to talk to. So will look forward to it.

Well, yesterday, as you probably know, we lost Susie Martin. She passed away in her sleep about 9:00 am. But she was not in pain, which was great. Tommy, her husband and his daughter were there and it was peaceful. Susie has had a really bad year with Esophogael, Liver and spinal cancer. It just wasted her away. She fought hard, but it just didn't help. We were lucky to have her. She hosted all the parties, cooked, was always there to brighten up all of our lives.
She improved every situation she was in.

Yesterday evening a close group of us got together to be with Tommy, bring food, drinks over. Was a very nice get together, shared a few memories, and basically drank a few toasts to her. Tommy is handling it well and there are a lot of people willing to help him get through the next few months. Phil, one of his proudest things, was bringing out the card you sent. That was really great, the card being sentimental, and yet your "special message" Don't listen to OD, I love you best..." was the most perfect thing! LOL! That was great and he really enjoyed showing that around to everyone. 

I think you won the day there bud. Thanks for doing that.

See you in a few weeks.

MAB
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Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4584

Marc, I had forgotten all about that card! I'm glad they enjoyed it. Susie was my favorite girlfriend! I know the two of you were very close and I'm sorry for your loss. Now, do you know where I can send some flowers? Email or text me an address.


phil g.

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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4585
Phil,

I emailed you but will tell you here. There will be no service, or memorial at this time. Susie actually HATED THAT, so no flowers or anything of that sort. I have told anyone that if they want to donate to the "GO FUND ME" site on Facebook, they can do that as there are still many, many bills to be paid. Susie had no insurance so it is going to be a lot of medical bills there. 

She was very private and from the time she started going downhill, she would not allow anyone to even see her. Not even me and Tina. We saw her rarely. WE called a good bit, but due to her throat cancer, could not really talk and after it spread to her spine, she couldn't type to answer texts or emails. I had people send her messages of encouragement that she could read, and that made her feel better, but she would not let people see her. I spent two weeks with her driving her to her radiation treatments. She was in a lot of pain, a lot of exhaustion and was just ready to be done with it all.
She HATED the "pray for me" stuff on Facebook, she called all those people a "bunch of whiners" and felt like things like that should be private or with family. She didn't even tell her kids how sick they were because she didn't want them to try and leave England to come see her. Her oldest daughter actually got married on Sunday and they talked by SKYPE after the wedding. Susie was very private in her suffering and now is out of that.
 
The last thing she actually said to me was "You know you'll have to plan a giant party..." 
So we will. I'm going to have a get together of all the people she loved to hear play and have them do her favorite songs

We are going to do some form of memorial but I don't know when right now. My main option is to turn the "Birthday show" into a Susie Memorial, but that is not set yet. Will let you know. It will be a big assed party!

But your card was the big hit of the get together yesterday. Janet, Tina, Beckett, and others were laughing their butts off at that one.  Was Tommy's favorite thing and is on the refrigerator where he sees it every time he goes and gets his sweet tea. You will probably see him when you are here in July.

MAB
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OD OldDog
#4586

Awe MAB,  I was so sorry to hear of Susie's passing the other day.  She's been on my mind a lot because I knew she wasn't doing well but to hear her life had ended brought a great deal of grief and a bit of relief she was not suffering any longer also.  I'm sure you understand what I mean by saying that.


 


I don't recall ever seeing Susie that she wasn't smiling and sharing her cheer with everyone, even at FB last fall when it was obvious she had been through a lot.  Susie was a genuine Sweetheart and a joy to be around.  I would like to say also; Susie just loved You and Tina, your love and friendship gave Susie so much pleasure in her life and I'm sure you both know that.  The truth is; it was so obvious the rest of us knew it also; which shows how special your relationship with both Tommy and Susie was (and still is with Tommy).  I realize how special Susie was to both You and Tina and I know the two of you are suffering from her loss.  I'm truly very sorry.


 


By the way, I don't do Facebook so I wasn't aware of the "go-fund-me" until Philboy told me over an email.  I'm an old procrastinator and I don't care to sign up with go-fund-me but I'll get a card out to Tommy soon.  Besides, I have to straighten up a little matter of Philboy trying to claim he loved Susie best.  Susie knew very well it was OD that "Loved Her Best" but then again we ALL did, so no harm done.


 


OD


 


 

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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4587
Hey OD, good to see you.

Yes, Susie was pretty amazing and we have all been touched by knowing her. An interesting thing that is going on on Facebook right now is what I feel it SHOULD be there for. Several of us have written our tributes to Susie on our Facebook pages, and dozens of people are posting their own messages. Her daughter Becki is in England and able to read all the outpouring of love. It is great with people posting pictures and stories and truly what Facebook SHOULD be about. WE have raised over $3000 for Tommy which will go toward their enormous bills. We are going to keep that as long as we can.

I have decided to turn the July 20th show in to a SALUTE TO SUSIE. Since it will be a lot of people she loved to hear sing anyway we are going to have a huge party. Might even have Marty and some of the Food Network people come up. There was a huge outpouring of support. So you might want to hold off on a check for now and when we have that night I'll have big donation places up for people that want to particpate.

Obviously there are a lot of bills and will go on for a while. So helping Tommy out along the way will be a really good thing. 

But thanks for tuning in here. Will look forward to seeing you soon.

MAB


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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4588
WARMING UP IN THE BULLPEN.

Well Phil, Kev boy, Justin and OD, don't know if you are reading this but YOU ARE JUST A FEW WEEKS AWAY FROM NASHVILLE!!! Going to be a good one. We are having the "SALLLUUUUUUTTTTTEEEE TO SUUUUUUUSSSIIIEEEEE!!!
Night on my BIRTHDAY SHOW, THURSDAY JULY 20, and you will be a part of that one. Hope you are getting ready, practicing, maybe getting out there and playing a few "tune up gigs" before you get ready to step in the batters box here. Let me give you a few tips.

#1. PRACTICE YOUR SONGS.
Every day or few days, go over your songs. Make sure you can play them THREE TIMES THROUGH without needing lyric sheets. Play them one right after another, until you have the down pat, without pausing, starting over, hitting glitches.

#2. RECORD YOUR PERFORMANCE.
Set up your camera phone, or recorder and set it a few feet away from you. View your films, like the game films. Study what you are doing.
Are you ENNUNCIATING?
Are you STAYING IN THE MICROPHONE?
ARE YOU IN YOUR TIME FRAME? Five minutes per song WITH YOUR INTRO OR CONVERSATION.
Are you playing with DYNAMICS? Do you go quiet in the middle of the song when you want your words to stand out?
Are you building BIG INTO YOUR CHORUS?
TIME YOUR PERFORMANCE.

#3. CHECK YOUR EQUIPMENT.
The less you take on stage with you, lyrics, tuners, capos, picks, strap, etc. the less you have to worry about. You should just PLUG IN AND GO.

#4. PLAY SOMEWHERE LIVE.
If there is an open mic, a writers show, an open stage, FIND IT AND PERFORM ON IT. Nothing can take the place of a live audience. Glitches happen. Mics don't work. Chords don't work Expect it and deal with it.

#5. HAVE A GOOD TIME.
If you can't enjoy this, you shouldn't be doing it. Work on your game and then execute. Be prepared.

Enough said.

MAB


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Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4589

Hey MAB!! Yep; I'm reading! I've been playing a few open mic's. Not as many as I should though. And yes, I practice a little every day. And yes, if I can't have fun playing live, I'll give up.


phil g.

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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4590
GOOD. DON'T SUCK!!!!
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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4591
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!

Well, it's been quite the week. Last week, My mother passed away in Alabama. four trips down to arrange funerals, deal with family, and the funeral itself, buying a new car because the lease on my old one was up and I was RIGHT AT THE MILEAGE on it. (putting 2000 miles on the new one in a week), doing five shows back and forth, including a HUGE one in Huntsville Alabama, conducting and performing at the funeral, then organizing and directing the memorial service/party of one of our best friends, Susie Martin, all at the same time having five of my top writing people from California. Yeah. was quite the week.

This week is the NAMM show! That is the HOLY GRAIL OF MUSICIANS!!! It is the new product and merchandise convention where every major new guitar, amp, keyboard, microphone, lighting rig, computer program, effects pedals, and EVERYTHING MUSIC is all on displayed. Along with every major company and the big market players like GIBSON, FENDER, TAYLOR, TAKAMINI, SONY, and everything in between. Santa's workshop, and Disney land all rolled into one for musicians. You walk around between the thousands of booths (five levels) with your mouth hanging open and seeing everything you would love to buy! As well as prototypes on things that won't be availible for years. 
Also EVERY ARTIST, MUSICIANS, HOT BABE, WANNA BE'S, LABEL PEOPLE, all come out too to see and be seen.
It is the biggest event in the country.
THIS YEAR I AM A PRESENTER!!!!!
LYLIA technologies have allowed me to demonstrate their new product. A multi microphone/recording system ,that is really cool. It has several microphones on this vollyball looking thing, that picks up multiple instruments. Perfect for duos, bands, groups, to get very accurate live recordings with the ability to MIX it all at the same time.
It is manufactured in Poland, and I am very excited about it. Here it is:

Bonnie Lee Panda, my amazing singer buddy will be with me and we will be performing multiple times each day at the booth. If you are in twang town, come on by.
So that is amazing and our kick off party is at BMI today, 4-6. 


As if that is not enough, tonight I have a free ticket to JAMES TAYLOR/BONNIE RAITT concert at the Nashville arena. 
Man, the great stuff just keeps on rolling.

Then next week will happen. My two birthday shows, Wed. 19th at the Commodore, and Thursday the BIG SHOW at Bobby's Idle Hour. I will feature many of my friends. Jimbeau Hinson, Bonnie Lee, Allen Shervelle, Jason Gegory, Janet and Charles Cox, and many more. Gonna be a some really heavy nights.

Also on that night will be the BIG THING. Phil Grigg and Kevin, from Virginia, will be coming into play this show. Looking forward to seeing and hearing them live. Although I am a bit apprehensive, since they represent me and my teaching methods. If they don't come through incredibly, blow everyone away, and become recording stars overnight, MY CAREER WILL BE OVER!!!! People will quit believing in me and quit their own musical journeys. Equipment manufacturers, and music stores will be forced to close. Employees laid off. Their bills unpaid, causing bankruptcies and financial and emotional problems. Riots might break out in certain areas. Iran, ISIS and North Korea, emboldened by our weakness, may find that as the time to strike. They might wipe out our power grid, destroying our ability to get electricity. The Internet will fail. People will be reduced to human zombies, walking dead only living to feed off other people. Soylent Green IS PEOPLE!!! The oceans will rise, and the temperatures will drop into complete ice. and WE'LL ALL DIE!!!!!

So. I hope Phil and Kevin are ready to play. A lot riding on it.

But don't worry. I'm sure you will do fine.

MAB


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Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4592

That Zylia looks like something we could use at the house next week. Kevin and I will be on guitar, and OD on bass. OR you could join us, and Kevin could play Cajon! We can record our efforts as a keepsake of our visit and jam session.


Anyway, not to worry about Thursday night. Why, I've been a recording artist for a few years now, and I almost always blow away my audience; IN MY LIVING ROOM!! LOL!! AND, I do have quite an imagination! We will SO WOW the crowd (all 3 or 4 of them. Well, except for OD.) and save your career! And all those other bad things will never come to pass. TRUST ME!!


phil g.

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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4593
Hey Phil,

Actually the Zylia recording system is EXACTLY what would be good for next week. It is very cool. We had the run through party yesterday at BMI and Bonnie and I recorded onstage in front of a lot of Nashville players. Really enjoyed it Today we head downtown for the NAMM show. Really looking forward to it. Going to be a lot of fun. 

NAMM is sort of my HOLY GRAIL, BUCKET LIST as a musician, Have always wanted to be a demonstrator and have people see some cool product that I had a hand in developing. This could be it. I'll tell you who it is PERFECT FOR. BLUEGRASS!!!!! Bluegrass people always play around one microphone. This has NINETEEN MICROPHONES in one softball sized ball! Very good sound and good separation. A little bleed but not a whole lot. 

We will be doing it a few ways. 
ME Playing guitar and Bonnie singing.
Bonnie playing guitar and me singing.
Both at the same time.
Accapella.

Then they will be demonstrating the mix capabilities. These guys are from Poland, so there is a little language and communication glitches, but nothing major. Really looking forward to it.

And I am coming off a very cool thing from last night. One of my good friends, Jason Gregory, got me a ticket to JAMES TAYLOR AND BONNIE RAITT!!! It was amazing show. Seeing REAL ENTERTAINERS WITH REAL BANDS AND REAL SONGS were astounding how good they were. The entire show had a running video show going on behind it which spanned both of their careers. 
And JAMES CAME OUT AND INTRODUCED BONNIE!!! How many people do that? And not only did he introduce her, he played the last song "THING CALLED LOVE" with her. Was so cool.

I just love to hear quality things and that was one.

Okay, on to NAMM.

MAB
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Norman Harris
#4594
Hi MAB

Hope you enjoy NAMM. Sounds like my sort of event; new technology and products.

Starting to put some music ideas together and hope to sit down this weekend and work on a song idea. I do need to collaborate as it will ensure I put the effort in. Now that a lot of what was getting the way is now out of the way, I won't get so bogged down and lose the desire to carry on. Though I look back and wonder how I worked on such a lot of collaborations.

Not been to much live music recently though I have been to two Steve Hackett concerts. A very good guitarist and in the second concert, the second half was all Genesis. Good fun! Myself and two old school friends stay over one Friday every month. Loud music, lots of take away food and too much beer ... and finishing off with a malt, Jack Daniels or other similar spirit. To be honest, a great nights entertainment.

I'm really into Alan Merrill's music at the moment. There's a lot more to him than "I love Rock N Roll". Having Amazon Music Prime Inlimited, I am hearing a lot of other new singer / songwriters I would never have heard. Worth it. That and Amazon Echo's Alexa keeps me occupied ;-)

Wish I could experience NAMM.

All the best
Nod
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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4595
Hey Nod,

So good to hear from you. Are you still holding down the UK? Hope everything is well. A friend of mine, Scott Southworth, is over there right now, going through Ireland, Scotland and the rest of the UK. Great writer and performer and a great person. You can go to SCOTT SOUTHWORTH on Facebook and see videos he is putting up. 

Today is my birthday and we are doing a show at BOBBY'S IDLE HOUR. Having Kevin Emmerick (Kev MO) and Phil Griggs (Phil Boy) open it up around 6:30. They played once yesterday so are pretty well geared up. OD is here supervising everything as long as he is not in the beer too much. (FAT CHANCE!)

The NAMM show was very good and our product, the Zylia, recording system, was voted BEST OF SHOW. Reminded me of some of the stuff you have been developing and sent me years ago. Gotta love smart people and their inventions. 

Great to hear from you and please continue to post. We're trying to rekindle some interest here.
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Larry Killam
#4596
Happy Birthday MAB.My wife's and my 45th Anniversary today as well.
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Marc-Alan Barnette
#4597
BIRTHDAY WRAP UP.

Happy Wife's birthday Yrall. Hope she is well. As are you.

Wanted to just post a note about last night's Birthday show at BOBBY'S IDLE HOUR, here in Nashville. Was a great night and very enjoyable by all. And the Ramp was well represented. Opening the show was "KEV MO" Emmerick, and PHIL BOY GRIGGS. They represented themselves well on both Wed. and last night. Doing three songs each, they got the feel of a real Nashville writer's night and were both ready for it. Thanks guys.

The rest of the show was intermixed with the regular Thursday night writers showcase hosted by CHARLES AND JANET COX. They are two of my best friends over the last couple of years and let us take over the stage for two and a half hours.
They have a ton of people trying play their night so it is a pretty in demand place to be. I owe the for that one.

AFter they had a couple of rounds play, it was our turn. I got up and did a couple of my first NAshville songs , THE GRAND OPENING and THAT'S WHERE IT HURTS, my first cut on SHELBY LYNNE. From there I did a new song, A WAY ABOUT HER, that was written with one of my tour clients a month ago. Then I brought up my partner in crime, JIMBEAU HINSON. Jimbeau is SONGWRITING ON STEROIDS, and the guy I get most of my training from.
He hit it out of the park with monster hits like PARTY CROWD (1995 most performed country song of the year), SETTING FANCY FREE, number one for  the OAK RIDGE BOYS, our duet, THING FOR YOU, and a Rodney Carrington cut, DRINK MORE BEER. Very fitting for a Nashville dive bar! Jimbeau left the packed crowd boiling over, and we had to follow that up.

Did with ALLEN "SUPERMAN" SHERVELLE, BONNIE LEE PANDA, and JASON GREGORY, three of the finest singer songwriters I have worked with. Three songs each, led to me bringing people up one by one. CHRISTINE PARRI, one of the best Aussie singers there is, smoked the house with her sultry sounds. HEINO MOELLOR, from the MUSIC ROW SHOW, on WSM (home of the Grand Old Opry), PAUL JEFFERSON (number one on THAT'S AS CLOSE AS I GET TO LOVING YOU", and one of my favorites, "SUSAN." 

My friend;s Greg Stapelton Janet and Charles, and Sam Cooper, all took turns playing and it was a great night. Finally I  rounded it jup with a few of my old standbys CAN'T BLAME NOBODY, CLEANING UP AROUND THE HOUSE, BAREFEET, OLD MEMORIES and of course, TABLES AND CHAIRS. Was a fun night, especially playing my new COLE CLARK AUSTRALIAN guitar. Great product from the NAMM SHOW.

So it all went well. Wish you could all be there. 

Take care,
MAB
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Phillip (phil g.) Grigg
#4598

It was a great night MAB!! Let's do it again. Soon. Either you can have another birthday, or maybe Tina, or Allen, or Bonnie, or anyone that I can have an excuse to come back to Nashville.


Thanks MAB for inviting me and Kevin to participate in your birthday party! Tell Charles and JaLinda thanks again for coming in early just for us!


phil g.

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David Wagner
#4599
Well I thought OD would've had one of his favs jump out of a cake OD you are slowing down

Just thought I'd check in lots of music stuff going on we now have Ozarks writers night every Wednesday with different artists showcased so far a member of Ozark Mountain Daredevils (Jackie Blue)
Tom Whitlock (Took my breath Away)
Wil Richardson
Jared Hicks
Etc
Can't wait to make back to Nashville but to
Be honest after my last trip other than watching and hearing MAB it was a disaster
Locked up at Beaird Studio NSAI LOBBY so embarrassing dang Parkinson's but hey it could be worse I could be like OD and women chasing me all over town wanting me to decide who I love the most.

But of music news this week. A publishing f company from La is listening to my catalog for possible placements in commercials or movie trailers they currently have Lipton tea petsway Ferrari etc fingers crossed as always
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