Quick recap

Dolores and I had a nice bike ride along the Blackstone River Bike Path on Saturday, went to watch the NE Revolution play (and lose) to DC United and then closed out the day with a singalong concert at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse with Peter Yarrow. The later was a special treat. How often can you get about 300 folks singing together in harmony?

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse: Peter Mulvey

A busy day on Saturday as we took in the soccer double header for the NE Revolution home opener and then followed it up with a concert at night.

The Brazilian and Canadian women's national teams played in the first game of the double header. Canada controlled the match to win 2-1.

In the second game, the Revs scored 28 second into the game and then made that score hold up to finish 1-0.

The concert at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse featured Peter Mulvey. He had been recommended to me for sometime as well worth seeing and he was. David Goodrich accompanied Peter switching among several guitars over the course of the concert. Peter did like wise and also had a bango for one piece. Both are very good and the concert overall impressed my wife. She can be a tough sell sometimes but she admitted they knew how to play.

A sample of what they performed Saturday night can be heard via this YouTube video



If you do get a chance to hear Peter perform, it would be worth your while!

For more about Peter you can do well by starting with his website
http://www.petermulvey.com/index.html

Angel Band

I got to see the Angel Band at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse last night. They are good! Their harmonies and music I could listen to any time.

Here is a sample from their new CD "Shoot the Moon"



Hearing this song live was a joy!


BTW - I did create at least one sherku from the evening

RUNA - High Res Promo Video

A compilation of some of Runa's repertoire highlighting what they can do. Very well done!





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'Annalee' - Ellis Paul

If you like good folk music, and haven't heard of Ellis Paul, you can get a double treat today.

Follow this link for a free download of his song 'Annalee".
http://www.ellispaul.com/free/foryou.html

Listen and see how it sounds.

Check out more of Ellis Paul here: http://www.ellispaul.com/

I saw Ellis Paul perform a couple of times here at the Circle Of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin.

A great place for great music!

Great seasonal music

The holiday season would not be what it is without music. Granted some radio stations start playing the Christmas music way too early, but then look at the overall commercial approach, Christmas items were up for sale along with Halloween candy this year. We'll go down that path another time, this time around I'd like to follow the musical notes.

I got to two concerts this season; one at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse here in Franklin and the second at Symphony Hall in Boston. Both were good and special in their own way!

1 - Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams did its thing at the Circle of Friends.

What is its thing?
Hard to really describe but it generally is taking two different songs and putting them together to make a third unique song.

For this Christmas show, they brought out some "sissy" classics and intermixed them with their blend of mashup. The best probably was "Angels we have heard on high" mixed with Van Morrison's "Gloria". Yes, something to be heard to be understood.

Note: You can go to Radio-Free Slambovia, navigate to A Slambovian Christmas and select "Angels - Gloria" to hear for yourself.

2 - The Boston Pops did its thing at Symphony Hall.

What is its thing?
Music played to its best in an acoustical gem of a hall.

For this Christmas show, they backed up a reading of "The Polar Express" by Will Lebow. Very well done. The big screen came down to show highlights of C Van Allsberg's illustrations. The way they were shown, it was if they were moving pictures. The life and light depicted by Van Allsberg is all that more impressive shown in this way,

The special treat for me (along with quite a few others based upon the applause) was the new rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas". Now, for a song that has been around as long as this one has, what can you do different?

Try singing each verse to the melody of another classic; for example the fifth verse, "five golden rings" was sung to the theme from Beethoven's Fifth (but of course!). From that they segued into "the Surrey with the fringe on top" from Oklahoma to do verse six and then to "My favorite things" from The Sound of Music for verse seven.

Don't worry I won't reveal them all. Not that I could remember, I was torn between amazement and laughter. The vocal performance by the Tanglewood Festival Chorus was simply awesome.

This version was commissioned by the Pops to feature the range of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and it does this very well. Kudos to David Chasse for the arrangement.

Do you enjoy the seasonal music?

What is your favorite?

Circle of Friends: Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

the next show
Saturday,
December 13th, 8:00PM

A Slambovian Holiday Show GANDALF MURPHY and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

"Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is simply one of the finest American bands out there on the road. " -AllMusic Guide

with special guest Lindsay Mac

Tickets = $20

Red Molly - Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

The next show
Saturday
November 22nd
8:00PM

RED MOLLY
with special guest
Anthony Da Costa, $15

For tickets and other information visit the Circle of Friends website here

Circle of Friends - Antje Duvekot 3/29/08

Rising star Antje Duvekot appears at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse in Franklin on Saturday, March 29th at 8PM. German born Antje has been taking the musical world by storm, winning the prestigious Kerrville New Folk Award and Boston Music Award as well as the John Lennon songwriting contest.

Three of her songs garnered critical acclaim when they were covered by the Celtic supergroup Solas. Her songs are uncompromisingly truthful yet also uplifting. Her lyrics encompass the joys and struggles, the trials and perseverance - and simultaneously the beauty - that characterize human existence. http://www.antjeduvekot.com/

Former Rolling Stone music editor Dave Marsh says of her debut album “Big Dream Boulevard”, "This is a brilliant, brilliant album. I have had this reaction once in the last 10 years and that was the first time I heard Patty Griffin.”

Local singer/songwriter Patti DeRosa will open the show. Her music is “fun, funky, and sizzling” and is delivered with a stage presence that draws the audience in and warms the heart. http://www.pattiderosa.com/

“A gem that stands out in the vast sea of singer-songwriters...” Madalyn Sklar, GoGirls Music

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available. Admission is $15. Please call (508)528-2541 or visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information. Tickets may now be purchased with a credit card using PayPal.

Five O'Clock Shadow @ Circle of Friends

Caught concert Saturday night by Five O'Clock Shadow at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse. Here is a brief bit of one of their songs:



If you like live music, especially folk, this is one of Franklin's gems.

Everything is Music - Kris Delmhorst

Kris Delmhorst did not sing this song on Friday night but she sang so well I picked up one album. Now that I know this is derived from Rumi, I wish she had. I am listening to the wonderful lyrics, marveling at how she did what she did.

Everything is Music
lyrics adapted from Rumi, "Where Everything Is Music"

We've come to the place where everything is music
Everything is music, let it play.

Why do you stay in jail when the door is wide open?
Let the beauty that you love be what you do.

Stop talking now, open up the window
The one right there in the middle of your heart
Give us your hands, sit down in this circle
You know you got no need to keep yourself apart

Today you wake up sad and empty, don't go back to sleep.
There's a million ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

Don't worry now, about saving all these songs,
There's so many more just waiting to be found.
And if all these instruments should disappear
We would still hear something coming up from way down in the ground

Because we've come to the place where everything is music
Everything is music, let it play.

Galuppi Baldassare - Kris Delmhorst

Kris Delmhorst sang this Friday night. I picked up the album and am listening to the wonderful lyrics, marveling at how she did what she did. "Some of the poems are set verbatim to music, some dismantled and reassembled in significantly new renditions, others merely used as the jumping-off point for Delmhorst's own literate lyrical take."

For more background check out here and here (the original poem by Robert Browning)

Galuppi Baldassare

Oh Galuppi Baldassare, though I never knew your name,
it’s thanks to Mr. Browning you are with us just the same.
Thanks to Mr. Browning, blowing on the flame…

Well here you come with your old music, and here’s all the good it brings-
you say they lived like this in Venice when the merchants were the kings,
and though I never left old Boston, still you showed me everything

Did the young folks take their pleasure? Was the ocean warm in May?
Did the parties start at midnight, did they roll until midday?
And did the ladies bloom like bellflowers, every time you’d start to play?

Well I bet that they all loved you, I bet they stood around and cheered,
saying “that’s what I call music, good for joy and good for tears,
now let’s stop all this talking, and let it fill our ears.”

And the minor third so bitter, the six chord like a sigh,
suspension, solution, asking must we die, must we die must we die?
And the seventh says well fellas, life might not last, but we can try…

So were you happy? I was happy. You still happy? Yes, and you?
Then more kisses! Why’d we stop them, when a million seemed so few?
There’s something in that music, lord it must be answered to.

Then they left you for their fortune, in due time one by one.
Some had lives that came to nothing, some did things they’d better not have done,
and then death stepped up and took em where they’ll never see the sun…

Oh but you you ghostly cricket, singing where the house has burned,
‘dust and ashes, dead and done with, Venice spent what Venice earned,’
but what’s left behind I wonder, when the kissing has adjourned?

‘Dust and ashes,’ so you tell me, and I cannot say you’re wrong,
still those dear dead dancing ladies with their hair so soft and long
stir a little in their slumber, every time we play your song.

‘Cause the minor third’s still bitter, the six chord makes us sigh,
suspension, solution, asking must we die, must we also die?
And the seventh still says well, life might not last, but we can try…

People Look Around - Catie Curtis

Follow this link to Catie Curtis' web page, where she has posted a video of her song "People Look Around".

She did this for us at the Ride Far concert Friday night.

Passing Through

I got to hear Catie Curtis and Kris Delmhorst at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse Friday night as part of the Ride Far Benefit Concert. There were many good songs, melodies and lyrics to hear. I really love the lyrics in this one from Catie Curtis!




from the album Long Night Moon

We are passing this world on to our kids
From the day when they climb from their cribs
We'll try and teach them well, show them that they're loved
But in the end all we can do is hope our best was good enough
They'll witness how this life can be so beautiful and cruel
We can't shelter them forever but if we show them all the tools
They might leave this world in a little better shape than me and you
We are only passing through

Passing through, passing through
We are only passing through
Passing through, passing through
We are only passing through

We are watching this world from our living rooms
Near forty years since we walked on the moon
This big blue ball is shrinking and I don't know if that's good
But for better or for worse now this whole world's our neighborhood
And there's no place left to run to, to stay above the fray
We better learn to get along not just to get our way
Not only for each other but our children's children too
We are only passing through

Passing through, passing through
We are only passing through
Passing through, passing through
We are only passing through

And I wonder sometimes what will I pass on
How much can one voice do with just a song
Sometimes injustice and indifference are all that I see
But I refuse to let my hope become the latest casualty
So I'll sing of love and truth and try to practice what I preach
If I can't change the world, I'll change the world within my reach
What better place to start than here and now with me and you
We are only passing through

Passing through, passing through
We are only passing through
Passing through, passing through
We are only passing through
We are only passing through

words and music by Mark Erelli and Catie Curtis c2006

Ride FAR Benefit Concert

Friday, September 7th, 2007 8 pm

Franklin, MA

KRIS DELMHORST and CATIE CURTIS

Ride FAR Benefit Concert

Circle of Friends Coffehouse

First Universalist Society Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St.
Franklin, MA 02038 USA

phone: (508) 528-2541

PRICE: $25.00

website: Circle of Friends Coffeehouse

Kris Delmhorst and Catie Curtis with host Dick Pleasants.

Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased below.
All proceeds go to the beneficiaries of Ride FAR 10.

Garnet Rogers "All that is"

Managed to catch Garnet Rogers in concert at the Circle of Friends Coffeehouse down the road from my house here in Franklin. The Laws opened and played very well, good guitar picking and wonderful vocal harmonies. Amongst the songs that Garnet shared with us, the chorus to this one caught my ear and snagged it.

All that Is

Who can tell when in love you'll finally fall?
Some live in vain and never love at all
but as lightning strikes
or as a small insistent voice
if we are blessed we will hear and heed the call

Give your love and never count the cost
Lose your heart and never call it lost
May your love be your shelter
to the ending of your days
love is all that is, all that ever was

May your love grow strong and always kind
May your hearts grow forever more entwined
In the brightest day or the stillness of the night
May it be each others hand you seek and find

Never more to be alone
Ever closer you have grown
Forever now may no distance come between
And in each other's loving hearts you find a home