Next Up…Andrew McKnight
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 | House Concerts | No Comments
Our next concert is scheduled for March 14 and we are proud to be hosting Virginia-based award-winning folk and Americana singer/songwriter Andrew McKnight.
Since permanently leaving his corporate environmental engineering career in 1996, Andrew’s musical journey has traced nearly half-a-million miles of blue highways and small towns nationwide, and earned him a wealth of critical acclaim and enthusiastic fan response for his five CDs and captivating performances.
Wherever and however Andrew takes the stage, audiences are at once spellbound and relaxed by his entertaining stories delivered with just the right touches of down home humor, causing one concertgoer to label him “equal parts Robert Frost, William Least Half-Moon and Jeff Foxworthy.
As always, the suggested donation is $15/person and you can RSVP to Lou AT BoroHouseConcerts.com.
Oh, What A Night!
Sunday, January 18th, 2009 | House Concerts | No Comments
I hate to say I told you so…but I told you so. I said that Jack Williams is one of the best singer/songwriters on the planet. I said he is a fantastic guitar player and a phenomenal performer. And for the people who came to last night’s Jack Williams concert, you found out that everything I said was true.
When Jack and Judy (Jack’s wife) arrived at the house, I was a little concerned. I knew Jack has been having some problems with his voice as of late, but when he got to the house, his voice was worse than I had anticipated. I needn’t have worried. With the help of some hot tea and honey, Jack fought through his voice problems and sounded just fine.
Of course, Jack’s guitar picking was not affected. As usual, Jack jumped from playing folk, blues, jazz, R&B, bluegrass, soul, and pop licks effortlessly. I can’t do justice describing Jack’s ability on the guitar, but if you were at the concert last night, you know what I mean.
Jack played several cuts off his new CD, “Don’t Let Go.” Jack was very focused on two upcoming events: the inauguration of Barack Obama and the celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Because Jack is southern born and bred (a product of South Carolina), he has a strong sense of relations between the races and it comes through in much of his music. Of course, the highlight of the evening was Jack’s finale; a 20 minute rambling, stream of consciousness song that spans genres, artists, eras, and often defies logic. The finale, and the entire evening for that matter, was a ton of fun.
Thanks to everyone who came to the show and a special thanks to everyone who brought food and/or drink to share. Thanks also to Jack and Judy for including Boro House Concerts on your schedule. You are both an absolute joy.
First Impressions of Jack Williams
Friday, January 2nd, 2009 | Uncategorized | 5 Comments
Jack Williams
The first time I saw Jack Williams play live, I was somewhat awestruck. I wrote my thoughts down after the show on a now defunct blog I was writing at the time. Here’s what I thought after my first encounter with Jack Williams:
Kim and I were lucky enough to see Jack Williams in concert last night. He was playing at the Blake Library in Stuart, FL.
In case you’re not familiar with Jack, he is a singer-songwriter who plays “acoustic music.” I guess you’d call him a folk singer (if you felt the need to label him), but he is also a storyteller, a comedian, and a traveling philosopher.
The concert was a lot of fun and Jack was great. His voice was weathered and bluesy, and his guitar playing was phenomenal.
Several years ago, I got to see Michael Jordan play basketball. Each time I would see him play I would come away wishing that I could do something, anything, in my life as well as Michael Jordan plays basketball. After seeing Jack Williams in concert, I am left with the desire to be able to do something, anything, as well as he plays guitar.
It’s a little funny that Jack is such a virtuoso on the guitar because when he walked on stage, my first thought was, “Jeez, that guitar is sure beat up.” And it’s true. Jack’s guitar has seen better days. The top of the guitar is faded and delaminated, and the pickguard is so old and worn that it is falling off the guitar. Even so, the sweet, soulful music Jack created with that old guitar was amazing.
On stage, Jack told stories, cracked jokes, and talked about his beloved south, all the while strumming and picking his guitar. The sound of the guitar was omnipresent. I got the feeling that at home, Jack sits and play his guitar while he talks to his wife Judy (who was also at the concert). It’s somewhat comical to think of Jack and Judy sitting at home in Arkansas, talking about the weather, a neighbor, the bills, or anything else while Jack provides background music for their lives. I don’t think there is ever a time when Jack isn’t playing his guitar. It must make it hard to drive and play guitar at the same time, but somehow Jack manages.
During the concert, Jack did several of his own songs (Eternity & Main, Mama Lou, A Natural Man, Frog in the Kitchen) as well as a couple of other people’s songs (Buckets of Rain by Bob Dylan), but the highlight (at least for me) was the last song he did.
Jack has a way of ending a concert that is truly unique. It is to music what stream of consciousness writing is to literature. For about twenty minutes, Jack played and sang anything that came into his head. During the course of his finale I remember hearing such diverse songs as “Young at Heart,” “Girl from Ipanema,” “Misty,” “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” “The Weight,” and several other songs, both strange and familiar. Jack also made up a couple of mini-songs during the finale.
Jack Williams is a great performer and his concert provided one of the most enjoyable evenings I have had in quite some time. If you ever get the chance to see Jack in person, I would highly recommend it.
More About “Suggested Donations”
Friday, January 2nd, 2009 | House Concerts | No Comments
I’ve gotten a couple of questions about our “suggested donation” policy and I’d like to clarify a couple of things:
- A house concert is not a “party with a cover charge.” It is an opportunity to hear great music from a terrific musician in the comfort of someone’s living room. The host provides the space (and some food/drinks) and the guests chip in to pay for the musician.
- For our first two house concerts, I paid the musicians out of my own pocket in order to attract great performers while we built our audience. I also wanted to give our audience a feel for what a house concert is all about before asking for money.
- All of the money collected goes to the performer. The host doesn’t get any of the money.
- In my mind, a suggested donation is just that: suggested. My main goal in hosting house concerts is to share great music with friends (both old and new) in a comfortable environment. I’ll put out a can to collect donations. If you choose to donate, great. If you chose to donate more or less than the suggested donation, that’s okay too. Pay what you can afford and what you feel the concert is worth. To me, the most import thing is that you join us and share the evening with us.
- We love kids and if they are under 16, they are free. All we ask is that they are well behaved. We’d prefer that they listen to the music, but understand that some kids just aren’t interested. That’s okay. They can spend time up in our bonus room playing video games or watching a movie.
- Give it a try. If you haven’t been to a house concert yet, give it a try and see what you think. Don’t feel any pressure to donate until you’ve seen what the concert is all about.
If you have any questions, just let me know.
Getting to Know Jack Williams
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 | House Concerts | No Comments
Jack Williams
Jack Williams is “one of the most talented and interesting singer songwriters we’ve had the good fortune to meet. It’s an absolute shock when you meet someone this talented who’s not famous; it only happens now and then. But in folk circles, Jack has become legendary and the legend is growing steadily.” –Frank Goodman, PureMusic.com
Fran Snyder is a musician and the driving force behind Concerts in Your Home, an organization dedicated to helping promote house concerts. Earlier this year, Fran had the opportunity to talk to singer/songwriter extraordinnaire Jack Williams about his 50 year career, the ups and downs of being a touring artist, and the house concert “phenomenon.”
“Jack Williams does 15 house concerts per week…
O.K. - Maybe I’m exaggerating a bit. However, it’s hard to find another artist who’s worked their way into hearts of so many house concert hosts, and who’s inspired so many to get started. I’m delighted to welcome Jack to the CIYH family, and couldn’r resist the opportunity to have him share his experience with our community. — Fran
1. This might be tough, but when/where was your first house concert? Any chance you’d remember how it came about?
I don’t remember my first house concert, how it came about or how it went. I’ve only been a part of the folk music community for 20 out of my 50 professional touring years, and there have been occasions, long before the current house concert movement, that I played my music in private homes for assembled friends, neighbors, families - and for pay.
I’m constantly amused by the fact that I often hear people speak of house concerts as being a “new thing” or “the latest trend.” In fact, it has been the quintessential “folk” music venue for centuries. My wife Judy found a great magazine photo from 1946, of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, seated side-by-side on stools, performing in a white, middle-class Kansas home, before an attentive gathering of friends, neighbors and families.
In the early 1800’s, musicians like Franz Schubert presented music in his “salon.” Around 1000 AD, the first Troubadours of what is now southern France roamed from city-state to city-state, with a lute and all of their belongings, staying at the pleasure of each court. I guess I’ve been doing “house concerts” for 50 years.
2. I know you do more than 50 house concerts per year. After that, what is your most common type of gig?
No bars at all anymore. Thirty years was enough, although I developed many “chops” on that circuit. Probably my next most common gigs are the “coffeehouse” concert series’, most often in rooms provided by music-friendly churches. By far, the majority of these are the U.U.’s, Unitys, and occasionally other more open-minded sects. I have not yet played a concert in a Southern Baptist church.
I play for a few festivals each year, but prefer smaller audiences. The festivals are basically “showcases” where a folkie may find further employment among the listeners. They’re also great places to cross paths with and spend time with other touring artist-friends.
3. What do you enjoy most about house concerts?
Itimacy. Up close and personal in a non-glitzy, non-show-biz way. What you see is what you get - usually unplugged. I love being able to look into the eyes of the listeners as I perform, and then talk with them at a break or afterwards. For a self-booked artist like myself and some of my collegues, the house concert circuit also provides a decent living for those of us without a “team” (manager, agent, publicist, cosmetician) which can provide more “high-end” gigs for its artists, in the large halls, before many thousands of paying customers - with the artist at a distance from their audience.
My performance approach changes, by necessity, when I’m on the festival stage. I have those skills, to “paint with a broader stroke” for a large, disconnected crowd, but I much prefer the more personal house concert setting.
4. Aside from putting on a great show, what’s been your most effective way of cultivating house concerts?
I wouldn’t call it a “way,” since it’s just part of my nature: I love the people in the folk community, and I’ve enjoyed meeting them in 46 states and 8 countries. My “way” then is the enjoyment of getting to know hosts personally, making the “business” a pleasure. Of course, there’s a strong grapevine on the house concert circuit which has served me - and other artists who favor this most personal of venues - extremely well.
Almost all of our hosts have been folks who are still enthusiastic about life, music, music-makers, and everything that lies above the cheesy realm of commercial media. Over the years, many have become dear friends with whom I share more than just an annual concert. I love this community. My wife, Judy, who has a PhD in immunology and who left the stagnant corporate-science world for life on the road, also loves this community. This has become our neighborhood.
5. The price of gas is influencing everybody’s bottom line, but is it affecting or changing your touring plans?
Yes, in a big and frightening way. I love my job and I’m now facing changes I don’t want to make. We’ll hang in there to see how we do, even though it’s a certainty that we’ll be earning less annually, unless I just play more often on each tour. The problem with this is that I’m approaching 65 and I don’t have what it takes to play 300 dates a year anymore. I don’t fly to gigs and I drive from 50,000 to 70,000 diesel-miles each year.
The options include “localizing,” that is playing only a short drive from home. This would be devastating to me, since part of the love for my job is getting to see every square inch of this country and to meet so many new people.
I also have far fewer venue-contacts in this region (NW Arkansas) which is still new to me - we bought a home here only three years ago. I enjoy teaching and do it frequently at retreats and festivals, and it may become a more important element in my work - teaching more locally, and booking more music workshops along with concerts. The final option is to stop touring. I’m in my prime and I’m having a ball. I’d rather stop breathing.
6. You’ve been a touring act for a long time…how do the past few years measure up for you? Is this the most challenging time you’ve ever seen for touring artists, or just a blip in the road?
I don’t really see it as any more or less challenging than any other time in my career. The past few years have been the best for me in my career - but that seems to have more to do with the fact that I’m just better at what I do now. I can’t speak for other touring artists, as to how challenging it is for them.
I think this is like any other job: “When I works, I works hard. When I plays, I plays hard. When I worries, I sleeps.” Artists who aren’t extraordinarily talented, lack originality in their presentation, lack diligence in booking/publicity-work, aren’t enthusiastic and effecient while hard-travelling or just don’t love their job, are going to face the toughest challenges. At this unfortunate time in U.S. history, though, one of the biggest challenges facing us all is the rising cost of fuel for touring. As for Judy and me, we’ll ride this pony until he falls down.
7. What’s the most common mistake that house concert presenters make?
Hmmmm. There are a few that come to mind, and it’s hard to say which is most common! It may be that some hosts operate under the misconception that their home-performance space must somehow be made to seem a “grander” venue. The building of stage, the assembling of extravagant lighting, the addition of a stadium-sized PA system, and the placing of the audience at a distance from the “stage” and from the artist - these are the things which can derail the most vital aspects of a house concert and diminish the intimacy.
First and foremost, it’s a concert in someone’s living space, not Carnegie Hall or Newport Folk Festival! Speaking for myself, I love that about it. I love it that people may be seated right under my feet, on the floor, on pillows and soft things. I love it that they may be scattered into adjacent rooms, sitting on the staircase, or dangling their feet from a loft. I love it that a simple floor or table lamp may be the only lighting. I love it that the audience isn’t seated in total darkness while multi-colored lights illuminate me and a (sometimes) unnecessary microphone. I love it that I’m standing or sitting not much higher than the audience’s heads, rather than on a stage which causes me to “loom” over the folks. I love it ’cause it ain’t show-biz!”
Jack Williams will be live and in concert at Boro House Concerts on Saturday, January 17. For questions or to RSVP, email us at Lou@BoroHouseConcerts.com
Jack Williams…LIVE!
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 | House Concerts | No Comments
Jack Williams
Jack Williams will playing at the Boro Concert Crib (read: our living room) on Saturday, January 17. The festivities will begin at 7:00 pm with a social hour and the music will start at 8:00 pm.
I can’t tell you how excited I am to be hosting Jack Williams. He is one of the most accomplished singer/songwriters in the business. He is also one of the best guitar players on the planet. His career in music is the stuff they make movies about. He is a terrific talent and I couldn’t be more proud or excited to have him performing for us.
I took the following bio about Jack from his website. But believe me, it only scratches the surface when it comes to Jack’s career and his accomplishments as a performer. I’ll be posting more information in a day or two to give you even more insight into what Jack is all about. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about him, you can visit Jack’s website by clicking here.
As a guitarist, he accompanied Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, Mickey Newbury and Harry Nilsson. Invited onstage by Arlo Guthrie to sing a song, he then joined the group for the concert encores. He produced all of his own recordings plus CDs by Mickey Newbury, Eric Schwartz, Carla Ulbrich, The Malvinas, and Ronny Cox.
From 1958 through 1987, Jack was best-known as an electric guitarist in a series of original rock bands and smaller acoustic ensembles. In the late 60’s, he gave in to his troubadour nature and began performing solo - singing and playing a gut-string guitar and touring from coast to coast. Before beginning to write in 1970, Jack was inspired by the varied likes of Jesse Winchester, Josh White, Hank Williams, Johnny Mercer, and Ray Charles. When the spirit moves him today, songs from favorite writers spring readily from his lips and fingers.
As a hired-gun guitarist in the Deep South of the Civil Rights-Easy Rider 60’s, Jack worked shows with John Lee Hooker, Big Joe Turner, Jerry Butler, Z.Z. Hill, Hank Ballard and many others. During that era, his bands also backed up artists such as the Shirelles, the Del-Vikings, the Coasters, the Drifters, and the Platters.
Jack Williams’ music sparkles from all these influences – creating truly all-American southern music
An Extremely Impressive Evening
Sunday, October 26th, 2008 | House Concerts | No Comments
Think about this…
There’s a songwriter who has written songs that have been recorded by such big names as Joan Baez, Janis Ian, Art Garfunkel, Garth Brooks, Nanci Griffith, and Peter, Paul & Mary. He’s co-written songs with Garth Brooks, Art Garfunkel, Guy Clark, Chuck Cannon, Tom Kimmel and many other great songwriters. He’s even shared the stage with Art Garfunkel, Guy Clark, and Peter, Paul & Mary.
This guy I’m talking about is not only a very well respected (and successful) songwriter, but he’s also an excellent performer. He’s played in venues all over the world, including the world famous Bluebird Café in Nashville.
Now, imagine this same guy playing in my living room. That’s exactly what happened last night. Of course, the songwriter is Buddy Mondlock and if you missed last night’s concert, you missed a great show.
The concert began with a 30-minute set from up-and-coming singer/songwriter Jeffrey Joslin. Think John Mayer meets Stevie Wonder. In fact, if John and Stevie had a child…oh, never mind.
Jeffrey did a great job. It’s hard to believe that he’s only 23-years old. His songs are mature and he performs them with poise and confidence. I really have to say that I was impressed with Jeffrey. I had heard his music before and knew that I liked it, but I didn’t expect to be so impressed with him both as a performer and as a person. I can’t tell you for sure what Jeffrey is going to do in the future, but I’d be willing to bet that he’s going to be really good and successful at whatever he does.
After Jeffrey, Buddy took the stage (so to speak). It’s a little hard for me to adequately describe Buddy’s performance. It was great to be sure, but it was also surprising; not because Buddy was so good (we expected that), but because Buddy was so good at so many different types of songs. In the course of just three songs, Buddy went from a Billy Holiday-inspired song (it was a great song, but I can’t remember the name of it), to “Cowboys Born Out of Their Time” (written by Tom Dundee), a western-themed song, to “New Jersey Sunset,” a somewhat dark, Mafioso-inspired tune with a quasi-tropical (think 1950’s Miami) feel. The whole night jumped around like that.
Another thing I really enjoyed about Buddy’s performance was the stories he told. For instance, Buddy told a great story about how intimidated he felt when he first sat down to write a song with the legendary Guy Clark. Buddy already knew Guy, but had never written with him. Thankfully, Guy had a little tequila on hand and the result was the soulful song, “Mud.”
Our night ended with Buddy playing “No Choice” and the audience helped out with the chorus. We were horrible, but that didn’t detract from the fun we all were having.
If you weren’t able to make it last night to the concert, I encourage you to check out Jeffrey and Buddy’s schedules to see where they might be playing in the area. Also, let me put in a plug for Haley, Jeffrey’s girlfriend. Haley is a fashion designer and will be showing her designs at the James Union Building at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Friday, November 14. If you’re into fashion, check it out.
Great New Music: CJ Vaughn
Friday, October 10th, 2008 | New Music | No Comments
The first thing you notice about CJ Vaughn is his hair. It’s curly. I mean really curly. When you talk to him, you’re struck by how nice he is. I don’t know why it is surprising, but it is. In fact, almost everything about CJ is surprising.
CJ Vaughn is a young guy living in Murfreesboro, just outside the capitol of country music, Nashville, TN. But country is not his sound. Instead, CJ leans toward the blues, soul, and R&B. But he really doesn’t like to be labeled. Chances are, if it’s funky, he likes it.
His manner is all southern gentleman, but CJ’s roots go back to Michigan. In fact, he’s only lived in the south since 2001. He’s shy, reserved, and soft-spoken. But his easy going manner belies the funky guitar riffs, bluesy voice, and soulful attitude that comes out of this curly-headed young man when he’s on stage.
CJ is still early in his musical career, but he hasn’t gone unnoticed. He has been nominated for three “Bluesy Awards” by The Music City Blues Society and he won the Kentucky Blues Challenge in 2006. He also represented Kentucky in the 2007 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
CJ and his band, Highway 58 are currently playing Thursday nights at Mellow Mushroom in Murfreesboro. When I walked in the joint to hear him last night, he was playing his version of The Temptations “Papa was a Rolling Stone.” I was hooked. My daughter had to elbow me in the side to get me to stop signing along.
Later in the set the band played an awesome cover of Ray Charles’ “Drowning in My Own Tears.” But CJ and the boys aren’t all about covers. They recently recorded their first CD entitled “Check it Out.” that includes some great original songs like “Baby Blue” and “What’s to Be.” The new CD will be available in December (just in time for Christmas).
If you like soul, R&B, blues, and any other funky style of music, check out CJ at CJVaughn.com or on his My Space page. Better yet, stop in next Thursday to see CJ and Highway 58 at Mellow Mushroom.
In Concert: Buddy Mondlock
Friday, September 26th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
I’m excited to announce that Nashville singer/songwriter Buddy Mondlock will be joining us in concert on Saturday, October 25. Opening for Buddy will be Jeffrey Joslin from right here in Murfreesboro.
Buddy Mondlock is a prolific songwriter. His songs have been recorded by a wide range of respected musicians including Janis Ian, Joan Baez, Guy Clark, Art Garfunkel, and Garth Brooks. Buddy’s songs are introspective and personal. It’s as if he reaches down into his very soul and pulls out a song. He won’t overpower you with lyrics, but will instead draw you in and make you part of the moment.
Buddy grew up in Park Forest, IL, but now calls Nashville home. Buddy has recorded five CDs including Everything Waits to be Noticed which he recorded with Miai Sharp and Art Garfunkel, and his latest solo effort, The Edge of the World.
Here’s what others have had to say about Buddy:
“Buddy Mondlock is the most startling new songwriting talent I’ve heard this year. This guy is an American Original, a folk poet whose vision veers effortlessly from wild witticism to soul-piercing insights. Living proof that the troubadour tradition sings on.”
- Robert K. Oermann, Syndicated Music Writer
“Since the first time I heard Buddy play in my office, I’ve loved his music. It’s always a pleasure to hear and have him play in the club.”
- Amy Kurland, Bluebird Café
“Buddy Mondlock writes beautiful songs and plays the kind of guitar they deserve. He’s a fine person and a fine artist.”
- Townes Van Zandt, singer/songwriter
Jeffrey Joslin is young, but he’s already making a name for himself. He’s a talented singer/songwriter that brings a maturity and sensibility to his music that is not very common among his peers.
Jeffrey grew up in the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Tennessee. His earliest influences were Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, and the Rev. Al Green. He mixed in these influences with a dose of piano playing from Michael W. Smith, guitar composition from Jars of Clay, and elements from the likes of John Mayer, Billy Joel, and Jason Mraz. The result is a unique style that harkens back to the 1970’s while staying firmly planted in the here and now.
Jeffrey currently lives in Murfreesboro, TN where he is attending MTSU. He is majoring in Recording Industry Production and Technology.
For more information about Buddy Mondlock, visit his website here and his My Space page here.
You can visit Jeffrey Joslin’s My Space page here.
Save The Date
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Our next concert is scheduled for Saturday, October 25. We’ll be hosting Nashville resident Buddy Mondlock. I’ll be providing more info on Buddy as we get closer to the concert, but for now you can check him out here.
Also, check out our CDs for Sale area to purchase any and all CDs from Buddy.
Don’t forget, save October 25th. It should be a great show.