Copper Rose plays regularly at The Spoon Cafe in Lindenhurst where musicians have always found a welcoming home. 

Joey Spoons and his dad who run the place are interested in other art forms as well. Entertainers of all sorts are booked and a film festival is in the works. Paintings and photography are always prominently displayed.

Just before Copper Rose's September gig, Joey invited Maggie to display her artwork to coincide with the show and Maggie gladly took advantage of this great opportunity.

The work is still up, so stop by sometime and take a look, or view it in my pics under it's own album.  Comments are most welcome.

Cheers!
The Copper Roses - Tom, Johnny and Maggie

Copper Rose has been fortunate to find and establish friendships with quite a few musicians and bands from across the Atlantic. All of those mentioned in this blog are in our top friends. In Valencia, Spain we have had many fruitful conversations with The Dinner Gong and Yedo’s Telescopic Head. Tom has just finished his second collaboration with The Dinner Gong (aka Ian), who gave him the opportunity to add his newly acquired fiddle skills (from our trip to Cajun Country in Louisiana last spring) and some backing vocals to complete his witty and upbeat song THE SENSITIVE TYPE. It is currently posted on The Dinner Gong’s site so take a listen if you wish at www.myspace.com/thedinnergong . Don’t delay, since this talented musician is a prolific songwriter and he posts new material frequently. Previously, Tom sent Ian a piano track that he couldn’t seem to match with lyrics and Ian turned it into an interesting piece called CENTRAL PARK BLUES. Johnny found Ian’s choice of band name so intriguing, that he sculpted a gong from welded metal parts and a splash cymbal and we shipped it to Valencia. You can take a look at it in our pics section under Johnny’s Art.

Yedo (aka Dave) is another wonderful songwriter www.myspace.com/yedostelescopichead . Check out his new song 1924 while it’s still up - it’s exceptional. If you miss this piece, there are many others well worth a listen. Dave has always provided helpful and supportive comments on our work.

Someone not to be missed is The Castlehaze (aka Dan) from Great Britain www.myspace.com/thecastlehaze . Here is an extremely gifted musician and artist with advanced technical skills who creates magical pieces. He is very generous with his gifts and produces some amazing collaborations among his close circle of friends. Any praise or encouragement we get from him is treasured. A look at his site at any time will provide excellent and inspiring listening.

Two outstanding female friends are next. September 29^th (aka Olivia) from Italy is a unique artist www.myspace.com/olgostin . She would say that she is "an acquired taste," but we took to her right away. She is warm hearted and sensitive and writes inspired pieces dealing with issues of our troubled world. She has an unforgettable voice and plays fine guitar and remains a pure spirit while casting a clear eye on important themes. She has provided uplifting messages to us and we encourage each other.

Our newest friend from Britain is Heartssong (aka Ingrid) www.myspace.com/heartssong . She is gifted, energetic and muti-talented. Her poetry is just as inspiring as her music and she puts on frequent musical/poetry events in a local pub. She also interacts with other poets/musicians and collaborates extensively.

The common theme to all this dovetails with Copper Rose’s theme of "harmony." These artists are a few of many that we’ve met via MySpace who are based in Europe. I could have included more, but the list is long and hopefully we'll spotlight some others in the future. What they have in common is their generosity and intelligent, ego-free communications, which have provided us with much food for thought and encouragement. There are musicians on this side of the ocean who could benefit from trying this attitude, and those of us who already do will be pleased to find these kindred spirits.

Thank you all!

Maggie

My poem and accompanying artwork, which is a tribute to my amazing grandmother, were just published in Luciole Press' 2009 Winter Issue.  Margaret Klein was an artist and the wise elder of our family.  She almost made it to her 103rd birthday, and ten days before she passed, she was able to attend and "hold court" at the opening of a three generation art show "Heritage" that I curated and presented and participated in (with my mother as well) at our local library.  One of my daughters as well as my granddaughter could have made it five generations, but that did not prove to be practical. A small grant from a local arts association, through NYSCA, helped with the framing.
Luciole Press has a presence on myspace and is in my top friends, but the best way to view the latest edition is to go on the web at www.luciolepress.com - to see my contribution, look in the table of contents and click on P. Maggie Ryan.
Comments welcome - I'm so glad to have had this opportunity to pay tribute to this wonderful lady.
Maggie

I was pretty nervous about posting "Endless Waltz" - an attempt to compose in the Cajun Waltz mode. I wrote the words and suggested the melody. Johnny's Cajun accordion and Tom's guitar work filled it all out, along with my bass line. I got some nice positive feedback from our friends in Louisiana and Cajun musicians in their "diaspora."

Cajun Dave, a fine fiddler, wrote the following:

Finally had a chance to listen to it. Very good, great words. Has that backporch cajun flavor too! Keep up the great stuff. My ancestors would be proud! Aeeeeeee!!!!
Love to ya
Cajun Dave

Needless to say, I'm thrilled!

Maggie

I recently discovered Luciole Press, an international online publication which presents writers, artists, photographers, etc.  Since many of you have multiple areas of artistic expression, I would like to direct you there.  They have a presence on myspace www.myspace.com/luciolepress

Their complete publication is on their website www.luciolepress.com

My poem, which is dedicated to my bandmate Johnny, is listed in the new Fall Issue under P. Maggie Ryan and the link is www.luciolepress.com/P_Maggie_Ryan.html

Check it out and let me know what you think!  More importantly, send in stuff yourself for the Winter Issue!

Maggie

Copper Rose has just returned from Ville Platte, Louisiana where we participated in the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week (www.lafolkroots.org).  We camped at Chicot State Park where a total immersion in Cajun culture took place.  Music (lessons, band labs and jamming), Cuisine, Language, Dancing, and Extraordinary Fellowship combined equally to create this total experience.  Tommy took up the fiddle with great success and Johnny and Maggie refined their expertise in accordion and bass, respectively.  Our camp band "Chicks and Tiggers" took its name from some of the critters in the forest (ticks and chiggers).  We hope to incorporate Cajun flavors into our multi-genre set. Look in the pics section of this site to catch a glimpse of what went on.

We made and firmed up so many friendships and we hope our friends on myspace will check out some of these incredible musicians - most have myspace sites of their own:

Ann Savoy and her Sleepless Knights, Balfa Toujours, Ray Abshire, Courtney Granger, Rob Krumm, Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys, The Pine Leaf Boys, The Red Stick Ramblers, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Kevin Wimmer, Bayou Deville and Peter Schwarz.

Special thanks to Johnny's mentor Dirk Powell and Tommy's fiddle teachers Peter Schwarz and Jeffrey Broussard, as well as that fine and elegant lady Ann Savoy who coached us in French lyrics.

Culinary Director Pat Mould and his great staff provided gourmet fare for 90 campers each day - quite a feat!  Concerts every night by top flight Cajun bands kept us dancing, followed by late night jams.  If I've forgotten to credit anyone, it's only because I'm still recovering - tired, but joyous!

Maggie

P.S. We journeyed to Lafayette after camp to attend the Festival International (www.festivalinternational.com) where we roamed around 6 sound stages with hundreds of bands scheduled and beautiful crafts and art displays. We stopped by the headquarters of Louisiana Folk Roots to thank them for our wonderful camp experience.

 

What's an OvaQ?

The germinating thoughts for this concept centered around the unique situations women face returning to full time employment after a lengthy absence, but it can include anyone who finds the "ova-qualified" concept resonating in her life or the life of a friend. When I re-entered the workforce, I heard myself referred to as "overqualified" so often, that I adopted "OvaQ" as alter-ego - ova (the egg) signifying woman.

RESUME for OvaQ

OvaQ may have:

a long history of volunteerism

stayed home to raise a family

tried part-time work

self-esteem questions

many kinds of creative expression

developed strong organizing/coping skills

OvaQ is probably a generalist from being in lots of different roles. Sudden changes and unexpected events do not throw her.

OvaQ might find the new workplace a different world and she may be significantly underpaid and under-employed.

OvaQ might be strident, resentful, resigned, philosophical, witty and/or content. She comes in all colors and sizes.

References upon request.

Maggie (OvaQ)

It's holiday time for many of us in our corner of the world - Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa  and New Year's Day - whatever our preference, we are out of step if we are not "happy."  Life has a way of moving in it's own direction in spite of what arbitrary assignment we would like to impose.

A very dear friend just wrote to me about how her current difficult situation is magnified by the pressures of the holiday season and her role as mother, hostess, and family referee.  She is the only "grownup" in the house and that's lonely.

I'm actually lucky - I have two wonderful grandkids who make Christmas terrific for me. I have wonderful friends and my bandmates are truly special. I'm aware, however, of how dark and dangerous is the world we live in and how desperate is the situation of so many.

Let's take time out of this crazy, frazzled, consumer-oriented time and remember that we shouldn't place an additional burden on the already overburdened by requiring the "happy" in Happy Holidays. Turn down the holiday noise and find a quiet spot to give thanks and offer compassion.

I'm including Copper Rose's greeting below and feel free to join us in celebration.  If celebration is not forthcoming for you, then we hope that healing will be.  Thank you all for being our friends.

Maggie and the Boys

I felt compelled to write something today because another month has passed since we joined myspace. I planned to do this at random times, but have been rather lazy.  The anniversary date gave me a push.

Sometimes I think this is just a nice little fantasy world where bands can puff themselves up to look cool and feel like pros, and the real pros can get a little extra PR and seem like folks.

Then there's the people.... here and there I make some real contact with the souls drifting in and out of the ether of cyberspace.  It's almost magical.  I give MySpace a lot of credit for how they have designed shields agains the onslaught of spam that riddles regular websites containing simple outreach mechanisms such as Guest Books.  I have recent experience with this sad situation. MySpace is far from perfect, but in spite of being so vast, it does try.

Thanks to our expanding community of friends for all their support.

Peace,

Maggie

Tomorrow will be Copper Rose's one month anniversary on Myspace. It's been quite remarkable and not at all what I expected.  I was reluctant to get involved in another project since I'm pretty busy with band stuff - rehearsals, song development, gigging, etc., etc. I'm also a visual artist and I'm working to finish a commission that's behind schedule.

After some coaxing from my friend MomBlu, who is a master Myspace designer, I decided to go ahead.  We worked seamlessly to set up the site and I was concerned with making it exciting visually. As Sandra Dee said to Bobby Darrin when his career was flagging, "People hear what they see."  He had changed his style from the smooth Sinatra-like stuff to a scruffy hippie/acoustic thing with little adornment, and was getting nowhere fast. When he dressed up the SAME act with good sets, attractive backup singers, etc. the transformation led to his comeback.  I can't believe I'm quoting Sandra Dee, but I picked that line up from the Kevin Spacey movie on Darrin's life.

Anyway, I digress (too often), the response to the site has been overwhelming. I'm so grateful for the warm responses and encouragement from my new "friends" and all those who have played our music. It would be impossible to get this kind of exposure anywhere else.  The boys and I feel that we are in a real community which is expanding every day. That's where the satisfaction comes in for us, more than just getting the tunes out there.

Thank you Myspace, and thank you MomBlu!

Maggie