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Current mood:  content Category: Music
The Jamie Anderson Newsletter
1. Tour schedule
2. Welcome and general blabbing
3. New videos at YouTube
4. Film with my song airing on public TV
5. Still raising money for my new album
6. Free songs at www.jamieanderson.com
7. The stories behind my songs
8. Ending quotes
1. Tour Schedule
5/23 Virginia 11:25 am, Women’s Music Festival, with the Broad Street Band, www.campoutva.com
5/31 Durham, NC, 7 pm, Common Ground Theatre, 4815 Hillsborough Rd., with the Broad Street Band, also on the bill - Tracy Drach, $10 at the door 6/7 New Paltz, NY, pride celebration, music set at 2:45 pm plus I’ll be emceeing through out the day, http://www.lgbtqcenter.org/pride/ 7/4, Durham, NC, Festival for the Eno, with the Broad Street Band, http://enoriver.org/Festival/index.html 9/19 – 20 Ohio, Ohio Lesbian Festival, www.ohiolba.org 10/18 Durham, NC, Common Ground Theatre, with the Tranzenders 11/20 Tucson, AZ, Greenfire
2. Welcome and general blabbing
It’s spring here and my tomato plants have almost tripled in size in just three weeks. One of them already has blooms. I can’t wait to taste the sweetness of that first tomato. It’s positively ruined me for store-bought tomatoes. I’ve got hot and sweet peppers planted too. Just the thought of salsa is making me smack my lips.
I’m dialing it back a little on the performance gigs because my teaching takes up so much time. And frankly, it’s getting so expensive to travel that it’s too much of a gamble to go very far. Airlines treat musicians like we all do crack. Sometimes I can carry the guitar on board for no extra dough but sometimes they charge me mega bucks for it. One airline wants to charge me $50 – 150 EACH WAY for my guitar. I just did a private engagement last weekend where I borrowed a guitar and I’m doing another one in May that way. I miss my baby but it’s not worth the extra cost.
This doesn’t mean I’ll never be back to the west coast or points far from my NC home. If any of you are associated with a university or other group that can pay my airfare plus a performance fee, I’m there babe. Once I secure that booking I can get into the smaller venues in the region that can’t afford to pay my travel.
I miss the days of touring full time. I really do. And once in a while I get an email from one of you asking when I’ll be back to your neck of the woods. If you’re too far away I have to say “maybe never.” My recordings will always be available though and while I realize it’s not as much fun for you or me, it’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, as my mama would say. (Or somebody’s mama – I’m not sure MY mother actually said that. Really, it’s one of those sayings you want to blame, er, attribute to someone.)
Speaking of that recent gig where I borrowed a guitar – it was for a private party where June and Jean Millington also performed. Girl howdy did I dance my arse off. June just turned 60 and from the sounds of it, has no plans to slow down. She was burnin’ it up on an electric guitar with original songs and Motown hits, sister Jean nailing the beat with her bass, her son keeping time on the drums. For those of you who don’t know their music, these sisters were two of the founding members of Fanny, one of the first all women’s rock bands to be signed to a major label way back in the early 70's. Their music still holds up today. It's no wonder that David Bowie called them "... one of the finest f***ing rock bands of their time." I wrote about them last year: http://www.afterellen.com/music/2008/7/fanny?page=0%2C0 Find out more at www.fannyrocks.com
I’ve been doing a lot of writing lately. I’ll have an article in the July/August issue of Curve. Look for more from me in Curve in the coming months. I also write CD reviews for www.indie-music.com and www.minor7th.com. Do a search on my name at each site and you’ll find my work. (For you musicians – no, I can’t review CDs sent directly to me. They have to go through my editor. Details are on each site.)
My song “Faith” is in a movie that’s currently being shown on PBS! More about that below.
I’m excited about upcoming gigs. In May I’ll be at the Virginia Women’s Music Festival. It’s an afternoon slot so for those of you driving a distance, be sure to arrive early. On the last day of the month I’ll be in Durham at the Common Ground Theatre, performing with my friend and cabaret-folk artist extraordinaire Tracy Drach. Both performances are with my band, Broad Street. I love performing with those women. We joke that we’re not a real band, though, ‘cause we practice on Tuesday mornings and none of us like beer.
3. New videos at YouTube
There are a couple of new videos at YouTube, from a recent performance in Rockford, IL with my buddy Kara Barnard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQmGjTQmPb8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6zFe2mA2vM If you would be so kind as to watch ‘em and rate ‘em, I’d put you in my will. Of course, I don’t own much but a couple of guitars, a few hundred CDs and three cats … but it’s the thought that counts.
4. Film with my song airing on public TV
Shaken is a film about Parkinsons that I’m proud to be a part of. It’s on public TV in 22 states! You can find the list at http://www.lilafilms.com/shaken_screenings.htm There’s a clip of the film at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFtgV1vqwiE My song “Faith” comes as the final credits roll.
5. Still raising funds for my new album
Marketing experts say that you should always be upbeat about fundraising efforts but I dunno, are they always right? Shouldn’t I tell you the truth? I’ve raised about five percent of what I need and while I’m very grateful for that, it’s not enough to book the studio time. Everything else is in place – a great studio, producer, musicians and a lot of new songs. Many of you have requested a new album and I’d love to give it to you. Maybe as the economy turns around more of you can help support this new album? I can't do it without you 'cause I don't have the backing of Sony and I've never been on American Idol. (Now wouldn't that be a hoot?)
It’s easy to help. Go to www.jamieanderson.com and click on the link on the home page that says “Help Jamie Put Out Her New Album.” It’ll tell you how you can pay via PayPal or print out an order form and mail in a check the old fashioned way. I’ll also have order forms at my shows.
In addition to purchasing the new album, I'm looking for anyone who can lend me a thousand dollars or more. It's something I've done for previous albums and I'd be happy to give you references. E me if you'd like to know more: office at jamieanderson dot com..
6. Free songs at www.jamieanderson.com
http://jamieanderson.com/music.html Well, almost free. If you really don’t have the dough or if you’re new to my music, you don’t need to pay. But if you’re a fan who doesn’t plan to buy an album, please consider using the Paypal donation button. You’ll help keep my cats in kibble. There are several songs here that you won’t find on any album – a version of “Her Problem Now” with my band, Broad Street; “Six Flags Over Jesus” done solo; and a live recording of “Menstrual Tango” with the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus.
7. The stories behind my songs
Last month I had a great time telling you about the story behind my song “Six Flags Over Jesus.” This month I’m going to talk about “Loretta and Bernadine.” Originally on my Center of Balance CD (now out of print but available at used CD sites) it's been re-released on Three Bridges: http://jamieanderson.com/threebridges.html
I never knew much about my great aunt Bernadine because she lived in the Midwest and I lived in Arizona. Most of what’s in the song was told to me by my grandmother. While I filled in a few minor details, the rest of the song is true – from her marrying someone who died young to living with her long time companion Loretta for many years. Bernadine worked as an optometrist – unusual for a woman then – while Loretta stayed at home, doing the cooking and cleaning. Sometimes Bernadine traveled to give lectures. Loretta would pack for her.
After Bernadine was disabled my family couldn’t understand why Loretta was selling Bernadine’s silver and other belongings. She probably had few marketable skills and was trying to support them both. As the song says, my family took her to court and she was left with nothing. Bernadine was moved to a nursing home a few hundred miles from her home. She passed away not long afterwards.
Fortunately, Loretta had friends in Florida so she moved there. For a long time I looked for Loretta but never found her. If you know of her, I’d love to hear from you. I don’t know where in Florida she settled but I’m pretty sure she moved in the early 1990’s. Her full name is Loretta O’Shay.
Is there a Jamie Anderson song you’d like to know more about? Write to me and maybe I’ll cover it in a future newsletter.
8. Ending quotes Seen on a bumper sticker:
“More wag, less bark.” To that I would add:
“More purr, less hiss.”
There’s a lesson in there somewhere. Stay well, y’all --
-- Jamie
www.jamieanderson.com
www.MySpace.com/jamieandersonmusic
Buy CDs at www.cdbaby.com/jamieanderson4, www.cdbaby.com/cd/jamieanderson5, www.Goldenrod.com, www.ladyslipper.org and more. Download at www.itunes.com and many others.
5:41 PM
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