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MARK ERELLI - SEPTEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER
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HOME: http://www.markerelli.com
COMMUNITY: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/mark-erelli/
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/markerelli
And check me out now on Facebook!

CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

My friend Charlie, a retired professor, seems to have a real life anecdote
for things I have only read about in books. Bumming around with Woody
Guthrie? Check. Visiting banjo player Bascom Lamar Lunsford's folk
festivals in North Carolina in the 40's? Check. Marching with Dr. King?
Check. During one recent conversation, astonished by his historical
perspective, I posed to him this question: Having witnessed so many big
changes in decades past, do you still have faith in America's capacity to
bring about bold and sweeping change today?

You might find this question a bit shocking. After all, I'm an optimistic
folksinger, singing about hope and our capacity for making things better
all the time. How can I even wonder whether big, positive change is
possible? The truth is that I sing in my songs I of the man I want to be,
about someone I strive to become. In reality, I struggle with cynicism
and frustration as much as anyone.

I am frustrated by the pace of positive change these days, when any
improvement seems incremental and easy to miss unless you're looking for
it. As Greg Brown aptly stated in The Poet Game: "I watched my country
turn into a coast to coast strip mall, and I cried out in a song / if we
can do all this in 30 years then please tell me you all / why does good
change take so long?." Sometimes it feels like we've traded the
groundswell for a thousand bloggers, each with his or her own agenda.

I would never imply any moral equivalence between, say, civil rights and
the independent music scene, but I see a parallel trends towards
incrementalism in the music scene since my last full blown studio release
in 2006. There are no more shared musical experiences that unite vast
swaths of the American public, no "Ed Sullivan" moments. Everyone has
their own iPod, tuned in to their personalized radio station via
headphones. Nowadays, artists hardly sell any records, so everyone is
touring to make ends meet. Such stiff competition makes even a small
audience a real victory. If you're reading this newsletter now, I have
fought to reach you, one or two at a time...literally.

This month on the 16th I will officially release of my seventh record,
"Delivered." I could not be more proud of this one, though its impact
cannot possibly live up to my teenage rock 'n roll dreams. I work with
modest tools: the best songs I can write, recorded organically and
passionately as possible, and then I get in my car and drive from town to
town playing them for you, selling a few cds at a time. Small steps,
incremental progress, but every step is real.

My friend Charlie mulled over my question before answering. He said that
change is indeed incremental, but he found that to be cause for hope.
Sometimes you can't change the world all at once, but you can change one
thing here, improve another thing there, and eventually, you've
accomplished something beautiful and bold.

DELIVERED: You can order the new cd online from http://www.markerelli.com
now! It will be officially available in stores and for digital download
on September 16th. Thanks to the barn-raisers for helping to make this
release a reality. Advance reviews online have been great, saying things
like "(Delivered) is one for the books...a magical experience" (Wildy's
World) and "(Mark Erelli is) one of a handful of singer songwriters poised
to join the upper pantheon of folk artists like Greg Brown, John Prine,
John Hiatt and Steve Earle" (songs:illinois). Don't take anyone else's
word for it, though. Order your copy today and hear it for yourself.

PODCAST: I sat down with Greg Pool, moderator of the Mark Erelli Yahoo
Discussion group, last month in Utah to talk about the story behind the
new cd. You can find out more about how "Delivered" came to be by tuning
in to the podcast at http://treehouseconcerts.libsyn.com.

ONE PERCENT FOR THE PLANET: I am proud to announce my partnership with
this wonderful organization, which is putting the principle of incremental
yet meaningful change into practice. One Percent for the Planet helps put
its members in touch with organizations who are making a real difference.
When you buy your copy of Delivered at one of my shows, or from my
website, I will donate 1% of the revenue from the sales to a local
environmental group making a real difference where I live.

NEW LOOK: Have you visited http://www.markerelli.com lately? If not, stop
on by, the site has just been redesigned and has a great new look, as well
as a bunch of new content.

MP3 OF THE MONTH: This month's track was recorded at WRSI, Western
Massachusetts' best radio station and long-time supporter of my music.
Myself and the band huddled around a couple of mics in the control room
and played a stripped down, acoustic version of "Baltimore," arranged
right there on the spot. It's available for free for the month of
September on the downloads page of my website.

THE SHOWS:

Wed Sept 3rd - One Longfellow Square, Portland ME
Thu Sept 4th - WAMC Linda Norris Auditorium, Albany NY
Fri Sept 5th - Cafe 939, Boston MA
I've grouped these three dates together because they are part of a
Northeast swing where I'll be opening for Carrie Rodriguez. We met on a
bill together in Austin TX, hit it off, and have been looking for
opportunities to do more shows together ever since. Carrie has a really
new record out, and I am honored to be kicking off each of these concerts.

Sun Sept 7th - Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY
I played this historic folk venue eight years or so ago when I opened
for Lowen & Navarro. I always wanted to come back, and good things come
to those who wait. Won't you come out and join me for the first night
of my own in this legendary room? Visit http://www.caffelena.org for
more info.

Fri Sept 12th - Railway Cafe, North Adams MA
It's been a few years since I've been to North Adams, and I always look
forward to visiting. The drive along the Mohawk Trail is one of my
favorites in the region, and better yet, there's a great gig waiting for
me when I get out of the car. Visit http://www.railwaycafe.org for more
details.

Sat Sept 13th - Center for Creative Education, Stone Ridge NY
I've never played here before, but I'm a fan of both creativity and
education, so any place that puts them together is alright by me. Visit
http://www.cce-kingston.org for more details.

Tues Sept 16th, Lizard Lounge, Cambridge MA
Zack Hickman, producer of my new cd, is a natural ringmaster. He enjoys
gathering together a bunch of seemingly disparate and unrelated phenomena,
folksingers, fast pickers, burlesque girls, booze pinatas, etc, and
forcing them to put on a show together. He calls these nights "Zack
Hickman's House of Ill Repute," and they'll be happening every Tuesday in
September at the Lizard Lounge. Because this Tuesday will coincide with
the official street date of "Delivered," Zack has invited me and the band
to the House of Ill Repute to do a set of songs from the album. In
addition, Laura Cortese and The Proclivities will be there. This will be
one for the books, so come on down and misbehave. Check out
http://www.zackhickman.com for all the details.

Sat Sept 27th - Living Room, New York NY
This club is becoming a sort of home away from home in NYC. It's always
fun to return, and doubly so when I get to bring Zack Hickman with me to
help flesh out the tunes from the new cd. Come on out, and visit
http://www.livingroomny.com for more details.

Sun Sept 28th - Iota Club & Cafe, Arlington VA
Last time I did a show in DC, it was a few records ago and I was playing
western swing music. I can't believe it's been that long, but it'll be
great to get back down to the capital to share the new songs with you in
person. I'll be bringing my handlebar mustachioed sidekick Zack Hickman
as well...can you handle it? Visit http://www.iotaclubandcafe.com for
more info.

SIDEMAN SECTION:
9/20 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville MA (with Lori McKenna Band)

ON THE HORIZON:
10/3 - Marblehead MA (co-bill with Jeffrey Foucault)
10/10 - Northampton MA (cd release show with band)
10/18 - Pomfret CT
10/25 - Eastham MA

peace,
mark