| |
| |
Connecting
Songwriters Throughout Northeast Ohio | |
| |
| |
The
Reprise: Early
Contact With Great Singer/Songwriters | |
| |
| |
In
August 2002, I was invited by a friend to play at an open mic night. I hadn’t
picked up my guitar in close to ten years but I thought it might be fun. I worked
on a few songs thinking if I really stunk up the place, I’d go quietly into
the night, never to be seen again. So, on Wednesday, September 4th, 2002 I headed
out to a place called the Riverfront Coffee Mill, located on the Front Street
Mall in Cuyahoga Falls. You’ll find the Cashmere Cricket at that location today.
Long-time
member Bob Wood hosted the open mic night on the first and third Wednesday of
every month and I was the first of 15 performers to play a song or two. It went
better than I expected and I suddenly became a regular performer at the open mic
as well as performing several solo gigs at “the Mill.”
The
room was perfect. The front was where the coffee and food was prepared and the |
| |
| | |
| |
back
room was where we played the music without the noise from a cappuccino machine!
It was truly an authentic listening room. I met so many wonderful friends and
entertainers there over the years, including members Scott and Judy Pierce who
owned the Riverfront Coffee Mill along with Scott’s brother Steve and his wife.
I
have such fond memories of going there to hear great music and enjoy the amazing
food. But there was nothing better than the musical community that gathered so
often at The Mill.
If
you have a memory of this wonderful venue, please join this
Facebook group and share a story or two. | |
| |
| |
|
Tools
of the Trade - Writing Tips | | | |
| |
What
inspires you to create a song? What motivates your creative process? What methods
do you use to make your song stand out?
A
few years back I was invited to a meeting of local songwriters to talk about being
part of a project aimed at developing a movie about open mic nights. The director
had hand-picked a half dozen of us, laid out his vision of the film and asked
us to come back in a month or so with music that might be used as part of the
project. I was excited by the invitation and by the prospect of creating a song
that wasn’t directly a spin off of my reality.
A
month later we reconvened and, as it turned out, I was the only one who came back
with a song. Not long after that meeting the project was scrubbed. While I was
a bit disappointed that the film wasn’t going to be made I was really happy
with what I had created and that song is now a regular feature in my longer shows.
In
creating the song, “Bluest
Eyes” I tried to make the lyric as cinematic as possible because it was
going to be used in a visual medium. As it turned out, that was a real plus for
the performance stage as well since the song paints a picture rather than explains
the situation. While it creates an image for the listener it doesn’t tell them
what to see. It lets her fill in the lines and the colors to make the experience
more personal.
“From
the truck stops and the taverns to the roadhouses and bars, on trains and planes
and buses on foot and driving cars….” lets the listener add their own detail
to the places and modes of transportation called out by the narrator. Sharing
the experience is more involving than being told what it was like. |
|
In
the verse that starts “In the morning when I left her I didn't think to leave
a note, just
picked up my guitar, my backpack and my coat. I let the car roll down the hill,
then I popped it into gear. The damn thing started, then it caught and I drove
away from there.” the listener gets to imagine the scene of the narrator leaving
in the quiet hours of the morning. The crunch of tires on gravel, the cough as
the engine starts and the look in the rearview can all be added by the listener.
Or not. That’s the beauty of working with a visual style.
Of
course there are many more approaches to creating songs that stand out. This
article outlines some of them and might be a jumping off spot if you’re
facing a dry spell or if you just want to try a little different approach.
The
important thing here - and the real point - is that no matter how you approach
your lyrics the goal is to engage the listener in the story you are telling. That’s
harder and harder these days as we face distraction after distraction and attention
spans that are maimed by the assault that modern media hurls at our senses. Working
at garnering attention is something we need to incorporate into our writing every
time we pick up a pencil and commit a line to paper. |
| |
| | |
| |
We’re
taking The Month Off! No
General Meeting In July. See You In August! | |
| |
| |
Northeast Ohio (including West Virginia!)
is home to many talented musicians, artists, and yes, songwriters. I've been fortunate
to meet many of these fine folks at open mic shows, concerts, and organized songwriter/performance
workshops. I was inspired by friendly mentors at the former NEO Songwriters' Circle
(now Cleveland Songwriters) in the mid 90's, and later at the Summit County Songwriters'
Circle (now Songwriter Summit.) Live, original
music was a huge part of our lives in the early 2000's, with regional event sponsors
such as Mountain Rose, Folknet, and Celtic Ceol partnering with the Kent State
Folk Festival and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to feature wonderful live
workshops and concerts. These events allowed local original performers to participate
along with many nationally-known "main-stage" performers. Good times and great
learning experiences. That was then, this
is now. Opportunities for local performing songwriters have dwindled, partly due
to economics and the digital age, and perhaps a lesser desire for venues to "hire"
performers who may not have a proven following of fans. Venues do |
|
have to make a profit, and often only provide
a few dollars for the talented, but notyet famous, aspiring artist. (You can put
out a "tip jar" and sell your CD’s.) In the last few weeks I took in several
local shows featuring talented artists and almost no audiences. So,
what can we do as writers/musicians and our songwriting organization(s)? First,
as individuals, we need to get out to support local players at their gigs. The
Folknet calendar has a huge listing of artists
and venues on a monthly basis. There is no better way to support the artist and
learn their skills than to be there LIVE. Secondly, we need to partner with other
organizations like the Northeast Ohio Musicians and Songwriters Collaboration
(NEOMSC) and perhaps explore opportunities with other groups to co-host festivals/workshops
nearby. Thirdly, as a group, we need to reach out to young aspiring writers who
may benefit by our interest in their works, and our experience. This may mean
outreach by attending open mic nights or even approaching local schools to provide
workshops. That's all for now. What do
YOU think? See you down this Wandering Road. | |
| |
| |
NEOMSCSongwriters
Showcase, with four other artists hosted by Chris Peschek |
| | |
| |
|
Fighting
The Good Fight With Song | | | |
| |
In
2011 the state of Ohio decided that teachers, police, and fire fighters shouldn't
be allowed to bargain collectively. They fashioned a bill called SB5 and the fight
was on.
I
was teaching at that time and a colleague and I were talking about the bill and
he asked: “Where are the musicians?”
I
asked him what he meant and he reminded me of the '60s and the great protest songs
that demanded we take a stand for or against the Vietnam war and civil rights.
Where
are the musicians? I'm a musician. I took it as a challenge and over the next
few weeks wrote several songs. Two of the songs, "Fat Cats" and "Fight For Your |
|
Rights”
I recorded and put on YouTube. "Fight For Your Rights" was heard by a couple of
union people and I was asked to go to Columbus and perform it for a state-wide
SB5 rally. I sang the song a couple more times and haven't done it since.
This
isn't about me. It's about us as songwriters and our unique opportunity and responsibility
to stand up and be heard. To join the likes of Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan,
Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, and Country Joe McDonald and speak out on the issues
of the day no matter what side you're on.
SB5
was soundly defeated and I take pride in the knowledge that through song, I was
part of the fight. | | | |
| |
Tucker
& Davis play at Deciellos in Ravenna July 5, 12, and 26 from 6:30-8:30 and
at Delciellos of Aurora on July 26 at 6:30. You can catch them at Szalays Market
in the Cuyagoga Valley July 1, 4, 8, 15, 22, 29 from 11am till 2pm |
| | |
| |
|
Terry
Richardson - From Across The Pond | | | |
| |
Continuing
on my theme of inspiration, I researched feedback from some of the great songwriters
out there and what inspired them to write such great songs. Now, it’s often
said that these great songwriters don’t just sit around waiting for an idea
to drop into their head. Instead, their mind is constantly evaluating often simple
situations that evolve into a very narrow focus, that simply turns into an idea
for a song.
Without
doubt, the majority of these musical geniuses carry some kind of recording medium
with them everywhere they go. Today, the cell phone has all kinds of recording
capabilities that you have no excuse not to record something when the idea pops
into your head - be it a melody, a bass line, a musical or verbal phrase. Even
if you wake in the night with a little gem running through your head, put your
phone on “record" and just take it all down. Chances are, if you don’t record
that little bit of inspiration or melodic idea it will be lost forever. Never
to return. You will kick yourself!
One
of the clear recommendations from great artists is to write in your own style.
It might be you emulate another songwriter to practice form, but your words and
your music should truly come from inside you. Many creative songwriters start
with a melody, because that can very often inspire the words. However, there are
many examples out there of the words inspiring the melody. There is no hard and
fast rule. Don’t try and write a hit song, just write what is in your mind and
heart. If its potential is to be a great composition it will make it on its own
and success will be yours. However, don’t be discouraged if you get stuck or
if it doesn’t flow. Don’t discard anything, because somewhere in the future,
those words, that melody, that idea will slot into a future project as if it were
meant to be. |
|
|
|
|
British
songstress Adele wrote "Someone Like You" based on a phrase that came from a break-up.
Deep Purple wrote "Smoke on Water" following a fire at a concert they were attending.
Bruce Springsteen wrote "Glory Days" following a meeting with some old school
friends in a bar reminiscing about their fun days at school. The list goes on.
What’s running through your mind at the moment?
Listen
to songs written by our fellow songwriters. I share two songs/songwriters because
in my personal opinion they are absolutely brilliant compositions!
Mike
Bunn wrote "Darlin’ Daughter of Mine" - an absolutely beautiful song that has
been downloaded from the internet by many people for their weddings. If you haven’t
heard it, look it up on youtube.
Several
years back I heard Bobby Patetta and one of his own penned songs "Makin’ Time."
I heard it again this last week and it’s as inspiring to me as it was when I
first heard him play it at the Songwriter’s Circle, probably ten years ago.
These
are just two examples that appeal to me, but there are many more in the group
with just as much talent and creativity, so take your time and listen. It’s
amazing where the inspiration and genius of these writers comes from. Sometimes
the words and music just fit like a jigsaw puzzle, completing the picture and
giving pleasure to all around. | | |
| |
According to Rolling Stone
the CD is dead and it may have taken downloaded music like Apple’s iTunes
store with it. That’s not the kind of news that local CD manufacturer A
to Z Audio or folks like Disk
Makers and kunaki would like to hear, but
if owning music isn't dead it is surely severely wounded. Big box stores
like Best Buy used to have a lot of retail space dedicated to music of every genre.
That’s not the case today. The trend in retail is that stores still selling
music are taking out the CD racks and replacing them with bins for vinyl records.
You can still pick up jewel cased discs on line and in second hand stores but
the majority of music consumption these days seems to be streaming audio.
|
|
As
songwriters we need to be aware of that trend and we need to adjust our expectations
when it comes to the “merch” part of our business. I still carry a box of
CDs in the car when I do shows but I no longer expect to sell a pile as I did
when I did a show in Dayton a few years back. I’ve gotten used to the fact that
for most folks my CD is more a memento of the evening than it is a valued addition
to a collection.
What’s
your experience with CD sales on a local level? Do you offer your music during
a show? Do folks ask for a CD if you don’t have one? Are you still actively
recording music you write? Let us know. We’re really curious to see how the
national trend plays out on the local level. | |
| |
| |
Bob
Sammon will be appearing at The Sunset Grill, Edinboro, PA on Sunday July 8th
with Rachel Shortt and at the Ironwood Music Festival On Monday July 16th. | | | |
| |
|
Our
June Meeting - Captured For Posterity | |
| |
| |
|
More
Great Music From Our Wonderful Members | |
| |
| |
Monday
7/23 6:00 - 10:00 pm Once
everyone has had an opportunity to share a song we'll jam the night away. |
| | |
| |
Cleveland
Songwriters Meeting All
Are Welcome To Present A Song Or Just Come To Listen | |
| |
| |
|
For
Those Playing At Home... | | | |
| |
|
|
| |
Member Priscilla Roggenkamp still plays guitar but has grown into the double bass
as well. No winners this month |
|
|
|
| |
The boots and guitar might not be a clue. The location won’t help. Who is that
member on the right? | | |
| |
|
We
meet next on August 6th at OUR NEW LOCATION, 2 Girls
Cafe and Bakery, 3707 Darrow Road in Stow at 7:00 PM. If you are presenting
a song please bring 20 copies for distribution to the other attendees. Copies
will be returned to you at the end of the meeting. You do not need to be a member
to attend a meeting or bring us a song. | |
| |
| |
While
you’re browsing the web drop in on our site for member lists, open mic suggestions,
and so much more. You can find it right
here. | | | |
| |
|
Know
someone who might enjoy our newsletter? Feel free to forward it to them. Thanks. |
| | |
| |
|
Let Us Know What You Think | | | |
| |
|
What
would you like to see us cover in The Bridge? Would you be interested in
writing for us once in a while? Do you have an event you’d like to have published
to share with our membership and the others who read our publication each month?
If so just drop us a note. Like what you see? Catch a mistake? Let us know. We’ve
set up a special email address that goes directly to those responsible for compiling
this newsletter each month. It’s the best way to . We look forward to your input, comments and suggestions. |
| | |
| |
|
Officers And Board Members | | | |
| |
(Left
to Right) Don
Henson -
President Ken
Moody-Arndt -
Vice President Dave
Waldeck -
Recording Secretary David
Palomo -
Board Member At-Large
|
| |
| |
Bob
Sammon -
Board Member At-Large
|
| |
| |
|
Opt
Out - and we’ll remove your email address from future mailings. |
| | |
| |
©
2018 Summit County Songwriters Circle dba Songwriter Summit, All Rights Reserved
| |
| |
|
