Move the Furniture, the Band Is Here

[DoYouEverWonder]

Just wanted to share a nice article about a movement that I've been personally involved with since the early 90's. Every year I try to do about 2-3 house concerts. Some of these evenings have been right up there with anything I've heard in a concert hall and the fun part is the incredibly talented people that you get to know. If you like to go out and listen to live music, there is nothing better then a house concert.

May 21, 2006

IT could have been a keg party or a hipper-than-usual church social: As 80 guests parked bumper to bumper along the main drag of tiny Haddam, Conn., one Saturday night last month, couples clambered out of cars carrying covered potluck dishes and six-packs. Some congregated around cars while they sipped from plastic cups, while others followed a flashlight-waving attendant toward the back door of a 19th-century church.

Once inside, they handed their casserole dishes to the evening's gray-haired but youthful host, John Friedlander, a real estate agent.

The church also happens to be his home, where he presents concerts for up to 100 guests eight times a year; the singer and comedian Vance Gilbert was that night's attraction.

<snip>

Contemporary folk is the favored genre, but rock, pop and chamber music are also frequently presented. And the concerts are proliferating, some hosts say.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/21home.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

[rwenos]

1. Is Jazz on the List Too?

We jazz lovers have been playing it in our living rooms for years. And there's so much wonderful sheet music -- the whole American songbook.

Crazy, man.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. I would think so

I'm not hooked into that community, so I'm not sure if they do that sort of thing or not.

[amerikat]

2. I love small shows

I volunteered for an outfit in NJ. What a great time that was. Vance Gilbert was there a couple of times.

also hosted: Taj Mahal,Steve Forbert, John Gorka, Ani DiFranco,Cheryl Wheeler,Patti Larkin, Greg Brown, Bill Morrisey, Dan Bern, Dar Williams, Christine Lavin and dozens of others.

I got to work with some great volunteers and listened to some great artists.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Great list of folks

I still kick myself for turning down an opportunity to host Ani DiFranco back before anyone knew who she was. I've worked with both Greg Brown and Christine Lavin but those shows were in larger venues.

The next house concert I'm planning will be next Dec. with Tom Paley one of the original members of the New Lost City Ramblers. He'll be the third Rambler that has been to my house.

[amerikat]

4. We had about 17 souls for the first Ani show

The following year we filled all 425 seats.......and a made standing room and still turned people away. Within the group of volunteers we voted the Ani show "most piercings, tatoo's and most interesting footwear of all time":toast:

[dipsydoodle]

5. You're making me

turn green with envy ! That's a really nice idea a house party of that sort. Any musicians who call in at my own house simply become obsessed with the wall to wall instruments I've got.

Think I'd better have a relaxing music morning watching DVDs of Bascomb Lamar Lunsford and, totally different, Albert Lee who I also saw live three days ago.

Keep well.:)

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Ha, ha - I know your type

I have some friends here who are big collectors. They're always wheeling and dealing instruments and competing with each other to get the next great find first. You've probably traded with a few of them.

One fellow you might know is Pat Conti? We went to college together and used to be best buddies. He compiled the Secret Museum of Mankind series.

:hi:

[dipsydoodle]

8. Not familiar with that name and

unless he's seriously into 5 string banjos I doubt that I'll come across him. Most of the collectors meet up at The Gathering in VA each autumn but I have yet to make that.

Last time I saw Tom I managed to get him to play Bonaparte's Retreat - whoopee. There is one number , whose name I do know , that I can almost guarantee he will play at your party.
It is alleged to be the most popular fiddle tune of all time in Sweden. Just writing this has got it into my head and it will be stuck there for hours now !