(Billy Bragg)
The Labor Songs show 'Halfway to May Day' at RRL on Nov. 1 was fun, and the kind of RRL experience we usually hope for. We filled over two hours with readings and songs. There were four musical performers, one of whom took our flyer at Showcase Elmira and another who saw a listing in the newspaper. It was evident that everyone was invested and worked hard on preparing their material for the show. Thanks to all who participated and came to watch.
Here's a partial list of performances (from memory)
- & songwriters, where known:
To Have and To Have Not - Billy Bragg
Do You Want My Job? - John Hiatt/Little Village (Dan A)
Reading: Don't Let Us Get Sick - Warren Zevon (Tom O)
Israelites - Desmond Dekker
Next Train to Memphis - Tom Brown
Mercenary Song - Steve Earle (Tom B)
Takin' Care of (Patients) - Randy Bachman/Fred Turner/Dan Maloney
If I Had a Hammer - Pete Seeger (Dan M)
Reading: Pa. coal miners' letters (Tom O)
Between the Wars - Billy Bragg
Tip Your Waitress - Loudon Wainwright III (Dan A)
The Long Black Veil - Lefty Frizzell
and several others (Andy)
Reading: Funeral - Mekons (Tom O)
A-L-O-I - Tom Brown
Viola Lee Blues - ? (Tom B)
Nothing is Perfect - Neil Young
Christmas in Washington - Steve Earle (Dan A)
Dark as a Dungeon - Merle Travis
Nice Guy - Dan Maloney
This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie (Dan M)
Thinking out loud here: One of the lessons we're learning from trying new things is the challenge of attracting an audience. This first event went well in every other respect; one factor affecting attendance (and drawing more performers) might have been a competing folk concert at the Clemens Center.
(I'm also not sure if adding 'Dan Aloi presents' to this and other shows would make a difference in this town; I'd be willing to try it and trade on past recognition or alleged respect, etc., only if I wasn't one of the performers!)
The idea now is to do this again, and for everyone there on Thursday to commit to bring two more people (and then those people bring two people the next time, and so on - sounds like a union organizing model!).
Result: We will try doing this on a regular basis through the spring, with shows monthly, and usually on the first . The only criteria is work-related (however loosely defined), topical/political songs and readings.
For now, mark your calendars for Friday, Dec. 28 (updated date) and Friday, Feb. 1. Since someone asked me if I could do it in Ithaca, I'm also considering finding a venue for an RRL-presented show there in this format for March or April (to be discussed). Then it's May Day at RRL! Outside, if the weather allows?
I'm already working on songs for the next show.
Ideas, thoughts, comments here, if you have 'em.
10 comments:
This looks all male. Was it?
Yes, it was, unfortunately - I would have hoped for gender equity and a better mix all-around... I did invite a couple of women musicians but they couldn't make it down from Waverly and Ithaca - maybe in future.
I did do 'Tip Your Waitress' -- I'm a feminist and all.
... and may have a Bonnie Raitt song for next time.
now you get me to think... again.
One of my favorite band names of all time is "MARS NEEDS WOMEN."
"RRL NEEDS WOMEN" ?? I'm not going there on posters and such ... mainly because we have women! We're very balanced.
Rosie the Riveter is another option, but maybe an overused one. I'll just keep trying to get some commitments from the distaff talent I know. (so far/as I can tell, most Valleyfolkers haven't shown much interest. All the more reason to keep trying.)
I have my first printing workshop this weekend! Can't wait. The revolution will be letterpressed.
Dan - How was the print workshop? I was at the SOA gallery all day on Sunday. Were you at the inkshop? Hope it went well. Jan
so close, yet so far. It went fine, I was able to crank out quite a few things and I made some very instructive mistakes when I went too fast. We only worked with two colors, cleanup time being what it is. Caleb is very easygoing, and I was the only person who enrolled ... he may even do an extra session with me in addition to this Sunday's second part to the workshop.
It's also such a simple process, a small investment in materials and we could do it at RRL easily enough. I'm expecting to combine some of what I've done at the Ink Shop with some letterpress and linocuts, and make posters and such. If Tom or someone here lets me borrow a scanner, I'll post some of the results so far... I'm playing with all kinds of images and focusing on archival photos of musicians, partly for entry into an upcoming RRL show.
http://www.centerforbookarts.org/
Hi, Dan, You will be interested in this link on letterpress and book arts... See you soon. jan
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