 | CHARLENE'S JOURNAL
June, 2004
Appearances (or where I'm playing):
I'll be at The Warehouse Café/Theater on Saturday, July 10, between one and three p.m., as part of their "Music to Last a Lunchtime" series. I hope you can all get out and join me!
1021 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC
202-783-3933
Saturday, July 10, One-Three p.m.
New Music (or what I’m writing now):
I just had the honor of composing new music commissioned by my friends Cameron and Julia for their wedding in California. The pieces are collectively called Vineyard Music. Here are some excerpts:
"Prelude"
"Wedding Party March"
"Bridal March"
"Postlude"
"Meditation"
If you're coming to the July 10 show, bring your newlywed and soon-to-be-wed friends, and I'll play them some highlights.
Publicity:
In two weeks, an interview with me is going to be featured in the The Washington CityPaper's regular feature: "Pop Quiz." Please check back for it!
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CHARLENE'S JOURNAL (June, 2004, cont.)
Listening to:
David Norris. I saw him play live at Jammin’ Java and, as the opener, he blew the main act off the stage. His album, Tunesmith, is a hymn to a fading way of life, farming in eastern Maryland.
Two favorite songs on the album are "Sawmill Man" and "Timberline." He’s good at painting nostalgic pictures without making everyone sob in their beer.
My friend, guitarist Steve Greenbaum's new album, Taking a Turn is a great listen for lazy Sunday afternoons (or any afternoon, for that matter). It’s an instrumental album and has a lot of terrific tracks with mellow guitar and nice horns and strings.
Sheer, happy pop that doesn’t get written much anymore on Sugarbomb’s Bully. The album's three great opening tracks: "What a Drag," "Bully," and "Hello" make me feel like a teen in the 80s again and are some of the best pop songs recently released.
Peter Case. I also saw Case at Jammin' Java where he played a 2½ hour set nonstop, broke a guitar string, switched to piano and played some honkytonk, and did three encores. He announced that he was supposed to start driving to Martha’s Vineyard from DC right after the show for a gig the next night and he ended our show with the same energy he started with.
Favorite Peter Case albums include Beeline (especially
the tracks "I Hear Your Voice" and "First Light" and Flying
Saucer Blues — "Paradise, etc."
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CHARLENE'S JOURNAL (June, 2004, cont.)
Recommended Music Store in DC:
Melody Record Store
1623 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009-1013
Phone: 202-232-4002
Independent record store, carries lots of good stuff,
including me!
Reading:
Lots of contemporary fiction lately including Elinor
Lipman’s The Ladies Man (hilarious) and Alexander McCall
Smith’s The Kalahari Typing School for Men (eh).
Also, Nick Hornby’s How to be Good which makes you wonder
which character you’re supposed to be rooting for and Dan
Savage's Skipping Towards Gomorrah (The Seven Deadly Sins
and the Pursuit of Happiness in America). His sinful
expectations aren't always met but he does have some funny
commentary on modern morality and the places people look for
satisfaction.
Recommended bookstore in the DC area:
Riverby Books, used, on Capitol Hill
1301 E Capitol St SE
(202) 543-4342
He has a great collection and serves tea and cookies in the
sunny front nook.
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