jimcolbertmusic: News

It's been real easy to be passive about performing out the last few months. It's no secret I've been unhappy with the lack of local interest in what I do... ironic, given I see much of the same indifference to performing songwriters I feel nearly walk on water, when they've performed locally. I've spent too much time feeling jealous about opportunities and gigs I see others landing, often completely passively. Too much time letting the negativity and indifference wash over me. This changes for 2013.

I've come to accept that I'm not going to be one of the "inner circle" in the local music scene. That what I do isn't as popular as, say, Celtic or balls-out blues, or finger-blistering flatpicking. That people I've made opportunities for, worked to help and promote and create gig opportunities for, aren't going to return the favor. I'm working on being fine with that, because some people I completely admire and respect, people who are, well, damn good, see the merit in what I do.

I went to NERFA for the first time this year with an air of trepidation, figuring this would either bring things to a head one way or the other... I would return either energized and ready to play, or ready to throw in the towel when it came to playing out. I was so afraid it would be the latter... and am basking in the mildly-intimidating warm glow that it was not. For this, I thank you, Ethan Baird. Marc Douglas Berardo. Meg Braun. Jake Bush. John Hamilton. Mike Kornfeld. Carolann Solebello. Frank Tedesso. And the people whose names I don't know, who listened - sometimes, closely - during the showcases. Who made me feel welcomed, and loved, and appreciated.

Obviously, we can't think all the people who show us support or give us guidance during our musical journey, but that list should include some people who weren't at NERFA but were in spirit: Cynthia, of course. Gene and Isabel Frey, stalwart friends and supporters. Doug Irwin, who has been there since my first solo gig. Lori Wilson, my most faithful audience member. And my dear friend Hannah Bingman, at times the only voice gently raised in objection when I was saying "...fuck this shit. What the hell is the point...nobody cares." (Pardon my language, but it pretty much was a direct quote.)

On this, three days after Thanksgiving 2012, I just want you to know the friendship, support and love has not gone unnoticed. Now... who wants to do some shows together in 2013?

I'm proud to say my first collection of poetry is now available for sale! Defiantly Blue Sky is full color throughout, and includes photographs by my friend Laura Waldhier as well as some of my own. 64 pages, I have been told it is nicely designed... I'm a little biased so I won't comment there. Order a copy today at http://www.lulu.com/shop/james-colbert/defiantly-blue-sky/paperback/product-20031614.html

Well, easy or not, it's summer, school is out for a month or so. I dug up some old live tracks and sent a few over to my buddy Marc Frigo, the best damn recording engineer in State College. He worked a little magic, and I think I'm going to wade through these tracks, get him a few more to master and EQ, and do a limited edition short run live CD. What the hell... will it be perfect, far from it, but I gotta get something out there. Gonna be a REAL short run, so if you want one, get on the mailing list and watch for news. What else is new, let's see, wrote my first instrumental on the banjo, a result of tuning it incorrectly! Go figure. It's called Dress the Dogs (In a Minor Key.) Been listening to a lot of Danny Schmidt, and a lot of Joe Crookston lately. Caught Joe live last week; he asked me to do a song in the second set, and I had a great reaction to Boattail. Only have a couple summer gigs coming up, but they'll be fun - check the schedule for details.

Just added some new shows for 2011: Cafe Lemont, a lovely new intimate setting for a true unplugged show; Avenue 209 in Lock Haven 2/5/2011; and West Kish Coffeehouse in Belleville 3/19/2011.  If you haven't been out to a show in a while, I'd love to have you join me again - I've got some new songs... dare I say, even a couple humorous ones...

I'm happy to say I'm a finalist in the 2010 Rose Garden Coffeehouse songwriting competition. Given some of my favorite songwriters have been here, too -- Jud Caswell, Joe Crookston, Jenny Goodspeed, Dave Potts -- I can say with all sincerity I'm just happy to have made it this far. I've heard nothing but good things about the Rose Garden from people who have played or been audience there, and I'm very much looking forward to the experience. The songs I entered were Boattail Riviera and Clemente, both recorded at Frigo Studios. Clemente will make it to the CD; I'll be revisiting Boattail for it - this was pretty much a recording done solely to enter the contest. So if you're in the vicinity of Mansfield, MA on May 15, come out and listen! April Verch is the headliner that night, so I can guarantee it's going to be an evening of great music!

http://www.rosegardenfolk.com/general/contest.php

I've decided updates on the recording project will be better served in the Blog section here, rather than news. So look for future updates there. I also turned on "allow comments" there, so please feel free to share your thoughts on anything I've posted. I've also posted two new song clips on the music page, Clemente, and a different take on IDKHTWYWA (please don't make me write it out...)

Hope some of you can make it over to Elk Creek on Sunday, for our Songwriters in the Round with Brad Yoder, Hannah Bingman, KJ and myself. Should be a lot of fun!

Finally made it down to Pittsburgh to Acoustic Music works, with the intention of checking out short scale Bourgeois guitars. After about 3 hours of trying everything from Breedloves to Collings, picked up a used 2005 Sullivan SMSA-T that I instantly fell in love with. Cedar top, rosewood back and sounds, and a near-perfect neck for my size and shape hands. I have no idea how Jim Sullivan pulls this amount of sound out of a relatively small-body guitar... I'll need to get a pickup installed, but man, for now, I am just enjoying playing this baby.

I can't say enough about the impression AMW left on me, by the way. Well worth your drive from, well, anywhere! Steve is knowledgable, patient and a fan of good folk and acoustic music. And besides, any friend of Scott Ainslie's is a friend of mine!

We wrapped up our 2009 edition of Bellefonte Unplugged with an intimate workshop with Hannah Bingman and myself, and friends Terry and Kerri.. hmm, if we could have rustled up a Jerry or a Mary, we might could have turned that into a song! This has been a fun year for the workshops, with the lovely and talented Jenny Goodspeed kicking the season off, and the equally lovely, albeit in a manly, Cleveland Browns shirt wearin' kind of way with Dave Potts.

The PCA local grants funding has gone away for 2010, so I'm not sure if this series will return, if it stays in its present form, whatever. The idea of a sponsor is a possibility, but frankly I hate going to a business with my hand out. One thing is for certain, while our audiences have typically been small, the talent shared has be bountiful, so thank you all artists who have participated over the last 3 years;

Marc Douglas Berardo, Westerly R.I

 Jud Caswell, Lewiston, Maine

Joe Crookston, Ithaca, NY

Dave Potts, Auburn, AL

Jenny Goodspeed, Boston, MA

Hannah Bingman, Huntingdon, PA

I guess now that i think about it, I bookended the series, hosting the first one, and co-hosting the last one. Well, one thing is for certain, nobody can say I didn't try, and nobody that came out can say I didn't bring in some serious talent for these.

My thanks for those who came out and attended. My sincere hope is that you got something out of the workshops.