MySpace Is Interesting

Earlier this year, I set up a MySpace page for my musical endeavors and after 8 months I only have 55+ "friends." (Okay, so I've got better things to do). Last month I guy "friended" me and I complied. This month he offered me a gig at IOTA club and cafe. So I'm opening on a three act bill September 14. How about that!

Jail Guitar Doors Update: The Gig

We did the Jail Guitar Doors Gig this last Sunday! The performances by all the artists went off without a hitch and the crowd was enthusiastic. I wish I had done a better job at promotion because the crowd was smaller than I anticipated. I also think we just picked an inopportune time for the gig. August is a pretty dead month and we should have waited until September to do the gig. Even though we sent out press releases, made posters and invited our own friends, we all thought we'd have a bigger crowd. We still did a great job and raised over $300 towards the purchase of the guitars.

Jail Guitar Doors Is A Done Deal!

NEWS RELEASE

Billy Bragg's Jail Guitar Doors Project to Make United States Debut via sponsorship by the DC Acoustic Underground and Prisons Foundation

On August 19th at the 219 Restaurant, in Alexandria, VA, the DC Acoustic Underground and Prisons Foundation will cosponsor a benefit concert to raise funds to purchase acoustic guitars for the Montgomery County Corrections Facility.

July 18, 2007 (Washington, DC) - Inspired by the Jail Guitar Doors project founded by Singer/Songwriter Billy Bragg in the UK earlier this year, the Jail Guitar Doors Project aims to help in the rehabilitation of inmates through the transformative power of music. The benefit concert, to be held on Sunday, August 19 from 1 to 4 PM, will raise money to fund the purchase of guitars which will be used as part of a pilot program to be run in the Crisis Intervention Unit at the Montgomery County Corrections Facility in Boyds, MD.

Prisons Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, DC, promotes the arts and education in prison and alternatives to incarceration and operates the Prison Art Gallery in downtown Washington, DC. The DC Acoustic Underground provides venues for musicians and poets to perform and perfect their craft. The two organizations have joined forces to use the power of music to enable change and to reduce the rate of recidivism in our country's penal institutions.

In remarks obviously directed to fellow musicians, Billy Bragg says on his web site dedicated to the Jail Guitar Doors Project,” How many of you have sat in your rooms playing guitar and been transported beyond the four walls to a place where you feel free?”

Featured performers at the event will be local singer/songwriters Lea, Jim Dugan, Dennis Sobin, Michael Yugo and Joe Shade.

Women's Rising Music magazine's review of Lea's recent CD stated: “Not since Tracy Chapman has a singer/songwriter come along whose magnetic voice and deep heartfelt appeal draws us in...” MusicMonthly.com in a review of Jim Dugan's CD “Marigold” said it was “Great music,great songs.” Dennis Sobin spent 10 years in prison learning classical and jazz guitar and will be appearing at the Kennedy Center in September. Michael Yugo founded the DC Acoustic Underground last year in response to the overwhelming need for more venues for acoustic players.

Musical instruments are being provided at cost for the project from Chuck Levin’s Washington Music Center in Wheaton, MD. Admission will be $6 payable at the time of the event.

Contact:

Guitar Jail Doors Event Coordinator
Joe Shade
joeyshade@gmail.com
703-856-2411

Prisons Foundation
Dennis Sobin
Dennis@PrisonsFoundation.org
202-393-1511

DC Acoustic Underground
Michael Yugo
michaelyugo@yahoo.com
703-475-7636

Response From Billy Bragg

I sent to an email to Billy Bragg regarding my Jail Guitar Doors project and go this response:

Joe,

That is great news.

Just last week, a bunch of young bands from Reading, a large town to the
west of London organised their own fund raiser which you can find out
about here:

www.myspace.com/jailguitardoorsreadingsummerevent

Like you, following my suggestion, they made contact with their local
prison and made it happen. They raised over £2000, with my wholehearted
support but in reality completely autonomously. I feel strongly that this
is an idea that belongs to those who are inspired to take it upon
themselves to make it happen. Maybe you have a different name for your
campaign, maybe you want to use Jail Guitar Doors. Whichever it is, please
do keep me informed. We are comrades working together in the same cause.

best,

Billy

Jail Guitar Doors Update

Jeez, has it really been two months since I last posted? Guess there's no use in posting unless you've got something to say and I believe this is the case today. On the way back from a recent trip to NYC (hmm, got to blog about that!) I stopped by the Maryland County Corrections Facility in Boyds, MD. I had a meeting with Mary Saxon-Clipper and Mark Levant. I was worried that due to a lack of response from Ms. Clipper, my original contact, that her interest in my project was waning. I couldn't have been further from the truth. Mr. Levant turned out to be a great guy who works with inmates in a crisis intervention center at the facility and was a guitar player himself. Their interest was sufficient for me to go ahead with my project after starting out back in April. The plan is procure 3 guitars for the center. I've spoken with Brian Meader from Chuck Levin's (after an email to Alan Levin requesting help). They've given me a great deal (45% off, which I guess is cost) for 3 Alvarez RD-8 acoustic guitars with hardshell cases for $175 each. I'm working with my good friend Michael Yugo, who's been inspirational in his trying to keep together a local acoustic music scene. He's got a running gig over at the 219 Restaurant in Alexandria, Va where we'll be holding the fundraiser, tentatively scheduled for August 5. I'll post the press release when I get it done.

Open Mic's I've Played Pt 2

One of the best rooms in Northern Virginia for an open mic is at the Folk Club of Reston/Herndon. This event is held every Tuesday in a room especially set aside for them at the Tortilla Factory, in Herndon, VA. The first time I played there the applause was so thunderous that I thought I was going to cry! First of all they really listen. I mean they really listen. Second, the entire membership has an interest in music of all types. I've heard covers, Irish Folk, Bluegrass, all types there. One of the great benefits of this venue is that you get 12 minutes to play. For me that's 3 songs. You must be careful regarding the time, though. The timer starts when you first stand behind the microphones and they've got a red light that goes on when you're time is up. The first time I played there, I tryied to squeeze in a fourth song and right around the third verse the light went on. Had to wrap it up fast!

Signup is at club on the night of the open mic. Just go up to the whiteboard next to microphones and write in your name. Generally you want to get there by at least 6:30 PM if you want to get a decent slot, since there is only about 4-5 slots available during each performance section. The evening is broken up into two sections with the first section finished off by a Folk Club Member doing a 25 minute set. The first section is usually over by 8:30PM. The second section begins at 9:00 and it's usually over by 10:00 PM. It's all lots of fun and the food is terrific. These are lovely people and every time I play there someone invites me back to play. That reminds me, it's been a few months since I played there last!

Open Mic's I've Played Pt 1

When I started playing out live a few years ago, I didn't know where to start. Initially I was playing with some guys from work: just an excuse to drink some beers and blow off a little steam once a week. But at some point, when my chops started to come back and I started to accumulate a fair number of newly minted originals, the idea of performing began to interest me. I had given up playing years ago when I decided that I had put enough of my life on hold in what was essentially a failed effort to become successful as a musical artist. Since then I've realized how important all facets of music have become to me, with performing right up there with writing and recording.

My first open mic was at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA. They run an open mic every Monday. The guy running it currently is David Cotton, a sweetheart of a guy. He's extremely supportive because he realizes what it's like to be up there. Unlike other open mic's David is actually getting paid for his efforts, so he's not really motivated to hog the spotlight, unlike a lot other open mic's who shall remain nameless here. (Just trying to keep it all positive!) You get two songs or 8 minutes to play and the crowd is usually pretty nice and well behaved. For the most part they are there to either perform or to listen. Unfortunately, after playing there off and on for the last 4 years, I've yet to get anything else going there other than the open mic thing. I've gone over well, played with a backing band once as a feature artist and brought plenty of folks into the place, but after all this time, it's still just two songs and see you later. I'd like to have a chance to open (even as the bottom of a three or four act bill), but that's not what the Brindley Brothers are all about. The best bet for getting a gig there is to just rent the place! Even though I don't play there much anymore, I'd still recommend it for first timers.