This page is an archive for old items from "Here's the Latest"  on the Home page.

6/30/22   

I hope this finds you and all of yours well and happy.  Summer is here and even with the all the things happening in the world we are in the top season of the year. Get out and enjoy it.  I know gas is high, but you really shouldn’t need to go far to find a connection with nature.   

The Alliance Farmer’s Market show went well. It was a beautiful morning and the four hours I ws worried about sort of flew by.  I’m really glad to be playing for folks again. 

  No poem today but an important blog post today. Check the existing blogs poems here: 

5/7/22  

Better late than never.  Here’s the much promised update.  

The Mountain Rose shows on 4/3 and 5/1 went well.  Madison Cummins performed on 4/3 for an appreciative audience.  The  5/1 show featured Magpie for an enthusiastic and  full house.  The June show features International champion Fingerstyle guitarist, Jesse Smith on June 5th. 

I finally have a show booked at Alliance Farmer’s Market at 9:00 am on June 25th.  The market is at its new location on the corner of Union and State streets.  

In the meantime I’ll be working on the Mountain Rose Concert series.  Mountain Rose is the longest running small hall concert series in Kent Ohio.  Folknet.org is keeping the series alive.  See posters for both the next Mountain Rose and Folknet shows below.

3/26/22  

The Mountain Rose Show for March was a blast.  We had six performers, Robin Stratton, myself, Rick Feinberg, Steve Madewell and Bill Schilling with all six of us closing the show with “This Land Is Your Land”  A good time was had by all in attendance.  

I’m running sound for The Mountain Rose Concert series April 3rd  show.  If you’re anywhere near Kent, OH on Sunday 4/3 at 7:30,  Stop by Standing Rock Cultural Arts And listen to Madison Cummins.  She’s a singer songwriter well worth a listen.  If you come in say “Hi” to the man behind the mixer.

 2/25/22 

“When There Is No More” is here.  The tracks asks what would happen if everything we’ve ever known fell into a black hole?  Everything, cars, politicians, stores, even time itself.    My love for you would still persist. I would still long for your company. 

This is the Podunk Virtual Band  version of a song from a previous acoustic album.  Plenty of twelve string chime and jangle here. 

On Sunday March 6th, I will be joining members of the Folknet.org board to perform a live show in Kent at the Standing Rock Cultural Arts Center. 

  It will feel great to get out and play in front of people again.  I hope to see you out there soon.   Be well, stay safe and have fun.

1/29/22 

Hi Folks.  I have new single coming next month.  “When There is No More” is an electric version of a song from my acoustic album “Playing the Game”.   When I do these electric versions I’m trying to capture the sound I hear in my head of an imaginary bar band.   The Podunk Virtual Band is my best approximation.  All instruments except drums are me.  

Spring is coming and I’m really looking to get some live shows going.  I’ve always done better in person than virtual.   I have been practicing hard and improving not only my technical skills but my presentation too.   I hope to see you out there soon.    I hope to see you out there soon.   Be well, stay safe and have fun.

1/1/22  

Hi folks,  Here it is, another year.  A lot of us lost a lot of ground in the last one.   I hope that we can find the strength to gain some back in this new year.   Any real progress takes effort.  I’m putting forth a little more effort.  I plan on having some new recordings to release for you this year.   So far I’m working on more correctly produced recordings of older songs, some of which are from the long out of print “The Real Deal” album.   
Wishing you all a great year in 2022.  Be well, stay safe and have fun.

12/5/21  

Hi Folks,  I’m getting really anxious about getting back a on a stage or two next year.  The “cabin fever” is getting pretty intense here.   I miss playing for my fans and gaining some new ones with each show.   I really wish that I could do recordings that more truly reflect the feel of my in-person shows.    

I sincerely hope that this finds you and yours well and happy.  Have a great holiday. Be well, stay safe and have fun.

11/6/21  

It looks like I’ll be going into “hibernation” for a little while.  Like the poster above says,  I’m not quite dead yet.  That means I am seeking bookings for 2022.  In the slow times we’ve had, I’ve been busy writing, learning new songs and improving my performance on the existing ones. I sincerely hope that next year will better for all of us.

9/11/21  

The show at Alliance Farmer's Market went very well.  It might be the last live show this year.  I just don't feel right playing the kind of small indoor venues I usually do when the pandemic is still raging.  I'd gladly take a show in a larger venue.  If doesn't happen, I guess I'll be back in the Spring. 

 I have been writing a bit, so the next album might have more songs than planed.  Either that or I'll do an EP too.  I still hope to have it out by early next year.   I just need to get in a studio and get to work on it.

9/11/21  

Had a great time playing at Louisville Market Days yesterday.  

I guess I’m not quite dead yet.  I know it’s been a long time since I updated.  The honest truth is, it’s hard to update when there’s not much going on.   

I finally have a bit of news even though it’s for the future.  I have new album in the planning stage.  I hope to have it out by early next year.  It will be like the previous two in that it will be acoustic and solo.

7/3/21  

Here it is Independence day eve already. Enjoy the holiday and maybe give a thought to how to continue our republic for a while longer. 

The July 23rd show at the Sub Station in Wadsworth will all original and acoustic.   It feels great to be back there.

6/18/21  

“Western Sky” is here.  and on Spotify .   Not the typical country song, it deliberately leaves the details up to the listener.  

Added a new show on July 23rd I’ll be returning to the Sub Station in Wadsworth.   It feels great to be back there. 

Folknet hosts their final new virtual concert of the season this Saturday at 7:15 EST.  Featured act is Tom Kastle and  Sam Hooper is the local opener. Folknet.org

6/6/21 

Been a while since I updated.  The Pets for Vets benefit went great, even with a rain break mid set.  I’ve added a couple farmer’s market shows later in the Summer.  I do have new entry on the "Blog and Poems" page.

A brand new single is coming on the 18th. “Western Sky” leaves much of the plot up to the listener’s imagination and just tries to paint some images on the mind.  Country in style, it sets forth a set of actions for the listener to draw their own conclusions as they allow the music to paint the images on their mind.

 5/6/21 

Hi folks, I have new singles coming for you but they a way down the road.  "Western Sky"  will release in June and an electric version of "Life Is Good"  is planned for July.  I'm still seeking outdoor shows.  I have a short set at a Pets for Vets benefit on the 22nd of this month.  I do have new entry on the "Blog and Poems" page. HERE. 

Folknet has a new virtual concert this Saturday at 7:00 EST.  Featured act is Bing Futch and my good friend Gretchen Pleuss is the local opener.

4/16/21 

My  new single, "The Prayer"  is here.  Very few people can honestly say that they never pray.  “The Prayer” is about returning our focus the fact that all life is connected.   It seems that we sometimes forget this fact as we strive to accumulate things that perhaps we do not even really want.   Spending time in the natural world is a vital form of worship.  The Podunk Virtual Band  channels the “jangle pop” sound to make the vital message more user friendly. 

 4/9/21  

Hi folks.  I got to play in front of a live audience again for the first time in almost a year.  The private show on St. Patrick’s day had me sharing songs with a small but very appreciative audience.  I got to play for folks at another private show this afternoon. 

I will be updating again next week when "The Prayer" releases, so just a small update today.  Very few people can honestly say that they never pray.  “The Prayer” is about returning our focus the fact that all life is connected.   It seems that we sometimes forget this fact as we strive to accumulate things that perhaps we do not even really want.   Spending time in the natural world is a vital form of worship.

3/5/21 

Spring is just around the corner in Ohio.  I’m halfway on my Covid vaccine.  I’m really ready to start playing out again.   I’ve kep things together through this enforced hibernation but it’s just not the same as playing for an audience.   There is a “X” factor to playing live that tends to keep distraction under control.   Looking forward to seeing you at a show soon.

2/6/21  

There is a certain emotional lift for both audience and performer at a live show.  Missing this is the worst part of the pandemic for me.   It’s very hard on one’s heart to make a folk recording without the interaction with folks.

1/8/21  

Art is a uniquely human endeavor.  Perhaps it is an effort to express our emotional state on observing the beauty and the horror of the world.    

I have always been mistrustful of those who would censor, or otherwise suppress artistic expression.  Is it because they cannot  see the beauty?  Or maybe they do not want the horrors they’ve spawned to be shown.

 12/12/20  

I’ve been thinking about stories lately.  In reality, all mankind’s culture springs from stories that we’ve heard and told.   Perhaps we are in need of some new stories about how we can work together to save and share our precious planet. It is time for stories of kindness and courage.  

I appeared on Fireside Chat on the 19th.  Here’s a link to last week’s show.  CIAJD Fireside Chats 11/19/2020      While you’re there check the other week’s shows.

11/15/20  

 Kind of hard to update this time around.  Most of what I live for is playing music for people in person.  As long as we’re stuck in this pandemic, that’s off the menu and I find myself a little more off kilter than usual.  

I will be appearing online on Fireside Chats on the 19th at 7:15 pm EST..   There will be a meet and greet via Zoom right after.  

10/18/20  

Just a quick update this time to tell you about a new Halloween themed single that released Friday.  A tale the very odd couple of a werewolf and a vampire.   You can find it on  audio page and most streaming outlets.

9/24/20 

The show at Alliance Farmer’s Market went well.  The weather cooperated and it felt good to be performing for an audience again. 

“Just Dance, Again” is here.  It’s a re-imagining of one of my crowd pleasers.   This version has a stronger lead guitar and a more focused mix.

 8/21/20  

Sometimes you just feel like telling a sad story.  Life contains a lot of things and sadness is just one of them.   “Hold Your Tears” is one of those stories.    

Shows have been sort of scarce during this pandemic. I’m only booking outdoor shows right now.  I have one coming up at Alliance Farmer’s Market on September 12th. 

 7/24/20 

“Fly Away Sometime the Remix” is here.  I decided to do a lyric video for one of my personal favorites and in the process I ended up doing a new mix. 

Folknet, Northeast Ohio's Folk, Traditional Music, and Dance Society is presenting a series of virtual concerts.  Look for them and many other folk music things here.

6/19/20  

New single released today.  “The Journey” is a gentle reminder that life is about the journey.  This is another Podunk Virtual Band track.  There are 2 videos for this one.  One is a live unplugged from downstairs and the other is a lyric video to the PVB single.

5/22/20  

“Variable Clouds” is here.  Sometimes your guitar calls you to follow it to new places without your usual playmates.  “Variable Clouds” is such a trip.  I tried several Podunk Virtual Band versions but ended up deciding this solo acoustic format worked best.   I did a text over photos video that you can find here.