Thursday, January 29, 2015

"SINGER/SONGWRITERS IN THE SIDE ROOM" PRESENTS WENDY SASSAFRAS RAMSAY AND JEFFREY PEPPER RODGERS

Hi,

This blog started out giving you posts of the songwriter’s notes, lyrics, and music for my original songs. As with many things, it has gone in new directions. So, if you just started reading my post and are interested in my original material, here is a link to "Seasons With You," one of my original songs. You can read about the song’s history, review the lyrics, and listen to the song. If you want to add the song to your playlist, you can download it at Amazon or iTunes.

On Thursday, 2/5, Wendy Sassafras Ramsay and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers will be our performers in the “Side room” at Buffalo Bill’s. Wendy and Jeff are members of the JPR Trio. Don’t know if Josh Dekaney, the group’s percussionist, will be with them, but I sure hope so! Here’s what I learned about this trio from the web. Hope it entices you to come to the show!

“The Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers Trio plays deep-grooving acoustic rock, mixing original songs with fresh takes on songs from the Grateful Dead and Stevie Wonder to Miranda Lambert and Elvis Costello. Based in upstate New York, the trio creates an extraordinarily varied sound with all acoustic instrumentation and rich vocal harmonies.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, the trio’s main songwriter and lead guitarist, is a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine.

Wendy Ramsay, also a member of The Unstoppables and the Hysterical Fits, is a songwriter and harmonizer extraordinaire. She adds flute, clarinet, guitar, accordion, and her quirky originals to the mix.

SAMMY winner Josh Dekaney, whose credits range from Brazilian music to jazz to jam bands and appearances with Aretha Franklin and Wilco’s Glenn Kotche, performs on a one-of-a-kind percussion kit.

For select performances, SAMMY Hall of Fame musician John Dancks joins the group on upright bass. This full acoustic combo is featured on the new album ALMOST THERE.”

Here’s what some people in the business have to say about JPR and the trio:
“Folk music with a serrated edge… A magical blend of storytelling, driving flattop guitar, and earthy percussion.” —Andy Ellis
“Songs that fill the senses…” —Mark Bialczak, The Post-Standard
“Stripped down, intense, and deft.” —Rani Arbo

If you want a feel for the group’s sound, check out these videos:
Here is a video of the trio doing one of Wendy’s songs, “In Another World.”
Here is a video of Jeffrey doing one of his songs, “Eight Days in January,” a song from his latest recording, ALMOST THERE
To learn more about Wendy and Jeffrey, click here. Hope you can join us for the show!

The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created two CDs, one for each of our two seasons. Each CD contains songs of the performers who appeared during that season. The requested donation for each CD is $10, and the proceeds go to the performers who are playing on the night of the donation. The CDs have gotten good reviews, and we hope they get passed around to let others know about the great talent we have appearing at this venue.

The concerts take place on the first and third Thursdays of each month in the side room of Buffalo Bill’s Family Restaurant and Taproom (19 Main Street, Shortsville, NY). The show runs from 7 to 9 PM. To learn more about Buffalo Bill’s, check out their site right here:
Buffalo Bill’s Family Restaurant and Taproom

Jeff Riales and Mike Wittek were our guests on January 15. To give you a feel of the setting of these concerts, here is a video of Jeff and Mike doing one of Jeff’s songs, "Blow That Whistle Loud."

If you would like to see videos of the other performers who have taken the stage at “Singer/Songwriters in the Side Room” concerts, check out this link:
Videos of Performers in the Side Room

Hope you can join us on Feb. 5!
All the best,

Siobhan and Frank

Upcoming Shows:

The Maria Gillard Trio, Feb. 19
Leslie Lee and Steve Gretz, Mar. 5
Brian Ayers, Mar. 19
Stid Hill Stompers (Jack Jones, Kendall Paul Wilt, and Fran Cary), Apr. 2
Lisa Bigwood, Apr. 16
Scott Regan, May 7
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, May 21
Connie Deming, June 4
Jim Clare, Taylor Pie, and Perry Cleaveland, June 18
Bonnie Abrams and Allen Hopkins, July 16
Eddie Lee, August 6
Steve Piper, August 20
Mike Yacci, September 3
Joe LaMay and Sherri Reese, September 17
Tom Whitmore of Watkins and the Rapiers, October 1
Rick Hoyt and Cool Club, October 15
The Cadleys, November 5
John Dady, November 19
Kerry Regan of Watkins and the Rapiers, December 3
Gordon Munding, December 17
2016
Eva and the Dog Boys, January 21
Jeff Riales, February 4
Joe Dady and Perry Cleaveland, April 7

Friday, January 23, 2015

MEYER AND MCGUIRE: NEWS AND MUSIC SCHEDULE

Hi,

Hope all of you are doing well! Here’s what I have for you this month.

This blog started out giving you posts of the songwriter’s notes, lyrics, and music for my original songs. As with many things, it has gone in new directions. So, if you just started reading my post and are interested in my original material, here is a link to "The Ballad of Bruce Weaver," one of my original songs. You can read about the song’s history, review the lyrics, and listen to the song. If you want to add the song to your playlist, you can download it at Amazon or iTunes.

Our Open mic on January 10 at Brew and Brats at Arbor Hill, an eatery and entertainment center behind the Arbor Hill Winery & Grapery was another grand time! We’d like to thank Mike Joseph, Bob Dugan, and Connor Peters for contributing some great tunes to make the January 10 open mic a great evening! Our next open mic at Brew and Brats will be on April 11. In the meantime, we will be playing at Bristol Mountain on February 20 at an event sponsored by Arbor Hill. Details for this event are at the end of this message. Whether we are doing an Arbor Hill event, running an open mic or playing a regular show, Arbor Hill and Brew and Brats are always a good time! Hope you can Join Siobhan and me on February 20!

As always, thanks for supporting original music! The “Singer/Songwriter in the Side Room” series at Buffalo Bill’s is going well, and we have moved to two shows a month, the first and third Thursdays. With that said, we only had one show in January because the first Thursday was New Year’s Day. Since my last general update, we have had two great shows in the “Side Room,” Eva and the Dog Boys on December 18 and Jeff Riales on January 15. Below are two videos, one from each show: Eva and the Dog Boys:
"Just My Luck"
Jeff Riales:
"Blow that Whistle Loud"
Wendy Sassafras Ramsay and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers will be our guests on February 5, and the Maria Gillard Trio will be our guest on February 19. Stay tuned for more details about these shows in my upcoming post. Hope you can join us for these performances!

For those of you who follow us at Rio Tomatlan, here’s the scoop. After months of renovations to the site of the Lumberyard (now Rio Tomatlan), Rio Tomatlan reopened on December 12, and the place was packed! Siobhan and I did our first show with Perry Cleaveland at the new location on December 20, and we had a great time! We are now back into our monthly schedule at Rio. Details for our next show are at the end of this message, and details for subsequent shows are on our web site. Hope to catch up with you there sometime!

Since we are in Rochester every Tuesday, Siobhan and I started hosting a little jam session at Sheridan’s Pub on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 PM. The songs can be Irish, but they do not have to be. Stop by with your instruments and join us at the table, or just come and enjoy the music! Delicious food, happy hour drink specials, and friendly patrons!

Joe Dady, in his song, “Man with a Banjo,” states “if you want to be a folk singer, you’ve got to do a thousand concerts for free.” I have been a folk singer for over forty years, and while I haven’t reached a thousand shows, I will be one step closer to that number this February. Siobhan and I will be playing at a Valentine’s Day dinner at the United Church of Bristol. Tim Hamlin, the pastor, is a graduate of Canandaigua Academy, the high school where I taught. He is a “class act” when it comes to being a minister, and I am really proud of him. All the proceeds from this dinner go to benefit the homeless. Details about this event are on the schedule listed below. If you are in the area, hope you can make it!

Well, have to go for now. Below is a list of some of our upcoming dates. Hope to catch you at a show! Take care!

All the best,
Siobhan and Frank

Meyer and McGuire Web Site

Tue., Jan. 27: Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY, 5 PM to 8 PM, (585) 271-7777 (Tuesdays with Tom; Meyer and McGuire host a jam session at the table; bring your guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, voice, etc.; songs can be Irish, but they do not have to be.)
Fri., Jan. 30: Finger Lakes Gifts and Lounge, 60 Seneca Street, Geneva, NY, 7 PM to 10 PM, (315) 759-5247 (with guest Perry Cleaveland on mandolin and fiddle)
Sat., Jan. 31: Café Sol, 4503 State Route 64, Canandaigua, NY, 7 PM to …, (585) 229-2233

Sun., Feb. 1: Buffalo Bill’s, 19 Main Street, Shortsville, NY, 3 PM to 6 PM, (585) 289-4104 (Super Bowl Party)

Tue., Feb. 3: Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY, 5 PM to 8 PM, (585) 271-7777 (Tuesdays with Tom; Meyer and McGuire host a jam session at the table; bring your guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, voice, etc.; songs can be Irish, but they do not have to be.)
Thu., Feb. 5: Singer/Songwriters in the Side Room (a concert series), Presents Wendy Sassafras Ramsay and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers in the side room of Buffalo Bill’s Family Restaurant and Taproom, 19 Main Street, Shortsville, NY, 7 PM to 9 PM, (585) 289-4104 (no cover charge, but donations for performer gratefully accepted) (event produced by Meyer and McGuire, 585-394-8929)
Fri., Feb. 6: Rylie J’s, 38 Seneca Street, Geneva, NY, 6 PM to 9 PM, (315) 759-6050

Sat., Feb. 7: Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY, 7 PM to 10 PM, (585) 271-7777

Tue., Feb. 10: Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY, 5 PM to 8 PM, (585) 271-7777 (Tuesdays with Tom; Meyer and McGuire host a jam session at the table; bring your guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, voice, etc.; songs can be Irish, but they do not have to be.)
Fri., Feb. 13: Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars, 1 Lake Niagara Lane, Naples, NY, 5 PM to 8 PM, (585) 531-9000 (with guest Perry Cleaveland on mandolin and fiddle)

Sat., Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day Dinner to Benefit the Homeless, United Church of Bristol, 7177 County Road 2 (corner of County Road 2 and Oakmount Roads), Bristol, NY, 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, (585) 727-2938 (lasagna or linguine alfredo, sparkling grape juice, side salads and desserts, $8.50; proceeds go to St. Crispen's Friary, an organization dedicated to feeding the homeless)

Tue., Feb. 17: Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY, 5 PM to 8 PM, (585) 271-7777 (Tuesdays with Tom; Meyer and McGuire host a jam session at the table; bring your guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, voice, etc.; songs can be Irish, but they do not have to be.)
Wed., Feb. 18: Tunes by the Tracks, Meeting Room at the Clifton Springs Library, 4 Railroad Ave., Clifton Springs, NY, 7 PM to 9 PM, (315) 462-7371 (Guest Perry Cleaveland on mandolin and fiddle)
Thu., Feb. 19 Singer/Songwriters in the Side Room (a concert series), Presents Maria Gillard with Perry Cleaveland and Elaine Verstraete in the side room of Buffalo Bill’s Family Restaurant and Taproom, 19 Main Street, Shortsville, NY, 7 PM to 9 PM, (585) 289-4104 (no cover charge, but donations for performer gratefully accepted) (event produced by Meyer and McGuire, 585-394-8929)
Fri., Feb. 20: Music on the Mountain Series, Bristol Mountain (Satellite Lounge), 5662 Route 64, Bristol, NY, 7 PM to 10 PM, (585) 374-6000 (Arbor Hill Winery and Grapery will be conducting a tasting of its wines and craft beers.)

Sat., Feb. 21: Rio Tomatlán, 106 Bemis Street, Cdga., NY, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM (585) 394-9380 (This new location is the site of the Lumber Yard.)

Tue., Feb. 24: Sheridan’s Pub, 1551 Mt. Hope Ave. Rochester, NY, 5 PM to 8 PM, (585) 271-7777 (Tuesdays with Tom; Meyer and McGuire host a jam session at the table; bring your guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, voice, etc.; songs can be Irish, but they do not have to be.)
Sat., Feb. 28: Café Sol, 4503 State Route 64, Canandaigua, NY, 7 PM to …, (585) 229-2233



Monday, January 5, 2015

"SINGER/SONGWRITERS IN THE SIDE ROOM" PRESENTS JEFF RIALES

Hi,

This blog started out giving you posts of the songwriter’s notes, lyrics, and music for my original songs. As with many things, it has gone in new directions. So, if you just started reading my post and are interested in my original material, here is a link to "All They Say Is Progress," one of my original songs. You can read about the song’s history, review the lyrics, and listen to the song. If you want to add the song to your playlist, you can download it at Amazon or iTunes.

On Thursday, 1/15, Jeff Riales will be our performer in the “Side room” at Buffalo Bill’s. He is a terrific country songwriter, one of Rochester’s finest. Jeff, an impressive guitar player, will have Mike Wittek, a member of Jeff’s band, The Silvertone Express, backing him up with some hot licks on the mandolin and guitar. Here is some information I extracted from Jeff’s web site. Hope it entices you to come to the show!

“Born in Memphis, TN, Jeff Riales has been writing and performing music for most of his life, and his style on the guitar and piano are as unique as the songs he creates. Jeff has performed as the opening act for John Hiatt, Chris Smither, Delbert McClinton and more. His songs are played on local, national and international radio and available on TouchTunes digital jukeboxes.

Jeff has released four albums (the first two recorded at Dynamic Recording Studio, Rochester, NY). The first, Load Full of Memories (with the group Backwater) debuted in 1999, followed by Right Rear Wheel (a solo project) in 2003. Jeff’s third recording, The Ticket, came out in 2008; his last album, Paved With Gold, was released in July 2010 (both recorded at Virgil Records, Rochester, NY). The title song from The Ticket was awarded 2008 Best Country Song by the Upstate New York Songwriting Competition, and The Ticket was recognized as 2008 Local Album of the Year by Democrat & Chronicle music critic, Jeff Spevak.

“Local Album of the Year. Sporting the baritone of Johnny Cash, the burnished tone of Waylon Jennings and the wit of John Prine…There’s not a cliché in the house, and not a clunker on The Ticket.” - Jeff Spevak, Democrat & Chronicle (2008)

“Riales is a true wordsmith, crafting songs filled with descriptions of everyday life, and beyond.” - Michelle Picardo, Freetime Magazine (2008)

“Jeff Riales drenches his new CD “The Ticket” with a Waylon creaminess and well-worn wisdom long forgotten in Nashville…This is a solid record from a righteous singer whose music is as lusty and earthy as upstate New York is far from Beulah Land.” - Frank De Blase, City News (2008)

“Jeff Riales…has emerged as the finest traditional country singer-songwriter in Rochester.” - Jeff Spevak, Democrat & Chronicle (2008)

“Riales’ music contains a lot of Southern country, soul, gospel and blues…They are all small tales of big people with unique lives that Riales has managed to capture with deep feelings and great wit. The fact that he’s one fine guitar player doesn’t hurt, either” - Duncan Walls, The Naples Record (2008)

“[Backwater’s] forte is Waylon Jennings-Hank Williams Jr. style country boogie…a distinctive style and…memorable songs.” - Sing Out! Magazine (1999)

“His music is rooted in red clay and the type of sentimentality that can’t be faked. Riales’ music gets in your blood and grooves and swings...[Right Rear Wheel] is one beautiful record. I could listen to this guy for hours.” - Frank De Blase, City News (2003)”

Here is a video of Jeff doing one of his songs, “The Ticket.”
Here is a video of Jeff doing one of his songs, “The Silvertone Express.”
To learn more about Jeff Riales, click here. Hope you can join us for the show!

The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created two CDs, one for each of our two seasons. Each CD contains songs of the performers who appeared during that season. The requested donation for each CD is $10, and the proceeds go to the performers who are playing on the night of the donation. The CDs have gotten good reviews, and we hope they get passed around to let others know about the great talent we have appearing at this venue.

The concerts take place on the first and third Thursdays of each month in the side room of Buffalo Bill’s Family Restaurant and Taproom (19 Main Street, Shortsville, NY). The show runs from 7 to 9 PM. To learn more about Buffalo Bill’s, check out their site right here:
Buffalo Bill’s Family Restaurant and Taproom

Eva and the Dog Boys were our guests on December 18. To give you a feel of the setting of these concerts, here is a video of the group doing one of their songs, "Gypsy Moth."

If you would like to see videos of the other performers who have taken the stage at “Singer/Songwriters in the Side Room” concerts, check out this link:
Videos of Performers in the Side Room

Hope you can join us on Jan. 15!
All the best,

Siobhan and Frank

Upcoming Shows:

Wendy Sassafras Ramsay and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, Feb. 5
The Maria Gillard Trio, Feb. 19
Leslie Lee and Steve Gretz, Mar. 5
Brian Ayers, Mar. 19
Stid Hill Stompers (Jack Jones, Kendall Paul Wilt, and Fran Cary), Apr. 2
Lisa Bigwood, Apr. 16
Scott Regan, May 7
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, May 21
Connie Deming, June 4
Jim Clare, Taylor Pie, and Perry Cleaveland, June 18
Bonnie Abrams and Allen Hopkins, July 16
Eddie Lee, August 6
Steve Piper, August 20
Mike Yacci, September 3
Joe LaMay and Sherri Reese, September 17
Tom Whitmore of Watkins and the Rapiers, October 1
Rick Hoyt and Cool Club, October 15
The Cadleys, November 5
Kerry Regan, Dec. 3
Gordon Munding, Dec. 17