WEEKLY UPDATE FOR OUR MUSIC FANS!

Well, 2018 is just about in the books. In reflecting, as I grow older, the world keeps getting colder, and the lows and highs seem just about the same. The lows have no deep drops, the highs never reach the top, and I wonder if I should still be in the game. But I keep getting out of bed and moving on ahead, because there’s still a flickering in me to do what I can do to make a difference. Right now, it’s writing songs, playing songs with Siobhan, my favorite person on the planet, creating concerts for songwriters, encouraging musicians at open mics, supporting the shows of my musician friends, and simply being with all the wonderful people I meet at the venues where we play. This past week’s events only reinforced why I am grateful there’s still a flickering in me to keep doing what I am doing.
On Thursday, Siobhan and I hosted an open mic at The Lobby, a great pizza shop and new venue for musicians in Canandaigua. Open mics serve as a great venue for discovering new musicians and new music. They give the up-and-coming musician the chance to develop confidence in front of an audience, and they give the well-seasoned musician the opportunity to test out new material. This is exactly what happened last Thursday, and I loved sitting back and watching it all unfold. Big thanks to the following players for their contributions: Caitlin Aisling, Peter Taft, and Michael Gonzalez! Big thanks to Brian for creating this venue, Jon Willis for asking us to host it, and Andrea and Austin for always being so helpful and welcoming! Finally, big thanks to all who were there to support and enjoy the musicians! It was an absolute pleasure being with you!
We drove out to Hall on Saturday to play a breakfast/lunch show at the New Hall Diner, and it was simply splendid. While Tamarie was on fire cranking out her delicious food back in the kitchen, Amy hustled around out front delivering it and attending to other needs of the patrons. As we sat there playing our tunes, chatting with the patrons, and listening to the hum of conversation in the room, my soul, once again, reminded me this is where I need to be, enhancing the lives of people with music. So, big thanks to Tamarie for bringing us to her diner! Big thanks to Amy for always being so nice and attentive! Big thanks to all of you who were at the diner! It was an absolute pleasure playing our songs and catching up on the news with you!
Tomorrow, New Year’s Eve, Siobhan and I will drive through the beautiful farm country that lies in the midst of Canandaigua, Seneca, and Keuka Lakes. Our destination will be the American Legion Hall in Penn yan, where we will play for a great group of people who have served and still serve in the military. Before we get to Penn Yan, however, as we wind along the back roads of Ontario and Yates Counties, I will let my imagination go and create images of the well-kept farms of the Mennonites who dominate this area. I will daydream about the simplicity that emanates from this group, and will tell myself to keep refining my own simple approach to life. Is this a New Year’s Resolution? Not really. Simplicity has been a way of life for me for quite some time. It brings me an unbelievable inner peace, and I highly recommend it.
Still reading? If so, thanks for being in our lives, and we wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2019!

WEEKLY UPDATE FOR MUSIC FANS!

One of the highlights of my week was unexpectedly running into Eric Cosman, one of my great friends from the teaching chapter of my life. For all you CA graduates and former colleagues, he’s still the same old “Cos,” excited and enthusiastic about life as ever. For those of you who did not know him, he was one of the finest science teachers in the area, and a person you would definitely want your kid to experience. As we stood talking on Main Street in Canandaigua, time just disappeared. It was like yesterday, and although the topics were different, the same energy flowed as we moved from one idea to the other. We once talked about kids and teaching strategies, and now we talked about our new chapters. For him, much of it was still nature, and for me, of course, it was music. When we parted, I was totally uplifted as I always was when we chatted. Our visit got me to thinking about the myriads of people who have had and still have the same impact on me as “Cos.” They have simply made this trip I am on a beautiful one. Most of them I meet now are connected to music, and here’s a little review of how I was uplifted by them this past week.
On Thursday, Siobhan and I played our monthly show at The Timber Creek. When possible, Siobhan and I like to establish a relationship with the venues where we play. For us the music is merely a vehicle to connect with people, and this has been happening at Timber Creek because Susie, the owner, lets us jam there once a month. This month-to-month connection has given us the opportunity to develop friendships with the patrons, and that is just what has been happening. This past Thursday, we celebrated Al Brown’s birthday, and it was a great pleasure meeting Al’s family and friends. Tom Clark and Bill Ridley, two old friends and patrons of the bar, introduced us to their friends, and it was an absolute pleasure meeting them too. So, thanks to Susie for helping us create this fun evening, thanks to Jill and Hillbilly for always being so welcoming, and thanks to all you folks who keep coming out to The Timber Creek to support our music!
Saturday at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua was somewhat of a ditto of Thursday. Like The Timber Creek, we have a month-to-month connection with the patrons, bartenders, and servers, and we just love being with everyone. We had a blast this Saturday playing our tunes and interacting with the patrons at the bar and those who stopped by to chat between songs. Thanks to everyone who came out!
On Sunday, we were back at Rio Tomatlan to host our concert series for songwriters. Our featured guest was Michael Gonzalez, and he brought his group, Whirlwood (Perry Cleaveland and Douglas Henrie) to back him up. Michael’s presentation was beyond phenomenal. His comfortable interaction with the audience, sensitive delivery of thought-provoking, insightful, and uplifting lyrics, intricate development of arrangements, and diverse use of musical styles were simply beautiful. Perry Cleaveland, (mandolin and fiddle) and Douglas Henrie (upright bass) were right on the money in enhancing Michael’s music. You lovers of jazz and blues missed a great show. Big thanks to Michael, Perry, and Doug for one outstanding show! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Brittany, Trevor, Julie, Amy, Sadie, Ryan, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help they gave us Saturday and Sunday! Big thanks to Scott Regan for promoting our shows on WRUR's "Open Tunings!" Big thanks to all of you who came out on Saturday and Sunday, especially Maryann Fennelly, a friend who recently experienced a serious health issue. It was so uplifting to see Maryann in the audience on Sunday afternoon!
Still reading? If so, thanks for being in our lives and hope you have a great holiday season!

M & M SONGWRITERS SERIES PRESENTS THE MICHAEL GONZALEZ TRIO

Hey Folks,

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 mySongwriter Notes.

On Sunday, 12/16, The Michael Gonzalez Trio (Michael Gonzalez, Perry Cleaveland, and Douglas Henrie) will be our guests in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua from 3 to 5 PM. If you have never seen this terrific trio, you are in for some great original music delivered in a blues/jazz style. Take a look at the videos listed below, and see for yourself!
"Follow Me"
"Belong"
"Feel the Spirit"
"Someday Blues"
"New Shade Blues"
"Mad, Mad World"
"Lovin' Machine"
"Ballard Ballad"
Want to know more about Michael? Check him out right here.
Michael George Music

The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created six CDs, one for each of our six seasons that were held in The Side Room of Buffalo Bill’s. 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 day of the donation. Since the performers who played in Buffalo Bill’s Side Room will now be playing in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan, the CDs will give you a good feel for what to expect in the upcoming shows.

Here is a link to videos of performers playing in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan and the Side Room at Buffalo Bill's. The videos will give you a feel of how much fun we have at these shows. Check them out!

Hope you can join us!
All the best,

Siobhan and Frank

Upcoming Shows:


Michael George Gonzalez (with guest Perry Cleaveland and Dan Lopata), December 16
Warren Paul, January 6
Ben and Rita Proctor (of Crooked North), January 20
The Cadleys (with Perry Cleaveland and John Danks), January 27
Maria Gillard Trio (Maria Gillard, Perry Cleaveland and Doug Henrie), February 17
Brian Ayers, March 3
Connie Deming, March 10
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, April 7
Scott Regan, April 14
The Brothers Blue, April 28
Jeff Riales, May 19
Steve Piper, June 2
Da Vines (Alex and Fred Vine), June 16
BenJoe (Ben Haravitch and Joe Dady, July 7
Whirlwood (Michael Gonzalez, Perry Cleaveland, and Douglas Henrie, July 21
Eva and the Dog Boys, August 4
The Cadleys with Perry Cleaveland and John Danks, August 18
The Healing Committee, September 1
Paulsen Baker and Chaapel, September 15
Jack Jones (with Kendall Paul Wilt and Fran Cary), October 6
The Michael Yacci Trio, October 20
Max Flansburg and Richie Colf (of Dirty Blanket, November 3
The Dady Brothers, November 17
Kerry Regan of Watkins and the Rapiers, December 1

WEEKLY UPDATE FOR OUR MUSIC FANS!

Earlier today, Siobhan and I took a ride to Hall, NY, and stopped at the New Hall Diner to luxuriate in one of Tamarie’s many outstanding delicious breakfasts. The New Hall Diner brings you back to a time when life was simpler, a place we should try to reach sometimes. If you go there, leave your cell phone or tablet in the car; those messages aren’t going anywhere. As I sat enjoying a tasty omelet composed of ingredients that came from all the local farms, I listened to the soothing hum of conversations pervading the room and the oldies from one of the local AM radio stations. The total peace I felt was only enhanced by the satisfaction I experienced from the shows Siobhan and I played the previous two nights.
Rylie J’s, a place which has been home for Siobhan and me on the first Friday of every month for about eight or nine years now, was, as always, buzzing with the chatter of the regulars. Like most happy hours, Rylie J’s is no different when it comes to having your music affirmed. Occasional applause, several thumbs up, and a few smiles and nods sum up the acceptance of your efforts. So, thanks to all you regulars who show up religiously every month to support our music! Thanks to Perry Cleaveland, one of our favorite sidemen, for lighting up our show with his mandolins, fiddle, and harmony! Thanks to Pat and Amy McGhan, the owners, for their continuous support of our music, and thanks to Roachie, one of the most supportive bartenders I have ever met!
One of the best skills I have learned in life is how to monitor and adjust. Most of what I do is planned, but like the quarterback who calls an audible at the line, I am ready to change my plan when the situation calls for it. This happened for us at Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub last night. We started playing our show, and I noticed we had a lot of talent in the audience. So, throughout the evening, we invited some folks to join us or to play a few tunes. It turned into a real party, and we had a blast! Thanks to Margie Hastings, Ray McHargue, Sharon McHargue, and Charlie for adding some great sounds to our evening and turning the night into some “good silly fun!” Thanks to everyone who was there to share in the fun with us and thanks to Dan and Janet for having us play.
Still reading? If so, Thanks for being in our lives, have a great holiday season, and be ready to monitor and adjust! It’s an important strategy to employ during this season of both great joy and stress!

WEEKLY UPDATE FOR OUR MUSIC FANS!

As I sit here on our back porch listening to the YouTube channel Siobhan created for the songwriters who have appeared in our concert series, I once again realize how lucky I am to have found a partner who enjoys using her creative skills to develop our music business. Regarding our shows, she works hard to get the sound just right, adds just the right touch to our songs with her acoustic bass, designs posters, and spends endless hours mixing down our recordings. It doesn’t end there. In our concert series, she creates videos of our performers, develops compilation CDs of our songwriters in order to raise money for them, and works patiently with the performers to get their sound just right. She is the person behind the scene making it all happen! So, thank you, Siobhan! Here was the scene for us this past weekend.
Saturday, we rolled into Brew and Brats to host the weekly open mic there, and as always, it was a hoot. Thanks to the following participants for contributing to a fun evening: Chris Mahan, Tim Rybinski, Ed Loesch, John French, and Tom Macallister. It was a real blast singing and jamming with all of you in the second set. Thanks to John and Katie Brahm and John and Sherry French for creating such a great venue for people to gather, and thanks for including us in the Brew and Brats Family. Finally, thanks to all of you who stopped by to partake in the fun. The highlight of the evening for me was hearing the chant, “Ed, ED, Ed, Ed!” Often people just need a little nudge to play a few songs, and the chant worked! We loved having Ed on stage with us because we love Ed, and getting people to take a chance with music is the real purpose of open mics!
Sunday, we hosted our concert series for songwriters in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. Kerry Regan of Watkins and the Rapiers was our guest, and he came through once again with another fresh new set of songs. The lyrics were vintage Regan, employing just the right dose of irony, one of Kerry’s best writing talents. The songs covered a variety of topics, personal, political, and seasonal. His song, “Even on Christmas Day He Wore Black,” a tribute to Johnny Cash, really touched me. I heard him do it many times with his band, but his acoustic version was simply beautiful. Thanks to Kerry for another great show. Thanks to Raf, Erin, Chris, Trevor, Brittany, Julie, Amy, Sadie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help you give us to create these concerts. Thanks to Scott Regan of WRUR’s “Open Tunings” for promoting our concerts on his show. Finally, thanks to all of you who came to Kerry’s show. You have no idea how much we really appreciate your support!
Still reading? If so, thanks for being in our lives and have a great holiday season!