"The Good House Is Built upon a Rock (Back-story, Lyrics, and Music)

 

THE GOOD HOUSE IS BUILT UPON A ROCK (Back-story, Lyrics, and Links to the song on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon)

Back-story:

Since 1974, I have lived in Canandaigua, a beautiful little town in the Finger Lakes region of New York.  However, my good fortune did not start when I came to Canandaigua.  It started long ago in another little New York town nestled in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains along the Hudson River shore.  Saugerties, the place where I spent my childhood and teenage years, needs no description for anyone who has grown up in small-town America.  Like all small towns, it has its memorable characters, great stories, wonderful events, and genuine friends, those people who are always there when you really need them.  “The Good House Is Built Upon a Rock” is a tribute to those people who were there when I needed them.

You see, when I was sixteen, a junior in high school, I went blind after sustaining a fall during a cross-country race.  Most of you know the details of the event because I think I have told it at least two or three thousand times, usually while sitting on some bar stool in some local watering hole.  It’s amazing how much people need beer to ask you what they want to know, isn’t it?  Anyway, if you don’t know the details, and you want to know them, e-mail me, and I will give you the scoop.

Following my accident, the people of Saugerties rallied to give me an unbelievable amount of support.  The obstacles I faced were difficult, but these people made mountains seem like rolling hills.  I could never come close to repaying them for all the wonderful things they did for me, so I wrote this little tune as an expression of my deep appreciation for the outpouring of their love for me.

Now that you know what motivated me to develop the song, it’s time to get into the nature of its construction.  Prior to the deaths of my parents, Siobhan and I regularly went to Saugerties about three or four times a year to visit them at their home on quiet little Elm Street.  When we were there, we often went out walking to burn off the millions of calories we absorb from my mother’s cooking.  One night we were walking up by Cantine field, the local park where just about every sport is played.  If you are from Canandaigua, just visualize Jefferson or Baker Park, and if you are from somewhere else, put yourself in your local park, and you’ll be with me.

As we walked across Cantine field, we were each engaged in our own thoughts.  Mine reflected on when I used to watch the Babe Ruth League baseball games.  When I stood in the grandstand’s years ago, I would often look to the west and look at the sun setting on the beautiful, majestic Catskill Mountain range.  As Siobhan and I walked, I thought about Saugerties being nestled between these mountains and the Hudson River, and the first line of the song was born.  I love internal rhyme, so when I stumbled across the phrase, “foothills of the Catskill’s,” I knew the line was a keeper.  Although I am not proud of this, the first verse emerged like the introduction to a five-paragraph essay.  I’m afraid when you teach something day in and day out for thirty-two years, it stays with you on a subconscious level forever.

The first verse concludes with the lyric “those good things that small town gave to me,” and this becomes the driving force for the rest of the song.  While driving back from Saugerties to Canandaigua, approximately 250 miles, my mind kept identifying just what those “good things” were.  When a song won’t leave you alone, it’s like having popcorn in your teeth; you don’t feel right until you get it out.  Upon returning to Canandaigua, I took all those “good things” and carved out a meter and rhyme scheme for them.  Once again, I fell into that five-paragraph trap.  Oh well, I am too old and comfortable to try to be something I am not.

After the verses of the song were in place, I worked at developing a chorus that would unite them.  During the forty-six years I have been in Canandaigua, life for me has gone very well, and in reflection, I see that much of that success can be attributed to what I absorbed while growing up in Saugerties.  The seeds that were planted in me in Saugerties blossomed when I got to Canandaigua.  This is also true for many of my friends and acquaintances from Saugerties who are now spread throughout the country and the rest of the world.  We are all ambassadors of this little town and its wonderful values.  To represent these ambassadors, I developed a chorus with a series of metaphorical clichés concluding with “the good house is built upon a rock.”

Following the completion of the song, Siobhan and I tossed around some options for arranging it.  We settled on a hard-driving, upbeat sound with somewhat of a bluegrass flare.  We chose This high-energy tempo to reflect the positive nature of the Saugerties community, an optimism that truly helped me to recover.

We recorded this song in 1998 at The Garage, a little studio in Rochester, New York.  The Garage, no longer in existence,  was owned and operated by John and Joe Dady, two quintessential musicians, who are now members of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.  When we recorded with them, we always could count on great coffee, good stories, and an aching stomach from laughing.

John, Joe, and Tim Chaapel, another fine musician, truly enhanced the sound Siobhan and I brought to the studio.  With just a banjo, guitar, and snare drum, they captured the positive feeling we wanted the listener to experience.  I am no Doc Watson. So, John Dady backed me up with some hot licks on the guitar.  Joe Dady, who unfortunately succumbed to leukemia in 2019, a tremendous loss to our music community, picked a mean banjo on this one.  Joe and Siobhan drove the song with just the right touch on the snare drum and the acoustic bass.  Tim Chaapel, who occasionally played with Siobhan and me back then, sang back-up harmony.  Tim developed a nice idea for the start of the song. It opens with him and John Dady and me singing an a cappella version of the chorus.  I like it, and I hope you do too.  When I hear the song start, I, once again, begin to see those foothills of the Catskills.

 

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

In the foothills of the Catskill's

On that Hudson River shore

There's a little country village

I don't see much any more

At times when I go back there

To see friends and family

I remember all those good things

That small town gave to me

Chorus:

You know, the apple, it doesn't fall far from the tree

And all of us are chips off the old block

The good things are the small ones that we often do not see

And the good house is built upon a rock

Verse 2:

I was guided by my family

Received kindness from my friends

And all my patient teachers

They stayed with me to the end

The love that came from everyone

Was worth much more than gold

I take it with me where I go

And I give it back two-fold

Chorus:

Verse 3:

Everyone encouraged me

When there was a chance to take

And everyone forgave me

When I made my mistakes

The understanding I was shown

As I fought to find my way

Is given back to those I meet

As I greet this world each day

Chorus:

Verse 4:

It's here I learned to persevere

When reaching for my goals

With each goal came a confidence

From deep down in my soul

This confidence brought a wisdom

So simple and so clear

Embrace each precious moment

'Cause it quickly disappears

Chorus:

Repeat Verse 1:

Chorus: (two times)

 

Here is a link to the song on Spotify.  It is song #7 on our CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE album, which is what will appear if you click on the link.  Provide a username and password, and you’ll be good to go with a free account.

https://open.spotify.com/album/612vyh3RDKhKPE9ypBWbKJ

 

Here is a link to listen to the song on Apple Music.  Again, it is song #7 on our CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE album.

https://music.apple.com/au/album/caught-in-the-middle/id253874969

 

Here is a link to listen to the song on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Good-House-Built-Upon-Rock/dp/B001OC36WW

 

 

 

THE FRIDAY CLICK (Back-story, Lyrics, and Link to Song)

THE FRIDAY CLICK (Back-Story, Lyrics, and Link to Song)

Back-story:

I taught high school English in Canandaigua, NY, from 1974 to 2006, a long chapter, but probably one of the finest ones in my life.  During that time, a myriad of students, colleagues and friends enriched my life with stories of their lives, and a lot of these tales became the topics in many of my songs.  After retiring in 2006, I stayed in Canandaigua, and many of my former students became my friends and acquaintances.  Most of the time I would connect with them at places where Siobhan and I played our music.  The Timbercreek Tavern, one of these venues located in Manchester, NY, is where I met up with Tom Clark, Bill Ridley, and Jill (Quayle) Johnson, former

students from the ‘70s and ‘80s. These folks became the catalyst for “The Friday Click.”

One Friday afternoon, Siobhan and I were sitting at the bar having lunch at the Timbercreek.  Tom and Bill were sitting down the bar from us chatting about hunting, one of their favorite topics, and Jill was behind the bar serving food, drinks, and telling humorous and interesting stories, one of her incredible talents.  I sat there just taking in the energy usually generated in pubs at the end of each work week.  On a Friday in most neighborhood bars , the sounds of the TVs, jukebox, clinking ice cubes, and beer cans popping, and the smells of French-fries, burgers, and chicken wings have a tendency to enhance the excitement and joy about the upcoming two days off.  As I sat there listening, I heard Jill pop open several beer cans, and deliver them to patrons, two of which were Tom and Bill.  I looked in Tom and Bill’s direction and said, “Ah, the sound of the Friday click.  It doesn’t get any better.”  Not missing a beat, “Tom replied enthusiastically, “You have to write a song about it!”  So, the Friday click idea took its place in my notebook with numerous other ideas, many of which have not yet and probably won’t materialize into songs.

I thought about the Friday click, and the only lyric I could develop was based on the speed at which beer tabs come off the top of the can.  Here’s what developed.

“Some snap off slowly, others pop off quick

I don’t care about the speed; I love that Friday click”

These lines stayed in my notebook for a couple of months, and then the song began to develop more during our monthly gig at The Timbercreek, a happy hour from five to eight every second Thursday.  Thursday was “Pizza Night,” and religiously, Tom, his wife, Brenda, Bill, his wife, Jean, and their friends, Rick and Donna Waterman would show up for some pizza, beer, and music.  They sat at the table right in front of Siobhan and me, the table that eventually became the famous “Table #1.”  After a round of drinks, Jill would bring them a pizza, and when the pizza was finished, the party really got rolling.  They would sing along with just about every song, and the positive feedback they gave to Siobhan and me only gave us the energy to play better.  This enthusiasm generated by “Table #1” quite often spread through the bar, and it drew the other patrons into having fun with us.

As the night wore on and the beer intake increased, Tom frequently started playing air-harmonica or air-guitar along with the band, and the crowd loved it.  Following any song where he accompanied us, I thanked him and commended him for his hot licks.  One night after thanking Tom for joining us, the word licks triggered this lyric.

“When the band cuts him a lead, we love to hear his licks

Really gets us psyched for just a few more Friday clicks”

From here, I thought about other words that rhymed with click, Rick, chick, and thick, and these became the key words that created a story about a fun night at The Timbercreek.  Sorry, folks. There’s no deep theme to this one, just a good-time fun song for you.

With “The Friday Click” being a somewhat good-time party song, I created a somewhat upbeat folk/country sound with a melody and chord progression to compliment the lyrics and story, and then Siobhan and I went to work arranging it.

After rehearsing the song several times, we recorded the basic tracks, guitar, bass, and vocal, in our little homemade studio.  Following this, we brought in our good friend Perry Cleaveland to add some harmony and leads and filler with his fiddle, mandolin, and electric mandolin.  The sounds of Perry’s fiddle and electric mandolin really give the song a nice country feel to it.  We finished up with me adding some harmonica filler, and some background harmonies.  Then, Siobhan went to work mixing and mastering

the tracks until we got the recording to where we liked it.  I hope it appeals to you too.

We had many great nights at The Timbercreek, and I’d like to thank Susie, the owner, Hillbilly, Susie’s right-hand man, Jill, “Table #1,” and all the other patrons who came to The Creek to support our music.  You all created another beautiful chapter in this story Siobhan and I have been developing and enjoying for the past thirty-eight years.  Hats off to all of you!

 

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

I am Just a working man who likes a real good time

I spend all week long on the assembly line

When my work week’s over, I call my good friend Rick

We head down to The Timbercreek to enjoy some Friday Clicks

 

Chorus:

And well, sometimes it’s a Coors Light, sometimes it’s a Blue

Sometimes a Bud Light harmonizes with those two

Some snap off slowly, others pop off quick

I don’t care about the speed; I love that Friday Click

 

Verse 2:

Rick and me, we love The Creek, it’s a lot of fun

Especially when we can sit at “Table #1”

The women at the table sound just like The Dixie Chicks

We love to sing along with them and enjoy some Friday clicks

 

Chorus:

 

Verse 3:

Jill, she works behind the bar and serves us up our beer

Her stories make me laugh so hard; my eyes fill up with tears

When she brings our pizza, the cheese on it’s so thick

We just love to wash it down with a few more Friday clicks

 

Chorus:

 

Verse 4:

When the night gets rollin’, Tom starts playing air-guitar

Bill has high hopes for him, he’s our local star

When the band cuts him a lead, we love to hear his licks

Really gets us psyched for just a few more Friday clicks

 

Chorus: (two times)

 

If you would like to listen to the song on Spotify, Here’s a link to it.  Provide a username and password, and you’ll be good to go with a free account.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0iA7Gq5Ynh0LrKd7z3SEEc

If you would like to listen to the song on Apple Music, here is a link to it.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-friday-click-single/1540134278

If you would like to listen to the song on Amazon, here is a link to it.

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B08P8T27JJ

 

SOMETHING FOR VETERANS DAY

LAST MAN STANDING (Back-Story, Lyrics, and Link to Song)

Back-story:

in June of 2010, my mother died suddenly from complications caused by a massive stroke.            This devastating event broke my father’s heart, and he never recovered from it.  After my mother’s death, I spoke to my father at least once a day on the phone, and when he moved from Saugerties, NY, to Canandaigua, NY, in 2013 I visited with him every day until he died in 2016.  Despite his intense loneliness and indifference towards life, he did the best he could to keep going, and I admired him for this.  Listening to his favorite oldies of the 1940s, ‘50s, and ‘60s often filled up his afternoons with great memories of his life.

 

He shared many of these memories with me, and most of them focused on some of the great times he had with my mother and their best friends, Tom and Marge Tynan and Phil and Dot Breithaupt.  The “six pack,” as I often called them, did a myriad of things together.  Parties, picnics, dances, and trips filled up their nearly fifty year friendship.  In the late 1990s, the “six pack” began to empty, and with the death of Phil Breithaupt, my father became the last bottle in the pack.  After Phil’s death, he expressed to me several times that his bottle was empty, and whenever God was ready, he was ready to join the other empties.

 

Along with his stories about his times with my mother and their friends, he also told me stories about his time in the Marines during WWII.  He never spoke of the war before this, and most of his generation did not speak of it either.  I learned about his experiences in the war in the Pacific, and he described the awful night he was severely wounded and nearly killed on Okinawa.  I discovered that most of his friends from the military were also gone, and he was ready to join them, too.

 

Like many WWII veterans, he was the “last man standing” in his group.  That phrase entered my mind one day, and I started playing around with some words that eventually became the chorus of the song.  Using military imagery, the chorus depicts a soldier who wants to die, but he will not leave this earth until he fulfills his purpose.

 

After getting the chorus together, I had to develop a setting and story to support it.  Here’s what emerged.  The setting is my father sitting in an easy chair listening to his favorite oldies.  As he listens, the songs take him through the events of his life from his war years to the death of his wife.  With the story created, now all it needed was a melody and some chords.

 

To enhance the tone, mood, and theme of this sensitive ballad, it was essential to keep the chord progression simple and the tempo slow.  So, Siobhan and I went to work arranging the song with her bass, my guitar, harmonica and vocal.  After we put the song together, we went over to record the basic tracks with Rich Cooley, a neighborhood friend who eventually became Siobhan’s mentor for mixing and mastering.  Following this, we brought in two fine musicians, Perry Cleaveland and Bob Spadafora, to add some finishing touches.  Perry with his mandolin and fiddle and Bob with his acoustic guitar created some awesome sounds, especially during the break in the song.  It’s probably one of the most sensitive breaks I have ever heard.  Along with their instruments, they added some terrific backup harmonies to the chorus.

After all the tracks were recorded, Siobhan went to work mixing them until we got the sound to where we liked it.  I hope it appeals to you too.

 

Lyrics:

Verse 1:

He sits back in his easy chair, the TV doesn’t play

The room is filled with music of all his yesterdays

The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy takes him back to when

He fought the Japanese to save his family and friends

He nearly lost his life on some Okinawa hill

Memories of that awful night quite often haunt him still

But when he returned back to his home in 1945

It didn’t take him long to see why God kept him alive

For he met her at a roller rink, they skated through the night

They fell in love as they walked home with a full moon burning bright

Then they set out on a journey for over sixty years

Now the music of those decades leaves a face of streaming tears

 

Chorus:

He’s the last man standing on this battle field of life

All his friends have fallen along with his faithful wife

He prays he can be with them at the setting of each sun

But a soldier never leaves his post until the job is done

 

Verse 2:

 

From the heart of New York City to a Hudson River town

They found a peaceful quiet place where they could settle down

To raise a little family, and find themselves some friends

To  share the highs and lows of life, and navigate its bends

The sing-along Mitch Miller songs remind him of the times

When days went on forever, and life was so sublime

Whether ‘round a kitchen table or along a small creek shore

They’d laugh and dance the night away and never want for more

Bobby Vinton comes on with his “Roses Are Red

He thinks of all the I love yousVery rarely said

For their love was shown in action, words were not their way

They were the “Great Generation,” who didn’t have much to say

 

Chorus:

 

Verse 3:

As the concert slowly closes with those evening ending songs

He hears “Good Night, Irene” come on, and he starts to sing along

He looks a little to his right into the empty chair

He hears her singing with him, even though she isn’t there

Elvis whispers softly, “Are you lonesome tonight?”

He dreams of howe they used to dance and hold each other tight

The Platters bring the curtain down, and with their final line

Once again she’s with him at last at twilight time

 

Chorus (two times):

 

If you would like to listen to the song on Spotify,  Here’s a link to it.  Provide a username and password, and you’ll be good to go with a free account.

https://open.spotify.com/album/2JJLGAngMnssbq56cwIPHA

 

If you would like to listen to the song on Apple Music, here is a link to it.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/last-man-standing-single/883669630

 

If you would like to listen to the song on Amazon, here is a link to it.

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Man-Standing-Meyer-Mcguire/dp/B00KQPWUL6

 

 

BENNY BLEU AND TYLER WESTCOTT CREATE A BEAUTIFUL SYNERGY!

As the sand seems to slip more and more quickly through the hour glass for me and my contemporary musician friends, I realize the importance of getting a group of younger musicians to invest their time in our concert venue. Benny Bleu and Tyler Westcott, two terrific young singer/songwriters and musicians, are beginning to make Quiote a regular stop in their schedules, and I only hope their enthusiasm for this concert series spreads to other younger musicians. Yesterday, Benny and Tyler teamed up, and in a round-robin fashion, delivered one awesome afternoon of music. Although the format was planned, the content was not, and that became the true beauty of the show. Their show was like going down an unknown road, and at each bend there was a new discovery, making the journey more interesting and exciting. For example, when one introduced and played a song covering a particular theme, the other would come back with his creation about that same topic. The synergy got even better when they would at times accompany each other. When one was playing a song, the other would add a harmony or grab a harmonica, guitar, or banjo and tastefully add to the song. These two guys, very supportive of each other, were having a blast, and their fun spilled over into a very appreciative audience. We were in their living room, and they were very gracious hosts. As I watched their show, it brought me back to my years as a teacher. I always loved watching students get excited about something they were creating. These two very talented guys came to the show not really knowing what was going to happen. As their performance Progressed, they both got excited about what was unfolding, and it was an absolute pleasure to observe. Although the following videos are from previous shows, here are two songs they did yesterday: Benny, "Porcupine"; Tyler, "The Eye of the Storm"

Big thanks to Benny and Tyler for a terrific show! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Teresa, Trevor, Hanna, Noah, Julie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help you give us to make this event work! Big thanks to Scott Regan for promoting these shows on WRUR’s “Open Tunings!” Big thanks to you, the audience, for your continuous support of this venue! Without you, it would not be possible! Our next show in Quiote is on Apr. 5. Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland will be our guests. There will be music for the brunch at Rio from Noon until Paul and Perry take the stage at 3 PM. Stay tuned for more details about this show and “Sunday Music at Rio!”

M&M SONGWRITERS SERIES PRESENTS BENNY BLEU AND TYLER WESTCOTT

    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, 3/8, Ben Haravitch (AKA Benny Bleu) and Tyler Westcott will be our guests in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua from 3 to 5 PM. If you have never seen these two great singer/songwriters, you are in for a great experience. To get a feel for their talents, take a look at the videos below!
"Porcupines"
"My Name Is Chuck"
"This Too Shall Pass"
"Wheels"
"The Eye of the Storm"
"Live Your Life with Me"

Want to know more about Benny Bleu?
Benny Bleu
Want to know more about Tyler Westcott?
Tyler Westcott
The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created eight CDs, one for each of our eight seasons that were held in The Side Room of Buffalo Bill’s and now in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. 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:

Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, April 5
The Brothers Blue, April 19
Scott Regan, April 26
Jeff Riales, May 17
Kerry Regan (of Watkins and the Rapiers, June 7
The Spring Chickens, June 14
Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters, June 28
MG Gonzalez and Whorlwood, Jul. 19
Eva and the Dog Boys, Aug. 2
Steve Piper, Aug. 16
Paulsen, Baker, and Chaapel, September 6
Alan Whitney, September 20
Jack Jones, October 4
The Michael Yacci Trio, October 18
The Cadleys with Perry Cleaveland and John Dancks, November 8
Brian Ayers, November 15
Pepper and Sassafras, December 6
John Itkin, December 20
Warren Paul, January 3
Performer to be announced, January 17
Ben Proctor, January 31
The Maria Gillard Trio, February 21
Performer to be announced, February 28
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OptionsM&M SONGWRITERS PRESENTS WATKINS AND THE RAPIERS' CHRISTMAS SHOW

JOHN DADY IS BACK UP ON THE HORSE!

Getting back up on the horse after a devastating loss is something many of us must confront. Some choose to move forward, while others do not. My loss occurred in 1966 when I suddenly went blind. I, like John Dady, chose to get back on the horse and start riding, and I have a strong admiration for those who do. John, however, despite all the heart break he experienced during the past year, is not only back on the horse, but he is riding it like a winning jockey in the Kentucky Derby. The show he delivered yesterday in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan was simply outstanding! John’s incredible voice, exquisite guitar playing, heart-felt songs, and terrific ability to tell stories enthralled a packed house for two timeless hours. His humorous stories about his life with Joe on the road had the audience smiling through their tears. As a tribute to Joe he got the audience to sing along with two of Joe’s classics, “Man with a Banjo” and “By the Lord,” both songs bringing a thunderous applause from the audience. Maria Gillard and Scott Regan, two of our regular singer/songwriters in the series, were in the audience, and as a special treat, John had them do a couple of songs from their collaborative album, A LITTLE LUCK. It added a beautiful touch to an already perfect afternoon, and the crowd loved it! Congratulations to John for his upcoming induction into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. Yesterday’s performance only verified this well-deserved honor! I’ll leave you with a video of John and Joe playing “Minstrel Man,” in their 2018 show in Quiote, "Minstrel Man."

Big thanks to John for a terrific show! Big thanks to Maria Gillard and Scott Regan for adding a nice touch to the afternoon! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Teresa, Trevor, Hanna, Noah, Julie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help you give us to make this event work! Big thanks to Scott Regan for promoting these shows on WRUR’s “Open Tunings!” Big thanks to you, the audience, for your continuous support of this venue! Without you, it would not be possible! Our next show in Quiote is on Mar. 8. Ben Haravitch (AKA Benny Bleu and member of The Brothers Blue) and Tyler Westcott (member of FolkFaces, the observers, Jazz Juice Band, etc.) will be our guests. There will be music for the brunch at Rio from Noon until Benny and Tyler take the stage at 3 PM. Stay tuned for more details about this show and “Sunday Music at Rio!”

M&M SONGWRITERS SERIES PRESENTS JOHN DADY

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, 3/1, John Dady will be our guests in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua from 3 to 5 PM. If you have never seen this great singer/songwriter, raconteur, and entertainer, you are in for a great experience. To get a feel for his talent, take a look at the videos below!
"Minstrel Man"
"Mind to Move"
"It Used to Be Darker"
"Little Stream"
"It Will All Work Out"
"You Bring Out the Peace in Me"

Want to know more about John Dady?
The Dady Brothers

The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created eight CDs, one for each of our eight seasons that were held in The Side Room of Buffalo Bill’s and now in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. 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:

Ben Haravitch (AKA Benny Bleu) and Tyler Westcott, March 8
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, April 5
The Brothers Blue, April 19
Scott Regan, April 26
Jeff Riales, May 17
Kerry Regan (of Watkins and the Rapiers, June 7
The Spring Chickens, June 14
Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters, June 28
MG Gonzalez and Whorlwood, Jul. 19
Eva and the Dog Boys, Aug. 2
Steve Piper, Aug. 16
Paulsen, Baker, and Chaapel, September 6
Alan Whitney, September 20
Jack Jones, October 4
The Michael Yacci Trio, October 18
The Cadleys with Perry Cleaveland and John Dancks, November 8
Brian Ayers, November 15
Pepper and Sassafras, December 6
John Itkin, December 20
Warren Paul, January 3
Performer to be announced, January 17
Ben Proctor, January 31
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THE MARIA GILLARD TRIO COMES THROUGH ONCE AGAIN!

Another full house for the terrific show given by The Maria Gillard Trio this past Sunday afternoon! Maria, mixing her new well-crafted songs with her classics ,and displaying, as always, her unpretentious, sincere nature, captivated a highly appreciative audience for two hours. “no One Will Ever Know,” a song she wrote for the songwriting contest developed by Sarah Long Hendershot, “What If All of Rochester Wrote the Same Song,” was one of the new songs added to her catalog. Another great new addition to her show came when she had Perry Cleaveland fill in for Scott Regan on “Blue Ridge Moon,”a song from A LITTLE LUCK, analbum of duets she recorded with Scott. Her band members, Perry Cleaveland (mandolins, fiddle, and vocals) and Doug Henrie, (standup bass) deftly enhanced Maria’s performance with improvisational leads that were often interrupted with an enthusiastic response, especially on “Red Dirt,” a song from LITTLE ROSE. As only it could have, this beautiful afternoon once again came to a conclusion with a rousing standing ovation! I’ll leave you with one of my favorites she played this past Sunday, "I'm a Country Gal with the City Blues."
Big thanks to Maria, Perry, and Doug for such a super show! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Teresa, Trevor, Noah, Hanna, and the rest of the staff at Rio for their help in setting up and running this event! Big thanks to Scott Regan of WRUR’s “Open Tunings” for always taking the time to promote our shows! Finally, big thanks to you, the audience, for being there and supporting this event! Without you, it just wouldn’t work! One of our area’s favorite sons, John Dady, will be in Quiote on March 1. Hope you can come back and make it another great afternoon!

M&M SONGWRITERS SERIES PRESENTS THE MARIA GILLARD 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, 2/16, The Maria Gillard Trio (Maria Gillard, Perry Cleaveland, and Doug Henrie) will be our guests in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua from 3 to 5 PM. If you have never seen this great Trio, you are in for a great experience. To get a feel for their talents, take a look at the videos below!

"I'm a Country Gal with the City Blues"
"Much Too Right"
"In Case You Haven't Noticed"
"How Did We Get Here"
"Instant Karma"
"Steady Woman"
"You’ll Thank Me Later"
"Call on Me"
"Wish I could Find You"
"Queen of the Highway"

Want to know more about Maria Gillard? Check her out right here.
Maria’s Web Site

The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created eight CDs, one for each of our eight seasons that were held in The Side Room of Buffalo Bill’s and now in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. 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:

John Dady, March 1
Ben Haravitch (AKA Benny Bleu) and Tyler Westcott, March 8
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, April 5
The Brothers Blue, April 19
Scott Regan, April 26Jeff Riales, May 17
Kerry Regan (of Watkins and the Rapiers, June 7
The Spring Chickens, June 14
Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters, June 28
MG Gonzalez and Whorlwood, Jul. 19
Eva and the Dog Boys, Aug. 2
Steve Piper, Aug. 16
Paulsen, Baker, and Chaapel, September 6
Alan Whitney, September 20
Jack Jones, October 4
The Michael Yacci Trio, October 18
The Cadleys with Perry Cleaveland and John Dancks, November 8
Brian Ayers, November 15
Pepper and Sassafras, December 6
Performer to be announced, December 20
Warren Paul, January 3
Performer to be announced, January 17
Ben Proctor, January 31
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BEN PROCTOR SAVES THE DAY!

Clouds have silver linings, and the cloud that descended on yesterday’s show in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan came through with a beautiful one! Due to unfortunate family situations, three of the four musicians originally scheduled for Sunday’s show had to drop out, and the only remaining performer, Ben Proctor, had to fly solo, and oh what a flight it was! Prior to yesterday’s show, I had seen Ben perform with his well-known group, The Crooked North a high-energy, upbeat, Americana, and bluegrass band, and in an acoustic duo with his wife, Rita. In these settings, Ben was terrific, but it wasn’t until Sunday’s solo performance was I able to observe Ben’s true musical genius. Delivering songs he had written with Crooked North and new songs never played publicly, Ben captured his audience with the truth and honesty they displayed. His stage presence, sincere and genuine, also drew the crowd to him, but it was his unbelievable musicianship that totally enthralled them. Varying his rhythms and styles, he switched back and forth from his incredible playing of the banjo and guitar. To add to his musical diversity, he accompanied some songs by looping the banjo, making it sound like a bass, drum, violin, and at times, a sitar, making me feel like I was in India. It was simply outstanding! I have experienced many silver linings throughout my life, and I am glad I can add Ben to the list.

Big thanks to Ben for a terrific show! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Trevor, Julie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help you give us to make this event work! Big thanks to Scott Regan for promoting these shows on WRUR’s “Open Tunings!” Big thanks to you, the audience, for your continuous support of this venue! Without you, it would not be possible! Our next show in Quiote is on Feb. 16. The Maria Gillard Trio (Maria Gillard, Perry Cleaveland, and Doug Henrie will be our guest. There will be music for the brunch at Rio from Noon until Maria, Perry, and Doug take the stage at 3 PM. Stay tuned for more details about this show and “Sunday Music at Rio!”

M&M SONGWRITERS SERIES PRESENTS JON ITKIN AND BEN PROCTOR

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, 1/26, Jon Itkin and Ben Proctor, Members of The Crooked North, will be our guests in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua from 3 to 5 PM. If you have never seen this great duo you are in for a great experience. To get a feel for their talents, take a look at the videos of the two performing with The Crooked North!
"Farmer John"
"Foolish Builder"
"River Colorado"
"Blackest Crow"
"Unquiet Grave"
Want to know more about Jon and Ben?
The Crooked North Web Site
The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created eight CDs, one for each of our eight seasons that were held in The Side Room of Buffalo Bill’s and now in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. 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:

The Maria Gillard Trio (Maria Gillard, Perry Cleaveland, and Doug Henrie), February 16
John Dady, March 1
Ben Haravitch (AKA Benny Bleu) and Tyler Westcott, March 8
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, April 5
Scott Regan, April 12
The Brothers Blue, April 26
Jeff Riales, May 17
Kerry Regan (of Watkins and the Rapiers, June 7
The Spring Chickens, June 14
Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters, June 28
MG Gonzalez and Whorlwood, Jul. 19
Eva and the Dog Boys, Aug. 2
Steve Piper, Aug. 16
Paulsen, Baker, and Chaapel, September 6
Alan Whitney, September 20
Jack Jones, October 4
The Michael Yacci Trio, October 18
The Cadleys with Perry Cleaveland and John Dancks, November 8
Brian Ayers, November 15
Performer to be announced, December 6
Performer to be announced, December 20
Warren Paul, January 3
Jackson Cavalier, January 17
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ONE-MAN BAND SINGER/SONGWRITER MESMERIZES HIS AUDIENCE!

Our first time having a one-man band singer/songwriter in Quiote, and oh what a show it was! Jackson Cavalier mesmerized his audience for two great sets of music this past Sunday. His unbelievable ability to sing and perfectly synchronize the playing of his guitar, harmonica, drum, and Tambourine was simply outstanding. It beautifully enhanced the delivery of his well-constructed original material, which covered a variety of topics and Rhythms. His voice, strong and sincere, was his own, but it most closely reflected that of Bob Dylan. What impressed me the most about this young singer/songwriter was his stage presence. Totally relaxed, he engaged with the audience with a refreshing honesty and superb sense of humor. He made his audience so comfortable that at one point in the show a member of the crowd called out and asked him how he was able to play all his instruments at once. Rather than just shrugging off the Question, Jackson responded with a quick demonstration on how he brings all the instruments together, totally appreciated by all those in attendance. Really looking forward to following this singer/songwriter as he continues to develop his craft!

Big thanks to Jackson for a terrific show! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Trevor, Julie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help you give us to make this event work! Big thanks to Scott Regan for promoting these shows on WRUR’s “Open Tunings!” Big thanks to you, the audience, for your continuous support of this venue! Without you, it would not be possible! Our next show in Quiote is on Jan. 26. Jon Itkin and Ben Proctor, Two of the area’s fine singer/songwriters and players, will be our guests. There will be music for the brunch at Rio from Noon until Jon and Ben take the stage at 3 PM. Stay tuned for more details about this show and “Sunday Music at Rio!”

M&M SONGWRITERS SERIES PRESENTS JACKSON CAVALIER

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, 1/19, Jackson Cavalier will be our guest in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan in Canandaigua from 3 to 5 PM. If you have never seen this great singer/songwriter , you are in for a great experience. Take a look at the videos listed below, and see for yourself!
"Half Moon"
"Wayfaring Stranger"
"Summertime"
"The Devil's Blood Red Moon"
Tiny Desk Submission, 2019
Jackson Cavalier Returns on Rochester Indie Musician Spotlight

Want to know more about Jackson Cavalier?
Jackson Cavalier FB Page
The concert is free, but we do ask for donations to support our performers. Siobhan has created eight CDs, one for each of our eight seasons that were held in The Side Room of Buffalo Bill’s and now in Quiote at Rio Tomatlan. 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:

Jon Itkin and Ben Proctor (members of Crooked North), January 26
The Maria Gillard Trio (Maria Gillard, Perry Cleaveland, and Doug Henrie), February 16
John Dady, March 1
Ben Haravitch (AKA Benny Bleu) and Tyler Westcott, March 8
Paul Swiatek and Perry Cleaveland, April 5
Scott Regan, April 12
The Brothers Blue, April 26
Jeff Riales, May 17
Kerry Regan (of Watkins and the Rapiers, June 7
The Spring Chickens, June 14
Cool Club and The Lipker Sisters, June 28
MG Gonzalez and Whorlwood, Jul. 19
Eva and the Dog Boys, Aug. 2
Steve Piper, Aug. 16
Paulsen, Baker, and Chaapel, September 6
Alan Whitney, September 20
Jack Jones, October 4
The Michael Yacci Trio, October 18
The Cadleys with Perry Cleaveland and John Dancks, November 8
Brian Ayers, November 15
Performer to be announced, December 6
Performer to be announced, December 20
Warren Paul, January 3
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WARREN PAUL GETS SEASON #9 OFF TO A GREAT START!

Warren Paul gets Season #9 off to a great start! Accompanying his terrific voice with two guitars, a six and twelve string, Warren captivated his audience with his original music for two splendid hours. His relaxed and self-effacing manner, intricate guitar licks, funny and serious stories, well-constructed lyrics, and genuine sincerity easily drew his listeners to him. His songs reflected his philosophy of life, love for simplicity and nature, and his great sense of humor. He introduced some new material and told us about an upcoming album of comedy songs. He played several of them, and one of them was a parody of John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Warren’s version is "Imagine (No Pro Football)" Warren’s wife, who lost her battle with cancer several months ago, was the topic of a few of his songs. Although he never talked about her during the show, he closed out his show with this tribute to her as only a true class act would, "Sole Survivor."
Big thanks to Warren for a terrific show! Big thanks to Raf, Erin, Trevor, Julie, and the rest of the staff at Rio for all the help you give us to make this event work! Big thanks to Scott Regan for promoting these shows on WRUR’s “Open Tunings!” Big thanks to you, the audience, for your continuous support of this venue! Without you, it would not be possible! Our next show in Quiote is on Jan. 19. Jackson Cavalier , another of the area’s fine singer/songwriters, will be our guest. There will be music for the brunch at Rio from Noon until Jackson takes the stage at 3 PM. Stay tuned for more details about this show and “Sunday Music at Rio!”