Community Weblog

Last Minute Seats Available

One of our regular concert goers called this morning and can offer her 4 seats for the Chris Smither concert this Friday.   The concert is sold out, but these seats are available...  Please call 385-0031 if you're interested in attending.

Clay & Ann - CONCERT ON FRIDAY - DO NOT FORGET the babysitter!!!   (hee hee hee!!)

Continuing In The Tradtion Of Incredible Talent...

We're struck this year with the incredible quality of the artists coming through Friends House Concerts.  The harmonies of Girlyman were impeccable and still lurk in little corners of our minds. I think that “earwig” is the terms for melodies that get stuck in your head…  Willy Porter this last weekend was on fire as he practiced for sessions in which archivists are trying to transcribe his playing “Breathe”.  It takes all kinds of cameras and inventive new descriptions on technique!  He’s a magician…

Keeping in this tradition of bringing you great musicians, we’re looking forward to hosting Steve James and Del Rey.  These two extraordinary fingerpicking artists are sure to fill the house with incredible tunes in all kinds of styles from all eras this October.   We usually find that You Tube clips are pretty hokey and completely under represent the artists, but you can get a feel for their talents here.   

IMPORTANT: Chris Smither Concert

Dear Fans,

Less than 3 weeks until Chris returns.  We're concerned that there are some misunderstandings about Chris Smither tickets.   If you had seats for the first concert, you don't automatically have seats for the Friday, September 5th show.   To hold your seat, you should have sent in a new check earlier.   Several people mentioned recently that they had tickets, when they really didn't.  

Please check the concert list here to confirm your seats if you think that you have tickets.  If your name is NOT on the list and you think it should be, please call immediately.  We do still have some seats available, so please don't panic, but call 385-0031 as soon as possible.

- the management (!?!) 

Natalia Returns

November will bring the return of Natalia Zukerman.   She just finished her last CD, produced by none other than Willy Porter...  “Brand New Frame is a perfect fit with what I’ve always wanted Weasel to represent. The small but mighty team here is thrilled to share Natalia’s record, and tremendous talent, with the world.” -Willy Porter.

There is tons more about Natalia, her roots in a musical family and you can find it all here.  My personal favorite quote is:   "A voice that can coax orchids into bloom and a guitar that can open beer bottles with its teeth?!"   Isn't that the greatest description of a talent?!   Wow!  I wish I could live up to a reputation like that!

Don't miss Natalia here in November, perhaps even along with a special guest....   More later!

Get Your Checks In

Seats Open Up For Chris Smither!

We’ve not received replacement checks from many who held Chris Smither tickets, so there are seats available on a first come, first serve basis.   Chris is the total package:  a great performer, musician and songwriter.    Let's see, he won the Boston Music Award for the Outstanding Folk Artist of the Year and then 2 awards at Folk Alliance in 2007.  It was Chris's benefit concerts back in New York for WFUV that first planted the thought that we needed to have more live music in our lives.  IF you get a seat, you won’t be disappointed!

Back Again...

I will be forever indebted to Lisa / Gurney for introducing us to Willy Porter.   We're lucky enough to have him here at the house for the 4th year running later this summer.  We do mean "lucky" because Willy is cutting back on touring, concentrating more on producing other’s music.  FHC is still in his sights, so we’re safe this year!

For those unfamiliar with Mr. Porter’s abilities, the following quote from David Schultz of Earvolution  is dead on:  “What Porter does with an acoustic guitar is simply masterful and needs to be seen in a live setting. Porter’s fingers glide across the fretboard with a natural ease that seems otherworldly, as if he’s channeling a higher musical force. Often it’s difficult to believe that many of the sounds coming from his guitar are actually being played with his fingers. On “Breathe,” he moves from a lilting leisurely opening into a breakneck pace that he remarkably sustains throughout the entire song. “   The reviewer then goes on to talk about Willy’s amazing ability to adlib a song with the crowd and his genuine, self-deprecating sense of humor.   

It will be a great show and it will sell out quickly. 

Upcoming Concerts

Please mail all checks made out to the artist AND dated
the month of the concert to:

Friends House Concerts
PO Box 38943
Colorado Springs, CO   80937
Tel:  719-329-1644


Chris Smither
Date:  Friday, September 5, 2008
Time:  7:30 PM
Artist Donation: $25 made out to the Artist
 
Steve James & Del Rey
Date:  Sunday, October 26, 2008
Time:  7:00 PM
Artist Donation: $20 made out to the Artist

Natalia Zukermann
Date:  Sunday, November 22, 2008
Time:  7:30 PM
Artist Donation: $20 made out to the Artist

Girlyman In 3 Weeks

We think that you will be pleasantly surprised by our June concert.   For years, some our favorite artists (Catie Curtis, Zoe Lewis, Julie Wolf) have told us that we needed to bring Girlyman through the series.  This Atlanta based trio opened for The Indigo Girls on several of their last tours to rave reviews.  Girlyman's crisp, clear harmonies are captivating and their banter on stage will fit in perfectly here at Friends House concerts.  The Village Voice quote on them says it all:   "really good, really unexpected, and really different." 

So come enjoy an evening of not taking ANYTHING too seriously!  (That's awful hard to do these days...)  Get your checks in today, because we have folks who've never heard of us sending checks this way.    Groupies, aren't they great?!

Del Rey & Steve James: Hot Guitars & Cool Tunes

We are truly looking forward to our October concert with Steve James and Del Rey.  Both artists are fixtures of the Americana and Blues / Roots  genres and are incredible instrumentalists & great storytellers.   Marc & I went out to them on a lark, and they came back quickly saying that they would love to do a show here.   We’ve had their CDs forever, but I’ve never been lucky enough to see them live.  Getting musicians of this caliber is what this series is all about.  You can read a review of their 2004 CD release here…

Best Laid Plans - Chris Smither

Just a quick reminder to folk's about the rescheduled Chris Smither Concert.   People who held seats for Friday night will have first dibs on seats for the September concert.  To claim those seats for the Friday, September 5th concert, you HAVE TO GET A CHECK IN THE MAIL IMMEDIATELY.   We will begin giving away unclaimed seats on July 1st. 

There will be a benefit on Saturday, September 6th in the Broadmoor area with another chance to see Chris, but seating there will be very limited.

Upcoming House Concerts

Catie's Newest Recording

We're surpised to see that there are still seats available for Catie in two weeks.  She's really a great show guys!  According to an update earlier this week, Catie just finished the recording her next CD down in Nashville.   This should give us some juicy new songs for next month's concert here at the house.  The CD still needs final production, so unfortunately it won't be on the CD table here. 

Check out this video of her song "People Look Around" on Catie's website.   It's a song she wrote with Mark Erelli & one of my favorites.  There are also recent show reviews the site that are worth taking a look at.  Hopefully we'll see you here at the house in March...  If you don't already have a ticket for Chris Smither, the next concert here at the house will be Girlyman in late June. 

Patty Larkin Sold Out

Girlyman?!

You may never have heard about Girlyman, but you won't want to miss them.  Everytime that we have artists through, we ask them for their recommendations on artists for future house concerts.  Several people along the way (Catie Curtis, Zoe Lewis, and Julie Wolf among others) have recommended a trio called Girlyman.  They're a unique blend of voices and talents and after over a year of negotiations, we're looking forward to hosting them here in late June.  Girlyman toured with the Indigo Girls last year and was a finalist for the 2007 Independent Music Awars in the Folk Singer / Songwriter category.  You can click here to get a sense of their full harmonies & playful vibes.  In the news section of their website, there is a link to a podcast from the Indigo girls concerts...