A friend sent me my Drinkify drink recently. It involves Red Bull and wine coolers. Hilarious! If someone actually tries this, let me know how it works out, k?
So, a few weeks ago I had a little epiphany about 'local music' while attending Eve Goodman's CD release party. It was such a great concert and made me think that 'local music' -- which is somehow usually synonymous with lesser quality or value, or unprofessional, or these people aren't famous because they're not good enough or not 'ready' -- is much more like craft beer: It's something of extreme and personal value, which you can only get in one specific location. You must seek it out like treasure. It's special because it's small.
Here's what I found on-line about craft beer. Just substitute local musicians or artists or what have you:
-- Craft brewers are small brewers.
--The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers is innovation. Craft brewers interpret historic styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent.
--Craft beer is generally made with traditional ingredients like malted barley; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness.
--Craft brewers tend to be very involved in their communities through philanthropy, product donations, volunteerism, and sponsorship of events.
--Craft brewers have distinctive, individualistic approaches to connecting with their customers.
--Craft brewers maintain integrity by what they brew and their general independence, free from a substantial interest by a non-craft brewer.
--The majority of Americans live within ten miles of a craft brewer.
I believe as I develop my new goals as an artist, that I will be working with the concept of Craft Music.
So, today I have a jumble of thoughts, that if you cook them up together, make leftover hash. The ingredients:
Just wrapped up a photoshoot with Kristi Jan Hoover. Roaming around Frick Park and Nine Mile Run on such a beautiful fall weekend was spectacular. Can wait to share the final photos!
I got home and Randy was blasting Jonatha Brooke's album "Plumb". And this, I realized, is why I love albums over digital downloads: if you wanna know who's playing slammin' drums, you've got to read LINER NOTES. Liner notes are how I learned I was a huge fan of anything made by Craig Street. It's how I studied Joni Mitchell's lyrics. We love liner notes.
Now I'm noshing on some roasted sweet potato fries and an omlette, and getting ready to head down to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum for the Mini Maker Faire. (I'm making music at 2 pm). I went on line to check out the theatre schedule and came across the totally endearing "The MakeShop Show" made by kids. It was the first time I've ever wished I was a kid in the 21st century. I would totally be making up videos instead of what I was doing back in the 80s -- creating a multi-track system with two boom boxes and blank maxell cassette tapes. Kids have so many classy toys these days....
Finally, I wonder if I can track down Jonatha's drummer for a song on my next album...........? It will be easier because I know his name. Thanks to liner notes (which we love).
Oh, and go Steelers.
Home again after my weekend summer tour with Keith Hershberger. Everyone was great from the hosts to the venue soundpeople and wait staff, to the listeners. Although I included tons of down time in my schedule, we did have long hours and walked everywhere, and I still came home with energy rather than chronic fatigue. It looks like I might actually have this adrenal exhaustion thing nearly licked.
I'm now happily wrapping up some home repair projects at chez Kropf, enjoying the summer garden, and continuing my efforts to work on my next CD.
You can see tour pictures at my Facebook Page. Thanks to everyone who was a part of it.
If you are unable to be at the Banervan: A Ride for Rinti benefit festival today, you can watch on line. I'm singing at 8:45 tonight. If you want, you can donate on-line by going to www.banervan.com for details. Happy Sunday, all!
Well, eventually everything happens. I now have a YouTube channel and posted a few live performances.
This past weekend I had a blast doing quite possibly one of my favorite things on this planet -- singing background vocals for someone else's album. I was working on two songs for Phil Harris's next album. Phil's music straddles a lot of genres, but I mostly hear Elvis Costello and The Beatles as influence. I'll post here when it's ready. Engineered by my terrific partner, Randall Venturini, who also happens to appear in the link to Phil Harris above! Thanks, guys, for having me on your project.
Friends, it's not often that I get the luxury of performing with women artists in the round....and these young women have simply gorgeous voices. Ou la la! Read bios and details... - Heather
Somehow this month not only does Pittsburgh have more than 5 consecutive days of sunshine predicted, but I've got a whole handful of performances that I wasn't expecting. My medical journey has butted me up against articles about autism (some believe it's connected to environmental toxins) and so I was thrilled with Alicia Romano asked me to join her and Eve Goodman at an Autism Benefit this Friday. Please come!
Then, the Americanos are out and about -- Highland Park's Bryant Street Festival, back at the Three Rivers Arts Fest (yay!), and a return to the always-laid-back Backstage Bar.
For links and flier pics and all, you can read my June Newsletter.
The promise of spring, the greening of things....
Yesterday I recieved a gift of a handful of wysteria seed pods. They are beautiful chocolate brown, light and slender like cigarettes or bony fingers. Sometimes they pop open unexpectedly and seeds jump around the room. I love this reminder that life happens in cycles and beauty and surprises.
So now I have two highlights for the month: I will be working on some lingering unfinished songs at a songwriting workshop with the incredible Patty Larkin, and at the same time I'll also be starting a little wysteria farm in my kitchen window. I'll post progress of both at my FB page (successful, or not!).
Wishing you the promise of spring, the greening of things.....
Heather
Sometimes it's really great to blast holes like swiss cheese through perceptions we have of ourselves. Maybe you're a Hellman's guy and decide to try Miracle Whip and like it. Maybe you hate cold weather but then you buy the best winter coat ever and realize walking in the snow can be magical. Maybe you think you can only write two songs a year and then you just wrote nine. Oh wait, that's me! Yeah, so I fell short of the February Album Writing Month goal of 14 songs, but what in the world!? If you'd like to hear sketches of my new songs, click links below. Most of them are available as free downloads.
Not the One (Mork & Mindy Song) - indie pop rock
Old House Show - folk, country, think Mary Chapin Carpenter
In My Night, In My Stars - ambiant mystical
Out of Our Atmosphere - indie pop rock (w/a prog rock thing!)
Come Spring - downtempo blues/new-soul
Yours and Mine, Valentine - singer/songwriter, folk
Folgers Jingle (oh so happy 70s version) - for a contest
Folgers Jingle (oh so wrong version) - for a contest
Poison for Water - overtly political song - think paula cole meets sting
OR so see all FAWM songs - CLICK HERE
So, go on, blow a few holes in your own self perceptions this month. It's surprising what happens!
So the songwriting has kind of hit a wall after 5 finished songs. I've got 3 others started but can't seem to find the inspiration to finish and say on pace for FAWM. Been rehearsing for some upcoming shows, too. This Thursday, Keith and I will be downtown Pittsburgh at The Backstage Bar...and rolling out 2 new FAWM songs! On Sunday I'll try a few more new songs with The Riveting Rosies songwriter circle over at Yoga Matrika in Point Breeze. Then next Tuesday, Feb. 22, I'm with Keith again for a Squirrel Hill concert at Commonplace Coffeehouse. If you're in the 'burgh, I do hope you can make one of the shows!
Well, two songs are done in 4 days. I'm kind of liking my second one, "Old House Show" although the title might change to "Unwind it All". We'll see. Have a listen!
This is February Album Writing Month, or FAWM. I've joined the on-line community and will attempt to write 14 songs in 28 days. So far one is in the can and I'm in the middle of song number 2! Check out my FAWM profile if you'd like to follow along. There will be misses, and hopefully a few hits! What is inspiring you this month?
I reworked my newsletter for you. Here's the debut issue. Hope you like the variety of information and links. If you want to hear monthly news from me, sign up here at the website. Thanks!
It's been a while since I've mentioned what's up. I'm still here. This winter I'm holing up in the house and trying to update some of the techie things behind the scenes -- a better newsletter (sign up if you like!), maybe some extras here on the website, some more places on-line to find my albums and art, maybe a resource page for other burned out artists so they don't have to suffer through stuff for 2 years like I just did. Stuff like that.
I've been turning what used to be my home music office into a spa/blank space room, complete with a 1-person infrared sauna for my heavy metals detox sessions. The detox is going fine, by the way. It's feeling a little clinical 2 months in, and I kind of can't wait to be done. But virtually no drama has happened which is kind of how you want a detox to go. Bodies rock when they work how they're supposed to. And it's a miracle they ever do.
Anyhow, the rearranging has left my keyboard orphaned in its gig bag with no place in the house. It's a little sad but I can't figure out where to put it just yet. Hopefully soon...I've got a few ideas that keep surfacing in my brain throughout the day, making it hard to stay focused on what's in front of me. Sometimes I wish my intuition grabbed me by the collar and said, "Heather, you dolt, you'll write good songs in room X. Just put it by the window and start. Forget about the laundry and the dishes for a second, for cryin' out loud!"
Thank god my intuition is more poetic than that, but sometimes, don't you just wish...
Hope you're all having a righteous 2011 so far. Chins up, everyone!
It's weekends like this that make me to happy to know the people I know, and to be doing what I'm doing. The Woodstove House concert hosts were stellar, as was the audience. On the way to Bryn Mawr I saw a downed horse and buggy, which kind of traumatized me. A crowd of young Amish men was gathering as I drove past. I did a little window shopping in Bryn Mawr before the show and had some excellent dinner with excellent people. Some really nice folks were at the coffeeshop listening to the whole performance. And the baristas were super cool. Thanks so much! Then an evening with a friend in Philly catching up and the train next day to NYC Penn Station. I've walked around A LOT in the last 24 hours, soaking in a sunny Sunday in the city. Again, friends from random places showed up at Caffe Vivaldi and I totally enjoyed banging on a Steinway grand for my hour. On the walk back to Gramercy Park a friend directed me to a gluten free, wheat free bakery. Score! They had awesome treats made from alternative universe ingredients. I think I'm heading back there this morning for one last dip into luxury before I catch the train back to Lancaster and pick up my car for an evening drive home. By the way, Dary Shawn (and Joy Ike!) played lovely sets of songs. Secret Architecture, the trio (quintet last night) totally blew me away. Check 'em all out if you have time to surf. Thanks again to everyone who listened to my songs and to the venues who hosted me. I'll post some pics at my Facebook page tomorrow. Peace.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2010 - Continent-crossing, New York-based guitarist Daryl
Shawn will be pairing with singer-songwriter and pianist Heather Kropf,
who makes her home in Pittsburgh, for an evening of unusual acoustic
music at Bryn Mawr's Milkboy Coffee on Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m.
They will be spinning out two sets of original tunes both instrumental
and vocal, developed over years in venues across the country.
This evening concert at Milkboy, a venue noted for its commitment to
low-volume, very intimate performances, will be the first appearance of
a short joint tour which will subsequently see the duo in New York City
at West Village standby Caffe Vivaldi. On this date, Shawn will be
featuring tunes from a pair of upcoming full-length releases, one
devoted to pieces he composed for five weddings (his second album of
these works), the other hewing close to rock while preserving subtle
touches gleaned from international influences. Kropf will be focusing on
music drawn from her three solo albums, particularly her most recent CD
"Hestia". Reviewing the album, The Daily News remarked "Most of the
songs on 'Hestia' unfold slowly, like a flower opening its petals to the
sun..the results are fantastic."
Kropf's sound is a blend of poetry and pop, and dips into the classic
sounds of 70s folk and singer/songwriters, to contemporary AAA and
neo-soul. Her pristine and mellifluous voice, called "wonderfully
resonant" in a 5-star review from Babysue.com, lives somewhere between
Jill Sobule, Tracy Thorn, and Aimee Mann. She has performed live all
over the region, including the Three Rivers Arts Festival, First Night,
WYEP and WQED Studios, the Philadelphia Music Conference, and has opened
for national acts such as Mason Jennings, The Weepies, Betty LaVette and
Ben Arnold.
"Daryl Shawn’s beautiful approach to the guitar is absolutely
breathtaking", says Duss Rodgers' Music Biz Buzz. Fans of Rodrigo y
Gabriela, Tommy Emmanuel and Bill Frisell will find much of interest in
Shawn's music, which takes inspiration from flamenco, indie rock, and
jazz. In addition to drawing from his large body of original tunes,
Shawn has a taste for off-the-cuff interpretation, re-imagining familiar
tunes that can range from Elvis to Jawbox. He spends most of his time on
the road, recently finishing his sixth tour of the year, which has seen
him appear in 22 states and three Canadian provinces.
For more information about Daryl Shawn, visit http://www.darylshawn.com.
His latest album, Body of a Poet, may be listened to in its entirety at
http://darylshawn.bandcamp.com/album/body-of-a-poet.
For more information about Heather Kropf, visit
http://www.heatherkropf.com.
Milkboy Coffee - 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010
Cafe telephone - (610) 527-0690
Cafe website - http://www.milkboycoffee.com Admission - free
All Ages welcome
I've been loosely involved with AcoustiCafe for years now, and I have to say this organization has done a tremendous amount to build community and collaboration between singer/songwriters. The open stage, which I've been guest-hosting on and off for a few years, is bound to feature someone I've never heard before and who blows me away. Pittsburgh has some brilliance, friends. Check out the feature article in this week's City Paper for more information.
Hey all, thanks so much to those who shared their music at the AcoustiCafe Open Stage on Monday this week. I really enjoyed hosting. Here's to more songwriting....
Due to some chronic health issues I've had to cut back my employment, including my efforts to book events. I have been told that if I take it really easy and reduce all my stress it could be a two-year process to completely recover. In the meantime I've been unclear how I will support this recovery, as the reduced income and increased medical expenses have caused a gap. I still have a few options to pursue, but I thought it couldn't hurt to hold out my hat. If you feel like supporting my continued recovery I invite you drop a few bucks in via the donate button on my home page. Thank you, and I wish you health and happiness. - Heather
From a concert I did with some new players at Club Cafe back in April. These are two new songs.
We were on the Saturday Light Brigade radio show to share some of our tunes as the Too Tall Americanos. Listen here.
It's always nice to see Larry and the gang at the Saturday Light Brigade. While we were waiting to go on-air I was able to look around at the amazing art exhibit displayed in the Children's Museum. It was a show of drawings by youth about the earth and the environment. For all the statistics about creativity going down for young people, I have to say there are still some very inventive artists developing. I was inspired. Kids are cool.
The tribute concert for Joni that I am participating in has been announced at her website.
Some year I'll do something from "...Summer Lawns" which just might be my favorite of her albums. But this year I'm doing one request off of my email list, plus attempting to learn what I think is her all-time sexiest song, Two Grey Rooms, and at least one other.
We'll see. I gotta love my arrangements or it's just not worth the attempt.
Hope to see every last Joni fan in the 'burgh at this show!