November Meeting, CD Release Party Results, and Holiday Show

Hey songwriters,

Confessional songs were shared Tuesday, as well as thoughtful discussions about ways to write honestly without being so specific you may risk alienating listeners. Jack Erdie (jackerdie@comcast.net) couldn’t make it, so Chris Jones (cjones@andrew.cmu.edu) filled in with a solid featured performance. Jack will play the featured set Jan. 7. At the next meeting of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle, 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, the optional songwriting assignment is “current events.”  Chris Rholf (thesoupmidget@gmail.com) and his band Ortega Fuerte will fill the featured slot.

Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle 2014 Collection

The project’s ninth CD release event at the Roots Cellar at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts may have been the best we’ve ever done with all-around good performances by 23 of the 25 album participants. Kudos to stage manager Marty Zundel (buddygalemusic@comcast.net), MC Steve Gallo (tunnels@comcast.net), raffle guy Tom Beckman (beckman12@verizon.net) and merch booth girl Nancy Lackner (lackner5@comcast.net), promoter of the Acoustic Challenge, for running a smooth, professional operation that finished within tight time constraints and raised more raffle and CD-sale money ($311) than we’ve ever raised before. Dave Graham (DavidBGraham@comcast.net) shot photos and video — details soon about where they’ll be posted for members’ use. And thanks, as always, to Doug Wilkin (djwaudio@comcast.net) for outstanding live sound quality, and Calliope for supporting our project.

Special thanks to Circle members who weren’t on the bill, but came to the show to support those of us who were.

Here’s a footnote: Pittsburgh Center for the Arts was so impressed with our show and album they’re going to use the new release as the house music played before Roots Cellar concerts by national acts.

Holiday show

One of the best times I had in 2012 was playing at a Christmas party for the homeless at the Washington City Mission, a Washington, Pa., shelter run by Sue Gartland’s husband. The mission supports itself with no government funding, running a recycling business and soliciting support from local businesses. Residents were extremely grateful for the music provided by our members, who mixed traditional Christmas songs with holiday originals.

We’re doing it again Sun., Dec. 8. If you want to join us, please contact Sue at suegartland@juno.com for details.

See you soon,

John