August Meeting Recap
Hey songwriters,
Four new names were added to the members’ list following a Circle meeting Aug. 4 that workshopped some interesting songs and featured articulate discussions about the artistry, craftsmanship and communication potential of songwriting. Performing on voice, guitar and percussion, Brian Price (brianpriceprodinc@mac.com) played a well-constructed featured set preceding the open stage.
Pat Loughlin (loughlin.pat@gmail.com) has the featured slot at the next meeting, 7 a.m. Tue. Sept. 1, where the optional songwriting assignment is to learn something new — anything will do — and incorporate it in a song. Think, a chord you’ve never used, a rhythm you’ve never played, a rhyme scheme or subject matter you’ve never explored. Learn it, play it and tell us what it is.
Album project
Producer Mike Hickman (512-785-2132, studio@fallguys.net) says all is going mostly well at recording sessions underway at Electric Eye Recorders. The project’s next deadline is Aug. 21 when credits text is due — that’s the information about your song that will appear on the CD insert. Mike will send me each song’s title, performers’ names and instruments. I’ll organize them, edit for style and send them to each participant for confirmation. Credits should read like this:
“Song Title” by Name Here (professional affiliation if any)
Al Archer: lead vocal, Bob Brown: guitar, Chuck Collier: bass, Dan Dunn: drums, Erin Erics: backing vocal
All recording must be finished by Aug. 31 (the recording deadline advances the project and accommodates the mastering deadline). The window for studio availability is closing fast. If you need to get back in the studio, call Mike now at the number above.
All participants are invited to perform at our CD release event Fri., Dec. 11 at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Two accompanists permitted. Details pending.
SummerSounds
The first weeks were all wet, but the weather has been great for recent amphitheater shows at the Greensburg SummerSounds festival, where members of Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle perform all of the pre-show sets. The summer-long festival is winding down. Pre-show 6:10-6-40 p.m., headliners 7-9 p.m.
Aug 14 Cathy Stewart (Chatham County Line)
Aug. 21 Marty Zundel (The Revelers)
Aug. 28 Derek Allan Gabrish (The Stickers)
Benefit concert
In recent years Songwriters Circle members have played Christmas parties at City Mission, a Washington, Pa., homeless shelter run by the husband of Sue Gartland (suegartland@juno.com). This summer, part of the mission complex was razed by fire. To help raise money to rebuild and provide other services, Pittsburgh Songwriters Circle is organizing a benefit show with proceeds augmented by donations from regional businesses and a canned food drive at the door. The concert will be held Sat., Dec. 12 at Venue 54, Washington, Pa. To get your name on the performance list, please contact me at jhayes@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1991.
See you soon,
John
