American Machine

"We Americans love to hear stories about us."

This is the opening line in Jim Lantz's Note From the Playwright in the playbill for American Machine - A Play About Us. Now, if more movie makers would follow this so true advice and make more movies about us, I, and I think many other folks, would be happier movie goers. American Machine is a play though, not a movie, and I am writing about it tonight for three reasons:

1.) It did have music (note, this is a music blog) which was done by one of my faves, Brett Hughes with vocals enhanced by the phenomenal Shannon McNally, who incidentally are both on tour as we speak.
2.) Jim Lantz was the first playwright to ever approach me about the potential to do publicity for a theatrical show. I have done work for shows before, but never approached directly by the writer, and this felt good. The work didn't actually turn out to be a gig, but the concept of the play certainly was of interest on a personal level and I immediately respected Jim's style, honesty, and energy.
3.) I just returned home from watching the play and want to share it with my readers, since it still has over a good week running at the FlynnSpace and you should see it!

As an inactive actress myself (not so much by choice, but having takien the public relations career path instead, although I am still a professional storyteller and my life is always a stage), I do not find myself in attendance of many theatrical productions. This is probably for two reasons - (a) I probably deep down would rather be on stage and (b) I spend my time and money going to rock concerts. I also think I have often been bored by overly done, probably over-my-head productions and prefer movies on my couch. And these reasons is part of what made American Machine stunning.

Plot: Part parable on the American dream, part cautionary tale taken from the headlines, American Machine tells the story of a great factory that once made parts for classic American cars. As a makeshift family of six friends comes together each night to work, they're soon faced with rumors that their employer will be downsizing—or even closing altogether. As they begin working on a new order—making buckets and mops for Wal-Mart—the prospect of being split up looms before them, and their dedication to the once-proud factory is put to the test.

From the moment I sat down, I felt like I was looking through a large window into the back of a factory building. Everything about the set was exact - old wood, falling down brick walls, vintage Coke machine, orange plastic chairs - it was truly authentic and very detailed, which I admired. The set served three action locations, but all worked well almost as one set, as the lights did a tremendous job (as they should in any small theater) at changing scenes, as opposed to changing sets.

After watching the first few interactions, once all characters were introduced, I was sucked in. The FlynnSpace is small and intimate and I was up front making me very close to the action. But, instead of feeling weird because I was so close, I felt like I was watching a big screen movie because the acting was so right on. From my years of acting on a real stage (and in my own movie) I have learned the number one rule in acting - is re-acting. Re-acting to everything, not so much to take away from the main action, but enough to make it real. American Machine was filled with re-acting which is in my opinion what made it so touching and so real. I was especially entertained with the interactions between the two women. Having worked a third shift job several times in college, while not at a factory, it was still a tedious third shift, I could easily relate to the mood and types of people who work the graveyard shift.

The story and writing was fantastic. I knew it was going to be good, from what I had read, from the buzz that has been about town, and from the first impression I got from Jim when we met at Muddy Waters to chat about publicity. So, I was already going in with high expectations and was definitely touched, if not moved by the content, dialogue, and delivery. Jim Lantz has it right on - "we Americans love to hear stories about us." Maybe we are an egotistical lot, but we're people just the same and we like to know there's always a chance of things getting better. Kudos to all involved and if you can - check it out - www.americanmachinetheplay.com.

Seth Yacovone and Grateful Dog

I recently had the privilege to attend the most fantastic wedding I have ever been to. One of my first "jam band scene" in Vermont friends, Randi Ploof, married her sweetheart, best friend, and business partner at a very homegrown, low-key, and absolutely beautiful wedding party a few weeks ago in Lincoln, Vermont.

I first met Randi back when I first moved to Vermont in 2000. The guy I was seeing then became good friends with a huge Seth Yacovone fan and we spent a lot of time going to Seth's shows and hence I met another huge fan - Randi. Since then I have gotten to laugh and boogie with Randi at a few various out-of-town parties (my favorite kinds) and always have fun run-ins with her at Higher Ground shows and festivals like moe.down where we're both full of antics!

In more recent years, Randi has been making quite the name for herself as a phenomenal dog groomer, and a little over a year ago opened Grateful Dog Grooming in the center of Hinesburg, Vermont. I could not find a website for Grateful Dog Grooming, but I am sure many of you hear her ads on WCLX - The Album Station and I did find this recent article in the Champlain Business Journal(scroll down a bit).

While the wedding was pure, simple, and earthy in the gorgeous September sunshine of Vermont, the music was ROCKIN'! Seth Yacovone played his heart out all afternoon which was more like a private rock concert than a wedding - just as Randi had hoped is my guess. I haven't seen Seth play in a while and man, does he SHRED!!!! I am definitely back on the Seth Yacovone bandwagon! I found the old website to the Seth Yacovone Band, which is not active as Seth shreds between solo gigs and playing with all sorts of folks, but I wanted to post some info anyway. He is always gigging around Vermont - so check out a show! He can also often be found at Nectars - check out the schedule - www.liveatnectars.com.

Photo credits to JAFO and State of Mind Music Magazine.

Come See Me Sing!

I am a trained singer and even went to college on a singing scholarship, but rarely sing in public anymore as that's not the direction my life has taken, but......this Friday I am singing at Radio Bean with TOR (see post below) and would LOVE to have folks come check it out! I start our set off around 10 pm and moral support is the BEST!!!
Ekis days
a younger me!
as Sally Bowles in Cabaret

Vermont Band Got .down

Yippee!!!!! I am so excited that I get to write about moe.down!!! As I have mentioned before, my personal favorite band in the whole wide world is moe. However, my blog forum prohibits me to write about them because they are not a Vermont band and this blog is for Vermont bands and musicians.
So, the only thing I can say in relation to moe. and Vermont music is that moe. is a very gracious band and very unfilled with their own egos. They hold two stellar festivals each year (which of course I do not miss) and while they certainly play many sets of fantastically wankified guitar and rhythm witchiness, they also invite over a dozen other bands to come rock out with them and share in the magic, fun, music, and merriment.

Vermont jamband veterans and mainstays in the industry themselves, Strangefolk, were invited to headline the mid-afternoon Sunday set at moe.down Labor Day weekend. Moe. may be my favorite band, but Strangefolk squeaks into the top five so I was thrilled to bounce from my Team Vermont campsite to the sloping grassy stage at Snow Ridge Ski Area in Turin, NY. A true air guitar player, several buddies and myself spent the entire set rockin' out on blow up guitars and grinning ear to ear at the perfection of the day - blue skies, smiling sun, gentle breeze, trees, grass, and no mud, truly fantastic friends, and kick ass tunes. My only slight disappointment was that Strangefolk did not play the song, All the Same, a song that helped save me from thoughts of despair early this spring. But then again, this was a weekend that brought the past year of my life full circle and thankfully nothing is the same. Moe.down offered an introduction to a huge group of friends, brought together by music, and who all live in Vermont - connected by years of various friendships and music and travel. I can't wait to see what this next year has in store and look forward to introducing you to some new characters in my evolving movie.

Oh, and yes, Mitch was there and I think we may be entering the air guitar competition at Red Square Thursday night - think they'll allow blow up guitars??
Photo Note - Thanks Tom Bailey for the photos!

Green Mountain Opera Festival

Gear shifting to music that most folks don't typically associate with Vermont, but the Green Mountain Opera Festival is held here in Vermont every June for three weeks with opera concerts, open rehearsals, masters classes, a young artists program, picnics, and more - all leading up to two fully costumed, complete orchestra productions at the Barre Opera House. This past June the production was of Madama Butterfly and a You Tube Clip was just released today of performance highlights - Enjoy!!!

NewsFlash! (and shameless self promotion)

Many years ago, there were a group of fellows who started a band while attending college at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. It was called Mile 41 - guitar, bass, drums, and a female vocalist. After collage, the guitarist, bass player, and drummer all made there way to Burlington for the various reasons musicians, artists, and other folks make their way to this energy driven town. They re-grouped, added keyboards and became Theory of Revolution. Over the course of several years playing in and around Burlington as well as some hot spots around the Northeast, they developed a devoted fan base, changed bass players, added a second drummer, and created quite the collection of original material.

If you have read previous blogs, are in my oval of peeps, or have seen myself and a certain drummer out and about, you will know my sweetie Mitch is the original drummer of bands mentioned above. As we began dating early this spring, I was able to only see a few Theory of Revolution (TOR) shows, and - as summer began, the band decided to part ways, with some members joining new bands and others moving to new states. So, while I did catch a few shows at the tail end of the TOR magic, my experience has mostly been listening to the heartfelt conversations of a love of music, friends, and song between a drummer and a guitar player who have been playing music together since college and who are also the best of friends.

These conversations have led to their desire to play one last show, have one last party, or some sort of farewell. And sometimes these conversations lead into song where said drummer and guitarist get me to sing, just as their original playing together in college was with a female vocalist.

And, these conversations have led to a closing show that has just been confirmed for Friday, September 14th from 10-1 at The Radio Bean. This final show will be a softer side of the pumping TOR shows you'd see at Higher Ground. The show will feature John playing guitar, Mitch playing drums, and original bassist, Jesse. There are hopes that keyboardist, Taylor, will join in, and yes, rumors are true, I will be singing a few songs as well - a rare occurrence indeed. Yes, I am nervous. But, mostly, I am excited for these musicians - it is a night of remembrance, new beginnings, and the kind of musical experience that can really go anywhere. I hope you can all join us.

Wagons Jivin' and Ramblin' on the Gravel

I guess if the four bands I am set to speak about ever made a combined album, this could be the name. And the album would be almost as eclectic as the "Made In Vermont" CD that Cabot Cheese sponsored a few years back.

I headed off to the Lincoln Inn with freelance drummer Mitch and we enjoyed the pre-music Business After Hours networking where I ran into a former co-worker and musician who used to play in the band The Mansfield Project and who was playing with the Blues Night band of the evening, Jive Attic. I must say I wish some of these bands had websites, and Jive Attic is certainly worthy of one! I do believe however, they are playing at the Burlington Blues Fest at the Lincoln Inn in September. Jive Attic was great! Mitch and I got in some dancing and even snuck in a little air guitar activity - one of our secret favorite pastimes.

While enjoying some good classic blues from the band, we did have an entertaining run-in with Rick from Rick and the Ramblers. Known for their awesome tour bus and fun concerts at one of my favorites - Vermont State Parks, I now have it a mission to try to catch a show before they go into hibernation mode.

While we were contemplating our next move - do we (a) go home, (b) go downtown, or (c) find more cool music that's NOT downtown (by far the favorite choice) NOTE - Jive Attic had finished by this point; we started up a conversation with a new-to-town bass player soon to be joined by the Funk Wagon bunch. Of course I searched around for a way to lead readers to Funk Wagon as they seem like a fun band, but only found they have some upcoming shows at the Lincoln Inn and Nectars - maybe I'll see ya there? After we safely secured the bass player into Funky conversation with the Wagon, we departed for a last stop on our localvore musical journey.

As we headed back into town, but not wanting to go downtown, we both densely did the "duh" thing - The Monkey Bar - duh. So to Winooski we went. The bar was almost empty - usually a tell tale sign to me that a really good band is playing since so may Chittenden County dwellahs either (a) think good music is 80's night at Metronome or (b) care more about being "cool," "hip," or "seen," than really interested in seeing good music.

We got a beer and acclimated ourselves to the bar stools, where I was completely drawn in. The band's name is Gravel and they sure had some gravely jazz to play. The guitar player moved and pulsated with smiles that came at different junctures and transitions as he played one of those fantastic looking jazz guitars. The bass player pounded that stand-up with fervor, which may have been taller than him. The front fellow - an athletic looking chap with a variety of instruments - the most focal being the trumpet with a collection of mutes - was enigmatic and exciting to watch. Gravel played like an enthusiastic jazz quartet of professionals - probably because that's what they are. No whiny faces because the audience was slim and they were truly appreciative when the small audience treated them as a jazz quartet - clapping enthusiastically between solos.

Now, you may wonder why I did not mention the drummer. First, I must give my drummer background:
1.) Of all musicians I have dated in my 31 years, drummers certainly outweigh everyone else by a long shot - including my blogging and real life sidekick.
2.) Rhythm has always been something I have no immediate natural flare for, but once taught, comes easily.
3.) Drummers are always what I pay attention to the least for some reason. Not because I do not like drummers (obviously I do), but because I listen to the vocal harmonies as a singer, the bass as a seeker of harmonies, and watch the guitar as an accomplished air guitarist.
4.) When I was in a band in town a few years back called Ekis, I found the drummer to be extremely helpful in teaching me different rhythms and what percussion instruments to play. And, since I was committed to the concept of groupies while in the band, I was able to form a great friendship with this drummer (an he had/has a beautiful wife -).
Now, just as fantastic co-worker friendships fizzle when ones leaves the place of work, so do band friendships. That of course is life. So, while I was sitting at The Monkey Bar, thoroughly enjoying this band called Gravel, and not really paying attention to the drummer, Mitch says, "That drummer is phenomenal!" and I start to pay attention. Then I say, "wow, he really reminds me of the drummer in the band I sang in back in the day." I started doing the squinty eyes (even though I was wearing my glasses) and at the next song break, the drummer and I lock eyes and call out names of recognition! It certainly was, Matt DeLuca (2nd from right in pic), a truly great drummer in the area who I most recently saw play with his long-standing experimental jazz group, Leon Tubbs, after we finished playing together in Ekis. We got to catch up after the show and made plans to hopefully grab our other Burlington based former bandmate, bass player Jeff Margolis, for some lunch (by the way, Jeff's got some musical tricks up his sleeve I'll be sure to blog about this fall - so keep tuning in.)

Funny how the world works, eh? Guess I better start paying attention to all musicians in a band if I'm gonna write 'em up in my blog, or maybe not. Guess that's the beauty of being a writer!