Shows at Random

It's been a good long while since the last post. I'll catch up with some highlights and than focus on a few recent shows.

Highlights beyond the regular gigs

Feb. 27 - Speak the Word Church International
We played at my church as part of our Cafe Night, an event put on 1-2x a year. A very large crowd, one of the biggest we've played to.

Feb. 28 - The Varsity Theater, Mpls
We played as part of the Eclectone Records showcase. Great big venue, good crowd and great friends/label mates. There was video taken but nothing has surfaced. Jed Staack (drummer) did double duty, playing with us and Mark Thomas Stockert. A long night for him.

Also on the bill that night:
The 757s
Six Mile Grove
Hojas Rojas
Dan Israel
Little Man
The Mad Ripple

Fast forward to present

May 18 - Iowa Public Radio

We were in Cedar Falls, IA at KUNI for their Live From Studio One radio show and you can listen to the program below. (Click on songs to start)

My wife took her 2 favorite songs from each disc to make up the set list. She did a great job! It's always nice playing songs you know someone wants to hear.

It's a bit dry in the radio studio...no real atmosphere to connect with. But I believe it was the best we've done on this program. We've played it 4x and this was the keeper.

Big thanks to Phil Maas (engineer) for greating us with a smile and for always being so friendly.

June 3 - Lake Harriet Band Shell, Mpls

Paul Liebenow (bass) is one of the sound engineers for the Lake Harriet Band Shell concert series and he landed us this slot. Great weather! It was odd at times, uncomfortable at times and fun at times.

Odd - people bike, run or walk by and than stop, look and listen, and head on their way. I felt a bit like a carnie trying to get people to stop by my booth.

Uncomfortable - besides the benches...there were birds zig zagging and dive bombing us all night! One came zooming right between me and Paul! We were joking prior to the set about who'd get pooped on...It was Paul's bass that got struck...funny and not at the same time. Sorry Paul.

Fun - we got to play outside, which is great.

Thanks to Dale for snapping theses pics!

End cap

We've been trying out new material and that's brought some refreshing to the dryness I know we all feel. We have 18 new songs we've been working on, 9 for a new CD...a tribute to the gospel sides of Muddy Waters, Fred McDowell, Washington Phillips, Dock Reed, Charley Patton, Son House, Lightnin' Hopkins and Robert Wilkins. You can view the blog/liner notes @ solecd.blogspot.com

The other songs will be distributed somewhere.

I've been listening to a ton more music lately and have been thus working out covers. Which is a change from my "I don't do covers" stance. I've realized that my joy in music is sharing the music I like with you...original or covers.

So, to end things off, here's a few discs I've really been enjoying.

Til next time! All the best.
-Tom Feldmann

- McCormick Gospel Singers: Songs Of Faith-Southern Gospel Legends Series

- Kilby Snow : Country Songs and Tunes with Autoharp

- Washington Phillips: Storefront & Streetcorner Gospel 1927 - 1929

- The Flying Clouds of Detroit: 1942-1950

- The Radio Four: 1952-1954

- Complete Recordings of Sam Cooke with The Soul Stirrers

- E.C. Ball: with Orna Ball & the Friendly Gospel Singers