Category: Communications


Open Mic Tales – Ukulele Open Mic on Father’s Day

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Food, Music, open mic, Songwriting, writing — Leave a comment
July 1, 2016

Dan - Ukulele Open MicI played a ukulele open mic on Father’s Day at Los Jalapenos restaurant with the Dallas Ukulele Headquarters (DUH) Meetup community. It was my first time with the group. I didn’t know what it would be like to play with a room full of ukulele players. They are an accepting bunch. I made some new musical friends.

I had replied as soon as I received the invitation for the open mic, saying that I would like to play. I got to the restaurant at what I thought was an early time. Most of the group that was coming was already there. I ordered food and was fixing my tea when Mark Levine, organizer of DUH, announced that the open mic would start shortly with the Happy Hour Ukes group. After the group we would start with the open mic list.

Dan on ukulele and drummer
Which was when I first realized that the list was on a white board next to the stage. I got closer to see the list and found that I was first after the group. I got my ukulele out of the case and made sure it was tuned. The Happy Hour Ukes were pretty good. One of the guys was playing a ukulele bass. If you haven’t heard one before, it sounds like an upright bass. The drummer had a nice setup with a cajon and other percussion instruments. I’m blurry in the picture, but you can see his setup.

Being a complete newcomer, I was apprehensive about being the first one to play in the open mic. Open mics are nothing new, but most of the crowd could play ukulele better than me. However, I was pretty sure few of them had written songs. I was hoping that would help me be accepted by the ukulele crowd.

We were each to play two songs. I played the Aardvark Song – a song I wrote with my daughter when she was twelve. Then I played Love is The Thing – a song I wrote for the ukulele. Both songs seemed to go over well. But they really liked the Aardvark Song.

I returned to my table to applause, which is always nice. As I ate my food and listened to the other performers, I gradually became one of the group. Shared looks when laughing at jokes. People telling me they liked my song.

If you have a ukulele or ever thought about getting one, there are a lot of choices. But get it out of the closet or pick one up. Then join the Dallas Ukulele Headquarters Meetup Group. Download the songbooks from the files and go to town. If you’re a songwriter, it will give you another avenue to explore in writing songs. A new instrument also gets the writing juices flowing.

Then join us/them for events having ukulele jams. The places where they have their meetups always have good food. And these folks have a good time.

Peace be with you.

 

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Playing in the VBS Band

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June 27, 2016

VBS BandI played in the Vacation Bible School (VBS) band week before last, and we wrapped it up at the 11 a.m. service on Sunday. Christ UMC in Farmers Branch is like most churches. We get packaged VBS kits, with scripts, ideas for decorations, crafts, and games, cds and corresponding music charts. Then we decorate the church ourselves and add our own unique touches. I don’t know about other churches, but we usually decorate most of the church – immersing the congregation in the concept.

This year it was Cave Quest VBS. The church became one big cave. My son, Cameron, built a cave in the sanctuary, replacing the pulpit, made of pvc pipe and other materials. VBS began on Sunday and ended on Thursday – with the wrap up on Sunday. It is a grueling VBS Caveweek for the volunteers, who have to show up early. It’s the same with the band, except that they might have a little more down time. Although practicing for half an hour before VBS (an hour and a half on the first Sunday), starting off at full tilt for an hour, then down time for an hour and a half before cranking it up again for half an hour can take it’s own toll.

I picked up the cd and charts a week early to run through the songs ahead of time. Just to avoid surprises when practice starts. There were not many surprises. VBS songs usually follow a pattern, which includes no slow songs. Oddly enough, there were two slower songs this year.

But my point is that the band plays these songs day after day for five days – six if you include the Sunday VBS Service. The theme song is played at least six times each night. Other key songs or catchier songs get played at least three times each night. The band shows up the Wednesday evening before to run through the songs we’ll play first – and the most in some cases. Then we arrive early on Sunday and each consecutive night to learn new songs.

Some of the songs are fun to play, so the repetition is not all that tough. But some of them get on your nerves night after night. Jokes and camaraderie help to keep it fun. Then some songs you just don’t like playing.

Regardless, I find that I develop an attachment to the songs. Less so the ones that got on my nerves, but an attachment nonetheless. After all, I spent two weeks with them. And when you play in a band, and the sound is  right, you hate for it to end. It’s like when you spent two weeks in camp when you were a teenager and you met friends that were very special during the camp, but then you never really saw them again (the songs, not the band members).

It needs to be mentioned that despite the grueling schedule, the repetition of the songs, and any problems that arose, there were fun times along the way. All the volunteers simply adjusted to sudden changes and did what needed to be done to carry on with VBS. Sunday school classes and Bible study groups brought light food for the volunteers each night. But above all, seeing the children happy and pumped, having fun and learning valuable life lessons, made the problems seem rather trivial.

Peace be with you.

 

 

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Sack Summer Hunger Concert – Report and Thanks

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Music, Poetry, Songwriting — Leave a comment
June 8, 2016

Cat, Dan, and John 4Thanks to everyone who came out to see the Sack Summer Hunger Concert on Sunday at Christ United Methodist Church in Farmers Branch. We raised $98 for Sack Summer Hunger. It was a small, but enthusiastic, crowd, and they very much enjoyed the show. I don’t care for the word “awesome” because it’s so over-used. But when someone uses it to refer to my music, my friends’ music, and the show, it feels pretty good.

We played the show “in the round,” playing three rounds of two songs each, telling stories behind the songs. John Mason began the round, Cat McGee followed and I ended each round. We ended the show with the three of us playing Will the Circle Be Unbroken. I would like to thank John and Cat for coming out and playing in support of Sack Summer Hunger.

Thanks again to those who made it out. The list of those who wrote checks will be included in the report given to Metrocrest Social Services with the money raised.

Peace be with you.

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Open Mic Tales – A Host’s Nightmare

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Dallas Songwriters Association, Music, open mic, Songwriting, writing — Leave a comment
June 1, 2016

DSC06834When you take on the “job” of hosting an open mic, you know it’s going to be an uphill climb. You create an event on Facebook, send out emails, post updates, and hope for the best. Each week you hope enough people show up to satisfy the owner or manager of the venue. You live with the fact that it can be canceled at any moment.

You also know that there will be a night when no one shows up. Hopefully, again, the owner/manager will overlook it for now. Then there is that nightmare open mic. I know, because it happened to me this past month. I am the Showcase Director for the Dallas Songwriters Association. I was at Sons of Hermann Hall for the third Tuesday open mic.

The month before was less than well attended. This past third Tuesday, there was a meeting of the Dallas Historical Society from 6 – 8 p.m. in the bar, and the open mic was to start in the bowling alley ballroom at 7:30. I sat in the ballroom, eating a sandwich, tuning my guitar, and having conversations with myself in my head. The nightmare had begun.

No one showed up. Every so often someone in the DHS meeting would wander into the bowling alley seeking a quiet place to talk on their phone. They would look at me and turn around and go back toward the bar area. I played a few songs for practice. After an hour and a half, I packed up. I talked to the manager of the hall and we agreed to meet and brainstorm new ideas.

I put my stuff in the car. As I was loading my guitar, a guy walked out of the hall and came toward me.

“Do you need any help loading anything? I was coming back to play with you.”

My heart sank. I sat alone for an hour and a half wishing someone would show up and when I hung it up and packed up, someone shows up. We could have gone back in, but the Hall was winding down and would not be open much longer. And I was packed.

“I’m sorry. I sat there for an hour and a half and nobody came.”

“No worries. Are there other open mics around?”

“There are two other open mics in Deep Ellum on Tuesday. I’m not exactly sure where but they should still be going on for a while.”

I handed him my card and apologized again. As I went around to the driver’s side, I watched him turn right out of the gate and head down the street.

We’ll work things out, make some changes, and try again – or something else. But that doesn’t clear the memory of my host’s nightmare open mic.

Peace be with you.

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More Old Friends on the Sack Summer Hunger Tour

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Dallas Songwriters Association, Family, Food, Music, Songwriting, writing — Leave a comment
May 31, 2016

Okay, so it’s not really a tour. But since I wrote a song for Sack Summer Hunger, I have played it at every show and talked about SSH to increase awareness and support – both volunteers and donations – before the program begins on June 11. So it is, in a way, a tour. Several of the “shows” consisted of playing “What the Lord Intends” for congregations of churches. Which included the congregation of The Norkirk Presbyterian Church Sunday morning. The tour ends this coming Sunday, June 5th, with the Sack Summer Hunger Concert.
[The video is of my show at Angela’s during the DSA Showcase. The SSH song is third.]

The Norkirk is a very friendly church. I felt welcome right away. I was looking forward to seeing Nancy Pratt, who is the Christian Education Director. Nancy and I went to high school together. I wrote for the school paper and Nancy was my first in a long line of editors throughout the years.

I wrote a music review column for the paper. I reviewed albums, books, concerts, and so forth. Since it was for school, my parents paid for most of the concerts. I saw a lot of concerts. I would write my column in the style of Hunter S. Thompson or Tom Wolfe – as a participant rather than an observer.

I never knew how much space was available in the next issue. So I would write until the column was finished. Usually on deadline day, or rather deadline hour. The newspaper office had a manual typewriter. After an hour or more of frantic typing, my fingers were sore, but I had a finished column. She would tell me she had room for 250 words. I would hand her the final copy.

“Here’s 400. You choose the 250.”

I actually think I said that to her once. I hope it was only once, but I doubt it. I wasn’t really trying to be pompous. I had written it as a complete piece and would have a hard time cutting it down. Mainly because I was covering a lot of events, depending on the month. I don’t know that she even remembers, but I will apologize when I get a chance.

I walked into the church to smiles and hellos. I set my guitar down when I spotted the restroom. On my way, Rev. Bill Parr approached me.

“You must be here for our minute for mission.”

“I am.”

“Bill Parr,” he said as he shook my hand. “ We’re glad you’re here.”

After I did what was necessary, I picked my guitar up and went into the sanctuary. I didn’t know what to do, so I set my guitar down at the rear of the sanctuary. I looked up and there was Charlotte and Bruce Gibson. I went over and hugged Charlotte and shook Bruce’s hand.

I was in a band with Bruce’s dad and Charlotte’s ex, Bruce, and Joel Nichols, named Southern Plains. Joel and I were a duo for twenty-five years, with Bruce joining in when we played in Dallas and he was able. Joel and I had a band when we made enough money to pay them. Joel died in 1999. Bruce and I played at his funeral.

I went up in the front of the sanctuary and set my guitar case down out of the way. I pulled out my guitar and quickly tuned it. Several people greeted me and thanked me for being there. Then Nancy came up and gave me a hug. She introduced other members that had gone to W.T. White.

The service was an experience in fellowship. John Reas gave me a very nice introduction. I played What the Lord Intends (Sack Summer Hunger) and the congregation appreciated it, judging from the applause.

I appreciate all of the old friends I meet, and I hope I continue to run into old friends. As well as meet new friends who will become old friends. Far too many old friends are no longer with us.

Peace be with you.

 

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Wildflower Festival, Old Friends, Good Music, and Sack Summer Hunger

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Dallas Songwriters Association, Food, Music, Songwriting, Sound, writing — Leave a comment
May 27, 2016

Dan at WildflowerI was running late for the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival last Sunday. My scheduled time at the DSA booth by the Courtyard Stage was 4 – 6 p.m. I was to play at 5:30. At 2 p.m., I had to set up the sound for Cat McGee at Mercy Wine Bar where she would play a show at 7 p.m. Then I had to take my son to work. A friend, Raquel Lindemann, said she would cover for me at the booth until I got there. I finally found the yellow tag parking lot. It was in the blue parking garage – go figure.

I entered the festival and proceeded to look for the Courtyard Stage. It is easy to become disoriented in a sea of white booths. I was standing in an intersection of lines of white booths, deciding in which direction I should turn. Suddenly, a big bearded man grabbed me by the shoulders.

“Are you Dan Roark?”

“Yes,” I nodded, searching his face to figure out who he was.

“I’m John Welch. Do you remember me?”

“John, of course I do,” I replied, putting my guitar down to shake his hand. I recognized him from what little I could of his face around his eyes. There’s more than one reason I look people in the eyes when I talk to them.

To cut a rambling conversation short, he asked how we knew each other. It didn’t take but a minute to remember our mutual friend Jim Salerno, who played bongos with me for a few years. I told him I was playing at 5:30 and had to leave. He was still amazed we’d run into each other. We hadn’t seen each other for about thirty-five years. I still wasn’t where I was supposed to be. And it was getting later by the second.

I finally got good directions from someone. I was turning the corner to my left when someone grabbed my left arm. My mind was reeling at this point.

“Dan Roark?”

“Yes,” I nodded. It was getting to be a habit.

“Randy Box, remember me?”

“Absolutely, Randy, how are you doing?” I had recognized him instantly. We talked for just a minute. I told him I was playing at 5:30 and he also said he would try to come listen to me. We hadn’t seen each other in forty-two years.

I finally made it to the booth. I thanked Raquel, and took my place at the booth. Mr. Troll who

Mr. Troll

Mr. Troll

was scheduled to play at 5, started a little early because there was a lull in the lineup. I followed Troll and closed out the stage for 2016. The videos that Harry Hewlett – who also ran sound for the weekend – took of my show can be found on my youtube channel.

After I finished my set, Troll and I walked to the parking garage. I loaded up my guitar and bag and headed for Mercy Wine Bar. Cat’s show was great. The sound was better for her second set. It had been a long day and for some reason, I had trouble with her vocals. I reset everything between sets and it worked out okay. I say all that because, despite any problems I may have had with the sound, Cat’s performance was relatively flawless.

Cat McGee

Cat McGee

You can hear Cat and myself, along with John Mason, at the Sack Summer Hunger Concert on June 5th from 5-6:30 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in Farmers Branch. Tickets are $20 with $12 going directly to Metrocrest Social Services and the Sack Summer Hunger program. The SSH program distributes food to children who receive free or reduced lunches during the school year, but don’t get anything during the summer.

Peace be with you.

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Barbecue and Burritos

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March 6, 2016

barbequeIn the shuttle on the way to LAX after the ASCAP Expo last year, Cameron and I were chatting with the driver. In the LA cross town traffic there was plenty of time to chat. There were the usual comments about the traffic, the weather, and the drought. When I told him we were from Texas, the conversation turned to food.

“What do you eat in Texas? I know it’s barbecue in Kansas and Tennessee, but what do you in Texas eat?”

When Cameron and I quit laughing, I decided to forego the pig-cow debate. He might not understand.

“We have barbecue, too. No matter what size town you go to in Texas, you can be sure there’s a barbecue place.”

“Oh, kind of like burritos out here, huh?”                                 Burrito

I guess it’s all in your perspective.

Peace be with you.

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Open Mic Tales – E-Flat Porch Band

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February 27, 2016
E-Flat Porch Band

E-Flat Porch Band

At the Poor David’s Pub Open Mic on Monday, February 15, we had the good fortune to hear the E-Flat Porch Band as the featured act. The band consists of Duane Brown on guitar and Rudy Littrell on the upright bass. Although Rudy sits while he plays, so it’s more like a leaning bass.
But the way he played it made how he played it irrelevant. And Duane was an excellent compliment on guitar.

The band opened the KNON Blues Fest at Poor David’s and Troll invited them to be featured at the open mic. Those who were there for the open mic were glad he did. They played a set that included some standard blues tunes, such as a Robert Johnson song, and Mance Lipscomb’s Relax Your Mind. The duo also played their own song, Sugarcane, that pretty much pulled out all the stops on both bass and guitar.

If you get the chance to see the E-Flat Porch Band, do yourself a favor and do so. From jokes to stories to dueling harmonicas, Duane and Rudy are the complete entertainment package. They have been playing together for twenty years and it shows in their natural camaraderie and harmonious musicality. Blues, Folk, Americana – roots music at it’s best. You need to check out the E-Flat Porch Band.

Peace be with you.

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Open Mic Tales – The Dreaded Opening Spot

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Dallas Songwriters Association, Music, open mic, Songwriting, writing — Leave a comment
February 24, 2016
Mr. Troll - Host of Poor David's Pub Open Mic

Mr. Troll – Host of Poor David’s Pub Open Mic

As I mentioned in the last – and other – post(s), at open mics, the opening spot is, as Mr. Troll likes to say, the dreaded opening spot. I’m not sure dreaded is the term. Maybe, avoided like the plague. But there are actually reasons for both why it is a dreaded spot, and why the host opens the show. But one thing at a time.

The most obvious reason for the first slot not being filled is that there are not that many people in the venue at starting time. And there is no time to read the crowd. On the other hand, there are times when someone needs to leave early so they want to play first. As well as those who want to go first while they still have the nerve.

Of course, a lot of people just “don’t want to go first.” I’m sure there’s a chapter in some psychology book on the subject. I sit in the category of “I’d rather not go first.” I don’t mind going first if necessary. But that brings into play the fact that if you do something and do it well, people will want you to do it all the time. Be that as it may, I’m thinking most of us have had an experience growing up when going first simply did not go well.

But the reason the host of an open mic or showcase will open the show is not just because it is the dreaded spot. But it does have a connection to not wanting to go first. If people have not arrived yet, and there’s only a handful of people in the venue, the host can delay the start of the open mic. If there hasn’t been a major influx of people, it would not change the number of songs the performers play.

However, with a showcase, the host’s set would be cut short so that his or her set is the only one affected by the delay of the starting time. As showcase director for the Dallas Songwriters Association, when I plan the showcases that I host, I expect my set to be cut short. There are numerous reasons why a show may be delayed. And there only needs to be one.

So those are my thoughts on the “dreaded opening spot.” I’d be interested to hear your thoughts if you would leave them in the comments.

Peace be with you.

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Open Mic Tales – Jeff Hopson and Charlotta Clutter

Filed under: Communications, Current events, Dallas Songwriters Association, Music, open mic, Songwriting, writing — Leave a comment
February 11, 2016
Jeff Hopson

Jeff Hopson

The Poor David’s Pub open mic on Monday (the 8th if you were napping) began the way most of them do – with Mr. Troll in the “dreaded opening spot” (look for an upcoming post on that). Mike Donahue played a mixture of originals and cover songs on the keyboard. I followed Mike with three of my songs, ending with Chocolate Eclairs and Apple Fritters. Since we started late, the featured artist, Jeff Hopson, followed me.

Jeff Hopson has a strong grip, a twinkle in his eye, and his presence commands a second look. He appears to be a cross between Charlie Daniels, David Allan Coe, and Hank Williams Jr. And yet – while there are similiarities – he actually doesn’t really look like any of them. He looks like Jeff Hopson and carries it with character. His songwriting talent is on par with any of the songwriters he appears to resemble.

Hopson doesn’t take himself too seriously. Which is clearly evident in Jeff’s Jeff Hopson 3songs. Particularly a song such as If Jesus was a Texan. When he asked if anyone knew who Jack Kerouac was, and nearly everyone raised their hand, Hopson commented that it was the most people at any one show that had responded positively. Then he played his introspective song, Kerouac On the Run.

Jeff’s set also included Novel Sort of Man. Which is the type of country song with some depth and clever word play. No obligatory mention of trains, trucks, or Texas destinations. The only name he dropped was Clark Gable – and he would have appreciated the reference.

You can hear Jeff Hopson and the Heretics on Tuesday nights at the open mic at Tavern on Main Street in Richardson. The music begins at 8 p.m. He is an attentive and appreciative host. And they have good food and drinks as well.

Charlotta Clutter

Charlotta Clutter

John Mason and Brad Eubanks, respectively, followed Jeff Hopson. You can hear John Mason on February 16 at the Dallas Songwriters Association third Tuesday showcase at Sons of Hermann Hall. After Brad Eubanks played, Troll introduced Charlotta Clutter.

Charlotta Clutter is a young woman from New Hampshire. When I met Charlotta, she made me think of beatniks – not the totality of the reality, but simply the sense of non-conformity. Her eyes revealed an innocence belying the things to come. Combined with self-reliance for what is known and acceptance of – and openness to – what is to come. A readiness to turn any new lessons learned into a song and move on to the next lesson. An introverted extrovert. (I’ll wait for you to either look them up, or, more likely, say “I can relate.”)

Charlotta has a casual stage presence that reminded me of women folk singers in the sixties and seventies. An intentional reliance on the song itself to make the point and the confidence that it would. And she’s also funny as hell.                                                                                   Charlotta Clutter 2

“Do you go to the dump here?” Of course everyone laughed. When we say the dump, we mean the furniture store. “Back home we go to the dump once a week to see what everyone is throwing away and socialize.”

I’m not exactly sure what the name of the song is, other than possibly, The Dump. But it tells about a woman going to the dump and discovering that her ex had thrown away their dirty secrets in a clear plastic bag, for everyone to see. Causing humorous reactions.

Charlotta’s other two songs were Playing Second Fiddle to a Fiddle and Alphabet of Regrets. All three songs have interesting word play and twists. You can hear her yourself at the DSA Tuesday Showcase/Open mic mentioned earlier. Dean Harlem, also from New Hampshire, opened his set with a Townes Van Zandt tune. He will be at the open mic as well.

Flight School Nurses, a DJ, took the evening’s music in a whole new direction, with colorful lights. The inimitable Tin Man Travis followed him. Then David Lavinette took the stage. If I’m not mistaken, the evening ended with a jam that included Carlos Sanchez, Tin Man Travis, who knows who all, and Troll on his new conga drums.

Peace be with you.

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