Memorial Day Weekend at Gardenviews
REVIEW – Gardenviews 14th Anniversary Outdoor Show
What a great way to spend a Memorial Day Saturday. Jim and I played live music outdoors all afternoon in Downtown Northville! We had the PA cranked up a bit and people were walking by saying they heard us from four or five blocks over. One guy said that he heard us all the way into downtown by the light. There was another big concert today down at Northville Downs, but I think we held our own!
Owner, Lou Mascolo, was nice enough to have me out again for his 14th Anniversary. Gardenviews is a great place full of all things Gardening. One of the highlights for me was Farmer John’s Barnyard Express! There were baby goats, pigs, cows a dog and who knows what else… The kids seemed to really enjoy it. Ok, so I enjoyed it too! Looking forward to playing this venue again sometime. Karen took a bunch of sweet photos, too!
This was a really nice change of pace from playing inside coffee houses all winter. The sun was out and the people were riding their bikes, buying flowers, walking along the downtown streets… Perfect. And the farm animals were pretty cool too…
John
May 23, 2009
NEXT SHOW – Solid Grounds – Saturday, May 30, 7pm
UPCOMING SHOW – Zou Zou’s Cafe & Coffee Bar – Friday, June 5, 7pm
UPCOMING SHOW – The Junction – Saturday, June 6, 7pm
Two Hillbillies Walk Into a Coffee Shop…
REVIEW – Zou Zou’s Cafe & Coffee Bar – Friday, May 15
What is with the weather and me playing shows??? Tonight – Rain and thunderstorms.
In spite of the ducky weather, Zou Zou’s was poppin’ tonight. Place was nearly packed when I set up at 7pm to play. People continued to filter in and out all night. About an hour in I looked through the window and saw two people who looked an awful lot like two friends of mine from Stockbridge. As I’m singing I ALMOST utter the words “Hey, here come my hillbilly friends” between verses. Fortunately for me, I restrained myself as it was NOT them! Whew!
Ironically, about an hour later, they DID come! Marv and Peggy walked in and I broke out my hillbilly smack on ‘em! I’m sure the regulars thought I’d lost my mind. So many nice and attentive folks tonight. A very nice woman to my right had lots of nice comments after some of the songs. A grandfather, daughter and grandson (Matthew) were there enjoying the evening. A young couple sat near the front at one point and seemed to really tune in when I played them some Matt Nathanson. The girl was rocking out and singing along!
About 9:15pm I was blown away to see my buddy Jim Humphries walk through the door with his mini-suitcase of harps! Today was Jimmy’s BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday Jim! He sat down to take in some coffee, but I started playing and he couldn’t be still. He joined in right away and we went right until 10pm. He brings such a cool layer to my music. You can literally see people light right up when we both dig in and get after it.
At the end of the evening after saying goodbye to Marv and Peggy, a woman walked in and asked if I was done. I said “yes”, but I’ll be back next month. She seemed a little bummed and went up to the counter to make a purchase. After getting all my stuff packed up, I could not, in good conscience, let this woman leave without a song. So I broke out my guitar, walked over to her and sang her a rousing rendition of Nothin’ All Day. She seemed to be appreciative and asked when I would be back.
Friday, June 5th. That’s when.
NEXT SHOW – Mama’s Coffeehouse – Saturday, May 16
Jim and I will be doing one of the open mic slots before the Kitty Donohoe show at Mama’s tomorrow. This is going to be a fantastic show. Come on out!
UPCOMING SHOW – Gardenviews Anniversary Celebration (Outdoor Patio Show – weather permitting) – Saturday, May 23, 12noon
Looking forward to a great outdoor show to support Gardenviews of Northville. Also pleased to announce that Rochelle Clark will be my special guest and will perform a short set to begin the event. Jim will also be along for a great afternoon of music.
See you soon,
John
May 15, 2009
Good for the Soul
Haven’t pumped up this work in awhile, but I intend to correct that tonight. A few years ago, Steven Wesley Guiles and I started a songwriters blog called Songwriting Apples. It’s taken on a few different looks/vibes/missions over the years and, lately, has settled in to just the two of us waxing philosophical and informative on the craft of writing, recording and performing original songs.
A few years ago I’m not sure this format would’ve been sexy enough to warrant any attention. But now, if you look at the body of work that Steve and I have put together over the past three years, I think we can speak pretty well to the task of crafting good solid songs as well as performing and recording.
While I’ll put most of my personal creative output on this blog, most of my general/random observations on songwriting and the music scene will be over at the Songwriting Apples blog. What really makes the site a thing of beauty, though, is my boy Guiles. This guy is amazing with a video camera. He has been such an inspiration to me with his little vignettes on writing. Dude always has solid and useful information packaged in a very cool video format. You never know what’s going to come down when you click play on one of his vids.
For example, check out this recent post he made on cover songs. Steve does not set up in some cool studio and apply lots of cool effects (which he CAN and WILL do when the time is right)… no, dude just lays out in his kitchen and starts the camera rolling. After a few lines his wife, Joy, rolls up on him and hits him with some sweet backing harmonies. She could’ve been doing the dishes for all I know. How cool is that??? Answer: Very.
By the way, myman is about to drop a new CD on us called We Will All Be Lifted. I’ve had the honor of listening to this and you will dig it. Be sure to give my favorite track a listen – Every Chance You Get. Please support music, but especially the music of a guy who is holding down a day job, raising a family and still finding the time to make some great sounds. You WILL be lifted!
We’ve both traded off being the “keeper of the blog” the past couple years, but I smell a blogging onslaught in the wind. We’ve been working so hard at this music bit lately and, gosh darn it, we have some things to say! Hope you come around and read a bit… and, as a performer friend of mine said to me the other day, “keep at it, cause after all, it’s good for the soul, right?”
Right.
John
May 12, 2009
Sweet Home Alabama… Sort Of
Sitting around last night pickin’ I started messing around with a melody. Lyrics were something about “just got back from Carolina” I think. After about 10 minutes of fooling about with it I realized I was singing the melody to Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd (I LOVE that guy, haha). Oddly, though, the guitar part had NOTHING to do with the original version. For a couple years I’ve been wanting to do a cover of a song that was very different than the original. So, in the interest of creative freedom and exploration, I messed around with it to see where it would go. Welp, this is where it went… A brand new, unique, folk-acoustic cover of a rock n roll classic!
Next Up – Rolling Stone Magazine
Ok, so this isn’t the most amazing thing, but it was pretty cool when Karen brought home the May 2009 issue of the Michigan Gardener publication (which, I’m guessing, is available for free at various local gardening centers). There in black and white on page 15 was an announcement for the anniversary celebration for Gardenviews of Northville on Saturday, May 23. If you click on the photo above, squint your eyes and look real close you’ll see a mention of my upcoming appearance!
After playing there a few weeks ago, the owner, Lou Mascolo, was gracious enough to ask me to appear over the Memorial Day weekend at Gardenviews 14th Anniversary Celebration. Looking forward to it!
And I will be sure to have my ringer turned on when Rolling Stone Magazine calls soon…
John
May 8, 2009
Somethin’s Missin’
After writing The Well, I figured I better write a more upbeat song. So from the same idiot place in my head that brought you Nothin’ All Day, An Irish Love Song and Peanut Butter Jelly, I proudly bring you Somethin’s Missin! The guitar part and a few lyrics for this one came out right in the middle of writing The Well. After finishing that one, I started right away to finish this one.
The lyrics proved to be a little more challenging. Not sure why, but I had a hard time reigning this one in. Kept coming up with lots of lyric ideas that were not exactly related to the idea of the song. I suppose this one is a lesson for me in “focus”. Came up with a couple of verses, a bunch of single or double lines that didn’t make the cut as well as a few chorus ideas that now lay on the cutting room floor. Here’s what’s left!
John
May 6, 2009
Somethin’s Missin’.mp3 – Basement Demo
Somethin’s Missin’ c2009
words and music by John Natiw
I’ve been lookin’ for it in the Sunday paper
Even went up in the attic for a peek
I’ve searched across the neighborhood
I’m hoping it ain’t gone for good
I’m lookin’ even when I go to sleep
I just sit at home and ponder my condition
Wonderin’ how it up and disappeared
I don’t know where I saw it last
Or how it got away so fast
The voices in my head are all I hear
Since the day I lost my mind
It seems like all I’ve got is time
Just walk around all day without a care
And even though it disappeared
I’m sure I left it somewhere near
I just cannot remember when or where
I’ve been checking with the radio and TV
Just to see if maybe someone turned it in
And while I’m hoping for the best
The cynic in my must confess
The chances of success are pretty slim
[CHORUS]
I even went to see a fortune teller
Just to see if maybe she could help me out
She said “forgive me, I’ll be frank,
Your empty head is such a blank
I fear that you’ll just have to do without
[CHORUS]
This Well
Tonight was one of those nights. At the end of the second period of the Red Wings – Ducks game (which the Wings WON), I started messing around with this idea. Started with a little ditty in open D and went from there. Both music and lyrics started to come quickly. Another one of those songs which felt more like I “discovered” rather than wrote.
Finished off the evening with a one-off recording on the nice mic about midnight. Resulting mp3 is posted below. Been thinking a lot lately about some pretty heavy issues (life, death, the whole shebang), so I’m not surprised at the darkness of this one. Grandma Renda has not been doing well at all lately and, while she has had a wonderfully full and long life, we’re all very sad at the prospect of losing her. Today is my dad’s birthday. Would’ve been 75 today. Wow…
Back to the song… This one reminds me a little bit of old roots, folk and gospel music. Although it’s not a religious song, per se, it has plenty of images from my religious upbringing and studies over the years. Consider this my un-official addition to the soundtrack of O Brother Where Art Thou (one of my favorites!). By the way, if you’ve never seen the live concert of the soundtrack, it’s called Down from the Mountain. You should check it out!
Anyway, here’s the new one…
John
May 1, 2009
This Well c2009
words and music by John Natiw
Sun don’t rise in the morning
And if it did I couldn’t tell
The moon don’t come out in the evening
I’m just livin’ in this well
Dogs ain’t barkin’ at the strangers
Lickin’ the blood of Jezebel
Not aware of the danger
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
Ain’t got no need for earthly treasure
Devil’s got nothin’ left to sell
Silver’s dark the gold is rusted
I’m just livin’ in this well
Hear the echo of the battle
Sinners layin where they fell
Can’t see pain on the faces
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
Master’s walkin’ in His garden
Some goin’ to heaven, some to hell
Me, I’ll just stay here in the darkness
Keep on livin’ in this well
Keep on livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
*****EDIT – May 5, 2009*****
Although I’ve still not played this song out yet, I have run it by a few good friends (and played it a bunch in the man-cave). There are just a few lines that I’ve changed thus far (which is great considering the song is only a few days old). In the interest of creative transparency, here is the re-write thus far. Changes are in bold.
The Well (re-write) c2009
words and music by John Natiw
Sun don’t rise in the morning
And if it did I couldn’t tell
The moon don’t come out in the evening
I’m just livin’ in this well
Dogs ain’t barkin’ at the stranger
Come for the blood of Jezebel
Not aware of the danger
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
Got no need for worldy treasure
Devil’s got nothin’ left to sell
Silver’s dark the gold is rusted
I’m just livin’ in this well
I hear the echo of the battle
Sinners layin’ where they fell
Can’t see pain, can’t see the faces
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
Master’s walkin’ in His garden
Some goin’ to heaven, some to hell
Me, I’ll just stay here in the darkness
Keep on livin’ in this well
Keep on livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
I’m just livin’ in this well
