First of all, thanks for stopping by, it's a wonderful thing to be able to receive visitors in our cyber homes. I've been cooking lately here at the Longhouse, and please accept my cyber offering of tea and cakes....
Yes, we have winter too here in LA
Winter has come to Northridge--I know many of my friends are laughing, because everyone believes there's no winter in Los Angeles. Well, there isn't the same kind of winter as some other parts of the world-especially right now, but we have it nonetheless, and it feels different around here. The vegetables are long gone, the nights are chilly, the roses are sleeping, the sun sets around 4:40 pm now. For you gardeners, interestingly, this is the time of year to plant California natives--they live in an opposite calendar--they wake up now and thrive, and many of them are finished by summer. They're smart enough to know that they're not gonna get a lot of water in southern California heat.
But, yes, we still have hummingbirds.
Life with the Refugees
The fall was absolutely crazy. The Refugees were on the road every weekend, from the northeast to Canada, everywhere in between, and the glorious trip to Alaska. For some reason, we keep going back up to Calgary to play as well--in the winter, I might add! It's a great place to play, wonderful, warm audiences who really appreciate music across the board. I'm getting used to that flight from LA.
Before Christmas we started recording our second CD here at the Longhouse! We have some cool new tunes, some that we've played in shows, and some that no one has heard yet. As I write this, we're getting ready to go back in and record some more.
We have lots of other things going on: some great shows on the west coast, a tour of Germany this spring, some festivals in the summer--and of course the new cd.
Mietek
My brilliant colleague Mietek has a new single coming out in Poland shortly--written by Gary Baker, Matthew Craig, and me--with wonderful Polish lyrics by Mietek. How do I know this, considering that my Polish is less than stellar? Well, all our friends over there have said that his lyric is great-positive, sunny, and different. The English translation of the lyric is "Things are Changing." Here's what the title looks like in Polish: "Rzeczy zmieniaja sie." Next blog will be the lesson in pronounciation!
Mietek is doing a lot of concerts and press, has a hot new manager, and is setting up his new CD. He'll be here doing vocals in a few weeks, and also filming a documentary on gospel music with our mentor and friend the great HB Barnum and Life Choir. It's a privilege to work with H. He has worked with everyone from Aretha Franklin to Phil Collins, and he's walking history. A total privilege, as I said.
Edwards, Waldman, Cowan and Babcock
In September, Kenny Edwards, John Cowan, Scott Babcock and I ventured into the studio to record some things that we've been wanting to do for awhile--actually we did 8 tracks, and when we get a chance in between all of our schedules, we'll be going back in to do more. This stuff is way fun, that's all I can say for now. More on this later!
WW's newest: Seeds and Orphans Volume 2
As for me, Seeds and Orphans Volume 2 is now available on the website and soon other places. I love doing these cds--songs I love, tracks I love-things I don't want to change or re-record--they're just special CDs to me. This new one has tunes from as early as the 70s to as late as November 2009.
Planning on releasing some other stuff too this year, so stay tuned.
The Longhouse
Well, it had to happen sometime--people are starting to get interested in working at the Longhouse WITHOUT WW!!!
Of course, Folkscene has worked here for years, and put up with me sneaking in with my groceries at the end of their taping--but now there are new people who seem to like this place. We may have Hypnogaja cutting some tracks with the great rock producer Dave Dominguez, and our colleague, young (boy is he ever, but so talented!!) Jason Abell is looking to bring some people in too.
Jason and Rob Hoffman have been working here with me on our various projects. So, I guess it's time to put a staircase outside to the second floor so Abe and I can just live in our rooms upstairs without bothering the people who want this house....
As long as I can get to my yarn, and my protools occasionally... ok, and the kitchen... like I said, I've been cooking lately.
And...
We were fortunate enough to go to Ajijic, Mexico, and Mexico City for the holidays, as a gracious gift from my sister and brother in law, Jillian and Arnold Sandrock. Jillian and I were little kids in Mexico City, and it was the first time we'd been back in....well, let's just say, a whole lotta years. I got to take Abe with me, and he loved it.
We all loved it -- it's a magnif-icent, crazy, beautiful place -- don't miss it if you get the chance to go. I'm afraid I ate too much--I couldn't believe how great the food was....next time I'll know better...the food will still be there, won't have to eat it all...came back a little....challenged....
I wish everyone a wonderful new year. There's a lot of stuff going on around here, I'll try to keep up with my blogs-
Thanks to all my friends for your support, your humor, and your patience. Thanks especially to Russ Paris, my webmaster, and Mark Nubar, my young mentor....
New years' resolution: more blogging, better spinning and weaving, keep up the swimming, write more music, cook better, take the garden into its third year, plant some grapes....and be grateful every single day.
Life with the Refugees
Mietek
WW's newest: Seeds and Orphans Volume 2
Well, it had to happen sometime--people are starting to get interested in working at the Longhouse WITHOUT WW!!!
We were fortunate enough to go to Ajijic, Mexico, and Mexico City for the holidays, as a gracious gift from my sister and brother in law, Jillian and Arnold Sandrock. Jillian and I were little kids in Mexico City, and it was the first time we'd been back in....well, let's just say, a whole lotta years. I got to take Abe with me, and he loved it.
We all loved it -- it's a magnif-icent, crazy, beautiful place -- don't miss it if you get the chance to go. I'm afraid I ate too much--I couldn't believe how great the food was....next time I'll know better...the food will still be there, won't have to eat it all...came back a little....challenged....
I wish everyone a wonderful new year. There's a lot of stuff going on around here, I'll try to keep up with my blogs-
