Wednesday, April 30, 2014

May … With What Pretty Music Shall We Charm the Hours?

May … With What Pretty Music Shall We Charm the Hours?

"May! Queen of blossoms,
 And fulfilling flowers,
With what pretty music
 Shall we charm the hours?
Wilt thou have pipe and reed,
Blown in the open mead?
Or to the lute give heed
 In the green bowers?" -  Lord Edward Thurlow, May

 “Tra la, it's May, the lusty month of May
That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray;
Tra la, it's here, that shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts merrily appear.”
(fr. Camelot, sung by Julie Andrews)
 
On April 7th, we gave a very successful poetry and music performance at Poetry Express in Berkeley, the weekly poets reading now held at Himalayan Flavors on University Avenue. We presented a combination of poetic songs such as Chappell’s Dance of the Desert, and my poetry that was part workshop, part demonstration of the interweaving of the two art forms. We will be reprising this idea in Alameda in the upcoming months. Also look for pending house concert announcements in the summer. Stay tuned!
 
We had a wonderful concert at our Bread and Roses show at Novato Healthcare Center on April 23, 2014. Tracey Rose was our host, and “host in training,” Carrie Sownie gave us a great writeup that gives you a very good picture of what our Bread and Roses shows are like: 
 
“The audience was ready for the show with warm cups of coffee or tea and wrapped up in blankets. Chappell and Dave Holt were charming performers and took us on a journey through the classics like Frank Sinatra to old New Orleans jazz tunes. They played love songs from the 40’s, boogie-woogie tunes from the 50’s and even some original songs they had written. At one point Chappell asked the audience if there were any Cole Porter fans out there and a spirited 'Yes!' came from the audience. 
 
“Many of the boogie-woogie tunes were a favorite. Some guests danced in their chairs, clapped along and tapped their feet. The staff loved it too and danced while assisting the folk. Some staff even poked their head in to enjoy the music before getting back to their work. A favorite moment was when Chappell sang a song that she had written for Dave for their 35th anniversary. It was a beautiful song that inspired an audience member with a purple sweater and beaded necklace to get up and waltz with another staff member.
 
“The performers sang many sing-a-longs, such as 'My Favorite Things' and 'Peace like a River' where the audience sang along softly. There was even a request to sing 'Over the Rainbow' that Chappell promised to sing next time. Afterwards the performers received many thank yous and hugs from the audience.”
 
Our Chappell & Dave Traveling Americana Poetry show is on the road to promote the CD Stone & Fire which we just released. If you’d like to order it directly, please send a $17 check (includes $2 shipping) payable to Dave Holt to 1335 Kenwal Rd., #A, Concord, CA 94521. 
 
We will be traveling for the first half of the month of May as many of you know.  Please follow us on Facebook as we post photos and updates from the road.

Saturday, April 5, 2014

April Love is All the Seven Wonders …

April Love is All the Seven Wonders …
 
“One little kiss can tell you this is true.
Sometimes an April day will suddenly bring showers,
Rain to grow the flowers for her first bouquet,
But April Love can slip right through your fingers,
So if she’s the one, don’t let her run away.” (April Love by Pat Boone)
 
“The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March.” -  Robert Frost,
Two Tramps in Mud Time 
 
We had a really fun month of March: a trip to L.A. for a meet and greet party with our online promoter Mother Hen Promotions, and some of her “chicks.” The Zipperers, John and Julie, were wonderful and gracious hosts and put on a great party with plenty of good food and drink (non-alcoholic). We even did some business, and also shared tips and information with each other about venues, shows, club experiences, and studio recordings.
 
This trip coincided with a birthday party in Venice to honor an old friend and a fine musician, Mitch Greenhill, whose band String Madness performed one of the tunes from their CD. While in the neighborhood, we played a fun gig at Artlife Center in Redondo Beach with music friends Shakeh Herbekian and Brian Asher.

Two weeks later, Chappell returned to S. California with her vintage dealer friend and client, Barbara Grigg, who had booked her booth at the Vintage Textile Show held at Pickwick Gardens, Burbank. After the hard work of doing the show, there was more fun staying overnight with friends from the “Western Bebop” band Cow Bop. Go take a listen at www.cowbop.com.

The task of recording tracks for the now legendary “Stone and Fire” CD is completed! Next week we will finish up the mixing, the graphics and design, and then get ‘em manufactured to take on the road. Here's the Chappell & Dave schedule for May 2014 appearances in Portland and Washington. Hope we get to see many of our Northwest friends at one of these shows!

Magnolia's Corner, Downtown Portland across from the Hollywood Theater: Thursday, May 1st, 7 to 9pm.

Cascadia Poetry Festival, Seattle WA., Fri. or Sat. daytime open mic performance -- day TBD (depends on our other dates).  Dave was published in Raven Chronicles (Seattle) twice this year so we want to make an appearance at the Cascadia Festival.


Karl Smiley House Concert, Blodgett OR. (near Corvallis), Friday May 9.

We may be adding another date in Corvallis on May 2, and we will confirm that once we know for sure. 

 
We will feature at Poetry Express the first Monday in April, the 7th. Come out to Himalayan Flavors, 1585 University Ave., Berkeley CA, for an evening of poetry and poetic lyrics in songwriting! Time: 7-9 pm includes open mic.

Our next Bread and Roses show will be at Novato Healthcare Center on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Concert Producer/Public Relations Manager, Marian Hubler, dropped us a kind note after our March performance, “Our audience at the hospital loved your songs! Thanks for all your support for Bread and Roses. Look forward to seeing you at Folk Alliance (Region West) in Oakland in October!” Please check out their web site. They provide over 600 concerts a year to people who live in institutions, Hope and Healing Through Live Music." 

Don’t forget to like the Chappell & Dave Holt band page, AND the Chappell Rose Holt artist page on Facebook.‎

Have a great month,
Chappell & Dave