Newsletter

February 16, 2014

Gang,

I was recently at a radio station getting ready to do an interview to promote an upcoming show. While I was tuning up, waiting for the show’s host to appear, a young lady came in and handed me a piece of paper. “We’ll need your signature on this before air-time,” she said, and walked out again.

It was the FCC “Language Agreement,” enumerating in excruciating detail all the words you’re not supposed to say on the radio. My first thought was to jauntily tell them, “You missed a couple,” but after a careful reading I honestly could not think of a single vulgarity they’d left out, and I have a pretty good vocabulary. (I’m not bragging or anything, but fifty years on the road with musicians, technicians and teamsters can be very educational.)

A couple of questions were raised by this. What if the person going on the air was as prudish as the FCC apparently thinks the listeners are? Wouldn’t they be too shocked and offended to carry on? And what if the person was underage? Would not the FCC be contributing to the delinquency of a minor, teaching them words they’re not supposed to know (but undoubtedly do)? And what if …

I was pondering these weighty matters when the young lady returned to retrieve the form. I told her I’d left my glasses in the car and asked if she’d please read the page to me. After all, I can’t be expected to sign something if I don’t know what it is, now can I? She looked at the paper, opened her mouth to speak, closed it again, looked at me, looked at the paper. She seemed a bit flushed (perhaps overwhelmed at being so close to a star of my magnitude?), and left the room hurriedly. Apparently it was determined that my signature was not necessary after all because I heard no more about it.

In other news:

The hit kid’s video of the Fish Story Song is now available free-for-nothing on our YouTube channel. (It’s an odd thing – kids love it, grownups love it, but between about 5th and 12th grades there’s a period where they think it’s “too childish.”) If you like it, the actual DVD contains extra stuff: me reading the story of Paul Bunyan and the Grizzly, and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, along with some very cool drawings by Jocelyn Slack.

And upcoming shows:

Wednesday, February 19th, at the Ark in Ann Arbor – a great room.
Thursday I’ll be at the Folk Alliance gathering in Kansas City – the first time I’ve been able to attend this conference which is becoming a Big Deal in the music world.
Friday at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago – a great organization with music lessons, an outreach program for school kids, on and on.
Saturday I’ll be in Stoughton, WI at the Opera House – never been there before, but I’m told it’s a glorious old theater that the town has lovingly (and expensively) refurbished.

And then at the end of the month/beginning of March:

Thursday, February 27th, Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA – another great old room.
And, finally, on Saturday, March 1st, Town Hall in Woodstock, VT, a place I’ve played many times, and had a great time every time!

Thanks for reading. Stay warm!

All the best,

Tom Rush

Quote of the month:

“Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.”

–– Mark Twain

Gang,

Years ago, when he was but a tyke, my boy Benjamin was asked in school to write a short piece about what he would like the world to have for Christmas, and then what he would like for himself. After long and careful thought he said he would like the world to be a beautiful and peaceful place and wanted everybody to love each other and get along without fighting. For himself, on the other hand, he desired the GI Joe Hovercraft fully decked out with rocket launchers, machine guns and flamethrowers. And that, in a nutshell, seems to be the problem. Something to work on in the New Year!

In late-breaking news: Some top-tier seats have just opened up for the Symphony Hall show on Saturday the 28th (Donald Trump can’t make it after all). Several other sections are sold out already. These tickets, of course, are the most tasteful and exciting gifts possible, so don’t dawdle! (If the Box Office can’t mail them out on time, not to worry — they’ll just hold them at the ticket window.)

Also, the video documentary about the original Club 47 and the Cambridge folk scene in the ’60s, “For The Love Of The Music,” has just come out and is available in DVD or Blu Ray. And the very nicely done DVD/CD set recorded at last year’s show, “Tom Rush Celebrates 50 Years of Music,” is by far the most popular item at the web store. (Both fit nicely in stockings!)

It’s time to thank all the folks who have helped me get through the year in style. Mr. Dan Beach runs TomRush.com with a firm and elegant hand, never letting me drift too far from my moorings. Andrea Sabata and all the good people at Skyline Music find me fun gigs to do (sometimes a few too many, but I won’t complain). The troops at Nimbit do a great job of fulfilling orders at the web store. Tim Burke tends the vending table at most of my shows with boundless energy, setting up the most beautiful displays. Todd Kwait and Rob Stegman make great videos of all sorts, including the videos mentioned above, and have provided essential support in mounting this year’s Symphony Hall show. Jim Musselman and Alan Edwards at Appleseed Recordings do a fabulous job at getting the music (and the word) out. And my family. Ah, my family! They haven’t yet kicked me out. (It’s not easy being me, but being related to me can be pure hell!)

And of course you, the Gang, who make all of this possible by supporting my various projects and explorations, some of which actually turn out to have been good ideas. Then there are the others, but we won’t talk about that just now.

Thanks for reading, and have the warmest and happiest of holidays!

All the best,

Tom Rush

Link of the month: Our favorite holiday music here at the Rush household is the Yule Ties CD from our old Jackson Hole buddies, Loose Ties. Check it out: For an actual CD go to http://tinyurl.com/m3xt7cb and buy direct from the artists. For a download, go to http://tinyurl.com/mcnkpom

November 20, 2013

Gang,

I don’t know what brings this to mind, but at one point I was working on a book to be called “The Worst Gig I Ever Did.” It was to be a compilation of stories from my colleagues and contemporaries about all the time things don’t go at all the way they should. I never got much farther than the title, but I did collect just a few anecdotes and one of the best was from David Wilcox.

He told me he was playing a show at a VFW hall in Somewhere, Arkansas. Or maybe it was Alabama. Down There, in any case. The oldest living Veteran got up to introduce him and welcome the crowd. “We’re goin’ to have us a fine time here tonight,” he wheezed, “but before we get started I’d like y’all to rise.” The assemblage dutifully lurched to their feet. “Now the flag’s out being dry cleaned,” he continued, “but if y’all would just turn and face the Pepsi machine … we’ll pledge allegiance.”

The Symphony Hall show on Saturday, December 28th is coming along apace – the first ads should be hitting the media in the next day or so. The top tier tickets are almost gone and the rest are moving briskly. We’ve added more names to the roster: Sarah Lee Guthrie (Woody’s granddaughter and Arlo’s kid) and Johnny Irion will be joining us in the merriment. (As you will recall, the Kweskin Jug Band with Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur and Bill Keith will be there, and Patty Larkin, and of course your humble servant, moi!) The link, again, is http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/60206 and the phone is 888-266-1200.

In the interim, just after Thanksgiving I’ll be in:

Portland, ME, One Longfellow Square on Friday, 12/6
Shirley, MA at the Bull Run on Saturday, 12/7 (with Eric Lilljequist and Dean Adrien – our annual get-together)
Fairfield, CT, Stage One on Sunday, 12/8

Have a great, and thankful, Thanksgiving!

All the best,

Tom Rush

Link of the Month: Just in from Ted Williams by way of Renee. In case you think it’s as bad as it can get – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8GOCT0qQYQ

PS. For those of you who haven’t yet gotten around to buying a Naked Lady guitar, MacKenzie & Marr are having a pre-Christmas sale. Check it out!! http://www.macmarr.com/store/tom-rush-naked-lady

2013 SYMPHONY HALL SHOW IS ON !!

Gang,

My recent missive about the Internet acronyms the kids are using nowadays was met with such enthusiasm that I went back and dug a little deeper. It turns out that our generation is also very much using those Interwebs and texting their hearts out, and that a whole new lexicon has sprung up to support us. A few examples:

BTW no longer just means “By The Way,” it can also mean, depending on context, “Bring the Wheelchair.” CUATSC is short for “See You At The Senior Center.” GGPMBL means “Gotta Go, PaceMaker Battery Low,” OICU812, for “Oh, I See You Ate One Too,” and YY4U, or “Too Wise For You.”

Hot News: the video biography produced by Todd Kwait and Rob Stegman, “Tom Rush: No Regrets,” took the prize for “Best NH Documentary” at the New Hampshire Film Festival. There will be a DVD released, but not until sometime next year.

More, Even Hotter News: I’ll be returning to Symphony Hall for a brand new tons o’ fun show on Saturday, December 28th,and it’s going to be a musical party to remember! (There will be no filming this year, and no streaming, so either you’re there, or you’re not.)

So far we’ve got the Jim Kweskin Jug Band with Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur and Bill Keith – now there’s a party right there! And Patty Larkin is coming… it just keeps getting better. We’re still working on the guest list, and I don’t want to muddy the waters by making announcements before we have signed contracts, but we’ll have one or two additions before we’re through. Need I remind you that tickets make a wonderful Christmas gift? I didn’t think so.

This hasn’t been announced to the general public yet, so you have a one-week head start at getting the very best tickets. You can click http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/60206 or call 1-888-266-1200 and the Symphony Hall Box Office will be happy to assist you.

And in the immediate future, I’m in Auburn, New York at the Auburn Public Theater tomorrow, Saturday the 2nd, and finally at the World Café Live in Philly on Sunday night, the 3rd. Come on by!

Thanks for reading!

All the best,

Tom Rush
November 1, 2013

Quote of the Month, gearing up for Thanksgiving:

“It’s not happy people who are thankful, it’s thankful people who are happy.”

–– Unknown

November 8, 2013

Gang:

I am often asked, as you can imagine, about the source of my superpowers. I think we’ve known each other long enough that I can confide in you: it’s the Blues Shoes. I went into this second-hand store in White River Junction, VT, three years running, looking for Halloween costume material for the Kid, and each year these shoes called to me from their perch on the stairway. Twice I said, “No!” and turned away, but the third year I figured, well … there’s no harm in trying them on, right? Well! They fit perfectly, and it was a sign from Above! And ever since I have had superpowers, though I am sworn to secrecy and can’t tell you exactly what they are. I grant you they’re grotesque, but they are SO grotesque they’re kind of cool — like Ringo.

The Symphony Hall show this December 28th is about to go on sale to the public, so here’s a reminder that, as a member of the newsletter list, you still have a head start and a chance to get the seats of your choice. Notices will go out to the general public early next week, but until then you have first dibs. http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/60206 is the link to use, or 888-266-1200 is the number to call (but not on Sunday).

The lineup so far is The Jim Kweskin Jug Band featuring Jim himself, Maria Muldaur, Geoff Muldaur and Bill Keith. Patty Larkin is on board and we have some more invitations out so we’ll be adding to the roster as we go along. And of course I’ll be there with bells on!

We’re getting a late start on this project and anything you can do to help get the word out would be very much appreciated! Forward this newsletter to your buddies (after you’ve nailed down your own seats, of course), harangue your friends, accost total strangers! I’ll post your bail if need be.

All the best,

Tom Rush

Link of the month: Renee sent me this. It makes you laugh and cry at the same time –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBaHPND2QJg#t=18

October 16, 2013

Gang,

In my ongoing effort to keep up with our 14 year-old I have been studying the arcane lore of acronyms the kids use on the Internet these days. An online search turns up literally hundreds of them, but I’ve winnowed the big list down to a favorite few that I thought I should share with you:

*$ = Starbucks
KPC = Keeping Parents Clueless
IIIO = Intel Inside, Idiot Outside
CRD = Caucasian Rhythm Disorder
DWS = Driving While Stupid
WOOF = Well-Off Older Folks
LOLWUSS = Laughing Out Loud With Unintentional Snort Sound
YUMPI = Young Upwardly Mobile Professional Idiot
BHOF = Bald Headed Old Fart
WWSD = What Would Satan Do?

And, among my personal favorites, YARBWYA, meaning “You’re A Right Bleeding Wanker You Are!

The news de jour is that the video documentary on me, “Tom Rush: No Regrets,” is ready for public viewing and will be debuted at the New Hampshire Film Festival in Portsmouth, NH, starting tomorrow. It will be shown at the Music Hall Loft (131Congress Street, Box Office 603-436-2400) this Thursday, 10/17, at 2:55PM and again this Sunday, 10/10 at 12:40 PM.

There will be a Q&A session with filmmaker Rob Stegman after each screening, Producer Todd Kwait will also be there Sunday, and I’ll be there as well for a song or two following the Sunday session. Come on by, but don’t ask any really hard questions, like “What’s the capitol of South Dakota?” Here’s a link to the trailer: https://vimeo.com/76486506

In other news, we’re hard at work putting together a show for Boston’s Symphony Hall on Saturday, December 28. Mark your calendar. Nothing is on sale yet (so don’t call the Box Office – it just annoys them), but I’ll let you know as soon as I know who among my musical friends will be there!

Thanks for reading, and TTFN (ta-ta for now),

All the best,

Tom Rush

Quote of the month: When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realized that the Lord doesn’t work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.
Emo Phillips

Gang,

There’s a fellow at the Vineyard Gazette doing a piece about a club I used to play there, the Mooncusser. I’ve been slow in getting back to him because I honestly couldn’t remember anything worthy of much ink. Then this morning it came to me! My reply was this:

“I actually don’t know if I can contribute much. My recollections of the Mooncusser mainly center around the bar next door, the Lamp Post, which is to say they are a bit hazy. One that is etched on my remaining synapses, however, involves Liam Clancy of the Clancy Brothers. I’d gone to their show at the MC and afterward Liam and I went to the ‘Post to discuss important matters of state, which, as near as I can remember, centered around speculations on the bra size of the waitress. (I, of course, wanted to talk about economic destabilization in the Balkans, but Liam was such a chauvinist!)

“At the witching hour Liam missed the ‘Last Call!’ call and was outraged when the bartender wouldn’t accommodate his entreaties for “just the tiniest wee little bit of a dram.” He rose to his feet and, while backing toward the exit, began to curse the bartender with the truly breathtaking eloquence that is reserved for the Irish. He went on for fully five minutes without repeating himself once (though he did dwell on the genital warts suffered, apparently, by the poor man’s mother). The bartender was unresponsive, I suspect because he had by now been transformed into a pillar of margarita salt, and Liam stood in the doorway as he delivered the coup-de-grace before slamming the door behind him. ‘May your overhead exceed your gross profit! That’s all you bastards can understand!'”

I don’t remember much, but that has stuck with me.

I’m on my way to the Midwest for 3 shows: the Cedar Center in Minneapolis (tonight, Thursday), SPACE in Evanston, IL (tomorrow, Friday) and the Fur Peace Ranch in Pomeroy, OH (Saturday, but it’s sold out). Come by if you can, or send a friend.

Some housekeeping:

The supply problems around the DVD/CD package of the “Celebrates 50 Years” concert have been resolved and the web store awaits your orders. iTunes is taking pre-orders (Available August 12th) for digital downloads of the Symphony Hall Show CD.

The same fellows who produced that video and CD are working on a video-documentary on yours truly and want to know if anybody out there has any photos of me at the Paradise club in Boston in the late ’70’s. If so, let me know.

They are also working on getting their documentary on the Club 47 (“For the Love of the Music”) bumped over to the DVD format and are trying to raise funds for the licensing fees via a campaign on Pledge Music. This is something you would like to have (as would I), so if the spirit moves you click here and make a pledge. If they don’t reach the goal nothing will be charged to you.

That’s it – thanks for reading!

All the best,

Tom Rush

Quote of the month:

As seen on a sign outside a church:

“Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.”

NOW AVAILABLE!

ORDER NOW!

Gang –

Momentous news! The DVD/CD 2-disc set from the Symphony Hall show last December is now ready in our store. The DVD contains the video of the “Celebrates 50 Years” bash, featuring guest appearances by David Bromberg, Jonathan Edwards, Buskin & Batteau and Dom Flemons (who you may know from the Carolina Chocolate Drops). And, of course, me, me, me. Trevor Veitch, my guitar honcho for days of yore, came in from the Coast to dazzle us with his magic. Eric Lilljequist and Dean Adrien were there singing their soaring harmonies. Paul Guzzone on bass, Marshal Rosenberg on percussion. It was FUN! I think the video perfectly captures the energy and the flow of the show.

The CD contains, of course, just the music and has a bonus song or two – so you can take the show in the car with you. (In the CD version all the rude things Bromberg says about me are mercifully edited out.) You get both CD and DVD in one package with a booklet offering extensive notes and photos.

In other news, Todd Kwait and Rob Stegman, the guys that produced this DVD and CD package, have another project in the works: a documentary on the Club 47 and the folk scene in Boston/Cambridge in the 60s. Footage of Baez, Kweskin, Dylan, the Muldaurs, yours truly – on and on. We’re ALL there! It’s called “For The Love of the Music,” and they’ve been showing it at festivals and special screenings to sold-out crowds around the country. Now they’re mounting a crowd-funding campaign on Pledge Music to raise money to turn it into a DVD. If you’re from that era, and especially if you’re a folkie from that era, this is something you’re going to need to have. Check it out! http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/club47film

My delicious 6-week hiatus is coming to a close and I have to admit I’ve been getting itchy to get back on stage again. (In my limited experience I’ve found that vacations can be very tiring. But I did get some writing done!) TCAN in Natick this Friday and Saturday, the 19th and 20th , then off to the Vineyard for a private show in Chilmark on Sunday for my friend Alex McDonald who bought the event at a fundraising auction several years ago and has been patiently waiting for our calendars to line up so I could deliver the goods.

In August, I’m off to the Midwest to play Minneapolis, Evanston, IL, and a sold out show at the Fur Piece Ranch, in Pomeroy, OH. And at the end of the month two nights at the glorious Shalin Liu in glorious Rockport, MA. Links to all upcoming shows are below,

Stay cool, enjoy life!

All the best,

Tom Rush

Quote of the Month:

With me a change of trouble is as good as a vacation.

–– David Lloyd George