Dudley Saunders at Potter's House

I was lucky enough to attend Dudley's Saunders live show in Washington, DC, on October 12, 2012. Dudley played at Potter's House, a veritable landmark in DC, an established book store coffee house that caters to artists and their patrons for much of the last century. Dudley was planning to play many of the songs off his new album, 'Monsters'. As I hadn't seen Dudley before, I was so very excited at the prospect, and as time drew closer, I got more excited. I was thrilled to attend the show with another talented artist, Tom Goss, along with his handsome husband, Michael. I of course, brought my still camera and video camera, and both Tom and Mike lent a hand in recording some of the songs, and took a few still pictures. So I will bring you the sights and sounds of the show, taken by all there of us that night.

Tom helped Dudley get ready for the show, and they discovered the sound equipment was not working, and Dudley decided to go on with the show, without amplification. This added level of intimacy was an added bonus, perfect for Dudley's music. Dudley began the show with "We Were Right" off the 'Monsters' album.

Dudley also performed the brilliant "What Rats Are We", another song off 'Monsters'. I kept much of Dudley's chat before the song, for I really felt it added to the experience and understanding of the song.

While most of the songs Dudley performed were off the latest release, he also played some songs featured on previous albums. This is a video of his "Jesus Didn't Love Us Enough" off the album 'Emergency Lane'. I was so touched the first time I heard the song, and have to admit hearing it live brought a tear to my eye.

The next song was the final track on 'Monsters'. "Coal Tattoo" is a bracing and beautiful Gospel-fueled song that brought me to my feet. It was during this song I thought tom myself the only was to explain this man would be to believe he was the bastard son of Ronnie Gilbert and Levon Helm, a gorgeous voice matched with such a deep and giving soul. Enjoy "Coal Tattoo".

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Dudley Saunders has such a distinctive voice, both vocally and in his writing, I find it hard to think of anyone not appreciating his gift. 'Monsters' is such a wonderful album, one of my favorites released this year. IIf you appreciate great music, it should be in your collection. You can purchase 'Monsters' on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, and CD Baby. To learn more about Dudley, visit his official website. You can also 'like' him on Facebook, or 'follow' him on Twitter.

Below Clockwise: Tom & Michael; me and Dudley, and a shot thought the window at Potter's House.

Dudley Saunders Live in DC Preview

On October 12, 2012, I was lucky enough to be in the audience when Dudley Saunders played at The Potter's House in Washington, DC. The show was celebrate the release of his latest album, 'Monsters'. It was my first time seeing Dudley, so I was quite excited. I was also thrilled to be attending with Tom Goss and his partner Mike, both of whom helped taking videos while I was taking pictures, and pictures when I taking videos. Here is my overview of the fantastic show on video, or 'Dudley Saunders in 5 Minutes!'

To learn more about Dudley, visit his official website. You can purchase 'Monsters' on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, and CD Baby.

Tom Goss • Atlas Theater

On Sunday, I wrote of my special night at the Atlas Theater in Washington, DC, but only half of it. It was my first show by Matt Alber, and it was great. But another amazing singer/songwriter was there as well, one I can' get enough of. Tom Goss was there to open for his friend, and offer us his own unique brand of Rock and Folk with a stirring set of old favorites as well as some new ones. Tom split his time between the guitar and the piano, but never before sharing some intimacies of the songwriting process, or maybe just a glimpse into his life.



Tom certainly put down the Rock when he gave the audience a rousing "Turn It Around", the title cut from the recent album of the same name. Before the song began, he spoke about the last time Matt and Tom were supposed to play in DC, for I had a ticket. Just couldn't get there with the State of Emergency keeping cars off the road... But nothing stopped me this time, and you can tell by this video.



Tom played another song off the album, Turn It Around. "Make Believe" is a rocking and rolling ball of fire, powered by love. And I have to believe Tom is powered by something special, for he gets his groove on, dancing around the stage during the song. Hopefully, I have able to capture a bit of the spirit of his performances.



I was just so damned happy he sang the next song, for I feel it has a great history for me. You see, when I first saw Tom several years ago, as he was singing this one, I realized I would be hooked for life. The lyrics are just so beautiful, so poetic, and so real, I knew I'd be buying his music when he was finished playing. That is when I discovered the song was called "Rise", and I purchased the EP of the same name. And his previous album, Naked Without, with the startling picture of Tom naked on the cover. Ah, but that is another album. Enjoy the always stunning "Rise".



When it came time for another favorite, Tom asked Matt Alber to join him on the stage to play the piano while Tom continued on the guitar. As Tom began to sing the song off the Back To Love album, he couldn't help but stop the song to offer just a bit more insight into the situation we were experiencing live. That Tom, he always seems to find it hard to NOT tell a good story. Thankfully, he does it so well. Like much of what he has ever done, as far as I am concerned. So here is Tom singing "Till The End", with a lovely helping hand from Matt Alber.



For more about Tom Goss, visit his official website. It is just been updated, so if you haven't for a bit, you should check it out now! You can purchase his album Turn It Around on iTunes and Amazon. It features the first two songs in the post. You can also purchase his latest, Lost Songs and Underdogs, on iTunes and Amazon.

The Names Project 2012 & 1989

I just saw a clip about The Names Project as the quilt is being installed in Washington, DC. I immediately knew I would have to share it with you all. This is a clip shot by Aram Vartian and featuring Ebone Bell, both of whom I met while they were hard at work on the last Tom Goss Video, for "It's All Over".

Watching this reminded me of a time not that long ago, when I found a bunch of pictures in a shoebox, and then catching my breath. When I went to the original showing of the Names Project in 1987, I did not bring my camera. It was a trip to participate in the National March on Washington for Gay & Lesbian Rights. That is when I saw it. Spread across the mall, there was what seemed like miles of fabric set up in a symmetrical pattern, a beautiful patchwork quilt. People were wondering around, looking at individual 'patches.' I knew what it was, but the sheer size was jolting, at first so pretty, a beautiful quilt the quilting bee had been working on together. but then just jarring that so many had died to make this beauty happen. I returned in 1989, with friends and feeling much better prepared for what I would see. I brought a camera, and captured these pictures you find on this page. And still today, over 20 years later, they still give me pause, and can bring a tear to my eye.

The Names Project was started by Cleve Jones, based on something he noticed when organizing an annual march for Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone in San Francisco. As more people were claimed by AIDS, he started asking people to make placards of those who had passed and hang them on a wall of the Federal Building. He thought it looked like a quilt once the names were hung. From that sprung The Names Project, and the Quilt. For more information about the Names Project, to donate, host a display, or submit a square, click here.

Flo Anito • Uh Oh

I met Flo Anito when I was taking part of the music video by Tom Goss for It's All Over. The shoot was taking place in Washington, DC, in a park. Flo played the part of the jogger in the park, and later a guest at the backyard party. I can't be sure, but I swear she is checking out Tom's butt in that video...



During the shoot, I enjoyed talking to her, and shared some laughs. She was quite nice, smart, and quite funny. At some point, there was a CD playing in the garage of the party shoot, and I thought it had an interesting sound. It turns out, it was Flo's CD, No Dustbunnies. Honestly, I had forgotten about it, until I recently saw a new video was posted, for the song Uh Oh!



Flo's vocals are a combination of styles and sounds, like Kate Bush with a total American spin. There is an exuberance in her music, a real joy. On first listen to her album, I had an immediate infatuation with Change My Life, Uh Oh!, Mean, and the title track. I managed to find No Dustbunnies, and will be happy to share it with you.



Flo Anito's album, No Dustbunnies, is available on iTunes and on Amazon. You can find her on the web at her official website here.

Jeffrey & Tom • Under The Covers Preview

I recently had the pleasure of going to see Tom Goss performing live in Washington, DC, alongside DC performer Jeffrey Johnson in a show called Under The Covers. The show was serving a couple of purposes: Tom and Jeffrey have been talking about doing a show together for some time, and Tom had a chance to preview his latest video, It's All Over, to those near and dear to him. And, well, any time you get to see Tom Goss perform is a good day, at least in my book! So here is my preview of the show. Seeing this, I bet you wish you were there!



I hope to have complete videos and pictures up on the blog soon. The show is focusing on something Tom rarely does at live shows, sing cover songs. His catalog of fantastic original songs is big enough that with each show, there are still some of his songs I don't get to hear, and can only hope to catch next time. But this time out, there were just a couple of his songs, mainly songs by some of his favorite artists, as well as some great songs performed by Jeffrey Johnson, who had some charming and unexpected offerings. For more about the artists, you can find Tom Goss on the web here, and Jeffrey Johnson on the web here.

Tom Goss • It's All Over Video Shoot

Clockwise: Tom gets his groove on with Sophia & others; Tom & Mandy practice the steps; and Eboné & Angel between takes.

Last weekend, I ventured to Washington, DC, with my sister Kathy and my niece Mandy to be a part of the making of the next music video from one of our very favorite people, Tom Goss. Of course, I had to take pictures and take videos, for it is a compulsion for me at this point. After having been at the CD Release Party, it was great to be a part of the first video as well.



Who knew 'Spaz, spaz, spaz' would become an endearing phrase? We got in early, which was fine. Despite a break for rain, the shoot finished early! There was great planning from Production team of Director Michael Patrick Key, Director of Photography Dylan Comstock and Editor Aram Vartian, and the day ran so smoothly. I had a delightful time at the table with Flo and Sophia. Really, it was a fantastic group of people, and a diverse one as well. I met some amazing people, had far too many laughs to even remember, and a day I will never forget.




Clockwise: Tom chatting with the police; Wrap party fun with Flo Anito; Aram, Michael & Dylan celebrate the end of a well-planned shoot; Joey getting his lip on; cast and crew keeping dry; Michael, Ann and Jim get their Vanna on!

SideXSide with Levi Kreis & Eric Himan

Levi Kreis, left, and Eric Himan, right.

Dates for the upcoming SideXSide Tour have been announced, and I think if it is at all possible, you need to get to see a show. Over the next few months, Levi Kreis is teaming up with buddy Eric Himan and singer/songwriter Jason Antone for a couple of engagements on Monday nights, when Million Dollar Quartet is taking the night off. Sandwiched in between Tony Award-winning performances, you can catch them in Chicago, Montreal, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia. This tour is bound to be something incredibly special. I already reserved my spot for two of the stops, and would hit all five if I could.



From the description of the show, I would guess the show will feature the music from Levi's latest effort, Where I Belong. That works for me, cause I think it is a brilliant album, with lots of music that moves me and makes me wanna move. I reviewed the album here. And the first single from the album, Nothing At All, was topping the video charts at LOGO and VH1. You can see the video here. It will be my first chance to see Levi live doing his own material, as I was lucky enough to see his electrifying performance in Million Dollar Quartet.



It won't be my first time seeing Eric Himan, and I have kinda lost count of the number of times I have had the privilege of experiencing his amazing energy. I know Eric is about to release a new album, Out With The Old, a combination of older and new music worked out for a piano, not the guitar I have grown accustomed to Eric playing. Well, I already pre-ordered it here, so I would guess he would play some of those songs, as well as maybe a song or two from his collaboration with Jimmy Adams and Angel Adams.



They are being joined on the tour by Jason Antone, and I have to admit I don't know a lot about him, but I have checked his music out on YouTube, and he has a voice to match those gorgeous eyes. His music tends toward the Pop & Dance side, so it will be interesting to see what he brings to an acoustic environment.

SideXSide Tour

11.01.10 | 7:30pm
The Apollo Theatre, Chicago, IL
SideXSide Tour Kickoff: With Eric Himan & Jason Antone
Where I Belong: An Intimate Evening with Levi Kreis

11.15.10 | 8pm
Le Piano Rouge Lounge, Montreal, QC, Canada
SideXSide Tour: With Eric Himan & Jason Antone
Where I Belong: An Intimate Evening with Levi Kreis

11.29.10 | 7:30pm
Jammin' Java Vienna, VA
SideXSide Tour: With Eric Himan & Jason Antone
Where I Belong: An Intimate Evening with Levi Kreis

12.06.10 | 7:00pm
Baltimore Theater Project, Baltimore, MD
SideXSide Tour: With Eric Himan & Jason Antone
Where I Belong: An Intimate Evening with Levi Kreis

01.03.11 | 9pm
World Cafe Live Philadelphia, PA
SideXSide Tour: With Eric Himan & Jason Antone
Where I Belong: An Intimate Evening with Levi Kreis

For more information about the shows, check out Levi's ReverbNation site here.While you are there, take some time to listen to his music, and I know you'll be an fan, too.