Some choose, drink, drugs, running, sex, weight lifting, meditation, self help books to attain their spiritual high, me I choose music. Sure it's a demanding mistress and I've sacrificed money, women, time, hearing, and much more to her. Truly I tell you I've received more than I gave by far. I tell you this, had you asked me my name last night while Dave Alvin was playing Ash grove, I surely would have been unable to answer.
love is demanding, but worth it.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Dad
"Being a father is the best thing in the world and whatever's second isn't close."
Larry King
Am I showing my age to quote King. I had the greatest Springsteen concert ever ( and that's a lot) taking Zachary. We scored less than face ga tickets the day of the show in Pgh. and won the lottery. If you don't know what that means, shame on you.
I haven't cried in public since Sid Bream but this was awesome. During Badlands I kept noticing how he looked over his shoulder to make sure he was pumping his fist right. Wow. The whole show was a "walk like a man" scenerio. The highlight of course was Bruce taking his sign during the request section and later playing Thunder Road, the song I had sung to him nearly every day of his for 5 years and still pull out every now and then.
Poor guy was hanging and nearly dead on his feat by 11 but had to hang to see his hero Joe.
Best night of my life, ever by far.
Larry King
Am I showing my age to quote King. I had the greatest Springsteen concert ever ( and that's a lot) taking Zachary. We scored less than face ga tickets the day of the show in Pgh. and won the lottery. If you don't know what that means, shame on you.
I haven't cried in public since Sid Bream but this was awesome. During Badlands I kept noticing how he looked over his shoulder to make sure he was pumping his fist right. Wow. The whole show was a "walk like a man" scenerio. The highlight of course was Bruce taking his sign during the request section and later playing Thunder Road, the song I had sung to him nearly every day of his for 5 years and still pull out every now and then.
Poor guy was hanging and nearly dead on his feat by 11 but had to hang to see his hero Joe.
Best night of my life, ever by far.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
squash the Peackock
I would like to call for a boycott on NBC for one week. Their refuels to permit the now tradition of watching the Penguins playoff games outside of Melon Arena is a slap in the face to Pen's fans in general and Pittsburgh specifically. This call for something to be done. Let’s not watch them for the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, other than when the Pens are on.
Very few hip cool things happen in this "Steel Town." This phenomenon is one of them. What a great image of Pittsburgh viewers got when Versus cut outside. Sadly the larger number of viewers that will tune in to NBC will not get to see it.
Please avoid ALL shows on NBC. Trample the peacock. If 10 percent of Pen's fans do this, it will be noticeable and get their attention. Pittsburgh is a town rich in traditions. This new one will surely take its place as a cherished one. For shame on NBC for getting in the way. Let’s get in their way.
Please forward.
Very few hip cool things happen in this "Steel Town." This phenomenon is one of them. What a great image of Pittsburgh viewers got when Versus cut outside. Sadly the larger number of viewers that will tune in to NBC will not get to see it.
Please avoid ALL shows on NBC. Trample the peacock. If 10 percent of Pen's fans do this, it will be noticeable and get their attention. Pittsburgh is a town rich in traditions. This new one will surely take its place as a cherished one. For shame on NBC for getting in the way. Let’s get in their way.
Please forward.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
pour my bourbon.....
This Friday, Bill Toms will be playing Club Café, that’s great and you should go just for that but……….
May, 29 2009 07:00 PM - Club Cafe
56 S 12th St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
Bill Toms and Hard Rain w/ special guest John Allaire
(412) 431-4950
The different and one and only chance thing is the opening act, Canada’s John Allaire. I found out about John from Tom Breiding. He’s Ottawa’s version of like Joe Grushecky, Bill Deasey, Scott Blasey etc. Kind of the almost made it big once upon a time and just kept going. He was in a band called the Town Cryers (not to be confused with the Town Crierers here in America) that made some noise in the 80s. Here’s a grainy video from 88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gcfH6FRQDc
from John’s website…
Starting his professional music career in 1984, John has been in a number of bands, including the award-winning "The Town Cryers", a band that reached the number one spot on seven radio stations in Canada with their first release in 1987 called "All's Well".Allaire toured the country with the Cryers all the while releasing their 1989 CD, "Surprise Surprise", which included a supporting video for Allaire's song "Never Bin Hurt B-4". The video won honours as top independent video in Canada in 1989. The CD also had the dubious pleasure of being the first release in Canada by an independent band on the emerging CD format.The Town Cryers parted ways in 1992, but not before recording a whopping 18-track CD called "Stanley's Cup".
He then went punk and finally emerged as a singer songwriter. I first saw him supporting his stellar Thank You Waitress at a stop in Blawnox. He really blew my mind, and I’ve followed him since. He didn’t make it to Pgh on his last tour so it’s great that he’s able to make it here for this one. Please check him out. You’ll be as impressed as I am.
Here’s a clip to some new stuff. I love bourbon oh and Bourbon too.
http://www.myspace.com/johnallairemusic
John has shared the stage and toured with: Alanis Morrisette, Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip, Donovan, Lynn Miles, Hoodoo Gurus, BoDeans, Dr. and the Medics, The Church, VSpyVspy, Nada Surf, Econoline Crush, Weddings Parties Anything, Tom Cochrane, Grapes of Wrath, Nils, and many more... Come see him and buy two cds. Oh he’s a great guy and gracious loser/winner in a hockey battle.
Oh the other guy on the “Bill” is my favorite guitarist in the world too and most awesome dude I know.
http://www.johnallaire.com/home.html
May, 29 2009 07:00 PM - Club Cafe
56 S 12th St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203 - $10Bill Toms and Hard Rain w/ special guest John Allaire (412) 431-4950
May, 30 2009 12:00 PM - Leaf and Bean
2200 Penn Ave (entrance on 22nd St), Pittsburgh (Srip District), Pennsylvania 15222 - Bill Toms w/ Tom Breiding and special guest, John Allaire
May, 30 2009 10:00 PM - Mustang Sally’s
2443 Eldersville Rd, Follansbee, West Virginia 26037 - Bill Toms and Hard Rain w/John Allaire/ 304-527-4545
www.billtoms.com
May, 29 2009 07:00 PM - Club Cafe
56 S 12th St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
Bill Toms and Hard Rain w/ special guest John Allaire
(412) 431-4950
The different and one and only chance thing is the opening act, Canada’s John Allaire. I found out about John from Tom Breiding. He’s Ottawa’s version of like Joe Grushecky, Bill Deasey, Scott Blasey etc. Kind of the almost made it big once upon a time and just kept going. He was in a band called the Town Cryers (not to be confused with the Town Crierers here in America) that made some noise in the 80s. Here’s a grainy video from 88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gcfH6FRQDc
from John’s website…
Starting his professional music career in 1984, John has been in a number of bands, including the award-winning "The Town Cryers", a band that reached the number one spot on seven radio stations in Canada with their first release in 1987 called "All's Well".Allaire toured the country with the Cryers all the while releasing their 1989 CD, "Surprise Surprise", which included a supporting video for Allaire's song "Never Bin Hurt B-4". The video won honours as top independent video in Canada in 1989. The CD also had the dubious pleasure of being the first release in Canada by an independent band on the emerging CD format.The Town Cryers parted ways in 1992, but not before recording a whopping 18-track CD called "Stanley's Cup".
He then went punk and finally emerged as a singer songwriter. I first saw him supporting his stellar Thank You Waitress at a stop in Blawnox. He really blew my mind, and I’ve followed him since. He didn’t make it to Pgh on his last tour so it’s great that he’s able to make it here for this one. Please check him out. You’ll be as impressed as I am.
Here’s a clip to some new stuff. I love bourbon oh and Bourbon too.
http://www.myspace.com/johnallairemusic
John has shared the stage and toured with: Alanis Morrisette, Blue Rodeo, Tragically Hip, Donovan, Lynn Miles, Hoodoo Gurus, BoDeans, Dr. and the Medics, The Church, VSpyVspy, Nada Surf, Econoline Crush, Weddings Parties Anything, Tom Cochrane, Grapes of Wrath, Nils, and many more... Come see him and buy two cds. Oh he’s a great guy and gracious loser/winner in a hockey battle.
Oh the other guy on the “Bill” is my favorite guitarist in the world too and most awesome dude I know.
http://www.johnallaire.com/home.html
May, 29 2009 07:00 PM - Club Cafe
56 S 12th St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203 - $10Bill Toms and Hard Rain w/ special guest John Allaire (412) 431-4950
May, 30 2009 12:00 PM - Leaf and Bean
2200 Penn Ave (entrance on 22nd St), Pittsburgh (Srip District), Pennsylvania 15222 - Bill Toms w/ Tom Breiding and special guest, John Allaire
May, 30 2009 10:00 PM - Mustang Sally’s
2443 Eldersville Rd, Follansbee, West Virginia 26037 - Bill Toms and Hard Rain w/John Allaire/ 304-527-4545
www.billtoms.com
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Friday night in the burgh
special note from Tom Breiding
From AmeriSon Productions
Hey Folks,
If you read today's Post Gazette you might have read the review for Mitch Bell's great new CD. I'm proud to be the guitar player for his band at the release show on Friday night. Mitch has assembled a 10 piece band for this event and it is going to be quite a production. We rehearsed at the Rex Theatre last night and I know it will be a really great show. Should be lots of faces familiar to some of you - I hope all of you can make it.
The event is in the back room so of course drinks are available, but it will also be an all ages show, so bring the kids. This is my only local show this weekend so I hope I'll see some of you there.
Peace.
Time to roll...
Tom Breiding
Tom Breiding joins:
Mitch Bell and the Wandering Coalition
@ The Rhythm House
3029 Washington Pike
Bridgeville, PA
Friday, May 15th 8pm
$10 cover but for $15 the CD is included!
All ages welcome
Local Scene: Ballad of T. Mitchell Bell
Thursday, May 14, 2009
By Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
T. Mitchell Bell sings "The Ballad of Philo Paul."
Local roots musician T. Mitchell Bell makes his recording debut with an ambitious record called "The Ballad of Philo Paul."
Who, you might ask, is Philo Paul?
He was a Union soldier who gave his life in the Civil War during a battle in Virginia. He was also the great-great-grandfather of T. Mitchell Bell, who researched his family and found a diary of his ancestor on the Web.
"Philo was 40 years old when he died. He had nine children, a 200-acre farm, a pretty good life. The Paul family was one of the original settlers in Amwell Township and very prominent in Washington County. I wondered why he enlisted as a private and left his family to go fight the war at 40? I think he wanted to go rather than his oldest son William W. Paul or maybe it was his best friend joined. I still don't know."
To tell Pvt. Paul's tale, Bell leaned on a deep family tradition: music. His great grandfather made fiddles in West Virginia, his grandmother played piano at his church, and his father is a jazz drummer who started him on harmonica when he was 12. Bell then started playing in bands and writing songs when he was a teenager, drawn by the folk-rock of James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
Recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, "The Ballad of Philo Paul" is a warmly produced record with lovely melodies, rich ensemble playing, styles that range from folk to blues-rock to gospel and, of course, Bell's delicate vocal and lyrical touch. It was mastered by Vance Powell, who worked on The Raconteurs' "Consolers of the Lonely."
Along with Philo Paul's ballad, Bell's debut jumps forward several generations in the family. "Since I had decided on the title track, I thought I would try to choose songs about my family if possible. 'Father's Face,' 'Manna Momma,' and 'Prodigal Son' I call my family trilogy, which is why I group them together. The hardest part was picking which songs to record. The players on the record helped, especially with Bryn Davies and Rachel Eddy having more of an old-time bluegrass background. Also, I wanted to pick more of my spiritually oriented songs since I was recording in a Christian-based studio. I don't think of the record as being a Christian record. I don't say 'Jesus' enough, but I do think that some of the songs have touched people and that's what matters to me as a songwriter."
The release show is Friday at 8 p.m. at the Rhythm House Cafe, Bridgeville. Admission is $10.
on a personal note, I've know mitch for 15 years and he's one of the good guys. His music is great and his story is better. His debut release pushing 50, come on that's awesome.
From AmeriSon Productions
Hey Folks,
If you read today's Post Gazette you might have read the review for Mitch Bell's great new CD. I'm proud to be the guitar player for his band at the release show on Friday night. Mitch has assembled a 10 piece band for this event and it is going to be quite a production. We rehearsed at the Rex Theatre last night and I know it will be a really great show. Should be lots of faces familiar to some of you - I hope all of you can make it.
The event is in the back room so of course drinks are available, but it will also be an all ages show, so bring the kids. This is my only local show this weekend so I hope I'll see some of you there.
Peace.
Time to roll...
Tom Breiding
Tom Breiding joins:
Mitch Bell and the Wandering Coalition
@ The Rhythm House
3029 Washington Pike
Bridgeville, PA
Friday, May 15th 8pm
$10 cover but for $15 the CD is included!
All ages welcome
Local Scene: Ballad of T. Mitchell Bell
Thursday, May 14, 2009
By Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
T. Mitchell Bell sings "The Ballad of Philo Paul."
Local roots musician T. Mitchell Bell makes his recording debut with an ambitious record called "The Ballad of Philo Paul."
Who, you might ask, is Philo Paul?
He was a Union soldier who gave his life in the Civil War during a battle in Virginia. He was also the great-great-grandfather of T. Mitchell Bell, who researched his family and found a diary of his ancestor on the Web.
"Philo was 40 years old when he died. He had nine children, a 200-acre farm, a pretty good life. The Paul family was one of the original settlers in Amwell Township and very prominent in Washington County. I wondered why he enlisted as a private and left his family to go fight the war at 40? I think he wanted to go rather than his oldest son William W. Paul or maybe it was his best friend joined. I still don't know."
To tell Pvt. Paul's tale, Bell leaned on a deep family tradition: music. His great grandfather made fiddles in West Virginia, his grandmother played piano at his church, and his father is a jazz drummer who started him on harmonica when he was 12. Bell then started playing in bands and writing songs when he was a teenager, drawn by the folk-rock of James Taylor, Bob Dylan and Neil Young.
Recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, "The Ballad of Philo Paul" is a warmly produced record with lovely melodies, rich ensemble playing, styles that range from folk to blues-rock to gospel and, of course, Bell's delicate vocal and lyrical touch. It was mastered by Vance Powell, who worked on The Raconteurs' "Consolers of the Lonely."
Along with Philo Paul's ballad, Bell's debut jumps forward several generations in the family. "Since I had decided on the title track, I thought I would try to choose songs about my family if possible. 'Father's Face,' 'Manna Momma,' and 'Prodigal Son' I call my family trilogy, which is why I group them together. The hardest part was picking which songs to record. The players on the record helped, especially with Bryn Davies and Rachel Eddy having more of an old-time bluegrass background. Also, I wanted to pick more of my spiritually oriented songs since I was recording in a Christian-based studio. I don't think of the record as being a Christian record. I don't say 'Jesus' enough, but I do think that some of the songs have touched people and that's what matters to me as a songwriter."
The release show is Friday at 8 p.m. at the Rhythm House Cafe, Bridgeville. Admission is $10.
on a personal note, I've know mitch for 15 years and he's one of the good guys. His music is great and his story is better. His debut release pushing 50, come on that's awesome.
Friday, May 1, 2009
oops
Oh yeah speaking of cover bands The E street band is coming too (shut your mouth).
oops. what does that say about this tour?
oops. what does that say about this tour?
coming events
Coming soon to a city with three rivers.
Dave Alvin
John Allaire
Dylan, Mellencamp, and Nelson
John Doe
John Cafferty
Willie Nile
Roger Clyne
Booker T.
Marah
The Hold Steady
Oh and lots of great performances from 8th street rox, Tom Breiding, Joe Grushecky, Bill Deasy, The Clarks, Pump Fakes, Jill West, and your host - Bill Toms.
and all this BEFORE the summer parks schedules are out.
Dave Alvin
John Allaire
Dylan, Mellencamp, and Nelson
John Doe
John Cafferty
Willie Nile
Roger Clyne
Booker T.
Marah
The Hold Steady
Oh and lots of great performances from 8th street rox, Tom Breiding, Joe Grushecky, Bill Deasy, The Clarks, Pump Fakes, Jill West, and your host - Bill Toms.
and all this BEFORE the summer parks schedules are out.
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