Snoqualmie, WA: Isadora's

Okay, this doesn't really count as a performance--it's rogue-logger-fiddlin'-friend Bob Antone's birthday, and he's invited friends to hear him play and to heckle--but I'm struck by two things worth sharing. One, Isadora's is a wonderfully funky spot, the kind of place that caters to everyone and seems in ever-shorter supply; and two, there are likely dozens of people and places in Seattle right now trying noticeably hard to be this real.

Bob's got the artist's soul, and plays and writes great music unlike anything I've encountered anywhere else. He and his brother, Mike, play host tonight to an unusual scene: everyone is captivated and dead-quiet fascinated while they're playing, but as soon as they finish a song and everyone whoops then people (pursuant to the heckling ground-rules in place) start yelling really dirty things. Thankfully, this mood subsides by the time I get up for a few (Bob insists).

Oh, and a third thing: you must hear this man sing.

Seattle, WA: Egan's

Egan's Ballard Jam House is one of my favorite rooms in town, and it's exciting to see folk start to discover it; reminds me of a much-smaller take on the Iridium, the Midtown Manhattan club where I was blessed with the chance to see the late, so-great Les Paul in 2005: such a great listening room, and such without sacrificing comfort or amenities! And, of course, always a treat to play/sing with Joe Jencks--we even practiced some for this one!

Everett, WA: House Concert

2009 was an awfully transitional year for this songwriter, and at some point in the spring I realized that I'd likely need a project into which to pour myself during choice stretches. Said project became By the Side of the Lake, a new album whose audio lies finished and perches just a couple of design/administrative steps from release. Indeed, I am thrilled to welcome 2010 with a house concert performance full of new tunes and old friends--a double-bill with Joe Jencks.

The cuts from Songs to Get You From Here to There were all tunes that I'd been playing quite a bit before hitting the studio (a process that limped mightily along itself), and thus even though I'd applied full-band treatment to several songs, I had solo arrangements secured prior to release. Kinda fun to work backward with this one: many of these tunes came together with the band, and I find as I toss them out there just-me that I'm still learning where some of the holes are and how they move. Plus, always interesting to see how (and to what specifically) people respond, and how it's never quite what I anticipate.

Joe was riffing between songs at one point about Woody Guthrie and "This Land is Your Land" contrasted with Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," which--as can happen 'in-the-round'--led me to introduce and play "Got Out Some," one of the new tunes (in which the bridge borrows from both aforementioned pieces). I know what I meant to say, and I don't know if I somehow swallowed a word or what, but what people heard was something regarding Irving Berlin's Woody. And a new bit is born...

2009 News Archive

12/30/09
Wes has posted two new tunes, “Remember When” and “Dear Abby,” from his forthcoming album (By the Side of the Lake) on his MySpace Profile (public) and Facebook Fan Page. Look for the full album in early 2010!

10/21/09
Songwriting Scene blog interviews Wes regarding the Seattle scene.

9/1/09
Wes adds mandolin to the song “Button” on UK singer/songwriter Ian Lang’s album The Whisper, slated for release later this fall. A new WW CD is also in the works—check back for updates!

4/29/09
Footage of Wes and audio from “Autumn’s Calling” are featured in a television spot promoting the Northwest Folklife Festival, now airing on Q-13 FOX.

3/20/09
“Carry On” appears on Victory Music’s new compilation CD, A Northwest Acoustic Celebration, Vol. 1, along with many other fine local artists.

3/10/09
Film from the full WW Band 5/8/08 performance at Conor Byrne Pub in Seattle now available on the WW YouTube Channel.

2009 Gig Archive

2009: Stickin’ around, makin’ a record...

Date	City	Venue

12/17/09	Bellevue, WA	Crossroads
10/17/09	Pasco, WA	Three Rivers Folklife Society Opening for Bill Staines
10/11/09	Charlottesville, VA	Private Wedding
10/8/09	New York, NY	Googie’s Lounge
10/3/09	Everett, WA	KSER Sound Adventure Aboard the Schooner Adventuress
9/24/09	Seattle, WA	Seattle Children’s Museum
9/12/09	Seattle, WA	The L.A.B. at Seattle Drum School
9/6/09	Richland, WA	Tumbleweed Music Festival
8/4/09	Seattle, WA	Maple Leaf Lutheran Church
8/2/09	Seattle, WA	Westside UU Congregation
7/24/09	Mercer Island, WA	Youth Theatre Northwest (Faculty Showcase)
July 18-19	Seattle, WA	Sound Transit Link Light Rail Launch
6/4/09	Kent, WA	Sunnycrest Elementary School
5/28/09	Seattle, WA	Seattle Children’s Museum
May 23-24	Seattle, WA	Northwest Folklife Festival
5/22/09	Bellevue, WA	KBCS 91.3-FM Interview/Performance
4/28/09	Edmonds, WA	Driftwood Players (Full-Band)
4/11/09	Everett, WA	House Concert
4/10/09	Bellevue, WA	Crossroads
3/20/09	Seattle, WA	Q Cafe
2/12/09	Seattle, WA	Seattle Children’s Museum
1/29/09	Bellevue, WA	Crossroads
1/8/09	Seattle, WA	Seattle Children’s Museum
1/3/09	Seattle, WA	House Concert

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Performance Notes

Thu., December 17, 2009
Bellevue, WA: Crossroads

Nice to close out a more reclusive, close-to-home year on a home-court gig. Looking forward to hitting it harder in 2010 with a new record!

Sat., October 17, 2009
Pasco, WA: Three Rivers Folklife Society (Opening for Bill Staines)

When I was very young, I refused to go to sleep until my folks had spun both sides of The Whistle of the Jay, and I still remember my father helping a 7-year-old me gather up all of my stuffed animals to take to a Bill Staines concert, where we sat in the back and held them up appropriately (yes, appropriately!) during the verses of “All God’s Critters.” How delightful (for me), then, that Bill couldn’t go on until I’d done my 25 minutes! A special evening for yours truly...

Thu., October 8, 2009
New York, NY: Googie’s Lounge (Above The Living Room)

Through my Northwest Home work—and general disposition—I’ve developed an acute defensiveness toward the prevailing New York ‘how could anyone live anywhere else?’ attitude: many are where they are for a reason, I counter, and their lives matter! But...this city really is unlike any other place imaginable (or not; further proof, Brooklyn-based friend Pat Wictor remarks, that the ‘NY-is-the-only-way’ approach is absurd). And Googie’s is a great little songwriter spot on up-and-coming Ludlow Street! Feels good to stretch out a little (and road-test some new tunes) after a largely close-to-home year thus far.

Sat., October 3, 2009
Everett, WA: KSER Sound Adventure - Aboard the Schooner Adventuress

What a day for a sail! (And not like last time, when the breeze howled at the dock and then died once we made our way out into the sound...) And kind fun to play for a very captive audience—little chance anyone’ll jump ship—but hard to shout down the wind.

Sat., September 12, 2009
Seattle, WA: SDS L.A.B.

The Seattle Drum School’s L.A.B. (‘Little Auditorium in the Back’) is a cool space, and it’s nice to be part of a ‘songwriter’ evening that’s not full of the usual suspects (much as I love ’em)—and probably good for me to learn a Neil Young tune, too (everyone had to do one). Particularly enjoyed Mary Lydia Ryan’s piano stylings, and always nice to hang with Steve Mason; additional co-bill props to Sarah Burgess, Judd Wasserman, and Zach Moss, who’ll be great fun to watch as time keeps marching on.

Sun., September 6, 2009
Richland, WA: Tumbleweed Music Festival

The ‘lucky’ 13th Tumbleweed festival, with a theme of Superstition to boot—figures it’d dump rain on the evening concert...in the desert (steppe...). Stays dry enough for my set, but plenty-windy; and there’s enough flat surface area on the back of an acoustic guitar (or, perhaps, significant dearth of available shielding material on the player’s bean-pole body) to catch the gusts pretty well a la a sail. Nice to be back on the buddy-system for a weekend with Joe Jencks, hear a great winning song from Mike Murray (who took home a trophy hand-made by yours truly), learn a very effective way to deal with hecklers from Tom Lewis, and visit with old and new friends alike. RIP, John F. Perry (1943-2009)—thanks for all you’ve done.

(From my post to the FAR-West list-serv earlier this year:)

The FAR-West community lost a gem with the passing of John Perry (66) last Friday, co-founder (along with his wife, Micki, and others) of Three Rivers Folklife Society in SE Washington State. Like any of us, John was a wonderfully complicated fellow, a folkie as folky as they come with a distinguished career as a nuclear engineer for the Navy and then local power companies. I could list a host of accomplishments and names in tribute, but I'd rather share an endearing memory and some personal thanks: What's remarkable about the vast, 'non-Seattle' expanse of Washington State known to most merely as 'Eastern Washington' is just how far away from the popular Northwest image of rain-in-your-Starbucks these communities lie: distance; climate; politics; life... I grew up in one of these towns--not near *anything*--and determined local citizens with a 'why not?' vision were the only reason I could be exposed to live music as a child. Under John's watch the Tumbleweed Music Festival (www.3rfs.org/tmf.htm) in Richland, WA, has grown to attract performers from across the country (without sacrificing a close, local feel), built a reputation for its splendid treatment of artists, and almost single-handedly revived a songwriting scene that had been spinning its wheels in places. John hand-made the trophies presented to the winners of the festival's annual songwriting contest, which feature striking copper-wire tumbleweed sculptures in a style John learned from his father-in-law. I will never forget John attending the house concert panel at the 2007 FAR-West conference. As the discussion began to wind down and artists looked for subtle ways to be seen by the panel, John started asking some pretty pointed questions about how certain templates might apply in more rural, conservative settings. He certainly violated the atmosphere of gentle-schmooze, and his style might not have won him any points, but his thesis deserves repeating: do not assume any community is less vital because it is less known. RIP, friend -

Sun., August 2, 2009
Seattle, WA: Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation

It’s not every day that one gets to contribute songs to a service with the sermon “Spiritual Practice: From Twitter to Prayer”...in a Masonic Lodge, no less! Can’t make it east to kick off the second decade of Gospel Sundays, so I suppose this is the next-best place to be...

July 18-19, 2009
Seattle, WA: Sound Transit Link Light Rail Launch (Rainier Beach Station)

I remember when ‘Light Rail coming in 2009’ seemed an eternity off, but here we are (and here I am singing at the opening). And come another ten or so years, the landscaping vision in place down MLK is likely to pay off handsomely as the trees fill out. For the time being, however, the sight of a scrawny songwriter inching slowly east to follow the shade of a scrawny Henderson Plaza tree as each afternoon dwindled must’ve been worth a chuckle or two... Nice to pass the musical time withAmanda and Erin , and really neat to finally ride the train when my four sets finally wound down—riding a subway through Seattle feels like I’m in a completely different city taking in new views!

May 23-24, 2009
Seattle, WA: Northwest Folklife Festival

Folklife has asked me to be ‘Community Coordinator’ for singer/songwriters at this year’s festival, a task which—after all requisite cat-herding jokes—I have enthusiastically embraced. What makes songwriter music different from anything else one might encounter at the festival (and one can certainly encounter most everything else here!) is that it is original music, so rather than host a performance of select individuals for my community’s ‘show,’ my crack-coalition has created events in the form of open, unamplified Emerald City Song Circles where anyone is welcome to share an original song (just as anyone is welcome to just come and listen!). Our hope is that this becomes a recurring way to celebrate local songwriting, and I think we’re well on our way. (I also had a normal set...and ended up on aTV promo from the local FOX affiliate...)

Tue., April 28, 2009
Edmonds, WA: Driftwood Players

Kinda nice to run the full outfit out there on a stage with some elbow-room. And a few choice prop-room finds really tied the set together...

Sat., April 11, 2009
Everett, WA: House Concert

Backing Nancy K. Dillon (good friend) and the UK’s Ian Lang (fast becoming good friend) tonight—sideman gigs don’t usually make it onto here (don’t know what I’d say in a dozen annual Reilly & Maloney entries...), but this one was so fun and new that it made the self-indulgent cut.

Fri., April 10, 2009
Bellevue, WA: Crossroads

Excited that Crossroads is trying a songwriters in-the-round format with one of its weekend dates, and can’t think of a better group with which to (half-)circle than Messrs. Larry Murante (New CD!), Orville Johnson, & Brad Warren—though, if the format sticks and Crossroads wants to do this again (I hope it does!...judging from several comments, folk dig it), we’ll have to get a female or two involved!

Fri., March 20, 2009
Seattle, WA: Q Cafe

Victory Music has long been a custodian of and presence in the local acoustic music community, and for the first time in quite a while it has released a new compilation of works from Northwest songwriters and artists: A Northwest Acoustic Celebration (Vols. 1 & 2). My tune “Carry On” appears on Vol. 1, so I’m joining many of the stellar other artists for a release concert tonight. Nice hall, nice crowd, and always fun to drag Erin along—the Vol. 2 concert’ll be April 17!

Thu., January 29, 2009
Bellevue, WA: Crossroads

It just works here. You wouldn’t think it would, but it does. And I love it! Good place to road-test some new tunes and keep the organization’s efforts humming.

Sat., January 3, 2009
Seattle, WA: House Concert

Joining Joe Jencks at the last minute for a pleasant gathering to kick off 2009 with potluck and song!

2008 Gig Archive

2008: Still Ramblin’

Date	City	Venue

12/5/08	Seattle, WA	Columbia City BeatWalk
11/15/08	Boise, ID	House Concert
11/11/08	Seattle, WA	Musicquarium Lounge @ the Triple Door (Full-Band)
11/2/08	Seattle, WA	Dusty Strings (Mandolin Workshops)
10/30/08	Bellevue, WA	Crossroads
Oct. 24-26	Mesa, AZ	FAR-West
10/13/08	Lake Forest, IL	Lake Forest College Guest Lecture: World Music Survey
10/12/08	Chicago, IL	Uncommon Ground
10/12/08	Clarklake, MI	Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty
10/5/08	Big Rapids, MI	House Concert
10/4/08	Saginaw, MI	White Crow Conservatory
9/26/08	Seattle, WA	Conor Byrne Pub (Full-Band)
Aug. 30-31	Richland, WA	Tumbleweed Music Festival
8/5/08	Seattle, WA	National Night Out: Block Party
7/20/08	Moscow, ID	Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse 10th-Annual Gospel Sunday
7/2/08	Seattle, WA	Musicquarium Lounge @ the Triple Door (Full-Band)
6/20/08	Seldovia, AK	Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival
5/22-28/08	Kerrville, TX	Kerrville Folk Festival
5/17/08	Renton, WA	Carco Theatre
5/8/08	Seattle, WA	Conor Byrne Pub (Full-Band)
5/8/08	Seattle, WA	Seattle Children’s Museum
4/20/08	Oysterville, WA	Oysterville House Concert
4/19/08	Bellevue, WA	Crossroads (Full-Band)
4/12/08	Pioneer, CA	Log Cabin House Concert
4/11/08	Nevada City, CA	KVMR Interview
4/9/08	Oakland, CA	Strings
4/6/08	Campbell, CA	TrueWind House Concert
3/27/08	Seattle, WA	Seattle Children’s Museum
3/22/08	Seattle, WA	Seattle Folklore Society
3/21/08	Portland, OR	Portland FolkMusic Society
2/3/08	Seattle, WA	Dusty Strings (Mandolin Workshops)
1/26/08	Maple Ridge, BC	Candlelight House Concert Series
1/20/08	Moscow, ID	Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse
1/12/08	Seattle, WA	House Concert

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Performance Notes

Fri., December 5, 2008
Seattle, WA: Columbia City BeatWalk

A few years ago friends of mine had a baby, who emerged with an awfully-full head of sandy hair that at times seemed to showcase frosted tips. People often asked my friends which stylist they used for their newborn... If they had needed to go somewhere to trick out the little guy, though, they might’ve wanted to check out this place, my venue tonight for the fabulous first-Friday BeatWalk event. Holiday displays (buy! buy!) have displaced us (brought Dave and Erin along) from the front window, but there’s nice space in the back—only catch (aside from low visibility): one of the items for sale in the store is the classic egg-shaker, and the kids on hand’ve found ’em (more snare, Dave...).

Sat., November 15, 2008
Boise, ID: House Concert

A house concert just as it should be: good folk (& good food!) filling a good room. Great hosting helps, too...!

Tue., November 11, 2008
Seattle, WA: Musicquarium Lounge @ the Triple Door

Could get used to food/drink/company this good; might try...

Thu., October 30, 2008
Bellevue, WA: Crossroads

I suppose this is a good economy to have work (especially in my field), but I’ve been worried my scrambling around will lead to a slip-up sooner or later, and tonight it happens: I can certainly get by without the forgotten tuner, and could get creative without capos (capoes?) if I had to, but I didn’t askAmanda to come all this way not to be able to play the songs in her keys... Thank goodness this’un starts on the early side (and traffic wasn’t bad!), and perhaps the two new capo(e)s I now own will live in my car’s ashtry near the extra cable, mic stand, guitar stand, and D-I that travel with me after having at one time or another been a ‘forgotten item.’ Otherwise, nice show/crowd...!

October 24-26, 2008
Mesa, AZ: FAR-West Folk Alliance Conference

Ah, the Hustle. Gotta show up now just to remind folk that I’m still around and at it. Kept plenty-busy this time running the Puget’s Sound Presents showcase room, playing numerous others, backing the versatile Rain Perry and former Leonard Cohen vocalist Julie Christensen (who also had original Stone Poneys member Kenny Edwards in tow—that was a fun collaboration!), stealing some baseball time with delightful roommate Pat Wictor, and avoiding the Crossroads Gun Club gathering happening concurrently. Not a lotta time left over for sleep...

Did learn this to pass along, however: if you’re gonna run from one showcase to another, flouncing into the second just a bit late to back up another singer, make sure the folder of charts you have is really full of your charts and some a similar manila folder full of someone else’s e-mail printouts. Just FYI.

Sun., October 12, 2008
Chicago, IL: Uncommon Ground

Seriously? 85° & sunny...in Chicago?? With co-bills bailing left and right (is it me?), couldn’t ask for better last-minute luck than FARM-fatigued (Sandy) Andina & (Stephen Lee) Rich. And the guilty friends making up for a half-dozen years of blowing me off by driving from Lansing (where a mutual friend just got hitched) to catch the show doesn’t hurt, either... Nice room (is an annual visit now tradition??), sound, and crowd—I’m content! (UG records and streams shows there—check out the ‘Radio’ links if you like...)

Sun., October 12, 2008
Clarklake, MI: Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty

“Almost too nice for church,” one woman says to me slyly while soaking in a ray or two on the stoop before the service. Hard to find strong fits with the Association Sunday plug—though community, as ever, abounds and folk’re willing to go with me—so what’s the harm in plugging my dear Reverend-cousin’s own work here? Now, off down the road...

Sun., October 5, 2008
Big Rapids, MI: House Concert

It’s a delightful family affair again, with one young removed-cousin wishing it were her show. Great visit, potluck, and after-excursion to the family farm...

Sat., October 4, 2008
Saginaw, MI: White Crow Conservatory

Ominous to see a road sign pronouncing Flint, MI, “CLOSED” on the drive up (perhaps it referred only to a stretch of I-475...couldn’t snap a pic in time, though we’ll see how the ones of the giant, in-transit pumpkins turn out). I do love neat spaces, and the White Crow is certainly that!—converted church with stage, studio, teaching spaces, in-house store, and fearless cat. Veeerry mellow pace to the evening.

Fri., September 26, 2008
Seattle, WA: Conor Byrne Pub

Well, I feel bad about this: I put a photo of the wrong “Boston to Austin” group on the poster—but hey, no one else made a poster... These B2A gals make a fine co-bill, as does the velvet-voiced, improv-skilled Robert (Sarazin) Blake, an old chum of Amanda’s...speaking of whom, after finally memorizing her new last name re: on-stage reciting, gotta start over with Erin. Interesting crowd/room tonight, but after so many Thursdays here we wanted to see what we might be missing.

August 30-31, 2008
Richland, WA: Tumbleweed Music Festival

In my family, it only takes once for something to become a tradition (in fact, I’d wager we have some ‘traditions’ that we’ve never actually carried out), so mychoice of shirt this year is an obvious one. And though they tried their darndest to get me double-time Saturday when the performer scheduled before me cut it close re: arrival time—and then effectively yelled “psych!” when the stage-power went out just as I was to go on (the blender from the smoothie-hut overloaded the breaker, I later hear...thought about announcing “smoothies on me!” during select others’ sets just for grins)—the extra slot comes Sunday when a projected no-show really doesn’t show... Nice to get at least as many positive comments on the performances themselves as the emcee work this year (I think folk’re just really used to bad emceeing at folk festivals...). Still a favorite event of mine.

Sun., July 20, 2008
Moscow, ID: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse 10th-Annual Gospel Sunday!

Can’t believe they’ve let us do this for ten years! I’ve never seen a crowd so big for any UUCP summer service (others concur), and though Dad and I’ll happily claim it, I’m sure it owes for to the imminent departures of one-time UUCP Music Director Cathy Green and Gospel Sunday Celebrant (and co-founder) The Rev. and newly-Doctored (maybe newly-‘Doctorated’—no plastic surgery involved...) Tami Moore, headed to Oklahoma...along with the Sonics... Love it when they come to sing!

Wed., July 2, 2008
Seattle, WA: Musicquarium Lounge @ the Triple Door

The best-laid plans... Drew up two sets tonight, plus a special five-song attention-grabber to insert whenever the mainstage show let out, but in hindsight I recognize two fatal assumptions: one, that we would have ample time/space to set-up; and two, that the esteemed mainstage headliner would not wrap before we were even underway (or all assembled for that matter...though nice of him to stick around for some of the set!). Once we settled some—which likely took me longer thaneveryone else given my personal makeup and the fact that I’d just come from a memorial service (R.I.P., Jim; glad to have known you)—’twas a nice evening in a fun room with a good (if occasionally over-enthusiastic) crowd. Whew!

Fri., June 20, 2008
Seldovia, AK: Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival

People come to Seattle and remark: “Wow!—water and mountains everywhere!” But all through my first twenty-four hours here in Alaska I find myself exclaiming: “WOW!—water and mountains everywhere!!” What a neat, unpretentious event in a marvelous setting (as billed) where one can walk anywhere (even to the airport to hop a John Deere ‘bush-plane’ back across the bay) and a tremendous community feel (even before a ton of family showed up!). Can’t wait for my next excuse to head back!...though the daylight plays with the sleep schedule quite a bit...

Sat., May 17, 2008
Renton, WA: Carco Theatre: Nelsen Middle School Concert Chorus Guest Composers Concert

My problem is that I don’t exaggerate like others do. I don’t drop ‘-est’ tags on everything, proclaiming each item I encounter in daily life the best, worst, or most-incredible thing ever, yet people shrug off my judicious superlatives as bombast or white noise just the same, assuming I’m like them in that respect (I’m not). I have, as folk point out regularly, a pretty good understanding of the English language, and if I need to use particular words—especially in writing—I will...so pay careful attention: whatBrian Hoskins is doing with his choir program at Nelsen Middle School is nothing short of remarkable and unlike any other comparable outfit in the region and likely beyond. What other middle school director is commissioning original works from internationally-renowned composers, flying others across the country (twice!) to deliver Gospel goods to people who need to be told, tackling works last seen by the Seattle Men’s Chorus...and premiering works by a local singer/songwriter who thinks he tells it like it is better than you do (he does)? What other seventh-grader gets to sing at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre without American Idol-style humiliation? What a gift to the community and to the lives of these students and families!!

A treat to hang with Pete Malinverni, Jody Sandhaus, Scott Warrender—and, of course, the kids!! Amanda joins for “Carry On”.

And a big raspberry to the punk(s) who bashed in the window of Pete’s and Jody’s rental car...

Thu., May 8, 2008
Seattle, WA: Conor Byrne Pub

Again, if I could get these folks insurance (and convince ’em that their own abundant, additional undertakings should take a back seat) then I’d conscript all to WW band life full-time. Alas... Alicia opens with a set of her own and then the full outfit takes it the rest of the way for a nice house (and one local celebrity-type—who might’ve proved helpful at the other in-town attraction this evening) kept up past bedtime on an almost-springlike Thursday in the Northwest-People’s Republic. I’m happy to bring this group in any time; wonder if the film turned out...

Sun., April 20, 2008
Oysterville, WA: Oysterville House Concert

The entire community of Oysterville lies on the Register of National Historic Districts (and has since 1976), and my host (Oysterville gentry herself) has much to do with the town’s present presence and preservation (say that three times fast). Great crowd, enthusiasm, and all-around gig, and I much enjoyed the walking tour (Sydney and Nyel live in No. 13, across from the church) and visit afterward. I eagerly await a return: ‘Oysterville’ is not just a clever name.

(Those’re some massive piles of oyster shells on the drive in. And I couldn’t help thinking of The Fog at times while strolling around...)

Sat., April 19, 2008
Bellevue, WA: Crossroads

The Crossroads contract reminds performers that “our audience takes offense to comments like ‘I can’t believe I’m playing a mall’ and other put-downs of the venue”—which is perfectly appropriate given the wonderful,previously-espoused live-music-model-in-unlikely-setting this particular mall has maintained for sixteen years—but you try keeping your cheeky, in-the-knowrhythm section in line for two full sets...on Brian’s birthday, no less! Good crowd as usual, and fun to debut a few new numbers/arrangements: Bon Jovi was meant to take the form of an acoustic waltz...

Sat., April 12, 2008
Pioneer, CA: Log Cabin House Concert

Not much one can do when the whole town has the flu... Still, sometimes the connection one makes to those in modest house-concert attendance—especially in such a strikingly-comfortable setting—is worth more than trying in front of scores in a noisy barroom. Fun, woodsy conversation before and after (learned about the Miner’s Cat), and figured this would be as good a time as any to attempt this forgotten chestnut, recovered a few days earlier whilst visiting an old friend who had unearthed a film from 2002.

Wed., April 9, 2008
Oakland/Emeryville, CA: Strings

What a cool model!: like other societies, etc., Strings members for their dues get great live music in a fabulous space and the chance to visit with one another at the regular events, hosted for fifteen years by one Joey Lent. Splitting a bill with Doug Blumer—late of The Westerleys and a truly great songwriter/entertainer/personality/presence—and pleased to be doing just that; nice pairing and fun night. These folk came to sing!

Sun., April 6, 2008
Campbell (San Jose), CA: TrueWind House Concert

If the spirit and benevolence it takes to host a house concert aren’t asking enough by themselves, TrueWind hosts Bev Barnett & Greg Newlon are doing it mid-remodel...and hosting a potluck and post-concert song-circle too! (Well, the potluck helps when you have no operable kitchen...) Nice in-the-round grouping/sharing, but the highlight comes after when the gathering becomes an episode of This is Your Life ambushing co-bill Ginny Mitchell, who finally discovers that the amiable gentleman who has sat right in front of her all night is in fact the very fellow whose dubious cover band played her eighth-grade graduation thirty-plus years ago and whom she has been trying to track down for more than a year. Love it. And better than thelast time I was in-area.

Sat., March 22, 2008
Seattle, WA: Seattle Folklore Society

Night Two with the fearsome foursome. Happy to pull double-, producer/performer duty, though glad to do it on the back end. Got all into road-mode and now I find myself back after ~26 hours.

Fri., March 21, 2008
Portland, OR: Portland FolkMusic Society

PFS and my cronies with Seattle Folklore Society have collaborated some with bookings this season, and this month comes a special Portland/Seattle songwriters in-the-round billing in both cities: me; Val D’Alessio; Dan’l McIlhenny; and Joni Laurence. Always interesting to trace the musi-conversational thread in ITR settings—didn’t think we’d stay on goats for two full passes...

Sat., January 26, 2008
Maple Ridge, BC: Candlelight House Concert Series

Yes, greater-Vancouver is effectively tropical Canada, but I still think all Canadians should know how to drive in the snow as a requirement for citizenship (though it is really coming down). Still, some hearty souls make it out to Pam Southwell’s welcoming abode—likely winding (or sliding) their respective ways there more efficiently than me (how many darned Dewdney Trunk Roads are there?!)—and a nice night is had by all.

Sun., January 20, 2008
Moscow, ID: Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse

Another Gospel-y MLK service with Rev. Jim-Bob at UUCP. Got a title this time: Guest Soloist (with the choir).

Sat., January 12, 2008
Seattle, WA: House Concert

Took away from the recent FAR-West conference the sense that house concert presenters want some video content...so I thought I’d film one. Thanks to Dustin Patterson (camera) and Alicia Healey (sound):

More HERE

2008 News Archive

9/4/08
GigDoggy, an on-line blog/forum for bands and musicians, quotes Wes (a ConcertsInYourHome.com featured artist) in an article on house concerts.

5/28/08
Reilly & Maloney release Brighter Light: A Tribute to Tom Dundee with Wes appearing on mandolin.

5/17/08
Nelsen Middle School Concert Chorus in Renton, WA, revives Wes’ arrangement of “Carry On” for its Guest Composers Concert. Wes again performs with the choir.

1/12/08
Film from Wes’ Seattle house concert is available on his new YouTube channel.