A Few Choice Words: Pat Wictor Newsletter, February 8, 2007
================== A Few Choice Words - February 9, 2007===========
By Pat Wictor
Subscribe: https://patwictor.com
================================================================
Friday, February 9, 2007
Friendship--A Creative Force
Ears and Eyes: What I'm listening to and reading
-Ben Harper, Os Guinness, and more
Upcoming Gigs & appearances
full calendar: https://patwictor.com
----------------------------------------------------------
Friendship--A Creative Force
----------------------------------------------------------
I've been thinking a lot about friendship, and what it has to do with folk music.
For musicians, friendship is a huge creative and productive force in our lives.
And not just for musicians. I just finished reading "Bowling Alone," by Robert Putnam. The author argues that social capital, which is a social science-y term for the combined webs of social relationships each one of us weaves, is central not just to creative careers, but to the stability and productivity of society as a whole. More face-to-face social activities means greater social capital: more people who we know, trust, and can turn to for expertise, support, and counsel on big and small matters in life.
Putnam correlates a high degree of social capital with greater economic prosperity, better health, safer neighborhoods, higher educational achievement, and a well-functioning political system.
I'd also add--though I can't prove--that it's correlated with greater creativity, musical / artistic and otherwise.
Musicians' careers are built on social capital. None of us would get anywhere without lots of people expressing support and care--not just for our music, but for us personally as well. And creatively, most of us would improve very little without interacting with our musician friends, picking up musical tips, sharing ideas and knowledge.
Folk music is special in that friendships form between everyone involved in it--musicians, audience, presenters, radio DJs, journalists--and help keep it running. Unlike other genres (where money and status often divide people), everyone's basically got the common goal of supporting the music, and it makes for an incredibly rich creative environment for performers to operate.
Friendship is front and center, the herald, midwife, and protector of our music, and the people who make it and enjoy it. So, thanks to all of you, my friends. Here's to friendship, and the good it does in our world.
Pick up a copy of "Bowling Alone," and let me know what you think. Also check out what other books I'm reading and what other musicians I recommend. Let's make some more social capital together.
-------------------
Links:
Robert D. Putnam, "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community."
buy the book: http://tinyurl.com/2zfo76
----------------------------------------------------------------
Ears and Eyes (what I'm listening to and reading )
----------------------------------------------------------------
--- Music
Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama, "Live at the Apollo."
Listen and buy the cd: http://tinyurl.com/27n44x
John Jackson, "Front Porch Blues."
Listen and buy the cd: http://tinyurl.com/38s4bz
--- Books
Os Guinness, "The Dust of Death: The Sixties Counterculture and How It Changed America Forever."
buy the book: http://tinyurl.com/2sdhzq
Thought-provoking and substantial, from a perspective very different from my own.
Steve Kowit, "In the Palm of Your Hand: A Lively and Illuminating Guide for the Practicing Poet."
buy the book: http://tinyurl.com/3xclpb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Pat Wictor Gigs & appearances
full calendar and links: https://patwictor.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 9, Darlington Arts Center, Boothwyn, PA duo show w/ Cheryl Prashker
February 10, Mozaic Room, Avon, MA opening for Dave Rowe Trio
February 17, Hillside Cafe, Nutley, NJ Kate Gaffney opens
February 18, University Cafe, Stony Brook, NY w/ David Jacobs-Strain
February 22-25 National Folk Alliance Conference, Memphis, TN Performance Alley and "guerrilla" showcases, w/ Cheryl Prashker
March 9, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY w/ Kate McDonnell
March 16, South Shore Folk Music Club, Kingston, MA
March 18, Acoustic Celebration, Ridgefield, CT
March 29, Uptown Concerts at Baldwin's Station, Sykesville, MD w/ The Laws
March 30, Outpost in the 'Burbs, Montclair, NJ Phil Ochs Song Night w/ Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie, and David Roth
March 31, Stone Soup, Pawtucket, RI Phil Ochs Song Night w/ Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie, and David Roth
April 1, Carriage Barn, New Canaan, CT Phil Ochs Song Night w/ Kim & Reggie Harris, and Magpie
April 4, Westchester Arts Council, White Plains, NY w/ Kathleen Pemble, Patrick Fitzsimmons, and the Brindley Bros.
April 13, Good Coffeehouse, Brooklyn, NY w/ Jud Caswell
April 14, Shenandoah Coffee House Series, Leesburg, VA w/ Dulcie Taylor & Eleni Kelakos
April 18, Acoustic Long Island, St. James, NY
April 19, Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA w/ Jon Shain
April 19, Wildflower Cafe, Bethlehem, PA w/ Jon Shain
April 20, Concerts at the Beach House, Lansdowne, PA w/ Jon Shain
April 21, 22 Below, New York, NY w/ Jon Shain
April 22, The Burren, Somerville, MA w/ Jon Shain & Danielle Miraglia
April 27, Club Passim, Cambridge, MA opening for Owen Plant
April 28, The Towne Crier, Pawling, NY opening for Patty Larkin
**FALCON RIDGE PREVIEW TOUR, May 6-20. Dates still being confirmed. Percussionist Cheryl Prashker accompanies me on this tour **
May 6, Watertown Barn Concert, Watertown, CT w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 11, Pioneer Arts Center (P.A.C.E.), Easthampton, MA w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 18, Outpost in the 'Burbs, Montclair, NJ w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 19, Common Ground Coffeehouse, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 20, Club Passim, Cambridge, MA w/ Red Molly and Ellis
- - - - - - - - - - -
Until next time: many thanks, and warm regards,
Pat Wictor
patwictor@earthlink.net
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Buy Pat Wictor's latest CD "Heaven Is So High...And I'm So Far Down" at CD Baby and Subway Records:
http://www.cdbaby.com/wictor4
http://www.subwayrecords.com/patwictor
Tell your friends to subscribe. Point them here:
https://patwictor.com
Do you want me to perform in your area, or at your home?
Contact my booking agent, McShane Glover
tel. 410-268-8232, or mcshane@mcnote.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
contact info
----------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT PAT WICTOR
Modern Man's Rob Carlson says, "He not only is a great guy and a great talent, but I believe he has, follicle for follicle, the best hair in folk music.
If you are interested in booking Pat Wictor, contact McShane Glover:
tel. 410-268-8232, or mcshane@mcnote.com
Bio: https://patwictor.com and http://www.myspace.com/patwictor
Philly Folk Festival Video: http://www.myspace.com/patwictor
Contact Pat Wictor directly: patwictor@earthlink.net
. . .
PRIVACY STATEMENT
Under no circumstances will Risky Disc, SLAB500, Pat Wictor, or any of
their affiliates, assign, sell, trade or receive payment for
licensing or disclosing your personal information, including,
without limitation, the names or e-mail addresses of subscribers.
SUBSCRIBING
To subscribe to "A Few Choice Words," visit: https://patwictor.com
UNSUBSCRIBING
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to patwictor@earthlink.net with "REMOVE" in the
subject heading.
------------------------------------------------------------
(c)2007 Risky Disc, Inc. All rights reserved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pat Wictor [https://patwictor.com]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You are subscribed as chuck@chuckecosta.com. Your user name is chuck@chuckecosta.com.
To unsubscribe from these mailings,
visit https://patwictor.com/index.php?page=users&unsubscribe=chuck@chuckecosta.com
or reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Powered by SLAB500 [http://www.SLAB500.com]
By Pat Wictor
Subscribe: https://patwictor.com
================================================================
Friday, February 9, 2007
Friendship--A Creative Force
Ears and Eyes: What I'm listening to and reading
-Ben Harper, Os Guinness, and more
Upcoming Gigs & appearances
full calendar: https://patwictor.com
----------------------------------------------------------
Friendship--A Creative Force
----------------------------------------------------------
I've been thinking a lot about friendship, and what it has to do with folk music.
For musicians, friendship is a huge creative and productive force in our lives.
And not just for musicians. I just finished reading "Bowling Alone," by Robert Putnam. The author argues that social capital, which is a social science-y term for the combined webs of social relationships each one of us weaves, is central not just to creative careers, but to the stability and productivity of society as a whole. More face-to-face social activities means greater social capital: more people who we know, trust, and can turn to for expertise, support, and counsel on big and small matters in life.
Putnam correlates a high degree of social capital with greater economic prosperity, better health, safer neighborhoods, higher educational achievement, and a well-functioning political system.
I'd also add--though I can't prove--that it's correlated with greater creativity, musical / artistic and otherwise.
Musicians' careers are built on social capital. None of us would get anywhere without lots of people expressing support and care--not just for our music, but for us personally as well. And creatively, most of us would improve very little without interacting with our musician friends, picking up musical tips, sharing ideas and knowledge.
Folk music is special in that friendships form between everyone involved in it--musicians, audience, presenters, radio DJs, journalists--and help keep it running. Unlike other genres (where money and status often divide people), everyone's basically got the common goal of supporting the music, and it makes for an incredibly rich creative environment for performers to operate.
Friendship is front and center, the herald, midwife, and protector of our music, and the people who make it and enjoy it. So, thanks to all of you, my friends. Here's to friendship, and the good it does in our world.
Pick up a copy of "Bowling Alone," and let me know what you think. Also check out what other books I'm reading and what other musicians I recommend. Let's make some more social capital together.
-------------------
Links:
Robert D. Putnam, "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community."
buy the book: http://tinyurl.com/2zfo76
----------------------------------------------------------------
Ears and Eyes (what I'm listening to and reading )
----------------------------------------------------------------
--- Music
Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama, "Live at the Apollo."
Listen and buy the cd: http://tinyurl.com/27n44x
John Jackson, "Front Porch Blues."
Listen and buy the cd: http://tinyurl.com/38s4bz
--- Books
Os Guinness, "The Dust of Death: The Sixties Counterculture and How It Changed America Forever."
buy the book: http://tinyurl.com/2sdhzq
Thought-provoking and substantial, from a perspective very different from my own.
Steve Kowit, "In the Palm of Your Hand: A Lively and Illuminating Guide for the Practicing Poet."
buy the book: http://tinyurl.com/3xclpb
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Upcoming Pat Wictor Gigs & appearances
full calendar and links: https://patwictor.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 9, Darlington Arts Center, Boothwyn, PA duo show w/ Cheryl Prashker
February 10, Mozaic Room, Avon, MA opening for Dave Rowe Trio
February 17, Hillside Cafe, Nutley, NJ Kate Gaffney opens
February 18, University Cafe, Stony Brook, NY w/ David Jacobs-Strain
February 22-25 National Folk Alliance Conference, Memphis, TN Performance Alley and "guerrilla" showcases, w/ Cheryl Prashker
March 9, Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs, NY w/ Kate McDonnell
March 16, South Shore Folk Music Club, Kingston, MA
March 18, Acoustic Celebration, Ridgefield, CT
March 29, Uptown Concerts at Baldwin's Station, Sykesville, MD w/ The Laws
March 30, Outpost in the 'Burbs, Montclair, NJ Phil Ochs Song Night w/ Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie, and David Roth
March 31, Stone Soup, Pawtucket, RI Phil Ochs Song Night w/ Kim & Reggie Harris, Magpie, and David Roth
April 1, Carriage Barn, New Canaan, CT Phil Ochs Song Night w/ Kim & Reggie Harris, and Magpie
April 4, Westchester Arts Council, White Plains, NY w/ Kathleen Pemble, Patrick Fitzsimmons, and the Brindley Bros.
April 13, Good Coffeehouse, Brooklyn, NY w/ Jud Caswell
April 14, Shenandoah Coffee House Series, Leesburg, VA w/ Dulcie Taylor & Eleni Kelakos
April 18, Acoustic Long Island, St. James, NY
April 19, Godfrey Daniels, Bethlehem, PA w/ Jon Shain
April 19, Wildflower Cafe, Bethlehem, PA w/ Jon Shain
April 20, Concerts at the Beach House, Lansdowne, PA w/ Jon Shain
April 21, 22 Below, New York, NY w/ Jon Shain
April 22, The Burren, Somerville, MA w/ Jon Shain & Danielle Miraglia
April 27, Club Passim, Cambridge, MA opening for Owen Plant
April 28, The Towne Crier, Pawling, NY opening for Patty Larkin
**FALCON RIDGE PREVIEW TOUR, May 6-20. Dates still being confirmed. Percussionist Cheryl Prashker accompanies me on this tour **
May 6, Watertown Barn Concert, Watertown, CT w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 11, Pioneer Arts Center (P.A.C.E.), Easthampton, MA w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 18, Outpost in the 'Burbs, Montclair, NJ w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 19, Common Ground Coffeehouse, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY w/ Red Molly and Ellis
May 20, Club Passim, Cambridge, MA w/ Red Molly and Ellis
- - - - - - - - - - -
Until next time: many thanks, and warm regards,
Pat Wictor
patwictor@earthlink.net
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Buy Pat Wictor's latest CD "Heaven Is So High...And I'm So Far Down" at CD Baby and Subway Records:
http://www.cdbaby.com/wictor4
http://www.subwayrecords.com/patwictor
Tell your friends to subscribe. Point them here:
https://patwictor.com
Do you want me to perform in your area, or at your home?
Contact my booking agent, McShane Glover
tel. 410-268-8232, or mcshane@mcnote.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
contact info
----------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT PAT WICTOR
Modern Man's Rob Carlson says, "He not only is a great guy and a great talent, but I believe he has, follicle for follicle, the best hair in folk music.
If you are interested in booking Pat Wictor, contact McShane Glover:
tel. 410-268-8232, or mcshane@mcnote.com
Bio: https://patwictor.com and http://www.myspace.com/patwictor
Philly Folk Festival Video: http://www.myspace.com/patwictor
Contact Pat Wictor directly: patwictor@earthlink.net
. . .
PRIVACY STATEMENT
Under no circumstances will Risky Disc, SLAB500, Pat Wictor, or any of
their affiliates, assign, sell, trade or receive payment for
licensing or disclosing your personal information, including,
without limitation, the names or e-mail addresses of subscribers.
SUBSCRIBING
To subscribe to "A Few Choice Words," visit: https://patwictor.com
UNSUBSCRIBING
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to patwictor@earthlink.net with "REMOVE" in the
subject heading.
------------------------------------------------------------
(c)2007 Risky Disc, Inc. All rights reserved.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pat Wictor [https://patwictor.com]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You are subscribed as chuck@chuckecosta.com. Your user name is chuck@chuckecosta.com.
To unsubscribe from these mailings,
visit https://patwictor.com/index.php?page=users&unsubscribe=chuck@chuckecosta.com
or reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject.
Powered by SLAB500 [http://www.SLAB500.com]