Glenna Bell: News

Hey, Everybody!  The New Year is off to a great start.  Pick up a copy of the Houston Chronicle today (January 5, 2012) for a preview of what all I have planned for 2012 in Joey Guerra’s “Houston Bands Gear Up for a Busy 2012.”  If you’re not in Houston, you can check it out online at this link:

http://www.29-95.com/

I just got a call to let me know that my current release, Perfectly Legal: Sex, Love and Murder, was ranked in the top 100 on the Roots Music Report’s “Most Airplayed Roots Country Albums of 2011,” and an email came in from Austin, TX deejay Rowdy Tijmes to inform me that he’ll be featuring my song, “The Cougar Anthem,” on his syndicated Rowdy Radio show all week next week!  You can tune in online if you’re not within the broadcasting range of these radio affiliates:

http://www.rowdyradioshow.com/Affiliates.html

It’s going to be another exciting new year.  Don’t forget to check out the shows, songs, and pictures at www.glennabell.com in 2012.  Have a wonderful weekend.  Stop by Pizzitola’s BBQ on Saturday around one o’clock if you’re in Houston.  See you soon.  Y’all come!

‘Tis the Season, Everybody!  I’m sure that you’re busy getting ready for the big day ahead, but I wanted to stop and take a few minutes to send some end of the year cheer to you and yours.  This would be a wonderful gift to pass along to other music lovers in your life, too, because after going out shopping for just the right thing, it is refreshing (and a relief) to find something so cool and yet so unique that you can be sure they don’t already have it . . .  And IT'S FREE!

www.thebluegrassspecial.com

A word about The Bluegrass Special:  This is, by far, my favorite music source these days, due to its integrity, stunning depth and breadth of coverage (not just bluegrass!) and quality of writing (not surprising since their editor in chief was a Rolling Stone music critic for twenty five years, as well as the Country Music Editor for Barnes and Noble.com, plus writing/editing for several of the most reputable trade magazines in the business and having published critically-acclaimed books on Steve Earle, BB King, and Carl Perkins).  I am sincerely honored to have been featured in this fine and unique e-zine last January when my album, Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder, was released:

http://thebluegrassspecial.com/archive/2011/jan2011/indexjan2011.html

And I’m flattered that they decided to showcase my song, “Be My Valentine (On Christmas),” this month in their fourth annual holiday issue!  In this new world of blogging hacks, the Bluegrass Special stands out as a shining star, a beacon of hope for the future in an industry that has been dominated by the closed-network, payola system that has demeaned mainstream, commercial music for decades now.  I encourage you take a walk off the beaten path, to click and discover a plethora of the most incredible independent musicians in the business who’ve been hand picked for display by a true aficionado who has devoted much of his time to creating this invaluable, one of a kind go-to source for music and more. 

In this special December issue you will find a wealth of wonder to while away the downtime during the holidays.  To quote the editor’s introduction to this month’s issue, there’s “more cotton pickin’ Christmas music than you’ve heard outside of Santa’s workshop; Christmas fiction; Christmas in verse (including seasonal sentiments from the Immortal Bard himself); stories behind some of the great Christmas songs, including the one about the tragedy that spurred Robert May to write “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”; a Jewish writer’s perspective on Christmas and Hannukah; five 20^th Century animated Yuletide classics from the Walt Disney Studios; the complete Johnny Cash Christmas Show from December 23,1970, with guests including Mother Maybelle Carter and Ike Everly; and the story of the real Virginia O’Hanlon of ‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus fame.’ We got DICKENS, we got TOLSTOY, we got LONGFELLOW, we got MAYA ANGELOU, we got RALPH KRAMDEN, we got LOUIS ARMSTRONG, all bringing glad tidings.  Plus interviews with RICKY SKAGGS, about his wonderful Skaggs Family Christmas Volume Two CD/DVD set, and with ANONYMOUS 4’s MARSHA GENESKY about the early music quartet’s ever expanding Christmas catalogue (this is a slightly abridged version of our December 2010 cover story).  And much, much more . . ."

And that’s not all, Folks . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEOoBDLbUXo

This charming video was shot at historic Sugar Hill Studios here in Houston, and presents an up-close live performance, including short interviews, with two of the most inspirational Texan singers in music today:  Johnny Bush who wrote Whisky River (most recognized as covered by his long-time friend, Willie Nelson) and Roy Head (best remembered for his 1965 hit, “Treat Her Right,” as well as his dancing and live stage antics that are compared to Little Richard and Elvis!)  Speaking of Elvis, on this Youtube video, Roy tells a priceless story of meeting The King back in the day.  Hah!  And on top of that, he includes some witty “uncut” lyrics in this special Sugar Hill rendition of the song. 

I was certainly pleased to be included on the new Sugar Hill Studios 70^th Anniversary CD/book that features Roy Head, Johnny Bush, and over forty talented artists who covered hit songs that were originally recorded at the studio through the years.  And I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the CD since the release on December 4 at the Continental Club.  Click on the link above, and I’m sure you will agree that Johnny Bush and Roy Head have proven that, as they say, age is nothing but a state of mind.  These are two of the most energetic, passionate, and riveting performances that I’ve ever seen, and I feel more determined than ever to continue to follow in their gigantic footsteps, day by day, and year by year to the end.  Now, THIS IS TEXAS.

Some tracks from Hits from the Hill that I find myself revisiting again and again include JP Richardson’s “Running Bear” covered by Kevin Ryan, Freddy Fender’s “Think About Me” covered by The Children with Gaylan Latimer, “Garner State Park” covered by The Triumphs (BJ Thomas’s band), “Apple of My Eye” covered by The City Kings, “It’s Raining” covered by the Champagne Brothers, “Miles and Miles of Texas” covered by Clouseaux, “Don’t Stop the Music” covered by Don Sanders, “Chantilly Lace” covered by Herschel Berry, “Tore Up Over You Medley” by Sleepy Labeef, “Too Far Gone (To Turn Around)” covered by Love Street, and Joli Blond covered by Classical Grass – Heck, there’s so many good songs on this CD!  A picture paints a thousand words, so see and hear for yourself at

http://www.zenhillrecords.com/70-years-of-sugarhill-hits-on-cd

The show at the Continental Club two Sundays ago was a moment in my music journey that I will never forget.  It felt like a family reunion, and I was reminded of the lasting friendships that have developed through the years without even really realizing it.  Nothing can ever replace the memories and moments shared with kindred spirits.  I’m wishing you and yours another Happy Holiday season and many moments and memories to cherish for the future.

Y’all come!

Hey, Everybody!  Exciting news.  This week I’ll be flying to New York and staying at a hotel in Chelsea, where I’ll be rehearsing with a theatrical team who will be staging my show at Hill Country BBQ in NYC Friday night!  It will be quite an experience to work with a director, lighting designer, and stylist to create a total experience, and I’m especially looking forward to getting back on stage with NYC music veterans Jeff Eyrich on upright bass and Steve Kirkman on guitar.  Hill Country’s bringing an authentic Texas time to the Big Apple, too—even going so far as to import Blue Bell ice cream and Shiner Bock beer to complement the barbecue and Texas music on their big, lighted stage.  It’s going to be such a fun way to celebrate the night after Thanksgiving, so I hope that those of you in the New York area can make it out for supper and/or drinks at the bar, and please spread the word if you know anybody who might be looking for an urban cowboy getaway to shake off that post-Thanksgiving dinner haze.

Then, on Saturday I’ll be revisiting the quaint, colonial town of Bethlehem, PA, amidst the snowy Pocono Mountains, a scene reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell or a Hallmark at this time of the year with the Christmas season in the air and the centuries-old streets all done up in lights.  I’ll be opening for Roy Bookbinder at the Godfrey Daniels Theater with its exquisite sound and intimate stage—a true listening room experience that is increasingly rare these days.  It was wonderful to see some of you at my last show there back in August, and I hope that you can make it out again Saturday night.  We can drink coffee and talk during the intermission after my set, then enjoy the headlining act:

. . . Roy Book Binder has earned his stripes . . . “The Book” traveled with The Rev. Gary Davis in the 60's, re-discovered Pink Anderson and revived his career in the 70's and has been included in The Blues Who's Who & The Big Book of Blues . . . “The Book” left Greenwich Village in 1976, moved into a tour bus and lived on the road for the next 15 years!  Roy borrowed from his heroes to become a distinct voice in the Blues and Folk music world.  “The stories are as good as the songs,” said The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia . . .

As another grand adventure unfolds before us here at year’s end, I thank you for joining me again on this road less traveled.  I’m wishing you and yours another Happy Thanksgiving and many dreams come true this holiday season. 

Y’all come!

Friday, November 25

7:15-8:30 p.m.

Hill Country BBQ

30 West 26th Street
New York New York 10010
US 212-255-4544

http://www.hillcountryny.com/

Saturday, November 26

8-8:30 p.m.

7 E. Fourth Street
Bethlehem Pennsylvania 18015
US (215) 867-2390

http://www.godfreydaniels.org/home.aspx

Hey, Everybody!  I have great news.  I sang and played today for an audience of college students who really inspired me with their response to my performance, so for the first time ever I just posted all of my songs from Face This World (2005), The Road Less Traveled (2008), and Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder (2010) in their entirety on my Web site at www.glennabell.com

I’m also in the process of scheduling shows in New York and Pennsylvania, so I will keep you posted.

Happy Halloween.  And y’all come!

Hey, Everybody—Good News!  I received a letter from the ASCAP office in Lincoln Center, NYC, and they say that I’ve been awarded an ASCAPLUS endowment by the ASCAP Panel, Popular Music Division.  The award recognizes me for my “contribution to American music this past year.”  In case any of you haven’t heard of ASCAP, it is The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which is “a membership association of more than 410,000 U.S. composers, songwriters, lyricists, and music publishers of every kind of music. Through agreements with affiliated international societies, ASCAP also represents hundreds of thousands of music creators worldwide.” What a great feeling to be acknowledged by such an organization for my music!

And it's perfect timing, too, because now I’m in the mood to celebrate, and it just so happens that I’m preparing for a special weekend of music with guest artist, Brian Molnar (of the East Coast band, Brian Molnar & the Broken Hearts).  I met Brian when he booked me to play the Avenue A Records showcase at Banjo Jim’s in Greenwich Village on a Friday night last July, and when he told me that he’d be coming to Texas, I was more than happy to host him here in Houston with a line-up of appearances before he travels onward to San Marcos, Austin, and Dallas.  His new record, Of the Fall, has been climbing the AMA chart and hit #1 on the Roots 66 chart this week! 

First, we’ll be joining radio host, Laura Slavin, on her popular late-night show, Laurapalooza, tonight (Thursday, September 29) at 11:15 CST.  You can listen to us live on the air at 90.1 FM if you’re in Houston or online at www.kpft.org no matter where you might be.  Then, on Friday (September 30) at 5:30 p.m., Brian will perform live at Cactus music, one of the last independent record stores in the U.S.  If you live in Houston and haven’t been to Cactus, it is quite a unique and wonderful experience, and I hope that you’ll drive on over to 2110 Portsmouth Street (near Shepherd and 59 south) to hear Brian on Friday.  I’ll be there, too, so don't be a stranger.  I’d love to see you!

On Saturday we’ll make our way to one of my favorite places to play, historic Pizzitola’s BBQ, which I’ve written about so often in my newsletters.  It is a real step back in time, one of the only restaurants left in Houston that actually feels like you’re in Texas—the brick pit is seventy years old and still firing up that east Texas hickory and cookin' those ribs just right.  No wonder the NY Times named it the Best BBQ joint in Houston for 2010.  We’ll be hosted at Pizzitola's BBQ by my friend and fellow songwriter, Jimmy Pizzitola, in an intimate, acoustic setting during the lunch hours between noon-2:30 p.m.  Check out Pizzitola’s at http://www.pizzitolas.com/, and swing by this real-deal, independently-owned Houston venue on Saturday afternoon (October 1), meet Brian and say hey!  You can even bring the little ones to this family-friendly place!

For the grand finale, we’re throwing a hoedown Saturday night (October 1) at The White Swan, an ambient little spot in my old neighborhood just east of downtown near the original Ninfa’s on Navigation.  Like Pizzitola’s BBQ, The White Swan is a rare piece of Houston history, a venue that has been in business since 1948, owned by the same family for all those years!  I love that they haven’t updated it much—it’s about as close as you’ll get to the feel of an authentic Texas juke joint inside the Loop these days, but with a good sound system and engineer!  I’ll take the stage at 9 p.m., followed by Brian at 10, Jimmy at 11, accompanied by the hot young Mason Lankford and his Folk Family Revival, who will be topping it all off at midnight with a house-rocking, high-energy send off as Brian heads west to his next destination, Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, and the Folk Family Revival prepares to travel to Nashville for a special appearance at the Americana Music Association’s annual trade conference.

I tell you what, this is going to be a lot of fun, so everybody in Houston PLEASE try to make it out to The White Swan Saturday night, and let’s show Brian Molnar a warm Texas welcome (no pun intended!).  We really want to fill it up, draw a crowd.  It'll be worth your time.  An experience you won’t forget.  Something off the beaten path.  Please forward this email.  Bring friends!

Check out The White Swan at . . .

http://whiteswanlive.com/wp1/

Check out the music at . . .

Mason Lankford & The Folk Family Revival: www.folkfamilyrevival.com

Jimmy Pizzitola: www.poetontherun.net

Brian Molnar: www.brianmolnar.com

Glenna Bell: www.glennabell.com 

And y’all come!

Hey, Everybody!  I’m back in Houston now on the heels of an unforgettable six weeks on the East Coast.  One of my favorite memories is traveling through the gorgeous Pocono Mountains for my guest deejay appearance on Roots, Rock, & Revolution with host, Big Kev Ploghoft on WLVR 91.3 FM in beautiful Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  It was something else to be able to sit behind the board for a change and play some of my favorite songs by artists I know personally and artists I’ve admired from afar.  There was lots of storytelling and personal anecdotes, too, and it’s always great fun to cut up in the studio with Big Kev.  I just got word that the show will be rebroadcast tomorrow evening, so I hope that you can tune in to the Wildman Steve Radio Network on August 17 from 8-9 pm CST at

http://www.wildmansteve.com

Not long ago, I read about some new studies which have indicated that listening to radio is more relaxing than watching television.  I’ve been trying to take at least an hour a day to check out different programs online when I might otherwise be in front of the TV, and it really does seem to do a world of good to set aside some time to just sit and listen or even to do some housework to the commercial-free strains of an old or new tune that you’d never hear on mainstream radio today.  Lately, I’ve been discovering some fantastic free form, blues, jazz, and a variety of roots-oriented programs hosted by some incredibly creative and knowledgeable people in the non-commercial radio industry from coast to coast.  If you’d like for me to recommend some of the best shows that I've found so far, just email me, and I’ll be glad to pass along some links.

In the meantime, have some fun while there’s still some summer sun.  Until next time . . . Y’all come.  Y’all come!

Wednesday, July 27 from 8-9 p.m:  PATH Cafe, 131 Christopher Street (Songwriter Showcase hosted by Christine Sante)

http://www.pathcafe.com/

Hey, Everybody!  Just checking in to let everyone in NYC know that I’ll be the special guest artist from 8-9 tonight at Christine Sante’s songwriter evening at the PATH Café, conveniently located near the Christopher Street/Sheridan Square Station in the West Village.  I’d love for you to come out to this one; it’s the kind of casual, welcoming place where we could have a chance to visit a little before or after my set.  And if you get there between 7-8, you can also hear Christine, which is quite a pleasure.  A mutual friend of ours who was a Rolling Stone music writer for many years played me a song off one of Christine’s albums when I was in Manhattan in May.  Her soulful storytelling and her distinctive voice made a lasting impression on me, so I was glad for the chance to see her live at the PATH last week, and found myself captivated by her striking persona and a stage presence that complements her gritty acoustic blues style. 

The PATH Café has good coffee, too, in a real cup and saucer, which is all too rare these days.  And they have wine and beer, smoothies, tea, and food.  Here’s a link: http://www.pathcafe.com/

AND . . .

Friday, July 29 from 10-11 p.m:  Banjo Jim’s, 700 East 9^th Street (Avenue A Records Showcase)

http://www.banjojims.com/gigs.htm

I’m also looking forward to an exciting time on stage Friday (July 29) from 10-11 p.m. at Banjo Jim’s on the Lower East Side, a cool little spot unexpectedly situated at the edge of historic Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet City that reminds me of an old Texas watering hole, equipped with a mighty powerful window unit and stocked with plenty of ice cold beer to beat the New York heatwave!  Avenue A Records is hosting an Americana music showcase with a line up of six acts, including my friend Mark Abernathy, who will accompany me during my set after fronting his band, The Sabre-Rattlers, between 8-9 o’clock.  Mark has a new album called Twixt Me and the Peaceful Rest, which has become a treasured addition to my personal music collection.  It’s a gorgeous contemporary production of early nineteenth century hymns recorded with a sound filtered through all manner of musical Americana — gospel, blues, Appalachian folk, traditional country, and early rock’n’roll—and passionately performed by some of the most well-recognized names in the Texas/Americana music industry today whose talent has imbued this sound with a timeless energy that reflects the fervor and zeal but also the despair of the people who struggled through the growing pains of a new nation.  When I first heard the record, I was caught off guard by how immediate the lyrics are today as we navigate these tides of flux and change.  I find myself revisiting these songs of old more than most these days, and every time I hear them they bring me a renewed sense of strength and inspiration that I'd like to pass along to you now . . .

You can listen here.  (You might want to start with All Is Well, which features a stellar back up vocal by my friend, Sarah Sharp in Austin, Texas—an exquisite track on all counts):

http://www.sabre-rattlers.com/music

And you can read Mark’s interesting impressions of each hymn here:

http://www.sabre-rattlers.com/about-the-record

And come hear us live Friday night at Banjo Jim’s:

700 East 9^th Street and Avenue C

http://www.banjojims.com/

Or meet me at the PATH tonight:

http://www.pathcafe.com/

Or both!

(If you live in NY.)

Y’all come!

Please VOTE online by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.  I’ve been nominated for Best American Roots Female Vocalist!

Hey, Everybody!  Yesterday, we rolled into Manhattan around mid-afternoon after a sunny, breezy weekend in rural Pennsylvania where I performed Friday night to a packed house at the Godfrey Daniels Theater in the quaint little town of Bethlehem.  Thanks to all of you who joined the email list, and “welcome.”  I enjoyed meeting you and visiting with you after the show, and I hope that you’re enjoying the CD’s, too.

Tonight (Monday, July 18) I’ll be playing in Greenwich Village at a great little spot called Gizzi’s, where I debuted last month.  I really like this place, as it has the “feel” of New York the way one would imagine it to be.  It’s a diverse line up of acts, including jazz and poetry, and I go on from 7:30 – 8:15 p.m.  The address is 16 W. 8th Street, New York, NY 10011, and there’s a link on the calendar page at www.glennabell.com.  I hope some of you in NYC can make it out.  It's a comfortable venue where we'd have a chance to catch up for a few minutes after my set.

Also, I’d like to ask everyone to take a look at an impressive new online magazine devoted to all that is “Americana” music, The Alternate Root, whose readers have nominated me for Best American Roots Female Vocalist, along with the likes of Mavis Staples and Wanda Jackson!  I’m honored to find myself placed amongst such established singers on this list, and I would appreciate it if you could set aside a few minutes of your time to vote for me at the link at the bottom of this email.  When you click on it, you will see some brief directions on the upper right hand side of the page.  They ask you to set up an account, so I tried it, and it’s actually very easy.  They don’t ask for any personal information, and it takes only a few seconds.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see my friend Jimmy Pizzitola’s album, Poet On The Run, has been nominated for Best American Roots Debut Album.  I can genuinely say that it is one of my favorite records.  Jimmy is a gifted singer-songwriter, and he produced, engineered, and performed every part on the album out at his family’s ranch in Stafford, Texas surrounded by many decades of colorful family history and Texas memorabilia.  The recording’s simple charm, minimal backing, and earnest delivery of substantial lyrics really grabs me and takes me back to a time when American songwriting was burgeoning.  So I hope that you’ll vote for Jimmy, too.  I think the world could use more albums like Poet On The Run.  You can listen to Jimmy's songs by clicking the “play” icon at the top of http://www.poetontherun.net/?section=links and VOTE AT:

http://www.thealternateroot.com/alternate-root-weekly-features/readers-choice-poll

Y’all come!

Hot Off The Press—Bucko Reacts To Glenna Bell in Manhattan in Cowboylands!  A Must Read:  http://cowboylands.net/blog/2011/06/sex-love-and-murder-or-glenna-bells-perfectly-legal-tale/ . . .

Hey, Everybody!  I’ve been to New York and back since the last time I wrote you, played shows at five distinctive venues over Memorial Day weekend—the sold-out Music On 4 house concert in an artsy Manhattan brownstone, a collegiate Triple A radio station in pastoral Connecticut, a vibrant coffee house scene in the quaint town of Peekskill, NY, a convivial afternoon concert in a hidden knoll shaded by a canopy of centuries-old trees in Mt. Kisco, NY, and a classic, four-star candle lit supper club in Pawling, NY.  I’ve been home for a couple of weeks now, enjoying playing my regular gigs in Houston—the Saturday lunches at historic Pizzitola’s BBQ and the Honky Tonk Happy Hour Wednesdays at the old church turned juke joint called the Hideaway on Dunvale.  I’ve been reading some good books, too, mostly about the history of folk music, and I’ve been spending time with my dogs while working here at my old house near the edge of downtown Houston and listening online to my favorite non-commercial radio shows from coast to coast.   It's been one of the hottest summers in Houston's history with temperatures topping 100 degrees and wildfires breaking out in the rural areas due to drought. 

The other day, when I was cleaning house, I came across some pictures that I posted at www.glennabell.com.  I’d forgotten about them, and they date back a few years, so it was nice to stop and relive those moments for a few minutes.  There’s me with producer John Evans and engineer Steve Christensen at Sugar Hill Studios in 2007 when I recorded Willie Nelson’s “Family Bible” for the studio’s House of Hits compilation (UT Press, 2010).  Me with my family, receiving the House Resolution honoring my music from State Representative, Jessica Farrar, at the Capitol in Austin in 2007.  Me at Bolivar Peninsula for the “Hurricane Shoot” with photographer, Amy Morris, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008.  (The devastation was leveling.)  “Hunkering down” on the front porch of my hundred-year-old-wood frame house with my dogs, Elmer Brave Heart, Princess Lilly, Lord Gleason, and Little Joe before Hurricane Ike ravaged the Gulf Coast.  Playing the Johnny Cash Bash in 2010 at the Continental Club in Houston with Nick Gaitan on upright bass and playing Houston’s landmark roots music venue, Cosmos Café, in 2005 with Brad Jones on standup bass.  Posing in the KPFT 90.1 FM studios with Wide Open Spaces morning show host Roark Smith here in Houston last November.  And facing Big Kev’s camera with Carlene Carter on a cold day in NY two years ago.  Memories old and new . . . Click on the first photo, which is the album cover for Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder, and they will unfold for you as a short slide show set to music.  I also posted a few more songs and recent reviews of Perfectly Legal from American Songwriter, the AllMusic Guide, BlogCritics.org, and USA Today, plus Q&A’s from The BluegrassSpecial.com and Songfacts, so I hope that you will take a look/listen at www.glennabell.com when you have a few minutes.

I’m flying to Newark on Thursday for a month-long stay in Manhattan and shows scheduled through early August.  As always, I’d certainly appreciate your help in getting the word out by forwarding these dates along to anybody you might know who enjoys live performance in the NY area:

• Friday, June 24 from 9-10 pm:  Gizzi’s, 16 W. 8^th St. in Greenwich Village
• Sunday, July 10 from 3-5 pm:  Starving Artist Café, 249 City Island Ave. in the Bronx
• Friday, July 15 from 8-8:30 pm:  Godfrey Daniels Theater, 7 E. 4^th St. in Bethlehem, PA
• Friday, July 29 from 10-11 pm:  Banjo Jim’s, 700 E. 9^th St. in NYC
• Friday, August 5 from 7:15-8:45 pm:  Hill Country BBQ, 30 W. 26^th St. in NYC

Spread the news.  Oh, happy day . . .  Y’all come!

Hey, Everybody!  I’m gearing up for another trip to the Big Apple next week for a few shows in NYC, Peekskill and Pawling, New York.  All of the details are at http://www.glennabell.com, and I’m hoping that you will help me spread the word via Facebook and/or forwarding this email to people you might know in the area.  I’ll be kicking it off next Thursday, May 26 with Jeff Eyrich on upright bass and Steve Kirkman on guitar at the Music On 4 house concert in Manhattan.  We’re really hoping to pack the house, literally-speaking in this case.  I love the invitation that they sent out the other day:

“Dear Friends,

These are exciting days…our next show, May 26th… will be one that should be a must on your calendar.  

We are thrilled to introduce into your musical portfolio and bring to your attention an artist who brings the heart and soul of Texas to New York.  This is not your spit-polished studio performer; this is a true grit singer who grew up in the east Texas lumber towns of Pineland and Lumberton.  Glenna is known as the “real deal” in Austin.  Her music is Texas.

On May 15, 2007, Glenna was honored in a ceremony at the Capitol on the Floor by the Texas House of Representatives with a House Resolution for her musical contributions to the Lone Star State.  This is a show not to be missed!  And, as if this were not enough… joining Ms. Bell will be two most amazing musicians: Steve Kirkman on guitar, and our very own favorite, Jeff Eyrich, on upright bass.

So, if you’re not planning to head southwest anytime soon to hear what moves the earth in that part of the country, then you surely must attend this show.  We can fit Texas in our living room!

MUSIC ON 4 is distinctly privileged to present

The Daughter of Texas

Glenna Bell

Please join us for an evening of acoustic music in an intimate setting.

Wine and cheese will be served.  All contributions ($20 pp) go to the Musician.
This evening is made possible through the generous funding of I-Link Mechanical.

Reservations required.  RSVP at musicon4@earthlink.net or 212-662-2320.”

Wow.  They’re really rolling out the red carpet, aren’t they?  And that’s only the beginning.  After Music On 4 on Thursday night, we’ll be embarking on a late night drive to Peekskill, NY where I’m anticipating sharing an evening of music on Friday, May 27 at the Peekskill Coffee House as a guest of Fred Gillen, Jr.  Here’s a nice write up about him from his Web site, http://www.fredgillenjr.com:  “A prolific independent songwriter, Gillen has also released two CDs with the traveling hootenanny Hope Machine.  He has toured all over the U.S., Ireland, Germany, and Czech Republic and has built a devoted, cult following everywhere he's gone. He's received a NY Foundation For The Arts grant, has been President of Hudson Valley Music Collective Tribes Hill, and has spoken on panels at Folk Alliance conferences.”  I’m especially looking forward to meeting Fred and hearing his stories of hootenannies and life on the road in Europe!  This is the stuff that music is made of . . .

In the afterglow of the evening in Peekskill, we’ll journey onward, destined for Pawling, NY, with a stop along the way for a Saturday afternoon secret show at a location to remain undisclosed by request of the powers that be.  Pretty intriguing, huh?  I thought so—who knows what to expect as another adventure unfolds before us on the way to Pawling, where we’ll open for the inimitable Lipbone Redding Orchestra Saturday night, May 28 at the popular Towne Crier Café in Pawling, NY.  Late last winter, I was introduced to Lipbone in a dark, moody corner booth at the Living Room on the Lower East Side and was taken by his story when I read about him at http://www.lipbone.com:  “Inventive singer/songwriter/ guitarist / voice-instrumentalist and former subway musician, Lipbone Redding revs up the party and creates original songs that effervesce with New Orleans swing, Memphis grooves and New York City style.  Known for his ability to use his vocal to sound exactly like a trombone, it’s hard to tell the difference -- unless you witness the phenomenon live.  Lipbone and his two-man orchestra make for a show greased with uncanny riffs of vocal trumpeting, booming mouth percussion, hilarious side moments and esoteric lyrics.”  Lately I’ve been thinking that a real showman is all-too rare in music these days, and so it will be a welcomed opportunity to share an evening with an act who brings such excitement to the stage.

It’s certainly a lot of fun to pursue your passion, to imagine what you can do and see how close you can get to your wildest dreams.  I thank you again for joining me here on this road less traveled.  I just posted some songs on my Web site and a picture of me singing a duet with my friend Jimmy Pizzitola at Lynn’s Longbranch Saloon the other night, accompanied by real-deal Texas fiddler, Hilary Sloan.  And I’m signing off now, getting ready to head over to my weekly Wednesday evening Honky Tonk Happy Hour guest appearance at the Hideaway on Dunvale here in Houston.  Life goes on.  There is no place like home.  Y’all come!

Hey, Everybody.  It's me again.  It's been a mile a minute around here, and I’ve been "in the moment" from moment to moment for some time now, which is why you haven't heard from me since before SXSW.  Thanks to all of you who've emailed me and who've found me on Facebook lately!  All is well, and many exciting adventures continue to unfold here on the road less traveled:

Tomorrow (Saturday, April 30), I’ll make my annual pilgrimage to the American Consumer Consortium headquarters in Houston’s breezy downtown Second Ward barrio to perform at one of my favorite events of all time, the annual puppet show by the artist, Natali Leduc, who designed the gorgeous cover that many of you have seen on your copies of Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder, also featuring the photography of Theo Anderson.  Natali is an amazing, award winning artist, who truly lives the life in her East End warehouse district studio where she creates concoctions and contraptions that never fail to surprise and tickle me.  Each year the puppet show is something that local art scene insiders turn out for with lawn chairs and coolers in hand. This time the show will feature live shrimp!  In fact, it is a live shrimp puppet show that goes something like this:  “Abierto the little shrimp is a big disappointment for his father who was dreaming small for his son. Where will his ambition lead him? One should not underestimate the repercussions that a little shrimp's decisions can have on the world. Action filled!  Naked Shrimps! Madness!  AND Glenna Bell with The Texas Hotdogs AND Jimmy Pizzitola!”  The location and directions are posted on the calendar page at www.glennabell.com and I’m also posting new show announcements and pictures from SXSW, so I hope that you’ll take a minute to check out the site.  I especially like the picture of me and the North Mississippi All Stars at Big Kev's radiothon in Austin.  It was a lot of fun to play the line up with such a cute, talented young act!

To date, there are appearances scheduled for the first weeks of May in Houston, including the lovely Saturday lunches from 1-3 at historic Pizzitola’s Barbecue at Shepherd and I-10 for a family friendly step back in time, as well as a special engagement at the University of Houston on May 7 at the art school’s Cookout and Outdoor Music Festival, and some exciting full band appearances on Wednesdays during the Honky Tonk Happy Hour at the old church house-cum-juke joint called The Hideaway on Dunvale, just outside the Loop on Hwy 59 south. 

Later in May, I’ll be flying back to New York for some more shows with veteran musicians Steve Kirkman (Pete Seeger, Red Molly, Hope Machine) on dobro and slide guitar, along with Jeff Eyrich (Tim Buckley, Bette Midler, Dave’s True Story) on upright bass.  I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our recent performances at the Living Room and Googies in the Lower East Side, and I’m looking forward to bringing another big dose of East Texas to the Manhattan house concert, Music On 4 on May 26, and then onward to the Peekskill Coffee House in Peekskill, NY for an evening with Fred Gillen, Jr. (http://www.fredgillenjr.com/) on May 27 and The Towne Crier Café, opening for Lipbone Redding (http://www.lipbone.com) in Pawling, NY on May 28.  I can't think of a better way to spend Memorial Day weekend.  Business is great.  People are terrific.  Life is wonderful.  Y'all come!

I posted a song on my Web site today in memory of someone who has touched my life and music:  http://www.glennabell.com

The way that I met John Pickering is a matter of twists and turns.  Back in 2006, I received a phone call to meet with a producer from Palm Springs, California.  Ronnie King (the Offspring, 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Slim Thug, Mariah Carey, and Rancid) was in Houston recording rap acts at the time.  Ronnie told me that he wanted to record an artist who really “sounded like Texas,” so that’s why he had arranged to get together with me.  On a trip to Dallas, I stayed up all night after a show, writing a song called “Can’t Get My Mind Off You” in a small room atop the old Sears Building, overlooking the lights of downtown.  Back in Houston, Ronnie and I ended up recording a traditional country version of that song, which is a very heartfelt and beautiful waltz.  Then, the following year when I was recording The Road Less Traveled (2008) at Sugar Hill Studios, I happened to be “reading the wall” during a break, and noticed a newspaper clipping about a man named John Pickering of the vocal group, The Picks, who recorded three-part harmonies behind Buddy Holly on "That'll Be the Day," "Oh Boy!," and "Maybe Baby."  To my surprise, John was living right here in the Houston area, and I’d had no idea!  I mentioned John to chief engineer, Andy Bradley, and Andy put us in contact.  As they say, the rest is history.  I decided then and there to re-cut “Can’t Get My Mind Off You” as a rollicking, rockabilly tune that would suit John’s style and technique.  I’ll never forget the wonderful day that we spent together at the studio or our lunch at the Mexican food place out on old Telephone Road with Sonny West, who wrote "Rave On," and John’s first-hand recollections of his touring with his family act in the 1940's and his time in Clovis, New Mexico in the studio with Buddy Holly, who went to grammar school with John's wife, Vicky.  We've kept in touch through the years, and I'm so glad that I had the chance to meet John and Vicky along the way down this road less traveled.  I will always remember John's good advice and encouragement in my music—he said I reminded him of Buddy. 

"John Winton Pickering, age 77, of The Picks, The Pickering Brothers, The Pickering Family Quartet and various musical groups died of complications following a stroke in Houston, Texas, at 9:47 p.m. 2-28-2011."

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/ThePicks.html

I will miss you, John.

Hey, Everybody! Here's a link to my performance the other night at Googies above the Living Room in New York City. Though the video is somewhat rough, I really like it. It has a sort of hazy look to it that reminds me of ghosts, and Jeff Eyrich looks very mysterious silhouetted in the foreground, while Steve Kirkman looks like "an old soul" in the background--it has a timeless feel. I also like the way you can hear the soundman telling the freelance videographer to shut off the camera—really has that "bootlegged" quality: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnL76BEtj00

Another highlight was riding with the Paul Thorn band, along with Big Kev, from his home in Kearny, New Jersey at the edge of the City to BB King’s in NYC for the annual Al Kooper birthday party show. For anybody who doesn’t recognize the name, Al is known for his work with Bob Dylan and Blood, Sweat & Tears, as well as many other big name acts, AND he especially invited Paul to perform on his birthday. I’ll tell you what—you just won’t meet a nicer bunch of guys than the Paul Thorn Band. Check them out at The Paul Thorn Band

It was certainly a pleasure to hang out with Paul and his band for the evening when they weren’t on stage, and the best part was we had to be there by 3 p.m. for sound check, so I was just sitting there like a fly on the wall, watching Al Kooper work through his “cameos” with each act that he had invited to play for his birthday. You just can’t beat that—anybody can see the live show, but to observe an artist of his caliber working behind the scenes is truly a rare experience. Lots of things are happening.  As always — Y’all come!

Next week I’ll be playing in NYC on Thursday, February 10, at 9:30 p.m.—this time at Googies Lounge on the Lower East Side, which is an intimate listening space situated above The Living Room at 154 Ludlow Street, where I first appeared in November.  I’ll be joined again by Jeff Eyrich on upright bass, and this time Steve Kirkman will be accompanying me on slide guitar:  http://www.livingroomny.com/googies

Jeff Eyrich has recorded and toured with Tim Buckley, John Cale, Bette Midler, Dave’s True Story, and currently with Lipbone Redding.  His production credits include work with T Bone Burnett, The Blasters, and The Plimsouls: http://AlbumCredits.com/pro/JeffEyrich 

Steve Kirkman, whose talent is well known in the area, is a member of the Hudson Valley group, Hope Machine, as well as playing with Pete Seeger, Red Molly, Kelly Flint and Anthony DaCosta.  His sound recalls guitarists such as Ry Cooder and Marc Ribot.:  http://www.stevekirkman.com/

If you live in New York or know people who do, please help me spread the word on Facebook or by forwarding this email.  Many thanks to those who thought to do that in November when I debuted at the Living Room.  It worked—the turnout was strong enough to be invited back.

 Y’all come!

A note from my publicist, Mark Pucci:

“Reviews of Glenna’s new CD have been nothing less than stellar.  Noted UK magazine, Maverick, said in its 4 ½ star review of the new CD: ‘Glenna Bell's acoustic folk-country canon is oddly different, almost addictive.’  The Houston Chronicle said of her songs: ‘Efficiency is the key to Bell’s music, both in her writing and in her vocals.  Once you hear just a few of her songs, it’s impossible to shake the feelings they evoke.’  In a review of her last Living Room show, The Bluegrass Special stated: ‘…between-songs patter and her lyrics bespeak a writer’s focus on narrative integrity: all the pieces fit and make sense…Onstage she evinces the charming, unself-conscious seductive quality of a woman whose down-home manner isn’t a pose she’s affected as a show-biz gimmick but rather is simply who she is.’ And perhaps Country Music People said it best when it declared, ‘Anyone who cares about the past and future of country music should buy this incredible disc.’”

Oh, and there’s also a really great new Q&A in Songfacts with pictures, video, and audio.  Check it out at http://www.songfacts.com/blog/writing/glenna_bell/

Good news!  Tonight, my producer and duet partner, John Evans, will be on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, along with long-time friend and collaborator, Hayes Carll.  So many people have admired “Honky Tonk Man” since Perfectly Legal was released in October, and this is a chance to see John Evans—the man behind that voice—on national television.  In honor of the occasion, I’ve posted a duet that John and I recorded for each of my three albums at www.glennabell.com

• “Honky Tonk Man” from Perfectly Legal: Songs of Sex, Love and Murder (2010)
• “Jackson” from The Road Less Traveled (2008)
• “Moving On" from Face This World (2005)

Congratulations, John!  Have fun tonight.

And y’all come!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErTNg3trj54

Y'all come!

Guess what, Everybody -- I was sitting here just before midnight tonight in snowy Kearny, New Jersey, where they filmed some memorable scenes from The Sopranos--just the other side of the Holland Tunnel from NYC--watching the Buddy Holly movie on t.v., listening to True Love Ways and adoring it for the thousandth time, when I was quite pleasantly surprised by a link that I found in my inbox as I was shutting down the computer for the night.  It's a Q&A that I did last month with a very talented writer, David McGee, for The Bluegrass Special at www.thebluegrassspecial.com

David called me from New York after attending my show at the Living Room on November 21, and we had a really good talk.  He made me feel right at home, telling me of his youth in Oklahoma and his drive through east Texas and the Big Thicket with his sons, so I was perfectly comfortable "baring it all," as they say.  Later, I found out that David has written for Record World, Rolling Stone, Spin, and Pro Sound News and published biographies of Steve Earle and Carl Perkins, as well as being the country music editor for Barnes&Noble.com!  Wow--what can I say but that you gotta read this one!  He even included a variety of pictures and a copy of the House Resolution honoring my music that I received from State Representative Jessica Farrar at the Capital in Austin!

And there's MORE:  I've been working on compiling a list of links to send out soon so that everyone can see all of the wonderful things that music aficionados from the US to the UK are saying about the new album.  I'm happy to report that Perfectly Legal was a top favorite of 2010 on quite a few writers' and radio hosts' lists at year's end, and sales have been strong with several shipment reorders from Burnside since the release on October 19. 

Crash on the Levee with Jerry Treacy at WFDU was like a dream.  What a fine program and a first-rate station, situated on such a quaint college campus where the first FM signal was ever broadcast right into NYC!  And after the show, I participated in a lovely musical event at The Mission in West Milford, New Jersey--a gathering of musicians in a beautiful old church, which doubles as a premier listening room that seats about 200!  Tomorrow, I'm looking forward to talking with Jeff Eyrich, who accompanied me on upright bass at the Living Room, about another show there in the near future.  And on Saturday between 9 and noon EST, I'll be joining Big Kev Ploghoft as the first musical guest on his brand new radio show at FM 91.3 WLVR in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, then over to Allentown to perform for a studio audience between 1 and 4 pm EST at FM 90.3 WXLV on a live broadcast of Big Kev's Big Country Revue.  I must say, the new year is looking very good . . .  Y'all come! 

Happy New Year, Everybody!  I’m planning to write a more proper New Year’s greeting ASAP, but at the moment I’m in haste to catch a plane to Newark because I’ll be appearing on a popular free-form roots music program Saturday morning—Crash on the Levee, with host, Jerry Treacy, on WFDU-FM.  Those who live in the NYC area can listen on the radio at 89.1 FM, and everyone can listen online at www.wfdu.fm 

I’ll be on the air from about 10 a.m. EST until about 10:45 or so, and I’m really looking forward to it because it will be the first time I’ll meet Jerry in person.  We’ve been corresponding for a while, and I’ve come to see him as a genuine supporter of non-commercial music.  I’ve enjoyed his newsletters and am impressed by all of the good work he’s doing to promote community radio and, specifically, roots genres!  Check out his program Web site at www.crashonthelevee.com and Facebook page at http://www.facebook .com/jerry. treacy#!/ ?ref=home

I’ll play a few songs live, and we’ll spin a couple from the new record and just sit and visit.  It is a rare thing these days . . .  Y’all come!

Click www.glennabell.com to hear Glenna Bell’s Christmas Song, Be My Valentine (On Christmas), playing for you “in stereo.”

Dear Everyone—It’s a beautiful, mild and sunny day in Houston, and I’ve been enjoying a quiet morning with my dog, Lilly, here at our hundred-year old white, wood-frame house in downtown’s east end, second ward warehouse district.  It’s amazing how silent it is in the midst of this vast city—all I can hear outside is the chirping of birds and the occasional barking of a dog or churning of a train passing through.  It is the perfect day for unexpected good news that came in the form of a phone call from friend and musical collaborator, Jimmy Pizzitola, who informed me that Perfectly Legal was one of the Houston Chronicle’s top local album picks of 2010!  I haven’t read the article yet, but, for those in the Houston area, it’s in today’s entertainment section of the paper (Thursday, December 23).  And everybody can check it out online with just a click of the mouse at http://www.29-95.com/music/story/my-favorite-houston-cds-2010  

I noticed that there are also quite a few videos of the local acts, which the writer, Joey Guerra, observes are very diverse, reflecting the great diversity of Houston itself.  He says, “Houston music isn’t hip-hop.  It isn’t indie-rock.  It isn’t Texas country, either. (Whatever that means.)  The truth is, there’s no wholly defining sound to the city . . . I believe that messy, all-over-the-place vibe is what makes Houston great.  Rap and rock collide with bluegrass and folk.  Salsa and pop occupy space alongside country and jazz.  And most all of it seeped into my favorite Houston albums of 2010.  It was tough narrowing down to these precious few, and there were many more worth repeat listens.  But I thought about what remained a constant on my iPod and what, even now, makes me smile or get a little misty-eyed . . .” 

Thank you, Joey!  I think you've got me feeling a little misty-eyed, too!  Once again, I am flattered to be on this list, and proud to be a part of such a hometown scene that is like no other. 

And Happy Holidays to “Each and Every One.”  I hope that yours is whatever you had wanted it to be or whatever you never would have imagined that it could be . . .  Don’t be a stranger, now.  I would love to hear from you when you have time--as always . . . Y’all come!

Well, I made it back to Houston, just in time to beat the airport rush at Newark.  The Living Room show in NYC was like a dream, playing such a well-respected listening room in such a great city with such talented musicians accompanying me—Jeff Eyrich and Pat Wictor—a connection that comes through my publicist, Mark Pucci in Atlanta, someone who has proven to me that there really are respectable people in the music industry today!

I’m just writing to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving.  As a little holiday treat, I’m including a link to a Youtube video that has really inspired me.  I am not one to sit around online all day, but this video is truly worth a few minutes of your time.  Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” is, in my opinion, the epitome of what a solo performance can be.  It is so sad that I will never be able to meet him because he passed away.  But I will keep him in mind and close to my heart as I continue to pursue this “road less traveled.”

 Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody.

 Y'all come.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

Good news!  I just got word that my song, The Cougar Anthem, made this week’s recommended play list on USA Today.  Click the link below to find out who else is in the “top ten.”  You might be surprised:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2010-11-08-listenup_TB_N.htm

Y’all come!