October 1st, 2008 . by MacNichol
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September 24th, 2008 . by MacNichol
Check out an interesting blog with frequent discussions of mandolins and music at www.mandoron.wordpress.com
From the About page:
Hey there! By some stroke of luck(or perhaps divine providence) you are reading the blog of Ronnie Burgess. I’m a husband, father of two, Christ-follower, musician, wanna-be songwriter, supervisor, and probably a few other things.
As you may have guessed from the blog title, I play acoustic and electric mandolin in Edge of Grace, the worship band at GracePoint Church.
I originally hail from Oklahoma City, but I’ve lived in Wichita for 11 years now. I’ve been employeed in the general aviation industry the entire time.
I’m hoping to use this blog to inform, to inspire, to debate, and to entertain. I will do my best not to bore you.
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September 24th, 2008 . by MacNichol
Check out www.ezFolk.com a site with plenty of great resources for folk music enthusiasts.
The site’s description:
“Our MP3 section currently hosts more than 2,700 artists who are sharing more than 11,000 free MP3s, and if you’re an artist we’d be happy to have you join us.”
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September 5th, 2008 . by MacNichol
Singer-songwriter, one-man-band Adam Michael Rothberg is new to the Boston area, but not new to the music world. Adam was named one of the 2008 Northeast Regional Finalists in the Mountain Stage NewSong contest.
Berkshire Living’s August 2008 issue calls Adam “the Berkshire’s answer to Paul McCartney….ANOTHER SPIN is at once a testament to Rothberg’s love affair with music and his love affair with love, and suggests that distinguishing between the two isn’t always so easy.”
In July 2008, The Boston Weekly Dig had this to say: “He’s toured with Joan Baez, produced Dar Williams and performed with the best of the local folk scene, but now it’s Rothberg’s turn to step out of the folk shadows, and the result, Another Spin, is lyrical poetry and multi-instrumental duty. (He plays the guitar, piano, udu, mandolin, percussion and the Turkish oud!)”
Adam’s clever, bittersweet, and nostalgic lyrics, are showcased on his latest release, “Another Spin” supporting his vocal talents as well as skillful playing on just about every instrument on the CD. As with his first album, “All the Whispering,” Rothberg wrote, performed, produced, and engineered “Another Spin.”
The musical styles on “Another Spin” reflect influences including The Beatles, Randy Newman, Mark Knopfler, Elvis Costello, and Wilco.
Check out cameo performances by singer-songwriter Catie Curtis on two tracks: “Here I Go Again” and “Do You Still Love Me.” Jeff Stevens adds sweet, rich trumpet parts to two tracks: “Seasons Shuffle” and “Gonna Last.”
Since relocating to Cambridge from the Berkshires in August 2007, Adam has performed locally at the Lizard Lounge, Club Passim, the Middle East, Bull Run Restaurant, and Natick Center for the Arts. Meanwhile, he is planning house concerts and CD release parties in Cambridge, the Berkshires, and throughout the region.
You may read more about Adam Michael Rothberg by visiting his site.
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September 2nd, 2008 . by MacNichol
Bruce Mandel’s acoustic guitar, keen lyrical ear, and intimate and honest voice have traveled with him across the country and through musical territory both new and familiar. With the release of his second CD, Between Dreams and Regrets, Mandel adds fresh layers to the ground covered in his first, Follow Your Heart. After all, what lies between dreams and regrets but the gritty reality of our complex lives?
The diverse sounds of his new CD—contemporary folk, Americana, bluegrass, folk rock—reflect the breadth of Mandel’s experience. He grew up in the suburbs of northern New Jersey, rocking out to the Beatles and playing in bands. Listeners familiar with the great singer-songwriters of the ’60s and ’70s won’t be surprised to learn that at a young age Mandel happily absorbed the rich and varying styles of The Eagles, Dan Fogelberg, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, The Motown writers, and Jackson Browne.
After college and many a warmly received performance in the folksy coffeehouse scene, Mandel did what most musicians do sooner or later and headed to the city—New York, Philadelphia, and Atlantic City opened their arms wide as he hit the road with Top 40 bands, honing his technique and his ear. He settled in Atlantic City for a time, taking the chance to work as an entertainment technician for the Entertainment Department at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. While soaking up the experience of working alongside the likes of America, Ronnie Milsap, Tanya Tucker, Tom Jones, and The Temptations, Mandel stayed true to his calling, writing and producing his own songs.
After attending a songwriting convention in Durango, Colorado, in 1992, Mandel felt the pull of the area’s open musical community and soon relocated there. The impulse proved a good one as he quickly became a true presence in his new home, opening in concert for nationally and regionally touring songwriters, and performing a mix of covers as well as his growing repertoire of soulful originals. His work in Durango culminated with his co-founding of the Annual Durango Songwriter’s Expo in 1996. This popular event that features listening sessions, showcases, seminars, panels, and networking opportunities has attracted new talent and high-profile musicians and industry experts alike, and continues to grow and spread to new locations around the country.
Mandel picked up his guitar and returned east in 2001, where he has settled deep into the artistic community of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Produced and recorded in his own studio, Between Dreams and Regrets traverses the musical and emotional ground between Colorado and the Berkshires. The lyrically driven songs are both personal and probing, whether Mandel is writing from his own experience or weaving the ballad of another’s, as in “Irene Kibbe,” about a young Polish emigrant during World War II. While sometimes delicate, sparse, and reflective—as in “Winter Falls” with its gentle acoustic guitar and cello—Mandel’s sound is at other times full and layered, as he mixes the tones of the mandolin, accordion, clarinet, trombone, dobro, and cajón. Throughout this newest album, however, the acoustic guitar maintains its constant presence, as does Mandel’s warm voice and distinct style.
“What happens when you dig down deep?” Mandel asks in “At the End of the Day.” Perhaps Between Dreams and Regrets, a musical expression of life’s varied landscape, is itself as good an answer as any.
For more information about Bruce Mandel, please visit his website.
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August 22nd, 2008 . by MacNichol
Check out the acoustic duo Lawn Jockey at www.lawnjockeymusic.com.
The acoustic duo Lawn Jockey is comprised of Elmwood Park, IL singer/songwriter/composer Tom Henry, and Henryetta, OK songwriter/composer Scott Stokes. The duo split in 2000 shortly after the release of “Jethro’s Revenge” which received critical acclaim. Both Tom and Scott are veterans of the stage and studio and have performed locally, regionally, and nationally.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Tom and Scott agreed to put forth a new release in much the same vein as “Jethro’s Revenge”. The new release will contain elements of Folk, Psycho-Bluegrass, and Celtic flavored originals, and will be aptly titled “Out By The Cement Pond”.
Recording of the new release will occur in the coming months, and an internet release is slated for early 2009.
Posted in Acoustic Guitars, Artists, Larrivee Guitars, Mandolins | No Comments »
August 21st, 2008 . by MacNichol
To help support independent acoustic musicians, MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins has established an Artist Support Program, in which MacNichol provides independent acoustic artists with $100 accessories (strings, capos, picks, slides, etc.) credit per year, along with discounts on musical instruments.
To qualify, artists must meet the following criteria: 1) Primarily play acoustic music. 2) Have released at least one album on an independent label. 3) Have a website devoted to their music (myspace or similar pages are acceptable). 4) Perform at least 30 live performances per year.
For more information or to apply, please contact MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins at info@macnichol.com or 1-800-849-3305.
Posted in Accessories, Acoustic Bass Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Artists, Instrument Care, Mandolins | No Comments »
August 10th, 2008 . by MacNichol
Rick Spreitzer, Americana Singer/Songwriter, is among the many who have discovered the unique sound and benefits of playing a carbon fiber guitar. Rick plays two CA Guitars models, a GX Performer (now known as 8M-CE) and a Cargo. Rick says of his GX Performer:
“I was fortunate enough to be offered an artist endorsement from Composite Acoustics back in the fall of 2007. Being something of a codger and oldwooden soul, I was a little skeptical of a guitar made entirely of carbon fiber that is essentially molded and baked into form. I’m here to tell you, the Performer GX with the LR Baggs I-Mix onboard system has made a believer out of me.
Unplugged, the guitar has incredible balance across all six strings. From subtle fingerstyle to my mongrel thumb-thumping, percussive aggression, the Performer GX delivers equally well. The intonation is spot on (and superior to any instrument I’ve ever owned). Given the absence of a neck-body heel, I can (and have) literally capo’d as far south as the 12th fret. The integrity of the notes remain intact. I love the neck profile (which is something of a soft, broad “c-shaped” contour) and the 1 3/4″ nut width. It really suits my left hand, strummed or played fingerstyle and takes well to alternate/open tunings.
The LR Baggs I-mix is straightforward but allows for a lot of tonal control. Given my thumb-heavy attack, some pick ups capture a lot of unwanted “whap” and rumble. Not so with the Performer GX and I-Mix combination: I can really crash the soundboard without worry. Plugged in, the Performer GX is warm, meaty and balanced. I carry a Feedback Buster in the case, but I rarely need to use it. It’s a hassle-free guitar, plugged in and as such, is great for the mystery-meat of house PA’s.
Given I play most of my shows close to home (in North and South Carolina), there are ample opportunities for outdoor gigs and festivals. The carbon construction allows me to focus on the tunes, not the humidity. Same goes for tossing her in the truck and traveling. No worries there. Since early 2008, the CA Performer GX has become my main stage guitar and it seems like almost every other show, someone approaches and asks about it. Sometimes it’s a slack-jawed, “I think I just saw a UFO” look (due to the unique construction and design of the guitar). More often it’s a head-shaking “wow” from hearing that warm and meaty tone from a seemingly unlikely source. Not quite a year into owning this guitar, I’m an unabashed carbon convert.
I just ran across this great CA dealer from Salt Lake City, Utah who keeps a good supply of Composite Acoustics on hand and has genuine mom and pop store appeal: MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins. Michael’s been great to deal with and I just ordered a Composite Acoustics Cargo from him. With a trip to the South Carolina coast and the Flat Rock Music Festival just around the corner, another CA guitar couldn’t come at a better time.
Judging from my experiences with the CA Performer GX and all I’ve read about the Cargo (not to mention how difficult it is to locate one), I suspect I’ll soon have another reason for shaking my head and keeping my hands busy.
Rick Spreitzer
www.rickspreitzer.com
www.myspace.com/rickspreitzer
proud endorser of Composite Acoustics and MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins
Rick’s music has amassed some impressive reviews, including the following by Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange:
“It’s just that as good as this is, and it’s damn good, Spreitzer has a hell of a future ahead. The guy writes, he sings, he plays. He’s got the goods. I’m already looking forward to his next album.”
For more information on Rick Spreitzer, please visit his website or his myspace page.
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