Hometown Holidays Headliner Announced

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I just ran down to the basement to grab my Soul Asylum cassette tapes! They’re playing the 22nd annual Hometown Holidays on Memorial Day weekend. As you can tell, I’ve been a fan for many years. Although the Grammy-award winning band is known for such hits as “Runaway Train,” “Somebody to Shove” and “Black Gold.”, my favorite albums were “While You Were Out” and “Hang Time” and now I’m going to listen.

Here’s a description of my absolute favorite event from the City of Rockville:

The Hometown Holidays festival takes place from 1-10 p.m. Saturday, May 29 and Sunday, May 30, 2010. Each year more than 60,000 people descend on Rockville’s downtown to celebrate summer with more than 40 bands and entertainers performing on 10 stages, children’s activities, a green festival and Taste of Rockville.

The list of activities is impressive with some new twists this year:

• An Arts and Craft Festival with over 50 artisans
• A freestyle dance stage open to all
• A living history stage for Rockville’s 150th anniversary, and
• A teen dance on The Rooftop.

A highlight of the weekend is Monday’s Memorial Day Parade at 10:30 AM. This will be the 66th year for the parade as we remember and honor those who died serving our country. My Cub Scout Pack 928 is busy at work building a float on our family’s trailer. Rockville comes out in full community spirit each year for the parade and it’s always a moving experience. United States Army Nurse Corps Col. Richard Ricciardi will serve as the parade grand marshal along with Brian van de Graaff, the morning weather forecaster for Good Morning Washington, ABC 7 News, who will be the emcee.

This is going to be a great one! Check out the complete schedule here.

Predrag Gosta's New Trinity Baroque Debuts In Rockville

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Photo from NTB by Richard Calmes

As some of you may know, Predrag Gosta, formerly with the National Philharmonic, often jets down to Atlanta, as well as many other places in the world. Well, he’s finally bringing Atlanta to Rockville!

Predrag founded and conducts New Trinity Baroque (NTB) which calls Atlanta its home while presenting over 25 concerts and educational events each season. His NTB is doing a special Gala Scholoarship Concert for Montgomery College’s School of Music at Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center on Thursday night, March 11, 2010 at 7:30 PM.

This concert is NTB’s debut in Washington DC area. The program for the evening is entitled “VIVALDI ON FIRE” and will feature as a soloist Magdalena Wor, who sang at the November’s Haydn/Mendelssohn concert as well – she is alumni of the Young Artists Program with P. Domingo. NTB uses “period instruments, stylistically appropriate voices, and historically informed techniques” to delight its audiences.

Tickets are $25 (students only $10). For more information and tickets visit newtrinitybaroque.org or call the Performing Arts Center’s Box Office at (240) 567-5301.

Bang On The Drum All Night

Have you ever dreamed about drumming? >Rockville Central friend and VisArts Studio Artist, Judith Heartsong, tells us that February’s Art After Hours at VisArts Rockville is a drum fest. Bring along your own small drum or rattle to “beat the winter blues”. If you don’t have your own percussion instrument, they will have some on hand.

Do you want to know the absolute best part? Nancy Nuttle is leading the session. I spent years in her Music Together classes with both my sons. This drumming circle won’t turn you into a rock star drummer, but Nancy certainly taught me how to loosen up and appreciate making music with my kids. The drumming is from 7 to 8 PM.

Nancy says:

I am a trained Health Rhythms facilitator and have been teaching music for 25 years. Health Rhythms Recreational Music Making encompasses enjoyable, accessible and fulfilling group music-based activities that unite people of all ages regardless of their challenges, backgrounds, ethnicity, ability or prior experience. RMM ultimately affords unparalleled creative expression that unites our bodies, minds and spirits. No music skills required.

In case you haven’t attended, Art After Hours is free. VisArts swings wide their doors and all the artists open their studios from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. You can see these artists creating and purchase their work just in time for Valentine’s Day. Speaking with the artists, hearing about their techniques, and appreciating the joy of their work is such a fulfilling experience. The arty atmosphere makes for a fine date. I can’t recommend VisArts enough.

Get together with your friends and enjoy one of the most unique Friday nights in the Metro DC area right here in our wonderful City.

Great Hometown Crowd for Keegan Corbey

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During last Friday’s show at Austin Grill Rockville, I asked Keegan Corbey if he had a day job. He replied “Funny you should ask, I quit today.” With this daring move, he’s giving music his full-time attention.

His first CD, Navigators, will be released on February 13, 2010, the same night he opens for The Association (Never My Love) at the Birchmere. This well-deserved break will launch the next phase of this local performer’s career.

Born at Holy Cross Hospital, he laid down his first dollars for a guitar at age 13 while listening to garage bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Sound Garden. After Good Counsel High School he headed to Middle Tennessee State University. He’s back in Rockville and has decided if he’s going to make it musically, now is the time.

If Friday night’s show is any indication, he’s made the right decision. His intense presence and crowd-pleasing voice kept everyone out much later than expected. Keegan’s versions of popular songs made the audience forget the orginals then his own songs caught everyone’s attention. He and Dave Speake are a well-polished acoustic guitar duo, a unified pleasure to hear. Keegan even steps up the sound with a bass drum.

Dave played the harmonica for No Cover Charge, apparently the one and only song he’s allowed to pull it out for:

Keegan’s laying it all on the line to live his dream of being a songwriter performing his original “Neo-Celtic Americana folk rock”. There’s no doubt his obvious talent will win fans with every chord.

Tickets are still available for his Birchmere show with The Association on Saturday 2/13/10 at 7:30 p.m. $35. Fans eagerly anticipate his 8 song CD next month.

Jazz Fest and Taste of Town Square This Saturday

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Town Square will be all jazzed up this Saturday, October 3, 2009 from noon until 6 PM.

Here’s the schedule for an afternoon of cool, smooth music:

Noon – Swing Speak
1:30 PM – Donato
3 PM– James King
4:30 PM– Jeff Carmella Band
6 PM– The Kevin Mittleman Trio

Stop by the ATM because the Taste of Town Square is cash only with $5 food tastings. Wine and Signature drinks will also be sold at various prices from these fine Town Square restaurants:
Bobby’s Crabcakes
Gordon Biersch
La Tasca Spanish Tapas Bar
Noodles & Company
Oro Pomodoro
Primo Italiano
SpiceXing
Taste of Saigon

If you spend $15 on taste tickets or retail purchases, they’ll be giving away mini-insulated coolers while supplies last. Only one per customer and the quantitiy is limited so buy early.

You can also sign up at the information tent for a chance to win gift cards from your favorite Rockville Town Square merchants.

For more information, please contact 301-998-8178 or email jpowell@federalrealty.com.

Chorale Joins National Philharmonic for Season Opening

>Rockville Central friend, Daryl Newhouse, was kind enough to pen an announcement for the National Philharmonic concerts which start the 2009-2010 Season this weekend.

Last Tuesday night as several residents of the West End prepared to carpool to the Music Center at Strathmore for their National Philharmonic Chorale rehearsal with artistic director Stan Engbretson, they passed Maestro Piotr Gajewski knocking on their neighbors’ doors, campaigning for re-election to the City Council. On October 3 & 4, 2009 he will pick up his conductor’s baton to direct the National Philharmonic’s Opening Concert “Beethoven 1-2-3.”

The Chorale, with 6 soloists, will join the full orchestra and piano for the last 5 minutes of Beethoven’s Fantasia op.80 (or “Choral Fantasy”) (It’s been jokingly said that these concert soloists must be earning the highest pay per note of all time!) The Choral Fantasy, written in Beethoven’s “middle period” in 1808, foreshadows his Ninth Symphony, which he completed 16 years later. As you listen, you will hear some familiar variations on the well-known “Ode to Joy” finale of the Ninth Symphony. The text celebrates the power of art to dispel the storm and stress of daily life.

Performances are Saturday, October 3, 2009, 8 P.M. and Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3 P.M. All National Philharmonic concerts at the Music Center at Strathmore are preceded by free pre-concert lectures at 7:00 p.m. in the Education Center. Parking is FREE in the Grosvenor – Strathmore Metro Garage.

The 2009–2010 season marks the National Philharmonic’s fifth full season in residence at The Music Center at Strathmore. The group now known as the National Philharmonic Chorale originated as the Montgomery County Masterworks Chorus. Since moving to Strathmore, the National Philharmonic Chorale has grown to almost 200 members. With six concerts and eight performance dates, this will be our busiest season to date. We will be performing exquisite and greatly varied musical works in addition to the Beethoven, including Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise, Handel’s Messiah, Bizet’s Carmen, Brahms’ Requiem, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

Visit nationalphilharmonic.org for concert subscriptions and ticket information. Tickets for this weekend range from $29 to $79 each. Season subscriptions are available. Kids 7-17 are ALL FREE, ALL THE TIME (sponsored by The Gazette). All kids tickets must be purchased in person or by phone.

A Mechanical Bull and The West End

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As I was leaving Rockville Roundtable today, I came across a new addition. A mechanical bull was being delivered to Austin Grill Rockville. So of course, I snapped his picture. He’s being installed today and will be ready to ride by happy hour tomorrow, Friday, September 11th.

The West End rocked their Concert in the Square last month.

Perfect timing for The West End’s show this Saturday, September 12th from 9 PM till mid-night with special guest Terry DeFrees joining Brad Rourke, Mike Shawn, Monique DeFrees, and Matthew Taylor. Since The West End’s last CD was entitled This Ride Could Be My Last, let’s hope that if you get on the bull, it isn’t!

The bull will be available on a “somewhat regular basis” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. There is a charge to jump on his back.

I’ve never been on a mechanical bull and want to try, but my arm is busted up so I probably shouldn’t. Who’s riding?

Do Not Miss This Thursday’s Concert in the Square

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TWE at Uncorked 2008

Although the movies and kid’s activities have ended, the bands play on. I’ve been waiting for this Thursday’s show all summer.

My Rockville Central partner, Brad Rourke, will be playing and singing with The West End from 6 – 8 PM as part of the Concert in the Square series. The band also includes Rockville friends Monique DeFrees on drums, Matthew Taylor on bass and guitar, and Mike Shawn on keyboard, with a special guest appearance by Terry DeFrees (Monique’s uncle on harp). Although we had to leave their last show before Terry performed, I hear his talent is unbridled and the crowd loved him.

When The West End’s CD was released last year, I wrote a review on CD Baby. Here’s an excerpt:

This Ride Could Be My Last is a new rock experience. The West End proves without a doubt that they can play a diversity of styles with a true rock quality in a special unison of talent. The West End blasts through this CD leaving you to try to keep up with their unbridled enthusiasm. They Go and Father Lou are their get up out of your seat songs, foot stomping not tapping. Monique DeFree’s intense drumming and Matthew Taylor’s strong bass are both just right there and steady, pounding out these brand-new favorites. Brad Rourke has a deep tone to his natural story-telling voice that matches his meaningful songs. Mike Shawn’s Hard to Sleep captures the longing of lost love and makes you glad the song’s not just in your head because his piano just pours all over you in the real world. The West End has absorbed slightly obscure rock influences from the last few decades into a sound that is all their own. This CD knocks seriousness into uncommon rock.

TWE at Austin Grill 4-09

If you don’t own it, you can hear them live on Thursday. You’ll also be able to buy a CD at the show the old-fashioned way — in person.

An impressive new sound system was installed on the stage this summer and there’s been a noticeable improvement at concerts. If you haven’t been to one this season, this is your chance for a guaranteed great show. Come on over and let’s have a big old Rockville party to bid summer farewell. Grab some dinner in Town Square, listen to our favorite Rockville band, and leave full of the best Rockville has to offer.

If you’re interested in the remaining outdoor shows through September, check out my Ultimate Outdoor Summer Guide for Rockville Town Center.

Northwest Boychoir Visits

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The Northwest Boychoir is performing in Rockville. This Grammy-nominated Boychoir from Seattle recorded for the Valkyrie movie soundtrack and The Shoe Bird. They will present a 90-minute program without charge at Christ Episcopal Church as part of its two-week Summer 2009 East Coast Concert Tour on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 7:30 PM. The concert features sacred favorites, secular and patriotic songs.

When composers need the unique sound, they often turn to the Northwest Boychoir whose professional talents have also been used in the film Millions and on the soundtrack for Sea World Florida’s spectacular show, Blue Horizons. They have performed in France, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Mexico. The boys attend 27 diverse public and private school in the Greater Seattle area and range in age from 9 to 14.

From their press release:

In its 35 years, the Northwest Boychoir has trained thousands of young singers, and more significantly, shaped the lives of its members by instilling important lessons in personal commitment, and the value of teamwork and diligence. Led by Joseph Crnko, now in his 25th year as music director, Northwest Boychoir members are skilled musicians who read music fluently and perform professionally with confidence.

Free-will offering to benefit Community Ministries of Rockville and The Christ Church Choir Scholarship Fund.

Saturday Night Music Scene

Although >Austin Grill doesn’t book bands regularly, they plan to rock June! The venue has lined up three local Rockville bands this month, creating our own Saturday night club scene.
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World Music In Rockville

Many people may not be aware that Our Fair City — Rockville, Maryland — and the surrounding county have a thriving folk music scene. Montgomery County is not known for having tons of musical venues but the folk scene does not require huge auditoriums and dark watering holes.>

In fact, here in Rockville there’s a folk hub that is perking along nicely, thank you. It’s more than the periodic coffee houses at our many churches, and community open mics. Regional music association Focus Music has a regular concert series at Branded ’72 (on Gude).

And then there are house concerts. These are — you guessed it — concerts in people’s homes. It is an incredible environment in which to hear music, because you can really focus in. And for the performers, they know they are playing to an audience that is there to listen.

On Saturday night, Cheryl Kagan and David Spitzer, the team that brings you the Folk ‘N Great Music house concert series, hosted the DC-area debut of the Guy Mendilow Band. They play a blend of many different world traditions with impeccable musicianship, an engaging charisma, and just plain good attitude.

Not only that, but Guy Mendilow is himself both a citizen of the world (grew up in Israel, and has lived on, it seems, just about every continent) and also a long-time student of indigenous musical traditions. So the evening included Guy’s amazing overtone singing, use of the berimbau (made from sticks and cabling from old tires), found percussion, the mouth harp, and more. The songs themselves, many of which Guy discovered from centuries-old traditions in his travels, are sung in languages ranging from Hebrew to Portugese and of course English.

I did take some video (quality iffy, used a cell phone) and this song is in a language Guy made up!

(Personnel: Guy Mendilow, Andy Bergman, Aubrey Johnson, Marcelo Woloski, Tomoko Omura)

Open Mic A Nice Night In East Rockville

>Chas Hauseer of the East Rockville Citizens Association had the idea of setting up some equipment in the Pump House and inviting musicians to play last Saturday. An audience of about 25 people came to play and listen, including Councilmember Phyllis Marcuccio. The musicians took turns to provide an up-close and personal night of music sharing.

Since it was all Chas’s idea, everyone encouraged him to kick off the performances. Even though he had been singing and playing the guitar for his family, this was his first official public performance since learning to play songs for the kids. With Chas you always get a story and a song!

John Mornini plays his Acoustic Favorites at the Royal Mile Pub in Wheaton once a month and his self-proclaimed Southern-Baptist-influenced songs included an interesting original based on The Serenity Prayer and Budhhism, along with Dusty Springfield’s I Only Want To Be With You.

Rockville Central’s own Brad Rourke usually plays guitar with The West End, so this was a real treat to hear him perform a solo of She’s So Neat and another by him entitled By the Golden Gates. When he sung the words “You’re looking out for me too” from his original song, Doyle’s Bar, it struck me that these lyrics characterized this gathering on a Saturday evening in a community center. When people arrived they shared news about a neighbor’s daughter and a college tour. This is what community is all about — showing concern for each other and sharing our stories.

Even though Chas’s nephew, Tedd Babich, hadn’t “gotten the memo” and found out about the open mic only a couple of hours earlier, he played his original Snow Queen and had his girlfriend, Katie, join him with her gorgeous singing voice for No Woman, No Pride, which highlighted his ability to make any song sound contemporary.

After Jim De Rienzo gave it his all playing one stand-out tune on his acoustic guitar, Mike Rocke sung Hard times come again no more. I’ve heard Mike playing on Sunday mornings at Rockville United Methodist Church when I attended for Scout Sundays. He branched out for the open mic and had everyone smiling with Good Golly Molly I’m a Piece of Work.

As my sons needed to get home to bed, my family left at 9 PM after everyone had played through their first turns, but I hear they all played another round and everyone enjoyed themselves for more than three hours.

Before the show started, Chas explained that the City was hiring an architect to draw up plans to renovate the Pump House and the community would be involved in the process. Honestly, it really needs to be fixed-up. As the ERCA open mic illustrates, the possibilities for bringing neighbors together are endless for a place like the Pump House.

A Glimpse of the Second Graders at the National Philharmonic

Yesterday I was let in on a secret. I found out what goes on when all t>he Montgomery County Public School second graders go on a field trip to hear the National Philharmonic at The Music Center at Strathmore. This week, November 18–20, 2008, the National Philharmonic is presenting an interactive concert twice each day to accommodate more than 10,000 students. Music Director and Conductor, Piotr Gajewski, invited me to this delightful experience which provided a glimpse at his professional life beyond the Rockville City Council.

When the house lights went down, the kids cheered. Maestro Gajewski explained that an “overture” is a piece played at the beginning of a performance. As the music started, I looked out over the crowd in the 1,976-seat concert hall and to my amazement, there was no wiggling. One boy in the back was even conducting along. Maestro explained that he chose the “Overture to Candide” because it was composed by his teacher, Leonard Bernstein. Teachers are important and he was glad that the kids brought their teachers along. The Maestro has a wonderful speaking tone with the children, filled with his enjoyment of the music.

Since it is almost exactly four years since Strathmore opened, the kids sung “Happy Birthday to Strathmore” with an orchestral accompaniment. A large screen above the stage highlights the musicians and instruments. Throughout the performance the children were an enthusiastic audience, clapping at every opportunity so that little bursts of applause peppered the morning.

Although Maestro Gajewski explained that you don’t usually get to stand up and sing with an orchestra, the kids probably left thinking it was an everyday occurrence. My son, a second grader at the performance, had brought home the music to “The Berry Pickers’ Song”, so we sung it together. I had no idea he had memorized the words and motions to perform with the National Philharmonic. The percussion section produced the sounds of smoke and steam from the “Little Train of Caipira”. The woodwinds sounded the train whistle while the horns and trombones brought a cow to life. All the children were on their feet and knew the words. The final note brought giggles from this engaged audience.

Composer Russell Peck, narrated his “The Thrill of the Orchestra”. He teaches all about the instruments, explaining how and why the musicians play. “It is like a listeners dream come true. There are so many magical things they could do.” At one point, the drums demonstrated their power and had the audience ducking. The brass musicians made a nasty sound with their mouthpieces but then played a beautiful piece through their instruments. The kids expressed their delight by clapping along to the classical concert without adult constraints. By the end of his piece, Mr. Peck had passed along the thrill of performing.

These second grade performances have recently been expanded to include fifth graders. The “All Kids, All Free, All the Time” program offers children ages 7-17 free admission to all National Philharmonic subscription concerts. The 2008-2009 season will feature 18 concerts at Strathmore, including Sunday matinee performances. With these initiatives, the National Philharmonic strives to make classical music and concert going a part of daily life for young people.

From me, the National Philharmonic gets a standing ovation!

The West End This Saturday

I’m talking about >The West End band, not the neighborhood in Rockville!

Although Mike Shawn, Monique DeFrees, Matthew Taylor, and Rockville Central Publisher, Brad Rourke, all came together in this certain neighborhood, their self-described Primitive Americana Rock reaches way beyond its boundaries. You can hear their solid, stripped-down show this Saturday, September 13, 2008, from 9:00 PM to midnight at Austin Grill Rockville.

This show promises to shine. The Big Back To School show benefits Manna Food Center. Manna has been experiencing a 25% increase in requests for food They’ll will be passing the hat to help those in need in our area.

At Rockville Central, we invite you to lunch and to run, and now you’re being invited to rock with us too. As some of my family members will be camping with the Boy Scouts, please join me at the show! Just show up or let me know you’ll be meeting me at Austin Grill. If you don’t know what I look like, I’ll probably have this t-shirt on so you can recognize me.

Never a cover charge at Austin Grill, just a great music scene and some delicious Tex Mex food and beverages. Bring the whole family cause it’s an all ages show.

Band Picture by Ed Tenney.

Daryl Davis In Rockville Town Square

>Rockville Central friend Roald Schrack was on hand to catch renowned blues and boogie-woogie artist Daryl Davis play a few days ago in Rockville Town Square and caught it all on video. He was kind enough to make some of it available:

(If you are getting this in email and can’t see the video, click here to come back to Rockville Central and see it.)

Thanks Roald!