A Monthly E-Newsletter by and about GrooveLily
Valerie Vigoda: vocals/violin
Brendan Milburn: keys/vocals
Gene Lewin: drums
Hello, GrooveLiliputians far and wide! Welcome to the premiere edition of many E-Newsletters about what we’re up to. This is the first step in our transition: away from paper, clutter and postage, toward tree-saving, efficiency and beyond.
1. New CD in Preproduction
2. Daily Journal Tidbits: Straight from the Studio
3. Coming Soon: New Promo Video
4. Upcoming GrooveLily Shows: Festivals and More (VT-NY-WI-NC-VA-SC)
5. All-New Tales from the Road
6. Incredibly Hip GrooveLily Wear
1. New CD in Preproduction
It’s been 73 years since we’ve put out a full-length GrooveLily album. Actually, it’s only been since 1996, but it sure feels a lot longer. The CD, which is due in late fall, is being produced by Alain Mallet. Alain has produced some of our all-time favorite records (Jonatha Brooke’s “10-Cent Wings” and “Plumb,” The Story’s “Angel in the House” and “Grace in Gravity”)…and in his spare time, he plays keyboards with Paul Simon. Please pronounce his name like this: Ah-LANN Ma-LAY.
On guitars, we have Duke Levine (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jonatha Brooke, John Gorka, Vance Gilbert, Ellis Paul…); and joining us on the bass is Michael Rivard (Paula Cole, Morphine, Either/Orchestra, Jonatha Brooke…). Our mix engineer will be Michael Brauer (Aerosmith, Amanda Marshall, Billy Joel, Chris Whitley, David Byrne, Grace Jones, Prefab Sprout, Shawn Colvin, Toad the Wet Sprocket…).
Recording is just beginning at Sound Station Seven (www.soundstation7.com) in Providence, RI: a funky converted firehouse with gear galore. We are living here as well as recording…so it’s GrooveLily summer camp at the studio. Quite cozy, says Val (the only woman for miles around).
The arrangements and structures of our songs are becoming more beautiful every day in the hands of Alain Mallet; this record promises to be something truly special.
2. Daily Journal Tidbits: Straight from the Studio
Starting today, there will be a daily “Straight from the Studio” entry from Val posted on our website! Visit www.groovelily.com (”Tales from the Road” section) each day for a new tidbit.
(from “Straight from the Studio,” July 22, 2000)
“…off the freeway, through chic Federal Hill and into an iffy neighborhood of clapboard houses, crumbling sidewalks and packs of men in dirty white T-shirts loitering on the corners. There in the midst of all this less-than-spectacular scenery, next door to a “Habitat for Humanity” construction project, was Sound Station Seven: an old converted firehouse, utterly unassuming on the outside but inside — INCREDIBLE!!…”
3. Coming Soon: New Promo Video
We recently finished a new Electronic Press Kit: an 8-minute-long, mixed live-action and interview videotape. The concert footage was shot at Makor (a great new club in New York City) on May 22, 2000. We would like to thank all of the NYC area friends and fans who came and screamed and yelled and danced. Our VCRs vibrate with fantastic energy from the crowd. As soon as we have the video in proper compressed format, it will be available for download at our website.
Many thanks to Mark Williams and his terrific crew, Todd Feuer at Keyframe Post, Rob Killenberger, Mike Cyr at J&A Sound, Erle, Brice Rosenbloom and everyone at Makor.
4. Upcoming GrooveLily Shows: Festivals and More (VT-NY-WI-NC-VA-SC)
Our touring schedule is rather light due to our impending album project. However, you can catch us at the following places in the weeks to come.
Saturday, July 29, 2000
Solarfest
Middletown Springs, VT
8:00 PM
(802) 235-2561
www.solarfest.com
Sunday, July 30, 2000
Oswego Harborfest
Oswego, NY
3:00 PM, Riverstage Barge
(315) 343-FREE
Friday, August 25, 2000
Artstreet Festival
Green Bay, WI
5:30 PM
(920) 435-2787
www.newartscouncil.org
Saturday, September 16, 2000
Microsoft “Equal Access” Launch
San Diego, CA
(we’ll probably also play in Los Angeles around this time, TBA)
Thursday, September 21, 2000
High Point University
High Point, NC
Slane University Auditorium
8 PM show, 2 45-minute sets
(910) 841-9156
Wednesday, October 4, 2000
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA
Newcomb Hall
12 noon show, 1 90-minute set (outdoors)
(804) 924-3286
Saturday, October 7, 2000
UUFC Concert Series
2701 Heyward St
Columbia, SC
(803) 799-0845
7:30 PM show, GrooveLily headlines
http://akamail.com/uucolumbia
5. All-New Tales from the Road
Val has been keeping a tour journal for a long time…and is now updating this rather cobwebby area of our site. First new installment: “The Arizona Desert.” To read all about it, visit www.groovelily.com (”Tales from the Road” section).
(from “Tales from the Road: The Arizona Desert“)
“…When we arrived, we had a vague idea of what we would be doing, but never dreamed it would be so grueling — or so rewarding. 17 shows in 5 days, countless hours of driving and hauling equipment through the hot desert — and one of the best weeks of our lives…”
6. Incredibly Hip GrooveLily Wear
It’s the best thing to happen to sportswear since Jaclyn Smith! Fabulous, extremely wearable T-shirts and hats, adorned with your favorite Groovin’ Lily. Available now at all GrooveLily shows, and coming soon to the website for mail order.