A Mostly Monthly E-Newsletter by and about GrooveLily
Newsbrief
Valerie Vigoda: vocals/violin
Brendan Milburn: keys/vocals
Gene Lewin: drums/vocals
G r o o v e L i l y E – N e w s # 2 7
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So much to tell – we’ll get right to it!
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1. RIPFest: Wanna Be In Our Movie? (NYC 5/8, Screenings 5/17 & 5/18!)
2. We’re A Radio Crystal Blue Gem! Featured Airplay May 9
3. Speaking Of Gems: *GrooveLily Dog Tags* Are Here
4. Booking: Big Changes, The Ark May 25
5. *MinimaLily: Val and Brendan Play the GL Songbook*
6. Tentative MinimaLily Cross-Country Summer Tour? Let’s Make Plans
7. GrooveLily Back Issue Series: Pre-Order Until May 31
8. Upcoming GrooveLily Shows: April And Beyond
9. Choice Lyric Of The Month
10. What We’re Listening To
1. RIPFest: Wanna Be In Our Movie? (NYC 5/8, Screenings 5/17 & 5/18!)
Brendan and Val are writing the music and lyrics (and Gene is playing drums) for a 10-minute movie musical, part of a festival called “RIPFest” – where 6 short films are made in 16 days. It’s a very intense, VERY short process that we’re in the midst of right now.
The final scene is a totally fun, Ray-Charles-Blues-Brothers-”Shake Your Tailfeather”-style party – and we’re shooting it *TOMORROW*, Saturday afternoon, May 8, in a park on the Lower East Side. If you’re free and interested in being in it, we’d love to have you (in limited numbers)! Please email us back if so, and we’ll send details on Friday evening (tonight). The only request is, please wear bright colors.
Here’s more info on RIPFest (link below) – hope you can join us, for the shoot on May 8, and/or the screening at Anthology Film Archives on May 17/18!
http://www.rawimpressions.org/
2. We’re A Radio Crystal Blue Gem! Featured Airplay May 9
Thank you so much to everyone who voted for us at www.radiocrystalblue.com !! We have been voted a “Radio Crystal Blue Gem” of 2004, thanks to all our Petal Pushers and other loyal listeners who rounded up grassroots support of our music online. It was amazing to stand back and watch the Quality Music Revolution in action; way to go, everybody!
Radio Crystal Blue will be featuring GrooveLily this week, on Sunday, May 9.
3. Speaking Of Gems: *GrooveLily Dog Tags* Are Here
A few months ago, Petal Pusher Victoria Ann Davis made a beautiful dog tag necklace for Val, with the GrooveLily logo on it. Val got so many compliments on it that we asked Victoria if she would mind making a few more to sell at shows. The first batch sold out almost immediately.
Those who saw the original dog tag and coveted it will be pleased to know that they may now order their very own GrooveLily Dog Tag Necklaces from our online store. Created and handmade individually by fabulous Petal Pusher Victoria Ann Davis, each necklace is unique and sparkly.
http://www.groovelily.com/merchandise.html (scroll down a little)
4. Booking: Big Changes, The Ark May 25
As of last week, we have parted ways (very amicably) with our esteemed booking agent Joann Murdock, of Artists of Note. We are now booking ourselves (except for “Striking 12″ and other theatre ventures, which will continue to be booked through Carl Mulert at the Joyce Ketay), as we consider new representation.
As part of this process, we’ll be playing a special FREE show at the Ark in Ann Arbor, MI on Tuesday, May 25, sponsored by booking agency Fleming & Associates: it’s called “Take A Chance Tuesdays.” If you’re in the area, or know people who are, please help us get a great crowd out for this one – thanks in advance!!
Meanwhile, please direct all booking inquiries to: (212) 696-7992, or booking@groovelily.com
5. *MinimaLily: Val and Brendan Play the GL Songbook*
So we said the band wasn’t going to tour quite as much anymore.
True.
BUT: we are missing many of you whom we haven’t seen in a long time! Also, we’d like to branch out into some new cities. So, Brendan and Val are planning to do some low-tech, intimate (read: as acoustic as we can be, with our electric instruments!) shows over the coming months, mostly in venues where we’ve found that it’s difficult or impossible to bring drums and a full sound system.
This is not simply “GrooveLily Unplugged” – because Gene is such an integral part of the band (and will continue to be!! Don’t worry, we’re not breaking up or anything – far from it), we’ve decided to give the duo performances their very own name, which is
“MinimaLily: Val and Brendan Play the GrooveLily Songbook.”
These shows will be different from the trio shows: we are pulling out some rarities, dusting off some older songs from the trunk, rearranging and trying out some brand new ones as well. Think of this as chamber music, up close and personal.
We look forward to playing some venues we haven’t been able to return to, such as some quieter listening rooms, some of our favorite house concerts, and more!
6. Tentative MinimaLily Cross-Country Summer Tour? Let’s Make Plans
We want to hit the road with MinimaLily this summer, and already have some possibilities lined up, along with some great trio gigs for GrooveLily in between. (The band will be in San Diego, CA on July 23, and Primm, NV on July 24, for example.)
If you’d like to see us come to your town, please get in touch! Several Petal Pushers and other friends of the band have already set up shows, in local venues and in a few cases, in private homes.
Ways to be involved in these fiendish plans:
1. Suggest a venue at http://www.groovelily.com/index2.html?suggestvenue
2. Talk to us about setting up a performance! (212) 696-7992,
booking@groovelily.com
7. GrooveLily Back Issue Series: Pre-Order Until May 31
The first four albums in the GrooveLily Back Issue Series will be released in June 2004. Each CD will contain all the original tracks from the first edition, plus previously unreleased studio tracks, live versions and demos.
Liner notes, previously unseen photographs, documents, and journal entries about each album will be available in special, exclusive sections of the GrooveLily website.
From now through May 31 only, pre-order any of the “Back Issue” releases for a special discounted price of $12.00!
**Super Deep Discount: Pre-order all 4 for only $40.00**
http://www.groovelily.com/merchandise.html
Collectors will definitely need to own these additions to the Compleat GrooveLily…and for recent converts, these older albums offer revealing glimpses into the band’s convoluted past. Join us as we look back on our journey thus far, and enjoy!
8. Upcoming GrooveLily Shows: April And Beyond
Check out the gigs page.
9. Choice Lyric Of The Month
“Jersey City”
by Walter Parks, from “Swamp Cabbage” (2004)
Walla Walla Weeki Wachee
Swannanoa Jersey City
Pascagoula Mississippi
Bogalusa Jersey City
Tchapatoulas Apalachee
Natchitoches Jersey City
Tuscaloosa Alabama
Ichetucknee Jersey City
10. What We’re Listening To
Brindley Brothers
“Playing With The Light” (2004)
Our friends Luke and Daniel Brindley, who own and operate our favorite Northern Virginia venue (Jammin’ Java), have come out with a genuinely wonderful album. It’s like Jackson Browne meets Wilco with a little touch of Beatles. The Washington Post called it “magical…a pop/rock gem…an early contender for one of the best albums of 2004.” Nice guys make good. Check ‘em out!
Stephanie Winters
“Through The Storm” (2004)
Another friend of ours, Stephanie creates beautiful multi-layered cello textures on her long-awaited solo album. She has woven her rich tone, evocative phrasing, and consummate studio skill into a stunning solo recording. Produced by Alan Williams, the CD features Winters as a multitracked one-woman orchestra who tackles a dazzling array of styles from Miles Davis to Bartok, from the Bulgarian Women’s Choir to traditional gospel, plus her own compositions.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stephaniewinters
Walter Parks
“Swamp Cabbage” (2004)
See “choice lyric of the month” above. Yet another tasty selection from a friend – how lucky we are! This album is growly, deeply, swamply fun. Think Tom Waits, singing to his pet ‘gator knee-deep in the Everglades.