Linda Stout: Blog/News

There is poverty along the way, out across beautiful Appalachian foothills between Ithaca, NY, and Coudersport, PA, where it can be a surprise to see a painted up, restored house. But it's all so incredibly interesting, too.

Olga Cafe and Gallery, a new venue, in downtown Coudersport, PA, a former bank, then prospective bookstore, and now a cafe with yummy food, beer and wine. It's filled on 2 levels with Olga's beautiful fiber and glass art.

The wood makes for great acoustics. It is just so, so lovely.

After the show, I stayed in this cool, funky guest cottage, art everywhere there, too, thanks to musician/artist friends there. I feel like I've been away. I got to play with a dulcimer I found there. Yum. The cottage, which is also been called The Antique Shop (its former purpose) and the Tin Shack.

The people there are so, so nice, and what an explosion of art I found in this little circle of those who invited me in and put me up.

Traveled out to Wellsville, NY, recently, and the Nancy Howe Auditorium is just a lovely, lovely venue, and London played his butt off on dobro. I told the audience I got distracted watching him. He also brought and played a big, beautiful bass, thanks to Doug Robinson. Thanks to promotor Eileen, to the many familiar people who came, to Peter for excellent sound and lighting. Thanks to my musical family and hometown for preparing me for a music career.

London McDaniel and I are thrilled to be playing a pre-Valentine's show in the gorgeous restored theater.

It's in the David A. Howe Library in the Nancy Howe Auditorium on Main St. in Wellsville, NY, my hometown from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, and free.

We were featured in Imprint Magazine, photographed by David Korman when we played in August at MuseFest: http://www.imprintmagazine.org/sites/default/files/image_galleries/musefest08/musefest1.jpg. I was playing with guitarist London McDaniel and drummer Jeff Trippoli.
-- Linda Stout

I was just reminded of this. I sang on a track on Jeffrey Pepper Rodger's "Humming My Way Back Home," a fun session one day in Syracuse. In "Only the Soul," a Stevie Wonder-ish song, I sang backup, layering parts to create a little soul choir. Listen at http://cdbaby.com/cd/jpr.

This CD by Jeffrey varies genres, something I understand as a songwriter. "Fly," another song on his CD won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest first prize in the country category. He's a varied guy, as an editor, writer, NPR radio commentator, guitarist, drummer, singer and songwriter.
-- Linda Stout

Check this out, a blog by some of my favorite songwriters about songwriting:
http://measureformeasure.blogs.nytimes.com/

David Sale got a mention for his production work on Linda's "Extended Play" in The Ithaca Journal music awards.

I'm featured in an interview in a heading called "Hot New Acts" at On-Air Music, a London-based, online publication. See http://www.musiconair.biz/LindaStout.php

I picked more than two quarts of blackcaps out behind the house. It was raining, and I got soaked, which I sort of liked. Finding berries is cool. You can’t look too hard. They’ll be there in your peripheral vision; approach them from different angles and they’ll be there. It’s satisfying. I don’t have to philosophize more. I had a line in the song, “Good Luck Child:” “Too much trying’s my disease,” partly meaning too much thinking. I’m making two pies for a 4th of July party, one of those more-the-merrier gatherings Michael Ludgate of Ludgate Farms throws frequently for runners, hikers, bikers and musicians who jam on old-time music (I tend to jam solo, and have been on an old-time kick recently, creating strange new versions of songs). Raspberry pie is my favorite. My mom used to make them from berries we grew. The blackcap, or black raspberry version is wonderful. Last year I was so busy with finishing up full-time work and often three or four gigs a week, I didn’t pick any. But I had memories of two years earlier when I’d picked enough to make pies. I can continue on this, picking every few days. I am no expert on crusts because I don’t want hydrogenation, so I buy already-made non-offensive crusts at GreenStar. Maybe I’ll teach myself to make crusts with chilled/nearly frozen oil. My grandmother talked me through the Crisco version some years ago, but I want a healthier version. I have this thing with picking wild berries; it’s free, wonderful, wonderful food, a gift. There’s something spiritual about this for me.

I live in the City of Ithaca, and yet have little bits of country around, like the wild space out back. This week, I’ve been in gorges, in amazing nature within the city.

An interview with Linda is coming up soon in a London music publication called Music On-Air:http://www.musiconair.biz.

Look and listen for a podcast/blog on my music on Gypsy Art Show, a
syndicated writer/radio host Belinda Subraman. She was really
positive about what a unique sound I have, how it's "genre-busting."
Her podcast covers a really interesting mix of indie musicians, poets
and other intriguing souls. Belinda lives in El Paso, TX, but this
goes all over. It should be posted Saturday May 12 at:
http://belinda_subraman.podomatic.com/

From another singer-songwriter whose work I love, love love, feedback for my new CD, "Extended Play:"

Tremendous! What a mix of surprising influences -- I hope you're very proud of it. It's very very interesting and strong.

I had a great time visiting friends and family in Nashville while traveling, saw a wonderful soulful singer-songwriter, Jesse Alexander along with Carrie Rodriguez on the bill (love her electric mandolin; I'm getting one). Very fun, with my cousin Ward Stout, and it was great to see him; having grown up together on the same farm, we "get" each other. I also have another baritone ukulele, thanks to Ward. I had craved another one, but no wonder I liked it. It was $3800, at a store on Broadway; I also wanted a 1928 tenor guitar there, too, but restrained myself on that, too. So I have another $50 mahogany uke, an Aria, not as nice-sounding as my Harmony. But it has songs in it, rootsy pop songs; all these cool little moody hooks are introducing themselves.

From a fan about my new CD, "Extended Play": "Extended Play" is wonderful! I've been playing it alot as I drive (which is 100 miles daily) and I just love it! I like the poetic aspect of your work - setting the words of great poets like Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson to music. (The 1st CD, "Good Luck Child," has an Emily Dickinson setting -- "If you were coming in the fall,/I'd brush the summer by.") On "Extended Play" I set Frost's "The Pasture" and "The Rose Family."

Who am I listening to? Dulcie Taylor, again, "Diamonds and Glass" (2002). Her voice, the songs, the production are just so gorgeous.

David Sale and I did Live with the Band on WVBR in Ithaca with Dan Cole. How fun. I played and sang and he played the new CD, "extended play," which is still in pre-release, but will soon be available at CDBaby. It's available now if you write to me here; $11 includes US shipping. Thanks for those who listened. For future radio gigs, you can listen online. You could have with this.

What great songwriting and a performance by Eliza Gilkyson. Her lyrics and melodies are so lush with meaning. Also caught part of a set by the theatrical, Israeli band Golem, from NYC, and even learned a dance. Whoever it was from PA in a slot previously marked for Melissa Ferrick Creekside at the Hilton, was good, too. Friends of Dean Martinez -- yummy, even edgy, atmospheric soundtrack music...gorgeous. Hear it on "Fast Food Nation," although that topic's not so yummy.

Caught the Stax Records party, with Booker T. Cool. Waited, but got in, Wednesday, I think. And saw Jim Lauderdale (again for me, and for my friend, who is his biggest fan) at the Continential. Saw him to talk again a day or two later, but was too late for the show. I'd seen him at the Grassroots fest in Trumansburg near Ithaca, which his pals and sometime collaborators, Donna the Buffalo, run. What a great songwriter he is. Also met some people in the airport on the way, in parties, venues. How fun. I was about ready for a break late, late March 17, both South by Southwest and St. Patrick's Day when we couldn't find a cab and called my friend's booking agent pal and her musician husband for a ride. Thank goodness. We would have been hailing cabs all night otherwise.

At South by Southwest, sat in "A&R Before, During and After the Deal" listening to major label A&R guys, yeah, all guys. It is not an easy business. But I knew that. They get random demos sent to them, no prior research and recommended artists or managers pursuing them at least do some background work first and not send metal to a guy who does pop.

Later, I got to a demo listening session which included Simon Cramer, formerly with the Chocteau Twins and owner of Bella Union Records, in the UK. After listening to him and others in this 1-minute per demo critique, I wagered he might like "Extended Play," so endeavored to hand it to him. I'd stuck my head in the door in "China's Emerging Music Market" and heard the littlest bit about clubs that change types of music they present on a dime and pay maybe $4 cover, if you're lucky. I can struggle like that here; think I"ll pass. I am interested in China, but for downloads and CD sales. It could be, well, a trip to tour there, but maybe we'd network through friends and acquaintances somehow.

I'm at the South by Southwest music conference, saw Pete Townshend speak -- and play as a guest of the Austin Music Awards, reacquainted myself with Tejano and Texas swing at the awards event and a bar, ate a taco for breakfast. Now back to the conference.