Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

Free Dallas Music! Songwriter's Open Mic last Thursday night was one of the best so far. In over a year's worth of twice-monthly shows, FDM!SOM has acquired both a loyal following of dedicated performing songwriters and a reputation that brings new players in for each show. And, I might add, a very stylish audience.

Last Thursday night had all of those elements: veteran players, intriguing new talent, a stylish audience and a great featured songwriter, Rene' West. Rene' did an extended set of six songs from her new album, "This Town," including the title song, a tribute to her father and grandfather and the factory town lifestyle that both limited and sustained them.



Visit Rene's website to buy your own copy.

Return players Michael Knox, John Warwick, and Dirk Nelson shared both original songs and beloved covers; old soul Peter the walking man closed off the show with two of his hard-hitting witness songs.
Dirk and Peter.
FDM!SOM votes for Michael as "Mr. UTD" and hopes everybody else does too - excellent compilation number with original lyrics joined to Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror " - it should serve him well!
John is always setting us on our ear with his thoughtful lyrics and smooth alternative style. I'm considering using "Fundamentally Lucid" as a buzzword or WWW signature - I've got to figure out how to make sure it all gets back around to John ...
One of three newcomers, Lorynn Robb added soul and humor to the show - we hope she'll come back so we can get to know her music. Lorynn connected with FDM!SOM on MySpace, and you can check out her music on her myspace website.Two other newcomers, Waring Todd and Richard Hunt, charmed us with their original style - we hope to hear more!

To see all of Tom's great photos from Thursday night, visit his Photobucket site. At the top, you can click on "Free Dallas Music!..." to find photos of past open mics by date.

We'll see you at Half Price Books and Records (5803 E. Northwest Hwy. Dallas, TX 75231-6519 (214)379-8000) on April 19 here in Dallas for our next historic Free Dallas Music! Songwriter's Open Mic. No featured songwriter for the nineteenth: it will be all about who shows up, signs up, and plays.

Fundamentally Lucid (thanks to John Warwick and FDM!SOM),
JMP

Jenni,

You don't know how much I would like to make it to one of your shows.

I think Dick Cheney might be the key to this.

I remember a few years ago when I lived just on the edge of Highland Park. From time to time Air Force 2 would swoop down into Love Field and the cops would close down Lemon Avenue long enough for Dick's motorcade to cruise through and deposit him at his casa.

I figure that the next time he does this, I'll hop a ride with him. I don't think he will mind, do you?

Hi, LR!

Great to hear from you. And Dallas would love to hear from you in person, especially without the Big Dick Chain. If you guys do make a trip to D, time it for the first or third Thursday of the month (and tell us ahead of time) and FDM!SOM will feature you for an extended set if we haven't already promised it. The third Thurs. is a pretty safe bet because we're leaving those open for the time being. Then, after the open mic, we can all go live it up at the Sons of Hermann Hall for the Big Jam. I'll post a story about that soon.

I wasn't sure if our S8 community would be interested in the Peals' little OM, but that's the culture that currently dominates our life. And, even though I'm a bit intimidated by the talent and thought expressed in this forum, I figure I'd be a snob to hold back. If I'm going to write my little stories (fiction and non-), it's a privilege to share them here. Anyway, I trust the post-modern independence of both this forum and the individuals who participate in it.

Wow - that sounds like a manifesto ... well, I end up writing about one a year.

ATB, JMP

P.S. Coming Soon: More Open Mics in Dallas