Please enjoy our video from our day off spent in Temple Maine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Febq4TqJts . I promise a thorough blog will come soon. Full of wonderous insight and all that stuff for which we're known.

Amazing! Really. It's right in the name.

Amazing Things 8.16.09 .

'You know that feeling you get when you find a $10 bill in your jean pockets. Not that you had lost it, but according to your present recollection, you never had it in the first place. Well, Amazing Things in Framingham is almost sort of like that...

After an appearance in nearby Hopkinton featuring on the televised "Wake Up and Smell the Poetry," we had a suspicion that the metro-west area had more to offer than we had previously explored. Even with the increased area expectation, the thoughtful collection of artists gathering in a former firehouse took us pleasantly by surprise.

Michael and Dave (CEO and host, respectively) greeted us at our arrival and went through the evening. The performers were all great and as varied as could be. The room was full of listeners and participants (open mic style) and all seemed authentically interested in the arts and the community. This differs greatly from many of the cities and towns with more artistic notoriety, where you're likely to meet young entrepreneurs forcing bumper stickers like drug pushers or street evangelists, elder folkers emptying their minds and mouths and filling your ears with FirstName LastNames you simply must hear, because they have both a first name and a last name (both precious commodities in most folk circles), and other do-it-yourselfers doing it all for themselves. The Amazing Things crew is a far cry from folk performers living just outside New York ("The City" they chant) offering little save certain wardrobe pieces to distinguish exactly what year Bob Dylan they are emulating.

By the way, did you hear about his recent troubles with law enforcement? ...

Anyway, about the ten spot, AT is a not so hidden gem not so far away from home doing good things. We will be doing more with these fine folks in the future.


Next up: Some of our favorite folks from The Big NH and Somerville, MA

Look Ma! I'm on the TV!

When Greenfield's finest televisionaries call, you answer! We arrived at the old Masonic Temple, which has been remodeled to hold several different offices and workspaces, and the painfully laid stonework has been unfortunately covered with off-white wall to wall carpeting. In this beautiful practical art, the wisest of the area would meet to share ideas and cultivate growth in their communities. Though less secretive in nature, the meeting hall on Main St. still preserves and presents active thinking in the form of Valley Homegrown. The television performance was aired live in the county and will be nationally and internationally syndicated in a few weeks. Big thanks to the entire crew and all those involved and special thanks to Sara for taking the below pictures save the first. Watch for the video on our website and theirs.

Massachusettes Bookends

Though we hadn't played at either venue, Mission Bar and Midway Cafe proved to be two nights of great music (Woodrow Wilsons and Chris Bell) and familiar company. Side Note: At The Midway, Chris got the most resounding response which was assuredly in no relation to the Celtic's victory of that night... although the applause and cheering seemed to match up very well to the game, and came at often odd times during his set. And WW turned out to not have the Swine Flu and we're all feeling better by now, thank you for your concerns.

The Western New York Bridge

Yes, Yes, the van reached yet another milestone while in Jamestown and on tour with C-Bizzle. We got to play frisbee, go to the Southern Tier Brewery, and enjoy the company of our good friends in and aroung Jamestown. A radio interview for a brand new station was recorded after the performance, which we're told was is to be the pilot broadcast. Below are photos of us in Jamestown and Chris Bell in Rochester. Rochester actually worked out better than it has in the past. The show was very decent and the accomodations for the night were...interested. Thanks for the hospitality!

Biddeford and Beyond

We really are fortunate to be graced with wildly talented musicians and artists as counted friends and aquaintences. Occaisionally we find the even better luck of having some place to share with each other what we so enjoy. Sometimes other people are there too, and that makes things even better. Special thanks to Gil and Coco. Below are some photos from New York State, Hogfarm Studios, and Paper Cut Zine Library.

Amherst and Worcester... remember?

The Blog has not been updated in quite some time! So, instead of reliving each moment for which there are photos and/or memories, we've decided to recap some of our activities in a few picture blogs. Below are some photos from a radio show and Forbes House in Worcester. You will see some of our dear friends amoung others. Here is the incomparable Matt Fox and the always lovely The Points North.