Dan Schatz in California

Subject: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 08:12 PM

Christmas is done - New Years almost here - we're packing up the whole family and heading for a week in the Bay area of California. I've got a couple of musical things on the itinerary.

One is a service I'm leading at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto next Sunday morning - January 4. Normally I wouldn't write in about a service, but this project is near and dear to me, and it's almost entirely musical. It's called The Gathering, and it's my attempt to combine spoken reflections with songs and instrumentals to bridge the gap between the folk music side of my life and my alter-ego, the Unitarian Universalist minister. I've been working on this for ten years (some of you have heard my song, "May This Fire Warm You Well," which was originally written for the project) and am taking the opportunity of a sabbatical to finish and refine it. This is only the second time I've brought this out - some of the songs are so new even my wife hasn't heard them yet.

The other thing I'll be doing, hopefully, is a radio interview at KVMR up in Nevada City, Utah Phillips's hometown. We're in the very final stages of producing the new Utah Phillips tribute double CD, Singing Through the Hard Times, and KVMR will be the first radio station to play any of the music. If I'm able I'll send in more information as it comes in in a separate thread.

I know there are some Mudcatters in the Bay area. We'll be there from December 31 until January 7. I'm not sure what the schedule will be, but I hope to see you!

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 08:28 PM

Wow! I hope you will post more as it goes on. That sounds like a wonderful service!

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Leadfingers
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 08:41 PM

Have a good trip Dan ! Keep us posted please !

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Mark Ross
Date: 28 Dec 08 - 10:57 PM

Dan,

Let me know when you will be on KVMR, I can listen over the web(perhaps call in to the show?)>

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: open mike
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 02:06 AM

i will be doing my radio show in oroville on jan 10 from 2-4
if you are in the neighborhood, stop by!!
(maybe an hour from nevada city)

you aren't one of those that Utah said would burn a
question mark in someone's lawn, are you?

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 05:20 AM

Sounds like a great trip Dan. Can you find out if KVMR has a web page as I would love to hear that broadcast.

If you're in the Bay area try and get to visit with Dan and his family. Young Kiran will steal your heart away and his parents are pretty good folk as well.

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: GUEST,Jim P
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 05:29 AM

Well, you'll be leaving before the In Harmony's Way sing (first Wed. in Berkeley), but you'll be here for the monthly sea shanty sing at the Hyde St. Pier. Every first Saturday, 8:00 to midnight. I know that you'll probably not be able to stay for the whole thing if you're doing the service the next morning, but come on by for an hour or so.

You're supposed to call ahead for reservations, but if you mention at the gate that you're there for the shanty sing, they'll add you to the list and let you in. Better yet: Chantyranger, if you're reading this, just add Dan to my reservation (grin). There: you're officially "on the list." This is a great event, but dress warmly. It gets cold out there by the Bay.

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Maryrrf
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 09:28 AM

Dan that sounds wonderful. Everybody really enjoyed your concert at Richmond Folk Music. It's great that you are finding a way to combine your folk music with your ministering!

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 10:43 AM

Mike, we're only in town until the 7th, so we'll have to miss the trip to Oroville. I'd be glad to call into radio stations once this thing is out, though!

Jim, I'm not sure whether we'll be able to make it to the chantey sing - I think that might end up being my day in Nevada City. (And we have a 1 year old in tow.) Thank you for the invite, though - we'll see.   Chanteyranger was my Secret Santa last year!

And yes, I am one of the ones Utah said would burn a question mark on his lawn. On the other hand, Utah was a UU for 40 years, so I guess he was burning question marks on his own lawn, too. Tourists thought it was crop circles....

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: open mike
Date: 29 Dec 08 - 11:59 PM

yes, of course, www.KVMR.org has streaming, and you can listen in.

see you on the air waves...

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 07:53 PM

Or not....

We arrived at the airport with our confirmed seat assignments and were told by US AIRWAYS that there were no seats after all. Then US AIRWAYS told us we were first in line for seats, and proceeded to put three other folks before us. Then US AIRWAYS told us that they'd book a ticket for Thursday morning, and we'd definitely, definitely fly then. They couldn't give us seat assignments, but we could call the airline.

We called US AIRWAYS. They told us we couldn't get seat assignments, and should have gotten them at the airport.

I'm driving to the airport tomorrow to do my best... But I have little hope.

Anyway, HOPEFULLY, we'll get there Thursday and the radio and service will go ahead as planned.

Sheesh. All the inconvenience and misery of traveling with a toddler without actually getting anywhere.

Dan, thoroughly furious

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Mark Ross
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:15 PM

Maybe you should take the train. Wouldn't take any longer, would it?
Hope you make it. I look forward to hearing you on the radio. Let us know when it is.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:59 PM

Wasn't it Utah who said that if people were meant to fly, airplanes wouldn't be heavier than air?

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Mark Ross
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 09:42 PM

Kuddie(one of the Rose Tattoos) who said, " If God had wanted man to fly, our bones would be as hollow as our heads." Utah said that everyone knows that those planes are too heavy to fly and that it was only a collective act of faith on the part of the passengers that enabled it to reach it's destination. If one person on board expressed doubt, the damn thing would sink like a stone!


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Barry Finn
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 09:16 AM

Good luck Dan, I'd think they'd give travelers with little ones preference but I guess that kind of thinking's gone out of fashion. Here's hoping you make it & make it on time. If there's any chance of you getting to their shanty sing held onboard the Balclutha you should go, it's a one of a kind singing experience. Last I remember it's about 200 people singing in the hold of a ship, the wall of sound would make Phil Spector's hair stand. Harmony's Way is well worth the effort too, it's just over the bridge. Really, both would be right up your alley.

Barry

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: GUEST,Jim P
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 10:35 AM

Well, Barry, Balclutha's in dry dock right now, and CA Thayer's not yet in shape for us to sing on her, so we'll be on the Eureka this month. All you say about the quality of the event, though, remains true.

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Barry Finn
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 11:01 AM

Thanks for the update Jim. I never was at a Balclutha session, only on the CA Thayer. I was at a festiavl one year & some of us started singing while lunching on the Eureka, it was a wonderful time.
There you go Dan another reason to try to make the Hyde St Pier sing, you'll get a chance to be at one of the very few sings held aboard the Eureka, aside from meeting the many Mudcatterss that go to these things. Again best of luck

Barry

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: open mike
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 03:42 PM

fly the friendly skies....
happy trails...
hope all goes well..

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 04:54 PM

Here's the link to the UU church's description of "The Gathering." (After next week the link will be a description of something else.)

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 08:40 PM

Hi, Dan-
Many of us Northern California Mudcatters are at Camp New Harmony during the bulk of your visit. I hope you enjoy yourself, and I hope you aren't as chilly as we are here near Santa Rosa.
I would have enjoyed attending your "Gathering" presentation.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 10:30 PM

Well, as it turns out, I don't know how much time for extra activities we'll have - especially evening ones. Losing two days of our time out there is a real blow - thank goodness I didn't miss a gig!

On the bright side, the travel vouchers will pay for 2/3 of our trip to Oregon this summer....

Joe, I think you would enjoy The Gathering - seems up your alley.

I should clarify, for those who aren't familiar with UUism that we're not talking about a revival meeting here (or, conversely, a new age ceremony). This particular piece ideally should function as well in a secular setting as a religious one. It's meant to bridge the gap between music and message, between the sacred and secular. Ho well it succeeds we'll have to see. We're still in the "dry run" stage with it.

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Fortunato
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 10:32 PM

Hope it goes well.

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: GUEST,Dan Schatz
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 06:24 PM

Thanks. I made it, but I left my autoharp at home. Whoops! Does anyone in the Bay area have an autoharp to spare for this Sunday? I promise I know what to do with it.... (No jokes, please.)

I'll also post a request in a separate thread.

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: open mike
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 10:49 PM

you should drop in at camp new harmony...
there are probably a dozen autoharps there

most of the folkies in the bay area will
be there...at camp campbell and camp harmon

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 08:59 AM

Oh Dan
What a saga! Hopefully good material for song and stories. Best wishes.
Love
~Lorraine

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: GUEST,Dan in California
Date: 03 Jan 09 - 02:28 AM

We sent out an e-mail to the UU church - turns out there are seven autoharp players in the bunch! I borrowed an EvoHarp - which is set up differently from mine so it takes getting used to. But seems to be working out.

Thanks for the good energy folks!

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: GUEST,Dan in California
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 03:06 AM

The service went well, despite working with borrowed instruments, and KVMR recorded a lengthy interview with lots of songs from the new Utah album to be broadcast next Monday at 9 am.

Dan

Subject: RE: Dan Schatz in California
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 11 Jan 09 - 08:01 PM

The KVMR interview will be broadcast January 12 at 9 am Pacific time.

You can listen in here.

Dan