Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif

Subject: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 10:43 AM

A wee bit of Shameless Self Promotion:

I am pleased and very excited to announce that I'll be doing a short tour in No. California at the end of February. But what is really cool is that guitarist Brooks Williams has agreed to come along on this trip to give the songs a bit of extra sparkle.

You can hear Brooks' music and find out more about him at his website

We will be performing songs from my newest CD, "Fond Desire Farewell" along with some others, and of course, Brooks will also perform a few of his own masterpieces as well. Here's the schedule:

Feb 25, 2010 - Sebastopol, CA (US) @ South Sebastopol House Concerts
-Concert starts at 7:30 PM; Contact John Berger
Fri. Feb. 26, 2010 - Sacramento, CA @ Capitol Public Radio
-We go on the air at 10:00 AM; Listen online
Feb 26, 2010 - Richmond, CA (US) @ House Concert
-Concert starts at 7:30 PM; Contact Abby and Tony at [phone]
Feb 27, 2010 - Lodi, CA (US) @ Arts @ St. John's
-Concert starts 7:00 PM; Contact Arts @ St. John's [phone]
Feb 28, 2010 - Chico, CA (US) @ Chico Grange
-Concert starts at 7:30 PM; Contact Steve O'Bryan [phone]

More information and links can be found at my website

Hope to see some of you out there,
Deb

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: open mike
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 01:17 PM

Great news Deb...have forwarded to the folk music e-mail calendar which goes out to many every week..

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 11 Feb 10 - 03:44 PM

Thanks, Laurel. I have a POSTER that folks can look at or download if they like.

Deb

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: ClaireBear
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:08 PM

Oh good, you got in touch with Jon (not John). I'm so happy that worked out! Best of luck with the whole tour.

C

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 01:13 PM

Thanks Claire. I got it right on the website. :-)

Deb

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 05:16 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 09:28 AM

Refresh.

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 06:01 PM

Last time, I promise. :-)

Debra

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: John Hardly
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 06:11 PM

Heck, I'll keep it alive. Brooks Williams is one of my faves, and you're a friend of Dick Thaxter as I understand it. That's two good reason to help bump this thread back up.

When you see Brooks Williams, tell him there's a guitar-playing guy in Indiana who thinks "Mercy Illinois" is one of the best songs any singer/songwriter has ever penned. The first time I heard it, I knew whether to laugh or cry. I wept.

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: John Hardly
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 06:12 PM

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 06:43 PM

I didn't forget, Michael. Jon asked me to list only his email. But if it's okay with him, there it is :-)

Thanks, John H. Yes, I am a friend of Dick Thaxter's, whom I have not seen in WAY too long. Gotta do something about that. I'll be seeing Brooks on Thursday and I will certainly pass on the message.

And a teaser...Brooks will be releasing a new CD, "Baby-O" in March, and it's excellent. If you come to any of these shows in California, you'll be able to purchase a copy.

Debra

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: open mike
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 10:35 PM

i'll be there..with bells on...

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: michaelr
Date: 26 Feb 10 - 02:35 AM

They did a great show in Sebastopol tonight -- go see them!

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: Joe Offer
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 05:10 PM

They're Stuck in Lodi tonight. I'm hoping to get there - and to see some Sandhill Cranes on the way.
Weather reports aren't optimistic, which may make the driving tough.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 06:26 PM

Hmmm...I was going to say "It's only rain, Joe!" but then I remembered that you have some elevation where you are.

The shows have been AMAZING!!!! Singing and playing with Brooks has been a lot of fun. If you can come to Lodi or Chico, we'd love to see you there.

Now for a wee nap.

Debra

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 03:33 AM

It turned out to be a perfect afternoon, with nary a cloud in the sky by the time we got to Lodi. We saw THOUSANDS of Sandhill Cranes come in at sunset, probably the best birdwatching experience I've ever had.

And the concert was wonderful. Deb and Brooks complement each other very well. Brooks does amazing things with guitar harmonics - he's a real master. Deb has an amazing voice, rich with a terrific range. Her interpretations of songs are always interesting and often unusual. I really like her choice of songs - from "Alcohol" (by the Kinks), to "Time to Remember the Poor," to a bluesy version of "Darling Corey," to "Lili Marlene Walks Away," a Bill Caddick song that sounds like it came from a Berlin cabaret.

I'm not sure Deb realized that we were in Lodi, the last stronghold of the John Birch Society in California, where until recently the bus stop benches all said "Get US Out of the United Nations." Well, Deb got a little political in her stage patter, and said how happy she was that Obama was elected. Then she added a verse to "Oh, Freedom" that said we needed universal health care. Now the concert was in a very friendly Episcopalian church, but I worried a bit that those nice Episcopalians would turn into an angry lynch mob - and Deb had mentioned my name from the stage more then once, so I figured the mob would get me, too.

But the Episcopalians stayed nice, and we all oohed and aahed after the concert when she demonstrated how she could fold her Voyageair guitar and stow it in a hatbox-sized case. Oh, and the Episcopalians also proudly gave me a tour of the inside of their 1908, mechanical-action, 10-rank pipe organ.

The concert was in a modern, simple, but very beautiful Episcopalian church. It has very live acoustics that were a bit of a challenge, but Deb handled the acoustics very well.

So, it was a wonderful "date night" for Christina and me. Absolutely spectacular birdwatching, and then a terrific concert in an extremely beautiful and friendly venue.

Happy trails, Deb. Thanks for coming.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 02:49 PM

NO, Joe...thank you and Christina for making the journey from Colfax. It was so good to see you and yes, the folks at St. John's are very welcoming. As for the John Birch Society, I am not surprised.

But you know, I cannot be silent and much of the music I perform includes subjects such as peace, community and social justice. If folks don't like the message in any of the songs then that is their choice.

I try very hard not to get preachy on stage as I don't like it when others do it. I think the songs speak for themselves.

Anyway, we had a great time and I hope to see you both again the next time I am in N. California. Oh yes, Harvey leach who invented the Voyage-Air Guitar that I play is in Colfax :-).

Debra

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: open mike
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 06:31 PM

yep a fold-a-guitar
and you make it sound great Deb!
nice to see you in Chico,
and hope all goes well
for the rest of your tour...

for those who were not able to see the show,
you can get the new album "Fond Desire Farewell" online
http://www.debracowan.com
Listen Online!--Tue. Mar. 9, 2010   5:00 pm        WCUW 91.3 FM
http://wcuw.org/ "In the Tradition" Worcester, MA        

i saw and hear sandhills cranes the day before your gig
they always raise up the little hairs on my neck...
i love their chortling calls as they fly
why, there go some overhead now...

Deb is heading to the UK in march and april

http://www.debracowan.com/performances.html

and canada too....

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 06:29 PM

Yeah, before Deb leaves California and this thread leaves the Forum Menu, we ought to put in a final plug for the Voyage-Air Guitar. What was really amazing, was that after Deb folded her guitar and opened it again, it was still in tune. I suppose that wouldn't be the case if the guitar had been collapsed for a day or more, but still...

Have a good trip home, Deb, and a good trip to England.

-Joe-

Oh, and you Englanders please don't forget that there's another American "Deb" touring your fair island - Debby McClatchy.

Subject: RE: Deb Cowan/Brooks Williams in N. Calif
From: DebC
Date: 06 Mar 10 - 09:42 AM

Am home now and have been since Wednesday night.

The Voyage-Air stays in tune with some minor adjustments even after being collapsed for a few hours. There are many times on a tour that the guitar has to stay c0ollapsed for extended travel.

On my way out to California, my flight to Sacramento from Denver was delayed by three hours. I decided to do a bit of practicing and took the guitar out after it had been collapsed for a good 16 hours. I unfolded it and it was in relatively consistent tune.

One thing I am discovering about these guitars is that the tuning goes a teeny bit sharp after being un-folded. Again, that's all the strings, not just one.

Also, the one I was playing is a custom model, hand-built by Harvey Leach. Not sure that matters much between mine and the factory models.

Deb Cowan