Hi folks - August 2017 update. How are you all? I am so crazy busy, I don't think I can adequately describe it - but I will try. I can't believe how lucky I am, in every regard. I hear my dad Jack reminding me to count my blessings every day. And they are many. Of course, I even forgot I had this blog I've been so busy - but miraculously I was able to get back into it today. SO.....still writing and performing music, everyday, in some way or another. Still producing all sorts of great projects at my studio, Hit City Recording. And although things have slowed a bit from the busy times a few years ago, still working on various projects with my talented friends at the Phoenix Theatre. The kinda big news things are: 1) Still trying to finish up my next album.....2) Finishing up producing the amazing TRIPLE ALBUM debut of Michigan rock auteur Zach Jones and his band Blacksun Starling.....3) Have an amazing version of the band right now......4) After years of thinking about it, have finally shot enough footage for two pilot episodes of a late-night music TV show called "Different Beat Televison", which I am hosting and producing. It will be out soon. Ok, gotta run to tonight's gig. I hope everybody is well. I had an awesome dream about you all the other night I will share next time..... you know, like in two years ;-) Hang in there - TB

"What do you actually DO, man?"

   So, people always ask me: "What do you actually DO, man? I mean, what does your week look like? Are you making music, are you in the studio? What do you actually do?"
   Let's take, say, last week, the past week of September 8th, 2014. Among other things, I will: host studio rehearsal sessions for some of the most amazing musicians I know. I'll arrange, produce and perform a song for the Phoenix Theatre. I'll finish up a short film score for producer David Yosha.  And, I'll prep for a two-hour acoustic performance of songs I've written through the years with my collaborator David Rheins.
   The week starts busy hosting Jazz Fest/Josh Kaufman rehearsals at my studio, Hit City Recording, located at 54th and College in Indianapolis, the heart of the now-you-can't-find-a-parking-space "Sobro" neighborhood. You probably all know the story by now: local bad-ass singer-songwriter Josh Kaufman actually wins the big NBC vocal competition show "The Voice" this spring. So the Indy Jazz Fest puts together a big, all-star band to back him up at at a concert this past Saturday night at the Old National Center. They gotta rehearse, so my old pal - and Josh's music director for this - Rob Dixon books the studio for a handful of rehearsals.
   So Monday morning I'm scrambling around the studio: vacuuming (turns out, not enough: news anchor Andrea Morehead from NBC affiliate WTHR-13 shows up to tape an interview and some rehearsal. No-one told me; I would have vacuumed more), a lot of setting up to do, it's a big band. Two drummers, two bassists (not at the same time, silly) two keyboard players (yes at the same time, and one of them is my old buddy Kevin Anker - man, I love hearing him play and laughing with him on breaks), guitar, vibes, FIVE horns, THREE background singers. Oh yeah, and Josh singing. Imagine a slamming 16-piece band kicking it in your living room. Yeah, so it was pretty cool. They're gonna rehearse Tuesday and Wednesday, too.
   After the Monday Josh rehearsal, it's off to meet the one and only Tom Alvarez (TV personality, arts critic) at a cocktail party he's co-hosting welcoming Joey Amato, the publisher of Unite Magazine, to Indianapolis. (Unite is a high-quality, glossy LGBT-centric magazine that just launched here, their third market, I believe.) I get to talk TV with producer Terry Lingner, and theatre with Frank and Katrina Basile.
   Oh yeah, theatre. Damn, I remember I have to get to work on a piece for the Phoenix. (I'm on creative staff there, composer/sound designer-in-residence). The 32nd year (!?!) of the Phoenix is opening THIS WEEK with a new play, a dark modern comedy titled "Clark Gable Slept Here". Bryan Fonseca, Phoenix Producing Director, is also directing the show and being able to work and hang out with him is one of the joys of my life. He's so freaking good at what he does, and he does it all with heart and guts and joy. So...he wants to end the show with a moody snippet of some "show-biz" song. He's got a version of "No Business Like Show Business" by the great cabaret singer Susannah McCorkle rattling around in his head, but he wants me to come up with something, maybe "Hooray For Hollywood"?
   Time to research some songs, one of my favorite things. Turns out I like "Hooray For Hollywood" way better; first off, it's a Johnny Mercer lyric, so of course I'm going to like it better. (No offense, Irving Berlin fans). It's off to the Central Library to get the sheet music. (Yeah, I could have bought it online, but I like the library.) Turns out the music for "Hooray", written by Richard Whiting, is deceptively complex: it seems like such a simple little song, but it's full of interesting melodic choices against seemingly-mundane chords, it has a unique, non-cookie cutter structure. It's tough, so I'm going to have to learn it slow, measure by measure, for a few days until I get it properly into this thick skull o' mine. (It's really the way you should learn all songs - slowly - but who has the time? And the Internet makes it so easy to play something NOW.)
   OK, so for the next few days I will be taking little breaks to work on learning "Hooray", which is due by Saturday at the latest. Saturday, Saturday.....wasn't there something else due Saturday? Oh yeah, the short film that David Yosha asked me to work on has to be submitted to the Sundance Festival by Saturday. It's called "Unspeakable", and it's an 8-minute suspense/"magical realism"-type short written and directed by Darren Dean, a friend of my friend David. David's an incredibly talented cinematographer/filmmaker and runs his Magnet Films production facility in Broad Ripple. I've known and worked with and dug David since the early years of Hit City, back in the '80's when we'd score the occasional TV spot when he was with Cinema Associates.
   But I haven't done a film score in awhile. I've done them through the years, but seriously, it's been ages. Must say: it sure is easier here in the future. I mean, my whole career has pretty much been a battle of wits and will: how can I acquire the resources and skills needed to create what I am so apparently driven to create? In these days of more powerful computing - and software synthesis and plug-ins and digital video - it's never been easier for a composer to create a film score on his own.
   But it's still really hard to make it not suck.
   I've been working on it - off and on - for months. David would stop in periodically, shake his head and give me notes, and I'd get back to work. Finally, I realized I was trying to hard to go against convention: the film is basically a condensed neo-episode of "The Twilight Zone", so go with that, dude. Build suspense when needed, find all the transition points between current time and flashbacks, find some subtle musical motifs for the main characters. All the basics. The obvious is obvious because, um, it's normally the right choice. So finally it's getting there. But I'm having so much fun with all the little sound design things: finding a perfect truck sound to go by in the background of the pick-up truck scene, finding just the right "crickets-at-night" sound level. At some point, though, you have to be done. As Oscar Wilde once said: work is never completed, it's abandoned.
   And besides, I gotta get back to work on "Hooray For Hollywood", where was i? Oh yeah, "that screwy, bally-hooey Hollywood". Johnny Mercer, wow.
  The week cruises on. On Wednesday, I get some not-so-great news: my long-time client, Chateau Thomas Wineries, are suspending their live music efforts for the time being. Including Friday's big outdoor gig with my rock band, the Bleeding Hearts, in Plainfield. The indefinite hiatus may or may not be about publishing fees live venues have to pay to the major performing rights societies (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC). In any event, I have to call the band and break the news, but first I talk to Dr. Thomas, a really inspiring guy, and get to thank him for all the nights of wine and song - and try to sell him on maybe presenting all-original music?
   Original music. Why is that ringing a bell? Oh yeah, Saturday night I'm playing an all-original show at this new, fabulous off-the-beaten-path restaurant in Bargersville, Bistro 226.  I saw my songwriter buddy Frank Dean had a gig down there a month ago singing with LuAnn Lancton, so I went down to a Thursday open stage and just had a blast. Fantastic music-loving staff. it's just such a great place, a cool vibe, you know what I mean? My sister Catherine would say it's the kind of place where you walk in, look around and go "My people!". Stand-alone building, gravel parking lot, atmospheric rustic back patio with exposed beams and a cool little barn-like stage, a great dining room and cozy little bar. And the food is so good I saw the owners of the hippest new restaurant in Indy dining there.
   And they let you play your own music. In fact, they encourage it. Time to brush up on some of our songs. David Rheins and I have been writing together since high-school and we've never really stopped, even though he's a little busy now entrepreneuring in Seattle. (After a career primarily in magazine publishing - Rolling Stone, Spin, Time-AOL - he has formed the MJBA, which is quickly becoming the Chamber of Commerce for the legal Cannabis industry there.) Over a hundred songs we've written, probably. I've put two albums of them out through the years, have been working on another off-and-on - so I'm going through those songs, new ones, old ones left behind. It's fun to revisit them. They exist on their own. It feels good to sing and play them.
   So, how did the week all shake out?
   The Josh K. concert, I'm told, went great. Some pesky early sound problems, but they got sorted out and it was a great show. The Andrea Morehead interview ran on the Friday news before the show and the ol' studio looked pretty good. I finished "Hooray For Hollywood" on Thursday but the snippet we chose was too long; it ended up 1:30 and needed to be more like a minute. So I have to re-edit, re-record (swapping acoustic guitar for my trusty Gibson L-125 jazz model, adding in a little vibraphone and strings at the end) and Bryan is happy. ("Clark Gable" opens Thursday night and runs for a month, please go see it!) The film score got done, the film submitted. And the all-original gig went so good at Bistro 226 that they invited me back to fill an opening this Saturday night, 9.20. (Music starts at 8pm, looks like it's going to be a beautiful warm Fall night on the patio...)
   So, that's what I do, man.

SPUN opens April 17, 2014 at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis.

"O Madison, Where Art Thou" November 2 and 3...

The music of  the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou", as performed by an all-star line-up of Madison-area musicians (and, um...me.), presented by the Cultural Continuum of Madison and the Riverrun Theatre Company. If you couldn't make it to our performance in at the Eluthetran College in July, we're bringing it back. And adding some new words, songs, design, etc.With Jimmy Davis, Gregg and Kriss, Bill and LuAnn Lancton, etc.  Performances are: Sat. Nov. 2 at 7:30PM and Sun. Nov. 3 at 2:30PM at 125 E. Main St. in Madison, IN (the Cultural Continuum's new home, which - they've decided, is going to be called "Red Bicycle Hall", not "Tinsmith's Hall" )You can get tickets here....

My, my......where does the time go?

   On August 6th, says my tech crew (brother-in-law), something bad happened to the server that had been storing my website, www.timbrickley.com. So, while all that is sorted out, we're routing things here. To my Blogger site. That I had apparently forgotten about.
   (In my defense, I am pretty busy. And a massive, well-oiled promotion infrastructure - hell, even a barely functioning one - has never really been my strong suit as the long-time independent performing artist that I am. And I suppose quick and easy updates on Facebook have been sufficing.)
   But wow. OK. Well, what's happened since last October?

   + Once again, I have a few steady performing nights, solo acoustic, which have been fabulous. They're like going to the musical gym two nights a week. (Tuesdays, 7PM, at Ricks Cafe Boatyard and Thursdays, 7PM, at the Hurricane Grill.) And frequent shows at the Chateau Thomas locations in Plainfield and Fishers. And lots of great rock and roll gigs, here and there.

   + Lots of work in my position as Composer/Sound Designer-In-Residence at the Phoenix Theatre. Shot and directed video segments for the NNPN "Rolling World Premiere" of "Guapa" by Caridad Svich. Original music and/or sound design for "The Lyons" by Nicky Silver, "Clybourne Park" by Bruce Norris, "4000 Miles" by Amy Herzog and "Love, Loss and What I Wore" by Nora and Delia Ephron - which has been extended with a second run from September 5 thru 15.

   + Have been continuing my deepening love affair with the beautiful locale and people of Madison, IN. Annual "Obscure Neil Young Night" and band gigs at the fabulous Thomas Family Winery. Cast-member of the Cultural Continuum of Madison "O Madison, Where Art Thou" travelling theatrical concert event.

+ My studio, Hit City, is busier than ever (as is the neighborhood - all us little new-wavers in the 80's used to jokingly call it "Sobro" - now everyone does.) Reconnected with my mentor and studio founder Dave Langiftt and my ex- Today's Icon's bandmate Pete Gable. In the middle of producing a handful of albums - by Rex Martin, Mike "Woody" Woodall, Chuck Foster, a solo LP by Rosetta Pebble's Steve Gulian and a project with Richard Sullivan on the horizon.

+ Some jazz gigs, mostly at my personal Valhalla of Jazz, The Chatterbox, with great players including Steven's Jones and Weakley, and Charles (Sir Charlie B.) Bennett.

+ Sang two songs written by myself and David Rheins, "Step In Peace" and "Be Apart", at the Arts Council of Indianapolis 2011-12 Creative Renewal Grant performance retrospective at the Indianapolis Art Center.

+ Three people I really cared about departed this world too soon. Other than that, everyone is hanging in there.

+ Made some great new musical relationships, lost a few great musical relationships, renewed some great old musical relationships.

+ This is starting to sound like one of those goofy year-end Christmas card recaps.

+ Some great summer gigs. The Montgulian Manor Summer Solstice Party in Detroit, the Phoenix Brew-Ha-Ha and a July 4th weekend gig outdoors at the groovy Fishers "Nickel Plate District" Amphitheater.

+ Finally got to be in the same room as Paul McCartney. (OK, so it was a basketball arena and he was performing a concert, but still...)

+ Had a couple of great solo acoustic shows where I played through for 3 straight hours. And when they were done, I was able to bypass the ever-present Critical Brain briefly - and I felt really, really good, like I had never ever played or sang better in my life.

+ And just completed a rather lengthy, momentous and chaotic Western road trip (Oregon and California coasts, my people in San Francisco and Paso Robles, Joshua Tree, Las Vegas, Zion and Bryce Canyon NP's) with fore-mentioned Rheins.

There you go. All caught up. Hope all is well.  Stay tuned for yet another attempt to get my e-world sorted out. TB

TOP 9 REASONS YOU SHOULD GO SEE ONE OF THE REMAINING 7 PERFORMANCES OF "BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON" AT THE PHOENIX THEATRE!

1. The Play's The Thing: It ran for three months on Broadway in 2010, after a much longer Off-Broadway run. It's like a live-action "Schoolhouse Rock" about our wild-ass 7th President - with rock and roll, lots of fake blood and F-bombs, and cute dancing girls.  I learn something new each show, but it's damn entertaining, above all. And it works on so many levels - I think it's an incredibly smart, funny and important work. As Tom Alvarez put it in his Examiner review:  "Ultimately, the show succeeds at showing us the parallels between the political process then and now, which relate to the cost of hubris and greed; the fickleness of the electorate, which reflects both the best and the worst of human nature; the need for educating oneself about the issues and exerting due diligence on a candidate; and finally, the critical importance of becoming involved in the public debate." But don't let all that stuff that scare you. It's funny as hell, it rocks, and like I said, there are cute dancing girls...

2. The Director: I'm a little biased because I get to work with him, but Bryan Fonseca is one of the greatest living American Theatre directors out there. His body of work - hundreds of challenging, provocative productions of new plays over 30 years, is unparalleled. He's just SO good at what he does - finding the heart of the story - and figuring out how to translate that to the cast and crew and, ultimately, you. Over the last few years, we've worked on a number of "new" (i.e. non-corny traditional musical theatre-type) musicals - and this one is one hell of a show. Marvel at how smoothly this complex puzzle is put together...

3. The Star: I really didn't know Eric Olson before this. I had enjoyed his performance in "Avenue Q", but damn, man - he showed up ready to rock on this from rehearsal one. This is an incredibly demanding role: you have to sing your ass off, move like a great rock and roll front man, and display a range of acting chops that run from absurdly comic to despairingly honest - and he brings it, people. If only to see somebody kick ass in a big role with "inexhaustible brio" (as Jay Harvey put it in the "Star" yesterday), come see this show. (PS: Turns out Eric and I are both major Who fans. Come watch us bond in a mid-westerly Daltery/Townsend fashion.)

4. Your Own Self-Interest: Tell the Box Office that I sent you when you get your tix (call 317.635-PLAY or visit www.phoenixtheatre.org) and you will be entered into a contest to win a Phoenix season pass. And if you save your ticket stub, I will buy you a drink. Or play you a song.

5. The Choreography: It's so good, so fresh, so fun, so completely driven (in a very subtle) way by the narrative. Hats off (coon-skin caps off, actually) off to Dance Kaleidoscope's Mariel Greenlee!

6. The Set, The Lights, The Sound: Gordon Strain's two-level saloon set is awesome. Laura Glover's sublime lighting design is awesome. Nick Hargrove's all-over-the-place sound design is awesome. You may not be able to consciously take it all in at once while you're wrapped up in the story, but trust me, all three are bloody awesome.....

7. The Cast: Man, it's hard work. Man, it's alot of fun when you're around such wonderful, talented folks: Phillip Armstrong, Thomas Cardwell, Abigail Gillan, Scot Greenwell,  Andrea Heiden, Danny J. Kingston, Peter Scarbrough, Lincoln Slentz, Phebe Taylor, Arianne Villareal, Clair Wilcher and Rex Wolfley.

8. The Music: It's not corny. It rocks. The vocal direction (by Kevin Smith) is outstanding.

9. The Band: We're kicking it too: Dave Langfitt on bass, Matt Price on drums, and I sing and play acoustic and electric guitars and piano. (Note the piano - it's the 1908 Lauter concert upright that's normally at the studio, the very same piano my mom and dad bought me in a pawnshop when I was 14, so I could learn. The only place to put it in the house was in their bedroom. It was many years later when I realized how incredible that was of them. Which, of course, led me....here.)

OK, sorry for the novel. Come see the show, you won't be disappointed. This week: Friday and Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 2PM. Next week: Thursday at 7PM, Fri/Sat at 8PM and the finale Sunday at 2PM......

If you liked "Pure Prine": Our new musical, "Forever Sung: A Celebration of Age in Song" opens May18th at the Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis!

   Hello, hello. OK.....my lovely Thursday night residency at the Hurricane Grill is on hiatus for awhile - due to the impending arrival of a big new project I've been working on for the past few months. Last year, Phoenix Theatre Artistic Director Bryan Fonseca and I were contacted by Sharon Baggett, who's on the faculty at the University of Indianapolis Center on Aging and Community. She had seen our "Pure Prine" production and wondered if we could whip together a little something similar for their 10th Anniversary Gala (which happens to be this next Thursday, May 17th), but this time with a focus on the many-faceted concept of age. And aging.

   Wow.

   Suddenly, I felt old. But then all the fabulous songs of the last 50 years in that vein started coming to me.      

   Wow.

   And I felt just kinda-old again.

   "When I'm Sixty Four", of course. But then: "Talking Old Soldiers" by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, and "Old And In The Way" by David Grisman and Jerry Garcia, and "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens (which I'd always wanted to hear sung by a "Mother and Daughter" instead.) And, of course, "End Of The Line" by the Traveling Wilburys.

And Bryan had many more ideas, as did Sharon. So we said yes, and have been working on it all year.

So,  it opens next weekend. Thursday night,  May 17th, with is the private gala for the Center. But then, Friday night, May 18th, it's open, baby, for a three-week run. I don't want to give too much away, but if you saw and loved "Pure Prine", this is your cup of tea, Lee. No dialog, same basic "theatrical concert" structure (which the Chicago Sun-Times called a "winning combination" in it's review of last winter's Chicago "Prine" run). Some similarities in the casting as well: I'm in it, as well as the amazing Tim Grimm and Jan Lucas Grimm. Joining us are longtime Phoenix stalwart Max Henschen, Ken Farrell (who just played the father in "August: Osage County"), Sherri Brown -Webster and Chicago-based singer/songwriter Heather Styka.

For more information and tickets, please visit the Phoenix Theatre site or give them a jingle at 317.635. PLAY.

The wild weekend so far....

The weekend so far: Thursday at the Hurricane, a young, single mom (with cute 6-year-old-daughter-with-crayon-menu-drawing in tow) came up to me as I was leaving and said something like "I was having probably one of the worst days in my life, but your songs, the sound of your voice, calmed me down and made me realize that this all will pass and things will get better..."

Forgive the little self-satisfied smile on my face the whole drive home.

And last night in Nashville, the room was full, people were listening, singing along, and having fun all night and I looked up and realized I had been playing 2.5 hours straight - and it's a 3-hr. gig!?! So, I just kept going and it was a blast. (Bruce Springsteen is a BABY - he's got a band with him.)

Met alot of great people - and was so tired when I got home that when I got up at 8am to go practice for tonight's Connor's Pub rock/drunk-fest, I realized I had left my guitar leaned up next to my front door on the porch. Outside. All night. Thank you, humanity (for not paying attention this morning.) I'm going to be optimistic and plan on the rest of the weekend going as swimmingly.

 And if it doesn't, that too shall pass.....

The wild weekend ahead....

Wild weekend coming up. Thursday - solo acoustic at the fab Hurricane Grill in Brownsburg, 6:30-8:30PM AND "Freud's Last Session" opens at the Phoenix. (I did the sound design - including some great "Tom Gulley as a 1930's BBC Announcer" voice-overs that are coming through an old console radio onstage, expertly wired by Phoenix tech guru Cody Grady). Friday night: solo at the Chateau Thomas Tasting Room on the strip in Nashville, IN, 7PM to 10PM, and Saint Patrick's Day: 6:30PM to 8:30PM back at the Hurricane (lots of Van Morrison and U2) and then playing keys/guitar under the tent outside at Connor's Pub with a really cool singer, Dale Speckman, and his band the Yeagy's (named in honor of famous Connor's owner "JY" Yeagy). 10:30PM-ish start, it will be a mess of drunken 20-somethings and oh-so fun, I bet..... 

Music from "August: Osage County" (at the Phoenix thru Mar. 11)

http://soundcloud.com/tim-brickley/music-from-august-osage-county

   Here's a medley of themes and cues written for (and currently in-use) for the Phoenix Theatre production of the Tracy Letts play, "August: Osage County". It was an honor to be inspired by the talented and committed cast and crew (headed by director Bryan Fonseca), and by this dark majesty of a play.        
   Composition/production touchstones included: Bryan's initial concept of desiring music along the lines of Ry Cooder's soundtrack to "Paris, Texas" (which led me to my first slide guitar playing in ages - with apologies to said Mr. Cooder), the stage note at the beginning of the play which indicates a Wurlitzer electric piano in the Weston family living room (the most darkly-atmospheric of all electric piano sounds, don't you think?) and my friend Pete Gable's haunting, single-stop accordion playing, which reminded us both of a wheezy pump organ in an abandoned Oklahoma church......

Me, The Hurricane, Chateau Thomas. The Phoenix Theatre, The Chatterbox and YOU!

   Wild weekend ahead, folks. Last weekend was NOTHING! Tonight, solo acoustic at the Hurricane Grill and Wings in Brownsburg, 7PM start. (See posts below for details.) Saturday night, it's also solo acoustic at the annual Valentine's Day "Incurable Romantic" dinner in the Vineyard Room at Chateau Thomas Winery in Plainfield (7PM-9PM) and then off to the hallowed ancestral jazz grounds of the Chatterbox for the 10:30PM return of the Tim Brickley Quintet (Steven Weakley: guitar, Charles Bennett: trumpet, Richard Torres: sax, Robin Reuter: drums, TB: bass and vocals).
   If that's isn't enough, I'm also in the midst of writing music and creating sound design for the next production at the Phoenix, the Indiana premiere of savagely funny "August: Osage Country" by Tracy Letts, which won the Pulitzer and Tony for Best Play of 2008. It's an amazing cast (chock full of the best actors who have chosen to live and work here) and one of those emotionally to-the-bone type of plays that you will never forget. Go to the Phoenix site and get your tickets now...

It's now going to be every THURSDAY in February at the Hurricane Grill!

Long Live Rock...

At my gig last night at The Hurricane, about 5 or 6 girls got up, from all over the restaurant, and started dancing. Even though it's just me, solo acoustic, man - they were all really rocking it. Then suddenly, one of the girls threw up a little bit on one of the other girls, which somewhat dampened the overall party vibe. Best part? They were all between three and seven years old...

Solo acoustic Wednesdays in February at the Hurricane Grill!

 
   Hey folks, first off - a heartfelt "thank-you" to everyone who voted for us in the "Big, Goofy Rolling Stone Super Bowl Bar-B-Q" or whatever that was. We received a respectable damn-near 400 votes and it was a great exercise in outreach and teamwork and I had a blast. Thanks again - and if you voted, make sure I have your address (e-mail me at tebrickley@aol.com) and you'll get a special "I Voted" CD of Bleeding Hearts/Brickley-Rheins rarities and favorites!
   And now the real news of the day: starting tonight, I'm playing solo acoustic every Wednesday in February at the new Hurricane Grill and Wings in Brownsburg. A franchise that began at a single location in Fort Pierce, Florida in 1995, the Brownsburg location (251. W, Northfield Drive, 46112, by the way) is the first Indiana "Hurricane" and it's a great, fun, Florida/"island"-themed concept - with fab seafood and wings and over 35 different signature sauces. Family-friendly - which is a blast, I'm loving playing for kids these days - and with a cool little bar area.
   Our Hurricane is owned by fellow NCHS-alum Richard Sutton - who's a complete music nut like me, and he's really interested in bringing quality live music to his growing customer base. There's a great young Brownsburg singer-songwriter named Wendell Ray who's playing on Thursdays, and there are plans in the works for expanding music into some later night hours on the weekends.
   So come on out! I'll be playing originals and covers off the 200-song "The List" and music starts at 7PM....

A Vote For Us Is A Vote For Rock!

OK, we're in this big contest with (almost) every other band around here to be the one Indiana band chosen to open the big pre-Super Bowl "Rolling Stone Rock and Roll Tailgate Party" featuring The Roots and Jane's Addiction. We can't win, but it's been fun. But vote anyway - every day 'til Sunday January 29th - we are putting up some respectable numbers!!! Thank you all......

http://do317.com/rollingstonecontest/tim-brickley-and-the-bleeding-hearts

The Birth of "Dough-Re-Gami"....

Had a lovely evening playing w/ the Quintet at the Chatterbox this past Saturday night. When the fabled Chatterbox tip bucket came back at the end of the first set, I looked down......and there these were looking up at me: two cute, perfect little pointy-toed boots folded out of dollar bills. (Given the season - and the color - elf boots perhaps?). Anyway, they were - and are - rather astonishingly crafted, standing fully upright on their own, very sturdy - and the oddest thing to ever show up in the fabled Chatterbox tip bucket, which is truly saying something. The lovely woman who made them explained at one point in her life she had been a waitress in a truck stop and one of her customers showed her the boot/dollar trick. I wish I would have gotten her name, because I think she's on to something here. Not only do I want to order a few pairs as gifts, but I think there's a coffee table book in the offing. How many other things can you fold out of a dollar bill? There must be hundreds out there! (PS: "Dough-Re-Gami" is copyright 2011, yours truly...)

New video of "The Man With The Golden Tune".

A few years back, I helped talented songwriter Peter Weisz by performing and producing some of his vast song catalog, including a moving tribute to lengendary Chicago folk music legend Steve Goodman. Titled "The Man With The Golden Tune", the recording was featured on a companion CD that accompanied Clay Eals recent biography of Steve, "Steve Goodman: Facing The Music", and now Peter has put together a video of the song featuring some great archival footage and pics of Steve. Enjoy!

http://web.mac.com/pweisz/iWeb/PetersPortfolio/SteveGoodman.html

Final performances of "Spring Awakening": tonight and Sunday, October 30th!

Two more chances to see the extended run of "Spring Awakening": tonight at 6PM, and tomorrow at 5PM. It's been a great run, we are all sad to see it go - and a heartfelt thanks to the Phoenix for assembling such an inspiring team and producing such an important show. A joy to go to work for sure, these last couple of months.....

"Spring Awakening" is open at the Phoenix thru Oct. 23rd.

It's opening weekend, so this will be brief: our production of the musical "Spring Awakening" is now open at the Phoenix Theatre, where it will run thru October 23rd. Directed by Bryan Fonseca, with musical direction by myself and Kevin D. Smith, it's a fabulous show (2007 Tony for best musical) and is a modern rock adaptation (by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik) of a controversial 1890's German play about teen sexual/social angst (by Frank Wedekind.) Got all that? All you really need to know is it rocks: the mostly young twenty-something cast is really good, as is the set (Bernie Killian) and the lighting (Laura Glover). And I need seven guitars to pull off all the guitar parts - a "guitarsenal" (copyright 2010 Scott Sanders) to be sure....The reviewers who saw it opening night seem to agree: "Electric" wrote Jay Harvey in the Indianapolis Star, and Alison Carter's headline on Indymojo cracked me up: "Raw, dirty and wonderful." Hope you can make it to the show. Thursdays at 7PM, fri/Sat at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM....

Also: "Prine: A Tribute Concert" is running NOW at the Carmel Community Playhouse in Clay Terrace!

"Prine: A Tribute Concert" (the theatrical concert experience formerly known as "Pure Prine") returns to the Indianapolis area this week and next, as a fundraising event for the Carmel Community Players (a vibrant, volunteer-run company that's been producing quality theater since 1993.)

The original all-singing and playing cast is here: Tim Grimm, Jan Lucas-Grimm, Bobbi Lancaster, Michael Shelton, Jenni Gregory and your's truly. Six people sitting around playing and singing 32 Prine classics, in a unique, storytelling manner, conceived and directed by Phoenix Theatre Artistic Director Bryan Fonseca.

The show, first produced as "Pure Prine" in May 2010 at the Phoenix, is in it's 5th production, including stints in Madison, IN and this January in Chicago, IL. Mary Houlihan, in the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote:


"Fonseca lets the songs unfold organically in a simple, barroom setting. There is no storyline, no real dialog. Yet, hints of a story about relationships come through thanks to Prine's story songs, and the subtle interactions of the performers, all of whom are actors as well as fine musicians and singers..."

Lou Harry, in the Indianapolis Business Journal, called the show: "...a remarkable achievement....Prine's songs are seamlessly adapted for the stage..."

And Hope Baugh, in Indy Theater Habit, said: "I loved it - it was unlike any show I've ever seen."

Me a midst the groovy Grimm's....

Performances are at the CCP's Carmel Community Playhouse (14299 Clay Terrace Blvd., Carmel, IN.), their spacious, modern facility located in the Clay Terrace shopping area (a block south of the fabulous Kona Grill.) This weekend, Friday 8,26, and Saturday 8.27 at 8PM and Sunday 8.28 at 2:30PM, next week Thursday 9.1 and Saturday 9.3 (no Friday show) at 8PM and finishing up Sunday 9.4 at 2:30PM. Tickets are available at the CCP website by clicking here!

Late night acoustic set this Saturday night at the new "1001" in Broad Ripple!

Hello, people! Just back from what turned out to be an epic road trip West. Good to be back in beautiful Sobro -  but the best news of the return is I'm going to do a late night acoustic set - 11PM to 2AM - at the new 1001 restaurant/bar in Broad Ripple. Right across from the liquor store - out on the groovy patio. (I will, of course, be playing whatever you call out from my epic 200-song The List)....1001 was just featured today in the Indy Star weekend section (click here for story) and it looks like it's going to be an awesome new place for a sophisticated night out....More later and see you soon......(Here's a North Dakota lonesome highway snapshot:....)

"Indianapolis Star" feature heralds last "Zoomerville" weekend.....

("Zoomerville" cast Michael Shelton, Trevor Fanning, Phebe Taylor, Scot Greenwell, Mikayla Reed and Jolene Moffat. Photo by Frank Espich/The Indianapolis Star)

Woke up to a lovely interview/photo feature by Amanda Kingsbury and Frank Espich in the Star this morning regarding our last weekend of "The Zippers Of Zoomerville" (Shows tonight at 7PM, Friday 5.27 and Sat 5.28 at 8PM. Call the Phoenix Theatre at 317.635.PLAY or click for tix!) It's been a good run, something like this is always an adventure with an always different itinerary and I'd be remiss if I didn't thank: 1) The Phoenix for rolling the dice and giving the show another shot, 2) Jack O'Hara for a brilliant show that I - and many others - do indeed love and 3) the very talented cast and crew who have once again turned an evolving work-in-progress into something real that gets a boatload of laughs.

So it's onward and upward. My "Year of Theatah" continues this month, helping Bob Harbin with musical direction for his Bobdirex production of the Disney teen musical "Camp Rock", which opens July1st for nine performances at the Athenaeum Theatre. Attended my first rehearsal a few days ago, and he has assembled an fabulous cast culled from the choral cream of various area high schools. (Not surprising, in that he was a Fox Television casting executive for many years.) More on this - and a summer return to actually going out and playing some music (!?!?) - later.

"Get Your Motors Running!": The "Zippers Of Zoomerville" returns to the Phoenix Theatre April 28 - May 28, 2011!

Get Your Motors Running! The wacky "Gilbert and Sullivan Meets The Indy 500" musical I helped the uber-talented Jack O'Hara finish and debut in 2009, "The Zippers Of Zoomerville", is back for a retooled May run at the Phoenix Theatre here in Indianapolis! I urge you all to attend, as many times as possible, with as many friends and relatives as possible, as the show really is a blast. I'm a bit of a junior creative partner on this one, so allow me to triumphantly sing the show's praises:

+ Jack's script (he wrote the book and lyrics, he and I collaborated on the music) is incredibly funny, sly, dense, flippant, witty, chock full of allusion and illusion, a wry send-up of light opera, pop culture, open wheel racing and all things ridiculously "May in Indianapolis". But, umm, it's set in the mythical town of Zoomerville and centers on the wacky goings-on surrounding the fictional (yet oddly annual) "Zoomvee 499" auto race, and all the oft-silly pomp and pageantry surrounding said race.

+ The 6-person cast is an amazingly talented group of actors and singers. Four cast members return from the original production: Scot Greenwell as rookie driver/bumpkin saviour John Hoosier Lordy Boy, Jr......Phebe Taylor as reluctant "499 Queen" Happenstance Throttlehotter.........Michael Shelton (my fellow "Prine" cast member) as surly veteran champion driver Rusty Nubbins........and Mikayla Reed as scheming, everpresent Queen runner-up Veneera Glossover. The two new cast members - godsends both - are Jolene Moffatt as track matriarch Speedlove Throttlehotter and Trevor Fanning as the greedy real estate developer who wants to turn the Zoomvee track into condos, Buck Upshotz. It's a really fast-paced production, tons of costume changes, running around - and they are all really funny and wonderful performers.

+ Once again, Bryan Fonseca's the producer, Jack once again directs, and I return once again as musical director and accompanist.

I do hope you can make it - and please tell every person that you've ever known about it! The shows are Thursdays at 7PM, Fridays/Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM, April 28 - May 28. Click here to get to the Phoenix website for tickets!

Different Beat Radio, Episode #8:Our Second Year, Nearing 2000 Downloads, A Growing International Audience and..... "Welcome To The Family/Riding With The King"!

Different Beat Radio, (new music from the wilds of  Indiana, hosted by singer/songwriter/producer Tim Brickley) is back with Episode #8: “Welcome To The Family/Riding With The King”.  Singer/songwriter/brother Pat Brickley is onboard for a wide-ranging interview and to spin various selected tracks he’s written and recorded through the years,

Patrick "King" Brickley and King, Jr.

 including the power pop coed anthem “Tri Delt Girls”, the lovely yet ill-fated movie song miss “Henry Poole Is Here", Elvis and Nat “King” Cole tributes and more. What kind of “more”, you ask? Well, a rare live cut (“Sweet Mary Kay”, an early David Rheins/TB song)  from Tim’s mid-80’s band Today’s Icons - warming up Culture Club, no less!?!, and

Today's Icons, in front of a giant Culture Club banner (1984)

 “World” written by and featuring Tim’s other (and first, we might add) singer/songwriter brother Chuck, 

Chuck Brickley, laying it down in mock turtleneck. (1966)

and some archival audio advertising arcana from Tom Gulley, Rene Longoria and TB. (Approx 36 mins., 2011)

Solo acoustic tonight at the Monkey's Tale, 10PM....

Turns out I'm working tonight, a solo gig at the Monkey's Tale (10PM, 925 E, Westfield Blvd. 46220) getting warmed up, I suppose, for the hell of a summer the band is going to have out on the deck this year. Tonight will be interesting - on many levels, I'm sure - but mostly for the fact it's going to be the first time I'm really going to get to experiment onstage with an incredible new piece of equipment I've just gotten hold of. It's the most amazingly musical pieces of visionary audio technology I've experienced in a long, long time. If you are familiar with my recording arrangement and production style, you know that harmony/group vocal arrangements - often overdubbed by myself - are a big part of it. And as such, really hard to pull off live. No more, with this little box of black magic. That's all I'm going to say for now. You have to hear it to believe it. And I hope you will......

No show tonight in Anderson - but an interesting musical weekend ahead!

   Hey, folks: due to the incoming winter weather, Tim at Greek's Pizzeria in Anderson has asked we postpone tonight's show. I told him to send me 4 large Greek's Specials via courier and we'd be cool. (Hardy-har-har.) With the glorious coming of upcoming glorious spring, we are going to get on a bit more regular schedule (music-wise) up there, so stay tuned.
   In other weekend music news, I'm solo acoustic at the fabulous Fishers location of fabulous Chateau Thomas Winery this Friday night, 2,25, performing whatever you call off my 200-song (and growing) The List.
   The next night, Saturday 2.26, I'm going to be performing with the incredibly fun and talented Karen Irwin up at George's (in the Avalon Crossing shopping plaza, approx 71st and Binford) at 8PM. I had worked with Karen in the past at the Phoenix in a few shows she was acting in, but a few weeks ago got my first chance to play some music with her, and it was a blast. She's a great, cool, soulful singer who sings a wide mix of songs - from standards to Janis to Rickie Lee to Corinne Rae Bailey. And she's a wacky, up-front performer who has no problem going over and sitting next to drunk semi-hecklers at the bar in her prom dress with her wireless mic, winning them over. Should be blast - and hope to see you soon......TB

Larry DeMyer: Fearless Guitar Warrior, Part Two.

The Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicagoist love "Prine: A Tribute Concert", which is heading (sliding) into it's final Chicago weekend....

It's Thursday, and I'm still in Indianapolis, my second day of beating through our currently never-ending landscape of solid ice, trying (unsuccessfully, repeatedly) not to fall down. Our brothers and sisters in Chicago are digging out from their 3rd worst snowstorm in history - and it takes a whopper of historic proportions to slow them down. But the show must - I'm assuming, at this point - go on.

So, here we go, about to launch into our fourth and final weekend of "Prine: A Tribute Concert" at the Viaduct Theater in Chicago (this Friday 2.4 at 7:30PM, Saturday 2.5 at 5PM and 7PM, and Sunday 2.6 at 3PM.) It's been an amazing experience for me: reconnecting with Chicago and with Chicago friends, making new friends, and participating in the continuing evolution of this show.

Two new, can't-believe-they-like it-as-much-as-we-do reviews to share. The first is a full review by Mary Houlihan in the Chicago Sun-Times:

"CORRECT MUSICAL FORMULA FOUND FOR PRINE NUMBERS
by Mary Houlihan (mhoulihan@suntimes.com) / Jan. 21, 2011, 4:21PM

Failed jukebox musicals are many. “Ring of Fire” (Johnny Cash), “Lennon” (John Lennon) and “The Times They Are A-Changin’” (Bob Dylan) all debuted on Broadway with much fanfare and quickly disappeared. But Indianapolis-based Phoenix Theatre has come up with a winning formula in the music-drenched show “Prine: A Tribute Concert,” running at the Viaduct Theater through Feb. 6.

Here, director Bryan Fonseca gets it right by keeping it simple.

It doesn’t hurt that he has great music to work with and six talented performers to present it. Each obviously loves a song made complex by stunning wordplay and simple chords, all of which Prine does throughout his vast songbook.

The two-hour show, which debuted earlier last year at Phoenix where Fonseca is producing director, is presented locally by Here Today Enterprises, in association with Phoenix and Prop Thtr. The performers are Tim Brickley, Tim Grimm, Bobbie Lancaster, Jan Lucas-Grimm, Megon McDonough and Michael Shelton.

Of course, the show should easily find an audience here since Chicago fans call the Nashville-based Prine their own. He grew up in Maywood and was a central figure in the Chicago folk movement, performing at clubs like the Earl of Old Town and the Quiet Knight along with pals such as Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, Fred Holstein and Jim Post. But those days were decades ago and much of the music has fallen by the wayside.

What “Prine: A Tribute Concert” does is prove just how lasting the songs are, allowing the audience to really absorb Prine’s lyrics and the messages behind them.

The songs — more than 30 are performed — have a country-folk charm. They can be silly and whimsical (“It’s a Big Old Goofy World”) or realistically heartbreaking (“Speed of the Sound of Loneliness”).

Fonseca lets the songs unfold organically in a simple barroom setting. There is no dialogue, no real storyline. Yet hints of a story about relationships come through thanks to Prine’s story songs and the subtle interactions of the performers, all of whom are actors as well as fine musicians and singers.

Lancaster’s sassy twang is perfect on “They Oughta Name a Drink After You” and heartbreaking on “Bruised Orange.” McDonough smoothly beautiful vocals shown on “Sam Stone” and “Angel from Montgomery.” Scattered among the solo performances were nicely calibrated duets, including the Grimms’ crowd-pleasing take on Prine’s silly rant “In Spite of Ourselves.”

What gives the show cred is the fact that the singers never try to imitate Prine but rather to interpret the songs in their own individual way, drawing out the humor, pain, truth and beauty of each. In the end, Prine’s lyrically rich songbook is the true star of this performance piece."

The second is in the outstanding arts and entertainment website "The Chicagoist", by Michele Lenni. (If you have time, follow the well-researched links in her article, very nicely done!)

"PRINE: A TRIBUTE CONCERT
by Michele Lenni / January 28, 2011, 2PM

One of the most forgotten musical treasures of the grand history of music in Chicago has to be John Prine. Born and raised here in the city limits, he is probably one of the most prolific and discerning lyricists of his or any generation. Prine began his musical journey at 14 when he learned the guitar from his brother David Prine and ended up being lauded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Kris Kristofferson to name a few. After serving a term in Vietnam in the mid '60s he returned to Maywood Illinois to take a job as a postman. In his spare time he attended open mic nights at Fifth Peg on Armitage Avenue, where eventually he brought his compositions to the stage. He was then reviewed by Roger Ebert and eventually rose to fame as a central figure in Chicago Folk Revival, which also included such singer-songwriters as Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, Jim Post and Fred Holstein.

Years later, after much critical success, he has recieved a Grammy, a Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting by the UK's BBC Radio 2 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. It is no surprise to us that his hometown is choosing to honor his ability and achievement this weekend with a Tribute concert at Roscoe Village's Viaduct Theater.

Prine: A Tribute Concert, directed by Bryan Fonseca, is a stellar line-up of 30-plus Prine compositions, and a prestigious cast including Chicago-based singer-songwriter Megon McDonough. The Sun Times recently heralded the virtues of this production:

"...Fonseca lets the songs unfold organically in a simple barroom setting. There is no dialogue, no real storyline. Yet hints of a story about relationships come through thanks to Prine’s story songs and the subtle interactions of the performers, all of whom are actors as well as fine musicians and singers."

In the dark and velvety theater musical director Tim Brickley is setting Prine's pennings center-stage with no narration what-so-ever. Minimal lighting, staging and an ever-so-subtle multi-generational ensemble characterazation. The shining star of these performances is truly Prine's poetic and complex songs, which really, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Prine: A Tribute Concert, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N Western Ave, Through 2/6: Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m., $20-$25, All Ages"


Also this week:  I just wrote some music and created sound design for the next Phoenix show, "Goldie, Max and Milk" which opens tonight. Bryan Fonseca directs. It's a new play, an edgy, darkly-comic piece concerning a brand-new mother, who has just broken up with her girlfriend (whose pot-dealing brother is the bio dad) and who is now working with a devoutly Jewish lactation consultant. Got it? In short, the sort of play the Phoenix was founded upon, lo those many years ago! It's set in current-day Brooklyn, the cast and crew have really risen to the new play challenge and I'm happy with how the music turned out, which I'll post soon somewhere so you can hear it. Better yet - go see the play if you're not coming to Chicago! (It runs through 2.27.)

And then it's back to work here for the rest of February, upcoming shows at The Fountain Square Theatre Swing Night (2.11) and The Chatterbox (2.20) with the Quintet, solo acoustic shows at Greek's in Anderson (2.24) and Chateau Thomas in Fishers (2.25), plus an upcoming triumphant return of the rock band to the always-festive YATS Fat Tuesday fling in March.....

Hang in there, kids. Predicted temps above freezing this weekend......

"Prine: A Tribute Concert" opens to raves in the Chicago Reader, the Chicago Sun-Times, Metromix Chicago and on WGN Radio!

Here's the latest on our current roadshow adventure:

 "Prine: A Tribute Concert" opened this past weekend 

at the Viaduct Theater in Chicago, the first reviews 

are in, and the Good People With Broad Shoulders 

seem to be digging it!

Dan Jakes writes in The Chicago Reader:

"Soulful and gimmick-free, this spirited show breathes
 new life into 32 songs by folk legend John Prine. Set
 against a simple red curtain, with some beer bottles
 and tables onstage for atmosphere, this is a
 no-narration concert. Director Bryan Fonseca allows
 Prine's songs to speak for themselves by backing them
 with only minimal staging and subtle ensemble
 characterization. His efforts highlight the music's
 inherent theatricality and heighten the full-bodied
 arrangements by music director Tim Brickley. The
 cast is vocally and generationally diverse, shedding
 new light on classics like the cheeky reefer anthem
 "Illegal Smile" and the heartbreaking Vietnam vet
 ballad "Sam Stone." Whether you know the words
 or not, an hour in, you may feel like singing along.."

Read the full "Reader" review here.

In the Chicago Sun-Times theater listings, staff writer

Mary Houlihan gives us a coveted "highly recommended"

after the production's listing/summation.  A portend

of a review to come? Hmmm.....

Read "Highly Recommended" from the "Sun-Times".

In the Chicago Metromix, reader/reviewer/

audience member"TL5Emeritus" writes on January 

16, 2011 at 10:50 PM:

"My sweetie and I attended the Sunday matinee

performance of this tribute to John Prine. We were
touched by the great music and we found new
appreciation for his song-writing artistry.
The performers were excellent musicians and
brought John's music to life with subtle vignettes
worked into their performances. It was our first
visit to the Viaduct and we both love the cozy/casual 

ambience of the place. We both heartily endorse 

the show and the venue."

Read the full Metromix comment/review here.

And our intrepid co-producer, the inspiring Scott 

Vehill of Chicago's Prop Thtr (yes, that's how they

 spell it!?!?) has appeared the last two Sundays on

 "The Sunday Paper's With Rich Kogan" on 

WGN Radio AM-720. The first appearance, on

 Jan 9, is a great introduction to Scott, The Prop,

 and "Prine: A Tribute Concert". Kogan's a fabulous 

radio personality and I could listen to Scott talk all day......

Download/listen to 1.9.10 "Sunday Papers w/ Rich Kogan"

This past Sunday's segment was primarily on the "Fringe 

Fest"-like RHINOFEST theatre festival currently running 

at both stages at the Prop - but it has a great beginning 

bit about the "Prine" opening weekend:

Download/listen to 1.16.10 "Sunday Papers w/ Rich Kogan"

We'll keep you posted on further developments. In the meantime 

- click here to get tickets to the show! Showtimes are 7PM on 

Fridays, 5PM and 7:30PM on Saturdays (note: no shows on 

Sat. Jan. 29, though) and Sundays at 3PM....

We're taking "Prine: A Tribute Concert" to Chicago!

For those of you who gloriously followed our "Pure Prine" project, we have great news to share: the new touring-friendly. concert-only production "Prine: A Tribute Concert". Same tremendous line-up of 30-plus John Prine compositions, and same tremendous cast - with one notable exception: the very talented (and very pregnant) Jenni Gregory has been replaced by delightful Chicago-based singer-songwriter Megon McDonough. Lou Harry, in the Indianapolis Business Journal, just listed "Pure Prine" in his "Ten Best Of The Year" column, and here's what he says:

"The Phoenix Theatre not only staged, but created. “Pure Prine” transcended the usual jukebox musical to such an extent that it was brought back for a revisit just months later. It’s also likely to have an afterlife, with a concert version opening this month in Chicago. See what happens when great raw material, a first-rate cast, and an ideal set are managed by a talented director with a passion for the material? This one made it look easy, but anyone who knows theater knows it wasn’t. Kudos to all involved. Some of the “Pure Prine” crew were also involved in the infectious, surprisingly joyful “Hoosier Dylan” at the Athenaeum..."

The shows run Friday, Saturday (two shows) and Sunday, starting January 14th. (No show on Jan. 29). Hope you can make it! Who doesn't love Chicago in the winter, you babies!

Different Beat Radio #7: "That Time Of The Year: 2010 Holidaze Edition"

Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men, everybody! Different Beat Radio returns just in time to close out the year with the long-awaited "Episode #7: That Time Of The Year: 2010 Holidaze Edition." A cornucopia of seasonally aural delights of all creeds and denomination, including:

+ "That Time Of The Year", the original recording of Tim's holiday chestnut that appeared on the 1995 WTTS-FM "Overeasy Xmas" CD that also featured holiday fare from Matthew Sweet, Lisa Germano and Henry Lee Summer...

+ Two tracks produced by Tim for the Phoenix Theatre "A Very Phoenix Xmas" franchise: "How Do You Spell Channukkahh" (written by Adam Gardner of Guster fame) and "Toys", from a sketch written by Tim and Bryan Fonseca for this year's "Regifted" production...

+ A wonderful "found" gospel medley courtesy of Emmett Cooper and Lloyd, Avanell, Bertha and Floyd, recorded in southern Indiana sometime in the early to mid-1940's...

+ The quirky "I Saw Santa Driving A Hearse" from Louisville's quirky "Rock and Roll Grandpa" Lynn Charles (Chuck) Foster...

                                                                                                                             and....

+ The soon-to-be-holiday-classic "May Your Light Shine Brightly" from Detroit's Rosetta Pebble, from their upcoming album which may or may not be titled "Three"...

Plus, a holiday gift for you from Ben Wah Salami,

and information on the upcoming January, 2011 Chicago production of the new "Prine: A Tribute Concert".

(2010, approx 30 mins.)