Saturday, May 29, 2010

Some links for Gerdes....pictures and info

Link from Bob Dylan Roots: HERE

About.com Gerdes history: HERE

Gerdes in Wiki: HERE

Peter, Paul and Mary...official site telling of their first ever time on stage as a trio at Porco's place: HERE

Public Facebook page "Face down at Folk City": HERE

Monday, May 24, 2010

mONDAY Monday mONDAY

Allow me to disclose some missing info....along with the updated line up (in no order)

Jack Hardy
Dominic Chianese
Eric Weissberg
Bev Grant
David Massengill
Rod MacDonald
Willie Nile
Roger Sprung
Dick Reicheg
Vincent Vok
Erik Frandsen
Jonathan Kalb
Willie Nininger
Peter Stampfel
Lili Añel
Biff Rose
Lydia Adams Davis
Bob Horan
Steve Ben Isreal
Vince Martin
Richard Chanel
Frank Christian
Randy Burns
Mark Dann
David Amram
Roland Mousaa
Dirdy Birdies Jug Band
Sylvia Tyson
Joe Virga
Heather Wood, Ken Schatz and George Stevens``
Peggy Atwood
Judy Gorman
Poez
Terre and Suzzy Roche
David Goldman
Nick Holmes
Sally Spring
Happy Traum
Guy Davis
John McEuen
Su Polo

CRAZY right??!



.......so far......there are a couple of other known unknown unconfirms coming....won't disclose those names until i know fer sure.......

Also, it probably would be helpful to know what time we're having this shindig. Let's plan on a 7:00 PM EST showtime, shall we....? Feel free to start arriving after 5 or 6 to schmooze and give me a hug. Those who wish to jam acoustically...let's do it in The Fat Black Pussycat until showtime. I'll be there around that time to meet and greet but will have to go down to the Underground venue to make a welcome announcement and get the show on the road. We will be providing a closed circuit feed of what takes place downstairs to screens upstairs(street level).

We have decided that we must charge a nominal entry fee at the door. Tickets will be sold at the door only for $10.

Two weeks from today...

and if you'd like help cover labor costs and get a first-edit BOOTLEG CD, please donate to Kickstarter here

(PS- Still need a volunteer or two to help with tracking artist CD sales and making change. Perhaps only 60-75 minutes of "work"...go on the tab for your offering of your time...email folkcity50@gmail if you'd like to help)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

And now for something completely different....

So I started this blog, I may as well blog. Which to me means "spew". 

So I'll spew a bit, but all in context of my journey down the road to Grandpa's Gerdes Great Off-The-Grid Get toGether Gathering. 

As some of you know, (you know who you are) I was inspired by a celestial force of nature to finally do what I've always talked about doing- write a book about Greenwich Village's unsung hero- Mike Porco. 

Admitedly, I didn't get to know my grandfather as well as some of his patrons but he was always a big figure in my life. No "On Golden Pond"-type moments fishing and farting but I do have many memories of his mannerisms and persona. He's like the old elm tree you used to climb in the backyard of your youth.  You miss it the most once it's gone.
 
The history that took place in his club was never lost on me, I just didn't know the complete cast of characters and the order of events. I've been determined to discover all that and more.... and document it. 

So far, I've heard unbelievably great stories from those I've spoken with. I will hear hundreds more before I'm through, no doubt. I'm having quite a good time connecting with everyone and learning about you all. Everyone has been super kind. Quite a blessing and quite a surreal trip at the same time. 

I've name dropped my way into everyone's lives in progress asking them to bring up their fond memories of the past. No one I've spoken to so far has held back or disappointed. 

But there are others along my path that deserve thanks because they've done things and lent a hand to my project, in some cases, separate from ever meeting me personally. 

>>>My old friend from Ithaca College (where I never took a class and, thusly, never graduated from) Dan "Captain" Kirkhus recreated the putrid West 3rd wall paper you see on this blog. His outstanding web design skills can be found at isotopemedia.com

>>>Dr. Rose Reissman has encouraged me to no end both in my writing and on this 50th anniversary party. She even had me speak about Mike and play guitar for her Brooklyn middle school students in April where I closed the "show" with a sing-a-long of  "Knockin on Heavens door" then signed autographs (hahahahahaha) in PENCIL, no less. (ooohahahahaha!)

>>>Frank Beacham, Brian Rose and Mark Dann- all of whom you'll see at the event offering their professional skill. Wanted to keep it in the Family, you know. 

>>>Mitch Blank. My new best friend...like it or not. Cuz he has the ability to transform me into a fly on the wall at Gerdes circa the 60s

>>>The Kickstarter "backers"-Funding the labor costs of a party with a Bootleg CD copy as their reward. I know we can do it! GET YOUR BOOTLEG HERE

>>>My clients- who keep me employed even though I bore them to tears with the details of this party as they manifest 

>>>And The Flaming Lips....yes The Flaming Lips. My one constant diversion from Folk music these past months. Sometimes doubt creeps in while putting on a Musical Party when you're not in the music or party business. Wayne Coyne's stargazed, matheQuazed lyrics have accompanied me all this past long winter and early Spring reminding me of the fragile yet unyeilding force that is life. The infinite number of possibilities are always there regardless of one's past actions or perception of the future. 

All we have is now
All we've ever had is now

As the dawn began to break
I had to surrender
The universe will have its way
Too powerful to master

I don't know where the sunbeams end
And the starlights begin
It's all a mystery

It only happens if you try
Pain and pleasure both get you high
No one is ever really powerless 

Look outside
I know that you'll recognize it's summertime

Why, why do we fear
To try to fly near
Just beneath the machine

The sun doesn't go down
It's just an illusion
Caused by the world
Spinning 'round

Oh oh oh finding the answer
Oh oh oh oh oh
Finding that there ain't no answer to find
Oh oh oh watching the planets
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh watching the planets align

See the sun
It's trying again
It's trying again
It's trying again

Monday, May 10, 2010

Definition of Folk City by Willie Nile

"It was a down home local watering hole gathering place filled with a revolving cast of Village characters, musicians, comedians, visionaries, crazies and everything in between. It was a place where you could get up on stage and experiment and play your music and hang out till all hours of the night with fellow wanderers, all under the watchful and encouraging eye of the street-wise and kind-hearted Mike Porco. It was old word and new world at the same time and a great place to hang one's hat."

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Name and address

A looooooooooong looooooooong time ago, I mentioned more details about the venue for the Great Gerdes Off-the-Grid Get Together this June 7.....for those unsure of what's currently at the address, 130 West 3rd was where Folk City ended up its last 16+ years.....The Fat Black Pussycat and Village Underground are in that location now....Proprietor Noam Dworman has generously offered Us the landmark spot over by 6th Ave for the night.....state of the art sound and lighting......bass and guitar amps with a drum kit and keyboards.....full bar and small plates from the kitchen.....same front door, bar, front window, new ice machine.....it's ready for a party....bring your liver

backpacks and other large containers are subject to random search by...um...I don't know....Paul Stookey....I have no idea. Whoever wants to check 'em. We're taking volunteers.

Welcome to new York

several thousand thank yous

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Dear Uncle Bobby, It's me, Bobby


Not that we were actually expecting the second coming of Gerdes' own Bobby Dylan on June 7....his tour brings him to Croatia that day. If we still had the Concorde, we might have had a chance... I'm still on his trail hoping to one day go face-to-face with Zimmy. (Call me when you get back to New York City Uncle Bobby...)

In other news, we've surpassed the 30 performer mark!! Looking at 5 hours of music...if you think you can handle it. Too many, you say? That's a hot show, I say. Rock, Folk, Jazz, Blues, Old World, Traditional, Rock, Blues, Folk, Bluegrass, Jug Band....

Full line up to be posted soon...another partial list post right here:
Jack Hardy and Dominic Chianese as Co-Emcees
David Massengill
Roger Sprung
Vincent Vok
Bev Grant
Jonathan Kalb
Erik Frandsen
Willie Nininger
Peter Stampfel
Lili Añel
Bob Horan
Biff Rose
Randy Burns
David Amram
Vince Martin
Steve Ben Isreal
Frank Christian
Sylvia Tyson
Patrick Sky
Willie Nile
Rod MacDonald...

Once again, my warmest THANKS!!

I plan on sending a first-edit bootleg version of the show to those who make a quality recording possible. Donate to our Kickstarter page for your copy:

http://kck.st/aXeesQ

I like Erik Frandsen's reference to the 50th....PORCOFEST!!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Talkin Folk City

If you're in the greater New York listening area, tune in to 89.1 WNYU Sunday May 2 as I join Anna D. on a show she calls-yes- "Talkin Folk City"
Show starts at noon. I'll join in around 12:50 and we'll schmooze and play a little music.

I'll give a more complete (but not completely complete) rundown of the 30 performers joining in on the fun for the Great Gerdes Off-the-Grid Get Together and Gathering