Getting Back to Church

"An untuned guitar is not worth playing......" (apologies to Socrates)

Well last night, Saturday, January 19th, I made it to the open mike run by Neil Zimmerman at Perry Hall United Methodist Church. with featured performer Bob Sima. It was such a nice evening, a real musical shot in the arm. The featured performer, Bob Sima, a singer-songwriter with his own CD, played some strong songs including one about not dying with the music still in you (I could relate to that one) and one about warm ham and cold bodies (couldn't relate as much to that one). Heard some fine open mike performances too, ranging from humorous songs (about state songs) to Yiddish folk songs (sung by Leah Ulanskey who runs the Friendly Coffeehouse). The church of the basement was pleasantly filled with good people who listened and even sang along.

I sang three songs and the audience seemed very receptive. The set list:

1. If I Had a Hammer (I know, an old chestnut, but I've reworked it recently and it has a little different feel to it-more late 20th century :-)

2. Ballad of a Crystal Man (old Donovan song reworked to fit the current political climate)

3. Bring Them Home (old Pete Seeger tune covered by the Boss (Bruce Springsteen) last year that I learned off of http://www.youtube.com ) and it was a folksinger's dream to have the audience sing along (if a song like this doesn't bring the troops home what will?)

It was good getting out and seeing some old musical friends that I hadn't seen for over two years (Dick Oles and Leah) and I will be back. Oh, and did I mention that they had cookies, coffee, and veggies (donation requested)?

Gary B