Sunday House Concert with Michael O’Connor and Butch Morgan
January 24th, 2009 @ 06:15
Posted by: John
Flesh And Bone
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Devil’s Lullaby
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Let me think how to introduce this show. You’ve probably seen Michael O’Connor before, might not have known it. He’s been a long time guitar player for Slaid Cleaves (who is my son Taylor’s favorite performer). Slaid is one of the top artists in Americana music and I’ve heard him introduce Michael as his favorite guitarist. Like Jason Wilber is to John Prine, Michael is to Slaid. They’ve played folk festivals all over the country. Michael often does one or two of his originals during a Slaid Cleaves show and what I have heard has been great.
Here’s a couple of songs so you can see how good he is:
He’s friends with our good friend Butch (Claude) Morgan and they’re doing a tour of house concerts and song swaps – one of which will be one of our Sunday House Concerts at Parke and Donna Hedges house in Shavano Park in San Antonio on Jan. 25th at 2:00. Address is 107 Cliffside, the map is below. All the same basics. Yes, kids are welcome. The suggested donation for adults is $12. If you have an immediate family of more than two adults – meaning teenage kids or older parents – bring them all, you don’t have to donate more than for the first two. All the money goes to the artists. Email me to RSVP or if you have any questions.
Here’s our buddy Claude….
I’m really looking forward to hearing Claude in a house concert setting. Our intent with the Sunday House thing has been to promote San Antonio area artists and that’s Claude. Mitch, Glenn, Claude… artists who represent us and our hometown.
After they play their show we’ll take a break to eat (it’ll be a potluck, bring something delicious) and then do a song swap with about 6 of the singer-songwriters in our group taking turns. Parke will be in on that, I will and whoever else pipes up and says they want to do it. I’m going to invite Mitch and Glenn and all the usual suspects. Mark your calendars, it’ll be a great day for San Antonio music with good friends and good food – I promise you it’ll be a lot of fun.
http://www.butchmorgan.com/
http://www.sonicbids.com/epk/epk.aspx?epk_id=108099
http://www.michaeloconnormusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/michaeloconnormusic
January 21st, 2009 17:34
Hi, John. I’d very much like to be a part of the post-show songwriters’ circle. Room for me?
Also, what sort of dish would be fitting to bring? Is there a particular culinary theme? Peace, Pat
January 21st, 2009 18:44
Great, Pat… it’ll be good to have you.
Yes, the theme is “things that John Whipple likes to eat”. Like fried Jalapeno and cheddar cheese poppers. And pecan pralines. And sausage.
You know I’m kidding, whatever you can throw together. It always surprises us how with a complete lack of co-ordination these potluck dinners still always work out. You would think all 14 families might bring a quart of gross H..E.B. potato salad but that hasn’t happened yet.
I’ll offer one suggestion, folks tend to bring mostly vegetables and desserts. A couple pounds of Bill Miller meat of any domination goes a long way. When it’s at my place, I do the bar-b-que. But if you cook things that are good, do something custom. Anything is good. Except beets.
On the song circle, we do want to all end up at Riley’s by 8:00. I guess that the Michael/Claude thing will go from 2:00 to 4:00. So it’ll be whatever scene we can create between 4:00 and whenever people start to split. That should be enough time for everybody to play – let’s just all show up and make it work.
January 26th, 2009 02:17
Well, the house concert was quite a hit. I thought both Michael and Claude were absolutely great. But Claude was particularly, extra great. He hit it out of the park. With Robar playing bass and singing harmonies and Michael on lead guitar, he had two pros playing behind him and it was world class. I was blown away.
Everybody sang wonderfully in the song circle. The food was awesome. We had plenty of people and the audience was very courteous and attentive. It was just exactly how we hoped the day would go. Absolute best way to experience singer-songwriters.
Everybody needs to plan on being at the next one! These things should not be missed, you’re losing out if you do.
January 26th, 2009 08:35
I was blown a way by what a great songwriter Claude is. I had never heard many of the selections and in that environment he performed with such intensity and grace. My favorites were the one about dreams, the old black crow song, and the one about Eddie. But they were all good, esp Mr Blues.
I’m so glad this house concert happened!
January 29th, 2009 17:35
Thank y’all for making it happen–and thanks to Parke and Donna for sharing their lovely space for the happening…
Love, P
January 29th, 2009 20:08
this was a boost for the Sunday House thing, we had a great response.
I think we may just start doing them more often now. That was the first time we’d done a song circle as part of it and I think it adds a lot.
It was good to have you there Pat.