How's it going? It's moving day over here in Brendan-land... Nahh, don't worry, not going very far. Just from one mostly-sunny part of San Francisco to another mostly-sunny part of SF. I'll barely notice the difference. But I'll be taking a break from my moving-related activities to be at the Hotel Utah Open Mic tonight, and hopefully you will too! Signup 7:30, show at 8, you know it.

You should also drop by because our featured performer is GABRIELLA GENEVIEVE. I'm really looking forward to this feature. Well I mean, of course I would, I picked it. But for real, she's got a dazzling voice, and she crafts very beautiful songs around it, always with memorable melodies, always with a strong emotional core to them. So come on over to The Utah tonight to check out her beautiful piano tunes, definitely worth it. In the meantime you can check them out at: http://theutah.org/artist/gabriellagenevieve

That's what's going on this week. See you tonight!

Brendan
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://twitter.com/theutah

What's going on? I write this email through a veil of tears. A veil of 49ers-related tears, mind you, but true tears nonetheless. I don't know if you follow football as intensely as I do, but as a fan going back to the mid 80's, yesterday's game stung. If you're like me and you need to get over such disappointment -- or if you are like (or unlike) me and just want to be somewhere awesome where the rain isn't falling directly on you -- you should definitely come to The Utah open mic this week, where you will be showered... with music!

If you stopped reading after that last sentence, I understand.

Okay, now you've got me begging you to read on. Ah, you are, good.

The Utah Open Mic continues this Monday in splendid fashion, in no small part due to our featured performer PAISLEY NIGHTMARE. In a marvelous coincidence, at halftime of the 49ers-Giants game* yesterday the entertainment was country music sensation Brad Paisley. I can assure you, though, that Paisley Nightmare will bring ten times the awesome to The Utah tonight. Once she was Kim... then she was Evil Ruby... then she rose -- phoenix-like, if you will -- and is now the Paisley Nightmare that we know/fear today. She gets those hypnotic fuzzed-out guitars going, and layers haunting stanzas of lyrics on top of them. Sometimes it seems that she is narrating a most macabre fairy tale. Some other times she is just plain rocking out. Rock out with her at: http://theutah.org/artist/paisleynightmare

That's the news, and I am outta here!

-Brendan
theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
twitter.com/theutah

* - shoot I meant to stop talking about that**

** - (sniffle, sob)

Happy January to you! Yesterday the air finally brought us that cold crispness that we associate with this time of year. It's also my first night back hosting this year! I want to give thanks and a big shout-out to Molly Gazay, who did a great job filling in for me as guest host of the open mic last Monday.

Unfortunately, some sad news about last Monday: something went wrong with the recordings of the performances so I'm probably not going to be able to put those songs online. I'll do what I can, I'll send them to some esteemed forensic experts from all around the globe, and I'll keep you updated. The live recordings are a big part of what makes the open mic really awesome, and they should be fine this week.

The Giants play a mere three blocks from The Utah, over at AT&T Park. When they're playing well, they have the lead in the 9th inning - around 10pm or so for a night game - and they turn to their closer, a man with a long, full, imposing, magnificent beard. I only mention this because The Utah Open Mic gets a share of this phenomenon tonight! Around 10pm we will be turning the open mic over to our featured performer, a man with his own equally-imposing, magnificent beard, OBSTACLE COURSE, aka Ryan Clark. Yes! The man is not all-beard, I assure you. I mean, I didn't intend for you to think that tonight's feature is a disembodied, floating beard. Okay, that would be pretty rad. But that's not Ryan! He is a jack of many, many trades. In the past, say, ten open mics, he has logged more stage time than anyone else except for probably me. Not because he's one of those run-on-stage-and-go-'WOOOOO' guys. That isn't always encouraged. No, Ryan spends so much time on stage because he is a man who wants to help his friends. One of his secrets? Oh, it's gotta be the cajon. Who doesn't love having an energetic cajon-ist on their song? But tonight will be about Ryan taking not just the stage, but the spotlight. His music is rooted in powerful acoustic rock, at times groovy and at others tender, guided by his soulful baritone. I'm really looking forward to his set, but if you need your Obstacle Course fix in the meantime, check him out at http://theutah.org/artist/obstaclecourse

Hey some good friends of The Utah have a show this week I wanted to let you know about: This Wednesday, 9pm, at Bottom of the Hill, check out Fleeting Trance, Terese Taylor, and Shareef Ali & the Radical Folksonomy! It's gonna be a great show.

And hey, some other good friends of The Utah have a show this week! This Friday at The Utah, don't miss Jeff Cotton's Gin Joint, former open mic host JJ Schultz, and Electrik Sunset! It's going to be an equally great show. (it's also Jeff's birthday that night)

That's what I got. Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day!

-Brendan
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://twitter.com/theutah
Facebook group: The Utah

How's 2012 treating you? A little over the week in, pretty good if you ask me. Must be all this not-rain we're getting. Seriously, what's the deal? I spent part of my away-from-The-Utah holiday break hiking in the Sierra Nevada, and pockets of snow were few and far between. We might need a new Al Gore power-point presentation soon! Make with the winter weather!

Anyway, whether the weather remains warm, or becomes more properly seasonal, Monday night is definitely right in the heart of open mic season! Community, your two-week nightmare is at an end, because the open mic is back! And as good as, or even better, than ever! If you have a song to sing, now's the time. Signup at 7:30, show at 8, you know the deal.

Hey I'm pretty excited about our first feature of the year, THE BEEHAVERS, fronted by Bryant Denison (who, in more singular times, is merely The Beehaver). What do you get from a Beehavers show? Indie-folk music infused with charming heaps of anachronistic joy. Seriously, you won't know where you are. Maybe 1920's Paris? Bryant himself adds to the warped sense of space and time in a Beehavers show; his songs sometimes take the form of "rounds" (his deion), sometimes bridging the gap between sea shanties and land-bound drinking songs. So come to the Utah for their set, and let the man charm your face off with his guitar, his ukulele, and his smooth, effortless vibrato. In the meantime there's also this: http://theutah.org/artist/thebeehavers.

It's good to be back! See you Monday!

Brendan
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://twitter.com/theutah

Happy new year! Just a friendly reminder from your open mic host that there will be NO OPEN MIC TONIGHT, JANUARY 2ND. The Utah's getting some renovations, and besides, you're all probably kinda hung over from celebrating and all that, so it's for the best, isn't it? :)

The Hotel Utah Open Mic will return on MONDAY, JANUARY 9TH, with featured performer The Beehavers. See you then!

Brendan
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://twitter.com/theutah

Just a quick message here. There is NO OPEN MIC TONIGHT at The Utah. There is also NO OPEN MIC next Monday, January 2nd.

The Hotel Utah Open Mic will return* on January 9th.

-Brendan

* - with a vengeance.

How's your December treating you? If your answer is "not good enough", allow me to try to remedy that unfortunate situation: we've got one more open mic this year, and it's this Monday the 19th, it's going to be great!

Hey this Monday's open mic is going to be a special one, in no small part because it's MY BIRTHDAY! Yeah, that's right, I made it another year, I did it, no need for a parade. I attribute it to my weekly diet of Utah burgers (oh, and bacon). If that's not your thing, I dig, to each their own. That said, what does my birthday have to do with the open mic that coincides with it? Well, my band, the aptly-titled BRENDAN GETZELL BAND, will be playing the feature set! Yup, bringing the whole band, with at least one special guest, and we intent to play the hits. And some less hit-ish stuff. At least, until somebody shouts "screw the new stuff, play the hits, man!"*

There will also be a special BIRTHDAY CAKE at the open mic, designed and crafted by the awesome Bakery Of Doom. (Remember those vampire-bite cupcakes from the Halloween open mic? Sure ya do!) You can "like" BoD on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BakeryOfDoom.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The upcoming open mic will be the last open mic of the year at Hotel Utah. That means there is NO OPEN MIC ON DECEMBER 26TH. Also, there is NO OPEN MIC ON JANUARY 2ND EITHER. Our first open mic of the new year will be on January 9th, and will continue every Monday, like always, from that point on.

Two other events featuring friends of The Utah you should know about:

-Are you around for the holidays but craving your open-mic fix while you wait for The Utah to return? You're in luck, because Jason & Amy from Great Girls Blouse are hosting a "nowhere to go for Xmas open mic showcase" this Friday the 23rd, 8pm, at the Retox Lounge in SF. You'd have a chance to play some songs, and hear sets from GGB, The Majors (I'll be playing bass), and others. Retox is at 628 20th St in the Dogpatch district, and the event is downstairs. Don't miss it!

-Show #3 of my residence at Bazaar Cafe is this Tuesday at 7! Once again it's a free show, and once again it features performers familiar to the Utah scene! This week's lineup is GIRL NAMED T, PETE LEE, LAUREN STURM, and SARA ABOULAFIA! It'll be a fun show, its legend will be passed down through the generations.

That's what's going on! I'm gonna go try on my birthday suit... wait that didn't come out right...

Brendan
http://theutah.org/brendangetzell
http://twitter.com/theutah

* - I'm sure Bachman-Turner Overdrive gets that treatment a lot. From the sound of it, Coldplay will join them soon.**

** - oooh, burn.

How are you today? Lots to talk about so let's get to it...

You should definitely make it out to Hotel Utah's open mic this Monday night, in no small part because we have theme night this week: EPIC SUPERGROUP NIGHT. Performers are encourage to play in groups of 2 or larger, in combinations either usual or unusual. These nights have been a lot of fun in the past, and it seems like this Monday will carry on that tradition. Looking forward to it!! (If you want to play solo instead that's no problem, you'll definitely be able to do that.)

There's also the matter of this week's featured performer, LEA GRANT. Speaking of supergroups, she will be bringing her band with her to The Utah in what will be a very special show! I'm very excited about this feature, in part because it completes a cycle; over two years ago, Lea played as part of my first Utah feature. Really! There's YouTube evidence of this. I remember when we rehearsed, she told me some of my songs would be 'big in Thailand'. Still waiting for that to happen. But this newsletter isn't about me, it's about her. It's about her intricately crafted piano work, layered upon chord progressions that have a very high "whoa, wish I'd thought of that" quotient. It's also about her highly trained* voice, beautiful both with and without inflection. It's about her lyrics that meditate on equal parts love and mythology (with plenty of overlap). And it's certainly about her sophisticated arrangements, brought to life deftly by her band. Progressive pop** at its finest. Check out her work at: http://theutah.org/artist/leagrant

Something else you should know: every Tuesday this month I'm HOSTING A SHOW AT BAZAAR CAFE out in the Richmond District (5927 California St, between 21st & 22nd) as part of my songwriter-in-residence gig there. This Tuesday's show features 3 acts that may be very familiar to veterans of The Utah, and they are, MARIA QUILES, WOLF N CROW, and ERMA. It's a free show, all ages, starts at 7, and fine food & drink is sold at the venue, hope you can check it out!

Really Worthwhile Plug: A good friend of The Utah scene, singer-songwriter WOLF LARSEN, just released her first official album, QUIET AT THE KITCHEN DOOR, and it is absolutely breathtaking. Exquisitely arranged songs that showcase Wolf's unforgettable voice. You can find it here: http://wolflarsen.bandcamp.com/album/quiet-at-the-kitchen-door

Lastly, looking forward to next week's open mic, which will be the last of the year, and falls on MY BIRTHDAY! I will be playing the feature that night with my band, and there will be a cake prepared by Bakery Of Doom, which brought you those delicious vampire cupcakes back on Halloween.

That's what's happening, see you at Epic Supergroup Night!

Brendan
http://theutah.org/brendangetzell
http://twitter.com/theutah

* - I avoid using the music critic cliche "classically-trained", a loaded phrase that is the musical equivalent of type-casting.
** - Wait, that's a loaded word too! Think Joni meets Tori meets Yes.

Happy December! Hope you've had a good week. I know I did: I had a great time last Monday at The Utah, and last Thursday at the 23 Club open mic in Brisbane, run by former Utah host JJ Schultz and Jeff Cotton. It's a fun scene in a great time-warp of a venue in Brisbane just outside SF, be sure to check it out on the first Thursday of every month! Still, Monday night approaches again, and that means it's open mic time! 4th & Bryant, signup at 7:30, you know it.

You'll definitely want to make it to this one, because we've got a very special featured performer lined up, the one, the only, PETE LEE. When you meet Pete Lee, you never forget him. I should know: our paths have crossed on many occasions, and the Utah website provides ample proof of this...

Pete Lee and I are Torn. http://theutah.org/performance/petelee/brendangetzell1/20101213/torn.

Pete Lee and I are proud to be an American. http://theutah.org/performance/petelee/brendangetzell1/20100510/godblesstheusa.

Even though the above are not examples of Pete's original music (which he'll play at tonight), at the very least they'll give you a tonal sense of what you'll hear at his feature. Singer, songwriter, comedian, photographer, filmmaker, fight choreographer, and... much more... oh yeah, he can really cut a rug too... Pete is undoubtedly a man of many talents. His music is rooted in Chinese and Taiwanese pop, but draws its grooves from myriad sources (jazz of all sorts, blues, soul, funk, and rock all show up in there). I know two things about his upcoming show: 1) he has some surprises lined up, and 2) you will dance. That's a given. Get your groove on in the meantime at http://theutah.org/artist/petelee.

Psst: Coming up NEXT WEEK on December 12th we're bringing back another theme night - EPIC SUPERGROUP NIGHT. This originated in the JJ Schultz era as "duets night", but that name discouraged trios, quartets, etc, so it was expanded to "supergroups". The concept is pretty simple: perform in groups! ***Preferably in unexpected, uncommon combinations***.

That's the news, I'm outta here. See you tonight!

Brendan
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah"

Happy Monday to you! For the capitalistically-inclined, you may know that we just passed "Black Friday" (an event where people camp out in a public urban space without getting pepper-sprayed, I think flat-screen TV's are involved, that must be the difference). You'd probably also know that today is "Cyber Monday", the internet equivalent of Black Friday. Which makes me wonder, who says "cyber" anymore? Seems like one of those high-tech-ish terms we all swept under the rug, somewhere between AOL and the Apple Newton.

Anyway, forget all that nonsense tonight, get your Thoreau* on and simplify! Enjoy an evening of great music, awesome company, delicious food & drink, and no cover charge. If only such an evening existed on a Monday. Wait! (checks) It does! Such an evening can be found at the Hotel Utah Open Mic (signup 7:30, etc etc).

What will you find this Monday night? How about our featured performer CHRISTINE JOVAN! Yeah!
I'm really excited about her feature set, because Christine is exhibit A of what this open mic is all about. Only recently did she start playing her music out, and we were fortunate indeed that she chose The Utah as her starting point in her performing journey. (not "performing Journey", though she's welcome to do so!) She first showed up at the open mic in the middle of the Summer; even then it was clear that she was an innately talented songwriter, but her work has grown so much in the time since. Her songs range from deeply-felt ballads to bouncy, sparkly pop tunes (think equal parts of two Sarahs: McLachlan and Bareilles). A song from CJ isn't complete without a memorable pop-infused melody and even hints of humor here and there. To get your Christine fix before her set, check out her work at http://theutah.org/artist/christinejovan.

Psst: Coming up on December 12th we're bringing back another theme night - EPIC SUPERGROUP NIGHT. This originated in the JJ Schultz era as "duets night", but that name discouraged trios, quartets, etc, so it was expanded to "supergroups". The concept is pretty simple: perform in groups! ***Preferably in unexpected, uncommon combinations***.

That's the skinny. See you at the open mic!

Brendan

* - I'll try to include one transcendentalist writer in each of my next several emails.**

** - Eh, no I won't, never mind.

Happy Monday! It's Thanksgiving week, and whether that means you are about to embark on an annual adventure of overeating, argu-, er, conversing with family members, and watching giant inflatable versions of Peanuts characters soar above Manhattan while Al Roker credulously comments on how amazing and heartwarming they are, or not, rest assured that this week, like almost any week of the year, will begin with The Utah Open Mic!

This week's show is destined to be a great one, as I'm thrilled to be hosting our featured performer FLIP CASSIDY. What is it about Flip's music that makes me, makes everyone within shouting distance, heck, makes everyone in the zip code want to stop what they're doing, pick up an instrument and jam right along? Seriously, a Flip Cassidy show is an infectious party. And not the kind where you feel itchy the next day.* What you get from him is a raucous bluegrass-infused hoedown, with music coming from all sides, impassioned energetic vocals, and melodies that seem as timeless as the lyrics they adorn. In a sense, Flip had a feature of sorts a couple weeks ago; on the night the open mic was afflicted by a power outage, he and his musical cohorts led an enthralling jam in complete darkness for a half-hour after the show's conclusion. (I myself joined them on piano and had a blast.) Now he gets light and amplification! For other well-lit and amplified performances by Flip, check out his work at: http://theutah.org/artist/flipcassidy.

Psst: Coming up on December 12th we're bringing back another theme night - EPIC SUPERGROUP NIGHT. This originated in the JJ Schultz era as "duets night", but that name discouraged trios, quartets, etc, so it was expanded to "supergroups". The concept is pretty simple: perform in groups! ***Preferably in unexpected, uncommon combinations***.

This will be way better than that Ja Rule/Metallica collaboration. DECEMBER 12TH!

That's what the haps is. Er, are. See you at the open mic!

Brendan

* - ...unless...

Happy Monday! You know what that means. Open mic tonight at 7:30! Skipping some of the pleasantries because I want to talk a bit about last week. If you were there, you already know that it was a night for the ages, but if not, here's the skinny: the power went out. A few minutes after midnight, during a rousing number by Erica Sunshine Lee, the entire block of Bryant St. on which The Utah presides lost power (nice work, PG&E!). But Erica? She didn't miss a beat. She kept playing, Derek dutifully hammered the keys next to her on the piano, and we kept the show going. In fact, we conducted the final hour of the open mic with flashlights and candles, we made it through the rest of our list for the night, the crowd was great, and end of the open mic saw a raucous bluegrass jam participated in by a large swath of musicians on the edge of the dark stage. The sentiment I've heard the most in the past week from those where were there was, inevitably, "could we have a power outage every week?" Haha, I'll talk to the bar staff about that, maybe we could get a generator for the credit card machine.

But on to this Monday! Yes, the power will be on. But just as much, if not even *more* power will be brought by tonight's feature DEAN HARLEM. Yes! Dean's a fresh-faced folkie, which feels like a contradiction in terms, but to hear him play & sing, it's something to see. How the emotional depth of high-quality folk balladry got to be so deeply ingrained in this guy, I have no idea. Maybe he hopped off an open boxcar of a cross-country train, guitar slung over his shoulder, walked to the intersection of Kerouac and Guthrie, and engaged in some sort of sonic Faustian bargain. It's just a working theory. Prove me wrong!* Whatever the case may be, the guy's a great talent and has taken the scene by storm in this past year, and I'm thrilled to be hosting his feature, check out his stuff at: http://theutah.org/artist/deanharlem

Psst: Coming up on December 12th we're bringing back another theme night - EPIC SUPERGROUP NIGHT. This originated in the JJ Schultz era as "duets night", but that name discouraged trios, quartets, etc, so it was expanded to "supergroups". The concept is pretty simple: perform in groups! ***Preferably in unexpected, uncommon combinations***.

This will be way better than that Lou Reed/Metallica album. DECEMBER 12TH!

See ya tonight,

Brendan

* - You can't prove a negative.**

** - And I have proof.

How's Monday treating you? Start of the week got you down? Well, it gets better. A lot better. Because you're just hours away from The Utah Open Mic! We had a great time last week for our Halloween Costume Ball Open Mic; I am told that songs were sung by, among others, Spock, Darkwing Duck, two sea-captains, a panda, a green zombie, Daria Morgendorffer, a clown, a corporate zombie, Toulouse Lautrec, Wonder Woman, a h0rny* demon, Uhura, Michael Jackson, an executed cowboy, a bat, Abraham Lincoln, a Beatles-singing space alien, and a crazy gangster who was a suspiciously good lead guitar player.

Also, big thanks to Bakery Of Doom for providing those amazing red velvet vampire-bitten cupcakes last week, you can like BoD on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BakeryOfDoom.

Tonight's open mic is going to be most excellent, in large part because of our featured performer ELISA WELCH. And rumor has it she's bringing members of her band THE BUDS with her! Elisa is a veteran performer at The Utah, and it's good to be bringing her in for a feature. There's something about her music that is quintessentially San Franciscan; it's a sunny day in Golden Gate Park, it's a happy crowd dancing at a street fair, it's an infectious sing-along. The acoustic guitars dance among each other, the comforting harmonies complement them, the piano moves in next door and lends them some sugar, and a good time is had by all. Check out Elisa's work at http://theutah.org/artist/elisawelch

So that's what's going on, see you tonight!

-brendan

* - Hope that zero kept me out of your spam filter!

It's upcoming...

Time is fleeting...

Free music... takes its toll...

Let's doooo the oooopen miiiic agaaaaaain!!!

Halloween is upon us, so this calls for a special open mic night at The Utah. (doesn't always fall on a Monday, of course) So we're going to have a COSTUME BALL OPEN MIC! Come to the open mic and play a song in costume, play a scary/spooky/macabre/mildly-disturbing song if you've got one, and have a really, really, ridiculously good time at 4th & Bryant!

And don't forget about this week's super-spooky featured performer TIKI HOUSEMAN! Sweet! Yeah Tiki's long been a favorite at The Utah, and it's good to have her back to play a set for us. Tiki continues a tradition that came to its zenith in the 1990's: women who rock the bass. From D'arcy of Smashing Pumpkins to Cassandra from Wayne's World, we can all agree there's nothing better than that. But Tiki, she takes it to another level. She doesn't just play bass and sing; she gets her slap on, she dazzles with her flamenco fingers, and she rocks the bass with a... drum stick? Yes, you didn't think of that, and she did. See that? Tiki just put you in your place. From its 4-string foundation, Tiki's music starts at rock but spans many musical genres (heavy funk, sparse blues, touches of punk, and more!). She'll be bringing the band on Monday, it's gonna be a special show, don't miss it! In the meantime, check out her work at: http://theutah.org/artist/tikihouseman.

See you at 4th & Bryant this Monday!...

...at the late-night...
...single-feature...
...open miiiiiic!

How's it going, newsletter subscriber? Heckuva weekend, if I may say so. The CD release show of Utah open mic favorites The Yellow Dress in downtown SF was awesome, check out their work if you haven't. Need more music? Well it's Monday, and that means it's time for The Utah Open MIc! 7:30pm, 4th & Bryant, you know it.

You definitely should come to the open mic this week, in no small part because our featured performer is none other than CAITLIN CRUMP. Yeah! Caitlin sports an amazing voice, but you want more than that. I understand, you demand more from this email. Thought you'd like to know that she and a friend were a double-rainbow for Halloween last year. What does it mean!?!?! I'm all for it, I endorse any internet-meme-based Halloween costume.* What does a Caitlin Crump featured performance at The Utah mean? It means powerful blues-infused folk rock, sometimes with tongue planted in cheek, all the time with excellent vocal delivery and song-craft. You can check out her work at http://theutah.org/artist/caitlincrump.

HEY! Your (somewhat) humble Utah host, Brendan Getzell, is the featured performer at this Tuesday's open mic night at the Red Devil Lounge (corner of Polk & Clay, SF), hope you come check it out! The open mic starts at 7, I'll be going on around 10, and I'll be accompanied by Daniel Fabricant on upright bass. It'll be a special show, don't miss it!

Also a reminder that next week is HALLOWEEN COSTUME BALL OPEN MIC. Come with a song, and come in costume!

-Brendan

* - Should I be that cat who plays the keyboard this year?

...DISASTER! Oh, excuse me, email-recipient, how you doin'? It's been a great weekend, full of great weather and music; there was an unusual amount of great shows around the Bay Area put on by artists from the Hotel Utah community. You can always find out about those shows on the left-hand side of the front page of theutah.org. But check it! Monday draws near, and that means it's almost open mic time at The Utah! Monday night, 7:30pm signup, 4th & Bryant, you know the drill.

When 10pm rolls around on open mic night, you know that it's time for the featured performer, and this week is no exception. I'm pumped to be hosting this week's feature, SAY DISASTER. We have clearly reached the dawn of the future. A future not defined by first and last names, but rather one where we will all be commands. There is no name that could possibly embody such a glorious future as Say Disaster. It's fitting too, because his name is a command, yet his performances clearly command your attention.* They feature clever, versatile, tuneful folk-rock, with hints - teases, if you will - of other genres sneaking through the cracks. On top of that, the man serves as a barometer for enthusiasm at The Utah whenever present; I can't say his name without somebody shouting "disaster!" back at me. It always happens, the only variation is the number of seconds of delay between my call and the audiences response. The record is 3 seconds. I think that's pretty good. You'll think he's pretty good too on Monday night, check out his stuff in the meantime at http://theutah.org/artist/saydisaster.

SCHEDULING NOTE: If you're wondering if there will be an open mic on Halloween... yes there will! And it will be a costume ball open mic! Details forthcoming, but start planning now.

That's what's up, see you Monday!

-brendan

* - stop groaning!

How's it going? Well you know it's good, because it's Monday, and that means we are mere hours away from the Hotel Utah Open Mic! Man, last week was really something: we had a big ol' reunion of former Utah open mic hosts, and while I am unlikely to attribute such great nights to magic, it was, well, a magical evening. A big thanks to JJ Schultz, Bob O'Magic, Dayla Soul, Donna Jean Foster, and Hal Marcus for being there, and for the warm words delivered vicariously from Cherie Noel and El Zakador. And whoever brought those cupcakes is a great American hero.

What's coming up tonight? I'm really excited about it, in no small part because the featured performer will be BRENTANDO. Yes!

FUN BRENTANDO FACTS: "Brentando" is an anagram for "to Brendan". I'm going to keep this in mind for when the holiday season comes along, just so he can give me a present that says "to Brendan" on it, and I can tell him he spelled his name wrong. Oh man, that's gonna be sweeet.

PERTINENT BRENTANDO FACTS: Week in and week out, Brentando has been one of the most engaging performers I've had the pleasure to see on these Monday nights. The songs are catchy, the guitar playing is both intricate and passionate, but let's face it, the thing you remember the absolute most about him are those pipes of his. Man, how did he get that voice? It's like '73-'75-era Bruce Springsteen and Michael Crawford were genetically merged. Dude gets more out of that microphone than most is all I'm saying. Don't believe me? You should, but in either case, check out his work at: http://theutah.org/artist/brentando

That's what's going on. Come join us tonight! HEY-E-YEAH!

Brendan

It's Monday! You're thinking about getting back into the swing of work. You're shaking off the fun you had this weekend. Maybe you're nursing sunburns you got at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass these last few days. Hopefully, though, you know what Monday also means: The Utah Open Mic! You'll definitely want to be there, these last few weeks have been especially wild, and you want to get in on all the fun, music, tasty food & drink, and beyond. 4th & Bryant, 7:30 signup, you know it.

This Monday we have a very special treat for our feature slot, and the night in general. For the first time in a few years, we're having a REUNION OF UTAH HOSTS! I'll be there of course, as will many of The Utah's awesome and very-fondly-remembered previous hosts including JJ Schultz, Bob O'Magic, Dayla Soul, Donna Jean Foster (!) and more! (either in person or in spirit!) At this point what we do with that time-slot is free form, but we'll certainly talk about our best memories of hosting, and somehow, some way, music will be a part of it. Think of it as the Utah equivalent of the Beatles rooftop concert, except we aren't all sick of each other like the Fab Four were. Plus most of the recent hosts now have babies; I've been told by the bar staff that this has something to do with the magic associated with hosting, that there's "something in the water", so I could wind up being a father soon. Uh oh!

This is not to be missed! I can't stress that enough! I'm even stressing it in this paragraph too! Notice the exclamation points?!?

That's what I got for now. See you Monday!

Brendan

How goes it? Ahh, it's been a good week. The leaves are not yet brown, and the sky has not been that particularly grey for most of the week, but autumn in California will be upon us soon. But pick any season, and on Monday night you're sure to find the Hotel Utah Open Mic, and this Monday is no exception! (signup at 7:30, you know the drill!)

Hey, remember last Monday? Wasn't that awesome? Yeah, it was Cover Your Friends night (in which many Utah performers played songs written by other frequent Utah performers), and it was one of the most fun nights I've ever had at 4th & Bryant, both as a host and as a regular*. We tend to do covers nights every 5-6 months or so, with another theme night or two somewhere in between, so keep coming back so you can be prepared to take part in the next one!

On to this Monday. I'm really excited about this upcoming open mic, in large part because the featured performer is ART ELLIOT.

The following exchange between me and a frequent Utah performer (who will remain nameless) took place a few months ago in San Francisco outside a music club where Art Elliot was playing a set...

Me: "Hey [redacted], what's up, whatcha doing outside?"
Him: "Having a smoke. Art Elliot's playing inside."
Me: "Oh, what are you doing out here then?"
Him: "Man, he plays all that sensitive stuff on piano, I dunno if I can take that, maybe you'd like that mor--"
Me: [runs inside the club at full speed]

Man, you had me at "sensitive stuff on piano"! Actually, Art's music is a lot more than that. It mixes edgy, progressive piano music with a very appealing strain of blues-tinged piano rock. The sophistication of both his arrangements and his technical work on the 88 keys is tip-top. His lyrics are nimble and succeed in a rare way: they sometimes appear esoteric at first, yet they leave you with the impression that they still touched you in your core. Damn this is good stuff, have some! http://theutah.org/artist/artelliot

The Utah email abides. See you at the open mic!

Brendan


* - This distinction has nothing to do with my digestive tract.**

** - Uh, ew?

How goes it? It's going great here. All that great early-autumn San Francisco weather -- you know, the weather we don't tell the tourists about -- is beginning to settle in. Baseball and football are going on simultaneously, which is not doing wonders for A) my remote, and B) my reluctance to yell at my television. I think I need a little music to soothe my soul. Yes. And no better place for that than at the Hotel Utah Open Mic this Monday night!

But this Monday's show isn't just any show: It's COVER YOUR FRIEND'S SONG NIGHT at The Utah! I've been talking about it for a while, but just in case you need a reminder: That's the night where you learn one of your friend's songs -- preferably a song by somebody who comes out to The Utah -- and you play it for us! The cover nights I've been to at The Utah in the past few years have been some of my absolute favorite there. It helps to be a goofball like me who likes to cover my friend's songs -- looking through the website, I've covered 11 of my friend's songs since I started coming to the open mic. Anyway, it's always a special night with an amazing vibe and camaraderie to it, hope you can make it!

(Also, if you want to dress as the person you're covering, that's always encouraged!)

Another reason to make The Utah Open Mic part of your plans this Monday is its featured performer, DAVE G! Sweet! Dave is a jack of so many, many trades. Singer-songwriter, guitarist, bassist, ukelele-ist, and a social media dynamo to those who know him. I've had the pleasure of playing with Dave in at least five bands (somewhere in there I lost count), and I have always been impressed by his musicianship and creativity; trust me, the man's brilliant. What you get from a Dave G show is a well-crafted mix of rock, folk, blues and much more, with equal parts wit and sweetness. He'll put on a great show this Monday, but until then you can check out his stuff at: http://theutah.org/artist/daveg

Okay that's it for now, hope I see you this Monday night at good ol' 4th & Bryant!

Brendan

What's happening? By now, you're getting the hang of answering the "what's happening" question, because you know that a big component of that answer is the impending Hotel Utah Open Mic, coming just as it always does, on Monday evening at 7:30. You know I'm looking forward to it!

Here's a big reason I'm looking forward to it: Monday's featured performer, RACH W. Rachel has been a great presence at The Utah; in fact, she's been a presence everywhere! She kinda came out of nowhere this spring, but since then she's taken the scene by storm. You can find her playing some of her music all over SF these days, and we are better off for it. Her songs bring the intensity of the best of 90's acoustic rock, sometimes with touches of humor, sometimes with brutal honesty, and often packaged in memorable hooks that take the listener by surprise. Her songs are a reminder that songs that are confessional can also be catchy. There is no law of conservation of value in her music, it's all there! She's great, and I'm really excited for her feature set. You can get excited by checking out her stuff at: http://theutah.org/artist/rachw

One last big plug: COVER YOUR FRIENDS NIGHT is just a week away! That's the night where you learn one of your friends' songs -- preferably someone who comes out to The Utah -- and then you play that song for us! Again, that's gonna be on Monday, September 19th. Big hint: search the artist you want to cover on theutah.org and listen to your chosen song there! Because hey, actually hearing the songs to learn them is usually more helpful than guessing.

Okay, big week ahead of us, let's start it out right at 4th & Bryant. See you there!
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

Happy Labor Day weekend! Hope you had something tasty off the barbecue, hope you dropped a few dimes for Jerry's Kids, hoped you changed the station to the Star Wars marathon on Spike just as the prequels were over and the "real" SW movies started. This weekend is often seen as the unofficial end of summer, and if you ask me (please ask me), a great way to ease that transition would be to come out to the Hotel Utah Open Mic this Monday at 8 (signup 7:30). No, we won't have a barbecue grill*, but there will be a lot of other wonderful things all up in your grill**, including but not limited to great music, great people, and food&drink options as far as the eye can see. Unless you can see across the street, that's probably a different establishment.

Where was I?

Oh yes. This week's featured performer - and I'm really excited about this - is COURTNEY NICOLE. Yes! Courtney has been a fixture at The Utah for quite a while now, and it's always a treat to hear her sing. She's got this voice. This. Voice. It's smooth and effortless, has a jazzy edge to it, and is finished off with a touch of sultry energy. It's almost enough to distract you from her very capable and nimble work on both guitar and piano (on the former she's very fond of alternate open tunings that can add a dark, mysteriously hypnotic quality to her music). You know all this if you've seen her play, but there's something else she does that I had never seen before she came along. When she plays guitar, she tucks a small egg-shaker between her 4th and 5th fingers on her strumming hand, allowing her to accompany herself with her own percussion, in effect. I didn't notice this the first time I saw her do that -- it led to a very confusing 5 minutes of looking around the room trying to figure out who was using the shaker. I swore it was magic! Or like The Telltale Heart, but without the dark secret. Anyway, Courtney's great, and you don't want to miss her feature. Check out her music in the meantime at: http://theutah.org/artist/courtneynicole

THE UTAH LOVES OTHER OPEN MICS TOO! One of them is the monthly open mic at 23 Club in Brisbane, co-hosted by former Utah host JJ Schultz and Jeff Cotton. This month's open mic was recorded, and the songs from the show are now hosted on theutah.org! You can find them by going to: http://theutah.org/search?searchString=venue%3A23+Club ... or by searching "venue:23 club" in the search box at the top of the website. JJ and Jeff put on that show on the first Thursday of every month, I had a blast over there last week, hope you make the short trek to Brisbane come the first week of October.

Lastly, COVER YOUR FRIENDS NIGHT is just two weeks away! (That's the night where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs -- most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to The Utah -- and then you play it for us! September 19th!)

That's what I got today. See you at 4th & Bryant on Monday night!

-Brendan

* - literally
** - figuratively
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

Whaaaaaaaat's happening? Well I'll tell you one thing that's not happening around these parts: hurricanes! That said, if you or anyone you know was in Irene's path this weekend, hope they're well and that they stayed safe (and dry). For those of us on the west coast, though, we sat this one out... but there are ways to get in on the hurricane action. Perhaps from a music standpoint? Not all songs with 'Hurricane' in the title will work; lamenting the dubious imprisonment of an accomplished boxer over the course of 7 or 8 verses doesn't exactly put you in touch with the weather, sorry Bob Dylan. For my money, give me Neil Young's "Like A Hurricane". Yes.

But hark! Monday evening brings us The Utah Open Mic! Here it is... Rock you like a hurricane. Come check out the rising tide of music (and many fine beverages), sign-up 7:30, show at 8, you know it.

This Monday's feature, you ask?

What's the time?

It's time to get DULL!*

Yes, this week's featured act is THE DULL RICHARDS, as organic a musical project as any The Utah has conjured. The band's origins date back to a previous theme night at The Utah, "Epic Supergroup Night" (note: there will be another one of those, not too far away). Led by the banjo and guitar stylings of Josh Beemish and Reese, and featuring a rotating cast of musicians, the Richards bring a sound that has its foundations in folk and bluegrass, yet bends and often destroys the simple boundaries of genre classification (they're not afraid to tackle classic rock, soul, funk, and even touches of hip hop). Joining Josh and Reese in this incarnation of The Dull Richards will be Adam Thompson rocking the upright bass, and some guy named Brendan Getzell on mandolin and backing vocals. Have a listen at: http://theutah.org/artist/thedullrichards

Oh hey, COVER YOUR FRIENDS NIGHT is just 3 weeks away, on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH. (That's the night where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs -- most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to The Utah -- and then you play it for us! September 19th!)

Thus we have come to the end of the newsletter, which will soon be downgraded to a tropical storm, or depression, or spritz, or whatever. See you Monday!!!

-Brendan

* - This joke courtesy of the Beastie Boys. Free Tibet.**

** - ...with purchase of a medium soft drink. But really, free Tibet.
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How's it going! Well, you know how I'm doing, because I'm looking forward to The Utah open mic on Monday night. Yeah, I said it.

Fun 'The Utah' Fact: In this calendar year, lots of extra holidays are on Mondays: Valentine's Day, 4th of July and Halloween, to name a few. And don't forget Boxing Day, for any Canadian/NewZealander/British holiday enthusiasts out there. Just know, email-list-member, that if there's a holiday on Monday, there's still open mic fun to be had. ...*looks at calendar again*... Oh man, my birthday too. Nice.

So what's so exciting about tomorrow's open mic? How about this Monday's featured performer, PATIENT 113. Now you need to understand a few things about him. First, it's "one-thirteen", and not "one-one-three". The latter would be somebody messing up the Fibonacci Sequence. The former is him. Also, he's been a regular performer at The Utah for quite a while now, and I'm excited to hear his feature set because he's been very... patient. Dang it, I wasn't gonna go there, and I did. But you should go... and see Patient 113's set, because there will be a lot to like. His music fuses the slow-burn feeling of 90's shoegaze and slowcore with the unsettled sparseness of Kid A-era Radiohead. The guitars are tuned down and they shower the room with reverb, with his expressive vibrato filling the empty spaces. Be sure to check out his stuff at http://theutah.org/artist/patient113.

That's what's going on. See ya Monday!

-brendan

P.S. COVER YOUR FRIENDS NIGHT* is less than a month away, on September 19th, so getcha covers ready!

* - That's the night where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to The Utah) and then you play it for us! September 19th!

P.P.S. Did I really make a math joke in that last paragraph?
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

Howzit? Okay, you know how it is. It's San Francisco in August on a weekend, and it's sunny. What's not to like? Maybe you shelled out the big bucks to go see that there concert festival over in Golden Gate Park. If that's the case, hope you had yourself a time! But Monday looms, and with it comes something resembling the real world. And what better way to make that transition easier than to spend your Monday evening at the Hotel Utah open mic!

I'm really looking forward to Monday, in large part because our feature is GEOFF BAKER. Niiiiiiice. Before Geoff started coming to The Utah, we were on serious "you should totally check out this guy's music" terms thanks to a close friend of mine. When he started playing at 4th & Bryant regularly, I quickly learned how right my friend was to put me on those terms. Geoff is a presence when he's on stage; he towers over the microphone, and his tunes demand attention. What do you get from a Geoff Baker song? You get lyrics that are sneakily poignant, with a clever streak -- sentiments of love and loss that stay with you, and stray far away from cliché. You get absolutely sublime finger-picked guitar parts. You get his full baritone, at times plaintive, at other times playful. He's... how do I put this in singer-songwriter terms... ah! He's a more cheerful Nick Drake. His set tomorrow night is not to be missed, but in the meantime you can acquaint yourself with his music here: http://theutah.org/artist/geoffbaker

That's what's coming tomorrow night, hope to see you there!

-brendan

P.S. COVER YOUR FRIENDS NIGHT* is a month away, on September 19th, so getcha covers ready!

* - That's the night where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to The Utah) and then you play it for us! September 19th!
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How goes it? It's going good here, because Monday is right around the corner, and that means I'm gearing up for the Hotel Utah open mic that night at 7:30, and I hope you are too! We had a great one last week, amazing variety of performers, a week worthy of a time capsule to present to future generations. Or aliens. Or both! You never know. Whatever, it was awesome.

Hey guess what? Our feature this week is SCHUYLER DEAN. Actually, before I talk about that, let's sing about that, to the tune of the old "Spider-Man" theme:

Schuyler Dean,
Schuyler Dean,
He's the feature on Monday eve
Makes guitars, plays them too
If you miss this, you'll be blue
Look out!
Here comes the Schuyler Deeeeean!

Okay, back to prose... It's been great to hear Schuyler play at the Utah so much in my time there. He's a great songwriter, full of appealing melodies, and he lays them upon tight structures that sometimes recall a brand of 70's influenced country-tinged rock that's so easy, so smooth. Effortless, and I mean the good kind. Have a listen! http://theutah.org/artist/schuylerdean

Head's up! Do you like theme nights? I sure do, they've been some of my favorite nights at The Utah. Well a particular favorite of mine is coming back soon: COVER YOUR FRIENDS NIGHT* is coming back on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH. Still a ways out, but I'm too excited not to start promoting it!

* - That's the night where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to The Utah) and then you play it for us! September 19th!

That's what I got today. See you Monday!
-b
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How's it going? Well it's going great 'round these parts, because The Utah open mic is just around the corner. Monday night, signup 7:30, free show, great staff, great food & drinks, free recording of your performance, you know the deal. Or if you didn't, you do now!

Hey I want to express my gargantuan gratitude to everyone out there who voted to make The Utah the Best Open Mic in the SF Bay Guardian's annual Best Of The Bay reader's poll! It's our sixth year in a row taking the title, and you all should know that you, dear reader and/or performer, are a huge reason why things have stayed so great at The Utah for so long. And hey, a sixth consecutive win, that's one for the *other* thumb! Or one for the freakish sixth finger if you're that one guy from The Princess Bride.

So yeah, back to Monday's show at 4th & Bryant. Our feature this week is BRYAN DENNIS. Yes! Bryan's a great singer songwriter, that's for sure, but a really great detail within that point is how intricate his guitar parts are. Many of his riffs (I've had the pleasure of seeing him play at The Utah for a good while now) are intricate in a way not often heard; he finds the chords between the chords, plays them with sophisticated rhythms, and complements them with his nimble, soulful voice. Have a listen at http://theutah.org/artist/bryandennis

That's what's I got tonight. See you Monday!

-bg
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How's it going? Well, it's Monday, if that helps. Maybe it does, maybe not. Mondays in San Francisco in the summer always seem to be shrouded in a thick layer of fog. Inevitably it gives way to sunlight, which hopefully is a microcosm for the week as a whole, gradually improving after a slow start. Hey, now that I think of it, a great way to get this week off to a fast start would be to swing by Hotel Utah tonight for the good ol' open mic and have a great time with some of the best people I know.

One such person? Our feature for tonight, CHRIS HANSON. Oh, I'm looking forward to this, as should you. What you will hear is acoustic folk balladry at its finest. The guy's an award-winning songwriter (just ask the folks at West Coast Songwriters, who kept giving him a strange, nebulous award called "Best Song"... Yeah I don't know what it means either... Oh wait, an award for a really good song? Got it!). Each chorus is hummable, and the structures and chord progressions of his songs are what I'd call deceptively sophisticated. The tunes go down smooth, guided by Hanson's haunting, weathered yet strong baritone. Have a listen at http://theutah.org/artist/chrishanson.

Quick shout-out: One of the great things about The Utah is that you get a live recording of your performance. Another great thing is that often you have a chance to have your picture taken, while performing, by a highly accomplished music photographer! ASMP member Bridget Canfield, long our resident photographer, has done and continues to do amazing work in support of local artists of all shapes and sizes. She maintains a great website that hosts these photographs, http://200pockets.com, check it out! (and consider a donation of course)

Lots of fun tonight and in the weeks to come at 4th & Bryant, hope I see you there!

-bg
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

What's happening? I'll tell you what's happening, dear Utah-newsletter-reader. Fierce debate has gripped Congress and the American punditocracy over the "debt ceiling", as well as whether (and how much) it should be raised. While I don't necessarily know where you stand on the pressing fiscal matters of the day, I can tell you one thing for sure: if you were at The Utah last Monday, you know very well that we sure did raise the ROOF that night! Dozens of great songs, an enthralling feature, and good times to boot.

Want more? Then swing on by The Utah this Monday night! You really should, because I don't want you to miss our feature for this week, AARON GLASS. I'm definitely excited about this, Aaron brings such great positive energy to the stage every time he performs, in the SF area, down near Santa Cruz, and elsewhere! He blends a brand of folk that evokes the classics of 70's folk-rock (think touches of Nick Drake, Cat Stevens, the Dead) with a playful, childlike innocence that is totally infectious. And not in a "I should get checked tomorrow" kind of way, but the good, music kind of infectious! Oh, you assumed that. My apologies. Anyway I've said too much, I'll let Aaron's tunes speak for themselves, have a listen at http://theutah.org/artist/aaronglass

Hey I keep looking in my magical Open Mic Suitcase Of Destiny, and I keep noticing that there are dozens of limited-edition Hotel Utah Open Mic posters in there. They're really awesome, they're numbered (there were 100 in the first printing), and they're made by the very talented poster maker Kyle Durrie. Still for sale, profits going to supporting the continued running of the theutah.org website. I've got one on my wall, it really ties the room together.

That's what I got. Hope to see you Monday night!

-brendan
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How's it going? Well, it's mid-July, which means we're right in the heart of blockbuster movie season. No, we won't have the projector going, but this is still a great time of the year to spend a Monday evening at Hotel Utah, to come play us a song, to hear many more songs, and to have good times with good people.

But back to blockbusters. A good blockbuster has many things. It has edge-of-your-seat thrills, it transitions easily from exciting to heartfelt & dramatic, it shows a depth of skill in its conception and production, and it even makes you think. You know who also exhibits all of those qualities through his music?

...That would be Monday night's featured performer at the Utah, ALBERT ALEXANDER.

Things in blockbuster movies that won't be in Albert's set:
-people walking calmly away from explosions.
-people who "have a bad feeling about this".
-countdown clocks that stop at 00:01*
-a freeze-frame ending.**

But, you ask, what WILL be in Albert's set?
He'll take you down (thoughtful acoustic-based folk-rock), he'll get your groove on (infectious rump-shaking hip-hop beats, both original and sample-driven), he'll flex your brain (deliciously clever rhymes, with subject matter deeper than the perfunctory "I'm so fly" fare that hip-hop can sometimes offer, though he doesn't leave it *all* out), and he'll even get you in the heart, just a little bit. Check his stuff out at http://theutah.org/artist/albertalexander.

Hope I see you there on Monday night! Getcha popcorn ready.

Shazam!

-b

* - this item satisfies the so-called comedy "rule of three".
** - this item breaks that rule.
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

Happy America Day! Yes, it's kinda like Canada Day, but with more blue. See, they've got the red and white covered. Hope your weekend has been filled with beaches, BBQs, sunburns, and all the other staples of this time of year.

Anyway, you might be thinking, "with all the 4th of July festivities there's no way there could possibly be an open mic at Hotel Utah this week." Well hey, guess again! (ominous music) We will indeed be having an open mic at Hotel Utah this Monday night.

Let me repeat that: Open mic is ON this week!

So yeah! If you bend your Independence Day plans in such a way that they bring you to 4th & Bryant streets a few minutes before 8pm, you'll notice some very open mic-esque behavior goin' on. There will be no feature this week, but that's all good. (and hey, if you have a later number you'll go on earlier!) And if you want to play something "July 4th-y", however you might interpret that, cool!

That's what's going on 'round these parts. Hope to see you there!

-Brendan
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How goes it! Hope you're as good as I am right now, considering that the Hotel Utah open mic is mere hours away! Monday night, signup 7:30, show 8. As the dentist said to his most frequent patient, 'you know the drill'.

Okay that was a lame pun, but don't worry... actually never mind, I love lame puns.

Our feature this week is MOLLY GAZAY, and I can't express enough how excited I am about that! Molly is a talented actress of both stage and screen, but in the past year she's turned her focus towards being a singer-songwriter, and damned if we aren't all the better for it. Her voice is a head-turner, in the sense that no matter where you are, if you hear it your reflexive response is to turn your head and go, "whoa, who is that?" Her near-operatic compositions plumb the depths of love, loss, struggle, and ultimately triumph in spite of the odds... yet even with the epic nature of her works, they often contain hooks of ear-worm proportions. Don't believe me? Have a listen at: http://theutah.org/artist/mollygazay

Oh! One last reminder: The SF Bay Guardian is conducting their annual Best Of The Bay reader poll, and I would be honored* if you would vote for Hotel Utah in the category of "Best Open Mic"! Go here: http://www.sfbg.com/best2011 ("Best Open Mic" is on page 2 of the poll)

*That's the formal way of saying "tickled pink", which always sounds awkward to me.

That's what I got. Shazam!

-Brendan
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

Hi everybody! Well I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm Brendan Getzell, and starting this Monday I'm the new guy rockin' the mic as the host at The Utah, calling out names, on-deck's and the proverbial double-deck's. I've been coming to the open mic almost every Monday for the past 2 years; I used to be the quintessential "quiet guy in the corner" but soon it became by far my favorite part of the week. It's gotten so far that the idea of having "a case of the Mondays" really appeals to me. But seriously, folks, playing at The Utah has been such a blast all this time, on my own, with my friends, and especially on the amazing theme nights (which, happily, will continue in my regime), and I'm really looking forward to bringing all of my enthusiasm for the scene to this new role. Some people call me "Shazam!"; I think that might be because my first cousin is Shaquille O'Neal. Or not.

I can't let this newsletter pass without giving my sincere, heartfelt and epic thanks to JJ Schultz, The Utah's host for the past five years, and the man who taught me everything I know about the game. Running this show means juggling many responsibilities and JJ -- aka JAAAAY-JAAAAAAAAY! -- did an amazing job handling all of them simultaneously. I've got big shoes to fill - and you know what they say* - but I'll do everything I can to keep The Utah open mic an awesome experience for regulars and newcomers alike.

Our Feature this Monday is MARK NELSEN. Sweet! Whether by himself or with his band, Electric Shepherd (they'll be backing him up), put a microphone and a guitar in the immediate vicinity of this guy and there's a whole mess of things he can do right. Mark's songs have a very good Next-Day Hum-ability rating (that's NDH** for you music stat-nerds), and it's really impressive how deftly he can go from style to style, including bits of psychedelic, blues, classic rock and more! And on top of that, dude wears a mean plaid shirt. And speaking as a plaid fiend... respect. Check him out! http://theutah.org/artist/marknelsen

Lastly, a plug: The SF Bay Guardian is in the middle of conducting its annual "Best Of The Bay" reader's poll, and I'd appreciate it if you vote for Hotel Utah for "Best Open Mic"! You can do this at: http://www.sfbayguardian.com/best2011 ("Best Open Mic" is on page 2)

* - Big socks.

** - I think that was one of Billy Beane's metrics in Moneyball.***

*** - Brad Pitt? Really?

That's what I got. Hope you're doing great!

-Brendan
Brendan Getzell
http://theutah.org/artist/brendangetzell
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Brendan-Getzell/114805885719
http://myspace.com/brendangetzell

How's it going? Hey Nomi is featuring this monday at the utah. She's fresh back from India, and no, I didn't forget to spell the rest of Indiana, she was in India proper, you know, the country where all the people who try to convince you that Cricket is proper sport are from. Nomi is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITES. Her songs, even the sad ones, have an underlying optimism that's truly beautiful. To me when I listen, that's the cement foundation of her songs, everything else built on top. and that stuff is contagious, let me tell you. at least I hope it is. you know what, I'm going to be optimistic that it is. have a preview of Nomi right here: http://theutah.org/t/12393. and just a heads up, I hear there's a theme night going on, and I will apply theme night rules.

yep, my shift at the utah is coming to an end, and tomorrow night is my final night of hosting. The talented and gracious Brendan Getzell will be calling the doubledecks and requesting the quiet in the balcony from now on. Being the host at the utah has been a true pleasure and an experience that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. I will very much miss it. I am not going anywhere, and so I won't miss you personally (and you won't miss me), but I will miss the work. without a doubt the most rewarding work I have ever done.

one final shameless plug: The Bay Guardian is conducting their annual "best of bay" reader's poll, and one of the categories is "Best open mic". You can express your opinion and do all the voting online right here: http://www.sfbayguardian.com/best2011. Needless to say, it would warm my heart if you voted for us over at the hotel utah. This is totally shameless, but I'd love to out on top.

one final trippy sentimental notion: when I write these emails, in my brain I sort of have a picture or a vision of who I'm writing to - it's sort of like I combine the collective readers into a single person that I'm having a conversation with and joking and laughing with, and shoot, this is the last time I'm going to be talking to this person. I know that's all kind of out there and trippy and I've been in California too long, but I'M JUST BEING HONEST. And it's a little bit sad for me now to say goodbye. we've built this relationship - we have inside jokes, I trust you to trust me, and this is it. And sure, you could say that this person I'm writing to is just a construct in my mind and I could keep writing to this person and maintain said inside jokes and said relationship, but we all know this would make me a crazy person. and an overly sentimental one to boot.

and so on that note I will say so long utah readers. Thanks for all the beer.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, wow the penultimate newsletter. I can count the number of these left for me to write on two fingers, could use base-2* if I so choose. For simplicity, I will continue to use base-10**. Hey, I know what you're thinking, cut to the chase man - tell me who's featuring! Well, I'll get to that - do not rush me. I'm trying to savor my little remaining newsletter writing time. mmmm, yeah, good stuff. I sure will miss writing to you.

Hey, quick aside, I was just wondering - what's your favorite open mic in the Bay Area? Me personally, I like the utah: its a great bar, they record your songs, the host is quite handsome, etc. The Bay Guardian is conducting their annual "best of bay" reader's poll, and one of the categories is "Best open mic". (!) You can express your preference and do all the voting online right here: http://www.sfbayguardian.com/best2011. Needless to say, it would warm my heart if you voted for us over at the hotel utah. This is kind of shameless, but I'd love to out on top.

The feature this week is Mathew Welde - now it's true, the man looks like 1977, which was a bad year to buy an AMC, but a good year for the ol' music listening. Not that I know, as I was very young at the time and could not afford an ill advised AMC or any records, but shoot, I've been around. I've have had my eyes open and ears to the ground and I think I know what I'm talking about. Anyways, where was I? Right! Mathew Welde, in addition to looking like 1977 the man sounds like good ol' classic music too. Hey can play that guitar real good and sing good too. I think he's bringing his band tomorrow night too. Gonna be real good. Unlike them AMCs. Horrible cars. Hey, have a preview of Mathew right here http://theutah.org/t/14864

*nerd alert
**nerd alert

that's all I got for now. hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I am doing well. Say, to answer the question that I'm sure is running through your mind: yes! we will be having the open mic tonight, and the featured performer is Ben Keeler. if you're not familiar, Ben's real good. He's got a natural funk in his performing. Makes my toe tap, makes me smile, makes me marvel at the range of the word funk and how it's meaning is totally dependent on context. For example, if I just said without context - "WHOA, THAT'S FUNKY!!", that could mean one of two things, and those two things are totally different. One makes you boogie, one requires a splash of Old Spice. Anyways, food for thought. Hey Ben's a talented dude, and it's gonna be a great feature. have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/14645

that's all I know this morning. may the funk be with you, and also not with you.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey, the feature this week at the ol' utah is Owen Roberts and his band Shady Maples. How great are these guys? in the words of Manny, they're super great (they're super great). Owen's voice is so smooth and rich it sounds like he's been gargling honey all morning, and who knows, maybe he has been. He's just got one of those voices that coats you in lush sonic honey and you don't mind being sticky. and then on top of that, his songwriting is darn right literary - his words are so smart and stories are so gorgeous, shoot I love it. and then on top of that when he rocks it with his band, well, the man rocks. and I think they're gonna rock it tomorrow night. rocking literary honey, fo sho. Hey, have a preview right here: theutah.org/t/15537

that's all I know tonight. hope you're doing great (super great) -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? Hey, Olivia Clayton is featuring this monday at the ol' open mic. Olivia's great - she sings with this real subtle passion. not all up in your face with drama and theatrics, but it's there under the surface, just at the surface, and it lingers after she's done singing. Like you don't notice it so much when she's singing, but when she's done - you definitely got a 'WHOAH!' coming out of your mouth. Sort of like if you make chicken bacon pasta for somebody and you put some hoisin sauce on there for sweetness, but unbeknownst to anybody, you also chopped up a habanero real fine and tossed it in with the oil. You'll be eating that chicken bacon pasta and think, yeah, there's a something going on here, and then when you're done - you definitely got a 'WHOAH!' coming out of your mouth. I know that's a long analogy, but if you review it, you'll realize it absolutely works. Hey, Olivia is one of my favorite people coming around - her spirit is darn right uplifting and I'm happy every time I see her. Have a preview of one of her songs right here: http://theutah.org/t/15576

Hey, bit of news... I'm going to be stepping down from my hosting role at the open mic. June 13th will be my last show. Brendan Getzell is gonna take the reigns and be calling the double decks* starting June 20th. I will continue maintain and run http://theutah.org and I will continue to come around and say hi and play songs, but starting June 20th, it's Brendan Getzell's show. I can't wait to see what he's got in store for us - gonna be great.

*if he chooses to continue to use the phrase 'double deck'. up to him.

that's all I have for today. see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? solid weekend? Hey, not sure what you're up to tonight, but we have the big open mic going down at the Hotel Utah. You're probably well aware of this fact seeing as how you signed up for the email list, but! I have a little more info for you: Rocky Leon is featuring tonight - heck yeah! Rocky's awesome, he jumps around like a little kid, and still keeps in time and that takes serious skill. He's got so much youthful energy in him and shoot if it doesn't all come out when he plays his songs. and when it's coming out in his songs and his singing, shoot if it doesn't lift my spirits as well. I guess that makes his songs and his energy infectious, but not in the "hey I've got birdflu sense", but more so in the "hey my toe is tapping and there's very little I can do to make it cease tapping, so good thing I'm cool with it" sense. It's great stuff - have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/15195.

that's all I have today - hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey this monday at the utah we are gonna do another theme night! - I call this one 'first song night'. This is where you play the first song you wrote that made you think "hey I think I can write songs!". Gonna be good times. As always, you don't have to participate - it's not a requirement at all. it's just a bit of good fun.

and on top of that - Robin deGrasse is featuring. As I was typing deGrasse, I was thinking how cool it'd be to have a last name that does not start with a capital letter, but has a capital letter in the middle. It's not quite like having a silent 12 in the middle of your name, but it's sort of in that direction, headed down that path, as they say. Seriously though, Robin's the bomb (as they say). so good... when she plays guitar, she strums it so relaxed and cool with just a dusting of funk to make your toe tap, and when she plays the piano, she tickles those keys, so soft and sure as if she was massaging a child's back, and when she sings, she sings so rich and smooth, I'd say 'like butter' if I was the kind of person who compared things to butter, which I'm not, but, you know what, I will make an exception in Robin's case. like butter. It's gonna be a great feature - have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/15495

that's all I have today. I hope you are doing great!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey Kit and Tanya are featuring at the utah this week! yeah, they are so sweet. sweetest band ever since birth. and I'm not just talking about the "dude! sweet!" version of the adjective. I'm talking about "I made this hot cocoa for you" version as well. but there's more to them than sweetness. there's awesomeness too. and I'm not just talking about the "dude! awesome!" version of this adjective. I'm talking about the "I fissioned this hot cocoa for you. careful - it's very hot." version as well. Kit and Tanya sing these lovely songs with these infectious hooks and they get right under your skin and tug a little bit. and I haven't even touched on the harmonies... if I was to be honest, I get the slightest bit choked up when I hear those two sing together and their two voices sound like one voice - there's no other better word for it than beautiful. a true example two awesome people making beautiful music together. and they're featuring tomorrow night! (gonna be sweet) have a preview right here http://theutah.org/t/15141

Hey on Monday, May 2nd we are gonna do another theme night - I call this one 'first song night'. This is where you play the first song you wrote that made you think "hey I can write songs!". Gonna be good times.

that's all I have to today. I hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, we have the open mic going this monday (and every monday) down at the ol' Hotel Utah saloon, and shoot it'd be great to hear you sing a song or just say hi.

Hey, I just musing on something - you know what's cool?... when you know a singer has got all this emotion and power welled up in their chest and their stomach and you know they could unleash it at a moment's notice and the singer knows that we know this fact and yet they're singing very softly and delicately and exercising mucho restraint. yeah, that's really cool and this week's feature, Michael Carney, does a lot of that and it hits me in all the right places. You know what's cooler? Complete lack of restraint and having a singer unleash all that's welled up in their chest and their stomach and they don't care it's coming out here we go... pow!* and Michael Carney does that better than most anybody and it knocks me out every time. I love it. Yeah, Michael's featuring and he's gonna be playing with his band and it's gonna be awesome. hey, have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/15532

*also, a billion dollars

Hey on Monday, May 2nd we are gonna do another theme night - I call this one 'first song night'. This is where you play the first song you wrote that made you think "hey I can write songs!". Gonna be good times.

that's all I have to today. I hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? yeah, big open mic going on this week. it's sort of sentimental for me personally in that it's the last week with the current sound system - the club is upgrading the whole schebang, speakers, board, and all. in way I'm gonna miss that old mackie board. even non-functional channel 2 (channel 2 is just for show.).

Hey, Carly S. is featuring this week! No, not that Carly S, the with that song about me, no I'm talking about Carly S. from San Francisco. yeah, Carly's a beautiful singer - her voice is both delicate and strong - a combination that's hard to explain but still very cool. It's like, how do you explain bittersweet chocolate or sweet and sour sauce - is it bitter? sweet? sour? who cares, it's good! - same deal with that thing Carly's got going on. Carly's a love song singer, and hey in a way aren't we all, and she's gonna be playing a whole set this monday. gonna be beautiful. have a preview right here:: http://theutah.org/t/12647

Hey on Monday, May 2nd we are gonna do another theme night - I call this one 'first song night'. This is where you play the first song you wrote that made you think "hey I can write songs!". Gonna be good times.

that's all I have to today. I hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey how's it going? as you know, we have the open mic going on this monday and we would love it if you came down and sang for us. Plus - Mr. Andrew is featuring! confession: I am a Mr. Andrew superfan. Card carrying. as such I am a regular contributor to the Mr. Andrew superfan zine "MrA"... not too much* of my stuff has been accepted by the editorial board and actually published, but I do contribute (daily) and so hey, I am doing my part. I usually send in photo essays on the state of them golden locks (still curly) or probe the more in-depth issues like 'Charlie Bear: good dog or bad dog?' or 'Baby Taylor: ahh maybe turn up the bass?'. The one thing I don't need to tell you is Mr. Andrew is one seriously talented songwriter and singer - he boils those songs right down to their essence and puts that essence in a dropper and invites you to take a drop on your tongue because it's good for you, and whoa don't take two just one, and sure you're gonna make the squinty face just like Mr. A, but it's cool cause it's good for you. ... ahh sorry, went somewhere else for a moment. let's back up pre-dropper. he boils those songs down to their essence - superpotent dirges and ditties** that get in your bloodstream and make you say 'yeah' and perhaps require the occasional (daily) photoessay or in-depth essay. It's gonna be a great feature - I can't wait. Luckily, there's the internet: http://theutah.org/t/13513

Hey on Monday, May 2nd we are gonna do another theme night - I call this one 'first song night'. This is where you play the first song you wrote that made you think "hey I can write songs!". Gonna be good times.

*any
** yeah I said it

I hope you're well,
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, how's it going? Not sure what you're up to tomorrow night, but the open mic is going on over at the utah and I was thinking of going and then I was thinking, hey you should come too if you're free and around. Roger Rocha is featuring tomorrow night! Heck yeah, Roger's got chops and he knows how to use them, as they say*. Roger's one of those guys who can let his guitar do all the explaining - how's it going Roger? bwre, bwre, bareaar. Hey just found out it's hard to spell out guitar sounds. ...but I love it when Roger sings - his voice can be all tender and vulnerable and yes, sweet, and it's a beautiful companion to his tender but still saucy guitar licks. Hey, have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/13915

* nobody's ever said this

that's all I have today. hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

My friend Manny was telling me about the word onomatopoeia this morning and I got kind of excited about it and really wanted to use it in today's newsletter, and in a way I already have, but ugh that use is kind of weak. I really wanted to describe this week's feature as the Onomatopoeiac Cello Joe, but I thought, hmmm, that's not correct, as 'Cello' describes what Joe does, not what he sounds like. Sigh. He would need to be Voom Voom Joe, or when he's beat boxing, Boo Boo Pa Joe for it to work - ah, but he's Cello Joe... I gotta get Manny over again and see if there's another word that would apply. Jeeze I am digressing badly. Say, yeah, Cello Joe's one talented man - he's a perfect storm of beatboxing, danceable cello, and Joe. He writes some very intelligent yet undeniably danceable songs and the dude's funny when he plays, cracks me up, very subtly though - he's just got that twinkle in his eye. ahh yeah, it gonna be a great feature - have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/2832

that's all I know today. hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey how's it going? I am doing well. kind of a milestone for me this week at the ol' utah - it's my five year anniversary of hosting! crazy - I can't believe I made it a year let alone five. half a decade of doubledecks and "hey gotta more your car"s and the best people and music around. Here's a photo of the night El Zackadore handed the ship over to me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30013892@N03/4281748379/ (from right left: former hosts Dayla Soul, El Zackadore, Bob O'Magic, me, Mark Silverman). who knows how much longer I got in me, but so far it's been the time of my life, and I thank you all for that.

Who better to feature on my five year anniversary than the man I've been trying to get to feature since day 1?: Carl Johnson. Carl is at the very top of my list of favorite utah performers. He plays his guitar with a quiet power that leaves me hypnotized, and his vocals cut right to my heart, and I'm not sure what else to say other than I love the man and his music. have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/3985

that's all I have today. see you soon,
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey tomorrow night aka monday night we're all gonna hang out at the utah and play some songs and have a listen to what are friends are working on and it's gonna be awesome - and you should totally come on out if you're in town. AND! Spencer Evans is the featured performer - heck yeah! about time I'd say - Spencer's been playing for us for few years or so and I am really excited to finally get him up there for a feature slot. His songs are so good - real intelligent lyrically, yet catchy. what I love about Spencer is how effortless he makes it all look - his casual guitar licks, his singing style - they seem to me to be so laid back, but there's a heck of lot going on there. he just makes it seem so easy - it's really great stuff. have a listen here: http://theutah.org/t/15113

that's about all I know today. I hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey, we got the open mic going on tomorrow night. I know I sometimes joke around, but I could not be joking about this any less. THE OPEN MIC IS ON! like legend of zelda, as they say, and I suggest you come out and sing with us, as it's gonna be awesome. and we got Sean Hughes up as the feature, and he's got one of those voices, all raw and honest, reminds of Gary Louris from the Jayhawks, that really cuts through the BS and gets right down to the heart of the matter, and normally, folks with these kinds of voices sing country or folk or country-folk, but I think in his heart or hearts, Sean's a rock and roller - he's up there bringing the heat, rock and roll style. it's very cool stuff - gonna be a good feature. Have a preview right here http://theutah.org/t/15051

that's all I have today - hope you're great,
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there! yeah, utah newsletter now in session, as they say. big week this week at the utah open mic - we are having our world famous 'cover your friend's' song extravaganza this monday. you know the drill* **. I will admit right now that this is my absolute favorite of our theme nights - it's such a fine way to pay tribute to your friends' songwriting. Covering is the truest form of flattery, as they say.

* in the immortal words of Dylan McKay

** in case you don't know the drill, cover your friend's song night is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. Traditional theme night list rules apply.

This week Ruce is performing as the feature, and I think he's bringing his new band, and I've heard that they are on fire. Ruce plays some sweet sweet songs - no one brings the tender like Ruce! A bunch of his stuff is about love gone to hell, but he makes it sound all ok, he turns the bitter sweet, as they say. gonna be a very cool feature - check out some of Ruce's solo stuff right here: http://theutah.org/t/14932

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that is all for now. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? I hope this email finds you well on this valentines day eve. ... say, tomorrow, on actual valentines day, you should come out and say hi and break some hearts and have some laughs. Danielle Rosa is performing as the feature. Danielle sings perfect music for tomorrow night... tender songs about love and the other stuff played angelically on the piano and sung with a voice that knows exactly what she's singing about, with a touch of real emotion coming through in the quiet moments. beautiful music, perfect for valentines day or any other. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/14536.

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! February 21st. pass it on.

Hey Roger Rocha and I sat down and had a couple fernets and figured everything out, and luckily, we had the podcast recorder going. Roger tells stories of growing up on Haight st. and sings us some songs and we philosophize a bit. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/artist/theutahpodcast.

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. February 21st!

that's all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? packers are playing in the superbowl in a couple hours and so I would say I'm doing well, but, more accurately, quite nervously well. I sure do like the packers. Hey, not sure what you're up to tomorrow night, but I invite you to come out to the utah and sing us a song and have some laughs. We have Bob Scott up as the featured performer! Bob sings beautiful folk and story songs - always with a smile and a twinkle in his eye. and plus he's picker of the highest order. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/14755

Hey Roger Rocha and I sat down and had a couple fernets and figured everything out, and luckily, we had the podcast recorder going. Roger tells stories of growing up on Haight st. and sings us some songs and we philosophize a bit. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/artist/theutahpodcast.

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! February 21st. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. February 21st!

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that's all I know today. hope you're doing great -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey, I don't want to tell you what to do or anything, but you should come down to the utah tonight and say hi and have some laughs and sing a song for us. it's gonna be good times. Plus, Keren Bein is featuring tonight - heck yeah! I love Keren - she's got sort of a Mazzy Star first thing in the morning thing going. Like if you and Mazzy were out the night before, you know, making the scene but then she forgot her coat in your car when you dropped her off and you saw it that night when you got home but thought ah, she's probably sleeping already and so you called her in the morning just to say hi and good times last night and oh yeah I got your coat, Mazzy, if she chose to sing at this point, would do a pretty good Keren Bein. The gravel adds a level of depth and beauty to her songs - much the same way sepia tone enhances photographs. so gorgeous. Plus she sings heartbreakers! (my favorite kind of 'ers'). hey, have a listen to Keren right here: http://theutah.org/t/14976

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! February 21st. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. February 21st!

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that's all I know today. hope you're doing great -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? hey Erma is featuring this monday! No way. Way. How awesome is Erma? I'm gonna say totally. totally awesome. but this is only if totally is indeed greater than wicked. hold on, I'll look it up. Erma plays what strikes me as gypsy jazz inspired musical tour de forces. Her melodies are bouncy and bright and she takes you right to the edge and pushes you over and then catches you. Her voice has this playful/whimsical quality that adds just a dash sweetness and makes her songs sparkle. It's magical stuff and it's so so so good - have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/13990

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! February 21st. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. February 21st!

that's all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, hope you're having a great weekend. I gotta say, personally, all this sunshine is doing wonders for my optimism. sunshine, I hope they never figure out a way to sell it. Hey, speaking of doing wonders for my optimism, this monday our featured performer is Maria Quiles. !. Maria's voice is so beautiful. It's like nectar from the heavens, only for your ears. It's warm and lush... like a down comforter from the heavens, only for your ears! and I have not even talked about her soulfulness. I should probably quit with the analogies, but... shoot, it's LIKE JAMES BROWN FROM THE HEAVENS. only for your ears! Simply put, I think Maria is one of the most talented singersongwriters to come around in quite some time, she has a golden voice (some would say from the heavens) and songs to match. I would suggest catching her while you can. in the mean time, you can catch her right here: http://theutah.org/t/14774

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that's all I know for today. Hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? jeeze been a long time since I've done this - two weeks! that's not a long time in the cosmic sense, but that's about 1000 generations for the june bug. and true, I am neither cosmic nor a june bug and so this is all very silly, but shoot it's been a while. Hey our dear door man, Rawb (aka RAWBY!!!!) is retiring from his duties at the utah, and so this monday is going to have a special Rawb appreciation theme to it. If you have a good Rawb story or would like to roast him a bit, it's on. He's been yang to my yin for so long, it's not going to be the same without him. This Rawb appreciation night deal is going to be a surprise to Rawb (he never signed up for the email list. cough.), so please keep it a surprise to him.

The feature at the ol' utah this monday is Great Girl's Blouse... and yeah, it's gonna get a little crazy. Amy is gonna bring it and shake us with her striking voice and those brutally beautiful songs as Jason grins maniacally in the corner, squeezing the neck of his bass, squeezing out every last bit of whatever is in there. and yeah, it's gonna get loud and there may be some yelling, but hey that's what happens when The Blouse is bringing it, society can break down little bit. I'll add this, I love it when The Blouse brings it and gets loud and breaks down society a little bit. on some level, that's what it's all about and nobody does it better. Hey, have a listen to one of my favorite GGB songs right here: http://theutah.org/t/5741

This monday is the six year anniversary of Lee Mallory Day - Lee would have been 66 on monday. Some of Lee's friends are going to come out and toast our old friend and say a few "all rights!". Hard to believe it's been six years since that legendary night at the utah. Time flies I guess. Hey, check out more on Lee right here: http://www.bryanharrison.net/baymusic/leemallory.html

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

That's all I have for today. Hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

I hope this email finds you well and you are having a wonderful christmas / festivous / winter holiday. I celebrate all three of those, so I'm golden. all bases covered. Hey, related to all of these winter shenanigans, I have IMPORTANT OPEN MIC INFORMATION to communicate. (Perhaps take a moment to reflect on your good fortune for being on this email list and thus being privy to the IMPORTANT OPEN MIC INFORMATION.) Here we go: tomorrow night! (the 27th): ...hmmm, I forget abou.. no, wait, I remember about it - Mr. Andrew is running the show. now have no fear, I asked him to kindly shave his head and beard and elongate his "a's" - rest assured there will be no disruption. Next monday (the 3rd): there will be no open mic. :(. just for safety, I asked Mr. Andrew to shave his head and beard and elongate is "a's" this night as well. do not want to take any chances. The monday following that (aka the 10th): we are back in action and ready for the new year. 2011! - can't wait to try out my jetpack, should be awesome.

hey, speaking of awesome, Jimmy James (mon frere) and his band BINGO! BANGO! are featuring this monday (the 27th). ah yes, what more can one say about Jimmy, he's got a voice that's a (once thought impossible) cross between punk and broadway, the look of James Dean, and the heart of a poet. He can be frugal with his words, but the phrases he keeps become like spiritual chants. It's like he took a lesson from the Gregorians and created his own style - Jimmyian Chant. I've never heard him play with BINGO! BANGO!, but I can imagine that they fill out those chants with lush and swooping sonic heaven, perfect for festivous / christmas / winter holdiay. Have a preview right here: http://theutah.org/t/14282

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, we have a change in the holiday schedule coming up. Here's the way it's gonna go down for real: this monday, 12/20 - the open mic is ON. Still like Donkey Kong, as they say, but this will be a featureless night. Next monday 12/27, the open mic is ON (I previously reported that it was not on). Mr. Andrew will be hosting this night, and so if you love the utah but can't stand me, this is your night! 1/3, the open mic is off, dark, lights off nobody home. 1/10, the open mic is back in action.

Like I was saying, there's no feature this monday - this means that more folks will be able to play, which is cool.

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that's all I know tonight. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, we have some holidays coming up and you know what goes great with the holidays?: Holiday Schedules. And I got a great one for you right here. Here's how it's gonna go down for the next couple of weeks: 12/20 - the open mic is ON. Like Donkey Kong, as they say, but this will be a featureless night, which means, or course, that we will be featuring you. 12/27 and 1/3 - the open mic is OFF. Like Donkey Kong, as they say. The open mic will be on hiatus these two nights. Moondog will be featuring. The openmic will be back in action on Monday, January 10th.

Hey, and speaking of features, this week we have the feature that dare noth speak it's name... but I'll say it anyways. Glittersnatch. I'm not sure what the scandal is anyways. I mean, I like glitter. I like it a lot. and sometimes when I see a lot of glitter, I am compelled to snatch it. what's the issue? Glittersnatch is, in a word, followed by more words, the rarest combination of our most heavenly voices. singing in sweet sweet harmony. to perfectly sparsely arranged songs. They are the most epic of supergroups and one of my favorite groups to ever emerge from our scene and I don't know what else to say except it's a feature not to be missed. They are truly awesome. (listen to a preview here: http://theutah.org/t/14222)

The wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I hope this email finds you well. assuming you are well, I will say that I am also well. Hey, the wicked talented poster maker Kyle Durrie designed and printed a limited run of Utah Open Mic posters. We printed 100 (numbered!) posters that we're going to be selling - with all profits going to support the running the theutah.org website. The posters are really really sweet - the next time you're down at the utah, come check them out.

Hey the feature this week is Nick Lupinetti. Nick's songs strike me as pop, in the power pop sense. prototypically. Now, I'm not exactly sure what power pop means anymore, I just really wanted to say prototypical power pop. hmmm, history teaches me that I should not use words if I don't know what they mean. Recall the ordure ordeal. bad times... digression!- back to topic: Nick Lupinetti. The man's got some vocal range, I tell you that. He can hit the notes. But what I like about Nick is he knows he can hit the notes and I know he can hit the notes, and he knows that I know he can the notes, and so he doesn't have to do it all the time. Just when the time is right and for ultimate effect. His songs are infectious, in the good meaning of infectious, and smart and they got a bit of wit to them, but most of all they're really good and it's gonna be a great feature. Hey, check out Nick right here: http://theutah.org/t/13573

that's all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I hope your thanksgiving was awesome and, if you're a turkey eater, turkey filled and I hope you have some songs to sing for us at the ol' utah, because we got the open mic going on this monday and the open mic is always awesome and turkey filled. signup by 7:30, you know the drill. And! this week Dollface is the featured performer! Heck yeah. I think Dollface has one of most sweetly gorgeous voices around there - she has a bit of jazz going on in there and sometimes a bit of broadway. He originals sounds like standards and vise versa. One thing I'm always impressed with with Dollface is her ability to perform a capella. Me, I need something to hold on too - my guitar is sort of my security blanket, but not Dollface. she steps up there every monday with just her voice and a song - very cool. I guess what else do you need? Hey check out one of her songs right here: http://theutah.org/t/14318

hey Kelly McFarling and I recorded a podcast together - check it out here: http://theutah.org/artist/theutahpodcast. Kelly talks about Hotlanta and her time at Camp Dixie and sings us a couple of songs - have a listen!

that's all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hope you're doing good. Hey, not sure what you're up to this monday, but we got the open mic down at the ol' hotel utah, and we'd love to hear you play for us. Plus, I miss you. and it'd warm my cold cold heart to see you there. Plus! Vessna Scheff is the featured this monday. Trust me on this one: do not miss this feature. Vessna is sooo good. She sings so soft and sweet, but she packs many emotions in those decibels and those uke plucks. She boils down the briars for us and floats 'em out with her uke. I recommend being there to catch them - have a listen to Vessna right here: http://theutah.org/t/13478

Hey we have a new podcast out! Me and Dave G sat down and talked about the new times and the old times and the good times - here's part 1: http://theutah.org/t/14461, and here's part 2: http://theutah.org/t/14460.

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? hey, the feature this week down at the ol' utah is Tris Buckley. oh man it's gonna be good - Tris is such a brilliant guitar player, smooth and tasteful when backing somebody up and he's aggressive and rocking when necessary and he sings with this beautiful UK folksingerish voice, almost like a Stephen Stills with a dusting of Sean Connery. It's gonna be great stuff - hey, have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/13758

Hey we have a new podcast out! Me and Dave G sat down and talked about the new times and the old times and the good times - here's part 1: http://theutah.org/t/14461, and here's part 2: http://theutah.org/t/14460.

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? yeah, sheesh kind of late with the email this week... I could blame this one on daylight savings or lack there of I guess, but I guess that wouldn't make much sense. but really, in life, what does make much sense? not much. take that to the bank. but hey, you know what's making a lot of sense to me right now? well I'll tell ya - Brian Belknap playing the feature set at the utah this monday. That makes sense. That sounds right. would have made more sense, cosmically, karmically, if he featured last monday since he always dresses in sf giants orange/black. now that would have been perfect - but this monday, near perfect. and I'll take near perfect right about now. and shoot, I love it when Brian plays - he sometimes plays accordion, guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, what have ya, and he sings what strikes me as traditional folk songs, but he's got his own flair with them. he sings with a relaxed plaintive voice that expresses so much, but he does so very subtly - he doesn't have to push the buttons hard and to have them pushed and pushed they... and well I guess I've stopped making sense as well. I think you know what I'm getting at. It's great stuff - have a listen for yourself: http://theutah.org/t/13984.

say, if you'd like to have you shows listed on theutah.org and in this email, click here http://theutah.org/addshow.html, or, if you'd rather, drop an email with your show information to 200pockets (at) gmail (dot) com. If you choose to go the email route, please include: list of all artists on the bill, venue, venue address, link for advance tickets, admission fee, date and time.

that's about all I have today. come out this monday and sing for us, we'd love to hear from you.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey, it's halloween! and you know what that means... it means, for one, that I can wear my underoos without shame or incarceration, and I'm pretty excited about that. it also means (for two) that it's Will-McCandless-Feature-een - see on November 1st, we of course have the open mic cranking at the utah and we would love to hear you sing for us, and we also have Will McCandless up as the featured performer. heck yeah! I love Will - he writes these heartfelt americana/country/folk songs about truckers and non-truckers and shoot I guess that pretty much covers all bases. and the way he sings them - it's great stuff, reminds me a little of the way Woody Guthrie phrased his songs and he does it with such joy and a wink and a smile - ahh yeah, it's great stuff. have a listen to Will right here: http://theutah.org/t/13877

As a side note, if I was to follow my normal email subject creation pattern, the subject to this email would have been "Will McCandless, underoos, Woody...". I hope you can appreciate the great restraint I displayed in coming up with an alternate subject.

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? say, I know of no better way to celebrate the Giants winning the pennant than to come on down to the hotel utah open mic and sing a song. I think that's the traditional way to celebrate this type of thing. That's how they, spoiler alert, celebrated in The Natural, after of course they fixed up all the burned out lightbulbs. Hey and Jacob Kramer is featuring this week. Jacob is an amazingly talented guitar player and he sings these sweet sweet songs that tend to make me smile. Something about those songs causes the corners of ones mouth to turn upward. I think perhaps that's why Jacob is smiling all the time - it's because he has his songs running around in his head. can't help but grin. or maybe it's all the other way around... have a listen to Jacob Kramer right here: http://theutah.org/t/13213

hey there's a new utah podcast available. Mr. Andrew and I sat down and figured everything out. It took kind of a long time to figure everything out, and we went kind of long, and so I broke it up into two parts, both of which you can find here: http://theutah.org/artist/theutahpodcast. on a technical note, it seems there's a problem with these long audio files when played on the Chrome browser - I find that FireFox (or any modern browser other than Chrome) works best for listening to the podcasts.

that's all I have today. Hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, whoa! Like Highwaymen emerging from a Golden Smog on their way back from the Temple of the Dog debating who's the world and who's the children, EPIC SUPERGROUPS* NIGHT is upon us. This is a special theme night where people put together supergroups of epic proportions and then they sing for us- gonna be awesome. Hey, if you're participating, just sign up just you normally would - just sign up yourself, and then when it's your slot, bring whoever you're singing with up with you.

*of uncommon combinations

And the feature this monday is Bertie Benitez. awesome... I love it when Bertie sings. he sings with a certain raw vulnerability - he has this cool honest way of singing that reminds me somewhat of Conor Oberst when Conor's being thoughtful. it's gorgeous stuff. and I think Bertie is bringing his band, and so that'll be cool too. Hey, that's all I have for today. I hope you're doing great -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

what's up?! hey not sure if you've heard but Kelly McFarling is featuring at the hotel utah this monday - and I believe she's bringing her awesome band. Kelly - what can you say? I'm such a huge fan of Kelly and not just her music - even if she didn't sing a note or pluck a string, she's one of my favorite people - so solid in character and in good humor and so full of heart, I think we are all very lucky to know her. and then to listen to her sing - I believe the phrase is OMG! Nobody sings like Kelly - she has an all time voice. it silences a room. it fills up a room. delicate and powerful and vise versa. and on top of all that, she plays banjo! OMG. Kelly's got a new cd out and I hear it's possibly Gillian Welch's new favorite album. She just sold out Cafe Du Nord and she's playing at Slim's this thursday (with Erica Sunshine Lee), and in between all that awesomeness, she's singing for us. Tomorrow night. We are a lucky bunch... Have a listen to Kelly right here: http://theutah.org/t/8677

Hey, on October 18th we are going to do another theme night... it will be Epic Supergroup night (most preferably epic supergroups of uncommon combinations). We used to call this one duets night, but this seemed to discourage trios, quartets, and quintets - and I don't want to discourage those at all. you heard it here first: October 18th. Epic Supergroups (of uncommon combinations)

that's all I have for today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I hope you had a chance to make it out to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass fest this weekend - some of my absolute favorite music and musicians all in one spot - how cool is that? (answer: very cool). Hey speaking of very cool, Amma is singing for us in the feature slot this week down at the utah... Amma's songs are all about love - love of her homeland, love of her fellow man, making, etc., and I get so excited and inspired when she's up there singing at the top of her lungs with her gorgeous gorgeous voice. She rattles my bones with her songs in a way that none other can - have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/12652

I made a change to theutah.org - I switched out the 'Love this performance' button for facebook 'Like' buttons... Now, one might say that it's a downgrade to go from Love to Like, but what I like to do when I click that button is to think to myself "the button may say that I Like this performance, but what it means is I Like Like this performance*". I think the Like button is great way to share with your friends what music you're digging - and maybe they'll check it out and dig it too. If you have any problems with the new functionality let me know - or if you have any ideas for what you'd like to see me add to the website, let me know that too.

*to paraphrase Mr. Andrew

Hey, on October 18th we are going to do another theme night... it will be Epic Supergroup night (most preferably epic supergroups of uncommon combinations). We used to call this one duets night, but this seemed to discourage trios, quartets, and quintets - and I don't want to discourage those at all. you heard it here first: October 18th. Epic Supergroups (of uncommon combinations)

that's all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? I am doing great - getting mentally prepared for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass fest next weekend. it's one of my all time favorite san francisco events. In the mean time, we got the ol' open mic happening down at the utah, and to quote Dylan: you know the drill. And to top it all off, we have Amanda Sewall up as the feature. So awesome... Amanda has one of the most beautiful voices - her voice has a certain lilt and not quite a twang that pulls on the heart strings and pushes all the right buttons and makes her performances really stand out to me. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/13426

On October 18th we going to do another theme night... it will be Epic Supergroup night (most preferably epic supergroups of uncommon combinations). We used to call this one duets night, but this seemed to discourage trios, quartets, and quintets - and I don't want to discourage those at all. you heard it here first: October 18th. Epic Supergroups (of uncommon combinations)

hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! I'm not trying to sound cool or anything, or maybe I am, but this dispatch comes from new york city, NEW YORK CITY, so, you know, that's cool. Hey, speaking of cool, we got the open mic this monday down at the utah, and I think it'd be way cool if you wanted to play a song for us. and speaking of more things cool and way cool, we got Fancy Dan and the Fancy Dan Band up as the feature this monday. Yeah, with a name like Fancy Dan, you pretty much gotta name your band the Fancy Dan Band. me - I let my mom name my band. Fancy Dan combines country and folk and rock and rockabilly together into this heavenly brew. His songs range from honkey tonk to rockers to preachers, and Fancy Dan delivers them with his beautifully smooth voice and he's got Michael Loebs over there squeezing the telecaster, but whatever they are playing, Fancy Dan's heart and humanity is front and center, and the man's got a lot of heart. it's beautiful stuff I tell ya. hey check out some Fancy Dan righ here: http://theutah.org/t/13263

On October 18th we going to do another theme night... it will be Epic Supergroup night (most preferably epic supergroups of uncommon combinations). We used to call this one duets night, but this seemed to discourage trios, quartets, and quintets - and I don't want to discourage those at all. you heard it here first: October 18th. Epic Supergroups (of uncommon combinations)

that's all I got today. see you soon,
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? I am doing well- I got to hang out with Bob O'Magic, Jen Faith and Juniper Joy yesterday... so awesome to see those guys. Hey speaking of awesome, Alex W. is featuring this monday down at the utah! Nobody rocks the Beatles like Alex W. - Alex's passion for the British Invasion always brings a smile to my face, and when he plays, it always turns into a party. Alex has some mean guitar chops to back up his playing - and he dissects those songs, takes them apart, inspects, and puts them back together again. it's gonna be good times - have a listen to Alex right here: http://theutah.org/t/13929

On October 18th we are going to do another theme night... it will be an Epic Supergroup night (most preferably epic supergroups of uncommon combinations). We used to call this one duets night, but this seemed to discourage trios, quartets, and quintets - and I don't want to discourage those at all. you heard it here first: October 18th. Epic Supergroups (of uncommon combinations).

in case you didn't see the vintage utah footage before youtube took it down, I moved the video it over vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/14751879

hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! I hope this email finds you well and you doing excellent. Say, unusual monday this monday - it's a feature free night. Feature free = late numbers not playing so late... it's a great night to come out and play for us.

hey, the utah open mic has been up and running for a long long time... recently someone uncovered footage from the late 30's. (!) Check it out, it's very interesting stuff - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPLuPk4RJag

that's about all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how are you doing? excellent, I hope. Hey, I want to send a big thanks to Mike Chase and Lorenzo for running the show last monday when I was out. I was just working on the night's recordings and it sounds like it was a heck of a night! If you played and are wonder where your song is on theutah.org, it'll be up there shortly.

Hey, are you sitting down, holding onto something solid and steady, or wearing a helmet? I hope so, because this is the point in the email when I announce who's playing the feature slot, and sure I probably spoiled it with the email subject, but who reads the subject anyways? not me for one. I just write them and then forget all about it. anyways, I am digressing badly now. Hey, so sit down so you don't knock your head - Chad Mooney is featuring at the utah this monday. I know, wicked awesome. You probably know this, but it's worth repeating, Chad Mooney's one of the best - he's got a smooth whiskey soaked way of singing that's truly beautiful. His songs are country influenced and powerful and shoot, they're some of my favorite music going right now. Have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/13041

that's about all I have for today. hope to see you soon - JJ
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, hope you're doing great and this email finds you well. Not sure what you're up to this monday, but let me tell you, there's going to be a heck of a show over at the utah and we'd love it if you wanted to play. On top of the open mic, we have Jon Moldover up as the feature! heck yeah! Jon's got some heavy metal sensibilities and employs them occasionally in heavy metal endeavors, but also in the sweet songs. Now you may be thinking - DUDE, didn't Warrant already cover that ground with Cherry Pie? to that I respond: DUDE, Jon sounds nothing like Warrant (although each has awesome hair, but awesome in different ways)*. What can he do, he's got a tender heart to go along with rocking guitar chops. It's always great times when Jon plays, he brings the fun, brings the awesome, and I hear he's bringing the sexy back - have a listen to him right here: http://theutah.org/t/13277

* note: while researching and fact checking this email, I found this: http://hamptonroads.com/node/185501

this week me and Shareef Ali recorded a podcast - we talked a bit about Shareef's new album, St. Louis, ethical humanism, and more! check it out righ here: http://theutah.org/t/13823

I am out this monday - Mike Chase is hosting for me. It's gonna be good times. See you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, not sure if you're aware, but this monday is a very special night down at the utah. see, it's cover your friend's song night - the night where you play one of your friend's songs (most preferably a friend who comes to the utah). This is always special night... and speaking of special nights, we got a special feature for you - Alex Fekula is going to perform the feature slot. Alex Fekula is a genius, methinks. That's about the only way I can describe his piano playing - he brings in some jazz, some blues, some special sauce and man watch out! have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/13587

Hey, check it out! I am back on the podcast train - after a much too long hiatus, I sat down and talked to Ash - have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/13763

that's all I have tonight. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, hope your week was awesome. I'm not sure what you got going on this monday, but we'd love to hear you sing for us down at the ol' utah. plus! the feature this week is Alex Stein, one half of Garfunkel and Garfunkel, one quarter of four Alex Steins, and an 8th of... well I should stop right there. Whenever I listen to Alex sing, I always think that he's carrying on a tradition - a folk singer tradition in the arc of the Guthries, the Garfunkels, and all the Seegers except for Bob. The way he sings and his plucking and his songs - it's old school good. The man's got virtuoso guitar plucking chops with these sweet and poignant songs and an acute attention to songcraft detail. It's beautiful stuff - have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/13033

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! August 16th. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. August 16th!

that's all I have for today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good evening... hey, wow, if you voted for us in the bay guardian's best of bay readers' poll, THANK YOU! spoiler alert: we won! (for best open mic). that's really cool and makes me really happy. actually, that's no spoiler alert - those results have been published, which makes them true. another truth: I am truly honored to be a part of something so special and fun… thanks to you and everybody for making it awesome.

Hey, speaking of special - we got a special for you this monday. James Moore is playing the feature set! if you are not familiar, let me tell you this: a set by James Moore is not to be missed. His songs have so much heart and are so GD beautiful… (I kind of want to swear right now, but my mom reads this newsletter, so I'll hold back.) and his voice! DAMN! He packs a lot of nuance and feeling in when he sings. James is a longtime friend of the utah, and we are very lucky to be having him play tomorrow night. Have a listen to James right here: http://theutah.org/t/9531

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! August 16th. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. August 16th!

that's about all I know tonight. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning... not sure if you're aware, but we've got an open mic going on at the utah this (and every!) monday. (signup by 7:30). ...and this week Con Brio is the featured performer! No way? Way. Con Brio, what can you say - Xandra's singing is so soulful, I cannot describe its level of soulfulness. It's almost like she's the Godfather of Soul James Brown's Goddaughter and when she sings, you can feel it in your knees and then up your back and then in that little spot where your back meets your neck. I don't know how she does that... and her band, Con Brio, they bring the funk and the blues and and sometimes the sunglasses and ARE TOTALLY AWESOME. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/8867

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! August 16th. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. August 16th!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, Adam Balbo is featuring down at the utah this monday. Heck yeah! He's coming to us straight out of Indiana, by way of parts unknown and singing some dark demented shoot, and let me tell you, I don't know if this is intentional or if it's just organic and from the heavens, but Adam's got this way of singing that makes these dark songs seem darn near upbeat. Perhaps it's his delivery or perhaps he goes so far out that he comes around the other side. I'll ask him next time I see him. I should add that not all of his songs are dark and some* would say demented, but some are. anyways, I have been a huge fan of Adam for many years, and I am very excited that he'll be featuring tomorrow. check out some of Mr. Balbo right here: http://theutah.org/t/12921

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night**! August 16th. pass it on.

* me, but in a good way
** in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. August 16th!

that's all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good evening... not too often I can pull out the good evening. Hey, big thanks to Mr. Andrew for hosting last week while I was out. What a guy! and speaking of what a guys, Jeff Cotton is on board this week as our featured performer. Jeff Cotton, what can you say? I'll say this: I love Jeff Cotton, especially when he's playing Jeff Cotton songs - and that's too rare. He plays that guitar so sweet and sweetly rockingly, he's in much demand as an ax man. ...and don't get me wrong, I love his ax man work, but it's when he's up there singing his songs that I think he truly shines. He sings these, yeah I'll say it again, sweet story songs that are rockers in the same vein as when Tommy used to work on the docks and Gina used to work in the diner - and Jeff doesn't forget the hook when putting a song together - nah, he gives us a little something to chew on and to take home with us. those songs matched with his sharp and expressive voice... it's beautiful stuff. Did I mention yet that Jeff and his band are the featured performer this monday night at the utah? that's a true fact, they're the feature. In the mean time, have a listen to Jeff right here: http://theutah.org/t/12381

that's about all I have tonight. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, happy fourth! - a holiday we can all get behind. ...except of course if you're British or Canadian or from anywhere else other than the good ol' USA. I guess this is a holiday all Americans can get behind. I mean, spinning off from British rule was a good thing, right? and fireworks are good, right? ...unless of course you think fireworks are militaristic and bombastic and generally obnoxious and are a personal celebration of the military industrial complex... ah shoot. Thanksgiving, now that's a holiday we can all get behind - I can't think of anybody who has a problem with thanksgiving. ...except perhaps the turkeys and the people who love living turkeys and of course the group opposing the group supporting the cranberry growers of America. ah shoot. valentines day? mother's day? ah shoot. oh well, happy 4th none the less. I don't care, I love me some 4th of July, fireworks and all. might even have me some turkey as I light some off and shout USA USA.

Hey, Elizabeth Simon is the featured performer tomorrow night at the ol' open mic. yeah! When I listen to Elizabeth perform, I'm always struck by her gorgeous and lush piano playing and she's singing these heartbreaking lyrics, her songs are almost operatic in emotion and style - vivid personal stories packed with emotion and power. really beautiful stuff. and he's featuring tomorrow night! hey, have a listen to some Elizabeth Simon right here http://theutah.org/t/13389.

that's about all I have today. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning... I hope you're doing good. hey, I am very pleased to say that Adriel is featuring this monday at the ol' open mic. Adriel sings these passionate, powerful love songs... I find that she's got this built in sadness in her voice that a lot of country singers have, but she's not singing country, she's singing rock ballads. my favorite part of her singing style is when she gets all whispery and quiet in these falsetto flurishes* - when she does that, it really pulls the strings on my heart's ache on/off switch (I do not know why that switch is equipped with strings. it just is. and it's not an on/off switch - that sucker's on a dimmer. perhaps the strings are so one doesn't have to get too close to operate the switch, and you can operate it from a distance and not have to wash your hands. but I digress.) anyways, do yourself a favor and have a listen to a little Adriel this morning http://theutah.org/t/13314. really beautiful stuff and I am very excited to hear her set tomorrow night.

* geeze I'm mister alliteration today.

hey, our pal and talented filmmaker Slim Critchlow has been doing a lot of beautiful work shooting at the Utah and a lot of other venues. Check it all out here: http://www.vimeo.com/user2130745. There's a lot of great footage of local musicians up there. It looks great Slim, thanks for all of the hard work you put in promoting local artists - it looks so good! Hey, that's about all I have for today. I hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? just a heads up, this is the last week to vote in the SF Bay Guardian's best of the bay readers' poll. so you know, if you have a favorite bar, favorite local band, or favorite open mic, you can state your opinion right here: http://www.sfbg.com/bestofthebay2010. It's free and fun! and speaking of free an fun - we got ourselves a show tomorrow night... We got the open mic and we got Girl Named T up as the feature (I just call her T) - heck yeah, catch T while you can because I am willing to bet cash that T is a card carrying member of the FFA - Future Famouspeople of America. Few folks are as skilled at the rock or the pop and bring it with T's moxie - she's a force of nature, a non-whirling dervish, a true talent - and I'm very excited to see what she has cooked up for tomorrow. before then, have a listen to T right here - http://theutah.org/t/13267.

Hey, are you playing any shows in the near future? if you are, we'd love to hear about them... if you'd like to add your show to theutah.org and our newsletter, have a read right here: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. Hope you're doing great -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, what's happening? ahh, not sure what you're up to tomorrow night aka monday night, but we got a heck of a show on deck at the utah. see, we have the open mic going on, and the open mic is awesome, and we have Mike Skipper's band SKELETON TELEVISION up as the featured performer. and it's really hard for me not to swear when I talk about Mike, because sometimes I get so excited that I just really want to swear a little bit, and perhaps some would call this situational tourettes, and perhaps some would call it potty mouth, I just call it my reaction to some bad a@#* music. and in the parlance of a time long past, I don't mean bad meaning but bad meaning good. Now, I have no idea what punk music is... well that's a bit of a hedge - I have a general idea of what punk is - I know that a punk probably wouldn't be down with me describing what punk is, but that all said, I think Mike's got a bit of the punk going on with his rock and roll - his songs have that certain edge of f#@% you to them that makes me think in my head "punk f#@%ing rock!!", but what I love about Mike is, in addition to the f#@% you, the man has got so much heart and it comes through in his songs, they can be so sweet - it's like a f#@% you followed up with a hug... and from what I think I know about punks, I think a punk might be upset that I said that bit about the hug, but maybe a) Mike isn't a punk or b) back to my original thought, I have no idea what punk is. 'b' is most likely. anyways, I love Mike Skipper. hey, have a listen to him right here: http://theutah.org/t/13183

*this is a family email

excellent news: The Utah has signed a property release allowing the artists to use Bridget's photos for some commercial works - cd covers, posters, and other stuff. If you'd like to use one of Bridget's photos for your CD art or any other use, please read all of the important details right here: http://www.200pockets.com/pdf/9_June_2010_hotelutahphotos.pdf

check it out!, the SF Bay Guardian is doing their annual readers' poll where, if you have a favorite bar, favorite local band, or favorite open mic, you can state your opinion: http://www.sfbg.com/bestofthebay2010. It's free and fun! I don't know about you, but speaking specifically to the question of my favorite open mic, I gotta say I love the utah. I am probably biased on that one because they give me free beer, but ahh, I loved it before I got the free beer. anyways, if you have a chance, let them know what you think.

hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey how's it going? I am feeling good - the sun's out, the birds are chirping, we got Mike Chase featuring at the utah tomorrow night... oh yeah! or, in the parlance of Mike Chase, YEAH! You know when a set from Mike Chase is coming up that good times are on deck*. Mike is a seriously talented piano player, but he doesn't let that serious skill interrupt his good time or our good time. He's got that unique ability to turn sad songs into feel gooders, feel gooders in to sing along classics, and sing along classics into the best night of your life. and just as a side note, apropos of nothing, he's like the modern day melded version of bearded Jim Morrison and bearded Cat Stevens - which just makes everything that much more rocking. Hey, have a listen to one of favorites Mike Chase cuts right here: http://theutah.org/t/12337

*Double deck if you plan on watching a Good Times rerun before tomorrow night.

check it out!, the SF Bay Guardian is doing their annual reader's poll where, if you have a favorite bar, favorite local band, or favorite open mic, you can state your opinion: http://www.sfbg.com/bestofthebay2010. It's free and fun! Plus, if you don't vote, you can't complain. I'm not sure how they enforce that one, but I think I read that on the internet one time, which makes it true to me. The internet knows all, after all. Hey, that's about all I know today. Hope you're doing great.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, the feature this week down at the ol' utah is Genna Giacobassi. oh yeah! - Genna's a force of nature... she cannot be contained - she's a lounge singer who can't be contained to the lounge, singing songs that can't be contained in the beer hall - her songs deserve a stadium with floor seating and unused floor chairs. Genna's voice is smoky and tender and it swings and it would be best suited to be singing exactly what Genna's singing, anthems to good and bad, love and bombs, and shampoo. I am very excited for her set tomorrow night - in the mean time, have a listen to Genna (with Jesse Dyen) right here: http://theutah.org/t/12320

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning. hope you're doing good... my thoughts and condolences go out to the friends and family of our dear friend Mary Elizabeth. I was quite saddened and shocked to hear that she died last week in Sausalito - it's really difficult to comprehend... If you're going to sing one of Mary's songs this monday or pay tribute, come talk to me before I draw the names.

The feature this monday is Kyle Lesley. I'm so excited that Kyle's playing a feature - he's long overdue to rock us out. If you're not familiar with Kyle's work, well this is your chance to rectify the situation. I find Kyle's got sort of this alt-rocking voice and songs to match. he got some touches of Eddie Vedder in there, but with Kyle's own edge. and he's not up there playing 1 4 5, nah he's rocking it like he knows what he's doing, and he might very well know what he's doing. who knows - certainly not me, I tend to keep it around 1 4 5. as a side note, you ever write a song and it's all up on the neck and you think you're a genius because you discovered some awesome new chord pattern, but then when you sit and figure out what you're playing, it's actually just 1 4 5, but just way up on the neck. story of my life. Not Kyle though, that dude knows what he's doing. Like I said, I find that he's got this rocking voice that reminds me a bit of an edgy Eddie Vedder - I like to think that Kyle's got a dose Eddie's sense of timing and delivery, but like I said, with a bit of an edge - an edge that kicks his songs into the holy s. awesome category. and Kyle is a generous man with his talents - in addition to his own stuff, he backs up and collaborates with a ton of folks and records a ton of folks... his Versakyle nickname is absolutely accurate. but me, I prefer my Versakyle solo style - Kyle up there rocking his with his guitar - he always brings it and he always brings a smile to my face - have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/5974

Bridget put together the photos from the May 10th show - the duets night. You can view them on theutah.org or here on Bridget's website. That duets night was such a fun night - and Bridget's photos really capture that. Thanks so much Bridget!

that's all I have today. hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

wow, what a great night last monday with all the duets (and uncommon combinations). one for the books for sure... a big thanks to Kelly McFarling and Jon Moldover for coming up with the idea for the night - it was one of my favorite nights.

The feature this week down at the utah is Dawn Oberg. I'll admit right off the bat, I love Dawn's voice. When I listen to it, I'm always struck by its layering of comfort and cut - it's got this unique combination of sounding comforting, all smoky and soulful, adept at the jazz and the B side of R&B, while at the same, it's got this razor's edge - a sharpness that betrays perhaps some old wounds - it cuts you a bit. It's sort of like sleeping with a real feather comforter - you're laying there and it's all soft and warm and comforting... but then there's that one quill poking you.. reminding you of what you're sleeping on. It's beautiful stuff. have a listen to Dawn right here: http://theutah.org/t/12992

I'm not sure what you're up to this wednesday the 19th, but it's my birthday! If you're not doing anything, me and the band are playing a big birthday show at the Cafe Du Nord along with Fleeting Trance (it's also Manny's birthday), Andy Mason, and Pebble Theory - doors at 8 music at 8:30... here's all the details. It's gonna be a hoot for sure - this is the biggest show of the year for me and my band and I would absolutely love it if you came out and joined us. ..and to answer your questions: yes, we will play the hits, and yes, there will be cake.

that's about all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, duets night is here! ...In case you haven't heard, we're doing a theme night this monday down at the ol' utah openmic, and the theme this time around is 'duets', or, more specifically, multiple singers in uncommon combinations. doesn't have to be a duet, could be a trio or an infinitio. If you're participating, just sign up just you normally would - just sign up yourself, and then when it's your slot, bring whoever you're singing with up with you.

and who better to be the featured performer on a night like this than the heart and soul of the joint, Jesse Dyen. you know, much like Apollo Creed, Jesse needs no introduction anywhere in the civilized world, but, much unlike Apollo Creed, Jesse is not the Master of Disaster nor is he the King of Sting, nah, Jesse is a bringer of joy and soul and sweet sweet music - his songs, even the sad ones, have got a twinkle in their eye. By himself, Jesse has more talent in the singing, songwriting, piano playing, guitar playing, and fake trumpet blowing dept. than anybody I can think of right now, but what I really love about Jesse is how he doesn't keep those skills to himself -nah, he's quite generous in spreading his wealth around and collaborating and harmonizing and backing up - adding those sweet high notes or some piano tickles in just the right place. you know I could go on and on about Jesse - touching on his melodic genius, the wry humor in his lyrics, the whole thing, but perhaps I'll just suggest you have a listen for yourself: http://theutah.org/t/6109 or http://theutah.org/t/9102.

that's about all I have today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! Hey, I'm not sure what you're up to this monday night, but Carrie Blanding is featuring this week down at the utah. If you haven't heard Carrie sing before - you are missing out... when Carrie sings, it seems to me her voice just floats along with her lyric in what I can only describe as a slow dance, and I'm not talking a Journey 'when the lights go down in the city' slow dance, I'm talking more of the ballroom variety - perhaps a waltz with lots of slow and graceful leaning and tilting and perhaps a turn at the end. she just has this cool and graceful way of singing and it is absolutely lovely - have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/12822

We've got another theme night coming up on May 10th... and this idea comes from the genius brains of Kelly McFarling and Jon E. Money: we're going to do a duets night. or a night of multiple singers in uncommon combinations. May 10th! pick a dance partner (or partners, if that's your thing) and let you inner Carter Family fly.

that's all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there, what's going on? I hope you are doing great - hey, not sure what you're up to this monday night, but we got Rossana up as the feature down at the ol' utah open mic. ...and to preemptively answer your query: Way! Rossana's got one of those voices... it's so expressive and rich and she uses it to grab at your spine and rattle you around and make the hairs the back of your neck stand up, presumably because they want to listen too, and then when you need it, she'll switch it up and comfort and sooth and let you know everything gonna be ok. She sings heartbreakers and ball busters and some honest to goodness "we are going out and it is awesome" songs... have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/12742

hey, if you're curious about which of your songs are getting spins theutah.org, check this out: http://theutah.org/mysongs - I added this new bit to the songs page on theutah.org that lists your all your spins. I like it because it makes it easy to see the impact of promoting your songs on facebook or twitter or wherever. By default, it lists the spins for all your songs, but if you'd like to filter it by a single song, just click on the 'listened to nnn times' link under the song name.

We've got another theme night coming up on May 10th... and this idea comes from the genius brains of Kelly McFarling and Jon E. Money: we're going to do a duets night. or a night of multiple singers in uncommon combinations. May 10th! pick a dance partner (or partners, if that's your thing) and let you inner Carter Family fly.

that's about all I know today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? Hey the feature this week down at the ol' utah is Megan Keely. and yeah, I know, I should append a '!' to that last statement, and perhaps I will, but see my problem there is I fear once I start adding exclamation points to the end of Megan's name, I won't be able to stop and this email would become infinitely long and filled with '!'s and it will crash the internet because of the infinity. but hey, I probably shouldn't live my life ruled by my fears... so here goes: hey the feature this week is Megan Keely! !! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! ! !must stop exclaiming... must.. stop.. the humanity. phew - that was a close one. but see Megan is so good that once I start exclaiming, it's dangerously hard to stop. Megan sings with this casually gorgeous voice that could do just as well singing smoky jazz as it would singing whatever type of pop they want us to listen to this year, but she quite thankfully chooses to sing the types of songs that I love best... and I don't want to label her type of songs other than to say that she sings the good stuff - songs that feature her relaxed plucking and her stories and hit me right square in the heart. You know, the good stuff. have a listen for yourself right here: http://theutah.org/t/12730 (please forgive my bad sound boarding in the beginning)

We've got another theme night coming up on May 10th... and this idea comes from the genius brains of Kelly McFarling and Jon E. Money: we're going to do a duets night. or a night of multiple singers in uncommon combinations. May 10th! pick a dance partner (or partners, if that's your thing) and let you inner Carter Family fly.

that's about all I have today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I gotta admit, I am feeling slightly less than 100% right now on the "100% don't have the flu" scale. or maybe its just a cold. either way I am a battler though and I won't let it best me, at least not while I am writing the utah newsletter... Hey if you're not doing anything right now, check out our latest podcast - http://theutah.org/t/12753. Carl Johnson and I sat down and figured it all out... and (spoiler alert) you know what? the answer is Karen Carpenter. you know, I always hoped the answer was Karen Carpenter. and in a way I knew it. I highly recommend checking this podcast out - Carl plays a few of his songs, we get to hear about his time on Led Zeppelin's airplane, good stuff all around.

Erica Sunshine Lee is featuring down at the utah this monday. and if you're thinking to yourself "geeze didn't she just feature like 3 weeks ago", the answer is still Karen Carpenter, but to clarify even further, she was scheduled to feature, but the utah broke that night - power went out - and we postponed until tonight, and shoot I gotta say I'm excited. "I'm excited". there, I said it. Erica has one of most lush, gorgeous voices you'll hear, and I'm from the north, and so her lush southern singing doesn't so much make me think of home as it makes me think of watching movies where people are drinking lemonade in the sun and in close proximity to a hammock. Gorgeous stuff. have a listen right here: http://theutah.org/t/10286.

We've got another theme night coming up on May 10th... and this idea comes from the genius brain of Kelly McFarling: we're going to do a duets night. or a night of multiple singers in uncommon combinations. May 10th! pick a dance partner (or partners, if that's your thing) and let you inner Carter Family fly.

that's about all I have today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there! hope you're doing great. I am feeling pretty good, except for the fact that I am really short of news for this newsletter. not too much to report. I suppose I could just make some stuff up and create some foxnews, but I'm not sure of the ethics behind that. The one real bit of news to pass along is the fact that Alice Henja is performing as our featured performer. I am very excited about this - I find Alice's voice to be so beautiful. it's so smooth and passionate and rich, I find it to be quite captivating. it's gonna be great stuff - have a preview right right: http://theutah.org/t/7425

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey, don't mean to talk about the weather but jeez it seems as if we're borrowing San Diego's weather for a bit and I'm wondering if we should give it back. We probably should give it back at some point as I find it very hard to be productive when the sun is tapping on my window and asking if I can come out and play. (ok, but just for a little bit) Hey the feature this week down at the utah is Stu Chase - Stu is a really cool local singer-songwriter who, from my listening, writes some beautiful angsty ballads about love and the ladies. Stu's writes these songs with a skilled and polished sense of melody and songcraft and delivers them in sweet tenor - it's great stuff. Hey, have a listen to some Stu right here: http://theutah.org/t/9497

that's about all I have today - I gotta go outside and play in the sun. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? I'm doing ok - my ncaa bracket is sad, but my hcr bracket is looking good... hey, this week Nothing But Ash's is featuring at the utah. you know I think somewhere rock and roll is missing a front man, because we got him over with us at the utah. Ash man, what can you say, he has one of the best front man voices I've heard - his voice rocks it like Axl and yeah I'm gonna say it Steve Perry, although it's more like Steve Perry if Steve Perry was in AC/DC. He hits those rarified notes..., and he does it with such swagger. something to behold for sure. His songs are epic and about ladies and they rock - check out some Ash right here: http://theutah.org/t/10408

If you miss Bob O'Magic and El Zackadore and you can't get enough of me, hey today is your day! There's a matinee show going on today at 3pm at the utah with with former utah hosts Bob O'Magic and El Zackadore and their bands and current utah host me and my band. It's a regular former (and current) utah host extravaganza, and this time we are bringing the kids. El Zackadore (the Falcon of Rock) is releasing a new CD today, and this is his release party.

that's about all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there. good morning! hey, not sure if you noticed the date, but tomorrow is March 15th.... a day which seemed impossibly in the future a mere three weeks ago when one* had what seemed to be an impossibly large amount of time to perfect a friend's song, but that impossibility is now reality, and one* has** some work to do. In case you are thinking to yourself "WTH is JJ talking about?" - tomorrow night is "cover your friend's song night" at the utah - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. Tomorrow night. It's gonna be insane in the fun dept.***

...and we have the perfect feature for cover your friend's song night: GG Tanaka! I would bet that nobody knows as many of his friends' songs as GG Tanaka. It's almost like this night was tailor made for GG. you know, I'd say out of the musicians that I know at the utah, nobody has more range than GG Tanaka - I'm not talking Maria Carey esk vocal range, I'm talking range. GG can rock the punk, the funk, and the slow dancers. He writes some epic feel good rockers about ladies and Jager, and he also writes some epic feelin' sad ballads about ladies and Jager. and he sings them with so much heart and warmth, even when he pulls out the stops on the rockers, his heart shines though- it's beautiful stuff. Hey check out some GG Tanaka right here: http://theutah.org/artist/ggtanaka

I've been getting a bunch of feedback on our number swapping policy, and it seems to me we need to tweak the system a little bit... The new number trading policy is gonna go like this: both artists have to be in the building in order to swap. but this new policy leads to a problem with folks signing up people who are coming, but coming a little late, and so I think we gotta tweak that policy as well: if a friend signed you up, but you're drawn before you arrive at the utah, that's cool, whenever you get there you'll be on triple deck (mon frere). if these changes don't sit right with you or if you have any other ideas, please let me know.

and speaking of policy changes, Bridget made an important change to her photo use policy: http://www.200pockets.com/journal/?p=1212

* I

** have

*** also in the membrane

that's about all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning - hey, I'm not sure if you've checked out our new radio show aka podcast, but if you haven't, and even if you have, I highly recommend checking it out today. This week we got to talk to Nomi and she sang us some songs and it was awesome. Check it out right here: http://theutah.org/artist/theutahpodcast.

Hey Sara Judge is featuring this monday at the utah. Sara is an east coast transplant who, I find, has still got a bit of that east coast in her songs and her singing. Not the actual east coast, because that's much too large and unwieldy, but some of the east coast edge, and in the words of the immortal Bryan Adams, it cuts like a knife (but it feels so right). A number of her songs are bittersweet love songs (my favorite kind) and when she delivers them with that voice, you can tell, well, again in the words of the immortal Bryan Adams, it's coming straight from the heart. Give it to me. I also find that when Sara is feeling it and hitting those high notes, she has some Neko Case going on - that same forceful, beautiful edge that Neko has going on. great stuff. Hey, have a listen to some Sara Judge right here: http://theutah.org/t/12347.

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! March 15th. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. March 15th! These cover your friends song nights are my favorite nights...

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey look at that! I think spring is perhaps in the air. sounds like the birds are chirping and the squirrels are squirreling. and I think perhaps I can almost smell that grass start to green and the trees start to bloom. smells a tree spirit, me thinks. I am excited about this development... hey the feature this week at the ol' utah open mic is Mary Elizabeth Beckman. I find that Mary has one of the most compelling voices - to break it down, and lord knows I like to break it down, it seems to me at its base it's kind of a classic country voice, it has the same sort of vulnerability and honesty as say Tammy Wynette. It pulls those same strings. and then on top of that I think it has sort of a bluegrass or appalachian folk feel. Mary doesn't have a twang, but it's almost like it's twangy without the twang if that makes any sense. and then this is all sprinkled with the magic pixy dust to make it Mary's voice and I think it's gorgeous and I am very excited to have her feature - hey have a listen to one of Mary's songs right here: http://theutah.org/t/12280

Bridget put together the photos from last monday's open mic, and she has them up on the website at http://theutah.org. thanks Bridget! they are priceless, classic photos. We are truly blessed that Bridget chooses to donate her time and energy like she does...

I think Shareef wins this one hands down: http://huggingthenewjoannanewsomalbum.tumblr.com

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night*! March 15th. pass it on.

* in case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. March 15th! These cover your friends song nights are my favorite nights...

that's all I have today. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! don't know if you heard but last week the utah had a power snafu that closed the bar for a couple of days, and one of those days happened to be last monday... (you know, I kept warning Rawb not to use his hair dryer while he ran the microwave and the marshall stacks, but did he listen?) We are back in business this Monday - new power breaker in hand*. and good thing too, because this week we have long time utah alumni Amy MacClain and Jason Cole, a duo not coincidentally named Utah Girl, up as the featured performer. Amy and Jason are two very talented and seasoned songwriters - their style strikes me as acoustic powered power pop, complete with the hooks and the infectious melodies, and I can't decide if the power comes from Amy's voice or Jason's guitar - it'd probably be most accurate to say it comes from both, sort of like a "wonder twin powers activate form of POP!" situation. check out some Utah Girl right here: http://theutah.org/artist/utahgirl

*installed, actually

Hey, not sure if you heard about J. Sider's Root Music project, but he's got a great thing going - Root Music is all about making musicians' professional lives better, be it though building software or building community. Check out the Root Music facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Root/318500234886?v=wall

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night! March 15th. pass it on.

that's about all I have for today. Hope to see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey happy Valentine's Day! or, if you'd rather, Happy President's Day! I'd actually rather wish you a happy valentine's day. nothing against the presidents, but valentine's day is much sweeter. Say, speaking of sweet, we have a new podcast out - this time around I get to talk to Carroll Glenn, resident songwriter extraordinaire. You can check it out on itunes at http://bit.ly/subscribe_to_the_utah_podcast or on theutah.org at http://theutah.org/t/12358.

Hey, have you ever thought to yourself "gee, I would sure like to see a quick summary of all of the songs that I've played at the utah. maybe check out what I haven't played in a while", well TODAY IS YOUR DAY!!! I put in a new thing on the ol' theutah.org that'll do just that for you - check it out!: http://theutah.org/mysongs

Hey the feature this week is Erica Sunshine Lee, and you'll notice there are no quotes around the Sunshine in Erica's name. This is because Sunshine is not a nickname - it is an integral part of her being and is treated as such. Much in the same way that Hulk Hogan does not go by "Hulk" Hogan and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson does. Erica rocks and comforts and I kind of want to say she drawls, but I don't know if that's a proper musical term. She does have the most gorgeous drawl you'll hear... - check it out right here: http://theutah.org/t/5621

psst: Cover Your Friends Song Night! March 15th. pass it on.

that's about all I have for today. Hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there. JJ here. I'm just sitting here thinking about all the chicken wings I'm gonna be eating today. oooh yeah, gonna be good - where thanksgiving has its turkey, Superbowl* sunday has its chicken wings...

hey, not sure what you're up to tomorrow, but you should come out to the utah open mic. see we have Jeff Saint John up as the feature, and to start off I gotta say that I like that he spells out the "Saint" in the "Saint John". no St. John for Jeff. Perhaps he wanted to clear up the Saint/Street ambiguity a little bit - lest people refer to him as Jeff Street John**. Jeff is a personal favorite of mine down at the utah - I find that his songs have this unique subtle passion, this intensity brewing just below the surface, perhaps camouflaged by the beauty of his guitar playing - there's is something about the manner in which he sings - so soft, but so intense. It's like in the movies when Clint Eastwood talks through his clenched teeth. He's not shouting - he's whispering, but you know he means business and if your character is being played by Lee Van Cleef, you best be getting on now. I sometimes think that Jeff has a little Jay Farrar going on, early Farrar if you will, but the more I think about it, Jeff's voice is unique and it would be distracting to try and compare. Anyways, have a listen to some Jeff Saint John right here: http://theutah.org/t/10396...

hey, I updated theutah.org such that you can add all your different websites - not just your .com and your myspace. You can have your facebook, your twitter, what have you - I no longer restrict it to just the two - you can have an unlimited number***. To update your websites, just go to http://theutah.org/myutah and click 'Edit my profile'... Let me know if you have any questions of problems.

Bridget updated the slideshow on theutah.org with the photos from Andoni's feature - these include some wonderful shots of Con Brio, Jonathan Kirchner, Xandra, Miriam Speyer, Kyle Lesley, Nomi, Joe Gusich, Wolf Larsen, Mr. Andrew, Meredith Edgar, Pete Lee, and Daniel Owens. Thanks Bridget!

* sport is a funny thing. I gotta say, I love my Green Bay Packers, and I feel no shame in saying 'my' or referring to them as 'we' or 'us'. Some people will hassle you about this and mention that you're not actually out there tackling running backs, but I counter that of course one feels some ownership of your team. own feels ownership in any enterprise in which you're invested. There is an emotional investment, and believe you me, I have paid. and so, on that level, I feel I can justify calling the packer's my team, and I feel no shame in referring to them as we and us, as if we hang on the weekends and bbq together. I think the more interesting question is "why have I invested emotionally? and why do I plan to continue to invest in the packers?". I guess the cynic in me would say I do this because there is perhaps a big emotional payday coming - ie: someday my packers will make it back to the superbowl and they will win it. but any Lions fan or Cleveland fan will tell you that it can be a long wait and it may never come. So, I guess, rooting for a sports team is sort of like playing the lottery. You buy your tickets knowing full well that they may never pay off, but... on the off chance that your guys get hot in december and january and win it all... perhaps it will have all have been worth it. but see winning just makes you come back for more - again it's similar to gambling - if you get hot at blackjack and you get up a few bucks, most likely you'll give it all back before the night is over (or at least over the course of the weekend). that's why they they got all the fancy lights on the casinos. same problem with being a sports fan - it's very difficult to walk away from the table. It's not satisfying to retire with the belt. If your team wins it - if they get hot in december and they started pulling out scrappy wins, and nobody believed in them but by golly they were doing it with moxy and toughness and against the odds they really come together in the playoffs and then, no effing way, the superbowl! there is no way you're saying 'well, that's enough for me. better quit while I'm ahead'. No - you're buying jerseys and cheddar heads. you need more. hit me. Anyways, I digress. This is where I stand on sports.

** which has an altogether different meaning.

*** actually, technically, the limit is 2⁶³

that's all I have today. see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! hope you're doing great. I don't have too much to report today... the day's young I guess, but still. Say, the one thing I do have to talk about is the fact that Meredith Edgar is featuring at the ol' Hotel Utah open mic this monday aka tomorrow night if you're reading this today. If you're reading this tomorrow, then it's today I'm speaking of. whoa. just blew my mind for a second. as I was saying, Meredith is featuring this monday. I tell ya, Meredith is in possession of some voice - it's so rich and warm and she has just the right amount of vibrato going on in her lower register. it's so gorgeous. Hey, check out some Meredith right here: http://theutah.org/t/10303

that's about all I have for today. I hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey how's it going? Big show this monday at the ol' utah - we got the open mic going on with Jonathan Aicardi up as our feature. Oh yeah! Jonathan Aicardi gots skilz, as the young folks would say in the years 2003-2007. He's got such a beautiful voice - at once aggressive and tender - when he's singing soft, he reminds of Josh Ritter, when Josh Ritter is singing soft. Well, Josh Ritter always sings soft, that's his thing I guess. not so Mr. Aicardi - he lets loose now and then. His songs are lush and wistful and really well done - have a listen to some right here: http://theutah.org/t/10890

I'm starting a radio show of sorts, and truth be told, radio is a bit of a misnomer, because there's no radios involved, just computers and ipods, but I sure do like the sound of the term 'radio show'... anyways - I'm starting a radio show (aka a podcast) wherein I'm going to interview utah artists and get their stories and have some fun. If you'd like to subscribe to the podcast, you can do so right here: http://bit.ly/subscribe_to_the_utah_podcast. In the first show, I talk to Jason and Amy from Great Girl's Blouse. We trace their route from wisconsin to rhode island to minnesota to the utah and discus the value of leaving the bathroom door unlocked, the appeal of Prince, and of course their upcoming cd (set to be released at the hotel utah on wed. february 3rd)...

that's about all I have for today -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning... hope you're doing good. say, not sure what you're up to tomorrow, but... me and a whole lot of my friends are gonna be hanging out at the hotel utah and playing some songs and we'd love to hear from you as well. gonna be good times. we've got Alex Webber aka Web'Ed up as our featured performer, and he's gonna bring it. I love Alex's music - his songs bop, for lack of a better word. or perhaps bop is the perfect word. They make my head bop, so there you go. Alex hails from Canterbury in the UK, but you'd never guess it from his singing voice - and I only mention this because I find it interesting - he's like Madonna in reverse. Madonna, from suburban detroit, sings like she's from the UK. but Alex, actually from the UK, would fit right in the Detroit acoustic scene. Until, of course, he announced the name of the song. Then we'd know. Hey, Madonna theorizing aside, I'm really looking forward to Alex's set - his songs never fail to put a smile on my face. have a listen to some Alex Webber right here: http://theutah.org/t/10915.

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! Hey, I've had the ol' tape recorder running at the utah since 2002* but, prior to last week, I only had the recordings from mid-2005 up on theutah.org... I had some time while I was hiatusing and so I set my mind to fixing this injustice and getting the stuff from 2002-2005 up on the ol website. They're up there now, starting with http://theutah.org/music?searchString=October+28,+2002 - a blast from the past now doubt. If you performed at the utah open mic between 2002 and 2005, there's a decent chance some of your songs are up there and available for you to listen (and share if you like).

*pretty wild that 2002 is now the distant past. ...and somewhat disappointing that I still don't have my jetpack. we were promised jetpacks.

Enough with the past, it's on to the future. specifically the near future. specifically this monday when we have Andoni up as our featured performer. Andoni is a gifted pianist and songwriter - he plays with so much energy and style, he is truly a creative tour de force. He's got this young Bowie vibe to his playing - the way he's fearless up there and his creative risks. Its great stuff - but don't take my word for it, have listen for yourself: http://theutah.org/artist/andoni.

Say, our resident photographer (and all around utah treasure), Bridget Canfield, put the photos from the 1/4 show up on http://theutah.org. Priceless work Bridget - you're the best.

that's all I have today, see you soon!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hello! how's it going? it's been so long since I've done this... hope I don't mess it up and say goodbye before hello or something, although that's not possible anymore because I led with hello, as is customary in our culture. I'm sure the rust will show at some other point.

Hey I want to extend the hugest thanks allowable in said culture to Mr. Andrew for taking over the hosting duties while I was out on hiatus. I wasn't a social studies major or anything in college, so I'm not up on what's hugest thanks possible, but I'll try with this: THANKS MR. ANDREW!!! He really did a bang up job with the hosting and recording and the emails and everything. What a guy! I think I'm gonna get a little crazy here and add a little more thanks to what already was the hugest thanks allowable - THANKS MR. ANDREW!!!!!

The feature this week down at the ol' utah is Shareef Ali! oh yeah, love me some Shareef Ali. Dude's a cowboy! Shareef writes and sings these old school style country songs in what strikes me as the same veign as Dylan when Dylan went a little country. Shareef and Dylan agree, sometimes when things get a little nutty you just gotta toss on the cowboy hat and sing some country songs. that works for me too. Shareef's songs draw their power from the raw emotional honesty in his lyrics and his singing - he lays it all out up there and it's a beautiful thing. question: do people still say 'keep's it real'? I've been out of the loop for a bit and am not up on* the lingo, but if people still say 'keeping it real', that's what Shareef does. and if people don't still say 'keeping it real', I'll say it retro old school style. Hey, check out some Shareef Ali right here: http://theutah.org/artist/shareefali

* or is it 'down with'?

that's about all I have. see you soon!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Top o' the Monday to you! Just wanted to remind you that, yes, there will be an open mic tonight at the Hotel Utah. And similar to this past Monday, there will be no featured performer. Last week, with the absence of a dear feature, every person on the list played a song. And it was a unforgettable night of music. Actually, toward the end of the night it's mostly bits and pieces that I remember but... FUGETABOUTIT!

Hope to see you later,
Mr. Andrew

Hey! It's still cold and wet out there but I hope you're well. Now that I've covered the weather and your health, it's time to get down to business. YES! There will be an open-mic happening tomorrow (Monday) night down at the Hotel Utah. There won't be any featured performers for the rest of the month but that will allow more time for YOU to perform. So bring your holiday songs and let's make it a memorable night.

To all of you that are out of town visiting friends and family, I wish you all the best this holiday season. To those of you that might be in from out of town, I hope you'll come by and share a song. This is my favorite time of the year and I would like nothing more than to spend some of this time with you at the Utah.

I love you so much,
Mr. Andrew

It's getting cold out there, that's for dang sure. And how about that rain? Sure is wet! I hope you're keeping dry and staying warm because I'd sure love to see you tomorrow (Monday) night down at the Hotel Utah. Don't you go catching a cold! We're gonna have another great open-mic with a featured performance by the one and only JJ Schultz! FUGETABOUTIT!!!

You may know Mr. Schultz as host of the open-mic at the Hotel Utah. (I know, it's confusing. Who is that sprightly lad that's been prancing about the Utah stage for the last month? That is Mr. Andrew [a robot designed and constructed by JJ Schultz] and Char2-D2 his canine counterpart.) JJ has been on hiatus for a little while now but will be making his glorious return to the Utah stage with a set of his own songs!

JJ's music could easily fall into the canon of great American traditional music. He writes traveling songs, work songs, songs about love and hate and cowboys. With wide open guitar chords he paints a picture of a wide open country, from Carolina to Cleveland and all the way to California. With country twang and soft vibrato he sings songs about women, sometimes bitter and sometimes lonely.

And even though I was programmed not to feel human emotion, I have missed hearing JJ play at the Utah. And my cold robot heart feels so happy that he'll be returning for this one night only performance. You can hear JJ Schultz at: http://theutah.org/artist/jjschultz.

Also! Slim Critchlow, a dear friend of the Utah, has produced some fine documentaries of the Utah open-mic and you can check them out @ http://www.vimeo.com/user2130745. He'll be posting other Utah shows soon. Bridget has also posted a new slideshow with pictures from November 30th. Thank you Bridget! And thanks Slim! You're the best! The Utah is so lucky to have such good friends!

So come on down to the Hotel Utah, have Laura make you a hot toddy and I'm sure Rawb has at least several holiday jokes he could share with you.

Cheers!
Mr. Andrew

My goodness, how about this cold weather? I, of course, spend the majority of my time in an underground laboratory where the temperature is always a cozy 21 degrees Celsius, but I still read the Examiner and SF Gate online. And I sympathize with all those who dwell on the surface. Hey! We've got another fantastic open-mic night happening tomorrow (Monday) at the Hotel Utah with a featured performance by Jonathan Kirchner. In the immortal words of Shakespeare: Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of Kirchner!

Jonathan Kirchner is arguably the hardest working musician at the Utah. He is a fixed member of two of the finest acts heard at the Utah, Con Brio and Kelly McFarling, and he doesn't stop there. He's also graciously shared his talents with a handful of others, myself included. But don't be misled by his commonplace on the Utah stage. His feature is certain to be exceptional. Mr. Kirchner has an acute talent for realizing intricate musical production in a live acoustic setting. His expert technique as a performer is equally matched by his curiosity for and understanding of sound composition. And the product of all his aptitude is purely positive musical energy. I'm talking about GOOD music, FUGETABOUTIT!

You can listen to the Kirchmonster at: http://theutah.org/artist/jonathankirchner

That's all for now. I hope you're doing well and I hope to see you tomorrow.

Cheers,
Mr. Andrew

Hey! Gosh, I hope you're doing well and enjoying this glorious Sunday! I also hope you were able to get some time off from work these past several days and maybe even enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie. Oh boy. I love pumpkin pie. I love any food that you don't need to chew, like chocolate pudding or fresh scallops. But truly, what I hope the most is that I can see you (all of you) down at the Utah tomorrow (Monday) night. We've got the open-mic going on with a featured performance by Todd Shipley. And who better to say a few words about our feature performer than John "The Duke" Wayne himself:

"Fill your hand, you son of a gun! I'm looking at a tin star with a ... SHIPLEY pinned on it. I haven't lost my temper in 40 years; but, Todd, you'll cause a lot of mad rockin' tomorrow night at the Utah saloon; might get somebody dancin'; and somebody oughta kiss you on the mouth. But I won't. I won't. The hell I won't! I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, and I won't be denied a soul rockin' night. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them. But don't apologize—it's a sign of weakness. Down at the Utah Saloon, due process is a beer and a basket of fries! That'll be the night!"

Thanks Mr. Wayne! You're the best! Have a listen to Mr. Shipley: http://theutah.org/artist/toddshipley

Cheers!
Mr. Andrew

Hey! How about this weather? It's getting cold out there which can only mean one thing: Global Warming is a total myth. Just kidding. If Larry David says it's happening then it must be.* So, you'd do better to keep recycling. Anyway, we've got another great open-mic tomorrow (Monday!) night down at the Hotel Utah with a featured performance by Red Penny One, a group fronted by songwriter Tyler Gordon.

As a performer, and as host of the open-mic at Cafe International, Tyler has become a positive musical force in the local music scene here in the Bay Area. His songs run the gamut of the human condition but are typically punctuated by some sense that life is at least beautiful, if not good. His music is a blend of sensible pop and traditional world music styles, a ideal accompaniment to his lyrical tone.

You can hear for yourself at: http://theutah.org/artist/coexist

This featured performance will be the debut of Red Penny One, his current band (formerly known as Coexist), and should be a memorable set. So come on down, bring your friends and buy them drinks, share a basket o' fries, and get downright cozy at the Hotel Utah open-mic. It's what Larry David has called "the greatest open-mic in the world at the friendliest bar in the world!"** So, you'd do better to be there!

*that guy created 'Seinfeld.' Fugetaboutit.
**source of quote may be unreliable.

Cheers!
Mr. Andrew

Hey! Hope you had a fantastic weekend! I just wanted to let you know about the open-mic that's happening tomorrow at the Hotel Utah. It'll be an unforgettable night with a featured performance by the legendary Jon Moyer! My pet turtle, Seven Up, has asked to share several haikus he's written about our feature performer:

What was that I heard?
Orpheus on golden lyre?
No, just Jon Moyer.

Perfection has cost
And beauty has taken form.
They are Jon Moyer.

I fear no evil,
Nor desire for what I lack.
I've got Jon Moyer.

Sun will set again
And moon will brighten our dreams.
Thank you Jon Moyer!

Hey! Thanks Seven Up! You're the smartest and cutest turtle in the whole world! To hear the Mr. Moyer's wonderful songs, look no further than: http://theutah.org/artist/jonmoyer

So, come one! Come all! Come hungry! Come thirsty! Come on down to the Hotel Utah open-mic with a song in your heart! And leave your bullshit attitude at the door.

Take care!
Mr. Andrew

Hey! Hope you've made the most of your weekend. If you haven't yet, don't worry! I'm sure somebody at this very moment is scalping tickets outside the Orpheum to see "Wicked." You can still make the matinee if you leave now! Hurry! RUN!

Now, for those of you who are still reading, and would probably do better to stay in bed today because you're super sore from playing frisbee yesterday after not stretching properly, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret... Tomorrow night at the Hotel Utah we are gonna be having an open-mic with a featured performance by Breakfast!

My dog Charlie has asked to say a few words on Breakfast's behalf:

"Breakfast's songs, much like music of the 20th century avant-garde, demonstrate a balance between traditional and contemporary compositional practices. But contrary to the serious art music of academia, Breakfast's approach to composition seems to be more from the ground up. From the roots of music and then into the human intellect. He's closer to Pete Seeger than to Ruth Crawford Seeger. To put it simply, his songs are folk music in 3-D. Now some of you are probably thinking, 'Hey, how does a dog know what 3-D is like? Aren't dogs color blind?' Yes, we are. But due to advances in 3-D technology, via the replacement of anaglyph with polarization systems, 3-D films no longer use glasses with red and cyan lenses."

Hey! Thanks Charlie! You're the best! Give Breakfast a listen @ http://theutah.org/artist/breakfast.

Hope to see y'all tomorrow,
Mr. Andrew

Hey! Hope you enjoyed Halloween! For those of you feeling a bit partied out, here are three things you can do for yourself: 1. Drink plenty of water. 2. Eat mineral rich foods like pickles or canned fish. 3. Have a friend bury you up to your neck in moist river sand. (It's an old Irish remedy.)

Hey! We got an open-mic tomorrow night at the Utah with Reese as our feature performer. My dog Charlie has asked to say a few words:

Hark! A voice cries from the wilderness! A guitar jangles in the hinterland! And this curly-headed proclaimer could only be the Major Morris himself. His song echoes like the arrival of an epoch in a civilization on the verge of decline. His story is ours. He shouts "I've got to make it! This I know for sure!" To his burdens he professes "I don't like it!" And who among us has not scoffed in the face of obligation? I most certainly have. But, I am a doggy. Fugetaboutit.

Thanks Charlie Bear! You're the best. Check out the Major Morris @ http://theutah.org/artist/reese.

That's all for now,
Mr. Andrew

how's it going? hey, I got a little poopper coming sometime in the next week or two, a wee JJjr named Jack, and so I'm going to be taking some time off from my duties at the ol' utah while me and the little guy get settled in and start to get acquainted. In my absence, Mr. Andrew will be running the show and doing the recording and writing the newsletters and now and then asking people to kindly pipe down. What I'm getting at here is this monday night is my last night hosting until Jan. 2010...

hey, this week we have Owen Roberts up as the feature and I think he's going to be joined on guitar by his buddy Greg Peters. Owen sings with this confident passion - it's like he's got a story to tell you and you are gonna hear it. right in your gut. I detect some blues and some latin in there, but to me it's all Americana (my favorite music). and when the ever tasteful Greg Peters gets his licks in there - shoot, I'll repeat, it's some of my favorite music. have a listen for yourself right here http://theutah.org/t/9852

* a date that in my youth seemed only scientifically theoretical, but now is a mere two months away.

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good evening! hey, hope you had a great weekend and are primed to go see Honeycomb at the Makeout Room tonight. ...not sure what you're up to this monday night aka tomorrow, but I highly recommend coming down to the hotel utah and playing a song for us. see, we got Z up as the feature this week with his band "Wolf'n Crow" and I can only guess that he chose that name because when the man gets a plate of crow in front of him... well watch out. The man likes his crow that's all I'm saying... Wolfs it down double fisted. Hey, I gotta say, Z is one of my all time favorite performers down there at the ol' utah - he's so good... his singing reminds me of Ryan Adams, Heartbreaker vintage, and that's a compliment in my book. In my book, you can keep a lot of the Ryan Adams, but please leave me my Heartbreaker album. yeah, Z's got that tender gravel going on, and dang if it ain't beautiful. have a listen to some Z singing with our old friend Laurie Henry: http://theutah.org/t/6698.

hope you're good. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there, big night coming this monday at the ol' utah. Huge. see, we're going to do another one of our 'cover your friend's song' nights. In case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. this monday night! If you're never experienced a 'cover your friend's song night', let me warn you up front: it is so fun your brain may explode. so watch out for that.

and if that's not enough, we got the reigning king of pop*, Brendan Getzell up as our featured performer. oh yeah! or, more accurately, Shazam!. Brendan got's the lighting bolts, and not just on that guitar stop. nah, his shirt too. But I find those bolts to be redundant, because when Brendan sings, strike that, even when he's just standing up there about to sing, one can feel the energy shooting out of the man, and then he let's loose and those pop hooks and melodic sensibilities are undeniable and that lighting is coming out of that bottle and all one can say is Shazam! truly the reigning kind of pop. have a listen - http://theutah.org/t/9820

*stolen from Mr. A**

**stolen from Picasso

see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hope this email finds you well... hey not sure what you're up to on monday night, but Camden Barbour is featuring at the ol' utah mic! Camden's got some wild songs man - he sings about cb radios, mustache combover's, and the like. but if you're thinking to yourself "geeze, if I hear one more song about a dude who has a mustache combover, I'm gonna lose it" have no fear - Camden rocks these songs with such glee, and a wink and a smile, and I can't help but smile when I listen. Its gonna be a fun feature this monday, come check it out! for more info on Camden, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/camdenbarbour

hey, we're going to do another one of our 'cover your friend's song' nights on October 12th. In case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. October 12th! These cover your friends song nights are my favorite nights...

see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there. good morning! Hey, big show going on this monday night at the utah and you're on the bill... and in addition to you, we've got Nisan Perera up as our featured performer. Oh yes, the future is now. Now, when writing about Nisan, it seems I'd be messing up if I didn't start out at his voice, which I find to be absolutely remarkable. It's so beautiful... like nothing I've ever heard and I'm finding it difficult to describe for those who have not yet had the pleasure. His voice is almost like a moan, a multi-layered and at times optimistic moan - so packed with emotion that it's like it is bursting out onto itself with these multiple strands of resonance. and I think it's also got a bit of a whiskey mellowed Scooter or perhaps Gonzo in there... and a touch of Joan Rivers*.... and perhaps it's carton of yellows away from being a full Waits**. It has all those qualities, but it's none of those things, and perhaps I should leave my inadequate deion be, and allow you to listen for yourself: http://theutah.org/t/9751. Gorgeous stuff.

* if Joan Rivers could sing
** I hesitate on that Waits reference, because I think it can be a cop-out to describe every rough hewn voice in levels of Waits, but what the heck

hey, we're going to do another one of our 'cover your friend's song' nights on October 12th. In case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. October 12th! These cover your friends song nights are my favorite nights...

hope you're doing good-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey big tanks to Mr. Andrew for hosting last week while I was out. What a guy! You'll probably be seeing a bunch more of Mr. A in November and December as I'll be taking some time off when my son is born (Nov. 2nd-ish).

Hey, and speaking of big life events, this week's feature is a quite an event as well... see, Loonabide and Cara Cordoni are getting hitched! and we going to have a little wedding ceremony for the feature slot. It's quite fitting because Loonabide and Cara met at the Utah and have sung many a song for us from that stage, so what better place... In addition to the festivities, they're going to sing us a few of their whiskey (and other substance) soaked country dirges. oh yes, it is going to be a fine time this monday...

hey, we're going to do another one of our 'cover your friend's song' nights on October 12th. In case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. October 12th! These cover your friends song nights are my favorite nights...

that's all I got today. see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, I hope this email finds you doing good. A heads up for this monday's open mic: I did not suddenly grow blond head of curly hair, I am still bald as ever, no, Mr. Andrew is hosting for me as I'm out on tour for a bit. And if that ain't enough, we've got Mr. Alex Statan as the featured performer, and he'll be bringing his fusion of soul, sexy, and altpop to our stage. oh yeah, he's bringing the altpop back....

hey, we're going to do another one of our 'cover your friend's song' nights on October 12th. In case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. October 12th! These cover your friends song nights are my favorite nights...

that's all I got today. see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there! in case you were wondering... the answer is yes! the utah is going on this monday, even though it is a national holiday and all of that. and hey, speaking of national holidays, we're going to do another one of our 'cover your friend's song' nights on October 12th (that's a monday). In case you're not familiar with the ol' cover your friend's song night - this is where you learn one of your fellow musician's songs (most preferably a song by somebody who comes out to the utah) and then you play it for us. October 12th! Circle that date on your calendar if you still live in 1986, otherwise google cal will do.

Hey, the feature this week is Pete Lee! oh yeah, fun times! If you know Pete, you know what I'm talking about. Now, if you just know Pete from listening on theutah.org, you're missing than half the show... see Pete's got dancing skills. He can get his feet a moving, and as I think about this phenomenon, it occurs to me that he almost has to dance up there. See, he's up there listening to Pete Lee songs, and those songs have the unique ability to make one's feet move, and if you're a stoic like me, they have the unique ability to get the cheeks moving involuntarily in the seat. His energy is infectious, and apparently it has spread to my... well, this is a family email, I better stop there. Hey, for more on Pete, have a look right here: http://theutah.org/artist/petelee

Hey check out Palefighter! http://blog.pandora.com/archives/podcast/2009/07/pre-production.html

that's all I got today. see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning. hope you're doing good. I'm three coffees in, so I'm not sweating it either. Say, not sure what you're up to this monday, but I highly recommend coming out to the utah and playing us a song and checking out our featured performer, The Sioux City Kid. Sioux City's a remarkable singer songwriter in the classic NY by way of MN sense, in the classic just arrived in town, dusty suitcase and dusty shoes from a dusty road sense - he sings these plaintive story songs in this beautifully calm, gentle voice, never shouting or getting too excited - rather he's just explaining how things are with that relaxed sandpapery* whisper. Beautiful stuff indeed and some of my favorite music.... Here's where Sioux City lives on theutah.org: http://theutah.org/artist/siouxcitykid. (Perhaps we could coaxe him into sharing one or two of his songs.)

* not the coarse grained stuff used for general destruction, but the fine grained stuff used for polishing

that's about all I know today. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there. Not sure if you heard, but there's an open mic on monday nights at the hotel utah. I was thinking of checking it out...

Hey the feature this monday at the ol' utah is Mr. Andrew, and I say Mr. not because I'm overly formal or because Mr. Andrew is overly formal, it's just his moniker, much like Mr. Ed, or perhaps Mr. T. Now Mr. A, if you'll excuse my informality, is the feature... and typically at this point in the email I'll go on and on about how much I like the feature's music and all that, but this email is different, see, the thing is, I don't so much like Mr. Andrew's music... yeah, if somebody came up to me asked me if I liked his stuff, I'd have to answer honestly "nah", and pray they ask me to clarify... see I don't so much like Mr. A's music, I LOVE it. and perhaps it's unrequited, perhaps not, but when Mr. Andrew sings and he crinkles his brow and the sad face comes out, well, my heart, literally, not at all figuratively, crinkles its brow and puts its sad face on and is right there with him. He sings these Ramones length ditties... strike that, ditty is too light a deion, his songs are vignettes, soaked in sentiment and nostalge, and whatever they lack in length they make up for in pote, and the only deion that comes to mind right now as I type this thing is there was once a great sea... covering a large chunk of the western us... bonneville I believe... and with time and evaporation and yes, perhaps one leaving the bathroom sink on while one brushed one's teeth one too many times, this great sea shrank and condensed until now... there's a lake in utah... great, yes, quite salty too, and I can't help but think of this lake when I listen to Mr. A sing. Strikes me as perhaps Mr. Andrew's songs are boiled from a greater sea*, distilled to a potent essence, delivered with furled brow and furled beard, in much the same manner that Mr. T pities fools... Say, I'm rambling a bit now, perhaps just have a listen and see for yourself: http://theutah.org/t/9425.

* perhaps I've got it all wrong. perhaps all his songs are odes to his dog Charlie Bear

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

goodmorning! (and for those of you in australia: tomorrow!). got the open mic going on at the ol' utah this monday, and the I'm very excited to mention that featured performer is Neil Howard.... Neil's songs are an impassioned tour de force, a porche spyder flying west over 466, a kuwalski screaming down bourbon street, at once both sublime and savage, brutal and comforting, his voice darting between tender and 50's beat gravel. There's something about his voice... it has this mysterious rugged quality that makes it sound as if there's two voices in there, matching harmony and power - something to behold for sure. Neil is a dear and missed friend of the utah and I'm very excited to have him back in town for a feature - we are going to party like its 2004! hey, you can have a listen to some of Mr. Howard right here: http://theutah.org/t/1448.

hey I don't know if you're on the 'facebook' or if you're on the 'twitter', but if you are and you'd like to promote your utah music on these sites, there's an easy way to do it. You'll notice that there's now a little heartshaped 't' and a little heartshaped 'f' on each shared performance on theutah.org. If you click those 't's and 'f's, you'll be able to post a link to that performance (and a little mini-review) on the twitter or your facebook wall.

hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

JJ here. Say, we got the utah open mic going on this monday (and every monday) down at, well, the utah, and if you're new to the utah and all that and want some info on the open mic, here's some info for you: http://theutah.org/details.

hey the feature this week down at the ol' utah is Not An Airplane and, while one could posit that this is true every week (as airplanes don't have ids, and Rawb is pretty strict when checking the ids), this week it's especially true, and you know, even if the feature this week was (and planned to continue to be) an airplane, there would be no denying those vocal harmonies and sweet sweet songs. Nick Shattell, head non airplane, has this relaxed and easy going brilliance when he's playing his tunes - it doesn't seem as if he's trying at all and these brilliant songs come out of him and maybe this is because he practices, but maybe its also because he's got the goods, as they say. Anyways, Nick is bringing his band of non airplanes and mark my words, its gonna be good times. Hey have a list to some Not an Airplane right here: http://theutah.org/t/9427

that's about all I know today-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

JJ here. Say, I just want to start off this email with a big thanks to Bridget for all of the work she is doing with the photos - they come out so good, week after week, and anyone who's ever attempted to photograph inside the utah, well you know how skilled she is. Every time I try to shoot in there, it comes out as a red blob, while her photos are pieces of art, each one worthy of lingering thought, usually along the lines of 'That would make a GREAT album cover'. Anyways, I just had to get that off my chest - we are all very lucky people.... have a look here at the photos from last monday: http://bit.ly/bbHeZ. gorgeous.

Say, the feature this week at the ol' open mic is Wolf Larsen. I tell ya, Wolf's voice does something to my emotional state - it's hard to describe, but I have this emotional reaction to her singing - when she sings and we all sit stupefied, it's like I almost get weepy with the corresponding lump in my throat and all that, and while this all may sound like it's a negative experience, I don't mind it, I look forward to it, and I will always return for more. it's like she breaks my heart when she sings, but I love having my heart broken by her. I consider her songs to be americana - specifically truckdriver music slowed to half speed, each phrase considered and delivered with expert imprecision and beauty. and seems to me these songs have a thread of morality running through them, guiding them and binding them together, providing direction where direction is needed - beautiful, heavy hearted songs (but delivered by one of the most joyous people I know) (with a smile that leaves them melting in the aisles). It's quite an experience, I tell ya, this Wolf Larsen show, and I think its a very good bet that someday we all be saying 'I knew her when...' in the mean time, have a listen to some Wolf right here: http://theutah.org/t/9232

hey, jeeze, thanks to everybody who voted us best open mic in the bayguardian's reader's poll. hope you're doing great -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

! hey big thanks to Mr. Andrew for hosting last monday - I heard he did a bang up job and my only regret is I wasn't there to ask him what number we were on. I am back from my travels and will be back at it this monday, rested and ready.

and that's good because this monday, we will all want to be rested and ready because we got Phil Lang in the house doing the featured set! yeah, good times. Hey, you of course know Phil needs no introduction anywhere in the civilized world, but what the hay, I'm on an airplane and I got time on my hands and words coming out... Phil Lang is one of those rare performers who, when they are singing, makes me want to stand up and shout 'YEAH!' and perhaps sometimes I'll add a swear before the 'yeah', perhaps with my arm in the air, hand balled in a fist, perhaps both arms both fists, and if I try to intellectualize why he makes me want to do this, all I can come up with is the man sings with real, honest emotion, and he's not holding any of it back, it's in him and its coming out, and, F, it is something to behold and some of my favorite music to listen to. Phil sometimes plays with his band, Bloomsday Rising, and I'd say its a good possibility we'll be treated to a bit of Fernando and Chris as well. Like I said, good times. Have a listen to Phil right here: http://theutah.org/t/9594

Bridget put together the photos from July 13th - have a look at them right here: http://www.200pockets.com/projects/openmicnight_hotelutah/2009/13_July_2009/clientreview_13_July_2009.html. She did some real beautiful effects with some photos of Mr. Loebs and Roger Rocha. Great stuff as always - thanks so much Bridget.

that's about all I know. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey the feature this week down at the ol' utah is the Love Dimension, and they'll be backed up by the boys from Moller! Whoa, you say. Whoa, you're right! what a lineup - the Love Dimension... they always makes me think of the rockers from the 60s, when rock and roll made the shift from the bubble gum to acid. (I think there were a couple of weeks there in '65 before everybody went crazy...). Anyways, The Love Dimension, their songs have got that classic gritty vibe and they've got the clothes to match. ...and Jimmy's voice knows just how to hit those high notes - he can do that beautiful scream when he's feeling it. yeah, its gonna be good stuff this monday. fo sho. Hey for more info on the Love Dimension, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/thelovedimension

I'm not sure if you've noticed the change in the audio quality of the songs on theutah.org... I've been working with Michael Romanowski on the mastering of our recordings - we're developing a formula that'll basically give each of the songs a world class mastering job such that the audio quality should stand up against any other professional live recording. Once we get the new formula dialed in, I'm going to go back and remaster the entire back catalog such that everything is the same quality. (its currently in a funny state where songs from pre-July 6th sound quiet and muddy, and songs 7/6 and on sound good. this is a temporary state). A big thanks to Michael Romanowski for helping us all out. along that same thread - if you have an opinion on the new sound, please let me know. I'm very interested to know if you think it sounds bad on your system or if you have any suggestions.

Mr. Andrew is hosting this monday... I'm out of town (at Neil Howard's birthday gathering). hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? Hey, the feature this monday is Jack Da Hat! Oh yeah, Jack's gonna come in and class up the place for a bit with his mix of jazz, blues, and moxy. Jack is smooooth, you know, and sings from his gut. He's got a voice straight of 40's film noir, smoke and booze and black and white and a femme fatal - Jack incorporates elements of all that, and this monday he's bringing his band*... it's gonna be a great feature. hey for more info on Jack, have a look here:
http://theutah.org/artist/jackdahat


Check this out! Bridget put the pictures together from the last Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show. check them out here: http://www.200pockets.com/projects/beerdrinkinacousticseries/2009/8_July_2009/index.html. Thanks so much Bridget - these look fabulous as always.

The Frozen Film Fest is going on this weekend - this fest is put on by our buddies Gabriel Bellman and Isaac Woodrow and is always a great show.

* Band Da Hat?

that's about all I know today. hope to see you soon
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

JJ here. Say, Bridget put together the photos from last week's open mic - she's got them up on the ol' website: http://theutah.org. Thanks so much Bridget - they look great (as always).

The featured performer this monday is Avaghys! yeah, there's an 'h' in there and its hard to say, but I give it a try every time. Avaghys rocks his own brand of world* music. Now most the time, I have no idea what words he's singing, because I'm only fluent in English and Canadian, and Avaghys, he's not singing in either of my preferred languages. What's cool though, is it doesn't really matter - I know what he's singing about. and I'm probably just projecting my own heartbreaking little stories onto his indecipherable (to me) lyric, I hope he doesn't mind... Avagys sings with a rare passion - he can lull you in with his calm and his smile, and then boom, he lays you out. great stuff - hey for more on Avaghys, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/avaghys

* I hate** that term 'world music'. Not so much the music, but the fact that pretty much any music that's not common in the ol' usa is lumped together under the 'world' category. It's kind of like the world series, but in reverse. but perhaps its necessary on some level to lump a lot of stuff under the same label, you know, for brevity, and I guess we do the same thing with rock and roll, and so I guess I don't know what my point is. I'm still upset about it, though.

** I know hate is a strong word.

that's about all I know today. hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

JJ here. hey thanks so much to all the folks who came out to utah last night for the sneak peeks of the The Applause- the utah open mic documentary that the folks at Bricks and Mortar Media are working on. and a huge thanks goes to the folks at Bricks and Mortar - the movie looks great. I'm not sure how to describe it all to those who weren't there... I will say that it was a very special night and the folks at BAMM did a heck* of job are continuing to do a heck of a job.

Hey, the featured performer this monday down at the utah is our old and dear friend Joey Hebdo, and I'm gonna skip all the e-prime bs for a minute and say that Mr. Hebdo is a supremely talented man - singer, songwriter, performer, whatever it is, Joey's got it. and when I listen to Joey sing, it always seems to me he sings with a great deal of joy - and I'll take it a step further and say jubilance. Its striking to hear it but I guess its not surprising (he doesn't strike me as the bluest of my friends). He sings with such pop and joy that my surl has no defense - he can break that down and bring a smile to my face, and I think his music would have that effect on me even if I was, for example, caught out in a chilling rain with no umbrella... (actually, that's a bad example, a cool rain is sort of a pleasant thought right now..) Joey's been living back in OH, but he's back to say hi, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing his smiling face back at the utah for a feature set. for more info on Joey, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/joeyhebdo, or perhaps just listen to this: http://theutah.org/p/7347.

Hey, the sf bay guardian is doing their annual readers poll - http://www.sfbayguardian.com/bobpoll2009/. They got lot's of local music categories in there, including best local singersongwriter. For my money, I think the best local singersongwriters come out to the hotel utah on monday nights, and I think it'd be cool if somebody from our scene won that deal... and so I encourage you to vote. and hey, they've also got a category for best open mic, and so if you have a favorite in that dept. - you can vote for that as well. I might be biased, but favorite is the one at the Hotel Utah...

* this is a family email

that's about all I know today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

JJ here. Say, not sure what you're up to next saturday night - June 27th - but if you're anywhere in or around the greater world area, anywhere in the world really, I highly recommend coming to the Hotel Utah in San Francisco, CA, World as the folks at Bricks and Mortar Media are going to be screening a sneak preview of their movie The Applause - the utah open mic documentary that they've been working on (and you are perhaps in). Its gonna be good times - in addition to the sneak preview a bunch of bands from the utah are playing and like I said before, this is a great chance for all of us to show our gratitude to the folks a Bricks and Mortar for all of the hard work they've been doing.

Hey, the feature this week is Ruben Diaz... oh yeah, I love it when Ruben sings - when he sings he leaves those jagged edges out there for all to sit and ponder and then while we're all pondering, he sweaps them back into the wunderkammer with a whisk of his easy vibrato or he gives them a stomp with that trademark growl. and one could describe his songs as folk and perhaps I'll do just that, but for some reason that doesn't sit quite right with me - you know, he's not sitting up there singing kumbaya, he's up there tearing into his songs, tearing them up, finding out what's really in them, and if he did bust out kumbaya, he would pick that song clean apart, sort the pieces on the floor, and then carefully stuff them back into the wunderkammer (for us to ponder). For more info on Ruben, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/rubendiaz.

Check this out - our friend Slim Critchlow's put together a lot of utah videos on his website: http://www.theopenmic.net/hotelutah2009. Thanks a lot Slim! - these look great.

Hey, the sf bay guardian is doing there annual readers poll - http://www.sfbayguardian.com/bobpoll2009/. They got lot's of local music categories in there, including best local singersongwriter. For my money, I think the best local singersongwriters come out to the hotel utah on monday nights, and I think it'd be cool if somebody from our scene won that deal... and so I encourage you to vote. and hey, they've also got a category for best open mic, and so if you have a favorite in that dept. - you can vote for that as well. (I might be biased, but favorite is the one at the Hotel Utah...)

that's about all I know today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hope this email finds you well... Hey, the sf bay guardian is doing there annual readers poll - http://www.sfbayguardian.com/bobpoll2009/. They got lot's of local music categories in there, including best local singersongwriter. For my money, I think the best local singersongwriters come out to the hotel utah on monday nights, and I think it'd be cool if somebody from our scene won that deal... and so I encourage you to vote.

the feature this week at the ol' utah is James Moore. oh yeah. James is an old friend of the utah - he moved to the east coast a few years ago and we miss him quite a bit, we meaning I. I think James is a brilliant songwriter - his songs can make my chest feel a little bit heavier and turn my boisterous voices calm, and hey that's why I listen to music and that's why I plug the jukebox. I find that James's voice has a murky timbre - not black, more of a brown - that conveys this matter of fact melancholy. I say matter of fact, because he's not overly sentimental or sorrowful, but there's certainly some woe down there in the darker tones. and it sometimes sounds to me like his voice is putting out two notes a once - sort of a self harmonizing thing, but I believe this is impossible, and so I should say that his voice tricks me into hearing a few notes at once. very sneaky. Hey, I am very excited to have James back out at the utah - come and check him out this monday. For more info on James, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/jamesmoore

not sure what you're up to on Saturday June 27th, but unless you have tickets to canada or something, you should save that date! The fella's (and lady) at Bricks and Mortar Media are going to be screening a preview of the utah open mic documentary that they've been working on. They'll be screening it in the theater room at the Hotel Utah Saloon (500 4th St. at Bryant) and there'll be some bands playing as well. Saturday June 27th, write that down. Perhaps get it tatooed, not so much on your head, but tastefully on your arm. either way, its gonna be a really fun night and a chance for us to show our gratitude to the folks at Bricks and Mortar for all of the hard work they've been doing (and to check out the film! very exciting stuff).

that's about all I have. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! JJ here. Hey, I was just thinking about the ol' utah open mic, as I do, and how Dave G's the feature this monday... and I'll start off this missive by stating that Dave G is one of my all time favorite performers, and you know, I could leave it at that.... but that's such a lofty thing to say - if I just left it at that, some might accuse me of hyperbole. Accuse away, I say - I will gladly defend that statement (I will defend it with vigor). Dave's melodies bounce along fearlessly, free to go wherever they may, free to meet new friends and find new chords, comforted in the knowledge that Dave will resolve it all at some point or another, and hey, there's no hurry to get this thing resolved - that's Dave G. singing up there... best to sit back and enjoy. I find that his voice is remarkable in a lot of ways, but especially in its viscosity - its so thick and smooth and rich, but it's not only that - there's a certain something to his voice that's hard to describe... the only way I can attempt to describe it is to say the the microphones like his voice, nay, the microphones love his voice. The mics slurp it up double strawed and double fisted. Have a listen if you haven't and you'll see what I mean. and he brings this all together with a charm and grace that makes me feel very lucky not only to know the man, but to consider him a friend. yeah it's gonna be good times this monday. Come out and let that golden voice wash over you and fear not when those melodies take their trip, best to sit back with your favorite beverage and join for the ride.... for more info on Dave G. have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/daveg

Hey not sure what you're up to on Saturday June 27th, but unless you have tickets to acapulco or something, you should save that date! The fella's (and lady) at Bricks and Mortar Media are going to be screening a preview of the utah open mic documentary that they've been working on. They'll be screening it in the theater room at the Hotel Utah Saloon (500 4th St. at Bryant) and there'll be some bands playing as well. Saturday June 27th, write that down. Perhaps get it tatooed, not so much on your head, but tastefully on your arm. either way, its gonna be a really fun night and a chance for us to show our gratitude to the folks at Bricks and Mortar for all of the hard work they've been doing (and to check out the film! very exciting stuff)

that's about all I have. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there. what's happening? I mean that in the cool "hey what's happening?" sense as opposed to the more dire "HEY WHAT'S HAPPENING?!?" sense. Hey not sure what you're up to on Saturday June 27th, but unless you have tickets to acapulco or something, you should save that date! The fella's (and lady) at Bricks and Mortar Media are going to be screening a preview of the utah open mic documentary that they've been working on. They'll be screening it in the theater room at the Hotel Utah Saloon (500 4th St. at Bryant) and there'll be some bands playing as well. Saturday June 27th, write that down. Perhaps get it tatooed, not so much on your head, but tastefully on your arm. either way, its gonna be a really fun night and a chance for us to show our gratitude to the folks at Bricks and Mortar for all of the hard work they've been doing (and to check out the film! very exciting stuff)

and speaking of very exciting stuff, the feature this week down at the ol' utah is Bryant Dennison and I believe he'll be playing with his band the Beehavers. not sure if they chose that name because they have bees at home or if they are just well mannered. I hope its the latter. Bees can be a real nuisances. (Unless of course that bee happens to be Honeybody Moon Bee, but that's another email). Bryant's got a real operatic way about him when he's performing - he's got a strong tenor warble that would sound good in any language not to mention latin and he mixes that up with some tender uke plucking. no fooling. Yeah, Its gonna be good times this monday at the utah (unless of course they bring their bees - then it would be bad times what with all the bees flying around). For more info on Bryant and the Beehavers have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/thebeehavers.

that's about all I have today. hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! I hope this email finds you well. Not sure what you're up to this monday, but we've got the open mic going on at the ol' hotel utah, not sure if you've heard of it... (500 4th at Bryant.) Hey the open mic is happening in a big way this memorial day - we've got Scott Simmons as the feature. yes that Scott Simmons. Classic songwriter - one of my favorites. His song writing strikes me in the same vein as Guy Clark. Classic story songs that hit me square in the chest. Hey sings them mostly mellow, he lulls you a bit, but he's got a 5th gear in there and he'll use it now and then... and when does, well shoot - let's just say that it hits me right in the chest... hey, for more info on Scott, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/scottsimmons

you know, I don't know if you're on the 'facebook' or if you're on the 'twitter', but if you are, I just want to let you know that there's help available. Help in posting your songs, that is... You'll notice that there's now a little 't' and a little 'f' on each shared performance on theutah.org. If you click those 't's and 'f's, you'll be able to post a link to that performance (and a little mini-review) on the twitter or your facebook wall. I'm kind of new to the twitter, but I've been having fun posting little mini-reviews - you can follow what I've been doing here: http://twitter.com/theutah. I think it'd be really cool if other people did the same - you could write little reviews of performances that you like...

anyways, that's about all I have. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hey big monday this monday at the ol' utah - it's "cover your friend's song" night! I gotta say, this is my favorite of our theme nights - it's so much fun. In case you are unfamiliar with "cover you friend's song" night, this is where you learn one of your friends songs and then you play it for us. I find it to be most fun when one covers a fellow utah artist and they are there to hear your tribute - it really means a lot to an artist to hear their songs covered and interpreted.

...and if that's not enough, the feature this week is Gayle Skidmore - Gayle is a longtime friend of the utah who's coming up all the way from San Diego (Jane Lui country) to play for us. If you aren't familiar with Gayle, you can take note of the fact that I never give feature slots touring artists, but I made an exception here... I find Gayle's songs to have folk sensibilities in their storytelling and banjo having, but shoot I think they've got a soul groove in there as well. They've got soul, they groove, I'm think I'm pretty safe with saying soul groove. hey, for more info on Gayle, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/gayleskidmore.

yeah, I don't always get all gushy in my prognostications, but I predict that this monday will be gushy. Mark my words - its going to be a really special night. see you tomorrow -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there - good morning! hey, this wednesday we're having another installment of our world (nay galacticly) famous Beer Drinkin Acoustic show at the utah. We'll be treated to sets from Billy Banks, OTIS, The Attracted, and Victoria and the Vaudvillians. What a show! (Here's all the details)

and if that's not enough, the featured performer this monday at the ol' Utah is Stitchcraft. Yeah, I said it: Stitchcraft. With the magical, fantastical (but never irascible) lyrics, with the bouncy fiddle playing by Anna, with Heather's gypsyesc guitar picking, with Ezra (and perhaps Jamie?) wailing away with focused fury, the Stitchcraft, when they get it in gear, well it's really something to behold. When they're in gear and I close my eyes real tight, in the movie in my head I'm running through woods with the birds and the trees perhaps occasionally twirling about like Julie Andrews in Sound of Music, but I'll only do that if nobody is looking. and I know I shouldn't name favorites, but my favorite part of their music is their harmonies. Usually, to sing with that sort of intertwined artistry, one needs to be singing with a conjoined twin, each anticipating the others subtlies and nuance. and it is very impressive when non-conjoined twins are able to pull it off. and it is even more impressive when two non-twin siblings do it. But! Anna and Heather are not even related - no fooking. it's bewitching indeed.. Hey, you should come out this monday and check out Stitchcraft. You will not be sorry. You will be so not sorry, you will forget what sorry ever meant. and you will also be bewitched. For more info on Stitchcraft, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/stitchcraft.

psst: it's cover your friends song night on Monday, May 18th!

that's all I have today. Hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hello! jeez its late... but what better time to write about this week's feature down at the ol' utah open mic: the Moon Dog - Moon Burns. (I don't know how to spell awooo! but just know that I made the coyote sound silently in my head as I was typing). The Moon Dog! The man mixes a bit of death metal vocals with some poppy synths and coats it with a think layer of goth - and if you're sitting there thinking to yourself "if I had a nickle for every time I've seen poppy death metal with a hint of goth" well, let me also mention that the Moon Dog's sometimes known to whip out the fangs. I'm not sure if they're vampire fangs or wolfman fangs, but it is pretty wicked when they come out. anyways, its gonna be a great feature - for more info on Moon Dog, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/moonburns

psst: it's cover your friends song night on Monday, May 18th!

that's about I've got tonight. hopefully see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! hope you're doing good. Hey, not sure if you're into it or not, but if you want to embed your utah songs on your personal web page or your myspace page, you can do that. Here's how to do it: http://theutah.org/badgecreate. I find it's a good way to keep my fans up to date on any new stuff I'm working on or if they just want to hear some fresh live recordings - here's how it looks on my website: http://jjschultz.com/main.php.

Hey, the feature is week is Nina Jo Smith, and really, I find the 'Smith' to be optional, because she's the only Nina Jo I know. And if a another Nina Jo started coming around, I think they'd be well advised to use their last name, because Nina's got the corner on the Nina Jo market. Related to this - I find that Kyle Lesley is trying to corner the market on the 'Kyle', and I think he's getting some traction with that. When you're talking about Kyle, everybody knows you're talking about Kyle Lesley, and I suspect that this had something to do with Spacecat going by Spacecat. He saw the writing on the wall. But I digress... Yeah, so, Nina Jo! Nina, from my observation, is a strong, strong woman - when things get crazy she is not shaken and rarely stirred, but when she sings, her voice betrays a sensitivity - I almost want to say 'frail', but that's the wrong word, I would never use that word to describe Nina, but there's some middle ground there, there's a bit of tenderness there that I find makes a strong contrast with Nina's strength. She writes and sings americana and folk - stories of traveling and adventure (my favorite stories) and she occasionally plays them on our old friend Lee Mallory's guitars (very lucky indeed). Nina is a dear friend of the utah, and I'm very excited she's the feature. For more info on Nina Jo, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/ninajo


psst: it's cover your friends song night on Monday, May 18th!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there! hope this email finds you well. short but sweet this week (its nice out...): the feature this week down at the ol' hotel utah is Pete Irving, the erstwhile utah stalwart who's gone on to travel the states. Pete is a young fella, but his performances have a soul to them that makes me reconsider my stance on reincarnation. They're tough and boozy songs, brawlers and dirges, and I find it to be nothing but remarkable when Pete sings them - with that trademark gravel and swagger. Its been long overdue for a feature from Pete Irving, and its one not to be missed! Hey, for more info on Pete, have a look here http://theutah.org/artist/peteirving

psst: it's cover your friends song night on Monday, May 18th!

hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello hello hello. Hope you're doing good. Hey guess who's featuring at the ol' utah this monday night: Courtney Nicole! Yes, I know I didn't give you a chance to answer before I blurted the answer, but my coffee is getting cold and I got a newsletter write. Anyways, yes Courtney Nicole, she of the smooth and sultry voice. I kind of wish she was more of a cusser so I could add salty to that deion, but alas... you know Courtney packs so much emotion and power into her singing it can be easy for me, if I'm not paying attention, to miss what brilliant piano player she is, and what a mistake that would be - it's kind of like listening to the beatles and thinking 'you know, that Paul McCartney is a fine songwriter' - while that is true, its not the full story, but I digress. you know when I'm sitting there listening to Courntey play, I am very much reminded of how lucky I am to be able to listen to some of my favorite artists play live every monday night - when Courtney's up there working it, I am reminded of how blessed I am, and I'm sorry to get all emo on you, but its true. And shoot*, how lucky are we to hear a full set from Courtney this monday night, because she's the feature! hey for more info on Courtney, have a look here: Courtney Nicole.

* this email isn't salty either

The big beer drinkin' acoustic show is going on down at the ol' utah this wednesday night! Yeah! Hey, we've got Ruce, Fancy Dan, Bloomsday Rising, and Johny Merker, on the bill, and you're not gonna find too many lineups as fun packed as that one. My prediction for wednesday night: good times had by all.

psst: it's cover your friends song night on Monday, May 18th!

hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hope this email finds you well.. not sure what you're up to this monday night, but Roger Rocha is featuring down at the utah...

...yes, that Roger Rocha, lead man from the Golden Hearts. you know, and even though I think he denies it, Roger has always struck me as a blues man at heart and I guess the question is, do you need to have the blues to sing the blues? I don't know the answer to that question, Roger's always struck me as a man who does not have the blues, but what do I know. I do know this: you have to drink a LOT of soda pop to in order to play power pop, and so maybe the blues thing follows. I'll have to talk to Roger and confirm... Roger is a versatile and immensely talented guitarist, that's for certain, but what always draws me in with Roger is his voice - the way he can sing at once ballsy and tender is what makes his performances special to me. He's kind of got a sweet/sour or savory/sweet combo going. anyways, whatever it is, I dig it. and did I mention that Roger is featuring this monday at the utah? its gonna be a heck of a feature. for more info on Roger, have a look here http://theutah.org/artist/rogerrocha

Bridget put together the pictures from last monday's open mic (March 30th) and you can take a look at them at http://theutah.org. Thanks Bridget!

psst: it's cover your friends song night on Monday, May 18th!

that's about all I have. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there - what've you been up to? hanging in there? excelling? excelling I hope, although hanging in there is not bad either....

hey, not sure what you're up to this monday night, but Valerie Shields is featuring down at the utah. finally! finally we have a feature from Valerie. its been a long time coming. Some performers, in my opinion, capture the ethos of the utah - the fun, the community nature, the artistry. When she gets on stage its like one big embrace of all the is right and good about the joint... Valerie likes to sing the heartbreakers - songs about longing and love lost and love never had, and when I listen to her sing, you know what? I believe her - there's an honesty that comes through in her singing. She's not bs-ing* us up there, no, she's coming straight from the heart, and I don't know about you, but when a performer channels straight from their heart like she does, there's no place for it to land but right on mine. There is no avoiding it. Valerie typically sticks to the americana in the nebraska era springsteen sense, the songs she sings are rough and tumble heartbreakers, and she makes them her own. She's says, thanks Bruce, I'll take that, and she repackages it as only Valerie Sheilds can do, and out it comes. anyways, Its gonna be a great feature. For more info on Valerie, have a look here. http://theutah.org/artist/valerieshields

Our friend Camden Barbour's guitar went missing on monday night - its an acoustic with some nice inlays and it's in a softcase that says Camden Barbour on it. If you know anything about where this guitar is, please let us know - there's a reward of $250 for its return. If you have any info on it, you can get a hold of him here: http://www.myspace.com/cbradiohisdashboardspeakers

Bridget put together the pictures from the February 16th openmic and she's got them up on http://theutah.org. That was the night of the former host's reunion... excellent job (as always) Bridget - I love those opening photos of Bob O'Magic, Jen Faith, and wee JJ Faith-O'Magic - they are very sweet.

psst: it's cover your friends song night! Monday, May 18th.

* this is a family email
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? hope you're doing. Hey, check out these rock and roll videos that Slim made of Roger Rocha: http://www.theopenmic.net/rogerrocha... and speaking of rock and roll, we've got James Grady on tap as the featured performer this week. seems to me James is a romantic at heart but he can't help but rock - he's talented in the area of the songs about ladies, and sometimes, in the hands of others (me for example), those lady songs turn into belly rubbers so to speak, or, in a less obtuse sense, they turn into 'couples skate, couples only' numbers, but with James, no! he rocks those babies with verve and fire, and those belly rubbers can turn into butt shakers if you're not careful. Hey for more info on James, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/jamesgrady.

psst: it's cover your friends song night! Monday, May 18th.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, in the immortal words of Andy Mason: what's shakin Dr.? I don't know how to answer that... except to say that this week's feature at the ol' utah is the accordion player extraordinaire - Space Cat! And I don't know why he's called the Space Cat. Space is reserved for asteroids, astronauts, and three quarrelsome pigs. Unless he's vying to be the first cat in space, in the Sammy Davis Jr. sense of the word cat. Yeah, Space Cat strikes me as one whimsical musician with the accordion and the tunes that would be right at home on Broadway perhaps in a musical production of Moby Dick. I find his tunes typically touch on the absurd and the fantastic and they never fail to bring a smile to my face. He plays some wicked good accordion, some piano, and its gonna be a great feature. hey for more info on space cat, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/spacecat

There's another installment of our Beer Drinkin' Acoustic series going on this wednesday night at the utah. We've got Corey Hennessy, me, The Jonah Kit, and The Potholder on the bill. As always, the music starts at 8:30pm and its $5 (cheap!)

Hey, when you get a chance, let our friend Jon Tree know we're thinking of him: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=84192716&blogId=468601587
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning! I sure hope this email finds you well... I don't know what you're up to this monday night, but there's a little open mic that I like to go to at the hotel utah, and it is rad. hey this week's feature down at the ol' utah is Michael Loebs, bon vivant, knower of many things - but let me start off by saying that Michael Loebs is a piano player and get that out of the way. Michael Loebs - he's a piano player! but there are many piano players in this world and only one of them is Michael - let me explain: Michael is a songwriter of some note - he's got an ear and a feel for the classics. classic melodies. classic songs. not standards mind you, Michael Loebs is a lot of things, but I don't sense he's a channeler of the standards as we know them. Rather, he has compiled his own list of standards, some self penned, some borrowed, tucked them under his arm, and I do not know what's stopping him from hopping the amtrak and touring the Orpheum circuit. He's got the hat and coat all ready. Well, nothing is stopping him except for the fact that the Orpheum circuit is shut down, (along with coney island and the like), and who knows what's up with amtrak, but these are mere inconveniences for imaginationly challenged. and we are not imaginationly challenged - no no no, quite the opposite.. I conject that Michael would be right at home there in vaudville - he'd be the man chatting up the contortionist, keeping the aftershow party going until well after the brother/sister acts have gone to sleep with his seemingly limitless knowledge of songs that cause friends, old and new, drunk and sober to sing along, full throat. and speaking of singing, yes, Michael's voice is at times ballsy and gruff and melodic, he can power through and above, but his voice also occasionally betrays a certain vulnerability - in those tender moments in the personal songs, sometimes the vibrato lets the secret out (it doesn't so much let us know what the secret is.. it just lets us know that perhaps there are secrets there). Mr. Loebs has one additional talent that is rare but entirely necessary at the utah: he is able to print clearly and quickly all the while playing Abbott to my Costello and sometimes the other way around. and, this monday at least, in additional to all of these qualities, piano player, melodic secret keeper, knower of many things, Michael Loebs is featuring down at ol' utah, and it'll be a feature that's not to be missed. For more info on Mr. Loebs, have a glance here: http://theutah.org/artist/michaelloebs

The Bay Guardian is polling its readers to determine the city's favorite bartenders: https://app.e2ma.net/app2/survey/13003/3985/742a53737b/, and if you have a favorite bartender in the city, this is your chance to register your opinion is a manner that is logged, tabulated, and reported... (you know, I have a favorite bartender, and I won't tell you who it is except to say that her name starts with Laura and ends with !)

Hey, our dear friend Bridget maintains a printable listing of all of the shows that are going on that involve artists she meets at the utah. You can download the calendar here: http://www.200pockets.com/pdf/theutahcalendar.pdf. She gathers all of the shows for her calendar from this list: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2391/ - and so, if you'd like your show to be in her candendar (and on our website and in our newsletter), you can easily add it by following these instructions: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. If you have any problems with adding your show, just drop me an email, and I'll help you out.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there. I hope this email finds you well. Hey, this monday at the utah, there will be nothing out of the ordinary. There will be no host reunion, no special songwriting night, no film documentary, etc. But perhaps in this ordinariness, this lack of special festivities, it will be quite an extraordinary night indeed...

...see Adrian Bourgeois, singer, powerpop balladeer, california hailer, some time channeler of Paul McCartney, all times channeler of nothing but his own muse (reckless and optimistic), possessor of effortless falsetto, writer of lush melodies, artist who's future fame and success is limited by nothing, will be featuring this monday. ..and I would suggest catching Adrian while you can. For more info on Adrian, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/adrianbourgeois

I'd like to take a moment here to recognize and thank the fellas from Bricks and Mortar media for taking the time and putting in such an extraordinary effort the last couple of months documenting the utah, its people and its stories. They've put an immense amount of effort into this project so far, and what they are putting together will be something that all of us will have for a lifetime, and so I'd like to say thanks. Thanks!

that's about all I have today. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey, not sure what you're up to this monday, but down at the ol' Utah, we're going to have another one of our special songwriter nights. And the theme this time around: hometown songs. Songs about where you consider home. Or songs about that girl from back home (if you like to write about girls). Anyways, Lorenzo Levinger came up with this idea and so he better have a song for us. yeah, I said it. and as you know, with all the special songwriter nights, you have slightly better list odds when you participate...

Andy Mason. Dr. Andy Mason. Doctor of what though - doctor of love? doctor of them books? no - that's Loebs. I'll get to Loebs in a few weeks - we're talking Andy Mason here. Book by a cover, I wouldn't know what to think. The man is handsome as Ken, but his songs touch on the genuine - people striving to get by, old timers, small town heartbreaks. He sings about these things with a calm and plaintive ramble - a relaxed story tellers voice, like he's got nothing to prove, like he's trying say "calm down now. let me tell you this story here". and these are classic songs, could be 50's doowop numbers, but they'd really work well in any era - you know, I could even hear Winger singing "piano chords". and if Winger don't do it, then it gots to be Journey. you know where else they'd work: the end credits of a movie. picture it now, the names scrolling by, some kid (the protagonist maybe. or the protagonist's son) running away from the camera, to join his friends in a game of..., perhaps at 3/4 speed, and then there's Andy Mason floating over you, telling you how it is as you bask in the cinematic afterglow... "its dark eyed Junko and I..." I can picture it now... Anyways, Andy Mason is featuring at the ol' Utah this monday. good times. hey, for more info on Andy, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/andymason.

that's about all I have. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hope you're doing good. hey, this monday is a once in lifetime occurrence at the ol' utah: we're having a former hosts reunion, and as such we're going to be treated to a bit of old school utah - Donna Jean Castro, Dayla Soul, Bob O'Magic, and El Zackador! will all be in the house and are going to take turns calling some names and doing their thing old school utah style. I will also be there filling in when all the former hosts are at the bar. Come out this monday and check out a bit of utah history! related: this weekend is also the utah's 100 year anniversary, and so its a big celebration with hats and goofy sunglasses and the like*.

* this is not true. there will be no hats or goofy sunglasses. we will celebrate the 100 year anniversary hat free.

You know if Placido Domingo picked up a guitar and started singing about vikings and the like, he might want to take a moment and reconsider his new artistic direction, because that niche has already filled by our man (and this week's feature) John Predney. see John is the foremost operatic story singing guitar strummer around and he would provide a strong rebuff to any new comers on his turf. Something for Placido to consider to say the the least. John, I believe, is classically trained in the voice - and he lends that beautiful, operatic voice to his narrative tails with a verve and a force that's really something to behold. yeah, so needless to say, its going to be a great feature - hey, for more info on John Predney, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/johnpredny

Check it out! in record fashion, Bridget has put together the photos from last monday's open mic. Check them out here: http://200pockets.com/projects/openmicnight_hotelutah/2009/9_Feb_2009/index.html. thanks for all of your work Bridget! These photos are really spectacular, and we are truly lucky you choose to lend your talents to us.

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? hey, if you're into the old school utah and miss El Zackadore!, Bob O'Magic, or Dayla Soul, take note!: we're going to be having a former hosts reunion at the February 16th open mic. Each of the former hosts is going to take a hand at hosting and calling the names and doing what they do. The Falcon of Rock comes to mind. This is all in conjunction with the utah's 100 year birthday party going on that same weekend. Hey, if you are Donna Jean Castro or another former, send me an email - I want to include all former hosts, but I just don't know how to get a hold of you. If you're new school utah, come on down and rock it new school, and show the former hosts what you're all about.

Hey I am very pleased to announce that this week's feature is Honeybody Moonbee (from Honeybody an the Moonbees) (aka Emily Ritz!). I will tell you this: nobody sings like Emily and Emily sings like nobody. She has an ethereal natural vibrato, and you know, sometimes performers with the natural vibrato - they let it run wild and use it everywhere much like a chef who's comes across a big bottle of truffle oil and suddenly uses truffle oil on everything. A little truffle oil is good, (unless you're allergic, in which case it'll kill you), but if you use it everywhere, it becomes too much. Same is true for Old Spice. Anyways, where was I... right! Emily and her vibrato - I sense it comes natural to her, but she keeps it under wraps until the opportune moment when it can be used most effectively, and then, with skill and precision, she'll tickle you with it and it drip it slowly down on you like... honey from the moonbee. and I find her singing straddles the divide between a cooing fairy singing sweet lullabies and a dust drunk screaming fairy trying to wake you from said lullaby, and I find she floats between these two poles effortlessly and not only within the same song but within the same phrase and sometimes within the same word. The effect this has on me is hard to describe but it makes me giggle and sweat and wish I used more Old Spice. (Not too much though.) So yeah, come out this monday and check out Emily - she's the feature! Hey for more info on Emily, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/honeybodymoonbee

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.

that's about all I have. hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there. what's going on with you? its some sort of national holiday today with the superbowl and all that, and so I'll keep this short and sweet. The feature this week down at the ol' utah is Ian Taylor... and I gotta start this by saying that Ian has had some terrible luck with the recordings. it seems every time he plays, I mess it up on some level - I forget to plug something in, there's weird noise, etc. that stuff doesn't happen very often, but it seems it always happens to Ian. Anyways, Ian Taylor - he sings like an angel number one. A mannish angel mind you, but still an angel. Its seems, with my limited knowledge of the religions of the world, that the boy angels tend to be more vengeful and angry and out to get you and as opposed to the sweet lady angels. The sweet lady angels are the ones you make in the snow and tell people about first comings and have the food cake named after them. And its these second set of angels that I think of when I hear Ian sing - he's not the vengeful angry angel, but the sweet kind. (Still manly though) you know, I'll bet if he wanted to, Ian could bring the wrath, but I haven't seen it. (perhaps if I screw up his recordings a few more times I'll see it,) but in the mean time, this monday at least, I imagine he'll be bringing the sweet. I also imagine, but don't have any evidence to back it up, that Ian will be having some of his friends sing some harmonies with him, for Ian is definitely a collaborator extraordinaire. either way Ian's gonna be bringing it and its gonna be awesome. Wrath Of God type awesome (but still sweet). Hey for more info on Ian, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/iantaylor

Check it out, Bridget finished processing the web-use photos from the January 12th open mic (Ryan Iozzia's feature): http://www.200pockets.com/projects/openmicnight_hotelutah/2009/12_Jan_2009/index.html. If you notice these pictures look extra special and beautiful, its because Bridget put in a lot of extra time making them look that way - be sure to thank her the next time you see. She is so generous to us with her talent and her time. Thanks Bridget.

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.

Hey, if you're not doing anything on wednesday night, me and my band are playing at Cafe Du Nord, its gonna be awesome. Wrath Of God type awesome (but still sweet).

that's about all I have. hope to see you tomorrow -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there good morning. I tell you what, things are looking up, change is in the air, hope too, all that, hey - I was listening to Obama's speech and he was on about the community service and how we should all get off our butt and get to work, and I absolutely agree with what he's saying in that regard, but there's one thing I wish he would have mentioned: I have found that helping your friends can turn into a lot of work, it's true, but, dang*, it sure feels good, and I just think that bit should be out there, an addendum to the new president's speech if you will. I think people would be more apt to contribute to things that they believe in if the 'and it feels really good!' bit was stressed a more, rather than all the work work work. And I know I'm way off on a tangent here and I'm dangerously close to dabbling in schmaltz, but what the heck, its on my mind and I have a keyboard in front of me, what can I do?

Hey, speaking of fellas that have been on my mind, James Moya is featuring down at the ol' utah this monday! "No way!" you may exclaim. My retort: "way". Yes its true. James Moya - you know, sometimes I like to close my eyes when I listen to James and picture in my brain the Tommy Lee 12 tom kit hanging upside down backing up James's songs, because you know what, James writes big and he sings big, and the way I hear it, he writes rock anthems the way they used to be written back in the day when The Crüe was in gear, but he just happens to rock them out on his acoustic guitar. Its true, James likes to write the love songs, but you know how I feel about love songs... (its true I'm a bit of a sucker and a sentimental fool for the romantic numbers) (...even though I'm unable to write one myself) And when he sings - well his voice can sound a little like that fella from Creed - or, for the sake of honesty, he sounds like how I envision the guy from Creed sounds like, only Jame's voice is a bit more energetic and edgy. Ok ok, you caught me, I have no idea what the Creed dude sounds like, but dang* they were big, weren't they? with that song? anyways, scratch all that appealing to the younger generation crap** and let me start over. when he sings, he fills the room and rattles the windows and damn if it doesn't kick start my heart little bit and if Mic Mars*** were around, he would nod in approval. anyways, its gonna be a heck of a feature. for more info on James, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/jamesmoya

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up*. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.

* this is a family email
** woops
*** can you fathom the fact that Mic Mars is almost 60 years old? I kid you not.
**** I know that Creed is no longer hip with the youngsters - that's why that was funny. It was like "he's so out of touch, that he's trying to appeal to the young people with Creed! Creed!"*****
***** this is an illustration on why one should never try to explain why something is funny. It only serves to illuminate how it wasn't funny in the first place.

that's about all I have, hope to see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hope you're doing good. me, I'm doing great. hey, this wednesday night we have the Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show going on at the utah and we'll be featuring Steve Arnsten, Lorenzo Levinger, and The Yellow Dress - what a show!! The Beer Drinkin' Acoustic series is a monthly showcase of performers who come out and play on monday nights, and its a mechanism for the artists to get their foot in the door with the booker and start developing that relationship. and so these beer drinkin' acoustic shows are your shows and its important that they go well, not just for the artists who are playing, but for monday nights in general, as we can only keep doing these showcases for as long as there's support for them.

The feature this week down at the utah is Daniel Owens. I'm tempted, at first listen, to think Daniel's songs to be on the tender side, because his singing so relaxed and I gotta say ethereal, but you know I think if I did that, I'd be missing the point a bit. The words of his songs are in stark contrast to his performing style. now he's not singing about death or destruction or anything like that, but he singing about social change and love and justice, you know me, I'm partial to the love songs, and you know, anyone who's ever had their heart ripped out and displayed to them and then squeezed knows that affairs of the heart are not delicate. no no no. these are subjects with bite. Daniel approaches his songs with ever present calm demeanor and before-mentioned ethereal voice - and he's a good guitar player too. anyways, its going to be a great feature and you should definitely come and check him out. For more info on Daniel, have a look here: http://theutah.org/artist/danielowens

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up*. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.

that's about all I have. hope to see you tomorrow -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

how's it going? I know you'll probably say 'duh - where you been?', but I finally checked out GG's tuesday night at McGrath's in Alameda this week, and it was awesome. It reminded me of the old Nickies scene where you're singing right in front of the bar and everybody's right in front of you - real intimate and a room full of friends. great stuff.

Hey, this week's feature down at the ol' utah is Ryan Iozzia (from Jersey!), and I don't know if he's from the same town as Bruce, but he's definitely got the Bruce sensibility going on - songs about hardscrabble characters, singing like Tom Waits on a bender (my favorite kind of Tom Waits) - basically telling us how it is with a touch of oak barrel aged wisdom. Man, its gonna be a great feature - and long overdue. for more info on Ryan, check this out: http://theutah.org/artist/ryaniozzia

Bridget put the finishing touches on the photos she took from the utah staff show (the show we had on the Monday when there wasn't an open mic), and, no surprise - the pictures turned out awesome. awesome. I think she gave the lighting effects a little something extra, because, well, they look like they got a little something extra - they're so warm and moody. great stuff - she's got it up on the utah website. you can see it right here: http://theutah.org. thanks so much Bridget.

Another thing Bridget does for all of us is she maintains a printable listing of all of the shows that are going on that involve artists she meets at the utah. (yes, she may in fact be super-woman). You can download the calendar here: http://www.200pockets.com/pdf/theutahcalendar.pdf. She gathers all of the shows for her calendar from this list: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2391/ - and so, if you'd like your show to be in her calendar, you can easily add it to that list by following these instructions: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. If you have any problems with adding your show, just drop me an email, and I'll help you out. she also lists these shows in the DVD montage that plays some mondays during the show at the utah, so yeah, you should list your shows on upcoming.

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.

that's about all I have. see you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hope this email finds you well. hey, the utah open mic is back in action this monday! I, personally, am very excited - I know its only been two weeks, but it feels like two months, and not to get all emotional on you, but I kind of miss everybody. Even the people I've never met - I miss them as well. and these emails! I kind of miss writing them too. anyways, so yeah, we're back at it this monday, and we've got Ruce as the feature and he's gonna keep that holiday warmth a warmin' for us with his sweet ballads and honey coated singing.

Hey, check it out, Schuyler Dean put a bunch of his utah and utah related photos up on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/graflexdisaster. He said its cool if you'd like to use them for non-commercial use as long as you give him a photo credit - think of that photo credit as analogous to covering somebody's song and giving them the songwriter credit. Looks great - thanks Schuyler!

We're gonna have another songwriting theme night on February 23rd (that's a monday)... and what we're gonna do is have people write songs about their hometown or where they grew up*. Hometown songs, for the brevity persuaded. yeah, its gonna be cool - write a song about your home town and play it for us on the 23rd.

Hey, if you're tech-savvy and are comfortable replacing a hard drive - I have a Korg D-1600 (http://www.blamepro.com/mwn/D1600.htm) that I'm looking to give for free to a good home. The problem with it is it needs a new hard disk, but hard disks can be replaced!: (http://www.blamepro.com/mwn/D1600-HD.htm). anyways, I'll give this for free to a good home if they promise they'll fix and use it. A bit of utah history - this machine that I used to record at the utah for a number of years before I moved to the new 'wavelab' setup. Anyways, drop me a line if you're interested.

* idea credit: Lorenzo Levinger

that's about all I have. hope to see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hope you're good. just to let you know, there will be no open mic on Monday Dec. 29th. That's the monday after christmas* if you're scoring at home - also (related), it's the monday before New Years. The one thing it is not is this monday...

...and its a good thing its not this monday, because we've got Jon Tree on deck as the featured performer. Jon's great - he has quite a unique way of singing his songs - it strikes me as if, once he gets on stage and takes his seat (he never was a stander, even before the incident with the skateboard), it's as if he just relaxes his body and he relents and he allows the songs to escape him. Its like he's tired of fighting them, and once he gets up there, he just says "go ahead. do what you will", and out they come come, with ghosts of Elliot Smith and the related heartbreak. Jon draws you in not by hitting you over the head with bombast (as I am wont to do), but with his quiet stories and lonesome tales - you should come check him out, its really good stuff. Jon's gonna be moving to Nashville after the holidays, so this'll be our last chance to hear him for some time.

* "or xmas!" he snarled blasphemously

that's about all I have - if I don't see you on monday, I hope you have a merry christmas and I'll see you after the new years - January 5th for those of you scoring at home.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? Hey, not sure what you're up to this wednesday night, but we are having our wicked awesome Beer Drinkin Acoustiic! show at the Hotel Utah (4th and Bryant, San Francisco). Ya, I am very excited as well. This month we have Alana Sveta, Moller!, Tiki Houseman, and The Shovelman on the bill. Pretty tough to beat a bill like that. the dude plays a shovel! Doors are at 8pm, music is at 8:30, and its only $5 to get in. gonna be good times I guarantee.

Hey, Rachel Levant is featuring at the utah this monday. (!) You know when I listen to Rachel sing, I get the feeling she's bringing it with the sort of enthusiasm and energy that can only be compared to a building full of school kids, late May, running towards the lone door at the end of a hall behind which lies... summer, freedom, skinned knees. When she performs, I find her energy borders on recklessness, but I am not afraid -- no see, I am not afraid because she first built my trust with those piano chops and her sweet sweet voice dancing delicately over my head and through the room, but then, when the trust building is complete and we are all feeling quite comfortable, she lets loose with fury and glee and determination and a mad dash towards whatever lies beyond that door and she grabs us by our ear and shouts "COME WITH ME!" as she hauls us along with her, and we all emerge minutes later, bactined and ready for more... (bring it on). Hey for more info on Rachel and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Our good friend Neil Howard has been doing great things over in New York (NY) - and luckily, he's hip with the you tubes, check him out: http://www.youtube.com/user/neilhowardmusic and then write that fine bugger note and let him know how much we miss him out on the west coast. Its not the same without him, its really not, but I guess those were different times... woops I feel ramble coming on here. best to nip it in the bud. Hey, come to the utah this monday and say hi. hope you're doing good-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning. hope you this email finds you well and properly caffeinated if that is your thing. It is my thing, and I am approaching my optimal caffeination level fyi. I had a bit of good news this week - I received a very nice email from a member of Jeremy Hill's family, and they are now allowing us to share Jeremy's songs on theutah.org. This is wonderful news, especially now since we're all dealing with the approaching anniversary of his passing. and so, I invite you this morning to have a listen to our old buddy Jeremy Hill and keep him in your heart - http://theutah.org/artist/jeremyhill. I still can't believe he's gone. for more on Jeremy and his art, have a look here: http://www.200pockets.com/projects/jeremyhill/remembrance/archive.html

The feature this week is Linny Kenney. Linny's a guitar playing singer-songwriter and you know, listening to her sing her songs, I think perhaps in another life Linny was an opera singer who, perhaps, in another former incarnation, was a cowboy, or, more specifically, a buckaroo. she has the proper boots for a buckaroo. her music has hints of all that, not directly, but you can hear it and see it in much the same manner you remember a pleasant dream upon waking, but now the problem with those morning dreams is the more you try to remember it, the more you try to hold on to it, the more it slips away, and so I don't know what the solution is there. best to enjoy the moment I guess. Linny is also a maker of fine guitar straps (she's the one who made the strap for the Utah guitar), and hey christmas is around the corner, I'm just saying. Linny is a bit of a collaborator extraordinaire, and I have a feeling she's going to treat us to a bit of that this monday. Hopefully she'll bring her sister up there and treat us to some of those those harmonies that only siblings or those who have spent 6 months traveling in a van together can pull off. Its going to be great stuff - hey, for more info on Linny and all of upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Mark your calendars: the next Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show is going on on wed. 12/17 at the utah and it'll be featuring Alana Sveta, Moller, Tiki Houseman, and The Shovelman. excellent. see you tomorrow!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there - how's it going? Not sure what you're up to tomorrow, but down at the utah we're having the open mic, and, in addition, its a very special night. We're going to have another one of the 'cover your friend's' song nights going on. This is where you learn one of your friends songs, and then tomorrow night, you play it! its going to be awesome.

and if that's not enough, Victoria Victrola and her band, The Vaudvillians will be featuring! Combining potent piano punches and zombie influenced theatrics, the Vaudvillians entertain with a flair that reminds me of nothing I've ever seen or heard before. The way the look with the macabre aesthetic they got going - it almost has a French flair, and I'm not sure what that means, but it sure felt right when I typed it. Victoria's songs are emotionally charged rockers and she delivers them a punch and I love listening to her sing her songs. Like I was saying, Victoria and the Vaudvillians are going to be featuring at the utah this monday, and its going to be a heck of a show.

Check this out, Bridget put together the slideshow from the 11/19 Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show: http://www.200pockets.com/projects/beerdrinkinacousticseries/flash_19_Nov_2008.html Excellent! thanks Bridget! Hey, the next Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show is going on on wed. 12/17 at the utah, and we have Alana Sveta, Moller, Tiki Houseman, and The Shovelman on the bill. Mark your calendars!

that's about all I have. see you tomorrow
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. JJ here. what's going on? hey, the feature this week at the ol' utah open mic is The Yellow Dress, an acoustic duo featuring Dan Weis and Jon Moyer and their deadpan wit. They combine the conchord sensibility with the surrealism of say a 'DJ Real', but you know, The Yellow Dress fellers are not just talented singer/songwriters - they are showmen. They care if the audience is entertained, and if the audience isn't entertained, The Yellow Dress fellers will rectify the situation. They got songs about gore films and pools and if that's not enough, they got a brand new mustache. a full on magnum pi kicking mustache fresh from the mustache factory. and if that's not enough, they're featuring at the Utah this monday night!! Hey, for more info on The Yellow Dress and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Hey. we're going to have another 'cover your friend's song night coming up', and this time, we're going to add a twist - you should dress up like the person you're covering (with special prizes award ala' Dylan night with the applause-o-meter. This is all going to be going down at the December 1st open mic.

that's about all I have. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going - hope you're doing good. Hey couple of things this week - first, we started a facebook group (on facebook) where you can post facebook group stuff like events and pictures and stuff. here's a link to it: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=95231825623 I'm finally getting with the times - technology was passing me by little bit. (tangent: boy, who's gonna win the facebook/myspace war? who knows. maybe they'll merge and become facespace. I remember back in the good ol' days when all you needed was a geocities acount, notepad and some elbow grease and you'd be all set, but hey, that was 5 years ago... I digress. unrelated: can you believe that WKRP in Cincinnati was only on for 4 seasons? I can't believe that... I seem to remember it being a much larger part of my life. I digress.)

Hey the feature this week is Moller. Moller! yeah, Moller they kick some a double seashells*, if you know what I'm talking about and I think you do. They're a duo straight out San Francisco and man, they look like they're straight out of swinging London circa 1971, they got the hair, the clothes, the banjos - they got it down. Their songs tend to be mellow americana, never overstated and real solid. Eric's voice is real cool - that delicate but gritty quality in his voice reminds me of... well I gotta say its almost beatle's-esq**, but more the John Lennon side than the Ringo Star side of things. you know, the more I think about it, he's got a little of that White Stripes fella Jack Black in there too. I'm talking about when Jack Black is singing soft and sweet, not when he's yelling at me. I should, at this point, say Jack Black-esq (see **). anyways, these fellas are featuring at hte Utah this monday and its going to be a heck of a show. For more info on Moller! and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

* I made up that "a double seashells" bit - I think its a good compliment to the h-e double hockeysticks.
** why do I feel the need to hedge with the -esq? I guess some people really like the Beatles, and I'm anticipating the "Hey, now wait just one minute!..." emails

I don't know if you noticed, but I took down the ads on the ol' theutah.org - I basically didn't like the way they looked. I replaced them with a beautiful little 'Donate' button - it takes a bit of cash each month to keep the lights on at theutah.org, and if you're able and want to help out, I'd be forever grateful.

Hey. we're going to have another 'cover your friend's song night coming up', and this time, we're going to add a twist - you should dress up like the person you're covering (with special prizes award ala' Dylan night with the applause-o-meter. This is all going to be going down at the December 1st open mic.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

good morning - I hope this email finds you well. not sure what you're up to on monday night, but there's the big show going down at the utah. Hopefully we're going to hear a bit of you, and then at 10pm we've got Mical Akullian on the feature. Mical's gonna bring his lofi-alt-alt-alt-americana (its so alt its come all the way around that its just americana again) and his dulcet singing and its gonna sweet. I guarantee.

Bridget put together the photos from the October 13th open mic (when My Beemish Boy featured). You can check those out here. thanks so much Bridget - you're the best!

There's a Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show coming up on wednesday, November 19th at the Hotel Utah! this show is going to feature Samuel Eli Victor, Laurie Henry, My Beemish Boy, and Lynn Gentry. What a lineup! Hey, you should really come and support this show - this is your showcase, and its yours for as long as you support it.

Hey. we're going to have another 'cover your friend's song night coming up', and this time, we're going to add a twist - you should dress up like the person you're covering (with special prizes award ala' Dylan night with the applause-o-meter. This is all going to be going down at the December 1st open mic.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey everybody, quick aside, I caught a little Danny and the Dingo yesterday, and I gotta say, that Dingo - he's a compelling character. but I digress.. hey, I encourage everybody to have a listen to the podcast this week. Our good friend Dustin is taking off for a little bit and he brought the joint down with some goodbye songs at the end of last monday. those were a couple of performances for the ages.

The feature this week is Jane Lui, our good friend who happens to be an award winning songstress, and I gotta say, the person who's doing this award awarding, they know what they're doing - I think Jane is one of most talented singer songwriters to come through, and you know, I could go on and on, but I fear that some who don't know Jane would accuse me of hyperbole... but hey, I can't let fear rule my life (and let the hyperbole accusers win), so here we go: if amazing and awesome had a love child, this new adjective would still be inadequate in describing Jane. what we really need to do is define a new set of expressions, a new language of sorts, where words are mere extensions of emotions and they pass between us as if we are just breathing and exhaling. the problem is, this new language would take some time to put together, and I gotta get this newsletter sent out (the Packers are on). But! in the mean time, you can hear what I'm talking about in regards to Jane Lui by coming down to the utah tomorrow. Like I was saying, she's the feature, and she's awesome. Hey for more info on Jane and all the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Bridget updated her famous printable show calendar - you can download here: http://www.200pockets.com/pdf/theutahcalendar.pdf. Thanks Bridget!! hey, if you'd like to list your show in this calendar, on our website, and in this newsletter - here's how to do it:

1. log in to http://upcoming.org


2. If you haven't done so already, join the group named 'theutah' - go here: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2391 then click 'Join this group'


3. Add your event in upcoming.org


4. once you've added the event, you'll be sent to the event's details page. On this page, there's a link that says 'Send to group'. Click this link and send it to the group named 'theutah'


5. Viola, presto, that's it. If you'd like to verify that it made, just go back to http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2391 and verify that its there

Hey. we're going to have another 'cover your friend's song night coming up', and this time, we're going to add a twist - you should dress up like the person you're covering (with special prizes award ala' Dylan night with the applause-o-meter. This is all going to be going down at the December 1st open mic.

that's about all I have. I hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey its monday! a little late with the ol' newsletter... hey, a big thanks to Jason and Amy from Great Girl's Blouse for hosting last week. I heard they did a great job and it was all pretty seamless. hey, the feature this week is Elizabeth Maki! Elizabeth is a sometimes banjo picker, all the times country dirge singer, and my neighbor to boot! Elizabeth sings with a raw tenderness that's one part coal country, one part Woody Guthrie (a female Woody Guthrie that is), and one part honey. (I was going to throw in "and two parts Dolly Parton", but, cough, this is a family email, and that'd be rude to boot). Elizabeth's voice carries so much emotion - and it feels so honest - its really special, and I'm really looking forward to her feature. (and I believe she's going to be joined by a couple of her friends, and so we're going to be treated to some lovely harmonies). Hey for more info on Elizabeth and all the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Hey. we're going to have another 'cover your friend's song night coming up', and this time, we're going to add a twist - you should dress up like the person you're covering (with special prizes award ala' Dylan night with the applause-o-meter.) This is all going to be going down at the December 1st open mic.

hope to see you tonight! (or, if not tonight, very soon),
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody. I hope this email finds you well. hey, we're going to have another 'cover your friend's song night coming up', and this time, we're going to add a twist - you should dress up like the person you're covering. For example, if I was to play a Steve Arnsten song, I'd wear a classy black suit and my reading glasses. (actually,they'd be writing glasses in Steve's case). This is all going to be going down at the December 1st open mic.

For the feature this week, we're going to hear from Jimmy! aka Jimmy Mosely. Jimmy is a character, man - he's one of the guys who give the scene its spice - he's like the ground cumin in the chili if you will. You can have the chili without the ground cumin, and say to yourself, that's some fine chili, but add a little cumin in there, and BAM! its just little bit more interesting. (wow, how was that for an analogy? I've been listening to too much DJ Real recently.*) anyways, Jimmy!, like I was saying, he's a character - his mannerisms remind me a bit of Sammy Davis Junior - the the way he holds his hips when talks or the way he talks with his drink. Its very hip man. On stage, Jimmy pours it all out with his and songs of heartbreak (and aren't all songs basically about heartbreak on some level?**) and good ol' oak barrel aged angst. He's got a voice that's a distinctive as Dylan and it cuts you right down to the bone and I mean that in a good way - its powerful emotional stuff. Hey for more info on Jimmy! and all the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

* you can never listen to too much DJ Real
** yes, even happy birthday

There's a new artist community website that the utah.org is going to be partnering with. Its called EvolvingTalent.com, and its url is EvolvingTalent.com. They've been out at the utah a few times these last couple months handing out postcards and stuff. Anyways, the site provides musicians and bands, photographers, actors and models an easy way to promote their art, post their events and find other artists to collaborate with. It's completely free and would be a great way to get your music out to the masses. Check it out - if you'd like more info on it, just drop Kev a line at kev@evolvingtalent.com

Hey, I'm out on vacation this week, and Amy and Jason from Great Girl's Blouse are sub-hosting. They're gonna tag team it. Have a great week -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey how's it going? Not sure what you're up to this wednesday night, but its the next installment of our world famous Beer Drinkin' Acoustic concert series. Its kind of like lollapalooza, only it's at the utah and we don't have as many fire eaters and cactus jugglers as those guys, but its cool none the less. Hey this month we have Koozito, JJ Schultz, Oona Garthwaite, and Andy Mason on the bill. The show starts at 8:30 and its a 5 dollar cover and there's many awesome prizes involved (just gotta know your trivia little bit).

Hey this week's feature is My Beemish Boy, and I'm not sure if they're from the Appalachia or Oakland, but when I listen to their stuff, you know I don't so much want to be a coal miner but I think I'd like to take my chances with his daughter (assuming of course she's around my age and single), I think I'm a little off topic here. anyways, My Beemish Boy - you know, not too many bands do it in the old style anymore when songs were about booze and death and the sound was more about harmonies and connecting and the wrath of god than about vocal gymnastics and timing the breaks. Typically they just have Josh on the banjo accompanying the harmonies - real sparse and direct banjo picking that doesn't get in the way of the sweet power of the voices. great stuff. Hey for more info on My Beemish Boy and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Bad news on the recordings from last week... you've probably noticed, but they're not up on the website. The reason they're not up on the website is because I messed up when setting up the stuff and the night didn't get recorded. Please accept my apologies, and I'd especially like to apologize to the feature, Best of Intentions. I know the free recording is a one of the reasons why people come out to the utah, and its a bummer when the recording doesn't happen.

that's about all I have this week. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, how's everybody doing? Make it down to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass this weekend? Hey speaking of hardly strictly, Best of Intentions aka Jarid is featuring this week down at hardly strictly utah. You know, Jarid sings so quiet - he rocks but he whispers the rock and roll. never seen anything like it. its like he's coming in and he's gonna bust down the door but he doesn't want to wake the kids. Sometimes I think the whispering is just a front - a palatable exterior, because I know that down in there there's the rage and there's the crazy just waiting to come out (perhaps around the bridge or at least the second chorus) and sometimes it comes out when he's down there dancing and you know that shirt's coming off, why? because its hot and when its hot that shirt's coming off. (me - I'm a skinny boy and so when it gets hot, I just have glass of water) ...and that translates to the stage too - you can tell when Jarid starts to feel the heat and the crazy seeps through and he's bringing it and I'm sitting in the audience feeling it and he's busting in... but, ssshhh (quiet) (you might wake up the kids). Hey, for more info on Best of Intentions, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Our resident photographer, Bridget Canfield, put together the photos from 9/15 (Baha's feature) - have a look here: http://theutah.org/gallery. Bridget does such great work and she deserves a lot of thanks. also - if you're interested supporting her work with a donation, have a look here: http://www.200pockets.com/donations.html

that's about all I have. have a great day and I hope to see you tomorrow-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

What's happening? and I mean that in the 'how's it going?' sense rather than the 'what the heck is going on here?!?' sense. (but the latter may apply as well). Hey, here's what's going on down at the utah this week.

Theek's feature down at the ol' utah is Tiki Houseman. Tiki is a rock and roller who uusally rocks the bass. she lays down some funky grooves as she sings her dark dark dirges. I'm not sure how many of them are autobiographical or not, but man that's some powerful stuff. She reminds me a lot of the concrete blonde from back in the 80's. ahh yes, the 80's. or wsa concrete blonde from the 90's - I can't remembmer. Either way - Tiki's got a haunting delivery to go along with bass grooves and I'm really excited to hear a full se tof her stuff. Hey, for more info on Tiki and all o the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

that's about all I have this week. hope to see you tomorrow.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello out there. Hope you're doing good. Here's what's going down at the ol' Hotel Utah this week. This week's feature is the Grasshopper. You know, at first listen, I find the Grasshopper to be a pretty mellow and relaxed songwriter - his songs put a smile on my face and, when needed, they sooth. but... The Grasshopper is a former cab driver who was no doubt witness to the self centered aggression of the on-going car/bike/pedrestrian war on san francisco's city streets, and, after repeated listens, I think a bit of that tension and quiet rage peeks its head out now and then in his songs - and when its not peeking its head out, I can feel it a little below the surface, waiting, and you never know when its going to show. Its a really unique quality and it makes his music quite interesting to me. Also - the Grasshopper is a bit of a collaborator extrordinaire, and so he may have some surprises cooked up for us this week. Hey, for more info the Grasshopper, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Hey, one tip on the ol' website - the songs in the podcast are ordered by the number of times people clicked the 'I love this song!' button, and so if you dig somebody's song, I encourage you to click that button and let them know - it'll push the song up higher in the podcast, not to mention the smile it'll put on the performer's face when they receive the 'hey, somebody loved you song' email.

One other tip on the ol' website - if you'd like to embed your performances in your personal website, there's a way to do that... Check this out, on the main page of my personal website, http://jjschultz.com/main.php, I've got a widget that lists my five most recent shared performances, and people can listen to them right from my website. You can do this too if you're html savvy - just add the following html to your website (but swap out jjschultz with your name):

<iframe height="420px" src="http://theutah.org/badge/jjschultz" width="305px" frameborder="0" ></iframe>

Currently, this doesn't work with the ol' myspace. They don't allow iframes. but! I'm cooking up a flash version of the badge that'll allow you to put it in myspace - its just not done yet. I'll keep you posted.

hey, that's about all I have this week. hope to see you tomorrow.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there! good morning - hey, don't know what you're up to this afternoon and/or tonight, but Adam Balbo has put together a show at the ol' utah to benefit breast cancer research. Its a hooternanny. The show goes from 4-10 and there's a ton of great musicians on the bill. For more info, check this out: http://theutah.org/images_dyn/Hooternanny2.jpg.

Now this next bit of news might cause Mike Chase to sing his melancholy song, but our good friend Baha is moving up to Canada and she's taking Chris Harrison with her. Canada! Team Rove has not yet succeeded - its a little early for Canada in my opinion. Perhaps they're just trying to get a jump on the rental market. Anyways, poll anxiety aside, I'm not sure why they're moving up there. Perhaps I'll ask her tomorrow as she's the feature at the utah!!! One last time to catch Baha and in all her sultry glory before she heads up north and starts hanging with the the Canadians and starts suffixing all of sentences with 'eh?'. For more info on Baha and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Hey, congratulations to Slim Critchlow - he won the award for "Best Arts Coverage: Series" at the Berkeley Community Media emmys for his work filming at the utah. way to go Slim! If there's a statuette involved, you should bring it some time and show it around. Great stuff, and very well deserved.

that's about all I have today. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

sheesh, sure is late for the ol' utah email. but I got no one to blame but myself. poor planning plus procrastination. That's a lot of p's. Hey, quick and to the point this week: Gyasi Ross's band Dirty Boots is the feature this monday at the utah. Gyassi's real smooth you know. when he hits that low register in his voice and he starts on laying the jazzy vibrato, ... its real smooth. this Monday Gyassi is going to be playing with his group 'Dirty boots' - this means that we are treated to not only Gyassi jazz smoothness, but we're also going to get some harmonies curtesy of Rachel Lastimosa... its gonna be good stuff this monday. hey for more info on Dirty Boots and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Hey a big thanks to Mike Chase for hosting last monday. He did a bang up job and I think it was good times had by all.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody. hope you're doing good - so hey, this monday's your last chance to wear your white shoes for a while, and I think you should put them on come on down to the ol' hotel utah for a night of musical revelry... for the feature, we've got the northern Italian classical guitar playing maestro Jacopo. Jacopo is a bit of a collaborator extraordinaire, and I'm excited to see what he's got cooked up for this monday. His music strikes to me as having a bit of Latin flair to it - I think this is due to Jacopo's mastery of the nylon string guitar as I've never heard him sing in Latin, and then on top of all this, he layers on a touch of kazoo when the moment calls for it (and wouldn't you agree that most every moment calls for a touch of kazoo?). anyways, its going to be a great feature and I hope you can make it down. For information on Jacopo and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Hey, Slim Critchlow's "The Openmic Documentary" tv show is up for a Berkeley Community Media emmy! This tv show is huge in getting the word out about local independent artists (you!), and Slim does such a great job with filming and putting everything together, and wow it'd be great if he could get some formal recognition for his efforts. If you'd like to help Slim win that BCMEmmy, you can vote for his TV show - here's all the details: http://www.theopenmic.net/vote.php

Programming note: Mike Chase is going to be the host this monday at the utah, and I'm going to come out and hang out just like the old days. hope to see you tomorrow.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

This monday (monday) ((monday)) at the utah (utah) ((utah)). woops! sorry, left the echo on. hey, you know how some bars (the classy ones for sure) have signs that read 'free beer tomorrow'? well, I don't want to start a riot or nothing, but I believe there's gonna be some free beer tomorrow at the utah for the open mic performers. Damian (the owner of the utah) is going to buy a round for the open mic performers as a way of thanking us for voting theutah in as 'Best open mic' in the bay guardian's reader poll... (also, fyi, for those haven't been around for a while, pabst is on tap for $2 a pint all night every night.). mmmm, beer.

There's certain voices which convey a certain emotion... I'm thinking Emmylou when she's singing soft and Patty Griffith when she's singing loud, but what emotion is that? I can't think of its name, and perhaps it doesn't have one, but what it does is it grabs at the back of your spine and tickles your neck and can cause even the saddest of whiskey drinkers to put down their drinks and look up. Whatever it is, this week's feature, Laurie Henry, delivers it. I think its a mixture of moxie and vulnerability, vibrato with a cool confidence - I'm not sure actually, and perhaps I shouldn't try to define it... I will say this though: when Laurie gets up there and the room gets real quiet and the rowdies cease to be rowdy and then her voice drifts down ... ... well, I put my drink down and I look up. For information on Laurie and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Hey, Slim Critchlow's "The Openmic Documentary" tv show is up for a Berkeley Community Media emmy! This tv show is huge in getting the word out about local independent artists (you!), and Slim does such a great job with filming and putting everything together, and it'd be great if he could get some formal recognition for his efforts. If you'd like to help Slim win that BCMEmmy, you can vote for his TV show - here's all the details: http://www.theopenmic.net/vote.php

hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Note!: If this monday is going to be your first coming down to the utah, do not be alarmed by the large number of Bob Dylans in house. You may be tempted to believe you are hallucinating and lay the blame on the suspect al pastor you had at lunch, or you may be tempted to believe you have fallen into an odd Spike Jonze movie of sorts, but no... reality is not as strange as fiction in this case. It is simply the Battle of the Bobs (from here on referred to as botbs) going on this monday at the Hotel Utah. BOTBs you ask? well: its a contest of sorts, and "Best Bob" can mean best looking Bob or best Bob song, but like I've been saying, the winner will most likely be a combo of the two. At midnight or so, we'll all vote (via applause-o-meter) for the Best Bob, and the winner will get exciting and valuable prizes and bragging rights until the next BOTBs. There's a couple of rules: you must be present to vote and win, the actual Bob Dylan is disqualified from entering (yes, I am talking to you), and there is a FOUR VERSE and a FIVE MINUTE limit (whatever comes first) on the Bob Dylan songs and violators will be doused in old spice aftershave and forced to watch "joe vs. the volcano". (seriously though, we all have to work together in keeping things quick and moving in order to be able hear everybody play). If you are not into the dylan - do not worry: the BOTBs will be interspersed with the regular open mic, so even if you're not participating, you should still come on down and play us your songs and say hi.

and if that's not enough, Ralph Dungeon (!!) is the feature this monday. If I close my eyes real tight such that the colors come and I ponder the shapes, I can vaguely make some of them out - is that Elvis? no! Elvis is dead (I think). but then if I listen real close (still with my eyes closed tight and the colors coming), I can vaguely make out some truth in the wo... * what? oh - ahh 25. hmmm? oh - ahhh, you're 32., anyways where was I? right! Ralph Dungeon! Ralph, man, has got a style that's shot straight out of 1950's New York city, and I'm not talking the saccharin glitz of the era's pop voices. No, I'm talking smoky night clubs, hot and sweaty and small and men in jackets, and there's Mr. Dungeon up there growling out the truth to a swing groove, and if you look real close in amongst the wildness and the jazz angst, there's a twinkle in the eye to let you know he's on your side and he's... * what? oh -ahhh, 25. hmm? oh -ahh, you're 27. doubledeck. Hey for more info on Ralph Dungeon (and all the upcoming features), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

check it out: Bidget put together a slide show from last wednesday's Beer Drinkin' Acoustic showcase (with Palefighter, Mary Margaret, Todd Shipley, and Coexist!): http://www.200pockets.com/projects/beerdrinkinacousticseries/2008/13_August_2008/flash.html. Thanks so much Bridget! (I can't say that enough - Bridget's work is priceless)

that's about all I have today. hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Yeah, the dude plays a shovel! I'm not sure if I can get my head around that: a shovel! with strings and then he plays it! through a loop station! what is this world coming too? Am I now to acquire a house shovel for the utah? Where does one acquire a musical shovel? These are big questions for these crazy times: I mean what's next? a backhoe? are we gonna string up a backhoe and play it through a loop station? am I then to acquire a house backhoe for the utah? I'm big on questions this morning, short on answers. but that's usually the case. Hey, I was at Manny's house concert last night, and I'm going to throw two words out to you: Joey Hebdo. Write that down and stick it on the fridge and thank me later. Anyways, where was I? Every now and then you think you've seen all the shoot* you're going to see. I mean, I've seen Keith Savage do modern dance and I've seen people play the typewriter, and you think to yourself, that's it, seen it all, and you kick back with your beer enjoying the festivities and then, out of the ether, comes Shovelman. and they don't call him Shovelman because he plays the guitar. nahh, like I was saying: the dude plays a shovel! and you know what, he plays that shovel like no other: when he puts the slide on those strings and makes the shovel weep... well, me, I might get a little dusty, but I keep it together because I got the show to run, but shoot, when he's got the slide on those strings and he's singing those old time songs and he's bringing you back the days of LPs and a decade old needle on the living room floor and... well shoot, here I am getting a little dusty again...... hey for more info on the Shovelman and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

This wednesday night (the 13th) is the next installment of the big Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show at the Hotel Utah! I'm really excited to anounce that this month we have Palefighter, Mary Margaret, Todd Shipley, and Coexist (what a lineup!). Doors are at 8pm and its $5. Come on out! - its going to be a great show and it'd be awesome if you could come out and support. On top of catching a great night of music, its important that these shows go well - the Beer Drinkin' Acoustic showcase is the mechanism that allows you to break into the playing shows at the utah. The booker and I set it up as way for artists who come out on monday to develop a relationship with the utah (sometimes it can be hard to break in with a booker and develop a relationship), and this monthly show is ours for as long as there is support for it.

From our East Bay bureau (Bridget): http://gigdoggy.wordpress.com/.

Don't forget about the "Battle of the Bobs" happening at the utah on August 18th. The "Battle of the Bobs" is a contest of sorts, and at midnight we'll award a prize for the best Bob Dylan. Now this could be best Bob Dylan song or best looking Bob Dylan, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the two. Note: there's a 4 verse limit on the Bob Dylan songs. (Brevity is key!).

* this is a family email
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

I guess it may have started with our man Josey Baker and his epic, iconic ode to our fair bartender, but thinking about it, it must have started much earlier, as Josey was just making a detailed reporting of the facts on the scene. Regardless, its encouraging to see that the Main Stream Media has decided to start reporting facts as well, as Laura won 'Most Crushworthy Bartender' in San Francisco in this year's Best of the Bay awards!!! Like I was saying, its encouraging to see the main stream media pick up on what we at the utah have know for years - congratulations Laura! Hey, and congratulations to you as well - all of us at the utah won for "best open mic" too!! very cool.

You know, straight out of the badlands of middle michigan there comes a man who goes by the name of Fancy Dan, and Fancy Dan's got a band (and some dancy fans), and man that band is in demand and so I'll tell you what, here's the plan: tomorrow pm, they're gonna be on hand to jam for our clan down in old san fran as the feature performer at utah open mic! (man). Fancy Dan's got some honky tonk licks to go along with his heart of gold, and we are very fortunate to catch him and his band just before they head off to Nashville to record their new ablum. Hey, for more info on Fancy Dan and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

You know Bridget's wonderful green utah box? - the one with the show info, the cds, the lollypops, the dvd player, and everything else? Well, have a look at this - the green box is now online!: http://www.200pockets.com/links/greenbox.html. This page contains pretty much everything you need to know about everything related to the utah, the artists from the utah, and other open mics too. Its a really amazing resource - you should check it out.

I don't know if you know this, but Linny Kenny is the maker of fine handmade guitar straps. These are not the kind of straps you would ever find at a guitar center or guitar center equivalent - each one is a one of a kind, and they'll easily last 2 lifetimes. If you're interested in learning more about them or buying one, have a read here - she's written up deion of her inspirations and her techniques and her contact info is there as well. (or you can just say hi when you see her at the utah...)

Don't forget about the "Battle of the Bobs" happening at the utah on August 18th. The "Battle of the Bobs" is a contest of sorts, and at midnight we'll award a prize for the best Bob Dylan. Now this could be best Bob Dylan song or best looking Bob Dylan, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the two. Note: there's a 4 verse limit on the Bob Dylan songs. (Brevity is key!).
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody - hope you're doing good. Hey this week's feature at the ol' utah is Jesse Dyen. I'll come right out and say it: I think Jesse is one of the most talented singer-songwriters out there - he combines intelligent and poignant lyrics with some soaring melodies, and he adds a touch of Randy Newman when the situation calls for it. just a touch. Hey for more info on Jesse and all the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Check it out: Bridget put together her photos from the July 7th open mic... you can view them right here: http://theutah.org/gallery. Thanks so much Bridget for all you work in putting together these photo collections.

Don't forget about the "Battle of the Bobs" happening at the utah on August 18th. The "Battle of the Bobs" is a contest of sorts, and at midnight we'll award a prize for the best Bob Dylan. Now this could be best Bob Dylan song or best looking Bob Dylan, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the two. Note: there's a 4 verse limit on the Bob Dylan songs. (Brevity is key!).
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey good morning. JJ here. Hey bad news on last week's recordings... you are probably already painfully aware of this, but I messed the recording last week and the audio quality is low to non-existent. I simply forgot to plug in a mic and this caused all sorts of bad problems.... I know - its a bummer man.

Hey this week's feature is Palefighter. and now one might be tempted gather, based on the limited information of his name, that Palefighter is a bit of a superhero, but this would be a classic example of judging a book by its cover, which we all know is bad (except for when it comes to playboy magazine), because Palefighter is not a superhero (because what's a hero?) - Palefighter is a man and his guitar and a bag full of songs and he sings with such honesty and passion and plays his guitar with such a subtle fury... perhaps there is more to Palefighter than meets the eye, perhaps it is I who am judging the book by its cover, perhaps Palefighter really is The Palefighter. perhaps...

One note on the 'Battle of the Bobs' (BOTBs): as we all know, Bob Dylan is not into the whole brevity thing... but, in order for everybody to get to play, we need a little brevity. And so!: I am adding a FOUR VERSE LIMIT on the Bob Dylan songs at the BOTBs- and best editing will definitely be a criteria. (please forgive my defensiveness:) I know, I know - it sounds a bit 'wrong' to edit another artist's work, but what do we do? - we can't have everybody go up and play for 6 to 10 minutes... many people would go home unhappy, and so we have to do some trading off. and in my opinion, people are more important than hearing the 5th verse of 'the man in me' (as great as that song is). so please know that there's a 4 verse limit in the Battle of the Bobs and violators will be taken out back and given a bad perm and doused with oldspice aftershave. If you have no idea what I'm talking about with this "Battle of the Bobs" business, its a contest of sorts, and its happening at the utah open mic on August 18th. At midnight, the audience will vote and award a prize for the best Bob Dylan. Now this could be best Bob Dylan song, best looking Bob Dylan, or best editing, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the all those.

Need rehearsal space? I rent a room at Secret Studios, and I have an opening for a subletter. The rent is $150 and the room has a PA, drumkit, couch, fridge, and large rug that really ties the room together. Drop me an email if you're interested.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello everybody. Hope you're doing great. Hey, this wednesday (the 16th) we'll be having the 3rd installment of the Beer Drinkin' Acoustic concert series over at the Hotel Utah - we've got Mike Chase, Schuyler Dean, and Foxtails Brigade on the bill, and needless to say its gonna be a great show and an awesome night of music. For those of you who don't know about this showcase - its a monthly show put together for artists from the utah community as a way for them to develop a relationship with the booker. The booker is giving us the showcase for as long as there's support for it, and so far its been a huge success and hopefully we can keep that momentum going.

This week's feature is Lynn Gentry! Lynn's got one of the richest and most distinctively smooth voices I've ever heard - his voice is like a layer of melted butter spread over his songs, all smooth and warm. Lynn writes with a lot of imagery an emotion and when he sings his stuff and he gets that low vibrato going, what can I say, its like butter. Hey for more info on Lynn and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Don't forget about the "Battle of the Bobs" happening at the utah on August 19th. The "Battle of the Bobs" is a contest of sorts, and at midnight we'll award a prize for the best Bob Dylan. Now this could be best Bob Dylan song or best looking Bob Dylan, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the two.


that's about all I have this week. see you soon-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! JJ here. Hey, I am rescheduling the 'Battle of the Bobs'* to August 19th! The idea for this night came from the mind of Ezra Lipp, and he'll be out on tour until the middle of august... so August 19th it is.

This week's feature is Manny Bernal, the keeper of all things fleeting, straight out of Halifax Nova Scotia (or is that Compton LA CA?), but currently residing in Oakland, Manny mixes the poetic lyricism of a modern day Conor Oberst with a punch from his black strat, and every now and then, when the mood strikes, some instant reggae (for the ladies). Its gonna be a (super) great feature from one of our long time friends and I do not advising missing it. For more info on the Manny and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

* The idea is that its a contest of sorts, and at midnight we'll award a prize for the best Bob Dylan (as chosen by the audience). Now this could be best Bob Dylan song or best looking Bob Dylan, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the two. Anyways, on Monday August 19th it's gonna be a "Battle of the Bobs"**.

I was out last week, and I want to send a big thank you to Mike Chase (and Tyler, GG Tanaka, and Lorenzo Levinger) for filling in for me while I was on vacation. I haven't had a chance to listen to or work on last week's recordings, so no podcast this week (and no updates to theutah.org), but I'll get on it this coming week.

** Bob O'Magic will always be Bob #1. This is really a contest for second place.

The San Francisco Frozen Film Fest is happening next weekend (the 11th through the 13th). The fest is organized by our friends Gabriel and Isaac Woodrow and it looks like they have a killer line up. check out all the details here: http://www.frozenfilmfestival.com.

that's about all I have. hope you had a great fourth and you still have all your fingers (fingers make playing the guitar much easier), and I hope to see you tomorrow.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hey there. just to ease your shock this monday: I have not tossed out my razor and grown a beard and the long hair, and the person you see holding the clipboard is not me in disguise, nor is it the "legends of the fall" Brad Pitt - it is actually Mike Chase! I'm on vacation this week and Mike Chase will be handling the doubledeck announcing duties. My prediction: there will be a slight increase in "yeah!'s" and a marked decrease in "doot doot doot's" and a good time had by all.

Hey the feature this week is the Jazzman James Frost Winn. I find James to be a fluid and creative trumpeter in own right and even though he's got the chops to wow us with the notes, he knows that music lovers are not concerned with the number of notes played or intricacy of the solo - he's learned at his young age that its more important to be poetic and soulful when soloing and James is all that and more. James is also a bit of a collaborator extraordinaire, and I'll bet he'll be bringing up some of his crew throughout the set. Its gonna be a great feature, and hope you can check him. Hey, for more info on James and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Ezra Lipp had a great idea for the next theme night down at the ol' open mic: Battle of the Bobs. The idea is that its a contest of sorts, and at midnight we'll award a prize for the best Bob Dylan. Now this could be best Bob Dylan song or best looking Bob Dylan, but I'll venture to say that the Best Bob will be a combo of the two. Anyways, Monday, July 28th: it's gonna be a "Battle of the Bob's".

Speaking of "Bests"... this is your last week to vote in the Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay reader's poll: http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2008/, and on page 2 (item 37) they want to know what you think is the best open mic, and so, if you have an opinion on the matter, I encourage you to vote. Me, I went with the utah - my mom says its her favorite open mic in san francisco and that was all I needed to hear. Mom knows best. But hey, that's just one person's opinion. Polls close on July 2nd, and, to repeat my self (again), it'd warm my heart if you voted for us down at the utah.

that's about all I have this week. a big thanks goes out to Mike Chase for subhosting and a special thanks to Kathy Rose for watching my cat while I'm away.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

I'll warn you straight away: lots of stuff this week. lots. But first! (and perhaps most importantly) DJ Real is missing his 'Bruce' sweatshirt. See, DJ Real has this charcter 'Bruce' and 'Bruce' has a special sweatshirt, and DJ Real performed 'Bruce' last monday at the utah, but after his song, the special sweatshirt went missing... Here's a picture of it: http://69.94.17.53/brucepic.htm. If you know of the whereabouts of this sweatshirt, please contact me or DJ Real (http://www.myspace.com/djrealsmells).

This week's feature is Death To The West. Now we all know that having a name such as Death To The West would prevent one from ever successfully running for president, and this name could actually preclude everyone in attendance from ever successfully running for president (example - FOX NEWS: "Were you, JJ SCHULTZ, in attendance when DEATH TO THE WEST played the hotel utah?!?" me: "yes, and not only that, I quite enjoyed it" FOX NEWS: "aaaaha!"). BUT! who wants to be president anyways if it means you cannot not be a fan of Death To The West (from here on referred to as DTTW (or DTW for short)). DTW's got soul in his voice and his worlds and I'm not talking the Blue Eyed or Detroit variety - its more guttural and from the heart and drawing on heartaches etched in the bones like Leadbelly or an Appalachian singing by himself next to his still in the woods. For more info on Death to the west and all the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Don't know if you noticed, but the San Francisco Bay Guardian is conducting their annual reader's poll, and one of the categories is 'Best Open Mic'... If you've got opinion on the matter, you can vote right here: http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2008/. Like I was saying before, and I may be slightly biased, but I gotta go with The Utah for the simple reason that I know where all my friends are going to be once a week and hey, that's what makes an open mic great - the people coming out and sharing some songs and some laughs - we're really quite blessed. Anyways, like I was saying, it'd warm my heart if you voted for us over at the utah.

From Art Blammo: San Francisco pop band BLAMMOS looks to bring the local independent music community together by exploring and showcasing music videos by other bands, artists and filmmakers. Once again they have teamed up with the Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival to present the 2nd Annual Bay Area Indie Music Video Festival. The event -- Saturday July 19th at Artist's Television Access -- will be hosted by BLAMMOS, and will feature the works of unsigned artists from the greater Bay Area. To submit, your video must be independently produced, under 5 minutes, and sent to blammostheband@yahoo.com via web link no later than July 16th. All genres are welcome and greatly encouraged!

Ever want to break a Guinness World Record? (I personally am going for longest open mic newsletter right now). Check this out: on tuesday, July 1st, there will be an attempt to break the world's largest guitar ensemble - they'll be performing Guthrie's 'This land is your land'. Here's all the details: http://jjschultz.com/guiness.pdf. (thanks to Julie Larson for passing this along).

That's about all I have. see you soon!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Hey, I don't know what you're up to this wednesday (the 18th), but we're having the second installment of the Beer Drinkin' Acoustic series at the utah. This month we have DJ Real, Courtney Nicole, and Lime Colony! Its going to be a great show and it'd be awesome if you could come out and support.

This week's feature is our old friend Burt Ronk. I find Burt to be a folk singer from the old-school. Much like his namesake Dave Van Ronk, I believe you will find nary a casio organ in his act. What you will find are well crafted and detailed songs delivered with Burt's own brand of panache. Burt's been doing a bit of traveling recently and I'm sure he's going to regale with some stories from the road. Its gonna be good times! Hey, for more info on Burt and the rest of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

So... I was just wondering - what's your favorite open mic in the Bay Area? Me personally, I like the utah: its a great bar, they record your songs, the host is quite handsome, etc. Anyways, the Bay Guardian is conducting the annual "best of bay" reader's poll, and one of the categories is "Best open mic". (!) You can express your preference and do all the voting online right here: http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2008/. Needless to say, it would warm my heart if you voted for us over at the hotel utah.

that's about all I have. see you tomorrow!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there. Hey, I'm not sure if you were watching the MTV last week, but the True Life episode featuring Keiko (with bits filmed at the Utah aired). In case you missed it, you can view it on the 'internet' right here: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1586148&vid=236311. The segment that features the utah (and possibly you) is this one: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1586148&vid=236397 (the segment that has the utah starts with 2:45 left).

This week's feature is Leslie Rafferty and her band. Now I don't how she got them, but Leslie's got the blues. and I'm not talking mentally here - she's got them in voice. Its hard for me to describe what Leslie does when she sings - she definitely channeling something or somebody. I'm not into the hocus pocus or anything like that, but when Leslie sings, its a magical thing and it never fails to raise some goose bumps in the upper middle of my back. Needless to say, I'm very excited to have her and her band feature this monday at the utah. Its gonna be great. For more info on Leslie and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Check this out: Slim put up a new Hotel Utah page on his openmic documentary site: http://www.theopenmic.net/hotelutah208. The videos were shot at the Feb 11th open. They came out really good - he used two cameras and an audio feed from the sound board. Thanks a lot Slim!

Rhapsody is doing a songwriting contest with Coors Light. They're soliciting song writers to write lyrics for a song titled "Catch the 4:53 to Happy Hour". The winner gets $5000 and will have their song recorded by Seattle's indie roots band Westerly. Here's all the details: http://rhapsodyextras.com/coorslight/contest

that's about all I have. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. hope you're doing good. I'll bet our friends from Girl's with Guns are doing quite good as well as they no fooling are touring with green day right now. We all know how hard Lani works, and so its great to see it paying off for her. and me, I'm not exactly touring with green day, but I did hang out with Neil Howard and Frank Rathbone last night, and that was cool too.

...and speaking of features, this week we're going to hear from Miriam Speyer. I think Miriam's great - when I listen to her music, I hear some silky latin tinged beats and I find that her voice has a bit of the yin yang going on (much like sweettarts or icyhot) - its both strong and forceful, but with an occasional touch of vulnerability. Its a really beautiful combination. Miriam is also a collaborator extraordinaire, and I think she's going to be bring a number of different musicians to accompany her. I think its gonna be great stuff. for more info on Miriam and all of the upcoming features have a look here http://theutah.org/features.

I can't remember if I mentioned this before or not, but I've got a new way of assembling the podcast. Here's the new way: on saturday, I take all named (not named 'Title Unknown') and shared songs from the previous week and assemble them for the podcast. So, if you want to reach our vast podcast audience, just share and name your song by saturday.

Also, if you've had any trouble at all with the website - if you've had trouble registering, listening, sharing, whatever, please let me know. If you're having a problem, other people probably are as well, and that's no good.

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hello! hey, I don't know if you're aware of this or not, but Slim Critchlow is broadcasting his open mic documentary videos on the TV on Channel 28 out of Berkeley. The "Live from Hotel Utah" show ran all last week and will run again in July. I'm sorry I didn't get the word out on this sooner so you couldn't watched it, but a big thanks goes out to Slim for getting this up there.

This week's feature is Alana Sveta. Now in a sane world that would be all the introduction needed. I would say "Alana Sveta's featuring" and your mouth would go agape and your brain would go !!!! and you would make darn sure you got to the utah this monday. ...but we all know the world's a crazy mixed up place, and so you might not be aware of what I speak of. If this is the case, if you have not heard Alana sing, I truly feel bad for you. Not pitty (because people don't like pitty), but empathy (because people like empathy), because you've been missing out on one of the most expressive, soulful voices to come around in a long time, and this doesn't even mention her songwriting (which is exquisite). If you haven't heard Alana, tomorrow night, this monday, is your chance to discover what's been missing in your life (that slight ache in your heart - that's the lack of Alana), and if you have heard Alana, I'll see you tomorrow. For more info on Alana and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Hey, the Fur bearing animals out of Vancouver (BC) are going to be in town from May 29th to June 8th and are looking to do a little show swapping (have them open for you out here, you open for them in Vancouver). Drop them a line at http://www.myspace.com/furbearinganimals if you're interested.

that's about all I have this week. hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there - How's it going? Hey, the booker at the Utah asked me to put together a monthly showcase for musicians that I meet through the openmic - he thought of it as a path for the artists who are new to the SF scene to develop a relationship with him. (sometimes its hard to get through to a booker and put together a show if the booker doesn't know you and if you haven't played the club before). Anyways, the first of those monthly showcases is this Wed - the 21st, and we'll be hearing from Kelly McFarling, Not an Airplane, Great Girl's Blouse, and Nutarah. (what a lineup!!). The doors are at 8pm and the show starts at 8:30 and its a $5 door. The booker is giving us the third wed. every month for as long as the show is supported and does well - I'd really like to make it go forever and have it be a reliable way for artists who come through the open mic to get some traction with the booker.

This week's feature is Brian Byrnes. I'll tell you this, only because I think its indisputable: Brian Byrnes is one talented dude. (I was going to cuss there, but then I remembered the family nature of this newsletter). Brian is really rare talent - the man's got such wonderful sense for melody and the funk, and he makes it all look so effortless - he plays these brilliant soulful tunes as if he were merely exhaling. come check him out this monday. For more info on Brian and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

We get a lot of performers from the East Bay over at the utah and that is really cool. It takes some extra effort to get over to west bay - and not only that, but it's much easier to get to the utah than to get home as the bart conveniently stops running at around midnight. This genius public transportation policy results in a number things for us at the utah: either the performer has to leave prior to midnight, the performer has to drive home after hanging out at a bar for a number of hours, or, if the performer drove, they usually end up driving a bunch of their friends home. Bridget and I have been brainstorming on how we can get the performers home safely, and one idea we've been thinking about is having a van service from the Utah to the East Bay bart stops. Just to get the conversation started, here's one way it could work - the van could leave the utah after the last performer, stop at east bay bart stops and cost $5. We'd subsidize the rest of the costs through the utah fund. Anyways, please email me back and let me know if you would use this service or if you have any better ideas on how to get the artists safely home.

that's about all I have. Hey, I'm playing at the utah tonight (saturday) with my band. Its my birthday party show and it'd warm my heart to see you there. Its also Manny's birthday - and he's on the bill too, along with Andy Mason and GG Tanaka. Hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! I forgot to mention this last week, but I want to give a big thank you to Eric Goodfield for assembling and producing the DVD of Jeremy Hill's memorial night. The DVD looks beautiful - it has footage that he and Slim Critchlow filmed that night, and I think its a priceless gift for Jeremy's family. Thanks a lot Eric and Slim.

This week's feature is Courtin' Disaster! Yeah - I love Courtin Disaster! They sing the country death songs like no other. I'm not sure if that's a proper genre name or not, but what the heck. They also sing the country life songs like no other as well. But Country Life is a magazine (or perhaps that's country living). Either way, Cara, Gary, and Loonabide spin some wild tails in three part harmony and it takes me back to the days when the appalachians were still wild and the moonshine still made you blind. Its going to be an excellent feature. For more info on Courtin' Disaster and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

I'm changing the way I select the songs for the podcast. I don't quite remember how I did it before, but here's the new way: I'll include all shared songs that have a song name (other than 'Title Unknown') - so, if you'd like to be included on the podcast and reach literally tens of listeners, just share and name your song by sunday. If you don't know how to share or rename your song, just drop me an email and I'll help you out.

Also! if you have a cd for sale, be sure you add it to your myutah page - if you add it to your myutah page, it automatically gets listed in our cd listings: http://theutah.org/cds. (related: Christmas is just around the corner, and what makes a better gift that the gift of music? We've got all your utah cds right here: http://theutah.org/cds)

see you this monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Hey, this week's feature is Skeleton Television! The thinking man's or woman's punk rock outfit straight out of oakland. I don't know what that means, but its sure fun to say and it seems to fit. Mike, Bennett, and Zach are bringing this monday down at the utah and I guarantee its gonna be awesome. Hey more for info on Skeleton Television and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Congrats to Jen and Bob! The wee Faith-O'Magic has got rock and roll in her genes and some shoegazin' in her heart.

that's about all I have tonight. hope to see you soon!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello all. Hope you're doing good. I'm about three beers in, so I'm doing good too. Hey, I don't have a lot new this week. (aftshadowing: your guide to quality literature), but I just want to remind you that if you haven't done so already go here: http://theutah.org/myutah or here: http://theutah.org/search. Its the way of the future and we all want to hear your songs.

Hey this week's feature is the Lime Colony. Couple months ago, Kelly McFarling turned me on to the Avett Brothers (I know, I know, even though I subscribe to No Depression, I was late on the Avett Brothers). Anyways, Kelly gave me a few of their CDs, and man, I would listen to those fellas all the time, and they were my new favorite, even though everybody I talked to about them was already aware: "yeah, the Avett Brothers. Where've you been?". Same thing happened to me with Anchorman. Saw it way too late. Nobody wanted to talk about it. I'm digressing here. Anyways, one day the Lime Colony gave me their CD and man it was right up my alley and I listened to that album over and over and I forgot all about the Avetts. These fellas are right up there with their sweet harmonies and meth-ish hooks with a little of the country noir and man its good stuff. I sure hope they record some more soon. Anyways, I am very excited about this feature and you should come on out and check them out. For more info on Lime Colony and all the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

For whatever reason, I find this to be fascinating: http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/04/a-scientific-at.html.

Hey, this thursday, the legendary 924 Gilmore is having an acoustic openmic: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/499259. This is a rare opportunity to play at this legendary venue. I would recommend going to see Stitchcraft at Amnesia (http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/468759/) and then heading over to 924 Gilmore.

that's about all I have this week. hope to see you tomorrow!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Big news this week: I'm introducing a new way for your to get your utah recordings. In short, if you play at the utah, you'll be able to access your recordings one or two days later by going here: http://theutah.org/search, or on your own myutah page - here's Courtney's for example: http://theutah.org/artist/courtneynicole. You have your own - go to the search page and search for your name - you should see your stuff. I've got everything going back to 2005, so if you've played at the utah in the last 3 years, you should see your stuff. (Although 2005 is a little spotty, as I didn't come every monday, and I usually didn't stay all night).

Once you see your songs, you'll probably say 'great, I can see them, but I can't listen to them'. In order to listen to your songs, you first must login (and register) - you can do that by going here: http://theutah.org/myutah. In the future, you can always access your stuff by going to http://theutah.org/myutah. Your songs are linked to your email address, so please register with the email address at which you receive the newsletter.

Tips:
- by default, only the performer(s) can listen to their songs - nobody else can listen to them... Unless you 'share' them. Once you've logged in, each song has button labeled 'Share' - clicking this button will make the song public and allow everybody else to listen to it. My hope is that people make as many of their songs public as possible.
- if can't listen to your performances after registering and logging in, this means that I didn't know your email address and wasn't able to link your songs up. To remedy this situation, just click the 'This is my song - let me listen to it' button on one of your performances. - I'll link the songs up to your email and you should be good to go.
- if you click on a performance date, you'll be shown a list of all performances for that date
- if you click on a song name, you'll be shown a list of all performances of that song

If you have a questions or problems, please drop me an email and let me know.

I'm also very excited to announce that Jeanne Foss is featuring this week down at the ol' utah. Jeanne means a lot different things to me - poet, neighbor, chestnut cooker, and not least of all: brilliant singer-songwriter. She sings (what I think are) highly personal songs with a quiet passion and a subtle fury that never fails to pull me right in and connect with what she's saying. and I usually do very much connect to what she's saying. (especially the do-do-list song.). I remember one of the first times I saw Jeanne sing at the utah, and she said something that I think of often, and not just when I'm performing: she was on stage and she reminded herself not to forget to breathe. I honestly think of that all the time, especially when it seems I forgetting to breathe or I'm a little worked up. anyways, I digress. Its going to be a great feature. For more info on Jeanne (and all of the upcoming features), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

Couple more notes on the new website
- If you click the 'I love this performance button' - the performer will get a note letting them know. I don't tell them who loved it- I just let them know that they were loved.
- If a song isn't shared but you want to hear it, you can click the 'Ask performer to share song' button. I'll let the performer know that somebody (or some people) want to hear the song, and hopefully they'll share it. Again, my hope is that people share as much of their stuff as possible
- I can't pay songwriter's royalties, and so I can't have cover songs on the site - if you see a cover song that's been made public, please click the 'More>>' button, and then the 'No rights' button. Covers of other utah performers are cool - as long as the songwriter is cool with the song being public

Wow! you're still reading? that's great. There were a lot of reasons to put the website together, but the big reason is I would record the entire show, and then fit as many songs as I could onto a cd. Since I could only get about 1/5th of the performers on the cd, that meant that 4/5ths of the performers were getting no benefit from the recording. That's no good. I also didn't like having to choose what songs got on the cd and what songs did not - it was inherently unfair and I always stressed about that. Also, 25 cds a week (x5 years!) is a lot of paper, plastic, and ink (and money). The servers to run the new site cost about the same as what I was spending on cd materials.

You'll probably notice the ads on some of the pages... The servers cost ~$100 a month to run. My goal is to make the website sustainable, such that it doesn't rely on me writing a check for $100 a month. I ain't gonna be around forever to do that, and so I need to find a way to make the site pay for itself. The ads are a step in that direction. I open to any ideas you have as well.

I built the new website starting from scratch about a year ago - I mostly wrote it on my daily bart commute - banging out code in 30 minute shots. I'm pretty excited about the results and the opportunities it opens up. My goal is at some point to get other open mics posting their music up here, and to have it be a well known aggregation point for live singersongwriter performances. If you have any ideas on where to take all this, let's talk.

You may find some bugs with the website or find some things to be less than clear. I you have any problems, please email me and let me know. I was the sole designer, developer, quality assurance, etc. on the project, and so I'm sure there's some things I've missed or that I haven't made as clear as I could have.

The downside of all this progress is I'm going to cease putting out a cd every week... My apologies go out to all those who do not have internet access and for who the cd was the optimal music distribution method...

that's about all I have. Hope to see you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! how's the weekend? I got a little sun, myself. Its a true fact that my shoulders have not seen sunlight for almost 6 months - they didn't get any this weekend either, as I prefer the farmer style tan, but there was the opportunity. And that's I can ask for in a weekend - opportunity.

Now, I don't know if he eats honey sandwiches or he just drinks it straight for the bear shaped bottle, but Roz King, this week's feature at the 'ol utah has got some honey in his voice there. His voice is so rich and smooth with a shot of whiskey in there too, I could listen to Roz sing all day long. Now, you may be asking yourself: one trick pony? A: no! Roz couples some fine songwriting with that voice - he writes them songs just like I like 'em. He's got some characters in those songs, he's got some trailer parks, and he's got some booze. That's country music right there. I hope Roz doesn't mind me calling his stuff country, because, as a fellow 'country' artist myself, I know how stigmatized that word can be. Let me calm your mind: Roz plays the good kind of country, before pop music producers went and screwed it all up. But I digress. Hey, this is going to be a really special feature this week. Hope to see you out. For more info on Roz and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features

Hey, the maestro Adam Balbo's going on tour. He's got all his gigs listed on his myspace there - http://www.myspace.com/adambalbo. If you know anybody in those towns he's hitting - get the word out. We here in San Francisco all know the degree of awesomeness that Adam delivers with his guitar, and it'd be good if the rest of the country did as well.

That's about all I have this week. (Those italics were a bit of foreshadowing. To quote Opus the penguin - "Foreshadowing: your guide to quality literature". Anyways, I have big news next week.)

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody... sorry I'm a little late with the ol' email. I took the week off from making the cd/podcast, and so I guess that bit of laziness bled over into the newsletter writing. Hey, this week's feature is Great Girl's Blouse - a powerful, rocking duo last from Minnesota. If you've been coming around, you know what I'm talking about with the GGB - Amy's got a voice that reminds me a lot of Linda Perry back in the day. She really knocks me back when she opens up. hey, you know, I am bit of a vocal snob when it comes to doing sound - I prefer to have the vocals way out in front of the guitars, because I like to hear what people are saying, and I admit that I'm a bit guilty of neglecting the guitars a bit. Well, Jason brought it to my attention that his bass was a little low in the mix, and at first I was thinking "yeah yeah yeah, 'more me', I get it", but then I started cranking him up, and well come to find out: I've been screwing up all this time! this man is one of the finest bass players I've heard down at the utah - he's up there squeezing it like Brian Ritchie, and I'd like to formally apologize to Jason and everybody - never again will I neglect the bass guitar. Wow, two apologies in one email - I must be at step 8 or something. Anyways, I can't wait to hear what Amy and Jason got cooked up for tomorrow. Its gonna be a great feature. For more info on GGB (and all the upcoming features!), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

that's about all I have tonight. see you tomorrow -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hola! hey, big stuff this week. Yeah, was reading the New York Times this morning, as I do, cosmopolitan guy that I am, and hey - there's ol' Fancy Dan right there - travel section, page 10. Very cool. Now, in my opinion, Fancy Dan should be the style section (or perhaps the business section...) (Fancy Dan being, as one would say in late '90s LA, so money), but Travel's good too. Especially if you're from New York. They got some photos up on the web too - Manny B, Dave G, and Chris Stroffolin and the aforementioned Fancy Dan! (and the back of Michael Loebs' head). Plus, not to be outdone, Michael Koppy has a sweet writeup on the Gibson Guitars website.

Hey, this week's feature is Eugene AKA Otto Graham AKA The Hellbender AKA John Merker, and I'm not 100% confident that John Merker is his real name either, but that's the one he seems to use most consistently, although Eugene works pretty well too. This is all beside the point. Hey, you ever walk around just, like, screaming? Top of your lungs. No particular reason, just screaming? Maybe smashing some stuff*. Me neither, but when I think about what that would be like, you know, the feeling of reckless abandonment, the who gives a darn*, the wild energy - I think this feeling is similar to how I feel when I watch the hellbender Johnny Merker. He can draw the crazy feeling out of me a little bit, and, cosmopolitan guy that I am, I keep it under wraps, but its good to know its still there, you know? He's got style that I'd like to call punk, but I don't know what punk is anymore its so overused, mixed with a little Paul Anka, and I don't what Paul Anka means anymore, its so overused - you know, I don't think there's a need to put labels on the Johnny Merker, just come check him out this Monday. Hey, for more info on John Merker, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.

*this is a family newsletter

One important note: Johnny Merker requested that he start his feature at midnight, and, cosmopolitan guy that I am, I said "cool". So - the feature starts at midnight this monday - right after I announce the street cleaning.

that's about all I have. see you tomorrow!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there - hope you enjoyed the easter weekend all that. Easter kind of snuck up on me this year, and, sadly, I did not have a single easter egg or jelly bean. I'm a little bit sad about that, to tell the truth, but I having trouble my finger on why and what it all means. Existential crises aside, we got an open mic going on this monday, and not just any open mic: its the Hotel Utah open mic, and if that's not enough, we've got Samuel Eli Victor (esq) on the feature! Hey, I heard from a very reliable source that Samuel Eli Victor (esq) wishes for us to dress in red this monday, red being his favorite color. (or, as the Enlish would say: favourite colour), and who are we to deny this wish, on his feature day of all days.

For those who don't know Samuel Eli Victor (esq): #1. where've you been? #2. I think he's a bit of an old-soul, and I have no idea what that means, but I do know what it sounds like. When he gets that far away look in his eye, and his perennial smile darkens to a more serious glower (I gotta say its a cheerful glower, but a glower none the less) and he starts to sing, one becomes aware that he sings from a place in his brain where there are no mp3s and emails and the other trappings of this modern life, and the simmering rage and delicate screams he so beautifully emits transport me there - where things were was more basic and direct and where Easter would not pass without at least one egg. or jelly bean. or peep. Hey, for more information on Samuel Eli Victor (esq), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html

Quick summary: Easter, wear red, Samuel Eli Victor (esq), quick summary.

that's about all I have. see you tomorrow.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody. Yeah, little late this week with the email. The weekend kind of got away from me... I'll leave it at that. Hey, this week's feature is Kathleen Dunbar. Kathleen was going to feature last month, but she got walloped by that flu that was going around. I'm really excited about Kathleen's feature and I'll tell you why. (there's a couple of reasons actually). I find that Kathleen is a bit of a conjurer when she sings - she's got some rich characters walking around in her brain and when she sings out they come and I don't usually get into the hocus pocus, but its kind of a magical thing. She's got such a beautiful voice and she's got a bit of the vibrato and she's equally adept whether she's singing a cappella or with her band, and I think she's bringing at least her guitar player with her this monday. This is going to be a really cool feature, and I hope you come and check Kathleen out.

Bridget has released the photos from the 3/3 openmic (Gary Butterwick's feature!). Check them out here: http://theutah.org. There's some really cool shots in there. Thanks so much Bridget - hey, if you like the work Bridget is doing, she supports her operation by donation and through the sale of prints.

Thats about all I have today. Hope to see you this monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody - hey wasn't last monday cool with all the new songs! I thought the room felt especially warm and supportive and I was really blown away by all the new stuff. I've got some of the songs up here http://theutah.org/listen.html - have a listen when you get a chance. (it was a really great night)

This week's feature is Lorenzo Levinger. Lorenzo was growing his beard out for while and you know it gave him kind of this Moses the early years look, which I found entirely appropriate given how much his song delivery reminds me John Prine. He's got that plaintive and expressive voice and the sad songs but always always a twinkle in the eye to let us know that its gonna be ok. Sitting here, listening to all the Lorenzo songs I could find, it puts me in the mood to brew up some more coffee and give my parents a call or possibly look up some old friend who I haven't talked to in a while. I not sure what that all means - I'm just telling you how his music makes me feel. (Perhaps this is just my own personal reaction). Hey, this is going to be great feature and I hope you can make it out and have a listen. For more info on Lorenzo and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html

Bridget has come out the slideshow from the 2/25 openmic (the night Brooke Brown Saracino featured) - check them out here: http://theutah.org/gallery.html. Thanks so much Bridget - we're so fortunate that you take the time to do this.

That's about all I have this week. Hope to see you this monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody. how's it going? Hey, this monday night is new song night over at the utah - this is where you debut what you've been working on. I know I know, some people write new stuff all the time and so this night's no big whoop for them - but for people like me, sometimes having a goal and a date in the calendar helps me wrap things up and say "ok, that song there, that's a song".

This week we've got Mr. Gary Butterwick as the feature performer. Gary is a supremely talented singer/songwriter hailing from Michigan (ever notice how many ex-michigander's come to the utah?) (well, if you haven't, there's a lot!) (I don't know the reason). He's got a really cool style of songwriting - he uses a lot of bouncy chord progressions that give the songs kind of a grooving, walking down the street waving at people kind of feel. He sings a lot about stuff going on in his life and his songs never fail to tell a story. Its going to be a really great feature this monday - I hope you come check it out. For more info on Gary and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

that's about all I have today - hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello everybody, how's it going? Hey, this week's feature is Brooke Brown Saracino (sera-'see-no!). Now I'm going to digress for a sec, but I think it worth discussing: I think Brooke was riding in the car with Roger Rocha when he cut off that Gypsy in traffic, because for whatever reason, Brooke is cursed with bad number luck. But this week, this is not a problem, because she's the feature! Excellent. Brooke is talented and quite polished folk singer with a voice that always surprises me with its nuance and depth. She's very talented this Brooke Brown Saracino and its gonna be a great feature. For more info on Brooke and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

Hey, Bridget put together an excellent musician's resource page: http://www.200pockets.com/links/musicresources.html. She's got all sorts of helpful stuff up there to help you promote your music and to get your music copyrighted. (Bridget is so awesome)

March 3rd is new song night! That's where we're all playing a new song - that night. I'm not sure how to better explain it... well, that's about all I have this week. hope to see you on monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody. Hey, I'm not trying to cause a ruckus or anything, but I just got word from Dave Gursom that Smilin' Dave Fish is in town and is gonna be coming down to the utah this monday. Man, I haven't seen Smilin' Dave Fish over a year, I wonder what he's been up to... Dave also wanted me to pass on that, in order to properly commemorate the return of Smilin' Dave Fish, we're all going to wear cowboy hats. That's right: this monday will be cowboy hat night over at the utah.

Hey, in addition to the cowboy hats, we got a feature performer going on. Sadly, our scheduled feature performer, Kathleen Dunbar, has fallen ill with the flu and we've rescheduled her to 3/17, but, as the saying goes, when one door closes another door opens, and while I have not, through controlled experimentation, found this to be true, I do like the thought behind it. And so! (no more ado), this week Mr. Steve Arnsten, is filling in for Kathleen. Yep, you heard it here first. Steve really needs no introduction - he's a traveler, a friend, and a masterful piano player who is able to quiet the rowdiest of rooms with just a few key presses. Hey plays a bit of Chopin, Bach, and (my favorite) Show-pan. A bit of Mozart too. But now, as otherworldly as Steve is on piano, and he is hyperbole free the finest piano player I know, I find him to be an even better poet, and I truly hope he shares some of his words with us tomorrow. His words bite and then sooth and pour out of him and get me all excited. Anyways, its going to be a wonderful, wonderful feature, and I hope you come out and see it. For more info on Steve and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html

Bridget sent me the slideshow from the February 4th open mic (Kelly McFarling's feature). Have a look here: http://theutah.org/gallery.html. It looks so good - thanks Bridget!

Reminder: on Monday, March 3rd, we're having 'New song night'. That means that if you're like me, and sometimes need a little something extra to complete a song, March 3rd is that little something. We're all going to be debuting the new stuff.

Hey, one week from today (February 24th), there's a big Utah related show over at the ol' Cafe Du Nord: Fancy Dan's playing, Oona's playing, Fleeting Trance is on that bill, and me and my band are on it too. It's gonna be such a great show. A chance to perform at Cafe du nord is a really big deal to me and the rest of the bands on the bill, and it'd be wonderful to see you out there. (it'd warm my heart). (doors are at 7pm and music starts at 7:30 sharp). Here's all the info: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/426239/.

One further note: I screwed up when recording last week's show, and a bunch of noise got in the line... I denoised it and eq'd the best I could, but recording quality is still a bit subpar. Its a good thing the performances are stellar - I found once I started listening, I forgot all about the noise, and didn't really hear it again until it went away. Anyways, sorry about the messed up audio.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there. hope you're doing. Hey so March 3rd is my 2 year anniversary as host over at the utah, so I was thinking it'd be fun to do another song theme night... I was thinking of making this one really simple: brand new song night. As in, I think we should all write a brand new song this month and play it on 3/3. My reasons for having this are somewhat selfish in that I haven't been writing and I need to get my butt in gear, but I think other people are like me could use a little extra motivation to put pen to paper. So anyways, yeah, March 3rd: new song night.

Hey this week's feature is none other than Corey Hennessy. Corey has been coming to the utah for years and years and I am really excited that he's finally featuring. Now usually when I talk about an artist, I like mention who that artist reminds me of (for example: "if you like Gillian Welch, you'll love Kelly McFarling"), but with Corey, its a bit more difficult, as I think he might be from outer space. Mars, Jupiter, perhaps Canada - who knows? But I think I can truthfully say this: Corey is a piano man totally unlike any other piano man you ever heard. His lyrics are fancyful and tell us story, and he delivers them with such glee and excitement - these stories of weird times just burst out of him and out over the piano and I can't help but smile when I listen, and like I was saying earlier, I've been waiting for this feature for a long time and its gonna be a great one. For more info on Corey (and all of the upcoming features), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

That's about all I have. Hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey there everybody. Hope you're doing good. Hey, just a quick note to let you know what's happening down at the utah this monday, and what's happening is this: Kelly McFarling is featuring! Kelly reminds me of slightly more expressive Gillian Welch - and I'm pretty sure I'd feel this way even if Kelly wasn't performing a Gillian Welch song the first time I heard her. I hear a real plaintive streak in her voice and just a slight hint of a rasp - not so much that it takes over, but just enough to scratch the back of your spine and get the goosebumps and the chills going. She blends covers and originals so seamlessly that I usually guess wrong (me: "who wrote that?" kelly: "me") and I think she could just as seamlessly share the stage with most anyone at the hardly strictly bluegrass and perhaps someday she will. But not this monday... this monday she shares the stage with you and me down at the utah. Hey for more info on Kelly (and all of the upcoming features), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

That's about all I have this week. Hope to see you tomorrow.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello everybody. good morning. Hey, can you believe that 2008 is already 1/12th over? Man time flies... I'd suggest, before 2008 gets away from you, coming down to the Hotel Utah and seeing all your friends and playing us a song. Me, personally, I'd love to hear what you've got cooking (and there's a whole Hotel Utah full people just like me).

Hey this week's feature is Billy Banks and I'll tell you what, this is going to be like a clinic in how to let a song flow through your body and mind and out through your finger tips. Billy has a special talent for communicating with his guitar, and you can feel just what he's saying without him saying a word. When he gets into his song and starts picking that guitar, the crowd gets real quite and they lean in and its always an intense and captivating moment. Its gonna be good stuff this monday night. Hey for more info on Billy (and all of the upcoming features), have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

One more thing! if you've got a show coming up, you can add it to our website and it'll be seen by literally hundreds of people (ok, maybe a hundred people). We manage all of our show listings through upcoming.org - its just a matter of tagging your show as being part of theutah group. Here's some instructions for how to get your show up there: http://theutah.org/addshow.html.

that's all I've got. Hope you're doing good.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! good morning. hope you're doing ok. I've been down with the flu for a while - wow, it really took me out! (and now I'm left with this Incredible Hulk/Tom Waits'y voice - I should quick record some songs while I have it). Anyways, a big thanks goes out to Michael Loebs for hosting in my absense last week.

Hey this week's feature is Courtney Nicole. I find Courtney's songs and her songwriting style to be so powerful, but I think the real power of performances comes from the manner in which she sings them. She delivers these songs in with a Edith Piaf'ian voice that is song strong but at the same time has this venerability to it - you can't help but be swept up and captivated. Its gonna be good stuff this week over at the utah. For more info on Courtney and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

Slim Critchlow put together a page dedicated Jeremy Hill over on his theopenmic.net website. Check it out here: http://theopenmic.net/jeremyhill. He's got videos from Jeremy's memorial show up there and a bunch of Bridget's photos up there and it looks real good. Hopefully his friends and family back home will check it out and get a glimpse into what he meant to us out here.

That's about all I have this week. Hope to see you on monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody... hope everybody's doing ok. Hey, this week's feature is Oona! Oona's got a voice that's straight from an old sepia toned movie - its classic and full and warm and very alluring. She sings about passion and anguish and bliss with that signature voice and her signature zest and I'm really excited to hear her feature. I think she's playing with her band: Oona dos tres! My predicton: a feature not to be missed. For more info on Oona and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody - how's it going? I'm taking down the tree today, so that's it: now its just plain ol' winter. Hey, thanks to everybody who came out on the 17th for Jeremy Hill's memorial... it was an emotional night for all and it was difficult night for me to work through, but when I got home that night I don't think I've ever felt closer to my friends down at the utah and I really felt the importance of the community that we've all built. Having everybody there talking about Jeremy and playing his songs - it really helped keep his spirit alive for me and I'm sure many others. That night, you all donated 830 bucks to help Jeremy's father deal with the financial side of the funeral, so a big thanks for that. This coming monday (1/7), we're going to bring back the journal for everybody to sign and we're going to assemble photo albums for Jeremy's family. We'll mail the journal and photo albums off to Michigan after this monday so Jeremy's family can have a glimpse into his life and family down at the utah.

Hey speaking of our music family, Brent Newcomb is featuring down at the utah this monday. Brent brings a big voice to his heart felt songs and he never fails to blow me away when he plays. And for as big as his voice is, its still got some sweet vibrato - really beautiful stuff. For more info on Brent and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

Bridget put the finishing touches on her photos from 12/10 - check 'em out here http://theutah.org/gallery.html. Beautiful! thanks Bridget!.

Hey, I read a really interesting article about labels and music distribution and the like last week (written by David Byrne): http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/magazine/16-01/ff_byrne?currentPage=all

that's about all I have for right now. See you on monday
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello all. Hope everybody's doing ok. This is just a quick update on what's going on this monday down at the utah... As most of you know, we lost our good friend Jeremy Hill last weekend and this monday's open mic we will be dedicated to him and his memory. We won't have a featured performer this week.

When you have a chance, please share a memory with Jeremy's friends and family: https://www.todaycenter.com/events/funeral/funeral_tp.php?pid=30889&display=messages.

Bridget has done a wonderful job of putting together all of the photos and videos we have of Jeremy. This memorial page can be found here: http://www.200pockets.com/projects/jeremyhill/remembrance/archive.html.

take care -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello everybody. I apologize if this email is how you are receiving this news, but our good friend Jeremy Hill died over the weekend... It broke my heart when I heard the news and I'm very sorry to be delivering it to you. Jeremy was such a cool guy and I'm never gonna forget his smiling face and that mischievous laugh. It's just all so sad.

Bridget set up a special page on her website with all of the pictures and video of Jeremy she could find: http://www.200pockets.com/projects/jeremyhill/remembrance/archive.html

We are planning a couple of things for this coming monday as a memorial to Jeremy:
- We are going to pass around a journal for people to write their thoughts or the memories of Jeremy. We're going to mail this journal to Jeremy's family back in Michigan, from one family to another.
- We are going to collect donations to help Jeremy father with the funeral costs
- If you have any photographs of Jeremy, please bring them to the utah on monday or email them to me. Bridget is going to put together 2 photo albums for Jeremy's family
- If you have any recordings of Jeremy (outside of the utah live recordings) that you'd like to share with his family, please forward those to me as well
- Courtney Nicole was very generous in rescheduling her feature (to Jan. 21)
- We are encouraging people to cover one of Jeremy's songs. If you'd like to cover one of his songs, but need a reference recording, drop me a line - I have recordings for the following songs:

• Broken Hearted
  
• Couldn't tell you why
  
• I am yours
  
• Involuntarily
  
• Just 14
  
• Maybe tomorrow
  
• Miss Sadness
  
• Mr. McGee
  
• Naked
  
• Second
  
• Stronger than strong
  
• Sunny meadows
  
• Take yourself back
  
• The Fourth of July
  
• Wine and dine
  
• You think
  

A special thanks goes out to Bridget for organizing most all of this and getting in contact with Jeremy's family.

Hope you're doing ok. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody, how's it going? Hey, our friends "If your hands were metal, that would mean something" are up for band of the month in Deli magazine's band of the month poll. I'm not suggesting who you vote for or anything, but if you're not doing anything after this email, check out the contest here: http://www.thedelimagazine.com/sf/. My only qualm is that its only a band of the month contest. Those guys are least the band of the last 6 - 8 months, in my opinion.

Hey this week's feature is Anna Perlmutter. Anna is a long time contributor to the utah scene - she's is a collaborator extraordinaire adding her silky (and yet bubbly) violin to many a performance (she's even expert at accompanying herself!), but this monday! it'll be all Anna. She's gonna be performing her songs and it's gonna be great. I'm not sure how to describe Anna's songs, but here's what I'm think about: If I close my eyes when I listen to her songs, it makes me feel like I'm running through the woods or a field and the sun is shining through the leaves and hey maybe I'll go swimming. I'm not sure what genre that is, but who cares, it's really wonderful and she's going to do a great feature. For more info on Anna and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

New slideshow alert! Bridget has completed the slide show for the November 12th openmic (Leah's feature) - she added some new effects in there and it looks really cool - check it out here: http://theutah.org/gallery.html. Also! it can be difficult to see on her website, but has enabled a way for people to donate to the photography effort if they'd like to help her out: http://www.200pockets.com/donations.html. Outside of the time it takes her to process the photos, it takes a bit of money to host the photos online - I'm sure she would greatly appreciate any help she can get towards paying that bill.

Note: there will be no open mic on December 24th or December 31st. We'll resume in full musical force on January 7th. That's about all I have, hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. hope you're doing good. I'm doing pretty good. Got my wool socks on - I'm excited about that. Anyways, here's what I got on my mind:

Who is Adam Balbo? as I pen this email this morning, the first of decemeber, the winter of my 34th year, this is the question facing me. Sure - he's this week's featured performer at the utah, that goes without saying. But besides that: who is Adam Balbo?. Brilliant, brilliant songwriter - sometimes rocks the casio. But this is not who he is, this is not what defines him... and that is what I'm searching for this morning. who is Adam Balbo?. Good friend. Maker of fine guacamole, that's for sure. (but this does not satisfy my knotty curiosity) I need to know: who is Adam Balbo???. because maybe, just maybe, the answer will shed some light on: "who am I?" and "who are you?" and (perhaps the biggest question of them all): "HOW CAN SOMEBODY WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO MEXICO MAKE SUCH FINE GUACAMOLE????" Troubling questions, troubling times. Perhaps Adam will shine some light on these subjects this monday night. Like I was saying, Adam is one of the finest songwriters I know and I love watching the man perform, and this will be an all time classic feature. mark my words.. For more info on Adam and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

Note for all those who eat: The utah is undergoing some seismic retrofitting this week, and so the kitchen not be open this coming monday. They'll have menus for take-out places, but, sadly, they won't have their world famous fried cheese sandwich.

that's all I got this week. hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Good morning. yeah, we cooked it up over at my casa on thursday, and so I'm am sitting on about a year's supply of turkey. I'm having a bit with my coffee as we speak. (They are balancing each other out quite effectively.) but enough chit chat! let's get down to business here:

Hey, this weeks feature is GG Tanaka. Dude's a rock and roller, I tell you that. He can open it up and let it loose with the best of them. If I was an A&R guy, I'd probably say something like "GG Tanaka? he's the total package", but I'm not an A&R guy, I'm just a lowly open mic host, and so I'd probably describe him as this: "the dude's the total f'n* package!!!" (* frickin'). He's got the chops on the guitar, a voice that reaches out at taps you on the shoulder and says "hey man", and he's a brilliant f'n* song writer. (* frickin'). What more can you ask for? Me, I'd ask for a beer with a jaeger so that I can properly enjoy the show. It's gonna be good times down at the utah this monday. For more info on Alex and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

We got some new cds up on the ol' cd section of website (http://theutah.org/cds.html): Nina Jo Smith! Great Girl's Blouse! Tony Adano! Check them out (and them buy them). As always, if you'd like to get your cd up there (new release, or lil' bit of you past), just drop me an email with the following 3 things: 1) the cover art of the cd. 2) a review of the cd. and 3) the url where it can be purchased, and I'll take care of the rest.

that's about all I have. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. Hope you're doing. I'm doing pretty good. Hey, check this out: Bridget put the together the slideshow from the 11/5 open mic and we've got it up on the website at http://theutah.org/gallery.html. She does such a good job with those photos - we are so lucky that she donates her like she does, and so a huge thank you goes out to Bridget.

This week's feature Alex Statan. You know, Alex has got some sort of energy when he plays - and I'd like to say it's infectious, but I won't, because that would be cliche, but let's just say it's communicable. Either way, I dig it and the crowd really gets into it, and Alex, generous performer that he is, feeds off that and returns it back to the audience and it turns into a feedback loop of sorts, and before you know it, it's bedlam, crazyness, drinks are spilled and people are screaming, and then... it's over. this is one song open mic you know. but not this week! Alex gets a half hour and I guarantee he's gonna blow us away. He's pop craftsman and heck of a singer and it's gonna be a great feature. For more info on Alex and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html

Its been a while since we've had anybody put there cd up in our cd listing (http://theutah.org/cds.html)... This doesn't make me sad per se, but I'm just worried that the cd listing page is feeling neglected. So - if you've got a cd for sale, new release or a blast from your past, drop me an email with a review, and image, and a link where the cd can be purchased, and I'll get it up there.

Also - if you've got a show coming up, you can add it to our website. We manage all of our show listings through upcoming.org - its just a matter of tagging your show as being part of theutah group. Here's some instructions for ya: http://theutah.org/addshow.html.

That's about all I have. See you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello everybody! wow, what great night last week with everybody covering everybody else's song. I think we had an all time record for "theme-night" participation with about a billion people participating. So many that we gotta do a double cd this week to fit everybody on! very exciting.

Hey this week's feature is Lea Grant. Yeah, what a voice on Lea! I didn't know this before I read her bio, but she's trained as an opera singer. but even though I didn't know that for sure, if somebody come up to me and asked me if Lea had an opera background, I would have said "I think so". but, you know, opera isn't her only thing - she's got folk and pop chops to match and I'm sure we're going to be treated to a bit of both this monday. It's gonna be a great feature. Hey, for more info on Lea and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html

That's about all for today. see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey hey hey - big week this week. It's cover your friend's song night!!! (very exciting). The idea here is that you learn one of your friend's songs, and then you play it for us. We've done this kind of thing before at the utah, and it's always a hoot. I gotta admit, I stole the idea for this theme night from the old Nickie's BBQ open mic. The last night they had that open mic - at their closing party - they had a cover your friends song night, and I just thought it was so cool - it was really touching to see people teaching each their songs and all that. anyways, there go, credit where credit is due.

This week's feature is Nomi. I'll say it right away - I am very excited for this feature. I find Nomi's songs so catchy and melodic and I'm tempted to say whimsical... but on second thought, I think it would be a mistake to say that her songs are whimsical - if I focus on the lyrics and let in what she's saying, the whimsy drifts away, and I find the songs to be something else entirely: I find them to be important. Song writing aside, Nomi has special presence about her when she's playing (and also when she's not playing) and I find her performances to be one of the highlights of my night, and now we've got a whole half hour of Nomi. a very special night indeed. Hey, for more info on Nomi and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

A big thanks goes out to Mark Underwood and Michael Loebs for running the show when I was on sabbatical. I'm sure it was a good time had by all...

Hope everybody is doing good-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hola. I gotta admit, I feel a little awkward emailing you even though I didn't host last monday and I'm not hosting this coming monday, but what the heck... in my continued absence Mr. Michael Loebs and Mark Underwood are cohosting.

Hey, this week's feature is Leslie Rafferty... The first thing that jumps out at me when I listen to Leslie is that voice - I find that it's got just enough angst to balance out how buttery smooth it is, and then every now and then, she throws in a little twang to remind us that she is from Kentucky, after all. She's a special performer and I am very sad that I will not get to hear her feature... I tell you what, you go check her out and then tell me how it went. For more info on Leslie and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

Don't forget!!! The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us.

See you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody... hey, I'm out traveling for a bit, so this monday and the next Michael Loebs and Mark Underwood are cohosting over at the utah...

This week's feature is Nick Haswell and The Haswellism Project. Wow, a better band name you will not find. Why I am now speaking like yoda, I do not know. Yeah, Nick's music really speaks to me. The man's music has so many influences - its like a smorgesborg of music and it goes good with beer. I'm a very sad I'm going to miss this feature, but please don't make the same mistake as me... For more info on Nick and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

Don't forget!!! The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us.

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Good morning... yeah, little chilly out there this morning. Man, I'm guessing it's what: 55 - 56 degrees? winter has clearly arrived. You non-california readers are probably laughing right now, and I gotta admit, being from Wisconsin, that I see the humor in it as well, but hey, when it's 67 degrees every day, and then it's 57, 57 feels a little chilly. that's all I'm saying. I know this all off topic, but it's just what I'm thinking about this morning. Perhaps I should just put on a sweater.

Hey this week's feature is Roger Rocha. I was reading up on Roger's myspace page (http://myspace.com/rogerrochamusic) and he's saying his music is rock/pop, and man, I gotta disagree. I would say that it's more primal than that - Roger's up there slinging the blues like a madman burying the evidence. When he opens it up and brings it - man, it hits you right in the chest. Now, from a pure technical point of view, Roger is one of the finest guitar players I've seen, but like I was saying, it's all more primal than that and he doesn't let that technical virtuosity get in the way of base rush that comes when he's up on stage bringing it. For more info on Roger and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us.

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I'm doing good. Hey, I was just browsing performermag.com, and I saw a live review of the Parasol/Moanin' Dove show that went down a couple of months ago. Check it out: http://performermag.com/wcp.livereviews.0710.php

Hey this week's feature is Jonathan Rosen. Jonathan is really talented singer-songwriter and who, I'm sad to say, moved to New York a couple of months ago. Anyways, I really wanted to get him a feature before he left, but we couldn't fit it in. but lucky for us, he's back in town on vacation... He's got a certain energy about him when he plays - the songs just about leap out of him. Hey for more info on Jonathan and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html.

The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us.

Hey, thanks to everybody who came out to Cafe Du Nord on tuesday night. It was a really special night for me - I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to have the support of so many of my friends. I am one lucky fella to be involved with such a supportive (and talented) group of people. anyways, thanks...

I hope to see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Before I get going here, I just wanted to let you know that sunday night is indeed the new saturday morning...

This week's feature is Artemas. Other than having more nicknames that anybody I know (with BZ being the nearest competitor. Eugene is up there as well...), Artemas is a fine musician and songwriter. He's got genuineness about him that really comes through in his songs - like I believe him when he sings to me and tells me his stories. He plucks the banjo and plays the piano and, according to my girlfriend, bears a not-so-slight resemblance to Leif Garrett. Anyways its gonna be a great feature. For more info on Artemas and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.html

Bridget has put together another one of her wonderful slideshows - this one is from the Sept. 17th open mic. Have a look here: http://theutah.org/gallery.html. Man, how cool is Bridget - on top of being a such a talented photographer and donating those talents to the utah, she comes up with so many great ideas. to name a few: she started championing upcoming.org, she maintains the artist directory, and have you seen her gig-listing box? Check it out next time you're at the utah - it is very cool.

The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us.

Hey, I don't know what you're up to this tuesday night (10/2), but I'm releasing my new cd with a concert at Cafe Du Nord. It's gonna be good times - Carroll Glenn, Terese Taylor, and The Invisible Cities are on the bill with me.

see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

yes, I know. A day late with the email... (related: can I borrow a dollar?) I have grand excuses for the delay, but it involves technical snafus and computer eating spiders and men from mars, but I'm going to hold off on that - I wouldn't want to bore you with the details... anyways, without further ado:

Hey this weeks feature is one of the funniest men I know, and the ladies should be relieved that he's not allowed to compete in the funniest lady category as well, because I think he'd win that one too: Nat Silverson. I know, its rare that we have a commedian feature at the utah, but this is not with out precident. Bobby Magic will vouch for that. And, in addition, I know that Nat is going to kill. I'm not going to try and explain Nat's comedy here, because nothing is worse than trying to explain why somebody is funny (believe me, I tried to do it about 45 seconds ago, and it didn't work out), but just believe me when I say this: Nat Silverson = funny. (and handsome too - he's been sporting a serious Tom Selleck stache.) Hey, for more info on Nat and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us. You can have a listen to the last "Cover your friend's song night" right here.

Ok, I gotta go. Hope to see you all on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, remember how we won the Guardian's Best of the Bay award last month? Well, this monday night, the owner of the Utah (Damien) is going to come on down and present us with our Best of the Bay plaque and say a few kind words. Very exciting. Perhaps we'll drink a little champaign... or least Miller High Life.

This week's feature is the rock god Allegra Shock. Nobody, and I mean nobody brings it like Allegra. and yeah she's got the rockstar asthetic going on, but honestly she could dress like Urkel and her rock godlyness would shine through. She's got a one in a million voice - kind of like a female Rod Stewart (but much less EMO) - and a one in million heart and I am very excited to hear her feature. For more info on Allegra and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

The next songwriting theme night is November 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us. You can have a listen to the last "Cover your friend's song night" right here.

Ok, I gotta go. Hope to see you all on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. JJ here. As you know, I like beer, and for the most part beer like me, and we get along. we always get along. This morning, though, that relationship is being put to the test - see, some things went down between me and beer last night, and, well... I'm just going to leave that story right there. This really has nothing to do with the utah open mic, but its just what's on my mind right now.

Hey, this week's feature is Chris Gentry, and let me tell you this: Chris Gentry got it going on. Yeah, he's got the chops and that silky voice, but a lot of people got chops and silky voices. What I find sets Chris apart is he never overpowers the audience with those skills. He uses his considerable talents subtly and wisely and let's the listener figure out for themselves that he's really frickin'* good. Chris is a traveling man and he's picked up some songs in his travels and he's gonna share them with us this coming monday - I am very excited for this feature. For more info on Chris and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Are you playing a show coming up? Would you like to promote it on theutah.org and upcoming.org? Its really easy to do and it's a great way to bring a lot of visibility to your show. I put some directions for listing your shows right here: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. Also, once you list your show on upcoming.org, ask your fans to click the "I'm attending" button the upcoming.org listing. The more people who say they're attending your gig, the higher the profile it gets on the upcoming.org website. It'd be really cool to get some of our shows listed on their front page.

Ok, I gotta hang out with my new friend: coffee. So warm, so complex - where have you been my whole life? Hope to see you all on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? yah, I'm good too. Labor day holiday weekend this weekend, and we all know what that means... - the only question remaining is: how much Jerry Lewis too much Jerry Lewis? I'll leave that to the scholars, and get down to brass tacks here. Yep, the Utah open mic will be operating in full force this monday. And it's gonna be a good one - I heard that Fawn will be visiting from LA, Laura's back in town, we got a cool feature...

Hey, this week's feature is D.L. Loonabide - the banjo playing troubadour extraordinare. As we all know, Loonabide is an excellent showman in his own right, and he's gonna treat us to a bit of that on monday. He's also a collaborator extraordinare, and he's gonna treat us to a bit of that as well. I'm a big fan of Loonabide - he's got a little bit of Townes Van Zandt going on, but he's more of a cheerier Townes Van Zandt. and a better banjo player as well. For more info on Loonabide and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Last call on t-shirt design submissions!!!: I'm looking to do another round of t-shirts, but I'd like to do a different design this time, and so I was thinking of having a tshirt design contest. I'd also like to use whatever logo we use on the t-shirts as our logo on the website and other utah promo materials. So anyways, if you've got talent in that dept, submit a design idea to me by this Monday. A couple technical notes: I'd like the design to be screen printable, so no more than 2 colors (+ the background) please. I guess that's only one technical note. Anyways, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Let me know if you have any questions as well.

that's about it. Come by on Monday and say hi.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello... me again. How's it going? I'm doing ok... little bit sad this week knowing that our trusty barkeep Laura will be on vacation this monday... In my opinion, nobody can make a bottle of budweiser as well as Laura. She's just got that special touch. Oh, I'll try and instruct the substitute bartender on how Laura does it, but it won't be the same... there's some things you can't teach I guess. sigh. I guess this one of those "what does not kill you only makes you stronger" situations...

...but hey, in much brighter news, this week's feature is Roem Baur. Yeah, Roem - what a performer! I'm trying to think how I'd describe Roem's music. Is it soul? Perhaps - he's certainly got soul, I tell you that. You know what, I'm not going to stress about labeling it - I would just highly recommend having a listen to Roem at the utah while you can, because the guys got so much talent, the next time you see him, you're going to be paying 30 bones at the Fillmore and buying a tshirt. For more info on the Roem and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey check this out: our good friend Slim Critchlow put together a collection of his videos that he shot at the July 7th open mic: http://theopenmic.net/hotelutah707/. Man, these look really good! Got some Moanin' Dove up there, some Fancy Dan, some Stitchcraft - I gotta say my personal favorite is Lauri Henry's. Anyways, its all great stuff - the next time you see Slim be sure to stop and thank him, because just like Bridget's photographs, putting this stuff together takes a lot of time and energy and resources, and its so wonderful that he and Bridget do what they do - it's really an invaluable contribution.

Last call on t-shirt design submissions!!!: I'm looking to do another round of t-shirts, but I'd like to do a different design this time, and so I was thinking of having a tshirt design contest. I'd also like to use whatever logo we use on the t-shirts as our logo on the website and other utah promo materials. So anyways, if you've got talent in that dept, submit a design idea to me by Sept. 1st. A couple technical notes: I'd like the design to be screen printable, so no more than 2 colors (+ the background) please. I guess that's only one technical note. Anyways, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Let me know if you have any questions as well.

New up on the CD section of the Utah website: Noh - The Ultimate Boon. Check it out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

that's about it. Come by on Monday and say hi.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey how's it going? yeah, little late with the email this week... I was up in the mountains comuning with the nature and that.

Hey, this week's feature is Carroll Glenn. I say this without flinching or blinking: Carroll is one of my all time favorite songwriters. His songs are like little movies - packed with visual detail and well defined personalities. And his voice! so expressive - nobody can deliver pathos like Caroll. I am very excited to have him feature down at the utah. For more info on the Carroll and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, I'm looking to do another round of t-shirts, but I'd like to do a different design this time, and so I was thinking of having a tshirt design contest. I'd also like to use whatever logo we use on the t-shirts as our logo on the website and other utah promo materials. So anyways, if you've got talent in that dept, submit a design idea to me by Sept. 1st. A couple technical notes: I'd like the design to be screen printable, so no more than 2 colors (+ the background) please. I guess that's only one technical note. Anyways, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Let me know if you have any questions as well.

It's late and I gotta unpack, so I have to wrap up here. Hope you're doing good -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

hola amigos - JJ here. wow, hey, I don't know if you were at the utah last monday night, but it was one of the best nights I've ever seen. That is not hyperbole, and I'll leave it at that. (and if you were there: hey wasn't last monday awesome?!). Hey, there's some scary news coming from up in Marin - it looks like The Sweetwater is in grave danger of shutting down... The Sweetwater is cultural icon and beloved performance space, and it would break my heart to see it close. Mill Valley does not need another starbucks or jamba juice or whatever they want to put in that space (in my opinion). Anyways, click here for more info: http://www.savethesweetwater.com.

Hey this weeks feature is Jason Blair. I think Jason Blair is a rocker with that voice and those songs, but man he's got the soul to match. And he writes some powerful songs, you know, lyrically, but he never forgets to put in a hook. On tuesdays I'll find my self singing something as I'm doing my thing and I'll stop think about what I'm singing, and it'll turn out to be a Jason Blair song. I'm all "Take a walk, down the stairs. Take a walk, anywhere." all day long. Great stuff. (insider tip: I do not recommend singing this verse while your girlfriend is in the vicinity.) For more info on the Jason and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Bridget has put together the photos from the June 18th open mic (El Zackadore!'s feature..). Have a look here: http://theutah.org/slideshows.php?gallerykey=20070618. That first photo of Zack and Chris Hanson is alone worth the trip.

Hey, I'm looking to do another round of t-shirts, but I'd like to do a different design this time, and so I was thinking of having a tshirt design contest. I'd also like to use whatever logo we use on the t-shirts as our logo on the website and other utah promo materials. So anyways, if you've got talent in that dept, submit a design idea to me by Sept. 1st. A couple technical notes: I'd like the design to be screen printable, so no more than 2 colors (+ the background) please. I guess that's only one technical note. Anyways, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Let me know if you have any questions as well.

The recording from last week came out a bit different that most others: I forgot to turn on the phantom power for my room mic, so we lost a lot of the room sounds that we usually have: people clapping, beer glasses breaking, tables falling on feet, etc... but, in a bit of good news, Emily Ritz is back in town!!! (awesome)

That's about all I have. See you monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey have you noticed all of the great gigs we've been playing around town? I was just browsing our event list on upcoming.org (http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2391), and wow we're playing a lot of really great shows! I'm not sure if we're actually playing more shows than we used to, or if it's just more obvious to me now that they're all listed in one place, but who cares, it's really cool. Hey, if you want to list your show on our website and on upcoming.org, the instructions are located here: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. Please add your shows to the list!

This week's feature is the extremely talented (and lovely) Kelly Jean. Kelly sings from the heart, you know? When I listen to her, I always think there's a little Rosanne Cash going on in her songwriting and the way she sings - maybe a little Kim Deal as well, but really you can forget all that, because it's all Kelly Jean and she's her own voice and I love it and I highly recommend coming out this monday and hearing her. For more info on the Kelly Jean and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey, I'm looking to do another round of t-shirts, but I'd like to do a different design this time, and so I was thinking of having a tshirt design contest. I'd also like to use whatever logo we use on the t-shirts as our logo on the website and other utah promo materials. So anyways, if you've got talent in that dept, submit a design idea to me by Sept. 1st. A couple technical notes: I'd like the design to be screen printable, so no more than 2 colors (+ the background) please. I guess that's only one technical note. Anyways, I can't wait to see what you come up with. Let me know if you have any questions as well.

That's about all I have. See you monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Great news from the newspaper!: we won the Bay Guardian's Reader's Poll award for Best Open mic! Very exciting. Thanks so much to everybody who voted! You know, the reason everybody likes the utah so much is because of the people who come down on monday nights - I can't tell you how many people have commented on how warm and welcoming the vibe is in the room. what we've got going, it's a rare and special thing. so when you open up and Bay Guardian and read where it says "The Hotel Utah has the best open mic", remember that they're really talking about you and all your friends down at the utah.

This week's feature is none other than Biovo. Biovo's one of those guys who at some point figured out that he doesn't need a last name, much like Cher and Madonna realized at some point as well. One day he woke up and said "I'm Biovo!" and then he put a period after that exclamation point and that was that. Biovo is a very soulful singer-songwriter. He's got a lot of wonderful songs and he performs them with great passion and feeling. I really love watching Biovo perform and I'm very excited for his feature. Come on out this monday and you'll agree. For more info on the Biovo and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

New up on the CD section of the Utah website: Andy Mason. Yes, the dark and handsome troubadour has released a new album and it is extraordinary - I've been listening to an advance copy for some time now and I love it. Check out his new CD and all of our CDs here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

Bridget mentioned something to me the other day about Upcoming.org that I found interesting: The more people who say they're going to an event, the higher profile the event gets on the upcoming.org page, and with enough attendees, you get listed on their home page. Anyways, check out our upcoming shows list: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2391/. If you're going to a show, just click on "I'm attending" on the event detail page and hopefully we'll get some shows up on their home page!

Bridget has put together another one of her photo slideshows. This one is from the July 23rd open mic (last monday!)... It looks so good - check it out here: http://theutah.org/slideshows.php.

That's about all I have. See you monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? Yeah, I'm good too. Hey, I'm looking to do another round of t-shirts, but I'd like to do a different design, and so I was thinking of having a tshirt design contest with the winner getting the pride and satisfaction of knowing that they designed the utah t-shirt. It'd be cool if the whatever we put on the t-shirt could also be used as a logo on our website and other utah materials. so maybe this is more of a logo design contest, with the winner getting the pride and satisfaction of knowing they desiged our logo. Anyways, I'd like to print the tshirts in september so the cutoff for submissions is sept. 1st.

Hey, this week's feature is Schuyler Dean's band - the 68s. We've been digging on Schuyler's solo stuff over at the utah for quite a while now, but I gotta say, you've not had the full Schuyler Dean experience until you've heard him with the 68s. It's like we've been hanging out with Jimmy Page this whole time, not knowing that he also played in a band. I caught the 68s at edinburg castle last week and man, I was blown away. Schuyler's songs become face melters when performed by these guys, and I mean that as a compliment. This is going to be a great feature and a great night. For more info on the 68s and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

You know, I figured it out by the third song - I'm quick you know. Once Todd Shipley started playing "Jackie you, Jackie me", and I realized something was up - everything before that could be explained as a coincidence or a series of coincidences, but once Shipley sang "finding the time to write..." - well, let's just say I had a bit of a "Sally Field at the 84 oscars" moment in my brain... I just want to thank everybody involved - it was a really special night for me and it meant a lot. I especially want to call out Mr. Michael Loebs - because, even though he denies it, I believe this to be his brainchild. ...man, it's unique and wonderful feeling to listen to your friends cover your songs - it's memory that will stay with me always.

Hey, this week's feature is one of my favorite all time people/musicians - Mary Margaret. I am mesmerized every time I listen to Mary perform - her voice and her songs are so intricate and beautiful - I sit there am blown away every time. her changes and song structures and melodies are so unique and brilliant, I just watch her and think to myself "how does she do that??? - where does that come from?" nobody know except Mary, and she's not telling. This will be feature for the ages - I don't recommend missing it. For more info on Mary and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey this weekend (today and tomorrow!!) our friends Gabriel and Isaac are having their film festival - this is a really big deal and they've got a bunch of great films. Here's all the info: http://frozenfilmfest.com/. Thanks so much to everybody who came out to Edinburgh Castle last night for the music portion of the film fest... it was such a beautiful night of music, and I think that's what it's all about.

see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello - how's it going? Hey, I heard Michael and Mark (m&m?) did a slam bang great job last monday sub-hosting, so a big thanks goes out to those guys.

Hey, who's one part Dick Dale, one part Ray Davies, and two parts awesome? this week's feature - Joe Gusich, that's who. Joe's is a great singer-songwriter and man he can write about anything: wallpaper, superman, weirdos and their islands. anything. He's also got some sweet love songs for the ladies and Todd Shipley. Hey, come on out this monday and check him out - he's been in living in Dallas for a while but he's back in full force. It's gonna be a great feature. For more info on Joe and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

New up on the CD section of the Utah website: Michael Koppy and Julie Larson. Great stuff - check out their new CDs and all of our other CDs here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

Hey this coming weekend our friends Gabriel and Isaac are having their film festival - this is a really big deal and they've got a bunch of great films. Here's all the info: http://frozenfilmfest.com/. I'll bring the popcorn if you'll bring the pop - woop hold that thought - you probably can't sneak refreshments into the theaters anymore. Anyways, it's gonna be good stuff. They got events going all weekend long, including a music show at Edinburg Castle on Friday night.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Good morning! ahh, lovely weekend... well, enough chit chat, let's get right down to business. This monday at the utah we're having duo's night (or collaboration night, if you want to be all P.C. about it). This night is all about collaborating with some one (or some people) that you've never collaborated with before. It works like this: you find somebody who you'd like to play with and then you teach them one of your songs, and then on monday, you sign up, but only put your name in the hat - and when your name is called your duo (or group) will come up and play your rocking tune. You can perform with as many different collaborations as possible, but you can only perform one of your songs.

I mentioned this last week, and its worth mentioning again... the Bay Guardian is conducting their annual readers poll for the "Best of the Bay" edition, and one of the categories is "best open mic"... http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/. It would warm my heart if you voted for The Utah. I'll say no more. (except the polls close on wed. night, so don't delay!)

Hey, this week's feature is Malia Fee! Yes, Malia is returning to the utah - Malia was a long time regular at the utah about a year ago and she would entertain us with her sultry singing and piano work and then charm us with her charms. But then... the great talent magnet in LA pulled her down the coast, all before she had a chance to feature! Well, the wait is over. We're finally going to get a hear a featured set from Malia, and I guarantee its going to be wonderful. For more info on Malia and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Big news: on July 2nd, I'm going to be out of town (I'll be in Wisconsin), and Mr. Michael Loebs will be hosting (and Mark Underwood will be working the sound board). Very exciting - I picture a night of mirth and possibly some Brittany Spears covers. I'm sorry I'm going to miss it.

That's about all I have. We'd love to see you on monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello... how's it going? yeah, I'm doing good too. Hey, one thing that's happening right now is the Bay Guardian is conducting their annual readers poll for the "Best of the Bay" edition, and one of the categories just happens to be "best open mic"... http://www.sfbg.com/bob/2007/. I'll say no more. (except the voting ends next week, so please don't delay in voting for your favorite open mic). (also, I really hope that The Utah is your favorite open mic). I'll say no more.

This weeks' feature is non other than El Zakadore! Very exciting. Yes, the falcon of rock will return. I ask you this - who rocks harder than El Zakadore? No one - there's your answer. Axl Rose when he's had a double mocachino maybe approaches Zak's level, maybe. I think Zak will be playing the hits with his rocking band. It's gonna be a great feature. For more info on El Zakadore! and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey check this out, Slim Critchlow did a bunch of filming of the open mic a couple of weeks ago and he's got the videos done and up on the ol' internet. Check them out here: http://theopenmic.net/HotelUtah. If you performed that night, but you don't see your video up there, its because he needed to get your permission to use your performance and he wasn't able to track you down.

Don't forget, on June 25th we're having another theme night... It's going to be a duets night - the idea is that you'll get together with somebody you've never (or rarely) played with before and teach them one of your songs and maybe work out some harmonies and then perform as a duo on the 25th. If you already play as part of a duo, it'd be cool if you broke up for one night and played as part of a new duo. The way the signup will work is the songwriter will signup with their name - and then when it comes time to perform, the songwriter will be joined by whoever is playing with them. You can join as many different songwriters as you like, but you can only perform once as the songwriter (you can only play one of your songs).

Hey, I don't know if you heard about the San Francisco's Frozen Film Fest... (http://www.frozenfilmfestival.com)... It's a film fest that's going on in the middle of July and it's the brain child of our friends Garbriel the poet and Isaac Woodrow. Anyways, there's a music competition portion of the festivities with the winners playing at Edinburg Castle on Friday, July 13 as part of the film fest's opening gala. Here's all the details on the film fest: http://www.frozenfilmfestival.com/pages/musiccomp.html. I am now running the music portion of the film fest, so if you want to submit your music, just bring me a CD on monday and I'll get it to the judges. (note - they've got a $12 entry fee, so you'd have to bring that too. if you can't afford the fee, but still want to enter, come talk to me and we can figure something out). NOTE: this monday is the deadline for submitting music, so if you'd like to enter, please bring me a cd this monday.

That's about all I have. Hope to see you this monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello - hope your Saturday's going good so far. Hey, I was listening to NPR last week when I heard a familiar voice - our friend (and Utah Challenge 2002 winner!) Reba Hasko was on NPR's All Songs Considered - check it out here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10783003. ...and then I started looking at the other people that I missed - turns out Matt Adams from the Blank Tapes was on on 5/24 and Oakland's old Vermillion Lies was on on 5/31. Great stuff. If you want to submit you music for consideration, go here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4982872

The is week's feature is Coexist - a duo featuring Tyler Gordon and Chris Harrison. Tyler is a very soulful singer - when he reminds me of a youthful Joe Cocker, maybe a toned down youthful Joe Cocker, but not in the cliche neck veiny way - he's just got that rare quality in his voice that conveys so much more than what's written in the lyrics. Tyler is tastefully backed up on bass by Chris Harrison. Come check these guys out this Monday - For more info on Coexist and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey, I don't know if you heard about the San Francisco's Frozen Film Fest... (http://www.frozenfilmfestival.com)... It's a film fest that's going on in the middle of July and it's the brain child of our friends Garbriel the poet and Isaac Woodrow. Anyways, there's a music competition portion of the festivities with the winners playing at Edinburg Castle on Friday, July 13 as part of the film fest's opening gala. Here's all the details on the film fest: http://www.frozenfilmfestival.com/pages/musiccomp.html. I am now running the music portion of the film fest, so if you want to submit your music, just bring me a CD on monday and I'll get it to the judges. (note - they've got a $12 entry fee, so you'd have to bring that too. if you can't afford the fee, but still want to enter, come talk to me and we can figure something out).

Don't forget, on June 25th we're having another theme night... It's going to be a duets night - the idea is that you'll get together with somebody you've never (or rarely) played with before and teach them one of your songs and maybe work out some harmonies and then perform as a duo on the 25th. If you already play as part of a duo, it'd be cool if you broke up for one night and played as part of a new duo. The way the signup will work is the songwriter will signup with their name - and then when it comes time to perform, the songwriter will be joined by whoever is playing with them. You can join as many different songwriters as you like, but you can only perform once as the songwriter (you can only play one of your songs).

That's about all I have. Hope to see you this monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello all. Hope you're doing good. I gotta warn you, I've had a lot of coffee this morning. A lot. But I'm gonna do my best to hold it all together for the duration of this email missive.

Remember watching the muppets back when you were a kid or when you were stoned and there was the piano player dog Rowlf. Yeah, well I think Rowlf has come back to life in the performances of this week's feature performer Mike Chase. They don't have the same repertoire, but they got the same soul. If you've seen Mike in action, you know what I'm talking about. My favorite scene from the muppets involving Rowlf: Rowlf walks into an old west tavern and sits down at a rickety upright piano and starts plinking away and says "...boy is this piano out of tune ...I love out of tune pianos" and then he starts playing away. I think of that scene everytime I watch Mike Chase - not because our piano's out of tune, but he's got that same attitude going on. Mike is a brilliant songwriter and a hell of a performer and I guarantee it's gonna be a great feature. For more info on Mike and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

SPECIAL ADDED BONUS!!!! Mike Chase is famous for (among other things) his distinctive YEAH! during the applause section of the performances. As an added bonus, I made a montage of Mike's YEAH!'s for your listening pleasure: http://theutah.org/mp3/mikechase_yeah.mp3

Don't forget, on June 25th we're having another theme night... It's gong to be a duets night - the idea is that you'll get together with somebody you've never (or rarely) played with before and teach them one of your songs and maybe work out some harmonies and then perform as a duo on the 25th. If you already play as part of a duo, it'd be cool if you broke up for one night and played as part of a new duo. The way the signup will work is the songwriter will signup with their name - and then when it comes time to perform, the songwriter will be joined by whoever is playing with them. You can join as many different songwriters as you like, but you can only perform once as the songwriter (you can only play one of your songs).

That's about all I have. Hope to see you this monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. Lots of stuff this week. Lots! But first... in case you were wondering... yes, there will be an open mic this monday even though its a holiday. So, after you get all filled up on BBQ and you're through with the frisbee, come on down to the utah and play us a song.

Hey, this week's feature is Heaven With Your Boots On. Now, I don't think there's ever been a band title that so perfectly fits a band... Heaven With You Boots On is an americana duo featuring some haunting harmonies and sweet guitar and mando pickin'. I'll be honest, I'm a big fan. I think these girls have something special going on and you should make a point to come see them. I think Sonia is leaving for the summer, so this will be your last chance for a while. For more info on Heaven With Your Boots On and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey, Jeremy Hill has started something that's really really cool - he's been doing a little filming of the scene at the utah, and he's opened a youtube site containing some of the videos. Check them out here: http://youtube.com/liveattheutah. Thanks Jeremy - I think this is a great idea.

Bridget has put together another one of her extraordinary photo slideshows. This one is from the May 14th open mic... It looks so good - check it out here: http://theutah.org/slideshows.php. (Thanks so much Bridget! these are a treasure)

Don't forget, on June 25th we're having another theme night... It's gong to be a duets night - the idea is that you'll get together with somebody you've never (or rarely) played with before and teach them one of your songs and maybe work out some harmonies and then perform as a duo on the 25th. If you already play as part of a duo, it'd be cool if you broke up for one night and played as part of a new duo. The way the signup will work is the songwriter will signup with their name - and then when it comes time to perform, the songwriter will be joined by whoever is playing with them. You can join as many different songwriters as you like, but you can only perform once as the songwriter (you can only play one of your songs).

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!: on July 2nd, I will be out of town and the superhuman El Zachadore! will return to host the open mic. El Zach was the host immediately before me and he taught me everything I know about the twisting of the knobs and the different layers of deck...

That's about all I have. Hope to see you this monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello all. How's it going? I'm doing good too. It's my birthday today. (!!) How am I celebrating you ask? Well, I'm going to start the day by updating the utah website and writing to the maiing list, but... later tonight, at 8:30 pm to be exact, I'm going to have a birthday party/concert at the Hotel Utah, and it would make my day to see you there.

This week's feature is Sonya Cotton. I'm not sure what to say about Sonya - I could say that I think she's one of the most talented singersongwriters that I've seen come through the utah in some time, and that is absolutely true, but I don't think that does her justice. She has a dark and mystical quality to her voice such that when she sings, it literally breaks my heart. (I'm probably mean figuratively, as I have not literally perished from Sonya's singing). Anyways, she is very good. I'll leave it at that. For more info on Sonya and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

The next theme night at the utah is going to be on June 25th. It's gong to be a duets night - the idea is that you'll get together with somebody you've never (or rarely) played with before and teach them one of your songs and maybe work out some harmonies and then perform as a duo on the 25th. If you already play as part of a duo, it'd be cool if you broke up for one night and played as part of a new duo. The way the signup will work is the songwriter will signup with their name - at then when it comes time to perform, the songwriter will be joined by whoever is playing with them. You can play with as many different songwriters as you like, but you can only perform once as the songwriter.

Bad news on the recording from last week... it's a messed up. There was some sort of interefence between my audio interfance and my recording software and pretty much every song is messed up. So no utah mix this week... sorry.

that's about all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! hope you're doing good. I'm doing ok. By the time you read this I'll be in NYC hanging out with Frank Rathbone and Neil Howard... Frank and I are working on my new album - very exciting! You know, I sure miss that Frank Rathbone. Stupid New York - first it takes Neil, then Ivan, then Frank, and now Emily Ritz. (although Emily is coming back in a few months). That town is like a big magnet for people I care about.

Hey, this week's feature is Jake Leraul. Jake is a long time alumni of the utah scene. Like me and many others, he got his start performing in the city at the utah, and it's cool for him to come full circle and play a feature for us. For more info on Jake and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey, if you want to get on the list, but can't get there by 7:30 to sign up, just drop me an email at jj@theutah.org on monday any time before 7:30, and I'll put your name in the hat.

that's about all I have today. see you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hola! Hey, I'm back from Old Mexico. I'm not sure how coherent this email's gonna be - I've been on a "20 Corona a day" diet for the past week. Not good. Hey, a big thanks to Bob for hosting my absence.

Hey, this week's feature is the Nicole De Luz. Nicole plays some mean accordion and she is super energetic and fun up there. She's not one to feel constrained by the physical edges of the stage - once she gets into it, she's bound to start walking around, getting everybody on their feet. ...and pretty much all of her performances wind up with the audience joining in and it becomes a grand sing-along. It's gonna be good stuff this monday down at the utah. For more info on Nicole and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

That's about it. I gotta unpack. See you monday!!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello all. Friday! I know, a day early - wild... what's next? Drawing the names at 7pm? Well now I'm being ridiculous. Hey, this week's host is not me - it's the legendary Bob O'Magic. I'm not sure what to say about Bob - he's an icon, a community man, a dear friend. It makes me sad I won't be there.

Speaking of sad I'm not going to be there - this week's feature is DJ Real. If Steve Martin, MC Hammer, and Art Garfunkel ever pro-created, and this offspring was walking around looking for a role model; a hero - somebody they could look up to and model their life after, I imagine they would look to DJ Real. DJ Real combines the dance skills of James Brown with the wit of Mark Silverman with the technology of a boombox to create a perfect storm of musical genius. For more info on DJ Real and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Update on the whole web radio deal: A bill has been introduced in congress: H.R. 2060, the Internet Radio Equality act... This is very good news and very exciting in that it usually takes much longer than a month and a half to get the wheels of government moving. (I wonder if naming the bill IREQ helped grease the wheels on one side of congress...)

If you support overturning the March 1st CRB ruling, right now is the time that you can make a difference. What would really help get this bill into commitee and all that is if you'd call your congressman or woman and ask them to sponsor this bill. For more information on the bill, click here. For an easy way to find your representative in congress, check this out. For those you who are local and have written to Diane Feinstein, it's not too surprising that she has her facts a bit wrong and is not exactly sympathetic to the cause: check this out. (She's recieved the second most amount of money from PACs in the Recorded Music Production sector...)

Take care. Give Bob a squeeze for me.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Last night started out so innocently... Went out for dinner, had some wine. 500 club? sure, I'll stop for one... and now it's saturday morning and I feel like a character from a Johnny Cash song (or maybe that's Kris Kristofferson). Maybe I should find a new hobby.

Hey, this week's feature is Jon Moldover. Jon is an excellent singersongwriter - to me, his songs evoke a lot of the same feelings as some of the great psychedelic rock bands from the 60s (but without the drums or the drugs). Plus! he plays guitar like Jimi Hendrix: a right handed guitar held upside down for a left handed genius. It should be a really cool feature. For more info on Jon and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey, remember back in March when I was talking about the internet royalty fiasco? Well, I thought I'd give you a little update on what's been going on. Ok, I'll give some context first, and then I'll give an update...

The Copyright Royalty Board (the CRB) is a government appointed panel of judges who are responsible for defining the royalty rates that radio stations must pay to the music's copyright holders. Back on March 1st, the CRB set new royalty rates for music when played on an internet radio station. The new rate ruling had two parts:
1. they dramatically increased the royalty rates payed to owner of performance copyright (usually the record label) for music played on an internet radio station. This royalty rate is only payed by internet radio stations - regular, over the air radio stations do not have to pay this royalty.
2. previously, small webcasters received a price break on these royalties. this ruling changed the rules that define who is a small webcaster such that you must be a really tiny webcaster in order to qualify. Most radio stations that used to be small webcasters are now classified as large webcasters and must pay the normal royalty rate.

Since this decision is retroactive to 2006, most all internet radio stations owe a huge, unanticipated, wad of cash to the copyright holders (the record labels). The amount owed is especially prohibitive for radio stations that used to be considered small and are now considered large. Most of these mom and pop stations now owe in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (and if you think the RIAA has any qualms about suing people to get their cash, read this http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/02/05/riaa_sues_the_dead).

Going forward, these new rates make it impossible to run an internet based radio that does not lose money. The only people who will be able to broadcast over the internet are the large corporations (clear channel, aol, etc.) who can afford to broadcast as a loss-leader (they run the internet radio station at a loss in the hopes of recouping the cash in other parts of the business). Internet radio will closely resemble the over-the-air radio: only artists pushed by the major labels will get any airplay. This is, of course, a much more profitable business model for the major labels - they can concentrate their expensive marketing campaigns on fewer artists, and they have greater control over what the people are going to listen to.

To bring this all full circle, the major labels are represented by the RIAA (the RIAA is a lobbying group that represents the 6 or so largest labels). The RIAA has major connections with the Republican Party (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29504-2003Sep5), who, in their former role as the party in power, appointed the CRB, who, in turn, gave the RIAA everything they asked for.

When these rates came out, most everybody looked around and said "WTF?!?". This ruling only helps the labels get a little richer, and it hurts artists, radio stations, and music lovers. So... artists, radio stations, and music lovers have been starting to band together to get this ruling overturned, and there a couple of websites devoted to this cause. My favorite is http://www.savenetradio.org. The first step in this process was to appeal to the CRB to reconsider their decision. Last week, the CRB denied this appeal (http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2007/04/crb_votes_to_ke.html). This is a bummer, but it was not unexpected. The next step is motivate congress to propose legislation overturning this decision. This is where you can help: please contact your congressman and let them know how you feel about this topic. If no action is taken and these rates stand, internet radio will go down the tubes and you will lose a major outlet for your music.

Phew! I think this is all time record long email. I better cut it off here. I'd love to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. How's it going? I'm doing good - saw the Moanin' Dove over at the Bottom of the Hill last night, and those guys... I'm not sure what to say - but when the guardian comes out with their best band in the bay poll, I'm voting for Moanin' Dove. But even if they win, it would not do them justice. The Guardian needs to have a best band in the universe poll. But even if they won that, it would not do them justice. You know, I tend to overuse the word awesome (and sometimes 'sweet'), but... those guys are awesome and it was great to see a packed house at Bottom of the Hill for their show.

Hey, speaking of awesome (and sweet), this week's feature is none other than Andy Mason. Andy is a great songwriter in the spirit of Neil Young and maybe some Phil Ochs before he went crazy. He plays some fine guitar and has been know pull out a harmonica now then. Anyways, I'm really excited to have him play a full set down at the utah. Should be cool. For more info on Andy and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Hey, we started something sort of new last week - as you probably know, we've got a handy dandy gig listing up on the utah website. We now have an additional way to get your gigs up there - if you come down to the utah, we pass around a gig listing list. Just write down your gig and we'll do all of the internet fiddling to get it up there (I say we, but it's really Miriam Huichapan who's doing all the work. Many thanks to her for volunteering!). You can still add your gigs the old way from the comfort of your own computer by going here (http://theutah.org/addshow.html).

Don't forget, April 30th is the return of Bob O'Magic. (!) very exciting. Hey, that's about all I have for today. thanks for reading. I'd love to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Hope everybody is doing good. Hey, this week's feature is Lonnie Lazar and his band "Lonnie Don't". Lonnie is a great singer/songwriter who's been part of the utah scene since 1991. 1991! It'd be interesting to hear him tell some stories about what the utah scene back then. Anyways, he's got some great songs and he's a wonderful performer and it's gonna be a great feature. For more info on Lonnie and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Mark your calendar for the April 30th return of Bob O'Magic. He's returning for good - it's a one night only type deal while I'm in vacation. If you don't know Bob, he was the host of the utah for a number of years, and he was the host when I first started coming, and he's really cool.

Anwyays, that's about it. Short (but sweet) this week. See you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello... hey, so I messed up in my last email - Bob O'Magic is hosting on April 30th, not April 23rd. (I had the dates wrong on my vacation) (Thanks to my Mom for pointing that out)....

Hey, this week's feature is If Your Hands Were Metal, That Would Mean Something (from here on out referred to as IYHWMTWMS). IYHWMTWMS is an acoustic duo from Hollister CA, and they've been trecking out to the utah most every monday now for quite a while. Honestly, I have no idea where Hollister is, but it sure feels like it's far far away. (I'm like this with Burlingame as well.) I'm really glad they've been making the trip, though, because I'm a huge fan. They've got some really smart anti-folk songs - they remind me a little Violent Femmes - maybe some Zappa as well. It's great stuff. Come check them out this Monday. For more info on IYHWMTWMS and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

We've had a number of great fundraising ideas come in, and there's two that we're going to start working on right away. The first fundraiser is a benefit concert with all proceeds going to theutah.org - this is most likely going to happen at (where else) The Hotel Utah sometime in June. The second fundraising plan is to set up a system where you can buy prints of the photos that Bridget is taking. Bridget and I are still working on the logistics for this one, but the basic idea is you'll be able to purchase prints of the photos that you're in - mostly likely through an online printing service. I'll let you know more about these fundraisers as we get them hammered out - I just wanted to give you an idea of what we've been working on in case you had any suggestions.

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Ahh... another saturday, another utah cd. - I just finished putting the final touches on the new CD, and I'm listening to it right now and thinking that the Utah is as vital now as I can ever remember. There are some very talented artists walking through the doors these monday nights, and I'd be a big fan of them and their music regardless if I knew them or not. Anyways, if you'd like to take a listen to these CDs we're making, you can always stop on down and ask me for a CD (and then play us a song, dang it!), but if you can't make it, I set up a Podcast and a "Listen" page on the Utah website: http://theutah.org/listen.php.

This monday, we have Mr. Brent Renken featuring at the Utah. Brent writes some soulful songs and has the chops to match. Check out more info on Brent here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, about.com listed as the 6th best open mic in the country. (and the best in California) Check it out here: folkmusic.about.com. That's pretty cool. Thanks to Nina Jo for the tip.


Ok, that's about it for now. Hope everybody is doing well.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey how's it going? Yeah, I'm doing good too. You probably noticed that the email's a little early today. I noticed too. Anyways, it's early today because I'm heading to the studio in a little bit to start work on my new album! very exciting. It's gonna be huge (in Europe). Hey, I record down at Last Stop Records with Alex Muscat - if you're looking to put an album together, I highly recommend Alex and Last Stop. Check em out at http://laststoprecords.com. The gear there is top notch and they've got some of the best prices in town. (Plus Alex is a heck of a guy.)

This week's feature is JC Tourbillion! Yeah, I know. It's gonna be great. JC is folksinger of the first order, and no matter what he's singing or playing, he's always got a little twinkle in his eye. Plus! - I believe he has the largest collection of guitars on earth, and it's always exciting to see what he's gonna bring out. It's gonna be a really great feature. For more info on JC and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

This just in!!! On Monday, April 23rd, I'm going to be off to Mexico for a little R and R. I know, I know - Mexico: it's so darn hot, why'd anybody go? Anyways, the big news is that the one and only Bob O'Magic will guest host that night - just like the old days. (Bob was the host of the utah for a number of years). So, if you really can't stand me, but miss the utah - April 23rd is your night! Or if you like me and miss Bob - April 23rd is your night. It'll be good times. I'm just sorry I won't be there.

ok, that's about it. Hope to see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Good morning. Hey, I was at Frank Rathbone's going away party last night - I don't know if you've heard, but he's moving to New York. That darn New York... it got another one of us. That town is picking us off one by one. Sometimes two by two. Before you know it, we'll all be out there. Anyways, it was so great to see a bunch of my utah friends in a setting where I don't have to do sound and announce who's on double deck...

Hey, this week's feature is Emily Ritz. I am such a huge fan of Emily and her music - her songs are so beautiful - abstract, whimsical, sassy. and her voice... so full of natural vibrato and emotion - really unique and unforgettable. Did I mention that I'm a huge fan of Emily? Hey, come check her out this monday. For more info on Emily and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

You know Gabriel right? Well, he's got a few sticks in the fire that I want to tell you about. He's founded a film festival - The Frozen Film Festival - that's happening here in San Francisco from July 12th to the 15th, and as a leadup to the festival, he's running music competition, with the winners getting to play at the film festival's opening gala. Sounds cool - no? If you'd more info, check this out: http://frozenfilmfestival.com/pages/musiccomp.html.

We've been getting a lot questions about the beautiful photographs that Bridget has been taking of the show at the utah, and so she's put together an FAQ. It's good stuff - you can check it out here: http://www.200pockets.com/pdf/200pockets_open_mic_policy.pdf.

I'd like to give you an update on the whole RIAA / Internet Radio deal, but I don't have much. I guess one bit of news is NPR is getting involved in trying to get CRB decision overturned, so that's cool. Anyways, this is going to be a long battle - it won't be something that'll be figured out in the next month or two, but it's important to keep it on your radar (and on your congressman's radar). If nobody takes any action, this ruling will stand, and it will be the end of a lot of the outlets for your music. Not good. Anyways, sometimes I like to check out what the bloggers are saying on the topic.

Ok, hope you're doing well. We'd love to see you this monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Wow, what a great night last monday! - everybody covering each other songs. When somebody covers your song - to me, that's one of the biggest compliments a person can give. Hey, I've got a bunch of stuff in the email - this one is packed! It even gets slightly political at the end, which is rare for me. But first...

This week's feature is Scaramanga headed up by long time Utah alumni, Jamilton. It's been a while since Jamilton's graced us with his tunes, so I'm excited to see him back on the stage. Hopefully some of our friends from the old days will come out as well.. For more info on Scaramanga and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, there's a new slide show from Bridget! She came out and photographed the "cover your friend's song night", and the photos came out exceptionally well. She said there was something about the lighting that night that made them look soo good. Check 'em all out right here: http://theutah.org/slideshows.php

I don't know if you heard about this or not, but there was a ruling last monday that affects all musicians, and not in a good way. There's a lot of good info on the ruling and its impact here and here, but I'll summarize a bit as well. (Full disclosure - I work for an internet radio station, but I'm also an artist who'd lose a lot of the channels through which people hear my music. Internet radio is one of the major outlets for my music and most independent artists).

Anyways, last week the Copyright Royalty Board (the CRB) decided upon new royalty rates for the broadcast of music played over the internet. The ruling had two bits that are very negative for internet radio stations: they tripled the performance royalty and they lowered the bar that determines if your are a small webcaster (and not subject to the normal royalty). The increased royalty rates basically make it economically impossible to run an internet radio station. The math just doesn't work out. The royalty that's been tripled is the royalty applied to the performance - basically the recorded song. It's separate from the composer's and arranger's royalties. One interesting thing to note is this royalty only applies to internet radio - broadcast radio stations do not have to pay this type of royalty at all.

As an artist, you may say "More Royalties == GOOD!". Well, that is true on some level, but this ruling will result in far few stations playing your music, so, cash wise, it's a net negative to the artist. The ruling is such that only large corporations (Clear Channel and the like) will be able to afford the royalty. This is a very bad thing - it brings internet radio closer to the monopoly that broadcast radio enjoys: few stations playing what the RIAA wants them to play. The RIAA is organization that represents the 6 or so largest labels. Labels are more profitable when there is less choice - it's a more profitable business model to promote fewer artists.

What's worse is that these rates are retro-active to 2006, and since they also redefined what it means to be a small broadcaster (small broadcasters are not subject to the same royalty rates - they get a break) - a lot of radio stations that were small broadcasters prior to the ruling are now defined as large broadcasters, and they owe LOTS and LOTS of money for 2006. They are basically out of business. Radio Paradise is an example of former small station that's now a large station that owes a ton of cash to the RIAA. (side note: did you know that the head of the RIAA is Bill Frist (R-Tenn)'s former Chief of Staff? I didn't know that either. It's interesting though..). I can go on and on, but there's plenty to read on the internet already. Check here for the latest.

Anyways, what can we do? Who knows. If these rates stand, it's a very bad thing for you and me. So can they be overturned? It's looking like congress will have to get involved - they have to be made aware of negative impact of this ruling, and they have to introduce legislation. Congressmen tend to listen when they hear from their constituents, so one thing you definitely can do is write your congressman

Ok, I'm off my soap box now. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

ahhh, big week this week. big week. First off, it's my one year aniversary has host. Hard to believe it's been a year. Time flies I guess... Plus, in addition, other than all that, it's COVER YOUR FRIEND'S SONG NIGHT. Yep, hard to believe it's cover your friend's song night. Time flies I guess... Hey, you should learn your friend's song an come and play it for is this monday. It'll be a hoot.

Hey, you know who the feature is this week? If you do, please drop me an email because I forg.... ha ha, just kidding. I am so funny. This week's feature is none other than Lani's punk band, Girls with Guns!! Plus, you probably know this already, but Jenni Brooks plays guitar in this band as well. Yeah, I know, it's gonna be awesome. For more info on Girls with Guns and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

New up on the CD section of the website: Danny Scherr and his pop gem of a new album, Richmond Special. Check it out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

That's about all I have. Hope to see you soon. Hey, if you're not doing anything this sunday night, I'm playing in the East Bay at Epic Arts with Kit and Tanya and Chris Hanson as part of the legendary Twang Cafe concert series. The show starts at 7pm.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. How's it going? Do you have your cover song ready? yeah, me neither. I gotta get on that... only one more week until March 5th. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, March 5th is cover your friend's song night - here's all the details: http://theutah.org/newsletter.php#01_20_2007

This week's feature is none other than Chris Hanson. Other than being a hell of a guy, Chris is an awarding winning song-writer - he recently one "best song" in Berkeley at the West Coast Songwriter's Association awards. He can sing too. I'm not sure what else I can say about him, except, you know, I have heard a lot of singer song writers in my day, and Chris is one of my absolute favorites. For the whole scoop on Chris and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

New up on the CD section Utah website: Jeanne Foss. Check her CD out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

That's about all I have. Hope to see you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's everybody doing? Man, I've been sick. I finally caught that flu that was going around, so I've been flat on my back for the last couple days. But enough about me, let's talk utah open mic.

This week's feature is Craig Koozer. I've known Craig for many years and have always dug his music. His songs and his performances are never overbearing - he's very subtle in his songwriting and his performing. I love it because it draws me in and makes me think a bit about what he's doing. Good stuff - I'm really looking forward to his feature. For more info on Craig and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Don't forget that on Monday, March 5th, we're going to have another "Cover your friend's song night" over at the utah. What you do see, is you talk to one of your musician friends and say "hey man, can you teach me this song of yours?", and then you play it for us on the 5th. Gonna be sweet.

That's about all I have. We'd love to see you on monday night.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's it going? I'm doing pretty good. I saw Merle Haggard and Neko Case at the Paramount last night, so that was cool, but enough about me. Hey, I was brainstorming on ways to get some additional revenue into the ol' Utah kitty - there's a bunch of utah stuff that takes moola - things like the website, the podcast, the house guitar, the utah mix cds, etc., anyways, long story short is I was thinking of putting some advertisements up on the utah site. The website gets a lot of traffic, and it'd be an easy way to help pay the bills. Anyways, I know ads on websites are a touchy subject with some, so if you have any concerns (or any ideas for other sources of revenue), please drop me a note in our suggestion box: http://theutah.org/suggestions.php

Hey, this week's feature is one of the most uniquely talented song writers I've heard in a long time: Andy Rothwell. I can honestly say that I've never heard anybody who writes songs like Andy. Truly original - and really great, smart and funny songs. We've got a few of his songs up on the utah site, and I'm really excited to hear what he has cooked up for us this monday. Should be good. For more info on Andy and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, don't forget that on March 5th, we're having another Cover Your Friend's Song Night. In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us. It's a lot of fun.

New up on the CD section of the utah website: a novel by Gabriel. I know I know, it's not a CD, but let's not get all tangled up in the semantics. It's all art from the utah community. And he'd be appreciative if you bought some of it. He's actually got a bunch of novels out, but I only had time to put 1 of them up there. Check it out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php

That's about all I have. We'd love to see you on monday night.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. Hope you're doing good. I've been hanging in there - I've been so busy! But you know what they always say - the busy bee gets the worm. Hey, don't forget that on March 5th, we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us. It's a lot of fun.

This weeks's feature is Parasol - a duo of two of our good friends: Kacey Johansing and Mike Deni. So, as you can see, this is not just a duo, but it's a super group as well. What can I say about Kacey and Mike that you don't already know. Two of the most talented people that I know, that's for sure, so it's really cool they're playing together. For more info on Parasol and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

If you have a CD that you'd like to get up on the utah's website, please drop me an email and I'll get it up there. I don't know if you've seen it, but we've got all of Keith Savage's reviews up there as well - http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Ahh, we meet again. Hey, this week's feature down at the utah is AP Drama - a 3 piece band from San Francisco. I gotta say I've been really blown away by their song writing these last few months. For the redemption song night, Mike came out with one of my favorites of the evening - a really powerful song called Redemption Arizona. I hope they play it again this week. Anyways, this is a really talented group, and you should come check them out. For more info on AP Drama and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

I finally got my CDs up on the the CD Section of the website, along with the entire Keith Savage review collection. Check it out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your cd up on the website, just drop me an email and I'll get it up there.

The next songwriting theme night is March 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us. You can have a listen to the last "Cover your friend's song night" right here. That night was a blast...

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. Hope you're doing well. Hey, the redemption song night was huge success - a lot of great new songs were written. check them out here if you want. The next theme night will be on March 5th - we're going to do another "Cover your friend's song night". In case you missed it the last time around, that's where you learn one of your friend's songs and you play it for us. You can have a listen to the last "Cover your friend's song night" right here.

This week's feature is Lux Deluxe and his band The Reverse. Lux is a bit of a cross between Mick Jagger and Club Deluxe. ha - just kidding. Lux is an excellent singer songwriter with some old school rockstar sensibilities. He can work it if you know what I mean. I think you do. I'm very excited to hear his full band up on the utah stage - he usually rocks us out solo. It should be a great show. For more info on Lux and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Bridget put together a photo slideshow for the 1/15 open mic - have a look here http://theutah.org/slideshows.php. The slideshows look so good, we really are indebted to her for her efforts. She does these slideshows totally on her own time for free and makes them available to us out of her own pocket. The next time you see Bridget, please thank her - her work is really invaluable.

New CDs up on the Utah website: Koozito and True Margrit. Check 'em out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

Hey, did anybody happen to catch us in the Chronicle on thursday? They had a great photo of Fancy Dan. You can check out the web portion of the feature here.

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all. Big stuff this week. Huge. But first, if you're an itunes or an ipod user, you should subscribe to our podcast. It's really easy. Just click here. The recordings have been coming out great, and it's be a shame if you missed them. Also, if you want to check out our recording archive, have a look here: http://theutah.org/listen.php

This week we're having a song writing theme night - where everybody writes a new song that contains (or is about) a certain word or phrase. Kind of like the secret word from Pee Wee's Playhouse, only with music (and everybody knows the word). So yeah, the theme of the songwriting night is Redemption. Write a song about redemption or containing the word redemption and play it for us this monday. Should be cool.

Big news: I just got word that some people from the Chronicle are coming down this monday to take pictures and talk with us - they want to do a feature on what's going on. Very exciting stuff.

Hey, this week's feature is Mr. Todd Shipley. Todd is rocker with that acoustic guitar - he's got the soul and chops and enough personality to fill any room. and to boot: he's a community guy - he figured out soon on that the reason we all get together every monday is not just so we can play our songs and have a beer - it's because of the people down there, and that's what it's all about. I'm very excited to hear what he's got cooked up for us - come on down and have a listen. For more info on Todd and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Too late to say "happy new year"? I'm probably pushing the envelope on that one - I think the 3rd is accepted the cutoff. Ah to heck with it - Happy New Year!!! Personally, I resolved to stop eating cheddarwursts - but that went out the window yesterday. I should probably set more reasonable goals....

...like writing a song for the January 15th songwriting theme night. That's right, at the January 15 open mic, we're having another songwriting theme night. The theme for that night is "Redemption songs" - so write us a new song about redemption - be it personal or coupon - and play it for us that night.

This week's feature is none other than Frank Rathbone. A better songwriter you won't find. A better guitar player, I know of none. A finer person, not out there. If you don't know Frank, I feel for you - I recommend coming down this monday and checking him out. I am very excited for this feature - it's gonna be awesome. For more info on Frank and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

New CDs up on the Utah website: Terese Taylor, Adam Balbo, and Joey Sunset. Check 'em out here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

Note on the gig listings: our gig listings are managed by upcoming.org. If you'd like your show listed on the utah website and in this email, you can add it yourself here: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. Or, Bridget has volunteered to add your show to upcoming.org - you can drop her a message at http://www.myspace.com/200pockets with your gig info, and she'll add it for you. (isn't that cool of her?)


Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. It's morning for me right now, so I feel compelled to say "good morning". That's the midwesterner in me. Hey, just a reminder, at the January 15 open mic, we're having another songwriting theme night. The theme for that night is "Redemption songs" - so write us a new song about redemption - be it personal or coupon - and play it for us that night.

This week's feature is Stitchcraft. Yeah, they're great. In case you've been stuck in Tibet or Greenland or someplace and haven't heard about Stitchcraft - they're a hugely talented duo that plays folk/roots music. They do a lot of beautiful and complex harmonizing and they are really amazing songwriters. This is a feature that is not to be missed. For more info on Stitchcraft and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

New up on the CD section of the Utah website: Reba Hasko. It was great to hear from Reba - it's been so long. She knew me when I had hair. yeah, anyways, I was checking out her website and she's been doing great things in Berlin. Chech out her brand new CD and all of our CDs here: http://theutah.org/cdreviews.php. If you'd like to get your CD up on the site, just drop me an email with an image of the cover art and a short review or write up, and I'll get it up there.

Want to get involved with the Utah? The utah is hiring (paying is another matter). We need your help. Yes, I am talking to you. We need somebody to help us get set up as a non-profit. If we were organized as a non-profit, a number of additional funding opportunities and gov. programs would become available to us. We could do things like investigate a group health insurance plan for uninsured musicians, put on songwriting workshops for would be songwriters - stuff like that. I'm just thinking out loud right now. Also, we need your help in promoting our live CD's and podcasts to a larger audience - that can be as simple as just listing us on all of the podcast directories that you can find. Anyways, drop me a note if you'd like to help out.

This monday's open mic is the last one until January 8th. Both Christmas and New Years fall on a monday this year, and so there's no open mics.

Ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi! How's everybody doing? I'm doing good too. Hey, lots of stuff this week, but first:

This week's feature is City Mouth Country Mouth - the sometime duo, sometime sextet from Texas. Well, they're not all from texas, and possibly none of them are, but they sing like they are - and I mean that in a good way. They're some the best county crooners to come around and it should be a heck of a feature. For more info on City Mouth County Mouth and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Want to get involved with the Utah? Yeah, me too. No wait, I'm already chin deep involvement... Hey, there's a bunch of stuff that I'd like to do with the Utah, but I need help. Some of the things I'm thinking of are: promoting our live CD's and podcasts to a larger audience, organize theutah.org's finances as a non-profit, start a record label, etc. If you want help out and take the lead on any of these fronts, let me know.

We have a new section on the Utah website: a a cd listing section. If you've got a cd out and would like to list it on our website, drop me an email, and I'll put it up there. Currently, we just have the Moanin' Dove's new cd up there, but I'd like to fill it up with all of our cds.

Hey, the next big song-writing theme night is on January 15, and the theme is (drum roll...) "Redemption songs". Here's how it works: write a new song about redemption and come and play it for us on the 15th. I'm not sure who suggested this theme because the suggestions were anonymous, but it's a good one.

Ok, that's about it. Come on out this Monday!
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. Brr! Little chilly this morning... Hey, big news for me on a personal level this week - on monday morning I start my new job over at pandora.com. It's my first jobby-job working with music - so suffice to say, I'm pretty stoked.

Meanwhile, down at the ol' utah, Baha is featuring this week. Very exciting. Baha is a wicked good singersongwriter - her songs have that wonderful quality of being both poignant and melodic. She's one of those artists that when she starts playing, the whole room quiets down to listen. I love it when that happens. Anyways, for more info on Baha and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

I'm still gathering suggestions for the January 15th songwriting theme night - you know, where everybody writes a new song about a certain theme or with a certain phrase. If you have any ideas, drop me a suggestion here: http://theutah.org/suggestions.php.

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. How about that tryptophan? Yah, powerful stuff - that's why I baste my turkey with Red Bull. Well, I hope everybody is recovered enough come monday - Mr. Michael Beese is featuring. Yeah, that's right, the fiddle playing rock god Michael Beese. He'll be performing with a number of collaborators - it should be awesome. Hey, for more info on Mike and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

I would like to do another songwriting theme night - you know, where everybody writes a new song about a certain theme or with a certain phrase. I was thinking having it happen at the Jan 15th open mic, but I'm not sure what the theme or phrase should be. If you have any ideas, drop me a suggestion here: http://theutah.org/suggestions.php

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all. Man, I am still recovering from Lani's huge showcase that went down last thursday at the Argus Lounge. If you were there, you'll know what I mean when I say that nights like that is what it's all about.

Hey, this weeks's feature is Powel Street Station - a band featuring the hugely talented Michael Loebs. We've been graced with Michael's presence down at the utah for some time now. Michael is a great songwriter and singer, and, to boot, he has no qualms about whipping the crowd into a frenzy an impromptu version of "Hey ya". Nor should he have any qualms. For more info on Michael and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all. Hope everybody's doing good. Couple things going on this week, but first let me tell you about the feature...

This week's feature is Fancy Dan. I gotta say, I really dig Fancy Dan - he's got some Hank in his voice and some Elvis in his hips, and he writes some great songs. And I'm not even mentioning his genius name. For more info on Dan and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

As I'm sure you've noticed, we record the show down there at the utah, and every week, we come out with a utah mix CD (and this CD is podcasted). Because of space constraints, not every song gets on the CD. This can be a bummer for somebody if they really want to hear what their song sounded like, and as a result, I get a lot of requests from people to go back into the archives to find their performance. In the past, I have had to turn down these requests, because it's really time consuming to back and find songs in the archives. Anyways, to address this problem, starting from the Nov. 6th open mic, I changed the way I process the recordings such that it'll be easy for me to get you a copy of your music if I couldn't fit it on the CD. You can just drop me an email, and I'll send you an mp3. Note: recordings made prior to the Nov. 6th open mic (last week) are still very difficult for me to dig up, so I won't be able to fulfill requests for those songs.

Bridget from 200pockets has been so generous with her time and has continued to take these amazing photos of the open mic and compiling them into slideshows. Have a look here http://theutah.org/slideshows.php - we've got the November 6th open mic up, plus all of the other shows she's done. Next time you see her at the Utah, please let her know how much you appreciate her efforts.

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Good morning! How's it going? I'm doing good - already on my second cup of coffee, replacing one set of shakes for another. Hey, I don't have a lot of news this week, so this newsletter is going to be short (but sweet).

This week's feature is Mr. Chris Peck. Yeah, I know - dude's got skills: in addition to the singing-songwriting, he's a wicked MC, and even wickeder dancer. No fooling. It's going to be a great feature. For more info on Chris, and all of the upcoming features, have a peak here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, if you have a show or an event coming up, you can add it our website - here's how: http://theutah.org/addshow.html. Once you've added it, it'll automatically be listed on the website and on http://upcoming.org (really cool).

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. How's it going? I'm doing good too. Hey, thanks to Josey Baker for hosting last week while I was up in North Dakota with my old man. From all acounts of the evening, Josey did a heck of a job. What a guy, that Josey Baker!

Hey this week's feature is Jeremy Hill. We've been waiting a while to hear a feature from Jeremy, and it's finally here. Jeremy's got a whole bunch of great songs, and they tend to get stuck in your head a bit. Some of Jeremy's songs make some keen social commentary, and some are just plane toe tappers. It's gonna be a great feature. For more info on Jeremy and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Bridget from 200 pockets has been has been coming out to the utah recently and she's been taking some wonderful photographs of the goings on. She's been very generous and compiled these photographs into cool flash movies. I put them got them up on the utah site - check them out here: http://theutah.org/slideshows.php

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Remember how Martin Lawrence used to say WHATUP! whenever he answered the phone? Yeah, I don't remember that either, but... WHATUP! Hey, hope you're doing good. I'm doing good too. Hey, the house guitar was a big hit last week - lots of people playing and signing it. For those of you who didn't get last week's email, we now have a house guitar that will be available every monday night for anyone to play. (and everybody who plays the house guitar gets to sign it). So you can totally leave your guitar at home and just show up and play ours - it's a nice guitar - a Martin with a solid spruce top and electronics and a volume control. It even has a "brilliance" control, which, apparently, makes you more brilliant (or less, depending on which way you turn the knob), so that's cool.

Hey this week's feature is our old friend Neil Howard. That's right, it's Neil Howard week over at the Utah. Neil was one of the stars of the utah and the San Francisco music scene before New York city sucked him over to the other side of the country. New York... typical. Anyways, Neil is coming out with a new album in a few months. He's also appearing off-off-Broadway as the lead in the New York production of Eight ways to meet your neighbor. For more info on Neil and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, there's a Big Show this sunday (the 15th)... Nina Jo's Redwood River Music is presenting Fried Pickles Front Porch Jam! Featuring utah faves Nina Jo Smith, Crystal Eastman, Toy Yamaji, Robin Galante, Jeanne Foss, Ruth Butler. What a lineup! It's an afternoon show, starting at 3pm. For more info, have a look here: http://thehotelutahsaloon.com/calendar.php

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Hope everybody is enjoying this beautiful weekend - I'm off to the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass show in a little bit myself. Very exciting. Hey, the big news this week is we now have "house" guitar over at the Utah - if you're not partial to playing your own guitar, you can stop on by guitar-free. There'll be a guitar all set up, plugged in, and ready to go.

Hey, this week's feature is none other than Danny Scherr. Yeah, I know - he's good. He's had songs in hit movies. He's even got a song written about him. Danny is a longtime friend of the utah and a swell fella and a gifted songwriter - it's gonna be a great feature. For more info on Danny, and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, there's a Big Show coming up!: On sunday, October 15th, Nina Jo is putting on a show over at the Hotel Utah, featuring utah faves Nina Jo Smith, Crystal Eastman, Toy Yamaji, Robin Galante, Jeanne Foss, Ruth Butler. What a lineup! It's an afternoon show, starting at 3pm. For more info, have a look here: http://thehotelutahsaloon.com/calendar.php

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. How's it going? Hey, I don't have a whole lot of news this week, except to say that if you weren't at the utah last monday, you missed one of the best nights I have ever seen there. Seriously. You know every now and then you get "one of those nights" where you dig everybody, well that was last monday. And you don't have to take my word for it, the proof is right here: http://theutah.org/listen.php

Hey, I am really excited about this week's feature - Mr. Artemas The Human, aka Artemas Primed, aka Moon Man Artemas. By any name, he's a great talent and we're blessed that he comes by and shares it every monday. He's been known to play some banjo, a little harp, other stuff too - it'll be cool to see what he has cooked up. For more info on Artemas and all the upcoming features, check this out: http://theutah.org/features.php

Hey, you know our buddy Gabriel the poet? I ran across his website the other day, and come to find out, not only is he a poet, but he's an opera composer - maybe one of these mondays we could get him to show off some of his opera. Chech this out: http://zennyrun.com

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

How's everybody doing? Hey, I'm doing good too. Last monday was a great night over at the Utah - there were a whole bunch of new people playing songs and I dug them all. Great stuff. That's what its all about - new faces become new friends and next thing you know 1:30am on a Monday and you're drinking beer and you have to work in the morning, but that's cool because you just heard some genius songwriter and tomorrow can take care of itself...

Hey, this week's feature in The Nomad - John Thayer. John is wicked guitar player - he does a lot of stuff with a Roland Loop station. Should be cool. For more info on John, all the upcoming features, check this out: theutah.org/features.php

Hey, remember that showcase we had over at Amnesia? Well, that show brought in a lot of cash to the ol' Utah.org fund. Props go to CWiggz! and Josey Baker and everybody else who worked hard and made that all come together. That was a really great show. Also - if you haven't picked up your copy of the companion compilation CD, talk to CWiggz! or Josey - they'll be happy to sell one to you.

Hey, you can get paid to add your melodious voice to iTunes - this company SpotDJ enables music fans to record and share audio commentary about music through iTunes. Before the product launches next month they're running a special offer for Hotel Utah open mic-ers to be early contributors of audio comments about music. They are paying $1 in cash or iTunes Music Store credit for every audio spot you record and they use, up to $100 for 100 spots (that's 101 free songs!). It's easy and won't take long. If you're interested what you need to do is:
  - Sign up for SpotDJ and download the application here: http://www.spotdj.com/user/signup?code=utah
  - Record audio comments, or spots, about your favorite songs

  - Complete this short survey about your experience (and so they can pay you): http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=667202579661
Also, if you have your CDs up on ITunes, SpotDJ is a great way to get people to hear your music - a lot of people will search for songs that have spots recorded, so if you record spots for all your stuff, there's a good chance you'll find some new fans

ok, that's about it. See you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, thanks to everybody who came out to last Wednesday's Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show. We had a great night on the stage as well as at the door. My favorite part of the show was seeing Adam and Josey doing a little dirty dancing during the Moanin' Dove set. Classic moment. I don't have another BDA scheduled yet, but wheels are in motion - I'll keep you posted.

This week's feature one of our new favorites - Fawn. Fawn has one of those voices that's both spooky and sweet - her delivery reminds me a bit of some early Mazzy Star. Really great stuff. I hear she's bringing her band with her as well. So that should be cool. For more info on Fawn, have a click here: http://www.myspace.com/forfawnmusic

The "cover your friend's song" night was as big hit. I don't think Josey Baker covering CWiggz's "Smile for me" will ever be forgotten by those in attendance. For those not in attendance, I highly recommend having a listen to this week's podcast - it's a good one. More good news - I seemed to have figured out what was causing all of the noise in the recording, so this one sounds a lot better (I didn't have to do any crazy eq to try and get rid of the noise). My apologies go out to Jeff Belby and his band (last week's feature) - there were so many cover songs that I couldn't fit his feature on the CD.

OK, that's all I have. We'd love to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. Lots of stuff going on this week! Sometimes I run short of material for the newsletter, but not this week. First off, this monday is "Sing your friends song" night. Everybody is encouraged to cover one of their friends songs this monday. We're also putting together a song book with the cover songs that we do this monday - so please write down and bring in the song you're doing.

This wednesday, 9/13, is the second installment of the Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show over at the Utah. Playing this show are Adam Balbo, Josey Baker, Bramble and Briar, and The Moanin' Dove. What a lineup! This show is going to be killer. For more info, click here: http://beerdrinkinacoustic.com.

Hey, this week's feature is Mr. Jeff Belby. Jeff is a wonderful musician who's been a real friend to community for as long as I can remember. He's put together showcases, put together an open-mic based TV show for PBS, and, little bit of trivia here, he's the first performer I saw when I came to the utah for the first time. It's gonna be a great feature.

OK, that's all I have. We'd love to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. Hey, I think I have the recording situation figured out, so we have a utah mix this week. Excellent. I'm still working out the kinks a bit with my new system, but we're pretty much up and running - have a listen at http://theutah.org/listen.php or on iTunes

Yeah, so this week's feature is me. (!). Very exciting. I figured, you know, I come every week, I support the community, I've got some songs - I deserve a feature, dang it! I'm going to be playing a bunch of the songs that I have targeted for a new album that I plan on recording this winter. I'll also play some of the old favorites. For more information on me and all of the upcoming features, click here: http://theutah.org/features.php


Don't forget that at the Sept. 11 open mic, we're having "cover your friend's song night". Have you ever listened to one of your friend's songs and said "dang that's good!", well now's a great opportunity to learn that song and play it for us over at the Utah. Also, we're going to be collecting the songs together into a song book, so don't forget to write the song down.

Hey, the next Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show will be on Wednesday, Sept. 13th, and it will feature Adam Balbo, Josey Baker, Bramble and Briar, and The Moanin' Dove. The show takes place at everybody's favorite music venue - The Hotel Utah. For more info, click here: http://beerdrinkinacoustic.com

That's about it. Hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. How's it going? Is everybody getting geared up for the big "cover your friend's song" night? I am. In case you've been out of the loop, at the Monday, Sept. 11 open mic, we're having "cover your friend's song" night - so if one of your friends has a song that you've always wanted to learn, this is the time to do it. We're also going to be compiling a song book based on the songs we sing this night, so don't forget to write down the song as you learn it.

This week's feature needs no introduction anywhere in the civilized world. The uncivilized world as well. That being said, this is where I introduce the feature, so I have to say something, superfluous as it may be. This week's feature is none other than The Moanin' Dove! The Moanin' Dove hit the San Francisco scene a few months back, and the've proceded to take over with their blend of funk, boogie, and a touch of Welcome Back Kotter. For more info on the Moanin' Dove and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

So, no Utah mix again this week.... I tried recording last monday, but it was my first time with my new recording setup, and I don't have the kinks out yet. I was able to record, but I had some sort of ground loop going on, and the recording has a constant hum that I wasn't able to get rid of. I'll try again this week. You can always check out all of the classic mixes located at http://theutah.org/listen.php or on iTunes

See you later -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, how's everybody doing? I'm doing good too. Is everybody getting ready for the big "Sing your friend's song" night we're having at the Sept. 11 open mic? I'm doing Nina Joe's dreamcatcher - one of my all time favorites. Don't forget to write down the lyrics and chords for the songs, because we're putting together a song book with the songs that we do that night. If you have a song that you want in the book, but nobody is covering it - that's cool too, just email me the lyrics and chords.

Save the date! On Wednesday, Sept. 13th, we're having the next Beer Drinkin' Acoustic showcase. This show is gonna feature Adam Balbo, Josey Baker, Bramble and Briar, and The Moanin' Dove. What a lineup! It's gonna be a heck of a show. For more info, check this out: http://beerdrinkinacoustic.com

Starting in September, I'm going to start booking features again. I had to stop booking features for a couple of months because we got so backed up - I was booking the October features in May/June! To avoid having backups like this in the future, I'm going to change the way features are booked. Here's how it's gonna work: every monday, I'm going to ask somebody to be the feature in four weeks. I'll typically ask somebody who's at the open mic that night. I think the interaction will go something like this: Me - "Hey <artist's name>, would you like to be the featured performer in 4 weeks?"; <artist's name> - "yeah!".

Speaking of features, this week's feature is Rebecca Pronsky. Rebecca comes to us all the way from New York City (NY). Outside of being a wickedly talented singersongwriter, Rebecca hosts a monthly songwriter's showcase in Brooklyn called the Songwriter's Exchange. For you New Yorkers, more info on that show can be found here http://www.rebeccapronsky.com/songwriters-exchange.html. For more info on all of the upcoming features, check this out: http://theutah.org/features.php

That's about it. Hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all. Hey, what a show last thursday! The showcase event over at Amnesia was a huge success. A lot of people from our community were involved in putting this together, and they deserve a big congratulations.

...and this week's feature is one of the showcase organizers: Mr. Torliev Bestlife. Outside of having one of the coolest names in show business, Torliev is a wonderful performer - his musical tastes are vast and experienced, and it's always a treat to see what he's going to play next. Should be a really fun feature. For more info on Torliev and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Don't forget that at the Sept. 11 open mic, we're having "cover your friend's song night". Have you ever listened to one of your friend's songs and said "dang that's good!", well now's a great opportunity to learn that song and play it for us over at the Utah. Also, we're going to be collecting the songs together into a song book, so don't forget to write the song down.

Remember how last week I said that my recording machine died on me? Well, it's still dead, but Mr. Charles Pitts has graciously offered to give me a copy of what he records for use with the podcast and the CDs, and this week is the first week of using Charles's stuff - so next time you see him, be sure to thank him. He's got us back in business.

Does anybody have a guitar to donate? I'd like to have a "House Guitar" for people who forgot theirs. It would also be for people who are too lazy to bring their guitars as well. If you donate your guitar, you can put a big "donated by..." sticker on or something so everybody knows who donated it - if you have a website, we could put that on there too. Not to be picky, but if it had a pickup, that would be awesome.

That's about it. Hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

I know, I know. Sure am late with the email this week! (and where's the utah mix?!?). I'll get to that in a moment, but first, I want to remind everybody that the Utah is indeed going tonight. I mentioned at one point that the open mic was canceled, but that's no longer the case.

Hey, this week's feature is my favorite and yours, Bramble and Briar. Forgive me for gushing, but I really can't say enough nice things about Bramble and Briar - sweet songs, sweet people, a really great act. Anyways, they're featuring down at the Utah this monday. It's not to be missed!

Don't forget about the BIG BIG showcase night at Amnesia on August 10th. A bunch of people from the Utah are playing. I've got the flyer up on our website - check it out: http://theutah.org

So where's the utah mix?!? I am very sad to report that my recording device went KAPOOT! last Monday, and I think it's done for. No mix this week. No mix next week. I'm not sure when I'll back up and running again... You'll be the first to know when I get it going again, though. Oddly, ironically, coincidentally, whatever - my home computer when KAPOOT! as well this weekend - I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm going to stay clear of the space shuttle and/or any strategic defense mechanisms for the time being.

Take care -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Big news this week - and lots of it. First off, the open mic is back on for August 7th. We got un-bumped, so that's cool.

Secondly, we won the "Best of Bay" award for "Best open mic"!!! That's awesome. It's also a big relief - I mean that whole #6 in the country thing would have looked a little funny if we weren't even voted best in San Francisco! A big thanks goes out to everybody who voted.

This week's feature is Sam Coble. Sam's been coming around the Utah for some time now, and I'm excited he's finally featuring. His songs are very lyrical and visual, and they've got a lot of soul. I think he's a truly great song writer, and I have a feeling it's gonna be a memorable feature. For more info on Sam and all of the upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

I am rescheduling the "Cover you friend's song" night from Sept. 4th to Sept. 11th... It turns out Sept. 4th conflicts with the Burning Man deal, and a lot of Utah'ers head out to the desert around that time. Also, don't forget to write down the song - transcribe however you see fit - we're putting together a Utah song book. One more thing on the "Cover your friend's song night": you don't have to pair up if you don't want to, I just thought it'd be cool, but if you don't want to that's cool too.

Don't forget about the BIG BIG showcase night at Amnesia on August 10th. A bunch of people from the Utah are playing. I've got the flyer up on our website - check it out: http://theutah.org

That's about it. Hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Don't mean to start on a downer, but there will be no open mic on Monday, August 7th... Circumstances beyond our control and all that. But hey, we could use the spare time to get extra psyched for the big Showcase we're putting on at Amnesia on Thursday, August 10th. Go here for more details: http://theutah.org

This week's feature is an oldschool alumni from the Utah scene and the SF Music scene in general - Marghi Allen. Marghi was a regular back at the Utah a number of years back and is town to play some shows, and we're delighted to have her back at the Utah. She's also one of Laura's best friends, so I can imagine the carbombs will be flowing freely. For more info on Marghi and all of the upcoming features, click here: http://theutah.org/features.php

On Monday, September 4th, it's gonna be "Cover your friend's song" night. I think it'd be cool if we all paired up, and one person in the pair teaches the other one of their songs and then vise versa, and on September 4th, we whip em out. I'd like to compile all of the songs that we do that night into a song book - when you're teaching your friend your song, write it down and bring it that night so I can include it in the book.

Save the Date!!! The next Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show will be on Wednesday, Sept. 13th, and it will feature Adam Balbo, Josey Baker, Bramble and Briar, and The Moanin' Dove

That's about it. Hope to see you on monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello! Hope everybody's having a great weekend. Hey, this week's feature is Dana Carmel. Dana's a relative new comer to the Utah scene, but from what I've heard so far, I'm impressed. She got some great songs and I'm excited to have her feature. For more info on Dana and all of our upcoming features, have a look here: http://theutah.org/features.php

There's a couple of shows coming up. First off, this wednesday night (the 19th), Nina Jo is having her CD release party at the Utah. Me and my band, as well as Jeff Laine from LA, are joining her on the bill. It'd be wonderful if you could come out and enjoy the show and buy one of Nina's new CDs.

Also, coming up quick now, on August 10th, a group of musicians from the Utah are doing a showcase over at Amensia here in San Francisco. The show is gonna be awesome - here's who's playing: Keith Savage, Bitter Green, JJ Schultz, Dear Diary, El Zakador, Adam Balbo, Mary Margaret, Bramble & Briar, Kacey Johansing, Moanin’ Dove, Mike Deni, CWiggz!, Artemas the Human, Steve Arnsten and Josey Baker.

That's about it. See you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all. Hope everybody's doing good. Hey, this is a lot of advance notice and all that, but there's a really cool project that a group of people from the utah are putting together - they're puttin together a compilation CD of a number of the artists from the utah, and on August 10th, there's gonna be a CD release party/showcase at Amnesia here in San Francisco. I'll tell you more about it soon, but I just wanted to give you a heads up.

Hey, this week's feature is Mr. Dylan Cannon. Dylan's musical direction was set early on when his parents named him after Bob Zimmerman. I imagine his parents were greatly relieved when Bob Zimmerman eventually changed his name to Bob Dylan, as Zimmerman Cannon would have been quite a mouthful. Dylan Cannon was introduced to the utah by our old friends Rennet!, and he's a wonderful addition to our community. For more info on Dylan and list of all of our upcoming features, click here: http://theutah.org/features.php

Last monday I was talking to Adam Balbo up in the balcony, and he had a bunch of his songs in a three ring binder, and I thought, wouldn't it be nice if we had some of everybody's songs in a three ring binder, or a book or something. Anyways, I'm gonna put together a song book of people from the utah community - personally, I love covering my friends songs, and I think it'd be lots of fun to have a "everybody play somebody else's song night" just like they did at Nickie's back in the day. I'll talk more about this in the future, but if you'd like to help me organize this, please email me.

That's about it. See you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, thanks to everybody who came out on wednesday night for the Beer Drinkin' Acoustic show. Everybody who played was awesome and the show was big success and we'll probably get to do some more.

This week's feature is Mike Flemming. Mike is a real icon in the local music community and I'm really excited that he's featuring over at our open mic. In addition to be a talented musician, he runs the open mic over at the Canvas Cafe and is a real friend to the community. I think he's going to be performing with his "Barbary Coast All-stars" - it's gonna be cool. For more info and a look at all the upcoming features, have a look here: theutah.org/features.php

In case you missed last week's Pirate/Mermaid night, have a listen to the podcast - we had some great songs and there were a lot of Pirates in the house. (Argh!). Hey, if anybody took a picture of "Mermaid Sushi", please send it to me, I'd like to get it up the website.

That's about it. See you soon -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. Lot's of stuff this week. Lot's. First things first: ahrg. It's Pirate/Mermaid week this week! That's right - we're all writing pirate/mermaid songs and saying "ahrg" to excess. There's gonna be prizes for songs as well as attire. So come out wearing your eye patch or your seashells and sing us a song.

This week's feature is pirate #1 Josey Baker. What can I say about Josey that hasn't already been said? Former NFL lineman turned congressman, thrust into power... no wait, that's Gerald Ford. Josey is a very talented songwriter and performer and he has more heart than most anybody. Come on out and have a listen. For more info on Josey and a look at all the upcoming features, have a look here: theutah.org/features.php

Beer Drinkin' Acoustic returns! And it's now at Hotel Utah. This Wednesday, June 28th, we're going to be having the first showcase night at the hotel utah featuring Michael Deni, Kacey Johansing, Jeanne Foss, and Toy. This show is the first in a possible series that the utah's booker is letting me try out. If there's support from the community, this can turn into a monthly showcase of artists from the utah open mic - a great opportunity to start playing shows at the Utah. Anyways, it would be a great help if you could come out and support these fine artists. It's going to be a great night of music.

That's about it. Hope to see you monday (and wednesday!)-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. Yes, very early this week. Tell me about, it's throwing me off as well. If you're interested, I'm heading back to Wisconsin this weekend. Just for the weekend, not for good. Yes, it's another wedding. I'm not going to get into it - last week was the wedding email, which leads me to this: I forgot about James and Marissa in last week's rundown of utah weddings, and I feel very bad about it. See, James and Marissa met at the utah, fell in love at the utah, and got married at the utah. I made that last bit up, but James did literally fall at Marissa's feet at the utah...

This week's feature Derek Papa. I think this guy is one of the most talented songwriter's that I've seen in a while. No fooling. He reminds me a lot of me. Just kidding. Anyways, I'm really excited that Derek is featuring. Hey's really great. For more info and a look at all the upcoming features, have a look here: theutah.org/features.php

At the June 26th open mic, we're gonna have a pirate/mermaid theme night - prizes will be awarded for best Pirate/Mermaid themed original songs, as well as for best Pirate/Mermaid attire....

Beer Drinkin' Acoustic returns! And it's now at Hotel Utah. Hey, on Wednesday, June 28th, we're going to be having the first showcase night at the hotel utah featuring Michael Deni, Kacey Johansing, Jeanne Foss, and Toy. This show is the first in a possible series that the utah's booker is letting me try out. If there's support from the community, this can turn into a monthly showcase of artists from the utah open mic - a great opportunity to start playing shows at the Utah. Anyways, it would be a great help if you could come out and support these fine artists. It's going to be a great night of music.

That's about it. Hope to see you monday-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello all. What's the haps? That's slang for "what is happening?". Hey, congratulations to Crystal and Fil - they're getting married this month! Boy, there been lot's of utah weddings this year - Bob and Jen, Toy and Danny, Zak and Christina, Neil and Lex, Jeff Cotton and Lee Healy, Crystal and Fil... Is there something in the water? This is why I stick to beer.

Hey, this week's feature is Mr. Josh Balogh. Josh is an longtime regular at the Utah - he's one of the guys that I saw when I first started coming out that really blew me away. This guy has some powerful songs. Plus, he played one of my first Beer Drinkin' Acoustic shows way back in the day. Anyways, he's coming up all the way from San Luis Obispo to play the feature, and it's gonna be a special night. For more info and a look at all the upcoming features, have a look here: theutah.org/features.php

At the June 26th open mic, we're gonna have a pirate/mermaid theme night - prizes will be awarded for best Pirate/Mermaid themed original songs, as well as for best Pirate/Mermaid attire....

On Wednesday, June 28th, we're going to be having the first showcase night at the hotel utah featuring Michael Deni, Kacey Johansing, Jeanne Foss, and Toy. I am resurrecting my old Beer Drinkin' Acoustic name for this show. For more information, click here: beerdrinkinacoustic.com....

Hey, our buddy Gabriel the poet is working on the The San Francisco Frozen Film Festival. Check it out here: frozenfilmfestival.com
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hello. JJ here. Hope you're doing good. I'm doing ok. I'm a little sad because our old friend The Potholder is moving to NYC... Another SF musician moving to New York. But really, what does that town have to offer? Sure, they've got bigger buildings and there's more clubs to play and J-Lo lives there, but I ask you, all of you potential NY movers: do they have The Hotel Utah?!? I am pretty sure they do not. Anyways, we're gonna miss the Potholder around here - hopefully he'll come back and play some shows now and then.

Hey speaking of New York, this week's feature just happens to be a New Yorker. Cheryl Engelhardt is going to be playing for us as part of her West Coast tour, and I have a feeling it's going to be awesome. or wicked, as they would say on the east coast. Anyways, it's gonna be wicked awesome. For more information, click here: theutah.org/features.php

At the June 26th open mic, we're gonna have a pirate/mermaid theme night - prizes will be awarded for best Pirate/Mermaid themed original songs, as well as for best Pirate/Mermaid attire. arhg.... The girl-small size t-shirts are in (and they are going quick!), plus I got a new shipment of mediums and x-larges.... On Wednesday, June 28th, we're going having to be having the first showcase night at the hotel utah featuring Michael Deni, Kacey Johansing, Jeanne Foss, and Toy. I am resurecting my old Beer Drinkin' Acoustic name for this show. For more information, click here: beerdrinkinacoustic.com

That's about it. Hope to see you monday-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all. Big stuff going on this week. On a personal level, my parents were in town from Wisconsin, so I've been quite preoccupied hanging out with them, but other than that, the booker at the Utah has agreed to let me set up some showcases for artists that I meet at the open mic. The first showcase will be on Wednesday, June 28th, and the lineup is looking like it'll be Michael Deni, Kacey Johansing, Jeanne Foss, and (hopefully) Toy. If this show goes well (a lot of people support it), we'll get the opportunity to do these showcases once a month.

This week's feature is the wicked talented Katherine Peck. Every time I see Katherine perform, I am blown away by her songs and her guitar playing, and I'm really excited that she's playing this monday. It's gonna be cool. You can read more about Katherine here: theutah.org/features.php

I've been thinking it's about time for another songwriting theme night... I was thinking that at the June 26th open mic, we'll have a pirate/mermaid theme night - prizes will be awarded for best Pirate/Mermaid themed original songs, as well as for best Pirate/Mermaid attire.

That's about it. Hope to see you monday-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi everybody. Hey, first off, a big thanks to Josey Baker for filling in last monday when I was sick. I've heard from a lot of people that he was awesome and did a great job. And I am really sad that I missed the Bitter Green's feature - I heard it was one for the books.

Hey, this week's feature is this yahoo from Wisconsin, I forget his name... hold on, it's coming to me... JJ Schultz? Hey wait, that's me! I'm JJ Schultz. Yeah, so I gave myself a feature - I figured I haven't featured since 2004, and my parent's are in town, and they don't get to see me play that often, so what the heck. Anyways, if you aren't familiar with my music, I'd describe it as a cross between Sade and MC Hammer, with a hint of Jim Nabors. No wait, that's not right. You can read more about me and my music here: theutah.org/features.php.

The "baby doll" sized tshirts are in! I had a ton of people ask me if I had the super small "baby doll" size, and now I can say "yes I do". I had no idea they were so popular when I ordered the initial batch of shirts - I guess that's because I'm a boy and could not fathom that anybody would consider wearing anything smaller than a medium.


I'm sorry to say that there's no Utah mix this week... I will eat my vegetables from now on and make all other attempts to avoid illness so this doesn't happen again.

Hey, come down to the utah this monday and play us a song - we'd love to see you.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hola! My spanish introduction is honor of this being El Zakadore and Christina's wedding day (they both speak spanish). Zak's done a lot for the utah community and he's one of the biggest hearted guys I know, and I can't be happier for the both of them.

Hey this week's feature is one of my favorite guys to come around in a while: Jeremey Oldfield - The Bitter Green. I am always blown away by his music and I'm really excited for his feature. He's a swell fella to boot. Check out his bio here: theutah.org/features.php

Hey, I've got an idea that I want to run by everybody... the utah community thrives and grows on new people coming out to the utah on monday nights, and one of the best ways to get new people out on monday nights is for the regulars to bring their friends who's never checked it out. For example, back in the day (and forgive me if I have the order wrong), my buddy Jonah was a regular at the utah and one night he brought out Smilin' Dave Fish; after coming for a while, Smilin' Dave Fish (or was he Dave G. that night?) introduced Neil Howard (who became my best buddy); Neil Howard then introduced Alabaster Adams (and Alabaster Adams introduced me to my girlfriend). Anyways, long story short, people bringing out their friends is how the community continues and grows. So, here's my idea: if you bring out an musician who's never played at the utah before and they play, I'll give you two songs that night. This will be an ongoing deal - bring somebody new, get two songs.

Ok that's about it. Oh yeah, for the people who've been asking for them, I've got some "baby doll" sized t-shirts on order. See you soon.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi All. Hey last week I messed up when shutting down my recording machine, so I lost last week's recording... bummer. So, if you were supposed to be on he CD, please accept my apologies. I know I'm breaking the no apology rule. Anyways, for our faithful pod-cast and web listeners, I put together a "flashback to 2003" CD. Hope you like it.

This week's feature is Suzanne Benorden, a wonderful singer-songwriter who's coming down from Oregon to play us her songs. I imagine that you are saying to yourself "wow, Oregon is a long ways a way... she must really like the Hotel Utah!" - well, you are right. She does really like the Utah - she used to live in SF a number of years back and was a Utah regular, and she was the feature ten years ago on her 30th birthday. Well, it's her birthday again (I won't tell you which one), and she's coming full circle to again play the feature at the Utah. Really cool. You can read her bio here: theutah.org/features.php.

This is Zach's last week of "not being married" - congratulations to Zach and Christina!... Our old friend Brooke just came out with a new CD and I've been listening to it and it's great! She's living down in LA now, but you can get a hold of her at brookemichael.com - we should all pepper her with emails to get her come up here and play some shows... If anybody knows how to a hold of Carl Johnson, please let me know - I want to drop him a line... Something I learned last night: they taste good going down, but they're called Irish Carbombs for a reason...

Ok, that's all I have. See you monday-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, last week we announced that the Utah would be closed on May 1st as part of the National Worker's Day protest... Well, Damian changed his mind (on closing the utah, he didn't change his mind on respecting the protest) and the Utah WILL BE OPEN this monday. Damian is giving all of his employees the day off and is going to work the bar himself. Really cool move on the part of Damian - let's have a great night and make it worth his effort!

This week's feature is "Shopping in Finland", a wonderful folk trio (a psychedelic alt-elvin folk band, to be more specific) that's been coming around the utah recently. These guys (and gal) are great, and this feature is not to be missed. Read their full bio here: theutah.org/features.php.


If you didn't pick up a t-shirt last monday, you better hurry. We sold over half our supply last monday! I predict they will be the "it" gift this christmas-in-july, right up there with Teddy Ruxpin and Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. Seriously.

There's a couple of shows coming up this week: on friday, May 5th, LVEO (Bobby Magic's band), New Telepathic Friends (Jen Faith's band), Blue Mire, and The Moisies are playing here at the utah. All of the acts have been Utah regulars for years and a friday night at the utah is a big deal - it'd be great if we could show them a lot of support. Also, while I'm typing, me and my band are playing at the makeoutroom on Sunday, May 7th (9pm).

Ok, hope everybody is doing well. Hope to see you monday.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hope everybody's doing well. Me, I'm a bit groggy this morning. I'm at an internet cafe right now waiting for my coffee to kick in.

Hey this week Noh is featuring over at the Utah. Noh started coming to the utah a few months back and has impressed us all with his songwriting and his rumbling voice. I'm a big fan of Noh and his music, and this should be a great feature.

This coming tuesday (the 25th), there's going a benefit concert for our friend Terese Taylor over at the cafe du nord. Terese had an emergency stay in the hospital and her insurance is not picking up the bill, so that sucks. Anyways, she's stuck with a big bill, and it'd be great if we could help her out by packing the house over at du nord.

Hey, the t-shirts really are coming in this monday. There was a snafu with getting the shirts last week like I promised, but that's all behind us now. Anyways, come down this monday and grab a shirt.

I'm sorry to say that there won't be a Utah Mix this week. I'm in NY for the Neil Howard wedding and I couldn't get it together before I left. I'll put it together this week, and next week there will be 2 utah mixes. So we can look forward to that.

ok, that's all I have. Hope to see you monday -
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey all. I know I know - a little early with the email this week. I know. See, I'm heading out of town this weekend, so everything is shifted up a couple of days. Everything except the podcast, that is. That's all set up to shoot off on Saturday morning just like always. That's technology there. But, for those of you who like to get a jump on things, the podcast mp3 is already available for download from the website... ok, that's enough about that.

Hey, this week's feature is Mary Margaret. She moved here from michigan a couple of months ago, and in those short two month months, she has become a regular at the utah. That seems to happen to a lot of us... So, if you're sitting there thinking to yourself - Mary Margaret? who's she? that could be the result of one of two factors:
1. You're not coming to the utah on monday nights.
2. You're coming to the utah on monday nights, but you're leaving early
If the reason is #1, I have nothing to say except get down to the utah! (and play us a song, dang it). If the reason is #2, that could be because Mary always plays late, sometimes even last. And it's not because she has terrible number luck. Or maybe it is. I think the reason is that she has a job and can't get there earlier. Anyways, that's neither here nor there - Mary is a wonderful songwriter and performer, and she is one of the better guitar players I've seen in a while, and I really dig her style. Check out Mary's website: globeandabathtub.com.

The t-shirts are done and are going to be delivered to the utah on monday night. Thanks a lot to Brian Espinosa for seeking me out and getting the shirts made. I'm going to be charging $10 for them with all proceeds going to the utah poster/cdbaby fund.

that's about all I have. Stop on by this monday, we'd love to see you.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hey, it's Michael Deni week over at the Utah - he's featuring this monday with his band. Michael's one of my current favorites - he's got some soulful songs and he can sing real good as well. Plays guitar and piano too. I like him, I gotta say. Am I gushing too much? maybe, maybe not. come down this monday and decide for yourself. Here's his bio: theutah.com/features.php

Look for some utah t-shirts coming in the next couple weeks. They're going to be some heavyweight black t-shirts with the mermaid logo silkscreened on. They are going to be awesome. Perfect for that really late / really early christmas gift (or Festivus gift if you're so inclined).

On April 25th, there's going to be a benefit concert at the Cafe Du Nord for our friend Terese Taylor. She recently had an unexpected stay in the hospital and now is blessed with some unexpected hospital bills. I think most of us on this list know Terese, but if you don't, Terese is a performer without peer and a wonderful friend out here in the SF music scene and it would mean a lot to us all to able to help out as best we can.

that's about all I have. Stop on by this monday, we'd love to see you.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hope everybody's doing well. It's April now, so things are looking up. Not a whole lot to report on my end - here's what I got:

The feature this week is Richard Wagstaff - a ripping guitar player from Salt Lake City. That's a long ways away. Check out his bio on theutah.org/features.php

The podcast thing has been really successful so far. I syndicated it with a bunch of podcast directories and in iTunes, and so far we have around 120 subscribers! and that doesn't even count the people who listen by downloading it off the theutah.org website. So that's cool. I am suddenly feeling more pressure to do a good job mixing and eq'ing the CD. If you haven't had a listen yet, check it out at theutah.org/listen.php

...We've got some new pictures up on the website, thanks to Jeanne Foss... Look for some "the utah" t-shirts coming in the next couple weeks. I found a cool local printer (or rather, he found me), and we're going to screen-print up a bunch of shirts. They're going to be cool... I'm going Tux shopping today in preparation for the big Neil Howard/Lex Burland wedding coming up in NYC (they met one monday at The Utah. I saw it happen right in front of me. We all ate onion rings that night. ahhh, memories...) So far still no takers on the poster/cd baby offer. Don't be shy - if you have a CD or a show to promote, come talk to me...

Ok, that's about it for now. See you soon. Come down on monday and say hi.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

Hi all - me again. hope you had a great week. I had a pretty good week - I was pretty tired all week. I'm not quite used to staying up so late on Monday nights yet. I'm a bit of a morning person. But enough about me - let's talk Utah here. Hey, did you know that Mr. Charles Pitts has never had a featured performance at the Utah? Yeah, I couldn't believe it either. Charles Pitts, icon of the Utah, has never featured! Well anyways, that's all going to change this monday... Charles Pitts is going to feature, and I have no idea what he's going to do - he could read some poetry, he could assemble a genius funky jam, he could ? . I guess we're all going to have to come out on monday and find out. Charles was kind enough to send me a bio - I put it up on the Utah website: theutah.org/features.php. Have read when you get a chance.

Hey, does anybody know anything about pod-casting? I want to start a pod-cast with the CD's that we record at the Utah. I think it'd be cool, but I don't know anything about pod-casting, and apparently I am too lazy to google "pod cast". If anybody has successfully setup a pod cast, please email me and give me some pointers.

Also, if anybody has any pictures from the Utah open mic (both old and new), please send them to me - I want to get a bunch more pictures for the website.

A bunch of people have asked me if I was serious about the CD Baby/Poster offer that I talked about in my last email... well I am serious, and I will be bummed out if nobody takes me up on the offer. If you have CD that you want to get on CD baby, or you have show coming up and you want some help getting some killer posters, come by on monday and talk to me (and play us a song, dang it!).

ok, that's about it. Hope to see you monday. take care-
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah

So the illustrious Mr. Zakador has stepped down as host. I know, I know, it's a sad thing. We all owe Zakador a big thanks for all of his hard work and excellent hosting this past year... he'll be missed. But not too much, because I'm sure he'll be around the scene letting loose his signature "Falcon of Rock" cackle. Hey, so I'm the new host at the Hotel Utah. How's it going? This is my first time emailing the utah list, so we'll see how this goes. I think typically the first order of business is to introduce this monday's featured performer: Ms. Jeanne Foss. I think most of us know Jeanne, but if you don't, she's an enormously talented singer songwriter and I highly recommend coming down to check out her set. Here's more information on Jeanne: http://theutah.org/features.php.

Oh yeah, that brings me to the new website. The new home for the Utah on the ol' information superhighway is http://www.theutah.org. There's all the normal info up there, plus there's an online suggestion box. Basically, you can send me an anonymous suggestion or message. If you've got something eating you about the open mic or the community and you want to get it off your chest, you can let me know and remain anonymous.

Also, the utah open mic is now up on myspace at http://myspace.com/theutah. (Please be our myspace friend).

Anyways, I've got some big ideas, some big plans for the utah, and there are couple of programs I want to start right away. The host of the utah is a paying gig, the utah gives the host some cash at the end of the night. My theory is that I'm just the guy reading the names and why should I get all this cash (I already get free food and booze) - we're all in this community together and all are contributing on Monday nights by coming down to the utah and drinking beer and listening to the music. So what I've done is I've set up a checking account, and I'm depositing the money that the utah pays the host into this account. The money from this account is available to all contributing members of the Utah community to promote themselves and their music. Specifically, to start:

1. If you want to get on CD baby, but lack the up front cash (or incentive) to get set up, come talk to me on monday and I'll write you a check for the setup fee. (also, if you lack the 5 cds that they require for the initial inventory, talk to me about that too, and we'll print some CDs)

2. If you have a show coming up, this money is available for you to make some sweet posters. My plan is to set up a relationship with a local printer and maybe work out some sort of a group rate, so that if you have a show coming up and you need some cool posters - just bring your design in to me or the printer and we'll get them made. The on caveat here is that I want use a local, independent printer - I want to avoid having Kinkos and Office Max print the posters. If anybody has a favorite local printer, let me know - I haven't figured out who our printer resource will be yet.

Anyways, these two programs (and if you have ideas for other programs, let me know) are available to contributing members of the utah community. I'm going to leave the definition of contributing member up to you, but if you feel you contribute to the community, that's probably good enough for me.

That's all I have for now. Stop on down at the utah this monday, check out Jeanne's set, have some beers, and play us a song. We'd love to see you.
JJ
http://theutah.org
http://twitter.com/theutah