2010 Summer-Fall Issue | Archives | Music Stories

Bruce Hope recordings coming
By Bruce Hope

     Stay tuned for flood of new downloadable recordiings from Dan Johnson, Bruce Hope, Johnnie Aseron, Johnnie Mitchell, Chris Hall, Ballad Titterington, Tim Dumdei

John Hiatt is smash at Sioux Falls JazzFest 2004
By Bruce Hope

     John Hiatt surprised many of the die-hard rockers, who expected to be a little bored with the eight-o’clock show, thinking maybe they’d go for a beer until Little Feat took the stage at 10 p.m. Others in the audience felt a little apprehension as Hiatt took the stage by himself. A murmur went through the audience, who had been listening to hard-jamming bands all day.
      Many had come the night before and thrilled to the sheer perfection of Roomful of Blues, or flashed back with the 60s southern rock of Dicky Betts, of Allman Brothers fame. That beautiful Saturday in Sioux Falls, fans had began to fill up Yankton Trail Park for the traditional jazz sounds of Standard Time, the hard-driving boogie from Jimmy Thackery and the Drivers, jazz fusion from trumpet sensation Chris Botti (tours with Sting), whose band was state-of-the-art New York, including guitarist Shayne Fontaine who’s played with Springsteen, and Billy Kilson, “the engine of the Botti band,” who Botti introduced as one of the most sought-after drummers on the jazz and fusion scene. Kilson delivered a solo that had the audience gasping for breath. And Little Feat was coming up. If there was a theme for the music at JazzFest 2004, it might have been “hard-driving.”
      Surely Hiatt wasn’t really going to go it alone, sans back-up band? Some audience members – especially those of us who know how hard it is to sell a solo act these days - were still fidgeting and glancing at our watches a little into the second song. Others were starting to yawn.
      But, somewhere in those opening minutes, there were conversion experiences. Imperceptibly, Hiatt’s humble and engaging manner won the crowd over. He soon had everyone eating out of his hand with his bluesy singing, hard-driving acoustic guitar, great songwriting, and master storytelling.
      “Thank you, fans of folk music,” he shouted after the first round of applause. If Hiatt is indeed a folk-singer, he is one of those closest to rock and roll and its blues roots. And if he is a folk-singer, he was imparting revelation to a new generation on the rockabilly possibilities of folk music. He may have a folksy charm, and his subjects are usually everyday people, but his music has more backbeat, soul, and sheer power than what the folkies generally identify with.
      Hiatt made reference to the JazzFest t-shirt many people were wearing, which quoted Lou Reed: “If it’s more than three chords, it’s jazz.”
      “I am definitely NOT jazz,” Hiatt repeated, suggesting that most of his songs were simple three-chord songs - a bit of an exaggeration, but part of his self-effacing warmth and humor. He was also expressing what some might be tempted to say was the real theme of JazzFest 2004: definitely NOT jazz. If the festival was lacking anything that people may have expected, it was a little short of what most people think of as jazz. But who's complaining?
      Hiatt's bluesy folk-rock ranged from café ballads that the many aficionados sang along with, to rollicking, rabble-rousing rockers like “[Are You Ready for] A Thing Called Love,” which was a big hit for Bonnie Raitt.
      Hiatt’s distinctive, raspy, plaintive voice, with his strong, high-ranging, and playful falsetto, his skillful hammering of the various acoustic and electric guitars, combined with a bass-drum-like backbeat supplied by his tapping/stomping foot on the stage floor, all combine with his persona to create one of the few really engaging solo acts in the business today.
      His compositions have been recorded by many artists in country, rock, pop, blues, and jazz, and his music has taken him a long way from Indianapolis, where he grew up. He described how his lower-middle-class family had one of the first TVs in the neighborhood, and how his father never let anyone touch that TV, and how the kids waited for him to come home, and turn it on (taking control of one of the first remote controls in the neighborhood) while John and the other kids crowded around the TV set awaiting the Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Of course, Hiatt was knocked out by the Beatles, and Elvis, and then the black singers.
      Although he played another cut from the album, Hiatt got cheers from the crowd when he made reference to his CD, “Perfectly Good Guitar,” whose title cut [Smashing a] “Perfectly Good Guitar” bemoans the Garth-Brooks-style of smashing of guitars at the climax of live acts (in the venerable tradition begun by Pete Townsend of The Who). This was occasion for Hiatt to tell the story of his first guitar.
      Hiatt also did a few numbers at the piano, playing what he described as “a kind of gospel music by someone who isn’t too sure about religion.” For his encore, Hiatt went to the piano for a beautiful rendering of perhaps his most familiar song, “Have a Little Faith in Me,” which has graced the soundtracks of a several movies, including the wonderful "Benny and June," and the underrated "Intolerable Cruelty," as well as being recorded by the likes of Joe Cocker, Jewel, Mandy Moore, Evelyn Thomas, and the Dutch band Ilse Delange, to name a few.
      Hiatt songs have been covered by such diverse artists as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, B. B. King, Iggy Pop, Paula Abdul, and the Country Bears (he wrote most of the songs for that movie - sung by Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, and others).
      See also our Photo Gallery.
     

Kenny Putnam and Acoustic Christmas
By Bruce Hope July 02

     World-renowned fiddler, and South Dakotan, Kenny Putnam performed with the new group, the South Dakota Acoustic Quintet, at the 1st annual Presho Prairie Expo Friday, July 5, 2002. Putnam was the spark plug of the South Dakota's internationally-famous Red Willow Band to a 10-year stint on Hee-Haw and tours with Roy Clark and Buck Owens. The South Dakota Acoustic Quintet is the instrumental core of the South Dakota Acoustic Christmas group who have sold out venues in all the major towns in South Dakota every Christmas season for the last 13 years.
      This new incarnation borrows material from Western Swing, 40s popular music, new country, and just about anywhere a good song can be found, including original songs. The South Dakota Acoustic Quintet includes Sioux Falls guitarist/singer Mike Connor, bassist/singer Terry Pospisil, guitarist/singer Boyd Bristow, and drummer Fred Evans.
      When the entire group reunites each year for the South Dakota Acoustic Christmas concert series, the group includes Barb Morean, Judy Connor, Doreen Pospisil, Tom Dains, Kathy Dains, Kenny Putnam, Terry Pospisil, Mike Connor, Boyd Bristow, and Fred Evans. The South Dakota Acoustic Christmas group is working on their 10th live CD, which will present the best songs from last year's Acoustic Christmas concerts across the state.
     
     

Mandy Steckelberg: Rosie O'Donnell announcer performs
By Bruce Hope June 02

     Mandy Steckelberg performed at the South Dakota Store in June of 2002, on a trip back home from New York, where she has been employed as the announcer on the now-defunct Rosie O'Donnell Show. Mandy is currently working on a new music/comedy act which includes hilarious original songs.
     
      You can keep track of her at her website: Mecky Stecky and visit our links page for other cool ideas.
     
     

Nashville songwriter Austin Cunningham gives seminar
By Bruce Hope July 02

     Austin Cunningham presented a songwriting seminar and mini-concert at the South Dakota Store Sunday, June 30, at 2 p.m. Cunningham's songs have been made into hits by many big names in country, pop, and gospel music.
     
      Exploring the lives and emotions of the characters he brings to life is how Austin Cunningham describes his formula for success. "When I write a heartbreak song, for example, I don’t want to just say, ‘oh so and so broke my heart,’ and leave it at that," he says. "I want to get behind the motivation of the breakup…what was going on in the character’s mind and heart … there’s always more to the story than meets the eye, and that’s something I want to try to capture when I write. I also like to try to put a positive spin on things…maybe add a little inspirational twist." His interpretations of life have appealed to such artists as The Judds, Dolly Parton, Tracy Byrd, Kathy Mattea, Tanya Tucker, and Reba McEntire among others who have cut his songs. His last two singles have been featured in motion pictures. The Where The Heart Is soundtrack includes the single "Grow Young With You" (Coley McCabe), and his song "Beautiful" (Jennifer Paige) was featured in the Winona Ryder/Richard Gere movie, Autumn In New York. Other cuts include "From The Ashes" (Martina McBride), "I’m Your Man" (Jason Sellers), and "Dancin’ With Angels" (SHeDAISY). His Christian cuts include recordings by Susie Luchsinger, Roy Clark, Ken Hollaway, and Lisa Daggs among others. Cunningham is a recipient of the coveted Johnny Mercer Award for Emerging American Songwriters, which is given annually to one writer each from New York, LA, and Nashville.
     
      For info on songwriting seminars, call the South Dakota Store at 1-605-895-2514 or email to info@sdstore.com
     

Rochford Jazz Ensemble's third CD
By Bruce Hope

     "How would you like to play for the leader of the free world?" Dr. Jim Szana was asking Lonnie Schumacher on the phone. "Well, I guess," Lonnie replied, ever the cool one. The Rochford Jazz Ensemble provided the music for the gathering when George Bush came to South Dakota this fall stumping for John Thune. Although Thune lost to incumbent Senator Tim Johnson, Thune seems to have landed a fine job with the Department of Agriculture, so South Dakota would benefit from both of their services. Now Thune is challenging Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle.
     
      Clacie Neu, a Rapid City carpenter, is the drummer and third member of the Rochford Jazz Ensemble, who recently released their third CD of easy listening jazz renditions of jazz and pop classics. Schumacher, also a carpenter, plumber, electrician, and cable TV technocrat, lives in Ft. Pierre, while dentist Jim Szana has offices in Pierre and Murdo.
     
      Order their new CD for $14 by going to the Products section of this website and typing "rochford" into the search box, and pressing "enter." Or Rochford Jazz III

Songwriters - watch for workshops
By Bruce Hope

     THE premier SONGWRITERS' EVENT in South Dakota!
      Currently in hiatus, the last SONGWRITERS GALLERY events were in June and September, 2006, Hot Springs, SD. (Pictured here is the great Michael Johnson, who is best known for the classic "Bluer Than Blue" and was a featured songwriter in the round, along with Don Henry, Angela Kasset, and Tony Arata, who wrote the country classic "The Dance.")
     
      I attended one of these events and wished I could have attended them all. This is the best $150 I ever spent - two days with famous songwriters listening to you and you to them and two concerts, wow!
     
      SONGWRITERS! Register below at www.songwritersgallery.com
     
      Want to be inspired? Have your songs evaluated by pros? Are you ready (have a thick skin!) to join in a song critique? Do you have songs that you think are commercial, pitchable, ready to be recorded by someone else? Are ready for the biz of music?
      Just want to make your writing better? THIS .... IS THE TIME AND PLACE !!!!!
     
      The Concerts In The Round ...
      HEAR THE ORIGINAL (not the print)!!
     
      The Afterglow In The Round .. MORE MUSIC!!!
     
      Master class for songwriters - The Master Class was an addition to the regular Songwriters Gallery workshop schedule. The leaders of the two classes were Don Henry and Matt Lindsey. Participants spent the day with 3 other students and their mentors. Participants stayed in the same group for the entire day "working songs." Each brought one song on demo with lyric sheets. It was a chance to really work on a song with a pro and with peers. It cost $100 for the Master Class alone OR $90 if included with Friday and Saturday registrations. Only paid registration saved a spot. It was limited to 4 people per mentor.
     
     
      NEW!!! Two different shows Friday and Saturday at the Gallery Concerts in the Round featuring the likes of Rob Crosby, Barry Dean, Craig Carothers, Gene Nelson, Don Henry, David Lee Brown, Tony Arata, and Michael Johnson.
     
      The Concerts will, of course, include the increasingly popular "Afterglow," featuring the workshop songwriters.
     
      Watch for the next scheduled event. Here are some comments:
     
      A great writing/creative workshop (sold out) for all levels of writers willing to work hard and work thru songs. Some re-wrote and came back into workshop with masterpieces .. gotta love it. Thank you Michael and Don for putting in the overtime....
     
      Don Henry and Michael Johnson were the mentors PLUS provided a sold out concert at the SONGBIRD CAFE in Custer.
     
      It just may happen again next year .. we'll keep ya posted.
     
      "It was a pleasure and an honor to be around such attentive writers. I feel like I had more to learn than I had to give."
     
      Michael Johnson
     
      "The Songwriters Gallery winter retreat was fantastic. To be in such secluded surroundings just soaking up life without a traffic jam in sight... what an escape! Just deer and snow and crystal clear air...and that early morning moon! Oh yeah, and songs, songs, songs! As hard as I worked while I was there, it never felt like work until I hit the bed at night and slept like a baby. A song-fed baby! Thanks to David Lee Brown and crew for inviting me to participate and hang out with folks who just can't help but write songs. Believe me, I understand! Lover of songs and songwriters,"
     
      Don Henry
     
      For further info, email the South Dakota Store
     
      For further info, go to the Songwriters Gallery
     
     
     
     
     

Voices of Vivian, debut CD from best small town in South Dakota
By Bruce Hope

     With cover art by renowned Vivian painter Nancyjane Huehl, Signature Artist of the National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society (www.noaps.com), the new CD would be worth the cost for the cover art alone! But this gem of American grass roots music is rich in music, and has already sold several hundred copies. Order this fabulous debut CD from the South Dakota Store for $15 plus $2 S/H.
     
      Vivian, South Dakota, is one of the most amazing small communities in the USA. All the proceeds from "Voices of Vivian" - a beautiful mix of country, gospel, and pop music - go to a local ELCA Lutheran Church which is so exceptionally successful that the South Dakota Synod has been studying the congregation for the past several years. That success is even more unusual considering that the town is almost invisible to passers-by, with its old Main Street lined with buildings no longer in use. If you drive into the town, and look hard, you can see a little bank, and a shop, and a pheasant hunting lodge, and a grocery store open a couple hours a week, and some houses, but you wouldn't expect to find thriving church with new members and a new building addition in the past year.
     
      The two largest newspapers in South Dakota, the "Rapid City Journal" and the "Sioux Falls Argus Leader" have stories in the works about this unusual project, and many more stories are expected in the near future (this tiny community has generated many amazing stories for the past century, and some of those will be featured on this website in the near future, along with some fine local photography).
     
      Among the featured singers and musicians on the CD are: the late Red Hullinger (one of the last of the true singing cowboys, rope artists, and all-around pranksters in the United States), the late Arlo Huffman (perhaps the "voice of Vivian" for many years until his passing a year ago after a battle with cancer), Arlo's daughter and singing partner Renelle Uthe, Beth Erikson (aspiring young country singer), Donna Erikson (local singer and pianist), Michelle Lintvedt (Methodist pianist and singer from nearby town of Presho), Marilyn Perry (former Detroit Symphony cellist), Lonnie Schumacher (original bassist for Red Willow, and now with Rochford Jazz Ensemble), Mark and Dawn Lintvedt (the well-travelled duo "Deuce"), Lonis Wendt (part of the Vivian music scene for around 50 years), and Bruce Hope (longtime South Dakota musician, singer-songwriter, and winner of the North Dakota-South Dakota Coca Cola True Value Country Music Showdown).
     
      Order now, as several hundred pre-orders have already been paid in advance.
     
      Please order the CD for $15 plus $2 s/h by PayPal or send check or money order to South Dakota Store, PO Box 400, Presho, SD 57568. Or call 1-605-895-2514.
     
      For further info, email the South Dakota Store
     
      And be sure and check out our Photo Gallery.