Bad News, Good News
Current mood: miserable
Category: Music

Hi all - When it rains it monsoons, huh??

First the BAD news...I'm so sorry to report that I injured my back (ugh) this morning, and am on bedrest for at least a few days...Hopefully it is just a muscle spasm (that's what they are treating it as). I will have some follow-up next week. But I'm rather immobile at the moment. So the upshot is that I have had to cancel our shows tonight (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday). I am so sorry that you'll miss the chance to hear my fabulous colleagues, Michael Bryant and Randy Green, who were doing these shows with me.

But now the GOOD news...The shows go on!
(1) FRIDAY at Gov. Nelson State Park, the awesome acoustic duo of Amy Curl & Dan Kennedy will perform! It will be well worth your time, so head on out.

(2) SATURDAY for Folk on State - The fabulous and fun-loving duo of Small Potatoes will perform both sets (1:00 and 2:00) instead of just playing the 2nd set.

Thanks a bunch to these musical pals for keeping things rolling...please go, and bring friends!!! Details for these shows are still posted at my site, at http://www.tracyjanecomer.com/Gigs.htm

OTHERWISE: As mentioned in an earlier blog, I'll be on an indefinite break from performing for a while now (starting a couple of days sooner than expected!). I do have one appearance on September 13 as part of "Country Cornucopia" at Art in the Barn (Fitchburg, WI) supporting Nelson Graham, so maybe I'll see you there? Otherwise...please continue to support local indie music!

Peace,
Tracy

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News from Tracy (last edition for a while)
Category: Music

Hi y'all - FIRST...A reminder about this Saturday's show (July 19) in Cambridge, WI with my good pals Michael Bryant and Randy Green. It will be an evening of variety and fun instrumentation including my new electric cello, which I play standing up with a shoulder harness (tons of fun). You can be among the first to answer the question, "Does this cello make me look fat?"
Advance reservations are highly recommended...See my web site for details (tracyjanecomer - dot - com)

I am going to be taking a long break from performing, after my Sept. 13 appearance (see below). I have a few things on the schedule until then, but otherwise have canceled shows and touring plans for the near future. Life throws big curveballs sometimes, and right now I have some personal and family matters to put first in my life.

The Likely Stories CD will still be released, hopefully by mid-September...I will post news about that when there is definite news. Otherwise -- See my schedule for my final shows for a while. Full details are at my web site.
Peace,
Tracy

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THREE is a magic number....
Category: Music

Related shows (3-way collaborations):

• July 12, 2008 - Likely Stories performing at Project Lodge in Madison, WI
  
• July 19, 2008 - Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green performing for Hanson House concert series, Cambridge, WI
• August 1, 2008 - Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green performing at Gov. Nelson State Park in Madison, WI
• August 2, 2008 - Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green performing for "Folk on State," Madison, WI
• Late summer or early fall: CD RELEASE PARTY to be scheduled for LIKELY STORIES debut CD!

• LIKELY STORIES -- Collaboration with Dave Schindele and Nancy Rost (plus myself of course...)
  [See www.likelystories.us for more]
  We are all "solo" artists with our own performing schedules, but try to perform as a group every few months and we get together fairly regularly to play. We have been working together for a couple of years and actually have a CD that will be coming out very soon!
  In this collaboration I sing (lead and backing vocals) and play guitar, cello, sometimes melodica, piano, fiddle; Nancy sings and plays piano; and Dave sings (lead and backing vocals) and plays piano and hand drums.
  Both Dave and Nancy have very sophisticated and musical styles with superb lyrics -- they blow my mind with some of what they come up with. Folks who enjoy music as much for the poetry of the lyrics won't be disappointed. With Dave's music I often think of Carole King, Stephen Sondheim, Burt Baccarach and sometimes Peter Gabriel. Nancy is well versed (pun intended) in many styles and her music often takes on a jazz flavor. She often incorporates humor (overt or subtle) and/or outright zaniness...Nancy is full of great surprises!
  I count these two colleagues among the best writers I know. I have been very pleased with the arrangements we come up with together. From my standpoint, I get to make much use of the cello in both "regular" (bowed) and bass (plucked) roles, and their music is wonderful to play cello with....so much so that I decided to buy an electric 5-string cello recently to expand my sound capabilities and increase the bass-playing capabilities (with the added low string).
  
• Tracy Jane Comer/Michael Bryant/Randy Green -- This is an unnamed entity, but it follows the pattern of "in-the-round with collaboration." This group is myself (guitar, cello, vocals) with two of my longest-term musical colleagues, Michael Bryant (guitar, vocals, bass), former frontman for now-defunct group Sticky Fingers, and Randy Green (keyboard, guitar, vocals), who often performs as supporting artist with me but who is a musician/writer in his own right in addition to being my producer, manager, and co-writer. Again, this combination brings a lot of diversity to the table and lets my try out some different instruments and instrumental styles.
  Michael has an unforgettable voice, smooth as silk and reminiscent of the late Dan Fogelberg, and he writes wonderful and very memorable, infectious (in a good way!) songs. Michael and I were both part of former trio Sticky Fingers and have also done duo shows with him a number of times. Michael works by day as an audio/video software specialist with Sony Digital. Randy, who owns/runs Randy's Recording in Cottage Grove, has started writing again and performing some of his own material lately (after a break of many years) and so we have been working his songs into our duo act and also featuring Randy on lead vocals for some covers. Randy often brings a welcome levity to my shows with his distinctive style of humor, and that humor is reflected in some of his original songs as well. Other times his writing is philosophical and deep (not surprising if you know Randy).
  I think what we do together offers a pleasingly balanced "musical diet."

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First full tablature file now available for free download!
Category: Music

OK, just for you guitar enthusiasts, I have finally posted the first full tablature file of one of my pieces. I started with "Movin' in the Right Direction" since that is the one I have had the most requests for. Others will follow, starting with more instrumental works. Let me know if you have a special request for any song's tab and I'll put it in the queue.To download the file, visit my website at http://www.tracyjanecomer.com (there is a link on the home page right now).
(NOTE: This piece requires both a full capo and a partial "Esus" capo...otherwise the tab will make no sense.)
Next in line: "Riffles and Runs." Or, let me know if you'd rather see something else up next instead! 

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Chord charts and scores available now for some songs
Category: Music

For those of you who are musicians yourself...I have posted a mixed bag of scores and chord charts for some of my songs. See the MUSIC page of my official web site (www.tracyjanecomer.com) and follow the link at the top for the LYRICS page. Later this year I plan to publish guitar tablature for my instrumental pieces plus some vocal tunes as well. Let me know if you would like a chart or more info on a song!

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Award for INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR!
Current mood: ecstatic

I was named INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR last night at the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards! [I'll post some pics also!] The entry was based on my acoustic guitar work. Also, my manager/producer Randy Green won Folk/Americana Song of the Year for his song "Home Movies," recorded by Robert J., who was the biggest winner in this year's MAMAs with 6 awards. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees, and my heartfelt thanks to those of you who participated in the voting! 

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No foolin’ - Nomination for BEST INSTRUMENTALIST!
Current mood: happy

I’m not a huge fan of shameless self-promo but I am excited about this...
No foolin’...I am proud to announce that I’m a nominee in this year’s Madison Area Music Award (MAMAs) for BEST INSTRUMENTALIST! The next round of voting will begin any minute now and go until early May...your support would be very much appreciated.

Also nominated is my manager/duo partner/cowriter and pal Randy Green - nominated for BEST RECORDING STUDIO. And, one of Randy’s songs, "Home Movies, recorded this year by Robert J, is nominated under BEST FOLK-AMERICANA SONG.

Voting is open to the public...it costs $5 to vote (done online) but the proceeds of this program benefit school music programs. In particular, the money raised helps to purchase instruments for school children and for after-school programs such as those run by the Boys and Girls Club. See these links to participate:
Broadjam (where you sign up to vote)
MAMAs site

NOTE: When you vote on the Broadjam site you’ll have the chance to click and listen to music so please take time to sample the Madison music scene! In addition to raising money for school music programs, that’s what this is all about. It’s easy to get swept up in the competition and all that, but the bottom line is that this is a chance for musicians and listeners to really get to know our local music scene. There are many wonderful musicians nominated in many categories, several that I have had the pleasure to work with, including the Mud Angels (blues song), Laura England (female vocalist), Ben Johnston-UreyRobert J (a number of nominations)...and many others, so please use this opportunity to check them out, and vote for what you like best!
(classical song, classical album),

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New Compilation CD by Indie Music for Life
Category: Music

3/26/2008: I have a track on a new compilation CD put out by Indie Music for Life, an organization whose mission is "Fighting cancer one song at a time with the support of independent singer songwriters worldwide."

The CD is the 2008 Indie Music For Life compilation CD and you’ll find it at this link: http://www.indiemusicforlife.org/shop.html

It is a double disc set that features 37 artists/songs from around the world and retails for $12.

There are other projects/products available as well, and your purchases help support cancer research and IMFL’s programs for educational awareness on the benefits of music and laughter as therapy to cancer patients. In addition to purchasing products you can also make donations through their site.

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General blabber and update on activities
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Music

I have now posted a new featured (free) MP3 on my web site - see the MUSIC page of my official web site.
I am mostly on "break" from performing at the moment, but I do have a couple of things on the calendar including another show with Midwest musician Joe Jencks.
Some of you have asked what I'm up to....Well, a number of things. I am working on some new writing here and there, specifically some instrumental guitar compositions. Also I'm enjoying playing, just for fun or for occasional gigs, with some side projects, old and new, in various styles of music. I'm also playing piano for a local civic theater's production of "Camelot" and sitting in for a time with the band at my church for their contemporary service. I'm taking some drum lessons from, ahem, the world's best drummer (Rock Williams, formerly of Slave Raider) and learning to play some electric bass also. And still working on my violin (fiddle). And, though only loosely related...I'm also taking bellydancing and having a ball! Can we say...."UNFOCUSED?"  As I have been saying for quite some time....Life's Too Short To Be Just One Person!!!
Currently reading:  "Healthy at 100" by John Robbins. Highly recommended reading, along with his other books.
Cheers and thanks for stopping by!
-Tracy

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Happy Fourth of July! And, band show news
Current mood: bouncy

7/1/2006: Happy Fourth of July! Randy and I enjoyed playing a short outdoor set at Latte Da Espresso, just before hearing that the fireworks were postponed. The rain held out long enough for us to pack up, thankfully!
AND...
SPECIAL THANKS to all of you wonderful folks who came out to Madison's THE BRINK LOUNGE to see my full band show on Friday June 30! The venue said it was one of the best turnouts so far and we had a blast! What a beautiful place, AND a great audience to boot. A magical evening all the way around. Rock Williams did the most amazing drum solo I've ever heard/seen (amazing polyrhythms, in "Just One Person"), and Steve Kasprzak offered a fantastic bass solo as well (during Laura Nyro's "Stoned Soul Picnic"). We'll be back at that venue for a series of shows starting in October, after I'm back from my touring.

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