Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

New Classes begin March 3rd!

Yep, another class session is coming up, and probably sooner than you expected. That makes this a great time to grab the class you want. Timing is especially important if you’re interested a class that usually fills up and has a waiting list. (The other advantage, of course, is the $10 early sign-up discount). Not sure what to take? If you want information about a particular class, leave a note at the desk for the teacher – you’ll hear back by phone or email. Or see the current term’s class in action; ask when and where the class is having its “big gig” at the end of the term.

If you have a flexible schedule, keep in mind that the School has adult classes during the day. For example, on Fridays you have your choice of four levels of guitar and two levels of harmonica.

Whatever day you take classes, see if your class time is right before or after “Second Half,” the teacher/student gathering held every day of the week. This is when you learn new songs and play music with teachers and students from other classes. Second Half is a school tradition; great fun!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 17, 2008 | Comments (0)

Secret Menu Item of the Month

The Cafe, our mini-restaurant, has a secret menu. Better expressed, the Cafe offers special dishes. These are (quietly) named by Chef Miki in honor of the customers who always request them. In the interests of full disclosure, The Hot Times has from time to time disclosed one or more of these dishes.

This month, we not only reveal the special dish, but also add to transparency of the School’s administrative management. What follows is a key to the gustatory tastes of Robert Tenges, newly named Director of Education and Programs.

THE ROBERT TENGES: Green salad, Jerusalem salad, and ranch dressing with a scoop o’ tuna salad.

Who would have guessed?

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 17, 2008 | Comments (0)

Recommended treatment for ear worms

Do you get earworms? Earworms can infect anyone, but old-time musicians probably have a corner on them. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

A Guitar Study Hall? Yep!

Admit it. You occasionally have questions or problems with your playing – something you don’t understand or that you want help on – but you’re not sure who to ask. Well, here’s the answer. On Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:00 pm we now have How Do I Play That? Our very own guitar guru Steve Levitt hosts these weekly hour long question and answer sessions. Come in with a question or issue you’re having with your guitar playing and walk away a better player! No need to register – in fact, you don’t need to be a student! Just come on down to room B7 on the lower level. It’s free.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

Start the weekend with a Six String Social – 2-15 update

Have you stopped by a Six String Social? They’re held at the mothership, 909 W. Armitage, just a few steps from the El stop. These are song-circles/speciality workshops on a particular theme/performer/topic. Update: Friday, February 15th – Love Hangover w/Shelley Miller; February 22nd, Bible Belt Songs, w/Colby Maddox; February 29th, Bluegrass 101 with Simon Flory; March 14th, Vintage R & B with Barbi Silverman; March 23rd, Steve Earle songss with Jim Stacho. Always at 6:30! $5.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

Friday 3/7 – When the school’s communities get together!

You like coming to the school, enjoy the folks you meet, and love your classes — right? But you haven’t been to a First Friday? Jeeze Louise! You’ve missed out! First Friday is when everything happens: when the School’s communities come together to have fun. Things jump off at 6:30, at our 4544 N. Lincoln building. A $4 donation is requested.

Festivities begin at 6:30. Guitar teacher Cathy Norden leads the SONG CIRCLE. You don’t need to bring an instrument, don’t need to bring a song, you don’t even need to know a song — just stop by and join in. Fiddle teacher Walter Hojka or Danny Miller hosts the STRING JAM and beginners are welcome! Fiddle, banjo, guitar are standard but bring what you have! Steve Joyner convenes the SONGWRITERS’ CRITIQUE & EXCHANGE. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 29, 2008 | Comments (0)

Trad Fest Weekend, January 25-26th

Jimmy get your fiddle down and rosin up the bow
Johnny take your banjo down we’re gonna have a show
Pass around the jug to corporal McCoy
We’re gonna play a tune called Soldiers Joy

Trad Fest is our annual “come on down!” weekend for lovers of old-time barndance music. The weekend centers around a Saturday night concert by three knock-out groups: The Foghorn String Band, Gary Harrison and the New Mules, and the Carolina Chocolate Drops. (Recognize that last name? They did a dynamite concert at the School a couple months back).

But this isn’t a normal concert weekend. Bring a dish to the $5 Friday night open house/pot luck supper – it includes the Saturday performers. Beyond that, these folks will be back for an afternoon of jamming on Saturday. Now, what happens on such occasions? It’s jam city, not just the pros playing. Whatever your skill level, you’ll find a place with your comfort zone: bring your instrument! The open house pot-luck is at 6:30, Friday, January 25th at Lincoln. For Saturday afternoon/evening information and tickets, check oldtownschool.org. A community event, y’all come!

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

The Trad Fest fringe — Sunday’s Gravestone Concert!

Arlo Leach, leader of the Hump Night Thumpers, has assembled an amazing lineup of musicians for this concert, both international and local. harmonica blues legend Charlie Musselwhite tops the bill, followed by the Carolina Chocolate Drops (see above!), Devil in a Woodpile, Joe Filisko, the Northside Southpaws, the Jake Leg Stompers, and (of course) the Hump Night Thumpers.

Harmonica player and guitarist Will Shade founded the Memphis Jug Band in 1927. He worked with musicians like Memphis Minnie and Furry Lewis, writing original songs like “Stealin’ Stealin’” and “On the Road Again,” becoming the most important figure in a genre that remained popular through the end of the Great Depression. Even so, he died penniless and was buried in and unmarked grave. Arlo has located his burial site, and has worked with other to organize this concert.

The program will be a tribute to Will Shade’s achievements and will raise money to purchase a gravestone. Tickets are $20 ($18 for members, $16 for kids and seniors).

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

First Friday Open House – February 6th, 5:30-11 pm

Is there anyone who doesn’t know about First Friday? Just in case:

First Friday is the evening each month that we open wide the doors! The building fills up with teachers, students, friends, visitors — lovers of music, who want to listen, play, sing, or just hang out. You drop $5 at the door and enjoy an evening of music and fun.

Friday begins with the Gather-All, a revival of an early tradition at the school. This is an all-ages jam (students at all skill levels welcome!) beginning at 5:30. Then, about 6:30 (as always) begins a range of activities: a song circle, open string jam, songwriters’ exchange, Fandango jam, open ensemble jam, creativity jam, squaredance, student ensemble performances, and a dance workshop. Skip’s Back Porch Jam this month will feature bluesman Chris Winters — this will be heavy duty blues! Bring your instrument: students at all levels are welcome. But come early (at 6:30) to get a seat!

The Cafe will be open with beverages. Activities run to the 9 p.m. community sing. Then comes the featured performer in the Concert Hall. The evening winds up about 11 pm. For full details each month, including the featured performer, checkout the new First Friday full page; http://www.oldtownschool.org/classes/firstfriday/

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 9, 2008 | Comments (0)

Typhanie Monique — “Chicago’s next major jazz artist”

That’s the description of Typhanie Monique by the Trib’s Howard Reich.

Typanie is a member of the School’s vocal teaching staff. You may have read about her when she and Chris Walz taught workshops in Moscow for three weeks last July.

JazzTimes magazine described Typhanie’s sound as a modern-day Sarah Vaughan with iridescent traces of Lena Horne.
Another critic wrote: “Toss her a subject or a groove and hang on tight. She’ll shake it, knead it, pummel it, wring it until it drips with the essence of her signature soul style. The harder you listen the more you’re repaid with a sound so pure that you ache when it stops. Her second CD, The Room, has had rave reviews.

You can hear Typhanie on Saturdays through February at Andy’s Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard St, between 5 and 8:30 pm. (312) 467-9394. www.andysjazzclub.com. $10. She has a voice to remember, and this is a great jazz venue.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | January 7, 2008 | Comments (0)


« Previous Entries
Next Entries »