NewFolkNow

Catherine Russell at the Palace Theater 4/18/09

2009-04-24T19:03:00.001-07:00

Here are shot photos I shot at the Catherine Russell concert at the Palace Theater in the Eastwood neighborhood of Syracuse, New York on April 18, 2009. I want to thank Catherine for allowing me the opportunity to shot a few photos of her and her band during their soundcheck.
The concert was presented by WAER-FM (88.3 Syracuse).

From the Cluttered Closet

2008-10-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

click on photo to enlarge image - highly recommended

======================================

Photos I shot at the Cluttered Closet consignment store, on Beech Street, near Westcott Street, in Syracuse.

On Being An Artist

2008-09-29T22:00:00.000-07:00

from the top:

-- recent watercolored self-portrait

-- Melissa
-- Watercolored Self-Portrait

-- Into the Darkness (self-portrait)

-- Jennifer (slight watercolor)

-- Luba at Jazz Central
all photos by Larry Hoyt - copyright 2008 LarryHoyt

======================================

I don't know if it's possible to be an artist without considerable reflection upon what it means to be an artist.

Even for those lucky chosen few -- the incredibly creative ones to whom the gifts of talent come naturally -- at some point in the process of making art, some questions arise:

among the most basic - to what extent does the artist create from his own need for expression, vs.

the artist's desire to communicate thoughts and feelings and perceptions to others, to an audience.

For most true artists, I think it is both -- there's the absolute internal need to create, coupled with the desire to communicate with others. I don't know if it would make much sense to have one without the other.

I've been thinking a lot lately about my own need to create, especially in the realm of photography. Sometimes I feel like I want to document every interesting thing I see, all day, everyday.

But, obviously, at some point, one needs to edit this process and work on developing a focused approach to the art that one can justifiably call a style.

I don't know if I've achieved that yet, but I am working on it.

Sometimes I feel like I'm still working to perfect my basic skills as a portrait photographer.

Above are some portraits I was looking at --some recent, some from years ago, some nice lookin', some not so nice lookin' -- that got me thinkin' about my fascination with capturing images.

It's very much an on-going process.

For the most part, I think my overall style(s) in photography are fairly eclectic, but I do try to make sure that every photo I show has a clearly defined (if not totally in focus) subject. I want to convey something about what attracted me to what I saw.

If there are any hidden subtleties in the images, that's likely just icing on the cake -- but I must admit, I do like icing!

Th3 - A Critical Mass of Art Energy

2008-09-20T01:26:00.000-07:00

top to bottom:
1 - outside the Delavan Art Gallery;
2 - the Orange Line Gallery;
3 - Point of Contact;
4 - Melissa Tiffany, owner of the Orange Line Gallery;
5 - inside the Warehouse Art Gallery
------------------------------------------------------
all photos by Larry Hoyt - copyright 2008 Larry Hoyt
-- click on the picture to enlarge the image --
======================================

To borrow a term from nuclear technology, I'd like to suggest that the arts scene in Syracuse is approaching "critical mass".

But, instead of little neutrons jumping around in fissile material, the critical mass in Syracuse's art scene comes from an increasing number of active art venues, plus the large number of regional artists exhibiting high-quality works on a regular basis.

And, as evidenced by this blog among many other indicators, compared to previous levels of interest, the media and the general public seem to be taking greater notice of this area's art scene.

As this critical mass of art energy creates its own field of excitement and activity, one might ask if an art explosion is imminent.
That, in my opinion, depends upon how many true patrons of the arts, public and private, step forward to financially support the artists and the venues.
With enough financial support, Syracuse could become a true art destination for collectors and art lovers from around this country and beyond.
Just as the Syracuse housing market attracts buyers with its relatively low prices for attractive houses compared to other parts of the country, so too, the purchase price for high-quality art here in Syracuse is well below that charged in most other art center cities.

The word has to get out -- not just here in Central New York, but throughout New York State, New England, the eastern seaboard, the whole country and beyond: the art scene is happening in Syracuse! It's getting ready to explode!

But, even if an art explosion does not occur here in Syracuse, it seems to me that the current art scene has already reached an impressive level of sustained energized activity, comparable to the sustained energy produced by a controlled nuclear reactor. This long-term art scene energy has already reached the level needed to sustain long-term high-quality productivity.

One prime example of this critical mass of art energy is the monthly Th3 art program, in which more than 20 art venues in the Syracuse area hold receptions or special events every third Thursday of the month, attracting more media attention, and, it appears, more art lovers and curious spectators wanting to check out what's new in the Syracuse art world.

Above are some photos I shot of the Delavan, the Warehouse, the Orange Line, and the Point of Contact galleries at the recent September edition of the third Thursday Th3.

More photos and commentary can be found at my other blog:
http://www.newfolkfotos.blogspot.com/
And more photos and commentary will follow here shortly --

Lenore S. DeCerce: "it's always been poetry"

2008-08-04T06:43:00.000-07:00

It's not everyday
one meets
a poet.

A real poet; a dedicated poet.

At least not in my experience.

But I recently had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with poet Lenore S. DeCerce at the Contemporary Gallery in Syracuse.

After only a few minutes of conversation, it was obvious that Lennie (as she prefers to be known) is serious about her work. The previous night at the gallery, Lennie had given a public reading of her collected poems entitled

Leaning Against the Bed with One Knee.

"For me, it's always been poetry," she says, seated comfortably on the gallery's couch.
"It's more intimate than any other form, and it allows a freedom that other genres do not. I don't really believe in grammer and technicalities -- poetry allows me to completely ignore them. I use spacing and line breaks instead."
One of the things that impressed me about Lennie was her enthusiasm for her work.
From my questions, she knew I was genuinely interested in this subject, enough so that she readily offered me a copy of her manuscript. I looked over several poems and she suggested one in particular:
==========================

You used to be such a good girl

she says with a look
and long draw on her Newport

It's my fault
I'm an enabler
Everyone tells me I'm an enabler

She flicks ash
and
I
look at my hands
the floor
the air above her head
and reply
the same reply

It's not your fault mom

I am not your fault
===================

Lennie reflected on the deep emotions contained in the few words of her poem, and how they affected her when she read that poem for her mother.
Not too surprisingly, tears were shed.
Lennie continued:
"I started writing initially because as the youngest of three daughters, I was often reminded that I was better seen and not heard. I needed an outlet and paper became that outlet. I could say it's therapy, but that doesn't quite do it justice. I can't lie on paper. That's not to say I'm a liar - I'm not - but on paper it's different. My poetry is primarily non-fiction."
====================
Coward

a shadow
will confess
more than I
I will keep
my voice
entombed
in lead
I will bury
it
in sand
and walk away
I will embrace
the dark silence
that will follow
I will surpress
and I will deny
I will rationalize
I will unearth
my foundation
and start again
I will live as if
=====================
In addition to her poetry, Lennie, a LeMoyne College graduate, is also working on a screenplay.
"What I love about screenwriting is the detail," she explained. "It's all detail, actions, speech, reactions. I'm a very visual person; it's like there's a screen in my head. I see things before I write them down."
Regarding the relative lack of respect or interest in poetry in modern culture, Lennie offered this perspective:
"I feel poetry is on the backburner with most people if they bother with it at all. I blame academia for that. They spoon feed students the same old crap from elementary school on up to college. They don't introduce poets that people can relate to. Students are taught to be intimidated by poetry and to constantly analyze analyze analyze and I think that kills it for people."
But for Lennie, the freedom and creative space she finds in poetry cannot be overstated:
"Poetry is oxygen, and without it, honestly, I don't think I'd be."

======================
all photos copyright 2008 Larry Hoyt

======================

Brian Butler - Artist Who Draws

2008-07-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

- click on image to enlarge -

==========================

Friday evening (7/25/08), I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Central New York artist Brian Butler during a reception for the closing of the Contemporary Gallery.

Brian is one of several artists whose work had been shown during the gallery's one and only group exhibit, which ends August 1.

His very busy, richly detailed drawings catch the eye with abundant miniatures depicting everything from faceless human figures to forests of cones, anonymous urban high rises to a rogues gallery of beleaguered human faces. Brian also incorporates larger stylized versions of sci-fi figures and border-line grotesque horror images.

Not surprisingly, Brian acknowledges his love of comic book images, citing the influences they have had on him, consciously and subconsciously. He also admits to something close-to-an-addiction regarding video games - often violent video games. "Everybody has a dark side," he mused.

When asked to chose one adjective to describe himself, he answered fairly quickly "eccentric".

Another word that came up in our conversation was "obsessive" - Brian's obsessive commitment to drawing detailed miniatures in his work.

The saying of this magic word, obsessive, prompted gallery co-founder Courtney Rile to check on and quote a comment made by Post-Standard art critic Katherine Rushworth in her July 13 article on the Contemporary Gallery:

"Brian Butler's obsessively detailed pen and ink drawings are obsessively compelling."

"It's what I do", he said, with no further explanation needed.

In cooperation with the Contemporary Gallery, a 16-page "coloring book" of Brian's work has been published is for sale at the Gallery for the ridiculously low price of $10!

If one includes the coloring book's cover drawing, that's 17 Brian Butler drawings for less than a dollar a piece. Only 25 copies of "The Coloring Book" were printed, and they are numbered and signed by the artist

(although I must add that on the copy I purchased, Brian's signature looks a bit rushed; still, I do trust that that is indeed his signature.)

On this blog, I shall generally refrain from making pronouncements regarding what I believe is good art, bad art, great art, or non-art.

So much of what goes into those judgements depends on the eye of the beholder, plus a great many other variables.

But I can say unequivocally that I found Brian and his art to be very interesting. Brian is obviously very passionate about his work and he seems to be taking it out as far as he can go.

I wish him all luck and great success.

A Very Funny Video!

2008-07-20T19:29:00.001-07:00

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Contemporary Gallery, 230 Harrison Street, Syracuse

2008-07-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

- click on photo to enlarge image -

from the top:

-- gallery co-founder Courtney Rile (at an nightime TH3 reception)

-- gallery co-founder Roslyn Esperon (overseeing the gallery during the day)

-- a decorated pillow on a too-comfortable chair

-- "Dancing Mother and Child" (Lowenstein)

-- large lizard sculpture

-- "Cityscape" oil painting (Catherine Weiss)

-- "Charting" mixed media (Sean Ward)

=======================================

There's an exciting new art gallery in Syracuse, and it's only going to be open for another two weeks!

(until August 1, 2008)

To anyone and everyone who loves high-quality art, and who wants to support the growing art scene in Syracuse - my strong suggestion is get yourself down to the Contemporary Gallery at 230 Harrison Street.

They're having a closing reception at the gallery on the evening of Friday, July 25.

And even though this will be a closing reception, I am sure that this art community get-together on the 25th will also be very much a celebration.

From everything I've seen and heard about this art space, and from I've read in the Post-Standard and also in the Syracuse New Times, the Contemporary Galley has been a much needed temporary shot in the arm for the local art scene.

(Without going into detail here, I'll just mention that another fine local gallery, the Orange Line Gallery, was recently forced by its landlord to vacate its space at the Coffee Pavilion at Hanover Square... but that's a blog for another day.)

===================

This past Thursday, July 17, I had the great pleasure of meeting and chatting with Roslyn Esperon and Courtney Rile, the two energetic young ladies who co-founded and operate the Contemporary Gallery.

These two former Syracuse University students had met last summer while working at the Delavan Art Gallery.

They devised a plan, asking several real estate companies and landlords if they could renovate a downtown space, install and operate a temporary gallery, and then leave that space in better condition than it was when they first moved in.

J.F. Real Estate agreed, and Contemporary Gallery opened it's seven-week run on June 11.

The impressively diverse exhibit mounted by Courtney and Roslyn is entitled "Whimsy: Celebrating the Power of "Why Not?" -- which may in fact describe at least part of the reasoning behind opening such a temporary gallery in the first place. I mean, why not?

Of course, real-world answers to that whimsical question are many and daunting.

It takes an incredible amount of time, energy, passion and commitment to pull off such a project, and thank goodness (literally), both Courtney and Roslyn seem to be the right people at the right time to make this project a success.

Hopefully, their work will inspire others.

I was very impressed by the artwork in this exhibit, and I shot photos of a few of the many pieces (displayed above).

I also want to thank Roslyn and Courtney for allowing to shot a few photos of them.

More information about their gallery, and more photos, can be found at

http://www.contemporarygallery.wordpress.com/

The gallery is open 11 am to 7 pm, Wednesday through Friday.

================================

more photos by Larry Hoyt can be found at

www.flickr.com/newfolkfotos

================================

Hot Rods, Antiques and the Symphony

2008-07-17T07:12:00.001-07:00

all photos copyright 2008 Larry Hoyt
-- above images shot at Syracuse Regional Market
-- click on photo to enlarge image
====================================

If variety is the spice of life, then this is going to be one hot'n'spicey meatball-of-a-weekend here in beautiful Central New York.

In addition to the wide array music and theater events that take place every week, there are several special events worth noting.

Hot rod and specialty car enthusiasts will want to check out the hot wheels that will be rolling at the Syracuse Nationals Hot Rod show at the New York State Fairgrounds, Friday thru Sunday, July 18-20.
more info at
www.rightcoasters.com

Folks looking to buy or just admire high-quality antiques will want to wander the paths and check out the antique deals to be had at shade-filled Longbranch Park in the Town of Geddes, just north of Liverpool. The nationally known Great American Antiquefest takes place at this lovely setting, Friday thru Sunday, July 18 -20.

And folks interested in listening to jazz and classical music in a relaxed urban setting should consider attending this weekend's edition of the Candlelight music series, on the corner of South Franklin and West Jefferson Street, in beautiful Armory Square in downtown Syracuse.
The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra performs at 8 pm at this free event, with a jazz trio opening the musical evening at 6:30 pm.
There are several fine restaurants on Franklin and Jefferson Streets that take outdoor seating reservations for these weekly Candlelight music events.
Or you can bring your own chair, find your spot, and then listen to some great music, surrounded by a friendly crowd and impressively varied architecture.

Here's a few Heads-Up for more events coming to downtown Syracuse in the next few weeks:

ARTSWEEK - July 24 - 27
featuring the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival at Columbus Circle, July 25-27; and
Jazz in the Square, at Clinton and Hanover Squares - July 24 - 26
www.jazzinthesquare.com

HANOVER SQUARE ART & MUSIC FEST - August 2
this year's debut event for art and music in downtown Syracuse
=============================================

A Sad Old House, and Meeting Nahkeem

2008-07-15T19:29:00.000-07:00

-- click on photo to enlarge image

============================

Exploring the North Side of Syracuse during my evening bike ride, I came across a heart-breaking sight for anyone who loves older houses.

Near the corner of Danforth Street and North Salina Street, there stands what must have been at one time a fine, handsome brick house, adorned with fashionable details and ornamentation.

Today, the house appears as a tattered ghost of its once proud past. Many windows are broken or covered with plywood, or even bricked up completely. The roof, especially towards the front of the house, is in need of major repair.

If this house were a human cancer patient, one would probably think it best to get in touch with Hospice and make arrangments for the final days.

But as I was taking some pictures of this house, a young lad named Nahkeem came by on his skateboard and asked the inevitable question: "what are ya doin'?"

I explained that I was shooting photos to show to people who might feel sad and/or angry that such a fine old house was in such bad shape.

"But they're fixing this house up," said Nahkeem. "I work for the owner."

In my rather quick, two-minute interview with Nahkeem, it never became totally clear just what work Nahkeem did for the owner.

"He and his wife were here, working on the house, but then they left. They haven't been back in a few weeks," said Nahkeem.

In answer to my questions, I was informed that Nahkeem is 10 years old; he attends McCarthy School ("It's a bad school, for kids who are bad.")

Nahkeem has apparently misbehaved a bit at school, but we did not go into details.

When Nahkeem saw my bike leaning against a fence, he asked if he could ride it.
I said "I think it's a little big for you" but he was determined to prove me wrong, which he did, as he rode my bike up and down the driveway a few times and then across the front yard.

I have no idea how accurate or inaccurate were Nahkeem's observations regarding the rehabilitation of this house. I hope Nahkeem is indeed working for the owner of this house who is indeed in the process of bringing this architectural treasure back to life.

I plan to stop by this house again, and I will post an update to this blog. I hope Nahkeem will be there again to give me all the details. And once again, I will let him ride my bike.

===============================

more of Larry Hoyt's photos can be found at www.flickr.com/newfolkfotos

Larry Hoyt's videos can be found at www.YouTube.com/NewFolkNow

Larry Hoyt's music can be found at www.cdbaby.com/cd/larryhoyt

Looking Back On Roots, Brews and Blues

2008-07-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

from the top:

-- Pete McMahon of the Kingsnakes;

-- Terry Mulhauser of the Kingsnakes

-- folks dancing in the second line

-- trumpet player from the Rebirth Brass Band

-- folks dancing on the "reflecting pool" after the rain

-- Clinton Square and the evening sky

(click on photo to enlarge image)

================================

This past weekend (from Thursday, July 10 through Sunday, July 13, 2008), Syracuse, New York was home to some of the very best blues and roots music to be found anywhere. The folks who organized and presented the New York State Blues Festival, and the Empire State Brewing & Music Festival, should be thanked and congratulated for doing such a fine job.

===============

In a previous blog entry I mentioned the excellent music and good-time atmosphere that pervaded the Inner Harbor Block Party on Thursday, with roots and blues music provided that evening by both the Fabulous Ripcords and Los Blancos.

===============

The highlight of Friday night's BrewFest was the lively performance by Donna the Buffalo, a veteran group from the Ithaca area, who deserve their national reputation as purveyors of upbeat, groove-filled dance tunes that are certifiable crowd-pleasers.

===============

Other performances in Clinton Square this weekend that I was able to enjoy while shooting lots of photos were the BluesFest sets of music by the Rebirth Brass Band, from New Orleans, and the Kingsnakes & Friends, from right here in Central New York.

===============

In my opinion, there's something incredibly beautiful about the mix of historic architecture in the buildings just to the east of Clinton Square. In the late evenings, during the many festivals that take place at Clinton Square during a Syracuse summer, these older buildings are often highlighted by the setting sun, making for an incredibly impressive cityscape vista.

===============

As I've pointed out in this blog before, and as I will point out again, Syracuse is far-and-away the music center of Central New York, and some might argue, the music center of all of Upstate New York (especially if you're a blues fan).

There's lot of excellent music going on in the clubs and bars and other venues here in Syracuse, 52 weeks a year, often 7 nights a week.

I just hope that more and more people become aware of this, and then make it a point to attend some of the high-quality live music taking place in this area.

==============

more photos by Larry Hoyt can be found at
www.flickr.com/newfolkfotos

videos by Larry Hoyt can be found at: www.YouTube.com/NewFolkNow

music by Larry Hoyt can be found at: www.cdbaby.com/cd/larryhoyt
=============================

Syracuse's Blues and Brews Weekend

2008-07-12T06:30:00.000-07:00

photos above, from top: (click on image to enlarge)

--Jeb Puryear of Donna the Buffalo;

--Donna the Buffalo onstage at the Empire State Brewing & Music Festival, Syracuse;

--barefoot dancer at Brewfest;

--Brewfest crowd at Clinton Square;

--Colin Aberdeen of Los Blancos at Syracuse's Inner Harbor

=================================

==============================

It long has been my opinion that the music scene in Syracuse is the proverbial glass that is both half-full and half-empty.

Aside from the years I lived in New York City, Los Angeles, and Nashville, I have been actively involved in the Syracuse music scene for, let's say, about 38 years or so.

Venues have opened here , and then venues closed. And then other venues opened.

Bands formed and then disbanded, and then those band members formed new bands.

It seems like it has been a never-ending cycle. The more things have changed, the more they stayed the same.

As far back as I can remember, there have always been a good number of high-quality live music events going on in Syracuse, but often there were not enough of these events to satisfy everybody (especially those area musicians seeking paying gigs).

But lately, I get the feeling that more and more high-quality music events are happening in this area, and part of the purpose of this blog is to let Central New Yorkers and the rest of the world know that the Syracuse music scene is alive and well and growing.

This weekend, July 10 thru July 13, Syracuse's proverbial half-empty musical glass is over-flowing with excellent high-and-low-profile live music.

Blues and Brews are being served this weekend in Syracuse.

This good-time music party began Thursday evening with an Inner Harbor Block Party that featured live music by the J Project, the Ripcords, and Los Blancos.

The Ripcords and Los Blancos play a mix of electric blues and American roots music that I find energizing and entertaining. Both of these Central New York-based bands are also playing at the New York State Blues Festival, which gets underway at Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse, today, Saturday, July 12 and continues through the day and night tomorrow.

much more information on this can be had at

http://www.nysbluesfest.com/

I also had the great pleasure of attending the last part of the Empire State Brewing and Music Festival on Friday night in Clinton Square that featured a rockin' lively set of music by Donna the Buffalo, from the Ithaca area.

Simply put, Donna the Buffalo is a great band with a great, identifiable, roots-oriented sound that invites one and all into the hippie dance tent. The songs of Donna the Buffalo are filled with catchy little riffs, sweet melodies, country harmonies, and chugging rhythms that are puntuated with crowd-pleasing dynamics.

Often, they play songs at an even keel for a while, then bring things down, and then rev things back up, making a fun time for those folks dancing, and also for those other folks who like to watch other folks dance.

As I write this blog on Saturday morning, I plan to post a whole bunch more of the photos I shot both Thursday and Friday nights on my Flickr site:

www.flickr.com/newfolkfotos

Please do check out these and other photos on my Flickr site. You will not have to pay

anything if you enjoy them... there'll be more, later.... Larry

www.waer.org/threads.html

www.YouTube.com/newfolknow

Larry Hoyt & the Good Acoustics at Sterling Stage

2008-07-08T15:34:00.001-07:00

top two photos of Larry Hoyt & Good Acoustics getting ready and playing onstage coutesy of http://www.janetleephotography.com/;

bottom photo courtesy of Jeff Stanton

========================

This past Saturday, July 5, I had the great pleasure of performing with the Good Acoustics at the String Fling, at the Sterling Stage Kampitheater in beautiful, rural, Sterling, New York.

=================

www.sterlingstage.com

=================

Saturday was a pleasant sunny day with low humidity and a temperature around 80 degrees --which makes a big positive difference while traveling and playing at this kind of outdoor/semi-outdoor festival.

I'm sure most music fans and musicians who have attended summer music festivals can relay horror stories of other festivals that took place under scorching heat, near-freezing cold, and/or endured never-ending torrential rain storms.

Thank goodness we had such a perfect, beautiful day!

======================================

Of the four Good Acoustics, I've known bassist Dave Goldman the longest -- at least 20, maybe 25 years (!!!). I almost cannot believe it's been that long!

Somewhere back in the way-back-when, Dave and I actually played together in an oldies band called the Troublemakers. I forget how many gigs we played, but among the most memorable was a winter-time gig at a little dive, the Round House, in East Syracuse, right down by the railroad tracks.

The venue had a barroom, which was heated, and a band/music room that may or may not have been heated.

Outside on that cold winter's night, the temperature was something in the range of 15 degrees;

but inside the band/music room, the temperature must have been at least 50 degrees!

I think that gig was one of our last as the Troublemakers.

For me, it is truly great to have re-connected with Dave, who is a genuinely great guy, and a man of many talents and interests.

=========================

I've known mandolinist and vocalist Ed Van Cott for a few years.

I first met Ed when he came to perform at an open mic I was hosting at the time at the Lucky Moon Cafe.

One of the very best things about open mics is the likelihood of running into talented musicians who might be looking to hook up with other musicians to play some gigs.

Again, I feel very fortunate to know Ed and to be able to play music with him. He's very knowledgable regarding bluegrass and gospel music, and he somehow is able to sing harmony with my sometimes erratic lead vocals. Ed also likes to crack jokes, which I consider a very worthwhile talent.

Ed also plays in the bluegrass band, Diamond Someday.

=======================================

I met violinist Judy Stanton a few months ago at an acoustic jam hosted by a mutual friend of ours -- that is another great way to meet other musicians. The first time I heard Judy play, I was immediately struck by her talent. She has played with symphony orchestras, with rock bands, and with a klezmer group. Once again, I must say how fortunate I feel being able to play with someone as talented and as upbeat-positive as is Judy. And she is also someone who likes to crack jokes.

========================================

The newest member of the group, and by far the youngest, is 15-year old guitarist Lee Detota.

I met Lee via his mom when I told her that I played in an oldies band and we were considering adding a lead guitarist. It's obvious that Lee likes to play, and he has achieved a high level of technical skill for someone his age. Lee says his favorites are the Allman Brothers, and at this String Fling gig we added the Allmans' "Rambling Man" to our repertoire.

(Now I just have to figure out what key is best for me to sing "Rambling Man" in (which can depend on the time of day and how raspy my voice happens to be at the time..)).

If Lee stays as interested in the guitar as he seems to be now, I predict Lee will have a great many more opportunites to play higher-profile gigs in the future.

=============================================

One of my favorite songs to perform live is Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again," which contains these wonderful lines:

"On the road again, I just can't wait to get on the road again

The life I love is making music with my friends, and I can't wait to get on the road again."

I really do love making music with my friends, and as long as there is beautiful weather on a sunny day, then pack me up and put me on the road again!

I am ready to play!

===================================

http://YouTube.com/NewFolkNow

4th of July Vegan Barbeque and Acoustic Ska at the Recess Cafe

2008-07-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about living in the Westcott Nation (aka the Westcott neighborhood in Syracuse, New York - just east of Syracuse University) is the variety of cultural and entertainment experiences available in the 'hood and right nearby.

Case in point: the vegan barbeque and acoustic ska show that took place today, July 4th, at the Recess Cafe on Harvard Place, right smack dab in the middle of the Westcott Nation.

I'm not a vegan;

I'm not even a vegetarian;

but I thought the food they served was pretty good: they had vegan alternatives to a chicken patty, to a beef hamburger patty, and veggie hot dogs, plus regular vegetable items, such as corn on the cob, baked beans, and the trademark food item for summers in Central New York: salt potatoes -- those little potatoes boiled in salty water and then served with melted butter (but in this case, served with a vegan alternative that I believe was called Earth Balance -- not bad).

Musically, the first act was a very pleasant surprise: four relatively young musicians known as the Gnarwals who played and sang acoustic renditions of original ska-flavored songs. This gig was one of their very rare acoustic performances and it worked just right within the intimate confines of the back room at the cafe.

I shot lots of photos of the Gnarwals and others at the cafe; I've posted a few here on my blog, plus others appear on my Flickr site:

www.flickr.com/newfolkfotos

and also on the Meetup photography site

www.photo.meetup.com/444

Happy Fourth of July, everybody --may all your days be filled with Independence!

Sterling Stage String Fling - July 3 thru July 6

2008-06-30T22:05:00.000-07:00

First, I need to offer up this disclaimer:
I have the great pleasure of being one of the acts chosen to perform at the Sterling Stage String Fling, so naturally it is in my enlightened self-interest to tell folks about this festival and encourage them to attend -- especially on Saturday, July 5th, at 1 pm, when I'm scheduled to perform a 50 minute set with my group, the Good Acoustics.

But as the wonderful poster (above) indicates, Larry Hoyt & the Good Acoustics are not the headliners at this festival.
(You can click on the above poster and, like magic, it will enlarge before your eyes!)

There are many other acts -- better known acts -- who are also worth checking out at the String Fling, which runs from Thursday night, July 3, thru Sunday evening, July 6. Overnight camping is available.

Astronomical Productions, the promoters of this festival, make it a point in saying that this is not your typical old folk festival.
String Fling will have much more of an energized, eclectic, roots-acoustic-jam-band vibe about it.
The headliners of the festival are nationally known acts:
the Jazz Mandolin Project, Boris Garcia, and the Gordon Stone Band.
Plus, there will also be more than a dozen excellent regional acoustic acts.
Plus a good number of top-notch acts from right here in Central New York, including Shirley Woodcock-Kolb, Boots'n'Shorts, Jamie Notarthomas, Charley Orlando, Dam Dog, Larry Hoyt & the Good Acoustics, and more.

The festival site is about 15 miles west of Fulton;
directions and ticket information can be found on the String Fling pages of the Sterling Stage website: http://www.sterlingstage.com/

The weather looks like it will be fairly nice this weekend, so please do consider stopping out to catch the energized acoustic music happening at the String Fling at Sterling Stage this weekend.

www.YouTube.com/newfolknow
www.cdbaby.com/larryhoyt
www.waer.org/threads/html

A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose

2008-06-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

Flowers have long been a favorite subject for artists. These blooming medallions of color and form are certainly among the most beautiful of all God's creations.

Here in Syracuse, New York, the Rose Garden at Thornden Park offers a wide variety of these eye-catching floral delights.

Recently, the Syracuse Photography Meetup Group held one of its photography get-togethers there, with about 15 members of the group scouring the garden, looking to shoot those just-right, most-perfect blossoms.

On this blog, I have posted four of the photos I shot that evening.

If you'd like to see a few dozen more excellent photographs of roses in bloom, then check out the Rose Garden compilation photo album of the Syracuse Photography Meetup Group:

www.photo.meetup.com/444/photos/#4578110

That's it for now - stay focused.

www.YouTube.com/newfolknow

www.CDBaby.com/larryhoyt

Why Dana "Short Order" Cooke Isn't Famous

2008-06-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

Dana (wearing cap & playing guitar) as the featured artist at a Songwriter Showcase at Jazz Central, Syracuse, New York, 6/19/08. That's Joe Cleveland on banjo and John Dancks on acoustic upright bass. Photo by Larry Hoyt.

Dana "Short Order" Cooke is one of the very best singer/songwriters anywhwere.
I compare Dana's best songs with the best songs of such well-known singer/songwriters as Loudon Wainwright III, Christine Lavin, and Richard Shindell.

Among knowledgable fans of folk and acoustic music here in Central New York, Dana is widely acknowledged as one of the very best singer/songwriters, based primarily on his extraordinary original songs that can be found on his three CDs ("Wildman," "County Fair," and "Snowball's Chance"), plus a few old and new demos that can be found on Dana's impressive website
http://www.danacooke.com/

But Dana's well-earned local reputation seems to have traveled not far beyond Central New York State.

There is an obvious reason for this -- Dana (as far as I know) has never toured.
He has never signed on to play the game of the touring singer/songwriter, traveling from gig to gig, often living out of his car, competing with other talented singer/songwriters for those coveted showcase slots at Folk Alliance conferences.
Instead, Dana has opted for something much closer to a "normal" life, with a wife, two kids, and a rather normal upper-middle-class job that allows him and his family to lead comfortable, connected upper-middle-class lives.

But maybe because of his lifestyle choice, Dana actually has the inside track when it comes to writing brilliant songs about what goes on in the everyday lives of normal people -- their loves ("The Way You Look"), their struggles and frustrations ("My Father's Bald"), their joys ("Kiss for Daddy"), and their sometimes oddball cultural pursuits ("The Demo Derby").

Dana has also written about the level of suffering he has not yet endured to be a truly successful artist ("Artist's Heart") and his relative lack of fame ("Famous").

One of my goals in writing these blogs is to spread far and wide the good news that there are many incredibly talented folks, such as Dana, living and working in the art and music scenes here in Central New York.

Hopefully, someday soon, the rest of the world will pick up on that fact, and then flock to Syracuse ("The Entertainment Capital of Upstate New York"), where they can regularly see and hear such wonderfully talented acts as John Cadley and the Lost Boys, Loren Barrigar, Gary Frenay & Arty Lenin, Karen Savoca & Pete Heitzman, Nancy Kelly, Ronnie Leigh, Isreal Hagan, and so many many more.
And once in a great while, maybe folks will also be able to see and hear Dana "Short Order" Cooke perform live, although lately Dana has been saying that he's ready to retire from performing all together.
He has no use for the pressures of show biz!
He'll become the J.D. Salinger of folk and acoustic music, living a simple, quite life in the suburbs, with his songs only being heard now and again on Common Threads, the folk and acoustic radio show on WAER-FM (88.3, Sundays from 12 noon to 3 pm; http://www.waer.org/) -- a show that is proud to feature Dana's best songs on a regular basis.

I have a feeling I'm going to be writing more about Dana "Short Order" Cooke and his music in the future. That's one of the nice things about blogging -- I can edit this piece, add to it, or do a whole 'nother piece on Dana without having to consult with an editor or publisher! Lucky me!

But for now, all I can suggest is that you check out Dana's website, and via his website, maybe send him an e-mail, suggesting that he keep performing live... I mean, how else will he ever suffer enough to become truly famous?

Dennis Kinsey - Hondo Mesa Records

2008-06-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

I've known Dennis Kinsey for a few years now.
We met at an acoustic music jam at the house of a mutual friend of ours.
For some reason, I must have impressed Dennis a bit, because a few weeks later, Dennis mentioned that he wanted to start his own record label, Hondo Mesa Records, and how would I feel about being the first artist signed to his label. !!!!

Now that's the kind of thing any struggling musician wants to hear!
I had written songs for years. I had played out for years. I had recorded songs for years.
But I had never had the financial resources and the focus to release my own CD -- which was pretty much a required item for admission to the club of "serious" acoustic singer/songwriters.
If you didn't have a CD, well, you just weren't serious!

I will always be indebted to Dennis for his generosity in helping me get that part of my music career off the ground.
If you'd like to hear some tracks from my debut CD, "Folksinger/Songwriter," you can sample them at
www.cdbaby.com/larryhoyt
(You can also buy discs via CDBaby -- hint, hint...)

Dennis is a fine musician and songwriter himself.
He and his lovely wife Christiane have been working on her debut CD long enough (hint, hint).

(I find it kind of ironic that so many folks who are producers and presenters will spend their time and money to present the work of other people before they concentrate on their own. If you're on the receiving end of that generosity, that's a great thing. But I do sometimes have to tell myself - hey, stop spendin' so much time helpin' other folks get to where you wanna go. Concentrate on getting your own work out there... now if I could only follow my own advice...).

I feel like I'm in good company on Hondo Mesa Records. Dennis has since signed some other high quality acts, including 3rd & Main; Corn-Bred; and John Engerman.

You can check out more about these acts and a bit more about Dennis (and his blog and his twitter commentaries) at
http://www.hondomesarecords.com/

Dennis is also partly responsible for me starting this blog (blame him).
At Dennis' invitation, I attended a recent presentation by two graduate students at Syracuse University that focused on how to use the Internet to help promote one's music to a wider audience.
Blogging was part of what they suggested in one's efforts to network with as many people as possible -- to get the word out about what one is doing.

After their presentation, Dennis gave me a tour (assisted by his avatar, HondoMesa Kidd) of the virtual reality known as Second Life, and that kinda opened up a whole other avenue for getting in touch with interested music fans around the world. (Ain't modern technology somethin'!)

Anyway - a big thanks to Dennis Kinsey for all he has done, not just for me, but for the music scene here in Central New York.

The art and music scenes here in Central New York State are growing more and more lively every day, thanks to imaginative, creative and generous folks like Dennis who are willing to spend their time and money to make things happen.

It's that kind of postive energy that motivates me to work on this blog -- to let folks know about the robust energies and opportunites available in the still growing art and music scenes here in Central New York. If you are reading this, please help spread the word. Thanks!
============
photo of Dennis Kinsey (above) by Larry Hoyt - copyright 2008 - shot at Jazz Central, Syracuse 6/19/08

A Blog About Blogging - Always Moving Ahead

2008-06-28T05:50:00.000-07:00

OK -- this is my third blog entry,
and I think I'm starting to get the hang of this.

What I find a little strange about the mechanics
of blogging is this sensation that each new blog is
taking the reader(s) a bit farther away from the
opening chapters -- the important initial topics (music and photography) -- that got this blog up and running in the first place.
For me, my first two blogs kinda set the foundation for so much that will follow.
But the way blogs work, the most recent entry is the one you're gonna see first, so, in a sense, everything kind of works backwards.
It's like reading a book, starting with the last chapter, and then working your way towards the beginning of the book.

I realize I'm coming into this blogosphere (spelling?) a few years after it's already as hip and as happening as the Internet itself, so I have limited expectations regarding how wide a reach this late-coming blog will have. But even if it's just read by a few folks amongst my family and friends, it will have served it's purpose.

Like most artists and writers and musicians, I do enjoy expressing myself, and writing this blog gives me one more way to do just that.
I expect I'll be writing about the music scene here in Central New York State, and folk and acoustic music in general. I'll be posting some photos, and some videos, and commenting on art and photography activities here in the Syracuse area. And as time goes by, I'll probably end up commenting on anything and everything - cats, sidewalks, drug law reform, the amazing new world of modern technology, the difficulty in losing weight, and the vast wasteland that is sometimes referred to as popular culture (I know -- that's harsh..).

The photo of me that I've posted on this blog was shot by a friend of mine, Janet, who I met through the Syracuse Photography Meetup Group.
The SPMG has about 70 members, and they meet once a month for a social get-together (that has some photography involved), and then usually once a month they also meet for a group photography session that has a lot of social networking involved as well.
It's a good, interesting mix of people. Some of the members are professional photographers; some are serious photographers creating and trying to sell their art; some are amateurs who simply want to improve their skills and network with other folks who share similar interests.
Information on the Syracuse Photography Meetup Group can be found at
www.photo.meetup.com/444

photo of Larry Hoyt by Janet Lee
www.janetleephotography.com

to be continued....

Photography: Capturing the World

2008-06-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

"Capture" is one of the words often used when referring to the act of someone shooting a photo -- the photographer captured a great moment, an interesting image, a revealing expression.

That is one of the reasons that I am fascinated by photography, along with millions of other people -- it has the ability to capture and preserve the visual aspect of this amazing world around us.

I love all kinds of photography -- nature, landscapes, cityscapes, you name it -- but I'm particularly taken with portrait photography.

Generally speaking, I'd say that human beings are the most interesting subjects on planet Earth. And in "capturing" any one of these most-interesting subjects, when a portrait works, it reveals something of the personality of its subject.

Of course, the photo's setting and the subject's overall body language count for much, but in the realm of portrait photography, certainly, it is the human face that expresses so much.

One thing I've noticed about portraits -- it gives the viewer the opportunity to stare, close-up, at someone else's face. To look into the mysteries that lie within someone else's eyes, or see the subtleties of someone else's expressions.

I have posted dozens of photos I've shot over the years on various other on-line websites, and through this blog I'm sure I will be mentioning those other sites over the course of time.

But for now, I'd just like to post on this blog a few portraits I've shot. At some point in the not-to-distant future, I'd like to use this blog as a vehicle for selling some of my photography on-line. But that's for later.

For now, this second blog entry of mine is for the display of some portraits that I've shot. Enjoy.

The Portraits:

-- the brunette with the brown vest is Amy, photographed where she works at the Coffee Pavilion in Hanover Square, Syracuse, New York.

-- the blonde woman wearing green is Melissa Tiffany, the owner and curator and curator of the Orange Line Gallery

http://www.orangelinegallery.com/

-- I do not know the name of the gal in the mirror; this is one frame of a video I was shooting as these young ladies were getting ready for a wedding.

NewFolkNow Has Arrived

2008-06-27T11:04:00.000-07:00

Yea verily, NewFolkNow, the blog, has arrived.

The author of this blog is yours truly, Larry Hoyt, a folksinger/songwriter living here in beautiful Syracuse, New York -- right smack dab in the middle of beautiful New York State.

In addition to writing and performing music, I also have the distinct pleasure of hosting a folk and acoustic radio show, Common Threads, on WAER-FM (88.3 Syracuse). In just over one week, on July 6, we'll be celebrating the 11th anniversary of Common Threads.

Programming and hosting Common Threads has been an incredibly positive experience. For Common Threads, I've had the pleasure of recording interviews with Pete Seeger, Dave VanRonk, U. Utah Phillips, Christine Lavin, Chris Smither, Richard Shindell, Tracy Grammer, Susan Werner, Karen Savoca, Martin Sexton, and a whole host of other top touring contemporary folk and acoustic artists.
I've also very much enjoyed being able to interview on the air so many of the excellent folk and acoustic artists who reside here in Central New York, including the aforementioned Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman, Dana "Short Order" Cooke, John Cadley, Loren Barrigar, John Rossbach, the Delaney Brothers, Colin Aberdeen, Jim Tobey, and many more. And being able to play such a wide variety of excellent, but "non-commercial" folk and acoustic music has been one of the best, most gratifying experiences of my life.
To be the only deejay in Syracuse to play, on a regular basis, such outstanding artists as Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton, Chuck Brodsky, Joel Mabus, Carla Ulbrich, Rani Arbo, Alison Krauss, Doc Watson, Tim O'Brien, and so many others, makes me incredibly happy and proud.

And I'm extrememly happy that Common Threads has attracted a substantial, loyal audience, who tune in to the show on Sunday afternoons, from 12 noon to 3 pm. In addition to being broadcast on 88.3 FM, the show is also available on-line via http://www.waer.org/

One of the reasons I'm starting this blog is my desire to express my views and opinions on a whole wide variety of subjects.

But I wanted to begin with a subject near and dear to my heart -- folk and acoustic music -- a most positive cultural force, in my opinion, known for its attention to social and poltical issues, as well as dealing with the more common everyday subjects, such as life, death, work, love, loss, lost love, and gettin' to heaven.

Well, that's it for now, but I'm sure this will be continued. Thanks for readin'!