8 January - First Rehearsal

Our first session of 2025 was yesterday evening, and we've chosen some new material to get ready for the February show. I brought a pleasantly trimmed-down set of gear along: my Telecaster, the three-pedal board, and my small five-watt tweed amp. Wonderfully simple.

While we miss our friend Dov, not having a drummer does mean we can practice and perform at a volume that's quite a bit lower than when someone was behind the kit. Don't worry, we still make a sound that fills the room. We hope you'll come out this year and hear for yourself.

1 January - Here We Go

Well, it's the first day of 2025 and we've been enjoying a quiet day at our house. Looking forward to more studio projects this year, as well as performing for you with The Mistress Miriam Show. Stay tuned.

29 December - Counting Down

Gonna be the new year in a few days. Looking forward to many aspects of it, but NOT the political circus that's coming to town. Okay, enough about that. I hope you all had a decent 2024. It was an emotional roller coaster ride now and then, but at least the music-making was good.

The Mistress Miriam Show begins again on February 1st. Check out the "2025 Shows" list over there in the right-hand column. Anything we've got booked will show up there.

Be well, see you 'round.

7 December - Winter

Well, it's looking a bit more seasonal than it was in that last post. But we're told that temps are going to rise again in the next few days, so this snow won't last very long either. Rehearsals resume this week, and we'll be glad if it's not a miserable slog to the practice space.

1 December - 2 Photos

We got a light dusting of snow the other day, but it was barely enough to mention, never mind shovel. It was gone the next day. Our surroundings here on the riverside still look like November. We're getting ready for the Solstice and the season that follows, but it's not here yet. I suppose my point is that there's a stark beauty to the place during this in-between time of year that I quite enjoy.

19 November - A Fond Farewell

Here's a screenshot of the events I played with the Group DeVille Trio and The Mistress Miriam Show this year. If you were at any of the three GDV3 gigs, congratulations. You were witness to one of our final performances.

The three of us got together last night for one of our monthly sessions, and after much consideration, we have decided to no longer perform as a band. From now on, we're just three friends who'll get together from time to time for coffee, an occasional lunch out, or a dinner party with our spouses. And yes, we may even drag the instruments out now and then and make some music. But no more regular practice schedule, and no more shows. It's time.

The photo above is one a friend took of us during the July show at Angel Park. Oddly enough, we had talked back then about possibly making that gig our last hurrah. Turns out it was. 

13 November - Rehearsal

No, I'm not going to post about the elections that were held last week here in the States. There's plenty being said about that elsewhere.

Today I'm just stopping by to note that we're rehearsing this afternoon for the gig we have on Friday. It will be our last scheduled performance in 2024, and that seems worthy of mention. In the weeks to follow, we'll be working on new material for the act, but also simply enjoying the upcoming holiday season until we resume playing out again in the new year.

Hey, know what I will also mention? How much I love being a part of this. It's unlike any other act I've been involved with before. This isn't a rock band. It isn't any kind of band. It's a Show.

Playing with The Mistress Miriam Show has broadened my approach to music and performance. My guitar technique has grown and strengthened, partly out of necessity, but mostly out of the pure joy of learning new styles of play. Our interaction on the stage is remarkable. Natural. We absolutely own it while we're up there. And as I'm not being the "frontman" in this, I can concentrate on the harmonies, my favorite part of singing in a group.

Fun? It's a F'ing blast.

1 November - Excited

Exactly two weeks from right now (as I type this, in fact), I will be getting ready to take the stage with The Mistress Miriam Show over at Luthiers Co-Op in Easthampton. We go on at 8pm. "Not to be missed," as Miriam says, but if you DO miss this one, we'll be back at Luthiers in February.

27 October - Mastodon Post

I'm not on any of the corporate socials these days, but I do post over in the Fediverse, on the Mastodon platform. This is what I had to say this morning:

Yet another wonderful gig last night with #TheMistressMiriamShow (yes, it amuses me to hashtag our name). House not packed, but appreciably full, and ATTENTIVE. I love it when the comments and praise afterwards indicate that folks were really listening.

18 October - By Invitation Only

But of course you are all invited. We've got this event coming up soon. It's in a very cool space in nearby Florence, Massachusetts. Think "artist's loft." Think "demi-monde salon." Anyway, it's very cozy and glam. Miriam and I played there as a duo last year, and we're back on Saturday the 26th with The Show's current three-piece incarnation. The venue kindly provided the poster image shown below. So if you're intrigued, and able to attend, you can REGISTER HERE.