For decades I've been envious of my NYC singer/songwriter friends who kept their weekly songwriters group meetings at Jack Hardy's apartment to compare notes, offer critiques and encourage each other. I've always wished I had a local songwriters circle to help keep my creative feet to the fire, since I only seem to produce when I have a deadline!
So I'm mighty happy that two of my songwriter neighbors from out here in the hills are coming over for dinner and a song swap tonight. One could walk here, the other is five minutes at 15 mph on the bumpy-ass gravel road between our houses. (This apparently will be an epic event, because VDOT graded the road for him in preparation for tonight.). Scott VanGorden's excellent Americana recording project is Now Ghosts, while Worth Hawes has long been one of the creative forces in local alternative/folk-rock band The Frayed Nots.
I have deep respect for their work, and all of us are pretty different musically so I'm looking forward to being inspired and challenging my own creative box. I'd love it if it turns into a regular thing, but for now, I'm just happy to get together with my tribe right here at home.
Might be a little too chilly for porch picking tonight though!
NOTE: It wasn't too chilly! And we seem inclined to make a regular thing of it, so perhaps I have conjured my wish into reality. And a song a month - not necessarily for anyone else's ears, but at least to get regularly engaged in writing - is a definitely worthy goal!
