PocoNotes Newsletter 2013-3: December, 2013

Endings are somewhat bittersweet by their very nature...in the same way that beginnings are intensely hopeful in theirs.  Fortunately, the finality of one brings with it the endless possibility of the other.  With this in mind, we begin the process of bidding adieu to 2013 and the good music and good people that gave us so many wonderful memories over the past 365 days...and welcoming 2014 by unveiling a bit of what we have planned for the 52 weeks ahead.So, our annual "wrap up" begins! 

There are countless hours of planning that go into each PocoNotes event...and since there are just us two "children of the 60’s" at the helm, we could not have managed all of the details without more than a little help from our friends.  So, we owe a great debt of gratitude to so many people for so many different reasons. 

First of all, we are humbled that 63 artists have already afforded us an opportunity to be even the smallest part of their creative journey.  At some point for each of them, we were a completely unknown entity.  Yet, they had enough faith in us to trust us with their time, their talent and their most vulnerable selves.  As a result, each of them, in turn and in their own way, entered our lives and changed them forever...and for better.  So, we hope that wherever their respective roads may take them that they each carry with them a part of their PocoNotes experience, as well...until our paths cross again.

In 2013, we had the honor of working with Jim Gavenus and Roy Book Binder.  Separately, Jim and Roy are absolute masters at their respective crafts and, together, they brought some of the finest "Faces" and "Voices" to life for two magical days.  Best of all, though, they are our friends who, once again, shared the best part of themselves with us and with all of the people who came to see them, hear them...and learn from them at Lackawanna County’s historic Tripp House.  You can keep up with them and their latest projects either on Facebook or at www.GavenusPhoto.com and www.RoyBookBinder.com respectively. 

We especially thank those of you who came out to a show and, as a member of our audience, shared an evening of your lives with us...and allowed our artists to share an evening of theirs with you.  With each passing year, there is a growing number of familiar, smiling faces at our shows - like Jolene and Dick Mead, Joy and Mike Gruber, Roxanne and Miles Neutts, Linda and Pete Dimitrakakis, Thom Welby, Joe Bomrad and PocoNotes alumnus, Jack Woodbridge to name a few...and just enough new ones each time to convince us that we are, in fact, making a difference...one amazing event at a time.  Sadly, though, we lost a good friend over the past year and want to honor her with a mention.  Her name was Carol Bouton, and her support of what we are doing is what brought her into our lives, into our audiences...and into our hearts.  Although she is gone and her presence is - and will be - missed, her words of encouragement and acts of kindness linger. 

We want to tell Nada and Michael Gilmartin - again, how much their generous spirit means to us.  As the loving tenders of the Tripp House, they have ALWAYS made us feel welcome and have - on four occasions...and counting - entrusted us with this precious gem of a venue.  We cannot think of a better way to honor the history and beauty of this 1778 landmark - or the group of like-minded people who, a mere 33 years ago, chose to rescue it - than by filling its rooms with art and music.  We also believe that the folks of bygone eras would be pleased to know that this majestic space is being enjoyed to this day...in this special way.

Of course, no note of thanks would be complete without our good friend, Maureen Duffy of Duffy Accessories, who has been one of our staunchest supporters since our earliest days.  In fact, it’s her window at 218 Linden Street in Downtown Scranton where the ceremonial "first poster" for each of our events is placed.  In the weeks leading up to every show, she "chats us up" to her customers, serves as our personal "box office" to encourage local ticket sales and closes up shop in time to join us at the show where her reassuring smile is our focus as the evening’s introductions begin. 

Then, there is Chad Casterline, the gentle spirit that weaves his way in and around the crowd at our events "making pictures" and capturing every detail for us.  We first met Chad in 2007 at a Roy Book Binder performance, ironically.  Over the years our friendship has grown, as evidenced by his driving all the way from his Pennsylvania home into the Riverdale section of the Bronx on a recent Sunday afternoon to support and photograph Pat at his "first ever" gig.  This confirms that - and explains why - we say that we work with the nicest people.  In fact, we will have the honor of attending Chad’s wedding to the love of his life, Amy Lennon, in September.

As many of you know, Matt Hiller of The Coal Town Rounders has been designing our artwork for the past several years.  We are fully aware that the band’s popularity is ramping up and his work at Revival Letterpress at 341 Adams Avenue takes up what little time he has left.  We just hope that he knows how much we appreciate everything he does for us and that we will have him in our "camp" for a long time to come. 

Most of you have already met our friend, Bobby Quill, at one of our shows...or, to be accurate, at all of our shows since we first met him in 2010.  In all likelihood, you’ve seen him at some point moving chairs back and forth and...well, back again.  In fact, his are the "extra pair of hands" willing to help with whatever needs to be done on "show day," and we truly appreciate this kind of genuine friendship.

As much as Dolores likes to talk, there is no way that we could reach the masses without the help of some incredibly talented, knowledgeable and devoted members of the press, and we send our most gracious thanks to Tom Graham and Electric City, Michael Lello and Highway 81 Revisited, Jeff Boule, Lynn Vala and BouleBlog, Liz Baumeister, Don McGlynn and The Abington Journal, Josh McAuliffe and The Scranton Times Tribune, Sara Pokorny, Rich Howells and The Weekender...and, although they are no longer card-carrying members of the press, Kristie Ceruti Grier and Chris Hughes, too.  Your consistent support of our artists serves to remind us that what we are doing DOES matter.

There are three other women who have always been among the first to "go above and beyond" for us.  One of them is René Cullen of Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau, who - year after year - spreads the word that we have something special in the works.  Two of our other favorite women also happen to be two of our very favorite radio "personalities," as well.  They are WVIA’s "ArtScene" host and producer, Erika Funke, and WNTI’s "Dawnbird DJ" on "Mornings with Melanie" as well as their Management and Director of Development, Melanie Thiel.  Their hearts are huge...and the difference each of them has made for us - and for the artists we host - is appreciated more than we can ever express. 

To those who have sent us notes of encouragement and kindness over the years, please know that we read - and cherish - each and every one.  This year we even "quoted" a few of you.  You see...when we were asked to "assess" our year, we felt the words of Bob Conkling, Jeremy dePrisco, Dave Whetsell and Doug Adams said it pretty succinctly without our needing to add any of our own.

Finally, we acknowledge the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, The Pocono Arts Council, the Lackawanna County Commissioners and the Lackawanna County Council on Arts, Culture and Education for their financial support in making our 2013 season a reality.  We hope someday to have them join us in our audience so that they can see - firsthand - the incredible artistic successes that THEY are helping us create.

Now...as the clock ticks away the final hours of THIS year, let’s talk a bit about what we already have planned for NEXT year.

Since July 13, 2006, when New Orleans’ "Best Traditional Brass Band" stepped off the plane at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s Airport to help us launch PocoNotes, we’ve been looking for the right time and right place to bring them back. 

Well...after having worked side-by-side doing volunteer work with some of the students and faculty from Centenary College and Drew University in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we know that now is the time...and their home state of New Jersey is the place.

So, on the morning of Sunday, February 23, 2014, as The Storyville Stompers finish their annual "high-profile" Mardi Gras event for our country’s senators and congressmen in Washington, D.C., we will load ‘em up and bring ‘em to The Stanhope House for a Mardi Gras event with PocoNotes, WNTI and...YOU!

The Stanhope House (www.StanhopeHouseNJ.com is a venue that can boast of being "the last great American roadhouse" and will admit to a past that includes its having been a private residence, stagecoach stop, general store, post office, tavern, and possibly - dare we say - brothel.  In other words, it’s the PERFECT place for a band with "Storyville" in its name.  Right?!

To join us for what will surely be the MOST New Orleans you will find this side of the Mason-Dixon line, give Melanie a shout at (908) 979-4355 Ext. 1, because tickets are on sale now for $20 ($25 at the door).  Of course...if you’d prefer, you can stop by www.PocoNotes.com and purchase them directly from us.  Either way, as soon as you do, your "Keepsake" Wrist Bands will be "out the door" to you because we know you won’t want to miss a single minute of the festivities that are rumored to be starting with a "Second Line" led by The Storyville Stompers and their Grand Master...right down Main Street and into the party!   #throwmesomebeads

Then, in October, we’ll be back at the Tripp House for our 2014 version of "The Faces and Voices of The Blues" with Jim Gavenus once again providing the "Faces" - and with Nashville’s Patrick Sweany sharing the "Voices" his way!  

Of course, Jim needs no introduction to many of you not only because of his two prior exhibits with us but also because his stellar reputation extends far beyond his Luzerne County home.  His portfolio contains powerful images from a variety of projects that focus on the human condition, social injustice and civil rights.  As such, his work has won him numerous awards - including Gordon Parks Documentary Photographer of the Year.  However, he is just as widely recognized for photographing musicians at - and behind - some of the greatest stages in the music world...with his work reaching international audiences when it appeared on The 55^th Annual Grammy Awards in 2013.  Best of all, Jim is sharing his knowledge and passion for photography both as a full-time professor at Luzerne County Community College, as well as through workshops similar to the one he will teach at this event.

Many of you will also remember Patrick Sweany from his first PocoNotes appearance in 2008.  For everyone else, we’ll start by saying that his sound has been likened to The Black Keys, Marc Ford, The White Stripes and The Raconteurs and that his Pandora "plays" numbered upwards of 2.5 million for each quarter throughout 2013.  He’s opened for folks like Sonny Landreth, The Black Keys, Los Straitjackets, The Gourds, Paul Thorn, Hot Tuna...and Tedeschi Trucks Band and has played events as diverse as Merlefest and Newport Folk Festival.  His latest CD, "Close To The Floor," is getting amazing reviews and has made its way onto several "Best of 2013" lists.  In fact, he is in such high demand that we needed to juggle more than a few dates around all of his festival invitations before finally settling on October 4^th and 5^th for sharing him with you.  So, check him out - on Facebook at Patrick Sweany Music or his website, www.PatrickSweany.com. 

Whew!  That’s it for now!  We’ll see you in February for our Mardi Gras bash when, as Roy Book Binder would say, "a large time will be had by all."  Until then, be good to each other...and keep supporting live music - of all flavors!  It doesn’t matter if they travel by tour bus, church bus or Greyhound bus...or whether the stage they’re stepping onto is in an arena or a coffee shop, these artists are giving all of us the soundtrack to our lives and deserve our support.  After all, It's Not Perfect, It's Live...and you can check out our weekly radio spot by the same name on WNTI...Where Great Music Lives at 91.9-FM or www.WNTI.org on any Friday morning at 8:30 a.m.

Peace...really!

Dolores & Pat "It's About the Music!"


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