The Kitchen Musician ~ April 2013

Hello Friends,

Spring in New England! Love in the air! This month we have two songs that “talk about love”. One from a great trio of young women, and the other from a hippy folksinger. Welcome to my kitchen.


Index
  News:
  This Month’s Music: Talking About Love
  Upcoming Shows
  Featured Non-Profit: Bonaparte’s Retreat

Singing with Kim Jennings, who will release her second CD Here Now on May 10th
Photo © 2012 Dan Tappan


News

Tom at The Homegrown Coffeehouse this month!

I’m giving a little extra plug for my show at The Homegrown Coffeehouse in Needham, MA on Saturday April 20th at 8:00 pm opening for the wonderful Joe Crookston. Joe’s most recent album was named “Outstanding Album of the Year” by the International Folk Alliance. He creates magic in every show. I would love to have you join us at one of New England’s great listening rooms.

Four great CD’s to launch!

I am fortunate to be part of a vibrant music community here in Southern New England. I have several musical friends who have just completed new CDs. I encourage you to join us at one of the following happy CD release events:

April 20, Saturday at 8:00 pm. Katie Frassinelli at Pajamajoes, Holliston, MA. Details.

April 21, Sunday at 3:00 pm. Joe Fredette at Amazing Things Arts Center, Framingham, MA. Details and Tickets.

May 5, Sunday at 7:00 pm. Roger Fluet at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley, MA. Details and tickets.

May 10, Friday at 8:00 pm. Kim Jennings at Amazing Things Arts Center. Details and tickets.


This Month’s Music
Talking About Love

Last month Lisa Martin invited me to the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Pomfret, CT as one of four songwriters to perform in the round. Our songwriting assignment was to write a song based upon the prompt “That’s what I’m talking about”. Unfortunately that event was cancelled due to two feet of new snow, but I am happy to share the song with you now.

Talking About Love


Talking About Love
© 2013 Tom Smith

After I wrote this song, I was reminded that my daughter Mally Smith, with my niece Meryl Ayres and their friend Caity Richards wrote a song with a similar name, though the perspective is clearly different. Happily, I found a video of their debut performance of “Talk to Me” to share with you. I hope they write and sing many more songs together!


Talk to Me
© 2012 Meryl Ayres, Caity Richards and Mally Smith

You can learn more about Mally Smith at MallySmith.com
In addition to her musical skill, Mally is the best Yoga instructor on the planet!

Sing on!

~ Tom

(If so inclined, I invite you to leave a comment by scrolling to the end of this page.)


Upcoming Shows

April 7, Sunday, 4:00 pm, Dedham, MA. Doing a 30 minute set for Unsung Dedham, to benefit the Dedham School of Music.

April 10, Wednesday, 7:30 pm, Hudson, MA. Songwriters in the Round, an event sponsored by the Rhode Island Songwriters Association, and hosted by Dan and Faith Senie. Also appearing are Bethel Steele and Paul Pasch.

April 12, Friday, 7:00 pm, Rindge, NH. I will do the feature set at the Meetinghouse Stage Open Mike, hosted by David Lister.

April 20, Saturday, 8:00 pm, Needham, MA. I open for the fantastic Joe Crookston at the Homegrown Coffeehouse.

April 21, Sunday, 8:30 pm, Concord, MA. I Join my good friend and poet, Cheryl Perreault and a gaggle of talented folks to assist her feature set at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts open mike.

May 7, Tuesday, 8:00 pm, Natick, MA. I will do the feature set at the Natick Center for the Arts open mike, hosted by Mark Stepakoff.

Click to view details for all upcoming shows.


Featured Non-Profit: Bonaparte’s Retreat

This month’s featured non-profit was suggested by my musician friend Jon McAuliffe. Jon learned of Bonaparte’s Retreat from his friend Emmy Lou Harris, and he is donating 50% of his CD sales to this organization. “Singer-songwriter and lifelong dog lover Emmylou Harris established Bonaparte’s Retreat in 2004 with the goal of rescuing dogs deemed unadoptable from the Nashville Humane Association. Bonaparte’s Retreat has evolved since those early days and now focuses on rescuing dogs whose time has run out at Metro Nashville Animal Control.” Click to make a tax deductible donation to Bonaparte’s Retreat.

What do you think?

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3 Comments
  • Tom
    April 7, 2013

    Talking About Love
    © 2013 Tom Smith (ASCAP)

    I am one who has a lot
    Of things I bought
    More than I planned
    But there’s one thing I need more of
    I’m talking bout love

    [Chorus]
       For every woman child and man
       I’m talking ‘bout love
       Strength of hand in hand
       I’m talking ‘bout love

    Decisions pressure me each day
    Like ocean waves
    to a grain of sand
    But when that pushing comes to shove
    I’ll push back with love

    [Chorus]

    [Break]
       We all know that love is good
       But often it’s misunderstood
       It’s not just for your mate
       Not just the lack of hate
       It’s not a passive sport
       The ball of love is in our court

    Is it how we spend our worth
    For Mother Earth?
    Or fellow man?
    Or is it all of the above?
    We’re talking ‘bout love

    [Final Chorus]
       For every woman child and man
       We’re talking ‘bout love
       Strength of hand in hand
       We’re talking ‘bout love
       We’re talking ‘bout love

  • Trisha Knudsen
    April 9, 2013

    I have a collection of Kitchen Musician postings stored for future listening when there is sufficient time to really enjoy them. Today, with 10 minutes before prep for work, I listened to these two beauties. I remember being at Amazing Things for the lovely trio of ladies as they debuted Talk To Me. Wonderful to hear it again. And, as always Tom, your song of love has touched a deep chord in me. Thanks for sharing it – and for doing everything you do with your own special brand of love. Trisha xo

  • Kim Jennings
    April 9, 2013

    Goodness, what a beautiful song from Mally, Meryl & Caity. Their voices are gorgeous and the blend – wow – just amazing.

    Thanks for sharing my show date 🙂

    And most importantly, I think – thank you for the reminder that “the ball of love is in our court.” What a great way to put it, and such an important message too.