The Kitchen Musician ~ March 2020

Hello friends,

Big doings this month for the Kitchen Musician. I have news about the release of my new studio album, Planting in a Drought, plus a new song to “celebrate” my birthday. Join me in the kitchen and I’ll tell you all about it!


Index
  NEWS:
  THIS MONTH’S MUSIC: “Sixty-Nine and a Half”
  UPCOMING SHOWS
  FEATURED NON-PROFIT: Ample Harvest

At The Burren. Photo © 2020 Dan Tappan


NEWS: New Album Release!

I am very pleased to announce that my new studio album “Planting in a Drought – New songs of struggle, protest and encouragement” will be released on CD, digital download and all streaming media services on March 27th! This release is supported by generous contributors to my Crowdfunding Campaign. So far, seventy-nine of you have carried us way over our initial funding goal. Most of those funds will go to a promotion campaign to get these songs into the ears of listeners in “purple” states – states where active voter turnout will have a major impact on changing the dialog in state and federal government. If you have not yet contributed, please consider boosting our outreach at Planting in a Drought Fund. This campaign will remain open until the album is released on March 27th.

Album Release Celebrations

If you are in the greater Boston area, please consider joining me on Sunday evening, May 17th to celebrate the album release at The Burren in Davis Square, Somerville, MA. This evening is a co-bill with one of my absolute favorite songwriters, Cosy Sheridan. My musical collaborator, Seth Connelly (and other special guests) will join me to celebrate the album release during my half of the show. Then Cosy and her trio (Charlie Koch and Kent Allyn) will work their magic in the second half. Purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended. Using special coupon code “24HOUR” will get you a reduced rate at this ticket link.

For those who can’t make it to the album release show at The Burren, I will also celebrate at my show on Saturday, May 9th at the Javawocky Coffeehouse in Brockton. Seth Connelly will accompany me at this show. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at this link.

Starting March 27th, those who have not contributed to my crowdfunding campaign may purchase this album at my shows or my online Store.


THIS MONTH’S MUSIC
Sixty-Nine and a Half

© 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP)
Lyrics in the comments below


March is my birthday month. Do you remember when your next birthday couldn’t arrive quickly enough? A few years ago, my grandson told me “BobBop, I’m four and a quarter!”, with emphasis on quarter! I remembered his announcement as I looked forward to my seventy first birthday. How different our sense of time when we are four and a quarter! This memory inspired me to write “Sixty-Nine and a Half” – commentary on the arrival of birthdays and other milestones as we age.

“I take each day step by step
Flex my muscles while they still can flex
Give to the struggle everything I have
A bad ass sixty nine and a half”

Steady on!

Tom

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


UPCOMING SHOWS:
Click this link to view upcoming shows


FEATURED NON-PROFIT: AmpleHarvest.org

AmpleHarvest.org “is a unique nationwide resource that is eliminating the waste of food, the outcome being a reduction in hunger and malnutrition along with an improved environment. It is accomplished by utilizing the Internet to enable 42 million Americans who grow food in home/community gardens to easily donate their excess harvest to one of 8,637 registered local food pantries spread across all 50 states. These food pantries help nourish the one out of six Americans (including a quarter of all kids under six ) that rely on these pantries.”

Please join me in supporting AmpleHarvest.org.

What do you think?

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11 Comments
  • Tom
    March 8, 2020

    Sixty-Nine and a Half
    © 2020 Tom Smith (ASCAP

    Who’s the man in that mirror there?
    I think I’ve seen him, but I can’t say where
    He looks like me except he has no hair
    And wrinkles fore and aft

    O wait, I think I see what’s going on
    It’s not a sprint, I’m in a marathon
    My feet are slow and time is racing fast
    I’m sixty nine and a half

         Sixty nine and a half (2x)
         My feet are slow and time is racing fast
         I’m sixty nine and a half

    I am lucky, I still can turn each page
    Use the wisdom that I’ve gained with age
    To make this world a better place
    Using music as my craft

    I say this with no uncertainty
    But I sense a kind of urgency
    It’s kind of scary when I do the math
    I’m sixty nine and a half

         Sixty nine and and a half (2x)
         It’s kind of scary when I do the math
         I’m sixty nine and and a half

    It’s nice to know that I am not alone
    Good things are growing from the seeds we’ve sown
    The time will come to bring the harvest home
    Though I may not get there myself

    I take each day step by step
    Flex my muscles while they still can flex
    Give to the struggle everything I have
    A bad ass sixty nine and a half

         Sixty nine and a half (2x)
         Give to the struggle everything I have
         A bad ass sixty nine and a half

         Sixty nine and a half (2x)
         Broadcast it proudly as I telegraph
         I’m sixty nine … and a half

  • mike delaney
    March 9, 2020

    You don’t look a day over sixty nine and a quarter!

    • Tom
      March 9, 2020

      Ha! Thanks Mike. If truth be known, I am sixty-nine and four halves.

  • Neal Braverman
    March 9, 2020

    Dearest Tom,

    So looking forward to your new long awaited CD. I know for past Tom Smith experiences that your new CD will be filled with the Love and Compassion for all humans Living one this Tiny Globe we all call HOME! Your teaching and engaging words are always from your Heart and you ever so talented soul. Thanks so much for being there for all of us to call you Friend and such a Dear Artist in all our Lives! Keep on writing as always, Most Sincerely and Thankfully, Neal :)))

    • Tom
      March 9, 2020

      Thank you for the kind words, Neal – and for supporting my crowdfunding campaign!

  • Elaine
    March 9, 2020

    Hey Tom! One happy wrinkly good lookin’ 69 1/2 year old badass!
    And his “slightly older cuz” is as proud as can be!
    What a great song, Sir!

    • Tom
      March 9, 2020

      Thank you Cuz! But if truth be told, I am sixty-nine and four halves. (sheesh!)

  • Tag
    March 9, 2020

    Thanks for sharing brother Tom! Another clever song that made me smile- and i can relate too! Bravo!

  • nyanna
    March 9, 2020

    Happy Birthday. Mine was Saturday and I am no longer 69 1/2, but I love your song. Nyanna

  • Karen Sauer
    October 13, 2020

    Tom, I have a March birthday, too! But I am only fifty-eighteen. Love the song!

    • Tom
      October 31, 2020

      That is a great outlook, Karen. fifty-eighteen. 🙂