Each August, Paul Loyd (aka “Just this Guy”) puts on a Songwriting Contest. Last year’s challenge was to write a song about a toy, and my song Lite Brite took 2nd place.
This year’s contest had the following criteria:
—write a song about the worst job you ever had.
—use the words: boss, work, pay, co-worker
—bonus points for the word “monkey” (as was the case last year.)
So, I came up with a song called I was a terrible waiter, which I thought was pretty amusing. And, I just found out today (M, 10/12/09), that I won this year!
The song I wrote for the 2007 contest was Java 13, which also turned out nicely.
I’m playing a rare Pittsburgh-area full band show with Jason on bass (or mandolin), Ryan on drums and/or glockenspiel, and Corey on electric guitar, this Thursday night at 8pm, at the Mill Site Tavern (2512 E Carson St.) on the South Side.
I haven’t promoted this show as much as I’d like, in part because I’ve been super-busy trying to keep the next CD moving forward (just got strings recorded today!). But, you should come out because these guys sound great, plus the super-fantastic Autumn Ayers is opening.
Here’s a funny interaction between my friend Rachel, and her son Noah, as reported on Facebook:
Driving in the car with Noah, age 6½, listening to Wake the Dragon, from Talk to Total Strangers:
Noah: What are we listening to? Turn it up - this is totally my kind of music!
Rachel (Noah’s mom): I’m glad you like it, Noah. It’s my friend, Brad Yoder.
Noah: Woah - you have a friend who’s a rock star?
Rachel: Yep.
Noah: He totally has the most perfect name.
Rachel: …?….! Oh, did you think I said RAD Yoder? His first name is BRAD.
Noah: Oh! Yeah, I thought you said Rad…
So, that does it—I’m changing my name to Rad Yoder. The hip-hop moniker will be B-Rad. Yup…
There are 3 new videos on YouTube.com, of my 4/18/09 show at the Daily Grind in Richmond, VA (thanks to Jim!): School Together, Two Left Feet, and a sax encore, This Little Light of Mine. Scott Lashinsky also played mandolin with me on these songs.
I also (finally) posted 3 duo videos David Jose recorded in the summer of 2007: Head Together, Can’t Sleep, and a little banjo/mando instrumental, Porch Swing Blues.
Finally, I was super-pleased to see that there’s a video of Raina Rose's super-catchy song "King's Flashlight" up on YouTube, with me playing glockenspiel! :] (yes, I do own one.)
I recorded a podcast yesterday (Tuesday, 3/24/09) with fellow local musician Peter King of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, as a part of their ongoing “Believe your Ears” podcast series (I’m episode #25).
I played my newest song, “two left feet,” as well as “Lite Brite,” and “love is all I have for you,” plus just a little soprano saxophone.
You can download or listen to the interview, or also download it from iTunes. Thanks to Peter King, for the invitation!
On the evening of Monday, March 9th ('09), I had a great time playing in my first classical gig in a VERY long time.
Fortunately, it wasn't really my show--Pittsburgh Symphony bassist Peter Guild heard me play Lite Brite at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, and asked if I'd play 2 songs at the end of his recital. He played bass, of course, and Jason Rafalak joined us on mandolin (for songs on which he normally plays bass, when he plays with me). Those songs will be Lite Brite & She Loves Jesus>me.
The show was in the PNC Hall...
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