The Texas Fiddle Session.

I dare you to listen to Texas fiddle music and not smile.  Dare you.  It can't be done.

I tried to figure out what that "thing" is...the happy factor that happens when we listen to the fiddle.  Is it the songs?  They are certainly jovial enough.  Is it the beauty of the instrument?  I've never seen a more lovely instrument!  It's more than that, though.  Here's what I think.

It's the fiddle players themselves.  No one has more fun than a fiddle player!

I'm always up for fun, so you can understand why it was a very good day indeed at Agape Haus recently when a few them stopped by to play us some songs. It was early evening, and they had to have been tired being that they had spent the day leading a fiddle clinic.  But they were sincerely glad to be there.  They just want to play!

They were Wes Westmoreland and Marty Elmore.  Their buddy Marty McPherson came along to play some guitar.  Fiddlers Wes and Marty are boyhood friends.  They have played fiddle together for more years than they care to count.  If we wanted to, we could provide you with a laundry list of awards and accomplishments they've racked up.  We could give testimony after testimony of students they have mentored.  We could give you the name of at least one classically-trained violinist they have helped to turn from her "high-brow" ways to embrace all that is Texas fiddle.  We could.  But we won't.

Instead,  we'll  just let you listen and watch as these guys tear it up on a few songs they've likely played hundreds of times.  It felt like a debut, though.  It was refreshing and invigorating.  I felt like they were enjoying it like it was their first jam!   That kind of enjoyment from musicians is contagious. 

So here it is. Our Texas Fiddle Music Agape Session.

 Be happy.

If you'd like to see and hear the very best Texas Fiddlers making music today,  plan on heading out to Llano, Texas April 6-8, 2012 for Llano Fiddle Fest.  For information and schedule of events please go to http://llanofiddlefest.com/.

The Buddy Case Session

If you were hard-pressed, you might find someone who enjoys playing music as much as Buddy Case.  It's highly unlikely, though,  that you would find anyone who enjoys it more.  Or does it better.

For 40 years, Buddy has mesmerized audiences with his guitar finger-picking--which he executes with a precision that leaves even his most talented peers grinning and shaking their heads in disbelief! This writer has witnessed the reaction first-hand.

Buddy Case's talent has earned him award after award, and his peers have been known to say the he is the guitar player they all dream of becoming.  But there is more.

There is this "thing" that is hard to put your finger on.  You just know it when you see it.  It isn't something that can be taught.  It's something that you either have or you don't.   Buddy has it.  Whatever "it" is enables Buddy to draw listeners in and completely wrap them up in his music--whether it is an instrumental piece, or a song rich in lyric delivered with Buddy Case-smoothness.

One thing is for certain.  If the walls of Agape Haus could talk, they would still be talking about the day Buddy Case stopped by, sat down and held us spellbound while he played us a few songs.

We're so happy to share that afternoon and these songs with you.  Enjoy!

 Want to hear more from Buddy, find out where you can see him live, and purchase his music? Visit http://buddycase.com/.

Blessings!

The Paul Finley Session

Before I was introduced to the music of Paul Finley, I would have told you that lyrics are the most important part of a song.   Now I say that lyrics sometimes aren't necessary at all---especially if the person behind the guitar is Paul Finley.  Paul can spin a yarn without speaking one single word.  He paints the most vivid pictures through each strum...every rhythm...every note.  If you close your eyes when you listen, you will be certain you're listening to band of guitars instead of only one.  When Paul Finley plays for you,  you don't miss words.  They simply aren't needed.

A Wisconsin native,  Paul made his way south some 14 years ago.  Based out of Austin,  he has conducted clinics all over the world.  He is a former faculty member of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. He has played in venues large and small, with musicians well-known and little-known, but you get the distinct feeling that none of that really matters much to Paul.  A more humble human being you'll likely never find.   It seems that Paul has this music thing figured out.   It really is just about playing us a song.

On a beautiful December afternoon in Llano, Texas,  Paul dropped by Agape Haus to do just that. It is our blessing--both yours and mine!  So push play,  turn up the volume and enjoy!

I know!  Great, isn't it?  You can purchase Paul's music on iTunes or at http://paulfinleymusic.com/  That's where you'll also find booking information and dates and places where you can catch one of Paul's live shows!

The Jake Wright Session

Jake Wright sees life like this.

Less is more.  If you have two of something, there is probably someone out there who can use your extra. 

In the last five years he lived in Llano, Nashville, Fort Davis, Germany and Austin.  Much of that time all he needed could fit in his backpack.  He grew a garden in the mountains of West Texas.  He harvested apples and learned to bake bread on a farm near Hamburg, Germany.  He studied.  One time he rode his bike about 1,200 miles in a couple of weeks. He went to a place and stayed until he could speak the language. He worked on a horse farm.  He read books.  And he always made music.

Turns out his simple, somewhat vagabond lifestyle is the stuff from which great lyrics are made.  He has journals full of them.  Only a handful of people are fortunate enough to have an actual recording of them.  So we were really excited when he stopped by Agape Haus a couple of months ago to sing for us.  He was joined by his brother and sister (a grouping he calls "The Siblings Wright") for a live performance of "We Got Hitched".

We hope you enjoy Jake's Agape Session!
 

The Courtney Reed Session

“Living songs is writing songs, if you ask me.” 

That’s something Courtney Reed said once. 

This past year, the songs she’s lived were recorded in what she calls a serious milestone in her life.  Her debut album called “Somewhere Down the Road”.  It’s real and raw and it’s all her.  You just have to hear her sing one time to know it.  It’s in her voice— a certain commitment and connection to her lyrics.  The project was co-written by Courtney and her dad Allan Reed.  It’s all about life lessons and the ins and outs of a love story…from beginning to end.

“My dad wrote most of the songs, other than the two we wrote together. He knows me like the back of his hand, and for that I am truly grateful,” says Courtney.  For the past seven years, Courtney and her dad have played music together.  Somewhere along the way, her brother Cameron Chase Reed joined the mix, and then later lead guitarist Patrick Russell.

The Courtney Reed Band plays regularly in the Texas Hill Country at  The Badu House, Granite Top, Joe's Bar and Grill, Lincoln Street Winery,  Doc's Fish Camp and on occasion at Fuel coffee house.  You can also catch their live show now and then in Austin  at Iron Cactus and at Uncle Billy’s on Lake Travis. 

A few weeks back we were thrilled when Courtney, along with band members Allan and Patrick,  stopped by Agape Haus to play us a song.  We hope you enjoy her Agape Session!

If you’d like to hear more of Courtney Reed, or better yet purchase her music, you'll find it at

Amazon.com and iTunes.com.  Want to see The Courtney Reed Band live?  Visit http://www.reverbnation.com/courtneyreedband  for a list of upcoming shows.  If you’d like to book The Courtney Reed Band for an event, send an email to courtneyreedbevocal@gmail.com.



The Savannah Still Session

I am intrigued by musicians that  seem to come out of nowhere.  Boom.  It's like one day there they are with a soul that is filled to the brim with music and the music is slowly finding its way out.

Savannah Still is one of those musicians.

She's 16 and only those closest to her really knew about the music inside her.  Until now.

I guess we never know exactly what it is that coaxes the music out of a person.  Maybe is comes from summers spent traveling the country in an RV and attending music festivals.  Perhaps it's that.  Or maybe it's all the evenings at home doing something quite atypical for a 16-year-old---listening to Ella Fitzgerald.  Yes I said Ella.  Not Lady Gaga.  Ella.   With that said it won't surprise you that Savannah's music of choice is always jazz!

Savannah attends Faith Academy.  Piano, cello, violin, ukelele, guitar and mandolin are all instruments she plays or is learning to play.  For years she's written melodies, but only recently began to write lyrics.  When pressed about future musical plans, Savannah admits she doesn't have it all mapped out just yet. In the meantime, my guess is that she'll just keep listening to Ella, writing down whatever comes out and not getting in too big of a rush about things. 

One morning a few weeks ago,  Savannah dropped by Agape Haus to sing us a song-- a song that was inspired by her best friend and is being considered for a movie with some major Hollywood players. That's about all we can say about that now, but you'll be hearing more about Savannah Still in days to come!  In fact, 20 years from now, this recording will probably be referred to as Savannah Still:  The Early Years!!

The song is called "I Could Never...".   Enjoy!

The Justin Simpson Session

You never know exactly where you might find Justin Simpson.  He likes to fly a little bit under the radar!   He has a gig as a really fine barrista, so if you know his schedule you can track him down at the local coffee house.   And sometimes, you might catch a glimpse of him biking across the Llano River bridge.  So because he's somewhat off the grid, you can imagine how thrilled we were when he stopped by Agape Haus one recent afternoon to play us a song.

Justin has perhaps one of the most unique musical styles we've come across.  He's contributing to a whole new genre of music--a creative and somewhat primitive mix of poetry and spoken word--delivered in an inimitable one-man band style!

Justin plays his music around in the Central Texas area.   He regularly hosts the popular Open-Mic Nights at Fuel Coffee House in Llano,  Texas.   When he's not writing and playing music, he teaches guitar as well.  If you would like to hear more of Justin's music, you can find him on ITUNES under Lightnin' Paperboy Simpson  & the Feedbucket of Truth.  If you would like to book him for an event  you can find him on Facebook!
 
In this world there are "people" and there are "characters".

Justin Simpson is a character.  A character who plays some really creative music.  We hope you enjoy his Agape Session.