Uncle Waldo's Coffeehouse Concerts
20401 Hilliard Blvd , Rocky River, OH 44116 Rocky River, Ohio
" We're Listening "
2007 seasson
Was a great sucess thank you for your great support.
Thanks to the fine artist who made it such a great season.
Joe Crookston Martine Locke Peter Mayer Jeff Black Eric Taylor
Chuck Pyle Diesel
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Butch Handcock
The legendary Texas songwriter one of the founders of the Flatlanders. Booking Butch was a true " get " as they say.
Butch is not on the road as a solo artist much these days. It was great to hear Butch tell stories of
the late Townes Van Zant.. This evening he did a great cover of Springsteens Raceing in the streets.
He finsihed the songs bysaying there are a lot of great writers out there.
Annie Gallup Our first show headliner ! Annie is a Poet with a unique spoken word style.
In my introduction of Annie to the audience I said " if you have never seen Annie Gallup, then you have
never seen anything like her "....What a treat.
The Weepies - this is their first show for us and our first sell out. We were blessed to have them return
to Uncle Waldo's one year latter. My-oh-My have we seen them explode on the music scene.
Both their new album, SAY I AM YOU, and song, “World Spins Madly On,” peaked at #1 on the iTunes US folk chart.
Their music has been featured on many TV shows Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, Men in Trees, Everwood.
With the Blessing of Steve and Deb , this 9/18/04 show was recorded and posted on the internet.
The sound quality is spectacular, as was the show. I still get email from all around the world about this show
since the recording was posted by Ken Long ( Thanks Ken )
Click here to stream or down load this show
The Hummingbirds
Our first show at Uncle Waldo's , Rachel and Steve brought their friend John Lantini to open the show and play
some pedal steel for them. Wow, just some of the nicest people that you will ever meet.
And who knew there was such great TWANG music coming out of Michigan.
Peter Mayer
The first thing that has to be said about Peter is that he is one of the nicest people that I have ever met.
It took years of tracking his schedule but I was finally able to bring him to Cleveland. His music will move your spirit and his guitar playing is out of this world good. You have to see him play to believe all that sound is coming from one person. He is a master of the harmer on style, this allows him to play percussion on every inch of his guitar with his right hand. Peter's lyrics are deep and thought provoking. Songs like " Awake " John's Garden " and " Holy now" resonate with in me long after the last note is played.
Peter was our most successful show at Uncle Waldo's in 2006 ....We are thrilled to bring him back for a return visit in 2007.
This may be a sell out so get your tickets fast for this show.
Kyler England & Adrianne
A dual headline show, Adrianne and Kyler are both solo artist and good friends who at one time played together in a band. It took special effort to get their schedules in sync. We were able to route them to meet up in Cleveland. It is was indeed a treat to hear them alternate songs and sing harmony for each other. It's shows like this, that will just blow you away with surprise and delight. As solo artist they draw crowed from all over the country and put on some fantastic shows.....This was one of those show that demonstraits the magic of a venue like Uncle Waldo's.
Greg Trooper -
Now this was one rocking show, touring in support of his CD " Make it through this world" an awesome CD that just would not leave my CD player. Greg played two sets, the first were the songs from this CD, the Second set he just kicked it out with some of his all time hits ...and brought the house down with his version of Hummingbird !!!
Tricia Walker -
This is a concert that will always remain dear to me for ever, Tricia brought a bit of the south with her up to Ohio.
Her CD " the Heart of Dixie " is a masterpiece. The Heart of Dixie reflects on the themes of redemption and reconciliation, injustice and intrigue, past history and future hope with love and laughter along the way. Tricia also gave us a sneak preview of her new next project a CD of torch songs....a magnificent evening of moving music performed by this master of songs.
The Kennedys - pictured here with Jane Scott who was our special guest this evening.
Pete and Maura have been wowing crowds for a good while now. As former members of Nanci Griffith's Blue moon, they have a large and loyal following. Pete brought his new electric Sitar with him and he played some unbelievable licks on this wonderful sounding instrument.
It was an honor to have the legendary Music writer from the Plain dealer.....I grew up reading Jane's Articles of all the shows that I went to and more important the ones that I missed...Jane always made it feel like I was there anyway.
From the Beatles to U2 she has seen it all. Our little way of saying thanks was to invite her to share this evening with us as our guest....Bless you Jane and keep rocking !!!!!
Jack Williams-
I became a Jack Williams fan while in Texas...I attended every show that he played in the area. I first thought of Jack as a killer guitar player. That is selling Jack far to short. A complete Musician originally a horn player who still loves Jazz and Orchestra music. Though I have rarely seen anyone play as well as Jack plays the guitar....it is his mind that is the most impressive musical instrument....he did a 20 minute free form improv that had to included bits and pieces of some 100 or so songs....from all musical forms and eras .... it was amazing....simply stated Jack is a genius ..it was a pleasure to bring him to Cleveland.
Jeff Black - It was Jeff's Birthday the night he played Uncle Waldo's 2005
The show started with us singing to Jeff, we also gave him a present on stage.
Shhhhhh don't tell but Kissy (Jeff's wife ) advised me that Jeff has a fondness for those little
airplane bottle's of Tequila. This show was off the chart awesome ! Jeff IMHO is the greatest songwriter
that has yet to be discovered by the masses. He brought his guitar and a banjo...and it is our great
fortune that the Church has a great Steinway piano that Jeff just fell in love with. I'll never forget
Jeff's version of "Sunday Best" that evening.
I could go on an on gushing about this show and Jeff.
Let it suffice to say that I have replayed this shows recording more then any CD or recording that I have.
Jeff will be back in 2007, this time we hope to avoid the blizzard that fell the night of his birthday.
You don't want to miss this show.
Chuck Pyle-
The Zen Cowboy - Know as the human metronome by hard core musicians, Chuck is the keeper of time and creator of smiles. He has delighted audiences with his Witt and insightful observations as set to music. Another artist who does not get this way that often. It was a pleasure to introduce our friends to Chuck this fine evening.
Dana Cooper-
I wanted to book Dana as soon as I heard his newest CD " Mad of Mud " ... Talk about your down to earth musician... I returned Danas phone call to set up last minute arrangements for his show here the next night...apparently I interrupted his mowing of the lawn...he wanted to get it in before taking off on this leg of his tour. My favorite memories of Dana- well as with most of the musicians of his era who had spent any time In Texas...I prompted him to tell me a story or two about the late great Towns Van Zant...He told a great story about when Townes came to see him play in Austin and sat in the Front row...but your going to have to ask Dana your self if you want the details of what O'l lovable Townes did. ...... Dana sure had me smiling !!!!
Joe Crookston
Wow !! What a treat for all who were there !! Joe is at that special place in his career just ripe for the Pickens. He's going to make somebody look smart at some Record label when they sign him. His Cd " Fall Down as the Rain" delivered on the promise of his first 2 CD release. On this evening Joe Previewed songs Like " Freddy The Falcon " from a yet to be released CD . ...Like Freddy, Joe Crookston is ready to Soar.
Read the show review 02/03/07 from Uncle Waldo's
To hear Joe in an interview session chatting and playing a few songs click here
http://media.podhoster.com/raynaylor/Joseph_Crookston_Interview_2.mp3
Diesel - ( performing with Josh Whitmore )
It's funny how sometimes you just real hit it off with some folks...
I went to scout Diesel one night when she was headlining at Wilbert's downtown. We had been in email contact prior -
this evening I met her producer Josh for the first time.....
The next day we hung out at Michael Grady's studio ( recording Diesel for Tom Ball's radio show and doing some demo work )
I invited her back to play Uncle Waldo's ....Diesel wowed the 150 or so folks who were there that evening....
Sometimes you just click with people ...I am proud to call her and her Red Sox loving Producer/Guitarist Josh my friends.....
( Thanks for the great house warming gift guys !!!!! ) You guys are very special and I'll always be in your corner.
Angelo M. -
You have to love Angelo's story - 30 years in the steel mills, only to be let go with little ceremony.
Anyone who knows my Worldcom story will know why I relate to Angelo. Come to think of it he and I both
own several guitars. The difference however is he can play his like Mark Knoffler and sing like him too.....
Angelo is dripping with talent, If you have not seen him in person , you owe it to your self to check him out.
Don't let his late start in the music biz fool you...Angelo has the talent of a 30 year vet...
and has lived the life of the working man, that makes him a believable story teller in a live setting or on recordings.
Alexis Antes
Lex in a Cowgirl hat is not shall we say her normal look.....but I love this picture.
When I first came back to Cleveland I feared that I would not find singer/songwriters like I had known in Texas.
Meeting Alexis gave me great hope. She is based in Cleveland, and is this cities finest voice.
Alexis was my muse, and a great help in getting me started with Butternut Ridge House concert and she
remains a dear friend to this day. ( see the "Ink" page on this site for more on Alexis )
Robin Stone -
Another of my dear friends, you can't be friends with Alexis and not be friends with Robin...It's the law ! ! !
This girl never ceases to amaze me, a true Renaissance gal in every thing she does. Musically she can cover so much ground that you can't nail her down...The common thread in all of her music is her energy...she never takes the easy way out in her writing or performing. You won't find, as 'Paul' once said ..."silly little love songs" ... Robin will always find the less obvious and more interesting way to tell you her version of the story.
Edie Carey-
Fresh, Clean Hopeful and Honest - Edie's tell stories that come from a personal place. One of my favorite songs of Edie's was one that she was asked to write for a couple of fans, for their wedding. They provided her with their saved Love letters. A task that would put off most musicians ( if not creep them out ) ...Edie found a way to spin straw into gold. Edie could not be a nicer gal...it was great fun having her play for us.
Terra Naomi -
It was great fortune that Terra fell into our lap one day - she was headlining shows from the west cost to the east and had an open evening...on short notice she asked if she could open my show. I was impressed by how hard working she is, a true, I have to play attitude and with a great deal of tallent to back it up. My favorite inside story about Terra was that she and her manager crashed at my place that evening, Terra crashed on the couch. I had to get up very early to walk my dog Aussie...when I got back in, trying to be as quiet as I could be ....Aussie slipped away and headed straight to a sleeping Terra.... I thought Oh No !!! as Aussie slipped his cold nose under Terras covers ....I feared the worst....but what I heard was a Giggle and an almost child like laugh and Terra saying " It's Okay,I loved dogs" !!! ..It was a pleasant sipping coffee in the early morning with the radically awaken Terra...thank God for dog lovers and morning people, and especially when God puts that combination into one person.
