February 18, 2011
On stage in Japan
I know it's been a while. Really, I do my best, but the time just gets away from me. I've been trying to keep up with my Facebook page (much as I don't like Facebook, it is stupidly easy to deal with, especially while traveling), posting a quote every night and trying to "friend" as many strangers as I can so I can have lots more people I don't know in my life...
<smile>
Does anyone else notice that the economy seems to be improving? Cautious optimism says that after only one Living Room Concert in the past 28 months (thank you Judy Jance and Bill Schib!), I now have three booked. Merchandise sales, down almost 70% in 2009/2010, are edging back up. Friends who've lost their traditional 9-5 jobs seem to be locating other work that ultimately pleases the more. And while no one I know is getting rich, everyone seems to have enough.
Let's hope.
With Kevin Eubanks
I had a productive few months - spent some time with new friend Kevin Eubanks at his amazing new home in Cambria. Yes, I had my own private bed & bath, overlooking the Pacific - and yes, we started a few things with an eye toward both his and my next album projects - but the real icing on the cake was just sitting around, listening to Kevin play. Sheesh! Made me feel like a beginner!!
With Angela Aki and Natalia Zukerman
From there, straight into rehearsals with Natalia Zukerman, with a side dinner of sushi (in preparation) with old friends Chris Valada, Len Wein, and Bill Prady, fresh from a brand new contract for his show Big Bang Theory. Needless to say, Bill bought dinner....
Len, by the way, made up one of my all-time favorite quotes: A true friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be anywhere else. So true, so true.
Banana Milk Memo
We landed in Osaka and had three gorgeous days off to recover and rehearse, then plunged straight into the Billboard Live shows. I have to say, their clubs are still the most beautiful I've ever played, and the tech crews are unbelievably good. What a joy when everything works!! I was doubly spoiled because, while regular tour manager Debra Hyslop couldn't come (she's waiting on her green card, and can't leave the US until she gets it. It's only been three years... they estimate another four or five... ridiculous, really...), her replacement was John Mooy. In addition to being a fabulous TM, John is also a guitar tech - which means for 10 shows, I never changed a set of strings!
Fog Bars and Fog Tool
Spoiled is right!
One of my favorite things to do in Japan is walk around the markets, trying to figure out what things are. "Fog Bar", for instance. Or the ingredients on this menu. We ate shabu-shabu, sushi, sashimi, and anything else we could get our mouths around - with the exception of this...
Angela, Janis, Natalia on stage
The capper of the trip was when my dear friend Angela Aki joined us on stage for the last night in Tokyo, and we all sang "Every Woman's Song" with her. What an unforgettable send-off!
One of the things I love about Japan is the attitude toward age. Since I'm turning 60 this April 7th, a lot of people gave me good wishes - and I heard over and over again that for the Japanese, 60 is not "old". Rather, it's the beginning of a new cycle. My old friend Reiko Yukawa stressed this at our traditional catch-up lunch, and I'm not going to pretend that it didn't make me feel really good about maturing. (As it were...)
Banana Milk Memo
Well. I need to get packing - Pat and I are headed off on vacation next week!! I have a two-day turnaround when we get back, then Debra, Lee and I clamber into the Queen Mary and head out on the road. We'll be gone until May, hitting half the country - from Colorado to Vermont to Florida. Phew. I'm tired just thinking about it. A few new songs, a couple of guitar solos, a bunch of dates with Natalia and the incredible Tom Paxton - then we'll quiet down so I can get some writing done this summer! I'll be hitting the Swannanoa Gathering late July, then preparing for my upcoming Europe/UK tour this fall. All in all, another busy year.
Interesting Japanese grill menu
Much as I love performing, I'm beginning to feel like that's all I do in life, so I'm carving out large chunks of time in 2012 for writing, with an eye toward some future recording projects. I also want to continue my short story writing, at least long enough to decide whether I'll ever be any good at it! And the older I get, the more I realize how much I miss being home when I can't be there. They don't say "Home is where the heart is" for nothing!
On that happy note, hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day. Have a wonderful spring, and I'll talk to you when I can!
Best,
Janis
Join me for the "Better Times Project"
My hope at first was to help my friends, but it's turned into a way of reminding people that you don't have to be a "professional" to make music. You just have to have a willing heart.
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New Free Downloads
A live-in-concert version of "At 17" is available for FREE DOWNLOAD at the Janis Ian Store. It's also available on YouTube. Feel free to share this information, and take advantage of all the other free downloads on my personal website!
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In light of the present circumstance...
In light of the present circumstance, I've decided to begin offering free downloads of things that would ordinarily cost. Check the free downloads page to see what's new.
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All tour dates updated on May 16, 2020
Sunday June 27 to Saturday July 3
Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Mando Banjo Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Fiddle Mando Banjo Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. The final week will also feature a second, more interactive class tentatively titled "War Stories". Time of classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Sunday July 04 to Saturday July 10
Swannanoa Gathering Traditional Song Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Traditional Song Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Sunday July 11 to Saturday July 17
Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Sunday July 18 to Saturday July 24
Swannanoa Gathering Old Time Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina,
Swannanoa Gathering Old Time Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina,
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Sunday July 25 to Saturday July 31
Swannanoa Gathering Cont. Folk & Guitar Week, Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Swannanoa Gathering Cont. Folk & Guitar Week
Swannanoa, North Carolina, USA
Phone: N/A
Visit the venue's website
For the first time, Janis will be giving her 5-day series "A Master Class In Artistry" during each of the Swannanoa Gathering weeks. Time of her classes is TBA; please check the website for more information. The 5 day class covers everything from the origins of artists to physicalization, songwriting for profit and not so much, performance, the need to be brave, how to survive as an artist in the modern world, and why bother. Points are illustrated with songs and playing as she takes us on a journey that begins with the first caveman to tell a story and continues through the myth of the artist as "crazy", the need for silence, and why she believes "art saves". Drawing on her 55 years of experience in the entertainment industry and her ten years with Stella Adler, presented with humor and grace, brutally honest, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her students.
Thursday, August 5
The Kate, Old Saybrook, CT
The Kate
Old Saybrook, CT
Phone: (860) 510-0473
Visit the venue's website
Janis returns to The Kate a scant year later, at their insistence. She's sure it's too soon, they're sure it's not. She's writing furiously so she can present some new material, and looking forward to visiting one of her all-time favorite venues again! Expect some good, relaxed fun, some tears, an after-show appearance for signing things you've brought and things you may purchase at the "merch table"!!
August 6th
Pearl Foundation private concert, , Massachusetts,
Pearl Foundation private concert
, Massachusetts,
Phone:
Visit the venue's website
A private concert benefitting the Pearl Foundation.
Saturday, August 7
Shalin Liu, Rockport, MA
Shalin Liu
Rockport, MA
Phone: (978) 546-7391
Visit the venue's website
Janis has been hearing about Shalin Liu from friends for more than a decade, and it's taken this long to coordinate schedules so she could do two nights in this prestigious venue. Expect old songs, new songs, stories, and time afterward for hellos and signing whatever you bring or buy! Since she'll be there for two nights, things should get a bit more relaxed than usual - maybe an extra step out guitar solo, or an audience Q&A. Who knows?! We can promise that this ten-time-Grammy-nominee will put on a great show, with plenty of heart and soul. 8 pm show
Sunday, August 8
Shalin Liu, Rockport, MA
Shalin Liu
Rockport, MA
Phone: (978) 546-7391
Visit the venue's website
Janis has been hearing about Shalin Liu from friends for more than a decade, and it's taken this long to coordinate schedules so she could do two nights in this prestigious venue. Expect old songs, new songs, stories, and time afterward for hellos and signing whatever you bring or buy! Since she'll be there for two nights, things should get a bit more relaxed than usual - maybe an extra step out guitar solo, or an audience Q&A. Who knows?! We can promise that this ten-time-Grammy-nominee will put on a great show, with plenty of heart and soul. 8 pm start!
Tuesday, August 10
Shea Theater, Turners Falls, MA
Shea Theater
Turners Falls, MA
Phone: (413) 648-7432
Visit the venue's website
And the new venues just keep on coming! We're really excited that Janis will be playing this town-owned theater, a centerpiece of the Turner's Falls resurgence. Expect old songs, new songs, stories, and time afterward for hellos and signing whatever you bring or buy! * 8pm showtime
