Cherry blossoms lose their bloom in the autumn
You lost your cool in the fall
You stumbled and you fell right down to the bottom
Nobody cared at all
But for me
You would have stood there with egg on your face
The bitter taste of old champagne
Up to your neck in rain
From Michael’s BLOG on Songwriting
“I arranged “Bird Avenue” for Spanky and Our Gang vocally, I’m very proud of that, met them at the Gaslight in the Grove and we spent a day working out the harmonies. I was very into Mickey Baker’s Jazz Guitar Book Number One and used a bunch of chords from that great book. The title was a play on Dylan’s “Positively Fourth Street”. SPOG put in the Northwest Orient jingle quote, which I thought was corny but it gave them the chance to show off their vocalese. The last guitar chord on the recording (thank you, Stu Scharf) is so out of tune it drives me crazy. Those were days when you had a hard time replacing stuff easily. Here it is, and I hope you enjoy it”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Jamie’s note. Before I even knew Mike Smith, I danced around the living room singing harmonies with my sibs along to this song: “Bird Avenue”. Fate delivered “10 LPs for a dollar” to our house (my brother filled out a postcard and dropped it in the mailbox). Who paid for the 10 you had to buy after that, I never knew, but with this song and Mike’s Garbageman song were both on Spanky & Our Gang’s record. We were hooked on him, for sure, after that!
Concert & Workshops
JULY
Saturday, July 13 at 8:00 PM
Michael Smith, Songwriter Concert
The Listening Room at Twisted Q
Twisted Q BBQ
2053 Ridge Rd
Homewood, IL 60430
Saturday, July 20 at 8:00 PM
Michael Smith, Solo
Roots Salon
Private address in Chicago’ s Lincoln Square
Hosted by Jamie O’Reilly
PH: 773.203.7661; roots@jameioreilly.com
www.jamieoreilly.com
Sunday, July 28 at 4:00 PM
Jazz on a Summer’s Day Series
Michael solo set
Second set with Jamie O’Reilly
“And the Poet Sang”
Lakeside Inn
15251 Lakeshore Road
Lakeside, MI 49116
$15
AUGUST
Door County, WI
Saturday, Aug 3
Michael Smith, Solo
Songwriting workshop 4:00 PM
Concert 7:30 PM
Lost Moth Gallery
7975 Hwy 42
Egg Harbor, WI 54209
www.jeannekuhns.net
Artist and musician Jeanne Kuhns host Michael for a workshop and concert at
her beautiful gallery in idyllic Door County, WI.
Michael Smith, solo
Concert and Songwriting Workshop
4:30 workshop
Unity Spiritual Center
225 Calhoun St
Hosted by Off Square Music Concerts
PH 815.338.5164; Email: offsquare@gmail.com
www.offsquaremusic.org
Fresh off of last month’s success at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake, Michael brings his solo act
to one of the area’s finest folk-communities. Keith Johnson hosts.
Michael Smith
Opening act at 7:00 PM
Lohman Auditorium
Marineland, FL
(16 miles south of St Augustine on A1A)
PH 904.794.4163
www.gamblerogersfest.org
Friday Aug 30 at 7:30 PM
Ray Lewis Presents…Mudville Music
Mudville Grill
3105 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL
$15
In the Listening room. Reservations Call (904)352-7008; email FlaMusic@bellsouth.net
SAVE-THE-DATES
The 37th Annual
Fox Valley Folk Music
& Storytelling Festival
Mon September 2
11 AM to 6 PM
Island Park, Geneva, IL
40 mi. West of The Chicago Loop
$15
foxvalleyfolk.com
September East coast dates tba.
Are you a presenter, songwriter or radio host?
Consider a Michael Smith Songwriting Workshop and Concert in your neck of the woods.
