tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:/blogs/paula-s-blog?p=2
Paula's Blog
2024-01-31T23:20:47-08:00
Paula Boggs Band
false
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/7343941
2024-01-31T23:20:47-08:00
2024-01-31T23:20:48-08:00
February and A Black History Month Story
<p><span>Paula Boggs Band was at local community radio station KBCS-fm, having just sung “King Brewster,” the true story of my ancestor’s journey from bondage to freedom, when our white DJ, Iaan Hughes, sprung the question to white multi-instrumentalist band member Darren Loucas, “I hope this doesn’t make you uncomfortable, but how does it feel to sing those lyrics as a white man.”</span></p><p><span>“Those lyrics” include,</span></p><p><span>“His [white] confederate [half] brother bequeathed a pocket watch. As if that could compensate for all King Brewster lost by the color of his skin and hum of cotton gin. No escape from breaking back, burning flesh, being tracked down.”</span></p><p><span>When I wrote King Brewster my focus was poetry, melody and mood, not performance. I wanted to be honest and honoring. I hoped the song would educate and entertain. Most decendants of America’s enslaved realize how rare it is, even in 2024, to document our ancestors’ stories so as someone who, relatively speaking, knows a lot about mine, I felt and feel an obligation to share a rare gift so as to better humanize America’s original sin.</span></p><p><span>Finishing the song I hoped Grammy-winning folk artist and historian Dom Flemons would sing “King Brewster” with me. Dom said “yes” so when you hear the recording ‘those lyrics’ are sung by a Black man. Our album release shows featured Puget Sound’s veteran folk musician Reggie Garrett, another Black man, whose rendition was so poignant it almost felt like Reggie was taking us back to the 19th century. All of that was great but of course the band wanted to perform “King Brewster” in our regular set list, meaning a band member would need to sing those lyrics if the song was to continue living as a duet.</span></p><p><span>When I approached Darren, my only advice was to make it “his.” Darren is a veteran multi-instrumentalist well known within Seattle’s music scene. Depending on song, his voice can lean towards Tom Petty, Rodney Crowell or Towns Van Zandt. His singing voice is a storyteller’s and when you hear it, you believe the story. Honestly, that was more than good enough for me and before we arrived at KBCS, neither Darren or I had thought much about the profoundness of </span><i><u>him</u></i><span> singing those lyrics. Once Iaan Hughes posed the question though, I couldn’t unring that bell.</span></p><p><span>I now consider it rare, powerful, beautiful, raw and healing when Darren, a white Ashkenazi Jewish man, sings those lyrics. Not long ago Darren had a family emergency so I turned to his sub, Dave Swaintek, a white genial banjo-slinging US Army veteran who sings with an “O Brother Where Art Thou” Appalachian-hollering vibe. My advice to Dave also was to make it his own — no mimicking Dom, Darren or anyone else. I told him the most important thing was to sing so the audience believed </span><i><u>he</u></i><span>believed what he was singing. And that he did…so much so the crowd gasped at the end of our performance.</span></p><p><span><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/8092/617b94e5075fa569b8122faa4e0a62be34ee90d5/original/083ada7f-3cf8-4e8e-9178-0ece4378e093.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Not all of us are descendants of people enslaved on American soil but many of us know hardship and resilience. And if we don’t know it personally, we can respect the road traveled by those who do know it. Acknowledging this connection makes us less mean, less jaded, more empathetic, more in community, more human. Thank you Darren and Dave for your vulnerability and authenticity. I now believe, those qualities are not only the most important for singing “King Brewster,” but perhaps therein lies a key to more humans seeing fellow humans as…well just that…human.</span></p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://youtu.be/53TVXngDWgg?si=HPDI7FQfaY26n1AZ"><span>VIDEO LINK: https://youtu.be/53TVXngDWgg?si=HPDI7FQfaY26n1AZ</span></a></p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/7250136
2023-07-31T16:30:03-07:00
2023-10-16T07:44:52-07:00
Musings on Newport Folk Festival 2023
<p>Don’t get me wrong…I loved Newport Folk Festival’s music…some of it blew my mind…</p><p>For me though the festival’s most magic moments arose from human connection…watching Randee Fox, my spouse, discover an artist, the security dude who cracked jokes while wanding us, volunteer Ella who walked us to the right stage, hugging former Seattle musician Mongé Whitney minutes after her stellar Black Opry Revue performance, bumping into Tucker Martine — who produced our album “Janus” — and his lady, bumping into Janine Small —an entertainment lawyer I know who introduced me to Chance Emerson, who turns out to be a student of Vicenza American High School classmate Sheila Haggerty — Randee and I’d just had brunch with Sheila — who teaches at Brown — and her husband Paul.</p><p>Last night we connected over dinner with Joe Miller, son of college classmate Gale Berkowitz, and Sam, Joe’s friend since childhood. We not only compared festival notes but also celebrated Joe’s recent Yale graduation and new job with yummy food, drink and conversation. </p><p>After Randee and I returned our rental car, I recognized the guy seated across from us on the shuttle, knew I’d seen him at the festival but couldn’t further place how I knew him. After I said “weren’t you at the festival?” He responded, “yes! I’m Jody!” Jody Whelan, head of Oh Boy Records, and son of the late great John Prine. #smallworld 🌍</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/7236655
2023-07-04T00:30:05-07:00
2023-07-16T17:48:13-07:00
What Inspires Me to Write a Song?
<p>What inspires me to write a song? Sometimes it’s a most reliable muse. It could be what I see, hear or touch while walking. Maybe it’s something I read in the newspaper, a book or online. Every now and then I stumble upon something while cleaning a closet. That’s what happened yesterday. Rediscovering an old photo at the end of Pride Month🌈 inspired me to write. Bill Quinn was a friend of mine who died of AIDS. Not sure if this is a song, poem, spoken word or even finished. Just seems right to share it NOW.</p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/8092/b27aefa978c04db80aa22cf62f2063c73695df82/original/55cf0346-642a-4d87-addd-2a08583d17a3.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" />
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/7234360
2023-06-28T19:57:45-07:00
2023-06-28T19:57:45-07:00
Waking Up to Sad News
<p><span>OCTOBER 2022: I woke up this morning to sick and sad news out of Memphis. Yes, I believe everyone is innocent until proven guilty. I also believe in USA Today reporting and their track record to try to tell it like it is. I grieve for Memphis, the victim and her family. I am a lifelong runner and when I slip on my Hokas and take off in my neighborhood, I assume I’m coming back.</span></p><p><span>From all accounts I can find, Eliza “Liza” Fletcher was a good woman. Only 34, she was a grammar school teacher, one of our nation’s noblest professions. She was a mother of two and a good spouse. I don’t care what race she was or her assailant’s. Her killing was evil.</span></p><p><span>We’ve become corse and numb to violence in America. We “other” each other literally to death. Name calling is normalized. It’s sick. Rule of law must prevail here. I’m praying for it. I’m also praying for Liza’s children and those she taught. I’m praying for her entire family and the City of Memphis. I’m praying for all runners and walkers, regardless of race or gender. We deserve safe passage. I’m praying for America.</span></p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6987336
2022-06-05T17:23:21-07:00
2023-06-28T19:56:36-07:00
Pride Month 2022
<p>Every year during June the global LGBTQ+ community and those who love/support us celebrate in a variety ways, take stock, recommit to justice, march, advocate and honor the struggles, sacrifices and deaths of those who came before. Why June? Because it is when the Stonewall Riots took place in 1969. </p>
<p>Twenty years after Stonewall I came out to myself, family members and close friends after meeting my now spouse. I was scared. At the time I was Roman Catholic and a federal prosecutor. I still am also African American and back then that community wasn’t home to a lot of support for my new one. Regularly gay people were fired, denied housing, not allowed to adopt, assaulted, sometimes arrested and surely not able to marry. Matthew Wayne Shepard, a gay student at the University of Wyoming, was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie on the night of October 6, 1998, nine years after my spouse and I got together. </p>
<p>The LGBTQ+ community has come far but our human rights gains are fragile and under attack.This Pride Month seems different, more urgent. Love is love. The fight goes on. I am a soldier.🌈💯</p>
<p>Inspired by Pride Month I made this playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32vER5lJhTNWTxkWZg58fd?si=WH1kO9ZWT8Oy6-u6HCN97g</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6972495
2022-05-16T13:29:51-07:00
2022-05-16T13:29:51-07:00
A Songwriter’s Take on Mass Shootings and Hate Crimes
<p>Not all mass shootings are hate crimes and not all hate crimes are mass shootings. But when they intersect something particularly cancerous cuts America’s soul and sullies all pretense of America as “shining city on the hill.” </p>
<p>As a songwriter I’ve been drawn to the cancer. Inspiration for 2017’s “Benediction” came while driving from Bend to Eugene, OR, through the stunningly beautiful Willamette National Forest while listening to President Obama eulogize Reverend Clementa Pinckney, one of nine Black victims of a hate crime massacre, killing 9, at Charleston, SC’s Mother Emanuel AME Zion Church on June 17, 2015, moments after the parishioners had welcomed the supremacist monster into their prayer circle. </p>
<p>More mass shootings and hate crimes happened between June 2015 and October 18, 2018, but when Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue was attacked by an anti-Semite leaving 11 dead and 6 wounded, including several holocaust survivors it cut deep. Maybe because my spouse is Jewish. Maybe because I’ve seen the Dachau Nazi concentration camp. Maybe because it was the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the United States ever. A mere 6 days later and 400 miles away another hate-filled gunman<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/8092/a26847bc148bf7540550a8a0938c00afae7ff498/original/9b88adb9-54fa-4249-877e-a87918fbd713.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /> gunned down three African Americans, killing two, at a Kentucky Kroger’s. These two hate crimes in a single week led me to write 2022’s “Shadow of Old Glory.” </p>
<p>Admittedly “I don’t have answers” but as our song “Peel the Charade” also says, “we need each other to mend.” Finding a cure for cancer is more complex than mastering the engineering and physics required for spaceflight. But that doesn’t stop the medical profession from trying. And so it is. Let’s fight the urge to go numb. When we give someone beyond our “tribe,” whatever that tribe is, the benefit of doubt, we move the needle away from hate and towards light. I mourn for the victims, their families, the City of Buffalo and America. I don’t want to write another song about a hate crime mass shooting either.</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6941547
2022-04-06T01:08:19-07:00
2022-04-06T01:08:19-07:00
Reflections on 64th Recording Academy Show
<p>These are my personal views. I thought Sunday’s show was its best in years. Was it flawless? No. Were there a few unfortunate winners? Sure. I’ve been a Recording Academy voting member for a decade+ and a PNW Chapter board governor for two. I’m also my chapter’s ambassador to the Recording Academy’s national DEI Council. </p>
<p>I take my job as a voting member seriously. It dishonors the work of my peers to do anything less. And yes, the Recording Academy awards are the result of creators/engineers/producers/crafts people, etc. judging the works of peers. It is not a popularity contest for me. I don’t check to see who’s #1 on Billboard or some other chart. I choose the categories I vote in carefully and listen to the music. After listening and comparing I vote. If you’re doing it authentically it is arduous work. </p>
<p>Most nominees and winners become such because of what 12K+ individual voters collectively decide (a recent reform). When you say “the Grammys” got it wrong, you’re actually saying more individual voters than not got it “wrong.” I can’t speak for other voters but I’m listening for musicianship, the quality of lyrics where applicable, whether a piece really “fits” its genre and how a song makes me feel. All highly subjective. </p>
<p>As the Recording Academy’s membership becomes more generationally, racially, culturally, geographically, gender and overall diverse that diversity will be reflected in its voting. For those eligible for membership who choose to criticize outside the tent, that’s on you. #music #diversity #grammyawards #grammys2022</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6736625
2021-09-05T11:41:40-07:00
2022-03-14T22:37:27-07:00
Finding Sacred in Music Amidst a Horrid News Week
<p>I wasn’t sure…having bought tickets months ago, confident in my Pfizer vaccine, Seattle’s high vaccination rate and before “Delta”became a household word. Reading about the beefed up air filtration system at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, Seattle, the show’s proof of vaccination and mask mandates gave more confidence. Fremont Abbey Arts Center, the show’s sponsor and its volunteers we’re totally buttoned up and professional. I sprang for the “reserve” seating, up front, not only to see Haley Heynderickx and The Milk Carton Kids better but as an added measure of caution…more space. </p>
<p>As soon as Haley opened her mouth, singing and playing Cat Stevens’ “Morning is Broken” I was transported to a new world, more hopeful and sacred than that other one outside the cathedral’s massive and ornate doors. Waif-like in appearance, Heynderickx is funny, exudes generosity, authenticity and OMG has a young Joan Baez voice that accompanies serious John Fahey-esque guitar chops. She is a beautifully ironic lyricist too. I could have listened all night to this amazing opening act, wanting way more. First time hearing her live, I’ll definitely come back. </p>
<p>The Milk Carton Kids did not disappoint. Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale make harmonies evoking Simon & Garfunkel, the Everly Brothers and masterful dueling acoustic guitars make the complexity of their voices weaved together all the more stunning. They are also very funny…almost Smothers Brothers-esque for those old enough to remember. They too, more than once and heart-fully each time, expressed gratitude for being able to share their art, at this time, in such a sacred place. </p>
<p>At the end of a horrific news week, in the healing and transformative power of music, masked community within a holy place, I found “peace.”<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/8092/dd2fedd2ddda037bbc0a4be06aaf21ae37410a34/original/24af3226-9f8c-455d-8bdd-3a0f6b6bc2a5.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6662312
2021-06-17T10:28:31-07:00
2022-02-23T13:42:05-08:00
A Review of Bob Dylan’s Memoir “Chronicles: Volume One”
<p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14318.Chronicles" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348218030l/14318._SX98_.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Chronicles: Volume One" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14318.Chronicles">Chronicles: Volume One</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8898.Bob_Dylan">Bob Dylan</a><br> <br>My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3882921894">4 of 5 stars</a><br><br> <br>It’s Dylan so not surprisingly the prose is highly lyrical. Honestly I was blown away by Dylan’s otherworldly ability to describe in exquisite detail…color schemes, books lining a shelf, passengers on a train, a shop owner…events of 50+ years ago. It was fascinating and educational to explore, through Dylan’s eyes, his start in music, including his many influences. Though I knew about Woody Guthrie’s hold on Dylan, it was cool to be introduced to the many characters of the early 1960s New York Greenwich Village folk scene, including several African Americans like Odetta and Spike Lee’s dad, bassist Bill Lee. A few times the chronology confused me and frankly I think that was intentional. For example, throughout the memoir Dylan refers to his “wife” without a name. Unless you know Dylan’s biography you’d have no clue he was talking about two different women and the second one is African American. Even if you’re not a Dylan fan though, it’s a wonderful read. <br><br><br> <br><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/9633331-paula-boggs">View all my reviews</a></p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6512813
2021-01-03T11:44:54-08:00
2022-03-08T11:58:19-08:00
A New Dawn...2021
<p>We could not script 2020 and it tested us. Reminded of those lost, seeing Kobe Bryant’s name provoked...”was that really this year?”...his pre-COVID-19 death seemingly eons ago. Families, communities, a nation, a planet...all challenged, upended and many suffered incalculably. We were called to think different, do different, be different and many of us did just that — how we work, play, create, shop, eat, go to school, socialize, exercise, heal, celebrate, vote, marry, worship, die. The human spirit can be an amazing thing. </p>
<p>The band will record/release it’s 4th studio album in 2021 and Covid-19 willing we’ll travel to Portland, OR to do it in March. These ten original songs were written or re-imagined after the pandemic isolated us. It will be an album of story-telling and musically grounded in the folk tradition with hints of jazz, gospel, bluegrass and other roots music influences. At a time when the African American story has taken a front row seat in our consciousness, many of these songs serve as windows. We will use mostly acoustic instruments though a song or two might be accented with something electric/digital.</p>
<p>We can’t wait to make this art and share it with all of you!</p>
<p>May Your 2021 Be Blessed.❤️</p>
4:51
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/6051787
2019-12-30T12:25:23-08:00
2023-07-04T00:30:56-07:00
Remembering Someone I Never Knew
<p>Remembering Someone I Never Knew </p><p>Why had I not heard of her? How does that happen? I’m not sure why the Sunday Seattle Times obituary section always finds me. Maybe it’s because the older I get the more likely I’ll read about someone I once knew or learn of someone I’m meeting too late. So it was this morning. reakfast I started turning the pages old school of my local daily news. There’s something about the feel of actual paper, the sound of pages turning and ritual that make my print edition a welcomed luxury in an era where I could consume its content online the night before. </p><p>The Times has a section called “Passages” that follows the local obit section and covers national and international figures. There I learned about Allee Willis, “one of the music industry’s most colorful figures” who died on December 24th at age 72. During her lifetime Willis wrote well over 900 songs and was responsible for hits as diverse as Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September,” The Pet Shop Boys “What Have I Done to Deserve This?,” tracks for Dusty Springfield, Ray Charles, Cyndi Lauper and co-writing the music for “The Color Purple.” In 2018 she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. I should have known about her. I wish I’d known about her. But I didn’t. In an industry where “performance” is king, too many songwriters don’t know about other songwriters. I can’t change the industry but I can change myself. Willis’s story inspires me to learn. Inspires me to take more steps to discover fellow songwriters...before “Passages.” </p><p><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8547067/allee-willis-10-most-influential-songs" target="_blank" data-link-type="url" contents="Allee Willis’s 10 Most Influential Songs">Allee Willis’s 10 Most Influential Songs</a></p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/5884329
2019-09-07T13:19:42-07:00
2022-04-16T10:29:33-07:00
Buying My First Guitar at Age Ten (from upcoming memoir work in progress)
<p>As a third and fourth grader I sang songs like “Sounds of Silence,” “Blowin’ in The Wind,” “Turn, Turn, Turn” and “If I Had A Hammer.” They didn’t sound great on my clarinet but each showcased an instrument capturing my ear and imagination — the acoustic guitar. I wanted to sing and play these songs in my bedroom. The chord progressions, minor chord vibe and lyrics intersected with my sense of the Civil Rights Movement, and were tailored for the 9 year old me. I wanted to play guitar. </p>
<p>When I first told my parents they were less than sold. I’d already blown through the piano and clarinet with not much to show beyond expenses. So my mom and I cut a deal: they’d rent a guitar and pay for lessons but to own one, I’d have to pay for half. My guitar lessons started with songs like “Hey Jude, <br> “House of the Rising Sun” and “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Within six months I’d written a song and offered guitar lessons to kids in the neighborhood, five cents a session, a pig-tailed entrepreneur saving coins towards a dream. </p>
<p>One of my favorite TV shows was “Here Come The Brides,” based in Seattle, a place I knew nothing about beyond the show. It aired between 1968-70 so at 10 when guitar lessons started I’d been watching the show a year. The basic storyline was Seattle, this rugged male-heavy logging community out west wooed women from New England to move there to get married. The three main male characters were brothers Jason, Joshua and Jeremy, the latter played by teen throb Bobby Sherman. Jeremy’s love interest was Candy and I was obsessed with them or maybe just her. The first song I ever wrote was “Candy” and I told my parents, guitar teacher and myself it was a song I wrote for Jeremy to sing to Candy: </p>
<p>“Her lips are red as roses. <br>Her eyes are hazel blue. <br>Her hair is long and pretty. <br>My girl, my girl Candy. </p>
<p>I love the way she walks and talks. <br>I love the way she smiles. <br>I love the way she says hello. <br>My girl, my girl Candy. </p>
<p>After “Candy” I wrote “Ozymandias,” about an imaginary dog, and by then I’d also raised $20, enough to buy half my first guitar. </p>
<p>By combing classified ads in the Richmond Times Dispatch I found a used acoustic guitar for $40 in a local pawn shop and with newspaper in hand told my mom I’d found the “perfect” guitar. </p>
<p>We drove off soon after in search of my prize. By the time we got there though, the guitar was sold. Gone. The 10 year old me, visibly shaken, touched my mom’s heart. “Paula, you stuck to the bargain so if there’s another guitar here you like I’ll get it for you.” In that moment, she was the coolest mom any kid could invent. We’d struck a deal though so I told her “no,” I wanted to find a $40 guitar. Overhearing us, the shop owner told us he had a guitar in his basement that might meet our needs. My mom thanked him and then turning to me said, “Paula, you don’t have to get that guitar” but I really wanted to see and test it. After playing this used Yamaha 6-string awhile I tested others in the shop but when I returned to it, I knew I’d found my axe, nylon-strings and all. </p>
<p>I took the guitar everywhere and being a skinny kid, the instrument was almost as big as me. Though I don’t recall specific school performances, childhood friend Jeannine Relly recalls me carrying the guitar around St. Joseph’s and playing for other kids at recess. By 6th grade I’d even won a talent show hosted by Oak Street Church. Throughout my remaining years at St. Joseph’s I wrote music and along with our next door neighbors, the McClenny kids, we Boggs’ were beginning to learn songs we could perform as siblings. Standouts included Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” and the Staples Singers’ “O Happy Day.” </p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/5430313
2018-09-15T16:35:00-07:00
2018-09-15T16:35:15-07:00
Spending A Little Time In Music City
<p>It’s been 7 years since last time I visited Nashville. The Gibson Guitars display still greeted me at baggage claim but almost immediately I sensed a change. The city is a little less country, more “hip,” a little more diverse; there’s a slightly different beat. There was no Uber 7 years ago but now nowhere is more than a 5 minute wait. Uber fuels Nashville with military precision by way of musician drivers, cops earning extra pay and two-income married couples, like Paulette who with her husband bought two mini-vans so they could reap maximum income benefit when party after downtown party calls for someone else driving you home. </p>
<p>I’m here for the 2018 Americana Music Fest and can’t tell you how many times an Uber driver, barista, waitress or even fellow musician has asked, “so what’s Americana anyway?” Over the 4 days of the festival I honed my answer to, “it’s any roots music genre — like blues, bluegrass, gospel, folk, zydeco or soul and it’s derivatives that still rely, in part on traditional instruments such as acoustic guitar, banjo, standup bass, accordion, mandolin.” Frankly I don’t know if that’s a good definition but it works enough to move most conversations to the next topic. </p>
<p>Though many hotels dot downtown Nashville and a new one seems to open nearly every day, I decided to AirBnB it — cheaper and East Nashville (far more gentrified than I remember) is close enough to downtown but far enough to feel like I’m away when I want to be. </p>
<p>Today was amazing starting w/breakfast at The Post coffee shop made famous by the Nashville tv show and right around the corner from my flat. Afterwords, despite navigating temperatures 30 degrees hotter than my hometown and way more humidity, I walked through the amazing urban Shelby Park only 0.3 miles away — shaded in parts, I encountered a few intrepid runners along with fellow walkers. All friendly, making me feel very much at home. </p>
<p>The day crescendoed as I hit the Americana Music Fest meeting a fellow Seattle musician at a workshop discovering we have a boatload of common friends, heading to Concord Records’ “wine and cheese” fretting I knew no one only to hear “Paula Boggs?”...it was my AirBnB landlord (who I’d never met in person) and his first cousin...his husband works for Rounder Records and he happened to see my name tag. </p>
<p>Topped off the evening with 4 off-the-hook performances at 3 different storied venues— if you ever get a chance to see any of these folks...DO IT: Yola Carter (Nashville Palace), Kaia Kater (The Local) and Israel Rush followed by Courtney Marie Andrews (The High Watt). </p>
<p>As I head back to overcast Seattle reflecting on the 4 days spent halfway across the country meeting fellow artists, others in the music business and hearing great music, I feel good. Mission accomplished and I’ll be back. Stay friendly Nashville.</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/4980470
2017-12-16T01:22:07-08:00
2023-12-10T08:56:47-08:00
Riding the Bus and Writing a Song
<p>It’s a lot cleaner and more high tech than I remember with commuters in various stages of awokeness. Almost everyone is “of color” though I appear to be only 1 of 2 members of the African American tribe along for the ride. I’m on Sound Transit bus 216 traveling from Sammamish where I live to Seattle Center where I have a late morning meeting. Actually it’ll take 2 buses and 90 minutes to travel 23 miles — a trip that, depending on traffic, usually takes 35-50 in my car. But I love the $2.50 exact change price of admission and marvel it’s taken me this long to actually do this. </p>
<p>So why now? Well, I’m 1 of 5 Seattle area songwriters chosen for this year’s global Acoustic Guitar Project: one guitar.one week.one song. I’m songwriter #4 and last night picked up a Kindred guitar from songwriter #3. Now I have 1 week to write and record a song with it. Back in the day riding the bus often inspired me to write and so I’m hoping to once again catch lightning in a bottle. Wish me luck!”</p>
3:59
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/4831775
2017-08-30T11:42:45-07:00
2021-03-05T23:37:20-08:00
RIP Glen Campbell...The Wichita Lineman
<p>When I first heard "Wichita Lineman" I didn't know where Wichita was and I didn't really know what a lineman did, but this song hooked me. Jimmy Webb's searing lyrics "and I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time" stirred my grammar school sensibilities and the chord progressions mesmerized me. But Glen Campbell SOLD this song -- the voice, the guitar, the delivery -- making it stick with me to this very day. Upon learning of Glen Campbell's death I played the original version and found it a little too "produced" but then found a live version of Glen singing it at one of his final performances and at Nashville's storied Ryman Auditorium. I love this version...RIP Glen.</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/4277012
2016-07-13T10:23:08-07:00
2016-07-13T10:23:08-07:00
Creative Confidential by Bryan Tuk, Ep027 Paula Boggs Singer, Songwriter and Former Starbucks General Counsel
<p>https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-027-paula-boggs-singer/id1062440913?i=1000371216294&mt=2</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3995733
2016-01-18T23:29:38-08:00
2022-03-16T04:23:58-07:00
HIPerspectives, Episode 14, By Annie Rogaski
<p>It’s not every day that you meet a lawyer you’d like to hang out with and listen to for hours. But today you get to meet Paula Boggs. Having accomplished more as a lawyer than most lawyers could dream of (White House lawyer, Starbucks GC, the list goes on…), Paula now fronts her own band, sings, and writes music. What may seem to be a huge change in direction is less so when explained by Paula. And, unsurprisingly, working joy plays a part in her story. Hear Paula’s story about her interesting career path, a different take on diversity, and learn about her superpower. You’ll hear some samples of her music during the podcast. To hear more, check out her site. </p>
<p>When Paula is not making music, she’s making progress. Her media company, Boggs Media, has teamed up with My Brother’s Keeper Alliance and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. </p>
<p>A special thanks to Richard Hsu (host and producer of podcast Hsu Untied) for the introduction to Paula, and congratulations on your recognition in the 9th Annual Blawg 100! </p>
<p>See more at: http://hiplegal.com/womens-leadership/paulaboggs/#sthash.xgLPAQih.dpuf</p>
25:40
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3777055
2015-07-14T08:20:30-07:00
2021-04-21T10:14:39-07:00
Sounds of Silence
<p>There's something about a beach that helps me reflect more deeply. Maybe it's the water. Perhaps it's the sound of waves crashing on shore or grasping a shell at low tide with grains of sand washing across my toes. A beach can symbolize hope and the vastness of possible. I'm at home and it feels good. When I play music here there's no amplification. It's just my vocal chords unadorned and a guitar strummed or strings picked with calloused fingers. Melodies visit and sometimes they stay. My writing pad is never far away and yesterday I even got reacquainted with Simon & Garfunkel's 1964 masterpiece, Wednesday Morning, 3 AM, the one where on the cover Art Garfunkel leans casually on a NYC subway post looking dapper while the shorter and brooding Paul Simon stands beside him with a guitar and left hand forming an A minor chord. They both wear suits as a train whizzes by. This album, in vinyl of course, introduced the world to "The Sounds of Silence" -- one of the greatest songs of the 20th century..."people hearing without listening..." It's a successful day if I work harder to make Paul Simon's words ring a little less true.</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3495973
2015-01-30T11:38:05-08:00
2021-06-25T23:19:35-07:00
The Curse and Blessing of Being a Songwriter
"I wonder how many people I've looked at all my life and never seen." John Steinbeck. Pinterest can be tacky but it can also be a revelation. I wasn't expecting to find a quote there that so completely captures the conundrum I face each day as songwriter and human. No matter how empathetic I think I am, whether it's the homeless man sleeping under I-5 in a makeshift sleeping bag I breeze by to make an early meeting or the way I scratch my head about the latest choice of a close relative, I don't always "see" them. Don't get me wrong. My physiological eye perceives them but to borrow from yesterday's Hot Yoga, my "third eye" -- the one meant to provide perception beyond ordinary sight -- just blinks and moves on.
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<br>And so it goes. As I think about the album we've just made and is now being manufactured, I recall special and rare moments I got to "see." In the title song "Carnival of Miracles," I write, "I walk the street not seeing, my eyes gaze straight ahead as my brother's eyes are bleeding -- mocking voices fill his head." In "Lenny's in The House" I "see" the youthful exuberance in aging songwriter Leonard Cohen. In "Edith's Coming Home," a friend shared his mother's story and through him I got to "see" a risk-taking, strong and talented black woman at end of life and marred by Alzheimer’s. In "Miss Ruby Kirby Blues" I "saw" a devil-may-care Septuagenarian Texan who'd more than earned the right to be sassy. And, In "Look Straight Ahead" I "saw" an African-American male teen's machismo, fear and limited life choices before the world knew Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown or Eric Garner.
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<br>Each day is a new opportunity to pull out the Visine and when I do, I write better, become more human and by so doing, become a better me.
<br>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3298448
2014-11-17T17:30:50-08:00
2021-04-21T10:03:14-07:00
Spokane!
Since we finished recording upcoming album "Carnival of Miracles," we've sought to play gigs around Washington State to gear up for a national tour after "Carnival's" release in March 2015. We'd never played an Eastern Washington gig before so with excitement and trepidation we set out to conquer Spokane with song. Legendary The Big Dipper seemed like the perfect venue: storied, resurrected, great acoustics, downtown and owned by Sunny Day Real Estate band's Dan Hoerner and wife Dawson.
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<br>We marketed mostly to lawyers, business folks and the Gonzaga University community though we were also able to get a great Spokane jam band to open for us, Bodhi Drip, who's founder, Lucas Brown is the son of Lisa Brown, who served 20+ years in the Washington State Legislature and is now chancellor of Washington State University Spokane.
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<br>Winter is not always kind to Spokane and the bitter cold, dipping into the low teens Fahrenheit was not for the faint of heart -- even on a Friday night. Nonetheless, as folks trickled in The Big Dipper became increasingly electric.
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<br>Bodhi Drip did their thing and job, causing the crowd to want more. We started with "Look Straight Ahead" and right away we knew the crowd was with us. Ninety minutes later ending with a roaring rockabilly cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock & Roll" the crowd had danced to a third of our set. Dan and Dawson invited us back and we can't wait. Thanks Spokane!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3196253
2014-09-20T10:04:51-07:00
2014-09-20T14:03:11-07:00
Reunions
<br>Walking along a tree-lined boulevard dotted with Craftsmen-styled Greek houses I encounter young women wearing shorts and attitude and young men sauntering confidently past me, not really seeing. I've been here before, thirty-three years ago when I first walked down this same street in September 1981. Back then, I was also older than most folks as I headed to orientation for first year students at University of California at Berkeley School of Law, known then as "Boalt Hall." The "Sig Ep" house looks more polished than I recall and the students seem a little more world-wise or world-weary?
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<br>A flood of emotions overcome me. This is not my first time returning to Berkeley nor is it even my first law school reunion. But somehow this feels different. Thirty years. I've been a lawyer 30 years and excelled in and retired from a profession I never embraced fully as my own. For me Berkeley was a place of moment, ambivalence and contradiction. Far later than most people, this is where I discovered the early Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Tom Waits, Ry Cooder and The Grateful Dead. I almost died three times in Berkeley -- twice while on a bicycle and another when unknowingly I stumbled upon an ongoing burglary in my best friend's home. In Berkeley I was perhaps more fit than before or after, made life long friends, attended my first Rolling Stones concert, met my first real lover and taught bus drivers, architects, lawyers and waitresses the finer points of using a new-fangled weight machine system called Nautilus.
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<br>Berkeley's colors burn bright within me and time refuses to fade. I could not live here but part of me never leaves. Looking back across the 30 years, Berkeley was the perfect place for ME to attend law school. It was not fun, hard work did not always payoff and there was much to dislike. But I became a woman here and these sounds, smells, sights and emotional landscape launched the lawyer and human that followed. So THANKS!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3147729
2014-08-20T23:35:12-07:00
2022-03-08T12:03:06-08:00
Vacations, Vacations.
<br>When they're good, vacations center, rejuvenate and make it all seem, well...just better. For the past week I've stayed up longer, woken to splashing and hypnotic waves meeting shore, savored that morning cup of Joe a little more and soaked in unprecedented Puget Sound sunshine. Exercise comes easily on the shore and seafood in particular is awfully fresh. People are nicer too. Fresh air and low stress spawn "good mornings" and "is your dog friendly?" My honey and I strike easy rhythms of independence and togetherness. We talk and read more while iPads and Facebook take more a back seat. I've not played guitar as much but that's OK too. It's vacation!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/3059186
2014-07-05T19:36:26-07:00
2018-07-06T11:10:02-07:00
Gearing Up for Bear Creek Studios Chapter II
It's stunning to believe a year's gone by. That's right. It's been 12 months since Paula Boggs Band spent 2 weeks recording 10 tracks at the enchanting Bear Creek, a 45 minute drive Northwest of Seattle in a town called Woodinville. Back then we were trying to make a record anchored by a mournful Americana tune called "Carnival of Miracles" -- inspired by the Newtown, CT tragedy where so many children and their teachers were slain by a young madman. The song also showcases a vet's voice that reveals love for her country while urging us to do and be better as a great nation. We made good vibes and were fortunate to be guided by producer Jonathan Plum and SNL veteran engineer Josiah Gluck.
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<br>Though our upcoming record will still tap "Carnival" as a centerpiece, we decided our 2013 sound was too diverse and we've since upped our game through performing, rehearsals and being more purposeful in creating what we call "soulgrass" -- a sound that combines jazz chord progressions and soulful vocals with traditional "Americana" instruments like acoustic guitar, banjo, standup bass, washboard, melodica and a variety of acoustic percussive instruments.
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<br>This time we'll be guided by Grammy-winning producer and engineer Trina Shoemaker who comes to us from Fairhope, AL and was nominated for BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM -- NONCLASSICAL just last year. In an industry with few women producers or engineers, Trina stands out and earns respect the old-fashioned way -- talent, grit, endurance and never burning a bridge.
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<br>Sandy, Tor, Mark, Andrew, Jarrett and I could not be more thrilled to work with Trina and return to Bear Creek to record six tracks between July 9-20th. Stay tuned as we post photos and impressions over the next few weeks. And as always, THANKS for supporting us!!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/2940399
2014-05-11T21:24:37-07:00
2014-05-12T01:46:30-07:00
Paula Boggs ~ Game Change for Success From Starbucks to Rock /Jazz Soul Pt.. 1
Building Abundant Success!!© with Sabrina-Marie Wilson by Sabrina-Marie Wilson<br>Published May 7, 2014<br>http://sabrina-marie.podomatic.com/entry/2014-05-07T09_09_53-07_00
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/2632506
2014-02-23T15:49:03-08:00
2022-02-05T10:39:32-08:00
Keith Jarrett and the Power of Identity
<p><a contents="Keith Jarrett, Miscegenation and the Rise of European Sensibility in Jazz" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amacad.org/publication/keith-jarrett-miscegenation-rise-european-sensibility-jazz-1970s" target="_blank">Keith Jarrett, Miscegenation and the Rise of European Sensibility in Jazz</a> (January 2021: Happy New Year! Just found an article some readers of this post may find interesting)</p>
<p>It shouldn't matter. It really shouldn't matter and I'm a little embarrassed to admit it does. Today I learned legendary jazz pianist Keith Jarrett is white and my head feels light as I navigate disorientation and re-read the words. I hadn't planned to Google Keith Jarrett today but was inspired to learn more about the man who in a very real sense inspired me to love jazz back in the 70s as a teenager living in Germany with my mom and siblings. Prior to hearing Jarrett's music, I'd met black jazz musicians living and performing in Europe through my mom, an elementary school principal in the Department of Defense School System, and her bohemian friends -- some fellow teachers and others just passing through. I'd listen to these musicians jam and they produced sounds very different from those I'd known as a black Catholic in Richmond, VA. I can safely say, my world was devoid of jazz before moving to Europe. It wasn't in our home or other homes I knew. It wasn't in my school or church and I didn't hear it on the radio.<br><br>Ironically, given the United States gave birth to jazz, moving to Germany changed all that for me little by little. The white parents of my best friend were jazz lovers and some of the black jazz musicians I met in the early 70s hung out at their home. Folks like Charles Jefferson, a gifted trumpeter from Seattle and Ernie Butler, who played tenor sax, often dropped by and sometimes pulled out their instruments. Charles was married to my music teacher Sueellen and they were the first interracial couple I'd ever laid eyes on. Charles was a "cool cat" -- light-browned skin, slight frame, huge fro, sometimes wearing a dashiki and shades, whose voice sounded as smooth as the tones he made jump from his trumpet. As a budding songwriter, I could not help but be influenced by these new sounds and the folks who made them.<br><br>Almost 40 years later, I can't remember how I learned about or got hold of Keith Jarrett's 1975 live jazz piano masterpiece, The Koln Concert, but it was transcendent. I'd never heard anything so beautiful and yet primal, including the grunts and other noises Jarrett made as he played. I was hooked. Jarrett had made this music not far from my home and he looked like he could be Charles Jefferson's brother -- same complexion, same fro. I'm not sure how many times I listened to The Koln Concert in my last 2 years of high school but it was one of the treasures that came with me when I returned to the US for college. The Koln Concert inspired me to explore other Jarrett works and through my college years I came to associate him with other jazz greats like Herbie Hancock -- that rare breed of gifted black musician as comfortable in rock, gospel, R&B and classical. I just assumed Jarrett was black and though largely unconsciously, that fact somehow made him a role model in my efforts to defy genre in the music I write.<br><br>Of course my love for Jarrett's music is no less now that I know he's white. But this recent experience reinforces for me how important role models can be in the lives of our youth. Would I still be writing music had I known in the 70s Jarrett was white? I'd like to think so and I'd also like to think I'd be as adventurous with my music. But I don't know, I'll never know. And I guess that's the point.</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/2221500
2013-11-15T09:59:14-08:00
2013-12-12T15:59:49-08:00
Band Member Spotlight -- Drummer & Music Director Sandy Greenbaum
Sandy grew up in Southern California and started drumming at age 12. After forming a band with friends at 13 he knew music was what he wanted to do in life and never looked back. At 16, he Iearned the elements of jazz and mixed with a rock background, formed a love for creating music with new horizons. In the early 90's he relocated to the Pacific Northwest and stays busy playing, recording and teaching. In addition to PAULA BOGGS BAND, of which hes been a member since 2007, Sandy works with many singer-songwriters in Seattle and is often busy working in the studio. Hes played shows all over the US and some in Canada and leads a jazz group called Urban Improv. Sandy also plays with Seattle Central Jazz Orchestra and Mach One Jazz Orchestra, one of Seattle's top big band ensembles.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/2221501
2013-10-30T14:55:43-07:00
2019-01-08T22:54:23-08:00
Austin
<p>As we gear up to release a new record in 2014 of course burning questions include where to tour and how to give the best show? I thought Austin was a natural --lived there 5 years, it's a music town, etc. Our recent trip was a great learning experience about the where and how:<br><br>1. The marketing formula works but not always. We've had success in cities beyond Seattle -- Portland, Oregon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York, New York -- through a combination of social media exposure/marketing, tapping into networks -- HS, college and law school alum, business, lawyers, associations I or other band members are connected with, etc, tying our performance to speaking engagements, at least 1 favorable blog/article and word of mouth. We weren't able to get that traction in Austin though the 50 or so folks at The Belmont dug the music and had a good time. Lesson: we need to refine our list of tour cities.<br>2. When you ask people to dance, they often will. Our encore was "The Way You Look Tonight" and when we urged folks to dance, they did! I could have done that earlier in the show -- lesson learned.<br>3. Opening bands can set a great tone. I thought The Belmont did a good job pairing us with local Austin band Rixon. Their music was different than ours but upbeat, sophisticated and well played. It was also not so different to cause something akin to sonic whiplash.<br>4. Stuff always happens in a show...deal with it. We couldn't play one of the band's favorite songs -- Lenny -- because of my guitar's warped neck. After a couple attempts to tune the darn thing unsuccessfully we moved on -- the right answer for our crowd and show flow.<br>5. There's always another show. You gotta keep getting on the horse so this Saturday I plan to do 2-3 songs solo at a local open mic.<br><br>More soon.</p>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/2221502
2013-09-07T19:23:54-07:00
2013-12-12T15:59:50-08:00
It's a Marathon not a Sprint.
We've been at it awhile now. The band started recording July 22 at Bear Creek Studios in Woodinville, WA, a half hour drive on a good day and a lifetime away from bustling Seattle. Time stills at Bear Creek, a repurposed barn that evokes Americana and all that's good. For 10 days we tuned, retreated to boxes aka sound booths, played and replayed songs and their parts, nursed egos as instruments and voices were chosen...or not by intrepid producer Jonathan Plum -- going through his own "thing" as he did what he did at a rival's studio. We got through it with a little drama but lots of joy and since August 1 we've been laying down overdubs and vocals at Jonathan's palace aka legendary London Bridge Studios.<br><br>Exhausted but determined, most of what we need is done before passing the baton to veteran mixing engineer Josiah Gluck. Right now it's all about the small stuff that when added together makes big stuff. Too many strings? A flat note or mispronounced word? Too much vibrato? Not enough congas? Too flat? A hundred decisions swirling now will hopefully lead to something special. Stay tuned!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/2221503
2013-07-05T15:21:50-07:00
2013-12-12T15:59:50-08:00
Lyric Humility
"It's not good enough," said the producer. " I don't know what you're saying." I wasn't quite prepared for this reaction because I wrote the song 7 years ago and performed it for almost as long. Moreover, many of my band members say it's their favorite song. So, yes, I was a little taken aback. But then I remembered why I hired this guy -- he's one of the best in town and it's his job to hear things I can't or won't. After a deep breath, I was ready to listen and read the chorus. And he helped me. We started reworking the chord progression -- a little less jazz, a little more "accessible" and making it longer.<br><br>We started with me playing the chords agreed on with made up words and a melody I created on the fly. He liked it so now it's time for homework: I need to write a new chorus based on the new chord progression and melody. I've never done this before and delayed for a couple days before tackling my assignment.<br><br>I started with:<br><br>"Where's it gonna go?<br>Honey I don't know.<br>It's a strain of Coltrane<br>Sands in the hourglass..."<br><br>My local Starbucks served as perfect host as I settled in with a little lunch, Klipsch headphones and a MacBook Pro. I started with John Coltrane. What more could I say about him in the context of this song? After refreshing myself on Coltrane's story, and a couple false starts, I decide to work with the lines in tandem rather than separately. I then google and read about "hourglasses" before returning to the verses and story I hoped to tell when it all comes together. The story is about "dangerous attraction" so the chorus needs to put a fine enough point on it for the listener. My old chorus failed that test -- and helpfully I could see that now.<br><br>With work and a little serendipity, here's where I ended up:<br><br>'Where's it gonna go?<br>Honey I don't know.<br>It's a strain of Coltrane -- raw emotion -- free fall jazz.<br>Every moment with you leans forward then snaps back.<br>A bolero of human circumstance, doing a dance that has no chance,<br>You and me are just sand in an hourglass.'<br><br>Though I'm not sure that's the "last word" on "Traces of You's" chorus, I do know I've grown as a songwriter by having someone challenge me to leave my comfort zone and "do better."<br>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/747727
2013-05-15T05:14:16-07:00
2013-05-15T05:14:16-07:00
Big Island Adventure, Take 1
As a birthday present to "me" I decided to spend a week on Big Island, Hawaii focused on yoga, reading, learning more about the ukelele and just being good to myself. It's a little after 7am and I've just woken...my first morning at Kalani Retreat near Pahoa on the East Coast. It's the first 8 hour sleep I've had in awhile and besides my little too loud ringtone alarm there's a cacaphony of nature singing outside my door -- whistles, caw-caws and an ocean's rumble just steps away.<br><br>It took almost 3 hours to get here from Kona -- along mostly winding and rural roads -- driving almost 2 hours before seeing my first McDonald's -- one road deadends and then you take a left and at the T you take another left before reaching Kalani -- between mileposts 18 and 17 on the left. It's sorta metaphoric how many lefts one has to take to get here.<br><br>My cabin is charming and off the cell phone grid though I do get spotty "OVI" -- ocean view -- wireless on my MacBook Pro. Guess I'll need to read a book!<br><br>Gotta go -- breakfast is from 7:30-8:30 and I'm hoping for great coffee, KONA of course.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/671436
2013-05-03T15:23:42-07:00
2013-05-03T15:23:42-07:00
The Paula Boggs Band – A Unique Sound Hits Seattle
http://www.postergiant.net/articles/introducing-the-paula-boggs-band/<br><br>Every now and then a special campaign hits us here at posterGIANT, like working with Paula Boggs to announce her bands upcoming gig at the Nectar Lounge in Seattle. There are a lot of great bands in the Seattle music scene, so what makes the Paula Boggs Band special? Let us count the ways. To start with, everything their front woman touches turns to gold. Paula has worked at the Pentagon and The White House, was the Executive Vice President at Starbucks Coffee and worked on President Obama’s second presidential campaign. She sits on the board for the American Red Cross, the School of Rock and KEXP. It’s pretty safe to say she’s had the career success that every college student dreams of, and most recently she has devoted her time to writing her memoir, and working with her band to release their second CD and gear up for their upcoming national tour.<br><br><br><br>Listening to Paula talk about her band mates and their music is inspiring. There’s so much respect and consideration for each person and their talent, it’s hard to not get excited about getting to know the band better and seeing their styles blend LIVE at the Nectar Lounge on Wednesday May 8th!<br><br>Tickets for this great show can be purchased here: http://tktwb.tw/12jkMez See you there!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/443024
2013-03-30T06:03:46-07:00
2023-07-16T17:48:13-07:00
Airports
I don't usually like airports. Even with "Pre Check" - a nifty invention allowing me to breeze through security without removing shoes or bagging 3 ounce liquids, the stale air, harried faces and overall hassle is usually a total turnoff as I get to and from Seattle, a less than ideal hub.<br><br>My recent 24 hour turn-around trip to DC started like most: the alarm rings way too early, "no, I really don't need makeup," the 40-minute drive to SEATAC and navigating the boarding pass/luggage/security boogie. So I was surprised to turn a corner and spot former colleague Martin Coles gathering his belongings. “Martin!” “Paula!” I’d not seen Martin since he’d left Starbucks and didn’t know but hoped he was well. Martin was fit, happy and now CEO of a small company. We talked for 5 minutes and I left him with joy as I contrasted this “new” Martin with the one I’d last known. <br><br>Meeting Martin was only the first of four serendipitous airport encounters over the next 24 hours. Upon landing in DC and pausing to check email I heard my name called – it’s a dear friend, Margaret McKeown, who’d just attended the US Supreme Court arguments in the DOMA/marriage equality case, heading back to San Diego where she lives and works as a federal judge. Through Margaret I got a second-hand front row seat to this historic argument and we also brought each other current on life and family.<br><br> The next day after conducting business in DC I’m at Reagan International Airport and pause before retrieving my boarding pass. I look up, focus, and mutter to myself – geez that guy looks like Rob Porcarelli…”Rob!?” And it is. Rob used to work for me, is a fellow Hopkins grad and veteran, and I just love being around him. I hadn’t seen Rob since leaving SBUX a year ago and in a word, it was a “treat” spending a few minutes with him before we headed back to Seattle on different airlines.<br><br>Seeing Martin, Margaret and Rob though could not prepare me for what happened next. I’m at O’Hare now and waiting my turn to board when a man next to me says, “did you speak at SBUX annual meeting last year?” When I say “yes,” Doug Lo introduces himself, tells me he loved my remarks, we know several folks in common and he shares his emotion in being a friend of Seattle leader Cheryl Chow – at the time living her final moments. I am moved beyond words, grateful for the encounter and reminded afresh how fragile life can be and how precious true friends are. Somehow, I’ll never think of airports quite the same.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/364932
2013-03-12T15:04:20-07:00
2013-03-12T15:04:20-07:00
Spring Cleaning
With only days before "Ides of March" -- anniversary of Julius Caesar's death, inspiration for Shakespeare's famous quote and gateway to Spring -- I've been reflecting on 2013 so far and what it can be. Musically I'm trying to up my game by learning some cool new stuff on electric guitar and working with master voice coach Robert Lunte. And, a few weeks ago brought our first major personnel change. Brian Miller, band bass player for over 6 years -- hugely talented, great guy and good friend -- now follows a new and different muse so we've welcomed Jeff Volkman, an amazing musician. <br><br>Band chemistry can be fragile, but I think Jeff's got huge talent, great work ethic and is low maintenance...in other words, perfect.<br><br>Next steps: choose a producer and studio for upcoming record, lock down a couple Seattle-area gigs, polish the newer songs and write a few more.<br><br>Stay tuned and don't forget to smell those Spring roses.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/307310
2013-02-11T14:59:06-08:00
2016-03-24T19:01:23-07:00
Grammys Night in Dallas!
Upon realizing I'd be in Dallas rather than LA on Grammys Night, I sprung into action to RSVP for a Texas Chapter party after checking in with amazing Denton, TX (30 miles north of Dallas) guitarist and sometimes Paula Boggs Band sub Robert Gomez to see if he'd go with me. Two years ago I was in Atlanta on Grammys night and had a blast so knew what was possible.<br><br>Well Dallas didn't disappoint. Country singer Easton Corbin opened at Gilley's -- The Loft, a cool bar and music venue not far off I-35. Robert and I got there around 6:20pm and everyone was really polite...even the guy helping us park the car. <br><br>After checking in and receiving our red ID wrist bands, I spotted some empty seats at a table not far from the stage and a mega-screen so quickly introduced myself to the folks already there. They included a guy who'd won a Grammy in the 80s for gospel from Atlanta, his Dallas girlfriend and an indie rock trombonist from Cedar Park just north of Austin.<br><br>Easton Corbin played a stripped down acoustic set and entertained the crowd well for 30 minutes before the show kickoff. The food was tasty and the folks serving it seemed happy to be there.<br><br>Once the show began, with TVs throughout the club, the Grammys crowd turned its attention to LL Cool J and onscreen activity. During the commercial breaks the hosts quizzed us with Grammys trivia. Not sure what it says about us but both Robert and I won Grammys blankets -- that is, the prize, from answering some arcane question correctly before anyone else. <br><br>I was happy to see Mumford & Sons and Frank Ocean win, Elton John perform with Ed Sheeran and Alicia Keys with Maroon 5. On the flip side, Adele again, really? And, I didn't get Carrie Underwood's projector-aided gown. Personally, I'd love to see more jazz, folk, blues, Americana and real rock on the televised show but again, maybe that's just me.<br><br>All in all, it was a great evening. I got to hang out with some of the "beautiful people" of Dallas/Austin, Robert and I reconnected, I made a couple new friends/contacts and hey, I've now got my very own Grammys blanket!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/280399
2013-01-14T08:06:33-08:00
2013-01-14T08:06:33-08:00
SET LIST FOR PORTLAND MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS SHOW, 1/12/13
All Original Tunes Except Tor's Song, Rock & Roll and The Way You Look Tonight:<br>1. A Finer Thread<br>2. A Buddha State of Mind<br>3. Motel 6 Serenade<br>4. Traces of You<br>5. Edith's Coming Home<br>6. Someone Else<br>7. Look Straight Ahead<br>8. Original Sin<br>9. Last Hope's Gone [Tor Dietrichson Lead Vocals]<br>10. The Curving Line<br>11. Peel the Charade<br>12. Lenny’s in Our House<br>13. Fuzzy Fitness<br>14. Miss Ruby Kirby Blues<br>15.Rock & Roll<br><br>ENCORE: The Way You Look Tonight (dedicated to the crowd!)<br>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/280400
2013-01-04T13:23:38-08:00
2013-01-04T13:23:38-08:00
Info for Eugene, OR Fans Attending Portland Mississippi Studios Show
We now have a charter bus to transport folks to/from Portland's Mississippi Studios day of show, SAT January 12th. DETAILS:<br><br>Bus Departs EUGENE @ 4:30PM, from Eugene Christian Fellowship Church<br>89780 North Game Farm Road, Eugene, OR 97408<br>COST: $35 Roundtrip; Pay Through PayPal (http://www.paypal.com/, you do not need an account) to Paula Boggs, email: paula@paulaboggs.com. <br>Bus Leaves Mississippi Studios @ 10PM, returning to EUGENE Christian Fellowship Church parking lot.<br><br>Drop me a line either on FB or email: paula@paulaboggs.com with any questions.<br><br>This will be FUN, FUN, FUN!!!<br><br>Send Money, Pay Online or Set Up a Merchant Account - PayPal<br>www.paypal.com<br><br>Send Money, Pay Online or Set Up a Merchant Account - PayPal<br>www.paypal.com<br>PayPal is the faster, safer way to send money, make an online payment, receive money or set up a merchant account.<br>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/273650
2013-01-01T06:36:55-08:00
2013-01-01T06:36:55-08:00
Reflections on 2012 and 2013
2012 was a great year of music growth and richness: Paula Boggs Band did 6 shows, I wrote 4 songs and "A Buddha State of Mind" appears on Songwriters in Seattle's 2012 Compilation CD. Along the way we amassed almost 3600 social media listeners/fans...so THANK YOU! I also joined the boards of School of Rock LLC, KEXP and Peabody Conservatory's National Advisory Board. Collectively these organizations -- cutting across classical, jazz, rock, roots, world, blues, folk -- inspire and fuel my love for all things music. And, I'm able to help.<br><br>The Band kicks off 2013 with our first Portland show on January 12th @ renowned venue Mississippi Studios and soon we'll have a producer for our next record. I got ukelele lessons for XMAS so look forward to learning a new instrument too. I love fellow band members Sandy, Brian, Tor and Mark...and after almost 6 years playing together they've become family. So a big YES to 2013's promise. STAY TUNED!!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/71396
2012-12-28T09:02:20-08:00
2012-12-28T09:02:20-08:00
Grammys Voting
As a voting member of the Recording Academy (The Grammys) it's time to get to it! So who do YOU think is this year's best new artist: Alabama Shakes, The Lumineers, Frank Ocean, Fun. OR Hunter Hayes?
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/267826
2012-12-17T09:27:50-08:00
2012-12-17T09:27:50-08:00
MY "Top 15" 2012 Records
Lots of radio stations and mags are listing their "top" 2012 albums. In alphabetical order here are 15 albums that made me stop, look & listen (How about you?):<br>1. "awE naturalE" by THEESatisfaction<br>2. "Babel" by Mumford & Sons<br>3."Banga" by Patti Smith<br>4. "Black Radio" by Robert Glasper<br>5. "Blunderbuss" by Jack White<br>6. "Channel ORANGE" by Frank Ocean<br>7. "El Camino" by The Black Keys<br>8. "Living for a Song - A Tribute to Hank Williams" by Jamey Johnson<br>9. "Leaving Eden" by Carolina Chocolate Drops<br>10. "The Lumineers" by The Lumineers<br>11. "Old Ideas" by Leonard Cohen<br>12. "Radio Music Society" by Esperanza Spalding<br>13. "Searching for Sugarman" by Rodriguez<br>14. "Slipstream" by Bonnie Raitt<br>15. "Tempest" by Bob Dylan
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/263569
2012-12-08T08:36:07-08:00
2017-02-01T16:41:56-08:00
SoulFood Books Show TONIGHT: Redmond, WA, 8-10PM PST
For those somewhere else, you can stream our Paula Boggs Band show live with link below: <br><br>https://www.youtube.com/soultribetv<br><br><br>SoulFood is a dwelling for dreamers, musicians, artists, and world changers. We have housed life changing events such as weddings, the first steps of our littlest tribe members, and the moments of courage it takes to sing in front of a crowd for the first time. We have stormed city hall to sing about being alive, hosted the youth of Redmond to speak and show their truth, listened to our breath, and danced together. We are a vibrant, dynamic community that is making our mark on this world.<br>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/255119
2012-11-21T05:41:43-08:00
2012-11-21T05:41:43-08:00
Music and Community
There's something about music and community. Last week I lunched with Peabody Conservatory's Director Jeff Sharkey. Jeff is a visionary who while honoring Peabody's storied past is also zeroing in on how best to keep Peabody relevant in an age where online education, blogging and "access" so deeply shape how many of us learn, buy, sell and enjoy music. Jeff also sees the unique opportunity Peabody has to expose school-kids to classical music and jazz across the socio-economic and racial divide. <br><br><br>Meanwhile, on Saturday I attended the open house for School of Rock's new Bellevue, WA (USA) location. The school was crammed with 8-18 year olds and their parents. The buzz was infectious; particularly as legendary Santana drummer Michael Shrieve hosted a jammed and jamming master class. The Seattle "burbs" have thirsted for School of Rock and I suspect the Bellevue school will fill a gaping community need. <br><br>This week I've continued discussions with a Canadian filmmaker who is considering licensing 1+ of my original songs for an upcoming documentary focused on rivers around the globe. As I enter an exciting new life phase, writing music in support of causes I believe in inspires me as much as anything. <br><br>More soon and Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and fans!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/244177
2012-10-31T15:26:09-07:00
2012-10-31T15:26:09-07:00
Water Scarcity & Music
Today was cool. I got a chance to meet a Canadian filmmaker who is considering me to write 1+ songs for a documentary on water scarcity set to release in 2014. This is such an important issue and I realize there's so much for me to learn about our planet. No time like the present to get educated and fuse that knowledge with musical expression. Stay tuned!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/238313
2012-10-22T17:10:11-07:00
2012-10-22T17:10:11-07:00
America the Beautiful
There's something about running through our nation's capital on a sunny fall day. The Potomac sparkles, burnt orange leaves drift against a royal blue sky and the monuments remind how this running route is unlike any other. Runners of varying age and talent, cyclists and walkers cross into Virginia with Arlington National Cemetery ahead and around.<br><br>Plowing forward, I discern the faintest hint of bagpipes and as I pass a long black stretch limo and tour bus, an older black man in uniform nods -- signaling it's OK for me to go forward towards the Women's Veteran Memorial. I approach with curiosity and emotion, recalling my own service but more importantly the sacrifice women before and after me have made so we may all be free. I ascend a staircase between glass walls allowing me to peer into this sacred place. Upon reaching the top, rows and rows of simple white markers announce the final resting place of heroes.<br><br>As I turn, the best of our nation's capital -- Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and Memorial Bridge beyond the Cemetery -- provoke a spontaneous and unexpected response; I am overcome with the emotion of this moment.<br><br>God Bless America.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/280401
2012-10-14T17:57:20-07:00
2022-05-11T16:49:36-07:00
A Positive Statement About The US Election
The United States is the greatest nation on earth. We have become and stayed great by honoring liberty, free enterprise, government of, for and by the people, community and shared sacrifice. Though we do not always live up to our ideals, when Americans are at our best, we strive for them individually and as a people. The President’s job is to lead our nation over the next 4 years toward these ideals now and for future generations.<br><br>As a nation, we are still struggling through the effects of the worst recession since The Great Depression and two recent wars that have drained us financially and emotionally. No matter how we got here, the next President must lead us forward. And, he works for US and should act like it.<br><br>Here’s what we must do:<br><br>1. Get our financial house in order. This will require hard choices and shared sacrifice – not only by individuals but by our government. And, our President must lead.<br>2. Grow the economy. The next President must (a) support job creation; (b) help insure the greatest number of Americans have the requisite skills for those jobs, and (c) support an environment, consistent with free enterprise and necessary regulation, where US business wins.<br>3. Ensure we are safe and have the means to act in our national security interest while appropriately supporting Americans who serve our country in uniform.<br>4. Leave for our children an environment that is no worse than what we inherited, and is ideally a better one.<br>5. Be a place where no one is unduly handicapped by race, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, physical ability and/or beliefs from becoming the best American he or she can be for himself/herself, his/her family, his/her community and his/her nation.<br><br>President Obama and Governor Romney both love America. They differ on HOW to define some of these terms (e.g. "necessary regulation" and "unduly" in #5) and HOW we get there (e.g. fiscal responsibility, national security, etc.). They also differ on WHEN we get there and in prioritization. These are important differences and they give Americans a clear choice. That's good for our democracy. There should be no debate though on WHY our next President must lead America responsibly, with courage and with vision through steps 1-5.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/227661
2012-10-07T07:55:02-07:00
2012-10-07T07:55:02-07:00
Open Mic @ SoulFood Books
Last night I attended an open mic @ SoulFood Books in Redmond, WA. I got there too late to play -- sign-up's @ 5pm -- but stayed for 3 hours anyway to take it in. SoulFood's an amazing venue -- welcoming and imbued with a great sound system. Over the past 6 years it's become the unofficial home of musicians, poets, counterculturalists, seekers and those who don't fit in elsewhere.<br><br>Every first Saturday, from 5 to sometimes midnight, parents and their teen musicians, crusty old farts, folk and alt rock singers on the rise, angry and/or enlightening poets, the atonal and sublime show up for themselves and folks in the room.<br><br>The "show" is streamed on Tribe.tv and the whirr of espresso machines, crystals and Buddha-ware belies what Redmond is mostly known for -- Microsoft.<br><br>Thanks to Clint McCune and his merry band of guys and gals who gift us this special place -- Redmond would be way more square without you!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/226195
2012-10-04T13:54:28-07:00
2012-10-04T13:54:28-07:00
Madonna & Divine Intervention
In February an American Express email delivered unexpected and utterly delightful news: Madonna Louise Ciccone, known globally by her first name, MADONNA, was coming to Seattle in October…OMG…I’d never seen Madonna and was hell-bent on making sure I was “in the House” for her October 3 show. Within seconds I dispatched my intrepid executive assistant, Celeste, to purchase tickets. Despite an almost 30 year age difference, Celeste too is a huge Madonna fan and also bought tickets. We’re set. Celeste took care of everything and I even had an email confirmation to prove it.<br><br>Between February and October however several things intervened to set the stage for what happened at KeyArena minutes before Madonna took the stage. First, I retired and no longer had Celeste to help navigate life’s logistics puzzles. Second, in the hubbub between retiring, vacationing and volunteering, I somehow lost the Ticketmaster email detailing and confirming the precious prize. Third, I forgot how many tickets I’d actually ordered. So when I contacted Ticketmaster to replace my tickets and they sent an email containing FOUR, my response was “sweet, I must have ordered FOUR!” There’s this great young couple, Erik and Amy for whom my partner and I had yet to get a wedding gift. They LOVE Madonna…so we’re off to the races and it’ll be a great evening.<br><br>At first all was well. We scan into the arena and on the way to our seats I spot Celeste and another woman who used to work for me. We hug and everyone’s so excited. The Arena is electric and a massive sea of diversity. Young folks dressed in Madonna garb sashay along the corridor ring just outside where the show will take place. Amy and Erik decide to find our seats as we continue entertaining ourselves with people watching. After about 10 minutes of this we spot Amy and Erik coming our way and their looks foretell bad news. “What’s wrong?” Amy speaks first, “your assistant and friends have the SAME SEATS we have…” WHAT? How could that be!!! Where’s Celeste? My heart begins beating double-time as my face turns flush and …in a fog really because now Celeste has joined and is saying something about first using my credit card for her tickets and mine and then paying with hers for hers…. the words rush by as if she’s speaking a foreign language. WE HAVE NO TICKETS!<br><br> Next? Celeste springs to action, “I will see this through,” she says and the rest of us follow. First we go to the Information Booth and they send us to a ticket window. The lady at the ticket window prints out my actual tickets…BUT there are only TWO of them and the clock it ticking! So we give these tickets to Amy and Erik and are told tickets are still available -- we assume in the nosebleed section – though we’ll need to scan out, buy the tickets outside the Arena, and then scan in with the new ones. So we find the scanner lady at the entranceway, explain our situation and then something miraculous happens: the scanner lady tells us someone just gave her TWO FREE TICKETS…we examine them…they are in the exact same row as Celeste’s…just one section over…and she GIVES them to us! We’re saved!! Everyone has great seats and we’re just in time for a once in a lifetime show. Earlier that day my partner gave a downtown homeless person twenty bucks. Yes, karma is a beautiful thing!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/218555
2012-09-22T19:24:54-07:00
2012-09-22T19:24:54-07:00
Singing for a Friend
Dear friend since 8th grade asked if I'd perform an original song @ his wedding...and so I will on 8/30... It's called "The Curving Line" and begins with "Night breaks from its mooring to reveal your smiling face/ as I get down on my knees to pray for God's abiding grace/ in bringing you into my life and nesting a great love./ A tear crosses my grateful eye, a kiss from God above." <br>Congrats to Garth & Keiko!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/217018
2012-09-19T17:06:57-07:00
2012-09-19T17:06:57-07:00
Band Goals for the Next 6 Months!
<div>Weekly band rehearsals, chart all my songs so any musician can play them, record a 4 song demo, find/hire producer for CD we hope to release in 2013, hire a band manager and do our first Portland, OR and San Francisco Bay Area gigs.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Can we do all that???!!!</div>
<div> </div>
<div>ONLY with YOUR help! Thanks for the support.</div>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/207550
2012-08-31T06:39:05-07:00
2012-08-31T06:39:05-07:00
My neighbor Chris Hillman
From Sunday until yesterday I attended the Crown of Continent Guitar Workshop and Festival in Big Fork, MT, on the northeast end of phenomenally beautiful and clean Flathead Lake. Though I started in an acoustic guitar class taught by Portland-based guitar virtuoso Doug Smith, I switched to the songwriting class offered upon learning Patty Larkin would be a guest teacher. It was the right move. Patty was amazing; Nashville hit songwriter (and Montana native) Tim Ryan was our main teacher, and I really loved the collaborative songwriting process we used for much of the week.<br><br>One could not script a more perfect setting. Flathead Lodge, the workshop's headquarters, sits right on the water and guitar gods like Lee Ritenour and slide guitar maestro Sonny Landreth interacted casually and openly with students from around the globe. Several youngsters, some as young as 15, attended on scholarship and there were many of us "young at heart" folks there too. Each day was filled with lessons, Master Classes, practice time, lots of good food, networking and killer shows -- e.g. with Patty Larkin, classical guitarist Dennis Koster, Lee Ritenour, etc. -- each evening. <br><br>I also took advantage of this rare natural setting whenever possible. Tuesday presented an opportunity to bicycle to Echo Lake and back...about 18 miles roundtrip, Wednesday I walked to and through nearby Wayfarer's Park and Thursday morning I ran to "downtown" Big Fork and along beautiful and ever winding Swan River. <br><br>The highlight for me though came on Wednesday afternoon as I strummed my Gibson J-45 guitar in an Adirondack chair on the porch right outside my log cabin cottage. A couple walked up with a guy carrying their bags. As they entered the cabin next door, the guy says to me, "you've got new neighbors, The Hillmans!" His words start to register, you mean Chris Hillman of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and Manassas...that Hillman? Yeah, THAT Hillman!!<br><br>As I go through a mental gymnastics exercise, Chris came out, walked over and said "hello." I introduced myself and hoped the words coming from my mouth didn't sound too weird as I gushed about how much I love the music and bands he's been in.<br><br>Chris admired my Gibson and offered to jam with his mandolin. Though we never got to do that -- I had to return to Seattle yesterday -- I'll never forget this brief encounter with folk-rock greatness!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/201569
2012-08-18T04:10:24-07:00
2017-02-01T15:35:32-08:00
Show TONIGHT @ Redmond's SoulFood Books, 8-10PM
W<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">e're on from 8:30-9. If outside Seattle or can't attend, watch streamed live @ <a href="http://www.soultribetv.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">www.soultribetv.com</a> and show will be available on SoulTribe TV YouTube Channel :<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8E65A72ACA1C79EE" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(59, 89, 152); text-decoration: none; ">https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8E65A72ACA1C79EE<br><br>
Playlist for Tonight (all songs written by Paula):<br>
1. Lenny's in Our House (Paula on vocals & guitar, Mark Chinen on banjo, Brian Miller on acoustic bass and Tor Dietrichson on cajon)<br>
2. Toll the Bell (Paula on vocals/guitar, Mark on guitar)<br>
3. Peel the Charade (Paula on vocals/guitar, Mark on guitar, Brian on bass, Tor on congas)<br>
4. Edith's Coming Home (Formerly "Yorktown Heights", Paula on vocals, Mark on guitar, Brian on bass, Tor on congas)<br>
5. A Buddha State of Mind (Paula on vocals/guitar, Mark on guitar, Brian on bass, Tor on cajon)<br><br>
PS. We were going to debut new song "The Curving Line" but in rehearsal yesterday decided it wasn't quite ready for prime time...stay tuned!<br type="_moz"></a></span>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/200160
2012-08-15T05:01:19-07:00
2017-02-01T15:33:42-08:00
Good News Re 8/18 Show @ SoulFood Books
For those living outside Seattle or who can't attend our 30 min. Songwriter's Showcase set this Sat. 8/18, 8:30-9PM PST @ Redmond's (WA,USA) SoulFood Books, watch it streamed live @ www.soultribetv.com or later on the SoulTribe TV YouTube Channel dedicated to Songwriters in Seattle (SiS): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8E65A72ACA1C79EE
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/198783
2012-08-10T09:56:26-07:00
2012-08-10T09:56:26-07:00
Text of Today's Blog Published on Huffington Post
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Palatino, Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 25px; ">
<h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.33em; display: block; font-family: Palatino, Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.25em; text-align: start; -webkit-hyphens: manual; ">A Buddha State of Mind</h1>
<p>A lone cowboy dons a black Stetson as he ambles along Acequia Madre straddled upon an equine taxi. It's Sunday and Santa Fe smiles with its azure ceiling, cottony clouds and shadows of the Sangre de Christos. He tips his hat and I respond with an open but not quite toothy smile. All is well. I'm a one-month-old retiree boomer hanging out for now in the "City Different." For twenty-eight years I shackled myself to someone else's payroll, product, "strategic plan" and timetable. Don't get me wrong; I loved my career and most folks I met along the way. I learned a lot, traveled, gave a lot and am fortunate enough to live, at least temporarily, among ancient adobes, dried hot chilies, yogis and "people of color" -- though African Americans, my tribe, account for less than 1% of the population and just yesterday as I approached my front gate, an African American gentleman driving a white van came to a full stop to ask, "do you live here?" When I responded "yes," he gave his business card exclaiming, "there aren't that many of us around here so I had to stop!"</p>
<p>As a lawyer and former executive this is all very new even though I've come to Santa Fe off and on for 11 years. At first, I came because it was cooler than Austin in summers, my home then. After returning to Seattle, I came mostly for sun and I've always loved Santa Fe's art scene. Before though, I'd stay no more than 2 weeks and now, rather than on my iPhone, I'm focused on Hatha Yoga, the mysterious (to me) Friends Meeting House around the corner and fingerpicking on my guitar. It's a training process though. My hand and brain still respond like Pavlov's dog to any ring or text message as if a second passed is a dollar lost or a client deciding I'm not responsive. And, I still spend too much time on Facebook, LinkedIn and other flavors of social media. I've never been here -- retired -- so I'm making up my own rules, or lack of them, as I go along. I get up when ready, try not to plan too much and remember to just breathe. It helps not being in Seattle. There, too many people, commitments, and smells of a life left might make this important transition seem less complete. No worries though. Seattle is and seems far away, helped along by the drive through places like Pendleton, OR and Moab, UT to get here. And my present surroundings - yellow earth, endless sky and vegan sensibility -- fuel an enchanting sense of the possible.</p>
<p>Like being in a ravine though before climbing up and peering over to the other side, I have no idea what happens next or where Santa Fe will take me. Like many boomers, I suspect, there are things I used to do with passion that I miss. As a young person I wrote music and performed it. Over the past several years, inch by inch, I've reacquainted myself with that younger and more vulnerable me through taking a year-long songwriting class, forming a rock band and even producing my first CD.</p>
<p>Now though, will I throw myself into music full-time or will a thirst for titles or paycheck propel me to recreate or simply reshape parts of the corporate life I just left behind? If so, will I be the CEO this time or again be a "support function?" Will I give back more to my communities or create new ones? Will I finally see Antarctica or return to Botswana? Will I finally read "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"? Will I get bored or will life's next chapters overwhelm me? Will I have a new or different relationship with God? Will I stay healthy and be wise enough to love big and live bigger? Will I be loved more... or less? How will I embrace inevitable loss and navigate life's given ramps to rebirth? Right now, I don't know answers to these questions and many others elude like moths alighting from a bush at dusk.</p>
<p>In his autobiography, Mahatma Gandhi wrote, "The heart's earnest and pure desire is always fulfilled." A week before I retired, a successful serial entrepreneur cornered me at a dinner party and whispered in my ear, "don't look back... not even for a second." His encouraging words still ring and perhaps for this reason, even though my boomer heart beats and middle-aged eye blinks tentatively at times, mostly I lean forward with a joy worthy of this moment's sweet uncertainty and move brick by brick towards a future that hopefully leads to a life well lived and thus fulfilled.</p>
<div> </div>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</span>
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/198729
2012-08-10T08:04:23-07:00
2018-07-12T08:26:13-07:00
A Buddha State of Mind
A Buddha State of Mind, published 8/10/12 in Huffington Post<br><br>URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-boggs/a-buddha-state-of-mind_b_1763680.html
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/196782
2012-08-05T17:16:49-07:00
2012-08-05T17:16:49-07:00
Robert Earl Keen
Last night I had the pleasure, yes pleasure, of going to a Robert Earl Keen show @ Joe's Sports Bar in Chicago. Here's a guy who's been writing master storytelling songs, touring and living life by his own terms for over 30 years. It was inspiring. He was totally in the moment, the crowd LOVED him, many knew every word to every song he sang and I was only about 15 feet away from him and his wonderful band. I'd never heard of Keen until I moved to Austin 15 years ago. And though I suspect there are still a lot of folks who've never heard of Keen, to me, what I experienced last night is all I could ever hope for with my own music. Keen is the real deal...that's what I strive for!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/78228
2012-07-30T19:28:18-07:00
2017-01-15T19:28:33-08:00
Found this piece in Ode Magazine...Love It & Trying to Live It!
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; ">
<h1 class="entry-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2em; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">The discernment dance</h1>
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<span class="meta-prep meta-prep-author" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "></span><a href="http://odewire.com/discernmentdance" title="3:20 pm" rel="bookmark" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="entry-date" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">July 30, 2012, 3:20 pm</span></a>
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<div class="entry-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 8px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; clear: both; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><img src="//odewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/glowkiss.png" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="462" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-right: 24px; margin-bottom: 12px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; max-width: 640px; display: inline; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " width="346" /></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">When we follow that which excites and challenges us, an internal spark fuels us in our endeavors, and we’re able to step into our vision.</em></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">By Antonia Hall</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“I just don’t have your discipline,” my girlfriend told me. But she does have it within her. I suspect she’s just lost the drive–her passionate fire doused by years of work that doesn’t have heartfelt meaning. When we follow that which excites and challenges us, an internal spark fuels us in our endeavors, and we’re able to step into our vision. The path can hold its challenges, but life is about expansion and growth, only made possible by stepping through fears that might otherwise hold us back. The magic happens when we can hold a vision of the desired outcome, trust that we have it within to get there, and then rise to meet the day-to-day tasks along the road to our future successes. Setting oneself to task and rising to meet the demands is an important part of our ultimate growth in life, one that allows us the room to discover that we have greater abilities, and more discipline, than we know. Discipline doesn’t sound very fun, but it bridges the way between our heart-centered goals and ultimate amazing accomplishments.</p>
<p align="center" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“The Superior Man heaps up small things in order to achieve something high and great.”<br></em><strong style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">~I Ching</strong></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">We are all Artists, architects of our lives, and once a heart’s song is heard, we can begin to envision how doing the work we <em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">love</em> can be manifested into new forms, allowing ourselves to be of greater service to this beautiful planet. Life is meant to be fun, and doing what makes us happy and utilizes our natural talents and abilities smoothes the path and allows us to be better participants in the discernment dance required for success. Discernment dance? Yep. Once we’ve put goals in place for ourselves the temptations can arrive, and unlike opportunity with its subtle knock, temptations tend to demand attention by leaning on the doorbell <img src="//odewire.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt=";-)" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; max-width: 640px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " /> . Balance is such an important barometer here, don’t you find? We can balance work and fun, but keeping priorities in check really does have far greater rewards.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">There are no competitions or comparisons in life. How could there be? We are all miraculous, with inherent potential moving through us like a running river, awaiting our actions to help propel us towards our best lives. We can always try to be a better version of ourselves, which is really the best kind of challenge. Rising up to meet new goals is amazing! By showing up for ourselves and setting ourselves to task, we can bring forth greater versions of ourselves. Meeting personal challenges not only lifts us higher, but the process also serves as an important mirror for those around us, as well. How can you rise to meet newchallenges and exceed your greatest accomplishments, Dear Reader?</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Love and Blessings,</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">Antonia</p>
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Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/187405
2012-07-08T03:04:31-07:00
2012-07-08T03:04:31-07:00
Raitts in the House!
It's redeye time, after 11pm, as I board the JetBlue flying from Seattle to Boston. Approaching my aisle seat I'm slightly miffed the middle seat is taken but looking upward, a guitar case and one that might hold a banjo peer back at me. So I smile and ask the passenger next to me if he's carrying a banjo. My mistake; both cases house guitars but the question leads to an interesting conversation about the risks of traveling with guitars while touring. I mention my SKB traveling case and J-45 Gibson and my seatmate is impressed.<br><br>He then introduces me to the young man seated to his right, who's only slightly awake, and tells me they're both musicians headed to Boston where the son will attend summer school at Berklee. I'm impressed by that and somehow we then start talking about gigging, touring and recording.<br><br>The middle seater asks about my style of music and after describing it as "jazzy, bluesy, folk-rock" I hand him my card with band URL and urge him to listen and decide for himself. When I ask him for his, he says, "I don't have one but I'm easy to find online. My name's David Raitt." I look at him closely and then say, "Raitt, as in Bonnie Raitt!!!???" to which he replies, "yeh, Bonnie's my sister and he's her nephew!" I exclaim "I LOVE her!!" which of course I do. David has played with Bonnie over the years and will soon tour with his own band in the Northwest. Moral of the story, I'm so glad I got out of my head, looked around and was open to having a conversation with the guy in the middle seat.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/185325
2012-07-01T18:37:52-07:00
2012-07-01T18:37:52-07:00
Happy July!
Happy July and Summer (that is if you're N of the equator!) It's only ~65 ℉ (~18 ℃) here in Seattle so cooler than many places in the USA -- ahh!<br><br>We'd love to hear from you. On our website: http://www.paulaboggsband.net you can ask us questions, download free music and videos, see photos, read our blog, make comments and let us know how we can make the website better FOR YOU.<br><br>Hope we hear from you!<br><br>cheers, Paula
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/183983
2012-06-26T18:06:23-07:00
2012-06-26T18:06:23-07:00
Sunday @ The Musicquarium
Sunday's show at Seattle's Triple Door Musicquarium was pretty cool. We'd not played there since 2008 and Mark, our lead guitarist wasn't with the band then. For me the evening started with a great dinner at the fabulous Wild Ginger Restaurant -- owned by the same folks -- with KEXP radio station honcho Tom Mara and wife Mary. Careful not to eat too heavy, I chose a tofu dish that really hit the spot. Load-in started at 7 and that's when I met Rhythm for the first time -- an attractive perhaps mixed race blues rocker whose band was a perfect opener for our show. They played 45 minutes and warmed up the crowd. We started 15 minutes later with "A Buddha State of Mind" and were then off to the races. Two sets and 2 hours later after closing with our version of LedZeppelin's "Rock & Roll" someone from the audience yells "one more!". Bassist Brian Miller leans over to me and says, "that's the best place to be; leave them wanting more!" And so, THANKS to all who made it out...there's no show without YOU!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/179556
2012-06-17T04:34:53-07:00
2012-06-17T04:34:53-07:00
Jane's in Portlandia!
The drive on North I-5 from Eugene to Portland was smooth and beautiful with high 70s temps, sun, low traffic but also friendly fellow travelers at the Salem area reststop. Check-in at the Heathman, my favorite Portland hotel with Andy Warhol originals donning every floor, was painfree and cordial. So I get to my room, unpack a few things and decide to check out the workout room a couple floors down. The elevator door opens and a man and woman are already inside and my eyes hook on the woman, she's familiar, very familiar as I go through a mental rolodex that within seconds serves and compels me to blurt out, "I love GLEE!!" to which the tall, elegant woman responds, "thanks so much!" -- yes, I've just shared a two floor ride with the incomparable Jane Lynch aka "Sue Sylvester" who I later find out is in Portland to give a talk and read from her new book...pretty cool.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/175690
2012-06-06T16:56:54-07:00
2017-01-15T19:28:34-08:00
June 24th Triple Door Musicquarium Show!
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/8092/308729a300567062428ecc3234f01e6473c83da3/medium/paulaboggsbandtriplejune24flyerlo.jpg?1403902989" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="388" width="300" />
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/175210
2012-06-05T08:05:09-07:00
2012-06-05T08:05:09-07:00
A Day @ NPR...Sweet!
Had the most amazing day @ NPR's offices today! I got to meet Michel Martin of "Tell Me More" and was there for a live interview. I also met Bob Boilen and Anya Grundmann of NPR Music and saw the Tiny Desks studio. Amazingly, I also performed impromptu "A Buddha State of Mind" for a tour group from Texas and New Mexico...the NPR team handed me a Gibson guitar and I was off to the races...LOL!! As a member of listener-supported KEXP family, someone who's performed at World Cafe Live! and LONG-TIME NPR listener and supporter, being at the mother-ship was a dream come true.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173859
2012-05-31T16:55:00-07:00
2012-05-31T16:55:00-07:00
Santa Fe University of Art and Design
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">Today I met award-winning director Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals, Skins, etc.) and toured the fabulous Santa Fe University of Art and Design...film (old school is taught before digital), music, fine arts, graphic design, photography, music, thea<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; ">ter, dance and creative writing departments are housed on an historic campus befitting its dramatic surroundings. Several films, including No Country for Old Men and True Grit were in part filmed here and in every way, SFUAD is a jewel...very cool.</span></span><br><br>
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9117941.htm#
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173534
2012-05-30T18:19:41-07:00
2012-05-30T18:19:41-07:00
Murphy's Law?
I got really excited about tonight. Why? Well today was to be the day I finally "played" Santa Fe. You see, I've been here since mid-April and have even taken guitar lessons but had yet to get on a stage. I'd done research and decided the open mic at Sol Santa Fe was just the place. Heck, they were even offering to record my performance (and everyone elses). What a deal! Sure, it's not downtown (where i live) and it'd take about 30 minutes to get there, but no problem given all the upside I imagined. The first danger sign was the phone number. The number listed on Sol's website was "out of order." Huh? No email contact info either. So I called the club next door -- Santa Fe Brewing Co. -- the phone works but the guy on the other end says something like, "well we only share a parking space and that's a separate business...but here's there number." So I call the number given and get voicemail. All these signs were pointing of course to what in fact happened. I pack up my guitar and gear, load the car and drove 30 minutes only to enter a virtually empty club with every chair stack on the club's tables. My friend says to me, "I don't think there's an open mic in THIS place tonight.' Just as she says this a dude appears -- Brian -- who basically informs us he's new, doesn't know anything about open mics and...did you check our website? I almost lose it at this point but compose myself enough to say, "man, YOU, need to check your website!" The evening ended just fine though. My friend and I found a great pub in town and were able to laugh the whole thing off. Moral of the story: I guess I just wasn't meant to play music tonight!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/52735
2012-05-04T05:21:46-07:00
2019-10-30T00:39:44-07:00
Greetings from Taos!
The Taos sun rises early at Mabel Dodge Lodge while the tweets of morning seep through the cracked door expectantly...it's my BIRTHDAY! Thanks fans for your enduring support...it means so much. Life is good here in New Mexico. A wonderful guitarist, Tim Valentine, is teaching me new stuff -- fingerpicking and music theory, I've started to really get into Hatha Yoga and the band is scheduling rehearsals for when I return to Seattle in June. If you're in Seattle then, we're playing @ Triple Door Musicquarium on 6/24. I'm also totally jazzed about getting to visit NPR Music in early June...who knows, maybe I'll land a spot on Tiny Desks!<br>If you've not done so, I'd be honored if you'd "like" my FB page:<br>http://www.facebook.com/pages/Emerging-Artist-Paula-Boggs/126301764061456
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/52736
2012-04-28T12:57:20-07:00
2012-04-28T12:57:20-07:00
It's a global village!
Many of my fans speak English, Spanish or Hebrew. This is just a short note to say "thanks for your support!" Please keep listening and tell your friends. You can download for free and listen to any of my music through "Paula Boggs Band" App on ITunes.<br><br>רבים מעריצים ג'נגו שלי לדבר אנגלית, ספרדית או עברית. זו רק הערה קצרה לומר "תודה על התמיכה שלך!" נא לשמור על הקשבה לספר לחברים שלך. ניתן להוריד בחינם ולהאזין לכל המוסיקה שלי דרך App "פולה בוגס Band" ב-iTunes.<br><br>Muchos de mis fans Jango hablan Inglés, español o hebreo. Esto es sólo una pequeña nota para decir "gracias por su apoyo!" Por favor, mantenga escucha y dile a tus amigos. Usted puede descargar de forma gratuita y escuchar a cualquiera de mi música a través de "Paula Boggs Band" App Store en iTunes:<br><br>http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paula-boggs-band/id464902313?mt=8
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/52737
2012-04-09T17:21:28-07:00
2012-04-09T17:21:28-07:00
Santa Fe Bound
Trip to Santa Fe<br>4/8/12<br>Morning comes early to Pendleton. It's 7:45 and the day is nearing old. Earlier the thump, thumps outside the window and down below suggest So'leil and Kaanie, our horses, aren't quite sure these digs meet their needs. They're good now though, grazing from a pasture ribboned with yellows, greens and just a hint of rust from the railings that keep them safe and in. Breakfast is hearty and tasty -- a cup o' joe washes down the eggs, bacon and muffin. A bed and barn satisfies us before pack up, back on the road towards Boise and beyond. Martin, the horse guy prepares to pack our precious freight back in their stalls as Lil'ley, the yellow lab from heaven smiles. "In riding a horse we borrow freedom," speaks the mantle's plate. Life is good. Happy Easter!<br><br>Michael Buble crooning Georgia on My Mind as we close in on Boise.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/52738
2012-04-01T09:11:59-07:00
2012-04-01T09:11:59-07:00
Music Critic Mike DeGagne Gives "Buddha" 4 Stars!
Reviewed by: Mike DeGagne, Freelance Music Critic, AllMusic<br>_<br>Paula Boggs’ unique voice, sharp and witty writing, and knack for producing slick melodies and jazzy-bluesy rock music is enlightening to say the least. Her music is folksy at times, pop-like at others, and balanced out by some charming mid-tempo stuff that is quite refreshing. On A Buddha State Of Mind, her latest release, there’s a little bit of everything to choose from. Playing acoustic guitar, her material is part Janis Ian and part Carole King, with a wee bit of Tracy Chapman thrown in on the vocal end of things, but her authentic voice makes all of her work sound genuine, modern, and reflective.<br>Her album kicks off with a pair of tunes titled “A Buddha State Of Mind” and “Peel The Charade”, which highlight her tender yet powerful singing talent and nestles in amongst some great melodies, easy rhythms, and original lyrics that are intelligent and poignant without sounding pretentious. There’s a sort of “coffeehouse” feel to her music, but only in the comforting sense, as her material is far beyond the amateurish level. “Miss Ruby Kirby Blues” has a familiar sounding blues romp to the beat and to the rhythm, but Boggs’ voice gives the tune an edgier feel and a down-home type of essence to the entire play out of the song.<br>There’s a great easy-going rock thrust to “Look Straight Ahead”, helped along by some effective cymbal crashes and a catchy hook in the guitar lines. Here, Boggs sounds excellent, boosting the slow incline of the song’s progression with her singing, and then giving way to some nice guitar work at the song’s finale. “Someone Else” has a sweet tenderness to its flow and to Boggs’ poetry of love and loss. Soothed by the tender, mellow guitar and piano, this track packs both passion in her voice and a disheartening air in the lyrics, as the song centers around “finding out” that your love has found someone else.<br>“Blue”, a piano guided ballad of vocal zeal and sincere lyrical outpouring has Boggs sounding her finest. With the lonely piano painting the backdrop, Boggs’ singing plays along nicely with the melody and accentuates certain words at just the perfect time. “Finer Thread” is another impressive rock song with a blues/rock backdrop, including more noticeable guitar playing that mimics a Dire Straits type of feel at times. The following track, “Rock and Roll” changes gears a bit, as Boggs covers the Led Zeppelin classic with a slightly half-paced rockabilly cadence. It’s kind of a bluesy number, but with the time signature changing completely from the original, Boggs ends up putting a unique spin on the hard rockin’ classic that’s interesting and out-of-the-ordinary to say the least. “Toll The Bell” is another slow piece heightened by some beautiful violin playing, while “Traces Of You” has a dream-like effect in its wavy melody and laidback advance. The album ends with “Original Sin“, a decent number that involves more wonderful guitar work and an appealing tempo.<br>The whole of A Buddha State Of Mind is invigorating and refreshing, and sounds professionally innovative in its song craft and musical composition. Paula Boggs gives each of her 12 tracks a personality of their own, and her album makes for a charming listen from start to finish. There’s sure to be more to come from this talented songstress in the near future.<br>Review by: Mike DeGagne Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173455
2012-03-04T14:40:32-08:00
2023-12-10T08:57:36-08:00
Music Blogger Andrea Guy's "Buddha" Review
Artist: Paula Boggs <br>Album: A Buddha State Of Mind<br>Review by Andrea Guy<br><br>When you aspire to be a musician, many people may tell you not to quit your day job. Paula Boggs’ day job is being the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Starbucks, but that didn’t stop her from releasing A Buddha State Of Mind. <br><br>So what does an executive of a Fortune 500 company sound like? Pretty darn good.<br><br>Paula Boggs delivers an album that has a late 60s vibe, but is really hard to categorize. It is a little rock, a little bluesy, a little folksy and a whole lot more. The title track opens the album. At first you are expecting something spiritual, when in fact the song is more an observation with a touch of humor as illustrated by the lyrics “Mayor Bloomberg loves Shakira’s hips. I love white wine. I pause to take a tiny sip.”<br><br>A Buddha State Of Mind is made up of 10 original compositions and two covers. The two cover songs are pretty ambitious. Paula chooses to cover Led Zeppelin’s “Rock And Roll,” and she more than does justice to it. The guitars are wonderfully bluesy and cleaner than on the original. <br><br>The other song she covers is Joni Mitchell’s “Blue.” These two covers really show Paula’s talent as a singer and performer. She shows listeners that she is capable of rocking out as well as handling the softer side with ease.<br><br>It is not the covers that grab your attention on this record, though they are fantastic, it is the original compositions. Paula Boggs really has a knack for songwriting, and she has a voice that really grabs your attention. The combination is perfection.<br><br>One of the standout tracks on A Buddha State Of Mind is “Miss Ruby Kirby Blues.” This bluesy track has the sound of Allen Toussaint with a touch of Elvis Costello. The guitar is slow and easy, which is just the same way Paula’s vocals flow. The lyrics tell the story of Miss Ruby, a gal from Houston, Texas.<br><br>“Someone Else” is probably one of the most heart-wrenching tracks of lost love that you’ll ever hear. When she sings “You love someone else. I just found out the other day,” your heart will break. Her plaintive vocal tears at your heart, making you want to seek out the person that has caused the pain in her voice and give him a good swift kick.<br><br>Paula rocks it with “A Finer Thread.” This song makes you feel like you are in a club. The guitars sound wild and free, adding to that club vibe. This song will have you longing to see Paula perform live. <br><br>The album ends with a song called “Original Sin.” The song isn’t what you’d think it is about. “Like him, music heeds the willing and heals the world’s disease.” She’s referring to Jesus in this line. It is an interesting comparison and definitely a lyric that is food for thought and much debate. It leaves you wanting more, making it the perfect song to close out the album.<br><br>A Buddha State Of Mind is what happens when everything seems to come together—good songwriting, great musicianship, and superb vocals. This album has all of those things. <br><br>Review by Andrea Guy<br>Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173456
2012-01-08T13:07:38-08:00
2021-10-25T09:25:40-07:00
Music Review from Cleveland-Based Music Critic Matheson Kamin, 5 of 5 Stars!!
Artist: Paula Boggs<br>Album: A Buddha State of Mind<br>Review by Matheson Kamin<br><br>While Paula Boggs’ day job has her dealing with the day-to-day business matters as executive Vice President for Starbucks, her 2010 CD A Buddha State of Mind shows that she has other talents that she can tap into. That 2010 album shows off her abilities as a folk-rock musician and singer.<br><br>The CD starts off with the title track “A Buddha State of Mind”, which features lyrics that focus on reflection. At times, Boggs speaks of the Buddha and his peaceful outlook, while at other times, the lyrics reflect on the current situation in the world. The lyrics of the song make you think, just as Boggs is doing as she focuses on the statue of the Buddha.<br><br>With “Peel the Charade,” Boggs takes a more gentle approach to the music, creating a very folk-like track. The gentle feel to the music goes well with lyrics about the modern-day world. The lyrics speak of the world today and create a feeling that brings to mind troubadours and songwriters back in the nineteen sixties who had a lot to say of their current-day situation. “Peel the Charade” is one track that puts Paula Boggs in the same category as those earlier writers, making today’s audience reflect on these times the way earlier poets made their audiences think about their times.<br><br>“Look Straight Ahead” is perhaps the track with the strongest message. The folk-rock song focuses on the people in our society that feel so out of place because of being different. These feelings make them turn inside themselves for solitude where no one can bother them. Though we see people like this every day, we choose to turn away instead of lending support.<br><br>It is on the song “Someone Else” that we get to experience some of the pain of life through the lyrics of Paula Boggs. The Lyrics on “Someone Else” tells of being left behind in a relationship that has come to an end, though the narrator only just found out. The listener can almost feel the pain in Paula’s words as she sings.<br><br>Paula Boggs brings a little sadness to her album once again with the song “Toll the Bell”. The song about death feels a lot like a prayer as Boggs sings about those left behind after a life comes to an end. The simple guitar part and the string arrangement add just the right amount of sadness to the track.<br><br>With the song “Traces of You,” you feel like you are listening to a letter being composed to someone who has left a lasting impression. The images conjured up by the lyrics make you feel warm as you listen to the poetry set to music. The song features a kind of duet with Boggs playing guitar and John Stiemert on piano. Together, the duo of Boggs and Stiemert create the backbone of the song. <br><br>A Buddha State of Mind comes to an end with the song “Original Sin”. The folk-rock song is one of the strongest tracks and gives the release a strong ending.<br><br>Each of the twelve tracks that make up A Buddha State of Mind from Paula Boggs shows that not all of her talents lie in the boardroom at Starbucks. This CD shows off the talent of the inner musicians that lies inside just waiting to let loose when the day comes to an end. Give Paula Boggs a chance and she’ll keep you entertained from the first note of the CD right to the very end. <br><br>Review by Matheson Kamin<br>Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173457
2012-01-02T18:20:59-08:00
2012-01-02T18:20:59-08:00
Enjoy Music Critic Review of "Buddha State of Mind"
Dear Fans -- thanks for your support and enjoy recent review of "Buddha" by veteran freelance music critic Dan MacIntosh:<br><br>"Paula Boggs is an old school folksinger. That’s a compliment because she’s not just a singer and acoustic guitar strummer, which is sometimes wrongly the lazy definition of a folksinger. Granted, there is a lot of acoustic instrumentation supplying the musical beds for these 12 songs. However, Boggs has an issue-oriented mind, and one that makes the most of these serious, or at least seriously smart, songs.<br><br>Perhaps the two inclusions that stand out most upon first listen are Boggs’ two cover songs. One is “Blue,” originally by Joni Mitchell. At times, Boggs’ voice sounds a little like latter day Mitchell. Boggs’ singing has a tough gal tone to it, which Mitchell only accomplished after numerous cigarettes. Boggs’ cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” is even more intriguing. When Plant, Page and gang initiated the tune, it was a strange cross between heavy metal and old time rock and roll. However, with Boggs’ take, the song is stripped down to the same old time rock and roll this song’s lyric originally saluted. Boggs’ singing is fun and playful, as she gives it just a touch of Maria Muldaur vocal spicing. It’s quite a revelation, and quite good. <br><br>The most touching song on the album is called “Someone Else.” It’s a confessional folk song, like the variety that was so popular during the singer/songwriter boom in the ‘70s. The lyric features Boggs pouring out her raw emotions. She’s faced with the shocking fact that her man has fallen in love with another woman. Boggs practically bleeds this one out. It may be a therapeutic exercise, but there’s no guarantee she feels any better after singing it.<br><br>There are also a few of musically innovative tracks on this disc, as well. “Lenny’s House” is driven by Jeff Fielder’s plucky banjo playing. Its lyric speaks of a hipster musician everybody is proud to be around. “Miss Ruby Kirby Blues” also features a memorable instrumental backing. It’s a blues song, as its title obviously gives away. However, John Stiemert’s piano solo really lifts this recording high above being just a typical blues workout. “A Finer Thread” is delightful primarily for its Mamas & the Papas-esque backing vocal section. If you’ve listened to any Mamas & the Papas music at all, this track will give you a nostalgic rush. This album’s prettiest song is the ballad “Toll the Bell.” Instead of a standard folk music backing, producer Matt Brown surrounds Boggs with strings. These stringed accompaniments are provided by Jami Sieber on cello and Chris Kovalchick on violin. Brown also chimes in with bell effects. <br><br>A music critic was recently bemoaning the fact that in our age of Occupy Wall Street, there sure aren’t a lot of great protest songs. The turbulent ‘60s, on the other hand, were famous for the amazing socially active song craft that came out of the era. Why aren’t we hearing the same quality musical commentary? This lack of music to match our challenging times is precisely why we need artists like Paula Boggs. Boggs has the voice and a skill of Tracy Chapman (By the way, where has SHE been?), and just may be the musical artist to fill this conspicuous void. Let’s hope so, at least.<br><br>Review By: Dan MacIntosh<br>Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)"<br><br>ABOUT DAN MACINTOSH: Dan MacIntosh has worked as a a professional music journalist for 26 years.His work has regularly appeared in many local and national publications, including CMJ, Paste, Mean Street, Chord, Country Standard Time and Spin.com.
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173458
2011-01-08T04:34:23-08:00
2011-01-08T04:34:23-08:00
Lincoln Center Blogs On CD "A Buddha State of Mind!"
http://imaginationnow.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/the-journey-to-a-buddha-state-of-mind/
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173459
2010-10-29T20:41:47-07:00
2010-10-29T20:41:47-07:00
Now a Voting Member of the Recording Academy!
How cool is that?? Will print off the ballot this weekend and get to work!
Paula Boggs Band
tag:paulaboggsband.net,2005:Post/173460
2010-10-17T08:23:31-07:00
2010-10-17T08:23:31-07:00
Opening for Eric Bibb @ Triple Door Mainstage/Seattle
An amazing experience! We played 6 songs for 30 mins. and warmed the crowd for Eric. With just his voice, guitar and a harmonica player, Eric left us all in awe...blues at its very best! It was an honor...
Paula Boggs Band