Gary Blanchard
beloved, local musician
I was the featured artist at the open mic at The Hearing Room in Lowell. This is a grassroots music and arts center and a place where people come to listen to music rather than to talk. This is my third time performing there, and it is always a good time.
On my way there, I stopped at (gasp) Guitar Center in Milbury. It is a bit out of my way normally, but right along the way to Lowell; they had an item there I wanted:
This has a magnetic plate that holds the harmonica, making it very easy to switch harmonicas during a gig. I found it online; their website stated they were out of stock online but in stock at the local(ish) store. A call there yesterday, however, told me they did not have it. I decided I would stop and check and, sure enough, found it there. While there I also checked out a couple of the cheaper electric pianos.
One great thing that happened was meeting a person I have known online for 15 years or more. Tony Provencher was on a site, EZ Folk, that I was also on; he lives a half hour from Lowell. It was great to meet him and to hear him perform. He had a stroke four years ago and has not been doing much; this was his first time playing music out since then. He is as nice to talk to in person as he was online; it was great to catch up with him.
I did some songs from my last two CDs and a couple of songs from the Christmas disc. I also did Hurdy Gurdy Man and one of my newer songs, The Clown's Lament. The folks in the open mic were also very talented; all-in-all it was a great gig.
On my way there, I stopped at (gasp) Guitar Center in Milbury. It is a bit out of my way normally, but right along the way to Lowell; they had an item there I wanted:
This has a magnetic plate that holds the harmonica, making it very easy to switch harmonicas during a gig. I found it online; their website stated they were out of stock online but in stock at the local(ish) store. A call there yesterday, however, told me they did not have it. I decided I would stop and check and, sure enough, found it there. While there I also checked out a couple of the cheaper electric pianos.
One great thing that happened was meeting a person I have known online for 15 years or more. Tony Provencher was on a site, EZ Folk, that I was also on; he lives a half hour from Lowell. It was great to meet him and to hear him perform. He had a stroke four years ago and has not been doing much; this was his first time playing music out since then. He is as nice to talk to in person as he was online; it was great to catch up with him.
I did some songs from my last two CDs and a couple of songs from the Christmas disc. I also did Hurdy Gurdy Man and one of my newer songs, The Clown's Lament. The folks in the open mic were also very talented; all-in-all it was a great gig.
