We packed up this blog and moved permanently to:

Our Still Married website

Please join us there. Many thanks!

Erin

The Drought Song

In which we attempt to bring an end to the drought by writing a song about it.

Here we go, California. Get those umbrellas ready.



If You Can’t Send Water

Words and music by Erin Friedman

My morning shower is a dribble from a low-flow shower head

My front lawn made the cover of House and Garden of the Dead

Farmers fret but LA pools are full and the water table’s sinkin’

But water is for fightin’ over and whiskey is for drinkin’

We prayed for a pouring rain

Prayed for snow on the Cascade Range

California’s  parched and dry

Our lawns are brown and crispy

If You Can’t Send Water, Lord, send whiskey

Send a bottle, send a barrel, send Jack, Johnnie or Jim Beam

Shout “AMEN!” for an A-list, 80-proof drought-relief team

Won’t waste H2O on ice or cocktails that need shakin’

We'll take it straight, inebriate, for the sake of conservation

We prayed for a pouring rain

Prayed for snow on the Cascade Range

California’s parched and dry

Our lawns are brown and crispy

If You Can’t Send Water, Lord, send whiskey

Drink a toast to hopeful prayers

And to the bartender upstairs

If You Can’t Send Water, Lord,

Send Chivas,  Crown  or Cutty Sark

Bushmill’s, Jameson or Maker’s Mark

If You Can’t Send Water, Lord, send whiskey

Cottonwood Celebrates the Arts. And Wine.

What's going on this weekend? According to the Redding Record Searchlight, the #1 Thing to do is happening in Cottonwood on Saturday afternoon:

Craig and I love playing in our own hometown - and we are looking forward to sharing the stage with so many talented musicians at the 3^rd Annual Cottonwood Art Wine and Music Show at 4 PM on March 14^th at the Cottonwood Community Center.

The styles range from original folk to country, bluegrass, pop, rock and gospel.

 

4:00 Sami Jo

4:30 Sons of Jefferson

5:00 Delaney Rene

5:30 Will Miller

6:00 Still Married

6:30 Pine Dogz

7:00 Matthew Songmaker

 

 

In addition to music, enjoy tastings from local wineries, appetizers and shopping for unique items from local artists. Tickets are $15 and are available at The Elegant Bean and Tri-Counties Bank and at the door.

For more information on the artists and wine tasting, contact Mary O'Keefe: 347-1230.

For information on the musicians, contact Erin Friedman:   Erin_Friedman@sbcglobal.net

 

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Heart Shaped Stones for Valentine's Day

If you're looking for a sweet, sentimental love song to celebrate this day of romance,  keep looking.  But if you like your Valentine's Day tunes with a dose heartbreak and twist of revenge, then go ahead and help yourself to "Heart Shaped Stones."

I wrote this song many years ago - and it's still one of my favorites to sing. Our kids think it's kind of creepy and that's part of what I like about it.

So whether you're happily single, looking for love, or celebrating the day with your One and Only, please hop on over to our website for a free download of "Heart Shaped Stones."

Still Married: Listen 

Hope you get chocolate and champagne and NOT stones. Unless, of course, they're diamonds.

Redding's Got Culture

Celebrate art, culture and original music with the North State Songwriters

North State Songwriters will present a showcase of original music at Redding City Hall (777 Cypress Ave) during the city-wide Cultural Cruise on January 30th. Eight different acts will take the stage, beginning at 4 PM. 

4 Randy Corbin 4:30 Nick Ciampi 5 Pine Dogz 5:30 Still Married 6 Hal Johnson 6:30 Dan Casamajor 7 Hannah Jane Kile 7:30 Paul Howell

Randy Corbin's songs are inspired by life's experiences with an emphasis on matters of the heart. Nick Ciampi is a popular Redding music teacher and folk-rock musician.  The Pine Dogz present rocking' country blues.  Still Married country-folk tunes celebrate the landscape, the characters and the independent spirit of Far Northern California. Hal Johnson will share his folk and dirt-road country music.

Two Chico musicians are joining the line-up this year: Veteran singer-songwriter Dan Casamajor's  music is influenced by the folk-music revival, its folk-rock offshoots, the Beatles, and acoustic country styles. Award-winning Hannah Jane Kile is a sweet soulful songwriter who provides poetic messages blending original and traditional folk with individual voice and instrument. 

And JPR Radio host Paul Howell rounds out the evening with his original blues tunes.

For more information on the musicians: 

Randy Corbin: hellabassman@yahoo.com

Nick Ciampi: www.nickciampiproductions.com

The Pine Dogz: The Pine Dogz

Still Married: www.stillmarried.net

Hal Johnson

Dan Casamajor: jfcandan@yahoo.com

Hannah Jane Kile

Paul Howell:  ph8ed@sbcglobal.net

For more information on North State Songwriters, contact Erin Friedman: erin@stillmarried.net

Shasta County Tiny Desk Duet

NPR music invited artists to submit videos of their original tunes for their Tiny Desk Concert Contest. The winners will be invited to the studio for a performance on All Songs Considered.

We entered our new duet, From Here, a ballad about holding tight to love, even when holding tight is not the easiest choice.  We huddled on my not-so-tiny studio desk and did our best.

We are looking forward to performing this tune and others next Friday at Redding City Hall for the annual city-wide Cultural Cruise. Lyrics below.

From Here 

words and music  (c) Erin Friedman

Every year it seems

You need more room to breathe

But I can only get so far away

For better or for worse I said

Lock the door, go to bed

Pray when there is nothin’ left

To say

          

     Are you walking ?                 

     Are you running?                 

Wishing wings to fly you

From Here?                                 

What I’m seeing

What I’m sayin’

Looks like something worth saving

From Here

I breathe in and out

Whisper when I’d like to shout

You’re the innocent bystander of the year

If I can be forgiven

If you’ll lean in and listen,

Admit there’s something missing

From Here

From Here it looks like love

Is still holding on

Forever is worth fighting for

Together we’re Still Strong

Thanks for the Memories

In this Grateful Season, I get to count a lot of blessings -- including a friendship that began before grade school and still thrives.

In August, I spent four glorious days with my dear friend, Mary - she and I share a birthday and we celebrated 50 years of fun and friendship at her mountain home in the High Sierras. Lots of hiking, loads of laughs and a few bottles of good wine.

Fun in Heidelberg, 2013

Mary and her lab, Marco in Mammoth, 2014

Before "Valley Girls" was a thing, there was us -- loving the sun, the sand and the songs and living a charmed life in Chatsworth in  LA's San Fernando Valley. My gift to my Sweet Forever Friend was this -- The Songs the Summer Sings -- because nothing says "Thanks for all the memories" like a cheesy, 70s-style pop tune.

The Songs the Summer Sings

words and music by Erin Friedman

Tires spinnin’ on a canyon road

Valley girls head out for the coast

Sing along to the radio

Tuned to 93

Zuma 7 was the promised land

Endless Summer layin’ out on the sand

Perfect soundtrack to the perfect tan

Were The Songs the Summer Sings

CHORUS:

We knew all the words

To all The Songs the Summer Sings

California girls

With California dreams

We were wrong about a lot of things:

Fast cars, bad boys, sunscreen

But we were right about

The Songs the Summer Sings 

                               

 Goodbye to the Yellow Brick Road

Beegees, Beach Boys, and Rolling Stones

They said “It’s Only Rock and Roll”

But it was everything

It was a cruise out on Van Nuys

Tunes for scopin’ out the guys

Fire drills at the long red lights

To The Songs the Summer Sings

(chorus)

We were straight-A, honor rolls girls

But from June until September

Shed our Pleasant Valley Sunday world

Making summers to remember

(chorus)

We were wrong about Annie Green Springs

And Dittos saddleback jeans

But we were right about

The Songs the Summer Sings

Banjo's Awesome Modesto Adventure

Word came last week that my song, 2:20, made it to the finals of the Northern California Women's Music Festival Songwriting Contest  I was invited to perform the tune at the festival on Saturday evening. I hemmed and hawed about making the trip -- it's four hours away and we had no one to care for The Banjo Dog.

Then 18-year old Joe, said: "Mom, you HAVE to go. What are you doing music for if NOT for things like this?!"

He had a point.

So I logged on to BringFido.com and located a dog-friendly hotel. Got a great deal on a room where our goofy dog was welcome.   Banjo's been part of the family for six months but this would be his first road trip. Turns out he's a trooper. Loves riding in the truck and he's the perfect hotel guest: quiet, neat and unlikely to steal towels.

Banjo likes hotels!

Craig and I headed out early on Saturday morning -- when he's not my faithful bass player, Craig is a terrific roadie -- and we made it to Modesto in the early afternoon. This was the first Northern California Women's Music Festival. What a lovely event. The Prospect Theater is intimate and beautifully appointed, a comfortable space that was obviously created by someone who loves the theater. The stage and the lighting were lovely and sound was perfect.  Best of all were the people -- great folks created this festival and made it happen in a big way -- a joyful vibe permeated the room.

The song, 2:20, was inspired by a late-night trip that we made to the Redding train station last year. It was eerie and odd to be out in Redding at two am, waiting in the dark for the arrival of the Coast Starlight. There was NO sleep for us that night -- we were texting and keeping track of Joe (our smart kid) who was headed to the Bay Area to visit my dear sister and her husband.

All sorts of thoughts floated through my mind that sleepless night - and I imagined a woman leaving town under rather dire circumstances and wrote a song around that story.

I played the song to an attentive audience and was delighted that my sleepless night paid off and I won the songwriting contest.

Banjo's patience was wearing thin at this point, so we said our goodbyes and set out in search of a dog-friendly restaurant.

Dews in Modesto had a lovely patio.

"Can we sit here with our dog?" "Of course!"  "Champagne?"  "Why, yes."

What a place -- calamari fritta was fabulous, followed by a bleu cheese encrusted New York Steak and Blackened Sea Bass. The bread pudding ala mode - bliss! All the while, Banjo laid quietly at my feet.   It was a perfect evening.

"The bill, please?"

"It's been paid for.  An anonymous donor wanted to help you celebrate."

Oh. My. Goodness. -- An amazing day from start to finish. Back to earth tomorrow. But in the small songwriting world I live in, this counts a truly awesome adventure.


-- Erin

Yes, Redding, there IS an end to Summer

How do I know that? Because we are playing the Autumn Art Reception at Redding City Hall on Thursday, September 18th from 5-7 PM.  

This is a lovely,  annual community event - a gift from the City of Redding. The new art displays are unveiled, complimentary refreshments provided, the artists are on hand to talk about their work and North State Songwriters will provide a sound track of original tunes.

Still Married plays at 5, followed by singer- songwriter Will Miller, who will perform indie folk and country music. Presenting dirt road country and folk with a vintage spirit will be Hal Johnson, and singer-songwriter Anne Dezort will carry on the rich tradition of folk music in a deeply personal way.

We are delighted to share the stage with these musicians and are especially excited to be bringing some family members along as a cheering section.  

Ron and BobbyLee Negri

Craig's mother and stepfather are immortalized on our recording of Shut Up in the Key go G -- they play the part of the loudmouth drunks -- and we will be asking them to reprise their roles when we get to this song on the playlist.

Celebrate the Arts in Redding this Thursday - we'd love to see you there. You're welcome to tell us to "SHUT UP!" too:

Nashville Comes to Redding

Nashville singer-songwriter Kacey Jones has been called "irrepressible," "zany," "brilliant," and more for her clever songwriting skills.  She's bringing her tunes and her sassy style to The Post Office in Downtown Redding TONIGHT at 7.

Listen to "Donald Trump's Hair" and her splendid version of Mickey Newbury's "San Francisco Mabel Joy" and come on out to the Post Office tonight for music and laughter.

Shasta County Tunes Head to Worldfest

We're packing up our gear and heading to Grass Valley to perform at California Worldfest.

From their website:

www.worldfest.net

                                                           A WORLD OF MUSIC

Under the cool, tall pines of the Sierra Foothills

Featuring 8 stages of music from around the world,
camping with family and friends, workshops, international food,
fine crafts, and the renowned children's program.

We call it "a tremendous opportunity." There's a stellar line-up of musicians and activities for the weekend and it looks like the temperatures at the fairgrounds in Grass Valley are a fair bit cooler than here in Shasta County.

We are thrilled to be taking the stage at 10 AM and noon on Friday, July 11th, along with the two other KZFR Songwriting finalists: Hannah Jane Kyle (winner!) and Dan Casamajor.  

We'll be sharing our love of our Shasta County home with the audience -- singing songs about Redding trains, Mount Shasta and our magnificent Sundial Bridge.  And chickens, of course.

Here's the finale from the KZFR Celebration of the Song Event held at the  Sierra Nevada Big Room last month -- Will the Circle Be Unbroken -- featuring the talents of Joe Craven, Dan Casamajor, Hannah Jane Kyle and a couple of grinning rubes from Cottonwood.

Freedom and The Mustangs of Las Colinas

I always considered it the mark of a lazy songwriter:  The LONG introduction.

            "Ahem....This song is about a time when my roommate and her ex-husband had this fight and ....blah...blah...blah...."

Sorry, but if I can't tell what the song is about from listening to it, then you haven't done your job. Re-write, please.

Ummm...What's the emoticon for Eating Crow?

Because here I am, being THAT songwriter, explaining an obscure reference in my latest song, because unless you know this sculpture in Irving, Texas, the song may not make much sense.

The Mustangs of Las Colinas
photo from the Irving Archives -  used with permission 

I saw photos of "The Mustangs of Las Colinas" by wildlife sculptor Robert Glen online and thought it was magnificent piece of art. Magical. Inspiring.  There's such forward motion and energy behind it, such high spirit and yet...

I knew I had to fit it into a song.

photo from the Irving Archives, used with permission

At about the same time, I became aware of the serious problem of sex trafficking in the US. Seems it is NOT just a Third-World-Other-People's-Problem, but a real menace right here in California. And it involves children and teens exploited and enslaved by the adults in the their lives, innocent victims who deserve better.

Those ideas came together in this song.

The folks at The Mustangs of Las Colinas in Texas kindly provided photos of their prized sculpture - and the story behind it is well worth reading at their website: The Mustangs of Las Colinas.

For more information on sex trafficking and what is being done to help victims:

Courage Wordwide: a Rocklin, California-based organization devoted to building homes for rescued children.

Northern California Anti-Trafficking Coalition.

And after that very long-winded (sorry) introduction, here's the song (lyrics are below):

THE MUSTANGS OF LAS COLINAS

Words and music by Erin Friedman

Saw a picture in a magazine

Ponies running through a stream

Water splashing at their feet

Cast in bronze, set in stone

Nurse called my name, set my wrist

Another clumsy accident

Wait in the parking lot for him

We’ll head on down the road

And we run like The Mustangs of Las Colinas

Full of fury, fire and frozen in place

But unlike The Mustangs of Las Colinas

I’ll reach the far shore

I’m breakin’ away

Fifteen and livin’ in a homeless hell

Friend or foe? – It’s hard to tell

But he rescued me and taught me well

To do what a girl can do

Kept his promises with lock and key

Cigarette burns on the sheets

The girl who planned to chase her dreams

Can’t find the strength to move

So we run like The Mustangs of Las Colinas

Full of fury, fire and frozen in place

But unlike The Mustangs of Las Colinas

I’ll reach the far shore

I’m breakin’ away

Don’t bite the hand that brings your meals

Don’t talk too much, don’t think, don’t feel

But those ponies kickin’ up their heels

Keep runnin’ through my mind

Stalled stampede at the starting gate

Slow-motion scene that culminates

With a single shot from a .38

Race is on, and the water’s fine

And I run like The Mustangs of Las Colinas

Full of fury, fire and frozen no more

But unlike The Mustangs of Las Colinas

I’ll find my freedom

I'll climb that far shore

© 2014 Erin Friedman

Chickens on the Playlist

Many years ago there was a middle-of-the-night commotion in our chicken yard. I hopped out of bed and found 14-year-old Max in the hall, "Something's messing with the chickens," he shouted, "let's go!"

Max was clad in underpants and brandishing a huge Claymore sword that he bought at the Renaissance Faire. I was armed with a flashlight. We set out to see what was so upsetting to our laying hens.

What we found was a possum. And a song.

Possum in the Hen House is on our playlist for out July 1st  gig at the Sundial Music Festival. Still Married plays at 7, followed by The Torpedoes at 8, so wear your dancing' shoes.

The Cardboard Sign

Splendid view from the Riverfront Amphitheater last week

A couple years ago I read “The Last American Man” – Elizabeth Gilbert’s biography of Eustace Conway, a man who escaped to the wilderness, lived off the land and encouraged others to do the same. If you’ve read “Eat, Pray, Love,” then you know Elizabeth Gilbert and she plays a part in Eustace’s story.

Hitching rides is also part of Eustace’s adventure, and at one point, a hitchhiker explains his secret for getting drivers to stop to pick him up. There’s a single word you can write on your sign that virtually guarantees a ride. 

I loved the story and filed it away – sure that one day I could turn it into a song. 

It's on our playlist for the Sundial Music Festival on July 1st at 7 PM. We're ordering up a cool river-breeze for you, and there will be food trucks and beer. Torpedoes play at 8. Should be great fun.

When a teenage boy produces his parents' music video....

Max was 16 years old and the only one in the family who owned a video camera back in 2008, so we were at his mercy when we asked him to produce a video for our song "Shut Up in the Key of G."

The kid did a good job for us -- though he may have had a little too much fun.

This is the song we close out our shows with - we'll be playing it at the Sundial Music Festival at 7 PM on Tuesday evening, July 1st.  Join us for this celebration of the Sundial Bridge's 10th anniversary -- But please refrain from throwing things, unless it's large bills.

"It's my highway, I can cry if I want to..."

Well....OK, it's not exactly "My Highway," but last year,  after I lost my Dad, I found myself using my daily Drive Time for crying.  It worked out well, because I could sob privately, in peace, and by the time I got where I was going, I was ready to face the world.

I came to call that stretch of road between home and work my "Cryin' Highway." I wanted to write a song about it, but I didn't want to write a sad, heart-wrenching ballad, because I truly believe that tears are healing and getting past grief requires attending to the emotional details - even when they wreck your mascara and make you look all puffy.

And besides, Dad liked rollicking, fun tunes, so I owed him something up-beat.

The song I came up with is "Cryin' Highway." We debuted it a few weeks ago and it's on the playlist for our set at the Sundial Music Festival on July 1st.

Check out the details here: Sundial Music Festival

Celebrating 10 Years of Inspiration

The Sundial Bridge is one of those places that continues to inspire and delight me. My daughter was a volunteer with Turtle Bay in 2004 when the bridge opened and was one of the first to get to cross it. Since then,  I get out there every chance I get.

I've found a lot songs on that span and on the adjacent River Trail, including Under the Sundial Bridge and River Whispers.  So we were delighted to be asked to perform some of our tunes during the Sundial Music Festival,  part of the Celebrate 10 festivities.

The Riverfront Amphitheater is a cool, grassy slope above a stage that sits just off the river bank,  it's north of the Convention Center, between the Sundial Bridge and the Boat Ramp.   It's a perfect spot to share our locally-inspired tunes.

In addition to music, you'll also find a beer garden and food trucks with all sorts of goodies available.

photo by Cierra Goldstein

Sundial Music Festival runs from 6 -9 PM,  June 22 - June 25 and June 29 - July 2.  It features  different musical acts every night.

Still Married will perform on Tuesday, July 1st, at 7 PM at the
Riverfront Amphitheater.

More details are here: http://www.shastaartscouncil.org

This tune is on our playlist for the Sundial Music Festival - hope to see lots of friends there for  this is a momentous occasion. Ten years of beauty, grace and inspiration is well worth a grand celebration.

Be Prepared...or Not

Last night Craig and I had the honor and pleasure of performing as finalists in the Celebration of the Song event, produced by Chico radio station KZFR, hosted by Joe Craven.

In the weeks leading up to the showcase, Craig and I traded nightmares - when we weren't plagued with insomnia. We worried. We imagined every worst-case scenario.  And we rehearsed our set over and over and over again.

I was prepared to be in awe of the venue: The Big Room at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico. It's a premiere venue, designed for music, beautifully appointed. And the sweet aroma of brewing beer hangs in the air. The stage has hosted some of the biggest names in Americana music.

I was prepared to be in awe of the other musicians: Hannah Jane Kyle - a young gal who crafts beautiful tunes and delivers them with tremendous style.  Dan Casamajor, who has been on the music scene since the 1960s and performs delightful folk-rock songs.

I was NOT prepared for the genuinely joyful, supportive atmosphere - the camaraderie and the encouragement that flowed from every corner. All the musicians backstage were talking each other up, offering advice and hugs. Love flowed right back from the audience during the performances and afterward.  We were completely enveloped in a genuine "Celebration" of the Song. The folks in charge deserve a standing ovation for creating such a magical event.

It was a rare treat for us, an evening that has left me smiling and wishing that every songwriter could have that kind of positive, uplifting experience on stage.

I'll being chewing on that possibility for awhile.

We debuted a new song last night -- here's a chorus of Cryin' Highway -- captured just before the video camera batteries gasped their last: