May 2013
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 18, No. 5
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, May 5th, 2013
Officers:
Newsletter/Articles
Jeff Mason, jeffrey_mason@me.com
Meeting Coordinator/Critique scoring/CFMA Liason
Matthew Campbell, matthew_sax77@yahoo.com
Membership/Certificates/Contact
Susan Foster-Trewick, susiecool2001@yahoo.com
407-760-2153
E-mail Contact, isgorlando@gmail.com
Website
Carlos Colon, videosaysitall.fl@gmail.com
352-267-5911
Treasurer/NSAI Liason
Asli Goncer, asli@cfl.rr.com
Secretary
Jacquelyn Gould, songsuite@gmail.com
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every month at the
Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson (at the extreme east end of
Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport ) in Orlando.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join us. Non-
members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and what we do. For
more information, visit our website at www.isgorlando.org or myspace page at
http://www.myspace.com/internationalsongwritersguildorlando
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and introductions. 5:30 to
6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques.
Please bring a CD or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric sheets.
If we have at least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then we will
have them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write constructive
comments on the lyric sheets.
Web Chatter
By SusieCool
I discovered an open mic competition that has been going for 18 months now. It is on the first
Monday of each month at Downtown Credo Coffee. Details can be found on my Open Mic webpage
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
The Story So Far
Part 2
By Jeff Mason
After a month of listening and asking questions I’ve had a difficult time finding
new "story" songs by newer artists. If you recall my criteria was for a song with a beginning, a
middle, and an end. I was also looking for character driven songs. Now I’ll concede that I haven’t
listened to everything that’s out there, and it’s probable that I’ve missed out on some artist
who’s writing what I’m looking for. I apologize in advance for my ignorance. It seems to me that
those kind of songs petered out in the mid- 1980s.
Let me tell you about some of the fine new artists I’ve discovered. My instincts
tell me that I’ll find what I’m looking for in the folk/country genre and that these artists will
be making good use of traditional instruments like banjo, fiddle and accordion.
New Hampshire singer songwriter Ray LaMontagne has a voice that’s been compared to
Van Morrison. I’m thinking of Joe Cocker when I listen to his songs. I like the title track from
his 2004 album Trouble. On the same album, you may listen to the world weary Jolene which is not
to be confused with the Dolly Parton classic with the same title. I think that this artist shows
great promise as a possible “storyteller” but what I’ve heard so far are emotionally driven
situation songs.
I first started hearing requests for songs by Mumford and Sons when I was playing in
Irish pubs in 2010. I hear more bluegrass in their musical stylings than I do Celtic, but they are
fine young songwriters. Their introspective Little Lion Man won a Grammy nomination in 2010 and
the band’s second studio album Babel won the 2013 Grammy for Album of the Year. I like this group
but I’m not finding that specific kind of song in their repertoire.
Another band of interest are The Lumineers who have enjoyed success with their bouncy
song Ho Hey. The song’s big appeal is that it is presented in a happy and infectious way. It is
another situation song and is about loneliness but manages to offset that emotion with it’s
arrangement. Never underestimate the power of a cheerful song! It will stand out and be a contrast
to all the gloom and doom.
There is an edgy darkness to much of today’s music which I suppose reflects the times we
live in. The craft of songwriting is exacting and particularly so when it comes to telling a
story. I’m reminded Of Jimmy Webb’s book Tunesmith in which he writes “We must accomplish our aims
and tell our entire story in a time frame of about three minutes.” The emotion is only one
component. It’s the action and the characters that drive the story song.
The Decemberists are a folk rock band from Portland, Oregon who like to write songs
about historical events. Frontman Colin Melfoy writes the band’s songs. They are definitely about
the story and employ many traditional instruments. Their song Down By The Water received a
nomination for Best Rock Song at the 2011 at the Grammys. I found their 2006 album The Crane Wife
of special interest as they seem to be influenced by traditional English folk music.
In the country genre I am impressed by the songwriting team of Chris Tomkins and Josh
Kear. Their Before He Cheats and Blown Away recorded by Carrie Underwood are both well written
pieces with snappy choruses that tell dark stories. Kear shares songwriting credits with Underwood
and Hilary Lindsay on the mysterious Two Black Cadillacs. These three songs came closest to my
original criteria. I have a problem with country songs that gravitate to maudlin sentimentality
and I was happy to find material with some meat on the bone.
One of the strangest bands are The Handsome Family. They are an alternative
country band who specialize in murder ballads. Their song After We Shot The Grizzly was voted one
of the best songs that are just as good as a short story.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/inventory-26-songs-that-are-just-as-good-as-short,1816/ This is a
macabre piece about cannibalism, but it is delivered in a dry laconic way. The group was formed in
1993 by husband and wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks. He is the composer and she writes the words.
Take a listen to The Giant Of Illinois on youtube.com. It is accompanied by a fine video. This
band gives me hope that the story song will survive.
Before I sign off I would be remiss if I failed to plug a couple of other bands.
London based group Dry The River have written a lovely plaintive song called Bible Belt which
tells the story of a child having to become the parent of her siblings because the real mother is
drunk. Nashville duo The Civil Wars have a tune called Barton Hollow which has it’s roots in
earlier, less commercial country music and is almost another murder ballad.
See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Videography and website management services at a price you CAN AFFORD. Capturing your wedding or
event on video may not be in your budget but you’re hoping that you may have something left over
to hire a videographer. I will fit your budget. My goal is to offer my services to those who
otherwise would have to pass because of funds. This is your special day and you most definitely
want to capture those moments. Visit my website at http://www.videosaysitall.com . Thanks and call
me anytime (352-267-5911)…Carlos Colon
Central Florida Folk http://cffolk.org/song_circle/song_circle.htm
is having an acoustic song circle at the Sleeping Moon on the last Wednesday of each month.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/26/1556023/restaurant/Orlando/Sleeping-Moon-Cafe-Winter-Park
Their food is great and the song circle is from 7 till 10pm.
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association, Local 389. You are
invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the interests of the professional
musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more information. You may reach them by phone
at: 407-894-8666.
We’re always looking for material for the newsletter. If you have any information that you would
like to see added to the newsletter, please see Jeff Mason at the meetings or email him at
jeffrey_mason@me.com . Please keep your articles brief and to the point. Print deadline for the
newsletter is approximately two weeks prior to the monthly meeting.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing with the ISG. For
more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for non-members, please
contact Jeff by the print deadline (usually the Friday 16 days prior to the monthly meeting);
email is best ( jeffrey_mason@me.com ).
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Open Mic Night hosted by Matthew "Sax" Campbell
Thursdays, 7-10pm, sign-up starts at 6:45
Quokka Coffee
131 Broadway Ave. (corner of Broadway & Monument)
Kissimmee, FL 34741
free music
Organic fair trade coffee, beer, wine, sandwiches, salads, and pastries with specials
Full P.A. and 6 string acoustic guitar provided
family-friendly atmosphere
Rain or shine
Matthew
http://slyproductions.net/
SusieCool will be opening for Lauren Heintz at Trout Lake center in Eustis on May 18th.
The pot luck dinner starts at 7pm, and the music starts about 7:45
520 County Road 44, Eustis, FL 32736
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be listed in the
ISG members page. Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques,
please send the mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in the ISG
MySpace page. http://www.myspace.com/internationalsongwritersguildorlando
Past Certificate winners can be found at
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/resultslist-2
April 2013 Critique results
1. Tie - I've Come Here to do Some Drinking - Will Campbell
- I Don't Forget to Rock - Matthew Campbell
3. Find me -Stephanie Barker
4. Dim The Lights so I Can Cry - George Engelhard
5. Hundred Dollar Job - Kristen Bruno
New members always welcome!
© 2013 ISG