After two snowed-out CD Release Party’s (12/19, 2/6) we decided to take matters in to our own hands last night and have it at Tim’s house in West Chester. A couple dozen folks from town schlepped though the snow to Tim’s for the party. With plenty of beverages to go around and the excitement of the snow storm we had a pretty rowdy bunch on our hands. We got started promptly at 9pm and played our Thunder In Valley album in it’s entirety for the first time. We also streamed the show live on the internet dubbing it the SnowCast!
This band has a history with snow, that’s obvious, but it goes back further than this winter. Yesterday while I was looking out at the blowing snow I was reminded of another snow storm we had a few years ago. It happened to be the night Paul and I met. I came into town with Jesse and we went down to Gee’s deli. They were closing down for the night and having a party in the store. We brought our instruments, played songs and got snowed in. Out of a handful of late nights like this one the band was born that winter. We got Tim on board and booked our first gig at Rex’s soon after. It’s three years later now and the band has grown into something very special and we’re great friends.
I got a text yesterday from a friend it read, “Dude, next time you reschedule a cd release I’m planning a ski trip”. We have an exciting year ahead of us and plenty of more shows on the schedule. We’re not sure yet if we’re going to call any of them a “CD Release Party”.
So maybe these storms weren’t what we wanted to happen but we sure had a great time last night. Thanks to everyone who came to the show and watched the SnowCast. If you missed it, or want to see it again, the SnowCast is saved and is viewable anytime here.
So two record breaking snow storms in one season. Both falling on the night of our CD Release Party. Bad luck? Or maybe just an opportunity to do something different?
Tonight we are going to web cast our CD Release Party from Tim’s house at 9pm. Just go to http://www.masonporter.com and you’ll find it. We’re calling it the SnowCast! Tell your friends, should be fun.
Here is a little preview of a song I just wrote in honor of our good luck.
Here is video of us performing at the Sherman Theater last Saturday. It was a great time. Much thanks to Ken and everyone at the Pocono Folk and Bluegrass Society for having us.
Here is a video from the World Cafe Live. It’s actually three songs in one video. Creole Bell, Snow Angel, and Cold Rain.
Next shows are…
Bucks County Bluegrass Fest on the 12th.
Sellersville theater on the 17th.
Mauch Chunk Lake Park Heritage Fest on the 19th.
Chester County Historical Soc. on the 26th
It was truly an honor to share the stage with Old School Freight Train at Chaplin’s on Thursday. Their musicianship and professionalism on stage is top notch. They are back this way October 26th with out friends Hoots and Hellmouth and Tin Bird Choir at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. In the mean time their live record is good listen.
And while we love Chaplin’s, probably the nicest room around, it was just as nice to get down to Dawson Street Pub on Friday and let loose a bit. We played a few new songs, Thunder in The Valley and a yet to be named Paul song. Jack and Phil from the Chicken Shack joined us for out third set. We did some Jack songs like Abrahams Lincoln, Hen House Door. We got a Dylan tune out of Phil. By the end we had Paul on dobro, Joe and Jack on guitar, Phil on bass and a whole lot of singing from everyone. But this was just a preview of the all night shenanigans that took place Saturday night at Wind Gap.
With that said, we’re happy the rain held off Saturday for the most part. Mountain View Park is such a beautiful venue. It’s a great feeling to be up on that stage looking out on a natural amphitheater of wooded hills rising up around the field below. There is a signed mural of Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin and all the greats as the back drop of the stage. Mason Porter did two sets plus a Chicken and Porter super band set to close out the night which was the highlight of the weekend. Much thanks to Sandi “Texas Rose”, Sully, Brian Pierce and everyone at AFBA for a great time!
Here’s a video from Saturday of us doing Maggie’s Farm