Confessions of the Starving Artist - 12/17/07

Chestnuts and eggblog.

I enjoy our Monday rendezvous. Each week, I get to look over my work and get a new perspective, and I get to share the enthusiasm I usually keep contained.

Pleasant Bud came to SAC&G on Friday, December 14. He turned in great sets of original songs. Bud accompanied himself on both the six and 12 string guitars. He played in open tunings, giving him a unique sound. His use of effect pedals and technique further rounded out his act. His lyrics told the story of what it's like to be here now, coming from where we do. And yes, he is indeed both pleasant and a bud.

Blogging along, we get to Saturday night, December 15. If you were there, you spent Saturday night with a pretty girl. What else would we do? Christine Dominguez is not just another pretty face. Her brand of R&B is both intensely personal and sensual. She has supreme control over a beautiful and flawless voice. Her guitar work is very good and very interesting. Her act is peppered with one or two covers that also pleased the crowd. Watch this girl - she's going places, but she'll be back.

Sunday, sweet Sunday. I grew up watching 50s and 60s TV and all those Christmas specials. Well, Sunday, December 16, we had our own. The sweetheart of the Starving Artist, Theresa Sareo, roasted all those old chestnuts and more. A great performer, I've never seen (or heard) a song or genre she couldn't make her own. If you just took the tone of her voice (and you could get lost in that), she would be great. But, she is so much more; a great songwriter, a versatile singer who can go from opera to country in the same set, and a stage presence that endears her instantly to all. Joined by Ethan Hearthrob - a/k/a Ethan Hartshorn - believe this, on guitar, ukulele, percussion and - for the first time anywhere - vocals. Each table had jingle bells for the audience to play. Just a great old-fashioned Christmas. What more can you want? We even had eggnog. Oh, did I mention she's a sweetheart?!

Make your reservations for New Year's Eve at Starving Artist - if you haven't already; we're filling up fast. And for now, go and check out the music of these performers. Use the links. Buy a CD - "I've Been Told" by yours truly will be on CD Baby by week's end! - and support live, independent music. "Click on Glick" at Neil Young's Living With War web site - #83 and #89 this week, in the top 100 again this week - and do it often. And, for goodness sake, come in and live right.

Elliott Glick