PocoNotes LLC
"It's About The Music!"
Post Office Box 428
Lake Ariel, PA 18436
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NEPA and NOLA Play Well Together
PocoNotes goes full-circle when they bring NOLA to NEPA once again
Lake Ariel, PA – August 1, 2008 – On September 13, 2008, Spencer Bohren’s musical odyssey will bring him to the Waverly Community House, where he will headline at the third event in PocoNotes’ 2008 acoustic storytelling series, “Hear ‘Em at The Comm.” This is just one of the many stops that Spencer has made away from his beloved New Orleans as he, like so many other Crescent City musicians, rebuilds his home and life after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Spencer has traveled countless miles on thousands of roads in North America and Europe and, over the years, they all brought him back to New Orleans. It's there that he has performed with legends - Professor Longhair, Earl King, Clifton Chenier or James Booker, and peers - The Neville Brothers, The Radiators, Beausoleil and the subdudes.
Forty years as a "road scholar" traveling many of these miles with his wife and four children in their Airstream trailer and booking their performances from pay telephones along the way, have given Spencer much to share - and he does. He offers a veritable treasure trove of guitar technique, lap steel tricks and musical knowledge to enthusiastic students and music lovers of all ages around the world. This is evidenced by his having secured a coveted perennial spot as an instructor at Jorma Kaukonen's (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) prestigious Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, along with guitarists such as Warren Haynes, Bob Margolin and G.E. Smith.
Joining Spencer at The Comm will be one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most renowned and well-respected musicians, Pat Flynn, who everyone knows as the incredible lead guitarist in some of the area’s legendary bands - Bent Blue, Mere Mortals, Music for Models and The Underground Saints among others. With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilkes University - where he also studied classical guitar and composition, this NEPA native is a registered BMI songwriter who has appeared on numerous studio recordings, performs live with a variety of regional singer/songwriters and enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of - and deep passion for - music with his students...with PocoNotes’ co-founder, Pat Harper, among them.
This is the second time that PocoNotes has brought NOLA to NEPA. The first time was the 2006 event that launched PocoNotes’ mission to bring good music and good people together and was, appropriately, their "From NOLA To NEPA" benefit concert for New Orleans musicians - with 13 artists from the Crescent City who were able to forget their woes for one awesome night of incredible music at The Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College.
It’s now been a full three years since Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst catastrophes in American history, left two-thirds of New Orleans underwater, killing 1,800 of her residents and incurring $81 billion in damage. Then – and now – for block after block, street after street, mile after mile, the devastation goes on. Occupied homes are well outnumbered by window-less shells and weedy lots. In too many cases, concrete slabs and front steps leading nowhere are the only evidence that a house once stood there.
While “The Big Easy” is rebuilding – quietly...with tourism decidedly rebounding, many of the city's venues are still closed and thousands of former residents remain displaced, each of which has seriously affected the livelihoods of her countless musicians. So, PocoNotes felt that it was time to show this struggling community the kindness and support of another one so many miles away. Therefore, they invite you to join them on September 13, 2008, when these NOLA and NEPA musicians take the stage – separately and, perhaps, together – to share in a remembrance of what has been lost and celebrate all that remains in a city whose musical culture embodies that of so many others and, as such, is the root of true American music.
With the support of a Lackawanna County Arts and Cultural Grant, a program of the Lackawanna County Commissioners and the Lackawanna County Council on Arts, Education and Culture, PocoNotes was able to arrange for an educational workshop to precede the evening’s performance. This two-hour class will be hosted by Spencer and attended by Pat Flynn and two of PocoNotes other favorite local musicians, Charles Havira and Billy Rogan. It is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. at The Comm for a fee of $40 per student. With class size understandably limited, reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling (888) 800-POCO, with payment due upon arrival at the workshop.
Boy Scout Troop 322 of Dickson City, led by Scranton Attorney-at-Law, Frank Marcin, have honored PocoNotes with a repeat appearance of their own, as they come to serve their community as the event’s honorary ushers.
The Waverly Community House is located at 1115 North Abington Road, Waverly, Pennsylvania. Tickets for the performance are a mere $20 for advance sales and $25 at the door and are available directly from PocoNotes at www.PocoNotes.com or through their ticketing partner at www.NEPATIckets.com. They’re also available by telephone at (888) 800-POCO or in person at Duffy Accessories at 218 Linden Street in Downtown Scranton.
Come out and join them to experience artists that will entertain you for a single evening…and impact you for the rest of your life! Stay for a "Meet and Greet" with the artists afterward. Bring your camera and have your photograph taken with the artists while your CD's are being autographed.
For more information about the event, the musicians, the venue or PocoNotes, you can go to www.PocoNotes.com. While you’re there, you can take a look at their “Friends” page where you can see some of the wonderful people and organizations that are helping restore New Orleans’ soul and spirit by helping her musicians regain their lives – and livelihoods. If you'd prefer, you can call Dolores and Pat at (888) 800-POCO. They'd love to hear from you.
They'll see you at the show!
For additional information or to schedule interviews with any of the artists, please contact:
Dolores Hippler
Patrick Harper
PocoNotes LLC
(888) 800-POCO (7626)
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ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
Spencer Bohren...
From Wyoming by way of everywhere, Spencer Bohren was born into music. His gospel-singing parents provided Spencer's foundation for a musical style and career that remains healthy after more than four decades, but it was 1950's radio - with Hank Williams and Elvis Presley filling the airwaves, which led to the purchase of his first guitar. The 1960's British Invasion by The Beatles and Rolling Stones, followed by Bob Dylan's meteoric creative streak as well as San Francisco's psychedelic scene all served to add their own flavor to Spencer's abiding interest in traditional music.
On the very day of his high school graduation, Spencer watched Casper, Wyoming, fade in the rearview mirror as he set out for his own personal odyssey - both musically and geographically. He's traveled countless miles on thousands of roads in North America and Europe and, over the years, they all brought him back to New Orleans. It's there that he has performed with legends - Professor Longhair, Earl King, Clifton Chenier or James Booker, and peers - The Neville Brothers, The Radiators, Beausoleil and the subdudes.
Four decades as a "road scholar" traveling with his wife and four children in their Airstream and booking their performances from pay telephones along the way, have given Spencer Bohren much to share - and he does. He offers a veritable treasure trove of guitar technique, lap steel tricks and musical knowledge to enthusiastic students and music lovers of all ages around the world, with a special fondness for sharing it with the next generation.
With his recent welcome into the academic world, Spencer has developed a performance/lecture that sheds light on the origins and development of the traditional American music he celebrates so lovingly in his concerts. Entitled "Down the Dirt Road Blues," it follows a single song's journey from 16th Century Africa through America's culture and history up through the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, utilizing appropriate vintage instruments to orchestrate the story.
While the horrific events resulting from Hurricane Katrina's devastating visit to New Orleans in 2005 have dramatically affected Spencer and his family, he, like so many others, is in the process of rebuilding his home and life. His career is healthier than ever, and a new song, "The Long Black Line," currently functions as a sort of post-traumatic touchstone for every New Orleanian who hears it.
Pat Flynn...
Pat Flynn, a native of Northeastern Pennsylvania, began his study of guitar at the age of 12. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilkes University, where he studied classical guitar and composition, he continued his studies with guitarist Spencer Reed and international jazz guitarist Vic Juris, as well as Bill Washer.
Pat is a founding member of the critically-acclaimed group, Mere Mortals, which released three albums and scored a minor national hit with the song, “Unreal,” co-written by Flynn. The group also received a Billboard Magazine Writers Achievement Award, were the subject of numerous newspaper articles, performed on live television/radio, appeared in two independently-produced music videos and opened for such artists as Fuel, Joe Walsh, The Hooters, Eddie Money and Missing Persons. Mere Mortals toured nationally, playing venues ranging from The Elbow Room in New York City to the famous Whiskey in Los Angeles.
As a versatile established guitarist, Pat helped to form Still Small Voice, an eclectic new age ensemble, which released two albums engineered by Rob Eaton, credits for whom include Pat Matheny and Madonna.
During 2002, Pat had the opportunity to join forces and establish the modern rock band, Bent Blue, co-writing the majority of the material on two very successful albums released by the band. The songs were produced by world-renowned Los Angeles-based producer and long-time Beach Boys and Brian Setzer engineer, Jeff Peters. The band opened for Matchbox Twenty and Third Eye Blind, enjoyed impressive national radio airplay and toured and recorded throughout the United States.
In 2005, Pat co-founded the musical powerhouse and wildly successful Music For Models, which currently plays extensively throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In 2008, Pat also co-founded the band, The Underground Saints, which is currently performing throughout the area, and is writing material for a highly-anticipated debut album due out in 2008.
Pat also has appeared on numerous other studio recordings, performs live with a number of regional singer songwriters, enjoys teaching guitar and is a registered BMI songwriter.