Text an e-invite. Add a Facebook event. And post a link to the Myspace on the email blast so you can whet some appetites with exclusive streaming audio. The technology is all there, so why not use it, right?
In fairness, veteran Valley songsmith Ray Mason has incorporated many of these modern delivery methods to tout his CD releases and other accomplishments of note these days. Still, there is something comfortably familiar about receiving a bubble-laden envelope in the mail from Ray's hometown of Haydenville—as the Crawler did earlier this week for the umpteenth time in his more than decade-long association with the prolific roots-pop practitioner— and slicing it open to find a spankin' new Mason studio creation adorned with a Post-It reading "Here's the latest, hope you like it. Ray!"
"They can invent whatever they want. It will never be as a personal as a handwritten note," Mason says of the practice. "But, yeah, things sure have changed since my first CD release in 1994. It amazes me, the bookings and email interviews I get from all over the U.S. and Europe with people I never actually meet."
When it came to selecting a venue for celebrating this, the area elder statesman's 12th CD release (entitled Like Bugs Chewing Paper) this Saturday, June 20, however, the man most often armed with his now almost equally famous 1965 Silvertone guitar revealed that the process was far more personalized.
"It will be at Mocha Maya's in Shelburne Falls, and I just love the place," he says. "People go there to listen. I saw Henning Ohlenbusch there recently, and what a treat… like having a private concert in your living room."
Mason will begin Bugging out at 8 p.m. And while there is no cover charge, tips are appreciated.
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Speaking of covers… fans of the bands Barely Legal and Carrie Pratt may want to check out the impending Max Cap set of newcomers Killshot this Saturday, June 20. Like the aforementioned, the fledgling project was founded by—and features—bassist Paul Seifert, who recently checked in to reveal Killshot's battle plan.
"We'll play most covers this first show, to get our feet wet," he explains. "It is hoped that the summer will also see us with a demo CD and more sets."
To monitor their progress, visit myspace.com/killshotnewengland.
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In other news, those tired of being cooped up for so long waiting for Mother Nature to synchronize with Father Time can partake of the outdoor ambience and audio of the 2009 Coop Concert Series (coopconcerts.org). The weekly event kicked off late last month with "Coopsters in the Round" and continues each Thursday at Greenfield's Energy Park from 6-8 p.m. Among those still on tap for this month are six-string aficionado Joe Graveline, celebrated singer-songwriter Roland LaPierre and South Deerfield's Kathy Chapman (June 18).
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Meanwhile, you may not necessarily need to have been in a certified medical coma not to have heard of the all-girl San Antonio trio Girl In Coma of late… but nearly. The band is coming off a recent tour with Morrissey, has collaborated with Grammy-award winning producer Greg Collins (U2, Gwen Stefani) and its label's founder, Joan Jett, and was recently touted by Dave Navarro as having the best release of the summer. This Saturday, June 20, the group gives the Iron Horse a whirl, headlining in support of its recently released sophomore effort, Trio B.C.
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Last up, what must be an area first: a grand re-opening at an alternate venue. Apparently the wheels for the highly anticipated Flywheel grand re-opening were already in motion (and a headliner, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, already in place) when it was determined that ongoing construction concerns would not allow the event to be held at the artist collective's new digs at Easthampton Town Hall this Thursday, June 18 as planned. So the powers that be have moved the whole shebang to Easthampton High. For more info on the show and updates on the renovation, check out flywheelarts.org.
Send correspondence to: Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to: (860) 698-9373 or e-mail: garycarra@aol.com.
