Will Taylor and Strings Attached Concert Blog

How the House of Wills was Built

2011-01-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

WHO: Will Taylor & Strings Attached
WHAT: House of Wills: Songs of Willie Nelson in the Style of Bob Wills
WHERE: Austin, San Antonio, Houston, San Angelo, Marble Falls, all the way to Saint-Agrève, France
WHEN: Album Release February 8, public performances begin February 11
WEB: www.stringsattachedhouseofwills.com
TIX: http://StringsAttached.org or http://houseofwills.eventbee.com
MEDIA: Photos, on-air performances, and interviews via david@wyattbrand and 512/450.4395

Will Taylor & Strings Attached presents House of WillsSongs of Willie Nelson in the Style of Bob Wills
Wistful Re-Imaginings of Lone Star Musical Heritage via Album, Tour, DVD

AUSTIN, Texas—This February, one modern and pioneering “Will” of Texas music is uniting two legendary other "Wills" with the innovative and wistful House of Wills album and tour. Strings Attached founder and director Will Taylor has taken beloved songs from the Willie Nelson songbook, and re-imagined them in the style of western swing pioneer: Bob Wills. The album, mastered by John Hanlon—Neil Young's producer of 25 years—features vocals by Karen Mal and Steve Carter with arrangements for guitar, mandolin, trumpet, cello, upright bass, and Will Taylor on fiddle. The resulting album, making-of DVD, and Texas tour all began in Will’s south-of-South-Austin place in the country, which he and girlfriend/collaborator Karen Mal call "Woody's Place" after their dog. Literally conceived and recorded in the house of Will, this is far from the first foray into tributes for violinist and tireless Strings Attached leader Taylor. For the past decade, Taylor’s group has made a name for itself by reworking iconic music like the Beatles ‘White album’, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and Rubber Soul as well as the hits of Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel and Jimi Hendrix—adding jazz and roots flavors along with string arrangements to lovingly assembled acoustic renditions. Their performances in churches and sanctuaries are akin to a religious experience for fans of music so the act of reworking the renowned songs and sounds of two of Texas' most legendary country artists was not entered into lightly. In fact, the classically-trained Taylor went the long way around to playing fiddle in a country band.

How the House of Wills was Built Taylor grew up in the heart of Willie Nelson country. Central Texas: home of the Broken Spoke, Soap Creek Saloon, Willie's picnics, the Stallion, the Armadillo World Headquarters, Gruene Hall, and the Kerrville Folk Festival. He muses, “You'd think these musical institutions would occupy more than the periphery of my childhood musical landscape. But I was more interested in performing classical chamber music and playing the solos of [French jazz violinist] Stephane Grappelli.” Twelve years later he started Strings Attached as a genre-blurring collaboration with folk artists. Will’s vision was to fuse jazz and classical flavors with the contemporary singer/songwriter genre; to ‘dress it up with different jewelry.’ Taylor was working with Austin musicians like Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy LaFave, Slaid Cleaves, Shawn Colvin, Sara Hickman, Jimmy LaFave, Darden Smith, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ian Moore, Patrice Pike, and Abra Moore. Slowly, his ears started turning toward the fiddle side of the violin spectrum. And inevitably, toward what became House of Wills and an extensive exploration into the musical heritage of Texas.

Willie and Wills Willie Nelson has called Bob Wills one of his idols, even paying tribute to him on the 2009 “Willie & the Wheel” album with Asleep at the Wheel. Nelson said in an NPR interview "I've been in a band—ever since I was 10-12 years old—of one kind or another, and we always sang Bob Wills because that was the hot music of the day." And of course there's Willie's famous 1973 cover of Wills’ "Stay All Night (Stay A Little Longer)" from Shotgun Willie. “King of Western Swing” Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys was a musical pioneer—immensely popular and influential, especially from the 1930s to the 1950sWhat's more, this year Nelson's "On The Road Again" and Bob Wills' recording of "Steel Guitar Rag" are among The Recording Academy's 2011 Grammy Hall of Fame inductees. The Nelson and Wills titles are part of a 2011 class that includes Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues," the Beatles' "Penny Lane," the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" and Prince & The Revolution's "Purple Rain."

Confirmed Performances—check www.stringsattachedhouseofwills.com for the latest
Friday, Feb. 11 Austin, Texas Album Release at Mercury Hall
Saturday, Feb. 12 Taylor, Texas Armadillo Hall, 8 pm
Sunday, Feb. 13 Marble Falls, Texas Uptown Marble theater, 2pm
Sunday, Feb. 13 Jonestown, Texas House Concert, 7pm
Friday, Feb. 18 San Antonio, Texas Casbeers, 9pm
Saturday, Feb. 19 Spicewood, Texas Poodies Hilltop, 9pm
Wednesday, Feb. 23 San Angelo, Texas Cultural Affairs Council
Saturday, April 23 Houston, Texas Anderson Fair
Sunday, August 14 Saint-Agrève, France EquiBlues “Festival Rodéo & Country Music”

Album Release Event: Friday, Feb. 11 at Mercury Hall After the album comes out on February 8, the tour starts on the 11th with a special release party at the Mercury Hall in South Austin. More than just a concert, this Valentine-tinted event—with flowers—will include a section set aside on the oak floor for swing dancing, scintillating light art projected on the walls during the performance, dance lessons between shows, beer and wine, a western swing workshop in the afternoon and a full band featuring trumpet, cello, violin, mandolin, guitar, acoustic bass, and two swinging vocalists.

About Strings Attached Beginning in 1999, Will Taylor implemented a new idea after brainstorming with other Austin musicians. Taylor began collaborating with both local and nationally renowned artists, rearranging their known material, bringing in his own crew of seasoned jazz and contemporary roots musicians to play, and moving from the traditional smoky club scene to pristine performance settings. Since then Will Taylor and Strings Attached has presented over 50 concert collaborations to more than 12,000 audience members. In 2006, over 1600 Beatles fans saw Strings Attached re-create the entire White album. They've also presented the music of Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel and Jimi Hendrix. Guest artists they’ve collaborated with include: Shawn Colvin, Joe Ely,Dar Williams, James McMurtry, Fastball's Tony Scalzo, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Ruthie Foster, Abra Moore, Darden Smith, Tish Hinojosa, Sara Hickman, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Suzi Stern, Beth Ulman, Kellye Gray, Patrice Pike, Guy Forsyth, Michael Fracasso, Jimmy LaFave, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Albert and Gage, Jon Dee Graham, John Aielli, Barbara K, Kimmie Rhodes, Ian Moore, Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez.

About Will Taylor Young Will arrived in Austin in 1973 and spent summers swimming at Barton Springs, playing in the garden of the infamous Armadillo World Headquarters, while living two blocks from the Rome Inn where Stevie Ray Vaughan played the blues weekly. He studied viola from the age of 10, and pursued performance at UT’s School of Music while playing jazz-fusion in 6th Street clubs on the weekend. His jazz string quartet was invited to play at the keynote of the 1988 SXSW music festival. Will is an accomplished arranger, composer, and bandleader—actively performing the viola, violin, guitar, and piano. He has played for 21 years in the Austin Lyric Opera orchestra, and has played with orchestras all over Texas, plus toured the U.S. and Canada. ###

Strings Attached for Weddings and Parties. Click below:
Austin Cover Bands Tx Wedding Soloist

Tickets Available for House of Wills Release Show February 11th 2011

2011-01-02T17:58:00.000-08:00

Brenda Ladd Photograhy

GET TICKETS
Advance tickets are available now for Strings Attached fans.
Only 300 seats available for this show.
Tickets to the public go on sale very soon.
Two shows 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

On tour celebrating the release of "House of Wills", Will Taylor & Strings Attached plays the classy and elegant Mercury Hall in South Austin. More then just a concert, this ideal Valentine destination event will include a section set aside on the oak floor for swing dancing, scintilating light art projected on the walls during the performance, dance lessons between shows, a full bar, a western swing workshop in the afternoon and a full band featuring Trumpet, cello, violin, mandolin, guitar, acoustic bass, and two swinging vocalists.

Dancers, Listeners and Non-Dancers are all welcome!

What if you took 2 Texas legends, Willie Nelson and Bob Wills, the king of Texas Western Swing, and put them together in new elegant jazzy arrangements?

See video and more info here:

http://www.youtube.com/songsofwillienelson

http://stringsattachedhouseofwills.com

Here's a little about the project:

I've always been inspired and seduced by sounds that mix different styles. This project came about from two separate show ideas from fans that we grafted together. Both Willie and Wills draw from diverse influences: blues, classical, folk, traditional bluegrass, jazz. As we researched the Bob Wills style, we fell in love with the raw, unpretentious and old-fashioned quality wrapped up in elegant arrangements. We heard Big Band sounds dressed up in cowboy hats, with fiddles and steel guitar in the foreground (instead of horns) with consummate musicianship and playful improvisation throughout. When we started to explore Willie's catalogue, the wealth of material to choose from was astonishing. From outlaw country to standards to Gospel, the possibilities of twining Texas Swing through it were dazzling. We were drawn to his rhythmic sensibility, his casual and masterful ease. The way he sings a melody, or flirts with a guitar solo -- now that's jazz. And the tender economy of his lyrics …Well, we don't have to tell you. See our youtube site or just come to the show.

http://www.youtube.com/songsofwillienelson

http://stringsattachedhouseofwills.com

GET TICKETS

The Secret of Life - Free Christmas Music Download from Strings Attached

2010-12-25T08:34:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone,

Thanks to all of you for supporting what we do!

We hope you're enjoying some time off today.

Remember that the secret of life, is enjoying the passing of time. (James Taylor)

Here are a few FREE holiday downloads to add a little audio spice to the ambience of your family gathering or if you're alone, a little audio warmth.

Click on the links to download:

The Secret of Life featuring Karen Mal from our James Taylor tribute last November.

O Come O Come Emmanuel featuring Stephen Zirkel and Will.

Happy Holidays!

Much Love,

Will Taylor

Hope to see many of you around the corner for the world premiere of our House of Wills recording in February 2011.

"House of Wills" Songs of Willie Nelson with a Nod to Bob Wills

2010-09-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

See our video channel for House of Wills here.

Send cash or check donations to address at below or pay with credit card

Every donation of $25.00 or more gets you the CD.

Send pledges to:

Will Taylor
c/o House of Wills
10715 Slaughter Creek Dr.
Austin, TX 78748

Silent Auction is here:
http://budurl.com/silentauction

What if you took 2 Texas legends, Willie Nelson and Bob
Wills, the king of Texas Western Swing, and put them
together in new elegant jazzy arrangements? That's what
we've done at Will Taylor and Strings Attached. I have to
say it's been one of the most fulfilling musical experiences
in my life. No kidding. Will has really outdone himself
this time, with gorgeous arrangements for violin, cello,
jazz trumpet, mandolin, upright bass and of course guitar.
Vocals by Steve Carter, a long-time presence on the Austin
music scene, and me.

We mounted this show a couple months ago and people sure
seem to like it. So we decided to launch a fundraising
project and see if we could raise enough money to make a CD,
and a DVD with videos of each song and documentary-style
interviews and footage from our shows and our lovely little
gardening community in South Austin.

Listen to a few of the songs we've completed here and videos here.

We've presented the live concert (see photos here), have recorded and filmed most of the songs in my home studio (see videos here)

2010-08-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

HELLO FRIENDS,

WE HAVE A SHOW TOMORROW NIGHT AT RUTA MAYA COFFEE HOUSE ON SOUTH CONGRESS. COME SAY HI. COME EARLY FOR GOOD SEATS!

SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW!!!

BUY TICKETS HERE

XOXOXO
WILL TAYLOR

Help Austin's own Strings Attached bring "House of Wills" (Willie Nelson's songs in the style of Bob Wills) to CD/DVD/stages/more.

2010-08-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

I'm going on a short vacation tomorrow to Chicago. But before I leave, I wanted to see if you could do one thing for Strings Attached.

Can post something simple on your facebook and/or twitter page...or better yet, send a letter to your friends?

1. Cut as past this into your status message:[tag me by typing @will taylor]

Everyone: Help Strings Attached bring the "House of Wills" project ( Willie Nelson's songs in the style of Bob Wills) to CD, DVD, stages, and more. If you love Willie, Wills, Will, or all three, give a little and tell your friends!

Read more here: http://budurl.com/houseofwills

2. or post a video to you page with the above message: Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqx1VXV6hiE
3. Here's a letter you could use to cut and paste to your friends about the project:

Hey [name],

Will Taylor is raising funds for his "House of Wills" project (Willie Nelson's songs in the style of Bob Wills).

I think its a wonderful project and deserves our support. Here's are details from Will:
Let's pay tribute to a living legend of American music by funding a CD/DVD featuring fabulous acoustic settings of Willie Nelson songs.

This July, I painstakingly crafted new arrangements for 16 Willie Nelson songs and presented them in a new light at two live concerts in Austin, TX.

Imagine the most sublime Nelson lyrics given a new setting of sophisticated yet grounded western swing sty-lings, a bit of mariachi, a touch of Chet Baker played by a family of season acoustic musicians - violin, cello, trumpet, upright bass, classical and steel string guitars, mandolin, female and male vocals and harmonies.

Listen to a few of the songs we've completed here. [http://youtube.com/songsofwillienelson]

We've presented the live concert (see photos here), have recorded and filmed most of the songs in my home studio (see videos here), and now you have the opportunity to give this project wings and receive fun personal rewards as thanks.

How about being able to come backstage to any Strings Attached show for the rest of your life?
Or a private voice lesson from Karen Mal.
Look to the right on this page for a detailed list of rewards.

Wings to do what, you say?

First and foremost we want to release a recording of the gorgeous arrangements and playing that has already been captured in our home studio as a CD and digital recording available on iTunes.

But, if we raise more then our goal, we'll also produce a DVD documentary including footage of the recording process, interviews, and videos of every song on the album.

Read the rest of the details here: http://budurl.com/houseofwills

Songs of Joni Mitchell Live April 15-18

2010-04-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

See Strings Attached perform the music of Joni Mitchell next week with Molly Venter, Meg Johnson and Karen Mal. Read below to win tickets.

April 17 Joni Tribute show with Molly Venter, Meg Johnson and Karen Mal 8pm
Central Pres. Church 8th and Brazos
Tickets here.

April 18th Live intimate recording and house concert 2pm (see video of last house show here.)

RSVP here.

Tickets at http://www.StringsAttached.org

"Man, that's a beautiful record. That should have sold a million copies. You
really transcended the dated-ness of the original versions of those songs
and made them timeless. "- Slaid Cleaves

Beyond classical music, renown composer, arranger and jazz violist Will Taylor is the creator and Artistic Director of The Strings Strings Attached Collaboration Concert Series in Austin, Texas. Performing ornately arranged and beautifully sublime collaborative strings concerts and tribute shows with Grammy Award-winning and nationally renown artists. Strings Attached artistically defy the illusionary boundaries between rock, folk, classical, and modern contemporary straight-ahead jazz to bring you some of the most sonically soulful and spiritually-moving musical experiences imaginable - Mimi Alidor

...well if you can't and you haven't heard Will play then go expecting way to much and you will still find your self with your mouth hanging open. - Fred Mitchum

Creative sparks fly. The old songs sound new. The arrangements illuminate different facets of the guest singer's personality. -Allmusic Guide

Ticket to the Show at http://StringsAttached.org

Want to win Free Tickets? Send me an email listing all the musicians who participated in the songs on the video playlist contained in this blog post. The first 5 to get it right, get two tickets each to the Saturday Show.

Buy the Album here

Will Taylor and Strings Attached
Back to the Garden a Tribute to Joni Mitchell

Chelsea Morning
Favorite Colour
River
Blue Motel
Both Sides Now
Dreamland
Carey
Woodstock
Coyote
A Case of You
Big Yellow Taxi
Hejira

Hear samples at http://StringsAttached.org/store.php

Guest Singer Bios

Meg Johnson

Meg Johnson relocated to Austin in 2007 after an extensive career on the East Coast. She has been compared to such singers as Sheryl Crow, Chrissie Hynde and Bonnie Raitt. Meg is a dynamic vocalist who brings pop, rock and folk to her listeners with a technique that compliments a variety of musical styles.

Before she performed professionally, Meg studied voice at The Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Since then she has been involved in several projects that fuse jazz, R&B and soul. Although currently working as a solo artist, Meg fronted three bands in New York including the Meg Johnson Band, Fourth House and The Flood.

In addition to the full length CD released in 2004 with the Meg Johnson Band, she is well known for her studio recordings with some of New York’s top players. Her recent projects include Austin Pops, the J-Birds, Austin Hot Trax and Strings Attached.

Molly Venter

“Venter sings, like most young writers, about relationships. What’s striking about her work is her awareness of her place in the struggle. There’s a surprising lack of blame and judgement here; a real search for meaning that should touch listeners of all ages.”
- Andrew Calhoun, Waterbug Records

"Few singers turn first-time listeners into eternal fanatics as effortlessly as Molly Venter; her voice is an unbelievable burgundy, many notes, flavors, fragrances and it all goes down like silk.’”
-American Songwriter Magazine, 2006

“Molly Venter’s deep, soulful voice seems larger than her small frame could possibly produce. See her perform live, though, and one learns that her stage presence magnifies her, steals any show and demands attention.”
-Idaho Mountain express, 2004

Karen Mal

Karen Mal sings. From raw sensuality to shimmering bell-like clarity, her voice is both tender and powerful, and as effortless as a waterfall. There's a river that flows between Karen and her audience. It's about love. The possibility and the unbearable beauty of it. Elusive and abundant at the same time.

Based in Austin, TX, Karen has created a name for herself as a captivating singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Ranging from charming to seductive, impressionistic to philosophical, her songs have brought her nationwide acclaim. Shes won top awards from the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival in Texas, the Tucson Folk Festival and the Portland Songwriters Association and has also been a three time New Folk Finalist at Kerrville, emerging artist at Falcon Ridge and a finalist at the Sisters Folk Festival.

Jason McKenzie - Tabla, Percussion

Meg Johnson - Vocals

Karen Mal

For more information on the concert and tickets, please visit this Web site: http://www.stringsattached.org/shows.php If you have any additional questions, e-mail Will Taylor at Jazzviolawill@yahoo.com

2010-04-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Tosca String Quartet

April 26 7:00 pm
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz

Tosca String Quartet, Austin's premier classical crossover ensemble, performs it's annual concert of new commissions presented by Golden Hornet Project and its co-artistic directors Graham Reynolds and Peter Stopschinski. Last year's show won the "Best Chamber Music Concert" award from The Austin Critics Table. In addition to world premiers from Reynolds and Stopschinski, this year will feature new commissions from composers Will Taylor of Strings Attached, Sam Arnold of Opposite Day, and Christopher Cox. We will also present three world premieres from Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, who will be in attendance to perform with Tosca.

Listen to some samples of my piece on my podcast.

Strings Attached donating online music sales to StandwithHaiti.org

2010-01-22T18:01:00.000-08:00

Will Taylor announced today that he and his group, Strings Attached, will donate 100% of net proceeds from all January online music sales to Partners In Health, via their Stand With Haiti campaign, to support medical relief work in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

"This evening I briefly checked the internet to make an attempt at some understanding of what has happened down there. We're all shocked atthe extent of destruction and feel there is no time to waste in responding with help," says Taylor.

Rather than making a flat donation of money toward relief work in Haiti, Taylor says he wanted to leverage the impact he could make by involving passionate supporters of the Strings Attached community.

Taylor settled on Partners In Health / Stand With Haiti to receive the fundson the recommendation of his wife’s friend, a midwife in Haiti, who praisedPIH for their long-term dedication and trustworthiness.

Partners In Health (PIH) has been providing vital health care services in Haiti for more than 20 years and has over 100 doctors, 600 nurses and 4,000 employees on the ground in Haiti working from 10 existing PIH hospitals to provide relief services to those affected by Tuesday’s earthquake.

PIH surgical teams are currently located in Port-au-Prince, St Marc, Cange, Hinche, and Belladere and medical teams are also located elsewhere.
A Multi-instrumentalist and the founding member of String Attached, Will Taylor grew up in Austin, soaking up the local music scene.

Originated in 1999, Strings Attached is known for blurring the lines between musical styles from jazz to rock to classical to folk, especially in its collaborations with artists from across the musical spectrum, such as Eliza Gilkyson, Pearl Jam, Shawn Colvin, Jimmy La Fave, Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Members of the ensemble have shared the stage with musical giants from Pavarotti to Leonard Cohen.
Taylor’s most recent album, Acoustic Rubber Soul, features the group’s signature unplugged style applied to classic Beatles songs. The album was recorded live before a studio audience last August with the musicians performing around one high resolution microphone, not unlike bands in the 30's and 40's.

The unique character created with acoustic string instrumentation is an experience fans of diverse musical tastes can enjoy.

Other albums available online as part of this fund-raising effort include:

All Beatles Covers Live. Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, Songs of Leonard Cohen Live, A Live Tribute to Led Zeppelin, A Bride's Collection of Traditional Classical Wedding Music, Will Taylor with Strings Attached and Back to the Garden: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

Knowing that 100% of the net proceeds from their purchase of Will Taylor and Strings Attached music online this month will go to support PIH / Stand With Haiti should give fans and new listeners alike the pleasure of multi-faceted music plus an extra dose
of harmony with the universe to go with it.

Visit http://www.WillHelps.com

The last Will Taylor and Strings Attached show of 2009 welcomes back one our earliest collaborators.

2009-12-07T18:31:00.000-08:00

Eliza Gilkyson will perform with Strings Attache in the intimate and acoustically gorgeous Central Presbytarian Church in downtown Austin.

Saturday, December 19th
One show only at 8pm
Location: Central Presbytarian Church
200 East 8th Street
Austin, TX 78701-3210 (512) 472-2445

Tickets can be reserved here: http://budurl.com/ElizaTicketRese

The show will feature a short opening set featuring Will Taylor and Strings Attached followed by classic and new Eliza along with a few holiday selections.

See videos with Strings Attached and Eliza here from the year 2003:

Hear and buy songs we'll be playing at the show:

Got a computer or video camera to spare?

2009-11-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

Have an unused computer/laptop, hardrive, or video camera taking up space?

The computers in the Strings Attached office are becoming painfully too slow and can't keep up with some of the intensive video and audio editing and use by our team of interns.

Is it possible that we only have to look as far as the fans and friends of Strings Attached for a donation, loan or a sponsorship deal to get a upgrade?

If this sounds like you, please call or email Will at jazzviolawill@yahoo.com or 512-775-2371

Free Post Thanksgiving Show This Friday
BEATLES ACOUSTIC RUBBER SOUL for the Kids, Family and everyone!

Featuring: Jayme Ivison, Karen Mal, Stephen Zirkel, Shawn Sanders, Bryan Austin, and Glenn Rexach
630-9pm
Friday, November 27, 2009
Central Market
4001 N. Lamar Blvd.

See videos of our Rubber Soul Show here...
Hear Acoustic Rubber Soul on Itunes here...

Coming December 19th:

Strings Attached with Eliza Gilkyson
Central Presbytarian Church
See videos of Eliza with Strings Attached

Missed the Strings Attached Appearance with Pearl Jam on PBS?

See the entire show here...

2009-11-18T15:00:00.001-08:00

Strings Attached with Daniel Johnston This Weekend

Strings Attached Plays with Daniel Johnston

Friday, November 20th, in Austin

Visit www.stringsattached.org for information and tickets, more details below

Fresh off the Austin City Limits television performance with Pearl Jam, which will air this Saturday, November 21st nationwide, Will Taylor and Strings Attached will continue their musical exploration with yet, another renowned artist, Daniel Johnston.

(see time-lapse video of Pearl Jam show here)

Johnston's musical work gained some notoriety when he moved to Austin, Texas. Johnston began to attract the attention of the local press and gain a following augmented in numbers by his habit of handing out tapes to people he met. Live performances were well-attended and hotly anticipated.

His local standing led to him being featured in a 1985 episode of the MTV program The Cutting Edge featuring performers from Austin's "New Sincerity" music scene.Subsequently he performed at the 1985 Woodshock music festival in Austin, where he was featured in a short documentary of the festival, Woodshock.

Interest in Johnston increased when Kurt Cobain was frequently photographed wearing a t-shirt featuring the cover image of Johnston's Hi, How Are You album. In spite of Johnston being resident in a mental hospital at the time, a bidding war to sign him ensued. Atlantic Recordswon and released Fun, produced by Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers in 1994.

Here's a sneak peak into the ACL television show performance with Pearl Jam. Click here. . .

Strings Attached with Pearl Jam:

We are excited to host this concert at our founding venue: St. Davids Episcopal church.
While it seats many, it still feels warm an intimate.

St. David's Episcopal Church

Daniel Johnston with Strings Attached:

Daniel Johnston

Will Taylor and Karen Mal - mandolin, violin

Steve Zirkel -trumpet, piano, bass

Kris Afflerbaugh

Here are details for all shows this weekend:

Friday, November 20th, 8pm

St David's Episcopal Church

301 E. 8th St.

(Enter at corner of 8th and San Jacinto)

Austin, Texas 78701
(click here for map)

Tickets for Friday show in Austin can be purchased online here.

COMING UP DECEMBER 19TH

Strings Attached welcomes Eliza Gilkyson
Central Presbytarian Church

Tickets coming soon to StringsAttached.org

The daughter of successful songwriter Terry Gilkyson, Eliza is a third generation musician who grew up in Los Angeles knowing that her life would revolve around music. “I got into it for all the wrong reasons, more as a survival tool than anything else, but it proved to serve me more than I dared to imagine.” As a teenager, she recorded demos for her father, an accomplished songwriter whose Eliza Gilkyson livesongs have been covered by artists as diverse as Dean Martin, Johnny Cash (“Memories Are Made of This”) and the White Stripes (“Look Me Over Closely”), and whose credits include such standards as “Greenfields,” “Marianne” and “The Bare Necessities ” (from the Disney film Jungle Book).

At the end of the sixties, she moved to New Mexico with likeminded souls, eventually raising a family, all the while developing a loyal fan base in the Southwest and Texas. After starting her own record label, Realiza Records, she put out Misfits in 1999, a collection of outtakes that received favorable press as a sound that connected the worlds of folk and modern storytelling. In 2000, Eliza released her first album on the Red House Records label, the critically acclaimed Hard Times in Babylon. In 2004 Eliza released Land of Milk and Honey, an album that was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Contemporary Folk Album. The CD is decidedly socio/political in nature, from the Iraq War awareness plea, "Hiway 9," to the call for peace in Woody Guthrie's previously unrecorded and timely peace anthem, "Peace Call," a track featuring vocals by friends and fellow artists Patty Griffin, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Iris DeMent.

All about the Guests for the Show This Weekend...

2009-11-10T22:16:00.000-08:00

As you already know, we have an upcoming show featuring the strings-infused songs of Police and Sting at Threadgill's in Austin on November 13th at 9:00PM and in the Woodlands on Saturday.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Here's our setlist in case you're interested.

To give you a bit of a preview, here is additional information on our special guest artists.

Get Advance tickets to the show here or at the door.

Guy Monroe (guest singer)

Guy Monroe is thrilled to make his performance debut in Austin, Texas
with Will Taylor's Strings Attached. He is humbled and honored to
work with such masterful artists.

What is challenging for some vocalists comes easy to Guy Monroe. A
chameleon-like instrument, Guy¹s vocal expression captivates audiences
with broad range and magnetic energy. Guy Monroe sings live locally,
and is a speaking, singing, and shyness coach. He also enjoys
performing as a studio vocalist for voice-overs and unique vocals
required by studio engineers.

Guy Monroe gets his message out to an international audience through
his public speaking, workshops, audio programs and motivational
coaching. Find Guy on the web at www.guymonroe.com or at
guy@guymonroe.com.

Get Advance tickets to the show here.

Molly Venter

See videos of Molly with Strings Attached.

Molly Venter has performed with Will Taylor and Strings Attached on several shows and recorded with them on the Back to the Garden album.

Combining smart lyrics, captivating melodies, and a voice that stops listeners in their tracks, Molly Venter successfully combines Alternative Folk Pop with strong undertones of Soul, Gospel and a hint of Country. a

Molly’s voice is undeniably compelling; drawing comparisons to Tracy Chapman, Fiona Apple, Natalie Merchant and Patty Griffin. She infuses soulful passion and a gutsy edge to her rich, textured lower tones. As written in American Songwriter Magazine; “Few singers turn first time listeners into eternal fanatics as effortlessly as Molly Venter… Her voice is like an unbelievable Burgundy; many notes, flavors, fragrances, and it all goes down like silk.”

Once she has drawn listeners in with her vocals and melodies, Venter wins over fans with the depth of her writing. Her insightful, creative lyrics follow in the tradition of Folk greats like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. Looking at the world through the lens of relationship – romantic, familial and personal – Venter manages to find a narrative that is raw, curious and self-aware without being blaming or self-deprecating.

Molly’s voice and songwriting combined with her warmth and authenticity onstage make her a commanding presence. Idaho Mountain Express noted; “Molly Venter’s voice seems larger than her small frame could possibly produce – see her perform live, though, and one learns that her stage presence magnifies her, steals any show, and demands attention…”

Her song “Walking Backwards” appeared in the 2004 Warren Miller Ski Movie “Impact”, as well as subsequent Jeep promotional CD’s in ‘05, ‘06. This year she has been selected as a finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition and placed second at the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival’s songwriting competition. After 3 solo albums since 2004 and frequent coast to coast touring, Molly has been building an audience in a number of cities across the country, most notably New York, Boston and Austin, TX. She has shared the stage with Patty Griffin, Amos Lee, and Josh Ritter.

Venter grew up in New England, lived in the North-West and in Mexico before settling in Austin, TX, which she now calls home.

Get Advance tickets to the show here.

Jenny Reynolds

Two years of touring Texas was all it took to get singer-songwriter Jenny Reynolds to move to Austin, a decision which came to fruition on the cross-country drive in a '97 Honda Civic that was crammed with everything that would fit. She arrived to a friendly welcome from Austin's music scene, making the transition smooth and successful. This 2003 Kerrville New Folk Finalist immigrated to Austin, TX in late summer of 2003, and was featured on KUT's Austin Music Minute the following November.

"That was a pinnacle part of the drive, partly because at the moment of crossing it, I suddenly realized moving to Texas was the right thing to do."

In relocating, Reynolds leaves behind her a distinguished past in New England. Nominated for a 1999 Boston Music Award for her debut CD Colored in Poetry, Reynolds has shared the stage with Ruthie Foster, Sara Hickman, Terri Hendrix, Warren Hood, John Gorka and John Prine. She is an artist and Associate Producer of Signature Sounds' Respond compilation, which to date has sold well over the $100,000 mark. Reynolds is also an Associate Producer of Respond II, which features Dolly Parton, Patty Griffin, Sarah McLachlan and Ani diFranco. Reynolds' sophomore CD, Bet on the Wind, received praise from Paste Magazine, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Herald, and is played on radio stations around the world.

This life-long native of Boston grew up listening to James Taylor and the Beatles. Hailed as "...a gifted guitarist..." by the Boston Herald, Reynolds started playing when she was 8; listening to Joni Mitchell and Bonnie Raitt helped Jenny to learn guitars weren't just for boys. "Patti Smith helped with that too."

Get Advance tickets to the show here.

Songs of Sting and the Police

2009-11-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Fresh off their ACL Performance with Pearl Jam, which airs nationwide November 21st on PBS, Strings Attached continue their genre-bending, string-laden tribute series with the Songs of Sting and The Police next weeked Nov. 13-14 in Austin and the Woodlands

During this show we are introducing a brand new guest singer. Stay tuned! More information about him this weekend....

Songs of Sting and The Police
with projection visual by Dr. Charles Beard
Opening set by Jenny Reynolds

Two Shows only

Friday, Nov. 13th 9pm BUY TICS
Threadgills Downtown

Saturday, Nov. 14th 9pm BUY TICS

Dosey Doe Coffeehouse (Houston)

Sunday, Nov. 15th House Concert
RSVP here.

Get Tickets at StringsAttached.org
Free Ticket Opportunity

See our complete setlist on itunes

Alert!

House Concert host for the Acoustic Version of the Police show needed for Sunday, November 15th. Contact Will at 512-775-2371 if interested.

Make a

Think of this:

A vision of your Friday night forms in your mind: cool weather, colorful onstage visuals that add a new dimension to songs, women and men dancing, a relaxing massage with Michelle during the show, and dinner with several close friends at Threadgills inside or out before the show.

Sounds like a perfect night out in Austin to me. Too bad I've got to play the show. :(

- Buy Tickets

Thanks for your support.

"Nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could, for all those born beneath an angry star, lest we forget how fragile we are." - Sting, Fragile

This Saturday Only!

2009-10-03T08:43:00.000-07:00

From Pearl Jam on Austin City Limits to the music of Stevie Wonder at Threadgills Downtown

Fresh from its Austin City Limits debut with Pearl Jam last Saturday (show will air nationally on PBS on Nov.21), Will Taylor and Strings Attached present a concert and lightshow this Saturday Night:

Songs in the Key of Life
The Music of Stevie Wonder
Feat. Tameca Jones and Jayme Ivison

One SHOW ONLY

Saturday, Oct. 10th 9pm
Threadgills Downtown

Get Tickets at StringsAttached.org

Its late Thursday night and I have a mission. I need to compose an email so compelling, that you reach excitedly for the mouse on your right to click the Buy Tickets link as your heartbeat quickens and you call several close friends to join you for the show.

A vision of your Saturday night forms in your mind: cool weather, colorful onstage visuals that add a new dimension to the Wonder songs, women and men dancing, a relaxing massage with Michelle during the show, and dinner with several close friends at Threadgills inside or out before the show.

Sounds like a perfect night out in Austin to me. Too bad I've got to play the show. :(

Look into my eyes...you are now clicking Buy Tickets

Clicked yet? Well let me present a little menu of fun items to whet your appetite more:

1) Stevie backwards- can you guess the three songs on this mp3? Download or podcast

2) Take our facebook Stevie Wonder Quiz

3) Want a photo with Will at the show? Click here

4) See a video playlist of the songs we'll be performing.

5) See a documentary about the making of the album here.

6) You want more? Ok here's a free surprise mp3 for you.

Now Buy Tickets ?

Thanks for your support.

"Let us come together before we're annihilated." -- Stevie Wonder

More shows at StringsAttached.org

Including our upcoming Police show.

See Strings Attached perform Stevie Wonder songs below:

Get Tickets here or at the door.

Will Taylor and Strings Attached will recreate selections from Stevie's masterpiece Songs in the Key of Life.

See a documentary about the making of the album here.

Here's a bit of background on the songs we'll be playing. Prepared by Holley Mcconnell.

Living for the City: The song begins with Wonder describing the life of a boy born in "hard time Mississippi". His family is poor, but his parents work hard and encourage him, in spite of the terrible conditions they live in, they also have lack of food and money as well as dealing with a constant battle of racism. As the track progresses, the tension and anger build in Wonder's voice, matching the growing frustrations of the subjects in the song. A spoken interlude midway through the song has the young boy, now a young man, arriving in New York City for a new beginning. He is tricked into transporting drugs, arrested and sentenced to 10 years in jail. The tension in Wonder's voice boils over at this point into an angry growl, but then subsides again as he ends the song on a positive note.

All in Love is Fair (Review): Laced with agony and pain, Stevie teaches us all about the difficulties of a romantic relationship. Sure, people vow to stay in love--but all too often they don't. Stevie sings of how his love with his woman did not stand the test of time; Stevie sings this with passion and style.

Make Sure You're Sure (Review): A lush string-laden track concerning commitment in a relationship.

Knocks Me Off My Feet (Review): One of his famous love ballads, which is classic in directness and simplicity. The song is turned loose in the dense, danceable Brazilian-flavored production.

Sir Duke: The song was written in tribute to Duke Ellington, the influential jazz legend who had died in 1974. The lyrics also refer to Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.

Village Ghettoland (Review): Stevie Wonder sings of "Village Ghetto Land," describing an almost Brechtian scene of despair and corruption over a deliberately ironic piece of elegant, mock-classical music.

Pastime Paradise (Review): This song sounds like a parody of a well-meaning protest song with its meaningless shuffle of words. Though the words to "Pastime Paradise" may make you want to run from the room, the music will keep you there, with its fascinating blend of what sounds like a string quartet set to a delicate Latin beat.

As: it reached #36 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart. In 1999, Mary J. Blidge and George Michael covered the song, and it is the second single from George Michael's greatest hits Ladies & Gentleman: The Best of George Michael. While not released in the U.S., it became a top ten UK pop hit, reaching #4 on the chart.

Boogie on a Reggae Woman: This song, which was not in the reggae style (hence the unmistakable rock-steady rhythm guitar), continued Wonder's successful Top Ten streak on the pop charts. The lyrics are designed as a dialogue between the "nice" and "naughty" intent. It is also dubbed the farting song as it sounds like someone farting in the introduction.

Superstition as If You Read My Mind: Wonder had actually written this song for Jeff Beck, but at the insistence of his own manager, Wonder himself recorded it first. Beck was instead offered "Cause We've Ended As Lovers," which he recorded on Blow by Blow. Jeff Beck played guitar on Talking Book and later recorded his own version of "Superstition."The song deals with superstitions, and mentions several popular superstitious fables in its lyrics.

Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing: The song's lyrics convey a positive message about taking things in stride and accentuating the positive. It begins with an unusual spoken bit of dialogue, a forerunner of the "skits" popular in later hip-hop albums, in which Wonder portrays a slick character trying to impress a woman with his worldliness.

I Wish: The song focuses on his childhood. The single hit number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and soul singles chart.

Higher Ground: Against a driving, percolating clavinet-based arrangement, the lyric posits that religion can perhaps successfully do battle with the darker sides of human nature. The album version of this song contains an extra verse and runs 30 seconds longer than the single version. The unique wah-clavinet sound in the song was achieved with a Mutron envelope filter pedal. The bass is a Moog synthesizer. Via overdubs, Wonder played all instruments on the track, including drums.

"Let us come together before we're annihilated." -- Stevie Wonder

See a documentary about the making of the album here.

Barter for Tickets: http://budurl.com/barterfortics
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Host a House Concert: http://budurl.com/houseconcertinfo

Strings Attached Zeppelin Concert and Lightshow

2009-09-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE CONCERT to Feature Tameca Jones on Lead Vocals
Sat. September 19th Outdoors at Threadgills 9pm

BUY Tickets NOW!

Get Free Download here... NOW

See all videos of Tameca singing Zeppelin here...

Robert Plant, lead vocals of Led Zeppelin once said "How can you consider flower power outdated? The essence of my lyrics is the desire for peace and harmony. That's all anyone has ever wanted. How could it become outdated?" Robert Plant could not have been more right! Led Zeppelin legacy will continue on and you will want to be a part of this "flower power" event.

Come relive your "Rock and Roll" days at Will Taylor And Strings Attached Led Zeppelin show on Saturday, September 19, 9:00 P.M. at Threadgills in downtown Austin.

Here is a little playlist trivia for the avid Zeppelin fans.

1. Black Dog- It was released as a single in the US and Australia with "Misty Mountain Hop" on the B-side, and reached #15 on Billboard and #11 in Australia.In 2004 the song was ranked #294 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Music sociologist Deena Weinstein argues, "Black Dog" is "one of the most instantly recognizable Led Zeppelin tracks".

2. Dazed and Confused- It begins with a slow-tempo bluesy rhythm, propelled by John Paul Jones' descending bass line. It then changes to a faster tempo during the darkest part of the song, again featuring bowed guitar by Page, followed by a furious guitar solo (similar to Page's solo from the Yardbirds' "Think About It"), before finally returning to the initial rhythm. John Bonham's sporadic, explosive drumming throughout helped define the song's power and intensity. This was one of three Led Zeppelin songs on which Page used bowed guitar.

3. Friends- Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote the song in 1970 at Bron-Yr-Yur, a small cottage in Wales where they stayed after completing a grueling concert your of the Unites States.

"Friends" is one of a few Led Zeppelin songs that includes strings. Bass player John Paul Jones did the string arrangement, which exhibits some distinctive Eastern influences. Some people have expressed surprise at the fact that Jones received no writing credit for this song, given that he was entirely responsible for its compelling string arrangement.

Read more here. . . .

Acoustic Rubber Soul

2009-08-24T07:11:00.000-07:00

Seats still available for House Concert and Live Studio Recording

Rubber Soul Three Ways:

August 28th House Concert 8pm
August 29th Outdoors at Threadgills 9pm
August 30th Live Concert Studio Recording 8pm

Tickets

Can't make the big outdoor Threadgills show? Attend one of our special indoor house concerts Friday or Sunday.

Hideout Studios

How often do you get to hear a complete Beatles album performed live in a homey setting? Flesh, bone, strings, skin and wood vibrating the air inches from your seat? Even in our digital age of high tech stereo and PA Systems, there's just something that can never be replaced by an "old-fashioned" acoustic performance. Is it necessarily better because of amplification? Is loudness an indicator of beauty or quality, or the better performance? Or have we been desensitized due to the symptoms of our industrial world of the last 100+ years.

All interesting questions to consider. As many of you know, I'm not any sort of extremist. I just like to shake things up and consider all the ways to present music: electric and acoustic or both at a single show.

After all, all music was acoustic before electricity.

At a memorial service for the much loved local musician Nigel Russell, his thoughts on this subject we're shared. I share them with you here.

One of the big differences between acoustic and electric music is that in the world of electric players often quantity IS quality...it is how the players and audience get pumped up. Acoustic players depend on the nuance of lyric,voice and melody for intensity because their volume is a fixed amount. If I had my way the Studebakers would never use microphones.

Read the rest here...

Reviews for our last Rubber Soul Journey:

In my continuing quest to discover the Austin music scene I was over at my local corner store the other day picking up and ice and Chocolate milk for my post training recovery bath and I saw poster outside for Rubber Soul Live. More here. . So I just have to email and let you know how much my wife Penny and I enjoyed Rubber Soul the other night at Threadgill's. We have enjoyed all your shows, but you really took it to another level with this last one -- make it several levels -- into the stratosphere. It was an amazingly tight, creative, and astoundingly well done treatment of one of my very favorite Beatles albums -- I run out of adjectives! I especially was knocked out by Jamie Iverson. -Will

Barter for Tickets

See a video from our electric Rubber Soul show of last year here.

How well do you know your Strings Attached and Rubber Soul?

See quiz here...Did you know you can tell your friends about Strings Attached and earn tickets.

See how here...Buy tickets to the show

See you on the dark side of the moon...

2009-08-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

August 14-16 Austin/San Antonio

Will Taylor and Strings Attached tirelessly continue their tradition of re-creating some of the most loved music of the past, this time around performing the entire Dark Side of the Moon album by Pink Floyd. Their unique perspective provides new interpretations of an old rock classic, featuring an ensemble cast of talented local musicians who strive for excellence in their performance. Experience it for yourself at August 14-16, complete with a Lightshow by Charles Beard and great new arrangements by Will Taylor and a 7 piece band.

August 14th Casbeers, San Antonio 9pm Tics
August 15th Threadgills, Austin Tics
August 16th Uptown Marble Theater, Marble Falls Tics

The Cast
Lisa Tingle - vocals
David Glaser - vocals and lead guitar
Dave Madden - vocals and keys see video
Will Taylor - arrangements, strings
Shawn Sanders - cello
Bryan Austin - drums
Steve Zirkel - bass, trumpet, vocals
Shawn Sanders - cello

Experience the entire Dark Side of the Moon in Album order, Live!

Buy tickets here now.

Watch a video playlist of the songs the show features:

The Set lists

Set one:
Pigs on the Wing P1. - David Glaser
Sheep - Lisa Tingle
Pigs on the Wing P2. - David Glaser
WISH YOU WERE HERE - Dave Madden
MOTHER - Dave Madden

WOTS THE DEAL - Dave Madden
LUCIFER SAM - Lisa Tingle
COMFORTABLY NUMB - David Glaser

Intermission

Set Two
(No breaks between songs)
SPEAK TO ME
BREATHE - Dave Madden
ON THE RUN -
TIME - lisa tingle
GREAT GIG IN THE SKY - lisa tingle
MONEY - dave madden
US AND THEM - david glasser verses / dave madden chorus
ANY COLO U LIKE - david glasser guitar feature
BRAIN DAMAGE - david glaser
ECLIPSE - david glaser

Lisa Tingle singing at the Dark Side show 2007
Buy tickets here now.

New T-Shirt 2009 Season - BUY NOW $21.00

2009-07-21T14:30:00.001-07:00

Songs of the Beatles Naked

2009-07-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Will Taylor and Strings Attached present The Songs of the Beatles White Album "Naked" and more...featuring the lead vocals of Karen Mal and Meg Johnson

When: July 17th, 9pm

Where: Casbeers at the Church

1150 South Alamo, San Antonio, TX 78210

Tickets $15 @ the door

More about guests: Megan Johnson - Karen Mal

Having lured over 2100 Beatles fans to 2 complete White Album performances in 2006, Strings Attached continues its exploration and reinterpretation of classic rock by presenting a new series of "Naked" tribute shows.

Naked in the sense that the music is stripped down to a completely acoustic presentation with little or no PA System. This illuminates and exposes the beauty and genius of the vocal harmonies and arrangements within the songs of the Beatles. The ensemble for this show will include acoustic guitars, violin, viola, cello and vocals by Karen Mal, Megan Johnson.

After presenting the complete Rubber Soul Album in August 2008, Strings Attached returns to the gorgeous acoustics of Casbeers at the Church in San Antonio Texas for one performance on July 17th, at 9pm.

Here are some comments from past Strings Attached Beatles Shows:

Will and SA, it was absolutely fabulous. One of the most energetic and magical shows that I've ever been to. How you managed to squeeze in all those musicians/singers and have the quality of performance that you did is a testament to all who contributed! Thanks so much for a very memorable evening -- what a great way to close out your season! :) Gale C.

Beautiful high ceilings, with a trippy kaleidoscopic light show. A packed audience sitting in the pews of a large downtown church. A team of 20+ musicians collaborating to play the Beatles White Album, straight through. It was wonderful. Carolyn Wonderland singing You say you want a revolution, right now, you know, we all want to change the world. Yes. We can dream our perfect life into being. Thank you, Will Taylor and Strings Attached, for manifesting the revolution.

- Kate Arrowsmith

Hi... That was truly a memorable concert ! And I've seen lots during my 55 years.

Even the Beatles never tried to play that album live... What an amazing feat !

Listen to music from our recent Beatles White Album Concert here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/wtaylorsa2

See video of our last Beatles performance here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDWpRHNoju0

Songs of Shawn Colvin and more. . .

2009-06-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

When: July 18 -19th, 9pm

Where: Saturday July 18th, Threadgills Downtown
Sunday July 19th, Uptown Marble Falls

Tickets: StringsAttached.org

For our second "back to the roots" concert this summer, we bring out from the dust, arrangements I composed for Shawn Colvin, Darden Smith, Ian Moore, and Patrice Pike.

Blowing fresh air into the songs will be vocalist/singersongwriters Karen Mal, Megan Johnson and Dave Madden.

In 2004, I got one of those golden emails from an artist I completly admire. Shawn Colvin asked me if Strings Attached could accompany her in a special Ballet Austin Performance series at the Paramount theater. Out of this opportunity, I was given the rare opportunity to actually get paid to arrange another artists music.

You can watch a video of one of these songs here: http://stringsattached.org/shows.php or download a podcast for you ipod here.

For this weekend's show I have cherrypicked through dozens of arrangements and brought on board three fabulous Austin singers to interpret the songs of Shawn Colvin, Darden Smith, Patrice Pike and Ian Moore. The songs, of course, are exquisite on their own, and the arrangements, often mini-compositions in themselves, hopefully shine their own light on them, and reveal different facets. For eight years most of these pages have just sat in my closet- a silent collection of black dots and lines on paper. I thought it was time to revive them. After all, a lot of time, energy and love was put into making them.

Several of them made it onto our Collaborations CD that came out in 2005.

We hope to see you under the stars at Threadgills Downtown on Saturday at 9:00 pm or Sunday at 2:00 pm in Marble Falls.

Tickets: StringsAttached.org/shows.php

Strings Attached for your party, wedding or event - checkout our videos

2009-05-13T09:41:00.000-07:00

Did you know we're available for parties, weddings, and any sort of event requiring a band or string group that can traverse a gigantic musical landscape?

Checkout some of our best live shows below.

Call Will direct at 512-775-2371 to talk about your date or email.

We can "taylor" the music to fit your event just like you want it.

Full Band Vidoes Listed by Categories

Rolling Stones Show

Sting and the Police

Songs of Simon Show

Songs of Willie Nelson Western Swing and Country Show

Led Zeppelin

Whole Lotta Love
Misty Mountain Hop
Dancin Days
Black Dog
whole lotta love
rocknroll sample
your time is gonna
houses of holy sample

Stevie Wonder

Strings Attached plays Stevie Wonder
I Wish
Superstition
Higher Ground
Don't You Worry
Boogie On
Isn't She Lovely
all in love is fair.MOV
as
Master Blaster

The Beatles

Abbey Pepper Show
Live Concert Footage
Bits of Rubber Soul
Sgt. Pepper Reprise Hi Low

When I'm 64

Come Together Hi Low
Something featuring Aimee Bobruk and Strings Attached

Revolution 1 Low

A Little Help Track Hi Low

A Day in the Life Hi Low

Fixing a Hole Hi Low

Getting Better Hi Low

Good Morning Hi Low

Lucy in the Sky Hi Low

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite Hi Low

Imagine by John Lennon

James Taylor Show

Peter Gabriel

Biko
More here...

Mixed
Saturday Night's Alright
Private Conversation by Lyle Lovett

Beautiful Day by U2 Hi Low

Fields of Gold by Sting Hi Low

I Feel Good Hi

Fire by Jimmy Hendrix

Michael Shay and Strings Attached play Suzanne Hi

Mary with Molly Venter and Strings Attached

Molly Venter and Strings Attached

Slaid Cleaves and Eliza Gilkyson part1 Hi

Slaid Cleaves and Eliza Gilkyson with Strings Attached Part 2 Hi

Slaid and Eliza part 3 Hi

Joni Mitchell

Carey by Strings Attached Low

Chelsea Morning Hi Low

My Favorite Color - Will Taylor and Strings Attached Hi Low

Woodstock - Will Taylor and Strings Attached

Blue Motel Room by Strings Attached

Instrumental/Band Only

Crazy played by Glenn Rexach Hi Low
Make sure your sure.MOV

Jazz
Gee Baby Hi Low

Moon River

Classical/Strings Only

Solo Vocalist

Karen Mal and Will Taylor on Tour Oct 1, 2009

2009-05-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

Thur. Oct 1, Americana Unplugged, Davis, OK
[Download hi-res photos here]

Jazz violinist and composer Will Taylor and singer songwriter mandolinist Karen Mal team up for a couple of rare duo shows. In addition to playing music from Karen's recent CD The Space Between, folks will see Karen stretch out vocally on a few jazz standards, a Joni Mitchell cover and a classic rock song or two.

For the past seven years Will Taylor and Strings Attached have presented collaborations concerts with singers like Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Shawn Col and Jimmy La Fave.

Imagine what might happen, suggests Taylor, if we took Austin's most popular singer-songwriters -- Abra Moore, or Jimmy LaFave, or Patrice Pike, or Ray Wylie Hubbard -- and let them perform, live, in a church? Then imagine if you paired those artists with acoustic "chamber" instruments -- cello, violin, viola, trumpet and hand drums -- and wrote new arrangements, adding dashes of jazz and classical music, that revealed new facets of their most beautiful or familiar songs?

Collaborations 2005

Imagine what might happen if you dared to blur all these boundaries between pop music and jazz, between rock music and classical music, between the musical realm and the lyrical realm, between the honky-tonk and the church, and in the spirit of art and fun and experimentation, you reached out for something . . . transcendent?

Zeppelin Show

2009-04-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

Featuring Lisa Tingle, Tameca Jones and Marc Utter
Glenn Rexach Guitar, Steve Zirkel Bass, Bryan Austin Drums
Will Taylor, Leah Zeger, and Shawn Sanders Strings

Lisa and Will

After 3 sold out perfomances 2006 at the Historic St. David's Church, Will Taylor and Strings Attached presented an encore performance of The Zeppelin Concert and Lightshow under the stars at Threadgills Dowtown on April 26, 2009

As with the Beatles shows, the goal is not one of imitation or to present a rock museum piece, but to bring to life this music with renditions personalized by each guest artist.

The Set List included:

Lisa Tingle
black dog
friends houses of the holy
kashmir
since i've been loving you
immigrant song
whole lotta love
you shook me
your time is gonna come

Tameca Jones
The Lemon Song
Misty Mountain Hop
rock and roll
dancin days

Marc Utter
since i've been loving you
tangerine
thank you
dazed and confused

Buy Tickets Here

Itunes

String Quartet Sundays 6pm-8pm

2009-04-17T07:14:00.001-07:00

Will Taylor presents a completely FREE acoustic show featuring a jazz string quartet and special guests every Sunday at Opal Divines - 3601 S South Congress Ave.

Candles, incense, a cool cocktail, a small room filled with the sounds of jazz, tango, and a few classical string quartets.

We want to preserve the small room acoustic vibe of this show by keeping it inside and avoiding the move outside where we would have to amplify the music. Because of this, only 60 seats are available at any time and we hate to send folks away if there are no seats.

It is for these reasons that we highly recommend you
Make a FREE Reservation here.

THIS SUNDAY:
Special Guests Karen Mal, Grammy Nominated Composer/Bassist Chris Maresh, and Austin Pops Artistic Director Jamie Desautels.

Chris Maresh Karen

Jamie

Come see us will you? Look below or here for Videos and Pictures. . .

Opal Divine's Penn Field restaurant and bar is located just south of Oltorf underneath the water tower at Penn Field Park

Texas' best Scotch menu: Over 60 varieties of single malt scotches and 36 Craft-brewed and imported draught beers

Fresh and natrual American Grill served late!

Two Complete Beatles Album Live this Weekend

2009-03-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

There may be a cold front blowing in, but we're planning on burning through the complete Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road albums live this weekend featuring two fantastic new guest singers.

We'll be inside where its warm on Sunday at the Uptown Marble Theater and heating up the crowd outdoors at Threadgills downtown on Saturday.

Want to win tickets to our Abbey Road Sgt. Pepper shows this weekend?

Watch the Beatles videos on our front page [http://stringsattached.org] and tell me which arrangement incorporates music from two Beatles songs and what the two songs are. The first four folks that answer correctly, get tickets to the show of their choice. Send me your answers here: jazzviolawill@yahoo.com

Go to http://stringsattached.org and watch the videos on the left side of the page.

Here's a look at all of the songs we'll be re-creating live this weekend. Ask yourself, how often do you hear a 10 piece ensemble pull of these tunes live? Don't miss out!

Side one

[edit] "Come Together"
Main article: Come Together

The album opener "Come Together" was a Lennon contribution. The chorus was inspired by a song Lennon originally wrote for Timothy Leary's campaign for governor of California titled "Let's Get It Together". A rough version of this can be heard in outtakes from Lennon's second bed-in event in Canada. It has been speculated that the verses, described by Lennon as intentionally obscure, refer cryptically to each of the Beatles - eg 'he's one holy roller' allegedly refers to the spiritually inclined Harrison. The song was later the subject of a lawsuit brought against Lennon by Morris Levy because the opening line in "Come Together" - "Here come old flat-top" - was admittedly lifted from a line in Chuck Berry's "You Can't Catch Me". "Come Together" was later released as a double A side single with "Something". In the liner notes to the Love album George Martin described the track as a personal favourite.

[edit] "Something"
Main article: Something

"Something", the second track on the album, later became Harrison's first A-side single. Originally written during the White Album sessions, the first line is based on the James Taylor song "Something in the Way She Moves" (Taylor was signed to Apple at the time). After the lyrics were refined during the "Let It Be" sessions (tapes reveal Lennon giving Harrison some songwriting advice during its composition), "Something" was initially given to Joe Cocker, but was subsequently recorded for Abbey Road. "Something" was Lennon's favourite song on the album, and McCartney considered it the best song Harrison had written. Frank Sinatra once commented that "Something" was his favourite Lennon-McCartney song[6] and "the greatest love song ever written".[7] The song was released on a double-sided single.

Harrison was rapidly growing as a songwriter, and with Abbey Road, he made his most significant contributions to a Beatles album. "Something" became the first Beatles number one single that was not a Lennon-McCartney composition; "Here Comes the Sun" has received significant radio airplay despite never having been released as a single. "Something" was sung by McCartney, accompanied for the first part of the song just on ukulele, at Concert for George on the first anniversary of Harrison's passing. Eric Clapton sang the rest with McCartney on harmony vocals and band accompaniment.

[edit] "Maxwell's Silver Hammer"
Main article: Maxwell's Silver Hammer

"Maxwell's Silver Hammer", McCartney's first song on the album, was first performed by the Beatles during the Let It Be sessions (as can be seen in the Let It Be documentary).

According to Geoff Emerick's book, Here, There and Everywhere, John Lennon said the song was "more of Paul's granny music", and refused to participate in the recording of the song.[8]

[edit] "Oh! Darling"
Main article: Oh! Darling

When recording "Oh! Darling", McCartney attempted recording only once a day, so that his voice would be fresh on the recording. Lennon was of the opinion that was the type of song that he would've sung the lead on, remarking that it was more his style. On the Anthology 3 album, Lennon can be heard singing the lead on an ad-libbed verse regarding the news that Yoko Ono's divorce from her first husband had just come through.

[edit] "Octopus's Garden"
Main article: Octopus's Garden

Starr wrote and sang one song for the album, "Octopus's Garden", his second (and last) composition released on a Beatles album. It was inspired by a trip to Sardinia that occurred when Starr left the band for two weeks with his family during the sessions for The White Album. While there, he composed the song, which is arguably his most successful writing effort. While Starr had the lyrics nearly pinned down, the song's melodic structure was partly written in the studio by Harrison (as can be seen in the Let It Be film), although Harrison gave full songwriting credit to Starr. (Harrison and Starr would later collaborate on Starr's solo single "Photograph", and Harrison also probably collaborated with Starr in writing "It Don't Come Easy").

[edit] "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"
Main article: I Want You (She's So Heavy)

"I Want You (She's So Heavy)", is a combination of two somewhat different recording attempts. The first attempt occurred almost immediately after the "Get Back/Let It Be" sessions in February 1969 and featuring Billy Preston on keyboards. This was subsequently combined with a second version made during the "Abbey Road" sessions proper, and when edited together ran nearly 8 minutes long, making it The Beatles' second-longest released song ("Revolution 9" being the longest). Perhaps more than any other Beatles song, "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" reveals a pronounced progressive rock influence, with its unusual length and structure, repeating guitar riff, and "white noise" effects; the "I Want You" section has a straightforward blues structure. It also features one of the earliest uses of a Moog synthesizer to create the white-noise or "wind" effect heard near the end of the track. During the final edit, as the guitar riff continues on and on, Lennon told engineer Geoff Emerick to "cut it right there" at the 7:44 mark, creating a sudden, jarring silence which concluded side one of "Abbey Road". The final overdub session for "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" would be the last time all four Beatles worked in the studio together.

[edit] Side two

[edit] "Here Comes the Sun"
Main article: Here Comes the Sun

"Here Comes the Sun" is Harrison's second song on the album and one of his best-known songs, written in Eric Clapton's garden while Harrison was "sagging off" from an Apple board meeting, which he considered tedious. It was influenced by the Cream song "Badge", which was co-written by Clapton and Harrison. While not released as a single, the song has received frequent radio airplay since its release. Joe Brown would later sing it at "Concert for George."

[edit] "Because"
Main article: Because (The Beatles song)

"Because" features a Moog synthesizer, played by Harrison. The chords in "Because" were inspired by Ludwig van Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata", which Lennon heard Ono play on the piano, after which, according to Lennon, he played the chord progression backwards. "Because" features three-part harmonies by Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, which were then triple-tracked to sound like nine singers. The results of this have been compared in sound to the Beach Boys.

[edit] The medley

The climax of the album is the sixteen-minute medley consisting of several short songs, both finished and unfinished, blended into a suite by McCartney and George Martin. Most of these songs were written (and originally recorded in demo form) during sessions for The Beatles and the "Get Back"/Let It Be sessions.

"You Never Give Me Your Money" is the first song of the Abbey Road suite. It was written by McCartney and based loosely on The Beatles' financial problems with Apple. It slowly and quietly follows into "Sun King" (which, like "Because", showcases Lennon's, McCartney's, and Harrison's overdubbed harmonies), "Mean Mr. Mustard" (written during The Beatles' trip to India), and "Polythene Pam" (all of these Lennon compositions). These in turn are followed by four McCartney songs, "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" (written after a fan came into McCartney's residence literally through the bathroom window[9]), "Golden Slumbers" (based on lyrics but not the music of Thomas Dekker's 17th-century song of the same name), "Carry That Weight" which features chorus vocals from all four of The Beatles, although Lennon was in hospital at the time of the primary recording due to a car accident with Ono, his son Julian and Ono's daughter Kyoko (he recorded his vocals at a later date), and the climax, "The End". The latter is notable for featuring Starr's only drum solo in The Beatles catalogue. Starr hated solos and had to be persuaded to do it. It was even edited down several bars from its original recorded version. Toward the end of the song, immediately prior to "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" line played over piano chords, are eighteen bars or measures of guitar solo: the first two bars are played by Paul McCartney, the second two by George Harrison, and the third two by John Lennon, then the sequence repeats. Each had a distinctive style which McCartney felt reflected their personalities: McCartney's playing included string bends similar to his lead guitar work on "Another Girl" from the Help! album; Harrison's was melodic with slides yet technically advanced and Lennon's was rhythmic, stinging and had the heaviest distortion. Immediately after Lennon's third solo, the piano chords of the final line "And in the end...." begins.

An alternate version with Harrison's lead guitar solo played against McCartney's (with Starr's drum solo heard slightly in the background) appears on the Anthology 3 album. The song ends with the memorable final line, "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make".

[edit] "Her Majesty"
Main article: Her Majesty (song)

"Her Majesty", tacked on the end, was originally part of the side two medley, appearing between "Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Polythene Pam". McCartney disliked the way the medley sounded when it included "Her Majesty", so he had the medley re-edited to remove it. However, second engineer John Kurlander had been instructed never to throw out anything, so after the group left the recording studio that day, he picked it up off the floor, spliced 14 seconds of red leader tape onto the final mix reel, and then spliced in "Her Majesty" immediately after the leader tape. The box of the album's master reel had a notation stating to leave "Her Majesty" off the final product, but the next day when Malcolm Davies at Apple received the tape, he (also trained not to throw anything away) cut a playback lacquer of the whole sequence, including "Her Majesty". The Beatles liked this effect and left it on the album. On the first printing of the LP cover, "Her Majesty" is not listed, although it is shown on the record label. "Her Majesty" opens with the final, crashing chord of "Mean Mr. Mustard", while the final note of "Her Majesty" remained buried in the mix of "Polythene Pam". This was the result of "Her Majesty" being snipped off the reel during a rough mix of the medley. The cut in the medley was subsequently disguised with further mixing although "Her Majesty" was not touched again and still appears in its rough mix.

Sgt Pepper
Side one

1. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" – 2:02
2. "With a Little Help from My Friends" – 2:44
3. "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" – 3:28
4. "Getting Better" – 2:47
5. "Fixing a Hole" – 2:36
6. "She's Leaving Home" – 3:35
7. "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" – 2:37

[edit] Side two

1. "Within You Without You" (George Harrison) – 5:05
2. "When I'm Sixty-Four" – 2:37
3. "Lovely Rita" – 2:42
4. "Good Morning Good Morning" – 2:41
5. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" – 1:18
6. "A Day in the Life" – 5:33

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Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen Show

2009-03-04T10:46:00.001-08:00

Subscription Concert #4

Saturday, March 7th, 2009
7pm Potluck
8pm Concert

The Home of Lori and Ron Olfers 1217 Marly Way

TICKETS HERE

Only 100 tickets available for this special acoustic performance.
Guest Vocalists include: Kim Miller, Karen Mal, David Newbould and Stephen Zirkel

Listen to the guest artists below:

Will Taylor and Strings Attached will bring alive new interpretations of two master Canadian songwriters.

While Joni Mitchell never held claim to the #1 spot on the Billboard charts (her highest was #7 – can you name it? See the * at bottom for the answer!), we suspect you have a place in your hearts for all the words to many of the songs you’ll hear, including…

Early Hits: Circle Game, Chelsea Morning
From “Blue”: All I Want, River
From “Hejira”: Coyote,Blue Hotel Room, Hejira
… and many more.

In 1988 Strings Attached Bassist Steve Zirkel was one of several Austin jazz musicians to be choosen by Cohen to join his band for a world tour. For Steve the experience reached a pinacle when they returned to Austin to perform on Austin City Limits in what many consider to be one of the best ACL shows.

Some Songs we'll be doing:
So Long Marianne

Hallelujah
Famous Blue Raincoat
Night Comes
Story of Isaac

P.S. * The answer? Joni’s highest charting song was Help Me off of “Court and Spark” which hit #7 on the Billboard charts.

House Concert and Potluck this Sunday March 1

2009-02-26T22:18:00.000-08:00

Come Celebrate Strings Attached's return from the Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis.
House Concert and Pot Luck this Sunday

4pm Potluck
5-7pm Concert

Where: Alexander Moving Arts Studio 1406 Oxford 78704
Phone: 512.797.0018
Directions: Lamar South, Right on Bluebonnet, Right on Ashby, Corner of Oxford and Ashby

How Much: $10.00

Who: Will Taylor and Strings Attached with Marc Utter and Karen Mal doing original music and music by Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Bob Schneider and others!

Optional: Bring a dish to share for the 4pm potluck. BYOB

See some videos from the Strings Attached Folk Alliance tour below:

Strings Attached Goes to Memphis

2009-02-09T23:34:00.000-08:00

Will Taylor and Strings Attached
Play the Music of Austin Songwriters, the Beatles, Paul Simon and more. .

February 20, 2009
10:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m
International Folk Alliance Conference - Memphis, TN
19th Floor Lounge at the Marriott Hotel
See our one sheet here.

Guest Vocalists:

Gretchen Peters
Jonathan Byrd
Patrice Pike
Wendy Colonna
Porter Davis
Marc Utter
Karen Mal
Molly Venter
David Glaser

Will Taylor and Strings Attached will be presenting one of its diverse collaboration concerts at the 2009 Folk Alliance featuring over two hours of music arranged for strings, trumpet, percussion, mandolin and the above listed guest vocalists. The show will feature music by Austin songwriters like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Karen Mal, Bob Schneider, and Eliza Gilkyson, and covers of classics by Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and others. See the entire set list here...

Musicians love the series because it allows them to see their creations in ways they may not have imagined." Kerry Dexter, Dirty Linen Magazine

Collaborations is a stirring, memorable work. A celebration of the human spirit. Sing Out Magazine.

Will Taylor and Strings Attached are one of the reasons people call Austin ‘The Live Music Capital of the World.’ Long may their bows be strung!" -– Jody Denberg, Program Director, KGSR 107.1FM Austin

more quotes here. . .

Want a Text Reminder for this Show?

Subscribe to Strings Attached News:

Live Videos
------------------------------------------------------
Participating Artists on the Memphis Show:

Wendy

Karen

Beth Wood

David

Molly

Strings Attached Joni Mitchell Tribute to Debut at the International Folk Alliance Conference

2009-02-09T13:09:00.001-08:00

Will Taylor and Strings Attached
Back to the Garden A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

February 19, 2009 6:00 pm - 7:15
Internationa Folk Alliance Conference - Memphis, TN
NATCHEZ Room, Marriott Hotel
Get our One Sheet Here

"Man, that's a beautiful record. That should have sold a million copies. You really transcended the dated-ness of the original versions of those songs and made them timeless. "- Slaid Cleaves

Guest Vocalists:

Karen Mal
Molly Venter
David Glaser
Wendy Colonna
Beth Wood

Track Listing Itunes Link

Want a Text Reminder for this Show?

Subscribe to Strings Attached News:

Participating Artists on the Memphis Show:

Wendy

Karen

Beth Wood

David

Molly

Show featuring favorite songs and artists of Strings Attached Fans this weekend at Momo's.

2009-01-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

Will Taylor and Strings Attached presents the music of Dar Williams, Patty Griffin, Guy Forsyth, Tish Hinojosa performed by guest vocalists Karen Mal and Marc Utter

Saturday, Jan. 17th
One Show at 8pm
Momo's 618 West 6th Street, Suite 200

Test your knowledge of the music by playing our quiz below.

Tickets at StringsAttached.org/shows.php

Will Taylor and Strings Attached present an intimate acoustic show at Momo's with new interpretations of songs by Dar Williams, Patty Griffin, Guy Forsyth, and Tish Hinojosa.Songs like Griffin's dark "Every Little Bit", Forsyth's tribute to Jack Kareoac "Children of Jack", Williams humorous tale about "The Christians and the Pagans" and several gorgeous Hinojosa ballads including "Solo Tus Ojos".

The band will include:

Will Taylor: guitar, violin, viola
Stephen Zirkel: bass, vocals, trumpet
Glenn Rexach: guitar
Karen Mal: guitar, mandolin, vocals
Marc Utter: guitar, vocals

Listen to a short montage of songs we'll feature at this show here.
The first 5 folks to answer any of the following questions, get a ticket to the show.

1. What song is not by one of our featured artists.
2. Name all the songs in the above montage.

Click To Play

Email to jazzviolawill@yahoo.com

Here's our set list for the show.

Karen Mal
Based in Austin, TX, Karen has created a name for herself as a captivating singer, instrumentalist and songwriter. Ranging from charming to seductive, impressionistic to philosophical, her songs have brought her nationwide acclaim. Shes won top awards from the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival in Texas, the Tucson Folk Festival and the Portland Songwriters Association and has also been a three time New Folk Finalist at Kerrville, emerging artist at Falcon Ridge and a finalist at the Sisters Folk Festival.

Karen has released three CDs on Waterbug records, starting with Mercury's Wings in 2002. Karen Mal is riding a musical high, raved Sing Out! Magazine about her debut. The title song is a beautiful tribute to her friend, mentor and collaborator, the late Fred Alley. Dark Eyed Sailor was next, a collection of traditional Celtic songs. The title cut won the Celtic Radio Music Award for best song in 2006. Her newest release, The Space Between, came out in late 2007 and has been getting extensive airplay, reaching #6 on the Folk DJ Chart in November. More about Karen.

Marc Utter Photos

From the heart of a century old barn on the blackland prarie just east of Austin, comes a sound that, while unmistakably Texan, might be heard on the plains of some distant land across the ocean. Gypsy rhythms and slide guitar, banjo and snake charmer blend beautifully as Marc Utter's new band grooves his tales of desprate lovers, destiny, guns and angels. Waltzing from rock to reggae to latin beat, the Blackland flavors it's music with Texeclectic spice.Marc was a member of the legendary Sharecroppers, Austin's groundbreaking bluegrass rockers. Their '97 release, spirit of the sharecroppers, is a classic Americana recording. He continued to play in Nathan hamilton's band, recording and supporting his critically acclaimed debut solo album, Tuscola. He also formed the group Hundred Year Flood with fellow Sharecroppers, Bill and Jim Palmer and songbird Felicia Ford, whose 2000 self titled album was an international hit.Read more about Marc here.

Hits of the 60's and 70's

2008-12-16T16:04:00.000-08:00

Hits of the 60s and 70's Show
December 19, 2008
Two Shows: 8pm and 1030pm
MOMOS - 618 W 6th St # 200
Buy Tickets Now - Seating is Limited!

Guest Vocalists: Suzanna Choffel, Karen Mal, Dave Madden and Jayme Ivison

The Band: Will Taylor, Glenn Rexach, Dave Madden, Bryan Austin, and Steve Zirkel.

A musical journey spanning two decades of music from the Beatles, Zeppelin, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and songs like "A Whiter Shade of Pale", "The First Time I Saw Your Face", "Peaceful Easy Feeling" and more.

[see the complete set list here]

Hope to see you at the first show of the season indoors above Katz's deli on west 6th Street

Buy Tickets Now - Seating is Limited!

The Stevie Wonder Tribute Concert

2008-11-12T23:29:00.000-08:00

July 4th, 7-10pm
Iguana Grill
www.iguanagrillaustin.com

2900 Ranch Road 620 N
Austin, TX 78734
(512) 266-8439

'

Will, it was a great show tonight. The translation of Stevie Wonder was awesome and it is great to hear this music again. I have been using "Songs in the key of Life" as the banner on my page for sometime because I think Stevie captures how important music is in expressing all the events in our life from the birth of child to the social injustice we might see around us to the glorious and happy times. I love your playing and you surround yourself with great musicians and vocalists. Your interpretation of this music was joyous and a lot of fun.
-Donald

I really enjoyed this show in particular. Lots of high energy up on stage! Valer

The Songlist for the Show

Free Concert in your home...

2008-10-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

-----Free Performance by Will Taylor in your home-----

From Nov. 12 thru Fri. Dec. 1, the first 5 folks to buy season tickets for Season Eight, will receive a free private concert by Will Taylor.

Get Season Tickets here and email jazzviolawill@yahoo.com if you're interested in the free performance.

About Strings Attached

With the close of the seventh Strings Attached season with last Saturday's kickbutt Stevie Wonder tribute, its time to look forward to the beginning of our 8th season.

Want to help Will Taylor and the musicians of Strings Attached continue to create world-class concerts right here in Austin? The kind you really can't find anywhere else.

We are beginning a massive Season Ticket drive with this newsletter today and need your support in the form of a Season Ticket purchase or as a volunteer on one of our phone banks.

Get Season Tickets Here NOW!!

Signup to hangout with Will and friends for a weekend season ticket phone bank over the next few weeks.

Call 512-775-2371 or email for more information.

Strings Attached does some of the most original, rehearsed, orchestrated work of any musical institution in Austin. Think about it...is anyone else doing what we do in Austin? or anywhere else? If so, I'd sure like to know.

Don't you think Strings Attached deserves the support to continue bringing its gifts to bear? Just as public radio stations ask several times a year, we are now coming to you to say we need your help.

Wonder what we've done in the past couple of years?
We've presented original shows like:

Songs of Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Four complete Beatles Albums, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel, Original Music of Strings Attached, Patti Griffin, and the Stevie Wonder Tribute.

This year we'll be presenting a powerful retrospective of the last 7 years of shows. Read about them here.

Strings Attached Season 8

Buy Season Tickets Here

Season Eight of the Strings Attached series has been announced.

This year we're going to change things up a bit.
Instead of three shows on three nights, we're
only going to do one or two shows on Saturday
and one Sunday matinee at the Uptown Theater
Marble Falls. For the most part the shows this
season will be encore performances of shows from
previous seasons—a best of Strings Attached, if you will.
One show will be determined by fan input, but more about that later.

The venue has also changed. This year we will be performing
at Momo's and Threadgills. The first three shows of the season
will be at Momo's. Because of its smaller size there will be an
early and late show for those concerts. The remaining shows
will be at Threadgill's and will have only one performance
(unless we sell out, in which case we may add a second performance).
[The Sunday matinee is not part of the season tickets.

Tickets for those performance can be obtained from uptownmarble.com.]

Here are the dates (all are Saturdays unless otherwise noted):

December 19 (Friday) - Hits of the 60s & 70s, |
Momo's (8 PM and 10:30 PM)
January 17 -Strings Attached Fan pic show,
Momo's (8 PM and 10:30 PM)|
February 21 - The Songs of Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell,
Momo's (8 PM and 10:30 PM)
March 28 - The Beatles' Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper
albums live, Threadgill's (9 PM)
April 18 - The Music of Led Zeppelin, Threadgill's (9 PM)
May 3 - The Music of Peter Gabriel, Threadgill's (9 PM)
June 20 - The Music of Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves,
Ray Wylie, and Jimmy La Fave, Threadgill's (9 PM)|
July 18 - The Music of Shawn Colvin, Patrice Pike,
Ian Moore, and Darden Smith, Threadgill's (9 PM)
August 15 - The Music of Pink Floyd, Threadgill's (9 PM)

Guest performers will be announced later.

Momo's, 618 W 6th, Suite # 200 (upstairs),
Austin, TX 78701

Threadgill's, 301 W Riverside Drive,
Austin, TX 78704

Season ticket holders will get reserved seating and
$5 off each regular ticket price ($45 for the season).

If season tickets sell out, there will be no reserved tickets available on an individual basis. So get your tickets now. Here are the advantages of buying season tickets.

What I see is not what I'm looking at. . .

2008-10-05T09:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was winding down 290 toward Dripping Springs en route to my bi-weekly men’s group meeting. Just after the Y in Oak Hill, I was filled with a questionable feeling: was this the right way? I have been up and down this route numerous times for at least 20 years, and yet something about it seemed unfamiliar; or to put it another way, the route seemed fresh. I told this to a friend and she remarked that maybe my mind had been somewhere else all the other times and that I had never really paid attention to the route. This whole situation reminded me of an anonymous quote: "What I see is not what I'm looking at but what I'm looking with."

At this point you may be wondering, "What does this - if anything - have to do with Strings Attached?"
Maybe something, maybe nothing.

I feel like we've been traveling this road to success with noses to the grindstone, and now that I've had a moment to reflect and look around, I realize it’s time to take Strings Attached down a side road that leads to a brand new mountain vista lookout, one that will enable all kinds of creative developments that will excite our listeners into new avenues of transcendence and community.

For the past twenty years I've worked tirelessly to bring creative, challenging music in many forms to the Central Texas area: original jazz, classical cross-over, tribute shows, collaborations with some of the best singersongwriters from Eliza Gilkyson to Ray Wylie Hubbard. I believe our existing body of work proves that it’s not a question of "can they pull it off?” But something has to change. I want this expression which has taken on a life of its own, to grow . . . to move to the next level.

This year I say goodbye to the job of Strings Attached secretary (yes, that would be me), which has amounted to almost 90% of what I do: managing the organization along with all the help from our committed volunteers. I, and any folks who want to join the planning committee, will begin the formation of Strings Attached, the Arts Organization. (Click here if you're interested and fill out this form)There's no reason why we can't take this winning formula and join the ranks of all the other great major arts institutions like the Symphony and ALO. We make great art – art that I believe is an authentic expression of this diverse city.

So this time next year I will use most of my creative energies dreaming up kick-ass show ideas that are truly world-class.

To create the space necessary to take Strings Attached to the next level, this year's season will be a retrospective of the last seven years: The Best of Strings Attached.

December 19th -> Hits of the 60's and 70's
January 17th -> Strings Attached Fan pic show (vote here)
Tell us what show(s) or artists you'd like to see back.

February 20th -> The Songs of Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell
March 27th -> Beatles Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper Albums Live
April 17th -> Zeppelin Show
May 2nd -> Peter Gabriel Show
June 20th -> The Music of Eliza Gilkyson, Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie and Jimmy La Fave
July 18th -> The Music of Shawn Colvin, Patrice Pike, Ian Moore and Darden Smith
August 15th -> Pink Floyd's Dark Side and more . . .

Season Ticket information will be available in the next newsletter post.

Much love to all of you who continue to support what we do!

Will Taylor

Austin musician Will Taylor teaching music to all kinds of folks

2008-09-20T10:29:00.001-07:00

Will is ready to teach you or your child violin, viola, guitar or piano.

What's life without risk? Take the plunge!

Are you one who goes to concerts and passionately thinks, "I want to do that?"

Then why not let me turn that spark into a fire for playing music.

Better to have played music then never played at all. Ya Think?
Remember fear is temporary, regret permanent.

With my teaching it is my goal to find a good balance between passion and discipline.

Why in the first place would you or anyone want to play an instrument?

Well for me #1 is It's FUN.
What does FUN = for you?

Its why I've been at it for almost 30 years and why I continue forward to this day.

This passion has led me to create experiences with artists on all levels. From Grammy Award winners like Shawn Colvin to relatively unknown Genius like Libby Kirkpatrick and song circles from Kerville to classical chamber music get togethers at my home. A life in music never ever gets boring or predictable.

Its fun to make music with friends, make new friends with music, and take you and others minds and souls to otherworldly places.

I'd like to know why you like music and why you play or want to play an instrument.

Please comment below

If you're interested in continuing or starting a journey with me,
Call me at 512-775-2371, email me here, or post a note.

See videos of me playing here.

Ignite your Passion at the Music Studio of Will Taylor

2008-09-20T10:03:00.001-07:00

Will would love to teach your family music!

Will by Todd Wolfsen

Will is ready to teach you or your child violin, viola, guitar or piano.

What's life without risk? Take the plunge!

Are you one who goes to concerts and passionately thinks, "I want to do that?"

Then why not let me turn that spark into a fire for playing music.

Better to have played music then never played at all. Ya Think?

Will with Carolyn Wonderland

Read more about it here.

Songs of Paul Simon This Weekend!

2008-05-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

Songs of Paul Simon Starts Tomorow! Listen to a preview of the show here.

Read my Dad's Essay "From an Old Guy that was There"
at end of this newsletter.

With special guests

Aimee Bobruk, Matt the Electrician, and Marc Utter

3 Shows

Friday, May 16th
St. Michael's Church 8pm $15 - $25 Tickets
1500 North Capital of Texas Highway 78746 (Westlake area)

Saturday, May 17th
Home of Lynn Cameron 8pm $50 Tickets
11728 DK Ranch Rd 78759 (north of the Arboretum)

Free Orderves will be served
Beer and Wine from Fion Wine Pub

Only 50 Seats Available for this intimate house show.

$50 reserved seating or pay what you can at the door. ($10,20, or more)

Sunday, May 18th
Uptown Marble Theater Marble Falls 2pm $12-15 Tickets

WIN TICKETS TO KERVILLE FOLK FESTIVAL

Thanks to YourTexasMusic.com we have 36 day tickets to the festival to giveaway to you fans. Two ways:

Buy a ticket to the Paul Simon show and you'll be entered in the raffle we'll do at each of the shows.
Register as a street team member for Strings Attached and participate on one of the missions.
Look at the bottom of this page for an entry form.

On Simon and Garfunkel, from an old guy that was there:
By Chuck Taylor (yes, Will's dad)

Something sad there is contained in the harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel. Their sound is folkish, but they weren’t exactly folksingers because they performing new material written by Paul Simon.

The sadness of their harmonies and lyrics spoke to a sorrow that is in all of us, and it spoke to the times also. President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas in 1963. “I am a rock, I am an island” speaks of the alienation of youth at the time. This was still the silent generation in many ways. You were cool and silent and hopeless, beat as the beat writers maintained.

“Silence like a cancer grows.” And “Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson,” trapped inside a loveless upper middle class marriage. The song became an anthem in a my generation’s first generational film, “The Graduate.” No, we did not want to go to work in the plastics industry or end up in upper middle class marriages.”

Perhaps you have seen the movie and have seen Dustin Hoffman floating meaninglessly around in the parent’s backyard pool, wondering what to do with his life. “The nearer your destination, the more it keeps slip sliding away.”

Then more sadness: the dream team breaks up and things end inharmoniously. Paul Simon re-establishes himself firmly as a solo artist with the brilliant album Graceland. He has been through a divorce and is seeking answers taking a trip to the dead Elvis’ mansion. He is lost and sad, seeking a grace not yet found. The album takes a great leap into international music by including African sounds, but even with these new rhythms—a real break with the simple rhythms of folk—there is still sadness. Ah but he is there for you, this singer, willing to lay himself down for you, like a bridge over troubled waters.

There are two sides to the American experience, the sad sorrowful side coming from our Puritan forefathers, and our optimistic side, coming from the revolutionary experience of establishing the first successful democracy since the Greeks. The sad side is often forgotten because, well, it takes great artistry to get us to listen to the sad. It’s much easier to get up there with Lucy in the sky with diamonds, or into the strawberry fields after a ride on the yellow submarine. But a human who does not feel the sadness, the sorrow, is only half human—a mere bubble floating on the surface of the water of life. Get yourself a glass a wine, listen to Simon and Carbuncle, get down deep and let the tears form in the corners of your eyes.

Chuck Taylor

The Songs We'll Be Covering:

Slip Slidin Away
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
America 
Dangling Conversations

Inder African Skies
Run That Body Down

Diamond on the Soles of Her Shoes

American Tune

Under African Skies

Train in the Distance

Kathy's Song
Everything Put Together Falls Apart
Still crazy after all these years
St Judy's Comet in D on cd
Hobo's Blues
Flowers never bend with the rainfall
Late in the Evening
The Boxer

Instrumental/Band Tunes

Sound of Silence

Homeward Bound
Scarborough Fair

Listen on Itunes

See our Youtube Video Playlist for this show

Songs of Paul Simon with Strings Attached

2008-05-12T08:50:00.001-07:00

Will Taylor and Strings Attached present a new show:

Songs of Paul Simon with special guests

Aimee Bobruk, Matt the Electrician, and Marc Utter
LISTEN TO THE GUESTS HERE

3 Shows

Friday, May 16th
St. Michael's Church 8pm $15 - $25 Tickets
1500 North Capital of Texas Highway 78746 (Westlake area)

Saturday, May 17th
Home of Lynn Cameron 8pm $50 Tickets
11728 DK Ranch Rd 78759 (north of the Arboretum)
Free Orderves will be served
Beer and Wine from Fion Wine Pub
Only 50 Seats Available for this intimate house show

Sunday, May 18th
Uptown Marble Theater Marble Falls 2pm $12-15 Tickets
Download the songs on itunes or view a video playlist of the songs we'll be doing below:

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR SIMON?

Win Tickets to Friday's Show. The first four people to name the songs from which I took these lyrics, get in free with a guest to Friday's show. Enter the contest by leaving a comment below.

Little sleepy boy
Do you know what time it is?
Well the hour ol your bedtime's
Long been past

"a man hear's what he wants to hear and disregards the rest"

"hello darkness my old friend"

Barter for Tickets to Strings Attached - Video from Trish Murphy show

2008-05-09T14:13:00.000-07:00

I'm challenging myself to get a quick note to you folks before 5pm when the weekend officially starts. For me it will be a cold one and the lovely company of Lynn in her backyard by the pool.

It's 4:22 and even after taking several cat naps today in a admirable attempt to re-energize myself, I'm still dragging.

The self-employed life has its challenges - one is being your own motivator in the face of days of 15 hour days when your only company is a quiet kitchen and occasional visit from Spokey and Twilight the cats. Can anyone sympathize? I did choose this though. . . right?

I want your folks to know how much it means to me that you come to my shows. One of the things I'm really not happy with in my choice of being a musician is the number of hours I spend not communicating and interacting with other human beings. I look forward to every Strings Attached show as much musically as to just being around other people to do that old fashioned community thing. Building eye to eye, heart to heart relationships. I hate to think we're progressing toward a "Matrix"-like reality, But my current work life doesn't give me much hope. I miss that wonderful real time human interaction.

So much so, that I'm putting out to the universe starting with this email. I want that to change!

The how part hasn't come as much yet. But I'll relax and let it come.

Anyone interested in starting a new student teacher interaction? I would so love to help someone be inspired with the journey of music. This is your chance. I have no students right now. Anyone of any age call me at 512-775-2371 or email will@willtaylor.com

Show coming up this week: The Songs of Paul Simon with Matt the Electrician, Aimee Bobruk, and Mark Utter May 16-18

-Video from trish show

Here's a list of some of things you can do to earn FREE Tickets to shows or just call Will at 775-2371

Trish Murphy Show Saturday May 3rd

2008-05-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Its a busy month for Strings Attached. A house concert and the big Paul Simon Tribute! Lets do the numbers. And while I'm at it, Just Say No, to negativity! (nice bumper sticker i saw this morning)

1) This Saturday night we're presenting an intimate concert with Trish Murphy at the home of Lori and Ron Olfers. Who knows, if the weather is like tonight, we'll open the doors and let in the fresh air to swirl around with the music.

My mom once again will provide special treats for the occasion and Massage by Michel will be present.

Checkout our set list on Itunes here.

Only 100 seats are available for this show so get your tickets here.

I have reserved a few seats on a pay what you can and/or donation basis. If this sounds better for you, email Will now at jazzviolawill@yahoo.com. We require that you do at least one volunteer item to get this deal. Here's a list of some of things you can do.

2) New Videos from the Songs of Patti Griffin Recording Session currently underway! There's a unique energy that pulsates between musicians when they're "forced" to record in the same room with no nets. I truly believe that the "old" school way of recording is going to come back! There's just something special about human beings communicating in real time in a room together. I believe it has something to do with our limbic systems. And what fun it is to capture this magic in zeros and ones! How many of you agree with me that in these situations, it is often the imperfections which make it perfect or unique!

We'll with that said, checkout how Molly gives 120% in these no net studio performances! Well actually, we all really gave 120%.

Great camera work by Marc Utter on these two songs!

Nobody's Cryin Hi-Res Low-res

Useless Desires Hi-Res

Fun behind the scenes clips from the sessions Hi-Res or Low-Res.

Ahh. . . the glamorous life of a musician. . .jealous?

Look out for a new release soon from these sessions! Thanks to Marc Utter for his great farm studio!

3) The Strings Attached camp didn't make it this summer. But Will and Shawn are available all summer for anyone who would like private lessons. Give Will a ring at 512-775-2371 to set it up now!

4) Last but not least. My spring intern, Michael Lengefeld has created a video for every song on our Sgt. Pepper Album

Go here now to view his inspired creative work!

5) Upcoming Calendar - Read below or checkout our online google calendar.

May 16		Subscription Concert #3 - Songs of Paul Simon Church Show
May 17		Subscription Concert #3 - Songs of Paul Simon House Concert
May 18		Subscription Concert #3 - Songs of Paul Simon Marble Falls
June 27		Subscription Concert #4 - Beatles Abbey Road Church Show
June 28		Subscription Concert #4 - Beatles Abbey Road House Concert
June 29		Subscription Concert #4 - Beatles Abbey Road Marble Falls
August 01		Subscription Concert #5 - Songs of Strings Attached Church Show
August 02		Subscription Concert #5 - Songs of Strings Attached House Concert
August 03		Subscription Concert #5 - Songs of Strings Attached Marble Falls
September 19		Subscription Concert #6 - Songs in the Key of Life Church Show
September 20		Subscription Concert #6 - Songs in the Key of Life House Concert
September 21		Subscription Concert #6 - Songs in the Key of Life Marble Falls

Complete Music of Strings Attached On Itunes

Will Taylor and Strings Attached Present the Songs of Patti Griffin

2008-02-20T20:10:00.001-08:00

Will Taylor and Strings Attached Present the Songs of Patti Griffin

A Tribute to Austin songwriting great Patti Griffin with guest vocalists Suzanna Choffel, Michael Shay, Marc Utter, Molly Venter and Aimee Bobruk.
Sponsored by Longhorn Collision and Strait Music

Buy Tickets at StringsAttached.org or 512-258-1792
For more information call 512-775-2371|

Hi-Res Press Photos here: http://tinyurl.com/2ot2s6
Videos: http://virb.com/stringsattached/videos

3 Shows

9pm Friday Feb. 29^th, St. David's Episcopal Church
8pm Saturday Mar. 1, Home of Lynn Cameron (11728 DK Ranch Road)
2pm Sunday Mar. 2, Uptown Marble Theater, Marble Falls

Will Taylor and Strings Attached tirelessly continues its tradition of re-creating the music of America's greatest songwriters with its next concert, the Songs of Patti Griffin. Brand new arrangements newly penned by Taylor along with several great local vocalists will bring alive new interpretations of Patti's music. The strings of Will Taylor, Cellist Shawn Sanders, veteran musician Steve Zirkel's trumpet, piano and bass playing come together to backup four stellar voices of the Austin songwriting scene: Molly Venter, Suzanna Choffel, Marc Utter, and Michael Shay. Opening the show solo will be Aimee BoBruk.

In addition to our Friday Strings Attached performance in Austin (^{Feb. 19th} at St. David's), we are privileged to be offering this show in a blissfully intimate house concert performance on Saturday, March 1, in North Austin. Thanks to Lynn Cameron for hosting the show at her wonderful home. Light food and appetizers will be available as will complimentary tea, sodas and water. Only 60 seats are available for this acoustic performance at $50/ticket. We have also created a new VIP ticket for those you who are interested in a behind the scenes experience. See the website for more information.

Some Songs we'll be performing: Rain, Mil Besos, Tommorow Night, Chief, Making Pies, Mary, Goodbye, Heavenly Day, Be Careful, Truth #2 and more.

- - - Words about Strings Attached - - -

" One thing Taylor's group is best at is bringing out undiscovered nuances from the songs of others, and the String-benders' magic was in full bloom, especially on the two-stepping "Memorial Day" and a jam that approached liftoff in the middle of "Choctaw Bingo." - Jim Caligiuri about show with James McMurtry

I love violin and was elated to discover my new favorite violinist! Can you say Jean Luc Ponty...well if you can't and you haven't heard Will play then go expecting way to much and you will still find your self with your mouth hanging open. Not only can Will solo like a mother, he understands the nuances of electric violin which makes the whole live rock band experience have a deeper more ancient feeling. " - Fred Mitchum

- - - Artist Quotes- - -

"I was hooked and drawn in from the first few bars of Choffel's urban and soulful sound. Her music styles are varied from quiet and introspective to politically motivated stories written to a jazz beat with vocal and rhythm arrangements reminiscent of a female version of Sting." - Sharman Petri, Music promoter

Visit our guest artist websites:

SuzannaChoffel.com
MollyVenter.com
AimeeBobruk.com
MichaelShay.com
http://www.myspace.com/marcuttermusic

Recent Recordings by WTSA:

Back to the Garden A Tribute to Joni Mitchell featuring Molly Venter, Suzanna Choffel, Libby Kirkpatrick and Jean Synodinos

Strings Attached plays Sgt. Pepper with Papa Mali, Will Walden, David Newbould, and Nakia.

Upcoming concerts of the Seventh Strings Attached Collaboration Series

Songs of Paul Simon
May 16-18

Beatles Abbey Road
June 27-29

Songs of Strings Attached
August 1 - 3

Songs in the Key of Life
September 19 - 21
Music of Stevie Wonder

For more info call Will Taylor at 512-775-2371

###

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Will Taylor
512-775-2371
Fax: (866) 418-5679 Toll-Free

Songs of Patty Griffin
February 29 - March 2

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Zeppelin Concert and Lightshow Coming Up April 7th

2007-03-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

Video here
Audio Here

The Zeppelin Concert and Lightshow is coming up April 7th outside under the stars at the Nutty Brown Cafe in Austin, TX.

Zeppelinshow.com

Featuring Will Taylor and Strings Attached with John Pointer, Ed Jurdi of the Heathens, Mark Utter and Malford Milligan

When: April 7, 2007 7:30 p.m.

Where: Nutty Brown Cafe http://www.nuttybrown.com

2225 Highway 290

Tickets $12/advance & $15/door

StringsAttached.org or toll free 1-866-235-0270

Promo Download site: http://stringsattached.org/zep_promo.html

Musical Slide Show http://ZeppelinShow.comStrings Attached

Podcasts: http://RadioWillTaylor.com

After 3 sold out perfomances last Novemeber at the Historic St. David's Church, Will Taylor and Strings Attached present an encore performance of The Zeppelin Concert and Lightshow under the stars at the Nutty Brown Cafe this coming April 7th.

As with the Beatles shows, the goal is not one of imitation or to present a rock museum piece, but to bring to life this music with renditions personalized by each guest artist. Guests will include Malford Milligan of Storyville, John Pointer, Mark Utter, Jean Synodinos, and Ed Jurdi.
The set list will include a broad swath of tunes: Going To California, Thank You Over The Hills And Far Away, Since I've Been Loving You,Friends, The Battle of EvermoreRobert, Black Dog ,Stairway To Heaven,You Shook Me , The Lemon Song, Tangerine, Your Time Is Gonna Come ,Four Sticks, Kashmir, Hot Dog, Dazed and Confused, Immigrant Song, Misty Mountain Hop, Rock & Roll, Houses Of The Holy, Whole Lotta Love
More shows coming this season include:

April 27th Peter Gabriel Tribute with Malford Milligan and David Rice
May 25 and 27th The Complete Beatles Seargeant Peppers Lonely Heart's Club Band
June 29th and 30th The Music of Pink Floyd
July 27th and 28th Tribute to Joni Mitchell with Molly Venter, Libby Kirkpatrick, Kat Edmonson, Jean Synodinos and more. . .

Checkout more at http://zeppelinshow.com/ or at

http://StringsAttached.org

The March 2007 Strings Attached concert features Carolyn Wonderland, Malford Milligan, Van Wilks, and Porter Davis.

2007-03-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

Strings Attached Podcasts

1.Strings Attached Concert Preview Podcast
Subscribe for Itunes
Other Pod Readers

2.Music from the Strings Attached Series Podcast
Subscribe for Itnues
Other Pod Readers
What the heck is a podcast and how to set it up.

The last newsletter began with the Maya Angelo quote "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

This quote is quite on the mark when considering what to say about the next musical adventure on the horizon. It's 1:56 am and I just got off the phone with Steve Zirkel - both of us are very excited about a tune I've included in the setlist. Its one of those compositions that many of us would include in a desert island collection. This song came at a time in jazz history when bebop was reaching its cerebral intensity, and Miles Davis was insightful enough to bring it back to what is really important in music. He invented a whole new genre while at the same time being rooted in what the blues is all about – the expression of the soul. Or as Willie Dixon put it, "The Blues are the true facts of life expressed in words and song, inspiration, feeling, and understanding." The song "Blue in Green", featured some of the most radical jazz musicians of the time: Coltrane, Cannonbal Adderly, and Bill Evans. So while it might seem the song most removed from the typical blues sound, to zirk and I its right at home emotionally with all the other blues tunes we're planning to play.

So here we go, The first annual, Strings Attached plays the blues concert. You won't believe the guest artists and band I've assembled. Look into my eyes - you are getting very sleepy - YOU MUST NOT MISS THIS SHOW. . . well ok I know I say that about every show and I know where you mind might be going. College frats in a Nosiy 6th bar - loud, electric 3 piece guitar dominated sounds blasting from the stage. Heck, why not have this kind of scene in Church? Just kidding. You wouldn't think we do that would you. Who knows? Now in all seriousness - for this show It is my intention to present many shades of the blues.

ok. . .

For this show you'll hear original blues by each artist, but also a bit of gospel, covers of songs by Ray Charles, the great stride pianist James P Johnson, Miles, and even Mose Allison. So who's on the show you ask?

If you attended the White Album show in church last year, you might remember a certain artist who brought down the show and received several standing ovations for her performance of John Lennon's Revolution.

Its finally my pleasure to have Carolyn Wonderland perform more then one song. Do you ever wonder if the performer you see on stage is the same or different when they're off? What you see is what you get with Carolyn.

Not only can she completely blow an audience away with her musical power but she is one the most humble, sweet, and loving musicians I've had the pleasure of making music with. She has played with greats like Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, Bob Dylan, Asleep at the Wheel, and Los Lobos and her music has been featured on

prime-time network TV dramas such as NBC's "Homicide" and

"Time of Your Life" on Fox!.

After years of talking about it and numerous games of phone tag I finally got amazing Malford Milligan.

Back in the late 80's there was a creative band called Stick People. This was around the time that Poi Dog pondering and Abra Moore came to Austin from Hawaii. Around this time I was living in a dilapitated old house in an almost food stamp level existence.
Anyway, Stick People was the kind of creative genre breaking band that only Austin could produce. Craig Ross played guitar, Mark Williams played cello and bass, Thor was on drums and the huge expressive voice of Malford Milligan fronted the band.

Malford Milligan is a world class blues/soul singer. With his nationally acclaimed band "Storyville," he recorded 3 CDs, performed on "Austin City Limits" 3 times; twice with "Storyville," and once with Eric Johnson, and has toured with BB King, James Cotton, Edgar Winter, Double Trouble, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and many more.

Malford has recorded on more than 30 albums with such artists as, Hal Ketchum, Marcia Ball, Doyle Bramhall, Alejandro Escoveda, Sue Foley, Stephen Bruton, Chris Smither, Eric Johnson, Double Trouble, The Boneshakers, and Toni Price among others.

Representing the power guitar trio genre on this show is Van Wilks.

IN the 80's I used to catch an occasional rock show at the legendary Steamboat club on 6th street. Van Wilks was always in session there with his huge marshall stacks. In his third decade as a veteran of the world-famous Austin music scene, Van Wilks "continues to make some of the citys hottest guitar rock.", says the Austin Chronicle. Creating music that brings his blues roots to the cutting edge with funk, hard-rock and melodic undertones. Van Wilks has toured nationally and internationally with such acts as ZZ Top (whose Billy Gibbons is one of Vans biggest supporters) and torn the roof off nightclubs and concert halls from Lubbock, Texas , the Virgin Islands, Moscow, Paris, Madrid, and countless points all over Europe

And finally, to take the show in a contrasting direction, we'll play a few tunes with Porter Davis. An acoustic ensemble with percussion, harmonica, acoustic guitar and vocals, Porter davis brings an amazing amount of emotion and sound from just three players.

Underneath the feel-good grooves, the expressive and honest lyrics, and the smooth 3-part harmonies, their music is founded on a deep appreciation for their musical roots. Before every performance, Dan, Mike, and Simon toast to the show, and pour a sip on the floor in reverence to the musical heroes who have come before them. Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Townes Van Zandt, Muddy Waters, and Little Walter are all among the names honored each time the guys take the stage. This is a tradition Dan and Mike picked up during their studies in Ghana, West Africa in 2004. Chances are you will be gripped by Mike's innovative and unique choice of percussion instruments. Staying true to his beliefs, he draws the instruments, rhythms, and techniques entirely from their Brazilian and African roots.

We'll also have the honor of James Polk's and Kaz Kazzanoff's playing in the band.

James Polk (piano) has been in the music industry for forty years. During a ten-year stint on the West Coast, he was writer-arranger for Ray Charles, the Platters, and many others. He has been nominated for two Grammy Awards for his work with Ray Charles. Locally, Mr. Polk performs with Tony Campise, Alex Coke, and many others.

Saxophonist Mark 'Kaz' Kazanoff is well known to blues, rhythm-and-blues, and jazz fans around the world. Kaz has contributed horn arrangements, saxophone and harmonica solos, and original songs to more than 130 record albums over the last 25 years. While with the Antone's house band, Kaz recorded a number of fine records with the Antone's Record label, including work with Angela Strehli, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Marcia Ball, Lou Ann Barton, Memphis Slim, Doug Sahm, Lavelle White, Pinetop Perkins, and James Cotton

Please join us on March 23rd for a snapshot of Austin Blues with the Strings Attached touch.

random thoughts at 2am about "the process"

2005-09-13T16:43:00.000-07:00

in the last four years of presenting collaboration concerts at the church in Austin Texas
i've seen so many people truly become connected and alive from hearing our music that i'm continualy inspired to keep doing this every month.

they often ask what it is I do and how exactly does it affect the songs

songwriting and composing instrumental music share the art of storytelling

while songs in themselves can be more concrete in their communication since they employ verbal language, instrumental music is abstract and is able to communicate raw emotion, character and dymanics – more is left open to the imagination of the be-hearer

Listeners really "feel" - but don't necessarily anylyse it or make cognitive connections . that's why music is often called the universal language? one doesn't need to think in order for the soul to receive its gifts

so the fun challenge i face with each guest artist is to create arrangement road maps that pull the listerner into the song emotionally and amplify or in some cases exagerate the character and/or mood of a song. At the same time that i'm designing these "master" road maps, i allow ample room for the strengths of my musicians to add their own personal majic. majic that most times is improvised and comes to life as a result of the chemistry between the band and guest artist - in a way each new collaboration is like the romance period in a new relationship - the inherent risk in this process pushes the guest to reach out creatively into new musical territory

it is through this process that we leave a musical signature on each artist's song or in a way re-envision the presentation of their stories.