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        The Official Newsletter of WWW.ARTISTINSANE.COM

 

 

Thanks for reading this issue of Mil Mania!  And, remember, this is a work in progress, subject to many and varied changes — all adding up to a new and improved publication...so I hope!  Please drop me a line to let me know what you think, including any and all suggestions.  Thank you!!!

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All Content Written By Mil Scott Unless Otherwise Noted

© Mil Scott                                                                                                                             www.artistinsane.com

Welcome To The June
                       Issue of Mil Mania!

       Volume 3, Issue 5 June 2007

 

Music Mayhem    

As noted in the December 2005 edition of Mil Mania, I continue to include news in every issue to keep readers up to date on the latest happenings with the three acts most prominently featured on www.artistinsane.com. However, I now also choose one additional artist — in some cases a new discovery I’ve recently made, in others an individual or group whose work I’ve long appreciated — to make a one-time appearance here.  And, as with all aspects of Mil Mania, feel free to offer suggestions.

 

This month’s featured artist:

 

Dave Rounsaville — If
you read last month’s
“Molly Madvises” col-
umn you’re aware of
one Mil Mania sub-
scriber’s pre-teen crush
on The Monkees’ Davy
 Jones… and the fact a budding genuine love of music played a part in that attraction. 
     Well, the truth is, I had a pre-teen crush on a musician myself.  But he wasn’t someone famous or a mere icon to be worshipped from afar.  He was the contributor of the recollections about my dad featured in this month’s “Temporary Insanity” column — and a great family friend.  And, like the reader noted above, my appreciation for him even at that early age was more than an infatuation; it, too was founded in an appreciation for the music he shared and the true artist behind it. 

     I’d never heard the official term “house concert” when I first started hearing his work.  But, without payment of any kind beyond a meal and an evening with our family, he graced us for hours with his versatile guitar playing and the varied colors of his innately beautiful (and beautifully developed) voice.  And, I do mean hours — truly I think we redefined the term “making one sing for his supper”!

     Sure, there were the usual heart flutters of a young girl involved in these evenings for me...in fact, my mom had a photo she’d taken during one of his performances blown up into a 3x4 ft. poster, which he subsequently autographed and which long occupied a place of honor on my bedroom wall.  But there were also countless cassette-recordings of the great music he shared which likewise long occupied my portable tape player — because the art he created was indeed every bit as fantastic to me as the artist himself.

     Of course, that was many years ago, and much maturity and change has taken place for all of us in the interim.  And, as happens by virtue of life’s busyness, I lost any form of regular touch with Dave for a time period so embarrassingly long it makes me squirm (even more than the memory of not wanting to wash my face for days after he once kissed me on the cheek).  When I wrote about my dad last year, however, he responded with the comments I shared in the July ‘06 issue, and indeed it was a joy to reconnect.  The one comment I didn’t share there was his memory of those dinners and evenings of music, about which he said… “You guys made me feel like a 'Star'!”  My response was… “indeed you always were a star in our house...and ever remain one in my book”.  Still true.

     After all, like begets liking and talented people enjoy other talented people...in other words, the fact my (as Dave described him and I, too believe) “genius” dad valued him so highly — high enough to bring him home for dinner — speaks for itself.  Yup, there’s no question “Charlie” knew his stuff!

     To add just a bit about Dave’s work, I think his own words on the topic most perfectly sum it up…“I...love to 'interpret' and cover material already out there...there's so much in the 'Americana' genre as well as old hymns too... To perform the songs that touch people is one of the greatest joys of my life and, to live my life through song gives people a glimpse of the person I am.”

     To learn more, check out his performance schedule, photos, CD’s etc., visit his website at www.daverounsaville.com.

 

P.S.  The guitar you hear me playing for the song “Will” on my myspace page was bought (back during the days described above) by my parents on Dave’s recommendation...just one  more testament to his enduring musical influence. 

 

……………………..

 

Third Eye Blind is taking a break in June as noted last month.  They resume a limited performance schedule in July.

Brian Fitzpatrick had a couple comments on his section of the May issue of Mil Mania.  Here’s what he had to say… “Love what you said in the newsletter [about The Underpass]… Thanks for posting that article! Awesome of you to do!” 

     As I responded, truly it was my pleasure.  And, this month it’s my pleasure to offer a link to yet another fantastic article...this one a well deserved bit of praise about Brian’s work at the West Milford venue Big John’s Pub.  Click Here.  Also, both articles are linked to the new Brian Fitzpatrick Press Page just added to my website.   I look forward to more reviews for inclusion there in the days ahead.

     Lastly, be sure to keep an eye on Brian’s myspace page for his tour schedule, which currently notes select days in July and August — sure to garner great reviews themselves!  I very much hope to be at one of these shows so watch for a review page on my website and announcement of that here in the next issue.

 

    

Michael McDermott recently performed a private party at Davenports in Chicago.  And if you weren’t on the guestlist (I wasn’t either, so that’s not gloating... BUT — Mil Mania subscribers are everywhere!!!) you can check out the setlist here.  What’s more he has a very full tour schedule of (public) shows over the summer.  Go to myspace.com or the official Michael McDermott website for more details.
     In other news, the 6th Annual Michael McDermott Birthday Celebration will indeed be kicking off in early July.  I don’t yet have a target date, however, for arrival of this object (once finished) as Michael will be performing in England during late August.  So, the celebration will either need to be several days early or several days late...I’ll make a web page with additional info, including an accordingly adjusted submission deadline as soon as I know more myself.
     More info is also forthcoming with regard to CD release parties for the new album — yes, that term is plural as special shows to mark the occasion are planned for both Chicago and Philadelphia.
     In other “words” lots more “noise from” the Michael McDermott world is coming soon.  Check the New Madness page of artistinsane.com for (particularly b’day project) updates in the days ahead.
    
P.S.  This just in: you can now pre-order hard copies of the CD here.