Judith Avers: Home

Hello! 

I am in beautiful Colorado and loving it - the sunshine, the mountains, the clean air, the    S   P   A   C  E  .....

it is heavenly. 

The shows have been great and the people....even better. 

I wanted to let you know that I added another show to the schedule - this Sunday I will be playing the Unity Church of Ft. Collins, CO. 

I love this place and would LOVE seeing you there.  Please check the tour schedule for complete details.

Tour de Fat is this Saturday!!  Can't wait!

Hope you are happy and content exactly where you are - thanks for being here,

Judith

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood - a beautiful day to be neighbors,

Would. You. Be. Mine?  

Hello from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - I hope this finds you feeling mighty fine.  I rushed home from my morning walk to write a little here - I got inspired.

It all started when my friend lent me her iPod.  That's right - we are CONSIDERING buying one and actually transferring our discs over.  It freaks me out - truthfully-but I am listening to less and less music as technology gets more and more advanced. 

I digress.

I've been listening to this iPod or jamming out in our car (which only has a discman to play CD's) and my batteries kept running out yesterday.  So I turned on the radio.  It was late.  We had just went to a  beautiful open mic at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh and our dear friend Laurie just finished taking her Boards exam for medical school - we were celebrating.  I needed to dance.  Frances needed to dance.  Laurie needed to dance.  So inspite of me losing major cool points with the hipsters and folk fans alike - pop music was the ONLY answer.  Yes.  I listened to it.  And I'm not ashamed.  (Anymore)  And this is why:

I'm a lyric snob.  I want the music I listen to- to be so good that I feel like a failure at writing, playing and singing.  I want to literally quit music after each concert I attend - that's how good I like it.  It inspires me and keeps me focused on trying to improve and not just settle for some sappy crap.  It helps me to feel this pain.  Truly. 

I listened to NPR like any self-respecting folkie would.  I do.  BUT...last night I needed more.  I didn't want to connect with the organic farmer in Iowa who is experimenting with a cacti that will improve the taste and quality of his soybeans.  I wanted to shake my booty.  And I did. 

We were driving in South Side and got stuck in a bit of traffic and were dancing like crazy in our car to some pop song that sounded like any other pop song - goofy lyrics and over synthesized vocals- when it happened.  A lovely gentleman was on the street waiting for the bus, saw us dancing and then he started dancing.  The car in front started bopping along and then the car behind us (a lone female with a disability sticker)  started dancing too. 

The light turned green.  We all waved and danced along our own seperate paths. 
I know this happens to other people.  I am not naive enough to believe that this is a first - in any way-  and we've been car dancing for years, but it WAS a good reminder for me.

I've been noticing a touch of cynnicism creeping up.  A judgemental tendency that I don't like.  A little bit of a darkness.  Maybe I have been reading the news too much.  Maybe I'm tired.  Maybe I'm adjusting to a new place and that's my initial response - I don't know.  But dancing with those strangers reminded me of a goodness.  EVEN in something as silly as pop music.  Who am I to judge it?  Why do I do that so much?

Truthfully - when was the last time that NPR got your booty shaking?  I'm not saying that I won't be listening to NPR - I love it and won't stop - but I am saying that I'm going to ease up on the criticisms.  Dancing last night was just the thing I needed to get out of my funk and to celebrate with my sweetie and our friend. 

In the words of Katy Perry:  "It felt so wrong, It felt so right"

and it did.

I Will be in Colorado next week - hope to see you there!

Love,
Judith

Well hello lovely folk! 

Thanks for stopping by.  I am home safe and sound from a successful and beautiful Nettlefest.  A small but mighty crowd, yes, but more importantly...the music was AMAZING.  Mary Gauthier, The Honey Dewdrops, Shaun Cromwell, Larry and Jenny Keel and MORE.  What an amazing day of music.  Makes me so happy to be a musician.

If you've been following this for any amount of time, you will have noticed that I've been focusing on some major changes in my part of the woods.  Moving to a new town, graduation (Frances'), a wedding (yeah!), teaching at High Rocks camp (music production) and organizing Nettlefest.  It has been very important and very fulfilling to work on all of these thngs, but it meant that my music has had to be put on hold a bit.  (My own choice of course.) 

The time has come for me to re-focus on what is next in my life and that is:  making two new records and getting acquainted musically and personally with our new city:  Pittsburgh! 

I'm so excited to figure out how to get these albums made and will fill you in as I know more.  I can't wait to share some of the new material with anyone who is interested and I cannot wait to submerge myself in the beautiful city of Pittsburgh. 

I just added a couple of cool shows to the calendar and hope to see you soon!

See you out there,
Judith