The Rick Spreitzer Trio has lately become a One More-O and consists of
Kevin Edwards (and his Martin arsenal) 1990's Martin 000-28 and a 1970's D-35 cannon. JD Wilson: Tacoma mandolin, Regal dobro, Guild Mark-series classical and any number of Guild acoustics. Angelo Melendez on a bumble bee yellow Fender electric and Michael Kelly acoustic fretless bass. Me: Montana-built Gibson J-45 (with a K&K Pure Western pick up), a pair of heavenly Composite Acoustics guitars, Godin Multiac Nylon SA and LGX-SA electric, Olympia Dulcimer Bass Walkabout (bass dulcimer) and a Tom Yocky lap dulcimer (named "Soulful" by Tom).
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ARTIST ENDORSMENTS:
K&K Sound Artist of the Month June 2008.
Product endorsements include: Composite Acoustics (www.compositeacoustics.com), Godin Guitars (www.godinguitars.com), K&K Pick ups (www.kksound.com), MacNichol Guitars and Mandolins (www.macnichol.com), Olympia Dulcimer Company (www.walkaboutdulcimer.com) and Tom Yocky Dulcimer (www.tomyocky.com). I also support and endorse Mullis Music (www.mullismusic.com) and guitar repair/set up by the honest and talented, Pat Walters.
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Aside from ensemble shows with Kevin, JD and Angelo, I'm also involved in a series of "Trading Songs" gigs with the likes of Michael Reno Harrell, David Childers, Lenny Federal, Chris Cook, Terry Clarke, Mike Strauss, Tom Eure, Mike Orlando, Trip Rogers, Blaine and Leah Howard, Billy Jones, Kate Minogue, Steve Simpson, Heidi Sidelinker, Herschel Browne and others.
It's been a fun ride so far...
Influences
Woody Guthrie, Loudon Wainwright III, Guy Clark, Norman Blake, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Utah Phillips, David Childers, Malcolm Holcombe, Michael Reno Harrell, Mike Strauss, Nick Drake, Hank Williams Sr., Muddy Waters, Ali Farke Toure, Vic Chesnutt, Nels Anders, Tim O'Brien, Alejandro Escovedo, Bill Morrissey, Snake Chapman, Alex Hall, Neil Young, Eric Andersen, Johnny Cash, Al Grierson, Tom Paxton, old J. Geils Band, the Nighthawks, Hank Aaron, Pete Rose, Carl Jung, Black Elk, those who walked the Trail of Tears, Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemmingway, Carl Sandburg, Hunter S. Thompson, B. Kliban, anyone who's ever worked harder with their hands than their mouth, those who suffer with mental illness, my dogs Bialy and Amber, the late great Willie the cat, the almost invisible kindnesses found in chance meetings and the smiles of strangers, murder ballads, old time music, unadulterated blues, old tools, puppies feet, missing teeth and that ever-shifting ether that gets young fools in trouble and makes old fools write about it all.
***You can buy Rick Spreitzer's 3 CDs (From the Bottom, 2006; Dirt Tracks, 2004; Meanderthal, 2002) from his website at www.rickspreitzer.com, CD Baby or download tracks from any number of online sites.
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My friend, Therese Bartholemew is making a documentary film about the tragic murder of her brother, Steve. You can read more about the documentary, view the film's trailer and make a donation to the project by going to www.thefinalgiftfilm.com. My song, NO IDEA if featured in the trailer.
As a way to help raise money for the project, I'm donating $5 for every copy of FROM THE BOTTOM sold (online or at our live shows).
Please pass this along news of this film to your friends. Steve was a friend of ours (as is Therese) and his story, as told by Therese, is a powerful one that is guarranteed to move you.
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***Rick Spreitzer beats a guitar like an old man cleaning a dirty rug. He sings like nobodys angel. But if you spend any time with his songs, youre struck by the poetry that sleeps within battered and blue lines slung from a bruised chest and a sideways grin.
***There is a certain romance in seeking ballast through the bad luck and blue changes. When it comes to writing, I am driven to carve out songs that have pieces of poetry, a sense of space and real emotional gravity that really draw you in.
***"Rick is a wonderful singer songwriter - his songs are simply structured and beautifully constructed. He is a poet in the sense that Bob Dylan is a poet. To be specific: Roll Back and 1,2,3 are such wonderfully happy tunes- I can't imagine anyone not feeling better for having heard them. No Idea and Ghosts of Natchez are beautifully poignant- reminding me of his earlier Panhandler Stomp- probably my all time favorite Rick Spreitzer tune. Back to Blue is a love song with a twist- love that keeps on trying- while Motel Prayer is beautifully erotic. From the Bottom and The Serpent & Henry Gray evoke dark & mysterious moods and are great songs in their own right." ~Charlie V. WSGE 91.7FM
***"Music with generous grit and unsupervised emotional release... a good workhorse with energetic gait that makes the picture come alive." ~Eddie Russell/Outlaw for Peace, Jolly Roger Radio International
***"Most young songwriters don't dig deep enough to get to the real song. Rick is a digging machine." ~Michael Reno Harrell
***"Listening to his songs is like watching a movie. The way he phrases lyrics with such texture will have you hearing something new with each listen." ~Christy Snow
Looks to be a big weekend - I'd like to read Therese's book some time. Just getting over the big, bad flu here..it waited 'til late Spring to get me. Someone gave me a great cup of coffee and I couldn't even taste it, uff da! JoLynn
love the new pic--i'd almost forgoten how damn cute you are!! :)
nah, but seriously... hope all's well with the fam.
are you feelin what i am, with this whole change of seasons? the cool, the sweeping wind, the color-- it's got this way of turning me inside out... and i'm enjoying the whole experience of me, in the raw, once again.
Happy Birthday once again, dear friend. Here's to a year of brand new, fresh beginnings, in whatever form they take and wherever they may lead. Thanks for sharing some of that road with me. xo
Say it ain't so,Rick..the last game in Yankee Stadium!?
You & Kevin have a wonderful time playing the Flat Rock Festival stage this weekend..wish I could be in that audience! Oh, and have a blast hosting that Open Mic as well. Sounds like a lot of fun, actually. (o: Safe travels, JoLynn
hey rick, great night last night! really had a blast. until i got to my car and found it had been booted! all for a $3 meter.
anyway, y'all were about the most hospital folks (minus the parking authority) a guy could want to meet. we'll definitely do this down the line sometime.
Thank you, Rick! Oh, I'm biting down hard and chewing away - and looking forward to more sweet feed and choice fodder from your direction, oh prolific one! Rake away, JoLynn
Just stopped by to say thanks again for thinking of me, Rick. There will be a day when we'll get to share a stage, and it's gonna be worth the wait. "From the Bottom" is as good as it gets, man. Peace.
You will be happy to know that my photographer friend, Eddie, finally slowed down long enough to actually LISTEN to your music. (It didn't hurt that I left "Dirt Tracks" playing in the car with him inside while I got out to run a lengthy errand..)
In any case, later, as we were listening while finishing up the driving errands for the day he says, "Wow - this guy's GOOD! I really like his voice and how he plays and everything. Who is he and and can I get this album? This guy writes really great songs - wow!". He really "gets" it. (It's about dang time, too..I've only been going on and on about your music for two years..) Eddie's also heard your EP, and likes that too - especially one particular song on it. Two more albums for him to listen to, and I think you'll have to send another set this way! I'll let you know when he's ready and able.
Say hi to Bongo for me at Summit Coffees Saturday night! (o;
Ha - and you thought nobody reads this stuff! Ah, but you forget - you have friends in far away places; all we CAN do is to read about those lucky locals who get to hear you Live! (I just pop another Rick Spreitzer into the CD player and dream..it's a pitiful way to live, I know...)
