Rick Spreitzer: home schooled rhythm guitar (on a Composite Acoustics Performer GX, et al...)
Kevin Edwards: kick-ass lead acoustic guitar (on a '73 Martin D-35)
JD Wilson: mandolin, mandola and regional humor (on Tacoma mandolins)
Angelo Melendez: bass and emotional ballast (on a rebuilt Fender Jazz)
Jordan Marshall: percussion and bare feet
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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), Mullis Music (www.mullismusic.com), Olympia Dulcimer Company (www.walkaboutdulcimer.com), Kala Ukulele Company (www.kalaukulele.com) and Tom Yocky Dulcimer
(www.tomyocky.com). I also support and endorse guitar repair/set up by the honest and talented, Pat Walters. Last but not least, much thanks to Laurie Koster (www.lauriekoster.com) for the tremendous work on the website (www.rickspreitzer.com). Thanks to her talent and hard work, we won best artist website at the Charlotte Music Awards (2008).
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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.
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Finally, I'm hosting a series of concerts where I work, Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center (www.anuvia.org). The mission is to bring live, regional acoustic music to the Charlotte recovery community. These concerts are always free, open to the public and the musicians are kind enough to donate their time and talents. If you're interested in being a part of this (as a musician or volunteer), please shoot me an email at Rspreitzer@bellsouth.net.
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 dog Amber, departed and beloved pets who have passed on: Willie, Freida the cats and our sweet, sweet boy, 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.
***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
Something very special happened on this day way back when..and I bet it started with the first song ever to come from your mouth! Have a lovely day celebrating you in any fashion you please - I'm glad that you were born, Rick. Thanks for slinging your songs my way (way over here west of the Mississippi) - much appreciated, friend! Smiles and such, JoLynn
My Goddaughty, Josie (another Rick Spreitzer fan), is joining the Coast Guard on Tuesday and says she'll learn to fight fires, amongst other things. I wonder if she'll eventually hear you on that sampler for the troupes..
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.
