{"id":71,"date":"2008-09-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-09-22T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2010-10-29T16:25:25","modified_gmt":"2010-10-29T21:25:25","slug":"herding_the_hydra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.michaelgaither.com\/home\/herding_the_hydra\/","title":{"rendered":"Herding the Hydra"},"content":{"rendered":"

It started with being a music fan. Then I started playing. And singing. And writing. And recording. And then not too long after finishing my first CD<\/a>, I started interviewing other artists and posting the audio here (and in iTunes) in my “Songs and Stories”<\/a> podcast. Over the weekend, my new friend “Stryng”, a fellow songwriter, asked me what I wanted out of music. My honest answer, “I don’t know”. I know you’re supposed to have goals. Sometimes, though, just moving along whatever you’re creating is pretty darned satisfying, too.<\/p>\n

Lately, the best analogy I can equate my little music path to is a very benevolent, multi-headed hydra<\/a>. One head is the songs. Another is taking the tunes out to play them for other people. Still another is this opportunity I now have to interview other artists.<\/p>\n

I’d say that everything was going according to the plan. If I had a plan.<\/p>\n

This past weekend, I herded the hydra up to Coloma, California to attend the second annual American River Music Festival<\/a>, a three-day event that marries rafting and hiking, two full days of music, camping in nearby campgrounds, music at each campground’s lodge every evening, a VERY efficient shuttle service between venues, and a chance to see great music in a very intimate setting, all the while making new friends in the process. Not a bad way to spend a few days.<\/p>\n

I worked “security” on Sunday. Here’s a shot of me and my pal Tommy keeping the back forty clear of giant inflatable beach balls who entered the venue without wristbands:<\/p>\n

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\nClick here for more American River Music Festival photos<\/strong><\/a>
\nThis year featured artists I know well (Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams<\/a>, Keith Greeninger<\/a> and Dayan Kai<\/a>) and many I was very glad to have seen for the first time (Ray Bonneville<\/a>, The Refugees<\/a>). I was also happy to meet bay area artist Dana Hubbard<\/a> and (all the way from England) Stryng and her bandmate Martin<\/a>. Keep checking the web site here<\/a>. You’ll hear more from them in a “Songs and Stories” interview very soon.<\/p>\n

I have a lot more to say about this wonderful little fest, including a follow up interview I did with Joziah Longo about Gandalf Murphy’s new record, and lots of audio I recorded during our late-night song circle back in camp featuring me, Stryng, Dana, Greg Kitchell, Rob Hastings, Tommy Sellers, and a security guard who told us we were up way too late past Quiet Time. And if you’re wondering, yes I recorded us being reprimanded, and yes you’ll definitely hear it on the podcast.<\/p>\n

For now, however, I’m being summoned by the “job that pays for the other job” (that would be the darker head on the hydra). More to come on a recap of the American River Music Festival. Promise.<\/p>\n

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www.michaelgaither.com<\/a><\/p>\n