Hogwarts on the Mississippi

By Martin McCormack

Magic: The power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces

Last fall, at the gentle urging of my wife, we headed to the theater to catch the last Harry Potter movie.  Having never read the books, I nonetheless was entertained by the whole fixation with magic during the movie:  people pointing wands at others and making huge fireballs of blue light and of course the juxtaposition of good versus evil.  Good wins out in the end and we muggles are none the wiser for it.
  
As children’s entertainment the movie was great.  But I left the theater feeling frustrated that magic is presented as something that is almost unattainable, especially if you’re an ordinary mugwump of a muggle.  Also, I think most moviegoers would believe that magic is just a special effect or a simple trick. 

Magic is here. It is not in the hands of magicians but in the minds of musicians and specifically songwriters.  Recently I was told the story of Sixto Rodriguez, a musician who had a couple of albums out during the 60’s and was basically considered a has-been.  The records he penned though resonated with people and unbeknownst to him were picked up by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.  Several of his songs became anthems that literally united the movement that brought down the regime.  He didn’t even know that he had platinum records until his daughter came across a website set up by ardent South African fans to find out what had happened to him. Had he never known his belated fame, it would not have mattered, for the result was the same. Sixto, an ordinary muggle, created magic.
                         
Of course, this magic has happened before.  Julia Ward Howe is a name that most people have never heard, yet she created magic that changed the face of America.  During the Civil War, Howe heard a melody that was being sung by the Union Troops.  The melody was Canaan’s Happy Shore turned into a parody called John Brown’s Body.  Ward heard a division of soldiers singing the tune as they were tramping by her home in Kentucky.  She went to bed and during the early morning, she awakened and, according to her book Reminiscences, said that she started to write a song.  She realized that she had to get up and put it on paper “lest I fall asleep again and forget them.  I sprang out of bed and found in the dimness an old stump of a pen which I remembered to have used the day before.” She wrote down one of the most influential songs of that era and the Civil Rights era, The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

The power to change life as we know it exists in each of us.  If magic is using the means of channeling mysterious or supernatural forces to create change, then the songwriter is more of a magician than any Harry Potter.
  
And it doesn’t have to be an anthem to change the world either.  “Heartbreak Hotel” was written by Tommy Durden and Mae Boren Axten.  The lyrics were based on a true story of a young man who killed himself over a lost love.  It took one Elvis Presley to sing it, true, but it was the song itself that launched a whole new era of Rock n’ Roll.  A young man listening to that song on Radio Luxembourg was so transfixed that he started penning songs to influence other people.  His name was John Lennon.

Some magicians are lighthearted Merlins.  Their magic-making is just as important for bringing joy into the world.  When a hip hop musician who goes by the name Baauer released a song called Harlem Shake, it went viral on the internet.   As far as lyrics go? Well, growling lions and samplings of lyrics from other songs, which by themselves are as nonsensical as a Bob Dylan tune.  But it is now a meme on the internet, with people doing various renditions of the song and dancing to it.  A crew of Australian miners was actually fired for doing their version several hundred feet underground.  Baauer’s magic brought people around the world just that much closer.  He magically transformed everyday adults back into children.  Powerful stuff. 

Songwriting is magic.  It is an art in which one channels the power necessary to change life as we know it.  That magic resides in each of us.  And each of us needs to get that magic working.
  
That is why each April we have, for muggles everywhere, the Songwriters Weekend at our own Hogwarts on the Mississippi, the Four Mounds Estate.  We tap into the natural beauty of the river and the surrounding highlands.  We look to each other for support as we explore what words can mingle with what melody.  People of all ages who come from all walks of life suddenly are transformed into magicians with the ability to create one of the most powerful elements on earth, a song.  Our magic wands?  Guitars, computers, pens, paper, harmonicas, zithers, and our voices.

This year we have Kevin Gordon joining us as our head songwriter.   Kevin has written songs that have been covered by people such as the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards.  To watch Kevin perform his music is magic in itself; to have the chance to talk to him about creating songs will be an even greater opportunity for us aspiring magicians. 
 
We also make it very clear that one can attend and just enjoy the making of this magic in and of itself.  For in order for magic to succeed there have to be people willing to accept this magic.  The world is as much in need of song lovers as it is of songwriters.  Being at this weekend allows us all to participate in the joy of making music.  And making magic that even Harry Potter would envy.

WayGoodMusic.com

Kissing Ten Women

Takeshi Horiuchi has toured over the years with Brian and Marty.  Originally working in the US, he has since returned to Fujinomiya, Japan.  That hasn’t stopped his love of music and frequent trips back to join Switchback on stage.  Brian and Marty respect Takeshi-san’s’ mastery of the Irish drum called the bodhran and announce him to audiences as “the greatest bodhran player in all of Asia,”  to which Takeshi replies..."As far as we know.”  Below are his thoughts on the Prairie Tour last month that covered travel over five states with 17 shows, in just a day shy of two weeks.

This was the first tour I was to do with Switchback.  Brian and Marty are good friends of mine that I have known for eight years since we first met in Rochester, Minnesota, at the pub Whistle Binkies.  In the past when I came to visit and play with the band, usually for Th’ Gatherin’ in WaKeeney, Kansas, I would fly into the country, rent a car, and drive to meet them.   This was the first time that I would travel in the van and play 17 shows with the band in two weeks.  So I was a bit worried about our relationships at first. How would we be able to get along without a collision of personalities?   We survived and I found that we only had minor collisions of personalities.  We could handle those and we did have a great time.   I am happy to say that we ended the tour still friends and that my traveling with Marty–san and Brian-san did not result in the end of Switchback either!

The biggest surprise on this tour was Th’ Gatherin’.  This year, unfortunately, Th’ Gatherin’ was cancelled.  In its place we had a private “Baby Gatherin’.”  We had a house concert at the home of Seamus Cleland in WaKeeney.  I asked Marty and Brian what was happening with Th’ Gatherin’ as we headed out toward Kansas.  Both of them did not know what was to be expected and so I was feeling pretty sad as for six years I had made the trip from Japan to this place of wild weather and nice people.

I thought I wouldn’t see so many of the friends I had made over the years.  Happily for me, the Baby Gatherin’ was almost everything I expected.  My friends, like the Harveys, Dave from Hays, and George and Margaret from Scotland all came!  I realized that Th’ Gatherin’ was not about the Highland games or the bonfires.  It was like Thanksgiving or Christmas in that the people would come together once a year, enjoy music, and have a great time.  And we did.

We played what Switchback calls Community Outreach Programs.  Almost all of these gigs would have us traveling to a small town and playing at a local retirement community.  Our aim was to give such people some happy times and an enjoyable show.   Some of the places were extremely interesting to play as I discovered that some residents had very little reaction to the music.  Usually playing music is fun and enjoyable, but in this case, the music was more of a challenge.  I felt sorry that it seemed to me that these elderly people really need our music to remind them of the enjoyment of life.  We would play several Community Outreach Programs a day when traveling.  I had never felt that physically tired before.  Giving these people a good time was rewarding though, even if it meant looking for a tiny reaction.  It meant my music reached them and I was glad.

We played one place on my 50th birthday.  Marty mentioned that it was my birthday to the audience and all of the sudden the people started singing “Happy Birthday” to me all by themselves.  They even said my name right, which was a big surprise.  It was very much a gift from the people and I was very happy.

Because I played so many of these gigs with Switchback on this tour, I think I can tell what the energy will be, even before a show starts.  When I mentioned this to Marty he said, “Takeshi-san, now you are truly a musician.”  So it showed me that Switchback knew about energy and how to play these types of shows.

I also experienced how dangerous traveling on a tour can be.  I was driving the Switchback van about 80 miles north of Kansas City and with our speed at 75 miles an hour when I heard this strange noise.  At first I thought it was a motorcycle rider coming up on my side, the noise and vibration were that big.  Soon after I knew something was wrong with the van and I tried to stop on the side of the road.  Marty helped by reaching over and canceling the auto drive and told me to take the foot off the brake and let the van roll to a stop.  When I got out of the van, I found the right rear tire had blown out very badly.  

I didn’t know what to do, but Switchback was able to call for help and two hours later we were back on the road.  We had left at 5 a.m. and so our arrival in Chicago was going to be right in rush hour.  But I also thought perfect timing happened here, as we had the accident on the day when there were no shows.  We also didn’t leave after the show the night before and travel through the night.   If we had lost the tire on a curve in Kansas City that morning with all the traffic, it could have been worse.   So we were lucky.   I think it shows how important keeping the van in good condition is.  Perhaps many fans do not realize how hard traveling is on a vehicle as well as on Brian and Marty.   We laughed about it, but I also felt that we could have not been laughing, too.

On this tour, I had the chance to listen to the rough tracks of “Kanoka.”  I enjoyed these very much and I think people will love this new album.  I also found that playing JR’s Down Under in Buffalo, Minnesota, was extremely fun as the people were very nice, we made new fans, and I had to play on top of a table!  One man asked me when was the last time I had to play on a table, and I told him this was my first time! But I was surprised that the next week at a concert in Great Bend, I was back again on top of a table so people could see me play the bodhran.

I was also very surprised at Oak Center when Steve (who runs the Oak Center) didn’t make his usual political speech before the show.  I told our percussionist Nick, who had never been to Minnesota, to watch Steve as he was about to give a big political speech, and here he was, talking about planting vegetables.  I was actually disappointed that Nick didn’t have the chance to hear Steve go on and on about American politics!  That’s a tradition at the Oak Center.

Nick wasn’t able to go to Kansas with us because he said he had work to do.  But I was thinking he may another reason as he mentioned that he just started dating a girl.  Brian joked in front of Nick that I was the most reliable musician he has ever worked with because I show up on time all the way from Japan!  I think Nick is a great musician and we had a good time riding together through Minnesota during the tour and having some beers at the Buffalo Tap.  But I think when we were drinking together his mind was on a very special lady.  I saw her picture and she’s very pretty.  I told Nick she looks like a fairy from the woods.  Good for a city boy from Chicago!

One thing I can’t understand about Switchback is how they eat.  For example, we ended up eating twice on the same day at the same restaurant in Great Bend at a place called Treaders.  I also thought it funny that they didn’t drink alcohol, but instead drank coffee and were very picky about what coffee to drink.  They even brought their own coffee maker!

Not all the tour is working.  We managed to get to the Sternberg Museum in Hays for a very quick visit.  However, we only spent about 20 minutes there before we had to leave.  Later, I went back to the museum (Switchback was taking a nap in the van before a show) and talked to the cute woman who was charging admission.  She allowed me to tour the museum for free as it was near closing time.  Or maybe she liked me, I hope.   I was really happy when Brian and Marty gave me a shirt from the museum that had an image of a fossil fish that had eaten another fish on it.  That fossil was found near the museum from a time when Kansas was an ocean.   It was a great birthday present.

Finally the best part of the tour (and I mean this with sarcasm, a word Brian taught me) was the daily harassment from these two guys!  For example, they took funny pictures of me and put them on the Facebook site, especially the one with me holding two bags of cookies.  I didn’t get to eat any of them.  Also, they made me sing “Sukiyaki” at the retirement homes.  I am a very shy guy, I mean it!  A big harassment was at the Baby Gatherin’.  Marty and Brian had me take a solo and then left me on the stage alone.  I had to solo a very long time before I realized they were not coming back!

And the biggest harassment was when Marty announced to the audience, “Takeshi is turning 50 years old and has never been kissed yet.”  I was then met by ten women who came running up to kiss me.  I felt harassed, not by the women, but by Switchback.  All I can say is when the day comes that Switchback tours Japan, I will make all the women kiss them!

2012 Songwriters Weekend Recap

Last month, my husband David and I were lucky enough to attend the Switchback Songwriters Weekend.  Not only did we get the benefit of being part of such a rewarding weekend, but we got to spend it at the Four Mounds Inn in a secluded area off in its own little world near the Mississippi River.  Switchback fans, if you have not been there, I would strongly suggest you attend next year! It gets your juices going, and for those people that think they cannot write a song, you will find that you can do it! I have firsthand experience with that. I actually participated this year and came away with my own song called Butterflies and Flowers. 

The assignment was to 1) pick a movie you have seen quite recently that just stuck with you for some reason or another.  Well, I happen to love the movie My Cousin Vinnie.  2) Pick something that represents you. I picked butterflies and flowers:  butterflies because I like everything, and flowers because gardening is something I love to do! J  The ironic part of this whole story that no one from the weekend knows is that one other idea I had written down is the leather jacket that has just been calling my name at Starved Rock. I feel it represented me and would have fit into my song, but I ended up not including it.  I guess if I wanted to, I could try to rewrite it somehow.

Day 1

Being first time travelers to Dubuque, Iowa, David and I decided to take the scenic route to Apple River Canyon, and it was so beautiful! We may go camping there sometime in the fall. On Highway 20 to Galena we found a neat little restaurant in the business district called Dirty Gurt’s. I would give it four stars.  We would definitely go back there again.

Once we arrived in Dubuque, David and I decided to go off on our own and seek out the best dinner spot in the area. It was the Dubuque Star Brewery right on the Mississippi River.  Again, another great place to tell our friends about!  After dinner, we arrived at Four Mounds Inn where we enjoyed a wine and cheese reception with a “passing of the guitar” with the other guests.  This was intended as a way to get to know one another.  Each person played some type of song or was asked to sing whatever they wanted. 

Day 2

David woke up before I did and had already written three songs. I decided to go for a walk before breakfast, and it was so beautiful that morning. What a gorgeous sunrise it was! It is so beautiful around the Mississippi River this time of year. I ran into Kay Shelton, another musician attending the seminar.  We were talking about bird watching, and that got me thinking about writing another song and how to go about it. I have the idea but for now it is just a work in progress.  After breakfast, we all sat around the breakfast tables as we were given our assignments.  Then we were able to go off until noon and if we needed any help, we could ask any of the four songwriters who would be available for consultation.  I took full advantage of that once I wrote my first draft.  I showed Marty and he told me to talk to Scott who gave me a different perspective on how to write a song.  You have to end it somewhere and then write at least three pages of ideas because those are your foundation even if you do not use them.  You then have them for a song composition later. They will always be your ideas!  I felt as if everyone had a different idea for my song as I was going through this process.  I wanted my song to be about a gangster who had a soft side and asked for forgiveness because she liked butterflies and flowers, and in the end her friends had to make amends. 

Later that day we scheduled consultations with the songwriters. My time was with Marty and he had me take all my papers and put them in my room, and then he asked me what I wanted my song to be about in my own words. He asked me if I had written the top part of the song which would become my refrain about butterflies and flowers. Then the first verse had to be about me, the gangster in Riverside.  Then the second verse had to be about my peeps (refrain), and the third and final verse had to be about going to St. Mary’s to ask for forgiveness.  I even asked James for help and he put some words in there that really did not reflect my concept. I asked Brian if he would play it with me, and he said this did not sound right and not to come back to him until it was more my song. I had to work on that until it made sense in my own words so that I could sing it and feel comfortable. That is what writing a song is about. One thing I have learned is never to work with someone that is too close to you because that person may have a different way of thinking. This is not a bad thing -- it just sometimes does not work if you do not have the same thought process.

Day 3

I showed Marty my song and I told him I know that is not how to write a song. Marty asked how do you think you write a song?  I responded it is by writing with spaces in between as my husband does.  He said that everyone is different and that sometimes you have to take a step back from your partner, meaning David, because no one writes a song the same way as anyone else.  Then we were able to perfect our songs if we were not already done and we each performed in front of the group at 9 am. It was a round robin concert with no set order so everyone just volunteered to go and it was nice that way. It is really a rewarding and relaxing weekend as a whole, and I am glad I attended as a participant because it was a completely new experience for me. Thanks to everyone that made this weekend happen, especially Jan Hoag, our Booking Agent, who was on site to help with anything that came up. 

Being first timers in Dubuque, my husband David and I decided to go sightseeing at the Museum and Aquarium of Dubuque. We went into an actual steamboat that is a historical landmark. There is so much fascinating history in this area that we both decided we would have much more to see when we go back.

Well, it just makes me look forward to more traveling to Iowa, which brings me to my next subject, The Mayfly Dance “Dance” on June 22, 2012.  We want to fill the dance floor at TJ Hunters in Lansing, Iowa so let’s get those dancing shoes on and I hope to see you out there!  Then the day after the dance is the Mayfly Dance Cruise on the evening of June 23.  If you are interested, go to www.waygoodmusic.com for all the details. What a great way to travel down the river, listening to Switchback while looking at the beauty of nature!

You will also want to mark your calendar for September 8-9, 2012 when Switchback will debut the orchestral arrangement of “Falling Water River” at The Grand Opera House of Dubuque. Arranged and directed by Paul Hemmer, the music will be performed by the 30-piece Grand Pops Orchestra!

Best Regards,

Fan Club President of Switchback

Melissa A. Kotrba

And We Headed Off to Conjure and Write

The very first Switchback Songwriters Weekend was held at Four Mounds Inn near Dubuque on April 8 - 10. It was a great success and Marty and I found the weekend to be an invigorating and renewing experience. One of my oldest and dearest friends, Scott Momenthy, joined us. Scott and I have been friends since fifth grade. When we were in high school, he was way ahead in the songwriting game by producing his own LP. He was my inspiration. Since that time, Scott has continued to write and perform original songs and has become one of Marty's and my favorite songwriters with songs such as "Glorious Love." We were thrilled when, at the last minute, Scott was able to attend the Songwriters Weekend. When I asked him if he would be willing to share his weekend experience for this month's newsletter, he was happy to oblige.....

My name is Scott Momenthy. I have just returned from Switchback's first Songwriters Weekend. Now back in Chicago's bustling 'burbs, I reflect on a time spent among new friends atop high wooded bluffs of Dubuque, Iowa, overlooking the mighty Mississippi River.

It was tight quarters riding up in the Switchback van packed with musical gear. I wondered how Switchback could travel for years, packed like gumballs in the bottom of a kid's full pockets. Part of the secret quickly became clear as my driver Marty McCormack set me at ease with his easy laugh and homespun tales. Soon ordinary apprehensions faded as we passed by the historic river towns of Galena and Dubuque and through the stone gates of Four Mounds Inn. Cresting a hill, the enchanting mansion emerged from the winding wooded road, back-dropped by a soft uncertain sky which over the course of the weekend would shift blue and clear and at night fill periodically with magnificent stars.

One by one, our weekend companions arrived, found their rooms, and settled in for an evening snack and gentle mix-up. Slowly instruments were taken out, and we circled around the living room's fireplace. As the night settled outside, the room began to glow with songs from within. I have played in many circumstances, and yet I launched into my first song with nerves ajangling and fingers suddenly stupid. I wondered, as I set my guitar down shakily in conclusion, if anyone noticed that I had only an introductory verse. Round we went, each finding a voice. On one familiar tune, a chorus emerged with assistance, which is unique in my experience. An instrumentalist played and was joined vocally by two among us who quickly located the lyrics using our phones. Later in my cozy sleeping quarters, it occurred to me that compassion, courage, and good humor were the primary qualities which would define the nature and make possible the success of this first creative gathering.

From fields, cabins, and beds we gathered in the main dining hall for a wonderful breakfast of chilled fruit, fresh warm breads, and bacon and eggs. Full and at ease, we began our creative pursuit in earnest. Round the table one by one we offered response to a clever interview forwarded by our leader John D. Lamb, who has been conducting songwriting weekends for 16 years in Northern Michigan. Upon receiving our customized song assignments, we headed off to conjure and write. I began my note taking from a chair on a platform wedged into the bluff overlooking the river highway where I watched an entire train from engine to caboose stretching across the base of the bluff on the far bank. I followed the whistle until it faded into the sound of a moth flapping by my ear. A great circling eagle grew from a small spot in the sky, and I experienced a sense of space and perspective not possible back home. With such a fresh and dreamlike vista, imaginings quickly began to loosen and play in my mind. By lunch I was glad again for human voices.

In the afternoon, workshops were presented by Brian, Marty, and John. Brian introduced guitar techniques; Marty shared intimate tales of life on the road. John presented demonstrations of song form. I learned to view the neck of my guitar from a new perspective and play harmonics in familiar chord shapes. At one powerful moment in Brian's guitar presentation, he paused, eyes flashing electric blue, one hand suspended above his guitar, the other hand dangling from his raised arm, and index finger loosely raised as though to point toward something beyond the room walls. Leveling that distant gaze on his close listeners, he began to speak, almost somberly, of commitment. He confessed that, though knowledge and skill are cumulative, every performance remains a challenge. He spoke of incessant preparation to focus, express, and convey the inspiration and musicality of his songs. Unlike paintings and other art objects, songs are not stable. No matter how wonderful in conception, a song must be reformed and born again in the imaginations of each new listener.

I spent the rest of the afternoon sunbathing on the lawn, walking in the woods, and conversing with some of my more disciplined companions who had finished early. The staff was available for consultations. I was hung up on a precious line and melody which were going nowhere. By counseling with Marty, I was able to let it go and pull together my song shards. Later that evening after a wonderful family style supper, torches were lit to form a backyard stage. Sitting low and deep in wood-slatted, flat-armed chairs, with a gentle breeze bending the flames and lifting Marty's long locks, we were treated to an intimate musical performance by our hosts, amplified only by the beauty of Four Mounds Inn.

I won't soon forget our final morning together. We gathered in our many colors, not unlike the multitude of birds which found refuge in the Four Mounds feeders, each with an individual pace, color and call. In turn, we took a place at the head of the cleared breakfast table, bravely presenting our songs. Though performance abilities were fresh, the thoughtfulness of our creations was clear. As I listened to the songs of my friends, it occurred to me wonderfully that songwriting is akin to pioneering, and there is a direction on my compass which points inward where compassion, courage, and good humor are the primary qualities of a successful journey. These I discovered in abundance among new friends at Switchback's first Songwriters Weekend. My heartfelt thanks to the staff at Four Mounds Inn; Jan, our unshakable Switchback volunteer; John D. Lamb for his wisdom, skill, and good nature; and Switchback for an intimate welcome into their rare and valuable musical lives.

~ Scott Momenthy

A note from Brian and Marty: The Switchback Songwriters Weekend will be held again next April. Watch our website and newsletter for details! A big thank you to Scott for writing about this year's weekend.

http://www.waygoodmusic.com/

Write on about songwriting!

Switchback is offering its first songwriters weekend to take place April 8-10 at Four Mounds Inn, Dubuque, Iowa. The spring seminar will feature noted songwriter and leader of Lamb's Retreat Songwriting Weekends, John Lamb.

"So far the biggest question we have received is whether one has to be a songwriter to attend," says Marty. "Not at all! The main reason for the weekend is to offer a place where people can learn about songwriting and hone their songwriting skills. So we are hoping to get all ages and all skills from novice to professional."

Brian and Marty are very excited about John Lamb as their first guest songwriter. Lamb has been a professional musician for over 25 years. His retreats have brought in some of the most talented songwriters on the music scene today and allowed them to work one on one with people. At the same time, these professionals are also given the challenge to write a song over the weekend. Everyone collaborates and the result is a great time with an emphasis on enjoyment.

"John has made his weekends fun," says Brian. "He assigns each person a topic that he creates for the weekend. From there, the songwriter has to work in groups, with one of the songwriters and of course on their own to create their work. If they like, then it is played for everyone toward the end of the weekend. It's a no pressure, laid back situation which has everyone learning something about songwriting. We brought him to our weekend to make sure that we have the same sort of good time."

The Four Mounds Inn as a setting will certainly help with any necessary inspiration. Situated on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, it is a Dubuque Landmark Site, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area affiliate site. The estate consists of nearly 60 acres of bluffs and boasts cultured grounds, historic gardens, woodlands, prairie and rare oak savanna. The site is focused around the historic Grey House, a 1908 Arts & Crafts styled mansion designed by the Chicago architect Lawrence Buck. The cultured grounds were planned out by Chicago landscape architect A. Phelps Wyman.

The staff will offer fantastic prepared meals and accommodations are available at the historic Inn grounds for those outside of the Dubuque area.

"We hope to get about 20 people to sign up as well as some sponsors so that we can make this an annual event," says Marty. "There isn't a songwriting opportunity such as this in central Midwest. We would love to draw people to write at a wonderful place during a wonderful time of the year."

Information and reservations at http://www.waygoodmusic.com/