Looking For Chicken With Teeth

I was sharing the package design for the new Wealthy Orphans album with a couple of friends a little while ago and the one of them asked if I was familiar with the African saying about chicken teeth.  I said no, and he went on to explain that where he grew up in Africa, sometimes they would say, "That will happen when chicken have teeth." This saying would be similar to us saying "when hell freezes over".  Impossible!

I have for many years been slowly building my reputation and career as a visual artist.  This has included art competitions, writing for grants, working with galleries around the country and even a couple museum shows.  I am now 52 years old and have been able to support my family doing this for now many years.  I am thankful for this -- and it has often felt like we are doing the impossible.

In 2005, I released my first music album entitled Seamless Life.  Our family moved to Brooklyn NY that summer and lived there for a year.  I continued to make art, but I also began to seek out ways to get my new CD heard -- as well as find opportunities to perform.  I played in coffee shops and the open mic at the Side Walk Cafe.  I did have one gig at the Side Walk Cafe, the birth place of the Anti Folk movement, where I played to 5 people on an early Sunday evening -- and one show at the now defunct CBGBs Gallery stage.  Even though I didn't get very far, I had begun, and I was learning.

It is seven years since the release of that first CD and I now have a band (we call ourselves the Wealthy Orphans) - which is two years old. We have our first new album as a band, entitled Throwing Glory (Which is a phrase that is lifted from the French lyrics of the Talking Heads song Pyscho Killer) online now. With A Little Piece Of The Pie, this makes my third album to date.  There have been a lot of new developments in the ways we can access music in these last seven years -- and it continues to evolve every day.

Trying to build a profile as a professional musician at this stage of my life sometimes feels like looking for a chicken that has teeth. Building a new career along side an existing one -- and keeping both potent, also feels like an adventure of constant learning.  Who could want for more?  One of my favorite quotes by Picasso is; “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.”  I love that attitude and want to make it my own.

The Wealthy Orphans Music Review In Top UK Website

The big new for me this week is a good revue of A Little Piece Of The Pie in  Americana UK which is the UK's largest website focusing on americana (alternative-country) music genre.

 "The Liverpool based website has grown over the ten years of its existence from a one man operation to a site with now 25 writers based around the UK, reviewing over a thousand albums a year with listings, daily news updates and interviews with some of the biggest names within the genre."

I have been doing what I can to make room in my life for playing music between my family obligations with six children and my art studio. Over the years my music has often been left to huddle next to Cinderella wearing a worn out dress sitting in the ashes just trying to keep warm.  I released my first CD Seamless Life in 2005 when our family was living in Brooklyn NY.  This June 2011 we dropped A Little Piece Of The Pie which was just reviewed by Paul Kerr in Americana UK. I particullarly appreciate the way the review really nails my biggest influences so clearly. Read the review here.

My band The Wealthy Orphans are now at work preparing our new music to go into the studio this January and record. This album will be produced by Alex McGrath of The Soil and the Sun at Hoi Polloi Studios. It will be our hope to come into this project continuing to explore creating a kind of music that is grounded in real life details but at the same time reaching out for heaven and everything just beyond our grasp.

With A Little Help From My Friends

 

"Rick Beerhorst, A Little Piece of the Pie, started years ago with Rick Devon, this project assembles some of Grand Rapids’ finest musicians for a folky, psychedelic indie-rock feast filled with compelling lyrical twists. The CD-release show with the ever-creative Beerhorst and his new band, The Wealthy Street Orphans, is Sept. 22 at The Pyramid Scheme. "

 Buy the CD and downloads  here

This was the little snippet from John Sinkevics in our local newspaper last week regarding the new CD and the upcoming release at The Pyramid Scheme. I want to take the time today to thank my good friends that contributed to the CD project, A Little Piece of the Pie. (You can read a more extensive revue here.)

Rick Devon who acted as the producer and engineer is a very talented musician himself who fronted the band Fiction Switch.  He is also the creative nucleus of Greymatter Group, a premier design firm in Grand Rapids MI. Rick also plays various instruments on several of the tracks. Rick designed the packaging as well.

Seth Thompson supplies the tasty electric guitar riffs and undercarriage on such tracks as Nursery Rhyme and Devil's a Liar. Seth is a number of his own CD projects behind him moved to Grand Rapids from Chicago. He is also a professional photographer.

DJ Viernes is the current drummer for The Wealthy Orphans and plays drums on several of the CD tracks.  He is also supplies that great laugh at the end of Sister Mary Wears a Golden Chain track #9. DJ is the owner of Hybrid Media. Did I mention he is also a professional rock climber?

Hugo Claudin is our drummer in-waiting who supplies the beat on Never Kissed a Girl and the hidden track. I have known Hugo for years now. As a musician, play-write and figurative painter, he continues to be a robust contributer to the creative scene here in the city.

Michael Schaeffer is the accordion player for The Wealthy Orphans and he helps bring out our inner gypsy. He plays on tracks #1, 6 and 9. Michael is also a very successful visual artist who has shown with Lafontsee Gallery for many years.

Adam Thompson (soul brothers yes but not officialy related to Seth) is the bass player in The Wealthy Orphans and contributes the lower end on several of the tracks. I find myself leaning on Adam a lot for compositional direction because he can always be counted on for a clarifying insights through the muddy waters of collaboration.

Karisa Wilson is a powerful singer songwriter and multinstramentlist who contributes fiddle on Lay Me Down track #10 and vocals for She's a Natural Disaster. I really like working with Karisa when ever the opportunity arises because she's inspiring to be around. Karisa also contributes a regular column for Revue music magazine.

Brad Hartnes  plays stand up bass on a number of the earlier recorded tracks on the CD when we first started the project in 2007. I have a long history of playing with Brad over the years back to the days of our  trio Solid Geometry

Lauren Bittenger brought in backing vocals and toy piano on the hidden track #12. Lauren has lent her talents to many different bands around West MI over the years. She always brings great creative depth and  warmth to what ever project she steps into.  She currently plays acordion with Dave Molinari's band Creolization.

Jordan Adema once a local DJ with our local alternative radio station WYCE has since relocated to Ann Arbor MI. Jordan plays the hot fiddle part on Time of Your Life, track #11.  I've known Jordan since he was a little boy and I always sensed he was on a unique artistic trajectory.

We meant to have our CD release at Founders back in May but the CD didn't get to us in time for that show so we are looking towards the Pyramid Scheme as the official release show. We will be sharing the night with Creolization and Petals Rang The Bell. Doors open at 7:30 and tickets are $5 at the door.