The Life of a Song

Summer 1997
Driving across Eastern Washington to visit friends between shows my journey slows down as I wait for a ferry on a warm Sunday morning. I get out with my notebook to sit in the quiet air and write down the first thing I see, a sign that reads: “You are leaving Lincoln County”. This causes big chunks of song to come tumbling out of me and as I write, the trip across the lake on the ferry intermingles with my sadness over the news that my favorite uncle has just passed. When I arrive at my destination my understanding friends point me at the “writer’s shack” and leave me in peace to finish my song, “Leaving Lincoln County”.

Fall 2007
I receive a call from the same friends in Eastern Washington. The cancer had returned/spread. Further treatment declined. Through my tears I take the amazing opportunity to heap appreciation on my friend before we said good-bye, for what I knew to be the last time. Her partner called last week to say she was gone. It will be from a different place that I sing this song from in the future:

“Three days ago, I left Sacramento
Where I said good-bye to someone
For what I knew to be the last time
I’ve driven 1300 miles, but that’s nothing on the distance
That my friend traveled yesterday, in the blink of an eye…”
(From Leaving Lincoln County)


Winter 2005
I receive a lovely, hand painted card from my artist friend for Solstice that ends: “May you drink from the well of your heart”. The next day, a close friend’s mother passes at 96, leaving behind a family legacy three generations strong. I am asked to sing for her memorial service. Sitting in my living room in the Oakland Hills I gaze through the eucalyptus at the winter sunset strumming my guitar and wondering what I will play. A wire crosses in my brain and the title track to my most recent CD; “EVERYTHING” is born, written so quickly that my pencil can barely chase the words across the paper.

Winter 2007
My artist friend loses her partner, abruptly, horribly, before his time. She writes me that she listens to “EVERYTHING” over and over again for comfort. I can’t help but wonder about her inspiring the song that two years later will soothe her shocking loss.

"Now the days draw dark
As the year dies down
And the spring lies
Frozen in the fallow ground
Bide your time, mind the fire
No belief is required
The seasons teach the reason
That we cycle around
Again and again
Every ending a Beginning

And if things should fall apart
May Kindness be your finest work of art
May you dream
May you dwell
May you drink from the well
Drink from the Well of your Heart
May you Drink from the Well of Your Heart"
(from "Everything")


It occurs to me that life is as mysterious as songwriting and I wonder why I presume to think that I ever do more than just hold the pencil.

Saturday, September 29 Berkeley CA 8pm $10
Left Coast Concert Series presents
CELEBRATING SONGWRITERS in a NEW VENUE!!
We return to the East Bay, where Celebrating Songwriters originated over 10 years ago. The folks at The Left Coast Concert Series have generously opened their doors to us and will be hosting the show on a monthly basis. It's a wonderful venue at the foot of the landmark Claremont Hotel. As always I will act as MC and I try to write a new song for every show. Could be I'll be bringing in some songs on my slide guitar...WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HOST 2 WONDERFUL SONGWRITERS FOR OUR FIRST SHOW:
From Los Gatos CA
CHUCK McCABE - Chuck's vivid, often hysterical brand of Americana has popularized his award winning songs across the map. Guaranteed to make you laugh and cry...









From Nashville, TN
MARE WAKEFIELD - "At time soft and soulful, at others riotous and rowdy ... Wakefield is a unique and wholly self-evolved performer with that special ingredient" Mark Wehner, Americana Tonight, Nashville, TN



Left Coast Cyclery (Home of Left Coast Concert Series)
2928 Domingo Ave, Berkeley, CA
510-204-8552
http://www.leftcoastcyclery.com/concerts.htm

Kinda brings new meaning to "Small but mighty"...







Peter Tucker or as he likes to be called,
my "Wistful Little Clown"

"Brawling in the aisles with roller derby queen, Toughie Brasuhn.." From my song, "Ride" written for my biker pal Donny's 60th birthday. His mom was a big roller derby fan and Toughie came over the railing after her (likely after being provoked). Apparently it was a pretty even fight. I did some browsing and found her! Her full name was Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn and she was apparently a real brawler. That's her below collaring an unidentified opponent. Go Toughie!!

"One of the three biggest names among distaff skaters
You gotta be kidding. She made the Derby what it was
Toughie: was she ever! she skated with intensity and fire,
was an intmidator, and never backed down from a confrontation."

carlos, caren and austin, photo by daniel patrick
Celebrating Songwriters at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre
"Caren Armstrong does more than just write and perform superior folk music. Caren's music helps keep the ears and heart open for better songs and courageous living. ---Carlos Olmeda

Left Coast Cyclery Summer Concert Series
The Left Coast Cyclery surely embraced your brilliance and cradled you in her bosom of love! You are a deep sea diver and you plunge fearlessly into the depths of your own psyche unsheathed and unabashed vitally aware that to sublimate your emotions is to die a slow death.....soaring, riveting, restless, enchanting, captivating and lit from within....Like an earthworn who has five hearts....each and every one of yours is beating in tandem! L. Zeiser
Photos by Ross Cameron






Number one "spokes"woman, Renee Gaumond of Left Coast Cyclery. We got their new summer series off to a great start! check their website for upcoming shows...these folks are really about supporting the songwriting community. Stop by for any of your cycling needs too...
photo by John Pearson

fierce











rear view

Slipping between saucy and serious, beautiful and burlesque, raucous and rhapsodic, Caren Armstrong held us firmly but tenderly last night at the Freight and Salvage! I had heard her perform only once before so was fully prepared for joy, but did not anticipate the sublime! Dressed in a black velvet dress with gold sequins adorning her derriere, she hustled and bustled her way around the stage with the delicacy and determination of a chanteuse determined to give is Everything...And Everything is what we got, from her spectacular and passionate guitar playing to her pithy, pulsating and down home lyrics (most of the songs written by her) . Caren left no stone unturned as she belted out the sardonic "Enlightenment Blues" then went deep inside of her own pain as she crooned, quite hauntingly, "Leaving Lincoln County", a vignette about the death of a lover, a dream and perhaps even a small demise of her own soul?

The large crowd was riveted to each and every note Caren played and sang...It was clear she was in the fine company of friends and she encouraged participation from all of us! Requests were shouted out and Caren would smile, make some soft arcane comment then hold her guitar snugly, over that black velvet dress, and oblige each one. She was effervescent, complex, moody, quixotic, enthusiastic and just down-right REAL! Not so easy to find an earthy, sinewy, sophisticated, never subdued, sassy singer these days I muse, but last night at the Freight, she was OURS for the taking!

Linda Zeiser
Teacher, author, editor and host of Works In Progress at Montclair Women's Club













with john haley walker












my new papoose

hans, caroline, caren edo














go Caroline!















my beautiful caro




















caren & edo

16 year old Denali and the amazing Richard Berman were my guests for the awesome show on February 14th, and can I just say the room was FULL of love follks...
Denali, Caren, Richard Berman
Anyone who loves music will find something to enjoy about Celebrating Songwriters at the Larkspur Cafe Theatre. Our monthly showcase (usually on the 2nd tuesday) continues to grow and thrive. Mirroring our diverse world the folks who come play for us bring a kaleidoscope of styles and voices to move, amuse and always entertain. It gives me deep pleasure to share my wonderful creative musician friends with my wonderful appreciative audiences. On another level the series continues to challenge and inspire me both as a writer and performer, as I have sworn myself to the task of writing and playing a new song for every show.
Please join us for the MARCH 14 show featuring Atlanta's Caroline Aiken and Seattle's Hans York (via Germany). Representing the cream of the songwriting crop, both deliver their material with expertise and ease.

Caroline Aiken

Hans York

I had such a great time playing with the great Peter Rowan last night at the great Larkspur Cafe Theatre that I had to post this great photo to share with y'all.