More Instruments

This weekend's show brought us up to a dozen different kinds of instruments that have been used at the house concerts. The new additions: tres, pedal steel, and keyboard.

How the artist makes out

HOW MUCH DO MUSIC ARTISTS 
EARN ONLINE?

APRIL 13, 2010

Recently, the UK government passed The Digital Economy Act which included many, perhaps draconian, measures to combat online music piracy (including withdrawing broadband access for persistent pirates). Much was proclaimed about how these new laws would protect musicians and Read more

The take-away:  

From the artist's point 

of view, the second best 

way to buy music 

is CDbaby.com. The best 

way is to buy it directly 

from the artist ... like at a house concert!

Mike Uva & the Bad Eyes/Brent Kirby & the Lost Fortunes Saturday, January 21, 2012

Door opens at 7:30, music at 8:00. 

Cleveland Showcase! Two great local bands, a slew of great musicians--Mike Uva & the Bad Eyes AND Brent Kirby & the Lost Fortunes.

Mike Uva writes inventive, highly melodic, classic pop songs about loneliness, travel, and strange visions. His subtle, restrained style has been compared to that of Paul Simon and Ray Davies and he once had someone call his music "a plush carpeted dream." Mike has performed with such artists as Cat Power, The Decemberists, Nina Nastasia, and Clem Snide.

“Every couple of years, Cleveland songwriter Mike Uva tosses off an album of sublime jangle pop, tangled with wry, self-observant lyrics, melancholy chord progressions and encased in warmly lo-fi production values.”  --PopMatters.com

http://cerecordings.com/mikeuva.htm

One of the Plain Dealer's "25 Acts to Watch" 2011. Brent Kirby is a night's stroll with a rock n' roll romantic. Kirby has a keen narrator's eye, his lyrics dictate life in the moment.... where dreams really come to life in gritty color. Fueled by an arsenal of songs in the spirit of Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Gram Parsons, to the more recent Ryan Adams, Ray Lamontagne, and Wilco, Kirby delivers a charismatic performance with a heartfelt sincerity that's been honed by countless gigs and a sheer desire for perfection.

www.brentkirby.com

$15 suggested donation, which all goes to the artists.

Reserve your spot by emailing us atmechanicstreetmusic@yahoo.com. We're in Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood. Directions and more information will be sent to you once your RSVP is received.

Cool music from 2011(ish)

One of the great things about hosting house concerts is that we're listening to a lot more music and putting a bit more effort into discovering new music. Here are a few of the things we came across in 2011 that we really like:

Brigitte DeMeyer -- both Red River Flower (2009) and Rose of Jericho (2011)

David Wax Museum -- Everything Was Saved (2010)

Eilen Jewell -- Queen of the Minor Key (2011)

Matraca Berg -- The Dreaming Fields (2011)

Elephant Revival -- Break in the Clouds (2010)

What new music do you recommend?

Interesting!!

Cleveland Magazine thinks we're interesting!

Why they’re interesting / Elvery and Phares have hosted seven concerts in their Ohio City house after moving to Cleveland from Washington, D.C., in 2007. About 35 people regularly attend the concerts that feature roots Americana musicians from outside the area. Most recently, Chicago-based band The Spares and folk musician ...       Read more

We got press!

Lee Chilcote did a nice article for Fresh Water on Mechanic Street a few weeks ago.

ohio city couple transform rambling victorian into public concert venue 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

It might not occur to the average house-hunting couple to keep an eye out for living rooms that can fit a string band and 40 folding chairs, but then, Lynn Phares and Joel Elvery are far from average.Why else would the Cleveland couple decide to turn their massive Victorian home on W. 38th Street in Ohio City into a venue for house concerts six times a year?

 Read the full article here.