Christine DeLeon: How Was The Show?

The gig at Dragonfly was one of the most special experience I've had this spring. The venue is charming and the owners Peter and Sue are wonderful people who make it obvious that they dig live music. Peter and I even got to play a song together. Thanks to Mike Agranoff with whom I had a great deal of fun colaborating and also to my friends Tim, Larry, Ben, Karen, Monica and Ken who came to sing along.

The gig at Dragonfly was one of the most special experience I've had this spring. The venue is charming and the owners Peter and Sue are wonderful people who make it obvious that they dig live music. Peter and I even got to play a song together. Thanks to Mike Agranoff with whom I had a great deal of fun colaborating and also to my friends Tim, Larry, Ben, Karen, Monica and Ken who came to sing along.

Another wonderful house concert ... well, I could certainly be happy making a habit of this. Irving and Reva Kaufman's "First Saturday Folk" was a spectacular evening of music and friendship. Thanks to those who came from far and near to enjoy the show. I can't wait to do it all over again.

I had a wonderful time tonight playing at the Crossroads Coffeehouse in Flanders. The audience was a pleasure and Chelsea Carlson was a great co-bill. Thanks to Michael M, pastor Paul and all the volunteers of the series for making the evening happen.

Last night's show at Club Zed was filled with energy. I was knocked off my feet with the quality of audience participation. Of all the times I've ever shouted "Everybody ..." at a show, the response from this group is at the height of memorable. Much thanks to Shari Maniloff Korenstein and Tom Picard for hosting and making the evening wonderful.

... with the sound of music! Thanks to Marie Buchwald and Mike Agranoff, the organizers of the newly launched Oak Hills House Concerts in Boonton, NJ. The evening was a great success at the home of Nicole and John (and little LJ) Schmitt. What a perfect room for music that did not even need amplification to be heard by an audience of more than 20! Very cozy and community minded. I hope someday to return to this lovely venue.

The evening at the Sacred Bean Coffeehouse was a fantastic sharing of music and community. Being paired up with Denny Tilton was a real treat for me and the audience was a joy. I can't think of a better place to play my song "Snow In October" than at this wonderful concert this year. Host, Ray Winch, runs quite a lovely event and his children decorated the stage with appropriate autumnal leaves. Perfect!!!

I was happy to be invited to play at the Bernardsville "Sounds Around Town" - covering for some musicians who were not able to make the rain date of the event. Serendipity at it's best - because it was a lovely evening! Thanks to the Bernardsville Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring such a wonderful day long celebration so successfully!

The second annual Groove in the Grove Songwriter Festival was spectacular. I shared the stage with at least a dozen fantastic songwriter and charming performers for an afternoon and evening never to be forgotten. We all had a wonderful audience and we couldn't have ordered better weather from the Sears catalog. Many millions of thanks go out to Renee and Clark Paddock who have managed to create one of my favorite days of the year. Can't wait to groove once again!

We members of Fibonacci were all more than excited to play at the Minstrel - one of my favorite venues! My band mates, Andy Koenig (bass, winds, brass), Pat Hickey (guitar, winds) and Kathy Haynie (Keyboard, winds) were treated to a wonderfully enthusiastic audience. We send out special thanks to Orrin Star for whom we opened the show and who graciously shared his audience with us. Keep on counting!!!!

Had a swell time among all the art vendors at the Warren County Arts Festival. Couldn't ask for better weather and playing music in the sunshine for an hour and a half is not a bad way to spend the afternoon! Thanks very much to Dan Hirshberg of Joe Hirsh Productions for inviting me and to my friend Brad Pryor who kept me company during the show.

A great night at Riverside Rhythm & Rhyme. An hour or so of sampling local talent in the open mic and then a set filled with songs I love to play. Even better, I was joined on stage by my friends Renee and Clark Paddock, whose fiddle and bass respectively always add new surprises to the songs. Thanks to all who came to share the music!

Performing a co-bill with Spook Handy at the Mountainside Library was the best way I can think of to get out of the winter cold. Spook told some great stories to make us laugh and backed them up with songs. I had more than a few great moments with the audience myself. At the end of the show all sang "Get Together" to sum up the evening. Thanks to the Lynn and the Mountainside Library for running such a great concert series and for inviting me to play!

I had a lovely time joining with all the Newfoundland talent to put on a successful fundraising show at the UMC last night. Maureen Quinnones was the key mover and shaker of the show with included performances by all the members of her family. Quite a family of musicians I'd have to say. There were musical numbers from everythign from Gospel to Hip Hop and everything in between. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next time already!

Happy to have been a part of the Rahway Public Library's new Saturday afternoon concert series! Carol Marlow was a wonderful hostess and the audience was charming. I truly believe that these opportunities to share music are equally great for the performer as well as the local community!

Field of Creams (I LOVE that play on words) was a nice afternoon. Patricia and Greg, owners of the plentiful haven for those tired and hungry from all the outdoor activities in the surrounding ball parks invited me to play a concert for their guests to enjoy. Thanks to them and to the dancing kids too. :)

I had a lovely time this afternoon at the Flanders Swim and Sport Club. The impromptu harmonies, bass played by Clark Paddock and fiddling by Renee Paddock made the show a treat beyond all my expectations. The audience was great, especially since there were some family members there to sing along. We sure ended the summer with a bang, thanks all!

My second trip back to the Jefferson Township Public Library was a wonderful experience yesterday. After playing a a song of mine called "My Darling Marie" I was thanked by a person named Marie in the audience. Then someone found a book called "Blue Earth" - another song of mine. What an attentive and charming bunche of folks!

Thanks to Chris O'Brien for the invitation and for the great afternoon.

It's a lovely place indeed! I spent a couple of the most fun hours of this summer so far at the home of Devah Brinker yesterday. She threw a party in her enormous and beautifully manicured back yard and invited what seemed like everyone she knows to celebrate summer with her. I have it on good authority that the person who was most happy to have been invited is yours truly. :)

Lovely party and wonderful music shared with friends - thanks Devah!

Thanks to Brother Tom who runs the new concert series at the Carmel Retreat Center in Mahwah, NJ. The room where the concert was held was the beautiful chapel with lovely woodwork and lots of windows for natural light. Had some friends there singing along in the audience, which is always a plus. Thanks to husband, Mike, too for so lovingly taking care of the sound. Great night for all!

I couldn't imagine a more enjoyable time since my happy wedding as the one I had last night opening the show for songwriter, James Keelaghan, at the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club. Right in a former home town of mine, the audience was welcoming and they sang with all their might from their seats.

Ron Olesko, as always, was a wonderfully gracious host and all the volunteers at the Hurdy Gurdy were equally charming.

Thanks to Mr. Keelaghan also for a great show and for being such a kind example to a budding songwriting performer like myself.

My song "This Room" got some nice recognition from the judges of the Great Lakes Songwriting Contest. Here are the lyrics:

In this room is where my mother laid me in my crib. And I thought the world was all within these walls, and even that was big. With my tiny eyes I looked around at all there was to see, knowing nothing of the world outside these walls that sheltered me.

For the times that are to come, from the times that were, this room has bound the past together with the future.

In this room I discovered there were things I didn't know ... how to write my letters, tie my shoes and where the puzzle pieces go. I read all my books and heard what all the grownups had to say. When I came back to this room, I'd know a little more each day.

And I remember love was somthing that I'd learn to do but I may have to wait until I'd grown up in this room. I would laugh, I would cry, I would understand after many years of asking why.

In this room is where we talked about how we thought our life would be. Some of that came true and some of that turned out a little differently. In this room is where we shared our first embrace and now there stands a crib and baby sleeping in that same place.

As always, the Folk Project Minstrel's Valentine Extravaganza was a barrel of fun. Hubby, Mike, and I performed a steamy accoustic version of an old Motown classic, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" As it was the ultimate antithesis of a love song, we shook things up a bit.

Many thanks to Mark Schaffer for all the hard work once again organizing this time after time successful event.

Super night at the Minstrel with Gathering Time last night! This marvelous trio for whom I opened was spot on great entertainment. Not only did they invite me up to sing on one of their tunes, but they were so kind as to come up on stage to play "The Dunes of Brigantine" on my set! Glen on bass, Stuart on guitar and Hillary on percussion (even using the little bell that the Minstrel typically uses to alert folks that the show is about to start). Not to mention how swell their vocal harmonies were. What an absolute honor!

Thanks also to a bunch of folks for making the evening so special - Bill for the video, Mike and Carolyn for sound, and all the volunteers in their coordinated labor of love!

Special thanks to the Minstrel ... "This town knows how to make life from dreams ..."

The show at Cafe Zed last night was a treat for all the senses.  The New Jersey Arts Incubator provides a great art gallery setting for this new concert series.  Ah, the warm feel of a hot cup of cocoa in the  hands ... the smell and taste of the baked goods ... the sight of the inspiring works of art ... and best of all, the sound of a room full of people singing together.  Heart felt thanks go out to Joe and Carol, the directors of the gallery for creating such a wonderful space to enjoy all the artistic expressions of the evening.Many special thanks also go to Tom Picard, the producer and host of the series, for inviting me to play to an enthusiastic and responsive audience.  My sixth sense tells me that this new series is going to take off like lightening and become a wonderful addition to the community in no time!