(OPENPRESS) July 23, 2008 -- On September 13, 2008, Spencer Bohren's musical odyssey will bring him to the Waverly Community House, where he will headline at the third event in PocoNotes' 2008 acoustic storytelling series, "Hear 'Em at The Comm." This is just one of the many stops that Spencer has made away from his beloved New Orleans as he, like so many other Crescent City musicians, rebuilds his home and life after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Spencer has traveled countless miles on thousands of roads in North America and Europe and, over the years, they all brought him back to New Orleans. It's there that he has performed with legends - Professor Longhair, Earl King, Clifton Chenier or James Booker, and peers - The Neville Brothers, The Radiators, Beausoleil and the subdudes. Forty years as a "road scholar" traveling many of these miles with his wife and four children in their Airstream trailer and booking their performances from pay telephones along the way, have given Spencer much to share - and he does. He offers a veritable treasure trove of guitar technique, lap steel tricks and musical knowledge to enthusiastic students and music lovers of all ages around the world. This is evidenced by his having secured a coveted perennial spot as an instructor at Jorma Kaukonen's (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) prestigious Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, along with guitarists such as Warren Haynes, Bob Margolin and G.E. Smith.
Joining Spencer at The Comm will be one of Northeastern Pennsylvania's most renowned and well-respected musicians, Pat Flynn, who everyone knows as the incredible lead guitarist in some of the area's legendary bands - Bent Blue, Mere Mortals, Music for Models and The Underground Saints among others. With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilkes University - where he also studied classical guitar and composition, this NEPA native is a registered BMI songwriter who has appeared on numerous studio recordings, performs live with a variety of regional singer/songwriters and enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of - and deep passion for - music with his students.
This is the second time that PocoNotes has brought NOLA to NEPA. The first time was the 2006 event that launched PocoNotes' mission to bring good music and good people together and was, appropriately, their "From NOLA To NEPA" benefit concert for New Orleans musicians - with 13 artists from the Crescent City who were able to forget their woes for one awesome night of incredible music at The Mellow Theater at Lackawanna College.
It's now been a full three years since Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst catastrophes in American history, left two-thirds of New Orleans underwater, killing 1,800 of her residents and incurring $81 billion in damage. Then - and now - for block after block, street after street, mile after mile, the devastation goes on. Occupied homes are well outnumbered by window-less shells and weedy lots. In too many cases, concrete slabs and front steps leading nowhere are the only evidence that a house once stood there.
While "The Big Easy" is rebuilding - quietly...with tourism decidedly rebounding, many of the city's venues are still closed and thousands of former residents remain displaced, each of which has seriously affected the livelihoods of her countless musicians. So, PocoNotes felt that it was time to show this struggling community the kindness and support of another one so many miles away. Therefore, they invite you to join them on September 13, 2008, when these NOLA and NEPA musicians take the stage to share in a remembrance of what has been lost and a celebration of all that remains in a city whose musical culture incorporates so many others and, as such, embodies the root of true American music.
With the support of a Lackawanna County Arts and Cultural Grant, a program of the Lackawanna County Commissioners and the Lackawanna County Council on Arts, Education and Culture, PocoNotes was able to arrange for an educational workshop to precede the evening's performance. With class size understandably limited, reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling (888) 800-POCO. The workshop begins at 1:30 p.m., and the cost is $40 per student.
Boy Scout Troop 322 of Dickson City, led by Scranton Attorney-at-Law, Frank Marcin, have honored PocoNotes with a repeat appearance of their own, as they come to serve their community as the event's honorary ushers.
The Waverly Community House is located at 1115 North Abington Road, Waverly, Pennsylvania. Tickets for the performance are a mere $20 for advance sales and $25 at the door and are available directly from PocoNotes at www.PocoNotes.com or through their ticketing partner at www.NEPATIckets.com. They're also available by telephone at (888) 800-POCO or in person at Duffy Accessories at 218 Linden Street in Downtown Scranton.
Come out and join them to experience artists that will entertain you for a single evening…and impact you for the rest of your life. Stay for a "Meet and Greet" with the artists afterward. Bring your camera and have your photograph taken with the artists while your CD's are being autographed.
For more information about the event, the musicians, the venue or PocoNotes, you can go to www.PocoNotes.com. While you're there, you can take a look at their "Friends" page, where you can see some of the wonderful people and organizations that are helping restore New Orleans' soul and spirit by helping her musicians regain their lives - and livelihoods. If you'd prefer, you can call Dolores and Pat at (888) 800-POCO. They'd love to hear from you and, even better, they'll see you at the show.
